Stasis (Natsume thread with others)

[Anastasia]

"He's in the dojo," Kurumi nods. "He knows you went out, and is waiting for you."

[Midnight Sun]

"I see. Well, I should've expected as much," Natsume says. "I assumed he would be more....upset at my sudden disappearance."

Then again, whose to say he still wasn't?

She leaves the house and heads out to the dojo. Normally she'd be hesitant to face her grandfather at times like this, but now she felt strangely...calm.

"I have returned, sensei," she announces as she enters, sits on heels and kowtows.

[Anastasia]

He nods simply, ceasing his dissection of a unfortunate training dummy and quietly going to put aside the wooden sword he used for it. "I heard you left early," he notes, letting you speak.

[Midnight Sun]

"Yes, I went to visit a close friend who is distraught with illness," she explains. "She is bedridden for now, but I am certain she will recover from this."

[Anastasia]

A nod, "That is good," he agrees. "One should not abandon an ill friend."

[Midnight Sun]

That last comment certainly stung a little bit.

"Grandfather...I am in need of your guidance," Natsume says. "I...have begun to question myself. I feel as if...as if the control I've spent so many years trying to build is slipping away from me."

[Anastasia]

He nods once, eyes on you. "What troubles you, Natsume," he asks. "What threatens your control so terribly?"

[Midnight Sun]

"As of late, my judgement has been...awry. It feels as if my mind is running on sheer impulse," she says. "I look back and I feel as if certain choices I have made came too rashly. I feel as if my emotions are taking greater hold of me and...I'm not sure whether I should embrace it, to let them run free...or try to reign it in."

[Anastasia]

Silently, he turns away, as if to study the rack of ceremonial swords instead of you. "Natsume, what happens when a man loses control of his base desires," he asks. "When they cannot or will not regulate their wanton desires, angers and jealouses?"

A beat and a pause, then, "What happens when you lose control in a sparring contest and your anger takes hold, or your desire for combat?"

[Midnight Sun]

"If that were to happen...the warrior would lose focus and reveal a critical weakness that could lead to his defeat. Or worse, that weakness could be used to control the warrior against his will," she answers. "But, grandfather. What if the emotion that takes hold is not anger, or lust for battle...but love? Or, at least what you think is love?"

[Anastasia]

He half turns, speaking carefully. "Natsume, love is important, but it is also a warrior's greatest weakness. IT will bring you to folly like none other." With that, he turns all the way. "Granddaughter...has one captured your heart already?"

[Midnight Sun]

"I've...only known the person for a few days...but I already feel like my entire life has been changed," Natsume says. "That person makes me feel like a totally different person at times...and I...I'm sure what to do about it. I'm not sure if its genuine, or if its just my impulses acting on their own."

[Anastasia]

"I see...." is the solemn reply, as he goes over to the rack, taking two ceremonial wooden blades from it. Tossing one to you to catch, he draws the other.  "When the heart is weak, the will and body must be strong," he says, blade in front of and dissecting the view of his face perfectly. "Control breeds control, and weakness brings weakness.

Come," he gestures with his free hand. "Let us put your fralities to rest in the forge of battle and meditation. This is not the time to stumble, Natsume. Not when you are showing this much progress."

[Midnight Sun]

So it comes down to this? She wasn't that all surprised, at least this was something she actually understood.

"Yes, sensei," Natsume says as she stands up and takes a forward stance. It felt...strange holding another bokken besides her old one. It would take some time to break in a new one. "I am ready."

[Anastasia]

The next several hours pass in bone breaking training and bouts of serene meditation. As it goes, you do feel somewhat better, if simply by having the exertion sweat some of the ability to worry out of you. Coming onto later afternoon, Grandfather dismisses you for a little while for bathing, eating and a short rest.