Hell's Dojo!

It was immediately after school bells rang that Sakura Kasugano found herself outside the dojo of a martial arts world champion in the making. She’d been practicing with Dan Hibiki and looking to test her metal against a fighter whose… well; won some medals. And rumor had it that the owner of this dojo was the strongest in town!

“Here we are Chitose!” She roared with excitement. “This is the dojo of world famous martial artist, Hercule Satan!” Sakura declared.

“Do you really think this is a good idea Sakura? Don’t you think challenging this guy might be a little dangerous…” Chitose asked as she reluctantly followed behind Sakura as they entered the dojo.

The two were awestruck when confronted with rows on rows of fighters in white Gi’s practicing their strikes. Standing center stage instructing them was a burly man with thick black arm hair and a frizzled mop on his head. His five o’clock shadow looking like sandpaper with a moustache that screamed Movie Star! Although not the Hollywood kind… more like the back of the rental store behind the red curtain kind…

“There he is! The martial arts master Hercule!” Sakura proclaimed with stars in her eyes, Chitose not as impressed as she was now seeing him in person. “I’m going to go talk to him!”

“Wait Sakura… that guy seems kind of goofy…” Chitose said with reservations as Sakura bombed on ahead without her.

“HERCULE!” Sakura roared as she jumped over multiple rows of fighters to confront the martial artist face to face. Slapping on a pair of red gloves and a headband to look more like her idol… Ryu. She pointed boisterously at Hercule before declaring “I’ve come here to challenge you to a martial arts match!” She yelled.

The whole room fell awkwardly silent. All of his pupils looking on in confusion as Hercule was equally confused. Chitose—Sakura’s friend standing off to the side feeling as though she was going to die of embarrassment. Blushing intensely. “Sakura please…” The silence finally being broken by Hercule’s laughter.

“Oh is that right girly!” Hercule said. “Well facing the future world champ ain’t so easy now. First you have to prove you worth!”

“My worth..?” Sakura said as her smile faded.

“That’s right! You have to face off against one of my pupils first. Then, and only then will earn the honor to face me! Hercule Satan in the flesh!” He yelled. A bead of sweat on his brow as he did.

Sakura’s saddened expression turned to smile as she smacked her palm with her fist. “Oh that makes sense!” She said as Hercule nodded.

“Alright! Rando you’re up!” Hercule said as his pupil bowed and met Sakura on the mat. Sakura bowing back out of respect. Hercule standing there smiling. Secretly nervous…

Did you see that jump!? It wasn’t human! Who is this girl? He wondered nervously. Oh well… Rando will wear her down and then I’ll come in and put her in her place with my signature Megaton Punch!! Hercule confidently thought.

The two came to blows and—Sakura won. Just like that. A few hits and it was over… She looked down at the beaten Rando and bowed. “Alright Herc-” Hercule interrupted her.

“Oh ugh um… did I say one of my pupils? I could beat one of my pupils with three hands behind my back!” Hercule declared as Sakura oohed and awed. Chitose rolling her eyes at the false bravado. “I meant three! One for each hand I wouldn’t need…” Hercule said.

“Oh! That makes sense.” Sakura said with a smile as she awaited to see her next opponent. Hercule looked around nervously. Finally seeing the two largest fighters in his arsenal… He had his champions.

“Hisoka! Kabuto! You two versus the girl!” Hercule said as Chitose’s jaw dropped in disbelief. Even Sakura looked a bit surprised by the notion of facing off against two of his opponents…

“Two versus one; Mr. Satan?” She asked.

“Ha Ha! Why of course!” Hercule threw his fists on his hips. “You see three would be no problem for me! That’s what I intended from the start! But since you already beat one of my students… I decided to be nice and let you face off against only two!” Hercule yelled as he threw out two fingers. AKA a peace sign. Or in Hercule’s mind, a “V” for victory.

And there ain’t no way she’ll beat Hisoka and Kabuto unscathed! I’m a genius!

Sakura seemed displeased at the sound of this and Hercule could tell. He was certain she’d give up any moment now. Smiling as though he’d won as she finally spoke up. “Well that isn’t right!” She said as Hercule nodded.

“No I get it. Not everyone is ready to face the future champ!”

“No not that.” Hercule’s smile faded into shock as he heard this. “If I need to beat three at once then that’s what I’ll do!” Sakura declared as Chitose got even more frustrated by this. Sakura… come on… She thought.

Hercule was surprised. But he certainly wasn’t going to argue. “Oh uh… alright.” He said anxiously as he selected his third biggest student to assist. That being JoJo. Excited and feeling ready Sakura squared up against the three as the bell rang. And in a matter of thirty seconds she defeated Hisoka, Kabuto, and JoJo with little issue…

“I won!” She declared as Hercule looked on in shock! “Does this mean I get to fight you now?” She asked as Hercule stood defeated before she even had chance to meet him on the mat.

Wh- who is this girl!? My reputation is over if I meet her in the ring… Wait I know!

“Hahahahahah!” Hercule laughed. “That was pretty good but… but…” Hercule scratched his head for a moment looking for the phrasing he wanted. “But you took too long! Yeah… But I tell you what! You show a lot of promise. So I Hercule will cut you a break. I’m willing to train you. Hone your skills if it were. And then after months and months of rigorous training you’ll finally be ready. And all this for only have the price of admission. The low, low price of Five-Hundred Zeni a month!”

Sakura’s eyes lit up in frantic excitement as Chitose face palmed. Sakura was just about ask where she could sign as Chitose grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her out of the dojo. Her grip surprisingly strong as Sakura tried to pull away in protest, but couldn’t. Hercule waving goodbye with a giant smile ear to ear as they left. And finally… a sigh of relief on his part…

“Chitose! Why!?”

“Sakura I can’t believe I’m saying this but you’re better off training with Dan… and its getting late. I want to go home.” Chitose declared as she pulled her down the sidewalk.

“But I want to learn from the best!” She said as she lightly bopped her friend on the head over and over. Chitose stringing her along all the while…

Ryu… at this rate I’ll never be able to keep up with him… Sakura thought as she was now caught in a daydream. Chitose pulling her as her shoes slid along the concrete…