Shizuko is training with Jiro and the both of them are going all out. Their father is watching, but he isn't impressed by anything he's seen so far. Both of them agreed to only hand to hand combat. Since their brothers and they always train together they know each other's moves so there doesn't seem to be a clear winner. Shizuko changes his fighting style and copies a move he seen from Ziku. Jiro throws a punch, but Shizuko blocks it with his elbow and spins around him, he throws a head kick that Jiro dodges, but then leg sweeps Jiro. Jiro falls and then just looks up at Shizuko.
Jiro: "Nice move. Didn't expect that one."
Jiro puts his hand out wanting Shizuko to help him up. Shizuko looks over at their father who's walking away Shizuko watches him walk away then looks back at Jiro. Jiro smiles with his hand still out as Shizuko just walks away not saying anything. Jiro stands up and slowly follows after Shizuko.
Shizuko walks to the forest grounds and just walks through alone. Jiro behind him following. It pans to Hiroyuki having a conversation with Asuna.
Hiroyuki: "I wan to request that I go home for the rest of the day."
Asuna: "Everything ok?"
Hiroyuki: "I haven't been feeling too well lately. Like I'm not sick, it's just my chi feels off and I just want to rest for a bit."
Asuna: "Hmm, I had something important for you to do, but it can wait. Go ahead and go home, get your rest."
Hiroyuki: "Thank you Asuna."
Hiroyuki leaves and begins walking to his house. He gets to a certain spot and just stops. His eyes end up glowing and he turns and heads the other direction. Then Shizuko stops, his head turns to the left with his eyes glowing and he just changes direction walking with a purpose. Jiro confused as he just follows him concerned.
Then at Aiko's sleepover, everyone is asleep, but Chiori is awake just thinking. She gets up to go look out the window. She just looks at the stars and smiles as she thinks of how beautiful the night sky is. As she's just vibing she's sees Hiroyuki walk past the house. She goes outside to see if it's really him or not.
Chiori: "Hiroyuki?"
He just keeps walking. Chiori gets confused, as she thinks something is up. She decides to follow him. She tries to get close to him, but when she tries her body starts to freeze. Hiroyuki is emitting a massive amount of chi and the aura around him is freezing everything he walks by. Chiori can't get too close. Meanwhile Jiro keeps trying to get in front to stop Shizuko, but nothing is working. Shizuko emits blaze aura creating a forest fire just by walking through. With Jiro following and trying to put it out he just ends up making it worse. Both Hiroyuki and Shizuko's eyes glow brighter and brighter as they get closer to each other. They get close and both start emitting an enormous amount of aura. Before they could attack; Chiori gets in between them touching both of their chests. By doing so she negates their elements, making both Shizuko's fire and Hiroyuki's ice diminish. Not totally going away since Chiori Isn't as strong as them, but buying Jiro enough time to grab Shizuko. Jiro holds Shizuko as best as he could, but all it takes is for Shizuko to emit his blaze aura that pushes Jiro back.
Jiro: "What is this aura? How far has Shizuko been pushing himself? Or is this the result of that spell?! At this rate I won't be able to stop him, I can only hope to slow him down!"
Hiroyuki just continues to walk forward to Shizuko, Chiori tries her best to stop him, but nothing is working. Being under this spell gives both of them a huge boost in power and chi. Chiori can't seem to stop him so she just starts fighting him in order for him to slow down. His eyes glow brighter since the spell gives them one objective. To kill the person they hate the most! Chiori throws a barrage of punches and kicks, but nothing works Hiroyuki just dodges all of them with ease. He then grabs her foot and throws her against a tree causing her to get knocked out.
Jiro: "Chiori!"
Jiro gets pushed again by Shizuko's aura making him far from them. Jiro knowing he's not fast enough to make it to them before they attack each other as he tries launching his body with his flames to get to them. Jiro isn't going to make it in time, both Shizuko and Hiroyuki attack each other, but before anything happens Kame grabs Hiroyuki's foot and Shizuko's fist.
Jiro: "Kame!?"
Jiro headbutts into Shizuko's stomach keeping him away from Hiroyuki. Then Kame pushes Hiroyuki away creating distance between him and Shizuko.
Jiro: "Kame can you handle this for a sec?"
Kame: "Yes, go check on Chiori."
Jiro runs over to Chiori's body and picks her head up trying to wake her up.
Jiro: "Chiori, Chiori, Chiori come on get up!"
Shizuko and Hiroyuki both dash towards each other, but Kame being in the middle he keeps them both from attacking each other as he fights both of them blocking both attacks and keeping them from doing any damage to each other.
Jiro: "Amazing!"
