[Day Eleven - Early Evening] A Fruitless Return

Moshi Yuko · **Joined:** Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:38 pm **Posts:** 108

Yuko bows as best she can without putting stress on the Kitsu. Oh, so that is where we are going, she thinks after listening to Miwako's reply.

"I have treated Kitsu-sama as best I could with my kit but she is still injured."

Miya Mei · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:50 am

"I see. And how did these injuries occur?"

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

"I am uncertain." she admitted. "They were clearly wounded by the enemy. It seems they had a mission outside of the walls."

Moshi Yuko · **Joined:** Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:38 pm **Posts:** 108

"Miromoto-sama said something about a rescue mission," said Yuko, "but I was more focused on treated their wounds. I am sorry that I cannot tell you more."

'Oh, I am Moshi Yuko, of the Centipede. And may we be on our way, Miya-sama? Kitsu-sama's family must be worried."

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

"Her wounds have been healed." Miwako added. "But, she seems to have strained herself. She should recover with rest, however."

The Phoenix managed a bow. "Isawa Miwako."

Miya Mei · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:13 am

Mei nods and begins slowly moving the horse forward, walking with the group.

"Miya Mei, and please, do not let me hold you. I can ride and talk."

"A mission outside the walls is quite ambitious. I barely made it in this morning without being overwhelmed, the enemy army is great in number, and quite....brutal."

Moshi Yuko · **Joined:** Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:38 pm **Posts:** 108

"Hai," agreed Yuko, getting moving again. "They are a plague on the Empire. I was lucky to make it alive to Nikesake."

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

"It has been difficult." The Isawa nodded. "We've lost many good samurai. Too many. Perhaps Kitsu-sama was hoping to get one back."

Miya Mei · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2020 6:21 am

"Who would warrant such a risk? A Family Daimyo does not simply walk into the enemies siege camp to extract just anyone."

Moto Batzurig · **Joined:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 3:05 am **Posts:** 275

Mirumoto Wasako wrote:

"That is perhaps one way...or at least a stepping stone. The truth is that there are multiple ways to Enlightenment, if there was only one way then everyone would be able to achieve it. It is perhaps more akin to a mountain where you could easily be taught to take a certain path and climb the few rocks...then scale the cliff...however, how you get to the peak is entirely up to the individual," she nodded surely at that example.

She sighed softly before continuing. "I...admit I'm not seeking it directly at the moment. I am still working on perfecting my form and aiding my sensei in teaching others. There are some of us who take to wandering the land in search of Enlightenment, as it is often both experience and broadening our horizon that we're able to find our own path. Me being here is only the first step to a potentially greater journey."

Batzurig listened but came away even more confused as he tried to piece together the search and non-search for enlightenment. He stopped Bashiru to allow a peasant to move their cart and said, "You are like laoshi or teacher? But you are also guide to enlightenment like bodhissatva, but you have not reached the sacred nirvana so more like little bodhissatva."

"I always wanted to know how you know when you find enlightenment?"

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

"I'm more of a guide to swordsmanship, really..." she murmured on the topic. "The Toaist Swordman path is just another path that leads towards the high peak of the mountains. Ultimately, once reaching the high ground, it is up to the individual how they go from there."

She lifted a hand from the horse's back with the intent to put it on her chin but stopped when she had to retain balance. "Eto...that's a good question...I was told that it's supposed to be like how everything in the world just makes sense suddenly and you find yourself absolutely free from all worries and needs."

Moshi Yuko · **Joined:** Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:38 pm **Posts:** 108

Yuko started. The Kitsu Daimyo! What had happened that would make her risk herself? she thought.

"It must have been a mission of great purpose indeed," she says.

Moto Batzurig · **Joined:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 3:05 am **Posts:** 275

“So, saints don’t need to shit, well that would be worth the climb to enlightenment,” he said in reply. With the cart out of the way he gently pulled the horse forward and continued, “I never really think about worries, sayyeda. Things can’t control, can’t control. If someone wants me dead, I kill them if I can, seems simple enough.”

