HWA Message Board: A Glimpse into the Past, Part 1

UT Southwestern Medical Center
ICU Unit, Room 5
24 hours after Fatality

Sean was fading in and out of consciousness. He’d suffered heavy blood loss following the horrific injuries he’d sustained in the aftermath of his match with Red Dragon at Fatality. Flashing lights flickered above his head, although he couldn’t be sure what they were from. Were they from the arena? An ambulance? Something else?

Voices could be heard, but again Sean couldn’t pinpoint them. Michelle? Uncle Butch? Sensei? Azami? Azami….it was her the whole time? How could he have not noticed?

He struggled to breath, the intubation tube still lodged in his throat. Then he noticed the strands of fair blonde hair then cascaded in front of him, shaping the frame of a beautiful face followed by an equally beautiful voice.

Sean…. Sean… please God, shine your light on him and help him through….

Michelle's voice drifted off as if it were being carried off by a gust of wind and Sean’s mind dissolved into unconsciousness. Suddenly, it was 2002 again and Sean was five years-old, living in the classic two-bedroom council house in a small cul-de-sac street in Dunfermline, Scotland. Decades before the Sky Assassin was even a morsel of a thought. Ten years before Sean’s life changed forever. Back then, he was just a little boy who loved building Lego, playing soccer and watching Pokémon.

Sean remembered the doorbell ringing and running to answer it, just about tall enough to grab the door handle. And there he stood in front of him. He’d never met a man like him before. He had dark hair and strong eyes that didn’t crinkle when he smiled but there was a kindness behind them too. He looked serious, like he knew lots of important things. The man double-took, expecting to see someone more his height greet him and then looked down at me with a small half-smile.

(Stranger): Ah, kon'nichiwa, little one. Is your uncle home?

Sean remembered not being able to get the words out. His mouth was agape, transfixed, captivated by this stranger’s presence. His voice carried a weight that caused a physical reaction in him; like he should be bowing to him. He couldn’t help but lower his head before a light laugh could be heard.

(Stranger): You are a polite, young man, little one but…

He put his hand on Sean’s shoulder and he looked up to him.

(Stranger):…when you bow to someone, always look them in the eye.

(Sean): Y-yes, sir!

(Stranger): You must be Sean-kun, am I right?

(Sean): Y-yes, sir!

He bowed back to Sean, following the advice he’d just given him, not breaking eye contact.

(Stranger): Pleased to meet you, Sean-kun. My name is-

(Butch): Matthew!

Butch Parker’s booming voice caught Sean off guard as he materialized behind him, placing a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. He bowed his head towards the mysterious stranger in the doorway. But he didn’t look him in the eye like he told Sean.

(Sean): Uncle Butch! You’re supposed to look someone in the eye when you bow to them!

Uncle Butch’s face was awash with surprise, his gaze going from Sean to the man he called Matthew.

(Butch): Imparting wisdom already, I see?

(Stranger): Your boy has a kind heart, a pure soul, Butch-san. He has wisdom beyond his years already.

Uncle Butch rubbed Sean’s shoulder affectionately. But just as he opened his mouth to speak again, Sean’s attention was drawn downward by a tug on his sleeve. Standing beside the man named Matthew was a little girl, about Sean’s age, with jet-black hair tied into neat pigtails and bright blue eyes. She was holding a small, colorful paper crane in her hands, her big, curious eyes mirroring the same mixture of excitement and nervousness Sean had felt.

(Butch): And who’s this?

Uncle Butch’s his tone softened as he noticed the girl.

(Butch): This can’t be little Azami who I’ve heard so much about?

The man named Matthew smiled warmly.

(Matthew): Hai. This is Azami. She's the same age as your nephew. Say hello to Sean-kun, Azami.

(Azami): Hello…

The girl was very shy, her voice barely registering above a whisper. She glanced at Sean, then at the paper crane she held, her fingers fidgeting with it. Sean felt his cheeks flush.

(Sean): Hi...

(Butch): Sean, this is my good friend, Kenji Kiriyama. He’s come all the way from America to stay with us for a few days.

