I'll prove I am good enough

TRAINING MYSELF (PART 2) - MOVE TO MOVE

Kenji...

After five hours of training, lunch tasted like the Holy Grail. I was tired and I had taken a nap on the dining table for 2 significant minutes. Makoto was cleaning 'Neptune', Dad was reading a book and Mum was cleaning up the table and washing the dishes. Kyoichi had left immediately after lunch with Thunder Emperor. I spent my time inspecting my gear. Blaze Phoenix stood beside Neptune, as Makoto had promised to clean it after cleaning Neptune. It was 4:00pm when the doorbell rang and I rushed to open it. They were Kyoichi's friends, Yoshi and Masaru. They asked for Kyoichi but I replied to them that I had no clue of where brother was. I continued looking at the gloves and helmet and at 4:30 started wearing them. At 4:45 we headed for the 'X Zone'.

The sun was almost down. Sho, Kakeru and my brother were standing their exactly in the same positions as in the morning, but there was another guest who I didn't expect to find, Gabu Samajima along with his brother, Taiga and the four kings. I expected he had come to see my training but he seemed more interested in the track.

I was next taught a drift, I slipped a few times, a few times I didn't hit the brakes in fear of falling, but when I followed Kakeru's suggestions I managed to do it after 1 ½ hour. I was further taught 2 more tricks, dancing, which is necessary move while riding downhill and then a manual. Sho tried to teach me the Dangiole, just tried though. It was 8:00pm when                Sho said " Enough for a day... well done.. little fellow 3 moves a day and you'll learn the basics in no time. " It was a consolation but it didn't console much as I saw my brother turning and walking away while Gabu watched me like a hawk. I knew one thing 'basics weren't enough for Gabu'.

I ate dinner early and reminded mom to inform Kyoichi about his friends. I fell asleep at 9:00pm while my regular bedtime was 10. After I was in bed, my limbs rested and Makoto came in, she took the alarm clock and said " Tomorrow, 5:00am sharp... Good night" before I could wish her back she interrupted " Oh.. and Kyoichi said you did well." I humorously asked " Don't you?" She replied " If I didn't.. I wouldn't have told you... Good night" and she switched off the lights while I replied " Good Night. "

The next bright morning....

I wasn't a person who enjoyed waking up at 5:00am, but I enjoyed the training lessons, so no matter how hard it was I woke up with a little assistance from Makoto. I took a toast, quickly drank the juice and dashed, Makoto had woken up earlier, made herself a toast and had drank her juice. But, I had to wait for mom to wake up.

The scene was quite the same Kyoichi was on the rock, waiting patiently and Kakeru was there reading a manual about the moves. Sho was particularly late that morning, he came at 5:30, while I was practicing the Dangiole. Sho was asked for an explanation and he explained that he had over slept as he was tuning Flame Kaiser till 1:00am. Sho's surprise attack caused me to lose my focus and I fell. Only one person had noticed my fall and that was Kyoichi. I quickly brushed off the dirt and stood up. While I heard Sho's humorous explanation, Kakeru was staring at Team Shark's Tooth. When I turned around, I saw Kyoichi throw a paper at me, I caught it and he turned and walked away towards the board.

" What's that paper in your hand? " asked Sho staring at the paper Kyoichi threw at him.

" Uh...this... I don't know " I replied hesitantly.

" Open it, then " said Makoto. 

I gently unfolded the smooth paper, it contained a tip about the process of doing a Dangiole. There was an image and a few handwritten points, which was clearly my brother's handwriting. Makoto looked at my eye and then towards the rock where Kyoichi stood a few moments ago, then she noticed Gabu Samajima and his henchmen. Kakeru took the paper from my hand      and stated that this is a way of practicing, he had never seen. I immediately did as instructed by the image, to my surprise I was almost able to do the Dangiole but much more comfortably. After seeing ME do that, Makoto and the others stood astounded.

" Can I take this for the night?" asked Kakeru taking the paper. " I think I've seen this kind of riding, I'd like to check."

" Sure" I replied, " You're training me and maintaining my bike, who am I to give permission."

Kakeru smiled and Sho snatched the paper from him, " By the looks, this technique can be used in other moves too, let's give it a try " said Sho excitedly.

 " Looks to me like your next move is drifting, Kenji " Sho replied.

" You are kidding, right? He's never gonna be able to do that." Makoto replied.

" I agree with her it's too early for that, Sho" said Kakeru raising his spectacles.

Sho looked at me and I gave back a disappointed look, his eyebrows lowered and he actually started thinking.

" You promise to work hard?" he asked.

" Yeah" I replied.

 " In that case, let's start with drifting" he replied.

Makoto's hand quickly went up to her forehead and she said " They're both hopeless"  with a sigh.

" Hey, have you been listening to anything  that we just said. It's not that he shouldn't do it, he can't do it" screamed Kakeru

"There is just one way to find that out and we can find out right now, plus we can try it with Kyoichi's technique, it may work" said Sho smiling. I was clearly instructed to use the emergency brakes and according to the paper 'NOT PEDAL'. However my fear made me pedal fast, push the emergency brakes and then miraculously let the brakes go and then fly. For a few moments I was flying in the air and then I realised I had left the handlebars and had been catapulted, as the front wheel had hit the low wall securing  the corner, I literally swimmed in the air, throwing  my arms and legs and then I landed on the opposite side of the walls. I was immediately rescued, Sho and Kakeru picked me up while Makoto picked up the bike.

" Found the result " said Kakeru.

" First try, Kakeru. Give him one more chance to overcome his fear" replied Sho.

I was feeling guilty as it was my fault, my weakness and foolishness was the reason my own brother was insulted and now Sho had to face his best friend's anger. Makoto, however, was looking elsewhere towards the board, there like a blood hungry tyrant stood Gabu Samajima, beside him stood a man slightly taller than him, cool as a cucumber, Taiga Samajima. The four kings were not there, I guess Gabu had decided to be in peace. There was a smile on his face, but Taiga was emotionless, he was totally against this race. Taiga Samajima, Second-in-command of team Shark's Tooth was a fair player, he believed in races with equal chances of winning. I had always liked Taiga and considered him like my brother.

"Hey, Siblings" boomed out Sho breaking the silence. " What's up"

" Oh...uh...nothing" replied Makoto and said the same thing little later, turning my eyes from the Samajima brothers. Kakeru noticed this he looked at the brothers too and gave me a sympathizing look.

" Then back to the training" said Sho.

" Yup..certainly" I replied.

While my training, the Samajima younger brother was hardly interested in me, he continued focusing at the track, while Taiga looked like he was concerned when I fell numerous times. I had conquered my fear, I had neither let go of the handlebars nor the brakes. However when it was a sharp hairpin curve I put my leg down after the entire slide, Kakeru stated it was my fear, which I would overcome after a few more drifts. Dangiole was a move I consistently failed in, Makoto said purposely, Sho said fearfully and Kakeru said the technique was for my age but not for me. I didn't know which one was true maybe I had phobia like I can't do it so I didn't, maybe I was afraid, maybe the technique was too advanced for me or maybe all together. The day ended with a huge achievement as I was able to do the drift. None of the visitors were still there, not the Samajima brothers nor my brother. Home became heaven, food and water elixir and antiseptics were like acid to me. However brother was seen near the board when Sho practiced the Jagnite turn. I didn't get what interested him so much, either way I had always a problem with sleeping however those few training camp nights I just couldn't stay awake.