Welcome to another chapter in our story. My beta and I do our best given both of our busy schedules. But we both love doing this a lot. It provides us both a way to relax and destress. Whelp here comes another chapter, hope you enjoy. This is gonna be a bit of a bulky chapter since my beta has been asking for a while to do the matches I've missed cause they were really interested in the Ocs I've made... Which just means they want to steal them again.

So the first half will be the main storyline while the ending half will contain all of the other matches. If they're your cup of tea then enjoy them, if not then you don't have to read them. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Senran Kagura characters. The plot is the only thing I own. I also don't own the Spice Girls song that is shown a little while later as that was an idea created by beta and their rambling. Lol

Warning: Some sensitive subjects are explored this time around such as homophobia. This is just a heads up as this is how I interpret certain characters to react to homosexuality.

Chapter 23 - The Tournament quarter-finals

The stadium was as silent as a crypt, everyone that I could see either had their eyes painfully wide open or their mouth hanging open. Even Ms. R and Mr. K were staring at us with those same eyes.

Kat shrugged carelessly, "Oops, I forgot they were still watching."

Both of my sisters jumped down to us, Kafuru storming over with a red face and arms being flung in our direction. "Just when I thought you couldn't embarrass our family any further, you go and pull this crap!?" Words left my mouth. How… how could she say something like that?

Hanabi eyed our sister and sharply elbowed her in the gut before speaking to me, "So are you and Kat…. you know?"

All Kat does is a shrug, and I sighed, "We don't know Hanabi. There is obviously something there, but I think Kat is just as confused as I am right now."

Kat nodded frantically and carefully released me. I got to my feet and pulled her up as well, she was shifting from foot to foot, hiding behind me somewhat while twisting some of her blond hair. It was an odd gesture for her, but it looked cute even if the mood wasn't meant for cuteness.

I put my hands on my hips, and look into the sky, "So we're gonna need a little time to figure out what this is, alright?"

"Alright!" Hanabi chirped, clapping her hands together. "Congrats, either way, sis! You have my blessing! I want to be one of your bridesmaids!" Kat and I choked on air for a minute.

"Blessings?! Bridesmaids?! Am I the only damn sane person here?!" Kafuru screeched, pointing at me. "You and Katsuragi are both girls! Renka, as your sister I cannot allow you to keep embarrassing our family making decisions like this!"

My vision went red. I took a threatening step forward towards Kafuru, "Excuse me!? Embarrass you!? Embarrass you!? You had better change that tone and very quickly, got it!? If I want to be with Kat it's none of your damn business!"

"You-!"

Mom appeared out of thin air, standing behind Kafuru and she placed a hand on both of my sister's shoulders and turning Kafuru to face her. "Now now, Kafuru. If this is what she wants, who are we to stop her?"

"But mom!, You can't seriously be okay with this? What about the family?! Renka is the oldest, she should be thinking about that instead of… this!"

"I think we need to let Renka decide what makes her happy. Besides, if you are concerned about our families honor then I know a few nice boys who would be over the moon to have a smart and beautiful girl like you as their girlfriend." Mom put a hand on Kafuru's cheek. "We'll have a talk when we get home, honey. You need to understand that just because you are considered an adult in this world does not mean you can say such things to your sister."

Kafuru looked away with a grumble, and Hanabi smiled widely, patting Kafuru on the back and dragging her away to have a conversation.

Mom then looked to me, "Renka, I'm sorry for slapping you earlier." Mom let out a breath, slowly moving her hands to be clasped at the front and then did the one thing I would have never expected a parent to do to their kid.

Mom bowed to me.

I was floored, "Wha… what?" I sputtered, trying to comprehend the fact that my mother was bowing to me.

Mom straightened up slowly and gave me a small smile, "Your friend was right. I shouldn't have slapped you. It was selfish and cruel of me and I let my emotions get the better of my actions."

I looked away, fiddling with my fingers, "I-It's okay mom. Honestly, I would've done the same thing in your shoes."My thoughts, on the other hand, spoke differently, 'Why are you trying to act all mature for!? That really hurt when she hit you! Yell at her! Tear her a new one! Do something!'

Kat pulled on my arm, "Renka-Honey, come on. Let's go home."

I looked to Kat, "What about the other matches?"

Kat puts her hands on my shoulders, "I think you know how those will end up. Come on Renka-Honey, all of our matches are over. Minori, you and I made it to the next round. Let's go home for now, rest, eat yummy food and celebrate."

I smiled and nodded, agreeing with Kat, "Alright, Let's Go home."

After saying goodbye to my mom and sisters -Kafuru not meeting my eyes-, Kat and I went home after dropping off Minori at her house. Her family tried to invite us in for snacks but we declined, opting to return home in comforting silence.

After getting inside and sitting in Kat's kitchen, things became awkward. We both didn't know what to say about what had happened, or about the newfound feelings we had for each other. We didn't say anything for the longest time until Kat's stomach growled, she rubbed the back of her head, bashfully chuckling, "Guess I'm hungry. I might as well make something. You want something, Renka-Honey?"

Very soon a smile spread across my lips and I rested my head against my fist, "I'll take whatever you are having, Kat."

Kay even chucked, "Yeah okay. Also, let's focus on this…" She made vague gestures. "A bit later. You know, when it's not so awkward to talk about, okay?"

I nodded, "Yes, I think that's better for now. Right now, I can't... bring myself to say anything."

Kat puts her arms behind herself and rocked on her heels with a hum, "Yeah, I can't either. So, let's forget about it for now and just eat! You want gyoza? I'm craving it and I know a good recipe. Chicken or beef?"

"Chicken." I responded, getting up, "I can make us tea."

Kat and I went to work in preparing our little meal, the smell of cooked food and freshly brewed tea wafted in the room. Soon, enough food for the both of us to eat was made and we turned on the TV. Connecting it to Newtube, Ms. R was onscreen making her announcements.

"Well, what an exciting day!" Ms. R exclaimed. "I hope you all are looking forward to tomorrow's sets of matches. The quarter-finals will be like this, Renka Mikagura Vs. Murasaki Yahagi, Yomi Kayano Vs. Minori Igarashi, Katsuragi Kobayashi Vs. Yagyu Mizuhashi, and finally: Naraku Kaida Vs. Shiki Yamamoto!"

