Act: 32
Leaping over the girl's heads Shizu pulled his arm back, punching the car with an evenly distributed amount of force sending it right back at the villain. The car flew directly hitting him in the gut, launching him and the car into a building that blew up the front end of the car. Shizu landed on the ground in front of the girls with a serious look.
"Go now! Get out! Hurry! As you see it's not safe to stand around!?"
The girls lifted their one friend up off the ground, grabbing their bags and running. The Top Ranker saw that the family and cop cars had evacuated for safety.
Letting down his electricity that covered most of the street and slowly letting the buildings fall without creating so much damage, he looked back at Shizu.
"Nice work kid! Your help was greatly appreciated, I'll take it from here ok!"
Shizu glanced at him, nodding his head, only for him to quickly look back in front of him, seeing a fist dead smack in his face. The punch sent him flying back to where he came from as his body spun in the air and then hit the ground bouncing a bit.
Shizu stood up feeling dizzy and saw that the man was having quite an intense fight with that villain while having the upper hand.
"Oh... My...… Wow... My… Head… He definitely doesn't need my help, again I will just hold him back."
Walking away he decided on going to the Dojo like he originally planned, one step at a time recovering from the unnecessary hit he took.
- - - -
Arriving at the Dojo at midday.
Shizu slid open the door, inviting himself once again to a dim room with the sun giving off most of the lighting inside.
'Always dark and empty. Every time I enter this place it's never busy anymore like it used to be? I do wonder sometimes where everyone else went?'
Shizu shouted calling for Shishou confused as to where he could be. Sometimes he's not always in the dojo from what barely he could remember.
"He probably stepped out, do I wait or head home for now? Hmm."
He turned around quickly, not much time had even passed and the door to the dojo slid open again. The old man with a long white beard, and gray hair, was shocked to see Shizu standing there.
Shishou stepped inside, setting down his bags on his right, shocked. He cleared his throat and shifted his facial expression to a much more appreciated look.
"You're alive...? And your clothes are filthy. Just how much did you learn!?"
You could hear the raspy tone in his voice. Shishou kept on talking and questioning Shizu about his absences and how he survived.
"Hehe. Clam down Shishou, I'm doing alright? It was pretty hard and somewhat life struggling."
Shizu placed his hand on his chin, as he thought.
"Sadly, enough I don't have Gyakuten style mastered, and my martial arts hasn't developed that well I would say. Although oddly I have been having these thoughts and feelings, such as I have or am capable of all these other ways of attacking, fighting patterns, and styles!"
Moving his hand from his chin he clenched his fist.
"I am stronger than before! I can feel it in my soul that's for sure!"
Unconsciously he sensed and noticed that his Shishou's heart rate began to elevate.
"Shizu... I'm at a loss for words. Impressive I'll say but how well did you-?"
"…"
"Come on Shishou. I'm not a kid anymore, that trick is so old. Plus, I've seen that tactic in plenty of the anime I've watched?"
He leaned his head backward slightly tilting his body as he looked at his Shishou directly in the eyes as he was standing behind him. His Shishou moved back as fast as he could with a nervous look on his face.
'Hm? That look in his eyes… If he wasn't my student... He made it seem like he could easily kill me. Maybe I shouldn't hold back after all?'
"Shizu. Nice job but for an old guy like me, why don't I show you what I'm capable of! Star."
"Star Stance 1: Opening Stance!"
He lowered his legs, spacing them apart, moving his right hand out to face Shizu and his left hand close to his chest. A small dark blue Star appeared on his forehead, then quickly disappeared.
"Shizu. Keep your eyes open and prepare yourself for every and anything. This is now your real test. Show me everything that forest would have taught you!"
He stepped forward slamming his foot down and swiftly dashed at Shizu, his feet remained planted on the floor as he struck with his right hand and then with his left hand to follow up, but for each strike, his right hand remained out and his left hand came back to his chest closing in any kind of attacks that could be up close when he's vulnerable. With every hit, Shizu was forced to step back bit by bit, but he managed to keep up, blocking Shishou's attacks with the backside of his palm and inside. This new way he fought was drastically faster than before and the output was stronger too.
