8. The Power of Muay Thai
"Ah. Thailand." Sakura said while taking in deep breaths of air. She was standing in front of a huge golden statue of a lady lying down in a surrounding pond. This was where Ryu fought Sagat for the first time and where Sagat trains at. He'll be here any minute now.
The others were gawking at the work of art at hand.
"I hate to admit it, but this is much better than the Lee's masterpiece," Darrell declared.
Hinata just shook her head in disagreement. "No. I think that that war sculpture was much more graphic and powerful."
"Guess who the critic is."
While Darrell and Hinata started to argue about the art world, Sakura took this time to do some stretching. She always did that while waiting for something to happen. After about 10 minutes, Sakura stopped suddenly.
"Something up?" Hinata asked curiously.
"Ssshh!" Sakura hissed. Everyone quieted down, so the only noise was that of the slight wind. and grass crumbling.
"Someone's here," Sakura announced while getting up. A figure appeared behind a small tree. He was sort of skinny and wore nothing but a pair of blue and red trunks and tape on his hands and heels. The colors on his trunks were separated by a golden "V". His hair was orange and spread out one way forward and at the base was an orange headband. He also had a rather annoying smile on his face.
"Hello. I'm sorry to interrupt your picnic, but this is my private training grounds. I'll let you leave two ways: either on your own two feet or on three stretchers."
"For someone who just came here, you have a lot of nerve saying that to someone you don't even know," Hinata scolded.
"I can tell that you are new here, so you don't have any idea who you are talking to. I'm Adon, the king of Muay Thai. Now, I'll give you a chance to move out of here."
"Muay Thai." Sakura repeated. "By any chance do you know a person by the name of Sagat?"
"Shut.. UP!!!!" Adon bellowed, clenching a fist in anger. "Sagat is nothing but a weakling compared to me. He lost to some Shotokan in a white gi for crying out loud! Muay Thai is supposed to beat any type of fighting style, especially Shotokan. That's why I ditched any relationships with that good for nothing."
Sakura's anger started to rise. "That man in the white gi just happens to be the best out there in all aspects. His name is Ryu. and I'm looking for him, but I doubt someone as arrogant as you would even be any time worth wasting on. and neither should I be wasting time on you. Come on, guys."
Darrell and Hinata stared at Sakura.
{Are you kidding me, Sakura?} Darrell thought, totally confused. {I thought that you were looking for someone. Why leave the place that you know that he'll be at?}
"Are you coming or not?!" Sakura yelled out while turning her back to Adon.
"Uh. yeah, sure, Sakura." Hinata let out before joining her. Darrell just looked at Adon some more before starting to leave.
{I'm not. worth wasting.?!} Adon thought angrily. {Why that no good brat!}
"Hey, kid!" Adon called after the three that were just about out of earshot. They stopped and looked over their shoulders. "You! The loud- mouthed one! How about I beat some respect into you?! I'm the king of Muay Thai, for crying out loud!!"
{This guy just doesn't stop, does he?} Sakura thought. She started walking towards Adon, and, sort of copying off Darrell, started to fix her red handguards. "I really don't care if you are the prince of Spain! If it is a fight that you want, then I'll give it to you, just to get you to shut up."
{That's right. come to papa,} Adon thought.
"Wait."
Both Sakura and Adon looked to where the voice came from, i.e. Darrell. He gave Adon an icy glare.
"Like my friend, Sakura here, I really don't care who or what you call yourself, but someone as arrogant as you needs a good punch to the face. Normally I would let Sakura kill you, but that wouldn't make me much of a gentleman, now would it?"
Darrell looked towards Sakura. "You don't mind, do you?" he asked, flashing a smile.
"I don't know. He has been directing his attention to me."
"Aren't you looking for someone around here?"
"Yeah."
"While I beating this guy senseless, you look out for him, OK?"
Sakura took a while to answer. Just when she was about to speak, Adon cut her off.
"Just who do you think you are, huh? I want her, not some punk like you."
Darrell instantly turned his attention to Adon, his eyes full of anger. "Did. you just call me a punk?"
Adon wasn't fazed. "That's right, punk. You don't deserve the right to take me on."
"How about I correct you!"
Darrell entered his fighting stance, but Adon folded his arms while smiling.
"I don't understand why you are so ignorant, but I'll take you on. I could use a human punching bag."
"Shut up," Darrell belted back as his red-orange aura appeared around his body. "I didn't come to Thailand just to sightsee. I have been training since yesterday." The aura started to grow. "And I could use a punching bag!"
Adon got into his fighting stance. {Weird. his aura is different from other fighters. I only seen a color like that on. Could he know that move?}
"I see that you practice Shotokan, huh?" Adon said. Darrell didn't return with an answer.
