Description: Benkei returns to the Todoh Dojo after three years, getting out the kinks and discussing his family with his sensei.
Daniel Jack stares upon the dojo with grim eyes.
The ground of the lawn was stripped to the bare clay underneath. Scorched clean, manly plants and flowers were lost in the efforts to purge the crab grass. Deep in his heart, he knew the crab grass would linger. But today was not a day of contractor work.
Today was a day of personal training.
It was finally the weekend, and Daniel was waiting this early morning for his newest recruit. Benkei. The old student of Todoh promised to return for one on one training, to work with the detective in the basics. While he couldn't work outside, and that MOST of the regulars were instructed not to come in while the renovations were underweigh, Daniel Jack would make an exception for Benkei.
HOpefully, he would make it worth it.
Benkei, wearing a huge damned backpack, rushes down the street, his little legs powering him forward as he speeds along. In his hand, he holds a blue piece of paper. Ducking around a person on the street and hitting the poor woman with his backpack, he enters the dojo. "Daniel! Daniel! I made a decision!" Benkei emits cheerfully and excitedly.
As Benkei enters the dojo grounds, the detective shakes his head. "Benkei! The first decision we must make is your uniform! You have a uniform for your academic school, now lets get you set up with a uniform for your Todoh school!" The detective pauses for a minute.
"Also, it is good to see you again!"
Walking towards the interior of the Dojo, the place is a mess of construction tools, sawhorses, and exposed white wall. Treading lightly, the detective leads the student towards the the storage room, where the spare uniforms were kept. "What is it on your mind, kid? You came in here looking like you just made a revelation!" The detective grunts, whipping out his keys as he begins to unlock the storage room.
Benkei begins to speak, but begins wheezing. He fumbles around his fanny pack, before pulling out an inhaler, and taking two puffs, breathing deeply. "I found what I want to do with my life!" He shows Daniel the paper, with the top reading, 'PROTECT AND SERVE: A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT'. "They say I can complete my senior year of highschool while going to police academy! I can be just like Robocop! I'll get beat up by Geese Howard, then get turned into a ROBOT!" He follows along after Daniel, chattering, "They say I can start as soon as I'm seventeen, and that's this June!"
Daniel Jack eyes Benkei, concern coming over his eyes. That inhaler. The detective opens the storage room, listening to the madcap schemes of his student. Entering the musty room, he brushes away the spider webs and centipedes, and begins to dig around for a gi that MIGHT look the right size.
"Law Enforcement is a good gig."
The detective begins, his tone taking on the same vibe as one would give explaining to a legless child why he can't play football. "And you defiantly got the right spirit for it, kid. But I gotta ask you about that puffer and that wheezing. You got asthma bad, don't you?" The detective pulls out a only slightly stained gi, before tossing it to Benkei.
"Put that on."
Benkei catches the gi, turning to the side and smacking Daniel with his oversized backpack. He drops the backpack to the ground, removes his fanny pack, then peers at Daniel. "Uh, you want me to take my clothes off?" He blushes a bit, standing there awkwardly, as he hads, "Yeah, I've got asthma, since I was little. It's why I couldn't play sports."
Daniel Jack is bumped by the backpack, and the reaction was almost instant. Dropping back in the defensive stance of Todoh, he slowly reverts back upright as he drops the backpack to the ground. The detective turns around, shaking his head. "Just, uh, you can just throw that over your current clothes."
The detective however, continues on the line with asthma.
"Asthma might be a problem then; it is a serious health concern for law enforcement as well as sports. It might be a problem here in Todoh; though as long as you have your breather, it should be okay... but that won't cut it for law enforcement." The detective pauses, waiting for him to throw on the gi while looking away.
"... Say, Benkei, have you heard of Theodore Roosevelt?"
"Sure!" Benkei says as Daniel looks away, then he strips to his skivvies, wearing briefs instead of boxers, and begins putting the gi on. "President of the United States, hunter and soldier, destroyed his own party's chance at the Presidency." He finishes putting the gi on, pulling the belt tight. "Sorry I didn't have one, my old gi got covered in blood."
Daniel Jack nods firmly as Benkei shoots off the history. "You are smart, kid. Good for you." Turning around as he finishes up putting on the gi, he looks at the kid, inspecting him. "Covered in blood? You- oooooh. You ended up fighting Intan, that's right.
The detective WINCES.
"I can't believe they paired you up with Intan. Creepy little freak. At least she didn't hit on you, right?" The detective walks out of the storage room, waiting for Benkei to follow so he can lock up. "Anyways. Teddy Roosevelt. Did you know that when he was growing up, he had horrible asthma, just like you?"
Benkei winces, still feeling the closing cuts from where he got stitches. "Yeah, she didn't try to have sex with me. Who would?" He follows Daniel out of the storage room, wearing his faded gi, and nods. "He had asthma? Wow. So maybe I have a shot at being a fighter after all..." he says at that revelation, imagining himself wrestling a lion before giving it a spinning piledriver.
