“Look! She doesn’t want him to go. How cute. Boys why don’t you keep her and their lapdog company while I go have a chat with this… thing,” Koji said laughing. He turned, and pushing David before him, headed for the forest.
MOMOTARO FIGHTS
It felt good to have a body again, and it was not as difficult as I expected to follow Chul Soon’s plans. As we made our way through China, it seemed natural and easy to fall back on my instincts. There was plenty of prey, and without the prosperity of Japan, it was easy to take what—whom—we wanted…
Once David was past the first trees, he felt a familiar flow of strength begin to run through him. The forest was their element, Kou’s home. Koji could not know how just being among the trees roused and energized an Earth Jitsugen Samurai. The older boy was smiling, his anticipation revealed as a dark giddiness on his features. When they were out of view of the rest of the onlookers, David abruptly turned.
“So what is it, exactly, that you want? You aren’t going to touch me, and if you did you would just mark yourself as a bully to even more people,” David said, his hands by his side. “You might end up hurting yourself again, which I’m betting isn’t your purpose either. So is there any way we can end this?”
His face contorting in rage, Koji lunged. From his stance, David guessed he had begun training in aikido.
‘So much for your genius plan to try to talk him down,’ Kou thought as David moved. ‘Now how do you plan on finishing this without revealing your training?’
‘Really? No trust?’
David let his actions respond. He pivoted his left foot as his right swung behind, body changing so that he was to Koji’s side, rather than in front as the first punch came in. As the older boy passed by him, David struck. Using his fingers and feet, he touched a hundred points before Koji could take more than a step. Each hit was only strong enough to be register, without doing any damage. David stood still as Koji stopped and turned, bewildered. He attacked again.
David caught Koji off balance by shooting his arm out instead of side slipping as he had before. He hit Koji’s forearm with his right hand while catching the older boy’s wrist with his left. David slid forward along Koji’s outstretched punch. In one fluid motion, David was behind Koji with his arm locked. A tap to the soft area behind his knees had Koji on the ground.
“See, this is the problem with bullies. There is always someone better,” David whispered into Koji’s ear. “You were right. I was pathetic when I got here. But guess what? Now I’m not. So here are the new rules. You shut up, leave everyone else here alone. You graduate, and then go to your next school and become a model citizen. Otherwise-”
“What, you’ll tap me to death? You let me go, you’re dead,” Koji growled.
“I wonder if your aikido sensei knows you’ve been using your new skills to beat up kids… I bet he’d love to hear about that. As for those taps, any one of those could have done this.” David released one of Koji’s arms just long enough to push Koji’s head toward a rock. Jerking him to a stop a foot above, David bent down and smashed the rock to pieces. Though it broke his hand, and pain shot through his arm, David controlled himself, locking Koji back in place before he could react.
“See? If you aren’t a good boy, I’ll come and find you. It won’t be at school, and there won’t be a crowd. It will just be me, alone, in the dark… and then people will wonder where Koji went. But they won’t wonder for long because no one cares about bullies. Now, I’m going to let you up, you are going to leave and pretend you knocked me around. Then you’re never going to bully another person, ever.”
David let Koji stand. He could still see the fire in the bully. Wrapped in shadows, David let Kou come forth, shading his eyes orange as he growled low in his throat. Kou’s aura seemed to go out before them, knocking into Koji even as an obake’s aura weakened its prey. Koji froze in fear, and then turned, running back through the trees. David’s sense of victory faded as a chattering sound grew around him
“It’s your turn.”
When David rejoined the others he told them about Koji and about the crazed pack of rats that had attacked him just after. They all agreed it was an incident to keep from Masao, though Kou was keen on detailing the many possessed rats he had eaten. While David had crossed a line, they were all glad to have dealt a blow to Koji’s pride.
“I’m glad you were able to take care of that one. I think I almost summoned another animal on Koji’s head,” Rie said. “Though, I do wish you had called us to help take care of the rat demons. You can’t keep all the fun to yourself.”