"That aura. Do you know a move called the Raging Demon?"
"I have a raging move all right. Allow me to demonstrate."
Darrell dashed forward towards Adon as Adon braced himself.
"Rekka. NAKKURA!!!"
{Not what I had in mind.}
Adon blocked Darrell's rapid blows. Darrell stopped suddenly since his moves where being blocked.
{How could he block all of that? Oh, well. looks like I'll have to change the strategy.}
Darrell jabbed at Adon, but Adon just moved out of the way. Adon countered with a strong side kick to the head. Darrell ducked and swept Adon. Adon fell to the ground and rolled to the side to get up.
"Senpukyaku!"
"I don't think so! Rising Jaguar!!"
Adon hit Darrell out of his hop kick with a double rising knee while rising into the air, taking his opponent with him. As Adon landed, Darrell safe fell.
"Try this out for size, rookie!"
Adon jumped high behind him as Darrell got near him. He jumped onto the side of the gold statue, got his balance, and then drove himself towards his foe, with his foot outstretched.
"Jaguar Tooth!"
Darrell braced himself, about two seconds before Adon was about to make contact, an idea struck him.
{I know that I'll regret this but here it goes.}
Darrell bent down slightly, his fist at his side. He dashed forward a bit towards Adon.
"Shouoken!!!"
Darrell soared into the air with his fist above him, hitting Adon out of his special move.
{He used my move.?!} Sakura was pretty shocked at this. She and Hinata were a few yards away from the battle, which continued after Darrell's move, but she could see clearly.
{Okay, Darrell. after this. we are going to have a little battle ourselves.}
"Did he just use your move?" Hinata asked Sakura. Sakura simply nodded 'yes'.
"The form wasn't like yours, you know. Maybe this is what he meant by getting some tips. I'd be surprised if he used one of my moves."
"I doubt that he would. Most of your moves don't suit his personality," Sakura said.
Hinata turned her attention to her friend. "What do you mean?" Her voice was a little annoyed.
Sakura held up a finger. "One word, Hinata. Renkyakudan. Do you imagine Darrell using that move?"
Hinata started to blush beet red. "I hardly use that move now! I know that is ridiculous-looking. That is why I don't even bother to use it in a serious fight."
"I don't know where you got the idea." Sakura said while closing her eyes for a bit.
"Oh, please!" Hinata said loudly. The embarrassment in her voice made Sakura laugh a bit. "I guess that all of your moves are serious. Must I say it.? Sakura Otoshi?"
Sakura's laugh disappeared immediately. She glared at Hinata, who was wearing her own mischievous smile. "Now wait just a minute.! My Sakura Otoshi is a much better move than your Renkyakudan! It has its uses."
Hinata rolled her eyes. "You get hit out of it faster than Gan eats his lunch!"
Sakura was steaming now. "So, you want to be a wise-girl, huh!?"
"You started it! You shouldn't have said anything about my moves!"
"How about you and I testing out those moves now on each other? We'll hit each other at the same time." Sakura wagered, "and the one with the weakest move buys everyone lunch. How about that, Hinata?"
"You're on!"
"Excuse me."
Both girls looked at Darrell, who was just dashing away from Adon.
"Can you two do that after I done with Adon? I can't really concentrate with you arguing."
Sakura crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine."
"OK!" Darrell yelled out while getting into some sort of fighting stance. Adon, who was about to charge in, stopped in his tracks.
"Hey! What are you doing, boy?" Adon asked, half taunting, half worried. He had taken a large amount of damage from this kid, but if he gave a sign of fatigue, he'll just give himself away. He had to bluff somewhat.
"Do you really want to know.?" Darrell asked. His red-orange aura reappeared, just as big as it was before. "I'm charging up!"
Adon could feel the American's power rising higher than it did before. "I'll stop you from getting far! Hyyahhh!"
Adon sprung into the air and hit Darrell with an overhead heel kick.
"Jaguar Revolver!!"
Adon did three smaller versions of the hop up, heel kick combination, successfully hitting Darrell each time. His aura shrunk as he fell back to the ground.
"You should never say what you are doing in battle, kid," Adon tipped off.
"There is. a reason why I told you that."
"WHAT??"
Adon looked on in shock as the kid got up from the ground, slowly but surely, with his aura intact. His eyes seemed to burn.
"SHAKUNETSUKEN!!!!"
"But. how can you still have all this energy left?" Adon gasped.
"Frankly. I'll be blunt with you." Darrell said as both fists burst into flames. "I have been holding back the whole fight."
"YOU WHAT!?!"
"That's right, Adon. I've been holding back. There is no way some. punk like you can defeat someone like me."
