Nothing to Lose
By RichieD.
(A/N: Yo again. Nothing much to say except to present the second half of what was supposed to be a full chapter. Which should have been written months ago but college got in the way again. So now am behind schedule on this as well other of my fanfics, which should've had more then one chapter by now. Not to mention the fact I want to get to my other unwritten works as well as keep up cartooning. * Huff Huff * Get all that, welcome to my life but why should I complain? Am sure a lot of you go through the same thing. Hearing it from me is probably like hearing a child whine about spilling his/her juice. But anyway back to this story, which should give you some more reading goodness…or not. Your mind, your liking. Am just providing the entertainment. * Ahem * Anyway the disclaimer, Street Fighter: Capcom. SNK: King of Fighters (even though any characters from that series have yet to appear in this story. Hang tough fans am getting there.) Now onward forth to the story!)
A high school girl bopped her head to the music of her headphones, a j-rock beat from the band that was currently known as The Pillows transferring tunes into her brain. The girl wasn't really much of a music fan ever since she took up her true hobby but she enjoyed a good tune every now and then. As she continued down the street, she casually glanced left and right. Just to make sure she knew were she was without crashing into a person coming in the opposite direction. A food vender caught one of her glances and seeing how she had quite a way to go before she reached home, decided to get her snackage on. A quick cash in, decision making, and "plop" of the machine dispensing the food later and the girl was on her way again. Downing a pre-processed hot dog in the um…process. Pretty soon she reached the first checkpoint of her journey, a bus stop where she could catch a ride to the street with the subway (A/N: or tram, am not sure what motorized train Japan has). The girl continued listening to her music as she waited, mimicking a guitar during its solo, thrashing wildly as she was caught up in The Pillow infectious beats.
"Um, excuse me. Mind if we have seat." A voice penetrated through the music. The girl opened her eyes instantly looking right into the eyes of two boys. One with black hair wearing a gray T-shirt with the design of a fighter in the middle, black jeans and white sneakers, finger-less gloves dotting his hands. The other a brown hair only with spikes wearing a black jacket, a blank blue shirt, gray jeans and black and white sneakers, he wore no gloves but had sunglasses covering his eyes. The girl blushed at being seen rocking out and quickly slid down the bench muttering "Sorry." Holding her head down to hide her embarrassment.
The bus came and all three persons boarded. The girl still going on listening to her music though making sure to keep her "rock outs" in check till she was alone. The other two boys sat in the seat across her, chatting amongst themselves. And judging from the way they kept glancing at her, she was sure they were talking about her little music session. This caused more shades of red to sprout on her cheeks and she concentrated on her music to ignore it.
About half an hour passed during the bus ride, the girl had dozed off during which. Face leaning against the glass and a trickle of drool escaping from her mouth. A bump in the road jarred her from dreamland, after rubbing her eyes to clear the dust out. The girl looked outside and gasped, "Crap, I passed my street!" she cried out throwing in a swear as she hit the signal to stop. The bus screeched to a halt, the girl quickly hopped out and ran down the block.
As Sakura (you knew it was her didn't ya?) continued forward, she recognized most of the building layouts. A smile spreading on her face upon seeing them. "Perfect, am not too far down from the subway. If I keep up this pace, I can make it home before the deadline."
"Shortcut time" She said out loud and turned down an alley and into a condemned building with a loose door. Carefully making her way up the steps and to the nearest window, which lead out into a rusted fire escape though it still held up pretty good. Sakura was on the verge of starting up the ladder when she heard some voices below her. Probably not a big deal but there were few people who came this way. So curious, she looked downward and noticed the two boys from the bus stop. They were looking around the alleyway as if they lost something.
"What are they doing here?" she wondered out loud but remained quiet as not to draw attention. After awhile of looking like confused gnats, one of the boys pulled out a phone and speed dialed. "Yeah hello, we lost track of her. She got off the bus was headed down the street and…Yeah I know its important…. You don't have to be harsh, were not spy agents. Well were doing the best we can." He took in a deep sigh, "Okay fine send them in, our location is…"
"They're following me." Sakura whispered, shock washing over her for a second. "That explains the looks on the bus. But who are they working for. I haven't made any enemies well, outside of the school bullies of course." But then a thought struck her "Unless…Shadowloo…" The girl senses quickly went to full alert, a mix of fear and determination on her face. "I have to get to the subway now before they pick up my trail."
