Shimazu Teahouse

Hearing the crying of this young patron, her heart went out to her even if the business was not her own. Still she'd gently rubbed along the side of her hair, gently rubbing the girl's back while she held her against her chest and just felt her weaping, the words that were spoken, none of it really seemed to get through as far as she knew. She rubbed along her back a little more and then gently speaking up in hopes of this pathless girl might be able to hear her.

"I know not your problem, but if you need someone, there is always a hand here...at this small teahouse." charity wasn't really that high anywhere in Kagustuchi, but a personal moment of aiding, it was clear that she was personally offering this to her. Even if it might not be accepted most off.

A moment of grace..? Maybe...
Youna ceased to cry. She had no tears left, and some strength to move on had blessed her as she began to stand back up.
"Thank you, Madam... but I cannot accept your help.", Youna said, her voice still monotone but a bit more firm. She had to be much stronger than this if she wanted to be a defender of justice. But even her ideals didn't stand any ground anymore; despite that, she was still clinging to them, without any reason in her mind.
Having gained again her will to move, she took her ring back from the ground where it was laying, bowing to the elderly beast-woman and saying "Sorry." before leaving the restroom.
Going back to her friend, she didn't take the time to sit down. "I've gotta go back home now... Sorry, Kaname. You weren't supposed to see me like that...", she said as she started to take her way out of the teahouse.
"Youna-chan, you didn't even take a tea...!", Kaname said up in a worried tone.
"Surely you know about family duty, Kaname. I'm not supposed to see anyone when I'm on the job. I have to go home now. Goodbye...", Youna said, tears having their way back in her eyes and down her face as she walked out, leaving her friend and the sole person who extended a helping hand to her behind...
-------------------------(Leaving to her home...)--------------------------->

There would not be a single moment that was lost, upon feeling the girl draw away, all she could do was watch her go, speaking a few words to her before she left out of range. "It is the least I could do child...you are not alone." the words were almost cliché in a way, but what more could she say? As she witnessed her leaving both the bathroom and the establishment, she could not help but feel a tinge of some sorrow for the young girl. She'd almost wanted to stop her, but realized that this like itself was beyond her right to have done so with.

Jay had spent a good amount of time thinking about the spar he had with Kinjou, it was an eye opening experience for him and left him feeling rather worried about his own prowess, maybe he was relying too much on his heighten physical strength and speed lately ? Was he Begin to become rusty ? This was worrying him, it felt like he was wasting time for the past few years trying to become stronger.
He walked into the shop, looking around looking for the old woman or Kinjou.

With keen ears focused on the sound of door opening, it was the footsteps that briefly brought her pause. They were the same soles that had been about not some hours before. Had the person returned with a purpose? After having tried to ensure that the poor girl had been alright and found her inconsolable, The Matron Shimazu could not help but feel a little dismayed. Though she took care not to project her feelings outward, she emerged from the curtain with a calm disposition. Finding herself once more within the company of the strange young man from before, the one that had sparred with her grandson and lost.

She knew well of this young man's interest in Kinjou's skill and it brought her back to a few thoughts as to why he had come back. She would address that should it come up once more, for now she'd settle upon her typical detail as hostess of her teahouse. "Ah...our patron from before, welcome back sir. I had not expected that you might come back so soon. What brings you back to the Pale Lotus teahouse so soon? Perhaps another round of tea and some complementary dumplings?" he had tipped well, so she was feeling that much more open with offering something along with an order of tea, should it have come.

I didn't really come for tea I'm afraid.. he said rubbing the back of his heads wondering how to word this out, he felt rather selfish asking  more from from the people who he had helped. I was wondering if I may get some training he asked in a respectful and rather shy tone it was clear that he felt awkward asking this, he stood rather stiffly different from his more relaxed posture form earlier.

It was just as she suspected of the young man's return, she had not planned on sharing the family secrets with just anyone really. She could see it in this young man had ambition, she could sense this much when he'd asked Kinjou to spar. He possessed a power that her grandson did not, she was curious as to why he would be after such skills. Straightening up with a light pop from her middle back, the 5'2" beastkin woman took a more serious tone upon his mentioning this. "Young one, you already possess unique talents...you are fast, you are strong, clearly you are no mere traveler. So I will ask you, why seek training? When one with such ability wishes to improve, normally they refine skills of their own." she simply spoke normal fact, she knew many young prideful men who would train themselves, some of which came now and again to challenge her grandson to combat or a test of skills now and again. On rare occasion, some would face her and after being humbled, chose not to return.

Hearing the woman's question the image of his mother overpowering him came into Jays mind, his teeth began to grit together I..am not strong enough his fingers gripped into his palms My strength and speed didn't do anything to even get me close to Kinjou. He thought back to other battles he had through the years I haven't been able to move forwards at all...

