So, it was just 'The Arena' to spectators and competitors alike. Not that the current champion would have cared about its name. He had no reason to, as he never challenged members of other Arenas.
Hiei stood still, his sword in hand; ready to move at the slightest provocation. His opponent, an A-class youkai, was clearly excited. He wasn't surprised. The girl had been working for months, rising quickly through the ranks of the Arena.
She would not be much of a challenge, though. He knew her fighting style. Any fool who'd seen it before could come up with several ways of countering it, and Hiei paid close attention to the people around him, despite acting as though he couldn't care less.
She made the first move, teleporting with a small flash of lavender light. She reappeared directly behind him, weapon raised. Hiei whirled, slicing her shoulder open with the speed that had made him famous in the Arena. The fight was short, since Hiei knew exactly what to expect. In less than two minutes, she yielded.
Another youkai assisted her out of the ring, offering condolences.
The crowd was chanting Hiei's name as he left the Arena. Just outside he met his opponent, still bleeding heavily, but resisting her friend's attempts to take her to the medical facilities.
He gave her a sidelong glance, "I warned you, you know. You still can't match me."
To his surprise, she smiled, "I knew it before, but now I know for sure where I stand. I know I won't be able to beat you any time soon, but I'm content in second place for now."
"Hn."
The youkai's friend sighed exasperatedly, "Well, you not going to be in any place if you just stand here and bleed to death! Come on, we're going to the meds!"
She siezed the other girl's arm and half lead, half dragged her friend away, ignoring her cries of, "Wakika-chan! Let me go! That hurts!"
Hiei watched them leave with a vaguely bemused expression. He climbed the stairs to the place where he would watch the remaining matches of the evening.
Mukuro, the youkai that owned the arena, was already there.
"You took her down too quickly," she said, "Not much of a show for our guests."
"Hn."
The fights for the rest of the evening were fairly routine, though he did notice that a young man named Kinpatsu had definitely improved.
I should keep an eye on that one. He has no definite style, but he's won all his fights so far. He could be a threat at some point.
Kinpatsu won his fight, but by a small margin.
The scheduled fights for the evening were over, and Hiei was ready to go when the doors opened and a fighter entered the ring.
Hiei had never seen him before. He was tall and slender, with long silver hair and a silver tail. Two fox-like ears topped his head, and golden eyes fixed on Hiei.
"I am Kurama," said the newcomer, "Champion of the Bara Arena. I challenge your champion to a match."
Well, it seems this evening won't be completely dull after all.
Hiei leapt over the railing and landed on the warm sand of the ring.
Standing up, he said, "My name is Hiei. I am the champion of this Arena. I accept your challenge."
Y.Y.Y
Well, it's official. I'm starting yet another story! I shouldn't be, I've really got other things I should be writing (a book report, for example), but for once, my muse is actually doing her job.
Squirrel's muse: Yeah, well. Just don't get used to it.
/sigh/
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