One and Nature [Day 1, EA]

[Yoko]

Despite her usual caution, she felt she could make her way through the hinterlands easily enough. Somewhere she might find herself the peace and quiet to practice her swordsmanship where she wouldn't disturb the fine villagers, guests, or anyone else truly. Searching out her place of serenity for the afternoon she wandered through the lands seeking just that.

Finding that very spot she'd set up her things against a nearby tree she'd managed to find. Pacing out some many steps to give herself space and glanced in the direction of the sun, feeling it against her skin. Looking back toward her things she did some warm ups, got the blood flowing. All in preparation for the mornings practice.

EA 1 | Hunting for Safety, Unskilled vs TN 12: 3d10 9

[Kakita Masao]

Kakita Masao, frustrated that the day to day workings of the Crab castle left no place to train -- and conscious of frightening the peasants with a Crane prowling about with weapons -- wandered out beyond the farms and into rougher country.

He was no woodsman, but the sightlines weren't terrible, and he felt confident that no one was around to be disturbed by his practice. And then he heard the faint sounds of human exertion, and he went to investigate without a moment's hesitation. Holding tightly to the haft of his dai tsuchi, and pushing through brush and over a small hill, he finds a ronin exercising -- perhaps just as he had been about to do. Or perhaps up to more nefarious things, and not so stealthy as she thought.

As he is about to speak to gain her attention, he pauses and is lost in his thoughts. You're just going to talk to her like a person? She's clearly a bandit! What if she's just baiting a trap? I'm pretty sure this is the one from the Mantis ship. And she's clearly just looking for a bit of room to train like I am.

The scuff of his footsteps as he shakes off the internal dialogue is plain to hear.

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OOC:
Battle roll for safety in these lands: passed.

[Yoko]

Glancing over her shoulder she quirked her right brow deep, "You uh- okay over there, Crane-sama?" she called out, finding a little raise to her voice to make sure it carried. Halfway through stretching her arm left arm far out to the right as she could, her right held around it for support. Shifting how she stood without ceasing her stretch she full faced toward him. Relaxing her arms she settled each hand on her hip, regarding him with a head tilted toward the left.

[Kakita Masao]

"Ah, yes, er, ronin-san." Masao breathes deeply, recovering his full height and something resembling a military bearing. He rests his dai tsuchi on his right shoulder and matches the lean of her head. "Do I recall seeing you aboard the Sea Fox? I hope you're not up to any mischief now that the voyage is over." His raised eyebrows are curious, maybe skeptical, but far from an attempt to look tough.

You... This... No, this is too much. A wolf? What are we even... Masao closes his eyes meditatively, exhales long and slow, and then re opens his warm brown eyes with a sharper clarity than was there before.

[Yoko]

"Me? Yea, thought I'd come out here and assail some.." she glanced around a bit, pointed over her shoulder at the tree behind her with her left hand. Wearing, of course, a quirky-cocky-smirk as she was all too pleased with herself. "Tree's. Good targets for the-" she laughed, waved her hand about dismissing the whole act.

"I'm sorry, Crane-sama," she gave a little dip of her head, "I shouldn't jest, hmm? Tension's are likely high with the upcoming wedding and all, eh? You are correct, I served on the vessel for a spare few coins and a place to get some food and rest for a while. As you will perhaps be all too happy to hear I merely came out here to practice the motions for my blade-work," she brought the hand she'd indicated the tree with back and patted her hip where her sword lay passively. "Mom always told me to keep it in shape, as she didn't wish all her hard work to go to waste, so I do my best to do as she'd wish. I didn't wish to disturb the villagers by practicing too closely. Causing a panic among the locals for wielding a sword out in their fields wouldn't play too well if I were to keep looking for a little extra work around here, eh?""

[Kakita Masao]

Masao smiles at the effort on the joke, even if it didn't come together. "Yes, tensions are high. But, I can respect avoiding causing a stir with the peasants. Heimin are so... skittish... around warriors." There's a respect in Masao's eye that's probably not common when a Crane looks upon a wave-person.

"Kakita Masao's my name, nikutai of the 12th Iron Warrior legion. And likewise looking for a space to train," he admits. "The ship was lovely, but I could scarcely wait to have room to practice my technique." He smiles pleasantly, eyes still very much appraising.

[Yoko]

"Weapons bring conflict, and conflict disrupts their lives," she shrugged, glanced back toward the way of the village. "Don't suppose I blame them," she tapped her blade again in thought. Didn't press further into it aloud though.

Instead, other matters far more important called her attention, "Yoko, just your common sell-sword and thorn," she said, bowing to the Crane. "Would you like the space here, Kakita-sama? I'd rather not let it be said I stepped in the way of a Kakita's practice."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao raises an eyebrow at the word "common," finding it slightly disarming and knowing that's the intent.

