The Choosing – Part Two

~ If the fish is kind to water, then the water will be kind to the fish. ~

Suddenly, a deep baritone broke the silence, "I am Master Masuta. Welcome to my Choosing."

All the candidates seemed to be collectively holding their breath. The only exception was Kimyo, who continued his quiet scratching. The Master began pacing around the candidates. When he reached the corner of the group where Kimyo sat to one side, Masuta was forced to swing outward to include Kimyo in his pacing. As Master Masuta passed him, he glanced at the boy's work in the dirt.

The Master paused briefly, looking intently at Kimyo and his creations. Masuta wore all-black leather armor padding, a long black cape, and a black mask highlighted with blood-red bore tusks and an earth devil's face outline. Due to his dark clothing, Master Masuta had seemed to magically appear in their midst from the black night.

The Royal was well-muscled and seemed almost as wide as he was tall. After a brief moment of hesitation, the Master passed the young boy scratching away in the sand.

The larger-than-life Masuta began pacing around the tight circle of boys and young men sitting at the fire. All were frozen in whatever position they had been in when the Royal first appeared. All except Kimyo, who continued quietly practicing his Eastern Island letters.

After his second circle around, the Master stopped, with his feet planted dead-center in the youth's flat writing area. Kimyo continued drawing letters and words around the large tree-trunk legs of Master Masuta.

The massive man in all dark clothing quickly bent down close to Kimyo's right ear and muttered in a deep, gravelly voice that all could hear, "What are you doing, boy?"

Kimyo sighed loudly; this was the end of any slight chance he might have had to be chosen. This would be the end of his boyhood dream of upward mobility. Once Kimyo raised his head to answer the large man, Masuta would see his strange eyes and immediately turn his attention elsewhere.

The young man raised his head and gazed directly into the shrewd eyes behind the wild boar earth devil mask. Kimyo's lean jaw locked tight, and his youthful gaze was unwavering. All the hopefuls around the fire were amazed at the young lad's tenacity.

"Where I come from, sir, we speak a slightly different language, but the alphabet is very different. I'm trying to teach myself to write it."

After the young man finished his answer, he lowered his head back to the task and began scratching letters and words again. Within seconds, the Master resumed his pacing. Most eyes around the circle had ceased watching Masuta pacing and were staring intently at Kimyo.

The pacing Master reversed his course and returned to stand in front of the youth again. This time, Masuta didn't mutter. The Royal grunted loudly, sounding much like a wild boar, and barked at the small lad, who looked even tinier than he was next to the giant martial arts Master.

"Why is learning your letters and words so important to you, son?"

Kimyo answered puzzledly," If I don't learn the Island alphabet and spelling, how else will I be able to read the books here, sir?"

The Master's body began to quiver slightly and soon to shake uncontrollably. Horrified, Kimyo thought, this giant man is going into a rage, and he will kill me right here in front of all these people. 

Then he heard it... laughter.

Masuta wasn't angry. He was laughing deep belly laughs, which made people want to join in. Soon, everyone around the fire was chuckling and laughing, too. The large man stopped laughing after what seemed an eternity to Kimyo.

The Master addressed him, "How else indeed, Kimyo. Well said, young man, well said!"

The lad felt stunned and speechless; Kimyo thought, "He knows my name. Mater Masuta knows my name!"

Everyone around the fire laughed, pointed, and talked back and forth.

Suddenly, Masuta roared, "Silence." Then he continued in his ordinarily booming voice, "This is my Choosing, gentlemen. I would appreciate some decorum."

There was immediate stillness in the air. The Royal turned his attention back to the youth.

"My family follows the old way, The Way of the Pen and the Sword. What does that mean to you, boy?"

Kimyo struggled to keep his voice calm and even, "Well, sir, I would understand it to mean that learning or the pen- and warrior ways or the sword- should have equal footing.

It makes sense to me; really, it does. If you go to all the trouble to train and become a powerful warrior, what good would it be without the knowledge to use that power wisely? Simple, when you think about it, sir."

The massive figure of Master Masuta hovered over the lad for several moments and then spoke, "There is a saying in my house. "The Pen and the Sword must be of one Accord." Each without the other is useless. Take one day for yourself.

Please report to my dojo by sunset on the second day to begin your training. Then, we will see how simple you find our training." In two quick strides, the dark figure disappeared into the night, swallowed from sight.

Tomodachi, nicknamed Tomo and the nicest and friendliest of the youths who worked with him at Mister Ryoshi's net business, came rushing over to congratulate him. Tomo chatted pleasantly, doing most of the talking because Kimyo remained speechless after encountering Master Masuta.

The young man could not believe that he had been chosen. Kimyo, the poor orphan boy with no family, money, or friends, had been selected. Well, to be truthful, Kimyo did have friends. Most of the members of Mr. Ryoshi's workers were friendly toward him. Mr. Ryoshi himself and Granny Obachan had been very kind and generous to Kimyo.

Oh no, Mr. Ryoshi! Kimyo would have to tell Mr. Ryoshi that he was leaving his employment. Unexpectedly, the thought of leaving Mr. Ryoshi's net business saddened him. He hoped he could explain himself adequately. Kimyo did not want Mr. Ryoshi to believe he was ungrateful...

The Pen and the Sword must be of one Accord~

END

Questions you might want to consider:

Why do you think Master Masuta chose Kimyo?

Do you believe Kimyo has what it takes to become a warrior?

Have you ever wanted something badly and found outlater it wasn't what you thought?