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"I see you are well, Nukpana…or should I say Noibara?" Humor entwined with an aged voice as the person of said voice stepped over. Through the grounded and trapped snow, a set of feet pushed through it and occasionally stepped directly on it to create a 'crunch' sort of noise.
Familiar crimson eyes shifted to see the old man and instantly looked down. Nukpana's face was a dark maroon when he reached them, obviously embarrassed. "Must you always bring up my foolishness from my past?" She smiled nevertheless, bowing slightly to Sensei.
"It is always good to see an ex-student of mine even if she was and is a student of…Monkey Fist, hello." Pretending to have just spotted the monkey man, he nodded his head in greetings. "How are you two?" He said casually, apparently ignoring or just not seeing their offspring yet.
"We are fairly well…I'm freezing actually." Nukpana smiled at the man. It seemed like Death was hanging over all their minds; he looked so old, so small, and so fragile. Perhaps he was thinking of it also for his eyes moved onto the youth, the very thing he lacked. "This is our son, Hasani." There was pride in her voice as she introduced the two of them, smiling to see Hasani bow to the man in respect. Though she didn't dare look back at her lover, she felt him grin as well.
"Hasani…you look a lot like your mother." Sensei commented as he looked at him through what appeared to be closed eyes. But then again; it was common knowledge that boys looked like their mothers and girls looked like their fathers.
"Thank you." He said with a small smile, obviously happy to be complimented.
Before any other 'sappy' greetings were exchanged, Monty snapped, "Can we move along here? It is rather cold and I'd rather not have either of them get sick." His lover turned to stare; so he did care about Hasani's lungs!
"Of course, of course. Follow me." Sensei said smoothly before walking back into what seemed like a warm room. It was obvious to those who knew him that he was itching to get more information about the offspring of Fiske and Nukpana. However, manners held him back.
As soon as they sat down, a sigh of relief left both mother and son; their feet could finally rest. Monty looked sideways to the mother of his child and smirked. He recalled when she nearly collapsed – and sometimes did – after their fighting sessions at times. So many years had passed since then!
Before Nukpana would speak, a cup of tea was placed before her and she paused. Looking up, she spotted the young woman no older than herself…who was she? Ignoring the sense of familiarity for the moment, she spoke, "We traveled here to see if Ha- YORI!" The name of the woman popped up in her mind like a firecracker, snapping her sentence in half with surprise.
The lady of twenty-something looked over after pouring her sensei tea and smiled. "Noibara, it is nice to see you as well." It was more of an inside joke between them than an actual reminder of her foolishness by using her fake name. It was the name they came to know each other with, therefore it stuck.
"You look so different!" Nukpana smiled, "Your hair! It's long and tied back! You look so amazing!"
"As are you. Motherhood has made you look radiant even in this frigid weather." Ever the polite female, Yori smiled as she looked at the confused son. After chattering briefly, she sat next to Sensei a few inches behind him off to the side, a show of respect perhaps. "Please, go on and tell us why you are here." She encouraged gently, getting back on track.
Getting back to the subject at hand, she explained, "Our…"
"Our son Hasani," Monkey Fist cut in, obviously not wanting her to stray like before, "wants to join this…school." He used the word carefully; his harbored feeling about this place was like a glacier melting…it took a while to be rid of.
"Wants to?" sensei raised an eyebrow, sipping his tea, "Why, I am surprised he even knew about this since Nukpana's mention of her old name confused him. Are you sure he wanted to? Or is it his parents that want him to be in here?" Ever the blunt man, he stated the obvious and what he had seen.
Not backing down, the black haired woman nodded. "It is both. He's wanted to come to a school for some time and I, we, thought Yamunuchi was best."
"Why would it be best?" For some reason, he seemed to sense…an error in the child.
"What do you mean?" Nukpana followed up swiftly and smoothly, leaving no room for suspicion or doubt in her answer.
