Happy Tears � Chapter 2

The following fic was created by me, Mike Allen.  However, I do not own any
of the characters that I am using.  That honor belongs to the honorable
Rumiko Takahashi and any and all companies to which she has sold the rights.
So, please do not sue me.

The Thief.

*********************

A short figure, dressed in black, made its way stealthily into the kitchen
of the temple.  Covering the thief�s face was a kerchief that was tied over
his mouth.  He had been able to scale the wall of the temple and make it
past all of the guards.  It was time to get what he had come for, some food.

These monks are supposed to be something special, he thought as he entered
one of the pantries.  Bah, I haven�t met any group as good as the amazons.
Compared to them, this is like taking candy from a baby.

Cautiously looking around, he made sure that no one else was in the area.
There was one entrance to the room.  He was in it.  Completely deserted, the
room was square and filled with shelves of food.  He opened his pack and
started to make
some of their food his own.  He froze as he heard a throat clear next to him
and light suddenly filled the pantry.

�Most impressive, my son,� the monk chuckled. �However, if it was food you
want, we normally serve it at sunrise and sunset.  You see, training takes
up the day.  At night, most of us sleep.�  The monk had a round, happy face.
His shaven head only accentuated his heavy eyebrows and made his smile even
warmer. He wore a simple black robe.  Holding a lit lantern in his right
hand, he was smiling and looking down at the diminutive thief.

�WAAH!!�  the thief yelled and looked at the monk who had appeared at his
left shoulder.  I�ve got to get out of here!  He thought in panic.

Trying to trip the monk with a leg sweep, the smiling monk simply jumped
over his leg.  Using the speed of the Chestnut Fist, he tried to knock the
monk out.  The monk swayed, dodging every punch never even having to move
his feet or lantern.  In desperation, the thief started to build up his chi
to blast the monk.

�I�m sorry, but that would cause too much damage, my son,�  the monk said
shaking his head.  Doing nothing more than reaching out and touching the
thief, the monk caused the thief to fall at his feet unconscious.

Gong ong ng �  Gong ong ng  �
Gong ong ng �  Gong ong ng  �
Gong ong ng

The ringing of a gong woke the thief up.  He shot up out of the cot he had
been placed in and stood next to it looking around wildly.  He calmed down a
little when he saw he was alone.  The room he was in was roughly 10 feet by
10 feet.  The walls, floor and ceiling were of rough-hewn stone.  There was
an arrow slit in one wall that allowed sunlight to shine into the room.  The
only furniture in the room was the cot he had been in and a chamber pot.
There was a wooden door opposite the arrow slit.

He started to move towards it, when it opened.  He saw the monk from the
previous night.  �Good morning, my son,�  the monk smiled, �It is not often
that we are blessed with night-time visitors at our Shaolin temple.  What is
your name and age?�

�My name is Happosai and I�m seventeen,� stammered out the young thief. �How
did you do that trick?�

�Do what?�  the monk asked in mild confusion.

�How did you appear next to me like that last night?�  Happosai asked again.

�Oh, don�t you know, young one?  It is said a Shaolin priest can walk
through walls. Looked for, he cannot be seen. Listened for, he cannot be
heard. Touched, he cannot be felt(1),�  the monk answered, �I must say that
you yourself are not without some skills.�

�They weren�t good enough,�  Happosai muttered aloud.  With a little fear,
he asked, �What are you going to do to me?�

�Well, the true question is not what I am going to do to you, but what is it
your destiny wills to happen next in your life?� was the cryptic answer
given to Happosai.

�If you aren�t going to send me to an Imperial prison, may I stay here
awhile?� Happosai asked hopefully.

�If that is your destiny,� the monk said with obtuseness, �stay and learn.
Otherwise, follow your path from here.�

�I think I�ll stay.  What is your name?�  Happosai asks.

�I am Master Kan,�  he replied, �if you will be staying, you need to join
the others.  As you have some skills already, we will need to determine
whether you are a student or a disciple.  Follow me.�  Matching actions to
words, the master turned and left the room.

Master Kan led Happosai to the dining hall.  Here he saw a large number of
students eating their breakfast.  They ranged in age from 4 years old to
their middle twenties.  All wore a high collared black shirt and black
pants.  Surprisingly, there was an equal number of male and female acolytes.

