The Memoirs of Cordelia Chan

I'd forgotten, how exacting training under a Sensei can be. By the end of Friday I ached all over and knew exactly where I was going to take Mcallister's wife first tomorrow.
We'd arranged to meet at the Dojo at 10am. They were late but then so was I. I apologized and Mcallister introduced his wife, Sutomi, and their two sons Tomoichiro and Mitsuji. He was taking the boys off elsewhere leaving Sutomi and I to go shopping on our own. We agreed to meet them back at the Dojo at 5pm.
It turned out to be a most enjoyable day. Sutomi didn't object when I suggested starting with a bath and massage. We followed this with a light lunch and then spent the afternoon browsing the shops before returning to the Dojo. I was surprised to see Mr Lee and Choi there, and introduced Sutomi. I suggested we go inside, whilst we waited for Mr Mcallister, and asked what brought him here.
He said two things, it had been noticed that 1 had been using the Dojo every night in the company of a man which was not in the agreement we had made, and that he'd had a letter from a Mr Mcallister at Fukawara Semiconductors about taking over then rental of the Dojo from Ms Chan with a view to offering more extensive and varied classes. I smiled and apologized for not contacting him myself, and explained that Mr Mcallister, who at that moment walked through the door with his boys, was going to be my new Bujinkan Sensei, and that provided he was agreeable, I was happy for Fukawara, for whom he was Divisional Director, to take over the lease for the Dojo. I then introduced Mcallister, who bowed, and his two sons, and Mr Lee and his daughter Choi.
"Well, Cordelia, it looks like you're going to get an evening off. Mr Lee would you and your daughter like to join us for dinner. We can discuss arrangements regarding the Dojo afterwards."
"You honor us with your invitation. But does it not dishonor you to cancel Li Feng's training?"
"I'm sure Cordelia would welcome the night off."
"Perhaps, but we would not wish it on our account."
"A compromise then. I will organize some transport, and my wife can take our sons home. Cordelia will get her lesson, and we can join them later."
Choi turned and looked at her grandfather. " Only if Li Feng and Mr Mcallister permit you to stay and watch."
"I have no objection to Choi staying, but I don't have my Gi here"
"A Ninja is always prepared. A Gi is not necessary. If you cannot fight in what you are wearing you should dress more suitably."
I considered the situation as Mcallister called a cab for his wife, and Mr Lee and his daughter settled themselves off to one side. My footwear was okay, my skirt was a little to tight - I could split the seams but that would ruin the skirt-, my top was tight, as was the jacket, and my underwear was totally unsuitable. There was only one thing for it. I moved to the side of the room, turned my back on them and proceeded to undress. I could hear the boys talking excitedly to their father but ignored it. It was going to be interesting as to who was going to be more embarrassed, him or me. As I walked to the center of the floor Mr Lee smiled at me, and Choi had her hand across her mouth. The boys comments were silenced by Sumito, who glared like an angry dragon first at me and then at her husband.
"Well, I'm ready Sensei" I said. I heard Choi's sharp intake of breath and Mr Lee laugh. "That's enough Cordelia. Put your clothes back on."
"You're not prepared to teach me then.? A Ninja should be prepared for all situations. If you cannot teach a naked student then perhaps I should find a more competent Sensei. Or is it because I'm a girl?"
He spun to face me, anger clearly visible on his face. I did a slow forward handspring walkover to emphasize that being naked was not bothering me.
"You can either behave properly, or this lesson and this relationship ends here and now. You've put me in an awkward enough situation as it is."
"Yes Sensei. Sumito. I apologize for any distress I may have caused you. I have only the deepest respect for yourself and Mcallister-san. "
"We'll Ms Chan, perhaps it is I who should be grateful to you. After all my husband did suggest that if the clothes you were wearing were not suitable you should wear something else. Mr Lee, Choi, I look forward to speaking with you later."
Mcallister escorted his wife and boys outside, and returned with a pair of Jo's. " Let's see how well you handle one of these" he said flipping it to me. I could see this lesson was going to hurt.
It was an interesting lesson, and didn't hurt as much as I'd thought it would. Mcallister was definitely distracted, and I managed to land a few blows that caused him to return to the task at hand. After an hour, he called a halt. I'd nearly floored him with the last blow I'd landed.
After a quick search I found a couple of cloths and wiped the worst of the perspiration off, before starting to dress. As I did so Choi came over. "I'd never have done that." she said.
"You mean fought like that"
"No. Taken my clothes off"
"How old are you Choi?"
"Nearly 14"
"Well things change as you get older. I'll let you into a secret. It's the first time I've done anything like that."
"Oh. But you've done other things."
"Yes"
I looked at her, but she didn't meet my gaze. Something was bothering her.
"Choi. Is there something wrong?"
She looked in the direction of her Grandfather.
"He's not bothering you, is he"
"I don't understand what you mean"
"He doesn't touch you."
"No. Nothing like that." She began to cry.
"I can't talk to him about it. Everyone at school laughs at me because I don't know what's happening to me or what they're all talking about"
Mcallister had come over, but I waved him away. "Take Mr Lee outside. Choi and I will join you shortly. We're just going to have a little chat."
"Choi, hasn't you're mother or the school nurse explained things to you."
"My mother and father died when I was eight. I've lived with my Grandfather since. I did see the school nurse but I didn't understand everything she said."
I found a cleanish piece of cloth and dried her face. "I think we should have a long talk but not here and not tonight. Can you come to my apartment tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yes, as long as I tell grandfather."
"Good. You may be able to help me with some translation work."
"But I can't read Japanese."
"Just wait until tomorrow and you'll see. Now lets not keep Mcallister-san and your grandfather waiting any longer."

