Prelude - Revamped

The skyline of Nahari was a dim one, the sun setting, the high clouds of smog taking on a sickly version of the color of the sky. It was almost impossible to see the sun unless you went about ten miles out of the heart of the city, or managed to be rich enough to live above the clouds. In one direction, all you could see were factories and high-rise, worn-down apartments and corporate housing units and even those were lucky to touch the sky on a good day. If you were took look in another, you would maybe see less factories, but more bleak housing. However, if you looked and squinted perhaps just a bit to the left or right, you might see one of the sky-rises, inhabited by only those with money, that peaked up above the smog, giving the most beautiful sight of the natural sky that very few people ever got to see with their eyes more than a few times in their lives.

Below the smog was a bustling metropolis, complete with worn-down streets little used by cars other than taxis, sidewalks covered with stains, bits of trash here and there, block after block of stoops to massive apartment buildings and housing units nestled between short, squat restaurants and shops. Once in a while, one of the electronic ad boards for a shop or eatery would pick up and take off from the roof of the building and make its hovering rounds just above the streets, illuminating the area it took over. Some would softly play music, some would have some celebrity, but others would just loom around for a while, all trying to convince everyone in the area that they were superior.

At the heart of the dark city, it was usually bustling with the night's crowd at this time, but tonight it was particularly quiet...

With eyes all around them, the two stood in the middle of the street. All that could be heard was the soft rumble of the subway below and the heavy breathing of the two figures. A good ten feet lay between the two, but that was too close for comfort – especially when someone was trying to kill you.

Without warning, the figure in the dark trench coat lunged forward toward Asura, ready to take her out with a pair of brass knuckles and a certain rage in their eyes. Without many options and exhaustion taking over, Asura watched the movements of her enemy, hoping her own injuries weren't going to mess up her timing. However, when the enemy moved the armored fist toward her face, she was slow to move her body, catching her cheek and adding another source of bleeding to her body.

She stumbled sideways as the figure in the cloak was more than ready to throw another punch her way. This time, she was ready and ducked, missing the blow, and took the opportunity to grab the assailant's waist, taking them down to the ground. The two went down onto the cracked asphalt street in a whirl of fists before Asura pinned the figure down, holding both wrists down, yelled directly into the figure's face, “WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!”

After a moment or two of struggling, the assailant finally gave up, vehemently answering Asura's question, “DO YOU NOT REMEMBER AMARE?!”