Chapter II
Big 3
Suka High, Rooftop
Dec 1, 2014 1215 PM
Sakura charged forward striking ferociously with open hand strikes; rather then block and tire his forearms out. Kyo begin to agilely evade each strike; much like a boxing would weave in and out blows. Sakura changed up her attack pattern; striking her leg against Kyo's shin. The blow threw him off balance; he stumbled backwards trying to regain his balance. Sakura advanced on the opportunity; gliding forward with her elbow aiming at center mass. Kyo clumsily avoided the polished move by stumbling left at the last instance.
Sakura held her stance; her right elbow at a forty five degree angle; the non-aggressive arm positioned on the attacking elbow to apply optimal force. Her right leg arched at a ninety degree; while her left was positioned at a lesser angle for stability.
"Shi-to Ryu Karate; Elbow storm." Sakura boasted before returning to her normal fighting stance.
"Its similar to the Hazuki style Elbow assault. Focusing all your energy into that one blow. It can be deadly when utilize by a skilled practitioner." Kyo smirked then went on. "But why use your best move so early?" Kyo return to his starting stance upon saying this.
"My best? You're not ready for my best." She gestured her hand towards Kyo now.
Kyo dashed forward delivering a forward kick with his built momentum. Sakura stepped aside as if the move possessed little or no coordination; letting Kyo use his chi against him exposing his rear in the process. Kyo being the instinctive fighter that he is; caught on to this midway and immediately spun around with a back fist. Sakura ducked under the poorly aimed attack; and struck upward with a ridge hand to Kyo's ribcage; followed by an open hand strike to his solar plexus.
The young Hazuki let out a gasped of air; stepping back from the attacker nursing his rib with his left hand.
"Are you going to get serious now?" Sakura smiled; almost complimenting herself with her tone.
"Serious?" Kyo implied as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
"Haha Kyo; fine. Perhaps if I incapacitate you eh?" The confidence in here voice flowed with the breeze.
"Oh? So Master Sakura Tanaka will defeat the weak Hazuki practitioner?" Kyo mocked.
Kyo was discipline and well mannered; yet he possessed an unstable cockiness in his skill; most of the time he was right.
"Exactly…" she said agreeing.
Sakura charged in for another series; flinging her right hand skillfully towards Kyo's throat. Kyo swayed under the attack like; grabbing her arm as he did so Sakura eyes widen for she couldn't believe the lightning speed in which he use to evade and grasp her limb.
"Now?" Kyo egged her.
She struck her left leg fiercely at Kyo's head; Kyo simply blocked it with his open arm while clutching her arm tightly as he did so. She bit her lip trying to hold back any cries of pain. Kyo could see it her face; which was grimacing from the grip he had upon her. Sakura attacked with her other hand; only to find her arm captured in the same lock her right arm was. In her eyes he could see disbelief; for she knew what would come next.
Kyo pushed his body into Sakura's while locking his right leg to the rear of her legs. Sakura stumbled over his leg; slamming to the floor all in one motion. Dust rose up from the ground from the sudden impact.
"My father use to say…"Why invest your energy in a combination? If you can invest that energy into a single blow and destroy him." Kyo close his eyes reminiscing the moment his father told him that.
The young karate pupil found her way to her feet; dusting herself off as she did so. Sakura begin to look to the ground; disappointed that she had fell victim to such a basic move.
"Ah, so we got the tomboy and karate boy beating the crap out of each other Kenji…heh" A voice shouted from the entrance to the rooftop.
Kyo glanced over to the doorway; a detest expression envelope his face; as he watch the three figures fully enter. Each snickering or smirking some cocky expression, the "I'm better than you" look punks were accustomed to.
Two males and one female; all about Hazuki's age; both of the males dressed in similar attire; gray cotton top with white tee shirt underneath and gray bottoms to match the top. The female attire matched Sakura's.
"Big 3.….." Kyo said angrily yet in a low tone.
