Ai was underground when sandstorm began. A man covered in sand formed from the sandstorm. "Greetings, Princess Ai of Sihalia." He had a strong and confident voice.


    "Hello. Spirit of Earth." She greets the man back.


    "Okay, now let''s begin shall we?" He asked in a friendly manner, even though he didn''t wait for a response. Here are the rules of the contract. First rule, the Earth is your friend, never forget that. Second, no matter where you are, the Earth will follow as long as you believe. And third, Earth is only for the confident. Never doubt yourself while using the power of Earth.


    Ai nodded, "I swear to follow the rules of the Earth!"


    Ai blinked her eyes open and noticed she was back in a cave. Sato was pushing her shoulder. "So, how''d it go?" He asked curiously.


    Ai sighed "Sato''s it''s the same as always. Meet the Spirit, sign the contract done."


    Sato laughed, Oh yeah. I guess it is kind of a pattern, huh? Anyway, where are we headed to next?"


    "The closest place with a Kingdom next to this one is Scorching Island. The Kingdom''s name is Namakuzi. Named after their Volcano." Ai informs him.


    Sato looks out into the sky, staring at the white clouds moving through them. "Okay, let''s go."


    Once Sato and Ai land on the island. A blue eyed man with his blond hair tied in a ponytail walks over to them. "Hey. Ya ''all need to get off of here right now." He spoke with a distinct Southern accent. An iron shark fin stuck out of his back.


    Sato frowned, "Who says we''re gonna listen to you?"


    The man scowled, "Listen here. Ya lil'' punk. This is my property. So get the hell out."


    Ai pulled Sato aside. "What are we gonna do now? We need to pass through ere to get to Namakuzi Kingdom."


    "I know." Sato muttered. "That''s why I''m refusing to leave."


    The man appeared to have heard some of their conversation. "Listen, even if ya ''all needs to get to the Kingdom. I still can''t let ya pass. Unless…"


    Unless what? Sato asks a glimmer of hope in his eyes.


    "Unless you beat me in a game of Fish Catching." The blonde offers. "By the way, name''s Natsuki, Shark Bakemono.


    Sato grins, "Okay then. You got yourself a deal, Natsuki. Oh and my name''s…"


    "I know your name, Sato." Natsuki interrupts. "Sato and Ai of the Heroic Four, right?"


    "But if you knew who we were. Why''d didn''t you let us pass."


    "Because, just because your heroes a''int mean everyone''s gonna be giving ya ''all special treatment, ya hear?" Natsuki smiles.


    "Whatever are you ready or what?" Sato asks impatiently.


    "Hang on. Ya need a fishing rod now don''t ya?" Natsuki reminds Sato as he hands him the rod. "Hope you''re ready to lose, boy."


    Sato smirked, "Bring it on. Goldilocks."


    "Cocky are we?" Natsuki said as he notched his head towards Sato. "Okay so here are the rules. We have five minutes. Whoever catches the most fish in those five minutes wins."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Sounds good to me." Sato accepted.


    "Alrighty then." Natsuki set an alarm. "Begin!" The Shark Bakemono threw his rod into the water. Immediately he got a bite. "It''s a big one." He said a she reeled it in. Sure enough it was a large Steel Fish Bakemono. "That''s one for me." Natsuki grinned satisfied that he was already wining.


    Sato then threw his rod but I didn''t go into the water. Instead it snapped back and struck him in the face. "Ow!"


    Natsuki laughed, "Have you even ever fished before, boy?"


    Sato shook his head, "No, not really."


    "What?!" AI yelled. "And you accepted a Shark Bakemono''s challenge to a fishing contest?"


    "Well, what else was I supposed to do?" Sato questioned.


    "If I knew you had never fished before, I would''ve done it." Ai informs him.


    "Well, it''s too late now." Sato tells her."


    "Hey." Natsuki interrupts them. "While you two are over there chatting a just got up to a hundred fish."


    Sato face palms, "I''m screwed." After several attempts Sato finally manages to get his rod in the water.


