Читать книгу Samurai Awakening - Ben Martin - Страница 13

Matsumoto Kendo

April,

That one simple thought drove me to push out from the confines of my mind. To seek the boundaries and claw past them, if only for a chance to escape the approaching doom…

When he awoke, David had a response from Jessica waiting in his inbox. It had simply asked what happened? Unable to explain further, he made a few weak excuses and then prepared for the day.

At school, David tried to capitalize on his sudden successes but met with mixed results. Trying to fit in, he attempted to emulate people back home. This resulted in several older students calling him “KY,” which he quickly learned meant out of touch, or socially awkward. Moreover, Koji and his friends were sure to laugh every time they saw him. It was clear the entire school knew about his hand. The worst setback was when he tried to apologize to Natsuki. Instead of accepting his apology, which he made in front of numerous students, she was even more abrasive.

“I always thought someone should call Natsuki out for being an uncultured bully,” Naoto told him after.

Perhaps because of the problems, the week sped by quickly. His teachers remarked at his improvement, and after he scaled back his attempts to fit in, the time he spent with his classmates went more smoothly. Shou began taking time to explain things, and Naoto gave him a manga he had finished. Chul Soon even offered to practice badminton during free periods.

David’s early evenings were filled with homework and badminton. Thanks to Chul Soon’s after lunch practices, David was soon able to keep up with the first years’ drills. Though he lost every game he played, most of the team members were encouraging.

Through it all, his impending decision loomed, and Jessica was not content to leave him be. Despite the sixteen-hour time difference, she caught him online after practice one night, insisting he explain what was going on. Although young, she was as strong of mind as anyone he knew. She had to be to check their erratic father.

Very carefully, David finally explained about his impeding choice, without telling her any of the specifics. He attempted to explain how he had to decide if he should take on a new responsibility, or if he should just leave things be.

With a lol Jessica replied, “You already know what you will do. So go do it already. That’s always been your problem, too much thinking not enough doing. Go for it. I decided daddy is going to take me to Disneyland. We leave next week.”

It was surprisingly easy to imagine she had convinced their father that, because of some scientific imperative, they both had to go to Disneyland immediately. With a laugh, David started on his English homework.

Barely into his second month in Japan, the change was dramatic, and not only because he understood Japanese. Back in the States, cliques ruled most schools, but they were nothing compared to the tight-knit groupings developed over years of being in the same classes that pervaded Nakano. David finally understood that the not so vague feelings of isolation he had felt throughout his first month had little to do with his lack of Japanese. The fact that David had not participated or been a member of any groups meant that most of his fellow students had, subconsciously or not, ignored him. The incident with Koji was an extreme symptom of being so different from his classmates. He was also realizing that Koji was rather unique at the school, but for whatever reason nothing was done about him.

With his new language skills, and inclusion in badminton and class activities, David felt as if a veil had lifted and his life had finally begun. Accepted, if cautiously, his life quickly became much fuller. He also noticed a new and strong pressure to conform. With acceptance as a member of a group came responsibility. He was amazed at how easily he could feel bad when he let a team member down, or when he lagged behind.

Among other things, David had difficulty adapting to the separations between each class level. At badminton practice, he was often confused over whether he should be helping prepare for practice or clean up. He knew it had something to do with the social pecking order, but he had yet to figure it out. Most of the time, whenever he tried to help, someone was there to take away the mop or bag of shuttles. Not knowing what to do in the various situations that popped up kept him from integrating as smoothly as he would have liked.

Things began to change on the Estate as well. Everyday David learned something new about the myriad aspects of the Matsumotos’ lives, yet there always seemed to be a vast store of knowledge to which he still did not have access.

Although David occasionally tried to talk about the accident, his hazy memories, their busy schedule, and the twins’ reluctance to speak about it made it easier for him relegate it to the back of his mind. Masao and Grandpa had made themselves scarce during the evening hours, making it easier to avoid thinking about his impending decision. According to the twins, the elders were off working in the dojo, doing research in the library, and training in the mountains. David was surprised, then, when Masao came into the main room while the three were studying together after Friday badminton practice.

