Synopsis: Monday came around and it was time for him to get acquainted within the school grounds.
The clock struck four fifty, the afternoon sun bathed the school building in its warm light. Students were beginning to file in, putting their belongings away in the lockers that were in a separate room before settling themselves. Most of the students had begun to get some stretching in before the class started meanwhile others were either practicing techniques or chatting amongst their fellow peers. While they waited, you were outside giving Piccolo a quick tour around the property.
You showed him the locations of two separate training grounds. The first one you showed to him contained an obstacle course with wooden posts on the ground and a makeshift plywood wall to climb on. Moving on to the next one, it had wooden dummies scattered about. Some of those dummies were stuffed with hay for the younger students. Lastly, you took him to a secluded garden that was a good distance away from the main building.
Standing underneath a large wooden archway and on the inside was a lush and plentiful area filled to the brim with all sorts of flowers from daffodils to daisies and even peonies, there were also a variety of succulents too and in the center was a man-made fountain. Thick shrubs surrounded the area making it a nice little getaway for whomever needs it.
"And you... built all of this?" Piccolo inquired, not bothering to hide the surprise in his baritone.
"Mmm-hm! The fundings from the city helped tremendously and with the help of some close friends it all certainly paid off in the end." You crossed your arms loosely admiring your handiwork with a smile. Piccolo grunted in agreement.
"Will you be joining today's class?"
There was a moment of hesitation, his shoulders stiffen as he looked over to you with a raised brow. "It's best if I don't show myself, I wouldn't want your students to lose focus because of the way I look."
You gave him a sharp look, which took him by surprise. "So what if you look different? I've met countless others who are anthropomorphic, even a couple of hybrids here and there, and you are no different, Piccolo."
Through your eyes, Piccolo was like any other person deserving to live a fruitful life and to envision people that still treat him with such discrimination just because of his otherworldly looks makes your blood boil. Piccolo's appearance was the least of your concern and it upset you that he would still think himself that way.
Your eyes soften with your hands on either side of your hips. "I won't force you to go, and whenever you feel comfortable enough you can just walk right in. For now, you can hang around in the garden."
You sent him a farewell wave before making your way towards the dojo. From the moment you entered through the door, all of the students immediately stopped what they were doing. There were those that had been laying on the floor waiting for your arrival and now that you were here all of them stood up in a flash. They all faced you, greeting you with a bow simultaneously and you bowed in return.
The hours quickly passed, evident by the orange gold that stretched far and wide.
All was going well, your students were following instructions with ease and there haven't been any incidents since Titus' inexcusable behavior. As you were surveying around the dojo you had inadvertently listened in on a group of four teenage girls, all white belts and the new additions to your class, who have been quite vocal about their distaste of your teaching methods saying that it was "too harsh". This is what happens when working with prepubescent teens, it is temperamental and a rebellious phase in their lives since they are still figuring out who they want to be.
You were in their shoes once, being a rebellious child yourself, however, given the circumstances life for you wasn't great. What these teens need is a good influence in their lives that will guide them towards the right path where eventually they will mold into a decent person. Even if you had to put them through hell during your class.
While the group went on about the unfairness of the curriculum, you were stealthily nearing behind until you were right behind them without them even noticing.
"Ugh! This class is so stupid..." A young brunette girl muttered, a terrible mistake.
"This class is stupid, huh?"
In an instant all four teenagers whipped around to see you standing right behind. It was a funny sight to see them sweat under your scrutinizing gaze. The room was eerily quiet, no doubt that your voice has caught the attention of the entire class. When neither of the girls were going to speak you decided to break the silence.
"Lost your tongues already?" Silence. "Let me remind you that this stupid class can save your own damn life, instead, you belittle the art and complain about it! And don't even dare to make up a lame ass excuse that you weren't considering that none of you even noticed me from behind."
With each scolding their heads hung lower, and lower, until their eyes were glued to the floor avoiding your gaze like guilt-written puppies.
"Your parents signed you up to my curriculum to LEARN not to screw around and bitch about everything. Because if there's one thing that I DO NOT tolerate is those that disrespect my master's art, and her master's before them."
You crossed your arms, glaring daggers at the teens and with a low and stern voice you muttered. "Raise your heads."
They raised their heads just enough to meet your angry features.
"Do not take me for a fool. All four of you will be disciplined until you learn how to respect the rules of the school," You leaned dangerously close to their space. "My rules. If you disobey them, well... I'll give you something to complain about."
With that you signaled the entire class to continue and left behind the four girls, who were undoubtedly sulking for the reaping what they couldn't sow.
When the last light disappeared into the edge of the sky it was time for your students to go home. Watching over them like you had always done a handful of times until you were the only one standing by the entrance. You went inside to gather your belongings in the locker rooms and came back to see Piccolo standing in the middle of the dojo.
He walks around the room, silently inspecting the equipment that was meticulously organized. And stopping at a particular weapon mounted on the wall, a large tessen fan intricately decorated with blue and white feathers on its edges, a blue tassel at the end of the handle, and in the middle of its body is a kanji symbol imprinted on the delicate fabric. One that he had trouble deciphering its meaning.
"A beauty isn't she?"
Piccolo looks over you standing beside him, eyes focused on the weapon mounted on the wall. "It was gifted by my sabunim's master and then she gifted it to me when my school officially opened its doors."
"It has quite a history." His eyes went back to the kanji written on the fabric, his eyes crinkling at the edges trying to read it—nothing. Suddenly he gestures at the kanji. "What does this say?"
You glanced over to him, noting how much his brows were knitted together, and then staring back at the weapon with a smile. "雅, means elegant, graceful, and refined."
He immediately thought back of the times that you would practice your techniques whenever he was in a deep meditation. In some instances he would observe you without your knowledge, he hadn't meant to and yet he couldn't stop himself from admiring your skills from afar.
Every technique you performed with the utmost ease and precision—a refinement in developing your style. Every movement you took, with such confidence and trust in your own skin, without making a single misstep— the gracefulness in your steps, it was etched in your blood to a fault. Every strike, every kick that you'd do captured his attention from beginning to end— there was an elegance with everything you did that stood out from anything else.
You are the embodiment of it all.
"It suits it well, don't ya think?" You asked, your eyes never leaving the tessen.
Piccolo guarded features softened for just a moment, "It does."