The New Winds

Returning to her rooms from archery was not walk that required leaving the grounds, thankfully. So when she did, she was not covered in mud as she had been when she got back from her meeting with Tomohiro.

She let out a long sigh of relief that the bow she'd traded with Hitoshi did not seem to be tampered with. She would have hated to get injured using it. Both because of the test later in the day, and the gift she wanted to work on. With everything else going on, now was probably one of the last times she'd get to before the feast.

Nobuko took a moment to collect herself and then meditate, however. It would be better to feel at peace than to wear her hands out ahead of time.

After she had meditated, she sat down in front of her koto and began a final set of run-throughs of her song.


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OOC
D6; EA; Meditation/Void: 7d10o10k4 24 - Regain 2 VP

Haruki realizes he can't keep washing his clothes wherever he goes, so he brought an extra pair with him and asks a servant to clean one outfit while he meditates in another. The servants point him to a quiet spot in the student common rooms outside of the hustle and bustle of artisans on a forge or bokken being broken by small children who just wanted to have a little fun.

D6 EA: Meditation (Void Recovery)/void, prodigy, tn 20: 8d10o10k4 24 +2 void points

Nobuko notices Haruki more because he stands out as someone she is familiar with from outside the Academy than for any other reason. As he doesn't seem intent on disturbing anyone, she continues her slow playing, but glances over every so often.

Haruki finishes his meditation, then approaches Otomo-sama while avoiding going into any private area. "Taking this time to put the finishing touches on your gift to Toshimoko-sama, I see."

She sat up and lifted her brows at him curiously, "How did you know it was for Kakita-Dono and not merely for myself?"

"I was going to take my craft as seriously as I could when I made my gift for him and I figured you were doing the same. It may not be worth any points in the tournament, but it is still a chance for every clan to show the skill of their contestants in yet another subject. Was I mistaken?"

"Not this time," she said, her eyes going back to the strings, "But it is not the only craft I hold skill in, nor is it the one I have put the most work into. And I do... sometimes... play for myself."

She plucked a few notes, frowning and stretching her hands before trying them again, "I am not worried about showing skill at the art of presenting a gift. I simply wish to ensure I play the song as it should be played. Kakita-dono's troubles have been many this tournament and I hope to alleviate some of those worries for a brief moment in time."

"What is your gift to him?"

"I made a gift pound cake. I figured that since I will soon be considered an adult, I could start using sake in my cooking to really add flavors I couldn't before. Umami is such a hard flavor to add to desserts if you don't use alcohol."

"Food is a difficult gift to provide," she complimented him. "To be able to do so shows much skill. But then, your feast when we left Hirosaka was very memorable. So I am not surprised you capable of making something to be eaten at a later time that will be as good as if it were eaten freshly cooled. Were I your lord, I would give you a position in the court so that any who come could not help but be impressed every night by the meals served."

"Well, that depends on how well I do here. My sensei hopes that I could finally break through the stigma towards those of my dojo. The Eternal Phoenix school of thought teaches the importance of doing all of your thinking outside of the battlefield, but to outsiders, this means that our bushi are relegated to advisory roles rather than leadership. If I show a great aptitude for it, I will likely be either put on the frontlines or as a magistrate."

"Considering Shiba-no-Kami's role as a scholar, I am hardly surprised that such traits are valued so highly, even among the bushi. But I wish you well in gaining an assignment that will prove your school to be more flexible to those who have been set in their ways."

"Thank you, I hope that I will still be able to continue cooking and improving my art. It's just strange thinking that half of the people who recognize me think of that first " (ooc, got 1.5 glory from quality raises alone)

"it is strange, isn't it? That we cannot so easily control what we are remembered for..." her hands stilled and she seemed lost in thought for a bit before continuing, "I hope only that I will be remembered as a good wife to my spouse. For one such as I, there is no greater achievement."

"Such a humble opinion, but I hear that the best sensei make breakthroughs during long periods of simple duties. Is there any facet of life that you are contemplating on a deeper level Otomo-Sama?"

"I am no sensei," she replied. "But as for contemplation, I have had more recent thoughts on how we are connected to the universe and how it is connected to us... our karma... our actions... the ripples that spin outward from us and to us from others. My successes in the tournament have left me contemplative about how I have been effected by the world and what it has allowed me to achieve. Yourself? Anything you have been contemplating lately?

"Yes, your tasks tend to be more straightforward the further away you are from society, and few are further than a Kaito living near Sanpuku Seido. Spending so much time in cultural centers, first in Otosan Uchi, in winter no less, then here in Tsuma, and if I do well enough tomorrow, maybe even on my way to the Emerald Champion's castle to report for my first duty as a full fledged samurai has taught me that life is far less like a well made batter. There's a lot of missed nuances in them, like too much moisture in a sugar or going too far in your zesting and hitting the inedible white bit of an orange."

"As I have never cooked, I will take your word for it," she smiled at him, then gestured for a passing servant to come over and requested tea for the two of them. "The most remote place I have ever been has been the Isles of Silk and Spice, in the uninhabited harbors Kokyou-san steered us to during a trip this past summer. It was very peaceful and serene at times. Though I did miss the bustle of people being about. I have lived all my life in the centers of culture. Though, I would not go so far as to say life behind the walls of the Forbidden City is not peaceful, of course. It simply peaceful in a different way that than the areas of nature that have not been touched by human hands."

"I guess the old saying of 'fish out of water' applies to this. Maybe we just need some pointers to navigate both ways of life better."

"I'm sure it will come to us eventually, if we have to be in places we are less used to. We adapt and we continue on, as is our duty and our way. However, should we be in a place one is more familiar with than the other, asking for guidance is not something to be ashamed of, if done properly. Is there something about the cities you'd like to have insight on?"

"I am sure it would come naturally over time, but how does one keep so many objectives in mind at one time. So many actors and they all have vastly different goals."