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Mornings in the city should be calm. No threat of raids or rampaging Pokémon, minimal threat of waking up to a knife at one's throat - granted, Rokuto was tucked away safely in the castle, much to his displeasure, but one could never be too careful. Still, the rapid scuffling noise that he awoke too was far too close to be the antics of an overeager servant. As the boy shot up alertly in his futon, he was greeted not with an intruder but a large puff of purple that fidgeted and vibrated in the corner.

[color=00b33c]"You better not be chewing holes in my clothes again,"[/color] Rokuto wearily groaned as he rose to his knees for a better look at what the venonat was doing. While not quite mischief, its claws scraped frantically across its face and antennae in a sort of preening gesture, sending wisps of purple dust descending to the ground beneath it.

Pulling a blanket over his mouth to avoid breathing any of the poisonous refuse in, Rokuto finally stood to shoo his Pokémon away. [color=00b33c]"Ugh, you're gonna kill someone - do that outside. Back in the ball,"[/color] He ordered with the bug-type's Pokéball brandished. Poyo offered nothing to defend itself, and it merely tilted curiously and gurgled in response before complying. At least the thing knew how to listen. Unfortunately, Rokuto was left with the challenge of getting poison powder out of a tatami mat.

Ugh, whatever; the servants could handle it. If the Shogun's men were so insistant that he stay in the castle, it was the least they could do. As Rokuto made his way out of his room and into the mazelike corridors of the castle, he immediately scanned the area for one of the castle staff. Petty or not, he didn't want some housekeeper ending up sick because they blundered into his room with a broom unprepared.

[color=00b33c]"Can you do me a favor? Tell whoever cleans my room to be careful when they're sweeping; there's venonat dust everywhere,"[/color] Rokuto offhandedly mentioned to the first servant he passed. He lingered just long enough to ensure the man understood, then quickly went on his way. The earlier he could vacate the castle, the better; it was hard to put on a convincing act when half the town had witnessed him leaving the Shogun's palace an hour earlier. Luckily, he could stuff a wig under his [i]haori[/i] easily enough.

Rokuto ducked out of the gates at the tail end of a samurai's procession under the veil of a wide-brimmed hat, then made his way immediately to the inn. Not for the food, but to catalogue any new travellers that lingered in Saffron. Anyone he recognized would surely be of interest to the Shogun - and spirits knew, Rokuto needed all the help he could get ingratiating himself to the man - but more importantly, it told him exactly who to avoid when a visitor fumbled in bearing Viridian Clan heraldry.

The inn itself was as it always was; a few merchants already in a rush to attend their business, a passing warrior or two seeking their next client, and of course, that machoke of a woman that Rokuto had seen around town lately. The boy settled on a cushion across from the monster in question, hoping her outlandish stature would draw lingering eyes away from him. It wasn't until he heard a vaguely familiar voice that Rokuto realized he'd miscalculated. The assistant - or nephew, apparently - from that shop where he'd commissioned a new grappling hook was [i]right[/i] there. Normally it wouldn't bother Rokuto in the slightest, but that purchase was a bit hard to justify for an ordinary traveller. Then again, this guy didn't seem like the type to ask many questions.

[color=00b33c]"Oh hey, you're that guy from the shop!"[/color] Rokuto enthusiastically pointed out, suddenly wide-eyed and eager in contrast to the sullen expression he'd nursed all morning, [color=00b33c]"D'you know when your uncle - I think you said - will be finished with that climbing gear? The order was for Rintaro."[/color] At least this would save him a trip to the market today to check up on the status of his order.

[hr][@AThousandCurses]