Disclaimer… I do not own Maple… Aeons do not own maple!
Just before they entered the woods of Ellinia, Nathan did something strange. Converting to human, he bent to the ground and twisted his wrists three times before pulling them up. Two sizable stones floated before him, and he plunged his hands into them. Waving his hands to get rid of excess debris, Nathan now wore two stone gloves. Hitori sidled over. "I say, what are those for?", the spirit asked. Nathan answered by grabbing him by the neck and flinging him over the treetops. Picking up his cargo, Nathan continued onwards. The assasin had woken up several times, and each time Nathan had solved the problem in his own straightforward way. A way that involved clubs and smacking people on the head.
It was night time. Nathan could have marched straight through the night, but Hitori, blessed as he was with underdeveloped physical skills in the physical world, had to call a stop. Stopping at a place called the Shady Man's Bar and Inn, Hitori stared for a good thrity seconds at the sign. "Well, at least they're frank shady men.", he muttered, and stepped inside. It was actually quite a respectable place, wayfaring adventurers toasting each other and only about a cornerful of dark men in cloaks. The barman hobbled over. "A table for two, then, sirs?", he asked, a slight lisp in his voice. Hitori nodded, and Nathan tipped his bamboo hat in respect. As he did so, he attracted many stares at his rock gloves, and the cargo on his back. Also, Hitori noticed something on his hat, an insignia of a badger paw. Hitori didn't know what, but something secretive was being broadcasted. Eventually the diners turned back to their meals, all except one. A skinny, lanky fellow, the man moved with a certain grace. "You can get water over there, sirs.", the barman said, and went to deal with the other customers. Nathan rose before Hitori could even speak, walking in a rather twisted route. This route led directly to the man. The moment he passed, the lanky man stood up and shouted, "What did you just call me?!". The bar froze, the only sound being the slight tinkle of ice on glass. Hitori rose angrily. "He didn't say anything! He never says anything!", Hitori exclaimed. Nathan raised a hand, motioning Hitori to stop. He was not looking at the man in the eye's. Instead, he seemed to be searching for something. Finally, he found what he was looking for. Baring his lips in a snarl, Nathan crouched into a fighting position. Several younger diners began beating the table, chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!". The barman ran frantically to the two, saying, "Gentlemen, please, there will be no fighting in my restaurant!". The lanky man got up. "Fine. We'll just settle this outside.". Moments later, nearly the entire pub was deserted. The barman looked at his one and only customer. "Kids these days.", he muttered. "Tell me about it.", Hitori said, stretching and yawning.
In a ring formed of people, the two combatants were circling each other. Actually, it was only the lanky man who was doing the circling. Nathan was standing stock still, watching and waiting for his opponent to make a move. Suddenly, the man lunged. Raising a stone barrier to protect himself, Nathan pushed outwards with his hands, making rock spikes burst from the ground. However, the man was too quick. Circling around, the man was at Nathan's spine. The Silent turned, and the man turned with him. The man jabbed outwards at a pressure point on Nathan's spine. Paralyzed, Nathan fell to the ground, and several spectators began chanting, "Ba Gua! Ba Gua!". The man, whose name was evidently Ba Gua, was about to strike once more when Nathan rolled over, waving his finger to cause a tiny rock spike to emerge from the ground, prodding the pressure point Ba Gua had hit. The Silent's supporters cheered as he got back on his feet, who wasted no time to make stone walls on either side of them, spreading the diameter of the ring. Evidently, if Ba Gua's strength was his speed, then Nathan would make sure he had no place to run. Lunging forward, he grabbed Ba Gua by the arm for just a second before the thin man got away, spinning his arms like windmills. He was all about circular movement, constantly spinning his arms to create momentum. Nathan lunged forwards, but Ba Gua suddenly put both arms forwards, palms out and fingers pointing away from each other. A blast of wind hit Nathan straight in the stomach, sending him reeling backwards. Staggering to his feet, Nathan smiled. This was starting to get interesting.
Kevin wrote this chapter.... Hitorihyuuga...