ICHIGO CAN'T FIGHT


A young street, orphan boy without a fighting spirit dreams of becoming a great fighter like his role model in Sakai Port Village, a little downtrodden port village in Japan.

With the help of his mentors, Sosai and Master Haido, his friends, Teigen and Mizuke he goes on an epic journey to find his fighting spirit and his identity and on to achieve his dreams, scaling past Crime bosses, Street gangs and the mysterious gold tiger gang who plan on conquering Japan's criminal underworld.




I am going to become the number one fighter in Japan, with or without a fighting spirit, believe that! - Ichigo


ICHIGO CAN'T FIGHT is hugely influenced by probably one of the most famous and successful anime series ever created that is Naruto yet Ichigo sets itself quickly apart as a unique and interesting story of one's rise to power, I have had fun so far writing and editing and just enjoying the characters, I hope to introduce to you, the tumultuous and exhilarating street gangs, the games, the lives of the everyday Sakai residents.



Ichigo will premiere on 09/04/2023

IMAGE COPYRIGHT RESERVED 2023

HERE IS MY OTHER CONCLUDED ANIME SERIES HERE ON NAIRALAND: GENKEI SENSHI: HE WHO TALKS TO SWORDS

https://www.nairaland.com/6767637/he-talks-swords-anime-series


I hope you enjoy this while the wait

UPDATE ON I.C.F

HELLO EVERY ONE

it's with great pleasure that I announce ICHIGO CAN'T FIGHT has reached it's Epic Conclusion for Part One just as PART TWO ENTIRE RUN has been successfully drafted out.

I will be working with a variety of tools at my disposal to proof read and format Part One soon.

Many thanks for the consistent views so far.

ICHIGO CAN'T FIGHT will officially premiere 09/04/2023.

Happy New Month!!!

Happy Easter, Everyone!

PART 1: SCENE 1

"48... 48... 48,"

Ichigo muttered as he lay on the ground, bruised and battered. Teigen had managed to stand up, but Ichigo stayed down, his breaths shallow and ragged, still feeling the brunt of the assault.

"You know, for someone who doesn't have a fighting spirit, you sure don't know how to run away from getting punched and what is it with you and counting each time we get beat up?"

Teigen shook his head, unable to comprehend Ichigo's strange behavior.

Ichigo forced himself to sit up, holding his stomach where he had taken the brunt of the street gang's attack.

"Ha ha… (coughs) Hah, Teigen, you see, I've been counting the number of times it would take for Pit and his gang to get tired of us and leave us for good."

Teigen stared at Ichigo in disbelief.

"You think they'll ever get tired of beating and bullying us someday?"

"Oh yes, you just wait. One of these days, they won't bother to hit us. We'll just walk right past them… (grunts)."

Teigen shook his head again it was hard to believe but Ichigo's words gave him a glimmer of hope.

They had been struggling on the streets for too long, constantly targeted and harassed by gangs like Pit's.

Maybe, just maybe, there was a way out.

Ichigo winced as a sharp pain shot through his ribs.

"you are hurt badly," Teigen remarked with concern.

"Hah, nothing (grunts), nothing Sosai can't fix. We should get going and…"

Ichigo suddenly produced an apple from his pocket, the same apple the Pit gang hadn't been able to steal from him.

Ichigo handed Teigen the apple he had saved. "It's yours," he said, his proud smile showing in spite of his bruises.

Teigen's eyes widened in surprise.

"How did you manage to keep that?"

Ichigo grinned weakly. "It wasn't easy. But you know me, I always have a trick or two up my sleeve."

He handed the apple to Teigen, who took it gratefully, amused by Ichigo's resilience and heroic act.

Good, very good.
Keep it up.

Part 1: Scene 1:B


"Great, we will be going home yet again, empty handed,"

Teigen remarked dusting himself more.


Sosai, Teigen, and the other orphans were all the family Ichigo had ever known.

Growing up in the heart of Sakai Port Village, he had become their protector and provider, just like Sosai had been for all of them.

And so when Teigen expressed his concern about going home empty-handed, Ichigo quickly hatched up plan .

"Don't worry about that," he said.

"I've got us covered. We'll head down to Ma Xhui's crew at the port and offer to clean up for a few coins. What do you think?"

"No way, ma xhui is a sleazy old bastard who pays shit," Teigen cursed under his breath.

Ichigo had always dreamed of something more than a life on the streets. He wanted to become a swordsman, like Ten-kai the foreigner, and escort the rich and famous to the port for hundreds of silver coins.


He knew it was a lofty goal, but he refused to abandon his dreams, even in the face of poverty and hardship.

Now, as he cleaned himself up and followed Teigen towards the port, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this job would be the key to unlocking his potential as a swordsman, maybe the next or the one after the other one, he couldn't tell yet there was always a reason to never give up.


