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"Happy Birthday!" were the words that assaulted young Teishoku's ears in loud waves. He was pushed and prodded and thrown into the air in celebration of his 6th birthday. He had enjoyed the party at first, but after being passed around and rubbed by everyone in this district of the league, he was tired and grouchy. He was an acrobat. He loved to be in the air, flipping and jumping were when he was comfortable. In this closed space, it felt like he couldn't breath. He wanted to tell them to stop, but he knew that would only spur them on to do more. He had to just deal with it until most of the beggars had passed out from drink. As he was trying to escaped the roving hands for the 4th time. Someone handed him a bottle. "Drink this", the dirty beggar said. His voice was like that of a hyena's. High pitched and maniacal. The boy took the drink, but he knew what it was, and he knew he was too young to be drinking such things. "Come on birthday boy, its just a little fire whiskey. This is a day of celebration. A little sip wouldn't hurt." Teishoku glanced at the bottle considering. A sip couldn't hurt. He took one, and as he did it, the beggar grabbed the bottle, and held his head. The unknown beggar forced teishoku to down the whole bottle of fire whiskey before he let the child go. Teishoku was pushed coughing and sputtering back into the fray.

People flung him around and tossed him in the air. He felt like throwing up. His throat burned and he wanted nothing more than to lie down. "DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!" came a sudden chant. Even though he was young, he was reknown for his dancing and acrobatics, and so when the crowd formed a circle about him, he felt compelled to dance. As he spun and hopped and rolled around, wiggling his body to the chants, a small boy caught his eye. Teishoku felt odd. He thought it was because there were not a lot of children in the League. Most Beggars give their children up to richer families. But no, that wasn't the odd feeling he was getting. His body was getting warm and tingling. He felt stronger and faster than he usually was. His vision began to blur. He struggled to remember what could have caused this, but he couldn't. He was too ingrained in dance.

Teishoku couldn't see. His vision had blurred and distorted everything. He could see only colors and flashes of motion, and since he couldn't use these images, he ignored them. Now was the time of dance. He began to go through the motions of his fire dance. It was a dance that made him move and jerk and twist like no other dance could. Without fire for him to dance around, the dance was amazing. With the fire, the dance stopped hearts. He began to jump and wobble on his feet. They moved swiftly, unnaturally. In his mind, he pictured hopping off the fire, and flipping over it; swiping it with his slightly closed fists. He knew to the outside world he appeared to be striking the air. "How odd i must seem" He thought, thickly. He brain wasn't functioning right. At some points, he couldn't even tell whether he was standing on his hands or feet. But it didn't matter, the dance must go on.

Teishoku was caught off guard. The child's charge surprised and confused him. He could still barely see straight, and as far as he knew, the dance was all anyone cared about. That this boy would come join him, could only mean that he wanted to help in the dance. But his moves weren't smooth like teishoku's parent's had been, and they weren't wobbly and sporadic like teishoku's. It seemed this kid didn't know how to dance.

"Well", teishoku thought happily, "I guess it couldn't hurt for him to join". He side stepped the child easily, and spun around swiftly. The crowd went crazy. Teishoku was amazed. maybe this kid could dance better than he thought, for the second he and rushed in, the crowd went even wilder, throwing money down around the circle. Teishoku's brain pounded in his head. He forgot what he was doing here. Oh, right, dancing. The child didn't seem to be enjoying the dance. Teishoku figured that perhaps if he danced in front of the child, the kid might follow his lead and dance better. He swayed toward the beggar's son, to the cheering and approval of the crowd

Teishoku was dismayed. The boy he was dancing with, Meitei, if the roar of the crowd was any indication, was still not dancing properly. He was too stiff. When he swung his hands they were balled into tight fists. His elbows were locked and his shoulders taut. The fluid and unpredictable motions Teishoku was performing were more than enough to dodge them and keep the dance going. Teishoku was getting tired, the fire whiskey was making his eyelids heavy and his tongue thick. It was getting harder to breath. His dance however, was just as grand as when it started. people were going wild over Meitei's odd form of dance. It was more like he was simply swinging at Teishoku than dancing. "hmm, maybe he does know how to dance." he thought to himself. struggling to form the words in his mind. Teishoku decided to alter his dance slightly, so that there were more strikes involved. He flung an arm right, lightning speed, but before he could see if the boy had avoided it, teishoku was already spinning in the opposite direction to strike at the legs. "be....careful" Teishoku thought to himself, words becoming a challenge even to think. "must...avoid....accident" Teishoku couldn't think properly, but he knew he couldn't afford to get hit during the dance. If he did, he might pass out.

