(D2, LA) Crane on the Hoof

[Ikoma Aya]

It was a lot to take in, but listening for awhile, Yuji knew what to say.

"Ah, quite lovely, Ikoma-san. Of course you may see a copy of the project when it is done. And I suppose it is fair to give you a sneak peak of mine in exchange:

"Stars shining brightly,
stretching across space so vast.
Competitors strive."

"

He looked at the lazily flowing river. How many days had been spent at it's side?

"I have, Ikoma-san, seen a fair few of the tournaments. While the conclusion is always an iaijutsu tournament, the preceeding days always vary slightly. I can see why grandfather has been so upset about the Mantis recently though. The captain may embrace change, but outside the Mantis I think few clans would recognize sailing to be an inherent measure of the samurai. Not to mention taking up so much of the day for an event that could only be witnessed by the ship's crew. I wonder what that will mean for next year."

She nodded at his answer, a slight smile on her eyes. "Likewise, Kakita-san. The shine on a vast space... it's an interesting figure."

Then, thinking about his words on the Test of the Waves. "I... think many figure this was probably not a particularly traditional event. Although... while for those like my people a test based on sailing is definitely unexpected... I had assumed perhaps less so for the coastal clans?"

[Kakita Yuji]

It was a lot to take in, but listening for awhile, Yuji knew what to say.

"Ah, quite lovely, Ikoma-san. Of course you may see a copy of the project when it is done. And I suppose it is fair to give you a sneak peak of mine in exchange:

"Stars shining brightly,
stretching across space so vast.
Competitors strive."

"

He looked at the lazily flowing river. How many days had been spent at it's side?

"I have, Ikoma-san, seen a fair few of the tournaments. While the conclusion is always an iaijutsu tournament, the preceeding days always vary slightly. I can see why grandfather has been so upset about the Mantis recently though. The captain may embrace change, but outside the Mantis I think few clans would recognize sailing to be an inherent measure of the samurai. Not to mention taking up so much of the day for an event that could only be witnessed by the ship's crew. I wonder what that will mean for next year."

She nodded at his answer, a slight smile on her eyes. "Likewise, Kakita-san. The shine on a vast space... it's an interesting figure."

Then, thinking about his words on the Test of the Waves. "I... think many figure this was probably not a particularly traditional event. Although... while for those like my people a test based on sailing is definitely unexpected... I had assumed perhaps less so for the coastal clans?"

Yuji shook his head.

"I'm fairly certain that the Test of Waves was completely new. Granted, it's not like I've studied every tournament since it began near the dawn of the Empire. Sailing would be most prevallent among the minor clans, the Mantis and the Tortoise. in the great clans, I would think it would be more among the Daidoji, the Yasuki and hmmm maybe the Asako? There's just not a lot of safe ports to the north and the south."

The Phoenix shores were rocky, after all, and the Crab kept saying there were monsters in the water. There were, of course, but that wasn't something a Crane would believe in.

He looked at the river's flow.

"Hmm, next year. It's like Shinsei has said, 'You cannot enter the same river twice.' Next year you and I and all the competitors will be adults serving across the Empire. But who knows? Perhaps we'll be attached to someone of import attending the the tournament to witness the next generation of the brightest samurai."

He shook his head at the thought.

"Hard to envision at times, I must admit. I've been at the Academy so long, and soon I will rarely see it."

[Ikoma Aya]

Yuji shook his head.

"I'm fairly certain that the Test of Waves was completely new. Granted, it's not like I've studied every tournament since it began near the dawn of the Empire. Sailing would be most prevallent among the minor clans, the Mantis and the Tortoise. in the great clans, I would think it would be more among the Daidoji, the Yasuki and hmmm maybe the Asako? There's just not a lot of safe ports to the north and the south."

The Phoenix shores were rocky, after all, and the Crab kept saying there were monsters in the water. There were, of course, but that wasn't something a Crane would believe in.

He looked at the river's flow.

"Hmm, next year. It's like Shinsei has said, 'You cannot enter the same river twice.' Next year you and I and all the competitors will be adults serving across the Empire. But who knows? Perhaps we'll be attached to someone of import attending the the tournament to witness the next generation of the brightest samurai."

He shook his head at the thought.

"Hard to envision at times, I must admit. I've been at the Academy so long, and soon I will rarely see it."

She nodded at his answer, pondering - and the next words make her ponder harder still.

"Un. I'd thought the Doji and Kakita would be knowledgeable about the way of the sea as well. Maybe even the Asahina. Not like the Mantis, maybe, but... the Crane do control a large swath of coast, ne?"

She shakes her head then, and gives him a slight smile. Wouldn't do to make this sound like a threat - and thinking about what she just said... yeah, best to change the topic, probably.

"Kakita-san expects your duty will not keep - or bring - you close to home, then? I... I hadn't really considered that."

Her eyes seem to wander off for a while. To... somewhere.

I... will be there. I must be. I must be what Yume-chan....

She shakes her head again, a slight smile on her eyes again as she sets her eyes on the river. "Ah... Do you have particular expectations for the future, then, Kakita-san?"

[Kakita Yuji]

She nodded at his answer, pondering - and the next words make her ponder harder still.

"Un. I'd thought the Doji and Kakita would be knowledgeable about the way of the sea as well. Maybe even the Asahina. Not like the Mantis, maybe, but... the Crane do control a large swath of coast, ne?"

She shakes her head then, and gives him a slight smile. Wouldn't do to make this sound like a threat - and thinking about what she just said... yeah, best to change the topic, probably.

"Kakita-san expects your duty will not keep - or bring - you close to home, then? I... I hadn't really considered that."

Her eyes seem to wander off for a while. To... somewhere.

I... will be there. I must be. I must be what Yume-chan....

She shakes her head again, a slight smile on her eyes again as she sets her eyes on the river. "Ah... Do you have particular expectations for the future, then, Kakita-san?"

"Assuming I'm not the Topaz Champion with the right to pick my first duty?" he says with a small teasing smile,

He glanced up for a moment, looking for the best way to put it.

"Phoenix lands are a good proving ground for those who have recently passed their gempukku in the Crane. If one excels at their new duties, promotions are sure to follow, and if one struggles....well, their is little chance for real mischief, and the Phoenix are happy to offer aid." he decides upon. "From there, who knows?"

He looked back to the Lion.

"And yourself, Ikoma-san? Again with the caveat that you are not topaz champion and picking your own duty."