Legacy of the Chosen One pt 1
Chapter 4
When Mat emerged from the house, he was unprepared for the beauty that lied outside. The landscape outside the house was almost unbelievable. In the near distance in front of him, Mat saw a fairly think forest. To his left, there was a wide field and a steep hill. To his right, another building about half the size of the house was nestled right against the forest. The area was cozy, but with a sense of protection by the natural features. A layer of snow covered the ground just enough so that only a few blades of grass were poking through.
Mat scanned the area, pausing at each turn to admire the view. He saw that Genzo was nowhere to be seen. Mat assumed that he was inside the other building. He slowly made his way towards the rectangular building. The building, from the outside, looked very Japanese with overhanging roofs and a border around the bottom rose to the level of the sliding wooden doors. It appeared to be a walking surface that circled the entire building. Mat noticed when he got closer that one of the doors was partially opened. He made his way up the three stairs to the open door.
Slowly, Mat opened the door and stepped inside. What Mat saw inside was even more beautiful, to him, than the outside. The interior of the building was very "wooden" in appearance. The walls were covered with scrolls with words of wisdom, and teaching charts. Underneath the decorations on the walls, racks filled with various weapons gleamed in the limited morning sunlight coming through the windows near the ceiling. The building was obviously a dojo. The sounds of the wind and rustling trees seemed to disappear from Mat's ears as he made his way around the room. The only sounds in his mind were his thoughts and the sound of the crutch against the wooden floor. A sound which had reminded him of his current situation. He was focused not on the room anymore, but his injuries.
"You like what you see?" Came a voice from behind Mat, startling him.
"Very much, Genzo-san." He said, recognizing the broken English.
"What you like here?" Genzo asked.
"The place feels like it is full of history." Mat explained. "I know a lot has happened here. I almost feel like, by just standing here, that I am a part of it."
"I know...you very strong." Genzo began, "but you lack focus and experience."
"I can't believe that I let that guy sneak up behind me." Mat said as he rubbed the back of his head. "I was supposed to be the best student that my Sensei had ever seen. Twice now, I've let my guard down and let people sneak up behind me. Maybe someone else should be here instead of me."
"Why you come?" The older man asked.
"I'm a student of the martial arts," Mat began, "and supposedly very good. That is why I am here in Japan. It was the chance to learn a very rare martial art, taught only once a generation. Who knows if that is really the case, but I just wanted to learn all I could about the martial arts."
"Is that...only reason you here?" Genzo pressed.
"No." Mat said as if the sound of his own answer saddened him. "I'm lost."
"Lost?"
"Yes, I feel like I've been lost my entire life. Constantly looking for who I am, what I'm supposed to be doing, and where I am supposed to be going." Mat said, holding his sad tone.
"Then, why you come Japan?"
"I came here to learn. I was chosen to come because my teacher in America thought I was the best he had seen." Mat explained again, looking more at the wall than at Genzo. "After what happened a few days ago, I'm not completely sure he was correct. Martial arts is the only thing that has felt right to me. I took the chance that it will lead me to what I am truly supposed be doing. I am not feeling very confident in my abilities right now."
"I hope to change you." Genzo replied in an attempt to grab Mat's attention. "So that next time...that not happen."
"Change me?" "Mat pondered those words aloud. "How will you change me?"
"Maybe, you find purpose...with us." Genzo said, almost cracking a smile.
"With you?"
"Yes," Genzo continued, "Will you listen to old man story?"
"Sure."
"You right. There history here." Genzo said in a reflective tone. "Long ago, my family much larger. We were clan of shinobi. Shinobi that protect the emperor for many year. We only work for emperor and were loyal. Five hundred year ago, rumor of rebellion reach him. War very tough for clan and emperor. When he know war lost...he free clan of duty, give us this land. I and Nuriko are last of clan.
"This place is same dojo our clan train in all this time. For generation, our clan art pas to men of clan. Tradition has allowed for men not of clan, in tough time, to learn the art. But, only time it happen, were for husbands of clan women."
"Husbands?" Mat echoed.
"Do not worry." Genzo said to comfort Mat. "I not ask you to marry Nuriko. Tradition does not allow me to teach to her. Will you learn it?"
"Me?" Mat asked, almost in disbelief. "How do you know that I can?"
"I know you can. You have...aura of great warrior." Genzo assured Mat, with a smile finally appearing on his face. "You need time to think?"
"I don't need any time to think about it." Mat said with a renewed confidence in his voice. "I would be honored...Sensei. It would be the least that I could do for you. I owe you so much for helping me get better. Also, my desire to learn new martial arts won't let me say 'no'."
"It will help you be aware of yourself and area around you." Genzo explained. "As soon as you heal, we will start."
"You got it." Mat said, smiling now. "I'm determined to make sure the mistakes I made before don't happen again."
The door to the dojo is closed partially once again as Mat carefully made his way down the stairs. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs when he saw a figure standing in front of him.
"You need any help getting back in the house." A female voice said as the figure stepped closer.
"I'm okay, a little tired, but okay." Mat said.
"Is my father still in there?" Nuriko asked.
"Yes, he said that he had some things to do and did not want to be disturbed." Mat explained.
"So he asked you, didn't he?" Nuriko said as her gaze moved to the side and down. "What did you say?"
"Yes."
"Oh..." Nuriko began, "Why? Was it out of some need to repay us?"
"That was part of it. The rest of it was that I wanted to learn. I really feel that your father can give me the direction that I'm looking for. Are you upset?" Mat asked in an effort to get under Nuriko's skin a bit.
"NO!" Nuriko snapped as she turned her back to Mat, and stamped her foot.
"Really. I'm sorry."
"I am not mad. I just don't understand."
"..."
"Well." Nuriko chirped as she spun around to face Mat again trying to cover her mood. "Let's go back inside. I have to see what we need when I go shopping."
"Master, we have returned." A voice uttered in Japanese.
"Ah, Akira." Came the response from the master. "Is Yamamoto with you?'
"Yes, right behind me." Akira responded.
"Is the deed finished?" The master said as he turned to face Akira. The master was an older Japanese man in his late 60's with long gray hair down to his shoulders. Yamamoto then entered the room.
"Yes it is master, but we had to kill him sooner than planned." Yamamoto explained. "He tried to run out of the car and we had to chase him down."
"You are sure he is dead?" The master asked.
"He has to be, no question." Akira snapped.
"How's Urawa-kun doing?" Yamamoto asked, trying to change the subject.
"He is close. I can sense it. I am pushing him to his limit. He will show his true power soon. I don't need any distractions, much less an American fool here to annoy me. I will awaken his power, and then the key will be in HIS hands. Stay away from this shrine as much as possible. I don't want Urawa-kun to think anything is wrong."
"I have the American's bag. What should I do with them?" Yamamoto asked.
"Was there any clue as to his identity." The master asked, his gravely voice dominating the room.
"What got his name, Mat." Akira explained, "But we still don't know where he was from or his last name."
"Hmmm...he is from nowhere, now. Let them worry about what happened to him. I don't care about some American family. Throw the bag out." The master finished with a chuckle.
