Action!

I am thrown backwards for the third time smashing through a rose bush, I'm jumping out seconds later pulling thorns from my arms and backside. Zero looks at me and tilts his head "you seem surprisingly calm for someone losing a fight" I jump at him this time he only jabs at my side, I dive sideways and kick him down on his back.

I spin and try to throw a flying fist downward while he's stunned "don't count a guy out yet I got something up my sleeve" he shakes his head and is able to do another flash attack pushing me into the air. I fall on my chest with a thud, he trys to stomp my head but I roll out of the way and im back on my feet. That blow I landed would be the few of very little.

I then kick where he is but he jumps keeping his hands in his pockets "missed" he taunts, I smile and attack again but he taunts me the same way every time I miss. Now im mad. I land a blow on his jaw and he jumps back accessing the damage only to smile "not'in but a love tap" he sticks out his tongue.

I jump at him again and he rolls under me using his feet to swing myself into a tree nearby, I hear something crack but ignore to pain standing up wiping the blood from my cuts. He doesn't resume his attacks "im a kind man you know, so...." he puts a hand behind his back "one handed combat, plus I wont use my feet in anyway besides standing up" I laugh "now your just screwing with me" I accept at throw a punch, he catches it in his palm.

I stand unable to move, somehow he has complete control if I move anywhere because he starts taking me for a walk around the forest laughing his head off "look at those flowers, you'd pick them in I didn't have you held" he laughs again and tosses me aside "ok I had my fun with that, go on ahead and attack again" I shake the feeling back into my hand and crack my knuckles.

"Your holding something back I can see it in your eyes" he stares at me as if he can read my entire story with one glance, I sigh "thats correct Zero, I am holding something back you want to see?" He nods but I hold back and take him completely unaware lamding a blow to his stomach.

He laughs and I don't know why, I suddenly notice the blow didn't hit his stomach but it was caught by his waiting hands "dirty trick trying to catch me off guard now let me see this skill of yours" I laugh standing back activating my Infinity Boost.

He blinks "well this is new" he smiles "ok lets see what it did for you" I full speed knee him in the face.

He flips backward landing on his hands he holds himself up upside down "that's great! Boosted speed and strength, definitely has potential" I attack again but he catches me off guard side stepping (or step handing he is still on his hands) into a sucker punch to my side.

He flips back up and shakes his hands "new record on scoring a good blow upside down" he laughs and I take the pain of the hit and continue on.

The next barrage he spends dodging altogether not bothering to throw attack in response he only looks at me "man its taking to you forever to figure out my ability, others it only takes a few seconds,  you about a few hundred hours" I take his thoughts to heart and in slow motion I look him over as he dodges my blows.

He spends a millisecond to predict my attack and compensates for the time! He can see my attacks before I throw them because there so obvious and overused I have to shake thinks up.

I give him a smile "now you got it" he responds "now well have a show" I take my first unpredictable strike, I wave my hands all over the place crazily taking his attention off my knee which met his chest perfectly.  He is thrown back with a cough and I jump at him throwing fast karate chops, he smiles as the blows hit his stomach and bounce off without any damage delt.

He jumps back from me and throws off his trench coat, he was wearing a pink t-shirt underneath with the words 'bad man' (An: Guess who thats a reference to? A hotblooded character from a different anime) I laugh but then focus on the fight.

I make a move spinning fast, heading in for a face blow with my fists balled together, but immediately switch to a low leg kick knockimg him to the ground, he seems stunned by the attack and then thows a hit that I block with my leg. He stands cracking his kneck "this is more like it, I haven't yet seen someone do something as beautiful, use his speed to move twords a opponent getting them prepared for a easily blockible move and quick switch, well done but..." he moves in slow motion, I smile knowing I could block, but he gains a burst of speed tossing a single hit at my stomach, I feel the Infinity Boost leave my body as I fall back.

He looks over me "....I'm not exactly fond of losing so easily" he holds a hand up "congrats Hiroshi said you where good but not this good" I look at him confused when we hear Haru and the others coming twords us. Haru seems especially pissed seeing me beaten a bloody on the ground, she pulls her sword and swings it, I am able to catch the dull end and tell her "he is actually working for Hiroshi but in not to sure about it all if he's so kinds as to explain with more detail" he nods.

"First off, I was working with Hiroshi the entire time if you all didn't already know that" we all nod givimg him the 'thanks captain obvious' look "ok so the only reason he sent you out here was because he saw you here" he pointed to me "as a candidate for a top slot in his greatest pupils, he wanted to test you on his pervious best, myself" he bows grandly I snicker "and I believe that he performed with absolute perfection with only slight problems" I stare and ask what problems he means exactly.

He tosses a surprising blow to my side, I hold it in pain and Haru immediately trys to cut Zero, he catches the blade with his hand bit the blade doesn't cut him, he tosses her sword to the side "let me finish please" she is taken aback to the her blades non effectiveness and bows apologizing.

"You take your guard way to lightly, sometimes your on the mark keeping well protected but you never keep it that way, sometimes you let an opening slide and any enemy with a keen eye would take full advantage, which can prove fatal" I nod understanding his idea.

"He has told me to if you succeed in showing your colors in combat against myself to pay no expense in treating you and yoir friends to some food" we all smile, I stand up smiling but the pain gets me again. Haru sheathed her sword and then helped me up and used her powers to bear the pain with me.

We all stood and walked back to the village to the Sushi place, ironically it was the same that claimed (and had) the best sushi section in town, even better was it was next to Zero's trading stand.

I may have lost this fight but it I was being rewarded like I won!