(D2, LA) Crane on the Hoof

[Shiba Haru]

Haru let out a deep sigh and bent over to check a fallen branch.

"It's different for me though, I'm the only swordsman the clan sent. Either they don't care if we win and thus my presence here is just my chance or they see much more in me than I think I can live up to. I choose to believe the latter but with that comes pressure. An uncommonly strong connection to the Void is not the only thing our family is known for after all and winning would do much for our family's standing not to mention be the best way I can show respect to our duelist ancestors."

He held the short thing lump of wood up to his brother.

"How about this one?"

[Ikoma Aya]

A samurai's duties were without end. Yujij couldn't spend all his time sparring or drinking tea, or writing poetry. After the long boat ride, Yuji needed to attend to Yutaka for awhile. And so out the gate and along a forest trail the pair went. It was interesting comparing the sensation of riding on a boat to a horse, but the horse was clearly the superior. After all, you might love a boat, but the boat would never love you back. Also the boat didn't really care for apples.

Cloppity, cloppity, cloppity. No real destination in mind, just giving Yutaka a chance to stretch his four legs.

The boat ride had certainly been a first for Aya. Even if the experience in itself wasn't a bad one - or rather, at least the 'travelling on a boat' part of it wasn't - it did make her want to travel on her own two legs for some time. It might be a chance to get to know some more of Tsuma... but used as she was to a rural environment, she ended up unwittingly drawn to the gates, and then to the Forest that bordered on the city.

Following the trail for a few minutes, she thought she heard something. Some voices... the Phoenix twins? And then... horse hooves on the soil?

A turn of the path, and the horse is visible - with a boy atop it. The girl is clearly curious, but doesn't approach it for now...

[Shiba Jiro]

He takes it and feels the weight. It seemed off somehow, so he held it close to his ear, knocked on it, then shook his head. He dropped it to the ground. "Rot's starting to take that one. Only good for firewood now."

Continuing the stroll, he watches the ground. "Any pressure is what you apply to yourself brother. Just like I do with myself. I was so upset yesterday with Natsuko. My mind was all over the place, the spirits were overactive, and I couldn't focus. Ended up messing up the tea ceremony. After I got over my initial embarrassment and let the pressure go though? I felt perfectly fine. Well, not perfectly fine. Still very awkward about the whole situation, but much better. Both of us put too much pressure on ourselves, and we both know it. But in this situation, put the pressure where it belongs. I want you to meet people that you can work with to help promote peace in the empire. That is something you want that you can work towards with others here. Which is more important, preventing loss of life or being the person that wears a fancy set of armor for a year."

[Shiba Haru]

He takes it and feels the weight. It seemed off somehow, so he held it close to his ear, knocked on it, then shook his head. He dropped it to the ground. "Rot's starting to take that one. Only good for firewood now."

Continuing the stroll, he watches the ground. "Any pressure is what you apply to yourself brother. Just like I do with myself. I was so upset yesterday with Natsuko. My mind was all over the place, the spirits were overactive, and I couldn't focus. Ended up messing up the tea ceremony. After I got over my initial embarrassment and let the pressure go though? I felt perfectly fine. Well, not perfectly fine. Still very awkward about the whole situation, but much better. Both of us put too much pressure on ourselves, and we both know it. But in this situation, put the pressure where it belongs. I want you to meet people that you can work with to help promote peace in the empire. That is something you want that you can work towards with others here. Which is more important, preventing loss of life or being the person that wears a fancy set of armor for a year."

"Life of course." he answered immediately. "But my words will carry more weight if I have the armor on don't you think? It all seems connected, passing my gempukku, forging relationships, winning the Topaz, my unknowable future duty, my unknowable future marriage. It feels like all my training is colliding with my future in this place."

Hearing of his brother's struggle surprised and worried Haru.

"The spirits have been surprisingly active here, did they interfere with your ceremony? Either way it sounds like the conversation went well. Do you like her?"

He stopped suddenly and looked around.

"Someone else is out here, I hear light footfalls."

[Shiba Jiro]

He shrugs at Haru's concern over the sound of someone else. He wasn't worried, they were just outside a Crane city so he has an expectation of a certain amount of safety.

"The armor will only be the champions for a year. The champion will need to travel home. Will likely go through about 1000 different honorary ceremonies, be paraded around at some winter court, and generally used as a political show piece. Then before they know it they'll return here with the armor, give it to the next champion for the whole cycle to begin again. The real benefit is that their name will be spoken in courts and war camps potentially for years and opportunities will be presented. But those things are just as likely to be true of participants as well, just not quite as big. The benefit of focusing on developing two or three new connections that you can use to do good in the world far outweighs a focus on studying or practicing or worrying. You are already a Topaz candidate. You are already going to get the assignment the clan was going to give you win or lose. But if you win, you lose a year to pomp and ceremony."

He looks at him with a slight shrug.

"I don't dislike her. I don't think I know her well enough to like her and we didn't immediately click in the same way I have with others. But I certainly appreciate her and will continue to work towards something good. But I also barely know her so I have to remedy that."

