Description: In the wake of his first match of the Strolheim tournament, Kentou begins to wonder if he's missing something. Happening upon Frei shopping, the chi instructor has one last lesson to give him. Witness the culmination of months of training under Frei's teachings as Kentou learns a new technique!
Eating out every day can be fun for a while, but for most people it loses its charm relatively quickly, especially if there aren't many restaurants near where you live. Frei, as a resident of Southtown Village, doesn't have that problem... but a week of sampling the various cafes and diners and bistros in the area is ready to get back to cooking. Of course, the problematic part is that while the young sage is highly adept at sweet things and baked goods, actual MEALS are not his forte. He's not the type that can't boil water, but complex food doesn't work out well.
Add to that the fact that his tastes were significantly influenced by his six years in China, and where he shops in Southtown becomes easy to guess. Thus this afternoon he got his canvas shopping bags (well, if *you* were a chi scholar, you'd go green too) and trundled off to Chinatown, where he hasn't been in some time. Rather than just shop and get out, however, he's made the most of it. Lunch was at a local and very delicious ramen stall, and he even made some time for a little acupuncture from a wizened old Hong Kong woman with a shop. Then it was off to the market to get the basics: noodles, broth, meat and veggies, seasonings... enough to make a few days' worth of soups, curries, and dishes that will keep exceptionally well frozen.
Why? Well, it has something to do with why the YFCC teacher is wearing a pensive expression and walking rather slowly back home, thinking things through. On almost a whim -- or, perhaps, a moment of inspiration -- he signed up for the Strolheim Master/Student tournament. Only just now had he been contacted about it, welcoming him into the competing list and informing him of his exhibition opponent, a match that Frei hasn't arranged or had quite yet. But as with many decisions made spur of the moment, the redhead is left now to ponder why he made the decision that he did, and the possible consequences of it.
Grocery bags on both sides swing like pendulums, back and forth, as he takes meandering steps back toward his apartment, thoughts of his battles with Nataya, Chun-Li, and Hotaru dominating his thoughts. Being a fighter, being a competitor... before this year, he'd have never given them any thought. Fighting was a means to a scholarly end. But now... has he come too far to let it go so easily? There is a lot on his mind.
Good things always happen to people who walk down semi-crowded streets, carrying heavy objects, while distracted.
The Chinese Scholar is not alone in his heavy thoughts. Indeed, this tournament has given Kentou much to consider and its hardly even begun.
The boy is currently perched on the awning of a grocery store. Crouched over the edge like some kind of boyish gargoyle with his arms resting over his knees. His long braid dangling over the edge, waving slightly with every passing car on the street creating the image of a pensive cat. His expression, buried beneath a bandage over his forehead and several cotton band-aids crisscrossing over one cheek and behind an eye, is one of brooding. Chocolate-colored eyes distantly looking beyond the crowds milling beneath, through the Earth itself.
What does it mean? He wonders.
His first match of the tournament did not end in victory, but it was no total disaster. By all accounts it was an incredibly close fight. Kentou fought a fellow 'student' twice his size and several years his senior to a stand-still. But in the end, just didn't quite have what it took to keep the guy down. The boy feels he acquitted himself well.. But was it well enough? Did he embarrass Hotaru and Frei by losing his first match? Shouldn't he have done better? Near as he can tell, Tyler doesn't have any big-name trainer like Kentou does. Kentou trains every hour of every day that he can spare. Shouldn't he have done better? What else can he do? Is he not training hard enough? Maybe school is turning out to be too much of a distraction and his skill is slipping.
These thoughts storm in his mind. Wishing he had a better perspective of it all.
While Frei can only wonder why that long braid danging from above the awning in front of him looks so familiar... But then the brass clasp near the end is something of a give-away.
Not to mention.. Not many people have hair as long as Kentou.
So many thoughts. Was Chun-Li right, and determination and drive were more important than anything else getting him where he is? Is he really one-dimensional, or was Hotaru's assertion that he was something more than that more than just comforting him? Was Nataya right, and he has to kill rather than embrace his desire? So many thoughts and images.
Hey, wait. I know that hair.
Whether Kentou notices him or not, Frei stops just shy of the dangling braid and, still holding his groceries, tilts his head to the side a little. Yep, no doubt about it... it's either the Chinese kid from Gundam Wing, or it's Kentou. Of course, being UNDER the awning, Frei can't exactly just look up and see. And perhaps there's a very wicked part of him that knows a perfect way to check but it might not have the best results.
He sets the grocery bags down. You can almost see the devil and angel taking shape on one shoulder each.
It's actually quite comical, and people coming OUT of the shop, under the awning, watch in confusion as the young sage reaches out a hand toward the braid, then STOPS, then pulls it back, and repeats this four times. A battle of epic proportions is clearly being waged here.
Eventually he compromises, and just shoves the thing, to send it penduluming back and forth.
No matter how he slices it, Kentou has made significant progress. He knows it. He's twice what he was before Hotaru and Frei's teachings. But that fight made him feel like.. There's something he's missing. Something more he could do. Maybe...
