Ark 21 Episode 3: Mirror

Participants

 * Connor Ryoji
 * Yumi Ikeda

In Le Morning
Yumi would gander at the sunrise peeking out from one of the many buildings in the city…it was about 6 in the morning and she found herself on the very last floor of a parkin garage; the roof and the lot was empty leaving very spacious room….in all honesty it didn’t seem like anyone used this for parking, it was just a large three floor parking garage with little to no cars. Connor Ryoji had been hard at work trying to solve a mystery to what Dog bite and his goons were up to but he might not have had anything to go on, it was none of her concern as she had done her part and told him what he wanted to hear. She wore her usual white blouse button up and black boy shorts with a green skirt that went down just below her knees. Her feet were wrapped up in bandages, as were her wrists and hands as she curls rough fingers around the chain links of the fence that surrounded the entire floor, maybe to keep people from accidentally falling to their deaths though anyone who’d fall from this height and die was an idiot and she simply called it ‘natural selection doing its job’. The wind blows slightly, doing it’s best to push her bangs in to her eyes as she frowns and grabs them, pushing off of the fence and sighing. With a simple hair piece she brings her bangs back ontop of her head and keeps them in place, not caring if it looked right or not as she would begin her warming exercises, the first would be slowly stretching in to a complete split, hearing the satisfying cracks as she then bends her upper body forward, her legs still apart, stretching her limbs out further as her arms reach out as far as possible. Though she was warming up, her mind was sort of not focused as she tried to figure out what would be next for her…what was her purpose? Also where was she going to live? She was running low on funds and the motel she’d spend the last couple of nights at were kicking her out for fear of being on Dog bites bad side for housing someone on his black list. Her last night was spent sleeping over at….someones apartment. The thought of who it was made her ticked as she tried not to recall a rather perky escort who molested her breasts in the early hours of the night. ‘Damn May always doing weird things to me…’

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pe9dToThkI&index=32&list=PLYNBny7IRlVkbiSVlrNHnbXbgZBIdU3Pl ) “Ngh….” Connor would be standing in front of the bathroom mirrior wearing tidy whitty’s, scratching his balls and brushing his teeth at the same time. Having been fresh from the shower, his hair had a bit of a fluff to it, but nothing   quick brushing couldn’t fix. He’d gargle the toothpaste in his mouth for a minute before spitting out into the sink. He’d rise up looking in the mirror and slapping his face a couple of times, his stereo blasting his morning instrumental as he glided into the kitchen, light on his feet today. He didn’t like cooking….and kodi was terrible at it…so he’d just heat up 6 slices of pepperoni and bacon pizza, and douse it with hot sauce, going to town on it rather feverishly. Washi would fade into existence beside Connor, folding his arms, his orange sunglasses resting prominently on the bridge of his nose. “You know, that kind of a diet cannot be good for a growing martial artist. Seriously, your collin’s going to kill itself.” Connor shrugged, dipping the crust of the last slice in, well, a cup full of hot sauce. He’d hold   it over his open mouth going   “ahhhhh” before letting it drop down inside. Connor would then take a bite out of the fine china plate. He’d being munching on it as well, before downing the rest of it As an onihoruda, Connor had a bit of a ravenous hunger, caused by his infinite digestive system. Users of this ability can eat any form of matter regardless of size or shapes without harming their stomach or mouth. They are also capable of storing matter within their bodies and spitting it back out when the moment calls for it. Connor would look up, to washi brow. “Well if it kills me it kills me, but I think I’m actually gaining muscle….i don’t know. Can’t call it. When ever I get a whiff of negative emotions I soak em on up. kind of annoying. “ Connor would stretch his arms, and yawning. “Welp, time to go find Yumi. She’s got some training to undergo.” “You’re training her now? I thought she was your rival? Well you her rival.” Connor would wave his hans. “no no no, we’re rivals legit. It’s just….i see a lot of fighting potential within her, and I want to exploit it. if that makes sense. “ Connor looked at the palm of his hand for a second remembering the second degree burns he’d gotten form her. “She reminds me so much of me it’s scary….i feel like if I just give her the push I didn’t get she can hone her skill so much earlier on! staring with her style! Muay Thai!” Connor would beat on his chest with a smirk. “I’ll take her in and teach her myself!” Connor would head to his bedroom and slip on a pair of black sweat pants with white stripes on the sides of them. He’d also put on a long sleeve thermal with the Red Dawn’s shield on the front of it, smoothing down his ruffled brown hair and grabbing his back pack, filling it with ropes. Connor would slam his hand on the dresser, sending his phone air borne in a series of lfips, before he’d catch it, and begin dialing Yumi’s number, which he’d secured to at least keep some form of tabs on her. He’d dial her ump and put the phone to his ear. “Yo, It’s Ryoji. You busy? If not, meet me meet at the spot underneath the free way bridge, with those tall ass stone pillars. We’re gonna spar a bit today. Whip you in some shape. I know you’re not getting much action since you ditched dog bite. Anywho, meet there iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin 5. Sprint if you have to, you’ll make it. builds character.” Connor would hang up the phone before giving her a chance to reply. heading   outside the front door of his shack, he’d step over to his car, and hop inside. Starting it up, he’d back out the space, and begin driving himself over to the spot he’d told her to meet him. he didn’t know if she’d even come, if but if he was getting to know her right, she wasn’t one likely to turn down a fight of any sort.

