The Paths Diverge

"See? I told you, Diana, there was nothing wrong with me."

We were finally out of the hospital after a lengthy examination where Diana would not relent until I got every test physically possible to be conducted. However, even after I was medically cleared, she still wouldn't relent. 'So what was the point?'

"But Kuzan, I still don't understand. Why did you hug the air then? Were you just messing with me?" Even when accusing me of 'playing with her feelings,' the girl did not get disheartened, maintaining her cheery attitude the whole walk back after we had finally left the hospital.

"No, no. I told you, I was just playing a 'trick' on myself. Like, don't you sometimes talk to people who aren't there, you know, to talk to som—I mean for fun?" I caught myself from saying words that would only cause the girl additional worry. However, I still ended my sentence with uncertainty, as even I knew that my reasoning made little to no sense to an ordinary person.

And judging by the raised eyebrow and confused face, it didn't take a mentalist to surmise that the girl was far from convinced.

"It's like singing in the shower and performing a concert even though you know there's no one there. Totally the same thing." I was finally able to come up with a suitable analogy to placate the girl's worry as I walked her back to her hotel at the dead of night.

'I have no idea how you convinced Uncle Lander to let you off, but hey, you do you.'

"Thanks so much, Kuzan!" the girl thanked me while entering the front lobby of the hotel, thus assuring me of her safety, at least judging by the armed security hiding in 'plain sight'.

"No worries, Diana. It was a fun day." I was just about to see the girl off and head to my last destination of the night when she stopped me from leaving by grabbing my arm out of nowhere and hugging it tight.

"So, um, Kuzan, I was wondering when I'd see you again, you know." The girl would not release her Herculean grip until I gave her an answer to her question.

'Ah, it must be because of what I said earlier, that I would be pretty busy until I left Tokyo for some business that I needed to attend to.'

Currently, I had planned to leave Tokyo in under the next three weeks, judging by the speed of my training under Master Shibukawa and Master Kunimatsu. 'Not to mention the training I would be receiving under him.'

It was a difficult decision to make, especially considering how devastating it could be for my future journey across my martial path.

My goal had always been to gain ever more strength, to become the strongest creature that had ever lived. 'Why then have I been holding myself back?'

It was a simple question, one that at first made no sense, however deep in my heart, I knew the truth. 'It was because of him.'

I had been following in his footsteps, just like Baki before, wanting to emulate his skill, his appetite, his hunger for power, but I had finally realized it was all unnecessary.

'It was the goal of every martial artist—no, of every man to have ever lived.'

If someone is born a male, at least once in his life he'll dream of becoming the strongest man alive.

'Why merely match his strength, why merely match his height, why merely match his skill?'

'Why not surpass him?'

I had been shackled by the man's beliefs until now, suppressing my own in the process.

'Would that man have learned something as 'silly' as building immunity to poisons? Who does he even have to be 'scared' of being poisoned by in the first place?'

'The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts, what a joke. Can mere martial arts be enough to satisfy my thirst, to help me reach my goals?'

I had promised myself to utilize every trick at my disposal to become the strongest. Martial arts, gaining natural strength, utilizing techniques, and even utilizing weapons such as poisons if it helped me in reaching my goals.

"Kuzan! You're going delirious again, are you okay?" The girl released me from her hold and was about to perform a medical check-up of her own when I told her to stop in a soft whisper.

"Come on, Diana, there are people watching..." It seemed as if I finally broke the Princess out of her examination steps, preventing her from lifting off my shirt, causing the girl to dart her eyes around at the surroundings.

I walked the now-embarrassed girl to the elevators to take her to her floor.

"So, Diana," I broke the silence as we slowly traveled up the elevator to the 50th floor, trapped alone by the clear walls of the glass elevator, "what you asked me about before."

'Do it, Kuzan, you have to let her understand before it gets even more complicated.'

I may be stupid, but I wasn't an idiot. After my interactions with Xiao Li, as well as 'my' history with Diana, I could understand feelings blossoming within the young Princess.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't interested. I mean, objectively, she was the perfect woman. Beautiful, loving, caring, and even possessing a heart of gold. In all aspects, she was the perfect match.

'That's not it, however; that would be too shallow.'

However, none of her previous aspects, even her kind nature, could match the quality of hers that I respect most.

'Her strength.'

The willpower it must have taken to overcome the hand that had been dealt to her by fate, despite all odds, it was mesmerizing. She had won a battle that I had so painfully lost.

Still, I could not let my interest get in the way of my path, becoming a blockage in its growth, causing it to take even longer. Never would I allow such a thing to transpire. Never.

'A waste of time.'

Thus, in response to the genuine feelings of care, it would only be right to respond to her with the truth.

"I'm not gonna have a lot of time while I'm in Japan to really hang out with you."

However, it seemed that I had failed in my attempt to 'let her down gently,' especially when I saw the cold and dead look in her eyes. Still, despite my comments, I was again surprised by her strength, her resolve, being able to form a response to my refusal.

"Oh, okay."

And I would have believed her too if it wasn't for the lack of emotion in her tone when she said it; it was extremely weird, 'acting' surprised with a monotone voice.

"But I was wondering if you were free to hang out after my training in Japan is complete?" I decided to throw the girl a last line of hope to hold onto, to prevent her from falling further into her pit of despair.

"You see, I'm probably going to go on a short trip with everyone once I'm back in America." I explained to the Princess, who was now looking at me with eyes that were now reignited with life.

"I wanted to invite everyone along for the ride, even Uncle Albert, Aunt Elizabeth, and of course Melissa and Xiao Li. Everyone's going. You can even invite Uncle Lander—" The girl continued to shake her head 'yes,' until I foolishly uttered a particular name from the guest list.

"Wait, Kuzan." The girl cut me off before slowly turning her head to stare directly into my eyes while at the same time applying much greater pressure to the hands we were currently holding.

The quiet little princess tilted her head ever so slightly, attempting to appear cute. It might have worked spectacularly if not for the clear danger that my sixth sense was currently predicting.

"Who's Xiao Li?"

'Fuck!'

[20 minutes later]

After finally 'defending' myself from the clear danger present in the next conversation with the Princess, throwing the task onto my sweet little sister to deal with, I was finally able to break free from her 'hold'.

'I might be strong, but I'm not ready to face the 'anger' of a nation just yet.'

Thus, to right this wrong, I quickly made my way to my next destination, arriving just outside the building before knocking on its front door.

"You can come out now, stop hiding, I can see you." I rolled my eyes internally while directing a supposedly empty 'wall' of the Dojo to stop its little act.

"I'm gonna give you a kick if you continue to play ninja." It seemed as though my threat worked as the man 'hiding' behind his camouflage finally stopped his charade, coming fully into view.

"I'm impressed that you could see me," the man spoke while extending his hand for a friendly greeting, which I kindly reciprocated.

"Don't take it to heart; you aren't the first 'ninja' I've had to deal with." I placated the man known for his mastery of the environment to fight, not wanting to disrespect his strength.

"So?" I asked the man while still coming to terms with my decision to ask for his 'help'.

"You mind waking up your master for me?"

NOTE: KUZAN IS NOT USING/CARRYING AROUND ANY WEAPONS IN THE FUTURE. Read Creator's Comments for more info.