September 20th, OE 102
Citadel City, Perindor
Perindor Citadel Gardens
Mumyo had returned to the place of her duel with Kusanagi, the two walking side-by-side, taking an afternoon stroll through the gardens. With repairs and tuning needed on the Setsugekka, there was some downtime between the present and when they’d be proceeding to their next objective. It was a good time for Kusanagi to give Mumyo a lesson or two to aid her on her path to redemption. Now that she had knowledge of what she’d be up against in the coming war, she would need all the help she could get in facing Kusanagi’s former apprentice.
The two had been walking in silence for several minutes, neither bothering to break the silence, tranquility filling the atmosphere.
“So, let me first ask you. What are your thoughts of Tenka?”
It was first best to learn of what Mumyo’s mind thought of her foe.
“...”
Mumyo’s eyes dropped to the ground as she recalled her fight the previous day and what she felt during the brief encounter.
“Her power was overwhelming… Far greater than my uncle or any of the other elders from the Aohara clan.”
Perhaps there was some shame in how she spoke, her pride having been shattered once again by an opponent who stood above her.
“Tenka was one of my brightest students, she held the most potential and I even considered her to take my place as ‘Kusanagi’.”
The man himself had a contemplative look on his face, buried deep within his soul, perhaps some feelings of regret laid persistent.
“Why didn’t you?”
She turned to look at Kusanagi.
“Her combat strength was impressive, her ability to think and adapt was superhuman. By all means she was a warrior who could surpass even myself; but she lacked one important quality. A calm mind.”
He gave Mumyo a stern look.
“She was passionate; her desire for strength and improvement clouded her mind and dulled her blade.”
“And that wasn’t enough for her to succeed you?”
“What she achieved was only a fraction of what her true potential could be. Let me impart some wisdom on you of how I founded the Kusanagi Sword School.”
Kusanagi detoured onto a small patch of dirt, picked up a stick off the ground and began to draw in the dirt. Mumyo followed in and looked to where he was drawing.
“The principles of the Kusanagi-Style form under the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.”
He drew small symbols of each element in the dirt.
“You know the Furinkazan technique, yes? While it is somewhat of a derivative from my original concept, the basis is the same.”
Earth. That which composes the ground beneath our feet, forms the foundation for learning the Kusanagi-Ryu. It also stands as a constant reminder to return to and perfect your basics. Even should one lose their way, so long as they remember their roots, they will find hope even in the darkest of places.
Water. To conform yourself to your surroundings and become shapeless. If you pour water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You pour water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. One must empty their mind and be formless. Water can flow, it can crash. Whatever situation one finds themself in, they must be able to adapt.
Fire. To learn aggression, to master your strength. Fire can be as small as a lantern, or as large as a raging wildfire. To be able to manage your power and know when to strike; when to retreat. When to evade and when to counter. What kind of weapon to use, how to use it. The knowledge of yourself, and knowledge of your enemy. Knowing your limits and managing your strength, your energy, your timing, will let you overcome any obstacle in your path.
Wind. Wind can make waves crash, it can fan flames, it can rip the earth out from the ground below. The principle of wind comes from mastery of all the previous principles; complete control over your body. The Kusanagi-Ryu is like a raging storm; To be caught within the raging winds of it is death to all, yet at the center of it all, there is peace. To hone your mind and be at peace with yourself, and through that, achieve becoming a true Kensei. Though one must be careful, for should they step out of the center into the storm, they will be met with little more than death.
“Through the knowledge of any of these concepts, anyone can become a warrior, but only through understanding and applying all four to your fighting, will you become a Kensei.”
The knowledge was perhaps somewhat familiar to Mumyo, it was a far more in-depth explanation than she had heard previously.
“So let me ask you again, with this knowledge now fresh in your mind: What did you think of Tenka’s fighting; where was she lacking?”
His face was held in anticipation, awaiting Mumyo’s response.
Mumyo placed her finger to her chin as she began to think.
“Her mastery of the first three concepts were obvious I think to most who’ve watched her fight. But if there was a difference between fighting you and her, she lacked calmness in her swordsmanship.”
“Yes. Passion, Jealousy, Pride. They are all motivating factors, but never ideal on the battlefield. Tenka was always in competition with my other apprentices; her goal: be stronger than anyone else.”
Kusanagi gave a somewhat unsatisfied frown on his face.
“But aren’t most warriors seeking that goal? To be the strongest warrior?”
