Saturday, June 25, 2005

   This is an ex-parrot!

Friday night and I'm truly not wound up, but I am long-winded.

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Well... not much happened today. I didn't do anything on Java again. Still not able to think straight. And I can blame that on a serious lack of sleep the past couple of nights. Wednesday night was due to almost 2 hours of being uncomfortable because of how warm it was in my room. Thursday night was because I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. typing on my story! Out of the 6 sections I have written, five of them are typed and will be the next 2 parts posted. And just for grins, one of them will be posted tonight!

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But before I get to the story part, I have something I want to get off my chest. It's a bit of a rant.

I'm somewhat of a pacifist. I don't particularly feel that the war in Iraq should be going on. I just would be happier if it wasn't going on, but I accept that it's happening and that people are losing their lives over there. Recently a young man from the Siouxland area was killed when something exploded under the Hummer he was riding in. His funeral was the other day and something happened at the funeral that really was uncalled for. It seems a group of people from a church somewhere in Kansas decided to protest outside of the funeral. They were holding signs that said America is doomed and were yelling things. What they were yelling was totally uncalled for. They were yelling that the young man was homosexual and deserved to die. They claimed God was killing all the soldiers on purpose because they're all gay. Now, I don't know and I don't care whether the young man was gay or not, but I don't think they should have been there in the first place. All I can do is hope that a member of one of their families dies and people disrespect their sorrow by yelling obsenities during their funeral. Show a little respect!

The truly sad thing about this is, the younger brother of the soldier killed committed suicide a day or so after his brother was killed. The brother was also in the National Guard and was going to be shipped out to Iraq in the Fall.

What a shame.

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Well, now it's time for story part. For those that don't read it, just scroll down past it all and leave a comment or question or whatever, okay? Thanks!

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Takeda walked through the main training hall of the dojo toward the wall where the names of the students were listed. The sound of laughter came in from out in the garden where Hikaru and Satsuo were sharing some joke.

The sale of the dojo had been finalized a day earlier and now it was time to leave. The challenge was getting things out without arousing the suspicions of Nakamura’s men. That was where Satsuo’s help was needed. The boy filled the role of spy and smuggler. He would report the actions of the men and take some of the smaller things out to the new house where Takeda and Hikaru would live.

As he walked through the training hall, Takeda smiled and reminisced about many of the events that had taken place there. He recalled the day the first class started. Yoshihiro was so excited he did not sleep or eat the day before, but once the class started everything went well.

With a touch of sadness, Takeda began taking names down from the wall. Each plaque held memories of the student named. He would have Satsuo take the plaques to those named. At last, he was to the last three plaques – one for Master Yoshihiro, one for Hikaru, and one for himself. Another smile came to him as he recalled the day Hikaru became an instructor. It was shortly before his 13th birthday, almost two years ago. Takeda was so proud of Hikaru that day. The boy handled the responsibility with maturity far beyond his age and quickly became respected by the students. Takeda took the last three plaques down quietly, lost in his memories.

Once again, the sound of laughter reached Takeda’s ears. He turned to see the boys waiting outside. “Hikaru, what are you doing?” Takeda exclaimed. “You know you can’t come in here.” He was pleased to see Hikaru having fun with his friend, but was concerned that he’d want to come into the dojo.

“I know that,” Hikaru said. “We were just wondering what was taking you so long. Satsuo has to get back home.” Satsuo nodded in agreement.

“Of course,” Takeda said. “Satsuo, here are the name plaques. You’ll make sure they get to the right people?”

“Yes, sensei,” Satsuo said, and he entered the dojo to get the plaques. “Ah! My sandals,” he said and went back to where Hikaru was standing. He grabbed his shoes and carried them into the dojo, where he gathered up the names. “See you, Hikaru!” he called as he went out the other door.

Hikaru sat outside the dojo and watched Takeda as he cleaned. “It’s sad, isn’t it, sensei?”

“Hmm?” Takeda was sweeping out a corner.

“Leaving the dojo. It’s a little sad.”

Takeda stopped sweeping and looked at his young master. “Yes, it is a little sad,” he said. “But it is also a new beginning. Perhaps in the future, you can start your own dojo.” He started sweeping again.

Hikaru thought about the idea of opening his own dojo. “I don’t know, Takeda-sensei,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the same as before.”

“Of course not. Nothing is the same as before. That’s the way of things. Now, move, or get covered in dust.” He had swept his way to the open door.

Hikaru laughed as he got up. “All right, I’ll move.”

After he had swept the dust out of the dojo, Takeda stopped cleaning. “Time to get something to eat and get some rest,” he said. “Tonight we get you out of here.”

“Why at night?”

