CHAPTER

3

The next day, Ian was dropped off at the dojo at exactly six thirty in the morning. He said his goodbyes to his father, and had a bag with enough clothes for one night. Although a little nervous, he was soon distracted by the news that he was to begin his training in less than thirty minutes. He and Tommy were in their room, Tommy helping him with his gi.

"The belt wrap, like this, and go three time. It goes in loop once, and then hang. See?"

Ian watched at how Tommy tied the belt for him, nodding.

"Gi tunic wrap into belt, like this, and belt hold it tight. Belt we wear is white, signify innocence, purity. We just start, so white belt first. You wear these sandal to training, then take off before start. These are socks you wear."

He presented to him a pair of starch white socks, with a split for the big toe for the sandal throng to fit in. Ian pulled the socks on, glancing over at the sandals in the corner. They were completely flat, wooden, and had black throngs. Tommy went to fetch them, setting them down politely beside his new friend. The young Asian boy had been waiting on the blond hand and foot, constantly tending to his needs and watching for any chance to serve him. Ian had noted this, knowing that the actions had come with him from Japan. Very polite, very civil, and very formal. Slipping the sandals on, they felt weird at first, but after a few steps in them, they were fine. Tommy smiled, slipping his own on.

"They are nothing. You see ones in Japan, they are uneasy!"

Ian smiled at his friend's misuse of words, but had understood him clearly.

"I bet they are. I've seen pictures."

He stood in front of the full length mirror, glancing at Tommy, who had now stood.

"So, how do I look?" he said as he turned around.

Tommy smiled, bowing politely.

"Very well! Last thing,"

He pulled out a roll of thick cloth from inside a drawer, walking over to the blond.

"This go around arms and legs; it will protect."

He took the end of the wide strips, holding to his friend's wrist, and began to roll it around and around in a certain pattern, tucking the last end into the bands, and then tearing a longer piece from the roll, tying it off. This he repeated on the other arm and calves, wrapping the sleeves and pant legs inside it. Then he stood, looking over at Ian.

"You think you do me? You see what I did?"

Ian nodded, taking the roll from him.

"Yes, I saw. Tell me if I do something wrong...I've never done this before!"

With a little practice, he managed to wrap Tommy's limbs the same way that his were done. Once finished, Tommy looked the wrappings over admiringly.

"Very good."

He took the roll from the blond, placing it back in the drawer.

"Good. We are done. Come and we go to training."

Soon they were came to the training room, finding Hard Master already awaiting them. The room was a very good size, with blue or red mats all around the floor. There were oddly shaped cushions to practice various jumps, flips and runs on, as well as boards mounted on the walls for throwing shuriken, knives and other weapons. There was a massive selection of weapons in hangers on the walls, as well as a bamboo vase full of staves and another full of bokken swords. Hard Master came to greet them, bowing.

"Ah, do not you look nice?" He said smiling.

Ian and Tommy bowed in return, both replying with a polite,

"Greetings, sensei."

Hard Master smiled, beckoning them to follow. He walked out onto a mat in the center of the room, standing opposite his two apprentices.

"There will be no people here this morning, young ones, so we shall have the training room to ourselves. Ian, since you know not Japanese, I will be teaching you words along the way. These will be strike calls and so forth. Tomisaburo already knows these words, so he shall help you, too. The beginning lessons are always tiring and confusing...but they must be mastered. Although it may seem you are not learning much, you learn a great deal. What you learn here today, will be the foundation of your martial arts. You will repeat these moves continuously until you have them memorized in your muscle memory. Remember that pain is the road that will lead to your success in martial arts.

Begin."

