What Next?

Chapter 2

“SENSEI, NNNOOO DON’T LEAVE ME AGAIN PLEASE, IT NEARLY KILLED ME LAST TIME!!!”

I’m awake immediately. Upon hearing the scream of my name I’m running upstairs as fast as I can, making my way to her room. I burst through her door nearly breaking it, to see her in a deep sleep, thrashing about in her covers. She is obviously having a nightmare and I decide to wake her from it casually. Using soothing tones in my voice I tell her, “it’s okay sera I’m right here, just listen to my voice and make your way back to me. Don’t let your fears get the better of you.” No sooner am I finished she sits right up, covered in sweat and hugs me. I just hold her reassuring her that I’m here and will not be going anywhere. I never knew my leaving had such a negative affect, I almost wish I never left without her, but although I wanted to then, it was better I didn’t.

“Please stay with me till I fall back to sleep? I don’t want to be alone. You can go if you want but just not till I’m asleep okay?”

“Okay I’ll stay with you.”

She lies back down and I just lie down on the floor next to her bed. I can’t believe I never knew about this. I should have known. “Have you had nightmares like this before?” I ask in an almost whisper. If she has I need to know so I can make plans for her lessons.

She just lies there in silence. I think she’s fallen asleep till she replies, “not to that extent no. I mean, I’ve had nightmares involving you before but they were nowhere near that graphic, or scary.”

I don’t want to push her to far, yet I need to know what she meant. She will only tell me when she’s ready to face this particular personal demon, REJECTION. I continue to lie there on the floor till she asks me a question.

“Why are you lying down on the floor next to my bed? There’s room up here you know? I’m going to keep pestering you till I get an answer.”

I forgot that she could be persistent in getting what she wants. I get up off the floor and lie down on the covers, on my back, next to her. I should not be here, I should have stayed on the floor, but I’m fully clothed and on top of the covers. She snuggles up to me and falls asleep instantly with her head on my chest. If it helps her to get goodnight’s sleep with everything that’s happened to her today, I can beat myself up later for it. Seeing as I cant get away now I fall asleep myself.

About an hour later and I’m awake again. She’s still holding on to me but I easily move her arms off me, and make my way of her bed and head towards the bathroom for a shower. Looking at myself in the mirror I start asking myself questions in a hushed tone, I don’t want to wake her up. “Why are you doing this to her? Are you allowing yourself to feel something? Can this end well? Will you allow this, knowing what will happen?” I don’t have any answers, not that I expected to. A hot shower should help me see things more clearly.

…………………

As I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around my wet body, I look into the mirror and stare at the scars on my chest and sides. Looking towards the door I find her standing there, wide eyed. I forgot to lock the door, unforgivable mistake. I have never allowed her to see the scars on my body, what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her, but now she can see the truth for herself.

“Did… did… father cause all those? I was told your punishments were tough but I had no idea he was torturing you for your mistakes. I’m… I’m sorry for what you must have gone through.”

I have no idea what to say to her. I could lie and say I got them through fighting but I’m sure she would see right through it. “Don’t worry about them” I tell her, “the training was hard and sometimes I was sloppy and got myself hurt. My master didn’t give me any of these, they all came from the equipment” a half-truth but she needs to remember him as the good man he was, a loving father to her and an honourable man. I can live with the hell he put me through, it’s helped me to become the man I am now, but I swear to myself that I will not do the same to her. She walks over and hugs me tightly, “I think I need a cold shower now” I say jokingly, and it puts the smile back on her face.

“Ok but hurry up I’ve got to be at work in under an hour and I need a shower as well.” I swear she has a reply for anything.

Making my way to my room so I can change into some fresh clothes, I can hear her crying again. I enter my room and put on the clothes I put aside for today, black combat trousers and a black long sleeved top, and make my way to the top of the stairs. “What would you like for breakfast?” I yell back to the bathroom. There is no reply but then I wasn’t expecting one. Making my way down stairs and heading for the kitchen, I take a look at the time on the clock on the wall, 7:05, and decide to run a quick obstacle course before eating. Making my way into the garden I start at the ropes, climbing up about three feet and wrapping my legs around the ropes and letting go with my hands. Deciding to only do fifteen sit ups I get started.

After doing the sit ups and then fifteen pull ups, I make my way back inside to find two rounds of toast and a cup of coffee waiting at the table for me. After eating the toast I make my way to the sitting room with the coffee to see Sera exercising to one of those aerobics workout shows. If she wanted a work out I can device one for her that would be a lot more physical, but I just sit on one of the sofas and watch. After only ten minutes she’s finished and stares at me.

