Akira rose, washed and teleported himself to Steadman Investigations. Given he made no real effort to disguise his name or identity; he was always surprised that no one had yet firebombed or destroyed the place. No one that is except for Death Metal and her parting gift for Chrono; the girder removed from the roof and molded into a love heart. He stroked the cold metal without thinking and checked Pseudo-Annie’s reports.
If he was being honest, this was another thing he’d thought he’d wanted but once he had it he’d made no real effort to maintain it as a working business. His PA (as he thought of Pseudo-Annie) did what she could, and in fairness did solve a number of missing person’s cases, but she was no Annie and she definitely wasn’t bringing in any new cases.
Oh well, The rent was paid for another six months and it was a useful ‘go to’ location for him since he’d managed to expand his teleport range.
Now where was the dojo of Hsi Feng? Leng Street proved to be relatively nearby and he walked there. The address turned out to be an abandoned factory with part of the roof collapsed in but the walls looked stable and were almost completely covered in sweet flowering, honeysuckle despite it being winter. Sounds of heavy breathing and grunts came from behind the part of the building that was lacking a roof. A simple latched door seemed to be the primary entrance to that part of the building. He entered.
Inside, the area had been converted into a tranquil garden area with a small stream (obviously artificial since it came from one pond and flowed into another at the other side of the building), a wooden arched bridge across it and three sand-covered squares. These ‘squares’ were the source of the grunts as about a dozen young men and women (including he was glad to see Mai-Li Yuan) were training. The variety of martial arts being practiced seemed extensive and no one seemed to be carrying out their strikes and kicks by rote. His eyes drifted to the furthest away square where Hsi Feng stood, armed with a simple wooden staff, a Bo? This he used extremely effectively to down his six opponents, despite his apparent blindness.
Should he announce himself? He waited, uncertain of what to do next. Then Mai-Li appeared to notice him and stopped her exercises with a bow to her opponent and approached. She smiled at him and then looked for a moment over towards Hsi Feng who seemed ‘aware’ somehow of the attention and his presence as he signalled her for them to approach and bowing dismissed his obviously bruised opponents. As Akira crossed the footbridge, he had a moment’s panic as he felt something ping inside him and could feel the magic flowing out of him; some sort of mystical defence? He was reasonably sure that Hsi Feng was not similarly disadvantaged.
Hsi Feng bowed as he approached, “Ah the young Akira, it is good to ‘see’ you again and how may I be of assistance to you?”
“I need some guidance sir. Until recently, I was a member of a closed religious order. Now that I am out in the world, I thought it appropriate to renounce my vows. I wanted to fit in, especially with my housemates. It hasn’t worked out, no, not at all.”
For some reason Akira wanted to open his heart to this kindly old man. Close to tears he continued,
“I hold myself responsible for the death of an elderly civilian in Jerusalem. It weighs heavily upon me. This hasn’t stopped me trying to party with my friends but everything seems pointless. I am still a vegetarian, I have turned away from alcohol, but I don’t know how to live in the world and not be tainted by it. I could do with a spiritual guide, but also a friend who can show me how to get along with people. I’m desperately lonely.”
Hsi Feng smiled and replied, “They say that the palace leads to fame, the market to fortune, and loneliness to wisdom. So with that wisdom let us analyse the truth in your statements. This old man who died, did you kill him?” Akira tried to answer, by His Feng seemed to already know the truth, “No, he was he there because he cared about his city and his people and was willing to die a hero that others may live, yes? Would you take that from his memory just so you can satisfy a desire to feel guilty? As for ‘fitting in’, did these ‘housemates’ require you to become this someone else? If so, then remember in a choice between bad company and loneliness — the second is always preferable. Or, was it a desire to experience something you thought you had been missing out on? Hah!
So now you have insight as well as wisdom. Have you decided to stop trying to be what others expect or what you think you may have missed and just be yourself, whoever that may be? There is nothing more attractive to others, than someone who is comfortable with themselves. So, who are you really?
He stopped, smiled and tapped his ear. “Ah, you’re wanted.”
A second later Akira’s earpiece trilled. He taped the communicator to activate and heard an excited Sam, “Akira, where are you? When can you get back? We’ve received a request from Heroes without Frontiers to head to Bali… Bali! You in, man? ”
His Feng laughed, “Ah this must be one of your bad influences? This Dragon of good fortune? So, this bad influence seeks your help to do good, to be heroic and to help others? Ah, that sounds as though he is a really bad influence, eh?”
Sam continue talking in his ear, something about a two week trip to Bali and something about major disasters and volcanoes but how they had to leave immediately. At the same time Hsi Feng was talking incessantly; something about just as diamonds required cutting and polishing to become perfect, so people need to undergo trials..?
Akira looked apologetic at failing to follow either conversation, and then his jaw dropped as Mai-Li burst out laughing and gently swotted the old man on the shoulder, “Stop teasing him Qīnài Bǎobèi.”
The old man smiled in reply, “Sensei in front of students and visitors little Bǎobǎo, eh? What Mai-Li is saying is that on your return; please feel free to join us for morning meditation and welcoming the Sun. The school is open to you at any time.” He tilted his head to one side and said “Well then little Bǎobǎo, will you take him on?”
Mai-Li blushed but kept her eyes on Akira as she said, “As his duties permit, it would be my honour Qīnài Bǎobèi, eh SENSEI Qīnài Bǎobèi.”
“Ah the young, no respect for old age, eh?” He turned and gently kissed her on the crown of her head. “Then lead him back into the light, even if it’s only his own, little Bǎobǎo. As for you young Akira, it’s time to go and fulfill your duty; to yourself and to the family of man, go and on your return, you are welcome to join us here before dawn… Hah?”
Akira bowed, and replied to Sam’s incessant requests that he was on his way. Despite how short his visit, he felt that he was on the road to connecting with himself again.
Superhero Adventures, UK Style 