Ascension of Ren Yuto

Ch1 pt3

Ren follows Itsuki to the front door. A beautiful four-story Japanese pagoda style with a wide pathway leading up to the front. One roof on the second floor juts out slightly more than the upper roof on the fourth floor. As Ren walks into the building there is a 3-4 story tall Buddha statue adorning the main great hall. Itsuki says “Right this way.” He leads Ren down the hall to his room.

In his room, Ren is greeted by a woman patiently waiting for him to arrive.

“Konbanwa.” She says. Meaning ‘good evening’.

“Konbanwa,” Ren responds politely.

She opens the closet space and gestures inward. “You can put your things here.”

She motions to the floor where lies a Japanese futon made of thick tatami mats and a pillow. Then bows and leaves the room.

Itsuki says to Ren, “I trust you can manage the night?”

Ren turns to him and as he starts to cry he rushes to hug Itsuki.

“There, there child. It will be alright. You are safe here.”

While sobbing Ren says “I have never slept away from home before.”

“I know you miss Chiyo and home. Keep her presence in your mind and feel her warm embrace in your heart. That’s the best way to keep the ones we love with us always.”

He gently pushes Ren away and kneels. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. You have made many steps today Ren-San. You must get your rest.”

Ren wipes the seepage from his nose on his tattered rags. Itsuki smiles and gently pats Ren on the shoulder then stands up and bows before stepping out and sliding the door shut.

A candle burns on the small table between the bed and closet, illuminating the room. He has never seen such a luxurious living space. He feels out of place and unsure of what to do. Calmly looking around the room at all of the details and admiring it all he then changes his clothes and puts his things in the closet. Blows out the candle and quickly crawls into bed. He lay there in the dark listening to the soothing sounds of the various bugs outside the window making their noises.

A strong stern manly voice loudly proclaims “You don’t belong here!” His great white beard with a crown adorned with two small horns and a lightning scepter in his hand.

A flash of a man dressed all in black with a mask and a black conical straw hat with a sword on his side running across a rooftop then pulls the blade out and lifts it above his head as he jumps from the roof and comes down in slow motion to strike.

Another flash of a woman holding a baby crying “Please help us! Please help us!”

Ren wakes up and sees the light shining through the window into the room. He forgets where he is for a moment. He yawns and then stretches out and as he wipes the sleep from his eyes, a knock comes on the door. He slides the door open and is greeted by a woman who then bows to him “Konnichiwa.” She says.

“Konnichiwa.”

“Follow me to the mushiburo.” So he follows her down the hall and looks around at the architecture and attention to detail. After a couple of turns, they arrive.

“This is the men’s mushiburo. When you finish your steam bath, your samue will be on the table by the door. Konnichiwa.”

“Arigato. Konnichiwa.”

Ren heads in to have a much-needed steam bath after the long walk from the day before.

He gets on his samue and heads out. The samue is a loose-fitting shirt that crosses the body to close and ties at the hip with ankle-length loose pants with a cloth tie waistband. He asks a man where to go next. The man says “Down this hall and two rights.”

“Arigato.” (Thank you)

“Tondemonai.” (Don’t mention it)

He finds the dining hall and looks around for Itsuki and feels relief when he finds him across the room. Ren walks up to Itsuki and says “Konnichiwa Itsuki-San.” And bows to him.

“Konnichiwa Ren-san. Food is over there and sit wherever you like.” Ren bows and walks over to the food. He grabs a bowl of rice and stares at an odd-looking roll next to it. He grabs his chopsticks picks one up and inspects it from all sides. A girl standing next to him says “That is makizushi.”

“What is it?” Ren replies.

“It’s usually salmon and vinegared rice wrapped in seaweed. I find them very tasty.”

“I’ll try one.” And he puts it on his plate.

“You can come back for more if you want.”

“That’s great!” Then he puts a pile of rice in his mouth quickly.

“My name is Akiko.” Ren stumbles to respond as his mouth is full.

“Ren Yuto.” Still chewing.

“It’s nice to meet you Ren Yuto-San.” She smiles and looks down at his plate. “Take it easy on that sushi. The seaweed can get stuck in Your throat sometimes.”

Ren continues chewing and looks at her confused as she walks away. He then walks over to a table and sits. The long tables are low to the floor and the seats are thick, fluffy pillows on the floor. He looks around the room while he eats to see all of the people there. Men and women. Young and older. He wonders to himself ‘How long have they been here?’ And ‘what does everyone do here?’

Ren tries the sushi and is shocked at first but as he chews it he finds that he likes it. The salty. The vinegar in the rice and the seaweed all come together in a wonderful blend of flavors that he has never had before. While he is chomping down on the first one he goes up to get a couple more. He returns to a seat and continues eating while everyone finishes and leaves the dining hall. Itsuki comes over and says “You better start following them to class. Don’t want to miss your first training.”

Ren shoves the last sushi in his mouth and takes his plate to the washer's table and starts following the crowd. They go out to a courtyard where they all seem to stand in formation. Ren hurriedly finds a spot and stands at attention like the rest with his feet together and hands by his side.

“Psst!” Confused he looks around and next to him is Akiko. “First time?” She whispers.

Ren shakes his head up and down nervously with wide eyes.

“It’s ok. Just stay calm. It will be ok. Just keep doing what everyone else is doing and you’ll do great.”

He shakes his head again in acknowledgment. Everyone files into place and awaits their orders.

The sensei walks up in front of them slowly and paces waiting for the last few to get into place.

The sensei says “We will now begin our warm-up exercise. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Cross your hands in front of your stomach and slowly rotate your neck. Front. Side. Back. Other side. And back to the front.” They all copy a few times. “Now the other way.”

“Now. Interlace your fingers in front of you. Rotate and roll your hands in an infinity pattern. Good.”

