Janine
One of the first requests that Kitsu Himiko had made of him was that he teach her the blade. He had taught many people the blade over the years, but never a shugenja, let alone his superior. He had gotten himself settled in the city, and then worked with Akodo Akechi to figure out when some time would be free in the dojo. He didn't want Himiko to have to learn the sword during times when there would be prying eyes. He did not want her to feel pressures of her station, or her role, or of the Lion when it came to the blade. Plus, he hoped this would be good time for them to get to know each other better and build their trust.

Katsuhiro stood in the dojo, a yellow gi on top of dark, almost black brown hakama, and a bokken in both his hands, swinging it as a way to warm up his muscles as he waited for the Ambassador to show up.

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Corey
And Himiko did show up. Her hair forced up in two space buns on her head, pinned down with several hairpins in order to keep it tamed. She word simple clothing. Nothing too much different from her shrine maiden outfit other than she was wearing pants. The gold and blue eyes were out for blood as the ambassador did not seem in a good mood at first glance. Turns out she was just nervous as she bowed down. Holding her Katana as a filmsy thing. 

*"Good morning. Akodo-sama. Are you ready?"* 

The female questioned. Showing a slight smile as she sighed of relief. It was just practice. She had nothing to prove, right?

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Janine
Katsuhiro turned to Himiko and gave her a small, friendly smile. She looked suddenly as if she had Matsu blood rushing through her and he was taken aback, until he recalled the memory of her bursting through the Scorpion Ambassador's door to take him out. *Perhaps some sword discipline will help her out... Or give her an outlet.*

"Good morning, Kitsu-sama. I am ready."

He had spent a lot of time training soldiers, and drilling ashigaru. Everyone always wanted to *Get to the good part* As quickly as possible, so Katsuhiro did not spend a lot of time on making sure that she had the right grip, though he made sure she had one. He went over the basic stance and footwork, and then made it to the bit where you strike and kiai in time with your fumikomi.

He was a bit anxious about this part. He figured Himiko would take to it like a fish to water, or a Matsu to war.

"The important thing to focus on is that you release your kiai in time with your fumikomi (foot stomp) and your strike. This aligns your full strength of body and spirit and.. Er... Uh... Hopefully not any of your power. I have never trained a shugenja, so I do not know if your kiai is.. Perhaps a bit more powerful than that of a normal person." He was mostly hoping that she would not accidentally blow the roof off of the dojo. He told soldiers this was a release of the ki, but Himiko actually had spiritual energy to release.

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Corey
Himiko had smiled at Katsuhiro attempting to be polite and not drill her. If only her crane master had been this kind. She listened to him as his instructions were clear enough. But she decided it was time to scare him a little. Just for fun. After all he had no experience with training Shugenja. So during her preparation of her stance and release she started to whisper a few words. 

Instead of yelling Kiai eventually whilst stomping down her foot she breathes fire. Controlled however as she wished to not burn down the embassy. She had done this party trick many times and just wished to see the baffled face of this man. Eventually she was out of breath and the fire stopped. A heat had filled the room and the Shugenja smirked at the Akodo. 

*"You do realize all a Shugenja does is on purpose? Or at least the kami do like a joke or two."* The Kitsu smirked. 

*"Akodo-sama. Please do not pity me. I wish for the drilling and training. Do not see me as fragile. As long as you do not cut my head off Miu can heal me."* 

The Kitsu stated. 

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Janine
Akodo Katsuhiro, Taisa of the Lion Armies, veteran of multiple wars, who helped defend the Empire against the Shadowlands invasion, *Jumped into the air with a yelp when Kitsu Himiko exhaled fire with her strike of the bokken*. He had expected something. He wasn't sure what the Ambassador was capable of, he figured that she would tell him when she wanted him to know and not before, but fire from her mouth was *Not* On that list of things. Sure he had seen Shugenja at work, especially Kitsu healers, and whatever that heretic magic the Unicorn had... And had done battle with the Isawa. He had even seen a string of the fury of Osano-wo take out an entire spear formation in his younger days, and he had seen Kitsu unleash a wave of Onikuma onto the Shadowlands forces. So many horrors, but none of that led him to believe that small, feral form of his Ambassador breathing fire in the dojo.

