The Other Side of the Dojo

Some people you should not mess with

By Mongoose750 (mongoose750@yahoo.com)

[This story is a sequel to "The Other Side of the Tracks," and takes place during the events of "Barefoot Heroines." Both stories can be found in my bookshelf if you want to take a peek ' Mongoose750.]

At the Northern High School gym, located on the outskirts of the north end of town, Jasmine Chang watched her students go through their paces at her tai chi and aikido class. The way classes started for the 5'6" short-haired Asian American was much unexpected. An old school friend saw her doing her tai chi exercises in a park one day, and asked her to teach her those moves. That friend told another friend, and Jasmine found herself teaching a group of six the following week. That number increased when bystanders in the park wanted to participate. Before long, Jasmine had a crowd of people who threatened to take over the park if they remained there.

She realized she had to find a place to teach these people, and to at least charge them some type of fee to at least cover the rental costs of wherever she would have classes. Now she had several classes throughout the week, and new students were joining weekly, learning tai chi and aikido combined.

"I told you you'd be teaching classes one day!" Her sister, Kim said, laughing. "It's in our blood!"

Considering that Kim taught Tae Kwon Do classes, and her cousin, LS, ran a judo dojo in Indiana, she may have to agree. Once upon a time when her classes first started, all she had to do was take a glance in front of her to see if the students were performing the exercises correctly. Now she had to watch from the balcony of the gym to observe their progress. She felt very thankful that she had some volunteer assistants to help out.

On this day, however, Jasmine's thoughts were not entirely on her work. Two days before, LS and her boyfriend, Lewis, came into town, but the reason wasn't purely a social call. She came by to request help from her, her sister, and her friends to fight the schemes of a crooked councilman. Three of her friends, along with Kim, loaded up a van and left the next day, leaving Lewis to cook and hang around with the men, and her, because she had a final exam at school to take during the middle of the week.

The exam couldn't be last week, like the others; no, it had to be this week, so it could mess up my plans, Jasmine thought to herself. I wish I was over there fighting with them. Maybe as soon as I finish the exam, I could drive there and join the others.

While she pondered that possibility, she looked down and observed the progress of two of her newer students, Isabella and Hanna. Both women stood the same height as Jasmine, 5'6", but while Jasmine had a physically fit body, theirs was more muscular. Isabella was the slimmer of the two, with shoulder-length brown hair. Hanna had a bigger frame, similar to a weightlifter. She had strawberry blond hair that she either wore in a bun or left dangling over her shoulders.

The two women were former members of the Daughters of Athena (DOA), a unique women's group. More specifically, they were former students of their sensei, December, who taught them a unique martial art that combined the best techniques of over twelve disciplines. Not only that, she taught them this art outside, under the grueling conditions of the elements in order to help toughen them physically and mentally. One day, two students from one of the karate schools in town approached the two women and accused them of being turned into mindless killing machines.

Defending their sensei's honor, they challenged them to a duel, where they were a move away from killing their opponents. Upon receiving this shocking revelation, they fled back to their dorm room, deciding the best course of action was to leave December's class. However, before that happened, their sensei was asked to teach at a DOA facility in Iowa. She left, and took the whole class with her, except for Hanna and Isabella who stayed behind.

Looking for another martial arts class to participate in, they were shunned by a few before they were accepted by Jasmine.

[A very short summary of The Other Side of the Tracks, which gives the account in more detail.]

Recently the two women came to her with an unusual question. What would happen if their former teacher, December, came back from Iowa to get them? Jasmine had to admit she never heard a question like that before. Isabella and Hanna were students, not bond servants who somehow escaped from a cruel master. She was told December's group was close knit, but she didn't know it was that close. It reminded her of the way martial arts teachers taught their students in the Far East, long ago, when it was more of a familial relationship. More accurately, it reminded her of two lost children fleeing from the machinations of a cruel mother, or step-mother according to the fairy tales. Jasmine gave the question some thought, she gave the only answer she could think of; we'll see when that day comes. It was not the pat answer they expected, or wanted, but how do you answer a question like that?

