Chapter 16: Heart of a Champion (Hollywood Undead, Papa Roach & ICE Nine Kills)

Waiting within the arena it was clear that the only remaining fighters in the Battle Nexus Tournament were the three Sons of Splinter, the Ronin Samurai, the Daughter of Karai and one other. Each one of the turtles stood in a place where they each had Kira in front of them without appearing to be protective of her while Usagi stood watchfully at her side as her Guardian. None of them knew anything of the remaining contestant and had no reason to trust them near her otherwise as they all waited for the tournament to resume. They knew that only one of them would end up facing the stranger and while each hoped it would be them, they each knew the odds of it being her were just as strong and there would be nothing, they could do about it.

Sitting silently next to the Daimyo; Splinter knew his sons well enough to catch on that something had happened to change the carefree dynamic they all shared going into this Tournament. The three in the arena bellow each stood as sentinels around their sister whom has seemed to have made an adjustment to her outfit and choice of weaponry, Kira was now dressed down to her black T-shirt and now publicly revealing her amputated left wrist, with the sliding blade strapped to her forearm, for all to see. She looked more determined than in the start and going from Raphael's silence as he stood towards the edge of their ledge, where he knew she could see him, Splinter sighed inwardly before closing his eyes in meditation when the fighters disappeared and the walls deciding them slid up into place; his children were up to something, he could feel it in his old bones.

Leonardo faced off with Usagi for their most anticipated rematch, Michelangelo faced off with Kira while Donatello was left to face the unknown fighter. Remembering how Splinter knelt down to let him win years before, Mikey now faced an internal dilemma with his fight against his little Sister. Should he face her for an all-out fight he knew she was not capable of winning or should he let her win. Pulling his nunchaku out of his belt a sly smirk spread across his green face.

"Knucklehead!" Raphael snorted in silent amusement watching from above, he knew his baby brother was up to one of his tricks with how he fought against Kira. Both gave the appearance of a fight between two highly skilled and evenly matched fighters but he knew the pair better… they were just playing. The crowd on the other hand was loving every moment of this round too.

One by one the round ended, Leonardo had won his match against Usagi and Donatello had lost his match against the unknown fighter but the match with Michelangelo and Kira was still going strong. It had stopped being light-hearted for them once blood was drawn and each fighter took it up a notch to see just who really was the best between them. Watching helplessly from the post-fight area both Usagi and Donatello kept their eyes locked to see just which one would be a include in the three-way tie. Both had just turned their attention away for a brief moment when Michelangelo flashed into the room bloody, bruised and in need of medical attention.

"Mikey, what happened out there?" Donnie asked rushing to his little Brothers side in full medic mode. He couldn't believe the damage he had just taken "Kira didn't hold, back did she?"

Chuckling the best, he could under the circumstance he shook his head no "Dude, she was fighting all out like she does with Leo and Master Splinter." He exclaimed not caring at all that he had gotten eliminated by his little Sister.

Seeing how unaffected he was by his loss brought a smile to both Usagi and Donatello's faces. This just left the unknown fighter, Kira and Leo. There was no telling how the next two fights were going to go but they were extremely proud of Kira regardless of what place she'll receive. She definitely had her mother's fighting spirit in her.

In the arena bellow the rules for deciding on whom were chosen to fight and whom will be advanced forward to the final match were explained to the three fighters. Seeing how rough of shape Kira was in after her lengthy fight she was given the option of receiving medical attention, thus causing a delay, but she refused. Rolling his eyes Leonardo request a moment and walked over to her with his infamous 'I'm the head of our Clan' look she often received from him. Holding her head up she let him rip off the bottom of her shirt and bandaged her still bleeding right hand. His actions had shown the very side of himself that he had been fighting back but he wasn't just going to let her stand there bleeding. Once the three fighters had jumped into the vortex that had appeared before them the crowd roared in anticipation of the second to last fight of the tournament.

