Description: Gato leaves for Thailand after recovering from his battle with Ryu... intent on further measuring himself against the generation of his father, he finds himself refused by Sagat due to the impurity of Gato's goals. He is forced to look upon just how far he would descend in the pursuit of his goals... and finds himself unmoved.
The road to recovery is a long one when a war is involved. Vega's attacks on Thailand were swift and brutal leaving more damage in just a few months than wars that would often go on for several years. There were places much harder hit, but thanks to Sagat and several people helping him Thailand stood tall through most of the campaign until Vega's defeat. Now their national hero has been helping when he can in rebuilding. Some money was earned through the Devil's Tournament which he donated to the country to help. For the most part Sagat himself is rarely seen in any of the busier parts of the country. The small villages that are smattered across Thailand is where he can usually be found. Places where he can give aid and have some peace.
He stays because he wants to. He could be off fighting in another tournament, but his people need him here. He will not abandon those in need unlike Adon who is off causing trouble more than likely. He hasn't even heard from his ex student since the meeting soon after the Devil's Tournament finished. That can be considered good and bad news, but time without hearing about Adon is time well appreciated. He only hopes maybe the fighter will have finally found what he was looking for the next time they meet.
Right now the large fighter is resting by a small stream that goes by the local town he has been helping out the past several weeks. The day has passed by slowly and he is following up his days work and training with a small bit of fishing. A bucket already rests next to him with a few fish in it while he currently sits there cross legged with a fishing pole in his hands as he waits for another bite to happen.
The lone wolf known as Gato has been traveling a warped path for many days now. The dormant detrus of his fatber's training have finally been kicked up as he desired, and his confrontation with a man he feels should be closer to a peer only made such worse. Adon was more then simply someone aggravating; were that the case, Gato would have simply broken him and cared little. It was his genuine talent that allowed his victory, forcing the eldest Futaba into a self-destructive spree where he perhaps rightfully felt that as the superior fighter, he should have been the winner. But conflict... simply does not work that way. Strength is not power, and power is not victory.
Having finished with his affairs in Sunshine City for the time being, Gato has traveled to Thailand in the wake of his damage from Ryu. He's still bound in some ribcage-supporting gauze, but otherwise feels within tolerable limits. It is not a difficult matter to find someone of Sagat's size and reputation, navigating the chain of good deeds until the muted footsteps from behind signal his presence, if his violent chi did not do such otherwise.
"...So you are the God of Muay Thai I revered?" Gato asks, eyes nearly closed and focusing on his breathing. "To see you humbled before a stream, catching fish for commoners... have you truly lost all your pride as a warrior?!"
The voice picks up and the large fighter doesn't bother to look back over his shoulder to see who addresses him. The voice isn't familiar, but what it said is something he has heard several times before. Someone that doesn't understand how things truely work. Someone who thinks in order to be a great fighter you must always look imposing and show off your strength. If anything there is a deep chuckle that comes from Sagat a few moments after hearing the man's question. It just seems like something Adon would ask him.
"I have not lost any of my pride, if anything I have gained more for helping my people." he calmly replies while still not turning his attention away from both fishing pole and stream. If he gets a bite he rather not miss it just because some young welp is wanting to try and get on his bad side. "I am assuming you have something to ask. I know few who would come here just to chide me over things they do not understand." How serious is he taking Gato at the moment? Well that remains to be seen. For now all he has heard are words that really don't bother him. A fool making statements on something he knows nothing about.
"Helping your people." Gato repeats, slowly crossing his arms before his chest. The air rustles around Gato in a sort of listless manner, although his judgement appears to be more complex then the statement initially hinted. "Do you think a man of your talent... catching a basket of fish... is truly helping your people? You were once touted as a contender for the strongest in the world!! You should be showing the heart of Thailand still thrums in your veins! Sending your winnings to help people in need, rather then think such paltry hobbies are truly making a difference..." The well-built man is quiet for a few moments after, still looking hard at Sagat. "I met your fallen disciple. The talent you once invested in has become a distant shadow. Yet you allowed such a mockery to taint more then you, but also your entire country... it is that I wonder, from a man I respected." A lazy exhale follows, Gato's eyes closing before he moves himself in a flowing manner. "And also... I am one who wishes to surpass the strength of the last generation... if you still consider yourself a warrior, then you will not reject my challenge."
There is a bit of a smirk that falls on the lips of Sagat. He gently pulls in his line and sets aside the fishing pole. "All winnings for the Devil's Tournament that I had gotten for finishing only behind Ryu were donated fully to the restoration of my homeland. I have helped with rebuilding of several houses as well in my time away from fighting. I think an old man can enjoy an afternoon fishing." he says with a small chuckle before he starts to rise to his feet.
