[D2, LN] It's not Night, it's Morning (Open)

[Akodo Michi]

Before Lady Amaterasu deigned to grant the Crane her blissful gaze, Michi was awake. This was normal. She quickly began her drills after offering respect to the dojo.

It was going to be a long day, she felt.

Yet had no idea of just how long, as the sea will do as it pleases.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru bowed as he entered the dojo, an act done by rote rather than thoughtfulness.

Even sleep avoids me, father would be so disappointed.

While he tried to avoid disturbing the Lion in her kata he couldn't help but watch, comparing her to the students he had studied with and found her much more capable; not surprising of a Topaz competitor.

[Akodo Michi]

The sun would rise in an hour, by Michi's judging, which meant it was nearly time to stop. Among the servants and younger students that had arrived already to clean and perform other chores around the dojo, she noted the Phoenix samurai from before, who had spoken at length on the matter of dueling for peace.

She had not much to say on that subject, but was not worried should it somehow come up. Letting out a slow breath to calm her heart, the Lion placed the bokken down and took a clean cloth from her obi to wipe the sweat from her brow. With that done, she meticulously arranged her hair again, slowly going through each step as to do it properly. A short splash of water and cleaning her hands on the cloth followed, then she folded it back up and put next to the bokken.

When she finished, she straightened her hakamashita, though did not unbind her sleeves, and finally moved the bokken from where she had placed it, and put it back reverently on the rack with clean hands.

She faced the Phoenix and bowed, giving time for him to greet her, or to simply return the bow if he had matters on his mind, and didn't want a Lion casting judgment.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru returned the bow and approached the Lion.

"Your form shows all the precision and mastery that the Lion have come to exemplify Akodo-san, I am Shiba Haru, it is an honor to meet you." he bowed again. "I did not expect another to be here this early but finding one from the Blessed Emperor's most dutiful warriors does not surprise me, I hope I have not interrupted you."

[Akodo Michi]

"Shiba Haru-san, I am called Akodo Michi", she replied politely. "And it is just so, technique requires attention and focus, and I find these early hours more peaceful here in crane lands. We're we at the Castle of the war college, we would have a Dojo full of Lion all seeking their next level of skill.". A slight smirk appeared. "Though it is a pressure to have such an excellent floor to myself, I welcome the company of a competitor. Have you had rice?"

[Shiba Haru]

Haru considered how to answer the ages old question given the hour of the day.

"Inari's blessing sits ill with me but I hope he has blessed you." He went to a nearby rack and retrieved a bokken. "There are merits to the training in calm and serenity but the controlled chaos of your War College seems to have just as much benefit to training, battlefields are rarely a tranquil place I am told."

He moved out onto the floor a safe distance away from the Lion.

"I had the honor and privilege of spending a short season at your school and while the training was most beneficial I found the difference in mindset and practices to be most enlightening."

[Akodo Michi]

"I hope it was likewise enlightening for those studying alongside you", the Lion replied with a smile. "What did courses were you allowed during your stay?"

[Shiba Haru]

He began with the basics, moving through a kata at half speed.

"Tactics and battlefield discipline mostly though I was permitted to spar with your kinsmen. It was odd at the time, I didn't understand why my family would send me to learn for another clan even if the Lion are masters of the battlefield. I didn't appreciate why they would want me to devote so much time to learning the art of war when I will likely spend my life guarding one person in a temple or court.

It wasn't until the other day when I spoke with Seppun-sama that it occurred to me that perhaps the life of a yojimbo may not be my destiny. Though the idea of becoming a soldier when I have trained my whole life as a duelist seems odd.

Is this your first time outside of Lion lands or have you visited other clans schools as well?"

[Akodo Michi]

"I have not visited the schools of other clans prior, and so I see this is a favorable opportunity", she replied, without a single look to the surrounding dojo itself. "As to your thoughts, Shiba-san, the art of war is as philosophical as the Tao. It's precepts can be applied to life in nearly all ways", she maintained firmly. "You say you train with the blade to duel, though. And to you I say strategy applies to iaijutsu as well, save for those who are blessed monumental innate talent. They have little need of anything else. Yet to me, having a plan it is necessary to even begin to compete."

[Shiba Haru]

"A fare assessment and I did learn much in my time with your clan. Leadership has become a part of my daily routine alongside The Sword and Tao though without a lifetime of instruction on it I'm certain to be missing some of it's finer points."

[Akodo Michi]

"If you study three disciplines, it is often most advantageous to combine them along your own ideology", Michi advised. "To study each for what they are instead is to learn little from any of them. The Lion focus on one text, but apply it's wisdom to all things." The words were quite certain, born of living a truth.

"Though I do not think there is a better way, but there are many who wish for variety", she admitted.

[Shiba Haru]

"There is much wisdom the three texts share, they just do it in different ways. All three speak of knowledge of self for example. They all speak of mindfulness though the Tao goes into greater detail on it Akodo-kami's thoughts on it I feel helped me put the Tao's concepts into greater focus; they made it more relatable as a bushi."

His kata transitioned to a practice of Striking as Fire, something he was obviously still learning.

"What do you think of these tests the Crane have given us, are they what you expected?"

[Akodo Michi]

"They are as they are, and nothing more", the Lion replied dispassionately. "I do not see the value of going out to sea and performing acts of commerce, I find it distasteful. Though perhaps there are samurai who find it an important part of their duty. That is not for me to decide."

[Shiba Haru]

"It does seem odd to me that our ability to perform tasks as specialized as sailing. The vast majority of samurai will never set foot a boat I imagine, how can skills we have never been taught be used to gauge our worthiness. Sure adapting to a situation is a thing but there not better and more common things to test about us."

[Akodo Michi]

"It is clear the Crane are favoring the Mantis for a purpose, perhaps to ally with them and gain relief from their raiding", the Lion observed. "And at the cost of our honor."

[Shiba Haru]

"Perhaps it was a poorly executed attempt to shame the Mantis. I think the next test will show us better the mindset of our hosts. You speak of our honor as samurai and that is very true but right now I am more concerned with our ability to BECOME true samurai.

Where are the tests of martial prowess? Tests of courtly disciplines, of tactics and strategy, of art and philosophy. These are things I expected coming to Crane lands, not knot tying and haggling."

[Akodo Michi]

"These words of our hosts do us no good, in the end", Michi decided. "Complaint is shameful." She bowed to him now, in apology for her uncouth words. "There will be tests of martial prowess and the virtues of righteousness, of that I can assure you."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru agreed with the Akodo and too showed shame at his words so he changed the subject.

"I was wondering, there is a passage of Leadership that has been on my mind and I have always struggled to understand it's wisdom. Would you be willing to share your insight with me?"

[Akodo Michi]

"It would be my privilege to do so, Shiba-san", the Lion returned and picked up her bokken again. Reciting Leadership and practicing kata seemed to be the same matter to her.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru reached into his sleeve and retrieved a small slip of paper.

"Akodo-kami wrote "When an enemy was stronger a general would nurture him. Then, when he faltered, the general might attack at his leisure.". I am curious what is meant by "nurture him". "