Avian Education (Day 1, Early Eve, Open)

[Isawa O-Washi]

"We had dogs." O-washi smiled fondly at the memory. "Well, rather, our heimen had dogs. My mother is very fond of feathers in her clothing and so there was a lot of hunting of swans and the like. When the went down in lakes, it was easier to send a dog in to retrieve them."

[Isawa Junpei]

"No doubt," the young man could do little but agree, having no practical knowledge of such things. "My mother is a simple woman. I mean she has simple tastes. She was never one for extravagance, then again she..."

Junpei paused for a second thinking about whether or not he should really be saying what he was about to say, "She is a first generation Phoenix. My grandparents joined the Phoenix shortly after the Clan Wars at the behest of Naka Kuro. Not his direct invitation, but....well, you know what I mean." It was always a touchy matter. Sure many Isawa could not claim a long clan lineage on both sides of their families, but that didn't make ronin parentage any more glamorous.

[Isawa O-Washi]

It was fortunate indeed that O-washi was as far from a typical Isawa as it was possible to be, given the differences just revealed. Instead of commenting on the delicate issue, he simply smiled. "My own mother has always considered herself a lady of high fashion. She's a tensai of air as you are and has spent much of her career since the birth of my younger sister in the court in pursuit of the goals of her Master. "

[Isawa Junpei]

"My parents tend to our family shrine. It has been a part of my father's side for centuries." Junpei rubbed the top of the kitten's head, causing it to close its eyes. When it opened them again, however, it seemed to have had enough and was suddenly more interested in scaling the Isawa's tunic, digging in its claws and climbing. As the tensai spoke, he was forced to constantly pull it from his clothes and reposition it. "We maintain a shrine to Isora about long day's trip from Kyuden Isawa. It's certainly not a spiritual epicenter, obviously, but according to legend it was a place touched by Isora. My ancestor built it after receiving her blessing."

He couldn't help mentioning it. He was very proud of his heritage after all....or, at least half of it.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"A honorable calling and a fit tribute to a Fortune who touched your kin." The big man smiled ruefully. "Should I ever settle down, I'll be building a temple to Osano-Wo myself. It would be a remote posting indeed, given where the Thunderer first reached out His hand to me, but there's a certain extra degree of piety when one suffers a little to serve."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Also fitting," his fellow Phoenix offered back with a good-humored grin of his own. "Is it true what they say? You've been struck by the Thunderer ten times?" The number seemed to change from person to person, but that wasn't the important part. The important part is that it happened more than once, or at all.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"It's up to ten now?" Both of the man's brows rose even as he smirked. "Not quite to much as all of that. I've only been struck three times, so far at least, and every time in a battle that was going ill for me."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Oh, well, three...that's not so bad." Junpei quipped back, with obvious good-humor. Finally having enough of the kitten clawing up the front of his robes he passed it back off to the officer.

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi accepted the kitten graciously, using the tail of his hakama ties to keep it entertained while he spoke to his Cousin and waited for Sensuifu to finish eating the rather impressive specimen of fishdom he'd caught.

"It's definitely an odd sensation. Also, it makes one's hair misbehave for days." Here, he waggled his brows. "All of it, mind you, not just the bit on your head. After the second time I gave up and stated lopping off most of what I have, just in case. Once I might have considered a fluke but twice? That's the hands of a Fortune and it's best to always be prepared."

[Isawa Junpei]

"It's considered common superstition that those struck by the Thunderer's fury are blessed by him, but...I dunno...three times." Junpei didn't want to finish the thought. He obviously didn't think the Fortune was angry with O-Washi, but maybe testing him, or....joking with him. The thought made the young tensai reflexively check the skies.

[Isawa O-Washi]

That, in turn, made O-washi laugh. "It's never happened outside of a battle, Cousin, don't worry. Unless Moshi-sama decides to be tricky, there's little chance of a bolt coming from out of the blue."

Pausing, he added, 'Though I wouldn't put it past a Fortune to do such a thing, so perhaps a bit of caution isn't uncalled for."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Thankfully my relationship with Isora-no-kami, isn't so...bombastic. I doubt I could live through a blessing by Osana-Wo. I guess, now that you bring it up, how many times have you been in battle?"

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Dozens." The smile left the big man's face, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "I reached my gempukku just before the War of Fire and Thunder broke out. Against the path my parents had charted for me, I enlisted in the Elemental Legions. My first few battles were mostly in support rolls, using the kami to strengthen the Shiba and heal them in the aftermath. It wasn't until I went to sea that I began to fight myself. I've always been quick to test my strength against others but I'd never used it for more than friendly sparring before...but I learned. The first time I was struck was my sixteenth birthday, actually, when I used the kami to run the waves to charge an enemy ship with a Moshi aboard who was causing all manner of havoc to my fleet."

The smile returned, though it was rueful.

"They've made a few ballads of that battle, much to my dismay."

[Isawa Junpei]

"I sometimes wonder why I would join the military. I'm not a warrior, I believe in our clan's ways. Still, I've seen first hand what the Empire's enemies can do when left to run wild in our lands." He shook his head and gazed to the north. "Have you been home since it happened? It isn't the same place it once was. I shouldn't be able to say that at my age."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"No."

Both fists clenched, the sound of the knuckles popping loud.

"I begged to be allowed to go when I first heard of the fighting...the winter season is one where most ships find themselves at anchor and it would have been simplicity itself to go without me the last few months before storms kept us at anchor. When I was denied, I very nearly violated my oaths to go defend my home and my people. My honor was too great, however, and so I remained, though I admit to rather undignified sulking."

Sighing, he found a smile.

"It was Moshi-sama who got me out of the funk I was in."

[Isawa Junpei]

"If it is any consolation, which I know it isn't, there is nothing you could have done. The Masters, themselves, could do little but stymie the yobanjin hoard. The rest of us couldn't do anything but grab every scroll in reach and then flee for our lives." There was a definite bitterness in his voice, thinking back to his previous conversation with O-Washi. Again he couldn't help but want the power to rise mountains, summon hurricanes, and bring every conceivable disaster upon the enemies of the Phoenix. Closing his eyes, though, he took in a deep breath and pushed those thoughts deep down within him.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"As a water tensai, I can't help but think that I should have been there, born in opposition to fire as I was." O-washi sighed. "So instead I serve as well as I can now in the hopes that by success I earn favor for my Clan with the Imperials. So much will need rebuilt...perhaps the Miya might look more kindly on a request for their Blessing from a decorated tensai who has served the throne directly. "

Meeting Junpei's gaze he smiled a little. "Or two who have, should you take to this life as I have. You can do the talking and I'll just stand there looking stalwart and long-suffering."

[Isawa Junpei]

"I'll have to work on my service record, and my speaking skills if I'm supposed to do that," he gave a wry smile. "I can turn a phrase as well as the next tensai of air, but I certainly haven't practiced much beyond how to keep my head above water, so to speak, in Kyuden Isawa. Shugenja from every corner of the empire and whatnot, wouldn't do to have a student insult them."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Air tensai are generally very gifted in that regard." O-washi's voice was carefully neutral. "I have no doubt that you could shine as a voice for the Clan if you chose."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Maybe, anything's possible," he ran a hand through his hair to tuck the stray strands, that had loosened themselves from his mare's tail, behind his ear. "But I've never had much interest in conversation, at least not lofty conversation. There's just so much pomp and ritual that goes into every meeting. I envy the court, but not the courtiers. They can keep their gowns and rhetoric, I've always been happier free of all that, remember? I would spend all day in communion with the kami if I could. Maybe on this trip I'll find a portal to Chikushudo and live happily among the animal spirits."