Scene VIII
Solar Year 189
Tokyo Empire, Asakusa
. . . . . .
Thirteen-year-old Shinmon Benimaru hated tea.
Rather, he hated who he had to interact with during the whole event. He would rather run any drill the old geezer set up for him than have to sit through another round of tea at the Shobu place. It was so damn boring sitting there for an hour and a half listening to the old farts go on and on about stupid crap which had nothing to do with him. His "friend" wasn't any better either. The Shobu girl was proud and stubborn and tall. Sure, it was petty, literally everyone around him was bigger than him, but she was a girl. He was supposed to be bigger and stronger and just plain better.
But, he wasn't.
And it boiled his blood.
Konro said it was because she had been training since she was six, so of course she was better at fighting than him. Benimaru had only started his own training with the Hikeshi Master a few years ago and, if he didn't take that training seriously, he would never beat her the way he was now. At least, not in an even one-to-one fight without pyrokinesis. With actual fire in the mix he might have a chance to overwhelm her by sheer force but, there was no way he was gonna get the chance for that. The old geezer and old-man Shobu were always there, coming out of the woodwork at the last minute, making sure a fight like that could never happen. Which only made him madder 'cause he never got the chance to prove he could beat her at something at least.
It didn't help Shobu always acted so above it all, especially to him. As if he wasn't good enough to be around; a little thorn in her side she had to put up with from time to time. She talked down to him every chance she got, always bringing up how short he was, or how he kept getting his ass handed to him by his old man in training. Shobu always acted like she never lost a fight, like everything came naturally to her, and she never had to actually try. It pissed him off.
He hated her. He really, really did, no matter what Konro said.
"Quit stalling." The old bastard crossed his arms beneath the folds of his dark, blue kimono and leveled a glare at Benimaru which had long since ceased to scare him. "We're goin' an' that's that."
Now a year into this new tradition, he knew the old man meant what he said. If Benimaru continued to put up a fight about it, all it would get him was a swift kick in the teeth and a bleeding nose for his efforts. So, he swallowed his anger, clenched his teeth, and did as he was told. Though, that didn't stop him from hating literally every step he took as he followed the old fart and Konro down the lane towards the Shobu's dojo. He kicked a stray rock out of his path, sending it down a back alley where it connected with an old tin trash can. As a result, the old alley-cat which lived there was startled from a deep sleep and took off like a shot down the street, caterwauling at the top of his lungs as he went.
Suddenly, he was hauled into the air by the collar of his ragged, color faded happi and given two firm shakes of displeasure.
"The hell, brat." Shinmon Hibachi growled angerly, bringing Beni's face close to his own. "If ya want a fight, I can give ya one myself. Takin' it out on an old cat ain't gonna solve yer problems."
"Let go o' me!" He ground out, trying to pry the man's hand away so he could breathe.
"Cut the attitude, then." The old geezer dropped him, letting Beni fall where he may. "If ya start a fight with the Shobu girl today, I'll let her kick yer ass. I'll even tell her father ya deserved it too."
With that, the old man turned on his heel and continued down the road, not bothering to wait for his companions.
Beni rubbed at his collar with the heel of his hand, trying to ease the pain away. "Goddamn, crazy bastard."
Abruptly, a shadow fell over him and blocked out the harsh mid-afternoon glare.
"Maybe if you'd stop making everything so difficult for yourself, you wouldn't have such a hard time of it, Beni."
Konro was standing over him, hands on his waist, and a slight frown pulling at his face.
Beni looked away, pissed at being caught out. "Why's he gotta be such a-"
"Because he's putting up with a brat who never seems to listen when he talks," The older man answered harshly and without sympathy. Then Konro sighed, his voice tired. "Beni, come on. It's not that bad. Really, if you just tried to get along with Tsu-chan-"
"I don't want ta get along with her!" Benimaru shouted, jumping to his feet and throwing out his arms in frustration. "She's full o' it! She always acts likes she's better than everyone 'cause of her old man! 'Cause she's a Shobu! In a real fight, she wouldn't stand a chance!"
Konro's eyes narrowed dangerously, the thin pupils sparking with a light of anger. "That's probably true. She's thin and scrawny and fourteen. You telling me that's something you should be happy about?"
