Around the World: An Unexpected Journey

Chapter 5: Day 12: Berlin, Germany: Learning How to Fight and Catching up on History

(We come upon Justin and the gang walking through the streets of Berlin, taking in the sights and sounds. It's noon, when Justin looks at his watch, it says 12:00 p.m. Then Kei then notices a martial arts dojo, and remembers their previous encounters with the Yakuza and the RED team.)

Kei: You guys up for any self-defense training?

Penny: And why would we want to take a self-defense course if the best way to stop a man from attacking is to simply kick him in the nuts.

Justin: After what we've been through, we could use all the help we can get.

Leonard: Let's see if they will allow us.

(The group enters the dojo, the instructors recognize Kei. Kei gives a subtle sign to them to not call her by name.)

Instructor #1: Welcome, what can we do for you?

Kei: I wish to give my friends here martial arts training.

Instructor #2: Then you came to the right place.

Justin: Is this place any good?

Instructor #2: One of the best, it's part of a international martial arts organization, the MAIF, Martial Arts International Federation. This is the German headquarters.

Penny: I still think this is a waste of time. I've seen many martial arts films and they look ridiculous.

Kei: They were exaggerated for entertainment.

Penny: I still think the best way to stop any attacker is to kick said attacker in the nuts until they bend over. And I also think that martial arts are highly overrated.

Kei (insulted, due to her lineage, her tone now serious): We'll see about that.

Penny: Is that a challenge?

Kei: It is.

Penny: Then bring it; I've always wanted to show Justin that you are more talk than action.

Kei: Don't tempt me.

(Everyone puts some distance between the two soon to be combatants, as well as remove their shoes.)

Penny: Ready to lose?

Kei: Get ready!

(Penny walks up to Kei, and throws her leg up to kick Kei right between the legs. Kei, however, is much quicker, grabbing Penny's leg then sweeping her foot under Penny's other leg in a classic Sanda Kung-Fu takedown, causing her to fall flat on the floor. Penny simply looks at Kei with a withering glare, but Kei is unfazed.)

Penny (growling): Okay.

(Penny then gets back on her feet and charges Kei, only for Kei to use a hip throw, causing Penny to slam into the mat, again. If Penny wasn't angry before, she was now. Penny starts throwing wild, feral swings and kicks at Kei, only for Kei to effortlessly dodge them, and then countering with a throw or take down.)

Penny: Think you're good with your fancy dodges and throws? I'll show how we settle a fight in the United States!

Kei: All of that wild swinging and kicking won't get you anywhere if you can't hit me.

Penny: I only need one good hit and you'll go down for good.

(Penny then throws a swing at Kei's head, which Kei dodges easily, but Penny then does into a powerful front kick to Kei's stomach, sending her stumbling back with a grunt. Justin quickly grows concern, while he knows Kei wasn't skinny, she didn't look like a very physical person given her slender and delicate looking figure, but her clothes didn't reveal much, so he couldn't tell, so he decides to play it safe.)

Justin: Kei, are you alright?

(Penny, on the other hand, grows confident)

Penny: See, I told you that martial arts were highly overrated. It only takes one good hit in the right place and anyone will not to fight you again.

(Justin is about to speak when he see Kei's posture, and realizes she wasn't clutching her stomach; in fact, she didn't look like she was in any pain. She straightens back up and looks Penny straight in the eye, her eyes now focused.)

Kei: Come try that again.

Penny: So you're trying to act tough, let's see you act tough when I give your pretty face a very nasty bruise.

(Penny walks up to Kei and drives her fist at Kei, but Kei catches it. Penny throws her free hand into a punch, only for Kei to catch it as well. Penny then tries to push Kei back, but Kei shows little difficulty holding Penny back.)

Kei: My turn.

(Kei then rotates her arms, causing Penny to flip over, slamming into the mat again. Penny, first stunned, quickly becomes angry again.)

Penny: You want to play rough, OKAY!

(Penny leaps back up to her feet and charges again, and throwing a haymaker. Kei fluidly grabs the arm and drives her knee into Penny's gut. Penny then throws a kick at Kei's stomach again, but this time, Kei simply sidesteps the strike and counters by driving her foot into Penny's gut, pushing her back.)

