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Description
AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry for the extra words, I just can't limit them to 100. Man, I have too much time on my hands.

Ch. 16: Grand Schemes

As far as humans go, Annin was impressed by the skill of both masters. They had pressed beyond their species limitations, surpassing possibly the lesser demons. She drew a sharp breath as Tsuru neutralized a massive khi blast with a kiai shout. Apparently, the Crane Master had every right to be cocky, but still Annin could not help but worry. Ryuusennin was holding back. What, she couldn’t be sure.

The battle ascended further up into the sky and if it hadn’t been for one distraction, the goddess wouldn’t have noticed. As her eyes followed the dueling pair, they lit upon a figure in the distance, perched upon a street lamp. She frowned as it approached the trophy, meeting no resistance. A pudgy guard had wondered from his post to watch the fight, leaving the post unmanned. Quickly she got up and left the stands.

Tsuru was completely unaware of this. Only he and his adversary existed. Only one can prevail. Their eyes set ablaze, adrenaline rushed through their veins.

“Not bad, Tsuru, not bad at all. You’ve been keeping up with your training I see,” Ryuu mutter as they drew back. The other eyed him suspiciously.

“Just how far are you from reaching your goal? Tell me.”

Ryuu scoffed. “Four, after I defeat you take what you’ve collected and claim the prize.”

Tsuru laughed derisively. “So you have no idea where the dragon balls are and have been following me, hoping to steal what I’ve worked hard for.” He glared. “I assure you it won’t happen. I’ve come too far.”

The battle resumed and the air thundered with their energy attacks. The crowd below them gasped in awe. Among them was Sangi, who refused to stay any longer in the infirmary. He ambled along using a crutch, searching for a better position to view the fight when he heard a shrill yapping voice beneath him under the stands.

“My lord, the progress is almost complete. In this one tournament alone, we shall obtain four more dragon balls.”

A silence and then another voice spoke, this one deep and low. It spoke each word with deliberation. “I’m growing impatient Pilaf. So far I’ve only possessed only two. I want all seven now.”

Intrigued, Sangi got down unto the floor to the spite of those around him. “Sorry, dropped a contact.” A man beside him grunted something derogatory and a woman flipped him the ‘bird.’ At his awkward position, Sangi caught a glimpse of a strange sight.

A tiny blue elf-eared creature stood, accompanied by a human girl and dog dressed in a ninja outfit. They were facing someone in the corner but Sangi could not make them out in the shadows. He pressed his ear closer.

The blue dwarf shuddered. “Everyone is going to plan. Ryuu has made contact with the human who has the three. And the fourth is on the trophy.”

“Then why does he not destroy the arena and be done with it?” The voice snarled, sending shivers down Pilaf’s spine. “The fool enjoys himself at my expense. As for you, why have you not retrieved the one on the prize?”

With the attention drawn to him, Pilaf broke into a cold sweat. “Yes, well, see my lord. Um…” he squeaked.

“I DON’T WANT EXCUSES! YOU FAILED AND IF I WERE AT MY FULL STRENGTH I WOULD KILL YOU AND EVERYONE IN THIS DAMN CITY!”

“My lord, please be patient…” His words were cut short as a withered green hand emerged from the shadows and gripped his throat. Fingers curled and the long nails dug into Pilaf’s flesh, sending the tiny creature into frenzy.

Sangi drew himself upright quickly. He didn’t know what the whole affair was about, but knew they were plotting something, something against Tsuru. Lumbering off, he headed for the front of the stands, hoping that he could get close enough to warn the Crane Master.

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure drew closer to the pedestal until he was within a few feet. A metallic hand reached out inching its way closer and closer until he heard a yell. He felt himself crashing into crates as he was kicked forcefully away.

Annin glared, her halberdier brandishing before her. “I don’t know who the hell you are. Stealing something fighters trained hard for. Have you no honor?”

The other glared as he picked himself up. “Stay out of this. There’s far more at stake than you can ever imagine.”

Her eyes widened. “So you’re searching for the dragon balls as well.”

“You know that the dragon balls bring out the worst in humans. Men have searched for them all their lives. They steal for it, kill for it.”

“And I suppose you’re being generous by taking them for yourself,” Annin replied harshly.

The stranger snarled and charged. Metal on metal clinked against the other with each blow his hands clashed with Annin’s staff. He refused to let up, not giving his opponent a chance. His aggressions pushed Annin further and further back.

Overwhelmed by his sudden fury of attacks, Annin lost ground. But she countered quickly, blocking each strike with each swing of her weapon. Fearing of being cornered, she thrust her blade at him, slashing a bit of the robe as he somersaulted back.