"Kami-sama!" Akodo cried out in surprise, because HImiko dropped the act, he held a hand to his chest, catching his breath. "By the ancestors, Himiko-sama..." But then he froze again, before he straightened up and bowed deeply, going completely horizontal.

"Please forgive me, Kitsu-Sama, I meant no disrespect addressing you so familiarly."

While he was bowed down, she let him know how patronized she felt by his teaching style.

He fell to his knees and placed his head to the floor, an act he had never done before outside of meeting the Clan Champion, and when he went to Winter Court as part of the Lion honor guard. It was embarrassing, and frustrating, and beneath him, and he hated that he needed to bow in this way to a *Child* And he hated himself for feeling that way about bowing to Himiko. *She has earned your respect more times than you should count, and only once has she ever acted otherwise.* And the truth of that was his true shame.

"Kitsu-sama, forgive me. I have never trained a shugenja, but I have heard the rumors that they can lose control of the power and that they can be dangerous when left untrained. I know you are not an untrained child, my ignorance merely led me to expect something I had never seen before." *And boy did she give you that*

"I do not pity you, Kitsu-sama, and if you wish for me to beat you I will. I merely wanted to create a training regimen that you would find interesting and worth your time in hopes that it would give us a chance to further bond. I apologize for treating you differently."

*If it had been my sensei, she wouldn't have held the sword for a week, and the bottoms of her feet would be covered in blisters.* But if she wanted the authentic experience, he could arrange that.

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Corey
Himiko had stared at the display of instant regret and struggled holding back her laughter. She pitied him and knew how he felt about her. She then sighed as she looked at him. She settled down and patted the ground in front of her. Ordering him to do the same. If he had obeyed she simply started to speak. 

*"Akodo-sama. I hold a lot of respect for you and I understand how difficult it could be for me to act like your superior even though I am a simple shrine maiden from origin."* Himiko looked at him and smiled ever so slightly. It was not concerning but more of a soothing smile. 

*"I think there is much to learn from each other but we have to get rid of the struggle first. We need to learn how to communicate in order to unite. Do you understand that?"* Himiko spoke. 

*"I find it as difficult ordering you, a grandmaster at war and battle and honorifics beyond all Rokugan, around. As you find it hard to not underestimate me."* Himiko seemed serious. 

*"As for Shugenja. Yes we are dangerous as the Kami will aid us. But we are not possesed nor a monster. The only way for you to lose control is to cast a spell out of your reach. And doing that will mostly result in either death or dishonor. It is not something we wish for."* 

Himiko sighed. *"As for me. Perhaps it's better for me to explain."* She rubbed the back of her head. 

*"The reason I had issues with the phoenix during our meeting is because I used to be one. They adopted me and trained me. But I have no information in my brain about this phase. I married back into the lion. I may not be your strongest warrior but please have trust in me."* Himiko confessed. She did not elaborate on being an Ishiken. 

*"As for your training. I respect you for wanting to be cautious with me. But I am here to learn, to blow off steam and to become better. That does not happen when I can't even break a sweat Akodo-sama."* Himiko smiled.

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Janine
Katsuhiro sat there, looking at the smol kitsu before him. She was a child, and she was wild as a Lion, and just as dangerous. Part of that danger was that she was enlightened beyond her years, and everyone underestimated her. It was a point of his *Own*Pride that everyone here underestimated her. He needed to get past the fact that he had haori older than her, and just appreciate that she was *Good* At what she did, and that that was something he himself was not. He may be twice her age, but she had never once, *Okay perhaps once*, given him any reason to doubt her.

