Chapter Ten: Our Opportunity
Author's Note: Um…alright…I wanted to title this chappie It Begins…but I didn't want to steal it from JunKing…anyway, here it comes…THE TOURNAMENT! And it's going to be big! Jamie, Mina, and Grey will be fighting their first opponents today…do they have a shot? Let's read and find out! And if I confused people about the whole Anna and Lee thing just read on…and if you're still confused then read my author's note at the end of this chappie and I'll explain further! Oh…by the way, FYI since Mina is a dancer, most of her moves are named after certain types of dancing…special thanks goes out to my homeslice Gabby (who is a pro dancer) for helping me name some of Mina's moves! Oh…and she's not annoying is she? I kinda wanted to depict an average girl leading a not so average life…and while she is girly she's also really tough…as you'll find out! Oh, and this chappie has some racy language mainly from Anna and Grey's potty mouths!
Shadowsin: Hey! I just read your latest review and I can't wait to read your latest chappie! Mina and Kaori in the mall…sounds AWESOME! And I can't wait to read it…thanks for being so supportive and understanding if Kyo and Kaori sit this round out!
Karisan: To be honest, I'm not exactly sure if the rule was wavered or not…but I realized that I was one of the only ppl not responding and I felt kind of bad…great job with your story…and I'm blown away by your ability to make Ganryu's obsessive, Julia fixation kind of serious and not something to be laughed at (too much)…it takes a very secure man to trash Hwoarang like that though and think he has a chance against him! And your English is phenomenal…you must be really smart to be able to write a story of this length in a secondary language! Great job!
Thee Slushee: Hey, I'm glad you found it funny…I found it rather humorous too…it's sort of based on personal experiences during some of the tournaments I've been in…but I'm glad you find my humor funny…and not weird or strange…I can't wait to read more of your story…are you gonna keep doing Xiaoyu stories? Cuz you portray her really well.
AKMDS: Sorry I confused you…the whole Anna and Lee thing was a last ditch effort to try to explain it and I did a horrible job…at the end of this chappie there will be a more detailed explanation for you and I hope it clears everything up!
Devil Billy: Hi! Thanks for reviewing my latest chappie and I'm glad you liked it! You're already a member of my c2…I already checked, but if you want to make your own it's really not that hard, just log in and go to the c2 section and click on the part where it asks if you want to create a c2.
Okay…on with the story…
Jamie Parker was fighting Bruce somewhere called the "Urban Enclosure" he wasn't exactly sure where it was…or what it was for that matter; and neither did his friends. Apparently it was a new fighting arena for the tournament…and Jamie and Bruce were the first ones to try it out.
Limos always drove the fighters to and from their respected arenas…the backseat was rather large…and about the size of a small room…it reminded the Nephilim of the limo's that everyone took to prom…Jamie didn't go to his senior prom in a limo…he had hopped rooftops and sprinted to his school to stop a group of fire breathing Kraylok demons from torching everyone in attendance.
Apparently, the rental insurance for his tux covered everything except burns…and considering the fact that during his fight with these monsters he had been singed numerous times…well…long story short, he had to pay a rather hefty price.
He felt small in the backseat of the limo…just because he was lonely he had tried to chat with the driver…but the driver actually closed the privacy window on him! Just for that, Jamie refused to obey the Japanese Custom of sitting directly behind the driver.
And so, he sat waiting for his fight and watching the cars whiz by...and as he did he realized that they were moving farther away from the city and into the warehouse district…the distinct odor of fish attested to that.
Jamie rolled the window up and slouched into the seat…he popped his knuckles and wrists reflectively…and glanced at the other side of the limo…a car phone was placed there and he debated whether or not to call his friends and wish them luck today. After all, Jin and Xiao were fighting, as were Julia, Hwoarang, Steve and Eddy…Christie wasn't, so she decided that she'd go with Mina and make sure she got where she needed to go to okay.
Managing to get through the screaming paparazzi and fans was intimidating for any newbie…and while Jamie knew Mina would get to where she needed to be…he wasn't so sure she could get through the fans in time for her fight…and if you were late then you were disqualified…plain and simple…it was kind of funny how the only things that merited disqualification in the tournaments were tardiness and "accidental" death.