Gripping his girlfriend's leather jacket tightly with both hands, Raphael stood nervously when he watched Leo rip part of her shirt off to bandage Kira's hand. If she was bleeding and won, he couldn't help but wonder just what condition Michelangelo was in. This Tournament was becoming more nerve-racking than the last one, then again, he did spend the end of the last one trying to find out why Splinter had been framed and locked in the dungeon. The arena exploded in cheers when it shifted into its final transformation of the night.

The people in the stands erupted in thunderous excitement when it was announced that the final battle will start off with two opponents in single combat, but after thirty minutes the third combatant will enter and if both combatants still remain then the winner will be determined by whomever is the last fighter standing. Appearing first in the arena, Leonardo looked around at the stands before his eyes landed on his brother Raphael. Even from that distance it was like they were standing right next to each other and with a nod of their heads they both knew what the other was thinking before the second opponent appeared from the vortex. Rolling his sholders and cracking his neck, Leonardo turned his attention fully onto his next opponent as they casually removed the hooded cloak that had been concealing their identity. The long fiery red hair and red dragon mask were unmistakable... it was the Daimyos very own Son, and his longtime rival, the Ultimate Ninja!


"That Mother Fuc..."

"Raphael..." Splinter scolded.

"Sorry Pop,"

"I am sure your Brothers share in your frustration, Young Warrior!" the Daimyo remarked calmly as he frowned understandingly beneath his golden mask.


"Donnie...",

"I know Mikey, I know.",

"Stay strong Watashi no ai*"


Shock and rage briefly flashed in Leonardo's eyes as he looked his rivel dead in the eye "Why am I not surprised that you're my next opponent!" he stated coldly "Don't think I don't know that was you in the market place earlier" he added with an emotionless tone as he slowly pulled his katanas from his back as they each began circling the other.

The Daimyos son laughed at the Turtles words "That woman has no place being amongst the likes of 'your' kind!" he stated mockingly "A Woman as exquisite as she, should be at my side... and In MY BED!" he went on to say in a dark and dangerous tone.

It took all of his training to keep a level head, he couldn't afford to let his anger get the better of him and chance losing this battle. It was up to him to finish this fight with the Ultimate Ninja and defend his belove sister's honor let alone leave her to face him in the last fight of this tournament. Taking his fighting stance, Leonardo charged to begin what was the most important battle of his life. It didn't surprise him, nor his family or Daimyo for that matter, when his opponent started to pull some of his old dirty tricks during their bout. The only reason why this match was being aloud was by Splinter's request as his intuition told him that his eldest son had been expecting this.

Time had no meaning for any as they battled on. The fans were going absolutely wild as the two contenders fought with everything, they had ion them down in the arena bellow. Raphael was so drawn into the match and wanting to go right down there and defend his mate himself that Splinter has casually slipped his long tail out and wrapped it around his closest ankle to keep such a thing from happening, if that were the old rats sneaking intuition knowing his hot-headed sons' feelings on his brother's rival. As for the remaining three Splinter could only pray that they kept their wits about them and waited at their location before doing anything incredibly... stupid. Almost exactly as Splinter had guessed, Usagi, Donatello and Michaelangelo, had left the post-fight room and casually made their way down to the arena as to not draw any unwanted suspicion. The moment they realized whom their eldest brother was fighting and after the events at the market, they decided to head down and be ready to assist once again this tournament. The only individual that no one had realized had an excellent view of everything and everyone during all of this was Kira from her otherworldly position waiting for her timed entrance into the fight.

Both the Ultimate Ninja and Leonardo were too caught up in hand-to-hand combat, as their weapons were now scattered around, to even notice that the thirty minutes had expired and the third opponent had even entered the arena let alone was now circling around them both. The moment Kira was teleported into the fight now making it a three-way battle for the Battle Nexus Championship she had her 'backup' chain-whip in hand and was twirling it readily as she circled the two fighters, keeping to their blind spots. The Turtles had never spoken much about the Son of the Lord Daimyo outside of that it was threw his hatred of Leonardo that both he and Usagi had met and instantly grown very fond of each other. She knew nothing of his fighting style but just from what she had seen in the viewing orb this was going to be a whole lot different than fighting Hun, there was no drastic need to save her Mate's life in this fight.

