Chapter VI: The Price
The sun sat on a bench of clouds, watching the tournament with the sky crowding his personal space. The grounds where the tournament was being held carried an air of precision and excellence, the dojo grounds being impossibly neat and the students of the school were in perfect order, their uniforms crisp and sickeningly clean. Gouki and Gouken walked inside, staring at the beautiful courtyard and the mass of students with silent awe.
At least 100 were far in the distance, complying with the commands of a single master. He barked out a command, and the students promptly performed the move in a spilt-second?s time. They were all in synch with each other, their movements precise and confident.
?Ah, there is where the qualifying rounds are held.? Gouken muttered as he pointed to the far left. There were 4 mats spaced about 30 feet apart from each other, and on each mat there was a fight taking place.
?They are all kids, like us.? Gouki announced, noticing the age range of everyone around him.
At each mat there was a thin crowd gathered around to watch the fights. Not everyone there was a student of the Judo, in fact most weren?t. Gouki noticed the emblems of many various schools on the gi?s of tournament combatants. There was a strong Chinese presence, a group of about 15 fighters hailed from the land to the west of Japan.
?Come on?let?s go.? Gouken muttered as he approached a man. He stated both their names, and the man pointed to mat 2 and said something to Gouken that Gouki didn?t catch. Gouken thanked the man and tugged at Gouki?s sleeve.
?Alright, we?re at mat 2.?
They both approached the mat, spoke to the coordinator of the mat and he scribbled their names down on a thick notepad. Gouken and Gouki thanked him and sat down, awaiting their matches.
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?Gouki! I?m looking for a Gouki!? A man called.
?Right here!? Was Gouki?s excited response as he sprang up from his sitting position and dashed towards the coordinator.
?Your match is up son.?
?Alright.?
Gouki stepped upon the soft brown mat, his eyes closed and at peace with himself. The mat is 17 X 17 feet, leaving just enough room to get a good fight going, but restricting too much movement. In steps his opponent, a young pudgy boy wearing a judo style gi, with a white belt?his fat bowling over from his shirt almost smothering the belt on his waist.
?I?m going tear you up kid.? The boy says, his cheeks puffy, his lips curved into a devilish smile.
???.? Gouki said nothing as he opened his eyes and took stance, his movements soft and quick. The audience around him was caught in a dead hush, their collective eyes locked on the upcoming match.
Gouki?s opponent snickered and took stance, his movements awkward. He was an entire foot taller than Gouki, and twice as large. The big boy slapped his hands together as he gave a hearty laugh.
?Let?s go.?
Gouki responded by drawing in a deep breath. His mind was clear of thoughts, his body now set to operate on autopilot.
DING!
The bell sounded and the Judo fighter cocked his fist back for a punch. Gouki stood there motionless.
A split second before the punch could connect, it stopped dead in the air.
Gouki had caught it in his hand, his opponent?s fist trapped with Gouki?s hand curled around it.
?Wha?! Why you little?..?
Gouki face lacked expression as he easily dodged a sidekick by taking a single step backwards while bending over backwards slightly. Gouki?s opponent then began to throw wild punches and kicks, Gouki swatting them away at blazing speed.
?WHY CAN?T I HIT YOU!!?? His angry opponent screamed at the top of his lungs.
Gouki said nothing, standing perfectly straight and motionless, his face was blank and his eyes stared at his raging opponent.
?If this doesn?t knock you to the ground?..ARGH???
The fat boy reared back his fist, positioned above his head as he leaned forward. A powerful punch erupted aiming straight for Gouki. Gouki did not move.
Suddenly he sprang forward. He kicked the fat boy?s extended arm away, and buried his fist into the boy?s unguarded stomach.
All done in one second flat.
Gouki stood, his fist still extended in front of him, his opponent?s fat drowning his limb to a little above the elbow.
His opponent was in shock, his eyes wide as dinner plates and drool hanging on for dear life in the corner of his gaping mouth. His entire body began to quiver, and he slowly began to lean backward.