“David, are you well?” Masao asked. He was dressed in his usual house clothes. David thought the yukata made him look as if she just stepped out of a movie. Simple, but stylish, it was a stark contrast to the modern Japan he was beginning to understand.

“I am OK, a bit sore from practice, but I think I am starting to get the hang of things.” David did his best to use formal Japanese with Masao, instead of the regular or common forms used around friends. His new language abilities did not fully cover the complicated social and linguistic differences.

“Good, good. David, Grandpa and I would like a word with you. Would you come with me?” Masao asked. Outside, Grandpa sat on the stone bridge above the pond meditating. When they were a few steps away, the old man gestured to a stone bench near the water, David’s favorite place to sit at the Estate.

“The time has come for you to make a most important choice,” Grandpa said as soon as David sat. “It will be all the more difficult since we cannot explain everything, or even much until after you make your decision. If you choose not to be a Jitsugen Samurai, I will stop the process that will eventually change your life completely. You will lose your new language powers, but will lead a normal life, continuing the path you began when you came here.

“If you choose to be a Jitsugen Samurai, you must do so knowing that it is a great responsibility, and you will have to sacrifice much for it. There will be benefits as well. I must say that Japan needs you, for a Kami would not have made such a sacrifice if it was not so.”

David sat for a long time lost in thought. His eyes fell into the black pond before him, the stars bright lights on the smooth surface.

‘What should I do?’ he asked himself. ‘This last week has been the best of my life, yet they want me to be some ancient warrior. I’ve had no clear path to guide me. No dreams of being president. I’ve gone from school to school, activity to activity, searching for the one that would hold me. Even coming to Japan was just another way to widen my experiences in the hopes that somehow I’d find a purpose. Can I take the final plunge, commit?’

As he watched the dark pool, David wondered at his thoughts, feeling as if once again he stood on the brink before a fall. A memory of Jessica popped into his head. She stood with his father leaning over a lab bench. If he picked this life, he would leave them behind. Sure, they would still be family, but they would grow apart because of it. ‘No matter what, Jessica would not let me get away that easily. She would be disappointed in me if I didn’t take the chance.’

Looking up at the Matsumotos, David felt his stomach drop as, in a small voice, he said, “You won’t tell me more?” They both remained silent. “I do not know if I can be a Jitsugen Samurai, but I will try.”

“So be it,” Grandpa said with finality. David finally let go, and jumped.

Back at the main house, David rejoined Rie and Takumi. Nothing had changed, and then again, it had. He suddenly felt as if there was a doom upon him, that he had a destiny greater than anything he could have imagined for himself. The fiery vision he had had before he fell out of the main room came back to him then, and he shuddered in fear. In the doorway, Masao turned back to David.

“David-kun, did you know that both Rie and Takumi practice kendo every morning before school?” Masao asked. David had noticed that indirect questions like these usually led to a request or command of some kind. The use of kun after his name was a familiar suffix that served to increase David’s unease.

“Takumi invited me, but I was never really able to get up that early. I have always been interested in martial arts, but I just do not seem the type, do I?” David answered weakly. He was embarrassed, and given the discussion he had just had, was afraid his sacrifices were about to begin.

“You will begin training with them tomorrow. You may still not quite believe the story you heard last week, but the training will be good for you.” Masao smiled a little then, adding, “In any case you need to learn how to punch something properly. You are a Matsumoto, and all the Matsumotos train. Remember: continue to keep what happened last week to yourself. Secrecy is the only protection you have for now.” Turning, Masao left the room.

“Protection from what,” David muttered, and then a thought hit him. “When do you practice?”

“At four-thirty,” Rie said brightly. David slumped with a tired look in his eyes.

‘She’s not quite back to the super energetic girl I remember, but at least she’ll look at me again,’ David thought. David went back to finishing his homework, trying not to think about having to wake so early. Apparently, he failed to hide his feelings because Rie laughed at his expression. Takumi simply reached over and started copying his English.

