I lost my first match. Mr. Charlie Nash proved to be a bigger challenge than I could handle. I feel… a little bit disappointed, it's true. I would have liked to win, of course! I'm still happy with how it all went down, though. That fight showed me the importance of patience and taking the necessary time to find my openings. He even complimented me! He called me mature! Can you believe that? Sakura Kasugano, the "hotheaded girl who rushes into everything?" Mature? Take that, naysayers! If an Air Force Captain is saying it, there must be some truth there!
So, like I was saying, I think that fight was actually a success despite me losing. I got to make friends with a powerful fighter who didn't respect me at first. That's a big win, eh? I'm grateful for the experience if nothing else. And another thing - I may have lost, but that doesn't mean I'm out. The World Warrior Tournament uses the double elimination format, so I can still take one more defeat before I'm done for good. Just gotta start winning so that I can fight as many opponents as possible!
Master Hibiki got to fight a few days after me. The ones in charge of the tourney were nice enough to accommodate the two of us as best they could. Since they knew we were traveling together, they put both of us up against fighters from the U.S. in the first round. I got matched up with Mr. Nash, and as for my mentor? He got matched up against Ken Masters, the rising star of America. All I can say is, Mr. Hibiki wasn't very happy with his luck… Even a mouth-watering burger from a classic American restaurant wasn't enough to cure his bad mood…
"Dammit! I can't believe they'd put me up against him of all people! I mean, really? Who's in charge of this sorry excuse for a competition?!"
"Hey, it's okay, Master… We both lost, yeah, but we still have another chance. You need to focus on the bright side. Like this food! Isn't American fast-food so delicious? These salty fries are-"
"You don't get it, kid! This isn't only about the lousy tourney. This is about reputation! I let that no-good, talentless, egotistic womanizer defeat me! He's the one guy I can't bear to lose to! It would have never happened either, if only my poor stomach hadn't been enduring a hellish turmoil… I would have knocked that joke of a playboy's lights out with one Koryuken if I was at full strength! The rest of the world knows this, but they won't admit it… All the fuss will be about Ken Masters, how special he is, how sexy he is, and how he'll rise to the top of the martial arts world… I-It should be me! Not that clown! Not that arrogant, disgusting, unskilled-"
"Mr. Hibiki, stop it! Enough with the insults! You're being seriously mean right now."
"Ah… S-Sorry, kid… I guess I have a sore spot when it comes to that guy… That hero of yours, too…"
"Ken Masters and Ryu? Why? Are you jealous of them or something? Is it because they use Ansatsuken, a style that's very similar to Saikyo?"
"It's cuz they were there! When the old man kicked me out of his dojo! They didn't stick up for their good pal, Dan!... Well, fine, we weren't really friends, but still! Neither of them tried to help me. I was another young, aspiring martial artist just like them, and they turned their backs on me even when I was unjustly denied! I mean, c'mon… 'I have revenge in my heart'? That's why the old hack refused to teach me? What a load of crap!"
"Revenge?... That's not the reason you gave me before."
"I… *sigh* Not now, kid… Forget I said anything… Let's just… talk about something else, okay?... Ah, that's right! We need to discuss your inability to follow directions, missy! I told you not to use the Hadoken until you had a stronger grip on your ki, did I not?"
"Aw, Master! You can't expect me to go along with that! The Hadoken's my favorite technique! When I meet Ryu, I need to show him that I can pull it off!"
It's already time for my second match. It's being held in the United Kingdom this time, within a dingy, London warehouse. I guess now that I'm in the loser's bracket, I won't be fighting in very nice locations anymore. But that doesn't make a difference. I don't care where I fight, or who's watching. I'm going to give it my all, regardless! Though… I am glad Mr. Hibiki is with me. This area is pretty run down, and I don't think I'd feel safe walking around by myself.
My opponent arrives about twenty minutes late, just in time to avoid being disqualified. As I get a look at him, I'm… not sure what to think. I don't want to judge a book by its cover, but he looks like a delinquent. He has a tall, blonde mohawk, ripped jeans, a leather vest, and chains wrapped around his arms. He's also huge! I would guess that he's taller than me by almost three feet. I've never fought someone who has such a size advantage on me before, so this should be interesting…
"Hey there, mister! I'm Sakura, your opponent!"
"Aw, hell… Another brat? What sorta brawlin' contest is this? I sign up for the kids division or sumfin'?"
Ugh, here we go again… The only thing other fighters seem to care about is my age. No matter who I meet, they can't seem to wrap their heads around the idea that younger fighters exist too!
"Yes, I'm a teenager, but you'll regret not taking me seriously. I'm a real martial artist, and I intend to win."
"Hmm… S'pose you're right, girly. Already got me ass beat by the last one… That snobby, rich twerp. Wouldn't do to let that happen again, now, would it?"
"Hold on! You lost your last match to a 'rich twerp'? Was her name 'Karin', do you remember? Did she have blonde hair, an annoying laugh, and a butler following her?"
"Spot on. Tha's her, alright. What's the deal? Ya chummy with 'er?"
