Crimson Hawk Hotel

Welcome to the Crimson Hawk Hotel

The Crimson Hawk Hotel is located near the waterfront in the town of Latent, the small port town that surrounds the prestigious Leviathan Stadium; the center for HoH activities and the site for the tournament finals.

The Crimson Hawk is a luxury hotel, one of the finest in the area, and is providing the majority of the rooming for contestants, officials, and other guests of high social standing who have come to watch the show. Contestants are not required to use the provided rooming, but it is free of charge for tournament entrants (room service is not included). Teams are provided with luxury suites, each comparable to the size of a small house and easily large enough for four people.

There is a pool and separate-sex saunas located on the ground floor, as well as a four-star restaurant adjacent to the lobby complete with bar.

Update! Wrote:

Shortly after the end of the second round, the staff of both the tournament and the hotel became worried over the situation of security. While complete professionals that were totally dedicated to their job, the Security Officers seemed to become less and less of an effective element. Threats to spectators and competitors alike were being made and the Staff would have none of it. While the Staff have no control over the fighters outside the tournament and hotel they could do as much as possible to ensure safety inside.

New room assignments were made. All teams, both those that advanced in the tournament and those that haven't, were being upgraded. At some cost to the hotel each team was given an entire floor to themselves. Normally the first-class suites on those floors could house up to fourteen people without sharing rooms, but for now the three or four people to a team would have it entirely.

62nd floor - Team White Wolf

61st floor - Project Swords!

59th floor - Team Soul Breaker

57th floor - Team Ryugin

56th floor - Team Dragonforce

55th floor - Team GLACIER

52nd floor - Team Headache

50th floor - Team Inazuma

49th floor - The Warriors

48th floor - Team Lu bu

46th floor - Team Liberi Fatali

45th floor - Team a** Tear

43rd floor - Team Urameshi

42nd floor - Team Shinimusha

40th floor - Team Wanderers

38th floor - Team XD

Keycards will be distributed to each team member respectively. These keycards allow access to your floor, via card reader installed in the elevators, as well as any other non-private floors. A keycard for the 38th floor will not allow entrance into the 40th.

Lost or potentially stolen keycards are to be reported to security so the locks may be replaced and new keycards given. It is also not suggested to bring unknown persons into your room. If you receive a visitor they will be made to wait in the lobby while your room is contacted.

OKAYGO.

Flare glanced up from her drink in the Firebrand, bemused as the reporters barged in, swarming over her, Owle, and anyone related to HoH they could find inside the tavern. She stood up from her seat at the bar and gave them her most charming grin...the one that was laden with small, perfect fangs. Without a word of warning she spread her midnight black wings, forcing the media to give her a measure of personal space.

"Blahblahblahblahblahblah..."

Flare paid no attention to the meaningless drivel the reporters were spouting to ease the transition of viewers back at home. She only bothered to respond when she was asked a question.

"It's rumored that Flare Sithfallin works as a mercenary in her spare time, and has led not one, but two evil armies against the walls of Barton. Flare, how do you respond?"

"Well. You know what they say about rumors, they are so little grounded in fact," Flare answered smoothly. "The truth is I helped destroy Samael by tricking his forces into following me, and as for the other army...I infiltrated them to make sure they attacked another force assailing Barton, instead of our civilians. You'd have far more devils and demons to deal with were it not for me..."

She suddenly snapped her wings in and out again, causing more than a few reporters to duck for cover. "And we all know Barton has enough of those to begin with."

Unlike his teammates, Athan was rather fond of all the media attention. He had become the unofficial spokesperson of the team, in a way. He was currently seated in a booth, his right leg bandaged up at the calf and propped up on a chair. Both his arms were up, sprawled out on either side of the booth itself as he took in all the attention. It was like he was a media darling from the get-go.

"You're Athan Cole, right? The one that saved Barton Central Square from two chaotic periods in time?

"Yeah, that's me. Can't take all the credit though, had some good help."

"Well what do you have to say about the Square being covered in acid after you aided in the destruction of a giant flower bud?"

"No comment, really."

"What do you feel your team's chance of succes is in this tournament, despite the fact that no one has really heard of you outside of Barton?"

"Pfft, we're the underdogs just because we have no reputation. I'll tell you right now we have a great chance of winning. First off, we have me. Second, we have this guy, Kalis. I saw him fight ten guys with a butterknife, and he won. And then Flare, I saw her take a dragon on, and she barbequed that sucker up and we had it for a pre-training dinner. And Owle? She's a shapeshifter, so I'm pretty sure she can turn into some pretty useful stuff, like a giant or something."

Pretty much everything he said was a lie, except for Owle's shapechanging abilities. That was just ignorance. This would probably continue for awhile, with Athan overassessing everyone's abilities but his own, until someone either caught wind of him and shut him up, or the media had their fill.

Right now, however, both them and he were just loving it.

Meria leaned against a wall, giving Sierra a small salute with her forefinger and middle as she passed on her way to meet with Kain. Fae was tiny enough that in that crowd of people, Fae's petite height was easily missed.

"Good luck, little mother."

In addition, Meria wasn't noticed as Fae yet. She had black hair where Fae's was red, hell, Fae was semi famous for the long red hair she used to have, one of the three mini Titans Terrors of Levi, along with Hono and Nedy. All of whom were tiny if dangerous women. Then again, that was before Sierra. Whereas The three prefferred to keep a low profile, Sierra seemed to almost revel in the attention.

Was I ever so boisterous and full of life? But before she could answer herself, a mike was shoved in her face by a passing reporter who'd caught her words to Sierra.

"Do you know Ms. Ethelstan?"The reporter didn't wait on an answer before continuing. "You seemed rather familiar with her. Are you enemy or foe? To which Meria burst out laughing, shocking the man into silence.

"I'm her teammate."

"The roster lists Fae Decker as the only other female teammate."

Meria shrugged and slid past. "Guess you people need to do better research then." She brushed aside a tendril of hair and slid her sunglasses upon her nose, those lights hurt, damnit. She shoved through one small cluster of reporters only to find herself in another cluster of them that had just turned back.

She was then face to face with another reporter. Unfortunately, it was one she knew, and who knew her.

"Hello, Mrs Decker..."

Slimy cretin. She tried to smile as pleasantly as possible. She was trying to behave, damnit. She'd only come to the stadium to see if she could find a bit of a spar, she hadn't realized that Sierra had just recieved word of their acceptance.

"Hello, Robert. Are you going to get out of my way, or should I take your other eye?" Deciding to hell with it, she wasn't going to play nice if they weren't. He'd tried to turn the story of her and Lucian into a scandal for Levi and Enki and when he'd gotten too close during the last part of her pregnancy, she'd taken his eye. He'd sued her for assault and he'd been countersued for assault, harrassment and a host of other charges till he'd dropped the suit.There was a host of other questions popping up now that she'd been identified.

"Mrs Decker, why the hair change.?"

"Mrs Decker, why are you entering HoH? You've been as reclusive as your new husband in recent years.

"Why Team Liberei Fatali? The team captain is the fiancee of the man who stole your ex fiancee's wife. Does that bring tension to the team?"

"Of course not, Mrs. Decker." There was that slimy grin as he held the door to the building she was headed for open. "Just one last question. What does Dante, your overprotective husband think about all of this...or does he even know?"

SlamThe key turned, and the door was locked.