She was right though, they needed to be able to talk without pretense if they were going to make this, whatever this would become, work.

He let her finish speaking, and then took a deep, centering breath.

"Please, call me Katsuhiro-san when we are alone together. You have more than earned that right."

He took a moment to think, and reflect, on the words she had shared with him, and he tried to search inside of him for the honest words. He had been able to do so with Moshi Mai when she told him of her gaijin blood, he should be able to do so with his own clan.

"Kitsu-sama, I appreciate your words. If I have ever made you feel that I see you as a monster, then I am deeply shamed. I have never seen you as one in my eyes."

He wasn't sure what to make of her time spent in Phoenix land, other than it did explain what the side conversation was with Ambassador Iemon was about.

"As to the training... Well, I have been... *Asked* On many occasions to teach a spoiled lords son or daughter how to fight and play at war. They are typically given higher rank faster than many of my more deserving officers, however Lion children are given a bokken at a young age often as their first toy. When we are trained, we are paired up with other children who remain our partner for life."

"Other than Ashigaru, I have never trained someone who had not been through formal training, but on those instances, everyone balks at the boring fundamentals which are designed to make sure you do not hurt yourself, or me. It is boring, hard work, that is more parts blister than it is fun. I was hoping, by doing this way, to get you to the *Fun* Part sooner, so that you could start hitting things as quickly as possible. I was hoping to lead you to the point of being able to defend yourself with a katana if need be by the end of the season. But if getting the full experience is what you are after, then I will oblige you."

What more words did he need to share? He felt hollowed out, but also as if some air had been cleared.

"I know that I can learn a lot from you, Kits-sama. My being here is as much about my needed growth and proving myself as it is about making sure that if something happens to you, The Lion Clan Ambassador, that there will be justice." Akodo did *Not* Let his thoughts wander to what would become of the city should the small kitsu before him be killed.

"Sometimes, however, it is hard for an old lion to learn new tricks. As you say, I have been through a lot in my life, and often times my judgement can be colored by past experience. What did, or did not, work in the past. Thousands of soldiers have died because of *My* Mistakes, but even more have died because someone was promoted to a rank they were not ready for. *You*, however, have proven to me that you are capable and deserving of this position, and my respect."

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Corey
*"But I start from the ground. I am not a spoiled daughter."* Himiko mentioned as she had intensely stared at him. She was stern in her tone. She did not believe in being higher just because you managed to be born that way. Your usefulness would prove the reason why people respect you, not your past. She scoffed before letting out a big sigh after. She let go of her stern tone and clarified herself. *"If not for the basics, how will I learn properly. You will not be here every single time. You cannot calculate me as a person and therefore I could be a liability. I wish to learn because it improves me."* Himiko elaborated before pressing her hands on her upper legs. Which had been crossed and starting to fall asleep. She wiggled her toes a few times. 

*"Katsuhiro-sama, I respect you. I appreciate you for wishing me fun. But fun will not be the matter between life and death. I have little knowledge in sword skills and I must learn just like everyone. So you must learn about the spirituality of a Kitsu."* Himiko gave a slight smile. *"It means balance, it means cooperation and it means understanding. Those fundamentals can mean life and death, not only in situations of battle and war, but in political situations."* Himiko spoke. Not breaking eye contact once. 

*"There are many things we must learn from each other to cooperate like a team. But I suppose this could be one of the fundamentals."* The Kitsu rose from her seating and adjusted her oversized clothing. 

*"Therefore, I wish you to give me as many blisters as posible, I will ask Miu to heal them. In return I will behave and not spew fire."* Himiko smirked. 

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Janine
Katsuhiro let out a mental breath as they seemed to move on, though he felt that he was still not making himself entirely clear to Himiko. Still, the Empire was not built in day. They would need to build on their relationship just as Kami Akodo had to cultivate the families of the Lion clan. Instead, he rose with her, the movement of rising from seizan to the ready pose of a chudan was a fluid and practiced one.

