Chapter Nineteen: Katsumi vs. Akio
After checking around the group figured that the noise was probably just from the burnt out herbs.
"Hello? Is this thing on?" It was Koto. Juri was in the background. "As we see the arena is full. All that is missing are the teams. So can we have the teams out here within the next five minutes..." Static, then silence followed.
"We've got to go. There's nothing to do but forfiet."
"W-we can't g-give in." Katsumi was up.
"But you're hurt."
She started down the stairs. "N-nonsense. I'm f-fine."
Tara looked at her with an unconviced face, but sighed. "But I don't think you are able to fight."
Katsumi put a shaky but reinsuring hand on Tara's shoulder. "I'm going out there...and I'll show them even when a demon is down....they can still fight with honor."
--
"Welcome everyone to the second battle of the tournament. We have Katsumi, earth demon and fighter for the Tachi team, verses Akio, also earth demon and fighter for the Ura team."
"This should be easy Akio. I made it that way." Lea mocked.
"No problem." She assured her teammate. "I take this waste of an earth demon and destroy her." Akio smirked.
"I hate to interupt your little speech, but I'm standing right here?" Katsumi gave an evil look towards Lea, then her opponet. "If you insist on teasing someone I think you should do it behind there backs...."
A puff of smoke consealed Katsumi. When it quickly cleared, she wasn't there.
"...unless you want to die." Stabbing Akio in the back, she grinned. "Now lets start, so I can finish this."
Akio gasped and fell to her knees. "Don't be..in such..a rush." She stood. "After all this is a battle"
Swords clashed as each opponet tried to get the upper hand, neither would give in. So swords would clash over and over again, wounds giving without protection from their owner. Finally after several minutes of intense fighting both backed away to gain strength.
"What are you doing?" Lea asked angryly. "You should have won this by now."
"Aww what's the matter Lea, afraid Katsumi will come after you next?" It was another Ura teammate.
Fists were balled up at her said. "Now look here Ume..."
"Demons!" Ura's strong commanding voice spoke. "Let's not fight eachother. Just watch the battle going on in front of you." He turn slightly to Lea. "And you, darling, control that dragon temper."
With a huff she reluctantly drew her attention back to the combat at hand.
"Something's wrong Rin." Tara moved closer to him. "I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't seem right." Her eyes flashed gold. /That's it! Akio's energy has fallen tremendously. Yet she seems to not be having any problems staying leveled with Katsumi. And even now it seems that the difference between them is about 50 percent./ Metal meeting flesh and a yelp brought Tara's attention back.
Akio had been caught off guard and Katsumi dug the sword deep within the now bloody left shoulder. She gasped at the pain. "Y-you're better then Lea let you be." Akio smiled. /But I'm afraid that I won't go down that easily./