Title: Touché
Author: Potato Maiden
Pairing: Umi Ryuuzaki/Ascot
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Theme: #21 – Violence; Pillage/plunder; Extortion
Disclaimer: I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth, it, and all it's components belong to Clamp, who refuse to answer my phone calls...

They didn't know what had hit them, and personally, they were scared. It all happened in the blink of an eye, if not, anything sooner. Umi had dropped to her knees. Her comrades in arms didn't see this coming, nor did the fallen knight. Hikaru and Fuu had rushed toward her but something held them back from going to help her. That invisible force had even pushed them back a considerable amount of feet as they tried again. Lantis and Ferio caught them as they began their descent toward the ground at the rapid pace the force called gravity pushed them toward.

Umi remained silent as her attacker left long gashes along her backside with his whip. He watched the girl as she grimaced with each blow, ripping her once clean clothes to near shreds.

"Get up girl." He said, kicking her. Umi did nothing, a glare placed on her face and determination in her heart. She grunted as the man kicked her harder. "I said get up!" he barked. Once again, Umi did not move a muscle, her face now in a look of grim determination. Fuu and Hikaru had to be held back by their loves in order to let Umi do what she was planning. The man jerked her up by her shoulder and Umi let out a cry of pain. The man chuckled, amused at the sound of Umi's shoulder dislocating, amused at her pain. Ryuuzaki Umi, magic knight of water smirked. She had a plan, and being around Fuu, the plan was formulated rather quickly. She stood tall, removing her hand from her shoulder and smirked more confidently.

"You like pain?" she asked, pulling her sword from the ground, holding it steady with her good arm. Inside, she was scared as hell but she was not going to let this man see it. He watched her intently, every little movement she made, every little twitch of her hand. She gripped her sword, and glanced at her friends as the man cracked the whip over her back once more. She took a step forward, he cracked the whip to the side. "I asked you a question." She said simply, raising her sword.

"Ascot no!" Hikaru shouted as Ascot entered the scene, looking about as happy as a bee in one's mouth. The man chuckled at this.

"Look's like your Prince Charming is coming." He said, disregarding the palu advancing toward him.

"Heh, you'll need yours when I'm through with you." Umi said, striking him with her sword. The man grabbed the tip and gasped in awe as the escudo made weapon melted into water and leapt back into Umi's waiting hand.

"What kind of sword is that?" he asked.

"My sword." Umi replied shortly, as she slammed her sword to her right, cracking the invisible shield. "Made specifically for me." She cracked the knuckles on her good hand threw herself at the man, throwing all her strength into her sword play. The man stopped cracking his whip in attempt to get the sword but it kept turning to water, giving up on one weapon he drew another and began a sparring match with the fencer.

"And my sword," he began, pushing her back, "made to kill you." Umi scoffed and parried, blocked and slashed, as if dancing around him in mockery, she took the hilt of her sword and slammed it on the top of his head. The man fell at this crippling blow and Umi, very much of a sportswoman, bowed, before poking him in the throat.

"Touché." She said softly, turning to her friends. Then she noticed the blood trickling down her side, she laughed quietly before blowing a kiss toward Ascot and fainting. Fuu and Hikaru rushed over, followed by the three males. Fuu quickly healed Umi's wounds and moved aside for Ascot to pick her up.

Ascot carried the unconscious fighter, bridal style, to her room. Once there, he placed her on her bed and tucked her in. Fuu brought in a wet cloth to place on Umi's forehead. Her pale complexion was tinted with signs of fever as Ascot placed the cloth on her forehead, he kissed her on the tip of her nose and thought he saw the corners of her mouth perk up in a smile for a split second, but brushed it off.

a/n: Was it really a smile? Toodles!