Hueco Mundo

He didn't know where he was, and he didn't care. All he knew was that, that horned bitch ran off with something that didn't belong to her and he was going to get it back.

He had hardly managed to keep up with her, let alone track her once she jumped through that portal and arrived into this desert. Endless mounds of sand and scorching sun over nothingness stretched as far as the eye could see. One thing was for sure; this wasn't the Sand Village.

Another sure thing.. he caught up to her.

Deer, Lion, Snakes, it didn't matter. They all drown in the water.

He slammed Samehada down onto Apacci's torn body. She coughed up blood staining the sand around her head just like the rest covering her body. The sword was as long as her entire body and he raised it up only to bring it down and club her again. Her body reacted to the blow, limply laying there. Nearby a mangled Mila Rose and Sun-Sun were in similar shape lying across a bloody sand pit.

And overlooking them all, their leader certainly didn't like that.

But he didn't like the coat she wore.

She stood across a sand dune looking down at the work he'd done with an ice cold glare. Adorned over her body though was something distinct. Something familiar to him; the Akatsuki's cloak and the most recent owner of that very cloak had been his former partner.

Former, because he like so many others were dead now. But that didn't make the coat any less his or any more of hers.

He swung his massive sword and hung it over his shoulder; droplets of blood sprinkled the ground and dripped off of it to run down his shoulder as he starred her down. The edges of his toothy grin peaked out above his collar. She was more the silent one, but he was waiting for her to speak. Which eventually after seeing enough of his handiwork she finally did.

"Why did you do this?" Despite her passiveness he could tell she was pretty enraged about what he just did. Feeling pretty good about it himself he flung his sword off his shoulder and pointed it at her.

"That coat." Kisame said holding his sword out as an extension of himself; the massive end of it pointed towards her and still dripped blood "It doesn't belong to you. It belongs to the Akatsuki. Give it back." he wasn't asking.

A reaction stirred in her face. A small movement as she raised an eyebrow "You did all this for a coat?" she asked both curious and angry though her face and voice remained as it was. Appaci had presented it to her as a gift much to the jealousy of the other two, so she likely didn't expect a reaction such as this, but she was getting it anyway.

He put his sword back over his shoulder with more blood splattering over the sand as he did

"I've done worse for less." he grinned proudly, his hills highlighting the malicious grin he gave her. She didn't seem to appreciate that, but none the less she moved. Not to attack, him but to bring one her left arm upwards to undo the top most button on the jacket with her left hand. She then slipped her right arm out of the coat which revealed instead of another hand, a giant white sword being held by it, comparable in size to his own. It was revealed with the rest of her body and the lack of anything covering it once the coat was taken off and bundled into her left hand. Kisame looked her over as she stood before him showing more skin now. Perhaps most noticeably there was the number 3 on her large chest. "Well you're the modest one aint ya?" he mocked "I can see why you'd wanna cover up." he said, but she said nothing as she threw the coat over to him. It opened up from the bundle it became in her hand, flapping in the air. Kisame reached out to catch it and it landed on on the rounded tip of Samehada. Securing it, he flung it back over his shoulder and then the two locked eyes again. She didn't say anything at all, she just kept glaring at him from across the sand. A little disappointed she had nothing to say he turned around and walked off, intent on finding a way out of this place. The coat flapped with each soft step he took.

"Wait!" she called out to him, not in a yell, but a stern command. He didn't take orders from her, but that stopped him dead in his tracks, his feet meshing in with the sand "I'm not going to let you leave after what you did to them." she said in a hard voice. She couldn't see his face, but did hear a dark chuckle escape his mouth.

"Good." he turned around to face her "Cause I thought I wasn't going to have any more fun today."

She raised her right arm and the sword with it. Admittedly he was a little interested. It wasn't every day he got to fight another swordsman, but given the company she kept he wasn't expecting much.

"They didn't deserve what you did to them." she scolded at him.

"Deserves got nothing to do with it." he snarled back showing his razor sharp teeth more. She was silent for a few more moments before asking.

"Who went first?" She seemed to show great concern for those who served her. They were loud and annoying as far as Kisame saw, the exact opposite of her. He turned his head down and looked over at her three fraccion members, remembering each way how they came at him and what they yelled and threatened, but their threats were empty. His round eyes rolled to each one before looking up to her.

"It doesn't matter..." he said coldly reflecting the conflict as he looked them over again. Her glare deepened at him as he discarded their efforts for her so easily "I was lucky in the order." he admitted before looking back up to her "But I've always been lucky when it comes to killing folks." He did not become the 'Demon of the Mist' for no reason.

