Starlit Ruins

by Simon Woodington

Mai had promised the sensei supper upon arrival, and of course, she would not be late. Mai had selected this woman primarily based on her excellent training and reputation. Though, something had nagged at her. Was it Andy's unanticipated absence? She doubted it. Watching Kai apologize to Tenma, and then giggle and snicker at their childish games, it had come to her that it could not have been that. Andy had only left yesterday, and was due back the following night. He worked so hard… paying the mortgage so Mai could run her martial arts school.

  They had needed the time for the school to gain recognition, and bountiful enough students through which they could establish the school reputation. Even with Kai and Tenma as examples of their ability to teach--her pondering was interrupted by a faint knock at their heavy oak front door.

  'Hai!' she had called. Behind the entrance dwelt a woman adorned in a simple robe of khaki green, a scabbard at her waist, and a hood over her head.

  'Greetings Mai-san,' said a dulcet female voice in fragrant Japanese. 'I trust I am timely?'

  Flustered, she had replied only a simple nod. 'Yes. May I ask your name?'

  'Kani Nakio,' was the reply, easy, and of a carefully gauged tone.

  Mai had nodded simply with a smile. She invited, 'Come in. Make yourself at home.'

  The woman had done so, and with her entrance came the removal of her hood. Beneath the thick cloth were gentle brown eyes, lengthy brunette hair hanging loosely about her face, and the war worn countenance of an experienced fighter. Mai could not miss the tell-tale weariness and wariness in those soft eyes, the deliberate stride on the edge of fleeing.

  So highly recommended a sensei… I must give her a chance to explain, Mai had decided, setting her mind to be watchful of this creature. As if sensing the gaze of the parent, Nakio had faced her, scrutiny also evident in her features. Saying nothing, the agreement had been set.

  'That smells nice,' Nakio noted with a hint of a smile.

  'Thank you Nakio-san,' Mai replied curtly. 'Sit down, relax. There is no hurry here. You are safe.'

  The woman merely bowed. She said nothing and then proceeded into the living room. She paused to introduce herself to Kai and Tenma, who smiled cheerfully at her sister. Kai frowned slightly, then grinned up at Nakio, who bowed, and sat down between them. A time of somewhat less than idle conversation had passed: Both girls boasting their abilities, ages (measured in the distance of minutes difference in birth), and talents. They were gently hushed by their new mentor's words: 'It is good to know what you can do, but better still to be aware of what you cannot.'

  Kai mystified at the statement, while Tenma's thin brows had furrowed in consideration. She observed to her sister: 'Agragance isn't good. Makes you blind.'

  Nakio smiled, pleasantly amused. 'The wisdom of youth. But, little one, the word is “arrogance”.'

  'Um, hai. Arrogance. Thank you Nakio-san.'

  'Where's Mama?' Kai had asked. A plate was set softly in front her in place of an answer. The upturned corners of her lips indicated her pleasure as she had begun to eat. Mai set out the proceeding plates, and then sat down herself with all the grace of a sure footed doe. During the course of dinner, she had sought conversation in brevity, hoping it would drain the unease and tension she seemed to be feeling so readily. Nakio mentioned only the pleasantry of the weather, the kindliness of the people, and the exceedingly excellent and aptly prepared food.

  She had related that she was ill-prepared to talk at length, as her trip had been arduous, and that she was fatigued. Of course, Mai relayed to her that she may excuse herself at the earliest convenience to her awaiting bedchambers, and said that Tenma would show her to the room. Eagerly, Tenma had nodded, wiping at her face as to not spill her food from her mouth, while she was chided softly. Dinner had proceeded in silence beyond that point, and Nakio had accepted Mai's Gracious Offer with a simple bow of gratitude.

  Mai had been convinced somehow that Nakio was hiding something. What? She had treated the kids with utmost respect, and seemed honest enough. She knew, of course, that these outward appearances meant as much as the visage of the local media "personality." I've Got The Look. Trust Me, I'm The Good Guy. Only a witless idiot would set foot upon the Shirinaui grounds with ill intentions. Unless, of course, they had the strength to back them up.

  It had to be done, she had to talk to her. This distrust was upsetting her too greatly. Forestalling the matter had kept her up that night, well into the wee hours of the morn'.

  "Nakio?" Her door had been slightly ajar, allowing the vaguest sliver of light to intrude upon her apparent rest. Mai had knocked faintly, fearful that her intuition may be leading her astray.

  'Hai,' she had replied, abruptly revealing herself as she opened the door to allow Mai's entrance. 'Mai-san, you wish to speak with me?'

  Mai had nodded demurely. 'I'm sorry Nakio-chan, but I can't sleep. I have troubles which…' she faltered, eyes stooping to the floor.

  '… concern me. I know. Come. We will talk.' She turned curtly, her pale blue nightgown shifting pleasantly around the slender curves of her figure, leaving the door for Mai to close behind her. As she walked to her bed, she pulled out a frightened looking chair for Mai to rest upon. Mai had watched her, as she had promised herself she would. Every motion, carefully executed like the motions of a dance. Not one an afterthought, or lacking foresight. It seemed nearly painful to witness how much effort she seemed to drop into the bin of thoughtfulness.

  'Nakio,' she had begun before even seating herself. The woman gave her a Get Comfortable expression and a negating glance. She asked, 'What's wrong?'

  Mai was quietly stunned. A well constructed, carefully delineated outline of protective shell had been pulled off to display a real, emotional creature. The questions in her mind had been washed into obscurity along with the strains of anxiety.

  'I'm sorry Mai, I didn't mean to be so cold,' she had offered, opening up in such a manner she had not conceived possible. 'It's hard to know who to trust.'

  An emphatic nod was Mai's only comment. 'I knew there was something.'

