Description: Sagat's attempts to keep Quon off Shadaloo's radar went horribly wrong. The question is will it be different this time with Ibuki? Could some heavy threats make the girl realize she needs to just think about saving her own hide instead of risking things for a friendship with Cammy? Probably not. This whole trying to be a nice guy thing isn't working out so well for the cyclops.
Early afternoon in the forest, the somewhat distant sound of cars can be heard along one of the few highways that run through the wood. The woods themselves smell a bit sweet with a hint of decay from the thick cover old dead pine needles mixed in with the undergrowth. For the most part, however, the place is mostly secluded as Justice High is in session and the camping areas are closer to the highways. Thus it's a perfect place to train...
Which is exactly what Ibuki is doing in one of the forest's many clearings, a few bamboo poles have been hammered into the ground cut at differing heights and angles forming a large square in the middle of the clearing, there are targets bound to the trees in various places all throughout the clearing, a few weights are laying here and there on the ground, and finally there's a nearby stream and small waterfall. A quick glace will also tell the story...this is where Ibuki's been living since she arrived in Southtown, there's a small tent on the other side of the stream from the training area, a well tended fire, and a few fish grilling over it...as well as a sleeping Tanuki curled up just outside the tent.
As for what Ibuki's doing, she's hanging upside down from one of the many tree limbs by her toes doing sets of completely vertical sit ups, "198....199...200!" She enthuses as she finishes the last one before just hanging there, "So what's for dinner this afternoon Don-chan?" She chuckles, "Fish again hmm!" It seems she's making the best of the situation at least.
There have been a few tasks to handle in Southtown recently. Vega has decided to have Sagat do a bunch of menial tasks involving him checking with the various operations Shadaloo has going on in the town. Being delayed by the likes of Todoh didn't help with his timing or mood either for that matter. It caused him to be late for a few of his scheduled visits and needless to say some of the workers were scared shitless thinking they were going to get thrown through a wall the way the cyclops frowning the whole time.
With all those duties out of the way he was finally able to seek out some peace. Of course before he does that he has one last thing to take care of. Something that is personal that he wishes to do to try and keep yet another poor kid dragged into shit they don't need to be involved in. No, there is probably no saving Quon at this point now that he has caught Vega's attention. The other girl that was with him and Cammy might be able to be chased off before she gets herself noticed as well. It took some contacts to seek out information, but eventually he was able to find out where the girl often hangs out.
Given his size it probably isn't too hard for Ibuki to hear someone coming near her. Not like Sagat is trying to be sneaky. He is clad in shorts and a tanktop while walking barefoot through the forest. That single eye looking about to catch sight of the young girl to see if she is even in this location at the moment.
As Sagat closes in on her camp/training ground, Ibuki swings back and forth until she launches herself upwards grabs another branch twirls around it and comes back to land on the branch she'd been hanging from a moment ago. Drawing a kunai from one of her hiding spots, she waits for whomever is making such a racket walking through the forest, "Don-chan did you order pizza again?!" She calls down to the sleeping tanuki.
Then he walks into the clearing and Ibuki tenses up, this can't be good, now that she actually knows who the guy is she can't help but be a tad concerned, "Welcome to my camp! Something I can do for you?" She enthuses from her high spot in the tree, already figuring out what sort of leap she'd have to make to get to the next tree over and when would be the best time to throw her Kunai at him...if he proves dangerous...well hostile he was Sagat afterall so that alone made him dangerous.
He seems like he isn't ready to attack just at the moment, but the man is legendary in his style and he could probably easily attack without a moment's notice. His gaze travels upwards as he spots Ibuki and he nods to her before moving over to lean against a nearby tree and folds his arms over his chest. "Thank you." At least he seems to be polite. A bit more so than the last time Ibuki met him at least. Hey, he is at least paying attention to her this time around instead of pretending she isn't even there. But what could he want?
