[D8, LN] Failure is Simply Another Chance for Glory (Open)

[Akodo Michi]

Michi took up her bokken. One day, in this city, with all of these tests among samurai, there will be a challenge that involves sword work.

Maybe.

She truly felt hope that it was true.

Because she had no idea what the Crane were actually doing.

And she didn't believe they did either.


And so she swung her bokken, over and over, clearing her mind of foolish thoughts of both victory and defeat. To look upon anything but the moment at hand when perfecting a skill is folly.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

The market had been eerily quiet. Kaoru did not know what measures exactly had been taken by the avatars of the law in this city in reaction to the latest developments, but they had apparently persuaded everyone who wasn't fully playing by the rules to lay low for the time being.

With nothing to do there, Kaoru had moved to the academy, with the idea of training in the courtyard until the sun shed enough light on the land for reading to become easy-going again.

She wasn't the first here apparently, though this was hardly surprising with so many devoted swordspeople around.

"Good morning to you Akodo-sama. Warming up for the upcoming test of the warrior?"

[Akodo Michi]

Finishing the most complex kata she knew, which focused more on footwork than sword attacks themselves, the Akodo came to a standstill. Unfortunately for her, as soon as the movements stopped, the thoughts began again.

"Shosuro-san, good morning", she said with a bow, then held her bokken down so it was not pointing anywhere near the other. "I am indeed, though I am curious how this test will reflect upon us, as all have been...interesting, thus far."

Though perhaps not her best effort at sarcasm, she at least made it clear her questioning of the methods.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Kaoru's answer ignored sarcasm to focus on facts:

"The judge in charge will be Seppun Hitomi, so... hard to say really. She's a soldier, and a duelist, and an imperial guard. All duties calling for different skills.

Swordplay is almost assured to be part of the trial in any case. Maybe an 'original' judge would have deliberately put the focus on another weapon, but I don't think a Seppun will. It wouldn't be proper."

[Akodo Michi]

"I have little faith propriety will win out in the end", she said with sight resignation. "Yet it is likely your words are true, one can trust a Seppun to be a Seppun."

She walked further to the center of courtyard then, taking in the air and the fading stars.

She looked back at Kaoru.

"What brings you out this early, if I may ask?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Didn't Akodo-kami write that a samurai should go to be early and raise well before dawn?

Though admittedly it wasn't the only reason. I was patrolling. Asahina Tenshin-sama, one of the magistrates in charge of the city, has asked... I would say all of the competitors he could find by the number I've seen... to keep an eye open for any unusual activity going in the city, and we've taken, rather disorganized I must admit, scouting shifts since."

Kaoru shrugged.

"I honestly don't know how much he actually needs these extra eyes around, and how much this is a complex power play on the Crane side."

[Akodo Michi]

"Using children to do your duty", she mused. "Deplorable."

Michi again took her stance, having given room to Kaoru they would not get in one another's way.

"Even if", she began her kata anew. "This is simply another test of sorts", she said after a strike, then resuming her stance. "It is folly."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Kaoru shrugged:

"If you give a Scorpion an excuse to roam at night, they have to take it gratefully, if only for show.

The move might make more sense for someone having a full view of the Crane political game board, though I share the idea it might be a rather hazardous one even in context.

In all cases, it is but a side affair compared to the tournament itself. The ideal political outcome for the Crane would be something like a finale between Seppun Urusai and Kakita Yuji, with a victory of the former, but the judgment of steel – or wood here – might decide otherwise."

[Akodo Michi]

"I would be honored to witness such a duel", she said as she completed some swift footwork, ending a strike to the wrists, followed by the neck. "Though I train to see myself face either one, we shall see the outcome."

She eased low, then sprang forward, striking to the crown.

"The Crane have much to consider, and not simply keeping the scions of house Seppun pleased."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Definitely. But that would be a finale whose political consequences are unlikely to be bad and easy to plan out for.

A finale between, let's say, the Mantis guy and the Sparrow girl, would require of them to play a far more difficult game if they're to reap a political benefit from it. For two samurai of minor clans to stand above the best of every great clan is something that you tend to not publicize much usually. Kinda embarrassing for both the host and the guests.

Yourself, how would you react if you had to bow before a Sparrow that just defeated you in a duel?"

[Akodo Michi]

"My very distant understanding of Suzume Rin-san is that she is a pious and honorable person, I would feel as though I lacked some refinement to my skill, and work to improve it", she said. "But I would not feel insult or shame by being overcome by such an opponent."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"I guess there is enough enmity going around without adding some to the pile, and your bards will be thankful for you to have kept quiet. Easier to shelve a story when it went by without making much noise.

Because the Ikoma definitely won't be writing about this defeat should it happen. Clans have an iconography to preserve. The scorpion stings. The dragon observes. The lion eats birds. Events that do not match the pattern are but isolated oddities not worth recording."

[Akodo Michi]

"It makes no difference to me, Shosuro-san", the Lion said as she continued her movements. "What worth is there in anger or shame over the Topaz Championship?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"None. A samurai should have control over their emotions.

However, sometimes you have to underplay or overplay them for the sake of the show. For example, Scorpion and Crane always act smug around each other in public, because the Otomo would drop on us like a rain of snakes if we were suddenly looking too friendly to one another.

Never had to pretend you were something you weren't for the greater good? Even the kami Akodo did accept a bit of deception in some particular circumstances, such as hiding the true numbers of one's army."

[Akodo Michi]

"We all appear as things we are not, because we act according to how we must", Michi replied. "That is intrinsic to being a samurai, Shosuro-san."

The Lion halted her kata and regarded the Scorpion curiously.

"What are you seeking from this conversation? I cannot imagine you do not know these things."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Niten.

You're too well-trained to let anything but the appropriate answers come out of your mouth when asked about the classical conundrums of a samurai's life.

Your body however has a language of its own, and tell a more interesting story."

[Akodo Michi]

"Perhaps so", she mused and held the bokken down. "Is that not normal by the words I said a moment ago?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"It is the natural state of the body to reveal the content of one's mind.

Can the body be trained to hide or even fake such information? On that clans, in particular the Dragon and the Scorpion, disagree.

Is that an issue? Not really. But reading one's body is an interesting skill to have, and I too try to use every opportunity I have to work on my own training."

[Akodo Michi]

She nodded stoically, taking in the idea of it. "A useful tool", she said. "My clan teaches a similar idea, but in a different use. To learn about or enemy so that we can read their mood through the actions of their forces. One may read desperation or confidence depending on a formation, or the amount of troops deployed."