Chapter 六: Destiny
"Elmira, keep your thumb outside of your fist when you punch, you'll break it if you keep it inside!"
My Sofu* shouted at me as he grabbed my fist and roughly pried open my hand. He pushed my thumb back; I was on the verge of tears but held them back, knowing that if I cried before him, my punishment would become much worse. I fixed my posture and re-clenched my fist, nice and tight with my thumb just below the knuckles of my fingers. He gave me a curt nod of approval.
My father had taught me Karate before he died; I had made it to green belt just before our trip to New York, just before he and my mother were killed. The skills of a green belt weren't enough for my grandfather, he wanted me black belt material, especially after he found out that I contained the power of the Ancient.
My grandfather stood before me, just inches away from my flying fists. His eyes were narrowed as he watched me intently, watching for any slight mistake I could possibly make.
"Ichi! Ni! San! Shi!"
He yelled, keeping time as I alternated my left and right arm.
"Go! Roku! Shichi! Hachi! Kyuu!"
He continued, his eyes locked with mine.
"Juu!"
He advanced towards me but I managed to step back, my arms up in self-defence. He smiled slightly and nodded, approving my block against his attack.
"Sure enough Elmira, you will reach the black belt level. You will become highly trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as weaponry. You will then try out for a position within the Foot and most likely, they will accept you."
My brows furrowed as I looked at him, my unemotional expression turned sour. There were many rumours of the Foot clan and what they believed in. They wanted to keep the old ways of Japan but their ways of going around it were immoral and incriminating. I believed in traditional ways but not through violence and unnecessary power.
"Elmira, do you understand?"
I remained silent as I let my arms drop, bringing them to my upper thighs and I bowed deeply. I could not agree but I couldn't give him disrespect.
He walked up to me, grabbing my hair as he pushed me down to the tatami mats. They smelled of sweat and dust, it made me gag before I let out a whimper, scared of his anger and power.
"You are nothing but a powerless, worthless little girl and at this rate, you'll become a powerless and worthless woman! Smarten up and agree to what your destiny contains! Say it, child!"
I let out a muffled cry as I looked up at him. My lips quivered and my eyes glistened with forming tears. I slowly bowed my head, all the way until my forehead touched the tatami.
"Hai Sofu. Hai."
He let go of my hair and backed away from me, letting me get backup to my feet. He kept his back to me as he walked to the other side of the room, grabbing a bucket and rag, knowing that I'd have to wipe down the mats.
"Live up to your family name and destiny Elmira. Your mother and father are not here anymore, you are the only one left. You are special but you are letting that fall through your fingers. Smarten up child; do not dishonor your family, your power, and most importantly, the Foot. That would be most unwise."
* Sofu – grandfather