"I would like to talk." he finally says after another few moments of silence. That single eye does keep focused on the ninja. He isn't sure if she would attack, but if she does he should be ready just in case. "I tried to warn and help Quon, but it was a bit too late." he begins to explain as he shifts his weight slightly. "You do not know much about Cammy, right?" he asks. Surely Ibuki doesn't know the truth. Though he is curious if she knows anything or she just thinks Cammy is just a weird girl in need of friends.
Seeing as he's here to talk, Ibuki just slightly relaxes and pulls her hand away from her kunai but not so far that she can't reach it if it turns out to be a trick. She sits crouched in the tree as she watches his movements very very closely, thankfully though it seems the noise has roused her pet Don and he's noticed the tense atmosphere so has taken to a tree as well. With that worry out of the way she relaxes a bit more, "To talk hmm? Funny you didn't want to do that when I wanted to?!" It seems she's not completely over being ignored like that.
"Warn Quon about what?" She tilts her head and peers at him as he continues on and asks how much she knows about Cammy, "Well...I know she's a little odd and a little lonely, and that she's part of a very very nasty gang." She got that last part with her conversation with Rust very recently, "Is there more I need to know about her than that?" She holds the question she asked Rust for a bit later waiting to see what Sagat offers on his own.
The raised voice makes his eye narrow somewhat, though his posture doesn't shift at all. "I am old enough that I talk when there is information to be given and prattling about ice cream with some girl is not what I call important." His patience isn't at its best after the tireless night he had and also having to deal with Todoh. That alone would push almost anyone over the edge. He manages to keep his tone even though instead of raising his voice a bit too much.
He also at least finds out that Ibuki is mostly in the dark. A gang? Hah, if only it were that simple. He just slowly nods after the explanation. "It isn't that simple, sadly." he replies. "Quon apparently has some strange fate that has entangled him into a rather complicated web." He is unsure how much he should divulge, but at the same time the more she knows the better. "She isn't in a gang. She is involved in a very dangerous group. One that you don't want to be involved with."
Ibuki absolutely feels the need to defend her actions, "It wasn't prattling it was a distraction, so that Quon and Cammy could enjoy their date without interruption." The ninja teen admits, "That was part of the reason Cammy invited me, I was there to make Quon feel more comfortable." She smirks slightly remember the fact she got to tease both Cammy and Quon ruthlessly the entire time, then she is focused back on their conversation.
Well she knows the gang is /very/ dangerous, "Well I figured or you'd not be here to warn me off." Ibuki sasses just slightly in reply giving Sagat a little bit of a 'no duh' look, "I'm figuring they're pretty bad guys if they've got /you/ delivering warnings, to be honest that makes me think they're probably ridiculously scary." She then meets Sagat's eye, "So how much danger is Quon and Cammy in by being associated with this group?"
Some muscles tense and the larger man straightens up, no longer leaning against the tree. "A bit of respect for your elders would you some good, child." Was it perhaps the best response for him to make? No, of course not. Given how kids are these days it will probably just provoke Ibuki to sass him further. She at least has the luck of running into a slightly more tranquil Sagat and not the raging monster he was just a few years ago. Otherwise he would probably be breaking her legs right about now so she would stay in one place as he tried to explain things.
"Cammy is in no danger. Quon might die if things continue to develope as they are." He tries to put the conversation back on track instead of getting into some childish arguement with the ninja. "Cammy is willingly part of the group. She is in fact favored by the leader." He unfolds his arms and stalks forward, but still showing no intention of attacking. "A man she is so loyal to that if he ordered her to kill Quon she would do it." Would she argue? Maybe, but Sagat doesn't say she would do it without question. "That would be a mercy killing at that. There are people that work for him that are far more cruel." He stares straight at the girl his single eye meeting both of hers. "You wish to have some somewhat normal life, don't you? Stay the hell away unless you want it to end early."
