chapter 4

As soon as the plane touched down, I got off of the airplane into Japan. I spare no time to look for my father's current residents, according to the map I was given. When I arrived at the destination, what greeted me with a giant traditional Japanese style house. It would honestly be more fitting to call it a mansion, or a manor. 'I guess that means my father is rich' I thought to myself. In front of the main entrance was a boy that looked to be a few inches shorter than me. (Kenichi Shirahama is about 5 feet 5 inches or 164 cm in Cannon) under his breath I hear him mumbling to himself "nee-chan are you sure this is the right place?"

Being fairly fluent in Japanese myself I understood him. "excuse me" I called out "I'm looking for xxxxx, is this the right address?" he stared at me stunned not talking for a few seconds before I finally answering with "Ah. Um Ai do notto speeku engerishu" now it was my turn to be stunned "... I asked you in Japanese" we both stared at each other for a while. "I'm sorry, what was your question?" he asked while blushing. "...The address, I'm looking for xxxxx... Is this the right place?" "Ah. Um. Y-yes this is the right place." He answered. We both stood there, not quite knowing what to do. "Okay.. Well, if you'll excuse me" I say as I walk past him while he's still blushing, and begin knocking on the door. As soon as I finish knocking on the door a tall man with flowing blond hair and a great big beard came walking around the corner carrying a bag of groceries "Ara what are two kids doing at my front entrance?"

Me and the boy both turn around to see who spoke. We were both stand by his height, but I was the first to regain composure. "My name is Danielle Kane. I am looking for Sakaki Shio, does he live here?" I said with a bow trying to sound as confident as possible. "I am Kenichi Shirahama my friend Miu said this was a good place to learn martial arts." "Well, it seems you've both come to the right place, follow me!" he says as he walks through the front entrance, into the main building. me and who I now learns name is Kenichi follow him. "Um do you teach martial arts here?" Kenichi asked "yes we do teach martial arts here" the old man replied. Kenichi seeming satisfied with the answer, starts looking around the place. "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?!?" Kenichi screams loud enough to hurt my ears. I look towards where he was pointing,what I see is a tall tan lean figure just going absolutely ham on a punching bag. A multitude of jabs elbow strikes and knee strikes so fast i can barely see it. It was mesmerizing. oh that guy that guy is Apachai Hopachai a 28 year old Thai" soon the bag brakes and he starts wailing on everything in his vicinity, from antique vases to trees. Kenichi was about to scream before the old man put his hand over his mouth "No need to get frightened he's just overdoing it because he's in a good mood

CUT THAT OUT WILL YOU!! I think he's excited because we have guests." He explained sounding annoyed. 'Makes sense to me.' I think to myself.

As we continue walking, Kenichi stops by a doorway that was slightly open. Being curious as to what he was looking at, I also look through the doorway. what stood before us was a woman who can only be described with one word, 'beautiful'. she was surrounded by four different blades and had a katana attached to her back. "Hey, what's up?" Kenichi said in his failed attempt to flirt with her. As soon as he finished speaking the woman unachieved her katana and a quick motion and cut the four blades in halfwith ease.'Wooow' I thought 'Thats a really sharp blade.' "Oi, what business do you have with me?" she said flustered and scared Kenichi sputters out "No. Nothing... I was just..." "Then come up Kensei Ma." she said as she stabbed her blade through the floor. Soon after an old man dressed in green popped out through a hidden panel in the floor.

"Eh I was planning on just passing by. Well I have business to attend to" he says as he starts to walk away. "Wait a sec. What sort of pictures were you taking with that camera." the woman poins her blade at his neck. "Just... The scenery." he says as he runs away. The woman throws three shuriken at the man, causing him to turn around and catch one in each hand and the third in his mouth. As soon as he catches them, he drops them and makes a mad dash at the door. As he makes it out the doorway the woman throws one more shuriken at the man, which misses and nearly hits Kenichi in the face. just before the shuriken hits Kenichi's face, the old blonde man grabs it out of the air. "You can't just walk around as you please, that was close." after that we follow him to the next building.

"Okay here's the martial arts teacher. He has a bad temper but..." the old man trailed off. "Worse than the woman's?" I ask. "...Yes" the old man replied simply. He opens the door and says "look here sakaki I have something to tell you" as soon as he says the name Sakaki, all of my attention was drawn towards him. He visible scar across his face. He wore a short sleeve red shirt that was open, showing off his torso, blue jeans and bandages around both of his hands 'this is my father' I thought to myself. "What, desciples. I DON'T TRAIN ANYONE!!! that's my motto." he said with a serious face. "Is that so" the old man replied dryly. "But if that you do give me a disciple" Sakaki said before punching through a one inch thick wood board. "That person will die in three days" Kenichi with an absolutely terrified face while trying to get away from the room said "Is that so, that's too bad. What, I guess it can't be helped since it's your moto well then please excuse me" before he could get out the door a man wearing a Japanese hakama was standing before him. "What a rude child" said the man. Kenichi was so startled from everything that happened today that he fainted. I didn't pay attention to anything they said because I was too focused on the Sakaki in front of me. noticing my staring he says "kid, you look familiar. Who're your parents?" When he said that, I pulled the letter my mom gave me out of my backpack, walk towards him, and placed it in his hands.

He opens the envelope and starts to read. In the letter it read

Dear Sakaki,

Hey. it's me, Sandra. if you're reading this and it means that I have died. The person who gave you this letter should be my daughter Danielle. I'm not quite sure how to explain this, but she is also your daughter. There are many reasons as to why I did not tell you about her, but please trust me when I say they are all for the greater good. there is no one else I can turn to. Please raise her as your own.

Love Sandra.

with a cold look Sakaki got up put the letter in his pocket and started walking towards the door "W-where are you goi-" *CLACK* he shut the door behind him. 'D-does he... not accept me?' I started thinking to myself. As I was thinking about it more and more, tears start to flow down my face. 'where am I supposed to go, what am I supposed to do' I kept thinking. Before I started breaking into sobs he came back with a big bottle of sake and a bunch of drinking cups. Slowly, he started making his way towards a table on the other end of the room. By the time he placed everything on the table, everyone else was already in the room. "Good, everyone's already here. Everyone, I have an announcement to make!" he yelled out. "Recently, it has been brought to my attention, that I have a child." He looked toward me who now had red puffy eyes, and motioned for me to come near. "this is my daughter Danielle, if it's not too much to ask, I would appreciate it if you took care of her." he announced to everyone, who now had looks varying from shock to joy. even Kenichi who was now awake looked surprised. "now that I told everyone the news LETS CELEBRATE!" He says as he starts pouring out drinks for everyone.