Chuckles

Chapter Two: The Test

Katashi woke to the early morning sun that began to shine into his eyes. He rose off his bed and grabbed his shirt and pants. Once dressed, he opened the fridge door where he was greeted by a rush of cold air. Katashi then grabbed a soda from its contents.

This was his day to rest and relax, for class was canceled due to the tournament for orange belts and lower was today. Sandra was at her mother's house taking care of her mother's sickness. Katashi had his day to relax, until he remembered something important. Sudoshi and Sensei wished to see him at nine o' clock in the usual training spot.

"Oh shit," blurted Katashi.

Katashi looked at his clock, and to his horror he saw the time was eight fifty. He finished his drink and grabbed his bag, containing his gii, pants, and belt. He then darted out the door with all the speed he had. Katashi almost leaped down every stair and began out the the last door. As he he ran, his eyes scoped out the corners of the street where usual attackers would lurk. Yet none appeared as he continued down through the city.

After a few blocks, he reached the dirt path and saw at the two men on a hill only a few yards out onto the plains. Katashi followed the trail into the plains and soon began up the hill. Once there, he bowed to the men as they bowed back. Sudoshi, who was on the left, looked at Katashi with firm eyes. He then spoke,

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, Sudoshi," replied Katashi.

He then suddenly realised how unready he actually was when he remembered he did not have any of his fighting outfit on. This caused Katashi do blush in embarrassment and the two other men to laugh. Sudoshi then gestured for Katashi to get dressed, which Katashi did promptly. Once he was ready, Sudoshi stepped in front of Katashi and asked him,

"Show me the first Open Hand Kata."

Katashi then bowed to the two men, who had now sat down in front of Katashi, and began his motion. His hands became weapons and his mind became the weaponist. First, his two hands were out in front of his face crossing one another. Then with one fast snap, both shot down in front of his groin, yet kept them in a crossed pattern. His feet shot together at the exact same time the hands did, and then the right slid out. The left then followed directly after the right.

Katashi's right had then shot his right hand shot out and his left then tucked itself at his side. Suddenly, the two hands collided together with the palm of the right, smashing into the elbow of the left. After he finished his kata he bowed and awaited the judgement. Sudoshi was the first to speak.

"I saw very little error. Your technique was good and your speed was great. Your thoughts, Sensei?"

"I feel the same as you," replied the Sensei.

With the judgements passed, Katashi moved on to his next test. Sudoshi motioned Katashi over to him and handed him a pair of sparing gloves. Katashi knew what was to come and readied himself for a grueling sparring match. Sensei then came over to them and stood in a fighting stance. At this, Sudoshi had them bow to him and each other and signaled the start of the match.

Sensei moved quickly, showing how he became one of the best fighters around. His fist came like lightning at Katashi's shoulder, yet this strike was blocked and returned. Likewise, Katashi's attack was blocked as well. As a few minutes rolled on, both fighters looked for an opening, until Katashi went in for a round house at Sensei's weakly protected left side. However, this was exactly was Sensei wanted.

The kick was evaided and Katashi was struck down with a punch. Suddenly, Katashi's unthinking rush kicked in as he fell. The second he landed, he took out Sensei's legs and let him fall to the ground. From there Katashi leaped in to finish the fight, when Sensei locked his feet in and caught Katashi in the ribs. He let out a grunt of pain, and stepped back.

Sensei then leaped to his feet and attempted to run in while Katashi regained himself. However, Sudoshi stepped in and stopped the fight. For some reason, even though Katashi had not won, Sudoshi was smiling as was Sensei. Sudoshi then said,

"Alright that's good. Now, Katashi, I have one more test for you."

Sudoshi then grabbed his Tomboe, which looked like an ordinary staff, and entered his weapon stance. Sensei then handed Katashi a Tomboe as well. Katashi then took a deep breathe and entered a stance as well. After Sensei swiped his hand, the battle was on.

Sudoshi stood firm and nodded for Katashi to move first. His motion was swift as he stepped sideways and began to thrust the weapon forward. Sudoshi looked like a bullet as he knocked the attack away and drove his own at Katashi. Thinking fast, Katashi twirled his weapon and kept the other Tomboe at bay. He then twirled the weapon into his left hand and swiped the weapon into Sudoshi's leg, who at the same time had knocked his into Katashi's shoulder pressure point.

Sudoshi then became slightly off balance as he was hit in the leg. However, he did not want to show any weakness to the opponent, so he then did a quick and intimidating twirl of the Tomboe around his back. Katashi knew what Sudoshi was doing, yet still became scared. Katashi drove in with the weapon as if to jab it into Sudoshi's neck, yet took the bottom and drove it into the already weakened leg. Sudoshi then wobbled off balance yet did the unexpected.

He then spun his body around Katashi, and whacked his back. His caused Katashi to fall to his knees. Suddenly Sudoshi turned back in front of Katashi with a smile. He spoke with wisdom and a sense of pride for Katashi.

"To win battles, sometimes you must think in a way the opponent would not. It is not always effective to allow someone to strike, but sometimes it can lead to the best result. However, I am extremely proud of your performance. It was all great technique and power. You have come along way from the small unsure boy who started in my class. Now, please sit down here and close your eyes."

After he did, a small ruffling noise can from a bag. Katashi then heard footsteps in the grass coming close towards him. Then after a moment, Sudoshi's voice spoke.

"Open your eyes and grap what is in front of you."

When Katashi opened them, he saw what he had dreamed for all his life. Sitting in the golden sun was a black belt. With tears almost showing, Katashi grabbed the belt and held it in his hand. It was lighter than his brown belt for it was brand new, and ready to be filled with knowledge. He then stood up and faced the two other men and bowed.

"Thank you."

Suddenly, Sudoshi walked over to him and gave him a fatherly hug and said with a proud and firm voice,

"I'm proud of you Katashi."

Then, Sensei walked over as well and gave Katashi a friendly pat on the back and said,

"Good job, Katashi."

After that, the two men began to walk back into the city. Yet, Katashi stayed behind and laid down in the sun. This was his day, his victory. He had proven to Sudoshi and Sensei what he was made of, and recived his black belt ranking. He was all too happy to face the rest of the day, but a little nap never hurt either...

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