1 Chapter 1

Rained poured down heavily as the sounds of loud grunts and war cries could be heard; the streets lights that were set up to light up the small alleyway were barely lit. A small thud could be heard along with loud grunt that followed it. Deep in the narrow path, breathing heavily as the rain continued to assault the area was a teenage girl that looked no older than 18. Her white shoes were flat on the pavement as she spread her legs to get into a fighting stance. Her brown eyes displayed defiance, but her body appeared a little worse for wear as she carried a couple of bruises along her body and a few cuts on her cheek. She wore a pair of blue shorts with a black tank top that both appeared to be dirtied up from the scuffle that she was currently in. "Come on…Is that…All you got?" She breathed as she readied herself once again as her eyes landed on a group of guards that stood in front of her. The guards didn't respond. They gritted their teeth as the first two took the girl's bait and charged towards her. The guard on the right took a wide swing, aiming at the Brown-haired head, but she quickly charged forward, ducking the incoming assault. She got within range of her first victim and quickly came up with a hard knee to the stomach, but couldn't finish her attack as the second guard quickly charged her and rammed her into the alley wall, but she quickly kneed him as well and brought her both of her hands together and bashed him in the back of the head and back as hard as she could, before he was forced to let go and drop to the ground. The first guard charged forward once again, but she was ready and stepped up on the second guard she just dispersed of and leaped into the air, performing an aerial spinning heel kick to the face of the first guard, forcing him into the wall as well, knocking him unconscious. She landed gracefully on her feet but stumbled a bit as fatigue was getting to her, but she brought her fist back up. "Come…On…" She breathed once again, trying to catch her breath; but ready to keep the fight going. The last two guards didn't have to be told twice as they charged forward trying to outnumber the teenage girl. While she was fighting off the guards a male like figure stepped forward and watched the scene unfold before his eyes. A wide smirk spreading across his face, that was hidden by the shadows that he stood in. He watched as the third guard was sent flying back towards him, crashing into a nearby crate beside him as the fourth guard followed, crashing into a pile of trash that was sitting against the wall. A slight snicker could be heard from the tall figure as the girl continued to glare at him. "It's over….Luna." He spoke as he raised his right hand up and without hesitation, snapped his fingers. "You won't get away this…" Luna growled as she held her stance. "People will find out if something happens to me!" She shouted. "You won't be able to get away with this forever!" She added as a large group of guards started to appear from behind the male silhouette that stood in front of her. Luna's eyes could only shoot up as she quickly analyzed the sheer number of people that started to form behind the man. She knew she couldn't take them all on; in fact, her chance of survival was little to none as she continued to stand there and gawk at what was going on. The man that stood in front of her turned his back towards her and began to walk off. Nobody moved, but Luna as she took a step back before turning around and began running with everything that she had. "Kill her…" Were the only two words that came out of the mouth of the figure before his remaining guards charged after the girl, chasing her out of the alleyway and into the slums. A wide grin crossed the figures face as he walked off laughing at the possible future that was about to occur. Luna ran for all that she was worth as she leaped over fences and hopped over cars and anything that got in her way. She could hear the shouts and banter from the grunts following her. "They just won't stop." She mentally told herself as she quickly ran behind a wall and quickly hid behind it. She slowly peeks her head around the corner as her eyes carefully watched as the guards ran passed her hiding spot. She sighed as she slowly stepped out into the streets again. "Well, I guess I got away from…" Luna choked on her words as she felt someone's knee press against her stomach. She quickly doubled over, turning her head to the right just in time to see a foot coming down towards her face. With urgency, she quickly pushed herself off the ground and out of the way but failed to counter as she was met with a hard punch to the face and a foot pressing against her chest knocking her into the ground hard. Luna could barely move as she looked up to see an all too familiar face. