Battle of the Masters
Chapter Six
by Shadou-sama

Did I neglect to tell you that we have a visitor? Balla asked. Shadra silently cursed her spirit guide.

"Who are you? Where are you?" Shadra asked.

"Aww, you don't remember me?" The voice asked. "And after I went to all the trouble of coming here."

A flashlight turned on.


Holly was sitting on a window seat, looking out into the storm. Their cabin had wooden beds instead of bunk beds and lanterns were spaced evenly around the cabin. Better accommodations were to be expected because Holly's father was hosting the tournament.

"What are you doing?" Alleon asked, coming up behind her.

"Waiting for Iayah." Lightning flashed and she flinched. Holly wished that Iayah would hurry. She wanted Iayah's strong arms around her, telling her it was just some silly rain and everything will be all right. Just like Ryu would have done.

"She's not the most considerate of people, not even telling us where she was going." Alleon said.

"She had something important to do. She always has something more important to do." Something was always more important then Holly.

"Iayah better not get a cold from this. If she doesn't blade…"

"She always come through for us." Holly snapped. "Everything she does is for the Masters, for our survival."

"If that's the way it is, how come she's not here? How come she's not telling you not to be scared of the thunderstorm?" Alleon asked.

"She's doing something for the team--" Holly said quietly.

"No! She doesn't care about us! She's doing something for herself, so she can get ahead. She doesn't give a damn whether we live or die! She doesn't care about us regaining our former glory, she only cares if she does!"

"Alleon, you're wrong." Holly said, jumping at the thunder roll. "You're wrong."


"Yuki?" Shadra asked.

The dark-haired, shocking pink streaked boy smirked. "Ah, so you do remember me." His eyes looked wild. He was sitting high atop on Tyson's bunk, looking down at them.

"Who is this freak?" Tyson asked.

"You really shouldn't call me a freak as I have all of your food." The flashlight moved from Yuki's face to a pile beside him. Boxes of food, bottles of pop, and bags of chips and candy made the pile.

"No!" Ray cried.

"What?" Max asked.

Kai growled.

They managed to this at the same time.

"Go away, Yuki." Shadra growled.

"Not unless you come with me." Yuki smirked.

"Who is he, Shadra?" Max asked.

Shadra paused a moment. Explaining him… well, it was hard. She took a deep breath and took a stab at it. "Yuki is a guy I know from school." That was horrible, she knew.

"What do you want with her?" Kai asked.

"None of your business." Yuki's voice had a steel edge to it.

"I think it is."

"So, Shadra. Are you going to come freely or by force?" Yuki asked, ignoring Kai. Shadra heard him jump from the bunk.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

A strong hand grabbed her forearm. She tried to pull away, but she wasn't strong enough.

"Let me go!" Shadra yelled.

The hand let go. Shadra thought he must have finally listened to her. A flash of lightning showed her she was wrong.

His back was now towards her and she couldn't see his face. But she could see Kai's head with a hand wrapped firmly around his neck. Kai's own hands were trying to force off the hand. He was a head taller then Yuki, but that couldn't be right. Yuki would normally be an inch or two taller. Unless…

"Oh Universe…" Yuki was holding Kai up off the ground. Kai was going to choke to death or his neck would snap. Shadra did the only thing she could think of.