[Day 11. Early Morning. Aftdeck. Open] Appeasing Suitengu

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi smirked. "A yojimbo seems unlikely, yes. Of course, if all the bushi do their duties capably, and I'm sure they will, we won't have too much need of one. I just...well, I hope that I won't have to kill anyone. Isawa-gunso said it was likely that it would be necessary, but I was never really cut out for that sort of thing. It...strains against the vows I took."

[Hida Musasha]

The Hida shrugs, "I ain't so worried about how ya handle the storm. It's the gettin' yer arms yanked outta yer shoulders if th' wind changes direction while yer tyin' somethin' down. Takes weeks ta heal by itself, an' if ya have ta see a 'genja, they talk all down ta ya, like yer a wee 'un."

He taps his tetsubo lightly against the deck planking, then takes a couple warm up swings, "Yer a big lass, though, an' ken make yer own choices. Jus' don' let them chiseled arms lose that definition cause they ain't bein' used fer a while. I like 'em well enough as is."

[Isawa Junpei]

Fuichi smirked. "A yojimbo seems unlikely, yes. Of course, if all the bushi do their duties capably, and I'm sure they will, we won't have too much need of one. I just...well, I hope that I won't have to kill anyone. Isawa-gunso said it was likely that it would be necessary, but I was never really cut out for that sort of thing. It...strains against the vows I took."

"Something we have in common. Still, it is part of the way of war. As much as we might loath the idea, we are part of the Empress' personal army now." He sighed; he hated the thought. "I just remind myself that among the Phoenix some of our greatest scholars of the elements are those also in military service to the clan. To cut off oneself from martial pursuits I think can stunt creativity. Obviously I don't mean any offense against the Asahina, who like the Phoenix are lovers of life not bringers of destruction. Still, if one wishes to fully explore the gamut of power visited upon us by the spirits we cannot limit our endeavors. If such were the case we might stagnate, and with each lifetime we must improve ourselves."

Junpei smirked and shook his head, "Apologies, I'm waxing poetic."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

At that Yakusoku stops her axe-swinging long enough to fit in a genuine, vibrant laugh the tip of her ono handle resting against the deck. "Ya know, I was worried that the people on this boat may have a holier-than-thou complex 'bout as big as the stick up their ass; feelin' important 'cause they got inta the Legion and all. But yer alright, Hida-san. And don't worry," she begins her kata again, letting out a soft, grunted exhale as the axe slices through air, "I kept in shape this long even with sailin' through the wind 'n rain. Ain't gonna let that change now. Sometimes, all ya can rely on is yer own strength."

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Lookin' forward ta keepin' yer ass alive, then. Jus' do th' same fer me."

He begins a kata that looks more like he's trying to rip something to pieces and bash it into goo. The mindless brutality of it all is rather impressive. The way his tetsubo hums, you'd think it was a blade, but it's simply the massive swings with the power of a bull behind it. Even more surprising is that while he's fighting like a beast, his footwork looks more like he's dancing.

Not many people can roll across a wooden ship deck in heavy armor mid-swing and come out of it swinging again.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

The sight of the Hida working out in their heavy armor had always been impressive and Musasha was no exception. And, much like the Crab she'd spent the last few years around, the sight of his skillful, brutal display motivates Yakusoku to put just a bit more into her own workout. She wouldn't be rolling around or dancing anytime soon. No, she could swing the ono with force but she had work to do before she'd be able to do too much more with it. But still she manages to throw just a bit more power behind each swing, her breathing going heavier and muscles in her arms tightening.

"May hafta..." she speaks between heavy breaths, her voice airy, "take a few... lessons from ya... before all's said n' done. Can move like that with a blade. But this thing? Not yet." The determination in her voice is obvious as once again she brings the axe down.

[Hida Musasha]

He nods mid motion, "I've the opposite problem." He finishes his kata with a full body lunge, rolling into a stand. Would be a great way to send an opponent that was just about licked off the ship.

"I ken kill 'n' crush 'n' splatter th' monster's o' Him (Fu Leng)," and he spits over the railing, "but I ain't never had ta kill a man I can't assume is one o' 'em. My bladework is rusty, an' I ain't lookin' forward ta puttin' it to th' test against someone from th' Empire. O-Washi said we should go ahead an' use what's at hand, but is it right ta take a man's honor from him by turnin' his skull inta wasabi paste?"

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Depends on the man I 'spose," a quick glance is cast at the Crab but otherwise Yakusoku doesn't allow the new topic interrupt her training. "A bandit or pirate? His honor's gone already; ya ain't takin' shit," her voice is a little firmer now cutting through the heavy breaths. Wouldn't take a courtier to recognize the woman has no love for bandits or pirates. "Anyone else, I'd rather use me blade. But if they're tryin' to hurt the crew or throw me into the sea, I'll kill'em with whatever I can grab."

