Hello everyone. We've now approached the chapter you've all been waiting for. Renka vs. Yomi. Hope it doesn't disappoint. If you guys like the story so far, share it around, I would love this story to gain more fame as I've learned that, this might be a very long story. Even though we've hit 27 chapters the story is still in its infancy. The reviews help greatly too. So without any further ado, I hope you enjoy the match.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Senran Kagura series. Just a few OCs and the plot.

Warning: Violence, language, minor emotional moments.

Chapter 27 - The Dream

My eyes went wide as I stared at the spot where Yomi's attack landed, 'If I didn't dodge that point, I would be dead right now.' So… Yomi wasn't holding anything back at all. Which meant that I needed to think of some kind of strategy if I was ever gonna beat her. Even though thinking isn't my strong suit… I don't have a choice.

Yomi picked up her sword, "Good. I didn't want this to be over that quick. I wanted to have some more fun with you, Renka."

As she said that, she offered a wink, which immediately got my face to burn hot and I was hoping that I wasn't blushing. Yomi lifted her broadsword yet again and I had to be ready for whatever she'd throw my way, including herself. I felt Yomi's Ki flew all around me, which meant only one thing: A Sigmund was coming my way.

Yomi's broadsword grew to an enormous size and she brought it down with strength beyond the size of her body. "Sigmund!"

I barely managed to dodge out of the way in time as Yomi devastated the ground where I stood. This was my chance. I ran towards Yomi in the dust cloud and slid on the ground to try and trip her. It seemed to work as I collided with Yomi's leg and I felt her weight began to give in. But, just as she began to fall, she recovered almost instantly by using her hands to hold onto her sword to keep her balance, then using the same leg whipped it back in my direction making contact with my face and forcibly throwing me back in the other direction. I heard my voice cry out in pain as I got thrown back, not even realizing I had let a scream past my lips. I hit the ground after flying a few feet away.

Yomi chuckled with a condescending tone, "Did you honestly think I wouldn't know you would try that? A lot of people assume that since I wield such a heavy weapon, that throwing me off-balance is the best bet they got. Not once do they even realize that I've trained for this exact scenario. Only an idiot would ignore the difference in weight between themselves and their weapon."

I blinked a few times, biting my lip in irritation. 'Damn it! That was stupid! Of course, tripping her up is the first thing people go for. How can I be so stupid!?' I get up onto my feet.

Yomi smirked, tilting her chip up. "How could you have known though? It's not like you've had your weapons for very long."

My brain finally clicked into the right gears and I realized that she was weaponless. I made a break for it and tried to strike her with my Rei Tei, but she lifted up her arm and it had a weapon on it. I quickly dropped down to the ground to avoid getting hit.

Yomi saw how fast I did so and took a step back, "What!? So fast! Impossible!"

I took a glance at her body and thought, 'Her midsection! It's the only thing unguarded right now!'

As I made a fist and got ready to punch Yomi's midsection, I heard, "Do you know what everyone is saying about you?"

That threw me off guard long enough for Yomi to dodge back and kicked me straight in the stomach. She then threw me back with the force of the kick and my body went tumbling onto the ground. As soon as my body stopped tumbling, I started coughing up blood.

"The Majority is betting on me to win," Yomi said with a tinge of humor in her voice.

I looked up at her, "What!?"

Yomi smiled, "The majority is all on me to win. No one thinks you're even gonna make it beyond this match. Everyone still thinks of you as the idiot girl whose in over her head. Even though you've already won two matches and proved you belong here... Most, however, see your display of skill as nothing more than dumb luck."

I let out another cough, "B-But that's not true!"

Yomi chuckled, it was dark and malicious that buzzed through my very bones. "Renka, what're you here for?"

My eyes widened, "What am... I here for?"

Yomi nodded, "You couldn't have entered this tournament, and not only win the preliminaries but fight all the way to the semifinals just for Kat alone. Especially since she lost her last match. I know that it wasn't solely for her sake that you won those matches. So I'll ask again, Renka, what are you here for? Or is it truly as everyone says it is?" She tilts her head, "Dumb luck?"

A growl escaped my throat as a spark flew off me. "N-No! It wasn't!"

Yomi scoffed, throwing her free hand out, "Sure doesn't look that way, Miss no-goal Renka. Are you always gonna go through life going with the flow and never knowing what to do next?"

I got up on one knee, sparks flying off me at a more noticeable rate, "Sh-Shut up! Just shut up!"

Yomi just stomped her foot like a child, "I don't think so, Miss no-goal Renka! If this trashy level of power doesn't use all you've got, you won't last two seconds in the real world! But... it doesn't matter, right? It's not like you had a dream of your own in the first place, unlike the people who you fought and deserved to be here, fighting me!"

It pissed me off by what she was saying, but she was right. I… I don't have a real goal.

Yomi crossed her arms, shifting the sword then spoke, "I want to start an organization that tends to orphaned children like me. To do that I need to become an Elite. It's the first step to becoming the Crimson Squad's Grand Councilwoman!"