�You�ll fit right in,�  Master Kan stated. �You already wear black.�

Happosai waited, unsure of what to do or say.  After a moment, his new
master told him to go and eat.  He sat down near some other boys that seemed
close to him in age.  No one spoke.  Unnerved by the quiet, Happosai turned
to the boy on his left next to him and said, �Hi, my name�s Happosai.  What�
s yours?�

The boy sitting next to him looked at him and said, �"I am Caine. I am
called many names, but I have chosen 'Caine.'"(1)  He then turned back to
his food and began eating again.

Happosai thought Caine�s answer was a little weird, but decided to ignore
it.  He felt a nudge on his right.  Looking there, he noticed a short boy
standing beside him.  He was smiling.  �Don�t mind him.  He does have a lot
of names!  Grasshopper, bug, pest, Master�s pet, most of us don�t bother
with him.  He�s
always with Master Po.  My name�s Chingensai, how�d you get here?�

�I decided to spend the night, last night while traveling by,� Happosai
answered quickly.

�Yea, me too.  I was traveling by about two months ago when Master Ho caught
me,� Chingensai laughed.

"If one's words are no better than silence, one should keep silent."(1)
Caine said to them disapprovingly.

�Yea, you do that,�  Chingensai said dismissing Caine as he sat down next to
Happosai.  �You know, you�re the second person I�ve ever met that is my
size.�

�You�re the first for me,�  Happosai said happy to be talking to someone
friendly.  �Your name doesn�t sound Chinese, it sounds Japanese.  Are you?�

�Yea, does that mean anything to you?�  Chingensai said warily.

�Not much, I�m half-Japanese,� Happosai said.  �You said I�m the second
person your size that you�ve met.  Is the other one here?�

�Yea, his name is Lukkosai.  He�s been here almost a year, now,�  Chingensai
said.  �He was caught trying to steal from the temple,� he paused and with a
wry grin continued, �Can you imagine?�

�Ha ha, I think I�d like to meet him.�

�Finished with your breakfast, Happosai?�  Master Kan was not asking. �I�m
happy to see that you are.  Come, it is time to find out whether you are a
student or a disciple of the arts.�

Happosai followed Master Kan to a large room where six masters sat in a
semi-circle.  Three were male and three were female.  The room was lit by
hundreds of candles placed in almost every available spot.  Master Kan
walked Happosai to the center of the room and asked him to stand and answer
all of the
questions to his best ability.  He then took his place at one end of the
semi-circle.

Master Kan then told Happosai, �Please answer the questions as well as you
can.  We are merely trying to assess where you are in your spiritual
journey.�

It started easily enough.  �Who are you?� asked one of the masters.

�My name is Happosai,� he answered.

�That is but a name, I asked not for your name, I asked who you are.  Again,
who are you?�  the same master asked again.

Sweating a little, Happosai gave the masters a brief review of his life.

�So, you don�t know who you are.  Can you explain what filial piety is?� (2)
another master asked.

�Filial Piety.  Filial Piety is the taking up of troublesome affairs from
your elders and giving food and drink when available with true reverence,�
Happosai extemporized.

�So, you aren�t completely ignorant.  Tell us about cowardice,� (2) a female
master asked.

"To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage," Happosai
answered.

�Very good, young one.  Can you tell me a reason one should be cautious?�
(2) another asked.

�So you won�t get caught,�  he answered a little too quickly.

"To be able to judge of others by what is not in ourselves;-this
may be called the � ?� (2) a pedantic master asked.

�Skill of judgment?�  Happosai asked hopefully.

�No, my son it is the art of virtue," the master answered his own question.

The questioning continued throughout the morning.  Happosai was asked many
questions.  Some he knew.  Some he didn�t.  Most of the questions left him
unsure of what was even asked.

When it was over, a kind looking woman came and took him to a small
courtyard.  She explained that it was used as a martial arts training area.
She was of average height with long silvery hair that reached to her waist.
She wore a white gi belted with a red sash.  The sleeves of her gi had light
green stripes on them.
Happosai could tell by the way that she moved that she was a very highly
skilled martial artist.  Her most distinguishing feature was a small mole
that lay next to her right nostril.