“Now put your arms out in front of you. Palms up. Now pull your hands Into you then out to the side palms down and move out in front of you. Turn your hands palms up and start again. One, smooth fluid motion. Do this a few times.”

“Now lift your elbows and bend and place your wrist at your underarm and move them up and over your breast, touching your wrists together. And move down the center. Pulling your elbows together. Down around under the breast and back up and around the top and repeat a few times. Good.”

“Ok now right arm up and circle back, down, forward, and up and around again. Do this a few times. Good.”

“Now the same with the other arm.”

“Now both arms up. One hand to the back and one to the front at the same time. Down and around back up. This may be tricky but you will get it. Just keep trying. Do this a few times.” Now switch and go the other way.”

“Now cross your wrists in front of you with hands straight and palms facing away from each other. Palms down. Pull elbows apart and back to stretch the chest. Then back to center and rotate palms up and hands out forward. Open wide out to the sides to stretch the chest. Back to the center and start again. Nice smooth, fluid motions.”

“Now open fists up at chest opposing each other a few centimeters apart. Hold that pose and rotate your right elbow to the front. Now bring it back and do the other side. Good. Do this a few more times.”

“Now take your right hand and cross your body to the left touching your lower ribs and your left hand the same around your back. Now swing them around your body and tap the other side. Then swing back and tap again where you started. Good. Do this a few more times.”

“Now do the same but where your neck meets your shoulder and the other a little lower on your back. Do this a few more times. Good.”

“Now. With your hands on your hips, rotate only your hips slowly in a circle in one direction a few times.”

“Now the other direction. Good. Good.”

“Now we circle our knees. Bend slightly with your hands on your knees. Move your knees forward. Out to the sides. Back to the center and start again. One fluid motion. Do this a few times.”

“Now move your knees in the other direction. Good. Good.”

“With hands on your hips. Shift over to one foot and lift the other where just your toes touch the ground and gently rotate your ankle a few times. Then switch to the other a few times. Good. Good.”

“Now rest and take a deep breath in. And out slowly. Again. And one more.”

“That is the end of the warm-up. How do we feel? Good? Loose? Yeah?” Then he bows slowly to the crowd and they bow back.

The instructor then walks away leaving everyone wondering what to do. Ren looks to Akiko and says “What do we do now?”

“I don’t know.” They all stand puzzled. Looking around to see what is going on.

A man walks up to Ren and says “Konnichiwa Ren-San. I have come to retrieve you. Follow me please.” Rather startled, Ren replies “Ok.” And follows the man and looks back at Akiko and shrugs his shoulders in confusion then looks back at the man and continues following. The man leads Ren around the building and down a path. After 20-30 yards they come to a clearing and on either side of the path are flowers that Ren has never seen before. Beyond the field of flowers is another building up on a small hill, overlooking the flowers. A courtyard rests to the left of the building and down a little further is a pond with a curved bridge spanning across it. They walk up to the building and enter the front. Another man sits on a pillow with his back facing the door and his legs crossed in silence.

“Leave him.” The man says. The guide bows and walks away. Ren watches him confused then turns back to the man on the floor.

“Come in and sit Ren Yuto.” Ren slowly walks over in front of the man and sits on a pillow in front of him. Ren looks around. It is a large room in the center of the house. The large open door that he came in is now in front of him while another double door is open behind him. On his left is a small kitchen and a closed door. To his right are two doors. All hand-crafted wood with a glossy coating. The smell is of the flowers from outside. Ren sits quietly watching the man with his eyes closed.

“I understand you have some….. abilities.”

“Yes, San.”

“What do you know of them?”

“I picked up my sickle once once. It jumped from the ground up to my hand.”

“I see. What you will be learning here is how to control your mind. If you can do that then you can better control your powers.”

“Yes, San.”

“My name is Minamoto Adamu. You can call me Adamu.”

“Yes Adamu-San.”

“First you have to understand suffering. Do you understand suffering?”

“Suffering is pain Adamu-San.”

“Suffering is lack. Desire. Longing. Absence. Ignorance. You must experience the suffering to release it.”

“Yes Adamu-San.”

“I understand you left your caregiver quickly. Is that so?”

‘Yes Adamu-San.”

“Do you miss them?”

“I do Adamu-San.”

“Just Adamu.”

“Yes. I apologize. I was only giving respect.”

“We are all equal here. Some know more things than others but not one is better than another. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Sit up straight. There will be no slouching here. You will carry yourself with dignity. You are your own person. You must stand or sit with that conviction. Also, it helps align your energy chakras and your chi.”

“I don’t know what those are.”

“You will learn a great many things on your path.” Ren looks upon Adamu wondering what he is talking about and feeling a little scared of what is to come.

“The flowers that you saw coming here were the Lotus flower. It symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and no attachment. You will learn it all in due time. For now, you can rest easy. We have a lot to do tomorrow and in the coming years. This is your new home. Your room is to your right. Mine is on the left. I trust you will stay on your side of the Minka. Tomorrow morning you will again have food and do your physical training. Then you will come back here for your mind training. Now run along and explore. But do it quietly as I was meditating when you arrived. I will meet up with you later for dinner then we will sleep. Good day Ren.” Adamu bows his head to Ren and Ren bows to him and stands up to walk outside to explore.

The day rolls into the evening and they have their dinner and Ren tells Adamu about his life at the rice paddies. Adamu listens intently and shares some things he has experienced and explains some of the lessons he has learned through them.

They head off to bed and Ren lays there with a spark of curiosity for what he will learn. A smile gleams on his face for he feels like he belongs somewhere. He thinks about Chiyo for a moment and wonders about everybody back at Inabushi and the rice paddies. He blows out the candle and drifts off to sleep.