Cara
Seated on the edge of the tatami mats of the duelist dojo, Doji Daiki sat in lotus pose, clearing his mind of distractions. His calloused, sandpaper hands were turned palm up and rested in neutral position on his knees. The rest of his appearance was in stark contract to his worn palms and pads of his fingers. The forge had not marred his fair face nor any other part of his skin. His kimono, an intentional choice of neutral stormy blue, was picked out to help hide any signs of soot that might have stowed away from the furnaces. His white hair was always tied back to avoid losing its pristine alabaster glow to the touch of coal dust. Still, as he pushed the world around him out of mind, the sound of ringing hammers still sounded at the edge of his mind. He wanted to be back at the anvil, but now it was time to train.

After another minute of earnest but largely fruitless meditation, he let out a puff of air and stood, determined to try again once he had taken some time to walk or perhaps stimulate his taste buds with the mellow bouquet of a cup of tea.

He strode from the dojo, remembering to turn and bow on his way out before stepping out onto the shaded walkway that led back to the embassy proper.
||
Kevin
"Hey. Hey you!" 

Chiyoko continued to talk to the fellow running the day's drills in the Crane Embassy's duelist dojo, turning over a letter that she had found on the ground as she was running errands. She intended to turn it over and leave, get back to her own embassy to get back to work. 

But as she tried to focus on speaking with the only Crane she cared to address, someone was calling at her. 

"You're the ronin Chiyoko, yes? The one that dueled Doji Sasuke two summers ago?" She finally looked back to see a while-haired fellow approaching, some young upstart, no doubt. "That man is my older brother, you know."

"I did not know he had a brother, Doji-sama," She said wearily, "Nor is it any concern of mine. I won, he lost. If that would be all..." 

"Well, you demoralized him so much that he didn't even bother to take part in the Topaz tournament," The Doji said, "And you're to blame. And you must've gotten lucky, since he's got over fifty guaranteed techniques-"

_"A thousands katas can be learned, but it takes only one to win._ A lesson from Niten, Doji-sama. Same I taught your brother." The young man glared at her, but Chiyoko's single eye that had the look of one that's actually taken a life was overpowering. The young man retreated, slightly shaken and grumbling under his breath. 

"I apologize for that young one," The instructor said. "He's a fiery one. Please, I wish to repay you for the good deed despite our Clan's differences. Give me a moment." 

Chiyoko didn't want to be doubly rude, so she relented. She was instructed to head to the embassy proper, and he would return post-haste. So, leaving the dojo after the upstart made a scene, Chiyoko adjusted the mon marking her as employed by the Mantis, and headed that way as well. 

||
Cara
It was not unheard of for raised voices to waft out of the dojo. After all, it was practically a cliche for a crane to have its feathers ruffled and call out insults or cry out for some petty justice. However, the solemn space of the dojo was typically treated with more respect. Moments after hearing a raised voice, someone brushed rather unceremoniously past Daiki and off toward the barracks. Rather than return the unkindness with challenges and insults, which likely was exactly what a haughty duelist storming from a dojo would be looking for, he snorted in silent amusement and resumed his pace along the walkway.

It was a pleasant enough day, with warm sunlight to bathe the grounds beyond the shade of the path. Gardens and fountains decorated every section of the embassy - nothing less for the wealthy and aesthetically inclined children of Doji. What was out of place was the samurai bearing a Mantis mon emerging from the dojo not long after Daiki's ill-tempered clansman.

**"Don't tell me you wandered into a Kakita dojo looking for trouble,"** He quipped, though the smile at the corners of his eyes was enough to indicate that his words carried no true blame or accusation with them. **"I hope that you have received proper apology, but if not, I will give it to you. We crane can have fragile egos, but we are taught to conduct ourselves with more decorum, even when wounded. Apologies on behalf of my clan and my dojo."** He offered a simple bow, holding it for a few long moments to denote the sincerity of the gesture before rising. **"I am Doji Daiki, a student of the Kakita duelists and artisans alike. I had just... Finished some exercise and was off to avail myself of some tea. Would you care to join me while the air clears after that little display?"**
||
Kevin
"It's starting to seem that way." Chiyoko turned around to face this possible combatant, her patience running thin. But, as the man spoke, she found herself deflating a bit, and going more at ease. "Right... No apologies are necessary. I bested the man's brother, and he took it as an insult. I can't fault him for being angry." 

She bowed in return as Dojo Daiki introduced himself. "Chiyoko, serving the Mantis," She explained. I was just here to turn in a lost letter, simple as that. I would not come here otherwise, if I am honest. I find Kakita Duelists... Well, I do not get along with them often." She left it at that; being no diplomat, it was better she just keep her mouth shut. 

