" That will largely be a matter for debate between yourselves and your opponents ." Suio Bakin points out. " For the moment, we have to see you officially enrolled in the competition. Yasuki Aki-sama, may I present Hekasu-san, Kenshin-san, Aruzhan-san and Yoshi-no-kaze-san ." He bows.

" It is an honour to meet you all. Welcome, all of you, to Uimi Mura and First Cloud Festival ." Replies the crab samurai, bowing in response

Yoshi bows deeply. “ Thank you for welcoming us to your wonderful festival. Some of us were hoping to compete tomorrow. I know I am hoping to compete with the sword Yasuki-Sama.” Yoshi bows again.

" The sword competition promises to be a memorable event ." Aki replies. " No small number of samurai from clans across the Empire have already enrolled - may I ask who is sponsoring your entry into the event? "

In answer, Kenshin produces the letter received from the Daidoji courier at the border, and he, Yoshi and Yasuki Aki begin a brief discussion.

Aki initially seems skeptical about the taller ronin, but then relents after what seems to Hekasu to be little more than perfunctory argument. She agrees to allow Yoshi's participation as well " In memory of our mutual friend, Hida Yoshi-san ."

The Yasuki samurai makes a gesture of dismissal. " This evening we'll determine pairings for tomorrow, and send you all messengers at first light ."

Leaving the pavilion, Hekasu makes his way back to the markets. Suio Bakin excuses himself, taking the horses and heading to talk to some horse-traders for Ide Arban . A gentle but continuous drizzle, combined with the footfall of merchants, local families and samurai retainers bustling between the stalls is threatening to turn the well-kept turf into a quagmire, and groups of heimin rush past the ronin -apologising as they do - unrolling bundles of bamboo matting to form a clean and stable mat along the centre of each 'street'.

Yoshi begins to make a quip about the teams resembling teams of siege engineers before he catches sight of a ji-samurai overseer in Kaiu colours chivvying them along; it's quite possible they are a siege labourer section Nobuto Tohashiro has 'borrowed' for the occasion.

Finding Soji takes Hekasu only short while; the Yasuki representative's stall sits in the centre of an informal 'district' of sake dealers and is hardly discrete, with blue and silver ribbons laced around the poles. Several attendants bustle around, clearly evaluating potential customers, whilst a heavy-set man Hekasu assumes to be Soji is going over some paperwork at the back of the stall.

Given the somewhat snide looks some of the merchants approaching the stall are getting behind their backs, Hekasu is rather relieved he is wearing the formal clothing he put on to visit Ide Arban.

Smoothing any potential wrinkles in his clothes, Hekasu walks to a random stall. There, he begins questioning a few attendants about the sake their stall sells and what quantity they may have available to readily move. After a short discussion - and possibly a sample if offered - he turns to a second stall, pauses to read the name, and makes similar inquiries.

He approaches the Friendly Traveler stall third. He pauses to consider the banners, then looks to a fourth stall just past it, comparing the sizes of the two. With a nod, he then walks up to an attendant at Friendly Traveler. "Ah, good afternoon," he greets the closest attendant. "Tell me about your varieties of sake. How much does the flavor change from year to year? I'm seeking a bit of a selection, you see..."

The attendant quirks an eyebrow, as if surprised at a need to explain anything about Friendly Traveller. " We take a great deal of effort to ensure consistancy between batches, so there will be little difference detectable - other than to a connoisseur."

The attendant gestures at the racks forming one side of the stall.

" We do have three different varieties, though. Can I ask what you have in mind, samurai-sana? Are you stocking a private collection, or..."

Hekasu inclines his head slightly, "Quite astute, my friend. I come on behalf of a man of impeccable taste. He seeks a large quantity of fine sake for a coming celebration in Nanashi Mura. You understand, the strength of a name is fine - but the strength of quality is what I must assure."

The Lavender haired shugenja quietly explores the streets, taking in the customs that the people of this village use to show respects to the Kami of air and water. Perhaps she's a little nervous to communicate with the spirits in the manner which she was taught as a child, but soon she decides that the spirits here deserve to be honored in the best way she knows. Finding the local shrine to the water spirits, Aruzhan kneels and prays quietly as she works on creating a small, but pretty charm in honor of the water kami.

The gentle pattering of rain swirls curiously around the Unicorn samurai. A gentle pulse of energy flashes from the trinket as a tiny fragment of the Kami's energy is sealed inside.

Meanwhile, in the Friendly Traveller stall, the attendant takes a moment to think. "I assume," he says, "That whilst it is probably our finest variety, offering your patron Nama-Zake is hardly practicable. The price for true quality is often fragility, and Nama-Zake spoils quickly. I suspect, respectfully, that you lack the means to convey it across two thirds of the empire in sufficient time."

" Ginzyoo-syu is a sweet, mild variety of sake, and should travel well. May I ask the name of you patron?"

"That would be Ujikira, the patron of Sake in Nanashi Mura." I glance over the barrels he's indicated. "Yasuki Niku-sama did suggest that Soji Third-Key-sama could be the man I'm seeking."

The attendant quirks an eyebrow and begins " Soji-san wouldn't normally ..." before pulling himself up short, bowing, and going to fetch the stall's overseer.

Soji bustles over, handing a bundle of scrolls to the attendant. He has a wide, welcoming grin that Hekasu finds not entirely reassuring.

" Greetings, and welcome, Samurai-sama. " He bows, gesturing to a wicker seat that materialises from somewhere behind the racks.

" Please have a seat - and please don't worry about that ridiculous nickname. I'm still not entirely sure who started it, but I'll give them quite a piece of my mind if I ever do. It's quite flattering, I suppose, but utter nonsense ."

He spreads his hands. " Friendly Traveller Sake Brewery has a famous outbuilding called the Strange House ." His grin widens. " Depending on who you believe, it contains our brewing recipies, a stash of rare ingredients, a unique design of brewing vat, or the greater oni that generations of our brewmasters have sold their names to in return for their skill ....." He shrugs. " I'm not sure Jigoku has many master brewers. What isn't a myth is that the Strange Building is always kept locked, and only two people - Yasuki Taka-dono and Oshuko-san, the brewmaster, have a key. Supposedly if there was a third key, I'd get it, hence the nickname. I'm no brewer, though ," Soji says, patting his midriff, " my interests are in the consuming and arranging consuming for others ."

The merchant looks Hekasu politely up and down. " Now. Business." He says. " I'm gathering you're after more than just a barrel for an evening in a sake house. I know Nanashi Mira by reputation, and I don't imagine the average ronin has too much spare silver in their pocket. This is for an event of some kind? "

"For next year's celebration of Nanashi Mura's founding, the grandest one there has ever been," Hekasu replies. "One to thank the Dragon Champion for his continued faith in the waves to calm their own shores in this time of turmoil. Ujikira-sama, like you, is a man of excellent taste, of discerning eye, and - I suspect - mightily familiar with the exchange of rice."

Hekasu folds his hands into his lap. "He has entrusted me with making the final selection in his name. I must do honor to him, as surely any who travel through the area will see the banners and hear of the festivities. And if I can bring a rare treat to the north, it could certainly spark the interest of those nearby."