Snow Covered Forest

"Wow... Guldor..." He looks at his FIGHTER as it alerts him of the place to have the first round match-up.

"Well, Team Urameshi... huh? This seems rather perfect." He gives a smirk while tightening his bracers/gauntlets upon his hands then kneels down on the ground feeling upon his boots tightening them up more. He looks up to the sky then sniffs the cold air feeling the sweet scent of life around the area. It may be snowy field, but that's going to change once the heat is on.

The oceanic fury within his eyes, concealed by his shades, he just couldn't wait to get this match underway.

"Come on, guys... get here." He checks for the hilts upon his sides then sighs some, "I wonder if I really need these."

Listening to the movements of the snow, his head tilts over in the direction of where the sounds are coming from. With his left hand, he pulls the brim of his shades to show off his golden brown orbs. The raven hair flocks over one eye, as the other stares directly towards the new comer. Obviously, this man isn't from Team Lu Bu, and perhaps from the opposing team.

"Well... so... you're from Team Urameshi?"

Standing up from his previous position then walking over to his opponent to size him up, alleviating his 6'2" stature, "Well, alright then."

He smirks towards the man while he asked in return about his status, "Yeah, you could say that." He crosses his arms about his frame then looks to the sky, "Maybe this tournament will be different from the others."

A grin becomes apparent as he looks back to the man, "May the best team win, and let's have some fun." His right hand extends from his side then he waits.

His grin never changed, then Ryu listens more intently to the young man. The height difference wasn't much, but still, Ryu was enjoying himself in being in front of an opponent.

"Indeed." His reply was merely short, but it was to the point and with that, they parted from another then he hears from the young man once more.

"Well, yeah, magics and whatever you have use. There shall be no fatal strikes... least, I hope not, I really don't want a disqualification on my team." He nods in reply then turns around walking directly over towards a tree just to sit in front of it just to meditate. His legs crossing about themselves and his arms doing the same, he smirks in a gesture beginning his meditation.

Waiting for things to start almost feel like an eternity.

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

The crunch of the snow heard resonating through the cold misty clearing in the distant barren tree's would herald the coming of Sieg. His feet would entrench within the snow with every step as his bare hand touched the frosted bark gently in passing. He quickly waded through the thicket of dead wood and he soon came up upon a clearing, in it there were two men. One was his partner, Ryu Versher and another was one that he did not know. He heard the last statement Ryu had made.

The men stood in front of each other, as if it were a pride fight about to begin. Sieg thought such things were pointless in gaia, most men broke the 6" foot barrier in terms of height and to be anything less than muscular was an oddity. Usually though Sieg found men shorter of stature to make up for it in other area's. Gaia was a place where one learned that things were never as they seemed.

Sieg walked up to the left of the man who faced Ryu and would say while offering a handshake to the member of team Urameshii. "Fatal strikes? I would hope that none on my team had the killing intent. Especially at such a festive meeting.

I've met your team member yuusuke only a few times, and just from those few meetings I know this will be a fight to remember. It is an honor to face your team, especially in the first round.", After introducing himself Sieg would go near ryu but not too close to disrupt his preparations to begin with a individual prayer and a brief period of meditation. Sieg would have proffered to pray with his team, but he knew that they did not all share his faith; even his beloved.

Where was she anyway? and peppa?

[/color]

• For God Carries Me +

((Wait...doesn't the tundra lack any trees? How could it be a forest? Unless its like a half-way point...I'll just go by the picture and assume there are some trees.))

"Ngggh! Damnit, Urameshi!"

Kuwabara cursed to himself as he dragged the sleeping Yusuke out into the arena. And in a snow forest, of all places! Not only did he have to carry Yusuke, but he had to carry him through the cold weather. He had just about enough of it. If Yusuke didn't wake up now, he'd stay asleep for the entire match due to cold!

That's when Kuwabara abruptly threw him off of his shoulders, wondering if the cold would wake him up. If that didn't, Kuwabara's foot stepping on his stomach would.

"Wake up, Urameshi!" shouted Kuwabara. "Don't you see we're fighting npw!?"

Yusuke was dead to the world as his body is dropped limply at the ground, landing on his back as he continued to snooze on within his snowy bed that was made into the ground.

Kuwabara's shouting could wake the dead, causing the winter blue jays present in the forest, along with the white rabbits to flee from such ruckus.

But he manages to cause a wince to appear on Yusuke's face, the teen finally waking up with wide eyes. Looking quickly to Kuwabara, he stands to his feet, shouting: "Why the hell are you stomping me in the stomach?!"

And then it hit him that they were outside. He looks around for a moment, looking to Snow, then to Sieg, and finally Ryu before letting out a laugh.

"Oooops, guess I fell asleep. Hehe..."

He wipes the fluffy snow off his jacket before looking over to Sieg, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Walking toward his opposing team's captain, he smiles warmly.

"What's up, Sieg. Quite a surprising match up, huh? If you're ready to do this, then we are, as well. I take it you guys have a third member coming?"

Continuing his meditation, his eyes being closed, his body in a resting state. The breathing of his lungs exhaling and inhaling continues on a slow rhythm, then he decides to get out of the meditation then looks up and over towards Yusuke and Kuwabara. His boots shuffle through the snow as he keeps his arms crossed.

"Well... seems like it's time to have fun, but we have to make sure there are 3 of us, Sieg." Ryu says while observing the commotion.

And right before his sentence is done, Athena arrives, "Alright, we do have three then."

Yusuke proudly shakes Sieg's hand, nodding. "I agree. A bang it's going to be."

Letting go of the hand, too, he walks over to his team's side, facing their opponent as Sieg offers the tasty suggestion. Not wanting to pass up such an offer, even after just woken up, he gives a right thumbs up.

"Sure. Let's make this one to remember, okay?"

Yusuke looks to his teammates. "Back me up when it's time, okay, guys?"

He starts to walk toward the center of the field, as he stretches his arms and loosens some muscles with a little hop. Sleeping like that tended to make the body stiff, so he had to work some energy into his body, to get that blood going. Wait, what was he kidding? His blood flow? That was quite a humorous thing to think about.

Popping both of his cold knuckles, he was ready to rock.

" . . . "

He slouched against a gnarled tree at the edge of the snowblown clearing toward which everyone seemed to have gravitated, trying to ignore the press and few spectators dotting the area as he smoked his cig away from the crowd. It was a habit he'd been trying to kick . . . but the cold and all.

Exhaling a thick cone of smoke, his narrow eyes craned to the side and sourly landed on the other fighters. He kinda wished he wasn't in such a bad mood going into the first round, but nothing about Lu-Bu really interested him, and they happened to be the team his had lost to by decision last year.

Flicking the butt aside, he stuffed both hands into the pockets of his open leather jacket and kicked away from the dead trunk, deciding to walk some of the lethargy out of his bones. Airing around the meeting team leaders with a slouch to his gait, he stopped at Ryu's left, vision adjusting to retinal echoes induced by flashing cameras but intent on the action-to-be as he spoke out of the side of his mouth.

"Thought you retired, Versher?"

He didn't really give a s**t what the guy had to say, but hands in pockets and boots near the first fight, he thought he might as well stand uncomfortably close to the opposing team's potential Striker and add to Ryu's unease by conjuring some memories of the brutal beatdown Clash had given him in their last encounter. He turned to watch Athena wiggle onto the scene--if he wanted to fight anyone from this other team, it was her--and then flashed an almost sardonic smile in the direction of the first conflict.

Seeing as Sieg was taking the first match, Athena would wait on the sidelines, giving a wave out to her lover.

"Make him hurt, Sieg! We'll be right here behind you!"

She was probably the most outgoing person on their team, and she didn't even care for anyone's comments against her, if they were made. And with all these cameras around, it wouldn't be long before people recognize her as the Iron Maiden champion.

Yusuke knew what Sieg was about when it came to fighting, and he was not going to disappoint the fellow. Bringing his arms into bends, holding his right fist up toward his own face with his left at abdomen level, his left foot slides back into rear positioning as young eyes pinpoint into Sieg's own spectacles. The heels of his sandals would rise to place him on his toes. His stance was ready.

Let Heaven or Hell begin! LET'S ROCK!

Yusuke leans his body to the left while bringing his left fist swinging up in a good hook to start things off, just letting the fist fly toward Sieg's right abdomen for a kidney shot while starting to step his feet to the left. He wasn't going to make this begin so weak where he would try to fend off attack after attack. He was going to be smart, though, and make sure he made his hits count. This wasn't the preliminaries anymore. He had millions of people from around the world watching them now, so he had to put on a show for them to remember.

So fist pushes through cold air while teeth show in gritting, his foot sliding through the snow as he brings in that hook. Though the strong ab muscles of Sieg could help endure the attack, Yusuke had an extra touch to his attacks. When the fist would hit, if it did, an explosive burst of spirit energy would come from it. Nothing like a grenade or anything. Just enough to make that area hurt more than a normal punch.

1

"I think we know that," a grouchy voice speaks from behind the orange-haired samurai in disguise. Standing there was Genkai, the short woman having both of her arms folded behind her as she stares at the fight now occurring before her old eyes.

"He may not look like it right now, but Yusuke is placing a lot of heart into this fight. Just watch and you will see what these two men can do. I know a lot about his opponent, too, so you might want to keep some distance, son."

"Oh! Hey, Genkai!" said Kuwabara excitedly, rushing over to her. "You came to watch the fight too, huh? That's awesome!"

Hearing the shouts of the Lu Bu team members as they rooted for Sieg, Kuwabara did what he did best when he was on the sidelines...

"Come on, Urameshi!" he shouted, swinging his fists in front of him as if he was boxing with an invisible opponent, "Show him what you've got!"

Moving, moving, and never stop. Yusuke's feet followed that logic, footwork getting him more to his left, beginning a circling of Sieg to try to get behind his blind sight. Letting his right foot slide in a circle behind him, he would try to keep his facing with Sieg's right side, moving left some more as the right uppercut strikes upward toward his midsection. Already having pulled back for a few inches his left punch after striking into the muscle defense Sieg placed up, the detective's right side turns just enough for the uppercut to brush across the white shirt under his open jacket, causing it to flutter out and backwards as Yusuke seemed to be standing side by side at this point.

Left shoulder to Sieg's right shoulder, Yusuke's right bicep takes the force of the forearm of the rose right arm of Sieg, using it as a temporary grip point, for striking out for Sieg's right jaw from the large man's right was Yusuke's left fist, sending a hook for that targeted area, twisting it so that if it came into contact with bone, it would give the optimum power, pulling on the right arm to keep it from retaliating and also for leading the direction of his fist.

2

"Hello, Kuwabara," the woman says toward him. She was glad to see he was in this tournament, too, and could only hope for the best for Team Urameshi. They were former students, so she was here to make sure they remembered the lessons she taught them.

As for Ichigo, she gives a glance toward his direction. "You know, the more you turn your eyes away from the fight, the less of it you get to see and remember. They move rather fast, so don't miss a second of it."

