"Dammit Jack put me down"
"Hehe nope"
Walking through the hallway Jack had Baki on his back to what would have been a wholesome scene of brothers bonding if Jack didn't decide to hold Baki by the legs instead of the normal piggyback leaving Baki draped upside down on his back like a cape instead.
bonk* "ouch" That being the sound of Baki hitting his head after he tried to pull himself up with his legs only to faceplant himself into the ceiling before falling back down again while rubbing his nose.
"Did you just seriously forget that there is a ceiling?" Jack said in disbelief, glancing back at Baki out of the corner of his eyes, more concerned about his IQ than him being hurt.
'Well, at least he can't get any dumber by hitting his head too many times…. I hope'
"I wouldn't have hit the ceiling if you weren't so damn tall"
"*scoff* Not my fault you are so damn short why don't you try getting on my level…"
They continued to bicker between themselves as they continued down the hallway but their bickering had to come to an end as Jack entered the waiting room to see everyone inside.
Ali, Jaku and yujiro all stood in a half circle around Retsu as they turned to look at him still holding Baki's legs over his shoulders.
"What's up with you guys?" Jack asks while lowering himself to the ground to allow Baki's hand to reach it so he can get off.
Meanwhile, It was Jaku who replied "well Retsu here was just telling us about the changes in the tournament"
"What changes?" Baki asked after getting down as he dusted his hands after standing up.
"It's going to be a five versus five match between the Chinese team and your team".
Retsu explained but it was obvious that something was off from how he was acting.
"But I thought you guys only had 4 people left, you're going to need more guys as you don't have enough, what are you going to do in that case?" Jaku expressed his concern.
"One of us had an emergency so he won't be joining instead we arranged for two other people to join us"
"The two new guys don't have the title of kaiou, are you guys going to be okay?"
"Thanks for asking but it's fine these two are qualified enough" Retsu didn't seem to meet Jaku's eyes as he answered instead looking at the floor.
"So can you tell me the names of the two new members?"
"Kaku shunsei and Rahon shoben"
Shock immediately became apparent on Jaku and surprisingly even Yujiro's face as he asked "the crazy beast shunsei and the touch of death shoben?".
"Yes shunsei and shonben themselves".
"Oh my god this isn't a tournament anymore it's gonna be carnage. What is kaku planning to do?" Jaku muttered to himself, his face downcast as he hid it from sight while Retsu continued.
"I know it's unfair that we had to resort to this but we have no choice. Can you accept the challenge please we don't… no we CAN'T see the title of kaiou be defeated by fighters from outside of China"
Silence followed that as everyone was surprised to see Retsu more or less basically asking them to let them cheat all for the sake of as the Chinese like to put it, save face.
The Silence was interrupted but Jack's laughter as everyone turned their attention to him "*chuckle* that's funny I guess history does repeat itself huh".
Retsu looked at Jack confused as he continued "Tell me Retsu, do you remember when you first came to Japan you told a story about how the Roman gladiators stopped hosting matches in the coliseum after the champion stopped being of Rome".
Retsu's eyes widened as he realised where this was going "you even took the time to mention how the new champion was from China, funny how the world spins around huh you were so proud about it back then yet here you are now…".
"... But then again at least the Romans had the courage to try and take back the title even if they did end up losing instead of being so afraid of defeat that they sent one of their best warriors to beg just at the possibility of it but I will bite, Why should we accept this proposal of yours ?".
Retsu looked like he ate something sour, his face being outcast as his fist visibly trembled from how hard he was clenching it but remembering his master's words he quickly composed himself before he replied "we promise you your complete and utter defeat with a clean victory on our side…"
"HAHAHAHAHA DAMN NOW THAT IS FUNNY HAHAHA" Yujiro exploded out in laughter to the point that a single tear welled up in his eyes at that, wiping it away shortly after as he answered Retsu with a big smile on his face.
"We will take it, the top five of all China versus us now. How can you say no to an offer like that besides.." he turned to Jack, barely holding in his laughter.
"... Just the chance to rube that is enough to make me accept HAHAHA"
~~~~~~~{after the announcement}~~~~~~
"This is my first time leading a team so naturally we will have to wipe the floor with their faces so listen up" Yujiro as he stood Infront of everyone with his hands in his pockets they all had serious looks on their faces as he began his speech.
"Food, medicine or sexual desires when it comes to fulfilling human desires or instincts China has been one of the few countries in the world to specialise in that..".
"...Fighting is also a human instinct so we can't predict what will come out of their sleeves".
"But they just claimed that they will have a clean sweep a clean victory…" with a whimsical look on his face he turned and looked at his children.
"Jack, Baki even though I know and respect their efforts during the last 4000 years..*smiles*..But we can't let them get away with it. I'm gonna make them eat their words to put it simply… I'm going to prove that those 4000 years were a waste of time" Yujiro has a viscous gleam flash in his eyes as he continued
"So Kids will you give me a hand?" Baki was the first to reply, giving yujiro a disgusted look while speaking.
"I really do hate you, I hate everything about you, you are a horrible person from your ideas to your actions, I hate you so much I wish you never excited, I even hate the fact that I came from you but…what you said about the current state of Chinese martial arts on that I agree"
Jack slapped Baki's back making him look at him in surprise not expecting the sudden slap as Jack laughed "now that's the spirit and besides this could be considered our first family project we got to work hard to make sure the old man doesn't hold us back, right?".
That made Baki relaxed tension leaving body as he smiled "right..".
Yujiro didn't seem to mind or care about the shot Jack took at him. All of them bring their hands marking the beginning of the American Japanese team.
