Friday 7:51 PM - Messa Park - Behind the Restroom.

The bridge of his nose felt sore as he rubbed it. Pao was impressed, she packed a wallop. I mean she hadn't busted him open with that kick, but still, a solid hit at least for someone her size. Then again she did punch him pretty hard earlier. Rough way to start off, but at least he could properly gage her strength at least.

"You just going to stand there nursing that or fight?" Kyuu taunted, as she bounced back and forth in front of him like a seasoned boxer. "There's nothing else to really think about. You got hit. If you want that apology, you better start paying attention and do something about it."

Pao didn't blow up like most of her opponents would, instead he laughed heartily at her as he raised his balled up fists."Jajajajaja."

His demeanor spoke as if this was just a game to him as they both eased in, ready to come to blows.

Then the attack came.

It happened so fast like a dark blur, the monkey dropped low and kicked at her legs in a sweep. She backflipped away on reflex.

"Ponto execelente!" He shouted mid sweep.

She had anticipated an attack, she had been baiting him being up this close. She saw there he wasn't all talk either, in fact she was impressed by his speed..

He was fast, real fast, the kick left a breeze blowing through her fur as it passed. If she had been any second slower he'd have swiped her legs right out from under her.

As soon as she landed, the simian was right on her heels ready to catch her for another strike. She was shocked, he had closed the distance that fast? That was a thought that flew through her mind while her training and instincts worked on defensive measures.

He had somersaulted from his position with the grace of a circus performer, landing in front of her on his hands and gyrated upside down like a spinning top. Panicked and surprised, she frantically disengaged, bouncing and evading as his legs swung overhead like a propeller. Seeing her run, Pao frowned and dropped down on his back and quickly bounced back up with a skillful kip up like a breakdancer.

The light-footed monkey gave chase and cut off her escape, leaping over and landing on infront of her effortlessly. He right away hooked his leg out at hers. Kyuu's initial shock almost got her introduced to the ground, though her prey instincts forced her to leap back out of the swipe's path. The larger animal then turned to face her with unnerving smoothness and went straight to business. A cocky smile on his face.

Now she was firmly on the defense as the simian continued to push his assault with a series of jabs, all the while trying to hit her from different angles as he shifted from side to side. He was very nimble, reminding Kyuu a bit of her own style. However her drill from earlier was paying off as she rolled her head and bobbed under his punches. Left side, right side, left, center, left, right.

Her lapine reflexes were working overtime as she played a dangerous game of keepaway. Some punches she was able to dodge, others she painfully had to take the brunt of with her forearms she held up as a guard. One particular one came hard enough that she almost knocked herself out with her own fists. Her guard would hold, for now, but she knew her body wasn't meant for this kind of punishment and her arms would be rendered useless after a few more hits. In fact they are already starting to feel weary as is.

Deep inside, her mind told her to take the easy way. Switch to the usual tactics, the rope, the blades, her chimera, but her pride; her pride shut that all down. She still remembered the fox's words. Prove the fox wrong, she thought. No, those were your own words. That's yourself saying you're weak. She wanted to win this on her own. You're good enough. You got this. She'd just have to figure a way to counter.

"I thought-yo͞o wanted-to-hit-mē-səm môr,-ye?" He taunted, huffing each word between punches, trying to raise her ire, make her more sloppy. It was having some effect, she was even more eager to pound that smug look right off his face! Just find an opening, she thought as she shifted to the side to avoid a close hook to her ribs.

He was controlling their path, her back was to the restroom where he was trying to corner her. Confident, Pao hurled a heavy right cross intent on decking her, but she dove to the left as it overshot her. She still had the advantage of being shorter so a lot of his blows would miss if she was quick enough and stayed at the edge of his considerable reach. This bungle was just what she needed. It'd take him too long for him to pivot his torso to catch her. Seizing the opportunity, she pushed under him and propelled herself back at him with a flying kick.

However Pao wasn't so easily trapped, instead he had his own in mind . He removed himself from her path with a cartwheel. She hit nothing but the air he previously occupied and the building wall. Kyuu's face hurt both from slamming into the hard surface and the sting of the air licking against tender exposed flesh. Blood dripping down her face confirmed a cut above her left eye, a scrape from the stoney brick wall. She pulled herself together and turned to face him, only to be met with a sweeping low kick right to the gut.

