(Day 9 LA) Practice for the Birds

[Asako Yuki]

"Miya-sama." Yuki bowed. "I am Asako Yuki." She introduced herself, then looked back at the contraption. "I don't think I've ever seen something like that before." She said, indicating the buckets and water.

[Miya Mei]

"Miya Mei."

Mei turns so she can face both the Scorpion and the Phoenix and then motions to the contraption.

"It is something to help train an Iaijutsu practitioners speed and precision. As the water drops fall from the bucket on top, you must draw, catching the drop on the flat of your blade. Then your follow through should be precise enough to only take the tip off the grass."

She gives a nod to Bantu

"Soshi-san just gave it a try and was quite successful"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded at this, suitably impressed. "What school taught you that, Miya-sama? The Kakita?" It was the reasonable assumption in Yuki's mind.

[Miya Mei]

"The Kakita gave me the idea, yes. I trained with them my entire life. Are you a practitioner as well?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded. "Hai, I've trained in the art of Iai." She said with a smile.

[Miya Mei]

"Well, this is certainly a rare opportunity. Three practitioners from three different schools in one dojo together. What do you think if we all practiced a bit together?"

Mei motions to the shinai that sat in a corner.

"It seems there is plenty of practice equipment."

[Soshi Bantu]

"And two of us with a mutual hobby." Bantu adds with a grin and a gesture at Yuki's pipe.

"I am Soshi Bantu, and if Asako-san has no objection, I would be willing to join this informative demonstration of similarities and differences."

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki glanced at the pipe and smiled, though she doubted the hobby was quite exactly the same.

"Hai, Miya-sama. That sounds like an excellent idea. What did you have in mind? Practice bouts?"

[Miya Mei]

Mei nods.

"Each of us could have a bout with each other and then at the end compare what we saw in our stances."

She walks over and picks up a shinai.

"Who would like to go first? I do not mind starting, since it was my idea."

[Soshi Bantu]

"Perhaps the reputation of Miya-san's school should provide her some small advantage here." Bantu mused out loud before turning to the Asako.

"Asako Yuki-san, would you do me the honour of showing me your stance, that we may hopefully find a challenger worthy of the privilege of facing Miya Mei-san?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki nodded at the idea and picked two shinai up off the wall, tossing one to Bantu. "I accept, Soshi-sama."

She stepped to the side and slid into a traditional Shiba stance, her eyes closed at first as she focused on her internals before slowly opening them to examine her opponent. Yuki's usually cheerful nature seemed to disappear as she focused on the duel.

Initiative: 11
Assessment: 22

[Soshi Bantu]

Bantu nearly dropped the weapon he was tossed and realized that perhaps this wasn't going to be his finest hour.

Not only did he fail to discern any insights from Yuki's own stance, he was certain that his poor form had given her more than a small advantage in the clash about to come.

Initiative = 17
Assessment = 12

[Miya Mei]

Mei sits down in the seiza position and watches both.

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki leaned forward slightly, her focus almost unbreakable as she watched Bantu with careful eyes.

Focus: 42

[Soshi Bantu]

Bantu's skill was not so observable, he had peaked too early today and was unable to reach the heights of his earlier efforts.

Focus = 22

He knew Yuki had him beaten and tensed himself for the upcoming rap of her weapon against his flesh.