A/N: Alright the 4th Chapter is here. I hope people aren't aiming fiery arrows of disaster for the Nathan/Freya pairing. Anyway no news just since I still do not own History's Strongest Disciple. ;-; But I hope you all enjoy the 4th Chapter.
Chapter 4: Land of Festive Fights.
Nathan stared at the man, as when he tried to move, Pollux came closer, getting between him and Kaname as if he were intentionally trying to divide them, like YOMI had apparently done to the rest of his friends. Pollux striking furiously as Nathan parried and avoided his blows, barely able to keep up with the near instantly all out pace of the male Stanley sibling. meanwhile his mind drifted to the last time he felt he had someone to protect, when he came upon Haruka meeting her for the first time in Okinawa.
~flashback, over 3 years ago.~
Nathan was finally on his own, using his saved up money to buy his way to the place where he overheard Sakaki mention about having some leads as to his parents' whereabouts. A note had been taped to the inside of the big wooden gate of Ryozanpaku, as he knew there was no way the masters would permit him to go alone, but this was his chance to confront his parents, to demand an explanation and make them tell him why they ditched him like a broken TV on the side of the road. Soon though he had spent most of his money on the ticket as well as snacks for the trip, and was in dire straits. A few thugs, attempting to rob a young girl with long silky black hair, surrounding trapped her as she yelled in fear for "Uncle Kaz", but he apparently wasn't near the small bridge that covered the stream of water that went through the town. Nathan ducked down on the first thug driving his shoulder into the older teen's back before rising up tossing him up and over into the water now standing in the middle of the group protecting the girl.
The 2nd one charged hitting Nathan from behind knocking him down, but when the man charged forward he was on the receiving end of Nathan sending both feet into his shins, causing him to stagger, long enough for Nathan to get to his feet but barely in time to catch the third of the quartet's foot, lifting it over the man's head tossing him onto his back with one of Akisame's taught techniques. "Kuchiki Daoshi!" Nathan turned his attention to the thug who drilled him with a vicious kick to the head, nearly knocking Nathan and shaken up from the kick, Nathan barely reacted in time to counter the opponent's attack, grabbing his extended arm locked in place behind his neck, before sweeping the man's leg dropping him with another of the moves he learned from Akisame, the Sumokudori technique.
He stood up thinking it was over right before the last of the 4some brought a bicycle down colliding with his body being flattened by the impact, laying there as the obese thug dropped the bike in favor of a heavier weapon, though before he continued a passing man ran up, Haruka moving to check on Nathan while Kiryu kicked the man in the chest just as he was about to bring the heavy street sign down upon Haruka and Nathan, causing him to release the weapon into the air, the former Tojo Clan chairman leaping into the air to drive the weapon down upon the thug laying him out cold.
Kiryu picked up Nathan and carried him with Haruka back to the soon to be open Sunshine Orphanage, It was just a few months after bring Daigo Dojima into position as Chairman of the Tojo Clan, and now he was about to re-open the place where he grew up alongside his departed childhood friend Nishiki. Sunshine Orphanage tending to his wounds, while Haruka went through his wallet to find out what she could about the man. "It says...Nathan...Balsa, I think Uncle Kaz. He is from the mainland though, some town outside Tokyo (Anyone who knows the name of the town HSD takes place in, please share.) Kiryu nodded as he picked up his cellphone calling his former cop friend Date asking him to check out whatever he could on the kid and to notify, Kiryu glanced at Haruka as she held up the wallet. "Hayato Furinji, that is it appears who he stays with, I also have the name Shio Sakaki here too." Date wrote down the info and soon began making calls to various schools and even went to Purgatory to see the information broker Kage.