(Matthew): You can call me Matthew for now, Sean-kun. Japanese names are a mouthful at the best of times.

Sean nodded his head excitedly. He was in awe of this man. His posture, his voice, his body language. Like one of those really intimidating teachers but with a kindness about him.

Butch beckoned them both inside, taking their luggage.

(Butch): You’re just in time for dinner, are you guys hungry? We have cheeseburgers at Sean’s request.

Butch then crouched down to meet Azami’s eyeline.

(Butch): Do you like cheeseburgers, Azami-chan?

She looked like she didn’t know how to answer, clinging to the mysterious stranger’s leg like her life depended on it. He then said something in a weird way that I’d never heard before. Maybe it was Japanese. She looked up at him and back to Uncle Butch.

(Azami): Y-yes, please. Thank you, Butch-san.

Butch just smiled and gave her a wink.

(Butch): Come on in, make yourself comfortable.

(Matthew): Arigatou, Butch-san.

(Butch): Sean, why don’t you show Azami your room?

Sean found himself blinking up at his uncle, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. He’d never had a girl in his room before. He wasn’t sure what to do or what to say, but Uncle Butch’s gentle nudge reassured him.

(Sean): C’mon, I’ll show you my toys.

Sean’s voice was timid as he tried his best to sound confident. Azami looked up at her father, who gave her an encouraging nod, then back at me. She clutched the hem of her dress, hesitating for a moment before nodding and whispering.

(Azami): O-okay.

Sean led her down the hallway to his room, glancing back to make sure she was still following. He could hear the grown-ups talking quietly in the living room as he opened the door to his small space, filled with Lego blocks, action figures, and a few half-finished models on shelves.

(Sean): This is my room.

Azami peeked inside, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Sean’s cluttered yet cozy space. He felt a strange flutter in his chest, watching her look around. He’d never felt like this before. His heart was beating faster, and his palms were suddenly sweaty.

(Azami): I-I like your toys.

Her voice was still quiet. She walked over to Sean’s bed where his stuffed Pikachu sat, slightly lopsided. She picked it up carefully, her small hands gently smoothing its fur.

(Sean): Thanks…. Do you like Pokémon?

Azami nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.

(Azami): Yes. Pikachu is my favorite.

Sean couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a bit more at ease.

Me too! I have a lot of Pokémon cards, but I’m not allowed to take them to school. Uncle Butch says I’ll lose them or they’ll get stolen.

Azami’s smile faded a little, and she looked down at the Pikachu in her hands.

(Azami): Butch… is he not your chichi?

Sean looked momentarily confused.

(Sean): Chichi?

(Azami): Your papa?

Sean shook his head.

(Sean): No, he’s my uncle. My dad went to heaven when I was a baby.

(Azami): Oh…

Azami’s voice was soft, and she looked at Sean with big, beautiful understanding eyes.

(Azami): My okasaan… my mother, she is in heaven too.

Sean didn’t know what to say. He’d never talked to anyone else who had lost a parent. They both stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, the room suddenly feeling very quiet.

(Sean): I’m sorry about your mum.

Azami nodded, her eyes dropping to the floor.

(Azami): I’m sorry about your dad too.

They stood in silence for a while, neither of them knowing what to say next. The shyness that had lingered between them before had softened into something different…. something more like understanding.

(Sean): You can play with my toys if you want. I have a lot of Lego. We can build something together.

Azami looked up at him, her face lighting up just a bit.

(Azami): Okay.

They spent the next hour sitting on the floor, surrounded by Lego bricks, quietly building a small castle. They didn’t talk much, but it felt okay. Every once in a while, their hands would brush against each other as they reached for the same piece, and Sean would feel that strange flutter in his chest again. But it wasn’t a bad feeling. It was… nice.

At some point, Azami found one of Sean’s old toy cars, and they took turns rolling it back and forth between them. Her shyness faded as she giggled whenever the car veered off course or flipped over. Sean liked hearing her laugh. It made him feel warm inside, like he was doing something right. After a while, Uncle Butch called them for dinner. As they got up to leave, Azami handed Sean the toy car they’d been playing with.

