"Such misfortune!"
It's been three hours since Kamijou Touma had started his journey through this side of the forest of hell on his own, a sector that Sarutobi Sasuke had once affectionately nicknamed "The Gulag." True to his word, that was a section of the forest that Miyamoto Mokichi never showed him during his first few weeks in his stay at Yamagakure. His assigned objective was to survive and, in the words of his wise sensei, learn the most important lessons from nature itself and to mix up all of his muscles by running around the uneven terrain of the forest. Outside of those goals, he and Mokichi would continue to train together as the former would come by and see him in random days.
From what he heard from the Sarutobis, most of the locals and even a few of the samurais wouldn't dare enter that secret sector of the forest unless it is necessary. Only majority of the Sarutobi clansmen is brave enough to enter that section of the forest and that was because the forest, as a whole, is their lifeline, along with the whole mountains.
Hence, they were called the Sarutobi of the Forest and Mountains.
During the three hours that Kamijou spent in roaming around sector The Gulag, he wasn't even ten minutes into the forest when he was ambushed by massive and deadly insectoid creatures and human-sized tarantulas and other abnormally larger mammalian predators. It wasn't that Kamijou is not familiar about these creatures in the forest. However, it was the fact that those in this portion of the forest were deadlier and harder to fight and kill. His first three hours in the forest was a constant fight and he barely had five minutes to take a break before he was up and engaged in another fight with those creatures that were even stronger than ones that Academy City had been using as guinea pigs in their experiments. On top of this, he had to make sure that his two bokken wasn't lost or destroyed at all cost. Otherwise, he would have no weapon to use against any kind of intruder than threaten his whole existence.
It was fortunate for Kamijou that he had been trained and whipped to shape by Miyamoto Mokichi since last year at Academy City and that he was subjected to basic training regimen or he'd be in a much worse shape than he had been placed into after surviving a number of snakes ambushes. While he wasn't expecting any outside help, his subconscious self was wishing that there is someone else who could accidentally stumble upon the forest and help him survive.
"That damned Mamushi!" Kamijou cursed aloud as he dusts the soil off his scantily-clad body while kicking off the dead brown snake on his feet before he cried comical tears, "Sensei's a sadist!"
Holding his bokken tightly while keeping another one in his back, Kamijou turned to his senses to find any signs of lurking danger around him before he continued on his way through the forest. For the next few hours, the spiky haired boy combed his way through the forest and surprisingly, he wasn't ambushed by any of the creatures in the forest. Strangely enough, the atmosphere around Kamijou was quite unsettling.
I have a bad feeling about this… He thought as he was reminded of his own bad luck
Fifteen minutes later, Kamijou's eyes saw something from a distance. When he got closer, his eyes widened on what he were seeing.
He was greeted by the sight of a Yama Kujira or in other words, a ferocious wild Japanese boar.
The animal was easily four times his size and had huge tusks protruding out of its mouth and muscles that could be seen even through its thick, tough hide. The hairs on the back of the boy's neck rose in fear of the situation he was faced with. His primal instincts told him to run, but he couldn't. He was in unknown territory and who knows what else he would run into if he blindly ran through the forest. He needed to stand his ground and fight. He would not die here to this animal.
Kamijou looked at the beast in the eyes and held his bokken in his hand. Time seemed to slow down as two of Mother Nature's children squared off in deadly combat. The wild boar thrust forward at him with incredible speed but fortunately, the boy was just able to dodge the initial onslaught by the savage beast. However, his right arm was slightly lacerated by the long tusk of the boar and a long gash remained but quickly, the boy simply licked off the wound.
The two beings circled each other warily with their gazes locked on each other as Kamijou, for some reason, suddenly began to remember the funny face of Aogami Pierce. The hell! Why am I thinking him of all times!
Shaking his head, the boy knew that there were very few spots that he could hit the wild beast that would actually hurt with his bokken. In order to win, I needed to hit vital areas. Preoccupied with how to kill the animal, he did not notice the root of a tree protruding out of the ground and lost his balance. Kamijou saw the beast rushing at him as he was unbalanced. Time seemed to slow down as the beast closed in on him. He saw the sharp tusks of the animal aimed directly for the center of his chest.
