The Best (Part 3 - Finals)

The semi-finals were over when Yang interfered in the intense dramatic fight between Yin and Artemis. Yin was declared as the victor and the reign of the undefeated champion ended. After the fight was over, Yin and Artemis walked out of the Arena, while Yang waited for them, below the stairs. First it was Yin who walked down the minute staircase. She glared at Yang and walked off. After that, it was Artemis who walked slowly down the stairs. Once she ascended down all the stairs with her bruised body, she looked at Yang and smiled. Yang smiled back. "Are you alright?" He asked, even though she was beaten up very badly by his sister some time ago.

Artemis didn't answer. Instead, she walked closer to him, wrapped her hands around his neck, and hugged him tightly, even though her body was aching with pain. "I missed you," she said.

But, the embrace didn't last for very long, when Victoria decided to interfere. "How are you, Yang?"

Both of them let go of each other and looked at Victoria. "I am doing fine, Victoria," Yang replied with a smile.

In the meantime, Artemis cleared her throat, and when Yang looked at her, she said, "Why don't we go somewhere," she looked around, only to find surrounded by mob. "…peaceful," she added.

They went to the tree shed, where Yin was having her break. Yin was lying against the tree trunk, on her back, closing her eyes. When she heard the footsteps, she opened her eyes, fully aware of Yang's arrival. She was not mad like some time ago when she learned that it was Yang who taught the family martial art to an Amestrian woman, whom she never knew. She took a deep breath and exhaled to cool off any remaining rage left inside her. "Now tell me, how do you know her?" She asked.

Yang sat on the ground just like her sister, and Artemis followed along. He looked at Yin and said, "I should have told you long ago."

"Told me what?" Yin sat uptight, as she gazed into her brother's eyes.

"Artemis and I are…" Yang gulped. "Married."

"I thought so," said Yin very casually as she relaxed back on the tree trunk. "I always wondered why you visited Amestris so much." She looked at Artemis. "By the way, my real name is Yin Gong. I am your husband's twin sister."

"I guess I am lucky then. I fought a Zhansi and survived." Artemis smirked. "So, what are you two doing in Gabur?"

But, before they could answer, something struck her mind. "You are going to Cameron, for Krid Novak. Aren't you?" She asked with furrowed brows.

"You know way too much about us," said Yin.

"I am a part of your family after all," replied Artemis.

"Whatever," said Yin as she averted her eyes from Artemis.

Yin had clearly not accepted Artemis as a part of her family. She was relaxing against the tree, giving solid hints that she wanted Artemis to leave. Yang was always aware that something like that would definitely happen, and that time had arrived in his life. So, he decided to tell everything to her sister. Before explaining, he took a deep breath and began,

"When I was selected as a Zhansi for the first time, I was confident that now I could avenge our father, and I went to fight him. He fought me as he promised us years ago when he killed our father. But, I was no match for him…I was fortunate that he didn't kill me. However, because of my recklessness, I was hurt pretty badly in a fight, and instead of leaving me behind, he who took me to the hospital. There I met Artemis who used to come there to see her dying brother. My bed was just beside Artemis's brother, so she and I became friends gradually. A few months later, after more training, I went back to Cameron to fight Krid, but I failed again. During my fight with Krid, Artemis saw me and asked me to train her as she wanted to get into the military. I refused to train her, but she was very persistent. Eventually I had to give up to her determination and I taught her. With passing time, we started developing feelings for each other. The next time when I went back to Cameron, Artemis' brother was dead and she was alone. And instead of trying to kill our father's killer, I chose to give up to love and married Artemis. I kept on trying to defeat Krid, but I always faced defeat, and Artemis was used to that fact. Gradually, my desire to kill Krid faded away, and I started respecting him for the man he was…Now, you must be wondering why did I came to kill Krid then. I knew even if we try together, we cannot beat him. I just didn't want to disappoint you by showing you that I have given up the thought of avenging our father. But, I am pretty sure, even our father never wanted us to avenge him. Back then, Krid was just doing his duty, and we should be grateful to him for letting us go alive."

