Chapter 4: Why Fight?

After relaying the situation to Mayor Wang and the other villagers, they were more than happy for him to become a better protector. They were very much grateful for his selflessness and courage. When asked if he ever needed anything in repayment, he politely said no and that their hospitality and acceptance of him was all the reward he needed if not wanted. Needless to say, they were still kind enough send him off with a little lunch for him and Mei to have for the trip there. They both kindly bowed to them in respect and were sent off with cheers and goodbyes as Kalek promised to return once he has a chance.

He almost didn't want to leave them, but common sense told him that he had to be prepared for whatever would come to their village next time. It might be a group of more competent bandits or even a worse group of villains that plan to take over China one province at a time. Taking this in mind, he had no second thoughts about agreeing to Mei Ling's proposal for becoming a student at the Lee Da Kung Fu Academy to become a better fighter for the sake of the villagers.

About twenty minutes in, the two broke for lunch. Settling down on a couple of boulders, both Mei and Kalek broke out the dumplings and bean buns for each other. As they began to eat, Kalek couldn't help but wanting some answers from this strange golden cat. "So if I'm going to be coming with you to this academy of yours, I need to know exactly how you fit in all this and what's your story."

Swallowing her food, Mei nodded in contemplation. "I guess it's only fair to do so. I've been a student at the academy for as long as I can remember. As for why and how,..." her tone changed into a more somber tone.

"It's about as lamentable as you can imagine. I once had a family before, until a band of marauders came and attacked our village. My parents, as much as they tried, perished with the rest of the villagers. I came to Wang Fu village as an orphan, living on the streets and accepting handouts from the kindness of strangers. Until I was given a chance at the academy and the four masters took me in, training me to be the star student that you see before you. To repay the kindness that was shown to me, I made sure to always be there to help them if they were ever in trouble. So now I think it's your turn, big guy."

She turned to look at him with inquisitive interest. "Why do what you did with those croc bandits? Why agree to be guy defending a village of folks you don't even know?" She asked him this sort of question to see how he would react.""

"Is this to test me?" he asked, cautious but suspiciously

"If it was, I wouldn't tell you. But more out of respect, considering YOU asked me my reasons," was her response in which it was assertive and to the point but in a manner not talking down to him.

Kalek went with his gut on this, after all she did make him the offer to him and he had a feeling he was to be tested by these masters anyway to see if he was of any worth. "I don't like bullies," he said in full honesty and sincerity. "I never wanted to get hurt, nor see anyone else get hurt. I mean sure, anyone can easily play the part of a bully. But why? Why do so? It would be too damn easy. All it ever would do would be to make things worse, for victims and said bully. Such was the case for me. I was a newcomer when I came to the states, looking for new opportunities and new experiences so I can make my people proud. What folks don't tell you, however, are the people that stand in your way. The ones that always give you a hard time and try to bring you down all because you're different I'm not like everybody else, whether by appearance or otherwise. And in my case, if they ever saw a wolverine like myself they'd turn tail or cower in fear. And then there are those that turn that fear into hate. I can't tell you the number of times they ever try to get me to lose my temper just to prove their point of what kind of vicious animal they tried to make a reality. But it never worked, as much as I wished I could you do so it wouldn't do any good. True I'd get into spots in which I had to defend myself, thus learning to fight to stop the next person from doing any harm to me or anyone else. But despite always turning the other cheek, there was no such luck in proving my worth. Even when stepping up for those that were targeted, some (despite my acts of compassion) still feared me and turned away."

"But then one day, a small glimmer of hope came into my life in the form of a little squirrel named Anna. She didn't see me as a brute, but more as a poor soul being cast into the crowd of misunderstood misfits that weren't deemed as 'normal' by society's standards. She gave me a chance and an opportunity to show my worth as a man that was as hardworking as anyone could be. She gave me a job at an eatery her father owned.

