CH.3.
Shingo,now dressed in his new street fighting duds stood face to face with his first training opponent,the famed american boxer known as Heavy D.
Shingo found that D would be happy to train him,but..there was a catch,if he were to earn some lessons from D,then Shingo would have to defeat him first.
He wasn't happy at all to hear that,he wanted to unlearn the fight style of the Kusanagi arts and at last learn a new fighting style.
But,Shingo couldn't stop now since he came so far to learn his first real lessons.
"One more time on this style I have."he thought. "But that's it!"
"So...you ready,Shingo?"said D as he got into his fight stance.
Shingo nodded and did the same.
"READY!"he said.
D and Shingo started to circle around the ring at each other,both waiting for each other to make a move.
And before Shingo knew it,D made the first move as he sprinted forward and made an attack move.
D did his Rolling Soul Driver and his punch came at Shingo in the form of a drill shaped thrust punch attack.
Shingo managed to dodge it at first,but D came it with another and slammed him in the ribs with it.
The youth winced in pain,but still kept on his feet.
"Rggh...so far so..painful!"he thought. "But I can't let that stop me..i've got to take this guy down if i'm to learn anything from him!"
Shingo then thrust foward in turn and tried for a swing kick,but D ducked it and then came at Shingo again with a blast upper punch!
The blast from D's fist sent Shingo reeling backwards and he almost fell to the floor.
But he kept on his feet and steadied himself.
"Man!"thought Shingo. "He's got better punches than I thought and heard. I wish I got to face this guy before in the recent KOF's,then i'd know what to expect!"
"Ready for more,youngling?"said D. "Cause I got some ready for ya!"
D then thrusted forward and did another Rolling Sould Diver.
Shingo then dodged it and then swung downwards with a sweep kick that sent D falling to the floor.
D bounced off his rump,but then jumped back up again.
"That was good so far,kid!"he said. "You've got some fast reactions there,but can you still beat me in the ring?
Let's find out!"
Shingo himself then went for an attack.
He then jumped high into the air and was about to do his flying drop kick,but before he knew it,D unleashed his Soul Flower and knocked Shingo away with another ground burst of ki energy.
The impact caused Shingo to really fall to the floor this time.
"Nice try."said D. "But i've got plenty more where that came from."
"Damn!"thought Shingo as he got back up. "I've gotta do something or my lesson with this guy is sunk!"
Shingo then quickly saw one of the ring poles behind him.
He then had an idea.
Suddenly,he saw D come flying at him again with another attack.
D then unleashed his dance beat and then shadow boxing moves.
Shingo then jumped and dodged away from them and then he leapted onto the top of the ring pole.
"What the hell is this?"said D.
"Desperation move...that's what!" thought Shingo."STARTING NOW!"
D then was about to go for another attack,but Shingo then leapt off the ring and then launched into a flying kick that decked D right in the left side of his head.
D then staggered backwards from the blow,which allowed Shingo for another attack.
He then slammed two punches into D's chest and then followed it up with a spinning uppercut punch attack that sent D flying backwards and literally crashing to the floor.
It was over,D laid there seemingly unconscious.
Shingo had won his first match.
Shingo stood there,trying to catch his breath,when suddenly D lifted his head up.
He had a look of partial suprise and a smirk on his face as well.
"Well i'll be damned!"said D as he then got back up.
"You beat me."
"Yeah,yeah..I guess I did."said Shingo. "I'm sorry if I bruised you or anything."
"Heh,no apologies necessary Shingo."said D. "You're a nice kid and all. But...the time may come when you might have to toughen up a little when your'e around say..less civilized opponents. That...will be the first lesson of this boxing match."
"Uhm,yeah..i'll try to remember that."said Shingo. "So..i've earned the lesson?"
"You sure have."said D. "But remember Shingo,we've only got till four in the afternoon,that's when my flight's due back.
So...let's get you changed into some real boxing gear and get you started right away on the first step of your transformation!"
"ALRIGHT!"said Shingo.
Minutes later,Shingo was dressed up in a set of white tank top,black boxing shorts,and matching shoes with it.
He also had on a pair of red boxing gloves as well.
Both he and D stood in front of a large red sandbag that hung from the ceiling.
"Okay kid."said D. "What i'm going to do is teach you some of my best punches,and you'll apply them to what you know of your own,got it?"
Shingo nodded.
"Alright,let's begin."said D.