Darrell took a step forward. Adon just stared at him in disbelief.
"As I said before, I have been training. So have Sakura and Hinata. And as I said before, I would have let Sakura beat you senseless, but I really wanted to try my new power-up skill. This isn't even all of my strength. About. well. a Shakunetsu Burst x1.5."
Adon didn't reply.
"It a totally new move. I'll probably tell you the rest. if you are still conscious when I'm done with you!"
Darrell put his hands to his side, forming a red ball of energy that grew in size so quickly that Adon couldn't put up a defense before being distracted.
"SHAKUNETSU SHINKU HADOUKEN!!!"
Darrell fired. and Adon was on fire. Within the next 10 seconds, Adon's screams could be heard throughout the area. When the ball finally exploded, Adon's body was on the ground, full of small burns and rips in the trunks.
"I guess I won't be telling you that story, huh, Adon?" Darrell said.
He turned his attention to the girls, who were staring back at him.
"You know. you can tear each other apart now," Darrell said with a smirk on his face.
"You are going to wait a bit longer."
This was a new voice. coming from where Darrell laid out Adon.
Darrell turned his body to see a huge man. Like Adon, he had on nothing but blue shorts with yellow trimming and tape on his ankles and hands. Most noticeably was the black eye patch over one of his eyes and the huge, jagged scar on his chest.
"Who. are you?" Darrell asked.
The man gave a 'humph' before saying, "I'm the emperor of Muay Thai. Sagat is the other name that you can call me by. I'm surprised that you took out Adon like this."
"He was so. ignorant. I had to shut him up."
"Well then. how about a match. I like your style."
"I just got off a match with this bozo. but as I said, I was holding back. I might take you on."
"Sagat."
Sagat turned his attention to Sakura. "I know that you fought Ryu lately. I just want to know how long ago that was."
"Little one, it has been a while since I fought that man. I have no clue where he could be."
Those words stopped Sakura's heart. "No. way. You mean to tell me that after all of that traveling to get here, I meet another roadblock!?"
Sagat crossed his arms. "I might know where he is. I'll tell you if you can beat me in a fight."
Sakura walked past Darrell towards Sagat. "Okay. if you want a fight, I'll do it. If I win, you tell me where Ryu is."
Sagat put up his fists to his fighting stance. "Now that that is agreed on. let's begin!"
Sakura started the fight by moving to the side and delivering a spinning roundhouse kick, something she hardly does. Sagat blocked and returned with a straight kick to Sakura's upper body. Since she didn't recover from her roundhouse, her back was punished, causing her to jump forward, which was really jumping backwards from Sagat.
"Tiger Crush!"
When Sakura turned around, her face meet Sagat's rising knee. She was blown backwards from the force as Sagat landed.
{Neh. Come on, Sakura,} Sakura said to herself. {You got to focus on this. This is the one chance to get to Ryu. You can't lose this fight!}
"Okay." Sakura said while turning to Sagat, who had his fists where his shoulders were, charging up an attack.
"Tiger!"
Sagat threw his arms forward at the same time and unleashed a blue ball of energy that sped towards Sakura's face. Sakura let out a gasp as she ducked it in the neck of time.
"Tiger!"
Sagat threw another blast of energy, this one aiming low. Sakura dropped to the ground and rolled to the side near the lake of the statue to avoid getting hit.
"Tiger!"
Sakura saw another Tiger Shot aimed at her legs and jumped. Unfortunately, that was a big mistake.
"TIGER BLOW!!"
Sagat flew into the air with his fist up to hit Sakura out of her jump. It was like her Shouoken. only much more powerful. When Sakura landed, she was on her back, in the lake. literally.
"Stand up, girl!" Sagat provoked his target. "This cannot be the best coming out of a follower of the man whom left this jagged scar on my chest."
{I got to get past his blasts. but when I get close, he uses that Shoryuken- type move on me. I think I might have an idea.}
Sakura got out of the shallow water, her clothes dripping with H2O. Sagat saw that she was ready and charged up his Tiger Shot again.
"Tiger!"
Sagat unleashed again, but this time, Sakura wasted no time. She quickly sidestepped the blast.
"Shouoken!"
Sakura managed to catch Sagat before he could recover and hit him multiple times before launching herself and Sagat into the air. She landed right in front of him as Sagat hit the ground, but for a big guy, Sagat got up quicker than Sakura thought.
"TIGER BLOW!!"
Sagat did his uppercut move, but Sakura managed to get her block up in time. She saw Sagat rise into the air and quickly started charging her energy at her side. Her hands were full of blue electrical energy just as Sagat began to drop. As soon as Sagat see the huge energy the girl was holding, his eyes bulged.