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

Moving, moving, and never stop. Yusuke's feet followed that logic, footwork getting him more to his left, beginning a circling of Sieg to try to get behind his blind sight. Letting his right foot slide in a circle behind him, he would try to keep his facing with Sieg's right side, moving left some more as the right uppercut strikes upward toward his midsection. Already having pulled back for a few inches his left punch after striking into the muscle defense Sieg placed up, the detective's right side turns just enough for the uppercut to brush across the white shirt under his open jacket, causing it to flutter out and backwards as Yusuke seemed to be standing side by side at this point.

Left shoulder to Sieg's right shoulder, Yusuke's right bicep takes the force of the forearm of the rose right arm of Sieg, using it as a temporary grip point, for striking out for Sieg's right jaw from the large man's right was Yusuke's left fist, sending a hook for that targeted area, twisting it so that if it came into contact with bone, it would give the optimum power, pulling on the right arm to keep it from retaliating and also for leading the direction of his fist.

2

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

'Hmm, Dirty boxing.' Sieg thought.

Siegs right leg would be placed in front of the opponents left leg, in front of the area between the opponents legs. As the opponent tried to grab for Siegs right arm would overhook the opponents hooking left arm as Sieg would lean in to the right. This would block the hook with the bicep of Siegs right arm and cause the opponent to miss with his right hands attempt to grab his right forearm. Siegs left hand would then reach over to grab the opponents right wrist.

This move was called 'The Whizzer'.

[Similar to this picture, cept not up against the cage and my left arm is grabbing your right wrist and the overhook his deeper.]

Sieg was larger than yuusuke, most likely he was stronger. So there wouldn't be a lot of noticeable resistance as Sieg would kick his right leg between the opponents legs; forcing yuusuke's left leg to lift backwards as Sieg would use his right arm overhook to thrust the opponents body down and forward. This would cause both Yuusuke and Sieg to roll on there back.

Once on there back SIegs right leg would be on top of yuusuke's left leg and Sieg would still have the overhook. Because of this Sieg would be able to take the mount by rolling to the right and lifting his left leg over the opponents right leg. Sieg would then slide on top of yuusuke's chest taking the full mount.

3

• For God Carries Me +

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

If Sieg could not get the overhook which was a requirement to complete the technique, then ofcourse he would not continue on with the technique. As the opponent would slide onward to his left, in a single motion Sieg would shoot his right leg back to face the opponent once again; since there was nothing grabbing on Sieg to hold him still. This would prevent any attempt to suplex Sieg.

Once Sieg suddenly twisted around he would see yuusuke as if he was trying to reach around his waist. To Sieg it looked as if yuusuke was about to shoot, so Sieg kept his hips back. Sieg would take this chance to attempt to reach around the back of the opponents head with his left hand, cupping the back of yuusuke's skull and would attempt to snatch yuuske's head into Siegs muscular chest.

4

• For God Carries Me +

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

Yusuke's right foot stomps deeply into the snow to immediately stop his arm-wrapping halfway, as Sieg had turned around with a throw of his leg. But as the full turn would be ending, Yusuke would retaliate from his slight shock to suddenly lift his left leg up, kicking it outward to start flipping his body, as if he was going into a backflip. Snow would be kicked up into Sieg's face from such an action, acting like an accidental blinding cover, the right foot smacking for the chest of Sieg. The motion of his feet could be described as riding a bicycle backwards.

"Ha!"

He was aiming to topple the man over, using that window of time where he was still in slight motion of his one-eighty spin. This will raise his chances of sending the guy falling backwards while Yusuke himself would be falling toward the snow, too, his right foot bending toward his body after the attack to snug it close to his chest, ready to return himself to his feet with a kick recover once his back strikes into the soft snow.

4

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

The set up had work. With the failed whizzer Sieg had been sent in wrestling moves and suddenly all the set ups and takedowns from Siegs college days would flood back into Siegs mind. A flood. Overwhelming with weight and pressure of 100 days and a 100 nights of rain was about to be imposed upon the spirit detective. Suddenly a distortion from Siegs electromagnetic aura would cause everything to seem suddenly surreal; looking towards Sieg would draw ones eyes to his eyes which seemed to shine golden. Siegs chi spread into his muscles allowing him to perform one technique at amazing speeds.

SHOOT!

The level change that heralded the double leg take down would be difficult to see even for a talented fighter. A level change was a slight bending of the knee's that came before the double leg. This lowering of Siegs position would cause the white snow to fly over Siegs head. The failed attempt to pull yuusuke's head itself was the touch to make sure that Yuusuke did not sprawl and sprawl he did not, in all actuality yusuke assisted SIeg in the shot.

Sieg would push forward off his bent legs, sending his body forward explosively. The snow behind Sieg would shoot back in a wave from the push assisted by a massive amount of spiritual energy. This would cause Sieg to perform the double leg faster than any normal human could. Siegs right arm would reach forward and overhook the opponents extended left leg and Siegs left arm would parry the opponents right foot before it extends and then overhook that leg around its thigh.

In a flash of motion Sieg would be straddling yusuke in the mount position on top of his chest.

5

• For God Carries Me +

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Sieg kept coming forward. He would be coming forward fast. Most likely Sieg was going to close the distance and Sieg would be simply too close for a axe kick from the bottom to really work. However, if Yusuke was fast enough to bring that leg up and down that quickly, Sieg would simply push forward harder and lean forward so that instead of the heel hitting SIeg in the head; the calf would hit Sieg in the head and that would hurt a lot less. Siegs hips would be under him during the shot, and the hit wouldn't cause his head to go down. Any energy pushing yusuke up as his axe kick came down would be counteracted by Siegs control over yusuke's left leg with his right arm.

So after the calf hit the back of Siegs head Sieg would simply gain control of the right leg as he had done the left with his left arm and then crawl on to mount, straddling the opponents chest.

Sieg would then start the ground and pounding, raining down punch's at yusuke's face.

6

• For God Carries Me +

"Alright, Urameshi!" shouted Kuwabara as he got the eye from Yusuke, throwing another punch at the air. "Take it to the next level!"

He could tell that Yusuke was enjoying the fight. He had been training with him for quite a while in preparation for the tournament. They didn't get the best of shots last year, but up against tough fighters like the Lu Bu, they we're pretty lucky. They'd all be getting the experience they came for.

Genkai knew exactly what Yusuke was wearing, which is why she knew he was finally showing some seriousness to the matter at hand. It had been so long since she stood on the sidelines and watches her pupils fight. It was like at the Dark Tournament, where she stood by and saw the skills of both Yusuke and Kuwabara come into play, growing from each challenge they tackled. She felt inside that the two would come out of this with something else to learn. And that was better than any lesson she could ever give.

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

The coat halfway off, Yusuke would be returning his vision to Sieg, but find that stone just a couple of feet from smacking him into the forehead. Using quick reflexes, he takes grip of the inside of the sleeves of his half-off coat, and swings it in front of him from left to right, capturing the stone within the cuffs and folds of the jacket, the weight pulling within to remove the remainder of his upper cloth.

Sieg was right up on him once again, rushing him like the muscle man he was. Ready for action, Yusuke lunges at his opponent, too, the incoming jab for his throat being met by a forward elbow that only required a single foot to move forward in distance with. If it was with the right hand the jab was being used with, since it was not mentioned, Yusuke would be pushing forward with his left elbow. And if it was the other hand instead, then it would be the right elbow coming forward, the corresponding foot being the forward.

Assuming he was jabbing with the left, Yusuke would feel the jab deflect off his elbow while the kid would then twist his torso to the right, striking a fisted left hand for Sieg's solar plexus, about to smack against his opponent's muscled abs, his hips turning to add even more power. His body lowered in height as he sat on his knees, getting him just out of range of swinging arms that could punch his head. Yusuke could afford to perform a speedy attack, however, because the power wasn't going to come from his physical muscles. It was mostly going to come from the spirit energy burst again, allowing him the same speed of a jab, but have the power of a hook.

And since Sieg was pressing forward so dominantly, Yusuke could freely extend his left foot out and attempt to trip Sieg after the attack. Slowing down in snow could lead to slippery results, which was why Yusuke took such a chance to send Sieg falling face first to the ground.

7

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Never assume anything.

SIeg was a big guy but to say that he was anything less of graceful and lithe would be a mistake on the opponents part. Sieg was an orthodox fighter, meaning he was right handed and therefor always jabbed with the left hand. Also Sieg moved with the shuffle step, he did not run; he nearly never did in a fight.

The shuffle step was performed in this way, pushing off of the rear foot to slide the lead foot forward and then sliding the rear foot in the same direction to complete a step. In the shuffle step the feet never crossed nor lifted from the ground. This allowed Sieg to keep control of his momentum while still moving quickly and to never be off balanced. For this reason, the trip attempt would fail.

Once Siegs jab struck the elbow, it wouldn't parry off but would simply recover. As soon as the jab did strike however Sieg would throw a right low thai round house kick for the opponents left ribs. Sieg could hit that target with the low kick because the opponent was on his knee's. The opponents kick would miss pass Siegs right side as Sieg would pivot on the balls of his feet and with his waist as he would send his right shin crashing diagonally at the opponents ribs. Sieg would bend his left knee to keep himself stable on the slippery snow and to sink his weight into the kick. If this kick hit it would be like swinging an aluminium bat at yusuke's ribs. The opponents ribs would also be defenseless since the opponent was punching.

They could easily be broken.

8

• For God Carries Me +

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

Since he wasn't running, then the kick would not happen. Since Sieg had ran from behind his stone, Yusuke thought he was charging in still with movement behind his steps. But since he was able to slow himself before he threw the punch, the kick wouldn't be used. Just the punch.

As Yusuke's punches forward with nothing stopping it, the kick Sieg sends out would strike for his ribs. And when both would hit, Yusuke would be stumbling back, while Sieg would feel the punch strike into his abs, coming in and leaving like a lightning bolt, a spark of spirit energy shooting against the targeted area to use its force to unbalance Sieg the same way since he was currently just on one leg.

The shot to the ribs would hit his body, having his right hand come along and feel where the strike hit. But his ribs were harder to break. A single kick would not help there. Not to mention, the Spirit Gi he was wearing cut down some of the force. Still, it stung, and that will be one of the pains he will not forget from this match.

Though they were parted from one another, Yusuke would stand his ground, his right hand having all fingers close except for the index and thumb, both outstretched and shaped...like a gun. With them in this position to his side, he begins to have spirit energy flow into that single point at the tip of his finger. For the moment, it looked like he was just standing there and watching Sieg with his arms to his side, but in reality, he was charging up spiritual power.

No more Mr. Nice Yusuke.

8

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

The blow hit Siegs tight abs, causing him to slide back some on the slippery ground. Siegs hands stayed up and he didn't seemed fazed by the hit, he just continued to bounce and dance above the snow and would begin to move closer again. Just one punch to Siegs tough body wasn't gonna do much to him.

A tree near where Sieg slid to had fallen. Through Siegs minds eye he could feel yusuke's spiritual energy. Sieg had seen yusuke's spirit gun and based on the way his fingers were positioned thats what we was charging.

'psh, ok then...BRING IT!', Sieg thought. As he moved closer into hand to hand range.