Sierra would have returned Meria's salute as she trotted down to the bar to meet Kain.

Stepping through the door as she replied to his telepathic query.

:: Right he--::

They would practically walk into one another, the media surging forth from behind Kain.

Oh bullocks. Not again... Sierra was a pro at handling the media, but in all honesty, she hated the hype and commotion. She already had a headache forming behind her eyes and she just wanted a drink.

A sigh escapes her as she blows a kiss to the cameras and grabs Kain by the sleeve.

::C'mon, this place isn't safe. I'll explain everything in a second.::

She would lead him on a short cut out through the woods that surrounded Levi and into the town of Latent itself, settling in to an easy jog.

"The first five teams to make it into HoH were posted this morning, the media's all over it. "

"...Vahn, Sierra's lover?"

Through the crowd of reporters surrounding her, Owle thought she caught Vahn's name being mentioned elsewhere and strained her ears. But before she could be sure she'd correctly heard the potentially drama-causing tidbit, they had pounced her with questions again.

"Miss Isohos, it says here you were born in a clearing in Barton Forest. It sounds like there's a story behind that. Was your mother on the run from something? Or perhaps, was she..."

And Owle did not like one bit the way the reporter's eyes slid up and down her nonhuman features, the armored scales and feathered wings that decorated her otherwise human form.

"...inhuman?"

"I didn't have a mother," Owle answered, trying to regain lost ground against the cameras and flashing lights that surrounded her. "I listed Barton Forest as my birthplace because..."

"Have you felt lost and alone in the world without your mother? What about your father, how has he taken the fact that your mother is gone?"

"I don't have any parents!" It came out more of a squeak than the angry shout Owle had been going for, but there was no sadness in the statement.

"Orphaned, then? How did you feel when..."

"I felt like I woke up four years ago in a clearing without any memories! Thank you," Owle sighed after the outburst.

"It sounds like you have some repressed anger about your lack of a childhood. Tell me, have you ever felt resentful of your more normal peers?"

Owle wondered exactly which peers the reporter was speaking of. None of Owle's friends had what you would call a normal childhood, or at least not one they would care to talk about. Maybe Athan, but she didn't even know.

"Actually, I've found that waking up in that clearing has been the best thing that's happened to me. If it weren't for that, I would never have found the family I have now."

Lovely thing about having just bought a business, you have the key. For the building Meria had walked into was a building she'd bought recently...for her own purposes. She simply walked through the building and back out again, locking the door behind her after checking on the construction crew.

After that, it wasn't that hard to follow after Sierra, she'd made sure to memorize her teammates signatures as well as other things, like their scent. So it took her just a bit longer to reach the 'Chum Bucket' than it took Sierra and Kain. And though she was tiny, she had more than enough attitude.

The door swung open, and Meria looked over the 'bar' with a disdainful sniff and then moved towards Sierra. "I wasn't sure about this before...now I'm even less certain. What if her husband finds out?" She had seen the man beside Sierra but had dismissed him from her mind.

The elf grins and makes sure Daniel notes how pleased she is to see another of her teamates show up. She swivels in her stool and waves to Meria.

"Dante? Wasn't Fae originally going to eneter with him anyways?"

She cocks her head towards the man to the left.

"This is Daniel Booth, an anchor for GGnG, a show that profiles fighting events and the combatants who enter them all over Gaia. He's so kindly offered to treat us to anything we'd like while we chat with him, feel free to order whatever you fancy Meria."

Daniel's face falls slightly, maybe he'd been a little free with his money to try and convince the elf to stay. But if he did this thing right, he'd get the biggest commission he'd ever seen, and maybe the network would pick up the tab.

He extends his hand to shake both Meria and Kain's.

"Pleased to make your aquaintances... I'm very interested in hearing about you both and your connection to the lovely Ms. Ethelstan."

The way he said lovely, made it sound more like he'd just called Sierra a b***h rather than complimented her. But he said it with a smile, and Sierra gave him no outward reaction.

With a smoke in his left hand and a mug in the right and not wanting to give-up either, Kain stuck the smoke into Daniels mouth and gave him a firm, slightly crushing, handshake.

Two shakes and then he took back his cig and gave a long draw in its end...

She turned around from her drink, her very pose signalling poise and refinement, and the look on her face, pure disdain. She looked over to Sierra, as if to ask 'Do I really need to answer this idiot?' Once she got the confirmation in the form of a nod from Sierra, Meria sighed, one half of her lip curving upwards.

"Because I was asked ever so nicely." She reached over and took a sip of her drink. Let Jason Delacroix of Alphatech chew on that. Alphatech was of course, one of the company sponsors, and now that she knew a bit more about him, his plan was becoming a bit more obvious, even if her ego stung a little. She gave him a look of 'Are you done yet?', then swiveled her hips so her feet were directly in front of the counter once more.

Meria snickered into her drink, she had more wealth than she could spend in 10 lifetimes, any rivalries she had were dead, usually by her own hand, though there was one of two that had been taken care of by others. Old scores...She flipped through Fae's memories and chuckled, 'Ah yes....him' But he was someone else now. Not what he had been.

She curled her legs up to her seat, then began to bend over backwards, her hands grabbing the pole that supported her seat, a push of her foot and she backflipped gracefully onto the floor behind where she'd been. She looked over at Sierra and smiled ruefully, "My muscles needed stretching."

He grins, happy to finally get a real response out of one of them. His eyes buldged slightly however as his jaw dropped and he watched Meria do her flip over the chair with a fluid grace that reeked of sensuality. He stammared slightly as he turns to Sierra who was grinning like the cheshire cat, fully aware of his reaction to the petite woman.

"Is that so?"

Sierra nods.

"It is. Leviathan boasts some of Gaia's greatest as their residential heros and warriors. It's only natural that a tournament sponsored by this community would produce the best of the best for the competition."

"Then what is your reason for fighting again this year Sierra,? At first no reports had been made that you would be forming a team, yet here you are one of the first five to enter into this prestegious event."

The elven woman smiles.

"I was bored... wanted some excitement. HoH is anything but dull..."

He stares at her.

"Sierra... from what we've been able to figure out about your activities this past year, they're anything but boring. It's even reported that you are now a mother is this tr--"

"Yes."

"And that you spent a lengthly amount of time with a man named Victor who is believed to be Vahn's brother?"

"In a manner of speaking... yes."

"Would you care to comm--"

"No."

"Ahh... then, how do you think viewers will feel about seeing a mother with infants fighting in a tournament, possibly against her children's father"?

"I don't know, I'm sure there are mixed feelings, but they really aren't my worry. It's not like the twins are being exposed to the violence directly, nor is killing allowed during this tournament, it's not like they're going to lose their parents over this. It's sport, a recreational past time I happen to enjoy quite thoroughly. But you know that, don't you Daniel..."

"I errmm yess... uhm.. Kain, How long have you been working for Ms. Ethelstan?"

Fae/Meria laughed, fully aware of his reaction. While it might have embarrassed Fae mildly; the woman did not like making a spectacle of herself; Meria just didn't care, though it did amuse her. She wasn't doing it to get his attention, merely, as she said, to stretch. She continued to pretend to ignore the reporter, moving her body sensually to stretch, though that was due more to learned technique than a desire to entice. She may have seemed to ignore the reporter, but in fact, she was listening to every word that was said.