She wanted to refuse the offer, but she was already stuck waiting for something. "I am not in a position to refuse," She said, "And if it means I won't get stares from _that_ fellow-" She motioned with her head to the glaring young man in the dojo "-I would accept wholeheartedly. Lead the way, Doji-sama." 

||
Cara
Daiki gave a knowing nod. **"I am not unsympathetic,"** He said, carefully picking his words. **"The families of the crane are each eccentric in their own way. Each of those eccentricities will rub a different group the wrong way and will likewise be rubbed the wrong way by others."**

He reached out a kimono clad arm towards the tea house. **"I will take that as a yes to tea, however reluctant. Come, I will see to it that your drink is paid for by the young man's lord as an small account for his rudeness in the dojo."** He walked at a leisurely pace, not in any particular hurry to get back to his meditations. **"It is a shame that our most esteemed friend took his brother's defeat so personally."** The curve of his mouth twisted into a pinched, painful smile. **"Defeat is painful, but it is inevitable. Loss is meant to be a tool that drives us to greater heights, not greater insult. If he lost, it was a result of a skill gap, or perhaps his own karma. Either way, to rail against it is to show one's ignorance and petulance."**

Daiki parted the curtains of the tea house and stepped into the little shop, nodding his greeting to the attendant and requesting his favorite table by the window. Settling into seiza position, he indicated the cushion opposite him. **"I am quite interested in dueling as a practice. Would it be prying to ask to know more about the fated bout that brought on the feud between the young samurai's family and yourself?"**
||
Kevin
Chiyoko followed Daiki, and responded nonchalantly to his words on loss. "You speak wisdom. The issue with that particular person was that they never once considered losing was an option. I didn't know him well, but he seemed the kind that never challenged a challenge. Going undefeated when your opponents are novices is not a title worth sharing." Chiyoko barely remembered the fellow, other than the look on his face when she cut his cheek open. 

Entering the tea house, she was always impressed by the aesthetic of the Crane. Always immaculate and elegant. It _always_ made her feel dirtier than she was. Maybe a new kimono was in order... 

All the same, she sat, setting her daisho to her right, as was customary for peaceful meetings. "It was hardly a feud, since I have thought about that particular family but twice in my life: At the time of the duel, and today. But, if you insist...

"I was travelling through Crane Lands, heading to some villages near Toshi Ranbo. I heard word that there were villagers there needing assistance with bandits taking advantage at the time, and was hoping for easy money. While speaking with a merchant for a possible bodyguarding, I expressed that I was adept in Niten. Thus enters Doji whatever-his-name-was-sama. He called Niten inferior. I said something of the mind of spending 'so much time searching for the perfect cut that you've forgotten to learn some manners.' Probably ruder than that. 

"And thus, we dueled. First blood, winner gains nothing but honor and the loser must admit the other's style superior." Chiyoko shrugged her shoulders. "The bout itself didn't last long. Like most Kakita-style duelists, he came at me fast and gracefully. That is easily countered, if you know how to do so." 

||
Cara
Heaving a heavy sigh, Daiki hung his head and shook it slowly. **"That is the height of ignorance and arrogance,"** He said, a bite of bitter disappointment in his tone. **"Even Kakita himself gave great deference to Niten. He knew that although he would kill Mirumoto if they drew steel against one another, he too would lose his life. And history proved him correct. To dismiss an opponent that your own O-sensei revered is foolishness beyond foolishness."**

A cup of steaming green tea was set before him. His fingers had seen more punishment at the hands of the forges than they ever had by a cup of tea, so the usual method of knowing when the drink was yet cool enough was of no use to him. Instead, he watched and waited patiently to see if Chiyoko would feel her cup before hurrying to burn his tongue.

**"I am very curious about Niten,"** He went on. **"The base concept seems simple enough that any child could come up with it. But then again, so too does Kakita's way. 'More swords is better than fewer swords' versus 'if you kill them first, they can't kill you,' yes?"** It was a cheeky comment, but not one meant to be taken seriously. **"I think it becomes very easy for insular thinkers to get bogged down in their own technique that they forget that other students of other styles are training just as hard - if not harder - and that their techniques are not conjured up out of thin air."**

Leaning forward, Daiki took a moment to examine the mon on Chiyoko's clothing. **"You introduced yourself as one who serves the Mantis, not specifically of the Mantis yourself?"** The next question he approached gingerly, as it could be taken as judgment if not asked delicately. **"Are you ronin?"** He arched his eyebrows in mild curiosity. It was a subtle signal, which was not something he was always particularly skilled at giving, but he hoped with it she might feel that he was interested, but not bothered either way.
||
Kevin
"Indeed, there used to be respect about it, but it is what it is. If I gained a koku for every time someone called my style inferior, I'd be living in a castle by now." _'right on the edge of the plains,'_ she added in her mind. 

She accepted the tea, and took notice of the man's hands. He was not like most of the Crane she saw; his hands were calloused and worn. Someone that put time and effort into the sword, and maybe something else. She checked the heat, and found it cool enough to drink. "After you, Doji-sama," She offered; she knew her manners, after all. 

On the joke about Niten, Chiyoko huffed a bit. "Hardly," She said, "It is actually quite difficult. Two hands full means you have none to keep balance if needed. One has to train for many months to master starting stance, _Kamae."_ She took a sip of tea after Daiki did, and found it pleasing.

The question of her allegiance made her bristle a little, but she answered truthfully. "...Yes, I am a ronin, and I serve the Mantis at the present. But, I was trained and ascended from the Mirumoto Niten Dojo. Why I don't have a family name anymore is my own business." 

||
Cara
**"I hope you do not misunderstand my meaning,"** Daiki added, taking a careful sip of his tea to stimulate his tongue for interesting conversation. **"To say that the base concept is simple says nothing of the actual execution."** Taking a longer, more meaningful draw on his tea, he sighed and sat back just a little ways. **"A Haiku is very simple in concept. However, just because one can count to seventeen does not mean one can do justice to the art."**

As he turned her words over in his mind, he nodded to himself. **"Of course balance would be difficult,"** He agreed, continuing to think through her analysis. **"I can imagine that tracking so much information at once is also trying. I normally must mind my own sword and my enemy's. With another sword in my hand, I would have to keep track of the paths both must travel, watch for openings, and still be aware of incoming attacks. Very tricky."** He agreed, taking yet another sip. His stormy blue eyes were relaxed, but they never left the other samurai.

