The New Winds

After the Dojo is clean for the day, Prash steps outside, stretches, and sits down in the outdoor yard, placing himself comfortably in the Lotus position.

He keeps still for some time, focusing on the sounds and feelings around him, but keeps going back to his experiences during the day, so after some time he just stands up again and stretches again. Well, at least that helped relieve some of the day's stress!, he thinks, and a smile is quickly back to his face.

Anyway, he still had something he wanted to do. He was excited about many things in this stay at the Ruby Dojo, and one of them was to be get the chance to learn more about the Tao, the ways of Shinsei, or maybe meditation practices based on the Tao of Shinsei. He still hadn't had the chance to get to know all of the Dojo's sensei well.... but maybe one of the Dragon sensei might help him with that?

"If your body is so restless, you should exhaust yourself before you try to center."

A Kitsuki woman sits nearby, eyes closed, a slight smile on her face as she turns to the Iuchi

Prashant is startled for a short moment when he hears the woman's voice, but quickly turns his eyes towards where the sound came from. When he sees the Kitsuki sensei, he smiles as well, even as he kneels and presses his head to the ground for a moment.

"Kitsuki-sensei", he says, respectfully, before raising his head again and closing his own eyes. "Now that Kitsuki-sama mentions, even if tired, I feel unspent energy and tension from this most unique day. I wonder, how does one turn tiredness to exhaustion, and exhaustion to purposefulness, sensei?"

"You need to find rest for your body before you can ease your mind. Once one is calm, the other will follow with enough focus. But if the other is not calm, no matter how focused, its unease will always interrupt."

The boy took a moment to reflect on her words, eyes still closed, his body slowly shifting to a more relaxed position as he knelt. "Hai, Kitsuki-sensei", he said in a quiet, gentle tone. If one is calm, the other will follow. He let his mind focus on that thought for a moment.

If one is not calm, its unease will always interrupt.

He felt his body still tense in places, and tried to relax. He felt his mind still racing, and tried to turn his thoughts back to the present moment.

The feeling and smell of the grass under my legs. The sounds of some students around

He tried to find calm, and he thought he found some.

But did he?

Silence fills the air as the two sit together. The Kitsuki, her eyes still closed, barely breathing.

Prashant felt his shoulders and legs relax as the pleasant smell of the earth filled his lungs with each breath. The sound of the students in the background dimmed, he heard his own heartbeat align with his breathing, both slowing down a bit.

There was nothing but the air around them, the earth below them and the silence that bound it all together.

The sounds of the city, or the dojo, and of nature all blend into one harmonious chorus. The Kitsuki sensei continues to maintain a serene expression. Her breath slows to almost nothing, imperceptible to those around her.

Prashant's face was also more and more serene, although neither of them could see the other's expression with their eyes closed. The Iuchi could still hear the faint sound of his own breath and heartbeat among the gentle music of the world, although it all merged together as in a gentle song.

After some time, the Dragon opens her eyes slowly and observed Prashant, her eyes unblinking.

The boy keeps still, eyes closed, his own breath much slower than at the start. It doesn't look like he noticed the Kitsuki opening her eyes.

After some time, her stare breaks and she blinks and gets up, stretching silently, waiting for the Iuchi to finish their own meditation.

The Iuchi keeps quiet and silent for some more time, then slowly opens his eyes, letting them adjust along with his breathing, then gets up, stretches as well, and bows respectfully to the Kitsuki, a calm, but clearly grateful smile showing on his eyes and lips.

"Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Kitsuki-sensei", he says, still bowing.

She returns the bow with a shallow one of her own.

"Were you able to calm yourself and find a peace?"

"I... believe I did, sensei." He still felt as if he was more aware of the sounds and smells around him. "Yet I feel like I'm just getting started on my search", he says, his head still low.

"Remember what you felt, and try to bring yourself back there for the future. Eventually, you will be able to fall into that state much easier."

He nods, letting his mind go back to that feeling. "Hai, Sensei", he says, calmly but decisively. "I will do that. And if mind or body disturbs, I'll try to calm each down and try again."

He lowers his head a bit more again, still clearly smiling, his eyes closed again.

"Thank you again, sensei!"

She bows her head and turns to depart.

Prash stands silently for a moment, reflecting on that moment as the sensei goes. His mind and body felt incredibly lighter.

He would definitely try that again tomorrow.

(/Scene?)

Without a glance back, the Kitsuki disappears into one of the buildings.

/scene