More training, less thinking(Day 3, Early Morning)

[Bayushi Kichirou]

Having only had the training he'd received on the ship in the spear Kichirou's grasp of the weapon was sketchy at best and it showed. His grip was a little too close together and his stance would probably put him off balance but he was still a bushi and combat was supposed to be his forte.

"I am ready Hida-san." he says once he feels comfortable with the weapon in his hands.

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi shared her fellow bushi's thoughts of training in the morning, especially after the wreckage they saw yesterday.
Too bad she had spent too much of the previous day helping with too many things below deck to see much of it herself, but today she hoped to return to normal habits.

"Morning minna-san," she chirped cheerfully to the others in her greeting. Seeing that her kinsman was the only one not engaged at the moment, she approached the Scholar.
"Agasha-san, have you come to train this morning too?"

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Shiba-san, good morning. Training? In a manner of speaking yes. I thought it best to learn the distances of the deck and such."

He gestured at the masts and rails in turn.

"For better guidance when I call on the kami. It would not do to get my distances wrong and blow one of our own off the deck."

[Shiba Naomi]

She glanced to the masts and rails as he gestured at them, nodding. "Yes, I can see the logic in that. Man overboard is something we'd rather avoid, after all."

"Are you familiar with combat, Agasha-san?" Naomi asked carefully.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"I was at Toshi Ranbo with Isawa Ochiai-dono'd forces for the intervention between the Lion and Unicorn. It was mainly a healing role but there were several skirmishes we had to stop before any healing could be done."

His eyes harden as the next memory surfaces.

"And I was involved in several battles of the War of Dark Fire in our homelands, Shiba-san. I always had my yojimbo with me then. Now I need to learn how to survive without Kari-san's ever present care."

He was getting better at that, but he'd still missed the occasional meal due to having his eyes glued to a book or staring at the water as they sailed over it.

[Shiba Naomi]

She nodded gravely as she noticed his expression changing. "I'm sorry if it was too personal a question. I was merely curious which one of my kin have seen battle before." Not that she was the one to talk but...

"I'm sad to hear that your Yojimbo could not be stationed here with you. I'm certain Kari-san must miss you too..." Naomi offered a consoling smile, almost motherly. "As a Shiba, I will do my very best to look after you, as well as Nozomi-san and Isawa-san too."

[Hida Musasha]

The metal man taps the Bayushi's feet. "Wider weapon, wider stance. Your shoulders are your measure. Your hands are falling into the sword slashing grip. With a spear, you are trying to keep your enemy back and stick them. Hold it at the middle and back, like so," and he demonstrates on his own weapon, "and thrust with your legs, not your arms."

He demonstrates a basic spear jab.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"The recommendation that brought me here was only for myself, not for my yojimbo. Kari-san will have a new charge by now. Someone else for her to remind to eat and protect from howling gaijin. I take it that our other cousins have not seen proper battle?"

A smile came back to his face.

"Except for Isawa-sama that is."

[Shiba Naomi]

"I don't think Nozomi-san has... I haven't actually had the chance to ask her that, or Isawa-san."

She chuckled a bit. "And have you missed your meals so far, Agasha-san, or must I remember to remind you?" Her voice had a friendly tone of teasing, glad to have the conversation lightening.
In the corner of her eye, she watched Musasha teach the use of the spear.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

He slightly coloured at the light teasing, as Naomi sounded just like Kari-san had.

"One or two yes. Mostly by choice when we were in . . . the light forsaken area, but I think I have the routines down by now."

He looked up, almost shyly.

"But it is possible I might need the occasional reminder for evening meal. If I have found somewhere quiet to read that is."

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi merely smiled that warm smile again. "I'll keep that in mind, Agasha-san. Missing Inari's blessing might be good sometimes when fasting, but when everyone need to be able and sharp, we shouldn't miss out on it."

Glancing back to the practice-session again, she gave a slight nod. "Do you know how to use a spear, or any other weaponry?" she asked Qian-Fan.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"None. Something I have been encouraged to correct during this posting. I am used to wielding the elements in their raw forms rather than in man made weapons."

His eyes followed hers to the sparring bushi.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Maybe Ram will give you a lesson too?" she chuckled lightly. "He seems good with a spear. It's a rather easy weapon to learn, and onboard, somewhat cheap compared to other things. Not to mention that it puts more distance between you and the opponent."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

He nodded, eyes locked on the Ram.

"But no hands for spell scrolls. I have no intention of going on the offensive with mundane weaponry."

/edit typoes

[Shiba Naomi]

"A one-hand weapon, then?"
Another nod. "Wakizashi, if you want to dare it, or the tanto. Neither should impose too much on your ability to hold the prayer scrolls."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"I would not dare it. The thought of my honour sinking to the depths of the sea due to a careless untrained swipe is too much to bare."

He continued to watch the bushi spar.

[Bayushi Kichirou]

The metal man taps the Bayushi's feet. "Wider weapon, wider stance. Your shoulders are your measure. Your hands are falling into the sword slashing grip. With a spear, you are trying to keep your enemy back and stick them. Hold it at the middle and back, like so," and he demonstrates on his own weapon, "and thrust with your legs, not your arms."

He demonstrates a basic spear jab.

Nodding along and adjusting accordingly his stance and his grip and twists to jab with his 'spear' a few times, "Is jabbing the primary function in combat? Do you not slash or sweep as well?" he asks even as he continues to practice the jabbing motion.

[Shiba Naomi]

"I would not dare it. The thought of my honour sinking to the depths of the sea due to a careless untrained swipe is too much to bare."

"Of course. I understand completely. Maybe someone here is skilled enough with knives to teach that? On a ship, there's bound to be close-quarter combat at some point, so it's certainly a good weapon."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"I shall inquire with some of the bushi once our shift is complete. I assume they congregate around the armoury? As they don't have a dojo to occupy here."

He'd always felt like an invader in the dojo's back home. Shooed out by the bushi before the precious priest hurt himself on something sharp.

[Hida Musasha]

The big man nods, "basics come first," and being happy with the thrusting, "you slash in two ways until you master this weapon. Like this at the face," he demonstrates how it looks a lot like swabbing the deck, only at someones eyes, "or like this to drop them."

He makes a similar motion at crotch and knee level. "There are more advanced uses that allow you to effectively use a spear as a staff as well, but they require you to grasp the basic maneuvers. Always remember that if they get close, though, that a good shove or crack in the nose with the shaft is as effective with any weapon with reach."