"Mmmnggghhh..." Quite the strident groan emitted from Asuka as her consciousness came back to her. Asuka's colossal splitting headache would only be amplified further, with her slowly opening her eyes only to see a gigantic face which was inches from hers - that of Lili. "Boo!"
"WAAHH!" Asuka's eyes burst wide in horror as she yelped aloud and quickly sat herself up as Lili promptly burst out in a heap of laughter with some hearty claps. "Bahaha! Oh my, that was so worth it!"
"Damnnnnnittt..." Asuka shook her head with a grimace as she rubbed her head. "Why are you so annoying..." She muttered before looking up at Lili with a raised eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? Where did everybody go?" Asuka thought.
"Asuka, you got knocked out by your own student. Do you really think they'll be back?" Lili tilted her head with a smirk.
"Gaaahhhh!" Asuka lamented with a pout. "This is all your faul...t..." Asuka's words trailed off as it was beginning to sink in for her that things felt very off about the dojo. Standing up and looking around, it did not look the same at all and the walls were adorned with an intricate flower petal design, not to mention all the pink splotches and hearts.
"W...what in blazes has happened to our dojo? It looks so gross..." Asuka gazed around in disgust.
"Guess what?" Lili twirled around in excitement as she struck a sharp pose and raised her arm sky-high. "I am now the owner of the Kazama-style Martial Arts Dojo!"
Asuka let out a massive gulp as her heart sunk. "...What?"
"Ugh, didn't you hear me?" Lili pouted. "Did that whole pose for nothing...Anyway, I have bought this dojo! Ta-da! You like what I've done with the place?" Lili cheered with delight and a giggle. "It certainly was lacking some refinement and elegance."
Asuka simply stood still for a moment in sheer disbelief. Eventually, she began to laugh rather erratically. "Ahahah...I must be in a nightmare. I-I'm still unconscious right?"
Lili quickly pinched Asuka's arm. "Ow!" Asuka snapped. "What was that for?!" It swiftly dawned on Asuka that this was no dream. "Oh gosh..."
"Damnit...Take all this stuff down, Lili!" Asuka stomped on the ground with a whine. "Why must you treat everything as a big joke?!"
"Hm?" Lili raised an eyebrow. "Oh dear, this is no joke." She giggled.
"Lili...!" Asuka growled.
"Your attendance numbers were reaching rock bottom...Something needed to be done." Lili gave a smile. "Voilà!"
"Pfft! Who will train here?" Asuka crossed her arms with a frown. "It's all tacky just like you!"
"Hey now!" In walked Mr. Kazama who raised his hands along with his voice. "That is enough. Asuka, I thought I taught you better than to make fun and bully others."
"B-but Dad!" Asuka whined.
"No buts." Mr. Kazama chided. "You should apologise to Lili."
"Okay, that is never happening." A mortified Asuka stated.
"Tch..." Mr. Kazama shook his head. "Not a good way to treat your friend who so very much kindly saved our dojo from the brinks of bankruptcy."
"Friend?" Asuka blurted out. "On what planet are we friends- wait." Asuka covered her mouth with a gasp. "Bankruptcy. Was it really that bad?"
"Mhm." Mr. Kazama nodded. "Was just about to close-up for good after all this time. Thank goodness Miss Lili pitched in to keep us afloat." Mr. Kazama gave a wide smile to Lili who smiled in return. "We ought to be grateful to her."
Asuka sure could not believe this. What a loco situation to be in, with her nemesis being the reason the long-standing Kazama dojo is still afloat. Asuka certainly had no words to say. 'Thank you' was on the tip of her tongue, but no way was she telling that to Lili of all people.
"I will leave you two to it." Mr. Kazama smiled. "Once again, we are immensely grateful for your kind act, Lili."
"Don't mention it!" Lili cheered. "I think I will celebrate with some refreshments at the bar." She smiled before giving a rather cheeky and insincere pout. "Aah it's just a shame that I have noooobody to go with..."
"Not a problem." Mr. Kazama nodded. "Asuka will accompany you."
"What?" Asuka moaned. "Dad! I'm not going!"
"It's the least you could do." Mr. Kazama stated. "Gee...when did you start acting like a spoiled brat..." He facepalmed.
"That is literally the definition of Lili." Asuka fumed.
"So saving our dojo is spoiled now, is it?" Mr. Kazama queried.
"Ngh..." Asuka was left tounge-tied at that. "Fine..."
"Good." Mr. Kazama smiled. "Feel free to leave your cat here for the time being, Lili." He began to take his leave. "And I am glad you are awake, Asuka." He nodded before leaving the room.
"That makes one of us right now..." Asuka muttered with a sigh. "Why do I have to do drinks with you?"
"I don't really know anyone around here. The wealthy life has left me rather sheltered. You will have to do." Lili stated with a chuckle. "Besides, it's not like you have anything better to do."
"Psh, y-you don't know that! S-shaddup!" Asuka pouted with an eye-roll. "But fine, I'll come."
"How delightful." Lili clapped her hands with a cheer. "Let's."
"Don't get too excited." Asuka snarled. "Just doin' this cause' I feel sorry for you."
"Likewise." Lili smirked. "And please cool off on the temper. My goodness..."
"I do not have a hot temper!" Asuka shouted before halting herself. "...Damnit..."
Henceforth, the two young women made their way out of the dojo and journeyed into the city. It was all a new experience for Lili and she was amazed and excited at all the flashing lights and hustle n' bustle of the city. "Ooooo! I wanna go there! And there! And there! And here!" She pointed towards practically everything.
"Just pick one." Asuka frowned. "Sheesh. Don't got all night."
"Alright." Lili nodded before eyeing out a rather dilapidated and rickety old tavern, it's sign naming it as "The Pink Princess".
