The Tournament

~ Tomorrow's winds will blow tomorrow. ~

The Rules of the Tournament...

At the end of each training year, there was a tournament. The tournament is half mental testing and half physical testing. The contest measured the effectiveness of the student's training.

It determined whether first-year students advanced to second-year training, remained in first-year training for another year, or were sent back home in disgrace.

Second-year students could progress to junior warriors in training, become senior warriors in training, and, ultimately, warriors.

The training could last as short as four years or as long as ten years, or even longer. The yearly testing lasted one week and was the most crucial time for a young warrior student.

Any student could elect to skip the Tournament. If a student decides not to participate, Masters Shisho and Shihan will determine their fate. Disgraced students will be sent home.

Either of the training Masters could decide which student had not shown enough effort to advance to the next level. Any student might be sent back through their year again.

The fourth year was the most demanding. Some students took three or four attempts to graduate from their fourth year. Some never advanced from their final year and were eventually sent home. For the fourth-year students, the competition was most important.

***

Kimyo was hands-down the best scholar in the class in their fourth year. Ljimekko was no doubt in the bottom tier as a scholar. Kuge was once considered a second-tier scholar. He would sit alone, quietly struggling with his work in the Library. Now, with Kimyo's tutoring help, Kuge realized his potential. He was now considered a top-tier scholar.

Most students admired Kuge and Kimyo. Together, they were a significant force for all that was good about martial arts training. These young men treated all students kindly and were always willing to lend a helping hand.

Kimyo and Kuge had become steadfast friends. They were together during most of their free time. Either Kuge was coaching Kimyo in martial arts, or Kimyo was coaching Kuge in scholarly pursuits.

These fine young men went out of their way to help any younger students they saw struggling. Kuge was easy-going and friendly to all, and in this way, he reminded Kimyo of Tomo from the Nets. They both live with the understanding, "Tomorrow's winds will blow tomorrow."

The three best fighters among the fourth-years were Ljimekko, Kuge, and Kimyo. During the last warrior-student challenge initiated by Kimyo, he challenged Ljimekko. Kimyo won on a close call and defeated Ljimekko. The crowd was rooting for the boy with strange eyes, not the local Royal.

Some deadlier martial arts, such as karate, were forbidden during challenges. Jujitsu is primarily used. Kimyo got the upper hand on Ljimekko during this last challenge, which was evident to all the spectators.

All his hard work and efforts were finally paying off. He was becoming a better fighter with each practice, with each challenge.

In desperation, Ljimekko struck Kimyo with an illegal karate blow. Master Shihan quickly stepped in. He disqualified Ljimekko and called the match and victory for Kimyo. The Royal looked stunned, then afraid, and finally enraged. Kimyo would have won had Ljimekko not resorted to cheating.

*****

The all-important day of the tournament for the fourth-years began tomorrow. An unbiased observer would have to state that Kimyo was the frontrunner. He was the favorite to win the week-long games. Kuge and Kimyo were studying together in the corner of the Library.

One of the young houseboys who worked in Master Masuta's main house approached Kimyo. The young boy nodded in respect to the two warriors in training and appeared nervous.

Kimyo spoke kindly to the boy and called him by his name, Sabanto. "How can I help you, boy?"

The boy began speaking in a great rush of words: "I am friends with Tomo-umm. I mean Tomodachi's family. We are cousins—actually. Tomo says you know him, and I should give you a message. But I could lose my job for speaking with the trainees. But Tomo is a good person, and so are you. But I'm scared, sir!"

Kimyo held up his hand. "It is all right, Sabanto. Tomo is my friend. You can deliver your message without fear of any punishment. Please relax and give me the message, okay?"

The frightened lad took a deep breath and spoke more calmly. "The message is about Mister Ryoshi from the Nets. He is deathly ill, Kimyo. Tomo says they all fear he will die very soon. They believe he may have the lung fever. It will be too late if you do not see him now. That is the message, young sir."

Kimyo looked troubled as he spoke kindly to the boy, "Thank you, Sabanto, you have done the right thing."

Kuge looked intently at Kimyo's face. "If you go, it will cost you a year. You may never graduate?"

Kimyo, in a soft voice, said, "If you needed me and were ill, my warrior brother, I wouldn't hesitate."

Kuge looked embarrassed, "You always teach me so much, my friend. You remind me of Master Kenshi; he is another man of great honor. After my father, his younger brother, died, Master Kenshi raised me as his son. He also knows the names of all the servants in his House.

They trust him and come to him with their problems. I am embarrassed, my brother," Kuge continued, "until today, I did not know the names of any servants in this House of Masuta or my House of Kenshi. I will learn from you again and learn these names and the hearts of these people."

Later that evening, Kimyo is outside the private door to Master Shisho's room. We see the figure of Kimyo standing. He knocks on the door, and the bookish man soon answers. They murmur back and forth. We cannot hear the words exchanged. Kimyo is polite but firm in his words and appearance. It is plain that something is frustrating, Master Shisho.

A few minutes later, we observe the figure of Kimyo entering his room. Shortly after that, the door reopens. Kimyo strapped to his back with the small knapsack given to him by his net family. Kimjo walks out unto the dojo field, and the night's darkness swallows the small figure.....

END

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