Enid pulled off her sunglasses. She was still adjusting to the sun after two millennia in the dark. The sun still shone through skylights. She stopped and waited politely. In the main training area, dojo as the Japanese would say, she could see several rows of students in their pristine white uniforms preforming the same rote movements.

Learning muscle memory. Reminds me of Amara and her sword training and wrestling.

A Japanese woman approached her and started speaking in their native tongue. Enid was still trying to master it, but the gist of it was, why are you here. Enid formulated a response and tried her best to speak in Japanese.

“I want to train.”

The woman looked a bit shocked. Glancing back at the all-male class. Then back to Enid.

“Why do you want to train here?”

“The Sensei is the best in this style of Karate. I would like very much to learn the art from the best.”

“Sensei is very picky about his students. He is difficult to impress.”

“I have mastered my current style of fighting and would like to master another, if he would like a demonstration, I would be pleased to provide one. Also, I would like to master your language.”

The woman looked concerned, perhaps a bit flustered and the Sensei an elderly Japanese man shouted and the class in unison shouted and stood up straight and bowed then sat down. He walked over to the pair. Looking down at them both. Enid being the shortest of the three stood five feet tall. The old man spoke in English.

“You think you are worthy to train here?”

Enid looked up at him then bowed politely.

“Yes Sensei, I do.”

“Why?”

“I am a good student, I have fought many battles with a sword, but unarmed combat is something I have never studied. I know what it is to fight for my life, I also know a true warrior understands that if the fight has become physical, the real battle has already been lost.”

“You are telling the truth, somehow, for one so young you seem to know much of war, do you know much of peace?”

“I have never known peace.”

“Also, the truth. I am in my seventy-eighth year and I feel my life is but a speck of your experience. You have the bearing of a Samurai. I can see the callouses on your hands. You’ve held a blade since you were young. You are also angry. You must learn balance, and to forgive. Anger is the enemy of a true warrior.”

Enid bowed again.

“You are wise Sensei.”

“My students think they are the best most have been training with the katana since they were children. Show them that they still need to learn, and I will train you. Please remove your shoes before you enter the Dojo.”

Enid bowed again, she dropped her duffel bag and pulled off her combat boots and her socks.

“Will we be using metal blades or training blades?”

“Wooden blades. Bow when entering the Dojo, it shows respect for your fellow students and the Sensei.”

Enid bowed and entered the training area.

“Sensei you should open the blinds, it won’t be fair otherwise.”

He nodded and pointed to a row of students on the end.

“Open the blinds.”

Sun streamed into the Dojo, one of the students offered a bokken to Enid who took it. The tallest of the students who wore a black belt around came forward and took a bokken, bowing to the Sensei and then to Enid who bowed back. He went back into a stance and Enid did as well, however hers was quite different as she was trained in the Spartan way of sword play.

“Hajime!”

The student who had eight inches on Enid in height was overconfident he charged and swung down. Enid lithely avoided the blow swinging her sword down on his back with a firm, but not injuring swing. She stepped back to let him reset. He looked surprised at her speed. Enid waited for him to attack again he came in with more skill this time she parried his first three blows then when one came in at the right angle, she twisted her bokken pulling his down with hers then when she had it to the point she couldn’t twist anymore she spun stepped back into him swapping sword hands and grabbing the bottom of his hilt twisting it further. He was forced to release so his wrist wouldn’t break from the torsion and stabbed backwards with both swords in his gut, harder this time he fell to the ground gasping for breath. She turned back around and bowed offering the bokken to him.

He stood up after he caught his breath and bowed as he took his sword back. They bowed once again and took their stances. He seemed hesitant to make the first move again. Enid feinted once setting him off balance for the flurry of blows she was about to unleash. Which she did rapidly hitting with moderate blows from different angles forcing him to parry each instead of dodge when he was fully off balance she grabbed the wrist of his sword arm pushed it to the side and lunged forward bringing the blade her bokken in a very strong strike that stopped just short of touching his skin. The blow would have beheaded him with a normal sword, it would have crushed his throat with just a wooden blade. He was panting now his face pale. She released his wrist backed up and bowed. He was shaking slightly and bowed. He watched Enid, the look on his face gave no doubts she had just earned his respect. The Sensei addressed Enid directly.