She lifted her long legs up to the bar stool, and squated with her other leg till her butt was just an inch or so off the ground, and her leg was well above her head. Then just as gracefully as before she rose and turned around, repeating it, this time with her back to the reporter. She wasn't in her HoH uniform, but it was revealing non the less and most defintely not Fae's normal style. A green cat suit that revealed her curves; and set off her brillant amythyst eyes, but it had been covered with a black trench coat until she felt the need to remove it so she could stretch.

Finally done with that excercise, she put her hands on her hips and began rolling her head around on her neck, getting rid of the cricks that way, not paying attention to the soft sway of the black hair across her shoulders.

It seemed cruel fate had decided to deny Ryugi the simple pleasure of enjoying his lunch in peace. He was caught fully unaware by this strange girl as she tackled him, causing him to jump nearly three feet into the air in surprise before turning around to face the girl.

Well, my lunch is a little out of reach now...so I guess you've got yourself an interview.

Owle Isohos Wrote:

"So, how does it feel to be back in HoH after making it to the finals last year? Do you feel your chances of winning are better this time around?" Ryugi thought for a moment and then spoke.

It doesn't really feel all that different really. It just amazing how time flies by. I don't know about our chances of winning, but I'd like to think they are. Team Ryugin is more in it for the sake of the competition than for the prize money, of course I can't speak for ALL the members of my group.

Back in the Firebrand, the reporters refused to be dissauded by Flare's demonic appearance and pressed onward in asking questions.

"It says here your birthplace is Sithfallin Labs. Could you tell us where that is?"

"No." Flare shook her head. "It was so long ago and the geography has changed so much...I wouldn't recognize it myself if I saw it again."

"Being born in a lab, were you ever experimented on as a child?"

Flare blinked, but that was all the surprise that registered on her features. "No. My parents were human scientists but they never experimented on me."

"But if your parents were human, how do you explain your demonic features?"

The demoness stared; it was a sore spot. She didn't ask to be born this way, nor did she ask for the war that soon broke out against demons on Gaia. Nor did she ask for the immortality that went with her current form. If her parents hadn't...

"Devil's food cake," Flare answered, refusing to tell the real story to these blithering idiots. "Lots and lots of devil's food cake."

Blank stares all around.

Then, "With all that cake, how do you keep your trim figure?"

"Well, I of course have to keep in shape..."

Fools. Every last one of them.

And Athan, well, he kept drawing more attention. He was now standing up at a makeshift 'stand', which just ended up being a plain wooden table, which attempted to and failed at acting as a barricade. His hands rose upwards as one too many questions flew at him at once, and they just kind of blurred into one long question.

"So would you think...childhood...team's chance...how did you...food?"

All Athan could do was wave his hands in an attempt to get people to slow down with the barrage of questions. It succeeded, a little bit, and he was able to concentrate a bit easier as they asked questions one or two at a time. He only chose to answer the ones he hadn't answered previously.

"So you listed your birthplace as Aedin. What made you decide to cross the ocean and leave your home continent?"

"I got bored."

"You wrote your weight down as well over three hundred pounds. How is this even possible?"

Athan shrugged his shoulders.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"A lot of entrants in Heaven or Hell have some sort of magical abilities. What, exactly, do you bring to the table?"

"I don't need any magic to supplement my natural talents. That being said, don't worry. I have a few abilities that'll keep things interesting."

"You're an adventurer by trade. Did you have any sort of traumatizing childhood events that lead you to this type of life? Missing parental figures or older siblings?"

"My childhood wasn't much different from yours except for the fact I was raised by my grandparents. My brother and I were in the military, and he was killed in action. Do I think it's sad? Yeah, but that's the way it is with war. People live and people die."

"That seems rather callous. Is that the way you're going to treat this tournament?"

"What kind of question is that? The people in this tournament aren't my enemies, they're my peers and rivals. I'm not going to hold back, but I'm not gonna be looking to slice their head's off."

And question after question, he would continue like this. One would have to wonder if he could keep this up as long as the media wanted it.

Sierra snickered. Oh dear... not only were the fanbases and media in trouble, but Rain and Kain were going to have to build up a resistance to all of Meria and Sierra's nosebleed-inducing antics if they were going to survive HoH without mass blood loss.

His head wasn't on as straight as he thought, Kain had actually been with Sierra about a month longer than that, but distraction or no, she was pleased to hear that it felt like less time to the man. They'd gotten off to a bit of a rocky start at first.

The demoness tosses a napkin at Kain and mimes wiping the drool from her mouth before winking at him.

Poor, poor Daniels. He'd lost himself in watching the ever-flexible Meria and was slightly flushed, his tape recorder had been running about 5 minutes now without him asking a question.

Sierra stands up in front of him and bends over, putting her face and a rather revealing view at the man's eye level as she snaps her fingers in front of his eyes.

Startled he jumps a foot outta' his seat and tries to regain his composure before realizing exactly what he was staring into. Flushing deeply he stammers and and takes a drink of his ale, choking as Sierra simply laughs and reseats herself.

Booth mutters...

"Shoulda' brought that damn camera after all..."

He'd opted to leave it, due to it's weight and bulk.

"Dont worry boyo' you'll have plenty of photo ops during the tournament."

"Well it's nice to see your team hasn't lost it's sex appeal Sierra... I'm afraid I have another... err... engagement... I hope we can talk again erm, soon... maybe later this week"

He scuttles out, clapping Kain on the shoulder and mouthing the words 'good luck' as he retreated.

As soon as he was out the door, Sierra doubled over laughing.

Meria chuckled, "It didn't seem like you really liked him, so I figured a medical emergency of the nose bleed type might work." She sashayed over to Kain. "But it seems like you liked my show as much as he did, Kain." She trailed a finger down his shirt, over the cuff and down the skin of his arm. The black haired woman looked up at him as he inquired as to their alternate's whereabouts.

"I haven't seen him." She shrugged negligently, her fingernails making small circles at Kain's wrist.

Kain's mental jaw dropped...

DEFINITE benefits for working with Sierra---Oh damn...

"Oh, well---F-Fae?...Fae?"

Fae Decker Wrote:

"But it seems like you liked my show as much as he did, Kain."

He heard Sierra bustin' a gut, but that didn't help him right now.

"Sierra? SIERRA! I need assitance! I'm powerless against her charm, make her stop!"

"And lose out on the show? Now why would I want to do that? What happened to the 'I don't need any help from anyone' Kain that I used to know eh?"

Sierra would spare taunting Kain, although she couldn't say the same for Rain. However, they had it easy compared to any men they'd be opposing in the tournament.

Both former courteseans, These ladies knew what they were doing.

This time, Meria did laugh outright, slapping Kain on the a** as he spun around. "Don't mind me, darlin'. I'm just having a wee bit of fun to get rid of some excess energy." Blowing him a kiss that had just a spark of energy to it as she moved over towards her seat next to Sierra.

"Alright, boss lady. We're in. What next?"

"Pugh, you're both alike...you'll do it all over again later."

He took in the last bit of his drink.

"Are we off anywhere or can I get another?"

He didn't wait for the answer and just ordered another. Should they go he could just bring it with him. If they wanted money for the mug, that'd be just fine, it was technically on Sierra.

The woman laughs mercilessly at her friend and kisses his cheek as she settles back down on her barstool, also ordering herself another.

"Nah... I'd like to just celebrate for a little while before we go check anything else out. Besides, once we leave here, we have to face those damned reporters again..."

