"One doughnut with a hot chocolate latte."
"Dine in or take away sir ?"
"Take away."
I ordered one of my favorite menus from the paparazia and they assumed I was a boy with my appearance. I was wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt. Every day I wore a jacket over the t-shirt and today I wore the black leather- my favorite jacket and a black cap. From the bottom to the head, I know I looked like a boy but I'm a girl, duh!
One of my reasons to like paparazia foods was their instant service. I got my order and exited the paparazia. It was noon and the sky had begun to paint different but beautiful shades along with the clouds. This street was a magnet, it mesmerized me. Everything was colored with black and dark shades of every color. Black was the theme color here.
The black street had every kind of shop and It started with the food corner. The paparazia was the snack shop. Across the street, in front of the paparazia, there was a restaurant with meals. Then home supplies, food cities, spare items, stationery shops, fashion shops, electronic items shops, decoration items shops, Everything.
This street gave a kind of witchy vibe and I love that so much. especially the Fashion shop. All of their fashions were different than any other cloth style.
I finished my doughnut and hot chocolate latte, enjoying the vibes of the black street while walking towards AR Avenue.
I threw leftovers on my hands into a dustbin as soon I turned to AR Avenue. This alley got gloomy surrounding since it was past the sunset.
I placed my hands in the jacket pockets as I walk because I prefer it that way if I didn't have something on my hands.
That narrow gloomy alley had yellow light bulbs from place to place and even if they gave some light, lightning the alley even they did not enough to chase the gloomy vibe away.
As this alley was placed at the end of Black street, it got some vibes from Black street. But as we went more into the alley, it was the kingdom of thugs, murderers, and all kinds of 'bad people' as others said.
Apart from that point, the main and special point about AR alley was, at the end of the alley there was the Gampers Arena, the largest combat field in our country.
I took some turns and I saw a man standing in the far, as I took the last turn toward that Arena. It was a common sight to see some extortionist or a thug waiting for someone to threaten them.
That man was standing under a flickering yellow bulb, leaning his one leg on the wall and there were trash bags near him. I walked passing him. SuddenlyI felt the pressure of that thug's hand on my shoulder. He dragged me back and put a dagger to my neck.
That was an unexpected move but it did not scare me. I had seen and faced enough incidents to keep myself safe.
"Who are you ?"
Usually, I did not interrogative a person who was a threat to me, until I down him. I changed my habit for now because if that man knew me, he never had dared to come to me like this. I wanted to see the plan, before acting.
"Keep yourself down, baby. We are going to win the trophy today.
"Got you, AK".
I murmured and smirked. He know I was a girl.
'AK', was the master and the owner of the 'FTs' - the Flying Tigers. They were the second most powerful martial arts training center in our country. The first one was the Knights" - the training center of the Highness Royal college. They didn't participate in the games of Arena as they are 'Royals'. So the FTs won every battle against others.
The man who dared to place a dagger in my neck was his new student. Ak was trying very hard to see whether he can train one against me or if I had lost my all energy to face the combats. Poor man!
His cologne smelled nice. It smelled of cedarwood, tonka bean, cocoa, and pepper. He had used bad boy. I had been close to many men since I studied martial arts but I felt a nervousness, that I never got and strong emotions from him.
My outer self woke me up. I got angry with myself for being down on my guard. Inhaling a long deep breath, I held his hand, which his dagger had, and twisted it. That gave me a slight scratch on my neck. First, he was surprised but within a second he tried to attack.
Giving a chance to an enemy to think they had won, was the best move to plan the next attack. So he got tricked by me thinking he won. It gave me many opportunities to attack him when he unexpected them. Don't underestimate your enemy.
Holding his hand with the dagger, I backed my right foot and gave him a mawashi kick in Karate, on his chest. He threw backward and hit the wall, placing his hand on the chest.
I grabbed the dagger when he was throwing at the wall. He looked at me with painful eyes but he stood up instantly. I pointed his dagger at him. He smirked.
Even though I could not see his face with the mask he had put on, I understood every single expression in his eyes. I was surprised and could not understand why. I shook my head and graved my thoughts in me.
I had a good ability to control my expression besides what was the situation and It gave me an advantage in hiding my feelings.
"Impressive! Mmm…"
The masked boy whispered but I heard it. I frowned my face and he winked. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. My eyes had widen.
I placed my left hand automatically on his chest when he pulled me. The tip of the dagger, I had in my right hand was so close to his chin. He was like 6.2' and I was 5.4' I felt little for the first time compared to him. I looked upon him. He looked into my eyes as soon as I looked at him.
I felt like he was looking through my eyes but I did not feel nervous or uneasy when he did that his eyeballs moved with mine. I pushed him and we fought. I gave him a few punches and kicks. I did not get a hit.