Kyuu barely knew what hit her as she was sent flying into the adjacent dumpster parked against the wall. Sliding down, she almost heaved up her lunch. She propped herself against the metal box to prevent herself from going down completely. An anguished groan escaped her lips. Her vision was shaky and blurred as she tried to get a bead on her opponent. She saw him, he was just waiting there, upside down in a handstand no less just balancing himself as if this was just a child's game.

"Yo͞o redē to apologize?" He asked.

Kyuu said nothing, but huff hot air at him. Raising up her clenched fists, a look of pained determination on the floppy-eared lapine's face.

"Tāk dat as a nō…" He said, enthralled by her defiance. He generously waited for her to gather herself while he seemed to play around dancing on his hands humming a little tune to himself, shifting from paw to paw, still keeping his balance as his tail swayed behind him like a serpent.

Kyuu was puzzled, he seriously intended to fight like that? Flashy bastard, she thought. Her belly still felt tender at the touch as she took a step forward. She could endure it though, she had to.

The monkey gave a playful smile as he watched her approach, he admired her spirit at least. Not many herbivores her size would have lasted this long. One of his fangs poked out when he clicked his tongue at her and held himself up by one hand. He mimicked her come hither hand gesture from earlier.

"C'mon….jajajaja!" He laughed. He was taunting her.

Kyuu was hesitant about her next move. Sure the primate looked really vulnerable in that position, but he had to have something up his sleeve. San would have given her advice right about now- NO! Screw him. She told herself, pushing thoughts about the llama aside. Her blood boiled just thinking about him and his stupidity. No, you can do this on your own. You don't need him.

She shot out like a bullet, rushing in only for the primate to spin around swiftly and whack her right in the cheek with his thick tail. Might as well have been an extra hand as hard it slapped her. She stumbled and dropped to her knee, groaning as she wiped some slobber from her lip.

"Ah ah…" He childishly admonished her, wagging his finger. "So does dat count, hmm?" He asked, hopping off his palms and standing straight as she picked herself up from the ground.

"No!" She shouted in protest, refusing to let him get off so easily. "You need to get knocked down- all the way."

"Ooh... rools we jəst hearin' about now." He clicked his tongue against his teeth, jovial. "Tsk...tsk...tsk...very very...uh..convenient for yoo ye? Well...uh..redē fer round to͞o den?" He said holding up two fingers.

He flashed her the smuggest of grins and started shifting his feet, rocking back and forth, side to side while swaying his arms. Carrying on something like a dance. Whatever he was doing, it was ticking her off. This is a fight and you're just playing about?! Maybe this was just some tactic to get under your fur. Or maybe he's just playing tricks on you with his fancy acrobatics. This was starting to sound way too familiar, ironically.

Pao began to inch in closer, still dancing and carrying on while he opened and closed his palms methodically. She was competent to figure it had to be a ruse, it was to keep her guessing on his attack vector. Which hand, left or right? She wouldn't know until the correct balled up fist came her way. It would also be hard to tell his stance if he kept shifting around and this silly dance of his allowing him to stride in closer with each sway.

As soon as she raised a neutral guard, he swung his right foot forward with a low kick. Reflexes and hardwired instincts fired, making her hop up to avoid it, but the attack never came. Instead it was a feint, and she had overreacted which cost her space. Instead the monkey had sauntered into attack range, moving from side to sid- A high kick! She had no time for doubt as soon as she saw the primate's leg begin to shift forward. It was so sudden and she just barely leaned out of the way.

The cold breeze blowing past the fur on her face tingled as she readied for the next attack, which came a lot sooner than expected. Before she could even think of countering, a second wave came in just seconds after the first, a low kick from his other leg! It swept Kyuu right off her feet, taking her by surprise!

The bunny's adrenaline was pumping over time as she desperately tried to salvage the fall, hitting the ground arm first with a rough landing. She rolled in the dirt before landing up on her knees. Her ankle stung as she frustratingly cursed being so careless as she picked herself up.

It took no time for her to figure out what had happened, the simian used the high kick from before as decoy while he caught her on the rebound with the low kick. The logic being if he missed with the high kick, he'd get her with the low. His movement was so fluid she barely had time to think about reacting to it.

"I tāk it dat didn't count eetha?" He cheekily asked, very amused as she resumed her stance, ready to continue. Her bushy brows were furrowed as she stared at him. He seemed to have figured her out quickly. She'd just hit him with another excuse and was just going to be stubborn. Not that it mattered, this was like a fun game to him. If she wanted to keep going, it was fine by him. The monkey's incisors poked out of his mouth as barely could contain his amusement as he resumed his little streetdance.