D slammed several of his best punch attacks on the bag and then Shingo started to mimic and learn the same way as he did.
It took a couple of hours,but Shingo managed to learn some new boxing style punches to substitute the Kusanagai style punches he learned before.
D then showed Shingo his Soul driver attack,and Shingo started to learn a form of his own,just without the drill move.
Within two straight hours,Shingo had learned a new way of boxing from a real master.
After that,D helped Shingo write down all the moves he learned in his new notebook.
"Okay kid."said D. "That's about all the moves that I have time to teach you. You just keep learning those moves every day..and who knows,maybe we'll have a rematch someday."
"Heh,sounds good Mr.D."said Shingo. "And I thank you very much for what you did."
"Hey,no problem there man."said D. "Just doing my duty for the children. I also hope you show those jerks Kyo and Iori a thing or two when you see them. Tell'em that the sports team will rise again in the KOF..and that's a promise!"
"Hai,I will!"said Shingo.
"Now,if you'll excuse me..I have a plane to catch this afternoon."said D.
Suddenly,a voice rang out from the entranceway.
"Hold it!"said someone around the corner.
"Huh?"said D. "Who's there?"
Emerging from around the corner was another fighter.
He was tall,lean and very muscular.
The man wore a purple button down shirt that was open,a set of black slacks,a pair of matching black gloves,a pair of brown boots,and wore a strange bone necklace around his neck.
His blonde hair was thick and shaggy and he wore a look of grim seriousness in his eyes.
Shingo recognised him right away.
"Hey..I know you!"said Shingo. "You're that Shen Woo from the past recent KOF's!"
"Yeah,what of it,kid?"said Shingo.
"Oh,you don't remember me do you?"said Shingo. "I'm Shingo Yabuki,I was in the past couple of KOF's,one with Kyo Kusanagi himself."
He then bowed to him.
"So good to meet you at last."he said.
Shen however,did not return the sentiment.
"Oh yeah...the wannabe of that clown Kusanagi."he said. "Uh...yeah,good to meet you too.
Now if you'll excuse me."
Shingo arched an eyebrow.
"Geez..what the hell's his problem right now?"he thought.
"Better let me handle this Shingo."said D. "Yeah...Shen Woo,I heard of you as well. What..eh..can I do for you?"
Shen eyed the boxer from top to bottom.
"Huh,america's best boxer are you?"he said. "And you and your team only fought in the KOF once?"
"Yeah,that I am and I did."said D. "You got a problem with that..and what the hell is your problem right now anyways,blondie?"
Shen sneered at D's comment.
"Well..my beef if you put it like that is that I heard you were in town. So I came to see how great one of the US's best boxers really were..despite only being in one KOF."
D got really angered at the youth's attitude.
"Boy,you are really pushing your luck with that mouth. You got a real point coming here and showing your ass,then get to the point already!"
"Sure thing,D."said Shen. "I wanna face you in a boxing match..and show the rest of the KOF that the only real boxer around here..is me!"
"Geez!"thought Shingo. "This guy could give K or Lin lessons at being a jerk!"
D shook his head in disgust.
"No can do here,Woo."he said. "I've got a flight back home..and I just trained a new student..I am plum tired out.
If you wanna...hey..wait a minute!"
D turned his attention back to Shingo.
"Uh..something wrong,Mr.D?"he said looking back.
"Hmmm..just a moment man."D said to Shen.
"Shingo..I think I just might be helping you out a better way here."said D.
"What..what do you mean?"said Shingo.
"You'll see..starting now."said D.
D then approached Shen.
"Okay, ."said D. "If you want a challenge from me,than take on my new student over here."
"Wh-WHAT?"said Shen. "Him...the dweeb? No way..I came here to personally take you on,D!"
"In case you don't realise it."said D.
"I just spent the last week training new fighters around these parts and even trained Shingo there. I mean,I could take you on...but in my current state,you just might beat me a little too easily,I mean...where's the fun,let alone the honor in that one?"
"He's got a good point there,eh..Woo."said Shingo.
Shen growled ferociously. "Alright,fine,fine!"he said. "I'll take on your scrub there,and this way it'll be a warm-up till I face you for real!"
"Sounds...somewhat good to me."said D.
"Man,what is this guy's problem?"thought Shingo. "He could give K or even Lin lessons at being a jerk!"
Shen stepped into the ring and took up his position.
Meanwhile,Shingo was having a quick discussion with D.
