He can learn, but can he fight?

[kihaku]

Kihaku strode through the sunny streets of Esperanza, a look on his face like he had a particularly bad odor held right under his nose. His wrist brushed against the hilt of the Nirvana uneasily, many other warriors that fancied themselves big and bad enough to take him on swerved away when his glare met their own, pitiful gaze. He sighed in annoyance when he slowed up for the boy to catch up once again. For some reason, the boy, Chameleon, who had been so eager to become Kihaku's... man-servant for lack of a better term, was now so far behind. He was only carrying the entire pack of gear! Not that Kihaku had needed any, but Chameleon needed most of the stuff they'd "purchased" a few towns back. Ever since their run in with the vampire, they'd been hiking non-stop from sun up to sun down, not even stopping for Chameleon to eat lunch. He'd eat while walking, because Kihaku wasn't about to let up with his test of strength so close at hand.

"Move your ass boy! I'm not going to stop anymore! We're only a few hundred feet away from our destination and a breif reprieve." He motioned over towards a large building with a huge name and slogan written in a manner that made it illegible. He moved towards it but at a slower pace, after all, Kihaku had been walking the whole way as well.

[chameleon]

Chameleon lagged behind picking up the pace to catch up with Kihaku. Cham had a large bag on his back with pots and pans hanging over the sides. The pack buldged, it looking to weigh a lot more than Cham did himself, not to mention it was vastly larger than Cham. He held the straps as he hurried along, finally catching up.

"Yes... sir... sorry... sir..." Cham panted beads of sweat coursing down his forehead. The day in and day out had really taken its toll and Cham. He could feel himself getting stronger, when they rested, which was rare. He was just so tired from the constant hiking by the time they reached a town a while back, and he made the misteak of complaining.

Kihaku rewarded that small complaint with this bag from hell, as Cham not so lovingly called it. "I... read there is... a tournament here... is this the thing... you wanted to enter?" Cham said between breaths. "Can I... join too?" Cham finished looking up to Kihaku.

[kihaku]

The man dressed in black glided into the inn's reception room, tossing a leather bag filled with coinage, enough for a few day's stay of undisturbed peace. Chameleon managed to spit out some prattle about the tournament, and he sighed in annoyance. "Yes boy, I planned on entering the tournament. I've yet to test myself against a general collection of the biggest and the baddest that Dragonia has to offer, so I wish to find out how I stack up against them." He pushed through a knot of people who were obviously also here for the tournament. One of them shot a hand out to grab at Kihaku's upper arm, and he deftly grabbed the hand, twisted, and broke his assailant's wrist. Among howls of pain, kihaku opened the door to their room and immediately sat down.

"And as far as you entering..." His face split into a malignant grin, "you don't have a choice in the matter. I am going to really start pounding your scrawny hide into shape, otherwise you don't stand a chance. You probably won't anyway, but hey, that's life."

[chameleon]

"Good" Cham said simply giving a weak smile. "I'd like to be... stronger." Cham finished pulling the large pack from his back. "Were will we start?" He said wincing while rubbing his shoulders. They were beat red and soar.

He hoped that he would do well in the tournament, but already decided that he prolly wouldnt win. If it was what he thought it'd go down to, he may be going up against Kihaku, and that's something he really didnt want to do. He counted Kihaku as a friend and mentor, so fighting him in a tournament would be a difficalt thing to accomplish, but if need be, he would try his hardest, or Kihaku will have his head for sure.

[kihaku]

Kihaku looked about the room momentarily before answering. "Yes, I'm sure you do. Considering you're going against the same crowd that I am, I'd be surprised if you make it past the first round. However, I intend to see that you go down screaming and kicking." He stood and locked the door. "Metaphorically of course." Kihaku picked up a bowl of fruit and gave it a sniff, chuckling soflty. It obviously was the right inn, the fruit was wax, but had been scented to smell real. He set them back down and knocked on the walls a few times, a small tapping heard coming from the other side. Good, at least they could annoy someone.

"Well, Chameleon, your first lessons consist of basic bravado, antagonization, and the subtle art of insult. I'm assuming that since you were checking to make sure that your tiny little butter knife was still readily available, I'm guessing you obviously have little experience with such matters." He paced for a few minutes before going on, crossing his arms over his chest. He shook his hood off his head, and in the bright sunlight coming through the window, his pale skin and cadaverous face was brought into stark relief. His unnerving crimson eyes seemed to be looking everywhere at once.

