L5Rminisessionlog5/19/12

LinaInverse	The moon stands bright and full over the gentle waters of Shinden Asahina, even so soon after sunset. Lanterns illuminate most of the temple, but outside, in a small clearing, the shadows lengthen and darken. Outside, the ex-guardsman hears the noise of someone's approach, announcing that he's being watched in the middle of his training.
	=-=	LinaInverse is now known as genmyo
	=-=	genmyo is now known as Lina
	=-=	Lina is now known as Genmyo
	Tim	Bare-chested, to avoid staining his kimono, the swordsman of the Tiger stands in a high-reaching stance, the wooden blade in his hand held above his head, and his weight evenly distributed, repeating the same series of cuts over and over. A simple exercise, but a practical one, and done with enthusiasm. Due to the direction of the sound, he finds it more convenient to just watch out of the...
	Tim	...corner of his eye rather than turn and acknowledge another's presence. If they wish to be known, they will announce themselves. If not, then it is more prudent not to let them know he is aware of them.
	Genmyo	steps forward, equally bare-chested, a bokken held lightly in his fingers. "Dancing in moon's light, the mighty guardsman's duty, equal to his love." The duelist smiles to himself and takes a few steps forward into the light, nodding. "Apologies for the introduction, but it had taken me some time to find a bokken."
	Genmyo	*late visit
	Genmyo	(not introduction)
	Tim	"You heard, then? I thank you for this opportunity, and I'm certain it will be a valuable lesson." Kazuma had, after all, mentioned to a few people that he wanted to test Genmyo's steel, "Do you need anything? If you wish to prepare, take as long as you need, Genmyo-san."
	Genmyo	"All I need is a worthy opponent, which I do believe I've found." Genmyo twirls the bokken around his fingers lazily as he steps up, a few paces from Kazuma. "Certainly, it's a better way to pass time than trying to appreciate the lillies under lanternlight."
	Tim	"Oh, and 'Red leaves drift down, their edges sharp with hunger, to bite into soil'." He shrugs, "Forgive me, I lack much skill at poetry. And forgive me again, for I must confess that I will likely not be as challenging as that...what was her name? The girl, cute eyes, angry face, more plum than peach in her fundament...the kenshinzen?" Kazuma rests his bokken over his shoulder, muscles...
	Tim	...flexing, and scoops up a bladder of water, raising it to his lips for a drink and tossing it to Genmyo afterwards, "I'm pleased too, to see that I'm not the only one enjoying the flora."
	Genmyo	"Asahina Kamoko. I'm afraid her steel doesn't stay in its saya as often as it should." He takes a long drink himself before tossing it over. "The Fortunes and Kami both smile upon this shrine, it's said. Shall we see if they bless us as well?" A flip around his fingers, and Gen puts his bokken to his side, as though it were sheathed.
	Tim	Catch, set aside, "We shall...Do not take my acknowledgment of your skill as an excuse, by the by. I will do my utmost to defeat you here, Genmyo-san." Kazuma steps back into his stance, 'sheathing' his bokken with a simple, dignified movement, "I can do no less for one I would call friend."
	Genmyo	"The Crab have many words for 'brother in battle', did you know that? Astounding, given how few they have for other things." Gen nods, his eyes narrowing, taking in his opponent's stance and adjusting his own. His feet shift a little against the dirt, sandals brushing into it.
	Tim	Kazuma's stance doesn't change, "As expected, the Crab are a direct people with strong priorities." His weight shifts, deepening the stance a little, "You are prepared, Genmyo-san?"
	Genmyo	doesn't answer with words, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he, for a moment, becomes one with his opponent's style, his fingers curling against the wood of the bokken as he focuses.
	Tim	shakes his head just a tiny bit. Such poise! One does not say a fish swims 'well', or that a bird flies well, one compares other things to them, because they do it naturally and without effort. In this instant, he senses that Genmyo is the same with a sword in his hand. He tightens his grip on his bokken.
	Genmyo	is moving almost as that thought finishes, his hand lashing out, striking not at his opponent but at the blade in his hands. The angle, the force, all of it combines to send the wooden sword flying from his opponent's hands, end over end.
	Tim	Kazuma had barely begun the cut, and his bokken is gone, eyes wide with surprise for a moment before he steps back, rubbing the sting from his hands, and bows, "I yield." He winces just a little at the THONK of the bokken striking a tree.
	Genmyo	raises his sword up and calutes with it, then turns it over in his hand and offers the training blade to Kazuma. "An excellent style hides inside you. Don't let the shadows of giants extinguish your light." He smiles over the offered bokken.
