(D2, LE) Prelude to Evil

[Kakita Yuji]

"I am curious about your companion, Shinjo-san. What can you tell me beyond his original home? I really know very little about monkeys." he asked.

"He's immensely curious and very playful." she explained. "Training him has been very difficult, even though I'm certain he's quite clever. He comes from a valley in the mountains that I explored with my father. He followed me back to camp."

Yuji looked intrigue.

"Hm, I'm more familiar with hawk training, Shinjo-san. What are you training him to do, exactly? Other than not run away from you that is." he said with a touch of humor.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji looked intrigue.

"Hm, I'm more familiar with hawk training, Shinjo-san. What are you training him to do, exactly? Other than not run away from you that is." he said with a touch of humor.

"That would be my primary goal." she admitted. "For him to behave properly in places like this. I don't expect him to hunt or protect or carry me like my other companions. But, in time, he might do small tasks, such as retrieving items in difficult to reach places."

[Kakita Yuji]

"That would be my primary goal." she admitted. "For him to behave properly in places like this. I don't expect him to hunt or protect or carry me like my other companions. But, in time, he might do small tasks, such as retrieving items in difficult to reach places."

It was unlikely what she meant, but he couldn't help picture the monkey in kimono and cap serving the Unicorn tea.

"Hmm, dfoes he present any special challenges you did not face in training the rest of your animals?" he asked. I mean, how often did you get to ask a Unicorn about how to train a monkey?

[Shinjo Jingyi]

It was unlikely what she meant, but he couldn't help picture the monkey in kimono and cap serving the Unicorn tea.

"Hmm, dfoes he present any special challenges you did not face in training the rest of your animals?" he asked. I mean, how often did you get to ask a Unicorn about how to train a monkey?

"The others were born and bred among samurai. Even before they were properly trained, they were accustomed to certain behaviors." she explained. "Odoru-kun was born wild. His behaviors are instinctual and difficult to curb."

[Kakita Yuji]

"The others were born and bred among samurai. Even before they were properly trained, they were accustomed to certain behaviors." she explained. "Odoru-kun was born wild. His behaviors are instinctual and difficult to curb."

Yuji nodded.

"Ah, I see. I hope today's test was not too inconvenient for you with so manhy animals to care for, Shinjo-san. A lengthy boat trip is certainly not something that has been included in previous tropaz championships." he says, not wanting to grill the girl continuously about animal training.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji nodded.

"Ah, I see. I hope today's test was not too inconvenient for you with so manhy animals to care for, Shinjo-san. A lengthy boat trip is certainly not something that has been included in previous tropaz championships." he says, not wanting to grill the girl continuously about animal training.

"I am not used to being on the water for so long." she admitted. "Odoru-kun was more comfortable out there than I was. It was a good experience, though. How did you find it, Kakita-sama?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"I am not used to being on the water for so long." she admitted. "Odoru-kun was more comfortable out there than I was. It was a good experience, though. How did you find it, Kakita-sama?"

Yuji tilted his head.

"Well it was...novel." he admitted. "I've never really travelled far from Tsuma, so my experiences on a boat have been limited to day trips to seek inspiration upon the waves."

"Though given the challenges presented, I can understand why grandfather has been....upset shall we say about the Mantis lately. Although to be completely fair, grandfather is so traditional if he were in charge, we'd all have to speak High Rokugani for the duration and the Mantis would need to be sponsored into the tournament like ronin." he added.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji tilted his head.

"Well it was...novel." he admitted. "I've never really travelled far from Tsuma, so my experiences on a boat have been limited to day trips to seek inspiration upon the waves."

"Though given the challenges presented, I can understand why grandfather has been....upset shall we say about the Mantis lately. Although to be completely fair, grandfather is so traditional if he were in charge, we'd all have to speak High Rokugani for the duration and the Mantis would need to be sponsored into the tournament like ronin." he added.

"Traditions are difficult to let go of." she shrugged. "Some are certainly important to maintain. But, like my clan, I do appreciate open mindedness."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Traditions are difficult to let go of." she shrugged. "Some are certainly important to maintain. But, like my clan, I do appreciate open mindedness."

Yuji tilted his head a bit at that.

"I think it's important to strike a balance. Tradition should not be chosen nor discarded simply because it is a tradition. Those things that are good should become new traditions, and that which circumstances deems is no longer worthy of continuing should be allowed to fade." he reasoned.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji tilted his head a bit at that.