I looked to Kat, "Kat, You're fighting Yagyu tomorrow."

Kat nodded, "It would seem so. You also have that Murasaki chick to fight against. If memory serves, didn't she have a grudge against you?"

I nodded in a parroting fashion, "Yeah, her and Yomi both. I hope I can survive this tournament."

Kat waved a dismissive hand, "Don't worry Renka-Honey. If I have to, I'll protect you."

I smiled at Kat, "I know you will Kat. I know you will."

After eating our meal together, we had a pretty normal night and went to bed without much hassle. The next morning after getting dressed, I saw Kat sitting down and drinking tea of all things. Weird, I never saw her drink tea except for last night. I looked at the girl weirdly, "Kat why are you drinking tea this early?"

Kat smiled, "Morning, Renka-Honey. I was drinking tea to help calm my nerves. Want some? That brand you had used last night was really good and helped settle my stomach."

I put my hands on my hips, looking at the cup of tea, then the time. "Maybe next time Kat. Come on, if we don't hurry, we will be late for school."

Kat nodded, "Right, let's get a move on."

Making myself some toast and putting jam on it we went to school, but I couldn't focus the entire time we were there. Kafuru made a point to leave me alone the entire class time, but when I was given my homework back she had no malice in her movements. After school, we went to the tournament arena at a faster pace than I expected. We got into the waiting room we noticed the TV was on, but no one was on the screen. In fact, no one was in the room at all

Kat looked around, "We must be early."

I didn't say anything but just stared into TV, waiting for someone to appear. Ms. R popped up after five minutes, laughed weirdly. It was high pitched and forced, not something I'm used to hearing from her usually energetic vibe. "Well, today's the day for the tournament quarterfinals! And to commemorate this event, two overseers are here! Two of the Grand Councilwoman, Asuka Hanzō, and Homura Kitamura!"

Both our eyes widened, and Kat stuttered out, "T-Two Grand Councilwoman!? Are they here to asses our skills? Why was this released suddenly?!"

Without speaking, I ran out into the stadium seats, Kat caught up with short pants, "Renka-Honey, what's up?"

I scanned around the stadium and then I pointed, "Kat, there she is! Homura Kitamura!"

Kat followed my finger and saw Homura up in one of the two highest chairs, tapping away impatiently waiting for the tournament to start. Kat puts her hand over her eyes to block out the sun so she could get a better look. "You're right. That's Homura in the flesh, but where's Asuka?"

My brow furrowed and I looked around again, "I don't know Kat."

"Yup, that's Homura-Chan in the flesh. So beautiful, as she is tapping away up there."

Both Kat and I turn quickly and see the living Legend standing before us. Asuka Hanzō, in the flesh. Asuka smiled at us and waved her hand dismissively in front of her mouth but the move along felt like a wave of power washing over us. "I don't know why she is always so impatient, she does know that these things begin at a certain time."

Kat stuttered out, "A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-"

It took me to finish that poor girl's sentence, "Asuka Hanzō!"

Asuka nodded, "Yup, that's my name. It's very nice to meet you both, Renka, Katsuragi."

Of course, she'd know our names, we're both in the tournament after all. Asuka waited for us to speak, but since we were too stunned, she just went on, "I came here today hoping to meet you both."

Kat finally spoke, "Y-You wanted to m-meet us?" She weakly held up a finger, pointing at herself than at me.

Asuka giggles like a giddy schoolgirl. Not something I was expecting from one of the most powerful women in the shinobi world. "Yeah, I did. You two put on quite a show yesterday after the fifth match."

I felt my face burning with embarrassment and I let out a slight cough into my hand. Asuka let out a laugh, "There's no need to blush you two. It's perfectly natural what you are feeling towards each other." No need to blush girls? Wait, Kat's blushing too!?

"It is?" Kat and I spoke in unison.

Asuka gives another giddy giggle, "Yes it is, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. If you two like each other, I say go for it. I wouldn't want another repeat of what happened between me and Homura-Chan." She looked back at Homura with a long sigh, blinking at the other woman with doe eyes for a moment.

"Wait, are you and Homura…" Kat held up her fists, pointer fingers pointing up towards the sun and she put her hands together. "Are you actually…?"

"A couple? Yes, Homura-Chan is my girlfriend right now."

I was shocked to hear that Asuka Hanzō, of all people, to admit all this, "So, both you and Homura love each other? That's really okay?"

"Yeah, we do." Asuka responded, "Although it took us a while to come to terms with our feelings for each other. We struggled with it when we went to school. But after a certain incident, we came to terms with it, and we started dating."

"Homura-Chan," Asuka sighed out, putting a hand over her heart. "She's the most beautiful girl I have ever met with the strongest heart. I love her so much. On our anniversary I swore to her under the full moon that even in death I'd never part from her side.."

"Hey, Asuka!" A new voice called out. Next thing we know, Homura was right next to Asuka, "Asuka, what the heck are you doing down here? Weren't we supposed to be doing something?"

Homura looks our way after Asuka points out, "H-Hey, it's you two! You found them, Asuka? Without me? Rude."

Asuka grabs onto Homura's arm and pulled her close, wrapping both her arms around Homura's, "I just ran into them, Homura-Chan. I was coming back, honest."

Homura blushes a bit, "It's alright. Now we can say to them what we need to say."

Homura's face got close to Asuka's as she said this, but Asuka blushes, "I kind of already did."

Homura's face backed up, "Huh? Y-You mean they already know!? I thought we were supposed to do this together? Rude, again."

It was then that Asuka closes the gap between them and kissed Homura. Both of our eyes were wide as both their lips separated from each other slowly. "You can still say what you need to say, Homura-Chan."

With a bright red face, Homura rubs the back of her head, "Well I guess I could, but what did you say to them?"

Asuka smiled, "I just told them not to let anyone else tell them it's wrong what they're doing."

Homura clears her throat and straightened her back, "She's right you two. What you are feeling is perfectly natural. All we heard growing up is that our type of feelings were wrong and that we should forget them if we want to be normal."

"She's right and when we did, it just complicated things for us," Asuka continued. "Our relationship after that staggered and suffered cause of all of the leers and jeers of people around us. At one point, Homura abandoned her uniform and ran away from school."