The journey to the Mcallister residence took about 40 minutes. Sumito came to the door to meet us, and then virtually dragged me in the direction of the shower room. She bolted the door behind us, and turned the shower full on. "Are you fucking my husband?"
I was stunned, and she'd started crying and shaking.
"Well, Are you? I saw how he looked at you. He used to look at me that way. These days he barely touches me."
I didn't know how to answer her. Whatever I said was likely to make things worse. She tried to slap me, but I grabbed her wrist, and pinned her arm to her side. She tried the same with the other hand, and I pinned it behind her. She struggled, and tried to spit at me. I picked her up and dragged her under the shower head." No " I said and kissed her. I wasn't expecting the response I got and our shower was a little prolonged.

Dinner came and went without further incident, although Sumito insisted I sit next to her, and Mcallister kept looking at me with a puzzled expression on his face. Mcallister took Mr Lee into his den, and Sumito put the boys to bed, whilst I loaded the dishwasher with Choi's help, although she was strangely distant and silent.
Sumito came back and Choi shot her a dirty look. That's all I need I thought. She's got a crush on me. Sumito looked at me and I shook my head. "So Choi, what do teenagers in California do for entertainment?"
It took about an hour for Mr Lee and Mcallister to complete their discussions. Sumito, managed to find all manner of trivial questions to ask Choi, keeping her at the center of the conversation, and keeping the subject away from what had transpired earlier in the day. Mcallister called a cab to take us back, and said he'd see me in my Gi at 5pm at the Dojo tomorrow. I asked him if he was sure, and Sumito stifled a giggle, causing him to give her a strange look. She kissed me lightly on the cheek and said I must come again soon.
The ride back was somewhat torturous, with Choi sitting in sullen silence, and Mr Lee watching me with a puzzled expression on his face. The cab stopped outside my apartment and I bade then goodnight. Choi said nothing until her grandfather told her to stop dishonoring him by not bidding me goodnight. I opened the door and told her I would see her at 2:30 tomorrow.

