before

"Ryutaro...you must...promise me..."

"Anything, my friend."

"...what you...have...learned here...what...we have learned...from each other..." A coughing, gurgling gasp of breath. "...pass on...the way...of the silent dragon...in your heart..."

"I will, Kazuo."

now

Finally.

It's finished. The place, he had been told, was an old temple, abandoned by its makers long ago, and yet for that still in excellent shape and repair...once it had been cleared of all the ivy and other wild, overgrown plants that had tried to take over.

But none had truly made their way into the building itself, and that by itself told him of the power of this place, that the wild had not been able to take it over in all the time since it had been abandoned.

It had taken some time...but now...with everything cleared away, the few places outside that had needed repair fixed...

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/204/d/c/Japanese_Temple___Stock_by_forcesinmotion.jpg

What was even better was the inside. What this had been a temple to, he'll likely never know, but it was clear to him that whoever it was that built the place had not been mere peaceful monks, but students of the martial arts as well. It was fortune, perhaps, that had guided him to this place, and his thanks had gone out to the gods when he had seen the inside of the temple.

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2007/311/e/7/The_Dojo_Sparring_Program_by_PhanthomZtryker.png

Yes, he had chosen the perfect place,indeed, or had been guided to it by the gods. Either way, with everything fixed and ready, it was time to hang the sign and hope to receive his first students.

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/215/b/8/Silent_Dragon_Dojo___for_RDI_by_forcesinmotion.jpg

The Silent Dragon Dojo was open for business.

He's just about to leave the meditation chamber when the missive arrives.

Well, drops out of midair is more like it, practically right into his hands.

Penned in formal Japanese calligraphy, complete with sand sprinkled over it and everything. It's been a while since he saw something like this, and never delivered quite this way.

He reads it over carefully. Then reads it again.

Konbanwa;

My name is Audra Isimu and I am writing to request admission for three students. They are myself and my two siblings. I have been overwhelmed with trying to look out for them and have come to the decision that we need the structure of a school.

Please let me know what we need to do to complete the process.

Audra Isimu

A grin touches his features as he remembers the very first test he had to go through when he wanted to train. It wasn't a letter sent to him,in this case, but something that was understood about the school he was applying to be a part of. Stepping over to the low table, he sits and takes out his own calligraphy brush, a piece of parchment, and begins to write.

Audra Isimu,

Your first step is to come to the temple. The instructions for doing this must be followed precisely to the letter.

The temple is located in Mount Yasuo, as you no doubt know. You and your siblings are to come by foot the entire way from where you are, without requesting aid from anyone. You are to bring only yourselves and the clothes you choose to wear. No other possessions will be brought, as you will not need them while you are here.

I hope to see you soon.

Wakahisa Ryutaro

Sensei, Silent Dragon Dojo

He lets the ink dry and sprinkles the sand over the parchment before holding it up into the air, speaking in soft Japanese.

"You are no doubt awaiting a reply. Please take this to the person you brought your message from."

The message vanishes from his grip, and with a smile, he stands to head out of the meditation chamber to prepare.