While everyone who participated in the Tournament received 20000 dollars for participating…you also had to sign hefty legal agreements and release forms saying that the Mishima Zaibatsu was not responsible for your…demise.
While no one had killed each other in the actual ring yet (the cameras weren't around for the deaths of Jun Kazama or Patrick the previous Nephilim who participated in the 3rd tournament) the worst penalty the killer received was immediate disqualification.
Jamie wasn't too worried for Mina, she was a great fighter, and Anna was known more for her bitchy attitude and slutty outfits rather then her fighting prowess in these tournaments…but still…
He was about to call her cellphone when the limo abruptly stopped. Jamie tentatively looked out the window and gasped in awe…before checking his schedule one last time.
"Urban Enclosure huh…guess they weren't kidding…"
New Scene…
"DAMMIT! C'MON!"
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
The sounds of countless peoples voices rang through the Nephilim's sensitive ears as he waited for Bruce Irvin in an arena that Jamie could only describe as being made of…trashed cars…and other odds and ends of stuff found in the junkyard. Last tournament, he had fought in Shinjuku, and his audience consisted of squealing fan girls…now the people in this audience looked like dead ringers for the Hell's Angels.
Still, Jamie wasn't one to judge…as he waited for Bruce he checked out the arena…and probably what bothered him the most was the fact that on opposite sides of the ring were two, white trucks dangling precariously by ropes…if those were to fall…
He'd also have to watch his step around the arena…if he fell he'd probably land on shards of broken glass and who knows what else.
Lovely…at least Shinjuku was clean…
Suddenly, a loud roar from the crowd brought Jamie back to reality…and standing in front of him was a rather tall…imposing...man.
"Ah, Jamie Parker…" His accent sounded like Robbie's…which meant that he was Australian...
His voice was low, husky and intimidating…meant to scare young guys like Jamie into wetting their pants…fortunately, Jamie had excellent bladder control.
His hair was sparse and tied back in dread locks akin to Eddy's…just not so many. He also wore a pair of black jeans and a white tank top.
"You're the boy who's helping out Kazuya right?"
Jamie had no idea what Bruce and Kazuya's past was like…so he answered honestly.
"Uh…yeah…I guess you can call it that…"
"Then consider me your worst enemy!" Bruce barked, dropping into a fighting stance.
"If you want to kill Kazuya you're going to have to do two things…take a number…and go through me!" Jamie said fiercely, dropping into his stance.
"With pleasure…" Bruce said smiling.
The announcer called the countdown…every second counted off a beat of Jamie's heart…and finally, he heard the word.
"FIGHT!"
Amazing how a one syllable word could carry so much meaning…but Jamie didn't have time to ponder the deeper meaning of things…as Bruce roared angrily and ran at him…Jamie knew he wasn't going to get away from this attack without taking a hit…but he did manage to shield his chest and face…and instead getting hit in the ribs…as he flew through the air and landed with a thud on the pavement…he actually heard his bones rattle.
"Is that all you got? GET UP!" Bruce shouted angrily.
Quickly, Jamie did a kick up and dropped into his fighter's stance.
"Nah…I've got this!" Jamie rushed at Bruce and unleashed one of his combo's…it was two running punches, an outside crescent kick…and once the foot landed, he turned, launched in the air, spun, and his heel cut through the air and onto Bruce's face.
"Oh…looks like Mr. Parker used one of his patented combos…he calls it the Spin Cycle." The announcer called.
Jamie called it that because the whole move looked like a wheel in motion…the only problem with it, was the fact that it was a bit difficult to land, and Jamie hadn't perfected it yet. With the attack, Jamie had used all his Nephilim strength, and he could see in Bruce's eyes that his victory was assured.
Bruce was falling to the ground…but as he did, he made a desperate grab at Jamie, and actually managed to grab ahold of Jamie's gi shirt…in an attempt to pull the Nephilim down with him. Jamie hopped back and Bruce let go…but a loud tearing sound echoed through the arena.