From afar, a Sarutobi clansman who was tasked by Mokichi to watch the boy in case something happens, suddenly pulled out his chokutō, readying himself just in case he needed go and pin down the giant boar to the ground. But then, the swordsman saw the look of determination in the eyes of the young man. This kid! The Sarutobi clansman narrowed his eyes. It seems I will be in for a little show. Nevertheless, he kept the straight-bladed sword in his right hand.
Kamijou had a strange look in his eyes as he scrambled upon his feet and retreated in a good stance from the wild beast. This is just a beast and I am just a human being and this is just a forest. He thought to himself. In the eyes of Kami, myself, this tree, this beast, we are all insignificant. If Kami feels like intervening through my right hand, then so be it. If I am to die here, in this forest created by the Kami, then so is it. Do everything I can with my two bare hands and fate will do the rest…
With that realization, a strange calm overtook the boy and everything before him was very clear to his senses that it was almost frightening. I am too calm, to be in such a situation. My vision became clear; the whole forest just seemed to come alive. My sight is so clear that I could see the worms crawling on the forest floor and the movements of the muscles in the beast's body are as clear as the yellow sun.
"Good, kid…" The Sarutobi clansman whispered to himself, "You're beginning to understand what Miyamoto-sama's teachings can get you so far."
"I am sorry my friend," Kamijou solemnly apologizes to the large boar, "But you will not be taking my life this day."
The savage beast became agitated by the peaceful stare of the young boy in front of it as it glares its menacing tusks.
"I see you my friend and if you charge again, I have no choice but to take away your life."
The beast began to huff and grunt in agitation, unsure of whether to attack or defend. Slowly, it began to retreat in an unsure manner; it could no longer smell the fear rolling off the boy. The animal was afraid as if it was slowly being cornered.
Kamijou sensed the agitation in the animal and knew that it was going to attack. He then came to a regretful but necessary decision. I'll have to kill the boar. He would make it a quick and painless death.
Suddenly, his sensei's words came ringing to his mind. Your body always knows, listen to it; let it guide you. Listen to your sword.
In a feral grunt, the animal charged. In his peaceful state, the boy was unafraid; he could see every movement every breath of the wild beast charging towards him. The boy had a smile on his face.
Game over. The chokutō-wielding clansman can already envision what was to come.
The beast began to lower its head for the upward thrust with its sharp tusks as Kamijou watched as the tusks approached him, ready to take his life at any moment.
Everything just seemed to slow down for him and he could smell the stench of the beast's breath. As bad as Aogami's when he eats those melted cheeseburgers.
As the gigantic boar raised its head to apply the finishing blow, the boy's body moved on its own. He evaded the charge of the animal and he stood in a crouching position underneath the exposed throat of the boar as its head reached the pinnacle of the attack.
In one fluid motion, he pulled out his pair of bokken from his back together and poured its whole being into one attack, into the throat of the great beast.
At the pinnacle of the beast's attack its neck will be totally exposed and vulnerable. With a sharp force at the base of the jaw, Kamijou shattered the connection between the beast's spinal cord and brain.
It dropped dead in a loud crash before it could even make a sound. In a single stroke, it was dead.
A single stroke...a single stroke was the difference between life and death. Kamijou thought in-between heavy breathing.
Beautiful… Was what the Sarutobi clansman said in awe.
The boy stood beside the dead beast huffing and puffing after his first real test of life and death n this forest. He was thankful to the giant boar for the lesson it taught him. "Thank you, Yama Kujira-san for the lesson you have taught me." He gave a respectful bow and continued his voyage into the forest while flipping his bokken. "Man, what a first day in The Gulag…" he said to himself.
"Miyamoto-sama!"
"Yes, butler-san?"
