Chapter 3

They had been flown to the next area they would be competing in. Arizona. United states. As soon as she stepped off the plane she instantly regretted not packing a summer kimono. It was winter in Japan right now. Not to mention she didnt forsee being sent to the damn desert. Thankfully she fought in… Less clothing.

She made it to the luggage area and grabbed her pack, then looked around for Rae and Paul. They had been on the same plane. Several others were sent elsewhere. Unfortunately Mr. Brute Force was going to be in the same hotel as they were. Ugh. This was going to be a long night.

Rae was busy trying to stop Paul from hitting on the hostesses as they walked through the airport and was all but shoving him from behind to get him to move. Thankfully, he was distracted by a familiar voice.

"PAUL!"

"FOREST!"

"BUDDY!"

"AYYYY!"

Rae shook her head and wandered to Raihiko. "Lets get to the hotel and get some training in or something. The bro love between these two is too intense for me.

As soon as they got to the hotel, Rae was regretting her jumpsuit. She knew the different stages would have different conditions, but she hadn't expected to hit such heat so quickly. She was sweating! As soon as she had signed in, she walked to her room, bid Rai a quick farewell for the time being, turned on the air con and stripped to her underwear. It was too much. Far too much. She was used to milder temperatures. She would have to just drink a lot and hope her round would be over fast, as she didn't really have any suitable alternate attire.

Rai couldnt agree with Rae more. She wanted to get out of this place. She was lucky compared to some of the contestants. Her silk kimono could breathe. She wasnt nearly as overwhelmed. Rai pulled her key from her bossom and shoved it into the lock. It wouldnt turn. What the… She furrowed her brow as she pulled it out and blew on it as though that would help. She then shoved it back in and tried every which way to get it to turn. She let out a frustrated cry as she slammed her fist on tge door before she turned and slid down to the floor on her butt, leaning heavily against the door, looking up at the ceiling. This was just her damn luck. Locked out of her own room.

Suddenly the door flung open and there stood a smartly dressed, black haired, blue eyed man. He peered down at the person who had just hammered on his door in stoic silence, a single brow raised. Why was this person trying to enter his room? Was she a spy? Was she hoping to assassinate him perhaps? He would wait and see what she had to say for herself.

Raihiko let out a yelp as she suddenly fell backwards as the door was opened. She groaned as she sat up, rubbing the back of her head as she looked at a pair of fine shoes, connected to a pair of brownish dress pants, to an equally dressy coat, up to meet a pair of the most chillingly light blue eyes she had ever seen. She quickly scrambled to her feet, her face heating in embarrasment.

"Gomen'nasai! I… I am not at my room am i?" she asked as she reshouldered her large duffle bag. Boy this was not a good start.

Sergei Dragunov. Of course, he didn't actually vocalise his introduction, he simply blinked, let a breath out through his nose and gestured towards the door opposite his. He had seen the floor plan, whose room was whose. It was in his nature to be a perfectionist and know where his enemies may be. He outstretched a gloved hand to assist her, still as silent as the grave.

She looked back behind her at the door he had pointed to and blinked. Room 233. There it was. Her room. Rai let out a sigh as she finally accepted his offered hand and got to her feet.

"I am very sorry. My name is Kobayashi, Raihiko. Are you… Here for the tournament as well?" she asjed as she realized she still had ahold of his hand and quickly let it go. He had a strong grip.

Sergei simply nodded and carefully released her hand, his facial expression not changing even by a single twitch. He didn't feel he needed to. She would find out who he was and what he was about soon enough when the heats began, after all. He carefully tugged at his collar. The heat was rather stifling.

"Uh…. Do you speak English? Or… Do you not understand a word i am saying?" had she spoken in japanese before? She had done so on accident many times and not realized it. Mostly when she was drunk. Boy was he tall. And scarred. She couldnt help but look at the scarring on his face. He had to be a fighter.

He moved his hands behind his back and offered a small bow, his heels clicking together, before he turned and went back inside his room. The door closed with a light 'ker-thunk'. She would find out. People spoke, people were notorious gossips. Especially contenders in this tournament.

Rai heard the door close and looked to face a door in her face. Had she offended the man? Great. Already making enemies in the tournament.