She saw the time on the clock, interrupting her thoughts, so she clapped her hands loudly, stopping the class.

"Okay gang, class is over," she said. "We'll meet again next time. Park warriors, I'll see you in the morning."

The class gave their final bow, a moment of meditation, and then they dissipated. Eventually, only a handful of students were left, discussing the day's class and everything else in general. Jasmine herself was chatting with a student when a woman walked in.

The woman was of Asian decent with long black hair hanging to the middle of her back. She stood about the same height as Jasmine with a similar build. She wore a medium length black skirt, a long sleeve, wheat colored crocheted top, and a matching crocheted skin cap. She also wore white pantyhose and no shoes.

Jasmine knew that one of the shoeless styles the DOA wore was wearing stockings without shoes. For that end, a DOA member designed hosiery that was reinforced at the foot, mainly the bottom so it would be resistant to runs. She mused wouldn't be simpler to wear a pair of plain flats, but she remembered she had a sister, cousin, and friends who didn't wear hosiery, much less shoes. One of her friends, Janelle, always looked at her like she was the one who lived an alternative lifestyle. "Our token tenderfoot," she called her.

Jasmine judged from the way she entered the gym, it didn't look like she arrived to take lessons. Rather, she looked like she gave lessons. She appeared to have that air of confidence that followed a longtime teacher of most martial arts. People without realizing it moved out of her way as she made her way into the gym. There was no doubt where she was going as she made a beeline directly to her.

"You are Jasmine Chang?" The woman asked, giving a slight bow.

"Yes I am. How may I help you?" Jasmine replied, returning the bow. The student she spoke with excused himself and left.

"I am December. You currently have two of my students, Isabella and Hanna. I would like them back."

"Weren't you supposed to be in Iowa now?"

"I was; it was only a temporary stay to train recruits at a special facility. But that evades my request. I want my students back."

The intensity of December's tone caught the attention of five of Jasmine's remaining students. Jasmine gave a hand motion to them, letting them know things were fine.

"First, I don't "have' your students, they are free to come and go when they please. They left early tonight because they had a social event to attend. I had to reassure them twice I wouldn't be mad for them leaving. And before you uh, reclaim them, you may want to hear their story behind why they disappeared, why they did what they did."

"And while they were wandering around lost, you took it upon yourself to "take them into your loving care?' What did you do to even tell them what the problem was?" December replied skeptically.

"December, I do not "seek out students.' Some teachers do that, and that is their privilege. I receive my students the same way my teacher did, they come to me. I would've never heard of Hanna and Isabella if they weren't shunned from other dojo and one day shown up on my doorstep," Jasmine explained.

"And under your roof, you took the time to poison them against my group and their old teacher?" December spat out.

"Why would I want to do that? They love you!"

"What?"

"They see you as a second mom, and their former colleagues as fellow sisters. What happened was two karateka insulted your school, claiming it was grinding out assassins. What really sent them over the edge was when they started insulting you, calling you a fraud. They challenged the insulters, and came within a hair's breath of killing them. They got scared and ran away from your group. They didn't know what to do. They eventually realized they wanted to learn martial instruction from someplace, so they looked for a dojo that would take them in. And that's where I come in, I guess."

December paused for a few moments, deep in thought. When she spoke again, it was in a gentler tone.

"How are they doing?" She asked.

"They're excellent students," Jasmine responded. "Of course the transition from a hard to a soft discipline was a little rough, but that's to be expected. Look, they're afraid they let you down, and they're afraid what those two from the karate dojo said is true."

December shook her head vigorously. "No, no, I only wanted to have my discipline mold and form them like it molded and formed me, never to be a victim again. Could you tell them everything is okay, and I miss them?" She asked.

"You can tell them yourself. I can have them meet you after class tomorrow," Jasmine replied. "'Never be a victim again,' eh? Sounds like an interesting story."