~Yesterday~
Nathan was sparring with Sakaki alongside Kenichi, however the heat of the moment Nathan kicked at Sakaki trying to keep him occupied so Kenichi could have an opening but the second Kenichi leaped for a fist, Sakaki spiked him like a volleyball right into Nathan. Nathan groaning as he slowly got up thanks to Kenichi. "Sorry Kenichi I thought I had given you a big enough opening." Sakaki chuckled darkly as he chopped open a beer. "You did considering I was going so slow. Take a break, I'm sure Kenichi would appreciate it." Nathan & Kenichi stared blankly as they recalled how easily Sakaki parried their attacks even when they came at the same time. "HE CALLS THAT SLOW?!" Miu approached causing Kenichi to relax. "Nathan have you thought about what to wear for your date with Kaname tomorrow?" Nathan's face turned pink as he blushed, not wanting to confess he had the Kugatachi successor on his mind day and night. While they enjoyed their break,2 young girls who met outside both carrying snacks which their scent began to awaken the almighty snack monster of Ryozanpaku from his nap.
One of the girls was taller than the other with long black hair, nearing her 13th birthday while the other a familiar face, rushed in, Honoka leaping onto Kenichi's back, who during this brief bit of private time kissed Miu holding her in an embrace, as Miu felt peaceful in Kenichi's arms, supposedly Hayato had been asked to go to Tokyo by the elderly keeper of the Higurashi shrine to help with repairs. Honoka growled as she jumped onto Kenichi's back hugging him. "Big Brother! I brought cookies from mom." she hugged her brother, all the while giving a death ray glare at Miu. Honoka didn't like big boobs when she and Kenichi were just friends due to all the time they spent together and now she hardly saw her brother at all unless they were together.
The other approached, her voice getting Nathan to turn around. "H-h-Haruka?! How are you, you look amazing." He hugged the smaller girl as she returned it, backing up. Nathan turned to Miu who was pinching Honoka's cheeks thinking it was cute how happy she was to see her brother despite the death glare Honoka gave her. Nathan blinked staring at Honoka "Is that his sister or his pet bear cub, she could scare a shark with that stare." Nathan cleared his throat, his hand resting on the shoulder of the girl beside him."Um guys, this is the adoptive daughter of the man who took care and trained me in Okinawa, Haruka Sawamura. Haruka this is Miu Furinji and Kenichi Shirahama and I'm guessing this rabid girl is the little sister, Honoka you told me about that's so good at Othello."
Haruka bowed politely as the 5 of them sat down to enjoy the cookies Honoka had brought from Kenichi's Mom as well as the German Chocolate cake cupcakes Haruka had brought, knowing they were Nathan's favorite. She had always wanted to see where he lived before coming to the Sunshine Orphanage. "These are delicious Haruka." She smiled happily looking at Freya who had come over to...sharpen her weapon skills with Shigure...yeah that was what she told them the past few days as Nathan and Kaname talked, sitting down with them after Miu's invitation. "Are you Nathan's girlfriend?" the two of them stiffened up, turning pink which shifted to Crimson when Kenichi and Miu nodded. "Haruka-...I heard about the incident with Hamazaki, I should've been there." Haruka shook her head. "No, you probably would've gotten in the way and got stabbed yourself and Uncle Kaz would feel terrible.
Hours seemed like seconds as soon Nathan walked with Haruka, to the gate, trailing behind Miu and Kenichi, letting two fingers reach out to grasp Kaname's hand, and she responded taking his hand, which Miu caught out of the corner of her eye. standing on the other side of the gate was a man in a matching gray suit, black shoes and a red shirt under his jacket, his facial hair barely there. "Miu...Kenichi, this is the man who helped me get back on the right track, Kiryu Kazuma." Miu and Kenichi felt a unique aura, emanating from this man, one that commanded respect and showed power, yet conveyed kindness and a good heart. "Nathan I am glad you returned home. Do not ever forget the value of family. They are the greatest treasure in this world. whether it be adopted, or sworn by oath, or blood, family is the only thing in this world worth conquering any obstacle to protect." He felt like a Master-level being of the Katsujinken, Soon, off they were walking heading from the quiet almost suburban like town despite the gang issues to visit his friends at the New Serena bar which existed in the nearby main Metropolis of Kamurocho.
