2 For Dana

"He hasn't come back yet." Dana pouted. The sun was almost setting behind the mountains in the distance, yet she remains in front of the door to her house, waiting with worries.

"Older Sister, why haven't you come inside? You'll catch a cold," said a small boy, who peeked outside from the doorway.

"Just a little longer, I'm waiting for a friend. Go inside. Hurry!" Dana waved the little boy inside.

"Are those bad guys bothering Older Sister? Don't worry, I'll protect you." The little boy puffed up his chest.

"Hey you there, why are you soiling my good name?" A young man said, stepping out from the darkness.

"Arthur go back inside, hurry." Dana said, pushing the little boy back while shutting the door. But, the hand of a young man stopped her.

"Don't be so rude, and let me in. I promise I won't hurt you." The young man yanked the door open and grabbed Dana's arm.

"Let me go!" Dana pulled her arm back. The young man smirked. He followed the force of her pull, wrapping her in his arms.

"NO! Let me go!" She flailed.

"Let. My. Sister. Go!" Arthur said with shaking fists. He glared at the young man.

"Just one night. I know your little sister is sick. I can pay for her medicine. It's hard for you alone to support the three of you, right? After all, your parents aren't here to protect you anymore."

"Older Sister, don't listen to him!" Arthur charged at the young man, swinging his little fist at him.

"Shut up." The young man swung his foot, knocking Arthur further into the house, crashing into a table.

"Arthur!" Dana shrieked. She put more force in her struggle, gradually opening up a gap.

"Woah, woah. It's okay. I'll pay for his medicine too." The young man grinned, tightening his hold.

Arthur got up slowly, supporting himself with the broken table leg near him. His legs buckling from the impact, he glared and called out to the young man, "I said. Let. Her. Go."

"And if I don't?"

"I'll, I'll kill you!" Arthur ran at the young man, aiming the broken table leg at his thigh.

"Tch. Punk kid." The young man pushed Dana behind him, getting ready to fight. He took a step forward and bent his knees, putting the majority of his body weight on his front leg.

"No, stop, don't hurt him." Dana wailed, after falling to the ground. Arthur continued to rush headlong, invigorated as he draws closer and closer.

The young man turned his body to the side, keeping his body weight on his front leg, kicking out with his back leg. He hit the little boy's forehead.

Arthur fell to the floor, letting go of the table leg and slid forward a bit. His body twitched a bit, before he completely stopped moving.

"Arthur! No, no, this can't be happening." Dana scrambled to her feet, embracing her little brother tightly. "Arthur!" She wailed.

"Relax, he shouldn't be dead. Kid's got-" The young man chuckled.

"Hey Fucker, who do you think you are?" A cold voice sounded behind him.

***

The door was wide open already and I didn't mind, I thought Dana was doing things a little differently today. I popped my head in to see how she was doing, and there I saw a man in Dana's house.

Secret boyfriend? Did she want to show him off?

Then, I saw beside him was Dana, wailing her eyes out. He was standing tall above the crying Dana. I turned to the broken table, Arthur was amidst fragments of wood.

A bad guy. No one. No one is allowed to make Dana sad.

***

I called out to him, "Hey Fucker, who do you think you are?"

I brought my fists up, charged straight at him. He turned around, perplexed for a moment, but still put up a guard. Not bad for a bully.

I started with a right hook. He moved closer, outstretching his palm to block my punch by stopping my wrist.

Too bad for him. I tightened my elbow a bit, causing my punch to end just before his block. I pushed forward, adding pressure to his block, knocking his hand away. Left jab. Left jab again. Haha. I twisted my hand against his side. He jumped back coughing.

Ooo, he's angry.

I gave him a devilish grin, "Is that all you got? Are you too used to fighting eight-year olds?"

"Heh, that maybe be true. May I know the name of the lady's white knight?" He briefly glanced at Dana. He felt an surging rage at finding her spellbound by the intruding man.

"Sure. My name is-" I closed in rapidly, giving him a right straight to his ugly face. He was visibly startled.

Stupid, you lost concentration. Why would you talk during a fight anyways?

He swiveled his head on instinct, but it's too late, even if he tried to block I'd be already beside him. I shifted my punch up and let my knuckles protrude a little. I hit him square in his left eye.

He tried to reel back, but I'm not that nice. I reached out and grabbed the back of his head tightly, and I swung my knee up while bringing his head down.

Crunch.

I threw him down to the floor. He crashed, blood splattered from his nose across the wooden planks. He groaned in pain and curled up into a ball.

"Hmph, get out of here." I kicked him in the gut. "Oh, not moving huh. Let me help you then."

I grasped both arms and when I did, he grasped both of mine in turn. My eyes widened.

"You lost concentration." He said, ramming his forehead onto my face. I turned naturally and he hit my jaw. I recoiled, letting him go. Then, a kick came flying at me.

"Edryn!" I heard Dana call my name. I bought up my knee and formed a shield with my arm, blocking the kick. I looked back at her and I also saw Arthur stir. I'm glad that he's alive. I grinned and brought my attention back to the fight.

This guy… he fights dirty.

He came at me with a maddened look in his eyes. "I'll fuckin' kill you," he screamed at me. He jabs with both arms, aiming at my face and sides. I partially extended my arms to block, but he controls the changes of his punch speeds making it hard to block. Once in awhile he gives me a front kick with all the force he can muster, forcing me to dodge as best I could. But, he leaves me no rest as I back away. He closes in, just as fast as earlier.

This is bad. Does this guy have endless stamina?

When my feet touched the ground, I charged at him. But instead of charging at me, he stepped to the side and gave me a roundhouse kick to the belly. Heh, I opened my guard and readied to catch his kick. I smirked. He hit me hard, enough that air was pushed out of my lungs, but I caught his leg. I looked at him in his eyes… and he smirked back.

He jumped and gave another roundhouse kick to my head. FUCK! I pushed his leg and tried to get closer to his body, but he pulled his leg back too -making his kick even faster tilting slightly downwards. I bent my knees, trying to duck before he hits me.

Thud.

But, just before he hit me, I stood up with slightly bent knees allowing the kick to hit me in the shoulder. I gripped both legs tightly and began spinning. Before he could bend his knees or abdomen and get closer, I let him go. He flew and crashed into the wall of the house. Fortunately, it's close to the door.

I panted and approached him again, this time with more caution. Seems like he barely cushioned his head when he crashed. As such, I bent one of his arms and held it behind him. I grabbed him by his belt while holding onto his arm, guiding him outside with grace and civility.

Then, I shut the door behind him after I placed him gently on the dark, empty street.

"Dana, go ahead and treat Arthur. Let me clean up the mess here." I hollered as I came back inside. I looked towards the wall thinking about what I should do with the large blood splatter. Floors are easier to deal with.