Once he has risen to his full height he turns about to finally look at Gato with that one good eye of his. He looks over the man critically and he seems to consider things. "As for strength. I have survived a nuke and defeated Vega. I think I might be doing all right for himself." There is no smugness to his tone. Just the honest truth. To have made it through that war was not easy given he was constantly at the front line defending his country and when it came to go on the attack he was the one that ripped Vega's precious weapon in half. He and Rust were the ones to finally put the tyrant to rest for at least awhile.
"Tell me. Why do you really wish to fight me? What drives you to show your strength?" he asks while sounding curious. Everyone has a motivation. A man like this perhaps something that the former emporer could even guess just by his demeanor. Even so he rather hear it from Gato's own lips before making any sort of real judgement. "If it is interesting enough I might entertain a fight."
"I see." Gato states, slowly adopting his own martial stance. He flows with a combination of power and agility, although there is something slightly off. It is clear that the eldest Futaba has spent his life practicing with an empty mind... which means the echoes of some dark, vengeful rage is all the more clear. Sagat, having conquered that demon himself, can likely see it better then any other fighter alive. "Yet you gave up on being the strongest in the world... what you do is just... but I would find it an empty life..." There's less of the antagonistic tone to this. A simple finality of opinion. Sagat is not one he would argue with as a lesser, regardless of what haunts his mind. "What am I really after? Tch. Does one need philosophy to desire being strong?" A slow exhale follows, before his internal chi begins to seethe out slowly. "I wish to defeat a certain man of your generation... if I cannot reach the heights of the fallen... then my purpose is lost. Is that sufficient, God of Muay Thai?"
A form of vengence perhaps? Gato does seem to give off the vibe that he truely is much like how the former emporer once was. A man drive for one goal. To beat Ryu no matter what the cost. He was the man that embarassed Sagat all those many years ago afterall. Or at least in his mind he was embarassed. It ate at him and consumed him until he was all to easily swayed by Vega to join the ranks of Shadaloo with false promises. So many evil deeds done to the point Sagat will truely never be able to make up for all that he has done in the past.
He considers what is said and he tries to think just who Gato might be after. Sagat knows many of the famous fighters of his generation, but none really come to mind as the person that Gato could be after to defeat. "Someone of my generation. And you consider yourself a failure until beat this man?" he asks while not looking as if he is ready to battle just yet. If this man is caught up in the lust of vengence and nothing else then Sagat will have nothing to do with helping. To ruin his life over such ideals in the past is one thing, but to feed someone's own urges and perhaps create a new Sagat does not sit will with him. There are too many that would make Gato the same offer Vega made to Sagat so long ago.
"It is not a matter of failure." Gato states, sounding rather touchy and dismissive about the topic at hand. His eyes harden, and the darkness intermingling within his soul obviously catalysts further. His stance pivots heavily, digging feet into the firm dirt before sinking toes for better leverage. Twisting his upper body, one palm is presented towards Sagat as the other faces away. "It is a matter... of honor and pride." Not within himself -- such would be much more simple, and run less deep. Gato is obviously revved up for a battle, and it is not likely that words would be sufficient to dissuade him. "Enough words. I did not travel here to prove my motivations to you!! It was to measure myself against one of the strongest men in existance!!"
Sagat raises a hand to rest on his chin and give it a bit of a rub while thinking things over. Where Gato looks ready to burst into action it seems Sagat has no real intention to fight after hearing what the other fight has had to say. "You waste both our time. Seek strength elsewhere if you wish, but I do not see a reason to do battle with you." To try and measure one's strength is one thing, but Gato seems to have much more motivation beyond that. Something that drives him perhaps on a darker path. A friendly spar or a request of someone wishing to learn from him and his style is one thing, but this does not come off as either of those.
"Strike if you wish, but you will not get the satisfaction you were wanting. I would suggest to tread lightly on the path you walk. I know all too well what may happen if what my gut is telling me is true." He turns about and he steps over back to the fishing rod and bucket of fish, looking to pick both up. It seems that his moment of peace has been broken today and he should just let himself get to fixing dinner and then back to work. He just turns and looks at Gato once more before giving a small shake of his head. The way he moves seems to show that he is not even looking to properly defend himself at the moment. This reminds him too much of his encounter with Dan a few years back. A fight where he started to realize just how much a man can be consumed by vengence. A point where he realized he must find another path.
