(D0, EM) The First Moments (Open)

[Kakita Yuji]

"It is exciting to see new things, Akodo-san," said the young Crab. "This one has never traveled outside of the Crab lands before and everything here is so . . . colorful."

Yuji swmiled warmly at the Crab.

"Ah, if only you could spend a year here Kaiu-san. You'll see the pink blossoms of the spring cheery trees, but you'll miss out on the clear blue summer sky, the brilliant orange and gold leaves of autumn and even the serene summer snows. Not that the Crane can claim ownership of the seasons themselves, ah but the art it inspires is truly wonderful." he waxed poetic.

"Then again, you've all carry a bit of the seasons with you, do you not? I see the storm clouds of summer about Kaiu-san, the autumn leaves on Akodo-san, and even a hint of the winter snow with Ide-san. Truly, Tsuma can even bring together the disparate seasons themselves."

[Akodo Michi]

Michi's smile was neither derisive nor devious, but to say it was content will leave one searching further still.

"Tell me about the Kakita Dojo, you studied there?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"Ah, you are correct Akodo-san, I am a student of the Academy. I've studied the arts of summer and winter alike, trained with the sword as Lady Sun rises, and tended to a bonsai tree as see bids us goodnight. Right now I am working on a final project of sorts. I am attempting to collect two poems from each of this year's competitors. One comprising their initial impressions of tsuma and the tournament, and one capturing their final thoughts upon it, The end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood from the view of all of the Empire's finest. Can I count upon you three to contribute to such a project?" he asked.

[Kaiu Taura]

"This one is happy to see anything new," said Taura. "The architecture here is much more airy than that in my home. It is quite welcoming. She is not sure if she embodies any of the seasons, that seems like a heavy burden for one to carry."

"This one knows little of poetry but she will happy to share her impressions which you which you can then make poetic, Kakita-san."

[Kakita Yuji]

"This one is happy to see anything new," said Taura. "The architecture here is much more airy than that in my home. It is quite welcoming. She is not sure if she embodies any of the seasons, that seems like a heavy burden for one to carry."

"This one knows little of poetry but she will happy to share her impressions which you which you can then make poetic, Kakita-san."

"Ah but poetry is an expression of oneself, Kaiu-san. I cannot write from your perspective, it is yours and yours alone. I realize it's an imposition, but I hope a minor one that will leave you with something special when you your time at Tsuma comes to a close." he politely disagrees.

[Akodo Michi]

"An interesting proposal", the Lion observed. "I am no poet, however this is a challenge not lightly ignored."

[Kakita Yuji]

"An interesting proposal", the Lion observed. "I am no poet, however this is a challenge not lightly ignored."

"Hmmm, I suppose that is true. There are a lot of competitors, and as the tournament progresses people do tend to be somewhat difficult to find time to meet with. The pressure of the tournament and the need to win and all. But I'm hopeful that if I meet with as many people as early as I can, they might spread the word as well, so everyone has time to help with it." he said.

Yuji perhaps did not understand that some people felt the poetry was the challenge, not the act of gathering it up.

[Kaiu Taura]

"Ah but poetry is an expression of oneself, Kaiu-san. I cannot write from your perspective, it is yours and yours alone. I realize it's an imposition, but I hope a minor one that will leave you with something special when your time at Tsuma comes to a close." he politely disagrees.

"This one will do her best, Kakita-san," replied Taura. "But she does not promise much beyond words."

[Kakita Yuji]

nor one that will leave you with something special when your time at Tsuma comes to a close." he politely disagrees.

"This one will do her best, Kakita-san," replied Taura. "But she does not promise much beyond words."
[/quote]

Yuji was puzzled by the Crab's reluctance. Poetry was, after all, as easy as speaking. Something every samurai should be able to do.

"Thank you Kaiu-san. I look forward to adding your words to the compilation. I have never heard Crab poetry before, I will be most interested in seeing how the Crab's experience shade their words." he said.

[Akodo Michi]

"That our experience is limited may be the greater part of the challenge, expect many works about looking forward", the Lion asserted.

[Kakita Yuji]

"That our experience is limited may be the greater part of the challenge, expect many works about looking forward", the Lion asserted.

Yuji nods.

"I would expect as much. I am very excited to see the differences between the poems at the start of the tournament when compared to the one's at it's end." he said.