The young Unicorn chucked to himself, his face a near perfect mask of sympathy for his kinswoman.

"…And so you see, Yoshitaka-san, how I find myself in my current predicament."

"All to easy," Shinjo Yoshitaka thought to himself as he gazed across the low table at the young Houriuchi woman seated across from him.

In the prior weeks he had be successful in locating Houriuchi Aziza, a young bride with some magical talent and wife to a Moto with a gambling problem.

Yoshitaka mentally shifted uncomfortably at the thought of the Moto. Moto Jukan, a boorish gunso of Janghaur army. Jukan was celebrated by his family for his military genius, so much was his glory that it awarded him the hand of young and impressionable Houriuchi Aziza. Oh, how Yoshitaka did despise Moto Jukan. Fortunately, the young courtier had to only endure the presence of the Moto for one intolerable evening.

Over dinner with the pair one night, Yoshitaka had used his power with words to compel the young bride to let it slip that Jukan had amassed some amount of gambling debts. The sake had helped as well. He was sure that given the look Jukan had given her after her outburst that the Moto had taken great care to provide Aziza a physical reminder of the finer points of dishonor. Even now, sitting across from the woman weeks later, Yoshitaka thought he could see the bruises on her face.

It was a shame he lamented, she had a rather pretty face.

The rest of the con went as expected. The Shinjo eventually made contacted with the holder of this debt and through a series of exchanges ensured the bookie that if proper pressure was applied when the time was right, fruit might be born.

Today was that day.

Yoshitaka had seen the eta carrying away the bloodstained body of a peasant as he entered the house's grounds. No doubt the symbol used by the toughs of the War Dogs telling Jukan to pay the proverbial piper.

A barely contained Aziza greeted him in the garden and with little prodding on his part, she had all but begged him for help.

"That is truly terrible, Moto-sama. Perhaps your husband has done something to bring about a curse from Daikoku himself upon him. He should endeavor to make penance and perhaps the great Fortune will forgive him."

"Perhaps," the Moto bride gazed down dejectedly. "I will suggested that to him when he returns."

An awkward silence held the air. Yoshitaka beamed under his face.

"Shinjo-san?" Aziza inquired.

"Please, Moto-sama, I have told you to call me Yoshitaka," he responded.

"Yes of course," she responded. "I caution to ask you this, but I believe you to be a man of means."

The Moto bride paused, letting her words sink in to herself.

"I would owe you a great favor if you could arrange for this debt to be erased," she said flatly, devoid of emotion.

Yoshitaka's first response was simply to flick his fan open, as if to block himself from the dishonor of her proposition.

After sometime, he answered, "I believe I could assist you in this matter Moto-sama. However, I am curious, in what major of favor to me do you speak of?"

Her quick response indicated her excitement, "Anything."

"Anything indeed." He fan snapped to a close and rapped softly against his chin; his eyes moving over her body. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Please Moto-sama, tell more about these magical amulets that your father's family is known for."