(D0 LA) Praying for a Sunny Tommorrow

[Kakita Yuji]

Amaterasu had hidden her gaze for the day, but Yuji was hopeful that tomorrow would be a sunnier, warmer, and drier. To help ensure that, he made his way to the temple to remind Amaterasu before she went to bed entirely, nestled within her clouds blankets.

He cleansed himself, and offered up his prayers for such, and would not find company in such objectionable even in the slightest.

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro also made his way to the temple after meeting with his clanmates. He was not one for delaying familiarization with the local theological sites. Certainly he was no priest, but he was still a Phoenix. He prepared himself as he entered the temple and moved to the central shrine to provide prayers to the Sun.

Noticing the Kakita there, he bowed in greeting. He didn't recognize him from the artisan school he had visited, not that that was an indicator of the Crane's training. There were many artists that he never met there. But he was just as likely a local student at the dueling academy. There will be plenty of those out and about Jiro imagined.

"Good afternoon," he offers in simple greeting, not wishing to assume the Crane was looking for anyone to join him.

[Kakita Yuji]

Jiro also made his way to the temple after meeting with his clanmates. He was not one for delaying familiarization with the local theological sites. Certainly he was no priest, but he was still a Phoenix. He prepared himself as he entered the temple and moved to the central shrine to provide prayers to the Sun.

Noticing the Kakita there, he bowed in greeting. He didn't recognize him from the artisan school he had visited, not that that was an indicator of the Crane's training. There were many artists that he never met there. But he was just as likely a local student at the dueling academy. There will be plenty of those out and about Jiro imagined.

"Good afternoon," he offers in simple greeting, not wishing to assume the Crane was looking for anyone to join him.

Fortunately for Jiro, Yuji's player was not the sort to invite someone to a thread and then ignore them.

He bowed in return.

"May the Fortunes smile on you, Phoenix-san." he said. "I am known as Kakita Yuji, at least for a short while more. I hope that Tsuma has been kind to you thus far."

[Shiba Jiro]

"It has been perfectly pleasant Kakita Yuji-san. I am Shiba Jiro. This is my second time to Crane lands and it is just as lovely as the last," he replied with a gentle smile.

"Shall we offer prayers together?" Jiro suggested.

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji nodded.

"Of course, Isawa-san, I would be honored to accompany you in prayer." he agrees, curious as to what differences the Phoenix might have in their traditions.

[Shiba Jiro]

There wouldn't be any huge differences, except slightly more wordy and formal prayers. Haru steps to the shrine taking the lead, going through the proper offered prayers and words for Amaterasu.

"Lovely Lady of the Heavens
Goddess and Guarian of the Rokugani People
Amaterasu, with Awe we see your beauty Rise.
Tranquil Queen of Tengoku
When I look up to the Sky
I see thee Shining in Great Glory. behind a screen of Clouds, The Sun..."

[Kakita Yuji]

There wouldn't be any huge differences, except slightly more wordy and formal prayers. Haru steps to the shrine taking the lead, going through the proper offered prayers and words for Amaterasu.

"Lovely Lady of the Heavens
Goddess and Guarian of the Rokugani People
Amaterasu, with Awe we see your beauty Rise.
Tranquil Queen of Tengoku
When I look up to the Sky
I see thee Shining in Great Glory. behind a screen of Clouds, The Sun..."

".....May you see the shine of our deeds in the upcoming days and may they bring a smile to your face.
May your smile reveal the misdeeds of those who think themselves safely hidden in your absence.
May your blessings warm every citizen beneath your gaze from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high.
May your beauty in the morning energize us for the day ahead.
May your departure in the evening reveal the beauty of your children among the stars.
From dawn to dusk, may our every action be pleasing unto you.".

[Shiba Jiro]

Raising his head and looking to Yuji, he nodded his appreciation before moving out of the way for any others to offer prayers.

"Thank you Kakita-san."

[Kakita Yuji]

Raising his head and looking to Yuji, he nodded his appreciation before moving out of the way for any others to offer prayers.

"Thank you Kakita-san."

Yuji bowed.

"Of course, Shiba-san. Two are stronger than one in all things, even in prayer." he said following him off to the side.

"Would you care to converse awhile before heading to this evening's feast? This weather seems tailormade for long conversations after all."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I would enjoy company and conversation," he replied with a nod. "Do you train here in Tsuma? Or are you from another of the Crane's many impressive schools?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"I would enjoy company and conversation," he replied with a nod. "Do you train here in Tsuma? Or are you from another of the Crane's many impressive schools?"

Yuji nodded.

"I have been fortunate to train at the Dueling Academy here within Tsuma." he admits. "Hopefully I will be able to honor our traditions well in the tournament."

He looked over to the Phoenix.

"What of your own dojo and sensei, Shiba-san? I'd be interested to know more about your own experience."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I see. I suspect that you will perform exceptionally, with the school you come from," Jiro says with a soft smile of encouragement.

