[Day 13 - Early Afternoon] Cultural Exchange

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

When some true respite finally was given to the defenders of Nikesake, Wasako made an appearance to the dojo once again. It had been a few days where she had seen actual battle and drew her sword to slay her enemies. They were some rather intense days and truly put her skills to the test. However, today, she found herself very much looking forward to an opportunity where she would be using her skills for practice rather than in a situation of life or death. If nothing else, it grounded her back to her roots in the dojo and perhaps back to a time where things were simple. Whether or not that was actually the case, would be something she would have to meditate on at another time.

She entered the dojo and offered her prayers to the local shrine before starting on her warm-ups, preparing for the exchange to come.

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

Batzurig entered shortly after looking to break the monotony of the day with training and a bit of the violence that soothed his soul.

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

Wasako perked up when the Moto appeared and paused in her exercises after she finished one more stretch. She then turned to bow politely and gave him a small smile, "Good afternoon, Moto-san. I'm glad you could join me, thank you for making it. How have you been since last we spoke?"

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

"I am not dead," he said to the woman. "I am able to ride, and although the food has not been the best, I survive."

"And you?"

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

"I supposed those are good things, hai," she said with a slow nod, processing it all. "It's unfortunate about the food? I guess things are far different when you're away from home? I personally found the food here almost luxurious by comparison..."

She did come from the middle of no where to here, and her dietary choices were rather strict.

"I'm doing better, thank you," she said with a few accepting nods as she was in better spirits than they had first met. "One of my missing kin in the Dragon, the same from my earlier mission, had managed to return. Tsukimi-san was unable to return with Matsu Tani-sama, unfortunately...But I think it's good news. At the very least, we'll be able to try again, if the Fortunes allow it."

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

"I suppose do better the next time," he said flatly. "What do you normally eat if the current meals seem like a feast, sayyeda?"

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

"Hai, I suppose so and she intends to..." she nodded on the matter. Perhaps those were Moto-style words of encouragement.

"I do, but perhaps just enough to get through the day. Sometimes, we find sustenance through meditation but those are perhaps just days where my sensei wants to exercise discipline...But hai, sometimes a rice ball, some vegetables and beans, soup and maybe some dried sea weed."

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

"Oh yes you are like a monk?" he said thinking back to their last conversation.

"Well I suppose compared to that we have been feasting but I could go for some good spiced beef or curried goat, but, I will survive."

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

Wasako narrowed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. "No, not really monks. I suppose we do practice a philosophy that is not too different than some monks, as the Tao is rather influential in all aspects of life, but we're not a monastery. Then again, the Northern Wall Mountains are perhaps moved enough that they could almost be just as removed as the Togashi mountains. And goat is actually enjoyed in some parts of the Dragon lands, although I don't personally partake in that delicacy."

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

"Now the Dragon I like, so why do you not eat goat? Does that interfere with enlightenment?" He asked.

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

She gave a reluctant shake of her head. "No...eating goat shouldn't interfere with Enlightenment...but I suppose in the traditional practice of Shinsei Taoism, we should abstain from eating meat as it is one of the paths to purity. It is best ethics to not take a life when you can, and that even applies to lesser creatures as well."

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

"I am already confused, sayyeda, you seek to not take a life but then you seek to master a weapon that is supremely gifted at taking lives," he replied with confusion.

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

She let out a small sigh at that. He wasn't wrong there was some contradiction in that but surely something that is best answered by her sensei. However, she did take a crack at answering as best she could. "Well...I don't claim that we are perfect, Moto-san, but we try to be. At the end of the day, we are still samurai and not monks. However, even monks train in their martial techniques and aren't afraid to apply lethal force when they need to. They say that those who train in only the brush and the spoken word could take lives. Every skill has a purpose and an application. My only purpose is not to take lives, even if I am trained at the sword."

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

"So how do you personally deal with this contradiction, was it easy or difficult to understand this issue?" he asked looking at her hands and then her weapon.

"Or is it still a journey you are figuring out?"

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

She went quiet as she considered this and glanced off in thought. "I suppose it had been rather easy on the mountain, especially with my meagre responsibilities. I've probably met and introduced myself to more people here than at the dojo for a whole year. More things have happened here too. There aren't things like wars to fight or tsuno rampaging about. It's different here, to say the least. Ever since I began my journey, I do find myself seeing more of these contradictions you speak of...but, I think it's just a matter of balance. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that we are about managing that dualism within us, the want for serenity and the capability for chaos."

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

"I admire a person that can hold to their morals and beliefs in the face of reality," he said with a nod.

"I don't see the world the way you do, but it is interesting to glimpse it."

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

"Thank you, Moto-san?" she said to Batzurig, wondering if that was supposed to be a compliment or if he managed to get much from her rambling about her beliefs.

"Those beliefs may change with time, as I experience more of the world. To be fair, I haven't seen the world in your eyes and the Unicorn are known to be very well-travelled. Maybe what you've seen in the Empire is merely a drop to the lake that you've traverse. However, I'd like to believe that things here must be far different than what you've seen before, maybe?"

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

"Far different, familiar and alien at the same time. It is like..." he said before trialing of and considering his next words.

"Like cup of water, if you look in the reflection is what you expect but if you move the cup it gets distorted, yes? Familiar but also strange, enough to recognize things but different enough that it is still unexpected in what we see and experience."

"Make sense?"

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

"It does make sense, yes. I feel almost the same way too? Toshi no Omoidoso was a far different place than where I had come from but there was an outdoor natural onsen and a dojo with students...So there are some familiar 'landmarks' even if the Lion region is far different than what I would find back home. Of course, you're probably coming from a larger place to the Empire and I'm coming from a smaller place to a much broader place. I don't know if anywhere near the same," she chuckled.

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

"Seems the same to me, different places with different feelings," he responded.

[Day 13 - Early Afternoon] Cultural Exchange

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