Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Rebirth 2

   Jon was happy to be teaching his mother's beginner's class.  He enjoyed
those times when she allowed him the opportunity to train others.  He was
surprised, therefore, when he unlocked the door and found someone already
waiting on the mat for him.  Especially considering that he had to disable
the alarm.

   "How did you get in here?" Jon asked with an edge to his voice.  Sending
his thoughts out, he tried to find out as much about this stranger as
possible.  He was shocked when he found out that he was being blocked from
this person's mind.

   As he turned around, Jon saw that he was fully clothed in Kendo armor,
complete with helmet to disguise his face.  Grabbing his bokken, the wooden
sword most artists used to practice against a live foe, the stranger stood
and pointed.

   Looking over, Jon saw that his equipment had been placed against the
wall for him.  With a sigh, Jon stripped of his street clothes and dressed
in his uniform and armor.  Picking up his bokken, he stepped to the center
of the floor and bowed to the stranger, as his mother had taught him.

   The stranger returned the bow and slid into a relaxed stance.

   Jon attacked and advanced.  The stranger accepted the force of the blow
and using their weapons, forced Jon back.  Jon continued to use a variety
of attack to try to hit the stranger only be rebuffed at every turn.  With
a casual ease, the stranger continued to hold his ground.  He blocked every
attack Jon sent his way.

   Falling back, Jon thought about every attack he had sent.  Sliding back,
he fell into a defensive crouch.  The stranger waited and Jon focused his
mind to stillness.  Once he was calm, his stance relaxed and his mind was
prepared for anything the stranger might do.

   Once he was prepared, the stranger bowed to Jon and went on the attack.
Jon fell back, then back again, and again.  He was surprised.  No one was
this quick.  He gasped when this large stranger began moving quicker.  A
reflexive block caused him to get hit twice and still the stranger was
getting quicker.

   Genny walked into the dojo with the supplies from her shopping trip. 
She recognized her son's uniform and knew he was fighting.  The shock was
that he was being beaten.  Dropping her bags, she jumped forward to help
her son.  For some reason, she knew that he was in trouble.

   Jon felt his mother enter the dojo, so she knew his metal skills were
still intact.  With a two pronged attack, Jon and his mother began to
attack the stranger.  Shocking them both, the stranger timed his defense.
As Jon thrust hard to drive him back into his mother's attack, the stranger
stepped forward.  Using his bokken, he slid Jon's sword just outside his
ribs and grabbed the young man's wrist and pulled him off balance. 
Continuing his motion, the stranger rolled forward avoiding Genny's circle
kick as the stranger slid smoothly to his feet.

   Slipping sideways, Genny grabbed a pair of tonfa off the wall.  In
response, the stranger dropped his sword and fell into an empty handed
stance.  Jon and Genny attacked.  The stranger avoided every attack with
surprising ease.  Genny was also surprised by the stranger's speed.  Using
his speed and agility, he slipped every attack and pushed each in the
other's way.

   Using her weapons to perform a high and low sweep simultaneously, Genny
was annoyed when the stranger slid by her and began using her body to fight
her son.  For some reason, his grip kept her from escaping, but was light
enough that he wasn't hurting her.

   "Stop," Genny laughed after her son's sixth ineffectual attack. 
Dropping her weapons, Genny spun in the stranger's arms and grabbed at his
helmet.

   Shocked by his mother's laughter, Jon stopped his attack.  Breathing
hard, he watched as his mother tried to push their assailant's helmet off
his head.  Laughing, the stranger released her and pulled the helmet off.

   Grabbing his breastplate, Genny squealed in delight and pulled him down
to give him a resounding kiss.

   Jon gasped at his mother's antics.  He had never seen her kiss anyone
and thought she had been moping for his father.  "Uhm, Mom," Jon said as
her leg slid around the stranger's thighs.

   "We're not finished," Genny said as she punched the stranger in the
ribs.

   "Jon," Genny continued as she turned to look at her son.  "I'd like to
introduce you to your father."

   "It's a very great honor to finally meet you," the stranger said to the
young man.

   Jon just gasped as he looked into the piercing blue eyes of the man his
mother said was his father.

   "You're Jon Hawk," Jon gasped.

   "Yes," he agreed.  "I am Jon Hawk.  And you are my son, Jon Michael
Hawk."

   Jon gasped as his father gave him all his pertinent information.  His
birth date, when he rode his first bike, when he broke his first tooth, he
seemed to know everything.  When his father started going over the books
Jon liked, Jon held up a hand to stop him.

   "You've been watching me," Jon said after a moment.

   "I've been watching all of you," his father agreed with a smile.