The lop rabbit growled as she hopped forward. She was even more conflicted now, she knew, yes she knew, she could end this right now if she truly desired it. Just pop your blades out, use your rope, her prey instincts screamed, but her ego just didn't want to win that way. You're not weak! You're more than this frail body you were given! She affirmed to herself. This guy is just a tougher nut to crack than the others. That's all it is.

Kyuu was determined to make the first move, she zipped into his strike zone, zigging and zagging randomly trying to remain random as she tried to keep him guessing.

The large eyes of the primate shifted from side to side trying to track and lock onto her movements, his grin grew wider when she got close and he saw his chance. He sent a curving left hook her way, but the speedy rabbit ducked and sprung into action. Before he could readjust, she came in driving her fists hard into his ribs. Pao made some audibly satisfying painful grunts as she got in a few more blows before the larger animal hastily tried to counter. He tried to grab her, but the small and nimble rabbit skillfully played escape artist as she evaded his clutches, while peppering him with more jabs and hooks when she could.

Pao snarled as he took a step back and dropped low for a sweeping low kick, but Kyuu knew her opportunity was only going to be fleeting and anticipated his move. She flipped out of the way, and Pao, ever fluid with his movement, had a high kick right behind it to catch her in mid-air. However Kyuu was counting on this and grabbed hold of his leg mid-kick, gripping it like the branch of a tree and swung under like a gymnast.

Using her momentum, she hurled herself at his face with a head scissor, slamming right into his throat. Cradling herself on his neck, she began going to town, pounding the hell out of his face. Blow after blow, just smashing any vital spots she could think of; such as his eyes, snout, or jaw. Anything to deliver as much punishment as she could.

"NyeeAAaHHH!" The black furred simian hoarsely shouted as the air was forced from his lungs, as she practically strangled him.

He could barely stand with all the extra weight, let alone with her also choking the hell out of him as her legs constricted around his neck. Pao's tail coiled frantically as he tried to regain his balance. He collapsed against the brickwall, saving him from tipping over and began yanking at the back of her tank top, trying to pry her loose. She eventually came off, but not before she delivered one final kick right to the chops, which caused him to drop her completely.

"Aaaaah!" He groaned and grunted as he stumbled back against the restroom wall panting heavily. His footing was questionable as the world spun around him, and his tail swaying trying to find the right stability. He saw triple rabbits before him slowly approaching, He wouldn't have much time to rest. He took a few steps back, keeping some distance as his head cleared.

The rabbit was still hounding him, even as he threw a few hooks her way to deter her. In trouble, he still was amused, sporting that same entertained smile despite how winded he was. She was a funny sight at least to him. Her tank top was misaligned from his efforts to yank her off, nearly revealing her bust, but she didn't seem to care about modesty. He had to admire that. All she seemed to care about was this fight that she wàs determined to win. This definitely had gone beyond a friendly spar for him as well.

" Você REALMENTE não quer se desculpar, ey moça ?" He said falling back on his own language, breathing heavy trying to get oxygen back in his lungs. From the tone and furrowed brows, she could tell he might be done playing his little games with her. Which means he'll probably be more desperate to finish this. And desperation can be an ally or a foe if you know how to use it. His expression grew sour when he saw a confident smirk on her face as she surveyed the damage she had done. One of his nostrils were dripping red, and he seemed to be wincing whenever he tried to blink his left eye which was a good sign for her. Just more targets she can put him away with she thought.

There you go, you got this, she affirmed to herself. You don't need it , you don't need him .

On his end, Pao was concerned, but not panicking. He'd been hit hard like this before. He'd survive more brutal fights than this, just stay on guard he told himself. He just needed to keep her at bay, till he could clear his shaky vision and he could tell which of these incoming rabbits was her.

Seriously a rabbit of all things has you all this flustered up, huh, he thought. He clumsily threw a swift jab forward, off course, missing her by an inch. C'mon Pao...focus.

