CHAPTER SIX
Godzilla Wins Again

*in the darkness of early morning, Disciple sits and writes*

"It has been quite a while since I was dropped off in Japan. Many things have happened to me that I would have never dreamed I would be part of. My schedule is a very busy one. I had been waking up to a beautiful, bright, low, warm sun, but today I was awaken one hour earlier and instructed to write in my new Journal. Master says it will calm the wrestling of my soul. Then I will join the Master in the garden for morning exercise. Then I eat a small but satisfying, rice, fish, and seaweed breakfast. Then I start my morning chores. I wash dishes, scrub floors and windows, then continue my long term assignment. This week my assignment is painting the shrine, whereas last week it was planting the garden. After a while, the summon bell will ring, signaling me to join the Master in the courtyard. Ever since I got here, we would go over sword routines and physical toning exercises which would alternate day to day. That is how it's been for...well I haven't been keeping track, so I don't know how long.

All I know is that throughout my training, I have not seen the day of battle, AT ALL! I thought this was samurai and kendo, not housemaid training! I have to admit...this is a little disappointing. So, yesterday, I was painting the wall, which seems to have been neglected for years. Up and down, up and down...this reminds me of a movie I once saw, I never saw all of it, I was discovered and kicked out of the theater before I could make an excuse. It was an old theater, known for playing classic movies and old nickelodeons. I only wish I could have gone more often...GONG! GONG! GONG! I jumped slightly making my brush scratch the wall, I had been working so hard on. "Crap...I guess I'll get back to you tomorrow," I say to the wall I scratched. It seems like it's the only thing that listens to me, for a change. I reverently place the brush in its designated area and walk to the courtyard.

As I arrive, I bow to the Master before entering the room. I walk to him and stand a few feet from him and bow again. It is a sign of personal respect. He knows how to speak English, but his sentence structure skills are very poor.

"Today is different." he tells me.

"Why Master?"

"Today you will have first fight".

That's what I'm talking about! A real fight! Time to kick some old timer butt!

"I will call for your opponent now."

What? I'm not gonna fight the master?? Just as I thought that, there was a drum that began beating real slow. DUM dum DUM dum... It sounded like I was gonna fight King Kong or something! Suddenly a door opened. I didn't even know it was a door, it looked like a large pillar. But it opened like a double sided door, revealing...oh god...I see what the dramatic drum was for. The guy stood like 7 feet tall! In his hand, he was holding a kendo stick like a baseball bat, beating his other hand rhythmically. Up and down, up and down. Master told me how to deal with intimidation but somehow I don't think that applies to Godzilla, over there. There is a kendo stick at my feet, but right now picking it up might give the other guy the wrong idea. Then 'King kong' shows me something that really made my day. Fangs. He's was a vampire.

"Well, ready to begin?" Master asks me.

"UUhhhhhh...Yeah! Sure! Let's go, bring it on!"

"Ok, young one. Now, Nogusha will not stop fighting you until you beat him or you give up. Whatever the outcome you make this learning experience. Nogusha will not kill you, but you don't give up, you may regret tomorrow. Now, BEGIN!"

When he said that, Nogusha sprang forward, sword ready and on the attack. Great. That means I have to take the defense. Master always told me I excelled greatly in defense, lets just hope he was right. Nogusha swung down hard on the stick I swooped down for. Instantly, he took a swing at my head. SMACK! A loud echo bounced back from the blow, I unknowingly received. My face felt like a balloon being inflated. There was no doubt in my mind that you could see every detail of the stick just by looking at my face. I was on my back. I look up and Nogusha is coming down on me again! AAAAAAHHHH! I roll over. Smack! He hit the floor. I roll backwards, landing me on my feet again.

There is a rack of sticks on the wall. I dash for them. My left eye is swollen shut. Crap. I hear Nogusha cry out, almost warning me of the oncoming attack. When I stand, I grab a stick at the same time. I turn around to face my opponent. WHACK! He bluffed when he cried out. There was no attack, but then...the attack began: This one caught me on the opposite side of my face. This one make my whole face feel like jelly. This one caused me to temporarily lose hearing in one ear. This one sent me flying. Heck, THIS ONE HURT!!!! I get up instantly, pushing aside the pain and want to just lay down and sleep. I raise my stick in a defensive position. He swings at me. Wow, he got close real quick! I swing my stick as hard as I can at the oncoming locomotive, better known as a kendo stick. CRACK! No, the sticks didn't crack, but that's what it sounded like. Blow after blow, I blocked and dodged for what seemed like hours.

"Stop!" Master calls out.

Instantly I collapse to the floor and close my eyes, letting the adrenaline subside and the pain settle in. My opponent/attacker turns around and heads back to the door he came from, bowing to the master first. The master talks to a few of his servants in Japanese. They pick me up and carry me off. Now to sleep...

"Wake up my student. You have work to do."

It was the Master's voice. No doubt, I'm in trouble for sleeping in.

"I'm sorry, Master, it wont happen again."

But then, I notice that it is still dark and he hands me this book and a pen. "I know. You fought well yesterday. You are persistent, indeed. But not good enough. You must be better than that. AND SOON! You need to work peace with struggle in your heart. Write what you think about. Write what you feel. Let anger or confusion come out on here, paper, not here,*touches Disciple's hands* fist."

He left. So now I am writing, but it is getting late, and Owww. My face must be big enough to jump on like a trampoline! Time to get to work...I have much work to do."

*Master stands watching Disciple approach the garden. He smiles slightly at the slow movements of Disciple's obvious sore body. He makes a strong effort to not look at the horribly swollen eye and upper lip. They bow to one another, then Disciple steps beside him and both take the ready stance. The day has begun. Master will miss this bright and eager student, but he knows Cham will call for him soon. He must work faster.*


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