“Sensei” she asks, “what should I call you around other people? I was never told your real name and I’ve always called you sensei or student.”

“If I’m honest,” I reply, “I don’t know my real name, I don’t know if I was born with one, but we’ll just stick to calling me Stuart or Stu, it worked when I was growing up.”

“Alright then, come on I’ll show you where I work. I own half of the business, but mainly deal with the financial side of things. I think you’re going to like it.” She sounds a lot livelier now, a little like the teenager I remember her being before I started her martial training.

I decided I would drive her to work, as I needed to swing by my place to pick up some basic teaching weapons. She gave me the directions and in less than fifteen minutes we’re here. Looking at the building I cant quite figure out what she does, it looks like an old cinema that was abandoned years ago, but she unlocks the front doors and tells me to come in. I look around the main foyer and see it is an old cinema, posters of old films still on the walls. “What is this place?” I ask.

“An old cinema of course” she replies with a little giggle in her voice, “you’ll see don’t worry.” Yeah I’m not going to worry, who dies she think she’s kidding. She leads me down a narrow corridor to a door and walks in. looking around I can easily tell it’s an office with a desk littered with papers and a laptop on it. She looks up and I must be showing my wondering what she does, without saying a word she leads me out of her office further down the corridor, past two doors one marked MALES, the other marked FEMALES, through a pair of double doors into a huge room. “This is where the main theatre used to be. We took out all the old seats and had the floor levelled and protective mats put down.” I know I’m looking concerned now, “it’s a dojo now. Dad found this place and with a fellow martial artist he bought the lease.”

I can’t believe it. She part owns a dojo only fifteen minutes from the house. This will make things a lot easier with the training, not having to find an empty, abandoned warehouse like we did when I was being taught. She makes her way back to her office and leaves me to have a good look around, everything we are going to need is here, its like she foresaw all this and has been planning for it. Without even thinking I let my body go into autopilot and start doing the first kata that I was ever taught, till I hear a voice yelling across the open space.

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY DOJO?”

Looking around for the voice my eyes stop on the woman at the doors. She has chestnut brown hair, blue eyes and stands around five foot seven inches tall. Her body language is screaming for a fight so I just remain silent. “WELL, I GUESS I’LL JUST BEAT AN ANSWER OUT OF YOU” she yells while running directly at me.

Ducking a flying kick I just keeping moving around not saying a word. She’s good with her legs; if I wasn’t able to move so fluidly she would have probably knocked me out by now. Her greatest strength at the minute is keeping me at bay but she will tire herself out soon if she keeps it up, I decide to end it. Grabbing her leg as she goes for another back-heel spin kick, I push her to the floor and put my weight on her back, pinning her body to the mats. She carries on screaming obscenities at me till I decide to calm her down, “if I was going to hurt you, or do anything to you, I would have done it by now.”

“YOU WOULDN’T STAND A CHANCE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT. MY PARTNER IS GOING TO PUT YOUR BALLSACK IN A SLING IF SHE FINDS YOU BEFORE I DO.”

I can’t stop myself from chuckling at that comment. I look up at the doors to see Sera chuckling as well, then she indicates me to get off as she makes her way over to us.

“Sorry Haley can’t do that I’m afraid, seeing as he’s my sensei and all”, she calmly states while holding her laughter in. I stand up and bow to her with a smile on my face.

Getting up off the floor she scowls at me and looks at Sera, “HE’S WHAT? HE LOOKS NO OLDER THAN YOU. HOW CAN HE BE YOUR SENSEI?” I hope she doesn’t yell all the time, I doubt my ears could handle it. Looking at me she bows as well “I’m sorry for attacking you, I meant no disrespect, its just a stranger in the dojo on his own performing a kata I’ve never seen before is a little … concerning.”

I just shake my head and finish the kata as if I was not interrupted. When I finish I look at them both, “it was my fault for wondering around. You have a nice place here but I noticed you don’t have any training weapons at all. That’s unusual for a martial arts dojo. I can only assume you keep them locked up somewhere.” The joint look of amazement they give me is priceless. “My name’s Stuart by the way, the kata you saw me doing was a personal creation, utilizing all the different arts that I have been taught over the years. Again I am sorry for startling you.”

“Okay enough chit chat we have to get set up for the women’s self defence class, then for the juniors this afternoon. If Carlos bothers to turn up today.” My eyes leave Haley as she adds that last comment, to see Sera giving me her ‘if you must’ look.

“Is Carlos the instructor for the juniors?” I decide to ask.

Sera on the same page as me decides to answer, “whenever he can be bothered to show up he is, and the answer is a yes before you ask.” Bowing to us she makes her way out the doors I assume to her office.

