The New Winds

All this talk of the various fortunes and kami Haruki went through during morning training has brought his mind to think about his home, his family, and most importantly how he thought he would never learn what it means to wield a bow like a Kaito. Thankfully, he can at least try to learn the basics from one of his cousins. Now if only he could find her!

Having found free time on this first day, Kai acquiesced to the requested meeting.

"Hello, cousin." Kai said in greeting. "How'd the day go for you?"

Finally, Haruki found her! Giving a bow, he then greets his fellow Kaito. "I don't want to jinx it; but between me and Saburo-San, I think the Phoenix clan will have at least one student at the top of the class this year. All we need to do now is help everyone iron out their kinks and we'll graduate before we know it."

Kai blinked. Their face was one of a neutral expression; the shrine keepers were, after all, renowned for being somewhat aloof and detached - with hearts of ice, so it was said. Maybe Kai was practicing that during the hour of the Dog?

"It's good to be optimistic, cousin." They replied neutrally, picking up on the subtext in the wording. "Is there something I can help out with, then?"

With a soft sigh, "due to circumstances of my birth, I was sent to train as a Shiba bushi. With how far the travel is and the importance of my home to my training, I didn't have time to learn how to shoot a bow like our family does. I think it is important for me to learn our way first, could you teach me the basics at least?"

Kai blinked and canted their head slightly.

"Don't the Shiba have their own archery trainers?" They asked, curiously. "I mean, that is, every school has their own way of teaching - and I'm not even sure if my sensei would be okay with me teaching people things, so let's not even start with that."

"I don't want to show you how to do something and then you go back to your dojo and then they ask why you do a thing the way you do because it's not the way they do it." Kai explained.

"At least, that's what my sensei told me before I left home to come here."

"I guess you're right, I thought that only applied to the school's specialties and spell scrolls. I am sorry for asking, I guess I was just a little homesick. It is a shame I wasn't able to become a shrine keeper, but my calling is elsewhere. Could I at least ask for your help finding the bows? My school refused to let just anyone hold one. I think it's because there is no way to make it cheap and there's too many young children in my school."

Kai frowned.

"Learning to shoot a bow isn't a secret, cousin." Their brow furrowed as they thought about what they were being asked to do.

"Let me put it this way. If I did show you how to shoot like I was taught, I could show you where to place your feet, where to put your hands on the bow, how to draw the string, and even how to breathe properly."

Kai paused. "But the first lesson, the first real lesson anyway, is learning how to let go. The rest of our family's teachings come from that - that's the part I'm not really sure I can even properly teach. The rest of the stuff: standing, drawing, breathing? That we can do."

Their expression softening, Kai concluded. "So, I could show you how to use a bow. But I can't teach you to shoot like I was taught, do you get what I mean? Would that be enough for you?"

"That should be good enough, thank you. Is there anything you need help with in return?"

Kai shook their head. "We aren't merchants, cousin. You don't have to worry about anything in return."

"Why the sudden interest in archery, anyway?"

"My sensei back home said this was going to be the year I get to learn how to use a bow. That means that this program should definitely judge us according to this skill. I want to do whatever is needed to get as good a position as possible."

"Ah. I see." Kai murmured thoughtfully. "We should get started, then."

"Have you ever used a bow before?" Kai asked, heading over to where they had seen some practice yumi stored.

"A couple of times, but not enough to be considered proficient. I know how to string one and how to maintain them." Haruki follows, clearly a little out of his element.

"Well, that's certainly a start." Kai didn't judge, selecting a pair of practice bows. They handed one to Haruki and gestured towards the firing line.

"Alright, cousin. Just like this."

Kai moved off to where Haruki would be able to easily keep them in his field of view and assumed a ready stance.

"Feet apart, body like this, try it and then I'll come check you. Can't exactly see out the back of my head."

Haruki takes the footing advice Kai gave him, and proceeds to take his shot. He remembers the few shots he took back home well enough to get into a basic stance, but nothing too fancy. Good for rank and file students, but not award winning by any means.

D1 Dog Kyujutsu/Reflexes TN 6: 2d10k2 9

Kai followed the flight of the arrow into the target and gave a satisfied nod.

"Good. Don't draw back so far, though. The string will give your face a slap or tug at your ear in a way you'll never forget."

Sounded like someone knew what they were talking about there.

"Now do it again."

Haruki heeds her word and fires off 3 more times, not putting as much force into the draw.

D1 Dog Kyujutsu/Reflexes TN 6, 3 times: 3#2d10k2 11 4 15

It was almost bedtime and Dao was headed towards the barracks when he saw the two Phoenix undertaking a little late night training. He paused at the edge of the training area and just watched, not hiding his presence, but nor drawing attention to himself lest he accidentally interrupt the lesson.

"You seem a natural at this, cousin. Two out of three isn't bad. Keep at it, until the motion is as natural and thoughtless as breathing."

Kai paused. "At least, that's what my sensei says to me. I suppose I don't have it quite down yet."

Smirking a little at their own musing, Kai looked past her 'student' and noticed the Togashi.

"Oh. Hello there."

Dao offers a deep bow to the instructing student and her protege. "Ohayo Phoenix-sama. I was just passing by and thought about the kyujutsu instruction coming in a few days. I thought to observe and maybe pick up a few pointers"