It was still pretty early in the morning, but that was of no consequence to devoted students. The dojo could provide lodging for it's students, but Oichi always insisted on staying at her father's forge, also their house. The building was quite empty ever since her father passed away, and fell out of favor. Customers had little trust in the young Oichi for providing them with the tools they needed, and so Oichi lived only from what little money she inherited. She quickly got ready, putting on her Iaidogi and Hakama, colored white and red, grabbing her Bokken and leaving the house. The town was busy, even this early, with traders, merchants and what not preparing for the day ahead of them. Most of them knew the Oichi's father and his family, the Akimis, so they would wave at the girl with honest smiles and Oichi would give them back their greetings. This part of Edo, the capital, was not the richest, but it had been her home ever since she was born. Without her father around anymore, it felt different, empty. Her training was the only thing that kept her afloat, kept her from drowning in her own sorrow. The dojo was not in this immediate district, and Oichi had to make quite a walk every morning which was one of the reason she rose a little bit earlier than necessary. She did not mind. Master Haciro's dojo was her second home, but also housed her dream. It was within the walls of this dojo that she hoped to acquire the necessary knowledge she needed to be able to become a great sword smith.

At a good distance from there, as Oichi entered the dojo, another girl was already in heated practice. Katsu lived in the Akihiro dojo, along with her father, the master. It was easier for her to train hard and late, have a good rest and be back on her training routine the next morning. Lately, she had quite angry at her father and refused to hold any long lasting conversations with him, proving her father only furthermore of her lack of understanding towards the matter keeping him from giving her the title she was seeking with such devotion. She was a good girl, and a good student, but extremely hard headed and, sometimes, her stubbornness would make her blind to the obvious. Katsu knew she was too fiery, but even hard practice seemed not enough to model her spirit into a more balanced stance. It did not matter how hard she tried, the flame within seemed like it would never die. Katsu quickly sheathed her Bokkens and walked off towards her favorite spot. In the inner yard of the Dojo was a very traditional pond, and Katsu would sit there often. Now was one of those moments.

She just looked within the waters as if she was searching for something, but the answers she was seeking were, of course, not at the bottom of a pond.

Shiro looked up as Oichi entered. He had been in the middle of doing a kenjutsu exercise which required him to slash through six bamboo mats at once. He had just completed the cut and sheathed his blade when she walked in. Shiro looked down at the floor his face turning somewhat red "H....HI Oichi" he said stuttering the first part.

Tanaka, Hideki

He held up a beautifully crafted ornament up into the sky, admiring it before setting it down on the table of goods. The brown-haired male scanned the table in wonder. Ah, he could never get over all of these pretty hair ornaments. One of these would perhaps bring a smile to his girl. Tanaka grinned to himself, thinking about a pretty girl hugging him and -

"Sir! Would you care to buy one for your lady?" a voice interrupted him.

"Ah, not now. Maybe later," Tanaka said, raising his hand in apology, his grin turning sheepish. The shopkeeper only shrugged, for Tanaka frequented his shop but never bought anything. The former merchant's son had the tendency to be picky about choosing an item. Or he was just having some lady troubles. As the dark-blue yukata clad man walked away, the shopkeeper could only grumble as he awaited for his next customer.

In a matter of a few minutes, Tanaka had arrived at his dojo, the Akihiro's. Inside, he could hear several people already training. Instantly, he knew who was inside. Akihiro Katsu and her father. He smiled, quite amused as he slowly walked around. He was a mere Yon-Dan, quite unworthy to be in the daughter's appearance. The girl was quite skilled, yet her father wouldn't let her ascend to the next level. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Katsu walk off to the inner yard of the dojo, where there was a pond. Curious (and against all reason), Tanaka tailed the girl, watching the girl sit there, her eyes searching in the water's depths. Quite aware of the girl's question; he began to speak gently.

"Just live normally. Dig up the caves so you can set sail whenever you need to. It won't be easy, but you have an endless amount of time ahead of you."

---

Yamato, Eri

"Just die already."