~end flashback~
the sound of chaotic battle echoed both in Nathan's mind ending his through the Amusement park as this happy haven for families had been turned into a war zone Ethan moved forward going for a palm strike to the chest to continue his onslaught but Nathan sidestepped him, pivoting around Ethan, and then shoved the man into the hot dog stand, turning to face who he thought was the general of the group, Ryuuto and charged leaping into a kick, "I won't let you kill my friends, you evil twerp!" Despite his disability Ryuuto was still talented leaning back on his wheelchair just in time, avoiding before readjusting his position to see Balsa's arm cutting through the air, only for him to be knocked aside suddenly by a surprise attack.
"Wha-?! He can't be that fast" Nathan cried out as he got up and looked on in surprise to see Ethan Stanley aka Pollux standing beside Odin. Nathan had just been hit by Pollux's Boar Stance. He stared at Ethan as he could feel the hair on his neck stand up as the anticipation of a major fight began to wash over him, bringing a smile to his face. "This guy is unreal. It's like fighting an SUV with high end sports car speed capability, not only is it big and powerful but it's extremely fast. if I hadn't already been in motion to attack his boss I would've definitely gotten some broken ribs."
Nathan gripped his shirt by the shoulder and soon tossed it aside revealing the Tiger tattoo upon his back for the first time since returning to his hometown. "I haven't shown this to anyone in quite some time, I haven't felt this way in months." Ethan went to attack but found himself being knocked back this time by a quicker than expected forearm to the face, Nathan making up for the speed disadvantage by kicking off the wall using his physical strength to launch him toward Ethan, connecting with the blow as the two were at a standoff. just like the rest of YOMI and the Shinpaku Alliance.
Ogata waited in the wings as he watched from his perch. "I must confess that I was curious as to how he developed away from Ryozanpaku. Hmm interesting tattoo. His style clearly shows training of the Ryozanpaku masters but it appears he's taken things in addition to that." a violent crash in the distance stole Ogata's attention, seeing Miu and Rimi going all out, Ogata's almost serpentine smile gracing his features as he felt Miu's Dou ki rise. Junazard might have been insane but he really improved the Furinji girl. Ryuuto moved through the areas examining the battles.
Meanwhile Thor stood there with Nijima and the Valkyrie girls their eyes moving every which way due to the cries, crashes and yells, Thor wondering why with all of the fights breaking out, no one had come his way, until he realized the pain he was in when Nijima grabbed his left arm. He had been ignored due to his injury, a sense of shame as a fighter but more guilt for his inability to help his friends during this struggle.
Rachel feeling surprised for a few moments before the fight resumed. She didn't know her brother would be here as well. while Renka stared at Kenichi's friend remembering how powerful Ethan was and Nathan appeared to be on par with him, Rachel was equally surprised, she had not expected anyone other than Kenichi to hold their own against Ethan and he only did it because he caught Ethan off guard by starting out right at the beginning just like he usually did, to counteract the plan Ethan had to eliminate Kenichi before the battle's momentum had a chance to go in his favor. Rachel and Renka locked eyes, their clothing torn past the point of saving them, only stopping for the moment to catch their breath, before resuming the fight. " Ethan...I am happy to see you again." The newcomer had at least a decent fighter to be able to hold their own against Ethan considering he went all out from the start.
Then the male Stanley lunged forward, ready to attack again with all of his power, but Nathan managed to get up in time and attempt to throw Ethan. However, Ethan saw the grab coming and stopped just a little short of Nathan before throwing a devastating punch, which his opponent managed to counter if only barely. Nathan proceeded to punch again, this time with his other hand, but Ethan sidestepped it and moved in, surprising Nathan with his speed despite his size. Ethan went for another attack, this one with the knuckle of his middle finger sticking out. Sensing that it would be bad to be hit by it, Nathan leapt back a bit and just narrowly avoided the attack. With a yell, Nathan went for a powerful hay maker, but found his attack parried, getting a curse out of him. "Dammit...I've never fought someone so intense right out the gate." soon their hands met both attempting a throw as Nathan noticed...remorse in Ethan's eyes.