9

• For God Carries Me +

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

"Put your ******' hand on your strap n*a, Hell yeah, we can do this like gangstas and slug it out, Or we can do this like punks and punk it out. Pull your strap on me, n***a and you better kill me. Thug Life baby."

• 2 pac

Sieg kept on coming. There was something. Something here that made Sieg feel unstoppable. Maybe it was the fact that most people didn't last this long against Sieg. Most people just got submitted and sent home but yusuke...Yusuke was bringing the 'grappler' out of Sieg. The light around Sieg was distorted as the power in his electromagnetic aura began to swell. It was the kind of distortion you got when light went into one medium of a different tempature. Siegs spiritual energy was charging into his muscles and into his skin, focusing internal while yusuke's was focused externally.

"You use that yusuke and You better make sure I don't get up..."

Sieg kept on moving in, his knee's began to bend deeper and the bounce on the balls of his feet began to become less rhythmic.

10

• For God Carries Me +

A growl was emitted, "Hmm..." Ryu was pondering upon a situation while observing the fight.

He was moving in fast now, cause that bulk of powers was not hard to feel from behind him, like an impending doom on his tail. He looks behind him as Sieg "shoot" for his waist. Yusuke was running rather fast, and he could slip and land embarrassingly on his face if he makes one mishap in the snowy terrain. But he would keep the distance enough for him to arrive at the tree, and suddenly strike his feet against it. Seeming to run up the bark, he goes into a backflip, sending him over Sieg and falling right behind him.

But...

Yusuke would be falling toward the ground, leaned back. From an angle fourty- five degrees behind Sieg, having some hangtime in midair, Yusuke had a large glowing amount of spirit energy aimed at Sieg. Point blank.

His left hand held the wrist of the firing hand as he seemed to be immersed mentally in making this shot count. Sieg himself would find the entire area around him practically illuminated in the bright light blue before Yusuke shouts from his mouth for all to hear:

"SPIRIT GUN!"

SHRRRRWWWWW!

Birds flew away, people placed on shocked faces, and the wind died for only a moment as the projectile being five feet in diameter shoots right at Sieg's body. They were looking toward the forested area, so spectators were not near enough to be affected. But Sieg himself, if he was struck by this immense attack, would be carried like a lone figure through the many bark and shrubs that awaited him in the forest, the attack capable of burning away at his clothing and damaging his body with the constant spirit energy against his skin. And what's more, the very force of it would send a trauma through his body, making it seem as if he had got hit by a truck, or even something bigger.

In short, this was going to hurt.

11

((STRIKER OFFENSE!!))

STRIKER DEFENSE INITIATING.

"Aaagh!"

Ichigo's knees buckled lightly from the power emanating from both Yusuke and Sieg. "Their spiritual pressure is incredible..." he thought. "As long as I'm not in soul reaper form, it feels like I'm carrying a ton! Tch...I thought I could handle better than that..."

"It's called teamwork!" retorted Kuwabara, "I read in the rules about striker assists back at the hotel. It's part of the game, and I know they'll be used against us in the future by other fighters. I'm a man of honor, and there's nothing dishonorable about following the rules of a tournament!"

With that, Kuwabara would recede to the sidelines as he watched Yusuke and Sieg continue their fight. He knew fighters in the tournament would no doubt use strikers against him as well, so he was being as fair as everyone else.

"Very well... best be glad that I'm not your next opponent." He grins vilely.

He returns his gaze towards the battle then begins cracking his knuckles from the sheer excitement of having his muscles become relaxed from the movement previously made.

"I think you two should save that for another time," said Ichigo, looking at Nightsnow and Kuwabara. "Spiritual pressure is a bit too complicated to explain in a few words, and we don't wanna miss any of the fight." Ichigo would then turn back to the action, watching as everything unfolded.

Sieg was coming at him still, even after seeing the events play out, so no use in allowing the man to get up close without being on guard. Yusuke was prepared to attack the man head on.

The low roundhouse kick has Yusuke perform a slide back with a small hop, the leg missing its target. Right leg being the forward as usual. But he was now suddenly being tackled at by Sieg, the same thing he did before. But this time, he was not going to back down!

Yusuke suddenly pulls on the shirt of his Spirit Gi and removes it from his body, the white cloth floating through the air. And with it gone, a pulse would exert itself from Yusuke's body, causing the snow to shift around his feet. His muscled torso was now in view for all to see, some of the girls starting to scream in their fangirlish shrieks at the sight of his modeled body. If he wasn't so caught up in this fight, he would have given them the ole thumbs up. But then again, he would have to deal with a not-so-happy Keiko when he returns home. She was very jealous toward other girls getting his attention.

SLAM!

Yusuke's feet slides backwards as he leans himself against Sieg, catching him around his waist with both arms. "Grrr!" Sieg's arms would only be able to reach as far as his waist, and if they got any lower, Yusuke's legs were spread enough to act as a brief endurance against having his legs pulled in. He used strength alone to bring the shoot to a stop, though his stomach took a considerable amount of punishment from his shoulder. If he hadn't tensed his abs at the last moment, he would have had the breath knocked out of him.

But he was okay, suddenly pulling up with his arms to attempt to bring Sieg upwards, as if setting up for the powerbomb. Such a guy of Sieg's size was considered a heavyweight. But Yusuke proved over and over again that even little guys could pull some weight, and it showed. For when he removed his Spirit Gi's top, he had removed a limiter that gave him full access to his spirit energy. Though he had gotten rid of defense, he traded it off for offense, and now his body was literally running with the fuel of his spirit's power, capable of lifting 300 lbs and more.

"YAAAAA!"

He attempts to bring Sieg upwards, where he will stretch his arms to keep Sieg's arms as far away as possible from his head as he held under the man's armpits, holds him for at least a second so that everyone could see the strength he used alone to lift such a fellow, and finally drops down, performing a powerbomb, Sieg's body about to go smackdown into the snow.

13

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Yusuke may be able to lift 300 pounds total...Sieg could lift 1500 pounds to his waist without spiritual aid and could bench 585 and could lift over his head with his arms alone 345 pounds all without spiritual aid. Yusuke was strong for a little guy, but strong enough to overpower Sieg he was not.

Especially since Sieg now had spiritual aid.

As the opponent would lean himself against SIeg, all he was doing was giving Sieg his weight; making him easier to manipulate and control. The opponents spread legs would simply be overpowered through strength alone, and Siegs strength plus with the 'short time' mode in effect; he could not over power him. Also Siegs arms were long and he shot in deep, the opponents legs would be easy to reach and suck in.

Siegs shots always ended with one foot being planted and since Sieg could lift 1500 pounds total standing up with yusuke draped over his shoulder grabbing onto his back would be no problem. Ending with his foot planted would mean Siegs hips were under him meaning it would be impossible with the opponents legs pulled in (and even if they weren't) to pull Sieg up into a power bomb. Also the fact that Sieg was now standing with yusuke draped over his shoulder, would prevent yusuke from pulling SIeg up.

Sieg walked yusuke over to that broken tree turned his pulled in legs counter clockwise with his arms. This turn would cause the opponents grip on Siegs waist to weaken and then Sieg would slam yusuke through the fallen tree in side control. Just before yusuke would go through the tree Sieg would let go with his left hand.

(cept that your arms would be reaching to grab around my waist.)

Sieg would keep yusuke down with his chest, keeping his hips to the floor. This would also pin yusuke's right arm to the ground under Siegs hips. Siegs left arm would reach over yusuke's head to grab yusuke's left wrist. Sieg would position his left elbow next to the opponents head. Siegs right arm would then move to slide under yusuke's left elbow and grab his right forearm. Sieg would then pull his right forearm up. This would twist yusuke's elbow around and above his head, a way it was not supposed to go.

This was an attempt to use a submission called a keylock.

Yusuke's spiritual techniques would start to fail because of Siegs soul grasp spiritual technique which screwed with the opponents ability to focus and use supernatural attacks.

14

• For God Carries Me +

Yusuke continued to pull, regardless of having Sieg pull him upwards. Yusuke could have still counter-acted the rise with his own, but he would allow it, since he was just going to do something stupid and out of the ordinary.

Since he was practically letting his power go wild so he could have an easier time throwing around Sieg's weight, he was given grounds to do two things.

The first was that his Soul Grasp technique wouldn't really have any effect on, since he was not really concentrating any amount of spirit energy. In the state that it was, it could not be compressed that easily, allowing Yusuke to keep access to the power that he held, the wind shifting in a variety of directions. And his focus was only driving one thing: to push forward. Nothing but sheer rush of will and power drove his body now, so as for mental cases, he should be okay.

And secondly, as Sieg pulled up, Yusuke was pulling, too, causing him to push forward while leaping off his feet, a current of power driving across Sieg's body as he would suddenly find himself lifted off the ground. To normal physics, it shouldn't have been possible, but Yusuke had so much momentum to his advantage that he could perform this move with no problem. What was it?

A Canadian Destroyer. Sieg's rise would be countered with a piledriver.

The entire crowd continues to exclaim as they watch this move be performed, never before seeing someone use such a counter in midair like that. But after seeing Spirit blasts shoot everywhere, a man use a glowing sword to knock it around, and then have someone just hurricane kick it into the air, they didn't know what to believe anymore. All they knew was that they were watching one of the greatest matches that was going to be remembered in this year's HoH. Two guys putting all their heart and soul into entertaining the group and theirselves, pitting their skills against one another to see who was the better, and who would prevailed.

14

"YEAH, SIEG, THAT'S HOW YOU COUNTER THAT."

Ryu continues to cheer.

"YEAH, SLAM HIS a**."

"Come on, Yusuke!" shouted Ichigo, "Don't let him get you like that! You got him!"

[Yusuke Urameshi] Wrote:

That is why against normal physics, it would not have been possible. But Yusuke had that x factor on his side, which was the explosion of power from his body. By directing the force in that single direction, he could easily pull off the move. What Sieg had not realized was that even though he took hold of Yusuke's legs from behind, the teen still was going up, and he was letting it go up, which meant that even with his legs, Yusuke had shot enough power into his legs and against the ground to have him quickly go up and over.

Buuuut, Sieg would not let that happen, so Yusuke was just hanging upside over Sieg's back, both his arms hugging around the man, his stomach against Sieg's right shoulder. It was time he tried one more thing before he became a human chainsaw to the tree he was being carried toward.

His right finger aims directly at the ground, his left hand taking hold of his right wrist, his arms letting go of Sieg's waist. Having a burst of spirit energy instantly fire from the finger, a pillar of it would strike into the ground, suddenly creating an upwards explosion like that of a rocket taking off.

TSSSSRRRR!!!

Snow would erupt in all directions as the spirit gun spreads its explosion out against the ground, the attack aiming to strike Sieg into the back of the legs while also carrying them upwards into the air. This meant that the man's body would start to lean back, which allows Yusuke to regrip and continue to lean forward. In other words, he was turning the situation literally around in midair, directing the head of Sieg right toward the ground!

"Want to see my wrestling move!" He exclaims in a might shout that fills the cold air. Eyes were on both of them as they ascend to about ten feet in the air before they go shooting back toward the earth, a clockwise direction being started.

