Disclaimer: All characters (except Julia, Angelina, Danny, and Kitty) are not owned by me and are used without permission solely for the entertainment of fan-fiction readers. Please read and review.

Author's Note: Hey! This chapter is to give you a view of Julia's "World". So there is a lot on martial arts and that sort of thing. Things get sticky at the end and there is a sort of cliffhanger. ENJOY!

Chapter 3: Serene Seventeen

I walked briskly down the dirt path in my sweat suit; sports bag slung over one shoulder. I admired the serene beauty of the lush gardens that covered the grounds of the school. The architecture of the buildings was all traditional Japanese, which I liked very much. It set me in the right mood to train and learn.

It had been about four months since I had left L.A. The first month was hard, being away from my family and friends, but the homesickness passed and I got into my new routine. I would call my dad and go on and on about how great Japan was and he would keep me informed about everything happening with the family. Part of me wanted to get back home, but the other, larger part of me was having the time of her life!

I continued my walk down the path, passing several other students on the way, some in regular clothes and others still wearing their judogi suits. Several of them greeted me while others just glared at me. Some people just don't know how to loose.

Let me take a minute to explain a little about judo. You are required to wear a judogi. The judogi consists of a loose fitting, strongly woven cotton jacket and a cotton trouser that reaches at least half way down the lower leg. The jacket is secured by an obi (belt) wrapped around the waist twice and tied in front with a square knot.

Judo is practiced in a training hall called a dojo. The floor in a dojo is covered with tatami or straw mat. The modern way is to use a foam mat, but here they use the traditional straw one. Judoka compete and train barefooted and must wear their judogi at all times in the dojo.

Etiquette plays an important part in judo. It is customary for all judoka to execute a standing bow upon both entering and leaving the dojo. A standing bow is also exchanged between judoka at the beginning and end of a contest, free practice, or formal practice. Formal classes always begin and end with a kneeling bow to the sensei.

The first thing one is taught in judo is ukemi (falling), in which the arms are used as a shock absorber by striking the mat when the body impacts with the mat. The head must never touch the ground and the body must be totally relaxed.

The next phase of learning is throwing, since throwing techniques are the most extensive and most often used. Judo throws are divided into three parts: kuzushi, or breaking the opponent's balance; tsukuri, the entry of the body into a position preventing the opponent from regaining his balance; and kake, the actual execution of the throw. These three stages are always performed as one continuous movement from beginning to end.

Judo techniques are divided into three categories. The largest is called tachi-waza (standing techniques) or nage-waza (throwing techniques). Within this category are all the methods of throwing an opponent with quick, fluid actions of the body. These throwing techniques are further sub-divided into te-waza (hand techniques), koshi-waza (hip techniques), ashi-waza (foot and leg techniques), and sutemi-waza (sacrifice techniques).

I was in the most advanced class with Sensei Lenai, a short Japanese woman of about thirty something years. She was very disciplined and expected her students to be so as well, but she was not strict. Her theory was that if you were not disciplined without being told at this level, you never would. She also believed that each person must develop their own training habits so that they are comfortable.

I also took several other classes here. One of them was Aikido. Aikido is a method of unarmed self-defense. It offers four basic advantages: it develops rhythmic movement and physical fitness, it encourages discipline and a nonviolent attitude, it promotes strength and suppleness in the joints and limbs through bending and stretching, and it increases the practitioner's awareness of posture and good body alignment, improving reactions, perception, and coordination. In Aikido, you learn to use an opponent's force by bringing it into his own circle, neutralizing aggressive action by gaining control of the attacker. Pretty neat, huh? I love this school!

Another class was Bersilat, a Malaysian form of self-defense dating to the 15th century. Conducted barefoot, it makes great use of the legs and is quite acrobatic. Training in this phase of the art is given to select students, who are forbidden to divulge its secrets. Like I'd reveal that sort of secret to anyone. Students must wear a black uniform consisting of a short-sleeved shirt, baggy trousers, and a headband. Right now I was in the yellow belt level with my black belt test coming up in about a month.