"SHINKU HADOUKEN!!"
Sakura raised her hands upward and blasted Sagat. His body flew across the grassy area, over the pond, and his back slammed into the statue. He stayed there for a few seconds, staring at the young fighter.
{She's good.}
Sakura eased up a bit as Sagat slid off the gold statue and into the water, where she was at a few moments ago.
"Are you finished yet?" Sakura asked the lake. "I really hope so. I have to find Ryu as fast as possible."
Sakura heard the water rush and saw it bulge upwards. The water spread to unveil a beaten up, but not defeated Sagat.
"Try this, girl. Tiger."
Sagat was already charging up for a Tiger Shot and his fists started to glow. Sakura braced herself.
"CANNON!!"
Sagat unleashed a massive energy blast which was much faster than the other Tiger Shots. Sakura barely managed to block the powerful blast. It collided with Sakura's arms, putting them into a large state of pain. Sakura cried out as she felt her arms start to give out on her. Just when Sakura was about to lose it, the blast finally gave out and exploded. She was about to let her guard down, but she put it up again as she heard a voice call out.
"Tiger. GENOCIDE!!"
Sakura blocked Sagat's Tiger Crush move, then a small Tiger Blow, then finally a much stronger Tiger Blow. As Sagat soared over her, Sakura turned around quickly and started to charge to where Sagat was going to land.
"MIDARE ZAKURA!!"
Sagat whirled around and meet Sakura's fist in the face. Afterwards, all he felt was the power of Sakura's onslaught ending with her Shouoken. As Sakura saw Sagat fly, she heard him bellow, "ALL RIGHT!!"
"Huh?" Sakura gasped.
Sagat hit the grass and stayed there. Sakura took a few steps forward before Sagat said, "Okay, child. It looks as if I underestimated you. I'll tell you what Ryu told me."
Sakura gathered herself for anything that Sagat might say. or throw at her. Fortunately, she was welcomed with, "Ryu said. that he was going to spar with his friend. in America."
"That. means that he went to fight Ken," Sakura deducted. She was about to leave in a rush before remembering her manners. "Thank you, Sagat for the match. and the information."
"Whatever. Now." Sagat rose to his feet. "I have some more training to do. Goodbye, kid."
Sakura nodded and turned to her friends.
"Nice one, Sakura," Darrell congratulated his friend on the match.
"Thank you," Sakura replied before holding her stomach with an arm. "But now I'm really hungry. Let's get something to-"
Sakura stopped her sentence and glared at Hinata. It looks as if she didn't forget, Sakura thought. Her friend's expression said it all.
Hinata put her hands on her hips. "I see you didn't forget our little wager, did you, Sakura?"
Sakura shook her head. "I can't believe that you want to go through with this. I just go off of a tough fight with Sagat, for crying out loud!"
"I'm confused," Darrell said while scratching his head. "What is this wager?"
Hinata took her glare off Sakura and looked at Darrell. "Sakura was talking about my Renkyakudan, so I started talking about her Sakura Otoshi. We both put up a wager: we hit each other with our moves..." Hinata looked at Sakura again. ".and whoever has the weakest move buys lunch for all three of us."
Darrell just shook his head. "Why would you even think about this?"
"The whole argument came about when you used my Shouoken on Adon, Darrell!" Sakura yelled out, making Darrell jump back, surprised.
{I knew that I was going to regret that.} Darrell scolded himself.
Sakura turned her attention to Hinata. "Ready?"
"Come on," Hinata said while jumping into the air and Sakura followed. Sakura brought her hands above her head as Hinata brought her leg back, as if to deliver a kick.
"Tyah!"
"Tyah!"
Sakura brought her fists down and bashed Hinata on the top of her head. As the same time, Hinata shot her leg out and, while making Darrell sweatdrop, kicked her sneaker off into Sakura's midsection at high speed. Hinata was sent sailing into the grass face first. just before Sakura landed right in front of her. Sakura landed on her feet, then slipped to one knee.
"It looks as if you're buying, Hinata," Sakura said cheerfully. Sakura started to stand up, but.
BOINK!
Hinata's sneaker hit Sakura on top of her head, dizzying her. Sakura stumbled a bit before falling on her face, just a few inches away from her now unconscious friend. Darrell just stood there, completely embarrassed.
"Uh. looks as if you are both buying. when you wake up."
"Are they all right?"
Darrell turned his head to Sagat, who had a hand on his chin. Darrell let out a nervous laugh before saying, "I guess. Hey, you don't mind helping me get these guys into our hotel room in town, do you? I can't carry both of them."
"I think I can be of assistance," Sagat answered.
"Thanks. You get Hinata and I'll carry Sakura. and. Hinata's sneaker."