"I'll repay that in kind." she said.

Her sword started glowing yellow and when she slashed it in unleashed a bright yellow blast right towards him. It advanced on him quicker than Kisame had expected. He raised Samehada and put it in front of him shielding his body. When the blast hit the sword, it broke off into two separate streams around him, but neither of it hit him.

When the blast subsided, he peered over the side of his sword to see her still standing there. He moved Samehada from his view and held it to his side.

"Impressive light show" he said peering forward "Is that all?" he asked mockingly. She did not take his bait, but instead spoke and put her sword to the side as he did.

"I am former third Espada Tia Halibel." she declared stating her name not pointing her sword at him. That now explained the '3' plastered on her large exposed chest.

"I wonder what gave you away." he joked aloud dryly. 'Former?' he thought to himself more seriously 'She's rogue like me.' And that could mean she's dangerous.

"And who are you?" His grin widened above the brim of his coat.

"It doesn't matter." he gargled back at her and gripped his sword tighter "You'll be dead soon."

"I must know." she reinstated blandly "Warriors must give their names to each other."

"Get used to disappointment." he snapped. After going through all the trouble to get the coat back she wasn't entitled to anything from him, except his sword "With those three around you must already be." he nodded off to the other three he'd beaten and her glare intensified. She didn't seem to have accepted that as an answer, but didn't say anything about it. She wasn't much of a talker this one, which is weird because the last three wouldn't shut up. Kisame then looked around at the environment they would be fighting in. "It's a little dry here for me" he announced and she unsurprisingly said nothing "So if you don't mind I'm gonna end this drought." He planted Samehada in the sand beside him, brining his hand off of it for the first time to put his two hands together. She didn't say anything when he performed the necessary hand signs and then reared his head back. "Water Style: Exploding Water Shock Wave!" Then he flung his head forward and with his mouth wide open he started vomiting out water. It didn't take long before he covered the entire area in water, replacing the sand with water. Now covering the entire area with water, he took his place atop of it and looked to see her unfazed standing across from him as if nothing had happened or the arena hadn't changed in his favor. All around him her three fraccion's bodies rising with the water floated on its surface. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his sword again bringing it back into his possession. "Well.." he gripped it tightly "let's get this started."

Running across the water he stampeded towards Tia. He raised his sword high above his head and when he was close enough brought it down on her. She lifted her own massive blade to block his and managed to do so. The two stood up pushing against each other using all their strength. The fierce grinding of the swords produced sparks and the sound of water crashing beneath them went along with their grunts and snarls. Then he pushed her back, and she skidded along the top of the water kicking it up and creating waves as he did. He came at her again flailing Samehada at her. He swung it at her, but she dodged allowing her to strike at him which he ducked under. With one hand he swiped across at her, but she jumped in the air above his swing and shot out a leg kicking him in the face. He quickly grabbed her leg and flung her across the water.

Tumbling across the water's surface, she landed face down. She picked herself up just in time for a shadow to overtake her. She looked up to see Kisame bearing down on her with his sword about to bash her head in like he did the others. His sword dropped down onto her causing the water to erupt in a violent explosion from the force. Even the sand beneath it was disturbed by the impact. As everything steadied Kisame brought his sword to his side and looked down to see Tia wasn't there.

"Hmmm" he grumbled. Then she appeared from behind him and she her sword was glowing yellow like before. It a split second he turned around and swung his sword hitting hers and deflecting the blast at the last second. And as an added bonus Samehada would absorb her chakra.

But strangely enough, that wasn't happening. He stalled in a strange acknowledgement of it. Taking advantage of his shock, she moved to hit him, but he merely reared back his arm and punched her in the face. He saw blood fall from her face and land in the water. Then she brought her leg up and kicked him across the face and away from her.

Wiping his mouth and spitting red into the water he looked over to her curiously. She seemed just as ready as he was, but instead of wondering what to do his eyes moved to his sword next.

"That was interesting..." he said aloud looking over Samehada "I couldn't absorb your chakra.. Samehada says it tastes funny. Won't have a bite." Strange indeed, luckily he had a back up plan "Well then" he said as if he'd come to a simpler conclusion "I'll just have to cut you to ribbons instead."

"You sound so sure of yourself." she said her voice and tone hadn't changed from when they first began.

"I've had years of practice." He then swung his arm out and swung it at her. She jumped back and swung hers only for him to dodge it on his own. Then he swung again only for her to block it with her own blade and then she quickly maneuvered behind him and he was too slow to react; this would be her final strike.

She slashed Kisame across his torso easily cutting him in two. But instead of red blood, blue water seemed to take his place. Then he dispersed only to reveal that it was a water clone she had cut instead.

