Dragon Soul[Kenichi, Vanyel]

The outcome of their battle was nebulously unclear. In the midst of their decisive clash, who had emerged victorious? Any recollection of the fight would only live on in the memories of the spectators. As for Kenichi, everything after the moment they landed their final strikes was no longer present within his memory.

Laying within the infirmary reserved for fighters who required attention and supervision for their injuries, Kenichi would rise up from his bed, a loud groan escaping his mouth as he felt his bones crack ever so slightly. His body itself seemed to be in solid condition.

There was no longer any pain in his wrist. He felt a little sore, of course, but it wasn't enough to keep him in bed for long. Speaking of time, how long had it been since they fought? Was it morning? Was it still night? Did the fans get a performance worthy of the ages? These myriad questions filled his mind as he rose up from the bed, performing a series of stretching exercises to even out any kinks in his body. His wrist was bandaged.

No doubt, it was likely a result of overexerting his celestial technique. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as Kenichi clenched his bandaged fists, basking in the afterglow of that battle. That was remarkable. Vanyel had truly proven to be an opponent that pushed him to his limits.

Exiting his room with a backpack hanging over his shoulders, Kenichi inquired about whether or not he had left. Had he gone home? Was he still here? If nothing else, he decided to check each room until he found him. That was a fine battle. It was only right it be capped off with an equally amazing feast. Fight good, eat good. That was the Kenichi Way.

There was a sudden tap against his shoulder. Turning around to face the culprit, Kenichi would grin from ear to ear. Vanyel wasn't entirely wrong. The fiery martial artist could've certainly asked around, but he enjoyed playing these types of games with himself, savored indulging himself in a bit of humor until he reached his destination. He nudged his fist against the man's shoulder before closing the door behind him.

"Perhaps. It was more amusing to look around until I found you. Some would call it silly, but even something as simplistic as searching someone out in arena can come with its fair share of fun, no?"

He would walk past Vanyel, pointing his finger towards the exit a few meters away from them.

"Vanyel, was it? That was a fine bout. Perhaps one of the more entertaining exchanges I've experienced in some time. Thus, a reward is in order. A large feast at one of my favorite restaurants in town. No questions asked, and I'm paying for the entire thing, too."

With those words, Kenichi beckoned for Vanyel to follow him as he exited the arena, gazing upwards towards the sun, energized by its brilliant rays of light. Visibly excited by the future he imagined in his mind, he walked forward, hoping Vanyel would accept the offer.

Who'd turn down what essentially counted as a free meal? He certainly wouldn't. Of course, no one else was Kenichi. A man who'd fight strong women and men alike, and then eat the best food the city could offer until his belly was full.

A warm smile swept across Kenichi's face as he nodded his head, listening to the man express his opinion on their fight from a night ago. It was an event Kenichi himself would not soon forget. The exultant roars of the crowd, the passionate applause, and the raging will shared between two men who wouldn't exit the fight until a victor had been decided. Regardless of who had won, Kenichi enjoyed himself. To hear that Vanyel felt the same was music to Kenichi's ears.

"You may not be a showman, but I see there might an entertainer in you, no doubt. If nothing else, you're one hell of a competitor."

As Vanyel tagged along behind him, Kenichi would quickly make his way towards the restaurant. The two men were greeted graciously as two women politely bowed before them, a hefty man following behind to pat Kenichi on his head.

"Ah, Kenichi! Our most esteemed customer! Come, I'll find a seat for you and your friend!"

The burly man would direct the two women to lead them to a large table. Sitting down, he would wait for Vanyel to arrive before initiating any conversation.

Kenichi chuckled at Vanyel's comment about the reception he received at the door. He certainly didn't fancy himself as a celebrity. He supposed that, given his large pockets and his love for food, that it was no question he'd be viewed as a favorite in the eyes of the employees. That was simply a matter of course, wasn't it? To be accepted once you show loyalty. It wasn't as if he didn't provide them with things in return outside of cash, either.

Tickets to the tournament and even a makeshift bodyguard in case there were a group of men or women who wanted to step out of line. Kenichi was a loyal hound when you fed him well enough. Hell, he didn't even need to order anything. The man knew his order from top to bottom. It'd take a twenty minutes for everything to come out but they could at least fill those minutes with conversation.

"Hehe, yeah! I have quite the big appetite. Money isn't usually an issue since I rarely spend all that much outside of providing myself with my own meals. That said, I'm not exactly all that versed in cooking myself, so I usually default to the experts. Whenever I can, I also help them out in return. Bodyguard stuff, giving them free tickets to the tournament like last night, and anything else they'd like to do. I feel loyalty and customer service is a two-way street and I'd like to think I provide my end of that bargain well."

Leaning his arms on the table, he would tilt his head inquisitively as he gazed at Vanyel.

"So, you mentioned something about finding something to help you out. What did you mean by that? Moreover, I must know... what made you decide to join the tournament?" A curious grin lined the man's lips as he gazed at Vanyel.

Apart from his interesting insight into cooking, Kenichi's eyes continued to burn with an insatiable curiosity as he learned the reason for why he entered his tournament---that is, no reason at all. He shared a passion for combat, and Kenichi wondered if that passion matched his own. Their battle was certainly a strong indicator.

That answered his first question. His answer to the next one soon followed as Vanyel gestured towards his face as well as his hand. Inhuman features discernible to the inquisitive eye. His enhanced senses had certainly allowed him to notice the discrepancy, but his sincere nature allowed him to view it with the same sort of joy he regarded his peers with. His story was certainly a tragic one.

Insincerity would have seemed improper here; Kenichi had never loved anyone passionately enough to alter his entire life. There was, for a time perhaps, one woman who made his heart burn stronger than the sun itself, but could he truly envision himself transmuting his body in order to gain strength suitable enough to protect someone he loved? Kenichi couldn't imagine going that far for anyone. Or rather, he felt his strength was more than ideal to protect the person he loved

To be certain, love was a powerful emotion and for all his bravado, the fierce martial artist knew he could easily fall prey to falling madly in love with a woman enough to wage war between heaven and earth. A strong woman who could overwhelm him, invigorate him, best him, and enjoy a fine feast, sitting beside him as his equal -- Indeed! He could certainly envision a scenario where his path might diverge for someone he truly admired.

It was more relatable now. Kenichi thought it somewhat a bad idea to pry any further, though. This was their second meeting, after all. He was just about to offer his opinion until the food arrived. As expected, a large feast was set across their entire table. Roasted duck prepared to perfection, countless bowls of rice and fried noodles, seasoned chicken, and countless other dishes lined across each side. It was time to dig in.

Kenichi bowed his head towards the waitress before reaching out to cut a portion of the roast duck, mixing it with a bowl of rice. A splash of noodles on top completed the finishing touches on his bowl. With chopsticks in hand, Kenichi began to take to his meal with the ferocity of a ravenous beast.

His reaction seemed to be quite casual, as though Vanyel's issue was one that could be fixed with enough effort. Of course, that effort would likely include Kenichi. A path towards humanity was well within his reach. He needed only to have faith in himself and those around him he would help him in his pursuit. He was fortunate to meet one such man.

"Love is a powerful thing, I suppose. I've never been with a woman that passionately before. Come to think of it, I've never actually had a long-standing romance of any sort. Still, from your expression alone, I can tell... she truly must have had an impact on you... in more ways than one, I'd imagine."

Kenichi would continue eating his meal before posing his next question with a grin.

"If there was a possibility you could regain your humanity, would you take it? And, if so, would you allow yourself a partner on such a path? I may have some resources, if you're willing to hear me out...."