D2 EE - A Regular Appointment

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

Sunset in the garden was pretty, Iko had decided, so she found herself in the garden. She doubted the Kenku rumors, but this was a nice spot to seek her calm. For some reason her stop at the temple this morning was far from the tranquility she sought.

D2 EE Med/Void for recovery: 8d10o10k5 36

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

Another individual seemed to find the garden a good place to center themselves.

Amid the snow, a soft crunch of footsteps, intermixed with the hiss of steel through air, carried from a corner of the garden.

It was not truly training, for she was not pushing herself to learn something new, nor was it meditation, for she performed her kata with blade in hand, but it was some blend of the two.

Motions she her body had learned over a lifetime of war, now familiar as breathing or walking, as she performed a simple, deliberate kata. The Dance of the First Sparrow, her master had called it, and it wove together two fundamental techniques - the 8 angular cuts of rudimentary attack, and the 4 guard positions and their accompanying parries.

Chihaya had found a small rock path, slick with snow, and balancing lightly so as not to slip, she performed her kata. Her blade flicking forward, then returning into a defensive sweep, then out again, over and over, each time slightly different. Each time precisely employing a slightly different technique.

It was calming and eerily quiet, the only sounds the crunch of snow underfoot, the hiss of steel cutting air, and the distant murmur of a city ill at ease.

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

When Iko emerged from her moment of peace, she spotted Chihaya. She had seen the woman a few times now, and watched her intently here. Iko decided there was much she could learn about command from the Sparrow, so she observed patiently letting her run through her complete exercise before she would disturb her.

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

The kata concluded without ceremony - no flashy finish.

Just a final upward slash from the low guard, directly vertical, and she sheathed her blade.

A slow breath, and then she stretched, casting her gaze about the garden, before pausing, when she realized she was being watched.

Did this Dragon look familiar? She seemed to...

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

The confusion in Chihaya's eye was refreshing. Iko was still not used to the fame she had acquired over the last few years.

"Suzume-sama, I hope that the seasons have not weighed to heavily upon you since we last crossed paths at Kyuden Suzume?"

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

So they did know each other.

Chihaya was fumbling mentally for a name.

Eventually she settled on Igo.

That couldn't be right.

"Togashi-san, it has been a long time. I pray the time has found you well?"

She walked over, slowly, so that they need not raise their voices, offering a nod of greeting.

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

Iko recognized that mental struggle, the search for the right word, in this case that word was a name though, her name.

"The tale of Togashi Iko continues for one more year at least. A few months of assistant command at the border outpost at Kyuden Tonbo were...refreshingly calm." She commented in a roundabout manner to drop her name into the conversation as subtly as she could manage.

"How fare your people under their new Champion, Suzume Jento?" She asked politely, having backed the wrong horse in that race.

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

"I am told things are looking up, I fear I have not, myself, been home these last 17 months."

Her tone was pleasant, but there was certainly an undertone of pain, or perhaps anger, in that statement.

"Still, I hope to return to the valley soon - to see for myself."

A small shrug, and then she added, "I am glad you were able to spend some time in a peaceful assignment - it feels there has been an awful lot of chaos in recent times."

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

"Hai, they say that in the fiercest fire is the best steel forged, but leave it in the flames too long and it will become brittle as glass."

Apparently some of the lessons of the Ashidaka still stuck with the Dragon samurai-ko.

"We all need time to rest our souls and bodies, to rejuvenate to enable us to serve again. I hope that Suzume-sama has had such an opportunity." Iko asks, having detected something behind Chihaya's previous comment.

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

"I cannot... say that I have."

She smiled faintly, a tired sort of smile. "I have been on the road these last 17 months - there was a... threat... which prevented me from returning home until it was resolved. I had moments of peace, stolen in quiet evenings at roadside inns, but I have been on guard for months."

Rubbing her neck, she added, "That, at least, is at an end... just in time for all of this to happen."

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

"One chapter closed, another opened, no less drama. Whomever is watching over us, sure likes to be entertained it seems. I didn't see you at Morikage." Iko started.

Probably due to that threat

"So what brings you here, into the heart of all 'this'?"

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

"I resolved one issue, not far from the city, however in the process..."

She mimed a stabbing motion into her own throat.

"I've been recovering for the last few weeks. I was preparing to leave back to Sparrow lands but the snows, and now current events, have denied me that opportunity."

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

"Until this is cleared up, I don't think any of us are going home. I hope that the healers here took good care of you. It would be good to know that our casualties will have competent medics to tend them."

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

"They have."

She smiled faintly, "After all, by all accounts, they were fairly certain I should have died."

With a little shrug, she added, "I seem to have a habit of getting kicked back to this realm by emma-o, I'm starting to think he doesn't like me."

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

"It is our duty to resist his call as long as we can, to continue to serve our Lords, Suzume-sama. I commend you on your....stubborn refusal of his invitations."

Iko offers a half bow, with a friendly smile upon her lips.

"My will has yet to be tested in such a way, I hope only to be as steadfast in my devotion to this life when such a time comes."

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

Chihaya chuckled. "I'm not sure if I can take credit - there seems to be an unusual tendency for blades to slide alongside my vital parts, and not through them."

She rubbed at the bandage on her neck.

"I will accept that I am not yet fated to my next life - I certainly have plenty to do, still, until that day."

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

"Well whatever the reason, I am glad that fate conspired to bring you here. Your military experience will be invaluable to the Governor I am sure. Just looking around the town the last few days, I think we will be in need of many viewpoints and opinions to prove victorious in this upcoming trial."

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

"I hope I can be of use. I only hope we do not have too many viewpoints to take decisive action when required."

She shrugged. "That will lie upon the governor - I can only assume he was chosen well, and therefore will be up to that task."

Crossing her arms, she added, "I will offer what service I can, but sadly I do not have my unit with me, and cannot add their strength to the defenses."

Quirking an eyebrow, she continued, "On a different note... I heard tell that you were trained by a Kenku - is that true?"

Togashi Iko · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:00 am **Posts:** 408

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

"I hope I can be of use. I only hope we do not have too many viewpoints to take decisive action when required."

She shrugged. "That will lie upon the governor - I can only assume he was chosen well, and therefore will be up to that task."

Crossing her arms, she added, "I will offer what service I can, but sadly I do not have my unit with me, and cannot add their strength to the defenses."

"Well if there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask. After seeing your work in the War of Broken Fangs, I have great admiration and respect for your skills."

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

Quirking an eyebrow, she continued, "On a different note... I heard tell that you were trained by a Kenku - is that true?"

"For seven years," Iko explained in the cliffs notes version of the tale. "Although time passes somewhat differently in Chikushudo. I left during the campaign on Siska, and returned just in time for the unpleasantness at Ryoko Owari."

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

"Oh?"

Chihaya looked surprised, but then reclaimed her On.

"So long? That must be useful - to gain such experience in such a... sort of... short time."

Cracking her neck, she added thoughtfully, "I know there is a legend in these gardens, of a Kenku seeking a student here. Do you suppose it to be the same one, or are there many?"

D2 EE - A Regular Appointment

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