The lean turned to a fall, and the fat boy crashed to the ground with a dead thud and a cloud of dust.
The crowd stood shocked, their eyes staring at Gouki in bewilderment.
Gouki closed his eyes and eased out of stance, letting out a breath slowly.
Suddenly the deafening silence turned into an uproar of applause. Gouki received a standing ovation as he bowed and walked off the mat.
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?Good luck friend.? Gouken said to his opponent as they shook hands. Both of them stood on the mat, ready to begin.
Gouken opponent, a little short thin boy by the name of Shu Xiang. He was dressed in a completely white Chinese uniform, his head partially bald, with the hair on the back of his head and half of the front still remaining and a single black braid cascading to his waist. Shu had a calm introverted look about himself, and Gouken felt his ki. It was slowly rising.
DING!
At the sound of the bell Gouken lashed out with a roundhouse that appeared to hit Shu Xiang. But, it was only an afterimage.
?Wha?? Gouken?s head darted around to find his opponent; then he felt a sharp pain in his back. A punch. Gouken stumbled and turned around to find Shu behind him. Shu sprang forward with a quick backhand that danced across Gouken?s face; then followed up with an uppercut that knocked Gouken to the ground. Shu backed away as Gouken got back up.
Man?he?s fast?gotta be faster?.
?Alright Shu Xiang. MY TURN!? Gouken shouted as he rushed forward, rearing back his fist. Shu took stance, concentrated on his approaching opponent.
Gouken fired a punch but missed on purpose. Shu dodged to the right, only to catch a roundhouse from that direction from Gouken. Shu stumbled as Gouken ran up to him and delivered a swift front kick to the ribs, then a quick right cross that drew blood from Shu?s nose. Shu fell to one knee and stared at the ground as Gouken backed away.
For about 5 minutes the match was at a standstill…until Gouken noticed something.
?Are?you CRYING!?? Gouken shouted in surprise. Shu looked up at him, tears cascading down his face and his bottom lip quivering.
?YOU DIDN?T HAVE TO HIT THAT HARD! I QUIT!! I WANT MY MOMMYYYYYYYYYY??? Shu Xiang shouted as he ran off the mat in tears. Gouken stood in utter shock and confusion.
?Was it something I said??
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?Hmm?.both of them are progressing nicely.? Goutetsu said to himself as he stared out into the courtyard of the large Judo palace. Afaik was by his side, nodding.
?Yes, they?ve made it to the semifinals. And look?Gouken just finished his match! He?s going to the finals now?and Gouki?s up next?let?s watch.
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?And now?..last year?s champion?..and the year before that?.and the year before that?.our Muay Thai fighting machine! The pulverizing prince?.GO HIBIKI??? The announcer?s voice boomed as the crowd went ecstatic.
Slowly a figure in a brown and yellow robe stepped up to the main tournament grounds. The hood covered his face as he stared down, the silk robe draping his form. He took the robe off and tossed it aside, bouncing in place and punching the air.
Go Hibiki was a sight. He was at least 5 feet, 11 inches tall and he was barely 13 years old. His body was lean and gangly, but every inch of him was muscle born in the fires of intense Muay Thai training. He wore brown shorts with yellow trim??The Destroyer? written in Thai across the front in a semicircle. Go?s armbands were brown and yellow in an intertwining pattern, and they rested above his elbow, but before his shoulder blade. His ?crown? was of similar design, a yellow tuft of leather hung from the back. Go Hibki?s hair was brown and extremely short, no more than an inch and a half off his head. His face was slender and his nose was like a crow?s beak. His eyes were arrogance personified, his lips curled back in a snicker.
?Hey kid! So you?re up against me eh? Pity?well it was a good run for you right? Too bad it ends here?hehe.?
Go laughed as he stepped closer to Gouki.
?We shall see.? Was Gouki?s only response as he took stance. The match battleground was far larger than the mat, 70 feet in width and length and covered by thick gray stone tiles. Statures of Dragons and Lions sat on the four corners, ever watchful.
