[Day 2 Early Morning] Eye of the Lion

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Lion made his way to the dueling field, intent in performing his daily training. He had opted to eschew his everyday garments in favor of utilitarian clothes to better suit his practice.

He stopped when he reached his preferred spot, a calm place in the fringes of the dueling field. He took a deep breath upon arriving, taking in the fresh morning air; the day promised to be warm, unbearably so, but at least the morning was still cool and fresh.

He took off the top part of his clothes, revealing his naked torso. A collection of scars covered the Lion's physique; slashes, stabs and a few that seemed to fit more the body of a Crab than that of a Matsu patterned his front and back, each one a milestone in a short but brutal life. He trailed his finger across some, his mood darkening as he remembered, as the cruel and gruesome memories rushed once more.

He took another deep breathe, shaking his head and body, dismissing those unwelcome memories and emptying his mind. Once he was prepared he started practicing bare handed kata, slashing away at an imaginary foe.

[Asako Yuki]

The Lion was not alone for long. A young Asako maiden arrived, still dressed in most of her own clothing. Upon spotting the topless Lion, she paused for a moment, uncertain if she should interrupt. Finally, she decided to go for it, after all, wouldn't do to surprise him when he's training.

"Samurai-sama." She said, not seeing any sort of mons to go by.

[Matsu Nintoku]

The warrior was deep into his exercises, his movements were fluid though his blocking and dodging seemed to be more sluggish. He seemed to be commited to defeating whatever imaginary opponent he had created, executing his kata with the same deadly intent as expected from a real fight.

The defeat of the opponent did not happen, though, as the Asako's voice brought him out from his trance. He set his eyes on the fair woman and thanking that his cheeks were already flustered from the exercise, he quickly grabbed his top and donned it.

"Asako-san." he replied quickly regaining his composure.

[Asako Yuki]

She bowed as the man put his top layers back on. "I am Asako Yuki." She smiled slightly. "I'm not sure the dueling rings are used to jujitsu training."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Perhaps." he shrugged lightly at her comment "But for now at least its outskirts are." he motioned around them "The fresh air is soothing and helps me concentrate."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded at that. "I hear that unarmed combat is rather popular among the Unicorn. They used to use it to settle disputes." She explained. "That will probably come in handy for you here, neh?"

[Matsu Nintoku]

"I have heard about it and I would be lying if I said it didn't weight in on my recent training." he admitted suddenly forgetting he hadn't introduced himself "By the way, I'm Matsu Nintoku."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki smiled as the Matsu introduced himself. "I decided to work out some of their language myself, so far it's worked fairly well." She paused. "This is my first time this far West. You?"

[Matsu Nintoku]

He shook his head "Can't say I have. Even before the return of the Unicorn this area was very peaceful."

"Their language?" he raised an eyebrow unsure of what she meant.

[Ichiro Daisuke]

Daisuke stifled a yawn from his perch on the top most portion of the eastern stands. He didn't exactly know why, but after waking he had felt the desire to be somewhere high, and after a fruitless search for a tree of any real size he had settled at last on the stands outside the dueling field.

It really wasn't high enough but it would have to do, and it was luckily at least tall enough to have a good view of the surroundings. Rummaging around in the sleeves of his kimono he pulled out a piece of wood and a small knife, moments later he was at work, carving away at the piece of wood as the sun warmed his back.

If he had noticed the presence of the other samurai, he didn't show any sign of it.

[Asako Yuki]

He shook his head "Can't say I have. Even before the return of the Unicorn this area was very peaceful."

"Their language?" he raised an eyebrow unsure of what she meant.

"Hai, the language of the Burning Sands, it is called mekhem in their tongue, after a holy man."

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Lion stared blankly at the Asako. "I'd guess that that language is one of the ones they caught during the execution of their duty" he commented "but to call it their language? I'd reckon their language is rokugani."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki ahrugged some. "It seems common enough among them to call it theirs, as well as Rokugani, of course." She explained, deciding to not mention the Unicorn she had met yesterday that was more familiar with Mekhem.

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Well its not too unexpected." he admitted "They were away for too long. They would have probably only used rokugani between themselves whilst using Me.." he clears his throat "that language to communicate."

"So what did Asako-san learn about their language?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki tilted her head to the side slightly at the Lion's either inability or unwillingness to say the word, then pressed on.

"It is quite different from Rokugani. Which I guess is to be expected. I learned a little culture too, which I guess is inevitable as you learn a language." She nodded to herself at that. "But I'm still learning, and after this miai will likely have many more chances to refine my knowledge of the language."