Mumyo tilted her head in questioning.
“Comparing yourself to others and competing with others only does harm to inflate your pride, your ego. Rather, competition should be no more than one between you and yourself. The you of yesterday, and the you of tomorrow.”
Kusanagi sat down on the dirt cross-legged and relaxed his body.
“When one reaches the peak of swordsmanship and becomes the strongest, do they just up and quit? Leave there? No. Once you have climbed to the peak of the mountain, your next goal is to reach for the skies and raise yourself to the heavens above.”
He gave a slight grin and shook his head.
“But I digress. Tenka has always skirted the eyewall, so to speak. She’s never managed to achieve total clarity in her mind, and I fear she never will. Perhaps I am partially at fault for acknowledging her skills when she was younger…”
“So that’s why she joined Colossi Immortalis…”
Mumyo looked down at Kusanagi, perhaps feeling some empathy for the ageless man.
“But let’s not worry about such issues that are in the past. Now we must focus on the present. Mumyo, your understanding of the first concept is solid, but your mastery of the remaining three is far from perfect. For now, let us work on the second concept, Water. First, watch.”
Kusanagi placed his wrists on his knees and closed his eyes. He focused inward to the source of his energy, his Haki. He could feel it welling up in his stomach and beginning to spread throughout his body and then beyond, into the atmosphere. It took only a few seconds, but he could feel himself melding with his surroundings, becoming one with nature itself. As he breathed, wind began to stir; a gentle breeze flowing with each inhale the man took.
“In meditation we learn to clear our minds and focus inward. In Furinkazan, Haki is drawn from the heart, yes?”
“The sixth gate is the heart, yeah.”
“In truth, one’s Haki comes from the stomach, think of it like a sea of ki. Come, sit and meditate with me.”
He kept his eyes closed as he spoke, continuing to focus on his haki. Mumyo sat down in front of him in seiza, placing her hands in Dhyani Mudra, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
“Imagine your stomach as a well, first empty. Let the ki, the water slowly rise, filling the well until it is almost overflowing. From there, feel the ki spread through your body, your arms, your legs, let it fill you fully. Remember, Ki -like water- is formless. You fill the cup with water, it becomes the cup. You fill your body with Ki, it becomes your body.”
“I think I understand it.”
Citadel City, Perindor
Perindor Citadel Gardens
Mumyo had returned to the place of her duel with Kusanagi, the two walking side-by-side, taking an afternoon stroll through the gardens. With repairs and tuning needed on the Setsugekka, there was some downtime between the present and when they’d be proceeding to their next objective. It was a good time for Kusanagi to give Mumyo a lesson or two to aid her on her path to redemption. Now that she had knowledge of what she’d be up against in the coming war, she would need all the help she could get in facing Kusanagi’s former apprentice.
The two had been walking in silence for several minutes, neither bothering to break the silence, tranquility filling the atmosphere.
“So, let me first ask you. What are your thoughts of Tenka?”
It was first best to learn of what Mumyo’s mind thought of her foe.
“...”
Mumyo’s eyes dropped to the ground as she recalled her fight the previous day and what she felt during the brief encounter.
“Her power was overwhelming… Far greater than my uncle or any of the other elders from the Aohara clan.”
Perhaps there was some shame in how she spoke, her pride having been shattered once again by an opponent who stood above her.
“Tenka was one of my brightest students, she held the most potential and I even considered her to take my place as ‘Kusanagi’.”
The man himself had a contemplative look on his face, buried deep within his soul, perhaps some feelings of regret laid persistent.
“Why didn’t you?”
She turned to look at Kusanagi.
“Her combat strength was impressive, her ability to think and adapt was superhuman. By all means she was a warrior who could surpass even myself; but she lacked one important quality. A calm mind.”
He gave Mumyo a stern look.
“She was passionate; her desire for strength and improvement clouded her mind and dulled her blade.”
“And that wasn’t enough for her to succeed you?”
“What she achieved was only a fraction of what her true potential could be. Let me impart some wisdom on you of how I founded the Kusanagi Sword School.”
Kusanagi detoured onto a small patch of dirt, picked up a stick off the ground and began to draw in the dirt. Mumyo followed in and looked to where he was drawing.
“The principles of the Kusanagi-Style form under the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.”
He drew small symbols of each element in the dirt.
“You know the Furinkazan technique, yes? While it is somewhat of a derivative from my original concept, the basis is the same.”
