Epilogue
The New Generation
Somewhere in a closed restaurant in China, two children stood by in relaxation as the sun was setting.
One was a girl in a sleeveless white Chinese outfit. She had fiery, braided, red hair covered up by a blue cap with the text "UMA", and wild blue eyes that burned with a zest for life.
The other was a boy in a sleeveless red Chinese outfit. His own short red hair was just as blazing while left bare, but his eyes were a sharp, piercing, ice blue in contrast to the other.
"I can't believe Saibara Shifu went off to Japan just like that when he caught wind of that Gotz sighting… he must be desperate for a fight." The boy sighed.
"Desperate for a fight, or desperate to die? I know Shifu's a talented martial artist and all that, but he's old… and sick! He's been coughing blood like crazy these past few days and I'm really worried how reckless he's getting over it." The girl groaned.
"Ann, we all know Shifu's tougher than that. Good heavens, the old man's probably immortal thanks to whatever assassination secrets he learned in the past. He's probably going into that coughing fit to make us train harder and faster than ever before. He can be a heartless jerk sometimes…" he grumbled.
The girl also called Ann gave a wide smirk.
"Sounds an awful lot like someone else we know… huh, Gray?" she taunted while elbowing her brother playfully.
"Don't compare me to that old man!" Gray barked.
"Did someone call me…old?"
Suddenly, the sky turned cloudy as lightning struck. Right at the entrance of the restaurant stood a reasonably angry Saibara stroking his beard.
The siblings stared in amazement, then quickly bowed.
"Shifu!" they both cried.
The wizened old man stared solemnly at his two protégés as they resumed looking back in a mixture of shock and relief. Then slowly but surely, he waltzed over towards them with an unwavering sense of confidence. Ann and Gray looked frozen in place, paralyzed not by fear, but by intimidation of their master who had put them both through rigorous training for most of their lives. Without warning, the wizened warrior swiftly poked their heads with blunt force.
"OW!" they both cried together.
"Ann! Gray! How many times have I told you two to clean up this restaurant right after closing time?" he reprimanded.
The pair was a tad confused that he'd bother bringing up such a trivial matter after pitting himself in mortal peril.
"H-hey! We were about to get through with it, but we were really tired after today! That was like the most customers we had in weeks, and you weren't around to help, Shifu!" Ann whined.
"Do you think it actually matters to him if we have a handicap like that?" snarked Gray.
Once more, the old kung fu master poked his students hard in the head.
"It's because you two lack discipline that you tire out so easily!" Saibara barked.
"What about your encounter with Gotz?" Ann suddenly cried. "It looks like you're alive and well, so---"
"My own personal matters are none of your concern." Saibara interrupted.
He then lowered his head down with a frustrated look in his eyes.
The red-haired siblings were still relieved at their master's safe return, however, this troubled look bothered them both.
"You DID beat Gotz… right?" Gray said with a cocked eyebrow, " I mean… you're standing here right now. Alive."
"And I heard that guy runs around killing any and every worthy opponent that comes his way. I doubt YOU of all people with disappoint, Shifu." Ann added.
In turn, Saibara gave a long, hard sigh.
"Apparently, even a brute such as Gotz has a code of honor, and he refuses to kill under… certain conditions…"
"What? The "Elderly"?" Gray asked dubiously, "Gotz had no problem murdering his own brother, and his hair is just as white---"
"No… the ill." Saibara lamented as he hung his head in shame.
Both Ann and Gray stared back in utter disbelief.
"So then, that blood… you really are…?" Ann trailed off.
Saibara nodded.
"This simply means that we must train harder in this fleeting time we have together. I will not allow my teachings to be in the hands two of two lazy punks, so I will raise you to meet expectations." He noted.
"But Master!" the siblings cried in unison.
"I will have no objections!" Saibara ordered, "Come now, we must work on your forms. And since you were so careless to abandon your cleaning duties in the restaurant, I figured you will need the make up exercise."
He then stroked his beard one more time before he strode towards a backroom, leaving his protégés flabbergasted.
The sibling pair exchanged disgusted glares, right until Gray noticed the cap atop Ann's head.
"Hey, that's mine!" Gray growled as he snatched the cap and placed it on his own head.
Ann could only laugh at her brother mockingly.
"Geez, I was wondering how long it would take you to notice! Moron!"
"Shut up!"
Lumina Kasugano. Born Spring 15th, Blood Type A…
She stands 157 centimeters tall and weighs 42 kilograms.
She has 20/20 vision, and her shoe size is 24 centimeters.
She likes white rice, and her physical education class. Of course, her current obsession is street fighting. In contrast, she dislikes math and playing video games against her foster brother. It seems her best trait is her overflowing energy, though she does admire feminine girls with long her, such as her best friend May Chitose.
Somewhere in a mysterious dark security room, a stoic middle-aged man in a fancy black suit was reading off data to a cocky girl in a red seifuku.
"Carter, there is no need to research that kind of information. In essence, she's the perfect example of a commoner. Why in the world would someone like her take an interest in street fighting?" the schoolgirl asked her accomplice.
"Regretably, I was unable to reveal the answer to that question. The only fighter who has been in constant contact with Miss Lumina is Dan Hibiki. However, it would appear that he did nothing more than guide her to the world of street fighting. Their relationship is not one best described as "Master and Apprentice". From what we've observed, her fighting style more closely resembles that of All American Martial Arts Champion, Karen Masters, than that of Dan Hibiki." Carter explained.
"I noted that myself as I watched her fight some time ago." The schoolgirl scoffed.
"Observant as always, Lady Kate!" Carter replied with a nod.
"The young All-American Champion, Karen Masters. Also that off-beat stranger who is said to have mortally wounded the king of Muay Thai in the World Warrior Tournament Championship… " Kate noted to herself.
"Both of these fighters practice the same legendary martial art known to have its origins in the ancient art of ultimate assassination." Carter added.
"Carter, prepare a fighting venue this evening!" Kate ordered.
"S-surely you jest. It would be unseemly for the heir of the Kanzuki Household to challenge a mere commoner---"
"Silence, Carter! I am telling you that Lumina Kasugano is a "special commoner" who was granted life upon this world for the sole purpose of exchanging blows with me!"
The auburn-haired schoolgirl smirked as she clenched her right fist. Her sharp, ruby-red eyes burned with a desire to dominate.
Finally, the glorious Kate Kanzuki had a worthy rival to look forward to…
To Be Continued in:
Harvest Fighter: Go For it Lumina!