Squad Up
Still doing her warm ups, she heard her phone vibrating beside her. She gives it a scowl as she did not like using such forms of technology…if you wanted to speak with someone why not just find them the old fashion way? Never the less she reaches over and flips it open with a calm ‘Yes?’ It was Connor…he talked pretty quickly, she didn’t even have a chance to reply but one thing was for sure, she was going to be there. “Whip me in to shape?” She repeated with a raised brow before her lip twitched and she slammed the phone shut, glaring at nothing. “I swear that bastard loves being cocky doesn’t he?” She rises from the ground and smacks her teeth in annoyance…it looks like her troubles would have to be set aside as her rival wanted to do some sparring. Fine by her but there was no guarantee she wouldn’t lose her temper and turn it into a death match, she still had a bone to pick with him. Grabbing her black bag, she tosses the phone in it and looks out on to the city, north, west and east….when she sees where to go she makes a running start towards the fence, bending her knees before launching herself in to the air in a front flip, landing on the wobbly pipe that held the chain links together before jumping off from that as well, falling from the third story parking garage and on to an oncoming semi-truck, landing on her shoulder in a roll before straightening herself back up in a standing stance. She had no problem staying in one place as the driver headed for the freeway, giving her a ride unbeknown to him. Connor Ryoji…she was still trying to figure that one out, she wasn’t sure what his angle was nor why he wanted to bother with her. Hell she didn’t even know why she was going to meet up with him, most trainers who offered their services to Yumi were brushed off like nothing but he wanted to teach her and she was okay with it. It might have been something to do with their first match…it was something she wouldn’t forget as sparks begun to fly from her fists and she glares in anger. “That fuck face.” Once more, she would never admit he was an excellent fighter, instead she’d just get mad at the fact he could have beaten her that night. Spotting the bridge up ahead she cools her temper and jumps off from the truck before it can hit the freeway, walking over to the underpass with a sort of cautious expression, she was the type that was always on guard. Tossing her black bag to the side, she would begin to roll up her hair in to two tight buns on either side of her head, her bangs still kept in place on top her head from the hair piece she used before. Gazing up at the pillars, she could make out faded graffiti, some with offensive slang and others making a shout out to their crew.