As they walked through the crowded streets, Ichigo couldn't help but notice the hustle and bustle of the port

Ships came and went, carrying goods and people from all over the world, Sakai was the design woman whose lovers came from far and wide yet they never stayed more than was necessary, like seasons that only last for a while.

It was a chaotic, vibrant environment, and Ichigo felt energized just being a part of it, the many adventures here, would make up his legendary some day, he thought cheerfully.

as they walked closely, deeper into the streets of Sakai Port Village.

Part 1: Scene 2



“How long has he been like this?”

Emperor Jung asked, turning his piercing gaze towards his trusted commander who stood silently behind him. The emperor's striking aura commanded respect from all those around him.

“Three days now, your majesty,” the commander replied, his voice deep and even.


“He has refused to eat or drink anything, despite the doctor's assurances that he is perfectly fine.”

Emperor Jung's face creased with a furrowed brow. He stroked his well-groomed beard thoughtfully, deep in contemplation.

The prisoner was shrouded in darkness, only his chains rattled his silence from time to time, the smell, filth and darkness that surrounded made it ominous for the emperor but there was certainty that this prisoner could never see day light ever again.

Finally, he spoke with a decisive tone.

“Feed him by all means and any means necessary. He will continue to live until I say otherwise, do whatever it takes, Is that understood?”

The commander nodded firmly, his unwavering loyalty to the emperor evident in his expression.

The room was dimly lit, with the flicker of torches casting deep shadows on the ancient stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense, and the sound of rustling silk robes added to the sense of majesty and power that permeated the space.

Emperor Jung was a formidable ruler, feared and revered in equal measure. Despotic and ruthless, he ruled his empire with an iron fist, brooking no disobedience.

As the commander left to carry out his task, the emperor remained deep in thought, his mind whirring with plans and schemes. For in this game of power, only the strongest and vilest of all creatures survived.

He took one long, rich and satisfactorily look at the figure in the shadow and then smirked and disappeared from the dungeons.

If you familiar with writing scripts for YouTube and also with an experience on webtoons, then we should talk. Do send a dm.

Part 1: Scene 3



"See! What did I tell you?"

Ichigo's cheerful voice resounded as he skillfully juggled eight shiny coins - their hard-earned pay for washing a ship throughout the day with Teigen.

Teigen, however, wasn't sharing the same level of enthusiasm.

His face scrunched up in disgust as he took a deep whiff of their clothes, which now reeked of rotten fish and seaweed.


"We smell like rotten fish, and did you see how those crew members cheated us? First it was Ma Xhu and now those dinglebats, next time, we're making sure they pay more. Offloading all those rotten fish and seaweed has given me sea sickness, I don't think I am ever going to eat another fish in my life!"

he grumbled bitterly.

Ichigo simply laughed off Teigen's complaints.


"Oh come on you say that all the time besides that's no problem, Think of it this way, we can use our earnings to buy some of Baker Ba's leftover delicious snacks before he closes. It's almost midnight, we have to hurry!"

he exclaimed, already darting forward.

"The last one behind is a rotten fish!"

"What are you talking about, we already smell and look like rotten fish already, this is so unfair!" Teigen exclaimed.

He nudged Teigen, and the two of them raced down the path towards Baker Ba's shop.

Unbeknownst to them, Pit and his gang of street kids.

"Those two again! We should take whatever they have on them, boss!"

one of the newly-recruited gang members advised, eager to relish in the same feeling he had when he kicked and punched Ichigo earlier on.

Pit, the bull-dog looking bully, sighed at the suggestion.

"Those idiots bore me. No one is going to take us seriously if the only ones we get a beating on are Ichigo and his gang of orphans. Anyone got a better idea for some entertainment?"

he asked, bored and uninterested.

mommaJ:
If you familiar with writing scripts for YouTube and also with an experience on webtoons, then we should talk. Do send a dm.

Hello, I will send you a DM

WriterX:


Hello, I will send you a DM

Responded

mommaJ:

Responded

Hello I can't find your response, I am guessing the DMs isn't that effective anymore.

But let me use the proverbial "shoot your shot"

and let you know I would like to know your proposal as I have plans too and a ton of stories and materials from all genres, not just anime, sci-fi, horror, you name it, that are / can be compelling if given the right medium.

kindly contact me @afehenry@gmail.com or WhatsApp @ 09039150492. thanks.

Part 1: Scene3:B


Suddenly, Pit's attention was diverted when he spotted heavily-armed soldiers disembarking from a ship.


It was their gait and appearance that piqued Pit's interest - there was something about them that seemed worth investigating.

