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Kihara patiently waited for the verdict. He didn't even shoot pointed glares at the Gehaka. Really, as long as it wasn't his gehaka, and they weren't making too severe a scene, he was fine with it. Instead, he began to silently add in the cost of the lessons to the final purchase with a small smile. It would hardly put a dent in master Kumi's coinpurse, but was much needed to keep the forge running and all the gehaka fed well.

Haruki's tone caused Jyogenzu to flatten his ears slightly. Where the Haka seemed kind like his mother, the moment the Gehaka had spoken up, Haru was immediately in a tiff. Then again, he'd seen his own mother firmly berate his own newer Gehaka. Soon enough though, a small warning was all it took to seal all lips.

Kihara smiled at Haruki as he picked the dates for his lessons, pleased to see his total matched what Haru signed up for.
"Jyogenzu it is then." He said with a satisfied smile. While Kihara had indeed trained every Gehaka present, he felt his son needed the experience with gentle and patient teaching as a way to level him out. Besides, he was the most graceful, which complimented the fan. He wrote out Jyo's name, added it to the reciept and handed it to Haruki.

"We look forward to seeing you at your lesson. If your mother has any objections, you have my assurance you are making a wise choice."
Kihara clapped again and the Gehaka all filtered out to their respective positions, save for Jyogenzu. Kihara waited for payment patiently.

Kihara took the money and quickly safeboxed it. He closed the appointment book and put it away as well. Calm eyes regarded the new Gehaka returning with food, obviously prior ordered by Master Kumi. The smell had both Kihara and Jyogenzu lifting their noses to the air to inhale the lovely scent, and smiling. Food was a gift indeed. Kihara tipped heavily for well prepared meals.

Jyogenzu had his eyes on Haruki, and when the gaze flashed to meet him, the gehaka nearly wilted under the gaze, but stood impassively. Weakness would not do.

"Don't wear anything that will restrict movement, or any heavy garments, or anything you will regret sweating on. Thick sashes are not encouraged, but clean tabi are. You will be fighting either in your tabi or barefoot. Keep it light and simple. Anything else is up to you." Kihara replied, a stock response, as everyone new to the dojo asked the same questions. Well...

Kihara grinned, some neglected to ask and showed up in fancy clothes. It was quite an ordeal when Kihara ordered them to strip, or they'd never learn anything. Gehaka usually trained in Hakama, and nothing else. Kimonos and shirts just got in the way with wings, anyway. Haka had no idea how cumbersome the limbs could get to be.

"Thank you for your business, Katanagami hopes to see you again soon." Mother and son chirped in tandem, exhibiting a low bow as Haruki and co. exited the weapon shop.
"Jyo, prepare the training fans for Master Kumi's return. Until then, rest--" Kihara commanded gently, and Jyo willingly complied, venturing to a counter under the pins and drawing out a drawer filled with plain white fans of various sizes. He withdrew four, two of the smallest for Haru, and two larger ones for himself. He dissappeared inside the Dojo but reappeared moments later.

Katanagami had its doors open as usual. Kihara was carefully inspecting the craftsmanship on a sword of foreign design, the metal carefully cut so the blade itself appeared as though it were fabricated from webbing, though a few tests proved it had more than enough stregnth to take of a man's head in a single strike. Very ornate indeed. The Haka was admiring the detail of the patterns carved free of the blade, causing it to be very light.

Outside, he spotted Master Kumi and an accompanying Gehaka. The Gehaka standing beside him appeared quite a lot like Haruki. In fact...It appeared to be related to him, perhaps his father? A stab of sorrow pierced the proud Haka's heart as he recalled the fate of the late Katoga sire. Jyogenzu, the only child of Katoga, kneeled in meditation on the centermost tatami of the dojo, ears cocked completely erect, back straight.

Kihara stood and sauntered forward to the two of them, bowing politely to the two of them.
"Master Kumi, you are early. It's good to see you. Who's this?" Kihara asked about the handsome Gehaka, holding the webbed sword effortlessly in one hand.

Kihara looked him over with faint appreciation. Such a cute, young haka. Looking over him almost maternally, he checked the clothes. Finally he pulled back, pausing to brush his long hair back over his shoulders behind him.
"I think that will do just nicely." Kihara said. He would have preferred an uwagi and Hakama, but the Yukata worked just as well. Perhaps the first combination would seem too masculine for the haka.

Kihara was distracted from his thoughts at the introduction of Taiki, Haruki's father. The Katoga shopkeeper almost flushed when the gehaka bowed to him. He was very handsome, and the way his muscles shifted, Kihara could tell their location despite the clothes he wore--it came with the business. Kihara bit his lip, and longed for a fan of his own to hide his face with embarressment-- the thoughts that came to his head. Though, most gehaka were intimidated by his...physical prowess. Kihara nodded his head to the venerable Gehaka, before turning away.

