D0LA, You Must Practice Diligently (Open)

[Seppun Urusai]

Having stowed his belongings and taken a light, light meal, Urusai finds his way to a practice room, helpfully directed by several students to whom he nods his thanks. Bowing himself into the room, he thinks to take up a bokken, but remembers old stories. "A hundred days of hand," he says, smiling tightly to himself, and he begins to move through jiujutsu kata, limbering up.

Uncle Fuman would be proud.

[Chiaki]

After meeting with the other Miya sponsored participant, the curious ronin went around exploring the place.

She had heard of Tsuma of course, but, been able to walk around and see it with her own eyes, and see all the wonders and legends that embraced the reputation of the Kakita family, was like a dream for her.

A place that she had to definitely go and discover was the Dueling academy, or at least its famous training grounds. She had been given the supreme honor to stay with the Imperial delegation, and for a person of such low standing,

She acted with supreme etiquette and humbleness, bowing to everyone that crossed her path, even if the shows of respect where not returned towards her.

At the entrance of one of the dojo, she noticed that there was already a student there. Or perhaps it was a participant of the tournament, since from afar she noticed the Imperial clothing colours of the boy. Chiaki bowed to the room, but didn't enter and watched from afar while her fan covered half of her face.

[Seppun Urusai]

Being trained as a Miharu, Urusai is aware of the eyes upon him, and he turns to face the door, ready to respond.

It is not who he expects, however, but he sketches a bow, nonetheless.

"There is ample room, if training is desired. And a partner is available, if that is preferred.

"Urusai, son of Tokaji, of the Most Noble Family of Seppun," he adds, by way of introduction.

[Chiaki]

Chiaki lowered her fan and bowed with elegance and respect towards the Seppun. '' This one was just exploring around, Seppun-sama. This one hopes that she didn't disturb your training.'' She said to him. '' It is an honor to meet you, Seppun Urusai-sama, son of Seppun Tokaji-sama.''

'' This one name is Chiaki.'' She didn't had a family name to add. '' This one has been honored by the most honorable family of Miya by sponsoring her for the tournament. I hope that Seppun-sama had been blessed by Inari-no-kami today?'' She added with a respectful tone.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Indeed," Urusai replies, "and I trust as much is true of you," he adds.

"You are not a disturbance," he continues. "Although it is to be wondered what you seek that brings you here, if you do not mean to train. The tournament is ultimately one of martial skill, although many other things are needed."

[Chiaki]

'' Hmmm, this one was just looking around, exploring the surroundings, i would say, Seppun-sama'' She explained her reasons to him, as she approached slowly, keeping her respectful distance to the kuge. '' Although i had some martial training on the past, it is not my main skillset. But someone like me has to known the way of the bushi, even if it just for self protection.'' Of course as a ronin, Chiaki had to pick it up, having no family name to her.

She didn't look like a bushi though, dressed as she was, in full courtier apparel. Moreso, she didn't look like a ronin either, with her furisode kimono being of high quality and in implecable condition. She appeared more like a Doji courtier than anything else.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai notes the attire and remarks "You seem to have found some substantial support for yourself, having been sponsored" if you have been "and in such style."

He nods. "But the Miya are noted for their generosity, and rightly."

[Chiaki]

Chiaki nods behind her fan. '' Indeed, the Miya family has been most gracious in sponsoring someone like me. And this one hopes to repay her life debt towards them, and the rest of the Imperial families, by honoring them at the tournament'' She adds with respect.

'' I guess that Seppun-sama wishes to continue with his training? If it so, this one will be honored to be able to watch, unless Seppun-sama does want to continue his training in private?'' She added.

[Seppun Urusai]

"The practice I am doing touches on no secret techniques," Urusai replies. "If you find it edifying, I'll not argue with having company.

"Rarely will I do so, in fact," he adds. Then he grins and adds "But having a partner is always preferable. Perhaps you might indulge me; you're hardly dressed for training, but how are you at moving defensively with a bodyguard?"

