Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable and I make no profit from the writing of this story.
It had only taken the first full week of school to remind Daniel of the same sentiment he'd held throughout high school, and that was a great appreciation for the weekend. Even if for no other reason than that he had more time for Mr. Miyagi's lessons without the need to worry about what they had to schedule them around.
Mr. Miyagi seemed to hold the same opinion, which Daniel concluded because for the first time in over a week Mr. Miyagi took Daniel to the beach for their morning lesson rather than staying at home in the yard. He also made up for lost time by continuing the training session far longer than an hour, something that he had not done all week so that Daniel could do his homework relatively early in the evening.
Only one week was enough time for Daniel to have missed what had become their usual routine since he'd graduated high school, the routine that was interrupted when he'd started his college classes. He hoped they could fit more training into their week-days once they became better accustomed to Daniel's new schedule.
To say that Daniel had missed it was not to infer that it was easy, however. By the time the sun was warming, Daniel was in a hard sweat while Mr. Miyagi barely held a heavy breath. Daniel's legs were sore, he sported several new bruises, and the muscles in his arms screamed in agony. He was praying for the break Mr. Miyagi would surely give him soon so he could drop the cursed staff.
Assuming he could open his fingers to do so.
Learning new Katas, moves and techniques was never easy, Daniel had learned long ago, but once the body was conditioned to certain expectations, muscle learning and muscle memory and reflec became stronger and easier to retain.
Learning something completely new again, Daniel realized now, hearkened back to his early days with Mr. Miyagi when his body sometimes protested and always felt the effects of the day's lessons.
Daniel's wish for a break was granted by the time the first hour had just passed.
When Mr. Miyagi gave the command to stop, Daniel creaked open his stiff fingers and let the bo staff drop where he stood. He never straightened for his bow, however, before Mr. Miyagi sternly said, "Ha! Pick it up!"
Daniel was so startled he quickly bent down and grabbed the staff before more than his subconscious had registered the words.
"What'd I do?" Daniel asked, eyes wide.
"Respect for weapon a must, Daniel-san," Mr. Miyagi said earnestly, one finger held up and commanding Daniel's attention, the same effect it always had. "When using weapon, weapon part of you, extension of you. Weapon save life, when take care of weapon, learn use weapon with dignity, weapon serve always treated with respect. Daniel-san understand?"
A solemn nod and "Yes, I understand," Daniel assured, chastened.
"Ki o tsuke," Mr. Miyagi said, a fairly new addition to the roster of Japanese words Daniel had been picking up from Mr. Miyagi for nearly three years. Even had Mr. Miyagi not taught him the meaning, Daniel didn't need to know the word to read the body language and hear the tone to know the meaning it meant to convey.
It meant pay attention, and Daniel could never resist the instinct to at least straighten up a bit in reaction. Nothing near standing to attention like Daniel had seen long ago in Kreese's karate school, as that was not what Mr. Miyagi wanted nor his or Daniel's style, but it was in respect to the tone of voice that often accompanied the command, the cue that Mr. Miyagi was very serious in the moment. Daniel had learned that was never to be ignored.
"Remember what Miyagi tell yesterday?"
"Yes, I do," Daniel answered.
"Tell Miyagi four qualities weapon holder must possess" Mr. Miyagi quizzed.
"Speed, coordination, strength and endurance," Daniel answered immediately.
"You learning all in karate. You no have all with weapon. You grow with weapon.".
"How long do you think it will take before I'm good with it?" Daniel asked.
"Take longer than Daniel-san want," Mr. Miyagi chuckled.
"Well how long do you think it will take before I can get through a lesson without feeling like I've been half beaten to death?"
"Depend."
"On what?"
"Depend how often Miyagi teach. Depend how often Daniel-san practice, how well Daniel-san pay attention. Like all Karate. Daniel-san know this."
"Well I know I'll practice and I always pay attention," Daniel boasted, earning a wry smile from Mr. Miyagi. "And you'll teach me like you always teach me, right?"