Homura sighed and took Asuka's hand, "I couldn't take it anymore. Everyone was trying to decide my path for me. So I left. I left everything behind, including Asuka. I hung up my Hebijo Uniform."

Asuka teared up, remembering all this was bringing back all of that pain, "We were in a lot of pain, all because of some close-minded people. I had to tell Homura-Chan how this made me feel, so I asked my grandma if I could track Homura-Chan down. She gave me the okay and I spent the next few weeks desperately searching for her."

Homura kissed Asuka's knuckles, holding their hands close to her. "Asuka found me in a cave near Mt. Orochi, but I didn't want to go back. She didn't take no for an answer and a battle between us broke out. I'll never forget when Asuka screamed out her feelings at the top of her lungs, 'Homura-Chan, I love you!'"

Asuka wipes away her tears and lets out a shaky laugh, "Up til that point, I was begging Homura-Chan to come back home. I told her to forget all those people telling us it was wrong for us to feel this way, we're free to choose our own path."

Homura looked to us, "I'll never forget the moment when Asuka put her all into one last gesture to get me to come back. She kissed me, and after that, I just broke down. It had really felt right to be kissed by Asuka. After that, I returned back to the academy. Only one thing was different, Asuka and I were girlfriends."

"Homura-Chan didn't return to the Hebijo house, she couldn't. So she dyed her uniform red and declared she was a part of the Crimson Squad house." Asuka nudged Homura with a smirk.

Homura rubbed the back of her head with a little exasperated sigh, "I didn't know what to call it, so I improvised at the time and it just stuck. I was such a nerd back then."

Asuka detached herself from Homura, "And that's our story, girls. After we became strong enough to join the Grand Council, our relationship became more widely accepted. Even a few Shinobi who were like us came out too."

Homura touched her forehead, "It wasn't easy and there's still a few Shinobi who are against it, but about sixty percent of the Shinobi world backs our relationship and numbers are steadily growing. Honestly, I think the people against it just think we should be having kids or something to pass down our powers.."

Asuka smiled, "And that's all we wanted to tell you. We wanted to tell our story to you before anyone told you it's wrong. What you two do now, is entirely up to you."

Homura chuckled, "Yep. Asuka's right."

I nodded politely, "Thank you, Asuka, Homura. Don't worry, we won't listen to what other people have to say, and we'll make the decision if we want to or not ourselves." I looked over to Kat, "Right, Kat?"

Kat nodded, "Yes, Renka-Honey."

Homura smiled, "That's good. Remember: forge your own path and do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. I heard that some people are already responding to it. You can ignore their words or you can prove them wrong, but what is important is your support for each other."

Asuka nodded, "Well, I'm afraid Homura-Chan and I must be going. The quarter-finals are gonna start soon. Good luck you two."

Asuka and Homura left and I looked to Kat, "Well Kat, what do you want to do?"

Kat furrows her brow in thought, "Well, it's not like I don't want to, to be perfectly honest. These feelings only awoke after you almost died, Renka-Honey. It was then that I realized how important you are to me. My feelings have just grown more and… I dunno, they sparked. Like A New Year's fireworks shooting into the sky, it's this barrage of color that I cannot describe the shapes they form because even I don't know what my heart is telling me."

"You got that out of a fortune cookie or have you just been reading poetry at night?" I asked, letting out a small laugh and leaning against her.

"All the time babe," Kat said with a wink.

"Let the quarter-finals begin. Will Renka Mikagura And Murasaki Yahagi come on out?" Mr. R announced out on the speakers.

I took a hold of Kat's hand and laced my fingers with hers, "Kat, let's do it. Let's start dating."

Kat smiled, "Alright Renka-Honey if you're sure that's what you want."

I nodded and moved in and gave her a kiss, "I'm sure."

Kat smacked me on the back encouragingly, "Alright! Your match is about to start, Renka-Honey. Go get them!"

I gave her a thumbs-up, "I will! Hope you like the show, Kat-Baby."

Kat let out a surprised chuckle, and I waved bye and walked out into Arena. I saw Murasaki and a different sailor girl standing in the center. The other girl was in a caramel brown camisole and a soft pink skirt with short, dark hair and a white kabuki mask that took the shape of an oni was on her face, which glances in my direction. "Renka Mikagura, come over here." The voice was deep, too deep for a girl almost the same height as me. Almost inhuman.

I obeyed and stood on the opposite side of the women. The woman spoke again, her voice sending chills up my spine, "Murakumo Kanemoto. I'm your referee for today's matches. Are there any questions?"

I quickly raised my hand, "One question Miss. Kanemoto: why are you wearing that mask? It's kind of freaky."

Murakumo didn't even glance in my direction, "If there are no questions then we will begin the first match of the quarter-finals."

Murasaki stared straight at me, "Today's the day you will pay for saying my Root Of Calamity isn't all that strong! I'll give you what I should've given you that day before sis stopped me."

I stared back in thought, 'I doubt I can defeat her the same way I did that day. She'll be expecting it and everyone already knows of my Violet Lightning now. So getting her off guard for is gonna be difficult this time… Think Renka, think!'

I get into my fighting stance, and the same aura Murasaki had that day exuded off of her again like a dark guardian hovering over her.

Murakumo put her hand up, "If you're both ready, then let the match begin."

Murakumo backs off instantly and Murasaki screamed out a malicious, "DIE ALREADY!" Her voice generated a shockwave of pure darkness straight at me.

I put my guard up to block, but that was a mistake. Murasaki rushed at me, her eyes full of hatred as she punched me straight in the stomach. Vomit and blood pooled into one concoction and force my mouth open so it could spray onto the ground, which Murasaki made easy effort to avoid it touching her skirt. I couldn't stop it. I clutched my stomach as more made its way out of my mouth, I could scarcely tell what was my own blood and what was the food I consumed the other day. I tried to take in air but it was hard to breathe in, causing my body to convulse with the struggle. My legs were like jelly as I tried to stop gushing my stomach's contents all over the ground.

Murasaki let out a giggle, like a demonic doll from a horror movie, high pitched and innocent-sounding but at the same time one that promised pain. "It's always the same. No matter how strong one is, a punch to the stomach is always enough to send them to their knees."