That is why he will not fight even if struck at. With Dan he at least pretended to put up one, but in the long run it seemed like it might help. This situation calls for him to make the victory feel hollow to the man that looks to fight him. Something to make him wonder if he really does have the skill to defeat the mighty God of Muay Thai or not. For now Sagat just looks to walk past him and towards the village that is a short distance away.
Slowly Gato's expression darkens, lips pulled back to bare his teeth in a manner closer to a ferocious beast then anything else. He kicks off the ground, hurtling himself forward in a violent manner. Yet no attack is forthcoming, if Sagat were to even bother making a token resistance. Aiming to grasp him by the shoulder and stop him from leaving. It is clear that Gato has not fallen so far that he would move to strike an unresisting man, even of the God of Muay Thai's level. "Satisfaction...?! Are you saying I am not worthy of even fighting?!" The seething chi within Gato seems to resonate even stronger, and it is clear that it is taking considerable willpower to hold his hand. "I did not come this far to be turned down, coward!! FIGHT ME!!"
He pauses and he gives a faint shake of his head. "You might be worthy, but not in your condition. You are a fool to think I am a coward and I find you unworthy. I can tell you are strong, but you are misguided. I will not create another Adon." One in the world is enough. Of course he is sure the two are quite different, but yet they are the same. Men that are still seeking out the truth as to why the really fight. Men like him that will grow up one day and realize there are better things than life and find a true reason to fight that they will enjoy. "Maybe one day we can do battle, but not now."
It is a strange encounter. One that will leave him thinking, trying to figure out what man Gato might be after. A man of Sagat's generation. Perhaps one he has even done battle with in the past? In a way he wishes Gato would divulge a bit more information. Given the way he is shouting right now Sagat has a feeling there will be no more exchange of words. The younger fighter may be able to get other men to fight him so easily, but not today. This will be a day where Gato may realize not just any fighter will do battle with him at the drop of the hat. Sagat chooses his battles these days and it has nothing to do about strength or proving himself. Gato would learn nothing from this from what the elder fighter can guess. That is why he just continues walking and leaves Gato to ponder his next move. A move that certainly won't involve the God of Muay Thai.
"...You compare me to the likes of Adon...?" Gato states, allowing Sagat to pull away afterwards. "Do you think me so weak?!" For long moments he simply stands there, allowing the wind to billow around his outfit. However, he does have one last thing to offer the departing God of Muay Thai. "If you will not fight me... perhaps I will search for others in Thailand?" Arms slowly cross once more, flicking his braid over a shoulder. "I am sure there are many young and upcoming fighters who wish to prove themselves. Would you take responsibility..." A flash of something ominous. A killing intent; the sort from a fighter who would not hold back against a lesser. "...for what could happen? If so... then leave!!" Nothing further will be offered by Gato.
With each comment made Sagat just feels more justified in his refusal. To not understand what he is trying to say and think he is truely comparing him to Adon. It has nothing to do about strength, but they are both too damn dense to understand anything other than their own desires. That sort of feeling that comes from Gato as he tries to make a threat does cause Sagat to stop walking. "I think I have made my point. Your desire consumes you. You would murder or maim those that weaker just because you can. For what? A fight with me? A fight you may have gotten if I didn't already feel the ill intentions that you had to begin with."
There is a bit of a chortle that comes from him. How strange this scenario has turned out. A day where he just was looking to do some fishing in between work has turned into a fool of a man threatening to kill others just because he would not fight him. "You show your weakness now. No pride, just a desire for what you want. This is what makes you like Adon. I could care less about which one of you is physically stronger. You are both fools." Gato at least is younger than Adon by Sagat's guess. Maybe he still has time to realize what he is doing and maybe change the path he walks. At the same time the God of Muay Thai cannot coddle every misguided fighter he comes across. "I shall leave. Just move on, find those that are willing to test you that are worthy. Don't be petty and weak by trying to injure those because I denied you a fight." He has no more to say. His words fall on deaf ears anyways.
"...So be it." Gato states, finally breaking off from his aggressive stance. Hard eyes remain on the God of Muay Thai. He has certainly done little to help this dangerous descent with his refusal. Whether a battle would have been better will not be seen this day. Fingers slowly flex with an audible crack and pop of his knuckles, as he turns to leave himself. He has taken something from the encounter, although perhaps not what Sagat had hoped. It is clear that some masters will harshly judge where he is beginning to stray in regards to his philosophy. In that case... he will find someone willing to embrace it instead. He is not strong enough. Even without trading blows with Sagat, that absolute is clear!
Log created on 18:06:31 07/01/2012 by Gato, and last modified on 21:03:23 07/01/2012.