End of Chapter 8
"Ah. Thailand." Sakura said while taking in deep breaths of air. She was standing in front of a huge golden statue of a lady lying down in a surrounding pond. This was where Ryu fought Sagat for the first time and where Sagat trains at. He'll be here any minute now.
The others were gawking at the work of art at hand.
"I hate to admit it, but this is much better than the Lee's masterpiece," Darrell declared.
Hinata just shook her head in disagreement. "No. I think that that war sculpture was much more graphic and powerful."
"Guess who the critic is."
While Darrell and Hinata started to argue about the art world, Sakura took this time to do some stretching. She always did that while waiting for something to happen. After about 10 minutes, Sakura stopped suddenly.
"Something up?" Hinata asked curiously.
"Ssshh!" Sakura hissed. Everyone quieted down, so the only noise was that of the slight wind. and grass crumbling.
"Someone's here," Sakura announced while getting up. A figure appeared behind a small tree. He was sort of skinny and wore nothing but a pair of blue and red trunks and tape on his hands and heels. The colors on his trunks were separated by a golden "V". His hair was orange and spread out one way forward and at the base was an orange headband. He also had a rather annoying smile on his face.
"Hello. I'm sorry to interrupt your picnic, but this is my private training grounds. I'll let you leave two ways: either on your own two feet or on three stretchers."
"For someone who just came here, you have a lot of nerve saying that to someone you don't even know," Hinata scolded.
"I can tell that you are new here, so you don't have any idea who you are talking to. I'm Adon, the king of Muay Thai. Now, I'll give you a chance to move out of here."
"Muay Thai." Sakura repeated. "By any chance do you know a person by the name of Sagat?"
"Shut.. UP!!!!" Adon bellowed, clenching a fist in anger. "Sagat is nothing but a weakling compared to me. He lost to some Shotokan in a white gi for crying out loud! Muay Thai is supposed to beat any type of fighting style, especially Shotokan. That's why I ditched any relationships with that good for nothing."
Sakura's anger started to rise. "That man in the white gi just happens to be the best out there in all aspects. His name is Ryu. and I'm looking for him, but I doubt someone as arrogant as you would even be any time worth wasting on. and neither should I be wasting time on you. Come on, guys."
Darrell and Hinata stared at Sakura.
{Are you kidding me, Sakura?} Darrell thought, totally confused. {I thought that you were looking for someone. Why leave the place that you know that he'll be at?}
"Are you coming or not?!" Sakura yelled out while turning her back to Adon.
"Uh. yeah, sure, Sakura." Hinata let out before joining her. Darrell just looked at Adon some more before starting to leave.
{I'm not. worth wasting.?!} Adon thought angrily. {Why that no good brat!}
"Hey, kid!" Adon called after the three that were just about out of earshot. They stopped and looked over their shoulders. "You! The loud- mouthed one! How about I beat some respect into you?! I'm the king of Muay Thai, for crying out loud!!"
{This guy just doesn't stop, does he?} Sakura thought. She started walking towards Adon, and, sort of copying off Darrell, started to fix her red handguards. "I really don't care if you are the prince of Spain! If it is a fight that you want, then I'll give it to you, just to get you to shut up."
{That's right. come to papa,} Adon thought.
"Wait."
Both Sakura and Adon looked to where the voice came from, i.e. Darrell. He gave Adon an icy glare.
"Like my friend, Sakura here, I really don't care who or what you call yourself, but someone as arrogant as you needs a good punch to the face. Normally I would let Sakura kill you, but that wouldn't make me much of a gentleman, now would it?"
Darrell looked towards Sakura. "You don't mind, do you?" he asked, flashing a smile.
"I don't know. He has been directing his attention to me."
"Aren't you looking for someone around here?"
"Yeah."
"While I beating this guy senseless, you look out for him, OK?"
Sakura took a while to answer. Just when she was about to speak, Adon cut her off.
"Just who do you think you are, huh? I want her, not some punk like you."
Darrell instantly turned his attention to Adon, his eyes full of anger. "Did. you just call me a punk?"
Adon wasn't fazed. "That's right, punk. You don't deserve the right to take me on."
"How about I correct you!"
Darrell entered his fighting stance, but Adon folded his arms while smiling.
"I don't understand why you are so ignorant, but I'll take you on. I could use a human punching bag."
"Shut up," Darrell belted back as his red-orange aura appeared around his body. "I didn't come to Thailand just to sightsee. I have been training since yesterday." The aura started to grow. "And I could use a punching bag!"
Adon got into his fighting stance. {Weird. his aura is different from other fighters. I only seen a color like that on. Could he know that move?}
"I see that you practice Shotokan, huh?" Adon said. Darrell didn't return with an answer.
