A Ghost on the Tatami

Smacks, slaps, pants. Bodies echoed in the small dojo. When it rang, Nadine's voice towered everyone, and everything. 

As a kid, Conan had too much energy to spare, and anger against his paternal. A fighting sport was the perfect remedy. And discipline. Respect. So judo it was. Conan had joined Nadine's club and a real bond had formed. And when her and his dad fell out, her relationship with Conan only grew stronger. 

Hands behind her back. Slow steps. She scrutinised each of them. "Last year was easy. You were the eldest in your category. But this year, you will compete with the big ones. So I expect big improvements at every session."

Zyra was pale. "Why am I doing this for you," she said to Conan. He did not answer, too focused on his push ups.

"Your parents punished you for being such a troublesome girl," said Lance

"Quiet Zyra! Or I'll tell your dad you spend his money complaining about them instead of training."

Conan couldn't help a chuckle. It reverberated in Lance and the others. Except Zyra.

Nadine called them over.

"Pair up. Start practicing. If you forgot a technique, don't dawdle or chat. You grab the handouts and get on with it. Sassara, you're with me."

They clapped, and laughed as Sassara went over to the teacher's side. 

Conan paired with Ali. He started playing the attacker. It felt good to pull on that sleeve again. When he was younger, Nadine had picked him once to demonstrate a throwing technique to the others. At the time, she seemed enormous compared to him. 

One moment, he held her sleeve and lapel. Next, he was on the ground. Staring at the ceiling. The slam of his body still rang in his ears. Pulsed in his body. Such force. Such speed. Swooned.

That's when the fun started. 

He had done plenty of competitions. But high school was different. Initially, he wanted to do the tournament with his friends. Lance had joined not long after Conan in the same club, and Ali had followed suit when he arrived in Lyon. Zyra had started in another club not long ago.  

The problem was, Nadine only took care of kids sixteen and younger. But it had to be her. She should have thrown them out. But she accepted. And so, here they were. Having private lessons. He was eternally grateful to her for this chance. 

Nadine went over to Sassara, and they started going over techniques.  

Sassara had not attended proper lessons in years. She had lost her edge. She corrected her centre of gravity, the positions of her hands and feet, the way to pull or swipe. But Nadine's training was nothing compared to what she had done with her ex. 

The sharpness came back, and Nadine was satisfied with Sassara's movements. She asked them to regroup. 

"Now. You boys sit and watch the girls fight." 

They were all giddy. Zyra and Julie was one thing. But this.

"This is a whole other thing," Lance said. He chuckled silently.

Conan watched as Sassara and Zyra greeted each other, and took position. She looked determined and happy. His heart felt big in his ribcage.  

"Hajime!"

Both had a firm hand on the other's lapel. They started testing each other out. Their left hand pecked at the other's. One reached, the other smacked away, and again and again. They turned around each other.  Sassara was bigger, but Zyra had speed. The boys were not chatting anymore. They watched with anticipation. Sassara was more on the defensive. Testing. Finding her footing again.

"Come on girls we need something here."

Zyra listened. She pulled Sassara in her space and sweeped her leg. It hit. Made contact with her left foot. But failed. Sassara had flexed her legs, lowered her centre of gravity, and blocked it. 

They fumbled at their grips once again, pulling each other's weights around. A moment passed and Zyra attacked again. Same move. This time Sassara felt it and dodged. Sassara started pulling. But Zyra got annoyed and pulled too. Faster. She folded her leg at the back of Sassara's knee. To sweep her off the floor. 

Conan's heart stopped.

Balance yourself!

And she did. Leaned back, extended her body. Balanced herself again. Zyra's right leg was still in contact with hers. Sassara back-stepped her left foot. Using her right as pivot.

Turned her upper body to the side. Zyra tried to stop the movement. But her right leg was stuck. Too late. She lost balance. Slammed the mat on her side.

Conan opened his mouth. "Cool."

"Sassara, 10 points. Good defence, good counter. But next time, faster. Zyra, good attacks. But you lost  your patience. Again. Really take notice of that." 

They saluted again

"Ok Sassara. Now we'll try with one of the guys. Conan. You're up."

He had not expected her to be that good. The techniques weren't perfect. But she knew small tricks to shift her centre of gravity or her opponent's. That mattered. Now that he knew how sneaky she was, he would not give her an easy time. 

They faced each other. It was weird to see her with a kimono. Her orange belt was well knotted. She was right, she did did not need his help. 

They saluted. Took position. He gave her a knowing smile. She smiled too.

"Hajime!"

He started pulling. She was not light, but he could handle that much. Sassara had proven herself. No time to waste. 

He locked his right leg in between hers, turned, sweeped. She was going to fall. But no. Before he could finish his movement, she let go her hand that pulled on his lapel. 

And leaned back. 

Her centre of gravity shifted away from him. His movement blocked. But he did not wait. They circled again. He wanted to use an easy technique on her. The sooner it was over, the better. But she did not make it easy. Every time he sweeped her leg she flexed, extended or dodged. 

"Sassara. Why aren't you attacking? Do something," Nadine said.

That's right, why? He was too focused on his own failings to realise it. She tried a few times to sweep his legs. But they lacked the confidence she showed against Zyra. He could not wait.

If that's how it is...

He secured both his grips. Shifted his whole body to the right. And while he turned, he met her eyes.

Fear.

But he couldn't stop his movement. Too late. He leaned forward, and with his hip, threw her over.

SLAM.

Silence. He checked Sassara. Made sure she was ok. She laid on her back. Did not stare at him. Did not even stare at the ceiling. Her eyes were closed. Her lips thin. 

"That was great Conan. Great form. 100 points."

But he did not care though. Too worried. Her eyes were still closed. "Sassara are you ok?" 

She smiled. "Yeah yeah, I'm ok." But she did not open her eyes. "Don't worry."

But he did. 

"Sassara," Nadine said. "What was that? You had so many opportunities! This dumbie was so focused on your feet he forgot about your arms. You could have used your arm to throw him! A shoulder! A hip! Anything!"

She got up. Faced Nadine, and did small bow. "You are right. I was thinking about it, but something didn't feel right. I will do better next time. I promise."

"That's wonderful. But careful. In the world of adults, if you promise something, then you have to deliver."

She raised her head. Eyes opened and smiling. "I know. Thank you for your advices."

The training ended not long after. Conan and the boys went into their changing rooms and hit the showers. 

He broke the silence first. "So? What did you think guys? How is this year looking?"

"I think Sassara will do great. It works better with Zyra as well. Good technique. She's heavier than Zyra which will have its perks during competitions. But I don't understand why she bugged when fighting you."

"Maybe she's just too overwhelmed by your presence," Lance said. Him and Ali laughed "Yeah. Maybe she likes you too much and she panicked. No?"

At the start of the fight she seemed fine. But after he attacked a few times, her stance had shifted. Less confident. And then he threw her. And he saw her eyes. And there was fear. He knew fear. Had she seen her ex in that moment? 

Oh my God. 

Was she going to see her ex every time they fought together? 

Was she thinking about him right now?