Humble beginnings [PL]

A younger Sando walked down the beaten sidewalk towards home as he usually did after school. He always took this path knowing the other students didn't walk the long way around. In fact the only chance he had of being seen was when he passed the Choji family fruit stand. He took a look at it and smiled as he watched the first customer they had had in weeks buy a large pallet worth of produce. An old man wearing an odd green garb with the symbol of a cobra on his back. His smile quickly turned into a confused look as he quickly realized no one within 3 districts could afford that much produce. He shrugged it off maybe he’s a passer through, hell if the old geezer hit the lotto more power to him. Sando wasn’t the only one to notice this oddity though,the old man had caught the attention of a group of four thugs. They circled him and the pallet, one stabbing a apple on a switch blade and taking a bite. “Beat it farmers, we got some business with this rich fella.” He flashed them a devilish grin as his message got through loud and clear. The fruit stand was closed quickly and the two running it ran off. The old man had a angry look on his face but he was obviously calm, and not threatened in the slightest. Sando was reluctant to take action but he knew he needed to help, regardless of his own safety. “It’s been two whole weeks since the last incident, thanks a lot old man!” The young warrior thought as he dropped his books and dashed in front of the old man. “Ahh if isn’t poor little Sando. Listen pal you already had your chance to join us, don’t think you can horn in on our action now that we got a good catch! Scram and maybe we won’t hurt ya.” The leader of the thugs waved his switchblade around as he spoke to him, Sando’s expression serious and alert. Sando knew he was strong but his technique was non existent, he’d have to be wary of this rabble. “I meant what I said before i’m no criminal I’m going places! Now back off before this gets ugly.” Sando said raising his fists in defiance, ready for a sudden attack. The old man watched the scene unfold before him, anger replaced with curiosity of the young student that was attempting to protect him, unaware of his own ability to defend himself. There was a brief silence as dust picked up, the tension thick in the air. “Run in there and smash him already you knuckle heads!” The leader suddenly shouted grabbing his cohort by the collar and tossing him towards Sando. Not the best choice but it at least got the fight started. Sando used the momentum of the stumbling goon to empower the punch he sent through the air connecting with his jaw. The thug’s unconscious body hit the floor with a echoing thud and once again there was a brief silence. The lesser thugs looked back and forth from each other before both running in for a tag team attack. The young brawler waited for his moment to strike, depending on his ability to overpower them more then his accuracy or technique. He simply grabbed both the men’s fist and wrung them upright dropping them to their knees as he stood over them fists in his grasp locking them in pain and threatening to snap their wrists. “Do you submit?” Sando asked confident that the fight was over, he could see in their eyes the fear of pain. They only managed to nod vigorously before running away from Sando as he released his grip. He turned to the shocked leader who was in disbelief of what he witnessed. “I-I’ll be back Sandwich boy, and when I am you’re dead meat you hear me!?” He stammered as he ran full speed away from Sando and his rescued friend.   

The old man stroked his beard in thought as he processed the young man’s movements. “Hmm... very strong upper and lower body, but close to no technique at all. In fact I’d say he’s below the average man in that aspect. A= puzzling situation indeed…” The older gentlemen was disrupted by a shouting Sando. “Hey are you listening? I’m asking you if you’re okay, jeesh a little thanks would suffice you know.” Sando said crossing his arms as he turned from the old man. “And here I was about to offer my assistance in transporting this stuff for you. The old man couldn’t help but laugh at Sando’s words. “Is he insinuating that he rescued me? Can he not sense my power at all? Surely such a natural warrior would be able to sense ki.” The hermit thought to himself as he scratched his chin. He raised a hand and interrupted the youngster, earning a angry look from his self announced savior followed by silence. “Now look here, young man; I need just one more favor from you. Unless you want this old man to break a hip.” He said feigning his health. “Think you’re up to it? I don’t know if you could even lift this for me.” He finished baiting Sando into showing him his true strength. “What are you talking about? You want me to lift this?!” This pallet must be at least 400 pounds, you want me to just lift it and follow you?!” He shouted in disbelief at the old man’s words, how could he buy all this and have no way of transporting it? Sando shot the produce a worried look, but when he seen the old geezer’s pleading face he exhaled and got in position to attempt lifting the pallet. The cobra master watched the young man, who was wondering why he was given an impossible task like this The last thing the old man had time for was teaching his son Bing and another student. His thought bubble was popped when he heard a grunt from Sando and a shadow blocked the sun from view. His eyes grew wide as he witnessed a smiling Sando holding the entire pallet overhead. “H-hey old man let’s get going, I can’t hold this up all day!” Sando said his body under a lot of pressure. The sensei quickly regained his lost composure and cleared his throat, he then lead the boy toward the airfield without a word. When they arrived, Sando was more than a little anxious to drop the pallet down. He had walked over two miles with this stranger. The old (and supposedly rich) man instructed Sando to drop it on the helipad, where it would be flown to a boat headed for the island where the old man’s son was waiting.   