  Nakio had only smiled. 'Of course you did. I'm not a mother yet, but something close to one. You, on the other hand…'

  'You're married?' Mai had leaned back, set - to a fair degree - at ease.

  'And pregnant,' she sustained. Mai started, sitting forward, surprise and concern alight upon her fair countenance.

  'Why are you training my twins then?'

  'You need to ask?' Wry smirk.

  ‘Perhaps not,’ Mai chuckled, sympathetic. 'When are you due?'

  'Two months, I think…'

  'Oh my!' she gasped. Nakio was expected to act as sensei to her twins for five years. How could she raise a child and-oh. 'You knew I would help you.'

  'If you don't wish to… I'll leave,' she tossed the words out, knowing they would be knocked out of the park before they were volleyed forth.

  'No, Nakio-san. I wouldn't do that. I had enough trouble with the twins to do that to someone like you,' Mai had half-smiled, sharing empathy with the Mother-To-Be. 'Will you say... why are you here alone? Where's the father?'

  'I'm looking for him,' she had replied, restraining the sorrow in her voice, in the core of her being. 'We were separated just after our marriage.'

  'You “were separated”?'

  'It's complicated, Mai. I can’t explain yet,' she fell silent.

  'And you will when you can?’

  In spite of her calm facade, Nakio was flummoxed. ‘You are so kind and patient. Yes, yes I will.’

  ‘That will do. You have an excellent reputation,' Mai confirmed. 'I'm very sorry about your loss. You are welcome here. If it will help.'

  'It will, I am sure of it,' she said, an unseen distance in her eyes, and echoed within her gentle voice. Mai could feel the welling of tears behind the woman's eyes, aware that she was in dire emotional agony. 'Arigato, Mai-san. Honto domo arigato,' she had said finally, softly. She said nothing more, knowing that to do so would be an error. Mai stood, a
nd hugged her, feeling a very close emotional tie to her, very much like the bond of siblings, though exactly why, neither could she fathom nor concern for.

  @~%~~~

  'Kai! Where are you?' Her brown eyes narrowed uncertainly, fearfully. 'Stop it! You're scaring me!'

  Finding no answer, she turned and fled towards her sensei, her Elder, her Mother. 'Tenma Misty Bogard,' Mai had chided. 'Your sister isn't far. Remember what I said: It's…'

  '…all part of the training…' the girl finished for her. 'I know Mama,' she sighed as she shifted to face the open field beyond the walls of their home. Her eyes squinted in concentration as a gentle wind shifted the short and stylish locks of her ruby red hair.

  The young girl raised her hands and arms in the ingrained martial form of defense as she strode with determined caution. Mai had been very impressed with the progress of the twins, especially Tenma, who seemed so innately skilled. Mai was hoping to press them into tournament fighting, noting even Kai was at least as good as she was at that age. Not even eleven yet, and so strong, so graceful.

  'Ki-ha!' Kai snapped, causing Tenma to duck sharply. 'I almost got you that time! You shouldn't spend so much time thinking!'

  'Not like you,' Tenma retorted as she turned, adding a quickly and aptly guided fist to the remark, which was similarly dodged.

  'That's not fair!' Kai replied, missing her sister with a beautiful crescent kick.

  Tenma giggled, leaping at her and knocking her to the ground.

  'Gotcha, Leaky!' she cried triumphantly, sitting on the shoulder length brunette's stomach. With a gasp, the waylaid altered her position dramatically by wrapping her legs around her sister's neck and dropping her to the ground beside her. "Leaky" a strictly childish parody of Kai's middle name: Waters.

  'Oh yeah, Little Miss Fogs?' she laughed. Tenma, on the other hand, had not. Kai smirked, jumping to her feet and letting herself relax, preparing for a more serious match. Her sister was a joker by nature, but did not enjoy losing. Kai had been smart enough to use that to get her to be more serious about training. When it came down to it, Mai recognized Tenma's apparent disregard for the intensities involved in marital training. Despite this, her sheer skill in battle exceeded her sister's by a fair degree. So by that mark, they were evenly matched.

  'Kai! Tenma! Come home!' Mai had yelled in an only mildly authoritative summons, knowing they would obey. Calling names and chasing each other to the doorstep, they removed their shoes at the door before lowering the tone to a hushed match of vocal hand-to-hand.

  'I want you to get cleaned up for supper,' she had stated in a timbre more pleasant and gentle, from the small kitchen. 'We're having company. The new sensei will be here soon.'

  'It'll be a guy!' Kai snapped playfully, disappearing into the bathroom.

  Tenma's gentle voice retorted: 'No it won't! It'll be a girl!'

  'Will not!'

  'Will too!'

  'Won't!'

  'Will!'

  This bout continued until Tenma had cried out, and Kai had come running, laughing loudly. Tenma followed, chasing her, childish frustration distorting her otherwise cute face.

  'Tenma! Kai! Calm down!' Mai had called impatiently, if not tiredly. Tenma had run up to her mother and whined:

  'But Kai got cold water on me!'

  Her eyes widened, more irritated than shocked. She turned to Kai, knowing she would be standing underneath the range of her gaze. 'You know that was wrong! Apologize to her, then go and get some warm water.'

  'But Mama…'

  'Sush!'

  So sorry, Tenma,' she offered, bowing curtly before she hurried to retrieve the requested item, not wishing to entice punishment any further.

  'Are you alright honey?' she had asked, and hand on her head.

  'I don't like it Mama,' he had replied, sticking out her tongue in distaste. 'It feels funny.'

  Again, she had not known what to say other than, It's Alright Honey, It'll All Be Okay. Some luke warm water and the promise of dinner had settled the twins for a time. Didn't it go something like; Dinner is when kids sit down to continue eating?

  Chapter 27

  Mixified, Vilified