When Teishoku awoke from his stupor, he the next day, he found himself laying in the same spot he'd been knocked out in. The smells of dirt and piss penetrated his nose and reminded him that there had been a party yesterday. "Why did nobody move me to my cot?" he wondered absently, forgetting that it was far from uncommon for a beggar to fall asleep in the middle of the street. He got up slowly, rubbing his chest and head. More flashes from last night. Something, about a dance, no...not a dance, a fight. Words sailed through his head and dissipated just as quickly "Drunken, Birthday, Fight, Whiskey" but the phrase that stuck was "be shown the way". He was sure one of the higher ranked beggars had said that.

When teishoku had gotten here, he'd found a beggar hierarchy to be a strange. These days it made since. Someone organized them into a league, someone housed them, and someone taught the elite their sacred arts. There was wisdom and honor that only a beggar would understand, and teishoku appreciated it dearly. A beggar run up to the boy. Slowing to catch his breath, he sputtered "Little one, come with me, Elder Genkaku would like to see you." Teishoku reeled at first, the first sounds he'd heard since he'd awoken were labored and loud, and with his throbbing head, it felt as if the man were shouting in his brain. "No more alcohol", the young beggar said as he followed the man.

Teishoku quietly entered a house that exuded peace. The tan coloring and small plants placed here and there instantly soothed his head and made him smile. The words 'Illusions are as real as you make them" hung on a plaque on the wall. Only the elder beggars and people of their importance owned homes. A beggar with a home was hardly a beggar after-all. They did however, hold no jobs, and lived ingrained in beggar society. They did not put themselves above the homeless majority, they are just paid tribute because of their wisdom, devotion to the league, and connections to other villages and empires.

"Its like a whole world right under the Light Lord's nose." He thought to himself. "We know not, how far the Light Lord's knowledge lies, but I hardly believe he would send his army after beggars. Besides, if he did, our numbers are many, and spread wide". Teishoku whirled around to see a large man behind him "Did you just-" Teishoku started "The mind is an interesting thing, is it not?" The man interrupted "Come, your training begins today." The man turned, and swiftly walked away, with Teishoku struggling to keep up with his long strides. The elders all acted strange. Some acted as if they knew the meaning of life, while others acted as if they knew the secrets to take it. However their style, it was always easy to distinguish between regular beggars and their elders.

The man revealed a room, completely empty, save for the small boy sitting in the middle. "You will be learning what it means to be a true beggar. You will learn our true ideals, our philosophies and wisdom, but most importantly, you'll be learning our most coveted secret, fighting style. While you are learning, this will be your brother and classmate. This is my son Meitei. Sit down next to him." Teishoku was overwhelmed, and his head still throbbed. He rushed over to the boy, tripped in his haste, and crashed to the ground." "your head hurts?" The man questioned? Teishoku nodded numbly. The man waved his hand and smiled. Teishoku felt a rush of cool air through his mind, pushing all of the aches and pains out, crushing them so that he could think with crystal clarity. "How did you-" He started again and once again was interrupted. "The mind is an interesting thing, is it not?" Teishoku scowled and sat next to the boy, who as of yet, hadn't moved. "We shall first train your mind, so that you can think clearly and so that you can handle the strain our drinks put on your mind. When you have trained your mind, we will work on your body. After your body, we will work on your spirit." He gestured towards a bottle of wine. Teishoku breathed out a sigh of relief. "So alcohol wasn't gonna be for a while. Thank god" He thought to himself. "Ok, let the training begin"

[[ok ok, i know i wrote a lot, i was just in a writing mood. DONT JUDGE ME :p]]

My name is Teishoku Kobushi. "You are my....brother...my tei". He was getting used to the idea of having a father and brother. "Meitei...My tei." He grinned. "Ok, tei, we will train our minds, bodies, and spirits." He stood up abruptly. "I'm not going to stay a beggar. I have to avenge my parents. There is a dark creature. I believe it to be a rogue dhaphir. It killed them. He is my goal. You say emotion is key in becoming a beggar. I will control my emotions. We are brothers, and maybe we'll be friends, but mark my words, if you hold me back from my goal, I will not hesitate to use your father's kung fu to kill you." He bit this last part out, wishing he hadn't meant it, but knowing he did. "Greatness is a fine goal, and maybe i'll strive for that later, but revenge is all i have right now. I hope you understand".

He didn't bother to wait for a reply. "Of course you don't, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the training." He grinned. "we're gonna learn to fight"

>> 6 years later >>

Nobody had ever questioned their genius. They were a duo of one and a million, and when they graduated at the tender ages of eleven and twelve it was to the surprise of none. Giddy excitement bubbled up within him. "Control your emotions. Know the time and place for everything". His foster father's words surfaced in his mind. He steeled his face, wiping everything from it and becoming an unreadable mask. It was a lesson that seldom a beggar had received, for most beggars were that and nothing more....beggars. The elder in charge of the graduation eyed them wearily. He started with Teishoku. You have demonstrated that you understand what it means to be a real beggar, and for this reason, you are not only beggar in status, but you are now a Beggar in title. Carry the name with pride and honor." He paused...staring at the young boy as if something was amiss. "In you I sense arrogance and anger. This is dangerous. It has fueled your fighting technique and in that, is your forte, however you must learn to control your anger. An angry beggar is a hasty beggar. A hasty beggar is a hungry beggar. A hungry beggar dies quickly. Learn this lesson well." Teishoku received a sash bearing the mark of the League, and a bottle of fire whiskey. "You may choose to face the elder's path if it is your desire. The path consists of 10 challanges. 3 of the mind, 3 of the body, 3 of the spirit, and 1 more that i will tell you after you accept, should you choose to"
His face took on a serious tone. Bear in mind that if you choose to do this and fail, we will shun you from our doors as dishonorable beggars."

