Year of the Brown Dog, 2018 Late Winter
America, New York, Upstate location classified. Haruki Tatsuo the youngest engineer to have ever completed all state examinations by the age of twelve is also now the youngest to have ever received a P.H.D in physics while simultaneously heading a project to find the God Particle! The Higgs Boson.
Amazing isn't the word to describe this young man, this type of talent has not been seen since Einstein and he exceeds him in many ways also, after all there has only ever been a handful of people who were able to acquire such accolades. Most amazing of all is Haruki's humble beginnings, see Haruki does not come from a household filled with family and wealth nor someone to give him large amounts of money to pursue his dreams. Haruki was taken to an orphanage upon birth due to uncertain circumstances he was raised by the headmaster who's name is Sun Tatsuo. Headmaster Sun was also raised in an orphanage when he was young except the attention paid to him wasn't as focused as it was on Haruki, later on in Headmaster Sun's life he began to travel the world to find himself. After many years he came back with a certain amount of wealth and brought the orphanage he was raised in, at the same time the first child he took in so happened to be Haruki whom he gave his last name to.
A loud thump was heard inside a room "Fuck!" Haruki Tatsuo a fifteen year old dark skinned boy with spiky hair and gold rimmed glasses got up way too quickly causing him to bang his head on the top bunk. The sound of his Bose alarm system reverberating against the walls reminded him of his weekly training with Headmaster Sun, startling him intensely as it always does.
Headmaster Sun who was just trying to go to his training hall to set up today's exhibition when he heard Haruki's exclamation loud and clear. "I can clearly hear you little shit." Headmaster Sun walks into Haruki's room, yellow light spilled in from the window revealing all the particles of dust circling around the messy room. Headmaster sun walked right up to Haruki and places a hand on his shoulder, clearly giving him a vice grip.
"Old Man it was my mistake alright, besides I banged my head " Haruki sat up and complained while trying his absolute best to get rid of the grip on his shoulder while Headmaster Sun seemed to be drawing amusement from the situation not even budging a single inch.
Headmaster Sun tightened his grip on Haruki's shoulder actually daring him to say more words but knowing Haruki there was no doubt he was going to have more words . "And I have not told you several times to watch your language young man, I mean I just don't understand how you can become the youngest P.H.D in physics with a mouth like yours?"
Haruki Puts his head down and begins rubbing Grandpas Sun hand in attempt to placate him, smiling as he does so. "He-He, Old Man is this not the pot calling the kettle black?" Fun fact Haruki Tatsuo has an answer for just about anything.
"Like take for instance how my room is a mess right now, there is paper everywhere, equipment on the top bunk, a clear mess on the floor. You may think that I don't know where anything is but it's actually in reverse, I know where every single thing in this room is regardless of size or item."
Headmaster sun turned around and folded his arms, face ripe with embarrassment how could he refute such a thing without actually being in his shoes?
"You! Do you not have any shame? I raised you and this is how you speak to your elders?"
Headmaster Sun turned around wide eyed and points at Haruki. "And what about your money! You're practically rich now, you don't have to live here, you could have long since brought a condominium or something!" Shouted Headmaster Sun annoyed at the little rascal.
"Oh no he is going to start this again, I'm so dead thought Haruki" Haruki turned around and put his hands into the air out of frustration, he knew that the old man was going to go on a tirade. "Grandpa Sun, β¦ are you serious?" without another word he made a beeline for the bathroom in a bid to get away from Headmaster Sun at this very moment, to get away from his grip and his impending emotional outburst, once Headmaster Sun goes on a tirade it virtually wont end until he is good and satisfied and that could very well be a long process.
"Only now you remember to get ready right?" Headmaster sun turned around, laughing as he walked through the door. "Ha- Ha little shit you really struck a nerve with this one, I'm going to work you harder than you have ever been worked before I'll definitely give you a surprise you can't forget. When you are done changing meet me in the training hall!"
