[color=92278f][i]I gotcha![/i][/color]

In his sudden burst of speed, he managed to grab Wu Han, pull him off his feet, and thrust him into the waiting ocean.  He made a big splash as he hit the waves, and Niko felt a certain satifaction at the accomplishment.  [color=92278f][i]'That was where I went wrong back there.  I was so focused on fighting Angela that I didn't think about the possibility of a ring-out.'[/i][/color]  Every single opponent he'd fought in the tournament had been knocked out, up until his fight with her.  The possibility had never even occurred to him, even though it was completely viable.  Maybe it was due to the fact that he'd [i]wanted[/i] to fight the now-Champion, that he wanted to see what she had, and didn't want to disappoint her after the weird forfeit by Ace.  Well...no matter.  What's done is done, and what he learned from the fight he lost and the one he was in now would no-doubt aid his growth and understanding of the martial artist's world.

He knew that Wu would be fine after he hit the water.  Braced as he was against attack, he'd be perfectly fine and recover in no time.  That said, Niko was kind of surprised that - during the toss - some possessions flew free of the man's outfit.  [i][color=92278f]'They call that a Gi, right?  I think so...'[/color][/i]  He caught the things out of mid-air, so they wouldn't land in the water.  They were all papers, which would be ruined if that occurred.  He was just organizing them for the man when he...he saw his [i]name[/i] on one, on [i]all[/i] of them!  What the hell was [i]this?[/i]  These papers all painted him as some kind of soldier of fortune, a mercenary and information-broker selling to the highest bidder.  These accounts, these accusations of heinous crimes, this outright falsified data...  What did they think he was?  A dirty government hatchman?  A war profiteer?  A bonded hitman?  What the hell?  Who did this, and why?  Niko turned to face the returning Wu Han, his face operating under the guidance of the WTF Foundation, as that was his expression.

The match was over, but clearly something [i]else[/i] had started.  This meeting was not a coincidence.  The other man was now making his way back ashore in high spirits.  He saw Niko with the papers and the general look about him and asked if perhaps now was a good time for some answers.  He gave them man a nod.

[color=92278f]"That would be preferred.  Who are you, really?  And why're you trying to frame me?  Or was your aim something a little different?"[/color]

His eyes had narrowed suddenly at that last question, as he was starting to put it together.  A strong fighter with a desire to see what he was made of...with [i]that[/i] in his pockets...might have something a bit more [i]final[/i] in mind for him, assuming he was not the one responsible for such information...but rather the recipient.  Had he just found a bonded hitman, himself?