The New Winds

Pride is not weakness if that pride is tempered by work. Take glory in your achievements but do not rest upon them.

Moto-sensei's words were in Ichiro's head as he finished the mandatory training for the day. His showings had been skillful and successful... well there was that one missed swing but he was still just a student... and a certain amount of reveling in that was allowed. But a samurai who rested on past glory, no matter how recent, was one who did not achieve further glory.

Thus the hour of the Monkey finds the young Utaku assisting in dismantling the course so the space can be prepared for whatever the next training may yet hold.

A short distance away, Bayushi Jiro was picking bits of clay jar off of the earth and gathering them in a bag, a carefully constructed mask of serenity stamped on his face.

Noticing the Scorpion reminded Ichiro of other lessons from his sensei.

When speaking to a Scorpion any word you say may be a weapon against you... but choosing not to speak to the Scorpion may also be a weapon used against you.

"You did well on the course, Bayushi-san."

Jiro paused in his efforts to rise and nod in greeting to the Unicorn.

"Thank you, Utaku-san. I was rather pleasantly surprised, myself. But when one finds sufficient motivation, I suppose when can find hidden depths." He smiled. "I was very impressed with your performance as well. I would not be surprised if Kakita-sensei took notice."

A small nod of acknowledgement and thanks. "Thank you. Though I suspect they expect such from us warriors. Those of you who have chosen a different primary path likely impress even more when you succeed at these tasks. I hope I find such hidden depths when they start testing us on the courts." He grins.

Jiro bowed his head to hide a slightly wider smile. "I suspect you might, Utaku-san. Just remember to look to defense first; courts are unlike combat in that a speedy attack is not the answer. But I am sure you already know this."

"I don't know. Moto-sensei always said that when in doubt 'grab one Crane and use him to smack the other Crane'." The grin widens, "But I think he was joking. Probably...."

Well that and he had said use the Crane to hit the Scorpion but the revised version seems more fitting right now.

Another of the students drew up to the grounds of the former obstacle course. They had a rake with them and bowed to the others present, grunting. "Bayushi-san," he said to one before glancing at the other, considering for jut a second as they endeavored to remember. Ah yes. The Utaku who wasn't a battle maiden. That was memorable at an event like this wasn't it? "Utaku-san. Here to help clean for tomorrow's events. How may I assist?"

"Asako-san." A nod of acknowledgement, "I'm almost done breaking down the wall. I suppose they'll want any debris raked out for whatever they design for us tomorrow."

Jiro bowed his greeting to the Asako.

"Pleasant to see you, Asako-san. Utaku-san was just telling me about Unicorn debate techniques. They sound most effective." He smiled widely. "I am sure my father would approve, Utaku-san, particularly of your modification of the saying."

A quick nod. "Yes, if you finish with the debris, I will move it off for disposal," he said. That would work perfectly. He nodded in Jiro's directly, looking at the two of them with a certain amount of curiosity. "I confess, though, as we work. I have heard little of such tactics and measures. This is the most I have ever seen of your clan in my lifetime, in truth. We know of you more as stories from afar deep in Phoenix lands."

"Well the tactic in question was a jest. Though if anyone could pull it off it would likely be Moto-sensei. He can swing with a single hand weapons I can barely lift with both."

The Utaku continues to disassemble and stack pieces of wood from the wall.

"Ahhhh, I believe that I understand the jest in that case. A visiting gunso of the Crab once said something similar." Admittedly, he was pretty dead certain of the Crab's absolute seriousness when he referred to the Masakiri that he carried around as a 'diplomatic tool' he didn't expect to need in speaking with the Phoenix. Where the Moto might joke, the Hida were usually a bit serious. Mother always said they had the tact in court of an angry goat.

He didn't actually laugh. There were days when he wanted to throw a fireball in the middle of social discussions just to shut them up. People talked too much for his liking. But mother did say not to say such things publicly. He continued to sweep a little while speaking with the others. "Though perhaps... more seriously. Diplomacy from a point of strength is easier, if usually less... obvious?"

Jiro nodded. "Agreed. But strength can mean so many things."

"I can't say I've given it much thought yet. Usually we leave such things to the Ide or the rare Shinjo who enjoys it."

"I understand that position, Utaku-san, even if we Bayushi have a difficult time surrendering a battlefield, even when the odds are against us."

Ichiro's eyes narrow slightly, "It is not surrendering the battlefield to know to stand out of the way of your own side's cavalry charge."

"Of course, of course." Jiro nodded in complete agreement. "And only the cavalrymen who enjoy charging should do so." A pause. "Or am I misunderstanding your point?"

A slight shake of the head, "Not enjoyment but duty. Now one should try to find the enjoyment in their duty but it is about knowing where and how you serve."

He listened to the two boys go back and forth for a moment while he swept, allowing them to make their case and grunting once in a while. "I think both of you have valid points. On the one hand, the work of a cavalryman is meant for one who both has the passion and the duty, and thus the training and aptitude. However, it is the way of the samurai to be prepared for each inevitability. Though the courtier does not expect to pick up the sword, there may be occasions where it is demanded of them." A shrug while he started putting the discarded pieces into the basket.

"The ideal is for us to be able to do everything. The pragmatic truth? there will be things each of us does best. Best to leave work to its specialists, but be ready in case one is not available."