Ibuki has a great number of teachers and they are all obviously older than her so the chastisement actually makes her cringe slightly but she's also a tad rebellious, "Just because you're older than me and could break me like a twig doesn't mean you earn my respect automatically!" Yes she's rather aware of his talent with fighting, "Respect is earned through ones actions!" Sometimes her teachers say some useful things she remembers in the right situation. She slides her hand closer to her kunai figuring that's going to annoy him a little but she does stand on the principals she was taught even if they might get her beaten.
"So Cammy really is part of this of her own free will?" Ibuki sighs rather hard at that and shakes her head and then he goes on to explain exactly how loyal Cammy is to their leader and her eyes widen, "If that's the case then why does she hang around Quon, if she might be made to harm him?" The follow up of more cruel killers in their employ and particularly about her wanting to live a normal life give Ibuki further pause, "Tha...." Her voice kinda dies away and a deeply thoughtful look sweeps over her features and she is very quiet and still before finally she speaks up her voice weak and slightly bitter, "Answer me honestly Sagat, does she need friends?"
At least this time he doesn't seem too angered by the bit of rebelliousness at first. He does keep his stance though and that eye is unblinking as he watches the ninja react to what is said. It might just be times like this he wishes he still didn't care what would happen to people. Trying to redeem himself while still stuck in Shadaloo's clutches doesn't make for an easy task. It has made him weary at times trying to figure out what to do about Quon and Cammy. Much like the younger fighter he sometimes wonders if he truely should have saved Quon's life. Thankfully in the end despite all this annoyance he would still do it. The world needs new fighters to make new chapter.
"People like me and Cammy. We can't afford friends." is all he says in reply at first. He has that sinking feeling that Ibuki might be starting to feel sorry for Cammy and will continue to be her friend despite the risk. "I see the look you are given. Sometimes sympathy isn't always a good thing." he tells her as he folds his arms back over his massive chest again. "You are not strong enough to do what you are thinking. I state this as a fact, not an insult. If you linger around her and someone takes notice you might be lucky to deal with me and end up with a broken limb or two. The others....they will make it slow for their own enjoyment." He can only imagine what the likes of Balrog or Juri might do if they were sent after Ibuki. None are very pretty outcomes. "You talk about respect then let us see you practice it. Respect this request and in return I will stop treating you like a child. Stay out of this mess."
Her features a masked as she tilts her head down concealing her face in the shadow of her hair and the branches above her what he was saying made sense and the fact he'd nailed her moments ago with the truth that she wants to live a normal life warred inside her with the fact she somehow deep down knew that Cammy needed a friend more than anything else, the ninja girl frowns and sighs....she doesn't know how to react or what to do she wished she had someone's advice she could seek but there was no one she knew well enough to ask about something like this!!
She slams her fist hard into the trunk of the tree, once, twice, three times. Before she repsonds to Sagat, "Why not....you're both people too...everyone needs friends whether they want to admit it or not." The ninja is somewhat defiant in her tone but at the same time there is a desperate quality to it, she's not arguing with Sagat at the moment she's arguing with herself, "I can't just stop being her friend that'd be wrong and cruel to her...." She slumps her shoulders, "Right? You just don't stop being someone's friend if it's dangerous...especially if they really need that friend?" She's asking this of the former Muay Thai Emperor not stating it, her eyes slightly blurred with unshed tears as she meets his eyes waiting for his answer.
There is an impassive look on Sagat as he watches the ninja try to figure out what to do. It never is easy to make such decisions, but he could pray she would make the right one. It probably doesn't help she has all those female hormones going on right now. It doesn't help this time around after the last round of toying with her brain Cammy seems to be more adventurous despite remaining loyal. "I was hoping you had better judgement. You fully don't understand everything." It might be because he can't tell her everything. He can only hope that he wasn't trailed here without him knowing. Being here this long and talking to Ibuki could almost be just as bad as her being around Cammy for prolonged time.
