[LM9] Test of the Warrior Observation

[Seppun Urusai]

She watched Ikoma Aya perform beautifully at the tasks and nodded along with Urusai's words.

"Though I found it shameful, still", she said. "As I believe some Crane felt the same, the state of those shrines."

"Certainly, it was not commendable," Urusai says. "And just as certainly, those who faltered will be appropriately rebuked, either in Ningen-do or in the next life. But I take some joy in leaving things better than I find them when I duties permit--and they did so here."

He nods emphatically.

"And it seems this place agrees with your kin, as well," he adds, having also noted Aya's performance.

[Akodo Michi]

"Certainly, it was not commendable," Urusai says. "And just as certainly, those who faltered will be appropriately rebuked, either in Ningen-do or in the next life. But I take some joy in leaving things better than I find them when I duties permit--and they did so here."

He nods emphatically.

"And it seems this place agrees with your kin, as well," he adds, having also noted Aya's performance.

"She is from the countryside", Michi said, nodding toward the Ikoma. "Where they train in the environment, less refined, but never lacking in ability."

[Seppun Urusai]

"She is from the countryside", Michi said, nodding toward the Ikoma. "Where they train in the environment, less refined, but never lacking in ability."

"Clearly not lacking, no," Urusai says. "Though it is not the training in the environment, I think, that accounts for it," he adds, his eyes tracking the angry Mantis girl. "One wonders at how things have fallen out. Some for the good, clearly, but there cannot be a competition without a victor--or a vanquished."

He shrugs. "Fortune's wheel turns for us all, in time."

[Kakita Ahiru]

The girl turns to Ahiru when she hears her voice, tilting her head slightly. Surprise, perhaps?

"Oh... thank you very much for your kindness, Kakita-san." She nods. "Kitsu-san has done well in the previous tests, indeed!" Her own performance, though? She supposed it wasn't bad... but how come others were praising her like this?

Slowly, she nodded. "And... thank you. I... ah..."

It's awfully clear she isn't used to praise...

"My ancestors have stood with me today. I should be thankful", she says, her eyes searching the ground, but some fire in them apparently preventing them from looking away for long. "I... eto... Kakita-san handled Mount Midoriyama very well as well! You... are trained as a courtier, aren't you?"

"Thank you, though I wish I had performed better with the sword," she said, lips pressing together for a moment as she politely squashed down her own feelings on that. "And yes, I am trained as a courtier, but I believe that it is every samurai's duty to be in physically good shape as well, so that we may serve our lord in any capacity."

[Togashi Shinko]

"Yeah that...that sucks Suko-chan." Shinko is almost almost apologetic.

Kasumi narrowed her eyes, nodded, once...

"My 'pologies, Togashi-san. 'Fraid I'm bad comp'ny of late."

She bowed to the Dragon, and, as had become a habit of late in Tsuma... she left.

"'Sumi-chan!"Shinko tries to catch her before she leaves. "I just gave maybe the best run of my life, and people beat me out. But none of them brought down an opium ring with me"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"'Sumi-chan!"Shinko tries to catch her before she leaves. "I just gave maybe the best run of my life, and people beat me out. But none of them brought down an opium ring with me"

"I don' mind bein' beaten out by other compet'tors, Shinko-san."

She clenched her teeth.

"I mind bein' made t'look a fool."

[Akodo Michi]

"Clearly not lacking, no," Urusai says. "Though it is not the training in the environment, I think, that accounts for it," he adds, his eyes tracking the angry Mantis girl. "One wonders at how things have fallen out. Some for the good, clearly, but there cannot be a competition without a victor--or a vanquished."

He shrugs. "Fortune's wheel turns for us all, in time."

Michi doesn't watch Kasumi, or address Urusai's assessment. She merely puts on a thoughtful look, which on her did seem to be a bit too discerning, as if she were assessing how to attack a fortress. Still, she eventually spoke on the matter, somewhat.

"I do not wonder upon that, I am where I am, and that location aids my choice of direction", the Lion told him. "I ask myself if I would like to face myself, or another I have given power to by blaming them." A shrug. "The answer is obvious, but i do not lack in compassion for other's difficulty."

[Seppun Urusai]

Michi doesn't watch Kasumi, or address Urusai's assessment. She merely puts on a thoughtful look, which on her did seem to be a bit too discerning, as if she were assessing how to attack a fortress. Still, she eventually spoke on the matter, somewhat.

"I do not wonder upon that, I am where I am, and that location aids my choice of direction", the Lion told him. "I ask myself if I would like to face myself, or another I have given power to by blaming them." A shrug. "The answer is obvious, but i do not lack in compassion for other's difficulty."

"Perish the thought," Urusai quips, grinning slightly to make clear that it is a quip. "In any event, do you think you will be seeded in the tournament tomorrow?"

