“I really don’t think you should be doing this, Sean,” said Gavin.

“Don’t really care.”

I drove to Sensei Hector’s dojo with Gavin and Tain in the ‘Stang. After getting done with work, Gavin informed me I needed to pick up him and Tain. Something about Mom saying the dog had been cooped up in the house since I last dog-sat him and it would be good for him to stay with Gavin and I for the weekend. Since Gavin’s motorcycle was at my place and Tain couldn’t ride on that anyways, it left me with soccer-mom duty. And now my brother was trying to tell me—the one driving and doing him favors—what I should and shouldn’t do.

“You’re not my dad, Gavin. You’re not even the oldest brother. I am. Why even coming with me?”

He shrugged. “I’m in town. I want to see Sensei Hector again. Say hi.”

“Ah, are you getting sentimental?”

He cocked his head to the side. “Maybe a little. If he hears that I was in town and didn’t drop by…well that’s just messed up.”

“True, true.”

“But seriously man, we should be figuring out how to get rid of your Keening, not getting a sword to do battle with the Kelpie.”

Today was not a day I volunteered at the dojo. I only did that a few times a week at most. I’d come to the realization that the katana was my weapon of choice. When I don’t have one in my hand in a fight I feel like I’m missing a limb. And since I didn’t have money to buy one, it was time for me to ask Sensei for a favor.

“I already told you bro. Once I handle this monster I’ll figure out a way to get rid of this Keening. But I can’t do it now.”

“Yet you yourself are the one that said you’ve been so caught up with monsters this month that you haven’t had time to look into the Keening. I know exactly what’s gonna happen when we’re done with the Kelpie, Sean. Some new monsters will pop up and you’ll be ‘forced’ to fight them. The pattern will keep repeating itself until you either walk away from it and get rid of the Keening or you get yourself killed in the process.”

My blood boiled within me. We already had this argument and I was really getting sick of hearing it from Gavin. Why did he come back down here if he was just going to argue with me? This is exactly why he left on bad terms in the first place two years ago. But I didn’t have time to retort because in the rearview mirror I noticed the same Impala that I had seen several turns and streetlights ago still tagging along at a safe distance, but definitely following me nonetheless.

“Hey, see that Impala back there?”

He eyed his side mirror. “Yeah. You think it’s following us?”

“Yep.”

“Somebody that wants to hurt you? Besides monsters, that is?”

Of all the people mad at me right now, the one person I knew that actually might want to seriously injure me was Charice’s brother Justin. But he didn’t drive an Impala that color. But who’s to say he didn’t have friends that did.

“Yeah I pissed off my girlfriend’s brother two weeks ago. But I figured he was all hot air. A poser. He did threaten my life though.”

“And you didn’t take that seriously?” asked Gavin.

“Not really, I mean he was being protective of his sister. What guy wouldn’t throw out death threats for his sister?”

“I guess so.”

There wasn’t really anything I could do. It was broad daylight outside and I really didn’t need a speeding or reckless driving ticket. Plus I wasn’t going home and I didn’t know that these guys were actually in any way related to Justin. So I just kept on heading to the dojo.

When I pulled into the dojo and parked I noticed that the Impala parked a ways down the street but still within eyesight, able to watch my every move. Leaving the windows down for Tain, Gavin and I stepped inside the dojo, setting off the door chime.

The dojo was empty. It was one of those pocket-times, in between classes. With the tinted windows we’d be able to see out, but the people in the Impala wouldn’t be able to see in. Sure enough, as we stood there the Impala drove slowly in front of the dojo. The back window of the car had a window sticker that read RDN in Old English style lettering. To the best of my knowledge it stood for Raza del Norte, roughly rendered North-breeders, or The Northern Race, a local gang loosely affiliated with a bigger local gang in Oakland, and the Mexican Mafia abroad. Two Mexican guys with buzzed heads and sunglasses eyed my car and the dojo. In my car, Tain barked like crazy.

“You seen those guys before?” asked Gavin.

“Nope. But I wouldn’t doubt they’re friends with Justin.”

Sensei Hector joined us at the window.

The Impala took off down the road.

“But who were they?” asked Gavin.

Sensei’s back tensed and his fingers balling into fists as he eyed the car as it disappeared out of sight. “That’s Raza del Norte.”

“RDN,” I said.

