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Day 16

"Now you can retrieve my brother...and tomorrow, see Jerram for anything you
need to get started on the training."

        Yasu bowed and moved over to Orlan, who appeared to be unconscious.
Yasu bent down, looking to shake the young man awake.  Suddenly, he found a
knife blade pressed against his neck, "You stopped me once, but not this
time.  I will kill her."

        Yasu raised an eyebrow, "Orlan, I would ask that you please remove
your knife from my neck."

        "Why?  Afraid that I'm going to kill you," he hissed.

        Yasu's hand shot out, grabbing Orlan's wrist.  With a sudden twist,
the knife fell to the ground from Orlan's hand.  Raising an eyebrow, he
continued, "No young Orlan, because it makes my task easier, as well as
yours."

[..]

Day 17 - early morning

        Yasu had remained in a meditative state for most of the night,
reflecting on the battle that had occurred.  He needed to center himself for
the coming challenges as certain tasks had been placed upon his shoulders.
Jerram had wished him to train some of the newest students in his method of
fighting, so that they would be better prepared.  He was also charged with
the task of keeping an eye on the Warrenlady, one that was hindered by the
lady herself.  She was a good leader, but also a good target.  Her
mannerisms made her an even better target, which made Yasu's role harder.
She was due to leave this morning

        He arose from his meditation and began to head out for his morning
jog through the surf.  He made his way to the beach, where he spotted two
figures, one moving away from the other.  The one remaining still looked to
be Gus, while the other looked to be Jerram.  As Jerram came closer, he saw
him cast a quick glance over his shoulder.  Looking back over, he saw the
face of Yasu looking up at him, causing him to step back.

        "Good morning, friend Jerram," Yasu said with a slight bow.

        "Yes, um, hello Yasu," Jerram replied.

        Yasu looked beyond him at Gus, then back at him, "You appear to be
walking amongst the clouds, friend Jerram.  Take care that you do not doubt
this, lest you crash to the ground.  Where I come from, feelings of bliss
are few and far between and are worth more than gold."

        Jerram nodded his head, "I think I understand.  I've got to go
though.  Do you need anything for training this morning?"

        "A few basic weapons will do, friend Jerram," Yasu replied.

        With that Yasu moved past Jerram and began his jog through the
waves.  He looked over at Gus but she also seemed to be lost in the clouds.
A small smile on his face, he continued his morning ritual.

[..]

        "Balance is a key part of defending yourself, either keeping your
own or making your attacker lose theirs.  As you are practicing, think about
your balance, where your weight is shifting.  Concentrate on what you can do
to keep your balance centered.  Once you understand your own balance, you
can better understand how to disrupt your opponent's balance,"  Yasu
explained.

        A trainee spoke up, "I don't understand why we need to know this
when we're learning how to use weapons."

        Yasu nodded, "A good point, young one."

        Reaching over, he grabbed a sword that Jerram had provided for the
training.  Walking over to the trainee he handed him the sword, "Please,
attack me."

        The man looked at him and took a feeble swipe.  Yasu looked at him,
"Jerram has taught you better.  Do not worry for me.  Try again."

        The man closed in, swinging the sword as he had been instructed.
Yasu dodged the blow and stepped in as he recovered on the backswing,
touching the man on the shoulder and pushing him backwards slightly.  He
stumbled backward a little and Yasu advanced, continuing to tap him
backwards until he fell on his butt, sword on the ground.  Yasu bowed to the
trainee and helped him to his feet, "Swords and other weapons are useful
tools, but if you cannot use them, you must have something else.  Now, what
I would like for you to do is partner up with each other.  Then grab each
other with one hand at the wrist.  First have one person pull, then the
other.  As you perform this exercise..."

        The morning's exercise was short and simple, instructing them in the
basics of balance and falling.  The trainees were skeptical of the training,
as it was counterintuitive to what they had been taught before, but Yasu
assured them it would make sense soon.

[..]

Later that day...

        Gus approached Yasu, who bowed to her, "Good afternoon, Gus.  Did
you enjoy your morning with Jerram?"

        The young woman looked at him, "How didya know we was..did that
louse tell ya?  'Cause if he did I'm gonna find him and." she stopped as she
saw a slight smile cross his face, "what're you grinning 'bout?"

        "I did not see anything, young Gus, save for you and Jerram on the
same beach, sharing the same look as though you had just walked on the
clouds.  Had it been any other look, you would have noticed me running
through the waves," Yasu said

        Gus looked at him, "I missed you runnin'?  I must o been sleepin' or
sumthin."

      Yasu nodded.

        "Can I ask you a question," Gus asked bluntly.

        Yasu paused momentarily, giving a blink of surprise, "What is your
question?"

        "How do you know if a man likes ya?"

        Blinking again, Yasu cocked his head slightly, "I'm not sure I'm the
person to ask."

        "Well, yer a man, ain't ya," Gus stated with confidence

        "Yes, but," Yasu began.

        "So, how do you know?" Gus interrupted.

        Yasu motioned for the young lady to sit on the ground, "In my
culture, as with most, we disguise our feelings, so that people will not
know what we really think.  My culture has made it an art form, being able
to create several layers that protect the truth from prying eyes.  To combat
that, we have honed our intuitions to be able to feel the truth.  Some are
better at it than others."

        "Are you good at that intuiting stuff, Yasu?" Gus asked hopefully.

        Yasu nodded and Gus pounced, "So you can tell if Jerram likes me,
can't ya?"

        "Yes, but you already know the answer, young Gus," Yasu said.

        "Yer speakin funny agin, Yasu.  If I knew the answer, why'd I be
askin' you?"

        Yasu smiled slightly, "You simply must look in the right place,
young Gus.  Or maybe you already have and are afraid to accept it."

        "Dammit Yasu, why can't ya talk like a normal person so I kin
understand ya.  First you say that I need to look in the right place and
then ya tell me I may have already looked there.  This is important," Gus
replied in an exasperated tone.

        "I understand young Gus, but you must figure this out yourself,"
Yasu said, rising to his feet.

        Gus grumped a bit, "I don't like it much, but I suppose yer right.
Can I ask you another question?"

        Yasu bobbed his head, "Certainly, young Gus."

        "With all the layers and stuff that your people did to hide the
truth, did you ever find somebody that liked you," Gus asked.

        A moment of sadness passed through Yasu's gaze, "Yes young Gus, but
that is a story for another time.  If you'll excuse me, I am suddenly
tired."


Submitted by
Ieyasu
AKA Chris Weeda

NRPG:  Special Thanks to KK for her advice on writing Gus!