For the first time in her visit, December displayed a small grin. "Yeah, it is," she said.

Just then, another woman trotted in. She was an inch or two shorter than December, and also of Asian decent. Her black hair went down her back as well, though some shorter strands were curled. She wore a black dress that went mid-thigh and sheer black pantyhose with embroidered flowers along the side. She also wore no shoes. What seemed to offset the whole thing was a black chauffer's cap on top of her head. Jasmine noticed despite her pretty facial features, she appeared to have the eyes of a predator. She gave a quick bow to Jasmine, and spoke to December.

"December, we have a group of people out to get us," she said. "I'm not sure who they are. I had to take out four of them before I could warn you."

"You have people after you? How long has this been going on?" Jasmine asked.

December looked at her with a surprised expression. "I tell you the truth," she said, "this is the first time I've heard of it. Jasmine, this is Lin."

"Honored to meet you. Whoever they are, they don't waste time, attacking your chauffer first."

"She's not my chauffer, she's my close friend. She just loves to drive, that's all. What happened?"

"I was standing outside the car, watching the sun start to set, when this van full of people suddenly pulled up," Lin explained. "They started calling me, you, and our students and the very organization militant harpies, feminist assassins, and said for taking over the dojos, they must be eliminated, starting with us. They attacked, and after I subdued some of them, I came to warn you."

"But I don't even use a dojo, what are they talking about?"

"Now's your chance to find out; here they come," Jasmine said, pointing at a group of men and women dressed in tracksuits and karate gi's entering the front door.

There were five students of Jasmine's class left, four women and one man. One of the women, one of Jasmine's assistants, approached Jasmine. She was a muscularly built Brazilian native, at 5'8", with short brown hair long enough to cover her ears, light brown skin, and came to class wearing her gym workout outfit; a teal and brown sports bra, matching firm shorts, and barefoot.

"Teacher, is there something wrong?" The woman, who's name was Debbie, asked.

"I think we'll have the situation well in hand, Debbie. You and the rest can go home if you like," Jasmine replied. Debbie went back to relay this to the other four, who nodded, but did not budge.

The group of twelve, four of them being helped into the gym by their comrades, approached the trio until the leader, a 5'10" man with short blond hair raised up his hand, halting them. Lin instantly fell into a ready stance while December stood neutral, but no less prepared. Jasmine moved forward in front of the two to meet the man.

"My apologies for barging in at this time," the blond man said, bowing. "I am Tom Warren of the Karate South dojo. We have heard quite a bit about your school, the students, and the impact it has made in the community."

"Why thank you. Apparently you know me, and from what I've just heard, you know the two behind me as well. What can I help you with?" Jasmine said politely.

"With all due respect, Sensei Jasmine, this matter does not involve you, it involves the two women behind you," Tom said.

"And what matter is this that involves the two women behind me, including the unusual way you greeted Lin in the parking lot?" Jasmine asked.

Tom gave her a brief look that seemed to say, "Don't you know?", but he continued. "These women are members of the Daughters of Athena, an organization responsible for taking over some parts of the city, and stealing many of our dojo. Over the past year, several places where we taught karate have been stolen almost overnight."

"Well that wouldn't include these two, for December here doesn't even use a dojo, they practice out in the raw elements. Granted, it does sound rather brutal to me, but that shouldn't have anything to do with those DOA members who staged hostile takeovers of those dojo. Have you addressed them?"

"We have people dealing with them as we speak. But still, that woman," Tom continued, pointing to December, "trains a group of women to become human killing machines. And besides, she's one of the DOA, that's reason enough."

"I teach my students to respect everyone," December objected, standing beside Jasmine. "I suppose when someone tries to harm them, I'm to teach them to stand by to do nothing?"

"We'll just make an example out of you. Sensei, if you would, just stand aside and let us take care of this matter," Tom said; ready to give the signal to his men.

