Chapter 5: Plans in the shadows
I don't own L5R or Rwby: they go to their rightful owners
Several more days passed and for Cao and Ruby they were business as usual. Ruby had to deal with lunch rushes at the tavern and work long hours. Cao sold and haggled for rare and exotic goods for immense profits. Cao continued showing up at the tavern and sitting in Ruby's section, and each time provided her with a substantial tip. However, this attention from him ate away at Ruby from the inside. She was fearful and paranoid that he or the other Wei Ronin would discover that she knew what they were up to.
This newfound fear and paranoia were certainly killing her this day. Like usual for lunch Cao had come for lunch and sat down at one of her tables. With a deep breath she tried to compose herself, and then turned to go greet him. What surprised her is Cao today was wearing a very stylish silver and white kimono, unlike his normal more world worn one she's always seen him in. Guess crime does pay after all.
"Hello Cao-san. What can I get you today?" Ruby asked politely
"Straight to the point today? I didn't expect this from you Ms. Rose." Cao said in pleasant surprise
"M-merely shortening the necessary formalities Cao-san…" Ruby replied shyly
"I see. Very well, friendly travels sake, and I can pour it when it arrives." Cao answers
"Of course, Cao-san." Ruby said with a bow, then goes to get his drink
Ruby slowly collects the Ronin's drink, but her hands are shaky. The same question keeps ringing in her head. Does he know she saw the operation? If he found out or knew, then he was playing a game with her. Trying to make her mess up or lure her way to deal with her in private. As she nervously returned with the drink, more and more scenarios filled her head.
"Are you sure you're okay Ms. Rose? I've never seen you so nervous and uncomfortable." Cao said with concern in his voice
"I'm sure Cao-san. I-I just didn't sleep good the past few nights…" Ruby replied sacredly
"Tell me why." Cao simply ordered
"Its fine sir, really it is…" Ruby tried to refuse
"I insist Ms. Rose. Tell me your plight." Cao ordered
"It is beyond my station Cao-san…" Ruby said
"Must you really make me ask you a third time Ms. Rose? You're not so foolish to refuse me a third time." Cao said with a sigh of dejection at the familiar situation
"Forgive me my lord. I am distraught because I have seen things that might put me and my family in danger…" Ruby answered finally and with nervous trepidation clears in her voice
"Danger? In Beacon? Under the guard of the watchful tigers of the Sotora?" Cao said in part shock, and partially as a jab at an old foe
"I know it sounds crazy Cao-san, but I don't know what to do?" Ruby said fearfully
"Ms. Rose, I assure you that you must have saw something and in the dark of night mistook what you saw. After all the mind plays tricks on one's mind under the pale moon light." Cao said smoothly and calmly, trying to work his magic to get her to calm down
"Cao-san, there was a light. I saw them… I saw them perfect…" Ruby said, shaking
At this Cao knew something was up. Outwardly he maintained his calm, stoic and charming exterior, but internally he was sighing and cursing. Every other time he was able to control her and keep her calm, but now suddenly whatever was on her mind was causing her to go crazy. She was his best contact in this city and safest bet for information. He could not let that slip, especially not now as he waited for the important guest to come and tell him of an important mission.
"Ms. Rose. Come take a seat. Clearly you are under some great duress and perhaps I could comfort you?" Cao asked
"Cao-san, it would be too great of an honor…" Ruby tried to say, but Cao cut her off with a finger gently to her lips
"Ms. Rose. I do not think that attempting to refuse me will work out in your favor. It hasn't twice already, and I guarantee you that third time will not be the charm. Please have a seat." Cao said politely, but with a hint of sternness to get the point across
"Yes Cao-san…" Ruby would say meekly as she sat next to him
"Don't worry. I will explain this situation to your boss should it come up." Cao said, seemingly answering a question he thought she would ask
"Thank you, Cao-san…" Ruby said gratefully
"Please, just Cao. If I am truly to help you, then we don't need formalities to get in the way. Don't we?" Cao said to her with a slight smile
"Your logic does make sense…" Ruby said after thinking for a moment
"There you go. Now a bit of sake to calm your nerves. Begin again and try to explain it to me with as much detail and precision as your memory will allow." Cao explained as he poured her a cup of his sake
After being handed her drink, she explained as she occasionally sipped on it. She worded it in a way to make sure he didn't know that she saw him and his men doing the deed. What surprised her is Cao seemed to genuinely believe her. In a rare moment of being able to understand what he's thinking, he seemed to follow along with her, asking questions and making minor comments.
