"N...nghh..." A volcanic eruption of pain had just erupted within Asuka's head, as the young woman finally regained consciousness from her long slumber. Cracking her eyes open, Asuka could only make out a big figure through her blurry vision.
Blinking a few times as the light seeped in and her vision became clearer, Asuka's face would immediately turn red as a tomato as her vision cleared to see the figure was none other than Lili, who was currently sitting on Asuka while sipping tea with a smile.
Asuka's groans had caught the attention of Lili, who gave a few claps. "Oh? You're finally awake." Lili looked down as she gave a smile.
"Uh...Lili...?" Asuka spoke with chagrin in her voice.
"Mhm?" Lili smiled while sipping her tea.
"Could you...get the hell off of me!?" Asuka blurted out with a shout.
"Ho ho, I believe somebody is forgetting their manners." Lili chuckled.
"Grrrr...damnit, Lili!" Asuka boiled.
"Bahaha, it is just a jest." Lili grinned as she jumped up with a smile. "But my goodness, you were unconscious for ages! Of course I was going to make myself comfortable." She shrugged with a huff.
"Mmmh..." Asuka rolled her eyes. "Feels like I got hit by a truck..." She rubbed her head with a wince. "What was I doin...g..." Her jaw hit the floor with a gasp as she recalled the prior events. "Y-you made me lose the fight! Against my arch-nemesis!" She raged.
"Maybeeee somebody should have been paying attention, perhaps?" Lili smirked. "Or maybeeee somebody isn't that good of a fighter?"
"Damn you! Just be quiet! You're giving me two headaches in one..." Asuka muttered with a grimace as she rubbed her head.
"Apologies, hehe!" Lili smirked.
Asuka surveyed the area around her, realising she was in the very same spot where she got knocked out by Feng. "Wha...where did Feng go?! I'm not done with him!"
"Oh. He went off to go buy some more teacups." Lili smiled as she finished sipping tea from one of those very cups. "We had a nice chat over tea while you were out cold. Your enemy is a rather pleasant man."
"Are you joking?!" Asuka glared. "That nimrod assaulted my father and students, and stole our dojo's sign! What'd he have to say about that, huh?"
Lili gave a chuckle. "At first he did not even know who you were." Lili put her arm over Asuka's shoulder with a smirk. "Luckily I was around to share your backstory, hmm?"
Asuka smacked Lili's arm away with a grunt. "That jerk! Didn't even remember?! He's so gonna get a beatdown!"
"Relax. Stay elegant." Lili chimed. "Once I told him who you were, he told me he was apologetic for what he had done."
"He's so going dow- wait...what?" Asuka blinked a few times in utter confusion. No way she heard that right... "That numbskull...apologised?"
"He told me he was on a mad quest for ultimate power until he was humbled by the one known as Wang Jinrei." Lili stated.
"What? That old pervert? I can't believe this..." Asuka sighed.
"Mhm. He still has a drive for power but he is trying to quash his demons." Lili nodded. "Though he has no tolerance for anyone interrupting his training." Lili gave a smirk. "You would know something about that."
"Ugh...yeah..." Asuka rolled her eyes. "Whatever..."
"Infact, he told me he was quite impressed by your fighting." Lili nodded. "At least what little he got to see of it." She chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah." Asuka pouted. "Well, I guess he's not such a bad guy after all..." Her mood cheered up as she tapped her cheek with a smile. "At least I can get my dojo's sign back now!"
"Oh, yeah about that..." Lili twiddled her fingers. "I may have broken it showcasing some of my moves to Feng..."
"WHAT!?" Asuka shouted in rage. "I spent so long making that!"
"Relax, woman. I'll buy you another one." Lili shrugged with a smile.
Asuka clasped her hands to her forehead, wanting to tear her hair out. "Damnnnnit...Lili!"
"Hm? I smoothed it out with your father, all is fine and merry." Lili tilted her head with a smile.
"Oh my god you're in links with my father now..." A flabbergasted Asuka whined. "This truly is a nightmare..."
"Guess I just love spending time with you, hmm?" Lili snickered.
"Well I guess you were right...you really are my biggest rival..." Asuka shook her head with a groan.
"Yippee!" Lili clapped her hands in delight with a chuckle.
"Whatever." Asuka crossed her arms. "What time is it anyway?"
"Oh honey, you were out for sooo long..." Lili rolled her eyes as she showed Asuka the time.
"H-huh!?" Asuka clasped her cheeks in shock. "Oh man, I've got a dojo to teach!"
"Whaaat? But we were gonna go look at cats!" Lili whined, stomping on the ground with a pout.
"I don't have time for this nonsense, Lili!" Asuka fumed.
"Hmph." Lili crossed her arms and turned her head away.
Asuka sighed as she took a breath. "Lili. I'm sorry but I have to go."
