Chuckles

Chapter 3: Unexpected Journey

The rain poured over the grassy plains like water into a cup. Thunder boomed loudly and lightning gleamed brightly. This storm had came through the city just as suddenly as the news of an unfortunate death. Now mixed with the boom of thunder, were the sobs of many men and woman gathered around a grave.

Most of the crowd was made up of people with soaking fighting uniforms. These people had the Gi sides inverted to cover their patches in respect for the fallen. In the front of the crowd were three familiar figures. Two of the figures stood cuddled against the other in grief. These two were Katashi and Sandra. The third, Sensei, only stood still almost as if time had stopped. In front of them was an open casket of a heavy man.

This man lay cold under the rain and firm in the the storm. It was Sudoshi that lay dead in the casket, unmoving and unfeeling. Although he seemed in perfect condition only weeks before, a sudden stroke sent him to death. No one expected this death and now no one could even smile at the peacefulness of the calming rain.

After the ceremony, Katashi and Sensei stood by the grave without saying another word until Katashi felt a piece of paper enter his hand. Sensei lifted his head as he handed the document into Katashi's hand.

"It's a letter he wrote before his death," said Sensei.

Katashi read the document with a tear in his eye.

Dear Katashi,
If you are reading this, then I am already gone. Yet even so, I will never leave you. I have written this letter to tell you just how proud of you I am. You faced the odds a thousand times and won every time even if you lost. You have proven to me just how far you can go. I took you in as a child and you became a man that your father would be proud of. If he were alive, he would say the same thing I say to you now. I'm proud of you, son.

I also have a task for you. This city is no longer your cage, the world is immense. My dream was to travel the world and learn against other arts that we may not know of. My dream can live inside of you, if you let it. Please fill my last request and travel the world, take Sensei as your guide, and learn all you can. Be as free as a bird and as graceful as a spirit.


Katashi looked up and gave a weak smile. He then looked at Sensei and nodded. His eyes were determined and his sights soaring high.

"We're going on a journey ."

Later that night, Katashi, Sandra, and Sensei all gathered around a restaurant table for a meal. This would be their last meal in the city until they returned. Katashi still had a red sorrow-filled face, yet ate like a hog. However, Sandra and Sensei ate little and said nothing. Then Sandra, hating an awkward silence, spoke with a serious tone,

"Are you sure you guys have to go?"

Katashi looked up as did Sensei and their reply was spoken at the same exact time,

"Yes," they both said.

They then moved on to the main meal where the conversation kept picking up. Katashi knew he would have to leave Sandra behind and Sensei knew that someone had to run the class. These things made the two wonder whether or not they really should leave. Finally after a brain-storming conversation, they found a solution for their issue on class. It would then be run by Sempie, the brown belt whom had only had one test before becoming a black belt.

Yet Katashi and Sandra both knew that the only solution for them was to depart from one another for this journey. They each felt empty inside, yet they knew it was for the better. This was their goodbye.

Soon, the meal was over and each one of them headed separate ways. Tomorrow was the day that a journey of wisdom and courage would be made. Katashi felt ready to meet the world. All sorts of new fighters could be found and a lifetime of fun could be had. For Katashi, this unexpected journey was a dream come true, yet a nightmare of loneliness. He was ready to face this challenge....



Chapter 4: The Beginning

Katashi awoke to a sudden knock on his apartment door. He opened his eyes to his small, sunlit room and rose from his bed. The rapping noise of the knock reminded him of what this day ment, his beginning.

"Just a second!" Katashi yelled to the door.

He then jumped from the bed and approached his closet. Katashi, at the moment, wore nothing but black boxers which was his main sleeping outfit. Katashi then pulled out average blue jeans and put them on over his undergarment. He next pulled a white t-shirt off the hanger and placed it over his sore and aching body.

After Katashi was dressed, he walked over to the desk next to his bed and grabbed a mysterious white band. He tied this around his forehead and then grabbed the large, army-green travel bag. Katashi took a breath, walked to the wooden door, and opened it to see the visitor.