As soon as it dispersed, she was attacked from behind. Kisame swung Sahmehada down right on top of her, but she brought her sword up to block him. Pushing up she propelled his sword off of her. Then she snapped around and swung her sword at him when he brought his own up to block.

"I've seen tricks like that before." she stated. Though they had been ice and not water its purpose was identical.

"Well I've got plenty more you haven't." Kisame swung Samehada at her, but she just jumped into the air. Only she didn't come back down. Looking up to the sky, he saw her floating in the are above him. Her glare was just as constant as his grin. "And you don't call that a trick?" he asked looking up at the floating rogue espada. She gave no answer "Well it's good I can compensate." Water started to swarm around his feet and then began pushing him up. Stacking higher and higher, until he stood level with Tia who didn't show any signs distress. The wave built up and then began crashing down on top of her.

She slashed at the wave cutting it, but the water kept falling on to her. Kisame jumped off his perch and swung his sword, but in mid-air and even more maneuverability she blocked it. With him falling on top of her, she went with him; he grabbed her wrist at thrust her sword away before beating Samehada into her shoulder.

She screamed out as the scales dug into her skin and when he tore it off it opened it even more. Blood poured off her arm and trickled off the scaled off his sword. Then she grabbed ahold of him and swung him around successfully switching their places. Then her sword started to glow yellow and point black she unleashed a yellow blast at him.

"Cero" was all he heard. The blast hit him at point blank range, and he was shot down into the water. Cutting through it he plunged all the way to the bottom of the lake he'd made and a large explosion overtook their battlefield. The water shot up high into the air and lashed around violently, but Tia stood on stoically.

When it finally did calm down, she looked around for any sudden disturbances. Then a small ripple appeared from the water and a blue tuff of hair emerged from it. Slowly the rest of Kisame emerged from beneath the water, drops falling from the edges of his body and coat which was noticeably torn while streams fell down his entire body. But he didn't seem all too deterred by it.

"Well.. if nothing else I've got myself a bath." he said with blood pouring from his mouth. He rolled his shoulders letting his coat drop into the water showing a bare form to match hers "My turn." he menacingly leaned forward and showed his arms. He rushed towards her, and swung his sword, she dodged and moved to his left for a slash of her own but he swung his sword to cover it.

Their swords slammed together grinding against the other. She pushed against him, breaking his hold and opening him to an attack. She slashed her sword down onto his right arm which wielded Samehada.

"AHG!" he shrieked when she slashed him. Blood shot out from the cut, and his grip on his sword loosened in the process and it fell from his hands. But he quickly swung over with his left hand hitting her across the face. He hit her with such force that she spun in place and landed down onto the water with her back to him. Picking her head up she saw blood diluting the water where her face was and could see dripping off her face in her reflection. Then she felt something violently latch onto the back of her head.

Laying in the water he grabbed reached out and grabbed her by the back of the head and plunged her head below the water. Her arms and legs thrashed about as he knelt over her pushing her deeper into the water. Her thrashing got more violent the longer her head stayed under, but he just squeezed harder keeping her in place.

"Ah quit your shaking." he grinned above her, some blood from his mouth and nose dropping onto her bare back "I bet you choked down on bigger things before." he cackled as she continued to struggle against him.

Then suddenly she reared her right arm back and elbowed him in the ribs. He grunted from the impact and when she did it again it was with enough force to knock him clean off her. He fell into the water, laying next to her and in the next second she made a full swing with her right arm, swinging her sword up and over herself before hitting it into him. Bringing his arms up at the last second they slashed them and force of it still sent him to the bottom of the lake.

Seeing him from below she looked around to displace his weapon from him. Snapping her head over she saw Samehada floating in the water near her. Getting to her knees she dived towards it and reach for the hilt with her free hand. She moved her hand around to grip it, but as soon as it came into contact with it sharp blades came out to pierce her skin and stab through it.

She clenched her teeth to silence a scream and retracted her hand, balling it into a fist as blood crept between her fingers. Erupting from the water beneath her came Kisame who wrapped his arms around her body to hold her place as he chomped down onto her right shoulder with his razor sharp teeth. She snapped her head back hitting him in the face and even looking forward she could see blood shoot out from behind all around her head. Doing it again he fell back and broke his grip on her. She then swung her arm out to slash at him with her sword, but he moved out of the way, shooting his leg up to kick her only for her to raise her sword to block it, but the force still sent her sliding back across the water.

Kisame then went to look for his own blade and found it floating in the water, interestingly enough with some blood on its hilt.

