Setting
Once this dojo trained valiant and honorable souls to protect themselves and their brethren, but those days have long passed into memory. Now it is empty and silent, waiting the day when a grandmaster shall return to bring honor back to it's halls.
She hit the switches on the wall just inside the front door and the lights flickered on.
"We don't open for another hour," she explained. "There's a phone in the back room there."
She pointed him towards the small office area in the back, which was scarcely larger than a small closet that was partitioned off from the rest of the dojo by a sliding latticed bamboo door that was covered by a thin translucent paper.
Inside he would find a modest workspace with a tidy but old desk with worn edges and scuff marks in its wood finish. Everything arranged on top of it was neat and orderly, but the furniture and even the phone sitting on its edge bore the signs of use.
He grabbed the phone, immediately dialing in a number quickly. Now came the part that took away all the suspense. Waiting for someone to answer.
"Alfarsi speaking. Who is this?" A woman's voice said through the phone, a relief for John to hear it. "Hey, it's me. I'm back. Not sure how, but I'm back." John said, "Now, I need a ride home, Fatin." He added.
"Wait... what? Fuck." The woman on the other end of the line said. John was surprised to hear her curse, she was never one for coarse language. "Where are you?" She asked, "Little Shintenchi. It's in Asteria City. I'm in a place called Ming Dojo." He told Stryfe.
"I'll have the Veritas get directions. I'll be there within a few hours." Stryfe told John, "Alright. I'll be waiting." He responded, hanging up the phone. The young man stepped out of the office, a slight smile on his lips.
"I'll be out of your hair in a few hours." He said to Sun, "I hope you don't mind me hanging out."
The students - mostly ranging from late teens to young adults - were advanced enough that they required only minimal correction from Sun as she walked up and down the length of the dojo to observe their movements with an approving gaze. It was clear to see that Sun enjoyed her work, and that she viewed her students with an element of pride.
The last of the students were trickling from the dojo, while a few lingered to exchange conversation with Sun, but soon they too were on their way until Sun and Izumi had the place to themselves once more. It had grown warm in the interior of the building frrom the body heat generated throughout the days practice, and Sun was helping herself to a bottle of water from a small mini-fridge in the back office. The dojo it would seem was a mingling of traditional and modern elements.
"Do you want anything?" she asked Izumi as she poked her head out from the doorway to the office room.
It didn't help that he had been running around a desert. He couldn't wait until Stryfe arrived and took him home. A shower would be magical. The only thing keeping his stink in check was his trenchcoat itself.
"Actually, I'll take some tea. If you have it, at least." He told Sun. Only moments later there was knocking at the door, muffled voices comeing from the other side. "More students?" John asked.
"Ah... you must be here for John?" she asked.
Her ears had dropped a fraction of an inch. It was far from the first time armed men and women had knocked on her door, and as she had in times past she simply moved aside and waved them in. What else was she to do? Tell them no? Better to let them about their business until they left. Preferably before Yakuza took note of their presence and decided these people were moving in on their territory. She didn't much care for her dojo winding up caught in the crossfire of gang violence.
Natasha seemed to be a little taller than your average woman, the jumpsuit and bulky armor she wore making the woman seem much more hulking than she actually was. Her brown hair braided into neat cornrows.
"Hi." Natasha said quietly.
"I am Fatin Alfarsi, current head of the Invictus, John's sister by adoption, and someone very grateful that you've looked after him." Stryfe said to Sun, "Hey, Fatin." John said, waving to the woman as he stood up.
Though had she known that John's 'family' would be arriving with guns and the like, she might have had second thoughts in bringing him here to her place of work. It wasn't that she found the group particularly threatening, but rather she didn't want the Yakuza taking notice and getting the wrong impression.
"I fear we do not have much in the way of seats," Sun replied. "But make yourself at home."
It wasn't a good idea, or nice, to leave both on Sun's floor.
"There are some things John and I have to discuss in private. So, we'll be out of your hair soon. Or fur." She said, "Regardless, if there is anything you may need, let me know. I can't do much for you now, but I can try. Could some some students your way." Fatin said to Sun.
"Yeah, Wing City isn't the best place for trying to train in peace. My arm got broke last time we tried." John added, "It hurted. A lot."
She indicated the back room with a gesture of her hand.
"Take your time. I still have some cleaning up to do around here before I close up."
Leaving the trio to their talks, Sun moved off to begin sweeping the floors.
"Sun." John told Fatin, "Sun!" The Invictus leader called out, gesturing John and then Natasha towards the exit. "Why the rush?" John asked, "You stink and I'd like to discuss this in a more secure place." Fatin answered.
"No offense." She called out to Sun again.
Without opening his eyes, he said aloud. "Well then.... I'm waiting."
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