[Ken] Ryóma: Kenjutsu Training

[Ryóma]

All was quiet in Konoha, as Tiashe awoke. It was not yet dawn, and so it was dark. However, he was very eager, and jumped out of bed, for he had been given permission by a certain someone to learn Kenjutsu from. Tiashe was always up for learning, and so he quickly started getting ready. He packed his bag with what he thought he would need.

With a sword strapped to his back, Tiashe left his house, and slipped quietly onto the streets of Konoha. It was cold, and Tiashe did not like getting cold at all, as he was sensitive to it. He folded his arms in an attempt to warm himself, then set off. A little light was starting to show now on the horizon, so Tiashe used that little light to walk down the streets. He was walking steadily to the gates of Konoha, as he would be going to train somewhere else.

Soon enough, Tiashe crossed the gates, and informed the two guards at the gate that he would soon be back, and that he was only going for some training. As Tiashe walked out, he took the map out from his bag, and looked for the place where he would go. He studied it carefully, trying to find the quickest way to reach the place. The faster he was, the faster he could start this training that he was so eager for. But, being Tiashe, he rarely ever let his emotions show, and so this eagerness was controlled inside him, only to be seen by himself alone. Hmm, so if I go this way, I could reach there in about two and a half hours by running at full speed. I see, let me go now.

Tiashe quickly set off at a very fast pace. Part of the way, he travelled through the trees where he could find any. After around three hours, Tiashe stopped. He held his map out again, to see where he was. Oh, so I'm almost there now. But it took me more time than I had expected. I must have not run fast enough. Only a few minutes more now.

However, all that running had made Tiashe pretty hungry, and so he took just a few minutes to eat a tuna sandwich. Setting off again, Tiashe soon reached his destination. He was in awe of his surroundings. For there he was, in a vast valley of grassland, where all he could see was grass till the horizon. The ground overlapped each other, causing slopes. What caught Tiashe's attention the most was the clear stream of water running in the distance. There were also a few trees here and there, as if they had just been put there. They were quiet big though, and looked very majestic.

The sun was fully up by this time, and the sounds of birds chirping filled the valley. So, my favourite animals are here too. This made him even more happy. Seeing that his Sensei had not arrived yet, Tiashe was glad. For he was so very intrigued by this location, he wanted to explore it a little before his Sensei arrived. Tiashe went ahead and walked over to the stream. It was very clear, and was running at a calm speed. He took off his shoes and socks, and felt the water with his feet. It was cold, and he was very hot from that large run. So, taking off his shirt, he threw it onto the ground beside the waters edge and slowly made his way into the water, until he was waist deep in. Then he just dumped the rest of his is body under the water, feeling very calmed.

Tiashe swam around for a bit, then just stayed in the water, patiently waiting for his Sensei to arrive. He wondered what his teachers reaction would be to see his student in a stream on their very first encounter. He was curious, so he stayed in there waiting. He could not get bored though, as whilst he was waiting, he saw fish, and he was trying to catch one. It proved to be quite difficult though.

 

[Adachi]

Morals and Ethics, Morals and Ethics...Morals and Ethics. It had been another sleepless night. Adachi vaguely recalled an agreement to indulge someone in the arts of Kenjutsu and being the wanderer that he was, chose a spot near the meeting spot to await the starting time. Cracking open an ancient book, he absorbed himself in its words only to snap back into consciousness under the glare of the morning sun. Morals and Ethics. Just another book he had managed to snatch from his clan's library before he left. It was a purely subjective, but nonetheless, interesting read.

Something akin to a splashing sounded from not far ahead. His student may have arrived already. Stashing away the book, Adachi made his way towards the disturbance. It appeared he wasn't too far off. A figure was deep in the water, attempting to lay a hand on the multiple swarms of fish swimming within.

Adachi sighed. Such foolishness. The human hand was no proper material to confine a fish's slippery surface. He reached towards the practice Katana he had brought with him and after hoisting it into the air, threw it with precise calculation and accuracy. It shot into the water, whizzed past Tiashe and struck a salmon straight in its gut, pinning it clean through as the Katana broke the surface of the stream again, taking its prize with it onto the grassy field.

Bull's eye.

 

[Ryóma]

Ugh, why can't I catch this thing? Maybe I should use a Lightning technique in the water to paralyze the fish. Actually no, if I do that, all the fish would die and I don't want that... Tiashe tried looking intently at the fish, as if looking at it like that would kill them. Damn, this sun is being reflected in my eyes. How on earth will I catch one like that? He continued throwing his hand into the water, trying to catch them. Sometimes he would touch one, but it was so slippery and would just swim away. Then one of them would come back to him, as if knowing that they could not be caught. Underestimating me huh, you little fish? Although, he was having fun, and it was a good way to kill time.

Tiashe was about to plunge his arm into the water again to catch the fish, when all of a sudden he felt something whiz past him and dive into the water. Great, so now the fish can even fly in my face? They really are making fun of me. His face was in a half irritated and half amused look. But then, Tiashe saw that the thing that had whizzed past him was a weapon. It was a Katakana, which he could recognize. There was a fish attached to it, and it was a clean hit. He watched as it floated onto the bank, and onto the grass. Suddenly he could see that thee per were no more fish in sight. They had all taken off in fear.

Wait, who did that? Tiashe looked around fast, and saw that a few metres away from him, was standing a man. Oh, that must be my teacher, since he is using weapons. But wow, he sure knows how to use them well. He actually managed to get the fish from that far of a distance. I can't wait to start training under him! Tiashe thought gleefully, but suppressing his smiles.

Feeling a little ashamed of himself that his teacher had probably seen him failing to catch a fish when he had done so very easily without much effort, Tiashe clambered out of the water and shook himself. His black hair was dripping with water and shining in the sunlight. It looked very sleek, and some of it rested flat on his forehead. And his jade green eyes sparkled in the sunlight, hiding years of sadness behind them. but now was not the time to think about all that. Forgetting about the slavery tattoo on his back, shirtless and completely soaked, the small and skinny Tiashe bent down to pick up the fish along with the weapon, then went to approach the man, waiting to see if he would say anything to him.