	Tim	"Indeed. I have met a giant tonight." He smiles back, politely, and takes his bokken, "Water before, sake after! To drink!" He scoops up his hitaware, and pulls it back on, adjusting the katinagu over it, "Keep your bokken, Genmyo-san, having to search for mine will be a reminder to train daily."
	Genmyo	"Perhaps. Perhaps a little at both. I will see if your fiancee would like to join you with that sake." With a little smile, Gen turns around and walks in, twirling the bokken gently around his fingers.
	=-=	Genmyo is now known as LinaInverse
	<--|	Kal has left #minorclan
	-->|	Kal (Kal@sux-5F7D428.hsd1.nj.comcast.net) has joined #minorclan
	=-=	Mode #minorclan +qo Kal Kal by UboaServ
	=-=	YOU are now known as Kazuma
	Kazuma	"I'll meet you both back at our lodgings, then." Kazuma parts ways from Gen, to do precisely that.
	=-=	LinaInverse is now known as genmyo
	=-=	genmyo is now known as lina
	=-=	lina is now known as Genmyo
	Genmyo	"Very well." Gen nods and puts the bokken over his shoulder casually as he walks the halls.
	Kal	So, does Gen know where he's going? Or is he just wandering around?
	Genmyo	he knows a general idea of where she might be. A young shugenja either in prayers or in her reading, or chatting with friends. Simply to keep his ears open and determine which.
	Kal	The students are all out and about, cluttering the hallways, chatting with friends after classes and services let out and dinner is over. Gen walks over a sea of white hair to look for Namie. Well, she's probably reading, so Gen asks one of the students, a girl about Namie's age, where her room might be. The girl gives him quick directions, and he's on his way!
	Kal	Genmyo goes into the dormitories and begins looking through the halls. He sees Atsuko, but no Namie. She's probably in her room (if she's here).
	Genmyo	nods to Atsuko in passing. "Pardon me, would you happen to know where Namie-san is? I have some small message to deliver to her."
	Kal	"To Namie-san? What do you need her for?"
	Genmyo	"Ah, just delivering an invitation from a friend, that's all. Not that important, though they may be put off if she doesn't get it."
	Kal	"Ah, Kazuma-san is looking for... some time to spend with Namie-san?" Atsuko grins.
	Genmyo	"He had invited the two of us together for some sake, that's all. Nothing so juicy." Gen grins back.
	Kal	"Sounds... interesting. I'll help you look. I've got nothing better to do." :3
	Genmyo	"Oh, she isn't in? What a shame."
	Kal	"It's not that. I just don't know precisely where she is. Being born to my clan doesn't automatically gift one with a map of all your acquaintances' locations; despite what your clan might have told you."
	Genmyo	"Less my clan and more my experience. Well, the first place to check..." Gen steps up and taps at the wooden frame of the door to Namie's room.
	Kal	No response. "Well... it has her name on the nameplate. I guess she's not in?"
	Genmyo	"So it seems. I saw Kazuma speaking to one of her friends earlier; do you happen to recall her name?" A smile, and he turns to walk out of the dorms.
	Kal	"Miyabi-san? I'm surprised, you didn't seem like the type of man who would forget the name of a pretty girl." Atsuko giggles.
	Genmyo	"I don't, Atsuko-san." He gives her a smile, then walks out.
	Kal	"Oh, then why did you forget Miyabi-san's?" Atsuko hops after Gen. "Where will you look next? There's not really much to do in the temple unless you're into praying."
	Genmyo	"Which would seem to be a priority for a shugenja, hrm~? There are so many fortunes and kami, to pray to all of them is a task of a lifetime. Do you know if there's a shrine to Benten around?"
	Kal	"Just up the road. Maybe we'll find Miyabi-san there. I wouldn't want her to live another minute without knowing that you don't think she's pretty."
	Genmyo	"Ah, such is the life of a wanderer. I fear I may never find one who will accept me without such words, for the man that I am." The melodrama is delivered with a smile, as he lets her lead.
	Kal	"You can't wander forever." She walks ahead of Gen, out onto the immaculately kept dirt path. Only the Crane could make a dirt path look spotlessly clean. "The temple is this way."
	Genmyo	"Ah, my thanks." Gen looks around and, seeing no one else around, his voice loses much of its levity. "There is much still to do in this world before it can reach its proper state. I thought you would understand the difference between wandering and purpose."
	Kal	"The only purpose to my wandering was to leave, remember?" Atsuko sighs. "But, I am still very young. Perhaps I'll understand in time. I would be amazed if the way you thought about this now is how you felt at my age."
