Having refershed himself, Kakita Yuji returned to the training grounds. The hoop was gone and the balls were put away, but just because one was competing in the most glorious gempukku ceremony of the Empire, did not mean one could skip sword practice. And so Yuji took up the bokken, and started drilling with the thousand strikes that would one day lead to the one perfect one.

Properly sat in a corner of the training grounds, Kaoru was meticulously taking notes, one eye on a book spread before her, one on the courtyard and the persons using it.

She bowed to the duelist in training:

"Kakita-sama, this one is Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. Do you mind if I observe your training?"

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:40 am

Properly sat in a corner of the training grounds, Kaoru was meticulously taking notes, one eye on a book spread before her, one on the courtyard and the persons using it.

She bowed to the duelist in training:

"Kakita-sama, this one is Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. Do you mind if I observe your training?"

Yuji bowed to the Scorpion considering her request.

"I am Kakita Yuji, at least for awhile longer." he said. "I don't mind, Shosuro-san, but I must warn you....it's not particularly interesting to watch. No more than watching someone practice calligraphy strokes."

He smiled a bit.

"But if you wouldn't mind talking while I swing and you write, it could perhaps be a little more interesting, ne?"

"Repetition is no issue. Spectating one hundred and seven imperfect movements is a small price to pay for the opportunity to witness one perfect strike.

But as you wish. You've getting married away then? Or am I misinterpreting your statement?"

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:43 pm

"Repetition is no issue. Spectating one hundred and seven imperfect movements is a small price to pay for the opportunity to witness one perfect strike.

But as you wish. You've getting married away then? Or am I misinterpreting your statement?"

Yuji blinked for a moment. Those Scorpion certainly did earn their reputation for putting one off guard.

"Ah no, Shosuro-san. I was referring to the tradition of choosing one's own name upon the completion of their gempukku. Well, not so much your own name as choosing which ancestor you wish to honor and add glory to their name." he reflected.

He took up his practicing stance, and fell into the rhythm of swinging.

"Although Shiba-san did tell me he met his match at this tournament quite differently than is normal. I'm sure the two will have amazing stories to share with their eventual children about competition against one another in the tournament."

Draw, slice, return. Draw, slice, return.

"Are Shosuro-san's own nuptials imminent, coloring their perception of the answer?"

"Negotiations with the nakodos are still ongoing, but results are expected before the end of the year, and then betrothal and wedding soon after. A good marriage is the next important life step after gempukku, it is only appropriate to already be preparing for it. Though, of course the bulk of our attention should be dedicated to the current trial.

And for betrothed to compete in the championship does feel like a blessing in fact. Both their families now have confirmation that their future in-law is indeed the very best their clan has to offer, on par with their own blood.

I'll take it you're not yourself engaged yet then?"

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 09, 2021 10:09 pm

"Negotiations with the nakodos are still ongoing, but results are expected before the end of the year, and then betrothal and wedding soon after. A good marriage is the next important life step after gempukku, it is only appropriate to already be preparing for it. Though, of course the bulk of our attention should be dedicated to the current trial.

And for betrothed to compete in the championship does feel like a blessing in fact. Both their families now have confirmation that their future in-law is indeed the very best their clan has to offer, on par with their own blood.

I'll take it you're not yourself engaged yet then?"

Draw, slice, reset.

"Not that I've been informed of. But then as Shosuro-san so adeptly pointed out, our focus should be on the current trials. I'm sure that whatever negotiations take place will end well." he said with confidence.

After all, pretty Crane duelists were not typically a coin that was hard to spend.

"But it's not terrible to have a side project to work on as well. It keeps one balanced. For example, I'm working on a sort of final project for my days at the Academy. I am attempting to collect two poems from each of the competitors. The first a reflection on their initial impression of Tsuma and the tournament, and the second their final impression. A collection of the transition from childhood to adulthood told from a myriad of viewpoints all sharing the distinction of being the best of the upcoming generation. Would Shosuro-san care to contribute their own words to such an endeavor?"


Draw, slice, reset.

"Tanka? Haiku? Waka? Ancient or modern pronunciation? Strict syllabic pattern or flee flowing?"

Draw. Slice. Reset.

"Whichever you feel best represents your experience, Shosuro-san. Most thus far have tended towards Haiku/Modern/Strict but a couple have turned their hand towards towards the other forms. Given the diverse background of the attendees of the tournament, is it any wonder that the approaches to poetry are quite different?" he returned.

Draw. Slice. Reset.

"Understood."

The cogs in her brain started turning.

"The choice of a form is no trivial matter. It expresses a lot about oneself, sometimes even more so than the actual words of a poem. I myself would need to think about it at length before committing to one.