She came in hopping, trying to get in for another kick. He answered her aggression with a backflipping flash kick, but she wasn't yet in range like he thought, missing her by a few inches and she caught him on the way down with a kick to the ribs. He winced and groaned as he stumbled back trying to keep on guard, resuming his dance again trying to get some space but she still kept coming. He tried to stop her advance with an hasty uppercut, but she evaded to his left. A short left hook was cast out hoping to catch her, but it overshot, and now she was back in his perimeter, poised to strike. The monkey grunted as he was kicked square in the chest, forcing him back again. The kick felt like one of the worst punches he taken in his career, thankfully she hadn't hit anything vital.

" Maldito velociraptor!" He groaned, stancing back up. Okay, maybe I should be a bit worried , he thought. He had to fix his vision and in quick order or she'd pick him apart.

He closed his busted eye and let his good one focus. If he just used one, his vision could clear, though he'd sacrifice depth perception and accuracy. It worked as the triple rabbits became one. Still he had to let her get closer to gage the depth of range. There , he thought as she strolled in with her guard up. Alright, just a bit closer. There! He hunched down trying to clip her with an uppercut. He missed again and got a kick right in his left pectoral for it.

He shrugged off the pain and retaliated with a savagely quick left hook, but he missed big time and she came back in to punish him for it. However, her over eagerness was exactly what he wanted. Using the momentum from the punch he dropped as he twisted around, swinging his leg low to trip her once more. Kyuu wasn't falling for that again though. She leaped over the kick. In her mind he was low enough now to go right for the head again. The rabbit went up high. It was a roundhouse kick, coming right for his head. Half-blind, Pao wasn't out of tricks just yet.

He knew exactly where she was positioned now. He ducked under the kick and bashed right into her stomach with his head. The bunny grunted harshly from the collision. Got her , he thought.

Landing stunned, gasping for air as she started to taste iron, and her mouth was wetter than usual. She violently coughed as she struggled to stay on her feet. She was defenseless as he hurled a right hook to her bosom that lifted her off the ground. Payback for that hard kick. Kyuu's eyes bulged as her chest heaved from the force. Landing hard on her knees and doubled over gasping for air, the rabbit tried to clear her senses, when she saw a large shadow envelope her, the monkey had flipped in the air and was rapidly coming back down with a stomp.

She frantically scrambled out of the way, as Pao impacted the ground and instantly pivoted to catch her, just barely getting clipped by a haymaker. Hopping to the side, she propelled herself back at him with a full on hooking elbow to the jaw. Pao nearly stumbled over from the graceless blow, clearly hurt, as the simian cradled his jaw. His fangs became visible with his heavy panting, reminding her how dangerous he could be if he really got serious. If he really wanted to win he could just grab her once she got exhausted and bite her throat out, yet he keeps using his limbs. His loss, she thought.

Pao finished nursing his jaw before furiously came back for revenge, hurling a left that she knew well enough not to receive, hopscotching back trying to escape his range. The simian gave chase again, oddly enough this time tumbling towards her. Like a sentient boulder rolling down a hill, he was tumbling at her sideways, his thick black tail acting like a threshing flail that she needed to bat away occasionally lest she get smacked by it again.

His strange style both confused and infuriated her, he was a hard opponent to pin down, always full of surprises. As she readied to veer out of the way, the simian halted suddenly, bringing a decisive kick down on top of her head. No way of blocking such force, she hastily evaded as his shoe smashed into the ground. Not done yet, the monkey shot his foot straight after her trying to take her head off. The lop rabbit's adrenals were pumping as she jinked forward to his left, hopping behind him. Then she saw it, an opening. His back was exposed and he was just low enough. She could end this now if she took out his head. She came in ready to go up top with a roundhouse. He was turning too slow to see her and react in time. She had him now!

- then it happened.

No sooner had she stepped behind him, she was hit hard by a whip-like weapon. THWACK! It hit her hard right upside her face, smashing into her mouth and nostrils, her vision was the first thing to go as all her motor functions failed and she dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Turned out it really was too good to be true, the monkey's flank wasn't as vulnerable as she had thought. It had been his tail, the damn prehensile tail of his, but it might as well have been a baseball bat as far as she would have known. The last thing she felt was the hard ground rushing to embrace her face.

Everything went black. Sound was her only company in the void. Just one voice. A familiar gruff voice.

"Hmph..."

"How many times I got to tell ya?

"Don't get too high on yourself!"

"You got that by being clever, but don't get too cocky."

"I won't tolerate any more of your arrogant bullshit, you hear?!"

"That's enough!"

"Don't belittle him!"

"Wake up, brat.

"Wake up!