"Are..are you sure I should do this,Mr.D?"said Shingo.
"Afraid so."said D. "First off,this jerk's not gonna leave until someone teaches him some damn manners.
And not only that..think of it this way. He'd be the perfect real test for your newfound fighting styles to come."
"Yeah,I know but..I never got to face this guy in the last couple of KOF's."said Shingo. "But i've seen him in action and he's pretty damn brutal."
"Hey c'mon...you beat me in the ring first right?"
"Well,yes I did."said Shingo. "But this guy's got punches and blows even you don't have at this point."
"Well,you've gotta learn sometime."said D. "So get into that ring..i'm rootin'for ya!"
Shingo took a deep breath.
"RIGHT!"he said. "Here I come!"
Shingo then jumped into the ring and stood face to face with Shen Woo.
Shen then stepped up to Shingo,his very face wore an irritated scowl.
"I can't believe I came all this way to fight a champ,and here i'm facing one his babies. And someone who tagged along with that Kyo jerk in the KOF XI!"
Shingo sneered back in anger at Shen.
"Hey,you think you're some hot stuff?"he said. "Why don't you stop yapping and start fighting?"
"You tell'em kid!"said D. "Alright,when I ring the bell...the fight starts. Ready?"
"Ready!"said Shingo as he got into his fighting stance.
Shen did the same. "Ditto!"he said.
D then rang the bell and the fight began.
Shingo made the first move as he sprinted forward and thew a few hard and fast punches at the punk.
Shen simply dodged several of them and then whipped out his FUSEN KYAKU,a forward kick that slammed Shingo right in the chest and knocked him a few feet away.
"Errgh..that hurt!"thought Shingo as he clutched his chest.
"Come on Shingo!"said D. "That was a just a sucker kick..keep at him!"
Shingo nodded and then started to circle around at Shen,waiting for him to make the next move.
"Come on kid."said Shen. "You gonna come at me,or make me come get you?"
Shingo snarled and then went for another attack.
He thrust forward and just as Shen was about to fling out another kick,Shingo dodged it and then slammed Shen in the chest with a thrust punch and then slammed him in the face with a rising upper.
Shen coughed out air and did a backwards stagger on the floor.
"YEAH!"said D. "Now you're showin'him!"
Shingo then saw something was about to happen.
"Feh..enough of this candy ass shit!"said Shen. "I'm gonna go all out!"
Shen then swung backwards and then flung forward with his TATSU GEKI KEN!
His super Geki Ken was a super hard and fast charged up punch that meant some pretty hard damage for his opponents.
The punch slammed Shigo in the chest so hard that it sent him crashing into one of the pole rings.
Shingo then fell down on his very rump and fought hard to catch his breath.
"SHINGO!"said D. "Hey man...that was an unfair punch and you know it!"
"So what's your point D,man?"said Shen.
"That is the damn point you prick!"said D. "You're not listening!"
"Well,why don't you stop the preaching,and get back into the ring here so I can get a real challenge?"
D growled fiercely.
"Alright,dumb ass!"said D as he was about to get into the ring. "If that's what you really want!"
"No,D..NO!"said Shingo as he got back up again.
"Shingo?"said D.
Shingo stood on shaky legs,but wasn't out yet.
"Oh,so the baby boy's still got some guts left eh?"said Shen.
"This isn't over!"said Shingo. "I'm still standing..so game on!"
Shen snorted.
"Your funeral kid."said Shen.
Shen then went for another Tatsu Geki Gen,but just as he unleashed it,Shingo dodged it and lashed out a fast foot trip.
"HEY..URK!"cried Shen as he tripped forward.
Shen then swung around,just in time for Shingo to land a pair of thrust punches,one into Shen's chest and then one into Shen's face.
The rogue boxer nearly fell downards,but managed to keep his footing.
He even found a little blood dripping from his nose.
"Hmmm...maybe you're not such a wannabe after all here,kid."he said. "Maybe you can give me the bout I was looking for. And I do mean..MAYBE!"
Shingo leapt backwards on his feet and beckoned Woo to come forward.
And forward he did,he raced towards Shingo and then unleashed a barrage of combo attacks.
Shingo at first managed to block off a thrust punch,then block off a sharp kick,but he took it on the chin as Shen slammed him with a spinning backfist.
Shingo winced in pain,but kept on his feet.
He then saw Shen do another attack and it was yet another Geki Gen.