After all, it wasn't every day soldiers made their way to the port village, especially not at night, when there were fewer eyes to watch them slip in and out.

"You, follow those men and report back to me where, who, and what they are up to. Clear?"

Pit ordered the timid newbie, sensing a lot of potential in him yet to be discovered.

The newbie's face contorted in fear and confusion, he wished he had never said anything to draw that much attention, but there was no turning back.

In a few seconds, he could become the gang's next victim unless he marched on.

Pit could see the resemblance in the newbie's eyes to those of Ichigo and his gang, except Ichigo was braver, a lot braver.

He sometimes did marvel at Ichigo's senseless bravery, he never understood nor did he really care.


"Yes, boss, you got it!"

The newbie shook as he shuffled away, headed towards the direction of the soldiers.

"Don't you dare run away, newbie, or you'll receive a double portion of what happened to Ichigo!"

One of Pit's boys threatened the frightened lad as he receded into the darkness.

Finally, Ichigo and Teigen arrived at their makeshift shelter - a dilapidated structure that Sosai, their guardian, had managed to turn into a home for himself and the nineteen orphans under his care.


He struggled to keep Pai, their so-called landlord, off his back and other eyes who waited so eagerly for any misfortune to befall him.

Part 1:Scene 3:C



Ichigo asked where Sosai, was. Teigen's sister replied that he was waiting for the moon to come out, so he could play his flute. However, it seemed unlikely he would be able to tonight as there was a dark cloud blocking his view of the moon.

Ichigo instructed Teigen to share the leftovers equally. He also added that they should save some for Sosai. He then leaped out of the balcony and onto the wall. Ichigo scaled the wall effortlessly, using any nearby objects as lever or pulley, and landed on the rooftop.

Sosai, sitting in his rocky wooden chair, with a bottle of cheap dirt for booze in one hand and a wooden flute in the other, greeted Ichigo who walked closer.

"your landing is still terrible, I bet an old granny could do better than that!" Sosai teased.

"Hah, I gave up on that already, trying to get the drop on you is never going to happen (grunts),"

Ichigo responded to Sosai's comment about his poor landing. "Which gang is it this time, and how bad is it?"

"It's nothing... nothing that you can't fix!" Sosai replied.

"Then it's the Pit gang, it is always the pit gang!"

Sosai knew that it must be the Pit Gang, for they were the only gang whose hits he could fix, somehow he was grateful for the gang's inexperience to ruthlessly deal with his children as many others did.

Sosai invited Ichigo to sit with him, and they enjoyed the calm night breeze.

It was almost customary for Sosai to play his flute each time a new moon came up. Although not many knew his story, he was a kind-hearted and wonderful man to all.

Sosai could tell fascinating and thrilling stories, and play the flute so beautifully that no one could resist listening. However, the booze and gambling had taken a toll on him, and he hardly told stories to the kids anymore. Now, he only played the flute when the moon was up.

"The moon is sad, Ichigo," Sosai said sluggishly, almost as if he was asking a question that gave away his drunken and fragile state of mind, a sorry case, he was, one that Ichigo hadn't been spared from seeing.

Part 1:Scene 3: D



"Uh, really? well I am glad we have you, you can make the moon happy," Ichigo said cheerfully as he drew closer to sit beside Sosai.

"Not tonight, Ichigo. Tonight, I want you to play the flute, just like every woman who has wandered into my life, I think she is getting bored of me, already!" Sosai said, dropping the flute on Ichigo's lap.

"Wait, what women, have you see yourself in the mirror what woman wouldn't get bored of that face," Ichigo teased.

"You sly devil, I have worst luck raising orphans who take no pity on me," Sosai feigned for sympathy.

"Well, good luck with that, you play the flute. I would just ruin it!" Ichigo said, stretching the flute back to Sosai, who refuted the claim with a drunken nod.

"No, I think it is your time to play the flute. The moon doesn't hear me any longer. I think I am done this time," Sosai said dolefully.

"done? why are you sounding like you're going to drop dead any moment, old man?" Ichigo asked wearily.

"Drop dead? No way! Who's going to fight off those bullies when they come knocking on our door or Pai and his wannabes? Listen kid," Sosai said, ruffling Ichigo's hair playfully,

"I'm not going anywhere until one of you losers can discover their fighting spirit and defend this shelter. You can count on that!"

"What? You selfish old man! So, you're really not gonna die any soon and there I was thinking it would be one less mouth to feed, well you can count on it that I am going to learn how to fight soon and then we can do a little but I for you on time!"

Ichigo said, so confidently that it also made Sosai choke on his laughter.

"So you think your little stash of coins is going to get you into Haido's Martial Club one of these days, don't you?" Sosai asked.

He could almost feel the reluctance of Ichigo to answer.