**"And your business is, of course, your business,"** He said, not challenging Chiyoko's privacy, at least not directly, adding, **"So long as that business does not put my kin in harm's way, that is. Then I think you shall find it is very much my business. But you do not seem the type."**
||
Kevin
"Hm. You speak the truth. Forgive me for being testy. No offense, but I'm no better than any Kakita when their style is spoken about flippantly- in this case, simply _perceived_ as such." Chiyoko was indeed guilty of getting riled up over such a thing, foolishly enough. And all for a family that she was exiled from. She did her best to relax, lest she end up offending Cranes on their home turf. 

"It is," Chiyoko confirmed, "At first. _Kamae_ fixes that. It means to find a natural stance with both blades drawn. No two Niten practioners stand similarly, as the _Kamae_ is one's natural standing position. One doesn't think about how to swing one's arms as they walk or run; make your swords but your own arm gait, and you gain natural prowess. But, it can't be taught, it has to be reached on the individual level." Memories of her long days and nights of walking about with heavy training blades came to mind. It took her most of a winter before she could say her _Kamae_ was complete. 

"You'll find no quarrel from me, I assure you. My employer has its hate of the Crane, but I care little. I protect my liege and do her bidding with no hard feelings nor vendetta." She let out a small chuckle, all the same. "But, I understand the warning, though it may just be a veiled attempt to test my skill." She sipped her tea, calmly coy. 

||
Cara
Lifting his cup to his lips, Daiki hid a smirk behind the rim. **"Like the Kakita, eh? Even as you parry, you strike. If you had not been schooled in Niten, you would have made quite an effective courtier."** It was a well-meaning jab, tit-for-tat.

*True or not, if you take swipes at the crane, expect to be cut in return.*

Sipping silently, he considered the ronin before him more carefully. She was an interesting specimen to be sure. Proud of her schooling, yet not proud enough of her heritage to speak on the matter. Critical of the crane for their tempers, yet quick to retaliate. Were these things the right and left blades of Niten, or was a tendency of her personality brought about by being targeted so often? And yet, she claimed to have no vendettas against the crane.

*It is as Shinsei says: Be careful who you set as your enemy, for you will begin to resemble them.*

**"It would be easy enough to make claims that you have not crossed blades with a proper practitioner of Kakita Iaijutsu, but I feel like that is the stance that a poor sport would take while blindly defending their philosophies."** He took another sip and turned words over in his head. **"It is a difficult thing to discuss without coming across as petty or judgmental. There is so much bad blood. Even our styles' progenitors, despite their mutual deference, were adversarial to the end. I believe Kakita referred to Niten as 'the coward's way,' and I am sure Mirumoto had similar words for him."**

With a nod, he accepted her claim that she bore no ill will. She did not seem to have been interested in drawing steel against the man who accosted her, and likewise she was being civil enough now despite the back and forth that was only too common between rival schools.

*A veiled attempt to test her skill? Of course not. We're simply bandying words over tea.*

Even as he thought it though, he was not sure he believed it.

||
Kevin
Chiyoko only offered a smile at the courtier joke. Perhaps, if she had the stomach for that sort of thing. No, a bushi life was hers, nothing else fitting to her liking nor her talents. 

This was... Fine. Nice, even. She liked a nice cup of tea, even if she'd slowly gotten more used to the non-traditional kinds both Unicorn and Mantis had on hand. But, sometimes a simple green was best. And the company was fine enough as well. 

"Hm. There's a joke like that. 'A Lion is sitting in a teahouse, when he hears of a supposed Lion bushi killing innocents in the night. He claims that no Lion would ever do such a thing. A week later, he returns to the shop, and hears that indeed, it was a Lion that committed the crimes. The Lion huffs, and claims no _true_ Lion would do such a thing instead.' In other words, if you claim it, and you've learned it, then you _are_ it. Besides, it'd be poor showing to discount their endeavors as well." 

Ever so slightly, her eyebrow twitched at calling Niten 'the coward's way,' but she kept her heart cool and did not allow it to blaze with pride. "Indeed. When I was still of the Mirumoto, we often expressed that the way of the Perfect Cut was as our progenitor called it, 'Tenacious, but single-minded.' For what it's worth, while I find thwarting the Kakita Iaijutsu something I can handle, it's not easy. Speed is uncanny, accuracy extreme. A Kakita duelist will not miss on his own volition. Thus, a Mirumoto must force it to miss, block it outright, or, my own preference, step out of the way." 

||
Cara
*When she was with the Mirumoto? So she was once a Dragon after all...*

It was difficult to say whether Chiyoko had intended to reveal that much about herself or not. One could assume that she had learned Niten in the Mirumoto dojos, but this confirmed it. She had been very guarded about her past just a moment ago. Was this a misstep? Or perhaps she was merely relaxed enough to share more about herself. A moment later, these words were put completely out of mind.