“You are very skilled with the blade and have proven your words were true. Please sit and observe the class.”

He motioned to a spot at the edge of the Dojo. Then he turned the class.

“Daiki approached that fight like it was training. He was also arrogant. He thought his height and strength would be an advantage. He also saw a foreign woman who he immediately disrespected because she was not Japanese. If this were a true fight these assumptions would have cost him his life. The color of one’s skin or hair, says nothing of their fighting prowess. Nor of their wisdom. This demonstration should have taught you several things. Never assume your opponent is weak or strong based on appearance. Even a bokken when wielded by a master swordsman can be deadly. That even if you are the best, there is always someone better.”

“Yes Sensei.”

The classes response caused the floor to vibrate.

“Practice your Kata.”

“Yes Sensei!”

He moved towards Enid and stood beside her.

“I will train you. I would hope you would train us in return. I have never seen anyone whose heart, soul, body and blade were in such attunement as you. There is no hesitation in you. You go after your opponent with a singular focus. Much of what I can teach you have already learned. Some of what cannot be taught you already are a master. You have no fear.”

“I have fear Sensei. Fear for my daughter’s safety. Fear of what the future might bring.”

He nodded.

“But you do not fear battle. You do not fear looking weak. You have learned to be humble. You could have ended all three sparring matches with Daiki with one swift blow. In the first you did so, only to show him that his overconfidence was misplaced, so that he would have a chance to readjust his perceptions of your skill level. Then on the second you let it go further, allowing him to display his ability so you could judge his true skill level. Then on the third you taught him that waiting to defend as you had is not always the best tactic by pushing him off balance slowly over several blows. You were not playing with him, you were showing him how small movements can cause big movements in a fight. You were thinking three blows ahead and he was focusing on the blow coming in. That is the mind of a true warrior.”

Enid nodded.

“Amara, my first instructor told my sister and I, that we may wield a blade with our hands, but it is the mind that kills. She would say a battle is won by your intelligence and wit. If you can outthink your opponent, then they are already dead.”

“She sounds like a wise woman and an experienced warrior. Where did you complete your training?”

“Sensei, you would not believe me if I told you. I will just say my father ensured we had the best teacher because he believed a woman should be able to defend herself.”

“I can teach you the ways of Goju-Ryu karate, perhaps you can teach my students the ways of the true warrior.”

“I would be honored Sensei.”

*******

Enid had trained at Junpei-Sensei’s school for three years already. During the days she was attending University of Ryukyus for medicine. In the evenings and her off days she trained with Junpei-sensei. The school had seen some growth in the last three years due to word of mouth at Enid’s skills with teaching sword the true warrior way. The building had grown and at Enid’s insistence had an indoor and outdoor training area. She had helped Junpei expand his business with her own funds so he could enjoy his twilight years. She’d grown to respect him a great deal.

Today Enid stood in front of a group of eager eyed students. She had agreed to teach this group of children of US Service personal as a favor to Junpei-Sensei. She was the most fluent in English. One of the fresh-faced new students held up his hand, he was a boy of ten. Enid hadn’t learned their names yet. Enid nodded to him.

“Melanie-Sensei will we be learning how to kick ass?”

Enid was internally amused but gave him a serious look, not letting her mirth at the question show on her face. She’d asked something similar of Amara at the beginning.

“No. Karate-do is about defense. I will not be teaching you to ‘kick ass’. I will be teaching discipline, respect, honor. I will not be teaching you to chase after trophies at a tournament like the Karate Kid. In this dojo the smallest of you is equal to the biggest of you. I have a question. What is your strongest weapon?”

A bunch of hands shot up. She saw one girl at the back. She was neither attractive, nor coordinated looking. Likely bulled she thought to herself, she did not raise her hand. She motioned to a few to answer she got varied responses none the one she wanted. She looked at the girl who seemed like she’d rather be anywhere but here. She pointed at her.

“What’s your name?”

The girl looked to both sides of her, her cheeks became flushed when she realized Enid was addressing her.

“Umm Edith.”

“Is it Edith or isn’t it, you sound unsure?”

The girl’s cheeks went a brilliant shade of red, that matched her hair.

“It is Edith.”