Earth. That which composes the ground beneath our feet, forms the foundation for learning the Kusanagi-Ryu. It also stands as a constant reminder to return to and perfect your basics. Even should one lose their way, so long as they remember their roots, they will find hope even in the darkest of places.
Water. To conform yourself to your surroundings and become shapeless. If you pour water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You pour water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. One must empty their mind and be formless. Water can flow, it can crash. Whatever situation one finds themself in, they must be able to adapt.
Fire. To learn aggression, to master your strength. Fire can be as small as a lantern, or as large as a raging wildfire. To be able to manage your power and know when to strike; when to retreat. When to evade and when to counter. What kind of weapon to use, how to use it. The knowledge of yourself, and knowledge of your enemy. Knowing your limits and managing your strength, your energy, your timing, will let you overcome any obstacle in your path.
Wind. Wind can make waves crash, it can fan flames, it can rip the earth out from the ground below. The principle of wind comes from mastery of all the previous principles; complete control over your body. The Kusanagi-Ryu is like a raging storm; To be caught within the raging winds of it is death to all, yet at the center of it all, there is peace. To hone your mind and be at peace with yourself, and through that, achieve becoming a true Kensei. Though one must be careful, for should they step out of the center into the storm, they will be met with little more than death.
“Through the knowledge of any of these concepts, anyone can become a warrior, but only through understanding and applying all four to your fighting, will you become a Kensei.”
The knowledge was perhaps somewhat familiar to Mumyo, it was a far more in-depth explanation than she had heard previously.
“So let me ask you again, with this knowledge now fresh in your mind: What did you think of Tenka’s fighting; where was she lacking?”
His face was held in anticipation, awaiting Mumyo’s response.
Mumyo placed her finger to her chin as she began to think.
“Her mastery of the first three concepts were obvious I think to most who’ve watched her fight. But if there was a difference between fighting you and her, she lacked calmness in her swordsmanship.”
“Yes. Passion, Jealousy, Pride. They are all motivating factors, but never ideal on the battlefield. Tenka was always in competition with my other apprentices; her goal: be stronger than anyone else.”
Kusanagi gave a somewhat unsatisfied frown on his face.
“But aren’t most warriors seeking that goal? To be the strongest warrior?”
Mumyo tilted her head in questioning.
“Comparing yourself to others and competing with others only does harm to inflate your pride, your ego. Rather, competition should be no more than one between you and yourself. The you of yesterday, and the you of tomorrow.”
Kusanagi sat down on the dirt cross-legged and relaxed his body.
“When one reaches the peak of swordsmanship and becomes the strongest, do they just up and quit? Leave there? No. Once you have climbed to the peak of the mountain, your next goal is to reach for the skies and raise yourself to the heavens above.”
He gave a slight grin and shook his head.
“But I digress. Tenka has always skirted the eyewall, so to speak. She’s never managed to achieve total clarity in her mind, and I fear she never will. Perhaps I am partially at fault for acknowledging her skills when she was younger…”
“So that’s why she joined Colossi Immortalis…”
Mumyo looked down at Kusanagi, perhaps feeling some empathy for the ageless man.
“But let’s not worry about such issues that are in the past. Now we must focus on the present. Mumyo, your understanding of the first concept is solid, but your mastery of the remaining three is far from perfect. For now, let us work on the second concept, Water. First, watch.”
Kusanagi placed his wrists on his knees and closed his eyes. He focused inward to the source of his energy, his Haki. He could feel it welling up in his stomach and beginning to spread throughout his body and then beyond, into the atmosphere. It took only a few seconds, but he could feel himself melding with his surroundings, becoming one with nature itself. As he breathed, wind began to stir; a gentle breeze flowing with each inhale the man took.
“In meditation we learn to clear our minds and focus inward. In Furinkazan, Haki is drawn from the heart, yes?”
“The sixth gate is the heart, yeah.”
“In truth, one’s Haki comes from the stomach, think of it like a sea of ki. Come, sit and meditate with me.”
He kept his eyes closed as he spoke, continuing to focus on his haki. Mumyo sat down in front of him in seiza, placing her hands in Dhyani Mudra, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
“Imagine your stomach as a well, first empty. Let the ki, the water slowly rise, filling the well until it is almost overflowing. From there, feel the ki spread through your body, your arms, your legs, let it fill you fully. Remember, Ki -like water- is formless. You fill the cup with water, it becomes the cup. You fill your body with Ki, it becomes your body.”
“I think I understand it.”