If you build it

As expected of a member of Hattori’s pack, the first to arrive did so quickly. He was much smaller than Raijin and quite lithe, and the way one of the man’s ears flopped reminded him a bit of the puppy. The scowl, however, did not. No, that one bore a striking resemblance to his cousin and, if he didn’t know the latter better, he might have even suspected him of being one of his kiddos. He offered him a question with quite the distrusting tone, dismissing the normal formality of an introduction and getting straight to the point. He made a mental note to triple check his lineage with Tori.

A rustling and heavy breathing alerted him to the presence of another, and he turned his head to see the approach of a larger, more thickly built male. The markings across his grey pelt seemed like they verged on koi, but decided not to at the last second. Between the two, comparing their appearances and personalities at a glance, they certainly didn’t seem like brothers. But what did he know.

He offered his signature charming grin as the other sibling got to the point as well. Ah, there it was. ”Well, it seems Hattori has given you a forewarning of my call. Thank you for answering so quickly,”he began, offering a cordial bow of greeting and appreciation. ”My partner and I recently joined Tojo-Kai and welcomed a litter of pups. I have some things I need to square away with a pack up north and will be gone for a few weeks, but in the meantime I would appreciate it if you would begin construction on a hut for us. I have the blueprints with me and I’ve already cut down most of the bamboo from the younger trees on the outskirts, so all you would need to do is follow the guidelines and get as much of it set up as possible. Whatever isn’t finished when I get back I can do on my own.”

Raijin was a social man, a born diplomat, but it still felt odd to him to request something so important to a pair of strangers. It wasn’t that he didn’t think they could do it, Hanzõ never would have suggested them otherwise, but surely they had better things to do. ”Of course, I don’t ask this without a reward in mind. I know of a trader who sells quality Sake, and I’m happy to give you both a bottle for your troubles, as well as a promise to help with one good favor in the future each. I’m a man of many talents, so I assure you that this is a worthy trade,” the Koi Genji offered, sealing it with an impish wink.

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