True to what Murasaki was saying, my legs soon buckled and I fell to my knees. My vision blurred and my head felt like a balloon. She continued, "Feel like you're gonna pass out?"

I couldn't say much before my vision was filled with the ground below me. I could feel my consciousness slipping, 'No, don't pass out Renka, don't!'

I could hear Murasaki talking to Murakumo, "She's gonna be out for a while. Please call the match."

I needed to get back up. 'I can't Murasaki win. I need to get up. Get up damnit! GET UP!'

Chapter End

Side story 6 - The other matches

During the previous night, while Kat and I were eating dinner, she was flipping through the channels until she found the stream on TV as well as Newtube. My eyes widen at this realization, "Wait, we're not being shown on TV, are we?"

Kat stares at the screen and sees Mr. K and Miss R appear on the screen, "Apparently we are." She grumbled out. "I'm not sure if I like it or not…"

I cross my arms in front of me, "What do you mean apparently!?"

Kat scratched the back of her head, "Well, guess we're gonna be a lot more noticeable after the tournament is over. Plus that stadium wasn't big enough to hold everyone that wanted to go..."

I started at the screen, "Y-Yeah."

"I like the potential attention… but I'm not sure if I like that someone could study how I fight either…" Kat muttered to herself, eyes glazing over as she watched.

'Wait! I could learn more about my opponents moves then!' I thought to myself, focusing my watch on the television.

Miss R did a ta-da motion to the screen over her head, "And without further ado, here are today's matches! Starting with Renka Mikagura Vs. Hanabi Mikagura!"

Kat chuckled, "Hey Renka-Honey look, it's your match."

"I-I can see that!" I felt like smacking the girl next to me. "Can we change the channel until it's over?"

"Nope, you're going to suffer through it while I admire your skills! Mwahahaha!" Kat let out a mock evil laugh then shoved another gyoza into her mouth, still laughing while doing so.

I watched my match from yesterday and I realized I probably could've done better. My moves were sloppy at some points and I could have done more against my sister, but in the heat of battle it never came to mind.

After I was declared the winner and the me on-screen moved off the field, Miss R spoke, "That was an intense match, don't you think everyone! But what an exciting start! Next up is, Murasaki Yahagi Vs. Salt Spice!"

It then hit me, 'Oh yeah. Those Spice Siblings. I forgot they existed until now. Salt, Pepper, and... Basil was it? Or was it Garlic? Well, this'll be interesting to see what kind of powers they have.'

Murasaki and Salt Spice came out with Salt seeming to be twitching for whatever reason. He wasn't dressed like everyone else, dare I say he looked like he just came out of a sushi restaurant. Maybe his powers involve fish? His eyes were large, widened to a painful pull and his teeth were exposed to show perfectly white chompers with sharpened fangs like he filed them to be like that.

I took this time to look at Kat in confusion, "Why is it that every time someone we know is fighting someone we don't… the other person looks like they stepped out of a different school?"

"Dunno, guess they stay hidden," Kat said with a shrug.

Back on the screen, Mirai looked Murasaki, "Murasaki Yahagi are you ready?"

Murasaki nods silently. Mirai looked to Salt, "Salt Spice are you ready?"

Salt chuckled, "I was born ready."

Miria then raised her hand, "Well if you're both ready, then let the second match... begin!"

Mirai soon backed off, and then Salt took out a kunai, Murasaki saw this, "A Shinobi using a Kunai. How very rare."

Salt chuckled even more, his twitching seeming to travel, "I like sharp things. Kunai, Senbon, Shuriken… my meat cleaver." Salt shudders at that last item. "I like to make deep cuts~." He soon chuckled again but much more insanely, his twitching going up to his head.

Murasaki puts her arms in between her body and the boy before her, "Y-You're really scary."

Salt laughed louder, "That's good, fear makes anything more fun! I'm gonna carve all sorts of cuts into your delicious body."

Murasaki took a step back, her face turning an odd shade of blue outta sheer fear, "N-No! St-Stay back you pervert!"

Salt Froze.

, "Pervert!? I'd do this to you even if you were male! Your gender makes no difference to me!" He exclaimed with a maniacal laugh. "What a funny thing to call me, usually people call me a cannibal if they were going to insult me.

"No human meat, Salt!" A feminine voice shouted out from the stadium.

"Yes, mother dear! But cut?"

A pause, then: "Yes…"

As Murasaki tried to back up, Salt charged at Murasaki aiming the Kunai low and when he got to her, her power seeped off her. She let out a low moan, trying to warn the assailant to say away, but Salt just laughed and swipe his Kunai upwards at her, cutting her midsection and pulling upward. He was dragging the Kunai through the fabric on her breasts, cutting through that.

Murasaki's blood flew everywhere as the Kunai pieced the skin of her midsection. She backed off pressing a hand uselessly against her wound as it started to bleed more. Her skin grew pale and she began to pant from the pain.

Salt laughed insanely and inhaled harshly, "God, I love the smell of blood. It's why my siblings always let me handle and cut the bloody beef. I always make, such precise and," I think I heard him moan just now, "Deep cuts."

He took off his hat, exposing rich brown hair tightly pulled into a flat bun. "Of course, while I love the carving, I take the most pleasure in the detailed slices. The knife must be of precise sharpness as you cut the thin, delicate slices of the sea's finest catches. Only the best for my sashimi and sushi dishes. Dare I say that I will be prepared to make fugu the day I graduate."

Murasaki checked the fabric on her chest, the cut went through her clothes and got dangerously close to her skin, "Any closer and he would've cut me..." Fear took over in her eyes as the realization that if it wasn't for the fact that her breasts were separated far enough to prevent the Kunai from cutting straight through her.

Murasaki's power increased in intensity, "You're not going to be doing anything to me anymore. You stay away from me... or you'll regret it."

Salt laughed loudly and flicked the dull side of his Kunai, "The Root Of Calamity, huh? I know all about those dark powers of yours. That's why... I've already prepared a countermeasure for that."

Murasaki's eyes widened as her hand touched her wound and she shook intensely, "I-It burns. My wound is burning…." Murasaki cried out in pain and clutched her midsection.

"Well of course! Why do you think they call me Salt?" Salt asked rhetorically. "My Kunai has salt on it. In fact, my whole bag with all my weapons is filled to the brim with salt. So if they cut you, it's gonna put salt in your wounds. Heheh, I love that pun, no one ever laughs besides my siblings..."