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked her as Luna looked up at her. Luna looked up at her and gritted her teeth at the sight of the person he saw. "Y…You" She managed to get out as the girl that stood above her smirked down at her. "And to think…I actually wanted to fight you…Oh well, you know what they say….You win some, you lose some right?' The female told her. "Too bad for you, this is your last loss," She stated and ended as her foot came down on top of her face, causing her to black out instantly. -A week Later- South High Academy- His Brown eyes narrowed as his face reeled back from taking a solid punch to the jaw. He gritted his teeth as he quickly dodged another blow, striking back with a punch combo of his own, his Black, White and Red gloves colliding with a pair of fists that was covered in Blue, White and Black gloves. Sweat glistened from his forehead as it dripped from his face. His short but wild Black hair with red highlights could be seen swaying in different directions as he dodged a few more blows to the face. The crowd cheered as the two combatants fought in a school authorize arena. The seats were completely filled with students and facility as they watched the exhibition match take place in front of them. The lights beamed down from the ceiling and cameras were placed all around the ring and focused on the two competitors. The fighter sporting the Black, White and Red gloves also wore a Black Top with Red lines connecting in various directions. His lower half consisted of a pair of White shorts, styled with a Red and Black design. Matching his pair of shorts was a pair of White, Red, and Black shoes. His tanned skinned appeared healthy as it lightly shined, due to the lamps from the ceiling shining down upon him. "Come on Rakaia! I know you can do better that! Don't let that sorry loser get the best of you!" A female voice screamed from ringside causing Rakaia to slightly glance over towards her direction, careful not to completely take his attention off of his opponent. "Cana shut up!" Rakaia mouthed. "I'm trying to win a fight over here!" Rakaia shouted back at her as he dodged another punch from his opponent. "Well, you're not doing a very good job at it!" Cana screamed back at him from ringside. "Keep your guard up! Stop letting him punch you in the face!" She bellowed. Cana was a short girl in comparison to Rakaia. Her strawberry short hair was neatly done with a few bangs hanging on both sides of her face and one between her Emerald Green eyes. She was dressed in a typical short-sleeved White and Red sailor suit with two pockets on the front of the end and a Black skirt with a white line designed horizontally across the bottom of it. Her legs were covered up to her thighs in black stockings and a pair of Red and White low cut Converses on her feet. "Kaia, you're letting him get too many punches in!" She shouted once again. "Cana I got it!" Rakaia yelled back at her as he dodged another punch from his opponent and caught him with one of his own, pressing his fist on the side of his jaw. Rakaia's opponent staggered back a bit, causing Rakaia to give him a slight smirk. "Hey, you're not half bad." Rakaia balled up his fist. "But, you're not getting any more free hits off me." He stated as his opponent smirked back at him and copied Rakaia's movements. "So you say, but let's see how long that statement holds up." His adversary responded. His opponent's attire was slightly different than Rakaia's. He wore a short sleeve top that had a similar design to Rakaia's but the color was Blue and the lines for the design were White. His shorts were Black, White and Blue and he wore a pair of White sneakers on his feet. His, Black, Blue and White gloves were brought up to guard his face as his Dark Brown eyes narrowed in determination. "LUCAS! LUCAS! LUCAS!" The crowd shouted as the fight between the two was about to continue. Rakaia's light brown eyes glanced around the arena before returning to Lucas. "Looks like you have fan club going on." He smirked. "What do you think will happen when you lose?" Rakaia asked him. "It won't matter because I'm not losing." Lucas quickly launched himself forward, his speed barely readable by the untrained eye. "Especially, to some rookie like you!" Lucas shouted as he quickly leaped off his right leg and tried to come down with a hard haymaker, but Rakaia quickly sidestepped the incoming attack and tried to deliver an uppercut in return. Lucas was a few steps ahead of Rakaia as he quickly stepped back to avoid Rakaia's strike attempt and tried his best to deliver another haymaker, but Rakaia quickly delivered a haymaker of his own and deflected Lucas punch and used his leg to sidekick, Lucas, away