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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Oct 30, 2010 16:03:21 GMT -5
"Thanks. I'll put the information you need on the counter. Be there promptly 30 minutes before opening. You'll get a check for the two weeks".
Tachi is deeply appreciative of this guy's magnanimity. It is a light in the darkness, a flashlight at the end of a long corridor, reminding him of the decency of people and reinvigorating his hope for humanity.
Tachi goes to bed and awaits his training.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 1, 2010 12:07:07 GMT -5
Tachi's master comes for him early the next morning. He is wearing very simple clothing, a pale green shirt and pants that hang free but not TOO free from his body. A large camping pack is strapped to his back complete with bedroll and hanging utensils for cooking.
"I trust you are ready?" he asks.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 1, 2010 12:36:47 GMT -5
Tachi nods. "As ready as I can be". He also has a large camping pack, bedroll, sleeping bag, water canteens, a water filter, whistle, compass...
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 1, 2010 22:55:11 GMT -5
"Good" he nods. With no more talk the two of you walk a ways to the bus station, ride out to the barest outskirts of town. A quick bus transfer and several hours take the two of you out to the nearby rural area, sprawling farms and acres of field and wilderness uninterrupted by buildings for miles at a time. The bus leaves Tachi and his master off at a dusty old bus stop that seems to have not seen use in ages.
From there Tachi and his master begin walking into the leafy backdrop upon what makes up the horizon that even the farms they passed hours ago. Though it is difficult work Tachi is able to keep up with his masters rigorous pace day in and day out. Camp is made at the absolute end of the day and broken just as the sun peeks over the mountains the next day.
Unfortunately things only become rougher once the two of them reach the beginning of their target objective. Gaoshigai moutnain range.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 2, 2010 11:10:20 GMT -5
Tachi sees the mountain in front of him and his eyes open in surprise. This was rougher terrain than Fuji. He briefly thought he had bit off more than he could chew...
Of course I have. I'm at this stupid high school, I need to be stronger if I'm going to survive.
He looked for any landmarks, any sign that might tell him where the Volcano was. Then he began the trek.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 2, 2010 11:15:43 GMT -5
Tachi is unable to descern anything of real note accept the mountain ranges hieght and length. The task ahead of him being quite clear and quite intimidating.
The first day is uneventful in and of itself. Steep hikes and trecherous footing that requires every ounce of Tachi's concentration. Night brings respite in the form of sleep, though the morning is less gracious. Tachi awakes not only to the rising of the sun but heavy breaths and rustling several feet off in the bushes.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 2, 2010 14:58:40 GMT -5
Tachi wakes up with a start. He rushes out of his tent with his heavy wok and a large rock, growling into the bushes, "Show yourself!"
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 3, 2010 12:01:17 GMT -5
Tachi rushes out to face his camps interloper only to find that he is a bit ill suited to the task. Out from the bushes peeks a great big brown bear. It growls fiercely in response to Tachi's demand.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 3, 2010 14:02:32 GMT -5
Tachi considers. Okay. A brown bear would only attack if I'm between it and its cub, if it was hungry, or if I scared it. Tachi makes himself as big as possible, growling loudly, and moves uphill parallel to the bear, circling it to allow it to continue on unharassed.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 4, 2010 10:01:58 GMT -5
The brown bear eyes Tachi curiously as he passes before going back to ripping up some provisions it drug out of the cooler. Once Tachi makes it up the mountain a ways he sees his master sitting calmly on a rock, his gaze directed back the way Tachi came.
"He seems to have taken a liking to our food. Better it than us" he smirks.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 4, 2010 14:24:38 GMT -5
Tachi sighs. He examines the damage and sees how much needs to be replaced.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 5, 2010 12:04:10 GMT -5
After an hour or so the bear decides to move on. It is then that Tachi is able to assess the damage done to their supplies. His masters bedroll has been thoroughly clawed apart, the food cooler partially destroyed and Tachi's backpack has a severed strap and has been half emptied of items.
"Perhaps a lighter load will allow us to travel more quickly. Even still we will have at least three more days to go" your master comments thoughtfully.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 5, 2010 15:59:21 GMT -5
Tachi nods. "We'll just have to eat wild cherries, berries, nuts and herbs". Tachi prepares to go out.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 6, 2010 11:57:07 GMT -5
Tachi is able to make due with what he and his master still have by combining it with nearby and on hand plants and herbs. Substitutes for less edible supplies are far less available but most of them were from your masters supplies and he seems to do alright without them.
Travel on the second day is hindered by a cold rain of moderate proportions. Sticking to the now narrowing mountain path becomes even more treacherous. Especially as Tachi and his master come to a portion of the trail that has been muddied and flooded to the point that it can no longer be safely traversed.
"There is another path much farther down the mountain..but it would cost us another day at least. However there IS a cliff face that may be scalable even in this weather that could be used to get to a farther point on the path we now take..."