"Uh… Something like that."
So, Karin is competing. I figured as much, but it's nice to know for sure. She told me not to lose so that she could be the one to defeat me. Well, I couldn't do as she asked, but who knows? Maybe we'll still end up fighting if I can manage to beat this guy.
"Look here, lass. I'm tryin' to win this contest and make some cash. I ain't 'bout to hold back jus' cuz you're a kid."
"Good, because I don't want you to. I'm here to get stronger! Give me your best, sir!"
"Ya sure 'bout that? I'm a nasty piece a' work, I'll 'ave ya know. I'll rough you up good. Ain't too late to run home to mum, now."
"Psh! I'm not running, and you don't scare me. I'll gladly take you on!"
*sigh* "Fine. 'Ave it your way, then… Name's Birdie. I'm a big deal 'round 'ere. In jus' a few painful minutes, you'll understan' why, lass… Now, try this on!
Before I can wish my adversary good luck, he flings one of his chains at me! He catches me off guard, and I very nearly fail to dodge it.
"H-Hey! You can't do that! The match hasn't even started! The official has to count us down first!"
"I ain't never been one for rules, lass. 'Sides… he don't seem to care."
I can't believe it! He's right! I look to the official and see that, rather than paying us any attention, he's chatting up one of the women watching in the crowd. Where's the professionalism?
"Keep ya eye on the birdie, luv!"
Ah! I just barely avoid the next chain that comes flying at me. This guy fights dirty! He's the type who'll get the win by any means.
"No wheres to go!"
He throws one of his chains at me once more, but this time I'm not so lucky. It wraps around my leg, he gives it a forceful tug, and I'm pulled off my feet.
"Stay right there!"
Now that I'm lying on the ground, he leaps toward me headfirst as if he's diving into a swimming pool, his arms stretched out wide. I quickly roll away and avoid his clutches. Phew! Not only is he huge, but he's super muscular too. If he manages to get his hands on me, I'm certain it won't end well.
After I evade him, he stumbles over himself and has to take few seconds to rebalance. That's an opening if I've ever seen one! I dash up close, jump high, and bash him over the head with my classic double axe handle chop. Not very smart to leave yourself exposed like that, big guy!
"Oof!... Oi! You done it, now! Ya gone an' buggered up my hairdo! Bloody hell… Way to hit a bloke where it hurts, lass. Real underhanded a' ya."
"I'm the underhanded one?! You tried to attack me before the fight started!"
"Eh, who's keepin' score' luv? Tha's all in the past, innit? How's we talk 'bout what matters. My perfect hairdo… Me pride an' joy… Ya gone an' turned it into a right mess. I don't take kindly to that sort a' disrespect."
"I couldn't care less about your hair! And I don't know why you're getting so bent outta shape over it. You're street fighting! Caring so much about how you look is just plain stupid. By the time we're done here, you might have a black eye, a broken lip, and bruises all over."
"Hmph! Ya don't understand nothin' 'bout anythin'! Don't' care 'bout me perfect hairdo, is that right? I'll show why ya ought to!"
Birdie rears his head back, and, with surprising speed, he bursts forward.
"Bull Head!"
I block a devastating headbutt. The force is so strong, though, that I'm blown backward, and my guard is broken wide-open. (Very bad!) He charges at me a second time, and I can't bring my arms together fast enough to defend myself this time. His head smashes into my chest, a brutally direct hit, and I'm sent sailing across the concrete floor. I get launched so far that people in the crowd have to clear the way for my moving body. As I very slowly pick myself up, I can hear concerned whispers and gasps from the spectators nearby.
"God damn, that kid jus' took a hit!"
"Why the hell they let a girl into a street fight? She ain't got no parents to beat some sense into 'er?"
"This is just embarrassing… Ref should call it now. Like hell she'll beat Birdie of all guys."
Ahhh… Yeah, this hurts. I'm coughing like crazy, just trying to catch my breath… I'll give this thug his due. That was a really strong attack. The strongest hit I've ever taken, for sure.
"Heh! No effort… Now, be honest with me, lass. What made ya think ya could ever beat me, eh?"
"Sh-Shut up… I'm not giving in yet! I know I can beat you!"
"Oh, bugger… Ya really best be stayin' down. For ya own well-bein' if nothin' else."
I'm back up. Worse for wear? Sadly... but am I still able to fight? Absolutely. I tap into my ki, and charge up my signature attack…
"Hadoken!"
"Wha… A fireball? Lass knows how to do that?!"
Birdie throws a chain forward in response, but it merely bounces off the concentrated ball of energy. He's forced to block my hadoken, and by the time he's dealt with that problem, I've already infiltrated his personal space. With a small hop, I punch him right in his cheek and spit goes flying from his mouth.
"Errgh… Quick, ain't ya?"
I let another fist fly, and it smashes into his belly.
"Aggghhh! Damn you!... So, you wanna scrap, lass? Fine by me."