"That aura. Do you know a move called the Raging Demon?"
"I have a raging move all right. Allow me to demonstrate."
Darrell dashed forward towards Adon as Adon braced himself.
"Rekka. NAKKURA!!!"
{Not what I had in mind.}
Adon blocked Darrell's rapid blows. Darrell stopped suddenly since his moves where being blocked.
{How could he block all of that? Oh, well. looks like I'll have to change the strategy.}
Darrell jabbed at Adon, but Adon just moved out of the way. Adon countered with a strong side kick to the head. Darrell ducked and swept Adon. Adon fell to the ground and rolled to the side to get up.
"Senpukyaku!"
"I don't think so! Rising Jaguar!!"
Adon hit Darrell out of his hop kick with a double rising knee while rising into the air, taking his opponent with him. As Adon landed, Darrell safe fell.
"Try this out for size, rookie!"
Adon jumped high behind him as Darrell got near him. He jumped onto the side of the gold statue, got his balance, and then drove himself towards his foe, with his foot outstretched.
"Jaguar Tooth!"
Darrell braced himself, about two seconds before Adon was about to make contact, an idea struck him.
{I know that I'll regret this but here it goes.}
Darrell bent down slightly, his fist at his side. He dashed forward a bit towards Adon.
"Shouoken!!!"
Darrell soared into the air with his fist above him, hitting Adon out of his special move.
{He used my move.?!} Sakura was pretty shocked at this. She and Hinata were a few yards away from the battle, which continued after Darrell's move, but she could see clearly.
{Okay, Darrell. after this. we are going to have a little battle ourselves.}
"Did he just use your move?" Hinata asked Sakura. Sakura simply nodded 'yes'.
"The form wasn't like yours, you know. Maybe this is what he meant by getting some tips. I'd be surprised if he used one of my moves."
"I doubt that he would. Most of your moves don't suit his personality," Sakura said.
Hinata turned her attention to her friend. "What do you mean?" Her voice was a little annoyed.
Sakura held up a finger. "One word, Hinata. Renkyakudan. Do you imagine Darrell using that move?"
Hinata started to blush beet red. "I hardly use that move now! I know that is ridiculous-looking. That is why I don't even bother to use it in a serious fight."
"I don't know where you got the idea." Sakura said while closing her eyes for a bit.
"Oh, please!" Hinata said loudly. The embarrassment in her voice made Sakura laugh a bit. "I guess that all of your moves are serious. Must I say it.? Sakura Otoshi?"
Sakura's laugh disappeared immediately. She glared at Hinata, who was wearing her own mischievous smile. "Now wait just a minute.! My Sakura Otoshi is a much better move than your Renkyakudan! It has its uses."
Hinata rolled her eyes. "You get hit out of it faster than Gan eats his lunch!"
Sakura was steaming now. "So, you want to be a wise-girl, huh!?"
"You started it! You shouldn't have said anything about my moves!"
"How about you and I testing out those moves now on each other? We'll hit each other at the same time." Sakura wagered, "and the one with the weakest move buys everyone lunch. How about that, Hinata?"
"You're on!"
"Excuse me."
Both girls looked at Darrell, who was just dashing away from Adon.
"Can you two do that after I done with Adon? I can't really concentrate with you arguing."
Sakura crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine."
"OK!" Darrell yelled out while getting into some sort of fighting stance. Adon, who was about to charge in, stopped in his tracks.
"Hey! What are you doing, boy?" Adon asked, half taunting, half worried. He had taken a large amount of damage from this kid, but if he gave a sign of fatigue, he'll just give himself away. He had to bluff somewhat.
"Do you really want to know.?" Darrell asked. His red-orange aura reappeared, just as big as it was before. "I'm charging up!"
Adon could feel the American's power rising higher than it did before. "I'll stop you from getting far! Hyyahhh!"
Adon sprung into the air and hit Darrell with an overhead heel kick.
"Jaguar Revolver!!"
Adon did three smaller versions of the hop up, heel kick combination, successfully hitting Darrell each time. His aura shrunk as he fell back to the ground.
"You should never say what you are doing in battle, kid," Adon tipped off.
"There is. a reason why I told you that."
"WHAT??"
Adon looked on in shock as the kid got up from the ground, slowly but surely, with his aura intact. His eyes seemed to burn.
"SHAKUNETSUKEN!!!!"
"But. how can you still have all this energy left?" Adon gasped.
"Frankly. I'll be blunt with you." Darrell said as both fists burst into flames. "I have been holding back the whole fight."
"YOU WHAT!?!"
"That's right, Adon. I've been holding back. There is no way some. punk like you can defeat someone like me."
