Chapter 11 Cat Fight
Rydia decided to be a Rusalka, a water nymph that can keep the resorts vibrant. Back at the Citadel Gaia made a training program to speed up the day when Rydia could substitute for her while she recovered. A week after a small get together for Kisame's birthday, when their missions were finished they all went to the Earth shrine.
"There's one part of a Mage de we haven't gone over, combat. C'mon Zabuza let's spar!" Gaia said as Nikki was silently trying to dissuade her. Gaia was wearing jeans with a white undershirt pink letterman jacket and matching converse. Nikki wore a black hoodie and shirt with a mummy cat over black legging with a leather stripe, jewelry, belt, white and black arm warmers and a cat ear headband with white drill curl streaks and short boots. Rydia was in a calf length green sundress with lace, shorts and gladiator sandals. Haku wore a blue hoodie, green running shoes, his green rabbit shirt with charcoal grey pants and Zabuza wore his shirt that said control with the game controller, brown pants and boots.
"Gaia are you sure this is-" Nikki said being cut off by Zabuza.
"I've been itching for a fight since I came here. Bring it! Haku don't interfere." he said, hand on his sword as Haku nodded.
"Not alone or unarmed." Nikki said. Standing up to him, he almost laughed. How can anyone make demands in cat ears? Especially one he towered over.
"Oh so now the house mouse is trying to play mother bear, if you're so concerned you can fight me!" Zabuza was happy either way, but now maybe he could try to help this liability grow a backbone.
"It's on! Armory in 5 minutes." Nikki said leaving through the teleporter. In the armory Trainer mummy Anouke was waiting in the middle of the dojo's fighting arena with Nikki on her left and Gaia watching with Rydia and Kisame on the sidelines. Haku joined Gaia Kisame and Rydia nervously, either way someone he cared for would be hurt. Kisame laughed "Don't worry too much Haku, Zabuza's a big boy. This promises to be a good fight." Kisame being another legendary swordsman, made his comment have merit. To Rydia's disgust he stretched in his black tank top, leg warmers, sandals and sweats, exposing his shoulder gills to the quivering woman.
"Okay, Little Lady and Big Guy three rounds all out." Anouke said as she walked out to the sidelines. "And Go!" she shouted. Zabuza started with a water dragon but Nikki countered by trapping it in a dark bubble and evaporating it with fire. Next fire surrounded them making the air hot and dry. Since his hidden mist jutsu was made by expanding the water molecules in the air this was made even more difficult.
"Heh I see this kitten doesn't have claws!" Zabuza said as he ran forward throwing kunai to distract her as he jumped with his sword. The kunai arched up and Zabuza used his sword as a shield to catch all but one that scratched him under his eye while Nikki dodged. When Zabuza crashed to the ground, his sword stuck to the floor. He elbow slid to knock her off balance but she spun behind him and kicked him away from his sword then let the bubble trap it. Fenced by fire Zabuza let his demon chakra surround him. For the first time the demon grew a body, a samurai reaching 15 feet shocking Haku Gaia and Rydia as Zabuza laughed and Kisame smiled. An unimpressed Nikki put her hand on her hip and let the giant demon stomp on him like a roach as flames vanished.
"Round one over!" Anouke announced as Nikki healed him with green fire, letting the bubble from before drop off his sword and kunai.
"This time no powers or weapon, I'll crush you under my feet." Zabuza growled. When Anouke announced the next fight as the bubble took the weapons outside of the arena. Zabuza lifted his leg high for a stomp, when his foot dropped half way Nikki grabbed his leg and flipped him on his back then kicked him up and pinned him a German suplex. "Hey bad timing but did that back medicine ever work?" Nikki asked.
Since Zabuza was taller the landing on his neck and head was worse and he didn't answer. She was strong and waited for him to be confident and therefor vulnerable. Zabuza was livid and Nikki just looked like she was handling business, and insultingly enough healing him after the rounds. It was time to show her it was an honor fighting him.