(D8, LE) The pointy end goes that way

[Isawa Natsuko]

(expecting)

It had been a rather eventful few days, and her performance in today's test meant that Natsuko was no longer 100% sure that she wouldn't be called to the dueling grounds. So she sat, cross-legged on a stone bench beneath a very young ginko with her bamboo blade across her knees. Her good hand holds it steady as she slowly traces a single grainline from hilt to tip with the index finger of her damaged hand, breathing in slow time to the tracing.

[Ikoma Aya]

(expecting)

It had been a rather eventful few days, and her performance in today's test meant that Natsuko was no longer 100% sure that she wouldn't be called to the dueling grounds. So she sat, cross-legged on a stone bench beneath a very young ginko with her bamboo blade across her knees. Her good hand holds it steady as she slowly traces a single grainline from hilt to tip with the index finger of her damaged hand, breathing in slow time to the tracing.

Not far from there was a girl kneeling down, a small komainu-shaped netsuke and her bokken set down in front of her as she whispered, head down. The girl took her hands to her face now and again, even if her face was... almost stoic. She didn't seem to notice the Phoenix sitting nearby.

A few minutes later, she bowed down to the ground, sat upright again, and meant to extend her hands to get her bokken when the movement was interrupted by a sob, her hands quickly moving back to wipe her eyes.

It was a single sob, quickly restrained. But in the silence of the dark garden, it was probably enough to warn others around of her presence... and give at least a hint as to her emotions.

Not that emotions mattered, of course.

[Isawa Natsuko]

At the sob, Natsuko's finger freezes, the innate sense of a fulcrum, a decision in the wind. Maybe not a large one, but the paths branch again and again and again...

The 'blade' is lifted and slid competently into her sash before she rose and walked toward the sound, sandals clicking against garden stones. Hair and mon in the dark are...somewhat identifying.

"Ikoma-san?"

[Ikoma Aya]

At the sob, Natsuko's finger freezes, the innate sense of a fulcrum, a decision in the wind. Maybe not a large one, but the paths branch again and again and again...

The 'blade' is lifted and slid competently into her sash before she rose and walked toward the sound, sandals clicking against garden stones. Hair and mon in the dark are...somewhat identifying.

"Ikoma-san?"

The sound warning her beforehand, the girl turns to meet her company a moment before she hears Natsuko's voice. "Un", she mutters simply, bowing low. "Good evening..." it takes her a moment to make out the mon, or the facial features. "Isawa-san, ne?" She's still bowed low as she says the next few words. "Your performance today has impressed Yogo-sensei", she states simply. "I... ah... you... also saying late prayers, I assume?"

When she stands upright again, her face is stony - but that stone might as well be garnet, given the reddish hue where the white of her eyes should be.

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Isawa Natsuko, of the Starry Heaven Sanctuary," she says with a bow of her own. "Thank you for the kind words. It is hard to do poorly at such a test when one has been meditating since almost before memory. It is like being told you are good at breathing."

"You have done well in several of the competitions though. I may be congratulating you on a Championship in a few days time." The words are certainly friendly, though the tone throughout is entirely neutral, a calm and even alto. Her head tilts a bit, considering the sound and red eyes. "I hope your prayers find their way swiftly, Ikoma-san.)

"For myself, I was meditating...again, I suppose, on my not often used weapon. I had not expected to do well enough to enter the duel, in all honesty. But after today, it is still unlikely but less impossible."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Isawa Natsuko, of the Starry Heaven Sanctuary," she says with a bow of her own. "Thank you for the kind words. It is hard to do poorly at such a test when one has been meditating since almost before memory. It is like being told you are good at breathing."

"You have done well in several of the competitions though. I may be congratulating you on a Championship in a few days time." The words are certainly friendly, though the tone throughout is entirely neutral, a calm and even alto. Her head tilts a bit, considering the sound and red eyes. "I hope your prayers find their way swiftly, Ikoma-san.)

