We were at the cafeteria eating. I felt like a celebrity with all the attention I was getting from my first win in level three.
"you took out one of the best spooky. Dragon fist have never loss any of his fights," sky said.
"yeah, the man is a black belt, trained me a couple of times in level two…" Mika added,
"learnt he once took two veterans out in a row," momma interjected.
"I think I got lucky. Is he going to be alright? I want to go and check him out at the dispensary, if you guys will excused me."
"we are coming with you spooky."
For some reason I like dragon-fist, I might learn a thing or two from the man. The fact that I won this fight didn't mean I can win against him any other day.
He is an experienced fighter, and he really gave me a hard time in that arena.
Drigon fist lay proped on pillows when we entered the clean airy space, all white with comfortable beds and sofas, even a computer gaming center at one corner.
The place was more than a dispensary.
Dragon-fist smiled infectiously when we got closer to his bed side.
He sat up on bed and shake hands with me. "congratulations kuga, you've just won yourself a ticket to level four, I believe Mika is your coach?".
"yeah" I answered, very surprise at the immediate turn of events.
"say good bye to your friends, you have five minutes to pick anything you may need from your cell.
The same apply to you Mika." dragon fist instructed levelly.
"momma, sky, we are not parting ways, we are still in the same ship, I believe we will be meeting soon."
"we are happy for you spooky, till we meet again, keep winning… and just so you know, we are having a great time here," momma said exchanging a pleasant look with sky.
"I wouldn't doubt that; I like the fact that you two found each other company worthwhile."
We hugged and said our good byes. Clearly dragon-fist is some kind of prodigy in the organization.
Outside the arena, the man emanates even more power in his lanky figure.
He was saying "once a while black belts come down to give a winning chance to novices. It is rare to have a novice win a veteran.
Notwithstanding the style of your knock out. You were completely locked in the zone, and this is something we treasured most at the top."
this must be one of the star fights, Roy mentioned at level one.
We were climbing stairs to the fourth level, Mika was right behind me. she did follow me to my cell and cling to me over joyed, showering kissing on me.
We reached a door and he unhooked a bunch of keys from his belt and unlocked the door.
A pleasant welcoming scene beckons my eyes. Unbelievable," I breathed almost subconsciously, sucking more air into my belly than necessary required.
However, I recovered immediately and composed myself and act remote.
"to what do I owe this honor?". The woman didn't budge, the man however exchange nods with dragon fist as he made his way through another door at the far end of the expansive hall.
The interior was a little dim, giving the place a club vibe.
"great to see you kuga, please have a seat."
She looked as daintily and young as ever, her pink lips even more fuller and richer.
Despite her aloofness, I knew she is aching to run into my arms. I know, because I was feeling the same, and I wouldn't catch that kind of vibe from her if she didn't throw it off into the ether.
And she did cast it in my way and I let it permeate into my being.
"you live well I believe, kuga. Your face looked serene than I last saw it, all the stressful lines of hard thinking, barely evident now. aye, I bet you live well," Nka said amiably as though we were old pals.
"I have never enjoyed my solitude any better, thanks for your hospitality."
"I like the sound of that kuga. You knocked out a black belt, quite impressive, it's been a very longtime since I have to fly all the way here to meet, a random champion."
"oh, I didn't know that's what this was all about".
"you rather wished it did be something? Hmm, it's all business kuga."
"how have you been Diana," I final managed to break the ice that was freezing the ladies heart.
she sighed; "life has been good, hoping to have you back on the other side soon. We are glad you have a great trainer. Its an honor to meet with you Mika."
Diana extended her hand to shake hands with Mika, knocking the smitten woman out of her reverie.
All this while Mika had her eye locked on Nka in pure fascination. She idolizes him.
The man is like a mitochondria inflated with bliss, dripping and spilling with energy. what is his secret? I ponder in a between heart beats.
"my pleasure ma'am," Mika replied.
"it's such an honor to finally meet you in person to say thank you Sir. Been meaning to do that since we last met," Mika said, this time fixating her eyes on Nka.
"great to meet you Mika, you've been well, I could tell from your physique," Mika stifled a blush effortlessly, sooner than it emerge, and faked a little cough.
Nka poured her a glass of wine, and she took it judiciously.
I have so many questions, lots of them, troubling questions, brooding over them however, didn't give me the edge to asked any.
I would keep to myself. I will not give them the satisfaction of the expected.
"you have questions kuga, shoot," Nka observed nonchalantly.
"you rather expects I have none?" I replied coolly, I could sense Mika and Diana nearly choking on their drinks.
If Nka is affect by this, he shows no signs.
"care for some wine?" he asked instead, gesturing to the drink.
"water is okay".
I sipped from the bottle of water on the table before me, warming up to this one question I wanted to ask so bad.
"how is she?", I heard my voice stagger. Nka didn't pretend not know who I was referring to.
Nka chewed at his jaws reflectively.
"any question but that," Nka replied, and I saw the corner of his eyes tweak behind the dark glass he constantly wore, and I suddenly wished I could see the man eye to eye.
"that is the only question I have, Nka". "you don't want to talk business? last time I check you were number one on our list, but Diana will find time to come and arrange all that with you."
"okay then, I think we are done her".
"are you always like this?" Nka asked mockingly, while Diana and Mika try hard not to laugh at the question, they did both asked me the same question a countless times in the course of our friendship.
He laughed for both women, removed two regalia from his suit pocket and handed me one.
Diana quickly lighted it for him and moved the flame to mine.
I let the rich smoke linger and caress my senses before I drew it into my starving lungs.
In the presence of Nka, Diana is a totally different woman, all polite, puffy with diplomacy.
She looked at me and said, "this level is not going to be any easy, Mika is going to dedicate her time to helping you win your fights along with a professional coach you will be at liberty to choose,".
"Dragon-fist".
"okay, I will see what I can do about that. and congratulations once again Mika, for making it as a coach in level four," Diana glance at the stupefied lady and added, "you've earned it, we did been watching your training regimen and fights, you are a better trainer, than you are a fighter, sorry to say."
"I am deeply honored ma'am," Mika replied almost emotionally as Diana and Nka both stood up as though controlled by a remote.
The two seem to have their neurons wired together.
"till we meet again, stay out of trouble you two." Diana said, straightening her suit, before following her boss out.
Before they reached the door, an itching question I couldn't hold anymore slipped through my lips, "did you staged it, to make me triumph over a black belt?".
My question caused all the three people to tensed, unexpected reaction I did want to see.
Nka turned around with a humble generous smile, "isn't that a query worth exploring kuga? why not spend your time here pondering over that one," he said, laugh, and ended, "kuga the maverick".
Damn the man a thousand times, I thought long after they left the vessel, leaving me alone with more gnawing puzzles.
'damn him a thousand times?'
"You mean, he has a way of slapping you in the face without ever lifting up a hand?"
'And do you have to be nutty about that spooky?'. "hold your trouble kuga."
"follow me you two," dragon fist reappeared from the same door he did went into. Level four feel like home already, home, I must be losing my mind, hopeless even, to referred to the place as home.
I can't wait to meet with Diana again, maybe she will be very cooperative without her boss around.
For a whole week Mika avoided me. her displeasure with me after my last question to Nka, had left her sulking in fury.
If the fight was staged it means I didn't think she help me got here. I didn't know how to convince here otherwise.