"...Eight...nine...ten!" The roar from the crowd was muted to his ears, he didn't even register the referee grabbing his arm and hoisting it over his head.

The man on the floor was laid unconscious blood trickling from his mouth as a tooth had been embedded into the canvas halfway through the thirty second fight.

The cage that enclosed him in the blood splattered ring was the only thing that separated him from the adrenaline high fans. His eyes scanned the crowd though they were unseeing, nothing registering to him just the silence that filled his head as he saw blobs of colour jumping and clinging to the cage that trapped him.

A sudden and unexpected noise filled his ears causing him to turn to the tubby man stood next to him.

"Congratulations kid. That was incredible how do you feel about doing another fight today, I'm sure the crowd would love to see you VS our champion fighter, that would be a fight. Though I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a challenge for you" the man laughed slightly to himself as he finally released the boys arm patting him on the back.

Leaving the boy on his own as he helped drag the unconscious man from the ring, the boy, who was no more than sixteen, turned slowly to watch the crowd around him. As soon as the referee had spoken to him it seemed as though the sound block that had been in place was broken and the deafening screams from the crowd around him were assaulting his eardrums.

A path leading from the ring to the changing room had been cleared as soon as the fight had ended allowing him to leave the ring without being mobbed by the crowd.

He had only started fighting here two weeks ago and already he had gained a reputation and was one of the favourites to win the honour of being crowned champion of this run down skip.

The building wasn't one that was legal it was run underground in an abandoned club, which had been deserted after an accident twenty years ago where over fifty people were killed and many more severely injured.

The ring in the converted club was the only thing that was standard, though it was needed as many of the fighters were well into the obese category.

His eyes stared down the path that had been cleared just moments ago, his breathing was slightly quickened from the short fight and he wanted to get changed and go back to his flat.

Taking the first step towards the exit of the cage he blocked out the noise of the crowd intent on getting out of here as soon as he got his money. The referee had offered him another fight but he never did more than one a day, he refused to.

Leaving the ring he walked down the hall leading to his changing room, he had requested his own room.

As soon as he was out of the crowds sight he let out a heavy sigh running his hand though his short hair.

"How did it get to this?" He asked himself, though in actuality he had no idea how things had gotten so bad he was forced to fight to make a living. And even then he was barely making ends meet.

oooo

Dropping down on the bench that had been set in the deserted side room he dropped his duffel bag onto the tiled floor. Many of the tiles had spider web cracks running through them showing just how old they truly were.

The room was dark a single twenty watt bulb shinning overhead, the dim light it emitted swinging as the bulb was blown by the soft breeze that flew through the smashed window.

The light that was illuminating the tiny room cast shadows over the walls, but while he had his head down a shadow was cast over him. Looking up to see what had shrouded him he was face to face with a middle aged man in a suit.

"What do you want?" He asked less than polite, though the man merely smiled at him, his yellow teeth accentuated in the yellowish light the bulb gave off.

"I am here to make you an offer" he stated not waiting for a signal to continue the man carried on "I watched your fight you were very impressive, I was thinking you could compete maybe even make it to the tournament that is held in a few weeks"

The boy looked up at him, the offer didn't sound very appealing to him, he didn't enjoy fighting but he needed to make a living. If he was given half a chance to leave this life behind he would jump at the chance. Seeming to see his reluctance the elder man continued.

"The money will be good, and everyone will know your name. You'll be admired by many. What more could a man want?" He wasn't concerned by the apparent fame aspect of the offer but the mention of money had changed his mind.

"Fine." He agreed standing up to shake the man's hand.

"Harry Dawson" The elder introduced himself as he shook the youth's hand.

"Shun Kazami"

Just an idea I had please read review