He let out a dark chuckle "Seems he doesn't like you..." he looked over to her "Good. another thing we have in common." he said reached up to grab it and then standing up tall with it. Both of them were more bare and had more blood than clothes now, but neither would admit defeat. Not to this opponent.

She dived forward to slash at him, but he pivoted and moved to her side and then came down slamming his sword on top of her. She brought hers up to block and moved his away, misdirecting it. When he came at her with another swing she, jumped away.

Then she backed up and put considerable distance between them.

"La Gota." she said before firing numerous blasts of water at high speeds. Each one exploded once it made contact with the water on top of it. Kisame running across the top of the water, dodged each one.

"Pretty weak attacks. Hope you don't intend of beating me with that?" She didn't seem to have heard him because he kept doing it. And he was perfectly fine with that. She prepared for another volley until a clone of him swiped at her from the side. She moved out of the way and would have cut it down if he hadn't already arrived and grabbed a hold of her.

"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!" he announced, and her eyes widened in shock as water began to rise and twist around to engulf her. She was encircled in a ball of water. Trapped she made a move to get out. She stabbed her sword through the sphere and managed to get her sword out!

If he hadn't moved his head at the last second that would have been the end of him, but he had a cut on his cheek to match his gills. She would have done it again if she suddenly hadn't felt a sheering pain in her shoulder. She swiped at her shoulder to reveal nothing there, only a open wound and blood trickling into the water prison.

"Lonely? Don't worry you'll have company soon enough." Suddenly forming within the water sphere with Tia was three large, fierce sharks. They encircled her, and she had no where to go. "Bye bitch."

The three swarmed around her each one grabbing a hold of a piece of her body. One grabbed at her arm swallowing it whole, the other on the left side of her stomach and the third closed its jaws over her head. She thrashed violently inside of the sphere as she was being devoured.
He thought if you listened closely he thought he could hear screams, though muted by the water and muddled by the red. The ball of water before him started to turn into a ball of blood with splashes erupting as she thrashed about. Then as soon as it started, it stopped. He let out a satisfied grin.

"Done eating?" he asked aloud. He received no response. "I guess so." He looked deeper into the blood soaked ball and then let out a malicious laugh.

Then suddenly bursting from the ball and coming right at him was a sword, and he couldn't dodge it. The erupting blood ball splashed onto him covering him in blood and the large pale blade slicing from it impaled him all the way through his stomach. Then diving out along with the blade was an arm wielding it and torso soon followed.

Tia's legs followed her body sprouted from the diffusing ball of blood, planting them firmly on the ground as she drove her sword deeper into him. He coughed blood falling onto her sword. His grip on his sword loosened, and he dropped it into the water.

Samehada plunged beneath the waters surface. Then it began moving freely in its own. It came up sprouting above the water and a mouth appeared at the tip of it to swallow her entire right leg. That finally stopped her advance... on foot at least. Grabbing his shoulder with her free hand, she plunged her sword all the way through him, their faces now inches from each others. He coughed up more blood onto her face, though considering she was already covered in her own she likely didn't care.

With all his strength left Kisame raised his right arm and slugged her in the face only for her to respond in kind with her free hand. A few more blows like that made both of them realized they were at their limit. Another punch hit Tia in the cheek while she uppercut him. In retaliation he brought one down into her head knocking it down so she hit him again in the jaw. Her last blow was weaker than the last. Angrily Kisame reared his arm back and hit square in the nose. Her head flung back from the punch splattering more of their shred blood from it. She then flung it forward, only the white of her eyes were visible from her otherwise red face. The blue marks on her cheeks were hidden under the blood. She brought up another punch to hit him, but it was weaker this time. He retaliated with another, but it felt more like a slap to the cheek than a punch. Kisame clearly wasn't satisfied with that, so he reared up again. Yet Tia was tired of that. She twisted her arm and her sword with it. Kisame winched and tightened his body in place and his fist curled to his side. A chomp from below was herd and felt as Samehada bit into her leg. She cringed and with no step to take fell forward diving her sword into him more. The glare they shot at the other never left.

"Who-" she let out sharply "are you." Tia grunted.

He didn't answer instantly, a few moments of silence pasted between them, save for the trickling of blood and water. He licked blood from his lips and leaned in closer to hers.

"One you'll never forget." he responded and spit in her face. And with that she was done with him.

She pulled her massive sword from his body and bringing it up to combine it with her other swung down onto his head knocking him beneath the water. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't surprised he had more fight in him, but instead of doing so he swam away, but not before locking eyes with her from under the water first.