   Suddenly, pictures began playing through Jon's head.  A picture of this
man at the library handing him a book.  A picture of this man catching him
before Jon accidently rode into the street on his skateboard.  A picture of
him removing the cuff of Jon's pants from his bicycle chain.  A picture of
him at the bank granting his aunt and his mother loans so they could follow
their dreams.

   "I've been waiting a long time for you," Jon nodded at his son.

   "Honey?" Genny said as she looked up at the tall man.

   "It will be his choice," Jon said as he smiled down at her.  "Have no
fear."

   "What choice?" the young man asked.

   "I would like you to join me," his father shrugged.  "I would like you
to willingly choose to be a guardian of this planet."

   "What does that entail?" Jon asked after a moment.

   "I will give you some of the powers that were given to me," his father
smiled.  "You will be stuck at this age forever.  Some of our powers are
the same.  You are immune to disease.  You heal very quickly.  Your mental
acuity is better than most.  You will still need to learn things, but, you
will understand them faster.  Certain elements can be manipulated.  Once
you have your powers, you will be given control over an element."

   "And the sex?" Jon replied after a moment.

   "You will always be able to please your mate," his father laughed. 
"More, you will be able to decide who to give your seed.  Choose to make
your mate pregnant or not."

   "What's the downside?" Jon asked his father.

   "You will never grow old," his father repeated.  "You will love those
who will die."

   "And you think this is necessary?"

   "Yes," his father said simply.

   "Mom?" Jon said after a moment and saw tears rolling down her cheeks.

   "You must live to fulfill your destiny," Genny said as she fiercely
wiped the tears from her face.  "But, I'm still your mother.  Don't ever
forget us."

   Jon stepped forward and gave a fierce hug to his mother as tears fell
from both their faces and sadness enveloped their hearts.

   "I am ready," Jon said as he stepped back from his mother.

   "Sit and clear your mind," his father said gently.

   Jon did as his father ordered.  After a moment, his mind began to relax
and he felt his body following as he began the meditation techniques that
his mother had taught him.  Soon, he felt a slight pressure on his chest
and a gentle touch on his head.

   Genny watched as soft blue light enveloped both men.  Unsure how long
this would take she too took a meditative stance.  As she relaxed herself,
she felt everything flow from her.  All thoughts of worry, of distress, and
fear, left her.  Time seemed to stop as she felt the blue light warm her
and refresh her.  It took her a moment to realize Jon had his fingertips
touching her forehead.

   Gasping, Jon Hawk fell to his knees as the energy left him.  As he
gathered himself, Jon sent his thoughts out.  "I greet you, Ka, Fire of the
Universe," Jon smiled at his son.  "I greet you, Mizu, Water of Life."

   "Both of us," Ka replied with his thoughts.

   "Of course," Jon smiled.  "It was always her.  I just had to wait for
you."

   Laughing, Mizu jumped in his arms and kissed him.  "You did want to be
with me!"

   "With all my heart," Jon said as he hugged her to him tight.  "But, I
needed him to grow up normally.  To understand what it meant to care for
others.  You did very well raising our son."

   "How different are we?" Ka asked his father.  "And, why do I feel like
my name is actually `Ka' now?"

   "Your body and mind are becoming attuned with the power I gave you," Jon
smiled at his son.  "I am the caretaker, as was the one who preceded me."

   "And, our differences?" he repeated.

   "Spar with me," Jon said with a smile.

   As his mother stepped off the tatami mats, father and son slid into a
fighting stance.  Jon immediately attacked his son.  Ka began to fall back
at his father's attack, and continued to fall back as Jon pressed the
attack.  Soon, though, he began to see the attacks as Jon sent them.  As
Jon continued to attack, Ka began to see how he prepared for each attack.
Why each movement was important for the following movements.  As soon as he
saw this, he began to send out his own attacks which Jon slapped aside with
ease to continue his own attacks.

   Mary watched and she too felt her knowledge expanding as the men in her
life continued to spar.  She understood what each was doing.  She could
feel their anticipation at each attack and defense.  She was not afraid for
either man.  She could feel their love, one for the other.  More, she could
feel the love and concern each had for her.  Being more experienced than
her son, she began to pick out individual moves quicker than he.  Soon, she
saw the opportunities that he missed.  Though she knew that Jon would be a
difficult challenge, she thought she might do better than her son.

   "Now," Jon smiled as he released his mental block on his son.  "Attack
me know."

   Ka laughed as he realized that his father was more powerful than he.  He
went on the attack and fell as Jon sent a mental attack at him.  The two
men fought, with Mizu watching, forward and back.  It took Ka some time to
be able to block his mind from Jon's attack.  Once he blocked the initial
mental attack, Jon sent another.  Soon, he began to feel the pressure as
Jon began to prepare every mental attack.

