Hey- Normal talking
Hey- Kazuto's inner monologue
'Hey'- People thinking
(Hey)- Inner circles mean places or time skips
~Flashback~
[Disclaimer: I don't own MHA or Sword Art Online]
Aren't memories really funny things? You can choose to forget, choose to move on from your life or a traumatizing event, but your memories will remain with you. Either buried within the depths of your mind or locked away along with shaking events of your past. Some people, however, just seem to forget their own memory of you and act like they don't know you. Maybe they don't, maybe they forgot, or maybe they never knew you existed. She prayed I was neither. For that, I'm so sorry.
'Is it really you? Kazuto...' hazel eyes look at their savior with longing as those coal-black eyes shine with their own mystery, but with lack of warmth, without recognition. 'You've forgotten.' her smile slips from her face but she quickly puts on her facade of indifference to try and keep the hurt at bay. Those eyes simply look so tempting, so mesmerizing, yet they hurt. It hurts that they don't recognize her.
{Queue Song: "Deep End" -The Tech Thieves} & {Queue Song: "Again" -The Tech Thieves}
~Flashback~
"Mother!? Father!? Where are you! I'm scared!" a girl cries out in the dead of night as she hears screams wherever she goes.
"Help me!" a voice manages to reach her ears as the man starts giggling and looking around frankly.
"Help me!" it shouts again with a giggle as the man, no, monster, at the time, kept on injecting things into his arm. His eyes glazing over with crazed madness. "I can't stop! Hehehe."
The giggling won't stop, the pouring of the rain won't stop, and her tears won't either. Her light brown hair, the same color of an orange-painted sun over the horizon, was now a darker shade as the heavens cried.
"I don't want to be alone!" she cried as she went to sit down by a bench.
Then, the smell of liquor reached her nose and she recoiled in disgust.
"Y-you seem lost." both, a man and a woman, slur with their teeth shining a golden, rusty yellow. "Let us help you." they grin as they try and take a hold of her, trying to portray warmth for the small child yet failing spectacularly. She's twelve dammit! She's a big girl! But big girls aren't supposed to cry out for their parents, she mused as she tried to pull away.
"I don't need your help." she tries to put on a strong front. She fails miserably. They noticed.
"Come now." the woman screeches with a grin. "Why don't you try and join in?" just looking at her attire, her teeth all broken, her face twisted, and her face all scuffled with dirt, and she got her answer quickly.
"No!" she wrinkles her nose in disgust as the man chuckles.
"It's a fun process, my dear. Why won't you try it?" he disguises the command as a question.
"No!" she shouts even louder, but her parents were still not there.
They were supposed to go to the movies because her mother is too busy working these days and she finally had a day off for her and her family to enjoy it. Her dad had smiled then. So had her brother as she bounced around in joy.
As they had been walking around through various stores and jewelry shops, she had found a black cat moving around between the alleyways. It was a curious little thing. Black fur with white lines, but yellow eyes. Of course, being a sheltered girl, she wanted to get the cat and ask her parents if she could keep it. It felt her presence as they had a staring contest of some sort. Then, the cat ran and so did she.
It led her next to a darker alleyway. Being the naive child she was, she didn't worry. In hindsight, she should have paid more attention to where she was going. The farther she went, the darker it got till the point that she couldn't see the cat any more. She kept on wandering the area until the rain started to fall. She finally looked around and noticed that she was lost.
"Please help me..." she had whimpered the first few seconds as she kept on looking around. Even as a champion in fencing, she was still shy, still afraid of the dark, still human. Her parents seemed to have forgotten that as they tried to force their success onto her when they had heard of a Kirigaya heir being labeled a prodigy. The disbelief, the snobbish remarks of self-deprecation when her parents had taken away her joy of being a child, it impacted her. Stagnated her mind, but not her love for them.
'No Asuna you mustn't do that.' they had said. 'You must succeed. You need to be an over-achiever, not be wasting away your childhood with idiotic toys.' they still love her.
She had been lost in her thoughts for so long that she was wandering around aimlessly. It dawned on her. She was lost. With people looking at her weirdly too. Now, as she looks at the two strangers staring at her, she fought off the tears with a small prayer. The needle is getting closer to her pearly skin and she can't hold onto her tears any longer.
'Help...' she thinks lowly as she closes her eyes. She looked so lost, so fragile. But then...
"Hey." a bland voice shattered her shackles as she glanced in the voice's direction. It was a child her age. He had really dark hair just like the moon, coal-black eyes, and seemed to have this dark look as he saw her captives holding the needle close to her skin.
"What do you think you're doing with her!?" he shouted in anger as he shot forward to her aid. Her smile spilled the tears cascading down toward her cheeks as she passed out with a single idea in mind.
'Thank you, whoever you are.'
When she had woken up, it was still dark, but there was warmth radiating from her chest, 'a sweater' she noted, that made her snuggle up to it greedily. It took her mind a moment to reboot and freeze up. There's a sweater! And it wasn't hers!
She glanced around and saw a patch of black on the floor. It was a boy. Her memories had resurfaced, and so had the tears as she cried joyously. The ravenette had woken with a start as he looked around frantically with a tensed form. Once he had laid eyes on her, those eyes had held so much warmth that her cheeks had been painted a rosy red.
"You're okay. Everything will be okay. I promise." he had stated with so much passion that she had never doubted him.
"Thank you." she sobbed as she hugged him. He had only held her tenderly in return.
(A few hours later)
She had been walking with the boy by her side as she went to find her parents.
"I never got to ask for your name." he had grinned as he scratched his back nervously. "I'm sorry."
She only giggled in return.
"Don't be. You've saved me. That's the least of your worries." she smiled prettily in return as he blushed.
"I-it doesn't change the fact that I want to know your name." he only grinned cheekily.
"My name is Asuna Yuki." she muttered softly.
"Asuna Yuki." he tested her name on his tongue as he smiled softly. Great, now it was her turn to blush!
"What's yours?" she asked in return.
"My name is-"
"Asuna!"
"Asuna!"
"Asuna!"
Three pairs of voices reached both teen's ears as they looked at the rushing figures. One frantic looking brother, a weeping mother, and a fuming father. The mother got to her first as she pulled her into a hug.
"I was so worried." she cried.
"You're grounded when we get home do I make myself clear!?" her father had shouted with that voice that made it impossible to debate. But, if you look at him closely, he was just as worried as her mother.
"Where had you been?" her brother asked her with clear worry that made her feel guilt-stricken. The question had both of her parents' attention held at bay as they too looked at her.
Clearing her throat, she went to present her new friend to her parents.
"This boy helped me find my way to you guys." she smiled with a grin.
"What boy Asuna?" her father asked in confusion.
"What od you mean 'what boy?' father? He's right here." it was only then that she noticed said person was nowhere in sight.
"Where did he go?" she asked in an upset note as she looked ready to start crying. "Did I scare him away?"
"His parents are probably worried dear." her mother soothed her aching heart with soft words.
"Yeah." she hiccuped. "probably."
"How about we get you home and watch a movie there, young lady?" her brother asked softly with a smile as she grinned.
"Yeah!" she cheered.
When she got home, she was looking at the ceiling in her room with a soft smile. Next to her, was a magazine showing the Kendo World Champion of the world. It had read 'Kazuto Kirigaya has won the world championships! The rise of the Kirigaya!' As she imagined the raven-haired boy from the alley, she was able to connect the dots. She was filled with so much glee that she would squeal then and there. She didn't as it was unbecoming to do so. She had, however, promised herself that if she ever got to see him again, she will ask him about the night he saved her, and she would thank him by kissing him tenderly on the cheek. Who knows? He might say she looks cute, they'd play hard to get when they get older, and she would end up dating him!
It was nothing but a childish promise then. Why does it hurt now that she met him on that fateful ring? And who is that blond girl sitting next to him!? The tramp!