"Got it!"thought Shingo. "His powered up punch is deadly,but a little predictable. I've got him now!"
Shen thrusted forward,but just as he unleashed his very fist at him,Shingo dodged it and then slammed the ruffian in the side of his face with a right hook.
Then he slammed Shen in the very abdomen,causing the fighter to get the wind knocked out of him.
"AND...THE FINISH!" cried Shingo as he rocketed upwards and clocked Shen in the chin with a rising uppercut.
"KA-POW!"
The blow was so hard and intense,it sent Shen Woo flying into the very air and causing him to crash on his very back,head and all.
He was down,and out.
Shingo had won his first ever match.
When the match was over,Shen laid unconscious at Shingo's feet while Shingo himself stood panting and trying to catch his very breath,his body wracked in a deep sweat.
"Alright!"said D as he jumped into the ring and ran over to Shingo.
"Ya did it kid!"he said as he slapped him on the back. "You beat Shen Woo,you beat your very first opponent!"
"Yeah,I...I did it,didn't I?"said Shingo.
"You sure did!"said D. "Man,that Woo guy's punches were pretty brutal,how did you figure them out?"
"I noticed the pattern in his dash and thrust moves,they have a slow charge pattern,once I figured that out..I managed to work some kind of advantage to it."
"Heh-heh..well in any event,good job!"said D. "You aced your first boxing lesson and match,you are now a street fighting boxer."
Suddenly,the pair of fighters heard a loud clapping sound.
"Wha?"said Shingo as he and D looked to see who or what it was.
Standing near the doorway was a rather strange looking individual.
A tall and very lean shaped man stood before them,he had long brown hair tied into a long pigtail that hung down behind his back.
He wore a strange black and lavendar chinese long coat and matching pants and shoes with it.
His eyes of blue gave off a rather hypnotic effect which accompanied his stoic facial features.
"And you are?"said D arching an eyebrow.
"Oh,pardon me."said the man. "My name is Duo Lon and...I was watching your little fist fight with my friend Shen Woo there.
It was very...entertaining to say the least."
"Duo Lon.."said Shingo. "..oh yeah,I remember now. You along with Shen here and another fighter were in the past few KOF's,right?
I think I saw you all battle some opponents in the KOF 03."
"Correct you are,Shingo Yabuki."said Duo as he approached the ring. "Eh...Benimaru himself told me about you and your...teammates during the KOF XI."
"Oh,I see."said Shingo. "It's good to mee you."
"Likewise."said Duo. "And...it's a pleasure to meet a KOF veteran as well,Heavy D. I saw you in action from some old footage of the KOF 94."
"Heh,well I wouldn't really call myself a veteran of the KOF."said D.
"But someday I hope to make it back in the ring of the KOF. Anyways,you said you're a friend of this..jackass here?"
Duo chuckled.
"Yes,"he said. "please accept my apologies for his rude behavior. He's been...under a bit of troublesome stress lately.
He..like myself and a friend of mine are in...well..mourning over an old friend of ours. Not to mention Shen was also beaten badly in a recent tournament he was in,and he didn't cope with the idea of losing very well either."
"I see."said D. "Well,maybe you could take your little friend here before he wakes up."
"Yeah,he'll probably still be in a bad mood when he wakes up."said Shingo.
Duo grinned.
"Agreed."he said and then suddenly did a strange shadow warp where he re-appeared in the ring in front of them.
"Whoa!"said D. "Damn buddy,how'd you do that?"
"Shh..it's a secret."said Duo. "One i'm afraid I can't share at this time. Rest assured,i'll get Shen some therapy of some kind and hopefully he'll feel pretty stupid for the way he acted. At least he'll have you to thank for that, ."
Shingo grinned and scratched the back of his head.
Duo then bent down and placed his hand on Shen's chest.
"Till we met again,gentleman."he said.
And then in another shadow warp,both men were gone.
"Wow."said Shingo.
"You said it."said D.
The two remaining fighters then exited from the ring.
"Hey,just wait a minute here before I got Shingo."said D. "I gotta change back into my street clothes."
"Uhmm..sure."said Shingo.
D then went back into the locker room,a minute later,D was back into his dark brown two piece suit with red tie and dark shades.
He was also carrying his single blue duffle bag that had the words:"HEAVY D" stitched across it.
"Well,Shingo."said D. "I'm afraid my time's just about up and I gotta head out to the airport. I've taught you all I know.
But I admit,it was quite a show you and Shen made there."