Of course, this stash was something Ichigo never made mention to anyone.

It was a little savings here and there that the little kid had been saving off on extra coins he got lucky on.

Not that Sosai was angry at it; a lot of the kids did this to get a new shoe, hat, or shirt.

Even he kept a few coins around to get some cheap drinks to take him through the night.

Part 1: Scene 3: E




"You know about my stash?" Ichigo asked.

"Kid, this shelter is like an extension of my very own body. Of course, I know where everyone keeps their stash, and that includes me, how do you think I don't starve so easily? Listen, all I am saying is that Haido is a real piece of work, but he is no magician, and he hates the street kids like tick to a bull. He has only taken one street kid all his life, Ten-kai the foreigner, just saying You are not Ten-kai the foreigner. I am just..."

"He will accept me. You will see. He will. He has to. Ten-kai is just like me, but Haido fixed him up, and now he is feared and respected across the port, the five villages, and even in some parts of the capital city. I am going to be just like Ten-kai. You will see, I am going to become the greatest fighter in Japan" Ichigo swore confidently.


It was this part of their discussion that always got Sosai, that sparkle in his face, that confidence in his voice. Oh, how naive and ignorant youthfulness could be.

"Well, you can add this to your stash," Sosai said, flipping out a coin to Ichigo, who caught it hungrily.

"There you go. Add that so you don't say old man Sosai never did anything to aid you in your quest for greatness!" He chuckled.

"What, are you kidding me? This is like a penny coin. It wouldn't even buy shit if shit was sold for penny coins, you old man!"

They both laughed hard into the night, once again leaving all their worries for another day.

NOTES


Hello Dear Readers, What's your take on the protagonist here so far, Ichigo has really had it rough, what are your expectations and what do you think is going to happen sooner or later?


KINDLY MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO, TAG YOUR FRIENDS, LIKE AND SHARE.

Part 2: Scene 1


Sakai Port Village was nestled along the rugged coastline, a sore thumb in the infamous village.

Its streets were coated with a thick layer of grime that clung to everything, and a putrid stench of death and dirt emanated from overflowing gutters littered with dead animals and worse.


The buildings were rundown, their paint chipped and faded into oblivion, and rusty roofs rattled in the salty breeze or under the footing of the street kids indulged in a hot chase game. Despite its sorry appearance, it harbored ships from everywhere both far and near, resting for a while before heading off to other destinations.



The port village had always been a breeding ground for all sorts of vices that humans could indulge in.

The air was thick with smoke from cigarette and opium dens. Sex workers, beggars, drug dealers, and all staggered around the streets.


Raised voices and drunken laughter filled the air, and foul-eyed locals shouted at every passerby and were too quick to start a fight.

In its dark alleys, there were gambling dens, fight pits, love dens, shanty bars, and other murky, unsavory spaces offering all manner of illicit and more where fortunes were made and lives lost.


Yet, somehow its vile and putrid nature seemed to only attract all and sundries, even now, as a familiar stranger arrived.



The Gold Tiger glided gently through the calm sea waters, heading towards Sakai Port.

It appeared almost weightless with its sleek and slender design cutting through the water with ease.

The ship's white and gold intricate exterior design gleamed in the sun, giving it a proud and beautiful look.

As the ship approached the port, it seemed to have an effect on several small canoes, boats, and ships that came into its view.


Fishermen, pilots, and sailors paused to stare at the magnificent beauty that sailed past.

The smooth, polished wood of the smaller boats contrasted sharply with the luxurious ship's bright pale finish.

The locals wondered as the ship dwarfed them all, slowly cruising past them, making its way towards the harbor.

THE WORLD OF ICHIGO: FACTS 01


SPIRITS


1.FIGHTING SPIRITS: Fighting Spirits Or Fs Are Unique Inter Dimensional Deities Who Are Drawn And Attached To The People Of Ichigo's World From Birth That Grants Them Unique Skills And Powers, Although Majority Can Only Posses One Fs, There Are Just A Few Unique Individuals Who Have In Past History Posses As Much As Five. Once an arc has been released, one or many can sense and even see these fighting spirits for quite sometimes and just sometimes, the fighting spirits stay longer even partaking directly in the fight.


2.MARTIAL SPIRITS: martial spirits are considered a weaker alternative to fighting spirits, it is essentially used by swordsmen who possess little, weaker or recessive fighting spirits, it is the practice of mantras of fighting spirits thus granting them skills of such fighting spirits. However it is excessively hard and almost impossible yet martial mantras of various kinds can be practiced by a single person which stands as an advantage.