She gets her drink and takes a long guzzle before sighing and grinning happily. This stuff really hit the spots, the sailors of Latent definitely knew how to pick a good ale.

Meria pouted and drew her hand back, "Seems Kain doesn't like me anymore, Sierra..." her smile was slightly crooked, one fang glinting in the low light of the tavern. She lifted up a small vial that seemed to hold red orbs in it. "But I'll be nice and share a gift with you. If you want a real kick to your drink, put one of these cherries in..."

Kain regarded Fae a wee bit quizzically... what the hell. He smiled crookedly and then lifted his mug.

"Sure, why not. Thanks."

He continued to be a little skeptical but it couldn't be horrible...nothing that'd kill'em surely. All in all it could just be a cherry.

He reciprocated Sierra's highfive---

"Husband?"

Quizzical look now turned dumbfounded.

Uh-oh.

That was never a good thing, Sierra at least felt a little bit responsible for Fae's well-being if not Meria-- she stood up and went to catch a hold of Meria's hands, setting down the guitar, but as she stood from her seat, that damn cherry and whatever the hell it was hit her and it hit her hard.

Head over heels, Sierra went down, landing a** in the air and hardly covered in the short battle kimono. Kain, Meria and the whole bar would all be getting an eyeful of pale skin against black lace as she groaned.

"The hell kinda' cherry was that?"

Meria giggled, unable to hold it in. "You'd best watch it, darlin'. You'll not fare too much better than her in a moment. " She looked him over, judging his weight and height and glanced at her wrist as if at a clock. "Shouldn't be too long....9...8...7..."

The open mouth, hearty laugh was abruptly stopped with a guttural grunt, followed quickly by a slump onto the floor. Kicked squarely in the jaw, Kain didn't even see it coming. The effects of Fae's cherry...hrm...was already having itself on the Devil, combined with the abundance of alcohol he'd had in him before he came here...

Slumping to the floor, dazed, blinded by stars, he looked for something to focus on. Fae just so happened to be that focus and regardless that he was eying towards the area of her face...it couldn't be sure that's where his eye line was.

All he was trying to do at this moment was trying to see through the sparkles and find how he came to be on the floor....with pressure on him...

Ryugi Kazamaru Wrote:

Ryugi nodded in a yes, and then shook his head in a no.

Team Ryugin is still Team Ryugin. We were unable to contact Meryl Tomorrow in time for registration this year, but we have a new alternate that I have my full trust in. Nayako Tadaya. He's a good man, and I fought alongside his brother many times in the past.

In actuality, it wasn't difficult to get everyone to join up again. Rather, the Tournament was mentioned, and everyone immediately mentioned that we should participate again this year. It was as if the team had just gone off on vacation for a year, and then came back ready to go once more.

Ryugi smiled as he finished.

Hiroko gave him what she hoped was a charming smile back, then scribbled this answer down on her notepad.

"So, tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from originally?"

Owle Isohos Wrote:

Hiroko gave him what she hoped was a charming smile back, then scribbled this answer down on her notepad.

"So, tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from originally?" Well. I was born in a place called Angara. Its a place where many of Gaia's dragons live. Only dragons, and a very very few trusted people know where it is. It's a really nice place. Wonders you couldn't begin to imagine.

Ryugi spoke calmly as he answered her.

Well, it was mainly because I felt I had nothing left for me on Angara, and so I set off to see the rest of the world. I came to the mainland and saw much of Gaia as a mercenary before I finally came to Leviathan Stadium, and thats more or less how I wound up here.

Ryugi nodded.

So, any more questions for me?

Owle Isohos Wrote:

"Just one!" Hiroko answered excitedly. "Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans who'll be watching back at home?" Well, nothing really comes to mind, but we would be glad to see everyone come out to see us if at all possible. Knowing we have people rooting for us even if we didn't get first place last year really fills us with spirit.

Team Ryugin! Silver Dragons we ride!!

Ryugi grinned like a kid and gave the cameras a nutty thumbs-up and a grin.

Ryugi Kazamaru Wrote:

Well, nothing really comes to mind, but we would be glad to see everyone come out to see us if at all possible. Knowing we have people rooting for us even if we didn't get first place last year really fills us with spirit.

Team Ryugin! Silver Dragons we ride!!

Ryugi grinned like a kid and gave the cameras a nutty thumbs-up and a grin.

"I'm sure we'll all be watching and cheering you on come the tournament," Hiroko replied. "Well, that's a wrap. Thank you so much for your time and letting me interview you!"

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

The front doors open up, both of them, to reveal the lighted lobby area. Walking through them would be a teenage boy, wearing a bag that was against his left waist, strapped around his right shoulder. He was wearing a green jacket over a white t shirt that was tucked into his blue jeans that almost fit to his figure. He appeared slimmed, but the rolled up sleeve revealed forearms with a tone texture to them. Not as fit-looking as older men, but it did warn others of what he was capable of.

Strong confident looking eyes looked onto the lobby, and a smile accompanied his cocky appearance as he comes to a stop, his head turning this way and that to just examine for the time being. He was also waiting for his other teammates to follow in behind him as he comments: "Well, this is a serious case of deja-vu, don't you think, guys?" " It would seem that all tournament commities think alike. Hopefully these won't cheat us like the last one." Kurama would say as he followed Yusuke. He had a green luggage bag hanging on his shoulder and a suitcase in his left hand. Kurama smiled as he looked around the luxirious lobby. Kurama currently wore his purplish pink school outfit for now not wanting to wear his more formal clothes that were reserved for the tournament.

"Hardly."

The voice would sound cold and deep, but held to the figure of that which was called Hiei, the apparition who loved death and hated fools. He walks in after Yuske with his hands deep in the pockets of his fleshy black pants. He wore a top over his torso with a white sash around his chest and neck. A white headband kept against his forehead, hiding a deadly secret which would be his wildcard when the battles come forth and begin their wrath.

He carried no bag. He had everything he needed. His blade was stashed away behind him, ready to be used for another time. He did not find that time to be now, unless some half-wit came out of nowhere to assault them. Then, its sharp tongue would be exposed. The demon comes to a stop a bit to the right of Yuske, but behind him, too. He didn't like having himself showing presentation like the others did. He wasn't much for pretentious introductions. He was always straight to the point.

"If their rules are as honorable as the ones who run this place, I doubt this would be another Dark Tournament. But even so, I wouldn't doubt a possible misjudgement anyway."

"Damn it, where the hell is Kuwabara," he says in distress as he looks back. "The guy's always late. But he manages to pull in at the last second, anyway. Well, he knows our room number. Let's go ahead and go check in, guys."

He would start forward toward the elevator, but he catches someone out of the corner of his eye as he walks. Someone who didn't look like your regular hotel employee and moreso, the guy had a large sword on his back. Yusuke would keep a glance over at him as he continues forward then returns his attention in front of him, pressing the button to have the elevator doors open, stepping in.

Hmm... Those guys... I'll have to keep an eye on them. I'm sure their simple outfits are hiding quite a bit of strength, and that power... its strange too. Not unlike Spirit Energy... Either way I'm sure I'll need to be careful if I fight them...new abilities or not...

Ryugi watched the young man turn around to look at him, and looked him straight in the eye for a moment, nodding in greeting, before looking around the lobby for any other fighters.

