DISCLAIMER:
I don't own any characters from Dead or Alive games, they are owned by Tecmo, Ltd. and Team Ninja. Though, I create an OC.
Warning, this story's length is twice than before. More than half of this chapter is fighting. I really hope you can understand the flow of the battle and thus, enjoying it :D
Oh, if you are gonna do the review, please tell me your opinion about the fighting, okay?
--THE START OF CHAPTER 4--
I breathe heavily, stop once in a while to look my back.
The shadow is still chasing me. I have to run again, stop again, run again, stop again, run again, and the cycle goes on. Since when do I become this restless?
The shadow is haunting me. The fear is approaching me. I am struck in the world of darkness. Suddenly, I feel a hand touching me. The moment I turn my eyes, I am stabbed… again. The pain is emitted throughout my body. I hate this pain and I always do.
Then I run again. I run again to avoid the fear that always haunts me. I run again and the life goes on.
You haunted me in reality, now I am haunting you eternally in your endless dream. I won't stop, Rei-sama.
That girl… again.
Rei opened his eyes, breathing heavily. It felt like the dream affected him in the real world.
That nightmare again…
He leaned on the wall, trying to regain his stability. Both physical… and mind. The latter was not easy, especially after having that nightmare repeatedly.
Oh god, why can't you let me forget the past…
He then checked his hourglass. He had made that traditional clock to keep his sense of time since he wasn't sure whether bringing a watch was allowed or not.
He rubbed his eyes and rechecked his mind. He couldn't have slept only 20 minutes! For God's sake, he felt like many hours had been gone in his nightmare! Though in heart, he felt relieved since he didn't miss his first training.
After changing his cloth into his favorite training cloth, a simple t-shirt, he heard a knock from outside the door.
"Rei-san, are you awake yet?" A low yet beautiful voice is voiced. She must be Reiko.
"Yes, I am. Please wait a minute, Reiko-san," He wore his favorite training trouser and then went to open the door.
"Rei-san, please follow me to the training yard," I followed her slow movement. Keeping pace with her was not easy. She has a perfect movement like Yamato Nadeshiko. Maybe this girl hasn't realized it yet that she might make everyone around her difficult to blend with her. Natural personality I hope.
Suddenly she called my name.
"Yes?"
"Rei-san, do you mind if you just need to call me Reiko. I'd like it better."
"…Well, if you insist," though in my heart, I am struggling. People usually called the others with honorific. Without one means they don't respect them except if they are in a close relationship. He barely talked to her yet she asked him to call her name without honorific? Maybe that matter isn't strict in this village.
They finally arrived at the training yard. There were many ninjas training martial arts there. They shot a sharp glance to Rei like they never saw anyone beside them in that village. Or maybe it was the fact. He didn't think about any further and followed Reiko to meet Hayate talking with a tall man wearing ninja garb. He was roughly as tall as Hayate and perhaps in his opinion, more handsome. His emerald eye reflected his vast experience in harsh battle. A fine warrior indeed he thought.
"Hayate-sama. I have brought Rei-san as you requested before," Reiko bowed.
"Thank you, Reiko-chan. You may dismiss yourself," She bowed… again and then left.
"Come here, Rei. Let me introduce him to you."
He hoped so since he wanted to know deeper about this calm ninja. "My name is Rei. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ryu Hayabusa," short and clear answer, talk about efficient.
"Enough introduction? Then Rei, let me tell you this. Frankly, I don't know how strong you are, thus I want you to fight Ryu, do you mind?"
"Nope," Instead, he would really like to fight him. This Hayabusa guy seemed… different than the others. But wait, he remembered something about him. But what was it, he forgot. Oh well, might as well fight him for now.
We then followed Hayate to the center of the training yard. He then spoke with a ninja which was observing the students. All the students stopped their training as the ninja spoke loudly.
"To all ninjas here, I announced to you that there will be a sparring between Master Ryu Hayabusa with our new student, Rei. Please everyone stop their training and watch this little fight."
Rei expected some whispers like the common people would do but what he found here was a complete obedience accompanied with silence. They really were trained to be very disciplined, loyal, and unquestioning their master, weren't they?
He got into the arena with Ryu Hayabusa, distancing themselves into the edge of the arena. They both glare to each other, showing the will to fight.
"Are you ready? Remember, the winning condition in this sparring is to take out your opponent out of the arena," said the ninja to both of them. They nodded at the same time and prepared to unleash a great start.
"START!"
Instantly, he dashed.
--
He prepared for quick dash to his enemy. After analyzing his opponent, Hayabusa realized that this Rei guy wasn't too strong if it was come to strength duel. Thus, a quick dash right into him should be enough to throw him out of the arena.
Focus… Focus… Focus…
"START!"
Now!
Hayabusa instantly dashed to crush Rei. He was very quick enough to not let anyone realize him already getting near Rei. Yes, he would crush him. Very unlike his usual style but if it was enough, he would do it. He would crush him. But where did he go?
He suddenly realized danger coming from his left. He quickly turned left and prepared to counter the upcoming attack. Unfortunately, Rei halted his movement and quickly retreated. He realized that his opponent was not weak at all.
