(D3, EM) Hail to the Sun

[Kakita Yuji]

Shielding himself as best he could, Kakita Yuji made a dash for the Temple of Amaterasu. Clearly Amaterasu must be displeased to allow this sort of weather to sully Tsuma during the Topaz Championship. He purified himself, and made his way to offer prayers at the shrine.

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko shivers as well, ducking in and out of awnings to get in on time. She is greeted by a familiar face.

"Oh hey, hi again. Sorry that I wasnt in a talkative mood the other day. First day intensity and all"

[Kakita Yuji]

Shinko shivers as well, ducking in and out of awnings to get in on time. She is greeted by a familiar face.

"Oh hey, hi again. Sorry that I wasnt in a talkative mood the other day. First day intensity and all"

Yuji bowed to the Dragon.

"Ah, not at all, Togashi-san. Hopefully you've come to feel more at home in Tsuma in your time here." he said.

He gestured towards the pieces of hail plinking off the ground outside.

"It's not normally quite so....icy. Especially this time of year."

[Chiaki]

In her usual demeanor, trying to keep her On no matter the environmental circumstances, Chiaki goes to the temple of Amaterasu in order to offer her morning prayers to the Kami.

She was wearing her usual, high end kimono, and was carrying her fan on her left hand.

As she entered the temple, she bowed to the structure as a sign of respect, and performed all the initial rituals needed for proper entering the location. As she moved on, she noticed that two of the competitors, which she knew by name of course, where there, Togashi Shinko and Kakita Yuji. The ronin bowed to them from the distance, as a sign of respect.

[Kakita Yuji]

In her usual demeanor, trying to keep her On no matter the environmental circumstances, Chiaki goes to the temple of Amaterasu in order to offer her morning prayers to the Kami.

She was wearing her usual, high end kimono, and was carrying her fan on her left hand.

As she entered the temple, she bowed to the structure as a sign of respect, and performed all the initial rituals needed for proper entering the location. As she moved on, she noticed that two of the competitors, which she knew by name of course, where there, Togashi Shinko and Kakita Yuji. The ronin bowed to them from the distance, as a sign of respect.

Yuji bowed at the ronin's entrance. It was quite impressive how composed she looked having just come in from the hail. While he wasn't going to chase her around the shrine, the body language was clear that she was welcome to come closer and converse.

[Togashi Shinko]

Yuji bowed to the Dragon.

"Ah, not at all, Togashi-san. Hopefully you've come to feel more at home in Tsuma in your time here." he said.

He gestured towards the pieces of hail plinking off the ground outside.

"It's not normally quite so....icy. Especially this time of year."

" Ha!" Shinko can't resist a grin. " I grew up in the mountains Kakita-san. A bit of hail makes things feel closer to home than anything. A bit of ice is lovely."
Shinko peers past Yuji

" Wait, is that...ohayo Chiyaki-san!" Shinko waves to the ronin

[Chiaki]

The ronin approached slowly to the two of them, and then bowed again, this time even lower.

'' Kakita Yuji-sama, Togashi Shinko-sama. It is an honor to meet you here...'' She saidwith a respectful tone. '' This one hopes that Inari-no-kami has blessed you this morning?'' She asked politely to both of them. '' This one hopes that she didn't disturb your prayers to the Heavenly Sun. If so please accept this one apologies.'' She added.

[Kakita Yuji]

The ronin approached slowly to the two of them, and then bowed again, this time even lower.

'' Kakita Yuji-sama, Togashi Shinko-sama. It is an honor to meet you here...'' She said with a respectful tone. '' This one hopes that Inari-no-kami has blessed you this morning?'' She asked politely to both of them. '' This one hopes that she didn't disturb your prayers to the Heavenly Sun. If so please accept this one apologies.'' She added.

Yuji was slightly off-balance at the proper grace of the ronin. Ronin weren't generally held in high esteem in the lands of the Crane, but calling her 'Wolf-san' seemed unfitting when she embodied so little of the wolf.

"You did not disturb us..Chiaki-san." he went with hoping that was her preference and not that the Dragon was just her best buddy. "Certainly conversation is more pleasant than listening to hail bounce of the temple. Less rhythmic perhaps, but infinitely preferable. Inari was honored this morning by me, I hope that you were similarly blessed."

[Chiaki]

'' Indeed this one has been blessed this morning, thanks for asking, Kakita Yuji-sama.'' She nods, while bringing her fan up, opening in order to conceal half of her face features. '' Conversation would be indeed something that this one would welcome under such climate. This one has seen a few storms in her journeys. Although i could only imagine that this one pales in comparison to the ones up north in the lands of your most blessed Clan, Togashi Shinko-sama.'' She added politely, refering to the mountain climate of the Dragon lands.

Then she turned to the Crane. '' This one must give her sincere thanks. Your most honored clan has been extremely courteous with this one. The courtesy and gentle nature of Doji-no-kami, her followers and descendants truly has moved this one. Arigato.'' She bowed, again.

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko points outside. "Well, it looks as if she could use a bit of help."

Shinko clear her throat and does her best to mirror a dignified manner, speaking in a stiff tone

"Every little bit helps, whether we know the reach of our actions or not"

Shinko's shoulders relax.

"Or at least that's what the sifu would say"

[Kakita Yuji]

"Your words are kind and well received, Chiaki-san." Yuji sad returning the bow.

He nodded to the Dragon's words.

"It's true. One cannot know the mind of the Heavens, we simply must do as our position demands and hope that such is pleasing unto them." he agreed.

