LEGEND OF THE MONK: book one

title of your story

                                                        CHAPTER 8

                                                  FACE YOUR ENEMY

     Yotto stood from his bedroll and removed his shirt. It was damp with sweet and he used it to wipe his even more damp forehead. His heart was racing, and every time he closed his eyes he could almost see that scary red faced devil looking back at him. Yotto stepped over to his door and slid it open about a foot. The sun was just about to peek in the horizon and the morning breeze felt good against Yotto's naked torso. Because, it was early and this was the day of the contest,Yotto figured most of the students would still be asleep. After all there were no morning lessons and all the choirs for the day had been pushed back to tomorrow. Yotto grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the bathhouse.

   His long blond hair fell around his shoulder and chest as he headed out of his room, shirtless,with a change of clothes in his hand. As he headed down the walk way there was a few rooms stirring with young monks but no one was outside yet, and Yotto thought he might get the bathhouse to himself. There was a cool crisp in the mountain air this morning and Yotto figured it would be a cool temperature tonight. "good" he thought, I won't have to worry about overheating. Yotto made it to the bathhouse and slide the door open to an empty, drafty room, "good" he thought again. Yotto really didn't want to deal with people right now, and was a little relieved the bathhouse was empty.

Yotto heated his water, poured his bath, and slipped into the steamy tub. He let out a deep sigh as he fully relaxed in the hot water. Yotto knew he wouldn't be alone for long with the other students waking up. So his plan was to wash up quickly and be out before they arrived, but the lure of the steamy water relaxing his tense muscles was too much and the blond monk sat a little longer, until he heard a conversation making its way to the sliding door.

   The voices grew louder until the door slid open. In walked Mitch and Sunny, both boys carring clothes. When the two noticed Yotto, he was already half dressed, his long wet hair sticking to his bare back and chest as he gathered his thing and headed for the door without a word to the others. Mitch was a known friend of Joneeks and Yotto just wanted to avoid any problems before the fight. "Good luck today, Yotto..." Mitch said freezing Yotto in his tracks, "...you'll need it." he said with a mocking laugh. Yotto's grip tightened around his wad of clothes. Yotto wanted nothing more then to splatter his nose all over his face, but the blond monk's discipline held him in check. "Maybe you should wish your friend luck..." Yotto said, never taking his eyes off the door, "l'm not him." and Yotto left the bathhouse before anything else could be said.

      Yotto walked back to his room and tossed his laundry in the corner. He quickly put on a shirt,then braided up his long hair. Afterwards, Yotto started for the mess hall, to grab his breakfast and head back to his room. It was common knowledge the day of the fight, fighters could choose to relax and prepare anyway they saw fit. Whether that be relaxing under a shade tree, swimming in the lake, or even spend the time alone, getting their meditation and thoughts on their opponent. On this occasion a fighter could even get his meal delivered to his room, but Yotto didn't trust any of the other students. So he decided to get it himself and take it back to his room.He was very pleased no one gave him any problems getting his breakfast,but it was still early and the mess hall was mostly empty. Yotto still wasted no time in getting his food and making a quick exit.

         After Yotto ate his food he started in a light workout there in his room. Some push-ups,crunches,and even a few katas, just to loosen up the joints. He even used two, one foot pieces of broken broom stick to practice his sai katas, but before long the blond monk grew board and his eyes were heavy from lack of sleep he had gotten the past few days. So stretching out atop his bedroll, Yotto drifted off into a nap,hopping the crazy dreams as of late would take a day off.