A figure flinched, jumping into reality. Her skin was cold and chappy; an eye dull and full of pain and fear. Yamato closed her eye for a moment before re-opening it, a cool breeze lifting her short hair, revealing bandages wrapped around her right eye. Trembling fingers reached up to gently touch the bandage before dropping down. "Ah," she said, sighing as she gazed at the river. That dream again. Chattering filled the air, and soon enough, the market was yet again busy. And so, life kept flowing.

It was time for her to leave. Yamato got up, re-adjusting her plain light blue and black hakama before heading back to the Hachiro dojo. She owed her life to the master. After all, he had taken her in and taught her many things such as sword arts and zen. She was alive because of him. The one-eyed girl walked through the streets, easily slipping past the hordes of people. Although she was half-blind, she had her ways of getting around things. A few minutes passed by, and Yamato quietly entered the dojo, spotting a familiar looking girl and boy already inside.

She stiffened. "I mustn't forget my manners," she thought to herself as she bowed and greeted the two. "Good morning," she huskily said. On that note, Yamato was quite often mistaken as a young male.

Akira Naoki smiled, looking up at the wall as he laid in bed. Another good dream, he thought, sitting up. "Ahh...I'm late, aren't I?" He muttered, getting up and changed into a dark green yukata. Another day, another fight to get out of bed. Granted, he was one of the students who stayed at the dojo itself, so he could cut it pretty close when it came to being late. He would like to stay at his house and family, of course, but seeing as they leaved out in the country, that was a bit unfeasible.

He grabbed his two bokkens, and attaching their sheathes to the hips of his yukata. "Alright, Naoki. Put on your happy face." he told himself, putting on a big grin and straightening up, heading out. He quickly got himself some breakfast, scarfing it down, and made his way to the main training area of the dojo. When he got there, he saw the daughter of the school's master leaving to the inner yard of the dojo. Nothing curious about that, he thought. If he recalled correctly, she was often seen there. However, when another student followed her, his curiosity was piqued. He couldn't quite remember the other student's name, but he was fairly sure he was another Yon-Dan. "Well," Naoki started, heading their way. "This could be interesting."

He arrived just in time to hear Tanaka's advice, having an idea as to what it was for. Akihiro Katsu's...."problem", for lack of a better world, wasn't exactly unknown to the students of the dojo. "I'm sure she disagrees." He spoke up, his voice quite loud. "The longer it takes her, the worst it would look on her, don't you agree? Granted, I'm sure she doesn't want the advice of...lowly Yon-Dans anyways." His voice sounded friendly enough, but there was still a hint of mockery in it.

Among the students who attended Akihiro's it was perhaps Yuki who demonstrated the ownership of the gentlest soul. She always presented herself neatly and her movements were very delicate and graceful, made as if she were in a state of constant peace. And maybe that wasn't too far from the truth, she never found herself feeling remorseful or resentful with others and unless something unfortunate or direct was to happen to her it was unlikely you would approach her without receiving a gentle smile for your company. Some believed it was this which made her great in the art of the sword, for she saw no competition or indication to cause harm, only art and an instrument in which to convey it to others, be them friend or enemy.

Yuki could be found in the dojo's garden today, sitting upon a red blanket which she'd neatly folded and placed on the grass. With her was a small wooden table on which sat a small tea pot and a single cup, hot steam wisping into the air beside her. Her sword lay on her other side, laying comfortably as the young women merely enjoyed the beauty of the garden. A fountain lay across from her adding to the orchestra of sounds which the garden sang to her, from the sounds of the birds to the rustling of the leaves as they gently brushed against each other. Yuki took in a large breath before she exhaled, closing her eyes as she gave a soft smile before opening them again. "What a beautiful day" she said to herself before she reached over, pouring the hot water onto the leaves in her cup. She stirred the contents with a small silver spoon, raising the cup to her lips before taking a small sip to determine how long she'd wait for it to cool.

Breathe in, breathe out. Sense the entirety of the universe within you, past, present, and future all actualized in this one moment. Just as the entirety of the moon is reflected in a single dewdrop, so is the Truth reflected in one's soul...

