The Birth of a New Generation

[Deleted]

It was done. Carmine had, with the help of the Galleon crew, finished rebuilding the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School dojo. He was confident that he had what it took to spread the knowledge and the skills that he held within him.

All he needed were students. He had spread the word to friends of his - those he had helped during his time as a Hero for Hire in Satan City, and even Kami himself. He made sure that it was known that the doors were opening today, and that there was a limited window to join with the school right now before he left for the Demon Realm. Sure, new students could join while he was gone, but they wouldn't have the benefit of the Master's teachings until after he returned.

So he sat in the dojo, meditating, waiting for the students to come.

[Zach]

Following his barely victorious battle to keep Central City from once again being endangered by reckless, disrespectful aliens, Zach wandered the largely empty streets. Although the bocks have been cleaned up and the roads re-paved, the city was still a barren desert of concrete. Being so devoid of buildings, it wasn’t hard to find one of the gleaming new structures. Zach stopped outside of the building, sitting down on the steps to rest after the battle. His body ached in several places, not the least of which was his middle. Still, Zach was not through pushing himself this evening, even at the very least he still had the flight back to the lookout to embark upon.

Leaning back on the cement steps, Zach gazed up into the evening sky and noted something peculiar. An object, something that could only be described as a flying sail boat was drifting amongst the clouds almost directly over the building and at once Zach recognized it. Captain Ryota must have returned from where ever it was he’d gotten off to after leaving that power generator with Captain Eris.

“Heh, Wonder if he’s inside.” Zach pondered aloud and dragged himself back to his feet. If he hadn’t known better he would have sworn he was a hundred years old the way his muscles protested the movement. Ascending the steps, Zach pulled open one of the doors to the main entrance and stepped inside the structure. For a grand opening, or at least that’s what it looked like, the place was pretty quiet. Wandering further in, Zach eventually happened upon a figure sitting in the middle of one of the training rooms, apparently meditating.

“Um… Hello?” Zach announced his presence, stepping into the room. The man looked familiar but he couldn’t quite place him, at least not until the thought of the Galleon floating over head drifted by his consciousness. ‘Oh hey, it’s that guy from the banquette and Ryota’s ship. Crap, what the heck was his name?’ Zach though in silence as he took a few more steps in.

[Deleted]

Carmine opened his eyes and turned to look at whoever it was had come in. He smiled, instantly recognizing the heroic, albeit reckless man that had thrown himself against the brick wall that was Suki.

He stood and approached Zach, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Zach, this is a nice surprise. What brings you to the dojo? Did Kami let you know I was setting it up?"

[Zach]

“Hey!” Zach replied with a smile when the other recognized him. It took a few more moments but the other’s name finally surfaced from the depths of Zach’s memory. “Carmine right? No, actually I was just out getting some exercise. Stopped outside to rest and noticed the Captain’s ship floating up there so I thought I’d some in and see if he was here.” the boy added. The fact that he kind of looked like hell made the statement that he was out getting exercise a definite understatement. It would have been true this morning when he was fresh out of the gravity chamber, but now he’d flown half way around the world and gotten in a battle. Still he was up and about and didn’t look like he wanted to stop any time soon.

[Deleted]

"The Captain's on deck right now," Carmine answered, looking up to the cieling, indicating that Ryota was on the Galleon. "If you can fly and need to see him you're welcome on the Galleon. If not, you look like you could use a chair and a beer or something, you comin' from training or something?"

He went to a closet and opened it, retrieving a fairly spartan, but serviceable folding chair. He'd decided having a few on hand might be a good idea, should someone hurt themselves or should any major political figures come by. Otherwise, the place was furnished by mats, cushions, and a few cots. Comforts were not Carmine's priority one concern, it would seem.

"Incidentally, if you know anyone who's looking for guidance in weapon training, you can direct them here. I don't know how familiar you were with Central before the disaster, but I've decided to bring back the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School. I considered renaming it, but it didn't feel right."

[Zach]

“Oh, well if he’s busy up on the ship I don’t want to bother him. Like I said, I just saw it floating by this place and thought he might be here.” Zach replied, not wanting to make an issue out of not finding Ryota. “Hmhmhm… And yes, I can fly.” the boy added with a chuckle.

