the next morning I was up before dawn as usual. It was a habit I just couldn't seem to break. I got dressed and walked out to the garden also mostly through habit. Surprisingly, I was not the first one there. Sage was laying on her back head in hands asleep on the top of the garden wall. I was almost under her before I realized she was there, and of course trying to back out quietly I stepped on every stick, loose rock and pile of leaves within the walls.. She giggled and I looked up, blushing.
"Ya know, ya did better the first time...I thought cowboys were quiet people," She was grinning at me as she leapt down graceful as a cat.
"Normally we are, but for some reason since I met you I'm as nervous a along tail cat in room full of rocking chairs."
"Thats one I haven't heard in a long time."She folds up sitting again and I sit by her"When I was younger in Tennessee I heard it all the time. I guess I'm more homesick than I cared to admit. I couldn't sleep in there...I kept having a sneaking feeling Kimiko-san was going to set em on fire as soon as I fell asleep. So I came out here. The garden wall was the highest place I could get to easily.. Oh whats the little bald guy's name again?" She said all this without taking a breath.
"His name is Omi." I said softly. She blinked then beamed me one of her million watt smiles again.she stays here I need sunglasses.
"Guess your not the only one nervous."She stands up, "the sun will be up sortly when can we go for that ride? Mage will be angry if he doesn't get to run with the dawn."
"Well let's go get him."
We rode for an hour till the other were up then Sage had to let Omi ride with her a bit too. Kimko would have but I guess Mage didn't like the open hostility that Kimi showed Sage and wouldn't let Kimi near him.
Sage looked at her a moment "Sorry I promised him a long time ago that he would never carry anyone he didn't want ever again. Maybe he'll let you after he knows you a bit better." With that She dismounted and sent Mage off to graze.
"So..'bout this training stuff, when do we start?"
Master Fong appeared out of no where yet again..."Now would be good.Sage you will be using the shroud of shadows. Omi the orb of tournami, Kimiko the eye of Dashi, Clay the fis of Tebigong. You will be testing each other's strength finding weaknesses and helping your team mate over come that weakness. Try not to injure your team mates as well.
" OW! Kimi try not to set me on fire will you? You are burning my muffins!"
"Thats biscuits Omi, and Sage where are you?"
"Thought you were supposed to find me. Clay you need to protect your left side more. I could've got you 50 times by now. Kimiko your temper is getting the best of you and your loosing control of your WU. Your going to hurt someone. Omi your holier than thou attitude is leaving much to be desired, and is part of what is pissing Kimiko off so bad. SHROUD OF SHADOWS!" Sage appeared about 15 feet from where we thought she was."Maybe we should trade Wu, and Who ever gets the Shroud should hide and watch, find any mistakes I may have missed on the other two, and any I may make."
Kimiko was Happy to take the second.. I winced this would not be good..there was no way this could be good. Sage had hit Kimi sore spot, and since Kimi didn't know Sage's she would probably try to them all. Damn I hate it when I am right sometimes.
" Sage! your letting your gaurd down! Sage Hold the eye of Dashi higher when You attack. Sage your fighting like a feeble old woman. Omi can take it! Hit him!!!!!" This continued for about 30 minutes finally Omi called for a switch, I was expecting Sage to knock Kimiko out but all she did was bow and thank Kimi for watching her so closely since she had had less formal training than the rest of us. Omi was alot more objective about his remarks though, there were too many directed at Kimiko to be a conicidence. I had to laugh inwardly, even the monk thought Kimiko was doing to much and it took alot for him to notice. After about 15 minutes Omi stopped saying anything though. I don't know if he just enjoyed watching us or he ran out of things to say, but at the 30 minute mark he called switch and it was my turn with the shroud, I idn't really want to cause as much as I hate to admit it I was a little miffed with Kimiko. She was being mean and knew it. I just watched for the first 15 miutes and within the first 2 I realized what had silenced Omi. Sage was weilding the Wu she was given like it was a part of her. she never slowed down and her face was shinning with a happy glow. SHE LOVED THIS! Not the fighting part really but the challenge.She kept trying to do harder and harder things with the Wu. Her style was nearly perfect and it took me awhile to find one thing wrong to call out to her, finally I saw it.
" Sage, you lead a bit much with your right leg, change it up a bit and you won't be so easily blocked. Kimiko, we all know how agile you are stop trying to prove it, you try to flip around too much and loose sight of the actual battle. Omi, stop acting like your King of the world don't be afraid to give a little ground sometimes." Sage handed the Wu she had to Omi and walked over to me.
"That was fun when can we do it again?"
"I am supposed to take you through all the WU this afternoon after lunch so you know what they all are and what they do." She beamed at me, then blushed lightly when we both heard her stomach rumble. I laughed, dropped my arm around her shoulders and turned her in the direction of the kitchen.