2:30 came and went and Choi didn't show. By the time it reached 3:20 I was sure she wasn't coming and started on some of the course work I'd planned to do yesterday. At 3:45 the door chime rang. I went to the door and looked through the spy hole. It was Choi. She had on a Chinese Silk dress and had put her hair up in a bun. She was carrying a bag and a jacket. I opened the door.
"Konichiwa" I said " Come in. Let me take your things. "
She entered, and gave me the jacket and the bag. I led her into the living room and asked if she'd like a drink. She asked if I had any soda, and I went to the kitchen and fixed two. When I returned she was sitting cross legged in the center of the floor. The way she was sitting had caused her dress to ride up and it was obvious she had no underwear on. I put the drinks on the table in front of the sofa and sat down.
"Choi. That's not going to work. Come and sit here. We need to talk."
She tried to kick the table of drinks at me but I blocked her, so she resorted to trying to pummel me instead. I grabbed her arms and held her until she quietened down. I then retrieved the bottle of Saki from the desk and half filled a glass. "Here, drink this. It'll make you feel better."
She coughed and half choked on the first mouthful, but I forced her to drink the rest. I sat with her stroking her hair until her sobbing stopped and she fell asleep. I fetched a blanket from the bedroom and covered her over. I was going to be late getting to the Dojo.

I was indeed late. Mcallister was not at all pleased, and decided to set about me with the pair of Bo he had in his hands. After beating me around the Dojo for 5 minutes he relented and gave me one with which to defend myself. That would be the last time I entered the Dojo unarmed. He had a glint in his eye which hadn't been there yesterday. He drove me about the Dojo for another 5 minutes before slowing enough for me to be able to counter attack. " What happened between you and my wife yesterday evening?"
"Why?"
"I caught her in the shower this morning "
"And?"
"She was behaving differently"
"So what's that got to do with me?"
"So you're not going to tell me then"
"Not unless you're going to tell me what happened in the shower."
His guard slipped and I managed to land a blow close to his groin. " I'd pay more attention if I were you or you won't be doing it again."
His response was to land the same blow on me.

Choi was still asleep when I got back to the apartment, but woke as I was cooking dinner.
" I must be going. My grandfather is expecting me. " she said, but she was barely able to stand.
"You're staying here tonight. I'm not sending you back to your grandfather in that state. You have a telephone?
"Yes."
"Good. Then phone him and tell him you're staying with me. Then, we'll eat and talk."
She did as she was told. She kept the phone call short, but he insisted on speaking to me. I assured him everything was okay and that his daughter was perfectly okay.  He kept asking why she was staying until I said  I needed to talk to her about women's things. He understood then and said he'd see her in the morning.
We ate dinner, and I talked, and Choi listened. After dinner we moved back into the living room, and Choi started to ask questions, most of which I answered. Eventually she remembered I had asked her about help with some translation. I went to the bedroom and got the book and my notes. After reading for a few minutes, she looked at me.
"I have heard of these books, but thought they were just a myth. How did you come by it."
"My mother gave it to me for my birthday last year."
"How much of it have to read?"
"I've read through it all but I can only translate about three quarters. My Han-gul is not that good yet."
"And you want my help to translate the rest."
"I'm not exactly going to ask your grandfather am I"
She giggled at that. " No I suppose not. How much of it do you understand "
I raised my eyebrow, and smiled.
"You're not going to tell me."
"No." I said, " There are some things you need to learn for yourself when you're old enough. However, if you want I can teach you some of what my mother taught me."
"Really?"
"As long as it remains our secret." I got up and moved across the room. " I need a bath. Are you coming?"

The rest of the week passed too quickly, and it was Friday night before I realized the week had gone. Mcallister picked me up from the Dojo and we drove to the airport. We boarded an internal flight to Washington, and took a cab to the hotel. It seemed full of Martial Artists when we arrived. Mcallister booked us in, and then suggested I retire as I had an early start in the morning. If you can't sleep then meditate otherwise you won't get through tomorrow. The room wasn't large or luxurious but it did have ensuite facilities. I showered and tried to get some sleep, but it wouldn't come. It took some doing but after half an hour of trying I managed to achieve a meditative trance. I was woken by my 5am call. I showered, pinned up my hair, put on my Gi, and slipped the Ebo I had taken to carrying into my sleeve. There was a knock at the door, and I checked who it was, before opening it. Mcallister said "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Let's go then."