David’s room was dark, the only sound from frogs in the pond. Compared to the sparse rooms the rest of the family slept in, his was almost cluttered. In deference to David’s western upbringing, the Matsumotos had converted the old office at the back of the house into a bedroom. With a western style bed and locking door, the room allowed him a bit more privacy than the rest of the house. Since only sliding doors separated the main house’s rooms, the Matsumotos usually walked right through them. Flailing, David tried to hold on as his world suddenly tumbled.

“Hurry up and get some clothes on! It’s time to go!” growled Takumi. He had spent the last ten minutes trying to wake David up.

“But it’s only four-ten,” David said groggily looking at his alarm.

“We start practice at four-thirty but we run before that.” Takumi spoke as if he expected David to be completely aware of their exercise habits. “You should get up at four.” David simply stared at Takumi as if he had two heads.

“What’s going on? It’s almost time to take off.” Without knocking, Rie came in looking for the pair. David scrambled for his covers.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before,” Rie said, then she suddenly turned and was out the door again.

“Come on,” Takumi said.

Grandpa was waiting in the dojo when David came crawling in at nearly five. Takumi had returned before, while Rie had gone back for him. The dojo had wooden floors, with sliding doors and racks with swords and other weapons. One wall was mostly mirrors with two doors opening into a storage area. Along the far wall, the framed pictures of past Matsumoto Masters solemnly peered down at them.

“I am not a runner.” David gasped as he pulled himself in­to the dojo. Just behind him, Rie entered.

“You only ran half a kilometer, if you can call that running,” she said. Her tone reminded David of Natsuki for the barest moment. She seemed to catch his look and continued a bit more kindly. “We usually run five K to warm up.”

“Go easy on him. I am sure he will be up to your standards soon enough, if not completely blow them away,” Grandpa said easily. He sat behind a low table chuckling and sipping tea. “I think for today, David can just watch. Start with basics, slowly, so David can follow, then he can begin tomorrow. David? Have a seat next to me. You will get used to the early hour soon enough.”

With David struggling to stay awake, Rie and Takumi went into the rooms behind the dojo to change, emerging in simple tunics and trousers called gi. In perfect unison, they began a series of stretches, blocks, kicks, punches, and other moves. While they worked, Grandpa began to explain the purpose behind what they were doing.

“Matsumoto kendo is not what you might see taught elsewhere in Japan. Our style has been handed down from father to son, or daughter, since the time of Ninigi. That is not to say it has not changed. Our family’s style includes elements from many other martial arts.

“The core is kendo, or the art of the sword. The sword is an extension of the body, so before a person can learn to use a sword, they must master their own body.” Grandpa gestured to the twins as they stepped and blocked accentuating his point.

“The basics you see the twins doing are the prerequisites to weapon basics. Though they have mastered these techniques, they still practice them every day. They are the basic movements you will use in an unarmed fight. Your body must know them so well, that even if your mind is otherwise occupied, you can still react appropriately. By practicing the basics every day, they become second nature. The student becomes correct in form, fast in movement, and accurate in target without having to think about what their body is doing. This leaves your mind open to do other things.” Grandpa smiled mischievously, his eyes twinkling at David.

“How am I supposed to do that,” David said pointing as Rie kicked above her head.

“Do not worry over much. You will grow. You have chosen a samurai’s path. The training will not hurt,” Grandpa said. “Well… maybe it will, but it will be good for you. It is not all physical training either.” Grandpa poked David’s temple with a long finger. “We will train your mind just as we train your body so that when the time comes you will be such a Jitsugen Samurai as to make Ninigi himself proud.”

Finishing the empty hand basics, Rie and Takumi went to the racks and retrieved heavy wooden swords. Back in the center of the room, they began again with the fluid movements of sword basics. The blocks, attacks, and combinations were adaptations of the empty hand movements David had just seen. They moved slowly and with precision. The twins ended practice with a sparring match. With no protection, and the heavy wooden swords, the twins sprung at each other with a flurry of activity David could barely follow. The whack of wood on wood periodically echoed throughout the dojo as their swords met. Their forms became a blur of graceful feet and flying wood.