**"Step out of the way? That is a dangerous tactic,"** Daiki said, raising his eyebrows in return. **"To count on being able to move your entire body faster than a duelist can move just his arm and sword?"** Knitting his brows together, he took another drink. His cup was getting low, and he made eye contact with the attendant to summon her. Bustling over with a steaming pot, she topped him off before offering more to Chiyoko as well.

He had already said more than was probably polite. Still, a part of him was tempted to press the point, asking how such a strategy could have been successful not just once, but multiple times as her claims would suggest. **"I do not mean to insult you, Chiyoko-san. Forgive my skepticism. But to at the same time both admit how fast and precise the draw can be and then say your preferred method to beat it is to have your whole body move even faster as a reaction..."** He shook his head, trying to make sense of the idea. **"I understand the fallacious nature of the 'no-true-lion' statement, but either you move with the speed of the Kami, or your opponents must have been very poor studies indeed."**

||
Kevin
"All tactics are dangerous, as they're used in a moment of violence." Chiyoko wasn't upset at the skepticism, as who wouldn't be skeptic? "I can count on it, as my _Kamae_ is sound. My body moves as my swords do. Once you know where the opponent will go, it's just a matter of stepping."

But, as the Doji continued to show his skepticism, some prideful part of her took over, though not angrily. "You know, if you truly doubt me and think me dubious, I can always show you. On a friendly standing, that is. I'm not insulted, nor do I intend to duel out of grievance. But, I can show you what I mean. 'Put my money where my mouth is,' as the Mantis say." 

||
Cara
In spite of himself, Daiki found himself suppressing a grin. A duel should never be taken lightly. Any time one stepped onto the tatami mats, they should expect to lose their life. He was well aware of the dangers. Still, it was a challenge that intrigued him greatly. For a moment, his inner Doji considered playing coy before accepting, but even as he found himself finding the words to refuse, his head was nodding assent.

**"Hai,"** He said, taking one last sip of his tea for good measure and rising to his feet. **"I would be honored to accept, and I hope that we may both learn from the experience."** He had not intended this to sound like a further challenge. Dueling a skilled opponent was always educational. However, after some big talk from the ronin, such a wish might come across as doubt of her abilities. Still, she had been straightforward in her manner and had weathered the banter no worse for wear. Even if she assumed the worst, he did not expect her to take it personally.

**"Do you need any time to refresh yourself before the match or to finish your tea? I shall make the arrangements in the meantime if you like,"** He offered, giving a brief but polite bow. **"Of course, you are welcome to accompany me, but I did not want to force you to endure a bunch of cranes wasting words over such a tedious matter."**

||
Kevin
"We shall see," Chiyōko said, pleasant enough. "The honor is all mine, Doji-sama." She rose when he did, and gave a respectful bow. She had found herself seeking a duel, even if it was just for demonstration. How peculiar. Dueling didn't have a nice memory attached to it, almost all of her opponents being when she was off on the waves, other than the damned ronin that put her in that position. 

This time around it was purely pride that egged her on. She didn't need to do this, nor did she have to say anything. And yet, there she was. "I will need a moment to meditate," She requested, "But after that, I will be ready." She would leave out of the tea house soon after, but instead of heading straight to the dojo, she took to the small rock garden outside. 

There, she sat down, legs crossed and brought together. Her arms lay in her lap, and her eye closed. It was time to find her center before she dueled. 

||
Cara
As Chiyoko made her way out to the garden, Daiki made his way to the dojo. Bowing at the entrance, he made his way over to the instructor, who was currently giving terse instruction to a dozen fresh duelists. Daiki knelt is seiza, waiting patiently while the instructor finished his lesson and turned to address him. **"Daiki-san,"** He said, letting the hint of a smile return to his stern features. **"How can I help you, my boy?"**

Bowing deeply to his superior, Daiki paused until the gesture was returned. **"Sensei, might I request the use of one of our dueling rings?"** His eyes were calm and his posture neutral. The instructor made note of both things.

**"Surely you do not need to settle a feud, young Doji,"** He said, more as a question than an actual observation.

**"No, sensei,"** Daiki answered, dipping his head to acknowledge the implied observation. **"I have a matter of pure academic interest to settle with a Niten student."**

The instructor let out a brief but loud burst of laughter. **"Be careful, young crane, lest you fly too high! Do not neglect the warnings of Kakita himself."**

**"Yosh,"** Daiki replied, a smile spreading across his lips.

**"Yosh,"** Answered the instructor. That was all the answer he needed.

By the time that Chiyoko would find her way there, a few changes would have taken place. For one, a ring had been cleared near the center of the dojo, and in the center Daiki sat in lotus, deep in meditation himself. The other thing that had happened was that a small crowd of onlookers had gathered that Daiki was pointedly ignoring. Upon hearing Chiyoko's approach, Daiki would open his eyes and acknowledge her.

**"I apologize... This was not my intention,"** He said, his eyes flickering over to the sea of sky blue and white that hung at the edge of the arena. **"In true crane fashion, I handled things as discreetly as possible, so naturally the entire dojo knows and is eagerly awaiting your humiliation."**
||
Kevin
Chiyoko was in a moment of calm. 

Wind blew leaves in a tree, some bird warbled and landed close by to pick at the dirt and sand. Others walked past, some stopping to look, others hurrying along. She heard them all, but focused on none. As was the way she meditated, or attempted to. 