--
"What was happened just now, Hayate-sama?" Reiko asked confusedly. She couldn't follow their quick start. He knew she wouldn't since he also took his time to realize their quick start.
"Both of them are good. That's the only thing you need to know, Reiko-chan," Hayate explained simply. He thought that Hayabusa should have a very good start. His dash was so quick and not until one second, he was already near Rei's starting position. The unexpected thing was whether Rei quickly realized Hayabusa's quick dash or maybe he had planned it before, he also used quick dash. Although not as quick as Hayabusa, he dashed unexpectedly to his right and quickly turned to strike Hayabusa from the left. The next thing he knew was Hayabusa quickly realized the danger and turned to counter Rei's unexpected strike. Rei also quickly realized that Hayabusa would counter his attack thus he stopped and retreated.
What a blazing start. Both of them are a quick fighter and thinker. I hate to admit it but I am starting to feel that Rei is as strong as Ryu he thought.
Now both of them glared to each other, expecting an attack. They moved around the arena slowly, still keeping a distance each other. Both of them fought carefully. Suddenly, Rei used quick dash again to strike down Hayabusa.
--
He couldn't keep this longer. The longer they were waiting each other, the more he spent his stamina. He knew for sure that his stamina wasn't as strong as Hayabusa. Thus, he quickly dashed to him.
Just as he thought, Ryu Hayabusa was a counter-style person. The moment Rei entered his personal area of defense, he quickly made the stance to counter. Having expected him to do that stance, Rei slowed his dash. He needed 0.2 second to analyze his opponent. Left arm defending the chest, Right arm was raised readying to intercept any punch, both leg were ready to give additional energy for his right arm. His unprotected part of body… the head.
Rei quickly jumped with all the energy which he applied before for dashing. What he didn't expect was Hayabusa was a quick thinker. Hayabusa lowered his body a little and using his legs as the stirrup for dashing forward. He used his right hand to grab Rei's left leg and then pulling Rei down. The next thing he did was using Rei as the stirrup to move all the way up to Rei's head and then using Rei's head as the stirrup again to jump. Not only distancing him from Rei, Rei also was pushed and was forced to kiss the floor of the arena, resulting heavy damage to him.
Rei quickly got on feet only to receive a hard direct hit from Hayabusa. Luckily, he was barely thrown outside the arena. He managed to stand and keeping his distance from Hayabusa.
This is not good. He was agile, quick-thinker, and strong. Damn.
Rei moved slowly while watching Hayabusa who was standing still and observing him.
Now how will I kick his ass? He pondered. Suddenly he felt hurt in his heart. Perhaps It was because Hayabusa intentionally hit there before.
Damn. This is so painful… Like that dream…
He remembered something he shouldn't remember. This pain... He needed to finish this quickly.
…Should I use my real fighting style?
It hurt again.
Damn… Maybe I just needed to use that one…
--
Ryu observed his opponent carefully. He tried to guess what Rei would do next. He seemed to be hurt a lot. Perhaps it was because he hit his heart before. This could be his chance to finish him.
But still, defense and countering are the best thing to do for now. I still don't know whether he hold a trick in his sleeve or not.
He decided to wait and see.
Would he attack? It's possible. Would he defense and wait for me to attack? Most likely. But if that's the case, he will weaken significantly. I could easily dispatch him if I take my time.
Rei seemed to consider something. Maybe he indeed has another trick in his sleeve. Hayabusa was sure he would attack first thus he got ready to counter again.
Just as he thought, Rei attacked first. It wasn't that he was impatient, but he was forced to do so.
He will use another trick, I am sure.
Hayabusa observed Rei's movement carefully. Rei didn't slow down, he was instead getting faster, faster, and faster.
He didn't think to crush me, did he? He will lose if I also crush him.
Hayabusa instantly leaped to confront Rei. His hand was longer. He knew it and would use it, thus he quickly moved his right hand to strike Rei like a spear. Rei lowered his body, causing him to slowing down, to evade his strike attack.
Just as I thought, he lowered his body. Now I completely trap him. I will use my right hand to strike from above and my left hand to strike his front. It will complete his pain.
Just when he was about to execute his plan, he felt a great danger will wrath upon him.
The danger… is coming from his hand. Somehow… I would lose if he used his hand to strike me. He will hit me first before I hit him, he is just too close. I have to throw him away!
He instantly raised his knee to strike Rei's chin, causing Rei to fly. The moment Rei was falling down, he used his hard direct hit again. Now, he successfully threw Rei out of the arena
--
Damn. Why am I getting weaker right now?
His chin was hit by Hayabusa's knee before and now he was flying in the air.
My chin is hit. It's very painful.
He had reached the maximum height of his flying and now he was falling down.
Please, no more hit… Especially THAT hit…
His hope didn't mean to be fulfilled. Hayabusa hit him again with his hard direct hit. He was flying out of the arena.
It's painful, damn it… Just like that nightmare…
Once again, he kissed the floor and heavily damaged.
--THE END OF CHAPTER 4--
