This is where I remind you I still hate Shingo. I dunno... I guess it's wrong to like Sakura and hate Shingo, since they're essentially the same character. Alright, fine, Shingo is ALRIGHT. I certainly hate other characters more. Like Bao, that little turd.

UPDATE: After a crisis of conscience, I'm gonna slap a VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED on this chapter. One character's dirty talk goes a little far for a T fic.

Enjoy the fights. And thanks for your continued support! You keep my fanfic heart beating!

"Sucks being an outcast, don't it?"

The disruption of Angel's solitude caused her to slightly jump. She spun around defensively, and was greeted by Yamazaki; he had a usual hand sheathed in his pocket, while the other hand held a soft drink, which he annoyingly slurped.

"Who the f*** are you?" Angel brashly spoke aloud.

Yamazaki's eyes stayed elsewhere. "Ahh, nobody. Just a drifter, blowing with the wind... heh, actually, blowing with the wind was that other guy's thing."

Angel was unamused. "Nice. So uh... yeah... get the f*** away from me before you lose your precious huevos."

Yamazaki's eyeroll indicated he wasn't threatened. He just smiled wider. "Yeesh, you got a lot of aggression in you, little girl. Hey, do you wanna take over a city with me? You wouldn't be lonely anymore. You'd have me, Big... the whole population to push around! Not a bad deal, eh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, and whatever it is, I'm NOT INTERESTED. Now get the F*** OUT OF HERE!"

A few more draining slurps of the liquid trapped under the ice, and Yamazaki threw his drink on the floor. "Fine, fine. I was just trying to help."

"I don't need your help."

A shrug, and the black-clad thug turned away from her, preparing to walk away... but he did stop for one more moment.

"You should count your blessings, ya know. Some of us ain't got the luxury of getting back those important to us. At least you still got a chance, unless you seriously f***ed up everything out there just now. In which case, well... if you ever need help dying, here's my business card."

The hand emerged from his pocket, containing a small, flimsy piece of paper. A separation of finger and thumb, and the card fluttered to the ground, resting at her feet.

Angel's morbid curiosity caused her to pick up the card, and scan its contents. "Are you serious right now?"

Yamazaki grinned wide, as he walked away. "Don't believe me, first one's free."

Once he finally exited the vicinity, Angel turned her attention back to the card. She scanned it carefully, looking not at the actual ink on the surface... but deeper within its meaning. A way out from it all...

With a scoff, Angel balled it up and put it in her mouth, chewing it to a soggy mush before spitting it on the floor.


OPENING ROUND FIGHT #4: SHINGO YABUKI VS JHUN HOON

As the two fighters made their walkout, Kensou took the chance to slide into Athena's vicinity. The Psycho girl had requested solitude, to reflect on herself and the events to come, but Kensou could feel the effects of Athena withdrawal, and thus the boy was forced to seek her and sate his addiction.

"H-hey Athena... mind if I sit next to you?"

Athena stood up and faced him... and Kensou was able to truly admire every inch of Athena on this glorious morning. She'd tricked herself out in true fashion: long, flowing purple hair with hot pink highlights coursing through them, an attractive spaghetti-strap purple crop top with shooting stars on it, resting a few tantalizing inches above her navel, which he immediately drew his eyes towards... was that a...?!

His nostrils ran warm and threatened to spill when he saw it: the alluring pink heart piercing in her navel, matching her earrings.

To top it off, she looked awesome in a teeny miniskirt (purple) and thigh-high navy socks with moons and stars on them. God, Athena was so perfect. He wanted her. He would fight the longest, bloodiest, most brutal war of attrition for the honor of her hand-

"Kensou?"

Reality returned to the boy, and he realized she'd spoken. "H-huh?"

"I said, could you grab my makeup bag? By your foot."

His cheeks flared red, both over embarrassment, and the sheer sultry soothe of her voice. "R-right. Sorry."

They sat down, Kensou resisting the urge to shoot glances towards her legs... he sinfully wondered what color her-

"Kids okay?" Athena opened.

"Y-yeah! Yeah. They're having a good time." Kensou responded. "So uh... how was your evening yesterday? Get into any adventures?"

"Nah... ran into Yagami though."

That spiked his nerve levels. "YAGAMI?! That freakazoid didn't try anything did he?"

Athena looked up, pondering. "Uhhhhhh..."

BEGIN FLASHBACK

"...Will you move?"

END FLASHBACK

"Nah. Nothing."

An exhale. "Whew... good. Um, hey Athena... I gotta tell you something. It's kinda the reason I came over here. You see-"

"It's about Krauser, isn't it?"

"Ulp!"

Momentary awkward silence passed over them, Kensou not looking at her, Athena doing the same. Kensou was working towards asking how she knew... but she beat him to it.