[Chiaki]

'' Might this one ask you a question, Kakita Yuji-sama?'' She asked politely. '' You don't need to answer if you don't want to, but this one is curious if you are trained in the art of the sword, as your main skillset? or you are part of the cadre of great artisans of your most honorable clan?'' The ronin moves her fan gently, using it to emphasise her words with the movement, as a trained courtier would do.

She turned to the dragon then. '' What about you Togashi Shinko-sama? This one has heard stories about your most wise Clan, although unfortunately this one has not met too many of your fellow clan members in her journeys.'' She added.

[Kakita Yuji]

'' Might this one ask you a question, Kakita Yuji-sama?'' She asked politely. '' You don't need to answer if you don't want to, but this one is curious if you are trained in the art of the sword, as your main skillset? or you are part of the cadre of great artisans of your most honorable clan?'' The ronin moves her fan gently, using it to emphasise her words with the movement, as a trained courtier would do.

She turned to the dragon then. '' What about you Togashi Shinko-sama? This one has heard stories about your most wise Clan, although unfortunately this one has not met too many of your fellow clan members in her journeys.'' She added.

Yuji nodded.

"My primary training is the way of the duelist, it is true." he answers. "But a samurai should be a master of both summer and winter. So I also have some training in the arts as well. As a matter of fact, I am working on a sort of final project for my studies at the academy. I am attempting to collect two poems from each of the competitors at this year's tournament: the first of their initial impressions of the tournament and the second their final impressions. A collection of viewpoints united in being the best upcoming samurai of the Empire on the transition from childhood to adulthood."

He looks between the Dragon and the ronin.

"I would like to includ the poems of both Togashi-san and Chiaki-san if you would be so kind to contribute them." he politely requested.

[Akodo Michi]

Another competitor arrived that morning, fresh from training, to offer veneration to the great fortunes and lady sun. Seeing the others gathered and speaking, she bowed to them but did not interrupt, then knelt at the shrine to Amaterasu to give her prayers.

[Chiaki]

Yuji nodded.

"My primary training is the way of the duelist, it is true." he answers. "But a samurai should be a master of both summer and winter. So I also have some training in the arts as well. As a matter of fact, I am working on a sort of final project for my studies at the academy. I am attempting to collect two poems from each of the competitors at this year's tournament: the first of their initial impressions of the tournament and the second their final impressions. A collection of viewpoints united in being the best upcoming samurai of the Empire on the transition from childhood to adulthood."

He looks between the Dragon and the ronin.

"I would like to includ the poems of both Togashi-san and Chiaki-san if you would be so kind to contribute them." he politely requested.

'' I see...'' Chiaki replied while wondering about what he told her. '' Do you wish, Kakita Yuji-sama, a more fleeting type of poem born out of this very moment? This one knows a bit of poetry, though i wouldn't say that this one has even approached the level of what is expected. Though of course if you want to this one can recite a few lines right now...'' She said to him while bringing her fan back onto her face features.

'' Mono no aware, right?'' She said with a slight girly giggle behind her fan.

Chiaki did notice the Lion competitor entering the chamber of the temple, though the ronin didn't disturb her, as it would seem that she was engaged in her prayers.

'

[Kakita Yuji]

'' I see...'' Chiaki replied while wondering about what he told her. '' Do you wish, Kakita Yuji-sama, a more fleeting type of poem born out of this very moment? This one knows a bit of poetry, though i wouldn't say that this one has even approached the level of what is expected. Though of course if you want to this one can recite a few lines right now...'' She said to him while bringing her fan back onto her face features.

'' Mono no aware, right?'' She said with a slight girly giggle behind her fan.

Chiaki did notice the Lion competitor entering the chamber of the temple, though the ronin didn't disturb her, as it would seem that she was engaged in her prayers.

'

"Ah, I leave that choice to you, Chiaki-san. Some have felt it best to capture the immediate moment, some have felt that further reflection is necessary to truly grasp the moment. But art can only be inspired, never compelled, so I let each participant handle it as they best see fit." he explained.

[Togashi Shinko]

"Oh, you're a duelist too?" Shinko grabs her bicep. "I hope we have the chance to cross bokken"

[Chiaki]

"Ah, I leave that choice to you, Chiaki-san. Some have felt it best to capture the immediate moment, some have felt that further reflection is necessary to truly grasp the moment. But art can only be inspired, never compelled, so I let each participant handle it as they best see fit." he explained.

Chiaki thinks for a moment, looking for the right inspiration and creativity. When she is ready she look at the Crane and recites

Last Winter cold winds
Gathering of Dreams and hopes
Blossom, Spring Arrives

She brings her fan back to cover half of her facial features. '' This one thinks that would be her addition to your artistic quest, Kakita Yuji-sama.'' She says to the crane. '' This one hopes it is good enough.''

[Akodo Michi]

After finishing her greetings to lady sun, Michi stood, bowed and advanced toward the smaller, but not less impressive shrine to Bishamon.

Here she would spend much time.

[Kakita Yuji]

Chiaki thinks for a moment, looking for the right inspiration and creativity. When she is ready she look at the Crane and recites

Last Winter cold winds
Gathering of Dreams and hopes
Blossom, Spring Arrives

She brings her fan back to cover half of her facial features. '' This one thinks that would be her addition to your artistic quest, Kakita Yuji-sama.'' She says to the crane. '' This one hopes it is good enough.''

Yuji listened quietly to the ronin's words.

"Most acceptable, Chiaki-san." he offered. He spared a hopeful glance towards the Dragon and the Lion, hoping the ronin's words would sudddenly inspire them to provide their own contributions.

But barring that, he nodded to the Dragon.

"I would be happy to continue the conversation between Kakita and Mirumoto Hojutsu with you some time, Togashi-san." he offered.