If she was being honest with herself, Ichika just didn't want to put her Otori through the trouble as much as she didn't want to go through it. Apparently the rains and region in general were dangerous, offering risk and difficulty to those that raced. So, here she was instead.

Stepping into the inn she took a look toward the common room but made her way toward the rooms, aiming to get ready for the rest of her night ahead.

There was, in fact, a Spider in the common room, whose aim was conversation wit her.

"Ah, Doji-san." he said, putting away his densai. "I had rather thought you would not be out racing your Otori. I was wondering if I could trouble you for a private word?"

Stopping short of just waving, she gave a quick nod, "Oh, of course Kuchiki-san!" she glanced from him, then toward the hallway with the rooms. "Is here good enough, or?" she asked, raising a brow and tilting her head a bit.

"Hm, I would prefer either your quarters or mine, Doji-san. While it does look fairly empty here, there are times when one doesn't wish to leave a chance for passersby to pick up the conversation." he admitted. "However, if you're concerned that some might view such as meeting as improper, I'd prefer talking here to not talking at all."

"They aren't necessarily private rooms, Kuchiki-san, so I think going to your room should be fine and proper, yea?" she suggested, staying then where she was an glancing toward the hall with a furrowed brow for a moment. With a nod she looked back, "Yea, don't think anyone would get the wrong impression then, hmm?"

Tsugiharu nodded.

"As you prefer, Doji-san." he offered. "Shall we go?"

It wasn't a long walk to the private rooms, and opening the door revealed.....what was probably the exact same set-up as Ichika's room. The only real difference would be in the color of the occupant's possessions. It was home to two Spiders, one Scorpion, and one Unicorn.

"Mm," she vocalized with a quick nod. Following Tsugiharu down the hall and into the room. Stepping in she definitely made all the expected checks. Which room was better, what was different, all those things anyone did when they stayed in a place like this.

"Who else do you share the room with, Kuchiki-san?" she asked, glancing back with a raised brow.

"Shinjo Yul,, Bayushi Tenma, and Susumu Shirokiku." he listed off. "Though we met on the first day, I haven't seen them other than from a distance at the various events."

It wasn't what he wanted to talk about, but a certain amount of small talk was mandatory in these situations, and demanded an equal response.

"How has Doji-san found her own roommates?"

From the first she seemed to take a renewed interest in the room for a moment but, glancing down, she looked back to Tsugiharu. "My roommates have been wonderful, Kuchiki-san," but she looked down even still, a neutral expression.

"Kuni Koryn-san was.." she shook her head, "I'll miss seeing his bed filled each morning and night," she admitted freely. Putting one hand into the other, holding them low against herself.

Tsugiharu considered that. Apparently no one had bothered to inform him.

"I take it he suffered some sort of misadventure?" he said.

"His funeral was today, Kuchiki-san, this morning," she said, glancing around the room again she held a neutral expression. Four lives in beds were apparent enough, at least here.

"My condolences, Doji-san. I am afraid I did not meet that samurai. If you wished to share anything about him or the circumstances, I am happy enough to listen." he offered.

Shaking her head she looked to Tsugiharu, "I'm sorry, you brought me in here to speak of something. Right Kuchiki-san?"

Tsugiharu nodded.

"It's true, I did. But given the serious nature of the discussion, perhaps Doji-san should sit down." he said. He seemed serious.

"Oh?" she said, glancing around and finding the chair in the room. Nothing like pre-fabs all being the same to help figure out where things are. "Alright," she said, taking the seat and sitting. Looking up to Tsugiharu she looked to him with furrowed brow, "What is it, Kuchiki-san?"

Tsugiharu took a seat on one of the beds.

"Hmm, well, Nakauchi-san, Kitsune-sama and I have discovered something rather...alarming in our communion with the kami. But we have little to go on except our interpretation of the kami's words, theory and guesswork. Not exactly enough to convince the Phoenix to accept the words of a Spider and a couple of minor clanners." he explained.

He shrugged a bit.

"So we had hoped, as an ally, you might be willing to help us out with your superior political savvy." he requested.

"A-alright.." she thought, furrowed her brow. Crossing her hands over one another in her lap she glanced down for a moment, breathed in and out. "I can't make any promises before I know what you'll actually be asking me to do, of course. I'd like to help but.." she fiddled with her finger a little. "Well, you know.. I have other responsibilities I have to be certain I don't cross, yea?"

Tsugiharu nodded.

"Well, this is true Doji-san, although if our worst case scenario comes to pass there is a fairly high likelihood you and a whole lot of other people will be dead which is typically a fairly significant hindrance to executing your duties."

He shrugged a bit.

"But that is worst case, which might not come to pass. I'm not asking you to set everything aside to focus on this Doji-san, but......well, were this a holovid, we're at the point in the story where the unlikely experts are being ignored by those who have power and are stubborn, and they're looking for the beautiful heroine who can unite unlikely allies to help prevent disaster."

"If you have time that is."

"I can try, Kuchiki-san," she said, nodding to show her understanding. Still, she fiddled with her finger a bit as she reasserted, "I still cannot promise I will be able to help until I know what you're asking of me, but I would like to help, If I can."

Tsugiharu nodded.

"Hm, well let me try to be more clear, Doji-san." he offered. "Nakauichi-san, Kitsune-sama, and I have uncovered the distinct possibility that there is a group of Phoenix in a remote shrine attempting to re-open this world's connection to the spiritual plane it was severed from when it was pacified. And if we understand the kami correctly, the Phoenix are not heeding the warnings."

He took a breath.

"So what we need is someone who can speak to the local Phoenix and ascertain who might be able to convince the magistrate or the governor to properly investigate this plot, and prevent a potential catastrophe."