//------------------------------// // Time Grows Short // Story: Where I am Needed // by Saviour From The Dark //------------------------------// Where I am Needed Chapter 14, Time Grows Short Six opponents….they surrounded him….sizing him up like a beast measures it's pray. Both of his eyes keenly bore into their minds through their eyes and read their actions to the best of his abilities. 'Damn why did I let them circle me!' Then he took a breath and closed his eyes…'Remember what Master Funakoshi taught you….' 'Lung Punch from the right!' The surrounded Human spun on his heel and met the strike at the opponent's wrist with his forearm, with enough force that he managed to hurt the Angel's wrist. Wasting no time he then followed up with a sweep then spun around to face the other opponents and as he spun he lifted one foot from the ground only to bring it down on the swept Angel's solar plexus. 'Five left….things will get easier'. Two of them were looking at him…planning their next move. Their stance said it all….Salvatore performed a round-house kick with his left foot and struck the Angel on the right in the head who would have swept him had it not been for the speed of Salvatore's kick. He did it at a moment where he could intercept the sweep yet also avoid the high kick from the Angel to his left who then received a spinning reverse kick to the chin. 'Three to go…' Now the remaining Angel's looked serious. 'About time…' A strike from the left and in retaliation was an inner block pushing the strike to the side only for the back of the fist of that blocking arm to smack into the Angel's nose with a "Crunch" Next was to the right where a high kick came towards Salvatore only to be struck by the force of Salvatore's outer block which followed up with a left round-house punch aimed at the Angel's jaw. Finally his eyes came upon the last Angel who looked upon the Human who seemed unstoppable….It wasn't the red eye which gave the Angel students chills…..it was the focused…honed….unyielding look within his dark grey eye. Suddenly the thinking Angel struck out with a wide U-punch striking Salvatore in the stomach and chin. This made the Human get more serious…..Something the Angel didn't expect the Human to do was run towards him. This was to build speed as Salvatore was propelled into the air and bringing a lightning fast kick towards the side of the Angels face. When he returned to the ground he faced where Master Funakoshi was observing the test of skill from where he stood at the back wall of the training hall or Dojo, as the Master called it, Salvatore brought his arms to his side and bowed towards the Master. "A good presentation of strength, speed and technique you think quickly and are sharp however my main problem with you is…" Salvatore eye's noticeably widened. "You keep putting all my students into the treatment center! And you beg me to come here at night to bring other students to beat them down!" "I am sorry Master I am only tryi- "However….You are one of the most dedicated and hard working students I have had in a long time. I may lose sleep because of you yet I feel like it has not gone to waste…..even if it has been two weeks straight". Those words brought a smile to Salvatore's face. "I m just so eager to learn and get better….I just wish I could do it faster". The Master walked over to his student and put a firm yet comforting hand upon Salvatore's shoulder. "Some things take time to become stronger….to become better than what they once were. Such is the way of life. However keep upon this path and soon you shall yet remember to rest sometimes from all this and you will find strength comes from training hard then resting well. Believe me I remember when I myself was like you, young and fiery wanting to surpass everyone and be the strongest I could be". "Thank you Master…I think I will go to the Soothing Water Baths". The master looked at his student with pride. "Good I am glad I can speak sense into you. I hope you have been putting the same amount of dedication and commitment to the other Masters teachings?" The Master asked as Salvatore walked out the Dojo's sliding door. "Oh I come to you latest at night. The other Masters say you are the youngest so I come to you latest. Goodbye!" The sliding door shut. Master Funakoshi was left to hear those words echo through his mind… "That boy is crazy….I will be having words with those two…." Funakoshi grumbled to himself as he made his way back to his quarters. Meanwhile Salvatore had made his way to the Soothing Water Baths which he hadn't visited yet due to training and as he walked through a white marble archway the scenery changed quite a lot….shinning white tiles made up all surfaces of the narrow corridor he now walked down. Down each side were beautiful flowers and plants with many vibrant colors which brought a sense of peace to Salvatore. As he got closer to the end of the corridor steam gradually built up and soon he could barely see….all he could make out where two doorways….one left and one right…Salvatore's amazing male intuition lead him right. When he entered to room it was even harder to see the only thing he heard was the echo of his own feet….He walked ahead slightly until he could see the edge of the large water bath…..well more like a public bath….now knowing where to get in he removed the white belt tied around his waist and threw it behind him. The rest of his uniform was thrown behind him as he was actually now eager to relax. Slowly he dipped