(Day 2, EA) Mandatory Event: Sumai

[Bayushi Kaidan]

"I will see you around." The Bayushi took another step back. The Kaiu will note that there is no tail nor anything special on his shadow. He continued moving blending into the crowd.


//D2 EA fluff Stealth to blend into the crowd: 10d10o10k5 24

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He nods and lets him be. It was just a credible Scorpion then, but one who knew Lions well.

[Otomo Nobuko]

Ichiro nodded "Not skillful enough it would seem." His voice was frustrated but he took a deep breath and gave Nobuko a smile "but thank you Nobu-chan."

"You and Kokyou-san were evenly matched. There is no doubt of your skill," she reassured him. In her eyes, to be so obviously evenly matched was just as good as having won. It could easily have gone either way when they were at such a level as each other.

[Asako Saburo]

- snip -

"I am told that the Ikoma are gifted in the art of allowing others to see what they expect to see," Saburo said in a low tone. It was not a recrimination, or an implication that they were overtly deceptive. "Cunning has its place on the battlefield, in appropriate measure. I will keep that in mind." In other words, there was steel under that smile's silk too.

[Kokyou]

Ichiro nodded "Not skillful enough it would seem." His voice was frustrated but he took a deep breath and gave Nobuko a smile "but thank you Nobu-chan."

"You and Kokyou-san were evenly matched. There is no doubt of your skill," she reassured him. In her eyes, to be so obviously evenly matched was just as good as having won. It could easily have gone either way when they were at such a level as each other.

Kokyou overhears the Imperial and, as he leaves, he once more bows to Ichiro deeply. He doesn't say more than that. Just a sincere smile and a nod to Nobuko.

/Exit

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"I am told that the Ikoma are gifted in the art of allowing others to see what they expect to see," Saburo said in a low tone. It was not a recrimination, or an implication that they were overtly deceptive. "Cunning has its place on the battlefield, in appropriate measure. I will keep that in mind." In other words, there was steel under that smile's silk too.

Sasaiko nods and glances over at the Lion contingent.

"They have long memories, as well. I think they will not be happy to see me in future rounds. And I will hope that will not accrue to you, too."

A slight smile.

"It'd be a poor dowry for me to bring, eh?"

[Asako Saburo]

Sasaiko nods and glances over at the Lion contingent.

"They have long memories, as well. I think they will not be happy to see me in future rounds. And I will hope that will not accrue to you, too."

A slight smile.

"It'd be a poor dowry for me to bring, eh?"

he chuckled softly, shaking his head. "A Lion that is not competitive is a strange Lion," he said, smirking at her. "If I were to meet Kakita-sama, I'm quite certain that she would want a chance to ... thank me for my earlier victory properly." There was a visible wince at the mere thought. What that woman lacked in Sumai skill? She probably made up for in spades with a bokken. He could practically feel his bones creak at the thought of the blows.

"But they are good, honorable men. The Lion would send no less. I believe you should have nothing to worry about." His on was immaculate, but she did catch him glancing in their direction. That last statement was made for the crowds, not for her. Lion had long memories, and little regard for the minor clans, and they both knew it.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

he chuckled softly, shaking his head. "A Lion that is not competitive is a strange Lion," he said, smirking at her. "If I were to meet Kakita-sama, I'm quite certain that she would want a chance to ... thank me for my earlier victory properly." There was a visible wince at the mere thought. What that woman lacked in Sumai skill? She probably made up for in spades with a bokken. He could practically feel his bones creak at the thought of the blows.

"But they are good, honorable men. The Lion would send no less. I believe you should have nothing to worry about." His on was immaculate, but she did catch him glancing in their direction. That last statement was made for the crowds, not for her. Lion had long memories, and little regard for the minor clans, and they both knew it.

She nods.

"The honor of the Lion is known. So is their skill. They will be fierce competitors if and when I face them again."

She breathes heavily.

"I believe the matches are wrapping up, however."

[Asako Saburo]

"Yes, I believe they are. I need..." A breath, a long, slow breath. "I really need a bath to feel clean before the heraldry test. I still am not one for heavy exertion. I will see you again soon. Well done, Toritaka-san." And he would give her a bow. And, unless she was following after, he would see her again at the heraldry competitions.

/exuent

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

She has her own preparations to make, of course, and joining him in either of theirs would yet be unseemly.

Soon enough, though.

[Kakita Kazuko]

Zashi shrugs. "There was a rumor that she really missed Kenji. I wanted to see what she thought about it." Zashi seems to think. "What's a Sparrow Housewife? Is that Crane slang for something?" Zashi does his best to seem completely confused

"Tch. She just likes to spout nonsense. Don't mind anything she says."

[Moto Ichiro]

"You and Kokyou-san were evenly matched. There is no doubt of your skill," she reassured him. In her eyes, to be so obviously evenly matched was just as good as having won. It could easily have gone either way when they were at such a level as each other.

"Perhaps." he says before shaking his head and smiling "But you though, you were fantastic, I wasn't aware you had been training in the art of sumai as well. Quite the formidable little imperial."

Kokyou overhears the Imperial and, as he leaves, he once more bows to Ichiro deeply. He doesn't say more than that. Just a sincere smile and a nod to Nobuko.

Ichiro bows in return to the mantis boy his expression more serene than it had been after the match.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"Perhaps." he says before shaking his head and smiling "But you though, you were fantastic, I wasn't aware you had been training in the art of sumai as well. Quite the formidable little imperial."

She laughed, shaking her head, "I have not. Not really. I have kept up with the exercises Utaku-Sensei showed several of us, and practiced the basic Jiujutsu forms regularly, but I have not practiced sumai itself. In truth, I was quite surprised with myself when it was over."