Deep thoughts get disturbed as Kentou can feel a gentle sensation of motion from his braid. Not quite a tug but.. The boy blinks a few times, bringing his thoughts back down to Earth as he stares at the edge of the awning. With a suspicious frown, he casually leans forth and nearly flings himself over the edge. Gripping the bar beneath the fabric of the awning and dangling, upside-down.
His puzzled expression looks to and fro for precisely half a second before affixing his gaze upon... Frei?
"Oh! Instructor Frei!" Kentou blurts out.
The rest of his body following suit as he effortlessly flips the rest of the way. Rotating in the air and landing squarely, now facing his second teacher. His smile is hasty, but genuine, not expecting to see him here. Regardless, as a teacher he deserves decorum as Kentou straightens his jacket at his waist before offering sword-in-fist salute, "Good to see you!" Bowing formally.
The youth does look fairly beaten up. But such bruises and cuts don't slow him down much. It is, after-all, just part and parcel of the lifestyle.
Chinatown shoppers give a collective "awwww" and move about their business, which causes Frei to turn toward some of them with a confused expression. Did they WANT him to yank Kentou off the awning?
That moment of puzzlement past, the young sage checks to make sure his potatoes haven't rolled into the street and, satisfied that his groceries are intact on the ground, turns to his student and gives a little one-handed wave. "Heya there. Uh..." Of course, it's at this point that he processes a number of things, not the least of which are the bandages and such, never mind the fact that the kid was just sitting on an awning in the middle of Chinatown. In fact, it's such a surprise that he doesn't even give a :| face to his 'full title', or the bow. Instead, he tilts his head to the side much as he did when pondering the presence of Kentou's braid.
"You know, seeing you like this I suddenly have all sorts of questions, but am I going to regret asking them once I hear the answers?" he asks, perhaps a little more sincerely than the statement actually merits. "Uh, presumably you're okay."
Kentou straightens slowly as Frei acknowledges his existence with a discretionary look and a skeptical question. His eyes slowly widen with growing anxiety in his heart as he considers the implications.
Does Frei already know about his fight? Does he already regret teaching Kentou? Is he as disappointed as Kentou's afraid he'd be?!
"I..I.." The boy stammers in reply. Inequitably nervous for such a simple question and obvious joke. ...Then again, Kentou always has been a bit on the ... literal side of the equation. "W..Well.. I.." What should he even say? His hands fidget at his shorter braid compulsively, "..I .. I'll do better in my next tournament Instructor Frei! D.. Don't worry! I.. I won't embarrass you again!" His growing conviction heartening him somewhat in the face of what must invariably be a reproach for his loss.
Ever get that feeling like you completely missed a conversation somewhere?
Well. If Kentou's afraid that Frei is about to unleash the hellfire and begin accusing him of failing everyone's expectations and being relegated to the rank of dojo floor sweeper for the remainder of his lifetime, this thankfully does not come to pass. Actually, it's quite the opposite: the young sage's mouth makes an 'O' of recognition, and then he smiles broadly, nodding his head up and down slowly. Yes, that makes perfect sense when you put it that way, Kentou!
He is STILL in ^_^ mode when he says, rather too cheerfully, "What the hell are you talking about?" He drops out mid-nod to give Kentou the incredulous look which should perhaps indicate that his chi sensei has no idea what he is even saying.
One hand goes to Frei's hip, his arm making a sideways V shape as he leans his weight in that direction, giving Kentou the same sort of appraising once-over that sharp consumers give used cars before the hailstorm of questions to the unprepared dealer begins. "Well, it's obvious you were in a fight, and I *think* I've processed that you might have lost that fight, but beyond that every word you've said has been a total mystery." Unable to stop himself, he leans forward and pulls his hand off his hip, ruffling Kentou's bangs a bit as he required he be allowed to in the teaching 'contract' so many moons ago.
"Well, losses happen, Kentou, so I wouldn't let it get you down." Standing back up, he crosses his arms over his chest and purses his lips a moment. "I mean, it couldn't have been TOO awful, you've got all your limbs and everything. What tournament were you in? Did they have one at school or something?" He pauses, scratching his head. "I doubt we had one at the Center, I'd have heard about it... well, that and it still looks like we got Zerg rushed..." Oh, Frei. Like Kentou's going to know what the hell THAT means.
Kentou makes this adorable little 'URK' expression as Frei happily conveys how confuzzled he is over the boy's preemptive apologies.
The boy fights the urge to stammer 'N..Nothing!' and forget the episode happened. But, alas, it seems the boy neatly revealed his own shortcoming and making any denials now would taste of a lie. Kentou hates that flavor.
"...I.. Ah.. I lost my first match of the Starollhamu Tournament.." Head lowering several degrees as his gaze drifts down. No, he isn't ashamed of himself. Only feeling that he let them down. He and Hotaru both. That hurts much more than than any lingering injury from physical pain.
Erk! That hair-ruffle ALWAYS catches him off-guard! Seriously, this is what.. The twentieth time now?! How Kentou never sees this coming, no one will ever know.
Squawking, the youth immediately reaches up and fusses with his bangs, jostling his braids to and fro with the effort.
By the time he's finished preening, Frei's words sink into his stubbornly depressed mind. His gaze slowly lifts back up questioningly.. Seriously, he isn't mad?
...Wait a sec..
"...Zargu?"
