Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chap. 13

Dojo, Japan...

"Ha!"

Sakura and Ryu were sparring with one another within the dojo. Their weapon on the side, they were only fighting with their fists. Sakura had lunged at Ryu with a straight punch, but Ryu parried it and gave a swift kick to the back of her knee, causing her to fall. Sakura however, wasn't out yet and she rolled backward on the ground. Ryu followed to stay close, but Sakura stopped in her roll and stamped up on her feet. Her fist clenched, she gave a loud cry as she launched herself at Ryu again.

"Sho-o-ken!!!!"

Ryu was caught flatfooted at the sweeping uppercut knocked him back and on the ground. Sakura landed on her feet and slowly moved in to continue the fight, but Ryu held up his hand, signaling that he had had enough.

"That technique...a variant."

Sakura nodded, "Yeah. I figured that if I modified it this way, it would do more damage."

Ryu lifted himself off the wooded ground. "Well, it's certainly forceful" he noted after rubbing his chin a bit. Sakura gave a wide grin and the two bowed to each other briefly. That's when it happened. The usual sensation of an immortal. Both turned to the dojo entrance and looked out. In front of it, a limousine had rolled up and parked right in front of the entrance. A young woman stepped out, blond curls of hair waving as she looked up at the dojo. Next to her, a man who appeared to be her servant stood next to her. Still looking up at the entrance, her gaze locked onto Sakura.

"It's been awhile, Sakura Kasuango."

"Karin."

The young woman stepped closer to the entrance until she was a few steps away. Her gaze never wavered from Sakura. "We have a score to settle, Kasuango." she sneered.

Seeing the tension between the two, Ryu stepped out to greet her. "So you are Karin. A pleasure to meet..."

However, his polite gesture was instantly cut off, "Yeah, yeah. Look, this is between Kasuango and me. Stay out of this."

Ryu held the neutral expression on his face despite her rudeness, "Just to let you know, this is holy ground. You can not battle here."

Karin gave a stifled laugh, "I have no intention of fighting here." Looking at Sakura again, "We'll duel tomorrow afternoon." She indicated to the space behind her "Right there."

Sakura narrowed her eyes, "Why there?"

Karin grinned, "I just though it would be fitting for you to be defeated on your own turf. That is what you did to me."

Sakura stepped up before her, "We don't have to fight. There's no point."

"No point?!" She screeched. "She defeated me and taken my honor. I demand to be paid back. It's a matter of honor."

Ryu was quiet for a bit and then...

"I see."

Sakura looked at him and they both shared a knowing glance. Sighing inwardly, Sakura

looked back at her blond-haired rival.

"Fine then. If that's what you want."

"That's exactly what I want." She turned away, with her servant in tow. "And don't try to run away. I will find you as many times as I have to." She entered her limo, "Ciao, Kasuango."

The limo pulled away and moved down the dusty hillside road. Sakura turned inside and sighed openly.

"I guess I have a lot of work to do."

Sakura entered the dojo and Ryu followed behind her. However, he was able to catch a very faint, but very distinct sound. Some sort of click...

'Hm?'

***********

Nightfall...

Ryu had come back from the lake after deciding to make fish for dinner tonight. As he returned, he saw Sakura in the dojo, still training. Ryu couldn't help but grin. She was turning out to be quite the warrior. Her skills were already beyond the point where he could teach her anything. It still took a little effort for him to recognize that she wasn't his student and was well enough to be his rival. She was good enough. But sometime, he dreaded that. Because of what they were, there was always the fear that they would one day face each other. If that were to ever happen, then only one of them would walk away. Only one would survive.

Dismissing those thoughts, he laid the fish just beside the charcoal fire outside and walked in on Sakura. Her face was covered in sweat, but her movements remained fluid as always. Perhaps even more so now. She had been going on through this ever since

Karin left. He waited for her to finish her current kata before speaking.

"Hey."

"Hey Ryu." She began to wobble a bit, "I guess I'm putting in a little overtime."

Ryu moved to her and helped her steady herself, "I understand. A warrior must be prepared for everything."

"Truthfully..." she muttered. "I wish this wasn't happening."

"Matters of honor must be dealt with."

"I know, I know." she nodded. "It's just...I don't know."

Ryu gave her a sympathetic look, "I do. Kindred spirits are rare for people to find." He didn't know how old Karin was, but he guessed that she was the same age as Sakura, give or take a decade. And her appearance was of the same age as well. But they had to remember the Game she's in.

"But even so, be careful tomorrow."

"Thank you, Ryu."

Ryu half-blinked when he realized that she hesitated before answering. He also noticed that he was still holding her up and there was a light flush across her cheeks. Slowly, he released the young immortal.

"Come on. Let's eat."

********

Next day...

"Now we settle this."

Karin had returned just as she said she would. She was outfitted with red and black garments and was holding a glistening rapier blade. Sakura stood on the opposite side with her own sword. Sakura's face was of serious calm, but Ryu could see the anxiety behind it. Karin raised the blade to her face and then fell into stance. Similarly, Sakura bowed and folded into stance.

"Feh."

