[center] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]Pit[/b] - [u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 265/80[/color] [color=f49ac2]Sakura[/color] [b][color=ec008c]Juri[/color][/b] Word Count: 2707 (+3 exp) [b]Location:[/b] Esaka, Forbidden Kingdom [/center] After finding a few of the people who'd split up earlier, Pit had returned to the larger group of Seekers with Amaterasu just before they all ran around for tournament sign ups. It was then he made sure to let everyone know the royal Koopa siblings' plan as well so they didn't wonder and worry where they'd disappeared to. With only a few linkpearls left since giving some extra to new and old acquaintances, there was one more person he needed to find: a certain ‘spider.’ As much as she claimed she wasn’t part of the group, Pit still wanted to make sure she could get in contact with them, and they her. He also had to find a dojo to join in order to sign up for tournaments, if he’d heard the report through his own linkpearl right. There were a couple of hours remaining until the cutoff… should he sign up and then keep looking? And should the group try and all join the same dojo or split up and join whichever they could? Would it even matter, since whoever entered the same tournaments would go up against each other anyway? It was sort of a lot to think about, and he would think about it… while searching the city. Better to focus on one task at a time! So deliver all the linkpearls first, then the dojo thing, along with making a suggestion to the others if he came up with a good idea in regards to said dojo thing. Alright, plan of action made, and now that he’d dropped the goddess of the sun off it was back to the search! Before Pit could get too far, a voice called out to him. [color=f49ac2]”Pit-kun!”[/color] Sakura said, waving him down and jogging over. [color=f49ac2]”Pit-kun- er, Pit-san!”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”Where are you going?”[/color] She asked. [color=f49ac2]”Have you found a Dojo yet? I thought I’d, well, since you’re the leader, I thought I’d delegate you. Um. To delegate me.”[/color] Sakura said. She scratched her head. [color=f49ac2]”’D’you need any help’ is what I’m trying to say. I’m already kinda in a dojo.”[/color] She explained. Being unfamiliar with Japanese honorifics, Pit just tilted his head at the change to how she said his name (she attached those words to pretty much everyone's names but he didn't have a clue what they were supposed to mean). Maybe he'd ask her about it at some point, but it didn't really seem important at the moment. Instead he smiled brightly at Sakura. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Sure! I was still trying to find Juri and give her one of these pearls..."[/color] he started with, the same ones he'd passed out to everyone else already. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...so I didn't join up with any dojo yet. I passed a couple though! But... ehh..."[/color] There was some merit to joining a low tier dojo and helping to raise its prestige by winning, but Pit definitely wasn't a low tier fighter - he sort of wanted to try signing up at a better one if he could. And there was everything else he'd thought earlier to consider too. After shaking his hand in a 'so-so' motion, he asked Sakura, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"what dojo are you part of? It's gotta be the same one you were in when you lived here before, right?"[/color] [color=f49ac2]”That’s right- the World Warrior Dojo.”[/color] Sakura glanced around at the lower tiers. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah, they’re not super great, huh? I mean, most of them. Some of them.”[/color] Then Sakura lowered her voice, leaning forward and shielding the side of her mouth. [color=f49ac2]”Um, listen. Pit-san. About Juri-san…I think you should probably just let her go-”[/color] Suddenly, a rough hand shoved Sakura from behind. She caught herself on Pit and turned around in a huff. [b][color=ec008c]”What are you two shrimps talkin’ about?”[/color][/b] Juri asked, grinning. She saw Pit running around and now even heard her name, so she thought she’d drop in. [b][color=ec008c]”C’mon, I’m just dyin’ to know.”[/color][/b] The mere mention of the World Warrior dojo had made Pit's eyes light up. Now that sounded like an awesome one! Plus, along with Sakura... it was probably full of the likes of powerful martial artists like Ryu and Ken, right? Before he could ask more about it or hear what Sakura was about to say about Juri, they were interrupted by the woman herself. Considering that Pit had been looking for her, it was suspiciously fortunate timing. After they were both steady, Pit peeked out from behind Sakura to look at the no longer invisible Juri. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We're like the same height!"[/color] Pit snapped at her first, though immediately afterward he honestly answered her question. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We were talking about dojos. To fight in any of the tournaments we have to join one!"[/color] This was the first piece of news to deliver to her, as he assumed the woman might not know. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"And I got something to give you."[/color] [b][color=ec008c]”No doy.”[/color][/b] She brushed some bangs out of her face. [b][color=ec008c]”What is it? A love letter? I’m not surprised you enjoyed getting crushed by me, but you’re not really my type.”[/color][/b] Juri said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Wha-?! No! Never in a million years!"[/color] [color=f49ac2]”I don’t get it. Why do you have to be so rude all the time?”[/color] Sakura asked. [b][color=ec008c]”I’m not into schoolgirls, either.”