Haley has just been glancing at me the entire time, “what did she mean ‘the answer is a yes’? I haven’t heard you ask anything.”

Deciding to put her out of her misery I decide to tell her, “she was saying that if Carlos doesn’t show up, she would like me to teach your junior class. Just let me know where they are in their lessons and I will work to your lesson plans, only teaching them what you think they are ready to learn. I will also need to know what martial art they are studying, as I have become a master in most.” Bowing to her I make my way out the doors looking for Sera, giving her time to let what I just said sink in and giving her time to pick her jaw up off the floor.

…………………

The day has gone pretty quickly I notice. The women came in for their self-defence lesson and I was volunteered to be thrown around by Sera. The thing that I’m finding disturbing, is that I was actually having fun. Just as they are leaving in walks this wall of a man, acting all sincere to the women, but I can tell it’s an act. Being able to read body language is a skill I’m always thankful for. I make my way into the office and find Haley at the desk looking tired, “a human wall just walked in, would that be Carlos by any chance?” I ask knowing the answer. Her head droops a little lower as we both can hear a shouting match in progress in the main hall.

“WELL IF YOU BOTHERED SHOWING UP YOU WOULD BE PAID. YOU DON’T EVEN CARE ANYMORE.”

I walk to the main hall in case anything happens. Sera isn’t ready for anyone that size yet, but if he wants to dance I’ll be his partner. He decides to retaliate, “IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE ME YOU WOULDN’T EVEN HAVE A DOJO, YOU WOULD JUST WASTE YOUR LIVES TEACHING WOMEN MEAGER SELF DEFENCE, FOR THE NEXT TIME THEIR PARTNERS LAY INTO THEM.”

Okay I’ve had enough of this prick running his mouth. Walking over I calmly ask, “May I suggest you leave and clear your head. The way you are currently behaving is a dishonour to all parties here and to your teacher.” That will leave him with only two choices now.

I was hoping he would make this decision, “WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU AND WHO DO YOU THINK YOUR TALKING TO.” Why must everyone shout when I meet them today? “I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW I’M A THIRD LEVEL BLACK BELT IN KARATE.”

I really wish he would hurry up and attack, I know he wants to and Sera has just noticed it as well, taking a few steps in my direction to get out of his initial reach. I feel proud of her, the old trainings still in there. “Now you only dishonour your teachers and yourself. Please leave this dojo and return when you are calmer, and willing to teach as you were taught.” Somehow I’m able to keep my voice level, even though every part of me wants to beat him into submission for all the disrespect he has shown today. “If you would like, I can escort you to the door myself, or you can just leave with the traces of honour you still have left.”

“CARLOS, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY DOJO, YOU’RE FIRED! DON’T BE COMING AROUND HERE AGAIN.” Turning towards the doors I see the order is coming from Haley standing up at the doors.

The sound of flesh getting hit makes me turn around to see Sera going to the floor in a heap, the bastard just stands there like he’s innocent. “Haley” I call her over, “take Sera out of here and put an ice pack on her jaw.” I’m going to enjoy knocking that smile off his face, “and deadbolt the doors on your way out. Give me ten minutes Okay?” Picking Sera up she just nods her head.

“Ten minutes and their going to need a body bag for you man, I’m going to beat you like you’ve never been beaten before.” Go on, run your mouth, think you have the advantage. I start to perform a kata and this is really getting to him, he doesn’t have a clue what to do. He must have had some really poor teachers if this is making him uneasy.

Finally having my emotions under control I just stand there staring at him, arms at my side, just waiting to see what he’ll do next. I’m already in his head and he knows it. I could end it easily and make him feel a lot of pain from certain nerve endings, but he said he studied karate, so I will defeat him in his own style.

He goes to throw a punch at my head, which I dodge and move to the side, he comes back with a back fist that I catch, using his momentum to push him away. He stumbles two steps forward and launches with a back kick aimed for my chest, blocking it with both hands, I twist it clockwise making him losing his footing and spinning to land on his front. Whoever taught this guy to fight had no idea what they were doing, or he just never paid attention.

“Come on now, you’re not even trying. I thought you were a teacher and a third level black belt. Go and grab a weapon if you think it would help. I’ll wait. We have another nine minutes and fifty seconds.” I know I shouldn’t be teasing him and should just knock him out, but he has disrespected my student for no reason.

Getting up off the floor he looks at me with hatred all over his face. Looking around he can see no weapons that will help him so charges at me again, I side step and realize to late that he wanted me to do that as his right fist makes contact with my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. As my stomach muscles contract, making me lean forward, he drives his knee into my nose, breaking it.

