Seth ducked a horizontal kick that swooshed by him barely dodging it he countered with a front kick to Miko's stomach which she deftly parried by swinging her left arm downward in a arching motion. A snapping sound reverberated where flesh met flesh, Seth grimaced as numbing pain ran through his leg yet Miko did not even shudder seeing an opening she took it hooking his leg with her blocking arm she locked it under her arm another shot of pain went through his leg as Miko's vice like grip clamped around his still sensitive skin he instinctively tried to pull his leg away emphasis on the try part as Miko stood steadfast like a immovable mountain she smirked at him " Is she laughing-" he tried to finish but he was lifted off his feet as Miko twisted her torso releasing her grip on his leg just enough so that she could move it from her under arm to over her shoulder grabbing his Dogi pants while simultaneously dropping her hips in which could only be a pseudo Judo shoulder throw only difference was well his shoulder was no where near Seth seeing that he was going to be thrown around tried to get loose but he already lost his balance and he knew he wouldn't be able to loosen her vice like grip. Summarily he was sent flying over her, body and face forward he clashed with the tatami mats with a loud thud and a smack luckily trained muscle memory that has been drilled into him from a tiny she devil sensei took over as he did a half forward breakfall protecting his face from the worst of the throw a burning stinging sensation met him as he pushed himself onto his back he groaned loudly very loudly as he starred at the spinning roof he muttered to himself "This makes defeat number one hundred sixty nine nothing has changed since the first time I fought her" while still sprawled on the ground Seth recalled his first match with Miko.
It was 4 years ago, he was sent to train with his dojo mates for a joint training session at one of the sister dojo's he remembered how annoyed he felt at being forced to ride a bus for 4 hours as it would've cut in with his studies for the final exams that started the following week yet he went as he always had a love for Martial arts which Jason would say he got from watching to much Anime and old kung fu movies which Seth thought was a whole lot of hogwash he was sure it had nothing to do with him being a martial arts geek or anything no definitely not, that he was sure of.
The day wasn't particularly any different to a normal training session with the usual physical training that usually takes place but what made the day unusual was that there was going to be a exhibition match at the end of the joint training session what made it absurd was that it was announced that anyone who could beat the so called fighter would be automatically be given their next belt rank which made everyone go crazy it put everyone on edge who was this fighter that if you beat could guarantee the next rank or belt color for some it was the perfect ticket to get the fabled black belt which Seth always thought to be funny he knew that even someone with no martial experience could knock you out if you were caught unaware with a black belt or no black belt he at the time was a Shodan black belt himself the first step as his first sensei used to say which Seth took to heart as he would soon learn how high the mountain was to climb.
With him being one of the fifty five black belts attending the training session that day he was forced to participate in the foolish exhibition matches why foolish because what fighter no person would be able to fight off fifty five opponents back to back and win which meant if you wanted an easy fight you just needed to be at the back of the row and your match would be in the bag which obviously led to some conflict between the junior and seniors that sorted itself out quick enough which saw the newest black belts right in front and the older more experienced right at the back of the row. Luckily for Seth he didn't really care for the matches themselves and was put somewhere in the middle which suited him as he wasn't going to be first and make a fool out of himself nor did he have to wait right to the end but something caught Seth's eye the biggest human being he has ever seen in his life was standing in front of the now straight bundle the guy had to be at least six foot five or more and weigh over hundred kilograms Seth tugged at his dojo mate that was standing in front of him "yea what's up?" he said "who is that?" as Seth pointed to the humongous human right in front "Oh him his big right yea he is a transfer student for one of the universities around here I hear he comes from Netherlands and has been training at this dojo for a couple of months " Seth's eyes widened " From the Netherlands that's pretty far away" Seth said "Yea and rumor has it that he is the reason we are having the exhibition matches apparently whoever we are sparring against is mainly coming for the big guy" Seth nodded at his dojo mate thanking him for the information turning to the ring the sensei's were laying out as Sensei Murata stepped in turning to the group "Thank you all for attending this splendid training session between sister dojo's it has been a wonderful day of hard training" Seth at this point tuned his Sensei out as he noticed a small girl wearing a Dogi at the others side of the ring getting ready at first he thought that she might just be getting ready before running over to this side but that was dashed as she stepped into the ring "wait what!" Seth exclaimed noticing that he wasn't the only one as he heard loud murmurings and some protests from behind him he shot a glance to the big dutchman who looked like someone spit on his mothers grave just before it looked like he was going to erupt like a volcano another guy much smaller then the dutchman protested "what is this are we to beat on a little girl come on sensei this is a joke right bring out the real opponent" everyone around Seth seemed to agree with the short man but Sensei Murata did not seem enthused " I can ensure you that she is more then qualified Mr" Sensei Murata peered at the short guys dogi lapel "Eric san and I know what you all are thinking we will not be going back on our word anyone who defeats Miss Miko here will be getting their next rank automatically" "She is just a young girl how is she supposed to put up a fight" he was cut off by a older sounding guy at the back of row somewhere he craned his neck backwards trying to see who had the cojones to interrupt sensei Murata while he was still speaking just as he swung his head back to his sensei he started to speak " Well if you guys are not satisfied I am more then willing to step up" everyone flinched at that remark Seth even saw the giant Dutch man go a bit pale and for god reason Sensei Murata wasn't called the animal for nothing seeing as no one said anything else he sighed and kept speaking "Now then I will let Miss Miko show you herself why she is your opponent today" he gestured to her as she took her spot on one side of the tatami ring he the pointed to the opposite side of her and asked "So who is first" brimming with eagerness the big dutchman walked onto the matts did a short bow to sensei Murata and then starred at his opponent no it looked more like a dog starring at a bone that was just out of reach which was pretty weird Seth thought as Sensei Murata acknowledged his bow and stepped in between them as he shouted "Hajime!!" and he pulled away as both took their fighting positions the dutchman was quicker as he lunged forward with his right fist aiming at her face he swung which Seth realized was much faster then what he expected the big man to be able to show with his humongous body but his opponent didn't seem nervous at all as she parried with a simple left open hand block across her face while simultaneously moving to her right and giving a light kick to his leading leg which immediately put him off balance as he stumbled backwards trying to get his footing back she moved bringing leg up in a crescent kick aiming for his jaw before he could react she clipped him perfectly on the chin as he's whole body went limp as his body fell she returned to her starting position.