Hayazo began every day with an hour of meditation. He had learned quickly that clearing his mind like that was the only way to make himself receptive to swordsmanship, which is why he had gravitated towards this school in particular. He didn't learn through the skill-and-drill practice that was so common throughout the land; he learned by putting himself into a mental state that was appropriate for learning. After meditating, he was always able to understand the master's words more clearly and could feel the movements of his body much more precisely. In fact, the quality of his technique seemed to be inversely proportionate to the time since his last meditation. But now he was refreshed, and it was time to begin the day. The other students would probably be arriving soon, if they hadn't already, so he made his way out of the building and into the entrance and greeted the few people that were there with a bright and cheerful "good morning!"

The smaller male walked through the city, taking a route he deemed efficient and relaxing. His geta click-clacked on stepping stones and harder ground, to the rhythm of his pace. Yosuke felt a gentle breeze against his face in the early morning hours, leading him to take a breath of the sweet air around him. He spoke to no one, and no one spoke to him. He was undisturbed in his tranquil walk, seeing Hachiro-sensei's dojo not far from where he was. He continued his walking, until he was inside the entrance gates. He looked around, seeing a few people outside, and a few people inside. Again, he spoke to no one, keeping to himself.

Yosuke would walk around the dojo, coming to a place that he frequents. A lush garden with a pool of water in the center, a few koi inhabiting it. It was quiet, undisturbed, and peaceful. Yosuke would take a gander through the garden, examining the plants it held. Against the green of the leaves, there were a few colors. From white to red, with varying pink. Yes, he was now standing under a cherry tree. He turned so his back was to the tree, and his front was to the wind, and sat in the shade. In his small time attending the dojo as a student, he's chosen this place as his.

He'd rested under the tree for a while, thinking to himself about various things. He had no recollection of how much time he'd spent there, nor did he have any orientation as to where everyone else was. He'd been disconnected for a while, it seemed, for things had changed around quite a bit. Making his decision, he would stand and brush his hakama off, the fallen leaves and petals once again falling. He made his way inside, where he would find a place to start training, warming up his muscles. Though he didn't much care for iaijutsu as a martial art, he appreciated it as an art in itself. He had just begun training in iaijutsu, being an i-kyu not too long ago. He would retrieve a practice sword and begin.

Yosuke assumed a general pose and began training his body with basic strikes, quickly unsheathing and sheathing the duller blade. He wasn't very strong, but he was fast, and some would argue that speed and patience are key in iaijutsu. Wait for an opportunity, then quickly land a strike preemptively before your opponent can. Read your opponent, learn their tricks, find patterns. This martial art was equal parts swordsmanship and mind games, at least, that's how Yosuke saw it.

Akihiro, Katsu

Katsu had been sitting by the pond for only a few moments before her train of thoughts was interrupted by a newcomer. Firstly, Tanaka Hideki. She knew the man, since he was a student in this very dojo. Katsu actually had a hard time understanding this man. She saw in him a lack of commitment, but certainly not to the sword, and it simply confused her every time she spoke with him. One of Katsu's many defaults was her pride, and so when he approached her she immediately grabbed her swords and stood up, not wanting to speak with him if she was lower, scared of displaying weakness. The girl student did not say anything as Hideki spoke up, but then turned around quickly, facing him, and looking quite angry.

She had not the time to answer as a second man came in, Akira Naoki. Her opinion on this one was already settled, Katsu saw him as a source of annoyance. Granted, he had some skills with a sword for a farm boy, but for Katsu it was really hard to admit. He often made mockeries, which she was not particularly receptive to, and worst of all...he sometimes came late, which was unacceptable. The more he spoke, the more Katsu looked irritating, eventually closing her eyes in holding down, surely, many stingy answers. The moment he was done, she spoke up.

''Enough.'' She said of her serious tone, which was her usual's. Katsu had seen some sense into Tanaka's words, but Akira was also speaking the truth. Even if this was the case, she would not admit it to them, not openly, anyway.

