[D1, EA] Penitent Practice (Open)

[Shiba Haru]

Unhappy with his performance during the event Shiba Haru remained at the dojo after others had left. Over and over again he hefted the heavy ball they had used in the event and over and over again he attempted to backflip kick the ball at the goal. The work was exhausting but a bushi needs good exercise and he needed to know where he had failed.

[Seppun Urusai]

Knowing the need for diligent practice, Urusai comes to train.

"May I join you?" he asks, not wanting to intrude, but also not wanting to lack for company.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru dropped the ball and turned to face the voice, a smile on his sweaty face and then blanched slightly before dipping into a formal bow.

"Greetings Seppun-sama, you are of course welcome to join this one. I am Shiba Haru and I am at your service."

He stepped away from the ball allowing the Imperial to approach at his leisure and hastily wiped his brow with a cloth pulled from his sleeve.

"Your performance was exemplary today, thank you for demonstrating the proper way to perform the maneuver I attempted."

[Seppun Urusai]

"You flatter me, child of the Phoenix," Urusai replies. "I've not yet earned an adult's dignity. But I thank you for the praise; the Fortunes saw fit to reward me with success today, or else I remembered well what my sensei have taught me." He grins. "It isn't always thus, I assure you.

"But you seem to be struggling with the ball yet. Can you make the maneuver happen without it?"

[Shiba Haru]

"A backflip? Certainly -sama, I was just caught off guard by the weight of the ball on my first attempt, I made the throw and the kick but failed to drive my foot through the ball so that my feet could continue rotating. Thus I ended up on my knees instead of my feet. While I doubt I could have matched your skill I should have tested the weight of the ball a bit more before I tossed it as I have never worked with something like it before.

My children will train with such a thing regularly to avoid my shame."

[Seppun Urusai]

"Don't lose sight of the thing that matters, friend," Urusai replies. "It's not the move itself that's the thing; it's the assessment. If they focus too much on the task as a task, they'll miss the lesson that needs learning. Or that's the kind of thing my sensei say, and we can do worse than to follow our teachers, right?"

The grin again. "But kids, eh? Already have someone in line to help you with that?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Ah, no Seppun-sama I am as yet uncommitted. I suspect that a great deal of my future hinges on the outcome of this event."

While his face remained warm there was a hint of trepidation in his voice that he could not conceal.

"My brother Jiro is already betrothed and will inherit the family home, I suspect that I will be attending a miai in the future."

Reluctantly he asked what he feared was a personal question that was none of his business.

"Is Seppun-sama already arranged?"

[Seppun Urusai]

"Only fair you asked, since I asked you," Urusai replies, "but the answer's 'no.' Or if it's 'yes,' I've not been advised as much. Which seems like it's a 'no,' really; Kanze-senpai, at least, would've said something about it, otherwise."

Urusai shrugs.

"I think you'll do well at a miai, though," he adds. "Though maybe not one at Kyuden Shika. I've heard...things about that place."

[Shiba Haru]

"The Deer host a miai? I had hoped if it came to that I would attend a Crane event. It must be comforting to know that no matter who you marry you will remain with the Seppun."

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai shrugs. "It may not be thus, though it is likely," he says. "There are some who stand above me, certainly, and they may be in want of a husband."

[Shiba Haru]

"As one trained to protect I draw inspiration from your duty. While I remain dissatisfied with my performance today I was reminded that your duty is to protect the Blessed Emperor, something magnitudes greater then what my duty will be so it is only natural that you far exceed what I am capable of."

[Seppun Urusai]

"I will most likely serve in the Legions," Urusai replies. "Perhaps we will be assigned together."

[Shiba Haru]

"The Legions?"

It was apparent from his tone and the look on his face that Haru had never considered the Imperial Legions as his future.

"I...that would be a great honor as would serving with you."

He bowed both in respect and to take a moment the gather himself.

[Seppun Urusai]

"It is no easy thing, certainly, but a worthy one."

[Shiba Haru]

"I wonder how long it will take to know my path." He mused. "It is a shame to admit but I have a touch of jealousy for those that already know their future such as my brother."

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai nods.

"There's a comfort in knowing, yeah," he says. "But there's a thrill in discovery, too. I mean, think of the stories told of old and how many happen upon fortune and glory unexpected."