~Flashback End~
(Commentary booth)
"And there you have it folks! The first bracket has come to a close!" Hizashi hollered as the crowd roared. "Please wait a few hours for our contestants to cool off before the slaughter continues!"
"If the surviving contestants are just as good as those two place holders, this will be a match like none other before! Who will be the one to win it all!?" Emi shouted as loudly as her friend as they nodded.
"Stay tuned for the semi-finals in the next two versus two stand-still!" they chorused with matching grins.
(Competitor's box)
"Well," Kai nodded viciously as the remaining contestants, sans Kazuto and his friends, started paling. "Better buckle up boys and girls, because this is where the fun really starts!"
"I don't know...you might not even be able to make it." Kazuto teased as he closed one eye and stuck his tongue out. ~anime style.~
"Oh trust me, I will." Kai said with such passion that there was electricity dancing between them as they butted heads.
"I thought he was just a cold guy, but seeing him act like that with the old man makes him seem...human." Eugeo mused as he looked at their interactions.
"What was that you browny/snickers bar!?" Kai and Kazuto shouted in sync at the pissed off Eugeo.
"Oi! Don't diss the locks!" Eugeo shouted in anger.
"There there." Alice stated soothingly as she started walking into the stands. "All three of you are good boys aren't you?" she shot all three of them an eye smile that made them shift around in fear as they paled.
"Yes!" the three chorused as Asuna looked on with a sweatdrop.
"Hey, you can come and join us if you want. You seem pretty lonely." Kazuto told Asuna with a kind smile.
"Um." she shifted her eyes towards Alice with a light glare and looked back at him with a smile. "Sure! If you don't mind, of course."
"Nah. We don't." Eugeo butted in as he slung an arm over his brother in all but blood.
"Thank you!"
"Don't I get a say in this!?" Alice shouted in ire as she noticed Asuna's glare and wondered what she did to her. Seeing her eyes shift from her to Kazuto, it finally clicked. She only huffed playfully as her friends only said no.
"What about you Kai?" Kazuto asked his rival.
"No thanks. I'll get some small training in between this break. I wouldn't want to get a cramp mid-way when I'm bashing your skull in." he smirked as Kazuto glared at him.
"Watch it little dragon." he huffed in annoyance as Kai glared back.
"You too, you stupid crow."
"Whatever." Kazuto smiled as he started walking off. "Good luck."
"Hm. You too."
(Food Stands)
"Big brother!" a black missile shot off towards Kazuto as he fell down.
"Oof. You've gotten heavier Sugu." Kazuto smirked playfully until he got bashed on the head.
"How dare you insult my precious!" Alice shouted as Suguha smiled.
"Damn that hurt!"
"Serves you right." Shino smirked until she noted the addition in their little group. Both girls looked at each other in the eye until both turned their noses in righteous female fury. "Kazuto. Who. Is. She?"
"Oh." he even had the audacity to grin back at her! "This is Asuna Yuki. Asuna, this is Shino Asada."
"A pleasure to meet you." Asuna grinned weakly as sparks flew between them.
"Another girl Kazuto?" Midori teased as she and her husband joined them. Minetaka gave Kazuto a discreet thumbs-up.
"I-it's not like that!" Shino and Asuna stuttered out as Kazuto looked at them strangely.
"What do you mean? Eugeo isn't a girl, so not every person I meet will be a girl." he smiled cluelessly.
"I beg to differ." Eugeo and Suguha muttered as they nodded sagely.
Kazuto only smacked Eugeo in return.
"Shut up!"
"Ow!"
Asuna started giggling at their interaction as both boys looked at her with a blush.
'That giggle was kinda cute.' both boys thought.
This brought on glares from both Alice and Shino as the boys felt cold dread hit them.
Eugeo shook his head. 'No! I only like Alice!'
"Yeah." Kazuto scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I hope you don't mind hanging with us small misfits for a while."
'If it's with you, I wouldn't mind.' Asuna thought with a small sigh. "I don't mind. In fact, I think that I would enjoy spending time with you all."
"Cool." Eugeo smiled. "Welcome aboard."
(One hour later)
"Yeah! And then he started running around the dojo with a pink onesie." Kazuto started holding his sides as he told the girls and his parents the time Eugeo's clothes shrunk in the washing machine since he was too busy daydreaming. He didn't have any spare clothes and Kazuto decided to be a douche about it and told him to wear the clothes he set for him.
"Hahahaha! That was the funniest thing ever." Suguha smiled with tears in her eyes.
"H-how did you let that happen Eugeo." Alice giggled along with Shino and Asuna. It seemed that time with each other melted the ice they had between them.
"W-well, the funny thing is that I was thinking about the next episode of that anime." Eugeo grinned weakly.
"Oh." Suguha hit her hand in her palm in realization. "Have you heard of its new episode!?"
"Yeah!" Eugeo smiled. "I heard it'll end with both of them in an epic fight in the VOTE!"
"Ah. I already saw the episode. It was as great as it was hyped up to be. If you want, I could tell you how it ends..." Kazuto grinned smugly as both Eugeo and Suguha looked at him with betrayed looks.
"Don't spoil it!" both shouted fearfully as Alice, Shino, and Asuna looked on in wonder.
"Is it always like this?" Asuna asked with an uncomfortable grin.
"You get used to it." Shino brushed it off.
"Oh yeah." Alice grinned.
"Hey, Eugeo and I will get more drinks," Kazuto stated with a smile as both Asuna and Shino blushed. "Do you guys want anything?"
Ignoring Eugeo's 'lucky bastard' remark, Alice gave him a grin. "No thanks. But make sure to take long! We girls need to have a talk."
"Sure." he shrugged as both boys walked off.
"So..." Suguha started off as she looked in both Asuna and Shino's direction. "What's the deal with my brother?"
'So direct!' Alice thought in shock.
"W-what!?" both girls let out a squeak.
"Don't think I didn't notice the way you were looking at him." she accused with squinting eyes.
"Here comes detective Sugu." Alice muttered with a facepalm.
"You know it baby!" she shouted with a peace sign. She then turned serious. "Now then, what's the deal?"
"There's no deal! We don't do that!" Asuna and Shino shouted in embarrassment.
"Oh?" she mused as she got an evil idea in mind. "Just for the record, he's off the market~"
"WHAT!?" both screeched as Eugeo and Kazuto, along with everyone within the food court, turned to look at the now blushing duo.
'They have it bad...' Suguha thought with a snicker.
"Yep." she nodded her head. "He's dating Alice here."
"WHAT!?" three voices chorused as Eugeo fumed beside his panicking friend. He could have died with that massive heart attack he felt crawling into his throat and Eugeo wouldn't care! So rude!
'No way! We are!? I don't even like her like that!' Kazuto thought with a shudder.
Alice felt the need to pummel her raven-haired best friend as a tick mark appeared on her left eyebrow. Before she ever got to shout out in her defense, said best friend started running at her with flailing arms and tears running down his cheeks as he wailed.
"We're not dating are we, Alice!? It's a joke right!? Please tell me it's a joke!" he shouted with snot running down his nose as the blond's tick mark grew in size.
"You make it sound like I would be a bad choice!" she made sure to keep her anger at bay...for now. "And for the record, no Kazuto. We're not dating." she huffed.
"Oh thank god." he breathed a sigh of relief as the onlookers turned away with matching grins.
"So," Eugeo started off as he kept on glaring at his friend. "You guys aren't...you know."
"She just said we're not~" Kazuto started dancing around with a huge grin. "She just said we're not~ Oh yeah~"
"Will you shut up!" everyone at his table, besides the grinning parents and Suguha, shouted out.
"Fine." the ravenette sighed in defeat.
"What brought this on?" Eugeo inquired as Shino and Asuna were glaring at Alice.