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 6, 2010 13:14:06 GMT -5
Tachi considers carefully. This trip is increasingly looking like some kind of secret test of character. Whatever. I brought some mountain gear, but not full rigs or harnesses, which would be necessary to make it safe. Then again, mountain climbing in the rain is no more dangerous than in sun, except for some visibility issues, and this was not a crazy rain. Then again, if winds do kick up, we will be on a cliff face. Still, with a little rope, any sharp metal, our solid shoes, a few carabiners from our bag, we will be relatively safe.
Tachi says, "Let's take the cliff, Sensei. Between you and I, we can rig together some climbing gear that will keep us safe."
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 7, 2010 1:31:48 GMT -5
The attempt to rig mountain climbing gear does not fare well. Only one truly functional apparatus is fashioned.
"I think I can manage without the gear. It is not too far up the cliff and there is little rain pouring down it due to its slope. You should take this harness" your master encourages.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 7, 2010 2:22:08 GMT -5
Tachi nods. "Thank you, master". Normally, Japanese conventions would require giving the sensei and the elder the better equipment, but he would accept this offer graciously. He prepares to climb, planning his route before hand, hoping that his exceptional grip will let him scale this mountain like he scales his foes...
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 7, 2010 13:21:52 GMT -5
The winds howl fiercely as the rain continues to fall as if determined to thwart any climbers intent to the contrary. Luckily for the two of you it is like Tachi's master originally said. The cliff has an overhang that prevents water from running down it directly. However there is more than enough rain water splashing against the two of you from either side.
With an impressive display of strength and dexterity Tachi's master climbs right alongside Tachi only separating from him when hand holds are not readily available. Tachi, despite his harness has a difficult time himself, foot slipping more than a couple of times.
Ultimately the two of you make it up and over the cliff and are able to regain the path. Two more wet but uneventful days later bring Tachi and his master to an overpass from which a small cave mouth can be seen.
"That is where he resides. We will make camp for a brief last time before confronting him" your master says.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 7, 2010 13:32:57 GMT -5
Tachi nods. Living in a cave? Really? No Internet, no phone? This seems more like penance than hermiting. "Yes, Sensei". Tachi secretly wonders how his Sensei knows this man, and if there is more to this caution than just common sense and second-hand knowledge...
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 8, 2010 12:05:45 GMT -5
The final camp is made. At first the howling winds and patter of raindrops is all the company the two of you recieve. All too soon however they are overtaken by a monsterous roar. Something between a human shout and a beastial outcry of rage.
"ROOOOOUUUUOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
Tachi's master reacts to this with nothing more than a glance in the caves direction. It is another twenty minutes before a similar sound can be heard from the caves direction again.
"ROOOOOUUUUOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
For the next several hours that Tachi and his master rest such roars can be heard from within the cave every twenty minutes or so apart, the outcries becoming longer in length but farther apart as time wears on. Once the gap has reached a length of roughly forty-five minutes your master rises from his seat.
"Now is the time we shall move. Be ready for his wrath may not have completely quelled. Be sure your guard is up as well" he cautions.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 8, 2010 14:04:24 GMT -5
Tachi nods, wondering if this was not perhaps a bad idea. He pulls his moustache back. His hands begin to twitch, his fingers tracing across his palm, psyching himself for a potential fight against what sounds to be more monster than man. Perhaps the Volcano of Gaoshigai suffers from a bipolar disorder or an anger disorder. Medication might be able to help him.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 8, 2010 22:21:30 GMT -5
The two of you walk towards the enterance and finally reach the threshold of the infamous Volcano of Gaoshigai's living space. With a relaxed caution your master enters, Tachi following him soon after. Upon taking his first step into the cave Tachi can immediately feel the change in the air. A heavy sense of tension and anger ripple through his body as ghosts of what transpired mere moments ago.
Out from the darkness of the cave rises a man of time tested muscle. True to his namesake he is a mountain of a man standing at least two feet taller than Tachi himself! His body resembles a greek statue in movement and were it not for the splices of gray on his long ago shaven head his face might look it too. All around him are small bits of rock that seem to have been crushed or mashed against some great force.
"Who dares interrupt my training?" he growls through massive gritting teeth.
"Only Cheng Xuihan, practitioner of the continuous fist and his disciple" your master says motioning to you.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 9, 2010 16:18:27 GMT -5
Tachi is somewhat cowed internally. A great master, a monster of a main, a living mountain... but he could not show one iota of fear. And, truthfully, he had now faced death so many times... What is the worst that this man could do?
Crush your hands so you can't cook.
A different part of Tachi replied,
Then I can write recipes.
Tachi says nothing but bows, hand in palm, and waits to be called upon.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 10, 2010 1:56:36 GMT -5
At your masters words the expression the volcano of Gaoshigai softens ever so slightly. Though his eyes widen in recognition he does not relax his person, only turns to face the two of you fully.
