An orange glaze streaked across the sky, signaling the sign of dawn. Ryo, eyes seem to snap
open just as the light touched his face. Still burning with that ambitious fire, he wanted to get going as soon as possible. He could sense Guiyang was near, soon they would be there.
Shenhua followed Hazuki's practices it seem, as her eyes shot open right after Ryo's.
"That is Guishan, on the other side is a metropolis..." Shenhua said suddenly as she pointed at the mountain before them. A noticeable mist hovered over the summit. Ryo looked at her quizzically.
"Shenhua?"
"Guiyang...it was in a dream I had. Many things, I have never seen before...it didn't seem real.." She spoke in a low tone.
"Why didn't it?" Ryo questioned.
"I can't explain...." She said in a sorrowful tone.
"Don't worry, lets just keep going."
It took them a good half to make it to the mountain. Shenhua noticed there was a path through the mountain, leading to the other side, and also an alternate, but lengthier along the side, led by a river.
Ryo look at Shenhua, and she seem to have the same idea as him, and that was to hike the mountain path.
"Let's go..." Ryo grabbed Shenhua hand and helped clear a steep ridge.
The mountain path wasn't as tough as Ryo would think. It seem the steep ridges, slopes, etc had grown on him. Shenhua, of course was used it, but Ryo slowly begin to admire her strength. Her strength to keep going, an unwavering endurance he would never think she could have.
The sun was now residing to western part of the sky, just as they made it to the other side. Shenhua's eyes lit up at what she saw. Thousands of sparkling lights seem to turn on instantly, Illuminating many of the buildings inside the massive city below. Ryo looked on with similar enthusiasm, but with greater understanding what was going on then that of Shenhua, who obviously didn't comprehend what was before her.
She quickly clenched Ryo's arm, as a massive airliner flew overhead several hundreds of feet above the mountain range.
"This is it....this is what I dreamt about." She said softly.
"So, this is Guiyang....I see."
Just as he spoke those words, an unknown force struck him from behind; with moderate force, knocking him and Shenhua to the dirt.
Quickly, Ryo jumped up and surveyed the surroundings, in his peripheral sight he watched Shenhua collect herself. Besides from that, he couldn't see anything before him. But he knew someone was there.
Ryo sensed the changed in wind speed to his rear and quickly ducked, evading a well timed fist; with great haste Ryo thrust his foot back in effort to counter his hidden agenda, his foot met nothing but air. Ryo was fully turned around after the rotation of the movement he had performed, thus he could see his attacker. A slender female, dress in a shabby red vest, faded blue jeans, and worn white sneakers. Upon her head she wore a red bandana, keeping her ebony hair wrapped, she looked of Chinese ethnicity, yet her eyes were crystal blue, hinting of another background. Her build was average, but from the look of things, she was very athletic.
"A woman...?" Ryo retorted, somewhat suprised.
"So you let your guard down eh!?" She countered.
Immediately, she stepped in flinging her leg in a straight angle at Ryo's head; he quickly countered wrapping his arm around her leg, then pushing forward; driving her into the ground.
"Aaauhh" she gasped as the wind left her body.
Ryo let go her leg, and stood over her, a look of displeasure was featured on his face. Shenhua ran to his side, however her expression, favored a worried one, since she was not use to such encounters.
"Who are you!?" Ryo demanded.
The woman looked up at Ryo with understanding, showing she had regained her composure.
"You're Japanese aren't you?" She asked, ignoring Ryo's question. Her voice a bit scratchy, yet the femenine part could be sorted.
"I'm asking the questions, why did you attack me!?"
"Cool down man, just was testing you, I'm not an enemy..." She said in a sincere tone.
"Huh? Testing....?" Ryo said obviously confused.
"Is it all right if I get up? This ground isn't exactly a place I'm fond of."
"Yes....." He said watching her movements closely.
Ryo helped her up.
"Heh, you shouldn't be so trusting." She said patting herself off.
"I'm always ready...now who are you?" Ryo demanded.
"I'm Jasmine of Heavens." She said proudly.
"Jasmine of Heavens...what!?" Ryo said surprised.
"Yeah? Is there something wrong?"
Ryo begin to stare in space, in thoughts of Ren and Kowloon came up. Could the Heavens influence go this far, or maybe this means Ren is nearby, he thought.
"What's wrong Ryo?" Shenhua asked, concerned.
"Ah, its nothing Shenhua."
"Ah, so I was right. You are Ryo." Jasmine said with a chuckle.
Ryo looked back at Jasmine, trying to see what she was getting at.
"I was sent to scout out for you, by the leader." She continued.
"Ren......" Ryo paused. "Where is he?" Ryo asked.
"He's been waiting in Guiyang for you..."
