Chapter 21
Ichiro put on his gloves, and stared questioningly at his father.
- Come here and punch that pear with your fist. - Kenshin commanded.
Ichiro walked over to the pear tree, and struck it with his fist, knocking it around not much.
- No good. - Kenshin said, and hit the punching bag himself, causing it to sway perceptibly to the side. Then he walked over to his son and showed him a boxing stance.
- Here, stand in this position, and make a punch not only with your arm, but with your whole body. First, learn to put your body strength into the punch. Go ahead, try it. - Kenshin taught his son, and stood behind him, directing his movements.
Ichiro tried it a few times and he started to get good at it, so Kenshin ordered him to practice it for half an hour and went to check on Aya.
As soon as Kenshin entered the bedroom, Aya asked: - Where's Ichiro?
- He's practising. Besides, he's forbidden to enter our bedroom without an invitation. - Kenshin replied in a calm tone.
- What? But why? It's our son... Besides, he could have just knocked in case we weren't dressed..." Aya said in an aggrieved tone. Like any mother, she loved her son immensely and felt sorry for him.
- That's out of the question. I'll take care of the children I've raised, and they need discipline above all else. - Kenshin said firmly, unwilling to change his mind.
He walked over to his pregnant wife, sat on the edge of the bed, and stroked her large belly.
- How's our second baby doing, is he still begging to come out? - Kenshin asked with a smile, leaning over to the girl and kissing her sweet cherry lips.
- Mmm, not yet, but I have a feeling she'll ask for it tomorrow. - Aya murmured. Once she'd given birth, she could feel the changes in her body, and she could guess quite accurately when the baby would be born.
After a while, Kenshin "heard" Ichiro's voice in his mind, and after kissing his wife, he left the bedroom, heading for the gym.
- Finished? - Kenshin asked, and after receiving an affirmative answer, he said: - Hit the pear.
Ichiro hit the punching bag, and it swung about the same as Kenshin's punch, though the technique was lame on both feet. Kenshin was a little surprised, but didn't show it. He pulled out his helmet and slightly different boxing gloves, and tossed them to Ichiro.
- Put it on, and go to the tatami. - Ichiro obeyed, and a few minutes later, father and son stood facing each other in gloves and helmets.
- Before you finish your training, you need to consolidate all your knowledge with practical experience, so you and I will spar every night. We don't hit at full strength. No strikes below the belt, understand?
- Yes, Father.
- All right, let's do it!
The next few minutes were a game of one-upsmanship, Kenshin, with the height of his experience and long training, chased his son all over the tatami, landing unexpected blows and dodging Ichiro's very expected and straightforward blows. Kenshin was surprised to note that Ichiro's strength, speed and stamina were a little higher than Kenshin's own, and the young father could only win through experience. Towards the end of their sparring session, Kenshin was a little more tired than Ichiro and still missed a punch to the face. Recoiling, he stopped sparring, and breathing heavily, said:
- Not bad. Not bad at all. You have the physical attributes of a professional athlete. You just need to improve your skills, and I won't be your competition anymore.
- Don't say that, Father. I could never defeat you. - Ichiro was indignant.
- You've already won. You've completely surpassed me in stamina, and now I'm nothing more than a punching bag while you can still fight.
- But my stamina wouldn't help me withstand even ten of your blows if you were intent on winning!
Kenshin smiled, but said nothing. He liked the boy. Ichiro had grown up to be a respectful and obedient son, and Kenshin wanted to stroke the little beard that wasn't there, then fold his hands behind his back, and walk lightly into the clouds like a true wise master. Instead, he laughed, and said:
- Come, help me carry the fish and the hares. We'll take a bath and wash off our fatigue.
Ichiro smiled, and nodded, following his father's lead.
****
The next morning, Ichiro began a six-hour training plan that included warming up, running, push-ups, squats, deadlifts, and punching bags. Kenshin told his son to stretch all the workouts out over the course of the day, but Ichiro was surprisingly slower to tire, and recovered faster. Kenshin noticed a small correlation between his second level Talented Offspring ability, which boosted the children's talent by ten per cent, and Ichiro's roughly ten per cent superiority in speed, strength, and stamina. Kenshin decided not to jump to conclusions, and to observe his next children.
By evening, Kenshin was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his wife's hand, waiting for the contractions that would herald the birth of the second child. It didn't take long, and at seven in the evening, Aya gave birth to her second child, named Keiji.
- God, honey, look at the beautiful babies you're giving me! - Kenshin said with a laugh, carefully handing the baby over.
- You're right! He's so cute! My little Keiji..." Aya murmured, and held him against her chest.
The baby only flapped his eyes in surprise, and did not cry at all, looking at his mother with interest. Aya kissed him on the forehead, and Keiji suddenly cried.
- Shh, Keiji, don't cry, obey your mum. - Kenshin whispered, and gently stroked his second son.
"Ichiro, come here!" - Mentally commanded Kenshin.
Ichiro carefully made his way into the bedroom, feeling uncomfortable, but immediately froze when he saw the small bald lump in his mother's hands.
- Ichiro, this is your little brother, Keiji. - Kenshin declared, and took the little one in his arms. - Here, hold him.
Ichiro was frightened, and refused to pick up such a fragile creature for fear of hurting his little brother, but after a few seconds, gently picked up the bundle.
Keiji stared silently with his blue eyes at his older brother's equally blue eyes, and quacked something unintelligible, then his lips spread into some semblance of a smile.
- Keiji... - Ichiro muttered, and smiled broadly, pleased to meet such a small and defenseless brother.
- Don't be fooled. He'll grow up soon, and he'll surpass you if you don't train harder! - Kenshin said with a laugh, picking up the little boy's bundle and handing it to Aya.
- I'll be glad if little Keiji becomes very strong, because then he'll be able to protect you and mum! - Ichiro said.
- Ha ha ha, that's the right attitude, but don't you dare pass the responsibility on to others! Practice hard, and be an example to all your future brothers! - Kenshin declared, and patted his eldest son on the shoulder.
- Yes, Father! - Ichiro said firmly.
- Now let's go and let mum get some rest. - Kenshin said, and father and son went out the door, letting the girl who had just given birth get some sleep.