It doesn't take long for Asuna to show up and knock both of them out again.
Asuna: "Jiro, take your brother home, I'll take Hiroyuki."
Jiro: "Sorry about this Asuna."
Asuna: "It's isn't your fault, I commend you for being here and doing what you can for them."
Jiro nods and then goes off to take Shizuko home.
Asuna: "Kame can you take Chiori to the hospital?"
Kame goes over and picks Chiori up. As he's walking Asuna stops him.
Asuna: "You've done a great job here Kame. You are truly a special warrior."
Kame smiles and then thanks him telling him he owes everything to him and Kenshi.
After taking Hiroyuki home Asuna tells Hiroyuki's mother what happened.
Asuna: "I think it would be best if you kept him here for awhile: no jobs, no training, nothing. Until we figure something out."
Meanwhile Shizuko wakes up and Jiro is right there at his bed smiling.
Shizuko: "Why are you smiling?"
Jiro: "Cause you're back to normal."
Shizuko: "Normal?"
Jiro: "Yes, you almost burned the forest down and you put Chiori in the hospital!"
Shizuko: "I felt it."
Jiro:" What?"
Shizuko: "It's like I have on a mask for myself, but then all of sudden I get this urge and the mask slips away. I don't even know what I'm saying at this point. It's just...."
Asuna: "I know what you mean, when the mask slips you go into this psychopathic rage and there's very little that could stop you."
Shizuko: "Yes, that's exactly how it feels. I'm concerned not only for myself, but for others."
Jiro thinks to himself: "That's the first time I've ever heard of Shizuko think for anyone other than himself."
Asuna: "Just stay here, until we could learn more about this. That means no training."
Jiro: "I'll be the one to make sure that happens."
Asuna: "Great, cause it might take quite sometime, considering we have to deal with Ziku's situation as well."
Asuna leaves to go check in on Chiori.
Jiro looks at Shizuko who has this look on his face that just screams disappointment.
Jiro: "You ok Zuko?"
Shizuko: "Just leave me alone."
Jiro: "But...."
Shizuko goes into his room and closes the door. Jiro looks down in sadness as he walks to Shizuko's door and sits outside of his room.
Jiro to himself: "I won't let anything happen to you, I'll always be by your side big brother."
Asuna goes into Chiori's hospital room to check on her.
Asuna: "How are you holding up?"
Chiori: "I'm fine, still just have head injuries. My back also, but other than that I should be fine in a day or two."
Asuna: "That's good to hear. I best be getting back, we have lots to accomplish."
Chiori: "Asuna, do you think that we could save them."
Asuna: "I know we can."
Chiori: "What if it becomes too late to help them and someone ends up dying cause of it. We would have all failed as a village."
Asuna: "Chiori, that won't happen. We'll save them."
Chiori: "I hope you're right."
She turns over in her bed and closes her eyes. Asuna looks down and then forward as he gets serious walking out of the hospital.
The next morning Asuna is outside of Kanju's house.
Kanju: "Asuna?"
Asuna: "We have no time to waste! It's time!"
Kanju smiles and then runs to get dressed and head over to where Aiko is. Meanwhile Ziku is on his knees as his face is bloody and dripping. He continues to just get beaten by the pawns Mettanica has. Ziku doesn't want to fight back. Mettanica urges him to fight and defend himself because she wants him to use his power so she could steal some of it to start her project. Ziku just continues to be beaten while the only thing he can think about is how he may never see anyone again.
Kanju, Aiko and Yumi are ready to open the gate to Mettanica's dimension. Everyone else is gathered around them awaiting for them to begin. Yumi tries to contact Ziku, but he's not responding.
Yumi: "He won't respond!"
Kanju: "He isn't dead is he?!"
Yumi: "At this point I'm not sure."
Ziku is laying down as he can hear their voices, but is too hurt to try and respond let alone get up.
Aiko: "Ziku?! Ziku?! Can you hear me?!"
Ziku in his head: "It's Aiko, I've missed hearing her voice."
Hearing Aiko's voice give Ziku some strength to move, but as he tries to get up he just keeps falling back down.
Omoi walks over to them and begins talking.
Omoi: "Ziku, it's me! Come on you have to let us know where you are so we can come get you! You can do it, we believe in you!"
Ziku to himself: "Thank you Omoi."
Ziku gets back on his knees and then pushes himself to his feet. He stands up as his body is just shaking wanting to collapse again. Then just before he's about fall, he hears Natsumi.
Natsumi: "Ziku?! Ziku please come back to me! I can't lose you too!"
Ziku to himself: "Mom!"
After hearing his mother's voice Ziku catches his body from falling as he stands up straight putting his arms out and releasing aura from his body.
