Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters. How sad for me.

Beta: Dawn - Can't thank her enough!

This is the second installment in my "Chivalry" arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in flavor but is AU in some ways.

Chapter 21

Day 2 of the games began bright and clear. As Keith sat up in bed, he realized just how much yesterday had taken out of him. Stretching his arms above his head, he took notice of the sore muscles and bruised areas. He would definitely make use of the natural remedies the House used for aches and pains.

At breakfast, Anton and Alfred reviewed with him again the day's events. He could easily hear the excitement in their voices and see it in their demeanor. Doing well at the games yesterday had definitely boosted morale at the house. Keith listened as they explained how the javelin event would be scored; it was similar to the archery event and would be a fast moving event. The brawling event would be structured exactly as the staff event had been. Anton told him that after his win with the staff, that those in charge of setting the match-ups had moved him to a second place ranking behind Wesley, once again guaranteeing that they would not meet until the final match. It also set him up for easier matches at the beginning of the event. The only difference between this event and the staff event was that if you were knocked out or if you had to yield, you didn't have the chance to continue.

When they arrived at the arena, a large crowd assembled with people searching out the best seats and views. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Keith looked away from the crowd and into Anton's smiling face.

"You have done us proud, Akira. Best of luck to you, t'day." Glancing over his shoulder at a small group of older men, he said, "Time for me to go assist with the event preparations." With a final squeeze on Akira's shoulder, he left, leaving the young man alone for the moment.

Looking around, Keith saw the other four javelin competitors for Lion House standing with Lord Kurt. Walking over to them, he was immediately greeted with smiles and encouragement. He looked over the four who had been chosen and realized that they all had the chance to be top ten. The javelin was currently the strong event for Lion House, and he looked forward to the results.

As expected, just two short hours later, the javelin competition ended with Lion House doing very well. Wesley finished in first place and Keith in third. Luckily the scoring for the championship went on points scored, so Keith could make up points in the next two events. The cheering of the contingent from Lion House was very loud with other members placing at 5, 8, 10, and 12. It was by far their best event, and Keith expected the ale to be flowing at lunch. Smiling, he continued to accept congratulations as the group walked back to Lion House for the meal.

After the meal, which Keith ate sparingly, Lord Kurt pulled him to the side. "Akira, are you all right? You didn't eat much and you were quiet. Perhaps I should say, even quieter than usual." Looking at the younger man's face, he said, "It's Eleanor, isn't it?" Seeing Akira nod, he continued, "If anything had happened, I'm sure we would know. Those involved would want you to know in order to control you." Squeezing Akira's shoulder, he added, "The best way we can help them, is continue on as normal. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Now, let's head on to the arena and see if Lion House can continue with its improved placements."

Keith followed along in the lord's wake thinking over what he had said. He knew it to be true. But for someone that had been called a control freak on more than one occasion, and by more than one person… well, it was hard to let go of that control. Shaking his head, he picked up his pace. He needed to clear his head because he needed to do well in this competition to keep his position close to Wesley's.

Reaching the staging area, Keith began pulling off his tunic and shirt. Hearing a laugh behind him, he turned to see Alfred.

"Let me give you a hand, Akira," he said reaching out to take the tunic and fold it. Looking back at Akira he smiled. "If you were fighting women, your clothing… or lack thereof, would certainly be a distraction to them in a match."

Keith laughed and said, "There's only one woman I want to wrestle with."

The laugh stayed in Alfred's eyes as he said, "That I know, Akira, that I know." His tone became serious as he said, "Be careful out there, Akira. I wouldn't put it past some of those competing to attempt to injure you on purpose."

"In order to help Wesley?"

"Aye." Alfred nodded. "Just be careful, son."

Keith smiled back at him. "I'll be as careful as possible in an event where everyone is attempting to hit, kick, and take you down."

Alfred laughed at his own absurdity. "True. All the same…"

"I'll be as careful as possible, Alfred." Keith patted him on the back and gave him his folded shirt. "Will you take these for me?"

Nodding, Alfred took the clothing and headed to the stands. Keith leaned back against the wooden wall for a moment and collected himself. Opening his eyes, he went out to face his first opponent.

Two hours later, Keith had finished his first two rounds. Early in the first ten minute round of his first match, he knocked out his opponent. His opponent in round 2 yielded at the beginning of the second ten minute round. All in all, he hadn't had to expend a lot of energy yet. However, he had seen his next opponent fight in an earlier round, and he knew that the man called Jonas could give him some trouble. There was also the added concern that Jonas came from Eagle House.

When round 3 started and the two men began circling each other, Keith noticed that Jonas was favoring his right leg. It was an observation that could be helpful in planning his strikes. After trading several blows to the body, Keith swung around to deliver a roundhouse kick, but was caught off guard. Jonas had grabbed his leg and pulled causing Keith to fall on his back. Jonas dropped Keith's leg as Keith lay momentarily winded on the ground. Thinking he now had the upper hand, Jonas dropped to the ground intending to land on Keith's chest. However, Keith saw what was happening and moved his body so that his legs were partially under Jonas as he landed.

