"Hi, Midori." Johnny said into the telephone.

"Johnny! I was worried about you! We missed you in class the last two days. What happened?"

"I got injured on the job. Bruised some ribs. I won't be training for a while."

"Oh my goodness! What happened?"

"Uh, some guy got a little out of control. Roy got banged up, too. He's still in the hospital."

"Is it serious?"

"No. He's got some bruised ribs and a broken cheekbone, but he'll be okay."

"No. I meant you."

"I'm fine. I'll be back at work next shift."

"I missed you. I was worried about you. Do you want some company?"

"Not tonight. I'll come by the dojo and see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

Johnny plumped the pillow on the sofa irritably and wished he had gotten around to purchasing a new television. At least the television provided some mindless amusement, and he didn't want to think right now. Just then, a knock at the door afforded a different distraction, and assuming it was probably Cap, Johnny opened the door. Much to his surprise, Ishii Sensei stood in the hallway.

Blinking in astonishment, Johnny moved aside and invited the older man to come in. He cast a glance out into the hallway. "Is Midori with you?"

"No. I see you."

"Please sit down. Can I get you something to drink?"

"No. I see you. Shiatsu. You have mat?"

Johnny thought that maybe shiatsu was not a good idea with bruised ribs. "Uh, no mat. Did Midori tell you I hurt my ribs again?"

"Hai. Midori tell. You have…?" Sensei circled his hands out in a smoothing motion.

"Uh…" Johnny tried to guess what the sensei had in mind. "You mean a blanket?"

"Hai. Blanket. You get. Put here."

Ishii Sensei waited while Johnny brought the requested item from the bedroom. Then he smiled and nodded. "You lie down." Closing his eyes in concentration, he placed both hands on Johnny's chest near the heart. "You good kokoro, Johnny-san. You good man. You strong man. I see fear. I see anger. I see hurt. You be fear. You be anger. You be strong."

"I didn't…"

"I know. Try later. Shiatsu now. Close eyes. Breathe."

Johnny focused on his breathing in response to the sensei's instructions. Even his ribs felt better for the man's firm touch, and he could feel the tingling exchange of energy emanating from the sensei's hands. So relaxed had he become, that he barely heard Ishii Sensei's final direction to lie still and rest, and he fell asleep before the sensei left the apartment.

"He's dead."

"How do you feel about that?"

"Relieved and mad."

"I can understand why you would feel relieved. Why don't you tell me a little bit more about why you feel angry?"

"He hurt my partner. He didn't rape him, but he threatened to, and he's still in the hospital." The words tumbled out quickly.

"I'm sorry. Is he badly hurt?"

"He'll be okay. This is all my fault. Maybe it wouldn't have happened if I had gone to the police earlier."

"It's not your fault. You told the police when it was right for you."

"Right for me, maybe, wrong for everyone else."

"You acted when you could. You handled it right."

Johnny exhaled in irritation.

"I didn't convince you."

Johnny gave a short laugh. "No."

"Please believe me when I say it's not your fault. You didn't cause any of this to happen. You have no control over someone else's actions."

"That's what my partner says."

"I agree with your partner. You are not to blame. So, does this mean you've talked with your partner about this?"

"Not exactly. We were together when it happened. And now, the department shrink knows, so, I'll have to talk with him. I don't want to talk with him."

"You were both attacked?"

"Yeah… uh, we were out on a … we were working."

"Are you okay?"

"Just some bruised ribs. He didn't, uh, didn't touch me."

"I understand that it's hard for you to talk about being raped. You might find that talking about it with someone else, like your department psychiatrist, helps you heal faster, though. Would it help you to talk about it with me, first?"

"No. I don't think I'm ready." Johnny paused before continuing to speak. "I still don't understand why this happened. Wasn't it enough to beat the crap out of me? Why rape?"

"Rape isn't about sex. It's the ultimate in terms of power and aggression. It's humiliating to get beaten up. It's even more degrading to be used sexually…"

"That's for damned sure!"

"Why do you think he might have raped you?"

"He always hated me. Hell, I think he hated everyone. I know he blamed me for losing his job, too."

"It sounds like he wanted revenge and retaliation. The nature of rage is such that he could never hurt you enough. Your pain would never have been enough for him."

"That's crazy!"

"Yes, it is."