"How do I know, you were about to ask? You think I don't know Krauser has pull with the Bernsteins? Did you really think he wouldn't pull strings to get his fight with me?"

Kensou's tension caused him to lean forward. "If you know, then why the hell do you sound so calm?!"

"...Because I'm at peace with it."

He went in the opposite direction. "A-at peace? AT PEACE? Athena, he'll put you in the hospital! Or worse!"

"At least we'll have our honor." she responded, her tone the opposite of desperate.

"SCREW HONOR! I... I-I-I-I can't let you get hurt! I CAN'T!" Kensou exploded.

"It's not up to you. Now please be quiet. The fight's starting."

"B-but Athena, I-"

"I MEAN IT."

"I... gaaah." Kensou was powerless against Athena's authority. He slumped back into his seat. One could almost hear the sound of a whip cracking.

Back in the combat zone, Shingo was preparing to throw hands with the ice-cold "arch nemesis" or Kim Kaphwan. Despite the general knowledge that Shingo was INSANELY durable and a bit crazy in execution, he was the underdog in this fight. Same as all others.

He loved it.

"ALRIGHT! WOOOOO! Let's throw down!" Shingo's annoyingly loud voice intruded upon Jhun's gentle eardrums.

The white-haired guy winced at his volume. "Hm. I remember you, from a few tournaments... you're an annoying one."

Shingo grinned wide, flexing his arm. "And you're a nerd! Books books books! Do any of em help you fight better?"

Jhun eyerolled. "I don't need instructional material to help me. I read because I enjoy it. Something a simpleton like you probably doesn't even know how to do."

A vein could be seen throbbing on the boy's temple. "Wha-h-HEY! I can too read! I mean... I may have scraped by Language Arts with a D plus, but me still knows how to words!"

"...I'm sorry, what? Oy, you're so irritating. I'm going to squash you now, little fly." Jhun struck back.

Shingo stepped forward. "And I'm gonna use your head to mop up... uhh.. spilled juice and stuff."

Another eyeroll from Jhun. "Riveting comeback."

FIGHT!

Shingo came out like usual: fast and loud. He pushed forward with no tact, no subtlety, and started unloading on Jhun with immense swings. He mixed his strikes well, throwing head combinations, while occasionally seeking body hooks.

...But there was one problem: Shingo was missing. Every time.

"Why, you! Hold still and get hurt by my punches!"

Jhun mockingly closed his eyes; he didn't even need to look to dodge the atrociously telegraphed punches as they approached. His beautiful white mane swayed like shaken particles in a snow globe, gracefully dodging every strike Shingo dealt. To add further insult, he always kept his right arm tucked behind his back, as he didn't believe in using his hands.

Shingo lunged with a left bomb: Jhun's feet were like roller skates as he backpedaled. He mixed it up, lunging with a stomping body kick: He hit nothing but the spot where Jhun formally stood. He tried to catch him with a backfist: he only grazed flailing strands of white hair as they escaped.

"DAMMIT! TRY DODGING THIS ONE! RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Shingo feinted a jab... and he came forward with the absolute mother of all body punches. His right hook soared on mark, and Jhun was too distracted by the fake jab to dodge it.

..But Jhun used his most formidable and flexible tool: his legs. Raising his shin high against his midsection, his leg took the full force of the massive punch, absorbing the force and nearly pushing his body backwards, if not for the sturdy roots his stationary foot provided. He felt himself grunting, straining, trying not to be blown away like a tree in the wind... and in the end, he stayed still.

Jhun pushed back with a vengeance, rubberbanding with the same leg that had absorbed the punch, stumbling Shingo backwards. And he mounted a counterattack: a stomping low kick to the leg, climbing up to a mid kick to the stomach, finally reaching high with a kick to the face, ALL three with the same leg.

Finally, after peppering Shingo with that trio, Jhun took to the air with a smooth 360 spin, and came down on Shingo's dome, cracking his coconut with a splitting heel strike.

Jhun landed on one foot with style, keeping his other foot dangling high like a hook... and Shingo hit the ground.

"Damn, Jhun's not breaking a sweat against our boy..." Benimaru muttered to himself... but that particular pronoun he used suggested he was speaking to others in spirit.

As Shingo lay there, writing, a throbbing headache... he smiled, like he enjoyed the pain.

"Owwwie! You got some Brazilian feet, bro." he winked.

"And you should focus on getting up instead of TALKING!"

Jhun helped Shingo up, the hard way: tucking a foot underneath his fallen body, he lifted and flung Shingo into the air, like a skater kicking up his board. Shingo got impressive hang time, before descending back to Earth... and into the waiting foot of Jhun, who kicked him clear across the field.

