The Memoirs of Cordelia Chan

The rest of the holiday passed in the usual festive manner and Ryan and I returned to college in high spirits. The following two weeks flashed by, although Mcallister had added additional training sessions to my schedule. I was surprised on Saturday morning, when Ryan showed up at breakfast, "Thought I'd come and cheer you on." he said. As we entered the dining room I saw him wave to another girl. "New friend?"
"Met her in the bar in the Motel last night. She's as single minded as you when it comes to Bujinkan."
I suppressed the urge to giggle. "What's her grade?"
"She's up for 5th Kyu."
"Maybe you'll get lucky tonight then. She should be finished by this evening."
He blushed and Mcallister shot me a reprimanding look. ""

As at the previous grading I didn't sleep the whole weekend. I had thought my mediation had improved when I could feel presences beyond my immediate "vision", but it wasn't until the ride home I could actually gauge by how much. The grading had been much harder, both mentally and physically but I didn't feel nearly as tired. Whilst I slept on the flight, I was awake when we landed and remained so as Mcallister drove us to his place. After last time Sumito was surprised when I got out of the car under my own steam. "I take it you slept this time Cordie."
"No. My meditation has improved. I wouldn't mind one of your drinks though."

I was awoken the following morning by an excited Tomoichiro," Come see what mummy and daddy have got you Cordie."
I rolled over and looked at the clock, it was nearly quarter to eight. I must have been more tired than I thought. I let him drag me out of bed and into the kitchen. Mcallister and Sumito were just finishing breakfast and there was a box on the table.
Sumito poured me a mug of coffee. "I suggest you open it before Tomo opens it for you."
I took sip of the coffee and undid the bow on the box. Turning it over carefully I removed the sticking tape and unwrapped the paper, folding it carefully and putting it to one side. I turned the box back over and removed the lid. It contained a Gi, a Black Gi.
"I've something else for you." Mcallister said, " although its traditionally down to the student to buy their own belt."
and he produced a black belt wrapped around an envelope and tied with a purple ribbon from under the table. "Congratulations Li Feng."
I got up and hugged them both, "Thank you. I don't really know what else to say."
" Well before you say anything else why don't you open the envelope? "
I sat back down and did so. Sumito put an omelet down in front of me. " Eat that first! "
I took a mouthful, and opened the envelope. Inside was an entry form for the American Bujinkan Championships.
"I suggest you enter the open class. From what I've seen it most suits your talents."
"I'm not sure I've got the time."
"If you're serious about Bujinkan you'll make the time."
"You think I can win then?"
"Not in your first year, but the experience will be beneficial."
I looked at the form. The closing date for entries was 4 days time, and the first heats were the second weekend weekend in January. I did a quick calculation. I'd have no problems fighting that weekend.
"Okay. I'll give it a shot."
"Good. From now on on a Saturday night you train at this Dojo. He handed me a card. You'll need to take a Jo, Bo, Keibo, Boken, Tonfa, and Sai with you. You're to ask for Sensei Brewster."
I looked at the card. The Dojo was upstate. "And how am I supposed to get there?"
"I take it you'll be wanting a lift then?"
"You're entering."
"Yes. Made the last 32 in Japan last year. Should be able to get to at least the quarter finals. Oh and just for your benefit, fighting naked is not allowed."

The last week of college dragged by. I'd phoned Marcus on the Monday and told him I'd not be free till the 23^rd. He said there was a party on the 18^th that he'd half a mind to go to if I was free. I agreed on the condition that we left early and he brought me home rather than returning to his place.
The dress that arrived on Friday I sent back. I had a good body and didn't mind wearing clothes that showed it off to my advantage. The dress had a good cut, but it hid and disguised everything. Marcus had gone from one extreme to the other. Luckily we were let off classes early, and I was able to go shopping. Finding a dress was not a problem, paying for it was. In the end I had to get his PA to interrupt his meeting, and get him to the phone. He wasn't happy but when presented with the option of the dress I'd picked or no Cordelia he acquiesced.
The party wasn't bad, and I was beginning to recognize a few people. Several had also heard of my demolition of Marcus's library. The woman I'd spoken with in the toilets even congratulated me on it. She also wanted to know how I'd managed to get him chasing me and was I going to marry him. I told her it was purely a business relationship as far as I was concerned.
We left shortly after midnight and Marcus took me back to the apartment. He was disappointed when I said goodnight to him in the car, rather than inviting him up.

On Saturday, Sumito and I went shopping. For the first time she had the boys with her, not that that mattered any longer as we hadn't slept together for several weeks. They were extremely excited when the first stop turned out to be the Martial Arts suppliers, where I needed to get a pair of training Sai. On impulse I also picked up a training Kusarigama. We got a couple of bits Sumito wanted and I found a brown felt mini-skirt, green waist coat, and red hat. I then told Sumito I need to get some lingerie. She said she'd take the boys to look at some toys. As she wheeled them away I heard the eldest ask what lingerie was. I bought what I wanted and then rejoined them, before we headed for my apartment.
I made the boys drinks whilst Sumito had a quick look at what I'd been buying and transferred the boys Christmas presents to her car. "You're still seeing Marcus then?" she said when she returned.
"Yes. I'm spending Christmas and New Year with him in Aspen. He's going to teach me to ski."
"You're not getting serious on him are you?"
"No. Nothing's changed on my part. He gets my body and I get a wardrobe."
"Does he know this?"
"Well he defined the rules at the start and I'm playing by them."
"Maybe, but there's a difference between a night here and there and 10 days solid."
"I know. Not even I can keep going that long."
Sumito collapsed in a fit of giggles, and I had great difficulty in not following her. Tomo wanted to know what was so funny, and I said he'd understand one day. Further discussion was cut short by Mcallisters arrival. I left Sumito to deal with him whilst I slung what I needed in a holdall.

