[center][h2]Kyoto[/h2]
[b]Sunday, June 5th 20XX[/b][/center]
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[@Taka]
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From Aurelius' arrival to just a few hours later as lunchtime neared, Akimoto noticed something about the way Aurelius fought. The confidence he had before yesterday had washed out. Not that it was a bad thing, it completely changed the way he swung his blade, no longer going for large and wide swipes, it seemed as if Aurelius might understand one of the essences of the style he's teaching. Well, it wasn't as if this enigmatic wandering samurai was not privvy to what had happened at the castle, in fact he was an onlooker from far away, choosing not to get involved. As lunch broke and they returned after a break, Akimoto spoke to Aurelius, 

[color=9e0b0f]"Well well, I don't know what happened but you seemed to have changed the way you swing that glorified stick around. Good for you, for the rest of today, practice what I showed you when we first met"[/color], was he giving up on him? It could be interpreted that way, or... He felt he was ready to try it. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Don't think about it, let your soul guide you... Is what I was told by my master, maybe it'll work for you"[/color], because it didn't for Akimoto, admittedly, as he looked away for awhile, then back to Aurelius.

[color=9e0b0f]"I'll just be here and watch"[/color], he said as he took a seat down at the bench behind him.

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[@ERode]
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Motsumine sat across the young owl boy at the Fujiwara estate. Guards were posted around the place, more crowded than it was before, though based on how they moved it was likely Motsumine's own entourage. There were definitely more posted around Nijo Castle based on some of the talking that went about. When Otis let on that he knew about Seirin, and that he encountered Shinzou, he was with nothing else, requested to come see him at the estate, and despite conditions would be let through. So here he was.

[color=fff79a]"So, you wished to know more about Shinzou? Hmhm, it appears we are of like mind. I'm afraid there is nothing concrete I can share about him, ever since his emergence as a member of the Sennen Matsuri, it had been a mystery as to what he was. Initial reports made him out to be like a kamaitachi, but the first sighting of his yokai transformation suggested otherwise, and against all belief, we theorize he is a descendant of Fuujin, a shinto god, or kami. Even now many of the Alliance do not want to believe it, that he is half kami, but... Such a thing to me is believable. After all, yokai and kami, are two sides of the same coin"[/color], he explained.

[color=fff79a]"You who had fought him with your classmates and forced his hand should have seen it yourself, so there is little denying it... Hm, perhaps the only thing stopping us from settling on the matter is the lack of divinity... Which is a power we scarcely understand ourselves, but let's see... The golden egg that you had witnessed is made entirely of divinity, ignoring all magic or earthly energies. As far as I can tell you about that can be read about in our archives, as there has been very little development in understanding divinity"[/color], he then moved the topic. Despite how calm he seemed, there was a slight speed to the way he spoke, as if there was some urgency. Otis should know well that there was an upcoming battle, so that made sense.

[color=fff79a]"In any case, I am impressed at your curiosity, and survival, or luck. Two intimate encounters with Shinzou and to survive while being a student, truly remarkable, even if the second was a concerted effort"[/color], he praised. 

[color=fff79a]"Any final questions? As I'm sure you're aware, there are pressing matters due to come very soon"[/color].

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