"OOF! AUGH! URRRGH!" Shingo bounced across the ground before skidding through the grass... he slid for numerous yards before finally screeching to a halt... right at the feet of Iori, where he sat.

"Hehehe... I'm getting my ass kicked, Yagami!" Shingo oddly boasted, smiling.

"...I can see that." Iori responded in deadpan fashion.

Shingo sprang up, dusted himself off, flashed a thumbs up to Iori, and sprinted back into the fray.

"That f***ing kid... is nuts." Iori shook his head with those words.

Shingo ran back, fists cocked. "I ain't done yet, Snow White!"

"...That makes no sense." Jhun countered with logic. "The fairy tale character had black hair, and her skin was-"

"SHINGO KICK!"

Jhun almost fell for that one: a brief hiss, and he sidestepped Shingo's trademark flying kick. Shingo didn't let up; he came forward swinging haymakers again, and Jhun had to be cautious not to be caught by one.

"Your moves are a joke." Jhun insulted, dodging the next swing and countering with a perfect, stunning kick to the body. Shingo was halted, his pause button pressed.

"Brutish, plodding, undisciplined!" Jhun battered Shingo with a kick with each successive word uttered. After three square kicks had rattled Shingo, Jhun took a deep breath, spun around 360... and let his foot fly across Shingo's head a fourth time.

"AND UGLY!"

Shingo hit the ground for the third time, and this got the sidelines talking. They were counting him out.

"Shingo's done for, man." Shen Woo spoke. "That kid's got heart, but not much brains."

"He's not done!" Benimaru at least defended him. "Shingo gets knocked down at least 15 times, but when he knocks his opponent down... they don't get back up."

"...Jhun is serious." these stern words were courtesy of Kim. "He's out to prove something. He's never looked better than this. I hate to say it, but young Shingo's time in this contest is over. Jhun won't allow himself to lose... not until he's had ME..."

Back in the combat zone, Shingo staggered forward with another left. Jhun stopped him with a body kick before he could approach. Before Shingo could recover, Jhun pieced him up with a left roundhouse, followed by a mid right kick. He spun around and clipped Shingo at the knee, then leaped up and went 360, catching Shingo clean in the temple with a follow up. For every one attack Shingo missed, Jhun had five counters waiting.

"God... dayum... you... lightning legs..." Shingo cursed.

Jhun walked forward fearlessly. He didn't bother being defensive; he swung at Shingo and caught him with a tricky 'question mark kick'. Shingo saw it coming and tried to block mid, but the deceptive kick curved upwards at the last minute and conked him in the forehead.

"Are we done here? Is your strategy to give me swollen feet?!" Jhun cursed. "JUST GO DOWN ALREADY! You're not the one I'm here for!"

Shingo spat blood... and he grinned, baring white teeth, which were disgustingly painted with a red gloss, as more overflowed from his lips and dribbled down each side of his chin. His eye was also swelling hard on the right side, nearly closed completely.

"He's mad. Shingo is F***ING MAD!" Benimaru yelled. For Beni of all people to say this, considering he had known Shingo for a time... it HAD to be true.

One could only wonder what Kyo was thinking, as he no doubt sat at home and watched this on tv.

Shingo closed in on Jhun once again... and Jhun let him have it. His leg moved at terrifying speed, swishing like a rampaging saber. A rending aura engulfed his foot as he swiped across Shingo's body with several volatile, rapid, murderous slashes.

SWOOSWOOSWOOSWOOSWOOSWOOSH!

Six strokes he painted Shingo with, like an artist passionately swiping brush across canvas. When at last his foot returned to resting position, hovering at his side... Shingo's clothing EXPLODED.

"GAAAASP!" the entire audience let out that tense symphony of sucked air.

"Oh my god!" Athena sprang up. The rest of the fighters were on their feet as well, watching, wondering if Shingo would fall to ribbons.

Shingo stumbled backwards with drunken steps, wearing nothing but a pair of blue boxers with flames on them. He stumbled... and stumbled... until he stopped, nearly on the sidelines at this point. He wasn't dying, thankfully... Jhun must have held back.

Jhun approached, his eyes ruthless, prepared to finish. "I've grown tired of this game. You are of no consequence to me, kid! My thoughts are elsewhere, LONG away from this battle... but right now, you're interfering with things. I can't continue my goal until you're wiped out. And so... PREPARE TO FALL!"

Jhun lifted his leg, and swung horizontal, unleashing a tremendous output of chi towards Shingo, preparing to end him for good...

...Shingo smiled, and dived out of the way.

"WHAT?"

The chi-infused attack blew past Shingo, instead hitting the sidelines... right where Athena was standing.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

Athena squealed aloud as her skirt was shredded to pieces, sending a rain of microscopic purple fibers behind her, peppering the audience with what was formerly known as clothing.