“Thank you so much, uh, I never got your name. I am Tang.” the man said, his hand extended to shake Sando’s. “My name is Sando-itchi, a pleasure to mee-” Sando was cut off as his hand met the older man’s hand; His grip was so tight, Sando thought his hand might’ve been crushed. That thought was interrupted, however, as the old man flipped Sando over his head and onto his back; effectively airing his lungs out. Sando laid there unable to move from the shock, he could only look up at his assailant. “You are very strong for an untrained man, almost suspiciously so.” Tang stated while standing over his victim. “But you lack training to use it properly, I’m surprised you didn’t get yourself killed trying to defend me.” Tang said with obvious annoyance at the wasted potential. He could tell from Sando’s attire he was studious and not keeping up any form of training. “Next time you want to help someone make sure they can’t help themselves first, that’s lesson number one.” Tang said to the floored boy. Sando sat up in obvious pain, but he needed to set things straight with Tang. He took a deep breath and threw a kick up at the sensei’s chin, hoping to pay him back. This kick, in Tang’s eyes, was just a confirmation of what he had thought before. The strike was slow and predictable but the strength behind it was so immense, the only option was to dodge, a block would still lead to him taking damage. Sando was in awe; either he missed or this old man was really beating him up and dodging his moves with ease. He stood up, his pain taking a backseat to his hurt pride. “Maybe you should learn to accept help more graciously!” Sando shouted as he ran at Tang, a punch leading the way. He began throwing powerful hooks and jabs at his opponent, but Tang simply dodged every one and poked him in the chest or arms with every missed attack. “I won’t let this old fool toy with me any longer, let’s see how you deal with this!” Sando thought to himself angrily. Wanting to finish this, the brawler did something he hadn’t attempted before, only having seen it in old kung-fu flicks, but he was certain it was possible. Sando feigned a punch at Tang who had grown overconfident while toying with the young man, making Tang preemptively swing at his arm. Sando was expecting the punishment and jumped skyward. “What!?” Tang said, shocked his counter attack struck only air. He looked up to see a green glow. “I-is that ki?!” Tang shouted as he watched Sando place his arms above his head before thrusting them forward his green destructive energy blasting towards Tang. “Masenko Green!” Sando screamed as the last of his energy forcibly left his body. The combined effect of his over confidence and being caught off guard made it so the beam Sando fired found it’s mark hitting him dead on. The old man shouted in pain as the full power of the beam sent him flying. It wasn’t quite enough to injure Tang but it was definitely damage he couldn’t ignore.  

Tang walked back to the now unconscious Sando and lifted his body. “He has the potential, and I can’t just let a potential student to the Serpent school go. But I can’t take any time away from Bing’s training hmm.” The old man snapped his fingers as he answered his own question, and he carried Sando back to the fruit stand where they met. He left the boy there along with a letter, returning to the island where he lived with his supplies. An hour later, Sando awoke to his mother yelling at him and pulling him by the collar. “What are you doing out here? And why are you so beat up? What happened, son?!” Mary said to her boy, concerned but knowing Sando was okay. Sando gave his mother a perplexed look before wincing as the pain in his body awoke with him. “Let’s just head home mom, I’m okay, no worries.” Sando lied knowing missing even a day of school was not an option if he wanted a shot at college. Later that evening, Sando laid on his bed and recalled the days events; he didn’t know what to make of it all. Did he kill the old man or just hurt him as intended? Where did Tang go and how did he find himself back at the fruit stand? He sighed, knowing the answers weren’t available to him. He saw his jacket on the floor and went to put it in his closet. As he lifted the jacket up, a letter fell out from the inner pocket; a symbol of a emerald snake on the seal. Sando wondered where it came from; he didn’t recognize the symbol at first, but it dawned on him slowly. “Hey this is that old bastard’s symbol!” Sando said to no one as he quickly tore through the envelope to read the contents.  

Sando didn’t know whether to feel pride or confusion. He could tell that the man was serious about his craft, a prideful fighter like Tang “speaks” with his fighting technique and ferocity. Only now Sando realized they had an entire conversation in this language, and Tang had proved it to be his native tongue. The young man gripped the letter tighter, crumpling the edges slightly as he thought about it. “Could I really pursue this, just like my father had? No. I couldn’t do that to mom.” He thought to himself, his room quiet and dim. He took the letter and put it in his drawer; the only place he had for any keepsakes. “No I couldn’t time to put today behind me and forget it.” Sando knew then it was his calling to fight, but for what he didn’t know. He wouldn’t let himself find out, instead choosing to follow his remaining parent’s advice. “The only sure way of getting me and mom out of here is to land a job.” Sando said to himself, unsure if it was a lie or not. He laid his exhausted body back in bed and attempted to sleep, thoughts swirling in his head.   

Sando awoke in the same bed as the dream he had ended in. He wiped the grogginess from his eyes, as he kept replaying the memory of his fight with Tang in his head. He wore his BBA brand pj’s that he scored from the truck that pulled in to hand out supplies to the rougher parts of the city. Unfortunately that’s all he and his mother got because the locals thought it a better idea to try and raid it, leading to them receiving mace instead of clothes and food. Sando chuckled at the thought as he finished his morning routine. He grabbed the jacket he had been wearing every winter for the past three years. As he put it on he remembered the letter that he had been given. He opened his drawer and searched around for a bit, but there it was just as he had left it. He observed the symbol briefly before placing it in his jackets inner pocket. “It’s time I tried things my own way, mom will understand one day I just know it.” Sando nodded to himself as if to agree. After not making it into college he knew that path was closed to him, no matter how many times his mother said there’s always next year. He wouldn’t be attending school any longer, not that they had anything left to teach him anyway. He was determined to instead forge a name for himself as a fighter who’s name was world renowned. He would become someone who was treated with respect for his strength not fear. The young fighter had fire in his eyes as he jumped out his window and descended down a fire escape. He shadow boxed as he walked back to the fruit stand where he had met Tang years ago. He stood in front of the stand for five minutes fighting with the air as if waiting for someone. “Hey kid you’re causing a scene, why don’t you fight those ghosts somewhere else.” Joked a fruit salesman to his co worker. Sando covered his face and walked down an alley to hide from the two as they laughed at him. “I guess finding somewhere to fight for zeni would be the first thing to do…” He said to himself his face red with embarrassment.