Ryo didn't understand how Ren knew to go to Guiyang, but he would find out soon enough.
Darkness filled the sky, with the sun's departure. The moon now owned the sky once again, providing what light it could. The trio traversed through the city, with cars passing by on every avenue, and street corner. Many neon lights filled the bustling streets, in which many people seem to have thier own independent destination, or business to deal with. This was all so new to Shenhua who clinged to Ryo's arm with great earnest. It wasn't that he didn't like it, but he just wasn't use to a girl holding on to him like he was their savior.
Finally, they reached the designated location, in which Jasmine had led them. Ruijin Middle Rd, an old street sign read. In front of them was a runned down place, that read: " Jinqiao Hotel 34 Ruijin Middle Rd. Guiyang, Guizhou" on the sign.
"We're here." Jasmine announced.
"Ren, is here...? Ryo questioned.
"Yes, follow me."
She opened the rickety structure which was the door. They all entered, noticing the interior was no different from the outside. A filty rug extended across corridor, leading to redundant rooms which possessed nothing but its natural space, and a barricaded window. At the end of the hallway their was a stairwell, which led to the basement, if one was to traverse down them, they would find nothing but a large vacant space, and a few chairs. A 75 watt lightbulb swung restlessly in the center of it all.
A familiar face sat at the information desk, he had an orange mohawk, shades, and a chubby figure, along with his customary red boom box. Ryo, recognized him instantly.
"Cool Z..." he said in a low tone.
"You..!" He responded back in excitement.
"Hey Cool Z, go get Ren!" She commanded.
He got up, and walked down the all, knocking on the door at end of the hall.
"What is it now!?" An annoyed voiced bellowed from inside the room.
The door open with a squeak an injured mouse would perform. A man of chinese background, with a white rag tied around his head, amber eyes, a blue sailor's vest which exposed his muscular chest, leather jeans, along with leather boots; appeared in the doorway, with an exasperated expression.
"Huh...?" He said as he looked at Cool Z's expression "Move big boy..."
He pushed him aside with one hand, immediately noticing his Japanese counterpart, along with Jasmine and a unfamiliar female whom he hadn't met.
"So the fool has finally figured it out has he?"
"Ren!"
Ren let out an arrogant laughter.
"Chiyoumen......"
Those words alone were enough to draw Ryo's full attention.
"What about them Ren?"
"They're here......."
And silence filled the room.
open just as the light touched his face. Still burning with that ambitious fire, he wanted to get going as soon as possible. He could sense Guiyang was near, soon they would be there.
Shenhua followed Hazuki's practices it seem, as her eyes shot open right after Ryo's.
"That is Guishan, on the other side is a metropolis..." Shenhua said suddenly as she pointed at the mountain before them. A noticeable mist hovered over the summit. Ryo looked at her quizzically.
"Shenhua?"
"Guiyang...it was in a dream I had. Many things, I have never seen before...it didn't seem real.." She spoke in a low tone.
"Why didn't it?" Ryo questioned.
"I can't explain...." She said in a sorrowful tone.
"Don't worry, lets just keep going."
It took them a good half to make it to the mountain. Shenhua noticed there was a path through the mountain, leading to the other side, and also an alternate, but lengthier along the side, led by a river.
Ryo look at Shenhua, and she seem to have the same idea as him, and that was to hike the mountain path.
"Let's go..." Ryo grabbed Shenhua hand and helped clear a steep ridge.
The mountain path wasn't as tough as Ryo would think. It seem the steep ridges, slopes, etc had grown on him. Shenhua, of course was used it, but Ryo slowly begin to admire her strength. Her strength to keep going, an unwavering endurance he would never think she could have.
The sun was now residing to western part of the sky, just as they made it to the other side. Shenhua's eyes lit up at what she saw. Thousands of sparkling lights seem to turn on instantly, Illuminating many of the buildings inside the massive city below. Ryo looked on with similar enthusiasm, but with greater understanding what was going on then that of Shenhua, who obviously didn't comprehend what was before her.
She quickly clenched Ryo's arm, as a massive airliner flew overhead several hundreds of feet above the mountain range.
"This is it....this is what I dreamt about." She said softly.
"So, this is Guiyang....I see."
Just as he spoke those words, an unknown force struck him from behind; with moderate force, knocking him and Shenhua to the dirt.
Quickly, Ryo jumped up and surveyed the surroundings, in his peripheral sight he watched Shenhua collect herself. Besides from that, he couldn't see anything before him. But he knew someone was there.