“It is Edith, Sensei!”

Enid said the words crisply and firmly.

“You will speak clearly and with clear intent. Words have weight, and meaning, if you are saying them, you should mean them and you should be clear and proud of them, or you should not speak at all.”

The class nodded.

“Now Edith: What is your strongest and most dangerous weapon?”

“My brain?”

The students started chuckling and a few shook their heads. Enid stared down at them with her most serious look and the silenced immediately. She repeated the response like she had before.

“My brain, Sensei!”

“Yes Sensei.”

Enid nodded.

“Edith is right, the most dangerous weapon we have is our mind. If you can outthink your opponent, you have already won the fight. I can teach you to punch, I can teach you to kick, I can teach you to block, and dodge. But none of that matters if you can’t think your way through a fight.”

Enid tapped her forehead.

“The physical movements your body will learn. It is called muscle memory. You will fall into your stances; your body will react to attacks and you will block them. If you must think about how to block an attack, then you are doing it wrong your body should just know what to do when attack comes from that direction. Ah but didn’t Melanie-Sensei just say that our mind is our most dangerous weapon? I did, the reason you should not be thinking about blocks is you should be thinking about your opponent’s movements, their tactics, your next attack. How you could get the upper hand. I can teach you the physical aspects and I can try and guide you to thinking like a warrior, but I cannot make you do so, that is where discipline comes in. Stand up. We are going to learn how to punch properly.”

******

Enid’s sixth year in Okinawa had gone much the same as the years before. The school tripled in size since 1985 and now housed four dojos training in various Japanese martial arts, and a traditional Japanese garden surround an outdoor dojo. She was now in the Graduate school of Medicine and sat cross legged enjoying the late spring sun and cherry blossoms of the garden. She had taken to enjoying being out in the sun. She spent as much time outdoors as she could during the day. Eyre had been right life needed to be lived. She was absently eating a piece of sushi while scanning the contents of the drug compendium she had to review for a class and found herself startled when someone spoke.

“Melanie-sensei?”

Enid looked up from her book to see a familiar face. Edith.

“Hello Edith, have a seat.”

“I cannot stay long, we’re leaving soon, dad’s been reassigned. I just wanted to say thank you before we left.”

“No Edith thank you; You’ve been one of my best students.”

“Only because you pushed me, and taught me to speak up, and fight for myself.”

“You are the one who rose to the occasion.”

“I, I owe you my life Melanie-Sensei. I had tried to…”

“I know Edith.”

“You know I tried to kill myself? Did my parents tell you?”

“No, I’m just very perceptive. I saw the signs. I knew you were depressed and that you were bullied. It is why I spent so much time trying to strengthen your self-discipline, boost your self-esteem and teach you that the only person who you must impress is yourself. And I tried to kill myself when I was twelve too.”

“You did? I didn’t think you’d be that kind of person.”

“Human?”

Edith nodded she was crying now. Enid put her book aside and hugged her.

“Thank you so much Sensei.”

Enid pushed Edith back holding her shoulders and looked her in the eye.

“You matter. Promise you’ll write and tell me how you’re doing?”

Edith nodded and hugged Enid tightly again.

******

Enid kneeled beside the bed of Junpei-Sensei. The sun was shining into the room, and she could hear the pacific waves crashing against the shore. Behind her out of the door the garden at the center of his house swayed in the ocean breeze which was growing stronger as the minutes past. Clouds were looming signally a storm. She wiped her tears away. She had discovered the Black Sun was closing in on her. She was here to tell her teacher she must take her leave. He was quite ill, and even with her healing magic she wouldn’t be able to heal age. She held his hand tightly.

“You have been here for ten years, and you have not changed. You helped me grow my school, taught Kaori the ways of business. You taught me, more then I taught you.”

“As it should be Junpei-Sensei, we must never stop learning. If we can learn from our students, then we are the best teachers.”

He nodded, squeezing her hand.

“I know that you have come to tell me you must leave. I had wished you would stay and take over the school.”

“I wish I could Junpei-Sensei, but I am hunted by someone, staying to long in one place brings danger.”

“You have never told me the secrets you hide, and I have never asked, but how do you look as if you haven’t aged a day?”

“I am immortal.”

