She had heard that Akodo Karutsu was down at the beach, doing some training drills with his troops, so Akari made her way there with a large pack. it was usually beneath an Imperial of her standing to do something so menial, but she had offered to take food for Toshi to the Lion contingent while they trained. She also had the letters she had received on behalf of the Lion.

When she saw the group, she set down the relatively heavy pack with the boxes of lunches and waved to Karutsu.

The aging Akodo looked from his troops, who were in the middle of a long series of kata and then to the Imperial as she approached. He didn't acknowledge her more than that until they were finished with their kata.

"Two laps down the beach. When you're finished then that will be it for the day. Make it quick." He ordered in a firm, commanding tone. It was something he had done for most of his life and it suited him. Then his gaze found Akari. "What is it, Miya-san?" He asked after bowing. Though he tried not to show it, it was becoming more difficult for him to do such things as easily as he had done when he was younger.

She returns the bow to the Akodo. "I've brought lunch for your men, courtesy of Toshi-san's efforts. And I have brought letters from the mainland for you," she says, pulling the letters from her sleeve and offering them to Karutsu. "I also brought a few new go sets from the mainland so you can host small tournaments with your men or any others that wish to join in during free time. They'll be in the Inn."

He took the letters with a nod before slipping them into his obi. "Well, they can have lunch after their run. Gain back everything they lost through sweat." He grumbled, though in a bit of a friendly, fatherly way. "A Go tournament though? Already planning things aren't you? I thought our focus here was to be on the forest and not making a small winter court instead."

"It is. But how many times have you seen troops' performance slip because they didn't have a bit of relaxation and fun? Gaming will keep the minds refreshed and foster friendly competition," she suggests.

"Are they not capable of finding fun themselves in their off hours?" He chuckled heartily. "But I will give your offer some thought. A Go tournament does sound like it could be some fun though I wonder if I'll find anyone to match my skills here. It's tough to say, but I'm not going to get cocky about it just yet."

"How many of those letters include go moves for playing at a distance?" She seems to suspect it is at least a couple.

"I admit that you will have me beat quite handily. Was never my strong suit. But I still enjoy getting beaten every once in a while."

She chuckled at that.

"How has security been? Any problems in my absence I should be aware of?"

"Perhaps one or two with my wife." He admitted with a small smile. "They're very slow games and I fear she has the upper hand already." With that, he pat the letters in his obi. "Not everyone can be skilled with a game like that, but with practice makes perfect. Even I wasn't good at it when I was younger. As for security, there hasn't been much unless you take the odd spider or snake that Asako-san has stumbled upon and screamed her head off about."

"It's definitely not an ideal posting for her," Akari says with a nod.

"I'll need to practice up a bit before any tournament happens then. Perhaps I can interest you in a game when you are free tomorrow? Help me learn the finer points of the game?"

"I doubt she finds anywhere but the finest Imperial library to be any ideal posting for herself." He chuckled lightly, showing it was nothing more than a gentle tease towards the woman. "Though a game tomorrow? I should have enough spare time around here for something like that and it would be welcomed."

"Then let it be so," Akari replied with a warm smile. "I'll bring the tea and you can bring the sound beating," she jokes, though it was also likely very true.

"Oh, tea? Do you mean what the barkeep is trying to pass off as sake?" That brought another deep chuckle from the man. "And you never know. Perhaps you shall be the one winning this time around."

"No, the good stuff from the mainland. Got some Dark Sky if you are interested," she offers. "Quality stuff that doesn't lose all flavor after 1 steeping."

"Dark Sky? The Scorpion blend that they parade around?" He arched a brow, but then waved a hand dismissively. "Regardless of its flavor, I would be delighted for such an event. Tea, Go, and good company is something that should never be passed up."

"Ah, no the one grown on the Unicorn-Lion border," she clarifies. "I didn't know the Scorpion used that name for a blend too. But yes, I look forward to it. Perhaps tomorrow after lunch?"

"Hm. Might've been a different blend. There are so many different kinds and so many different names that it's impossible to keep up with all of them unless you're one of those truly invested in the drink." There was a flash of a smile across his wrinkled face. "Tomorrow after lunch sounds perfect."

"I will see you then. When is your next training session? I think I'll need to get some exercise in with how much I've been sitting on boats and relaxing on the mainland," she asks.

"Next one will be tomorrow morning. I don't tend to have too many training sessions towards the later evenings as everyone is trying to wound down instead of up." He chuckled some. "Bright and early they are, in the morning."

"Well, if the first restful evening off the boat does not keep me in Yume-do I will join you. But After so much time on the boat, it may not quite happen tomorrow," she admits.

He waved his hand dismissively. "I always recommend a bit of extra sleep after such a long and arduous boat trip. A moment to adjust and relax can never go wrong, even if there are many who believe that it must be work all of the time."