Kabuki Honbu Dojo Grand Opening!

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

On Monday the 20th, Yuzuki is holding a grand opening party for the new Kabuki Honbu Karate Dojo. In the former neighborhood convenience store in Kabuki Street's 2-chome which was purchased by Asami Ito in December, the dojo will occupy the ground floor while the upstairs apartment will contain the new Rappapa club room and headquarters.



The dojo takes up most of the ground floor, mostly refinished from its former store livery, though the original sales counter was relocated to the back and remains as well as the reach-in drink coolers on the back wall.



Behind the counter Yuzuki has displayed framed photos of her late sister, Lucky in honor of her giving Yuzuki her years of karate instruction as well as a print of an antiquated photo of their style's Okinawan founder.

[PrlUnicorn]

Colleen showed up with Abby and Madison, her nine year old twins, to sign the girls up for Little Dragons. She took some time to look at the photos on the wall. It was nice to have a face to go with the stories Yuzuki told about her sister, Lucky. A box of frosted brownies was brought as an opening day snack for Yuzuki and Co.

[Asami Ito]

While the night of the 20th was more of a grand opening of the dojo proper, the 21st was when Asami finally went about setting up her office upstairs. A recently purchased deck was in the back of the room, with a leather chair and a dresser of sorts behind it. The half-oni seemed to be taking her time in lifting up the rather large odachi so that it could be set upon a stand

From that vantage point the odachi could easily be used to intimidate, though Asami herself did much of that and more without needing to wield the weapon in the first place; but with it being a graduation gift from the Heavenly Queen's — Asami felt the need to put it on display.

At another end of the room, near the window that peered out into Kabuki Street itself, sat the red sofa that she used throughout the day to lounge and read (read: Sleep). With that, along with the desk and dresser, not much else would be added to the office. Asami stood there for a moment in thought.. Perhaps she'll find photos to put on the wall too.

[Mairead Harker]

As promised, Maggie had been by on opening day to wish Yuzuki well on her new venture. Some of the students and parents from Dragon's Gate Sword came along to ask about the Dojo's class offerings. Maggie brought a little gift, good luck charms in the form of small porcelain cat shaped beads in several colors.

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

Yuzuki enjoyed the treats tremendously along with greeting friends at the grand opening party. The good luck charms from Maggie found a home on the counter under the photo display along with a potted plant that was presented by Kaho of Rappapa. By the time of the party, Yuzuki had the class schedules available for both the regular instruction courses and the Little Dragons program, and additionally had organized some party games including a vigorous and highly varied rule set of werewolf for the younger guests. A demonstration followed, showing the form and function of the sparring gloves and headgear, makiwara and an opportunity for all who wished to try on the karate gi.

[Kaho Arai]

On Wednesday Kaho arrived at the new club room to add one of the finishing touches. She had been keeping the fish tank that still held a number of goldfish from the last years Tanabata and carefully transported it to its new home in the upstairs of the dojo. She took care to mention that she had also stolen from storage the Christmas tree they had used at the school pool club room, and had all of the decorations from previous years in a backpack in her room as well.

[Partly Cloudy]

The young man called Gatito dropped by the dojo on opening day to congratulate Yuzuki on her new venture. He brought Salvador with him, as well as a few dozen macarons in strawberry, matcha, and chocolate flavors. After looking at the photos that had been hung on the walls and asking Yuzuki about them—and lingering a few minutes over the photo of Lucky—he had someone take a picture of Sal, Yuzuki, and him together, holding up V-for-victory signs. The photo might not find its way to a wall, but it would be cherished just the same. Gatito promised to text her a copy.

[PC]

The Takamine's were sure to arrive for the festivities. They did, after all, take on the role as Yuzuki's custodian while she was in school! Mini Lisa was quick to play around on the mats and try out a few of Yuzuki's moves, though Na-rae couldn't help herself as she tried to get her daughter to do something more akin to Taekwondo.