The crowd grew silent, the fighters, the two combatants... and everyone stared at the big screen television. Except for Jhun... he was looking directly ahead at the object of his utter infatuation.

It was well known that Jhun Hoon was a rabid Athena fan. He even injured himself on several occasions in Athena-related causes, his most famous incident being when he was forced out of 2001 after breaking his arm in an Athena pursuit.

And so, to see his idol, his GODDESS, standing before him, with no skirt, and an adorable pair of sparkling pink panties with kawaii cat faces on them... that triggered the side of him less focused on combat, and more on fanboying.

"AHHHH! H-HAAAAAAH! HAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ATHENA-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN~!"

Jhun's nose, in front of the entire viewing world, began painting the green grass red with a TORRENT of blood, almost comparable to a waterfall. His skin grew pale white, and he stood there, motionless, lifeless... a bleeding statue, incapable of motor functions.

Shingo sensed his opening. He got a running start, cocked his arm back, spun it around a few times for dramatic effect... he lunged, and let his fist FLY.

"SUPER SHINGO PERVY VOYEUR NOSEBLEED PANTY IDOL PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!"

Jhun's cheek almost went inside-out, as Shingo caved his face in with the knockout punch that sealed the deal. As Jhun hit the ground, there was no utter, no peep... the blood just continued to trickle from his paralyzed face. At this point, a blood transfusion needed to be brought into question.

WINNER: SHINGO YABUKI


Despite his near-nudity, Shingo paid no second thoughts to it, nor did he seek medical attention. He casually sauntered over to the benches, earning looks of disgust from most males, and producing slightly flustered states in females alike. He plopped down next to Beni, throwing his arm around him, like he had just finished a menial task.

"Ayyyyy Beni! I looked pretty smooth out there, eh?" Shingo beamed. "I was never in any trouble!"

...Benimaru had this blank stare, like utter confusion had wrought his brain, to the extent that producing a comeback required intense thought. He wasn't sure logic even WORKED on Shingo... but nonetheless, he tried to carefully articulate a very valid point.

"Shingo, dude. Dude. You've got to stop fighting like this." he scolded. "You're taking years off your life, brother. Do you want to have a rotten tomato for a brain by the time you hit 30?"

Shingo's face was dormant for a second, like maybe those words had actually broken through... but the grin seconds later negated that possibility.

"Psssssshaw! I like getting punched!" Shingo laughed. "Dude, I'm a fighter from beginning to end. What else am I gonna do with my life? I want to die in the ring! YAAAHOOOOOO!"

Benimaru's face twisted. This kid... how deluded was he?! He was a dog, chasing trucks, blissfully unaware of the fact that the two-ton vehicle could leave him splattered on the sidewalk. Beni was starting to think maybe he shouldn't leave Shingo out of sight... or let him near open road...

"Shingo... just fight smarter. Please. Kyo's gonna kill me if I let anything bad happen to you."


Kim wasn't sure what to think; Jhun may have been his rival, but he was still a friend. Thus, he closed his eyes, look down... and verbally expressed what was happening.

"So that's it then... Jhun's been defeated."

"Uhhh, does that mean we win?" Raiden inquired.

Kim shook his head. "No. Not yet. Jhun may have fallen, but WE still have something to prove. We must win this tournament, and bring honor to Korea! With Jhun out of the way, our path is more clear. We focus on TOTAL VICTORY!"

Meanwhile, the final "disciple" of Jhun Hoon expressed his lamentation over the matter. For someone so used to following that subservience was his primary instinct, he was feeling slightly lost, as he watched his current leader figure bleed out and twitch on the grassy ground.

"B-BOSSSS!" Choi squealed. "Oh boss, what do I do! Ahhhhh! I'm all alone now... w-wait. Why am I calling this weirdo 'boss'? You know what? Who even NEEDS him? Kekekekekeke... I don't have to win just to please others. I'll please MYSELF. Wait for me, Chang... I'm going to win that prize money, and get us away from these freaks!"


It took a while for the chaos to die down, and especially for Athena to cool her jets. A few ice-cold sodas, a trip to the restroom, and she finally gained the courage to show her humiliated face back in public. She'd made do with wrapping Kensou's blue hoodie around her waist, but eventually she just got him to sprint all the way back to her hotel, go inside her wardrobe, and get a NEW skirt. It took a couple tries to get one that matched, and thus he was very pooped at the end of this ordeal.

Athena finally settled for a navy blue one, and was at last content. "Thank you, Kensou. Here."

She gave him his hoodie back, which he donned. At last he was granted respite, as he plopped down and took a long, deep swig of his water. "AHHHHH! That's much better. Huff... huff... whew!"

