Official Disciple

Due to the first week, Kenichi tried to run away a few times and always gets caught each time.

'Jeez, I didn't run on my first week here.' said Holly, munching on senbei while reading a textbook for a quiz.

'That, you didn't.' said Hayato while sipping tea. 'But we would never allow anyone who's not yet a graduate to run away, so the others will get him back.'

And he wasn't kidding.

Because its bad to let a half-baked pupil out.

Once a pupil masters their art and honed their body, only then is that person considered a graduate ascending to Expert. Training maintenance is all that person needs while being hard on themselves, and real-life battle experiences in order to ascend to Masterhood. Assuming they live that long!

Ryouzanpaku compares this level to a newly molted Cicada: while fully matured, its shell is extremely soft and vulnerable. It is said that those of the expert class either become masters or die, and are in an extremely unstable and dangerous state.

So yes, they won't let even a week-old disciple go.

For now, Holly herself is a Middle-Class Disciple, a type of Disciple stronger than normal people and Low Class Disciple but are weaker then High Class Disciple. They are in the middle part of being a Disciple. It has shown that this rank is when the disciple begin to show above average physical power and martial arts skills though it's not quite high.

Reason for this, is she only got physical training and conditioning, reflex and reaction time training and repetitive training of the basic punches and kicks in order to be able to study a real art starting summer. By standards, she should be a High-Class, but the fact that she doesn't even know a formal style makes her this by default. She would get promoted to High-Class officially the day she's finally given a martial art to learn.

However, from afar...

'Hmmm...what do you think, fellas?' Akisame asked as Holly sparred with Miu while Kenichi was subject to flexibility training using some invention Akisame made because he was 'too stiff'.

'She's like water. I'd say she's a natural-born flexible person you just made her triple like Miu.' said Sakaki. 'Only Miu is faster than she is since Miu's been at this for years, and she just started half a year ago but Miu is a fast, but graceful blur to Holly's flowing water. I have something in mind.'

'Something in mind?' Kenichi asked while struggling with his machines. 'Holly-san said that she'll start learning techniques this summer...'

'That, we did.' said Akisame. 'Because she insisted on toughening up first before learning an actual style, she wanted to be physically-developed first before learning anything. She feels that if she learns something not suited to her body and yet learned it anyway while her body is underdeveloped, she'll regret in the long run and compromise her. So she wanted to wring out her body's innate abilities first while we decide what's good for her.' he said. 'She gave us that challenge. Its a good way of thinking actually. Most students want to learn the art simply because it looks cool, or shortcut to instant power, they never considered factors Holly did its actually an eye opener. Naturally, true Masters would double-check and either accept, or turn them away. But Masters who are only after money, disregarding these factors would gladly take the money, no matter the consequence to their student.' he said as the masters shared a grim, dark aura of displeasure at the notion. 'And that is why we're developing you first.'

'When she first came here, she was effectively a skinny waif of a girl even though she's healthy.' said Sakaki. 'But its clear that she recently got healthy before she came to us. Her requests made us wonder...what the hell happened to her that she made such requests.' he mused worriedly. 'She's essentially a person preparing for her quest so we're really grilling her good.' he said grimly. 'And she won't talk anytime soon. Now where was I...I have something in mind I said.'

'You said she's 'like water'.' said Kensei. 'If I know what you're thinking...you're thinking...Jeet Kune Do?'

'Y-you mean, like Bruce Lee?!' Kenichi exclaimed in recognition.

Anybody would know Jeet Kune Do and who its got to do with.

'That one.' Sakaki nodded. 'Bruce Lee was once a Master of Wing Chun. He focused on social media than our world, you see, he didn't care much for it anyway.' he said. 'He created Jeet Kune Do when he got dissatisfied with the rigid formality and flashiness of traditional martial arts. The mindset was 'be water, my friend'. He means you must adapt to any situation and its a style made specifically for real-life self-defense.'

'Yes, he insisted that martial arts techniques should be incorporated based upon their effectiveness in real combat situations.' Kensei continued thoughtfully, 'This would differentiate Jeet Kune Do from other systems where there was an emphasis on flowery technique, as Lee would put it. Lee claimed that flashy 'flowery techniques' would arguably look good but were often not practical or would prove ineffective in street survival and self-defense situations. This premise would differentiate it from other sport-oriented martial arts systems that were geared towards tournament or point systems. Lee felt that these systems were 'artificial' and fooled their practitioners into a false sense of true martial skill. Lee felt that because these systems favored a 'sports' approach they incorporated too many rule sets that would ultimately handicap a practitioner in self-defense situations. He felt that this approach to martial arts became a 'game of tag' which would lead to bad habits such as pulling punches and other attacks; this would again lead to disastrous consequences in real world situations.'

