A Good Fight

Apollo was looking at the job bulletin board for something to do. His training was going good, but he felt like doing something to break the habit and test out what this place's fighters were like. He had trouble finding good fights among the thugs and gangs. He then heard of people taking jobs for money, which he needed right now. He heard of this one man, a fighter, like him. Apollo had gotten interested as he heard the man's wanted poster was still up and someone was offering quite a bit of money for him.

Apollo looked at the man's wanted poster and smiled. "I'm sure he will give me a good fight. But where to look..." said Apollo as he ripped the wanted poster down. "I think I should find out where he last visited and follow his scent from there."

And so, Apollo went to the people that had requested his capture and asked them where he was last seen. After getting the information Apollo left for the village. A day had passed before Apollo arrived at the bar the man had last been seen.

After talking to some people, he sniffed around, literally. Apollo smiled when he finally caught the scent of a fighter and took off, following the trail. Apollo's face looked hungry for a fight. He was looking forward to this so much that he felt like running on all fours, but he wouldn't because that would look weird to people, and he didn't want anyone to find out what he was in case word got back to his people. He was sure his father had sent others to this land looking for him. He had already heard of the capture of two Bisutto, those that got lucky and were allowed to stay were those that devoted themselves to the royal guard, but that's not what Apollo wanted. He wanted freedom. The freedom to fight whenever he felt like it. To be himself, an individual, the best of the best. That's what he wanted.

A path split from the main road and slinged off into the forest. Looking really closely, a small pyre could be seen between the trees, indicating a campfire. Faint sounds of someone playing harmonica could be heard.

Apollo came to a stop as he smelt burning wood mixed in with the man's scent. He could hear the harmonica easily and then headed for the fire, though he walked this time. When he stepped into the camp site with the man on the opposite side, he said, "Are you, Daimaru?" He held up the wanted poster. A small smile was on Apollo's face as he looked tha man up down, knowing this would be a good fight to him.

The man stopped playing and looked up at Apollo.

Daimaru: "That's the name. By the look in your eyes, you're here to fight. There, sit down and take some bread and meat first. It's not good to fight on an emty stomach."

He points to the ground next to himself, and takes a large chunk of roasted beef off the campfire.

"Thank you. I am sorry to disturb your meal," said Apollo as he took the seat. "I have come from a far away place looking for a good fight. I can't find noone worth fighting in Buso, and my money is getting low. I heard of you, and so I thought you might be a good fight, and I could make some money," said Apollo.

Daimaru: "Oh, you have the wanted poster. Haha. Tell you what, I put it there myself."
He rips the beef in two and hands one of the pieces to Apollo.

Daimaru: "I was aslo looking for a good opponent for a long time now. But it seems nobody wanted to fight me even for the money. Good thing you came along, I thought I'd die of boredom otherwise."

He starts to chew on his meat.

"I understand how that is. Where I come from. Fighting is forbidden among my kind. But some who had the same urge to fight created a fighting club in secret. When I beat the champion Mundarie and killed him. His little brother spilled the beans and so all of us stowed away on a ship. This is where we ended up. Some have been captured and taken back for trial. Though some were allowed to stay as long as they served their loyalty to the Royal Guard. I am the only free one I know of," said Apollo before he took a bite of the food after he was given it.

Daimaru speaks with his mouth full.

Daimaru: "You killed a dojo master? *chew chew* Either the dojos in your country are really pathetic, *gulp* or you are something special. And seeing as you got away from your pursuers, you must have luck on your side too."

He finishes his beef, takes a hunk of bread out of backpack and breaks it in two, handing him one of the pieces again.

Daimaru: "Hmm. You got through some adventures already, I see. Ironic that you ended up here of all places, there's no fighter culture in Biso at all. Everybody resorts to either weapons or magic. The girls I can understand, but men should fight like men, with fists!"

He punches the air in front of him.

Daimaru: "There are exceptions, of course, but all in all, you won't be meeting too many sparring partners around here."

"Yeah. I don't see why people choose weapons and magic over their own body," said Apollo as he ate a piece of the bread and looked up at the sky. "I don't really like Dragonia very much. Too many buildings and not enough nature."

Daimaru sighs and leans his back against a tree.

Daimaru: "That's how it is. Nowadays, instead of trying to overcome their weaknesses, people try to compensate for them with tools and trickery. Good to know that there are still those that still have the old virtues."

He picks up a rock from beside him with his left hand and starts to squeeze it. After a few seconds, the rock gives a crack and then splinters to pieces.

Daimaru: "You've gotta take me to your country sometime. I'll beat some sense into them for forbidding fights. Taking away fighting from a fighter is worse than taking away his food and sleep."

He stands up walks to the middle of the clearing. Then turns and looks straight at Apollo.

Daimaru: "Whenever you're ready."

"Yeah. I have faced thugs, gangs, all kinds of lowlives. And none of them are apparently used to hand to hand combat. So it's all been a drag," said Apollo as he looked into the campfire and took another bite. "So why do you want to be turned in? Why not just make a job to defeat you rather than turn you in?"