Darrell took a step forward. Adon just stared at him in disbelief.
"As I said before, I have been training. So have Sakura and Hinata. And as I said before, I would have let Sakura beat you senseless, but I really wanted to try my new power-up skill. This isn't even all of my strength. About. well. a Shakunetsu Burst x1.5."
Adon didn't reply.
"It a totally new move. I'll probably tell you the rest. if you are still conscious when I'm done with you!"
Darrell put his hands to his side, forming a red ball of energy that grew in size so quickly that Adon couldn't put up a defense before being distracted.
"SHAKUNETSU SHINKU HADOUKEN!!!"
Darrell fired. and Adon was on fire. Within the next 10 seconds, Adon's screams could be heard throughout the area. When the ball finally exploded, Adon's body was on the ground, full of small burns and rips in the trunks.
"I guess I won't be telling you that story, huh, Adon?" Darrell said.
He turned his attention to the girls, who were staring back at him.
"You know. you can tear each other apart now," Darrell said with a smirk on his face.
"You are going to wait a bit longer."
This was a new voice. coming from where Darrell laid out Adon.
Darrell turned his body to see a huge man. Like Adon, he had on nothing but blue shorts with yellow trimming and tape on his ankles and hands. Most noticeably was the black eye patch over one of his eyes and the huge, jagged scar on his chest.
"Who. are you?" Darrell asked.
The man gave a 'humph' before saying, "I'm the emperor of Muay Thai. Sagat is the other name that you can call me by. I'm surprised that you took out Adon like this."
"He was so. ignorant. I had to shut him up."
"Well then. how about a match. I like your style."
"I just got off a match with this bozo. but as I said, I was holding back. I might take you on."
"Sagat."
Sagat turned his attention to Sakura. "I know that you fought Ryu lately. I just want to know how long ago that was."
"Little one, it has been a while since I fought that man. I have no clue where he could be."
Those words stopped Sakura's heart. "No. way. You mean to tell me that after all of that traveling to get here, I meet another roadblock!?"
Sagat crossed his arms. "I might know where he is. I'll tell you if you can beat me in a fight."
Sakura walked past Darrell towards Sagat. "Okay. if you want a fight, I'll do it. If I win, you tell me where Ryu is."
Sagat put up his fists to his fighting stance. "Now that that is agreed on. let's begin!"
Sakura started the fight by moving to the side and delivering a spinning roundhouse kick, something she hardly does. Sagat blocked and returned with a straight kick to Sakura's upper body. Since she didn't recover from her roundhouse, her back was punished, causing her to jump forward, which was really jumping backwards from Sagat.
"Tiger Crush!"
When Sakura turned around, her face meet Sagat's rising knee. She was blown backwards from the force as Sagat landed.
{Neh. Come on, Sakura,} Sakura said to herself. {You got to focus on this. This is the one chance to get to Ryu. You can't lose this fight!}
"Okay." Sakura said while turning to Sagat, who had his fists where his shoulders were, charging up an attack.
"Tiger!"
Sagat threw his arms forward at the same time and unleashed a blue ball of energy that sped towards Sakura's face. Sakura let out a gasp as she ducked it in the neck of time.
"Tiger!"
Sagat threw another blast of energy, this one aiming low. Sakura dropped to the ground and rolled to the side near the lake of the statue to avoid getting hit.
"Tiger!"
Sakura saw another Tiger Shot aimed at her legs and jumped. Unfortunately, that was a big mistake.
"TIGER BLOW!!"
Sagat flew into the air with his fist up to hit Sakura out of her jump. It was like her Shouoken. only much more powerful. When Sakura landed, she was on her back, in the lake. literally.
"Stand up, girl!" Sagat provoked his target. "This cannot be the best coming out of a follower of the man whom left this jagged scar on my chest."
{I got to get past his blasts. but when I get close, he uses that Shoryuken- type move on me. I think I might have an idea.}
Sakura got out of the shallow water, her clothes dripping with H2O. Sagat saw that she was ready and charged up his Tiger Shot again.
"Tiger!"
Sagat unleashed again, but this time, Sakura wasted no time. She quickly sidestepped the blast.
"Shouoken!"
Sakura managed to catch Sagat before he could recover and hit him multiple times before launching herself and Sagat into the air. She landed right in front of him as Sagat hit the ground, but for a big guy, Sagat got up quicker than Sakura thought.
"TIGER BLOW!!"
Sagat did his uppercut move, but Sakura managed to get her block up in time. She saw Sagat rise into the air and quickly started charging her energy at her side. Her hands were full of blue electrical energy just as Sagat began to drop. As soon as Sagat see the huge energy the girl was holding, his eyes bulged.
"SHINKU HADOUKEN!!"
