Transition And Restart

The summer heat had abated and given way to early autumn . Ulf Hammargren, or Urufu-kun as his closest cla.s.smates preferred to call him, hugged the gym wall, turned around the corner and made for the entrance to his junior high school . He gained a few steps towards the main courtyard and was just about to shoulder his suitcase when the m.u.f.fled sound of a cry reached him .

He retracted his steps and listened closer . It sounded like a girl, and she was scared .

"What the? Someone"s bullying a girl . " It sounded like bullying anyway . He couldn"t be certain as he didn"t understand what the boys he heard were shouting . "Boys? Aw s.h.i.t, make that several someones . " He started running just in case .

There was a park behind the gymnasium, a bit too unkempt and dark for being a safe short-cut to school . And of course the sounds of what definitely was a struggle had to come from there .

He quickly climbed the fence . The hole at the bottom most of the school kids used as a short-cut was already beginning to be too small for him to use . After landing on the other side he darted in the direction of frightened shrieks strangely muted .

What he saw made bile rise in him .

Ugly . Disgustingly ugly .

"What the f.u.c.k! They"re going to **** her!" She was lacking a shoe and some of her clothes were already torn off her .

Ulf rushed in, grabbed her arms and tackled the boy who was covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming . Hugging her close Ulf rolled twice and got both of them up on their feet . "No time! I don"t have time . She"ll hate me, but who cares . I"m just a foreigner anyway . " He slapped her face and roared in English: "Run, you idiot!" Then he shoved her into the sand beside the swings and turned . Behind him he could hear her stand up and then the sound of running feet grew fainter .

It was at that time he recognised the school uniforms from their own high school .

"Four of them . Older, but I"m still taller . OK not taller than that guy . He"s dangerous . d.a.m.n to j.a.panese teens he"s a b.l.o.o.d.y ogre! Gotta take him out first . " Ulf walked a few steps, then he twisted and came up beside the smallest of the a.s.sailants . "Dance with me you s.h.i.t-head!" Ulf locked one arm across the elbow and pushed hard . He didn"t wait to see the boy falling into another but ran straight for the main target . "They"ll never expect a fifteen year old nidan karateka . " A feint to the face, a quick kick to the b.a.l.l.s and then he grabbed the neck and brought the face down on his knee .

"My seniors . I"ll show you senior you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!"

Dropping the now limp body Ulf side stepped a punch from behind . "I left you standing for a purpose you moron! Coming at me one by one you"re just making this too easy . " Having side stepped the punch he let his body continue its movement and slid inside the guard of his target . An elbow and a follow-up backhand strike left Ulf"s opponent staggered, and a brutal kick to the inside of one knee disabled him, possibly permanently .

Then there were problems . The two remaining boys had armed themselves with knives and were already spreading out .

"Help him!" someone shouted . Ulf backed away to avoid being stabbed and looked around . "What the h.e.l.l? Why"s she back?" There was a sound of something breaking, an ugly sound . "She"s not alone and that guy just cracked the head of one of them . "

Ulf knew he didn"t need the unexpected help, and now he had another problem to take care of . "Give me that jo! Now!" He ran to his rescuer and forced the staff out of his hands . "I"ll finish this . You run! You were never here!" I hope they understand English .

There was a glimmer of adoration in her eyes, then one of disgust and last one of fear .

"s.h.i.t how did I end up like this? Rapists! Who cares?" Three strikes, two crushed knees one caved in rib cage and it was all finished . Behind him Ulf heard the girl throwing up . "She"ll hate me . But who cares? I"m just a foreigner anyway . "The summer heat had abated and given way to early autumn . Ulf Hammargren, or Urufu-kun as his closest cla.s.smates preferred to call him, hugged the gym wall, turned around the corner and made for the entrance to his junior high school . He gained a few steps towards the main courtyard and was just about to shoulder his suitcase when the m.u.f.fled sound of a cry reached him . He retracted his steps and listened closer . It sounded like a girl, and she was scared . What the? Someones bullying a girl . It sounded like bullying anyway . He couldnt be certain as he didnt understand what the boys he heard were shouting . Boys? Aw s.h.i.t, make that several someones . He started running just in case . There was a park behind the gymnasium, a bit too unkempt and dark for being a safe short-cut to school . And of course the sounds of what definitely was a struggle had to come from there . He quickly climbed the fence . The hole at the bottom most of the school kids used as a short-cut was already beginning to be too small for him to use . After landing on the other side he darted in the direction of frightened shrieks strangely muted . What he saw made bile rise in him . Ugly . Disgustingly ugly . What the f.u.c.k! Theyre going to **** her! She was lacking a shoe and some of her clothes were already torn off her . Ulf rushed in, grabbed her arms and tackled the boy who was covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming . Hugging her close Ulf rolled twice and got both of them up on their feet . No time! I dont have time . Sh.e.l.l hate me, but who cares . Im just a foreigner anyway . He slapped her face and roared in English: Run, you idiot! Then he shoved her into the sand beside the swings and turned . Behind him he could hear her stand up and then the sound of running feet grew fainter . It was at that time he recognised the school uniforms from their own high school . Four of them . Older, but Im still taller . OK not taller than that guy . Hes dangerous . d.a.m.n to j.a.panese teens hes a b.l.o.o.d.y ogre! Gotta take him out first . Ulf walked a few steps, then he twisted and came up beside the smallest of the a.s.sailants . Dance with me you s.h.i.t-head! Ulf locked one arm across the elbow and pushed hard . He didnt wait to see the boy falling into another but ran straight for the main target . Theyll never expect a fifteen year old nidan karateka . A feint to the face, a quick kick to the b.a.l.l.s and then he grabbed the neck and brought the face down on his knee . My seniors . Ill show you senior you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Dropping the now limp body Ulf side stepped a punch from behind . I left you standing for a purpose you moron! Coming at me one by one youre just making this too easy . Having side stepped the punch he let his body continue its movement and slid inside the guard of his target . An elbow and a follow-up backhand strike left Ulfs opponent staggered, and a brutal kick to the inside of one knee disabled him, possibly permanently . Then there were problems . The two remaining boys had armed themselves with knives and were already spreading out . Help him! someone shouted . Ulf backed away to avoid being stabbed and looked around . What the h.e.l.l? Whys she back? There was a sound of something breaking, an ugly sound . Shes not alone and that guy just cracked the head of one of them . Ulf knew he didnt need the unexpected help, and now he had another problem to take care of . Give me that jo! Now! He ran to his rescuer and forced the staff out of his hands . Ill finish this . You run! You were never here! I hope they understand English . There was a glimmer of adoration in her eyes, then one of disgust and last one of fear . s.h.i.t how did I end up like this? Rapists! Who cares? Three strikes, two crushed knees one caved in rib cage and it was all finished . Behind him Ulf heard the girl throwing up . Sh.e.l.l hate me . But who cares? Im just a foreigner anyway .