"Daniel-san get half time lesson with weapon, half time with no weapon karate. Daniel-san still have much no weapon karate to learn."
As stoked as Daniel was to be learning a weapon, he couldn't very well argue against Mr. Miyagi's reasoning. He did have much more to learn in karate. He was under no illusions that he was anywhere near finshed to knowing all there was to know and all he wanted to know, nor all that Mr. Miyagi had to teach. If, indeed, one ever was finished learning the art. Daniel wanted to advance to the best of his ability. Mr. Miyagi allowing him to learn a weapon this early on felt more like a bonus than an earned promotion.
Rather than replying, Daniel nodded in acknowledgment.
"Come, we put bos in truck. When get home show proper care. Now Daniel-san practice new kick combination."
"Wait, don't I get a break?" Daniel asked as they walked to the truck through the sand.
Mr. Miyagi just chuckled in response.
Ten minutes later Daniel bowed to Mr. Miyagi as they began the second hour of the Saturday morning lesson. The break hadn't been near long enough by Daniel's standards but he wasn't going to let that ruin the morning. Daniel soaked in the atmosphere of the beach and the workout, a combination that he'd loved since the first time Mr. Miyagi had taken him there.
Daniel couldn't help but feel that his enjoyment was almost ruined when Mr. Miyagi opened the next topic of conversation.
"Daniel-san see Teddy-san today?"
Daniel landed the next two kicks against Mr. Miyagi's pads before answering, using the spin in between to hide his sigh. "Not till Monday. I only know him from class. Don't know where he lives."
Mr. Miyagi nodded, clapped the two large arm pads together in his nonverbal signal to kick faster, and said, "Miyagi unsderstand."
"Why does this guy mean so much to you?" Daniel asked curiously.
He winced at the way it sounded when it came out, but he couldn't figure out why Mr. Miyagi was so concerned about this one person that neither of them knew more than in passing. Especially since the guy was making wild accusations against Daniel about something he'd apparently done to ruin the guy's life.
That had to be a point against Teddy. It was on Daniel's scoreboard. He also couldn't figure out how he and Mr. Miyagi both has had sudden changes of opinion about Teddy. He'd had time to think overnight and he'd realized that he and Mr. Miyagi had both done complete turnarounds.
Daniel had gone from thinking he could fix Teddy's problems to resenting him. Alternately, Mr. Miyagi had gone from discouraging Daniel from thinking he could fix all of Teddy's problems to wanting Daniel to attempt a friendship...or to be cordial, at the very least.
"All person mean something to Miyagi. Boy no different."
"Yeah," Daniel responded, winded, "but its not all people you want me to be sudden friends with and invite to spend time with us when he clearly doesn't like me."
"Daniel-san remember what all who learn karate should hold most important?"
"Respect and responsibility," Daniel correctly answered. It had been drilled into him from the beginning, if not always in words then by example.
"Hai," Mr. Miyagi answered. "In karate and in daily life. Respect and responsibility."
"Does that mean we have to take responsibility for everyone in the world?" Daniel asked somewhat sarcastically.
"No," Mr. Miyagi responded.
The only sign that the older man might have disliked Daniel's answer, or the quality of it, was a push against Daniel's leg after his next kick that almost sent him off balance.
Mr. Miyagi eyed Daniel's balancing leg and Daniel readjusted before he was reminded, unsure if the push had been in response to his sarcastic question or simply a reminder to mind his stance.
"No," Mr. Miyagi repeated. "Only responsible for who cross path with, if need help."
"What makes you so sure Teddy needs our help?"
"What make Daniel-san think Teddy-san no need help?" Mr. Miyagi gave him an appraising eye as Daniel lobbed his next spin kick.
Daniel couldn't dispute that. He'd tried to help him himself before the guy had proven to be a grade A ass.