His legs were already rested against Sieg's arms, so his stance was set as they go plummeting back toward the ground in an AWESOME and FINISHING.....!!!

SPINNING PILEDRIVER!

If they thought it was snowing before, it would be now as the the entire ground of snow nearly is lifted up and showered upon all like it was Christmas day all over again. As the girl raised her hands to touch the snow that fell, the cameras were zoomed up on the impact between the man, awaiting to see what happens to them once the snow would clear.

15

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Siegs spiritual energy was also screwing with the focus of yusuke's power into a ball. Also Sieg could sense the charge of energy that he felt before.That would probrably slow up the charge time. As soon as yusuke let go of Siegs back, Sieg would perform his shoot Technique again but since he already had yuusuke in his grasp then it would just cause them to go forward really suddenly.

Sieg would still twist the opponents legs counter clockwise, this would cause the fireball to miss Siegs legs and just hit the ground. So between the time the ball of energy shot from yusuke's finger and the ball hitting the ground causing a upwards explosion, they would already be too far away from the pillar for it to shoot them upwards.

Because of the shoot technique causing them to go forward faster and enablign Sieg to push the opponent down harder - he would slam the opponent through the tree harder.

and the same thing would happen. He would get submitted.

Since appearantly failed attempts at countering the same move didn't take up time.

• For God Carries Me +

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Yusuke's legs were not going anywhere. So no chin kick. Sieg had them and they were not moving until Sieg let them go of his own accord. The only thing holding yusuke up was the fact that he was draped over Siegs shoulder (or else he would already be down on his back, since SIeg has his legs). By the time yusuke would be leaning back, yusuke would be being slammed down.

By leaning back yusuke would just be thrusting his own body, through the tree, harder. Because what yusuke defined as 'back' was the down and forawrd direction Sieg was pushing yusuke's body into, through the tree.

So yusuke just made himself go through the tree harder with Sieg still on top of him.

Only to get submitted in the last 30 seconds of the last round.

• For God Carries Me +

He had enough force to pull him upwards and back with the spirit gun to the the ground, but it seemed even that wasn't going to work with such a solid hold. The hold kept him from going back or up, which meant that Yusuke should have been able to do the Canadian Destroyer before since his legs would not be gripped from below, while right now, it seemed to be from above with an overhook.

But well, things happened, Yusuke seeming to be slammed right into the tree back first. His entire back would feel the chunks of the bark crater to their power, like a thousand whips snapping at his back. That wood was going to leave him marks, as he is suddenly moved toward the ground. He had been knocked through things harder, like rocks, so he could take it like a man. But as he goes, Yusuke pulls down on Sieg's head with his hands as they land into snow and shattered wood, the teenager deciding to add one last blow to this ending match.

Raising his right arm and bending it, he elbows Sieg into the back of his head as he allows spirit energy to just carry the arm downward. It was similar to how he would use the spirit wave, but this was a more untrained version of it. Simply, he just allowed all the energy currently in his right arm to concentrate at the elbow area and propel it downward with the force of someone using a sledgehammer on Sieg's head. If it worked correctly, Sieg should have blood begin to flow down his head from busted scalp.

As for Yusuke, well, he would have a good deal of wounds of his own: a lot of scratches along his back, with some even drawing blood into the snow. It wasn't a catastrophe or anything. He just was going to have numerous scars for a while, all colored in red.

Next thing they knew, a blowhorn blew through the air.

The match was over.

17

Lone Hand Wrote:

Raising his right arm to shield his face from whipping snow particles that stung like needles from a flechette gun, he turned to Kuwabara and gave him a nod with a grin. "Nice assist back there, by the way. Too bad Versher had to go and break the rules."

Then he looked at Snow. "Just chill, man. It's like any other old energy . . . from the spirit."

"Yeah, too bad." Ryu kept watching.

A snapping of the twigs would faintly be heard beneath the piercing sound of the horn. It was a soft sound but it could be well assumed that most of the fighters of this caliber could faintly pick it out amongst the cheers of the crowds and what not.

Wouldn't be long until the final member would arrive. He had regretfully been held back by other affairs but he wouldn't be completely absent from his teams match. It just wasn't very like him to be letting down team Lu Bu....his family.

Standing in the snow, the Jedi would mutter bitterly to himself a few curse words into a cloud of hot hair around him....pissed off apparently at how he was wearing gauntlets in this kind of weather. They were warm and padded on the inside and Peppa even preferred the cold but this was the ******** tundra.

Preliminary rounds I fight a ice wielder, first rounds I fight in the tundra. I know it's better than first years sewers but seriously....

Which he vaguely recalled. He just remembered hating it. Sewers were not a fun place to be duking it out especially when the opponent's had been dreadfully late. Terribly late.

Oh the irony at the situation.

Opening his eyes, the pirate patched Jedi would glance over to see Sieg and Yusuke with a frown. He had missed a good fight.

Than he would hear a few faint words about who was next and Ryu breaking the rules. To this, he would feel a stab of pain in his chest. It would be miserable to go from the finals to first round drops....this can't be how Lu Bu falls.

I would like to be the next fighter...

Peppa would announce clearly while walking to a open patch. His hat buckling just as much as he did when a breeze would strike the area. Cold winters embrace, thieving anything it can grasp it's unforgiving claws on.

Listening to the area, hearing the faint sound of twigs snapping, his head jolts to the direction that Peppa was coming, "Hey, Peppa."

He begins listening to Peppa's little banter about the situation and the area. Ryu doesn't really feel the air nor notice the temperatures due to his body's configuration. He looks to Sieg as Peppa makes a statement, Ryu didn't feel like saying anything even though he knew that he was going to be penalized later for doing something against the rules.

((Kuwabara says he will reserve his match with you, Peppa, so he'll fight you when he returns from wherever he went. So Lone Hand and Versher can go next unless you want to wait till later.))

Hey Ryu...

Peppa would respond with kindness before adjusting his clothes. He could easily put himself in a state where he couldn't feel the cold. Yet without the knowledge of how long it would be until the round began, he wouldn't want to exhaust any energy.

Any.

Then Sieg would speak, to that he would raise a eyebrow.

Nothing to be sorry for bro', we're facing up against a tougher team this year. Maybe we'll be only unloading one can of whoop a** this year instead of the usual factory.

The pirate patched Jedi would wink, which would look like a exaggerated blink. He never did learn how to do it correctly.

Crossing his arms, he would then attempt to figure out who was left. He had a good hunch it was just Clash ((that the character being used?)) and Kuwabara. Which gave rise to the anticipation in his chest. He knew Kuwabara would give him a....interesting match.

Let's hope this isn't anti-dramatic guys...

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Sieg walked over to his duffel bag and pulled out a coat then went to go sit on a tree on his teams side of the clearing. Sieg was still really pissed at himself. Yusuke was a great hero and had defeated many but still...Sieg believed that the devil himself shouldn't be allowed to walk away on his own two legs from a brawl with Sieg ecstuffuan. Sure Sieg did not lose, but a fighter should expect nothing short of the highest caliber performance from himself and should be content with nothing less.

Soon he prayed, thanking the lord for the safety of himself, the opponent, and the people watching the match and he prayed that the lord would let this mishap develop Sieg as a person and as a fighter. Sieg then sat in meditation, reflecting on the fight; replaying it vividly in his mind thousands of times.

• For God Carries Me +

"Alright!" exclaimed Kuwabara, "I'm up next!" He turned his head back to Yusuke and gave him a thumbs up. "Wish me luck, Urameshi!"

The over-six-foot tall teenager slowly walked up to the middle of the fighting area, cracking his neck and knuckles. He couldn't wait to show everyone how much he improved his skills since he was last able to show them.

Come to think of it, Kuwabara hadn't really had a chance to show his skills period. This would be a great opportunity for him anyway.

Kuwabara~Warrior of Love Wrote:

"Alright!" exclaimed Kuwabara, "I'm up next!" He turned his head back to Yusuke and gave him a thumbs up. "Wish me luck, Urameshi!"

The over-six-foot tall teenager slowly walked up to the middle of the fighting area, cracking his neck and knuckles. He couldn't wait to show everyone how much he improved his skills since he was last able to show them.

Come to think of it, Kuwabara hadn't really had a chance to show his skills period. This would be a great opportunity for him anyway.

So we shall begin...

Peppa would speak softly to himself with a puff of a white cloud. He wasn't quite as loud as he normally was before battles. Peppa found it hard to be so when he would join the force. Which was what he was doing at the moment.

Within moments, Peppa would seem to be a part of the surroundings. He would forget about the cold as the boundaries between he and the very snow blurred in his mind. Through this, he would attain a certain state which he commonly used in combat.

Which gave certainly no advantage to him but should be noted for any spiritual user.

Alright Kuwabara, you ready?

The Jedi would announce louder this time. His eyes opening before he'd look straight on to the red haired man. He was quite the show, something about him just seemed comical. He couldn't place his finger on it but he couldn't help but to smile at the man.

Regardless, this was a fight. With those thoughts, he would take a bow out of respect before going to grab both of his light sabers which were held on his waist. Upon grasping both, he would simply stand in a waiting position with both weapons at his sides.

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

"You got this Peppa!"

Sieg shouted from the side lines. Sieg sat on a fallen tree with his coat on him, sitting there staying warm while waiting for the fight to begin.

• For God Carries Me +

Kuwabara~Warrior of Love Wrote:

Kuwabara wasn't exactly sure what those weapons were, but if he was going to fight with weapons, Kuwabara would return the favor. He held out his right hand in front of him as he focused his spirit energy into the palm of his hand, forming it into a sphere of gold-colored energy. He would then grab right wrist with his left...

"Spirit...."

He held his hands up in the air before bringing them down, clasping his right hand around the sphere so that it erupted into a long, ethereal blade.

"...Sword!!!"

Kuwabara held his Spirit Sword in front of him in an evenly-balanced stance, the blade held at an angle with the tip level with his opponent's head from his vision.

"Ready..."

<<

Dinner and what not.

>

Peppa's eye would light up both figuratively and literally when his opponent would emit a long ethereal blade. For his opponent, it was something that he had extended from his body. To Peppa, he saw light sabers. Which gave a twitch of anticipation unprecedented to Peppa in first round matches.

He was excited.

May the best man win...

Peppa would speak with a respected tone while walking up to his opponent to close the distance. Once in striking range, he would flick on both light sabers at once via a force mechanism. Within a moment a array of blue light would shine onto the snow, clashing with the green and yellows emitted from his opponents sword.

Moving his right hand, he would swing from his left to his right into his opponents defensively held sword in a attempt to sort of hold it off guard while he swung with his left sword. The blue blade aimed for a simple horizontal motioned chop for Kuwabara's right knee.

This was done while moving, Peppa was attempting to walk through the snow into his opponent's right side while doing so, turning so he faced him at all times through the actions.

Kuwabara~Warrior of Love Wrote:

The crowd would stare in awe at the brilliant light show put on before them by the fighters' blades. A few of them were shocked to see Kuwabara, the most average and lesser-known member of Team Urameshi, pull off such an interesting technique.

"The hell are those things?" said one of the bystanders.