—

Rae grumbled as she lay in a star shape. If she was that hot then after only a short walk, how would she manage the round? She didn't have a clue who she was facing, but she knew she would have to arrange something to wear. The match wasn't for another 72 hours, so she had time. Maybe she could get one of the event staff to do it? She rolled over on her bed, reached down to her backpack, fished around in the pocket and yanked out her card.

Bryan sat at the little table in his room. He was shirtless and down to his skivvies as he smoked a cigarette and cleaned his zippo as Metallica played on the radio in the background. He was feeling ansty. He needed to blow off some steam. But he couldnt risk getting kicked. It was frustrating, having to hold back.

Rae rolled backwards over her bed and yanked up the phone from off of its stand. She had no idea how to even use it to call the staff. She had never been in a hotel and used room service, or even given a number to contact. She just picked it up and hoped for the best. Thankfully, a member of the staff answered and informed her that someone would be up later to assist her. For now, she would just have to wait and try and cool off. It was frustrating. She hated being stifled. She picked up her boot and hurled it at the wall angrily. "Ugh. Why is the air con not even working!?"

Bryan was shaken from his cleaning trance by a loud banging on the wall. He stopped what he was doing, set down his lighter and pulled the cig fom his mouth as he glared at the wall vefore giving it a good smack. Hopefully this wouldnt be happening regularly or else he will have to go have a nice little…. Chat with his neighbor. That would help him blow a little steam.

Rae froze. She had not expected that at all. A bang in return? Well, two could play at that. She grinned as she reached down for her other boot and lobbed it at the wall. It made a satisfactory 'THUD' and came to rest by the skirting board.

As he went to clean his lighter again, his smoke in the ash tray, another thud arose from the wall besides him. He let out a growl as he slammed his lighter down and stood, nearly knocking the table over in the process. He got up and marched to the door, ripping it open and headed right for his neighbor's door and banged rather hard.

Raihiko, who was still out in the hall, looked to her right suddenly as she heard the bangs. There stood Bryan in all his scary ass glory slamming a fist on Rae's door.

Paul wandered by, Forest following close behidn carrying a duffle bag. "Heyyyy. I was wonderin' where you got to. 'Sup?" Suddenly, he was interrupted by the silver haired cyborg who was almost buldozing down one of the hotel room doors. "Oh shit. We about to see a cool fight?"

Rae leaped to her feet. Who the fuck was banging on her door like that? And even worse, she was not even decent. Was it the staff there to help her with her clothing problem? Surely they wouldn't almsot bang a hole in the door in such a way. She had no choice but to scurry around in an attempt to get dressed.

Rai turned to the angry brute at Raes door and instantly flushed. He was…. Very indecent. And she couldnt. Stop. Staring. Buldge. Oh gods.

She barely registered Paul talking as she watched him nearly plow the door down.

"That- that's Rae's door!" she managed to get out.

Bryan on the other hand hadnt even registered that there was an audience. He didnt care. "Open the fuck up so i can beat the shit out of ya." he growled as he banged on the door a little harder. The coward wanted to play games and then hide huh? Heh. Typical.

Rae flailed as she tried to put on her jumpsuit, but couldn't even manage to get it on properly. It was sticking to her skin terribly and she was having a hard time pulling it up. Wait… Was that Bryan's voice? Did he just say he wanted to beat the shit out of her? Oh no. No no. He was NOT coming in. She stopped trying to pull her jumpsuit on and contemplated barricading her door with the dresser off to the side.

Paul raised a brow. "Hey Bryan. The fuck are you doing? Put some damn clothes on man, we don't wanna get our eyes poked out!"

Forest covered both eyes with his hands feeling suddenly inadequate. "That's gonna take some therapy to unsee I think."

Raihiko couldnt speak. She was too busy staring. Dear god. She pitied the woman who would willingly go to bed with that.

As the guys taunted, she quickly got her wits about her and hurried to unlock her door and ran in, locking it behind her. She felt a little cowardly, but she had rather not gotten into a brawl in one of her best kimonos.

Bryan quickly turned to see the two men who spoke.
"You rather take their place?" he growled as he took a menacing step towards the two men.

Paul and Forest raised both hands defensively, but their eyes kept going downwards to his white underwear.

"Hey man, we got no beef with you." Paul slowly slunk backwards until he hit a potted plant and fell backwards onto his rear.