"Hey, Shishou-"
*Pow, Pow*
"So, what does your Star do?"
*Block, Pow*
"It's interesting to say-"
Slamming his foot down hander on the floor, using the strength from his whole body instead of only his arm strength, he struck making Shizu block his attack, and with his left hand removing away from his chest he grabbed Shizu's right hand bending it down and locking it from moving. And with his right hand, making a fist he punched him directly in the chest.
*Heh*
Shizu swung his left-hand clashing with Shishou's right hand which created a gust of wind from the sheer impact. Shishou was surprised that he was even capable of matching the pattern of his punch. He began to worry again, breaking the grip of his hand and leaping back, the sound of his feet screeched as it contacted the floor.
Blood lightly started to drip from his knuckles. Smearing the blood on his uniform and loosening up while staring at Shizu.
'That's odd? Shishou's pressure around him disappeared. Could it be that his Star has a limit for how long he can use it? This could be my chance to catch him off guard.'
"That's enough."
*Hehe*
"I will end this, for now, picking on an old man now isn't so nice, now, is it? You are strong and do not need me anymore. I don't know what else I can teach you- you're so much stronger, agile, and brighter than before..."
"Seriously!? What about our fight? No one won yet, let's settle it now! I wanna see more of your Star!"
"Come on kid. My Star is a secret. Though I will say it contains a power that unlocks functions of the body that are not normally accessible, unlocking hidden skills. Haha- If I were to get more serious, I would badly hurt you. I can't do that now, Ha."
"Aw really, so I'm the loser! And you won't go all out. Hey, I was in that forest and fought monstrous things. I think I'll be able to handle myself- if it gets bad, I will say so!"
"Another time Shizu. Why not head home, it's getting late out, and you must get back to school and prepare for the upcoming tournament. I can't wait to see how that'll play out."
"Really? Going to kick me out so soon. Fineee- I guess I'll go. Just you wait for that tournament. I will show you how strong I really am and then I want a rematch and for you to really go all out!"
Shizu walked towards the door.
"Don't you worry, I will win and make you proud!"
"We will see."
He opened the door and stepped out of the dojo but turned around before he left.
"Before I forget to mention, while in the forest I came across a photo in an abandoned cabin with three people in it. I think I saw someone who looked like you, maybe when you were younger? It's kind of hard to remember their faces…?"
*!?*
"I never have been in that forest before; the map was the only thing that was passed down to me and I wasn't ever able to enter...? Nor did I seek out interest."
"Huh... Oh ok! I guess that would make sense, I barely can remember it anyways. But bye I'll see you when the tournament takes place."
Shizu waved his hands goodbye and left the dojo heading back to his house. When he returned home, he paused at the rusted, bent, and torn stairs leading up to the door.
"I almost want to cry. I miss home so much, although I bet all the food is bad- "sigh" at least I'm home that's all I care about right now."
"Just look at this beauty!"
The house he stayed in, was run down to the core, and rusted; the color was a dim white with a tan roof that too had a good amount of rust on it. Shizu skipped his way up the stairs as they made a creaking sound from each step sounding like it would break anytime soon. He unlocked the door after grabbing the key from under a dusty welcome mat. The inside was just as pretty as it was on the outside. A clean but holed sofa and perfect windows with an oddly clean kitchen.
"Oh, how happy am I to see home again. Must keep it clean to the best of my abilities, who knows Mom and Dad may come back anytime soon. I can't wait for their missions to end."
He grinned to himself while cleaning any messes that formed while he was away. When time passed and he finished cleaning, eating, along getting a real solid bath he jumped into bed going straight to sleep.
'School… Tomorrow… Am I nervous…? I'll be able to see everyone... Again…'
Shizu then fell asleep after thinking more about school and everyone he'll see again.