"Jerks!" Sakura cried out as she eyed the gang of three.
Kenji the leader continue to smirk; his hair had an animated dark tone, and it went shoulder length. He was about the average build and height for his age. A mixture of Japanese and Chinese; his eyes were a almost black, but in the sun they favored a dark brown. Many of the females at school adored his model like looks; which of course he didn't mind. A clever tactician; he was a natural leader and his subordinates didn't contest his decisions in crunch time. Kenji was arrogant and cocky like most teenagers; yet he had a kendo discipline; mixed with natural hand skills and footwork. His other two counterparts; Namura and Sora stood next to him smirking as if nothing could sway them.
Namura head was fully shaven; and his eyes a beady shape and dark texture. He wasn't good looking at all; not to intelligent either. However he possessed an enormous amount of strength within his bulky hull. Which was the main reason Kenji accepted the monstrous 6'3 figure into his cult like clique.
Sora was very quick and deadly with her hands; and was captain of the kickboxing team at Suka high. She was one hundred percent Japanese; her high cheekbones gave it away. Her eyes favored a dark shade; but glisten a bright amber in the sunlight. Her hair was cut short; and dyed a sun blonde. Lose strands draped over her right eye and occasionally she would casually stroke them aside for attention or to better her view when entering a fight. Her upper body was noticeably toned for a woman who was 5'7 in length. However her lower body looked to be exceptionally muscular; not very strange considering the sport she practiced.
"What do you want Kenji?" Kyo asked in a wary tone; knowing their intrusion could only mean foul play.
"What do you want Kenji?" Sora repeated the question in a mocking tone. "This Hazuki brat got some spunk don't he Kenji?"
Kenji remained silent as if his choice of words were to humble to be spoken right at that moment.
"Hazuki….." He finally started. "I hear your father went missing a couple of days ago…" In which he stopped again and stared Hazuki square in the eyes; waiting for some kind of response.
Kyo couldn't believe what he was hearing; how could he know such information. Disbelief filled his eyes and he couldn't bring words to his mouth to describe the look that transpired across his face.
"I take it this is true by that expression…." He casually stroke his hair from the front of his eyes upon saying this.
"What's it to you loser!?" Sakura countered disrespectfully.
"Silence Karate brat!" Sora countered back.
Sakura growled but submitted when Kyo put his hand up; almost understanding that he could handle the dilemma himself.
"What's it to you, Kenji?" Kyo started.
"Hmm, let me update you on history you seem to not know of. My father Shinjo Tatsusaru is a well; very powerful man. Heck he practically owns New Suka harbor with his legitimate shipping business."
He paused and begin to pace the rooftop; and to begin to contemplate a way to convey his thoughts.
"Well, apparently people seem to still have a sense of justice. A man name Chen Guizhang to be more precise. Decided to start a conflict with my father's activities. And I understand your father is among one of his subordinates. Which all you need to know." He stopped again.
Kyo didn't like where it was going but was prepared for the worst should it come to that. Guizhang, Kyo had seen him a lot around the dojo. He conversed a lot with his father about various things. Guizhang was also a powerful martial artist; Kyo could tell by his posture and the way he held his balance. Though he never openly show it.
"Your father, where is he?"
Hazuki looked at Sakura then to Kenji.
"If I knew such information; I wouldn't tell you." Kyo spoke truthfully.
"Fine, I figured I'd have to do things the hard way with a Hazuki…"
He signaled his two counterparts forward.
"Take care of Hazuki; and if the Karate brat decides to interfere handle her accordingly. And make it fast…." He said as if it would happen instantaneously.
Kyo looked to Sakura; she was already in a her fighting stance indicating she had every attention on helping him. He turn his gaze back to Sora, and Namura who were both closing in on the duo. The Hazuki practitioner nonchalantly eased into his stance; slouching his shoulder slightly as well as his knees; he brought his hands up about center mass and cocked his head to the side.
