Return of the Dragon

[Kazuya Hikari]

(OOC: Shugo/Open)

A lone figure could be seen striding down the streets of Long Beach, well, more like the ruins of streets of Long Beach. Nothing had changed, as far as the eye could see, save for maybe the amount of territory each gang had obtained for themselves. Although he had left suddenly, without a single word, he still carried the belt that identified him as a member of The Paladins with him, in the worn down black duffel bag he held over his shoulder, along with his helmet.

Having returned to California a couple weeks ago, the pull of the city that held memories of her for him too strong to resist, he had taken up residence in an abandoned and half-destroyed dojo, which suited him just fine. In retrospective, it was the best place he could've hoped for to train and meditate by himself in peace, and had generally kept to himself, for the most part. The months of training and wandering evident by the long scars on both his cheeks, he had become even more battle-hardened than before, though not all that surprising.

Carrying his katana on his back, his red headband tied tightly around his forehead at the back, the edges of his black overcoat over top his sleeveless karate jacket rustling in the wind, most gang members thought twice about attacking him, especially after having witnessed him leaving a trail of bloody, unconscious bodies in his wake. They had been fools that thought they could take him down. They had been thoroughly wrong.

[Date Masamune™]

The dark blue haired boy would be sitting around on a bit of rubble outside of the dojo Kazuya was living in. The boy had thought of going in, but even in this post-apocalyptic world that they lived in, Shugo found it rude to just go ahead and enter without an invitation. None the less, Shugo waited patiently. He wasn't quite sure when Kazuya would return or if the rumors had been true. Shugo had been told by an informant that a Paladin, most likely Kazuya Hikari but the informant wasn't sure, had made a certain run down dojo his home.

But the real question was why was Shugo waiting around? As far as Shugo was concerned, the Paladins were defunct. For far too long he was the only Paladin. Not just that but the feeling that the word Paladin conveyed was a bit too harsh for Shugo's taste. Paladin sounded almost elitist. It conveyed power, but at the same time it also conveyed a sort of superiority complex. Shugo liked the term Defender better and was on his way to gathering old Paladins to bring them to his cause.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"Shugo. What brings you to my humble abode?"

Kazuya deadpanned, easily recognizing the ex-Knight of 552 as he looked up and saw the dark blue-haired boy sitting on rubble outside his residence with narrowed eyes, something that would cause most who encountered him for the first time to run away in fear, but for those that knew him for a long time, they would be used to it.

"And what can I do for you?"

[Date Masamune™]

"Put simply..."

The boy took a deep breath. Kazuya wasn't someone to mess around with. If Shugo pissed him off, which was very likely because he had a similar affect on nearly everyone else in California, Kazuya could simply snap Shugo in two. So Shugo would tell him not what he wanted to hear, but what he needed to hear.

"Barker's a huge pain in the ass. To everyone. And the Paladins are pretty much defunct, meaning you and I are pretty much on our own. Well except that I'm not alone, not anymore. I've got a team. A team I'd like you to join or help out."

Shugo would have stood up as he began speaking and would now begin to pace as he gathered his thoughts to form a proper sentence.

"I've got a territory. Going from Downey to Santa Fe. It used to be just my manor where I started a refugee camp. But it's gotten bigger and I could sure use as much help as I possibly could to try and protect the people there. Pay sucks, and the food's shit. But there's a british butler who'll have to do whatever you say."

[Kazuya Hikari]

"I have to agree with you on Barker, and that The Paladins are pretty much defunct. What I cannot agree with is joining your team. I became a part of The Paladins as a favor to Kevala Katashi, but now that neither she nor Gabriel Seran are around, that favor has been nullified, and I now hold no allegiance to a gang anymore."

Giving Shugo a small sympathetic smile, he would bow his head slightly to him in respect.

"I will however, help you in any way I can, I just cannot join your team, Shugo. I do apologize. Do not hesitate to call on me if you require my aid. I wish you and your team the best in your endeavors, and that you stay safe."

[Date Masamune™]

"Alright. Even so. Do you want to move into the territory's walls?"

Shugo meant literal walls. There was a giant concrete wall encasing the entire territory from any sort of attack. Shugo would scratch the back of his head. Kazuya didn't seem like a team player but having him as an ally even if he wasn't going to be a direct part of the defenders would be good.

"I mean you wouldn't have to say our pledge of allegiance or anything. Just somewhere safer to live without having to worry about Barker attacks and scrounging around for food. Trust me. I know how tough the neutral zone is. Oh and uhh. That bit about the pledge of allegiance. That was a joke."

[Kazuya Hikari]

"I appreciate the offer, but I must politely decline. I am content with my current place of residence. If you ever need to call upon me, you will know where to find me. I've already proven I'm not one that can be easily taken down or to be taken lightly, I won't be leaving this dojo any time soon."

Holding his hand out to Shugo, if the ex-Knight of 552 took his hand, Kazuya would shake his hand with a firm grip, and would let go afterwards, nodding slightly at him, before he would take his leave and begin to head into the dojo.

[Date Masamune™]

Shugo would take Kazuya's hand and shake it. It was a bit disappointing that Kazuya didn't want to join the Defenders, but it seemed unavoidable due to the circumstances. Shugo would give a nod back and begin to be on his way, but pause in his tracks before turning around.

"How about a hand with training then? I mean I'm sure you could use a sparring partner right?"

[Kazuya Hikari]

Immediately halting in his tracks, Kazuya would slowly turn his head to look behind him, at Shugo, before the faintest of smiles could just barely be seen.

"I can always use a sparring partner, Shugo. Training and meditating is all I've been doing since Barker blew the world to kingdom come."

[Date Masamune™]

"Well then. Feel like having a go right now?"

Shugo smirked a bit. He had heard about Kazuya's feats from his informants and even back when they were in school Shugo had heard the rumors, but the boy had never gotten the chance to face him. The thought of fighting someone that powerful excited him a bit. It was probably the natural born fighter in him crying out for an exciting challenge that, for once, didn't have his life and others on the line.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"Bring it on Shugo Yuy."

Placing his duffel bag off to side and bringing both hands up, his left hand curled up into a fist and held in front of his torso while his right hand was left open and held in front of his chest, he'd space his feet evenly, about shoulder length width, his body turned slightly sideways. He'd let Shugo have the first move.

[Date Masamune™]

The dark blue haired boy would take his stance as Kazuya did. A lot of good that would do. Kazuya wanted him to have the first move and there was a lot of space to cover. Without thinking about the next move Shugo dove in. He found that if he didn't even know his move it didn't give his opponent a chance to guess what he was going to do. Not until the end at least.

Shugo would launch himself into the air. The boy would hope to vault over Kazuya and attempt to step on Kazuya's back with a kick. Hoping to use that to propel himself forward, Shugo would attempt to turn himself in mid air. He hoped the unorthodox move would confuse Kazuya and give Shugo the advantage.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Unorthodox it was, but Kazuya had been in plenty of fights with opponents that were anything but conventional. As Shugo launched himself into the air to try and vault himself over Kazuya, both his hands would dart out and attempt to grab onto one of Shugo's legs, if he succeeded, he would proceed to yank Shugo backwards and release his grip on his leg before ramming his fist into Shugo's stomach, to try and send him flying backwards.

If he did not succeed, as Shugo vaulted over him, Kazuya would immediately whirl around, attempting to catch Shugo's foot in his hand, and throw Shugo backwards as hard as he possibly could with just one hand.