The doors close and they were riding up. And now his ears were troubled by the annoying usual elevator music that always played. Frowning, he just remains quiet as the music plays, waiting for the doors to open. When they do, he steps out, following the numbers on the door for their room. "Twenty one....twenty two....aw, here we go. Twenty three!"

He reaches into his pockets and pulls out his key, one given to each member of Team Urameshi, and opens it, entering into their luxurious room. Wow, this was bigger than the one they were given at the Dark Tournament. He steps inside, looking around like he did in the lobby. "Check it out! Talk about treating you like royalty!" He was grinning happily like a child who just got himself a new toy.

Well, that was interesting. Ryugi couldn't help but wonder what the team had thought of him. He didn't know the team's name yet, but after the first few matches, he'd have a better idea of how they fought, and who they were. This year was going to be different for him and the rest of the Ryugin... But for now, he was getting a little bored of just standing up against the wall. Though at least he could watch all the people move about the lobby without much trouble.

Black duffel bag gripped tightly in his right hand, Shouyin would move over to reception, giving them his name and grabbing his room key, also taking the time to find out whereabouts the rest of his team was staying. Sun had checked in, but no one else, which seemed odd. Although, the half-golem tended to be pretty punctual when he could help it, so maybe Vahn and Silver were just being lazy jerks as usual.

Shrugging his shoulders and grinning just a little, he'd take the elevator up to some professionally high floor in the hotel. They'd still mostly paid their way into the tournament, but those contracts that bound them still offered a few perks, like dibs on some nicer rooms despite registering late. Yawning, he'd enter his room, locking the door shut behind him and tossing his bag on the bed to dig through it and organize his things (clothes in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom cabinet, etc.), before stripping down to his boxers and tucking himself him.

Lord it felt lonely in that bed, yet Shou still fell asleep the moment his eyes closed.

Owle Isohos Wrote:

"Actually, I've found that waking up in that clearing has been the best thing that's happened to me. If it weren't for that, I would never have found the family I have now."

"Tell us about your family. Have you been adopted since then?"

Owle blinked. There had never been any forms filled out, no papers filed...though Rage was willing to crack a few skulls to get her into one of his family gatherings.

"No, but you could say that...my brother, Rage, who owns this bar & grill, has been looking after me for a long time. And I have my sister, Flare."

"Flare Sithfallin, who led not one but two evil armies against the walls of Barton?"

"Well, technically she only led one of them against the walls of Barton...the other one she led against a camp of demons that were planning to enslave Barton. And technically that army wasn't evil, the shades were puppets of the Forgotten, who made them do terrible things. But now that they have a free will of their own, well..."

"Are you talking about the one-eyed monsters who ravaged the Vale?"

"Omikron's not a monster!"

Owle clapped her hands over her mouth. She had meant to say "they're not monsters", but what had come out...

"So you know these creatures personally?"

Owle nodded.

"Yes, well, their leader, at least. And they didn't ravage the Vale, they were only looking for a place to settle down where they could live in peace, and the humans didn't let them."

Someone stopped to whisper something in the reporter's ear.

"I hear you were involved in the battle on Barton's walls, as well, the one where your sister was leading all these armies. Is it true that you're responsible for the telepathic massacre of the East Wall?"

"What? No! I was sleeping, I'd been helping out the Defenders, I died out there and I had fallen asleep in Nigel's pocket! Nigel Peter Chancy, ask him if you don't believe me," Owle sighed deeply. "When I woke up, it was too late to save them."

"A likely story. Didn't you admit that not more than months before the battle, you willingly violated a man's mind, forcing him to kill himself?"

Owle froze.

Willingly? She remembered that time, remembered how her own power had turned on her, trapping her within herself, the black snakes coiling around her and tightening. Trapped and held and motionless, able to do nothing but watch as her body advanced mercilessly on that of her friend. He was lying on the sand outside the Firebrand, writhing and twisting as the snakes clawed at his brain...

"OWLE! They came into my room, and they won't leave! It's your bar! Make them go away..."

But Owle was beyond doing anything of the sort. She was beyond even defending herself. The woman's body shriveled up, melted down, into a black viscous liquid that soon solidified into a perfect beige bar of soap, sitting atop the bar.

"We hear that you've defeated at least one dragon. Is this true?"

"Well, I've fought a few dragons in my lifetime...they're difficult to deal with. I find it best not to anger them in the first place, but if it comes to a fight I don't think I would lose."

All answered smoothly, despite the inherent lie.

"Owle Isohos called you her sister, but the two of you look nothing alike. Care to explain this?"

"No."

Speaking of Owle...Flare could sense the girl's emotions, and they were roiling. Not to mention that Kalis was running through the bar shouting something about getting the reporters to stop. Flare didn't really care for the reporters, either, but she wasn't as upset by their presence as Kalis and Owle.

"Your team is relatively unknown. How would you say you measure up to the other teams?"

"I'd say that I haven't fought them yet. Until that time comes, anything I say is merely words, and will tell you nothing. Now, if you'll excuse me."

The wings flared out one more time, this time beating and lifting Flare over the heads of the crowd. Somebody whistled. Flare, however, was in no mood to pay them any mind. They would soon be running for their lives, but first Flare had to get Owle out of the line of potential fire.

Matthew passed through the doors of the hotel calmly, making his way into the lobby. He was not an impressive-looking man...only five feet six inches tall. That would be considered short compared to other people he would be up against. His husky form was somewhat evened off by the long purple ronin's yukata he wore. Although he was somewhat husky, he was also muscular. In a sense, his physique was that of a Japanese monk...and he almost looked the part, too. That is, if it weren't for his western features and semi-long brown hair that seemed much more European. He walked along the floor of the lobby, his wooden geta clacking against the ground as he passed by. In his belt were a pair of Japanese swords, both of them sheathed. They looked nearly identical, everything the same except for their tsuba and tsukagashira (hand guard and handle end). They had different designed tsuba, and the tsukagashia were black and white, respectively.

He stepped up to the front desk and looked at the forms that needed to be filled. He'd stand there, working on the forms as he waited for Umbriel and Kitsune to arrive. He wondered if he'd run into Yusuke later on. Surely he had been accepted as well.

Ryugi was still in the lobby, watching as the fighters for many of the opposing teams came into the building. It seemed that every fighter was going to come through here at some point or another, and Ryugi wanted to see who he'd be fighting.

Lots of things happened all at once.

He'd turned around to look out the doors, seeing Shouyin stalk through the lobby in a single minded fashion. Seeing the many people who'd gathered around to watch everyone enter.

And then someone collided right into him.

A fight, already?! He wasn't ready! Sun's arms windmilled frantically as gravity took hold and pulled him into the ground, the added weight slamming him into the red carpet. Jaws dropped as the doors closed and curses were to follow as flashes bounced off the now screened door of Sun from Glacier and someone that had actually landed on top of him.

Time stopped for a moment while both persons reoriented themselves to the situation, and Sun, who was already winded, stopped breathing.

"M...Max?! YOU'RE REAL?!!!!" The shout echoed through the whole lobby, causing everyone to pause and take notice.

::"You idiot get off of me!"

"Who the hell are you, and why are on top of me!"

"Watch where your going creep!"

A right cross straight at the cheek sending him tumbling across the floor."

These were all seemingly possible, and highly likely responce in Maximos's mind to what had just happened. The fall the landing position, all of it. Not that his eyes were visible, but as Sun opened his mouth, he winced just a bit ready to get it...::

Sunstrike Wrote:

"M...Max?! YOU'RE REAL?!!!!"