'Aaaand due to that, he opened his school with his fans being his students, and people who were once victims of assault, seeing the appeal. His philosophy however, offended many Sports Organizations of Martial Arts since he called it 'dry land swimming', and real Masters said, he really should leave showbiz because in the end, he's a Master to the bone due to his beliefs because real martial arts, is a weapon. A tool. How its used depends on its wielder. But Lee really didn't like how violent our world is and opted to teach victims instead and help them fight back, other than teaching his fans.'

'Heee...so Holly-san would learn Jeet Kune Do huh...?' Kenichi whistled before frowning. 'That means she's really in a bad situation and she's actually in hiding here?'

'We got that idea months back too kid.' said Sakaki. 'Due to her situation, I felt it was appropriate. She's rich yet she's once malnourished and stunted since she's so small for her age. She's only centimeters taller than your sister which is why Kensei's shoving growth-inducing medicine down her throat. Six months ago, she is as tall as your sister which is damn scary.' in Kenichi's mind, he compared the two girls' heights...and he choked. 'She's a typical financial abuse victim and some decent folk helped her access her rights, and get her away but she fears being caught again. That must mean her oppressors are high up they can't do a thing yet which makes things complicated for her. And for us too since she didn't want to involve us in her situation and we have no idea how bad as a result.' he stated gruffly, crushing his emptied beer can into his hand.

Little did they know that they're way, waaaaay off their mark...

Holly's situation was far more complicated than that.

They're right that she wanted to get away, survive and live though.

And it has been 32 days since Kenichi joined Ryouzanpaku.

And he gets into a lot of delinquent trouble but Miu bails him out. Not that Holly can help, she's a middle schooler...maybe next year.

But it doesn't mean that she can't help when he's in the streets.

'You sure have it rough.' said Holly as after their usual Sunday Grocery Shopping. The only good thing was, they haven't bought anything yet. She fought for the first time that day, too. But she, like the delinquents, used the basics, but she hits harder enough to actually knock them off the ground.

'They're called Ragnarok, a gang of delinquents in school,' Kenichi sighed as they made it to the grocery. 'They're after me lately.'

'Heee...but this should be good practice for you.' said Holly. 'Start small because starting out big when they're just starting out can shatter anyone's spirit.' she said.

'But that guy took out a knife!' Kenichi freaked out. 'You call that small?!'

'Come on, you're getting used to so many reality-crashes that that guy is too slow for you now. Your fear of anything sharp just hampered that progress.' said Holly. 'Its indeed scary but if you have the ability and the will, you can do it.'

'I can?'

'Imagine that same guy using that knife to slash off Miu-chan's spandex just so he could see her privies and when you see that, you get the need to bash him for justice.' Holly suggested. 'Think about that scenario whenever you come face-to-face with a blade. I wouldn't want myself in that shoes either since I'm a girl, but guys like knife boy will be in jail come his adulthood. He's a psycho at your age already, his fate is sealed unless by some miracle, he's redeemed somehow.'

'A-alright...'

'Did you have to use me as an example?!' Miu stammered out, red-faced in awkwardness.

'Er, didn't he come here because of you?' Holly pointed out that made Miu blush and freak out. 'You're his motivation in staying here while he learns how to crash reality eventually. I'm ahead of him in beginner terms though.'

'Holly-chan...' Miu sweatdropped. She sees the masters' strengths as crashing reality simply because normal people can't do what they could.

'C-crash reality?' Kenichi whimpered just-as-helplessly.

'We don't crash reality!' the masters whined petulantly.

'That's scientifically impossible!' Akisame sputtered as the Elder cracked up in laughing.

'Says the guys who move in supersonic speeds, train with a steel girder, juggle bowling balls, balance on twenty kendamas, craft statues with bare hands and make paper crafts out of leaves and tree bark?!' Holly yelled back.

'That's called...reaching our pinnacle...of strength and skill...' Shigure pouted childishly while drawing circles on the floor with her finger.

'Your standards still crash reality...'

xxx

Summer came. And its three weeks away before vacation, the day she enrolled.

For Holly, it wasn't all that eventful for her at all, and getting rather unhappy that the older kids get all the fun.

But summer...

'Huh?! I'm going to be like Bruce Lee?!' Holly's eyes flashed like glitters. Despite being deprived of fun, even she knows who Bruce Lee is.

'Yup. Due to your body-type, we decided you'll do Jeet Kune Do.' said Hayato. 'Sakaki got the idea since your body-type, habits and movements are ideal for the style. We'll start on the day you enrolled.'

'Hai!' Holly beamed, looking like a beaming child at that point.

'First, you'll have to learn the foundation of Jeet Kune Do...Wing Chun.' said Kensei. 'That's right up my alley as a Kenpo Master so after your first year that everyone worked on you, I'm your official Master.'

'Hai!'

'It'll begin soon huh~' Miu sighed wistfully. 'She'll soon be a High-Class Disciple.'

'A what?' Kenichi asked, puzzled.

