[D2 LA] It's Go Time!

[Miya Akari]

"I some fresh vegetables would be nice. I'm particularly fond of peppers and onion. Add some flavor and bite to a cooked dish."

She looks at her next move carefully, wondering if she should maybe move back into a defensive posture. Now that he was reacting, he might be drawn into it? She did that...

[Koumori]

"It might be something worth speaking to all of these gardeners about eventually. Right now it might be good to work on things one at a time instead of trying to get it all at once like many are doing currently."

As he looked down at the board, he furrowed his brow, but moved in for a retaliatory attack.

[Miya Akari]

If she knew well what she was doing, she might be able to take advantage. As it was, she shored up defenses in response. It was not going to work very well, but it was a try.

"It is a definite way to let things get lost in progress. Trying to balance too many things and you end up dropping most of them anyway."

[Koumori]

He continued his assault as he placed another tile, taking the time to almost prod and see how tight the defenses were.

"Indeed. It is better and easier to set your sights on one thing, finishing it, and then moving onto the next so you do not get overwhelmed with too much at once. It is difficult though. There's so much here that requires attention."

[Miya Akari]

Sipping her tea while she watched the next move, she wondered at her next move. While she did so she refilled cups. "It's difficult to pick what is most important with so many important things. I think that Kaiu-san is likely to get showered with requests with all the new people. Won't make her life any easier."

She eventually made a move on that aggressive piece.

[Koumori]

"Then don't pick one that's more important. Pick one that needs to be done first within a certain timeframe. For example, with the buildings. What needs to come first? More housing for the rest of the people on the island who are still sleeping in their tents or a bathhouse even though we still have a method of cleaning ourselves, though more difficult? Or do we need to swiftly help Kaiu-san build a shrine to help ease the spirits to our presence here or do we need a performance to lift morale like Shosuro-san says?"

The piece was no match and taken down, but the Akodo capitalized on the movement and went in again.

[Miya Akari]

I certainly wasn't a trap... was it? It felt like a trap. She went again, half expecting to lose a swath of stones in relatively short order.

"True enough. Though that's why you are a strategist and I just swing my blade at what strategists point at," she replied with a smirk.

[Koumori]

"Even the smartest strategists need to listen to those they command from time to time. Do what would you pick if you had the chance to decide what to do first?"

And then in short order, he retaliated with a vicious precision.

[Miya Akari]

She smiled at the sudden, and not entirely unexpected attack. Sure, she hadn't expected that attack, but it was inevitable. She fought hard to keep her defense up, ineffectively.

"I think I'd probably go with the gardens or a small farm. Whatever puts us a little closer to self sufficiency."

[Koumori]

"Ah, but then what if the spirits of the forest get angry? We are cutting them down, milling up their earth, in an attempt to further our own domination of their island." He offered up as he pressed on her defenses, trying to find a weak spot.

[Miya Akari]

"As I said, I'm not good at these decisions. Probably why I am a yojimbo and not a commander. Reactionary decision making is more my speed."

She made a play that would be hard to define as defensive or offensive. The proper term was likely... 'bad'. Only after a few seconds did her eyes widen at her mistake.

"And even that can be called into question..." she said, her own move revealing as much.

[Koumori]

"I've seen your work and heard of it, too. You would not be the yojimbo of the commander of this mission if there were any questions about you and your skill." He assured her before taking advantage of her mistake.

"Go is, at the end of the day, still a game. One that takes time to learn. It can't be a window into a yojimbo's abilities."

[Miya Akari]

She nods in agreement. "Only a window into their skills at go." A friendly chuckle at that.

"But I'd rather be a poor go player than a poor bushi in any case."

She takes a moment to calm and try to recover. It is not very effective at halting the Akodo's advance, but she does avoid any obvious mistakes. Well, obvious to her.

[Koumori]

It did stall him for a bit as he had to play around it, adjusting on the fly. It wasn't his strongest suit though.

"And a poor bushi you are not. You aren't even a poor Go player."

[Miya Akari]

"I just know the rules really. Try as I might, the strategies and tactics beyond basic defense never quite stick. I probably need to study and practice more."

She kin of starts chasing his moves at this point. Trying to head off advances, but in a very rudimentary way.

[Koumori]

"Knowing the rules is much more than many here know." He said as he fought back what he could as she chased him. "And it's just one part of the battle."

[Miya Akari]

Her current pattern could not really be described as such. It was more like a bear trying to catch salmon. It happened occasionally, but most of the salmon would be fine.

She took another sip, then offered another refill.

"The real battle is with myself I think. Once my patience gives way to excited action, I get caught up in it and have the hardest time reclaiming my focus." She admits this with a guilty grin.

[Koumori]

He lifted his hand up, declining the refill as the end of the game drew closer. "There are ways to turn that to your advantage. The Moto favorite hit-and-run tactics which could be something useful to you. Burst moments of high-paced energy and action before withdrawing to regain focus."

[Miya Akari]

She nods at that, continuing her plays against the Akodo. "Undoubtedly, that could be useful. I just need to learn to recognize. That takes time and practice."

[Koumori]

"There's a reason the Moto have dominated many battlefields with it. Them and the Shinjo both. However I have no doubt that you will be able to employ the tactic soon." He said while following suit.