As the ship is on the verge of leaving the Sea of Shadow, Yakusoku makes her way down to the armory. Unlike much of her time above deck, the young woman carefully carries her daisho under one arm. If there was one thing she didn't like about being at sea it was not being able to rely on her katana. Had to keep it locked away, oiled and safe from the rigors of sea water. Seeing that the corner she'd used in the past is unoccupied the Badger makes her way over, depositing her wakizashi on a stand along the way. Drawing her blade she begins to work her way through a quick, brutal kenjutsu kata. Most would use a bokken but Yakusoku always enjoyed the familiar feel of her blade grasped between her calloused fingers.

Bayushi Usan carried two unstrung Yumi along with his personal bowyer's kit as he made his way to the armory to begin his shift. He paused before entering, lest he get caught in that brutal kata. He cleared his throat, letting the other samurai know someone was in the room, then bowed. "Forgive me, Ichiro-san. I thought it would be rude not to introduce myself after you so graciously indulged me in witnessing that kata. I am Bayushi Usan, pleasure to meet you."

He paused a bit, thinking it best to at least explain his presence here. "I've been tasked with bowyer duties, morning shift. I won't take up too much room, rest assured."

"Ichiro Yakusoku," the Badger replies, shifting gracefully from one basic kata to another, nodding at the Scorpion in between. "Pleased to meet ya. Feel free to be takin' all the time ya need. If I gotta move, I don't mind none."

Usan nodded and promptly found himself a corner to work in. He opened his kit and began to work, though his body posture and tasks seemed to indicate he was open for conversation. "I have to admit, I was impressed by your kata, it's exquisite in its efficiency."

"Thank ya," the Badger replies simply, continuing her movements as she speaks, "but it ain't nothin' special. You're right about it bein' efficient. Meant to get the job done; nothin' more." The blade arcs through the air, Yakusoku stepping forward with a quick downward strike. "So, this yer first time servin' on a ship Bayushi-san?"

Usan carefully inspected the yumi he was working on, 'At sea, yes. I served on a riverboat patrolling the River of Gold before I was assigned here. Certainly not the same experience. And yourself?'

"Sailed otta Clear Water with the Crab for a couple a years," she shrugs. "No boat this big though. Just some standard kobune and the like."

Usan let some amusement creep into his voice as he smiled under his mask, "A few years with the Crab? Now those would give you some interesting stories.'

"More interestin' than if it'd been a few years 'round Kudo," the corner of her mouth curls into a crooked half-smile and once again the sword comes down into a practice killing stroke.

"Oh? I've never been to Kudo. A tranquil place, is it then?" Usan started to test out a few bow strings.

"More like borin' from what I remember," she snorts. "Then again, that was a long time ago. Prior to my trainin'. Only been back visitin' since then and its much like I remember it."

"So how long did it take you to get your sea legs?" Usan found the strings to his liking and set them aside. He then worked on another yumi.

"Couple days," she shrugs. "Woulda been sooner if not for the size of the boat, I 'spose. Took a bit a gettin' used to havin' so much extra space to be movin' 'bout."

He nodded, the ship was certainly much, much, larger then the riverboat he previously served on. "I marvel at the size myself. Were some of the Crab you've encountered on your travels fortunate enough to be assigned here as well?"

"Nah," she shakes her head. "The Crab assigned 'ere are new to me. An interestin' lot though. Hida Musasha-san and Yasuki Himiko-san in particular. Lookin' forward to sparrin' with both."

"Oh? I haven't had a chance to really talk to people on board." His voice became a bit more relaxed, as he became more comfortable in his work. "Are they on your work crew?"

"Nah. Met'em prior to all that while we were settlin' in. Trained some with Hida-san and talked sparrin' with Yasuki-san but that's 'bout it, really. Still, they both seem like they could hold their own in a good tussle."

"I'd expect no less from a Crab. Find any other sparring partners that excite you?"

"Akodo Jishaku-san seems to know his way 'round a few weapons. Haven't seen much of anyone else what with being busy getting used to the ship and doin' my own trainin'. I'm sure I'll come across a few more."

"Oh most certainly, we've all got plenty of time to get to know each other after all." He found a part in his work where he could pause and stretch a bit. He pulled out a small bottle of water he tucked in his kit and sipped it. "Oh apologies, I should have offered you some."