from him. Sliding back on his feet, Lucas immediately rushed back in on Rakaia, throwing jab after jab as Rakaia could do nothing but use his arms to block the oncoming assault. Lucas's punches were faster than any regular person as Rakaia was barely able to keep up guard as he tried to endure every jab that Lucas threw. Rights and Lefts, Rakaia was having a hard time trying to read Lucas's movements as Lucas managed to back him up in a corner. Rakaia's eyes glanced behind him and saw the ring post. His eyes shot up as he realized that he was trapped. "Oh…Shi…." Rakaia's jaw was rocked as Lucas broke through Rakaia's defenses. Rakaia's guard completely dropped as Lucas went in with a barrage of punches, jabs, and Haymakers. He was attacking Rakaia's body with every strike, catching Rakaia in the ribs, chest, jaw, and the arms just in case Rakaia attempted to put his guard back up. The crowd exploded at the one-sided assault as Cana slammed her hands on the mat at ringside. "What the hell Rakaia!" She screamed in annoyance as she gritted her teeth as Rakaia was taking a beating. "I told you not to let him get any more hits in!" She continued as Rakaia was still taking shots in various parts of his body as he desperately tried to get out of the corner. "Cana…" Rakaia shouted back at her as his head was rocked to the side again. "I…Told you…" His face moved to the other side. "I…Got this!" Rakaia shouted as Lucas swung again, but this time Rakaia was able to avoid being hit. Lucas' eyes shot up as Rakaia quickly maneuvered his body under Lucas last punch and delivered an uppercut, catching Lucas squarely in the jaw. Lucas staggered back a bit and Rakaia took his opportunity to strike as he quickly moved in on Lucas and delivered another punch to the face, followed by a roundhouse kick, connecting with the side of Lucas' head, sending him stumbling to the side as he tried to come back up with a punch of his own, but Rakaia used the palm of his hand and pushed it aside as he connected with another solid punch to the side of Lucas jaw, causing his opponent to slip and fall, but he quickly regained his composure as Rakaia charged at him again. "I'm ending this!" Rakaia shouted as he balled his fist up as tight as he could. "I'm putting you down!" as he pulled his right arm back, preparing to deliver the final blow. Lucas got up, just in time to see Rakaia moving in for his final move. "Like hell you are!" Lucas quickly pulled his arm back as well and waited for Rakaia to get within range. The two screamed as Rakaia drew closer to Lucas and they both let their fists fly. The packed out arena watched in anticipation as the two fists collided with their opponent's jaw, pressing hard against both of their faces as both Rakaia and Lucas tried their best to stand their ground. The building went silent as Rakaia and Lucas continued to push their fists against the others face, but neither would back down until finally, they both collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily as they smirked at one another. The bell ringed signaling the end of the fight and the crowd roared in excitement. "Well…" Rakaia stated in between breaths. "That was fun…" He finished. "Yea…" Lucas returned. "Too bad there wasn't a winner though…" Lucas stated before finally standing up looking down at Rakaia who was still on one knee." Next time, your face is eating the mat." He told him as Rakaia stood up as well. "Nah, you won't get that far," Rakaia said back as the two were about to finish their gestures off with a friendly handshake but Cana came out of nowhere and leaped on Rakaia's back, forcing him face first into the ground. "What the hell was that?" Cana shouted at him as she playfully pounded him in the back of the head. "What happened to "You're not going to get any more free hits?" She mocked him. "Look at you; he practically beat you up in the corner! Who taught you how to fight?" Cana continued to shout numerous rants at him as Lucas just stood there bewildered by what was transpiring in front of him. "Cana! Get off of me!" Rakaia tried to get up and push the little girl off by pressing his palm in her face, but he was pushed back down to the mat as Cana continued to yell at him. 