Akito does not react to the prince not returning the bow. He knows royals live by their own morals, so he knows also that you can't really fight their nature. Nodding at information about his freedom about the castle and it's grounds he remains at attention for the rest of what the man has to say, wondering if he was simply trying to be nice, or if he meant it. [i]'He claims to have no love or respect for those who fight and die for the safety of their loved ones and in the defense of their kingdom. How can he not think less of me if I have spent my entire life as far as I can recall doing exactly that?'[/i]

Brushing that thought aside he stays at attention until the man vanishes and only after he hears the footsteps fade does he relax and return to looking about the room. Hoko slithers out and settles around his shoulders, sniffing at everything that comes within reach. “What do you think Hoko, should we check out the outside one as well?” The little beast chatters at him, rubbing his face against Akito's cheek. With a chuckle he nods, heading for the door Hiro had indicated. He can feel himself relaxing further as the familiar dummies and stick figures come into view, the background of trees adding to the familiarity of the sight.

Hoko crawls down and begins exploring the area as Akito walks out on to the hard packed earth. [i]'I swear I can feel it. The energy in this place, it's almost like being back with my fellows. It's. . .It's almost like being home. . .'[/i] Striding over to one of the dummies he takes off his haori and puts it on the figure to keep it safe. With a couple tugs his kimono loosens and he lets it fall from his shoulders, exposing his upper body. The fabric settles around his waist letting the slowly warming morning air caress his skin. Letting out a faint shiver he exhales, pulling his sword.

As he begins his normal morning routine he can feel his mind clearing. The world outside the clearing fades. Nothing beyond the training area exist. His focus turns inwards, and the blade slicing through the air cleaves away the doubts in his mind. He does not feel those approaching, and not until steel clashes with his own does he realize someone has taken the field. [i]'Target'[/i] The sound of steel on steel grows louder as he works to down his target. 

~*~*~*~*~

A servant races through the halls, his face lit up brightly. He's never seen such a thing, and with the prince missing it he can't slow down. [i]'This is an amazing fight! And so beautiful, I've never seen his highness raise his blade before. And it looked like the general was going to join as well! Oh!'[/i] Skidding to a halt outside the prince's magic room he knocks twice before sliding the door open ever so slightly so he can be heard clearly. “Please forgive me for disturbing you highness, but you mother requests you join he right away. She asks that you hurry.”

~*~*~*~*~

Not really seeing at this point when he feels another enter the grounds behind him he turns and takes on this new challenger. In no time he is battling both, a ring of eyes appearing around the area as the sounds draw in spectators. Most training on these grounds are not done with actual blades, so the sound of clashing metal is unusual to say the least. The battle speed increases, the movements of the smallest male becoming almost impossibly fast, the two larger men almost getting on one another's way as they both go for the smaller target. The battle is intense, going on from some time since even in his haze Akito knows that he's only in practice and can not actually kill his targets. And then in a sudden, near imperceptible move, the tall opponents fall, their blades taken from them. One lands several paces away while the other is held at it's owner's throat.

It isn't until both of his challengers are down at at the tip of his blades that Akito realizes just who he was fighting. At the sight of his father he shows a faint smile, but at the sight of the emperor, staring at the tip of his won sword, Akito blanches and steps away. From the edge of the field a mix of awed whispers and cheering comes, including the empress who is clapping and giggling like a school girl. Sheathing his blade Akito quickly offers his hand to the emperor, a cold sweat replacing his battle perspiration. Once on his feet the king lets out a labored laugh, the fight and fall having left him winded. Akito keeps his eyes down as he pulls the general to his feet. Before he can pull away however his father wraps an arm around him as if to support himself and whispers quietly int his ear, “Very good, he's impressed, not angry.”

Aki nods as he steps back, looking down as Hoko crawls up to regain his place around the youth's shoulders. Letting go of the captain he forces himself to look at the emperor and give him a strained smile. A lot of the stress he's worked off with the fight had returned at the sight of the man at the end of his own blade. Handing it back he says softly, “You still have quite a talent highness, though your rhythm when working with others could use some dusting off.” He prays the joke will be taken well. From the sidelines several of the guards laugh, along with the emperor's wife. Akito spots her, and blanches again as he spots Hiro at her side. [i]'oh goodie. . .'[/i]