David’s next week was the hardest of his life. Mornings started promptly at four with being rolled out of bed, all too often literally, by Takumi. After a grueling practice, and a quick Japanese style breakfast of rice with raw egg and soup, David was off to school with the twins. At school, he again had trouble concentrating, not because he did not understand, but because he was so tired from all the new physical activity. Morning practices, P.E., and badminton combined to leave him exhausted and sore every day. He felt constantly on the verge of physical breakdown, but somehow managed to stay just shy of injury. Luckily, his last year’s studies kept him up to speed, and his teachers were used to students dozing in class.

As his classmates began to get to know him, David was invited to several free time sports. Although a small school, his classmates played everything from basketball to soccer. Since David usually chose to practice badminton with Chul Soon, and he was so popular, David was soon meeting many new students in other classes.

After school, David spent most of his time with the first years running drills, and learning how to practice badminton. He could follow along without explanation by the end of his second week, and although he was not as fast or accurate, he was not far behind them. Many of the first years had only a month of practice on him. Back on the Estate, David tried to get through homework as fast as possible so he could escape to bed.

One positive note to keep him going was the five-day vacation at the beginning of May known as Golden Week. Similar to spring break back in the States, it was one of the busiest vacation seasons in Japan. Hearing his fellow students talk about their plans, and their excitement, made David all the more eager for a reprieve from his physical training.

“Any plans for Golden Week?” Chul Soon asked after lunch one day. Though it was by now apparent to everyone David understood most Japanese, Chul Soon continued to talk to David in English. “My brother and I are not going anywhere, so if you want to hang out, let me know!”

“Actually, I’m not sure if the Matsumotos have any plans. Guess I should ask,” David replied. He had yet to hear anything about the break from the twins, and assumed they would just take a vacation from their training. Exhausted, but looking forward to the expected break, David brought it up to Takumi after studying late Thursday night.

“So what will we do next week? I’ve heard everyone talking about their plans for break. Shou and his family are going to a hot spring! Chul Soon mentioned he’d be in town if we want to hang out too.” David’s hopes for a week off died as Takumi paused his video game.

“Ahh. I forgot to tell you. We go on a camping trip every year. You’ll come this year too,” Takumi said.

“That’s great,” David said. “I love camping. We used to go up north to the forest every year in the summer to escape the summer heat for a while. I was also a boy scout. I always loved sitting around the campfire, chopping wood, setting up the tents. My Dad would wander around looking for…”

Laughing, Takumi rolled away from his new 3DS and sat up. Rie came in carrying drinks and snacks and set them on the table.

“What are you so happy about?” asked Rie warily. “I don’t trust anything that makes him that happy,” she added to David.

“I just told David we’re going to the mountains and he started talking about tents and fires,” Takumi said, struggling to get the words out past his laughter.

“Oh, I’m afraid you have the wrong idea, David,” Rie said stifling a laugh of her own. “Think of it more like extended training. The three of us will hike out together with just our supplies. Then we will have to evade Dad and Grandpa, find food, survive, and make it back to the Estate on Wednesday.”

“What do you mean evade?” David asked, afraid of what the answer would be.

“If they find us, Grandpa and Dad will attack us. Plus there will be traps,” Rie said excitedly.

“What about food?” he asked. Although concerned about the other aspects of what Rie was saying, several days without food seemed the most important thing.

“That’s what our weapons will be for. It is great practice. And pretty fun too,” added Takumi, still struggling to keep a straight face.

“We used to play war games out in the desert with super soakers. Sneaking around and stuff, but that was just for a weekend. We had food and tents. This sounds more like ranger survival training or something.” David’s brain finally made it into the conversation as he realized just what they were talking about doing.

“We’ll be with you.” Rie looked away, and then deftly stole Takumi’s game, leaving David dumbfounded.