Welcome to Gaia! ::

[Enters from Gymnasium, Outdoors]

Benjamin raised an eyebrow at the extensive western influence visible in the design of the building and layout of the court(s). He listened with half an ear to the Headmaster as the old man expounded on all the features, not knowing his audience knew more on the subject then he did...


The gaijin man met Konoe's gaze. "Channeling. It's an unpredictable talent that sometimes manifests among the village's... operatives. While anyone could potentially learn to use their ki, channeling is an inborn talent that seems to follow blood lines. Back home, channelers are quite valuable because they can augment their ki-skills with 'external ki' drawn from the four elements..."

"Aah. Now I understand... so that is why the hidden villages never send any of their potential magi to us for actual training. You onmitsu--" Konoe grinned at the man's reflexive wince. "--simply integrate the mage ability into your trained ki-skills." The headmaster straightened in his chair.

"And now, we come to my reason for your requisition as Mahora faculty. You see, mages (both eastern and western) are generally quite weak at close range, even with martial training. This is because any mage trying to develop martial skill will inevitably try to use strength and speed spells to quicken their progress. While not a bad option, it leaves their close combat ability entirely dependent on their magic. If anything were to disrupt their magic..."

Benjamin's eyes widened as it clicked. "...said mages' skills become useless for anything but evasion and escape. Well, that explains that. As for me...?"

"There have been mages who experimented in combining spells with actual body movements, as well as using their own magic directly in augmentation of their body. This difficult discipline has been entitled 'Body Magic' in the Magic World. I would like to see this very useful discipline taught to the magi students here at Mahora."

"...So why me?"

"Because, Iga onmitsu, your record speaks for you. You have made a name for yourself among your peers for adding elemental-spell effects to your martial arts ability. However, among us mages, you have our respect for your illusionary talent--"

~SLAM~ went Ben's hands on the headmasters desk, his face a mask of fury.

"--and uncanny knack for applying them to otherwise illusion-resistant opponents. Yes?" asked the old man mildly.

By then, Benjamin had nearly mastered his anger. "Listen, jiji..." He deliberately used the disrespectful form of address. "...I know you regularly sweep your office to keep it secure. But that's your idea of secure. Not mine. I'd really, really appreciate it if you not discuss that kind of classified information without first letting me do my own sweep!"

The headmaster sighed. "Very well, if that is what you desire. In the future, if I need to discuss such things with you again, I will have a note sent to you that includes an oblique reference to security. Is that sufficient?"

Benjamin relaxed marginally, and seated himself again. "For now... Later I'll pass you a sheet of simple code-phrases for various emergencies, which 'we' give to clients specifically for the purpose."

He took a deep breath. "So, in summery... You want me teaching basic taijutsu and kayakujutsu to your mage-lings.... and my seishin-teki kyoyo...?"

"Use that to keep them safe. There has been an upsweep of magi enrolled here, and an increase in combat and magic related injuries."

"Very well, Headmaster Konoe. I will do my best..." (As both Iga and Kouga, I will not fail in either.)


"Well, then. I'll let you get your office set up, get the supplies and uniforms sorted. Classes will start tomorrow. Here's the keys."

Benjamin caught them, bowed the headmaster out, and then got to work...

((I know this is very late, but I just realized I never actually included Harris in the mass transport ^_^; ))


It was a day after the first gym class... and Harris had already made a name for himself as Makai no Sensei [Teacher from Hell].

Especially among the meta-human students... Through a clever array of seals and wards spread and hidden both indoors and out, Harris was able to remotely fool the aspiring mages into believing their magics would not work for the duration of each gym class.

Clearwater, Kazehito, Mizumaru, Ka, and Watanabe in 5-B; Marionne, Gotamine, and De’Tilmarade in 3-B; Hakstetteru in 1-B... those had all develop a severe dislike of the tall gaijin. Mainly because he'd pile on extra laps like nobody's business every time he caught someone trying to use magic in his gym class.

Segana, also 5-B, was the only problem: she alone remained unchallenged by the curriculum. Benjamin was seriously beginning to consider that he wasn't the only onmitsu/ninja on campus. But that uncertainty... meant that Segana's rank and skill exceeded his own. (Great. I have to deal with a genius ninja schoolgirl, too.)


Later that day, after classes had concluded, Benjamin was taking a very ornate five shaku katana to the headmaster's office. He was hoping to get a recommendation on where he could get this particular 'trophy' examined and identified...

...When he felt his ki-senses go wild. Light spread across the campus, and when it cleared, Benjamin was gone.

[Exits to Zembudokai]