There were 11 of us in the group Sensei Brewster was coaching. Two were recent 9^th Kye graduates, and one other apart from myself was a recent 1 ^st Dan graduate. I was the only girl.
We started with a warm up and were then paired off. After about half an hour, Brewster re-arranged things again, and we were split into three's and fought two against one. We each got 10 minutes as the target before Brewster re-organised things again and started weapons practice. After 2 hours he called a 10 minute break, before continuing. After 4 hours he ended the session with 10 minutes meditation. I looked at the time and Mcallister, it was half eleven and he looked exhausted.
"You okay to drive back?"
"Well you can't."
"No. But I'd rather spend the night in a motel, than the next week in hospital and then have to explain to Sumito why you didn't make it."
"Okay. I'll find out where the nearest one is. "
He went to speak to Brewster, and then waved me over. " Cordelia, this is Alex Brewster; Alex can I introduce Cordelia Chan. Alex won't here of us staying in a motel and has offered to put us up himself if you're agreeable."
"I'm pleased to meet you Alex. Thank you for the offer. If Clinton doesn't mind then I'm happy to accept your offer."
Alex's wife had long since gone to bed when we reached his house, however the two Akita came bounding up to greet us. I froze and was about to turn and run. "That's not a good idea Cordelia. They can sense your fear. They're much faster than you and you wouldn't make it 10 yards. Stand still, put your hands by your side and don't look directly at them. Akira, Mato Sit!"
The dogs sat in front of me. "Now slowly extend your hands, palms up so that the dogs can sniff them. Don't raise them above the dogs heads. Good. Now slowly move them down and rub their chests."
In order to rub their chests I had to bend down, as I did so one of them licked me. "Right then now you've been introduced we can go inside. Akira, Mato heel."
The dogs shot over to him and fell in behind him as he walked, and Clinton and I followed him inside. " Cordelia if you'd like to take the first bedroom on the left, and Clinton the second on the right. I'll go sort us out some drinks. Any preferences? "
"I'd prefer an orange juice if you've got one."
"I think I can manage that. Clinton?"
"A beer if you've got one."
I walked down the corridor and into the bedroom, the dogs followed me. I grabbed a clean pair of pants and a new towel from my bag and headed for the bathroom. When I took my trousers off they were soaked in blood, but the jacket was still okay. I cleaned myself up and went in search of the laundry room.
When I reached the kitchen, Alex's wife Samantha was there as well. I asked for the laundry room. "It's through here dear. Let me see."
Sam sorted out the detergent, set the program and put my clothes in the washer. She asked me if I needed anything and I said I was ok, it was just the prolonged strenuous exercise. I picked up the juice, said goodnight and retired. The dogs followed me. I managed to shut them out, and had just taken off the jacket of the Gi when there was a thud and the door opened. The dogs came in, looked around and settled themselves, one under the window, and the other by the side of the bed. It didn't move as I stepped over it and got into bed.

It was about seven when I woke. The dogs didn't stir as I crept out of the room. I made my way to the laundry room and retrieved my clothes from the washer. They were still warm. I turned around to return to my room and was met by the two dogs watching me. They followed me back to the bedroom. I picked up what I needed and went to the bathroom. I could hear Mcallister snoring as I passed his room.
When I opened the bathroom door again the dogs were sitting waiting. I returned to the bedroom, put my trainers and the Gi jacket on, and then let my self out of the house via the back door. I thought I'd shut the dogs inside but they appeared as I reached the yard gate. I opened it, dashed through, and shut it, just as they reached it. As I jogged across the road they started barking.
As I jogged up the road I reaslised that if nobody was up when I got back I'd probably not be able to get back in. Still I'd face that problem in about an hour.
When I reached the house again I circled the yard fence, which was about 4 foot high. The dogs were no where in sight, which was not necessarily reassuring. I suspected that if I opened the gate the noise would attract their attention. If I could vault the fence I could reach the front porch and bang on the door and hope somebody heard me before the dogs came to investigate. I backed off about 20 feet and started my run, I cleared the fence, and rolled as I landed, coming back to my feet and sprinted for the porch. The dogs didn't appear until after I'd rung the buzzer, but they appeared from under the porch decking. I remembered what Brewster had said last night and froze, avoiding looking at the dogs, who were now growling at me from about two feet away. The door opened and a shocked Samantha appeared. " Cordelia, we hadn't even realised you'd gone out. Why didn't you use the gate buzzer? Akira, Moto enough!"
The dogs subsided." I hadn't realised there was one. "
"How did you get in anyway, we didn't hear the gate trip?"
"Vaulted the fence. I'll try and remember the buzzer next time."
She ushered me inside and the dogs followed. "If you don't mind I could do with a shower. "
"No problem. We'll be in the kitchen when you're ready."
After breakfast we thanked them for their hospitality and left. They insisted that we stay with them on future Saturdays, rather than having to worry about the expense of a motel. Clinton said we'd think about it and let them know. He drove me back to my apartment and we discussed it as we drove. We agreed that it was preferable to a motel but that they'd have to allow us to make some retribution for the inconvenience. He said he'd speak to Alex and sort something out.