He was laying on the ground when our fighting session was over. And the garbage boxes were all over the ground. I half sit on my feet and bent towards him.
"Don't dare to cross my path again! "
I told him while he pressed his right shoulder with his left hand, grinding his teeth in pain he looked at me.
My cap had fallen little steps away and I picked it up. I gathered my shoulder-length hair and put on the cap.
I gave him a stare again but I get nervous when I saw he was looking at me all the time. I look away instantly and walked away passing the boy who was looking at us all time.
"What happened soul? why did you late?"
When as soon as I entered the Arena Mura came to me.
"some bustard crossed my path''
I told her looking at AK, when Mura gave me, my sword. AK was looking at me the whole time, since I entered the arena.
I grabbed my sword as treasure- it really was every time and I unsheathed it. I checked through it because I did not use it for a while.
"I thought you had gotten into trouble again."
My master, Mr. Amas, came near us. He was an old man with a half-bald head. His hair had turned into more grey hairs since I joined him. I was the one and only troublemaker he had ever. and the one and only girl.
First, I went to a training center where Mura was training but I did not match their training but I had build a friendship with Mura. She was a nice girl and one and only friend I had as a girl. Then I went to the AK's Flying Tiger academy. Since I am a girl, he rejected me, making fun of me with his students.
Flying Tigers Martial Arts training academy was in the first place at the Gampers Arena since The knights did not participate in the Battlefields.
I did not want to try asking from other academies. I felt they are not for me. One day when I watched the mega battle, there was an academy that presented a different kind of style. And the master was also different. he was wearing simple clothes. Others were wearing stylishly and they seemed like mocking their academy. But their different style got me.
After the battle ended, I followed their master to the exit and asked if I can join with them. But he rejected me. I chased him until he think twice to recruit me.
He chose one of the bokkens there was and passed it to me. He grabbed another one and pointed it at me. We fought. I escaped and managed not to get hit even though I was unable to attack him.
As a result of this, the master recruited me as his student.
"I got into one master. "
I replied after greeting him.
"I am not surprised by that. Prove you are not a troublemaker, staying away from trouble for a day."
Qwan, the assistant of the master, and Mura pursed their lips trying hard not to laugh.
"Soul? not getting into trouble? It's impossible master."
Sayan, who had combat, told the master laughing and mocking me. I gave him an icy stare.
"I am not making trouble master. Troubles find me. It was AK. who had to send his fellow to stop me. Look it was him."
I pointed my finger at the masked boy when I saw him enter the Arena. He was still pressing his shoulder and had a few little wounds. Master had frowned expression on his face and he was glancing at AK. AK saw that and looked away.
The masked boy looked at me when he passed me and I did not give him a single glance.
" The... next... fighters are the last year's winner..., So...ul and... the last year second place... Ama...r "
When the announcer called our names we went near the fighting ring along with the cheering sounds of the audience.
Amar was the best fighter, AK had. They won battles over battles not giving a chance to other teams until I entered the fighting ring.
The very first day, I entered the fighting ring, they all, even the audience laughed. But it all was for a few seconds. I downed my first opponent and also the other two. Since then I had to face many obstacles to gain what I have now.
"Good luck soul"
My friend Mura wished me with her hand gesture as always she did.
"You can do anything, my little troublemaker."
My master who always in my back wished me. His other students always said that they did not do a favor until I joined them. But they that also. They all loved me as their younger sister and in my back along with the Master.
I greeted the master and entered the fighting ring.
"Today is the final round and we all have waited for one year to see that moment."
The announcer started to give details after we entered.
"On my right hand, we have our second place of the last year; Amar. And on my left hand, we have our winner of the last year, soul."
The audience started to cheer again, shouting our names. It was like "Amar, Soul, Amar, Soul..."
"Combat... starts... on... count... one. Three... two... one... Ready... "
After the announcer said 'Ready' Amar and I greeted each other and took our positions. Mega Battle was a mix of martial arts and we can choose any style to down our opponents. And we had to point our sword at the neck to win.
"Start!"
When the Referee shouted we began to fight. First, I gave Amar the chance to attack first. Since he knew I was not going to attack as he knew my style, he did not attack. So I attacked. He did not expect it. The combat started.
I gave him a few chances to attack me to know if he had changed his style And then I attacked him with all my knowledge.
Martial arts were not only depending in our strength and skills but also on our smartness. We had to attack the opponents when they least expect it.
"The winner of today.... is.... our..... Soul...."
After the announcer announced the winner and referee raised my hand. I greeted him and Amar and the audience.
I got off the fighting ring and my mates surrounded me cheering my name. I had a little smile on my face and so had the master. I also greeted him, thanking him.
"You did a better job, my son."
He always called me son and others. his praise was one of my favorite thing to hear.