�My name is Master Ho.  I have been assigned the task of ranking your
martial skills,� she said pleasantly to him.  �Attack me.�

Before attacking Master Ho, Happosai looked around the area.  It was small
for a training area, maybe 20 feet by 20 feet.  The floor was covered in
sand, the walls were unadorned stone, bearing scars from many previous
battles.

Having been trained by Amazons, Happosai knew better than to not go all out
against her.  He jumped at her trying to surprise her with a kick to her
head.  She smiled and bent to her right.  As he came within her reach, she
reached out with a chopstick and threw him into a wall.

As he slowly got up and looked at her, he noticed that she was glowing a
very light green.  Oh damn, she can generate a battle aura, he thought to
himself.  He decided to shift tactics.  This time he slowly inched closer
and closer to Master Ho.  When he was close enough to strike, he tried
feinting a leg sweep to force
her into the air where she wouldn�t be able to dodge him.  When he feinted,
she stood her ground.  Having already jumped into the air to catch her,
Happosai was wide open.  She reached out with her chopstick and barely
tapped him on the chest.  The next thing he knew he was picking himself out
of the wall again.  How is she reading my moves?, he wondered as he started
to near her again.

Master Ho stood looking at him and smiling.  �I am ready, attack me.�

�I�m going to make you move this time!�  Happosai yelled in frustration.
This time he attacked using every bit of speed he could muster.  It was like
trying to hit air.  Whenever he tried punching, she seemed to flow away from
where he tried to
land his blows.  When he tried kicking, she would merely step back out of
the way, wait for the leg to go past and then move back into her original
position.  Finally in desperation, he tried to get her in a bear hug.  As he
moved in to wrap her in his arms, she merely chuckled and with her chopstick
laid against his right
wrist, threw him again into the wall.

He stood up slowly.  After putting everything into that last attempt, he was
sweating profusely and very tired.  Gamely, he started forward toward where
Mater Ho was standing.  She was as fresh as when they had started.

�You have done well.  Not many are able to make me move at all.  Prepare to
defend yourself,� she said as she moved forward and met him.

His eyes widened in shock as he noticed that she left no tracks on the
floor.  He tried to prepare for her onslaught.  She moved with a sinuous
quality that was beautiful and deceiving.  He was completely unable to read
her moves.  Happosai had never fought anyone of her caliber.  He felt that
even the elders of the
Amazon tribe would not have been able to defeat her.  For every blow that he
parried, she got in five.  Every blow he attempted in defense, was parried
and counter-punched.  In short, he was beaten unconscious in very short
order.

When he came to, the first thing he saw was Master Ho sitting next to him.
She looked at him, smiled and said, �Congratulations, most challengers aren�
t able to attack me a second time, even fewer are those that can defend
against me at all.  What little I saw of your style shows a strong Amazon
influence, am I right?�

�Yes, Master,�  Happosai said.  He was stunned.  Here he was the best
fighter of his generation and he had been humbled by two old monks in less
than one day.

�What style do you use, Master Ho?� he asked as humbly as he could.

�I use the Dragon style.  It uses chi for its strength.  I shall teach it to
you, if you wish to make the journey.  We have determined that you have the
knowledge and skills of a disciple,� she told him.  �Master Kan told us of
your attempt to use a chi attack last night.  I defeated you by being able
to read what you were going to try in your chi.  Did you know that you were
showing a battle aura during our little session?�

�How were you able to build your chi up so quickly?� Happosai asked.

�I have found my center and my strength.  Since I know what they are, I can
call upon them anytime.  To find your center and strength, I can point the
way, it is you who must discover them.� Master Ho answered him.

�Thank you, Master,�  Happosai said and bowed to Master Ho.

Several months passed, Happosai and Chingensai became fast friends.
Happosai was very happy to find that Chingesai was also considered a
disciple.  This allowed them to pick the work detail they preferred and
decide when they would study the martial arts and the philosophical works
required to become a
monk.  They chose to work in the laundry.  For them, the act of ironing
became a personal meditation, especially if they were ironing something
belonging to one of the prettier female disciples.

