The New Winds

Sakura had done some cleaning. She wasn't an entirely bad girl, she just had something else on her mind. Something bigger, grander than anything else...

A project!

Sakura took a chance after doing some cleaning to slip out, and go looking for the most likely sensei who could help her, asking different people along the way.

In one of the hallways, Sakura finds a shadowed woman with a mask walking slowly.

"Ah, you must be one of the children."

Shosuro Tomoe gives a bow and asks, her expression unreadable from the mask, but the tone very amused:

"Shouldn't you be in the Dojo preparing it for the day? Or do the Crane have their servants do that for them?"

Mask means Scorpion. Scorpion means...well performing arts are arts I guess!

Sakura bowed deeply.

"Good morning! Not at all, I was just finished with my part, and I thought as I had some time I could find a sensei about something important. Art! I am Doji Sakura. Ano...I was wondering, as it's an important part of my studies, is there a forge nearby with supplies?"

"Why certainly my child, how else could this garrison repair the equipment its loyal defenders use?"

She gives a very small bow, more just tilting her head down.

"We are allowed to grant you supplies, what is it you seek?"

"Hai, well I had some ideas but getting the resource would be tric-."

Pause.

Blink blink.

"You...can grant us supplies? Really?" Sakuras pretty blue eyes lit up

The woman's voice has a hint of amusement in it.

"Well of course, how else would you be able to make the things we are to test you on? Now, what do you require?"

"well I could just make something simple, but that's not really testing. There's some amazing gems to work with, Sapphires and rubies and other really cool things. Imagine a whole no-dachi made and lined with Sapphires? It would look amazing!"

Sakura took a calming breath.

"Sorry. I got excited. A-ano...maybe I should start smaller while being more challenging. Can I made something with Jade? A tanto perhaps?"

The woman cocks her head and places a finger along her masks edge, making a humming sound in thought.

After a few moments, she taps the mask with her finger and nods once.

"If you are unable to produce this tanto, it would look quite poorly on the Crane. Are you absolutely certain you wish to tempt fate so?"

Sakuras eyes grew hard, and she looked determined.

"I can do it sensei. I wouldn't say anything I couldn't do!"

The woman nods again in approval.

"Very well then. I will see that you have the required materials delivered to the forge then. You should find it there by the time you are finished with your morning duties."

"Thank you! I won't let you or my clan down!"

Sakura bowed deeply.

"Ano...where is the forge? It's my first day here and I don't know my way around."

"So eager and innocent."

The woman motions down the hallway and provides instructions.

"Mind you, should you skip out on what your duties are to the dojo to work your art, it may reflect poorly in some sensei's eyes."

"But this is important-" Sakura stopped herself. She had to be more careful!

"When would be appropriate to go to the forge senseI?"

"You will be told all of what we expect of you at this mornings lesson. The schedule we have for you will also be laid out. Make sure you listen well. "

"Hai! I shall! That's in...some hours time though, so I could finish my chores then go right?" There was a small bit of hope in the girls voice

The masked woman shrugs.

"I don't see why not, though you must also think of your appearance, child. What will the others think when such a pretty young Crane maiden runs off while they are still scrubbing floors?"

"Well, my mother says a Doji shouldn't clean floors...but I don't want to skip out on chores. I'll go back to do that, then go after" Sakura reasoned with herself, nodding "thank you sensei. I'm excited for this project!"

"And I am excited for you, child. You have quite the task ahead of you."

"Hai! But I won't fail!" Sakura bowed, then moved to return back to doing her chores, a skip in her step now.

The shadowed woman watches Sakura as she skips away, and then disappears into the hallway.