Kei: This is not a dance!

(Penny charges again, and the two proceed to go at each other. Penny proves to be a scrappy fighter, but her wild fighting proved to be ineffective against Kei's honed but powerful fighting style. After a couple of minutes of fighting, Kei manages to pin Penny into an arm-bar, causing Penny to tap out. Everyone, except Justin and the instructors are stunned. Justin, however, is amazed.)

Howard: Holy macaroni! How did you do that?!

Kei: A lifetime of training will do that.

Bernadette: What does that mean?

Instructor #1: You don't know, do you?

Justin: Care to explain.

Instructor #2: Ms. Sato is a world class martial artist. She has black belts in multiple styles, such as Karate, Jujutsu, Kung-Fu, and Taekwondo.

Justin: How long have you been doing this, Hoshi?

Kei: Ever since I was old enough to walk, around 5 years old.

Justin: Incredible. I knew you had a strong will, but I never would have pegged you for being a martial artist.

Kei: Well some guys don't like the idea of a woman being stronger than they are, so I don't broadcast it.

Justin: I'm guessing you finally decided to make your skills known when Penny thought martial arts were overrated.

Kei: Marital art is a part of my country's culture, so I was insulted by Penny's comment, especially her tone.

Penny: What about allowing people to have the right to their opinion?

Kei: I respect that right, but that right is not an excuse to rub one's envy into another's face.

Leonard: So you were jealous, Penny?

Penny: Yes, I was jealous.

Kei: I hold no ill will towards you, Penny. Never will.

Penny: Thanks.

(Kei helps Penny up)

Justin: Now that's settled, what's next?

Kei (gets an idea, remembering Justin's previous comment about her): Now that I'm warmed up, I would like to start teaching my friend, Justin.

Justin: Me?

Kei: You guys got a spare room, I prefer a wide area because I like being mobile.

Instructor #2: The second floor is open for you.

Kei: Perfect.

Justin: Alright then.

(Justin and Kei head up to the second floor. It was like the first floor, with a matted floor.)

Kei: I'm going to change, will you wait?

Justin: Sure, I'll get change as well.

(Kei enters a room and shuts the door, and Justin quickly changes into black shorts and a blue t-shirt. Kei takes a peek out, taking a look at Justin. It is clear that Justin has gone through a few physical changes. He was a little leaner, and his muscles had replaced what fat he lost.)

Kei: He's starting to become the man I can see inside, and I think it's time to show him the woman I am.

(Then Kei exits the room she used to change, Justin is rendered speechless. She's wearing a black sports bra and black shorts, which contrasted with her skin. Her body was curvy and feminine with a healthy hourglass figure, but she also had a slender, but noticeable layer of muscle. Kei notices Justin's staring, but doesn't mind it. In fact, she found herself enjoying it, and decided to give Justin a little show. She turns around, showing her back to Justin and flexes. Her shoulders were slightly wider than an average woman's, and her back showed off powerful and dense, but lean and feminine muscles. Her back tapered into a long, narrow waist, and flared out into wide, shapely hips. Her butt was full, round, and firm, jutting out from the rest of her body. Her legs were long and powerful, with her thighs thick, firm, but not bulky with well defined muscles. Her calves rounded out like she was wearing high heels, despite being barefooted. She then turned around so Justin could get a look at her front. Her breasts were large, pert and natural, and they sat on a set of small but powerful pectoral muscles. Her 6-pack abs were big and clear, but didn't make her waist bigger. Thin lines ran out from her sides, her obliques making her abs even more visible. She then flexes an arm, showing off a small but strong bicep. Overall, she looked very fit, lean, athletic, and toned. She also had a very appealing Japanese beauty. Her face was heart shaped, framed by her short black hair that shimmered and seemed by made from the finest silk. Her skin was healthy, fair with a healthy tan, and smooth as silk, like her hair; without any blemishes and flaws anywhere, but she did have plenty of scars, which somehow added to her appeal. Her lips were full and a lovely pink, upturned in a small smile. Her dark brown eyes were also enchanting pools, sharp, deep, and clear. Justin is completely unable to take his eyes off her.)

