Chapter 36 : The Dream Team
Yep. Very seldom will there be a chapter on mondays. I have to much sheet to do. But I'm here now. Esketit.
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Sasuke and Geralt tore through the contestants like butter. Most were local swordsman, initiating the challenge for sport, so it wasn't too hard. Geralt and Sasuke didn't have to think outside the box either. It was pretty straightforward, but Aya was right. Killing was treated as a sport here. When blood spilled, the crowd roared. This city was at the bottom of the barrel. The arena was basically painted a dark red. If someone saw it right now, they'd probably assume that was the original color.
Geralt was impressed with Sasuke. Over the few weeks of the tournament, they climbed the ladder together, got to know each other. Geralt even met with Aya and trained along with the two of them. His input on the sword gave Sasuke a different perspective, further insight towards the style of others besides himself. Geralt could remember only a few things, since he apparently lost his memory. The explanation about the Trial of the Grasses made Aya and Sasuke shudder. Kenji would have to meet this man.
Eventually, the dream team coasted into the championship. Thousands of people filled the stands for this blood battle. Everyone was routing for them. Sasuke and Geralt were dubbed the Dream Team, as thousands latched onto this fad. Rarely, would a team as talented as them would grace the arena. But many were lost at the thought of them beating the champions. That team had successfully defended the title for twenty eight fights straight. Sasuke did nothing but train in his downtime thought, which was all the time. Geralt joined him most of the time. They started fighting as one entity after a while.
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"You ready for this kid?"
"Yes. Lets win."
The Dream Team stood in the middle of the arena. Yelling and praise filled their ears.
The same scary looking man strutted onto the battlefield. "ALRIGHT EVERYONE!!!!!! INTRODUCING THE CHALLENGERS!!!!! THE DREAM TEAM!!! GERALT AND SASUKE!!!"
The place rumbled with excitement. Sasuke found Aya in the stands. She was easy to spot, for she was the only person within ten feet of herself. She smiled and cheered with everyone. Sasuke finally felt the support.....of a mother. Nothing could ever replace his own mother, but Aya sure was a great role model and surrogate mother in his eyes. He envied Kenji.
"NOW INTRODUCING YOUR CHAMPIONS!!!! "THE PIRATES OF HELL!!! JACK AND.....ZORO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sasuke faced his opponents, walking into the circle. One was a kid, about his age with green hair. His eyes looked fierce. Annnndddd he had three swords. The other was a black haired, authentic looking pirate. He waved his arms, elevated, from his sides. Strutting like he owned the place. He was kind of weird. Like he couldn't walk straight.
The one named Jack approached Sasuke and Geralt. "Soooo, I think I should introduce meself, savvy?" No one said anything.
Jack looked around like he left the stove on. "Umm. Okaaayyy. My name is Captain Jack Sparrow." He performed a girly looking twirl. "I ask that you DON'T.....kill me please." He waved his hand in front. Yeah, this guy was weird. He looked at his teammate. "Hey! Your turn!"
The kid gripped both swords, and placed another in his mouth. "Roronoa Zoro. PREPARE TO DIE!!" This kid was scary.
The dream team made introductions and gripped swords also.
"BEGIN!!!"
The level of skill was unexpected. Zoro immediately zoomed at Kenji, stopping past him before he could draw. Several small cuts formed on Sasuke's arms. This kid was smart too. Trying to rendor Sasuke useless, unable to wield his weapon.
Geralt rushed at Jack, but Jack had the luck of the Irish. He charged also, but slipped on the blood covered ground. When he stumbled, he completely avoided Geralt's swipe, out of pure luck. Very unorthodox dodges and strikes came from Jack. Geralt didn't know how to counter this.
After twenty minutes of getting pummeled, Jack and Zoro started closing in from both directions, pushing Geralt and Sasuke into one another. They barely were able to block the multiple strikes. Geralt had enough. "Sasuke!!! Regroup!" The dream team stood back to back, facing the opponents. Jack and Zoro backed away, anticipating what was about to unfold. Geralt whispered, "How bout we do 'that' thing we worked on."
Sasuke smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
In the moment, Geralt's hearing spiked. The slight tense of muscles filled his ears. He alternated his gaze at both opponents. Jack and Zoro eyed each other, almost reading each other's though. Then, both raced towards the dream team as fast as possible. A double strike. One from each side. Geralt shouted "Tornado!"
Sasuke jumped into the air without hesitation. Geralt grabbed both of his ankles, cupped them together and started swinging in a circle at mach speed. Jack and Zoro bounced off Sasuke's sword, like hitting an impenetrable shield.
"I'll tell you when." Geralt said. He flung Sasuke toward Jack while he raced at Zoro. He figured changing up the opponents would provide a little more time. Enough to throw them off with the trump card.
Both fights where at a stalemate. The crowd roared. This was a fight. Both sides were giving everything. This was the first time in the tournament Aya became a little nervous. These champions were so weird, she respected why they were champions for this long. They were good regardless.