As she landed on the ground, Connor would already begin pulling up, as he’d drive slowly by her, parking his car off ways away from the giant area of there soon to be battle field so to speak. Connor would turn the car off, hopping out of it, and shutting the butterfly door. He’d dust himself off, looking over at Yumi with his brows raised, in a plain jane expression that mixed between annoyance and non chalontness. “Ah, Yumi, Yumi Yumi. Glad you came.” He’d smirk, and place his hands on his hips looking at her. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Today is the day. You gotta learn Yumi, to be Connor Ryoji’s rival, you have to BE capable of doing so. You’re not weak sauce…I acknowledge you as being strong. Butt that doesn’t mean you can’t get any stronger.” Connor would walk closer to her, and drop to his knee, ruffling his hands around I n his bag. He’d pull out some rope, and lay it down. Standing up inn the crips winter air, he’d remove his shirt, tossing it twarods his car, and begin wraping his fist in rope. ‘I see you Muay Thai people to death. I also know Muay Thai, all be it, I put my own spin on everything but I see some areas, you could use a tad bit of improvement on. Take that how you wanna take it, yes I’m training you in a sense. If you don’t like it fine.” Connor would look at her with a devious smile. “But I know you wouldn’t turn down the chance to fight me huuuuuuuh? Am I making you mad? Does the little fireball wanna bash my skull in? if you do good, cause if you don’t, today’s training will be an utter failiure.” Connor would’ve wrapped his fist, up to his forearm in ropes, knuckles include, as he’d walk and now be standing 10 feet across from Yumi. “Like I said it’s Muay Thai vs Muay Thai. However I’m going to show you, the difference between using Muay Thai and defeating an opponent using Muay Thai. There is a difference. Any objections   you might have?” Connor would wait to hear her answer, not like he much cared, as he’d keep his legs spead shoulder width apart, but with his right side facing yumi, he’d let his right foot stand up on his tippie to placed on the ground and his back leg flat on it’s surface. He’d inhale sharply, raising his arms above his head before lowering them both down slowly, his left hand drawn back, bent at the elbow closer to his face, and his right hand extendd. Both his fist closed (like this as he’d eye yumi down. Clenching his fist so the sound of ropes tightening would break the crisp morning air. “Let’s get it cackin. I’ve got allllllllllll the time in the world.”



Connor is in sight and he doesn’t waste too much time on getting started this early in the morning. Yumi makes her way over to him, blue hues watching him an annoyed expression…he really did like getting a rile out of people, didn’t he? Must have been like a second nature to the man as she doesn’t respond to his urging her own…she knew what he was trying to do. He wanted her angry and though his words were making her pissed off, she did not respond in any smack talk. She still wasn’t sure why he wanted to make her stronger but she did want to be his rival and if this is what it would take for them to fight then so be it. “Fine.” She did not sound bored nor uninterested…if he was going to be serious about it then she would do so as well. The ropes around his arms caught her attention and she would begin to tighten her own bandages once more out of habit. When he called her a little fireball though, her fists ignited on their own, her eyes narrowing as she grits her teeth tightly together. “Don’t push me, Ryoji. I’ll listen and allow you to train me but watch your mouth.” With that being said she made the first move, shooting towards him with a flurry of flames at her heels to push her off at a 60 mph speed in only 0.3 seconds, her fist pulled back like a gun getting ready to fire and as it shoots out in a right hook to the left side of his face, her next move afterwards would have her pivot to the left in a spin, an elbow strike aimed to the same spot to fully break his cheek bone if it connected the first time of course before finishing off the combo with an upper cut knee to the chin. If neither of those hit and he would retaliate with either a dodge or a block her knee would hit nothing and send her in to a back flip, landing swiftly on the ground in a crouched position and she would once more charge again for the same combination, intent on getting first blood. Though this was just a spar and she would learn something today, that didn’t mean they were going to take it easy on the other….if Ryoji did not see her as his rival then she would work hard until he did and one day they would fight to the death and the match would be something to remember for centuries to come. With that thought in her mind she would fight him with a determined fire that burned in to her spirit here today.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXicg6QA4b0&index=257&list=PLYNBny7IRlVkbiSVlrNHnbXbgZBIdU3Pl&shuffle=6480 ) Connor heard hear warning, but completely ignored it. He needed to push her,, he needed her to go all out. To see if she could truly have the best of both worlds i.e channeling rage into power, but keeping her mind as keen as a blade when it came to   martial arts. That being said, whens he came in with the right hook towards connor’s face, Connor would, eat the first lick, like always, he loved to get that extra boost of energy taking a hit from an opponent. He’d taken many a hits from many of people, one of which included a super strengthen blonde haired brute. However that doesn’t mean the shit doesn’t’   hurt. His face turned a bit as the blow connected, Connor having on eye open as she continued with her combination. When she pivoted to the left aiming her elbow at the same spot, Connor would use this attempt to show her the beauty of the style she was using. As the elbow came in, connor would lift his own right elbow   and quickly attempt to jam it into her foream i.e the attacking arm she was using. This attempt if connected as a proper counter, would leave a baseball sized bruise on her arm, as Connor’s srike would literally hit her “to the bone” having struck at her with fierce intent, not of the murderous kind, but of the kind muay thai was supposed to be thrown with. Her arm would lock in spazim, from connor deeply impacting his elbow against her arm. Connor would use this attempt to counter with his own combination inturpting her own combination at this point.. He’d then grip her by the right side of her neck, using his right hand (since he was in position behind her), and use his left hand in attempts to grip her left shoulder, and dart backwards, offing her position of footing and leaving her at a slightly skewed standing angle, before wrapping his muscular left arm around her neck, in a reverse head lock position where her head would be facing up, and her body would be in a back bend position. A reverse grip wide angle clench it was called, as connor would then use his free right arm and hook it over her right arm, to hold it down and attempt to block all possible counters form that arm in this position. Connor would then   use his right leg, and begin bending it at the knee attempting to repeatedly bash the back of her skull…with his heel. An odd attacking point and angle, he’d be balancing one his left leg, while repeatedly bending   right knee to strike her in the back of her head with enough force to cause   severe double concussion if she sustained anywhere from 4-5 of these forceful knees. As he preformed his maneuver Cononr would speak. “You leave your back open when you do those turning elbows…it’s best to preform those kinds of elbows as counter attacks, never full scale assaults. A five year old could’ve taken your back side a lot quicker and easier than I could have…” Connor would tighten his grip around her neck in this clench, showing no mercy as he’d keep throwing these heels to the back of her head until she passed out or found a way to break free.