He starts shooting his mouth off again, “I told you I’m gonna beat you down man, when that door opens I’m gonna do the same to those two bitches. Thinking they can fire me.” Just for good measure he stamps on my face twice before stepping away.

If he thinks I’m intimidated, he’s going to get the shock of his life. Flipping up onto my feet I decide to take this guy down and keep him there. No more playing by fair rules, it’s time I start playing by his. Still choosing not adapt a stance I let him get in close, and lift my left leg straight up, the fool is smiling thinking I missed on a uppercut kick aimed for his chin. I wasn’t aiming for his chin, instead I bring it full force down onto the crease between his right shoulder and his neck. The only sound that can be heard is his collarbone breaking. He falls to the floor screaming in agony and I can hear the door being unbolted, looking towards it I see Sera with an ice pack on her jaw.

Walking towards me calmly, she asks, “What did you do to him? You’ve only been in here a minute!” Really feels more like thirty seconds. I look down to see him holding his shoulder, tears running down his cheeks.

“Sera, fetch me a tri-bandage please and another ice pack. He will need to go to the hospital for an x-ray.” She’s out the door quickly while I help him into a sitting position, his left arm cradling the right. Letting him rest his body weight on me I put the last bit of fear into him. “If this dojo is attacked, or the two owners hurt, I will make it my personal business to track you down and make you suffer” I whisper in his ear, “even if you had nothing to do with it. We both know I’m letting you off easy with a broken collarbone, and you will say you got it in a tournament.”

He doesn’t say anything, instead just nods his head that he understands. As I help him towards the front doors, a woman with blond hair and piercing blue eyes, is making her way in with two young boys. Quickly spotting her I swerve Carlos into the office and put his arm in a sling and the ice pack on his shoulder. Making sure the coast is clear, I lead him outside. “Remember what I said, anything happens to them or this place, its you that will be held responsible.” He nods at me and walks away quickly to get into a parked car over the road. He says something to the driver and they quickly pill off.

Making my way back inside I run right into Haley who looks pissed. Without saying a word she leads me into the office and shuts the door. “WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? WE WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH HIM.” I really am going to have to make sure my hearing is okay later, with all the yelling I’ve experienced today. “HE MAKES AN ASS OF HIMSELF ALL THE TIME, BUT NOW WE DON’T HAVE A TEACHER FOR THE NEXT FEW CLASSES, AND I’M BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS.”

I decide to respond, “Sera has already asked me to teach the next few lessons for you. Don’t worry about money cause I’m doing for free.” Making my way out the door I ad “Sera will explain it all to you.”

As I enter the hall I see Sera standing in front of twenty kids, both sexes ranging from nine to twelve years old. “Here is your teacher for today guys. Remember to call him sensei.” Then she walks off leaving me with these kids all staring at me. I make my way to the front of them, still staring at me, and then I can feel it, fear. Deciding to break the ice, I simply ask “Okay then. Who here has studied the martial arts before?” No one raises their hand. “That’s alright, it makes my job easier. My name is sensei, which is what you will refer to me as. I have studied the martial arts since I was ten years old, and I am now twenty four.” Most of them just look flabbergasted at this, “despite the way it is perceived in movies, karate is not all about beating up your opponent. If studied properly it can have a great influence on your life, if not you will never reach your true potential. Any questions?”

A young boy looking scared to death raises his hand nervously, “so you have never beat someone up who was picking on you?” The rest of the class start sniggering.

“First, would you all mind sitting down cross legged please?” They all do and I sit the same way, “truthfully, I wanted to many times, but karate is all about defence not offence. If you wish to study karate to hurt people who hurt you, the door is behind you. If you wish to learn so you don’t have to fight then you will learn more than you ever thought possible.”

Another boy raises his hand now, “that’s not the way its done on power rangers, they are always beating up the bad guys.”

I laugh at that. “I remember when I was like all off you, I wanted to defend myself from bullies. The man who taught me, showed me that the best way to win is to not fight unless there is no other way out.” This point needs to be stressed to them now before the training can begin. “Alright on your feet, we’ll start with some stretching and then some breathing exercises.”

I proceed to show them a variety of basic punches and kicks and also start teaching them Tai Chi. “This is a very under used and under appreciated form of martial arts, that I personally think is vital to progress further. It helps you to learn self control and aligns your chi perfectly.” I then split them up into pairs so they can practise the moves that I’ve shown them.