Stroll Ham? For the briefest of seconds Frei tries to figure out why his student would be involved in a tournament to fight ambulatory pork products before recognition sets in and he blinks, both eyebrows going up. "*Strolheim*?!" He doesn't quite mean to put THAT much emphasis on the word, but it does take him by surprise. After all, he's seen Kentou on television fighting approximately one time, ever... his sudden entrance to the tournament fighting world does catch the young sage by surprise. However, he recovers quickly, and hopefully fast enough that his reaction isn't read as a 'what, *you*?!'.
Plus, he smiles afterwards, which can't hurt. "That's pretty ambitious, Kentou... but it should be a good experience for you, I think." That much is true. He's certainly learned a great deal from Hotaru, and Frei will humbly admit that Kentou has progressed quite well with his mastery of chi as well. But... "There's only so much you can learn in a dojo, after all. If you don't use it and learn to adapt in situations, you're not exploring the full potential of your abilities." That much is true. After all, it's that reason that Frei himself started fighting professionally; theory can only get you so far. Eventually, it needs to be put into practice. Sometimes you have to step into the real world.
Of course, he also mauls the word 'zerg', but that gets a handwave from Frei, the universal sign for 'fuhgeddaboutit'. That, and... he isn't sure he wants to talk about the attack on the Center with Kentou. He's already concerned about the number of people who've been drawn into problems with the mysterious organization known as NESTS... and while he is sure Kentou can take care of himself, he'd rather it not be *now*. Instead, he focuses on this match Kentou apparently lost. "Well, the first round is just exhibitions, right? I wouldn't worry about it too much. If I understand the rules right they'll pair you with someone experienced for the rest, the whole student/teacher thing." And now for the maximum bombshell: Frei's gaze goes up and to the side, glancing up toward the sky, one finger at his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, I should schedule my exhibition..."
At the Monk's incredulity, the color drains from Kentou's face as he stares with nervous apprehension. "H..Hai?" Yup, that's what he said!
And, logically, perhaps it shouldn't have been too terribly surprising. After all, the tournament is about Masters and Students! But then, to partake in a tournament officially sanctioned by the self-proclaimed kingdom of the greatest fighters in the world.. Well. Yes, it is pretty ambitious.
If anything, it goes to show the boy shouldn't be so terribly ashamed about losing.
Regardless, Frei's quick shift to a broad smile and a pleasant tone does wonders towards getting the boy to calm down. Going from 'mildly terrified' to a mere 'hesitant' in record time.
Frei's words echo Hotaru's on sentiment, and the boy is forced to admit their wisdom on that matter is baring out over time. "Hai.. I think you're right.." He ventures in quiet acquiescence. It certainly would go a long way towards explaining why Tyler did such a number on him. That older boy seemed to have a rough look about him, like he grew up and fought in the streets constantly. He may not have a celebrity teacher like Kentou, but years of hard experience on the streets may have got him just as far.
If anything, the reverse of Kentou's fears might be true. Kentou managed to fight Tyler tooth and nail and has several years LESS experience than him. Hotaru and Frei have made an incredible difference in his life, and that might be evident enough for all..
As Frei hand-waves the word Zargu, Kentou pouts and nods slowly. Aaah.. the YFCC. It seems like that place is always under attack by someone. Even Kentou has noticed it! But then.. Southtown is a dangerous place. A lot of crooks and gangsters always causing trouble somewhere in town. Such savage attacks are regrettably common-place here. The who's and the what's and the why's tend to be glossed over. Fighting is his life, not fighting crime. Frei doesn't need to worry about the boy getting himself involved in any of that! .... Except when he has no choice.
"Hai.. I think so.." Kentou's voice trails as Frei questions the format of the tournament. His eyes drift as he presses a crooked finger to his lips in consideration. Truth be told, the boy isn't totally certain what the schedule of the tournament is. Nor the weight behind any particular match up. Does his loss affection whom he fights in the tournament itself? ..Possibly. Of course, considering the boy can't really go any lower in the standings, he may have been disqualified from further participation for all he knows.
And.. If not, Frei does remind him of the other matter. Whom he could be paired up with. Which, from what he knows, is not guaranteed to be Hotaru. Frei's musing, however, snaps the boy out of his concern as his eyes light up excitedly, "Oh! Oh! Who are you fighting?" Grinning eagerly as he hops in place thrice. The fact that Frei is in the tournament does not surprise the boy in the least. After all, if Hotaru's in it naturally he would be too! Not to mention, it doubles his chances of him tag-teaming with one of his mentors!
Sadly, Kentou's teacher can't give him any advice about Tyler, for the two haven't met... surprising, since Kentou's opponent has made not one but two appearances at the YFCC of late. In fact it's probably better that Frei DOESN'T know about one of them, since it... resulted in yet another hole in the wall. The chi sage is not quick to anger, but even a cheerful individual like him has his limits, and destruction of that building is rapidly becoming one of his pet peeves. Instead, he just offers as much generic encouragement as he can, since doubtless Kentou probably needs it. "Losing is not such an awful thing, anyway. Chun-Li gave me a sound buttkicking in the Neo League recently... but I still feel like it was worth it to fight her." Perhaps more than even he lets on, in fact.