When the counter strike to her forearm makes contact, she winces in pain, that stung like a bitch! The next thing she knew she was being grabbed and motioned in to a reverse lock, her face pointing towards the sky as her eyes widen in surprise. What the fuck?! Before she can take any time to think, a heel strike hits the back of her head repeatedly and she can somewhat make out what Ryoji was saying about her moves. How he went about it pissed her off but there was no time in being sensitive unless she wanted to get knocked the fuck out in the first five minutes of their match. Though her left arm was free and she thought of going for a grab at the back of his neck to throw him forward, her knees were the ones to move first, using her bodys bent position to give herself a push off of the ground, both legs pressed tightly together as her knees soar up and in to his face, striking him with a powerful hit before opening her legs and wrapping them around his neck, bringing him forward with a quick swoop as he’s flipped, the arm holding her right would now be at the mercy of it as he’s locked in an arm bar, laying herself on her back as she pulls it hard enough to go yank the limb out of its socket, her eyes narrowing in anger still in control. At this point one would say something witty in a comeback but Yumi was not one to make jokes in a serious situation as she was intent on winning this spar matching, her hands clenching tightly to his wrist as she twists the arm to keep him immobilized as best she could for the moment…this time around she was not going to depend on her fire to help her in this fight…she needed to learn Muay Thai to the point where she was unstoppable and Ryoji was the key to that.

