In the anti-chamber of Ide Tamaru’s office, Shinjo Kurimoko awaited her audience with the senior magistrate.

She
scanned the room, admiring the trophies that Tamaru-sama had acquired in a life of service to the Unicorn. The shoji
screen slid open, and Kurimoko moved into Tamaru’s office.
“Report.” Barked the senior magistrate.
“As was suspected,” began the young woman, “the crime was perpetrated by one of the peasant stable-boys. He
confessed to having stolen the stallion, and claimed that a Scorpion Samurai had arranged to take possession in the city of
Pokau.”
“Thieves have been claiming that some samurai or another was the mastermind behind the theft since my first days as a
magistrate.” Replied Tamaru.
“Yes sir, but this thief actually had 2 koku with the Scorpion’s Clan symbol on them. Since he was just a lowly stable
boy, with no way to have legitimately have obtained the koku, we decided to investigate this further. We took the stable boy
with us, and rode onto Pokau. Once there we reported to the magistrates of Pokau, and informed them of our investigation,
asking for permission to pursue justice in their city. They agreed, but required us to allow a Soshi Magistrate to accompany
us on our mission. We then had the stable boy make contact with his accomplice. There was a skirmish and we were able
to capture the man, but not without cost. He mortally wounded my yoriki, and the stable boy was killed in the confrontation.
The Soshi have declared him ronin, and graciously allowed him to be returned here to Turo-Kojiri for trial. Here is the sworn
testimony of the Soshi Magistrate, and the written authority to return the ronin for justice. He has been delivered to the
prison, and is now in the custody of the warden.” As she finished, Shinjo Kurimoko handed to her superior the two scrolls,
and a written copy of her report. She awaited any further questions.
The Ide unrolled the scrolls, and making sure everything was in order, nodded his approval and then looked up at
Kurimoko, “It seems, with the exception of your yoriki, everything went perfectly” he purred
“Yes, it appears so, my lord.” She replied
“And yet, we both know, nothing ever goes so perfectly. Be wary and do not lower your guard, Kurimoko, this may not
yet be over” replied Tamaru.
“Hai, my lord” she replied, and turned to leave.

After a long hot bath, and a quick meal, Kurimoko began preparations for the evening’s duties. She first chose a pretty
kimono, with flowers and birds, in a provocative cut. Kurimoko brushed out her long hair, styling and braiding it in the
favored fashion of the time. Then she removed a box of make-up, and began to apply. When that was done, she put on
some undergarments, designed to enhance and embellish the curves of women. Then the kimono, and finally, Kurimoko
wrapped and obi around her waist. Into the sash, she slipped and hid a jitte. Kurimoko slid her badge of office inside the
kimono, into a secret pocket designed for that very purpose. Finally, she retrieved a small silk bag, and a long wooden box.
Kurimoko looked at herself in the mirror, and could barely believe her eyes. She looked nothing like herself. She chuckled
inwardly, disguise had long been one of her talents, but it was unusual for her to indulge in. Tamaru’s warning was reason
enough for her, and so the transformation.
Kurimoko took the box and the bag, and left the barracks, slipping out the back door, and into the street. She began a
long circuitous walk towards her destination. She strolled through markets, stopping and looking at stalls, and doubled back
over her own tracks, checking for anyone following her. When she was certain she was not being followed, she headed
towards her destination in the Wave District.
Kurimoko arrived as a small saki house that was a favorite of the man she was looking for. She entered, and glanced
around. Tono was not here, but she did see a couple of other men she recognized. She walked over to their table, and
asked if she could join them. They gazed up, in wonder and amazement, at the geisha asking to join them. The hastily
agreed, and made room for her at the table. As she sat, the two men introduced themselves.
“I am Ruri, and this is Baku,” the first man said, “can I ask what you are doing here?”