"His name is Ichiro, I think," Frei adds, adopting an expression of concentration. That was the name on the card, right? "He's a Taiyo student, I believe, but other than that I don't know anything. And of course since he goes to Taiyo, you know he can break concrete blocks with his forehead and shoot laser beams from his eyes..." He exaggerates for effect, but only a little bit; Frei knows more than a few people from Taiyo High School, and even the *teachers* at that august institution seem to be fighters of considerably above average calibre.
But, Kentou in Strolheim... well, but now there's a conundrum for Frei, and he suddenly adopts a very pensive expression, seemingly out of nowhere, before he turns and picks up his groceries, walks over to the wall of the store, and sets them down there out of the way before beckoning Kentou out from under the awning with a wave of the hand, away from foot traffic. He takes a deep breath, for a second his hand running through long red bangs, and fingertips brushing for just a second over the scar on his temple from a certain individual's previous training. Yeah... if anything, Strolheim is proof that Kentou really is at the 'last step'. Not because of anything he's learned -- though that's part of it -- but because it shows independence. He wanted to do it, he wanted to be part of the fighting world and show people what he can do. That is, in Frei's mind, an awfully big step... the hardest one, in fact. If he knew about the matches between Kentou and Blanka, he might be even more impressed than he already is.
Hopefully the boy comes over, as requested, but Frei begins talking to him either way. "Alright. Let me give you something that should help in your first real match," he says evenly. Will this work? There's a moment of instability, of doubt, in his expression... but it's quickly banished. That's the old Frei talking, the one who wasn't sure what his purpose was. THIS one knows, and he knows what he and Kentou are both capable of.
"You fought Chun-Li?!" Kentou blurts instantly when Frei reveals a recent loss. His eyes widen and his jaw drops, completely and totally envious. The fact that Frei lost to her has a fraction of the meaning that he had the honor of fighting her in the first place. She, whom is widely considered the one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, Chinese martial artist alive. The boy would give anything for the privilege of fighting her!
Geez! Frei really does have friends in really high places to earn that kind of match!
Although, as Frei drops the name 'Ichiro', Kentou's promptly changes to a blank look. "..Who?" Nodding slowly as Frei explains shortly thereafter. Taiyo huh? Sakura's alma mater. A fine pedigree. "Wow.. Laser beams?" The boy breathes. o.o
...Sadly. He really is that gullible. But then, considering the people he's fought and seen on TV, laser-beams attached to their fricken heads is not nearly as far-fetched as it should be in a sane world.
Frei's sudden shift in expression is not missed. Kentou watches him curiously as he turns about to retrieve his groceries, taking a step closer and wordlessly offering to carry a bag for him as his voice is employed for a separate question, "Is something wrong, Instructor?"
Nodding once more in hesitation to Frei's wave, the boy quickly falls in line. Taking a momentary look around to various passersby before filing in behind the monk. Although, as Frei gives an offer in turn.. Kentou's eyes widen once again, "..Instructor?" The vagueness definitely piques Kentou's curiosity, holding his breath subconsciously.
Frei seems a little taken aback by Kentou's interest in his battle with Chun-Li, but in more of a 'sudden surprise' way than a 'wtf' way. He laughs, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, for given values of 'fought'. Actually, your other sensei fought her recently too, if she hadn't said anything." That was what Hotaru had told him on the beach in Hawaii, at any rate, and he'd been too busy to interrogate her over it... but fighting Chun-Li seems like something Hotaru might do, after all.
Still, there are other matters to attend to here, and his expression becomes... well, not 'serious', as even the new and improved more serious Frei is rarely fully 'serious', but certainly more focused and composed. He looks at Kentou carefully, as if trying to stare through the youngster, before he speaks, shutting his eyes for a moment to better visualize the memories, one hand balled into a fist and held just above his sternum. "You learned what chi is. You found your own way of shaping it. You even, I am told, made your own attack." At this, Frei opens one eye and trains it on Kentou with a bemused smile. "You have all the basics, certainly you understand them. But..." There's always a but, isn't there?
Perhaps surprisingly, Frei steps back from Kentou a bit and drops into a fighting stance slowly, as if easing into a hot bath. Now... now is the test. His memory goes back to his own training, long ago... a time when he himself barely understood what chi even was, let alone how to shape it and bend it to his will. Fighting was even farther away, a distant dream he had yet to conceive of... and his master was a crotchety, demanding Chinese hermit, perhaps the very image of the Chinese magician that Kentou often conceives of Frei as. Wearing robes, and a headband, and pulling a very credible Yoda impression, asking the impossible, demanding what Frei sometimes felt like could never be. But there was a moment when things fell into place. It was after, of all things, Frei was subjected to the same 'ritual' that he made Kentou go through. A disheartening ritual, indeed, because when the Master opened his palm to show Frei's 'chi' given form?
His hand was empty.
"This... I've changed things up, a bit, since I first came to Southtown. But this was always my favorite technique, the one I learned... first. It was a test," he says, looking at Kentou carefully as he brings his hands up, both glowing blue-white. "To see if I could make it 'my own'. And I did. After that... after that, everything opened up for me. It really was like walking out of a dark forest into a sunny day."