Sensei continued, his eyes glossed over. “You know that girl that was gunned down a few weeks ago? Word on the street is it was the leader of RDN who did her in. He shot his girlfriend in cold blood. After he found another guy texting her. Turns out the other guy was the girl’s cousin. So he killed her for no reason. Ruthless. That’s what they are.”

I thought about Charice. There was no way I could ever be so stone cold enough to point a gun at her and shoot her, much less fill her body with AK-47 automatic fire. Scumbags like that guy needed to die.

Gavin filled the silence. “They’re also Sean’s girlfriend’s brother’s friends. That’s a mouthful of S’s.”

Sensei Hector glanced at Gavin then took a step back. “Yin & Yang, Gavin! I didn’t even recognize you.”

Gavin gave him a sheepish grin. “Yeah, it’s been a while. Figured I’d drop in and say hi.”

Sensei continued to small-talk with Gavin, questioning him about his work situation at the lumber mill and how Washington State was, as opposed to living in the Bay Area. He asked Gavin if he still practiced martial arts and stuff like that. The two hit it off great. I stood there awkwardly with my hands in my pockets, because the last few weeks Sensei and I hadn’t been on good of speaking terms.

Things were awkward, mostly because of me. Well really not because of me at all. Because of this whole monster thing, my responsibility was to see these things destroyed as they popped up. The problem is that they kept popping up, and it didn’t look like they were going to die down anytime soon. I hated to admit Gavin was right. I needed to figure out a way to get rid of this curse. Then maybe I wouldn’t feel the responsibility to answer every single threat personally. But, I already committed to seeing the threat of the Dobhar-chus and the Kelpie dealt with, and the only way to speed up the process was to get my hands on a katana.

“So why’re you guys really here?” asked Sensei. “I’m sure it’s not just to catch up on old times.”

Gavin motioned to me. “Actually Sean needed to talk to you. I’ll stay out here and beat up the practice torsos if you don’t mind.”

Sensei smiled and nodded. “Go ahead Gavin. Help yourself to anything in the dojo.”

He turned to me and I asked if I’d like to speak in his office, and we moved in there.

“What’s going on Sempai Sean?”

And then I completely choked on my words. I hadn’t actually thought this far ahead. I needed a new katana, but what reason could possibly give him? All I had from him was a promise that if I ever needed to talk I could speak with him and he’d be there for me.

“How’s it going Sensei?” I asked awkwardly.

He frowned at me. “I’m doing fine. How are you?”

The last time we talked seriously besides just saying our hi’s and goodbyes was two weeks ago when he called me in his office after I was late to martial arts class. My job that day to instruct students on the new kata form that they’d be putting to practice. And I’d totally biffed it. I didn’t really know how to come back from that, especially after he gave me a sharp scolding and dropped some life-wisdom on me. So I’d kept our conversations to a minimum and tried my best to be on time to the next few practices.

When I didn’t speak up he broke the silence. “Sean, things have gotten slightly better since I talked to you last time. But I really do expect more from you.

“You used to come in on a full night’s rest, ready to instruct the kids, totally enthused to be giving back to the community. I saw a fire in your eyes. I could tell you really loved helping these kids grow and giving them an example, a goal that they themselves could one day have these martial arts forms mastered like you do.”

“I do really like helping out with the class. Gives me an excuse to still be here.”

“Do you though, Sean? I don’t see that enthusiasm from you anymore. Feels like you’re coming here more out of obligation and duty than out of enthusiasm. I can tell that you’re super tired and exhausted when you’ve come in, the last few weeks. When the kids ask you questions you give them minimal answers and you haven’t really gone out of your way to give them pointers. You’re doing the bare minimum here, Sean. I am wondering if you’ve given any thought to why that is.”

I tried to think of how I could answer him but I guess he took my silence as a reluctance to speak at all, so he continued. “How’s school going?”

”Not great,” I said. A knot formed in my stomach.

”How’s your part-time job?”

I grimaced. “I thought it was going good. I mean I’m doing the work but I guess a few weeks ago I forgot to arm the security alarm.”

Sensei grunted. “Why did RDN follow you here? I guarantee it wasn’t because they’re interested in signing up for martial arts class.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Honestly Sensei Hector, I don’t know.”

”When we have issues that go unchecked they have a tendency to compound upon themselves and create more issues. Even a single drop in a pool of water sends ripples out in all directions. You think that’s happening to you?”

”Definitely,” I said without hesitating. I looked down at my hands which healed from the burns that the Gwyllgi gave me, but just barely.

“Sometimes I feel like I can’t catch a break.”