Philosophy, especially Chinese philosophy, was nothing Happosai had ever
been interested in.  He spent his study time reading the ancient manuscripts
that described and showed the various styles and techniques utilized by the
Shaolin monks.  He also started researching how Master Kan and Master Ho had
been to
disable him with a touch.  He found that there were points on a body call
Chiatsu points that could be used for many different purposes.  He found a
mention of a temple in Japan that had a fully illustrated map which
described all of these Chiatsu points and how to apply them.  Upon reading
this, he knew he now had a second reason to go back to Japan.  His revenge
upon his father would always be primary.

Taking to his training in the Dragon style like a duck to water, Happosai
soon was able to defeat all of the other disciples.  Chingensai, who also
used the Dragon style, was able to keep up with him, but never was able to
beat Happosai.  Impressed by both of her students, Master Ho began helping
them on their
search for their centers and strength.

�Happosai, Chingensai how many times do I have to tell you that you will
know when you have found your center, because you will feel completely
balanced?�  Master Ho said in exasperation.  The three were in the same
training area that Happosai had been tested in.

�Master, I can balance myself on a single finger!  What else do I need to
do?�  Chingensai asked.

�I mean balanced emotionally, spiritually and physically!  If you cannot
find your centers and strengths inside of yourselves, your centers and
strengths will be imposed upon you.�  Master Ho tried to explain gently.

�In other words, if we don�t get it ourselves, others will choose it for
 us?� Happosai asked.

�Yes, my son,�  Master Ho smiled.

�Well, I wish they�d hurry up and tell me where they are,�  Happosai said
without thinking.

SLAM

�Master, why did you throw me into the wall?�  Happosai grunted in pain.

�If you let others impose upon you, the pains of their choosing you will
feel,�  she said as she left the training room.

�I think she was pretty upset with us, don�t you?�  Chingensai asked
Happosai.

�Nah, she just wants us to understand whatever it is she�s trying to teach
us. Say, Chingensai,  why don�t we try a little training exercise tonight?�
he said.

�Sure, what do you want to do?�

�Well, why don�t we sneak into the women�s bathing area and see what we can
see?  If we can get away with it, we�ll have proven that we�ve learned
something.  If we get caught, we can apologize,� Happosai said with a
mischievous grin.

�Sure, I�d really like to see that green-eyed girl, what�s her name?�
Chingensai was hooked.

�I don�t know, is she the one with the hair to her rear and dimples?�
Happosai asked back

�Yeah!�

�I don�t know her name either.  I hope we see her,�  Happosai laughed.

That night, they were caught.  The women who caught them didn�t appreciate
the fact that the two disciples had been watching them bathe.  Happosai and
Chingensai were both beaten severely.  They just smiled and took their
punishment.

The next day, while ironing, they both noticed that their strength and
vitality came back.  They both realized, with sinking feelings, that their
strength came from ironing women�s clothes.  During their training session
with Master Ho, they both finally were able to harness their chi to properly
use the Dragon techniques.
Happosai was able to actually hit the master.

�It seems that your little journey last night taught you something,�  she
said to them.  �I hope that whatever it is you learned is something that
will help you gain the mastery you both are working towards.�

Looking at each other and trying to hide their smiles, they both bowed and
said, �Yes, Master.�

After she left, Happosai and Chingensai celebrated.  �Now that we can
control our chi, let�s learn that disappearing act the monks like to use.�
Happosai suggested.

Chingensai thought that the monks must use a combination of chi and physical
props to seem invisible.  Happosai disagreed.  He insisted that it must be
chi-based alone.  Master Kan would never have been able to hide the light of
a lantern behind a prop without Happosai noticing it.  They couldn�t agree
which way was the correct one, so they both worked on their separate ideas.

Happosai began by trying to build up his chi while not letting others around
him notice.  He began by trying to strengthen chi as he normally would.  He
found, much to his disgust, that all of the monks of the temple and the
disciples of chi-based martial arts could all see his chi.  Knowing it could
be done, he tried
meditating and building up his chi while in that state.  He discovered that
there was another sort of chi, a cold chi.  He would later learn that cold
chi was based, not on emotions like hot chi, but on one�s mental focus.  The
most effective focus for himself he found was women�s underclothing.  It
didn�t matter what it was, as long as a woman had worn it next to her skin,
it worked for him.  It took Happosai two weeks before he was able to
generate cold chi.