Stepping into a stance, Ian and Tommy did likewise. Hard Master slowly went through each move with them, correcting posture, arranging limb alignment, and helping them to balance. At first, Ian was having a difficult time keeping steady, and at one point, he was to stand on one foot alone, and keep perfect kicking stance. His legs ached, his back ached, but Hard Master helped him. He knew that it would be hard, but it would be done...Ian would do it. His heart was set on it. The entire morning was spent in the training hall, learning a series of basic punches, kicks, strikes, and defenses that went with those. He learned to balance properly, and repeatedly walked on an elevated, twelve foot pole. The first try on that, and he had fallen onto the mat. The second try was a little better, but not halfway across the pole, he fell again. The third try was much better, and he made it almost to the end. Tommy had done the same thing, and had taken his own share of falls. The pole was barely wide enough for the sole of one's foot, and was very difficult to walk on. In one day, both Tommy and Ian had mastered the pole, and were now running across it without much difficulty. Hard Master was quite impressed at their learning speed, and by lunch, he had them throwing punches at one another. Having exited the hall for a few moments, he came back, but quietly stood at the doorway, watching his apprentices swing at each other. Their shouts echoed around the room, and they had gone a little farther than punches, now doing a whole array of kicks, strikes, and blocks. Hard Master smiled, and took great pride in watching them. They learned very, very fast...these two might have a higher calling than he thought. Tommy had the spoken will power and fierceness, the fire that roared and was not quenched. He was bold and let every one know it, while Ian, on the other hand, had that silent power, the silent energy that he held until he needed it. He had the strength that remained asleep until awakened at the proper moment, and the strong, deadly will to learn, fight, and succeed. Both were...so perfect. Perfect matches. In skill that one lacked, the other had, and they worked together in perfect unison. Ian struck out at Tommy, who yelled, blocked the move, and came in with a kick. Ian saw it, stepped aside, blocked, and came down with his left hand for a strike. Tommy ducked to one side, caught the hand, tried a twist, and fell to his feet as Ian countered the turn, using it to his own advantage. As soon as Tommy was down, the blond came on top of him, twisting his arm behind his back and shouting

"Yield!"

At first, Tommy was unwilling, and tried to headlock his friend, but Ian avoided it and pulled his arm further backwards, causing Tommy to shout in pain and cry the surrender.

"Yield! I yield!"

Ian immediately stood, and the young Asian boy rolled over, looking up at him. The blond offered his hand, and Tommy made to take it, but just as he grasped Ian's hand, he leaped up, yanking him forward, and rolled him over his back, this time pinning him and jerking his shoulder upward.

"Yield!"

"I yield!"

The two rolled off of each other, sitting on the mat and trying to regain their breath. Tommy smiled, running a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes.

"Good! You do well!"

Ian smiled, extending his hand.

"You too, Tommy."

They shook hands, and then stood, but before they could go into another fighting session, Hard Master entered, clapping his hands.

"Apprentices!"

They both turned, bowing.

"Sensei."

Hard Master folded his hands into the wide sleeves of his tunic, nodding to them.

"Ian, Tommy, well done. You are already fighting very well using your basics. Nephew, I must say to you, that you should never attack your opponent once you have yielded, and Ian, never offer your hand."

He noted their slightly downcast faces, but lifted their hopes with a comment of approval.

"Both of you are doing very well...do not be discouraged. In fact, you may be pleased to know that the two of you are excelling far beyond the other students, and in your first days, too! Keep it up. Both of you. Now, I shall have Aki to fix us some lunch; you two go and change, and I will meet you in the dining area. Tommy shall show you the way."

He bowed slightly to them, and they to him. Once Hard Master had left the room, Tommy and Ian left as well. They walked through the double doors and into the hallway, heading for their room.

"That was good, don't you think?"

Tommy nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Yes, it very good. You think we learn better?"

Ian shrugged, loosening his tunic collar a little.

"Maybe. Hopefully we'll get really good, and then we'll be masters."

Tommy sighed dreamily, opening the door once they got to it.

"Masters...that nice."

Once they were in the room, Tommy shut the door, and went to help Ian to remove the belt and limb wraps.

"Here, I help."

He began to untie the loose knot on the belt, and then let him take it off while he began to work on the wrappings.

"These complicated, sometime."