"I appreciate Yoko-san's offer of accommodation. Perhaps you will find me more accommodating than a typical Kakita though. I would offer the honor of sparring with me, had we bokken at hand. But perhaps we simply take turns with this favorable space you've found?" he invites, setting his dai tsuchi down beside a small scrub bush and looking at her curiously.

[Yoko]

"Hey, never let it be said I looked at a kind offer and turned it down," she said with a little chuckle, giving a bit of a shrug. "My things are over by the tree," she directed with a thumb over her shoulder, "if you wanted to set yours down there it'd be a bit easier to keep an eye on everything, yea?"

As she said it, Yoko turned and walked over toward where her things were, just to give the little direct showing. Kneeling down beside them she dug about a bit, giving a quick check over everything and tidying it up off toward a side to make some room for Masao's things, assuming he accepted the idea.

[Kakita Masao]

"Of course." The Crane hefts his dai tsuchi and moves to the indicated area, placing it as near the tree as possible to keep the heavy head of the hammer out of the way. Thankful that he didn't wear any extra layers, Masao takes a step back and begins to stretch his shoulders. "Feel free to begin whenever you're ready, Yoko-san. You were here first, after all."

[Yoko]

"Hey, far from sense for me to refuse," she said with a chuckle as she pushed herself up. Pacing out some distance to give room for her exercise. Once she was out enough she pulled her blade free and cast it out toward the side. Bringing it back in she turned toward Masao and claimed a starting stance. One that would start to seem eerily similar by any who may have been trained in the way of Madao's family school.

What was hinted at her stance would only be confirmed over the course of the practice. Yoko remained determined and focused on each strike she performed cutting through air with elegance not befitting a Ronin. Even the slightest mistake she discovered gained a grimace and then worked on the mistake until she corrected.

Devoting something alike half an hour to the pursuit of her practice. Once she neared the end she made one final decisive strike through the air. Holding out her blade in reverant silence and then returned it to it's sheathe. Dipping her head she intoned a few words, "Next time I will do better," a solemn promise to those not currently here.

"I believe I've stayed in your way long enough, Kakita-sama?" she said, looking over toward Masao.

[Kakita Masao]

Well isn't this interesting. A wolf who strikes like a Crane. It appears you were right to see something more in her. Oh, and respect for the ancestors who strengthen her...

Masao gives a respectful nod as Yoko finishes, the sheen from her exertion giving a bit of a sparkle to her features that he notices but does not comment on. "Yoko-san shows notable skill. Far from a delay to me, it is instructive. And I had not been sure you would even accept the invitation. I have known ronin to be very secretive with any information that might reveal their past. But Yoko-san," he rises from where he'd been sitting, and dusts off his hands. "You are very confident, or very careless." He pauses for effect. "Both of which are intriguing possibilities."

He steps past her to the center of the area. Facing her back, he takes a balanced stance and inhales a deep, cleansing breath. And he waits, to see what she will do next.

[Yoko]

"Where you day secretive many have been taught to see it as another life," she said, stepping forward until she was halfway through the tree and Masao. Turning around she offered a shrug, "Because it is from another life, isn't it? What you learn before you became a Ronin may remain but the person you were is gone, eh?" she raised up her arms to add to her shrug.

"I am who I am, I know what I know. Careless, confident," she shrugged, "I've been called both plenty of times. Every times been right too," she laughs, shaking her head.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao laughs, not loudly, but probably more than is proper for the situation. "Yoko-san is a fascinating mystery. But for a while, I will leave the mystery alone."

Masao takes another centering breath, his eyes narrow for a heartbeat, and he makes a half turn to his left before re-centering. This time, after a centering breath, in the time between two heartbeats, Masao's katana leaps from its saya to a full extension that might have alarmed Yoko if he hadn't changed his facing. As it is, she simply notices a gleam from the carefully tended blade, and then the sword is in near constant motion after that.

Masao uses the steady, unrelenting strokes of his school, but with a more nimble footwork than is common among the Iron Crane. It is almost as if the air kami lighten his blade just a fraction, ease his passage ever so slightly, and his kata takes on the hint of a dance with the air.

Time slips quickly, and he practices for a shorter time than the ronin -- to much grumbling inside his head -- but his final strike is as swift and beautiful as the first. As he draws back to his center, he closes his eyes for a moment, giving a silent prayer to the Fortunes and his katana. He sheathes it carefully, then looks to Yoko sheepishly. He takes a steadying breath.