"You ain't going to sleep on my time, so wake up!

"WAKE UP!"

She swore she could smell a wooden smell, one she had smelt before: Bamboo.

She could barely open her left eye. In fact that whole side of her face hurt. Her vision was blurry, but in front of her was... Gouhin, her master, the one who had taught her. She was in his clinic, the Big Bear Cat Hospital. She was in the old patient room he used to train her in. There he was, her savior, her master, standing there with his bamboo staff looking down on her disappointed, ...and San, he was there too… San was a young boy again, cowering under a bed, fearful of something. Am I dreaming or is this a memory? She was on her back for some reason. The bear grunted as he crouched down and held a red capsule in front of her.

"Wake up girl. Wake up! I'll admit, I was a bit too rough. Shoulda been more careful." He gruffly said, offering her his large scary black hand. "You okay?" He asked.

"I-I I'm awake. I'm fine, Master Gouhin."

"You okay?

"I'm okay."

You okay? He repeated. It was like he couldn't hear her.

"Master, I'm okay!" She shouted.

Suddenly the panda's scarred face began to fade and morph. The world started to bend and shift. It was becoming bright, soon the panda's face became that of another animal.

"Yoo Okee?" Pao asked. "I don't heff to take yoo to a hospital or anyting do I?"

"Ugghhh.." She groaned as she came to feeling like her head was cracked open. " Gouhin...master...come back."

"Go-hin? Masta?"

Her eyes opened wide, at least the one that wasn't swollen. In front of her wasn't the black and white face of her panda master, instead before her was the big black and white furry face of the bruised spider monkey holding up a red smelling salt capsule to her face. Frightened, she immediately scurried back up towards the restroom wall. The monkey tilted his head curiously at her.

"You!" She shouted in surprise.

"Uhh.. Yes, me?" He asked, confused. "Who is Go-hin?"

"Stay back!" The rabbit shouted, a jittery and volatile mess. Without hesitation, she yanked one of her blades stored in her ears free and began stabbing it at him as she tried to defend herself.

"Whoa… WHOA! You had dat in dhere the whole time?!" The monkey exclaimed with reasonable shock and concern.

"Stay back!" She warned backing away, her heart racing and her breathing erratic like cornered prey. Prey. That's exactly what she'd been reduced to. She'd lost. She was at his mercy. This is what her pride had gotten her. An unceremonious death by devouring. There was no point delaying the inevitable as she stared at the monkey's sharp teeth.

Pao was a bit unnerved by her belligerent defensive behavior. "Ey, jəst calm down! No wun nēdz to get hərt any môr than we ôlˈredē are!- Jəst calm down." He said, trying to reassure her.

The situation weighed more on her as her failure sank in. She failed, she had failed herself. She was just a frail rabbit after all. "Just get it over with!" She shamefully requested. "It's what I deserve."

"Wut?!" The monkey looked at her even more confused. "The hell are you talkin' about moça ? Get wut over wit?!"

"Eat me! Devour me! Make it quick!"

"Wut?!"

"What are you waiting for? Ain't I just some weak and defenseless morsel before you?"

A look of disgust appeared on Pao's face. The spider monkey rested his head in his hands, completely bewildered. " Foda-se! Why in the world would I eat you? O que voce esta louco?"

She squinted cautiously at the primate. "Ain't you... a carnivore?" She asked.

"Carn-I'M A SPIDER MONKEY, CHU LIDDLE MORON! DON'T CHU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SPIDER MONKEYS?!" He savagely exploded at her.

"Rex, you don't have to yell!" She responded, almost deafened. "No….? Why is that important?"

"BECAUSE WE DON'T EAT MEAT?!"

The monkey let out an exasperated sigh as he shook his head at her ignorance.

"Figgas…" He admitted. "Chu don't strike me as səmwun educado or inteligente ye? Y'know considering you pick fights wit beasts twice yoor size and wuns yoo neva heard of no less.

"Watch it," she said, holding the blade in her hand, "or you're going to wish you really did kill me."

"Can yoo jəst drop da stəbərn and təf act, ôlˈredē? " He said sitting down next to her, completely unafraid. " Muito tenso." He groaned and let out a big sigh.

She scooted over a bit, still fearful. But the monkey didn't pay her any mind, instead reaching over and grabbed a cold drink, a beer. He put the beverage up to his puffy bloodshot eye and pressed it like an ice pack. He let out a groan of relief where she got a good glance at his mouth, observing the sharp incisors and sharpened molars within.