::That was not the "it" he was expecting. He didnt turn his head side to side, but it didnt take super powers to feel the eyes of a busy lobby worth of people turning and staring at him. His instinct reaction was to bring his hands up to the draw strings of his hood and pull them down as tight as possible to cover his face, and to jump to his feet. And try and pretend maybe it was some other Max that Sun was talking about. Offering a hand to try and help Sun up. Only responding with a very surprised and yet whispered::

H-how did you know!?

Very aware of how embarassing his surprised shout was, he accepted the hand and got up, dusting himself off too. It was hard to speak or even answer. Seeing the tall dark figure was like diving into the past.

"I've seen you before." Was all he could really offer in a way of strangled explination. But the person from his mind...hadn't been tangible, hadn't been truly alive.

But the heartbeat and warmth the elemental had felt proved that what was standing in front of him was the real deal. Now it was his turn to flush, hand automatically going to the back of his head as he looked away and down, only to realize that his glasses, substitutes for the larger goggles he used to wear, had fallen onto the floor somewhere.

He searched around in slight panic, not so much worried about the stir his strange eyes would cause, as he was about not being able to see all that well. Finally spotting the red lenses he bent down to pick them up, speaking as he did.

"A-and...you're pretty solid when you knock a guy down, y'know, hard to miss the realness of you." He was scrambling for mental purchase, and that happened rarely, if ever.

No, I'm planning on fighitng.

Damrius examined Ryugi's new outfit.

Nice... look...

I'll be fine Ryugi. So will Madison. You know full well how powerfull this curse can be when I use it properly. I've become better at controlling my emotions... So, it won't go berserk and kill me. Honestly, I Know I'm not ready, but please, have some faith in me.

Damrius looked into Ryugi's eyes, never faltering, his tone all as serious.

Matthew scratched his forehad as he went through the papers. He definately had not been around so many papers in such a long time. It only took him a few more minutes before he finally finished signing everything. With all of that settled, Matthew walked away from the desk...

...and right into a group of nosy reporters.

"Hello, sir? Who are you? A newcomer to the tournament?"

"Why are you competing?"

"What does that design on your back mean?"

Matthew blinked for a moment. He was usually very calm and quiet in demeanor, but being around so many reporters wasn't something he was used to. He was a wanderer, and not one for spotlight. He laughed somewhat nervously. "Ermm, I'm sorry," he said, "I'm not commenting at the moment." He then turned around and walked away, followed by disappointed paparazzi breathing down his neck and shouting at him.

Ryugi was visibly irritated. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, clenching his fists as he spoke.

For her sake and yours, I hope you're right Dame... Putting yourself in danger I can deal with, because its what you do, but putting someone like Madison in danger... I pray you know what you're getting her, and yourself, into. I nearly lost you two in Angara, I don't want to lose you again.

"Mr. Acineres," one voice slyly cut through the rest, a better composed man with a tape recorder- and better yet, no camera to be seen "you don't seem to be particularly put together."

Well, no, duh. Was about as best he put together stumbling among the other people, trying to wave away cameras.

"What sort of things will you bring to the Heaven or Hell?"

"My sort of things."

"Maybe it'd be better for you to try this in a calmer scenario some other time...?" The man put out. He had a few touches of gray, but seemed fairly young, and something about how he was wall dressed and prepared but seemed a bit lazily slack seemed to imply a sort of more casual style Kalis could agree with; less shoving things into his face.

Kalis shoved his way by the guy, slipping in a few words as he passed by. "Leave a name and number on a napkin somewhere. I might try and work something private out." and kept on shoving through. It was getting annoying going in circles. Luckily, several of them with cameras seemed to have been distracted by something else beyond him suddenly.

"Mr. Acineres, how do you expect your team to fare in this contest against such famous returning teams as-"

"I've never heard of any of the other names I've been hearing. I think I would have if I needed to worry."

No. Acting confident didn't make them lay off trying to push him into letting something slip. They just got more interested.

"What are your thoughts on your team and team-mates?"

"They're cool." he responded, missing the point entirely. Again.

"What's youre occupation outside such tournaments?"

"I'm currently a vagrant."

"Unemployed?"

"Yes, but that sounds like a fluffy, over-nice way to put it."

Ryugi sighs as his pupil leaves. He then wonders who the other members of his team are. Either way, he just prayed that Madi and Dame would be alright...

It was then that he noticed a rather large mob of people swarming around a somewhat goofy looking man with orange hair. He raised an eyebrow as he heard bits and pieces of the conversation from within the lobby.

Warrior of Love...? Well, he's awfully showy... Urameshi? So...He's their final teammate...

Ryugi continued to watch the hubbub from inside the lobby.

I look foreward to our fight, Silver.

Damrius said, walking up behind him. He had heard the draconic language many times before, but still had yet to pick up on what any of it meant. He was flipping the key around around in his fingers.

Silver grinned and looked back at Dame for a moment.

"As do I. Best of luck to you all."

He then returned his attentions to his draconic teamate.

"Ah. Al, ser biu sol doeb whol jala sel lodias. Fridj ajak naut ulu rei rath pholor nindol zhaunil gajak pholor."

He gave Ryugi a serious look, though still keeping ahold of that grin of his.

"Xuat harl sievazhau jaluss. Tangis' Damrius zhah yvalm ulu inbal natha golhyrr phor ukt t'zarreth."

Silver leaned back against the wall, looking downward for a second.

"Usstan ssiggrin gaer zhahus natha b'vecko athiyk. Ser pholor dosst yiben. Usstan xuat zhaun al folt faer."

He brought his head back up, looking Ryugi directly in the eyes.

"Jala xan'ss ka Team Glacier zhah ulu jous phor nindol drasv?"

Silver Moonblade Wrote:

"Xuat harl sievazhau jaluss. Tangis' Damrius zhah yvalm ulu inbal natha golhyrr phor ukt t'zarreth."

Wha? my name??? What are you saying?!?!

Damrius went into freak mode. He hated it when they did this, and never remembered his name being mentioned before. WHAT WERE THEY SAYING!?

Ryugi looked to Silver and nodded.

Usstan orn tlu ghil whol natha draeval, siyo.

He then nodded again in reply to Silver's next comment, and then spoke to Dame after addressing Silver.

Uk zhah ichl ezsakil ka ukt kaas morfethen eszak.

Sorry Dame, but this is team business.

Damrius sighed.

Whatever... I just wanna know why I heard my name...

He started to walk away, heading to his adressed room.

"Any love interests?"

"So just what do you bring to the tournament?"

"Are you antibacterial?"

The flow of questions continued, but the bar of soap just sat there. When Owle became a bar of soap, she was a respectable bar of soap who did exactly what bars of soap did on their own: absolutely nothing. The word inanimate comes to mind.

Hours later, at the hotel...

"Wow...."

Owle had to stop in the middle of the lobby and twirl around, taking in all the sights. The reporters had already gotten their fill of this blue haired woman, with the strange brown scales on her shoulders and feet and the funny little feathered wings sticking out of her back.

"So pretty..." Everything seemed so expensive it shined. Were they really getting to stay here for the tournament? "Flare, look at it!"

Owle felt a little out of place, and ran a hand through her messy hair to make sure she didn't have any twigs or dried seaweed stuck in it. Her clothes had been worn so many times their colors were fading, and she certainly didn't have the coin to stay here herself. It all seemed so surreal...