'Don't touch my face with your sweating glove! What the hell is wrong with you?" She screamed down at him. "Well if you get off of me, I wouldn't have to touch your stupid face!" Rakaia retaliated as Cana was taken back by the comment that Rakaia sent towards her and the two continued to bicker between one another as Lucas and the crowd watched in a bewildered fashion. Minutes passed as the crowd disbursed and everyone went their own separate ways as Rakaia was in the locker room, finishing up his shower and getting dressed, with Cana sitting against the wall beside the bathroom door playing with her cell phone. "You know you don't have to wait for me after every match right? You can go home, I won't be mad or anything. "Rakaia told her in the midst of washing his hair. "Would you let me walk home by myself?" Cana simply asked in response as her thumb pressed on her touchscreen. "You're a tough girl Cana; I doubt that anything would happen to you," Rakaia replied as he finished washing up his body before turning off the water. "Hell, if anything I'm worried about anybody who decides to mess with you on your way home." He stated as he begins drying himself off. "What's that supposed to mean?" Cana shot back. "I'm a harmless angel, what could I do to anybody?" She immediately retaliated. Her eyes shot up a bit as she scrolled down a bit on her phone. "Hey…" She began as her thumb pushed up on the screen a bit. "Did you hear about what happened last night?" She asked as her eyes scanned her screen. "Last night?" Rakaia replied, drying his hair with a white towel. "What about last night?" Cana continued to read the article on her screen before she spoke. " Apparently Luna quit last night," Cana told him. "Luna quit?" Rakaia repeated. "She really quit? Wait a minute, why did she say anything? Did she really quit fighting in the XMA?" He added. "Yea, that's what it says; apparently it's all over the news." Cana pointed out. "Come again?" Rakaia said, looking at Cana's silhouette with a confused expression. "Yea, it's been confirmed as of last night Cana repeated herself as Rakaia stepped out the locker room fully dressed in a male version of the school uniform. A pair of Black Shoes with Black pants with White trim on the pockets and bottom of the pants legs. The top half was a by a white shirt with a high collar trimmed in Black and a red short-sleeved undershirt with only an inch of the sleeve showing. Rakaia, however, wore his uniform with his white shirt opened, revealing his plain red T-shirt. "I can't believe this…" Rakaia lightly gritted his teeth. "Luna really quit fighting…" Rakaia added, slinging a small Black sports bag over his shoulder, looking down at Cana who kept scrolling on her phone. "Hey I know you're a big fan of hers, but maybe she had her reasons," Cana stated. "They also said she didn't take her last lost very well either, she really broke down in the locker room…At least that's what the headlines are saying." She replied as she kept reading until she came across a sentence that made her eyes shoot up in shock. "I don't believe that. Luna wouldn't just up and quit like that. No way, she was going to fight Isa for the belt." Rakaia let off a chuckle as he began to walk away from the locker room. "There's no way Luna would throw that match away." Rakaia retaliated confidently but caught a sign of Cana's eyes shooting up wide open as he knew she discovered something else in the article about Luna. Cana gulped a bit before she spoke. "They said she broke a lot of rules and she was on…" She gulped again. "…Drugs" Rakaia stopped in his tracks, quickly turning his head with his mimicking the shocked expression that Cana wore on her face. "What?" Rakaia could only mutter as Cana continued looked at her phone as she continued to read the article that spoke of the story. "How? When? What the hell Cana?" Rakaia ran up to her, hoping to get some answers from his female friend. "Hold on a minute!" Cana pushed him back a bit so she could read the article on her phone. Scanning a bit more, she found her answer. "Ok, so one of the guys that worked with her said that he would catch her injecting something into her arm," Cana answered as she continued reading and speaking slowly. "Going by this, he said he didn't know what it was and she would never answer him, everytime he asked about it." Cana finally stopped as she lowered her phone, looking up at her best friend as he gave her a look of concern as well. "Luna…was…" Rakaia and Cana minds were bouncing all over for clues as they couldn't even fathom who could have happened to one of the female fighters that Rakaia idolized. "You two be safe when on your lovers walk home." An older feminine voice called out from behind them as they both turned their heads to see a tall older woman, who appeared to be in her late 20s, early 30s. Her black messy hair was long and was in done in a ponytail that hung over her shoulder, stopping passing her chest. She wore a white dress top with a Black business skirt with Brown stockings and dress closed toed heels. Her purple eyes scanned them as a smirk was plastered across her face as she placed her hands on her hips as she looked down at the students before her. "Remember Rakaia, ladies have to be in by a certain time. So you can't have her out