And with that she continued on her way up very quickly. Glancing back and forth at the two boys who were pacing the alleyway while concentrating on not making any noise. She made it to top with no problem…at least until she got her foot got
on a piece of metal. "Ugh, c'mon. Not now." She whispered urgently trying to free herself from the piece of scrap causing the escape to shudder a little.
Giving up on the pulling her foot free, she loosen the shoe and slide her foot out. Then tugged at the shoe with her hands. Once again the rickety fire escape threaten to give her away. After a moment she finally yank the shoe free, throwing her back with a yelp. She quickly covered her mouth and look back toward the alleyway. He boys were calmly leaning against the brick wall, still totally unaware of her presence.
Sighing of relief, Sakura pick up book bag that fell off her when she fell back. As she swung around to head to the next destination, said bag slipped out of her hand. Now let talk about the rusted fire escape one more time, if a person controlled his/her weight on the thing. It was always possible for it to stay bolted. But if something heavy, say a free falling book bag, slammed into it…well.
Let's just say, chain reactions suck.
Especially if you have two strangers looking for you.
*****
Shorty's walk home too wasn't going as uneventful.
No sooner then her incident with the pervert and she got about two blocks down the street, greeting the few people along the way. She found herself being followed; it was always a common thing back home as her rivals always sent flunkies to spy on her. So it didn't really catch her by surprise in fact this way making the day a lot more cheery.
"Hmm, let's see. One…two…just six of them? Eh guess its better if there're few in numbers. Don't want to go home and explain another "accident"." "Oh how convenient" she muttered spotting one of the city's many alleyways and turned the corner. The men behind her following suit. Shorty waited till she was halfway down the alley before stopping then broke into a full run. The footsteps behind her confirming they were indeed following her. It looked liked she was making a beeline to the street, poo on her pursuers for thinking that. Cause about an inch to the street, she suddenly ran to the side, jumped on the wall, turned, and caught all six in the face with a wide jump kick.
Everybody tumbled to the ground but quickly got on their feet and faced each other. "Can I help you guys with something?" Shorty asked nonchalant. The middle one, a roughish dude with a sweatshirt and leather pants spoke up, the Trans-lace converting the language "Nothing personal and all. But someone has requested your presence for something important. Of course we can't said who and…" "You wanna tell her everything, idiot?!" Spoke up another member of the six, this one a modernant looking person wearing a black vest and shorts. "Our employer said no questions? If we gotta answer her were supposed to do it like this!"
He ran forward aiming a punch for her head, Shorty ducked only to get knock off her feet by a sweep kick. The boy quickly grabbed her arms "Pish, I don't know why our employer wants to meet you if you can be brought down so easily. But it's h….OOF!" He released his grip after she slammed both feet into his unguarded stomach. She then put both hands on the ground and did her T-spin with her legs, knocking him into some trashcans. Back on her feet, she faced the remainder of the group, a cocky look on her face. "Here some advice I give the people back home. Against me, you only talk when…no, if you can keep me on the floor."
She then rushed forward, fist reared back and grinning for all it was worth.
"Otherwise, how can you gloat if you don't have any teeth?!"
******
"Pi Sou! Pi Sou! Is dinner ready yet." An elderly man called to his wife from their dinner table (which consist of the usual mats and short table where you sit on the ground) as he watched one of Japan infamous endurance game shows.
"Oh hang tight Pa. Am not a squid, I don't have eight arms" She called back putting the finishing touches on the food. "Well expect when it come to matters in the bed" she muttered chuckling at her own joke. She begin searching for utensil when a thud from outside brought her attention. She looked out the window only to see nothing but her wind chime dangling against the breeze.
Another "thud" resounded however; prompting her curiousness further "What is making that noise?" she thought out loud and peek outside her window to get a better check, but still nothing. "Huh must the neighbors up-YAHHH!" She cried out as something jumped out at her, causing her to jumped back and land flat on her butt. "AHHH KY! GET IN HERE SOMETHING ATTACKING ME! IT'S…a bird?" Sure enough, said creature was flapping from the window. Pieces of dead leaves hanging from it body.
"What did you say Pi?" her husband called back "Uh nothing, dinner coming." She grasped as she got to her feet, once again looking out the window "Thing must have gotten stuck in the drain pipe." Once again laughing at herself, she reached for the utensils.
CRASH!
Something flew into the kitchen landing hard on the floor. Spilling the once prepared dinner all over the place. Pi didn't move or said anything the sudden shock had temporarily stunned her. The only thing she could do was watch as the figure got up off the floor wiping most of the food off her school uniform.
