Nishida sat at his usual spot in the Druk'n Crab, smoking a cig and drinkning a beer. He looked a bit stressed as he was out and about the whole day, trying to find the one responsible for a certain rumor.

Akechi sat besides him. They chatted from time to time, but about nothing really important.

A Scorpion in civilian clothes was at the bar picking up his drink order, which appeared to be cheap sake in a red disposable cup. He touched the cup to his lips, tried to conceal a grimace (not very successfully), then turned to look for a table.

Noticing Nishida and Akechi, he approached to a polite distance and bowed. “Good evening, Yasuki-sama,” he said. “We met while out riding, remember? I’m Bayushi Akagi.”

"Ahh, Bayushi-san, how is you day going?" he asked, raising his beer "Kampai!"

"Kampai!" the Scorpion echoed, grinning as he raised his red plastic cup to his lips for a quick drink. He didn't make a face this time... perhaps he was getting used to the pungent odor of the cheap sake.

Lowering the cup again, Akagi answered, "I had some good luck at the hunt today, actually, so it's been a good day for me. Brought down a big monster that was threatening the outlying farms - a raker, they call them."

"Congratulations Bayushi-san! What did the beast look like? Unfortunately I was too busy in the morning hours to participate in the hunt."

"Why, it had great big leathery wings," Akagi recounted, pantomiming the raker's wingspan with his arms. "With sharp talons and surprisingly large ears. It's those ears that make them tricky to sneak up on... you have to tread really lightly in order to get the drop on 'em." He nodded confidently and took another sip of his drink.

"That sounds like difficult prey, how did you outsmart it?"

"I'm just an amateur hunter," Akagi said modestly. "But I find the key is to use the environment to your advantage. In the xenofungi forest there were plentiful tall mushrooms to hide behind, and the ground was spongy with fungus in certain places; a careful person could step in the right places to muffle his footfalls entirely."

"It was a magnificent beast, it was almost a shame to destroy it," the Scorpion said with a hint of regret. "But it was endangering the Phoenix heimin, so it had to be stopped."

"The task of the samurai is to serve, right? So you don't have to show any remorse, if the beast is lucky it will become a Heimin or Samurai in the next life."

he took another sip from his beer

"How is Bayushi-san doing in the Miai, if i may ask?"

"It is hard to judge what the nakado are thinking," Akagi admitted. "They're all very experienced at maintaining face at this sort of thing. But I think I am doing well, so I have hopes for good prospects."

"Whereas, I am sure Yasuki-sama is doing well at the miai, being an important person, after all," he said with a small smile. "What do you think? Has anyone particularly caught your eye?"

"oh yes it has. I'm thinking of courting the governours daughter, Askao Chiruha-san. Has anyone caught you're interest?"

"Ahh, the governor's daughter," Akagi said, nodding knowingly. "She is a most excellent lady, from what I've seen; I might aspire to court her, myself, if only I had more in the way of political connections." He gave the rueful smile and apologetic shrug of those that weren't born to high status.

"To be honest, the Phoenix women in general have impressed me with their grace and compassion," the Scorpion admitted. "I have one or two that I hope might be matched to me. Of course, it's ultimately all in the hands of the nakado."

"Competition stimulates business, right? But yes, I think it makes sense to give priority to the Phoenix. Not that I don't like our allies, but my lord had a pretty good idea who to focus on here."

"My superiors urged me to look for a possible Dragon match," Akagi confided. "But that didn't work out for...obvious reasons." He shrugged and touched his sake cup to his lips again.

"So with the circumstances changed, one must take initiative and adapt to the situation," he said. "I've found the planet quite charming, and our Phoenix hosts very gracious. The idea of staying here is rather tempting. What do you think, Yasuki-sama? Or will you be heading back to your business interests, once you secure a bride?"

"Given my Status it's highly unlikely that i will remain here,... but i would like to visit it in the future, i laid some groundwork for future business, so i would be able to do that." he explained.

"Of course," Akagi said, nodding understandingly. "Duty must always come first, and I'm sure a person of your importance must have many responsibilities that must be attended to."

"Well, the hour grows late, and with your permission, Yasuki-sama, I should call it a night," the Scorpion said. "Thank you for the conversation, and best of luck on your courtship efforts at the miai." He set his plastic cup on one of the trays set out to collect loose drinkware, and bowed politely.

"Good night to you too, Bayushi-san" he said and bowed.