[/color][/b] Juri ‘answered’ dismissively. Pit really wished there was an easy answer for Sakura's question. Only a little flustered, he stepped out from behind her and thrust a hand towards Juri, holding his palm open with a gold colored pearl wobbling in it. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"It's this,"[/color] he said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You put it in your ear and use it like a radio to stay in touch with everyone else."[/color] And that was it really, as soon as she took it then Pit could leave her to her own devices for a while. No need to put up with her sour attitude while exploring and learning about dojos. It had been pointed out to him before that it would be best to just leave her alone after all, so there was definitely no need to possibly provoke her. But... he did have his own pride to look after too. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Plus you only won last time 'cause of the stage. There's no way I'd lose normally!"[/color] Juri snatched up the pearl and held it between her fingers. With a shrug, she shoved it into her pocket. At Pit’s last statement, she rolled her eyes and grinned. [b][color=ec008c]”’-Guy who lost.’”[/color][/b] She added onto his statement like a signature, making Pit’s feathers fluff up in vexation. [color=f49ac2]”You said you’d fight me, too. No time like the present.”[/color] Sakura said. Juri chuckled, her eyes searching the place. [b][color=ec008c]”Venue’s a little crummy, but-”[/color][/b] Then she blinked, stopping mid sentence, remembering her purpose. She had come here to do something. She couldn’t afford distractions, or revealing herself to the public so early. [b][color=ec008c]”...But it’s gonna have to wait.”[/color][/b] Juri said. [b][color=ec008c]”See ya around. Not.”[/color][/b] With that she turned and stalked away. As Sakura cupped her hands around her mouth to yell something after Juri to try and bait her into a fight, Juri vanished into thin air, causing Sakura to choke on the words. [color=f49ac2]”She couldn’t do that back on our world!”[/color] Sakura exclaimed. [color=f49ac2]”Of all the powers she could get here, invisibility? With her personality? That sucks for everyone.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I know, right?"[/color] Pit sighed. At least he'd been able to give her the linkpearl and she hadn't made him look all around the city for an invisible person. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"By the way, what were you gonna say earlier?"[/color] Sakura made sure nobody was around for real this time. [color=f49ac2]”To just let her go. To be honest, I don’t think she’s a good fit for the Seekers at all. We’re actually from the same world. She’s like, um, evil. And not evil in a fun way like the Koopas.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...you really think so?"[/color] Pit replied quietly. He reached up to rub his arm awkwardly. It wasn't like they could just kick her out though. Heck, even the [i]king[/i] of evil Ganondorf was on the team. Not to mention Pit had been around plenty of evil beings before - truly evil, with wanton disregard for all life and that delighted in twisting the souls of mortals for selfish gain. Maybe Juri was on her way there, but he still didn't really feel like she was that bad yet. She was definitely mean and selfish, but... Pit just shook his head. If he was going to take his duties as team captain seriously he'd have to check in with Juri eventually anyway, but for now she had a way to get into contact with them and she was presumably gone to do... whatever she was going to do, so he could focus on other stuff instead. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Ugh, never mind her for now! Let's go back to the dojo thing!"[/color] he said, bringing his voice up higher and punching a fist into the air to drum up some excitement. Although since "not super great" as Sakura has put it was still like a glowing endorsement for the dojos around the low tier, he'd have to look for something better. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. A good idea! He had no clue if it would work but it wouldn't hurt to ask, right? [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hey! Since you're already in a dojo, do you think you could put in a good word for us? World Warriors must be pretty big, it has to be accepting new members all the time, right?"[/color] [color=f49ac2]”Oh, I definitely will.”[/color] Sakura said, smiling. [color=f49ac2]”But, uh, I don’t think we can just skip. Every newcomer needs to put in their dues in the bottom tiers. I could head up and check, though.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]”Almost everyone in the World Warriors is from my original world. Which just goes to show, we’re among the best at fighting even when every universe is the same place, huh?”[/color] Sakura said proudly. Pit couldn't really argue that even if he'd wanted to. He'd seen first hand how strong the people of Sakura's world were. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I guess so! You're from the same place as Ken and Ryu, right? Are they part of that dojo too? Do you think they're there now?"[/color] Even after bombarding Sakura with questions, Pit continued with hardly a breath taken between sentences. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I get that they don't want any dark horses jumping in at higher ranks but... it would be so cool to be in the same dojo as them! I wanna learn that thing! You know- Shoryuken!"[/color] He imitated the rising dragon punch surprisingly well, though it lacked the power behind it that the street fighters were famed for. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Maybe there's still a way to join up there."[/color] Though if he did have to settle for taking a low tier dojo to victory, then well that's what would happen. Sakura’s eyes sparkled and she clenched her fists, not having met anyone in the World of Light with any real enthusiasm for how cool Ken and Ryu- but specifically Ryu- were. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah! You know I can teach some moves if you want! Ken might still be here, but Ryu not so much. If he was, I never would have left this place at all. Last I saw him, he was hanging out in Lumbridge. He’s the one who gave me my Friend Heart. He’s so cool…”[/color] Sakura sighed wistfully, her eyes unfocusing on the current moment. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Yeah he is! He's super strong! And I heard he really gets around too! That he's fought robots and aliens and demons and all kinds of stuff all over the place! Kinda takes the whole 'World Warrior' thing pretty literally, huh?"[/color] Like this, even if the Seekers' cover had been blown a while ago the two of them fit right in with Esaka's locals; just a fan girl and a fan boy talking about their favorite fighters. [color=lightgreen][i]You know you've fought robots, aliens, and demons too, right?[/i][/color] a voice chimed in Pit's head, curbing some of his enthusiasm (and inadvertently bolstering his opinion of himself), though there was still plenty left over. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"But sure, maybe we can swap fighting notes before the tournaments start or between matches!"[/color] he said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Can you teach people how to use Hadouken?!"[/color] [color=f49ac2]”All over. He’s a real hero even if he doesn’t think he is.”[/color] Sakura nods. [color=f49ac2]”And uh, yeah duh totally! I’d love to!”[/color] Sakura said. She widened her stance and cupped the empty space between her hands. [color=f49ac2]”Okay, first, you stand like this. Then you take a deep breath, concentrate, and…and then you…”[/color] She pushed her hands forward, creating a little blue spark. [color=f49ac2]”And then you just, uh. You just…do it. Huh. Okay, no, I guess I can’t teach you. Sorry, Pit-san.”[/color] Sakura said, looking properly stumped. How [i]did[/i] she use Hadouken? [color=f49ac2]”I’m still a student myself.”[/color] Sakura said. Pit had already started to copy her stance and instructions, so when Sakura ended up admitting that she couldn't actually teach the skill it was almost like a physical blow of disappointment. Pit let his head droop, hanging low. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Aw man..."[/color] Still, it would take a lot more than that to keep Pit's spirit down. He recovered quickly, bouncing back up into a regular pose. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Well, that's okay! It would have been cool to learn, but at least I'll still be able to see a bunch get thrown around soon!"[/color] Which was nearly as good as throwing one himself, probably. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I still wanna see if it's possible to get an invite to World Warriors... Amaterasu managed to get a letter of recommendation somehow, so maybe if you vouch for someone it'll work! But if it doesn't..."[/color] He glanced around the street they were on, at the various buildings and flyers announcing small time dojos. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...uh, any thoughts on which one sucks the least around here?"[/color] Sakura was staring at her hands, dumbfounded the entire time. Oblivious to Pit’s previous disappointment. Hadouken. How did she throw it? No, really, how? At Pit’s question and pause, she blinked back into reality. [color=f49ac2]”My old teacher, Dan Hibiki-san, has a dojo around here.”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”That’s- that’s not necessarily in response to your last question. But he is nice. Most of the time.”[/color] Sakura clarified. [color=f49ac2]”Try to find someone that can use all of their limbs correctly. Preferably they can stand up straight. Block.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”I know that’s the basics but- it can get pretty lousy down here.”[/color] She whispered with a grimace. The angel laughed, at least until he realized Sakura wasn't joking. She made things sound even worse than he'd thought around this tier, and he'd already found it pretty rough after only seeing a little of it. So far it seemed like Dan's dojo might be his best bet if he couldn't find any a bit more prestigious to try and join. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Gah... good thing we only need to join one for sign ups since we all already know how to fight,"[/color] he said. Who knew, maybe the Seekers would even end up giving lessons to fellow dojo members once they started climbing the rank ladder. He sighed, but after a moment he looked back at Sakura. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"If you still wanna help, let's look for the best dojo around here - maybe some new ones opened after you left!"[/color] Sakura nodded and smiled. [color=f49ac2]”Listen- don’t worry too much. We got this. Even if we join a crappy dojo our own skill will shine through. The worse case scenario is you run into someone like us who just got here but is way better than this bottom rank, or maybe someone whose come down from the upper ranks in disguise to beat up on noobs so they feel better about themselves.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”But even after that you just move on and win some matches!”[/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Yeah, I guess you're right,"[/color] Pit replied, nodding along with her as well. This tournament cycle was sure to see a meteoric rise in the standing of a lot of low tier dojos. With renewed energy Pit skipped forward and called to the street fighter, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"c'mon Sakura, let's go see what we can find! And tell me more about what Ryu's like!"[/color] Sakura followed eagerly afterwards. She certainly had a lot to say on that particular topic. Like, a lot.