"There are three people who wanted to find you!" From the opened doors of the ancient compound came a rushing swordsman in black kimono, a spiked sasumata in his back and a traditional conical hat. It looked like he had some great news to the descendant of the famed Miyamoto Musashi. "I think it's related to the boy you've taken as an apprentice…"
"Oh…" Komoe, who was busy playing cards with Yomikawa and Tessou, looked up at the man with a hint of surprise, "…Don't you mean…"
Suddenly, three figures appeared out of nowhere behind the sasumata-equipped man, "Wew…we've finally reached this house! Honestly, these really drained every bit of my energy!" A man with a goatee and looking eerily similar to Mokichi's apprentice wiped off the sweat in his face. "It feels like I'm getting too old."
"Ara…Ara…it looks like Touma-san isn't here Touya-san but the man said a certain Ashina-san and Miyamoto-san is here…" A woman, who looks younger that she looks like, followed as she removed her wide-brimmed hat. "I wonder where he is…"
But before the third person, who looks to be no more ten years old judging by her physical appearance, can answer, Komoe suddenly spoke loudly, too stunned by the appearance of the three person she knew very closely. "A-A-Ah…Kamijou-sans? You know where this place is?"
"I take it that you're the parents of Kamijou Touma-kun?" Mokichi decided not to beat around the bush and fired away his question at both Kamijou Touya and Kamijou Shiina, who were both taken aback by the deadpan stare the old man is giving them.
"Y-Yeah…and I suppose you're that old man that was said to have coerced my son into something…something…I don't know how to say it…" Touya can't help but slightly glare at Mokichi, who doesn't seemed to be affected by it as he then sips his green tea.
"Funny, I don't recall ever kidnapping your son into becoming my apprentice. Whoever told you that must have been drunk at that time or you simply misunderstood my intentions. Although as a parent, I hardly blamed you for it." Mokichi shrugged then he looked serious, "Kamijou-dono, I know about your son's hardships about this so-called misfortune and as a parent, you're just being protective of him…"
Touya's and Shiina's eyes both widen at the mention of the word "misfortune" coming from the old man, "How did you know…mister?..."
"I'm Miyamoto Mokichi, your son's master in the arts in the way of the samurai," the old man introduced himself before continuing. "And no, I don't despise your son because of that. If that was the case, I won't even devote my time in teaching your only son."
Thirty minutes later, the parents of a certain spiky-haired boy and the little girl with them sat in the table cross-legged while Mokichi and the Academy City instructors/Anti-Skill operatives sat on the other side of the low-lying desk as they were served by the butlers with warm green tea and dango. For formality's sake, Komoe requested this kind of set-up to prevent any kind of misunderstanding, especially from the boy's father and the boy's master.
"So let me get this straight, Miyamoto-san…" Shiina started in an exasperated way, "My dear Touma-san stumbled one day in your Japanese armor, scrolls and weaponry shop a year back and after a long and flowery sermon about the glory of the Bushido and the past Japanese warriors, my son accepted your offer to become a samurai apprentice? I don't know what to think but you sound like an international scammer…"
"Whatever you think of me, I don't blame you for that and frankly, I don't care at all." Mokichi said in a curtly voice as he sips his green tea. "It's just natural for you two as his parents to be protective of their offspring especially since my student suffered greatly during his younger days."
"But…we were already the official guardians of Kamijou-chan. At least, we had the documents to prove that I and Aiho-chan were supposed to be his surrogate parents while he was growing up in Academy City…" Komoe then glares at the taller Mokichi, "Until someone just decided it was a good idea to take out Kamijou-chan from the Power Curriculum Program temporarily."
"As much as I wish I wanted to be frank with you, Tsukuyomi-san, I'd decided not to speak so harshly for now for the sake of my student's parents and his relative around us," Mokichi sighed as he puts down his tea cup and looks at Touya and Shiina straight in their eyes, "Touya-dono, Shiina-san, I wanted to apologize for not being able to inform you two about your son's apprenticeship under my wing but don't worry. Someday, I'll help make his name famous, for the right reasons."
"And I hope this isn't a repeat of what happened when Touma-san was much younger, even if your dream of making our son famous is a bit of a stretch," Shiina was massaging her forehead. "But did our son have any objections with your…so-called samurai training?"