Daniel Jack pauses for a moment at Benkei's comment. "Well, uh, I wouldn't worry about that too much. I know someday you will find love, kid. You just have to look in the right places." The detective closes the door behind Benkei, and locks it up tight. "But yeah, you know how he shook it off? By building both his body and his mind! Your mind is your best asset, kid, but what we need to do is work on your body!"
Daniel Jack leads Benkei to the sparring room.
Looking back, he nods his head. "You should have done a lot more sports BECAUSE of your asthma, not avoided them. You need to build up your strength and endurance. Now, I know this is the sparring area, but I don't want to fight you just yet. It's just that, well, the training room is still being worked on. Let me get in place, and you can show me your moves." The detective holds, and catches himself.
"Don't worry your performance though, nobody is around to tease you if you slip up on the basics."
Benkei rubs his chin as he follows along behind Daniel on bare feet. "By training his body and mind, eh? I bet I /could/ overcome asthma...I just need more, what is it? Strength and endurance? Yeeees..." He nods to himself, adjusting his glasses. "Then, Benkei will be the boss! I'll be dating cheerleaders, and having sex with the hot lady from my mother's bridge club!"
Daniel Jack pauses again, wondering how Master Todoh could handle this. Then again, Benkei never said these things around Kasumi. Maybe Master Todoh just ignored him, and Kasumi frightened him. Daniel though... Daniel was like a big brother to the kid.
Or as the Japanese called it, the Cho Aniki.
"The most important way to build endurance with Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu are the drills. We will start with the three pillars of the art. First, show me the hand and foot techniques that you remember. You remember those drills, right?" Daniel Jack looks upon Benkei, with only one thought on his mind.
Jesus christ this was one warped kid.
Benkei nods at Daniel, adopting a martial arts position as the room gets a bit hotter, golden chi surrounding Benkei. He punches, his free hand at his side for each punch, before he gives a pair of middle kicks, then a high kick. He's a bit rusty, but has the basic form down - maybe his fight with Intan knocked some cobblewebs loose.
The burst of golden chi surprises the detective, who expected a lot less 'flare' from the kid. Eyeing him skeptically, he observes the routine drill. "Not bad. Still a little loose in some places, still a little stiff in other places. At least I know I won't have to a lot of catching up with you."
The detective walks around Benkei, observing him intently. "Okay, now show me the drills for the grapples. The wrist locks, the arm locks, the throws. Just like how Kasumi used to teach." The detective pauses, and then asks, from the earlier line of thought.
"Why are you interested in law enforcement, anyways?"
Benkei remembers the grapples way better, having used them on bullies in recent memory. He goes through the drill, as he explains, "So I can be in charge. So I can be tough. So I can bust those bul - er, criminals.
can add in the break"
"Yeah, and then, I'll be the man!" he squeaks, his voice catching in his throat with the evidence of puberty.
Daniel Jack observes Benkei with that same, piercing dilligence. "Power doesn't make a man. Though resentment can make the best fuel. Master Todoh would not be half the man he is today if he didn't take the rivalry of Kyokugen, and use it to motivate himself into greatness. That's the strength of will, and the strength of courage. To look at what challenges you, and overcome it with pure grit."
"The Heart of Todoh."
Daniel Jack claps his hands once. "A lot better with the grapples. Have you been practicing with them? Maybe you showed a few of those crim- I mean bullies what happens when you pick on a student of Todoh!" The detective rubs his chin. "Still, law enforcement isn't about power, it's about justice."
"Now, the hardest part."
The detective backs up a bit. "I need you to show me the Kasane Ate motions. Now, I know you are a lot out of practice, so if you can't get the full chi out, that's okay. It's the motions that are important. Lets try a set of five."
"Go!"
"Kasane Ate is my specialty!" Benkei announces boldly, before dropping his hands forward, one, twice, thrice, four times, fivetimes, sending five waves of golden energy across the floor. "I used one in my fight with Intan, it totally owned her!" he giggles. "I'm about justice too, but without force, there is no state! Do you hear me, Daniel? No state!"
Well, damn.
Daniel Jack watches in startled awe as Benkei tosses out the Kasane Ates without breaking a sweat. Daniel could throw out five Kasane Ates back to back, but he was a senior student! Benkei was just a step above an initiate. If that was it, that would have left the detective speechless.
But his response.
"Without force, there is no state." The detective mulls. "Yeah, but you don't want to turn into a bully yourself, do you? That's not the way of Todoh. I mean, what would your father think of you if you started throwing your weight around!" Danny waves his hands around a bit.
"Another set of five Kasane Ates."
"He throws his weight around all the time with me and mom," Benkei says darkly, beginning on the next five, his chi a little less this time...Around the third or fourth, he angrily says, "Middle management kinda guy, thinks he runs Sony!" The last Kasane Ate crackles with a flare of chi, leaving a pair of scorchmarks across the floor.