Sakura took notice of the woman and did her trademark sheepish smile. "Sorry" was all that came out her mouth followed by the usual bow. She then checked out the window looking upward then quickly turned tail, leaving Pi still in her petrified state. As Sakura passed the living room, she notices the husband brown shoes sitting by the door. "Mind if I borrow these?" She asked Ky who was still glued to the TV screen, watching an unlucky contestant get dunked in a vat full of honey. He just gave a simple nod never turning to notice her. With that approval Sakura grabbed the shoes and was out the front door, leaving everything as if it never happened. "Sou, c'mon am getting hungry. You said dinner was ready!" Ky's answer was a scream as Pi paralysis wore off.
Out in the hallway Sakura ran left, the same direction she saw her pursuers running to "Man, of all days I had to be off my game." She groaned as she tied the shoelaces together "First I had to lose my book bag just trying to get it on my shoulder, then I have to attract these goons following me." She finished the knot then took a breath as she reach a corner " And to top it all off I miss a jump just as I was about to lose those guys. If I hadn't grabbed that railing I'd be done for. Hope I didn't scare that woman too badly. Good thing it wasn't somebody I know, my parents would hear about it for sure."
She look down the T-intersection making sure it was clear. When was she sure, she ran to the right up the hallway "THERE SHE IS!" A voice called out from behind her. Sakura cursed herself she had exited too soon! She quickly pumped her legs hoping to outrun and lose her pursuer at the next railing. But a "whoosh" sounded overhead her and the next thing she knew. She was faced to face with that same boy from the bus stop, standing in a fight position. "What do you people want!" She ask him for the first time "If Shadowloo staging a comeback, then am not interested in joining or becoming a guinea pig!"
The boy shook his head, giving her a confused look " What the heck Shadowloo? Were not working for some organization. Someone paid us to track you down and bring you to them." Sakura was surprised and a little relived to hear that it wasn't whom she thought. "Alright, then who asked you to find me?"
"Sorry, can't say. They just gave us the instructions and let us do our job. Now are you coming with us quietly or…" Footsteps sounded behind Sakura as the other bus stop boy and one more who had joined the chase caught up with them. Seeing their friend in a battle position. The other two boys did the same "…do you we have to wear you out first then carry you to them."
Sakura just smiled bringing up the tied together shoes "Let's make it quick, I have a curfew to keep." she replied and swung one of the shoes at the boy in front of her. He leaned back to avoid the assault then rushed forward hoping to tackle her. But he hadn't counted on Sakura quickness as she moved to the side. Tripping the boy in the process and smacking him in the head with the shoes.
The other two boys came at her, one aiming a fist for her head. She block him then kick him back, but the other boy was on her. Giving a quick chop to the side of her stomach. Then kicking her in the face with an awkward overhead kick. Stunned, Sakura stumbled back. Swinging her makeshift nun chucks wildly. The boy ducked the first two swings, then caught it the third. Sakura grinned mischievously at this then roughly pulled her side back sending the boy tumbling, right into her fist.
She backhanded him to the side as his recovered friend came at her with a jump kick. She duck then turned ready to unleashed her fireball on him. But hands grabbed from behind as the boy she first attacked got behind her. Pulling her arms back and causing her to lose her weapon "I've got her! DO IT SAMMY!" The person in question about faced then score three strong jabs at her stomach and a punch to her face.
He prepared another attack but noticed she had stopped moving. "You can drop her Saya. She won't be throwing any fists for awhile." The boy, Saya, gently lowered her to the floor.
"Call the boss, were gonna need a ride."
*****
"A SETUP, THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS. A FREAKING SETUP!"
Shorty bellowed as she ran further down the street carrying a piece of stick she found on the way. After a few yards of running she rushed her way into a nearby apartment door without thinking, quickly hiding beside the opening stick at the ready. A girl came through just as quick, looking up the nearby stairs with a knowing look. "She came this way, hurry up you slow-pokes." The girl called behind "Can't believe its taking this much time and trouble to catch one girl."
She felt a slight double-tap on her right shoulder and started to turn around. But only got halfway before hearing "Believe it." and got whacked in her side by Shorty's stick. Shorty then pinned her against the wall before she could recover, a very frustrated look on her face "Okay am a reasonable person and you seem to be a decent native around here. Mind being different from those hotheaded boys and tell me WHAT THE HECK YOU PEOPLE WANT WITH ME?!"
The girl just gave a sneer along with a "Bite me!" and tried for a knee to the soft spot. But Shorty had already blocked it "Girl, if you're going to try fighting dirty. Practice on the inexperienced more. Trust me, you'll thank yourself from letting the following happen more often." Shorty then jumped back and swung her stick very quickly. The last the girl knew before she blinked was feeling cold hard concrete and that was all she would remember for the next hour.