"If I have to guess, it had something to do with Suguha over here." Kazuto pointed at the grinning chibi.
"Of course it does." Eugeo hung his head in exasperation. "It always does."
"W-what do you mean always!" Suguha shouted in indignation as she started to tear up. Asuna started to giggle silently.
"Eugeo you meanie!" both Alice and Suguha shouted with welling tears as they hugged each other for comfort.
"I- W-what!? What did I do!?" he started panicking.
"Gotta love role reversals." Kazuto grinned as he sat by Asuna and Shino, unintentionally sparking a silent war.
"Yeah." his seating partners grinned weakly.
"Hm? is something wrong?" he looked between them with a questioning look as Eugeo snickered.
"N-no!" both girls sputtered out as Asuna tried to calm herself.
"Do you remember who I am?" she asked softly as he looked perplexed.
"Remember...you?" he thought out loud as he looked at her. From her hazelnut eyes to her chestnut brown hair, to her soft features that formed a warm smile. For a second, his mind thought back to a crying girl in the rain. It was locked back in place as the memory shifted to red blood, a closing casket, and his self-hatred for not saving his grandfather as a child.
"I think I do." he sighed softly as his face took on a pained smile.
"What's wrong?" she asked in worry as he tried to shrug it off. On the side, Shino started to frown.
"It's nothing. I just got a bad memory." he grinned.
"Are you sure Kazuto?" Shino asked as it was Asuna's turn to frown.
"Yeah. I'm fine Shi. Don't worry." his grin was stronger now and Asuna took notice of this with a larger frown.
"I-if you say so. It's not like I worry for you or anything!" Shino blushed as he used her small nickname.
"Heh. Right."
"Can I be your friend?" Asuna blurted the first thought that came to mind as she ruined the small interaction.
"Aren't we already?" Kazuto smiled her way as she felt on cloud nine.
"Y-yeah I guess we are." she smiled prettily.
Eugeo coughed into his hand to get everyone's attention.
"About that two v. two Kazuto... How do you think it'll go down?" he asked in worry.
"I'm not really sure. This never happened before since there weren't many competitors back then." the teen sighed. "Since I was the youngest at twelve years old, many people just assumed I'd be easy picking and went all out at the beginning. It was easier for pure one on one matchups."
"But now that there are more people in the tournament, the rules had to change." Alice mused with a knowing look.
"Pretty much." he shrugged as he looked at the clock. "My best guess is that we'll have to pair up at random in order to move on. Now, let's get a move on, shall we?" he smirked as they nodded.
"Good luck." Shino and Suguha nodded with smiles as they waved.
"Don't worry, we will." Kazuto and Eugeo grinned cheekily as Alice and Asuna nodded right back. Asuna and Shino glared for a few seconds but acknowledged their own rivalry. For what, Kazuto wasn't sure.
(Commentary booth)
"And we're back ladies and gentlemen!" Hizashi shouted loudly as the spectators started lining up in their respective seats. "This small break should re-energize these folks don't you think!?" The crowd roared.
"A perfect time for a two on two matchup!" Emi screamed as the spectators started whispering wildly.
"Yes, you've heard it here folks! A two on two matchup featuring the remaining twelve contestants within the tourney!" Hizashi added on with a winning smile. "Everyone please look at the screen that our great sponsors of UA had generously created for us! The two on two matches will be generated randomly for a mysterious appeal! Who will these contestants pair up I wonder!?"
The screen started lighting up as it ended with the first two teams.
ALICE ZUBERG & ASUNA YUKI vs. HIDEKI AIKO & ALIX CAMILE
(Commentary booth)
"Just like my double-A batteries, these groups sound like a strong matchup here!" Emi shouted with a smile as some people chuckled.
"You said it! Ladies and gents, please welcome the Troublesome Blond, Alice Zuberg, and the Lightning Flash, Asuna Yuki!" Hizashi shouted as said girls blushed at the cheesy nicknames.
(Competitor's box)
"Good luck goldie-locks." Kai snickered as Alice sent him a glare.
"Yeah, you troublesome blond." Kazuto added on with a snicker.
"Don't listen to the idiots Alice." Eugeo gave her an eye-smile as her blush darkened. "Good luck!"
"T-thanks Eugeo." she stuttered as she walked out.
Kazuto felt a tap on his shoulder as he turned to look at the blushing Asuna.
"Will you wish me luck too?" she muttered out lowly as she kept on looking at the floor.
Kazuto only smiled as he tapped her on the forehead. As Asuna looked up, she took a look at his smiling face.
"Good luck, Asuna." he eye smiled as she blushed a darker scarlet and shyly looked away.
"Thank you." she muttered.
Looking at her retreating form, Kai couldn't help but whistle.
"You're one smart smooth talker, Kirigaya."
"What do you mean?" the raven-haired teen looked at him questioningly as Eugeo shook his head in exasperation.
"Tch. Forget it." the bluenette looked away in jealousy.
(Commentary booth)
"On the other side, these two redheads aren't as well know, but I hope they would make a great combo!" Hizashi shouted. "Please welcome Alix Camile and Aiko Hideki!"
"Yeah! Let's go!" Emi shouted as she glanced at the four female competitors.
"Hm." another voice grunted in boredom.
(In the Stands)
"Ah yeah!" Suguha screamed in glee. "Girls rule!"
"Yeah they do!" Shino and Midori pumped their fist in happiness.
(Arena)
"Those nicknames are embarrassing." Alice complained weakly.
"So you say, but I kinda like my nickname." Asuna smiled as Alice shot her a betrayed look.
"That's because yours sounds better! No wonder Kazuo hates his..."
"I think it suits him." Asuna defended with a snicker.
"Of course you would." Alice muttered lowly with a small frown.
Asuna only hummed in response.
As the four contestants stood by their respective partners, the referee started talking.
"As you all took notice, this matchup won't be a regular three-point match." seeing them nod, he added on. "This will be a tag-team worth a six-point match. The same rules apply, but with friendly interference allowed. The first group to six points wins. Are we clear?" the four contestants nodded in affirmation.
"Then, without further ado..." the referee nodded to his partner on the other side as they both held matching flags. "Begin!"
The four held their stances in a calm manner as they sized up their opponents.
"We're not like the boys." Alix exclaimed. "We won't lose our edge too quickly."
"Yeah." Aiko nodded with a determined grin.
"We know that." Alice and Asuna noted as Asuna held her shinai in a tight grip.
"You ready Asuna?"
"I was born ready!"
"On my signal then." Alice smiled as she took her own stance. "Ready..."
Their two opponents tensed up in preparation.
"...Go!"
With that, the brown and blond duo shot and went for two vertical strikes in quick succession.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
"Gah!" the two redheads shouted in shock as they were both hit on the wrist.
"Double point!"
(Commentary booth)
"Hell yeah! Now we're talking!" Emi shouted in glee.
"Two hits right off the bat ladies and gents! Amazing!" Hizashi exclaimed.
"Hm." Shouta nodded with a grin.
(In the Stands)
'Yeah!" Suguha shouted star-eyed.
"Amazing..." Shino muttered wide-eyed.
(Competitor's box)
"That was quick." Kai muttered with a smirk.
Both Kazuto and Eugeo nodded as they looked on.
(Arena)
"Tch." Alix frowned as she dropped the shinai to her right side lowly.
Aiko kept quiet, but her body tensed up even more.
"Ready. Set. Go!" the referee shouted as the girls sprang to life.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
They kept on at a headlock as Alix tried to go for a hit to the left calf. Asuna saw this coming and flipped backward into her stance.
Aiko took notice of this and shot forward as quickly as possible. She couldn't make it two feet ahead as Alice almost hit her ribs. Rolling out of harm's way, Aiko's frown deepened.
"You didn't think it'll be that easy did you?" Alice taunted as she twirled around her opponent.