With no further ado, he sweeps his hands out, and the frosty energy he was collecting bursts forth, becoming a sphere of ice that explodes outwards in numerous shards, each dying away before they could do any harm to Kentou... and perhaps speaking to the control he's gained in the years since. "Here's your test: take that, and make it your own. Show me. I'm not going to tell you how... you've learned all the rote I can teach you. Throw whatever you need to at me until it sticks." And after that, he smiles gently, and adds in a very solemn tone: "I believe you can do it."
COMBATSYS: Frei has joined the fight here.
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Frei 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Tyler
COMBATSYS: Kentou has joined the fight here.
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Frei 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Tyler
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
No, Hotaru didn't say anything about it! Man, she keeps all the good fights to herself. The boy definitely intends to grill her over the details of that one later on! But yeah, with her trip in Hawaii and preparing for this Tournament there's been preciously little time to really speak with her since.
As Frei adopts a much more serious tone, Kentou reflexively straightens. A familiar tone, one that completely transforms him from worried boy to attentive student. His attention undivided now as he listens carefully.
To each of Frei's questions the boy nods in turn. Only hesitating at the notion that he made his own attack. While the boy has his Ondori techniques.. None of them have Chi capability. He's had a few .. ideas here and there. But to make something whole cloth? ... Hmm..
Regardless, Kentou doesn't let his mind wander too far, especially as Frei steps back and adopts a stance. The boy takes a few steps back of his own but doesn't follow suit quite yet. While the boy is ever ready for an impromptu spar, he'll wait until he is commanded to do so specifically. A hunch that Frei might only be interested in demonstrating something..
..The boy's eyes widening little by little, enthralled as Frei settles into deep technique-laden meditation.. Preparing to invariably summon forth a paranormal event worthy of the name 'Old Chinese Magic'!
...Only to lightly frown in mild disappointment as the hand turns out to be empty. ._. ...Aww.. He was hoping for a fireball maybe. Or a small tornado?
Getting over his confusion, the boy shakes his head lightly to clear his thoughts again and pay attention. And that attention is rewarded with the spectacle he was hoping for, eyes reflecting the blue-white frost energy generated. Watching the beautiful sphere of perfect ice -shatter- and explodes outward. The boy reflexively lifts his arms in defense.. Only to lower sheepishly as only cool, dissolving mists ever touch his skin.
"That was amazing Instructor! Tha-"... Wait what?
WHAT?
Kentou is dumbstruck. Brow furrowing in confusion. Wait a sec.. That's it? No hints? No focusing strategies? No technique pattern?
"I...?"
'Take that, and make it your own.'
"I'm not.. sure.." Lifting his hands slowly, eyes gazing over his spread fingertips. Thoughts about Frei's demonstrated technique running back and forth in his mind. While before, Frei's abilities seemed completely arcane and unknowable. Now that the boy has had some experience in learning Frei's arts.. The move did seem somewhat understandable. But..
'Show me.'
Hands slowly grip into fists, ".. H.. Hai Instructor." Kentou states with determination. Jaw setting as he exchanges that puzzled expression for one of familiar determination. Taking a moment to gather his bearings and think.. Think hard.
Normally Frei's bone structure and demeanor generally make him seem really young, far younger than his age... one he found was about the same as Chun-Li's, when he looked into it. Something about that knowledge stunned him a little, even... after all, she makes it seem so effortless, and as Kentou's reaction spoke to, she's one of the best of the best. However, in talking to Kentou about this topic, somehow the 'adult' in him comes out; his smile is softened by an edge that would on other people be called weariness, the light in his emerald green eyes tempered by long experience. No, he might not be a world-class fighter like her... but he hasn't gotten as old as he has without learning some things.
"It's a scary feeling, isn't it?" he asks, surprisingly conversational about it. He's not exactly 'on the defensive', but his posture clearly indicates that he's more ready to take whatever Kentou dishes out than to pepper him with strikes to get him to react. "Of course, most people describe it as 'sink or swim', right? But... I don't know that analogy is perfect. It's more like... skydiving." He glances up at the sky, now turning orange-gold with sunset's colors, as if to emphasize the point. "You're not totally unprepared. You have your parachute. But... you're also falling fast, and you don't know exactly when or how things are going to happen."
Bringing his eyes back down to Kentou, Frei shakes his head a little. "But think about the things I've told you so far." He pauses, opening his mouth to speak, and then shakes his head. "Actually, strike that. Think about the things you've *experienced* so far. They're in your head, after all... your mind, your heart, even your body probably remember the things you've learned. Trust in that."
A pause, and then he speaks into the silence once more: "Why did you try out for the Strolheim tournament, Kentou?"
For long moments, Kentou stares at his upheld fists. It could almost be a fighting stance, if it wasn't for the fact that his attentions are entirely inward, opposed to without. The mechanical aspects of it come to him, looking at it from the most basic elements. Generate Chi in either hand. Learning Hizashi taught him that much. Previously he needed both hands to generate one sphere of energy together. Cultivating and harnessing the 'flow' of it. Doing that one-handed is certainly possible. He can manage that now right? Right.
A deep breath. One fist opens abruptly, emerald energy flashes forth in a brief explosion. The force of it cracking a small thunderclap but little else.