Ian smiled, watching him.

"Yes, I can see how they would be."

As soon as Tommy got the wrappings off, he began to take off his own, but before doing so, pointed to the bed.

"Your clothes are on bed, and you wash face and hands in sink there,"

The sink was by the closet, with a fresh stack of towels sitting on a wooden stool. Ian went to the sink, removing his shirt, and wet his hands, cupping a bunch of the cold water onto his face. Glancing up in the mirror, he watched Tommy, who had his back to him, and just as his friend removed his shirt, he couldn't help but take in a sharp breath. Turning around, he looked at his friend, who glanced up at him. Ian stared at the scared area on Tommy's back, and he had never realized how skinny the boy really was. Bones were clearly seen, as well as most muscle movement. Tommy glanced down at the scar on his that ran from his lower back to his side, and then back up at Ian.

"That...that from accident...in Japan."

He turned his head away, and Ian knew that something was not right.

"What happened, Tommy?"

The boy shook his head, removing the shirt completely and folding it, setting it in a drawer.

"Six month, ago. Just accident..."

Ian laid the towel that he had in his hands aside, looking over at his friend worriedly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Tommy kept his eyes downcast for a minute, staring at the wooden floor. Ian saw his jaw tighten, and his eyes cloud with tears. His fists were clenched, his muscles tight. Turning, he went to the bed, sitting down on it. Ian walked around the post, joining him and laying a hand on his friend's knee.

"Tommy, you can talk to me."

The boy wiped his arm quickly across his eyes, trying to hide his tears, and then spoke, his voice choked.

"Six month ago, Japan, the Arashikage. It where I live, six month ago, before come here. There was, fire, in Arashikage. My—my chichi...my father...killed. That night, we argue, he was mad, at me..."

Here his voice broke, and he averted his gaze. After a minute, Ian prompted him on gently.

"Why did you argue?"

Tommy continued to gaze at the bed cover, but continued, his voice still broken.

"When—before I born, chichi and okaachan, my mother, want son, to carry name, Arashikage. They try, and have son. They name him Chou-Nan, firstborn son, but he die, at four week. Then try again, and have son, name him Jiro, but he die eight weeks. Okaachan was very sad, cry often. She afraid, to try again, that son might die, and chichi afraid, too. They in great grief, but oji-san, Hard Master, tell them, pray to Buddha, that he give them fortunate third son. He say, maybe Buddha smile on them, give them third son, who live. Chichi and okaachan pray for days, not eat, and ask that Buddha give them third son. They try again, and third son is born. Okaachan become very ill, sick, but she always hold third son. She was afraid that third son not live past sixteen week, and she not eat or drink, hoping that Buddha smile on her. Chichi tried her to eat, but she not. She always pray for third son, and when sixteen week come, they cry loudly, praying that son live. Second before midnight, oji-san come with priest, and priest pray over child, making intersession for him. They all watch the clock, and much joy was given when child lived past midnight. They give thanks to Buddha, and okaachan name the third son, calling him Tomisaburo...Fortunate Third Son. Okaachan cry, kissing son. She tell him to be strong, and love always, to never be weak, and she—she die, holding son. Chichi was angry, and treated son badly because he thought, death was brought on okaachan by Tomisaburo. That is why we argue, that night. He call me weak, worthless, that I never should cry, that I should grow up. That is when fire came. It burned, most all Arashikage, and chichi got me out, before it...came, to the room. Chichi died, that night...and..."

Now tears rolled down Tommy's face, and his voice was broken.

"and...I never told him...that I love him."

Ian felt a deep sorrow for his friend, and moving closer, put his arm around him, and was a little surprised when Tommy buried his face in his shoulder, sobbing almost uncontrollably. The blond cried with him, and immediately knew that he had a greater responsibility than he had thought. Tommy looked up to him, and Ian knew that he trusted him deeply to have told him this. Now, at this moment in time, he considered Tomisaburo Arashikage...a younger brother.