"Certainly, Miss Demidova." 

Goemon accepted Galina's arm easily, moving alongside the Lady Spy on their way towards the lower decks. There wasn't much space for 'back ways' aboard the Empress, and what few there were would hardly be known to the carefree guests aboard. So the pair took one of the common ways down, meeting only few who had likewise left the dinner early, or hadn't attended to begin with. Rare and rarer still as they continued on, until not even the footsteps of others could be heard. 

They spoke little, but it wasn't necessary at this point. To those few who might have passed by, they were one of many couples -albeit more exotic than most- out to enjoy the cruise together. It was a ruse Goemon was content to commit to... as much as it took for appearances, at least. But to the those aboard, appearances were everything, weren't they?

"Just a little further, his room is the last one on the hall." 

The hall in question stretched back to the stern of the ship, as if trying to reach the sea itself. One of the lowest decks, the pitch and pull of the massive vessel was felt more strongly here than anywhere else, so close to the keel. Even the Empress could not completely ignore the swell of waves that struck her sides or rolled beneath her, and while Goemon felt at home in the narrow, subtly shifting corridors, he made sure to keep an eye on the Lady. It wouldn't do to allow such a woman to lose her balance, of course, or to succumb to sea sickness. 

Not that one such as Galina was likely to do either. A spy of her caliber would either be far too experienced to be unnerved by the shifting ship... or far too composed to let such weakness show.

Finally, they reached the end of the hall, Goemon extricating himself from Galina to take one step closer to the door. Reaching out, it rapped his knuckles sharply against the heavy steel. Once, pause, then twice more in succession. 

"There we go, he should be expecting us now." Reaching for the latch, he pulled the door wide, bowing slightly as he swept his free hand before him. "After you, my lady."

~-~-~

Takahiro finished his meal quickly, but remained content to stay seated, ever-so-slowly sipping from his own shallow cup. His staff rested on the ground behind the low table, end close enough to reach should he need to rise, but otherwise out of the way.

He pondered many things in the time allowed to him. What this night might mean, what importance his continuing mission still held, what his 'superiors' -or more importantly, his father- might think if they discovered this little 'aside'. Some might understand the strive to regain some measure of honor lost... but only some. To the rest? Well, it would be surprising if they thought he had any honor to lose.

Such was the fate of a glorified criminal. A lifetime of smuggling, bribery, extortion and more might have allowed Takahiro and his clan to rise to a rank equal to the Samurai their country so hated yet revered, but only the hatred seemed to have come with that ascension. To the true Samurai, he and his own were less than people, doubly so for having the 'shame' to claim themselves equal to the warrior-scholars. To the nobility, he and his own were a tool to use, one to be thrown away the moment it was no longer needed, just as they were doing with the Samurai themselves. And to the common folk, he was either a relic of the past abusing position for whatever liberties he could take, or a petty thug who happened to make good with the right dirty noble.

It wasn't a winning scenario by any means... but when had it ever been?

Tonight would likely be the same, but for once the thought didn't bother Takahiro in the least. Tonight, petty as it might be, unwise as it might be, he was a leader in the only way his clan knew how to lead: by making it clear that if you wanted to insult or injure one of their own... you had better be ready to expect retribution.

And so he remained calm, looking up only when the knocks on the door told him Goemon had arrived. He kept his composure calm as the door swung open, and moved only when he saw Galina step into view, raising the ceramic jug of sake up for her to see.

"Missu Demidova- a pleasure!" He smiled brightly towards the woman, as if he had just happened to stumble upon the one he had been searching for, ever since that wonderful night at the Winchesters. "Please! Sit, have drink!"