[Hida Musasha]

He nods, "Ya, I git that, too. I ain't gonna take it easy jus' 'cause they have two legs. I jus' ain't never had ta worry about the honor o' my enemy afore. Been on a turtle ship since my Gempukku." He returns his tetsubo to the sling on his back.

"If ya want lessons on killin' shit hard an' fast, I tend ta do mosta my trainin' in th' afternoon. I seem ta have struck up a friendship wi' an Akodo of all things, an we kinda teach each other. Yer welcome ta join, er, if ya get up really early, I don' sleep as much as th' others, ya ken come an keep me company. It'd be nice ta have someone ta talk to that I don' have ta constantly have ta think about manners with."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Gonna depend on what work the Cap'n puts me to, I 'spose. But until then, either sounds alright. Haven't," the axe comes down yet again, "talked to no Akodo crewman, and wouldn't hurt to meet'em all." For a moment she wondered if this was the same Akodo she'd seen during the training exercises the day prior. He seemed capable enough. "So yeah... few lessons would be good."

[Hida Musasha]

He bows, and heads below to get some breakfast, "Be seein' ya, girly."

/exit

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Later," she stops long enough to cock her head in acknowledgment of the Crab leaving. Once he steps away though she falls back into training. Glancing over to insure the Hida's gone out of sight she tries a bit of the footwork she'd seen him employing but after a stumble, settles back into swinging the axe as brutally as she can. "Sometimes," she murmurs to herself, "just gotta stick to what works."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"Something we have in common. Still, it is part of the way of war. As much as we might loath the idea, we are part of the Empress' personal army now." He sighed; he hated the thought. "I just remind myself that among the Phoenix some of our greatest scholars of the elements are those also in military service to the clan. To cut off oneself from martial pursuits I think can stunt creativity. Obviously I don't mean any offense against the Asahina, who like the Phoenix are lovers of life not bringers of destruction. Still, if one wishes to fully explore the gamut of power visited upon us by the spirits we cannot limit our endeavors. If such were the case we might stagnate, and with each lifetime we must improve ourselves."

Junpei smirked and shook his head, "Apologies, I'm waxing poetic."

Fuichi waved that away. "Not at all. I tend to disagree, slightly, but it is pleasant to hear someone who is passionate about learning. Or just generally passionate."

[Isawa Junpei]

"For each shugenja in Ningen-do there is probably a different philosophy of the spirits. How we commune is deeply personal and no doubt what is right, even for hundreds of us could be completely wrong for another. The sheer diversity of major traditions shows us that. Still, Isawa, greatest and first among us, even he and his family took to the field of battle when it was required. I can do no less."

He smiled and waved away the thought, "Anyway, we best get you back to the ship. Invocations to the kaze-kami don't last long and the last thing you would want is to wind up in the ocean."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

The Daidoji's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he turned and soared toward the ship. He alighted gracefully on the rail, his pale blue eyes looking through the settling whirlwind of his long hair to see if the Isawa was close by. As he did so, he offered another bow to the Badger.

"Good morning, Ichiro-san. This one is Daidoji Fuichi. It is a pleasure to meet you."

[Isawa Junpei]

The Isawa indeed followed behind at a polite distance, rising off the water at a slow pace, but upon vaulting over the railing he did not bother to land. Looking from the Daidoji to the Ichiro, he offered his own bow, shallow but courteous, "Hai, a lovely morning."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

Seeing the two shugenja come in for a landing, Yakusoku stops her swings long enough to offer a propr bow back. "Ohayo," the axe starts going again though the woman shifts some so that she can regard the two priests while training, "Daidoji-san, Isawa-san. Ichiro Yakusoku. Nice to meet ya."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi breaks into a smile. "I see you are a bushi. Isawa-san and I were just discussing the culture shock of life in the navy, and I wonder, now, if it's any easier for one trained in the martial tradition?"

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"I'm probably not the best judge of that, guys," she shrugs. "The Ichiro trainin' teaches us how to fight with uneasy ground beneath our feet. And I got some Crab blood in me that Osano-Wo appreciates, so storms don't bother me none. That helps a lot though yeah, when I first started sailin' with the Crab outta Clear Water, it was a bit odd. Ya learn to deal with peasants different and to make friends in a rough crowd. Not sure how much harder that'd be on priests like you two. Never been one ma-self."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

That much is clear.

"I see. So you've been a part of the Crab navy before this then. Anything that a new sailor should be aware of as we head further south?"