"I expected that to go better. Clearly I should not be so quick to show off when I have let practice time slip. I should have found more opportunity to practice aboard the ship."

He chuckles unhappily. "I am glad I had you here to protect me, Yoko-san."

[Yoko]

"Was that what I was doing?" she said with a laugh, walking over toward the tree some more. Turning about she leaned back until she let gravity take her and sat in the grass in the shade of the tree. "If I knew that I should have charged," she said, thought, and then waved it off. "Forget I said so. Anyway, hardly need protecting from anything right around here, eh? Just some grass and trees.. well," she thrust her thumb over her shoulder at the tree yet behind her, "tree at least. More than capable enough on your own anyway, but I suppose knowing another blade is around doesn't hurt."

"You seemed a little distracted though, if you ask me. Wanna chat about it?" she asked, giving a nod toward a spot in the grass near her.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao laughs, probably louder than he should, but he's not immune to Yoko's good humor.

At the mention of a chat, he looks conflicted. There you go, you go talking to a ronin and now you can have one as a friend. Until you sit down and she slits your throat. Or you can spend time with her when you should be finding a good wife to raise my future great grandchildren. His head drops and he closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he breathes as meditatively as he can. Without knowledge of the tirade in his head, Masao probably looks like he is giving too much thought to a simple invitation.

"Yes," he says finally. "I think a bit of conversation would be favorable." He blinks as a frustrated screech echoes between his ears, but he goes to sit beside Yoko anyway. Once seated, he breathes deeply a couple of times and seems to recover himself.

"Yoko-san is perceptive. There is... There is much to distract me. My first duty to my honored father and our family has always been this sword. It is my most important duty, and even why I should be here -- protect the bride, see the wedding through without incident. But I am also here because the rest of my family is not. If... circumstances were different..." He had been staring at the ground out in front of him, but now his head drops and he sighs. "I am not sure you want me to continue. This is not much of a 'chat,' and we could be here a while."

[Yoko]

"No, but it's what's on your mind eh?" she said laughing a bit. Lifting herself up a little she crawled over more toward her bags and went fishing through her things. After pulling out one bottle Yoko tossed it aside into the grass, a local fine sake and then another a bottle used for shochu far as anyone could tell, and tossed that nearby too.

"I mean," she said, looking over her shoulder. Using the motion from looking over her shoulder she started to turn about, sat down for a second. "I didn't really ask for a pleasant conversation, did I?" she smirked. Shifting forward again and crawling over toward her bottles rather than getting up. Pushing herself up somewhat she swung her legs beneath her and sat beside them. Reaching for the first, the sake, "So, we got sake to help coax the story out, if you want, I'm in no position to force you," she raised it a little. Setting that bottle aside she grabbed the next, "Or conveniently disguised water- considering I lost my other container for it- if you're not in the mood for drinking too early in the afternoon, eh?" she looks up at him with her self-confident grin.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes are large as he tries to process all that's happening. This meeting has moved so far from what he would have expected that he feels almost like he's dreaming. He shakes his head, feeling a bit like it should wake him up, yet here he remains with this fascinating woman.

"Uh. The water, I suppose. Less sake is needed to loosen the tongue when the audience is so inviting." He takes the bottle when it's passed, takes a deep drink, then sets it back part way between them.

"So," he says a bit nervously. "I am... was... one of three brothers. All warriors -- and some level of artist, thanks to grandmother -- but my oldest brother, he was the leader. The most skilled in court, the future governor of Cold Wind City. But he was killed in this war with the Crab. Just a few months ago." Masao stays fairly well composed, but his on is fraying in small ways. "My other brother was struck down, right beside me, in what may have been the last skirmish of the border war. He is at home, recovering -- praise the Fortunes I was able to carry him out of that fight -- but... there is doubt... if he will recover enough to inherit my father's governorship when he retires. So... it could actually be me." He bows his head and mumbles a prayer to the Fortunes for Kitora's recovery and long life. When he looks up to Yoko again, his face is drawn. He looks much different than the bushi who swaggered up to her, dai tsuchi on his shoulder, about an hour before.

[Yoko]

"Shit."

She coughed, "Ahem, I uh.. that's a harsh story, Kakita-sama," she takes up the bottle of water, drinking a bit. Setting it back between them she looked to him for a moment. "Carrying a lot with you. Must be hard to be here," she glances around to the countryside around them. Leans backward so that she almost falls but catches and supports herself with her hands planted behind her. Looking up through the leaves of the tree into the great sky above.

