Chapter 2

Over the next week Raian had continued to practice his jabs. Everyday after school he would go by the river to the same tree and kick the trunk to make the leaves fall and once more attempt to catch them. He remembered to keep his fists loose before punching and had managed to go from one leaf to catching five.

He would continue at that pace for an hour before he had to leave for work, and everyday at school he would carry a leaf around and let it drop from his grasp before snapping his fist shut.

Then one day while walking to school he passed by a newsstand and stopped dead in his tracks. Raian backpedaled towards the magazines and picked one up that caught his attention.

It was a boxing magazine. And on it's cover was the same man he met by the river and had told him to practice catching the leaves. "Takamura… Mamoru… so he's a boxer?"

Raian payed for the magazine and continued to read all through school. He was intrigued by the article on Takamura and was even more drawn to the stories of boxers in general.

Over the next few days, Raian had continued to do more reading on boxing and had even bought some VHS tapes of famous boxing matches and was currently watching one now in his room. "Woah he got knocked out!" in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think: 'Man… all these guys look so tough and strong… every time they win, they smile like their on top of the world…' Raian looked down at his right hand and clenched his fist, going deeper in thought, 'I wonder what it feels like… what does it mean?... what does it mean… to be strong?'

A week had gone by and Takamura was doing his road work for the day. Running along the same path by the river as he always did.

Only today he noticed a person standing on the side of the road, he continued running forward and as he got closer, he noticed it was the same kid from a week ago, 'Raian' was it?

"Yo Takamura" he called out while waving his hand.

Takamura stopped before the teenager, "Hey been a while… 'Raian' right?"

"Yeah that's me" he answered. "And hey, how'd you know my name?" question the older man.

Raian dug into his backpack and pulled out the same boxing magazine and handed it to Takamura. He took and realized, "oh I see. So, you read about me huh?"

"Sure did. And it's been a week." Takamura was slightly confused at this statement, but Raian pointed towards the tree down by the river and he realized what he meant. "Oh right…"

Both men walked towards the tree before Takamura spoke, 'Alright Raian, try to catch ten leaves using a jab."

Raian nodded his head and kicked the tree, causing leaves to fall as he got into a fighting stance, he raised both arms near his face and Takamurea continued observing. 'His stance as gotten better than before…' he thought.

Then Raian loosened his fists. This caught Takamura's attention as he watched the teenager shoot his right fist out. Again, and again Raian jabbed his right out and suddenly stopped as the last of the leaves finally fell.

Raian dropped his guard and walked over to Takamura and held up his right fist, then opened as a total of ten leaves fell out of his palm. "Good enough for ya?"

Takamura stood there shocked, never imagining that this random street punk could pull off something so textbook so flawlessly. "Yeah, good job. Those were some pretty good jabs."

"So, what's next?" asked Raian. Takamura looked confused, "What do ya mean?"

"Well I got the jab down, and you said that when I did you were gonna teach me some more."

"You know enough. Just keep practicing that jab and you'll be fine." Answered Takamura before he turned and got back to his roadwork.

Raian dashed after him and grabbed the back of his sweatshirt to stop him before he could get too far. "HEY, you said you would teach, and just knowing to jab isn't enough." He turned Takamura around to look at him dead on, "I wanna be a boxer! So, teach me to box!"

Takamura stood dumbfounded before this kid until he let out an angry snarl and grabbed Raian by his collar and pulled him up till they were face-to-face. "You little bastard! You know how to throw one little punch and suddenly you think you can be a boxer! What gives you the right? What makes you think you can make a spur of the moment decision like that?!"

"IT'S NOT A SPUR OF THE MOMENT DECISION!"

Takamura let go of Raian's shirt and he looked at the teenager. "Listen… I know it seems like it but believe me when I say I've given this some real hard thought. Ever since I could remember all I've ever done was hit guys who pissed me off. But seeing you and other boxers fight made me realize that you do it for something much bigger than that. And I wanna be a part of that!"

Raian hung his head and Takamura finally responded, "Kid… why would you wanna do this? You don't sound like an idiot, so why would you wanna pick the life of a fighter when you don't have to?"

Raian did not response immediately, only giving a feint answer in a low voice, "What does it mean…"

"Huh?" responded Takamura.

"What does it mean… to be strong?" tears started to run down his cheeks, "How does it feel?"

Takamura only stood there examining the boy, not saying a single word. He stepped forward and put his hand on Raian's shoulder before saying, "Follow me."

Takamura began to walk in the opposite direction and Raian quickly wiped his tears before following him.

Takamura and Raian both arrived at a building with a sign reading 'Kamogawa Boxing Gym.' Takamura opened the door and Raian saw the gym packed with men all exercising. Some doing sit ups, another jumping rope, hitting a punching bag and two other's fighting wearing headgear inside a boxing ring.

"Hey kid!" Raian snapped out his curiousity and saw Takamura standing by a pounching bag and was gesturing him to come over. Raian walked over and Takamura spoke, "Alright you managed to do some pretty good jabs but you wanna learn more. And that's exactly what were gonna do."