"Because it's not funny bro!" A guy shouted out in the stadium. Must have been Salt's brother.

I heard Imu cry out from the stands, "Come on Murasaki! Beat this guy's ass and show him the power of the Root Of Calamity!"

Then I heard two other voices crying out, "Come on Salt! You can win!" The camera showed two people and man and woman cheering Salt on. 'Are those his folks?'

Well, their parents looked really normal compared to their children, albeit the dad looked like a foreigner. He was a large burly man, walrus-level of bushy mustache, complete with a large food happy belly covered in an impressive chef's outfit that I only see in expensive restaurant cookbooks. The mother was large as well, dressed in overalls and a plaid shirt. She looks like a farm woman, complete with freckles and red hair braided into two braids resting on her shoulders, the ones where you part your hair down the middle and put them into two different ones and wrap them around themselves on each side. Idk what they're called, braids? I don't know but I remember mom doing that to my hair when I was younger.

Anyway, they were both cheering their hearts out for Salt. Murasaki started to get up despite her wound burning, and Imu yelled out again, "That's right! Get up! Show them just how tough our family can be!"

Murasaki manages to get to her feet, still clutching her burning wound on her midsection. Her powers seeping off of her once more.

Salt scoffs, "If that's the way it's gonna be I'm gonna end you now and chop you up into little pieces. Do you prefer to be broiled or Flambéd?"

"Hold it, hold it!" Mirai interjected, "No killing your opponent. You cannot win with that kind of mindset."

I thought killing your opponent was allowed?

Salt looked to the black-haired loli, "I'm not planning on winning the match, but I am gonna win the fight!"

Mirai eyed the other girl, "Well then Murasaki, what are you gonna do?"

Salt then lunged at Murasaki, but the girl suddenly cried out, "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Her power exploded off of her like a force field, pushing Salt back and sending him rolling, spilling all of the contents of his pouch all over the ground. His pouch contained weapons and a whole lot of salt. Salt regained his balance and slid back only a little more and stopped.

At the same time, Murasaki was already at Salt and he went wide-eyed, "What!?"

Murasaki kicked him all the way to the wall with a painfully large crash. The parents cried out their son's name while Murasaki's sister cheered her on.

The force of the impact left a crater; a Salt sized crater. Salt crawled out of the crater and wasn't able to get back onto his feet, "Impossible… Guess… guess I still have more to learn… about knives ..." His body hit the ground with his Kunai in his back.

Mirai sighed, "Guess he shouldn't have carried that around after all. Or at least used a different weapon." Mirai raised her arm, "the winner is Murasaki!"

'That was it?' I stared blankly at the screen. But I remembered that I was talking with my mom the whole time this was happening, so the timing did seem right.

Kat just put her arm under her chin to rest her head, "Well didn't expect it to end like that."

"Yeah." I have a knee jerk response as Yomi and Chikasa were coming out onto the field.

Kat muted the TV, "Just close your eyes for this one Renka-Honey."

I nodded, "Gotcha." I closed my eyes and waited for the next match to come to an end.

After some time, Kat patted my shoulder and unmuted the TV. I opened my eyes and saw both Minori and Kou going out onto the field. I saw, in the audience, all three of Kou's cinnamon roll sisters up in the stand with the owner of the ice cream shop we went to sitting there. I guess they cheered for Kou. Never noticed them there before. All three of Kou's sisters were eating ice cream while watching the match. Guess she must've fixed it up for them.

As the whole match went by and Minori won, I saw the camera show the three sisters just stare blankly at first, till the youngest spoke in her sweet little voice, "Brother got pancaked?"

Suddenly the other two smiled and all three of them started chanting, "Brother got Pancaked, Brother got Pancaked.~" Their mother was laughing behind her fingers.

I stared blankly, 'Huh. So that's where they got it."

"Pretty cute sisters he has," Kat commented.

"I know, why can't my sisters be that cute?" I groan out, drinking my lukewarm tea. "Yuck…"

After that, Kou was taken off the field, and then the footage cut. Miss R came onto the screen, "That was day one's footage! Renka Mikagura, Murasaki Yahagi, Yomi Kayano, and Minori Igarashi all have won. Now here's day twos footage."

This footage started off with Kat's match against Ayame. My brain went into its failsafe mode to protect itself. I didn't want to remember that anyway. Kat had muted the TV so she could clean up the dishes and then present mochi ice cream for us to enjoy.

Truth be told, after Kat's match, I had forgotten who was facing off against who. Mirai raised her arm, "Yagyū Mizuhashi, and Daisuke Narukami, come on out here."

I scratch my head, "Daisuke… Narukami? Who this guy?"

Both Yagyu and Daisuke come right out into the arena. Daisuke seemed to be a first-year, one of the four others besides Minori that entered the tournament. He had dark skin and large hazel eyes. He was dressed in some kind of uniform I've never seen before, dark blue shirt with a white number 15 on the chest and his shorts were of the same blue material. On his shins were some protective guards and his shoes were brightly colored with robin's egg blue shoes and cotton candy pink laces.

They both got up to Mirai and she whistles pleasantly, "Well, this'll be an interesting match. I've heard about you, Daisuke Narukami. You're the son of the great ninja soccer player." Soccer? Is that what he is supposed to be?

He takes his hand and runs it through his dark curly hair, "Thank you. Praise from the great Mirai Goto is an honor. One of the youngest commissioners of our time."

Mirai cackles, "Bout time someone recognizes my genius. Well, let's get this show on the road. Yagyu Mizuhashi, are you ready?"

Yagyu opens her eye, "Ready."

Mirai looks to Daisuke, "Daisuke are you ready?"

Daisuke grinned, "Ready and waiting, love."

Mirai looked to him seriously now, "Don't push it. Well, let's get this match started. Yagyu Mizuhashi vs. Daisuke Narukami. Let's begin!"

Mirai vanished instantly, and Daisuke seemingly pulled a black and white ball out of thin air. Yagyu pulled out her parasol, "Good Luck trying to strike me with that stupid thing."

Daisuke smirked, "Well, that's fine that you think that but if I were you, I wouldn't go underestimating me."