"Please turn away, you are not a member of the Shinpaku Alliance, you don't have to die here." Nathan responded by turning throwing Ethan into a vending machine knocking it over. "I know but I am Miu's "sibling" from what I heard you understand the important bond that exists between a brother and sister even if I was only adopted by Ryozanpaku. The only way I am backing down is if your gang of thugs pretending to Martial artists leave Kenichi and his friends alone." Ethan took his stance getting ready. "I cannot do that. I have my orders, I understand your reason for not backing down and I will no longer insult you by asking you to retreat...so you'll simply have to Die!" Ethan charged forward in his Boar stance but he was met by Nathan imitating driving his own forehead into Ethan's both men, staggered, as a small fine line of blood began to leak from their head.
This fight between them shifted between an outright brawl straight out of the Roman gladiator pits, to technical strategy, Nathan attempting a joint lock to try and pin Ethan down but the male half of the Laughing Fist's tag team, displayed his power, launching Nathan up into the air, his body crashing through a dining table, as the trapped Freya stared. "Nathan!...let me go Odin!" Ryuuto stared down at her fixing his glasses. "Just wait. I must confess I did not expect Pollux's return, big plans really are unfolding." Ryuuto was in the prime spot to see the fights as he glanced around looking at Takeda and Lugh, Kenichi and Berserker, Siegfried and Hermit, Ukita was already down but Kisara beaten as she was still barely standing against Chikage, before Ukita rose up pushing Kisara back being grabbed and violently slammed by Chikage.
"You Idiot...what was that for?" Ukita groaned looking at her as he forced a smile even as blood came out of his mouth, partially delirious from being slammed into the ground like the hammer in the Whack-a-mole game, "Because you matter to me." Kisara couldn't help but blush, moving protectively to Chikage ignoring her warning to retreat, though suddenly the girl upon seeing the battered Ukita, went into Child Mode, crying over what she had done, until her master came and retrieved her.
Nathan's eyes widened as he held off Ethan's Boar attack seeing Rimi send Miu rocketing down into the roof of the Merry-go-round. hearing Kenichi's terror-filled scream of "MIU!"causing him to assume the worst possible outcome, trembling as he shoved Ethan back, sending his leg up toward the male Stanley who put his forearms up to block it, only for the kick to briefly lift him off the ground, not to mention break his guard, knocking Pollux back a bit. the two continued to fight, as Takeda used his all or nothing gamble to beat Lugh, Ogata shifting his gaze to see Kenichi effortlessly get around Berserker due to the Seikuken, trying to get to Miu to check on her.
Nathan stared at Ethan, motioning toward the Merry go round. "Get out of my way." Ethan shook his head taking his stance. "I gave you the opportunity to retreat, I have my orders to eliminate all members of the Shinpaku Alliance...whether I want to or not." again though Nathan's very aura seemed to change as his spirit heated up, causing a blue aura to surround him, as he charged forward the two, fighting now on an even level, though it was more furious and violent than before. Ethan tries a close range Boar stance to knock Nathan off guard but Nathan responded with a non-Ryozanpaku technique called the Komaki Parry, sidestepping at the final instant to drive a knee into his opponent's sternum, knocking Ethan back.
Nathan upon his opening moved rotating in the opposite direction while, Ethan staggered bent over from the knee to the sternum, the fears that haunted him being wiped away by the fact that Miu and Kenichi needed him, He leapt into the air, twisting, almost 360 degrees in the air bringing his far leg over to collide with the back of Ethan's skull, sending the disciple of Sehrul Rahman to the ground out cold while Nathan's exhaustion prevented him from adjusting his rotation, crashing hard upon the asphalt as well, crawling to a nearby railing though with each movement his body felt like it got 100 lbs heavier his fingers trembling as one hand took hold of a railing. The attack he had used was the ultimate technique of the Komaki school, the Komaki Dragon Heat, however he had was still years away from mastering the move hence the bad landing. He groaned staring at Ethan to make sure he was down but still breathing.
