[It wasn't the place or the time- not to be asking such personal things amongst a whole crew of nosy lookie-lous who could remember a slip of information or emotion if it caused one, and that was a show of respect that Matoba gives him for the fact that they are equals. It was the sort of thing he'd rather ask Ryouma over a private drink, or in the quiet secrecy of the temple verandas again.]

[And besides, he still had to ask Hizen.]

Ahaha, I thought the crowd would get to you before the crows, [Matoba grins, and finally picks up his tea to relax from the previously dire business discussions. Seems that's been more or less settled.] My apologies for not finding you and giving them a little taste of their own medicine; I got a little sidetracked after I checked in with the boss.

[With watching a forest heretic-god just straight up eat a crow. That was ...interesting.] I suppose that simply means that we will have to make internal appeals to soothe things over, once we have built ourselves up against the outside. What exactly did you give up that they were they so worked up over? Or was it simply useless pride.