"If he objected, he would have backed out from day one or three weeks after we have started our training," Mokichi calmly explained, "Don't worry about your son not being an Esper or about forming bonds with people his age. All he needs is proper guidance to direct his raw potential to something that suited him best and that's why I'm here for your son."
"That's also the reason why Komoe-sensei his official guardian," Yomikawa grunted.
"Please, not this again. We already have talked about this and besides, I already got the blessing of the superintendent," Mokichi stroked his beard.
It took some time for Kamijou Touya to process all of the information coming from the old man and if he's being honest, he was all baffled by it. I'm surprised someone other than his two official guardians doesn't hate our son for his 'unique' condition. He then looks back at his wide and niece, who was too engrossed looking at Mokichi's katana, which looked to be carefully customized judging by the unique fuchi (collar) design of the samurai sword.
He then took a deep breath before he said, "Miyamoto-san, while I would like my son to experience a normal life, far away from people with superstitious or ridiculous beliefs, something tells me you look to my son as if he was your own blood. In the first place, I don't really much care if he becomes an Esper or what so as long as you don't hurt my son, then I cannot really question my son's choice of becoming a samurai."
"Onii-chan's going to be a samurai?!" Tatsugami only began to understand what really is happening around her, "That means he's going to be a superhero or something?!"
"Something greater than that, my dear…" Mokichi grinned in a way that it frightened out Tessou, "He's going to be the greatest swordsman one day. Mark my words, young lady."
"Actually, Miyamoto-san, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" Touya asked out the old man awkwardly, ignoring the questioning look of his wife, "Don't worry dear, this will be quick." He said as he gives a kiss to Shiina and he followed the old man, who was walking towards a door leading to the garden of the Sarutobi clan.
Once it was only the two of them together, Touya began to speak, "Miyamoto-san, I know this sounds awkward but I just wanted to thank you a lot for seeing my son in an entirely good light. You see…back when he was still living in our town, a lot of people…"
"…Avoided your son for fear that they would be infected with his so-called misfortune, is that it?" Mokichi supplied.
Touya was surprised that he knew that fact. He's a very perceptive and wise man. Nevertheless, he continued, "You're right. For some reason, it continued to persist even if we already brought him to Academy City as we hope he wouldn't be mistreated there."
Touya then balled his fists in pure frustration as he gritted out, "I believe I failed my son…I…"
"I'd prefer you not continue that, Touya-dono," Mokichi said as he reached out and tapped right shoulder of Touya. "You were not a failure of a father. In fact, the fact that you send him in a place far away from the people tormenting him only means that as a parent, you would do anything for your offspring. You just did everything in your power to give your son a better life and I can only pity the poor fools for their lack of understanding, though I expected as much. They all fear something that they don't understand and that's human nature. Unfortunately, that's the ultimate price of the power of his right hand."
Touya raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean, Miyamoto-san?"
The old man then took out his sword and began to speak, "While I admit that I don't understand fully your son's full power nor I can tell you what it is, I can tell you that he possessed something not normal although I won't call it bad. It just happened that it caused him to be on the receiving end of everyone's anger."
"And?"
"Touya-dono, what do you see?" Mokichi exposes the blade for the Kamijou patriarch to see.
"It's your sword."
"Precisely. Now…" Mokichi then took out his scabbard and sheaths his sword with it, "What do you see?"
"Uhm…a sword that is covered with a sheath?..." Touya doesn't know where this conversation will lead to.
Mokichi nodded before continuing, "People see him for what he is, now for who he is. Hating him for something he cannot control is like not seeing the difference between the sword and the sheath. His misfortune-inducing power is sealed within him but that doesn't automatically make him the plague for they are of two different entities. As much as I like to reserve my anger for them, I'd rather pity them for their ignorance."
Touya nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with the man's words. He looks pretty powerful. I doubt Touma would regret his decision to be a samurai apprentice. He then looks up to the old man, "I originally wish to see our son to day but seeing that he is in good hands, I think I can trust you with my son's safety. Do you know of his future plans in Academy City?"
