Chapter 21 Taijutsu and the Killer
Yoshimitsu stopped walking.
"I know you're there." He said. "I can see you."
As Yoshimitsu turned a boy about his age stepped out from around the corner. He wore typical martial art clothes, colored a dark blue. His hair was a dark brown but the thing that stood out the most about him was that he was blindfolded.
"You're a Hyuuga." The boy said.
Yoshimitsu wondered but said nothing.
"You're wondering how I know?" The boy asked. "It's true, I'm blind but everyone has their own presence and people with kekkei genkai are the easiest to recognize." He pressed a finger to his temple. "Once I feel a presence, be it a person or a clan, I always remember it."
"You're not going to let me off, are you?" Yoshimitsu said.
The boy shook his head. "No, I can't. I have nothing against you, but this is my job."
"What's you're name?"
"Shibui Hayashi."
"Hyuuga Yoshimitsu."
Hayashi shifted into and offensive stance and Yoshimitsu into the Hyuuga style. Yoshimitsu made the first move, running forward with an open palm. He needed to end this quick, he didn't have time for it. The veins popped out from around his eyes but his opponent could not be intimidated by this. Yoshimitsu faked a strike to the stomach, which Hayashi blocked, then aimed for his heart but Hayashi reacted quickly and pushed Yoshimitsu's arm out of the way. The Hyuuga ducked as Hayashi threw up a kick, rolling to the side. He charged almost immediately, through many carefully planned attacks at Yoshimitsu.
He wastes no movement, Yoshimitsu noticed.
He took a hold of Hayashi extended leg and twisted. Hayashi should've fallen on his stomach but he caught himself, spun, and kicked Yoshimitsu in the face with his free leg. He stumbled back, letting go of Hayashi's leg. When he regained his balance, Hayashi punched him in the stomach. Yoshimitsu fell back.
"Please don't hold back." Hayashi said.
Yoshimitsu stood tall. "Why shouldn't I?"
"Because I cannot improve if I am not given the opportunity."
Yoshimitsu smiled. "As you wish."
Yoshimitsu charged and thrust his arms forward. Hayashi blocked all the attacks. Yoshimitsu pulled his arm back.
"Hakke Hazangeki!"
Hayashi felt pressure build up in his stomach area and he flew back, as though blown back by a gust of wind but nothing had touched him. He hadn't seen it but he had sensed the chakra, giving him enough time to block. Hayashi lunched himself back at Yoshimitsu once again, propelling himself upward by jumping on a nearby rock. Where he should've felt the flesh of Yoshimitsu face he felt pure energy.
Yoshimitsu pivoted and began to rotate.
"Hakkesho Kaiten!"
Chakra appeared around Yoshimitsu in a dome shape, sending Hayashi flying back and slamming into the ground. Yoshimitsu ceased the rotation and relaxed.
"Pursue me no longer." He said. "You have fought well but I'm stronger."
He turned to leave but Hayashi began to stand.
"I don't want to kill you." Yoshimitsu warned without turning.
"I won't let you just walk away. I've already told you this is my job." He insisted. "Even if I die, I won't let you go."
"You sacrifice yourself for this?"
"I would."
"Why?"
Hayashi sighed. "Because it's all I have."
With that Yoshimitsu turned around, closing his eyes. Everything reverted to negative colors. The familiar symbols appeared before him, the diagram and Hayashi was in range. Yoshimitsu sighed.
"Hakke Rokujuyon Sho." He mumbled.
Hayashi didn't even try to block. Yoshimitsu struck two tenketsu, then four, then sixteen; he counted up in his head. Sixty-four! Yoshimitsu struck Hayashi in the stomach as an added final. Hayashi stood there for a minute, blood dripping from his open mouth. He moved his lips, as if to say something but he collapsed before he could form the words.
Yoshimitsu relaxed for the second time and looked down.
"I'm sorry." He said. "But I couldn't."
He turned slowly and walked away in silence.
