Tempest

Tempest

Hisao had spent a long week away from his girlfriend.  Usually, that was no big issue.  Throughout his early university years, he had only gotten to see her on breaks.  However, as her ambitious delivery business took off and as he mastered his university subjects, they began to fit their tumultuous lives together more often.

And, across the years, they saw each other once or even twice a week for hours at a time.

They had come a long way from the Student Council room, and yet they felt like one unified whole.

That week had been spent in preparation.  He had made his peace with his exams, was sure of his graduation, and had told his parents of his plans.  They had reminded him of a formality he had forgotten in his plans, and told him sternly that he should honor it since he was marrying the only daughter of a much richer family.

As such, he had nothing to distract him as he headed toward the Hakamichi Mansion.  There could only be one result after today.  Shizune would say yes of her own accord no matter what her father said.  his parents would forgive him if he failed to get permission.

Akira met him at the door, giving him a weary smile as she invited him inside. "Best of luck, kid."

Lily spoke a firm reassurance with a gentle smile, "you will be fine."

A grown up and still somewhat effeminate Hideaki pointed the way further into the mansion, considering him carefully and quietly.  Of course, Hisao's plans here had remained no secret.

After all, Jigoro knew of the plans, and that meant this affair was to be as subtle as an American action film.

Hisao stepped through a sliding door into fairly large and open room that could honestly be described as a dojo of the olden days.

Jigoro stood at the far end, a katana on each hip.  A heavy duffle bag laid on the floor beside him.  He had chosen a green Hawaiian shirt for today.  Even after four years, he still possessed the physique of a man who could bend Hisao into quarters...and his hands were white knuckled and on the hilts of those blades.  He still wore his dark hair in that style that screamed 'I am my own man and I have ripped the balls off of a bear to prove it'.

It was all the better that the young man was not here to fight.

"I see you can wear something other than a shameful uniform or a sweater vest." Came heated words that were hurled not unlike those swords could be.

"I thought a suit was more appropriate for my business today, Mister Hakamichi." He did not expect a change in the older man's demeanor, and he was not surprised.

"Well?  You came here to do something.  Do not waste my time," he snapped.

He took in a deep breath and let it out.  He had said these words a hundred times, and they came out simply. "I love your daughter, and I want to marry her."

Jigoro stared at him, and he stared back.  An age passed silently between them.

In those moments, Hisao found himself praying.  He knew not what higher power to petition to bolster his chances of being granted mercy or success.

He had thought Jigoro would say no, as he knew, but he had expected the answer to be quick and insulting.

Now, he found himself surprised at the relatively calm response. "You love my daughter?"

After only a moment's hesitation, he nodded his head. "I love Shizune Hakamichi with all of my heart."

Hisao flinched as one of the swords flew at him, and nearly fumbled.  The katana ended up in his right hand, and the sheath in his left.  He flushed red with a combination of anger and embarrassment that a young man could feel all too easily.

"It is because you love her that that blade had its sheath, boy.  Would you use the blade you bear for her?"

"Yes!" he shouted without thinking, catching himself a second after everything went right to hell.

Jigoro drew steel with one hand and charged.

Hisao crossed the blade and sheath as the larger man surged into his space.

He pressed both of his arms upward, forcing the blade away.   He did not have time to think.  Taking a few steps back, he raised his guard.

Another blow fell upon him, but he sidestepped before he could get hit by a flurry of vicious vertical strokes.  He crossed the sword with its sheath again, praying that he might wear out his foe just by blocking.

"Your generation has no passion!  You think you can simply cower and let the wind blow you where it will." Jigoro actually stood still for a few seconds, gripping his blade with both hands.  His face fixed itself into a smirk with utter contempt for his foe. "What use does my daughter have for a spineless boy?"

Hisao's heart was already pounding.  He would not be able to survive much longer in a fight with this trained swordsman.  Even if he blocked every attack, his heart would probably explode on him and he would give the Hakamichi elder the pleasure of watching him die in misery.

"I don't have any passion?  I'm willing to fight a crazy old man with a sword for the love of my life!" he shouted.

"Old man.  You children have no respect either!" The older man growled, taking one hand off of his blade to point. "And you are the poster child of their failures.  In my day-"

Moving quickly, Hisao threw the sword aside, gripping the sheath as tightly as he could as he lunged forward.

Jigoro grunted as his sword fell to the floor.

Hisao followed up that hard smack to the wrist with a simple tap to the neck, and then retreated a few steps.

"I win," he said with a nervous grin, praying that he was right.  If he was wrong, he would be dead before it would matter.

Shizune would never forgive either of them, and he would never get to see her again.

It was in that moment that Jigoro stomped toward him and raised a fist.

"Top!" came a cry from the side.

Both men turned, Hisao's mouth dropping wide.

Shizune stomped into the room and started signing up a storm, and he could scarcely follow her fingers despite his years of experience.  He certainly did not translate as the older man looked between them for a moment, almost looking fearful.

She probably did not know that she had misspoke, but that word alone turned that fist into an open palm.

An open palm that Jigoro laid upon his shoulder.

"You will work on your flaws during your engagement to my daughter, Hisao, or she will be quite sad at your burial." He removed that hand as quickly as he had set it down and stomped out of the room.

A quick and thunderous snap of fingers drew his gaze to Shizune, who looked more furious than Jigoro ever had.  He was sure she was going to tell him that it was all over between them for him being crazy enough to fight her father.

She clasped her hands together and pointed at herself, before stopping and watching him.

"Of course I'll marry you," he murmured, nodding his head as he fainted...

Maybe he would remember to give her the ring when he woke up.

---

Written for post number 100975453  in /ksg/

Written in about an hour and a half

Notation: I don't know the Japanese sign for 'Marry Me', so I used what I know of ASL to make a crude interpretation.