David tried to work out if Rie was being serious or not. He had not considered the pack of huge gray rats with long yellow fangs and sharp claws fun. He had ruined yet another school coat. The rats had chewed it to pieces before Kou could get them all. The confused look on David’s face sent Rie and Natsuki into a laughing fit.
“I think David is going to enjoy the rewrite a little too much,” Natsuki said, eyeing David with an evil smile through her mirth.
“That’s right, I don’t think he’s heard about the rest of the casting,” Takumi said with an even bigger grin. “Since it is on Valentine’s Day the girls demanded Moriyama-sensei let them add a love interest for Momotaro.”
Despite his best attempts to find out what he meant, the others refused to tell him what he had missed. In frustration, he let Kou take over and run the rest of the way to the Estate.
When David finished his evening exercises, during which Masao had him break a tree into boards then rebuild it three times, he found an email waiting from his sister. Before he could open it, she popped up on instant messaging. After letting a stray comment slip, David spent the next ten minutes trying to describe the fight with Koji without letting drop any of the Matsumoto secrets. Cursing his inability to tell her the truth, the calendar by the computer gave him an idea.
“Can you do me a favor for Valentine’s Day?” he asked. David spent the next half hour after making his request, reading about every boy Jess knew as she speculated about the upcoming holiday.
‘I don’t like Jess thinking about boys so much.’
‘At least your plan to distract her worked. And you got her to agree to send you that stuff.’
‘Yeah, but in return I have to translate all these boy questions for Natsuki.’ David shuddered and began typing an email to Takumi’s partner.
Each day went faster as they devoted more class time to practice for the play. David’s nervousness built along with his classmates’ grand preparations. Whatever divides there had been among class 2B, they seemed to have dissolved as everyone threw themselves into the play. With the Jeong brothers out of the country, his attention was ever more on the expanding number of lines, scenes, and stage positions he had to deal with.
Soon, Valentine’s Day was upon them and their class scheduled for the second year slot. Although a Sunday, performances were set for the morning, and the homerooms were open for the subject displays. David hurried with the rest of his classmates to finish last minute preparations. The students had one-half of the gym, while the parents and families filed into the other half. After several welcome speeches and the first few skits, Class 2B left to prepare for their turn.
‘This is worse than before we attacked the lair. I can’t believe I have to do this in front of the entire school.’
‘At least you do not have to worry about forgetting your lines. They’re easy, and I can help you remember if you forget.’
With a shudder, David slid into a dark corner to change into his first costume.
“And now, Class 2B will be presenting a special Valentine’s Day rendition of Momotaro,” Miu, the announcer said as David’s heart pounded off stage. The curtains opened.
On stage, a painted backdrop depicted an ancient Japanese countryside, with twisting rice paddies surrounded by mountains. Together, Natsuki and Daisuke were dressed as an old farm couple. They wore the traditional baggy pants and brownish stripped ja
ckets of old Japan as they worked with fake Japanese tools. Beside them, raised cutouts of blue waves marked a fake river.
“Oh it’s such a hot day,” Natsuki said.
“It wouldn’t be hot if we had a son to help us in the fields,” Daisuke replied, pointing his fake beard at Natsuki.
“It’s not my fault we never had children. I wish I had a son,” she said.
As the old couple sighed and worked, a giant peach rode in from the side of the stage. Kenta and Tsubasa had rigged it with a remote, allowing them to make it seem as if the peach was washing down a river toward the couple. When the peach was just before them, it stopped.
“Look, a peach,” Daisuke said. “Let’s eat it. I’m hungry.”
As the pair approached, the peach split apart. David popped out of the middle. He was dressed in a mawashi, the wrap used by sumo wrestlers, and nothing else. The girls had managed to keep a straight face when, against his protestations, they insisted on it on the grounds of historical accuracy. In the original story, the boy had popped out naked.
