I do not own any ideas taken from One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, HunterXHunter, Yu Yu Hakusho or Rustage's One Piece D&D. Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Tite Kubo, Akira Toriyama, Yoshihiro Togashi and Rustage are the brilliant minds behind those stories and I'm simply using them to set the stage for my story! It's all for fun so please enjoy!
Chapter 22: Potential
"Haki and Ki are relatively the same thing but there are defining differences. Ki is used to strengthen physical attacks or some people can even emit their life energy from their bodies. Haki has three subcategories." Roshi stuck three fingers up, "Observation Haki, Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki. But we'll only be focusing on Armament and Observation." He nodded.
"Why can't we learn Conqueror's Haki?" Asuka asked.
"Nobody can learn it, you have to be born with it." Roshi said.
"Armament Haki is for offense and defense. Observation Haki is like a sixth sense." Shuhei stated.
"Mhm, that's the gist of it." Roshi nodded and said, "I don't remember you. Who are you?"
"Zoldyk Shuhei."
"Is that so?" Roshi lifted an eyebrow and looked Shuhei up and down. "How much do you know already?"
"Not a lot." Shuhei admitted, "I just know some basics."
"Zeno didn't teach you anything?" Roshi asked with a smile.
"You know my grandpa?" Shuhei asked with excitement.
"Oh yeah! He and I have duked it out more times than I can remember." Roshi laughed.
"So, how do we use Haki?" Mugen asked.
"Intense training and pushing yourself to your absolute limits can awaken your Haki." Roshi cleared his throat and explained, "That slippery girl that Yasui couldn't hit, she used Haki to hit him. That blind boy with the staff is sensing the world around himself with Haki."
"Yeah, I figured as much." Yasui said and chuckled.
"When do we start training?" Zika asked excitedly.
"Right now." Roshi said to them, "You have roughly three months until your next fights, yeah? We can use all of that time."
"I'm not waiting three months until my next fight, Pervy Sage!" Asuka exclaimed.
"Then register your next fight in thirty days!" Roshi called out, "Train and then fight."
"Hmm, okay." Asuka said and grinned.
"I'm not much of a fighter." Bulma said, "I'm gonna pass on training."
Roshi looked Bulma up and down and said, "No, you're gonna train with us."
The Misfits walked with Roshi to an elevator and rode it up to the two-hundred-and-thirtieth floor. He led the group of them to a stadium with six arenas set up. There wasn't a soul in sight.
"Why's this floor empty?" Zika asked.
"It's my floor." Roshi said and laughed.
"You're a Floor Master?!" Shuhei exclaimed.
"Yep!" Roshi laughed and said, "Alright. Mugen and Asuka, you're up against each other in Arena A. Zika and Hama can take on Shuhei in Arena C. Yasui and Bulma can take Arena F. We'll spar all day, I hope you aren't too tired after your fight, Shuhei."
"I'm good." Shuhei stated.
"Today you'll spar, push yourselves well beyond your limits. Starting tomorrow I'll jump around between the groups of you and the real training will begin." Roshi said and tapped his staff on the ground.
The Misfits split up into their groups and jumped into the arenas.
Thirty days later, Asuka's second fight on the two-hundredth floor was scheduled to take place. The Misfits had trained nonstop for thirty days and scheduled their fights. Asuka's fight is today. Shuhei's fight is the day after. Zika and Yasui's fights are scheduled for ten and thirteen days after that.
Asuka made his way to Arena C on the two-hundred-and-fifth floor, he made his way to the waiting room and drank juice as he waited. The others sat in the audience and waited for the fight to begin. Asuka was ushered out of the waiting area and walked down the narrow hallway to the arena.
"We have Kido versus Asuka!" The referee shouted and the audience cheered and screamed. He looked at them and asked, "First to ten points?"
"Yeah." Kido said.
"No. Ring out or knockout." Asuka said and nodded.
The referee pulled a coin from his pocket, "Heads or tails, Asuka?"
"Tails."
The referee flipped the coin and caught it in his hand, "It is tails. Asuka's terms stand."
"Fine." Kido said.
Asuka grinned and nodded.
"Let the match begin!" The referee shouted.
Kido skipped back and Asuka Shaved after him. Asuka kicked Kido in the side and slammed a punch into his head. Kido jumped back and hurled tops from his arms, they spun around quickly and clacked against each other. Asuka dodged around and used Iron Body as he dashed at Kido.