Namura was his target; so he swayed to the left and let the behemoth focus on his moments. He watched in his peripheral vision as Sakura inched in on Sora and begin a series of attacks; but that was short lived. It occurred to him that he couldn't focus on her battle and beat his opponent as well.
"Want to hear your bone crush?" He snarled as he stroke his knuckles.
"No. Not really." Kyo answered sarcastically.
"It was a rhetorical question…hahaha" He begin to erupt in annoying menacing laughter.
"Do you even know what that means?" Kyo countered.
"Raaaawl Hazuki!!"
He charged at a maddening pace towards Kyo; Hazuki dodged out of the way but simply stepping aside. Namura kept running unable to stop himself slammed into the adjacent fence; the metallic ring of the links sounded off in unison when he hit.
Kyo looked to Kenji who stood smirking with his arms crossed.
"Can't fight your own battles Kenji?" Kyo cried.
Kenji closed his eyes as if the statement was baseless. "I only fight worthy opponents Hazuki Kyo…"
Kyo growled and turned back to see Namura had collected himself and was angrier then nest of hornets.
"You think you so smart Hazuki…I won't miss you this time."
The Jujujistu fighter knew he couldn't go head the head with the brute; he had to outweigh him by more then seventy kilos. One wrong move and Namura could incapacitate him in one blow. Skill and speed would be the key to victory.
Sakura ducked under straight arrow kick delivered by Sora; followed by a series of knife-open hand strikes. The kick boxer strikes were decisive and deadly; she weighed her moves like a chess player never truly revealing her true intentions until it was to late…for the opponent. Sakura was no pushover though; although not the decisive type, she relied strictly on impulse and eyesight. It was as if she could feel the move before she saw it coming; making her defense almost impossible to compromise.
Sora threw a straight punch into Sakura's guard; the karate student intercepted the punch with a knife hand block, and stepped in with a forearm aimed at Sora's throat. Sora stopped her forearm with her own and quickly stuck her opponent in the shin with a sharp kick. Sakura went limp; and watched as Sora seized the opportunity to land a roundhouse kick squarely across her face sending her into a tailspin; before she went crashing into the ground.
Kyo looked back and saw her hit the ground with a thunderous roar.
"Sakura!" Kyo cried out.
Namura fist blasted into Kyo's Solar plexus on that instant sending him flying across the rooftop with an unsettling thud as its ending. Kyo held his stomach; the pain was agonizing . The largest big 3 member walked up to him and picked him up by his collar. Hazuki continued to wince as he tried to make out Namura's crooked smirk; he raised him well off the ground and begin to laugh manically.
"Stupid Hazuki I got you now!" Namura chuckled some more.
"Hazuki, you're weak. And you would think you could be my match? You can't even touch my subordinates." Kenji bragged contently.
Hazuki struggled to break free but couldn't find a way to release himself from Namura's vice grip. He watched as Sora paced over Sakura who struggled to get back on her feet. How'd he let himself fall victim to such a move; he shouldn't have let his guard down so easy.
Flashback
Cherry blossoms littered the ground from the tree above; adjacent to the dojo. Ryo stood in a white gi; with the Hazuki name on the left breast, as did his son. His hair streaked with silver and black; his son Kyo attempted to break the board with a forward punch; but found the board to be more resilient then it looked.
"Even the strongest aura has its weakness. A tree can grow one hundred feet but one day it will fall…." Ryo spoke his words of wisdom in an even tone.
"Why is that father?" The young Hazuki questioned.
"Because that is the way nature works. Remember this if one day you should become powerful and revered. Everyone has a weakness; everyone."
Ryo looked into Kyo's eyes; he knew his son had the fire that burned inside the heart of a Hazuki. The board split in two upon Kyo's striking hand.
"Good." Ryo praised his son.
Flashback
"I can't sit here feeling sorry for myself." he thought to himself
Kyo regained his composure; crossed his hands over Namura's wrist. Namura begin to lose his grip and begin to pull Hazuki in closer. The Hazuki practitioner wasted no time and used his arm as leverage; to strike his leg into Namura's throat.