Sensei's face appeared from the other side with a determined smile. He too had a travel bag and was ready for their journey. There was silence at first, until Sensei looked at Katashi's forehead.

"Wearing Sudoshi's old head band, aye?" he asked.

"Yes, Sensei," Katashi replied.

The two walked down the stairs after Katashi had locked the door and given the key to the Land Lord, who stood at the door with impatient eyes. They then left the building and stepped into the street. Suddenly, Sensei walked in front of Katashi with a smile and said,

"I brought someone along with me to say good-bye."

Suddenly as Sensei finished, Sandra stepped out of a black car parked on the corner and ran to Katashi with open arms. They embraced each other tightly with tears of sorrow and joy at the same time. Sandra looked up at Katashi as she spoke in a sobbing voice,

"I'll miss you Katashi."

"Right back at 'cha," Katashi replied.

Then with all said and done, Sensei and Katashi drove off to the Airport. The ride there was quiet but friendly for all they could think about was the adventure ahead. They both knew it would do them good to get out after Sudoshi's untimely death which no one would entirely be over. The car then screeched to a halt as they had now reached they're destination.

As Katashi stepped out of the car, the roars of planes entering and leaving rang through his ears. They stepped through the large door and into a sea of people coming in, out, through the gates, and around every corner. Katashi looked at Sensei with a weak smile. This was it.

"Do you have our tickets?" asked Sensei.

Katashi replied, "Yes, Sensei, right....um...hold on."

Katashi searched frantically through his bag. He knew he put the tickets in there. After a moment of searching, the tickets appeared under his gi. Katashi pulled them out with a surge of relief.

"Right here, Sensei," Katashi said.

"Then let's go!" Sensei exclaimed, "we're gonna miss our flight!!"

The two ran like bullets to their gate, dodging people every which way. There feet streaked across the floor as their flight gate was insight right in front of a metal detector. They crossed through the detector, when suddenly came the sound...BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!

"Oh, shit," Katashi murmured.

"Did you bring the tom-boes?!" Sensei asked in a seriously aggravated tone.

"Sirs, please come with me," said the guard to Katashi and Sensei.

They were taken to the security gate only a yard away from their flight gate. They had to talk fast if they wanted to board the flight in time. The security officers walked over to them with faces of concern as if they were looking at two terrorists.

The one on the left of the two was slightly overweight with black hair and moustache. His eyes were heavy and stout that offset is flabby skin.

The other was in much better shape with a masculine body tone. His blonde hair and friendly blue eyes made the officer seem younger than the other.

"Are these weapons yours?" one officer asked.

They placed a pair of metal tom-boes and a katana on the sleek desk. Katashi shot a dart at Sensei who did not look back. This was not all Katashi's fault after all!

"Wait a minute! I didn't bring the Katana! Sensei, you gots some explainin' to do." Katashi said to Sensei who ducked his head like a scolded child.

"I don't care who brought them! Why are you bringing them onto a plane?"

"Well, I thought it would be a little difficult to drive them across the ocean!" Katashi remarked.

"Katashi, that's enough," Sensei said, "We are headed to the Grand Martial Arts championship in....China!"

The two officers looked at the other. They shrugged and looked back at the two with less serious expressions. They had bought the lie and began putting the luggage back in the bag neatly.

"I guess that explains your ridiculous headband," one officer chuckled.

"HEY!" Katashi yelled.

"Ok, you may go." the other said as he handed the bags back to the owners and opened the door for them.

The two ran to the gate as the intercom began to roar with the words, "Last boardings for flight 27, last boarding for flight 27."

The second they heard this, they darted like never before. Katashi handed the gatekeeper their tickets and they darted down the hall to the door. Within seconds they had their luggage on the belt and were seated on the plane.

They huffed for breathe as sweat rolled down their faces. They had dodged a bullet and made it. Within minutes of take-off, Sensei was asleep with a bag of peanuts in hand.

Yet Katashi sat there and looked out his window as the clouds flew by. Despite today's events, he couldn't help but laugh and know that this was his beginning.

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