Chapter 47: Wolf in a pit (1)
#
"So Yu, why did you invite them here?"
"Ah, Chie found out I was coming here and she said she wanted to see your uncle's Fight, We met Yukiko, and somehow she just tagged along in the middle, Rise found out and pouted when she's not invited so I was forced to take her along."
Yup I can completely picture that happening.
"What about Izanami-nee-san, why isn't she here?"
"Oh, she said something about her research is in progress and we should be going on to TJC HQ together. I was not planning on fighting, but it's too good of a chance to pass up. Now that you mention it let me call her and tell her my plans."
I dialed her number
"Yes dear?"
"Izanami, you see, one thing led to another and now I'm participating in a colosseum battle."
"Oh? Did I give you the permission to?"
"Ummmmm No?"
"You do know what'll happen tonight right?"
"Yes, I got the gist of it."
"And you still want to fight?"
"Yes."
"Let me guess, my brother's there in the same bracket as you?"
"Yes."
"*sigh* just don't kill him. He's a fool, but he was a good brother nonetheless."
"Sure thing."
"Oh and if you come back Injured, I will be sure to pour salt on your wounds before covering them up in bandages."
"Please don't"
"I'll try to be there when it's your turn. I'll hang up, first."
*beep*
---
Since Yu's fight's about to start. We are moved to a VIP sitting area in the colosseum. There are a lot of people here already, since it's the reopening they wanted to keep the fighter count high hence the no killing rule. The rule's simple, fight until someone can't continue or give up. No time limit, wooden weapons are provided.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the reopening of the colosseum! Today we are showcasing new young talents. On one side we have Bruce Ebiuna."
The crowd cheers as the announcer hypes up the man. He seemed to be a crowd favourite, Bruce has bob-cut hair, and a yellow jumpsuit, his face resembles bruce lee of all people, what the hell is this a budgeted version of him?
"And on the other hand, our challenger is a High-school kid! But do not be fooled, this kid here is the Right hand of the demon king himself, The White Wolf, Yu Narukami!"
Yu is wearing a hakama and a Gi representing Isshin's sword school, with a wooden katana in one hand his expression is as serene as the ocean.
"OH what's this! That GI! It's the sword saint's Gi!."
As the announcer shouted, The dead colosseum came to life the moment they all saw Yu's Gi. The colosseum's guests began to murmur among themselves. It seems that Isshin's name has weight here as well.
"we have an exciting match to look forward to today. It's the yester years champion vs the sword saint's disciple!"
"And now, let the match begin!"
As the announcer said that a steel cage drops down to the stadium, trapping both the participants inside.
---
Yu's Pov:
"It's too bad you met me in the first round, you would've gotten far if you had not met me. Let me remind you kid, this is not some street fight."
He said with a mocking smile, what's with the third rate villain line? Even Teddie can make lines better than yours.
"And now, let the match begin!"
A huge steel cage descended, trapping both of us inside.
"Here I come!"
He said as he ducks, closes the distance between us and sends a left straight.
You're underestimating me too much here. I simply swatted his hand away with the wooden katana, parrying him and with my right hand, I sent an elbow towards his chin.
As expected of a martial artist, he managed to pull back his whole body after the parry, the elbow missed, but as he was still recovering, I stepped in towards his body as I swung the katana upwards.
My manuver shocked him, but he recovered quickly as he tried to dodge to the side. But my swing was a feint, as my fist was already closing into his solar plexus.
*bang*
It hit, expelling all the air from his lungs, in a swift motion I swiped his feet, it seems that he's unprepared as my kick ends up disturbing his balance, Finally I slashed at him mid fall. I used a bit too much force as the slash managed to break my wooden katana as it made contact and sent him backwards to the edge of the ring.
---
Akira Pov:
The arena went silent as Yu took out his opponent in less than 1 minute. Hmmm It seems I won a lot of money by placing a few million on Yu.
"Woo Yu go Yu!" shouted an excited Chie, her cheeks turning red after she realizes all gazes are on her.
"Hahaha!" We simply laughed, and I slowly clapped a few times, My clap echoed as the whole colosseum now started chanting "White Wolf!".
"What do they mean white wolf? Yu's more like a white cub!" chimed in Rise.
" *giggles* White Cub Yu, I can imagine Yu as a baby wearing a dog costume *giggles* hihihi" ah there it is Yukiko's famous laughing fit.
Ah it seems that the format for the silver gauntlet is quite unique, because there's a lot of contestants, we simply blitzes through the matches, some are unbalanced ending before the minute mark just like Yu's but there are times when it's evenly matched. Such as Sakamoto's match against a polearm master.
Both of them duke it out in a long fight, but in the end, it seems that Sakamoto still got the edge just because he's not slacking anymore and his time in the TV world helped out a lot.
(WN: I was not planning to write sakamoto's match as I knew you guys are not interested…. Well my true reason is I suck at fight scenes.)
---
Yu made it seem easy, as fight after fight he basically just breezed through all of them, they even pitted a gold bracket fighter against him, which made him put in a bit more effort. But the difference is clear as day.
His fight against the gold bracket fighter is akin to a bear going against a whirlpool. Yu manages to time and time again bait him into making unfavourable moves and easily getting his own hits in between those exchanges.
The girls beside me cheered all the while, every time Yu won. What about me? I made myself a small fortune already. I can even build a small shopping district after this. Hmm maybe I should.
---
"Ladies and gentlemen, now we finally reached the grand finals. It's amazing how this year's contestants are but as you all see yourself, the sword saint's school stood on top of all and every challenge."
The matches in between are boring. 'Martial artist' category is nothing to scoff at, but at the average level of the Investigation squad, it's nothing noteworthy. It seems that the event organizers purposefully pitted Yu and Sakamoto against stronger opponents, probably on the order of Isshin.
"Without further ado, the grand finals, the match between both practitioner of the sword saint's dojo. Sakamoto Ashina vs Yu Narukami. Begin."
---
Yu Pov:
"So it's that time again huh." Sakamoto said.
"Hmmm." I simply nod my head. We had too many spars against each other in the real world and the TV world, safe to say we know each other's move inside and out.
"Shall we?" he asked as he gestures towards me.
I simply nodded, we both did the same thing; unfasten our Gi. We are both wearing improvised training gear.
"Huh what's This?"
The announcer shouted.
Our training gear is a 150kg vest, along with 40kg of wrist and leg guards. As our backs are now bare, I felt a whole level lighter. The vest made a *bang* sound as it fell to the stage.
"Huh are those weights? Well ladies and gents, it seems we have a clear answer to why both of them are so strong, They've even been holding back all this time!"
Both of us took our stance, I placed my sword sideways preparing to intercept his strike in a moment's notice, while he also did the same, but his stance was more loose, probably hoping to outmaneuver me.
The whole arena went silent. As now I can hear my own heartbeat. And suddenly as if an invisible signal was given, both me and Sakamoto rush towards each other, as we clash blades in the middle.
"Tch, you're getting stronger everyday."
"So are you."
We exchange a barrage of sword strikes. Knowing where each other will strike in the back of our head, we are simply waiting for an opening while our bodies are responding on their own.
"Hey Yu."
"Yeah?"
"Lets step it up a notch. [Persona!]"
A silhouette of Tsukuyomi suddenly appears behind him. I replied in kind as a shadow of Izanagi readied itself behind me. Now the power of both of our strikes are amplified.
--