Batzurig said, “So you are laoshi for kenjutsu more so than enlightenment? You must be good fighter then if you teach others to fight, have many kills, yes? I could get behind such a path to the top littered in the corpses of my enemies.”

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

"It's likely more than that..." she said at first but can't quite explain it herself. "And could you say the same about that when it comes to all things? How about when you're hungry? Or how about then you crave certain things? The need for a comfortable blanket? Or how about your horse? What if it was another horse?"

"A lao-shi?" she said curiously before frowning. "...I am a good swordswoman but no, I don't have a lot of kills...I have probably done more here than anywhere else and it was unfortunate that it had to come down to violence. It is what I must resort to to defend this place."

Moto Batzurig · **Joined:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 3:05 am **Posts:** 275

Mirumoto Wasako wrote:

"It's likely more than that..." she said at first but can't quite explain it herself. "And could you say the same about that when it comes to all things? How about when you're hungry? Or how about then you crave certain things? The need for a comfortable blanket? Or how about your horse? What if it was another horse?"

“When I am hungry? I can eat whole horse if need be… I think I understand a little, so enlightenment means I don’t feel those needs but I still need those things to live, yes? Or are you free of such things? More would I want that, knowing what I feel makes me who I am, yes? Why deny me the joys of living?” he asked.

Mirumoto Wasako wrote:

"A lao-shi?" she said curiously before frowning. "...I am a good swordswoman but no, I don't have a lot of kills...I have probably done more here than anywhere else and it was unfortunate that it had to come down to violence. It is what I must resort to to defend this place."

“Oh laoshi, a teacher, or sensei?” he responded.

“Unfortunate?” he said with a quizzical look up at her like she was some alien creature. “Why else learn to fight if not to kill enemies of the Miru-mo-to? I understand it it your path to enlightenment, yes, but still why unfortunate. There is glory and honor in the death of enemies in battles, your enemies doubtless do not have such reservations.”

Kitsu Izumi · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:40 pm **Posts:** 90

Izumi remains silent as they travel, walking on her own, but still holding her waist and breathing heavily. She seems more lost in her thoughts than troubled by pain.

Miya Mei · **Posted:** Thu Apr 30, 2020 6:08 pm

Mei looks at Izumi.

"Would you prefer to ride than walk, Kitsu-sama?"

Kitsu Izumi · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:40 pm **Posts:** 90

She shakes her head.

Mirumoto Wasako · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:56 pm **Posts:** 945

"I mean...these are things I imagine Enlightenment to be like or what I've heard," she said quizically. "You still would need to live and you could enjoy what you like but probably you would enjoy those pleasures equally as much if you had just a handful of rice or a mandarin."

Wasako's frown remained on her features as she closed her eyes. "We don't train to fight because we wish to kill, we do so for self-defense. Admittedly, there is some spiritual wisdom to be found when it comes to honing your martial skills, much like in meditation. However, I admit that the sword is not a kind weapon and often invites more mortality than not. It is ultimately up to the swordsman to utilize their gathered wisdom and act accordingly."

Moto Batzurig · **Joined:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 3:05 am **Posts:** 275

Pacifism, or philosophical considerations of purely self-defense, was not a course in the Moto curriculum of instruction. He had to think long and hard on that, learning the sword but then hoping to never actually use it to murder the enemies of the Moto.

Batzurig stopped the horse and assisted an older peasant with loading a wagon and said to the Dragon, “The sword is not a kind weapon, that is a truth any wielder of the sword should know, it is a thin line between life and death; I never considered my own wisdom in the matter or even sparing a life once swords are drawn.”

“Enemies are much more agreeable when life has left their eyes and prisoners are the worst. Self-defense,” he said mulling over the idea. “So then sayyeda seeks the path of peace with her enemies? Moto do not train in such ways, but that does not mean that such ways do not have merit.”

“When sayyeda is recovered, you show me this path of the Tao sword, and I show you Moto,” he said thoughtfully. “Sayyeda is laoshi, so I could learn much from new ways.”

[Day Eleven - Early Evening] A Fruitless Return

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