The Twenty-fourth Match

Hibiki strolled confidently into the arena and faced Nina, grinning. "Yo!"

Nina narrowed her eyes. "You seem confident, for a girl who's about to die," she commented.

Hibiki shook her head. "Nah, I know I'll probably die," she admitted. "But…y'know what? That's alright with me. 'Cause, in the end, I'm gonna give it my all and if I lose, then at least I know my friends were cheerin' for me." She slid her foot back and lifted her arms to her face in a fighting pose. "So c'mon, Nina! Let's give these guys a nice show!"

Nina chuckled. "I will admit, your spirit is impressive," she muttered. "But you won't get out of this alive. Tell you what—I'll make your death particularly painful, so that all your friends will know not to mess with me."

Hibiki chuckled back. "'Kay then. Do your worst."

Nina ran at her, a gun in one hand and the other closed in a fist. Hibiki waited until she was only a foot away, then she ducked and rolled out of the way, jumping to her feet in time to throw a kick at Nina. She managed to strike the assassin in the back and she stumbled, but Nina quickly whirled around and grabbed Hibiki's foot from the air. She slammed her forearm into Hibiki's ankle and a loud crack sounded. Hibiki let out a cry of pain and wrenched her foot free. She ran backwards to get farther away, keeping her eyes fixed on Nina. Nina nodded slightly.

"Not bad, but that's not even close to the most I can do," she called. "Your friend, right? Iori? She killed my sister. Is she a good friend?"

"I guess," Hibiki answered. "Not as good as some o' the others, but I guess."

"Killing my sister was supposed to be my job," Nina explained. "But I suppose I should be a little grateful. The brat is out of the way, but I would have liked to kill her myself. In any case, I think making you suffer should punish Iori enough, do you?"

"Nah," Hibiki insisted casually. "Iori never really cared much for me anyhow."

"What is she saying?" Iori, who was up in the waiting room, hissed. "I mean…I won't care too much but of course I'd be upset if she suffered!"

"She's being smart," Makoto snapped. "Leave her alone. By telling Nina that you don't care about her, she's making it seem like it wouldn't matter if she suffered. All-in-all, Nina only wants her to suffer because she thinks it'll leave a mark on you."

Iori nodded slowly and focused on the match again, where Nina was throwing punch after punch after kick at Hibiki, who successfully dodged every one.

"Hold still!" Nina lashed, sweeping her leg at Hibiki's ankles. Her damaged leg was hit and the Okinawan idol fell to her knees. Nina took out her gun and shot at her a couple times. The first shots missed; Hibiki was able to move to the side slightly and avoid them. But then Nina shot again and Hibiki was struck in the shoulder and the left side of her chest. She screamed and dropped to the ground, rolling away again. When she was far enough, she stood and ran (or rather, stumbled) to the wall of the arena. She waited.

Nina ran at her, the gun now returned to the holster and both hands open as though she would grab Hibiki's neck. Hibiki took a deep breath. When Nina had gotten close, she jumped into the air and pushed off the wall with her uninjured foot, ultimately flying over Nina's head, but not without sending her injured foot flying into the assassin's face. Nina growled and stepped backwards to regain her balance. Hibiki landed on her uninjured foot and paused to send an elbow into Nina's back before sprinting away towards the other side of the arena.

Takane smiled. "She's doing amazingly well, don't you think?" she murmured.

Makoto nodded proudly. "That's our Hibiki; dodging for her life and using speed as an advantage. Guys, I actually think she might have a chance at winning this! Maybe if she can get her hands on one of Nina's guns…"

Takane nodded back. "Let us hope…"

In the arena, Nina had both guns out of her holsters, while Hibiki was leaning against the wall, panting and exhausted. She held her left shoulder with her right hand, trying to stop the blood. After a moment, she moved it to her chest. She made a pained noise and slid down the wall to the ground. Nina approached her and glared down at her.

"Give up yet?" she asked menacingly. She held the guns out towards Hibiki.

Hibiki narrowed her eyes. "Not yet." She snapped her left foot up at Nina's hand. Instinctually, Nina dropped the gun and grabbed her foot. Hibiki instantly snatched the gun from the ground and pointed it at Nina, who looked at her indifferently. "If ya shoot me, I'll shoot ya back!" Hibiki cried. Her hands shook and a couple tears slid down her face, but her mouth was frowning and her eyes narrowed. If one ignored her shaking, Hibiki appeared quite confident.

Nina smirked slightly. "Is that so," she said quietly. "Then I guess it all comes down to who has the most stamina." She pulled the trigger. Hibiki was shot in the middle of the chest. She winced, but pulled the trigger on her own gun. Nina blocked it but was struck in the arm. She flinched.

Hibiki smiled a bit. "See that?" she whispered. She pulled the trigger. Nina let go of her leg and blocked it. Hibiki kicked her in the side and pulled the trigger two more times. Nina actually uttered a pained noise as the bullets smacked into her ribcage, right below her breast. She glared at Hibiki, who rolled out of the way and stood up. Nina shot her in the side and she shot Nina in the shoulder. Nina winced and Hibiki screamed.

The audience was on the edge of their seats. As far as they could tell, the two were evenly matched. But Hibiki and Nina both knew that the former had taken too much damage. The only thing that kept her standing was sheer willpower.

I have to get to 'er heart, Hibiki realized. I have to…shoot 'er heart! She raised the gun and squinted, aiming straight for Nina's heart. Her finger shook on the trigger, but she forced herself to stay still. "I'm not lettin' 'em down, Nina Williams!" she shouted. Nina opened her mouth to speak.

Suddenly, Hibiki raised the gun and shot a bullet into Nina's mouth. Nina's eyes widened slightly and she moved to escape, but the bullet slammed into the edge of her lip. She cried out in shock and agony and stumbled. Hibiki, surprised at the sudden move she'd made, only watched as the woman staggered and fell to her knees. She glared up at Hibiki and whipped a knife from a pouch on her hip.

"Just die already!" she yelled, throwing the knife at Hibiki's head. Hibiki fell onto her knees and managed to avoid the knife, but Nina grabbed another one and flung it at her with greater speed and accuracy. It lodged itself in Hibiki's head, but not before Hibiki reverted to her old plan and shot a bullet into Nina's heart. Both fighters screamed and collapsed to the side. The audience gasped.

Blood spilled from the various wounds the two had received. Shakily, slowly, the fighters rose to their feet, only to collapse again from the pain. A team of paramedics ran into the room and lifted each of them onto their own stretcher, then wheeled them away.

The announcer leaned towards his microphone. "The match…was a draw! Everyone, please stand by. We will later announce whether or not Hibiki and Nina survived the match. Thank you."

Takane watched them wheel Hibiki away, mouth slightly agape. She looked over at Iori and Makoto, who frowned. Makoto looked at Takane.

"We have to go visit her. Where do they keep the injured?"