To: Blood Dragons. Re: Seeking an Audience

[Yamamichi-gumi]

Sitting at his desk, Fuma Katashi pondered out what me might say to the illusive Blood Dragons.

I cannot be seen as weak, that much is clear. However, what can I do to obtain the desired meeting? It seems offensive to try to offer goods to sway them. No, that is the attitude merchants take, and these are clearly of the warrior's mentality. Its odd, although in incredibly different ways, the Hogosha in general and the Blood Dragons are anachronisms in this age. Would the ancients have suspected that we would still be concerned over matters in much the same way as they did, even while we have changed location and possess such impressive material goods?

He lights a cigarette, the scent of vanilla filling the area around him. A squeak comes from his seat as he spins in place at his desk a few times.

I always did admire their dedication though. A model for the rest of the House without question, as far as that goes.

Sitting up, and getting ready to sent the message he had been thinking through, he arrived at a final resolution.

I will open talks. It will go well, or it will go badly. Regardless, it will be done, and done without hesitation. After all, that is the way of all things of merit.

---

This message, encrypted on an up to date black-market level, has come from New Tokyo. The sender identification read as the "Yamamichi-gumi." As it is played, it is very apparent that a high grade audio and video capture device is being used. One can even make out small wisps of smoke coming from a stubbed cigarette in an ashtray in the background. Fuma stands in front of a desk with a polished metal emblem of his group on the wall in the background. His suit and tie look new, and were probably selected just for this occasion. His oration begins promptly, speaking Japanese with a resolved tone.

---

<Hello, my name is Fuma Katashi. I am the leader of the Yamamichi-gumi. Your intelligence operations will likely have a file on us somewhere, so I will not waste your time with many details about that.>

<Historically, our organizations have not seen eye to eye about many things, and this has been a source of conflict between all manner of Hogosha and Blood Dragons. I have personally had contact with men who were present during suspected Blood Dragon attacks, and likewise I have personally been involved in events that were likely involving the Blood Dragons. This however has been several years ago now, and I do not begrudge the Blood Dragons any successes they may have had against us in the past.>

Fuma pauses for a moment, breaking his formal persona for a moment. He pats a coat pocket and with a practiced movement produces a packet of cigarettes and gives them a few quick taps before popping one in his mouth. A man in a suit comes from off screen to light it for him, then quickly backs away as though he were never there. The boss looks over at the attendant, telling him to leave the room. A lightly wistful look takes him as the smoke clears, however he returns to the task at hand.

<Please forgive the interruption. A great deal occurred at that time, and the memory is very dear to me. To proceed, yes, it has been several years. Much has changed in Kusari, as well as outside of it. I feel that, in this climate of change, the time is right to open a dialogue with the Blood Dragons. It is my hope that you will consider this, and if possible, I would seek a personal meeting. It is so much better to talk to people, rather than devices and screens.>

He takes a drag, and moderately turns his head to exhale so that the smoke doesn't obscure him in the camera.

<If this is acceptable, I am willing to meet at whatever venue you might select if I am promised my safety. If that is not desired at this time, then just consider it an offer for the future then. Regardless, I think that some kind of communication between our groups holds the potential of value for both. I hope, at least in this, that we can agree.>

---

Returning to his cigarette for the moment, he cannot help but be a little surprised how far a kid from the slums can go in this world.
The die has been cast, now it is time to see what will come of it.

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