Generating cold chi was a giant step for Happosai, but he still needed to do
something with it.  The next step was to begin expanding it and trying to
touch others chi with his.  He began meditating in the largest meditation
hall of the temple.  Here, he could generate his cold chi and slowly
manipulate it closer to
those around him.  Eventually, he began trying to connect his chi with those
around him.  At first, whoever his chi touched were shaken out of their
trance.  He kept at it and eventually learned how to synchronize his chi to
the rhythm of the one he was targeting.  Once he was on the same wavelength
with his target, his chi was able to intermingle with theirs without their
noticing.  Learning to send and manipulate cold chi took Happosai six
months, he was now ready to try and make suggestions to his victim.

He made sure to always synchronize with a student or a disciple.  He never
tried to merge with one of the monks.  He felt they were too knowledgeable
to mess with that way.  He found that once his chi was harmonized with
someone else�s, he gained a general sense of what they were thinking and
planning.   Actually, it was enough so that he was able to intuit what they
were going to do.  He realized that this must have been what Master Ho had
done to him when they first sparred.  He remained focused on his goal.  He
began by suggesting minor things to his targets; thirst, hunger, tiredness.
He was surprised at how well it worked.  He tried prompting them with more
difficult ideas.  Ideas such as: they were hot and needed to take off their
clothes, they needed to go urinate and were already
in the facility, they were naked in front of everyone.  The sort of
practical jokes most eighteen year old males find hilarious.  They all
worked.  Finally, he was ready for the big test.  He was able to suggest to
someone that he was not there.  They were unable to see or hear him until he
broke his own concentration.  He found that he could split his attention
between five people and still make them believe that he wasn�t there.  It
took Happosai an additional three months to master this.

Chingensai had been riding Happosai hard.  He had perfected his version of
invisibility after only eight months of time.  He didn�t need to get as
deeply involved with someone else�s chi to distract them.  Making them look
away and not remember why, he would then jump behind his prop and make them
not notice it.  Once they had both perfected their methods, they found that
they enjoyed spending their evenings in the women�s bath.  They found that
the thrill of voyeurism was intoxicating.  It was so stimulating that they
began taking souvenirs from the bathers, usually some small piece of
underclothes that was easily picked up and hidden.  They rationalized what
they were doing as training.  By doing this, they were able to overlook any
problems regarding either the legality or propriety of what they were doing.
In addition, they were two eighteen year old boys whose hormones were waging
a successful campaign against their brains.

Once their techniques were developed, they would never have been found out
if they hadn�t captured another boy trying to sneak into the bath.  When
questioned as to why they were in the women�s bath, they could only smile
and say it was for their training.  All three of them were sent away from
the temple the next day.

The boy�s name was Lukkosai.  Happosai and Chingensai both knew him from the
temple because he was as small as they were.  They were mad at him for
spoiling their fun and were going to leave him and travel together until he
used his magic ink tablet to draw some butterflies.  The butterflies caught
the eyes of the other pedestrians and Lukkosai quickly amassed enough money
to feed himself for a week.  Happosai and Chingensai decided they wanted to
be his new friend.

They all wanted to continue studying martial arts.  Where they were, the
Hunan province, there weren�t any major cities.  The closest city to them
was Chongging in the Sichuan province.  For lack of a better place to go,
they decided to go there.  They were disappointed when they got there
because they weren�t able to find any jobs.  While they were very
accomplished martial artists, no one would even give them a chance to prove
themselves.  Most just laughed and asked them if they wanted to become
circus clowns or some such.  They were unable to
find any work that they felt suitable for martial artists of their caliber.
To keep their skills up, they decided to become thieves.
They stayed together for six months before they decided to separate.
Chingensai wanted to go to Tibet so that he could learn some of the famous
Tibetan martial arts skills.  Lukkosai felt pulled to Beijing to try and
make his fortune.  After stealing Lukkosai�s, magic ink tablet, Happosai
began a meandering journey towards Hong Kong.  It took him five years to
reach it.

