04: The Competition, Day Two

Kashita - Whether it be the unfamiliar setting or the fact that she was paired with Yasuki Jun (who's poem would be more appropriate for a dockside sake house) Kashita finds her effort to just draw flat gazes from the three judges. Kitsuki Tai Yu makes a sharp gesture to dismiss you both. As you are walking out Yasuki Jun looks somewhat sheepish "I'm afraid I only know the more...bawdy type of poems" he says quietly.

Yoshi - the judges all nod in satisfaction at your haiku, Hida Goroharu even breaking out into a grin seeming to find something particularly appealing in your prose. "Very good, thank you" the Crab says as you and your partner are dismissed.

Aki - Aki finds herself paired with Shiba Toya. The other Phoenix is first up and delivers an almost flawless haiku drawing approving nods from all the judges. Aki clears her mind and lets the words flow, they tumble over one another like water flowing down a stream. As she finishes the judges all stare at her expressionless for a moment before Bayushi Moriko mutters a simple "Sublime" before all three judges incline their heads in a slight bow of respect. You are both dismissed with their thanks. As you exit your eyes seek out Hitoshi, the mantis seems in good spirits apparently having accounted for himself quite well.

You are all allowed a few minutes to mingle before the next contest, the Law trial, is due to begin.

Aki - Hitoshi smiles and seems much more at ease than he was during yesterdays events "Indeed Aki-san, the fortunes seem to be finding me more in their favour today" he says with a grin.

Kashita - Yasuki Jun smiles and their embarrassment seems to lessen somewhat as you walk to where the others are standing.

Yoshi - Bayushi Mei Lin smiles at your comments "Indeed, they are. However I am sure the challenges we will face once we have all achieved our Gempuku will make us look back fondly on these events"

Yoshi - the Scorpion Bushi shakes her head causing the red mask that covers the left side of her face to shift slightly "I'm afraid I am not acquainted with Sugai-sama though I have certainly tried to learn what I can from their performance in last years tournament"

Aki - Hitoshi chuckles slightly "Indeed, hopefully they continue doing so for the remainder of the day". Whilst you are talking to the Mantis you do notice that although you are all standing together the other competitors are positioned in a manner to make it obvious they do not consider you and him to be 'with' them currently.

Before anything else can be said a female samurai bearing the mon of the Pheonix clan bustles pass you all carrying an armful of scrolls. ‘'I hope you spent time studying for this" she says before she disappears into the gallery. The now very familiar gong rings out as you are all lined up and escorted inside one at a time.

Whilst Aki and Kashita's approaches do not seem to please Akodo Eiko or Asako Himeya (Bayushi Kiriko does not seem to have an opinion on your approach) but your flexibility with your answers seems to satisfy them in the end. As well as you both did you failed to exceed the performance of Bayushi Mei Lin who receives accolades from each of the judges. Kashita's clansman Moto Batbayar fails to meet the required standard.

Whils Yoshi manages to provide some high level answers his lack of detail on the responses fails to pass the required standard from the judges, his approach however draws a few appreciative murmurs from the Lion and Pheonix judges at least. As you are exiting you happen to overhear a couple of samurai discussing Bayushi Sugai, apparently the Scorpion has been making some less than complimentary, not to mention borderline disrespectful, comments about Kakita Toshimoko. As you move out of earshot you catch one of them saying "...hardly surprising he has some bad feelings towards the Grey Crane, I've heard ever since he lost last years tournament he has been critical of the way the competition was run..."

As you exit the gallery you are quickly guided over to a large hall where a number of tables have been arrayed, set out on each is a go board and pieces. You are quickly divided into pairs and set against one another. An older Lion bushi, Ikoma Ikehata, wanders the room studying the competitors play styles. Whilst delivering the occasional rap on the knuckles to anyone who he feels is trying to run the time down he rumbles "Just like on the battlefield, bold tactics bear results"

Whilst neither Kashita or Yoshi score particularly well during the game they do both get an approving nod from Ikoma Ikehata as he observes your play style. Aki on the other hand fares much better, netting both a win and the approval of the Lion judge.

Whilst she is playing Aki glances over at Hitoshi. Whilst the mantis has earned a disproving grunt from the judge for his more flexible, less aggressive style of play he still performs well and the judges scores him appropriately. Aki does once again see a lot of similarities between Hitoshi and the other crane present and the thought occurs to her that if he was wearing their mon he would easily pass for one of their clan.

Towards the end of the session all eyes are drawn to the match between Bayushi Mei Lin and Yasuki Jun. Over the course of play the Scorpion Bushi is beginning to look increasingly frustrated whilst the Crab Courtier seems to be effortlessly placing stones on the board. After a furious exchange Yasuki Jun smiles slightly an places his final stone on the board, Ilyushin Mei Lin stares at the board in shock for a few moments before looking up at the Crab and bowing quite low, seeming to be assessing the courtier in a new light. In return Jun maintains his satisfied smile and returns her bow.

At this point the contest breaks for lunch and you are all given a short while to mingle before the Archery and the Hunting contests. The scores are updated and it now shows that Aki is leading the standings on 15 points with Yoshi and Kashita taking the second and third positions with 13 and 12 points respectively. Hitoshi and Yasuki Jun are the only two competitors who have yet to score highly enough to achieve their Gempuku. I occurs to you all that if Hitoshi is to stand any chance of qualifying then he will need to not just score in both of the remaining contests but to win at least one them outright....