“Actually I’m coming from a fight, before that though was training so yeah, I guess I do kind of look a little beat up. But hey, I’ve got enough to keep moving around, may as well use it right?” Zach continued as Carmine offered him a seat and a drink and then proceeded to retrieve the former. While the other was getting the chair, Zach looked around and noted that the place was indeed quite Spartan, containing only the most basic comforts. Although he wouldn’t admit it to himself or anyone else he was grateful for the seat, and even though he’d been resting out on the steps where he thought no one was watching, now he had his image to protect and didn’t want to look too eager to collapse into that chair.

“Thanks, and I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t usually associate with the weapon types though, but I’ll see what I can do for you.” Zach responded and promptly dropped his bottom into the chair as soon as it was ready. “As for the school it’s self, I can’t say I remember it, I’ve only been to the city a hand full of times and that was years ago, not counting the trip here to get to the tournament. Oh! That reminds me, where did you and Ryota get off to after my little uh, incident with Suki?”

[Deleted]

Komatsuna had heard on the streets that the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School had been renovated, and now had a new master. He got word that it was in Central City, and should be fairly easy to see, a new building among all the debris. He made his way there.

Upon arrival, Komatsuna looked at the doors. They were awe-inspiring to him. This would be the place where he would fully master his sword, and become powerful. This school would be the righteous gateway to his triumph over evil, the way to get more powerful, and win Serori back. He reached out his hand...

And knocked, the anticlimaticism banging resounding through his head. He felt like it should have been much more than this, more heroic in a sense. But he knocked, and waited for the doors to open to him.

(OOC, sorry about this, I suddenly gained a huge writers block while trying to write this post...)

[Deleted]

Carmine listened to Zach, and wondered who he could have been fighting to be left in such a rough state. The man was powerful, and had only grown moreso since his run-in with the Icer. Part of him wished he could have seen it.

"The school was founded by a pair of fighters in ancient times, the fighters themselves somewhat legendary. Their names and faces are lost to time, though we refer to them as The Sword and The Fist. While we focus on weapon forms, we do recognize that hand-to-hand training is important, and historically, before the destruction of Cental City, ki training was a major part of the curriculum. I intend on bringing that back to the forefront."

He ran his hand through his hair as Zach asked where they'd gone to after the meeting at Kami's. He thought for a moment, remembering the short visit to Vegeta. He considered telling the young man everything, but remembered that Zach was just as protective of Earth as he was, and so thought it best to leave out the details for now.

"Had a little bit of business in space. Pirate stuff, mostly. What have you been--"

He was cut off by a knocking at the door.

"One moment, sorry."

He strode to the school's entrance and threw the door open excitedly. Standing there was Komatsuna, looking perhaps a bit lost, or was it nervous?

"Welcome to the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School. Have you come to train?"

[Deleted]

As Komatsuna stood there, suddenly the doors were open. A man stood there, with dark hair, and beamed.

""Welcome to the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School. Have you come to train?"

Komatsuna hadn't really had much interraction with others, save Serori, his dad, and the people he delivered to for his dad. When he was greeted as such, he didn't know what to say.

"I, that is, um, y-y-yes I have. I have come to train, and, and get stronger." He grimaced as he listened to the words come out of his mouth. 'How lame I must sound,' he thought. And how nervous I must be, I'm nearly shaking. He held out his hand, for a hand shake.

"Nice to meet you, Mr...?"

Read more: wodresurrection.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=kikoukenjutsuswordschool&action=display&thread=1696#ixzz1oq3mvxY6

[Deleted]

"Carmine. I'm the Master here."

He shook Kamtsuna's hand and then stood aside, gesturing for him to come on it. He couldn't read an ounce of power off of the man - which meant one of two things. Either he had no ki training, or he was an android just like Carmine.

"You're the first student to come along. What's your name?"

[Deleted]

((Komatsuna's an android, I thought you couldn't sense android's powerlevels? correct me if I'm wrong))

"Carmine. I'm the Master here."

Carmine stood aside to let Komatsuna in, and Komatsuna stepped inside. It was a nice place, due to its newness.

"You're the first student to come along. What's your name?"

