Warning(s): Cursing
Word count: 1.9k
Synopsis: Priorities had to go first. The days were getting busier and busier making it difficult to take a day off. Until one day you got an unexpected visitor.
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A collective roar echoed throughout the room where there were men and women wielding a variety of weapons of their choosing and using their weapons to attack the many wooden dummies that were aligned across the walls of the dojo. There were others that partnered up practicing their techniques wielding whatever weapon they were up against. The collective smacking of wood against wood, the sharp snaps of fans, and the yells filled the air.
While the rest of the students were practicing, you quietly walked alongside the edges of the mat observing them throughout the section of the class. Occasionally going over to the student that was having trouble wielding their weapon or to correct them of their stance as well as how to properly execute certain techniques.
Just as you were correcting a female student with her hand positions on the bō staff when suddenly there was a commotion happening right in front of you. There was a crowd already forming and you swiftly went over to diffuse the situation before it could get it any worse.
"That's enough!" The roaring authority of your voice did its effect and the crowd quickly dispersed revealing the two young boys as you approached them.
Neither of them dared to look you in the eye and for good reason. You were not only known for your strict teachings but also for your frightening attitude to those that don't take the lessons seriously, treating it like it's some sort of silly little game. If there's one thing that your students feared the most it was your anger. As you stood right before them they still wouldn't look you in the eye, keeping their eyes glued to the floor.
"I don't recall giving you instructions to wail each other with the weapons you've chosen, hm?" When neither responded, you bent yourself closer to them. "Speak. Otherwise you two will be dismissed until the rest of the class is finished."
Speaking up was a young boy wielding the bo staff, he had brown tousled hair and black monolid eyes. "Titus was insulting me, then hit me with his kali sticks. I was only defending myself, sensei."
The other boy, Titus, had long jet-black hair and pale blue eyes as he shot a dirty look at him. "So what if I did? You clearly deserved it."
"Titus." You warned, giving him a hardened stare and he immediately shrunk in fear. Then proceeded to berate him in front of the entire classroom.
"We NEVER use our weapons to hurt others, especially with your companions. You have disrespected my authority countless times and I will not tolerate violence against another student of mine. Do I make myself clear or do you want me to scrub your ears for you?!"
He straightened himself being stiff as a rock and sweating bullets. "N-n-o-o, sens-s-ei."
"Good. Now go sit until class is over!"
Titus dropped his weapon and scurried off earning quite a few chuckles.
A vein had popped right above your eyebrow, taking a moment to take in a deep breath. "Daigo," Startled, he looked up at you, preparing himself to be scolded.
Your hardened features soften, "I'm not mad at you."
"You're…not?"
"Of course not. You did good in defending yourself against Titus. That's what this whole curriculum is all about." You patted his head, a pleased smile plastered on your lips. Then you leaned into his ear to whisper. "There's an ice cream bar hidden at the back of the mini freezer. Take it when class is over, OK?"
Daigo's eyes glimmered, nodding his head excitedly as soon he went over to partner up with another student. When he looked back you gave him a wink before lightly shooing away the crowd to resume the section. As for Titus, he was in for a fun little punishment of your choosing and that is to do one-hundred push-ups and to maintain the horse-stance for an hour.
By the time class was over the sunlight had disappeared and the sky was adorned in a blanket of stars where the crescent moon was illuminating the empty streets below. The number of students dwindled; the majority of the older students had already left. However, the younger students still lingered waiting for their parents to pick them up. You always remained behind to watch over them until they've been retrieved. The safety of your students will always be your top priority no matter how late you had to stay in the dojo, you were staying until all of them went home safely.
Once the last of your students departed it was time to close off the school. You slung on your cyan-colored sling backpack and headed straight towards the back room of the building. Inside the room on the opposite side of the wall stood the main circuit breaker, you approached it by opening the panel and then shutting off every line until you were left in total darkness. Pulling out the phone from your pocket and using its flashlight to head back to the entrance.
As you pulled out the keys from the locked door you caught the slightest movement over to your right. It didn't take long for you to throw a swift punch towards the general direction of where the person was, dropping your phone in the process. You were taken aback to realize that standing in front of you was Piccolo who had caught your punch with ease.
"Piccolo?! Shit– I thought you were some rando looking to harass me." You retreated your fist and went to retrieve your phone from the ground, thankfully it remained unscathed from the drop.
"Does that happen often?" Piccolo asked when you let out a sigh.