"Why do you even have those sharp teeth for then, huh? I know carnivores have sharp teeth to eat meat, simple as that."

"Oh I see how it tis, I got dhese liddle hooks in here and all of a sudden I'm jəst a carnivore to you, hã ? Maldito primate bias. Ev'ry-wun sees da fangs and thinks we all eat meat. Guess we both prejudiced? Well, if chu must know, we monkeys from time to time like to gnaw on wood, teef are good for dat y'know."

"Pray-ju-dis prayjudis prejudice...?" she sounded out slowly trying to gather what it meant. "Big word, what's that one mean?"

The exasperated primate sighed again, and opened his drink, a beer from the looks of it. "Rex, chu rēlē are dum."

"Least I can talk right." She shot back at him.

He chuckled. "Alright, dat hərt . I think dats enuff punishment comin' from yoo moça , I'll explain. It mēnz when ya judge səmwun based on hã dey look. Like… wun could say yoor weak or helpless cuz yoor a rabbeet…" He said, taking a quick sip and letting the bitter taste settle. "..and you did the same thing, thinking I'm səm meat eater . So, we both got prejudices it seems. And looks like nun of dat's true, ey?"

Kyuu looked down and took a deep breath.

" Urgh...um... I'm sorry."

The monkey almost choked and snorted beer out his nose. "Pfft...HA!" He shouted satisfied. "Dhere we go!" His beaten face became so cheerful at the sound of those words, much to her disgust. "Shem we hed to get so meny bruises and bumps jəst ta get dhose two werds, ey? Jajajaja." He reached over to his side and grabbed another drink. A soda. "Here...uh place dis ova yoo face. Should be still...uh cold, ye." He said.

"The hell is this for?" She asked looking at the can, a herbivore brand. "I thought the deal for a drink was if I won?"

"Ye, ye. Jəst put it over yôr eye." He said, waving off her silly objections.

"Why are you being so nice?" She said punching him in the arm. "What? You pity me or something? Cuz you won?!"

"Wha? Lēst I ko͝od do y'know after I bus you up like dat. Besides you got me gud, got me reel gud. Not many rabbeets can say dat. So... respect I guess? Plus yoo sed sorree, so… we can be friendly now, sim." He tapped her lightly on the head and laughed much to her annoyance.

Her face was a mixture of cold and stinging pain as she pressed the can up to her bumps. She also felt her nose was running and tried to wipe it, only to see the cream fur on her hands come back damp with areas of red and burgundy on them. "Fuck," she groaned as she began to wonder just how bad she got beaten. "I don't need any of this next week." She groaned and muttered to herself.

"Neither do I, coelha ...didn't expectchu to bus me up so bad eetha."

"So what? You're probably better off than me. I need to stay in good condition."

"Ey, don't be so sure. Yoo ain't da only wun dat fights around here rememba." He said taking another sip, while taking a sideways glance at her.

"Yeah, well you probably just fight for money, real money. Where I fight I need to win, y'know if I want to keep breathing."

"So yoo really do fight in dhose secreto barrio fights, hã?" He said studying her. "I thought as much. I think I hear of yoo before."

"What? You just believing me now?" She asked with a smug expression, proud of her rep.

"Well yoo know, I believe yoo, it's jəst, I know fa sure who yoo are now, sim. Specially wit dat insano ear knife dere. Você é o Psicopata. Uh...You're the Psycho, right? Coelha louca, hã?"

"Yeah…" She answered reluctantly, "That's what they call me."

"Well Psychooo, me and yoo, we might uh, heff a bit more in common den we 'firs thought, ye?" He said, a slick grin wrapping around his fuzzy face as he took a long chug.

Kyuu looked at the grinning spider monkey confused as to what he was getting at. In common? She had noticed the parallel between their style, he couldn't have meant that, could he? "What do you mean?" She asked.

He wiped the beer from his lips and let out a loud burp. "Still don't git it, ye?"

She shook her head, completely lost. Maybe it was the headache, but she didn't feel like answering any damn riddles today.

"Remember when I said my nome was Pao o Macaco Aranha? Well yoo might heff heard of me before. Like a another nome I go by."

"Pow..." It sounded like a name that she had heard before. "Pow...Pow the…

"Pao the cy…" He hinted to show she was warm.

