They had it coming
It drizzled that night while the Librarian slumbered in her bed after her arduous ordeal in the streets of Lion's Arch. The pitter patter of drops on the masoned blocks of stone covered any sound the Dragon may have made as his sandals kissed the smoothly hewn stones as he stepped between the buildings. Ebon hair plastered the brow of the ninja and the long strands caught in the top knot whipped forward as stong breeze passed by. Down the small narrow 'hall' between the buildings the Dragon's shadow was cast, blocking out what light came threw from the gas powered lamp. Against a wall an amber haired woman moaned lewdly from where she was pressed between the wall and the Black Cat.
The pirate's head turned and regarded the ninja through the one blue eye. The world stood still for a moment as the two eyed each other like old enemies meeting again. The woman made a sound as if she started to speak but was silenced by the pirate's finger to her lips. "Night's over, love... Run along now." A look down the hall to the stony faced Canthan and the hawk like gaze on Caleb was enough to make the self-sufficient tavern wench leave hastily with splash inducing footsteps. The two walked slowly towards each other, once they were alone in the narrow space.
"You look li--"
A closed fist to Caleb's mouth stopped his words short and sent him sprawling onto his back. Water flew from Caleb's bare flailing arms as he sat back up to shout, "What the bloody hell...?" With an angry flurry of curses the pirate was back on his feet only to be off them again an instant later when the Dragon's foot caught him in the chest. This time the Black Cat was more prepared and bent back to do a back hand spring. A booted foot caught the Dragon in the chin and sent the ninja onto his back just to roll in one fluid movement back up.
The two men, like it were destined to be, stood facing each other, ready to do battle. The Pirate raised his fists in a western boxing stance. The Ninja took a small step back, raising his arms and crossing them in front of his chest. The fated battle began...
The Pirate took a step forward with his right leg as his right hand shot forward in a vicious jab towards the Ninja's head. The patch over the deposed eye gave the master of invisibility a decided advantage against the inebriated pirate. A subtle step with his rear leg to the left brought the ninja just out of the pirate's field of vision. The extended left arm floated just under the pirate's jab until the arm was fully extended. Then like the tentacle of the great sea monster on the Pirate's chest, the Ninja's arm suddenly whipped around the Pirate's arm entangling it. The Ninja's precise footwork caught the Pirate's arm in a Musha Dori, leaving the Pirate bent halfway backwards with his wrist caught in the Ninja's armpit and his elbow being used as a leaver to throw him down with.
The acrobatic Pirate followed the acroamatic Ninja's lead and backflipped to reverse and counter by bringing the Ninja down into a front headlock but like a shadow, formless and impossible to hold, his head slipped right out of Caleb's grasp. The front kick Ryu followed with split the pirate's lip when it caught him in the face. Another kick followed to his chest that sent the now volant Pirate to the ground ten feet behind him.
The inscrutable Ninja dropped back again into a fighting stance as the mercurial Pirate rose back to his feet for another round. Rubbing at the blood welling from the swelling lip with the back of his hand as he strutted towards the Dragon. "That all ya got, Killer?"
Caleb stepped to the side, let the ninja's straight punch pass over his shoulder, swung his hips and cracked Ryu's floating rib with a vicious hook. A swing back of his hips landed another hook to the ninja's sternum that sent him staggering back. Another quick hook and an uppercut left the ninja on his back this time.
The ninja caught the kick that was coming for him with both of his feet around the pirate's shin. Shifting his foot to behind the pirate's knee he turned his body and brought Caleb to his knees. The ninja's hardened knuckles landed on the pirate's cheekbone with the sound of bone cracking. The pirate answered with a backfist across Ryu's face.
Disentangling himself from the pirate's leg, Ryu rolled backwards back onto his feet. Mercurial as always, Caleb hopped right up onto his feet. Punches were exchanged, some hitting and some being evaded until finally Caleb was on his knees. The Dragon rose both hands up and brought them down on the Black Cat's head. Caleb's head wobbled as he fell into a bloodied heap on the ground.
Alone in the alley, the rain picked up and began to fall heavily upon the bleeding pirate. The ninja had left without a word. He knew why, though. It was the bookish girl he was so fond of. Rumors of the fight had already begun to spread and he could see where the Crow would find him at fault for it.
If only he had killed him for it... Then he could be at peace once and for all.
