Roots of a Lotus

Grilled meats and dumplings filled my nose as I entered the prefecture of Kyoto. I walked through the streets filled with market stands until I came across a Tea house with red doors.Upon entering I smelled green tea and flashbacks of family and home came across me. Taking my seat I felt around my knapsack for a small wooden pointed rectangle. Before finding it I felt someone gazing at me from the next table in front of me. I looked up to see an elderly gentleman, he grinned squinting his eyes. "Do I know you?" I asked. "Yes and No." he replied. I thought this old man must have been drinking sake all day long but a part of me was curious "How so?" waiting to be served I figured I might as well play along. "We have met before but as different times, in different forms." the old man said still grinning with his eyes squinted. Ok, now I was sure it was the sake talking, still I was intrigued "Oh yeah, how about I order a bottle of sake and you tell me all about it?" I replied half joking half curious. " I appreciate the gesture but I don't drink these days. How about some dumplings? I would be eternally grateful." the man said heartily. I raised my eyebrows being caught off gaurd and I went to say something but a teal and white kimono stood next to my right. A soft voice greeted and asked me "Welcome to the Red Lotus Tea House, are you interested in anything?" I looked up to see a soft face with brown eyes somehow matching the voice and smiled "I'll have one mactcha kettle and a plate of dumplings for my friend" I extended my hand to the table across me "if you could bring two cups and serve them to that table I would appreciate it." She looked over and smiled "It will be there shortly, let me know if you would like anything else." We nodded to each other and she went on. I turned to the old man "May I sit with you?" He gestured welcoming with his hand. "How long have you been here?" I asked as I took a seat, "Just long enough to meet you." he said. I cocked my head to the side slightly, starting to feel a little weirded out by this guy. "Me? Why me?" He grinned "You have been on a quite the journey. You have learned many lessons, endured great valleys and have seen beautiful peaks. Though you may feel as if you have had a full life, you're path is just beginning. At times you will be tested to see if you are worthy of what you are searching for. Be careful what you seek, you shall find it." Then the teal kimono woman returned with our afternoon snack, and we thanked her. I was sucked in and eager to what the man would say next. At the least I was entertained after traveling such a distance, although I hadn't traveled this far for nothing. I looked to the man sipping my tea as he chewed on a dumpling. He swallowed and continued "Many of the things that we search for that is outside of ourselves, from money to revenge, we think will bring us satisfaction. We often forget the the most important journey is the one within. Ask for peace, clarity and balance all the while being grateful to see another grand day. Do not be grateful for a "good morning" because a morning is what happens after someone close to you dies. Be careful what you seek." We sat quietly for a few moment as he slid another dumpling off its stick, I drank my tea pondering the crazy old mans insight. I hadn't expected this conversation before I took this seat, but he had peaked my interest faster than my teacher could draw his sword. "Who should I be asking a question like that, some kind of guru?" I laughed and the mans grin got bigger. "You should ask those who hear you in silence" my eyes half low with amusement, I kept sipping my tea. He continued "Take a few moments, find some peace and follow these steps. Once you hone this skill, you will be able to regain your power and answer many of the questions you have. Then apply this to situations that need to be more free flowing like a conversation, or whenever you need to focus.

1. Take a deep breathe to fill your lower belly and exhale.

2. Inhale deeper and to fill your whole belly and exhale.

3. This breathe will fill your belly, solar plexus and lower chest and exhale.

4. Lastly fill your whole belly, solar plexus, and full chest and exhale. Repeat this step several times once you have built up this far.