'Coward' she thought as she saw him swim away, but decided not to give chase. She felt the piecing grip on her leg released and looked down as the mouth than gnawed at her closed revealing an entire leg that ran red with blood mismatching it with her other leg. Looking down past it the sword fell deep into the water. Kisame swam past it snatching it up. Her eyes trailed him and she saw that he stopped only twice; to pick up the two matching coats floating in the water.

After that the water steadied and he was gone.

This fight was over and she avenged her precious fraccion. Though it could have been easier. She closed her eyes and opened them looked over to see a bystander watching.

"You-"she panted "could have- helped."

"Whatta mean?" Grimmjow asked casually "I just got here. Besides you're supposed to be stronger than me anyway number 3."

Done with arguing and fighting Tia fell to the ground in the water with a splash ready to rest very strange battle this off.

The Other World

With a mighty punch to the jaw, he had flung Olibu out of the ring and out of the tournament.

"Winner! Pikkon!" the mushroom headed announcer roared and the crowds cheered in approval. Pikkon smiled accepting another great victory. Now he would be going on to the finals.

But at the same time he just didn't feel like celebrating. These were great fighters to be sure, great heroes from all across the universe gathered here, but sadly he could find himself longing for only one fight against one person.

Goku.

'It must be nice to go in, and out of the other world the way he does' Pikkon often mused. But with him being alive and back on Earth there was no one to truly challenge Pikkon here.

He exited the arena and went to the area reserved for fighters, though with the tournament reaching its end it seemed to be reserved for just him now.

He hadn't been watching the other matches, in truth it just didn't interest him the way it did before. He knew all the participants, all the opponents, and even the outcomes, so none sparked his interest. He passed his time by meditating in the corner, but with the competition thinning out as they reached the end it wasn't long before he was called out for the final round.

It wasn't long until that time came. The announcer tried to make it known to the mad bystanders who clamored for more. Try as he might Pikkon couldn't ignore them from all the way in here. Pikkon unfolded himself from his trance, picked himself up and made his way towards the ring leaving his quiet solidarity for the exact opposite. The crowds cheered wildly, but he wasn't responsive. He just casually and calmly made his way to the ring like he did before. But what he found once he got there surprised him.

Or rather who he found.

Standing at one end the arena was a competitor he'd never seen before. He was a man wearing a green vest and a blue jump suite underneath. A sash was fastened around his waste with an insignia on it. A forehead protector with a strange marking on it was wrapped around his head. The emblem wasn't familiar to him at all. A theme was begining to grow with this man. Not uneasiness, but curiosity was growing in Pikkon as he regarded him strangely. A beard covered this man's chin, and a fresh cigarette was lit in his mouth. He let out a puff before realizing Pikkon was looking at him curiously.

"What? Something on my face?" he asked. Pikkon didn't respond to that, but continued to study him. He hadn't seen this man before at all. In fact he hadn't been paying attention to the tournament. So while he likely knew how he fought, Pikkon didn't know what his new opponents skills were and that prospect had intrigued him.

But first there was another mystery to solve. Pikkon turned his head to view the bracket. He saw his own advancement as well as his opponents. And in the top bracket there were two names, but only one could advance on and be declared winner. On one side there was his own name, and across from it one other.

"Asuma Sarutobi." Pikkon read aloud.

"Hm?" he heard him let out "that's my name." Pikkon turned back to him "And your Pikkon of the West quadrant." Asuma said. Pikkon nodded.

"And where are you from?" he asked in his usual serious voice.

Asuma let out a dry chuckle before taking a drag "Y'know I could hardly tell you. I thought the world was big, but it got a lot bigger after death" he rubbed his head uncomfortably " But I got a special invitation to come here so I thought 'Why not. You got nothing better to do'." he admitted with a casual shrug "As for your question." he said as his shoulders came back down "I'm from out of your quadrant so I don't think I could tell you exactly, but in life my home was to the west, so let's just lump me in with you." giving him another shrug and a guess for an answer

Pikkon felt that didn't fairly answer his question, but he did not say anything; after all regardless of where they were in life they ended up in the same place. He remained stern and rigid before his new opponent.

"Fighters!" the announcer called out "This is the final round! Begin!". The crowd cheered when he began, but went silent once it truly started. All of the shouts and cries they made were snuffed out as attention was on the two final fighters.

Pikkon remained in place waiting to see what Asuma would do first. The first thing he did was take his cigarette out, put it onto the floor and crush it with his foot, rubbing it in for good measure. But after that he did exactly what Pikkon was doing. Standing in place and staring across at his opponent.

