[Day 0, Early Afternoon] The Lookout (Open)

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi decided to swing by the dojo to have a look-round. Still dressed in her traveling attire, she was probably less fashionable than most of the servants, and she walked with the kind of loose-limbed swagger one learns aboard a Mantis kobune.

She wasn't sure what there would be to see, but she figured she'd give it a looking over. Might be she could log some practice...

[Ikoma Aya]

What there was to see, in the Training Grounds at least, was a girl training intently with a bokken. Wooden mock weapons close by, a spear and a naginata, suggested that this was not one of those who focused only, or almost only, on the sword... but it was the sword she used in the exercises she was not repeating over and over. A traditional kata, it seemed, or maybe more than one. It looked defensive, but soon shifted into quick, aggressive swings.

Someone training in the Training Grounds was hardly surprising, of course. The drab colours on her training gi, however, were slightly unexpected. This was almost certainly not one of the Kakita students. Probably not a Crane at all, actually.

If she saw the other girl walking around, she didn't seem to react, for now.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi ambled over to watch.

Usual landsman's weapons, traditional style.

...

Maybe a Sparrow?

...

Like you'd have any idea, Kasumi.

[Ikoma Aya]

Kasumi ambled over to watch.

Usual landsman's weapons, traditional style.

...

Maybe a Sparrow?

...

Like you'd have any idea, Kasumi.

The girl kept diligently repeating her kenjutsu routine, the same movements repeated again and again, alternating slow and careful swirling movements and rapid, direct strikes.

After a good ten minutes or so, she placed the wooden sword back on her obi. As she started moving towards the other weapons around, she finally took notice of the other young woman watching her. Looking at her seriously (... were her cheeks slight? some squinting?), she gave her a slightly rigid blow.

"Oh. Konnichiwa!" Another Topaz competitor, maybe? Or...was that a local? She didn't seem like a local...

"Ikoma Aya. Pleased to meet you!", she added, still bowing, in a (not quite deliberate?) somewhat austere tone.

(OOC: Sorry for the looong delay, this week's been crazy -_-')

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh. Konnichiwa!" Another Topaz competitor, maybe? Or...was that a local? She didn't seem like a local...

"Ikoma Aya. Please to meet you!", she added, still bowing, in a (not quite deliberate?) somewhat austere tone.

(OOC: Sorry for the looong delay, this week's been crazy -_-')

[OOC: No worries!]

A Lion? Great. Wonderful.

Kasumi returned the bow as was appropriate.

"Yukikaze no Kasumi. Mantis Clan. Pleasure's mine!"

[Ikoma Aya]

[OOC: No worries!]

A Lion? Great. Wonderful.

Kasumi returned the bow as was appropriate.

"Yukikaze no Kasumi. Mantis Clan. Pleasure's mine!"

"Planning on practicing as well, Yukikaze-san?", the girl answered, taking the mock spear in he hands. She seemed young enough... probably another competitor?

"Here for the event as well, I'm guessing?", she said with an... almost easy expression. It's almost as if some type of concern was always in her eyes, or gestures, regardless of all else.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Planning on practicing as well, Yukikaze-san?", the girl answered, taking the mock spear in he hands. She seemed young enough... probably another competitor?

"Here for the event as well, I'm guessing?", she said with an... almost easy expression. It's almost as if some type of concern was always in her eyes, or gestures, regardless of all else.

"Kasumi-san. Yukikaze's a kobune, not a family. And yeah, I'm here for the tournament."

She cocked her head at the spear.

"Though if they have us doin' yarijutsu, I'll be at somethin' of a disadvantage."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Kasumi-san. Yukikaze's a kobune, not a family. And yeah, I'm here for the tournament."

She cocked her head at the spear.

"Though if they have us doin' yarijutsu, I'll be at somethin' of a disadvantage."

"Ah", the girl said, her eyes and face trying to hold on to an air of confidence that was somewhat defeated by hesitating gestures.

"Right... Kasumi-san?", she said then. It wasn't quite so clear whether that was a question, or just a tentative vocative.

Shifting her gaze over the training area and the other people practicing there, she continued, not looking directly towards the girl now. "I can't claim to know any details of the tournament myself - or to know that much about the Crane, really. But... I'd guess they would focus first on the sword. But then the clan does have at least some tradition in yarijutsu, doesn't it? It might be worth giving it some practice, at least, I think."

Then finally looking back at Kasumi. "Although if you have other suggestions, my sensei always said we should be ready for anything!"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Ah", the girl said, her eyes and face trying to hold on to an air of confidence that was somewhat defeated by hesitating gestures.

"Right... Kasumi-san?", she said then. It wasn't quite so clear whether that was a question, or just a tentative vocative.

Shifting her gaze over the training area and the other people practicing there, she continued, not looking directly towards the girl now. "I can't claim to know any details of the tournament myself - or to know that much about the Crane, really. But... I'd guess they would focus first on the sword. But then the clan does have at least some tradition in yarijutsu, doesn't it? It might be worth giving it some practice, at least, I think."

Then finally looking back at Kasumi. "Although if you have other suggestions, my sensei always said we should be ready for anything!"

Kasumi laughed.