SKILL LEVELS

1.ARC

2.ACE

3.SPADE

4.JACK

5.DEUCE

6.FLOURISH

7.JOKER

8.HEARTS

Each skill requires a mastery that can for some take a lifetime, many are able to achieve arcs by the age of 10 but only a few in history have been able to achieve hearts.

PART 2: SCENE 2: B


The ship's humming engine created a pleasant buzzing sound as it quietly extended into the port.


The ship finally came to a halt, the deck silent, except for the buzz outside.

For another moment, Sakai Port returned to normalcy, but the buzz was over.

This was news for many to talk about; who and what was this ship's purpose? Soon they would find out, they would all find out.


"Thirteen freaky ports, and he chooses this dump. The air already stinks of shit!" Payne stressed inside the meeting room, below the top deck.



"Let it go, Payne, unless you want to go talk to him about it. Besides, he's never wrong. You know that.


Eight years, and he's never been wrong about anything, so just shut up. Isn't that right, Kento...Kento?"

Katsuo leaned forward to look for Kento, who hadn't replied.

Well, he was never the one to say much.


Kento stood in front of the large board where the entire Japan was hung. Here, weeks and weeks earlier, they had plotted every step that led to their arrival that day at Sakai Port Village.


Kento stood with his distinct, almost grayish-pale skin and striking red hair, his facial tattoos mostly covered by his heavy hooded black clothes.


He was tall and had a slender build, exuding an air of intelligence and tactical prowess. Though empathetic when necessary, Kento was also ruthless and violent towards anyone who stood in the way of his beliefs.


"Hey Kento, why don't you talk to the boss himself?" Payne, the youngest of the three commandos, suggested.

"I can get the captain to swing this thing around in a few seconds.
How are we supposed to take over Japan from a filth like this?"

Payne produced one of his many blades, using it to pick something off his black painted finger nails.

Part 2:Scene 2: C





Kento simply raised an eyebrow at Payne's suggestion.

Payne was cunning and manipulative, infamous for his ruthless and reckless abandon for violence.

Despite his physical appearance, which bore no resemblance to the power he possessed, Payne was a master-thief, smuggler, and antique fanatic with a passion for all things luxurious and expensive.


"Don't be ridiculous," Kento replied.

"The boss has a plan. We just have to trust him."


Payne shrugged and left to check on the supplies below deck.

He was known for his luxurious taste and peculiar dress style, a testament to his rich and mysterious origin on the streets of the United States of America.

He was no mere shake-off, not one to be taken as an ally but not one to be forgotten as an enemy.



Katsuo, the oldest of the trio, joined Kento suddenly.

He was muscular with an imposing physique and incredible fierce fighting skills.


His golden and long hair was often knotted firmly above his head, a source of pride for him.


However, when that knot was ripped apart, the beast within him was unleashed.


Suddenly, Kento breathed in deeply.

"The air still smells of the gold Tiger. I'll be heading out. Keep an eye on Misaki. You know how she is. Toni doesn't want her off the ship just yet."


As Kento left, Katsuo remained staring at the map.

He had a feeling that Kento was up to something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Somewhere in the ship, Payne was causing a commotion over his possessions.

Katsuo rolled his eyes and left to check up on the young blood.


Somewhere in Sakai Port Village, Teigen was in the middle of a heated bamboo run game in Sakai's Port Village.


The prize money had just doubled to 50 silver notes, and everyone was cheering for him to win.


The game had become so popular that even gangs would wager half their daily stash on their best players to take the win.

Teigen was a skilled runner and had won the last two games, making him a real threat to the other runners.

PART 2: SCENE 3




The game field was an open muddy space where freshly cut bamboo sticks of various sizes were stuck into the ground.

The game was a race, a battle royale where a maximum of five runners would race to get the flag on the other end.


They had to run on the bamboo sticks and dodge attacks from other runners on their way back to the starting spot.



Disqualification came in the form of falling into the mud or using weapons to get the win. If no one was able to get the flag to the starting line, then the person with the most touches on the flag was declared the winner.


In case of a tie, a rematch between the two was immediately played.

Today's prize money had been doubled because Yui and his gang had been making plans to enter the game ever since Yui had watched it.

Yui was the leader of one of the most feared street gangs in Sakai Port Village, and his dominance was not to be tested or taken lightly not like pit and his gang of rogues.


Every game was an opportunity for him to spread his name and fame.
Teigen was shy of his fourteen-year-old big brother by three years, but he looked a lot brighter and handsome.

He had realized his own fighting spirit at age ten, which was quite impressive.


He had a knack for acrobatics, which he had developed after visiting a circus show that had come to Sakai Port Village.

He had also been practicing moves from books using their shelter as his practice ground, and this had made him quite successful in his first bout of the game.



"Go with the high ones and keep out of reach as usual, little brother," Ichigo said to Teigen, beaming with excitement, like a proud coach to his student.

