[D1LM] Preparing for the Unknown

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

(OPEN!)

The castle was in disarray. Those who could help were doing so, seeing to the needs of the new guests. Refugees. Whatever they were. Touki had escorted a few to their new quarters. He witnessed one sudden rush of tears silently, staring at the wall, pretending not to see until they composed themselves. Then he left.

Now... what could he do? He trained. Wearing a simple working kimono and holding a bokken, Touki struck at his straw man again and again. A simple overhanded strike, repeated endlessly, sharpening his form as a blacksmith sharpened a sword. The repetition tired the body pleasantly, but also numbed the mind. Just as important.

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

Since Yukarin had joined the Crab, she had made it a point to train more with her weapons. Yes, she was a courtier. And she had no intention of volunteering for the army. And the Crab needed the Yasuki away from the battlefield anyways. Regardless, being able to actually use her father's heavy no-dachi without hurting herself felt like part of being a Crab. Just in case.

So it was that she drug herself to the dojo, finding the largest practice sword she could find, and heading out to the practice area. She didn't have a practice gi, so the shortish woman wore her casual winter clothes instead, even if they weren't exactly made for swordwork. Yukarin did her best though, lifting the long wooden blade which felt extremely heavy in her hands into at least a modicum of a steady stance.

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Touki had spent many hours in here during the last season. Nothing ever changed, not even his sequence of strikes. But of course today was different; there were new people.

Politely, Touki turned to her, giving her a sharp and formal bow. "Yasuki-sama." He said, his voice a low monotone. "Welcome to the Kyoki Dojo. This one is Akodo Touki." It was all very formal, very polite. Perhaps a little perfunctory.

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

After her rude morning wakeup and tales of violence, Chihaya had hurried to ensure there was no immediate threat.

Finding out that there wasn't... she decided she may as well take advantage of having armed herself, and stopped by the Dojo.

Perhaps it was the alarm and chaos, but she didn't see any of the students normally found within the dojo, and it made her sad, in a melancholy sort of way. How easily normality could fade.

Dressed in a heavy dun brown kimono and hakama, she made her way out onto the mats, stretching out her arms casually as she limbered up.

No reason to hurt herself so soon into her recovery, after all...

As she neared the two others who were training, she offered a nod of greeting, but allowed them to refrain from introductions if they so chose.

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Nevertheless, she would get one.

Politely, Touki turned to her, giving her a bow as well. "Suzume-sama." He said, his voice a low monotone. "Welcome to the Kyoki Dojo. This one is Akodo Touki." It was the same greeting as he'd just given the Yasuki, but, well, it did convey everything he wanted to convey.

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

Chihaya bowed in turn.

"I'm honored by your hospitality. This one is Suzume Chihaya, Shoi of the Sparrow army and Sensei of their dojo."

Straightening, she rolled her head to the left, hearing her neck crack, and then nodded.

"With rumors running wild, I wish to ensure my skills do not begin to rust. I pray I am not disturbing you, or the students who normally train here?"

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

Yukarin did not recognize Touki, just another Lion at a Lion stronghold. A Suzume with an eyepatch though... that one was easy. She gave them both a bow regardless, as best she could with her heavy wooden burden at least.

"Akodo-sama, Suzume-san. This one is Yasuki Yukarin. I am certainly... not disturbed."

Her voice was a bit terse as she got back into her stance, having lowered the thing for the purposes of bowing.

"I will admit, this is not my first time here, though this is the least crowded I have seen it since I came to this city."

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

"With rumors running wild, I wish to ensure my skills do not begin to rust. I pray I am not disturbing you, or the students who normally train here?"

"Not at all, Suzume-sama." Touki intoned. "By tradition, the dojo is open to all guests during this season." A moment of hesitation. "I would expect that to continue for a time."

Turning to Yukarin, Touki briefly glanced at the way she held her weapon, his brow creasing. But he did not comment on it. "I see. Should I assume that you are already well-acquainted with the city, then?"

While still listening, Touki turned back to his training dummy. His grip shifted; perhaps it was time to practice a new strike.

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

"I have been recovering from an... incident, at the temple."

She smiled faintly. "So I do not know the city as well as a native, but I have spent a few weeks here."

Glancing at the Crab woman, she wondered if she should offer instruction, and then reminded herself that this wasn't her dojo.

Instead, she fetched a target of her own, settling the bamboo rods into the stand and then stepping away a few steps, drawing her blade and beginning to center herself.

Then, with an almost leisurely cut, she removed a one inch wedge from the corner of the dummy.

And then the other side. Alternating and switching, she began the process of working through a series of attacks, each one taking a tiny, carefully measured chip from the bamboo foe.