"That may be all well and good, but here's the thing," Jasmine said. "Under the rules of hospitality, December and Lin are guests in my dojo, and while they are guests here, I will not let them be harmed."

"Dojo?" Tom scoffed. "This is a high school gym!"

"Tomorrow morning it will be a gym. Tonight, it's a place where I teach my students, so right now, it's a dojo. And I'm sure your teacher didn't always have a building to work out of either. A dojo is where you teach your students, just like December's dojo is the great outdoors. Now whether you want to conduct this somewhere else at another time is between your two parties. But for now, I will not permit this nonsense in my dojo!"

Tom sighed. "Very well; if you will not comply, then you will be treated as the enemy. Prepare yourself."

Jasmine turned to her remaining students. "Hey guys, you may want to leave; I'm afraid things here may get a little messy soon."

The students walked in front of Jasmine, blocking her from the karate group. Mina, another of Jasmine's assistants, was a woman with creamy skin, the result of her black father and white mother, and stood about the same height as Jasmine, carrying the same build. She had short black hair that barely tickled her ears, and had an oval face that always clearly shown what mood she was in. She was dressed in a plain black T-shirt, and white linen pants that were cut mid-calf. She had heard so many stories about how Jasmine's sister and cousin went barefoot everywhere, she decided to try it, at least when it came to her classes and life outside of work. Her toenails were painted a shiny clear gloss that reflected the overhead lights.

"No teacher, we will not leave you," Mina began, turning to Tom. "And this is also our dojo. We will not tolerate any behavior such as yours towards our facilities, and especially our teacher. We will escort you to the door so you can leave in peace."

Something about Mina's polite, but firm way of telling them they should leave, angered Tom about as much as her teacher telling them that December and Lin were "under her protection." A strike needed to be made against the DOA, and it needed to be made now. With a motion of her head, his group behind him began to circle and drop into ready stances.

"I will ask you one more time, Jasmine," Tom said, not bothering to use the term "teacher" or "sensei" this time. "Call off your students and back off so we can deal with December. My group has some of the town's finest in sport karate. We have the trophies to prove it. This is your last chance to save you some embarrassment. And you, you could at least move out of the way so I can see your teacher."

The woman who stood in front of Jasmine was Li, a Korean-American who already had a black belt in hapkido, and was working toward her black belt in aikido. In fact, she was roughly one test away from earning it. She stood 5'6" with black hair that went to her shoulders. While she was practicing hapikido, she was told by her instructor and others that aikido was similar, except there were hardly any blows, so she decided to try it, and found that she liked it. Her build was similar to Jasmine's, except she was much stronger than she looked. She wore a light brown dress with some black designs, and had long ago kicked off her shoes (she arrived to practice that day from a previous engagement, and forgot her workout clothes. Fortunately tai chi doesn't work up that much of a sweat).

"See her? You are not even worthy enough to tie her shoes!" Li exploded.

"Li, that's not necessary," Jasmine said.

"Well it's true! These people barge in here and make demands of you like a servant, and they do not recognize your authority here. We will not stand for that!"

December leaned over and spoke in Jasmine's ear. "Your reputation speaks for itself," she said.

"Li, concentrate on using your aikido today; we don't want to hurt them . . ." Jasmine said and trailed off, because her students already knew the remainder of that sentence, ". . . much."

Tom glanced over at the two remaining students who haven't spoke up yet. Theresa, a 5'9" brunette with long wavy brown hair, was decked out in a gold and black dress with white hose, was seemed to be another one who left their workout clothes at home. Actually she already changed clothes, but hadn't donned her shoes yet. The last one was a six-foot man with short brown hair and standard frame glasses, dressed in a blue and red workout suit. His real name was Mark, but he earned the nickname "Clark Kent," because of his resemblance to Superman's secret identity. Neither of the two had anything to say; they just stood in a ready stance.

"Very well, you leave me no choice but to leave you to your fate. Prepare yourselves!" Tom shouted, and he and his group charged forward.