Annin dashed and swung as he landed, sending him reeling into another set of boxes. To her surprise, he rose just as quick as he went down and rushed at her, slamming an elbow into her abdomen.

She careened into an enormous vat, shattering with the impact of her fall. Its contents fell unto her, and she found herself buried in fish cleanings.

The stranger stood at the ready, watching for movement. He got it. Annin rose from the muck, her eyes ablaze with vehemence. He stared, amazed that she was unharmed despite the spill of an entire ton of waste on her. Before he could dwell further on the matter, Annin let out a fierce cry.

“ENOUGH FOOLISH MORTAL! PREPARE YOURSELF!”

The ground shook with the thunder of her voice. The fighter wheeled back, at a lost as to what was happening. Then before him, the woman began to swell in size. She grew until she was a good twice his size. An aura of churning energy burned about her, her eyes glowed white.

“What the hell?” His mouth dropped as he felt the enormous power radiating from her being.

She vanished, only to reappear when he was dealt an upward blow to the jaw. She struck again and again, as the fighter bounced about like a rag doll in her relentless attack and pursuit. She brought the halberdier down, aiming to incapacitate him limbs, when one of his hands popped off. From the stump, a long sword shot forth from it. The blades interlocked, shooting off sparks as they grated against the other.

Annin’s eyes widen, shocked to see that her attack failed, but even more so at the sudden appearance of a weapon attached to the fighter’s arm. “What are you?” Annin demanded. “You can’t possibly be human. Any mortal would not be this strong to withstand my attack.”

A high raspy chuckle came from her opponent. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Her eyes watched him, then trailed down at the long gash she had inflicted upon his robe. She gasped, noting the motif protruding through the rip. She shook her head in total disbelief. “It can’t be you.”

He followed her gaze to see what she looked at and scowled. “Damn it, I don’t have time for this. If we don’t take that dragon ball out of this city, everyone will die!”

Annin started. “But…”

He lunged forward and grabbed the dragon ball from its niche on the trophy. “We must warn Tsuru. He’s already in grave danger by collecting these. You must go to him and leave here. I shall provide the distraction.” With that, he thrust the orb into her hands. Turning, he took flight.

She bit her lip but followed suit. It was what she had feared; yet another town was about to fall to Ryuusennin’s greed. And the fuse was short.

Description
AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry for the extra words, I just can't limit them to 100. Man, I have too much time on my hands.

Ch. 16: Grand Schemes

As far as humans go, Annin was impressed by the skill of both masters. They had pressed beyond their species limitations, surpassing possibly the lesser demons. She drew a sharp breath as Tsuru neutralized a massive khi blast with a kiai shout. Apparently, the Crane Master had every right to be cocky, but still Annin could not help but worry. Ryuusennin was holding back. What, she couldn’t be sure.

The battle ascended further up into the sky and if it hadn’t been for one distraction, the goddess wouldn’t have noticed. As her eyes followed the dueling pair, they lit upon a figure in the distance, perched upon a street lamp. She frowned as it approached the trophy, meeting no resistance. A pudgy guard had wondered from his post to watch the fight, leaving the post unmanned. Quickly she got up and left the stands.

Tsuru was completely unaware of this. Only he and his adversary existed. Only one can prevail. Their eyes set ablaze, adrenaline rushed through their veins.

“Not bad, Tsuru, not bad at all. You’ve been keeping up with your training I see,” Ryuu mutter as they drew back. The other eyed him suspiciously.

“Just how far are you from reaching your goal? Tell me.”

Ryuu scoffed. “Four, after I defeat you take what you’ve collected and claim the prize.”

Tsuru laughed derisively. “So you have no idea where the dragon balls are and have been following me, hoping to steal what I’ve worked hard for.” He glared. “I assure you it won’t happen. I’ve come too far.”

The battle resumed and the air thundered with their energy attacks. The crowd below them gasped in awe. Among them was Sangi, who refused to stay any longer in the infirmary. He ambled along using a crutch, searching for a better position to view the fight when he heard a shrill yapping voice beneath him under the stands.

“My lord, the progress is almost complete. In this one tournament alone, we shall obtain four more dragon balls.”

A silence and then another voice spoke, this one deep and low. It spoke each word with deliberation. “I’m growing impatient Pilaf. So far I’ve only possessed only two. I want all seven now.”

Intrigued, Sangi got down unto the floor to the spite of those around him. “Sorry, dropped a contact.” A man beside him grunted something derogatory and a woman flipped him the ‘bird.’ At his awkward position, Sangi caught a glimpse of a strange sight.