After her first complete rotation through her kata, she paused, wiping her blade and sheathing it, and looked to see how the others were practicing.

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

"I have been recovering from an... incident, at the temple."

She smiled faintly. "So I do not know the city as well as a native, but I have spent a few weeks here."

Touki's eyebrows went up curiously for a few moments. "The temple?" But that was the closest he would come to asking. "Please let me know if you require anything."

He began to strike. Again and again. Exactly the same each time, this time a diagonal cut, hitting his opponent on what would be its clavicle, if it weren't a vaguely human-shaped bundle of straw. The motions were so repetitive it almost looks as though he were very precisely chopping a tree. Perhaps he really was trying to do ten-thousand strikes before moving on to the next.

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

Interesting choice of target...

"Hai, I was recovering from an injury, not so far from where you are currently striking."

She examined the strike, contemplating the practice, and then inquired, "Does this strike have a follow up, or is it a conclusion in itself?"

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Touki's eyebrows went up. "I see. Does that injury perhaps have a story behind it?"

He considered the question a moment. "That depends in part on him." It might have been humor; it was hard to tell with his deadpan delivery. "But, in fact, there are a number of follow-ups. The simplest is to perform its twin." His feet shifted, and his practice sword followed the opposite angle, striking the clavicle from the other side. He shifted back. "Or perhaps this one." He let his 'blade' slide across the 'body' of his opponent, his grip reversing at the end to cut back across it again, until his hands came up and back, a defensive cut leading to an attack posture, sword pointed at his foe.

With a hint of a shrug, Touki relaxed. Or... half relaxed. While his bokken went to his side, he stood at something like attention. "I will put them together when I am ready." He said.

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

A small voice piped up, "Um... I don't suppose either of you know much about how to use a no-dachi, do you? The students that are usually here are too always too busy to give much help. Understandably, of course. Everyone knows the Lion have very strict training. Not that that's a bad thing mind you. More a point of pride. Not like a pride of lions; I was not intending to make a pun, you understand. I imagine that's an old one for the Lion though, hear it all the time. Like that one Utaku I knew named Utaku Inu and people joking she had fleas. Long story, that woman's..."

All this time she kept her stance, two meter long hardwood sword kept up only through concentration.

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

Touki turned to the Yasuki, his eyebrows going up. Ever so slowly, his impassive expression was marred as his lips curled up, just a little, in amusement."

"I have heard that one before in fact, yes." Touki murmured blandly. He shot a quick glance at the Sparrow. In fact, the Nodachi was his preferred weapon. But he wasn't about to cut in front of someone with the Suzume's rank, if she wanted to display her skill.

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

Chihaya watched his display with a faint nod.

His question drew a strange expression, as if she were contemplating her answer, but then the Yasuki interjected, and she glanced toward the woman.

Chuckling at the tired joke, she gave a small smile, "I do know the basics, Yasuki-san, but I am not an expert in the weapon. I teach at the Suzume dojo, but we do not specialize."

With a small shrug, she said, simply, "I can offer you the basics, but no more."

Glancing toward Touki she offered, "And you, Akodo-san?"

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

"The nodachi is the weapon I use when I go to war." Touki said, his voice as monotone as ever. "I could try to show you something. But I am no teacher."

He looked at the Yasuki... down at the Yasuki. Well, he'd known some competent short samurai. Of course, those were Lion samurai... "Are you practiced with the katana? The principles are the same. You just need to adjust for the greater length and mass." Touki asked gently. Easier said than done, of course.

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

Chihaya raised an eyebrow, inquiring "Is there a reason you are choosing the no-dachi?"

With a small shrug, she rubbed at the bandage around her neck and added, "Speaking from personal experience, a shorter blade is still perfectly dangerous, and easier handled by the short in stature."

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

"I've never undone the peace knot on my katana, actually. It is at home, next to the shrine to my ancestors. As to the no-dachi... it is an inheritance. Something my great grandfather was gifted by the Champion for his great deeds against the one-eyed giants of Nerrok. Most of my family are mystics who vowed to never take up the blade, and it was left with me when my Cl... the Unicorn went to look for Lady Shinjo."

Akodo Touki · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:17 pm **Posts:** 628

"Ah..." Enlightenment briefly lit Touki's dark eyes. That explained a lot about the young woman, and why she wanted to learn the no-dachi.

A brief pause, and then he shifted his stance. His bokken came down and back, held at waist level, and held and an angle behind him. "Try starting like this. It's easy to hold, and easy to strike from this position." He looked at her, waiting.

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

Yukarin watched, tilting her head slightly, "Do I not want to hold it at the very end so as to keep the pointy bits further away from me?"

Clearly learning to be a proper Crab was something was something that might take a while for the former Ide.

[D1LM] Preparing for the Unknown

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