Snippet #1801205

The sound of the wind blowing through the trees was all Andoru could hear as he stood in a small clearing surrounded by woods not far from the dojo. He came here often to meditate, and practice as usual. It was close enough for him to smell food cooking, but far enough from prying eyes, at least he felt far enough away, he was always concerned with others watching him practice. That if someone other than sensei watched him and he performed badly they'd make fun of him. Though it was never the case it was always a small fear he held with him, a piece of the past not easily gotten rid of. He closed his eyes and felt the breeze flow around him kicking up small fallen leaflets here and there. And as the leaves began to fall once more towards the ground, He reacted. Within the blink of an eye his left hand gripped the hilt of his sword, as his body shifted into his iai stance, he drew the katana from the saya and split a single leaf in two and re-sheathed the blade. He opened his eyes in time to watch the two pieces of the leaf light with a small flame and turn to ash upon the wind. "Still couldn't get a second cut in time." he thought to himself as he shook his head. He took a deep breath to attempt to calm his mind. "Those" thoughts were his old self. He had to remind himself again. He took another deep breath and exhaled to blow a bit of his red hair out of his face. "It's getting late." He said to himself as he pulled his red kimono a bit tighter. "Sensei will get mad If I don't come and help cook dinner." He shifted the position of the katana at his hip, and began the short trek back to the dojo.