Act III - Guidance [Private]

Matsuda was spending the quiet day alone cleaning his dojo. The old man found the activity strangely relaxing, putting swords on their proper racks, making sure that the uniforms were neatly folded and in order. He hummed softly to himself to break the silence, an old song he used to sing to his children when they were still young and lived at home. It felt like so long ago, and he could not help but feel melancholic nostalgia when he thought back on it. Back then, his wife was still alive, and his family was whole. Now, that seemed like a distant memory. He sighed as he stopped humming, reflecting. His remaining family was so busy now, and had no interest in the sword, and fewer students stayed enrolled. He was worried for the future of the dojo. He shrugged it off, clearing his head as he folded the last of the shihakusho, putting them in the closet. He was about to head out into the backyard when he heard a voice calling for someone from the other room. His eyebrow quirked in curiosity and puzzlement. He had not scheduled any classes today. He shrugged his shoulders and turned around, calling out to them.

"Coming. Wait a moment, please."

The old man's pace was steady, not rushing as he made his way back through the dojo to the front entrance, adjusting the bokken on his waist. When he arrived, he was greeted by a timid looking young man, asking for lessons. Shigetoshi adjusted his glasses as he looked the boy over, sizing him up. He was not Japanese, though he seemed well spoken enough in the language, even if his accent was a bit off. The boy seemed confused and lost by the old man's experienced sense of perception. He smiled warmly at the boy and motioned him inside.

"Welcome, welcome. Come on in. Make yourself at home...but first, take your shoes off. This is a dojo, after all."

Right after he spoke, Matsuda could feel it; it wasn't a surge of sudden power or anything, but he could feel the aura emanating off of the boy. He was clearly stronger then an average human, and the aura seemed somehow....familiar. He stared at the boy a bit in deep thought. He would test the boy a bit and see if his suspicions were correct.

"I am Matsuda Shigetoshi, Grandmaster of Mugenensōryū. If you have come for lessons, I would be more then happy to do so. But you do not seem so sure."

Matsuda grabbed a bokken from a nearby stand, tossing it lightly to Justin before drawing his own.

"We can start with a few practice swings...and maybe you can tell me what's on your mind, son."

The old man assumed a more proper stance then the young man, knees slightly bent as he drew the bokken he always carried from his sash. It was a well kept item that looked a bit different from the bokken in Justin's hands; the wood was clearly older, and yet seemed sturdier then a standard bokken. Despite his advancing age, Matsuda's grip on the sword was firm and strong. When he took a simple swing, it seemed effortless, his body following through on the motion, his footwork helping to transfer power through his body with each swing. The "blade" seemed to sing as he cut through the air, gliding effortlessly. This was an exercise that he had done countless times throughout the years....and made a habit of doing so every day, so that he never forgot. He was subtle, increasing his power with each swing the air around him growing thicker with his aura. He wondered if the boy would notice. If he did, Matsuda's suspicions would be confirmed, and Archer was no ordinary human. He did a few more swings with the sword to show Justin the proper stance and technique before he temporarily stopped. He made his way over to the British lad, reaching over to grab his hands and adjust the grip properly.

"The key to power is balance, my young friend. And not just your grip. Watch your feet and posture. Control your breathing; exhale as you strike. Try it again."

Matsuda stepped back and started to swing in his practice stance again, setting a pace for Justin to follow, trying to set a rhythm. He chuckled at the boy's inquiry about the sword school. It was true that it was uncommon for him to take non-Japanese students. Many dojo in the area even refused to do so under the notion that their kenjustu had to be kept "pure" by only being passed on to Japanese students.

"Mugenensōryū is an old tradition that was created during a time of war...during a time where the sword was the weapon of choice for samurai bodyguards. It is fouded in Zen teachings. 'Form without form, thought without thought' is the school motto. It's a very important part of my country's history, and the history of how not only how samurai would use this style, but what it MEANT to be samurai at the time."

Shigetoshi stopped to check on the boy's form, smiling warmly at Justin as he continued.

"It's my belief, Archer, that the samurai code is still needed in society, in life. It is for this reason that my dojo is open to everyone; I can pass on not only my family style and keep it alive, but perhaps by passing it on to the right people, I can better the world just a little bit with each student I take."

Matsuda stood and listened to what the boy had to say, nodding solemnly when Justin had finished his explanation. He had seen these kinds of troubles before, the experienced sword master having helped many a student with their personal issues. A lack of self confidence in a troubled youth was nothing new to him, but he knew it was a crippling issue that could be difficult to remedy. The old man frowned in thought, reflecting on Justin's comment, where he had stated that people's opinions seemed to play a large part in his overall problem. He stopped swinging his sword, but motioned for his newest student to keep going.

"There is no one answer to your problem, Archer. People's opinions can have a lasting impact on a person, for good or for worse. This include's confidence."

Matsuda paused to adjust Justin's stance once more, making sure that his footwork was in proper balance. He was impressed that his troubled student had picked up the basics fairly quickly. He nodded in approval with a grunt, planning on working out the flaws in the boy's form over time. It was more important to him now that he give the young man his advice, for he felt that his state of mind came first....and by improving Justin's state of mind, he would be able to help him focus better on mastering the art of the sword that much faster.

"It will sound basic, but the key here is to focus your attention inward, and self reflect. Self confidence is indeed important, but we are only human. By definition, we are flawed. You must determine where the person is coming from with their criticism, and whether it is meant to be constructive....or whether they simply do not understand you. As for your confidence....well, the easiest way to build that is to stick to a task. I want to see you here on a regular basis to train. If you do, I promise you will see marked improvement as you learn my young friend."

Matsuda stopped briefly to point at Justin having sensed the boy's power during their training. He was sure of it now; this young man was specially gifted, quite possibly with the same kind of powers that he himself wielded.

"Perhaps in the process, we can also train your special powers. I have sensed it during your practice swings; you are not an average human. Nor am I. You and I have some similarities that you may yet realize."