One of the more challenging classes was Capoeira. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art founded more than 300 years ago. It is beautiful to watch, consisting of back flips, cartwheels, sweeping movements, and spectacular kicks. Most of its defensive techniques are elusive and devoid of blocking motions. The twist to Capoeira is that many of the leg sweeps, leg blocks, and kicks are performed while assuming a handstand position. Ninety percent of Capoeira consists of leg movements, but the hands must also be trained, especially since they are often used to help balance while upside down. I had to really do a lot of weight training with my upper body to develop the strength to do all those moves upside down. But I always love a challenge.

One class was about the mental aspects of martial arts. It was basically about individual thinking, self-actualization, and how to maximize potential as a freethinking person. We also worked on being able to concentrate through practically any type of distraction. We did a lot of meditation and relaxation exercises. It was a helpful class, meaning helpful for my future vigilante nights. Kitty says I really needed this class.

As always, I continued to practice karate. Just not as much as before. I found the rest of my classes much more interesting. Life was good.

- - - - - -

I trudged up a flight of stairs, lugging a big bag of clean clothes. I had just done my laundry. I was living at the dorm the school had for students that came from abroad.

The dorm was a fairly new building, built a little over a year ago. It had four stories and was made of brick, unlike the rest of the school that was all traditional Japanese structures. Each floor had four large bedrooms, a living room area with big couches to watch television, a fully equipped kitchen everyone the floor shared, and two bathrooms with two showers, two toilets, and two sinks each. Each bedroom had two twin-sized beds, two desks for studying, two computers with the works, two large closets, and a Japanese screen in the middle of the room to give each occupant some privacy.

My roommate was Angelina Kumar, a very talented sixteen-year-old girl from India. She was a real beauty with perfect chocolate brown skin, big brown eyes, and long raven black hair. She always wore the traditional red dot on her forehead and lots of silver necklaces, bracelets, and rings. She usually went around with long, flowing dresses, but she was starting to experiment with modern fashion, wearing jeans and hippie type shirts. If she was not studying, she was usually training at the school or meditating in her room. She was a very spiritual person, always searching for inner peace. Something that was difficult for someone whose family was murdered before her very eyes. But she really didn't like to talk about that and was doing a very good job getting her life on track.

Angelina was lying face down on her bed, feet in the air, moving in time to the traditional Indian music she liked to listen to. I had introduced her to old age rock and new age techno music, but she seemed to be more into India Arie, Macy Gray, and Lauren Hill. Not that I didn't like them, it was just that I was more of a rock girl. I flipped her hair as I passed by her so she would know I was back. She grinned and pulled off her mp3 player.

"Hi. You do laundry?" she asked. She was still learning English, among other languages. Told you she was smart.

I nodded as I took out the neatly folded clothes from the huge duffle bag.

"We go out this evening?" asked Angelina.

"I don't really feel like it Angie, but I can tell Roselyn to take you with her. I think she, Sandra, and Mackenzie are going to Pick Up tonight" I replied.

Angelina nodded enthusiastically at the idea. Then, glancing at the clock, she stood up and smoothed out her long denim skirt. She had on a white hippie style shirt. How many of those shirts did she have now? I was going to have to tell Mackenzie to stop taking Angie shopping all the time. Angelina shouldered her tote bag.

"I go to class now with Sensei Benji. Be back by seven. Bye" she told me as she walked out.

I nodded and went back to putting my clothes away. When I was done, I cleaned up the room a bit before dropping onto my bed with a sigh. I lay there staring at the ceiling for about five minutes, when a familiar voice spoke to me.

"Have you thought about college yet?" asked Kitty.

I sighed, "Not recently"

"Don't you think you should start looking into that?"

I turned on my side to look at my laptop's screen, "Kitty, I don't know where I want to go to school or even what I would study if I were to go to school. All I know and want is for this to happen".

"You can't center your life on this. If you let it consume you, you will become exactly what you are trying to fight against. You need to keep this separate from your own life".