"Unfortunately. Lately they've been harassing not only myself but my students as well! Mind you some of them are minors. I've filed a complaint multiple times to the police department to at least get a security guard but n-o-o-o," You dragged in annoyance. "They can't do shit because they didn't deem it necessary and they quoted: 'no crime was committed'. What kind of lame ass excuse is that?!"
Your blood began to boil the more you went on with your rant. "Harassing me is one thing, I've lived through that my entire life, but those punks harassing my students are already threading dangerously close for comfort. Just last week one of those punks held a knife to one of my youngest pupils. If I hadn't stepped when I did—someone is going to get seriously hurt and I won't risk endangering the lives of my pupils because those lazy cops won't do what they are supposed to be paid to do."
What you failed to notice was that Piccolo's face hardened considerably. He bared his teeth to which his fangs peeked from below his lips and the knuckles of his already balled fists were starting to strain.
Suddenly Piccolo blurted out. "You won't have to worry about those punks harassing you and your students."
"What do you mean by tha-a-at…" You realized the truth behind his words that it left you feeling conflicted. "Are you sure about this, Piccolo? I mean, I wouldn't want you getting involved in this mess."
"I understand your apprehension about this, however, it's either between me or those cops that aren't really doing much to help with your current situation." Piccolo emphasized his baritone stern, but expressed significant concern over the matter.
He made such a valid argument that you couldn't think of anything better to add-on. Your shoulders slumped forward, defeat written across your face.
"Alright, alright. I'll let you guard over the dojo during and after class ends." You straightened your posture glancing up at him with a lopsided smile.
You walked past him heading down the stone path that leads straight towards the tall main gate of the large property.
You were fortunate enough to purchase this when the previous owner was begging to be rid of it which had originally been abandoned for years and the poor elderly man didn't know what to do. No one else was interested in a dilapidated land but you saw it as an opportunity and happily bought it under your name. Since then the entire area had flourished after putting in the hard labor in restoring the building and filling the place with as much natural vegetation as you were allowed to.
Just beside the double-door swing gate was a decently sized bike rack where your neon blue bike was currently occupying one of the U-rack spaces. You went over to it—unlocked both its wheels and walked alongside the bike outside the gate. When you were about to move down the stand from the bike you heard the school gate being shut. Looking over your shoulder to see Piccolo wrapping the gaps with a metal chain and securing it with the padlock that was attached to it.
"Thank you, Piccolo." You unbuckled the helmet from your sling strap securing it on your head before hopping onto the bike.
"It's getting late. I should be heading home soon and you should too."
Piccolo took a few steps towards you, having to tilt your head up to look at him without putting strain on your neck. "I'll escort you home."
You stared ahead at the gravel road smiling to yourself before glancing over to him from the corner of your eye. "Let's go."
Once you began to peddle away from the property, Piccolo immediately followed suit flying right behind you. He remained by your side for the majority of the journey up until you cycled into a populated neighborhood to which he ascended a good distance away from prying eyes.
Just up ahead you saw an elderly woman peeked out from her front porch waving at you. It was Mrs. Bennett. She's one of the sweetest neighbors you have and even considered her as your grandmother because she always waits for your return after a long day of teaching every single night without fail. A pattern that you've grown accustomed to from the moment you moved into the neighborhood.
You let go of the bike handle to wave at her as you rode past her house. "Evening Mrs. Bennett!"
"Rest easy, hun!" She yelled back watching you disappear around the opposite corner of the block.
Home wasn't too far, as you biked down the tree tunnel road that led straight towards your place. It stretched for five miles straight until finally arriving.
You allowed the momentum to take you towards the wooden staircase before coming to a complete stop. There stood the A-framed home that had been built on top of a slope, hopping out of the bike, removing the helmet and then hiding the bike underneath the wooden staircase. As you walked up the steps you could see Piccolo descending from the sky and landing onto the patio.
"So, this is where you live, huh?" Piccolo said a loud, taking in the scenery. In response you hummed in approval, staring at the house, a twinkle of pride flashing in your eyes.
"I had the house built seven years ago after I moved into the neighborhood. Some of my neighbors aren't too fond of how unusual it looks, but I like it, that's what matters to me." You too focused on admiring the structure of your home to realize Piccolo was fixated on you.
You turned to face Piccolo with a smile. "Thank you for accompanying me home, Piccolo, and don't forget to come by the dojo before noon on Monday to show you around."
Piccolo nodded curtly, turning his back to you before taking off into the night. You bid him a farewell wave watching as his silhouette faded further into the sky until you could no longer see him. A breeze caused you to shake involuntarily as you quickly made your way inside the coziness of your home.