Pushing the Limits

By: HitomiXO

Chapter One: Letting Go

Disclaimer: I do not own DOA or any other fictitious references to the series.

Hitomi stared in awe at the muscular karate expert in front of her. His maneuvers were sharp & exact, each string of attacks confusing yet performed perfectly. Each strike was packed with such force that the karate experts' sparring partner flew backwards at the magnitude of the impact. With each mighty stance he positioned himself in, Ein shook the ground, causing a floorboard to splinter slightly. Hitomi tried to memorize every string of attacks he launched. However, she couldn't identify even Ein's series of kicks as anything her father had taught her. Maybe it was moves too advanced for her? It was a crazy thought, but some of his strikes looked as if they originated from a ninja fighting style rather than karate.

The dojo was bustling with activity as everyone participating in the karate class sparred with a partner. Some students eyed Ein, intrigued. Hitomi glanced up at her father. His aged face radiating sheer astoundment, dark, pit-like eyes twinkled with interest. His usual serious demeanor was broken by Ein's astonishing performance. "Ein," Hitomi's father motioned for the young man, "why don't you give Damien a break? I believe you have sparred long enough." The dojo owner's snow white hair stuck out all over like palm fronds. A shock white mustache tickled his upper lip, for it needed a trim.

Hitomi drew in a sharp breath as she watched Ein wipe the trickling sweat from his forehead. His fingers brushed the ends of the overgrown, chocolate brown hair that lightly hung in his eyes. "Yes, Master?"

For a moment, Hitomi caught Ein's deep, dark eyes with her bright, admiring ones. She was impressed with him. Ever since Hitomi had found Ein unconscious in the forest that dark night, she knew there was something special about him. Now, not even long since that destined day, Ein was one of the top students at her father's dojo.

"Hitomi? Would you like to trade places with Ein while we discuss something? Damien needs to continue sparring." Hitomi glanced over at the flustered man heaving gulps of air on the old safety matt. Even though Damien had quite a bit of muscle on him it was not enough to compare to Ein's finely chiseled features. She gave Damien a sympathetic glance, "Yes, Father!"

Damien squinted at Hitomi as she walked over to him with a slight bounce to her step. "You're not going to toss me around like HE did, are you?"

Hitomi giggled, "I suppose we will find out, won't we?"

As Damien launched into a series of pokes, punches, and some predictable sweeps, Hitomi couldn't help but let her curiosity get the best of her. After easily countering a mid-kick, Hitomi glanced behind her shoulder. Ein and her father were speaking in low tones. Ein's once questioning look turned into amusement, a slight grin crawling upon his lips. Hitomi's father was gesturing every now and then. What to, Hitomi had no clue.

Hitomi whipped around, on alert, her long, chestnut brown hair smacking into her face. "Huuuugh!" Hitomi caught Damien's arm mid-punch and flipped him over.

"H-H-How?!" Damien wheezed from his position on the ground. His bronze face was contorted with anger, cheeks flushed a deep red hue. For a passing moment she felt guilty. Knowing that Damien had recently mastered a tick throw he was most likely infuriated with himself by her whiff.

"Practice makes perfect," Hitomi sing-songed cheerily, slightly distracted. She glanced over at Ein, "Now, if only I could hear what Mr. perfect was saying..."

Suddenly, Ein looked up, catching Hitomi's gaze. She huffed inwardly, frustrated. His dark eyes appeared to sparkle in the sunlight streaming through the dojo's high, dust-covered windows. Ein smiled knowingly, raising an eyebrow as if asking a question. He already knew the answer, however, which drove Hitomi crazy. She knew he'd become more aware of her questioning gazes only recently. Maybe there was a chance for her to find out what was really going on. She noticed her friend becoming distant lately, always deep in thought. When she would ask him what he had been thinking about he brushed the subject away like piece of lint.

