The ten-year-old Takayama was running quickly down the street as the early morning sun drove down upon his back. Early morning farmers looked up from their work as he ran quickly by, “Late again, Takayama-chan?” A woman asked, looking up from her chickens. “Hai! Kage didn’t wake me up again!” Takayama called back. “Well lets just hope your father isn’t to harsh…” she said as she watched him speed down the hill to the dojo.
“Late again?” Kage asked, looking up from his sword practice, “I thought I woke you up before I left this morning…” Takayama stopped to catch his breath, “Hai…you…did…” he smiled and scratched his head, “but I kinda fell to sleep after you left…” Kage rolled his eyes and shook his head, “You’ll never learn…” then he smiled and offered him a hand, “In any case sensei went out a moment ago, so he may not notice you were late…” Kotaku stuck his head out of the doorway to the dojo, “Ahh Takayama! You’re late…” Kage smiled deviously. “Well in any case both of you need to come inside, we are going to spar today.” Both Kage ant Takayama looked at each other, “Spar?”
“Well you two may begin! The first to get ten strikes wins!” Kotaku sat against the wall in saza.(sitting on your knees, very formal in dojos and such)
Takayama and Kage started by bowing to each other, “Onegaishimasu.”(a greeting exchanged by opponents in a competition) Takayama tried to come in with a side attack but Kage countered the blow with his bamboo sword and got the first strike. Kage smiled and helped Takayama to his feet, “You have to think more about your body movement, not the sword…” Takayama nodded and came with another attack, Kage blocked it and hit Takayama on the head with his hand, “Better but still not good enough…” Takayama and Kage kept swinging at each other, each time Kage would counter the blow and gain a strike. “Well if I hit you one more time I win.” Kage told Takayama who was breathing hard. “I’m not going to lose!” Takayama said with a new look in his eye. He moved in as Kage swung down at him, he dodged the attack and gained a strike to Kage’s mid section. “I got you!” Takayama’s blood was pumping with excitement as he caught back up with Kage.
“Amazing…his blood doesn’t activate till he is against the wall…” Kotaku said, watching the match. “Wow I didn’t think you’ve come this far, with all the slacking you do…” Kage said, breathing heavily, “Well lets end this!” Kage came in with quick speed; Takayama barely had time to raise his sword. Kage’s bamboo sword busted through Takayama’s and made contact with Takayama’s right shoulder. Takayama fell to one knee. “Well look like I won…” Kage said smugly swinging his sword over his shoulder and beginning to walk away. “KAGE!!! That was uncalled for!” Kotaku said angrily, “You know he’s still learning!”
“I know father but-”
“But nothing! Takayama is still learning, you shouldn’t have used the Shunten-satsu on him…” Kotaku said calming down some. “But I did it to win…” Kage said looking sadly at the ground. Kotaku placed his hand on his son’s shoulder, “My son…one day you’ll find winning isn’t everything…now go say sorry to your brother.”
“Hai!” Kage walked back over to Takayama and helped him up, “I’m sorry ototo.” (little brother) “Well that’s enough training for today, lets go home.” Kotaku said, standing up.
“Hai!” they both followed their father outside into afternoon sun.
“Late again?” Kage asked, looking up from his sword practice, “I thought I woke you up before I left this morning…” Takayama stopped to catch his breath, “Hai…you…did…” he smiled and scratched his head, “but I kinda fell to sleep after you left…” Kage rolled his eyes and shook his head, “You’ll never learn…” then he smiled and offered him a hand, “In any case sensei went out a moment ago, so he may not notice you were late…” Kotaku stuck his head out of the doorway to the dojo, “Ahh Takayama! You’re late…” Kage smiled deviously. “Well in any case both of you need to come inside, we are going to spar today.” Both Kage ant Takayama looked at each other, “Spar?”
“Well you two may begin! The first to get ten strikes wins!” Kotaku sat against the wall in saza.(sitting on your knees, very formal in dojos and such)
Takayama and Kage started by bowing to each other, “Onegaishimasu.”(a greeting exchanged by opponents in a competition) Takayama tried to come in with a side attack but Kage countered the blow with his bamboo sword and got the first strike. Kage smiled and helped Takayama to his feet, “You have to think more about your body movement, not the sword…” Takayama nodded and came with another attack, Kage blocked it and hit Takayama on the head with his hand, “Better but still not good enough…” Takayama and Kage kept swinging at each other, each time Kage would counter the blow and gain a strike. “Well if I hit you one more time I win.” Kage told Takayama who was breathing hard. “I’m not going to lose!” Takayama said with a new look in his eye. He moved in as Kage swung down at him, he dodged the attack and gained a strike to Kage’s mid section. “I got you!” Takayama’s blood was pumping with excitement as he caught back up with Kage.
“Amazing…his blood doesn’t activate till he is against the wall…” Kotaku said, watching the match. “Wow I didn’t think you’ve come this far, with all the slacking you do…” Kage said, breathing heavily, “Well lets end this!” Kage came in with quick speed; Takayama barely had time to raise his sword. Kage’s bamboo sword busted through Takayama’s and made contact with Takayama’s right shoulder. Takayama fell to one knee. “Well look like I won…” Kage said smugly swinging his sword over his shoulder and beginning to walk away. “KAGE!!! That was uncalled for!” Kotaku said angrily, “You know he’s still learning!”
“I know father but-”
“But nothing! Takayama is still learning, you shouldn’t have used the Shunten-satsu on him…” Kotaku said calming down some. “But I did it to win…” Kage said looking sadly at the ground. Kotaku placed his hand on his son’s shoulder, “My son…one day you’ll find winning isn’t everything…now go say sorry to your brother.”
“Hai!” Kage walked back over to Takayama and helped him up, “I’m sorry ototo.” (little brother) “Well that’s enough training for today, lets go home.” Kotaku said, standing up.
“Hai!” they both followed their father outside into afternoon sun.
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