Alternating, his opposite hand unleashes another flashing salvo as the opposite clenches shut once more. His eyes switching back and forth between them as he feels this out. Trying to understand the balance, the distribution of forces to generate a sphere in each hand.
...This is harder than it looks.
His eyes lift upwards a moment as Frei explains fear. The boy offers an audible breath in reply before looking back to his works. The pressure is on.. But that's part of it. Frei helped him discover that. His chi.. His focus is in courage. Of rising against odds that appear insurmountable. To confront problems head on and with determination. Calling forth that emotion is key now. His jaw grits as his eyes narrow a quarter, gaining intensity by the moment.
Thankfully, Frei's last question has such an easy answer that Kentou doesn't spend a fraction of thought on it. His answer as no-mind as zen, "To fight the best and know myself." Firmly and without a hint of hesitation.
In the wake of those words, his right hand opens. A sphere of emerald balances on his spread fingertips. Luminescent and cohesive.. Not an unstable thing exploding mere moments after generation. The boy intakes a sharp breath, his eyes widening as his hand waivers but only a fraction. Looking as if he's balancing that ball of green light upon his fingertips, fearful it could roll off and fall apart at any moment.
"..Okay.. Okay..." Repeating to himself in a hushed tone. A droplet of sweat rolling down the side of his face. Eyes darting to his left hand in quick little glances, unwilling to take his eyes off his one-handed triumph for any significant length of time for fear it might evaporate.
One down. Now then.. Just one more..
With a slow look, his other hand opens quickly..
...And the other green sphere blows up in his face. The emerald force enough to actually blast the bandage from his forehead and knock one loose from his cheek. Recoiling his head to the side as he stumbles a step. "Erph!"
All is silent for a moment, Frei watching that... very carefully. Obviously he's not going to let Kentou hurt himself, not that he thinks that's even a possibility. But it's hard to react to that. Of course he wants to be encouraging...
He laughs. Lightly, but he does it. Come on, that was funny!
Shaking his head, he keeps his eyes on Kentou, not wanting to move forward unless it becomes clear that Kentou wants him to. It's very careful; even the decision to laugh at that is not taken lightly, and it occurs to the young sage that he should at least explain himself a LITTLE bit. "Remember, Kentou: pain today, progress tomorrow." He tries to sound jovial about it, hopefully to keep the kid's spirits up. He truly believes in that credo, though. How did he put it to Hotaru? 'If nothing positive ever comes of suffering, then what's the point? I can't believe we're made to suffer for nothing.' "Don't let it get you down. Any explosion you can walk away from is a good explosion."
Of course, he HAD asked a question, and Kentou gave him an answer. An answer that was so quick and so sincere that it's clear he's thought it over long and hard. It's something he wants to do, something he needs to do. 'To fight the best and know myself.' Okay... that's workable. "Okay... so you want to fight your best. Remember what I said a long time ago? Strong power responds to a strong will, right?" And now he bores his green-eyed gaze into Kentou, driving the point home. He wasn't going to tell him exactly what to do... but reminding him of things he already knows won't hurt. In fact, it's almost a necessity. "Kentou, if you didn't have a strong will, you'd still be at home, wondering if you should enter, if you're good enough, if it was worth it. But you're not! You're here with me, preparing, bettering yourself. Think about what that means."
He pauses, and for a moment his eyes are downcast, a hand resting flat palm-down on his hip. "Doubt is never gone from anyone's heart. But doubt's mere existence isn't enough to make faith irrelevant. That's why I said not to sweat losing, and that's why I was okay laughing at that mistake. Because a strong heart doesn't banish doubt... it works in spite of it. Don't focus on your doubts. Focus on what you want... and show me what it is that you DO want."
The boy recovers from the technique blowing up in his face. Fingertips of his left hand going to his cheek a moment as he blinks in astonishment. Fingers of his right flexing a moment, waving them about while taking an inventory check. Still five, check!
At Frei's laughter.. The boy can't help but grin lopsidedly in embarrassment. Eh-heh..
Okay. Generating two spheres at the same time just seems.. A little beyond him. He doesn't have Frei's effortless focus. But if he can't do that, how else can he make the technique work? It seems to require.. It seems to need two volatile sources of chi impacting each other and detonating near his opponent. What if..
Wait.. Now there's an idea..
"Hai Instructor.." Inwardly agreeing with Frei's assessment. No pain, no gain. Kentou's hard work and hard training has proven that. No matter how his muscles ached or how exhausted he was, the boy persevered. This is no different. Not minding the sting in his cheek at all, his thoughts completely focused on the task at hand.
Frei's words ring in his thoughts. Augmenting rather than distracting. 'Strong power responds to strong will.'
The boy stands tall once more. Holding his hands before him once again as he takes quicker breaths.
'Think about what that means... Show me what it is that you DO want.'
His dark eyes lift suddenly. Staring straight at Frei with an intensity that warns him to be on guard right now. Kentou is ready. "HAI!"
The boy steps forth and raises his arms straight out, and then parallel to one another with one directed at Frei and the other behind.
Kentou raises his right hand before him. Fingers outstretched while eyes narrow in concentration. His left hand held directly behind himself at a 180 degree angle from his leading arm. "HaaaaAAAAAAA!" Voice building in strength as he dredges forth effort from the depths of his being. Putting his all into it, all of his concentration, all of his force. A single spark of emerald alights in the palm of his hand, immediately expanding outwards into a hand-sized sphere as before.