I'm not sure I've fully grasped what you intend to do with all these poems once you've collected them all however. Store them in your private collection?"

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 10, 2021 8:40 am

"Understood."

The cogs in her brain started turning.

"The choice of a form is no trivial matter. It expresses a lot about oneself, sometimes even more so than the actual words of a poem. I myself would need to think about it at length before committing to one.

I'm not sure I've fully grasped what you intend to do with all these poems once you've collected them all however. Store them in your private collection?"

Draw. Slice. Reset.

"I intend to present them to my sensei. After that, the matter is out of my hands. I would like to think that they'll be used to inspire future competitors, or perhaps shared at a Winter Court to promote unity among the clans. Or perhaps they'll be used to prop up a wobbly tea table. Art is tout of the artists hands once created, is it not? The world does with it what it will."

Draw. Slice. Reset.

"Unless your sensei explicitly required of you that you give them the only copy of the texts, I would say that what will happen to these poems is not exactly out of your hands as their de facto editor.

You make a good case about why people should write a couple of poems... But a poor one as for why they should gift them to you."

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 10, 2021 6:36 pm

"Unless your sensei explicitly required of you that you give them the only copy of the texts, I would say that what will happen to these poems is not exactly out of your hands as their de facto editor.

You make a good case about why people should write a couple of poems... But a poor one as for why they should gift them to you."

Draw. Slice.

The Kakita held at the Shosuro's words.

He looked at them curiously.

"I was not aware that I needed to 'make a case' for people to contribute to this, Shosuro-scan. Should not the creation of art in itself be the reason for the creation of art?" he asked, very much being a devotee of art rather than a political manipulator.

Reset.

"If it is...too much to request, Shosuro-san, you need not contribute. Art can only be inspired, never compelled. But it would have been discourteous of me not to extend an invitation to you to do so. I am, after all, asking every competitor, excluding you from asking would be wrong."

Yuji really did not get why this was such a difficult request for people. Weren't these warrior-poets?

Draw. Slice. Reset.

"I have no issue with the act of creation itself, quite the contrary.

However, the celestial order is all about balance, and right now...

On your scale, words infused with the soul and talent of the most promising young samurai of the empire, the approval of your sensei, maybe some glory if the collection ends up successful.

On the other scale... Exposure."

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:51 pm

"I have no issue with the act of creation itself, quite the contrary.

However, the celestial order is all about balance, and right now...

On your scale, words infused with the soul and talent of the most promising young samurai of the empire, the approval of your sensei, maybe some glory if the collection ends up successful.

On the other scale... Exposure."

Draw.

Such a weird mind the Scorpion had. What was Glory but exposure? What was with the weighing things out like a merchant? Yuji did not understand them at all.

"Cavebound candles,
burning. Illuminating
paths not yet taken." was his response.

Strike, Reset.

"One breath one intent
Each move a part of a whole
One strike one triumph"

Kaoru grimaced internally at how bad her own poetry was... But that kinda sent a message on its own.

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 11, 2021 6:40 pm

"One breath one intent
Each move a part of a whole
One strike one triumph"

Kaoru grimaced internally at how bad her own poetry was... But that kinda sent a message on its own.

Pause.

Yuji considered the poem for a few moments. At first he tried to consider it from the artist's viewpoint, before realizing that was a futile effort. No matter what you thought the Scorpion meant, there was a decent chance they'd claim it wasn't. So he just considered the poem itself. It certainly wasn't the most flowery poem. But....

"I like how your poem captures the moment, Shosuro-san. One perfect strike, but so many tiny things leading to that final triumphant strike. Then again, is that not life? We are but a moment in the centuries of the Empire's history." he offered as honest praise.

Pause. Slow breath. Keeping a straight face. Impeccable on.

"If that's the style of poetry that'll end up in that collection, maybe it's indeed best that your sensei stashes it away forever."

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:05 pm

Pause. Slow breath. Keeping a straight face. Impeccable on.

"If that's the style of poetry that'll end up in that collection, maybe it's indeed best that your sensei stashes it away forever."

A small shrug from the Kakita before resuming his practice.

"You have high standards, Shosuro-san." he admits. "I'm sure you'd be a hit with the local sadane enthusiasts. I could hold off for perfection and obtain it by the end of the tournament. Granted, it would be one perfectly blank page, but it would be perfect."

He shook his head and resumed drilling.

"I think of it more like arranging ikebana, there is a message in the gathering of the elements, even if no one element is perfect."

"Sometimes a sloppy strike is enough to defeat an opponent. Would you like for the details of such a poor strike to be granted eternity in ink and paper regardless? To be remembered as Kakita "quite meh but it did the job" Yuji?

A poem is a poet's strike. Only the ones that hit true are worth recording."