"I am a student of the Shiba Artist's school. I had been previously recognized in my school to be given the opportunity to visit the Kakita Artists academy with one of my sensei as part of an artistic exchange event between students and teachers. So I hope that I will be able to please my senseis with my participation here."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I see. I suspect that you will perform exceptionally, with the school you come from," Jiro says with a soft smile of encouragement.

"I am a student of the Shiba Artist's school. I had been previously recognized in my school to be given the opportunity to visit the Kakita Artists academy with one of my sensei as part of an artistic exchange event between students and teachers. So I hope that I will be able to please my senseis with my participation here."

Yuji brightened at the explanation.

"Ah, indeed? It's very fortunate then that I was able to run into you Shiba-san. I'm working on a sort of final project for my studies that I would deeply appreciate your contribution on. I'm attempting to gather two poems from each of the competitors in the Topaz tournament. One representing their initial impression of Tsuma and the tournament, and the second their final impression. A glimpse of the transitions from childhood to adulthood of the finest upcoming samurai of the Empire. Would you be willing to add your own words to such a project?" he explained.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I would be glad to do so, though I must admit that writing was not part of my training. I focused more on crafting and physical arts, and to a lesser extent performance and recitation. But I will certainly give it an effort," he offers.

[Kakita Yuji]

"I would be glad to do so, though I must admit that writing was not part of my training. I focused more on crafting and physical arts, and to a lesser extent performance and recitation. But I will certainly give it an effort," he offers.

Yuji bowed at that.

"Of course, Shiba-san. I think of this compilation much like I do of ikebana. It's not any single one piece that dominates the whole, but it is multiple pieces each adding their unique voice into making the whole greater than the sum of it's parts." he offered, glad to have the Shiba on board.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I will take some time this evening before bed to write something then, and share it with you tomorrow," he replies offering a smile. "Have you written a contribution yet? The perspective of someone that's been her longer than most of us will likely be unique among participants in your project."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I will take some time this evening before bed to write something then, and share it with you tomorrow," he replies offering a smile. "Have you written a contribution yet? The perspective of someone that's been her longer than most of us will likely be unique among participants in your project."

Yuji nods.

"I have. As the person compiling the work, I intend to place my own poems at the beginning and the end of the work respectively. The first poems will be arranged in order that I collect them and then I'll reverse the order for the second poems. I believe that will make for a nice symmetry and help capture the sense of time passing." he explained, clearly having given the order a great deal of thought.

"I shall look forward to receiving your entry. Beyond that, might I inquire about your main artistic foci? Are you a sculptor?" he inquires, not wanting to have the conversation dominated by merely his own work.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I have trained with many different types of art, but I also like to craft actual functional creations to be used as a canvas for artistic expression. Most frequently I can be seen folding origami, sometimes during conversation. But I love to carve, sculpt and paint as well. I... simply enjoy the act of creating," he says with a light shrug.

"For instance, not dissimilar to your own project, I had a project I worked on for years during my training. I singlehandedly constructed a shrine to Benten-no-kami over the course of my training. I put into practice many skills I learned during my time at the dojo, oftentimes as I was learning them. Painting, carving, lacquering, and calligraphy all went into it. But I also went out of my way to learn carpentry and woodcutting. I started when I was 13 and finished just a few months ago. So a little over 4 years of work, when I had freedom to work on it outside of training."

[Kakita Yuji]

"I have trained with many different types of art, but I also like to craft actual functional creations to be used as a canvas for artistic expression. Most frequently I can be seen folding origami, sometimes during conversation. But I love to carve, sculpt and paint as well. I... simply enjoy the act of creating," he says with a light shrug.

"For instance, not dissimilar to your own project, I had a project I worked on for years during my training. I singlehandedly constructed a shrine to Benten-no-kami over the course of my training. I put into practice many skills I learned during my time at the dojo, oftentimes as I was learning them. Painting, carving, lacquering, and calligraphy all went into it. But I also went out of my way to learn carpentry and woodcutting. I started when I was 13 and finished just a few months ago. So a little over 4 years of work, when I had freedom to work on it outside of training."

Yuji listened intently.

"That is quite the accomplishment, Shiba-san. Little wonder you were sent to compete in the Topaz tournament. Where is this shrine located?" he asked, interested in seeing such a marvel.

[Shiba Jiro]

"Actually, it's a bit out of the way," he replies shaking his head. "There is a small area on the border of Phoenix lands that has been in the care of my family for several generations. The second son of the family inherits stewardship of it. Technically it is still in my father's care, but I will receive the official documents upon officially graduating here."

"The place was sanctified by Benten-no-kami after one of my ancestors let a rival in love cut him down in a duel, not willing to kill a man that his paramour cared for as he didn't wish to cause her any pain. His rival had no such compunctions. It's a bit out of the way, and people do not visit often, but I hope that with the construction of the shrine there I can get people to take the path and read the story as it is written on the shrine."

He has a warm smile on his face as he thinks of that place.