Forest simply shook his head, his hands still over his eyes. "No. We're good thank you. We want to live."

Forest helped Paul get to his feet and the pair backed up into the corner just as he all but demolished the door. "What should we do?" Forest, ever the considerate one, looked to his best friend with terror in his eyes.

"I say we turn tail and go find a buffet."

Forest took a moment, but nodded and the pair fleed out of the hotel as fast as their legs could carry them. They wanted to continue in the tournament, not end up in hospital or worse.

Inside her room Rae breathed a sigh of relief as the hammering on her door stopped. She didn't fancy the maid stumbling across her bloody corpse, after all. She slowly slumped back onto her bed and let out a large sigh. Great, now she'd definitely screwed up and made an enemy. Maybe he wasn't malfunctioning after all.

Raihiko leaned against her door and let out a sigh. She could hear the muffled argument going on outside, but at least she couldnt see is anymore. Dear god. That thing should be registered as a weapon!

Bryan, however, wasnt going to waste any more time. He reared back and punched a hole near the handle and quickly unlocked and opened it and stormed right in.

"You want to fucking die- you!" he snapped as he recognized the heap on the bed.

Rae flailed as she heard the splintering of wood, as she sat bolt upright on her bed, her leather jumpsuit around her waist. "THE FUCK!?" There, stood in his white underwear, was Bryan looking exceedingly miffed. "You call that fucking knocking!?"

"I fucking knocked." he growled as the fact that her jumpsuit was around her waist completely went over his head. "The fuck is the big idea?" he hissed as he stepped closer, letting the broken door swing shut behind him.

Meanwhile Raihiko had grabbed a cocktail glass and was listening in. If he was going to throttle her new friend she would be ready to jump in, but she felt if she barged in there that very second she would only make it worse.

Rae grabbed a nearby pillow and held it in front of her. "The hell are you even talking about!? I was minding my own business trying to cool down and having a banging contest with whoever was next door! And now this? Now my door is busted and people can see in!" She hurled her pillow towards him in frustration. "I don't want any old git seeing me change!"

Bryan growled as he caught the pillow from out of the air and tossed it to thw side.

"Yeah! That was me telling you to shut the fuck up! I'm next door." His voice rumbled as he stepped closer.

"That was YOU? Oh for crying out loud. Why didn't you just yell? You do enough of it as it is!" She tried to battle with her jumpsuit again, her skin sticking to the fabric again making it hard work. "How was I to know that thud was you saying that?"

Sergei had been disturbed from his poetry reading by the commotion and has ventured outside of his room to see what was going on. If it was someone who had come for him, he would deal with it. As the shouting continued, his eyes narrowed. No. It wasn't for him. But whoever it was they were sure being overly loud and loutish.

Rai's eyes widened as she tossed the glass on her bed. She grabbed her Tonfa from the top of her bag as she moved to her door and quickly opened it to see she was not the only one disturbed by the happenings. She looked to the man across from her before she moved to Rae's door. She noticed the big hole near the handle and swallowed hard. She didnt want to use her weapons. She wpuld surely be disqualified from competing if she attacked another competitor, but she wouldnt let this brute harm her new aquaintance. She stood by the door, listeing as he tonfa rested against the back of her arms, the end blades past her handles resting on the back of her thighs. She was ready if she was needed.

Sergei simply regarded the other woman who had joined him in the hallway. When he caught sight of her weapons, he gave her a very subtle shake of the head.

Raihiko tilted her head at the man in the doorway.

"What? Am i supposed to just let him tear her apart?" she whispered harshly as she backed up to her doorway. Was he nuts? Though…. Maybe he was right? Maybe she shouldny poke the bear with her weapons.
She gave them a professional spin before she retreated to throw them on her bed for now before she ran back to the hallway to listen.

Bryan narrowed his eyes. She was certainly testing his self restraint, and there wasnt much there to begin with.
"An idiot would know a knock to the wall is a sign of shut the fuck up!" he yelled as he balled his fists. He was on the verge of seething. This woman was jump roping with his last nerve.

