It was quiet in the dojo. Two warriors were sparring quietly, their arms and legs in a blur of movement. One warrior was young, energetic, and filled with a desire for victory, the other, a skilled ninja who knew his craft exceptionally.

The younger warrior went by the name of Crimson, the other warrior, Guy. Guy was training Crimson in the art of Bushin style, and Guy was pleased to see Crimson was learning the art fast. Crimson broke the silence in the air when he yelled out,

"HADOURYUKEN!" Crimson's projectile fireball missed it's target, and Guy gracefully flipped over Crimson. Crimson jumped to meet Guy in the air, but was smashed back into the ground.
"*Damn*", Crimson muttered, shakily getting up to his feet,
"*I forgot about the mid-air suplex*".

Guy offered him a hand. Crimson took it, and got to his feet. Guy tsked Crimson.
"Crimson, that was a lazy attack. You had no strategy. How do you expect to be my succesor, much less enter a street fighter tournament, without a proper strategy?"

Crimson HATED to be criticized. But he did know Guy wasn't telling him anything wrong. Crimson picked up a towel, and wiped it over his face.
"I'll do better next time we spar", Crimson said, sighing loudly. He went to look for his sony discman, then found it and began to put the headphones over his ears when Guy butted in.
"You know, Crimson, I found another fighter who is willing to compete with you..." Crimson got to his feet. "Seriously? Where? I'll take anyone on!"

"Not now, but tomorrow. There is somewhat of a pre-season tournament going on for entry into the street fighter tournament. You can show your talents there, if you want." Crimson was excited. He KNEW he could take anybody if he fought skillfully.

"I'm down with that! Let's go as soon as possible. I can't wait to show them what the succesor of Bushin style can do!" Guy chuckled.
"Remember, you have to beat the street fighters first. It wont be the cakewalk you might be expecting."
"I realize that", Crimson said, heading towards the exit door of the dojo.
"I'll be ready. I just don't know if they'll be ready for me..." Crimson laughed, then headed out the door. Guy watched him leave.

"*Heh, we'll see*"

It was noon, the next day. Crimson is at the pre-season tournament where he is eagerly awaiting his opponent. Guy was watching from the sidelines, along with Guy's best friend Cody, who was wearing a white shirt with a black jeans and Adidas shell-toes. Crimson chuckled when he saw Cody. He yelled over to him,

"It's good to see you finally got outta' the pen, bro!" Then he added,
"I expected you to be wearin' a dress or something!" Cody faked a laugh, then yelled back to Crimson,
"Yeah right! Nobody can punk me! You better prepare for your match, or else I might have to take your candy-ass out back and bust you up!" Crimson taunted Cody.

"Let's go then! It doesn't look like this 'opponent' is going to show anyhow..." Suddenly a figure came bursting through the small crowd. A girl, about seventeen.
"Sorry I'm late. Damn traffic..." Crimson went wide-eyed.
"*Don't tell me I'm fightin' a chick!*" He looked at the girl again, sizing her up a little more than casually.
"*Hm. Not a bad figure...But then again, Jessica would kill me if she found out I'm checkin' out this girl.*"
Crimson readjusted his sneakers then got into his fighting stance. He decided to make conversation.
"So, uh, what's your name?"

"None of your business."
Crimson was taken aback.
"*Oh, great. A pigeon.*" The girl laughed.
"Just kidding! I'm Crista. It an honor to have a chance to fight the so-called 'successor of Bushin style'."

Crimson laughed.
" The name is Crimson. Did I hear you say so-called? I don't know if you've heard, but I AM the successor of Bushin! Ikuzo!" Crimson got into his fighting stance. Crista got into hers as well.
"*I should take it easy on her. Wouldn't wanna' mess up her pretty face...*" Crimson thought. The referee saw that the two fighters ready to fight, so he raised up his hand.

"Round one....FIGHT!" The ref brought his hand down, signaling the match has begun. Crimson heard Cody telling him, "Go for it, man!" And he heard other various encouragements. "You've got nothing to lose!"
"Go for broke!"
"No one can stop Crimson, he has fists of gods!" "*Alright*", Crimson said. "Here GOES!*"

Crimson rushed Crista with a barrage of mid-air kicks. She dodged all but the final kick, and that only left a glancing hit. Crista dodged effotlessly in a ground roll, tripping Crimson off his feet, and onto his butt.