Yagyu scoffed, clearly not taking him seriously. Daisuke dropped the ball and put his foot on top of it, "I hope you're ready sweetheart. Let's just hope I don't kill you by mistake, I'm still having trouble controlling my power. I don't care much for winning, but if it happens I'll send you some flowers in apologies for the humiliation."

Yagyu gave a closed-mouth chuckle, not taking the threat seriously. Daisuke threw his leg out and kicked the ball... but it went at Yagyu very slowly. Yagyu moved her head a few inches to the right to get out of the ball's way, but at the same time, something struck her back unexpectedly. Yagyu let out a surprised squeal as she got thrown forward.

I got out of my seat to try and get a better look at the screen, "Wait what just happened?"

Kat moved closer to the TV with me, "It looked like as soon as the ball passed Yagyu, Daisuke came up behind it super fast and kicked it into Yagyu's back... but I couldn't even see him hit the ball. The ball changed direction suddenly."

I sat back in my seat, "I didn't even see all that. "

Kat nodded, "Yeah, to the untrained eye, not even the ball is seeable. I wonder if the internet will have slow-mos of this fight."

Back to the fight, the ball bounced after it connected with her and Daisuke stopped it by resting his foot on it. "Technically, I did say not to underestimate me, love. I warned you or else you just might regret it."

Yagyu caught herself before falling, "You bast-"

Just then the ball shot into her abdomen, and Yagyu's blood started flying out of her mouth as she flew back, coughing from the impact.

Daisuke crossed his arms, "I told her, but she didn't even choose to take me seriously. So very rude, I hope I'm not like her when I get her age."

Yagyu caught herself again, "Screw you asshole! You don't have any real power! All you got is speed!"

Daisuke smirked, "You say I don't have any real power, that all I have is speed, right? While yes I do have speed, but if the speed is fast enough, then it can be just as powerful as any of you. Just look at where the ball struck you last."

Yagyu looked down to her abdomen and saw it was turning a nasty shade of purple, "What the hell!?"

Daisuke smirked again, "See? It seems like your body is getting bruised. So tell me again that I don't have any real power. Pretty sure you have a matching mark on your back."

Yagyu seethed, "Bastard!"

"Nah, my parents are married."

Daisuke took off and started to kick the ball at Yagyu again, but this time she was dodging all the attempts that he made at her.

Daisuke spoke as he moved, "Speed is my main gimmick. I harshly trained my body to the point that I increased my overall speed to the point where no one can see me. Not even the ball gives away my position because it's going to fast too. The only reason why you see it is cause you're trained to spot something like that."

Yagyu kept dodging, "Now that I know your rhythm, you'll never hit me again."

Suddenly the ball hit Yagyu in the lower back this time, Yagyu let out another gasp in surprise and pain. Yagyu growled and looked in the direction where the ball was supposedly at, "How!?"

Yagyu kept her footing this time, and Daisuke laughed, "Looks like you're getting used to being struck now. BTW's I'm going as fast as possibly can. But the ball still went faster. I wonder how that happened? It's a mystery~!"

Yagyu was seething, gritting her teeth and growling for a second, I thought she was gonna let her anger get the better of her.

But suddenly the look of anger disappeared, "I see, that's how you're doing that huh?"

Daisuke's smirked dropped, "Don't act like you know what's going on, love. Just admit when you are beaten and forfeit the match."

Yagyu scoffed, "Oh really?"

Yagyu then looked to the tree closest to them and for the first time, I noticed that the leaves were moving more violently despite the weather report saying there wasn't gonna be any wind. They stopped just as quickly as I noticed them as well.

Yagyu smirked, "Awww what's the matter? Stopped cause I noticed your little trick?"

Kat sat back in her chair, "I see. That's what's going on."

I looked to her, "What was going on?"

Kat crossed her arms, "He was using his element there. It's the same as mine. He's using it to push the ball to go even faster than his speed will allow."

I sat back myself as it all clicked in, "So he's using the wind to go faster, huh?"

Daisuke squared his shoulders tensely, "I have no idea what you're talking about, love."

Yagyu smiled, "Oh really? Well, why don't you try that little trick again."

Daisuke put his foot behind the ball and drew his foot behind him for a kick, "Gladly love."

Daisuke and the ball disappeared again, and then Yagyu shot her foot out and did a kick. An explosion happened at the wall opposite of her as Daisuke fell out of it with the ball logged in his stomach.

Yagyu huffed and adjusted her shirt smugly, "Maybe next time you'll train your body to take hits rather than just training your legs for speed."

Mirai looked to Daisuke and noticed he wasn't gonna get up, "And the winner is, Yagyu Mizuhashi!"

Kat chuckled, "She perfectly predicted where the ball was coming from, the speed of it and the force she'd need to kick it back and the arc of the ball all within a span of a second. I'll give it to her, Yagyu is good."

Once they left the field, Mirai spoke, "It's time for the next match! Will Naraku Kaida and Pepper Spice come on out."

Both Naraku and Pepper came out onto the field. Naraku looked at her opponent, "So you're one of the Spice Siblings, huh?"

Pepper showed no reaction whatsoever, "So... you've heard of us."

Naraku crossed her arms, "Yeah. Your parents are actually quite famous in the world of Shinobi. Their cuisine is world-renowned. When I heard that they had three children, it would make sense how you three ended up in the kitchen of New World Academy. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree it seems. All of you seem to keep up a theme."

Indeed, Pepper was dressed in a black chefs uniform that blended in with his black hair and equally dark eyes. The only source of color beside his pale skin like his parents was little flakes of grey and white of the scarf around his neck.

Pepper snorted and waved a hand by his head, "Please, my family doesn't determine my fate. I always do the things I want. They don't determine my fate!"

"So what? You're going to branch off and make your own restaurant? Make your own living? You want to give it up just to rebel?" Naraku asked, her face grimaced when she came to the realization that she was talking to… a ranter.

"Cooking isn't just about lineage or money! You ninja think greed is only about money and power. But don't forget, everybody wants something they don't have. So I want money, women, status, fame, and everything else in this world!" Pepper exclaimed.

I deadpanned and looked at Kat, "He's just contradicted himself."

"Shhhh!" Kat shushed me, shoving a mochi into her mouth. "This is funny!"