Yomi's words sat in my brain and instantly I remembered someone else's words, "All I wanted to do was become an Elite on my last year here at New World Academy. So I can make my way to become the Grand Councilwoman for Hebijo."

I sniffled, tears fell from my eyes as I squeaked out one word: "Kat..."

The crowd booed instantly upon seeing my tears, and I could even see Yomi's concerned face wondering if she went too far. Everyone... Everyone was so loud, so annoying, Yomi was annoying, this world was annoying. I just wished… I just wished that everyone… everyone would just- "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

The echo of my voice carried over to the stands, silencing the crowd. My element coated my body like a comforting blanket as I looked to the crowd the tears still falling, "'Idiot girl', 'In over my head', 'Miss no goal'! Just shut the fuck up with all that! None of you fuckers know me at all!"

My Ki poured out of me, fueling the Electricity around me becoming a deep shade of purple that swirled around like a storm in the high winds. "I am Renka Mikagura and I do have a goal! I am gonna surpass every Shinobi before me and become the next Kagura!"

My voice carried the word Kagura all around the stadium as everyone had shocked looks on their faces that fueled the sparks around me. Yomi, however, was smiling widely like she was the proudest person on this planet. "Atta girl, Renka."

My voice rips through my throat,, "Just watch! I'm gonna win this match and prove you all wrong!"

Yomi chuckled, "I'm not gonna let you have that win easily, you know?"

I looked at my whole body coated in deep purple lightning, 'Okay Renka, you definitely don't know why all this lightning is coating your body, but you got this! You can win this match! After all, your own element can't hurt you right?' I balled up my fist. 'Win this match, Renka!'

I shot off like a bullet fired from a high caliber gun. Instantly closing the gap between Yomi and I. My fist landed in her gut and electricity shot through her like my very will demanded that she felt every moment of it. Yomi's body blew away like a rag doll and crashed into the stadium wall. I looked at my fist in shock… heh… shock. "H-Holy crap! It's like I tapped into a whole new level of power! This is awesome!"

I could hear my own heart furiously pounding away in my chest. At a pause, I realized that I could hear everyone else's heartbeats too. I heard Yomi coughing, "That's it. I knew you had it in you. All you needed was a little push. Of course, if you keep landing those hard punches I won't stand a chance... I think it's time I stop going easy on you."

Yomi used her arm cannons and wrist bow and fired them straight at me, "Niflheim!" She opened fire on me and all her ammunition came rushing out like bats out of hell I dodged with ease, as I started bouncing around the arena too fast for Yomi to track, using my lightning as a form of a speed booster. She smiled, "Oh dear. I think I created a fight that I have no chance of winning. What an absolute shame."

Ignoring her remarks, I started to make attacks at Yomi and she started to dodge them one by one, but each dodge removes her precious seconds, and every one of my assaults came faster and faster until I started to land hit after hit on her. All Yomi could do was take each hit I made on her body. I had to give Yomi a little credit to take so many strikes and still remain standing was an admirable trait. After another shot, Yomi's footing finally collapsed and she fell to her knees and as I go to make the final shot, Yomi suddenly looked up, "Niflheim!"

There was no time to dodge, so I took the full brunt of Yomi's ammunition! I cried out as the shots pierced my skin and shot me back in the other direction. My body skidded to a halt on the ground. My body was hard to move as it cried out in pain, but I had no time to rest as I felt Yomi's Ki. I quickly looked up and saw Yomi with her broadsword high in the air and it grew big, "Sigmund!"

With no time to dodge that next attack hit my body dead center. I knew it was all over. I was face down in the dirt, barely conscious, and I heard no sound around me anymore, my body felt numb. 'Is this how Kat and Minori felt?' My sight went blurry and started to get dark. 'No damn it! Not like this!' I couldn't hear anything but I could feel everyone's sneers. 'Get up! You need to get up! Don't prove everyone right by losing here!'

My body felt warm. I could even move again and sound came back as my vision returned to normal. "I knew this bitch was all talk! Next Kagura my ass!"

Excuse me?

I heard Yomi sighing, "Renka, you did it. In the end, you turned out to be one of my most fun matches I've ever had. Ryōbi, you can call it now."

I even heard Ryōbi's voice, "Yeah, it looks like she's out cold. I gotta admit though, I had her pegged as a complete loser. She's made it further than I ever thought she could. For a minute there, I truly thought she was gonna win. I thought she got here on dumb luck alone, but that's not the case. Renka has talent as a Shinobi after all."

Heck yeah, I have talent!

I was suddenly on my feet, a little shaky at first but I soon found my balance. Yomi saw me and straightened her back, "R-Renka!? Impossible! How are you standing!?"

I take a deep breath, "Yomi, I want you to hit me with another Sigmund! This time put every ounce of strength into it!"

Yomi's eyes go wide, "I can't! If your body even takes any more damage Renka, you'll die!"

I looked straight into Yomi's eyes and threw my arms to the side, "Yomi, don't hold back! Go all out!"

Yomi nodded and raised her broadsword high into the air pumping the last of her Ki into it, "Be careful what you wish for, Renka! This time, I'm not holding anything back!"