Tops shot at Asuka and he evaded them smoothly as he skipped up at Kido and punched him in the chin. Kido stumbled back and four tops slammed into Asuka's back, they exchanged rapid blows and leapt away from each other. Tops shot at Asuka from various angles and slammed into his chest.
Asuka Shaved forward and swept Kido's legs out from under him. Kido landed on his back and Asuka slammed a wicked punch down into his chest. The sound of Kido's ribs shattering echoed out and he laid still as Asuka stood over him.
"Can you continue?" The referee asked.
Kido groaned and gasped, "No!"
"The winner is Asuka!" The referee shouted and the audience erupted with cheers and booes. Asuka grinned and walked back to the waiting area and made his way back toward his suite.
Shortly after Asuka's fight, the Misfits gathered together and returned to Master Roshi's floor. They split into their groups and began sparring as Roshi watched them for a while.
"Listen up, it's rare for people to awaken and master their Haki. It may not happen for you but if you continue pushing yourselves, you could tap into it." Roshi said slowly, "It would take years to teach you all everything I know. So, with our limited time all we can do is keep pushing all of you."
"We've been going at it for a month straight." Bulma whined, "I'll be fine without ever learning Haki or Ki or whatever."
"So you wanna quit and leave Yasui without a partner?" Roshi asked and stroked his beard.
"Ugh, no." Bulma pouted.
"We all gotta get stronger, Bulma!" Asuka called over to her.
Bulma nodded, "The World Government is after me, I need to be strong."
Bulma blasted gusts of wind as Yasui zoomed around the arena as they sparred. Shuhei dodged around Zika and Hama as they struck at him with their Fang Over Fang. Mugen sliced up Asuka, trying to actually cut him as Asuka tried to block the slashes with Haki.
After a few hours of training, Master Roshi spun around quickly and looked toward the hallway leading to the elevator. "Show yourself!" He shouted.
A tall man walked from the shadows with a sinister chuckle. The man had very pale skin and pinkish red hair that was slicked back. He had a jester-like appearance. On his right cheek was a yellow teardrop and on his left cheek was a red star, on his blue tank top was a red heart and a red diamond. "You sensed me?" The man chuckled.
"What do you want?" Roshi asked and the Misfits stopped and stared at the man.
"I'm just scoping out the competition." The man said slyly.
"And you are?" Roshi asked.
"I am Morow Hisoka." He said and placed a hand on his chest, he smiled and said, "I wanted to challenge Asuka to a fight."
"I'll take you on!" Asuka shouted and pointed at him.
Roshi looked at Asuka sternly and Hisoka laughed. Hisoka grinned and said, "I'm fighting Shuhei tomorrow. Anytime after that I'm free."
"I'll wipe the floor with whatever Shuhei leaves of you." Asuka stated and grinned.
Hisoka laughed evilly and turned around. "See you soon." He said as he walked down the hallway.
"Everyone can take the rest of the day off, except for Shuhei." Roshi said and looked at Shuhei.
Shuhei nodded, "I appreciate it."
Asuka, Bulma and Mugen went to shop on the two-hundredth floor and ordered juice and wine. They sat at a table chatting and drinking when the blind boy, Renji, walked into the shop. He walked up to the counter and ordered juice.
"Hey, Renji!" Asuka called out.
Renji grabbed his juice and turned to look at their table, "Yeah?"
"Come join us." Asuka said and smiled.
Renji stepped over to the table and sat down with them, "Asuka, right? And who are your friends?"
"Bulma."
"Mugen."
"How did you know it was me?" Asuka asked.
Renji took a drink of his juice and said, "I can hear your 'voice'."
"Hm?" Mugen glanced at Renji.
"What do you mean by 'voice'?" Bulma asked.
"Is that Haki?" Asuka asked excitedly.
Renji shrugged, "I was born able to sense the world around me. My entire clan was gifted like this."
"Your entire clan specializes in Observation Haki?" Mugen questioned.
"Simply gifted in that category." Renji said and shrugged.
"So what are you doing here?" Bulma asked.
"The same as you I presume. I need to get stronger." Renji said and nodded.
"What do you need to get stronger for?" Asuka asked and took a drink of his juice.
"I have business in Yorknew City." Renji stated simply.
"Yorknew City?" Mugen and Asuka both asked.