Naraku looked to the guy before her unimpressed, "Yeah, sounds kind the ranting of a short-sighted fool."

Pepper then opened his arms wide, "I want eternal life!"

With those words passing Pepper's lips, Naraku lost her composure, "Eternal life isn't what you think it is! You think you can stay alive forever! But life just doesn't work like that!"

Pepper chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement, "And what would you know about eternal life?"

Naraku looked at Pepper with a serious look, "I've seen it, and trust me, you don't want it. It's a curse more than anything."

Pepper rolled his eyes and placed a hand on his hip "Don't give me that 'you'll lose your loved ones' crap! I don't care for anyone and I'll be alive a lot longer than any of them!"

"What about your siblings?" Naraku asked.

"They know what I want to do. Paprika can take care of the family business and Salt is… well, insane. I have nothing to lose by getting eternal life," Pepper declared proudly.

Naraku shook her head with a sigh, "You're a lost cause."

Mirai lifted her arm, "Naraku Kaida are you ready!?

Naraku put her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, "Ready!"

Mirai then said, "Pepper Spice are you ready?!"

Pepper didn't move, "Ready."

Mirai smirked, "Naraku Kaida vs. Pepper Spice, ready? Begin!" Mirai vanished.

Naraku instantly jumped and threw those same steel balls from before forward immediately and landed a direct hit onto Pepper's body. Naraku smiled, "Direct hit!"

Pepper, however, didn't fall and had his arms up to block the oncoming strike, completely unharmed. If anything, he looked mildly disgruntled, like someone hit him with a pillow. Naraku looked without flinching, "How did you survive getting hit with an orb that heavy!? That should have crushed your entire body!"

"Despite my namesake, which are a weak material, I can manipulate my body to have density superior to any metal." Pepper explained.

Naraku didn't seem phased however, "Alright, then all I gotta do is create a strong enough force to penetrate that skin of yours."

Pepper laughed, "Like it'll even be that easy! News flash, you're no match for me!"

The camera changed to show the Spice Siblings slowly shaking their heads and the parents looking like they really want to laugh, but not show it.

"Looks like a supportive family," I commented to Kat.

Kat glanced at me for a moment then nodded, "I feel like most of these contestants don't really care if they win. They just want to show off."

Naraku on the screen then kicked her leg up, "Try dodging this then!"

Naraku kicked her orb towards Pepper, and he put his guard up to block. The impact made a clanging sound, and when her orb came back she kicked it back to Pepper. Over and over again and when she made the final blow she jumped into the air and kicked it back to him one last and it went through him like he was nothing leaving a crater in its wake. Naraku retracted her orb, "It's over." But when the smoke cleared there was no sign of Pepper.

"Impossible!" Said the light green-haired girl, "He shouldn't have been able to move, let alone get up!"

Naraku looked around and didn't see him anywhere, "Where did he go!?"

Suddenly, Naraku looked up and saw a cloud of black dust above her, "What the hell is that!?"

Pepper's laugh echoed throughout the stadium and Naraku looked around trying to pinpoint the voice. His voice echoed the whole stadium, being everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "The beauty of this life, no one can control me for I am as free as the sky allows me!"

Naraku quickly looked up and saw that the cloud was gone. "I see... That cloud was you, wasn't it?"

Pepper laughed again, "Well… looks like someone has figured it out. Yes, in this form I can enter into someone's body and manipulate their density. Rupturing them from the inside out however I please."

Naraku jerked her head back and forth, trying to be on her guard, "And how do you enter one's body?"

"Respiratory…." The voice said in a soft, almost seductive whisper, like a beautiful song that threatens death. "You cannot stop me... everything needs to breathe eventually..."

Naraku got into a defensive position, "Tch!"

"And once I get in I can explore said body all I want." Pepper then lets out another chuckle, low like his whisper.

Naraku took a few steps back, "You pervert!"

I look at the screen, "Huh… we use that phrase a lot. He didn't even say anything perverted necessarily. Naraku just made that assumption herself." Kat laughed.

"You'll never know where I am... until it's too late…." Pepper continued softly.

Naraku looked around frantically but unfortunately, Pepper laughed, "I am now inside you... While inside my victim, I can even explode their body from the inside out. Just… like… THIS."

Suddenly Naraku cried out in pain, wrapping her arms around her crying out, "You can't! You won't win the match if I die!"

"But you see… I'm not trying to win the match. None of my siblings are. I'm just here to show off our moves and advertise our skills as Shinobi and chefs. My brother Salt has already been asked to display his skills in the kitchen for some masters… Killing you just means one less future customer."

Naraku's face twisted into a look of panicked as she dropped to her knees, "No, Master Kagura help me." Tears fell as her body shook with pain.

Suddenly things turned as we heard Pepper's voice, "Wait, who the hell are you? What're you doing? Stop, no!" A scream soon echoed across the arena and then everything fell silent.

Mirai got close to Naraku and waited, Naraku lifted her head and let out a breath of relief. "I thank you for your help, Master Kagura. Now I know you're out there."

Mirai raises her hand, "And the winner is Naraku Kaida!"

Naraku looked up to the sky, "Master Kagura, I'll find you, just you watch."

Mirai looked to the light green-haired girl, "What happened to Pepper anyway?"

Naraku looked to the loli, "Master Kagura teleported him away from this place. Either way, he won't be back for a while."

Mirai smirked, "Damn, guess you got friends in high places. You're from that village that housed the Yoma destroyer correct?"

Naraku nodded, "Yes, now if you'll excuse me."

Naraku walks off the field, and Mirai raises her arm once again. I wonder if she ever gets tired of doing that? "Next up is Shiki Yamamoto vs. Paprika Spice! Would both Shiki and Paprika come on out here."

Both Shiki and Paprika come right out onto the field and came up to Mirai. Paprika pulls off her clothes that covered up her body immediately, revealing a pastry chef outfit. "I hope you don't mind that I just cut right to the chase."

Shiki didn't react to this, "Whatever makes you feel better, hun."

Paprika pulled the mask off her face. Unlike her brothers, who looked more like their father, she was the spitting image of what I would imagine her mother to look if she was younger, freckles and all. "Well, if you don't mind, then I'll just get started then."

Mirai just chuckled, "Well if you're both ready, then let's begin."