Ziku: "I'm here!"
Everyone in shock as they all heard Ziku. Kanju creates the circle as they found him. The gate opens on both ends and they could all see Ziku standing there with his aura flowing from his body. Ziku sees them as he smiles, while he's smiling Mettanica is stealing his aura without anyone knowing. Ziku takes a step and just collapses. Omoi sees him about to fall so he jumps inside and goes after him.
Yumi: "Omoi no you can't!"
Omoi goes inside and immediately gets surrounded by Mettanica's pawns. He gets angry.
Omoi: "Out of my way!"
Pushing all of them with his wind running to Ziku. He picks him up, they both smile at each other as Ziku falls asleep smiling. Relieved that he's finally saved.
Omoi: "Damnit! I forgot how heavy Ziku was!"
He looks around to see that he's about to be surrounded again by her pawns. He looks forward to see that the circle is closing with everyone yelling his name. He closes his eyes and tries a technique he's been working on. He creates a hyper tornado around him Ziku and pushes both of them forward at a tremendous speed as they fall through the circle. Once Kanju sees them pass through, he closes the circle. Natsumi rushes over to them and just starts hugging Ziku while he's asleep.
Natsumi: "Oh Ziku, I'm sorry. It's my fault you do things like this and I'm so sorry."
Omoi stands up as Natsumi runs to him hugging him.
Natsumi: "Thank you Omoi!"
Omoi smiles, when she lets go of him his body collapses due to heavy fatigue from his technique. As his body just falls slowly to the ground and his eyes start to shut all he can hear is Natsumi calling his name. Then as some time goes by he wakes up in a hospital bed straight across from Ziku's room. He turns to the right to see his mom asleep in the chair next to him holding his hand. He clinches her hand and just lays back. Ziku wakes up shortly after slowly just opening his eyes. As soon as his eyes open Natsumi hugs him crying.
Ziku: "I'm sorry mom, I just wanted..."
Natsumi: "I know why you did it Ziku. I'm not mad at you, I'm just glad you're ok. Ziku you're all I've got."
Ziku stares into her eyes and hugs her back.
Kanju: "How you feeling Ziku?"
Ziku: "I'm doing ok. Thank you, for everything."
Kanju: "No problem."
Yumi and Aiko walk in. Ziku gets up and walks towards all of them. He makes a smile so big and bright then hugs all of them.
Ziku: "I'm truly thankful for you guys. I'm sorry I put you through this much trouble, but I can't thank you enough."
Yumi and Aiko start blushing as Kanju just pulls him away smiling.
Kanju: "Just promise you'll never do anything that stupid again, also to be there for us when we need you."
Ziku: "I'll be there!"
Aiko just stares at Ziku wanting to say something but nothing comes out. Ziku walks past them going to Omoi.
Ziku: "How ya holding up?"
Omoi: "Doing better than you."
Ziku: "Yet I'm on my feet."
Omoi: "You think I forgot? You heal slow."
Ziku: "Wow you're some best friend."
They both start laughing. Everyone just looking at them.
Ziku: "That technique you used, what was that?"
Omoi: "Well I could never keep up with your speed when we spar, so I've been working on something to at least close the distance."
Ziku: "You're amazing Omoi."
Omoi blushes, looks away and closes his eyes.
Omoi: "Why do you say things like that? But yeah next time we spar I won't lose!"
Ziku smiling: "Looking forward to it."
Few days go by; Ziku and Omoi are fully healthy and they stand a few meters from each other getting ready to spar.
Omoi: "I want you to go all out, alright Ziku?"
Ziku: "Same goes for you."
They get into their stance, but before they can start Kisaiju shows up.
Kisaiju: "Nakamura! You wanna fight someone stronger?"
Omoi: "How many times has he told you about calling him that?!"
Ziku walks over to him and stands face to face with him.
Ziku: "You really want to fight me at full strength huh?"
Kisaiju: "You bet I do!"
Ziku: "Fine, follow me. We're gonna need more open area then this if you want me to come close to using my full strength."
Omoi: "Full strength?! He can't be serious."
Ziku: "Let's go to the training battlegrounds. Perfect place for us to go all out, without hurting or destroying anything."
Kisaiju: "Whatever Nakamura, let's just hurry this up I'm itching to kick your ass!"
They start walking towards the battlegrounds, as their on the way they run into Kotai and Bokutso.
Kotai: "Oh, haven't seen any of you in awhile."
Ziku: "That's right, where have you been?"
Kotai: "It's kind of personal, I'd rather ask where you guys are going."
Ziku: "The battlegrounds."
Bokutso: "You guys plan on fighting?"