"First, we must teach you how it works, and then, I will teach you how to see through it, and finally, to ignore it." He held up a single gloved finger. "Everyone wants to make themselves seem bigger in their opponent's mind. They want to make themselves a more... fearsome warrior in their opponent's mindset, and to do this, they employ everything from cheap tricks, to insincerity, to even blatant aloofness. They want to be the best of the best, and your job as their only definition of an obstacle can't be affected by it, understand?"

[chameleon]

"I understand. But I would figure that you should let your opponant think that you are weaker than them. Wouldnt that make them believe they are much better than you? Letting them put their guard down and making misteaks? If they dont believe the dog has teeth, then they wouldnt expect the bite." Cham said thinking back to the last couple days on his planet. That's how he had succeeded in becoming evil. Ever since that horrible day, he had be deemed evil by his fellow Elicoorians.

He thought about how Kihaku kept calling his knife a butter knife. It was certainly sharper than one, and this is what helped him protect his villiage when the attack came, it was also dubbed just as evil as Cham was. He didnt care that Kihaku called it a butter knife, what Kihaku carried was much more dangerous then his short blade.

Cham took off his over coat and set it in his pack. He was actually getting a little bit of muscles. Not a whole lot more, but he no longer looked as fragile and puny as he did before. His black, sleevless tunic he wore under his green over coat was light and thin, but kept him at a good temperature. All of his clothings were made to help against Elicoori's harsh weather patterns. Winters were horribly cold and summers were harsh. The clothings they wore helped to regulate their body temperatures and keep them at an even state, to avoid heat strokes or freezing.

[kihaku]

Kihaku slowed his pacing and looked to Chameleon with a new sense of predatory instincts. "Hmm... perhaps you aren't as slow as you look. Yes, you can let them think that, the fact of the matter is that not only do they think that, they think they KNOW that. The trick is to keep the illusion going, whilst also destroying it. I myself do not need to have that advantage. I know what I am capable of and just let them come as they are. I worry about counters and obstacles as they come, simply because I can deal with them. YOU on the other hand, with no outstanding qualities either physical, mental, or supernatural, must be sly and clever in your fighting."

Kihaku stopped pacing entirely and walked up to Chameleon, standing only a few inches away and glaring down at him like the Devil himself. "What impression do I give you to be up in your face, radiating the image of a powerful visage? Does it seem pompous? Arrogant?" He stepped back and raised his hood, the room suddenly going dark. The window was covered by an opaque black energy, and now, all that was visible were his crimson eyes, glowing in the gloom like twin points of angry fire. His voice uncurled; soft, velveteen, and dangerous, "And what about when you can't see your opponent? Is it any different? Is it any less dangerous?" The light returned and he was suddenly on the opposite side of the room, leaning against a corner and watching his desciple. "Basic judgements you need to be ready to make are key to winning a battle. When you have no good offensive or defensive powers of course. YOU on the other hand, merely have this... Channeled Force malarky. What you need is training in hand to hand combat, perhaps something to utilize your little knife and make it a little more deadly than it already is." He said this last part with a chuckle.

[chameleon]

"But I've already killed..." Cham trailed off not wanting to finish his sentence as he looked down, ashamed. "I understand sir, he said looking back up to him, keeping a straight and strong face." If I cant physically topple my opponant, i will use any tricks available to win my match. Physical strength isnt everything in a match, although it goes a long way. I must use my mind as well. Decieve, threaten, and cause fear, fear is my greatest ally." Cham said with a stern, militaristic face.

He knew what he must do, and knew that he must continue to get stronger. After all, he cant use his channeled force on himself, only others. It was just physically impossible.

[kihaku]

Kihaku raised his eyes, interested in only the first part of Chameleon's words. His mouth opened slightly, almost as if he were immensly surprised. He moved stealthily forward until he stood in front of Cham, his crimson eyes boring into his bright emerald ones with a disturbing amount of lethality in them. "YOU... have killed... I must know more about it. It seems to have given you a hidden strength that I knew nothing about. You're already more heartless... more cold. You're becoming a better warrior before my very eyes, Chameleon." He said this with a bit of excitement to his voice, and as his intrigue grew, he pushed him down to sit on the couch. "Tell me everything."

[chameleon]

Cham lost his nerve looking at Kihaku. He clenched his fist. "I am NOT heartless and cold!" He yelled pain stricken across his face. Then, as quickly as it came, it melted away.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Your right, I'm evil. It happend back on my planet, two men from another planet, not sure of where, started laying waste to my people. They were ruthless. They started killing people from our villiages." Cham rubbed his arm embarrased.