"aauooooof" Namura lost his wind from the blow; and lost his grip upon Kyo.
The monstrosity begin to fall back disoriented. Kyo knew that moment was his only chance to take him down. He grabbed Namura's arm and swept his feet from under him in the same motion. Namura slammed into the ground; the rooftop appeared to rumble when his large frame came in contact with it. Kyo dived with elbow first into his opponent's abdomen; with enough force to down an elephant; his eyes widen then dissipated before he drifted into incapacitation.
Kenji couldn't believe what he was seeing; or how Hazuki had turned the tables in the face of defeat. Kyo rolled over and return to his feet; his eyes on the next enemy he would takedown.
Kenji…
Sora would make sure that didn't happen; she charged at Kyo with a wide elbow strike aimed at his head. He felt her presence before she came within striking distance with the blow; and instinctively ducked under the pre-emptive strike. The kick boxer quickly regained her footing; and charged in with a series of hand strikes. Kyo barely block and evaded the onslaught; he begin to see why many called her "shadow hands." She managed to land a strike to his chest. Kyo felt a series of explosions erupt in his chest from the concentrated strike. He barely dodged the follow up uppercut she looked to finish him off with.
The Hazuki warrior knew he couldn't let this go in forever; trying to tire her out wouldn't work because she had exceptional endurance. And apparently she had a jackhammer behind each blow. He would have to wait for that one decisive blow to take her out. Sora changed up her attack and deliver a high sidekick at Kyo's head; he easily intercepted with his right arm knocking it to the side. She stumbled losing her balance from the sudden parry.
Now…
Kyo stepped with a fierce front kick to her open torso; putting all of his weight into the ensuing strike. Unprepared for the blow; Sora took it full force her eyes bulging from the intensity of the blow. She skidded across the rooftop a few feet before coming to a halt; surprisingly only taking a knee. One hand clutched her stomach and the other wiped a trickle of blood from her mouth; a smirk formed where her hand cleaned up. Kenji attempted to go over to see to her well being; but she immediately put her hand up in protest, in which Kenji did not contest further.
"You're defeated….." Kyo said sure of himself.
Sora was silent for a moment; but then begin to snicker to herself.
"Does he know who I am?" She wondered arrogantly.
Kyo went over to Sakura to see if she was ok, she had a slight blemish on her chin and shin, her knees were a little skinned up too. But for the most part she looked to be fine.
"You have unfinished business Kyo…." She said still ashamed she had fell victim to Sora's moves.
"Right…" Kyo got back up and looked to Sora who was now standing; but obviously injured from the previous blow. He had to admit; she was damn tough to take such a blow and come back for some more.
"I'm Sora Tanaka, captain of Suka High kickboxing team. Among the gangs of Okinawa I'm known and feared as "Shadow hands." Do you think some nobody could best me?" She beckoned angrily.
Hazuki had heard enough rhetorical questions for one day; he didn't care what title she had. There was no way she would defeat him; he had seen her movements and he knew her breaking point.
"You got much to learn about giving away your movements Shadow hands.." Kyo started.
Sora looked changed from angry to confused.
"Even a beginner knows the basics of hiding their movements. But apparently you do; and you say your feared? Must be fighting some pretty weak opponents." Kyo said truthfully; yet cocky tone.
"What do you mean!?" Sora barked.
"Come, I'll show you." He gestured his hand forward.
"No!" Kenji cried, causing both fighters to turn their attention to him.
"Kenji…..?"
Kenji walked over and touched his counterpart on the shoulder and begin to whisper in her ear.
"This battle is over; we've embarrassed ourselves enough. Look, what he did to Namura for crying out loud. Now I won't question your will to defeat him, but I won't have him damage my dear Sakura further." He said softly.
"But…" She insisted.