"And to what end does my old master and his new disciple approach me?" he asks eying Tachi and his master with equal interest. Tachi's master does not respond but instead waits for Tachi to explain.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 10, 2010 15:22:59 GMT -5
Old master? But that must make my master very old... "Sensei, I attend Onagi High. Your former rival is the headmaster there. At Onagi, martial artists are threatening us constantly. We have been attacked by men with cattle prods, knives, bo, arrows, shuriken. We have had bones broken and been nearly killed several times. And this is before the Living Legends of Onagi High decided that we were dangerous. Your former rival spoke highly of you. I wish to learn the Volcano Fist". At that point, Tachi's rage boils over, and he punches the ground. "TO SMASH MY ENEMIES INTO DUST!"
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 10, 2010 17:08:16 GMT -5
As the dust begins to settle from Tachi's furious blow to the earth the mountain of a man before him cracks a smile. It is a fearsome grin remeniscent of how a wolf or tiger might smile should it be taken with the notion to do so.
"I see...your methods are as predictable as ever Xuihan" he responds first to Tachi's master. "As for you" he continues "you speak of my old rival and learning my most powerful technique so easily but not of yourself. What will you bring about by claiming this freedom from your enemies with your fists? are your goals truly accomplishable by crushing them?"
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 10, 2010 18:38:16 GMT -5
"I will bring about their bodily incapacity to continue to harm me, if nothing else. I wish to send the message: If you want to challenge me, then do so respectfully without harming my property or my nakama. Otherwise, I will do damage to you and what you care about at a threshold that is unacceptable." Tachi expands, "I simply wish to protect my restaurant."
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 10, 2010 22:55:42 GMT -5
The mans smile remains as wide as ever as he addresses Tachi once more.
"To beat all around you down until they may no longer harm you. Such a division of force between targets will not be easy to learn" he says locking eyes with Tachi for a moment before looking to his master. "I will be your substitute this time, but I will not promise any more of my training time to you in the future"
"I would not expect anything less" Tachi's master nods.
With a heavy nod and grunt the Volcano of Gaoshigai beckons Tachi further into the cave. There he undergoes truly hellish training that stretches even his masters displayed inventiveness. Laid out in front of Tachi is a field of small wet stones no larger than a baseball in size and almost as round on the top. He is tasked with keeping his balance as he is running this gauntlet of slippery stones as fast as he can without a single slip. His punishment for slipping is being forced back to the beginning but not before preforming a hundred punches...on the harsh rocky walls of the cave!
As Tachi becomes used to the rock balance exercise the Volcano of Gaoshigai begins to toss larger stones, jagged stones, with the same request! There is also the same punishment should Tachi falter or flail (which he does) resulting in hundreds and hundreds of punches. It is not long before Tachi's knuckles and feet are raw and bleeding, the rest of his body soaked with sweat.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 11, 2010 2:00:30 GMT -5
Tachi can't imagine why balance has anything to do with the Volcano Fist. As he gets back up from a particularly devastating fall, a cut over his face that is not healing, he thinks back on how he got to here.
Martial arts... I always accepted it just to make my father happy. Tired, body aching, bored... dreaming of being somewhere else...
He's not a good guy. He's a terrifying guy.
But he has something, the brotherhood, that he fights for.
Why am I fighting? Why do I care?
By now, I could leave Onagi. I could go somewhere else. I have a restaurant. I have a girl I like. My dreams are coming together.
But...
But no.
I'm not going to be the pawn of fate.
I'm not going to back down, or run ever again.
No one will force me from Onagi. No one will stop me from crafting the world I want to see. Not any asshole at Onagi, not Yakuza, not the Living Legends, not ninja.
No one.
Tachi's legs and arms are buckling as he stands again, cuts everywhere, but right now, he is above pain. Everything is ringing but somehow with an incredible clarity.
He bellows, picking up one of the jagged rocks. He smashes it against another rock, on the ground, until his wounds reopen, until pain is on the periphery of his eyes, but until that rock shatters.
"AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!"
Tachi yells as loudly as he ever has.
The Volcano of Gaoshigai will not break him. The Towering Peak of the East will endure the Volcano.
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Post by blacktothefuture on Nov 11, 2010 11:06:51 GMT -5
While Tachi endures these trials within the cave and within himself his master and his current teacher watch him. Unnoticeable to Tachi they exchange words as their for now shared pupil reaches new heights in agony and character development.
"I can see why you brought him here. He possesses the same quick temper and power of rage that I still do"
"Not quite. His is not refined, not yet"
What feels like years pass as Tachi becomes more and more adept at skipping across the stones. After a while his substitute master takes away the stones and sets Tachi in front of the cave wall opposite the one he punched as punishment, now covered in soggy red stains.
"From your failures you know what stone feels like against your fists. Now feel your fist against the stone"
In a blur of motion he punches the wall right in front of you with a loud CRASH! . Embedding his fist into the wall and making not only an indent but several large cracks running from it a short distance along the wall. When he pulls his fist back and throws another punch he does so much more slowly so as for Tachi to see exactly how he's doing it.
"Exaggerate those cracks until they either touch the cieling of the cave or the floor" he commands.
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