"Your son still plans to finish his education in Academy City and I approve that since he still needs to build up bonds with people he could rely on," Mokichi replied. "On a more lighthearted noted, I wanted to discuss to you two things. First, what's with the bag full of lucky items and souvenirs in your sack a while back? I even saw an Indian elephant statue there…"
"Oh…I was supposed to give them to my son as a lucky charms but I guess he won't need them anymore if he's busy with his training today," Touya sheepishly scratched his head as he held a Ganesha keychain in front of the old man. "In fact, I decorated that our house with some lucky charms in the hopes that I can help get rid of Touma's peculiar misfortune and I still have to add new collections to our shelves."
"Hold your horses there, Touya-dono…" Suddenly, something about Mokichi's shift of demeanor made the Kamijou patriarch suddenly stop talking non-sense, "Did you just say that you had decorated your house with lots of lucky charms."
"Yeah…I mean…I don't see anything wrong with it…" Touya didn't know where this conversation is leading to.
"Listen to me Touya-dono…remove those objects and I mean it seriously…" Mokichi's voice sounded cold. "Before you ask, some there are some objects out there that represent a particular elemental affinity and placing them in a particular manner without knowledge of them can lead to devastating results. You might not understand it now but not knowing the relevance of those items to geomancy can lead to imbalance in the spiritual essence of the world. In fact, your plan to help your son and my student might only backfire against you."
"I…I see…" Touya pouted at seeing all of his efforts in buying lucky items get wasted at the warning of the old man but nevertheless, he was quite satisfied to hear that at least, someone other than his family, Komoe, and Yomikawa cares deeply for the boy's welfare. "Well, I guess for now, I would follow your instructions."
"Thank you Touya-dono. Don't worry, the boy will not die for he is too much of a knucklehead to do so."
Kamijou Touya could only chuckle at the old man's word because they were somehow true, judging from Komoe's complaints about his son being a naughty boy.
"One other thing, Touya-dono…"
"Yeah, what's that?"
Mokichi took a deep sigh before he continued, "I wanted to know if you're aware of your familiar origins and if you have a sword in your family heirloom."
It had been two weeks since Kamijou Touma began his training in the forest and his family had decided to drop by to bring him some few necessities like fresh clothes and soap. He survived by hunting wild animals like rabbits and wild goats while he fished regularly in the river. He continued to train in what sensei had taught him but he also trained in learning to listen to his body and his sword. Through a messenger from the Sarutobi clan, he learned that his parents dropped by to know if he is eating well and needless to say, he was happy to learn that his parents visited him although he was slightly disappointed at not being able to speak with them even for a few minutes.
Currently, he was taking a break in a large clearing of the forest. He was leaning on a large tree eating some wild fruits that he found along the way while hunting for a small rabbit. He had found out the hard way what wild fruits were edible and those that were poisonous. He also never let his guard down and he never left his back open. He developed a very acute sense of danger living in a forest where he could be attacked at any moment.
During his little break, Kamijou heard the slight crunching of leaves behind the tree and instantly grabbed his two bokken swords from his side and went on the alert.
"Ah! Good, good young one, your senses are sharpening."
The spiky haired boy jumped up the moment he heard his master's voice. "Old-man, you left me in this bloody forest and on the very first day I had to fight for my life. Are you crazy? Forest of life, my ass!" He shouted comically.
Mokichi frowned slightly, "Stop complaining for this is just the beginning of your training."
"What?! That's just the beginning?!" The boy was shocked.
The old man nodded, "Yes, I already told you that the training will be tough. Do you wish to quit?"
Kamijou shook his head, "Of course not, sensei but it's just that this is so new to me."
Mokichi turned serious, "This is the life of the warrior; we face the unknown every day. The idea of security is just an illusion for it isn't real, in a definite sense. It dampens our senses and makes us negligent and distracted."
"Security is just an illusion?"
"Yes. Danger lurks at every corner, especially for a warrior, you cannot let your guard down. That is what this forest is teaching you; it is teaching you a simple fact of life. Enough talk, Kamijou-kun, time to begin your training."
