Chapter 5
Metal Claw
In the spectator tiers
plhu and raydance are gnashing their teeth.
plhu: (voice bitter enough to beat grandma's secret medicine spoons down)Guile won.
raydance: (narrows eyes)That was certainly an unpleasant experience.
plhu: Never mind. This next match will be absolutely delightful.
raydance: Your use of adjectives -
plhu: - (whips out a Kaoru flag and toy Kougan Anki) Kaoru's up!!
Koganei stood on the steps leading up to the stage. He looked at Vega at the opposite side. That guy with the mask. Long blond ponytail. And tights. Must be an egoist.
Vega stroked his claws, then walked up the steps to the stage. "A kid, I see. I won't tell you that I'm a little disappointed. But then again, I myself was rather formidable at a young age."
Darn, everyone says that. Kaoru somersaulted onto the stage and proudly proclaimed, "I'm in my second year of junior high school! And you don't have to show me mercy, I'm going to break your mask!" effectively displaying his wonderful pair of canines.
(Mikagami: Big deal. I already graduated.)
Inuko adjusted her "Running Wild" cloak and walked to the middle of the stage. "Right, shall we now commence the second round of the semi-finals? START!" Inoko's voice echoed in the atrium.
Kaoru decided to start the fight with an air attack. He leapt into the air and brandished the Kougan Anki.
Vega glinted through the eye-holes in his mask. As Kaoru neared the floor, he vaulted over the boy and landed behind almost before Kaoru did. In one continuous motion, he slashed upwards at Kaoru's, raking three parallel scarlet lines around the latter's back.
Shoot. I can't compete with this guy in jumping. "Mister, you're fast. But my hands are faster," as Kaoru spoke, the Kougan Anki changed to Ryu.
"W-What? " Vega's eyes widened in disbelief. That's just not possible. Even if there were some sort of automation installed.
At the commentator's table.
"According to last year's records, Kaoru can change his madougu from one form to another in just 0.6 seconds while others would need 10 seconds. However, I am sure that his speed has improved so far," Kagerou commented.
"Vega's greatest strength is his speed, especially when jumping. His claws also give him superb range, but he has to be even more accurate than usual as Kaoru-kun has a small body," mused Sakura while sipping Oolong tea.
"But that's just my hands. To play safe, I'm going to fight long-distance," grinned Kaoru.
He somersaulted backwards out of Vega's range, then threw out Ryu. Wielding it at first, he noted that Vega was sliced by the dragon blade. Before Vega could grasp enough knowledge of the pattern to get hold of the chain, Kaoru suddenly pulled it back towards himself. The dragon blade stabbed Vega in the back. Now the stage was splattered with liquid from both parties.
It's not wise to underestimate this kid. I'm lucky I'm not a kind person. Vega smiled behind his mask. "And this is a Claw Thrust."
Without warning, he leaped against the south pillar and, body ramrod straight, zeroed in on Kaoru with claws out.
The sound of metal clashing with metal was very unexpected.
What? Did that overgrown metal toy just change form again? Vega's eye registered shock yet again.
Kaoru's Kyoku had clamped shut around Vega's claws on both hands, while a moment ago, it had just been a chain and blade. The very tips of the scissor blades had impacted with Vega's mask; it was now displaying hairline cracks. Vega's claws had managed to reduce some of the forward motion of the Kyoku, though.
"Tsarrhhh!" Vega forced the blades of the Scissors apart with a burst of energy. As Kaoru stumbled backwards, Vega took the opportunity to administer a few Standing Claw Swipes in successsion.
Grimacing in pain, Kaoru once again marvelled at Vega's speed. Stepping back, he said, "This is the fourth form: Mikazuki."
He flung the crescent-shaped Mikazuki at Vega. This was a rather usless attempt, for Vega simply backflipped merrily over it both times while getting closer to Kaoru.
That weapon didn't fly as fast as just now. The boy must be tiring. Vega noted to his satisfaction. Coming out of the last backflip, his legs caught Kaoru by the neck just as the Mikazuki returned, and threw the latter on the floor.
Cammy looked at her nails. "It's about time," she drawled.
At the Hokage side, Yanagi clutched Recca's arm. "He'll...he'll be alright, won't he?"