Except this time.. It continues to expand. The boy does not stop filling that region with his burgeoning power. The glow intensifying as the ball of force grows wider and wider.. Far larger than the technique demands.
Effort contorts his face, sweat rolling down his brow and cheeks. Bangs fluttering in an unfelt breeze as he generates more raw power in one location than he ever has in his entire life.
A little more.. Just a little more..
Kentou's spread hand begins to tremble--holding the forces contained increases in difficulty geometrically. The boy knows he can squeeze a bit more.. just a little more into this thing. Feeling it out in the moment, touching the very edge of his channeling endurance.
There!
The basketball-sized emerald globe begins to tremble. Growing no further and only barely holding together. Instinctively, Kentou knows he's hit the threshold. The most Chi he can channel in one place with one hand. Now.. To see if his wild idea works..
"HUP!" With that abrupt shout, Kentou thrusts his arm forth, giving the energy ball a hard -shove-. The sphere rolls forth..
..Slowly. Unlike the greater speed of most chi projectiles, this ball ponderously rolls through the air. The 'spin' of it maintaining its cohesion now that its no longer under Kentou's command. Of course, such a slow projectile.. While certainly charged.. will have limited application in true combat. Too easy to dodge, easy enough to block.. Easy to-
And then Kentou's left hand makes its move. Long held behind him, now that the boy released the first sphere, he's now free to channel what scraps of energy he has left without worrying about splitting his concentration. His off-hand flexes, forming a tiny marble-sized pinpoint of energy at his extended index and forefinger.
"-HAH!-"
The boy -twists-. Whirling about counter-clockwise, twirling at his hips and shifting his feet. Lashing out with that right-hand and throwing that second vastly smaller ball like a back-handed hurled dart.
So fast, the dart streaks through the air all but instantly like a tiny green laser. Spiking into the greater sphere once it floats closer towards Frei..
..Like a hot pin thrown at a hydrogen baloon, the energy mass -EXPLODES-. Not an explosion of ice shards, but a massive wave of energy force sweeping outwards like a tidal wave. Even Kentou stumbles back a few steps, throwing up his arms defensively as wind blows his hair back!
COMBATSYS: Frei endures Kentou's Youdan Rengeki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Frei 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Tyler
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kentou 0/-------/------=|
There.
Were this a real fight, Frei would be carefully considering how to react to such a technique, because it is a little unorthodox... but effective, for sure. As it stands, before he'd even started this little spar, he knew what he would do when Kentou finally figured it out. He doesn't try anything fancy; he simply buckles down, spreads his arms wide, and wades into the surf, as it were. The green light is curiously reflected in his green eyes a split second before it slams into him. He grits his teeth against it, because that stings no matter who it comes from, but he stands his ground... not to insult Kentou, but so that he can experience every second of this, Kentou's variation on a theme.
When the dust settles -- literally -- Frei is still standing there, eyes closed, arms out... having shifted position three feet in reverse thanks to the force of the impact. Not enough to bowl him over, just yet... but he felt that. And more importantly, he could see every part of Kentou's working through the problem. One thing didn't work, so try another. Focus on what you want. Aim for results. That's how miracles are born, after all.
"The difference between wisdom and knowledge," Frei says quietly, opening his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest, "is that knowledge is things you 'know', that you've read or been told. Wisdom comes from within, not without; it's a flash of insight, a spark, a feeling. One isn't necessarily important than the other, but one can be taught and the other one can't."
Perhaps to Kentou's either amazement or amusement (or potentially both), Frei stands up, then curls his right hand into a fist and slams it into the opposite palm, bowing at the waist. When he comes back up, however, the serious mien has entirely faded from his face, and instead the high, freckled cheeks are raised in a very bright smile, the young sage radiating pride. "Congratulations, Kentou... you passed the test. You've learned most of what I can teach you, at least in terms of knowledge. Now you have to teach yourself, with wisdom."
For the longest moment, Kentou stands in recoil. His arms crossed before him, lowering an inch at a time. His eyes as wide as dinner plates as he watches the dust and Frei's apparel alike settle in the aftermath of that explosion. A singular thought runs through his mind, numbed to all other concerns.
Did I just do that?
After several heartbeats, concern for Frei rises in his thoughts. As does a concern for.. Air. Only now realizing he's been holding his breath for the past ten seconds.
"..Guh!.." Inelegantly stated, chest heaving as he stares at the monk who took the blow head-on. Relieved and astonished at the same time as the young man is largely unhurt in the aftermath. Kentou shouldn't be surprised, berating himself. Frei just taught him that technique, he'd hardly be so vulnerable to it!
As his Instructor speaks, Kentou slowly straightens. Regaining a semblance of composure, even as he continues breathing hard. His emotions a barely-contained cyclone of thrill and cheer. His gigantic grin unable to be completely hidden beneath his attentive expression.
Knowledge and Wisdom. While the latter may come from within, it absolutely requires the first in order to prosper. And for that, Frei's teachings have been absolutely necessary.