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Ekima raised up her hands to block but she was too slow and received the back of a fist to the face. She cried out as she hit the ground. Blood was dripping from her mouth and she was covered with bruises.
Ekima had been searching for the others when a guy, who called himself Ryujiro, suddenly attacked her. He was tall with cold eyes. His hair was pulled back into a skimpy ponytail and was the color of unhealthy wheat. His apparel was that of a light brown tank top that looked a bit big on him and baggy black shorts. He wore chain mail like arm warmers and he wore traditional sandals.
Ryujiro approached Ekima with a look or annoyed boredom, a cigarette hanging from his lip.
"You're not a challenge at all." He complained." No fun at all."
Ekima began to stand slowly but Ryujiro kicked her back down.
"The least you can do if die." Ryujiro said and he continued to kick her repeatedly, Ekima crying out with each strike. "It's damn annoying when people like you try to put up a fight and refuse to kick the-"
Ryujiro stopped when Ekima grabbed his ankle. He tried to push forward but she was pushing him back. Then, as she slowly stood, Ekima swung him to the side and slammed him into the wall, letting go of his leg. The ribbon that usually tied back Ekima's hair loosed and released the strawberry blonde. Ryujiro wasn't sure if it was his imagination but the color had seemed to have gotten darker. Ekima turned to look at him, her face submerged in shadows, but her eyes seemed to glow, the iris' a dark green with slit pupils. She raised a finger and shook it slowly.
"Not very smart, my friend." She said in a voice deeper that before.
Ryujiro stood. What had happened? Her chakra was so sinister now and there was something about her that gave him the chills. He smiled.
"I don't know what happened," He said. "but you seem like more of a challenge."
"Heh, I'll warn you know." The girl said. "I'm not like Ekima, I don't show mercy and I don't back down."
Then she was gone. Ryujiro felt something dig into his stomach and he flew back. She stood before him, on knee raised. Ryujiro blinked and she was above him. She brought a foot down but he rolled to the side. He began to stand but she punched him in the face and he stumbled back. Ryujiro pulled a weapon like a meat cleaver from his belt and swung it at her but she dodged every swing like it was nothing, smiling the whole while. Ryujiro's smile widened, this was much more fun. She swung her arm but it didn't even brush his nose.
"The hell was that?!" He said.
Then pain ripped across his chest, he looked down and saw a large cut trailing across his chest. Ryujiro looked back up to see a thorned vine snaking up her hand.
"I could of killed you." She said. "But I prefer slow and agonizing."
Something in Ryujiro felt fear and he charged, swinging the cleaver madly. She calmly grabbed his wrist and threw him to the wall a second time. She approached him and took his hand, grabbing the first finger.
"This little piggy went to the market." She said, bending it back until it snapped. Ryujiro screamed.
"This little piggy stayed home." She continued snapping the next finger.
"This little piggy had roast beef."
Snap!
She grabbed his pinking delicately and smiled sickly. "This little piggy cried…"
"Don't do it you stupid bitch!!"
SNAP!
"…all the way home."
Ryujiro screamed, grabbing at his hand. She smiled and curled her fingers around his throat, forcing him to the ground. He gasped for air, clawing at her hand with his good one. Foam like drool began to form and pour from his mouth. She smiled sadistically, licking the corner of her mouth. Then…
"KIRA! STOP!!"
She turned at the sound of her name to see Hiko and Mizuko behind her. Ekima's friends. Ekima's…
Kira released Ryujiro, pulling away to grip at her head. She screamed and bit then fell silent. She looked up. Ryujiro's broken and bruised body was the first thing th blue eyes saw.
"I'm gonna kill you, you bitch!" He screamed at her.
Ekima backed away quickly until she was next to Hiko.
"Wha…what…" She stuttered.
Then everything went black.
Author notes: Weee! Two battles. So yeah, got to see Yoshimitsu's fighting style and learn a bit about his personality. As for Ekima & Kira, so many questions I'm sure. All in due time, all in due time.