After a short while Haruki briskly walks into the traditional Training room with no shoes feeling the cool sensation of slick wood under his feet, taking time to breathe in the smell of freshly waxed wooden floors as he comes upon a very old and large prayer mat. This mat was placed in the center of the room, it gave off a grand aura. Something sacred a feeling of pressure that just could not be described. With every step Haruki recalls the number of years he spent walking these same floors, training every chance he got just so that he may refine his will and resolve, that nostalgia brought him to where he stood today and will continue to drive him forward.
While moving closer to the prayer mat Haruki began to feel something ominous brewing in the air like goosebumps arising from your skin because of a cold wind. He held a troubled look on his face as he stopped in front of Headmaster Sun who was sitting on the ground cross legged. Headmaster Sun was seated in the lotus position with his eyes closed, gently stroking a five foot sword scabbard lying horizontally on his lap.
With eyes still closed Headmaster Sun addressed his pupil"Haruki, what's wrong?"
Haruki was lost in thought for a moment Headmaster Sun drawing him back out of his reverie and forced an explanation out of him."Old Man do you not feel it? for the past couple days I can't help but have this feeling that something bad is going to happen its weird I know but this is the exact feeling I get when I think about it."Headmaster Sun truly wanted to get straight to the point with Haruki's problem but this boy already had issues with respect and structure it wouldn't do to indulge him without reminding him to pay his respects first. In a stern voice Headmaster Sun reminded him of the rules of his training hall, "What is my first rule Haruki? asked Headmaster Sun eyes still closed.
"Sorry teacher, I don't know what has gotten into me lately." Haruki sat down opposite Headmaster sun similarly getting into the lotus position. Only after Haruki was in the proper position did Headmaster Sun speak. "Always remain calm, always have patience, always constant vigilance. You Haruki have been blessed with extraordinary intelligence from birth which often causes you to forge ahead without any sense of consequence to do things without first having thought of them thoroughly because you are almost always right. What you have to understand is that because you have such great intelligence your consequences will be greater than the average man, you are so used to being right that being wrong does not even strike you as a possibility."
Haruki frowned as he was being lectured. He obviously felt as if headmaster Suns words didn't seem to have anything to do with the ominous feeling that he was feeling. Headmaster Sun raised his eyebrows in surprise "Oh, you disagree. Speak."
"Teacher, I do not think that me forging ahead has been my problem but has been my greatest gift, often times just pushing ahead has given me results beyond imagination in my search for the god particle.What I am talking about right now has nothing to do with that, this feeling..."
Headmaster Sun could see that Haruki could not see the forest but only the tree. All he wanted was for Haruki to slow down and exercise patience. "Haruki, one day you will understand my teachings, today is not fated to be that day. Always remember this, Yin and Yang, what you take must be given back, without good there cannot be evil and without evil there is no good"
"Now stand up."
Haruki although reluctant to have his worries brushed to the side in such a manner begrudgingly stood up. After standing up he takes more than ten steps backwards to allow space for his demonstration. Once distance was created Haruki slowly got into his stance, one foot forward with his hand placed upon the hilt of his sword. "Sensei please instruct!" yelled Haruki.
Headmaster Sun looks Haruki in the eye from his floor seat. "Today you will show me the eleven forms of Eishin βRyu. Always keep in mind that this form of swordsmanship is geared towards defense. Through defense you will find many a opportunity for offense without increasing your own risk of bodily harm."
Haruki nods head and yells at the top of his lungs once again, his teacher always deliberated on this manner of training, it was nothing new to him in fact he was almost tired of hearing these words now and was rearing to show him what he had mastered now. "Yes teacher."
Headmaster sun stops touching his sword and instead places his hands on his knees.Headmaster Sun then began to yell out calls at the top of his voice. With each call a different move is supposed to be performed. The point of the call out is to indicate how fast the movement should be as well as when it should be executed.
"MAE"
Haruki begins to dash forward, only taking one step while at the same time pressing his Katana forward in a diagonal angle. This movement is to be used to stop an opponent from drawing his sword. That first initial dash must have power, poise and control. It is not so much about speed but technique.
Headmaster Sun nods his head in approval and calls out the next move.
"MIGI"
Haruki slashes to his left using his right hand, while simultaneously turning his whole body to the right, a poetically beautiful grace attached to the movement. The purpose of this feint is to confuse the enemy with just a simple movement and slash. It looked as if he was going left with his body⦠If you were the enemy you would only meet his sword if you go left when MIGI is being used.
