Fleet found his love curled up on the sofa under a flannel blanket by a crackling fire in there quarters in Alchemy House on coven grounds. He took off the sword that he never seemed able to let stray from his side for too long and sat by her. Swathed in his Celtic leathers, he looked like he should be some exotic fighter or lithe bard enchanting men, yet he just seemed to fit into the world as it was for now.

"Hey, you cold. How about you come snuggle up to me and we can share some warmth?" he said.

He noticed, now that he was closer to her, that her cheeks were a bit wet with tears. Fleet decided not to give her moment to think about coming to him. He gently pulled her to his, wrapped her in supporting hug and made sure the blanket was around her snug and warm.

"Care to tell me about your day love" Bet it is far more interesting than mine."

There was a light, misty fog in the courtyard of the Alchemy House. Ammy stood in the midst of the swirling mist, gowned once more in her white gi and obi. Feet spread apart in equal distance with with her shoulders, furred hands up in sanchin post position, she stood and listened.

No sound was made. Nothing stirred in the mist. In an instant she felt someone behind her. She began to pivot and found herself on the ground from a firm kick of Sensei's heel to her hip. She didn't hear him at all.

As she picked herself up, he spoke to her.

"Stance better. Fatter I see. Good. Heart and Mind still skinny. Troubles" Sanchin kata. Begin."

Ammy stood, bowed, moved into her opening stance and began the first series of four sanchin strikes and three steps while Sensei did back hand strikes to test her hard yet breathing shell.

"Many Sensei. I was over powered by a . . . friend. Kissed . . . " She'd reached the end of the first series and turned, pivoting on right leg. She started another series of Sanchin strikes.

"Feel weak then" Feel afraid?" He continued testing her, working on her stance and balance now.

"Well . . . yes, I am affraid. I don't think I've fealt that helpless before. He could've done a whole lot . . ." she let the thought die though. She couldn't continue with that path, it was very dark.

Another series done, she turned and pivoted on her right leg again and repeated the strikes, ending the fourth strike with three rapid double strikes to the imaginary neck.

"But no more happen. Just kiss. Just male being stupid. You let happen again? Sensei swung in front of her and stood and tested her form on the next part.

Ammy pivoteted to her left and did a sweeping, circling wyoke block with her left hand, blocking and incoming punch by Sensei, pulled that left hand to her hip, her right hand to her shoulder and shoved them both forward in a staggered strike hitting him first in the hip then in the shoulder. Sensei rocked back and took two steps to recover.

"Good form!"

Ammy pivoted to her right now. "I wont let it happen again. I . . . should have trusted my mind to leave but my heart . . ."

She executed another wyoke block staggering Sensei back 3 steps this time. She pivoted left for the final wyoke block to come.

"What heart say that mind listened to?"

The wyoke block was perfect as well. She returned to neutral stance and closed the gate, maked a fist with her right hand and wrapping her left hand over it before bowing to sensei.

"That he was hurting inside. That somehow, the other me had hurt him in some way, words I think, and . . . when I lashed out the first time and struck to get away, my heart saw him hurt worse." she sat on a dew covered stone bench to catch her breath.

Sensei stood before her in quiet, calm thought. "Two emperors, one queen. Ammy-san, your mind strong, your heart strong, but war for soul. You make soul strong. Make queen strong. Rule over two emperors. Come, work on kicking for rest of session."

As she stood up and began practicing her kicks against a held bag, she reflected upon Sensei's words.

The next week for Ammy had flown by quickly. Sensei saw to that. He taught her the art of using the walking cane and that innocent looking crook to hook arms and legs, to lock joints, to penetrate and disable opponents by neck and groin. How to thrust and impale with the tip of the cane. How to strike like a sword and defend with it like a staff.

Most of all, he taught her the art of looking innocent, harmless and peaceful. To attack and defend only when in danger.

Past those can classes was harder workouts on her Sanchin kata, then her kicks, and punches followed by sparring with Sensei himself. Why' She was soon a participant in an Uechi Ryu tournament that was her Sensei's idea of a test of her confidence to perform in front of others. And perform she did.

She won 2nd place in the White belt division for her form on Sanchin Kata. She did well in sparring but was eliminated early. Sensei was proud of her still though.

By the end of the week, she was bruised, well armed with a harmless looking weapon, bore a green stripe on her white belt, and had a bit more confidence in herself to keep safe.

Sensei watched Ammy progress more through their days together training. The worn and forgetful Lupinossai woman was excelling well with Uechi Ryu and her grasp on Sanchin was decent enough for her to begin learning Kanshiwa Kata. But he had yet to test one thing of her yet.

Ammy moved through several Sanchin strikes, the bells attached to her wrists barely ringing, an allowable tolerance for her. She was turning after her two double Sanchin strikes into a Wyoke block and stifled a curse a her golden eyes watch the empty bucket slip past her and clatter to the ground. She began to stoop down and pick it up.

