Lets see how Kris does in the final now...!
LK
Chapter 28: Distraction
It was Kris' first night in the fighting tournament and it would be an understatement to say she was just nervous. She was literally shaking. Sabrina was next to her, trying to talk her out of panicking completely. The taller woman put a hand on her shoulder and smiled gently.
''Just remember, no matter what you hear from the crowd you have to be focused only in your fight and nothing else.'' She said quietly. ''Stay focused and balanced. Don't let her take you to the floor. Keep a proper stance and aim low without letting your legs wander too far away from your guard.'' She pointed at Kris' opponent, a woman at least six feet tall, currently stretching her legs, already inside the ring.
''She's taller than you and she'll try use it to her advantage, aiming your head with high kicks.'' Sabrina took hold of Kris' wrist and pulled it towards the younger angel's face. ''Keep your hand close to your face, to deflect her blows.''
Kris swallowed hard and nodded, taking a low crouch starting position. Sabrina went on. ''See how much more comfortable she is with her left leg? She's probably left-handed, and she'll try surprise you with left kicks, so keep your right hand close to your face to deflect them. I know it's your good hand but better play this safe.'' Her brown eyes searched her friend's to see if she was listening. ''Don't let her dictate your distance, she'll reach you in no time if you let her. Keep slipping in but keep your guard up. Strike once and push backwards quickly.''
''O...o-kay...''
''C'mon, put on your gloves. Pretend you're back in uniform and she's just a perp... take her down. C'mon Kris, you can do this.''
''Right...''
''And don't get distracted, no matter what you hear.'' She patter her shoulder once more and slipped in the crowd.
Kris walked in the ring, still slightly shaken. Her eyes were darting from the crowd to ''Hurricane'' Korina who wasn't quite returning the gawking. She was warming up and totally ignoring her. Right.
The bell rang before she was really ready but she resumed her low fighting stance. She was getting ready for a right middle kick when a left high kick fizzed past her cheekbone. Darn, Sabrina was right, the girl looked southpaw. She was just lucky the kick hadn't connected.
She exhaled sharply and moved slightly to the right, out of reach.
Don't let her dictate range. Not so easy when her legs are almost twice as long as hers...! It was almost instinctive to pull away from her. Maybe ever run. Yes, run away.
But...
Nah.
Okay, slipping inside her guard. Keep head down. Keep hand up. Got it.
This time Korina pushed forward with a left jab and Kris was able to do just that. Keep her head down, shifting sideways to dodge, her hand up and landed a knee to her opponent's exposed stomach. They pulled apart and stared at each other.
Happy as she was with her success, Kris wasn't able to refocus and pull her guard up. The next two left kicks connected solidly to her face and ribs and she dropped on the floor.
Shit.
So much for not letting her take me to the floor.
Kris had one last chance to keep the fight from ending on the floor and she took it. She pushed upwards with the tips of her feet and fell on Korina as if hugging her, who was about to grab her, pushing them both upwards. Korina hit the ropes with her back and Kris hurried to take two large strikes backwards. She resisted the urge to pat herself on the back, as she had to pat her ribs first. Oh boy, this felt like a crack. She hoped it wasn't. Her head didn't hurt as bad as her ribs and she took it as a good sign.
Korina launched forward before the angel had time to collect herself. Kris deflected the first jab but received the second straight on her nose. She took a step back and saw Korina getting ready for another kick. Just as her leg left the ground a terrible noise erupted from the quiet crowd. The noise of tables smashing on each other and plated falling and shattering on the floor. Kris couldn't know that the noise was in fact Sabrina bumping on someone and sending him to crash on a table, but she remembered her words. No matter what happens, don't lose focus.
She blocked out the noise, something Korina clearly didn't do. The split second she lost her concentration was enough for Kris to grab her outstretched leg and pin it under her arm, whilst dealing several forward jabs to her torso. She could let go but she didn't, this time pushing Korina back against the ropes, causing her to trip and falling, losing her balance completely.
''Now, this was quite a stunt you pulled in there!'' Kelly laughed loudly, while handing Kris another beer.
''I have no idea what you're talking about...'' Sabrina rolled up her eyes, innocently.
Kris groaned as Sabrina accidentally pressed the ice bag hard on her ribs.
''Sorry!'' She stopped applying pressure. ''You're lucky this isn't cracked, you know.''
Kelly opened another beer for herself and sat next to her friends. ''I mean, you should have seen her, she knocked the poor man off his feet!''
Kris, currently lying on the couch with her head on Sabrina's knees barely managed to laugh before clutching her ribs again.
''Don't make me laugh, don't make me laugh!'' She groaned loudly and swatted Sabrina's hand away from the ice-bag
''Yeouch! I didn't make you laugh, she did!'' Sabrina pointed at Kelly, while trying to open her beer with the other hand.
''Have I mentioned I hate fighting?!''
''Well, let me see, um, for the last twenty seconds, no you haven't!'' Kelly immediately put a hand over her mouth. ''Oops, I'm not supposed to make you laugh, am I?''
Kris closed her eyes and punched her shoulder. ''Aaaaaagh!''
''Hey, watch it!'' Sabrina protested, spilling her beer all over the floor.''Do I really have to baby sit you two?!'' She resumed pressing the ice bag against Kris' ribs. ''Besides, don't you have to go meet with your pyscho cult buddies?''
Kris pushed herself on her feet rather unhappily. ''One order of psycho cult with a side order of sociopathic homicidal maniac coming up.'' She staggered to the door. ''Have I mentioned I hate fighting?!''