[Shiba Haru]

"She must be a rather confident person having been touched by the Void and not trying to hide it; and she has beautiful eyes."

He picked up a stick, too small of be of any use but he tucked it in to his obi where a katan would soon reside.

"I'm not sure two or three strong connections is enough but I don't have the words to win over everyone. But you see my dilemma don't you? Everything seems important, how do I focus on just one? Perhaps I could stop focusing on the dueling as it is still a week away but I have been trained to be observant and not studying the other potential duelists seems arrogant."

He turned and looked back towards where Yuji had been riding.

"I shared my first drink with him you know, the other night; I could use some now I think. Though I can say that sake does not make me a better Go player. You should play him at some point, he seems to be on your level."

[Kakita Yuji]

The boat ride had certainly been a first for Aya. Even if the experience in itself wasn't a bad one - or rather, at least the 'travelling on a boat' part of it wasn't - it did make her want to travel on her own two legs for some time. It might be a chance to get to know some more of Tsuma... but used as she was to a rural environment, she ended up unwittingly drawn to the gates, and then to the Forest that bordered on the city.

Following the trail for a few minutes, she thought she heard something. Some voices... the Phoenix twins? And then... horse hooves on the soil?

A turn of the path, and the horse is visible - with a boy atop it. The girl is clearly curious, but doesn't approach it for now...

Ah if only Yuji was so keen eyed and eared to spot the Phoenix twins in the woods. He would have finally had proof that they were in fact two people, and not just one man particularly skilled at quick change. He could have offered commentary upon today's test from his point of view, encouraged their efforts and more, but all he saw was the Lion upon the path.

With a gentle prodding to his steed, he rode up to her and offered a seated bow.

"Good afternoon Ikoma-san." he said "I am Kakita Yuji, at least for awhile longer."

The horse snorted.

"Hai hai, and this is Yutaka, now and forever."

The horse whickered.

"I hope this day finds you well."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I know her eyes are beautiful. You don't have to tell me. I already told her I thought so," he says, lightly pushing his brother's shoulder.

"But that doesn't create a connection. I find deer to be beautiful, but I'm not out here in the forest looking for lovely young doe."

"And it's the few strong connections that grow and branch out into many. You really must consider the future more than the now brother. Yes, you are trained to watch now, but you need to prepare for the future."

[Shiba Haru]

"I know her eyes are beautiful. You don't have to tell me. I already told her I thought so," he says, lightly pushing his brother's shoulder.

"But that doesn't create a connection. I find deer to be beautiful, but I'm not out here in the forest looking for lovely young doe."

"And it's the few strong connections that grow and branch out into many. You really must consider the future more than the now brother. Yes, you are trained to watch now, but you need to prepare for the future."

He smiled at his brothers playful shove but his mood quickly feel back to concern as Jiro spoke.

"This circular logic only complicates things brother. Do I put the future out of my mind so I can focus on the now or not? It feels like you have told me to do both. This is why I say I envy you, you don't care about the Topaz and you are certain to pass your gempukku so this whole week is just a chance for you to focus on your future and your bride. For the rest of us it is much more complicated."

[Shiba Jiro]

"You make it more complicated. Live in the now, prepare for the future, and don't dwell in the past. Not so difficult. You prepare for the future by making present choices that lead to your goals. I want you to succeed, first and foremost. But you can't do that looking in the wrong places. Like the past in times you feel you didn't live up to your own standards. Think of what you want to accomplish in life, and use the tools available now to step towards that goal."

[Shiba Haru]

"You know well what I want brother, but I see no path to make it real. All I have is blind hope. Both you and your betrothed will have need of a yojimbo but the chance of it being me seems incredibly slim. Though I will never allow it the uncertainty I feel in these days threatens to crush me."

He scanned the area around them.

"What about that tree stump over there? We could dig it out probably."

[Shiba Jiro]

He moves to inspect it, " Ah, nope, been here too long. Rot is setting in on it as well. Not surprising with the city so close to the water, lots of moisture in the air means much of the deadfall will either be collected quickly for drying to use as firewood or will start to rot. It will need to be something freshly fallen. Keep an eye out for anything that might have fresh looking bark."

"I mean, it's not out of the realm of possibility. And perhaps we could ask uncle if he might be able to arrange something. But it's hard to know right now since I have no clue where Natsuko-san and I might end up serving the clan, if we'll be kept local so she can maintain shrines or we might be sent abroad for diplomatic purposes, or maybe just her with me staying home. Or whatever will happen. Perhaps some of us may get picked up by some military commander as support staff. Just never know."

[Shiba Haru]

"You know, I have often wondered why father sent me to train with the Akodo and not the Kakita. Aside from it being difficult to gain entry to the Dueling Academy it never really made sense to me but a conversation with our Seppun compatriot made me think. He suggested, in passing really, that he and I might serve together in the Imperial Legions. Do you think that is what they are planning for me, the life of a soldier? It seems strange to me given my dueling training but I can't discount the idea."