Raian smiled at this and put on a determined look, "Alright! So, what's first." Takamura patted the punching bag and explained, "I want you hit this heavy bag as hard as you can using your dominant hand."

"Just take your power and throw it out, only this time twist your hips into the punch." Takamura explained and Raian did as was told. He assumed a fighting stance Raian threw out his left, twisting his hips and his left fist struck the punching bag. The bag pent like a chevron at the power of the blow before snapping taught on its chain.

"Like that" asked Raian while pulling his fist back. A streak of red liquid hit Takamura's cheek and he wiped it off and looked at it. Abruptly walking up and grabbing Raian's left hand, he saw the skin on his knuckles was completely scraped off. Blood was weeping through the exposed skin and it donned on Takamura.

"Wait here, I'm gonna get somethings to patch you up." He walked away while he thought, 'What the hell was up with punch? That's some power he's got. He actually has the qualities of a hard puncher!'

Takamura returned shortly afterward and wrapped up Raian's hand. "Just wait here, I gotta go see someone."

Takamura walked away and left Raian as he talked with the other gym members.

Kamogawa Genji was the owner and head coach of the gym. He was currently looking over a sheet of papers when Takamura opened the door to his office, "Hey old man!" Kamogawa looked up, "What the hell are you doing here, didn't I tell you to go do your roadwork."

"You gotta come out here and see this. You remember that kid I've been talling you about? Well I just saw him working the heavy bag and I got a good feeling about him." Kamogawa got up from his chair and walked over to the door and looked out. His eyes landed on Raian and he examined him for a second.

"So that's the kid huh? He doesn't look like much, in fact he just seems like any young punk." Said Kamogawa.

"Well he's not just any punk. He's got some real talent, plus one other thing…" Kamogawa rose his eyebrow at this. "What is it?"

"He's a southpaw."

Kamogawa turned completely around. "Hell no!" he walked back to his chair and plopped down in frustration, "I don't want to get involved with southpaws! Everything they do is backwards."

"AW COME ON old man just give him a chance. I saw it myself, just let him show you what he's got." argued Takamura.

Kamogawa eyed Takamura warily before finally letting out a puff of resignation. "Fine. Get him some gear and have him spar with Miyata."

Takamura smiled at this and quickly ran out of the office and dragged Raian into the back room and explained what was to happen.

"Huh, sparring?" Raian asked.

"That's right your gonna show what you've got. Your gonna be sparring with one of our top boxers here. Now put these on." Takamura handed Raian a pair of 10 oz gloves and held up a sparring helmet.

Takamura and Raian were later standing beside the boxing ring, where there was already a person inside, a young teenager about Raian's age.

"That's Miyata Ichirō" said Takamura, "he's the same age as you and he's been training to become a boxer since he was a little kid. The only reason he's not a pro yet is because of his age. You have to be seventeen to get a professional boxing license, and he's got plenty of experience until then. So, for now he's just waiting."

Miyata finished taping up his gloves and looked over at the duo and glanced at Raian, giving a disinterested huff.

Raian's response was to furrow his brow at this guy's clear arrogance and disregard for him. Takamura handed Raian the head gear but Raian pushed it away, "No… let's do this without the head gear" he said and climbed into the ring.

Both Raian and Miyata went to their respective corners. Raian had Takamura in his corner and Miyata had his father in his. "He isn't wearing headgear. That's reckless for someone who has no experience" said Miyata's father.

Miyata only gave a hmph in response as he put in his mouthpiece, "Well that was his choice. Besides you said it, he's got no experience. I'll make him go down before the end of the first round" said Miyata.

Raian was currently having his gloves tape dup by Takamura and took a mouthpiece into his teeth, "Alright this is gonna be a three-round spar. Each one lasts for five minutes. If you get knocked down you have ten seconds to get back up, if you stay past ten seconds you you lose, simple as that."

"Don't worry. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not gonna cry if I lose, but that doesn't mean I won't try" responded Raian.

Kamogawa came out before the start of the spar and announced, "All right this is gonna a standard four round spar. If you get knocked down, you got until the count of ten to get back up. You go down twice you lose. Ready?"

Miyata began to hop and get into tempo as he put up his guard, a standard orthodox stance with his left foot forward and his right foot back. Raian widened his stance with his right foot forward and his left foot back in a semi-crouch and put his arms just above his waist as he faced Miyata more directly.

The bell rang as Raian ran towards Miyata and threw out two right and left hooks. Miyata easily swayed and sidestepped him as he threw out left jab, nailing Raian square in the face. His head snapped back but he quickly recovered and went on the offensive again.

He threw out another right hook, but Miyata dodged to the left and countered with a left hook counter.

The impact rang out as Raian's head twisted sideways. 'I knew it. This wasn't even a challenge, he's just a brawler with no skill' thought Miyata.

"Well that's it" said Kamogawa as he prepared to start the count.

Everyone watching were getting ready to leave until what happened next stunned everyone. Raian caught himself on his left foot and righted himself before throwing out a left straight.

