Yuji considered the poor blade that had been entrusted to his care. Just as the shrine was a house for the spirits, the sword was the soul of a samurai, and just like the temple, this had been let fall into disgrace for no truly good reason. It should have been better cared for. A little maintenance...

Isawa Natsuko wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:07 am

Dice, man.

Also, not exactly a pacifist. But still… the dice were kind there

Pacifist not counting the people murdered for disrespecting tea.

Her cheeks reddened and she looked away. "I really don't understand poetry..." she sighed. "Animals are so much easier ." "Well, yes, Shinjo-san, and I'm sure you've found a lot of love with them. But there are some things they simply can't provide for you." he said, glancing away looking for words...

Smiling, Hirame vanished into his room, but only for a moment. He came out carrying a rolled up canvas. Unrolling it revealed a scene of a ship on the ocean. A young boy (it appeared) was looking over the side, and a young dolphin was dancing out of the water up towards him. It was painted with bol...

"There were two." she explained. "The first I thought was one of those letter games I've heard of. The second could be too, I suppose, but it seemed odd." She handed the letters over. New friends found in wild Spring shows the colors of life Winds blow to the west Forrest Calling us The guide is lo...

"Oh yes, I was hoping to find those." she grinned. 'Is there anything else? I received some letters suggesting I come out here." Yuji looked slightly puzzled. "Oh? Hm, well perhaps Shinjo-san. There are always smaller tales in larger woods. Did the letter give you any sort of hint as to what you we...

"I agree entirely." she nodded. "What do you know about this forest, Kakita-sama? Are there any points of interest within it or legends about it?" "Ah well, the Tsu fish come to mind." he offered. "Have you heard of them? Venom-clawed fish that lurk in the treetops waiting to jump down upon the unw...

Hirame's eyebrows went up. "Would you like to see the painting I did yesterday? I think it came out rather well, actually." He brought out a plate with a few rice balls placed a bit haphazardly on it, setting it on the table. Well, at least he was trying! Yuji was perfectly fine with the refreshmen...

"Shiba san, don't let the kitty die..." One of the children commented "Come on... That poor kitten has the worst of lucks." Another said out loud. Kuroneko chuckled as Kiba appeared next to him. He patted the black cat and placed it on his lap. "Well... The black cat is wounded, and the fox was sad...

Despite Yuji's misgivings about the temple, an art contest was something he could not miss out upon. He took up the calligraphy brush and wrote out a poem, "Leaves upon spring wind, Chasing away Winter's depths. Advancing Summer." He was quite pleased by the effort when two of his friends from the a...

It was certainly the oddest test since the Test of Waves. In Yuji's grandfather's time (or so he claimed), allowing a Yogo in to Tsuma during the Topaz Championship would have been scandalous beyond belief. But allowing one whose family's bloodline was literally famous as being cursed to betray to j...

"Hai. I still feel a bit lost in it all." she admitted. "But, it's exciting, thinking about what may come next. How do you feel about it all, Kakita-sama?" "Awe-filled I suppose would be the best way to describe it Shinjo-san. We are coming to the close of the first chapter of our lives we'll reall...

"I have, in fact." Hirame said. Moving back to the table, he set down the teapot, along with a pair of cups. "It's a little cold, I'm afraid." He said, pouring some tea into one and sliding it over to Yuji before going back for more supplies. "The painting yesterday had that effect on me, somewhat....

Yuji smiled.

"What path indeed?" he replied. "It's difficult to truly comprehend the change that awaits us in a few days, wouldn't you agree?"

Shinjo Jingyi wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 01, 2021 10:49 pm

"Perhaps he's just a good listener." she suggested. "I have the poem you requested, by the way."

Yuji smiled.

"Company and poetry on a woodland ride? You truly do know how to brighten a day Shinjo-san." he offered, pleased that she had a poem to offer.

Kuroneko smiled as the children looked at him with interest. "This new fox knew the dangers of the humans can bring because it had lost its partner when they were attacked by humans. The new fox tried its best to teach the cat and the fox to hide. One day, they were taken by surprise as a hunter kn...

Haru seemed to seriously consider the idea. "It is strange, we have been mistaken for each other before of course but bac home in our little village everyone knows us and it happens rarely. Here it has happened daily and I have really started to hate it, everyone seems to expect and hope that I am ...

"Please..." Hirame said, gesturing with open palm to a table, even as he went puttering about the room, rustling through the supplies that had been given to them. "Yeah, it's funny. I don't think that it's just our name that will be changing." He lifted up a teapot, frowned, gave it a little shake,...

Shinjo Jingyi wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:30 pm

"Exactly." She grinned and climbed into the saddle. "May I join you on your ride?"

Yuji nodded.

"Of course, while Yutaka is wonderful company he's not the most talkative." Yuji agreed.

Yutaka snorted disdainfully.

"Yes it is proper, though if I can be honest with you I am glad that was not my fate. There must be so much a brotherhood monk misses out on, not the least of which being marriage and a family. If such is your brother's fate he should be applauded for all he will have to give up. I suspect that if ...