    "Oh yeah! Another one!" Natsuki exclaims as he reels in a horde of fish.


    Sato grunts, "Show off." His fishing line becomes heavier. "Hey, I think I got one." Sato pulls back the rod as he reels it in. A log is dangling from the fishing line. "You''ve gotta be kidding me."


    The alarm goes off with a ring. "And that''s the end." Natsuki turns off the alarm. "Let''s see kid, I''ve got one-hundred and fifty fish. And you''ve got zero. I win. So long."


    "Wait!" Sato runs up to the Shark Bakemono. "How about we do a best two out of three."


    Natsuki laughs, "Kid, you didn''t even come close to beating me. What makes you think a second time we''ll make a difference? Face it, you stink at fishing."


    "I''m not talking about fishing." Sato explains. "I played your game. So now you play mine. Fighting."


    The Shark Bakemono grins, "You wanna fight me, huh? Fine, I accept."


    The two get some distance from each other. "First one to knock the other one down wins. "Sato explains the rules of the fight. "That''s all. Go!"


    The two run toward each other but Sato makes it first, He punches Natsuki in his mid-section, blowing him back.


    Natsuki catches his fall. "It won''t be that easy, boy. He bears his razor sharp teeth as he charges for Sato. Natsuki swings up his leg planning to kick Sato in the neck.


    Sato blocks the attack with his forearm. "Is that all" The teenager wraps his hands around Natsuki''s leg, swinging him back towards his starting place.


    "Now, you''re going down punk!" Natsuki growled.


    Sato smirked "Bring it."


    Natsuki rushed towards Sato again quickly turning to strike him with the sharp fin oh is back. This knocked Sato into the air. Sato flipped back airborne onto a tree branch.


    "Damn it." Natsuki cursed.


    Sato jumps off the extending out his leg to prepare for a powerful kick. When his foot makes contact with Natsuki''s face the Shark Bakemono stumbles backwards. Sato delivers another kick to Natsuki''s mid-section causing him to fall down.


    Sato rubbed some dirt off his hands. "Looks like I win that one."


    Natsuki got up. "Okay, my turn to pick the challenge."


    "What?" Sato asks dumb founded.


    "Really? You said best two of three boy." Natsuki reminds Sato.


    "Oh yeah. Okay then what is it?" Sato asks.


    "A swimming challenge." Natsuki decides.


    Sato sighs, "Another thing, you''ll gonna be good at. Okay fine I…"


    AI pulls Sato away before he can finish his sentence. "You do know how to swim right?"


    Sato looked offended, "Of course I do! I''m no tans idiot."


    "You are kind of are." She says a she pushes him back over to Natsuki.


    "Here are the terms for this challenge." Natsuki begins. "Swim to the other side of the lake and back. First one back wins."


    "That''s it." Sato smiles. "Easy enough."


    "Begin!" Natsuki yells.


    Sato and Natsuki dive into the lake. The Shark Bakemono already several feet ahead of him. "Damn Natsuki." Sato begins to swim faster. "I have to win this. If I don''t I''ll never find Sakura and Arashi.


    Suddenly Sato is standing on the same mountain again. The image of golden eyes flashes before him. "This. Is the sight of our bloodiest battle. You and I shall fight to the death in hatred!"


    The mountain begins to crumble as Sato falls off. He plummets into the depths of the never ending sky."


    As he comes back to earth, he realizes he''s sweating and out of breath, just like the other two times. He begins to drown. "Damn it. Why now." The teenager sinks into the lake.


    As Sato opens his eyes, Ai and Natsuki are standing over him. "Are you alright, Sato? Ai asks worried.


    Sato rubbed his head. "Yeah, it''s nothing."


    "Listen kid." Natsuki helps Sato up. "Ai told me all about how you two are searchin'' for ya friends. If ya would''ve said that from the beginning, I woulda let ya pass."


    Sato smiles weakly, "Thanks." He winces as he tries to stand.


    "But how about you rest here for the night." Natsuki offers. "You''re pretty worn out boy."


    Sato nods, "Okay. Sounds good.