[IC] Oriental Exchange

[Rorx]

Mike smiles, "Well, although I know a couple of styles of Kung Fu, I'm only about the equivalent of a black belt I suppose, so pretty good but no master. Having said that, while I may be technically less skilled than this teacher I have inherited some of my father's agility and so I am well able to hold my own in the fights I have had so far."

He takes a sip of his coffee, "The magazine idea might be best, but I'm afraid I don't really follow them to be able to suggest which one to pose as being from. Either of you have any ideas."

[Richard Reynes]

"Not particularly. The main style I practice is jujutsu, though I konw some tricks from other styles. Enough perhaps to make them think I actually work for one of the broader scope magazines. See if there's any information on any current students or teachers that would make them noteworthy enough for a reputable magazine to do an article."

[Arak Noak]

Qiang looked uncomfortable at the question, "I can fight, if need be. I can also try and ensure that a fight doesn't break out. I just worry that the more we work to either prevent or be prepared the more likely we are to cause something to happen."

[Rorx]

Mike shrugs, "So maybe we should just go over there and see what we can find out?"

[Arak Noak]

"Yes"

[Richard Reynes]

"Works for me."

He picks up his things having finished eating and starts heading for the door. "Walking again I take it?"

[Rorx]

"Unless you know somewhere you can park up there I'd suggest it. It's not too fair. Hell it's closer to here than from where we started from last night." said Mike, packing up his laptop.

[Richard Reynes]

Ayato nodded. Let's head out then. With that he headed for the door and out into town towards the dojo.

[Rorx]

The others followed, and although the traffic had eased from it's rush hour peak it was still quite busy. As they turned into the road it was clear to see that there was still little in the way of parking places.

Reaching the area of the house they heard the door open while still at least partially hidden by the trees and hedges acting as a boundary between the house's garden and the neighbours. They paused at the sound of voices,

A rough, male voice with an asian accent starts, "Thank you for your efforts."

Brusque american female, "Yeah, well, tell your 'Master' to watch it in future, or he can find another company."

The sound of heels on the ground underlies the reply and women they had seen the night before emerge on to the pavement, with one slightly behind the others. They turn the otherway down the street and pay no attention to the 3 men in the morning shadows of the trees.

[Richard Reynes]

Ayato nodded to the others. "nominally I'd say there's more to that than meets the eye, but I'm betting we can save it for later. You all want to try the direct approach or is sneaking in the order of the day?"

[Arak Noak]

"I am fine with either. We do not know that there is Titan corruption here and we should not assume such. It could make our minds up for us otherwise." He watched the women retreating, "Do you think we should split up so that one can follow them?"

[Richard Reynes]

"No, not really. Let's stick to the originial plan for now. If we need to We can find out about them and pursue them later."

[Rorx]

Mike nods and adds, "If they have been busy all or most of the night then they will just be heading home anyway. So what approach do we want to use? A magazine or just some people looking for training, or something else?"

[Richard Reynes]

"I figure students looking for training works. Though I can handle Magazine writers too."

[Arak Noak]

"As you see fit." Qiang nodded to the school, "They will either take us at our word or they will be suspicious of all strangers. Let's just decide and move."

[Rorx]

Mike nods at Ayato's suggestion, "Students I think. Now, all together or should we go in slightly apart? I think we may as well go in together as we are all already here."

[Richard Reynes]

"Let's go then." Ayato leads the way in, a smile on his face. "This would be interesting."

[Rorx]

As they approach the door they can just make out low voices through the door, two or three of them. The door is closed, but in a small window to one side of the door can be seen an open sign and a couple of posters. One poster has the name of the style and the Masters name along with the opening times, the other is a clipping from a magazine extolling some recent competition wins by members of the school.

[Arak Noak]

Qiang approached what appeared to be the master of the dojo and offered a bow, "Hello, my friends and I would like to enroll as students." He smiled but his eyes were already roving around the inside of the school trying to see anything out of the ordinary.

[Richard Reynes]

Ayato nodded politely. His eyes focused on the Master and any other people in the room to size them all up, trying to evaluate any possible threats.

[Rorx]

Inside there are three well-built men, the smaller of them turns to the other one closest to the door and says something in Japanese that seems to be a question before turning his attention to the three of you.

"Good morning to you all" he says with a shallow bow of the neck.

"We are always happy to welcome new students. The next scheduled beginners class is not until this evening, but we could sort out the paperwork and see how fit you are. Have any of you study any martial arts before?"

Mike lets the others go ahead of him as he had been in the local paper for a martial arts event about 8 months ago.

[Arak Noak]

Qiang thought about it for a moment before replying, "Nothing formally, though I have been in fights before." A deceptive answer but one that required no true lie on his part; most of Qiang's fighting was self taught and what wasn't was informally learned from others. He'd never had a formal class as such.

[Richard Reynes]

"I've formally studied Akido and Kendo when i was younger." Ayato smiled. He was sure he'd be fine in combat here, his mentor and Master wouldn't forgive him otherwise he was sure.