In the meantime, the announcer announced the start of the final match by calling the fake names of Yin and Lan Fan, which was Nami and Robin respectively. Yin stood up, and looked down at her brother. "I pity you, Yang Gong," she said and walked toward the arena.

After some time both Lan Fan and Yin reached the arena and took their positions at the center. The referee was standing between them. She looked at Yin, and asked, "What weapon or shield do you want, to fight against Robin?"

Due to the new decision taken by the judges, anyone could fight against Lan Fan with any weapon or shield-like Victoria did, because Lan Fan was using her automail.

"I don't need any weapon," replied Yin.

The referee looked at Yin with widened eyes. "Excuse me?" She said as she couldn't believe what she just heard.

"I said I don't need a weapon to fight her," answered Yin.

Lan Fan was not surprised by Yin's decision, after all Yin was the ninth Zhansi and one of the best fighters of Xing. After some time, the referee agreed to Yin's request by consulting with the other judges. Both the fighters were standing in attacking stance, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle and start the fight. Just before the whistle blew, Yin looked at Lan Fan and said, "I am not going to hold back"

"Neither am I." Lan Fan smirked.

When the whistle blew, the crowd cheered for the fighters as the fight began. Lan Fan knew that if she would give a single opening to Yin, then Yin wouldn't hesitate to take the opportunity to hit her. In order to be safe, she charged toward Yin and started raining punches without giving any room to Yin. Yin was trying to dodge every attack because blocking was not an option for an automail attack. While dodging the attacks, one punch came straight to her face, which she dodged by falling on her back on the ground, and then quickly stood up by spinning both her legs thereby hitting Lan Fan's ankle in the process. Lan Fan fell on her back due to the attack, and Yin was standing. Yin then put the weight of one foot on the automail arm so that Lan Fan couldn't use it, and she put her other foot on Lan Fan's chest so she couldn't move. Then Yin was about to use her paralyzing attack to paralyze Lan Fan's right arm, but before Yin could attack, Lan Fan used her free hand to attack at Yin's knee. Because of the attack Yin lost her balance and retreated a few steps back in order to avoid any attack. Getting the opportunity, Lan Fan quickly stood up. Lan Fan then again charged at Yin without catching a breath and started raining punches and kicks. Because of the fast punches and kicks, Yin was getting forced toward the boundary. When she thought she was in trouble, suddenly Lan Fan directed an automail punch with full force toward Yin's belly which was almost impossible to dodge. So, Yin used both her hands to block the attack and due to the force of the attack. She was pushed back just at the edge of the boundary. While Yin was catching a breath, she saw Lan Fan was charging toward her at full speed. Yin quickly dodged the incoming punch from Lan Fan by moving sideways and grabbed her automail arm. She then bent down and used her palm attack to hit the automail and shoulder joint. The attack was very vicious, and Lan Fan was fortunate that it was her automail arm that got hit by that attack. Lan Fan quickly pulled back her arm from Yin's grip, and when she was about to hit a punch, her automail arm stopped working. Watching that, Yin relaxed while Lan Fan was trying to make her automail work.

"Just yield Lan Fan," said Yin.

Lan Fan was still trying to make her automail work, but it had already taken too much damage from her fight with Victoria and now with Yin. Yin on the other hand was standing there very much relaxed. Lan Fan saw the opportunity as Yin was not on guard, so she jumped and delivered a spinning wheel kick. Yin was not expecting that attack, and she quickly used her wrist to block the attack without thinking anything. She didn't see that she was standing just at the edge of the arena, and the force from that was enough to push her out of the arena. She fell on the ground while Lan Fan was in disbelief that she defeated Yin. The same was the case for the audience present there. They couldn't believe that the person who defeated their champion so easily, was defeated by Lan Fan.