(And here's my next chapter, guys. I'm just closing in on the final few chapters here. I hope you'll enjoy this one.)
One night Omoi and Kisa were exiting a fast food joint, with Kisa speaking, "Thanks again for the date, Omoi."
"My pleasure. Sorry it wasn't at one of those fancy cafe places."
"Are you kidding? I prefer fast food over those kind of things." she answered.
"Well, then I'm glad you're satisfied," Omoi then asked, "So how's Naruto doing?"
"Busy as ever with keeping himself in top shape. After all with one more fight to win he'll be a member of the tailed beasts."
"I wonder if he's nervous deep down inside?" Omoi wondered.
"Oh, he is," Kisa confirmed, "My brother can put on a tough guy look and smile, but even he can't fool me."
"Are you and the others helping him to make sure he's not going to be nervous for his match?"
"Yes. Tenten, Samui, my friends and I are making sure he doesn't lose his nerve."
"I see. Well, I'll walk you home now." Omoi offered.
"Thank you." Suddenly they were cut off by the sounds of fighting.
"What's that?" Omoi wondered.
"Sounds like a street fight match." Kisa said, as she hurried to find the source.
"Hey, wait up!" Omoi ran after her.
The two came around an alley and found someone was getting tossed around by two others, despite their best efforts at fighting back. Omoi and Kisa saw the single fighter was tossed against the side of a dumpster, and the two fighters left.
"Hey!" Kisa called, as she tried to go after the two, but they were already gone.
Omoi went over to the one beaten up and gasped, "Kisa, you may wanna take a look at this."
Kisa curiously went over to Omoi to see who was the victim of assault. After raising the victim's head up she was in shock. It was Niwa Miaki.
"Niwa?!" she gasped.
Niwa groaned before opening her eyes seeing who was with her, "Kisa?"
"What happened to you?" Kisa asked.
"No offense, but you look like you just had a bad day." Omoi said.
"Bad doesn't come close to describing my day." Niwa answered, as she tried to get up but lost her balance.
Kisa looked at Niwa with mixed feelings, but knew what she was planning was the right thing to do. She leaned down and got under Niwa's arm to support her up.
"What're you doing?"
"The right thing to do. Come on." she started helping Niwa along as Omoi walked along side for extra support.
Kisa and Omoi walked Niwa all the way to the Namikaze home, as Kisa spoke, "Here we are. My place."
"Why bring me here?" Niwa asked in confusion.
"Because we were closer to my place." Kisa answered dryly.
Kisa managed to get her keys and unlock the door so they could enter. When the three went inside, Naruto who was in the living spoke, "Hey, guys, back from your date?" he suddenly spotted Niwa being supported by his sister, "What happened to her?"
"That's what we wanna know." Omoi answered.
Naruto knew despite what Niwa did in the past, couldn't help but pity her for looking mugged, "Hang on. I'll make some tea." he went for the kitchen.
Eventually Niwa was sitting on the sofa with Naruto, Omoi, and Kisa having tea, "Alright, Niwa, what happened back there?" Kisa began.
Niwa sighed, "I picked a fight with the wrong person, and when I tried to escape, she sent two of her top goons after me."
"Who was that?" Naruto asked.
Niwa looked at the three, especially at Kisa before answering, "Nightmare."
"Nightmare?!" Naruto and Kisa cried.
Niwa cringed from their reaction, and nodded, "Yes."
"Why would you be with someone like Nightmare?" Kisa asked.
"She's actually been a street fighting instructor for me."
"Wait, you can fight like the other street fighters?" Omoi asked.
"Omoi." Kisa said firmly about the matter.
Niwa answered, "Yes. She taught me how to fight for about a year. After our little rivalry after the dance, I ran into Nightmare and she told me that she would be taking over my plan for revenge."
"Somehow you wanting revenge doesn't surprise me." Kisa said dryly.
"Or me." Naruto added, as Niwa looked down in shame.
"Since then, the more I heard her talking about finding ways to get to you again, the more I started thinking revenge probably wasn't the best option."
"Ya think?" Naruto asked rhetorically.
"Tonight I finally voiced my opinion to her to stop this idea, and she proceeded to fight me ruthlessly," Niwa explained, while remembering the painful hits she took moments ago, "I escaped but she sent her top two fighters after me, and well you see the mess they made of me."
"Who were these two she sent after you?" Omoi inquired.
"Their names were Kinkaku and Ginkaku, better known as the Gold and Silver brothers."
"Gold and Silver brothers?" Naruto wondered.
"That's right." Niwa confirmed.
Kisa started thinking before speaking up, "Omoi."