Enjoying himself, he wandered from town to town and village to village.  As
he entered each town, he made a point to find out who the best fighters
were.  He would then spend a few days studying them as they worked out.  If
he saw that they could show him something, he would barter with them to
trade some of their techniques for some of his.  He also continued studying
all he could find about Chiatsu points and chi techniques.

It was during this period when he started his collection of women�s
unmentionables.  He found that the more items he had, the more energy and
mental focus he could bring to bear in any situation.  He didn�t care if
others thought his habit perverted; he had found his center and power and it
was women�s underwear.

He also had become addicted to the thrill of being chased.  Women didn�t
normally notice him, but they noticed him when he stole the panties,
pantaloons, girdles or hose off of them in the street.  He loved the
excitement and thrill he felt when he was eluding a large crowd of women all
shouting for him.  The more he took and the larger the crowd, the more
energized he felt.

He was twenty-four years old when he entered Hong Kong.  The people in the
city were celebrating the Chinese New Year  As he walked into the city, he
saw parades, people partying and fireworks exploding everywhere.  He stopped
and watched as a fireworks vendor made some small firecrackers.  Happosai
was
fascinated with what the man was doing.  He never knew that it was so easy
to make fireworks.

�Is that all you have to do?� he asked the vendor.

�What?  You mean pour some gunpowder in a pile and then roll it up in some
paper?�  the vendor replied with a question.

�Uh-huh�  Happosai nodded and grunted.

�Not at all.  Making fireworks is a very precise and creative art.  Why the
beginnings of my art go back 4,000 years, to the very first Emperor!  Would
you like to buy some?�  He asked Happosai.

�Yes!�  Happosai eagerly said.  He had just thought of something to try, and
if it worked,  he would have a wonderful new technique!

He quickly bought the firecrackers and moved to an alleyway.  He lit a
firecracker and immediately inserted it into the weapon space the Amazons
had taught him about.  He lit another one and waited for it to explode.
After it had exploded, he reached into weapon space and retrieved the still
lit firecracker.  He threw it away before it exploded.  �YES!�  he yelled in
triumph.  A new technique and I created it!  I�ll call it �Happy�s Bouquet
Bomb.�

He ran back to the vendor.  �Do you need anyone to help you?  I�d like to
learn what you do.�  He asked excitedly.

�I don�t know.  I couldn�t pay you much,� the vendor said looking him up and
down.  �How about you work for me and I�ll give you room, board and a yuan a
week.�

�Alright, I�ll do it,�  Happosai agreed.  He looked forward to learning the
secrets of gunpowder and fireworks, sure that he would be able to make
himself several different types of bombs to fight with.

�My name is Xian Xu, you start selling and I�ll start making more.  You can
watch me until I think you�re ready,�  Xian told him.

He worked with Xian for a little less than a year.  As the next New Year�s
Day approached, Xian let Happosai go.

�I�m sorry, Happosai.  There�s just not enough business to keep you on,�
Xian told him, sadly .  Happosai had been a very good student and worker.
Xian had explained how to make and work with gunpowder to Happosai.
Happosai had always asked the right questions.  He had been very safety
conscious.

For his part, Happosai was ready to go on.  He had learned everything he
could from Xian.  In addition, he now had a ready supply of bombs ready and
waiting to be used.

He decided to stay in Hong Kong at least until the New Year�s Celebrations
were over.  He didn�t really get a chance to party or steal panties during
the previous year�s celebration, having just started working for Xian.

Happosai was on the roof of a store when he first spotted two Shaolin monks.
He thought he knew them.  One of them was blind like Master Po.  He wasn�t
sure about the other, but he looked very similar to that Caine suck-up.
With nothing better to do, he decided to watch them and see where they were
going.

After being followed for an hour, Master Po stopped, smiled and waved at
Happosai.  Happosai jumped to the ground and joined them.

�Master Po, Caine I haven�t seen you in a long time.�  Happosai said
happily.  �How did you know that I was up on the roof, Master Po?�

�Never assume that because a man has no eyes, he cannot see," (1) Master Po
laughed.  �What are you doing here?�

�I was watching the crowd and the fireworks.  It�s much less crowded and you
can see much more on the roofs.�  Happosai explained.  Looking at Caine, he
asked with some concern, �Caine, are you in a trance or something?�

�Oh, I am fine.  I was remembering when first we met.�  Caine answered

�Well, I�m going to do some more people watching, see you around!�  Happosai
jumped away and back onto a convenient roof.  He started watching the crowd
again.  He let his attention wander away from the monks, they were who he
thought they were after all.