Connor would watch as she propelled her knees forward. Smirking as she was learning so quickly to use her entire body as a weapon and not just one single aspect of fighting mechanics. When she brought her knees up in a double knee type attack Connor’s head was rocked backwards! Blood teetering out of his noose, and a wide eyed dazed look to his expression to match it! just as quick, she’d wrap her legs around his head, pulling him into a forward roll. “Damn..i know where this is going.” Connor was fiped forward, however, she played smart to secure his arm in her flipping position, as she’d lock him in an arm bar. Laying on her back as she was pulling on it attempt to break it from it’s socket and dislocate it,however connor was n stranger to the locks of Jiu-Jitsu, not by a long shot. When she’d attempted to pull, Connor’s motion shifted as he’d turn on the shoulder of the arm she had, and like a python shoot his arm through her legs, and grip his hand. Both of his hands and fingers now interlocked with one antoher, he’d take pressure off his arm by flexing his muscles and bending his arms so the arm bar wasn’t effective any more at this point. Connor’s training in jiu jitsu, as This is most prominant in connor's fluid movements, moving with an agility and finess that contradicts his brash attitude, as ever movement made by Connor is rarely stiff and unyeilding, but rather constantly flowing and lucid. In only a short second, Connor would have girp of his arms and now be in a crouched position. Connor wouldn’t give her the time to   let go or fix her positioning, as he’d allow her to grip on to his arm while he himsef would stand to his full height. This would put her in a curled up like position, elevated into the air by Connor.(a visual as to how they’re positioning looks http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/divx024/newtonhughes.gif   Connor would then stick his left leg out, knee extended   and he’d bring her down using his muscle strength to accelerate her body down and slam her upper back on his bare knee! Right between the shoulder blades! This impact would literally cause a brief feeling of numbness in her nervous system, specifically her arms which were gripping his own arm and send her into a roaring feeling of pain and angst! But that wasn’t all as the impact from the knee would cause her body to shoot upwards into the air, just   a bit above connor’s head. To which Connor would accompany this, in less than half a second, he’d leap up, spinning his body around in a 360 before sending a spiraling flying knee into the left side of her rib cage! His posture on point as he’d use a combination of his body movement, hips, and leg muscles to jut the knee outwards as hard as he wanted to, his opposite leg bent as well to draw in power from his jumping momentum to boot. If this knee connected, not only would Yumi once again have severe cracked ribs on her left side, 4 this time but her body would dart straight to the ground, impacting the cement with cracks aroud her being at the same time, back first. Connor would then land and take his stance while speaking, rolling his fist around one another, and shifting forwards, then back wards, taking up the stance he did at the start. (http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s70/mysticdensukez/Martial%20Arts%20Gifs/fd4ef4f6df9ecb7ad8017e1522406ff0_zps45ac29c4.gif ) “Every position is vulnerable, some more than others. Never forget, while muay thai IS the eight point fighting style, it’s up to the pracitoner to decide when the 8 points play more role than the others. Your 8 points are not your only weapon your body is. Your knees and elbows are not the weapon. You as a whole must become the weapon. Make sense? Come at me again…you’re learning.”

Hours Later
Yumis body is lifted off of the ground much to her dismay as Connor figures out how to retaliate, the next thing she knows shes slammed down hard on his knee and she gets the wind knocked out of her, feeling her very spine vibrate and her vision even goes for a moment from the pain alone. Her body does it’s best to absorb the shock and though her arms would be numb, her tolerance for pain is not as her body turns in time to catch the knee aimed for her ribs, allowing her forearms to take the most damage, still being sent back down to the ground but now with not as much impact as it could have been…She opens determined eyes that lock on to Connor as he speaks and tells her shes learning. She would take hit after hit no matter how many times she would get knocked down, she wouldn’t stay there and with a passionate will to learn her body would rise back up and she would simply say. ‘Again.’ She would throw punches, he would show her how to do it better and it would go on like this for 6 hours straight until finally the last punch thrown at her keeps her down, Yumi falls to her knees and starts gasping for air, her body exhausted from the beating. Though winning was everything, you learned nothing from it…losing, you would always take something new with you. Her legs and arms were full of bruises and swollen lumps, her bandages soaked in her own blood and his. Her buns had long since come out and her hair was laying in long locks around her slumped shoulders. She finally falls down on her back, staring up at the sky as a lazy gust of wind blows by….she could move no more and Connor knew it. Her eye was slightly swollen shut, her nose was probably on the edge of breaking if given another pop to it and her sides were on fire from the multiple strikes directed to them. Never the less, regardless of the pain and the beating, she’d learned something and hung on to every move and every word he’d say…no one had cared enough to do this for her….and she still couldn’t figure out why he bothered but she wouldn’t throw away free lessons from her rival. If she wanted to be at his level then she’d accept his help so she could continue on forward. Slightly moving her shoulder, she hears a snap and she winces, unable to help it as she begins to laugh…..no she didn’t lose her mind it was a sort of coping mechanism with pain as she just let out a sort of laugh, something she hadn’t done in the longest time before murmuring through busted lips. “You beat the fuck out of me. Thanks…”