"I've never known loss like that, but.. it's something we're all bound to face in one way or another, eh? Strange how you can be facing an enemy in battle one day and be drinking with him the next. Not-" she twisted her bottom lip, shook her head a little. "Nah, that's something I think even a ronin can run into. Sometimes yesterday's competition is today's necessary companion. Which.. would feel easier, I suppose? Knowing it- seeing the need in front of you. Not sure how I'd manage with someone telling me I had to go make merry with the people who killed my brother- not that I have one, just.. well, you know, matchin' the story."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao smiles, strangely comforted that this seemingly unflappable wave person would struggle with his circumstances.

"Arigato, Yoko-san. It is difficult. But I think I struggle less with putting away my sword for a time, to make this wedding succeed, than with the possibility that I might be called to put away my sword for a long time, and tend to a city rather than just the soldiers beside me." He pauses thoughtfully.

When he speaks again, the words come slowly, perhaps simply rolling out of his mouth as the thoughts come. "This wedding is a small thing, but if it keeps a few more brothers at home, instead of on the battlefield, then I will pray the Fortunes make me suffer a thousand more such weddings." Masao laughs a little, but it is a bitter sound. "And if anyone is here with ill intent toward any part of this marriage, their time in this life will be short. My brothers did their duty in a time of war, and I will do my duty in this time of peace."

After a moment of silence, Masao realizes where his thoughts -- and voice -- have gone, and he looks at the ground and composes himself. After a slightly ragged breath, he says, "My apologies, Yoko-san. There is... Perhaps there is more to trouble my thoughts than even I realized." He looks up at her, but looks back at the ground because he doesn't know what to say. "You have, ah, certainly found a more... dramatic? chat than you probably expected." He tries to laugh at his sad joke, but it only adds to the awkwardness.

[Yoko]

Yoko sighed pleasantly as she lay her arms out and let her back come against the ground. Watching up through the leaves for a little while as she tussled with the thoughts.

"Well, I'm not so certain I had any expectations. So, no- not really. Anyway, that's not what's important, eh? What's important is the chance to talk about what you've got going on and- well, it's a lot," she chuckled to herself. "Can see how that would come out when you're practicing. You know, when I practice I think a lot about mom," she paused and make a shark sound by sucking at her lip between her teeth, "the woman who trained me. Anyway, I think about her a lot whenever I put my hand on my sword. Might be a little different but.. I end up worrying about where she is, what she's doing. Hoping I'm doing the right thing and making her proud, eh? Not-" she sighed, closed her eyes as she lay in the grass. "Not sure if it's similar to what you got going on but-" she shrugged- "just gotta make the people we care about, whether they still walk with us or not, as proud as we can, eh?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nods as she speaks, and looks embarrassed by the end. A small relief that she's not looking at him.

"I hope to achieve your clarity one day, Yoko-san. With time, with more practice and meditation, I will try to get there. There are too many things, too recently, and the future too unsettled, to control it all just now." A centering breath, as he looks at her laid out serenely. "If I may, how long ago were you... separated... from her?"

[Yoko]

"We parted ways.. two years ago now?" she said, quirking her brow as she thought on that. Making sure she lined the time up right in her head, remembering the moment. "I- should be more clear, to be safe, she's alive and well.. I think-" she shook her head- "no, nothing is putting a stop to that woman. Just- when the road is as rough as it is for people like us sometimes it's easier to go it alone. We have plans to meet up again, eh? Another year or so at least.. but, well, yea. Hard to find enough work to pay for our selves, our food, and our equipment, eh?"

"Just-" she chuckled to herself- "if I learned anything at all, it's one lesson. Even if you find yourself in the worst situation, there's always more you can do, more you can and is worthy fighting for, end of the day. However you intend to fight."

[Kakita Masao]

"I wouldn't imagine anything stopping you, either," Masao says genuinely., smiling if he catches her eye.

"For what little it is worth, if you find yourself near Cold Wind City, you may call upon me. Gyousha Province is a long way from here, and I expect your friends on the Sea Fox are a better source of employment than I am, but my family never forgets a kindness done. And you've been more than kind to a gloomy, black bird of a Crane today." He looks at Yoko with a mix of admiration, concern, and still curiosity about what else is there.

[Yoko]

"Thanks," she smirked, leaning up onto her elbows she looked over to him. "Do you really think it's worth that little, Kakita-sama? You, a governor's son..
are readily offering something to a ronin. Met me one day, we talked in some grass for a few minutes and you're making such bold claims," she laughed, but tried to restrain it a little.

""Thank you," she said, a little more seriously as she dipped her head. "I'm not so tied down here that I can't take on what work I find, so.. if you find yourself in need of a ronin well.. try shouting through the streets to find me eh?" Yoko smirked but shook her head, "Or I can try sending word where and when I find out where I'll be staying the next while, eh?"