Frei's own rendition of the Shaolin Sword-in-Fist catches Kentou off-guard. Very hastily mirroring the salute moments after him, squeaking in surprise.
As Frei rises, Kentou lowers. Falling to his knees and bowing low in supreme gratitude. Hands placed down with his forehead touching the pavement.
"Thank You Instructor Frei!"
He cannot emphasize the sincerity of those words enough. Without Frei, Kentou's understanding of the most advanced of fighting techniques would be stunted. With Hotaru-Sensei's own worries over her own powers, she's been too self-conscious to teach him and while he's grown leaps and bounds under her teachings.. The gap in his training was significant. A gap that Frei managed to fill. Teaching the impatient, imprudent boy how to use techniques so few could hope to use. Techniques requiring introspection and subtlety the youth found to be completely alien concepts.
Somehow, through it all, he managed the impossible and Kentou owes him more than he could begin to repay.
Except, of course, for going out and showing the world the strength and honor of Frei's Old Chinese Magic. Along with the Futaba and Ondori Styles of Kenpo.
"Thank You!"
A little grimace. He's seen obsequies before and they always creep Frei out, so much that he reaches down and makes to grip Kentou's arm and haul him upwards bodily if he has to. The sage can understand why Kentou would be thankful, but that's a bit too much. At least he's smiling -- somewhat awkwardly, but he's smiling -- while he does this, shaking his head once everyone's standing up again. "All I did was do what you and Hotaru asked of me; no more, no less." Maybe that's underselling things a little bit, but the idea of someone bowing so low in his honor makes the relatively egalitarian Frei visibly uncomfortable.
Of course, things aren't all peaches and cream. "You know," he says distractedly, walking over to pick up his groceries where they've sat against the wall, his back to Kentou. "I'm not really your instructor, anymore, you know." He picks up the bags, testing their weight a little a bit, and then half-turns back to his (former?) student with a sly smile. "We're peers. It might be that you're going to have to fight me in the Strolheim tournament, after all." Not that he seems disappointed at that possibility, nor that he is prophecizing doom for the young fighter... but it IS a statistical probability, one both Kentou and Frei should be ready for.
Walking back over to Kentou, Frei smiles pleasantly, the two grocery bags penduluming back and forth a bit just as they did when this conversation first started not that long ago. "The important thing is that you keep experimenting and figuring things out. After all, Hotaru taught you things too, I assume." For a second he pauses, wondering what kind of technique Kentou might develop combining what he's learned from Frei with what he's learned from Hotaru, and one eyebrow goes up. It's an interesting image, to be sure. Shaking his head, he lets that go. "But you have everything you need, I think, to do that. After all, you just proved that you can."
There's this distinctive squeak that only Kentou can quite manage due to a combination of youth and size. A sound he only makes in moments of complete surprise. For example? When Frei abruptly reaches down and hauls the boy to his feet.
Discombobulated, the youth stands off-balance with wide eyes, wondering what he did wrong this time as his jaw works wordlessly.
His eyes convey the most emotion. Still stunned that, through Frei's teaching, he managed to pull off what most consider impossible. Those chocolate depths on the verge of tears.
Frei's own expression doesn't parse for the youth. What's he so… Disturbed by? Maybe it is a cultural thing. He is, after all, English in part. Though training in China for so long surely would have gotten him used to kowtowing! Still, the boy should know by now Frei's preference for a more… free-wheeling training style that would be considered completely disrespectful looked at from any viewpoint except the one it should be looked at.
Which is, the boy figures, entirely the point. Such are the mysteries of Frei Tsukitomi-Renard.
Sniffling precisely once, the boy wipes his nose with the back of his wrist as his former Instructor collects his groceries. Taking a moment to collect himself in much the same fashion.
Peers? Hah! Hardly. The boy may have completed his training with Frei, but he's definitely not at the man's level yet! If anything, this only signifies that the prologue is over and the real story has just begun to unfold.
As for the specter of fighting Frei as a competitor as soon as a few days hence, the boy only grins, "If we do fight each other in the tournament.. I won't embarrass you by hitting you with anything less than everything I got!" Fist pumping in the air as a sworn pledge. It is how the youth views fighting in general. It is not a competition to destroy one's foes as a savage gladiator's arena. It's an event to bring honor to his name, his arts, his teachers AND his opponents. If they're all in the same match, all the more reason to try as hard as he can and show the world what they're made of!
"I will Ins.." Catching himself, "… Frei!" As the monk had spoken, the boy has gained just enough knowledge through his efforts to begin attaining wisdom on his own. This is not the end of his learning, only that he has proven that he CAN learn. Now the true hard work can begin. Taking what he's learned and applying it.
His apprenticeship with Hotaru, however, is not over. After so many months of training with her virtually every day.. Almost a full year now.. He cannot conceive of a time when his tutelage under her would be complete. He has much, much further to go before he can completely, truly fly on his own. Still, Frei's efforts have allowed him to take one gigantic step closer to that goal.
"Good luck in the tournament Frei! I know you'll do really well!" The boy again bows, save this time with less humility, in an attempt to make the Monk more comfortable. His smile as bright and dazzling as the morning sun.
Log created on 22:15:16 09/27/2008 by Kentou, and last modified on 14:30:32 09/28/2008.