(Azami): Thank you, Sean-kun.

Sean noticed she’d used the word her father had used to address him earlier…. Kun…. It felt special, like a little secret just between them.

(Sean): You’re welcome, Azami-chan.

She smiled at him, a real smile this time, and Sean’s heart did that weird fluttering thing again. As they walked back to the dining room together, Sean couldn’t help but feel that something had changed. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew that this wasn’t just an ordinary evening anymore. And somehow, that made him really happy. He remembered his legs swinging under his chair in the dining room. He remembered looking up at the grown-ups around him. Uncle Butch, chowing down on his cheeseburger, meanwhile Aunt Diana was committing the ultimate culinary sin by using a knife and fork to eat hers. Across from him sat Matthew, and beside him, Azami, who was nibbling on her food quietly. He remembered his eyes, wide and curious, drifting between the four of them. This wasn’t any ordinary dinner after all. They had special guests, and one of them was awesome! The other…well, she was a beautiful enigma.

He remembered thinking he might be a ninja and how cool would that be if he could tell his friends he’d met a real-life ninja! Or one of those cool samurai he’d seen on TV with the really cool swords. Of course, five year-old boys have no filter. They have thoughts in their heads and they just come out. Like verbal diarrhea.

(Sean): Are you a ninja?!

Uncle Butch and Aunt Diana both grew wide-eyed, looking quickly at each other, their heads sharply turning towards Sean. Uncle Butch leaned in and pointed at him, speaking in a hushed, angry tone.

(Butch): Sean! Don’t be disrespectful!

He looked over to his friend, raising an apologetic hand.

(Butch): Matthew, I’m so sorry!

But he didn’t seem mad at all, waving away Butch’s apology in a dismissing manner.

(Matthew): Not at all, Butch-San.

He turned and looked at Sean thoughtfully. His face was deadpan and Sean remembered feeling like his stomach was going to fall out of his arse. The man leaned in towards him, but in a less scary manner.

(Matthew): No, Sean-kun, I’m not a ninja.

His voice was calm and steady.

(Matthew): But I am a man who lives by a code and I try my best to do right by that every single day.

Sean didn’t really know what that meant, but it sounded important. His face screwed up in confusion.

But you’re from Japan? That’s where ninjas come from!”

Matthew nodded with an amused smile.

(Matthew): Yes, I am from Japan. Ninjas and samurai are part of our history, but they lived a long time ago. They were people who mastered many skills, had great discipline and protected their homes, their families and their land. Do you understand?

Sean remembered nodding seriously, even though he didn’t fully get it. It would have been so cool if Matthew was a ninja. He watched as Aunt Diana put more mashed potatoes on his plate. Sean liked mashed potatoes a lot but he still couldn’t understand why they were having them with cheeseburgers. All he could think about was ninjas and if the man sitting beside him really was one and he couldn’t tell him.

(Sean): Do you know any cool ninja stuff? Do you know karate? Ooh! Do you have a sword?!

(Butch): Sean! That’s enough! One more word and you’re grounded!

All the excitement inside Sean immediately drained away, like a popped balloon. He lowered his head, feeling like a puppy who had just been reprimanded for peeing on the floor. He went back to eating his dinner, cradling his chin with one of his hands, subdued. Suddenly his cheeseburger and mashed potatoes weren't so enjoyable.

It was then he felt a subtle nudge on his arm. He looked up to see Azami looking at him, her face softening into a small smile. She didn’t say anything, but she held out the paper crane she’d been holding earlier.

(Azami): For you.

She placed the paper crane gently beside Sean’s plate and he looked at it then at her, surprised. Before he could say anything, Matthew spoke up, drawing his attention back to him. Sean looked up to see Matthew looking at him, his eyes deep and thoughtful and he said to him quietly.

(Matthew): I’ll let you in on a secret, Sean-kun... I do know karate. But do you know what I learned years before my teacher taught me everything he knew?