His gaze shifted toward where he last saw Kaname, trying to pull himself up to his feet. "Miu...Kenichi...Kaname...hold on." he struggled to walk toward the wheelchair bound YOMI member, to try and help Kaname get free from Ryuuto and make that four-eyed twerp talk as to why this is going on, though when he got there, Ryuuto, and a just recently freed Kaname's eyes were transfixed on the fight between Miu and Rimi which was entering it's final stages. "Nathan!" Kaname moved to him helping him stand as they stared, even as the silver-haired Devil emerged from the shadows, grinning even as Ryuuto looked on in horror at the fact Rimi was about to use the same Seidou Goui technique that had caused so much havoc to his own body and Ogata their teacher was simply watching with joy not caring whether or not she survived.
Nathan felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing Ogata as the man seemed to peel away every strip of his calm collected demeanor, his body trembling a bit in fear. Yet the next sensation was overwhelming watching as Rimi moved her hands in circular motions Rimi made as if an Angel and a demon straight from the pit were being compressed into the same vessel, her Ki feeling Violent and sinister(Dou) yet calm and focused, (Sei) this seemingly impossible feeling made him begin to doubt reality itself until yells of panic came from the wheelchair bound boy who he had last seen with Freya.
He began making his way toward Ryuuto or as he had heard Freya call him, Odin, however he was stopped, feeling what felt like a blade of pure killing intent around his throat, turning briefly to see Ogata staring at him, his eyes shimmering as if they were gazing into his very soul as a Martial artist. "Ah...the newcomer. you managed to beat Sehrul's disciple, no small task, I am impressed with how much you've grown on your own, Nathan Balsa. I must say I find it very odd that the Katsujinken masters of Ryozanpaku would allow a killer to remain amongst them, Don't you think you would be more at home with us?"
Nathan was snapped out of this near Gorgon-like gaze of petrification that Ogata had him under hearing Kenichi's panicked yell, and the smell of smoke searing his nose. Nathan's hazel eyes widened seeing him and Ryuuto dash for their respective females, Berserker staring as if analyzing the situation before moving forward only for the newcomer he had heard about from Rachel standing if you could call it that. Nathan was spent, panting as he stared at Berserker. "You aren't going near them." "That's a nice to say and all but...I can barely move and what I can move aches like nothing even the masters did to me. Kiryu wasn't kidding when he said the Dragon Heat Essence was an all or nothing move. I feel like Dian Wei in his last moments standing guard for Cao Cao, heh...I get it Akisame-sensei...the resolve to die for the sake of another's future, that is the true essence of Katsujinken."
Berserker approached staring at him as if sizing him up, his hands slid into his pockets while he approached. "You are gonna be the knight in shining armor?" Nathan shook his head chuckling as he did his best to get into stance. "Far from it. if Miu heard me take such a chauvinistic stance she would beat me senseless, not to mention what Shigure would do." He shuddered as he mentally pictured Ryozanpaku's Maiden of weapon's reaction to such a thought, but his focus returned toward Berserker who judging by the lack of damage Kenichi had done, was easily stronger than himself. Nathan clenched his fists staring at him.
"I found my resolve, the resolve to fight for the futures of those that I care about. that is the true essence of Katsujinken. murderous thugs like you and your little demon teacher of the Satsujinken have no claim to martial arts or the honor it bestows those who practice them. you are just killers who happen to use your fists instead of a gun or knife." He smirked when he heard Freya's voice off in the distance knowing she was out of harm's way and out of the reach of Ogata or this beast standing before him.
Just as Berserker went to attack Nathan, Ryuuto and Kenichi took off bypassing him attempting their 30-second Hail Mary of an attack,yet still it only managed to draw a trickle of blood from the man's mouth until he in motions barely visible to Nathan flattened Ryuuto & Kenichi, though Ogata's attention was drawn from the 2 mewling cubs at the arrival of someone new, someone who looked like a Salesman talking on a cell phone to his wife and child, staring a hole in Ogata as he approached, the aura he gave off bringing an almost serpentine smile to the face Ogata as this "devil" of Martial Arts, came face to face with Tanaka despite the ever growing inferno around them.
The Saint Fist of Yami vs A man driven Vengeance, Tsutomu Tanaka
To Be Continued.
A/N: So do you guys want me to do the Tanaka vs Ogata story or move past it, let me know in the reviews.