"Yeah?"
"Text Bee, and tell him to send a message to Kami."
"What do you want to have Bee tell him?"
"That the Kirin Queen is calling the brothers of Gold and Silver out for a fight." she said firmly.
"What?!" Omoi and Niwa asked in confusion, while Naruto smirked.
"Nightmare and whoever works for her can't get away with treating people like scum," she looked at Niwa, "Not even someone like you."
Omoi was still unsure about Kisa's plan, but answered, "All right."
"Naruto, bring out some spare blankets and a pillow, Niwa's spending the night here."
"She is?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"I am?" Niwa asked feeling just as confused.
"Well, we can't just send you out there on your own. And you shouldn't move so much for the rest of the night."
"What about your parents?" Niwa asked.
"We'll let them know about it when they get in."
Naruto spoke, "And you should call your parents and let her know where you're at."
Niwa was more and more confused at the show of kindness she was being shown. She spoke up with tears of regret for her previous attitude, "Thank you, Kisa. And... I'm sorry." she hung her head in shame.
Kisa smiled, and lifted the girls head up, "I forgive you."
Niwa couldn't believe what she heard, "You forgive me, just like that?"
"If there's one thing I've learned it's to never hold onto a grudge." Kisa explained.
Niwa started to smile happily, "I'll call my parents."
"And I better get going myself." Omoi said.
"See you tomorrow, Omoi." Kisa said, as they kissed, and the boy left.
When Kisa and Naruto went to set up Niwa in Kisa's room, the girl was talking on her cell, "Yes, mom I'm ok. Listen I won't be coming home tonight, I've been invited at the last minute to spend the night at a... friend's house. Yes I'm happy that you're glad for me. Listen I gotta go now. Tell dad I love him. Ok, mom see you in the morning. I love you too. Bye mom." she hung up.
Later in Kisa's room, Kisa was lying in bed, while Niwa was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. Kisa spoke up, "Tell me, Niwa, how did a girl like you end up learning under someone as vile as Nightmare?"
Niwa looked up at Kisa who was leaning over the side of the bed to look at her. Niwa sighed, and answered, "I suppose when I think about it. I wanted to be strong physically. Long before we met, before I knew anyone at school, I was a pushover and would always be used and led on by others. Until one day Nightmare offered to take me under her wing and make me strong. She taught me not to take crap from anyone."
"I can see she taught you more than how to fight." Kisa spoke up.
"Yes. I learned not to let others walk all over me and I ended up becoming the one who made others become terrified of me. Since then I felt like I was on top of the world as if no one could challenge me. Then you showed up and actually questioned my ways and took a stand. I felt threatened and tried whatever I could to preserve my place. And you can see how well that went."
"Yeah." Kisa agreed.
"I thought Nightmare cared enough about me, but now all I see is that she was treating me like a puppet." Niwa sighed, "I was too caught up in becoming strong physically and mentally I became the exact kind of person I was being bullied by."
Kisa could see and tell that Niwa was being sincere with her words and spoke, "Niwa, you can't change the past and the things you did back then. But you can make for a better tomorrow by being a better person."
Niwa looked curious, "I can?"
"Of course. Even jerks like you are capable of changing." Kisa smiled.
Niwa started to smile with renewed hope and thought, 'Kisa Namikaze, I was wrong about you.' eventually the two were fast asleep.
The next morning, Naruto and Kisa were bringing Niwa over to the park where Kisa's friends, Sasuke, Tenten, Omoi, and Samui were waiting.
"Hey, guys!" Naruto called over.
The others saw them approach and some squinted their eyes at Niwa, while the girl herself saw those looks coming a mile away.
"What is she doing here, Kisa?" Ayako inquired.
"Yeah. Why is your arch nemesis here with you?" Akira asked.
"Girls!" Kisa chided them.
"No, it's ok, Kisa. I deserve it," Niwa began, "I've done and said a lot of hurtful things to a lot of you. Stuff that a mere sorry won't just make you forget. But after the kindness Kisa and Naruto have shown me last night I really want to make an attempt to be a better person. Even if you don't believe me it's ok, because I aim to prove I can be better."
The group still felt skeptical about her, until Avaron spoke up, "I feel like the girls telling the truth."
"You do?" Samui asked.
"Uh-huh. I have nose for spotting liars. And what she said ain't no lie."
"Well, if you can tell if she's being honest Avaron then who are any of us to judge?" Hiromi asked.
"I'm still not sure." Ayako said skeptically.
Chiyo nudged her, "Ayako."
Ayako sighed, "All right, I'll her a chance too."
"So will I." Akira added.
