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[color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 11: 035/110[/color] 
Location: Pools!
Word Count: short
Points Gained: 1
New EXP Balance--- [color=f49ac2]Level 11: 036/110 [/color]
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	—
	How many times had Sakura fought Rufus? Not that many. But she recognized him when she saw him. It’s funny how meeting someone from the same world as her made her feel like she was seeing a friendly face, even if she really barely knew the guy. But Rufus was a nice guy, and had an interesting fighting style. When they first met, Sakura was clearly better than he was and beat him rather easily, despite his unique moves. The second time they fought, Sakura won again, and she asked if he could show her how to ride a motorcycle. Since, y’know, motorcycles are awesome, and Rufus was really good at riding his.

	They hadn’t fought since then, but she did know that he won a major tournament back in the real world before all this World of Light stuff happened. She knew he was on the fast track to being a really skilled fighter. That all depend on what ‘version’ of Rufus this was, though.

	One thing was a constant among all versions of Rufus, though. As Sakura stood here, sizing him up, Rufus hadn’t shut one for even one single second.

	“I can see you took my advice, it’s a little ridiculous to be walking around and fighting in a school uniform. Maybe if you were in school I could see it but you seriously couldn’t even find some time to change into something a little more fashionable? Look at me and my cool suit, for example. So I’m glad you took my advice, kid, real glad, because now you look good like me. That’s only going to make our battle real impressive. I know I just called you a kid, but, I don’t like bullying kids. Not that I was ever bullied, of course, with my charisma I ruled the playground. But you’re not a kid, you’re a street fighter like me, so it’s just a tournament, and we’re both just following the rules. Are we clear on that? We’re clear on that. What was your name again?”

Sakura opened her mouth.

“Sakura, right? I’m Rufus. Do you happen to know a guy named Ken Masters? He’s fighting in this tournament, too. I’m gonna beat him in a fight, and in order to do that, I gotta beat you. So it’s nothing personal, I just have to win so I can go to fight Ken Masters. That spoonfed rich boy isn’t the best fighter in America, I am.”

	Sakura closed her mouth. Sometimes, when Sakura got nervous or excited, she could be a bit of a chatterbox. But this was on a whole other level.

	[color=f49ac2]”...How do you talk so much? Don’t you ever get thirsty?”[/color] Sakura asked.

	“Hah, you sound like my girl Candy when we first met. God, she’s beautiful. We’re probably the most beautiful couple in America. And I’m a pretty humble guy so you know that’s kind of a serious thing to say. She’s sweet as Candy, too, and it’s not just about looks, though she is gorgeous, but she has a great personality, too. She’s funny, and kind, and likes motorcycles just like me. When I win this tournament I’m gonna go back and sweep her off her feet. You have a boyfriend? If you wanna get a boyfriend, you gotta let ‘em sweep you off your feet. Or sweep him off his feet. Point is, some one has to get swept. And I don’t just mean in the way you’re gonna try to sweep me in this fight. I mean romantic sweeping.”

	[color=f49ac2]”...Okay.”[/color] 

	The long and short of it was that Sakura won the battle, two rounds in a row. 

	That’s the kind of numerical story that doesn’t tell the whole thing. Both rounds were exceptionally close, and Sakura counts her victory in the second round as a spot of luck. She barely secured the ring out via an unfortunate interaction that ended up with a mostly healthy Rufus getting knocked away before he could recover. Spin kick versus dive kick leads to a trade, but the aerial Rufus was sent back much farther. A victorious Sakura  collapsed into a sitting position, dizzy as all get out. 

	[color=f49ac2]”...We take those!”[/color] Sakura cheered, raising her hands above her head, before falling onto her back.

	Rufus had fought like a whirling madman, striking at Sakura with moves such as the Galactic Tornado, the Messiah Kick, and Spectacle Romance. In the second round Sakura had narrowly survived an encounter with his Super Move, the dazzling Space Opera Symphony. Rufus was fast, faster than Sakura. Despite what one might assume when looking at the rotund Rufus and the slender Sakura, in this match up, he was the speedster and she was the powerhouse. In the end, aggression had to be met with aggression, and it was in close quarters combat that Sakura prevented Rufus from getting the momentum he needed to overwhelm her defences. 

	“Daaah, crap.” Rufus sat up, scratching his head. “Well, good fight anyway. It’s like my master always says, defeat is the first step towards victory. That’s what a good master would say, anyway. I wouldn’t know, I never really had a master, I’m self taught. If you run into Ken Masters, give him an ass kicking and send him on down to me in losers bracket, okay? I still got a score to settle with that guy. See you around!” With that, Rufus sprinted off into the city. 
	
	Propping herself up on her hands, Sakura panted. Her battles had only gotten tougher, and now victory couldn’t be expected by any reasonable metric. But Sakura had to know in her heart she would win, otherwise, she would lose. 

	[color=f49ac2]”I’m so close..! I have to keep going.”[/color]