“How old are you?”

“I am over two millennia old.”

He nodded squeezing Enid’s hand.

“You look at me with such respect, and I have experienced just a speck of your lifetime.”

“You remind me of my father.”

“A high compliment.”

“I could have saved you this death by age. I regret I did not.”

“I have lived long enough without my wife and children. The day the Americans dropped a sun on Hiroshima is the day I truly died.”

Enid nodded.

“Of the many things in my lifetime I have witnessed that is the one I wish had not been aware.”

“Did you ever fight a real Samurai?”

The old man cracked a smile and looked at Enid.

“No this is my first time in Japan, I did fight a twenty-foot fire demon about three months before I arrived at your school.”

Junpei laughed and then started coughing. She helped him clean up the few droplets of blood.

“You probably have many such stories. It is too bad the students cannot hear them. What hunts you that you fear so much?”

“You could say it is death incarnate.”

“Death hunts us all Melenie-San”

“This is different, I don’t fear death, I fear what this being intends after it kills me. It has designs on tearing down everything we have built. I have hunted it for centuries and it eludes me as I elude it. I had hoped while I was training here, I could gain insight to new skills and abilities that may let me discern its location. But it is if some greater power is interfering with our ability to strike at one another directly.”

“I hear anger in your voice. Anger is the enemy if a true warrior, you know this as well as I.”

“You are right Junpei-sensei I am angry, it has tried to kill me, it has killed my husband and true love, and my sister. I am trying to separate my need for vengeance from the conflict, but it is difficult, it has taken much from me.”

“You will not know true victory until you are devoid of feelings towards your enemy.”

“Yes Junpei-sensei. I will remember those words on the day I face him on the battlefield again. I will remember all the lessons you have taught me.”

“I have taught you nothing you did not already know.”

“You have taught me more then you know. I was very angry before. Angry enough that I would lash out at everyone and everything. I had forgotten what it was to have a heart, and to be human. Learning from you, and teaching for you have shown me the path back to my humanity. It was you who said that if I want to heal myself, I must learn to heal others. I know what you were saying was: I need to have empathy. But you’re the reason I studied medicine. You taught me how to meditate. How to have patience. You think I would have learned that after two thousand years. You have a unique perspective, and you knew what I needed, and you gave it to me.”

“You honor me with your words. Will you stay?”

“I will stay until you pass.”

“It will be soon, won’t it?”

“Yes, I see an empty room with Kaori laying over the bed in tears tomorrow.”

“Please may we have tea, then let us get the Sake so this old man can bare his soul before the tennin that claims to be my student.”

Enid smiled, and prepared the tea in the traditional way, offering it first to Junpei. The finished the tea silently and then they both had a couple of shots of sake.

“Actually Junpei-sensei, they call me Raijin.”

He looked up at her with a smile and twinkle in his eye.

“I see you would like to know why; You are lucky it is storming. Let me help you sit up so you can look out at the ocean from your window.”

Enid helped Junpei sit up and walked out around the house standing before the beach. She reached up to the sky and started chanting in the ancient tongue calling down the electricity from the sky. She held it in her hands and glanced back at Junpei who watched wide eyed and then Enid looked back out of the water and released the lightning in sheets across the surface. While still crackling with the remaining electricity she used her speed and time slowing ability to effectively vanish in a bust of lightning and reappear in Junpei’s room as the last of the lightning dissipated. The usually reserved old man clapped his hands and Enid helped him back to his bed.

“You have such power.”

“No, the sky has the power, I just redirected it to where I needed.”

“Why do you need Karate when you can do that?”

“Because I cannot always do that, and I’m just as human as you during the day.”

He nodded.

“That is why whenever you sparred you asked for it to be in the sun.”

“Exactly. After two thousand years using my abilities is second nature to me. I needed to learn how to fight without them.”

Enid poured two more cups of sake and sat back down beside the bed. Outside the storm’s intensity had gotten worse. The winds would become hazardous soon most would be seeking shelter by now. She didn’t bother asking Junpei if they should go, she knew his answer would be no.

“Junpei-Sensei, tell me about your family.”

He smiled and nodded, a few tears trickling down his cheek as he began to speak. The pair talked long into the night and by dawn Junpei had passed.