"No," Beni shot back through gritted teeth. "But, it'll serve her right for that goddamn high-and-mighty attitude o' her's!"
If Konro had seemed angry before, now he looked damned pissed. He reached out and grabbed Beni by the shoulder, though unlike the Master, he did not shake him.
"Listen to me," He stated slowly, enunciating every single word with unbridled intensity. "Tsu-chan only feels the way she does because you insulted Kaede. The girl could use an attitude adjustment, sure, but you can't expect someone to like another person when they haven't earned it. You, Benimaru, need to find a way to earn her respect in a way she'll acknowledge. You have to mean it or else she'll never accept you."
"I don't want her ta!" Benimaru argued back, knocking away Konro's hand. He didn't like her. He didn't want to like her. He wanted to be far away from her and never be forced to be around her. Ever. "I don't want anythin' ta do with her! I'm fine on my own!"
"That so?" Konro asked incredulously, a single eyebrow raising high up on his forehead. "Well, that settles it then. I suppose Shinmon Benimaru is too self-important for the likes of us. Apologizing to a girl is just far too beneath him."
Benimaru opened his mouth to protest this new line of insult to his pride, when a voice hollered from farther up the road.
"What the hell is keepin' you two?! Move yer asses or we'll be late!"
For a moment, silence fell between the older man and the young boy; neither one willing to yield to the other through sheer stubbornness.
"C'mon," said Konro finally, exhaustion coloring his tone. He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, as if he was suffering from a headache. "Best do what he says. Try not to pick a fight today, for the love of-"
"Alright, already," Benimaru agreed hurriedly, dusting the dirt off his shorts and happi. "I get it. Can we get this over with?"
"That's up to you now, isn't it?" Asked Konro, his voice full of warning.
Benimaru didn't give him a chance to elaborate further, already darting down the lane as fast as his thin legs could carry him.
. . . . . .
The house seemed quiet when they arrived, which Benimaru found to be rather odd and unusual. The Shobu place always had all sorts of people coming and going, either for practice or personal business with the head of the family himself. Or his brother, as it happened. Both men ran the dojo as a partnership but everyone understood the elder of the two headed most of the decisions, unless Hiko found the need to object on a stance or two. Which, in reality, wasn't very often.
Benimaru thought the house, as a whole, to be far too fancy and high-in for his tastes. He always felt out of place here, sitting on frumpy cushions and drinking tea out of fine ceramic cups instead of the normal clay ones which were typically made by the hikeshi themselves (Goza happened to be the son of a potter, though he himself wasn't all that good of one. His cups were functional, at least). The fact the family even had a full engawa at all was enough of a statement; as was the tiny garden in the back where Kaede had her own personal plants and special flowers. Asakusa was a town where people lived so close together, there was barely any space between the houses. Side to side or front to back, it didn't matter; everyone made do with what little space they had. The garden and engawa was all a testament to their status and wealth. Something Benimaru had never had or even imagined having in his life; certainly something he really didn't feel comfortable around in the slightest.
"Are they even home?" He asked aside to Konro, not taking his eyes off the front door. "It's never this quiet."
"Must be in the dojo," Shinmon muttered irritably, scratching at a spot on his chin. "Classes probably ran late today."
"Well, that sucks," said Benimaru with a false, disappointed shrug. "Maybe next time-"
"Ah no, ya don'," the old geezer reached out, without breaking eye contact with the door, taking hold of Benimaru's shoulder and turning him around. "In that case, ya can knock fer us. Good an' loud so they can hear ya from the back."
Benimaru mumbled a curse or two under his breath but stepped forward and raised a fist in preparation . . .
. . . and nearly hit an older woman in the face as the door opened.
"Oh!" She raised a hand to her mouth in shock, taking a half-step back from Benimaru's fist before it could make contact. "Beni-chan! Kon-chan! And Captain Shinmon-san, too!"
"Er, sorry." Benimaru grumbled, ducking his head in embarrassment and promptly dropped his hand so he could bury it in his sleeve. He could feel a flush working its way up his neck and silently hoped Shobu Himiko wouldn't notice.