Kuwabara didn't know himself. All he could feel was a twitch at the back of his neck leading down to his right leg. As that happened, his mind was quickly filled with images of his training.

Your guard is the only thing separating you from life or death. If your defenses are broken in a sword fight, the chances of you dying are pretty high. That's one of the known truths about the sword.

To that, Kuwabara's body instandly reacted.

As the two swords came in from their seperate angles and seperate directions, Kuwabara's body moved with it. He moved his right leg back to avoid the swipe to his leg. As his body shifted, he would pull his sword with him bringing his hands towards his right side. This pulled the sword out of the way of the guard-check. As soon as it was clear, Kuwabara would immediately counter-attack by thrusting his sword forward with both hands, aiming to stab Peppa between his left shoulder and pectoral. Since Peppa's swipes would be moving outward, it would leave him open in the center, giving Kuwabara a clear target.

<<

First~ Sorry this one took any time. Had to run to the gas station to pick up fourteen dollars.

Second~ Last post before I go to my friends house and continue fighting.

>

Peppa would feel these sort of twitches as well. He could feel the danger coming from Kuwabara despite he only having one blade. Two blades on one blades never sounded good but if one was good enough, he knew not to under estimate his opponent.

Peppa was almost open. His right hand would be left in the air to his side while his left hand would held across his body to his right. Peppa's attack had seemed sloppy but it was tactical, he would never move both blades to his outsides at once.

Never.

His opponent would take a step back. During this time, Peppa would see that his attacks were both failed. Which meant he would be pulling his right hand down to his side and taking a step back with his right foot in preparation of a counter attack. His left hand was in plenty of a ready position to guard if need be.

With the stab for his chest, Peppa would bring up his left blade. Attempting to parry the blade in a vertical direction block by moving his hand from the previous across body position to the out against the blade and away from both bodies.

"WOAH" The crowd would gasp in aw. The fighter were weilding energy blades and reacting with masterful practice. This was the battle of warriors who had instincts as swordsmen.

Not to mention it was ultra flashy.

After that moment, his right hand would've came back to his side seeing how the counter attacking had been done fast, yet not fast enough. To this, Peppa would make a simple chopping motion from his right to his left for his opponents arms. The blade being held in a vertical direction, he would hope to end the battle on the double handed fighter by severing his elbows.

Yet he would stop the blade forward, not entirely swinging but simply attempting to chop off with a energy blade. After that, it would be held defensively. Or with intent to be defensive rather.

<<

Rushed, have to go.

>

First off.

Peppa's left sword was not going to go swinging wildly away like his opponent had made it seem to be. His opponent had been thrusting and wasn't going to be change angle and direction of a blade in a fraction of a second it took to have the blades clash in the parry. Which was what you had said "Kuwabaras blade would be parried". With this, Peppa's left sword would be held almost forward high while his right hand remained in a position to stab for the arms as previously stated.

Yet his opponent had somehow managed to swing in for Peppa's right arm by evading Peppa's left blade entirely.

Now I had previously said that Peppa would be attempting to swing for his arm while keeping in mind to be defensive and now Kuwabara was attempting to swing for Peppa's arm as well. The resulting motions would be a clash as he tilted his angle upwards so that his right blade would simply come up under his opponents blade and hold it upwards as he swung it.

The results would leave with Peppa holding his right hand up and against his opponents sword in a sort of horizontal position parallel to the ground while his left hand remained where the first clash had been.

Now would be the counter attack and neither of it his opponent wouldn't like.

With a graceful twist, his left hand would swing down for his opponents knees. It would move to the left than downwards in a sweeping motion from Peppa's left to Peppa's right.

If his opponent would magically be able to pull his blade back from the parry in time to keep his knees, he woudl have to face Peppa's right blade simply chopping off his arms as his opponent swung down to block Peppa's left blade.

In other words, his opponent had to take a step back.

Well he had to take several steps back. Considering Peppa's reach was seven feet given blade length and arm length.

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

The fighters separated again after the quick exchange. Fights in the heaven or hell tournament were never that long, Sieg guessed that it was because people became less and less careful with there abilities as the fights carried on. Sieg would slide his hips out, leaning his back into the tree. He would rest his elbows on the wood, watching the fight. Sieg would shout to Peppa;"Good Exchange Peppa."

• For God Carries Me +

((I think he left...or...something...

I guess I can just come back tomorrow once he replies, then. We got plenty of time anyway since Urameshi and Sieg finished up in one night. I should get going anyway so I can wake up early tomorrow. See ya later!))

First the spiritual exchange, now new swords he never knew of?

The fight is turning pretty interesting to say the least. And as a swordsman himself, he couldn't help but lean just a bit closer, watching the parries and the blocks for personal reference while he eyed the two double-bladed wielders.

Certainly this can help out with his own style. But then again...

"...."

He looked over to his own teammates, then to the others cheering their respective members out clearly and loudly. While the fans and the spectators watched the fight with reckless abandon, the man had to wonder briefly, just briefly...

...

Well, it's of no importance right now.

At his usual post, Clash leaned against a tree behind Yusuke and Snow, peering between the duo's heads at the dual blade duel as he chewed on a stick of jerky. While he was fired up to see Kuwabara pulling out a second Spirit Sword, he kept his Spartan reserve, wondering if Versher could get any more obnoxious. He was starting to get a little antsy, though.

Come on, Kuwabara . . . you can get meaner than that. Beast this guy.

Popping the last bite of smoked beef in his mouth, he reached up and snagged a thick branch with the index and middle fingers of his left hand, doing five one-armed pullups to the chest from a dead hang, gaze intensifying even as the sturdy bough passed through his vision of the fight. Under the cover of his right jacket sleeve, a single white glint raced down the contours of that arm as a jagged line of power.

"Oh, I'm not having doubts against both contendors." He responded, turning to look at the battered Yusuke. "I'm just curious on how you and Kuwabara wield those...abilities."

He raised his hands, clasping them together and giving a light stretch to relax his shoulder muscles. Tilting left and right to flex his body a bit, the man glanced over one more time at the duo of energy based weapons.

Even he has to cringe at the foreshadowing thought of facing off against those attacks.

"Well. Looks like Kuwabara would be fine enough just as he is."

"I can't wait to see me fight, either."

She starts to snicker, finding the situation funny.

"But it all depends on whether Ryu is going ahead or not. I don't mind it, but the thought of being able to fight in this tournament is appetizing."

Athena was glad for the humble acceptance, but she was a bit confused by what he just said. She was mainly screwing with him about the little mix up in his dialogue.

"So, if I'm going next, then how is you going next being punishment?"

((I wonder if I should just say I fell asleep...))

Ichigo continued to watch the fights. After a while, he'd turn to Yusuke and pat him on the back.

"You did awesome out there, Yusuke," said Ichigo. "He couldn't get you down." But Ichigo could only think about how it could have gone if the match was longer. Surely Sieg would have given Yusuke a tough run, but it only led Ichigo to wonder. Yusuke definately had some other things up his sleeve, at least after what hat 'n' clogs had told him.

Kuwabara was fighting now, and his use of spirit energy was something he hadn't seen too often before. Although, it did sort of remind him about how Uryu fought. Everybody was rooting for him, so Ichigo would have to join in.

"Hey, hey, come on!" shouted Ichigo. "Don't let up on that guy, Kuwabara!"

[Genkai] Wrote:

The crowd really was getting into the excitement of this fight, she saw. This was a much more positive crowd than from what she saw at the Dark Tournament. A much lively atmosphere and less killing threats being screamed through the air.

She takes another sip of her cup as she says toward Ichigo: "So, you're the boy associated with Mr. Urahara, correct?"

"Huh?" he uttered. "Oh, yeah...that'd be me. I'm guessing you know about him because you're the one they call 'Genkai', right?"

From what he was told, she was the one who used to train Yusuke and Kuwabara. He knew that there were regular humans with advanced spiritual pressure, but he always figured that was due to coming into contact with a shinigami. Maybe that was just a way people could accidentally gain powers like that. Other times it was probably just genetics or training.

It made him think about just what kind of secrets he hadn't been told about spiritual power.

[Genkai] Wrote:

Kurosakii Ichigo Wrote:

"Huh?" he uttered. "Oh, yeah...that'd be me. I'm guessing you know about him because you're the one they call 'Genkai', right?"

From what he was told, she was the one who used to train Yusuke and Kuwabara. He knew that there were regular humans with advanced spiritual pressure, but he always figured that was due to coming into contact with a shinigami. Maybe that was just a way people could accidentally gain powers like that. Other times it was probably just genetics or training.

It made him think about just what kind of secrets he hadn't been told about spiritual power.

"Yes, that's me. He and I met a long time ago. We use to demon hunt together, along with him helping me with getting information on those who were pursuing me. It was a mutual partnership that worked out quite well."

She takes another drink of her hot cocoa, the heat of it warming her insides and keeping her cozy in this cold, harsh climate. A tundra of all places....

"So, you're the Ichigo fellow who has made friends with Yusuke. I heard much about you. I wonder why he did not ask you to fight for his team this year when Hiei and Kurama dropped out."

If by any chance they looked towards Snow, standing offset nearby and watching the duel wielding combatants have at it against each other...

He would simply look back.

"..."

"Don't look at me. Ask Urameshi about the details."

If, by chance, things turn to skepticism about him, a complete stranger in this crowd of fighters.

She saw Snow look back, acknowledging his feeling of being one of the new members to the team of Urameshi. She responds with a carefree smile, saying toward the slightly nervous Snow: "I am not saying you are any weaker, son. I have no doubt you will do just as well as they could ever do."

Her ears back on Ichigo, she listens to his reason for not ever being able to compete, finding it an honest answer, and relating to how Yusuke had this way of inspiring others to combat. That was a good thing to hear. It meant the hard head actually had a purpose in the human world, too, instead of the spirit world.

"Yes, Yusuke always has that effect on people. As for next year, I can't assure you he'll be fighting." Another drink from her cup, and she notices she is out of hot cocoa.

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

"Yes Ryu. I think I see what your saying. While meditating on the fight. I saw that even when I was on my feet, yusuke wasn't giving me any problems.

He couldn't take me down and his hands weren't anything for me to worry about and he wasn't hurting me. I should have kept it on the feet instead of trying to take him down, I shouldn't have been so eager to end the match."

, Sieg sat back and began to think. 'Which is better ending the fight quickly or keeping the fight somewhere where you have it under control, taking it slowly.'

• For God Carries Me +

Ryosuke had made his grand entrance, but too many famous faces were in the same place at the same time..

The winner of the dark tournament almost 40 years ago Genkai? The substitute Shinigami representative which last was heard to have achieved Bankai and posses a darker spirit pressure of Hollow power beyond that of the normal Death god Ichigo? Not to mention Sieg, Athena, and the big cheese Urameshi were all present here and there in the area.

Though, wasn't Ryosuke and Team Fist already competing at this very moment? Well, somehow time stopped and both fighters were doing a little stand still at the moment so Ry had the time to kill. And for good reason did he pop up here in the first place. His eternal Rival Yusuke Urameshi had already finished his bout, and even though Ry had the utmost respect for Sieg, it was still only Yusuke Urameshi that Ry wanted the most to compete against in the Heaven or Hell tournament. And while it was true that the former members of Team Urameshi which included Kurama and the sword master Hiei, Ry was certain of one thing....

