The sea was slightly choppy as the wind pulled the boat along at a brisk pace. The ship rocked, and the air, despite the wind, was sticky with humidity. Over all, it wasn't the best day to be out on the deck practicing precise movements. None the less, it was Itsuho's duty to be Aftdeck this time of day, and she knew there was no better use of her time on a day like this than to practice.

Being on duty, she wore her Imperial Legion ensemble, sleeves pulled back to the elbow and tied off, hair freshly washed and pulled back in her long tail. Though she was no sailor, her feet seemed a lot more accustomed to the movements of the boat now as she went through a series of movements to keep in shape. She wielded a bokken with ease, as if it were a part of her, most of her concentration on her feet and her surroundings. She kept a little to the side, so as not to get in anyone else's way as necessary ship work was done.

Himiko, for the most part, seemed to agree with Itsuho. The largest difference, of course, being that the only legion-wear she had on was the pants. As per usual, her chest was covered only in the tight wraps she favored, and she seemed determined to keep that up even when on duty. The crab bushi began stretching out slowly, listening to the little pops that were made when she stretched out certain body parts. "Damn... was I really this stiff?" Her voice stayed fairly low for now... and then she noticed the Mirumoto.

Himiko approached the woman and offered a polite bow. "Afternoon to ye. Name's Yasuki Himiko. Don't think we've had the chance te meet since we've been on the boat."

The tall bushi finished her stroke before she straightened fully. Her sun kissed skin was lightly shining with sweat from the day and work as she bowed, hair falling over a shoulder. It was a low bow, slow and purposeful. As she straightened she spoke loud enough to be heard over the ship, though her tone remained calm and reflective despite having to speak up a bit.

"Konnichi-wa, Yasuki-sama. You are right, I have no recollection of meeting you before, so it is an honor to do so now. I am known as Mirumoto Itusho. I pray that the day finds you well."

"Sun's out, nice 'n warm. Nothin' te bitch about, certainly." She grinned lightly. "I thought most Mirumoto did that whole two sword thing. Do ye often practice in a method that ain't gonna be how ye fight?" Her tone was curious as opposed to insulting.

The woman shook her head slowly, wiping her forehead with the back of a hanging sleeve. "While I am highly trained in ninten, I have heard that fighting on a ship can be a tight ordeal. While I have always been taught that two swords can overcome one, perhaps this is a time that one sword can overcome whatever opposes it."

She gives a small nod. "Besides, I am not of the Mirumoto school, not persay. I am trained in ninten, but my ways are more spiritual. Perhaps that is why I look to take the advantage when I can... perhaps that is why I am on this ship."

Himiko raised an eyebrow. "...kay..." Dragon are so WEIRD! She looked around for a moment, then found a belaying pin that wasn't in use, swinging it around with about the perceived skill of a small child. Satisfied with the pin, she grins a bit. "Well, regardless, it's good te know there are more trained warriors on the ship. When I first got on, I thought I might've been the only one," she chuckles slightly as she says that.

The Dragon girl gave a slight bow at that. "You have honored me with your recognition." There was a pause of hesitation there a moment. "If I may be so bold, I wish to hazard a guess that you are not a student of the katana first and foremost. You seem... a natural on the deck, so I am guessing you are trained more in weapons practical to the life aboard a ship."

The girl's face was serene, though it was slightly ruined by the tanning and sweat from training. Her bokken was down against the ship now, paused in her training as she spoke.

Himiko shrugs. "I know how te use a katana, but it ain't what I focus on. Can't right expect te have one on ye wherever ye go, and I'd much rather be prepared te fight with whatever I ken crab. As far as boats go," she grins, "this is the first one I've ever been on."

A small nod, a thoughtful look, a slow meticulous choice of words. "Perhaps so. Still, are not the Yasuki lands always near to the shore of the ocean? Perhaps practicality is the key, wherever you are, is that more correct?" Another pause, this time accompanied by the woman brushing her long pony tail back over her shoulder as the wind tugged at it. "Though, while on the subject of practical weapons, are you trained in the ways of jiujutsu, Yasuki-sama?"

Himiko nodded lightly. "Jiujutsu is heavily taught at the Kobo Ichi Kai school."

A slight look of confusion crossed the Dragon's face, though it appeared more as mild curiosity. "I have never heard of the school before, but that's good to know. I am not of a school that usually teaches jiujutsu, but I have always been of the mind that should I lose my sword, I will go down fighting to the top of my ability none the less."

She glanced at the belaying pin in the shorter Yasuki's hands. "I have certainly never trained in... sumimasen, is that a weapon of a ship's implement Yasuki-sama?"

"It's called a belaying pin. And it's not a weapon, I assure you. Won't stop me from bashin' someone's skull in with it." She grinned widely. "First rule o' the Kobo dojo. If it can kill someone, it's fair game."

The Mirumoto gave a small nod. "I suppose the only argument I can make against that is that the weight, size, shape, feel of a weapon... training with one form allows total recognition with it. Still... as you say, no matter how much I train with a katana, if I do not have one with me, what good would it do, hai?"

She pointed to the pin. "How skilled of an opponent would you have to face before the skill they had outweighed the practicality I wonder."

The two in conversation had an additional member of the peanut gallery. Whether she was listening or not aside, Amaya was standing at attention near the ropes on the starboard side of the aft deck. If either of them came near to her, she'd salute them, but for the moment she was enjoying a brief bit of fresh air from the long work in the hold and waiting for the next order to tack and heave to. Her face had a sort of set a bit like it was made of flint, her jaws clenched while she watched the waters.

"'s a good question. I think it's kinda situational, though. If I were fighting, say, you, I'd likely just drop this thing and bring ye to the ground. Good luck usin' a sword while I got yer arms pinned." She smirked lightly, her face showing her absolute confidence in this being fact.

The woman gave a bow of her head. When she looked up, she glanced over at the scarred woman. The look on the ronin's face (and she had no reason to believe she was other than that) didn't look as if she wished to be disturbed, so Itsuho immediately returned her attention to the Yasuki before her.

"That is one of the benefits of the ninten style. Two swords makes openings quite a bit more difficult to come by. None the less, it would certainly be a possibility. Should it come to that, my training in jiujutsu would come in quite handy, hai?" She tilted her head a little, as if curious, and the corners of her mouth twitched up into the faintest of smiles.

To say that the peasant wished not to be disturbed was something of a misnomer. She was simply not going to dare risk contacting someone who might order her head off, not after the announcements she'd finally gotten wind of. She glanced around, her stoney, cragged features keeping an eye out and waiting patiently to see if anything came up.

Himiko grinned widely. "Perhaps, but I wonder how ye'd fair against me. By the looks o' ye, ye don't seem like the kinda gal who spends too much time on the ground rollin' against a trained opponent."

Itsuho gave a small nod. "I did it enough to be considered skilled, but I am still young, and hardly an expert at it. I would be much better with my sword." She tilted her head. "Though I think on such a tight ship, I would do well to practice more."

Himiko nods. "If yer ever lookin' te test yer skill, I won't mind. Warnin' though, I don't hold back. If ye end up with a broken nose, just part o' trainin'."