	Genmyo	"Much the same, actually, simply reached from a different angle." He smiles wistfully at his own memories.
	Genmyo	"Should be getting there soon, yes?"
	Kal	Atsuko heads into the forest. This well-travelled portion of the road has torches placed at specific instances. Atsuko keeps close to the row of fire on the right; forcing Gen to stick to her left. "It's just up this road. I apologize for my naive ignorance."
	Genmyo	"As the Lion often say: 'don't be sorry, fix it'. Naivety is no shame, but simply something which will wear away with time. We all are born untempered steel, and we decide who we allow to forge us." Gen smiles to his left.
	Kal	The brightly lit temple comes into view. It is lit with lanterns of all colours, a quiet bit of opulence among the silent forest. "True, true. I still have some years before I will be looked upon as an elder. Perhaps I will find the best person to forge me by then."
	Genmyo	"You've already met her." Gen steps closer, taking in the temple, the architecture, the lights, all of it making him smile.
	Kal	(... Her?)
	Genmyo	(You heard me.)
	Kal	Atsuko looks confused for just a moment before smiling politely. Several of the acolytes are sweeping the steps up to the temple. They bow in courtesy to Atsuko and Genmyo stepping up to the temple itself. The inside of the temple is just as eloquently designed. The temple is smaller than the main temple of Shinden Asahina. It's quite large by temple standards, but it is by no means its own complex, or of complicated design.
	Genmyo	strides in as the acolytes open the way, taking a deep breath of the temple's air and taking a moment when inside to ask after Namie.
	Kal	A boy slightly younger than Namie, pausing only momentarily from cleaning a smaller statue of the temple, points Genmyo deeper inside the temple. "Namie-san is lighting incense in front of the main alter."
	Genmyo	"My thanks." A nod, and he walks to it, taking a moment to check on Atsuko before entering.
	Kal	"Hm?" Atsuko looks up at Gen. "Something wrong, Kakita-sensei?"
	Genmyo	"Simply wondering." He waves it off before entering the inner room that holds the main altar.
	Kal	Only one person, in a familiar deep purple kimono, is knelt in front of the altar tending to some incense.
	Genmyo	"Namie-san. Your prayers have been answered." Gen says it quietly, but amused. "Kazuma-san was wondering if you might join the three of us for some sake."
	Kal	Namie jumps in shock. "A-ah!" She turns around. "Oh, Kakita-san. I, uh, it was just my day to light, uh, the incense." Atsuko giggles. "Th-three?"
	Genmyo	"Myself, him, and Atsuko-san. Of course, if you have prior engagements, I can bring him your apologies equally as easily..."
	Kal	"Oh, no. I'm almost done here. I just... well... I'm not much for sake..."
	Genmyo	"Ah, I'm sure he'll understand if you indulge in something else. I'm certain it's more your presence than the drink's he's interested in, after all."
	Kal	"Hm," she smiles, "... alright then. I could go for another soak today." Namie stands, dusts herself off, and walks across the room to Genmyo and Namie. "Lead the way, Kakita-san."
	Genmyo	"Certainly. This way." A nod, and he leads them off.
	Kal	Where are you headin' them?
	Genmyo	back to Kazuma's lodgings!
	Kal	Kazuma! Gen is at the lodgings you share with him and Kiryu.
	Kazuma	Meanwhile...Kazuma is sitting back, against the outside wall, on a folding military stool that he apparently brought with him, reading The Subtlety of Court. His eyes are intent on the scroll.
	Kazuma	Genmyo might notice he's dressed better now than he was for the duel.
	Genmyo	"Ah, Kazuma-san. Is the sake ready?"
	Kazuma	"I wouldn't forget such an important thing!" He laughs, catching sight of Namie and smiling, "Hi, you."
	Kal	"Good evening."
	Genmyo	"I'll go and fetch some tea for Namie-san. Atsuko, if you'd join me? I believe you know the halls better than I."
	Kazuma	"Atsuko-san, good to see you too."
	Kal	"We'll meet you at the baths." Atsuko leads Gen away. "Tea shouldn't be too hard to find in Shinden Asahina, don't you think?"
	Genmyo	"Indeed." And then, once out of hearing distance. "How many baths do you think a temple like this has? It might not be hard to go to the wrong one." A mischevious smile.
	Kal	"It's a big temple complex. Who knows~?"
	Genmyo	"Of course. Shall we find out?"
	Kal	"I suppose. It'll be a shame if Namie-san didn't get her tea. Unavoidable, really."
	Genmyo	"They should have known better than to send two people so new to such a large temple off."
	Kal	"Well, we're pretty new to the temple too, aren't we?"