Tom wanted to get to December, but he had to go through Mina first to make any progress. He heard somewhere that a basic straight punch could take care of an aikidoist. As he fired it, he realized maybe that might work if the aikidoist was still there, because she moved out of the way. Mina placed a hand on Tom's arm just enough to halt his forward motion so she could reverse it with a forearm that slammed against him with the force of a freight train (even though she barely touched him), and slammed him on the gym floor.

"Students, aikido only!" Jasmine said, still instructing her students as if class was still in session. "Debbie, we know you have muscles, but you don't need to use them that way. Relax and submit, let your opponent come to you. Use their force, not yours."

The teacher nodded with satisfaction as two of Debbie's foes were rolling on the floor. She looked over to see four people from the karate group approaching her.

"You two get the teacher, use kicks," a blond woman, the one leading the quartet said, "They can't defend kicks. Will and I will get the tramp," she continued, pointing at December.

December was going to teach that woman a lesson in dojo etiquette for calling her a tramp when suddenly said woman was wiped out by a flying body, courtesy of a throw by Li. December gave her a nod of thanks, and then turned to Lin.

"Gee Lin, I want to play too," she remarked to Lin.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that's what they were doing," Lin replied.

The ebb and flow of Jasmine and her student's movements almost looked like the whole battle was staged, a dress rehearsal before the big production. Someone would take a wrist, barely twist it, and the opponent would go flying. The aikido students were moving dreamlike ' there, but not there, quick, but in flowing movements. Their footwork looked like they were dancing instead of fighting.

Tom succeeded in trapping Mina in a bear hug, but ended up sliding off like she was Teflon. He narrowly avoided receiving a knockout punch from one of his own people. She, the author of the punch, hastily apologized, then attacked Debbie, who promptly threw her on the floor.

"Mark," Jasmine called out, "how do you defend against kicks?" She had grasped the ankle of two of her attackers, knocking down a third, and spun around and added them to a growing pile of downed, struggling attackers.

Mark had just twisted out of a headlock, took a deep breath, and said, "You don't block, you blend, same as you would with the standard punching attack."

"You know why it took you so long to answer me? It's because you forgot to breathe, Mark! You always forget that! Remember, breathing matters. If you can't breathe, nothing else matters!"

A little embarrassed from being scolded by his teacher, Mark welcomed the oncoming high-low kicking attack from two adversaries. Remembering to breathe evenly, he parried the low kick, sending the kicker into the path of the one kicking high. As the two collided into each other, he stepped back and exhaled, receiving an affirmative nod from Mina as she slammed Tom to the floor again.

Jasmine held in each hand the wrist of two opponents, holding them in a standing ikkyo hold, where they would not be able to get up without pain, or rather, more pain then they were feeling at that moment. She looked around and was pleased. Everyone held their own rather nicely. They held them off so well, December and Lin did not have to lift a finger to help. She smiled at Theresa, who was only a green belt, but she followed Jasmine's advice of using what you know. But from a martial art that had only twenty to fifty basic moves, but endless applications of those moves, a little can be a lot.

"Theresa, how are you feeling?" She asked.

Theresa had a 6'3" husky woman in a modified nikyo hold of the woman's right leg. "I'm fine," she replied, realizing she wasn't even winded.

"Good," Jasmine said, looking over the gym floor. "Aikido should be flowing, effortless. If you exert any more effort than is necessary, something is wrong. None of you should be tired; your opponent should be tired from all the effort they put out. They should have worn themselves out."

Tom was burning mad. It was bad enough he and his group was beaten, but they were beaten by what he considered one of the wimpiest martial arts ever made. Jasmine and her class will pay, along with the rest of the DOA.

"I'm impressed, and that's not an easy feat with me," December said. "You also changed my mind about the effectiveness of the softer disciplines."

"Thank you," Jasmine replied. "Students, you can let them go now. Theresa, release her leg carefully so she can get the blood flowing back in it. I trust they are finished attacking, aren't they, Tom?"

