A Nice Night to Horse Watch (Day 2, LE)

[Asako Yuki]

She paused for a moment. "I've heard around camp that you committed some heroic deed, but I've not yet heard the details, Shinjo-san. Would you care to recite the tale for me?" She looked up at the Shinjo, curious as to how he would portray his great deed.

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil took a breath, but nodded. "I hear that Shinjo Hanashi's telling of it is rather exceptional, but I can at least give you my version."

"During the ride, we fought in many battles. During one of them," a breath, then he continued, "I had noticed an enemy preparing a dishonorable assault on the Otaku daimyo. I called out to earn, but she could not hear, and so I charged forward. I have never been the fastest with my blade, so once Setem brought me there, I did the best thing I could think of: I got in the way."

He touched his right shoulder. "The wound... Never healed properly. And likely never will. So the Iuchi have recommended me stay out of active combat."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded. "That was a very brave thing to do, Shinjo-san. The Phoenix, more than many other clans, value self-sacrifice. It is, in many ways, a founding principle of pacifism."

[Shinjo Akil]

"In my position, would not any samurai have done the same?" He canted his head, "Honor demands self sacrifice when it is necessary. I have to believe that if any other Samurai happened to see what was coming after Utaku-dono, they'd have done the same."

[Asako Yuki]

"Any samurai worth the name would try to do something." Yuki agreed. "But, I think, many would have tried to slay the beast before defending their lord."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I know what I am good at," he chuckled, "perhaps oddly for a Bushi, fighting is not one I excel at."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki tilted her head to one side. "Oh? Then what is it that Shinjo-san excels at instead?" She found the notion curious. Certainly she was familiar with bushi that had hobbies that they did quite well, but those were hobbies, side tasks to keep one's mind sharp.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Well, ride my horse is the obvious first answer," he nodded, "but I would rate my skills as a flutist higher than any competence with a blade."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki tilted her head to the other side now. "A flutist? So Shinjo-san would say he has more of an Artisan's soul?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"I suppose that would be fair," he nodded in agreement.

[Asako Yuki]

"Do the Unicorn not have formal training for such endeavors? I mean, I suppose that constantly on the move that you are it would make it more difficult." Yuki frowned slightly in thought.

[Shinjo Akil]

"The Ide have some traditions, but certainly no dedicated school like the Crane have." He considered, remembering his conversation with Fukawa from earlier in the day.

[Asako Yuki]

"The Kakita are, perhaps, the most well known Artisan school, but several other clans maintain artisan schools as well." Yuki explained. "The Shiba, of the Phoenix Clan," she clarified, "Have a school dedicated to teaching the arts." She paused. "The Scorpion, I believe, have a school as well. Though it focuses most of it's attention on acting."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I find that somewhat fascinating," he admitted, "to have the time and resources to dedicate generations of students just to artistic endeavors."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki smiled warmly. "Maybe now that your clan has come home, you will have the time to form your own Artisan school. I think that would be rather fun, neh?"