Shiba Haru stood against the wall near the entrance to the dojo stunned. The space was much larger than he was used to and grander than he ever imagined. His gaze studied every detail of the space, and his awe for it was apparent. Closing his eyes and lowering his head he muttered a quick prayer to his ancestors for paving his path to this moment, one he had dreamed about since he first picked up a bokken.

"I will not disappoint you."

The skinny girl in a dark kimono and Kuni face paint who enters after Haru raises his head probably looks keenly out of place. But her posture, and what's clear of her facial expression beneath the make up, is all determination as she steps in and starts to memorize the space. She's close to Haru but doesn't seem to notice him for a while. After a deep exhale at the impressiveness of the space, her eyes finally seem to reach wide enough that she notices the Phoenix.

"Ah, good morning, Phoenix-san," she says, only a bit embarrassed to have not noticed him sooner. "This is, um, most impressive."

Haru turned his attention to the voice, studying them briefly before bowing.

"Greetings Kuni-san. It is grander then I ever imagined, you can feel the greatness that has passed through this place. Generations of the greatest swordsman ever to live have either trained here or attended this gempukku, it is an honor to walk in their footsteps. I am Shiba Haru, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Mitsuko gives a small nod of agreement regarding the prestige of the place.

"Hai. And I am Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai and honored student of the Hida Battle Leader dojo," she says, bowing exactly as expected.

"I hope to be in here a lot. Ensure that I'm ready for all of the tests of the coming days." Although the Crab certainly doesn't look frail, her lean frame might hint that physical challenges aren't her strong point.

"This was my first stop and if it were not uncouth I would likely sleep in the bushes outside the whole week." he said with a playful smile. "Would you care to join me in a walk through the place?"

The Kuni girl keeps a loud guffaw from coming out at the Shiba's joke, instead giving a tiny huff sound and a smile. "Um, of course, Shiba-san. Scouting the terrain is important," she agrees, and starts off at a very casual pace. "You are, of the Shiba Bushi School, I assume?" She asks politely as they walk.

"Ah, yes I am though we somewhat grandiosely refer to it as the Shiba Guardian School. Every one of us is a soldier the same as you or the Akodo over there but each of us is trained to serve as a yojimbo as well which is something I understand to be less common throughout the empire."

The Shiba lowered his voice a bit. "To be honest with you it mostly entails standing still for long periods of time though the training to identify and deal with sudden attacks is interesting; I doubt it differs much from any other schools training on the subject of ambushes."

He gave the Kuni a wink and smile.

"Likewise I have never heard of the Hida Battle Leader School, is it focused on training commanders or would I know it as the Hida Bushi School?"

Mitsuko's eyes squint a little in question at Haru's wink and smile, but sure seems to sort of grudgingly grin in reply. At his question, she explains, "Hai, the Battle Leader dojo is an elite training program for future commanders. Those who will manage the many aspects of holding the Wall more through their decision-making than their tetsubo-swinging. We must learn some of that as well, but it is a very different program overall than the Hida bushi students see."

The Kuni manages to show a little pride in her school without any condescension toward the rank-and-file Crab bushi she'll end up commanding.

"I am more honored to meet you than I thought. No duty is more vital than yours will be, no fortification more important than the one you will defend. It is good to have gotten to meet you, now I have a name and face to go with my prayers. I will only be able to fulfill my duty because you fulfill yours."

Haru turned to the Kuni and bowed deeply and formally.

"Thank you."

Mitsuko is fortunate to have a moment to recover herself while Haru's heard is bowed, so he can't see her eyes widen and mouth gape slightly at the recognition. What kind of fire chicken...

Her distress has cleared when the Shiba's eyes are back on her, but she realizes she needs to find some words to respond with. "Er, thank... you... for the, um, courtesy? Or honesty. Something... Virtuous. It's appreciated," she finally manages, bowing her head briefly to affirm her words and give her mind another moment to recover.

"My brother Jiro will be most interested in meeting you as well, his estimation of the Crab clan far exceeds my own. Though we are separated by great distance the Shiba have not forgotten that the horrors you face daily claimed the life of our Kami, it is not something to be taken lightly."

Haru continued to move about the space with his companion.

"Does your school teach dueling?" he asked with keen interest.

Mitsuko remains silently impressed, still unsure what to make of the Shiba's sincerity. Haru's question pulls her out of her thinking.

"Ah, not to a great extent, Shiba-san. It... The Crab do not generally duel in the Iaijutsu style. Students are... made aware of it, but future commanders generally aren't expected to need it much. Our..." She glances around, a touch nervous to discuss it here. "Our ancient enemies aren't much impressed by style, or even by katana in general," she says without humor.

"I thought that might be the case, it is unfortunate the sacrifices you are forced to make for our sakes. Is this your first time leaving Crab lands?"

"Hai, Shiba-san," Mitsuko says, nervous but calming. Oh, there is a topic I like less than talking about me.

"There, um, there isn't much time for getting out and about when you're studying at an elite school," the Crab says honestly. "There is much to learn, and I have... It takes some time to preserve my family connections, studying at a... Non-traditional dojo for a Kuni." Visible only partially through her thick makeup is a look of combined pride and embarrassment.

"Then you should take some time to explorer while you are here, see the things that you protect every day. Perhaps go for a ride outside the city at some point, I'm sure the Crane will have horses for our use, I expect a horsemanship contest at some point during our trials."