"Even if you insist; my decision is final. I am leader after all; I have to make the right ones for the greater good. And my girl knows that doesn't she?" His tone was so saucy and manipulative.
"Yes, sir…." She agreed, even though she didn't admit it. There was no way she could have bested Kyo after the punishing blow he delivered to her mid section. Never had she felt a blow so powerful; she wondered where it came from. Sora had bested foes twice the size of Hazuki. For some reason he possessed a different type of ferocity; like a wild tiger.
"You win today Hazuki…." Kenji gestured to his enemy.
He casually walked over to the unconscious Namura and tucked his head under his allies arm; Sora did the same thing on the opposite side.
"This isn't over; next time it won't be so favorable. You'll have to face me…" Kenji said in a serious tone; and they begin to carry their counterpart away.
"Anytime….." Kyo said to himself.
Sakura walked to Kyo's side and watch them walk away.
"Kenji, I hear he's unstoppable with his stick Kyo."
He looked Sakura in the eyes. "If he gets in my way; I'll make him pay."
Suka High, Outer grounds
Dec 1, 2014 1600 PM
Kyo sat on the bench next to Sakura; she was still a little down about her defeat. The sun ventured its way toward the inevitable setting that would occur soon. A brisk wind cut through the trees causing them to rustle as if they were complaining about a disturbance.
"Tatsusaru…what do you know anything about him?" Kyo questioned his closes friend.
"Well, nothing that Kenji hasn't already said. He's a very powerful man that controls an abundance of commerce in the harbor. Maybe you should do a more through investigation of the situation."
"Any ideas?"
"Well, didn't Kenji mention something about a Chen Guizhang? Maybe that man has some information." She reminded him.
"That's right; that is a lead. And my father knew Chen pretty well." He said excited.
He got up and took a deep breath of air; it was cool and felt good against his lungs. Hazuki was exhausted and it showed on his face; he looked to Sakura. Who continued to stared forward as if she wasn't aware of him. When she went down today he threw his concentration off; and almost cost him the battle. He had no doubt in his mind that she was a very capable fighter. But it was obvious she wasn't on the same level as him; at least not anymore. If she got involved she'd become a liability; and it would cost him more than serious injury.
"What is it Kyo, what's on your mind?" She asked finally after catching his glance.
"I'm going to do this alone, Sakura." He spoke in a straight forward tone.
She begin to frown; it felt like he was boxing her out.
"Why? I knew your father to; I feel its my duty to help you…" She tried to persuade his judgment.
"No, I can't risk something happening to you; you mean to…" he stopped realizing he was speaking from the heart.
"What?" She wanted to say what he was going to; but knew he probably wouldn't.
"It's nothing; Sakura I'm doing this alone. That is my decision, please respect it."
"Fine, if that is what you want…" She lied, she would help him somehow; indirectly if possible.
"Thank you. I'll see you soon." He said knowing he wouldn't be coming back to school for awhile.
"You don't want to walk me home Kyo?" She asked innocently.
"I'm sorry Sakura, I just need to be alone with my thoughts." He answered in a sincere tone.
"I understand, Kyo." She gave him a fake smile to act as if she was ok with it.
Of course she wasn't, she wanted to converse some more. Maybe even convince to go back on his word; which she knew he wouldn't. He was a Hazuki and terribly stubborn; he'd been that way since they were small and it wouldn't change, not even for a special occasion.
Kyo walked away thinking to himself; he had done the right thing. He was a martial artist; and his duty was to protect people. Even if it meant another martial artist; and a close friend.
"Chen Guizhang…where is my father?" He thought to himself.
Tomorrow he would find Chen and get whatever information he could from his father's friend. For some odd reason he knew it would just be the beginning; and that he would need to be fully mentally prepared for what laid in store for him.
Sakura begin to walk home; she knew a few people who might know a lot of about Tatsusaru; and they hanged out Dobuita lime light district after dark. She knew it would be risky, but that's where she would go.
"Kyo I'll help you no matter what."