"Why not the one in the town you live at? Why here, the very school your master hates and ordered you to spy on?" Though he meant no harshness and no cruelty, for he forgave them long ago, the mention of it made Nukpana flare up with shame. Hasani obviously seemed to be having trouble from keeping his jaw from dropping. "He looks small…though I can gladly say I expect a spirit of a warrior from him thanks to Monkey Fist."
Speaking up this time, Monty ignored the compliment and stated, "That is exactly it; I want my son to be strong. Therefore, putting him in here would be for the best where he could learn good skills."
"And if he not strong under your teaching?" Sensei asked without skipping a beat, noticing the only ones not drinking their warming tea was the couple.
It was obvious this was going to keep going in a circle. It would tap dance around the subject matter but no one would dare jump and slam their heels onto it. Risking showing disrespect towards his elders, as well as being an ill-parented kid, Hasani spoke up. "I'm not as healthy as most."
Silence.
Before waiting to be deafened by the silence, or told to go on, he continued, "My lungs are fragile but my father has been training me. They are stronger but…not as strong as they should be for my age."
"And how old are you?" Sensei asked, studying the brave young man before him.
"Nine." He reluctantly answered, knowing fairly well that because of his lungs he looked younger.
The man seemed to be in deep thought, probably outlining the pros and cons of everything. Monty was glaring daggers at Hasani while Nukpana merely looked worried; their son was oblivious to them, focused on the old man before him. Finally he spoke, "I will give you several tests to see if you are able to join. Nukpana, Monkey Fist, feel free to watch or roam the grounds."
Before anyone could say anything, Nukpana ordered to her lover, "Let's go walk around outside…the snow is pretty." In Middleton it rarely snowed and when it did, it was an inch and nothing more. Though they hiked up this cold weather, she was unable to enjoy it the first time.
"…of course." Monty stood, throwing one last glance back as they started to walk off.
"Come." Sensei stood, talking to Hasani who seemed shocked. "Follow me…"
"I cannot believe he did that! He blew his chances!" Monkey Fist vented as they walked in the snow, almost melting it with his hot white rage.
With a frown, she pointed out, "Not all of his chances. If he was a hopeless case in Sensei's eyes, he would have been told to leave instantly. Sensei doesn't give try outs from pity."
"Still!" He snapped showing his stubbornness. "How dare he speak of a delicate subject like…like…like it was the weather!"
Shaking her head, she slid her hand in his and kissed his cheek. "Just relax and enjoy." Nukpana rested her head on his shoulder, grinning.
"He has definitely been trained by Monkey Fist." Yori stated in a detached voice. There was a sort of resentment, perhaps hatred that colored her tone.
Having picked up on it, for he had taught the young woman for several years, Sensei smiled. "Yes, he is. Why do you seem reluctant to admit that?"
"I do not. I just don't trust him."
"Which one; Monkey Fist or his son?"
"Both!" She frowned deeply, looking at the shorter person. "He has never given us reason to trust him…like father, like son."
Looking over at Hasani who seemed to be having trouble breathing already, he waited briefly before speaking. "Every plant in the garden needs sun to grow. Nukpana has been of good influence on him. He no longer steals. He trains his son and stays home; he is part of a loving family."
"Yes but it could all be a mask." Yori pointed out, adamant about her point of view.
Shaking his head slightly, the man sighed. "Sometime things are as they seem. For example; it is clear that Hasani would not be able to join here." He spoke softly so it wouldn't startle anyone, or for that matter let them hear it.
"…Should we tell his parents?" Yori said soberly, realizing how crushing it would be.
"We must." He nodded solemnly before stepping forward to stop the fight.
The room was silent despite the soft cracks of wood being nibbled on by the flames. The parents, covered in a thin layer of snow, sat behind their son who trembled to gain air. Had the try outs lasted any longer, Nukpana thought bitterly, he wouldn't be breathing at all.
"…I am sorry." Sensei spoke and instantly they knew he had not made it. The words after those three were muffled and pointless to the family of three.
Next chapter: As the disappointed family leaves, Hasani sees something…or someone. They talk about different schools as well…Review please!