"What makes you so sure Teddy wants our help?" he huffed the rephrased question thinly, becoming well winded at the pace Mr. Miyagi was setting for him.
"What make Daniel-san think Teddy-san don't?" Daniel sighed. He should have expected that answer.
With that the conversation ended. Mr. Miyagi upped the tempo of the workout and the only spoken word was the older man's repeated 'Ha!' to keep Daniel spinning kicks at the pads. Most of Daniel's focus was on the workout and all of Mr. Miyagi's focus was on Daniel, but Mr. Miyagi had given Daniel a lot to think about.
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"We should do something today, Mr. Miyagi," Daniel said the next day.
The sun was high and hot and they had started working on their current project very early on the only day they both took off from the shop. Daniel lightly tapped another nail into place then aimed and gave it one good bang that sent it home, firmly embedded into the wooden panel.
"We do something now," Mr. Miyagi pointed out. He was sweating no less than Daniel. Even the cool and composed Mr. Miyagi couldn't evade the effects of heat and he wore a plain white t shirt, like Daniel, soaked through with sweat.
"I mean something fun," Daniel clarified unnecessarily. Very likely, he knew, Mr. Miyagi had known very well what he meant.
"Have plenty time for fun when done building, Daniel-san."
Taptap. Bang! Another nail in place.
"C'mon, Mr. Miyagi!" Daniel made a full gesture with open arms. "I have a whole day with no classes. It's Sunday, the shop is closed. It's back to work tomorrow for both of us. And school and homework for me."
Taptap. Bang! But no response from Mr. Miyagi as he placed his next nail.
"Please?"
A pause, then, "What Daniel-san want do?"
Daniel smiled, hoping this was victory. "I don't know. Movies?" Mr. Miyagi's expression faltered just long enough for Daniel to know that he wasn't impressed with that idea. "Oh, I know! Lets pack a lunch and go to the park!" Daniel exclaimed, sure that Mr. Miyagi would love the idea. He enjoyed being outside. "Then, if we get the urge, we can even have a lesson. Whadda ya say, Mr. Miyagi? C'mon, please?"
Mr. Miyagi placed the next nail and held the hammer over it but paused. After a moment, he let his hands fall, still holding the tools. "Okay. Daniel-san want go park, Miyagi go park. You pack lunch."
"Yes! Alright!" Daniel tossed his hammer and remaining nails onto the wooden table nearby and bounded into the house.
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"Isn't this nice?" Daniel asked enthusiastically half an hour later as they strolled from the truck and through the park looking for a suitable shady place to sit. Mr. Miyagi's reply was a noncommittal grunt and Daniel realized that while his friend had agreed to the outing, he was not yet totally committed to it.
"Here we go," Daniel eagerly ushered Mr. Miyagi to a large tree that provided ample shade.
Daniel set the basket of food down and grabbed the folded blanket sitting atop it. He spread the blanket out in a showy fashion then bowed. "Service with a smile," he joked, hoping to tease Mr. Miyagi into a more enthusiastic mood.
"Look here, Mr. Miyagi," Daniel said after they sat.
He began pulling things from the basket. "Leftover fish from last night's dinner and caught by an expert fisherman," he flattered, gesturing to Mr. Miyagi. The older man's silence was beginning to worry Daniel a little. He hoped Mr. Miyagi hadn't felt pressured to do as Daniel wanted if it wasn't something he'd enjoy. too. He'd just thought they could both use a day to relax and do something fun. "Rice," he continued, pulling it out, also. "Apples and cheese. Grapes. That loaf bread we got from the awesome bakery downtown. Chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of Chips A'hoy."
"Daniel-san bring much food for only two."
"Well at least we won't leave hungry, right? Here, here's a thermos of water, too."
Mr. Miyagi nodded and smiled at Daniel's eagerness, and Daniel relaxed a little. Mr. Miyagi was never the most talkative, but he seemed more introspective today. Perhaps distracted was the word, and that was rarely something to be attributed to Mr. Miyagi.