Sergei simply stood with his eyes on the broken door. He was conflicted with regard to the other female voice he could hear coming from inside. This was the King of Iron Fist. If she was unable to defend herself, why would she be here? But if he allowed Bryan to go ahead and kick seven shades out of her, what sort of gentleman would he be? Not that he would ever really speak about such things, but he had strong opinions. He glanced over to Raihiko, moved forwards and leaned against the wall next to Rae's door, his arms folded across his chest and one boot on the paintwork.

Rai blinked as the man stood besides her and leaned against the wall. Wait, would he help her take bryan if he tried to take out Rae?

"Can you see anything?" she asked in a whisper as she tried to peer around him. Wait. Could he ever understand her? She couldnt quite figure it out yet. He hadnt said a word. She didnt even know his name! She nearly tripped on her own foot as she tried to move around him to get a better look.

He held out a gloved hand to stop her toppling over, but to also stop her revealing herself. The hole in the door was large enough to be able to see movement through, after all. He slowly raised a digit on his other hand up to his lips. He didn't want to do anything if it was not needed and he certainly didn't want them to know they were there.

"An idiot!? Rich coming from someone who just goes around destroying things for no god damn reason and then expects me to magically know via telepathy or some shit that a bang on the wall meant shut up when he is CLEARLY capable of using his brutish, overly loud voice!" She shot to her feet. "And another thing! What gives you the right to even enter my room?"

Bryan ground his teeth as he tried to keep his cool.

"You know what? Fuck you." he said as he turned on his heel to leave. He was pissed. And if he didnt leave now, the maid would be scraping her off the walls.

"Try to keep it the fuck down in here." he growled before he ripped open the door.

Rae felt her stomach churn as he turned to leave and watched his retreating form until the door had slammed shut behind him. Something didn't quite sit right again. Why was he being so passive? It wasn't that she wanted to die horribly. But she couldn't help but wonder what was happening to the man… If he could be called that. She scrunched her eyes shut and flopped back down on her bed as images of his white underwear assaulted her mind. She would find out, though. She had always enjoyed watching his fights, so if he was breaking then surely someone needed to be informed.

Outside Sergei stood bolt upright as Bryan left the room, the door slamming, but swinging due to the broken handle and lock.

Rai slapped her hands over her mouth to stop the sudden gasp that nearly escaped her lips. "Arigato. I am normally not so-" but she was cut off by the form of Bryan plowing through the door. She suddenly pressed her back against the man, trying to make herself small as the brute trudged back to his room.

Bryan didnt even register that he had a mini audience as he ripped open his own door and entered before slamming it shut, causing Rai to flinch. She finally let out the breath she didnt realize she was holding.

He was pissed. He grabbed his pack off the table and lit up a smoke as he began pacing. He needed to let off some damn steam. But how? That bitch next door to him had really lit a fire under his ass.

Rae was also pissed. She scrubbed at her face furiously and rolled off of her bed. Once she was on the floor she shuffled to the adjoining wall and punched it making sure it made as much noise as possible without damaging it. "NEXT TIME WEAR SOME DAMN CLOTHES, YOU FUCKING ASS!"

Oh that woman. It took everything he had to not bust through the wall and strange her with her own intestines. He hoped he would be put against her. They had rules about killing competitors outside the ring. Nothing about in the ring. She better hope she gets eliminated before he gets ahold of her. He was already fantasizing about her death as he flopped on to his bed, laying on his back as he took a long drag of his cigarette.

Outside, Sergei had both hands on the shoulders of the Japanese woman who had cowered from Bryan. She shouldn't have been so scared. After all, they were in a fighting tournament. She would probably end up facing him if she wom enough heats. He looked down at her with a brow raised, wondering why the silver-haired man had inspired such fear in her.

"Gomen… I dont know what came over me." she said as she turned to face him, crossing her arms in the sleeves of her kimono. "He's… Uh… Kind of intimidating." she shrugged.

Sergei raised both brows at her, glanced over to Bryan's door and back to her again. Was this man really as bad as all that? Maybe he needed to be careful… Or maybe, just maybe, he should try to make an ally out of him. With powerful allies, he couldn't be touched. Perfect. A slight smirk crept onto his face, but barely visible to most. WIth that, he gave another bow, before making his way back into his room, offering another small bow and shutting the door.

Rae had had enough and threw off all her clothes and jumped in her shower, making sure to be as noisy as possible.