Ryo sensed the changed in wind speed to his rear and quickly ducked, evading a well timed fist; with great haste Ryo thrust his foot back in effort to counter his hidden agenda, his foot met nothing but air. Ryo was fully turned around after the rotation of the movement he had performed, thus he could see his attacker. A slender female, dress in a shabby red vest, faded blue jeans, and worn white sneakers. Upon her head she wore a red bandana, keeping her ebony hair wrapped, she looked of Chinese ethnicity, yet her eyes were crystal blue, hinting of another background. Her build was average, but from the look of things, she was very athletic.
"A woman...?" Ryo retorted, somewhat suprised.
"So you let your guard down eh!?" She countered.
Immediately, she stepped in flinging her leg in a straight angle at Ryo's head; he quickly countered wrapping his arm around her leg, then pushing forward; driving her into the ground.
"Aaauhh" she gasped as the wind left her body.
Ryo let go her leg, and stood over her, a look of displeasure was featured on his face. Shenhua ran to his side, however her expression, favored a worried one, since she was not use to such encounters.
"Who are you!?" Ryo demanded.
The woman looked up at Ryo with understanding, showing she had regained her composure.
"You're Japanese aren't you?" She asked, ignoring Ryo's question. Her voice a bit scratchy, yet the femenine part could be sorted.
"I'm asking the questions, why did you attack me!?"
"Cool down man, just was testing you, I'm not an enemy..." She said in a sincere tone.
"Huh? Testing....?" Ryo said obviously confused.
"Is it all right if I get up? This ground isn't exactly a place I'm fond of."
"Yes....." He said watching her movements closely.
Ryo helped her up.
"Heh, you shouldn't be so trusting." She said patting herself off.
"I'm always ready...now who are you?" Ryo demanded.
"I'm Jasmine of Heavens." She said proudly.
"Jasmine of Heavens...what!?" Ryo said surprised.
"Yeah? Is there something wrong?"
Ryo begin to stare in space, in thoughts of Ren and Kowloon came up. Could the Heavens influence go this far, or maybe this means Ren is nearby, he thought.
"What's wrong Ryo?" Shenhua asked, concerned.
"Ah, its nothing Shenhua."
"Ah, so I was right. You are Ryo." Jasmine said with a chuckle.
Ryo looked back at Jasmine, trying to see what she was getting at.
"I was sent to scout out for you, by the leader." She continued.
"Ren......" Ryo paused. "Where is he?" Ryo asked.
"He's been waiting in Guiyang for you..."
Ryo didn't understand how Ren knew to go to Guiyang, but he would find out soon enough.
Darkness filled the sky, with the sun's departure. The moon now owned the sky once again, providing what light it could. The trio traversed through the city, with cars passing by on every avenue, and street corner. Many neon lights filled the bustling streets, in which many people seem to have thier own independent destination, or business to deal with. This was all so new to Shenhua who clinged to Ryo's arm with great earnest. It wasn't that he didn't like it, but he just wasn't use to a girl holding on to him like he was their savior.
Finally, they reached the designated location, in which Jasmine had led them. Ruijin Middle Rd, an old street sign read. In front of them was a runned down place, that read: " Jinqiao Hotel 34 Ruijin Middle Rd. Guiyang, Guizhou" on the sign.
"We're here." Jasmine announced.
"Ren, is here...? Ryo questioned.
"Yes, follow me."
She opened the rickety structure which was the door. They all entered, noticing the interior was no different from the outside. A filty rug extended across corridor, leading to redundant rooms which possessed nothing but its natural space, and a barricaded window. At the end of the hallway their was a stairwell, which led to the basement, if one was to traverse down them, they would find nothing but a large vacant space, and a few chairs. A 75 watt lightbulb swung restlessly in the center of it all.
A familiar face sat at the information desk, he had an orange mohawk, shades, and a chubby figure, along with his customary red boom box. Ryo, recognized him instantly.
"Cool Z..." he said in a low tone.
"You..!" He responded back in excitement.
"Hey Cool Z, go get Ren!" She commanded.
He got up, and walked down the all, knocking on the door at end of the hall.
"What is it now!?" An annoyed voiced bellowed from inside the room.
The door open with a squeak an injured mouse would perform. A man of chinese background, with a white rag tied around his head, amber eyes, a blue sailor's vest which exposed his muscular chest, leather jeans, along with leather boots; appeared in the doorway, with an exasperated expression.
"Huh...?" He said as he looked at Cool Z's expression "Move big boy..."
He pushed him aside with one hand, immediately noticing his Japanese counterpart, along with Jasmine and a unfamiliar female whom he hadn't met.
"So the fool has finally figured it out has he?"
"Ren!"
Ren let out an arrogant laughter.
"Chiyoumen......"
Those words alone were enough to draw Ryo's full attention.
"What about them Ren?"
"They're here......."
And silence filled the room.