"Despite my appearance, her father reluctantly gave in and hired me; though it was more of his daughter's persuasion that drew him to make his decision for him. I served as a bus boy there and only threw out customers being unruly and were giving the two squirrels a hard time. In time, I was beginning to win people over and gain people's trust. But even that didn't last long, however. It happened on the day the place was celebrating its five years of being in business when HE came to eat." His hands clenched into fists just thinking about it, which Mei could clearly see.

"The bastard was the son of one the major cotton industries in America, one that was always making the big bucks above everyone else. And when making big bucks, the money changes people; for better AND for worse. In this case, the snob was the kind that would try to get away with just everything, even if it may be murder. Long story short, he was nothing but disrespectful to me and to Anna. Oh, I was SO close to letting that little shit have it. But Anna, always the little angel on my shoulders, was there to calm me down and I did despite still feeling resentment for daddy's little asshole."

"That was until he made a pass at her. For refusing his advances, you see, only made her subjugated to his persistence even more so. So much to the point that when she slapped him for doing an unruly to her, he slapped her hard to the floor while his boys just stood there doing nothing. As soon as I saw it happened, I snapped. All these days of refusing to give in to hate, to lash out in anger, were all for naught after what I just saw. So I did what any good man would do, I punished that fool by beating the hell out of him. And when his friends tried to intervene, I beat the hell out of them too." His tone got angrier as he continued.

"I couldn't help it. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing while everyone like that snot-nosed asshole got away with such shit to good and innocent people like her. When the smoke cleared, I soon knew what I had done. I landed myself into the trap that every person with the best of intentions would fall victim to. And that little god-forsaken fool came back with a posse, rallied behind him and ready to come run me out of town." Kalek's tone then softened with a bit of hurt. "But even despite all that I did out of anger, Anna still forgave me for what I did and she didn't fear me. She helped me escape and thus I ended up here on your shores, in China. And so the rest is history."

Kalek sighed as he finished. "I made a promise to myself that day that I would never ever in my life let myself go like I did then. But I guess that changed after those croc bandits came. Though I was surprised that the people were thankful for what I did instead of well...you know," he said.

Taking it all in, Mei nodded as she understood what he was saying. He still continued to surprise her the more she knew about him.

He then interrupted her thoughts for a moment by continuing. "I never understood why anybody would just stand by and do nothing while others would be picked on or stepped on thinking they could get away with anything, if not everything. I mean, why be cruel and unkind to those who showed compassion and understanding for those that are in need of it? It never makes sense to me at all nor does it continue to sway my mind to just give in, to call it quits. 'Cuz even when I do come close to throwing it all away, there comes a small bit of goodness to set me on the right track again. Whether it be a man or woman, I will NEVER turn my back on anyone in need; whether they accept me or not. Because I'm the real article, what you see is what you get. Whether you like it or not."

He was now finished with what he had to say. When he was, Mei's hand found its way onto his; giving him a bit warmth inside him that he had almost forgotten. "I think I understand you better now," said Mei. She sounded sympathetic with no sense of sarcasm whatsoever in her voice. A calm demeanor was upon her face as he looked at her. "More than you could ever know."

Her warm voice comforted Kalek as the wolverine felt happiness in him again. He smiled at and said "Thank you, Mei. Can't tell you how much I appreciate you hearing me out and taking a moment without getting scared and running away. Now if only everyone could be convinced."

"And they will be, Kalek," Mei said, gripping his arm reassuringly. "These are good people here and they will show the kindness you're seeking. And so shall you by being a new hope for protection and peace. I WILL be there to help you, Kalek. And that's my promise to you as a student of the Lee Da Academy. Remember to do the right thing and be true to yourself without becoming your own worst enemy, and you can accomplish anything that lies before you. All that is required is you doing your part to help. Okay?" She then offered her hand to him in which he took smiling and said "It's a deal, Miss Ling."

"Just call me Mei, Kalek," she then offered playfully nudging him.

"As you wish, Mei," he said in response, never fading from his smile that she liked seeing. "As you wish."