[Akodo Michi]

"Perish the thought," Urusai quips, grinning slightly to make clear that it is a quip. "In any event, do you think you will be seeded in the tournament tomorrow?"

"I have said this many times since arriving in Tsuma, but I will be clearer about it's meaning", she said. "My thoughts are immaterial on the matter, the Crane will decide what they must. And so, my wish is to face another and take the measure of their honor and skill for myself, but it will take a great favor."

[Togashi Shinko]

"I don' mind bein' beaten out by other compet'tors, Shinko-san."

She clenched her teeth.

"I mind bein' made t'look a fool."

Shinko slaps her on the back. " Well I know you ain't, and to jigoku to the rest. You had a bad run. I flubbed a meditation exercise." She pauses.

" Or is this" Shinko leans in conspiratorially. "Boy trouble"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Shinko slaps her on the back. " Well I know you ain't, and to jigoku to the rest. You had a bad run. I flubbed a meditation exercise." She pauses.

" Or is this" Shinko leans in conspiratorially. "Boy trouble"

"Nope."

She glanced around, taking it all in.

"No, pretty sure that's one thing it ain't."

[Togashi Shinko]

"Nope."

She glanced around, taking it all in.

"No, pretty sure that's one thing it ain't."

Shinko tries to offer an easy smile. "You did good Sumi-chan. You should talk to Jun. I was feeling down the other night and he turned me around." Shinko gently nudges the girl.

"Meet up for a drink when you're ready? "

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Shinko tries to offer an easy smile. "You did good Sumi-chan. You should talk to Jun. I was feeling down the other night and he turned me around." Shinko gently nudges the girl.

"Meet up for a drink when you're ready? "

"Drinks're one thing I'm a bit too ready for. But I ain't feelin' down."

She glanced around at all the pomp and circumstance.

"I'm feelin' pissed."

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko offers a confused look. "Alright." She nods. "Maybe some sake and a chance to talk behind closed doors. Room for the mask to fall"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Y'know where t'find me."

[Seppun Urusai]

"I have said this many times since arriving in Tsuma, but I will be clearer about it's meaning", she said. "My thoughts are immaterial on the matter, the Crane will decide what they must. And so, my wish is to face another and take the measure of their honor and skill for myself, but it will take a great favor."

Urusai shrugs. The voice in his mind suggests that there is a polite screen up and that prying will not help.

"Then I will hope for your favor and victory--unless I face you, of course," he says, mouth quirking in a grin again. "I believe I've said you'd be a most formidable opponent; if not before, I say it now."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Thank you, though I wish I had performed better with the sword," she said, lips pressing together for a moment as she politely squashed down her own feelings on that. "And yes, I am trained as a courtier, but I believe that it is every samurai's duty to be in physically good shape as well, so that we may serve our lord in any capacity."

Ahiru's comment manages to produce some lines on the corner of Aya's eyes reminiscent of a smile. "That is a noble thought, Kakita-san.", she says with an approving nod. "You did receive training with the sword as well, then?", she asks with some interest. "I didn't know it was a common practice among the Crane, but it's a very commendable practice", she says with a direct voice that leaves little room to interpret it as anything other than an honest remark. "Um. I had little chance to practice with any of the Kakita here. I know there's little time left before our time here is over, but... would Kakita-san be interested in practicing together, later today, or maybe even after the duels?"

[Akodo Michi]

Urusai shrugs. The voice in his mind suggests that there is a polite screen up and that prying will not help.

"Then I will hope for your favor and victory--unless I face you, of course," he says, mouth quirking in a grin again. "I believe I've said you'd be a most formidable opponent; if not before, I say it now."

"You have, and I thank you for it, Seppun-sama", she said a little softly. "Your confidence does me well. If tomorrow I appear in the matches, you have little time to prepare."

[Togashi Shinko]

SNIP

Shinko sighs and shakes her head as Kasumi leaves, but her attention turns then to another.

I gave it my absolute best there. I think every bounce I could have asked for went my way. And still...

The sight of Michi and Aya's dummies remained in Shinko's mind. It was slight, barely perceptable...but the blows had been just a hair deeper, a touch better placed then her own.

"Akodo-san, I must say...I admire your handiwork." Shinko bows. There was no shame there to honor that bladework that she had seen.

[Akodo Michi]

Shinko sighs and shakes her head as Kasumi leaves, but her attention turns then to another.

I gave it my absolute best there. I think every bounce I could have asked for went my way. And still...

The sight of Michi and Aya's dummies remained in Shinko's mind. It was slight, barely perceptable...but the blows had been just a hair deeper, a touch better placed then her own.

"Akodo-san, I must say...I admire your handiwork." Shinko bows. There was no shame there to honor that bladework that she had seen.

Apparently before Urusai could respond a wild dragon appeared. The Lion turned her head to face them and offered a bow in return. "Togashi-san is generous", she answered respectfully. "I feel your movements on the course were worth attention, as expected of one who grew in the mountains."