Kei (giggles, putting her hands on her hips, with a flirtatious tone): You like?

Justin (realize that he's been caught): I…uh…er…I didn't mean to stare.

Kei: Just speak your mind.

Justin: You simply look stunning.

Kei: My height is 5' 7''. Measurements are 35''-24''-35''. In centimeters it's 90-61-90. D-cup breasts. I weigh 124 pounds, most of that weight in muscle.

Justin: Wow. Neck, down, you look a lot like Kasumi, only you are more toned.

Kei: She was one of my favorite characters in Dead or Alive, and a role model. She was a kind and peaceful person, but a real fighter when she needed to be. I also was drawn to her sister Ayane, and how she changed from outcast to leader of the Hajin Mon sect.

Justin: I guess when they made Dead or Alive 5, you were happy that they finally made peace with each other.

Kei: I was. I even took what was practical and possible from their fighting styles and incorporated them into my fighting style. And about your comment about me looking like Kasumi from the neck down, my mother said the same thing, and laughed at the irony.

Justin: Sounds like you had a dream of becoming a ninja when you grew up.

Kei: Technically I am one.

Justin: Care to explain, Kei?

Kei: Can you talk and fight at the same time?

Justin: I can try.

(The two get into ready stances, with Kei's stance that was similar to Kasumi's stance, while Justin's stance is similar to a boxing stance. Kei soon realize that while Justin doesn't have much fighting experience, he has a basic idea of what to do.)

Kei: Give him a few weeks, and he might be able to compete against world class fighters. (Speaks) Ready?

Justin: Ready.

(The two circle each other for a bit before Justin strikes first, using a jab. Kei easily blocks it and counters with a jab of her own, Justin blocks it as well. It's clear that the two are starting simple and working their way up.)

Justin: So you do you mean by that you are a ninja 'technically'. (Throws a three punch combo, two jabs and a cross)

Kei (blocks the punches): Let's start off with more basic facts. What were your parents, more specifically, their jobs? (Throws a cross punch, which nails Justin in the stomach) Tighten your guard, and don't stand in one place.

Justin: My mom works at the local sheriff's office as a radio operator, my dad works as a port security officer. (Ducks to avoid a roundhouse kick)

Kei: Nice dodge. My mom works as a nurse, and my father is an officer. (Dodges a snap front kick from Justin) Loosen up, be fluid in your movements, you get more speed and power, plus you'll find it easier to maintain balance.

Justin: My dad used by a police officer as well. I was born in Key West, Florida on October 15, 1992. I lived most of my childhood in Bothell, Washington, then my family moved to Titusville, were I currently live. (Sees Kei come in with a hook, but decides to use a Krava Maga technique he seen on TV, bursting, driving his left hand up to block Kei's strike, and punching Kei in the chest.)

Kei: Impressive, that's Krava Maga. Anyway, I was born Osaka, Japan, lived there my whole life. You and I are around the same age, I only older than you by only a little more than a month, for I was born on September 9, 1992. You have any siblings? (Catches a punch from Justin and uses a Judo hip throw.)

Justin (rolling back up): A younger brother by three years. We never got along, always at each other's nerves. (Tries a sweep kick, but Kei jumps over it)

Kei: Move a little faster the next time you try that. As for me, I had two brothers, and a sister. I'm the 2nd youngest, with the oldest being my older sister by two years, and the youngest being my younger brother by two years. We do have our disagreements, but we got along quite nicely. (Justin then manages to get a kick in, right at Kei's lower legs) That's good, keep that up.

Justin (picking up the pace): Sounds like you had a lot of fun growing up. Play any games?

Kei (matching Justin's pace): We started with physical games, such as hide and seek, tag, and other like them. As we got older, we included board games like Chess and Uno, then video games. We always managed to get the latest systems.

Justin: Sounds like you were a modern family.

