Author's Note – Whooo! Lewis won! Anywise, back to this stuff.
Daughter of ether – You're probably right, now that I'm over the halfway point I do feel like I'm rushing it slightly. I'll keep your advice in mind.
Tikigod784 – Thanks, and yes, 1 year after the manga.
TzuiAssassian – Will I mention them? Maybe, maybe not. Hehehe
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Scattered applause could be heard coming from the arena, as Negi and Mana fought for a place in the finals. Lee sat in the participant's pavilion while he waited for them to finish up.
I hope Negi wins. Mana scares me.
He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning around he saw none other than his next opponent enter.
"Takamichi! What's up? Haven't seen you in a while." Takahata smiled and returned Lee's greeting in kind.
"Yeah, its been to long, hasn't it, Lee? You sure have grown since I last saw you. So what brings you to Mahora any ways. You've been here for a while, but I never had a chance to talk to you." Lee's face turned serious.
"Official business." He said grimly. Takahata lifted an eyebrow.
"It's them." Lee explained. Takahata grimaced.
"You're sure?"
"Yep."
"Damn. I thought we had more time…" Takahata sighed. "Oh well. Let's just enjoy the fight."
"But of course." Lee smiled.
Soon enough, they were stepping into the ring, this time regarding each other not as friends, but opponents.
"Don't go easy on me, Takamichi."
"Likewise, Lee. Show me what you've learned these past ten years."
The announcer held up his hand. "Ready…." Takahata put his hands into his pockets and adopted a relaxed stance. Smirking, Lee mimicked him.
"GO!" The announcer yelled.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then,
BANG!
A small explosion took place in the air between the two opponents. Takahata grinned.
"I see you've mastered the fist pressure I taught you." Lee lifted an eyebrow.
"Actually, Takamichi, I think I've one-upped you on that account."
Lee drooped low and spun around into a low roundhouse kick. A dense line of air swept Takahata's feet out from under him.
"Wha…?" Lee didn't give him time finish the thought. Coming back up, he threw himself into a 360 front-flip, bringing down his heel to smash another line of air onto Takahata's head.
All of a sudden, though, Takahata vanished. Cursing, Lee jumped up just in time to avoid a fist pressure to the back. Twisting in midair he landed lightly to face Takahata again.
Takahata was smiling. "So, you've figured out how to throw air pressure from not just your fist, but everywhere. Very good, Lee. Very good indeed. Looks like I'll have to take it up a notch."
Lee dropped back cautiously. Takahata raised his hands. First the left, then his right hand began to glow. He looked up at Lee grinning.
"Kanka."
Lee was blown back slightly by the explosion of power. Putting his arm across his eyes, he gritted his teeth.
Damn. He mastered Kanka. Hadn't counted on that; it brings him up to a level I can't match.
All I got left is tactics.
Ironically, his first tactic was running away; even with instant movement, he could barely avoid the blasts Takahata was throwing out. He began angling his movements, bring him closer to Takahata. After dodging a particularly powerful blast, he closed the distance and launched a double attack of fist pressure and…well, his fist.
Only to have himself thrown back about ten meters or so by a fist pressure from Takahata. Rolling with the blow, he pushed off from his back after he made contact, rather heavily, with the ground, and regained his feet.
And was once again blown back by another fist pressure, this time throwing him out of the arena.
Almost.
Slamming his heels into the edge of the ring, Lee transferred all his momentum into a forward flip, and barely managed to grab onto the edge of the ring. Kicking off from the side, he flipped again to land on his feet.
Takahata stood over him.
Lee gulped. "Damn."
BOOM!
Taking a Kanka blast full force isn't fun at all, Lee found out. In fact, it pretty much hurts like hell.
Lying in a 3-foot deep crater, he gasped for breath, feeling like his ribs were cracked. Each breath felt like a dagger to his chest.
Up in the stands, Zazie was nearly beside herself with worry. Mana, who had lost earlier, saw her nearly sobbing and went down to her.
"Zazie? What's wrong?" Zazie turned and looked at her friend.
"It's Lee, I think he's hurt, but I can't- AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" All of a sudden, Zazie screamed and clutched at her head. Mana gripped her shoulders and asked worriedly, "Zazie? Zazie! ZAZIE!"
Zazie felt like an army of men were each pounding her skull with ninety-pound sledgehammers. Sobbing, she collapsed in Mana's arms.
"My head… it feels… like it's going to…explode." She managed to gasp out.
Grabbing her friend and picking her up, Mana whispered to her. "It's alright, I'll get you to the infirmary. After you rest for a while, you'll feel better." Then, as an afterthought, Mana let slip something she and Lee had been keeping secret.
She needs to feel better more than she needs a surprise.
"After all," Mana said, smiling, "You'll need to be one hundred percent for your special date with Lee tomorrow!"
Zazie smiled through her tears of pain. "A surprise date?"
Mana smiled. "That's right, so you better get better, or Lee will feel let down."
Zazie laughed a little. "I guess I'd better rest up then."
"That's the spirit."
Lee, still down in his crater, saw the entire thing.
Zazie's in pain. Zazie's in pain. ZAZIE'S IN PAIN!!!
Lee got up slowly. Takahata looked at him, surprised. Lee looked at him grimly.
"I'm sorry Takahata, but I have to finish this. I have to go see her."
"Who?"
Lee smiled through his tears. "Zazie."
He clenched his fist and looked at Takahata with eyes full of fire.
"And like hell I'm gonna go as a loser!" Yelling, he lunged at Takahata.
Takahata let loose a kanka blast, hitting Lee full in the chest. Lee slammed back into the ground, but managed to keep his feet. Gritting his teeth, he fought the pressure of the power bearing down on him.
Zazie said she would cheer for me. If she's not here to cheer, then I'll have to cheer her up.
By beating him.
With a Herculean effort, Lee jumped through the kanka, and slammed his fist right into Takahata's gut with all the force he could muster. Takahata gasped in pain. Slumping to his knees, he collapsed.
"It's your win, Lee. Good job."
Even before the announcer had claimed him the winner, Lee sped off. Upon arriving in the nurse's office, he saw Zazie lying in bed with an icepack on her forehead.
His knees went weak at seeing her in so much pain. Zazie turned weakly in his direction.
"Hi, Lee." She said weakly.
"Hi, Zazie." He whispered. Silence followed his remark. Shuffling his feet, he searched for something to say.
"I…I won." It seemed such an idiotic thing to say, but Zazie giggled softly.
"Good job, Lee. You go win the finals, too. It wouldn't be good to be depressed about losing during our special date, would it?" Lee gasped.
"You heard?" Zazie smiled.
"Mana told me." Lee could only nod. Looking down at his feet, he turned around.
"Alright, Zazie. You get better, and tomorrow we'll go on our special date."
He walked out of her room, back towards the tournament grounds, with a hint of a smile on his face.
"After I win."
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Whooo! That was a dozy. There was more plot development than fight scene in this, but eh. There's plenty more fight scene later on.
Ja ne.