The look on his face tells me that he's confident, but fighting up close and personal is exactly where I want to be. Thanks to his chains, height, and long limbs, I'm usually at a disadvantage, especially in the mid-range where my attacks can't reach, but all of his can. So, I figure my best bet is to get as close as possible. I was afraid that he might be able do major damage while I'm point-blank, but as I've watched him move, the truth became clear to me – This guy is slow and clumsy.
Birdie tries for a massive boot with his right foot. Not only would an attack like that hit hard, it'd also knock me back into his preferred range. It's not a terrible plan. Unfortunately for him, it's a big, lumbering attack with lots of wind-up. I easily dodge it and stomp on his other shoe. A roar of pain rings out. As he pulls his wounded foot away to spare it from further damage, I target the other leg. I deliver a powerful kick to the side of his knee, and that puts him way off balance. Now that he's struggling to keep his footing, I push my luck even further.
"Shoryuken!"
There was no hope for him to stop that uppercut. Birdie gets knocked away and onto his back. I'm not finished yet, though. A guy this big can probably take a lot of punishment, so I have to go for the clincher… While he's still on the ground, I take to the air and plummet toward my target. Like a kid jumping on a trampoline, I come down with all the force I can muster, and stomp on him right in his giant gut!... Uh… Hopefully, I didn't overdo it… Was that too violent? I get off him, and make sure he's still breathing…
"Y-You… You're real strong… *pant*… for a lil' girly… Sure as hell weren't expectin' that from ya."
Dang! I didn't even knock him out! I should have stomped on him twice! Maybe three times!
"Time for you to sleep, kid!"
After he climbs to his feet, he brings both arms overhead and tries to clobber me with his two closed fists. A double hammer fist like that might be a scary attack under the right circumstances… Problem is, this moron is doing it all wrong. Not only is he already shaking from the last attack he suffered, but his form is completely off! He leans so far forward when he tries to smash me that he's totally lost his balance. It's clear that this guy relies on sheer muscle and never puts time into his technique.
It's no trouble for me to huddle in close and duck under his attack completely. Now that he's left himself vulnerable, I grab his arm, turn around with it, and try my hardest to throw this big lug over… my… shoulder!... And, wow, it actually worked! I can bear a few throws myself, but a man this heavy? That's gotta take a toll, and, sure enough, Birdie doesn't look like he wants to get up again this time. The official finally stops flirting, (thank god!) walks over to us, and starts doing his job.
"Birdie, are you throwin' in the towel, or do you wanna keep this up?"
"…Yuh… Yessir, I choose the towel… I've had enough a' this… The money's not worth havin' to take all these thrashins… Ughhh…"
"Well, damn! Looks like Sakura Kasugano is your victor! Congrats, miss!"
The crowd's cheering for me this time. So this is what it feels like… Yeah, I could definitely get used to this… Suddenly, I feel a hearty pat on my back…
"My prize pupil gets her first win! Way to go, kid! You really proved the haters wrong with this one! Not me, though! I always knew you had this level of talent lying dormant inside you!"
"Thanks, Mr. Hibiki! It was tough, but I did it!"
With the fight finished, I was getting ready to head back to the hotel with Mr. Hibiki when I was held up by… fans? My very own fans?! How cool is that?! People I'd never met before were approaching me and asking me all sorts of questions! "How are you so strong for a teenager?", "How'd you throw that fireball?", "Can you sign my shirt?", "Do you think you'll beat Chun-Li one day?" It was… kind of overwhelming, actually!
Once the crowd starts to clear, I take another minute to bask in the moment, and then I hear the rattling of chains as someone else approaches me…
"Oi."
"…Oh… Uh… I would say "good match" to you, but… I'm not okay with the way you fight sometimes! You're rude, and you broke the rules just to sneak a cheap shot in!"
"Yeah… Sorry 'bout that. When piles a' money are involved, sometimes I get that tunnel vision, ya get me? I start thinkin' a little selfishly an' me morals start getting a little twisted… I apologize for it, lass."
"Well… at least you realize what you did was wrong. I can forgive you, Birdie. It's not like that cheap shot costed me the win or anything."
"I 'preciate that… Oi, can I give you a lil' sumfin' to make it up to ya? One a' me boys bought a few dozen donuts to celebrate me victory… 'cept I didn't win, a' course, but he brought 'em anyways… Care for one?"
"Oh, wow! Thanks! Can I have this one with the pink frosting and sprinkles?"
"Aww… Had my eye on that one, but a deal's a deal. S'all your's, lass."
"…Mmm! Everything tastes even better after a satisfying win."
"Tch! Twist the knife, why don't'cha?... Eh, whatever. Good match, lass. You really showed me up after I was runnin' my mouth."
"Agreed! Thanks for the match, Birdie!... Hey, if I ever visit this country again, would you wanna meet up and fight some more? You make for good practice!"
"Lass, what's the matter with ya? You live only to kick people's asses or sumfin'? I ain't puttin' myself through that hell again. Let me know when ya wanna grab a bite to eat, how 'bout that? Fightin' is… a means to an end… but food? Now that's what life's all about!