"Oh yeah, the annual Yorknew auction is coming up!" Bulma stated.
Renji nodded, "It starts in two months."
"Sounds cool." Asuka said.
"Are you looking to rob the place or out for revenge?" Mugen asked with a grin.
Renji remained silent.
The next day, Shuhei made his way to Arena E on the two-hundred-and-seventh floor for his fight against Hisoka. He had trained hard all night with Master Roshi in preparation for the fight but was admittedly nervous. When Hisoka appeared the night before Shuhei and Roshi both felt something sinister about him.
"With five wins under his belt, it's Hisoka!" The referee shouted and the audience cheered wildly. "And with one victory, it's Shuhei!" The audience cheered again.
Shuhei and Hisoka entered the ring and stared at each other, Hisoka smiling widely.
"First to ten points, is this agreeable?" The referee asked.
They both nodded.
"Then, let the match begin!"
Shuhei launched at Hisoka and barraged a flurry of punches, Hisoka blocked and dodged the attacks effortlessly. Shuhei jabbed a Finger Pistol and Hisoka caught his wrist with his right hand, he slammed his left fist into Shuhei's stomach.
Shuhei jumped back and the referee shouted, "Clean hit, point Hisoka!"
Hisoka grinned and Shuhei clenched his fists. Shuhei dashed forward and sent a high kick that Hisoka blocked. Shuhei spun around and swung his fist at Hisoka's jaw, Hisoka ducked down and slammed an uppercut up into Shuhei's chin.
"Critical hit! Two points to Hisoka!" The referee shouted.
Shuhei stumbled back and wiped his mouth. He dashed forward and bent down quickly, he dug his fingers between the tiles and ripped a tile up. He flipped it at Hisoka and shattered the tile with a savage kick, debris and rubble hailing around Hisoka.
Hisoka looked around in attempts to spot Shuhei as the rubble flew around him. Shuhei Shaved around and slammed a wicked punch into Hisoka's face! He slid back and rubbed his face with a wicked smile on his lips.
"Critical hit! Two points to Shuhei!" The referee bellowed.
Hisoka Shaved suddenly and jabbed a Finger Pistol into Shuhei's chest, his pointed nail plunging deep into his flesh. Hisoka pulled his finger away quickly and a spurt of blood sprayed into the air.
"Critical hit! Two points to Hisoka!" The referee quickly shouted.
Shuhei stumbled back and Hisoka inhaled deeply, "Your blood smells so delicious."
Hisoka dashed forward and Shuhei Shaved away from him, Hisoka stayed right on his heels as he toyed with him. Shuhei spun fast and kicked at Hisoka's side, he blocked and slammed a palm strike into Shuhei's forehead.
"Clean hit! Point to Hisoka!"
Shuhei Shaved around rapidly and appeared beside Hisoka, he barraged a flurry of Finger Pistols at him. Hisoka disappeared suddenly and appeared behind Shuhei, he jabbed him three times in the back with Finger Pistols and Shuhei hit the ground hard.
"Critical hit and a down! Three points to Hisoka!" The referee shouted and the audience erupted into cheers.
Shuhei gasped for air as he pushed himself off the ground. He stumbled around as his vision blurred and narrowed. Hisoka stared at him as he stumbled around.
Shuhei dashed forward and Hisoka slammed a kick into his chest. Shuhei grunted and hit the ground.
"Clean hit! The winner is Hisoka!" Shuhei heard the referee shout as his vision went dark and he slipped into unconsciousness.
Hours later, Shuhei laid in his bed covered in bandages and resting after his fight. Roshi and the other Misfits were in the living room of the suite talking amongst themselves.
"I'm gonna register to fight that clown and I'm gonna beat his ass!" Asuka declared.
"If you think you can beat Hisoka, you've got another thing coming." Roshi stated sternly.
"That guy is super creepy." Bulma said slowly.
"Asuka has to fight Hisoka." Mugen said, "He won't back down."
Asuka grinned and nodded.
Roshi sighed loudly and said, "Yasui and Zika, you two keep training together and prepare for your fights. Asuka and I are gonna train one-on-one for a while."
"What about us?" Bulma asked, gesturing at Mugen and herself.
"You two get some time off." Roshi nodded and said, "I need to make sure Asuka doesn't get himself killed."
Asuka grinned.
To Be Continued