Ein's expression morphed to shock as he focused on what Hitomi's father had just said. "W-What?" Hitomi read his full lips. She smiled despite Ein's troubled look. She'd never seen him lose his composure before. She captured his features (highly arched, sweat drenched brows, wide eyes that blinked repeatedly, scrunched shoulders, stiff legs, tensed arms, trembling fists) to savor forever. Who knew if she'd catch him reacting that way ever again?

"But ...... about ...... know ...... Hitomi!"

Hitomi was only able to decipher those four words from his lips. They were forming words as fast as a bullet, now. She noticed Ein blushing slightly as her father looked curiously towards her. What could they possibly be saying about her?

She squinted hard at the two men's rapidly moving lips. "...Her?!? ...... Could you possibly think ...... my daughter?!?" The elderly dojo master's expression became perplexed. His broad shoulders tensed as he propped his fists on his hips.

"I know how ....... great opportunity ...... care for her!" Ein threw his arms in the air. The two began to go off into an argument Hitomi could barely understand. The only word she caught was "DOA", which still made no sense to her at all. The rest could have been a whole other language from what she attempted to translate from their lips.

Hitomi glanced at Damien who was now rising off the dusty mat beneath them. "Damien, have you ever heard of DOA?"

"Excuse me?" Damien nearly fell backwards at her remark.

She sighed wistfully, "I'll take that has a no."

Hitomi looked back over towards her father and Ein who were still in the midst of a heated debate. Sighing, she held her fists up high, "Ready for round two?"

"No...Not really."

His words were met with a single slug to the jaw, knocking him back down on the mat. Dust flew up from the impact.

"Ughhh...I forfeit round three if anyone asks."

Hitomi giggled at Damien's crumpled, defeat form. "Maybe if you weren't so lazy you would actually win! Come awwwn! You have to at least try!"

Damien closed his eyes. Sometimes Hitomi's upbeat, cute personality got the best of him. "Maybe one more match," He jumped up and raised his fists, bouncing on his feet.

Hitomi squealed in delight, "Yay! Okay, ready?"

Damien eyed Hitomi's menacing stance, trying to size her up by rolling his shoulders back, "Whenever you--Huggnh! Ooooof!" for the fourth time that day Damien found himself lying on the dirty, secondhand safety mat.

"Okay, now I forfeit!!!"

"Awwww! That's no fun!" Hitomi pouted, crossing her arms over her karate suit's cotton fabric.

"I don't know...I think I enjoy it plenty more down here than from up there."

"Hmmm," Hitomi's eyes gave a gleam of mischief. "I can still sweep you."

Damien impulsively preformed a tech-roll at the words. Hitomi giggled, "I was only kidding, Damien! Good way to be prepared, though! You're improving a lot!"

Damien gave an unsure smile, unknowing weather to take the remark seriously or see it as a chance for her to poke fun at him.

"Hitomi?!"

The young girl whirled around at the mention of her name. "Yes, Father?" She skipped over towards Ein and her father, leaving Damien to blow a sigh of relief from behind her. A pale shade of pink hinted at her father's cheeks. It was a sure sign he was becoming slightly irritated.

"Hitomi, dear, could you talk some sense into this boy?! He won't listen to a thing I--"

"I am entering DOA2! Why can you not respect my decision?" Ein's face showed signs of anger, his eyes flashing threateningly. A twinge of contrition could be felt right after the fierce words left his now-pursed lips. He knew he should show more respect for the man who had taken him in. After all, he had sheltered him for a short period of his life when he could remember nothing about his past. It was strange, not remembering anything. Sometimes in his dreams he would see a beautiful girl who appeared to be in her twenties. Her hair was a long, silky, blazing red. Her miserable eyes resembled his own. He would watch helplessly as she cried out for help, desperately reaching her hand out to him. In a flash he would find himself back in his sleeping quarters, sweat drenched and confused. The stranger in his dreams always looked afflicted, as if she was being beaten. He didn't know who the girl was but he felt as if he knew her somehow. Ein shook his head vigorously to dismiss his thoughts. He had something else to focus on. After all, the girl in his nightmares could have been made up for all he knew.