Ichigo stood behind Teigen along with the other runners as they all waited for the game to begin, he did more than any cheer leading team could do, doing flips and all sorts of acrobatics to support and cheer his little brother to the irritation of many, talk about a shameless display put up by lack of professionalism, one might have imagined.

Part 2: Scene 3:B


Runners from Pit's gang, Yui's gang, and two others had already taken their positions, eyes set on the red flag at the distant end.


"Runners take your position…set…run!" the referee said, and the game began.

Onlookers cheered as their favorite runners went all out.

Teigen went for the higher sticks, which were more flexible but posed a greater danger for those who couldn't adapt.

The short sticks were much steadier and more commonly used, but they limited the distance one could cover and had more trick sticks that delivered players to the mud quickly.



Teigen dived high with cat-like reflexes, his toes barely touching the sticks.

He leapt higher than anyone and descended like an eagle, staying out of reach before anyone could react.

One of the contestants made a wrong move by going higher and was the first to be disqualified as the stick gave way under his weight, causing him to fall into the mud, much to the excitement of the crowd.


Teigen's closest rival was Shin, a newly recruited member of Yui's gang and he was no older than Teigen and had been a previous champion before Teigen went on a streak.

Shin had been promised a good spot in Yui's hierarchy of power once he won under his new gang, which he intended to do by any means necessary.


Shin went lower, and his quick reflexes made it seem like he was running even on the trap sticks.

However, Pit's gang runner came from behind, and another runner realized that he could do just as well as Shin, who was now in second place behind Teigen.


Shin made a swift turn, freezing in a moment, and kicked a bamboo out of place before acrobatically flipping around and to continue the run, the result was pit’s runner, rushing into the mud after missing the bamboo that had been kicked out of place which made Pit curse and bemoaned the integrity of the game even though he would have done worse if he had the opportunity.

PART 2: SCENE 3: C




“yes, he got it!”


Ichigo screamed happily as teigen snatched the red flag just in the nick of time before shin arrived, once again he leapt into the sky only to be pulled down by a grab at his foot, he reacted quickly as he fell down, perching face flat, hands and legs on four bamboo sticks whilst shin jumped over catching the flag mid air and laughing, this time he made sure to destroy as many of the high bamboos as he could on his path.




Teigen sprang into action once more, his little frame quickly gaining momentum as he leaped over the first few bamboo sticks.


His heart pounded with excitement as he weaved in and out of the obstacles, determined to come out on top just like he had learnt from his big brother.

Suddenly, a challenger careened into him, nearly knocking him off balance. But Teigen quickly recovered, using the other contender's body as a launching pad to propel himself forward.


He swung around a bamboo pole, his movements fluid and precise as he continued the race, which made Ichigo cheer even louder much to the detriment of others who couldn’t understand Ichigo’s hysterical performance.


Teigen's eyes darted to his opponent, Shin, who was ahead of him and crushing every bamboo stick in his path.

Teigen knew he had to think quickly if he wanted to win.


As Shin neared the end, Teigen saw his chance.

He leaped onto a falling bamboo stick without hesitation, he executed a mid-air walk and flip on one and then onto another, using it as a springboard to launch himself into the air, stunning even Shin.


Teigen moved with the grace of a seasoned acrobat, carefully selecting each bamboo stick to step on as he closed in on the finish line, repeating the moves and gaining more than enough distance on shin and with a deft hand, he snatched the flag out of Shin's grasp and landed gracefully on the ground, the touch line.


The orphans and Ichigo erupted into cheers, celebrating Teigen's victory.

Even Yui, their begrudging host, couldn't help but admire the boy's talent.



"Well done, kid," Yui said, holding out a fifty silver note.

"You won fair and square today. If only you weren't so smelly and worthless, I might have had a use for you."


Teigen accepted the money graciously just as Ichigo lifted him up into the air, already planning the feast he would share with his fellow orphans.


As they celebrated their victory, the world around them faded away, and for a moment, they were just kids enjoying a moment of triumph in a world that was all too often unkind.

PART 1:SCENE 4


As the sun set over Sakai port village, Mayor Akimasa indulged in a hearty meal of fresh crab in sea weed soup, relishing in the succulent flavors.

His personal assistant, Fuyu, arrived just as he finished his meal, the two men's partnership having kept the affairs of the village under their control for years.

They had managed to keep the emperor's eyes away from their illicit deeds, receiving bribes and favors in various forms, and trimming down the tax money before it reached its intended destination. Knowing who could be a threat to them was crucial, and that was Fuyu's responsibility.

"What's the problem, Fuyu?" Akimasa asked, his deep voice resonating throughout the room.

"A ship!" Fuyu replied, taking his seat before the mayor.