Daimaru: "Like I said, I put that poster there myself. I'm not a wanted man in reality. I help people around town with whatever they need doing, and they treat me to tasty dinners. That's all I need to get around. As for the tax dodgery... well, it was just the first thing that came to mind. As you can see, I don't really have any property to tax."

He gestures around the campsite. Beside the fire where the steak was roasting, there was a backpack with food and a rolled-up sleeping bag tied to it. Daimaru didn't seem to own anything else.

Daimaru: "I like freedom, just like you. Sleep under the stars, breathe fresh air and practice my fighting skills every day. That's all I need to be happy. Oh, and good food of course."

He quickly tears off a piece of the still-roasting beef and puts it in his mouth.

Apollo laughed and nodded. "I agree. It is the life. I wouldn't be surprised if you were my kind in a previous life," laughed Apollo. "How about we get some rest and fight in the morning? That was the true reason why you put up the flyer, right? To fight a strong opponent? Well. I propose we prepare our bodies with a nights rest before we do anything," said Apollo.

Daimaru: "Sounds like a plan. Fighters must be at their peak when challenged to a fight. After our spar is finished, I'd like to ask you about "your kind". Seems interesting. Take anything else edible you want from the backpack, other than that,
see you in the morning."

Without further ado, Daimaru lays down under a tree, crosses his hands behind his head and starts to snore.

Apollo made himself comfortable and yawned. He took another bite of the meat and then finished it and the bread off that Daimaru had given him. He stared up at the stars and soon fell asleep as well.

Gentle beams of light pierced through the tree crowns above him and fell on Daimaru's face. He nudged, then opened his eyes and jumped up in a second, his sleepines gone as if it was never there. He stretched his hands into the air, took a deep breath and smiled.

He saw Apollo sleeping under a nearby tree. Daimaru went over to him and gently shook him by the shoulder.

Daimaru: "It's morning, fighter. Wakey wakey."

Apollo's eyes shot open. His reflexes kicked in and he grabbed the man's arm, twisting it slightly as he yanked it away. At the same time he quickly threw a punch toward his face, but then his arm halted. His fist with the metal plating were so close to Daimaru's face that he would be able to see his eyes reflection in great detail.

Apollo took a calm breath then released his arm and lowered his fist. "Sorry. It's instinct. Even when asleep I am slightly on guard. It's because of my race's instinct to survive that makes us like that. Our reflexes are superior to humans as well as our fighting abilities. Though some humans who have been trained in fighting can outclass us."

Daimaru didn't seem fazed by the sudden event, and casually pulled away from Apollo with the smile still on his face.

Daimaru: "Haha! Your kind is formidable indeed. But there still seems to be room for improvement. Had I intended to snap your neck on the first touch, I'd be able to do that before you reacted."

He cracks his knuckles and and walks over to the middle of the clearing.

Daimaru: "Without any distractions, make yourself ready. When it comes to exersizing before breakfast, nothing beats a sparring match!"

"Right," said Apollo as he stood up and stretched his arms. He walked over and stood ten feet from Daimaru. He then took his normal stance (look in appearance) and nodded. "Ready." he said as he smiled, the thrill of the fight awakening him. He took a deep breath and lowered his sense of touch to just above not being able to feel anything, he then focused his site and his ears and smiled.

Daimaru took his normal stance (look in epic wanted poster) and looked straight at Apollo.

Daimaru: "Come."

The winner of the match usually is the one who makes the first hit thought Apollo as he rushed forward, but instead of taking a full on frontal assault, he stood one foot down, ducked and used his other foot to control a slide around Daimaru, going for a quick jab to the side of his body out of reach of his fists.

Daimaru grinned widely as he simply took a small step to the opposite side of Apollo, dodging the jab. He could do it with minimum effort since Apollo was out of his reach, meaning that he was quite far away from him and the jab just didn't reach him. "It's a drag to fight using some fancy moves. I prefer the old fashion style, face your opponent and exchange punches to face." Daimaru took two steps towards Apollo and jumped into air his right knee moving towards hi face while at the same time trying to grab Apollo's head and force it move towards his knee.

"Crap," said apollo as his punched missed. When he saw Daimaru jump into the air, he knew he had the advantage to dodge. While being up in the air, speed really meant nothing. Apollo jumped back, out of reach of knee and hands. He slid to a stop and got back to his original stance.

Silver was huffing as she flew as fast as she could. Two creatures (hell fiend D) were chasing her and she was getting tired. She came to a clearing with two humans in it but she couldn't stop. She flew right by one of the humans face's (Apollo) and into a tree to hide. The hell fiend entered the clearing moments later.

"This is gunna have to be put on hold," said Apollo as he turned to face the two Hell Fiends. The sound of hissing came from the nearby camp site as well. Daimaru noticed this and went to go and make sure his food and other items were not harmed. Apollo glared at the two hell fiends and wondered curiously at what they were. "You guys stink," commented Apollo.