Sean instantly perked up, his attention recaptured. He shifted forward, literally on the edge of his seat, his mouth filled with half-chewed cheeseburger and mashed potatoes as he hung on the man’s every word. He gestured to the paper crane Azami had just given Sean.

(Matthew): I know how to fold paper into shapes. It’s called origami. It teaches patience and to keep a cool head, to follow instructions and to create incredible things. Would you like to learn?

Sean’s face instantly lit up.

(Sean): Yes, please!

He then pleadingly looked over at Butch, widening his little green eyes as much as he could. Butch didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes drifting between Matthew and Diana. He then rolled his eyes exaggeratingly, his face relaxing into a small smile.

(Butch): Finish your dinner first, mister.

In all his years, Sean couldn’t remember ever eating a cheeseburger so fast. He remembered after dinner, Matthew showed him how to make a paper crane. He watched, trying his best to copy the folding movements he was doing with his own little hands. Azami, who had been sitting quietly beside him, joined in as well, her small fingers moving deftly with the paper as if she’d done it a hundred times before.

Sean remembered getting frustrated at not being able to do some of the more intricate steps, but not once did Matthew or Azami show any sign of frustration with him. Instead, he would retrace his steps back; slow them down to make sure Sean could see how he did each one. When they finished, Sean’s construction looked more like a braindead chicken than a graceful crane. But Matthew’s was perfect, majestic. Every fold was meticulous, measured, in line; nothing out of place. Azami’s was almost as good as her father’s, her crane perched neatly beside Sean’s, its wings elegant and sleek.

Sean couldn’t believe that something so amazing could be made out of something as simple as folding paper. Matthew gently handed the crane to him.

(Matthew): Origami reminds us that even the smallest, simplest actions can create something beautiful, Sean-kun.

Sean held the crane carefully, like it was the most precious thing in the world to him.

(Sean): Thank you, Mr. Matthew!.

(Matthew): You’re welcome.

Azami nodded in agreement, her own crane clutched tightly in her hand.

(Azami): We can make more tomorrow, Sean-kun. Chichi is a very good teacher!

(Sean): Can we?! Cool! Will
you teach me karate, Mr Matthew? Does Azami know karate?

Sean’s little green eyes were filled with hope. Matthew looked at him, studying him, as if looking for something.

(Matthew): Azami does know karate, yes. But why do you want to learn martial arts, little one?

(Sean): So I can take care of me and my family! Uncle Butch says bad guys hurt my daddy. He’s not here anymore, he’s in heaven. And I don’t want anything to happen to Uncle Butch or Auntie Di. So if I knew karate, I could protect them from the bad guys!

Sean remembered there being a long moment of silence after that. Matthew was still staring at him. Then it was as if he had found whatever it was he was looking for. His face morphed into a smile. The biggest one Sean had seen from him in the very short time he’d known him. He reached over and put a comforting hand on Sean’s shoulder.

(Matthew): That is a very noble reason, Sean-kun. The desire to want to protect your family is a feeling I know all too well. Martial arts is about balance, about finding your inner peace within the actions and techniques you learn. I’m sure your father would be very proud of you… I will make a deal with you, little one…

He pointed to the origami crane still cradled in Sean’s hands.

(Matthew): Learn to master this. Learn patience, to take your time, to take a step back when things get hard. You show me you can do that… and I’ll do what my teacher did for me…. I’ll teach you everything he taught me.

Sean remembered his stomach filling up with butterflies, ready to burst out at the prospect of learning from him. As he sat at the table, his new paper crane in front of me, he thought about learning karate and being able to protect his family from the bad guys who hurt his dad.

Sean…. Sean….. can you hear me?

The scene in front of Sean’s eyes suddenly vanished, falling apart like a collapsing sandcastle. His vision was blurry but was slowly starting to come into focus. Michelle? Her blonde hair hung over her face, her beautifully angelic voice cutting through the tinned echo that was filling Sean’s head.

(Michelle): Sean? Nurse! He’s awake! Someone! He’s awake!

The scene faded to black.