"A ship? What ship? There are many ships. Which one are we talking about?" Akimasa questioned, his brows furrowed in concern.

"A foreign ship arrived in our harbor this morning. Its occupants remain a mystery to everyone.

The captain and crew members have nothing to say about their owners. However, there was one other person who roamed the marketplace, dressed strangely in black. He evaded every eyes,said nothing, nor did he buy anything.

He returned shortly to the ship, and that was it," Fuyu explained.

Akimasa's hefty frame exuded power, and although he wasn't a thinker, he certainly looked like someone who no one wanted to mess with. "So tell me, Fuyu, what do we do? Is this going to be a problem or not?"

"I don't know yet. It's too early to say, but I could schedule a welcoming meeting for them.

If we still have nothing on them by the second day, I've sent word to our friends in the capital for information on the ship.

It was bought somewhere by someone, so we should know soon who the real owners are," Fuyu replied with reassurance.

Akimasa nodded his head, pleased with Fuyu's ability to handle the situation.

His assistant's analytical skills and ability to provide solutions to problems were unmatched, and he trusted Fuyu implicitly.

"That's good, very good, Fuyu," Akimasa said, his satisfaction evident in his voice.

The dimly lit room cast a shadow over the duo, who continued to discuss their plan of action in hushed tones, their partnership stronger than ever as they navigated the murky waters of their corrupt world.

Part 1: Scene 5



On the top deck of the Gold Tiger, a young and delicate figure, standing at around 5’3 feet, was gazing at the moon's reflection on the sea.

Her features were soft and almost ethereal, with wide, pale lavender eyes.

Misaki Haruichi had an unassuming and gentle demeanor, often preferring to observe in silence.

Her hair, styled in a unique layered bob cut with side bangs, was a golden brown shade that fell just above her shoulder blades.

As she stood there, lost in thought, a strong and daunting voice interrupted her. "Katsuo said you've been longing to take a walk," said Daizen Haruichi, better known as Toni.
He was tall and muscular, with broad and imposing shoulders and a defined chest.

His short, spiky golden brown hair and piercing blue eyes exuded a fierce determination.

Toni wore a sleeveless golden and white vest that revealed his well-toned arms, along with fingerless gloves that extended up to his elbows.

His lower body was covered in ripped white jeans that showed off his powerful thighs, and a pair of sturdy brown boots with gold plates at their tips completed the ensemble.

He exuded an air of notorious confidence and strength, with a no-nonsense attitude that earned him the title of boss, above the three most deadly and dangerous fighters Japan had seen so far.

Misaki apologized if she had offended him with her foolish desire to take a walk, but Toni reassured her that she had done no such thing.

He simply wanted to wait a bit longer, letting everyone in Sakai Port Village wonder who they were.

He smiled broadly, looking out at the village from the ship's rail. "Home once again," he said.

Misaki remarked that the village hadn't changed at all, even after all these years. Toni had someone keeping an eye on the village even before their arrival, promising they would see them soon enough.

He took a long breath and exhaled before taking his leave, leaving Misaki lost in a flood of memories.

Part 1: Scene 6




“Hey minster, hey...hey, I am here, I am here, pick me!” Ichigo cried out, hands up, in the long queue of street kids who were eagerly waiting to be counted among those chosen to clean up the ship.

“Shut up, you stupid kid! Can’t you see I am attending to business?” The crew member tasked with selecting the few lucky ones shouted back angrily, hoping to please Yui’s gang member who had brought a few of their boys.

There was an ongoing racketeering where such work, among others, was shared among the gangs before it was opened to the public.

“This is not fair! Why do we have to wait in line when Yui’s gang is just being picked out of the queue?” A kid spoke out angrily from the queue, seeing the injustice that was being perpetuated. Not that it mattered, for no one really cared.

“Alright, you join them before I get a headache from seeing your face. Make sure you follow the queue down to the lower deck, and no lunch break if you want to make some money here!”

The crew member yelled at Ichigo, who quickly slipped out of the crowd to join those selected.

It was pure luck he got a morning gig, for it was well known that ships preparing to undock and depart usually paid more and did their cleaning in the early hours of the day.

With whatever pay that was going to come out of this gig, it was a step closer to earning just enough to get a spot in Master Haido’s School once it began taking in students once more.

“Do not stray from the path, clean only what and where you are asked to clean, and make no fuss about it.

No touching what you are not asked to touch, no staring at places you are asked not to stare at, no talking or you will be pushed out, and you won’t get even a dime!” The crew member seemed to be enjoying the job of a jailer rather than a mere sailor man charged with overseeing the activities of the boys while on the ship.