"Kensou... I just want to apologize. For everything that I've put you through lately. Shutting myself away from you and the kids, brooding during a time of social interaction and fun... I'm sorry. I truly am sorry. Things have just been weighing on me."

Never one to be pretentious, especially with Athena, he played his humble card. "N-no no no! It's okay, honest! You needed time to reflect on things. I understand completely! I'll always support you, Athena, no matter what decisions you make. Believe me. I'll ALWAYS support you."

His uplifting words put a smile on Athena's face. "Kensou... thank you. No really... THANK YOU. I'm so grateful to have you."

Kensou felt his face brimming with warmth. "D-D-Don't mention it... ehehehehe..."

Athena pressed her luck; against all good judgement, she leaned in and gave Kensou a kiss on the cheek, serving only to further perpetuate the boy's obsession with her that never faltered. If only she realized that egging Kensou on like this was NEVER a good idea, as it only gave birth to illogical decisions and impulsive actions in her name.

"My fight against Krauser is happening soon, so I'm gonna go prepare. You should probably do the same. I'll see you after our fights~!"

Kensou watched her walk away, his hand still where her lips had pressed... that area felt sacred to him. Maybe he'd never wash it. The kiss empowered him, ignited him, filled him with a newfound influx of bravado... and the boy acted upon it.

"Athena... I'm not going to let this happen." Kensou declared aloud in a determined voice, his fist clenched. "This is my chance to have an awesome week with you, and I'm NOT gonna spend it looking at your broken body in a hospital bed! I've got to do something! I..."

...It hit him then and there, like a Psycho Ball upside the head.

"... I'VE GOT IT! He can't fight Athena if her name's not beside his! I know EXACTLY what I've got to do. But I need somebody... someone sneaky. Someone stealthy. Someone not afraid to break the rules, get their hands dirty. I... need..."


OPENING ROUND FIGHT #5: MALIN VS MAI SHIRANUI

"Well, look who it is!" Malin angrily grunted. "Little Miss Pornstar Titties! Shouldn't you be off sucking Andy's cock or something?"

Mai blushed slightly, whipping out her fan and waving it. "Well there's plenty of time for that later, ohohoho. For now I've got a screeching little kitten to silence."

Malin brandished her dagger with bloodlust, her lips curling into a sadistic smile... and she chuckled maniacally.

"Hehehehehe... ya know, I can't stand the SIGHT of you. Always traipsing around with your bloated bosom, flopping your T & A all over the damn place! You make me f***ing sick! I hate you just a LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITLE less than I do Yuri!"

"Hee hee hee..." Mai snickered. "Spoken like someone who's insecure and brimming with envy."

"Envy?" Malin growled. "ENVY?! I don't want to be a f***ing cum-guzzler like you! I live to put bitches like you in your place! I'll cut you all down, one by one! I'll slice your disgusting implants off and watch em' whizz around the sky with little fart noises!"

Malin waved her dagger fervently back and forth as she declared her wrathful intentions towards Shiranui. To a lesser, weak-hearted soul, Malin MIGHT have come off as threatening or maybe even scary... but Mai Shiranui was far above the lesser-spirited. To her, the weapon-wielding girl just seemed annoying and a little cute.

"Ah, Malin. Malin Malin..." Mai repeated her name with condescending vibes. "You're such a big, angry ball of piss and vinegar, packed into a tiny body. You seriously need to smoke some weed or something. And newsflash, Mosquito Bites... these babies are all-natural. My momma had some kickass genes."

Malin's face scrunched ugly. "Yeah? Well, where is your mom? Tell me, so I can go piss on her f***ing face!"

In an amazingly inspiring feat of self-control, Mai did not get offended by it. She instead raised her hands in a passive manner. "Whoooooooa... Malin. Girl. Okay, I'll forgive you for that one, since you're an angry little runt. I AM going to have to whoop you, though. So why don't we quit this pointless wordplay and get down? Andy's waiting for me."

Malin's hand trembled with violent intent. "Andy. Andy Andy Andy Andy blabaty f***ing blah ANDY! I'm gonna rip your lips off so you'll finally shut the F*** UP about him!"

FIGHT!

Malin lunged at Mai, swinging her dagger furiously towards her chest. Maybe she wanted to expose Mai's nudity, cause her to lower her guard for a knockout shot? Not that it would affect Mai that much... she was MAI.

Regardless, Mai met her forward pressure with a stalwart defense. Keeping her fan closed, she parried the voluminous strikes with the blunt wooden end. With each strike Malin offered, Mai's reflexes were there to stop the blade from delivering a cut.

"Is she seriously trying to hurt Mai with that blade?" Joe inquired to Andy.

