(Outdated) The King of Elements

Basura

Dre rushed at Kamatsu, his fist was balled up as he threw a wide haymaker. Kamatsu dodged the punch easily and tripped him, making Dre crash on the ground. "So, you done yet?"

Dre was seething as he stood back up and dashed back towards Kamatsu. "Apparently not!" he said as Dre began throwing a flurry of unanswered punches. Each punch narrowly missed Kamatsu, and with each miss, Dre's fury heightened. Why am I not hitting?! He sent a right hook spiraling at the samurai, however instead of dodging the punch, he deflected it away with his left hand, spun around to Dre's back, and slapped the back of his head with his right hand.

"That's one to zero, right? Or were you keeping count?" He gave a conceded grin as he replaced his hands behind his back again. "Honestly, I'd be very embarrassed right now if I was in your shoes."

Dre growled fiercely, he panted through his teeth as he turned toward his back on the table, glaring at Kamatsu's smug face. He felt his self-control slipping, his anger clouding his mind. He wouldn't be satisfied with just beating Kamatsu now. He wanted to shed his blood, to beat him within an inch of his life. He thought of no plan, no technique to catch him off-guard. He only thought of hurting Kamatsu.

He ignored the burning in his chest, as well as the cheering and jeering of the crowd, as he rushed at Kamatsu again. "Come on, you're really trying this again?" Dre geared his hand back, readying for an overhead punch, however his animalistic instinct took over as he swung a roundhouse kick directly at his ribs. He caught Dre's leg just before it connected, and tripped his grounded leg from under him. He fell on his back, knocking the air out of his lungs.

"You almost got me with that one. Come on, this is starting to get boring. Oh, and that's two to zero."

"Darn it!" Dre roared as he got back to his feet. Why can't I not even lay a finger on him? He got back into his stance, but his arms were starting to feel like lead. His chest burned more intensely and he could feel a stitch coming, but he continued to stand his ground. He was determined to beat Kamatsu somehow.

"Listen, kid. How about I just spare your dignity." Kamatsu raised both of his hands above his head. "I'll surrender, making you win by default. That way you I'll save you the embarrassment of looking stupid."

What? Was he serious? He almost got Dre and his team killed, and this is how he figured Dre would get his retribution by winning by default. Dre felt offended by this offer, more offended by any other insult he had been through in his life. A voice in the back of his head told him to accept this offer and fight another day. Dre, however, was too far gone to pay any mind. "You can take that offer of yours and shove it."

"Have it your way then," Kamatsu shrugged as Dre geared towards him, his arm outstretched behind him, as if he was readying another punch. "I'll just have to put an end to this."

Dre swung, but his fist was caught without as much as a flinch from the samurai, as he thrustthrusted his palm into Dre's ribs. He felt something snap at his side as he was launched backward into the stone table.

"Three to zero," Kamatsu said, his tone was serious as he looked at Dre writhing in pain. "If you won't end this travesty of a fight, then I will."

Dre kept his head low. Each breath he took sent a jolt of agonizing pain through his chest, as if a white-hot needle pierced his lungs. Squeezing his ribs, he clinched his eyes and teeth, with a mouthful of thick, salty liquid flowing through them. The clacking sound of Kamatsu's wooden sandals began to grow louder, and soon he was within about two feet from Dre, looming over his downed opponent. Dre hadn't dared open his eyes until he heard the soft rustling of paper and the sound of wood hitting wood. He looked up and saw Kamatsu standing beside with both boxes and schedules. He kneeled beside Dre and only uttered one word. "Basura."

He stood and made his way back to Katherine just as Dre's group and the Journeymen behind the table rushed to Dre's side. He was bombarded with questions concerning if he was okay, but Dre didn't want to answer them now. He just wanted to go away. Any place would be better than the shame he were feeling here.

"Why didn't either of you stop them?" Kim asked Ian and Loyalty.

"I told Ian not to interfere in any way," Loyalty's voice called out of the ruckus. "He's got to learn when it's appropriate to fight, and when it's not. It's better that he learns that lesson now and get shamed rather than on the battlefield and get killed. Too many people died their first time in a battle because of their arrogance."

Dre felt a soft, sympathetic hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. I don't need anyone's pity, he thought to himself as he struggled to stand up, wiping off the blood dripping from his mouth.

"Where do you think you're going?" Megumi asked.

"Somewhere. Anywhere but here."

Dre took one step and felt the earth shift under him. "Get a medic out here!" he heard Sakura cry out before he fell into the darkness.