CHAPTER 2

After taking one more swipe at the punch bag, Riana gives up. She was tired and that is a fact her limbs don't let her forget. Taking a towel from her Instructor, Riana walks over to the benches at the far side of the gym and sits down to stretch off her arms and legs.
" Well, I must say Riana May, you have improved since the last time! Very impressive!"
Riana pats her forehead dry with the towel and smiles warmly at her Kung Fu instructor.
" Well that's good, because I've been practising hard!"
" Hard enough to beat me?"
Both student and instructor turn towards the new voice.
" Ah, I'm glad you could make it today Akuma!" The instructor says with a warm smile. Patting Riana on the back, Instructor Chung introduces the blond haired boy.
" Riana, this is Akuma Tekakawa, he's a transfer student all the way from Japan!"
" From Japan?" Riana repeats with wonder.
" Well, technically I'm not a transfer student as such." Akuma adds dropping his bag from his shoulder.
" Mr. Chung is an old family friend, he's invited me to stay for the competition this week."
Riana turns to her instructor with raised eyebrows.
" He's going to compete in the 1st British unisex Martial Arts world tournament? For our team?? With me???"
Instructor Chung chuckles to himself and helps Riana from her seat.
" Not exactly, you see." Chung pauses and nods towards Akuma.
" Akuma here is actually in the Japanese team, and since I already live in London, it seemed a good idea for him to stay with me until the tournament is over."
" Yep! It looks like you and me are going to be competitors for the trophy!" Akuma smiles. " That is, if you're good enough to get into the finals!"
Instructor Chung intervenes, knowing Riana's quick temper.
" She defiantly is good enough, I'm her Instructor remember?"
Akuma shrugs and picks up his bag from the floor.
" Well, I'll wait for you in the lobby..."
Chung stops his young friend in his tracks.
" Don't you want to do a little training with us? It's been a while since I've instructed you!"
Akuma shakes his head and glances over to Riana with a knowing smile.
" I've done all the training I need to win this competition. But I'm sure Riana would love to carry on with the lesson."
Chuckling to himself, Akuma takes his leave and walks out of the gym, leaving Riana to boil over his words.
Chung sighs sadly and turns to Riana.
" He used to be such a nice boy. Now it seems he is turning out to be quite a competitor!"
" Competitor my foot!" Riana grumbles. " Did you see how he tried to aggravate me?" Riana stops herself and bites her lip. " Sorry Mr. Chung, I forgot he was a friend of yours..."
Chung pats his young student on the shoulder, chuckling.
" No that's ok Riana! Actually I'm beginning to worry about Akuma. To be competitive is healthy, but he should realise that winning isn't everything. Maybe you could teach him that at the competition, eh?"
Riana gasps. " You mean you want me to beat him? Your friend??"
Instructor Chung laughs and leads his student to the neatly set out mats in the centre of the gym.
" Well, I've always been told by my Instructor... 'Losing can be the greatest thing that you can accomplish!'"
Riana looks at her Instructor bewildered.
Laughing again at his student, Chung falls back into a ready stance and ushers Riana to do the same.
" Well, quotations aside, let's pretend that I'm Akuma. Come at me like you would him."
Riana flicks her plated, hip-length, dark-brown hair out of the way and smiles.
" You mean as if we were in the competition right now, and I was facing Akuma in the finals?"
Chung nods. " Exactly."
"Ok, then!"