"Hard to say." Andy shook his head. "Malin's not exactly a goody two-shoes, but I don't think the girl has MALICE. She probably just wants to shake her nerve, get under her skin. That's how she'll create an opening."

A brief stalemate happened when steel met wood, their weapons stuck on each other. The power struggle didn't last long, as Mai was able to roll her wrist and stumble Malin away. But Malin stopped herself, and fired back the other way with a fierce backhanded swing.

FWWWIP!

Mai yelped as she recoiled, feeling a tiny stinging pain flare up near her chest area. She looked down: Malin had taken a swipe of her kunoichi garb, and even drew a little blood.

"Damn, she's serious!" Joe cried.

Mai was getting slightly angry now. Malin charged back at her, swinging her blade wild. Mai easily parried the strikes with her closed fan and bided her time, waiting for the right moment to throw Malin off... THERE! She scanned Malin's footing carefully, and was able to time the exact moment the girl took a deep step to swing.

Mai timed the arrival of Malin's blade and opened her fan wide, like a peacock spreading its majestic feathers. Malin's blade was knocked off course, and the girl stumbled past Mai, unable to regain her footing.

Mai punished her in return: a swift kick to Malin's backside, and the blonde girl fell flat on her face.

"Yeah Mai!" Andy cheered. "Now keep on her!"

Malin rose, spitting dirt. By the time she turned, it was already too late: Mai was in her face, smacking her in the forehead with the now-closed fan.

"Agh! Shit almighty!" Malin cursed as she grabbed the afflicted area.

Mai wasn't finished. She went lower, to the nose, then the lips... finally, the ninja did a 180, allowing her coat tail to whip around and give Malin another serving upside the head.

"Ngah! Bitch, you got too many annoying things to hit me with!" Malin cursed.

"Hypocrite much?" Mai responded swiftly, sticking her tongue out.

Malin tried charging head-on again: a repelling body kick from Mai knocked that strategy dead. As she regained her wind, Malin started getting tricky: she dived and rolled at Mai's feet for the next advance, swiping low with her dagger to try and trip the kunoichi up. It got Mai's feet moving, and Malin capitalized by going mid with the next swipe... she caught Mai across the stomach with a quick sting.

"NGH!" Mai felt the flare-up for the second time, like a wasp had penetrated her.

Malin went high with the third swipe: Mai juked her head, and Malin tried again, but the blunt end of Mai's fan halted the blade, and they were in a stalemate again.

...This time Malin was ready. Her head was chest-level with Mai, and thus she reared back... and let it fly forward, headbutting Mai directly in the boobs.

"OWWWWWWWW!" Mai squealed as she reflexively hunched over, dropping her guard... Malin caught her a second time, swinging her head upwards and bashing Mai underneath the chin.

That one rattled Mai's lights. She stumbled backwards, her equilibrium disrupted... Malin sensed the advantage, and pressed forward.

"Shit, she's got Mai on the ropes!" Terry exclaimed.

Malin launched a kick to Mai's stomach, further detracting Mai's attempts to recover. Mai was pretty much wide open at this point, and Malin delivered her most damning strike: she led with the handle of the knife, and bashed Mai in the nose with it.

Eyes flooded with glass, nostrils tickled with pooling liquid... Mai was blind and runny. Malin could deck her right now for free. Desperate, Mai pulled the only move she could do to recover at this time...

"N-ngah! MUSABI NO MAI!"

Quick thinking, Mai shot into the sky like a rocket and descended upon Malin, dive-bombing the blonde girl, serving the dual purpose of retreat and counterattack. Unfortunately, Malin was too fast and rolled out of the way. Mai was still able to recover, though.

"Sniff sniff, sniffle... you're a little snake, Malin!" Mai insulted between wiping her eyes and clearing her nose. "Don't you know my girls are off-limits?!"

Malin cackled. "Bitch about it some more, maybe I'll have a change of heart!"

Malin and Mai met in the middle, weapons CLANGING together: the fan and dagger both went flying!

Mai beat Malin to the punch: she whipped her coat tail forward like a wet towel, slapping Malin in the face once, twice, three times... Malin stumbled backwards, swearing, and Mai followed up with a brutal punishment, cartwheeling forward into a missile elbow: her Ninja Bees attack!

Malin took the fourth unanswered strike clean to the chest, launching her backwards across the field. She tried to pick herself up, but a coughing fit from the burning in her sternum made her go limp.

"Agh! Arrkh! Cough cough cough... f***in' hurts... cough cough..."

"Mai's regaining her momentum! She's doing it, Kingy!" Yuri rooted.

"Hell yeah. It'll be satisfying to put an end to Malin's whimpering." King nodded.

Mai was brimming with confidence now. "HERE I COME, YOU FLEA!"

She charged, zero fear and restraint, preparing to end Malin's time here...

