Chapter 2

Kyoji wasn't particularly pleased with Neo Japan's plan for this tournament. He'd been told to just wait in Japan and only fight when his opponents came to him. This didn't suit him at all, it just didn't seem right to sit back and wait for the fight. He knew that he'd never become as good as his father if he just sat around on his backside like this. So far he'd spent most of his time getting to know Hoi and Min who made up his support staff. From what he'd gathered Hoi and Min had met his father and mother in Neo Hong Kong at the end of the 13th Gundam Fight. Kyoji wasn't entirely sure how they'd gotten onto his staff, but it was oddly reassuring that they were there. At Kyoji's request Min had made him an outfit similar to one his father wore during the 13th Gundam Fight, although she thought it an odd request Min happily made it for him.

'Hoi?'

'Yes Kyoji. What is it?'

'What would happen if I were to borrow the Shining Gundam and go around the world looking for Gundam Fights?'

'One of two things. 1 You'd be disqualified and thrown out. Or 2 You'd be just like your father.' Hoi said with a simile on his face. 'Oh by the way. I hear that Neo Australia's Gundam is looking for a fight.'

'I can't stand all this hanging about Hoi,' said Kyoji, 'Lets go! I'll never become a great fighter sitting around here.'

'Your so much like your father, its like there's nothing of big sis in you,' said Hoi wistfully.

'Big sis?'

'Nothing. Lets get Min and be on our way eh?' with this Kyoji nodded and ran off to find Min. 'That kids going to get us into a lot of trouble.'

They quickly loaded the Shining Gundam and as much supplies as they could into VTOL carrier. They slipped off into the night, there wasn't any trouble but Kyoji knew that in the morning all hell would break lose.

The following morning Domon was awoken by the sound of communication panel. When he received the news that Kyoji had stolen and run off with the Shining Gundam all he could do was laugh. For he knew that a true fighter could only be realised through his actions.

Kyoji lay in his bed in the room that he'd claimed on the carrier. It was small and had few things to make it homely; Kyoji hadn't brought much with him. On his bedside table he had two pictures, one of him and the rest of his family including his 'uncles' in the Shuffle Delegation. The other was of his mother and father, Kyoji wasn't sure when it had been taken but the God Gundam was in the background so he assumed it was around the 13th Gundam Fight.

Last night he was sure he could Neo Australia easily, but now he wasn't so sure, maybe it was just pre match nerves but Neo Australia's Gundam was tough. Kyoji had been reading what little material they had on it. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Min came in.

'You ready for the match today?' she asked

'Yeah, I think so,' he replied

'I've got some interesting news for you.' She said, 'Neo Ireland and Neo Iceland have already been knocked out of the tournament.'

'No way! The Fights only been on for two days!' said Kyoji shocked

'Even more interesting is that they were both beaten by Neo England's Royal Britain Gundam,' she said, 'Looks like Neo England's back with a bang. They must be really desperate to get some respect back.'

'What happened to get them banned in the first place?' asked Kyoji,

'Well after what happened with Gentle Chapman in the 13th Fight they were really desperate to make it up in the 14th, but some unscrupulous people on their team used allsorts of dishonest tactics to try and win. They were court of course and then banned. Neo England's been pretty much ignored for the last 12 years.'

The Australian Outback was a bleak place, not the kind of place you'd want to go unprepared. Kyoji and Hoi sat in the corner of a small bar in one of the few towns in the Outback. Kyoji was slowly working his was through a can of cola, he'd tried to get alcohol off the barman but Hoi had stopped him.

The bar's atmosphere was everything you'd expect from an Australian bar, it was laid back and didn't take any thing seriously. Most of the regulars were sitting on bar stools enthralled in the cricket game being showed on the bar's beat up old TV.

'Maybe Min was wrong and the fighter doesn't come here,' said Kyoji in a low voice

'She's never wrong, he'll turn up don't worry,' said Hoi in an equally low voice, 'Just sit back and relax. There's no need to get all worked up before the fight.'

The bar doors opened and a tall man entered his sharp eyes scanned the room once before settling on Kyoji. The man simile slightly and walked towards Kyoji and Hoi.

'Your Neo Japan's fighter right? Kyoji Kasshu,' said the man, Kyoji nodded, 'I'm Rob Sexton. Neo Australia's Gundam fighter.'

Kyoji stood and walked around the table to stand in front of Sexton, who was a good foot taller. 'Well lets get this started then,' he said calmly

'Lets' said Sexton as the pair of them left the bar. Sexton brought out a small black box and pressed the button on it a few seconds later Neo Australia's Roo Gundam appeared. This sandy coloured Gundam looked very much like a Kangaroo.

'Shining Gundam!' yelled Kyoji as he clicked his fingers. As if from nowhere the Shining Gundam appeared over head and settled down behind Kyoji. Kyoji jumped onto the Gundam's outstretched hand, which lifted him up to the cockpit. As he got into the cockpit the twin rings of the mobile trace system activated and pulled the skintight battle suit onto his body.

'Gundam Fight! Ready!'

'Go!' Kyoji yelled as the Shining Gundam raced forwards and locked hands with the Roo Gundam. Sexton broke the lock and using the Roo Gundam's powerful legs kicked the Shining Gundam in to stomach. Kyoji felt the impact and it nearly caused him to double up. He replied with a punch to Roo Gundam's head but Sexton clearly had the advantage and sent Kyoji to the ground with another great kick.

'Stupid boy! Your too much a rookie to beat me in a Gundam Fight!' yelled Sexton. The Roo Gundam leapt into the air and extended its legs to perform its ultimate attack. 'Lighting Roo Kick!'

'So nosiy!' yelled Kyoji from his position on the ground. He was breathing heavily, he raised one hand and made it into a fist and the Gundam's faceplate opened. 'My hand is glowing and roaring!'

'What the!' yelled Sexton as Shining Gundam's hand began to glow green.

'It's telling me to defeat you!' said Kyoji, 'Sure win! Shining Finger!' Kyoji thrust the Shining Finger skywards and blocked the Roo Gundam's advance. Both Gundam's struggled for a few seconds each trying to get their ultimate attacks to break through. It was finally ended with the Roo Gundam's legs exploding sending it to the shattering to the ground. In his cockpit Rob Sexton screamed in pain.

'This battles over,' said Kyoji quietly as the glow left the Shining Gundam's hand. Shining Gundam slowly turn and began to walk away.

'This isn't over,' said Sexton, Kyoji could hear the pain in his voice, 'My head's still intact.'

'I know, that's why I left it,' said Kyoji, 'I'll look forward to our rematch.'