[D0, LE] Assessment (Open to Lion)

[Akodo Michi]

Michi sat on the veranda of the Lion lodgings with a cup of water. It was too late for more tea, and she was full from her meal at the Laughing Carp. There was much to think about and further to discuss with her fellow clan mates, if they so chose. The Akodo had bathed again and chanced clothes to her hakamashita for comfort. Staying beneath the overhang to avoid the last of the sprinkling rain, she watched from the elevated position of the lodgings, taking in the scene of the town at night.

[Kitsu Masaru]

It had been a day, exactly what kind Masaru was still working through himself. He was very ready for a little time to relax and rest after all the travel and new people and first impressions.

The obviously Kitsu youth moved to the veranda as well. He was wearing kimono that was nice but more comfortable than his dress kimono and he had a biwa with him.

The boy had soft and fair features with an open and earnest look to them. He bowed to the other Lion "Oh hello Akodo-san, I see we had similar ideas on how to end our days. Or at least similar places to do it." He said with a smile tinged with good humor "do you mind if I join you?"

[Akodo Michi]

"Be welcome", the Akodo replied pleasantly. "You must be Kitsu Masaru", she guessed. Shifting her seiza slightly to face him she bowed. "I am Akodo Michi, daughter of Toranaga and Reiko. It is good to see friendly colors."

[Kitsu Masaru]

Masaru smiled a little wider "was it the hair or the eyes that gave it away?" He joked as he moved to sit with her "Yes I am indeed Kitsu Masaru, it is a pleasure to meet you Akodo-san."

He looked out over the other lodgings and the city beyond "It is an interesting city, this Tsuma. How have you found it so far?" He asked looking back to Michi with warm amber eyes.

[Akodo Michi]

"Were it your hair, I would be in it's gaze still, were it your eyes, I would be to held to speak. I have met Kitsu before, at the War College, but they are not of such pure bloodline, their eyes dark and their hair darker", she said and offered a cup, pouring water from the pitcher next to her. "As to Tsuma, the rain and cool clime was not unpleasant despite my preference for Lady Amaterasu's blessing. The town seems proper enough, the guards less disciplined than expected, but this place is far from most possible conflict. I have yet to speak to many of the Crane here, in truth though. What is your mind on it?"

[Kitsu Masaru]

Masaru appeared a but bashful in the face of praise regarding his Kitsu features. A small chuckle to break his internal tension as he regarded Michi "My my Akodo-san are you sure you have not spent some time with the Bard School as well? If your mastery of the battlefield matches your way with words I expect you will be a most fearsome commander." He remarked as he nodded thanks for the water

He took a drink, closing his eyes for a moment as if savoring it before nodding and setting the cup down "It is a large city. Much larger than anything I am used to. I spent most of my life in Foshi which while large consists almost entirely of farmers and grain silos." He said pleasantly, a smile curling his lips as he spoke and looked out over the city again.

"This city though with its mix of people is an exciting experience." He chuckled again with a soft shake of his head "and truthfully I've run into more Phoenix than Crane so far."

[Akodo Michi]

"There will be Crane, I assure you, Kitsu-san', she said plainly. A small smile touched her features, but it was an assured smirk in truth. "And should I become a poet, my verse will be incomparable. Be grateful I leave culture to the artisans."

[Ikoma Aya]

A third Lion walked into the veranda to join the pride, steps steady, tiredness, surprise or uneasiness at the new experience in Tsuma hidden behind a set face with pursed lips.

"Akodo-san. Kitsu-san. Pleased to see you." she greeted them simply with a maybe overly formal bow to each of them. They'd have met at least in passing during the day and know each others' name by now... even if there was not much more they probably knew about each other.

Although... she had the impression she'd seen them before. In her short time in the Castle of the Swift Sword, maybe? For them to be here... probably?

"You had sent word, Akodo-san?", she asked. In her experieence, it wasn't unusual for an Akodo. And after all... they were there to do and be their best. She was there to do her best. Being their best together was something logical to strive to, right?

[Akodo Michi]

"If one calls, it is only to those who are honorable enough to answer", Michi replied with a bow from seiza. "Ikoma Aya-san has come perhaps the furthest of us and for that we are grateful."

[Kitsu Masaru]

"There will be Crane, I assure you, Kitsu-san', she said plainly. A small smile touched her features, but it was an assured smirk in truth. "And should I become a poet, my verse will be incomparable. Be grateful I leave culture to the artisans."

Masaru simply grinned back "No doubt." Was all he said in reply before they were joined by Aya.

The Kitsu bowed to the newcomer "It is a pleasure Ikoma-san. I trained with a number of your cousins at the Bard school." He straightened and gave her an easy smile "I hope your trip and arrival have been pleasant."

[Ikoma Aya]

"If one calls, it is only to those who are honorable enough to answer", Michi replied with a bow from seiza. "Ikoma Aya-san has come perhaps the furthest of us and for that we are grateful."

She answered while still bowing. "Oh, my family doesn't live that much farther than Hayaken no Shiro, Akodo-san. And with such a calling, our answer can't be less swift than the castle's swords!"

The tone of voice was somewhat serious, but...

"Ne?", she added, still serious

... wait. Was that a pun?

The Kitsu bowed to the newcomer "It is a pleasure Ikoma-san. I trained with a number of your cousins at the Bard school." He straightened and gave her an easy smile "I hope your trip and arrival have been pleasant."

"They have, Kitsu-san, thank you very much! I... none in my immediate family trained with the Bards, I'm afraid. But maybe a more distant cousin."

Then, finally standing upright again and turning to Masaru, then to Michi.

"I haven't had much chance to see Tsuma so far. Eh... other than the training grounds and a few other places. But it does look like a fine town, ne?", she adds somewhat friendly. Then, to Michi. "Oh, but my apologies... was there any specific path you wanted to follow in this conversation, Akodo-san?"

Deadpan again, but...

...no. Couldn't be another pun, could it?

Surely not.

[Akodo Michi]

"Good that your journey afforded you well", the Akodo stated, ignoring or perhaps not reading the jokes the Ikoma was making. Which was perhaps best for everyone. "We should speak of the competitors we have met, the most of which should have been only recently at dinner. Kitsu Masaru-san, if you would begin?"

[Ikoma Aya]

"Good that your journey afforded you well", the Akodo stated, ignoring or perhaps not reading the jokes the Ikoma was making. Which was perhaps best for everyone. "We should speak of the competitors we have met, the most of which should have been only recently at dinner. Kitsu Masaru-san, if you would begin?"

Hearing the Akodo's words, Aya's eyes shifted to the Kitsu... possibly as if she waited for his words then back to the Akodo.

The Akodo taking the lead made sense, of course. But... did that mean she had been careless? She hadn't met many people at all since her arrival earlier in the day. And... what could she tell about them?

Akodo Hoshin-sensei repeated day after day. 'Do your best always'. Was she doing her best?

But then... 'the Way to Victory is a direct one', he'd also said. If their skills were honed and their souls were pure... should they worry about their opponents?

A somewhat confident face was still present on her lion mane-coloured eyes - but her eyes had slowly shifted to the ground...