(In the center square of the monastery, rows of students are lined up, facing three instructors. Each one of them holds a wooden staff.)

"Left foot!"

"Hya!"

"Right foot!"

"Hya!"

"Again!"

"Hya!"

"Repeat!"

"Hya!"

It seemed like eternity, but it was only for six hours. After the midday meal, the instructors yelled at those in the dining hall to clean up their plates and assemble outside on the center square, where the fountain was located. After a thorough introduction, the instructors handed each student a wooden staff, which the instructors called a "gitou."

"These will be your companions for the duration of your training. You will care for them as if your life depended on it. Should anything happen to your 'gitou, ' the consequences will be severe. Are there any questions? Yes, you over there."

"What if something does happen to our stick? Can't we just replace it with one the kitchen brooms?"

"What is your name?"

"Natsu."

"Natsu, you will serve as the perfect example for what will happen if you do not obey our orders."

When the others were dismissed so that they may receive their dinner, Natsu was forced to stay behind with the instructors. The majority of the other pupils were children, ranging from as young as eight to over sixteen. Most had been here for some time, waiting for their training to begin. They had all met each other and formed friendships, except for Tetsumi. He was the last one to arrive and had not met with the other children. He ate his midday meal with some other children, but he said nothing. At dinner, he found an empty table, sat down, and proceeded to eat by himself. He finished quickly, picked up after himself, putting a few bits of food away for later that night, and left for his room. Tetsumi was alone and far from home. It was only a few days ago when he told his friend Iria that he could live without his family and friends. Now, he was alone. It was his choice and these were the consequences. Tetsumi remembered his father warnings that with every choice comes consequences. His father… his spear. The spear that was given to him by his father. There it lay by his bed. Tetsumi picked it up, running his hands over the wooden shaft. His father had taken good care of the spear. The shaft was smooth, the tip was still razor sharp, looking like it did when it was first made. He was looking at the fine piece of craftsmanship in his hands when a shadow passed by his door. The figure appeared to be hunched over. Tetsumi opened his door, looking down the hallway.

"Natsu, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"What are you doing out so late? You know that the people around here are strict about curfew."

"They don't care. They're the ones that kept me."

(The two are now inside Tetsumi's room.)

"What did they do to you? I didn't see you at dinner."

"The instructors told me that I needed to learn some discipline. So, they had me working in the kitchen while the rest of you were eating. When everybody left, the old ladies in the kitchen made me wash all the dishes. You guys eat like pigs, you know."

"I'm sorry if I made your work harder."

"Don't be so formal. Others may think that you consider yourself better than them. Everybody knows who you are."

"I don't mean to offend anyone. This is just the way that I was raised."

"Right. Well, I better go. We're not supposed to be in other people's rooms at night."

"Natsu, wait. Did you get a chance to eat tonight?"

"I told you that they had me working all night."

"If you're hungry, I got some leftovers from dinner. I managed to sneak them out. I was going to save them for later, but if you want them, you can have them."

"Why are you like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"From the start, you've been so nice to me. Even when I gave you a hard time."

"I don't know. Maybe because I like you. I don't know anybody here and, I guess, I was hoping that maybe we could get to know each other a little better?"

"Don't get your hopes up. I'm not here to make friends."

"I see… well I guess you should be going then. Here, take the food. I don't want it."

"I will take the food, but this doesn't mean that we're friends or anything."

"That's fine. See you tomorrow."

"What time are you waking up?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I guess I owe you for the food. I was asking what time you were going to wake up so we could go to breakfast together."

"I don't know. I'll come by your room when I do, though."

"Fine, just try not to wake up too early."

(Gitou: a ceremonial sword)