"For myself, I was meditating...again, I suppose, on my not often used weapon. I had not expected to do well enough to enter the duel, in all honesty. But after today, it is still unlikely but less impossible."

"Your words honour me more than I deserve, Isawa-san", she says nodding, her eyes to the ground. "But... thank you. For your kindness, too", she says, gripping the netsuke now in her right hand tighter. "Even though... honouring this prayer needs actions more than words. Well...as is traditional among my ancestors, I suppose."

Another nod, and her eyes, still somewhat reddened, but apparently calmer, assess Natsuko. "Ah... I suppose Shugenja have it harder in the Iai tournament, ne?" A moment of silence. "But... there have been Shugenja winners before, haven't there?" There is an attempt to sound encouraging, but the effect is weakened by a slightly uncertain tone. "And... after today, I wouldn't be surprised if Isawa-san were to represent the Shugenja in the final tournament."

A look at her bokken. "You... have received some training in kenjutsu, ne, Isawa-san?"

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko nods. "Just enough to not be entirely embarrassing when tested on such skills...perhaps. There are shugenja who train quite a lot in Iaijutsu. It has a purity that isn't found on the battlefield, a quality of watching the moments align that many appreciate." She taps the hilt of her 'blade'. "But then you need to actually hit someone, which is less interesting, and..." her hands come together, one thumb tracing the scar on her other hand that replaces the outer half of it. "potentially very damaging."

"But, for those who have no other way to hear the voice of the heavens, it allows a space for their will to enter that everyone can see." Bright, blue eyes glance to Aya's hand gripping...something. "what prayer requires actions more than words then?" Perhaps that is personal. She could be prying. But the question is asked in the same tone as everything else...sly prying or honest curiosity might sound rather the same.

[Ikoma Aya]

Natsuko nods. "Just enough to not be entirely embarrassing when tested on such skills...perhaps. There are shugenja who train quite a lot in Iaijutsu. It has a purity that isn't found on the battlefield, a quality of watching the moments align that many appreciate." She taps the hilt of her 'blade'. "But then you need to actually hit someone, which is less interesting, and..." her hands come together, one thumb tracing the scar on her other hand that replaces the outer half of it. "potentially very damaging."

"But, for those who have no other way to hear the voice of the heavens, it allows a space for their will to enter that everyone can see." Bright, blue eyes glance to Aya's hand gripping...something. "what prayer requires actions more than words then?" Perhaps that is personal. She could be prying. But the question is asked in the same tone as everything else...sly prying or honest curiosity might sound rather the same.

The Ikoma's eyes shift to Natsuko's hands for a moment, then quickly down to the ground again. It's not quite flinching, but she does take a half-step back. "Ah... well, of course. I suppose we sometimes get so used to it we stop thinking about it... but we are always balancing on the edge of... " her eyes look in the general direction of the Isawa's hand again, without quite meeting it, and she doesn't finish the sentence.

"Iaijutsu... does have a sort of purity, I suppose. Or, well, that's what The Sword claims. But then... there are many kinds of purity, ne? A... a friend used to say - The dragonfly's buzz is no different from the lion's roar. All creatures have a voice with which they express the way". She smirks a bit. "I was angered the first time he said that, as you can imagine. But... I guess what he means is there is no single way. And... I suppose no single purity?" She shrugs, then falls silent.

And keeps silent for a long while.

"On that..."

More silence.

"....How else can one honour the spirits of those we made an oath to honour, Isawa-san?", she finally says, in a deep, grave voice that suggests it's holding something inside. Her hand motions towards her face, but stops halfway.

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko nods. "There have always been many ways, important decisions create many futures which spawn more paths. Because a Lion buzzing like a Dragonfly probably will not get nearly the same thing from the action."

The Isawa's eyes do not waver in silence. As the morning's test proved, she excels at quiet and stillness."There are many ways to honor the dead. I assume you did not make an oath regarding a specific way, or it would be a moot question? We honor our ancestors, I am told, by advancing the name we share with them and holding to principles that make it a proud one. There are a variety of religious observances and ways to petition Emma-O on their behalf."