"What are you, a ballerina?" Aiko mocked as she saw her.
"Nope. Just a distraction."
"Wha-"
"Watch out Aiko!" Alix tried to shout as Alice went for a hit to her left shoulder.
Aiko tried to turn around, but the tip of a shinai hitting her back was the only thing she felt as the toppled over.
*THUNK* *THUNK* *THUNK*
"Point! Two for Asuna and one for Alice!" the referee shouted.
(Commentary booth)
"Can we see that in slow-motion, por favor?" Hizashi exclaimed as the camera showed Asuna hitting Aiko twice on the back in quick succession.
"Damn." Emi nodded in approval.
Shouta just looked bored.
The screen read 5 - 0 in the blond and brunette's favor.
(Arena)
"Yes!" Alice cheered as she looked at her smiling companion. "One more point!"
Asuna nodded as the redheaded duo looked on in resignation.
"It was a good match while it lasted." Alix smiled at her partner.
"Yes, it was." Aiko bowed in respect.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
The tow redheads didn't stand a chance as Alice landed the fateful blow.
"The winners are Alice Zuberg and Asuna Yuki!" the referee shouted as the crowd cheered.
(Commentary booth)
"What a match!" Hizashi gleefully screamed to the crowd.
"It was a great match! These two might make a pretty cute combo, but they are equally as deadly!" Emi exclaimed with a grin.
"For our next match, I hope they are as good as them." Shouta let out a tired sigh.
(Competitor's box)
"I knew you'd win." Eugeo smiled at Alice as the blond let out a sigh of relief.
"They were quite skilled though." Asuna played off his praise.
"You're pretty humble huh, Asuna." Kazuto smiled.
"Hn. If you're done flirting, look at the screen." Kai muttered as they all did so.
KAZUTO KIRIGAYA & YUUKI KONNO vs. AKIRA AOKO & JEREMIAH SOEL
"It's always a girl." every one of Kazuto's friends deadpanned as Kai choked on air.
"Lucky bastard." he muttered as he took a look at his partner.
A girl with milky white skin, ruby-red eyes, and lusciously cascading purple hair met coal-black eyes as she smiled and walked into the arena.
"Really lucky." Eugeo muttered quietly. However, it wasn't as quiet as he had hoped as Alice's hair started sticking out in different directions out of pure anger.
"What was that Eugeo?" Alice asked sweetly.
"N-nothing!" Eugeo Gesualdo did not shriek when he took a look at her. He doesn't do that because he's above that childish fear.
"Kazuto..." Asuna muttered as she gave the leaving Kazuto a wide stare that left him shivering.
Kai just turned his face to the side in order to hide his own fear.
(In the Stands)
"Kazuto..." Shino muttered with light reflecting from her glasses.
'I'll be praying for your life, big bro.' Suguha thought as she started looking at the ceiling with her eyes closed in faux dread.
Midori shook her head with a happy sigh as Minetaka shivered.
(Commentary booth)
"The ever-present Prince of Crows gets to team up with the high flying Konno!?" Hizashi shrieked dramatically as Emi started to laugh. "Better start praying kiddos!"
"Hmph. And here I thought commentators were supposed to be unbiased." Shouta scoffed as the crowd looked on.
(Arena)
"Why are you shivering?" Jeremiah taunted.
"Yeah. Are ya scared little prince?" Akira added on with a smirk.
"I just felt like I was about to die." Kazuto whimpered as the two boys looked at him questioningly. When they felt the killing intent directed at Kazuto, they gave him pitying glances as they too started to shiver.
"So...are we starting this? Or..." Yuuki gave all three teens a stare that showed off her confusion.
As if her voice was the key, all three boys shook their heads and took on a determined or, in Kazuto's case, an aloof facade.
"We're ready!" Akira and Jeremiah shouted as Kazuto nodded slowly.
"That's more like it!" Yuuki grinned as she relaxed her body and took a loose stance.
'Interesting.' Kazuto thought with a smirk.
"Ready. Set. Go!" the referee shouted loudly.
Jeremiah wasted no time as he shot off towards the purple-haired teen.
"You're mine!" he shouted as Yuuki only smiled.
*THUNK*
"W-what?" Jeremiah asked as he didn't feel his shinai in his grasp. When he turned around, Yuuki hit his shoulder.
"Point!"
"Not bad." Kazuto smiled as Yuuki grinned his way.
"Let's see what you can do, little prince." she gave the blushing raven a thumbs up.
"D-don't call me that!" he stuttered out as Akira gave him a long stare.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Akira looked straight into Kazuto's aloof eyes. He was then petrified as the image of a murder of crows hovering over him was all he saw. When he focused, he felt his shoulder going numb and the referee shouting about two points.
"The hell?" he asked in shock as Kazuto didn't move from his position. The fact that he didn't change his facade was what scared him completely.
(Commentary booth)
"No way!" Hizashi shouted as the video slowed down into the exact moment Kazuto hit the petrified Akira two times on the shoulder. The crowd went abuzz in horror and excitement all the same at the event.
"Fast!" Emi asked in amazement as she had never seen him move that fast during Shouta's training sessions.
"Oh? Interesting." Shouta grinned ferally. 'Afterimage...'
(In the Stands)
The crowd started murmuring among themselves as they pointed at the black-haired anomaly.
"No way..." Shino muttered in excitement.
"Awesome..." Suguha rubbed her eyes as she looked on in shock.
Midori and Minetaka just looked on proudly.
(Competitor's box)
"Woah. I knew he was holding back on me, but I didn't know it was by this much." Eugeo stated with a hint of fear.
"Cool." Alice looked on wide-eyed.
"Hm." Kai nodded with a smirk.
"No way..." Asuna muttered quietly.
(Arena)
"You're just as deadly as your reputation makes you out to be." Yuuki grinned proudly.
"No kidding." Jeremiah muttered as his hands started trembling.
"W-what are you?" Akira stuttered out as he looked at Kazuto's aloof expression.
"Just a person." he smiled as Akira felt like panicking.
3-0
"Ready for the last points, Yuuki?" he asked the jumping girl.
"You bet!" she grinned.
"As If we'll let you!" their two opponents shouted but were left ignored.
"Try and hold on 'kay?" Yuuki winked as both boys looked dazed with stupid grins.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
*THUNK* *THUNK* *THUNK*
(Commentary booth)
"Ooh. And they didn't stand a chance..." Hizashi sighed as he slumped into his chair dramatically.
"You go girl!" Emi shouted towards the smiling Yuuki.
"That was fast." Shouta grinned as Kazuto gave him a thumbs up.
(Competitor's box)
"Yes!" Yuuki shouted as she gave Kazuto a high five.
"That was quick." Alice and Asuna gave Kazuto a stare.
"What can I say?" he shrugged as he looked at Yuuki with a grin. "We're just that good."
"Yeah we are!" Yuuki pumped her fist in the air.
"Oh? Better than me?" Kai asked as he looked at Kazuto challengingly.
"Maybe." he smirked at his rival.
Eugeo got close to Kazuto as his hair hid his eyes.
"You were holding out on me..." he muttered. When Kazuto was about to apologize, sobbing reached his ears as Eugeo started shaking him. "What the hell man! Why do you look so cool doing it!? It's not fair!" he turned into a sobbing mess as the girls, and Kai took a step back in discomfort.
"-will you quit it!" Kazuto shouted as he hit his best friend on the head. "That's how I fight, remember!?" he screamed in a slight daze.
"Oh yeah." Eugeo scratched his neck in embarrassment. "I forgot."
"Come on browny, it's our turn." Kai stated blandly as they looked at the screen.
Sure enough, their names were there.
KAI ASMOTHEOS & EUGEO GESUALDO vs HAJIME TSUKASA & DAICHI TSUKASA
"Twins huh?" Eugeo muttered with a grin.