Athan walked in shortly after the two women, two large suitcases in either hand and Grandfather slung over his back. The huge sword and equally large man were enough to alert a few members of the media, but they would soon realize that a lot of footage had already been taken of him. That didn't stop a few reporters from approaching, but they didn't really get to ask any questions as he worked his way to the center of the lobby, just checking out all that there was to see.

Athan had a sort of dopey smile on his face, the kind of thing that you would usually see from a country boy who entered the big city for the first time. He was looking around the swank hotel as if it were one of the world's most famous monuments.

And, as if he didn't look out of place enough, he was also wearing a huge lime green foam cowboy hat that he had purchased at a giftstore prior to their arrival. Now, he had spent years managing the giant sword on his back without accidently bumping into people with it, but as it stood, that hat was just smacking everyone in the face. If he made a sudden turn, about five people would be temporarily blinded in the crowded lobby. At some point, people began to ask themselves if he was a tourist or a competitor.

"Hey Owle! Flare! They have a pool!"

Honestly, what was the point of being focused now? There were a few weeks until the tournament, and they were just getting settled in. Might as well enjoy it while they could.

Strikes would flow with beauty and power without being percieved by even keen physical perception. His wrapped fist would strike the extra dense heavy bags, not with overwelming force causing them to sway uncontrollably but stressing instead speak, technique, and combinations. His ebony limbs would seem to be merly a blur as his mind focused on teh black form before him; his desert yellow eyes unblinking even beneath the scrutiny of cooling sweat.

His focus was so great that the swarm of reporters and questions around his workout area did nothing to disturb him. He felt and knew only the inanimate bag before him. Even though Sieg was not listening to them there questions were drowned out by the sound of his fist, elbows, knees, shins, and head thrusting at the bag. There words came with cowardly studder, the broken rythm of his flow yielded explosive movements that would quake the ground and air around them.

Matthew was trying so hard to avoid reporters that he hardly even noticed that Kazuma had arrived. The public seemed to want to know just as much about the fighters as the judges did. He knew that some would be lured in by the limelight and schmoozing, but Matthew was never one for that. It wasn't in his upbringing. The more he revealed to the reporters, the more his own strategies were comprimised. It would be best if he could find himself some place where he would be able to practice his techniques in peace.

He looked around, wondering if there were any fighters around that knew about the tournament grounds well enough. "Excuse me," he said, "Does anyone know where the training area is?"

"You guessed it. Pretty sweet stuff...and"

He walked forward, looking at the glass that separted the lobby from the swimming area. He squinted his eyes.

"No freakin' way! You can surf here, too!"

Sure enough, there was a strange wave pool that pushed water straight up a wall. The boards weren't very big, but still. Surfing, indoors!

"This place is awesome! We need to do this more often."

He looked over his shoulder to Owle, batting a couple unfortunate souls with the foam hat in the process. Athan didn't even think to apologize to them.

"If we have a mini bar up in our room, I might just use our winnings to live here until next year."

:Time Warp, to the future! :

"It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Our Aquatic cyborg spoke aloud, in the back of the crowd, scanning over the many heads of people who'd gatherd at the front of the hotel to see all the fighters make their entrance into the hotel they'd be staying in.

"Hm.."

Her mis matched hues would scan over the picture she'd been given through the mail, by the adresser she still had yet to meet. There were three pictures, all of them men. The first beinga man with a straw hat, and long black hair with green eyes and a mysterious smile, the second of an attractive looking african american with corn rows, glasses, and one hell of a smile on his face. And the last man, he held a light saber, grinning wildly with flashy clothing and such. These men were some serious characters.

"Where are they?"

'Though Minute wasn't short, she wasn't tall either. So looking over heads was a bit of a task.

"Wow, look at all these people...badass aura just oozes off of them." Her voice was dripping with amazement at the look and entrances of all the fighters that had come, her own eyes shinning brightly as she continued to stay behind the crowd, eyes falling onto each head that had enterd the hotel already.

"Shouyins here too?" A small smirk would grace the cyborgs lips before she'd step forward bumping into a few people, trudging through the crowd as if she'd been stuck in a thick molassus.

The only reason why Minute wasn't being thrashed by reporters was only because she wasn't even known by anyone to be important.

"...I'm so lost.." Que sagged shoulders.

Radio Contact would notify the entire news team around the complex that they had in fact located Sieg ecstuffuan in the gym room, the response would be the team leader of 'Team Lu-Bu' had also been located entering the complex. Sieg would overhear this through one of the walky talkies on the cameramen, and would know kichi was here.

He would stand up and then move his way through all of the reporters and TV cameramen, trying to ignore the questions as he made his way towards kichiro. Sieg knew this would be his first meeting with the cyborg chick who was to be the altnerate, even though Sieg saw her around the dojo occasionally.

Kichiro couldn't really hear Minute with all the shouting going on. However, Mysti would tug on his arm and point at the girl who was trying to speak to him from the ground. Kichiro rolled his eyes, figuring a second fangirl wouldn't hurt him too badly.

A roll of the shoulders, and a stomp of the boots on some unsuspecting reporter's hands...

"OWWWEEeee.... What'd... grrr!"

The reporter would yell in surprise, falling atop several others before Minute and making a sort of stepping pile.

Kichiro would flip the upside down katana in its sheath towards the girl. He held it by the hilt.

"Come on... grab a hold, and I'll pull you up!"

As Matthew looked about the area in search of where the training grounds were, he caught a familiar sight. He remembered Kichiro Oda back from when he used to travel to the Oni no Ashita. Apparently, he was having his own troubles with the paparazzi...much more troubles than Matthew recieved. As Kichiro went about trying to get out of the media's eye, Matthew shouted to him, as if he had some way of avoiding the press. He wondered if Kichiro would even remember him.

"Kichiro!" he shouted, "Over here!"

"Eh.." Minute peered up, staring up at the end of the Katana with wide eyes, grunting, she'd push a few reporters who'd managed to grab ahold of her waist off, her left hand gripping the sheath tightly, helping herself up, one reporter would grip her leg, and in reaction she'd kick her leg free, knocking the guy in the face, and as he went down, he'd take her pants with him.

"s**t.."

She'd stare back up at Kichiro, before letting go of the hilt, to land on the bumper of the van, her feet gripping the steel, with a swift turn of her upper body, she'd place a hard left punch into the bridge of the reporters nose.

"Those're mine."

Smiling cutely, Minute would then grab her pants, slipping them back on, to turn on her heel and pull herself back up onto the top of the van, standing beside Kichiro, while her head would snap to the other direction of the man who'd callen out Kichiro's name, he looked just like the man in the photo, so it must of been him.

With a sigh, minute would gently smile

"This is them.."

Kichiro looked at all three of them, what he thought were two fangirls, and Seig.

"Well... uh... Seig, should we wait for a third member to get here before start answering questions?"

Kichiro would whisper in his ear, before turning to the newest arrival. The one that was missing her pants for a few moments, and causing him to blush. It was just unexpected is all.

All the while, he'd stomp on encroaching fingers of zombie-like reporters.

"So uh... who are you, and how do you know us?"

Kichiro's other girl, standing behind him, had bumped him over at the docks. She just liked fighters in general and came for the tournament, he wondered if this one knew Team Lu Bu in particular.