Waiting for just the right opening to make her first move in on the dirtbag she had to put up with while spending those months recovering after the accident that resulted in the loss of her hand and short-term memory, she found it right as he was preoccupied with gloating after sending Leonardo flying with a powerful roundhouse kick. Giving the chain-whip a bit more power behind it, she sent it flying out wrapping tightly around the Ultimate Ninja pinning his arms to his sides before using every ounce of strength and agility to pull and send him flying backwards into the opposite wall as her brother. Pulling her whip free and wrapped around her waist, Kira threw her left arm out to the side extending the sliding blade before charging at her unwanted stalker to take him on herself.

From the moment his shell hit the stone wall, it took Leonardo several moments to come too and realize that the attacks on him had stopped. Shaking his head clear his eyes went wide in horror as he realized who Kira was charging full speed at. Snarling, he pulled himself up as a fresh charge of rage fueled adrenalin shot threw his whole body and charged in to lend her a hand while picking up both of his Katanas on the way. "Kira..." he shouted catching her attention before tossing of his two swords in her direction.

Raphael dropped to his knees in complete shock when he watched Kira expertly catch Leo's Blade with her right hand in mid-stride and narrowed in on the Ultimate Ninja in a coordinated attack. He had no clue that she knew how to use a sword at all let alone one of Leonardos beloved Katanas, but then again, she was taught by the same sneaky old Rat that had taught them all the ways of Ninjitsu. She was still clearly a beginner but just from his brother's movements he could see that he was letting her mimic he last moves while keeping the attention mostly on himself to avoid giving that secret away. When the Daimyo's son had unwillingly disappeared both remaining fighters dropped to their knees exhaustedly at each other's side, laughing.

"YEAH..." he called out triumphantly

"The match is not yet finished Raphael!" Splinter pointed out with a soft amused chuckle.

"Oh yeah..." he replied rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly before returning to his feet to see just how this final battle was going to end.

Down in the arena Leonardo stood up and extended his hand to his sister, whom was still breathing hard from their fight, to help her to her feet. Once she placed her bandaged right hand into his lite and proud eyes quickly changed and became filled with worry, her bandage was soaked with blood. Looking down at her jeans where it had been resting, he could clearly make out a bloodied handprint "Kira?" he spoke softly not hiding the worry in his whispered voice.

Kira didn't need to look to know what he had just discovered, "I know Leo. It's Ok! I never expected that I would be able to make it this far and I'm super proud of myself for that." she spoke softly still smiling

A smile slowly grew on his own face as he nodded in agreement "As you should be!", "Gyoji" he called out loudly for the floating rule keeper.

Once he appeared in front of them, he looked between both fighters with his emotionless masked face. "Is there a problem, Hamato Leonardo of Third Earth?" he asked directly.

Holding out her blood-soaked hand for him to see he nodded, "Infact there is, My Clan mate here is under no condition to continue. I wish to speak with her Sensei about her..." he began to reply but was interrupted by a kiss to his cheek.

"It's ok Leo," Kira spoke softly to him before turning to the Gyoji, "As you can see that I am in no condition to compete further. I wish to disqualify myself undergrounds of withholding the severity of my injury." she replied standing proudly of her accomplishments in not only the tournament but personally as well.

"Very well then" he nodded before raising up to make the official announcement " Oroku, Kira of Third Earth is disqualified. Hamato, Leonardo of Third Earth is hereby the Winner of the Battle Nexus Tournament!"

#

The crowd roared with cheers as the arena opened up to allow their fellow fighters and family in to congratulate him. He didn't honestly wish to win like this but he was so overwhelming proud of his little sister that to object would tarnish her moment. Just like the overprotective brother he was, Leonardo held onto her wrist tightly and raised it up over her heart to elevate it and stem the bleeding the best he could until Raphael could get to her and go with her to the Healers.


(Note:*My Love)