The Sword and The Dragon

Terry couldn't take his eyes away from the giant's upper arms, when suddenly it was like everything slowed down and they moved in slow motion. Ryuji began to move and Terry could feel the ground under him tremble with each step he took. Each step brought him closer to Terry, but Terry couldn't move. He knew there was no way he was going to win this battle and the acknowledgement of this kept him from moving.

He could only look as Ryuji raised his hand and sent a blow directly into his stomach. Immediately felt Terry the effect of the blow and felt down on the floor like a sack of potatoes. Everything went black around him, but he could still feel the hands pulling him out of the cage and hear the laughter, which surrounded him.

"The weak defeats the strong, when he uses the strong one's own power against him."

He recognized Mr. Lee's voice. Terry tried to say something, but instead he threw up. He felt like a truck had hit him.

"Don't speak. Drink this!"

Mr. Lee held a cup up to Terry's mouth and made him drink some really bad tasty liquid, which Terry wanted to throw up, but the tone in Mr. Lee's voice made him swallow it. Immediately he felt better and his sight came back. He saw that he was lying in the bottom of the boat, which was sailing them back home, but when he tried to stand up pushed Mr. Lee him down again.

"The mixture is good, but not that good. Sleep is the best healer."

Terry surrendered and closed his eyes. The sleep came quickly over him like a security blanket and brought him far away from what he knew.

The sun warmth his face, but it also blinded him at first as he opened his eyes. After some seconds he was able to see and he realized that he wasn't in the boat anymore, but instead he was sitting on the top of a mountain.

"KENSHIN!"

He quickly turned around as he felt he like somehow had recognized the voice, but still he couldn't place it. He then saw the rider, who forced his horse up the steep mountainside. Instantly his hand reach out and grabbed something beside him. He looked down and recognized the sword.

o-

At the beginning he didn't knew where he was, but then he realized that he was in Mr. Lee's house. In the same moment came Mr. Chang into the room and smiled as he saw Terry had woke up.

"Good, you are awake and just in time for dinner."

Terry sat up with a jerk.

"Dinner? But I…"

Mr. Lee smiled.

"Don't worry. Mr. Lee has told the school that he was going to need your help today, so just take your time and lick your wounds."

Terry shook his head and began to dress himself.

"No, I need to win my sword back…"

Their eyes met.

"… Can you take me back to that place?"

"Why? You will just end up being killed or something."

Terry shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't, beside it's not your price to pay."

Mr. Chang shook his head over the craziness in the boy's wish, but then he agreed.

"I will get the boat, so be down on the beach in five minutes."

Mr. Chang quickly left the house and Terry took the rest of his clothes on, then he walked over to the dojo, where he immediately walked over to the shrine, where the sword used to be. In the dim light he looked up on the image, which hang over the shrine. He had seen it so many times before, but this time it almost took his breathe away as he recognized the scenery. He then remembered why he was there and kneeled down before the shrine. For a second he just sat there and gathered his thoughts to the nearby fight. He then left the dojo and walked down to the beach, where he went aboard the boat.

After sailing for almost an hour they came to the harbour, where Terry quickly went ashore and walked into the warehouse. It was like the night before packed with people, but Terry didn't have eyes for that. He pushed his way though the crowd and quickly came to the stairs, which he tried to climb, but a man stopped him.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"I need to talk to Mr. Tong!"

The man turned his attention to Mr. Tong, who like the night before was sitting on the platform. Mr. Tong nodded. The man moved away, so Terry could walk up to Mr. Tong, who stood up and greeted him.

"I surprised to see you here after what happened yesterday, but what can I do for you?"

"I want an another chance."

Mr. Tong began to laugh.

"It was Kenshin, right?"

Terry nodded.

"Why do you want to gamble with your life like this?"

"I want the sword back!"

They eyes met. For a second none of them said anything, but then Mr. Tong smiled.

"Okay, I'm short on fighters tonight, so I will grant your wish…"

He cast a glance down on the cage.

"… It looks like there is room for you now."

Terry nodded and walked down the stairs. On his way over the cage he could hear the crowd's amazement as they recognized him, but he didn't notice it. He wasn't the same one as the one who yesterday had lost without a fight. He climbed into the cage and heard the familiar sound of the gate being closed behind him. He saw the surprise in Ryuji's eyes as he recognized him.

"Have you come back for more?"

Terry just smiled and said nothing.

The fight began. Like the last time began Ryuji with running over to him, but this time was Terry ready. In the last moment he stepped aside, so his opponent smashed into the cage's fence. A sudden silence came over the crowd as the realized what had happened, but then it exposed into cheers as they realized what a fight they were witness to.

Ryuji came up on his feet again and tried once more to run Terry over with his strength, but this time was Terry waiting for him. Instead of stepping aside he sent a faultless kick to Ryuji's knees. It hit its target perfectly and Ryuji felt down with a cry. There was no way he was able to fight again, so Terry was the winner.

The crowd went crazy. Everyone wanted to touch the new champion, so Terry was glad to see that the man from the stairs came after him. The man followed him up to the platform, where Mr. Tong was waiting for him. Mr. Tong nod approvingly as Terry came up the stairs.

"You're full of surprises. We had a bet going on an everyone except my son, Yukio …"

He nodded over at a boy around the same age as Terry.

"…thought you were going to lose again."

Terry smiled.

"I glad that your all believed in me."

Mr. Tong began to laugh.

"Not only are you are good fighter, but you also have a splendid sense of humour. Please sit down, so we can speak about your future."

Mr. Tong showed him a chair, but Terry shook his head,

"I don't fight for money, beside I only came to get my sword back."

Mr. Tong nod admiringly.

"Normally, I don't like, when people contradict me, but with you I will make a exception. You sure have been giving the right name, Kenshin."

With a gesture from Mr. Tong stood his son up and placed the sword in Terry's hand. It was the first time he held the sword, but he instinctively swung it as he recognized its weight in his hand.

"Not only are you an excel hand to hand combatant, but also seem like you are an outstanding swordsman."

Surprised looked Terry over at Mr. Tong, but then he realized what he was doing. He had never been train in the uses of swords, but instinctively he just knew what to do.


(As Mr. Tong says Kenshin is the right name. It means "sword heart" from Japanese ken "sword" and shin "heart". Like Ryuji really means "dragon man" – JoBO)