(24 years ago...)

it rained for several days straight. In this time, Misako insisted that she go train with the tiger cubs Jiro and Noruku instead. On that second day, Reidak came upon them practicing with wooden swords. The White Bengal tigers, Stick and Lando (as he liked to hear her call him) kept watching as well. Noruku won against her half the time, like the last time. After that, she had let Noruku and Jiro take a turn together. Noruku won and Jiro's sword was knocked out of his hand.

"Nicely done," Reidak said, picking up Jiro's wooden sword and tried to return it to him. But the cub was reluctant to grab it from him.

Stick walked over and said, "Karera wa kodomodeatte mo yoiga, Miyagi wa koko ni mi rareru yō ni, karera wa tsuyoidesu." (They may be children, but they are strong, as Miyagi here found out.)

The other tiger, Miyagi laughed and said, "Anata dake no watashi wa hanbun no jikan o ushinau tame to iimasu." (You only say that because I lose half the time.) Misako thought for a second before saying to Stick, "No wa kare ga tameshite mite mimashou." (Let's see him try.)

Stick laughed before saying in English, "You try."

Reidak kept the wooden sword from Jiro and held it in one hand and pointed challengingly at Noruku as he just stood there, waiting for the cub to strike. Noruku struck first and they fought.

The cub tried very hard, while Reidak conserved his movements and did not move very far. Noruku expected Reidak to strike, but instead he dodged every move or hit he attempted, Reidak slid to the left but Noruku brought a final hit on Reidak but the Russki blocked it with his wooden sword and knocked it out of his hands.

Noruku stood there, wide-eyed and defenseless and afraid he might get hit, now, that he has lost the use of his weapon, but Reidak did no such thing, to his shock the Russian walked where the wooden sword was and lightly picked it up and handed it back to him, he didn't show any intention to hit him or strike. Noruku hesitantly reached for the sword until he had his grasp on it again.

Stick and Misako watched anxiously as Miyagi and Lando watched in amazement. Noruku swung again but Reidak caught the sword in mid swing and jabbed his sword at Noruku and as the tiger cub struggled to pull the sword free from the Russian, but it was no use. He won.

Suddenly, the sound of feet marching echoed through the rainy air as Nobu and his posse arrived in the village. The Kai-Ken noticed Reidak and Noruku sparing and angrily yelled to Reidak, "Yamei!"

They both halted and Noruku solemly and silently handed Nobu his wooden sword. "Ken o okimasu," (Put down the sword,) The Canine demanded as he walked towards the young Russki, with his wooden sword raised and pointed at him.

Reidak glanced from the sword to Stick and then back to Nobu, but did not let go of his sword. Nobu repeated the demand; but this time it was loud enough for the villagers to hear; making them stop from their daily errands and watched the scene before them. All of them watched as Nobu and Reidak were about to face off in a sword fight.

This was a challenge, one that couldn't be overlooked. He looked carefully at Misako and then his mentor Stick, who was beside Misako and Miyagi watching him. Reidak's ears caught the nod of his master's head. It was a signal to fight. Fight!

Nobu charged at Reidak first, Reidak stood his ground; expecting the canine to go for his face, but was surprised that he actually went for his feet and stomach, hitting him hard on the side of his abdomen and quickly knocking him down to his knees and hitting him in the back of the head, face-first in the mud and waited for him to move. He didn't move at first, which caused the canine to think he already won as he began to walk back to his posse.

However, Reidak steadily got up again, slightly falling and trembling; raised his wooden sword up defensively. Nobu turned back around quickly and whacked Reidak upside the head, hitting his side and dazed him with a knock to the jaw before knocking the Russian flat on his back. He pointed his wooden katana at him threatingly as his weakened and bruised opponent laid motionless in the wet soil and knocked the wooden sword away from him, before walking away again.

Reidak's nose was bleeding as he tried to move again. Reidak, shivering from the cold and the rain, felt weak from the massive bruises that he obtained from his opponent, steadily got to his knees and began to stand up again, his knees ached from the violent bash hits that were from the hardwood katana. Reidak struggled to regain his strength and balance as he waved his katana in front of him to show the canine he was not done yet.

But, Nobu was already ahead of him as he quickly charged forward and plowed his sword on his back; knocking the wind out of his lungs and putting him flat on his stomach. Misako winced, but she knew that Nobu would not kill him. Well, at least not yet, but anytime soon he will.

Reidak; not giving up, got up as far as his knees can lift and began to slowly swing the sword back and forth weakly as he searched for balance. Reidak heard Nobu's movements in front of him and gave one last deliberate desperate swing towards his rival, but Nobu caught it and whacked Reidak hard on the side of his head with his katana, finally knocking his crumpled form once more to the ground.

Nobu looked back over his shoulder over to Misako and the others, who stood together. He threw the sword back to Noruku, who caught it hastily. All of the villagers silently stared at Reidak solemnly, but none of them moved to help him until Nobu was out of sight.

'Baka.' Stick thought as he 'saw' the whole scene before him.

As soon Nobu and his gang was gone, Misako raced forward and knelt beside Reidak. "Are you alright?" she asked softly. He just grunted painfully.

"Come. You need to get inside," she said, pulling his shoulders up. She slung one of his arms around her shoulders as Lando did the other and they both hauled him inside, a very laborious process for her.

She and Lando laid him down in his room and helped him wash, and change before having him lay down again. "Thank you." he said raspily in a gentle weak voice before passing out from exhaustion.