"I think it's important to strike a balance. Tradition should not be chosen nor discarded simply because it is a tradition. Those things that are good should become new traditions, and that which circumstances deems is no longer worthy of continuing should be allowed to fade." he reasoned.

"Very true." she nodded. "Of course, not everyone will agree regarding what should be kept and what should be let go."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Very true." she nodded. "Of course, not everyone will agree regarding what should be kept and what should be let go."

Yuji considered that.

"Hm well, there's not too much agreement between the clans in general, Shinjo-san. We don't even agree on something as basic as the code of bushido, each clan favoring some aspects over others. We simply have to rely upon those above us to guide us in accordance to their station. If the Emperor says it is so, it is so. If the Emerpror's chosen vassals say it is so, it is so, though not quite as solidly." he offered.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji considered that.

"Hm well, there's not too much agreement between the clans in general, Shinjo-san. We don't even agree on something as basic as the code of bushido, each clan favoring some aspects over others. We simply have to rely upon those above us to guide us in accordance to their station. If the Emperor says it is so, it is so. If the Emerpror's chosen vassals say it is so, it is so, though not quite as solidly." he offered.

"Well said." she nodded. "Your collection of poetry may highlight some of the differences and similarities between the clans. That could be useful in understanding the state of the Empire and its future."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Well said." she nodded. "Your collection of poetry may highlight some of the differences and similarities between the clans. That could be useful in understanding the state of the Empire and its future."

Yuji nodded, pleased with the idea.

"That would be quite beneficial, Shinjo-san." he agreed. "I also think it would be nice to have a little something to remember each of the contestants by. It is a wide Empire, after all, who knows when next we'll meet when the tournament concludes?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"That would be quite beneficial, Shinjo-san." he agreed. "I also think it would be nice to have a little something to remember each of the contestants by. It is a wide Empire, after all, who knows when next we'll meet when the tournament concludes?"

"If you believe some of the stories I've heard, it will be sooner than we expect." she laughed.

[Kakita Yuji]

"If you believe some of the stories I've heard, it will be sooner than we expect." she laughed.

Well, that got Yuji's attention.

"Hm, I don't believe we have been listening to the same stories, Shinjo-san. I'd be deeply interested in hearing them from you though." he asked, not sure what they were referring to.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"It's just the way Topaz is spoken of. Legends of heroes begin here. Great rivalries, great friendships and great loves are sparked here. This is the generation that will shape the Empire, as the competitors are fated to influence future events." She shrugged. "It all seems a bit exaggerated, considering this is a yearly tournament. But, one should not argue with destiny."

[Kakita Yuji]

"It's just the way Topaz is spoken of. Legends of heroes begin here. Great rivalries, great friendships and great loves are sparked here. This is the generation that will shape the Empire, as the competitors are fated to influence future events." She shrugged. "It all seems a bit exaggerated, considering this is a yearly tournament. But, one should not argue with destiny."

Yuji nods a bit.

"I suppose it depends on what you think it means to shape the Empire." he replies. "Every generation leaves it's mark in their own way. Those who participate in the Topaz championship are already marked by their potential. It's not hard to see them leaving a slightly deeper mark on the world than others."

[Shinjo Jingyi]

[Yuji nods a bit.

"I suppose it depends on what you think it means to shape the Empire." he replies. "Every generation leaves it's mark in their own way. Those who participate in the Topaz championship are already marked by their potential. It's not hard to see them leaving a slightly deeper mark on the world than others."

"That's true." she nodded. "And, those stories do always seem to involve different groups of samurai, depending on who's telling them. I couldn't tell you the number of them I've heard since being selected to come here."

[Kakita Yuji]

"That's true." she nodded. "And, those stories do always seem to involve different groups of samurai, depending on who's telling them. I couldn't tell you the number of them I've heard since being selected to come here."

Yuji smiles a bit at that.

"I hope you've found them inspirational at least." he said. "Though that might depend both on the skill of the storyteller and how often you're told the same tale."

He looks thoughtful for a moment.

"Hm, I was reading the other day the tale of 'Keitaro the ronin'. Were you told that one?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

Yuji smiles a bit at that.

"I hope you've found them inspirational at least." he said. "Though that might depend both on the skill of the storyteller and how often you're told the same tale."

He looks thoughtful for a moment.

"Hm, I was reading the other day the tale of 'Keitaro the ronin'. Were you told that one?"

"Keitaro…." She shook her head after a moment of thought. "No. The name doesn't sound familiar."