7.

Who wants to live forever?

Chozen, Daniel, Matthias, and Annie soon found themselves inside the house after Daniel asked Johnny to get the students back to their practice.

Chozen and Daniel looked at Matthias and Annie expectantly.

Instead of speaking, Matthias walked over to the table, bowed to the picture of Miyagi and picked up the Miyagi family chest. He turned it around and pressed down on the latch with his thumb. Daniel and Chozen, who had half risen to stop him, were shocked with there was an audible click and a narrow compartment in the bottom of the chest opened.

Chozen and Daniel looked at each other wide-eyed. Matthias pulled a small leather-bound journal out of the compartment.

Matthias put down the chest and opened the journal. inside was a picture that was yellowed with age. He turned and handed the picture to Daniel. Daniel's eyes widened the picture was dated May 10, 1922 and it showed Matthias and Mr. Miyagi's father when he was younger wearing Miyagi-do Gis and kneeling in the open doorway of the Miyagi family dojo in Okinawa.

"Th-This is you isn't it," said Daniel half in shocked, "In this picture with Mr. Miyagi's father?!"

Matthias nodded.

"That's impossible," said Chozen taking the picture and looking at it, "This picture was taken a little over a hundred years ago!"

Matthis smiled and pulled out a pocket knife. Opening the blade, he sliced the palm of his hand and held it out so they could see it. Before the blood could even drip off his hand, the wound closed with a slight ripple of the quickening across it.

Daniel's and Chozen's mouths were hanging open.

Matthias smiled as he pulled out a handkerchief and cleaned his hand.

"That is me in the picture," he said, "I was born in 1295 B.C. in hills of Eire or Ireland. I am Immortal and I'm not the only one. There are others like me."

At this, Daniel and Chozen's eyes went to Annie.

She nodded.

"I'm an immortal too." She said, "I was born June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany."

Daniel's eyes widened as a look of recognition appeared on his face.

"I can't believe I didn't recognize you before," he gasped, "You're Anne Frank!"

Anne nodded.

Daniel and Chozen looked like they might pass out.

"It's a lot to digest, I know." Said Matthias

"Do all Immortals look 16-18?" asked Chozen

Matthias shook his head.

"Immortals don't age beyond the day they become immortal." He replied

"Become immortal?" asked Daniel puzzled

"Immortals are born mortal like everyone else," Matthias explained, "Except we are born with the seed of our immortality inside us. It is triggered if we die anything other than a natural death. I had a sword jammed through my chest by a bandit during a raid on my village. I was 18 at the time. I haven't aged a day since."

"I was 16 and dying in a concentration camp during World War II," said Anne, "an SS officer decided I was taking too long to croak, and used a knife to finish me off. I woke up in a shallow grave and had to claw my way out. Matthias found me and explained what had happened to me. We've been friends ever since."

"That doesn't explain why you have the Miyagi family sword." Said Chozen, "It was stolen from the Miyagi family over a hundred and twenty years ago."

"I gave it to her shortly after I found her, it was an Ideal size and weight for her." said Matthias, "Around 1930 I found it in the collection of an Immortal named Clay Gordon. His real name was Claudius Gaius he was a Roman legionnaire who over the centuries had become a smuggler and fence."

"Had?" asked Daniel

"He challenged me and I had to kill him." Replied Matthias

"Kill him!" said Chozen surprised, "I though you said you couldn't die?!"

"Well, there is one and only one way that an immortal can be killed." Said Matthias, "Decapitation. That's why all immortals carry swords, or at least some kind of bladed weapon."

"Why did he challenge- you as you say?" asked Daniel

"Immortals are more or less stuck in in what we call 'the game'." said Annie

"The Game, what's that?" asked Daniel

"From the dawn of time immortals have been destined to face each other in combat to the death until there is only one left." Replied Annie

"What happens when there is only one left?" asked Chozen

Matthias shrugged.

"No one really knows, for sure," he said, "We've never gotten that far, it's theorized that he'll be released from his Immortality and finally able to live a normal life and even have children."

"You can't have children," said Daniel

"No, I can't," said Matthias, "Immortals are sterile, but that's probably for the best. You may think that being an immortal might sound cool, but you don't know what it's like to watch all your mortal friends grow old and die while you stay the same living on."

Daniel and Chozen were silent for several seconds.

They hadn't been thinking about it like that.

Annie looked at Matthias and instantly he guessed what she was thinking.

He smiled at her and nodded his support.

Annie smiled back then pulled out the sword and placed it back in the scabbard. She knelt in front on Daniel and Chozen and held out the sword.

"This, sword has saved my life several times, but it rightfully belongs to the Miyagi-do heirs," she said respectfully

Daniel was about to speak when Chozen held up his hand.

"I am humbled by your honor, Annie. My Uncle Sato once said that Sensei Miyagi believed that everything happens for a reason if the sword found it's way into your hands it's because you were meant to have it."

"Yes," said Daniel nodding in agreement helping Annie to her feet.

He and Chozen bowed to her. Daniel spoke.

"The sword is yours."

Annie bowed in thanks and put the sword back into its hiding place under her coat. Then the four of them walked outside to join Johnny for class.

Later that evening Chozen and Daniel were having tea on the front porch of the Miyagi house.

"So many things about Matt now make sense." He commented

Chozen nodded

"His mastery of Miyagi-do Karate for one." Said Chozen

Daniel nodded

"He's had over a century to practice and train." Daniel said, "It also explains how he knew the secret techniques you were talking about. That one student Mr. Miyagi's father trained didn't break his word and teach someone else. He is that student."

"And the things he was able to tell us about Mr. Miyagi's father." Said Chozen, "Things I don't think Mr. Miyagi or My Uncle even knew about!"

Daniel smiled and nodded.

"today is most connected to Miyagi-do and Mr. Miyagi I've felt in a long time." He said

"We have received a great gift." Said Chozen nodding

Daniel was about to replied when his phone rang.

On the other end was his wife's frantic voice.

"Daniel!" she cried, "the Cobra Kai have taken Sam!"

"What?!" cried Daniel jumping out of chair.

"They were led by a guy calling himself Slade, he wants a Miyagi-Do student named Matthias to meet them on the beach out past the pier at midnight." she said, "I don't know anyone by that name!"

"That's okay, I do," said Daniel, "I'll get her back."

"I'm going to call the police." Said the panicky mother.

"No," said Daniel, "The police would be no match for this guy."

"Oh, and you are?!" said his wife incredulously

"No, I'm not," said Daniel, "But Matthias is!"

"What do you mean…?" she started

"Honey I can't explain anymore right now," said Daniel just trust me, "I have to go now, I love you…I'll get her back-I promise!"

Daniel hung up the phone and immediately started dialing the number of Matthias's hotel room.

A few seconds later the phone was picked up.

Daniel explained the situation.

"I'll meet you there," said Matthias, "I know who the man leading them is. It's me he's after, and I will deal with him. You just keep the other Cobra Kai from trying to interfere."

To Be Continued…Please Review