“I am looking for someone,” she purred, “a great warrior…”
“You have found two!” interrupted Baku
“named Tono, we have, … personal business to attend to. “Kurimoko continued. As she spoke, a man entered the saki
house. Kurimoko’s eyes quickly shot over her companions and looked the man over. Then she lowered her gaze and
attention back to her compainions.
“Tono, we know Tono, and he is due to meet us here later.” Ruri blurted out. “But anything that old man can do, I can do
better” he added with a slight blush.
“Yes,” Baku said, placing his hand upon hers “I would be of much better use in any ‘personal’ business.”
 “Except using your eyes and brains!” roared a voice from over the table. Ruri and Baku were so enraptured by their
companion they had not even realized Tono had arrived.
“Are there any thoughts in your head that you have not given up yet, Ruri? And you Baku, touching a Unicorn
Magistrate, you could be put in the dungeon for a year for that offense!” Tono motioned to Baku’s hand, resting on top of
Kurimoko’s.
With Tono’s outburst, both Ruri and Baku looked more closely at their companion, and finally the recognized their
sometimes employer, Shinjo Kurimoko.
“Our deepest apologies” they said, jumping up and bowing low, but Kurimoko stopped their words with a raised hand and
a slight laugh.
“None needed, my friends. I wanted to try out this disguise, and it seemed to work well. But tell me Tono, how did you
know it was me?
“No geisha in the Empire would look over a man in the manner of a magistrate, Kurimoko-sama. When you looked at me
as I entered, your eyes gave you away. Otherwise, I would have also been fooled by the disguise.”
Ruri and Baku gathered their things, and left the saki house, as Tono took a seat at the table opposite Kurimoko. “I had
heard that you returned, but I have not yet seen my son. Did he return with you?”
“I am very sorry, Tono-san,” Kurimoko said, placing the wooden box on the table, opening it to display an old, but well
cared for daisho set. “He was killed in Pokau. I had him cremated there, and his ashes will be delivered to your home.”
Tears formed in the corners of the old ronin’s eyes, but he kept them there, and turned to the Unicorn Magistrate, “Did he
serve well?” Tono asked.
“Yes Tono, your son was a model samurai, and served with honor.” Kurimoko told the grieving father.
“There is no better death for a samurai than that.” Tono said, more to sooth his own grief than out of any true faith. “May
I ask, how it happened?”
Kurimoko took a breath and began, “We were setting a trap for a man who was to take possession of a stolen Shinjo
horse. A stable boy that had stolen the horse was to deliver it to a man in Pokau. We sprang out after the man took
possession of the horse, in order to arrest him. The stable boy was already dead, having been stabbed after delivering the
horse. There were three of us, your Son, me and a Soshi Magistrate who was assisting us in Pokau. The man, however,
did not come alone. Five bodyguards leapt out to meet us, and we were sorely pressed. Your son killed two but was cut
down, saving me from a third. We captured the man, and were able to bring him back here to Turo-Kojiri for punishment.
Your son died a hero. You should be proud of him, when his honor was put to the test, he did not flinch or fail. I wanted to
return his daisho to you personally, so that you would know that.”
Tono nodded in thanks. Kurimoko poured Tono and drink, and together they toasted his son.
“I must return to the barracks,” Kurimoko announced and rose to go. Tono nodded in acknowledgement, and refilled his
cup. He looked at the swords in the box, and remembered teaching his son to wield them. He brought the cup to his lips,
and drained the fiery liquid, pausing to savor the heat and tingle. It was then that he heard a shout, and the ringing of steel
on steel. A quick look told him that Kurimoko had already left, and he knew that she was in trouble. He grabbed the swords
in the box, and charged out of the tavern.
