Magic

My tie against Saiga marked the beginning of dad upping my training. And as much as I dreaded it, it worked. I was close to the expert class, I could feel it, maybe in a year or so.

Nothing interesting happened this year, tomorrow is my twelfth birthday, and the more exiting thing was, mom was coming back, two years she took doing whatever is that she was doing, we talked over the phone, a lot. God forbid I missed a call, she would make sure, somehow, to make dad´s life hell, so in return, he would make my life hell.

Long story short, only missed one call.

Wonder what she was doing.

... The answer came the next day.

After a long, soul crushing hug from mom, and an inspection on how I was doing. She, in a way told me exactly what she did. A censored kiddie version of what she was doing, but I didn´t need to be a genius to figure it out. If she literally says. "It`s okay sweetie, the bad guys that hurt you will never be able to hurt you again." Pretty obvious in my opinion, she went hunting, and if she says they would never hurt me again, which means I can probably go out more regularly now or she wouldn´t have returned, means she absolutely eradicated them from the face of the earth.

Kudos for overpowered parents.

However, it seems I would stay with dad for the remaining of my training.

._._._._._._._._._._.

One year later.

Good news, I´ve reached expert class.

Bad news Saiga leaved home, at seventeen, he was stuck on expert class and needed to go out into the world.

Weird news, the legendary 104 techniques are, simply put insane, it ranges from what could only be called magic, to me wondering if dad is actually a human.

They´re all over the place, from an actual, true to god, fucking Kamehameha, to memory manipulation palm strikes, and everything in between. Makes sense why only nine were ever shown, plus the fact that there is at least someone at an equal level as dad makes me wonder if there actually are a hundred and four techniques like that, because if there are, dad would pretty much rule the world, no questions asked.

Good news, dad offered to teach them.

Bad news, that meant that the moment I dreaded since I knew who my dad was has arrived.

The conversation about Katsujinken and Satsujinken.

._._._._._._._._._.

"Azuma! Come here" I hear dad yelling, I was in the forest training, so I had to run to the house. There I see dad seated on the floor, with a serious look in his face. I seat in front of him, seeing him so serious, I match his seriousness with my own.

"You know I offered to teach you some of my techniques, and I will, but we need to talk." He says, I know where this is going, sigh, hope it all works out.

"Yes dad, but talk about what?" I asked feigning ignorance.

"Do you know what is Katsujinken?" He asks, I, one again fake ignorance, shaking my head.

"Katsujinken is the belief that martial artist should never kill their opponents, no matter the circumstance, and that's my path." Uhhh, no shit sherlock, if the change in your aura when you mentioned Katsujinken was not obvious enough, I know for a fact you are pretty much the leading figure on said belief.

I had to mentally sigh, such naive distinction between ´good´ or ´bad´.

"But there must be an opposite right dad?" I mention.

His mood turns sour, at the mention of Satsujinken.

"Yes, that's Satsujinken, the belief that martial artists must kill their opponents, thinking martial arts were created to kill and destroy." Once again, such finality.

"Okaaay, but why would you mention this to me?" Here it comes.

"Son, first allow me to tell you that I will teach you, no matter your answer, but I will leave in a couple of years, and knowing your stance will help take a weight off my back." He patiently states. It seems I worried for nothing, still I prepared a lot for this day.

We would be talking about philosophy, and my answer, although well argued, would look weird if a thirteen year old said it, so simply I read a lot, especially in front of dad and mom, and the more I read, the more I adjusted the way I spoke, mainly to avoid suspicion, once this conversation happened.

I take a deep breath, I think he will be sad, but I hope he understands, I need to do this.

"You see dad I believe Satsujinken is wrong- "Before I even finish dad smiles, hate to pop your bubble pops.

"But I also think Katsujinken is wrong." He deflates.

Before he can ask, I continue.

"Why would you have to refuse to kill even at the cost of your life? And why would you always kill? Seriously these thoughts seem to be in the absolute extremes. And while I don`t know a lot about these, if killing even once puts you in Satsujinken then I think I will probably be a Satsujinken." I state, taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself, I don´t know how dad will react.

The first thing I notice is, he is sad, extremely so, but then his face morphs into one of questioning.

"Why would you ask if killing once makes you a Satsujinken." Smart question, I did mention that specifically, ready for this.

"I don´t think I would ever enjoy killing; however, I believe I will kill at some point, there may be a situation in which I may be forced to kill. I don´t see the world so black or white dad, most people out there are simply grey." I finish. Nervously waiting for his answer, I could have lied, but I remember how he felt about Saiga when he thought he killed his own wife, he was devastated, believing that not being able to guide him to the ´right 'path was his greatest mistake."

He sits there pondering. Seconds turn to minutes, almost fifteen minutes after I finish, he sighs.

"While it deeply saddens me, I understand, you are a good young man, and would know what to do. I trust you son and thank you for telling me your thoughts truthfully." As he finishes, I stand up and hug him, it most have been difficult, for your son to go against your beliefs, specially someone like dad, that thinks so strongly about his ideals.

"But…- "He says, oh, no old mand no buts please.

"You cannot teach anyone any of the 104 techniques, is that clear." My mind blanks for a second, goddammit, I actually felt nervous there.

With a smile in my face I answer. "That I can promise."

He matches my smile.