Miyata dodged by a hair and backstepped away from Raian. Miyata hanged back and thought, 'How is he still conscious? My left counter should have knocked him out cold.' Miyata watched as Raian assumed his stance again and saw blood dripping from his nose. Raian smiled and flicked his tongue out to lick the blood before saying, "Hey… I didn't hear no bell!"

"Raian don't try to swing at him!" shouted Takamura, "Just jab. Jab like you practiced."

Raian did as told and jabbed his right but Miyata easily stepped aside and dodged and weaved, avoiding them all and Miyata quickly went to step in.

'The next time he throws out a punch I'll get inside and nail him with my left again.' Miyata slid his left foot to step in and wound up his left for another left hook, only to be thrown off balance as his left foot bumped into something.

Miyata wobbled before catching himself but failed to notice Raian throw out a left hook. His left nailing Miyata on the side of his head, knocking him down to the canvas.

Everyone in attendance was shocked speechless. Never had Miyata been knocked down before. And this random, unskilled brawler had just done it.

"Raian! Hurry up and get over to a neutral corner!" shouted Takamura. 'I knocked him down. I really did it' thought Raian as he walked into the white corner of the ring.

Kamogawa was still shocked at what he saw, which meant he was late on the count but was snapped out of it by Takamura. Kamogawa quickly started the count and Miyata got up on the count of five.

The bell sounded a second later, signaling the end of the first round. Miyata and Raian returned to their corners and sat down in their stools. "Well you did better than I thought considering all those hard punches you took" Raian was huffing and panting his stool, "but you can't just go out there and just swing your fists out and hope you hit him. You gotta outthink him, so when the bell rings don't go after him just hang back and let him come to you."

Meanwhile Miyata was in his corner and his father was wiping sweat off his brow, "That down was pretty pathetic, thinking he could trip me and just get lucky" argued Miyata.

"I don't think he tripped you," said Miyata's father, "I noticed it when he took his stance. When an orthodox boxer tries to move forward but trips on their opponent's right foot, that could only mean that his opponent is a-"

"A southpaw!?" realized Miyata.

"That's right and this is very bad. This is your first time fighting a southpaw, which means you have no experience."

Miyata hung his head in realization, confused as to how to go about this. "It's like fighting a mirror reflection then. How do I beat someone that I've never fought before?"

"From what I can tell you, southpaws are vulnerable to right straights and other techniques coming from the right, but you need to keep your lead fought outside his get in."

The bell rang for the second round rang and both fighters got out of their corner. And this time, Miyata dashed forward and began to jab at Raian in quick succession. Miyata had Raian pushed back into the ropes he threw out more jabs.

Takamura shouted at Raian to put up his guard. Raian did and held both hands in front of his face to block. Miyata took advantage of this and nailed Raian with a left body blow.

Raian bent forward from the pain and nearly coughed up his mouthpiece. Miyata followed up his onslaught by maneuvering his left lead foot past Raian's right and reared his right fist back.

'It's over!' thought Miyata, only to stop dead inhis tracks and bent forward after Raian had nailed his left side with a right body blow.

Raian flipped the tables and went on the offensive, throwing out vicious right and left hooks, alternating between left and right body blows and pushed Miyata against the ropes.

Miyata slipped past a left straight from Raian and escaped the ropes.

Raian twisted around, twisting his hips as he threw out a left straight. Miyata was slow to responded. Everyone held their breaths as the massive left soared towards Miyata. But Miyata quickly ducked to the left.

He maneuvered his left foot outside of Raian's right, and nailed Raian with a Right straight counter.

The only sound heard was of Raian falling towards the canvas. Coach Kamogawa started the count. Everyone was shocked to see Raian not only still conscious but also getting ready to get back up.

Raian groaned from the pain but managed to get to one knee. He tried to pull himself back up but could not beat the count, and the result was there.

"Match over! The winner: Miyata Ichirō!" announced Kamogawa. Raian managaed to get back up but was bleeding heavily from his mouth and nose. Takamura got to his side and asked how he was doing.

"I'm fine I can walk" Raian looked around and realized, "so I lost huh?"

"Yeah you did. But that was great I don't know anyone else who could go up against Miyata and not have to be carried out with an ice pack" answered Takamura.

"Hey kid," Raian looked over and saw an old man walking over to him. "what's your name?"

"Narashima Raian" he answered.

"I'm Kamogawa Genji, and I'm the head coach here." Raian held out his left hand to shake but quickly pulled it back and held out his right, "A pleasure."

Kamogawa shook his hand but thought, 'His first instinct was to hold up his left, he really is a natural southpaw.' "How much do know about boxing kid?"

"Not much. This is my first time in a 'sparring' match."

"And how tall are you? How much do you weigh?"

"Like… 5' 7". I weigh about 124." Answered Raian.

"Well from here on out I'm gonna be your coach. So, starting tomorrow I want to see you here after school and were gonna start training."

Raian only widened his eyes at this statement as he watched Coach Kamogawa walk away. His mouth grew into a smile as the first step in his quest had finally come under way.