Well well well... Look at all the media attention. It seems that all the teams were really starting to show up with increasing frequency now. He spotted some familiar faces from last year among the arrivals, such as Sieg Ecstuffuan. It was looking that these fights this year were going to be even more epic than last year. And as much as Ryugi knew the dangers that came with participating in HoH, he couldn't help but be a wee bit excited.

[Na no da] Wrote:

"Heh..heh...tell me I'm not up here with the wrong guy.." Minute sighed, face palming as she pulled the pictures from her pockets, holding them out, while her eyes watched the other girl.

"I'm looking for a Kichiro, Sieg, and Peppa. My names Minute Springs, I'm here to become part of the team, or rather, team Lu-bu's alternate."

she'd let the pictures fall, watching as the reporters devoured them like zombies to fresh meat.

"...."

Her eyes would then fall on the other man, smiling a bit before she'd wait for their answers.

Sieg looked at the chick for a while before he would take a step towardsher, sliding his hands into his pocket saying."No I think this is the team your looking for, Ive seen you around the gym.", Sieg said with that same smug smirk look on his face.

"Isohos," Owle answered. No one had ever called her 'miss' before...well, except for Sey. In any case, though, it felt weird to say her last name.

She accepted the offered hand; it would have been impolite to refuse. Up she came, relieved he wasn't mad at her.

"Owle's my first name, though, and I'm more used to being called that. Who are you?"

Owle Isohos Wrote:

"Isohos," Owle answered. No one had ever called her 'miss' before...well, except for Sey. In any case, though, it felt weird to say her last name.

She accepted the offered hand; it would have been impolite to refuse. Up she came, relieved he wasn't mad at her.

"Owle's my first name, though, and I'm more used to being called that. Who are you?" He smiled kindly and answered her, after responding to hearing her name.

Well, Owle, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ryugi. Ryugi Kazamaru.

He shook the hand he'd held onto to help her up in a friendly greeting.

Ryugi Kazamaru Wrote:

He smiled kindly and answered her, after responding to hearing her name.

Well, Owle, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ryugi. Ryugi Kazamaru.

He shook the hand he'd held onto to help her up in a friendly greeting.

"The pleasure's mine," Owle answered politely, smiling back as he shook her hand. So there were friendly people here!

"You here for the tournament? I mean...you're all dressed up like you're expecting someone to try and kill you." Hmm. Maybe Owle should think more often before she speaks.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Kichiro. And to you as well Sieg." Minute would smile, hooking her thumbs into the loops of her pants, 'causing them to slide down a bit more, thought showing nothing revealing. "Ye', Lu-bu, I go there a lot, or when I'm not to busy. Thanks for having me, and thank you both for allowing me to attend this years Heaven or hell. It's an honour." The cyborg would give a small nod of her head, while shifting her weight onto her left side, tilting her head slightly to look at the reporters ears twitching at the sound of Sieg's voice, a small giggel escaping her lips.

"..."

And so they'd wait.

((Goodnight Sieg.))

Owle Isohos Wrote:

Owle chuckled as well. He was a Vice-Captain? Cool.

His name and the team name wouldn't ring any bells for her, though. Owle didn't even know where in Gaia she would buy a TV, and though she'd wandered into the Leviathan a few times she'd never heard of HoH before a couple weeks ago. In other words...she hadn't followed last year's tournament, or any of the media coverage on this one so far.

"Oh, I'm here to enter," she assured him. Owle shot a glance in the direction of the check-in counter, and with sharp ears he would catch her muttering 'against my will' before she turned back to face him. "I'm the alternate for team Project Swords!...I didn't pick the name." That IS a bit of an odd name for a team, but hey, nothing is perfect. And...if you don't think it too much of me to ask, why against your will?

He had that same quizzical expression on his face as he looked at her. What was preventing her from simply saying, "no"?

Owle Isohos Wrote:

"Ehe..." Owle tugged on her hair, shuffling her scaled feet in embarrassment. "Well, my sister Flare, she tends to get her way, you know...?" Ah... I see. But, if I might ask, why wouldn't you want to enter the tournament? Are you unsure of your skills as a fighter?

Ryugi didn't mean to be rude, and he hoped he didn't come off as such. However, he WAS a very curious individual, and this was no different.

Well, yes, and no.

He took on a thoughtful look and used his hands to exaggerate his words as he spoke them.

In a tournament like this one, the fights can sometimes be quite dangerous depending on your opponent. In some cases, the fights are friendly, but grueling. In other cases, the fights can be brutal and highly dangerous. I've seen limbs ripped off of fighters who got pulled into something they couldn't deal with. However, that fact that you've fought for your life at some point in time gives you that feeling of urgency, and if you get into a tough bind, you can fall back into that state of mind to defend yourself.

However, you have to be careful not to kill your opponents, and to make sure not to harm the audience. Mostly, this is a tournament of skill, and not of brutality. But you should always be prepared for something brutal to happen, just in case. If you remember that, you should be just fine.

He smiled as he finished, hoping he'd helped her. Ryugi wasn't known for being short winded.

Well, technically speaking, removal of a limb isn't generally life-threatening, and it would provide a quick way for the more brutal fighters to subdue an opponent that they can't seem to stop any other way.

But I wouldn't worry. Generally, that sort of stuff happens when someone has too much of a defense. I'm sure you and your friends will do just fine.

He smiled to try and comfort her.

Well, this is my second year competing in Heaven or Hell, and last year we got to the Finals and fought Team Glacier. We took second. I wouldn't call me a pro or anything though. There are fighters in here FAR more skilled than I am.

Ryugi wasn't one to brag, and was rather humble when it came to being complimented, or asked about his skill level in something.

Well, I haven't seen their roster for this year, but for last year, they had Silver Alexander, Shouyin, Sunstrike, and Vahn Kyonuske for their alternate. We fought them in the finals last year. The matches were pretty intense...

His face took on a more somber look, but if Owle was good at reading emotions, she'd see a bit of irritation as his hands clenched into fists a bit.

In the opening match, our alternate, Meryl Tomorrow ended up having her hands torn off of her wrists by Vahn... The fights ended up going to a judge call, and in the end, Glacier won out by just a few points.

Oh no... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you.

Ryugi was pretty good at reading emotions, and by her reaction, he'd just said something rather troubling to her. His face showed his apology on it.

Do you...know Vahn?

Matthew couldn't help but overhear the conversation. He would have been off training by now if it weren't for his interest. Limb removal, eh? For a tournament that stresses no killing and sportsmanship, people sure seemed to like showing their freedom in restriction. Matthew was not one to fear death, though. He was well prepared for whatever may happen in the tournament, since it was just a competition to him. Not a fight to torture your opponent. Fighting honorably and displaying one's skill in battle with another fighter was more important to him than winning, so hopefully this would be a good season.

Well, yes... They got into a handlock, and some strength was shown...hands came off...

Ryugi looked down and off to the side, his right hand quivering a bit as he clenched his fist.

A fighting tournament is supposed to be about skill, honorable combat... Not brutalizing your opponent, especially if your opponent is a woman. I used to respect him, I'd heard all kinds of amazing things about him, and then, he does something like that... Despicable...

Ryugi's voice was low as he spoke, showing more of the irritation he felt. But it practically melted as Owle's friend skidded into view.

Oh! Um, hello there! Name's Ryugi, Ryugi Kazamaru.

He extended his gloved hand out for a handshake.