Black Dragon wise, Ry's abilites over the dragon of the darkness flame was at a much greater potential than Hiei's could ever be, whether he fused with the demon flame dragon or not. What better power to test that ability against than the overwhelming spiritual pressure of Urameshi's spirit gun.

Ryosuke looked on the arena to where Kuwabara had been mixing it up, and for awhile it seemed he was doing just fine, though this was Kazuma, so who's to say this fight would go off perfectly without a hitch? And to make things even stranger many times the bets were never placed in Team Urameshis favor....Even so many years ago at the dark tournament Ry could remember the on going chanting during everyone one of Yusukes match ups..

"Kill Yusuke, Kill Yusuke, KILL YUSUKE!!!"

But that b***d could always take a punch, so his opponents could never actually kick the guys a. And thats exactly why this year Urameshi, tournament or not, the outcome of our fight will be a lot different then the Dark, or Demon world tournaments. Heart, courage, instinct, will....The will to fight, and the will to win.

COME GET SOME!

I'm almost there...

Theres no time like the present, I say we get this show on the road.

..Your so close Urameshi..

SPIRIT GUUUUUN!!!!!

Beyond my fire...Beyond my fists...Its just you Yusuke......

.....And my fate.....

In knowing his destined conflict with Yusuke Ry continued to watch the other battles in a distance far from anyone else. Sure he was hidden, but knowing present company, sensing his spiritual pressure wouldn't be hard for any of them. Since he like Ichigo was lacking in control of it most of the time. Crossing his arms, and keeping his head on the fights below, Ryosuke watched with curiosity over Team Urameshi silently..

When Kuwabara went to block the blade coming in, it was when only Peppa's left was coming in. He had taken a step back as he blocked to the right. It was done as the swipe came in, with the block designed to hold the blade at bay while the other sword came down to cut it. If there was no sword to hold at bay, it's momentum would be only as much as turning his wrist.

But that wasn't really what mattered. It was his second strike that mattered. Considering the timing, Peppa would have to turn in his wrist pretty fast with his strike in order to evade the slash for his left wrist. The slash was done with Kuwabara's left, which was more towards his back, albeit not turned in such a way to give him a blindspot. With the added distance from Kuwabara's step back and the way he had swung his left-handed sword, it would not be in suitable range for Peppa to get a strike in before Kuwabara already had his blade in between him and Peppa's saber for defense. That, and Peppa would have had to swing in his right simultaneously to catch him in that motion.

Of course, that wasn't what happened, or else Kuwabara wouldn't have made that move in the first place. The lighsaber intended to get his elbows would miss, swinging upwards as Peppa said, the flash of lights bringing the crowd to awe.

Before his training, Kuwabara would have been swinging wildly. But he wasn't being wild here. He looked untrained, but his body and senses were doing the work for him even if he didn't realize it himself. He was acting and reacting, follwing the "tickle".

A "tickle" that was as much force to him as it was to a jedi.

At this time, Kuwabara was feeling much more confident. He would take a step back swiftly with his forward right foot, pushing off from his back left foot to increase the distance...

...and backed up right into a tree.

"OOF!"

The crowd looked on with dotted eyes.

So much for looking graceful. Obviously, all that backing up would lead him somewhere, and they were surrounded by trees. This would leave Kuwabara with his back to the tree, but in a similar position to what he had before, except reversed. His right hand would now be at the rear with his sword at the side, while he held his left hand forward with his blade held at an angle defensively.

"Ughhh...way to save face, Kuwabara..." he thought.

[5/17]

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Sieg watched peppa walk up to his opponent as he backed into the tree. There were a multitude of things about this situation that brought a smile to his face. First of all, Sieg had always believed that there were fighters who when backed into a corner could show there true power; Sieg was rarely backed into a corner as his...and his teams...subconscious motto was 'be aggressive'. It had been for the last 3 years. However, Sieg wondered if after being backed into a corner like a wild animal would this 'kurama' fellow prove more difficult a fighter for the seasoned peppa to handle.

Also, It was the way peppa moved in closer to his opponent that brought a smile to Sieg face. Sieg didn't just see this, the crowd did. When peppa turns off his light sabers and walks towards his opponent it produced an air of confidence that despite the humility that Team Lu-Bu emphasized could be felt strongly by anyone who witnessed the fight. It was just so...Baddass...

A man, Sheathing his weapon and walking towards an opponent clearly on the defensive and backed into a wall. It was just like

'What the ******** are you gonna do about this Nyuka, as a matter of fact, what Can you do?'

• For God Carries Me +

Little would Peppa know that Kuwabara wasn't one to pardon anyone for anything that sounded insulting. He was more hot-headed than Yusuke at times. Kuwabara's buffoonery made him appear like he was losing, but if people paid close attention, they'd see Kuwabara was paying more attention than others thought.

"Hey!" he shouted, "Do you know how many times I've been spoken to like that by other fighters in places like this?" Kuwabara would then grin. "Heh...I know I'm not the strongest on the team, but..."

He'd bring his hands down to his sides, his swords still in them. They were held more casually now...more comfortably.

"...I'm not a Jedi. 'A mulberry's a tree, and Kuwabara's a man.' I don't fight like anyone but me, and right now...that's who you've gotta deal with."

Kuwabara kept his eyes on Peppa's own as he came closer, watching his hand and the distance between him, even as he talked.

[6/17]

Little would Peppa know....until his opponent began spouting out border line insults. He couldn't help but to be glad his opponent hadn't exhausted all of his energy yet. The battle had just begun after all.

Strong words but it takes more than being a individual to get anywhere. Am I right?

The two had apparently gone from having a amazing blade fight to throwing having a conversation. Which was quite odd considering even Kuwabara had left his guard down despite Peppa now being at five feet distance.

Whatever the case was, Peppa had arrived at his destination.

Peppa held his right hand forward lightly like an artist. With the way it was held it would presently cut off the left shoulder and arm of his opponent if ignited. That was the path of the blade.

Which is what would happen, it would be ignited.

Peppa had a sort of altered saber. It had been modified to explode on and off in bursts much unlike most weapons. Which is why he had practically made his beam disappear earlier and was practically making his appear right now.

It was unfair to say this was a auto hit but this was to describe just how his opponent would have to react and what he had been doing by closing in on the distance with his weapon held forward. Had his opponent taken his time making maneuvers instead of throwing his weapons to the side and talking about trees, it would've been easier.

Peppa would keep his right hand ready. The wrist fully prepared to perform nimble maneuvers with the light weapon depending on how his opponent's body reacted. The muscles of the arm stiff and strong despite the wrist. His left hand holding onto the hilt of his left blade, fully ready to keep his own body guarded if need be.

His opponent couldn't back up and wasn't going to be jumping to the sides fast enough for this one in a casual form, he was going to be reacting.

Edit:

Snow should also be noted.

Solo shot first...and Kuwabara....?

Kuwabara appeared pretty stupid. In fact, he did many stupid things at times. However, he was a man of honor. What he had said before was simply him saying the truth. He was who he was, and he was who Peppa had to face. If he took those as insults, then something was up.

Peppa Clause Wrote:

Strong words but it takes more than being a individual to get---

FZZZZZZZHHHTTT!!!

What just happened?

By now, Kuwabara had seen what Peppa could do with those lightsabers. They were not like normal swords. In normal sword fights, people who made attacks first were easier to get around. But a weapon like the lightsaber forced people to act too suddenly when ignited upon them, and that usually led to adverse effects.

Kuwabara's problem originally was letting Peppa come into close range like he did. It put him on the defensive, on the reacting side. It was about time he gave Peppa a reason to defend.

Before Peppa even completed finishing what he said (or just a moment before reaching 5 foot range, whichever came first), Kuwabara's aimed the point of his left sword from his hip using a quick motion of his wrist. It'd fire first, aimed for Peppa's stomach near the left side of Peppa's body. If it made contact, Kuwabara would keep extending it, increasing the force of the thrust as he put his Spirit Energy into it. It would shove Peppa straight into a tree from the other side of where they were fighting, pinning him up against it. Considering Kuwabara's sword was already "ignited", this would fire out fast. His regular spirit swords were sharp, but not to the degree Peppa's were. He had to use them to cut like real blades were, so they wouldn't pass through Peppa. It'd stab into the stomach before the force of the extension carried him, sending him back and out of range.

Oddly enough, though, Kuwabara's body dropped suddenly at the same time his sword burst forward. Obviously it'd put him out of the way of the attack that Peppa was aiming for him, as well as allow him to move up his right hand with his fall. By the time he hit the ground, his right sword would be at the defensive. Did Kuwabara actually plan some sort of quick-draw evasion maneuver through an unusual movement?

No, not really. He tripped. Such would be evident by the odd look on his face. It sucked, considering that was more of a chance to look a bit cooler. So much for Kuwabara.

Either way, It'd put him at a good position. With his body lowered there weren't too many directions to come in from that he couldn't defend against using his right handed Spirit Sword. Added to that, since he had shot his sword out first, it'd probably catch Peppa off guard, forcing him to react and go on defensive rather than using the obvious ignite-stab. Kuwabara wasn't immobile on the floor, either.

Sometimes accidents could benefit fighters, even clutzes like Kuwabara.

[7/17]

Kuwabara had taken the cowards way out. He hadn't waited until Peppa had finished any of his lines, he had attempted to take the surprise by having Peppa 'distracted'. Which he wasn't all that much really. It also didn't help that he could practically feel the stab coming for him because of the spidey senses from the force.

Previously, Peppa was waiting for his opponent to make a move while being offensive. He was walking up to his opponent with a sort of "loaded gun" while keeping his entire stance in that of one waiting to react. He had fully expected his opponent to have turned into the lion backed into a corner when he had done so.

With that state of mind and the force tickles, and Peppa's hand position....this happened.

Kuwabara was flicking his left blade to Peppa's left side. Peppa's left hand was held across his chest in a position to have been swung from his right to his left, which is what he would do. With the beam igniting as he threw his left arm to the inside of his opponents blade, he would attempt to push his opponents blade away from his left side.

Had his opponent aimed for his naval, he would've gotten a scratch out of that.

At the same time as this, Peppa's right blade was igniting and his opponent was falling. So by the end of this sequence, Peppa would be standing with his right blade forward....almost at his opponents body and his left blade held against his opponent's left blade from the inside to the left.

His opponent on the other hand....he had his left arm across his body in a clumsy position against Peppa's blade and his right arm somewhere beneath or above his left arm holding the blade in a defensive position. Not to mention he had fallen which meant his a** was in this deep snow and limited near all mobility.

I don't feel like messaging you to ask so here it goes.

If his opponent's right arm is over his left arm, Peppa would hold his opponent's left blade to the side while he chopped for his opponents legs with his right blade, swinging it from Peppa's left to his right by performing a counter clock wise motion with his held forward blade. It was simply aimed for any old knee cap. This would be beneath his opponents range and given all the conditions-a damn near auto hit. Hell, I do think the opponents left arm might even be in the path of the counter clockwise motion.

