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"I hear he's stuck up."

"All lords are stuck up, Rou."

"You're not stuck up."

"Yes I am, in the right circumstance and context."

"Pffft. Don't let Korin hear you say that."

"Back to Takayama-san, please."

"Right, right. So, get this, his father is assassinated and he's sent to the Jade Empire by his oh-so-caring uncle. The boy never makes it. He gets found in some port town, presumably he was dumped there or escaped, it doesn't matter. He crosses the country to find out that his uncle is trying to get his greedy little hands on the Takayama's family title. Understandably, little Daiichi is pissed as hell."

"Is this the point form version?"

"Do you want the detailed version?"

"Perhaps best to wait..."

"That's what I thought."

"It was a joke."

"Mn."

"Rou..."

"I know, I know. Best behavior..."

"Then stop being cross at me."

"I am not being cross."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not!"

"I am not having this argument with you."

"You sound like Korin."

"Perhaps Minobe-san has a point."

"Oi..."

"You brought that on yourself."

"I know... Damn you and your logic."

"Logic has its uses."

"That's the door up there."

Sohma no Kosakiu brushed a strand of ebon hair from his brow and tucked it behind his ear, amber eyes moving to the door in question. Takayama Daiichi. His family had a long standing station among the Great Lords, although they had hardly taken an active part in the court for several years. It had nearly been a generation since the last one had bothered to come to the palace and use the official suit set aside for them. It was something of a surprise (a pleasant one to be sure, but a surprise nonetheless) that the new heir-apparent had taken his father's station as well as a vested interest in the world beyond his estate's borders.

The raven haired Great Lord cast a glance over his shoulder at Rouichi. The redhead was walking an uncharacteristic step behind him, his face a mask of casual indifference. He knew his companion was at least a little irritated with him, and he supposed that the other male had good reason. Sohma had asked him to act as a normal aide would and to keep his comments to himself. It was not a kind thing to ask a man as independent and strong willed as Rouichi, but it had been a necessary request. Daiichi Takayama was a Great Lord, a young Great Lord, and impressionable in the first days of his visit to the palace. It was absolutely imperitive that the first meeting be a favorable one. If he could gain the trust and allegiance of another Great Lord before Ozawa got his teeth in him it would make everyone's lives easier.

"I'll make it up to you," Sohma muttered over his shoulder. Rouichi snorted but did not reply, falling into the calculated role of a dutiful servant. The Great Lord shook his head and knocked.

Sohma smiled sadly and folded his hands in his lap. "My most sincere condolences. Your father was a great man, Takayama-san. It is a shame to see him go before his time." Necessary formalities, although he genuinely was extending his support for the youth. He had never met the elder Takayama in person and therefor did not know him, and as such could not make a claim about how great a man he was. Daiichi probably knew that as well as Sohma did. Still, the serene curve of his lips and the placid expression never once left his lips.

"My name is Sohma no Kosakiu, as you may know," he said, affording the other man a smile as he returned his words. "I apologize for not coming to see you sooner, Takayama-san. There has been quite a bit to do as of late. Politics and the like, you know how it gets." Daiichi was watching him with a well-developed mask of nonchalance that did nothing to hide his emotions. It was the way of the lords to talk from behind barriers and solidly constructed walls. Sohma himself directed every remark from behind one, although he considered it more a self-discipline than a facade. He had seen it countless times, and countless times it had done nothing to help them.

I wish Father had thought to bring me up to speed on which families are with us or against us. I do not wish to be fighting this man

"If there is anything that I can assist you with be sure to let myself or my pages know," Sohma added, his expression warming just slightly. "I understand that the move from your estate and the business there has likely taken up a lot of your time. Have you had a chance to tour the palace?"

"Well then, we will certainly have to see about changing that as quickly as possible," Sohma replied politely, not sparing a glance for Kenji as the other man left with the intention to get tea and mentally muttering about hoping he remembered all the proper rules about how to go about setting everything out. The poor man, it was obvious that he had not had the same page learning that most of the retainers in the palace had had. Then again Rouichi did not either, but Rouichi had a genius-level information intake that could absorb just about anything and retain the knowledge for it. He really did not count.

"It would be a pleasure to walk you around the palace and give you a formal tour, Takayama-san." It was a page's job really, maybe a lower ranking noble at best. A Great Lord would never have submitted himself to being a tour guide - well, not usually. People tended to do things a bit out of character when they were trying to win the favor of someone. That wasn't why Sohma was doing it. That was usually not the reason Sohma did anything he did. "That is, if you would like to see it of course," the raven haired Great Lord added wryly.

"A Great Lord's schedule usually is," Sohma replied a tad hurmorlessly, picking up his teacup and sipping from it with casual grace. "As you will no doubt see, I imagine," he added, wathcing Daiichi over the rim of his cup. The other male was trying to figure out his motives. They all did, in the beginning. Some still did. It was a bit disappointing that humanity had come to a state of such distrust that a casual tour through the palace had to be equated to trying to win someone's favor. But he was used to it, he supposed. He could no more blame Daiichi for his thoughts as he could himself for his own. That was just the way the world worked.

"I will always have time for you, Takayama-san. Just say the word and we will go. Paperwork-" his serene smile didn't waver as he gestured at the tea," -is of little concern compared to dealing with actual people. I'm sure it will still be there in my office in an hour or two."

Sohma followed the line of Daiichi's eyes to Kenji while the other man wasn't looking and smiled to himself, quietly amused. Not at Kenji's expense of course, but at the apparent level of camaraderie. It reminded him a little bit of Rouichi and himself. There were significant differences, but it was nice to come across a Great Lord who had an attachment to his staff that was not something strile and without meaning. It was good to know Daiichi valued the life of his retainer. It was more than could be said for some.