Sakura raised her hands upward and blasted Sagat. His body flew across the grassy area, over the pond, and his back slammed into the statue. He stayed there for a few seconds, staring at the young fighter.
{She's good.}
Sakura eased up a bit as Sagat slid off the gold statue and into the water, where she was at a few moments ago.
"Are you finished yet?" Sakura asked the lake. "I really hope so. I have to find Ryu as fast as possible."
Sakura heard the water rush and saw it bulge upwards. The water spread to unveil a beaten up, but not defeated Sagat.
"Try this, girl. Tiger."
Sagat was already charging up for a Tiger Shot and his fists started to glow. Sakura braced herself.
"CANNON!!"
Sagat unleashed a massive energy blast which was much faster than the other Tiger Shots. Sakura barely managed to block the powerful blast. It collided with Sakura's arms, putting them into a large state of pain. Sakura cried out as she felt her arms start to give out on her. Just when Sakura was about to lose it, the blast finally gave out and exploded. She was about to let her guard down, but she put it up again as she heard a voice call out.
"Tiger. GENOCIDE!!"
Sakura blocked Sagat's Tiger Crush move, then a small Tiger Blow, then finally a much stronger Tiger Blow. As Sagat soared over her, Sakura turned around quickly and started to charge to where Sagat was going to land.
"MIDARE ZAKURA!!"
Sagat whirled around and meet Sakura's fist in the face. Afterwards, all he felt was the power of Sakura's onslaught ending with her Shouoken. As Sakura saw Sagat fly, she heard him bellow, "ALL RIGHT!!"
"Huh?" Sakura gasped.
Sagat hit the grass and stayed there. Sakura took a few steps forward before Sagat said, "Okay, child. It looks as if I underestimated you. I'll tell you what Ryu told me."
Sakura gathered herself for anything that Sagat might say. or throw at her. Fortunately, she was welcomed with, "Ryu said. that he was going to spar with his friend. in America."
"That. means that he went to fight Ken," Sakura deducted. She was about to leave in a rush before remembering her manners. "Thank you, Sagat for the match. and the information."
"Whatever. Now." Sagat rose to his feet. "I have some more training to do. Goodbye, kid."
Sakura nodded and turned to her friends.
"Nice one, Sakura," Darrell congratulated his friend on the match.
"Thank you," Sakura replied before holding her stomach with an arm. "But now I'm really hungry. Let's get something to-"
Sakura stopped her sentence and glared at Hinata. It looks as if she didn't forget, Sakura thought. Her friend's expression said it all.
Hinata put her hands on her hips. "I see you didn't forget our little wager, did you, Sakura?"
Sakura shook her head. "I can't believe that you want to go through with this. I just go off of a tough fight with Sagat, for crying out loud!"
"I'm confused," Darrell said while scratching his head. "What is this wager?"
Hinata took her glare off Sakura and looked at Darrell. "Sakura was talking about my Renkyakudan, so I started talking about her Sakura Otoshi. We both put up a wager: we hit each other with our moves..." Hinata looked at Sakura again. ".and whoever has the weakest move buys lunch for all three of us."
Darrell just shook his head. "Why would you even think about this?"
"The whole argument came about when you used my Shouoken on Adon, Darrell!" Sakura yelled out, making Darrell jump back, surprised.
{I knew that I was going to regret that.} Darrell scolded himself.
Sakura turned her attention to Hinata. "Ready?"
"Come on," Hinata said while jumping into the air and Sakura followed. Sakura brought her hands above her head as Hinata brought her leg back, as if to deliver a kick.
"Tyah!"
"Tyah!"
Sakura brought her fists down and bashed Hinata on the top of her head. As the same time, Hinata shot her leg out and, while making Darrell sweatdrop, kicked her sneaker off into Sakura's midsection at high speed. Hinata was sent sailing into the grass face first. just before Sakura landed right in front of her. Sakura landed on her feet, then slipped to one knee.
"It looks as if you're buying, Hinata," Sakura said cheerfully. Sakura started to stand up, but.
BOINK!
Hinata's sneaker hit Sakura on top of her head, dizzying her. Sakura stumbled a bit before falling on her face, just a few inches away from her now unconscious friend. Darrell just stood there, completely embarrassed.
"Uh. looks as if you are both buying. when you wake up."
"Are they all right?"
Darrell turned his head to Sagat, who had a hand on his chin. Darrell let out a nervous laugh before saying, "I guess. Hey, you don't mind helping me get these guys into our hotel room in town, do you? I can't carry both of them."
"I think I can be of assistance," Sagat answered.
"Thanks. You get Hinata and I'll carry Sakura. and. Hinata's sneaker."
End of Chapter 8