He began watching an official procession force its way through the streets.
They were escorting someone in an Imperial carriage somewhere.  He decided
to have some fun and make some money following them.  With all of the
commotion caused by the soldiers and the carriage, he was able to easily
pick the pockets of many men and feel up many of the ladies in the crowd.

Suddenly, he heard a scream of rage.  He looked and saw Caine throw a spear
at the carriage.  Po was dying at Caine�s feet.  He had been struck down by
one of the soldiers guarding the carriage.  The soldiers rushed Caine, but
Caine beat them back and quickly started running away.

Happosai jumped back onto the nearest roof and followed the chase.  At one
point, the soldiers trapped Caine in a dead-end alley.  Happosai drew from
weapon space a Happy Bouquet Bomb and dropped it onto the soldiers.  They
were all knocked unconscious.  He quickly motioned for Caine to join him on
the
roof.

When Caine got on the roof, Happosai said, �Follow me.�  He turned and ran
off knowing Caine would follow him to where he was staying.  Arriving at his
destination, Happosai flipped over the edge of the roof and into his room.
He quickly moved out of the way as he knew Caine would soon follow.

As soon as Caine was in his room, he asked in a whisper, �What happened? How
did Master Po get killed?�

�One of the soldiers came up and told us to move out of the way.  Master Po
was moving, but not fast enough for the soldier.  He ran the master down.  I
have disgraced my teachers and the holy temple by my act of retribution,�
Caine said quietly and with remorse.

�What do you mean?  Po never harmed anyone or anything in his life.  What
you did, Caine, was illegal but honorable.  You meted out justice to the one
responsible for Po�s death,� Happosai tried to lift Caine�s spirits.  �Now,
what are we going to do with you now?�

�What do you mean?  I must go back to the temple and face the masters there.
They must be told of what I have done,� Caine responded.

Happosai looked at Caine and thought for a moment.  Then he said, �Caine, I
can get you out of Hong Kong.  I have lived here for a year and know where
to go to avoid notice.  Will you be able to get back to the temple by
yourself?� Happosai offered.

Caine answered, �I am a Shaolin monk.  I will be able to travel to the
temple.  I do accept your gift.  Without a guide through Hong Kong, I would
have some difficulty leaving quickly.  What of you?  If you are seen with
me, the authorities will surely come seeking you, my friend.�

With a smirk, Happosai said, �The authorities have tried many times to catch
me.  They haven�t succeeded yet and they never will.  I have been meaning to
go back to Japan and visit my ... family for a few years now.  Helping you
will give me another reason to leave.�

The next day, Happosai led Caine through the underworld of Hong Kong and
safely out of the city.  They quickly parted ways.

�Good luck, Caine.  Don�t let them catch you,�  Happosai said to him as he
started off.

Looking back over his shoulder, Caine said, �If it is my destiny to reach
the temple, then so I shall, for a man�s destiny is written before he is
born.  It is the freedom given us to follow it.�

Happosai pondered that for a moment.  He shrugged and turned to re-enter
Hong Kong.  I always hated that philosophical mumbo jumbo, he thought to
himself.

*******************************************

(1) A direct quote from the pilot movie of �Kung Fu�
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/9015/kftos.htm

(2) The Tao of Vince_Martial Arts, The Confucian Analects -
http://www.nettally.com/nurvis/

*******************************************
Hey guys, I actually have footnotes.  Research, UGH!  I hope you enjoyed the
second chapter of Happosai's life.  There weren't enough fights.  Yes, I
know.  Happosai was learning who he was and what he was during these years.
There will be plenty of fighting in the next chapter when Happosai returns
to his loving father.

Let me know what you think.  Did it stink?  Was it mediocre?  Was it great?
Please let me know,  my ego will thank you for it.

Thanks,

Mike Allen

Chapter 1 can be found at:
http://home1.gte.net/allenmk