"Let us try there!" Lili cheered in glee.
"Ugh...there? Out of all places-" Asuka complained before yelping as Lili linked her arm with Asuka's and dragged her along to the bar.
The stench of booze and cigarettes immediately hit the two girls' noses. "Do you really wanna be here?" Asuka sighed before Lili nodded happily. "To the counter we go!" Lili cheered.
"Jeez..." Asuka muttered before joining Lili over at the counter. The Monegasque girl had flagged the barkeep over and asked for two Merlot wines.
"Y'kno, you could just ask me like a normal person if you wanted to be my friend." Asuka shrugged with a glower.
"Pardon? Friends, ho ho!" Lili turned away with a sorrowful look. "It cannot be. You and me are fated as sworn rivals!"
"W-well I didn't wanna be friends with you either." Asuka crossed her arms as she looked away.
"Hmph." Lili scoffed.
"Hmph." Asuka grumbled.
The two wines came and the two young women turned back and sipped quietly, with neither of the two speaking a word. In lieu of conversation, they had to put up with a loud array of shouts, jeers and bellows which filled the atmosphere of the bar.
Asuka would be the one to eventually speak up. "Come on...seriously, Lili? A bar of all places? Ugh, we get it. You're surprisingly old enough to go now but ugh, why you gotta drag me here?" Asuka groused. The bar sure was not doing any favours for her headache.
"Heavens, why must you be so boring, Asuka?" Lili pouted with a sigh.
"Tch! I-I am not boring!" Asuka fumed.
"You are like watching paint dry on a brick wall." Lili smirked. "Just enjoy yourself."
"Shuuuush!" Asuka frowned. "I'm not boring!"
"We shall see." Lili clasped her hands together with a grin. "Say, a game of dares?"
"Ya kiddin'?" Asuka stared incredulously. "You wanna do dares?"
"Loser pays for our drinks." Lili giggled. "Though if you are too chicken, I understand."
"Hmm." Asuka scoffed as her lips curled into a grin. "I'mma kick your ass at dares like I did you at the tournament!"
"You got lucky." Lili rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I shall begin." She nodded with a smile.
"Why do you get to begin?" Asuka whined.
"Because I said so." Lili smirked.
"Pfft, whatever! Gimme any stupid dare you got, I'll crush it!" Asuka boomed with a cheer.
"I dare you to kiss me." Lili stated with a grin.
"...Say what now?" No way Asuka heard that right, she thought.
"Go on. You can't." Lili chuckled.
Asuka looked away as her cheeks were immensely flushed, the same colour as her wine. What the heck was Lili playing at? And then Asuka came to her senses after thinking for a bit. "Ahaha! Good one! That was clever, but you can't make me lose so easily!" She laughed with a grin.
Asuka then took Lili's hand and proceeded to give it a quick peck. "There! Dare done!"
Lili gave a nod as she clapped her hands. "Well played, Asuka. You saw through it."
"Of course!" Asuka grinned. "You almost had me for a second."
"Mhm." Lili stuck her tongue out with a chuckle. "Your turn is up." She stated.
"Oh goody..." Asuka stroked her chin in thought about what dare to set for her rival, with so many good options riveting in her head. Ultimately, a devious smile appeared upon her face as she figured it was time for some sweet payback on Lili for all the previous recent incidents.
"Since ya like fighting so much...I dare ya to pick a fight with that bouncer over there." Asuka smirked as she pointed to quite the well-built muscular man with parted hair, decked out in a suit and sunglasses. "Go on."
"But must I...?" Lili tilted her head with a frown. "A tussle just doesn't feel the same when it's not you." Lili pouted.
"I'll uhh, take that as a compliment." Asuka chided. "But yeah, you must." The young woman smirked.
"We should not involve outsiders in our skirmishes, you know." Lili frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be the Kansai peacemaker or something?"
"Shut up!" Asuka muttered. "Just do it...but it seems you are a scaredy-cat, huh!" She chuckled.
"No. I am only worried for the bouncer." Lili moaned.
"Well it sounds like a loss to my ears." Asuka smiled.
"Grr...I'll do it." Lili sighed as she rustled her hair and stood up from her stool. "Darn it, Asuka." She muttered as she made her way over to the bouncer, with Asuka looking on in anticipation.
Lili stepped towards the heavy-set bouncer with a gulp, only for the aforementioned bouncer to speak. "Lili Rochefort?" The man questioned as he took his sunglasses off, which made Lili gasp in return. "Feng Wei?"
"It is I." Feng gave a nod. "A fun night out is it?"
"Mhm! Glad to see you again." Lili cheered with a sigh of relief. "You are working here?!"
"Even the one with the divine fist must pay his bills somehow." Feng nodded.
"Truth! Lest we end up like that 'strongest in the universe blah blah' Phoenix lad..." Lili squirmed. "Heard he's racked up an extra $10,000 fee for smashing yet another brick wall."
"A miserable fate." Feng agreed. "So, you came to see me about something?"
"Well." Lili twiddled her thumbs together. "It's a bit awkward because I've kinda been sent here to beat you up..."
"Wha?" Feng got into a fighting stance but tilted his head. "Who sent you?"
Lili then pointed across to where a bamboozled Asuka was sitting.
"Hah. Asuka sent you, did she?" Feng smirked. "I will sort this out." He gave a sharp nod as he began to walk to Asuka.
"Oh." Lili meekly raised a hand to try halt Feng, but could only place a finger on her lip with a cringe expression as she knew what was coming.
Asuka stood up and was flabbergasted with a shocked face as she realised the bouncer happened to be Feng, what were the chances? "Hold up just a sec'...ahah..." Asuka nervously chuckled with a gulp as Feng cracked his knuckles.
POW!