The smoke had finally died down after the cascading rain flushed over the fire. It was amazing to see all the villagers pull together in such emergency. Even the children helped to wake the elderly to the disaster in the dead of night. But while the community tended to the electrical blaze, Guy ran through the burning terrain to reach the man responsible for the arson. As one of the fastest and most competent ninjas in the clan, he was sure he could bring justice to the community by capturing the perpetrator.
It must have been six hours since he ventured off. Six hours of torment and wasted time. It was now dawn, with the usual twittering of birds. Guy sighed, rubbing his sooty face in despair as he sat down on a log, frustrated at himself for returning empty-handed. Since coming to Japan, he had failed to do anything right for the village. As he ran through the countryside closing in on the perpetrator’s trail, it was inconceivable why he was unable to continue forward. The intense overbearing power he felt had him crippled. The further he moved from the village, the less he was able to do. But that was no excuse for his shameful failure.
“It was probably the smoke fumes that weakened my focus and judgment,” Guy said through gritted teeth. He didn’t care whether the old man next to him listened or not. “I have no idea. Such evil weight, it was in my heart...something dark. I didn’t even have the energy to walk. Agh, even so--”
Perhaps with a little more perseverance, he would have caught up to the man responsible for the arson, and confronted him. Guy was the fastest, best-trained and most intuitive ninja. He sighed, frustrated, burying his face in his hands.
“...it must be my living in the city that has weakened my stamina. I’m not as agile as I used to be. I’m forgetting everything. I just know that if I get back into training with you again, I’ll be back in top form. I...I...damn, I totally blew it. I don’t know what happened out there.”
“I did not ask for you to do that for me, Guy,” Genryusai spoke calmly, despite the hurrying sense of impatience that was beginning to develop. “I felt the strong aura too and decided even before the attack to not approach him.”
“How could I have not gone after him?” Guy blurted, stunned at Genryusai’s complete lack of fervor.
“Be thankful that nobody was hurt.”
“Does it matter though?” Guy continued to argue, flustered. “It happened but it shouldn’t have. I could have stopped him. In fact, I should still be out there hunting this maniac.”
Guy stood abruptly, ready to run, but felt his jogging bottom tugged by an old dry hand.
“Sit,” Genryusai demanded. “There is little need for you to prove yourself. Not with regard to your faithfulness to our ninjitsu arts, at least.”
“But that attack, the clan, they could have proven themselves against him, and you could have put ninjitsu back on the map,” Guy urgently suggested. “Maybe I should stay in Japan a little longer, at least until I know who is responsible.”
“Guilt, Guy, is not an honorable trait for one to have,” Genryusai said, in between fits of coughing. “There is little point chasing something that is far gone.”
Genryusai looked at him with a hint of disappointment, not understanding why Guy was so persistent in wanting to stay with them. Guy’s duties were abroad, to take care of Genryusai’s daughters in his absence, and live in a more sustainable world.
“We can start over again,” Genryusai said, smiling. The lines around his eyes crinkled. “Things happen for a reason, remember. Now we can rebuild this village into a modern society, not having to rely on old methods. You can even tell me stories of how you live in America. Perhaps we can adapt.”
Guy sighed, not knowing what he could say to his second master. He expected nothing more from Genryusai, who continually pried into his private life and wanted to know everything there was about his livelihood in Los Angeles. Being a ninja in this day and age had little worth in Japanese society. No matter how hard Genryusai tried to pass on the Bushin style to whoever was interested, the ninja lifestyle no longer appealed to the younger crowd. It made no money and had little use to modern life. In a commercial world filled with technology, Guy understood clearly why Genryusai was so adamant for able members to leave, but he was torn with guilt over having neglected this village for too long.
The man sitting next to him looked almost unrecognizable. It was unbearable to see him in this state, shaky, withering and old. Despite his small stature, Genryusai had always been a man of great strength and formidable presence. Today he was just a normal man enjoying what little of nature was left around him.
“I don’t want to live not knowing what is happening with you,” Genryusai wheezed, still suffering from heavy smoke inhalation. “It is most unsettling, Guy, most unsettling. If your father was alive, I’m sure he would agree too.”
“Master, stop ignoring what I’m saying!” Guy yelled in an unruly manner, then he stopped himself from shouting. He hated disruptive mumblings.
Genryusai clutched the black blanket tighter around his body, staring oddly at the only beautiful thing left in the village: the flowing river of Iga.