Mirai vanishes, and the next thing we knew Paprika was harmonizing for some reason. Even Shiki raised an eyebrow to this. Next thing I, or anybody that wasn't her family, knew Paprika started singing, "Ha, ha, ha, Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want! So tell me what you want, what you really, really want! I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want, So tell me what you want, what you really, really want! I wanna- I wanna- I wanna- I wanna- I wanna really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig ah~!"

Shiki's face went to one of bafflement, to realization, then to pain as she gripped her head, "Holy shit! So these are your powers?"

Paprika didn't listen as she kept on singing, swinging her hips to her own music and smiling brightly.

Shiki fell to her knees, "Gah! Nice tone but... Ugh… My head! It feels like it's going to explode!"

Shiki cried out when word after word passed through Paprika's mouth like this song was designed just for her vocal cords.

"If you wanna be my lover~, You gotta get with my friends~" The wind helped her echo the words out. "Gotta get with my friends! Make it last forever, Friendship never ends~! If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give~. Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is~!"

I looked to the screen, "What's going on exactly?"

Kat put her hand to her chin in thought, "It looks like her singing is doing something to Shiki's brain of some sort. Weird that it's not hurting the audience." She pointed out that most of the audience was perfectly fine, though there was a noticeably large amount of women breaking into a dance with the lyrics and a handful of guys joining in with as much vigor.

Shiki continued to groan in pain as she tried to plug her ears, "I-Its no use! Once the sound is inside it bounces around in my head! Damn the catchy beat!"

Shiki finally cried out at a volume that I'm positive tore at her throat, and suddenly her power exploded forth, darkness exploded around her. Nothing but pure black around her.

Kat sat back, "A darkness user, huh? You know there was a time when using darkness was an evil thing to do, but now it's widely accepted as one of the most natural elements out there."

"Really?" I said with surprise in my voice, "I didn't know that."

"I mean," Kat continued, "Darkness is a natural thing, you can't punish someone for using something that existed longer than light itself."

Shiki cries grew louder and louder as her voice bordered screaming. Next thing anyone knew, visible fangs appeared in Shiki's mouth. Suddenly she had a dark kid around her ears.

Paprika saw this and immediately cut her song short, "Hey no fair!"

Shiki chuckled, "Fair!? Bitch, Ninja don't play fair!" Suddenly Shiki screamed and ultrasonic waves went at Paprika. The Spice sibling didn't see that coming and got blown back as an end result.

Paprika cried out in pain and was soon caught by Shiki herself. She hands had an odd hand placement on Paprika's body, one being on her on the right just below her rib cage, and the other her left hip. Paprika shuddered under her touch, "J-Just what're you going to do to me?"

Shiki grabbed Paprika's coat and tore open the buttons, grabbing the tank top under it and pulling it just below her breasts, the elastic band of the shirt keeping it wrapped around her upper torso. Shiki rubbed where Paprika's rib cage is, licking her lips, "Hmmm I wonder are you sensitive right about here?"

Paprika's face turned red as Shiki kept her touch up, but it wasn't long before Shiki's canines grew longer into predatory fangs and sunk into Paprika's skin, blood soon following when the skin broke. Paprika cried out in pain, and the wound looked like she started bleeding black blood.

"What the fuck?!" I exclaimed, "What is going on!?"

Kat nodded with a hum, " Aha! I see what's going on. She's draining her Ki, from the source per se."

I looked back at Kat, "The source?"

Kat nodded again, "Yes, inside our bodies, besides our blood vessels and veins, we also have an intricate system inside similar to blood vessels but instead carry our Ki inside them. They go throughout our entire body to carry our Ki to every part of our body. These vessels are a one-way system and start from our heart, where the source of our life comes from, and end in our breasts as they are connected to our chakra sacs. But since the last two vessels, that are located before our breasts run through our rib cage and mostly in the front, well you can see the end result right here. Paprika is getting her Ki drained straight from the source."

"Well, what happens when all of someone's Ki is completely drained?"

Kat crossed her arms, "It's the same as losing a lot of blood Renka-Honey, you die."

I swallowed harshly as I watched Paprika have her Ki drained straight from her body. Shiki laughs, "Don't worry I've almost had my fill. I won't take it all due to the fact that the tournament prevents killing. Just know that if this were a real battle, I would have drained you dry."

Shiki detached her fangs, and the blood soon followed. I blinked a few times "Wait, what's to stop her Ki from gushing out, Kat?"

Kat laughed a bit, "Okay, one: quit watching horror films. Stuff doesn't go gushing out of our body like a fountain. That's just a fantasy. Secondly: Shiki is one of the rare few Ki Vampires that are out there. From what I've read, their fangs secrete a healing toxin that once it enters into the Ki system, heals where her fangs had punctured from the inside out. So she should be fine, at least as far as her Ki system goes, but since she probably had a significant amount of Ki drained, it should be the same as someone who just had their blood drawn."

After Shiki put her distance between them, Paprika looked like she was about to faint as she wobbled to her feet, "Wh-What... did you just do to me?"

Shiki wiped the blood off of her mouth, "I just drained one of your body's three natural life forces. Since this is most likely the first time you had your Ki drained by one of my kind, usually our victims faint on the first time."

Shiki was soon proven right as Paprika soon fell to her knees and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Mirai raised her hand, "And the winner is Shiki Yamamoto!"

Shiki smiled, "Fuh shur." She even did a little curtsy.

Mirai smiles, "Didn't think one of them still existed in our world today. Just shows you how little I know of the world."

Kat cleared her throat, "Well, that's all the matches. Guess it's time to turn in huh?"

I looked back to the screen, my mind trying to register everything I had seen. "I guess so."

I watched as Kat proceeded to turn off the TV then I went to bed.

Side Story End

Well, that was a bit of a bulky chapter, just like I said. But seriously I just had ideas and they kept flowing, sorry about that. Anyway, that's the end of this chapter. In the next one, we're gonna tackle Renka's biggest challenge yet: The first round of the Quarter-Finals.

Some fun cultural context from your residential beta editor: Daisuke is wearing the same color as Japan's national soccer team. (football for all you non-American readers there ;D) They change designs on occasion but Daisuke has the uniform that first pops up on google.

Hope you'll enjoy. Till then Ayame is out.