He had a personal interest vested in his improvement and he didn't feel very accomplished, it was nothing that she had not seen. Perhaps he was a bit more noble in aura than those who had come to the restaurant demanding to train with her daughter, son-in-law, or grandson...fortunately that time had died down since Kinjou was the only one who did any kind of Vigilante work these days, besides his brother. His father was the one who ran the dojo and ensured that Kinjou learned discipline as an assistant instructor himself. Such things were to her amusement, though she had let her mind wander too far into the past. She addressed this young man again, not appearing to have been much afflicted by his expression of his inability to move forward.

"Make no mistake about your talents, my grandson just happens to be skilled due to his practice. You do realize what you ask is no small measure to give." she had not even hinted that Kinjou's father could instruct him, since her son-in-law could be a bit too curt with his sizing up the worth of students. She'd almost felt sorry for this youngster for some reason, she felt some kind of sadness lingering around his present state. "I have not taught in many years...but then I am no easy teacher. Nor do I accept people based upon their stories alone. True as it may be, that is no reason to study with the martial arts that I may teach." folding her hands in front of her, the beastkin elder looked at him with piercing eyes, as if she were trying to see into his very soul, just prior to asking him another question.

"Think hard before you answer this, young one. Why is it you wish to study? Being stuck in your training is but a symptom." she was going to see how much he was to reveal to her.

Jay was contemplating on the woman's words he was curious why being stuck in training was a symptom of something but he decided to focus on answering her question. He didn't want to tell her the truth about wanting to get power so he could kill his own crazed mother but it felt like this old woman eyes pierced his very soul I to become stronger so I may kill a crazed woman who has claimed many lives, his eyes showed him holding something back but he seemed to give off an odd feel, it was as if he was sure of what he wanted but unsure of what he wanted.

She gave the young man a look of concern, though it was a fairly brief look as she considered the answer. In a way it was still a quest of the avenging nature. Whether or not he was doing it to stop her or merely because he had felt this as a need of closure in life, it was not a reason she personally condoned. The need 'to stop someone' had been reason of many Ikarugans during the war, where her own plethora of original students had died, employing her techniques to take the lives of others. She shut her eyes and was quiet for quite a time, as this was the very reason why she didn't instruct anyone but her family up to this point. She would send him away, but something had her feeling somewhat sympathetic towards this youth.

"You...will promise me something lad, but realize this also. You will learn something from me this day, realize that our skills do not kill. Life is sacred, even in the face of a need to destroy, you may take this into your understanding down the line. Now, with that understanding I ask you...what do you offer me? As no master would be so simple." she was gauging his values, what would he offer to her?

It was obvious such a teaching as this would conflict with Jays future plans, but this was a rare opportunity to learn skills to further him. I understand he gave a determined look and one that would hold this teaching in high regard,  still he wasn't sure what to offer.  What could he offer ? he didn't have much in the way of possessions mainly his clothes and spear, was it something like an object she wanted ? he though thinking about this now. His thinking was quite visible now Um.er..is it something like a object ? he asked scratching his head

She gave a light huff of air, well he wasn't much for the spiritual grasp of what she was asking, well that was fine. She would likely impart the physical skills he was seeking, it would be a test of his worth as an actual student of the Shimazu Clan's. Perhaps she, Hanako Otohime Shimazu had gone soft in old age...normally she'd have turned him away for such a thing. But maybe, her grandson was the reason for her softening so much. "A vow, is what I am asking for young one. As an a student, you have only this to offer me. As I am sure that you not possess much materially, nor would it be proper to ask such a thing of you." she'd given the answer she was after and hoped to hear him give her one that she found worthy of their school.

"We, of the Shimazu Clan, hold a person to their vows. Speak something worthy of my school and swear that you will not break it." this was where she gauged him, he'd had secrets like any other person in life, she cared not for his life story...but could he say something and keep to it?

It was a strange moment for Jay, he spent the better part of his life looking for a power to kill his mother yet..this moment was going to change that it seems I vow to not use the skills you teach me to kill a person, I will not destroy a life even if I desire it he wasn't sure if this was the right way to answer but it would be a vow he would keep, no doubt causing trouble in the future but if he were to break such a vow a man he would no longer be.

She seemed to become more pleased with his answer now than she had before this time, perhaps there was more to him than she'd given again, that was certainly acceptable as a term that she might wish to hear. A vow that she believed would suit him quite well, he was going to honor their clan and her personal views with his vow. "Alright, a vow easily worthy of any Shimazu student. What's more you have chosen something I personally appreciate, all then I would ask of you now. Come with me child, we will begin with a meditative breath in our zen room. Your lesson starts this very moment." she'd gestured with her hand, as she took towards heading off to the side of the desk, where a small door was hidden behind a curtain.