Before I know it, the time has come to end the lesson. Looking at the doors I see their parents ready to take them all home. “Alright class, that’s enough for today, but allow me to show you one more demonstration before you go.” Walking over to one of the walls I pick up five bricks and stack them on top of one another, “this is called a ‘dim-ock’ or ‘death touch’. Basically you smash one of the bricks in the pile. Most fighters smash the bottom one, but if you concentrate hard enough…” I hit the top and the middle one explodes, “you can do that. DO NOT TRY THIS ANYWHERE, I spent years learning how to do this and it still hurts.” I shake my hand to illustrate my point. “I’ll see you all next time, and remember to practise your Tai Chi. If your having difficulties with it let me know and I’ll help you with it” I bow to them and they bow back before going up to their parents.

“I had no idea you could do that.” I look up and see Sera holding a sweeping brush. She hands it to me and I sweep the mess up. “Can you teach me that? Looks like it may come in handy against an ex boyfriend I know.” I give her a ‘not on your life’ look, “I was only joking, you taught me better than that. Why did you show that to the kids anyway? They’re only beginners.”

With the mess now cleaned up I look at her, I wish she wouldn’t give that pout of hers, “they should have an understanding of what they can achieve if they stick with it. As I recall you weren’t interested till I showed you how to punch through a board properly. Besides it will bring in more students for you.”

“Yeah but you wont be here to train them. You have a job remember? You can’t teach full time, and I’m nowhere near that good yet.”

I wont let her doubt herself like this, “it doesn’t matter, I haven’t taught you to that level yet. It’s my fault not yours.” She just looks down ashamed. “Come on lets spare, full contact. Loser has to clean the house top to bottom.”

She laughs, “In their sleeping clothes.” She launches into the first combo I ever taught her, catching me off guard. Quick jab to the ribs followed by a front sweep of my legs and I’m on my back. I flip up and catch her with a reverse sidekick to her ribs, no power behind it, and a back sweep just below her left knee. We carry on for another ten minutes with her going down another five times and me twice, till we hear Haley calling to us and breaking our concentration.

“If you two are finished I have another lesson to teach, and there’s a phone call for you Rachel.” Nodding her head she makes her way out and I wipe down the mats. “Can I ask you a question?” Haley is right by me now, “why do you call Rachel ‘Sera’? Is it some weird training thing that you do? Calling people by another name?”

Looking her in the face I reply, “Sera is her given name. My master only ever called me student, so I adapted that into Sera for her. Has she explained our relationship to you?”

“No, why? You’re not together are you?” How to best explain this one.

“No we are not together in the sense that you mean. I’m her adopted brother. Her father was my martial arts master. He taught me everything I know. Oh, and I’ll replace the bricks.”

She lets it all sink in, before screaming “WHAT BRICKS??”

Seeing an opening in the questioning, I make my way to the office to see about borrowing the car. Just before I walk in I can hear her on the phone. “Yes mom, I’ll be in all weekend… well I’m sorry but dad died yesterday and I needed to come into work to take my mind of it for a little while… I don’t know yet, I’ll contact Stuart and let him know before I arrange anything… he has more of a right to help than you do… NO goodbye mom.” It sounds like she’s slammed the phone down and is crying again. I walk in and hold her.

…………………

When the day was done we headed back to the house. Sera went into the sitting room and I went to the kitchen to make some green tea, after the past couple of days I think we both need it. Haley caught up with us after her lesson and we told her about her (our?) father. She told Sera to take a few days off and not to worry about the dojo. She also offered to pick me up later so I can swing by my apartment for what I need.

“Sensei” I didn’t hear her coming in, “we should give him a ritual funeral in that circle of fire he created.” I remember the circle of fire quite well, still having the slight burns on my legs because of it.

I turn round to look at her, “we don’t have to talk about this now. Here” I hand her a cup. She takes it and sits at the table. “I fancy a pizza tonight what about you? Any toppings you want, but no anchovies okay.” I knew that would put a smile on her face.

“Why do you take such care of me? You’ve always looked out for me. I don’t get it.”

I sit opposite her and take a drink of my tea, “I thought that’s what family does, look after each other. Take care of them when they need to.”

Getting up fro her seat she walks over and kisses me on the lips. Pulling back she simply states, “you know I’m in love with you right. Have been for years, but now I think you should know.”

Sitting here stunned, she looks into my eyes, and can see her answer. I love her too, but know is not the time to tell her. If I do, I wont be able to help her reach her true potential. Walking away I look back at her, “I love you to” I say, “but I must put keep those feelings locked away. First and foremost I’m your sensei, if I allow myself to care to much I wont be able to teach you properly.” She looks down and fresh tears start to fall from her eyes. “I’m not saying never, just until I’ve trained you till there is nothing else I can teach you. I’m sorry, more than you’ll ever know.” And with that I make my way into the garden, still holding my cup of tea.