	Kazuma	"...We have underestimated the Crane." Kazuma makes the observation soberly. That quickdraw skill is only matched, apparently, by his ability to womanize.
	Kal	"Huh?" Namie tilts her head. "What?"
	Kazuma	"I was making a joke, sorry. I don't know if I said so earlier, but that kimono looks lovely on you."
	=-=	Genmyo is now known as LInaInverse
	Kal	"Ah, thanks! I got it special. I didn't really know what to go with, when I got your letter, but then I realized. What would Emi wear in this situation? So I went with that!" She spins around once. "I think I did a pretty good job."
	Kazuma	"You did." A casual wink, looking her over with a smile, "So...if you don't mind a very, very stupid question...there are so many temples here, how does one decide where to go for their prayers? At home, we had a family shrine for anything but special occasions."
	Kal	"Well, there is a shrine or temple for just about anything you could need. We don't have something for every specific fortune, of course, but you can find just about any situation represented here. But we should get going. The hot springs are not usually busy this time of day, but many people will be trying to have a warm soak in this cold weather."
	Kazuma	"Of course. Lead on?" He walks alongside her, letting her lead, arms tucked into his kimono in the manner of a samurai.
	Kal	"Soshi-san said you had brought the sake you had earlier? Not to sound rude, but do you just... uh, carry that everywhere you go?"
	Kazuma	"That's a myth about Tiger samurai, I'll have you know. Abolutely untrue." Harrumph, "No, I just thought that I should bring sake along, earlier, because it seemed likely we would stop somewhere and enjoy the view. It's strange, but this entire city feels almost like a great garden, with many beautiful things to see."
	Kal	Namie giggles. "Ah, of course, I'm sorry." She walks faster. "Let's hurry. C'mon, c'mon. A big strong warrior should be faster than a tiny priestess."
	Kazuma	"Well, if it's a challenge of strength..." He lengthens his stride, and begins to outpace her, shooting a grin at her over his shoulder.
	Kal	"H-Hey, wait up!" Namie pulls the hem of her kimono up slightly to allow herself to run. "I can't /run/ in this thing. I'll fall out!" She chases after Kazuma; keeping remarkably good pace.
	Kazuma	"..." Wordlessly, he begins speeding up for a few paces, as if planning to go even faster, "Well, that might not be a bad thing..." He slows his pace until they're side by side once again.
	Kazuma	"But it's an understandable concern."
	Kazuma	The impish smile is still on his face.
	Kal	"Well, if it wasn't for these clothes, I'd totally beat you in a race." She slows to a walk and begins fixing her clothes. "I'm more athletic than I look, you know." She flexes her arm (the results of which go completely unseen under her giant sleeves). "To be a shugenja, you have to be in tune with nature both physically and mentally. Why do you think Tora-sama is so hardy and resolu- oh, stop here." Namie grabs Kazuma's hand to try to stop him
	Kazuma	He immediately stops. What sane man argues with someone who is both a woman and a shugenja?
	Kal	(Koganaga argued with Hibiki all the ti- oh, sane. Nevermind.)
	Kazuma	(Koganaga and Kazuma hold very different views)
	Kal	Namie drags him off the path down a thin side path. "The hot springs are off this path. It's a good thing I realized where we are. We almost missed it, and the next collection of springs isn't for some distance. A distance I am not about to walk without a kimono that has shoulders."
	Kazuma	"And it would look highly improper if I carried you. You know, I had noticed that you are more athletic than one would expect from someone who loves their studies so much. Then again, as a swordsman, that's the sort of thing we have to be able to look for."
	Kal	"Emi and I used to play outside all the time as children. We walk two different paths, and she has different... uh... interests than I do, so athleticism was really the only thing we could have in common besides art. And, when all you do for a week straight is learn about painting, you don't do it as a hobby after you stop studying."
	Kal	Namie continues to lead Kazuma through the path by the hand.
	Kazuma	"...That's a shame. I don't know what I'd do if I received that sort of education." Kazuma squeezes her hand, "A lot of my studies were done independently. There was so much knowlege and advice left behind by those before, just...waiting to be applied. So, I applied it. I was...thirteen when I first read 'The Sword'." He rubs the back of his head.
	Kal	"Well, um, here we are." In the darkness, Kazuma is unable to tell exactly where they are, but it's nowhere near any sources of light.
	Kazuma	Kazuma blinks, and peers into the gloom, feeling around carefully with his foot for the edge, still holding Namie's hand.
	Kal	Namie lets go of Kazuma's hand and begins fiddling with her obi. "... We-well? What are you doing?"