"Beats the hell outta me! Cap'n Kaito wasn't long on details when he told me 'bout my invite. But trainin' with your favored weapons ain't a bad idea. Anyway. Figure they wouldn't have sent us our orders if they didn' think we could manage. What posting're you hopin' for, anyhow?""

[Ikoma Aya]

Kasumi laughed.

"Beats the hell outta me! Cap'n Kaito wasn't long on details when he told me 'bout my invite. But trainin' with your favored weapons ain't a bad idea. Anyway. Figure they wouldn't have sent us our orders if they didn' think we could manage. What posting're you hopin' for, anyhow?""

"Hoping?" The way the words came out of her mouth almost sounded as if she didn't quite understand them. Or the question. Or both.

"Ah", she finally said. "Ah! I... very much expect I'll be placed in the same position onee-san was serving in. Temple guard in the small Shrine of Lost Days in Kitsu lands, to the southwest of Hayaken no Shiro. I believe it has been arranged already."

A curious, or uncertain, look at Kasumi. "Kasumi-san is... hoping for something specific?"

She then looks at the Yari, then at her sword. "Eh... training with our favoured weapons, then? Which one will Kasumi-san be using, then?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Hoping?" The way the words came out of her mouth almost sounded as if she didn't quite understand them. Or the question. Or both.

"Ah", she finally said. "Ah! I... very much expect I'll be placed in the same position onee-san was serving in. Temple guard in the small Shrine of Lost Days in Kitsu lands, to the southwest of Hayaken no Shiro. I believe it has been arranged already."

A curious, or uncertain, look at Kasumi. "Kasumi-san is... hoping for something specific?"

"Dunno, but whoever wins supposedly gets to pick their berth."

The Mantis shrugged.

"I mean, I've been trainin' for an officer's posting aboard a Mantis kobune, so even winnin', I prob'ly wouldn' ask t'go to th' Imperial Court or anythin'."

She then looks at the Yari, then at her sword. "Eh... training with our favoured weapons, then? Which one will Kasumi-san be using, then?"

"Oh, I use butterfly swords most days, but y'can't be picky in a sea-fight."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Dunno, but whoever wins supposedly gets to pick their berth."

The Mantis shrugged.

"I mean, I've been trainin' for an officer's posting aboard a Mantis kobune, so even winnin', I prob'ly wouldn' ask t'go to th' Imperial Court or anythin'."

"Well, I don't suppose we 'have' to ask for a... distinguished posting? Eh... do we?" She raises one brow slightly, her eyes shift to the ground again for a moment, but they're soon back to the Mantis.

"Oh, I use butterfly swords most days, but y'can't be picky in a sea-fight."

She nods. "Well, Akodo-sensei similarly said we should always be ready. But... butterfly swords?" She looked around. "I'm not sure I'm well acquainted with them, but... maybe there's one around?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She nods. "Well, Akodo-sensei similarly said we should always be ready. But... butterfly swords?" She looked around. "I'm not sure I'm well acquainted with them, but... maybe there's one around?"

"Oh, I brought mine. Not sure they got the practice variety handy hereabouts, but reckon I could use a couple'a practice wakizashi to demonstrate the basics..."

[Ikoma Aya]

"So... a practice wakizashi against another, then?"

She looks around for a weapons rack, since her bokken is of the longer kind.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, ya gotta use 'em two at a time to really do it up proper..."

Kasumi cocked her head to the side.

"Or we could just go for tanto practice?"

[Ikoma Aya]

"Oh, ya gotta use 'em two at a time to really do it up proper..."

Kasumi cocked her head to the side.

"Or we could just go for tanto practice?"

"Ah! So... it's more or less like the Dragon's style, then?"

Knowing the Dragon's style might not be unusual for an Ikoma - their lands more or less bordered the Dragon's, after all. But... was that a small smile that almost grew on her lips?

"Two small bokken versus a long one, then? Or I can keep a short one as well - might be a good challenge. Whichever you prefer!"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi grinned.

"Oh, it's a bit like the Dragon, but they use a long and a short sword- we use paired weapons of the same length. And I'd hardly tell ya what to use to oppose it- can't expect I'll get to dictate the terms of too many matchups in my life!"

[Ikoma Aya]

Kasumi grinned.

"Oh, it's a bit like the Dragon, but they use a long and a short sword- we use paired weapons of the same length. And I'd hardly tell ya what to use to oppose it- can't expect I'll get to dictate the terms of too many matchups in my life!"

The comment finally got a bit of a grin off the girl. "Fair enough!", she answered, then placed the yari she had got back on the ground and placed her hand on the hilt of the bokken with fluid movements.

Stepping back, she takes a fierce stance, her right knee flexed making her body lean forward - somewhat like a panther ready to pounce.

"Ready?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi picked up the paired practice wakizashi and gave them a twirl.

"If I ain't, I'm hardly gonna tell you!"

[Ikoma Aya]

Kasumi picked up the paired practice wakizashi and gave them a twirl.

"If I ain't, I'm hardly gonna tell you!"

The answer is a simple nod, but the girl keeps her position for now - although her footing changes slightly. On a closer look, they look as if she were ready to jump at a moment's notice - possibly towards Kasumi... but not necessarily.