Shorty give out a breath of air as she released a bit of stress "Well this day was getting interesting now its just getting annoying. After all I've been though back home, I should've have seen that little trick coming."
FLASHBACK (5 minutes ago)
"OOF!"
Another one of the six-man group hit the ground, too wounded to get back up
"AHH!"
Brick wall this time, good thing bloodstains blend in well with the color.
"Ah c'mon fellas. After the reputation you guys get from your movies. I expected to at least get a little winded."
Another one of the group came flying at her, his arms in an "x" and head right for her neck. Shorty just stood still, a look of not shock but curiousness on her face. The attack connected and both Shorty and her attacker were headed for the ground. Shorty hit first but just before the X'ed arms could come down on her. She lifted both her arms up, fists formed in each hand and caught the boy's chest causing his attack to veer off and hit the pavement beside her. Then using back ward momentum, rolled and flipped the boy to the street ahead of her, face first.
Shorty was already on her feet before he pulled himself upright. But the boy soon noticed that he was the only person around still conscience. The rest of his posses was slumped around the alley in very uncompromising positions, out like burned out bulbs. The boy then turned his attention back to Shorty, looking as if a predator getting ready to pounce on her prey. "Well it looks like your friend went night-night a little early, just you and me now chansey." He could already her knuckles popping as she got closer "Of course I could let you stay up past bedtime if you tell who sent you." She was almost upon him and that sickly grin she wore at the start of the fight return to her face "Then again, I love the alternative."
The boy just gave a nervous laugh then put in and under his chin as if in deep thought. After a second he faced Shorty and stuck his tongue out at her as well as pull down one of his eyelids. Shorty just smirked "Heh the Japanese raspberry, cute. COME HERE YOU LITTLE!" And she lunged at him, but he had already jumped out of her range and down the street, Shorty in hot pursuit. She chased him through most of the block and a couple of alleyways before they came to a clearing surround by cul-de-sac of apartment buildings. Shorty then let out a jumped kick nailing him in the back just as he was about to reach some stairs. "One chance, dude and you wasted it. Good-" She suddenly notice that he had a whistle in his mouth and started blowing on if as if his life depended it. After about six blows, he stopped and grinned. One unlike the one Shorty had just wore.
Shorty was a bit confused as to what jut happened "What did you just do?" she asked simply. She heard a thud to her left a turned to see boys and girls, about 20 of them and none above her own age exiting from the hallway openings of the apartments. All of them looked well built, well trained and looked eager to get a little ruckus started. Three guesses on who.
"Heh heh heh, ah I see you lure me here. Very clever, never thought I fall for it." The boy just widen his grin nodding sheepishly…at least right before he took a hook across the face.
END FLASHBACK
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"" Shorty muttered as she jammed her stick against the door. Just as the voices she heard outside begin to get closer. A quick breather for a sec and she raced up the stairs, bams heard from behind her as her pursuers started to push in. The stairs led her to the upper platform no sign of trouble in sight yet. "If I can reach the roof, I can jump downward to the street and hopefully lose em in the traffic. If this place is like any city in the U.S, it should be packed with cars in the afternoons." Shorty thought to herself as she made her way to the next set of stairs.
A huge crash behind her persuaded her to move faster, however just as she was at door. A face appeared on the other side of the window. A look of surprised that was place by that that knowing grin, Shorty was starting to get sick of seeing those. Without hesitation kicked the door inward sending the person flying back. A group of yelps sounded out as she barged her way into the room, all eyes on her as she came in. "Your in my way." was all she said to the group of 10 fighters standing between her and the roof exit.
Things got very loud after that.
*****
A/N: Eh, sorry gotta cut off right here…yet again -_-;;; I might as well stop making promises on where am going to end a chapter. It all depends on stamina some days I have it, other times I can barely put up a paragraph. Heck, even write the thing at all. But my creative juices are at full blast, so I might as well keep on trucking. One thing I can promise is that I'll wrap this part of the story in the next update and make things clear. Who know, maybe I'll even get some famous characters to throw down with Sakura and Shorty. We'll see.
Next Chapter:
The Offer Part 3
Let's see, Shorty taking on some very unfair odds and Sakura knocked out and likely being dragged to…whoever hired these people. But it all comes together eventually at the goal of both fighters: The Subway. Climax and explanations are just around the bend, so get ready!
CaIO!