Lili turned her head back and gave a smile in return. "I guess I was behaving a little improper...Go teach your class." Lili nodded. "I will see you soon anyway."
"Right! I will go and- Wait no no, you're not seeing me anytime soon-" Asuka squirmed with a frown.
"Byeeeeeeeeeeee!" Lili gave a wave as she skipped away.
"Damnit..." Asuka chided. "That lady's always driving me crazy..." She gave a shrug. "Oh well, enough of her! Time to teach my class!" Asuka pumped her fist as she raced to return.
After a lengthy journey returning to the outskirts of her town, Asuka had finally returned to her dojo with a sprint. She burst open the doors, waving her hands all panicky. "Sorry I'm late everyone!" She exclaimed as she stopped to catch her breath.
"We've been waiting a while, sensei..." A grumbling student sighed. "What's up? It's not like you to be tardy."
"Uh..." Asuka frazzled for a quick moment. "N-no reason...I was just thinking that patience is a good mark of a fighter-"
Asuka's eyes suddenly shot out of their sockets in disbelief as Feng Wei appeared from a door "Honesty is a good mark. She got knocked out." Feng stated causing a plethora of giggles from the students.
A livid Asuka immediately got into a fighting stance. "F-Feng Wei! What the hell are you doing here? Out!"
Feng stood firm while crossing his arms. "You made me realise I was too engrossed in my training and I should spend time studying other styles of combat. I must learn your ways!" He raised his fist with a shout.
"Ngh..." Asuka twitched her eye in ire and bewilderment. "This is an under-18 class you blockhead! Take a hike!"
"Hmph. Well what I will tell you is I have some cash to burn..." Feng pulled out a copious amount of cash.
That certainly made Asuka stop in her tracks with her eyeing the yen out. Student numbers were on the decline and they really could do with some cash to stay afloat. "F-fine..."
Feng nodded and gave a curt bow. "I also made peace with your father just before. He was dealing with illness when I challenged him. I feel abashed for fighting someone at their weakest."
Asuka raised an eyebrow and eventually a smile came upon the young woman's face. "Very well, then. Take your place." She gave a nod. "Everybody, fall-in!"
The students walked over into formation, along with the newcomer Feng.
"Jab uppercut! Jab low kick!" Asuka commanded as she walked around scoping out everyone's technique.
The students did their best to drill the attacks down, shouting their best kiai. Their kiai was mute compared to Feng, who's voice boomed throughout the building.
The student in line next to Feng was getting displeased. "Just run along, grandpa." The student chided. "Don't want you to put your back out."
Feng looked over with a small grunt. "Fool! My techniques could crush you with one finger. Don't humour me."
The student scoffed. "Nyeh! My master could beat up your master."
"I killed my own master." Feng stated with nonchalance.
The teenager stood statue-still, spooked and pale as if she had just seen a ghost.
Asuka ran over with a sigh. "Stop bickering! Settle down, you two..." She shook her head as she made her way back to the front of the room.
"Alright! Now, when it comes to learning, nothing beats good ol' combat!" Asuka cheered as she then put a finger on her chin. "Now, I will pick one volunteer."
Feng wildly waved his hand around in the air. "A true rematch! I shall obliterate you!"
Asuka gave a nervous chuckle. "Uh...I b-better let someone else gain some experience...How about you there?" She pointed to the teen Feng had argued with prior.
"Oh...me? Great!" The teenager was excited, sticking her tongue out to Feng as she walked past.
Feng simply gave a nod. "Very well."
The student came to the front and Asuka got into her sturdy stance with a smile. "Now. We shall spar."
"O-okay, sensei..." The student took up a rather shaky stance.
"Give me everything you have got!" Asuka cracked her neck and pounded her fists together.
Before the two could clash, the dojo doors suddenly blasted open again. The onlooking class all turned their heads and a young lady Asuka unfortunately knew all-too-damn-well strode into the dojo once more.
"Miss meeee?" The voice immediately made Asuka's headache return.
"Lili!" Asuka snapped. "Can you not see that I'm teaching a class?!" She exasperatedly yelled.
"Oh, but Asuka! Gaze upon my new feline friend!" Lili jovially announced as she showcased a black & white cat she was now holding and nuzzling.
"Oh my gosh, soooo adorable!" A student called out.
"Waaahhh it's so cute!" Another echoed.
"This certainly tugs at my heartstrings." Feng clutched his chest.
Before long, the onlooking students began to crowd around Lili in delight.
"Hey, wait-" Asuka fumed as the students walked over. "Damnit! Get back here! Oi, focus! Don't get distracted!" Asuka called out to deaf ears.
There was one student in the room who heeded no attention to Lili - the student Asuka happened to be sparring with. "I just gotta focus! Hyah!" The student sprinted with might towards Asuka. "Wheel kick!"
"Hm?" Asuka turned her head back, only to see the student's devastating kick inches from impact...
BAM!