"Komatsuna, Mr. Carmine sir." Komatsuna couldn't believe his luck. The first student? That meant for now he would have all the mentoring he would need. "I just got here from planet Vegeta, sir. I'd heard about the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School on my many trips to Earth to deliver my dad's goods. He makes weapons...mostly swords." Komatsuna couldn't seem to stop himself talking, he was so nervous. But why should he be? Carmine seemed a nice enough person, and plenty strong. Surely, there was nothing to be nervous about.

Komatsuna took a deep breath to calm down, and looked around him. It was nice, possibly even beautiful. 'But no match for Serori,' he thought, 'even if I am comparing a person to a building...thats actually kind of weird...' Komatsuna said aloud "Mr. Carmine, does the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School offer boarding?"

[Zach]

When it was Zach’s turn to listen, the boy sat quietly, recording the history lesson that Carmine was giving him, at least as best he could. One could only expect so much detail to be absorbed by a teenager who wasn’t completely engrossed in the subject. Although the part about hand to hand combat once being a prevalent part of the school’s teachings did pique Zach’s interest. The boy was about to offer to help when he wasn’t otherwise occupied when they were interrupted by a knock at the doors.

Already standing, Carmine headed for the door while Zach remained seated for a few moments more. When their guest entered however, the shirtless teen stood up and gave the new arrival a cursory looking over. Other then that spiky mess of hair he didn’t look like another undesirable that needed to be chucked off the planet so he was safe. Zach remained silent though, sending only a nod of acknowledgement towards the newcomer and then stood by while Carmine and he spoke.

[Deleted]

((You're right, I didn't realize you were an android - fixed!))

Carmine smiled and patted Komatsuna on the back.

"I've been to Vegeta. Didn't get a chance to look around, business trip really, not worth getting into. But if it's swords you're into, you came to the right place. We do offer board, I'll show you the dormitories in a bit, you can just pick one. Though I hope you don't mind my asking, you say you're from Vegeta, and it's my understanding that the people of that planet are a good bit stronger than the people of this planet - at least at their base. I can't read any energy off of you. Are you just untrained...or are you an Android?"

His face held no biases, no judgements, just curiousity. He wanted to know about his student so he could properly train him.

[Deleted]

Komatsuna listened to Carmine intently. He said he had been to Vegeta, but didn't get a chance to really look around. Then he heard him ask "Though I hope you don't mind my asking, you say you're from Vegeta, and it's my understanding that the people of that planet are a good bit stronger than the people of this planet - at least at their base. I can't read any energy off of you. Are you just untrained...or are you an Android?"

Komatsuna looked at Carmine's face. He didn't mean anything by it. Komatsuna was pretty certain it was just so Carmine could better understand his student, and be able to help more.

"Yes, sir, I am an android. My father was very busy when he was 'younger' and never had time to marry, what with his metalsmithing business. So instead, he built me, as a sort of make-up for not being able to have a son. Since then, I've helped him around his job, even taken order shipments to customers. My dad was always a very personal man, made sure each order was hand delivered by either me or himself. Eventually he moved to Vegeta, so he could make Vegetean type armour, as he had heard there was more of a profit in that.
"That was about 10 years ago, and since then, I have been training in martial arts and sword work." Komatsuna realised that he had been talking a lot, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry if I've been rambling, I just don't get much of a chance to really talk to people, haha!"

[Deleted]

Carmine laughed along with Komatsuna, having just heard the boy's story. A part of him envied the other Android - he'd known his creator, and his creator was benevolent. Carmine couldn't remember a thing about his own creation. All he knew was what Samael had given him, and none of it was pleasant. He decided not to think about it - now was not the time.

"Don't worry about it, I'm glad you're so willing to share your story with me. It'll help me temper your training to fit you best. No two people are alike, and apparently the same goes for Androids. Maybe one day I'll tell you what I know about myself, but its a story best told another day. Just know that you can grow in power and in strength, even if your body is artificial. I've been doing it myself, and so can you."

He knew he'd have to train this one a bit differently - intense weight training would help him some, to be sure, but his best bet would be spiritual fulfillment. When the body is already a well-oiled machine, it would be best to cultivate the soul.

"Let me see your sword. I'd like to know the limb you've chosen."