If his opponent's right arm was below his left arm, hell, Peppa would still swing his right arm for his opponents legs. If his opponent managed to blocked than he was more tied up than a pretzel. A very confined pretzel. His opponent lacked the ground to roll in this snow and his arms were being desperatly used for defense.

What was he going to do.

A sensible man would know when he was done.

His eyes flickered a saturated yellow.

"I think you're just scared, Ryu," he said, unable to help eavesdropping on he and Athena's conversation. Then he thumbed the lever on his FIGHTER and flipped the switch on this s**t.

Like Kuwabara, Clash didn't want to hear anymore of Peppa's Jedi talk. The round pad on his synthetic right palm irised open like a dilating pupil, and when he splayed the fingers of that dark hand and thrust it forward, a matte-black chain came rattling out with something spiked at the end. Imperceptibly wincing as each link in the chain c*k-c*k-c***ked outward, fast enough that it was more like one noise strung together--and that Peppa wouldn't note it until it was already on him from behind, so violent was the discharge that Clash's arm warbled terribly.

He must've had the same idea as Kuwabara, timing it just before Peppa entered the five-foot range, aiming it so that the sharp head would pierce the Jedi's backmost left tricep head, bust through his humerus, and explode from his bicep in a gout of blood and hot bone shards. Once through, two barbs clicked outward from either side of the prong as Clash gripped the chain with the fingers of the hand it'd sprung out of, pulling back to keep both chain and wrangled limb taut. Securing Peppa's snug arm as it was, stretching or contracting eviscerated arm muscles would be nigh impossible at this juncture, preventing much movement of the arm at all. And unless he was double-jointed, he wouldn't be able to pronate his wrist far enough down now to block Kuwabara's extending Spirit Sword.

"GET OVER HERE!"

Clash wasn't near the biggest guy in this tournament, but Clash was built, and built strong.

How strong was he?

Strong enough that when his lats flared and he ripped back with that prosthetic, iron-like limb with all his might, he intended to yank Peppa right off his feet and reel him toward him with a single tug, aided by the powerful extension of Kuwabara's blade.

But he wasn't remaining stationary himself. Speed-augmenting cells jettisoned through his system as he acted, like a shot from a space marine's stim-pack, and his combat boots became alternating slashes compacting the snow underfoot as he spoke and strongmanned the subject of his Striker. He'd be on Peppa not long after the guy began to stumble and move backward into the shark's mouth, opting for a simple but effective capstone blow: a vicious left elbow that arced to meet the Jedi's left temple with the full force of his weight and momentum behind it.

REWIND TIME

The striker had been made as that fateful range came and as Kuwabara had fell to the ground. Normally this wouldn't mean a whole lot but both he AND Kuwabara had these danger senses which allowed these characters to survive such situations.

With that being said.

Last post == NIXXED

Now back to the state. His opponent was performing a steb for Peppa's left side while Peppa's left hand was tucked across his chest. Peppa's right hand was presently held forward with a well ready position.

At this point, Peppa would feel a tingle from behind. A large tingle which could only mean one thing. Strikers. So as this happened, Peppa would attempt to block both the blade and get in a better position to keep his back guarded.

Which would be by taking his right foot back and changing what he was facing entirely by ninety degrees, just as the chain was coming. His left hand would extend downwards for the shooting left blade just as it would've in the previous post except this time, Peppa was holding the blade back behind him as he extended his right arm in the direction of the chain.

To compensate for the snow drag, he would twist his torso while doing so, reaching the chain in time to perform the ding....

DINGGGGG

There would be a glorious sound as Peppa would extend his right forearm vertically against the side of the oncoming chain. Having swung Peppa's right arm from forward to back, it was a powerful back hand against the chain that would easily send it harmlessly to the side away from the destination.

How was there no damage?

Peppa wore gauntlets and boots out of a material that could even withstand light sabers when fully charged. They could take a beating but were breakable by all means. Yet this was simply deflecting the chain off of of it and wouldn't be anything really hard on the gauntlets.

The chain would thoroughly be pushed to the side, far away from Peppa enough so that if he was to attempt to pull the chain back it would have nothing to cling on unless it magically grew dragon wings.

After this, Peppa would now be standing with each blade at his side in a wide manner. His left blade holding his opponent's left blade to the side while Peppa's right hand was held in the air to his own right.

His opponent was running up to them but it was going to be a narrow line. The battle had taken them all the way to the tree lines and unless Clash had been following the two fighting the entire battle, he had a lot of running to do in snow that goes up to three feet high in some areas....most of the snow wasn't nearly that high but that is some serious snow.

If you've ever been in a good winter, you know that's like hell treading through in what was now a good five to six seconds maybe?

With his striker opponent practically done with, Peppa would than resume facing Kuwabra. His feet were very light now and ready to to move again if he had judged Clash wrong in the remaining time. Once again facing Kuwabara, if nothing had changed in the stance from Kuwabara's a** being in the snow...

Well refer to last post.

Otherwise, Peppa's actions would be based off what Kuwabara would've done while Peppa deflected the chain. Perhaps he would've attempted to get on his feet or something.

The next series of events were eye-popping to Yusuke. Firstly, the sudden jump in of Clash showed he was going in for a Striker. The way his right arm morphed from the sleeve of his jacket and extended at Peppa like a chain was awesome. Yusuke did not doubt that Kuwabara could hold his opponent alone, but it wasn't bad to get a little help now and then. They were a team, after all. This is what teammates did: help one another. He watches as it's about to latch onto Peppa until the lightsaber warrior is able to turn around and hit it away, as if he knew it was coming all along.

Damn... He hated how that screwed up. This guy must have been a very aware person to have sensed that. If he was that good at sensing stuff, he could probably sense a snowball flying his way if anyone ever threw one. Such silent and formless things, yet so vulnerable to those who could see anything and everywhere.

Wait! Kuwabara suddenly rose up and attacked. "That's it, Kuwabara!" The tides were turning!

((The towers....the towers...! ))

Ichigo watched as the fight continued, with Kuwabara's sword doing some weird trick while that striker guy attacked Peppa, and Peppa going on defensive. Something about the whole extension thing reminded him of something though...

"Oh yeah..." thought Ichigo. "It's just like that sword trick used by that freaky-a b***d Ichimaru..." Ichigo hated being reminded of him, but he wasn't going to deny a good tactic.

"That's it!" shouted Ichigo. "Keep it going!"

"Cheap?! Says the team with the on and off beam swords," Yusuke would reply back in response to Sieg's shout of their team displaying cheap tactics. If anything, they were going to be one of the most honorable teams in this year's tournament, and being called anything around cheap was a disgrace to him. Roughhousing wasn't going to happen until later on, when the fights get tougher with people wanting first place, but they were going to keep things at least good on their end.

"Yeah, good fight," Yusuke replies back sarcastically. There were good fights, and then there were fights where not much honor was basically in it. Just looking at the actions thus far made Yusuke think Peppa was trying to destroy him, so of course he felt that the Striker was something to help get things back in balance, even if it was Clash's personal choice.

But he just folds his arms, letting an exhale cause the frigid fog of air to cool from his breath, keeping his eyes on the fight at hand. He would give the shadow of a doubt that this was the same Lu Bu he had came to go to and train with all these years. Otherwise, the times must have really changed since then.

((Nah, don't worry about it, Peppa. Urameshi and Sieg aren't like that. This is most definately just IC to add spice to the game. We're all RPers here))

To say that Kuwabara's sword would be creeping up the blade sounded like it'd be a slow movement. This, however, was much quicker. It would go over the hand and, by the time he was able to primarily concentrate on Peppa, Kuwabara would have the blade over Peppa's shoulder. It would have passed the wrist, unless Peppa's deflecting bracers were wide enough to catch the blade like that. But that was unlikely, since that would have been too awkward in the first place considering the moves Peppa was able to pull off using his hands.

So the blade wouldn't be cutting through Peppa's armor on his wrist. The wrist wasn't the target.

It was the chest.

Although Kuwabara's Spirit Sword's were three feet long normally, the one in his left hand had extended to stab Peppa from the hip. That meant it had grown two more feet at first in order to stab into Peppa, right as he parried it to his outside. As Kuwabara said, it would extend only two more feet past Peppa upon missing. With the side width of Peppa's body counted into it, Kuwabara's left sword had reached about seven and a half feet long by the time it was over Peppa's shoulder. When Kuwabara's arm extended with the swift repositioning over Peppa's shoulder, the range would increase by two feet.

If Peppa was still able to notice this in time to initiate that left-hand reversal in attempt to cut Kuwabara's left wrist, Kuwabara would already have begun dragging the blade down, his right handed blade near he sword for added defense, making it impossible to get to Kuwabara's wrist. And with the length of the extended blade, the force jump wouldn't do too much to help. If he lifted too much off the ground in the force jump, he'd only push himself into the blade, catching him, and the slash would continue. If not, he would only get hit by the tip, which was still enough to cut, but it wouldn't leave as much long-lasting pain as it would if he pulled the entire thing across Peppa's body.

Either way, the jump back combined with the pain and bleeding of the gash might end up making Peppa's landing back shaky. And with the distance broken, Kuwabara would spring up to his feet, his left Spirit Sword returning to normal length.

By now, Peppa would see that there was a method to Kuwabara's madness. Well...not so much madness as it was being a bit off when it came to thinking things out all the time. Kuwabara may have been using abilities, but they were abilities he had at his disposal. And Peppa wasn't a normal swordsman. Not with the blades he carried. That called for different measures.

Amidst the battle, Kuwabara couldn't help but smile.

"I guess this is what Urameshi feels like..." said Kuwabara, "Just enjoying the fight."

[9/17]

Golden hair is tossed to the side as Athena looks toward the one person who had tried to interrupt her teammate's battle. Even if it was a Striker, it was frowned upon by her. She sooo wanted to return the favor, only she would like to instead give the pretentious Iron-Armed foe her aggression instead. Yet, the rules would not allow that. At least she had another way of getting personal vengeance and wrath placed upon the man.

"Oh, we'll get busy very soon."

She was facing his direction, her hands grasping her hips.

"And when we do, it's not going to be your regular throwdown. I assure you, you will not be using that arm trick on me. If you do, you are going to wish for another arm after I tear your current one off from the shoulder of your body."

She felt so evil, yet it felt so refreshing to trash talk. There will be no motivation to fight someone unless she was sure she had an angered reason to hurt them. And if this man gave the right reaction, then it fueled her adrenaline all the more.

common News intro music

CHANNEL 5 ACTION NEWS

"Hi, I'm news anchor Tom Tucker."

"And I'm Diane Simmons."

"Tonight, we cover the big event that has been talked about all last year, the Heaven or Hell Tournament."

Kicking off the new year of '08, this surprising main event has brought together 22 teams of fighters from all over the world in a contest of skill, strength, and who has the biggest juevos. That's right, a fighting tournament that has more brutality than Los Angeles riots."

"CHESTOOOOOOOOOOH!"