...Malin introduced her to the next toy in her arsenal.

WOOOOOOOSH!

Mai felt it hit her like a baseball: a blunt object, soaring into her stomach, sapping her wind. Her hazy eyes looked forward, she could see some kind of string, or thread, being commanded by Malin.

It wasn't until the object dislodged itself from Mai and returned to Malin that the ninja figured it out... it was her yo-yo, the most versatile and dangerous weapon in her library.

Malin beckoned it back and advanced forward, twirling it rapidly in a clockwise motion. Mai was reluctant to make any forward moves, lest she get caught by the spinning object... like a propeller, but just more painful and less deadly. The blades around the rim were mercifully retracted.

WHOOOOSH! Malin whipped it forward; Mai somersaulted over the object, rolling to her feet and charging. But Malin was hardly compromised: she easily beckoned the yo-yo back to her, and it returned to her palm.

Malin did the classic "Walk the Dog", sending it spinning along the ground, tearing up the dirt like a wheel. Mai was too overzealous in her advance, and her ankle got clipped, throwing her off her feet and sending her into a violent tumble through the dirt. She bounced forward several painful times, finally skidding to a halt... right at Malin's feet.

"Ooooh. Skank delivery!" Malin teased.

...Mai wouldn't let her get away with that one. Planting her hands, she spring kicked upwards, kangaroo kicking Malin in the face with both feet, transitioning into a graceful backflip and sticking the landing!

"HOOOOO! SMOOTH!" Joe complimented.

Malin was stunned bad by that one, visibly wobbling. Mai charged, certain she had the edge this time...!

But Malin was a bitch with that thing. She had it palmed, and she pitched it, blasting Mai in the stomach once again with the hard plastic toy.

"Arrrrghhhhhhh...!" Mai winced as she felt it catch her right on the edge of her ribcage. She could feel the pain building up, from the numerous strikes she had taken... this fight was taking a toll.

Malin didn't stop. She did a 360 spin, letting the momentum carry the yo-yo through the air, and it whizzed around...

CONK!

Mai went dark in one eye: the yo-yo struck her on the edge of her eyelid and brow. Immediately, she felt blood trickling, drizzling right into her peeper and blinding half her world.

"And now, I'm gonna wrangle me up a ho, pardner!"

Malin twirled it above her head like a lasso, and if her verbal jab indicated her plan... Mai was about to be incapacitated.

That's exactly what happened. Malin sent the yo-yo low, and instead of the hard object hitting Mai, the string coiled around her ankles, binding her.

Malin got a running start, sprinting past Mai... and her created distance finally put strain on the string, and SNATCHED Mai off her feet so hard, she landed face down, ass up.

Ankles tied together, half blind, too hurt to move, Mai was in a precarious situation. To make matters worse, Malin was on the more sadistic side, preferring to play with her food, ESPECIALLY an object of her prejudice.

"HOO DOGGIES! I WRANGLED ME A BIGGUN!" Malin laughed as she approached Mai from behind, lifted her ninja garb up, and started spanking her ass hard. The thunderous slaps of her hand upon Mai's bare ass cheek could be heard even in the audience stands. To add humiliation to Mai, the giant television saw fit to show this in excruciating detail, every slap, every jiggle of Mai's gelatinous butt as it was treated roughly, so rough that a red handprint was imprinted upon the abundant flesh.

Mai whimpered, her eyes shut tight, one eye bleeding red, while the other produced natural tears from the fiery sensation on her skin. It wasn't that she was weak or even the fact that her will was breaking... it was simple biology, and her booty couldn't take those stinging blows without her eyes leaking tears on reflex.

Malin, of course, couldn't pass up the chance to call her out. "Ha ha ha! Waah waah, bitch! Cry for me some more! I wish I had a glass, so I could collect those delicious tears~"

"Nggh... nngh... ggh... y... YOU'RE A BITCH!" Mai squealed defiantly.

"Yeah, well dirty hoes like you and Yuri made me this way." Malin fired back. "You got no one to blame but yourselves. Now then... how do you wanna go? Do you wanna get ZAPPED?!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Mai howled in pain as Malin produced an electric baton and pressed it against her ribcage, shocking the girl with 10,000 volts and turning what was left of her muscles to mush. At this point, Mai couldn't physically fight back. She could do nothing but lay there... lay there and take it...

"No. I've got a better idea." Malin grinned with glee. "I'm gonna f*** you in the ass with my giant hammer! I'M GONNA CRAM IT ALL THE WAY UP THERE, HANDLE-DEEP!"

The fighters were on the edge of the bench at this point, well aware that this fight had reached a climactic point.

"Oh no... Mai!" Chizuru cried out for her former teammate.

"If Malin whips out her hammer... it's over." Yuri spoke. "She'll putt Mai like a croquet ball."

