Oku, Udon and the Dojo

The sliding door glided open almost silently. Udon stepped through the threshold into the dojo. In the center, he saw Oku was practicing an unfamiliar fighting style. Its movements were quick, abrupt and deadly. The most startling part was the silence. Oku was not making a sound.

Out of the corner of his eye, Oku noticed the monk enter the practice dojo, but decided not to stop doing his forms. If they were supposed to trust each other, he thought, time to see how far this monk’s ideology will bend. After finishing a quick strike, a small smile crept across the Crabs face. He then amazingly jumped straight up into the air and grabbed the rafters of the dojo, 20 feet above Udon.

“The artist has almost as many secrets as the puzzle.” Said Udon, looking up at the lithe form of Oku in the rafters shadows.

“What would you have me do, monk?” questioned Oku as he dropped to the floor. “Hide the truth or deny what I am?” Oku landed without a sound.

“To know yourself is a wonderful gift, friend Oku. It allows others to see the truth in one’s soul. Past the shell of the Crab, your soul shines.”

Oku cocked his head to one side; not really sure if the strange tattooed monk understood the meaning of the things he had just shown him. Leaning against his metal staff, Udon blankly stared at Oku.

Oku sighed and shook his head. “You are as strange as the rest of your Ise Zumi brothers, Udon.” He shrugged.

“And you are as normal as any Crab I have ever met, Oku-san.” Said Udon with a smile.

“Ha! Thank you!” Oku replied with a laugh before jumping back into the rafters.

“May our path be as interesting as the people who walk it.” Said Udon as he began practicing his Bo staff forms.