Thief

The person Shandy told Yamato and Zack that she's going to introduce them to turned out to be her uncle.

Apparently her family has considerable influence in Underground fights. Yamato didn't know the details but Shandy said her uncle is a Clan master.

Clan Masters, according to her, are people like Charles that has a whole group of fighters under them. In the Underground Fight Club those people are formidable existence that could decide a lot of things.

Shandy said she she'll talk to her uncle about it if they are interested in joining the Underground. Zack agreed but Yamato kindly declined the offer.

"Then wait for my good news," Shandy said to Zack.

After school Yamato went to Katrina's house for today's training. He found his Master in the front yard standing in front of a pile of wood, with an axe in her hand.

"Right on time my good disciple," Katrina said. "How was the fight yesterday?"

"I won," Yamato said proudly.

"Good. Now take this, I want them chopped perfectly," Katrina handed him the axe and went into the house.

Yamato always wonders how his master senses when he's approaching her house every time. He even tried to sneak up on her a few times but she always know when he's coming. Of course he knows about those cord of wires she has all around to alert her about anyone coming, but even if he avoided them it was no use. Thinking of that he started cutting the wood.

By the time he was done the sun has started setting, but there was not even a sign of sweat on his body.

After that Katrina sparred with him. At first she let him attack her without retaliation to check his progress. When she finished her inspection she quickly defeated him. As always at the end of their spars, Yamato found himself on the ground.

"That's it for today. Tomorrow is the first day of the weekend so come early. Your footwork is already decent, I have something new to teach you,"

"Yes Master," Yamato said finding it amusing that she refers to Saturdays as the first day of weekend and Sundays as the second day.

The next day Yamato woke up early - as he usually does on weekends - to go to work. He lives in a one bedroom apartment with his parents. His parents naturally took the spacious bedroom so he had to make do with sleeping on the old couch in the living room.

Not that he's complaining; most of the other kids in the street has it worse. But it means he could only sleep when it's very late and wake up very early. Because this sitting room is where his crazy parents have their drug deals. Even without the drug deals he didn't like seeing his parents much lest they put him in trouble.

Today however even though he woke up early as usual, he was out of luck. Just as he returned from taking a bath in the shared bathroom in the hallway, he found his mother sitting on the couch smoking cigarette.

She's a thin woman in a blue pyjamas, with her unkept black hair turning greyish yet she looked hound as if she's just in her twenties. Her skin looked a healthy white and face beautiful and unblemished; at a glance no one will attribute her with a notorious criminal.

"Hey kid I want you to run an errand for me," she said.

Hearing that Yamato was afraid and started putting on his cloths quickly - he was dressed in only his boxer briefs he change after taking the bath. "I have to go to work," he said.

"I know, just grab me some vegetables when you are returning," saying that Nora handed her son the money and explained what she wants him to buy and the amount.

Yamato had thought that she'll tell him to help her deliver some drugs or something like that but it seemed he over thought things. Sighing in relieve he stuffed the money in his pocket and quickly left the house before something weird happens.

After he left, the woman tilted her head in thought. "Am I that scary?" She muttered.

xxx

Yamato's work place is not that far from his home. Just a fifteen minute walk. By the way, his school is a 25 minute walk since it's in the outer part of Band E Main Street district while his house was at the edge of the district Main Street District.

After work that day Yamato didn't directly head to Katrina's house like he used to but went to the market to buy the vegetables his mother wanted.

The open market was unorganized and dirty but it sold cheap things. That's why everyone in this district buy things here. Shops lined the sides of the market streets with various kinds of goods in display and costumers crowded the market street making for a prosperous atmosphere.

"Come and buy fruits! This is the best fruit shop in this market, you can't miss it! Young man come and buy fruits. Don't underestimate fruits they can strengthen a Fighters muscles and bones!"

A chubby aunty called out to Yamato. He shook his head like he did many others calling for costumers and wanted to pass but then he suddenly noticed the cabbages in the cart beside her stall.

Yamato walked closer. "How much are you selling this?"

"It's not mine but I can sell it to you before my neighbor returns," the woman was obviously disappointed he wasn't buying her fruits but was still kind to him.

"I want two cabbages,"

"It's five silver coins for the small ones and one note for the big one," the aunty quickly said showing she's an expert in marketing. The price was consistent with what his mom told him so Yamato nodded.

"This is two notes, that'll be three right?"

"What are you saying young man? This is the price the owner of the store told me!"

"Really, you can't even give a discount?"