Silence reigned over the dojo as everyone stood in awe of what they just saw she beat that humongous gorilla of a human within seconds of them starting after that there were no more protests only worried shuffles from some and others thought it prudent to see if they are warmed up properly Seth doesn't recall his fight to well other then this burning pain that is wrecking is body seems very familiar he chuckled "what you laughing at" he heard above him he opened up one eye to see Miko standing over him with sweaty jet black her sticking to her cheeks and he out stretched hand "Ah nothing just remembering the first time I saw you fight" he said as he clasped her hand as she pulled him upright to quick for his liking as his body protested, loudly "I don't remember it to well but I think I remember a big fella which I thought would give me a run for my money but didn't" Seth rolled his eyes at her statement she looked at him quizzically "What?"
"You're telling me that you don't remember putting the hurt on fifty five fighters wait let me rephrase that fifty five black belt fighters" she shrugged and turned around walking to her duffle bag in the corner of the empty dojo and said "Enough about that how many times have I beaten you now?" Seth sighed " this will be the hundred sixty ninth" she gave a low whistle "That many huh are you sure you training what I showed you?" Seth snapped back "I don't see how training your families Kata is going to get me to be able to do what you did" not noticing the heat in his voice she froze as she turned and lifter her eye brows at Seth realizing what he did "I am sorry I had this crazy dream think I drank to much coffee for that damn test" he said while scratching the back of his head sighing as she scratched in her bag "Its okay don't worry" she threw him a water bottle "But those Kata is what got me to where I am today so you got to practice them a lot like really a lot" she said walking towards him after dropping her bag a water bottle in hand as well Seth knew what she was saying was the truth her families style the Raiju Ryu Karate style or lightning beast karate only had 5 forms or Kata's but they were esoteric in nature which meant the style was open to a persons own understanding and adaptability which is what made Miko so terrifying to spar or if you were unlucky to fight against he sighed and nodded at what she said "So what is this about a messed up dream" she asked chugging some water "ah don't worry about it nothing serious just I think I overdosed on caffeine" he said with light chuckle but to be honest he couldn't or maybe wouldn't remember it has become all but a haze every time he thought about the dream he gets bits and pieces as if something was putting up a smoke screen well whatever it is he was grateful as he still had the awful apple coffee taste in his mouth from throwing up after waking he shrugged mentally "Anyway didn't you go a bit hard with that last throw if I didn't do that half-assed breakfall I am pretty sure I would have lost a couple of teeth" he said as he rubbed his aching shoulders "Yeaaaaa I am sorry about that I just needed to let off a bit of steam that Head mistress brought up my father which made some memories boil up" Seth perked up in all of the time he has known her she has never not once mentioned her parents or family he wasn't even sure what they did other then the kata forms she has been teaching him from their family style he knew next to nothing "Again I am sorry didn't mean to take it out on you" she said shaking him out of his musings "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked as gently as he could "No-" she started but stopped as a look crossed her face that Seth could only categorize as being contemplative a long few seconds of silence stretched between the two when she finally started "You know what I think yea maybe it will help you see my father is-" she was cut off
"Yo guys are you done with practice yet" as both of them turned towards the entrance of the dojo where Jason stood with the goofiest grin plastered all over his face Seth sighed a deep sigh, a very very deep sigh first because Jason interrupted Miko which obviously took a lot of courage for her to to decide to tell him whatever she was about to, and secondly he knew all to well what that goofy smile was it meant trouble lots of trouble and whatever Jason had planned for tonight for them Seth knew it was going to be a bad idea.