Her fiery temper often got the better of her, self doubt beating out stoicism oftentimes. But she was fine at the moment. A rare calm. Surely because she knew that she would be clashing soon enough. Even then, she was aware it was just a bout to train, no more or less. But even then, it could mean a lot of things. She wore the Mantis mon, after all; surely the Crane would take it as something to boast about, if she lost. _If_ she lost. 

But... Those were thoughts that were all depending on things she wasn't sure of yet. First things were first: She must get to the dojo. 

So, rising suddenly to her feet (and catching a servant off guard), Chiyoko moved with confidence to the dojo proper...

...To find a crowd. 

"Hm." Before she could comment, Doji Daiki apologized. She had some mild irritation on her lips, but she shook her head. "No worry of mine," She stated. "As you say, it's only natural. I am ready to begin when you are." 

The ronin moved to her side of the dueling ring, students giving her a wide berth and careful looks. She shrugged off her mantis robe, folding it carefully and placing it aside. Her arms were bare and showed plenty of scars and signs of battle, one especially large but faded one peeked out around the nape of her neck, the rest speculation under the rest of her sleeveless kimono. 

Being ambidextrous as she was, she had plenty of configurations to play at for this duel. Her optimal favorite was both katana and wakizashi on the same side. But, she was demonstrating a different kind of technique. Thus, as she set her daisho in a stand and was given her bokken version, she slid katana on her right, wakizashi on her left. 

Taking her spot, she would wait for Doji Daiki to step up as well. She would bow, to show respect, and move into her _Kamae._ She stood, rather simply, hands at her sides, but resting, hovering around the grips of the bokken. Her left foot was raised slightly, her right firmly planted. Shoulders relaxed, back tilted ever so slightly to the left, and one eye, gazing forward at Doji Daiki. 

She gazed at him, his blades, his feet; just as she was sure he was doing to her, she was looking past the moment, and looking beyond to all the avenues this duel could go.

||
Cara
**"Thank you for being gracious,"** Daiki said. With that, he turned for his own side of the ring and surrendered his own blade, exchanging it for the heavier practice version. Tucking the bokken into his obi, he turned to face the front of the dojo. There hung a portrait of Kakita - O-sensei. He bowed, lowering his head. Turning then to his opponent, he repeated the gesture, this time keeping his eyes up, not leaving her own single eye.

He prepared his stance, both feet grounded, opposite slopes of the mountain-like arches of his legs. If balance and speed was to be her approach, then he must be as a mountain stream, cradled in a strong, stone foundation, but swift and freely flowing, ready at a moment's notice to curve gently around a bend or pound down as a torrential waterfall. There were ways of attacking with the strength of his center so that one must either use extra movement to avoid the strike entirely or considerable force to deflect it - force that may compromise the careful balance of her Kamae. His arms became like the strong branches of a willow - able to bend, but unyielding to anything but the strongest gale. His hand paused an inch from the handle of his weapon.

*We shall test either your agility or your Kamae... Or both.*

The world around them slowly disappeared. Onlookers, walls, sights and sounds, each thing faded away into blackness. Only the combatants remained.

Daiki's eyes took in her posture, the arrangement of her swords, and the calm, balanced stance with which she carried herself. He assessed. He calculated.

He envisioned her opening based on her stance.

*I offer her the option to play black. I wait for her to place her first stone, and I receive her first strike. Let her break her stance on mine like a wave on a stony shore.*
||
Kevin
In the stillness before the draw, there was nothing but the two of them. A dragon, once upon a time, and a crane, both looking at one another looking for the moment to strike. All else mattered not, mere scenery that didn't mean a thing. Chiyoko took it all and set it aside, and envisioned the Crane... 

_The dragon gazed at the crane. A graceful creature, but not one to be underestimated. He was waiting. He knew enough about Niten to know it was strongest when on defense, and was waiting for the attack. Clever. The dragon was unperturbed. A strike was expected, so a strike would come. 

She would have to come down from her mountain, leaving the earth for the waters that the crane would reside in. She knew her strike would be fast, and most likely deflected. But that was just the first step in this assessment. _

||
Cara
*Mobility and adaptability. She really does intend to outmaneuver me. Very well. If that is how she strikes, her blade should roll off mine, but not hinder her movement since she's not committing too much of herself. It is the balanced and most correct approach to how I would receive. She appears to duel by the book. Very well...*

Daiki let the strike play out in his mind, his illusory self drawing his sword only enough to catch the cut on his handle.

*We save the drawing cut for the final moment. One cut handled... But she has two blades. Wherever she plans on me being for the second strike, I must be somewhere else...*

In his thoughts, his limbs became like feathers, taking on the wings and graceful strides of the being for which his clan had been named.

