Year of the Boar, Fourteenth Month, Day 5.

Suzuki has decided that we are to concentrate on one form for the time being. We will practise it until we get it right. If that takes a year, then it takes a year and we will not be learning anything else until we have perfected this form. It is a sensible idea but of course, I have no intention of being here in a year whether I have mastered any of this form, or not. I got a curt nod for my efforts at placing my feet this morning which I took as a sign that I have improved at least a little bit but clearly, it is not enough to warrant Sasanuma coming to train us himself. I may have to think of another plan to discover what he knows... 

I am undecided as to whether I should simply be frank with Kaede. I could still confide everything and ask her to do me the same courtesy. I am just not certain that it is a very good idea. I do not want to lose a friend. Since Kaede finished the sky lanterns yesterday, this afternoon, we began work on some small decorations to be hung around the House. Dried oranges and twists of red and white paper are strung together with the star shaped fruit of some sort of spice plant to make garlands. Kaede does not have to do any of these things herself, of course but she says her mother and her grandmother used to do it and she wishes to continue the tradition. I suppose it is not so different to Mother creating tapestries for the House and it is a lot more pleasant to make garlands from fruit...

When we had created a huge pile of the garlands, I was more than ready for a nap but I decided, instead, to go to the bath house. It was empty which was marvellous and I spent almost two sticks luxuriating in the silky, scented water. Kaede's bath is over twice the size of Yuika's which is more than big enough to actually swim in it if one is so inclined. Since I did not have to worry about disturbing other bathers, I took the opportunity to swim and then float for a while before I simply sat and rested in its warmth. Once I had finished and dressed, I went to the Banquet Hall to find the evening meal was already in full swing with a comedic bard reciting decidedly naughty rhymes which had the Hall in fits of laughter. It was thoroughly enjoyable. 

How I shall get up for training before dawn tomorrow, I do not know. It is not an enticing prospect but it is a means to an end so I suppose I must...