"NOW SASUKE!" Geralt bolted towards his teammate. Sasuke did the same. Jack and Zoro chased after them, but where too late. Sasuke jumped towards Geralt, turning in midair. Geralt followed. Sasuke's back hit Geralt's. In the process, Sasuke grabbed two buckles attached to Geralt's armor. He strapped in. The two teammates turned into one, double sided swordsman. The crowd reacted in surprise, as did Aya. They didn't show her this one. Sasuke's feet flopped in the air. The idea behind this move was Geralt's height. Sasuke was short enough to become the literal eyes behind Geralt. But that wasn't all. Sasuke preferred quick slashes, almost like Kenji, Geralt used more lower body in his strikes. Twisting and turning with elegant slashes. While Geralt performed his normal style, which twisted his movements, Sasuke would quickly strike in between his. Both took this into account.
Geralt ran at Zoro first. He balanced on one foot and twisted into a slash. When Geralt's back turned, Sasuke was in full view of Zoro. He struck Zoro, who blocked his strikes, but when he did, Sasuke was disappearing while Geralt came in from the side. He got a great strike in on Zoro. But they weren't finished. The Dream Team continued twisting like a ballerina, alternating their strikes, in sync like a knife through butter. Jack tried his luck from the other side, but it was the same outcome. The champions weren't the only team that could make an unorthodox style.
Zoro fell to his knees. Jack pulled back. Sasuke and Geralt had been pushing them into a corner for a while now. When Sasuke proposed this technique to Geralt in round two, he didn't like it too much, but Sasuke assured him it would work. This way of fighting was similar to his new style. Widdle down the opponent. Patience. Then, deliver the blow.
When Jack fell to his knees in fatigue. Sasuke unbuckled himself. He raced at Jack. Geralt raced towards Zoro. Right before the finishing strike, Jack yelled, "I SURRENDER. YOU GOT ME."
Geralt and Sasuke stopped. The crowd looked puzzled. Could they surrender? No one had ever done that before. No less the champions.
Jack looked at the scary man that held the championship. "You never said we couldn't forfeit the match my good sir. Therefore, I surrender."
The man looked like he was cheated, but Jack was right. He never said anything. The crowd began to boo at Jack, tossing whatever they had at him. They wanted to see blood. Jack grabbed Zoro and limped out of the arena. Sasuke and Geralt were still confused.
"um....THIS WASN'T THE OUTCOME WE DESIRED, BUT LETS HEAR IT FOR OUR NEW CHAMPIONS!!!!" The pierced man grabbed Geralt and Sasuke, pushing them onto the riser where he stood. He presented them with a pool of money as promised. The crowd roared for the Dream Team. Even though they didn't kill them, they still won. Sasuke smiled at Geralt. He held his fist to Geralt, who was puzzled. Sasuke had to grab Geralt's fist, he bumped them together. "Nice fight teammate."
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After wounds were patched,
Aya met Sasuke outside the arena.
"You did amazing! I knew you could win it!!" She hugged him with a suffocating grasp.
Sasuke couldn't breath. "uuuhhhh... Sto.....stop.....MOM!!!"
Aya pulled back quickly, looking into Sasuke's eyes. She didn't expect that. Sasuke's eyes were shocked. He didn't mean to say that. "I'm Sorry. I didn't mean to. I just..I don't....I"
Aya hugged him again and laughed. "I already have one Uchiha kid. I won't mind another." Aya softly whispered.
Sasuke was surprised, but also grateful. Maybe he yearned for his parents more than he thought.
She released him and grabbed his shoulders just like Kenji. "It's fine. We still have a lot of time together, so lets get to know each other more, Ok? Sasuke?"
Sasuke was hesitant, but he squeaked out "Okay."
Geralt stood there awkwardly. He was still here by the way. "Ummmm."
Aya and Sasuke broke from their touching moment. "I'm so sorry Geralt."
Aya had an idea. "Do you have any plans Geralt?"
"Mmmmm, not really."
"Why don't you travel with us? I'm sure Sasuke would appreciate it. And maybe we can figure out a way to retrieve your memories."
Geralt thought for a minute. He looked at Sasuke. He had to admit, he loved the competitive nature of Sasuke. "That sounds good. Where to?"
Sasuke put his hands in his pockets. "Wherever the wind takes us, I guess. Right?" He turned to Aya.
"That sounds good." Aya stared into the sky. She wondered how Kenji and Rei were faring. "That sounds good." She whispered.
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I felt like I was all over the place in this one, and damn that was long. Don't beat me up too bad. Still feel like my fight scenes suck, but oh well. I wanted to get these chapters moving along to get to the good stuff. Rei has a few chapters next and Kenji will have some after, then we'll get into it, so I don't want it to get boring. I felt like I nailed Jack, but not Zoro. Eh it'll be ok. Don't really remember that much about young Zoro. I just remember he was hardcore. Haven't watched One Piece in a while. I hope this was at least interesting to read. Rei's will be pretty trippy also. I'm out. YERRR!