[h3][b]Alexei Dragunov May 6th, 2015 | Wednesday[/b][/h3]

Alexei was up to his regular routine. The clothes were neatly hanging on the clothesline. The vegetables had all been chopped and he had prepared the bacon for the lunch and it was still just 5.45 AM. He was about to put things together and get to preparing things for the day. It was a big day today, his mother was do have another surgery. Her health had been stout throughout the Golden Week but doctors had found a few alarming developments.

They had informed him about it and he had given his consent regarding the new line of action though his mother did the decision making. Though Elena was upset but she quickly calmed down about learning the seriousness of it. 

As he was mostly done and was about to get started on breakfast he was greeted by the surprise of Elena at the Kitchen's doorway. From the looks of her disheveled appearance it was clear that she hadn't bothered to wash herself up before coming to see him. It was clear that something was eating at her mind and with the event of today it was hardly any suspense as to what it was.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Good Morning! Eli."[/color][/b] Alexei greeted her, acknowledging her silent presence as she just stood there watching him cook.

[color=0072bc][b]"Nii-san!!"[/b][/color] she started but paused. There was a pregnant silence as Alexei just waited for her to finish what she wanted to say, [b][color=0072bc]" I am not going to school today."[/color][/b] she said finally, letting out a deep sigh.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Why? Aren't the exams around the corner."[/color][/b] he said without looking at her, she was an obedient little child. He hardly had any complaints, if any, with her. She wasn't always so, she was indeed quite a brat in her growing years. But, after the incident that made them leave Tokyo. Her behavior did a complete 180.

[color=0072bc][b]"I wanna be with mum."[/b][/color] she said meekly. She knew how hard her brother worked to keep the family together. To her, he was a saint whom she can't repay for the burden he carried on her behalf, without ever letting a complaint slip his mouth. All he expected out of her was her complete focus on living a normal school life and doing exceedingly well in exams so that she could get in at Tokyo University. Though, it was just a day off from her routine, she knew that he never took one and there was a bit of guilt but at the same time the worry that she may never be able to see her mother alive ate at her. There was always that risk and while she didn't know of how much it troubled Alexei, she knew how much it affected her.

Alexei stopped what he was doing for a moment as he heard her. She shook slightly expecting an order from her elder brother. In the end, she would do what he said even if it would not be what she want.

[color=ed1c24][b]"I understand."[/b][/color] he said quietly. She stood with her mouth agape, she hadn't expected that in the least. Yet again he had managed to exceed her expectations.

[color=ed1c24][b]"Even better, I'll drop you at the hospital while I go to school."[/b][/color] he said turning around to look at her with a slight smile.

[color=0072bc][b]"Oh! Thank you, Onii-san!"[/b][/color] she said as she ran and hugged him. He returned the embrace as he patted her head. After that she went to get some more sleep and he packed her lunch. He proceeded to workout a bit before they both got ready and went out of the house.

He dropped her at the gate of the hospital.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Say a prayer from my side too."[/color][/b] he said as he patted her cheek and planting a peck at her forehead before departing. She watched him turn the bend before going inside. A big day waited ahead.

[h3][b]Afterschool[/b][/h3]

It was practice time again. Lately Alexei's interest had waned in the other clubs he was part of. Especially as the kidnappings intensified, he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy and on the edge. Meanwhile, Sagat had put Inoue on a tough circuit for the past few weeks and the results were starting to show. 

Through her gym vest one could see the contours of newly formed muscle. Inoue had dropped a few percent of body fat and looked more ripped, her jawline had gotten more prominent and a fierce aura emanated from her as beads of sweat sparkled in the afternoon light that filled the musty hall they called the MMA Club Room. 

The change had started a few weeks back, Sagat had come to the conclusion to put her mental will to test by giving her dream a shot. It was decided that over the course of next four weeks Sagat would try and imbibe some of his technique into her game before Alexei would take over and try the same.

[color=f7941d][b]"Okay, Inoue!"[/b][/color] Sagat clapped his hands loudly to snap him out of his thoughts and gather attention.

[b][color=f7941d]"I think you are mostly ready, it is now time to test that."[/color][/b] He said with his laidback drawl that was his style. It was hard to believe that a man who acted so laid back and relaxed was such a brute.

[b][color=f7941d]"You have 3 minutes to score a clean hit on Alexei. Elbows and Knees are allowed."[/color][/b] he said, looking over at Alexei to motion as if he could handle it. Alexei gave him a thumbs up to mark his accent. Inoue had a confident look to her as she took stance, it was a Muay Thai stance instead of her regular Tae-Kwon-Do one. Alexei also stretched a bit before getting ready. Sagat was to act as referee.

With his signal the bout started, immediately Inoue went on the offensive with a high thrusting kick. Alexei leaned into the attack to catch it on his shoulder before grabbing the offending leg tightly and spinning Inoue mid-air with a twist before going for a leg lock. Immediately Sagat blew whistle to signify his victory.

Soon the three minutes passed. In the end Inoue didn't manage to get even one clean hit on Alexei but unlike times before, Alexei had to think on his feet to counter her. She had gotten a lot more faster and ridiculously stronger apart from a fly like agility that was hard to counter normally. It was just that she had played into Alexei's close quarters game with her over-aggression but it was a good lesson learnt.

[b][color=f7941d]"Inoue! Unless you are confident that you can get in and get out quickly. Don't go for a thrust kick against a floor specialist."[/color][/b] Sagat said as he leaned next to a prone Inoue who was still catching her breath. Even with her extreme effort, Alexei had been a wall not easy to surpass.

[color=f7941d][b]"Also why didn't you use elbows? I said it was allowed. Were you scared?"[/b][/color] he asked curiously.

[color=662d91][b]"I..hunh..I..Didn't want to hurt him."[/b][/color] she said exhausted.

[color=f7941d][b]"Do you think him to be this weak? Or you think that just in a month you have closed down the gap in strength?" [/b][/color]he continued his little investigation. Though it sounded rude, it was necessary. A fighter's main job was to fight but to fight within rules. So it was essential that one knew of every rule and every exception.

[color=662d91][b]"Umm.."[/b][/color]

[color=f7941d][b]"Don't answer. But trust him, he isn't mad that he would volunteer for such an activity. Also, I have hit him harder when we spar."[/b][/color] he said with a grave expression.

[color=f7941d][b]"You know that our target is not women's MMA, right? It is to be the complete fighting machine. Irrespective of it being a boy or a girl."[/b][/color] he said with a hint of pride. [color=f7941d][b]" So you wash those doubts and try again."[/b][/color]

They rested for a while before going for a pullup contest which obviously Sagat won. Inoue came in second to her own surprise.