Anger.
Daniel Jack saw the ripple of resentment under the surface of the goofy, nervous boy. That anger that had rarely been drawn out. The detective approaches Benkei, taking only a step closer. "But I thought your mother was the one who controlled you. Does your father control her as well, and you? What are you allowed to control?" Daniel Jack waves his hand, growing more interested in the student.
"Another Five!"
"They both want control over me. And each other. You should hear them fight!" Benkei states sourly, firing three more, before adding, "I get to control things at school. And in D&D. I'm the Dungeon Master. But nothing, nope, nothing to control at home." Again, the last Kasane Ate is done with emphasis.
Daniel circles the boy, not hiding the fact that he was putting on the mask of a detective, not a senior student of Todoh. "Are you not tired?" He asks, seeing how far he could push the student. Maybe it was the anger... or maybe it was an inner strength that could be brought out with chi.
There was only one way to find out.
"How they fight." The detective responds, using the same line that Benkei used. "What would you do if you had the same control over them that they have over you? What do you do with your power in school? In your... Dungeon Mastering?" Daniel was growing more and more intense, rubbing his chin as he more wildly throws his hand.
"Now! A set of ten! Do not stop!"
Benkei's halo of gold chi crackles with heat, as he begins throwing out Kasane Ate, getting out of breath but pushing himself forward. Maybe it's drive...Or maybe it's what they're discussing. "I'd make them sit down and shut UP!" Benkei says, that Kasane Ate leaving another set of scorch marks. "When I'm in charge of a project, things get done. I don't tolerate, any..." Another flare at Kasane Ate number eight. "SLACKERS!"
Daniel Jack crosses his arms. He had opened a window into the soul of this bitter teenage boy. He could see Benkei beginning to get out of breath, but that passion, that drive... he had never expected it from the boy. Twenty-Five Kasane Ates. This was actually breaking the rules of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu; as this was a test that only someone of Daniel's rank would be expected to undergo.
And Benkei was on the cusp of passing it.
The detective could not believe that Benkei was a natural with chi. But as he was learning, the boy had hidden depths. The window open, the detective lets loose a piercing phrase, aiming for the heart of Benkei's passion.
To test his convinctions.
"So you want to be just like your father?"
At this, Benkei falters, emitting the final Kasane Ate as he falls to his knees, chest rising and falling, glasses fogged up. "Some day, after I leave home, I will be. Yes, Daniel...I want to be a man."
Daniel Jack holds himself above his student. Zach. Benkei. Kazuki. Cammy. All were looking for direction in their lives. Zach was looking into his purpose in the world. Cammy was leaving her dark past. Kazuki was caught between duty and desire. And Benkei...
Benkei wanted to be a man.
"Very impressive Benkei." Daniel Jack answers, sounding very impressed at the Kasane Ate flurry that Benkei unleashed. "Master Todoh will be pleased to learn how much you have retained. You have the heart of Todoh still. But you are still young, and there is a great deal for you to learn."
The detective shrugs, uncrossing his arms as he approaches Benkei. "I believe you are on a good path though. To be a man. Your journey will be a long one though, and the path is filled twists and turns. I think that is enough for today." The detective eyes Benkei, his expression proud, if stoic. "Lets go back to the storage room. I think... didn't I lock your backpack in there? Anyways." Daniel reaches out, to put a brotherly hand on his student's shoulder.
"I would be proud to help you truly become a man, Benkei."
Benkei's limbs quiver as the halo of chi dies, the boy completely tapped of his impressive, but still finite, reserve of power. He looks up at Daniel, a bit embarassed by his outbursts and what he's shared. "Thanks, Dan. Just, uh...Don't tell mom and dad what I told you, okay?" He rises up, wobbling towards the storage room to get his backpack.
Daniel Jack nods warmly, escorting Benkei to the back room to get his stuff. "Don't worry about it. I have a feeling when I finally do meet your parents, it's not going to be pretty for anyone involved."
The detective breaks out his keys, unlocking the storage room.
"Oh, and that doesn't mean I am going to beat up your parents. There is more strength in ideas than in fists, grabs, and Kasane Ates. Don't forget that!" The detective opens to door to the storage room, revealing the forgotten backpack.
Benkei moves to his backpack and his clothes, picking both up. He puts the huge backpack on, and grins at Daniel. "More strength in ideas? I wish I knew someone my age like you, Daniel." He checks his watch, and gulps. "I better get going. Thanks!" He scurries off, going down the street, wearing the gi with shoes, not wanting to change in front of people again.
Daniel Jack turns to watch as Benkei, grabbing his sack, turns to run back to school. The detective nods firmly. "Some day you will. Some day you will."
The detective pauses.
"... He remember to bring his old clothes back with him, right?"
Log created on 17:31:51 04/11/2012 by Benkei, and last modified on 19:17:30 04/12/2012.