"What is 'DOA two'?" Hitomi asked sweetly, trying to break the tension. Both men's faces instantly softened when they turned to look at her.

"It is a fighting tournament, Hitomi. The person who can beat every opponent they are faced with wins one million dollars as prize money." Hitomi's eyes grew wide at her father's words.

"Well, that doesn't sound bad. Why are you keeping Ein from it, father?

"Because," Ein looked Hitomi directly in her curious eyes, finding empowerment there, "He believes I am trying to take you with me."

"Me?" Hitomi staggered backwards, a bewildered expression clouding over her. "Oh, Ein! You're too kind! Are you really going to enter me into a fighting competition,?" Hitomi looked expectantly at the hesitant young man.

His eyes casted downwards to bare feet, "Well…no, not exactly," He struggled to look into her hurt eyes. He hated to see her look so wounded. Did she really deserve this? He bit his lip. Hitomi was pretty good but was it enough competition for DOA2 standards? "It is not that I don't think you are not strong enough. You are the most determined person I have ever met, Hitomi." He began to rush his words at the sight of tears forming in her sad eyes. She reminded him of an abused puppy: Wet nose, wide eyed, mistrusting, and a violently trembling lip. "I…I don't want to see you get hurt. That's all."

"So…you do think I'm not strong enough!" Hitomi could feel a tear slide down her cheek, her throat burning. Her fingers curled into her palms, trying to stay strong.

"Hitomi…" Ein touched her arm gently but she jerked it back as if he had scorched her skin. Her reaction stung him. He knew she would take the situation the wrong way.

"No, Ein. It's okay. You don't have to explain anything. You go and do what you have to do. When I'm ready, I'll be there, fighting right by your side." Hitomi didn't bother to wipe away the multiple tears than slithered down her cheeks.

"I know you will," Ein gave her a small smile, hoping it would help. He wanted so badly to wipe away her tears but refrained. When Hitomi had jolted back from his touch, her father had given him an intimidating, warning look.

Being as good natured as she was, Hitomi couldn't help but smile back. She knew she should be supporting her friend. After all, her training wasn't complete. She knew she was good, almost completely mastering karate, and would reach her extent someday. There was an itching sensation inside of her that told her there was even more to be learned. She wanted to push her boundaries even farther. Once she stretched beyond that she would be ready. All would be learned and the time to test her abilities to the world would come. For now, however, Hitomi would keep on persevering to go beyond the limits.

Grasping Ein's hand with hers, a newfound confidence washed over her. "For now, DOA2 only concerns you. I'll be there with you soon enough." Hitomi's kind, selfless spirit made him smile even wider.

"And with whose permission do you intend to act upon?" The dojo owner's tone was austere, crossed arms making him seem more assertive.

"Yours, papa. When I'm ready, that is." Hitomi surveyed him, her eyes glimmering with hope.

"We'll see." He shook his head as his daughter jumped up and squealed in delight, throwing her arms around Ein. The surprised young man returned the hug, a lopsided grin growing upon his face. He hated to see his best pupil leave but knew Ein was destined to go eventually. However, a nostalgic feeling filled the karate master like warm honey as his eyes rested lovingly upon Hitomi. He would find it most hard to release her. He had held on for so long… Hitomi's idealistic manner reminded him of when she had been so young. It was hard to imagine she was eighteen. Yet, he felt Hitomi wasn't capable of winning a DOA tournament. There were rumors of deception about the corporation. However, he knew oh so well that once Hitomi set her mind to something she would stop at nothing to achieve that goal. A smile tugged at the corners of his thin lips. Hitomi knew how to protect herself. He had no worries about that. Even though he wanted to continue to watch over his daughter he knew he had to let go. Perhaps DOA2 would benefit for them both…