"Then blisters we shall get. We are going to work on your footwork and building the muscles and endurance you will need. As we just covered, timing your strikes with your footwork is critical. Sliding step, strike, sliding step, strike. From one end of the dojo to the other, and I want you to keep a continuous kiai from one end to the other. It will take a while before you can do it in a single breath. For now, just make it to the other end keeping in mind your form and your kiai."

Akodo waited until she was ready, and then charged across the dojo to demonstrate. It was clear to her she was watching someone who done this more times than there were kami in Rokugan. His voice was deep and powerful, shaking the rafters of the dojo with the ferocity of his kiai, and while he moved quickly, his feet were always firmly planted and his moves were precise and exact, the wooden blade always stopping at exactly the same level with each strike.

"Now you." He said, and they would continue until her feet and legs were sore, her hands raw from swinging the bokken, and she was having a hard time keeping her breath. Each time they did a lap, he would give the both of them less time to catch their breath before the next one, until they were going backwards and forwards without stopping. In the beginning, he would constantly giving her something to fix and do better the next time, until eventually he was just exhausting her with the physicality of the work.

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Corey
Yet Himiko was somehow brilliantly resilient. The small Kitsu did not look like she had been but even though the blisters were clearly forming on her hands she had not budged. So when the training session had nearly reached the end she had only smiled. It was off-putting to say the least as her body was willing to give in but her mind kept her crazily happy. She would bow down to Katsuhiro. 

*"Thank you Akodo-sama."* She huffed a few times to let the exhaust pass by and not give into it. Then she stood straight again. The rolled up sleeves of her outfit had rolled out and now dangled over her sore hands. Her hair had been wilder than before, even though it looked like it couldn't do so. The small Kitsu smirked.

*"Next time I'll teach you how to truly meditate my friend."* Himiko sighed once more as it was now very clear the younger girl had been tired. She sat down. *"I need a minute or two. Also. Tell me what you think of the Phoenix plans."* Himiko had checked the room for intruders but none found so this was something they'd openly speak about. Just in a much less loud manner. 

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Janine
Katsuhiro had to give it to her, she did not complain once and doggedly pursued the instruction he gave her in her training. The proof would be how long she would last when it came to doing reptition like this. It took weeks of practice before you ever got into anything like practicing with an opponent. You had to prove you wouldn't run out of breath and lose the grip on your sword, throwing it at someone, or that you had enough control to not accidentally hit your partner in the wrong way were they to do something wrong.

"Perhaps Kitsu Miu-san is more skilled, but I believe if you get healing on your hands and feet, it will take longer for the callouses to form. It may be painful, but it would probably be best to let them be." He had been healed after battles before, and sometimes he came away with scars, and sometimes he did not. He was not sure the rhyme nor reason to it.

He was a bit pleased to see that he had winded Himiko, which meant he was giving her the workout she desired. He was, however, interested in learning more from her on the shugenja and meditation front. It was an avenue he had never explored before.

"Katsuhiro-san." He corrected her in a soft, friendly tone, letting her know how she was to address him when it was just the two of them.

"I find it a shame that they are both Phoenix clan samurai. I found Shiba-sama and Asako-san to be very easy to get along with. I do not know what history you have with Shiba-san or the Phoenix Clan that required discussing with him in private, but I will not pry into your affairs either. As to their plan... A triumverate between the Unicorn, Lion, and Scorpion is perhaps the most likely plan to succeed. I don't know that any single clan could hold the city without redrawing the maps. The Unicorn boarder is close enough that they could keep the city supplied, but even the Crab gave up."

Crab giving up was simply something they didn't do, but they saw that they were just paying for Scorpions opium cartels.

"I still like the idea of a council of the Ambassadors from all the clans, though why treat this city different from Toshi Ranbo, or the Rich Frog, I do not know. An Imperial Governor seems the best, though perhaps they do not want to tarnish their hands with the opium trade here." Akodo leaned back on his hands, showing a relaxed side to Himiko he had never shown before.

