Today was the day for the Night Parade Sumo Tournament. Many civilians from the Yokai District had lined up to buy tickets to enter the huge stadium and witness the matches.

The Yureimoto clan, Yuyu and Akari had finally arrived after a week of training in the Art of Sumo. Each of them, except for Rin due to her snake body, wore very large kimonos to fit comfortably over their obesity and sandals strong enough to handle their weight. Thanks to Kentaro's teachings and inspirations, Yuyu and Mayumi gained as much confidence as they needed to battle any wrestler with little concern.

"Oh ho ho hoooooo, this is so exciting! We're finally here!" Ena squealed, raising her fists in excitement.

"Damn straight, sis. After a week of training, I'm about to show the other butterballs what I can do." Yori grinned.

"Heck yeah, Mom! They won't know what hit 'em!" Mitsu and Momo cheered, which gave their mother a bit of an ego boost.

Sam, with Erma in his arms, nuzzled Emiko's nose as she got ready.

"I'll try and…"

"Stop right there." Sam cut off. "Emiko, you are the most beautiful, brave and strongest woman I know. And you've never looked more beautiful than you do now."

Overcome by this, Emiko gave Sam a passionate kiss before giving Erma a loving nose nuzzle.

"Awwwww…" Kentaro and Aoi cooed together, before the Oni swept his beloved up and cooed:

"You are already perfect. Just go out and have fun."

Aou held back loving tears at Kentaro, settling for kissing him before leaving to get ready. Off to the side, Kenji did the same for Ena, who peppered his face with kisses.

"Where we ever that so…?" Fumiko started, before Haru leapt into her arms and stared at her adoration. "…It is a good thing you're cute."

"Alright, let's do this thing!" Ena cheered as she left a dazed Kenji in his place.

SUMO

The first round began with Yori facing against a kitsune woman.

"Can I say something quick?" She asked. Getting a nod, she made her way to the center of the arena, took a deep breath and called out:

"This has been something we haven't done in a while; a celebration of our strength and presaverence, even as the world changes. And while some of us are afraid or hate the changes, just a many of them have proven to be good! Our children will soon have to face a new world…so I believe its time….and mostly because they're not here yet…to just be ourselves: Strong, deadly, fierce…and with more than enough of all that and more to make our enemies both fear and swoon. So, whose ready to have some fun?!"

The crowd burst into cheers

"Break a leg, Mom!" Mitsu cheered.

"Better yet, break some bones!" Momo added.

"You certainly have a tremendous fire." Yori's kitsune opponent noted as she got into the beginning stance. "But let's see how strong that fire is against mine."

Yori smirked as she did the same. "You won't know what hit you, sister."

The referee glanced at both the Yureimoto sumo and hefty kitsune planting their fists down on the ground, taking their stance.

"HAJIME!"

With absolutely no prompting, both women rocketed toward each other, almost creating shockwaves from their speed and momentum as they clashed their jiggly adiposes and massive bellies. Their collision emitted a shockwave that nearly blew the spectators off their feet as they held on for dear life.

Yori and her opponent grinned at each other competitively, enjoying the sheer thrill of the match. The fox yokai pulled back her arm before trying to strike Yori with a palm thrust, which the girthy Rokurokubi managed to block her attack

"I'd heard that you and your siblings had been training for only a week. And yet you are very skilled in the Art of Sumo."

"I guess being a bunch of fast learners is in our genes, sister." Yori boasted.

Yori proceeded to slam her full weight at the foxy wrestler, who dug her feet in as tightly as she could to avoid being knocked straight out of bounds.

"You are truly incredible. But I'm afraid the only one winning this match will be me!" The kitsune exclaimed before pushing back with equal force, nearly pushing Yori out of the ring in the process.

Yori grunted but then, she got an idea. As the kitsune prepared for a final push, she caught her and with a flourish, performed a toss as she used the nine-tailed sumo's heavyweight against her. The obese kitsune then fell off the ring and landed on her huge belly, officially defeated.

"YAME! THE WINNER OF THE FIRST ROUND IS YORI YUREIMOTO!"

The kitsune grunted as she picked herself up before giving a fox-like grin to Yori.

"Well played, beautiful. Guess I'll be cheering for your victory in the next round."

Yori smiled with a flattered blush on her face for being called beautiful before suddenly frowning.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just...thinking of an old flame, is all."

Yori's mind drifted back back to her first love; the father of her children who had been taken away by Osamu. And then there was as another person, a human man who she had not seen in a good long while.

There was a reason she had been so accepting of Sam and Emiko, after all.

SUMO

Meanwhile, some Yokai pedestrians had been excitedly making their way to the tournament, eager for some good old martial arts, when they came across a strange sight; an unconscious human man laying prone on the ground.

He had black, messy and almost curly hair that reached the nape of his neck, clad in what looked like what had formerly been a nice suit, now drenched in sweat and riddled with leaves, branches…and maybe one or two bird droppings.

"Leave him be."

"He could die."

"Good. One less human and more meat for us."

"But he has done nothing to us."

"So lets not give him the chance…!"

"What of lady Emiko's husband?'

Instantly, the anger dissipated. For all Osamu and Amaya had told the village, Sam was proof not all humans were bad. And Emiko's child with him proved not everything their leaders said was truth….

"….We can at least take him to shelter and help him rest."

So, they lifted him up and made their way to the Yorimoto residence, planning to leave him there to be cared for and then catching the next round of the tournament. As they did so, they missed the man stir for an instant…..

"Yori..." The man breathed out weakly before passing out again.

Knightmare Lord A/N:

The Night Parade Sumo Tournament kicks off with Yori stealing a climatic victory in the very first round! However, it seems that a figure from her past might be coming back into her life sooner than she expects.

Anything you'd like to say, Mrotrax?

Mrotrax A/N:

Forgive the delay on this update!