Warrior

By: Forefront

'Thud thud.' He could hear his own heart beating out of his chest. He was lying there on his stomach, face down in a pool of his own blood. The pain was excruciating, and his body was starting to fail him. He knew that time was growing short. 'Thud thud.' He heard familiar voices in the distance. No… they weren't in the distance. They were right near him. His vision started to clear as he looked over. 'Thud thud.' It was his nakama. They were calling his name from beside him. They were fighting too. He couldn't let it end now. He wouldn't.

'Thud thud.' His heart beat hard in his chest as he pushed himself up. The pain was terrible, but it didn't matter anymore. He got to his hands and knees; his breathing ragged and heavy. 'Thud thud.' He put a leg up, his foot hitting the ground underneath him. His legs were weak, and his muscles ached from the strain. 'Thud thud.' He pushed up as hard as he could with his leg. He stood up, getting the other underneath him.

'Thud thud.' He spread his feet wide, his body becoming immovable as a rock. Powerful muscles tensed within his thin frame as steam rolled off of him, his skin a fiery red. The wound in his side continued to ooze blood. 'Thud thud.' He sucked in a deep breath; long and slow.

"Kaizoku-o ni ore wa naru!" He called, shaking the foundations of the buildings around him. His face contorted in rage as he reached both of his arms back as far as they would go. His enemy turned to face him, but it was too late. He called out in determination, "Gomu Gomu no…!" 'Thud thud…'

"BAZOOKA!"