"For my people, killing is an unforgivable act, any act of violence is. It is evil, and by acting on such evils, you yourself are evil. These men were horrible, they wouldnt stop the killing, they enjoyed it, and knew that my people would not fight back."

Cham had his fists clenched as he thought back. "I didnt want to see my people die anymore. I didnt care if they thought I was evil and heartless, or if i became just that. I didnt want to see them hurt anymore. If I could take care of these two strangers, then it would result it many more lives being spared."

"So, i snuck into their camp in the middle of the night. They didnt bother to set up watches because there was no need, the last thing they thought an Elicoori would do is attack them." Cham took out his small knife. "I killed them both while they slept."

Cham sat down on the floor. "So, my people banished me from my planet, saying that I was evil. Who am I to govern what I thought they might do. They could have woken up in the morning and changed their ways. But I knew they wouldnt. They would continue to kill."

He looked up at Kihaku. "If you wish to be rid of me, I will leave."

[kihaku]

Kihaku looked down at Cham and chuckled when he was finished. "Well, I don't know about you, but I think you were born on the wrong planet. I tell you, that is one pu**y civilization if they can't even fight back to save their own lives. I say that you were the only one with any brains at the time. You've got guts. I'm proud of you." He clapped the boy on the shoulder and got up, rummaging around in the dark, oaken dresser that the inn provided. "Those attackers were the evil ones, not you. You were the only one with enough spine to fight back. Personally, I feel that if someone isn't willing to help themselves, then they aren't worth helping. But, that's just me."

He searched about, and began to knock on the bottom of every drawer, as if searching for something specific. "This inn was once used as a drug trafficking stop about three days ago. They realized how dangerous it was to do so, and simply stopped." His knuckles rapped smartly against the bottom of the drawer, and a small square suddenly gave way. "Ah."

He reached into the small recess, and pulled out a brown pouch, and, giving it a small shake, grunted approvingly when it jingled, loudly. He pocketed the small sack and motioned for the boy to stand. "Come on. If that blade of yours is evil, then discard it. I'll get you something that is a little more... noble than a blade used to slit people's throats in their sleep." He opened the door and ducked, a fist flying over his head.

Kihaku's right hand shot up, grabbing the offender's wrist and pulled sharply. His left had went to the opponent's torso, and he shoved up, and then away. The attacker went sailing through the room, and then shattered through the window across the room. Kihaku stood and just continued out of the room as if it hadn't just happened. "Come on, I'm not sending you defenseless into that tournament."

[chameleon]

"Yes sir" Cham said following him. He was very surprised at Kihaku's words, that Cham wasnt evil, he did the right thing, and that he was proud of him. That filled Cham with the most pride. No one had ever really been proud of him before. Cham removed the blade and looked for somewhere to dispose of it, but didnt see a trash can near by. It was easier he guessed, just to hold onto it until he found one. He didnt want to stick it in a wall or anything, that would be damaging to people who didnt deserve to have damage done to their property.

Cham was also wondering what Kihaku was getting him that will help him defend himself in the ring. He had never really fought with anything before. What he was used to were scythes for farming and short swords for clearing trails. Those were the only 'tools' that his people would use, if you didnt count the rest of the gardening supplies. Whatever he was getting, he was eager to learn how to use it completely and sufficiantly. He really hoped he'd be able to make it past the 1st round.

[kihaku]

Kihaku led him out of the inn and across the street, bumping into sweaty, stinky pedestrians as he nearly fought his way through the flowing tide of Dragonians and... other things. In the sunlight, his dark visage did little to the people around him, hence the surprise attack at the doorway, but people were still leery of him when they caught sight of his face. He enjoyed making people uncomfortable.

When they finally managed to flounder over to the exact oppsite side of the huge walkway, they stepped into a gloomy building that had been built in the style of a traditional japanese dojo. Sliding the door open, Kihaku gave a satisfied grunt as air-conditioned coolness hit his pallid complexion. He stepped onto the hardwood floors, boots making the smallest of thumps as he moved deeper into the building. He turned to check to make sure his apprentice was still behind him, and had to squint against the sunlight that was pouring into the dim interior.