Kisaiju: "Yes, this Nakamura will lose."
Kotai: "Count us in!"
Kisaiju: "Huh?!"
Kotai: "You expect us to just watch? We've been doing some training as well."
Omoi: "So this time is different."
Kotai: "Oh this time is way different!"
Kisaiju: "Hmph, I don't care who you fight, but the Nakamura is mine!"
Kotai: "Fair enough."
They all start walking again and as they get closer they are stopped again by Kame.
Kisaiju: "You want to fight? Course you do, go to the battlegrounds."
Kame just smiles.
Then when they all get to the entrance of the battlegrounds they see Bezune, Kanju, Limbo, Senpu and Shiro waiting.
Kisaiju: "What the hell?"
Bezune: "You guys came here to fight too?"
Kisaiju: "Hmph, so this just became another tournament."
Ziku: "Guess so."
Kanju: "just gotta wait for the doors to open up. I think we got ten minutes."
Ten minutes go by as most of them were stretching. The doors are opened and they all rush in.
Sona: "Before you guys get started just know I have to monitor make sure everything stays calms and no one gets carried away."
Omoi: "I don't think anyone of us have ever met you."
Sona: "Yeah I use to be border patrol, but with Asuna becoming emperor lots of people were switched around. So now I'm in chargeof battlegrounds and guarding the Temple."
Ziku: "Guarding the temple?! You must be strong!"
Sona: "Guess you could say that."
Omoi: "You ever fought against Asuna?"
Sona: "Yeah, actually we fought three times. I won the first time, then he won the second."
Kame: "What about the third?"
Sona: "He won."
Kisaiju: "Can we just fight! None of this is relevant!"
Sona: "Learn to be patient."
Kisaiju: "What?!"
Bezune: "How many of us is it?"
Kanju: "Well there's Me, You, Ziku, Omoi, Kame, Limbo, Senpu, Kisaiju, Kotai, Bokutso and Shiro. Hmmmm so 11."
Bezune: "What happened to Hiroyuki, Shizuko and Jiro?"
Ziku: "Dont forget Isamu."
Kanju: "Well by Asuna's order they are not allowed to leave their homes. Those two can't be near each other or someone will die. It's a curse placed on them."
Kisaiju: "There we go again, getting off track. Hurry the hell up let's fight!"
Sona: "Oh, sorry last thing. This place is not completely finished. So I can only allow hand to hand combat for now."
Kame is the only with a smirk on his face.
Bezune: "So then who's fighting first?"
Kisaiju: "Me and the Nakamura!"
Kotai: "I kinda want my rematch with Ziku."
Kisaiju: "Seems like you're gonna have to wait, so go sit down and be ready to fight me cause I'm winning this."
Sona: "Well it's settled Ziku and Kisaiju go first. You may begin whenever you two are ready."
Kisaiju gets into his stance and nods. Ziku gets into his nodding back at him. No time is wasted as Kisaiju rushes towards Ziku and before he throws a punch Ziku feels a lightning spark that resembles that of a Nakamura. It causes him to get distracted and lower his guard. Kisaiju takes advantage of the opening, landing a combo of punches and kicks. Knocking Ziku down. When he gets back up he just starts looking around confused and concerned. Kisaiju gets angry and clinches his fist.
Kisaiju: "Don't ignore me like I'm weak!"
He rushes towards Ziku again, but then stops when he gets close because he can see that Ziku is really distracted. He can see the confusion in Ziku's eyes. Kisaiju just stands there not saying anything else.
Sona: "Um, Ziku? Everything alright?"
Ziku doesn't say anything. Then all of a sudden the spark of lightning chi he sensed goes away. Just like a switch, it happened as if someone flipped a light on and then back off. Ziku looks at Kisaiju then looks down.
Ziku: "I quit, I don't want to fight anymore."
Kisaiju: "What?!"
Ziku just leaves without saying anything else to anyone.
Bezune: "Are we stopping?"
Kisaiju: "I've waited awhile for this, he's not just going to back out like this!"
Kisaiju follows Ziku and when he gets outside behind him he just yells out to him.
Kisaiju: "Hey! Nakamura! What the hell is wrong with you?! I told you I wanted to fight you, you are not getting out of this!"
Ziku just stands there ignoring him because he's too distracted by what he sensed earlier.
Kisaiju: "Stop ignoring me!"
He throws a punch, but it gets caught by Omoi.
Omoi: "He's clearly too distracted to pay any attention to you. If you want to fight someone so bad, fight me."
Kisaiju: "Hmph, when I'm done kicking your ass he's next."
While Omoi and Kisaiju are fighting outside, Kame and Bezune are fighting inside.