"Good luck Eugeo!" Alice shouted at his treating form as he turned to grin at her. Kazuto nodded towards him, and so did Asuna with a smile.
"Try and finish this quickly guys," Kazuto exclaimed with a chesire grin. "We should move the matches along."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Kai smirked as Eugeo gave him a thumbs up.
(In the Stands)
"You got this in the bag Eugeo!" Suguha cheered along with Shino.
(Commentary booth)
"The Vanishing Dragon gets to team up with the Prince of Snakes." Shouta muttered into the mic as the spectators looked at him questioningly.
It finally dawned on Hizashi. "Snake Prince indeed." he grinned.
"Ah, his movements." Emi nodded. "When facing twins, you may never know!" she shouted as the crowd got restless with excitement.
(Arena)
"It seems you got a new nickname, browny." Kai smirked at the blushing Eugeo.
"S-shut up." he muttered.
'I can see why he named that though.' Kai thought with a small frown. 'This might be a challenge if we ever fought. Guess my intuition was correct.'
"Prince or not, we will win!" the twin Tsukasas shouted in a chorus.
'Somehow, I felt that this competition was rigged. Well, it won't matter since they're in for a rude awakening' the referee mused as he got into position.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
The twins were about to move, but something held them back. A western brown snake hissed into their vicinity as they looked into its blue eyes. They couldn't shout out in fear as it coiled around their necks, ready to inject them with venom. As Hajime was about to scream, a roaring white dragon took a hold of his voice as they each felt three hits on their shoulders.
When the twins returned to reality, the referee was looking at them in worry as the match had been called. Eugeo looked at them apologetically as he rushed into the competitor's box.
"What" "the hell" "was that!?" they both shouted in bewilderment as they were escorted into the stands.
(Commentary booth)
"If you thought the champ's and Ms. Yuuki's match was quick, then this one is meant for the history books!" Hizashi shouted as the video showed the twins losing movement and standing still as Eugeo and Kai hit the standing twins three times in quick succession.
"Prince of Snakes indeed." Emi shuddered as the crowd agreed wholeheartedly.
"Yes, yes he is." Shouta smirked.
(In the Stands)
"That was scary!" Suguha shuddered as the phantasmal bite marks reached her eyes.
"No kidding." Shino and Midori shivered as they imagined a brown snake near them.
Minetaka looked about ready to pass out. Poor guy...
(Competitor's box)
"Was that quick enough Kirigaya?" Kai bragged with a smirk.
Kazuto gave Eugeo a fist bump as he smirked at Kai. "You could have been a turtle with the way you moved."
"Call me that again," Kai muttered lowly with his blue hair swaying in the wind as his grin turned feral. "I dare you."
The remaining five competitors imagined a dragon baring its fangs.
"Scaly little turtle." Kazuto snickered as he stood toe to toe with the raging Kai. The image of a screeching crow spreading its wings was heard by the people in the stands as they looked towards the competitor's box. Eugeo tried to end their little standstill by getting in the way, but he only managed to make the crowd shudder in excitement as the coiling of a western brown snake ready to attack was seen.
"Oh? Does the little snake charmer want to play?" Kai looked at Eugeo with so much bloodlust that he almost recoiled.
It was halted by Kazuto flaring his own killing intent.
Eugeo steeled his nerve and looked on with an emotionless facade as Kai's mouth twitched into a smile as he finally let up.
"Guess you're not much of a pushover as I thought you'd be." Kai smirked as Kazuto smiled in return.
"Of course not. He's my apprentice after all." he stated proudly as Eugeo scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
"Boys." The three girls muttered with a shake of their heads.
"What?" the three guys in question asked cluelessly.
(Commentary booth)
"Are we ready for the finals!?" Hizashi shouted to the crowd. "I can't hear you! ARE WE READY FOR THE FINALS!?"
"YYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"Then we won't keep you waiting any longer!" Emi shouted with excitement. "Let's spin the wheels of fortune and see what we got, shall we!?"
"Winner or not, I expect no one to play dirty." Shouta stated strictly.
KAI ASMOTHEOS vs YUUKI KONNO
(Competitor's box)
"Hm. Let's go, red eyes." Kai smirked towards the fuming Yuuki.
"Don't say it like that! You make it sound like I have a disease or something!" she puffed her cheeks out as he only held his smirk.
"Whatever you say, babe."
She only huffed in return.
"Good luck!" the remaining four shouted cheerfully. Only Yuuki turned back to acknowledge their cheering. Kai just stuck out his hand in a lazy wave.
(Commentary booth)
"Whhoooo's rrreeeaaadddyyy!?" Hizashi screeched as the crowd went wild.
"The Vanishing Dragon gets to fight our Purple Empress! Hell yeah!" Emi cheered on.
Shout said nothing as he nodded.
(In the Stands)
"Whoo!" Suguha cheered as she saw the two combatants.
"This is going to be great!" Shino shouted in barely repressed excitement.
(Arena)
"I gotta admit, looks can be deceiving" Kai smirked beside the girl.
"Oh? How so?" Yuuki smirked right back.
"For such a cute girl, you're quite fierce." he let himself smile genuinely. (I don't know if I've described him good enough, but he's a combination of Aoba by Memipong on DevianArt with the feral looks of Shin-Ah from Akatsuki No Yona. Hope this helps! The drawings you lookup aren't mine by the way!)
Poor Yuuki was so caught off guard that she started sputtering.
"T-thanks." She managed to stutter out as she stopped her heart from skipping several beats.
"Yeah no problem." he smirked as he saw her get into a stance.
"Don't think those words will stop you from winning though." she stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Hopefully not." he smirked. "It wouldn't be as fun."
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Without further ado, Kai and Yuuki shot forward.
Queue Song: "Fox Sin" -Divide Music ft Zach Boucher}
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
Both competitors tried to find openings in their guards as shinai met shinai.
Yuuki had found a small opening through his left calf and tried to exploit it, but Kai twisted to the side and rushed at her quickly. Using her acrobatic form, Yuuki bent backward just as the shinai closed in on her left cheek. A small *woosh* was heard near her ear as it had barely passed her. Through consecutive backflips, she was able to gain a greater distance and shifted back into her stance. As Kai was about to taunt her, she increased her speed so fast that it was muscle memory on his part that saved him as he rolled to the side.
"Not bad." he smirked as Yuuki smiled.
"Thanks."
With that, they continued their little dance.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
Yuuki looked into Kai's calm and collected yellow eyes that held all his emotion at bay. Kai saw Yuuki's ruby red eyes shift with mirth as he turned his face to the side in order to dodge the tip of her shinai. Kai then ran at high speed, leaving an afterimage as Yuuki felt phantasmal pain in her right wrist.
"Point!"
"Guess you gotta step it up, little princess." he smirked at Yuuki's indignant squeaking.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"I told you not to call me that!" she shouted as she threw all her force into the shinai as it made Kai's hair sway dramatically.
"Careful where you thrust that, princess!" he shouted in slight fear. "You almost hurt me!"
That's the point!" she shouted as she quickened her pace.
It was now a game of cat and mouse as Kai kept on dodging Yuuki's shinai hits. He paid more attention to the tip of the shinai that he totally missed her smirk as she shifted her foot slightly and jumped into the right side with a horizontal slash.
*THUNK*
"Point!"
"Damn, your attacks hurt!"
"I know!" she chirped.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
They needed no further instructions as they shot forward once more into high arpeggios of sound that made the crowd go abuzz with sound.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
Two minutes in, Yuuki started breathing heavily as Kai let out a small breath with a minuscule bead of sweat.
"I'm dying here. Hehe." she grinned shakily as she tried to catch her breath.
"Not bad." Kai mused with a nod. "You're strong, Yuuki Konno."
"So are you, Kai Asmotheos." she grinned beautifully as he blushed slightly.