*Dance to the side of the first strike pushing through her sword, staying out of reach of the second. Position for the draw off the original line of her attack. Use her body against her. Either force her to answer with the first blade from mid-swing or turn her entire body to attack with the second.*

|| Receive in earth stance, shift to air.
Kevin
_The pathway to the crane made it clear that a rising blade would be the most likely attack. The katana had the reach, the cross draw had the power and windup, But, it was predictable. A dragon's claws thrashing out from right to left. The crane would see it coming._

_Indeed, with sudden force the crane would dart out and fly to the side to push blade out of the way and drive home his own attack. It was only logical, and worse, it would work, almost every time. It would take a sudden stop and a shift of position to counter that with anything but quicker speed._

_So, the dragon did what she claimed to do. She got out of the way._

_The crane needed to have the pathway to her katana, this was known, to deflect the blow and move in. But what if the katana arm simply dropped? What if she simply let the force that keeps us on the planet force her downward? The crane would still move in for the kill, but the dragon wouldn't be there anymore._

_She would be below and beside, her other claw reaching back to dig into the crane's side._ 

||
Cara
*A sudden change of position. No blade contact. Drop and draw so both claws threaten. The true ferocity of the dragon coming to bear.*

Taking flight was no longer an option for the crane. Could he deal with both blades at once in this position? Yes... But his margins were becoming narrower and narrower. No longer would the crane be taking flight from the mountain. Instead, the mountain would rumble and burst forth with ash and flame.

*Half-draw is insufficient. Fully draw to block the opening strike, and at the moment of her halt and her second draw, catch up both on my sword. A wide, circular swing with the blade, sweeping both blades down and away. Half step towards her and thrust with the point.*

It was not the controlled moment of victory he had hoped for, but it was one of few remaining paths that did not involve being pinched between the dragon's two claws.

|| Change the switch to air into a switch to fire. Make a full circular sweep to catch both bokkens and knock them away to create his last chance at an opening.
Kevin
_Momentum._

_Momentum was key. Disrupting it, cultivating it, starting it up at a moment's notice... That was key to Niten._

_Another tenet was the two sights: What one shows the opponent, and what one doesn't show. The dragon showed her claws, her winding power that could lash out whilst moving like water. The crane in turn was impressive as well, quickness turned to power when demanded. The crane was impressive in his momentum._

_The sweep caught the blades, threatening to shove away the blades with the grip the dragon held. That was what the crane could see, what the dragon showed._

_What the dragon __didn't__ show was that she had no dominant hand. She could switch them at ease, much like how the fierce dragon had no dominant claws. So, when the blades were batted away, the dragon went with them. A switch of claws in such a moment required precision, but was necessary. The force of the wide crane sweep gave the speed, fiery force pushing the waters back around. It was then that the dragon roared, and billowed her own fire, wrapping katana around body as she thrust herself back into the crane._

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Cara
*Water flowing, going where it is directed and redirecting freely. A froth-capped wave emerges from the roiling sea.*

There was no going back after committing so much to his defense. The proper response to fire was water. The dragon had chosen wisely, and there was no helping what came next. Jumping back as far as he could and straining desperately to bat away the quick rejoinder, Daiki could feel the dissonant twinge in his abdomen as wood pressed along his midsection, crossing him in a shallow cut. It was not much, but it was more than sufficient. He tried again and again to replay the scene, looking for another way out, but his skill out of the draw was not sufficient to end the dragon definitively, and he could not interrupt her dance.

The world took shape around them once more, and the hand hovering by the handle of Daiki's bokken slacked. He straightened up from his lowered stance, dipping his head low before his opponent, this time lowering his eyes to the mat.

**"I bow to superior skill,"** He said with a note of finality.

There came a collected groan from the bystanders, though out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a nod of approval from the instructor. **"Your spirit is potent. Perhaps another day I will be equal to it."** Something in his chest felt unsatisfied.

*This is the honorable way. To balk in the face of such an outcome would be petty and shameful. And yet... Is this my warrior's pride? Perhaps... Although...*

**"I am afraid, however, that I cannot let you off the hook so quickly. You are the superior duelist, and I will admit this freely to any who ask. But... Does that answer the question we sought to answer today?"** It was a double edged sword that he handed her now. A victory, but within it, another challenge. The onlookers, who had continued to grumble as they dispersed, paused near the entrance to the dojo. **"You are the better duelist. But are you fast enough to dodge my draw?"**

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Kevin
Just as Chiyōko was ready to take her step, Doji Daiki submitted. 

It was quite the relief, as the tension in her body was strong and ready to burst in a flurry, her entire strategy primed to go. In a way, it was disappointing, not being able to follow through. But in and of itself, she had the inkling that Doji Daiki understood her a bit better, and she found him an honorable opponent, better than most she faced. 

Even as people groaned and made their disappointment known, Chiyōko was bowing to Daiki. "Well met, and well fought. While out swords never clashed, I could see that your skill in your gaze." There. Proper bow, proper thanks given, and a proper duel concluded. Not a bad experience, all things considered. 

That is, until Doji Daiki made his challenge. 

She stopped in her tracks, ready to leave, and looked over her shoulder at the Crane. "Truly?" Chiyōko turned around proper, and picked up the bokken once again. "I believe so, yes." She took her spot back at the ring once more, and entered her _Kamae_ yet again. "Try me, Doji-sama." 

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Cara
One by one, the spectators were trickling back to their positions. They seemed just as caught off guard as Chiyoko had been, if not more so. However, that was not the only twist. When she turned around, Daiki was no longer in the center of the mat where he had once been. He stood at the edge, bowing and relinquishing his bokken to reclaim his daisho.