"*Whoa...Chick's kinda' good*",
Crimson thought, getting up to his feet. He backflipped to avoid a roundhouse, then thrust his right hand foward. "HADOURYKEN!" Crista saw the transparent fireball, and dodged it by jumping. crimson saw a window of opportunity.

"Ryuken...FLASH!" He jumped into the air and hit Crista three times in mid-air, then somersaulted back to the ground. Crista was shaken by Crimson's quickness, but she wasn't going to succumb that easily. She clasped her hands together, and called out, "

THUNDER BOLT!" An energy wave hit Crimson like a sack of bricks.
"*Goddamn! She's POWERFUL!*", Crimson thought.
"*Her chi level must be...*" Crimson didn't have an opportunity to finish that thought, because he saw another projectile, a fireball resembling a bird of some sort, come blazing his way.
"Oh shi-" Crimson narrowly escaped the blazing projectile. He attempted another Ryukyaku attack, and missed, leaving himself wide open to another attack. WHAM! Another thunderbolt fom Crista drew blood from Crimson's lip.

"*Argh! Why would Guy set me up like this?*" Crista tried an overhead axe-kick. Crimson deflected the leg just barely with his left arm, and sent her into the air with a Victory Punch. She hit the ground, but Crimson wouldn't have any of that. He converged on her before she could fully get up, and heaved her over his shoulder. She hit the ground on her back, kicking up dust.

"That's the way, Crimson!", Cody called out pumping his fist into the air. Crista tried a sweep kick while she was still on the ground, and Crimson jumped to avoid being felled. Crista scrambled to her feet, adn began to attack. Crimson surprised all watching the battle when, as he was about to land back on the ground, he suddenly surge back into the air with a rising uppercut. Crista was hit in the jaw, but not as hard as Crimson would've liked. As she hit the ground, Crimson knew the battle was turning in his favor. He adjusted his hat, and taunted Crista.

"Rakoushou!" ("Easy victory!") Crista growled under her breath.
"*So...he wants to taunt, eh?*" Crista got up with surprising quickness. Crimson saw her radiate with a reddish glow.
"*I don't like THIS...*" Crista clasped her hands together.
"Phoenix.....SNIPERRRR!!!!!" A huge fireball roared in Crimson's direction.
"*Ack! Gotta' move!*" Too late. Crimson was sucked into the fireball. He felt as if the bird-resembling fireball was draining his energy down rapidly. As the fireball dissapated, Crimson tried to get up weakly, but couldn't. He was out.
"K.O.! Crista wins by special k.o.!", The referee announced.

Crista helped Crimson to his feet.
"Good match, Crimson. It was an honor to battle you." Crimson dizzily replied,
"Yeah, mm, good match." Crista bowed respectfully to Crimson, and to the crowd, who was shocked to see that Crimson lost. Guy chatted with Crista for a second, then went to Crimson's aid.

"You okay?" Crimson murmered,
"Hell, ouch, no. I feel as if I got the energy drained out of me." Guy smiled.
"Well, I told you not to underestimate other fighters. I saw you out there. You were checking her out."
Crimson laughed, beginning to regain his strength.

"So? I'm a guy, aren't I?" Cody tapped Crimson.
"Not in my eyes. Bro, you lost to a chick!
"Hey, lay off!", Crimson said pushing Cody. Guy made a slashing motion across his neck signaling Cody to quit it.
"Hey, Crimson. No shame in losing to a female opponent. An opponent is an opponent, no matter what gender." Cody chuckled.
"Hell, I'd lose to Cammy or Chun-Li anyday. I dunno' about that Karin girl, though. She's sorta' odd." Guy chuckled as well.
"Karin IS sort of strange. Any reason why?" Crimson shook his head. Then Cody piped up.
"I heard she's a lesbian." Guy whirled around.
"Who in the hell said that?"
"Yeah, who?" Crimson asked as well.
"I forget. But somebody said she had a thing for Sakura, and she still does.", Cody said. Crimson knocked Cody on the head
. "Man, you need to stop reading the National Enquirer..." T
he trio all laughed, and finally left the now-empty area where the battle had taken place, and they all headed for Cody's car to get home.