Beginning of the love of swords.

"I had no idea that the sword would become something more to me than something to read about.
No thought at all how the sword and the pen would become the building blocks to a life I never even dreamed of.
No idea indeed."

2005

"Hurry,hurry,hurry!"I urge him,Uncle Goji laughs at my hasty short as we steps try to get into the building before the crowd gets any larger.It is the first time that any public has been allowed into he dojo since the days it first trained students in kendo back during the early days of the Kamakura period and somehow still managed to survive a the whole wars that happened after as it remained neutral each time.
"Did you know that many of the earliest of the shoguns vassals trained here?"
"Why yes I think I did since that was your last birthday present, the history of kendo book I found for you."
"It is so-so cool!"
My voice echoes as we enter the building,I hold onto Uncles hands while my eyes wander the large dojo,it has high ceilings,dark wooden walls with spears,swords,naginatas and even bows!
It seems like forever before the attendant is done tearing our ticket so we can be seated,it is front row!
"Thank you uncle!Thank you...best eighth birthday in history of birthdays!"
He smirks at me,and urges me to face forward and quiet as the owner and family head appears,he is tall like an oak with deep eyes,very graying hair but it seems to soften how hard his expression looks because he appears like he would simply cut this whole place apart in a rage if he were a bit angered.
Maybe he is truly like a kitty on the inside with such an expression?I think to myself.
Next his wife appears like a princess straight from the novels I read every moment I get,she is so regal with long hair dyed red and her eyes sparkle like the stars on a clear night.
After them is so many people that I begin to get bored staring at as I wait for the demonstration to begin.
When it does I almost nap,I should not have stayed up so long in my excitement last night.
"Haven't you waited forever to finally come to a dojo,this dojo?!Wake up dummy!"
I smack the arm of my friend hard,Arata looks at me like it actually hurt but I know better.The crowded room stares at my act and I stare boldly back,enough so that I hear someone laugh out loud in the room but can't see the person who laughed so hard.
"It seems my son has arrived eh?Come on out Kenshin!We should have your debut be on our first public viewing."
I saw the boy come out,he looks sheepish as he looks at his father,the crowd all staring at him with cameras snapping picture after picture.As he walks into closer view I see his mother gently pat his shoulder before he takes the left side of his father followed by ten students all varying in age between fifteen and thirty.
"It is today that all of you will become witness to this occasion that we become a public school for kendo,that also we introduce you to the heir of this prestigious school,the future is swordsmanship and the ways of our fathers are to be yours my son.Everyone I wish you all to support and guide my son in the beginnings of his training before you."
"Hell-hello."
Kenshin speaks,his voice practically a squeak above the voices,I can't even see now as everyone has risen to take pictures.
"Want a boost up Yukihana?"
I nod and he lifts me on his shoulders so I can watch as the boy shows off his training.
He seems to be no weakling at kendo already.
He has excellent form doing Ichimonji,Men-uchi,and even a reversed version of the traditional Nihon kendo kata.
I even squeaked in surprise when he perfectly executed tsuki,which distracted the boy from the next step in a another movie which got him slightly popped on his head by another student,the crowd laughed and praised the boys techniques and I just stared on at the more fluid movements that the older students had but I did glance again at the boy rubbing his head.
That boy had the eyes of his mother,so sparkly and the slight seriousness of his father but the little smirk that he had when he saw me look at him had me so flustered I stuck my tongue out at him and returned to watching the show while Arata tries to practice the moves beside me ending up popping my elbow, which ends up in his arm being popped by my fist and him whining to my uncle about my brute manners.
I stare often after that at the kanji above the area where the students spar and I want to remember this phrase forever.
"Where words fail to save/Let the sword save and never need slay.Honor,truth,justice,love,courage.This is the way of the ITO family school."

2 HOURS LATER

"I am sorry we had to leave so early,your mom called worried about us being caught up in the storm."
"It's okay,I had a fun time watching real swordsmanship...I want to be an warrior someday,or maybe write them but I don't care as long as it is cool!"
Uncle can not stop laughing as he holds my hand and tries to keep me from sloshing into the puddles that seem to deepen the closer home we get.
"You hear that uncle?"
I do not know if he hears me but then I hear a soft sound,like a puppies yip.Uncle is fishing out his bus card from his wallet and the waterway is to our left and I can see it.
A small wiggling bag and I hear the yipping becoming sadder and louder.I try to run to the sitting place so I can grab the bag but I am so short I can't get there quick enough to grab it.Uncle grabs me before I can fall into the water myself and scolds me for running off.
Just being out of sight for those few moments scared him so bad and I feel so bad for that but I could not just let them go,I said.
"Don't do that again my little trouble okay?I will let this go and not tell if you promise to be always careful.ALWAYS!Do our promise."
We are on the bus when this happens and I do our double pinky promise that ends with a fist bump but my eyes always keep looking back onto that little bag that happened to suddenly disappear when a small figure leaped in the water and pulled it out.

PRESENT

"You ready yet?I finished our bentos."
Uncle hurries down,grabs the box of the curry and pepper rice balls I made and is gone with a salute in farewell while I get ready to grab mine and make the first day back to school of my last year and I absolutely dread it.
"At least you will be here to greet me warmly unlike my the school mates that I detest,isn't that right Cookie?'

I look down at the short fuzz ball of a mix breed between a pomeranian and a beagle that has his lolling tongue staring at me bento.I pat the orange spot on his head,the rest of him is black and white colored but there and I love him all the more for his adorable weirdness.
I still hate to this day I never got to say thank you to the mystery friend that pulled him out of the water,even had him cleaned and brought a whole huge bag of dog food to our door.
All I saw was a rushing small figure and a little tail wagging friend to be.
"THANK YOU!"
I remember calling out,only for a moment did the figure pause but did not fully turn my way.
"Are you ready yet?"
Arata texts me,my phone beeps and it is the tune that I picked for him.
An insect buzzing tune I thought suited.
I rush out to begin what is sure to be a un-delightful first day of my last year in high school.