Puffin Campfire; Tuesday Afternoon, after workshops

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Despite having practised a bit that morning, Sakurazaki couldn't really get her attempts to work on a more Western form out of her head. She had told herself she'd do some meditation after her workshop, but the heat made her restless, and she couldn't quite focus. She was soon on her feet, talking quietly to herself in Japanese as she shifted through the motions, arms moving in haphazard response to the idea of having a sword. It didn't take her long to become extremely focused, although occationally frustrated, released through a brief pause and a growl. To a casual observer, it probably looks like a very ritualistic sort of dance...or a very strange sort of fit.


[[open]]

Comments

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter tried to conceal a grin as he saw Sakurazaki's movements and instantly realised she was using a sword in her mind.

"You could always go to the salle," he said with a grin. "It's not too late."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" Sakurazaki, a little sweaty from shifting around the campfire like that in this heat, turns to the sound of a voice, wiping at her forehead with the back of her arm. If her face wasn't already red from the combination of physical exertion and sun, it would be now from embarrassment. "Oh, hi, Peter," she says with a little nervous grin, hands going behind her back and toe digging into the dirt. "I considered it, but it really wouldn't help. I'm, ummm..." Poorly trying to immitate your style? What are you talking about? "Well, using Yuunagi would only be a hinderance to what I'm trying to work on right now."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"You could use one of the practice blades in the gym?" he offered. Noting the nerves, he continued. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt. Should I continue on?"

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Shaking her head, Sakurazaki gives him a dismissive wave of her hand. "I was already in the gym this morning working on it," she explains to him. "This is just sort of a distracted carry-over. Light, idle practise, I suppose, thanks to having nothing better to do." She gives a casual little shrug. If anything, maybe that would help explain it away if she was doing as poorly as she felt she was.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter grinned. "I know the feeling. I've been working through routines in my head all day during workshops. Thank you again for the spar on Saturday. That was fun."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki glows a little with her smile. "And thank you, too. It was a lot of fun." As well as an awakening, she adds in her head, but doesn't let her smile falter. "I still have quite the bruise on my hip, you know. But, then again, I do bruise easily."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Rubbing his shoulder a bit ruefully, Peter nodded. "I was swimming earlier and still felt the hits to my shoulder. We'll have to try it again sometime after finding you a practice blade and sheath more like Yuunagi so you're not at a disadvantage."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki bites her lip. If that wasn't an opening, she didn't know what was.

"Actually, about that..." she starts slowly, nervously. Perhaps even a little shamefully. "Actually sparring with those swords sort of helped me realize something. I...I really can't depend so much on my Eastern style. It seems that, in addition to the rarity of swordskill as it is in this society, very few people outside of Japan actually use a kendo style. Especially with a rarely used type of blade. To call it a disadvantage seems an understatement. So...I was....I was wondering...if maybe...maybe you could teach me...your style? That's...kind of what I've been trying to do today, but it's really just been poor mimickry rather than actual attempting..."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"It's only a disadvantage if you make it one," Peter pointed out. "I'm sure that I'd be at a great disadvantage facing you with your longer style because I've never worked against something like that. The very fact of rarity makes it more dangerous at times. That being said, I'd be more than happy to teach you my style, if you like." He nodded then grinned. "Of course, I'm going to ask you to reciprocate."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki chuckles lightly, still feeling nervous from just asking, a hand drifting up behind her head. "A simple yes would have sufficed," she teases a little, although she probably would have said nearly the exact same thing. "And I'd love to take you on a pupil of the Shinmei Ryuu, if you're interested."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"A simple yes didn't suffice though," Peter teased back. "When has one ever?" He grinned. "Do you think we will confuse ourselves beyond belief trying to cross Eastern and Western?"

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps," Sakurazaki reasons behind a chuckle, "if we were any less of swordsmen, we would. But, as that's hardly the case, I'd prefer to think that it will only make us utterly impossible to defeat instead of just moderately difficult to defeat."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter affected a formal bow, trying to keep a straight face. "Very true, my lady. We simply are enhancing our skills through further practice."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Smiling, Sakurazaki returns the bow in her own completely formal way, which meant it was stiff and deep and included pressed palms tucked to her chest. "And setting into the motion the long-dormant wheels of a complete synthesis of East and West. Peter-sama."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"But of course, Lady Sakurazaki," Peter said. "We shall be known through the world for our blended styles." He paused. "I'm going to be rude now and ask what 'sama' is."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki laughs. "It's not rude at all; I expected you to ask. It's essentially the Japanese equivilant to your 'Lord' title."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"My title's not Lord," Peter said. "I'm a knight." He paused and realised he sounded ungracious. "But thank you."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

She smiles lightly. "Well, perhaps sama is a little more encompassing than lord. I think what you have in mind would actually be dono, but it doesn't really matter."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"Not particularly," Peter agreed with a smile. "When shall we start?"

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure what your schedual is like," she says after a moment of consideration, "but my Thursdays are almost painfully free..."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"I've no workshops on Thursday either," Peter said. "We should begin our foray into a new sword culture then."

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"Perfect," she nods. "Afternoon, at the salle?"

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like a brilliant plans," Peter agreed. He grinned. "Other than that, how are you? Happy to be speaking again?"

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki's smile is backed by another light flush. "I'm well, for the most part. I actually rather enjoyed the silence this weekend, actually...if you focus on the just the silent part, that is, and not what caused it. But I do understand I'm in the minority there."

[grand-fallguy.livejournal.com]

"Hey Setsuna!" Tim waved.