"Yes," Tom growled as he got up, victim to another throw by Mina. He didn't break fall that time, so he was a little sore. "Everyone, back off."

As Jasmine watched them get up, and move the feeling back into their limbs, particularly the woman Theresa locked up, she eventually directed her attention back to Tom.

"I'll have you know that I will take this matter up with your sensei," she said.

"Go ahead, he heartily approves it!" Tom said defiantly. "He'll be interested in hearing how two of these DOA tramps was guarded by a mistress of the wimpy martial arts. They won't be under your protection forever."

"This is rich!" December laughed. "You want to get me so badly, but you can't even defeat these so-called "wimps' who defeated you without even throwing a punch; and you had them outnumbered. What do you think I or my ladies will do to you if you cross my path again?"

Tom thought of a reply, but changed his mind. Instead, he turned to Jasmine. "And you, acting like we weren't even here; giving little lectures about your precious aikido." He was six inches away from her face at this point.

"I could've had them use tai chi instead, which would be more harmful, but I did not out of respect. That may not be the case next time. As for my "little lectures,' that's because this is my dojo, Mr. Warren, and now I would like to see you and your people out of it," Jasmine replied politely.

"This isn't over."

"It is today. Goodbye Mr. Warren."

Tom gave her a final scowl, then turned to Mina and scowled at her intently.

"Is there a problem?" Mina said.

Tom turned and headed off with the rest, muttering, "Watch your back," in a low voice.

"Last time I checked my back, it was fine. How's yours?" She replied, receiving a few giggles from her fellow students.

As they watched the intruders leave the gym, December turned to Jasmine.

"I thank you for defending us. We are not always a popular group because of our affiliation, though it's a loose one at that. In any case, you and your students went to a lot of trouble, and Lin and I are in your debt," she said.

"It's just simple courtesy," Jasmine replied. "You don't want strangers to fight in your house or dojo, such as it is, and neither do I. Besides, it's obvious that you weren't guilty of taking over another dojo, so that matter had nothing to do with your school."

"I'll admit there are those among the sisterhood who have done so, but that has nothing to do with me or my students. They should get their facts straight. Speaking of students, yours are very well taught."

"Thank you. Okay guys, I think we're fine now." The students went back to what they were doing.

December bent low and whispered in Jasmine's ear. "So who is that man who fought with you?" She asked, motioning toward Mark.

"Oh, that's Mark. We call him Clark Kent because of the resemblance-"

"Oh I love Clark Kent! That is, I did when I read the comic book. Is he-"

"Yes, he is taken; his girlfriend practices tae kwon do at a dojo down the street. I'll put you on a list."

"A list? I should have come here sooner! Speaking of which, you said you could arrange a meeting with Isabella and Hanna."

"Yes! Give me a day or two, and I'll have it done."

December handed Jasmine a card. "Call me as soon as you have it done. If you ever need my help, call me. Lin and I will need to go now. Again, thank you."

"You're welcome."

December and Lin made their way toward the door, then December motioned for Lin to stop for a moment. She walked back to Jasmine.

"There's one think I must tell you," she began. "I really don't have much contact with the other DOA members except for a few teachers, but a number of the senior officers have heard of you and your expertise. They want to have you teach for them."

"They can always offer, and I can always say no," Jasmine responded.

"And that is the point I need to warn you about. Many of them don't take no for an answer. Be careful."

After the women left, Jasmine turned to her students. "You have done very well guys, I'm proud of how you did. Theresa, I think your progress is worthy of a belt promotion; don't the rest of you think so?"

The other students cheered, while Theresa hid her blush.

"My assistants did well as always; of course you better be doing well if you're my assistants. Mina, I think you thoroughly embarrassed Tom."

"Good," Mina replied flatly. Everyone grinned.

"And Mark, you did good too. I think I'm going to call your girlfriend, and have her remind you to breathe when you practice."