As Connor launched his combination upon her, he’d take note of her ability to block, even in her current posisiton. Connor was impressed none the less! He’d smirk, showing his teeth and his fangs as he’d continue trading punches,and giving her proper instruction on how to do certain muay thai manuvers. Hours passed…thought it all felt like minutes almost. Connor would stand up with his head tilted towards the sky being at Yumi’s feet and his hands on his hips. He’d be panting heavily…his face was covered in bruises, brown bloctes that were sitting on his skin. He’d wipe his forehead of sweat, his knuckles bleeding profusely as he’d sigh and smile with a   goofly laugh, conicidentaly luahging when she did. “You beat the fuck out of me. Thanks…” Connor would look down at her and place his hand on the side of his neck, popping it on the left side and the right side. He’d wince, closing one eye and sighing at the release of the noise. “Well if it’s any consolation I think you could’ve broken my neck a couple of times. So give your self a pat on the back if you can do that much.” Connor would smirk, and plop down on his butt, sitting with his knees t his chest, and his arms hanging off of his knees. It was about mid day down, and a shadow cast udner the bridge, keeping them hidden form the sun. it was starting to warm up outside as the sun broke the cold temperatures to a more comfortable 75 degrees. Connor would look at yumi, kicking her foot with his own and speaking. “Oi, Yumi. I gotta ask. You’re one tough snatch….what are you fighting for? If you have a reason to fight that is. “ Connor paused for a second and continued. “My pops always told me when two people fight one another, it’s often easier to see how the other person is feeling when their fist make contact with one another. I get the same feeling from you that I had. It’s weired. You should stop being like me so much…not to sound concided, but it gets you into some pretty dark palces…” Connor furrowed his brow. “I feel like a fucking mentor…you don’t have to listen to me and shit but. I want to..steer you in the right direction. I mean…do you have any dreams? Something worth fighting for besides trying to kick my ass? Which. Ant gonna happen by the way.” Connor would give her a smug smile wincing a bit. His jaw was pretty bruised so smiling exactly didn’t help it.

She would rest her arm over her forehead and keep it there, feeling the sweat of her face and forearm meet. When he said there were moments she could have killed him, it just made her let out a short ‘hah’ this time…could have doesn’t cut it for her. Then he was asking her questions and it grabbed her attention as she does her best to sit up when he kicks her leg. Now in a sitting position with her legs extended out, she frowns at him. It wasn’t as if the question upset her it’s just…no one had ever asked her that before. She sort of looked around cautiously at first before rubbing the back of her neck as she tried to think of how to tell him how it all started…she didn’t plan on letting him in on her life story of course, this wasn’t a chick flick moment so she would just settle with letting out a sigh. “I was a kid of the streets so I was self taught…I’d sneak in to the neighborhood gym and watch some fighter who loved muay thai. I thought it was cool using your body like a weapon but I sucked in the beginning…And a kids gotta eat but I wasn’t up for being a prostitute so I entered in the fights. I was a scrawny girl so they just sort of put me up against tough guys that got off on beating on weaker opponents but I got paid for it so I dealt. I guess after a year of it I woke up and got tired of being beaten up on so I fought back. I did it more for myself because growing up I had nothing to my name, no roof over my head or family…but when I fight, I feel like I have something special. It’s all mine…and I share that with my opponent who’s also special in their fighting style, something they worked so hard for and its all them. Muay Thai is special to me and so is fighting…no one can take away that feeling from me.” She realizes she indeed ended up talking too much but she doesn’t apologize as she sort of shifts her eyes to the side to gander at the scenery. “My dream…” She repeats in an almost thoughtful tone. “I don’t think I’ve gotten that far yet. Ask me again in a couple of years.” She didn’t know what her dreams were, what would be the whole point of fighting and fighting until she was the best but she felt it was more than just being the best….more than proving to other people who she was. She knew she was good, she didn’t have to convince anyone of that. Thinking about something else she looks back at him with a raised brow. “Why do you want to mentor me though? Steer me in the right direction? Not that I don’t appreciate what you’re doing but why care if I go to dark places??”