Kurimoko had left, her eyes were downcast, and she was saddened from telling Tono of his son. She had been walking
toward the barracks, but her path was barred by three samurai. There was something familiar about these men, but she did
not recognize it, and tried to walk around them. They moved so that they continued to bar her way. She then realized that
she was still in her geisha disguise, and withdrew her badge, thinking that would scare them off. When they saw the badge,
however, one laughed and drew his katana. “We have been looking for you, magistrate” he hissed, and swung an attack at
the girl. But his hesitation had allowed Kurimoko to draw her jitte. Steel rang as the jitte blocked the strike, and Kurimoko
stepped back. She was outnumbered, and had only a single jitte to defend her self. Kurimoko was a master archer, and
her skills with a katana were good, she had neither with her here in the Wave District. Kurimoko focused on protecting
herself, hoping that the local guard would arrive in time to save her life.
Another man drew his katana, and then both men attacked her. She blocked one blade, and dodged another, but was
loosing ground quickly, and she realized that she would not last much longer. From her right, she heard a shout, and a blur
of brown and steel leapt through the air. Tono had arrived, and drew engaged two of the men. As he passed by, he tossed
a wakizashi to Kurimoko. She caught it with her left hand, and dropping the jitte, drew the short blade with her right hand.
The tides quickly turned against the attackers. Tono was a tenacious opponent who had spent long years in the hard life of
a ronin. His survival had often depended on his skills with a blade, and he had survived for a long time. He easily defeated
two of the men, while Kurimoko dispatched the third. I moments three men lay dead in the street. Kurimoko stooped to
clean her blade on the kimono of one of the dead, and recognized the pattern in the fabric. It was the same pattern that the
thugs in Pokau had worn. A cold shiver ran up her spine as she sheathed the blade.
“Tono, these men are from Pokau, they were the same kimono that the men who killed your son wore.”
“Then they have been sent here by those responsible for my son’s death.” He replied, taking the wakizashi back from
Kurimoko.
“I have to get to the prison, and question that ronin. There is more going on here than meets the eye” Kurimoko
declared.
“Then I will accompany you, until those responsible for my son’s death are dead, or brought to justice.” Vowed Tono.
Kurimoko nodded, and they headed off for the prison.

Kurimoko washed off the make-up, and then got dressed in a brilliant purple silk kimono, and dark purple silk hakama.
Over this, she donned a haori, emblazoned with the Unicorn Clan symbol on the right side, and the kanji for Magistrate upon
the left. She pulled on the boots favored by the Shinjo family, and concealed a tanto in the top of them. Kurimoko pulled
her long black hair back into a single ponytail, wrapping it in a gold ribbon. She pulled her badge of office around her neck,
and wrapped a golden obi around her waist. She then took several strings of coins, and slid them inside her obi pouch.
Finally, Kurimoko walked to the sword rack, and took down a beautiful purple katana she had been given as reward by Ide
Tamaru himself. She slipped that katana into the obi, along with the wakizashi that she always carried. Finally, she looked
herself over in the mirror. She was ready to face this latest challenge.
Kurimoko and Tono had returned to the barracks, and quickly learned that the ronin Kurimoko had returned for justice
was to be hanged in the morning. Furthermore, both Ide Tamaru and the warden were out, and without authorization from
either of the two, Kurimoko wasn’t authorized even to see the prisoner, much less interrogate him. Kurimoko was sure that
she could convince Tamaru-sama of the necessity of her request, but she would need time to make herself presentable. So
Kurimoko sent Tono to get an inquisitor, and she returned to her rooms to get ready.
Since the whereabouts of the Senior Magistrate was a matter of importance, the duty officer was always aware of where
Ide Tamaru was. When Kurimoko had discovered his location, she winced. This would be much harder than she thought.
The House of Silk was one of the top geisha houses in the city, and was clear across the city. Kurimoko was glad she had
gotten dressed in her finest clothes it would make getting into the House of Silk much easier. Kurimoko went to the stables
to get her horse. She toyed with the idea of putting the saddle on him, but decided it would be much easier and faster to
simply ride him bareback. She put the bridle on, and jumped up on the horse with easy skill. A quick tug, and slight
squeeze with her heels, and the horse was off, trotting through the town to the House of Silk.