(D0, LN) Final Preparations (Pool)

[Kakita Yuji]

it was very late, or very early depending on your point of view. Of course, Akodo did bid samurai to rise early...though he of course also bid them to sleep early. But it wasn't assassins that had Yuji awake at this hour. In just a short amount of time, the Topaz Championship would officially get under way. When the tournament was over, Yhe child Yuji would be no more, replaced by an adult.

And so Yuji came to the basin to simply mirror the calm of the water undisturbed. The lantern light flickered and danced upon the surface, but the water did not move. Even if something entered the water, the water would return to it's still state, ripples a momentary change eventually fading to nothing.

A moment of meditation in the quiet of the late night.


"Water reflecting,
bight lantern's joyful dancing,
Tranquility holds."

he recited aloud.

[Kakita Rin]

A twig snapped a few steps away, breaking, if only momentarily, the meditative silence. That break was prolonged by a quiet gasp of "-oh! Sumimasen!"

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji blinked at the sudden sound. Where had a twig come from? Perhaps he had simply not noticed one?

He looked over towards the sound of the apology.

"No apology necessary...." he said looking at the source in the dim pre-dawn and lantern light.

"....Kakita-san. It is a public space after all, I assume I'm not the only one wishing to get an early start on the first day of the tournament," he offered with a bow.

[Kakita Rin]

Yuji blinked at the sudden sound. Where had a twig come from? Perhaps he had simply not noticed one?

He looked over towards the sound of the apology.

"No apology necessary...." he said looking at the source in the dim pre-dawn and lantern light.

"....Kakita-san. It is a public space after all, I assume I'm not the only one wishing to get an early start on the first day of the tournament," he offered with a bow.

She returned the bow with the stiffness that comes with unsubtle embarrassment. "You are gracious, Kakita-san," she replied quietly. "But it is true, I feel like my insides are going to vibrate right out of my skin. I don't know how anyone can sleep tonight!"

[Kakita Yuji]

She returned the bow with the stiffness that comes with unsubtle embarrassment. "You are gracious, Kakita-san," she replied quietly. "But it is true, I feel like my insides are going to vibrate right out of my skin. I don't know how anyone can sleep tonight!"

Yuji offered a small smile.

"Perhaps it depends upon one's background." he suggested. "The Lion might say they sleep because Akodo bids them to in Leadership."

Yuji thought that perhaps talking about something else besides the tournament might be good for helping his fellow Kakita center, and all the clans running about Tsuma certainly offered such an opportunity.

[Kakita Rin]

"I suppose they all do precisely as they're told," Rin mused, then shrugged. "It won't help them, I don't think. Not for tomorrow, at any rate."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Darkness before dawn,
Dreaming glories yet unknown,
Sun brings trials new." he offers.


He smiles a bit.

"We've trained for years for tomorrow, Kakita-san. We shall overcome the trials that await us with the grace of Doji, the perfection of Kakita, the peace of Asahina and the resolve of Daidoji. How could it be otherwise?"

[Kakita Rin]

Rin couldn't help but smile at the poem.

"I am sure it couldn't." She looked down at her hands. "You have a way with words, cousin. I find that I cannot hold onto my anxiety when you put it that way."

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji bowed at the compliment.

"You are too kind, Kakita-san. I am glad to be of assistance in this way." he said.

He smiled a bit.

"Ah, speaking of assistance with words, there is a sort of final project I am working on that I could use your aid with. I am attempting to gather two poems from each of this year's competitors in the tournament. One with their initial impressions of Tsuma and the tournament and one of their final impression. A collection of viewpoints of the end of childhood and the transition into adulthood. Might I impose upon you to contribute your words for this?" he asked politely.

[Kakita Rin]

Her cheeks colored a little. "I am no poet. But if it would help you, cousin, I will try my best."

Umm...

She scrunched her nose in thought.

"Would you want the first one now?"

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji titled his head a bit confused. Why were so many hesitant to perform poetry? It was as simple as breathing after all.

"As Kakita-sensei is fond of saying, 'Art can be inspired, but never compelled.'" he said, referring to one of the senseis who taught poetry. "I will anticipate your participation eagerly."

[Kakita Rin]

"I am sorry to disappoint you, cousin, but today I've been mostly cooped up in the Academy, except for dinner..."

She blinked, then her eyes widened.

"Oh!"

"Quiet nest of spring...
The voice of a thousand birds
clamor for summer."

She flushed a little. "Is that...any good?"

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji listened quietly t the sudden poem.

He smiled.

"Excellent as expected Kakita-san." he said. "I think that's a wonderful way to frame things."

[Kakita Rin]

Rin allows a slight blush to color her cheeks. "I was happy to help. I hope that you get a lot of people to contribute, cousin."

[Kakita Yuji]

Rin allows a slight blush to color her cheeks. "I was happy to help. I hope that you get a lot of people to contribute, cousin."

Yuji nodded.

"Well, I'm certain that the real limitation will be finding the time to talk to each person. After all, who would not want the chance to share the art of the brightest upcoming samurai of the Empire?" he said, unaware of the difficulties he was heading for.

[Kakita Rin]

"Um..." Rin looked down at her feet. "Well, I suppose your enthusiasm may catch others. Maybe."

She cleared her throat.

"So, do you intend to circulate the finished product, or is it intended to make a gift?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"Um..." Rin looked down at her feet. "Well, I suppose your enthusiasm may catch others. Maybe."

She cleared her throat.

"So, do you intend to circulate the finished product, or is it intended to make a gift?"

A small shrug.

"I'll present it to one of the poetry sensei and let them do with it what they will. Hopefully they can use their position to make the poetry of this generation reach far and wide." he offers.

He looks to Rin curiously.

"Did you have plans to do something similar? Your time at the Academy is drawing to a close as well after all."