"Ammy-san, let bucket rest. Bucket work hard staying on head. Remove Gi top and Obi and follow me." Sensei spoke in a clear tone.

Ammy blinked for a moment and left the bucket. Moving over to a sheltered tree in the courtyard of Alchemy House, she took off her Obi (belt), hung it with care and touched the one green stripe she had with a sense of pride. Then she took off her Gi top and hung it by the belt leaving her in white Gi pants and a grey halter top.

"Where are we going Sensei?"

Sensei lead her out of the Coven grounds and into Rhydin City before answering. "Shopping."

"Shopping?" She had a puzzled look on her face. What does shopping have to do with karate"

Sensei just wore a quiet smile and remained quiet. They spent a good hour or two in the Market Place district picking out a few herbs, vegetables, and other essentials Sensei would take back home that day in the mountains. Soon they sat on a bench resting for a moment and before them were two children and grandparent at a stall buying something.

Walking by the stall was a man wearing very baggy clothing and looking very alert. Suddenly he grabbed on of the children and held the child tightly against his body, demanding money from the grandparent. Warnings were shouted that he'd harm the child if anyone tried to set the child free. The grandparent was in shock and confused by all of this, asking why he was doing this to the child as frail hands fumbled for the coin purse.

Ammy watched this happening and was appalled. She began to rise to help the child. Sensei, watching as well, took her wrist and made her sit down again.

"Ammy-san..." He whispered. "Uechi Ryu is for self defense, not attack. You would make situation worse. Best wait and see what happens."

Forced to sit, she watched as the grandparent fumbled for money and the child screamed in terror as the man held the child. Her mind ticked away, stirring the black mist rapidly as she floundered helpless.

How can he just have us sit here and just watch' The poor children and their elder. I mean . . . surely we can . . . do something" Do what? I don't have my cane on me and most of my training is defense. Sensei is right. All I can do is watch . . . Her lips began to tremble at this thought.

Soon the man was given the money and the child released with a shove as he turned to flee as shouts for the Watch had rung out several times. The man had fled before he could be caught. By then Sensei was up with Ammy behind him and had moved to the Grandparent and the children. Ammy hung back as she watched him ask if they were all okay, made sure the child was unharmed and then gave to Grandparent an amount that was a bit more than what the man had stolen from them. He wished them good fortune and safety and described to the Watch what the man looked like. Many of the shoppers and witnesses expressed thanks and paid respect to Sensei.

Soon they left the Market District and traveled back to the Coven grounds. Ammy was quiet the whole back until they were in the courtyard. She was by her hanging Gi and and Obi just looking at them. Sense was behind her, the smell of sweat and seaweed a comfort some days to her mind when she got confused.

"Today, hard lesson, Ammy-san. You have warrior heart. You have mother's heart. Your heart blind mind and senses to all. Do you know why I did what I did?"

Ammy bowed her head for a moment and closed her eyes.

This was a lesson' This was heartache! I know why you did nothing. You were afraid! You were afraid to step in and get involved . . . but if he did . . . would the man have hurt the child" We were sitting too far away . . . and he made sure they were alright after the man left. He even paid back what the man stole and made sure the child was safe. Sensei didn't attack a threat that was beyond attack. He chose a bigger defense by taking care of those after the threat. Those unable to defend themselves at the moment. No one looked at him as weak for not attacking or being a hero . . .

"Ammy-san." Sensei simply said.

She slowly turned and looked at Sensei. "You chose defense over offense even if it did not look like any action at all. You ensured nothing escalated by trying to intervene with the man. You also helped restore the dignity and hopes of the elder that was robbed and looked after the well being of the child that was grabbed. All of this in turn . . . earned you respect and you didn't have to use karate."

Sensei gave her a small, pleased smile reserved for the brightest of students. "Hai, Ammy-san. Karate not for attack. Karate developed for defense in Okinawa. Arrogant people use karate for attack. When attack all the time, no think, no observe. You observe very well what happened. Your heart can blind too. That is why Sanchin is very basic but core kata. Heart, mind, body are one and balanced. Balanced, you stay in defense, ready, waiting, helping. Many think know karate, get much respect. Not so. Respect not given, respect is earned Ammy-san. You have observed much and learned well today. Hand me your Obi."

Ammy was in awe by the wisdom Sensei shared with her and handed him her white belt with the single green stripe. Taking from his pocket, Sensei produced the green tape he used for her first green stripe and soon the white belt now had two green stripes at either end.

"Mouse is becoming kitten very quickly. Soon, kitten will be red haired lion." He chuckled and looked to Ammy.

She stood tall, then bowed to Sensei. He handed her Obi back to her and then gathered the items from the days shopping. Their session was over and he went on his way back home. Ammy collected her Gi and went to her room in the Alchemy House reflecting on the day's lesson.