Suddenly, Karin stabbed with her rapier, throwing Sakura off-guard. Normally, most fencers don't start off with stabs. Karin saw the surprise on her face and pulled her blade up, almost slashing Sakura's cheek. Sakura however, stepped back on impulse and the blade missed. Karin lunged again, with another stab. Sakura frowned slightly as she sidestepped the attack this time. Karin's stabbing attacks made fighting her unpredictable. Karin twisted her wrist and brought the blade upward. Sakura brought her blade in and they clashed loudly. Karin continued slashing along with Sakura and they were both locked in an endless display of sword-clashing. Sakura prepared to slash again when she saw Karin step back slightly. She gave a half blink before Karin went in for yet another stab. Sakura instantly jumped back, but Karin suddenly stabbed three more times in rapid succession. Two of the stabs nicked her in the leg and Sakura stumbled to the ground. Forcing the pain away, she regained her bearings and stood back up. Just then, Karin made a spinning leap in the air and the rapier coursed through the air. Sakura dumped the last feeling of pain and summoned forth her ki.

"Hadojinken!"

Slashing upward, Sakura released a blade of energy which collided with Karin's blade and halted her attack. Karin fell to the floor and staggered. Sakura decided to press on and came with her own offensive slash. Karin was forced to defend and once again, the two of them were caught up in swordplay. But as Sakura attacked, she realized that Karin was much better defensive than offensive. Which means that she would have to wait for her to attack before countering. But how? Offensively, Karin was very aggressive and she gave no time for a counter. Except...

Thinking quickly, Sakura broke away from Karin, making it look like she had lost her balance slightly. Karin's eyes lit up at the apparent mistake and she shifted back. Sakura saw it. 'That's it.' Karin went in for her quick stab attack, but Sakura rolled around it and wound up right next to her Karin was unable to stop herself from moving past her and Sakura used the opportunity to spin her sword in a fine crescent, knocking away the rapier and hurting Karin's hand. Karin knelt down in pain and Sakura turned again and held her blade to the back of Karin's neck.

"Go on. Do it."

Sakura didn't move and neither did the blade. Karin closed her eyes in defeat as she waited to die. Suddenly, the blade moved away and Sakura lowered the weapon.

"What are you doing?"

Sakura merely lowered her head slightly, "You fought well."

Sakura looked at Ryu briefly, who was a little wary of what she had done, but understood it nevertheless.

"Ha!"

Sakura's eyes suddenly widened as the rapier foil stabbed into her back and out her abdomen. The blade retracted and Sakura staggered to the ground. Looking up, she saw Karin standing over her, bloody foil in her hand. Sakura looked with sadness as Karin raised her blade. Ryu wanted to jump forward and stop it, but he knew he couldn't interfere. Karin held the blade up higher as Sakura seemed to crumble to the ground. But then, Karin slowly lowered her blade.

"This...just isn't right. I don't want to win like this."

Karin dropped her sword and bent down to Sakura, who was dying from the stab. As Sakura's eyes began to close, Karin gave her a light smile.

"Another time, Sakura." was the last thing Sakura heard before darkness overcame her.

************

"Wha...?"

"Good evening."

Sakura groggily lifted her head. She was in the dojo once again and laying on one of the spare futons.

"Evening?"

"Yeah."

Sakura slowly came back to her senses as she looked outside to see that it was indeed evening. 'How...Oh yeah. Karin.' Looking at her side, she saw that her wound was fully healed, with no evidence that there even was one.

"I'm still alive?"

"Yes." Ryu answered exasperatedly. "It appears that you may have made a friend today."

Sakura gave a small smile, "I guess."

"However..." Ryu began; his voice stern this time. "I suggest you don't do that again. You were lucky that time. Next time, that will not be the case."

Sakura sighed sadly and lowed he head back on the futon, "Right."

Despite what had happened, she realized what she did was foolish. Karin could have finished her and that would have been it. Ryu sat next to her and handed her a bowl of food, "I thought you were gone there."

Sakura looked up at him. His voice had now been one of worry. Sakura smiled and looked down at her plate before she started to blush in front of him again.

"Okay. I'll be careful." she replied cheerfully

*********

Next morning...

Just outside of the dojo, a man sat behind one of the bushes, concealing his appearance.

He lowered a bag to the floor and placed it beside him. Opening it, he produced a small camera. He just had one more thing to do before he could back off. He realized that he was getting too close to his target. Hell, he almost slipped up yesterday, but it was a risk he had to take. Standing up slightly, he aimed the camera toward the dojo entrance. 'No. He wouldn't be there. Not at this time.' He moved the sights over to the courtyard area, but he found nothing. 'That's strange.' He thought to himself. 'He should be...'

"Who are you?"

The man jumped in surprise and wheeled around as he faced Ryu, who was standing behind him, sword in hand. The man had no chance to react as Ryu lifted to blade to his chin.

"Why are you spying on us?"

The man stammered, "I...I wasn't spying. I was just taking a picture of the wildlife."

Ryu narrowed his eyes, "You're not a good liar. I noticed your presence around here for awhile now. Now, who are you and what are you doing here?"

The man was stuck between a blade and a tree, with no chance for escape. Strangely enough, he began to relax after awhile.

"Put the sword down, Ryu."

Ryu blinked, "Why should I?"

The man merely smirked, "Because you won't kill me. You're too honorable for that. And I'm not your enemy."

Ryu growled inwardly and lifted the blade higher, "Tell me."

The man raised his arms, "Alright, alright. My name is Dan Hibiki." His eyes focused onto Ryu's

"I'm your watcher."