   "Better," Jon laughed when his son became accustomed to the dual
attacks. "Now, block my mental probes and use your own mind to attack."

   Remembering what his father had done, Ka emulated the attacks.  It took
him only a little while before he realized that he was better with things
dealing with fire than with anything else.  Once he understood this, he
tried using that strength to overcome Jon.

   "Now, combine them," Jon ordered.

   Suddenly, he saw what Jon meant.  His mind worked on many different
levels.  This battle was only about showing him those levels.  This was
only one fight.  His mind was still working on a variety of other things so
minute that he wasn't even aware of them until he focused on them
individually.  Once he understood this, he laughed and pressed his attack.
It was still a surprise that Jon brushed aside each attack with such ease,
but he knew that each attack would be devastating to anyone else.

   Stopping mid-attack, Ka laughed at his father.  "You see this all the
time?"

   "And so much more," Jon agreed.  "When the time comes that we find
others, I will lose more power as I pass on what should be theirs.

   "Go take a shower," Jon told his son.  "Your present is just outside the
back door."

   "You're looking forward to getting reacquainted with my mother," Ka sent
the message to his father and laughed when he realized that he had just
projected the thought rather than sending a message.  He knew it for fact
as his mother laughed.

   "Go," his father laughingly sent the reply and Ka saw how to
individualize a message by his actions.

   Jon went to the shower and enjoyed everything.  He could feel the joy
and hope emanating from the dojo and knew that his mother and father were
enjoying themselves.  Surprisingly, when he left his mother's office, he
saw that they were only kissing.  He would have to learn to differentiate
better, he realized.  Then a different thought hit him.  Every touch, every
hug, every kiss was their foreplay.  The simple act of being together was
heightening their arousal.  This might not be sex, but, for a real couple,
these times were the times that made the sex worthwhile.  Ka was delighted
to see the Kawasaki sitting outside waiting on him.

   With no real plans, he wanted stay away from his home to giving his
mother time with his father he decided to go to his Aunt's home.  He was
not surprised to a number of vehicles in his Aunt's driveway.  As he pulled
to a stop, his Aunt came out in a robe.

   "Hello," Mary smiled to her nephew.  "Were we expecting you today?"

   "No," Ka said agreeably.  "But, I'm glad you have company.  My father is
entertaining my mother and I thought they deserved the time alone."

   "He came back," Mary gasped.  "Genny always said he would.  Come, I will
make sure that you are taken care of until you are ready to rest.  "Are you
hungry?"

   "Yes," he replied as he stepped forward to give his aunt a hug.  "Thank
you.  I knew this was the right place to go."

   "You smell like your father," Mary said as she pushed her nephew to
arms' length to look him in the over.  "You really are his son."

   "I love you too, Aunt Mary," he smiled at her.  "Oh, please, introduce
me as `Ka.' It will forego the confusion of having two `Jons' around."

   "That means something to you," Mary said with a smile.  "You needn't lie
to me, nor do you have to tell me until you are ready.  I trust you and
your mother to let me know what is going on."

   Ka smiled and followed his aunt into the house.  Bob was surprised when
he saw his nephew.  More surprised when he realized that he was still
wearing his leather chaps.

   "Honey?" Bob asked with a questioning smile.

   "Don't worry," Mary smiled.  "Go downstairs and send up Elizabeth and
Rachel.

   "They will make you something to eat," Mary told her nephew.  "Take them
to the guest room when you are ready and they will stay with you."

   "Thank you," Ka laughed.  "That is much appreciated."

   "Mistress?" a pert blond said as she reached the top of the stairs.

   "Come in, Rachel," Mary said.  "Good," she continued as a lush brunette
joined Rachel.  "Elizabeth, I would like you two to make something for my
nephew to eat.  Afterwards, I would like you to take him to the guest
room."

   "Yes, Mistress," both women replied and snuck a peek at the young man
openly appraising them.

   "You are both very beautiful," Jon said stepping forward.  "Thank you
for agreeing to be with me."

   Unsure of his status, both women gave him a slight bow.

   Smiling, Ka sat went to the dining room to sit and wait on his food. 
The ladies quickly had a plate of turkey sandwiches, chips, and milk ready
for him.  Standing and awaiting his orders, they smiled when he invited
them to join him as he ate.

   Ka was shocked as he realized the depth of his hunger.  He ate three
sandwiches before slowing and still took a fourth.  As they ate, the women
were surprised to feel their arousal rising.  He was cute, but, they hadn't
expected to feel so drawn to him.