“I am Momotaro,” David said in a loud voice. “I have been sent to be your son, for you have worked long.”
“For joy! A son!” Natsuki crowed. “But such a strange looking boy. No one will ever like him.” The last words had been one of the few additions Mizuki had been able to add, despite a large amount of support to have them taken out.
Together Natsuki and Daisuke walked off with the peach as the curtains closed. Offstage, David pulled on shorts, a jacket, and belt. His classmates had designed the costume based on a happi, the traditional festival wear. The white shorts were a bit too short for his taste, but again they had insisted. The outfit left his arms bare and he was pleased to note he looked a little like the character Goku on Dragon Ball. Hidemi took the opportunity to throw a little more flour into the wigs that Natsuki and Daisuke were wearing.
When they were ready, the couple went back onto the stage and pretended to work like before. Then the curtains opened again. Momotaro entered from the side carrying oversized vegetables.
“Thank you Momotaro,” Daisuke said. “You have been here alone with us for many years. A friend recently died. Her daughter will come to live with us.”
Rie entered wearing a kimono and bowed. Despite the pressure of the performance, David could not help but smile. Her graceful stride perfectly matched one of Yukiko’s brightest spring kimonos. Then, just as suddenly as she had come, the lights all blanked out and she was gone again.
“Parents. I must go to Demon Island. The oni have abducted the girl, and I must save her,” David said as the lights came back on.
“We knew you would have to leave someday,” Natsuki said. “Here, take these four skewered rice dumplings and go rescue her.”
David marched off the screen to applause as the curtain closed again. Students scrambled to change the background to a beach with a boat and an island in the distance as others added a Japanese pennant to David’s costume. Beside him, Takumi, Naoto, and Shouta were dressed as animals.
“You know, you look good as a bird,” David said to Takumi, wincing as Mayu rammed the pole for the pennant against his back.
“I still don’t like the plan our classmates concocted. At least it’s you and not Daisuke,” Takumi said, adjusting his wing in annoyance. “This is not how bird wings are.”
Miu, hearing Takumi’s remarks turned red and hurried away.
“Now look what you did,” Mayu growled as she left David and hurried after her friend.
Back onstage, the curtains opened to the new background and Shouta dressed as a dog. He pranced around the stage until David entered with a swagger. Seeing David, Shouta ran up to him, yapping “Wan Wan!” Japanese style.
“Where are you going?” Shouta asked.
“I am going to Demon Island. The monsters have done many bad things, and have a great treasure, we must stop them,” he replied. “Will you come with me and fight?”
“Sounds a bit dangerous for me,” Shouta said, squatting and scratching at his ear with a paw.
“I’ll give you a rice snack if you come,” David said, showing a skewer with the four rice dumplings on it. The dog jumped excitedly around him and then followed David off-stage. Without warning, Takumi swung across the stage on a cable and harness Tsubasa had rigged for him. He kept up a “Chirp Chirp” for the audience though his swinging was wild. David entered with Shouta in tow.
‘Yikes, I hope that cable doesn’t break,’ David thought as he came on stage.
‘Tsubasa knows his trade. It was fine in the rehearsals.’
“Hey, a bird,” Shouta called. “Can I eat that too?”
In response, Takumi dropped, smashing into Shouta as he swung on his cables. Reaching up, David was able to steady Takumi, and then release him.
“Where are you going?” Takumi asked once he composed himself. “Did you know you have a mongrel following you?”
“This is Dog. Together we are going to Demon Island. The monsters have done many bad things, and have a great treasure, we must stop them,” David said over Shouta’s growling.
“Demon Island? Sounds like fun, can I come too?” Takumi asked.
“Sure. Here is a rice dumpling. Let’s go!” David said.
Together the three marched offstage. Naoto loped into view in a monkey costume. His enthusiastic performance had the student section laughing, and soon even the parents were clapping.
“Banana? Banana? Give me a banana,” Naoto said when David entered again.