They spread the food out and began to eat in a comfortable silence. After several moments, Mr. Miyagi took a sip of his cold water then set the thermos cap full of water down.
"Daniel-san," he began. "Miyagi ask question."
"Okay," Daniel agreed. "Shoot."
"Why Daniel-san no find friend?"
Daniel sat up a little straighter, setting his bread and cheese down on his crossed lap. "I have a friend. You're my friend."
"Hai. Miyagi always Daniel-san friend. Miyagi also always Daniel-san Sensei. But Miyagi old man. Daniel-san young man. Not right you spend all time with old man."
"I like spending time with you," Daniel countered, somewhat hurt.
This was not the first time Mr. Miyagi had mentioned this, but the last time had been soon after they'd met a few years ago. Daniel liked to think they had gotten long past that topic by this point. He, for one, never gave it a thought. Apparently the same couldn't be said for Mr. Miyagi. "You're my best friend, Mr. Miyagi. Who doesn't want to spend time with their best friend?"
It occurred to Daniel for the first time since they'd met that maybe Mr. Miyagi didn't like spending all his free time with Daniel. After all, they owned and worked in the shop together, then they came home and lived together, and in most of their free time they were teacher and student. That was a lot of togetherness, by anyone's standards.
Before Mr. Miyagi had time to answer the last question, Daniel posed another, almost choking on the food that was suddenly feeling dry and clogged in his throat. "Don't you like spending time with me?"
"Daniel-san, Miyagi love time together. Daniel-san Miyagi best friend, too. Best student."
Daniel smiled at the small joke – he was his best student because he was his only student - but the subject of the conversation made it hard for him to fully appreciate a reason to smile.
"Then why the questions? Did I do something? Because if I did, I'm sorry."
"Daniel-san no do nothing. Miyagi only worry. Daniel-san work with old man. Live with old man. Train with old man. Daniel-san no do nothing with young man, and only sometime with young girl. Maybe Daniel-san lonely for young man friends. Maybe no healthy for Daniel-san have no young man friends."
Daniel smiled in relief. "Is that it? You're worried? Mr. Miyagi, I promise you, if I find a friend my age I won't hesitate to hang out with him. He won't be my best friend, because that's your position and it always will be. But I don't have a problem with having other friends, if it happens."
Mr. Miyagi didn't look convinced. "No can happen, Daniel-san, if spend all time with Miyagi."
"Well, its not like there's a lot of time for us to not be together. Like you said, we work together, live together and train together. Not that I feel that's too much," Daniel quickly pointed out, realizing it might sound like a complaint. "Just that it's not really conducive to me getting out and hanging with people my age. And now school and all. Not that there's anyone I want to hang with. Except maybe Jenna," he said a bit more dreamily and with an embarrassed smile. "But I have to make that happen first."
Mr. Miyagi smiled at Daniel's embarrassed grin. "Jenna good girl. Pretty girl."
"Yes, she definitely is," Daniel agreed. "I'll get her to agree to a date, you just watch."
"If catch fly with chopstick, can accomplish anything," Mr. Miyagi said with a teasing note in his words. "And Daniel-san catch fly with chopstick long time ago."
"Maybe I'd better catch another one just to for extra luck," Daniel teased back, eliciting a chuckle from Mr. Miyagi.
Their lunch and their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of loud and jeering voices, some distance away. It was close enough, however, to recognize the unpleasant quality of the disturbance. It was clear that what appeared to be a group of young men were having an altercation or skirmish of some sort and the odds seemed to be quite out of balance.
Daniel was busy enough craning his head in an attempt to determine just what was going on that he did not notice Mr. Miyagi stand and begin briskly heading toward the fray until he crossed in front of Daniel's line of sight.
He jumped up to follow Mr. Miyagi, not sparing a second thought for their basket, blanket and lunch remains being left behind under the tree.