	Kazuma	There's a rustle of cloth as he undoes his, and strips off his kimono, folding it neatly, "Oh, nothing. I couldn't see where the spring was."
	Kal	"Really? I didn't think it was so dark... Oh well. Just follow me." She walks a short distance ahead of Kazuma and slowly begins to sink in height. "Right here."
	Kazuma	He smiles, seeing her pale outline and following it, his toes dipping into the water. He takes a moment to look up at the sky as he walks deeper into the pool behind her, listening to the sounds of the night-insects.
	Kal	(did you know that sometimes, male fireflies will try to attract other ma- oh wait, wrong scene)
	LInaInverse	(You weren't around for that scene, sorry. you don't get to make that reference.)
	Kal	"Like I said, the hot springs up ahead would have probably been crowded at this time of night. We should really be thanking Miyabi-san for showing us this."
	Kazuma	"We should, we have it all to ourselves." He stretches. With his hair out of its usual topknot, it hangs in a wild, dark mane around his shoulders.
	Kazuma	*to his shoulders
	Kazuma	"You, me, and the night sky."
	Kal	"... Yep." Namie pauses awkwardly. "So, you... the sake? You mentioned you were saving it for later when we were here with Miyabi."
	Kazuma	"I brought it with us." He holds it up, smiling, "...one of the subjects I was drilled in was a thorough education in logistics."
	Kazuma	*the few
	Kal	("IF WE RUN OUT OF SHOCHU, I RUN OUT OF PATIENCE." "But, mother, you've already run out of patience." "THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF SHOCHU.")
	Kazuma	(Best mother figure)
	Kal	(The only redeeming thing about natsuki is her figure.)
	Kazuma	(What about her swordsmanship? Also, this belongs in the OOC channel :V )
	Kal	"Is this why you saved it?" She takes the bottle and opens it up. "... We forgot cups."
	Kazuma	"We don't need them, with just two people, do we?"
	Kal	"Oh! Well, here goes..." She takes a drink. "Have you exchanged words with my sister since she left for Zakyo Toshi?"
	Kazuma	"She is a friend, we've exchanged a few letters."
	Kazuma	He smiles, taking a sip from the bottle, "You know..."
	Kal	"Hm?"
	Kazuma	"This is nice." He sighs, leaning against a rock, and passing her the bottle, "This might sound silly, but I'm happy we're getting married. You and me, I mean."
	Kal	"Father was pretty happy that he could get the son of a former Lion chui. But, wow," she giggles as she takes a drink, "imagine how /furious/ he'd be if he caught us."
	Kazuma	"Part of the fun." He grins, "Besides, it's a part of being young, we have to be a little bit reckless." He waited until she offered him the bottle, looking at her with an amused smile on his face, "Really, we're being very sensible right now."
	Kal	"That's exactly what Emi said in her letters!"
	Kazuma	"Emi-sama is a very smart woman." He sipped, "She never gave me bad advice."
	Kal	"She also said..." Namie lowers her voice, and takes a tiny sip of the sake, "that I was being kind of unreasonable to you. I'm not sure about that. Emi's... well... flexible with the technicalities of relationships..."
	Kazuma	"Ah? Can you explain?" He pushes a strand of his hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear.
	Kal	She looks away. "Well, she told me, ah, what she'd do in my position... At least, before the wedding."
	Kazuma	Kazuma takes great care to keep his face neutral, "Ah."
	Kal	"What do you think?"
	Kazuma	"I think that your sister is wise." He smiles softly.
	Kazuma	"But...this is your decision. I don't want you to regret anything."
	Kal	"It's fine! She explained it again to me, and while I still think it's wrong if it's any two people, like Emi and K- ah, like how Emi put it, I think Benten will look the other way if the two people are to be engaged anyway... Maybe."
	Kazuma	"I think so too. We're already going to be together, we're already together now. I don't think she'll mind at all." He turns to look at her, leaning down over the rock and, finally, doing what he's been holding back on doing for a good long while, now. Properly kissing Namie-chan.
	Kal	Namie, not knowing what to do, allows Kazuma to kiss her. She really has no clue what she's doing, but goddamn it, she's going to try!
	Kal	(aaaaaand I think we'll end it there~)
	Kazuma	(That's a good place to fade to black~)
	LInaInverse	much better than simply shy flailing the whole time!
	LInaInverse	and hells, this may or may not have loosened her up a little.
	Kal	Hey, she has a will of iron!
	Kal	... When it comes to kemari!
	|<--	LInaInverse has left irc.thisisnotatrueending.com (Connection reset by peer)
	Kazuma	The most hotblooded of sports