“I have heard what you had to say, but for the sake of my patience, I request that you stop talking about what has been and concentrate on other areas. If you want to help, look around you. There are plenty of jobs to pick before you leave.”
As requested, Guy looked around. Nearly everything was destroyed. Very few trees had survived in their natural form, homes needed rebuilding, and the only bridge that had connected the village to the main city no longer existed. Guy recognized that a man who could rouse such power by simply using his fists is no ordinary man. The continuous rain had simply intensified the electrical energy ball to travel and destroy the bridge.
“Stop thinking about it,” Genryusai advised, putting a gentle arm on his former student’s back. “Anguish will get you nowhere, but the villagers and I appreciate your efforts.”
“Appreciate my efforts?” Guy retorted, as if it were an insult. “If I can’t even prevent one man from destroying one fishing village, what good can the other students be?”
Genryusai gruffed, nodding his head in agreement.
“We ninja make a promise to serve and protect our masters, our people and our country. It is our honor to do so.”
Genryusai wheezed again in an effort to stifle laughter.
“I mean it,” Guy snapped, his jaw tightening.
“You do not know the meaning of honor.”
“What do you mean?” he recoiled. An uncomfortable knot formed in his stomach.
Genryusai cocked a smile, bearing his missing front teeth that had nothing to do with old age. He had simply lost too many fights to stronger opponents.
“I cannot recall how many years have passed, my son, but I do remember you pledging your heart to forever look after my snowdrops.”
Guy wanted to groan with irritation. Genryusai’s daughters were the last thing he wanted to discuss, especially when running on no sleep. He pressed his lips together, staring at his mentor with narrowed eyes. There was no doubt that Genryusai had been trying to talk about his “snowdrops” from the very day Guy had arrived. This time, there was nowhere for him to run.
Genryusai suddenly looked serious. The thought of his daughters made him feel solemn.
“I may die today. I may die tomorrow,” Genryusai started with a shudder. “We cannot tell what the future holds for us, so I want things resolved before I move on.”
“Master, I hate it when you talk like this,” Guy confessed, dropping his gaze to his muddy red sneakers.
Genryusai took Guy’s shoulder with both hands and looked him in the eye. It was strange to see the color in his irises fading. Guy had never noticed that his eyes had a tint of blue, a feature Genryusai’s two daughters most certainly had not inherited.
“So, when will you finally do it?”
Guy scratched his head, feeling Genryusai’s fingers digging deep into his shoulder. “Master, it isn’t as easy as--”
/> “Do not make excuses, boy,” Genryusai yelled, striking Guy in the face with his palm. “I cannot have you side stepping this conversation anymore. You made a promise and you will respect it, even if I have to force you.”
Genryusai’s face was stern. His gaze bore into Guy like a laser. Guy couldn’t help but stare back, unwavering.
“You have said so yourself that ninjas are honorable, and they serve this purpose by protecting. Your acceptance of the proposal to my daughter was honorable, but leaving her to wait is not respectable.”
Guy pressed his lips together, thinking of Maki and Rena. He couldn’t reveal the truth about his relationships with Genryusai’s daughters, nor could he set a wedding date that he could credit. He had to make a decision, one that he must live with for the rest of his life, and he hated it more than the thought of failing as a ninja. Guy wanted to cry in frustration, wishing he could turn back time to undo this mistake, but simply avoiding the topic did him no good. The smack to the face still stung him, but he shook the burn off and sighed again.
“I don’t like your sighing, Guy,” Genryusai mumbled. “Now, I entrusted you with this important duty. I chose you from all my disciples to honor the promise of looking after my daughter once I am gone. Maki is strong and has proven to me time and time again that she does not need someone to rely on. Rena, however, does. She is much less independent, and she is my eldest child, after all. I must see one of my daughters wed-locked before I move on. Please, you must do what you can to keep her safe and happy.”
Guy nodded halfheartedly, his gaze following the pieces of wood that swam in the river.
“I do not need your help here as much as I need you to keep this promise to me. Guy, you must return to America and complete the engagement once and for all, and do so before my time runs out.”
“Yes, Master,” Guy agreed meekly, unable to find the strength to argue, despite his desperation to dispute the matter.
Genryusai smiled crookedly, ruffling Guy’s hair. “Good. And, call me Dad.”
*****
Chapter 5:
REUNION