“So your grandfather’s men can’t follow us. I don’t want them to know just yet.” They were walking back to the guesthouse. “Not until we know how much of your demon side is going to show.”

“Ah, yes, that,” Hikaru said. “Look, I’ve been practicing.” He quickly turned silver and back. “It’s getting easier.”

Takeda shook his head. “Despite whatever I thought earlier, you’re still just a boy and still act like one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Takeda just smiled.
***
Satsuo took a look outside the dojo. The man that had been watching had finally left. He went back to the guesthouse. “He is gone, sensei. I think we can leave now.”

“Thank you, Satsuo-kun,” Takeda said. “I wish we did not have to do it this way, but I feel it would be better if the old man did not find out that we sold the dojo just yet.”

“Yes, sensei.”

The deal to sell the dojo had been finalized a couple days earlier and their main agenda at this point was to get everything out without Nakamura’s men being aware of what was happening. Thus far everything had been going well. Satsuo had been taking out some of the smaller items and personal items as he left after his visits. Now that the man was no longer watching, the larger things could be removed. Satsuo and Takeda had that part under control. They took the last of the large items out, leaving a rather nervous Hikaru behind in the now empty guesthouse.

Night had begun to fall just as Takeda and Satsuo put the last items into the cottage that was to be home for Hikaru. They were walking back to the dojo when they spotted one of Nakamura’s men. He seemed to be making his way to the dojo.

Takeda took action. “Satsuo-kun, you go to the dojo. Go over the back wall by the large tree. Get Hikaru-kun out that way. I will meet with this man and try to get rid of him.”

“Yes, sensei,” Satsuo said and ran off to the back wall of the dojo compound. He quickly climbed over the wall and ran to the guesthouse. “Hikaru-kun, where are you?” he whispered into the now dark guesthouse.

A pair of glowing green eyes appeared in the darkness. “Here,” Hikaru whispered. “Where is Takeda-sensei?”

“One of the men that has been watching is coming here. Sensei went to speak to him. Let’s go. We have to go over the back wall so he doesn’t see.”

“All right,” Hikaru said as he stepped out of the shadows. He was silver again. “It’s probably better to do that. I seem to have… umm…”

Satsuo smiled. “Right. Let’s go,” he said as he led Hikaru to the back wall and helped him over.

The two boys snuck down the street toward the cottage. Fortunately it was dark enough that they were not seen, but there were still times when they would hide just to be safe. “Satsuo, where are we?” Hikaru asked. “I don’t recognize this part of town.”

“We’re over by the marketplace. Shh… I think someone saw us.” Satsuo pulled Hikaru behind a stall.

A voice called out, “Hey! Who’s out there? Show yourself!” The man moved closer. “I know you’re there. Come out.”

Satsuo whispered, “We’re going to have to run. Head toward the beach, all right?”

Hikaru agreed. The boys took off running toward the beach. The man shouted something after them, but neither heard what it was. They were too busy running. A few minutes later they collapsed on the beach, breathless. “Did he follow?” Hikaru asked.

Satsuo looked up. “No, it doesn’t look like it. We got away.” He looked over at Hikaru and was surprised to see him laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“Us. This. When was the last time we did anything like this?”

Satsuo started to laugh as well. “You’re right. We haven’t done anything like this in a long time.”

They lay there on the beach laughing for a while, until Hikaru said, “We better get to the cottage. Sensei is probably wondering where we are.”

Satsuo agreed and they made their way to the cottage as quickly and quietly as possible. Once at the cottage, they were greeted by a rather impatient Takeda. “Where have you two been?” he asked. “And you! Look at you. Someone could have seen you like that.” He pulled the boys inside and shut the door. “Why are you like that?”

Hikaru suddenly felt like a small child again. He looked at his feet. “I don’t know. It just happened,” he said quietly. “We were careful, sensei. No one saw us.”

“That’s not the point. I don’t want you taking such chances. Now go to bed, you two. It’s late.”

“Yes, sensei,” the boys both said and went off to what was now Hikaru’s room. As they prepared for bed, they discussed they night’s events and wondered what Takeda had said to the man. Soon Satsuo was sound asleep, and Hikaru found that he was not tired. He quietly got up and went to the back garden to watch the stars for the rest of the night.

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Well... there you go. They've finally snuck out of the dojo into the new house. The next part will be the beginning of a convergence. Sounds impressive, eh?

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As it seems to be thundering outside, and I did get kicked offline a little bit ago, I may have to call it quits here. Before I really make up my mind, I must consult the online version of Texas Hold'em Mega Super Hyper Doppler 4000, version 2.0, to see how many colors are splatted over where I live.

Laters!

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