Ruby's assessment was truer than she ever could have imagined. Cao in his paranoia of competitors and nervousness about the incoming important mission made him take it hook line and sinker. Any business is concerned with competitors, as it eats into profits. The Scales of the Carp however took it as a declaration of economic war. Their sole existence was to create profit for their masters. Without profit, their jobs were gone. Cao needed to try and find more about this to ensure his masters didn't get after him.
'Perhaps I can use the Sotora's to deal with them and get them off our backs. Worst comes to worst if this is somehow, though I doubt it at this point with how she is acting, a mistake…' Cao said deep in thought, but was broken from this chain by Ruby
"Are you okay Cao?" Ruby asked, remembering to drop the formalities temporally
"Terribly sorry Ruby, I became lost in thought. Is there anything else?" Cao asked
"U-unfortunately no… I'm terribly sorry for bothering you…" Ruby tried to say more but was cut off
"No not at all Ms. Rose. I will do anything in my power to ensure this problem is out of sight and out of mind for you. I can't stand seeing a wonderful customer and fantastic waitress go through such duress." Cao replied
"R-really?" Ruby stammered out
"Absolutely Ms. Rose. I will ensure that this problem of yours is solved. We can't have such ruffians running around this fair city." Cao replied
"How could this have happened? The city guard patrol every night and day endlessly. Magistrates run around everywhere, and yet smugglers in Beacon." Ruby said, starting to fret again
"I will alert the authorities to ensure this problem is handled the best as possible. Now get up, take a deep breath, and return to your duties Ms. Rose. I will pay for my meal and go deal with this immediately." Cao explained in his usual smooth and confident manner
"Thank you, Cao-san…" Ruby said and bowed respectfully before going to grab his bill
Cao then began thinking about how to go about this business. Magistrates where the eyes, ears and judges of the law. They were trained to see through lies and deceptions like clockwork. To send them about on this search, he needed to choose his words carefully, and ensure proper non-guilty body language and posture. The slightest hint and they will lay the letter of the law on his. Likely ending his life via the usage of a katana.
The Magistrate holding in the city was modest, with basic and standard aesthetics for a samurai run building. It was a running theme Cao noticed in that all the Sotora buildings in the city were modest. Entering inside it was sparsely furnished, but with enough amenities for any self-respecting law enforcement establishment. Very quickly a Magistrate, dressed in typical Sotora dark blue with a jade green trim kimono, approached him.
"Sir I am going to have to ask you to state your business. This is not a place for social calls." The magistrate, a black-haired woman of around 30 said to him sternly
"My apologizes for disturbing you Magistrate-san, but I have some information that might prove pertinent to apprehending a ring of smugglers in the city…" Cao replied with a respectful and understanding tone
"I'm sorry sir. Things have been a bit slow lately and we are on edge." The woman apologized with a slight bow
"I understand. Perhaps we can talk in your office and bring a scribe to ensure that the details are correctly
"That is acceptable." The magistrate replied as she called a short, stout peasant scribe to her side and then they entered his office
The conversation only lasted around 30 minutes, mostly due to Cao's careful choice of words and the scribes surprising ability to efficiently write. The magistrate, clearly having been bored by inaction, was quick to take the bait. As the details were rattled off, she become more and more attentive and active. She then began to ask question and further details, of which Cao gratefully supplied. By the time their talk was done, she had quickly bowed in respect to Cao, then rushed out of the room to get asses into gear. With this reaction Cao smiled.
'Anyone in this city that dares to compete with the Scales of the Carp will not last long now.' Cao thought to himself pleasantly
Later in the afternoon- Azura Sotoras family estate
Ruby panted a bit as she followed Yang and Zwei up the cobblestone road to Azura's family estate. This wasn't the first time she'd been here, both her and her sister have stayed with them while their father was away on business before. This weekend would be no different. Yang knocked on the door, and Azura would open it. He would smile as Zwei bolted through the door and began running around happily, looking for the residents of the house.
"Thank you and your folks so much for having us over again." Yang said, giving her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek
"A-anything for you and your family Yang. Let me help you two with your luggage." Azura said as he took both girls luggage from them
"Come on Ruby, we shouldn't keep them waiting." Yang said she walked through the door, and Ruby followed behind
As Ruby entered the rest of Azura's family came in to greet them. Azolum Sotora was the patriarch of the family and looked remarkably similar to his son Azura. The only differences were his lack of a scarred face and sharper facial features. Verdant walked out of the kitchen, the kind yet stern matriarch of the family. Her face was distinctive, with dark green eyes, silver colored hair, and a visibly kind face. Rounding out the family was Argent sotora, younger of the two brothers by a few years. Unlike Azura, Argent had a nice blend of his parents features, with green eyes, silver hair and sharp features.