late or her parents will think she's doing something naughty and…Well, something not of a woman her age." She continued to smirk at her students who gave her a deadpanned, drained expression. "What do you want Mariko?" Rakaia asked dryly. Mariko quickly whirled around the two students, placing her arms around them as she pulled them close to her. "I just wanted to make sure that my students start off with a safe trip home from their school." She stated with a smile. "You know, there's a lot of crimes and people getting beaten up lately, and I just can't bear to see a few of my favorite students getting hurt, now can I?" Mariko smiled at Rakaia as she rubbed her cheek against his before releasing him. "Seriously, be careful on your way home." Mariko's demeanor quickly changed into a serious one." I Don't want to hear about you two getting into anything serious. I know you two heard about the incident that happened last night." Mariko crossed her arms as she spoke to them. Rakaia and Cana both looked at each other before they turned their eyes towards Mariko. "What Incident?" Rakaia asked her. "We just found out about Luna quitting the XMA, what else happened last night?" Cana followed up as Mariko just shook her head as her arms still remained crossed. "I'm surprised you haven't heard." Their teacher replied as she took a deep breath before she spoke up again. "From what I understand gang activity as picked up around the city and a few cops were attacked last night." She stated as she earned shocking gasp from both her students. "No one knows by whom, but this isn't the first time it's happened and it's getting worse as the days go by," She ended as she shook her once again. "That's why I want you two to be care…." "We know, we know…" Rakaia shrugged her off as Cana looked at her best friend before returning her gaze towards her teacher. "Geez, you don't have to lecture us, we got it; we'll be safe," Rakaia grunted in annoyance. Cana rolled her eyes at Rakaia's attitude and turned towards Mariko again. "We'll be safe Ms. Imuran." Cana gave an appropriate bow before she quickly turned towards Rakaia sending a glare his way as he had already begun to walk off. "Please do," Mariko responded as she smiled down at Cana, but then returned her look towards the rebellious student walking away from them. "I wouldn't want you two getting hurt before you see the surprise that I have for you tomorrow," Mariko said with glee as Rakaia stopped in his tracks and they both turned their heads to give Mariko a questionable look. "A surprise?" Cana tilted her head a bit. "This isn't one of your tricks is it?" Rakaia groaned as Mariko continued to smile as she closed her eyes, unknown to the students what she could have been thinking. "Don't worry about it; you'll see tomorrow when you arrive." Mariko reopened her eyes, again with her serious expression reigning down on the two students before her." I mean it you two, don't do anything you don't have business doing; don't stop for anything and head straight home." Mariko instructed as she eyed the two of them carefully, before she closed her eyes for a brief second, before reopening them. "Things have been getting out of hand lately and the police seem to be having a lot of trouble cracking down on the thugs that are plaguing our fair city." She crossed her arms and sighed. "Anybody is fair game nowadays, so I really want you two to watch each other's back, more important Cana keep an eye on Rakaia." Mariko winked at her, causing Cana to giggle lightly and Rakaia to roll his eyes. "We get it already, can we go now…Mom." Rakaia said sarcastically as he turned to walk away from both Cana and Mariko. "Geez, I'll never figure out what's wrong with that kid," Mariko said as Cana could only nod her head in agreement. "Yea, tell me about it." She spoke back before she turned her head back to Mariko and gave her a full hardy smile before she ran off after Rakaia, leaving Mariko standing in the corridors as the two exited. She slowly just shook her head and turned to walk off herself. "This is why I don't have kids." She said to herself as she exited in the opposite direction. Time seemed to fly as the students walked home together. Nightfall came and the streetlights were lit up, lighting up the sidewalks, giving light to the nightlife that engulfed the city. Few people could be seen making their way home or to any other destination, they had in mind. Others could be seen, sitting on a bench outside of a convenience store or at the bus stop waiting for a ride. The two kids walked in silence before Cana looked over at Rakaia and gave a sigh of annoyance. "Hey, what's the deal between you and Ms. Imuran?" Cana asked him as she looked up at him. "Why are you always so tensed around