Act II: A Special Gift
     Three members of the emperor's secret police stroll boldly through the center of the
village one morning, a week later. The leader walks right up to the elder's house and knocks
three times for the door to be opened. Kenji slides open the door halfway to greet the visitors.
     "Yes? May I help you?" asks Kenji.
     "We are here to investigate the events that have occurred recently in this vicinity.
Specifically, we are looking for the actions of one, dangerous individual. A man by the name of,
Rakushoda.," says the head officer.
     "I know nothing of any Rakushoda."
     "Has anything unusual taken place as of late?" asks the guard.
     "Last week, two of our men died. It was heard that there was a third man who killed
them." answers the elder.
     "Tell me, the two men who were killed, did they happen to be involved in a fight?"
     "It seems so. Our only clue came from a young boy."
     "Would it be too much trouble if I could see this boy?"
     "As long as you promise no harm shall come to him," requests Kenji.
     "You have my word," is the guard's answer.
     Later that day, Naitsuu is walking down the streets looking for his friends when Kenji
finds him, with the officers standing behind.
     "Naitsuu, these men would like to talk to you," says Kenji.
     "Okay, Kenji-sensei. About what?" asks Naitsuu.
     "About what happened last week. Remember?"
     "Yes."
     "Okay then."
     Kenji escorts the boy along side the officers to a private area within the dojo. The head
officer speaks, "So, I have heard that you saw the killer of the two men who died last week
here."
     "Yes, I did," answers Naitsuu.
     "Did the man say his name?" asks another officer.
     "No, he did not," answers Naitsuu.
     "Could you describe for us what the man looked like?" requests the head officer.
     "No, sir."
     "Why not?" asks the officer slightly irritated.
     "It was night, too dark. It all happened too fast."
     It is apparent that the head officer has a short temper and has received too many similar
comments. He speaks again more angrily, "I beseech thee to answer me! I must have a positive
identification!"
     Naitsuu starts to feel a little distressed. Kenji steps in, "There is no need to pressure the
boy. If he does not know, then he does not know. He has no reason to hide anything."
     "I apologize. It is disheartening to search for this troublesome man and continually come
up with nothing."
     "Tell me more about this man, so that we may know how to react if he comes across us
again."
     "As I mentioned previously to you, his name is Rakushoda. He is well-trained in the use
of weapons. He wears a black gi and is usually well-armored with multiple weapons. Oh, and he
has an identifying deep gash on the side of his neck."
     "Yes, well, why are you searching for him?" asks Kenji.
     "The emperor has sent out a new law across the land that if two clans fight, and a third
comes across the situation, that third clan is to act as a mediator. The same applies to individual
people. The emperor was not too worried about clans fighting, considering often a third clan will
act as peacekeeper anyway. He was worried about the people. He wants to end the heartless
killing over idiotic affairs. In order to stop the heartless, he needed to employ the heartless. The
man, Rakushoda, was hired to wander the land and mediate quarrels between individuals. He
was also sent out with his ship to end fights between other spaceships if such a thing were to
happen. Unfortunately, Rakushoda took this as an excuse to kill. Unless the individuals
immediately cease their fighting, he kills them mercilessly."
     "Um, sir?" speaks up Naitsuu.
     "What is it, boy?"
     "Was this man, well educated?" he asks.
     "Yes, for a cold-blooded murderer, he is quite sophisticated. He likes to show off his
intelligence by using rather large words to confuse the more, ah, dense people of the land."
     "I believe that the man I saw is the one you are looking for. He spoke, and when he did
he sounded very official, and used some words that I did not fully understand. But note I do not
consider myself one of the ‘dense' people of the land."
     "Of course you aren't. You are still a boy. You have more to learn and plenty of chance
to learn it. Well, I believe that is all we need. Thank you sir, and make sure you get this boy well
educated," says the third officer.
     "Yes, sir. That is what I have been doing," responds Kenji.
     "Then carry on. Good day."
     The three officers leave the village to continue their search for the infamous, Rakushoda.
Naitsuu stays in the dojo to talk to Kenji.
     "Sensei? Do you think that man will come back to get me because I saw what he did and
then told about it?"
