On a littered street packed with two story decaying buildings there stands a store with no sign and only a dirty Kanji on the window. If you did not have the address you would have missed it for sure. From the exterior the building it appears to be yet another of those failed businesses that tried to revitalize this area twelve years ago, as you can see it was a failure. Stepping over the homeless vagrant that is lying in the doorway you see an old dilapidated buzzer that appears to have wiring coming out the side. Pressing it just in case, you feel a slight electrical shock, you guess it's working. Within a few minutes you hear the sound of deadbolts unlocking and see someone open the small window in the door to see who it is. The door opens to an older Japanese man about five and a half foot tall. He has what appears to be a limp and one of his eyes is whited over with a cataract. He motions you inside, locking the door behind you.

You walk in to what appears to be a small room that has numerous pictures of another old Japanese man with numerous awards, as well as a bunch of other Kanji on the walls. There are a small handful of rattan and bamboo practice weapons and some sort of bamboo mat in the center of the room. The room is very dark and smells faintly of cherry blossoms. "May I assist you" intones the man seemingly bored. "Classes are Monday and Saturday, but they usually meet at wherever the Shodoshi has planned for that lesson. If you are interested you may leave your name and contact information and I will pass it on to him."

He hands you the back of a Vietnamese take out menu and a pencil. " Here is a brochure concerning the nine forms taught here and there is a website on it where you can purchase all your proper equipment, though most is not necessary until the Shodoshi tells you, I think he has a discount too" he whispers with a snicker.

"Well good luck and I will give him your information. Be careful the streets here are very dangerous." With that he escorts you back out to the stench of vomit and decay that seems to permanently cling to this part of the city.

as you leave though, you have the feeling someone is watching you...

(By Mnemenoi)