her? You act like she's your mom or something." Cana said to him as Rakaia huffed at her statement. "She's just always sticking her nose in other people's business," Rakaia replied. "She's just…Ugh, she's annoying Cana, that's all." Rakaia replied half-heartedly. " "Says the one that always storms off whenever she pops her head up." Cana retaliated. "I'm failing to see your point here," Rakaia replied causing Cana to sigh again. "It means that you're just as annoying," Cana told him as Rakaia ignored her comment and continued walking along the side of her. "You could at least cut her a break you know, she's just showing that she cares." Cana pointed out to him. Rakaia had a hard time finding a response and just as he was about to reply they heard a loud scream coming from an alleyway across the street from them. "What was that?" Rakaia exclaimed in shock. "A scream duh! Sounds like someone's in trouble!" Cana replied, equally alerted. "Come on let's go!" Rakaia added as they both darted towards the alleyway, pushing past a few people on the street before they turned the corner and ran down a narrow street. "Sounds like it came from this way…" Rakaia gritted his teeth. "Do you think it's one the gangs that Ms. Imuran was talking about?" Cana asked in-between breaths. Rakaia narrowed his eyes at the thought as he remained silent to Cana's question, but his mind was speaking his feelings. "…Let's hope not." The two turned the corner and came to a screeching halt as they stopped right in front of three upperclassmen high school kids that appeared to be bullying a kid that was much smaller than they were. The man in the middle, had a light brown flat top shaved head with dark brown eyes. His facial features were nothing short of average and his body build was slightly muscular. He had a few small scars over various parts of his upper body and the outfit that he wore was the same school outfit that Rakaia was currently wearing. The guy to his left wore the same attire as well, but like Rakaia, his over shirt was opened and revealing a white T-shirt instead of a Red one. His hair was Orange and long, stopping at his back and his yellow eyes beamed down at his victim as the little kid shivered against the wall. He was a bit bigger than the flat head man standing next to him and actually showed a bit of hair of on his arms as well. The man on the right sported the same attire as well. His short messy black hair stopped at his neck with a cross scar showing on his cheek. He had a wristwatch latched onto his wrist and small chain that dangled from his neck. They snickered and laughed as the man in the middle quickly grabbed the little boy by the collar of his shirt and lifted him up off the ground. The small boy appeared to be wearing a different school uniform, generic and black from top to bottom with a few dirt smears all over his attire. "So where is it?" The upperclassmen asked. "You know that you're supposed to have our money at the end of every week." He told him. "You know Saitou." The man on the left spoke as he addressed the aggressor in the middle. "I think this little shrimp is trying to short change us." He added as a crooked smile appeared on his face as he watched as Saitou manhandled the little boy in the air. "You know what Kaitou, I think you're right," Saitou responded as he looked up at the young kid that was just screaming his heart out with tears flowing down his face. "What do you think we should do about that?" An evil snicker escaped his lips. "I say we pound short stacks face in." The other guy pounded his fist together to emphasize his point. "Show em, that the next time he forgets; his beating is going to be worse every time he tries to cheat us out of our money." He suggested. Saitou looked over at him with the same smirk. "That's not a bad idea Maitou. What do you think huh?" Saitou shook him a bit. "Want to see what happens when you don't have what we came for…" Saitou pulled back his fist, getting ready to pound the weeping boy. "Want to see what happens when you pick on somebody that can fight back?" A voice came from behind them. Alerted by the sudden voice that surprised them, they turned around to see who would dare interrupt them during their business. "Or if you want, I can show you what happens when I stomp your face in." A female voice spoke out as well as the three thugs eyes landed on Rakaia and Cana standing beside each other, glaring back at them. Rakaia pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand as the tension increased. "All you have to do is drop the kid and put your hands up," Rakaia warned them as both sides continued their stare each other down, anticipating who was going to make a move first.

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