Chapter 11

'That's what I'll have,' thought Xiaoyu, 'a big empty room that is completely dark when they walk in. And then, and then a light will come on in the distance and hit a mirrored ball and start it spinning. Then the reflected light will hit other mirrored balls and they'll start spinning. Until the whole room is a world of spinning color.'

Xiaoyu smiled as she nestled farther into the soft mattress. Above her, light spun in an endless carousel from the small disco ball at the foot of her bed. She had found the device in a cardboard box beneath the desk in her room and had eagerly searched for an outlet to plug it into. The light, filtered through a disc of multi-colored glass, had initially blinded her when the light and motor had switched on. The light fell upon a half-dome covered in miniscule mirrors which spun and reflected the needles of light around the room.

Now, laying on her back in bed, it was so easily to be mesmerized by the sparkles of color. It was almost enough to lure her to sleep. Almost. If only she could get completely comfortable. She rolled her shoulders like waves, but they did not settle into any desirable position. Xiaoyu pushed herself out of bed and massaged her toes into the thick carpet. The clock on the headboard read 1:13 in dull red.

Julia was probably already asleep, but Xiaoyu tip-toed to the door adjoining their rooms, and tapped on it lightly. "Julia, are you still awake?"

Although there was no answer, she thought she heard a small click like a window opening, but that was probably wishful thinking. Nobody would be awake at this time of the night with the tournament officially starting tomorrow. If any of them were still awake, it would be either because of nervous energy or to meditate and refocus themselves. Still though, it wouldn't hurt to check on Julia.

Xiaoyu eased her door open and then gave a tentative push on Julia's door. It moved. Xiaoyu opened the door enough to poke her head through the gap. "Julia?"

Light flashed from within the room and Xiaoyu ducked back inside as something thin and cruel nicked the door, drawing a line deep into its edge. Xiaoyu was back on her feet in one smooth movement knowing nothing except that there was someone in Julia's room with a knife and that meant Julia could be in trouble.

She threw herself forward with her hands extended, pushing the door as she went, and then tucking her body into a ball to roll into the room. Xiaoyu squatted low, her left leg extended and her arms spread out and back like butterfly wings. The Art of Phoenix style's low stance would protect her against any knife attacks a startled attacker would throw instinctively expecting a standing opponent.

Unless Julia had a penchant of wearing stylized cat masks in private and was able to change weight and the length of her limbs in an evening, the other person in the room was not Julia. In fact, there was no sign of her suite mate.

"What did you do with her?"

The cat-woman said nothing. Her arm moved, and Xiaoyu rolled to the side as a high-pitched whistle sailed over head. The darts embedding themselves in the wall behind Xiaoyu. As Xiaoyu got back to her feet she spun one leg out and swept the ninja's legs. The cat-woman fell backwards, and Xiaoyu pressed the advantage. She speared her left hand into the soft tissue right below the shoulder between the chest and armpit, sending her opponent wincing backwards into a table as the knife slipped from her fingers.

Jars rattled and tumbled to the floor as the ninja's arm swept across the table's surface. Only a bowl made of stone instead of clay survived the fall, and a knife was awkwardly wedged between the ninja's elbow and the side of the table. Xiaoyu shuffled back to reassess the situation as her opponent grabbed ahold of the knife handle and slashed at her again. The cat-woman paused as she brought the knife up to the moonlight. She reached behind her and picked up the stone bowl as she extended the blade towards Xiaoyu.

Xiaoyu could almost feel the tension in her opponent's legs as they coiled like tight springs.

"Wait for it," Xiaoyu told herself. "Now."

Xiaoyu leapt back as the cat-woman shot forward, and pushed off the wall and over the attack. Landing beside the bed, Xiaoyu quickly turned to receive the anticipated counter-strike only to find that she was suddenly alone in the room. Xiaoyu edged around the corner of the bed to ensure her opponent hadn't hidden somewhere in the shadows.

"What the heck?" Xiaoyu stood and look out the window. A lithe figure scaled the far wall, her red hair snapping behind like a flag in a storm as she ran. A quick hop and the ninja disappeared into the shadows.

Xiaoyu looked about the room. It wasn't too bad considering a fight had broken out in it. Still though, there were three darts sticking into a wall and about four clay containers which had shattered beside the bed. Xiaoyu bit her lip wondering how she was going to explain this one to Julia.