"Pow the cy- Oh no." She said, the revelation hit her harder than he had.

He was amused by the horror on her darkened face as she put everything together. She had heard the name before, though she never really put it to a face or species. She knew of his reputation. He was one of the arena's top talents. Her competition. More importantly...

"Ye'. I'm the guy you have to fight next. Jajajaja." He said, straightening up as he chuckled. "Meu nome é Pão, o Ciclone or chu might know me as uh, Pow da Cyclone ye! Gostas de nos encontrarmos assim, ey? "

"Y-YOU-" She stammered as rage took over."-FUCKING- CHEATER!" She screeched, as she stood up ready to slug him.

"Hey!" He shouted, standing up as well, towering over her once more. "You da wun dat jump into a fight with me. I jəst wented an appologee, rememba dat."

"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE MY OPPONENT!" The rabbit shouted in protest pulling at her ears.

"Well I bar'ly knew yoo were mine until chu challenged me!" He shouted back. "Besides where we fight, ain't no rools, sim? Besides a liddle spar ain't cheating is it?"

Kyuu just growled and glowered at the simian as darker and murderous thoughts started coming to mind. "You call that a spar?!"

"Well yoo apparently did, sim?" He said, folding his arms. "Besides we're even, hmm? I got chu, chu got me hã?" He said pointing to both their bumps and bruises.

"Why don't we just finish this now, get it out of the way?" She growled, clenching her knife in hand, ready to do unspeakable things.

"Ooooh don't tell me yoor scared now!" He taunted. "I was so lookin' forwar' to fightin' yoo for reel next week."

Without any warning, she leapt up, furiously flinging forth her right foot between his legs, only for his hairy black palm to catch her red windbreaker pants leg just shy of his testicles. The rabbit scowled in rage at the monkey as she hopped pathetically on one foot.

The simian merely stared right back with a cocky expression. "You might heff me lookin out wun eye, but even a blind beast could heff seen dat comin moça. " He looked all too eager to continue their little violent encounter. It wouldn't really be a fight, all it would take to end this is for him to hit her really hard with his free arm or he could toss her into the wall really hard.

"C'mon! Let's finish this now." She beckoned.

"Ja Ja… no." His face softened as he declined.

"No?! Why?" She asked, getting impatient and willing to try the other foot.

"Yoor my payday and I might be yoors! So, why ruin səmting like dat, hmm?" He reasoned. "Much as I like fightin, I like puttin' fo͞od on my table more, sim?"

Kyuu's leg was getting tired and her rage was beginning to simmer. She started to listen.

"Besides, you seem de type dat likes a gud fight too, I wager. So I promise, next week, I make the real one worth yoor while and I want yoo to fight me like I hear yoo fight dhose udda guys. Wit yoor knives and dat monstro I hear yoo conjure!" He bent down and looked her in the eye. "Yoo gud fighta, I know dis, but I also know yoo held yourself back dere, sim."

He let go of her leg and backed off. Kyuu was tempted to strike him anyway, but she couldn't argue with what he said. He was her next meal ticket.

Plus gutting him now might screw things up with the Inarigumi. That white Inari bitch would probably be real upset that she would have no one to fight next week. She might even have her thrown in a cage with more than just one carnivore just for the spectacle. At least with this guy, she could rely on experience.

She also looked up and saw the sky was getting dark as the sun began to set. She simply didn't have time for another fight, instead she needed to head back if she wanted to make it to the market before nightfall at least. She might head to the store and get something for these bruises.

When looked back, the spider monkey gave the bunny a final wink and nod, before heading down the path with his jacket over his shoulder. "See yoo in da cage, coelha. "

"Yeah and I'll be the last thing you see, Pow! Bet on it!" Kyuu threatened.

"We'll see! Jəst keep səmting cold ova dat eye, ye?! I want chu all healed up, cuz next time I won't be so friendly! Tchau ! " Pao said, a hint of menace in his voice. He swaggered off down the walkway chuckling in the distance. "By da way, fix yoor top!"

She was puzzled at first before looking down, her tank top was still raised from earlier, barely covering her breasts. She furiously pulled her shirt down and slid to ground by the restroom wall, defeated and pissed off. She reached in her pocket and pulled a cigarette free from her pack. She stopped before even raising her lighter, not even feeling like getting a drag anymore. Ugh, what a rotten day, she thought. All this shit happening to you, now not only did you get beat, you got beat by a fake carnivore.