I got into a defensive stance, "Good! Be sure that you don't! I won't forgive you if you do!"

Yomi's broadsword grew bigger than it ever did before! I got ready to stand my ground as I heard Yomi call out her attack name, "Sigmund!"

Yomi brought down her broadsword on top of me and I immediately put my hands up with my Rei Tei in them to stop it and it collided with my weapons. The force between the two weapons shocked through the stadium in arguably the world's loudest boom of all time, but that's all it did. Her weapon just rested on my weapons completely unmoving. Yomi's eyes go wide, "That's impossible! That had every ounce of my Ki remaining in it!"

I quickly threw her broadsword to the side and it slipped out of Yomi's hands. I channeled my remaining Ki and connected the hardest shot to Yomi's midsection that I could. I could hear Yomi cry out as my elemental courses through her whole body, dancing around her nerves and through her veins. Yomi's eyes go white as her hands fall to her side and she soon fell to her knees and then fell back onto the ground.

I cried out with my arms in the air, "Hell ya! All of you out there listen up! I will… be…"

At that moment, I fell to the ground unable to stand anymore. I was still conscious though, as Ryōbi came over to check on me and Yomi. Ryōbi chuckled with a hand on her hip and a whistle through her lips. "Well, I'll be! The legendary first mate, Yomi Kayano is unconscious!"

I smiled brightly after that. Ryōbi lifted her arm, "The winner of this match is Renka Mikagura!"

The whole entire crowd exclaimed in surprise. Then I heard Ryobi say, "That means that Renka will be the first contender in the final match!"

That's when it hit me, "F-Final match!? I-I'm going t-to the f-final match!?"

My family came down and Hanabi's face glowed with her wide grin, "Oh my god Renka! You made it to the final round!"

My mother helped me up, patting my back, "Well done dear. You've made me proud. It looks like you've gotten even stronger now. I'll have to make you some of your favorite dishes the next time you're home, just how you like them." She gave me a wink and kissed the top of my head.

Even Kafuru chimed in with a smile, "Hmpf, your not as strong as me yet, but you're getting there. Just keep at it! Don't disappoint me with false hopes!"

Everyone, my whole family was behind me on this. I couldn't help the tears that flooded as a result.

After I was taken to the infirmary where I was patched up and learned that I had no fatal injuries at all. In fact, Nurse Haruka told me that it looked like my body had already started to heal itself.

"Must be because of your element, it's reorganizing your cells and closing any existing wounds through heat and energy." She explained after giving me a clean bill of health.

My family, well mostly Kafuru and mom looked to me like I was using Chakra but I told them that there was no way that was possible because I haven't taken anyone else's since Minori's during my near-death experience. The next thing I did was to go to the hospital to visit Kat. I sighed and looked at her, "Well, it looks like I made it to the final match, Kat. It's funny, I didn't want to be in this tournament and… and now I'm in the final match. While someone like you who wanted to be in it was eliminated. I'm so sorry for stealing your spot, Kat. I know when you wake up, you'll hate me for it."

All I wanted to do was cry, so I left Kat's room and as I headed down the hall I heard, "Renka?"

I looked into the room it came from and saw Yomi awake, I came in the room and smiled, "How're you doing?"

Yomi returned my smile, "I'll live. I wasn't hurt badly. I just blacked out after that last strike you made. But... listen, Renka, if Yagyu wasn't lying about being stronger than Naraku, then she'll win the next match. You need to watch it if you ever actually fight her. I don't know what her deal is but she fights like a real demon. I've seen her kill people and she shows no hint of remorse…. Just be careful."

I nodded taking Yomi's warning to heart, "Don't worry. I'll give it my best and try not to die. Not at least till I become Kagura."

Yomi's eyes went wide as she looked at me, so I tilted my head, "What's wrong?"

Yomi shook her head and smiled, "It's nothing Renka. You just reminded me a lot of my former captain Hinata is all."

I smiled, "Thank you."

After bidding Yomi farewell, I was asked to return home by mom, but I refused because I needed to be there for Kat when she woke up. I headed out to the stadium where Ryōbi called out, "Let the next match begin! Will Yagyū Mizuhashi and Naraku Kaida come on out!"

I watched both of them come out. Strangely enough at Naraku's side of the stadium, I saw a little girl standing at the rails before the seats. I looked at her and thought, 'Wait, is that… the girl I saved from Murasame before?'

I heard Ryobi's voice interrupted my thoughts, "All right! It's time for the bloodshed to begin! Yagyū Mizuhashi vs. Naraku Kaida! Semifinals, match 2 begin! This is gonna get messy!"

I saw the little girl's grip on the bars tighten, as I could've sworn she mouthed the word Naraku. I looked to the match, an uneasy pit resting in my stomach.

Chapter end

Well hope the match between Renka and Yomi was exciting. We've getting close to the end of the tournament now. Who will win? Who will come out on top? Who will this year's Elite class be? Find out next time, in the final five chapters of the Kohana Tournament Arc. See ya all next time! Ayame out!