"An impressive start!" the announcer said enthusiastically and Pikkon rolled his eyes "They don't appear to de doing anything! The two great finalists are sizing each other up!" Then Pikkon stirred when he noticed Asuma pull something out of his jacket. They looked like knives at first, until he saw him put them over both his knuckles.

"I didn't know weapons were aloud here." Pikkon announced.

"Nobody told me anything." Asuma shrugged again calmly "And I've been using them all this time."

Pikkon then focused in on his knuckled which now shined thanks to the blades 'Interesting.' he thought. 'So this is how he fights.'

"You ready to do this?" Asuma asked. One could hardly believe they were about to fight.

"Asuma Sarutobi." Pikkon turned his head up from looking at his hands to his face "Let's see whose truly the strongest!" There was a hint of excitement in Pikkon's voice as his round lips turned up into a smile. He stood against something new. A new way of fighting and new way to test his skills. He could not let such an opportunity pass.

Then Asuma charged at him and Pikkon readied himself; the blades shined as he gripped them. The gap was closing between them fast, but Pikkon stood his ground ready for what ever this new opponent had for him. Then Asuma was right before him, and he threw a punch. Seeing it coming Pikkon dodged to the left. But something strange happened. Even though he clearly wasn't hit, a scratch appeared across his cheek. Before he could even try to figure out why Asuma threw another punch which he dodged again. But he was slashed across the shoulder ripping his clothes. He jumped back as Asuma threw another punch at him which cut him across the chest. Then Asuma launched a kick at him. Pikkon quickly jumped high into the air dodging the attack and landed all the way on the other side of the ring.

He looked himself over to see that the kick had left no mark, unlike the other attacks that clearly didn't hit him. He looked across the arena to see Asuma knock his blades against each other, a distinct metallic 'shink' letting out as he did before he then motioned to face him. And that's when Pikkon noticed it. A blue light shining off of the ends of his blades seemingly increasing their length.

"Oh I see." he said aloud "You're putting your energy into those blades, amplifying their strength and reach." he stated observantly.

"That's right." Asuma nodded confidently "You catch on a little quicker than the others... but only just a little." he added. "Wanna try your luck a second time?"

Pikkon looked him over seriously.

'The last time I got to the final round I underestimated my opponent. I won't do that again. If he got this far, he must be strong.' he thought.

Now it was Pikkon who attacked Asuma. He charged across the ring to face him, but Asuma stood in his place just as Pikkon did before.

Asuma remained calm though and instead of readying an attack against him he just stood there passively. Then he made a move to do something. He placed his left hand up by his forehead and the other before his body with an open palm. Then the area around him started to shine brightly and a large golden figure seemed to appear taking it's place behind him.

Pikkon continued on and reared his arm back and threw a punch, but suddenly a gigantic golden fist swung at him first from around Asuma. It was not one if his own, but one of the figures behind him. Abandoning his attack, he jumped back away from Asuma. Then two suddenly came at him, but he managed to dodge them, only to be followed by even more fists. He evaded them with more difficulty as more came from different angles. One came from in front of him so he jumped back and then two from each side so he jumped into the air as they smashed into the arena below. Even in the air the barrage continued. He was assaulted from all sides and all angles. He moved right to dodge one that grazed his left arm and then they all came at him. One hit him in the gut hitting him hard so his mouth and eyes shot open and he spat out in the process. The fist continued it assault dragging I'm across the arena and one more came from above and pushed him down and crashed into the arena leaving a small hole with Pikkon in it.

Groaning and shaking his head Pikkon then realized the barrage stopped. Then he picked himself up, located Asuma and jumped out of the crack facing him.

"You wanna try that again?" Asuma asked as Pikkon rolled his shoulders and arms "Mine isn't as strong as it could be," he admitted humbly "but I think it gets the job done."

"It was impressive." Pikkon admitted as he dusted himself off.

"Well you managed to dodge most of em. That's pretty impressive too." Asuma complimented Pikkon reached his arms up above his head "So what now?". Pikkon stood up straight and tall, but didn't answer him. Instead, he moved his hands not to attack, but to his own clothes. Then he pulled his hat off along with his belt and some of his robes. He now only sported a light blue shirt to go with his white pants as he tied the rest neatly together and then launched them at Asuma.

Reaching his arms out Asume caught the bundle, but groaned and almost fell over from the weight of it. Then straightening himself out he dropped in onto the floor cracking the tiles. He let out a smile at seeing that.

"Weighted clothing. I'm not surprised." he let out looking back up to him "I bet now you'd have no problem dodging my attacks." Pikkon said nothing he just spread his legs and readied himself for a fight. "You know," he said getting Pikkon's attention "I should introduce you to someone I know back at home. He uses weighted clothing too, plus he'd probably like your complexion." Asuma joked thinking of Guy.