The kids never said anything; these were the usual terms and conditions imposed on them by most ship owners, and who could blame them? Some kids were known to steal, or even worse, hide on the ship and become stowaways.

Ichigo and two others had been assigned a part of the ship that happened to be the toughest and dirtiest. Of course, being a gang member meant you were specially looked after on the job.

“What is that foul stench coming from? I don’t understand. I have cleaned the floor over and over, but the smell just keeps coming?” stressed a cleaning mate of Ichigo who was getting really frustrated with a spot that seemed bent on torturing him.

“Just leave it and come work on my path while I finish it up, or we won’t get paid at all,” Ichigo replied.

They quickly switched whilst their supervisor slept soundly somewhere; his presence only felt by his consistent snoring and farting.

Ichigo resumed work on the spot, but he quickly realized what was amiss. The water being drained into a spot on the floor, a little hole which Ichigo investigated by putting a finger and popping a circular lid out of the floor that had been disguised as a part of the floor.

The source of the stench had been a mixture of the water being used to wipe the floor clean getting mixed with hard drugs.

“Hey kid, what the hell are you doing there!” An angry voice called out from behind; this was the ship’s captain, a very scary and powerfully built man.

Part 1: Scene 6: B




“Nothing, nothing, sir-captain, I was just…” He was abruptly pushed away so violently he fell to the ground in an awkward position, he made to stand but was quickly rushed by the supervisor who had longed been talked down on by the captain over the spoilt goods.

Ichigo received heavy and light punches and kicks as he pleaded and bled.

"You are going to regret this, you piece of garbage!" The enraged supervisor said, dishing out flurries of blows and kicks whilst everyone merely continued their job.



Ichigo groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. His head was pounding, and his body felt weak and feeble.

It took him a moment to realize that he was unconscious for a long time, but he had also been handed over to the police.

"Where am I?" he managed to ask, looking confused and unsettled.

He shared a cell with Mau, who had been kind enough to speak up for him earlier.

Mau replied, "You should just lie down. You shouldn't even be talking. You look like hell already." Ichigo asked,

"Who...who are you?" managing to sit up right where he had previously laid unconscious. He felt the aches all over his body, and his head was throbbing. Ichigo knew that this was not the first time he had experienced such pain.

He had been a punching bag all his life, but he was determined to change that.

"How long have I been out?" he asked Mau, who replied, "Two hours and thirty minutes. We literally walked in together. They threw you in like a piece of garbage.

Don't worry. I didn't like it either, so I spoke my mind to the police officer."

Ichigo was glad he found someone to talk to, someone who could help him manage the pain.

Mau introduced himself happily as a digger from the far mountain region. "Oh, I am Ichigo!" he introduced himself barely.

Part 1: Scene 6: C



Suddenly, a police officer appeared outside the cell and glared at Ichigo.

"Do you have any idea what you have done, you little piece of garbage? You just made a good friend of mine lose two months' worth of pay. You are going to rot in here, boy!" he shouted.

Mau spoke up, "Hey, that's okay now. Just look at the kid. Hasn't he been through enough already? He can barely walk or talk, probably has a fractured skull, broken ribs, damaged lungs, broken spine, bruised kidney…"

"Whaaaat!?" Exclaimed Ichigo out of confusion; may was definitely high on something now.

The police officer replied, "Oh, you shut up, Mau. What are you doing in here again? This is the sixth time in a week you and your brother have been in here. Can't resist the food in here, can you?"

Mau laughed heartily, "You know it. Prison food tastes a lot better than what my brother cooks. But that's not why I am here.

Those sleazy soldiers up in the mountain had the right to short-change us. And when I decided to drink a little of their wine, they had the guts to arrest me. Imagine that!"

Ichigo listened on with keen interest. He liked Mau.

Mau seemed like one who had no regrets and lived life to the fullest. "What soldiers are you talking about, Mau?" he asked out of curiosity.

Mau explained, "Four of them plus some kid brought them to us. They told us they were searching for a hidden temple. They sound crazy if you ask me, but they were willing to pay us. In fact, they paid us half of it, and now they are going to pay double that when they realize only Mau and Tau can guide them through the mountains alone."

Ichigo wondered, "A hidden temple you say? Is it real? What do you think they are looking for?"

Mau scoffed, "Kid, I and my twin have lived in the mountains for all our lives. I am pretty sure this is just easy money we are fleecing out of them. There is no hidden temple. Besides, this is Sakai Port Village. What really would anyone be interested in having in here?"

Ichigo swore, "Good luck to them. As for me, I intend to travel the whole of Japan. I am going to be the best fighter in the whole of Japan!"

HELLO ANIME FANS


WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SOLDIERS ARE SEARCHING FOR?


WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER SO FAR?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FIGHTING SPIRITS?


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