"Heh,well I still thank you very much for giving me my first lesson into a new direction for fighting styles,D."said Shingo.
"Hey,t'werent nothing kid."said D. "I admit it's nice to play the teacher every once in a while. But..don't get too cocky now.
You never know..we might face each other in a future KOF or street fight. So stay sharp as always,and never forget what I taught you."
"Will do,D."said Shingo. "Now i've gotta get going..to my next teacher."
"Another teacher eh?"said D. "Pardon me for asking,but who you going to next?"
Shingo got his dufflebag and was about to leave.
"I think my next stop will be for a local Aikido master and his daughter. Maybe you heard of him,his name's Todoh..Ryuhaku Todoh."
"Oh yeah."said D. "Yeah I read about him in a sports paper from Southtown once,years ago to be exact.
"I read that he was in town to take on a local karate master,but was instead defeated by the same master's own son.
I guess he was beaten so badly,that he never wanted to fight anyone ever again."
"That's right."said Shingo. "But I researched the rest and know what happened. It was Ryo Sakazaki,the master's son and former champion of the KOF who defeated Todoh. And from there,while Todoh retired,he trained his daughter Kasumi Todoh in the ways of his martial arts style."
"Ryo..Sakazaki."said D. "Oh yeah,that's the dude in those orange jammies who fought with his team in the KOF 94. Man,my boys and I were lucky not to get beat up those dudes. The worse we got was from Kyo and his jerks..eh..sorry about that,Shingo."
"Heh,no worries."said Shingo. "If I were the slightly younger fool I was back then,i'd take offense to it. But now...i'm wide awake as to who the real heroes and villians are."
"Yeah,that's the ticket."said D. "Real enlightenment there. You're taking your first steps to being a real fighter.
And you say Todoh has a daughter? Damn,I hope she fights better than he ever could."
"Well,I also read she has a sworn rivalry with Ryo and the Sakazaki karate dojo as well."said Shingo. "Anyways,i've been reading and watching the arts of Aikido and have decided it'll be the next fighting style i'm going to study."
"Yeah?"said D. "Well,it seems i've taught you all I know here,Shingo.
And so...unless I wanna miss my flight,i'd better head back."
D then extended his right hand to Shingo,and the young fighter clenched it and they shook.
"I'll admit,it was defintely quite a class and match you gave me. Oh,and same for ol'blondie Woo there at that."
Shingo nodded and giggled.
"But...just remember two things here after this event,kid."said D. "One,you might just run into that Woo guy agian,so be twice on your guard. And two..we may part ways for now. But just you wait,you beat me this time,but...if we ever cross paths in the ring again or..if I ever get to enter a new KOF. You'd sure as hell better be on your guard against me next time just as much.
Because you never know...what kind of new tricks I might learn as well!"
With that declaration,D cracked his very knuckles.
Shingo gave a light nervous gulp.
"I'll...remember that,Mr.D."he said.
D then laughed and slapped Shingo on the back.
"Aw,take it easy kid."said D. "We're all friends here outside the ring. Inside the ring...well that's another matter."
"Yeah,I guess so."said Shingo.
The two fighters then exited from the building,allowing D to lock the front door back up.
"Well.."said Shingo. ...if I ever win this,i'll look you up and give you the details."
"Heh,no problem kid."said D. "Just look me up on ,you'll find my profile and email adress. When you feel the times is right,give me all the gory details on all the jerks you plan on beating the crap out of it!"
"Will do."said Shingo. He then stood,bowed and took off down the road.
"Heh,there goes a kid with promise."said D. "I just hope he's as lucky with Todoh as he was with me."
D then walked back off towards a bus stop,just in time for the bus to pick him up,and he was gone.
Meanwhile,Shingo continued his next destination in Japan.
His next master to learn from..TODOH!
NEXT:SHINGO COMES ACROSS KASUMI TODOH HERSELF AND LEARNS HE MUST FACE HER IN ORDER TO WIN A LESSON FROM HER FATHER!
PLUS:SHINGO AND KASUMI RUN AFOWL OF...BIKER GANGS! ALL THIS AND MORE ACTION TO COME NEXT CHAPTER!
(Note:It may take a longer while for me to get back to the continuation of this new KOF fic,I need to finish my other fanfic and other works before I do. But rest assured,I aim to continue with this fic. So as always,leave your thoughts and comments(And no flames!)for this chapter. I'll see you soon with more KOF action!)