''Ba-Baaaka...! Idiots, what makes you think I am looking for any kind of answers to anything?'' she said, looking away. While it was no secret to anyone her father refused her the title she asked for for months, because she had too many flaws still, she adamantly denied it.

''Furthermore, you are right, Akira, I do not want any Yon-Dan's advice, you included. I can find any kind of answers in training, though it's not like I am searching for any.''

And with that, Katsu walked away rapidly, letting out one last 'Hmph' as she disappeared inside the Dojo for the beginning of today's training session. As she walked on one of the outside corridor going around the Dojo, she passed by the gardens. Her eyes briefly locked on a girl sitting there, drinking tea. Katus knew almost naught of this student, except that she almost her polar opposite. She shook her head to chase that taught, and kept being on her way.

The Master, Sensei Akihiro, was already waiting.

---

Akimi, Oichi

As soon as Oichi entered the dojo, she was accosted by Shiro. He was, actually, by far her Senpai, but did not act so much like it to be honest. Still, the Dojo required of one to be extremely aware of the traditions and so Oichi bowed respectfully to him, before speaking up.

''Greetings, Zogaikotsu-Senpai. You are already here, so early as usual.'' She said with a smile. Every words Oichi spoke sounded like they had been prepared in advance, and her smile looked like an act in an elaborated theater piece. Not that she was not sincere, far from it, but her extreme show of respect towards others made it look that way. Now hearing a voice from behind the duo, Oichi turned around only to see Eri appear. Yet another student with a much higher rank than herself. Also came Takashi Hayazo, one year older than herself here at the Dojo.

Oichi showed the newcomers the same respect she did with Shiro before them, giving them both the proper greeting. ''Good morning, Yamato-Senpai, Takashi-senpai. I look forward to training with you today.''

Oichi turned to face yet a third newcomer, but the man passed by them without a word. She then realized she did not know this particular individual, and by the look of it he did not seem to want her to know him either. She could respect such a wish, even if they'd eventually meet in the Dojo.

''If you all excuse me...'' she said with a light bow of her head ''..I will proceed to the Dojo. I would want some time to myself before we begin today's training.'' On that the girl smiled, and left ahead of the group. Today's lesson would start any moment, and Oichi had an habit of meditating if only a few moments before the beginning of training.

Shiro acknowledged her bow and greeting with a short nod of his own and the reply "im always here" before she walked off. He stepped into the center of the floor and assumed a back stance. Leading with hi back foot he jumped forward doing a side kick then landed and rolled. He came up drawing his sword in an upward arc slashing at air. Using the momentum he spun and threw a hook kick before following through with his sword in a reverse hilt grip. Continuing his spin he performed a 540 kick and landed with one knee down his sword behind him in a reverse grip. Shiro stands exhales and sheaths the blade.

Another male had joined in the conversation, saying the opposite of what Tanaka had said. He couldn't help but smile, turning towards the man as he nodded. However, the lady didn't take it very well. A dry laugh escaped Tanaka's lips as he watched the young girl walk away. Ah, well, at least he tried. He walked towards Naoki, patting him on the shoulder in a friendly manner. "Well, I suppose it's time for us lowly Yon-dan's to practice, eh?" he cheerfully said as he began to walk towards the dojo.

"Made her angry, I guess." Akira shrugged as she walked away. not helping but to laugh. She was entertaining, to say the least. Oh well, he had tried to "help", so that was to be his good deed of the day. Not his fault she rejected it.

"Hehe, but of course." He answered to the other boy. "We don't want to disappoint sensei, after all." He added, walking off. "Like his daughter does." He thought to himself, keeping himself from saying it out loud. Mustn't show disrespect, after all. He turned around, patting the handle of one of his wooden swords, heading towards the dojo.

"Sorry, Sensei Akihiro. Didn't meant to be late again, just enjoying the pound." He said as he enter, giving a small wave. He wasn't too sorry, nor was he too late (again). But apologizing, he felt, looked good on him. Made him seem like he cared. Which he did, honestly, but one could not be blame for thinking he didn't!