Na-rae had made a custom wall scroll for Yuzuki that bears the cat emblem that had been worn by the late Lucky, along with cake from Cafe Heaven that she told the new dojo owner to share with her girlfriend later on.

[Mallory]

Mallory made an appearance after classes, touring the dojo and the results of Yuzuki's (and Rappa's!) hard work. She even made reservations for lessons for one Midori Maeda, eight years in advance. While paying, she left a folder with Yuzuki, containing yearbook photos featuring the members of Rappapa from the last two school years that had not made the final cut.

On her way home, she made a detour to the graveyard near the Zama Shrine to pray at Lucky's grave and talk about her little sister's new dojo.

[Kaho Arai]

On Saturday Kaho found some time off from her bodyguard duties as the Satos were taking a trip to the desert shop. She found herself lounging upstairs in the club room, and on a whim came down to join the Saturday class as an additional bonus sparring partner. While the class was initially hesitant, she proved to have perfectly adequate control of the force of her techniques.

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

Yuzuki triumphantly uploaded the video promo she made for the dojo to all her accounts, proud that she'd accomplished the elaborate trick kick in only a few tries this time with the camera aimed at the upper club room where she set up to film the stunt. One spinning kick hit a lower plastic bottle, followed by a front kick to pop another bottle in the air to be swiped by a third spinning kick!

In her excitement, Yuzuki had failed to notice that the camera angle also caught Kaho in the background venturing idly into Asami's office, and then flying violently back through the door a moment later like a blue-and-white sukajan clad missile - evidently having interrupted the sukeban's nap again. Upon noticing it later she decided Asami's feat of launching their teammate with a punch fit with the overall theme of fighting arts anyway.

(plotted with Asami's player! )

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

On the evening of Monday the 20th, Yuzuki held a small Christmas party for all the Kabuki Honbu Dojo students. The Christmas tree she decorated for the season had to be a small one by necessity, as the dojo needed most of its space for instruction, but she made the space extra cheerful with some twinkling strands of lights. She brought some cookies and eggnog and joined her classes for a lively celebration and exchange of gifts, and wished to each a happy holiday. After the party the the dojo would remain empty until after the new year when classes resumed.

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

A few days before Tanabata, Yuzuki made an event of decorating the dojo. Many of her students pitched in to help cut out the paper to construct the ornaments, and when they were put up a comedy of errors ensued when a ladder fell - making Yuzuki and Kaho scramble for safety while Ishikawa was left hanging by her fingertips from the upper balcony of the clubroom over the dojo. Of course, Asami had to put up the very upper row of the bright and colorful paper streamers, since by custom the sukeban was to be 'the highest'.



(planned with Ishikawa and Asami's player, thanks! )

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

On Saturday the 29th, Yuzuki held a Halloween party for the Kabuki Honbu Dojo students at the dojo in place of the normal lessons. For the Little Dragons, Yuzuki had some help from Kaho to set up a haunted trail walk in the alley behind the building, complete with some of the older students acting as the ghosts! Though the inside of the dojo didn't have much room, Yuzuki put up some orange rope lights and set out the inflatable ghost decoration.



Yuzuki put out refreshments for the party too, in the form of bright green punch drink and some Halloween cookies.



Perhaps it was in the spirit of the season, or because the decorated cookies paid tribute- as Neko the Rappapa cat ventured down from the office to make an appearance as well.

[Yuzuki Kuwabara]

Though it was much smaller than the grand tree upstairs in the Rappapa Headquarters room, Yuzuki decorated the dojo with some red and green string lights and a small Christmas tree with the help of her Little Dragons class. In addition, there were stockings by the changing area above the coat hooks, one for each student of the Kabuki Honbu Dojo and for Yuzuki and her frequent helpers, Kaho and Ishikawa. The Little Dragon helpers who did much of the decorations and writing of names on stockings in glittery paint were treated to celebratory egg nog and cookies after the decorating party.



On this occasion, Koro the Rappapa dog wandered down the stairs to join the party as well, wagging his tail and staring hopefully at all the hard working Little Dragons as they enjoyed their seasonal treats.