     "You do not need to be fearing anything, Naitsuu. Practice, if you are to fully understand
what I teach you, then you will already be able to defeat him. There is a limited sphere of
strength in even the most powerful human. If you are able to bring him outside of his sphere and
into your own, his incredible strength will disappear."
     "But I am not that good yet. I am terrible with the technique."
     "Slowly forget about your techniques. The farther you progress, the fewer techniques are
available. There is no path on The Great Path."
     "I do not understand, sensei."
     "The more empty you are, the more at peace you will be. The more at peace you are, the
better you will be able to see your opponent's attacks and react accordingly. One day, Naitsuu,
no one will be able to touch you. Master the divine techniques of the Art of Peace, no one will
dare to even challenge you."
     "So, you're saying that anyone who gets in my way, I can defeat?" questions Naitsuu.
     "Yes, but be careful. If you harm an opponent, you will harm yourself. We are all part of
the same world. What you do to one person, will inevitably come back to you. You must learn to
control your aggression. If you can do so without inflicting injury, it is the Art of Peace."
     "I do not fully understand, but I suppose I one day will."
     "Stay confident, young one. You have much to learn."
     Naitsuu bows to Kenji and exits the dojo looking very discouraged. The boy wanders
aimlessly around the village until he comes across Akari.
     "Hi Naitsuu! What's wrong?" she asks.
     "I just was talking with the officers who came into town this morning."
     "What did they want?"
     "They wanted me to identify the man who killed Jitsurou and Reibun. I could only guess
based on what the man said, not on what his physical description was."
     "Oh. Anyway, I found you in order to bring you back to your mother's house."
     "Why?"
     "It's a surprise! Come on!"
     Akari leads Naitsuu through the town and back to his house. Akari waits by Naitsuu's
side as he opens the door. A little grayish-black kitten jumps out of a basket and romps around at
Naitsuu's feat. Naitsuu looks delighted and picks up the creature. The kitten playfully paws at
Naitsuu's face when he brings the kitten up close.
     Naitsuu turns attention towards his mother and Kenji who were standing in the room
waiting for him.
     "Mother, Kenji-sensei, thank you."
     "You have not been very happy since you saw the deaths and I thought this might cheer
you up. Your mother agreed and I brought you this little fellow," says Kenji.
     "Are you happy with him, Naitsuu?" asks Akari.
     "Yes, very much so. Thank you all."
     "I'm sorry, Naitsuu. It's getting late, my mother will be worried. Good-bye," says Akari
and the other three people say good-bye and she leaves. 
     Naitsuu's mother leans over to talk to him. "This will be your birthday gift, okay?"
     "Yes, mother, Thank you very much."
     "You will be ten years old, won't you, Naitsuu?" asks Kenji.
     "Yes, I will be."
     Kenji motions for him to follow. Naitsuu takes the kitten with him.
     The two are strolling around some trees on the outskirt of the town as the sun has now set
and the moon is out. Naitsuu lets the kitten down on the ground and watches it as he ardently
chases after some fireflies. It's fur tousles up and it repeatedly attempts to pounce of the glowing
insects.
     "He is quite the wild one, isn't he? He reminds me of a panther. I think I will name him,
Yamaneko," says Naitsuu.
     "He's a special cat, you know," mentions Kenji.
     "Of course he is. He's my cat."
     Naitsuu laughs at the kitten's continuing comical struggle. Soon the kitten starts to dash
away as fast as it's little legs will carry it. Naitsuu playfully chases after it. Kenji watches and
thinks to himself, He is more than just your cat, Naitsuu. He is your guardian.
     Kenji calls out to Naitsuu, "Okay, Naitsuu, I suppose you can go home."
     "Yes, sensei."
     Naitsuu picks up the kitten and runs back to his house. Kenji starts a slow walk home and
continues to ponder to himself. I hope it will be enough in your young age, our prince. I do not
think you are ready to hear all of it yet.
     The night moves on and the town is asleep, except for Naitsuu. He lays in his bed
watching the kitten play with some string. He thinks to himself, My cat, you are my cat. Mine.