I nodded, "I guess"

- - - - - -

Block, kick, block, block, another block, kick, block.

"STOP!" shouted Sensei Lana.

Sweat was dripping down my forehead. My opponent, a boy named Lester, and I bowed to each other before facing out teacher.

"Very good attacks Lester. Julia, what was that? Where was your attack? You were holding back and letting Lester maul you. What happened to that famous speed and those attacks of yours?"

I bowed my head.

"Alright, let's try again. GO"

We bowed again before Lester came at me suddenly, throwing me off balance. I twisted my body to regain it and faced him. We went into an intricate series of hand motions, then I grabbed the back of his judogi, throwing him to the ground, he twisted around and landed on his stomach. Great. I approached him again. This time when he came at me, I jumped to the side and he passed right by me. I turned around swiftly, catching him off-guard. I stuck my leg between his feet, causing him to loose his balance, as he fell, I grabbed him and threw him down to the mat on his back.

"Excellent Julia. Lester, once again, you need to work on your defense moves. You should have been able to stay up when you lost your balance. Very good both of you, you are excused"

Angelina grinned at me as I stepped off the mat.

"You do good. Lester no beat you this time. That good. Maybe you beat him at competition"

"I don't compete Angelina, remember?" I reminded her.

"Correct, me forget that"

Then, thinking quietly, she added, "Then why you get so angry when you loose in class if you no like competing? Should you not use that for competition? Maybe you win"

I smiled sadly at her and patted her head, "It's complicated Angie. Really complicated"

Angelina just smiled.

"Common Angie, we got to get to meditation class"

Angelina got up and trotted after me.

- - - - - -

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for flying United Airlines. We hope you have a pleasant stay in Los Angeles or wherever your final destination might be"

I stood up and shouldered my backpack. My carry-on bag rolled behind me as I walked off the plane and down the hall to Customs.

After getting through Customs, I checked my suitcases. Yup, that's plural. Two huge suitcases packed with my stuff and presents. I lugged those two huge things outside until I heard my name shouted.

"JULIA!"

It was Adrian, followed closely by Alex. My dad waved from farther away. Adrian grabbed one bag and Alex took my rolling bag. Nathan appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the other suitcase. I managed to hug and kiss each one on the cheek.

"Hello Luv" Nathan said.

I ran up to my dad and gave him a huge hug.

Back at home everyone was asking questions like crazy. How was this; how was that; what did you do? I was talking really really fast and after an hour had passed I was exhausted.

My dad told everyone to leave me alone and let me rest. I went upstairs and fell asleep on my bed. It was good to be home.

-: Flashback :-

"You leave now?" Angelina had asked.

"Yes Angie. School is over and we both have to go back home"

"Me no want you to leave. Me want to go with you"

"I Angie, I want to go with you. And you can't, but maybe you can come visit me?"

"I really like that. I see if I find way to go visit you in your home"

"That would be great Angie. You keep in touch and I'll see what I can do"

"Me miss you Julie. Please say I see you again"

"You will Angie, you will"

Angelina smiled at me. She suddenly leaped at me, hugging me tightly. Then she placed a box in my hand.

"For you", she said.

I opened the box to reveal a necklace. It was a silver chain and on it was a pendant made of amethyst. Amethyst was my favorite stone. Angie knew that.

"It's beautiful", I breathed.

Angie looked at me, "It protect you from evil spirits. It is pendant we use in India for evil things"

I smiled at her, "I'll cherish it always"

"You be good and take care" Angie said tearfully.

"Bye Angie"

-: End Flashback :-

My eyes fluttered open. How long had I been out? I sat up and got out of bed. I washed my face and mouth. I smiled as the mirror, remembering the days when I had fussed over my bracers. I placed my glasses back on my face. I put on some jeans and a black Nirvana t-shirt Angelina had given me.

I went downstairs to find the house empty. Thank god, peace and quiet. I sat down in the living room and flipped on the TV. Ah, relaxation is so good. Yes, I was glad to be home. I had work to do.

- - - - - -

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- Lady Artemis -