(Kei then goes for a takedown, tackling Justin and pinning him with an arm bar. Justin taps out. The two sit up and look at each other)

Kei: We were a modern family, but one that never forgot the traditional ways. For formal occasions that allowed it, we wore kimonos. We practiced with traditional musical instruments, and we practice Shinto. We then got a surprise when I was twelve years old; we went to visit my extended family for the summer. That is when we learned a big secret of our family line. My mother was a descendent of the Iga Shinobi clans, and the Nagase clan was one of the survivors from the uprising, and my father was a descendent of the Samurai clans.

Justin: I can see that must have been a big surprise for you and your siblings.

Kei: I grew up watching my older brother and sister play games like Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, and others like them, as well as watching those Ninja movies, and reading stories about legendary samurai warriors, so learning that my ancestors were the inspiration for characters like that was a shock for me. But as we were taught the ways of our ancestors, all that martial arts training, agility and strength training, and mental training started to make sense. We eventually accepted our lineage, and I embraced it. All of us use that training for self-defense, sparring, and exercise. I decided to follow my parents' footsteps and join the military when I graduated from High School.

Justin: Your parents were in the military?

Kei: My father was a member of the Special Boarding Unit, and my mother was a combat medic. They met during a training exercise. When they decided to have a family, they took up positions that were close to home, with my mother taking a job at a base at Osaka while my father became a member of the military police. They passed on their skills to me and my siblings, as you saw in London.

Justin: No kidding. But how did you even get the right to own that P227? I though Japan had tight gun control.

Kei: Not only am I a member of the Self-Defense Force, but I also had a licenses to carry a weapon, a expansion that was brought about by the success of Untied States civilians defending themselves from crime by using pistols. And why the P227, simple, it uses the same caliber as the P220, but holds two more rounds, and is similar to the P226. The JSDF requested to make a licensed version called the Minebea P10, and this is said pistol. I also brought along a knife on my journey as well.

Justin: I believe said knife was on your left thigh.

Kei: You notice things quite quickly.

Justin: What was it exactly?

Kei: A tanto. It's a traditionally made Tanto blade with a modern grip.

(Kei goes and retrieves said knife. Justin takes a look at it before Kei hands it to him. He moves his hand around, getting a feel of the knife. He then hands it back to Kei.)

Justin: Well balanced. It looks like a tactical knife.

Kei: I requested it to be made that way.

Justin: And about you being in the Self-Defense Force, which branch did you signed up for?

Kei: The Japanese Self-Defense Air Force, I fly the F-2A Viper Zero, qualified for the F-3 Shinshin when it comes out. But I'm also a member of the Japanese Special Forces, so I'm at home on the ground as well as in the cockpit. This is due to a recent program that was put into effect several years ago.

Justin: You mean that cross training program that I heard about in the news, the one that allows members of each branch to be move around in times of crisis.

Kei: That's the one.

Justin: Which unit of Japanese Special Forces?

Kei: Not one of the known ones. I'm part of a more elite unit, and I can't give it's name.

Justin: Wow, all these skills, you must had inspirations from a more than just a few role models.

Kei: My parents were big role models to me, but as I grew up, more role models came into my life, especially during my teen years. You do know Jill Valentine from Resident Evil and Kasumi from Dead or Alive. But I have others, such as Lightning from Final Fantasy, Aqua from Kingdom Hearts, Aoi from Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter's Chun-Li, Jun Kazama from Tekken, and many more.

Justin: But who was you biggest role model.

(Kei thinks about this and smiles)

Kei: My namesake.

Justin: You mean the Kei Nagase from Ace Combat 5?

Kei: Yes. When I was only 12 years old when the game came out, and was able to convince my parents to buy, showing I was mature enough for the games rating, having bought and played all the other Ace Combat games.

Justin: You're a fan of the series?

Kei: Have every game.

Justin: Wow, I only have three, including Ace Combat 5.

Kei: I when I first started playing it, going through the first cutscene, I already started to like it. That was when I first saw my name sake, and heard her voice. When that happened, something clicked inside me; I thought to myself "Oh my, that's me in ten years".

Justin: And you looked just like her, and sound like her, in only nine years, you exceed your expectations.

Kei: I sure did.

Justin (standing up): So, shall we continue training?

Kei: I'm up for it.

(The two then continue to train with each other for the rest of the day. When they were done, they join the others and return to their hotel to turn in for the night.)