"What am I going to learn, sensei?"
"Before we go into any of the sword techniques of Nitōjutsu, you need to understand the concept of Maai and Chi or Ki."
Kamijou looked clueless, "Sensei, that sounds like those magical powers I hear in television and read in comics. Is it similar to the Personal Reality and the AIM?"
"In some sense, yes it's similar to the Personal Reality and AIM from the Espers but at the same time, it's different," Mokichi entered his thinking pose. "From what I heard in Tsukuyomi-san's rants and lectures, an AIM is the invisible energy emitted by an Esper and it's the by-product of Personal Reality which is the source of power for Espers but I'll be honest with you…I just don't like the way they are drawing out their "powers." They're too artificial." Mokichi scoffed at the idea. "Today, you are going to learn to use a deeper more potent source of energy, Chi or Ki. With this energy, you may be able achieve at least more than half of the feats that very few samurai were able to achieve."
"Half of the feats?" Kamijou asked.
"Hnn. You're right hand would be both a problem and a life-saver." Mokichi sighed, "While only you and it's up to you on how to unlock the full-potential of that Imagine Breaker as well as a possible Invisible Ability that is being repressed by the elemental beasts in your hand, I can help you achieve the other half by using your other body parts."
"What are these feats, sensei?" the young teen asked excitedly
Mokichi merely looked at him blankly before replying curtly, "You are not ready yet, my son."
Kamijou knew that was the end of that conversation about supernatural abilities.
When his sensei had nothing more to say, then he had nothing more to say. So going back to the topic at hand, Kamijou then asked instead, "What is real Ki then, Old man? Is it like what I see in comics?"
"Listen very carefully for this lesson will be the foundation of everything you will learn from here on out."
Kamijou nodded respectfully, "Yes, sensei…"
"Very well then." Mokichi affirmed. "You have been taught that Personal Reality is the result of distorting your own reality and gaining your own unique ability from the use of drugs, hypnosis, and sensory deprivation techniques. It is what Espers used to emit AIM and to execute ESP-derived abilities."
Kamijou scratched his head, "Well, yeah. At least, that's what's been always taught to us in school."
"Ki, on the other hand, is the vital energy of this world."
"Energy of this world?" Kamijou looked baffled. "So it's like Personal Reality?"
"No," Mokichi shook his head. "Personal Reality is artificial and somewhat twisted. You can think of it as a poor man's Ki or a diluted mana among the Westerners. Let me explain."
"Go ahead, sensei."
"As I was saying, Ki is the energy of the world. It is the vital force forming part of any living entity," Mokichi began to explain. "From the ancient Mandarin Qi which means "air" literally and "energy flow" figuratively, it is the thread that connects all things. From the rich and hidden minerals of this earth to the blood and nerves of the man, it is the glue that holds the universe together and it stimulates growth and transformation, be it literally or allegorical. Ki is the beginning, middle and end of all activity in the universe. Among the Greeks and the early Christian peoples, it's the Alpa and the Omega. Ki does not cause change nor does it disappear; it is present before, during and after any change. Change is simply a manifestation of what was already inherent in the previous state."
"Uhm…I don't think I'm following, sensei…" Kamijou confessed unashamedly.
"Very well. Look at that Japanese Cedar tree there," Mokichi motions to the thick tree eleven o'clock their direction. "Before the tree came to be it, tell me Kamijou-kun, what is the source causality of the cedar tree?"
It took the young teen a full minute before he replied, "Uhm…of course it would grow from a sapling, which would sprout from a seed."
"Correct, my son," Mokichi gave a gentle smile. "Now, the seed and the cedar tree are completely different things, yet the tree comes from the seed. Does it not?"
"Yes, sensei. I understand that much," Kamijou nodded.
"Therefore, the manifestation of the tree was already in-built in the seed although the seed is small and the tree is very gigantic."
"Ah…" Kamijou finally began to understand what his sensei was saying, "You mean, like the chicken and the egg and like how wooden statues are carved out from chunks of wood."
