Dark Edge Village

Takeo finally saw fit to visit the Shrine of the Emerald Champion. He had been lax in practice his stance since he had been at the miai, and he could see no better place to practice it than under Kakita's watchful presence.

He stood, a short distance from the torii, and dropped into a dueling stance, trying to find his center, a pair of bokken he had borrowed from the dojo nearby, should anyone wish to practice with him.

Mei sat a small distance away, having entered into meditation when the morning visitors had left. When Takeo approached the shine, Mei opened one eye and watched.

Seeing him drop into a dueling stance made her watch even closer.

The woman stood and walked slowly towards the Fox, waiting for him to finish his routine before introducing herself.

Takeo stood as his clan's namesake in a dueling tradition that was all their own, his feet sat slightly back from what a traditional duelist stance would be. When he moved, he sprang forward with both feet at the same time, like a bounding fox, moving his arm with no sword in it, mimicking the strike. Nearby a tiny fox kit emulated his owner, pouncing forward as the samurai did, before tumbling into the grass.

His strike was merely passable, but the center that he had found - a moment of clarity - that had been impressive.

(Focus: 50

Strike: 15

Mei watches for a moment more, but as she senses tje Fox is about to strike, she turns her back and walks to the practice boken.

As the wind whistles from Takeo's blade, Mei picks both the wooden swords up and turns to face him.

"Good afternoon, Kitsune-sama. I am Miya Mei. Had I known you were showing your stsnce, I would not have watched so closely. A duelist should only see anothers stance when invited, or when opponents. Please forgive my intrusion"

She bows low.

"Should we rectify my rudeness with a proper bout?"

"There is nothing to apologize for, Miya-san," he said, letting the world return to him, "I have no secrets to hold."

He returned her bow.

"Even as that is, it would be poor form for me to turn away your offer. I have grown rusty in my time at the miai and would appreciate the opportunity to test myself against a student of," he eyed the woman's mon briefly, "of the very namesake of the shrine we stand before. I hope that you, and I, do not find myself lacking."

He finished with a smile.

"I am certain your sensei has trained you well, Kitsune-sama. Though daily practice is important. One should always find the time to practice, my late sensei used to say."

She hands Takeo the wooden sword and takes a few steps back and then bows again.

"Shall we?"

Taking the bokken in hand, he stepped back and bowed, "I would be honored, Miya-sama."

Falling into his own dueling stance again, legs spaced apart, the bokken held tucked under his left arm, perpendicular to the ground, he sized up his opponent, looking for the telltale marks of the Kakita form that any would-be duelist had to study.

(Assessment: 44

I'll ask for Iaijutsu!)

Mei nods and tucks the wooden sword into her obi, resting her hand on its grip, palm up. She watches Takeo for a moment before closing her eyes.

----Rolls----
[D5 EA] Assessment, TN 15: 5d10o10k3 23

Takeo searched for the center he needed to defeat the Miya. He had seen her stance and he knew its strengths.


(Focus: 53)

Mei breathed slowly out, the sounds of the world around her filling her ears.

Her heart beat slowed and her body relaxed. Time seemed to stop. She opened her eyes and saw the strike Takeo would bring before he even moved a muscle.

She takes a breath in and bursts into motion, fast as lightning.

Her upturned palm rotating and drawing the wooden sword with expert precision. She exhales again as she strikes, the wooden sword thumping the hip of the Fox.

----Rolls----
[D5 EA] Focus: 7d10ro1o10k5+4 88

[D5 EA] Strike, 6 free raises, 3 called raises, corrected for 4 reflexes: 8d10o10k6+4 64

[D5 EA] Damage (0k2 boken, +9k0 from.3 called and 6 free raises, corrected.for max 10 rule): 10d10o10l2 4

TN to be hit: 25

Delt 4 damage

Takeo frowned as the bokken thudded into his hip, his own arm just beginning to move forward as he felt the sensation. He halted his moment and turned, bowing to his opponent.

The frown was still apparent on his face.

"Well-struck Miya-san. There as a moment where I thought-" he trailed off, waving his hand in the air, "No matter. I thought I had it and yet I should have known better. Your skill is as that of your dojo's - prodigious."

"Thank you Kitsune-sama, thouhh some might have been the heavens smiling on one they trained
Perhaps a location not dedicated to the founder of my school would be better, next time. After all, we must always train."

She sets the wooden sword down gracefully and bows low.

"If I cannot win a duel at any given place or time, then I am ill-suited to defending my honor or the honor of my clan," he countered, "Thankfully this was a bout between new friends and not one where I was called to stand for either."

She simply nods.

"Well spoken. So, how have you found the village these past few days? Was it everything you expected to reconnect with your departed kin?"

"They are different to be sure, but alike in many ways. Not unlike how the Lion differ from the Crab in some ways. Yet more alike than not," he said, "I am confident that we shall be allies moving forward, something that should serve both clans well I expect."