If you feel any unease through this exercise, target that point and stretch it out by inhaling to that point several times." he finished with a big grin on his face. With one hand propping my head up and an eyebrow raised I retorted "Who knew I would find the meaning of life in a tea house. I should've written that down." He chuckled and said "That's why I brought you this." He pulled out a little black book with a lock on it "Don't get ahead too of yourself now, I told you this was only the beginning. You haven't even heard of staying conscious while falling asleep." He smiled showing his teeth and patted the book "This will give you everything you need, as you need it. Not sooner nor later." He pushed the book over to me, I picked the book up, it was heavier than a small book should be. He pulled off a necklace that had a key on it from around his neck and as he passed it over to me he said "Many people have looked past me or ignored my attempts to have a conversation today. You were the first to acknowledge me and even filled my belly with delicious dumplings, for that I am eternally grateful." An elderly woman entered the cafe from the kitchen to tell everybody that the cafe would be closing until dinner. "Welp, I guess I should get out of here." the old that didn't seemed slightly less crazy said. "Thank you for an entertaining afternoon and all that you have given me, what was your name again?" I replied. "Ahhh, no worries the pleasure was all mine, we will meet again. Different time, different form." As he walked away I sat there blown away looking at the black book and putting the key necklace on. I looked around the room and saw 3 other people still sitting at different tables, then I remembered why I came to the tea house in the first place. I rummaged around my knapsack for enough yen to pay for lunch and that small wooden piece, a jewelled general shogi tile. It had gold engraving on it and I put it on the table. I was gathering myself as I noticed the teal kimonoed girl approaching me with her hands behind her back. She looked to see my shogi tile and nodded as for me to follow. There were three people left sitting as I followed her through a curtain, past the kitchen and down to a cool pantry. She opened doors to a hall of sake and wine, as she did so I noticed the outline of a dagger in the strap of her kimono. Was I walking into a trap? Had she heard of my exploits and were going to claim a bounty on my head? I put two fingers up my wrist in case I needed my throwing knives and walked in. Strangely enough she just smiled, nodded and closed the door. I began focusing on the breathing technique the old man had given me and as the paranoia began to flee the far side of the pantry moved. My hand jolted to my katana and the elderly woman appeared from behind the shelves wearing an orange kimono and holding a torch. No, I was in the right place. "Please follow me." She said. I peered around the corner, to my surprise there was a flight of stairs that we took. We finally made it to a well lit room and behind a desk was a young man with a familiar slash down the right side of his face. My mind rushed back to the earliest days of training at the dojo. The only other rebel of the dojo I had known of "Kenji?!" I exclaimed. He shot a smile to the side and opened his arms up "In the flesh my brother." as he puffed a ring of smoke. "No way a misfit like you leads the underground shogi of the lotus." He laughed and shot me a look "There is no way a goodie like you did what I've heard you've done." It wasn't until then I had noticed the person brought down before me and two bodygaurds standing against the wall. "Word gets out quickly I see." looking around the room I locked eyes with a fire barrel. "Only to those who have the means to do so. Don't you think I would keep an eye on my older brother?" he said blowing out a cloud of smoke. "Honestly I didn't think you were still alive after they took you away." I replied still gazing into the fire barrel. "Lucky for me, someone taught me to keep a few tricks up my sleeve," he cracked a grin and walked over to me "You taught me everything I needed, not to soon or too late." putting his hand on my shoulder. I looked up from the barrel and he followed up "Don't feel bad for me, the last time I saw you I got this scar and I'm still the handsome one." He laughed and took another drag walking back to his chair. My little brother was always the witty and clever one, but to think he had put together one of the most powerful yet quiet union of clans was more than impressive. Unlike the royal, loyalty was the code of the Shogi Lotus. Any person with a mastery of a skill could be selected. People were selected slowly to keep the circle tight, and they connected through meetings such as these I guessed. From buisiness men to blacksmiths to red light district hostess' had been in this room plotting only the heavens knows what. Now I stood in that room with 4 strangers and my forgotten brother, Kenji started the meeting. "Now that we are all here, I'd like to thank you for making the journey as far as you have travelled. You have all been specially selected for a very important task and your expertise will make you a complete team. In one weeks time the five of you will be stealing food back for the people of this prefecture." The five of us all looked confused. He had brought us to an underground cavern to steal food? He laughed "Don't underestimate the smallest of movements. The slight twist of an ankle with the right technique and follow through is what delivers the devestating power of a punch. The right move at the right time sets in motion a domino effect. It is the difference between a piece of sand at the bottom of a vast ocean and a pearl in a clams mouth. "