[Chiaki]

'' Well, dressed or not for training or combat, would not matter at the moment of need, this one would assume?'' She giggled behind her fan. '' Some say that a samurai lives at the edge of the length of a sword, or so this one has heard.'' She added. ''

'' If Seppun-sama would honor me, i would be glad to spar with you, Seppun-sama'' She said with a respectful bow. Then Chiaki closed her fan and put it inside her obi with all the ceremonial etiquette that it was expected from her. Then she goes looking for a training weapon. She wondered what she should pick.

She turned around. '' Bokken or can be another weapon, Seppun-sama?'' Chiaki asked.

[Seppun Urusai]

That's a bit different a thing, Urusai muses, but he's not about to let pass an opportunity to take the measure of his competition. "Bokken will suffice, although I have some skill across weapons--and I favor a bisento, when opportunity arises."

[Chiaki]

Chiaki noded and picked up a bokken. It was not her prefered weapon, but it was the bushi weapon of excellence. She approached to the center once again. '' This one has been training with the yari, although one day this one dreams of having a naginata.'' She commented as she tested the bokken's weight.

'' In any case, this one hopes that Seppun Urusai would treat her kindly.'' She said formally as she bowed and prepared her stance.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Perhaps we can cross spears in the coming days," Urusai remarks as he gets a bokken of his own.

He bows to Chiaki. "I look forward to the lesson," he says and adopts his stance--a centered one, truly, and preternaturally still, as is the Seppun way. His eyes are clear and piercing, unblinking as they take in all of her.

And then he is suddenly in motion, bokken thrusting straight forward.

[Chiaki]

Unlike the Seppun, Chiaki stance was highly mobile and fluid, relaxed and ever changing. Clearly devoted to the fluidity and ever changing nature of air.

When the sudden straight strike came in, Chiaki parried it, going backwards and to the sides, always moving. She was clearly on the defence and as a student of air, that was the way she learned how to fight.

She was not bad at it. She was no bushi and she was not dressed for the occasion, but she indeed knew how to fight.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai's eyes flicker about, tracking her movements and the surroundings. The point of the bokken continues to face her, the blade twitching slightly as if it burns Urusai's hands to hold it.

But then he draws breath again, and finds his stillness--bot the solidity of earth, but a communion of being where he needs to be now.

And then, suddenly, he is in her path, the bokken coming for her.

[Chiaki]

Chiaki tries her best to get away once more from the path of the training sword hold by the Seppun. She continues to dodge and parry defensively, letting the wind kami help her in finding a way to avoid being hit by her oponnent.

It would seem that Chiaki prefered the Way of the Air rather than any other stance? Difficult to say, but she kept doing defensive maneuvers and movements.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Good!" Ursuai says, and pulls back, giving a short bow, shouldering his bokken. "It's good to know you can evade. Useful thing, truly. Reminds me of some Otomo I know, in fact."

[Chiaki]

Chiaki also replied with a bow, much lower than the one that the Seppun offered to her. '' This one appreciates the chance and insight that you have offered Seppun-sama.'' She adds, sincerely.

'' This one just happens to had learned to avoid combat when there is a chance to. Or use the opponents movements to strike back, using their own flow towards a counter move.'' She said to him. '' Don't know if it would be applicable to all situations, probably not this one would guess.''

'' In your opinion, Seppun-sama, and if i might ask, would you say that a more flexible like air is enough? or should this one expand her knowledge to learn from other kata and stances?'' She asked politely.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Learning more is always advisable," Urusai replies. "Because it is, as you say, not the case that one approach will work in all circumstances. But it is also the case that each of us has a preferred approach to things. I am fortunate enough to be firmly rooted in the Void, or so I am told by those who know better such things. And I trust my sensei and my senpai, as well as the learned and wise in the--in my experience."

He amends what he had been about to say. Words matter, and courtesy is due to all.

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko steps into the dojo and bows, keeping a serious demeanor that vanishes as she sees the bokken against the wall. Ignoring everyone else, she steps forward to take one. She twirls it in hand and absent mindedly begins practice. There is no routine kata in her movements, her feet fast and light as she wields the blade one handed, sweeping blocks and elegant thrusts.