Kame: "Are you ready?"
Bezune: "Yeah, let's go!"
Both of them run at each other about to attack, while at the same time Kisaiju and Omoi are outside fighting. Omoi and Kisaiju can't seem to land a hit, as both of them have great defense. While inside Kame has the upper hand, being the better overall fighter. Then outside while Kisaiju and Omoi are fighting there is a brief pause.
Kisaiju: "You can't expect to beat me with that lame ass Baguazhang, hmph don't tell me your dad taught that to you? If he did you're going to be just as weak as he is."
Omoi: "You.....Know nothing about my father, and you know nothing about me!"
Omoi is finally pushed to the peak of his power getting angry with Kisaiju, as he rushes to him punching him in the face. Kisaiju gets mad trying to hit Omoi back, but instead Omoi kicks him in the chest making him fall to the ground. Kisaiju gets up and goes to throw another punch, but instead his arm gets grabbed and Omoi spins around behind him. When Kisaiju turns Omoi palms his chest and forehead. Kisaiju's body being completely immobile as all he can do is watch. Then Omoi gets into his Bagua stance and starts hitting Kisaiju with nothing but his palms all over his body. Kisaiju not being able to move as all he can do is cough up blood. He starts losing his breath and when Omoi stops to deal the final blow, Ziku grabs both of of Omoi's arms.
Ziku: "Omoi stop! What is wrong with you!"
Omoi: "I... I'm sorry."
Ziku lies Kisaiju on the ground, Kisaiju coughs up more blood and then loses consciousness. Omoi can do nothing but stare, the only thing going through his mind is whether or not he's dead or alive.
Ziku: "I have to take him to the hospital!"
He picks up Kisaiju and carries him all the way to the hospital. When he leaves, Omoi drops to his knees.
Omoi: "What have I done?"
Then back to Kame versus Bezune. It gets to the point where Bezune doesn't want to quit or admit that he's lost. He keeps getting back up and taking more damage.
Kame starts to think to himself: "He is not a close combat fighter, but that is probably why he chose to fight me. He wants to get better and turn his weakness into a strength."
Bezune gets up for the last time, Kame takes a deep breath and motions for Bezune to attack. Bezune goes after him and throws combos. Kame dodges all of them and keeps pushing Bezune back. Sona watches and starts to smile.
Sona: "So he decided to train him."
Bezune starts to gain more confidence in his fighting as his attacks become sharper and it makes Kame have to try harder.
Sona: "Kame is a special talent; he could just let Bezune win, but instead he chooses to train him. He's not making it easy for him he's making Bezune work, work even harder than himself."
Bezune keeps it up, throwing more and more combos at Kame until he finally lands a punch. When the punch lands Kame's reflex makes him hit Bezune in his chest causing him to fly back.
Bezune: "Ok, I'm done. I can't go anymore."
He just lays on the floor taking heavy breaths. Kame goes over to him and helps him up.
Bezune: "Thanks for taking it easy."
Kame: "You knew?"
Bezune: "I've seen your strength, I think I know when you're pulling your punches. I'm not a fighter, but I rely to heavily on my abilities. There's gonna come a time where all I have is hand to hand combat, when that happens I want to be ready."
Kame: "Nothing will get your more prepared then pure hard work!"
They both smile at each other and then shake hands.
Sona: "Will that be all for today?"
Everyone just looks at each other.
Sona: "Hmm, ill take that as a yes."
Kanju: "Might be back tomorrow for some training."
They all get outside to find Omoi still on his knees with his head on the ground and hands on top of his head. Kanju runs to pick him up.
Kanju: "Omoi, you ok?!"
Omoi: "I lost my head and I hurt Kisaiju, Ziku took him to the hospital."
Kanju: "We have to check on him!"
Senpu: "Do we though?"
Kanju: "What?!"
Senpu: "I mean it's Kisaiju, I thought you had to like someone to visit them in the hospital."
Kotai: "He's got a point."
Kanju: "It's not about liking someone, it's about being there for them, like him or not he's apart of our village and we have to stick together and in a time of need, we may be all he's got you never know."
Senpu: "Hmm, you're sounding a lot like Ziku."
Kanju: "Well I guess that's how much of an impact Ziku has had on my life already."
Kame: "Let us go!"
They all start to head over to the hospital, but Kanju looks back to see Omoi still on his knees. He walks back over to him.
Omoi: "I can't go, I won't be able to see him in the condition he's in and not feel guilty."
Kanju: "Yeah well, I'm not taking no for an answer ."
Kanju hits Omoi In the back of his neck rendering him unconscious. He picks him up and heads to the hospital.