"You just want one to eat right? I guess it won't be a problem," The woman said seemingly understanding Yamato's intention. She thought Yamato was trying to make some profit for himself, and he didn't bother correcting her. Seeing him shrugged she laughed care freely and packed the cabbages for him in a plastic bag.

After that Yamato bought some eggplants from her too, paid and thanked her. He turned to leave when he heard a commotion.

"Thief, thief, he stole my bag!" A woman shouted.

"A thief in broad daylight how bold!"

"Quick someone catch him!"

Yamato turned to see a young woman that looked like a rich young miss shouting and pointing at a man running towards him. "Somebody stop him, damn it!"

Without thinking Yamato stepped forward to block the thief's way. To his surprise the thief continued running towards him.

"Get away damn kid!" The man growled sending out a palm strike.

Yamato was stunned for a moment as he didn't expect a thief to be so aggressive, but his training kicked in and he automatically leaned his body to the side to avoid the palm strike, then threw a punch in reply.

He was surprised yet again as the thief lifted his hand and casually slapped his fist away then circled past him and continued running.

"What the...?!"

Yamato was stunned for a moment but quickly started chasing after the thief. The guy was very fast, he pushed people out of his way as he fled. Seeing that Yamato did not hesitate to use his footwork. 'Catching Stones'.

He glided forward smoothly. Ignoring the market street, he leaped from one cart to another, in an instance he caught up with the thief. Yamato jumped and threw a punch at the back of the guy's head. The blow connected sending the thief flying forward to crash on in the middle of the paved but dirty market street.

Yamato thought that was the end but as he drew closer the thief got up to his feet and started throwing punches and kicks at him. Yamato casually blocked, with one hand, even though he was holding the vegetables in his other hand. What he couldn't block, he dodged.

Yamato punched the thief again throwing him to the ground. The man tried to stand up but Yamato quickly kicked him in the knee, making his leg twist wrongly. Then he picked the trendy looking purse the thief dropped. People quickly surrounded the thief preventing him from escaping.

At that moment the young lady Yamato saw earlier walked over with an angry look on her face. "What a detestable thief!" She said then looked at Yamato.

Yamato instinctively handed her the purse. The young lady looked inside the purse then nodded to herself.

Now that Yamato got a good look at her he was shocked. She was an immaculate young woman in an expensive looking dress. The top was a white blouse and skirt was red, it fit her tightly showing her curves at the waist but bloomed the lower it went.

Besides that she wore a lot of jewelry like the golden necklace around her slender fair neck and bracelets on her wrists. Her dark hair was held in a ponytail by a jade hairpin. The sign of wealth in her body showed she's not from this poor district.

"Thank you," the woman said proudly. Then reached inside the purse, took out a bundle of cash and offered it to Yamato. "Take this,"

Yamato shook his head finding her action strange. "No need,"

He didn't help people for money. Besides he just got a lot of money from Charles the other day that he didn't spend yet. In the woman still insisted Yamato take her money but he didn't accept it and walked away.

The young Lady looked at the direction Yamato left towards, her gaze profound. A few people that looked into her eyes at that moment felt like she wasn't just an ordinary 'young miss' but a dangerous expert. Yet the profound aura around her vanished quickly leaving people in doubt that they had imagined everything.

People already started beating the thief themselves so the thief was relieved when the market security arrived. The security handcuffed him and took him away but to for a thief it was better than being beaten to death. Besides he wasn't a thief...

Yamato went back home to give his mother the vegetables before heading towards Katrina's house. The incident in the market was already out of his mind. By now he had long forgotten that he even stopped a thief earlier, all he was thinking about was the new technique his master promised to teach him.

Just as he was about to enter the Dragon Park however, a black SUV suddenly drove forward and blocked his way. A man that looked like a professional bodyguard in black suit and dark glasses came out of the car.

This guy has a very dangerous aura that made Yamato's hair stand on end. No doubt this guy is very powerful, his instinct was telling him that.

Yamato frowned and subconsciously readied his stance. Worse came to worse he's ready to summon his Astral Gauntlet. However the man in black suit didn't make a move at him, he just rounded the car and opened one of the door.

Seeing the person sitting in the back seat, Yamato was surprised. It was the young lady he met in the market. The same one that he helped retrieve her purse from a thief, the same one that offered him money as a reward but he refused to take.

The young lady stepped out of the car elegantly then smiled at Yamato. "We meet again Yamato Armor," she said.

It was a smile, but the smile has no comfort only an faint sense of danger. But the sense of danger vanished as fast as it came leaving one in doubt.