"Would that we could take charge of the city, we would still need the support of many clans to do so. Rooting out the underworld power of the Scorpion here would be an incredibly dangerous prospect. We would need *A lot more Lion clan* Here to affect that change. Is that what you are asking?"

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Corey
*"It was not what I was asking."* Himiko clarified. The girl that had been broken by the training a second ago stood on her legs like nothing had happened. The cold eyes glanced upon him as one of her eyebrows raised. She did not break the glare. It was intense. Just like the silence that fell upon her spoken words. She let them sink in. 

*"For us to require more lions equals our failure."* Himiko did not budge before she continued speaking. *"Why would it be possible for the Unicorn with little troops, even though they have the border close. Why was it possible for all clans to thrive without troops? Our military may be our strength but it is not always a solution."* She was stern in her words. Almost if she were taken over by an adult version of her that had seen the world burn before. 

*"I understand your prospect of wishing to thrive on our lonesome. But it seems not possible like that. Maybe in our lands, but we are strangers here. They need to learn to have trust in us, they need to understand that we are beyond useful to them. We do not need to march in more troops because they, and with them we, would be considered the enemy. The city has enough of those already."* Himiko had pinched her bridge of her nose. Regretting it instantly as she felt her hand burn. Pulling it back. 

She then let herself calm down a bit. *"Apologies Akodo-san. My emotions spoke for me. I suppose putting aside our differences is still a difficult thing."* Himiko bowed down once. 

*"We need to discuss what our issues are before we can thrive. We need to discuss plans, ones we both agree with. Unless we would love to look like the Scorpion. Digging our own grave."* The kitsu spoke. 

*"As for your training. I'm devastated. I'm tired. Good job."* Himiko added to soften the wound. 

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Janine
"I think I confused the purpose of the words I was saying, Kitsu-sama. I do not wish to take and hold this city by force, that way lies folly. History has taught us this over and over again. However, as I have recently met with Utaku Masanori-san, he has made me aware of just how big this city is. Greater than half a million souls reside here. Were we to need to root out the Cartels by force, we would need more than the forty Ashigaru and a the samurai we have here, not because of the lack of their skill, but simply for the need of our resources being spread to thin. Were the Unicorn to want this city by force, I doubt there is anything that could stop them."

He took a moment to rub his hands over his face, and blew out a weary breath into them. He hated admitting that they were in a better position than they were, but there was not even a contest there.

"Our only hope of taking and holding the city would be a diplomatic one, but the diplomatic side must be understood to have the force of the Lion behind it. In the situation where you were to become Governor of the city, I would not trust what we have here to keep you safe from the Cartels. We need allies, and the more the better. Even if the Phoenix are in a bad position here, I find Shiba Iemon an intelligent and likable person, and his Karo Asako Sanumo has an incredible attention to detail, as well as perhaps a network of whatever informants the Phoenix has cultivated here. We have spoken of the Crab in the past, and I recently met with Yasuki Umeo-san and found him to be a likely person to work with us."

He leaned back once more on his hands, he was glad to see that she was tired from the training, and hoped that it gave her some catharsis.

"If I had it my way, we would gain the support of all the clans. I do not think the Unicorn will do so, as I see them wanting that instead. However, I also see the Unicorn taking control of the city creating an imbalance."

"We are the right hand of the Emperor, and I think we should put ourselves out as either the keeper of the peace, or the administrators of his order. Either way, I think having the backing of the other clans, or even being the one with the most backing of the most clans, puts us in a position where if a consensus were needed, we would be in the best position. Part of that would be becuase we couldn't easily just march an army here like the Unicorn clan could. The Emperor put a Scorpion in charge of Toshi Ranbo, why not a Lion in charge of Ryoko Owari? Our success would therefore survive for fail based on having the clans work with us, rather than against us."