A Moment
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpGZ9sAH_Hc&list=PLYNBny7IRlVkbiSVlrNHnbXbgZBIdU3Pl&index=128&shuffle=19719 )Connor looked her square in the eyes as she told her story. It wasn’t so much different than his that he couldn’t relate. He was indeed filled with a sense of pride seeing a woman not willing to turn to prostitution, was such a shock, but greatufl that someone even still remotely valued   their body’s worth. Connor nodded along, and twiddled his fingers hearing out the rest of his story and all he could think about was how much like him she really was. Connor loved combat. It was for him what it was for her. His. Something to own. Skill. Something no one could ever take away from you, but you could give and show to the world. Connor looked away for a second. Like a magent he felt drawn to her because he could relate and understand her. It was rare finding someone like that in a lifetime, but here she was right infront of him he snapped back to reality when she couldn’t answer his question about what her dream was. He prooded his lips and furrowed his brow a bit at her. Her next question had him raise his brows a bit as she was rather direct…like himself…fuck, this was getting weird. “Why do you want to mentor me though? Steer me in the right direction? Not that I don’t appreciate what you’re doing but why care if I go to dark places??” Connor sighed his body slouching down a bit as he did, before he began to speak. “I care because. Huh. That’s actually a good one. I don’t have much reason to care, but…well…gah fuck.” Connor ran a hand through his hair. “When you..make a choice. Good or bad. There is always a consequence. An outcome. Take my brother for example. Seems like a cool guy right? Nice and righteous. You wouldn’t believe not even more than a little over a year ago he was a killer who ran from the law and ate people. Slaughtering mercilessly…just to kill me. Yep. Lil old Connor Ryoji.” Connor shifted his body to an indian sitting position. “See in the last GMAF’s we finally fought. I was having my match with Daisuke and it was interrupted. Me and Leon squred off finally. I was weakened, but I awakened a power within me, blah blah blah, and I defeated him. the moral of the story is that after our battle Leon began to hate himself. The choices he made. The way he did things, and feeling sorrow for the people he killed. He walks around every day saving people, to try and attone for the people he killed…looking for a redemption and a reason to forgive himself. He carries that burden with him, and even now is struggling to let it go.” Connor pointed at Yumi. “You ever think what would’ve happen if you did become a prostitute? Opening your legs to some stranger every night, getting a nut and getting paid for it? probably makes you shiver inside. I bet your glad you didn’t take that dark road aren’t you. That’s what I’m getting at. I want to…steer you down a path where every decision you make is what you WANT to do! All I did growing up was kick ass, and If you wanna kick ass and take names, do that! but don’t be stupid about it and put yourself in a position you’ll constantly walk around regretting. Whishing and wondering what could’ve been.” Connor would point to himself. “Look I’m not a good guy, I never have been. I’m a jerk, I’m impulsive, and I’m way to overconfident and good looking for my own good. But every decision I make I live with and take in stride. When I look at you It’s …like looking in a mirror. I don’t want to see you take a dark road…I mean to each their own. It’s your life. Hell you ant gotta listen to me. As far as you know I’m just a guy who hits hard and has money. But if I can help it, I’ll give you the tools to carve your own path. But you’ve gotta help me. “ Connor would close his eyes and smile, beating his chest. “I need your help, to find you a dream! A goal to strive for! If you find…something to fight for that matters to you and only you. There ‘s never gonna be a limit to what you can do Yumi! But until you find what you’re fighting for you’ll always be at the level you are. Make sense? Or does this sound like some cheesy two bit anime written script?”