**"You are under no obligation to continue,"** He said, sliding the familiar polished saya into his obi. **"This does up the stakes a little. However, I believe that you are skilled enough to avoid injury one way or the other, and this is the only real way to test."** From deep within their stormy blue wells of his eyes, his resignation to his loss was complete. However, here he stood. Perhaps his curiosity was getting the better of him. **" I think we both know how slow a heavy bokken is compared to a light and lively katana. That is why we train with bokken. They overtax our hands and wrists so that they harden like steel to better wield a blade."**

Resting a hand under the guard of his sword, he stood facing Chiiyoko. His stance was different. With his true sword in his hand, he almost stood like a different person. **"With the added weight, avoiding the attack would not be a challenge, even in the hands of a much more skilled swordsman than I. It would probably be best to reclaim your blades as well. If you are forced to draw, I do not wish you slowed in your efforts to defend."** 

A murmur of tentative excitement began buzzing by the edge of the ring. Again, Daiki paid them no mind. He merely waited to see how Chiyoko would respond.
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Kevin
Chiyōko cocked an eyebrow when Daiki picked up his daisho. Oh. So, _that's_ how it was. A simple practice spar was now something else. It felt like a bait and switch, lured in and now stuck in a predicament. 

Pride wouldn't allow her to refuse now. Out of the question. However, she had her orders from her master. No drawing steel on the Crane. Any sign of Mantis-on-Crane violence would be ripe for persecution. Thus...

"No, thank you." 

A murmur swept the arena as Chiyōko maintained her _Kamae._ "An order from my master forbids I draw a true sword against a Crane. Bokken will do for me. As you said, Doji-sama: I can defend myself." 

Chiyōko stood as she had before, hands hovering, perfectly relaxed. She'd play this game, but she'd follow her own rules.

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Cara
**"That... Complicates matters,"** He added, a slight frown at the corner of his lips. **"Might I offer a compromise?"** He was not opposed to fanning the flames a little with some well-intentioned drama, but asking Chiyoko to receive with such a slow weapon did not sit right with him. **"You said no true sword? I would argue that a sword whose edge was never sharpened is not truly a sword in function. We have such weapons for our intermediate duelists to spar with."** He bent at the middle, lowering himself into a low bow. **"You have my word. I will see to it that no claims are made that you took up a weapon against me. This is at my request, not simply a wish to do harm."**

Daiki felt as though he had put more onto her than he had intended and now pride - both his own and hers - could potentially put her in harm's way. Even as he asked, he had a bad feeling he knew her answer. Still, if nothing else, she could make the decision herself, and whether she chose the safe option or not, he would know that it had been offered.

The gathered Crane were abuzz. Some were offended at her refusal. A few even began to reprimand her, searching for excuses to criticize. 

"He is your superior, and you our guest! You will do as you are asked!"
"You do not have the right to refuse him!"
"The arrogance!"

A harsh stare from Daiki silenced them, but they continued to look on.

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**"Of course, Chiyoko-san,"** He said, and returned the bow. This time, he did not hold her gaze and held the position a touch longer than before, almost in apology. With his voice pointed down and into the mat, only she would be able to hear Daiki over the ho-ing and humming from the chastened crowd. **"And thank you for enduring my caution. I am aware of the insult it implies, but it is a necessary precaution. An accidental injury in this moment would reflect very poorly upon me and my families after just having lost a duel."**

He straightened back up and took a long breath, releasing the air slowly as he sank down into his ready stance. Unlike the mountain that he had resembled before, now he was light and airy, most of his weight in the balls of his feet. The dojo once again faded away, only this time the woman in front of him was no longer to play the black stones. Now, he would be taking that honor for himself.

*I am already aware that she intends to dodge rather than parry. Is this fair?.*

He turned this thought over for a moment.

*It is. She also is aware I intend to strike before she does. Both of our intentions are out in the open - at least parts of each. An even enough playing field.*

With the last of his concerns settled, he gave over to the meditative mind of the Kakita way. The fair features of his visage settled into a placid stillness. His mind was empty but for the singular goal before him. The gentle breeze that danced through the wide doors of the dojo very lightly stirred the hems of his hakama.

*I am light as the breeze and as swift as the wind...*
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Kevin
Chiyoko didn't speak, merely nodding at Daiki's explanation. She wasn't worried about any of that. It was time to duel. 

Well, not duel. Dodge, really. She wouldn't be lashing out, or drawing steel, either. She would merely move out of the way, as she would have in the other duel, as she had against Kakita Arai. Kakita style was simple enough to defeat. 

And so, she entered her assessment, same as Daiki. 

_Once again a dragon emerged, but this time, it was clearly agitated. She had lit the base of mountain ablaze, and coiled and ruminated in the flames. She eyed the Crane in flight, and knew what he wanted to do. Make her parry. Simple as that. _

_This time around, the Dragon didn't attack. No, no. If the Crane wanted this victory, he would need to come to her. Patience, but a willingness to move. A lit firecracker, just waiting to burst._ 

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Cara
The heat radiating from Chiyoko's spirit was almost palpable. Something within her was unsettled. Had he truly insulted her? In the moment, that did not matter. If more apologies were warranted after the second match - if it could really be called as such - then he would offer them and gladly. For now, he melted into the breeze.

However, the wind was not to speed his blade. The wind was to stoke the fires that would drive him forward. His hand waited a half a breath from his sword.

