Room to Practice [D9, LA, Open]

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou was surprised to find the dojo so quiet.

So she set to her stretches and warmup before taking a practice naginada and beginging her kata.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Another arrived.

Chihaya had a restless energy driving her today, and it brought her to the Dojo, after the court.

She needed to work it out.

Taking a bokken, she bowed to the shrine, and then entered the dojo.

Seeing Kayou there, she smiled and bowed, offering a greeting. "Good afternoon, Kayou-sensei. It is good to see you in good health."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou returns the bow. "Suzume-sama."

"Physically and spiritually yes, mentally . . . the news about Seppun Kato-sama has knocked me off balanced. I hoped to find some of that here."

She returned to her kata. 'What did you think of the news?"

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya couldn't fully hide her troubled expression, and simply said, "It is not my place to disagree with a brother of the Emperor, who speaks with the agreement of the Scorpion champion and the Miya."

It wasn't much of an answer, and her eye betrayed as much.

"I am certain my lord, Suzume-sama, would agree."

Moving through the dojo, she knelt before a training dummy in seiza, adding, "It is no shock that we all must quiet our spirits, however. It was a shock."

--- Meditation via training + kata creation rolls to apply to endeavors in thread ---

Meditates: https://orokos.com/roll/801849
Kata Creates: https://orokos.com/roll/801848

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou continued to moves through her kata. "This one has always respected the political acumen of Seppun-sama. This move seems . . . clumsy. To grab for power so obviously. It is deeply troubling. It shakes her faith in what this one thought she knew of Seppun-sama."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

Miwako, still mulling over the research she had conducted, entered the dojo. She wanted to compare what she saw in Toshigoku with the martial styles currently being practiced.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Perhaps he spoke the truth."

The idea of it troubled her.

"I cannot say - they are both beyond my station - for me to question either... would be like questioning the wind. I was not born with the power to do either."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou pauses to bow to the Phoenix and then continues her kata.

"But Suzume-sama, if we do not question our superiors how will they know what is being thought and discussed by those that follow them? Loyalty must flow both ways, Seppun Kato-sama's bid for power here, seems to have been a choice made that will only benefit him and not the Empire."

"And this reflect not of the strength of his claim, which may be strong, but to do so now, in the middle of a war? That show a staggering lack of insight into the situation on the ground. This one fears that Seppun-sama is falling the tenants of Bushido."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya looked troubled, and stated, simply, "I know the stance my lord has taken on the trustworthiness on Seppun Kato. I cannot simply disregard that, no matter my personal feelings."

Drawing a slow breath, she added, "And perhaps he feels now is the only time that he can make such an announcement, before power fully consolidates - perhaps now is his only time to reveal the truth and have the opportunity for it to be heard?"

She didn't sound as if she knew if she believed it or not.

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

Miwako had bowed to both women, but did not interupt.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou pivoted in her kata. "Let us apply reason to the question at hand," she says moving through the kata and her argument at the same time.

"Seppun Kato-sama is the finest courtier of this generation with connections to every samurai clan and family. If he has proof that the child is illegitimate, he would be able to have the entire machinery of the Imperial legal courts and the bureaucracy to prove such a charge. With such proof, the Lion would have no choice but to accept it and force the Empress to commit suppukku to restore their family honor. Played right, it would even put the Lion into debit to him.

"That he has not taken such a path, indicates that he has no proof," says Kayou with a stomp and thrust. "But if he allows the Empress to solidify her hold, the Scorpion will gravitate back to power. This is his once chance to swing their loyalties to him and away from their present alliance.

"We know this because Seppun-sama does not act rashly, and this appears to be a rash decision, so it must be because he know that this is his last throw of the dice. His intrigues must finally be catching up with him so he must win now."

She grounds the butt of her practice naginata into the mat and meets Chihaya's gaze.

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

Miwako stared at Chihaya with a curious expression. As she listened to Kayou speak, she sat down and set out three scrolls.

- - -
Just posting the rolls now, for record keeping.

Room to Practice [D9, LA, Open], Casting Silent Waters to store Path to Inner Peace, to be transferred to Suzume Chihaya, Affinity, Isawa FR -5, TN 15, Void Slot: 7d10o10k4 31

Room to Practice [D9, LA, Open], Casting Path to Inner Peace to transfer to Suzume Chihaya, Affinity, Isawa FR -5, TN 5, Void Slot: 7d10o10k4 38

Room to Practice [D9, LA, Open], Casting Sympathetic Emergies to transfer PtIP, stored via Silent Waters, to Suzume Chihaya, , Affinity, Isawa FR -5, TN 5, Void Slot: 7d10o10k4 45

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya listened, and then shrugged faintly.

"Perhaps... or perhaps he saw the real potential that one without the hantei blood would sit upon the throne... I cannot speak for him. Only accept what has been said."

Her expression was distant, perhaps a little haggard.

"You are free to follow your tao, Kayou-sensei, but I do not share your freedom."

That last line came out, flat, deadpan, devoid of any emotion.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"The Tao is open to all, Suzume-sama," says Kayou. "This one knows you as a brave and honorable warrior. A defender of the people. Seppun-sama's actions will make like harder for them."

"If you feel that your oaths to your Lord make you walk this path, this one can only ask that you only do what you must and no more."

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya smiled faintly.

"It may be what puts me on this path, but I must confess something, Kayou-sensei."

Resting her hands on her knees, still kneeling, she added, softly, "The Lion have a rather unfortunate track-record when it comes to respecting the sanctity of the minor clans - and the emperor's peace, writ large. Placing the empire firmly under their control does worry me - it has been said by those who would see the Steel Chrysanthemum as regent that we must save lives by avoiding war - yet putting off a war unto tomorrow does not guarantee that any will be spared, and giving time to an eventual enemy will only give them time to grow stronger."

She bit her lip, and then added, softly, "I do not know who to believe - all involved have equally strong motive to speak truth, and to lie. It is not my place to question them. I must do my duty and do it to my utmost. Only by resolving this matter can peace be secured - anything else is but a ceasefire, while those who cannot be reconciled forge more blades, carve more arrows, and build firmer walls."

Dipping her head, she gazed at her knees, wishing honor spoke with clarity, with a voice that couldn't be construed to mean many different things all at once.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou nods, her face impassive but her eyes sad. "This one respects your view, Suzume-sama. She will not stop being your friend and ally for reasons of petty politics. In a just world, we would be worrying about better harvests and making sure nothing threatened the people."

"But let us hope that we may yet find our way to such a world." She bowed.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

"Hai, Kayou-sensei, and I wish I could offer you more reassuring answers."

She sighed, faintly. "I wish my clan were large and powerful, such that we could crush this Steel Chrysanthemum and secure a fair trial of these claims. Yet I cannot - I can lend but a single blade to stopping the worst of these claimants, so that there may yet be a chance for a peaceful inquiry."

Setting the bokken down before, her, she gazed at it, expression somber.

"In this, at least, there is no disagreement. The Steel Chrysanthemum must be stopped. No matter the cost."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou nods. "He brings only fire and destruction and he will be stopped . . . or there will be no Empire for anyone to rule or live in."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"Suzume-sama? May I have a moment?" Miwako finally spoke up once she was ready.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou bowed to the Phoenix and the Sparrow and withdrew.

Room to Practice [D9, LA, Open]

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