The more that Sohma sat with him the more he was convinced that he had to win Daiichi's favor before Ozawa got to him. The young man seemed talented and strong willed, and there was a sense of honor about him that was unmistakable. Sohma was usually a good judge of character and he knew that this was a man with a level head on his shoulders and more than just dust in his heart. It would be a shame to let him loose with the other lords.

"Now is just fine Takayama-san," he informed, allowing Kenji to take his now empty cup. Inclining his head and pushing to his feet, Sohma folded his hands into his sleeves and waited for Daiichi and Rouichi to do the same. "Will you be bringing - oh, my apologies," Sohma said, turning suddenly to Kenji. He smiled at the other man. "I did not receive your name. Higashi-san was it?" Kenji nodded and Sohma bowed ever so slightly to him. "My sincerest gratitude for your help the other night, Higashi-san. I hope that we will be able to repay you."

Rou was looking deliberately apathetic, probably because he knew it would unsettle his lord, and Kenji was miffed at it. Not for the first time that day Sohma wished that Rouichi would stop being cross with him. He knew that it had irritated his friend to have been asked to curb himself - and honestly, the raven haired lord had figured it would be good for him. Rouichi had not had to curb his tongue to a Great Lord or any lord in long enough that his arrogence was starting to reach dangerous heights. He didn't mind, but Sohma knew that Rou was going to get himself into more trouble than he could handle if he kept it up. It was only special protection which had saved him from the wrath of the other lords so far.

Right now he was just being foolish.

"Sadly things do not change too terribly much here - well, as far as the government is concerned. I'm sure there is a lot you will find new and strange as far as dealing with the people in the palace goes." Sohma took his swords from Kenji and slipped them back into his obi, smiling and thanking the young retainer for handing them to him. He caught the slight puzzlement that radiated from Daiichi with some sense of inner amusement and only added to that by opening the door himself and leading the way out into the hallway.

"The first thing that I will tell you Takayama-san, Higashi-san, is that you may feel free to speak plainly with me," he told them, smiling to each in turn. Rouichi took up position a polite half-step behind. "While sometimes necessary, formality can be troublesome in casual conversation. I implore the both of you to ask if you have any questions. I am not the kind of man who treats those beneath my station with any kind of distaste." He glanced back at Kenji. "That means you as well, Higashi-san. I invite you to speak plainly."

Sohma laughed quietly and turned his head to regard Daiichi just out of the corner of his eye, his face a mask of its usual serenity. "In order for something to be offensive," the ebon haired lord said, his voice soft and patient, "one must first allow it to be offensive. If you do not allow the harsh words of others to sting you then they are simply that - words. A word is not a blade, it cannot cut or do harm unless it strikes true. I know myself, I know my honor and I know the people that I employ. By doing so, I know the things that may be said about myself and them cannot hurt me."

Sohma lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair from his brow. "Sadly, Takayama-san, the palace is a hostile environment. One cannot expect the ten great powers of our country to sit calmly by while others surpass them. Alliances and enemies are made every day here, as are words of praise and subtle threats. I have learned to give my peers a measure of tolerance and respect and, if they are noble and honorable, then they will then give me the same measure of tolerance and respect. If they then use it to try and make a fool out of me deliberately, then I know my benefit of the doubt has been wasted."

Sohma smiled at Daiichi. "It says a lot about a man's character how he takes to casual conversation."

Namiko.

There were not a great many people that Sohma no Kosakiu hated in this world or the next. He could say with honesty that there were only two. He rightfully considered himself a patient man - a forgiving man. But there were some things a person simply could not let pass. Lady Ozawa had not quite ranked up there yet, but he had no doubt that she would eventually. Her husband after all was one of them and she was extremely close herself.

"Lady Ozawa," he greeted politely, the ever-serene expression afixed to his face as he inclined his head slightly. Sohma could not remember the last time that they had actually bowed to each other. He suspected that they never would again. Frankly, he suspected she was liable to put a knife in him if he turned his eyes anywhere else. It was bad enough that her aggressive thoughts gave him headaches. "As always, it is a pleasure to see you."

I hear your dog took a swim last night.

He sensed Rouichi tense behind him. Although the Great Lord could not see his face, he suspected the redhead was fighting hard to keep the sneer off it. Sohma hoped that he was succeeding, although it was not for Namiko's sake. The last thing that they needed was to create a scene in front of Daiichi. They both knew that the Lady Ozawa would not do anything too outrageous in front of company.

"Thankfully," Sohma replied softly, his mild-mannered temprement unchanged, "he is a very good swimmer, but thank you for your concern nonetheless, Lady Ozawa. If not for the city guard I'm not sure what would have happened." He smiled pleasantly at her. "I had heard rumor that your retainer, Yukihiro-san, was in the area at the time. Did you have something important to fetch from town last night?" Rouichi had told him that the Ozawas did not know that the one responsible for saving Rou's life had been Korin and Kenji. Hopefully she would swallow the idea that the redhead had been saved by the city watch.

"The city watch," Sohma replied easily, his eyes on Namiko's and nowhere else. Lying had always been something he had been good at. Any great politician or lord had to have a superb silver tongue. If he didn't he could not expect his career to last very long in either field. Daiichi wouldn't know - probably couldn't know from only this introduction - but this particular lie was saving him the life of his friend and retainer. Lady Ozawa was a vindictive woman who would not hesitate to kill the one responsible for Yukihiro's failure. "As soon as they saw what had happened they rushed right in to help. I am certainly glad that the city guards are so fine at their job."

Sohma feigned a look of regret. "Sadly I did not catch the names of the men that brought Rouichi home," he added. "Else I'd have sent them my gratitude. When I find out I'll be sure to send them your way, my lady."