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uESGq1KRs24 ) She didn’t think he’d tell her much, he didn’t seem like the type to share anything with a stranger but…the way they fought and traded blows, she felt like she had known him from another life. It was something strange but she wouldn’t think too much on it as she listened to him speak, she was curious as to why he did care unless it was just because he felt bad for her. But that was not the case…not even close. Her eyes lift up in pleasant surprise as she hears the word ‘brother’. So that was who that was from the last time? The more he talks the harder she listens in on every word…Connor Ryoji was indeed a strange guy, just when she figures him out and takes a step closer he takes two steps back and it was actually somewhat frustrating. She was able to read people, most were rich bullies bent on making the poor suffer….others were poor thugs intent on robbing from other poor and rich alike. Bad people were bad people and good were good…but Connor was making her see it wasn’t always so black and white. When she is pointed at and told how she was glad she didn’t become a prostitute she understands completely now why he was doing this. Something inside of her shifted and her heart grew three sizes that day……..fuck no that didn’t happen but what Yumi was feeling did have a name but she wouldn’t bother trying to figure it out but Connor Ryoji looked at her in a way only one other man ever did. The old homeless man who raised Yumi as a baby…who wanted to see her fight and survive and make something of herself. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have someone talk to her like this. For someone to care…when he asks if she understands she merely snorts and kicks him in the leg, returning his kick from earlier. “Of course I get it, I’m not an idiot like you. You don’t have to get all pumped up over a dream that isn’t even gonna be yours.” She would frown and huff in defiance but after a moment of silence her expression would soften as she looks over at their shadows and though their shape was different they belonged to two very determined fighters reaching for something. With a sigh she shakes her head and murmurs. “Ryoji I don’t know why but for some reason we were destined to cross paths…I tend to follow my own destiny but I’ll stop being stubborn for now and listen to what the universe wants to say.” Though she'd come here to spar and beat on Connor, she wouldn't have expected them to actually sit down and talk like this...she couldn't recall the last time she actually just sat and spoke with another human being she didn't have to keep on guard for fear of her life.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua_JLxlFQDE&index=58&list=PLYNBny7IRlVkbiSVlrNHnbXbgZBIdU3Pl ) “Ryoji I don’t know why but for some reason we were destined to cross paths…I tend to follow my own destiny but I’ll stop being stubborn for now and listen to what the universe wants to say.” Connor held his hand up to her after she spoke. “Don’t call me by my last name. All of my enemies do that. Call me Connor. You’re my friend Yumi, you don’t have to be so damn formal with me. Sheesh, get a social life would ya toots?” Connor would stand up, stretching his arms out, popping his back and taking the ropes off of   his forearms and put them back in his bag. “Oh by the way. Get your shit, your coming with me.” Connor would stand to his full height, looking at her, and offering to help her off of the ground. “Next to my shack is a base of operations called the Shinpaku Homestead. It has a lot of shit in it, including a living quarters. Theres always food, clean water, and free cable. Plus, the gang orders like 20 large pizza’s on the weekends and theres always some left over. We’ve got a bunch of fitness nuts.” Weather she took his hand or not to get up, he’d begin walking to his car, and hop inside. Starting it up and letting the egine purr silently he’d open the passenger seat door and yell out “By the way! I wasn’t asking! If you don’t, I’m gonna chase you down, run you over, and take you the hospital. Which is a block away from the place you’ll be living in! so get a move on read head.” Connor would rev the engine twice waiting for her to get in. once and if she did, he’d drive off back towards the place he mentioned, attempting to help his mini me one step at a time, starting with a better place to live than no where.

He wanted her to call him by his first name though it would be hard for her as that was just how she went about announcing people….informal was not her style but she would do what he asked. “Connor.” She tried by itself before listening to him offer her a place to stay, ignoring the ‘toots’ comment….for now. She gives him an almost dumbfounded look, not knowing what to say. “I’ve never had pizza before so I can’t say I’m too excited that it’s in such large quantities…” She takes his hand and pulls herself up, grabbing her black bag and slinging it somewhat painfully over her shoulder. “Connor, I don’t think I should…I don’t do well with other people, it isn’t that I detest the company of another human but when there is more than one I am not experienced in social mingling.” But he wasn’t having any of it as he entered his car and opened the passenger side. It looks like nothing she said was going to change his mind as she gave out an annoyed expression, smacking her teeth. “Fuck, fine I’ll do it.” She makes her way over and enters the car, shutting the door calmly before giving him a punch on the shoulder. “Don’t call me toots!!!!” Though knowing him he’d probably just laugh it off.