Chibodee looked around the stadium one last time but Asherah was still missing.  He frowned.  Nobody had seen her since Domon and George's last match. 

            There wasn't time for introspection, though; the announcer was clearing his throat, and the Neo- American shrugged.  Asherah could certainly take care of herself, and he would need every bit of his concentration if he wanted to beat Sai Saici. 

            "Gundam fight!  Ready… GO!" the announcer cried, and the two huge machines lunged for each other.

*

            They were running again, deeper and deeper into the forest. 

            Asherah chased after Jonas with a determined half- grimace on her face; there was absolutely no way she was going to let him get away from her. 

            This is it.

*

            Chibodee was in the middle of a ring of flags. 

            Sai Saici faded in and out of them, coming at Chibodee out of nowhere, but the older man managed to evade each attack (A/N: Forgive OOC- ness or when I get the attacks wrong.  I haven't seen an episode of G Gundam since it last came on Cartoon Network, and that was a LOOOONG time ago).  Chibodee gave a feral smile that Domon's Master would have recognized.  Time to do a little showboating!…

*

            Sai Saici leapt above his flags and flipped into the air, streaking feet- first toward Gundam Maxter's oversized shoulders.  He could use them as a springboard to get out of the flag circle again…

            The only problem was, his target vanished.

            Sai's eyes widened and he landed on the ground, only to be beset from behind.  He turned; Maxter stood gleaming in the sun, and on his screen he could see Chibodee grin, immensely pleased with himself. 

            Dragon Gundam pulled up one of the flags and attempted to skewer Gundam Maxter with it; Maxter easily sidestepped and yanked the flag forward.

            Dragon Gundam shoved the weapon, putting more pressure on one side than the other; the result was a screech that made the crowd audibly wince and a gaping half- circle in Maxter's side, despite Chibodee's attempt to avoid the flag. 

*

            Asherah was tiring.  The only reason she wasn't dead yet was because Jonas was just as weary as she. 

            (A/N: Let's say that Sai Saici and Chibodee's match takes place the day after George and Domon's.  *loudly and indignantly*  IT COULD HAPPEN!  And they WERE in a- umm, parking- lot type thing, but they ran into the forest.  Let's say there was one handy.  I'm the author and I SAY SO, dammit!)  Jonas had alternately fought and fled yesterday, and when it got too dark he had, despite Asherah's protestations that it was ludicrous, had declared a truce. 

            Asherah came suddenly and completely awake and was surprised to find herself half- sitting up, snuggled against Jonas' chest.  Despite her best efforts, her eyes watered, and she sniffled.

            "Are you crying?" Jonas asked softly.  Asherah could feel his voice against her back.

            "No." she denied sharply, sniffling again.

            "Liar." he fondly accused her, stroking her hair.  "It's all right.  You don't have to be embarrassed; I understand."

            She turned with an anguished cry.  "Then why are you doing this?!"

            He studied her silently for a minute.  "I have to." he finally said, quietly.  "There are things bigger than you or me, more important.  This is one of them."

            "You're wrong."

            He shook his head.  "No.  I'm not.  I'm doing the right thing; I wouldn't have gone this far if I had any doubts.  I wouldn't have sacrificed this much…" he muttered.  His eyes snapped to her, and there was profound regret in his gaze.  Regret, and sadness, but also understanding, determination and even a hint of humor.  Asherah had never understood how his eyes could hold so much.  "Let's get started, shall we?" he asked briskly, giving her a hand up.

            There was a glint at Jonas' wrist and a dagger came at her, clenched in his fist. 

            Asherah avoided the strike and made a snatch for his wrist, but he twisted it unexpectedly and scored a cut across her arm.  Asherah made for her boot; Jonas came at her with the dagger again, but her other arm came out from her side with a small knife of her own and retaliated. 

*

            Chibodee pulled up one of Sai Saici's flags too and used it to block Dragon Gundam's strikes. 

            The Neo- Chinese boy feinted with the flag and came at Chibodee with a kick from the other direction; Chibodee blocked the flag and attempted a sweep that Sai Saici jumped over. 

            Sai abandoned his flag and grabbed Chibodee's instead, planting one end into the ground and using it to launch himself at Gundam Maxter.  Startled, Chibodee nonetheless managed to dodge to the side, and elbowed Dragon Gundam in the back as it passed.  Chibodee's leg followed his elbow in a kick, but Sai Saici landed on his hands and flipped over to his feet.  As his legs came up, they knocked Chibodee's kick aside, putting the Neo- American off balance. 

            Sai Saici pressed his advantage with a flurry of blows to Maxter's upper torso; Chibodee tried to block with one arm and snatched his gun with the other, knocking Dragon Gundam back with a shot to either shoulder.  He immediately followed up with his own blitzkrieg (A/N: Punching, not shots!) to Dragon Gundam's upper half and swept a leg behind the Dragon Gundam's.

            Sai Saici tripped over it and fell; he tried to roll onto his feet (A/N: You know how you can roll on your back, then your neck, and onto your feet, when you're sitting down, so long as you have enough momentum?) but Chibodee shot Dragon Gundam's head before he had the chance. 

            Gundam Maxter had won.

*

            "Truce!" Jonas called. 

            "This is ludicrous." Asherah muttered, stopping nonetheless. 

            "No more ludicrous than this whole argument." Jonas opined, making a little nest for them. 

            Asherah stuck her tongue out at him and lay down beside him.  Jonas put his arm around her, and they held each other in silence, dreading the dawn.

I know I haven't updated in forever, and I beg your forgiveness.  Cookies to Ryan and LivEvil, I guess- like I said, it's been a long time!  Extra cookies if I forgot to mention you!  Sorry for the poor quality- all together now!- it's been a long time!  Next chapter will be Chibodee and Domon (did I forget any of the fighters?  Those are the only two left, right?  Please say I'm right)  and the outcome of Jonas and Asherah's fight.  Tell you what, you can vote for what outcome you want!