"Last hit wins?" he inquired as she gave a shaky nod.
"Y-yeah. I'm getting kind of tired."
"Alright then."
They both got into their stance and ran forward. Kai saw her attack coming a mile away and dodged it by sliding under the attack and preparing his shinai for a quick thrust to her wrist. Yuuki was too tired to block and got hit in return.
"Point! The winner is Kai Asmotheos!" the referee screamed as the crowd shouted their approval.
"Guess you win." Yuuki smiled as she started to sway from side to side. Just as she was going to hit the floor, Kai grabbed her hand and shifted her into a princess carry, and walked towards the stands, next to Kirigaya's family.
"Thank you." she muttered as she was losing battle against sleep.
"No problem little empress," he muttered softly as he heard soft breathing. Ignoring all the women's knowing looks, he walked back into the competitor's box.
(Commentary Booth)
"And there you have it! This matchup was such a close call!" Hizashi cheered as the crowd screamed.
"Oh man." Emi moaned out in disappointment. "I thought the little empress would win."
"You're supposed to be unbiased Emi." Shouta scolded lightly.
(Competitor's Box)
"Having fun?" Kazuto wiggled his eyebrows as Kai shot him a glare that did nothing to cover his light blush. It's not his fault that she looked cute! Damn that Kirigaya!
"Stupid crow." Kai muttered as he looked the other way, trying to ignore everyone's snickering.
ALICE ZUBERG vs EUGEO GESUALDO
(Commentary Booth)
"Not to be sexist or anything, but why are all the girls paired up against guys!?" Emi shouted in indignation.
"Hey, we don't choose the matches. They choose themselves (That's true by the way!)" Hizashi tried to pacify the protesting women.
"I guess that's a valid point," Emi muttered as Shouta laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But they're sweethearts! This will be so sad!"
(Competitor's Box)
"I guess we'll have to fight, huh?" Eugeo tried to smile freely, but his heart wasn't in it.
"I know what you're going to say, but I won't let you quit Eugeo." Alice said with a bright smile. "We've both made it this far so, win or lose, let's give it our all okay?"
"Hai. That's a promise." he grinned back at her.
"Good." and at that moment, Eugeo could die happy with the way she was looking at him. Thos eyes were such a darker shade of blue than his own sky blue.
"If you're done flirting..." Kazuto and Kai grinned in a creepy duet. "You shouldn't keep your fans waiting."
(Commentary Booth)
"Let's give it up for the Troublesome Blond and the Prince of Snakes!" Hizashi shouted at the somber crowd.
"They're sweethearts..." Emi muttered as she looked gloomy.
(Arena)
Ignoring the commentators was easier said than done as Eugeo and Alice came out walking like two ripe tomatoes.
(Competitor's Box)
"Think they'll actually go all out?" Kazuto snickered along with his blue-haired friend.
"Nope." Kai chuckled as Asuna looked at them with a sigh.
"Boys." she sighed tiredly as she saw the two love-stricken teens try and beat each other. So tragic!
(Arena)
"Both competitors ready?" the referee asked somberly as he too felt sad.
"Yep." the duo nodded with Alice being the only determined one.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Queue Song: "Psycho" -Divide Music} (as you can see, I'm a really great fan of nerdcore lol)
Alice went to hit the motionless Eugeo with a battle cry.
Eugeo only dodged in autopilot as he looked to be debating on what he should do.
"Fight Eugeo! Don't just stand there!" Alice shouted in anger.
"But I..."
"Fight dammit! We didn't train our butts off just for you to give up that easily!" she kept on her rant as she vented out her frustration. "Don't you care about the match!? Don't you care about me!?" she screamed softly as Eugeo looked like a kicked puppy.
"Are you sure?" he asked as dodged another quick strike.
"Of course!" she smiled as she saw him start to curl his hands around the shinai.
"Alright then." he let out a sigh as his body relaxed. He then gripped the shinai in a loose stance with his left arm resting at his side and his right hand holding the shinai forward, pointing it at Alice. "Let me show you my Ittō hebi sword style."
(Competitor's Box)
"One sworded snake style huh?" Kai mused to himself as he looked at the whistling Kazuto. "Known only to Enji Kirigaya."
"Not anymore." Kazuto grinned cheekily.
(In the Stands)
"That's grandfather's most known fighting style! Right behind the Hummingbird stance!" Suguha muttered in shock as she had never seen Eugeo take that stance before.
"Really?" Shino muttered in wonder.
(Commentary Booth)
"T-that's the Ittō hebi!" Hizashi murmured in shock along with some of the crowd.
"Only know to Enji Kirigaya." Shouta smirked.
"He was trained by the kid?" Emi asked in shock. "I thought they were just friends!"
(Arena)
"One sworded snake style huh?" Alice thought out loud. "I'm honored." she smiled cheekily as she saw him blush.
"G-get ready then." Eugeo said as he took on an emotionless facade. It scared Alice how natural those faces came to both Kazuto and Eugeo during their spars. Looking at it full force, it scared her as well as allured her into a trap.
As Alice kept on looking, Eugeo shot forward as quickly as a hissing snake. When Alice was brought back to earth, she was brought by the referee shouting "Point!"
"That's deadly." Alice muttered with a grin.
"Yeah," Eugeo smirked. "I know."
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Both shot forward quickly and met in a deadlock.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
As they broke free, Alice ran forward without stopping and thrusted her shinai full force. Eugeo closed his eyes and dodge it. As Alice retreated into her corner, she took note of the fact that he kept his eyes closed. Thinking he was mocking her, she ran forward even faster as she never saw his ears twitch slightly. Just when she thought she got him, he jumped over her hit and thrusted his shinai into her back in a flourish.
"Point!"
"Woah." she muttered in a daze. "You've done a complete one-eighty with your emotional switch, Eugeo."
"Yeah, sorry about that." he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I just thought of the stakes in this match."
"You want that NerveGear that badly?" she gave him a small glare.
"W-what!? No! Our promise, remember? The one before the prelims began." he exclaimed as she thought back to their conversation.
~Flashback~
"Hey, Alice." Eugeo started out softly as the girl beside him hummed in response. "We've known each other since we were kids."
"Yeah, I know. Then, we met Su and everything just seemed better between all three of us. Oh! and Kazu too I guess..." she grinned softly as she remembered their times as if they were old memories long past.
"I just wanted to ask..." he muttered softly.
"What? I couldn't hear you Eugeo." she looked at him in wonder.
"I was wondering that, if you're willing, we'd go and get food," he added on with more courage. "Just the two of us."
"A-are you asking me on a date?" the blond asked with a small amount of hope as the brunette nodded shyly. "Sure! But on one condition!" she smiled as she got closer to Eugeo's face. Her mouth was next to his ear and he felt like panicking. "If we both have to fight each other in the finals, be sure to go all out, okay?" she stuck out her pinky finger, waiting for him to interwind it into his own.
"Okay! That's a promise." he grinned dumbly at the blond who put her head on his shoulder with a soft sigh.
"Okay then, it's a date." she muttered with a loving smile as Eugeo looked on with closed eyes and a soft smile.
~Flashback End~
"Yeah, I remember." she smiled as he let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank god. I thought I was dreaming!"
Alice only giggled as the spectators cheered at the display.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Ha!" both gave out a battle cry as they ran with renewed vigor.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
Alice set her eyes on his right wrist with the intent to slow him down, but Eugeo just closed his eyes once again. Feeling the vibration of Alice's movements on the floor, he moved quickly and slid under the attack and, just as their eyes met, he hit her sides.
"Point! The winner is Eugeo Gesualdo!" the referee shouted as the crowd cheered and Alice started smiling.
"Guess you won." she said as he stuck out his hand with that stupid grin.
"Guess so. You're not mad are you?" a hug from the blond was his only answer.