"Why do we have to do this for peasants?" Argent asked with a groan, only to get a demonically angry look from his older brother
"You say that about my woman, or her sister again and I will put my katana through that insolent face of your!" Azura snapped in pure irate rage
"Boys. Not in front of our company." Verdant said simply and sternly, causing the two younger samurai to deescalate things extremely quickly
"Yes mother…" The two boys said in unison sheepishly
"Now you two please deliver our guests bags to their rooms now." Verdant politely ordered, and the two boys in a instant were on the task
"You need to teach me how to do that." Yang said with surprise
"It's a mom thing. You'll learn how to do it when you and Azura have kids." Verdant said with a coy smile
"Please don't encourage them. I'm too young to be a grandfather." Azolum said with a sigh at his wife's words
"Oh Azolum, its far too late for that." Verdant answered with a giggle
"Ancestors please have mercy upon me." Azolum muttered and looked to the sky in dejection
The two Sotora boys returned after carrying the luggage for their honored guests. Swiftly everyone piled into dinner, and servants served up a veritable feast. Seemingly endless amounts of high-quality rice, rich sake, and top-quality sashimi was merely the tip of the iceberg of the food. Ruby was amazed as this was even above what she had in any other visit. Verdant had a prideful smile, as if doing a bit of showing off her already impressive cooking skills.
"Are you okay Ruby? Do you require more food?" Verdant asked, looking over her still half full plates
"It's so much… I've never seen a table of food quite like this…" Ruby said with a bow of respect
"For future family Ruby, nothing is too great. Eat as much as you like, and of whatever you wish." Verdant said with a smile
As dinner died down after an hour, everyone filed out to prepare for bed. By the time Ruby was ready for bed it was firmly dark outside. Her room was modest, but still larger and better furnished than her room back home. She opened the window and looked out to the Zen garden outside. Though most of the house was modest, no expense was spared for the large and complex garden. As soon as she began turn after opening the window, she heard voices of two people. When she turned to look, she saw Azura and Azolum walking in the garden talking.
'What are those two still doing up?' Ruby thought as she decided to listen in on their conversation
"Father, are the rumors true?" Azura asked his father with concern in his voice
"Unfortunately, they appear to be. Our war footing grows stronger. All signs point to a push on the Wei lands." Azolum sighed in sadness and frustration
"This can't be true. How many had died in the war? If we couldn't beat them in the height of our power, then how can we beat them in our current state?" Azura asked confused
"There are elements of our clan and great nation that have become consumed with vengeance. That the losses of the war cannot be for nothing. Others like you and I fight to hold them back, but these reports of Wei activity have only spurred them onwards." Azolum explained
"If it comes to war many will die. I don't know if our clan is ready for war…" Azura said, become more and more concerned with each passing second
"My son, we must stand strong. For Yang and Ruby's sake at the very least. Its our duty as samurai to protect this nation and its people from all threats, even if it is our own kin." Azolum sternly reassured his son
"Yes Father…" Azura replied with a respectful bow
"For now, son I need you to keep a level head about you and your eyes peeled. We must continue our duties as normal. Even if war is to come, we must then be ready to face it." Azolum said with a nod, and bowed in kind to his son
"I hope you are right father. I really hope you are." Azura muttered as he walked past Ruby's window, forcing her to hide
This blew Ruby away as she hid under the window. War with the Wei? After all that had happened in the War of the Slaughtered? Ruby had heard many horrifying tales of the war. No one's family was unharmed by this conflict. So many clans on both sides wiped out, and there were those in the Wakano Covenant that wish to return to that? All the work she did, all the taxes she paid would potentially go towards something entirely pointless and destructive. Finally, Ruby had enough of dealing with being in Beacon and all this nonsense. The camel's back finally broke.
Sorry for the delay, but family and work happened. Fair warning that the output will be inconsistent, but at least 1 chapter per week I can guarantee. Also, the lengths of the chapters will be inconsistent as well. I go by completing I wish to accomplish in the chapter, not by an arbitrary set length. Next chapter things will get things rolling in, "Forging of an uneasy alliance."