*Do not let yourself anticipate the moment of departure. Let it be as much a surprise to you as it is to her. Wind the spring, then wait until the moment resolves itself. No warning. No thought. Just action.*

Something sparked in the back of Daiki's mind, and before he was even fully aware of deciding to do so, he moved.

The blade hissed free from its scabbard. The motion was as much a part of him as breathing. His sword was an extension of his arm. The spark was instantly a furnace in his chest, blazing and radiating heat to the tips of his fingers. He was across the mat, having closed the distance in a heartbeat. His sword was naked in his hand, bared in a flash of fire and cold steel.
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Kevin
Suddenly, it was happening. 

_Crane rushing forward in a blaze of speed. Dragon stoked in flames, needing to shift to the sea to evade. The going was clear, the path was there. It was only a matter of doing it. _

Chiyoko was prepared. As soon as the sound of katana leaving sheathe reached her ears she was moving. The movement was simple, merely step to the left, step sideways, and watch as the blade goes by. Tried and true. 

And yet... Daiki was reaching her, quickly. She was not anticipating that; she was quick, very quick for that matter, but even with the difference between bokken to katana he shouldn't reach her. She must have misstepped-

No. 

Daiki was just faster than she was prepared for. 

Just as quickly as Daiki had reached Chiyoko's side, did the ronin move to the side of the man. 

"...Well met, Doji Daiki-sama. I have failed your challenge." Chiyoko's katana was drawn. And while faint, there was a clear nick in it, when steel met steel. Chiyoko couldn't dodge it, not cleanly. So, with breakneck speed, she had to deflect. 

"You are truly a student of Kakita-sensei, Doji-sama," She said, sheathing her practive blade, "And I am impressed at your speed." 

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Cara
**"Then we have both been impressed today,"** Daiki sighed, stepping back and sheathing his sword. **"I must thank you once again for humoring my fragile Crane ego."** He bowed to the ronin, ignoring the jeers that had begun to wash over the ring from the sidelines. Over the chaos, only Chiyoko would be able to hear Daiki's little self-abasing joke, but he also figured she was one of the few present who would find it truly amusing.

**"I would be most honored for a rematch someday when I have had time to catch up with your skills."** His meditative stoicism had melted away by now, replaced by a genuine smile. **"Would you care for some more tea while we wait for word from the embassy?"** He gestured away from the crowd and the dojo and out towards the little tea house where the whole discussion had begun in the first place. **"I promise not to challenge you to any duels until you've had enough to drink."**
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Kevin
"You are welcome." Chiyoko returned the bow, also ignoring the mumbles and comments thrown out. She couldn't blame Daiki for his challenge; she made the claim, so it was her ego on the line. That, and if she had this many onlookers judging her on submitting on a duel, she'd want to challenge the other as well. 

The offer to a rematch was... Well, perhaps. "I could make an exception to my own rules, Doji Daiki-sama," She replied, "Though usually I don't duel for sport. As long as I've been a ronin, every duel has been one to first wound or death. It makes for a grand dueling technique, but it sours the spirit of the art, to an extent." 

"Peh. She doesn't want to risk losing, now that she's won." It was that brother of Doji Sasuke who spoke, under his breath. "Leave it to a ronin-"

"You know," Chiyoko interrupted, "I have only one eye, but two ears. What is your name, Doji-sama?" 

"D-Doji Sasuni-"

"Doji Sasuni-sama, if you ever wish to avenge your brother's loss, I will be honored to oblige you. Though, I must insist it be the same rules as with your brother, if only to truly honor his bravery." Chiyoko had a little smile of politeness, but her eye bore into him like the fierce lost dragon she was. 

"...I, ahem, well, I wouldn't need to duel a roni-" 

"Doji Daiki-sama," Chiyoko said, facing the fellow, "I would love to have some tea with you. I'm sure these students would like to return to training. Some of them may have big, important duels in their future." 

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Cara
Daiki was a Crane through and through. His ambitions and his attention to detail spoke volumes on the matter. He strove to be an artist in all of his endeavors. Even so, his loyalties did not run so deep that he did not enjoy arrogant members of his clan being knocked down a peg or three. He suppressed a smirk and turned to lead the way back to the tea shop.

**"Go easy on him,"** He murmured. **"People like him are not worth losing any sleep over. They do not have enough honor to issue challenges that can impugn your own."** As he left the dojo, he turned and bowed his respect to the O-sensei. He hoped that he had done Kakita proud. Many ancestors were venerated by those who followed in their footsteps. However, Daiki saw the flaws in the man of legend and still found plenty to admire.

Turning back to Chiyoko, he picked up the threads of his comment before. **"It sounds as though you have led a difficult life and had to fight often to defend your honor. I do not know what it was that sent you out onto the waves, but honor is not something that can be taken away from you. Your reputation can be stained. Your good name can be dragged through the mud or ripped away from you entirely."** The steel blue of his eyes were hardened despite the pleasant neutral countenance he kept. **"But your honor is inside of you. It is your own personal conviction and conscience. You duel with honor. Sasuni-san is a slave to his ambitions and would sell out his honor for the recognition of his superiors, and has done so on many occasions. Little would be gained. Not that he couldn't use a lesson in humility,"** He added with a little twist at the corner of his lips. **"However, he does not have the honor to see such a lesson for its value.**

**"You are better than that,"** He concluded. And he got the impression, though he did not say so out loud, that few had said such things to a 'ronin like her' in some time.