Cursing at the knee that was in his chest, Jonas pushed it to the side with his left arm and pushed his body up on his right arm. Seeing the opening, Keith pulled Jonas' left arm to the side as he swung his right leg up and over Jonas' left shoulder. The rest happened so fast, no one was quite sure what happened. Maneuvering Jonas' right arm to the side and then swinging his left leg up to lock over his right ankle, Keith had Jonas in a classic triangle choke hold. Jonas was grunting heavily and trying to pull himself out of the hold, but all he was doing was tightening it.

"Yield, Jonas!" Keith said. When he didn't receive a response, he said between breaths, "Well…if you… won't yield… you'll just… have to pass out…" Rotating his hips slightly, Keith applied more pressure to the arteries supplying the blood to Jonas' brain. Moments later, Jonas' body went limp. Unlocking his legs from the hold, Keith slid back allowing Jonas' body to drop to the ground. Almost immediately, he was surrounded by the men of Lion House. Pulling him up, they congratulated him on his victory. Looking past his friends, he saw the glares being directed at him from the men of Eagle House as they revived a confused Jonas. As the congratulations continued, he thought, two more rounds… let me win two more rounds.

Just thirty minutes later, round 4 was set to begin. Standing at the edge of the area marked for the match, Keith watched his adversary bounce on the balls of his feet with nervous energy. Mikado was from Bruin House, and he matched the name being a bear of a man. He stood two inches taller than Keith and probably weighed at least fifty pounds more. Add to that the man was muscled. The weight wasn't in fat, but hard muscle. Keith knew if he went to the ground with this guy he probably wouldn't get up. Mikado's opponent in the last round had to be carried off the field in a stretcher. The officials had to pull him off the guy and when he stood up, he scanned the crowd until he found Keith and then he smiled a smile that showed off several missing teeth. He was sending a message and Keith got it loud and clear.

When the gong sounded, Mikado moved right in throwing some punch combinations. Keith blocked most, but some got through, including a particularly heavy punch to his ribs. Then Mikado surprised Keith by rushing him in an attempt to take him down, and he really had to brace himself to stay upright. Moving slightly to the side, Mikado moved behind Keith to take his back and locked his hands around Keith. Knowing he was in a very bad position and a body slam to the ground was imminent, Keith moved rapidly. Using both hands to press down on the weak arm of the grip, he broke the hold. In a series of quick moves, he locked Makido's arm in a move known as a Kimura. Moving quickly, he placed his left shin against the inside of Makido's left leg as he dropped into a sitting position. The move flipped Makido over on his back and Keith rolled over keeping the pressure on the arm. Keith applied pressure that if increased would either break the arm or dislocate the shoulder. When Makido didn't yield, Keith increased the pressure until his opponent cried out, "Yield!"

Breathing heavily, Keith stood and extended a hand down to Makido who ignored it as he held onto his injured arm. A man from Eagle House ran out of the crowd from behind Keith and threw a punch, hitting Keith in the side of the head and knocking him to his knees. Several men in the crowd grabbed the man before he could deliver another blow and dragged him off. Keith stayed on his knees, slightly stunned from the blow. Lord Kurt and Alfred rushed to his side to see if he was all right. Accepting their assistance, Keith stood unsteadily as Anton came over.

"The man was just outraged that an outlander was allowed to participate in the games." Pausing for a second, Anton continued, "At least that's what he and the representatives from Eagle House are saying, but we all know it's an attempt to throw Akira off his game." The men around Akira all muttered and nodded. "I demanded that the final match against Wesley be delayed for twenty minutes instead of ten. There was some muttering, but they all agreed. How could they not?" After a scowl of indignation, Anton's features turned into a joyful expression. "Akira, good fellow, what was that move? It was incredible! I've never seen anything like it! I think you could have broken his damn arm!"

There was such glee in the older man's voice that Keith couldn't help but smile as he massaged the spot on his head that received the blow. "It's a move I've used before and is well-known where I come from. And yes, if he hadn't yielded when he did I would have broken or dislocated his arm." Keith listened with a smile on his face at the buzz that comment generated. The buzz was quickly followed by requests to be taught the move.

Lord Kurt saw Keith rubbing his head and said, "I think we should let Akira sit for a few minutes. We all need to remember that he has to fight again in just a short while." With those words, the men of Lion House parted to let Akira through to a bench where he could rest. He listened to the chatter around him. Lion House was doing well in this event as well, with Keith either placing first or second and the other men of Lion House all placing in the top fifteen.

One of the officials soon came by to say that it was about five minutes before the final round. Keith stood and made his way to the fighting area. Not wanting to be rushed, he preferred to stand at the edge and collect himself for a minute before stepping in to fight. He quickly reviewed what he had seen of Wesley's fighting skills. He was a strong striker and could grapple on the ground. He didn't do any kicking, but relied heavily on his upper body strength to strike and wrestle. Looking across the open ground, he locked eyes with the man he seemed destined to fight in multiple ways. This wasn't the fight from his vision… that one had been during the day. Before he could think further on it, the gong sounded and into the fray he went.