"Yes, my son," Mokichi especially liked the wood-wooden statue relation. "They are both manifestations of each other. Yet, each of them are different possibilities of the same energy, the same Ki. Do you understand it now?"
Kamijou nodded.
"Now the Ki of the universe has confines." The old man said, picking up a twig from the ground and continued as he began to draw a circle in the soil. "You may have heard of it but for discussion's sake, let me continued. There two types of Ki: the Yin and the Yang. Yin Ki is heavy and dark and from it, the earth was formed and born. Yang, on the other hand, was light and clear and thus formed and drew out the heavens," The man said while drawing the Yin-Yang symbol. "The outer circle represents the bounds of Yin and Yang, while Yin is represented by the color black and Yang the color white. They move in a never ending circle perfectly in tune with each other."
Kamijou listened very carefully to the old man.
"In Chinese cosmology and subsequent later Japanese philosophical teachings, these concept of dualism describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another," Mokichi said. "The universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of Yin and Yang and formed into objects and lives. Yin is the receptive and Yang the active principle, seen in all forms of change and difference such as the annual cycle as seen in the winter and summer, the landscape like the north-facing shade and south-facing brightness, sexual coupling in man and woman, the formation of both women and men as characters and sociopolitical history such as the Ordo Ab Chao or Order From Chaos from the brotherhoods of the Englishmen."
Mokichi then took out a match and lit it.
"Ki of Yin was cold and once accumulated, it formed water. Whereas the….."
"…Ki of Yang was hot and when accumulated, it formed fire. Am I right, sensei?" Kamijou finished it for him.
"Yes, you are, Kamijou-kun. You are beginning to understand," Mokichi nodded in approval. "Well then, can you tell me about the earth and wind elements?"
Kamijou replied, "Well…earth will be Yin because it's the definition of heavy and dark. Wind must be Yang because it's very light and clear."
"Very good, young one! This is why in the samurai elemental wheel, fire is enhanced by wind and water is muddied by the earth," Mokichi explains. "This is because fire and wind are both Yang-natured elements while water and earth are both Yin-natured elements. This is also why water and fire cancel each other out and earth and wind are unable to overcome each other. Understand?"
"Hai, sensei! I'm beginning to get interested in this topic!"
The last Miyamoto patriarch chuckled, "Yes it is, Kamijou-kun. Now, can you describe the four seasons of the Heaven and Earth based on the dualism of Yin and Yang?"
"Yes, sensei. Winter is a Yin season whereas summer would be a Yang season," Kamijou answered clearly. "Spring, which is the transition between winter and summer will be a mixture of both Yin and Yang Ki as the season changes from winter to summer. It will also be the same for autumn which is the transition from fall to winter."
"Very good, my son," Mokichi nodded. "All of nature is subjected to the cycle of change. All four seasons doesn't operate separately from each other but rather, they co-exist and each contains a piece of the other. The cold harshness of winter gives way to the promise of the vitality and rebirth of spring. Nothing lasts forever in the circle of life and the cycle continues."
He then added, "Now both living and non-living things have Ki since it is basically the glue that holds the universe together. Ki is cultivated and enhanced through physical training and concentration exercises but the most important aspect of Ki training is achieving the simultaneous movement and stillness of body and mind. Then it is just a matter projecting this stillness outward."
"How could the body be something that we use do all sorts of things? How can you achieve both movement and stillness?" Kamijou asked.
"That is an excellent question young one and you will have to find the answer on your own."
"The hell, old man!" Kamijou shrieked unmanly. "You don't really make things easy, oyaji…"
"I told you already that Nature contains all the answers. Giving you the answers to all your questions is not making you stronger but rather, it is making you weaker. I am a guide to show you the way to your strengths but it is a path that you must walk alone," Mokichi sternly said. "Discovering the true meaning of things yourself will bring you strength and wisdom and there will be a grace and simplicity to what you do. Now, there are three aspects of Ki that you must understand in order to fully utilize this elemental energy. These are the Simplicity, Change and Constancy."