"Jyogenzu is waiting in the Dojo--" Kihara said, walking back inside. He lay the webbed sword on the counter and motioned the two toward the door into the room, where Jyogenzu was waiting. At the sound of his name though, the blonde gehaka stood, finished with a prayer to bless the dojo, and retrieved the fans.

They were of traditional side sliding style, so they were most effective when either enclosed, as a punching dagger, or when swung in wide, graceful arcs. To swing like a regular sword would be foolish-- the fabric of the fans worked against you that way, as the wind and air resistance made it difficult to move and tired the warrior out quickly.

The tone was not lost on Jyo. His face was set in stone however, under pain of severe punishment at the hands of his mother. However, an interesting change of power was about to occur, for Jyogenzu was the instructor, and Kumi Haruki the pupil. As haughty as a Haka could be, he did pay for lessons, and disobeying the tutor was wasting money.

Jyo held the fans in his hands behind his back, allowing Haruki to stand with his hand extended for a moment.
"There is a reason, Kumi-sama, that martial arts are indeed called an art. It is a refined art form, and despite how it may seem, proper martial artists to not 'hack and slash.' Those are the actions of ruffians and barbarians, whom I am certain..." He pinned his gaze on Haruki, "You are not."

He motioned for Haruki to stand in the center of the tatami matted floor.
"The first rule for any martial artist to learn, is respect. Without respect, you are practicing fake martial arts, and you are a fraud." He stood tall before Haruki, his wings folded tightly against his back. "It is not about show. Martial arts were designed for one purpose and one only- to kill Hanze."

Jyo eyed Haru, trying to gauge how serious he was. He'd had pupils all excited to learn how to swing a sword around, with no knowlege of why it was created, or the consequences inherent in running your blade through someone's intestines.
"You have taken this class, I have learned, for self defense and empowerment. Martial arts is useful for such a reason, but also for self enlightenment. It teaches discipline, determination, perseverance, and to enhance one's spirituality."

Jyo's tone became a little bit more intense as he spoke. These were things he deeply believed in, and Haru would be wise not to step on them.
"Now, first what I want to teach you, before you even get to hold the fan, are three poses. Attention, Pride Rest, and Sparring Stance. Attention is back straight, feet together, arms at your side, looking at me. When you are tired, and wish to recover quickly, stand with your feet shoulder's width apart, hands clasped behind you. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. If you bend over like this,"

Jyo hunched like a tired runner, with his hands on his knees, doubled over. He straightened quickly, "You're cutting off your air supply. It's important you remember that."

He paused, "Stand at attention please, Kumi-Sama." He waited before continuing. "The final is Sparring Stance. For the fan, I want you to stand with your left foot in front, right in back, back heel off the floor. The fan will be in your left hand to begin with. Keep your hands up close to your face. That way you can block any oncoming hits, and protect your delicate features from being damaged."

He demonstrated the pose, and motioned for Haru to follow.

Kihara watched patiently from the door. Jyo had adapted his lesson to fit his first Haka pupil. Ordinarily he'd have the students meditate as he spoke, though it tended to discourage first-timers. Kihara watched Haru's father intently, checking to see if he approved, or not. Haruki was getting a full education in martial arts, when all he originally asked for was self defense.

((Sorry if I seem long winded. I'll paraphrase from here on out XD))

Jyogenzu let his voice trail odd as he watched the gaze glaze over as it did with students before. He knew when he was being ignored. Thus, from then on, he would occasionally whip the fan out from behind him and let it smack solidly against his other hand, producing a loud, explosion like Crack against his skin. The fan could take it, it was a simple way to strike that was more for show than force. He did this not often enough to get annoying, but enough to bring Haru around when he wanted him to listen without saying his name.

Together they went though the stances again, Jyo drilling Haru in a way to get him to hop from one stance to another to another and back again until it became reflexive, and also as a way to sneak in aerobics, to get Haru hot and breathless, but in better shape.

After which he allowed a short break to recover strength before finally, at last, handing Haru the training fan. After which, he went over simple blocking procedures for various attacks. Since it was self defense, the emphasis was on blocks, and evasions.

Jyogenzu and Kihara both watched Haru move, slowly coming to their own conclusions about the young Haka and his potential. He seemed obedient enough, but as feeble as the average Haka when it came to physical ability. Jyo was more strict because of his natural slight prejudice, but even so, something about Haru's elegance, his slight physique, the way his skin pinked with exertion, and that damned adorable red braid began to turn a key within the young Gehaka. Despite himself, he almost began to smile.