"Shut the damn door! You're letting all the cool out!" barked a deep, raspy voice. The door slammed shut just behind Cham, nearly catching his shirt in the sliding frame. Kihaku stepped up to a glass counter that had been set up in the small front office, showcasing a number of evil looking weapons, a few of which Kihaku wouldn't have minded getting his hands on. The proprietor was a plump man with greasy black hair that had been slicked to the side. His corpulent features did little to make him look any more attractive with his beady little eyes, plump fingers that held enough jewlery to feed a small village for a month.

He smiled a grin full of yellowed teeth, his tiny eyes looking over Kihaku's dark facade and Chameleon's pitiful frame, probably estimating how much he could shaft them for. "Hey cheif, I can tell you're one of the more... shall we say, 'qualified' patrons, so if there's nothing here you like, just say the word and I'll take you in back where I've got all my good stuff."

Kihaku raised a single gloved hand to cut him off. "Stow it. I know what I want and it's none of the cheap crap you sell to second-rate theives. No, I want a good quality short sword, somewhere between two and a half to three feet." Kihaku watched his face purpling as indignation built up in that podgy frame of his. kihaku leaned forward and let his voice slither across the glass like a dangerous snake, "I'm not a patient man. I've killed men better and worse than you, don't make the mistake of angering me." The fat man blanched rather disturbingly before scuttling back to the storeroom, parting the black velvet curtain and disappearing.

Kihaku turned to Chameleon and nodded. "A weapon is just what you need. That, and a few hours every day at this dojo will most definitely serve our purpose of toughening up your soft pink skin." Kihaku laughed as the man came back with only three swords, the trio making quite an impressive find. Their sheaths were dyed different colors, black, red, and green, and their handles each had pommels of differing styles. The black one had a dragon's head roaring out of it's hilt, scales sliding back towards the dull, dark sheath. In the middle was one of deep, blood red, a tiger's head set in an almost identical snarl. The body was set in a predatory crouch, the sheath a smooth, crimson surface.

The emerald green one caught Kihaku's eye, the shortest one, sure, but it was the pattern on the hilt and sheath that reminded him of Chameleon. The hilt, while wrapped in a light green cloth, was smooth and unpolished. The sheath was set with leaves falling gently from the hilt, a most serene and beautiful setting to be sure. Kihaku gently lifted the sword from the counter and drew it slowly, a muffled hiss as the silver blade came alive in his hand. The blade was folded steel, beautifully crafted, but most importantly, it was sharp as hell. "What d'you say to this one Cham?" Kihaku asked, sliding the blade home and handing it over.

[chameleon]

Cham followed Kihaku close at his heels across the crowed. The crowed sure was annoyingly cramped, he hated it. He wasnt use to this many people around him all the time. They finally arrived at the weapons shop to where, upon entry the merchent yelled at Kihaku and the door nearly split Cham in two as it shut. Cham looked the merchent over and gave a small bow and looked up at Kihaku. "Is he a king?" He said more to himself. He had jewels on each finger, which should have meant that he was wealthy.

The man left into the back and Kihaku commented on him being a pink. That was yet another thing that Cham didnt understand, he wasnt pink, he was the color of a peach, maybe a little paler, but not pink. Oh well though, nothing to cry about.

The man returned with 3 short swords and Cham's eyes immediately connected with the green one. It seemed to perfect, awesome, and overall, made just for him. He didnt know, but it felt like the sword was calling to him.

Kihaku's question as he held up the sword startled him. "Oh, it's a great one, but I couldnt ask it be be bought for me."

[kihaku]

Kihaku poked cham in the chest, pushing him back a few inches. "You're not asking for it, I'm asking if you'll accept it." He turned away from the boy and faced the owner of the store, who was rubbing his grubby palms like he'd just struck gold. "@800."

The owner's face turned to one who was dumbfounded, as if he'd just heard that pigs fly and hell had frozen over. He slammed his palms down on the glass case, his voice was strained. "I'm sorry, but that sword is priced at @3,250, and not a single @ less." He held out his hand, giving his fingers a flick to beckon Chameleon to return the sword. Kihaku held up his arm and advanced further on the proprietor. "I didn't ask you what you want for it, I'm telling what I'm paying for it. It's good quality," he leaned up against the glass case, his face dangerously close to the owner's. "It's good quality, but it's still just a short sword, mady by someone you killed."

Kihaku pulled out the pouch and emptied half the contents, gold spilling across the glass. Eyes aglow with greed, he fingered the gold peices and looked up at Kihaku. "What's the extra for?" Kihaku tied the pouch shut and pocketed it. "For use of the dojo. Privately and exclusively. I want no interruptions of myself and my apprentice."