Jay had little knowledge on the type of fighting style that the Shimazu clan used but he did remember hearing about breathing techniques form some where. He followed the old woman into the hidden curtain behind the desk, it was like something out of a comic book or something. He wondered if there was something like a temple but he quickly reminded himself to remain focused as he would no doubt need to be in order to for this training.
He remained quiet wondering how this breathing exercise would go.

She was going to give him the basics of their form, deciding that some of the core training would suit his very nature as a whole. She knew he was at least somewhat of a cool head, though she would not that he could be set off if given the right trigger; most young folks were like that. She was for one settled upon bringing him in and gestured to the door. "It is a sacred room, just note that...I expect nothing more than this." this was all tha she'd said before entering the quiet room.

He wondered what kind of breathing training this would be, would it be like in those comics he read ? could this improve his magic maybe ? It was very up in the air but he needed to seriously focus, he found it hard to do in this amazing place. Again he remained quiet looking around quickly before looking straight at the woman Where do we start ?

She did not answer the question with anything short of a command, she was certain that he was to listen to her words, "In this room we take deep breaths...shut your eyes, kneel down and breathe." this was all the instruction she gave, as she very simply stepped before a small family shrine in the corner. The next words that came from her were soft spoken, and yet right to the point. "Pay the respects to our ancestors and they may look down upon you with the grace of the spirits." it was a tradition of her clan, one that she proudly carried.

Taking the large thin bag of his shoulder he placed it beside him, he looked a the shrine he wasn't sure how to pay his respects was he just to kneel in front of it ? Unsure he just keeled in front of the shrine for a bit. He sat there staring at the shrine wondering what kind of history the clan had but he was losing focus again, after a small time he moved away from the shrine and closed his eyes breathing.

His hands were slightly twitching as he tried to focus, this always happened when he was trying to focus he always got impatient. It took him several minutes before he was properly focusing but he was unsure of what this did exactly, all he was doing was sitting there and breathing.

It was something that she took as a good sign, though she'd given him no kind of instruction, he had bowed before the shrine and seemed to offer the silence. She was pleased with this, since the whole purpose was to test his degree of spirituality without pressing him directly. This was not something that the Shimazu Clan ever did, if a student had little to no understanding, they would not grasp it. She meditated quietly and prayed to her ancestors that she'd be able to give this youth the direction that he was seeking. He wanted training, time was perhaps not with them; but she would show him what he could pick up. After around 10 minutes of clearing her mind, she rose silently and took off a soft breath.

"That will do for now, if you will young one, come with me. I will take you to our courtyard. We will take you through the basics, let us see what you pick up. This shall be your gauge for how you may learn. Do not feel pressed to learn, act as you naturally would. Since lessons are not learned in short times." she wanted him as he would normally be, as it would not suit him to force it; but that was up to him to work.

The breathing exercise was quite relaxing actually, his mind felt rather focused and a good thing too because he was to now learn some basic moves. Standing up he opened his eyes, he followed the woman into the courtyard, he looked around wondering how they got a place like ? Was this some kind of building technique that the clan had ? Was he to learn how to build a place like this ? These thoughts were entirely pointless and stupid. He figured basics wouldn't be too hard to learn I am ready he said standing waiting to see what these basic moves would be like

As she watched him stand at the ready, she did have to admit that such spunk was a nice thing to see, but it was not at all what they'd be needing in this room. With such a sacred place, she would not dare start any such lesson. "While your vigor is fine, we will not be breaking the meditation room, this way, silly one." as she let off a small giggle, she started off from the room's entrance and gestured for him to follow, before she started guiding him to the courtyard of the Shimazu Teahouse. It was just barely big enough to allow training practice, but it would surely work well enough for the basics.

Jay maybe jumped the gun a bit, he followed the woman into the courtyard there was enough space around for training or at least he guessed that. Hopefully he wouldn't accidentally cause any damage to the building. His body was full of energy and all his focus was on learning standing in the middle of the courtyard he astutely stood there awaiting for the teacher to show him the basics so he could begin his training.

As the elder beastkin straightened out, she'd let him realize something also while she stepped back, removing her apron and folding it up as she let her braid down; the long ponytail of braided hair that was a soft raven black shade, this being one of the differences that she'd apparently held her grandchild. It was in the natural light of the day which beamed into the courtyard through a skylight that Jay would get more of a good look at her. The small, but sculpted beastkin had not looked a day over 30, despite a small patch of gray at the top of her forehead, with deep green eyes. To say she kept her figure despite her age would have been kind, it was to say that he could also clearly tell why she was able to stand her ground. While the chance for a clear look at her had soon passed, her body had straightened out and her face took one of a serious nature, this following even in the tone of her voice.

"Now, young one, the first thing I'll have you do, is no less than 40 push ups. I need a show of your stamina, since the amount of times you will be repeating the basics will need this and more. That light number will make for a good warm up, so hop to it." she was sure he could do it, all she needed now was him to do so at his own pace.