"No, don't do that! I'll remember!" Mark pleaded.

"Yes of course you'll remember, after she runs you through a few drills. Now let's get out of here before somebody else pays us a visit."

The next day in class, Jasmine took her final exam. It wasn't too difficult; she took plenty of time to study for it, and she was sure she'll have an excellent grade on it. Yet she was still feeling frustrated because the test could've been given on an earlier day instead of in the middle of the week. That way, she could've been in Indiana helping out LS, Kim, and her friends. When she came home to an empty apartment, her frustration increased. She started performing a brief tai chi exercise to settle down when the phone rang. It was Loretta calling from Betty's garage. A group of women from some "fight club" came over and challenged her and Irena. She asked if she could help.

"That would sound great. I have some excess frustration to let out," Jasmine said. "What time do you want me to meet? Sounds good, I'll be there. Goodbye."

Not quite the same as helping out back home, but it'll do for now, Jasmine thought as she hung up the phone. In the meantime, she had a reunion to plan.

[Author's Note: The "assistance" Jasmine gives Irena and Loretta is already documented in the novel, Barefoot Heroines, in my bookshelf right now! ' Mongoose750.]

The flowers at the park gave a pleasant aroma while the spray from the fountain produced a cooling mist that refreshed the flora and any living thing that it fell upon. Sitting on the edge of that fountain beside some greenery, Hanna and Isabella watched the night sky, wondering why their current teacher summoned them there in the first place. Both of them wore gray hooded sweatshirts, calf length blue jeans, and no shoes.

"It's a beautiful night, but that doesn't answer the question of why sensei Jasmine called us here," Hanna said, squinting at what she thought might be a falling star.

"Well you know how teachers are, Hanna. She might be teaching us a life lesson here," Isabella replied. "What that lesson might be, I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out soon."

"Yeah. Hey, do you ever think about our old teacher at all?"

"Only all the time. I miss her and the rest of the class, although sensei Jasmine is an excellent teacher."

"Very true. Maybe we were too hasty in leaving when we did."

"I think you're right. If I see her, I'd like to tell her-"

"Tell me what?" A voice spoke from the other side of the fountain.

Both women snapped their head to see December and Lin standing not too far from them, with Jasmine bringing up the rear. Without warning, December came toward them, arms outstretched. Isabella and Hanna shot up and met her halfway with a big hug. Not missing a beat, they quickly disengaged and hugged Lin as well. Not to leave anyone out the two students also seized the smiling Jasmine, who stopped smiling when they almost crushed her in their dual hug.

When she regained her breath, Jasmine said, "I thought this setting would be an ideal place for a reunion, don't you agree?"

"It does have a romantic air about it, I must admit," December replied. She was dressed in a white kung fu uniform complete with white stockings, no shoes. Lin's was red with red hose.

"I think you two may have watched one two many movies, but it is nice," Lin agreed.

"All you two had to do was to come to me, or Lin. We would understand," December said to Hanna and Isabella. "I was worried about you."

"We are sorry, teacher; we were scared," Isabella replied.

"Well I have other things to attend to, so I'll leave you all. Hanna, Isabella, come back anytime you want to visit. Lin, December, we'll meet again, I'm sure," Jasmine said.

As they all said goodbye to Jasmine, December turned to her two recovered students and asked, "So while you were in sifu Jasmine's care, how much have you learned?"

"Oh, we learned a whole lot, teacher!" Hanna answered. "We learned some amazing things!"

"Excellent. When we return to class tomorrow, I want you and Isabella to show me everything you know."

"Are you planning to-" Lin began.

"That's right, Lin. Besides getting two of my students back, we're going to raise the number of borrowed disciplines from twelve to fourteen. From what we seen and Isabella and Hanna learned, it'll be great. The pupils will love it!"

"This should be interesting," Lin said.

For suggestions, comments, or story ideas, email the author at shrewsberry@juno.com.

2008 #Barefoot Heroines, Inc.