A tiny blue elf-eared creature stood, accompanied by a human girl and dog dressed in a ninja outfit. They were facing someone in the corner but Sangi could not make them out in the shadows. He pressed his ear closer.

The blue dwarf shuddered. “Everyone is going to plan. Ryuu has made contact with the human who has the three. And the fourth is on the trophy.”

“Then why does he not destroy the arena and be done with it?” The voice snarled, sending shivers down Pilaf’s spine. “The fool enjoys himself at my expense. As for you, why have you not retrieved the one on the prize?”

With the attention drawn to him, Pilaf broke into a cold sweat. “Yes, well, see my lord. Um…” he squeaked.

“I DON’T WANT EXCUSES! YOU FAILED AND IF I WERE AT MY FULL STRENGTH I WOULD KILL YOU AND EVERYONE IN THIS DAMN CITY!”

“My lord, please be patient…” His words were cut short as a withered green hand emerged from the shadows and gripped his throat. Fingers curled and the long nails dug into Pilaf’s flesh, sending the tiny creature into frenzy.

Sangi drew himself upright quickly. He didn’t know what the whole affair was about, but knew they were plotting something, something against Tsuru. Lumbering off, he headed for the front of the stands, hoping that he could get close enough to warn the Crane Master.

Meanwhile, the cloaked figure drew closer to the pedestal until he was within a few feet. A metallic hand reached out inching its way closer and closer until he heard a yell. He felt himself crashing into crates as he was kicked forcefully away.

Annin glared, her halberdier brandishing before her. “I don’t know who the hell you are. Stealing something fighters trained hard for. Have you no honor?”

The other glared as he picked himself up. “Stay out of this. There’s far more at stake than you can ever imagine.”

Her eyes widened. “So you’re searching for the dragon balls as well.”

“You know that the dragon balls bring out the worst in humans. Men have searched for them all their lives. They steal for it, kill for it.”

“And I suppose you’re being generous by taking them for yourself,” Annin replied harshly.

The stranger snarled and charged. Metal on metal clinked against the other with each blow his hands clashed with Annin’s staff. He refused to let up, not giving his opponent a chance. His aggressions pushed Annin further and further back.

Overwhelmed by his sudden fury of attacks, Annin lost ground. But she countered quickly, blocking each strike with each swing of her weapon. Fearing of being cornered, she thrust her blade at him, slashing a bit of the robe as he somersaulted back.

Annin dashed and swung as he landed, sending him reeling into another set of boxes. To her surprise, he rose just as quick as he went down and rushed at her, slamming an elbow into her abdomen.

She careened into an enormous vat, shattering with the impact of her fall. Its contents fell unto her, and she found herself buried in fish cleanings.

The stranger stood at the ready, watching for movement. He got it. Annin rose from the muck, her eyes ablaze with vehemence. He stared, amazed that she was unharmed despite the spill of an entire ton of waste on her. Before he could dwell further on the matter, Annin let out a fierce cry.

“ENOUGH FOOLISH MORTAL! PREPARE YOURSELF!”

The ground shook with the thunder of her voice. The fighter wheeled back, at a lost as to what was happening. Then before him, the woman began to swell in size. She grew until she was a good twice his size. An aura of churning energy burned about her, her eyes glowed white.

“What the hell?” His mouth dropped as he felt the enormous power radiating from her being.

She vanished, only to reappear when he was dealt an upward blow to the jaw. She struck again and again, as the fighter bounced about like a rag doll in her relentless attack and pursuit. She brought the halberdier down, aiming to incapacitate him limbs, when one of his hands popped off. From the stump, a long sword shot forth from it. The blades interlocked, shooting off sparks as they grated against the other.

Annin’s eyes widen, shocked to see that her attack failed, but even more so at the sudden appearance of a weapon attached to the fighter’s arm. “What are you?” Annin demanded. “You can’t possibly be human. Any mortal would not be this strong to withstand my attack.”

A high raspy chuckle came from her opponent. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Her eyes watched him, then trailed down at the long gash she had inflicted upon his robe. She gasped, noting the motif protruding through the rip. She shook her head in total disbelief. “It can’t be you.”

He followed her gaze to see what she looked at and scowled. “Damn it, I don’t have time for this. If we don’t take that dragon ball out of this city, everyone will die!”

Annin started. “But…”

He lunged forward and grabbed the dragon ball from its niche on the trophy. “We must warn Tsuru. He’s already in grave danger by collecting these. You must go to him and leave here. I shall provide the distraction.” With that, he thrust the orb into her hands. Turning, he took flight.

She bit her lip but followed suit. It was what she had feared; yet another town was about to fall to Ryuusennin’s greed. And the fuse was short.