Uh-oh…Master Kim's not gonna like this…
Jamie stared down, and his gi shirt had been ripped down the middle! He was a little annoyed…because; after all this was his best gi and it had all his sew on patches on it!
The tournament announcer proclaimed Jamie the winner of round one and Bruce got back up.
"That's it…get ready boy…I'm your worst nightmare!" He said in a voice dripping with disdain.
"My nightmare huh, guess what? You're not…there are scarier things out there," Jamie's blue eyes flashed angrily. "And I'm one of them!"
Round two began with the two combatants lunging at each other…Jamie blocked most of Bruce's attacks…and dished out his attacks with an equal ferocity…images of him painstakingly sewing those goddamn patches on his gi flashed through his mind and helped him fuel his anger.
But suddenly, something strange happened…Jamie landed a successful punch on Bruce and was about to deliver another when the urban arena vanished…the cars, the DJ, and the people were suddenly gone…even the sickening stench of trash and garbage was replaced by something…strange…something ancient…something that Jamie couldn't put his finger on.
The roar of the crowd went from several hundred to several thousand and Jamie realized that he was no longer fighting in some ornate…and freakishly crafted junkyard…instead he was in an ancient coliseum…gilded statues were everywhere and he felt the sun blazing on his face…the stench of blood and death lingered through out the arena and the crowd begged for more.
Rose petals fell lightly towards the ground…and he could hear the crowd praising him in a foreign language…a language that didn't sound familiar at all too him.
"AEON! AEON! AEON!"
Who's Aeon?
And just as quickly, the vision ended and Jamie was treated to a full on round house kick to his bruised side.
"AUUGGGHH!" Jamie moaned as he stooped a little.
Bruce tried to kick again against Jamie's exposed temple, but the Nephilim wouldn't let him…he blocked the attack, but Bruce quickly grabbed Jamie's arm and pulled…Jamie pulled back and Bruce got a handful of Jamie's gi shirt rather then a handful of Nephilim. Causing what little fan girl's there were in the audience to squeal in delight.
Bruce was tiring…and yet so was Jamie…Bruce chucked Jamie's shirt to the floor and ran at the Nephilim…suddenly, at the last second...Jamie had an idea…it was a long shot…and he had to time it right…he'd be putting the last of his stamina into one last attack and it had to be perfect.
C'mon…c'mon…NOW!
And Jamie leapt into the air and performed one of his favorite moves…a perfect spin kick…
Houston, we have contact…
The blow was so powerful that it sent Bruce spinning through the air…and landing on a particularly nasty spot of broken glass. He struggled angrily…but he was too exhausted to get up.
"AND THE WINNER! JAMIE PARKER!"
Jamie walked over to Bruce's fallen form and picked up his ripped gi top.
"Let that be a lesson to you…or y'know, those who pass by your mangled body." He said with an innocent smile on his face.
"You…you…won…" Bruce struggled.
He thanked his fans and signed a few autographs and took a few pictures…but beneath his sunny exterior he was a flurry of upsetment…who was Aeon…and what was up with this vision? It felt so real.
Well whatever it is…I think I've just come up with the main topic of discussion for tonight…
New Scene…
The park's garden was very pretty, and Mina was glad that she was fighting here…the park had many gardens but hands down, her favorite was the rose garden. The wrought iron gates had intricate designs at the top, and ivy snaked intricately around the stone walls and bars of the gates.
The garden itself was actually quite small, with smooth stone steps, benches, and fountains. Statues of Cherubs and animals stood watch in the corners. Smooth, flat stone served as the walkways and beautiful roses tantalized the air.
Mina waited for Anna, and as she did she walked around the grounds.
"It's so pretty here…" She breathed.
She sat on one of the benches.
"I know…Steve took me here during the 4th tournament and this is where we…never mind…" Christie began.
Abruptly, Mina leapt of the bench.
"Oh c'mon! It's been clean!" Christie said with a laugh.
Mina returned it and knelt down to smell the roses…she brushed an arrant strand of hair back behind her ear and admired the flowers.
"I didn't know you liked flowers." Christie asked with a cock of her head.