"HIDARI"
Haruki makes the slash in the reverse movement, slashing right with his left hand while turning his body to the left.
"USHIRO"
Haruki made an elegant spin with his Katana held close to his body, his blade snakes out and strikes behind him, once left and once right and a thrust forward. Numerous calls where called out by Headmaster Sun, to whom was filled with a deep satisfaction with his disciple's performance. Haruki who is also like his own son, had nothing more to learn from him. These are the thoughts of Grandmaster Sun.
With every successful call came a move filled with beauty and deadliness, faster, faster and faster, Haruki looked like a death god incarnate his silver kimono with black streaks gave him the silhouette of a dancing immortal yet a stark contrast existed because of his glasses which also made him look like a scholar at the same time. Headmaster Sun was completely stunned a complicated expression on his face, he felt pride and also regret in the same breath, he taught Haruki these movements for defense yet somehow he used his mind to turn them into a pure attacking move he truly didnt know whether to berate him or shower him in praise.
"Enough⦠Haruki come here." Mid swing Haruki stops moving, stands straight and offers a deep bow, after standing back up he walks in front of Headmaster Sun and sits down cross legged, Katana seated across his lap mirroring his teacher. Headmaster Sun just stared at Haruki for a short moment thoughts rapidly fleeting through his mind.
"Sensei did I do something wrong?" Haruki began to fidget with nervousness "I know I haven't practiced like I should have but I swear I've put in more work than I ever have before into this, I felt that i could make these moves better if i could also attack with more strength rather than to be just passive all the time."Headmaster Sun chuckled and smiled looking onward with a calm smile Haruki, you did nothing wrong, I have nothing more to teach you."
Haruki was panicked he thought his teacher was finished with him due to the drastic change in the sword movements. "What do you mean teacher?" Haruki looked on in confusion "I have only just grasped Eishin Ryu to this degree-"
Headmaster sun stood up and once again gripped Haruki's shoulder, but this time with gentleness. "What I mean to say is that I cannot teach you anymore, everything you do from now on must be from your heart, your own variations, your own draw styles, I can only give you a foundation Haruki. At this time you are no longer a fledgling chick, you are an eagle who has spread his wings and at such a young age as well. My job as your teacher is to allow you to soar"
"Now stand up" Headmaster Sun looked into Haruki's eyes, he was no longer the child who cried at night, he was simply growing up and faster than he could have ever expected at that.
Haruki had a complicated expression on his face, he stood up slowly but surely "Grandpa Sun⦠Thank you for everything⦠I" Haruki looks grandpa Sun in the face, wanting to express thousands of emotions yet no way to explain them in words. All he could do was hug the man who was his teacher, father and friend.
"Haruki there is no need for thanks between us do you see me as your family or not?" Shaking his head Haruki placed a shoulder upon Headmaster Suns shoulder. "Of course old man, you're the only family that I know."
"Alright old man its about time you tell me about the next stage in Eishin Ryu." Shoulder to shoulder Haruki and Headmaster Sun make their way out of the training hall. As soon as they reached the door Headmaster Sun remembered a detail about the day."Oh Haruki shouldn't you be on your way to your particle accelerator thingy." Haruki stood still, stunned because he had totally forgotten that he was to monitor and observe the particle accelerators infinite molecule explosions.
Especially today since there were signs of witnessing a Higgs Boson particle coming into being. Chances had risen by about fifty percent Haruki thought to himself "the constant collisions of particles are forcing millions of big bangs per second, today I will find the Higgs and become the greatest scientist to have ever exist."
"Alright grandpa sun I'm gone" Haruki rushed out of the training hall which was adjacent to the orphanage dressed in his kimono, sword to his hip and everything.
While Haruki was fading into the distance Headmaster Sun called out to Haruki. "Eh Haruki hold on a sec. Remember to meditate!" Yelled Headmaster Sun ah well if he doesn't mind why the hell should I? Maybe I can get new disciples this way also ha-ha." Stroking his beard in thought, Headmaster sun returned to his house laughing all the way.