Teishoku heart pulsed in his chest. He was sure the elder could hear it. He looked at his little 'brother' for support, but his brother's mind was trained better than his own. His face was a cool mask of nothingness. completely unreadable. Teishoku was on his own. "I will accept your path and become and elder of the beggars". The elder nodded, seemingly to himself. He turned the child's back toward the silent crowd of beggars who were, in teishoku's mind, all but forgotten. He removed teishoku's shirt and painted and elaborate symbol along his back. "This is a task on its own. A combination of the 3 beggar realms. You may not wash this off. If you do, then your mind is not ready for our path. If you sweat it off, then neither is your body. However, if you do manage to lose yourself, or overexert your body, your spirits may save you." The elder showed Teishoku's body to the crowd, and raised his arms high. The crowd explodes in a frenzy Teishoku rushes off the stage to sit with his friends and check out his new sash, tattoo, and bottle. His 'father' was no where to be seen, which rose alarm in the newly appointed beggar. For an elder to miss his sons' graduation was unheard of. He could hear the murmurs from the beggars watching him.

The elder called for silence for it is Meitei's turn..

Teishoku slept soundly that night. The sash he wore meant that any beggars not officially in the league were under him. They would give him a piece of whatever they had. He would never starve.

When he awoke he went in search of his brother. His 'parents' had not yet been seen but again, he wasn't overly worried. The elder had told them that the test would come, none in a particular order, but they would all happen within the city, so they didn't have to worry about searching abroad for the tests. He went in search of his brother. He couldn't yet tell exactly what form the tests were in, but he figure it would be easier to figure them out, and complete them if his brother was there with him. He pushed Meitei. "Get up, we gotta get the day started. I've no idea how long this ink lasts, and I can't see it. It could be a month or a year. Get up!"

Teishoku charged the begger. Going in for a tackle, he was evaded easily, and crashed upon the floor. rubbing his arm, he stood up and called to his younger brother "careful, this one is fast". Teishoku grinned as well. If this beggar would dare attack two drunken masters, his rank could only be that of a master or higher. This wouldn't be a cake walk, but has a good fight ever been easy? He backed away, and watched the beggar, who was eying his little brother, sizing up his stance. This was probably one of the tests. He flicked his nose and took up a drunken begger stance of his own. First, pantomiming a long swig of imaginary alcohol, he loosely cocked his head back, let one arm dangle and with the other hand he pretended to chug. His whole upper body was leaned back. This move was more for show than anything, and only a few beggars used it. It was to demonstrate his lower and upper body strength, as well as get him loose to perform his style.

The stranger observed them both. First, Meitei's cold analytical eyes, then to Teishoku's knuckles, the first two of which were extended slightly on each hand. Teishoku rarely hit with his fists. He didn't have to. He knew how to whip his arms and hands in such a way that a knuckle strike was enough to break a nose or in a couple of cases, a collarbone.

The strange beggar achieved his own stance, shocking Teishoku, for his stance was nothing the young beggar had ever seen before. The stranger bent his knees low to the ground, extended his left foot almost all the way out, raised his hands up wrist first, and looked at the ground. Teishoku was bewildered by the stance for he could see no advantage to it. The man's fingers were all pointed down. Where was his offense? The stranger, still looking down, murmured, "come at me". Teishoku, seeing no reason not to, rushed the man. Teishoku aimed a strike at the man's head, knowing that if the man wasn't looking, couldn't possibly see it coming.

Teishoku awoke 2 seconds later. He was on his back and the strangers feet were returning from what appeared to be some sort of aerial counter. Teishoku grimaced. The pain in his jaw told the story better than his eyes had. The strange beggar had somehow, known were Teishoku was attacking from, had used his low stance to get his hands on the ground quickly. He'd propelled his feet into Teishoku's face with enough force to temporarily knock him out. Teishoku's anger began to bubble. "no...it's not for him. Save your anger for your parent's killer. Use it all for him." Teishoku thought rapidly. He felt his anger subside slowly. "There's no offense to his attacks" Teishoku spoke with obvious annoyance. "I don't know if that make sense but his attacks are all defensive. It's the stance. He can sweep your legs, uppercut, with his hands that low to the ground, he can do what he chooses". He wearily stood up and returned to his stance. This is 'so' not going to be a cake walk