"Oh yeah…I mean, what girl doesn't…I don't know much about growing them or anything…but I think they're pretty to look at even nicer to smell.
"Jamie sends you a lot of flowers?" Christie asked.
"Nah…he picks 'em for me though…whenever we're not doing something y'know, Nephilim related…besides…I kinda like it better that way…it's…it's more genuine y'know?"
"Yeah…that's sweet." Christie said with a smile.
Suddenly, the deep, in-depth conversation was immediately cut short by the sound of cruel laughter. Mina and Christie turned to see Anna Williams on the other side of the garden.
"I came in at," She mocked Mina's voice cruelly. "He picks them for me…and it's really genuine y'know?"
"Mina, I'm surprised we didn't notice her…with that ugly red dress who couldn't?"
"Fuck off tit bags." Anna said contemptuously. "Doesn't the token slut of the Iron Fist Tournament have some judges to go sleep with?" She finished sweetly.
"Hey!" Mina began…her anger rising.
Afterall, the girls and guys during this tournament had been really nice to Mina…and a lot of the girls were becoming really good friends to her…and she was not about to sit back and let some psycho bitch trash them!
"No it's okay Mina…Anna's just upset because she doesn't have the stuff to fill the cups." Christie said calmly. "Kick her ass, I know you'll do fine."
Christie smiled and walked out of the garden…and that's when Mina noticed that suddenly, a swarm of people assaulted the rose garden to watch…her once quiet sanctuary was assaulted with a camera crew and screaming fans.
"I'm going to beat you so hard that it will knock you out of those ugly, uneven streaks in your hair!"
"Pfft…like you're one to give fashion advice? That big ass bow in back doesn't do much for your hips sweetie." Mina shot back.
Jamie may have been the Nephilim…and he may toss out witty puns and sarcastic comments as fiercely as a round house kick…but Mina could dish them out just as effectively.
The announcer called the fight…and way to soon, Mina was treated to hearing the other F-word…
"FIGHT!"
And so the fight began…Anna unleashing a flurry of kicks with her stiletto heels…most of which Mina blocked.
Damn…and I thought I could work heels…this girl is crazy!
Up until this point, Mina was always pretty proud of the fact that A: she looked stunning in heels…and B: She could drive and run in them…Anna did a pretty good job of humbling her.
Mina countered with a quick side step, and a graceful roundhouse, hook kick…the round house landed in Anna's ribs, while the hook kicked cracked against Anna's temple. Anna misjudged the attack because Mina had made it look so clean and crisp, that it didn't look like it would provide much of any impact…the Irish Assassin was surprised…and a bit enraged as she stumbled backwards in pain.
"And that would be Miss Mina's patented 1, 2, step maneuver!" The announcer called cheerfully.
"YOU…YOU BITCH!" Anna snarled.
"You're sister may not've been able to kill you…but I'll humiliate you, and it'll be a start!" Mina said back.
"You can try…I eat little girls like you for breakfast!"
"I saw you eating breakfast today…just between us girls…I don't think you should be going back for seconds at the buffet…it all goes to your thighs!"
Anna and Mina began exchanging fierce hand to hand attacks…something that she wasn't incredibly proficient in…Mina was a tae kwon do master…in her martial art form…one focused mostly on kicks rather then punches.
"OOOFF!" Mina cried.
One of Anna's punches hit her hard in the collar bone…making her stagger back. Anna didn't waste any time…and Mina found herself caught in a whirlwind of Anna's fast kicks.
Mina fell to the ground…the count down started…but she saved herself by getting up in time…in the time that it did take her to get up though, Anna was running towards her.
The assassin leapt in the air…and Mina thought she was going to do a jumping side kick…Mina didn't have time to move…but maybe she could use physics too…
"AAAUUGGGHH!" Mina grunted.
Shit…I thought too much…
And in a second she was on the ground…only Anna didn't try a jumping side kick…instead, Anna's right leg was sprawled across Mina's legs, and her left was underneath…Anna was trying to reach for Mina's trapped foot! She was going to try to break it!
If she gets this then there goes my fighting career…I've gotta get out!