They both took stance, Go bouncing lightly as he fists danced and feet rocked, and Gouki standing perfectly still.
DING!
Go rushed forward with a jab from the right that caught Gouki by surprise. As Gouki staggered, he absorbed 4 more jabs from Go?s right hand, and 3 from the left. Gouki lashed out with a punch but Go easily dodged it, retaliating with a knee to Gouki?s ribs that floored the young student.
All this happened in less than 5 seconds.
Gouki quickly returned to his feet, reaching his hand under his gi to feel his ribs. Nothing was physically wrong it seems?but the pain was enormous. Gouki felt as if he had been shot.
?Come on! Bring it karate boy!? Go taunted. Gouki attacked with a front kick that Go swatted away. Gouki faked a punch with his left hand, only to deliver a palm strike with his right that connected to the side of Go?s head. Go staggered, but reacted so quickly with a roundhouse Gouki received it dead across the face. Gouki stumbled and Go pounced on him like a wild animal. A blizzard of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows came from all sides as Gouki put his arms up and attempted to guard?.losing ground quickly.
WHAM! A powerful punch to Gouki?s stomach made the young boy wince, but his guard held firm. He continued to absorb the blows, but they still hurt like hell.
There is no pain. There is no pain. There is no pain. There is no pain. Gouki kept repeating to himself as the barrage continued. In a minute, Go had landed 40 attacks to his opponent, and he was nowhere near tired.
?Quit covering up like a baby and fight!? Go shouted as he delivered a right cross to Gouki?s face that was so hard it knocked the young fighter to the ground and drew blood. The second Gouki hit the ground he was back up again, focused as ever.
There is no pain. There is no pain. Gouki chanted mentally as he wiped the bit of blood from the corner of his mouth.
?HAH!? Gouki sprang into the air with a flying kick that connected perfectly, slicing through Go Hibiki. Go crashed to the ground and Gouki landed on his feet, a pleasant smile on his face.
?TRY AGAIN!!? Go shouted as he viciously kicked Gouki in the stomach, kneed him in the face, and punched him in the chest. Go was known for his ability to recover quickly, and Gouki was learning that lesson in the worst way.
Damn his speed, damn his reflexes?.. Gouki thought as he smacked the hard ground. But Gouki quickly sprang back up again and took stance, the white tiles felt like they were swaying in Gouki?s diziness.
There is no pain. There is no pain. Gouki chanted over and over as blood from a cut on his forehead oozed down his face.
?He?s murdering him! Master, this is slaughter.? Gouken cried to Goutetsu from the sidelines. Both were watching the fight, their fears growing.
?Gouki still has a chance.? Goutetsu said flatly, never taking his eyes off the fight.
Gouki sprang forward, attempting a chop. Go sidestepped the attack and elbowed Gouki in the back of the head as the young fighter passed him. Gouki stumbled and Go lazily tripped him, making Gouki smack the ground face-first kicking up a cloud of dust.
?Had enough?? Go taunted. Gouki did not answer.
?I can?t hear you! Answer me!? Go shouted as he kicked Gouki in the ribs as Gouki tried to get up. Gouki attempted to pick himself off the ground again, only to meet the same fate.
Go finally let Gouki get up, backing away while chuckling to himself. Gouki took stance, blood seeping through his grit teeth. Dirt, blood and sweat caked on his face.
There is no pain. There is no pain. There is no pain. Gouki?s fists were clenched as he rushed in, only to meet a swift roundhouse that clipped the side of his head. Gouki fell to the ground once again, but quickly got back up. Only to topple back down, as if he were trying to call on strength that wasn?t there.
Gouki?s entire body was shaking, and blood was all over him. It stained his gi, the blood like polka dots peppering his once pure white uniform. Gouki picked himself off the ground, slower this time.
There is no pain. There is no pain.
Gouken watched from the sidelines, biting his lower lips so hard blood oozed from it. His clenched fists were shaking, he could barely contain himself.
There was one emotion filling Gouken at the particular time, and the emotion was hitting a critical mass.
Rage.