himself into the warm waters which beckoned him to stay and relax while it soothed his many bruises and aching muscles. Salvatore felt a lot of the pains he ignored being soothed by the mineral waters which were a crystal blue in color. The heavy amount of steam opened all his skin paws and allowed the water to also cleanse him of sweat and a little bit of blood more effectively. He scooped up some water and splashed it on his face then he dunked his head in too clean his long hair which he ruffled while it was under water to further clean it. When he raised his head he went back to the edge of the bath to sit in the waters and close his eyes for a while. For some reason he felt like he wasn't alone….He ignored it and stretched his arms wide which led to his right arm falling back into the water while his left landed on something soft, wet and warm. Slowly his head turned to his left and he saw the outline of someone else through the steam. He moved closer, with the forgotten arm still resting over the Angel's shoulders, Salvatore was close enough to see the Angel clearly…it was Luciana and she looked up at the taller Human with gleaming eyes and a light blush upon her pale cheeks. Then something unexpected happened….she moved closer to him…well into him. A sigh escaped her lips as she did….and Salvatore liked the feeling of someone being that close to him…well her since she had been helping him a lot with training and she was very nice to talk to….he considered her a friend….but was this what friends did? None of them knew what to say…ever since their first encounter things have been strange between the two…..strange for Salvatore since he had never even been so close to a girl before. However Salvatore's mind decided to be cruel and strike him with the fact that they were both naked…in the same bath….with his arm around her. When Luciana looked upon him she giggled due to his face looking like a confused tomato. He laughed himself while looking into her sparkling emerald eyes…bliss took over his mind and soul. His stomach felt knotted again and his heart was pounding. "Would you mind if I did something?" She asked him. "N-No not at all". She slowly moved herself from her seated position and sat on Salvatore's lap…Both of them had wide eyes. New feelings and emotions swept through their minds, bodies and hearts…she pushed her fingers through his thick hair while looking into his eyes. Her blush had grown…yet as she was sitting on his lap a certain part of her chest was out of the water….two pale and full breasts with pink nipples were grasping Salvatore's attention. She noticed his keen gaze. "Do you like them?" She asked in a child like manor which she inwardly cursed herself for as she thought it sounded stupid. "I haven't ever seen a girl like this before….You are beautiful". She felt two strong arms wrap around her lower back and bring her body into his. His head was just above her breasts and nuzzling her neck which made her giggle. A huge smile was on her face while she continued to ruffle his hair. After a while they pulled back from each other and were each smiling…one of her hands held his left cheek and her thumb caressed the spot underneath his red eye while the other traced the red marks on his skin. "I'm sorry if I am not like an Angel?" His head dropped down. "What are you saying Salvy?" Luciana asked concerned about him using her nickname for him. "If I am not more like them". He said in a melancholy tone. "I think you are beautiful for being different…Your red eye is gorgeous like a ruby…Your marking from what is in you….Your scars which make me want you more!" She confessed to him, pouring every last bit of love out of her heart. He had told her and only her about what he and what Xander had told him about him condition….Master Chuan was helping him understand it more. Her wet wings spread out wide which made Salvatore's eyes go wide….She knew he loved her wings...And everything else about her. Slowly she brought her face towards his until their noses and foreheads touched. Both had smiles of pure joy and love…they knew what was going to happen next. "Luciana…I want to kiss you". She blushed…hearing that from him made her feel amazing….he wanted to give her the first kiss of her life. "Come here then" She beckoned in a cheeky fashion with a seductive wink. Salvatore's lips came crashing into hers yet his eagerness was controlled and became soft….his lips were pleasant and experimental. Using his lips in different ways to tend to hers in ways she never thought possible. Both were experimenting within this new sensation…love. Their love was creating new ways to kiss and hold when another while doing this act of affection and love. From a different perspective it would seem like all this was set up like a performance….like someone had scripted these two individuals….yet this love was true and pure. If someone or anything had led them to this moment they would be sure to thank them if they ever met. After sharing one another's lips for about an hour they both got out of the bath and back into clothes. As they walked out of the doorway Luciana said to Salvatore. "Next time go into the Male baths because it might not be me in there if you slip up again!" She laughed as she walked off and left him embarrassed but smiling at her….he was in love. Unfortunately time was running out…..and soon he would have to fight….fight harder then he ever has done before. Salvatore will need every ounce of strength to the inevitable battle.