Quickly…Mina pulled her upper half up, and grabbed at Anna's reaching hand…Anna wasn't expecting it…and Mina managed to put her in a pretty painful wrist lock.
"Hap ki do…boring as hell but really comes in handy don't you think?" She asked sweetly.
She pulled Anna up with the wrist lock and flung her back to the ground.
"YOU…YOU…I'LL KILL YOU! YOU FUCKING PERIOD HAIRED WHORE!"
Round two began with a bang…the males in the audience hooting and hollering at the ensuing battle.
All boys like a good catfight I suppose…
Mina was a nice person…a good person…but she didn't feel any pity towards Anna…the woman had tried to break her foot! In such a way that even when it healed she probably would never be able to do martial arts again…which was something that Kim Seung Mina couldn't even begin to fathom.
"Anna…seriously," The two began to spar closely now…Mina had to break away and fast. "I've got cramps too…but you've just gotta suck it up and move on!"
Finally…Mina landed a punch on Anna's face…a lucky one to be exact…and while she was stunned, Mina dropped her weight and pulled a lightning fast, devastating side kick…Anna clutched her gut…and Mina took full advantage.
Quickly, Mina gauged her distance…and realized that she could pull it off…this was her most devastating attack, and it would probably knock Anna out. She performed three, vast, graceful spins towards Anna, and at the last second, leapt into the air before landing a jumping ax kick.
"Could it be…IT IS! Folks…this is Miss Mina's patented A-Town stomp! Named after the popular dance move!"
It worked, Anna fell…and she wasn't getting up anytime soon.
Mina laughed as she finished the attack.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod…
She had won!
She had won her first fight!
The sudden stop left her feeling dizzy and she fell on her ass and laughed some more…finally she stood up, and turned to walk away…before turning to Anna…who lay on the ground gasping for air…and that's when Mina felt sorry for her.
"Hey…it was a good fight…no hard feelings okay?" She smiled and offered her hand.
Anna slapped it away…
"You're fast! Like a rabbit…or maybe a rat…yes…that's all you and your little boyfriend are in this tournament…rats in a cage!"
"Well…if I can't be nice to you then here…" Mina fished in her gi pockets and pulled out an aspirin bottle full of extra strength Midol. "I think you can use this more then I can."
"Mina that was incredible! I can't believe you won!" Christie exclaimed. "Let's go back to the hotel and tell everyone! Or at least Kaori and Kyo…you did awesome!" She finished by giving her a hug.
The two laughed as they walked back to the hotel…but Anna's cryptic comment still lingered in the back of Mina's mind…and she wasn't sure what it exactly meant…
She would soon enough…
New Scene…
Grey stared in amusement at his opponent…a giant, Terminator knock off with a platinum blonde Mohawk. Its Germanic features set in stony silence as it stared at Grey.
"Forgive us please Mr. Greyson…but Jack-6 hasn't been turned on yet." The announcer said.
"Of course he isn't…" Grey scoffed.
Casually, he walked up to the robot and stared at it…he tapped its face, and gazed into its startling blue eyes curiously.
"Hello in there…helloooo…can you hear me?" He asked, waving his hand back and forth across it's vacant eyes.
"Of course he can't…I haven't turned him on yet." A voice said.
Grey turned and stared at the mousy young woman in the lab coat…she didn't look like she was much older then himself. She wore thick glasses and had her hair tied back…she'd be cute if she wasn't so repressed…Grey decided to mess with her for a bit.
"Who the fuck are you?" He asked somewhat menacingly.
She bristled at the comment. "Jack's…assistant …my name is Jane."
"Oh…you create him?"
"You could say that."
"Great job…" Grey tapped its face with his hand. "Looks real…kinda reminds me of this guy I knew awhile back…dumb as rocks but a mouth like a hoover-"
"I think he's ready!" Jamie interrupted.
"Oh…" Grey shrugged. "Then let's get this bitch over with."
The two were fighting at the airport…on a close off landing strip to be precise…and if Grey heard;
"The red zone is for loading and unloading only…"
One last time he was going to seriously kill something…and it looked like Jack here had just volunteered. Suddenly, Jack came to life…he made a strange roaring sound…which to Grey, heard something like a cow going through a blender.