"No, I'm not." she smiled as she looked into his eyes. "Especially when we have a date after this." she grinned mischievously as he grinned dumbly.
(Commentary Booth)
"W-what turn of events!" Hizashi shouted in shock.
"Don't be so surprised, they just seemed right for each other." said Emi with a huff as the women in the stands cooed at the display with some teens looking on in jealousy.
"Hm."
(In the Stands)
"I knew it!" Suguha pumped her fist up in victory.
"It was really obvious." Midori and Shino nodded sagely.
(Competitor's Box)
"Congrats!" Kazuto smirked. "On more than one occasion."
"Shush it you!" Alice shouted as she hit him in the head.
"Ow. What was that for!?" she cried out as Eugeo sent Kai a peace sign as the bluenette shrugged in indifference.
"Congrats!" Asuna smiled as the retreating Alice gave her a peace sign. She'll make sure to cheer loudly for the blue-eyed brunette.
(Commentary Booth)
"It's time for our final match ladies and gents! Will Lightning Flash Asuna and the little champ please come forth!?" Hizashi shouted as the crowd roared once more.
"Ha! Little champ!" Emi snickered along with Shouta as Kazuto sent them a betrayed glare.
(Competitor's Box)
"I think I'm starting to prefer my old moniker." Kazuto groaned in embarrassment.
"Whatever you say, little champ." Eugeo taunted with a smirk as Kai burst out laughing.
Asuna's giggling only made Kazuto look down at the ground in defeat.
(In the Stands)
"Let's go, big brother!" Suguha cheered loudly.
"I'm rooting for you!" Shino shouted with a smile.
Midori and Minetaka looked on with matching grins.
(Arena)
"Think you can keep up." Kazuto taunted slightly as Asuna's eyebrow twitched.
"Oh, you just wait and see." she muttered with murderous intent. Kazuto fought down the instinct to gulp audibly as he got into a loose stance.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Well, aren't you going to attack?" Kazuto grinned cheekily as Asuna narrowed her eyes. A second later...
*SWOOSH*
"Point!"
The tip of Asuna's shinai was at Kazuto's throat. The ravenette only grinned in return as Asuna got into position.
"You're fast." he noted with a smirk.
"And you're annoying." she scowled.
"Alright alright! I'll get serious!" he threw his hands into the air.
"You better!"
Kazuto let his right hand fall to his side as he held the shinai loosely in his left hand. The tip of the shinai was pointing to the side as light seem to have filtered into it with a glimmer.
(Competitor's Box)
"Serious he says." Kai scoffed as Eugeo looked at the stance with a raised brow. There were no flaws in it, so why did Kai scoff?
(In the Stands)
"Weird..." Suguha muttered with a frown.
"Something wrong Sugu/Su?" Shino and Alice inquired.
"Yeah. That's not how his stance normally looks, yet it still looks the same." she squinted her eyes as both Alice and Shino looked puzzled. 'I wonder if you've created your own stance, big bro.'
(Commentary Booth)
Shouta seemed to have come to the same conclusion as his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
(Arena)
"Ready. Set. Go!"
"Ha!"
Asuna shot forward like a missile as Kazuto looked on carelessly. When Asuna got closer, Kazuto raised his left arm slowly and hit her right side so fast, that it seemed like a blur. The referee and Asuna only caught a small glimpse as the chestnut-haired girl fell down with a huff.
"Point!"
"How was that?" as Asuna made eye contact, she couldn't help but shiver at his aloof expression.
'That was so fast!' she thought as she got to her feet, albeit shakily.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Kazuto's glare held her in place as she started to hear a murder of crows and the sheathing of a sword around her. When she turned her head, she felt a tap on her right shoulder.
"Point!"
(Commentary Booth)
"This is so one-sided!" Emi huffed in mild anger as the contestants looked on in awe.
"She didn't even move!" Hizashi muttered as he felt sorry for the chestnut-haired teen.
'It's not killing intent I'm sensing, yet this intent to petrify feels famliar! it feels just like a quirk!' Shouta thought in shock as the image of his friend resurfaced. A black flash and the moon intertwined in twilight overlapped Kazuto's flock of crows. 'A new combination!? He never mentioned anything about having a quirk of his own! Does he even know!?'
Shouta could do nothing but let his mind run rampant as the questions increased in size.
(Arena)
"Getting tired?" Kazuto titled his head in confusion. Combining that with his aloof expression, many of the boys cursing his name in the stands shuddered.
"N-no way! N-not at all!" Asuna denied as she tried to catch her breath while holding her ribs.
"If you say so..."
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Asuna could only look on in dread as Kazuto dealt a quick attack to her wrist.
"Point! The winner is Kazuto Kirigaya!" the crowd only murmured lowly as the fanboys sighed in defeated resignation.
(Commentary Booth)
"And there you have it, folks! As quick and efficient as ever." Hizashi stated blandly as the crowd let out a sigh.
"So one-sided." Emi huffed.
"It doesn't feel much of a victory." Kazuto sighed as he gave the tired Asuna a hand.
"I can guess why," she stated bitterly as Kazuto only smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry. I really wanted to enjoy our match, but I lost myself there." he apologized as Asuna grinned weakly.
"Don't apologize. It was still fun fighting you."
"Likewise, Asuna." he grinned as he took her to the stands by holding her sides carefully.
(In the Stands)
"Wa? What did I miss?" a purple-haired teen woke up groggily as Alice sent her a smile.
"You're finally up!" a girl with a bob cut chirped beside a black haired girl with glasses. "Man you missed a lot!"
"No kidding." Asuna exclaimed with a flinch as Kazuto set her down beside Shino with an apologetic smile.
"Oh, hey chestnut!" Yuuki chirped cheerfully as she felt more awake. "I take it that you lost?"
"Big time." she winced as Kazuto walked off with a small wave to his friends and family.
"It's just the boys now." Alice sighed as she put her cheek on her palm with a bored expression.
"Who do you think will win?" Suguha asked the million-dollar question.
"Why Kai of course!" Yuuki grinned brightly.
"Dream on. Eugeo is going to win this." Alice scoffed playfully.
"No, Kazuto will." Shino and Asuna stated matter of factly.
With that, a small glaring match was started as Suguha and her parents simply watched the events unfold. Some people really like to watch the world burn...
(Commentary Booth)
"So..." Hizashi shifted uncomfortably as he called the three remaining contestants over. "We don't really know how to do this."
"Do what?" Kazuto asked innocently as he glared at him slightly in order to let him stew in his misery. Stupid Hizashi and his stupid nickname. How dare he call him little!?
Taking notice of his hostility, Emi chuckled. "We don't know how to end this matchup." she stated matter of factly with a grin.
"Wow." Eugeo and Kai looked on with bland voices.
"It's not our fault." Shouta exclaimed just as blandly.
"It kind of is..." both Emi and Hizashi scratched their cheek with a small grin.
"It kind of is..." the three contestants stated blandly.
Taking notice of the chuckling crowd, Hizashi only huffed. "What do you propose then?"
"A threesome?" Kazuto suggested. All the girls within the vicinity started to space out with nose bleeds at what he had said. it was only made worse when Eugeo started blushing slightly. Both Kazuto and Kai had no idea why the girls, and Eugeo, had done so.
"A three-way elimination sounds fitting." Kai nodded as he agreed with Kazuto.
"Yeah, we can work with that." Emi nodded slightly with an impish grin.
"First one to get hit three times get eliminated then. After that, it's down to two without stopping." Shouta nodded in approval as the three contestants started walking away.
"Heh. Threesome. He could've phrased it differently." Hizashi snickered along with the guys.
(Arena)
"Really dude!" Eugeo muttered with a blush.
"What?" Kazuto asked with a tilt of his head. "There's three of us."
"Duh. Are you dumb or something?" Kai scoffed as he looked at the ticked off Eugeo.