Recca nodded. Mikagami's expression didn't change one bit.
Lying in a mess of broken cement, Kaoru saw a blurry Vega bending over him, claws gleaming in the light. It would have been quite easy for a boy of that height to avoid that because I am tall. But he couldn't. Vega said, "This will be over soon".
Panting, Kaoru transformed the Mikazuki into the fifth form, An, and shot the arrow at Vega without taking time to aim. By reflex, Vega crushed the arrow by interlocking his claws at the right time.
Taking advantage of Vega's temporary distraction, Kaoru rolled away and stood up, leaning heavily on the An for support.
"This will be the last blow I need to finish you off. So don't bother to overstrain right now," Vega said calmly.
Kaoru flung out An. Vega leapt over it and pounced on the north pillar. Enveloped in in a brilliant flash of light (flashlight?), he shot towards Kaoru, claws outstretched, at blinding speed.
Sakura thought, "He's going into the Rolling Barcelona Attack. If he succeeds, Koganei won't survive the wound from Vega's series of multiple slashes..."
Mikagami's forehead creased. I hope Koganei knows what he's doing.
Just as the first slash left new trails of blood on Kaoru's chest, Vega noticed the unusually calm gleam in the boy's green eyes. Why is there no fear? No desperation? Vega's eyes enlarged.
No matter how fast you are, or what ultimate move you pull, you won't be able to succeed. Because...
From all directions, the various parts of the Kougan Anki regrouped in a millisecond (nanosecond? microsecond?), part chaining Vega and part penetrating right through his body. Vega let out a loud scream.
"The Sixth Form of the Kougan Anki: Nothing ," the confidence in Kaoru's was evident, but it couldn't hide the fact that he was in a lot of pain.
"Nothing? Don't joke with me. It's obviously the most powerful form of your weapon," Vega retorted.
Blood spurting from his mouth, Vega suddenly understood. Kaoru's comparatively lethargic performance towards the end had been a ploy, a ploy to make Vega think that the boy was too weak to perform at maximum speed.
"It requires tremendous mental strength for Kaoru to control the sixth form as he is not touching it; much harder than Fuuko's Wind Claws," Kagerou marvelled aloud.
Vega dropped onto the floor. The Kougan Anki had pierced through the wounds already suffered from the previous attacks. The boy's young, but he's so ruthless already. "Handsome fighters never lost battles...I can...I can still fight...Your's weapon's not going anywhere; it's staying with me, which leaves me free to put my claws right through you," Vega said through gritted teeth.
What a man! "I won't smash your mask and face anymore," Kaoru said with his trademark grin.
He concentrated, then the various parts of the Kougan Anki removed themselves and flew back to his hand. With his golden weapon back in its first form, Kaoru waited for Vega's next move.
It never happened. As Vega attempted another move, his severe injuries and the amount of energy expended in performing the Rolling Barcelona Attack took their toll on him. He crashed onto the ground, unconscious.
"As Vega is unable to continue on , the winner is - Koganei Kaoru from Team Hokage!" Inuko announced, trying to be professional and masking her exhilaration. Nice one. "Stretchers please! And sew both of them up quick!"
Kaoru's face flashed on the display screen with jumping rabbits. Leaning on his madougu for support, he flashed the victory sign at his team-mates.
plhu and raydance hug each other and scream in joy.
plhu: I just knew he would win!
raydance: That's because you wrote this chapter, remember?
plhu: Oh. Did I tell you about my theory of fate and free will?...
Chun Li expressed her shock, "I can't believe that Vega would lose to a kid like that."
"Perhaps he's losing it," commented Cammy drily, "It's now one-all. I'm going to get ready."
Over at Team Hokage's side, Mikagami smiled for the first time that day. "It's a draw now!" yelled Recca excitedly.
"We haven't won yet," Fuuko reminded him ever so thoughtfully while adjusting her Fuujin. She walked over to the steps. I'm going to beat Cammy. Just watch.
You Don't Have to Read This
plhu: My brother told me today that there was a Pokémon called Metal Claw.
raydance: Hmmm......
plhu: Yeah.
raydance: "Metal Claw" was YOUR idea.