'There are many stages of development for Martial Artists.' said Miu. 'I'll explain...a martial artist who is personally trained by a Master, a disciple often dwells deeper into the master's techniques and the Martial Arts world than the normal student does. I mean, beyond the depth of the sports world. You're currently a Low-Class Disciple since you just started, but you're stronger than the delinquents you're still nervous of.'

'A Middle-Class Disciple is basically what Holly-chan's doing for a year now. After the first difficult months, she can withstand harder training, and begins to show above average physical power and martial arts skills though it's not quite high. They can take down Low-Class and Normal People, but unable to defeat a High-Class Disciple.'

'High-Class Disciples are stronger than the first two combined, but unable to defeat an Expert. In fact, we need to band together to be able to defeat an Expert. I'm of this class.' said Miu. 'High-Class Disciples are they who reached the peak of strength they can possibly obtain at youth, and start learning techniques from their Master, and join on missions wherein they act as support to their Masters and do small jobs so the Master can focus on the dangerous parts.'

'You mean, you actually join the Masters on missions?' Kenichi asked her in awe.

'Yes. Been doing it since I was little. Even Holly-chan goes out to do jobs with them.' Miu beamed. 'But of course, the Masters can choose which mission because it goes from 'easy' to 'really difficult'. Next is Expert. Experts are High-Class Disciples who mastered all techniques of the art they studied and made it their own. They graduate from their Master's training and venture on their own, training by themselves to push themselves further, and harder, and take on many battles and gain experience. Essentially, the expert class are the mid-level class for martial artists. Though far more powerful and stronger than a Disciple, the expert level is also where martial artists are at their most vulnerable. Here, its become a Master, or die trying.' Kenichi gulped audibly at that.

'Then there's the Master...'

'You mean like everyone?'

'Nope. They're beyond that...they're all Grandmasters.' Kenichi gasped and his ghost came out of his mouth. 'Master is the rank an aspiring expert wishes to be as it means he has the chance to ascend to higher levels. However, that depends, really...' Miu said sheepishly. 'It depends on oneself to achieve Mastery. You are only acknowledged as a Master after harrowing experiences, surviving other Masters and acknowledged by them...and word spreads fast by the way.'

'Next is a Grand Master. It is the next class of a master-class martial artist who had not only mastered their respective martial art, but has perfected and pushed it to a new level at which they are able to perform tasks and fight in a way that a normal master could not easily do. Grand Masters are basically master class fighters who have reached the pinnacle of human abilities and virtually have more physical capabilities then the former. They also have massive Ki flow abilities and tend to have immense physical strength and speed.'

"Wow...so its basically everyone in the dojo..." Kenichi broke out in cold sweat.

'Advanced Grandmaster...'

"There's more?!"

'...Advanced Grand Master is a level above Grand Master but is weaker than the next, the Legendary Master. This class can be mistaken as the Legendary Master level due to the tremendous skills and abilities the three masters of this class have displayed. However they are not the same as a Legendary Master as they have yet to be considered legendary or invincible in the martial arts world. Despite being one level lower than Legendary Master, all three Advanced Grand Masters are quite famous and even feared for their immense power in martial arts. The last is Legendary Master, like Grandpa.'

"HE'S ACTUALLY THE STRONGEST?!"

In his mind, Kenichi imagined a pile of bodies, and on top were the piled up bodies of the other Ryouzanpaku Masters with Hayato standing on top of them, hands on his hips and boisterously laughing victoriously.

'That means you have to be stronger than anyone, and acknowledged as the best and the strongest.' said Miu. 'Defeat everyone, every Advanced Grandmaster and you're the strongest.'

'That's gotta be rough...but since Elder managed it, even you can do it.'

'Yup!'

xxx

Near the end of summer...they went to Horinji Island to the beach, but instead of gas or coal-powered...its human-powered. Sakaki and Akisame powered it up(after Kenichi couldn't last long)!

'This is yours?!' Holly and Kenichi burst out as Horinji Island is not on any map since its so tiny. The Elder discovered that its a nice vacation place and then built a nice log cabin!

'Yep, all ours!' Hayato grinned. 'Since its useless to the government, it was easy for me to have it for free as our vacation home. I wrangled a few favors.'

'Wow, they probably owe you big to have this place.' Holly said wryly. 'That, and most folks can't survive without electricity while we can get by just fine.

'Besides, with the ocean breeze and all these trees, its actually cool here unlike in the city.' said Kensei. 'Best place for summer.'

'Well, its hot because there are no trees.' Holly deadpanned. 'Had the dojo or living quarters had natural umbrellas like these, summer would be more bearable.'

'Those trees won't last long even if we plant any.' Miu sweatdropped as the disciples imagined Apachai or Sakaki bashing their way through it...

'Well, in the living quarters and main building, not the dojo...' Holly snorted, seeing through Miu quickly in what she had in mind, not that she blamed the blonde.