Luckily, she immediately overlooked his near blunder and waved them all inside. "Please, come in. I'm sorry to say that classes have run over today. It's only sparing that's left. Let me set you up in the sitting room, if you don't mind the wait-"
"Hold on, Himiko."
A new voice echoed from behind the older woman and Benimaru had to lean slightly to the left to see who else had decided to show up.
It was Hiko, of all people; Shobu Kintarou's younger brother and Himiko's husband. Benimaru hadn't really met him, at least not in an official capacity. He always seemed to be coming and going, not really overstaying his welcome when they visited. He was as tall as Shobu and just as broad and strong. The only real difference was the fact his hair was cut short and he lacked a beard, obviously preferring to be clean shaven. Well, there was one other key difference.
Hiko actually smiled.
"Perhaps," the man began, offering Benimaru a kind expression. "Seeing as our guests happen to be honored hikeshi, they would prefer to be entertained by watching the students spar. I doubt waiting around for my brother and the girls in the sitting room would be all that enjoyable for them."
"Oh," Himiko seemed to be mulling the idea over in her head, looking a bit uncertain. "Well-"
Thank goodness the old geezer had so little patience for small talk.
"S'alright with us, Hiko." The Master butted in before anyone else could say otherwise. "The brat here won't be a distraction, I'll make sure o' it."
Benimaru frowned at that and tilted his head back so he could glare at him. Not that the old man paid him any mind, anyway.
"Wonderful!" Hiko brightened at the response and ushered them further into the house. "Leave them to me, Himiko. Don't worry about fussing over them."
Himiko simply nodded and retreated down the hall, disappearing through a doorway and closing it behind her.
"Don't mind her too much," Hiko said softly to the old geezer and Konro alike. "She's just been rather attentive lately. Tsubaki's growing up pretty fast now and she's lacking someone to smother."
"Ah," Shinmon nodded curtly. "That's the way o' it, usually. Yer pretty lucky ta have her, Hiko."
"Don't I know it," the man grinned warmly. "Come on, I think you'll be interested with whose next on the floor."
. . . . . .
The Shobu family dojo was a small thing and a simple one at that; it was barely large enough for twenty people and that was including onlookers. It was made with dark pine, old and well worn as it had survived through six generations now. With the seventh currently being trained up for succession, it would fall it them to ensure the old dojo kept up its form. Its walls were decorated with scrolls and sutras of various tidbits of wisdom and tenets of discipline written in elegant kanji or elaborate Sanskrit. There was a rack for shinai and bokken, along with a few real blades used for training purposes (such as cutting through bamboo dummies). The front of the dojo had a small alter dedicated to Shobu Kohaku, the founder of the Shobu Style and originator of the philosophy in which the family lived and died by.
Benimaru had never been inside before, but, now that he was seated against the far wall (Hiko made sure they got good seats so they could watch the sparring without bothering the other students or the current fight in session) and actually taking in the place, he found it to be rather . . . amazing. Even though it's size was nothing to speak of and it's appearance rather plain, there was something honest about it. It was a place where you didn't speak too loudly or cause trouble; the atmosphere alone demanded reverence and respect. It seemed to expect a certain level of dedication from a person and anyone not willing to put forth that level of effort was encouraged to leave. It was almost as if the dojo itself had a personality all its own and it was a tough old bastard which didn't tolerate jack shit.
Benimaru made sure his posture was straight and his knees weren't bending in; as if the dojo itself would let a beam fall on his head if he didn't shape up.
Which was just plain stupid.
"Ah, Shinmon."
Old man Shobu was standing in the middle of the training room floor, directing a spar between Toshiro and another young man about his age, when finally he took notice of the new arrivals. Benimaru didn't recognize the second student, but figured he was possibly a friend of some sort to the eldest Shobu cousin.
"Shobu," returned the old man with a nod of genuine respect (Benimaru blinked at that; hell, the place even made his Master into someone with manners). "hope you don't mind us sittin' in fer a bit."
"Not at all," The Shobu patriarch shook his head. "We were just finishing up here. We have several spars to get through, however. It may take some time."
"Ah, don' worry 'bout it." The old geezer merely shrugged and waved him off. Then he glanced down at Benimaru, smirking rather evilly, "Maybe my brat here can learn somethin' fer a change."