   Ka could smell their state of arousal.  Could smell the juices leaking
increasingly from their pussies.  He smiled as he nibbled on some chips,
wondering how long it would take for their arousal to peak before they
decided to try something.  Finishing the last of his milk, he looked at
each woman.

   "Clean this up, please," he said gently.  "I will meet you in the guest
room."

   Once inside the guest room, he went to the restroom and brushed his
teeth, happy that his Aunt always kept spares here in case he or his mom
stopped by for the night.  Stepping back into the bedroom, he stripped and
folded his clothes and placed them on a chair.  The girls slipped into the
room as he was sliding into bed.

   "I hope you won't be disappointed," Ka said as he waved them into bed.
"I'd rather sleep now and play later."

   Pulling Elizabeth close to him, Ka was not surprised when Rachel pulled
herself tight into his back.

   "We will warm you, Young Master," Rachel whispered in his ear.  "You may
use us when and as you will."

   Elizabeth took one of his hands and put it upon her breast, willing more
contact with his strong body.

   Within moments, Ka's breathing slowed and he was sleeping peacefully. 
Shortly thereafter, the two women joined him in slumber.

   Genny/Mizu smiled as Jon took her into her home.  Moaned when he took
her in the entryway, the living room, the dining room, and their bedroom.
It felt more amazing than the first time he made love to her.  Her
quickening mind realized that her body was changing and becoming more
resilient.  She would never again feel like the lesser half of their union.

   Tilting her face up to look into her eyes, Jon said very somberly, "You
were never less than I." He stopped and held her there to show her the
conviction of his words.  As her features softened in love and desire, he
once more made love to her.  A slow languorous love that held all the
passion and promise of the times they would share in the years ahead.

   Genny was surprised when she woke to find herself alone.  She chuckled
when she smelled food cooking.  Trust a man to bribe his way into your good
graces.

   "Hello, Love," Jon said as she entered the kitchen.  "I thought you
might be hungry when you got up.  I fixed us a small snack and decided to
start dinner."

   "Didn't you sleep at all?" Mizu asked.

   "For a little while," Jon said as he took her into his arms.  "Tomorrow,
I would like to take you and Ka to the cave.  There are some things there
you need to learn."

   "Speaking of that," Mizu said as she grabbed some of the cut fruit Jon
had laid out as a snack.  "Why did you tell me those bones in the cave were
yours?"

   "Yeah," Jon said with an uncomfortable shrug.

   "How? . . ."

   "I can show you, if you like," Jon said after a moment.  "Finish your
fruit then we will work on the other."

   Looking up, expectantly, Mizu finished her fruit.

   "All right," Jon sighed.  "Sit down.  You're not going to like this and
you'll be more comfortable sitting down."

   Taking a moment, Jon lowered his mental defenses and asked Mizu to look
into his mind.  She gasped as she saw what had happened.  Upon accepting
this duty, he had to allow a piece of those others inside him.  The pain
had been excruciating as his body was changed to allow him to survive this.


   "How did you survive?" she asked then stopped.  Reaching up, she was
surprised at the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

   "I was seventeen when I first killed a person," Jon said as he cupped
her cheek gently.  "My father worked with the diplomatic services.  We had
been in China, then Japan before World War 2.  The ship to take us home was
attacked.  A servant and I were blown overboard and ended up in the
Philippines.  We crossed the breadth of the land and finally made it to
General McArthur's headquarters.  It was there that I learned that my
parents were killed off the coast of New Zealand.  My servant's sister had
been injured in the attack.  She lost her hand.  When I came of age, I
joined the army.  I ended up in Syria with the joint task force.  I found
the cave when the land around me was blown up.  I accepted the pain in
order to protect those I love.

   "I was not very large as a child," Jon smiled.  "My mother wanted me to
learn to get along in any society we got posted in.  I learned to play with
the children in France, England, China, and Japan.  In China, I got beat up
a few times.  I found someone there who agreed to show me how to fight.  In
return, I had to accept his two daughters as my servants.  My servants, not
my parents' servants or house servants.  He wanted his daughters to come to
America.  Too many people were selling young girls into prostitution in
those days.  Daughters were less thought of, people wanted sons to carry on
the line.  In time, I had children with them.  They and all their offspring
were well provided for.  To protect them, I accepted this pain."

   "You're going to get very lucky tonight," Mizu said as she pulled him
down for a tender kiss.

   "I thought I got very lucky the moment you came into my life," Jon
replied as his blue eyes sparkled at her.

   "How can you always make me laugh," Mizu said as she pulled herself into
his arms.

   "Because," Jon chuckled as he gave her a tight hug.  "I can see how
beautiful your soul truly is.  I know how much you deserve to smile and be
happy."