As much as I want to

"Would you..."

...hate me if I became killer.

[Shiba Jiro]

"It could just as easily been preparation for you to be a military commander track. Who do we fight most often? The Lion, at the Crane's side," he says.

[Shiba Haru]

"It could just as easily been preparation for you to be a military commander track. Who do we fight most often? The Lion, at the Crane's side," he says.

"True but that would just mean more blood on my hand not less." He said with a shrug. "It would be cruel irony if I came here hoping to find ways to avoid wars and then became a warlord."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Commanders have the means to reduce casualties I imagine. Though I don't know of course. War will happen, as much as I don't want it to."

[Ikoma Aya]

Ah if only Yuji was so keen eyed and eared to spot the Phoenix twins in the woods. He would have finally had proof that they were in fact two people, and not just one man particularly skilled at quick change. He could have offered commentary upon today's test from his point of view, encouraged their efforts and more, but all he saw was the Lion upon the path.

With a gentle prodding to his steed, he rode up to her and offered a seated bow.

"Good afternoon Ikoma-san." he said "I am Kakita Yuji, at least for awhile longer."

The horse snorted.

"Hai hai, and this is Yutaka, now and forever."

The horse whickered.

"I hope this day finds you well."

As he neared the girl, she offered a respectful bow. "Good afternoon, Kakita-san - and pleasure to meet you properly. I remember you from yesterday's and today's tests, I think?"

She shakes her head slightly, still bowing. "Ah... this one is Ikoma Aya. Here for the tournament... as you are, apparently, ne?"

Finally straightening herself, she takes a curious look at the horse, offering it a nod, a half-smile on her eyes. By her look and reaction, it doesn't look like she's particularly used to dealing directly with animals - but there's some sort of fondness there.

"It's... a fine day, I suppose! I'm just..." She shakes her head again. "Well, I thought of taking a look around. Haven't had a chance to get to know much of the surroundings yet."

[Kakita Yuji]

As he neared the girl, she offered a respectful bow. "Good afternoon, Kakita-san - and pleasure to meet you properly. I remember you from yesterday's and today's tests, I think?"

She shakes her head slightly, still bowing. "Ah... this one is Ikoma Aya. Here for the tournament... as you are, apparently, ne?"

Finally straightening herself, she takes a curious look at the horse, offering it a nod, a half-smile on her eyes. By her look and reaction, it doesn't look like she's particularly used to dealing directly with animals - but there's some sort of fondness there.

"It's... a fine day, I suppose! I'm just..." She shakes her head again. "Well, I thought of taking a look around. Haven't had a chance to get to know much of the surroundings yet."

A pricklier Crane might have taken offense at 'maybe' being remembered from the ests. A more suspicious Crane might have been suspicious of a Lion scouting Tsuma.

Yuji, however, simply dismounted.

"A lovely thought, Ikoma-san." he offered. "I have spent many a day with my brothers enjoying these woods. Perhaps you would allow me to join you in your walk while I give Yutaka a chance to be unburdened for awhile?"

The horse was not particularly tired, but riding while the Lion walked would have been somewhat discourteous Yuji fel, so it was a socially acceptable excuse.

[Ikoma Aya]

A pricklier Crane might have taken offense at 'maybe' being remembered from the ests. A more suspicious Crane might have been suspicious of a Lion scouting Tsuma.

Yuji, however, simply dismounted.

"A lovely thought, Ikoma-san." he offered. "I have spent many a day with my brothers enjoying these woods. Perhaps you would allow me to join you in your walk while I give Yutaka a chance to be unburdened for awhile?"

The horse was not particularly tired, but riding while the Lion walked would have been somewhat discourteous Yuji fel, so it was a socially acceptable excuse.

Thinking less of the wars against the crane than other Lion would, Aya didn't even consider any possibility that he walking around might be seen as 'scouting'.

Her answers, instead, were a long (longing?) look at the Kakita's eyes as he mentined walks through the woods with his brothers (nostalgia, maybe? It was hard to say), and another polite nod.

"Oh... if you'd be willing to, it would be a pleasure, Kakita-san. But don't feel obliged to dismount just because of me, please!"

[Kakita Yuji]

Thinking less of the wars against the crane than other Lion would, Aya didn't even consider any possibility that he walking around might be seen as 'scouting'.

Her answers, instead, were a long (longing?) look at the Kakita's eyes as he mentined walks through the woods with his brothers (nostalgia, maybe? It was hard to say), and another polite nod.

"Oh... if you'd be willing to, it would be a pleasure, Kakita-san. But don't feel obliged to dismount just because of me, please!"

Yuji smiled a bit.

"I'd be honored, Ikoma-san, although legendary though the Crane hospitality may be, I cannot simply produce another mount out of courtesy." he says with a good sense of humor.

"Although, do you ride Ikoma-san? Yutaka is very gentle and perhaps would enjoy a bit of variety in rider. We've been together for quite some time after all." he says, not only dismounting but offering his mount to the Lion. After all, riding double would require far more touching than socially acceptable.