tampered | Log; Completed

Log; Completed

When; Today; late afternoon/early evening
Rating; PG
Characters; Aya

soulofocean
Summary; Aya teaches Umi to use the katana he gave to her way back when he left.
Log; It was peaceful in Xanadu currently. The air was comfortable and calm. And, there was no curse to disturb the peace that surrounded Aya. Closing his eyes a moment, he took the chance to enjoy it. He would give this first lesson to Umi then go have dinner. He had plenty of time for that.

Umi was a fencer...used to handling a sword with just one hand. A katana was different and required a different balance that she wouldn't be used to. And, just like his master had, he wouldn't let her learn with the actual blade just yet. Which was why he had two practice swords in his hand. One for him and one for her.

Opening his eyes, he glanced over to see if she'd arrived yet.

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"Then it's settled! It'll be our classroom, sort of." That place would do. It had everything they needed: it was beautiful, relaxing for when the efforts were done, and it afforded them the privacy they wanted for training, away from the throng of people that usually visited Xanadu. Umi felt confident she'd grow used to it.

"Just don't do that too often." She nodded at the poor abused tree they'd used for their demonstrations, and laughed sheepishly."Or the gardeners here will kick us out."

"Consider that to have been a one time only thing." He had no intention of destroying plant life like that every time. He couldn't bring himself to doing that. Now when he was a florist and he loved to see the plants on a daily basis.

"Consider it considered! I was just kidding, too." Maybe she'd just channeled a certain unnerving person and his weird jokes. Umi chased the thought away with a shake of head. Of all the times to remember...

"I'll practice my basic exercises for next time, too. I think they helped me a great deal."

"You can take that practice sword with you too. It will be good for practice. As for your other sword..."

Reaching into his pocket he drew out a length of cord. It didn't take long for him to wrap in such a way that she would be able to unsheathe the katana just yet. Not without removing the cord.

"That will stay on there until I decide you're ready."

For a second she wondered what exactly did he plan to do with the cord. Some special sword-maintenance trick on the enchanted blade? One only katana masters knew of? Then Umi's eyes widened and she pointed.

"Eh? What's that f--- ...hey! Wait! Wh-? What are you doing?"

She stared at the secured knot around her katana's hilt and sheath, eyeballing it for a good ten seconds, then back at Aya, then back at the knot, then again up at her companion with a flabbergasted look that clearly requested an explanation.

"You should not be drawing a sword you cannot use." He smiled and handed the sword back to her.

"My master did this for me. For different reasons then but I agreed with him doing it. Even if it wasn't until some time later." Aya wasn't about to let her go off using a sword like she was now though. She would have to rely on her own and hope that her magic didn't get taken away.

"...Eh. Alright. But... this seems a little..." She searched for the word, looking back at the knot as if it were meant to apologize to her for existing. A tiny frown. "Extreme."

Unless it was symbolic. Or a ritual. Maybe she'd be able to untie the knot herself once she mastered the technique! Being only Japanese by birth and not upbringing Umi still understood ancient Japanese martial arts came with all sorts of little rituals.

So she nodded at the knot as if she were allowing it to live. "I can wait."

He could see she didn't understand but she would in time. He wouldn't have her hurt herself or others with the sword if he could help it. That was a message that he wanted her to learn on her own. And he wouldn't be explaining that to her.

"I'm glad."

"It's alright!" She had her own rapier anyway. Umi was sure that come a time -- probably WAY far into the future -- she'd feel as comfortable using this katana in battle. But for now she felt infinitely safer with her own Escudo sword in hand. She hadn't ever meant to use that katana anyway -- it was a keepsake. She could certainly be patient.

"The wooden one should be enough to practice the moves. And boy, do I plan to practice them." She wanted to give Aya a pleasant surprise for the next lesson, to show him her progress.

"Enjoy yourself, Umi." Aya shook his head then ran his fingers through his hair as he gathered his things together. He looked around one more time then back at her.

"Would you like me to walk you back to the City area?"

She shook her head. "I'm headed back to the beach house. I'd like a swim. The day's nice enough for it." And since she was in for a shower anyway... She wondered if Hikaru and Fuu would be around for a tiny beach day.

Umi gathered her own burdens and smiled back at Aya. "Unless you feel like walking me there."

She certainly wouldn't say no to that.

He walked after her and nodded. "I have some time to kill." Then he would see about getting something to eat since he was getting hungry now. It was about time too.

"I think I can help with that." Granted, the walk down the seaside was bound to make Aya hungry, unbeknownst to Umi. But then again, if they were lucky, maybe Tatra would have readied one of her famous curry dishes for lunch. Umi hadn't been there all day. She was getting slightly hungry too. "Shall we get going?"

"Alright." Aya gave her a warmer smile than the one before. He hadn't realized he would feel this good about teaching someone to use the katana. More because he'd been worried about it. That someone else would follow the path that he'd taken. Fortunately, it looked like Umi would avoid that.

For that he was very grateful.

Nodding, Umi simply started for the exit of Xanadu, falling into step beside Aya. She didn't say more, but the glow of accomplishment she radiated spoke for itself.

She'd done good, and given it her best effort! And she was certainly on the way to improving. All worthwhile endeavors took effort and time, and this one certainly was worth a lot to her. It was important to prove to Aya he wasn't wasting his time, that she was a student worth teaching.

Smiling, she nodded to herself. She'd spend an hour or so everyday practicing what she learned with every lesson.

Good fade to black don't you think?

Sure! :D

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Log; Completed

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