"No! J-just forget it!"
"All three contestants ready?" the referee asked in excitement.
"Yeah." the three teens stated blandly as they let themselves relax.
"Oh boy." Hizashi grinned along with the crowd. "You wouldn't want to miss this."
There were shouts for each teen respectively.
{Queue Song: "Burnt It Down" - Fabvl & Divide Music}
"Alright..." Kai said as he got into his dragon stance with his hand extended backward (as if going for a punch) with his right hand holding the shinai in a vice-like grip and his legs spread apart. "Let's dance!"
"Sure thing." Eugeo smirked as he got into his Ittō hebi stance.
Kazuto just looked on with an aloof facade.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
Both Eugeo and Kai went for Kazuto at a frightening speed that left the crowd's jaw hanging. As Kazuto saw this, he just pivoted to the right slowly as the shinais missed him by a few inches.
"What's wrong?" Kai snarled. "Don't want to fight? If so, let me beat you down!" he went for a combination of slashes as Kazuto twisted his body accordingly.
"Don't forget about me!" Eugeo shouted as he tried to hit Kai's left wrist.
"I don't think we did!" Kai and Kazuto stated as they forced him to bend backward in order to avoid two swift hits to the chest.
"Oi! Two on one sucks!" he whined.
"Yeah, I know!" Kazuto shouted as he ducked Kai's frontal assault.
"Then fight for real!" Eugeo shouted as he almost hit his left calf.
What Kazuto was about to say was cut off as they felt a dragon roar loudly. When they turned their necks, they saw Kai's yellow eyes gain a slight shine.
"Fight, or I'll beat you to a pulp!" he shouted with a sadistic smirk as he simply vanished from the crowd's and referee's perspective.
Both Eugeo and Kazuto rolled away as the place where they were standing kicked up dust.
"Vicious." Kazuto smirked slightly as Eugeo quickly got into a defensive stance.
"And there's more from where that came from." Kai bragged slightly as he saw the brunette's hands shake. Just as he was about to continue his taunting, he felt a snake coil around his throat as he froze in place.
*THUNK*
"P-point!" the referee shouted shakily.
"Not if you can't move." Eugeo smirked.
(Commentary Booth)
"Things are getting heated folks!" Hizashi screamed as the crowd went wild.
"This. Is. Awesome!" Emi shouted with childish glee as the crowd nodded.
Shouta let a smile stay in place as he watched the fight unfold.
(In the Stands)
"Go Eugeo!" Alice cheered joyously.
"Come on Kai!" Yuuki cupped her hands as she shouted loudly. "Don't tell me that's all you got!"
"Why isn't Kazuto fighting back?" Shino questioned out loud as Asuna looked on with worry.
"I don't know." Suguha muttered with a frown.
Her parents just looked on with a mixture of excitement and worry.
(Arena)
"You got lucky. I'll make sure to break that charm!" Kai's smirk turned predatorily as he shot forward with an even higher speed.
Eugeo only closed his eyes with a sigh as Kazuto looked on.
When Eugeo was about to put a defense, he didn't hear the sound of footfalls as Kai appeared behind him with a shinai at his throat.
"Point." Kai muttered lowly with a grin.
"Point!" the referee shouted.
Kai Asmotheos: 1 point / Eugeo Gesualdo: 1 point / Kazuto Kirigaya: 0 points
"So, are you even going to fight, Kirigaya?" Kai drawled as he saw him breathe out a soft sigh.
"Hn. Might as well." Kazuto grinned cockily. "I wanted to show you guys my new stance anyway." Both the competitors and the crowd saw him get into his regular Hummingbird variation of Niten Ichi-ryū and wondered if he was just messing with them.
It was after the fact that he flipped the shinai into a reverse grip, holding it akin to the way an assassin would hold a tactical knife, that they took notice of the significant change. What they didn't know, was that he had two main reasons for it: for the strikes to land faster during close quarters, and for the blade to turn quicker. This allowed for a better defense, especially against multiple opponents, that would attack from different angles.
"Tch. Couldn't be any less of a showoff, could you?" Kai smirked as Eugeo tried to find holes in his stance but couldn't.
"Meh. I couldn't say it's totally complete." the ravenette shrugged carelessly as he let himself relax with his feet planted together and his right foot moving backward slightly.
"Not letting anything slide this time?" Eugeo commented with a small frown.
"Nope." he declared with a smirk that made the hairs of the fangirls stand at attention as Asuna and Shino stared them down with a glare.
"Better." Kai remarked as he and Eugeo went to move forward but stopped as they heard the caw of a few ravens around them. A sword being unsheathed was heard by everyone as Kazuto vanished.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
"Fuck." "Woah!"
Two distinctive voices shouted in a daze as they held their left and right shoulder respectively.
(Commentary Booth)
"O-kay folks! I knew we were talking about things heating up, but this is ridiculous!" Hizashi exclaimed as hisglasses dropped to his nose.
"Thi is crazy! I like it!" Emi cheered as she jumped up and down.
(In the Stands)
"That's crazy!" Yuuki muttered with a raised brow.
"W-woah." the rest stammered in shock.
(Arena)
"And you called me a turtle." Kai only gave a toothy grin.
"It's how fast I got. Take it or leave it." Kazuto shrugged.
"I'd rather leave it." Eugeo grinned slightly as he tried to get feeling back to his shoulder.
Kai Asmotheos: 1 point / Eugeo Gesualdo: 1 point / Kazuto Kirigaya: 2 points
"Competitors ready?"
"Hai."
"Alright. Ready. Set. Go!"
Kazuto darted straight for Kai as the bluenette was more prepared and put up a stronger defense.
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
*THUNK* *THUNK*
"Hya!" Eugeo shouted as he jumped in between the two struggling rivals.
Both Kazuto and Kai broke off into different corners as Eugeo twirled his shinai around.
"Not going to close your eyes?" Kai teased as Eugeo tensed up.
"Maybe, maybe not." he declared with a smile.
"You're wide open!" Kazuto shouted as he sprinted forward.
"Am I?" Eugeo smiled as Kazuto put all his strength into the tip of his shinai. A Kazuto smirked in victory, Eugeo slid under the attack as Kai hit the stumbling Kazuto on his right wrist. Just as the referee was about to call out the next point, Eugeo turned around in a small twirl and hit Kazuto's right wrist as well.
"Point!" the referee shouted as the crowd saw both Eugeo's and Kai's points change to two.
Kai Asmotheos: 2 points / Eugeo Gesualdo: 2 points / Kazuto Kirigaya: 2 points
(Commentary Booth)
"And they're neck and neck ladies and gents!" Hizashi announced with no small amount of excitement.
"Who will be the winner!?" Emi shouted loudly with a grin.
"I know how this is going to end." Shouta murmured as he closed his eyes and set his head on the table.
(Arena)
"Man," Kazuto smirked. "We're good."
"Yeah, we are." Eugeo nodded with his own smirk.
"If we keep going like this..." Kai muttered with his eyes closed. "It'll just drag on. So, how about a final attack?" When he opened his eyes, both Eugeo and Kazuto took notice of the trepidation held within them.
"Not a bad idea." they looked at each other with a glare.
"Ready. Set. Go!"
As the three sped up and met in the center of the ring staring unflinchingly at each other, they felt the retrospective of space leave them behind. Within those gazes was the key to their determination. The three teens tried to keep their emotions at bay but failed as they each bore witness to their drive. A tragic end tied down to self-hatred, hallowed victories that held no meaning without any family to share it with, and the warmth of a home weaved by all the loved ones within it.
"Haa!" the three teens shouted as they slammed their shinais at the same time.
"Point!" the referee shouted as the crowd held their breaths.
Cliffhangers...I hate them too but man, this is the longest chapter I've written, and I'm proud of it. Hm. So stay tuned for the next chapter!