“That was great form Adrian.”
“Thank you Master Hayashi.” Adrian said.
“You don’t need to call me Master anymore. You have long since surpassed me.” Master Hayashi Hideyoshi said.
“Perhaps in some things. But in others you are still much wiser than me.” Adrian said seriously.
His Master smiled. “Knowing that you still have challenges ahead of you, makes you wise as well.” Master Hayashi said.
Looking at his Master smiling Adrian couldn’t help but smile as well. In this age where everyone looked young, it was hard for those that were born in a time and place where age was visible, there was no way to discern someone’s age. Master Hayashi was born long before Adrian.
“There will be challenges ahead of me for as long as I am living. And that will likely be a long, long time.” Adrian said.
Master Hayashi’s smile dimmed. “Aye. Humanity is on a new path, one filled with challenges of the unknown. It is the way of the universe. We grow, we learn, we change.” Master Hayashi said.
“Yes.” Adrian agreed.
“Will you stay for the class? You can show other students how far they still need to go.” Master Hayashi said cheerfully.
Master Hayashi taught Ninjutsu to people living in Olympus city. And being one of the few Dojo’s that taught martial arts on Sanctuary, there was a lot of interest. The class was divided into two courses. The beginners course, which now consisted of mainly children. In the beginning, it was taught by Master Hayashi, and later by some more advanced students. And the advanced course, which was taught by Master Hayashi. And then there was the Masters class. It wasn’t part of Master Hayashi’s Dojo, but rather a joint class with the Masters of other martial arts on Sanctuary. Only 7 million people left Earth for Sanctuary, it might seem like a big number, but in fact there was a lot of knowledge that was left behind. Oh, they had the information, records, books and such. But they lacked the people that studied it. So the Masters of the martial arts came together to share and pass on their knowledge. These classes were held once a month, and only those who had become Masters in their own art could attend. The level of mastery one needed to join these classes was decided by the Masters of the respective arts. For Ninjutsu it was 10th Dan. Most martial arts were divided into kyu and Dan rankings. Kyu were beginner ranks, going from 9th kyu to 1st kyu. The Dan were master ranks, going from 1st Dan to 10th Dan in most martial arts. In Ninjutsu the 10th Dan had five ranks within itself, for a total of 15. Adrian had already attained 15th Dan. And was the only one of his master’s students to have attained that rank. He started studying Ninjutsu when he was brought to Olympus from the orphanage, and had spent every free moment trying to improve himself.
“Sorry Master. I have previous commitments.” Adrian responded.
“Another time then. You might have learned all that I had to teach you, but there are still things you can learn, even from those who are under you. And I hope that you will attend the Master class this month, you are after all, one of the sixteen Grandmasters.” Master Hayashi said with a smile.
Adrian cringed at the title. Once the press found about the Master class, they started referring to those attending them as Grandmasters. “If I have spare time. I am swamped with obligations to the fleet right now.”
“Alright. Do try to keep in touch more often, even if it is by comms.”
“I will Master.” With that Adrian left the training area, just as the advanced class was coming in. He greeted them all, even though only a few knew who he was. He entered the changing room and took off his black kimono, and dressed in more casual attire. He checked the time on his imp, and noticed that he was already late. He quickly left the Dojo, and made the decision to go on foot.
The meeting place was close enough that him stopping to get a grav-car would take more time than it would take for him to get there. Adrian was supposed to meet with the former members of his academy team. Some of them he hadn’t seen in years, and Adrian was very excited to see them again, though they all kept in touch by comm messages. The one he spent the most time with was Paul Isaacs, who served on Athena as Adrian’s High Prime. The others all had their own assignments, whether on other ships or on the planet. Most of them who worked on and in the vicinity of the planet would meet weekly. But he was most excited to see Bethany Jones. She and Adrian had a rocky start. They spent most of their time at the Academy hating each other, clearing up the air only in their last year. Afterwards, they started a shaky friendship. But after the events at the Cloud station, where Adrian commanded Athena and Beth served as his High Prime, they grew closer. They were separated after they arrived at Sanctuary, with Beth being transferred to another ship, and they started seeing each other rarely. Their leave time has not crossed often, so they kept in touch with messages, and video chat when they were in range. For the past two years they had talked almost daily, and have developed a deep friendship, and now, Adrian hoped something more. He was always attracted to Beth, even when they hated each other. But afterwards, when they became such good friends the distance prevented him from trying to take their relationship to the next level. He got the feeling that she felt the same way, though in the last few months he felt as if they were drifting apart. Which frightened Adrian, he didn’t want to lose her like he did his best friend Sahib, who drifted apart from Adrian. They still kept in touch, but there was a gap between them.
Finally, Adrian arrived at the meeting place. It was one of the few bars in the city called New Start. He entered and tried to spot his party in the dim lights. He saw a hand waving at him from a table in the back. Adrian waved back at Sakura and made his way to the table. He noticed that all of his former team were present save Beth. He hugged Sakura, then the rest of the women in their party, Ana, Tania and Helen. After he shook hands and exchanged slaps on the back with the men, Noah, Marcus, Alexander and Paul.
“So you finally found time to meet with us, oh great and mighty Ship Master.” Noah said playfully.
“Yes, as you know my schedule is filled with far more important things, I can rarely find time to meet with simple Adjutants.” Adrian said with a straight face, which earned him a punch in the shoulder from Helen.
“Hey!” Adrian exclaimed, smiling.
“Don’t get a big head, we spent a whole year together in the same room. We know things.” Helen said threateningly, but a small grin played at her lips.
“No, no. Of course I won’t.” Adrian said, rubbing his shoulder. “And when did you start to lift weights?” He asked.
Helen gave him an exasperated look, and Adrian grinned widely. He looked around the table at his friends. “Where is Beth?” He asked.
Ana and Tania looked at each other strangely. “She is running a bit late.” Ana said. “But there is something you should know, and it’s better if you learn it before she arrives.”
Adrian frowned. “What?”
Ana opened her mouth to respond, but Marcus called out. “There she is. Beth, over here!”
Adrian turned and froze the moment he saw her. She was still as beautiful as the day he met her, which was no surprise given that they didn’t age anymore. She had let her red hair grow longer, it was now almost touching her shoulders.