Pikkon let out a little grin and a chuckle to go with it "Well the next time you go back. You let me know. I'd like to see that." Though given where they both were the odds of that happening were beyond slim.

Asuma flicked his wrist spinning his blade as he did "Well, what's say we finish this first."

"I couldn't agree more." Pikkon said with eager determination.

Now it really begins.

Pikkon dashed towards Asuma and before he even knew he was there punched him hard in the gut causing Asuma to reel over. Then Pikkon grabbed him by his vest, flung him over his shoulder and across the ring.

Asuma turned himself in the air and managed to land on his feet and turned around towards Pikkon. Pikkon had his hands out before him and let out two small ki blasts. Asuma ran across the arena as they came towards him. He jumped over one as it landed behind him destroying that part of the arena entirely. He rolled out of the way of the other one as it exploded behind him. Clouds of smoke and pieces of white marble erupted behind him. Pikkon let out a barrage of blasts towards the advancing ninja. Asuma dodged, jumped over and dived beneath each one position himself so he could maneuver for the next as he closed the gap between them as Pikkon missed taking out more of the arena with it.

As he got closer Pikkon noticed the blue light emitted from his blades were longer now, almost like two giant swords in each hand. He stopped firing blasts and prepared for a close up confrontation. Asuma threw a punch, but Pikkon put up his arm to block it. He then unleashed a kick, but Asuma jumped back to dodge him. Pikkon let out a blast point blank, but Asuma barley managed to dodge. When another came at him from Pikkon, Asuma brought both his fists forward and with his fists slashed at the blast. The one shot turned into two and erupted beside him. Then he charged and swung forward with his left hand which Pikkon caught with his right and then with his right which Pikkon caught as well. The two struggled against each other with each pushing against the other with all they're might, but neither would budge.

Then suddenly they both let go of the other at the same time, and Asuma was the first to strike. He swiped with both his fists as Pikkon jumped over him into the air and he instead sliced off the nearest edge of area they were fighting in.

He pivoted quickly on his feet and turned around just as Pikkon came at him hitting him directly in the face. Asuma staggered in place at the edge of the arena and knew he had to get out of it quick, unless he wanted to get knocked out. Pikkon jabbed at him again, and he ducked under the blow and sidestepped Pikkon before hitting him twice in his ribs. Pikkon lashed out at him, but Asuma ducked under him again as Pikkon followed it with a kick which connected and sent him back further across the arena.

Asuma stumbled back and prepared himself right as Pikkon charged him. Moving quickly he uppercut him sending him into the air. Asuma was forced upwards, and he felt helpless flying through the air. Suddenly a bright light appeared before him; not an energy blast like before, but a fireball burning before him. His eyes widened at it, even more so when the flames shot up at him and he saw Pikkon standing beneath them. Swerving through the air and bracing himself Asuma hardly managed to evade the fire that sizzled and past before him. The heat flashed on his face and in his eyes. But just because he managed to evade that, even in the air didn't mean he was free from all attacks.

He could register no more before he was kicked back to the ground and landed hard on it.

"Fire type eh" he grumbled as he picked himself up "never thought he was the type". His widened suddenly when he saw Pikkon plummeting down from above, his knee extended downward and coming right at him.

Asuma reacted quickly and bucked his legs up managing to get up right as Pikkon's knee collided where his chest once was breaking the arena further. They were both kneeling and back to back now, looking at the other over their shoulder. Asuma swung back, but Pikkon jumped over the attack and put distance between them as he landed on the other side now facing him.

Asuma turned around as well and after seeing that burning sensation got an idea of his own. He inhaled sharply and let out a breath just as so, but it wasn't air he was exhaling, but thick black smoke. Pikkon put his arms up over his body defensively, but he couldn't dodge this. The smoke filtered out among the whole arena not only taking away his ability to see his opponent, but that of the onlookers to see the fight.

But then he heard a voice cry out from outside of the smoke.

"Fire Style; Burning ash." he heard Asuma say and then all at once the smoke went from black and gray to fiery bright.

From the outside all they saw was an explosion that overtook the smoke. A large booming erupted from the center of the already fractured arena, splitting it even further. Asuma braced himself before the smoke and fire and waited for it to thin out. When it finally did, he saw a singed figure standing amongst it.

Loosening himself to peer further Asuma saw Pikkon tensed up with his arms braced over his body and head to shield him from the fiery attack. The edges of his clothes singed and blackened a bit, with smoke rising from his bald head. But still no doubt very much in the fight.