"What can Mai do?!" Joe asked loudly, perhaps addressing some god for a divine solution.

Luckily, Andy was there. "Mai can get out of this! Don't forget where she came from: the Shiranui Clan of Fire Wielders!. She hasn't used her chi at all in this battle, so she just needs to..."

...Mai was thinking the same thing. She was truly entwined with Andy Bogard: her thoughts and his one covalent bond. Andy was absolutely correct: Mai's limited use of chi in this battle left her spirit with a surplus, and now, if she focused... focused every ounce of it into one grand output... it would leave her completely drained, maybe not even able to stand and legally be declared winner... but she was NOT going to go out like this! Malin's mean-spirited ambition couldn't be allowed to win!

"THIS IS IT!" Malin yelled with excitement as she drew her hammer from its mysterious resting place. The blunt instrument was HUGE... even bigger than her entirety! There was plenty of time later to ponder the mystery of how Malin could wield it; right now, people were more focused on the end.

Malin drew the hammer back, aiming for Mai's ass, preparing to take a big swing and literally knock Mai out of the Stadium with a mighty drive.

"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!" Andy's lungs boomed with heat. "DO IT NOW!"

Mai's eyes glowed amber. She quickly performed the designated jutsu hand signs that would focus her chi, activate it, allow her to command it as she willed...

"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Malin swung!

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

The combat zone EXPLODED with a fiery combustion, the source originating from Mai's captive body, which was no longer visible, as it was awash in a swirling inferno, spouting its wrath in all directions from her being.

The explosion itself rocked Malin, putting her lights out, thankfully shutting off her pain receptors so she was able to be spared the punishment of the flames lashing her.

"WHOA."

"HOLY. SHIT."

"FIIIIYAH!"

When the smoke cleared, two things were visible: one, Mai Shiranui, back up to her feet, but struggling to stay standing... and two, Malin hitting the ground at that exact moment, like a discarded trash bag. She was soot-covered, hair messed up, weapons fried... and she was also unconscious.

WINNER: MAI SHIRANUI


"A-Andy... c-catch me..."

As soon as Andy saw her go down, he was out there in a FLASH. Demonstrating his unparalleled ninja speed, he was able to zoom over and seize her in his arms, scooping her up bridal style.

"Mai! Mai, speak to me!" he pleaded.

Half-lidded eyes met his, and her lips managed a weak smile. "Hehehe... Andy... when do I get my... post-fight bonus...?"

Mai's eyes closed, and she went limp in Andy's arms. He checked her breathing: whew. She was snoring peacefully. Miraculously, she was declared the winner, since she was able to stay standing for those few precious seconds after Malin fell. It must have taken the last of her to do that...

"...Wait for me, Mai." Andy spoke determined words. "I'm coming to join you soon. I... I know I haven't been the man you wanted me to be this week so far. I... I-I've been weak. I haven't had my head in the game. But to see you do THIS?! I... I can feel a fire inside me! I'm not going to let you down, Mai! Not after you just put your heart and soul on the line!"

Before the paramedics came and took Mai, Andy had just enough time to lean down, and press his lips against hers.

On the other end, Malin had woken up, at least. Getting up, adjusting herself, the paramedics came and tried to tend to her, but she shooed them away.

"I don't need no f***ing scrub-wearing f***s, stripping me down, putting a piss pan under my ass! Piss off!"

Since she was within her rights to deny medical treatment, and the paramedics were understandably intimidated by her, they backed off.

"MALIN! HEY! MALIN!"

"For f*** sake..." Malin muttered as she turned around to greet a new nuisance. She was met with Kensou, running towards her with gusto.

"Huff, huff, huff... I'm glad I caught you. I need to talk to-"

"The only thing NEEDED at this moment..." Malin interrupted. "Is my NEED to take a shower, wash my clothes, change my undies, and eat some f***ing pretzels. Good day, and go f*** yourself."

"But I have a favor to ask!"

"I don't do favors. Of ANY kind."

"...Business proposal?"

Malin stopped. She kept her back turned to him for a moment, leaving Kensou in suspense as to whether she was willing to listen or not. He crossed his fingers, silently praying that she would find the generosity in her heart, or lack thereof...

...He thanked the gods when she turned back around.

"What's the job, and more importantly, what's the pay?"

WHEW! This was my best chapter yet, I think! I felt very good about it! Let me know in the comments if you feel the same. I'm sure some of you prefer the Angel/Ramon madness of last chapter (coughNanocough) LOL. Love and thanks, btw : )

NEXT CHAPTER: How far is Kensou willing to take this? Does his caring for Athena run as far as willing to take illegal measures?! Of course it does! xD

See how it all plays out next chapter. Until then!