He reaches up and pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment and he lets out a low grump. "We are monsters. I cannot repent for everything I have done, but I try to strive to be less of one than I was." he scowls for a moment and shakes his head. This is silly. He is obviously not getting through to her. "Cammy may seem a bit naive and innocent, but that girl has killed more times than she herself can remember. And if she starts having second thoughts on her true duty? Her mind is wiped, child. So being her friend for all this time and perhaps getting yourself killed? There is a chance she won't even remember who you were other than a person in her master's way." He doesn't know if he can be any more blunt at this point unless he just outright mauled her right here and now to leave her broken body to consider things. "I can't do anything or say anything else to you. I just hope you won't be foolish and realize you need to if even just this once think about yourself. Being selfish isn't always a bad thing."
Slowly getting a grip over her frustration and emotional instability, Ibuki wipes her eyes and clears the tears from them before she actually cries. Calming herself down she really thinks over what Sagat has told her and warned her about. She clenches her fists and shakes her head it's not time to get mad either she is slowly but surely coming to a decision and that decision is probably going to have some consequences.
Ibuki frowns at Sagat, "We are people!" It seems she included herself in the 'we are monsters' bit, she frowns deeper at what he says about Cammy having killed and the fact that her mind is wiped her eyes widen at that and her mind races, "So you're telling me...that her memories are erased against her will and she's forced to kill people and if she tries to stop herself her mind is changed for her?" She points at Sagat, "You said I wasn't strong enough to do stand up against this group...but what about you? Can't you take her away from them so she can actually make a real choice? So she can have a real life too?!!" It seems she's very very reluctant to give up on Cammy completely.
That single eye closes for a moment and he just gives a shake of his head. He wonders if he let his mind come up with such easy solutions to problems when he was young. Then again when he was young he didn't have many life changing decisions. He was pampered and spoiled. Perhaps almost as bad as Adon at times. Well, lets not go that far. He didn't expect tears or this sort of of conversation when he first came here. He honestly wasn't sure how much Ibuki and Cammy even hung out. "A lesson best learned at a young age. Life is never that simple." He tells her as he starts to turn away.
The mountain keeps his back to Ibuki and his arms are lowered. "Even gods have their limits. Calm yourself and think long and hard about this. Once you get get involved with Shadaloo you never are truely free of them." He of all people knows that. All he wants is peace to train for his eventual final battle with Ryu. The battle he intends to win even if it kills him in the end. Now he is back in the fold having to do things he used to enjoy but finds himself despising....for the most part. Sometimes those primal and evil urges do come back. "I have nothing left to say. This is a decision only you can make." With that being said he moves on. Any words to get him to stop seem to fall on deaf ears as the cyclops makes his way back towards town.
As the former Emperor of Muay Thai rejects her idea of him taking Cammy away, she deflates again. As her mind tries to decide what to do in this situation one part screaming that she should just walk away from the whole thing and forget about Cammy or stand her ground as her friend no matter what came her way and most likely be crushed by Shadaloo. It seemed like there were only those two paths now and she was rather loath to pick either one of them she shakes her head and mutters, "How'd I wind up in this situation?"
Snapping her head up she gives Sagat a hard look, "If that's the limit of a god then someone will have to surpass it!" Ibuki says perhaps a bit impudently, "....I'll....I'll train hard if I have to! I'll get stronger than you! Stronger than Shadaloo!!" Her voice getting loud again, internally feeling this was all just angry bluster on her part...she just wanted to be normal right? Doing that would be the total opposite of every goal she'd set for herself, as the mountain of a man walks away she drops from her perch in the tree, lands softly, and then falls to her knees, "...I really will..." She says feebly before letting out a long sigh and looking over to a nearby tree and smiling weakly, "...seems like I have a lot of thinking to do Don-chan."
Log created on 21:38:54 01/10/2011 by Sagat, and last modified on 00:55:05 01/11/2011.