Chapter 4: Challengers Awaken
I want to know the defeat tatakau tame ni
Saibou ga minuku tamashii no kesshou
Tsudoi shi kakugo to ai no kodou wa
Fumikomu ryouiki mijuku to mitari
Tobira no mukou ni ima yowaki kokoro hisomu
Buchi yabure imasara
I want to know winner's mind motto
Jibun no naka no monsutaa ga sakebu
Kurai tsukushite shimae
Kowasu! Be free na ketsuraku wo
Tagiru asu wa koosutaa no you ni maware dream on
Todokanu mirai ga attemo
Heru mae no puraido setsuna
Mata moto ni modoru dake~! Yeah~!
Tuckson's Book Trade
Wednesday, August 19th, 1835hrs
The book store was closing for the night as the last few customers were shuffling to purchase their items. Among them is a Cat Faunus with a copy of the novel Ninjas of Love carried on her right arm. She had short hair and her left ear was pierced, while she was wearing a simple light blue shirt and white pants. A button in the middle was undone to show some cleavage, as her high heel slippers clicked with each step.
She approached the front desk and set the book down onto the counter, as the clerk comes out saying, "Welcome to Tuckson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun. How can we—", but then stumbles upon the lady in blue. As he lays his eyes upon her, his face lights up with nostalgia as he cries, "Kali! It's been far too long! How are you?"
"I've been handling myself well," Kali replied, "I've just arrived here in Vale to pay my baby girl, Blake, a visit. And what better way to do so than buy the latest issue of her favorite series?"
"I see. Well, Itsuka's Gamble is on the house—"
"Nonsense. Paying the original price of 650 lien is sufficient enough."
"Well alright; I was just being nice" Tuckson chuckled.
"Apologies, old friend. But I just didn't want to owe you anything. You must understand that by now-!"
Suddenly, a small kunai streamed past her right eye and embedded itself onto the wall behind Tuckson's left, cutting his arm as it passed. While he cried out in pain, Kali whipped herself around in time to block a kick with her forearms. She opens them with a forces that launches back the assailant, a man with a red hood and robe, blades pushing out past the backs of his hands. His purple eyes showed sadistic glee, as he visually relished Tuckson's cries of agony. With a crooked smile he calls out to Kali, "My, my. You are quite an incredible woman, Kali Belladonna. I guess they don't call you the Kai-Oh of Menagerie for nothing."
"Riktor Kaylock. You're fighting in Tokugawa's tournament as well?"
"Indeed. I anticipated my trip to Remnant for that exact occasion. I even paid your doddering husband, Ghira, a visit. Such a shame, however. Even with his seemingly robust strength, he was no match for me. So in the end, to the victor go the spoils. And now, you will be joining him."
'Yes. She values her family highly. Knowing her husband's death will consume her in rage. After that, ripping that condescending head of hers off those shoulders should be—'
Kali only chuckled at this assassin's words, throwing him and his train of thought off. She crosses her arms and points her right hip out; her sign of initial triumph. "H-hey. What's so damn funny, Belladonna? Don't tell me…"
"Kaylock, you arrogant fool. My husband is not the Chieftan of Menagerie for nothing. While your back was turned, he recovered from his wounds with his Semblance: the ability to quickly recharge his Aura. My daughter and I bore witness to your blunder, our Ghira's miraculous survival. And now that you've delivered yourself to me," Kali spoke, her body subconsciously preparing for battle, "you've finally brought this hunt to its climax."
Sonra POV
Vallon Square, Kingdom of Vale
An hour later…
I was walking with Sienna through the square, looking for others to join us in the tournament. The square itself, even though the sun's gone down, is still as lively as ever. I guess five years is still too soon to settle down after both our worlds were saved. The only difference is, unlike Remnant, Earth was ignorant of the threat Salem had posed to both worlds. In the end, Salem was still, by all counts, Remnant's battle. I actually dreaded any outcome of Earth learning about Salem and the Grimm. For better or worse, we had to cover up the war against Salem, otherwise Earth's nations would've mobilized and eventually setting their sights on all four Kingdoms.
Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I awoke to Sienna trying to get my attention.
"Hey, Sonra. Try to keep up, we're almost there."
Shaking off my inner thoughts, I replied, "Um, yeah. Sorry, I was just…"
"You were thinking, weren't you? What was it about, our kiss?"
Blushing, I only replied, "Wait just a damn minute! I never called that a kiss, I—"
"Count it as a crash of lips, yes, I do too."
"Now you're just twisting words that aren't even there. Now, where are we going, exactly?"
One minute after I asked, I got my answer. We arrived at this bar with an outdoor patio. Lights are still on inside, people bustling within, waiting on food and/or drink. I was wondering if Sienna was just craving some booze, until I looked further through the window.
"Oh hell no! We're not bringing Mars fucking Grayson into this!"
"Oh lighten up, Sonny. He's one of the strongest brawlers we know; he WAS the only one to overpower Yang in a straight up fist fight."
"Yeah, and I also distinctly remember telling you about how it happened. We were in Washington, DC, during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Yang's idea for drawing him out was to burn one of the trees blossoming there."
"*sigh* And you told me that if it weren't for you and everyone else there, Mars would've completely slaughtered Yang, before she had the chance to receive medical attention."
"Not to mention every other tree was obliterated in the process. You do realize he's not just strong, but borderline unpredictable, right?"
"Exactly my point, Sonny boy. Now, before we talk to him, I'm heading to the bar. Mama's getting thirsty" Sienna said while she sauntered over to the bar for some alcohol. 'This night's gonna be painless' I thought.
Meanwhile…
Kaylock laid broken and defeated on top of a fallen bookshelf, his robe in tatters and both of his blades shattered. He was still breathing, despite the damage he took fighting his opponent. He opened his eyes to gaze upon the ceiling, only to be met with Kali's blank expression, and an open palm held behind it. In an instant, as her palm descended upon Kaylock, the world around him slowed, as he faced certain defeat at the hands of his own quarry. 'How can this be?' Kaylock thought. 'I was sure I could at least catch the Kai-Oh off guard. So how? HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?!' As Kaylock's last thought crossed his mind, the palm made contact to the center of his face, the force shooting through and crushing the spinal cord just before his skull. Kaylock laid dead within a mere moment after the impact.
Kali walked back to Tuckson, who had already nursed his wound during the fight. She wore a regretful expression, knowing that someone was harmed because of her.
"I'm so sorry about all of this, Tuckson. I never wished for my business to put you in danger like that."
"It's fine, Kali. As long as I see you're okay, I'm happy. It's still a shame what happened to my store, though."
"I could help rebuild it, if you like."
"Nonsense. I don't want to owe YOU anything. Seriously."
Kali chuckled at those words, and how Tuckson fears the consequences of coming short of any debt to her. She walks out what's left of the store with the book in tow, wiping her forehead as she went out the door. 'Blake and Ghira will be pleased to know that Kaylock's been taken care of. After I drop this off, I think it's time to have a little fun for myself.'
And Kali Belladonna has entered the fray. Sorry about the delay, folks, I've been super lazy. And working with various authors with story ideas. Hate to cut this short, but leave a review and let me know what you think of the story so far. Kamina out.