Sensei folded his hands together on top of his desk. “Then take things one at a time Sean. Break them down into smaller steps. Just like the katas. You don’t teach the kids an entire twenty-move kata at one time. You teach them in small steps until they build up muscle memory. The same thing with life. Take it one step at a time until you build up strength. Have you considered that you might have taken on too much, been spread too thin?”

”Haven’t had much time to consider much of anything.”

”Well if you could cut one thing from your life right now what would it be?”

”Well, I can’t cut my job because I need the money to pay rent to my roommate. And I can’t cut school because I need to be moving towards a career.”

Sensei nodded, encouraging me to go on.

“So that means that I need to cut out…”

There are only two other things I did at the moment. I was a volunteer here at the dojo and I fought monsters almost every night. I couldn’t give up fighting monsters, not just yet. At the very least I needed to deal with the Dobhar-chus and the Kelpie. And I couldn’t give up volunteering at the dojo because…

And that’s when I realized that I didn’t have a reason to really be here anymore. I was a volunteer after all, I wasn’t getting paid. And I wasn’t learning anything new here other than how to be a martial arts instructor. But it was all stuff that I knew. Sure I was getting satisfaction from helping others, but it was just one more commitment that was adding to things I was dropping the ball on.

Sensei saw the realization in my eyes and spoke for me. “So Sean, can you really keep doing this?”

”I don’t want to stop. I mean, I’ve been coming to this dojo ever since I was five.”

Sensei nodded. “It’s hard, but sometimes we have to walk away from things that we love doing. Even if they’re good, constructive things that help others. You’re in a new phase of life right now Sean and if you can’t cut the other things, then maybe this has to go.”

”But I don’t want to let you down Sensei.”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “I can always find another Sempai, Sean. No offense.”

I bit my lip. “Can you give me some time to think about it?”

”I can give you a week. Two tops. But I’m going to need to start looking for another Sempai.”

I nodded, understanding. I was holding Sensei back, making things more complicated for him. I’m sure he could reach out in his network of martial arts associates and easily find a Sempai that was more dedicated, more willing, and more available than I was.

”So why did you come here today Sean?”

”My katana broke. Shattered actually.”

Sensei’s eyes widened. “How’d you manage that?”

”It’s a long story. Last time, you said that I could come to you and talk to you if I had any issues. Well, I’ve been having some issues, obviously. I need to ask a favor of you.”

”Of course, anything.”

”If it’s not too much trouble I’m really low on funds and I don’t have a budget to buy a new katana. I wondered if there was an old beat up one you have laying around. Just something I can use to keep up my daily personal practice. I feel kind of useless without one and I’d hate to get rusty after all the training you’ve poured into me. I can pay you back, over time.”

Sensei twitched his lips to one side, thinking and considering. Without a word he got up from the chair and went into a closet behind his office where I knew he kept all sorts of supplies. I heard him rummaging around, repositioning things so that he could dig through boxes and bins. A few minutes later he came out with a katana in a sheath.

”I always hated this katana, the hilt being green and all. Who wraps a katana hilt with green chord?” He handed me the blade. I slid it about halfway out of the sheath examining the metal. It was the real deal and despite what Sensei said, I could tell his blade was worth a considerable amount of cash.

He pointed a finger at me. “Now understand, I’m not giving this to you. I’m loaning it out… indefinitely. I expect this back eventually.”

”Yes Sensei,” I said smiling. My pulse beat fast. I couldn’t believe my luck, that Sensei would just give this to me after he’d been so disappointed in me. Sensei was a good guy and obviously he just wanted to help me out, to be there for me. I decided then and there to name the katana Jade.

I bowed to him, then met up with Gavin and Tain in the car.

“Wow, Sensei really must like you a lot.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“Because he just gave you a flippin’ sword, dude. Who does that?”

I smiled soberly. “A good friend does.”

After a quiet lull, I spoke up. “Look dude, before you go arguing with me again… I need some help.”

“I’m not going to fight the Kelpie with you. I can’t risk opening up myself to the curse again.”

“I know that. But we both know I have to finish this. If you really want me to be able to get rid of the Keening, help me with my... aquatic issues.”

He pursed his lips, considering it. “Okay.”

I sighed inwardly. I expected him to turn me down. “Any ideas how I should tackle this thing? I don’t even know where to start.”

“Easy. We start small.” He wiggled his eyebrows. Then asked, “Got any extra swim trunks?”