For what was the second time today, Beni was being thrown under the wagon as a source for everyone else's amusement and it was really starting to piss him off. He tilted back his head so he could glare at the old man through his bangs but, once again, he was instantly ignored.
"As you wish," Shobu replied before returning his attention to his nephew and student. "Halt! That was well done, both of you. Mamorou-kun, you may sit with the others. Toshiro, I want you to spar against Kaede next."
The young man, Mamorou, bowed to Toshiro first, then the Master, and walked off the floor before sitting down beside a small row of older students. Several of them leaned over and offered him a friendly fist bump or a shove of approval to the shoulder. Apparently, he had done well against Toshiro. Any lingering irritation Benimaru had instantly vanished, replaced by renewed interest. He had never seen them actually spar before and, seeing it was gonna be the two eldest of the Shobu lines facing off against each other, was immediately excited for a real throw-down.
He wasn't the only one either, as Konro suddenly turned away from whatever their Master was saying and gave the floor his full attention. Not that Beni was surprised by this; whenever they came to tea, Konro suddenly became a hell of a lot more easy-going and . . . kinda stupid. Especially when Kaede was front and center (much to her embarrassment 'cause she really didn't like it when everyone suddenly paid attention to her) though he didn't understand why. Konro was never like this with the other women in town (he knew how to lay it on thick when he wanted and could be pretty sly about it, too), so why Shobu Kaede made him into a goddamn idiot all of a sudden was a downright mystery to him.
Apparently, the Master had a similar opinion because he was staring at Konro as if the man had left him out to dry in the middle of something rather important. The old geezer rolled his sharp eyes to the ceiling and shook his head, mumbling some sort of curse under his breath which Beni couldn't quite make out. But, knowing him, it was something rather crude and very insulting on Konro's behalf. It also didn't help that the man in question wasn't paying a lick of attention to anything else besides the center of the room.
"And they call me an idiot." Benimaru mumbled irritably under his breath, knowing that, at this point, no one was paying him any mind at all.
His line of thought came to a halt when, on the other side of the room, Kaede stood from her spot off to the side and briskly made her way to the center to stand before Toshiro. They both turned sharply, in complete unison, to face Shobu and bowed deeply at the waist before sliding expertly into a stance of attention, hands folded behind them at the small of their backs, waiting for the command to begin.
Old man Shobu looked from one to the other, his ever present frown deepening even further. "I want a full spar between the two of you. It's time to see how far you've both progressed in the last year. Give it your all, understood?"
"Yes, Sir!" Toshiro's voice echoed off the dojo walls, the only sound in a room full of silent onlookers.
All Kaede could do, from what Benimaru could see from behind, was nod her head once in recognition and he noted how one hand tightened around the other. Most likely out of anxiety; he could sense it rolling off of her in waves. The Breath of Life was strong in both of them; the question was, who's Breath would be the victor?
"Very well," Shobu nodded curtly. "At the ready!"
Kaede and Toshiro snapped to and turned and faced each other; smooth and fluid as water, they bowed to one another in respect and then slid into the Shobu Style ready stance. Feet shoulder width apart; left leg forward; the right back; one hand raised for defense, and the other ready to strike. Tension rose like a thermostat and Benimaru could nearly taste it on the tip of his tongue.
They were serious.
"Begin!"
Timeline
SY = Solar Year
SY 195 (current year, as of now): Benimaru age 19; Konro age 35; Tsubaki age 20; Kaede age 28
SY 189: Benimaru and Tsubaki become friends through a rather unfortunate incident. Benimaru age 13; Konro age 29; Tsubaki age 14; Kaede age 22
SY 188: Benimaru and Tsubaki meet for the first time. Benimaru age 12; Konro age 28; Tsubaki age 13; Kaede age 21
SY 186: Benimaru is adopted by Shinmon Hibachi. Benimaru age 10; Konro age 26
SY 184: Shinmon Himawari dies. Konro age 24; Kaede age 17; Tsubaki age 9.
SY 180: The Shobu Matriarch, Shobu Ryoko, dies. Konro age 20; Kaede age 13; Tsubaki age 5