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Corey
Himiko seemed to ponder on this issue for a longer moment. Remaining silent during his moment of speech and long after. Unsure if she was tired or actually thinking. She hated to admit that he was right in some ways. She understood it but wished it to be different. So finally the silence shattered. With a much more tired and matured yet silent voice she spoke. 

*"The unicorn is our current ally, not because they honor us, our goals and our will. But because we have a common purpose and enemy. We wish to seek retribution over the Scorpion. Of course we both understand that peace is better for this city for now. But they seek power over the city eventually. For us to conquer it will only be a war again and much like you said, we are in no position to start or finish it. It would be stupid."* She slightly sighed. Then she rubbed the palm of her right hand with her left thumb to express the blisters striking in fast. 

*"I agree with your alliance, but my fear is that it will not last long before it falls again. Much like the peace the Phoenix wishes for. It will be shattered with one wrong step. The crab will be on our side for now. At least that is what Yasuki-sama spoke of. Perhaps we need to seek out some more."* Himiko admitted. She felt horrible to be in this position. 

*"But it means times will change. I am unsure whether that would be for the better or worse."* The Kitsu explained. 

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Janine
Katsuhiro nodded along to Himiko's words, agreeing with her and the wisdom of them. He was enjoying getting to spend time with the Unicorn clan and get to know them on a more personal level, but he had no doubts that the day would come when they would cross blades with them again, or perhaps bows and spears. The Utaku loved their naginata.

"I know Utaku Kazuko-sama to be an honorable and crafty foe, and I do not doubt she will continue to be so here. While I do believe we can trust them to be the enemy of our enemy, I would not expect that to alter the Unicorn clan's long term strategy. I have read the letters that Ikoma Zenmai had sent to Akodo-sama and to Ikoma Hoki. Before the truth came to light, it was thought that the Scorpion would seek to start a fight between the Unicorn and the Lion because they were worried that the Unicorn had designs upon Ryoko Owari. That is part of my initial mobilization here was meant to address, and part of why my Legion is currently stationed at Kyuden Ikoma, and not Shiro Matsu."

He took a moment, thinking more on what she had said, and what advice he would give her.

"I know not by what criteria The Emperor or the Otomo will make their decisions, but if we lack weight, then I feel initiative and support will be our best advantage. If putting the Scorpion in charge of the city got us to this mess, and putting the Unicorn in charge of it would tip the scales too much, then perhaps gathering as many ambassadors to support our position as possible adds us credibility to lead the city in a way that is best for the Empire. By showing that we are a choice that is preferable to all, through having good relations or support of the clans, and being the right hand of the Emperor puts us in a strong position. While the Dragon and the Phoenix may not be the most influential when it comes to political clout, at least not having them object to us would be helpful. And I find Shiba-sama to be a compelling speaker."
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Corey
After discussions about the discussions with the Phoenix, Himiko felt her eyes roll and her head bop. Combine this with the burning sensation on the palms of her hand and soon the realisation struck that she was exhausted from the training. The talking of Katsuhiro only seemed inconsistent from now on and she was very clear to state this. The blue and yellow eyes rolled back once before she forced herself to stay up. But after all, much like she'd sometimes display in the presence of people she trusted, she was a child. 

So when she tried to rub the dust and dirt from her eyes she sighed. *"Akodo-san. I am beyond exhausted. It would be bold to assume that I can walk back to my room."* The Kitsu ambassador joked. Himiko rose to her feet once more as she radiated her exhaust. No stern voice, no naughty grin, a slumped body and not to mention she barely kept herself balanced. 

*"I dismiss both of us."* Himiko stated. She bowed down before the Akodo. *"Thank you for the conversation and teachings. Please do not await me tomorrow for another tortur- training session."* Himiko corrected herself swiftly. Even when exhausted she minded her words. *"Let's try the day after tomorrow again."* She could force out a genuine smile before the girl took her leave. 

*"Thank you, Akodo-san."* It echoed in the hallways. 

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