"Me too." Chiyo nodded.
"We all will." Tenten said, as Samui, Omoi, and Sasuke nodded.
Niwa looked at everyone seeing how they're willing to give her the chance, couldn't help but smile and shed a few tears of joy, "Thank you all."
Kisa's group gathered around her to give her comfort, as Kisa looked to Omoi, "Any response to my request?"
"Actually, yes," Omoi answered, "The brothers answered the message Kami sent out at your request."
"And?"
"They'll meet with you by the abandoned warehouse that used to stock automotive parts."
"I'll be there." Kisa said.
"We all will." Naruto spoke up.
"And don't try and stop us." Sasuke warned her.
"Like I could." Kisa replied, and the three laughed.
So the group followed Kisa, and arrived at the place the brothers requested. The group went inside to see multiple street fighters gathered together on the sides.
"It's a party." Akira gasped.
"Somehow I doubt it's your kind of party." Samui answered.
"So much for a quiet match." Kisa rolled her eyes, as they approached.
Many of the street fighters were cheering an hollering, as the group looked ahead seeing the two brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
Kinkaku had long blonde hair in dark tips, while Ginkaku had long silver hair in dark tips. Both were muscular and were wearing sneakers, purple slacks, and white muscle shirts.
"Welcome, we are Kinkaku and Ginkaku." Kinkaku began.
"We seek the one known as Kisa Namikaze." Ginkaku added.
"You're looking at her." Kisa stepped forward.
"A bold move to be called out by the infamous Kirin Queen, wouldn't you say, Kinkaku?" Ginkaku asked his brother.
"Indeed it is, Ginkaku."
"I say we skip the formalities and get on with this fight." Kisa said.
"One moment, a word must be said by our master." Kinkaku said, as he pulled out a lap top and set it on top of a pile of crates. He opened it up and appearing on the screen was Nightmare who removed her hat revealing long dark blue hair.
The very sight of her brought shock to Naruto, Sasuke, and Kisa's eyes. The woman on screen began, "Welcome street fighters of the city. I am the terror of the streets and haunter of others. But you may call me Nightmare!" many of the bystanders applauded, as Kisa frowned.
"You!" she declared.
Nightmare smirked, "Kisa, it's been such a long time. You look like you're doing well. How's the only arm wound from our last fight?" she teased.
"Better no thanks to you!"
"Good to know. It's amazing how things go what with us crossing paths again?" Nightmare asked.
"Honestly I'd hoped I'd never see you again for the rest of my life." Kisa frowned.
"Don't tell me you're still not over what happened years ago?"
"You ruined me!" Kisa bellowed.
"It wasn't my fault you were weak." Nightmare continued to taunt her.
"Enough!" Naruto shouted, "We didn't come here to reminisce on old times. We came here for a fight."
"Yeah. And why aren't you here yourself? Too much of a coward?" Kisa challenged her.
"Believe me I would love to be here, but I have other things going on now. But in time. For now you have a match to partake in."
"Right. Brothers of Gold and Silver, you two are mine." Kisa declared.
"You are a fool for thinking you can take on both of us." Kinkaku replied.
"You two don't scare me." Kisa said.
"But they're right," Naruto spoke up, "Two on one is unfair. So I'll be joining you."
"No!" everyone turned and saw Niwa standing tall, "I'm joining this fight."
"Niwa?" Kisa asked.
"So the girl who I spent a year training decides to once again defy me?" Nightmare asked.
"You were no sensei," Niwa began, "You were just using me as a means of spreading your hate and cruelty!"
"I took you from the weak girl you were and made you into someone better!" Nightmare retorted.
"You turned me into you!" Niwa shouted, but calmed down, "But not anymore. Now I stand before you as a free spirit. And right now my hearts telling me that siding with Kisa is the right thing to do. It always was the right thing to do." Kisa smiled seeing how much she's affected Niwa.
"So be it." Nightmare said, "Boys, do your thing."
The brothers took positions on the arena, as Kisa and Niwa took positions on their side of the arena. One teenager there acted as ref and spoke, "The challenge is between Kinkaku and Ginkaku the Gold and Silver Brothers and Kisa Namikaze and Niwa Miaki the Kiri Queen and Phoenix Princess."
"Phoenix Princess?" Kisa asked her partner.
"Because there are times I rise from my ashes like a phoenix."
"Clever."
"Let the match begin!" The bell rang, and both sides took off. Kisa squared off against Kinkau while Niwa took on Ginkaku.
As Kinkaku was taking on Kisa hand to hand, the girl was dodging, "We heard from our master the pounding you took from her awhile back. I am surprised you have what it takes to continue fighting."
