Digital Souls | Running Away From Love: The Prodigy

Kokutai (Black Belt)

Jason

It was the week before Christmas Eve. I pulled up to my parking spot at Gemu. I noticed Katana's car wasn't around in the spot she normally parks it. Late day, or.. something is wrong.

I grabbed my gym bag and headed to the dojo first thing as usual. I set my bag down before I looked at the clock hanging on the wall. I have an hour to spar before I set my brain for the day. If I don't see that girl walk in to her yoga studio at any point before I leave, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't worry.

Yes, I said her yoga studio.

I couldn't even think straight. Sam prompted me to focus three times. I kept looking at the clock hoping she would pop up before the hour is up.

"Sam, I gotta go!"

"What the fuck, Lew?" His big voice boomed at me. I was kind of afraid of him. He was bigger than me, even taller, heavyset with awesome tattoos on his face from New Zealand, and won't take a single shit from anyone.

He stared at me knowingly in disappointment before his facial expression softened.
"She'll be here, brother. I wouldn't lie to you."

I took one last look across the large window into the yoga room. I took a deep breath.
"Here." Sam said firmly. "Let's just get these last few breezes. Okay?"

I couldn't get her off of my mind and it was my fault. "Alright." I said. I got in my stance. The door swung open like the freakin poltergeist and slammed against the wall and broke the door stopper.

Katana walked straight to Sam handing him her tape for him to wrap around her hands.

"Uhm.. You better sit down, Jason!" Sam prompted. He called me 'Jason' which scared the shit out of me because I know he knows about something and he's serious.

Katana made no eye contact with me the entire time she was getting her hands wrapped.

She knows this is my dojo time and I didn't give a shit. She was on a mission and I intend to let her see that through.

I sat on the bench out of breath and still in a sweat.

"You ready, sister?" Sam asked.

She stared at him expressionless with fire in her eyes and nodded slowly.

"Don't forget to pivot that foot and put your weigh in the front!" Sam said in his firm booming voice.

I watched her beat the shit and kick those mitts in Sams hands.

"Give me the GO, Tana!" Sam Shouted.

"Not.." she punched "..yet!" She punched again.

I took a sip of my water watching in fascination. Something was bothering her and I knew exactly what. Her eyes said everything I needed to know.

I stood up. "Sam!" I shouted.
"Not now, Bra!" He clinched his teeth as Katana struck the focus mitts with full force.

I was amazed at her skill in action and technic. I've never seen it before. But I was worried about her. She had a look in her eyes in focus and I knew if I didn't get in her crossfire, I would never know what was really going on in that pretty little head of hers.

I stood up from the bench. "Katana!" I called.

"I told you Jason, sit down!" He said.

Katana hit the focus mitts a few more times before Sam stopped her. He took a few deep breaths. "Okay.." he looked at me and then flashed his eyes back to Katana. ".. I'm outa this one for now." Sam put the mitts down on the bench next to me.

"No!" Katana said out of breath. "I'll be back." Sam assured.
Katana was focused on him. She never broke eye contact with him and never shifted her eyes once at me.

Sam left the room and Katana stared out until she couldn't see Sam anymore.

I took a few steps closer to her. I know exactly what I'm in for. She was alone now and if I spoke one single word, she's going to go fucking beast on me. I wanted her to. We're in the dojo, why not? I'm gonna get it out of her.

"Tana!" I said firmly.

Her eyes shifted from the door to my eyes. The fire, the rage, the hypnotic state she was in was screaming to get out. What she had just did with Sam was nothing compared to what was bottled up inside her.

I never took my eyes off of her beautiful angry face. She took three steps toward me, and swung. I blocked with my arms. Her fist slammed right into my arm. She swung with her left and blocked with my other arm. I let her throw all the swings in she wanted at me. My face, my body, my soul.

Give it all to me, Bear. I'm sorry.

I saw the tears starting to gloss in her eyes. By that time, I'd already had my tape halfway off of my hands. I gave up. I gripped onto her wrists stopping her. "Stop it, Kuma." I said.
She pulled her wrists away from my hold as she stared at me.

She hooked her ankle around mine with her hands on my shoulders and got me to the mat on my back.

She had an arm across my chest. I wasn't gonna fight back. No fucking way! I'm all hers. Even if I did, she'd kill me with all that she has.

I finally stopped her. I flipped her over and caged her under me. I had a grip on both of her wrists flat above her head against the mat. "STOP IT, BEAR!" I pleaded.

Her eyes shot open and glared at me in tears. She took a few breaths before I let go of her and moved aside. I sat beside her on the mat waiting for her to say something or do something.

She straightened herself and sat up. I wrapped my arms around her. She leaned her head into my chest and sobbed.

She stayed quiet after she cried for a while. I gently grabbed her hands and started to carefully unwrap the tape around her hands.

"Tell me everything, Tana." I said quietly.

She stared at me with disappointment and anger in her eyes, "You stopped." She said softly.

I looked her in her eyes, "I know. I'm sorry, Kuma." I was still unwrapping the tape.

"You almost killed me, Bear." I said softly. I was done getting the tape off of her hands. I massaged her knuckles. She stood up and towered over me on the mat.

Fuck. She's gonna kill me with her bare hands. I thought. What's crazy is, I would let her drag me all the way to the ocean breeze in fifty below weather.

"Don't. Call me. That!" She demanded as she walked out quietly.

I felt like so much shit. Sam came back and unwrapped me. He had a smirk on his face as he was pulling the tape. "What!" I said.

He let out a chuckle, "She loves you, you know that?"
"She almost killed me." I stated.
Sam sat down the bench, "She's amazing though, right?"
I smiled in thought, "Yeah. She is." I looked up at Sam and narrowed my eyes at him with an eyebrow up. "Explain how you two know each other so well."
He smiled and laughed. "You know you're not the only one that gets to have dojo time in here, uso!"

I stared at him in confusion. "Explain."

Sam shook his head, "You know you really gotta pay more attention. Even to yourself. She comes in here once in a while before she leaves work."

I took a drink of my water and set it down back on the bench as I gathered my bag ready.

"Don't try talking to her right now." Sam laughed at me, "You won't win." He continued to laugh, "Maybe just give her some time to calm down. It might take days or even weeks, uso."

"I've stopped talking to her for a long time already."
Sam interrupted and laughed, "Yeah and look what you got yourself into!"
I pursed my lips at him with a smile.
"She's amazing, Sam." I said.

We walked out of the dojo, my thoughts were flooded with guilt of what had just happened. I swear I will never do this again to Katana.