"Young Dragon, what are you doing?"

Tomaru's beard waggles a bit as he offers a short bow to his sudden interlocutor, approaching closer and looking at the sheets in front of him, the ink and brushes laid out, and the one in his much-stained hand.

"That looks like quite good ink to be using for practice alone, and you seem to have been at it for a while today."

"Um, yes, um, erm, yes," replies the subject of Tomaru's comments, rising to return the bow and holding it longer than the older man. He takes some care to hold the brush a bit away from his body, and it somehow does not drip on the table or the tatami as he does so.

"Um, well, er, Kichinitonda, House Ozawa, Family Mirumoto, Clan Dragon, Agasha-ryu," he adds, by way of introducing himself. "And, and, well, er, this's primarily a temple to Tengen-no-kami, so, er, what better prayer than writing, right? And, well, the Founder writes often that 'you must practice this diligently,' so, er, well, yes, I'm doing a lot of it.

"Maybe I'll actually get it right one time. And that's why I practice in ink instead of, say, soy or water. When it happens, I want it to happen, um, er, yes."

He nods.

"Tomaru, House Kanehime, Family of Seppun, Seppun-ryu," comes the reply. "And it sounds like you've given this some thought; you seem to be on a solid theological foundation with your ideas, which is good."

Another beard-waggling nod. "Could stand to see more of that in men of your age. And of any age, really."

He leans in to look more closely at Kichinitonda's "practice," and his eyebrows rise.

"You say this isn't right, young man. Why? It looks more than proficient to me."

"Er, well, um, thank you?"

Kichinitonda manages to get the brush to its rest before it can drip.

"And, and, I'm not going to argue with you, -sama. But, er, I know I can do, um, do better. Than this. Than these."

His ink-stained hand waves at the sheets.

"I mean, um, all the arts are, um, one art, like the Founder writes. Sword in the hand is the same as cup of tea in the hand and all. The bushi, er, practices so that they can, um, make the perfect cut when it comes time, and, um, there're a lot of, um, not-perfect strokes before that that still cut. So, um, er, I think it's kind of the same thing, maybe?"

"Hm."

Tomaru's hand idly strokes his beard.

"I can see how you arrive at that idea, young Dragon," he says. "Although I might note that the Fortunes are pleased with a sincere effort even if it is not a perfect one. Or so my own studies have always suggested."

"Oh, of course, yes, um, yeah."

Kichinitonda nods vigorously.

"But I still have to practice, though. How many, um, how many times a day does the bushi swing their sword, right? I know that Ayamari gives a lot of time to that, every day that he can."

"Who is Ayamari, young Dragon?"

Tomaru's hands fold under the curve of his belly as he awaits an answer.

"Um, er, well, he's Ayamari, House Nishimura, Family Agasha, Clan Dragon, Dokyo."

Kichinitonda nods.

"And he's very good, -sama. You'll, um, hear of him from more than me. But, er, from me first, maybe?"

Tomaru's hand finds his beard again.

"Yes, I think first from you, young Dragon."

He nods.

"I shall look forward to hearing more about this Ayamari, from you and from others. And I shall look forward to seeing more of your efforts with the brush.

"For now, though, I shall leave you to your practice. Carry the Fortunes."

He bows.

"Um, well, yes, er, yes, of course, Seppun, Seppun-sama."

Kichinitonda returns the bow. And he returns to his work.

Jihen arrived at the library that morning with the purpose of finding references to the fortune Gobai that Agasha Yuna had mentioned having interest in. If possible he would try and prepare any similar document for her reading when/if she received access to the library.

He busied himself about, looking for works which the temple had...

Tomaru notes the young monk, and his brow furrows for a moment. Then his eyebrows rise, and his crooked smile waggles his beard. He gives a short nod, recognizing the familiar face.

Jihen replies with a soft smile and a polite bow, "Seppun-sama. It is a pleasure to see you this morning."

Despite his being raised in the temple, there were still times when Jihen understood the joys of familial ties. Meeting with his 'Honored Uncle'... not in the strictest sense... was one of those times he felt the affections of a caring family member.

"And you, as well, young brother," Tomaru replies. "I"m guessing the Abbot has you about some business?"

The way Tomaru hitches his hands into his obi calls attention to the paunch that strains it ever so slightly.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Actually a somewhat more personal quest as it were." He replied.

"I am gathering works that may have reference to the lesser fortune Gobai. A friend of mine is interested in the religious practices of our hosts, and the concept of balance. She does not yet have access to the libraries, but I hope to have some things ready for her if Ikoma-sama grants his approval."

"The Fortunes are a worthy study," Tomaru replies, nodding. "My own devotions have not focused on the Fortune of Balance, so there's not a lot of help I can necessarily be with that, but I will be happy to forward you a copy of anything I happen across in that regard."

He pauses, hand touching his beard.

"Who's your friend, if I may ask?"

Jihen bowed his head in gratitude, "I would be much obliged Honored Elder."

He then shares the woman's name, "Her name is Agasha Yuna, a karo of the Dragon clan."

"Ah!"

Tomaru's face brightens.

"I had the pleasure of speaking with her at length yesterday," he says. "Delightful young lady, truly, and with good ideas about a great many things. I'm glad you've made a friend of her."

"I hope I do not assume too much in claiming that she is indeed my friend." He said with a humble nod of his head.

"She is indeed and earnest and sharp young woman. She speaks of the importance of the Tao, and in leaders who understand and try to live by it."

He looks to Tomaru with an inquisitive eye, "One wonders if she would not benefit from discussing the Tao with someone as devoted as yourself?"

"That was one of the topics to which our talk turned yesterday," Tomaru replies.

Then the crooked smile reasserts itself.

"I always knew you were an insightful one."