"Truth be told I gave up the street fighting life back then. But for my friends, I'll gladly come out of retirement to help them."
"Noble, but foolish!" Kinkaku pounded Kisa in the stomach making her drop on one knee.
"Kisa!" Niwa called.
"I wouldn't worry about her!" Ginkaku spoke, as he attacked her.
Niwa was dodging while recalling how he fought her last night, 'I can't let him surprise me with his moves like before.'
Niwa and Kisa were being backed into each other, before Kinkaku called, "Ginkaku, gold and silver knockout!"
"Agreed, Kinkaku!" Ginkaku agreed, as the two brothers delivered a double punch to the girls knocking them onto the floor.
"Kisa!" Naruto, Omoi, and her friends cried.
"Niwa!" Tenten and Samui called.
Kisa and Niwa groaned, as Nightmare spoke, "Just as I thought. Both of you are weak. You'll never amount to anything."
Kisa and Niwa frowned before looking at each other, "Their teamwork is a powerful force."
Kisa smirked, "Then maybe we need to show them a little teamwork of our own."
"Whatcha have in mind?" Niwa inquired.
"Imagine the Kirin and Phoenix combo."
"Hmm. I like the sound of that." Niwa agreed.
"Partners?" Kisa offered her hand.
Niwa shook it, "Partners." the two got up and stood there ground.
"It looks like they want some more, Kinkaku."
"Looks that way, Ginkaku."
"Then let's give them another helping." Kinkaku said, as the brothers fought again.
As the girls fought the brothers again, Niwa spoke, "The Kirin Phoenix duo are going to strip that gold and silver plating off your backs!"
"Come on, Niwa!" Kisa called, as the two tag teamed and took the fight to the brothers.
The spectators started cheering for the two, as the brothers started finding themselves getting the tides turned on them. Naruto and the others watched, as Omoi spoke, "That's my girl!" spectators looked at him, and he corrected himself, "The Kirin Queen. That's my girl." Naruto and Sasuke rolled their eyes.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku were starting to get worn out, as Kisa and Niwa stood smirking, "Ready partner?" Kisa asked.
"Ready." Niwa nodded.
The two ran at the brothers and jumped up delivering a double kick, "Kirin Phoenix combo!"
"NOOOO!" Nightmare cried, as she watched her two best fighters get knocked backwards and landed on the floor looking exhausted.
The ref looked at the brothers seeing they were in no condition to continue, "This match is over. The winners are Kisa Namikaze and Niwa Miaki, the Kirin Queen and Phoenix Princess!"
The fans cheered and applauded, along with the girls group. Kisa and Niwa looked around seeing all the praise they were getting, while Niwa spoke up, "We did it, we won."
Kisa smiled, "Because we used teamwork, Niwa. And honestly I couldn't have asked for a better partner in this fight."
Niwa smiled back, "Took the words right out of my mouth."
"So how about we make it official," Kisa extended her hand out, "Friends?"
Niwa looked at her hand and past her seeing the the rest of the group was beckoning her to accept it. She smiled and took her hand into hers before pulling Kisa into an embrace, "Friends."
Kisa smiled, and hugged her new friend back. Soon the rest of Kisa's friends joined in the group hug while Niwa herself felt so happy than she ever did. Because now she finally had real friends.
Nightmare growled before the laptop screen went blank. At Nightmare's residence, she grunted before turning off her laptop, "Those two idiots! And they call themselves the best."
"Seems like your gold and silver plating was stripped off." came a voice.
Nightmare looked back seeing another standing in the shadow of her dimly lit room, "Don't you start giving me any lip."
"Oh, I meant no offense by it. But really now that she's defeated your two best fighters what are you going to do?" the male figure asked.
"I will make her suffer for what she's done. And I'll make it a hundred times more painful than I did before." she promised.
"For your sake I hope you do."
"And what about you? I know you're interested in the match between Naruto and Kami. Who are you placing your money on?" Nightmare inquired.
"I don't gamble with money. I gamble with pride. And no matter what the outcome of that match will be, I will still have a chance to fight someone. The promising street fighter that fought his way up to this point trying to prove his worth. Or the one who robbed me of a title I sought more than he ever did. The one I dare share the same blood with." he said with venom in his tone.
(And there's the chapter. Kisa's rival Niwa has had a change of heart and is now their friend. But it looks like Kisa's street fighting nemesis has her own friend who is interested in Naruto's last match with the Tailed Beasts, and is close to Kami. Don't miss next time for the fight everyone's been waiting for. Naruto vs Kami. See you then.)