“I don’t have a banana, but I have a dumpling,” David said. “If you come with me to fight on Demon Island, I’ll give you one.”
“OK, but why will you go to Demon Island?” Naoto asked.
“The monsters have done many bad things, and have a great treasure, we must stop them,” David replied again. Together they marched off as the curtains closed. The background changed again. It became a jungle island, fronted by a large gate. Kenta placed a boat cutout and waves near the edge of the stage.
‘I still can’t believe I’m supposed to do this in front of the entire school. And Rie! She must be so embarrassed, I can’t believe Mizuki set this up.’
‘It must have been the best way for them to get back at both of you. I don’t know why you’re so worried. The last time went well enough.’
‘Because she’s my host-sister. And her extremely deadly father and brother are in the same room. And because it’s embarrassing.’
Before David could complain more, someone pushed him onto the stage. With the three animals in tow, David entered.
“We have arrived. Dog, go see if you can open the gate,” David said.
Before the dog could protest, Takumi as a bird, hopped to the gate.
“It’s locked,” he called.
Three monsters approached from off-stage. David frowned. The monster that Kaeda was supposed to be playing was different from the one he had seen during rehearsals. It was far bigger and wielded very real looking Japanese nightsticks.
“Quick! Let’s eat the dumplings, then we will be strong enough to defeat the monsters,” Naoto called. All four ate the rice dumplings then turned to the monsters. As planned, David drew his fake wooden sword, and advanced on the lead monster while the animals went for the other two. David knew something was wrong before the first swing. The face behind the monster suit was not Kaeda’s face. What was supposed to be cardboard was hard wood.
‘It’s Koji. You should have finished him off when you had the chance.’
‘I can’t just kill a student, no matter how dumb they are.’
David slid under Koji’s dual attack. Elbowing him, he dropped his useless prop sword, sliding around behind him. As Koji spun, David forgot about the rest of his classmates, about the entire school watching as he focused on his enemy. This time David did not hold back. The series of punches he gave Koji connected hard. Dropping the tonfa, Koji looked into David’s serious gaze. David did not know it, but he was the picture of fer
ocity, with his hair on end, almost like Kou’s fur. Koji ran. The audience laughed as the leader of the monsters turned tail. David even heard the laughter from his classmates backstage, and then Rie screamed, high and piercing. It was a sound he had heard only once before and had hoped he never would again. Before the other two monsters could react to Koji’s disappearance, another, all too real monster, stomped onto the stage.
VALENTINE’S IN JAPAN
From China we headed north. The way became easier the farther we went. Though the border was secure, we had advantages that the refugees and smugglers did not. As wolves, it was a simple matter to sneak back into our Korea…
‘We can’t transform, not with all these people,’ David thought desperately. In response, Kou withdrew from his mind. The fanged lizard moved much faster than David had thought possible, and given Rie’s scream, he was sure she had somehow summoned it. In front of the entire school, and with cameras rolling, David did the only thing he could.
“Run!” he called to the other actors as he dropped. Takumi was aware enough to grab Naoto and Shouta and pull them away. The second he passed from the audience’s view behind the low paper waves, David summoned his Seikaku in its wooden form. His body protected it from the other two students playing monsters. They backed away from the komodo dragon as Takumi pulled the others to the far side.
Rolling, David popped back up, seemingly with his prop sword in hand. In reality, the long curve of wood was a deadly tool in a Jitsugen Samurai’s hands. The monster’s long fangs dripped with saliva and sweat dripped from David’s brow. The effort required of him to maintain the Seikaku without Kou’s help shocked him, and he could feel the limits of his endurance and training approach. He moved swiftly, hands twisting as his arms rose. With a crunch, David brought the Seikaku down onto the center of the komodo’s head.
The crowd yelled and clapped as the dragon was revealed to be nothing but paper. Momotaro stood alone on stage staring down at the wreckage of the paper monster.
Revenge of the Akuma Clan Page 11