Pikkon unfolded himself to the crinkle and crack of his clothes "I'm impressed." he admitted "Though I should have seen it coming." he said as the smoke ceased to rise from him.

"Didn't work wonders for me last time." Asuma admitted recalling the last fight he had before this one. Back when he was still alive. "But seeing your move gave me the idea to do it."

"There is even more I can show you." Pikkon said. He made a move to charge and Asuma braced himself for whatever came next. Pikkon dashed forward coming at him hard and fast. He swung a punch which Asuma deflected by swiping his arm up and out of the way. Pikkon swung with a kick that Asuma also dodged and when the other leg came up he ducked down low and to his side. Crouching he jabbed his fist out to the side flashing the trench knife into the back of Pikkon's leg. He heard a muffled groan escape him and he pulled the knife out spilling blood as he did. Expecting an attack Asuma jumped back as Pikkon kicked back at him. Evading the kick Asuma moved out of the way, putting his back to Pikkon only for a second as he moved and then he shot up again to face him.

He then quickly turned around to continue the fight, but when he did he found there was no one to fight. He didn't see Pikkon. He continued to look around for him, but he couldn't find him anywhere. It was as if he just vanished.

"Up here!" a voice suddenly called down to him. Asuma looked up to see Pikkon hovering high above the arena with his arms crossed. A content little smirk looking down on him as he did.

Asuma lowered his arms "Well, that's certainly troublesome." he let out sounding pretty relaxed despite his glum statement "How am I supposed to get you from all the way down here?"

"Hm?" Pikkon let out "You can't fly?". He saw Asuma nod to him and stand his ground. "I see now. Up close fighting seems to be your specialty. But when it comes to range attacks, you seem to be at a disadvantage."

"Hard to disagree when you say it like that."

"Your an impressive fighter there's no denying that." Pikkon complimented from above "But for me to defeat you without using all my skills would feel like disrespecting your own."

Then Pikkon began spinning around in the air. Asuma felt the wind blow all around him. Pikkon continued spinning faster and faster until he disappeared inside a small tornado above the arena. The wind had picked up violently from before and began to spread out and consume everything around it. Asuma managed to stay on the ground, but most of the spectators were being lifted up from the stands. Then the tornado above him got longer and began descending down into the arena. Asuma tried to stand his ground and put up the best resistance he had, but the winds were too strong and he was sucked up off the ground and into the tornado.

"Hyper Tornado!" Asuma heard Pikkon's voice through the vacuum. But he couldn't do anything to get out of it. He felt his shoulder get cut, then his leg, then his cheek and chest. The wind was cutting through him from all angles. And the longer he stayed in here the deeper they cut.

Pikkon continued spinning as Asuma was torn asunder within the vortex.

Pikkon stopped turning in the air and slowly came to a stop. Then he looked around to view his handy work. Most of the spectators got knocked around, and the arena below him hardly seemed to be there at all. And looking down below he saw one figure laying on the outside of where the arena once was. Setting his eyes on him, Pikkon levitated down and saw Asuma sprawled out on the ground. His arms and legs facing outward as he was on his back. One of his weapons was lost on his knuckles. Despite laying there he seemed at peace.

'He can use not only fire, but wind attacks' Asuma mused. No different than his own. A shadow overtook him as he laid on the grass, stopping his thoughts. Looking up he saw that Pikkon had descended down and was now standing over him. "You think you could do that again?" Asuma asked.

Pikkon nodded "Almost certainly."

"Won't your head hurt? You're not dizzy at all?" he chuckled.

Pikkon said nothing, but instead held up a hand to reveal one of his trench knives in his hand. Asuma clenched his fists and felt his left hand was bare. He then settled his eyes back on Pikkon. "Thanks" his said. Pikkon held his hand out to him and Asuma reached out to take it. Pikkon helped him up and the two stood together, only not as opponents this time. "So I guess this means you're the winner." Asuma said looking to him.

"It appears so..." Pikkon paused. It wasn't Goku, but Asuma Sarutobi had given Pikkon something just as good "But it was a good fight. I'd be glad to have one again." Pikkon put a hand on his shoulder "Perhaps you could even train with me sometime."

"Sure." Asuma shrugged "Not like I have anything better to do."

"You see" Pikkon put his hands to his sides "There's another fighter out there. One I'm training to defeat. And I think with your help I could accomplish that."

"Stronger than you?" Asuma rolled his eyes "I'd hate to meet that guy."

Next time: We're getting back on track. Multiple paths converge and clash in the Hidden Leaf Village!