He fired his piston like arms in the air…and bullets fell.
"Are those loaded?" Grey asked the announcer.
"No of course not sir."
"Bummer." Grey said.
He was decked out in full regalia today…he wore his skin tight, black, "Trash" brand jeans…and his skin tight Resident Evil t-shirt…the image had an eviscerated zombie hand laying on the ground…a crow was perched on the hand…pecking at the flesh…it looked up, with a glinting red eye, and a piece of gristle in it's beak. His hair, as usual, had a long strip of bangs covering his right eye…but the residual hair he had was spiked up with hair glue.
His eyebrow ring was in…as were his three lip piercings…his vibrating tongue ring (which he only wore on special occasions) his nipple rings and his other piercing…down below his waistline.
His combat boots completed the ensemble…both practical and stylish.
Round one began…and the hulking giant lunged at Grey…
Grey tried to side step out of the way…and he did, except that he was surprised by Jack's attack…he extended his arms and his whole upper body spun completely around!
"AAARRRGGGHHH!" Grey screamed angrily as he was hit by the giant pistons twice.
He landed, on the ground…and was almost lost before he regained his composure and leapt up. Jack was about to get up…and when he turned, Grey rushed at him. He leapt towards his body, and wrapped his legs around the robot's waist…he then began to beat on Jacks face…the blows hurt him…but Grey was only dully aware of the pain.
He didn't have a lot of time…but finally, he heard a dull smashing sound…satisfied, Grey gave one final punch and leapt off…where Jack's right eye was…there was now a sunken in hole…the red sensor eye had been completely smashed.
Grey had won round one.
"YOU…PLEASE…DON'T DAMAGE HIM ANYMORE THEN YOU HAVE TOO!" Came Jane's pitiful plea.
"Okay fine…but I thought that was the point of the tournament…" Grey said with mock confusion and a shrug of his shoulders.
Round two began…and this time, Jack began to do this crazy, Russian step dance move…a move that once Grey got trapped in…couldn't seem to get out of...by the time Jack was finished…his shins felt like they were about to break…before Grey could retaliate…Jack punched him…and sent the young man flying into one of the metal blockades.
Angrily…and with a furious roar, Grey grabbed a piece of the gate and pulled…he now had a makeshift bow staff…weapons were expressly illegal unless further allowed…and the tournament official allowed them for this fight as Grey was going up against a two ton robot.
And Grey was going to take full advantage of the situation. He quickly ran at Jack with his weapon…and at the last second dodged to the right…as Jack was blind on that side.
Before Jack could do anything else, Grey leapt onto the robot's back…and jammed the serrated piece of piping as hard as he could into the creature's "skull"
The creature gave a delightful "SQQQUUEEEEEE" sound…before vicious black smog began to pour out of him…it smelled like a burning modem…Jack's head hung limply…and the piece of the pipe that came out of the other end of him propped him up at a strange angle.
The crowd roared in delight, and Grey realized that with this simple act he had become a new fan favorite.
"YOU PROMISED YOU WEREN'T GOING TO HURT HIM!" Jane said angrily.
"Yeah…about that…I lied…you acted really bitchy to me when I tried to be nice…so," Grey lit a cigarette and blew the smoke into her face. "Bye bye boyfriend…back to the drawing board huh?"
He walked off, cigarette poking out of his mouth…he inhaled the sweet tobacco and let it blow through his nose…
Y'know what? It's good to be me…
Author's Note: Whew! 10 pages…sorry if Grey's fight wasn't too detailed but I'm exhausted…and I know I promised to answer the anna and lee thing this chappie…but I'm exhausted…oh, and I kinda feel bad for not focusing on Grey and stuff…this next chappie will be kind of a slow night for the gang…and Jamie and the others will discuss what exactly is up with his strange vision and Anna's cryptic comment…and what's it like for Lee rooming with Grey? All these and more next chappie! Oh, and please READ AND REVIEW! MUCH LOVE TO ALL!