"What do they mean, sensei?"
"Simplicity is the root of the substance of Ki. Remember, it is the building block of all existence, yet its essence is simple. Variability is the use of the substance. I have taught you that everything in the universe is subject to change. It is no different for Ki. Thus, you need to be able to perceive the various manifestations of Ki and be able to adapt to them and utilize them. Finally, Constancy…" Mokichi trailed off. "It's the essence of substance. Although the manifestations of Ki vary, ultimately it does not matter what form the energy takes or how it is used, it is all the same Ki."
Kamijou nodded respectfully.
Mokichi cracks his knuckles before he continues, ""Now, the second thing I have to teach you is about Maai. Maai, in its simplest term, is the interval or space between two opponents in combat. The concept of Maai incorporates not just the distance between opponents, but also the time taken to cross the distance and the angle and rhythm of attack."
"Yeah, sensei…I get it…"
"Now, let's stand up," Kamijou did as he was told and right now, he is facing his master, who is entering a taijutsu stance. "Kamijou-kun, there are two aspects of Maai: the physical and the mental. Physical Maai refers to the actual distance of two combatants, of which there are three types: the Tō-ma or long distance, Issoku ittō-no-maai or Itto-ma and this is the middle distance, and lastly, Chikama or the short distance. Maaivaries with each fighter; a fast opponent will have a greater Maai than a slow opponent. For this reason speed will be a very important factor in your training."
He then steps closer to the boy and lightly jabs his shoulder before he continues, "The mental aspect of Maai refers to gaps in you or your opponent's awareness. It is rooted in the concept of Kyo-jitsu or kokoro-no-maai or mental interval. It refers to the emptiness and fullness of a person's Ki. The gaps in awareness and Kyo-jitsu combine to form mental the Maai."
"So what you're saying is that I could have physical Maai and not mental Maai, right?" Kamijou Touma asked for confirmation.
"Both yes and no since if you don't have both in battle, you are as good as dead against a skilled opponent."
"So what causes a disruption of mental Maai?" The spiky haired boy asked.
"A momentary lapse that leads fear, doubt, surprise, confusion and breathing-in all cause a break in your mental Maai," Mokichi explains. "Once your opponent is in this state, your attacks have the greatest chance of success."
"How does breathing-in cause a lapse in mental Maai?"
"Because when we breathe in, our diaphragm contract and pull down on and our lungs expand, decreasing the pressure in our chest," Mokichi explains while demonstrating it by inhaling and exhaling. "Molecules always move from an area of higher pressure to lower pressure, with the pressure lower within the body, air rushes into our lungs. In this moment the diaphragm and lungs are not in their natural resting state…"
"…And therefore this presents a moment of vulnerability to the opponent…" the young teen finished.
"Excellent! However, achieving the timing to strike in that moment is extremely difficult. To achieve this you have to become one with the breath of your opponent," Mokichi strictly said. "The best time to do this is when your opponent is tired and it is easy to follow their breathing. Continuing on young one, using their Ki and Maai, the samurai is able to create a field of perception that alerts them to anything that enters it. The field is created when the samurai extends their Ki to the very edge of their Tō-ma. They are able to know when and where a person enters the field and are able to attack or defend at a moment's notice. Thus, they are never caught unaware once they maintain the field."
"That's…very cool, sensei!"
"Yes, that sounds very nice," Mokichi smiled gently. "Your lesson is done for today. I will return in about six to seven weeks and by then, you should be able to access your Ki. Also, I want you to study this scroll inside and out." He gave the boy a medium-sized scroll marked Atlas Of Human Body Meridian Points. "We will be starting you Taijutsu training when I return."
"Yes, sensei." Kamijou bowed in respect.
"Here is some advice, young one…" the old man said as he began to leave the forest. "The more you think about something, the more you narrow your eyes in desperation to see and the more difficult it becomes to find the answer. When something is too difficult to see, then try closing your eyes."
Kamijou was confused by his master's words but still took them to heart as he looked on at the retreating figure of the old man into the forest.