"Yesterday, Heaven or Hell owner Vahn Fah was questioned by the THE MAN for a possible scam, seeing as he and a few crew members of their established tournament were also competing, too. Believing that people were being scammed out of their money, THE MAN threatened to shut down their tournament unless those specific crew members resigned from the competition, and all entry fees were returned to each team. His response?"

"In order to allow the tournament to continue on schedule, he and the crew currently participating in the tournament have withdrawn themselves for the sake of keeping their event continuing on. However, even after this, there is still constant retort after this from members angered by such a decision. Now, my co-anchor will give you the details on the inside of the tournament. Diane."

"Thanks, Tom. We go to the highlights of the event thus far, to see where all the exciting fights are occurring."

"The only female member of Team Fracture playing in the snow."

"A few squirrels inspired by the light sword fight at one of the arenas."

"A burning building."

"Spectators' predictions of the outcome of the Train Cart arena."

"A caged ring with nothing happening in it..."

"CHESTTOOOOOOOH!"

"Uuuuh....the spectators getting RILED up in some sewers."

"A graveyard....wait, is that my Mom's TOMBSTONE?! THEY BETTER NOT TOUCH MY MOTHER'S GRAVE, OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL BUST INTO THAT TOURNAMENT AND RIP OFF THEIR HEADS BEFORE FEEDING IT TO ROSE 'O DONNELL!"

"The revolutionary Holy Ice Cubes, brought to you courtesy of The Durem Cathedral."

"And finally....

"OH MY GOD, A DRAGON!"

"And this is only the first round of their famous tournament. We will be keeping you updated on their story. Now, for weather. Ollie."

"IT'S GON RAIN!"

STRIKER - OFFENSE

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

As Athena called out Siegs name. She would gaze to connect a body with the words she had spoken. Yet none would be found. Sieg rushed in out of her vision. His hand would grasp lovingly at her waist just before he would exit her presence, though it was not with intents to touch the precious body of athena; but instead to borrow something from her. Sieg would borrow the girls knife. Sprinting as fast as the man could and only switching on the striker offensive on his FIGHTER just before he would enter the field designated for the fight.

It would only take Sieg two seconds maybe three to get into range and to shoot a deep low ankle pick SHOOT at kuwabara's legs at his left side just as he would spring up into a standing position. While Kuwabara was still in the motion of springing up and as Sieg dashed at top speeds towards him Sieg would perform a movement similar to a double leg takedown as he made the low ankle pick, yet his body would be lower and he would lean forward; putting him outside his field of vision. Spiritual energy would explode from the bottom of Siegs feet, propelling him forward at speeds meant only for killer intent.

Maybe Kuwabara would feel that little tickle, but it would all be for nought. Sieg caught him at a bad time, during the spring and he would come out of his immediate field of vision; making it difficult to react.

Siegs left shoulder would collide hard into the left side of Kuwabara's left knee and simultaneously his left arm would wrap around the left ankle of kuwbara and pull the ankle into his body. Siegs body would push down on the side of the knee joint while his shoulder slammed kuwabara's body to the right (kuwabara's). Because of these opposing forces, the opponent would either fall over, or his leg would break under the pressure. At the same time Sieg would use the knife in his right hand to stab the blade into the achillese tendon. Likely, since the opponent would be coming up in a spring during this movement, he would fall back to the ground.

5 seconds up

Sieg would then toot his butt up in the air and then begin to side step in a circle around the opponents ankle. Sieg would hold on to the grapple around the opponents left leg, and this turn and twist of the knife would sever the achillese tendon. Sieg would tear the knife out of the destroyed limb rendering that leg for the most part useless. The shuffle of the legs to the right, behind the opponent was more or less a method to quickly get Siegs body out of the way of the sword strike.

The opponent would then be positioned, likely on his right side with his legs between Siegs. Siegs facial expression seemed to express that he was having no pleasure in such carnage but he wanted to show why it wasn't a fair play to attempt to maim an opponent in a striker.

7 seconds up.

Sieg would then begin to rise up to his feet, but as he did he would take various stabs at the opponents right thigh. In the attempt to tear the muscle and render the other leg useless as well.

8 Seconds up...

Sieg would then begin moving back outside the ring, to arrive outside in 10 seconds.

Sieg would then hand athena back her knife and sit back down.

• For God Carries Me +

A man in a white tuxedo was watching the entire display, but only now made some sort of commentary. Two Chinese broad swords on his back, and Romani styled shades, this was Hiro of the Chimagin Syndicate. Running a hand through his jet black hair, he nodded.

"Despite the penalty, looks like Team Lu Bu is doing much better than Team Raising Storm." This was after reports that Kichiro had been knocked out, along with his team captain. Hiro knew that Kichiro didn't want to partake in the tournament at all, learning of Josie's hatred of Peppa, and Sieg's high value on law.

Now with how things were going, perhaps news of Lu Bu's Jedi performing so well, would at least heighten Kichiro's morale. For even if Kichiro couldn't work with him due to a conflict with Josie, the Chimagin made his value of Peppa clear to his closest employees.

"Must be an emphasis on the goof-off part..." said Ichigo, who was still watching the fight. "Didn't he slip or something?"

Ichigo couldn't understand that guy. How could he be so clumsy and not already be beaten up by now? Ichigo couldn't tell, but he seemed to be holding his own. And Ichigo was here to root for them all, wasn't he? Even if he didn't really know Kuwabara that well.

"Keep it up, Kuwabara!"

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

"Peppa!"

Sieg shouted from the sidelines. His voice was deep yet smooth. It was the type of voice that epic speech's. Sieg spoke like a commander to his force when they were about to embark on a glorious battle.

"No Regrets my brother, none! Everything you are! Leave it there on the mat. You can never lose as long as you give it your all, all of your power, all of your skills, all of the Knowledge of the force...Unleash it all right here! Show him THE FORCE UNLEASHED."

Sieg was telling him the same things that Siegs wrestling coach told him when he was in college and about to go into the last half of the last round in the finals when Sieg was down by 10 points and the only way he could win was by getting the pin. Sieg didn't care if peppa won or lost...He would be proud to fight on a team with a man who gave it his all.

• For God Carries Me +

The STRIKER from Sieg had Yusuke worried, wondering if Kuwabara was about to become victim from a tackle, and a daring knife in Sieg's hand. It made him more confused as to whether it was allowed to take one of your teammates' weapons and use it for yourself. But curiosity aside, his friend was about to become victim to a tackle and a knife cut.

Yet like always, Kuwabara never ceases to surprise him. With an extension of that sword of his, his friend was out of the way and rolling off to safety, watching as the distance increases between him and his opponents. This was good. It gave Kuwabara enough time to refortify his offenses and defenses to Yusuke's mind.

"That's how we're going to win this!" His voice was loud as he couldn't help but smile. But watching his friend's boots come off, he couldn't help but laugh.

"What a clumsy oaf. The guy's going to get frostbite if he doesn't finish this fight before his feet freeze off, right?" He gives a knab of his right elbow against Snow's arm as a way to have the mutual laugh shared with him. Though Snow was still new to them all, Yusuke was already treating him like a long time friend.

"You're over the hill, Sieg." He spoke in a hushed tone after all the man's shouting. "There's nothing more you can do here. How long have you been at this? There's nothing setting you or your disciples apart from the rest of the mixed martial artists. . . . Hell, you guys aren't even entertaining to watch, old man."

His gaze was cold as he said this, but there was nothing malicious about his tone. Just the cold truth, as he saw it. Turning away to lead Athena into the forest and dismantle her defenses, he glanced back one last time.

"You'd be best off retiring to some dojo in the mountains. I'd even visit, every once in a while."

The shuffle of feet in snow ceased as Clash turned to face the opponent he'd led into a smaller clearing away from the other fight. A small line of spectators and news crew filed in behind the two, fanning out into a thin semicircle that barred the way they'd come in from. In the sudden silence, he could hear his own rough breathing and the gurgle of a stream closeby.

"You ready?"

When he talked, he noticed his missing tooth ached. He'd have to pay Ebris back for that one when they met in the tournament. It still bothered him on cold days like this, but he resisted the urge to tongue it as he prepared to meet Athena in single combat. Despite what it seemed, he did have respect for the woman, and every fighter in this tournament brave enough--or foolish enough--to pit themselves against the world's strongest.

Shaking a clump of wet snow from his boot, he furled his brows against the sun--shining distantly through the haze as it gradually burned the mists off the forest--and waited for the signal.

With how Peppa would have been turned block Clash's striker, Kuwabara was swinging by the time Peppa could return his right hand to act. With Kuwabara coming in over his left shoulder, it would be an awkward movement to raise his right blade in the air to get it on the left side with his right arm. Kuwabara's blade wouldn't pass through anything but the shirt. If Peppa came up from under, it would have not touched the shirt, but Kuwabara's sword would have dragged along it in time to get to his left in time.

But either way, their moves would leave them at a distance apart from each other, with Peppa at twelve feet away in one direction and Kuwabara at seven feet away in a direction perpendicular to it. So...

*FLASHBACK*

"Ughhh! I hate studying!"

Kuwabara had been busy studying in his room for his entrance exams. It had been a good while since Yusuke defeated Shinobu Sensui in Makai, and at that time Yusuke had been called back to Makai to prepare for a tournament to decide the ruler of the demon world. Kuwabara hated being left out on any adventures, and he knew that Yusuke was going to spend a few years preparing. He wanted to be rooting for him down there, but Yusuke told him that he should study and get into a good school.

"Damnit, Urameshi..." said Kuwabara out loud, "I don't care about all of that! You're always running off! I'm a part of the team too!"

But no. Kuwabara had to stick to his work. Not because Yusuke asked him to, but because his big sister Shizuru would have kicked his a** if he didn't.

He was stuck on a problem concerning a right triangle, with a short side seven centimeters long and a longer size being twelve. He had to figure out the hypotenuse. He was basically fuming over not being able to figure it out because this was generally easy math for other guys at his stage. "Gaaahh! Why am I such a..."

"Wait a second..."

That was it! The Pythagorean Theorem! A-squared plus b-squared equals c-squared!

7^2 + 12^2 = c2

49 + 144 = 193

193^-2 = 13.892444

"That's right! It's--"

That's when Kuwabara felt something pawing at his feet.

"Hey, Eikichi! What're ya doin' down there? Eheheheh!"

*END FLASHBACK*

Kuwabara and Peppa would have about fourteen feet of distance away from themselves. Kuwabara wouldn't be oblivious to Peppa's position even when tumbling, and considering the large amount of snow, Kuwabara didn't have to feel it when he got to his feet. He could see Peppa coming at him through the snow.

However, all that snow meant it'd be difficult for Kuwabara to move as well if he charged. Seeing that his opponent wasn't away from him like he was before, there was no need for Kuwabara to charge. He'd only be going straight into a trap. There was only one way out of this.

And that was up.

In order to know where to run to get Kuwabara, Peppa would have to start running as he saw him land. Kuwabara wasn't going to waste time with his shoe if Peppa was charging him, too. Peppa was going on the offensive now, charging for the first time in the entire fight. Just moments before the blade ignited for the stab, Kuwabara's left blade would extend downwards from the bottom of his hilt towards the ground at an angle. The force of it would propel him in the air as the sword kept extending to about twenty feet, acting like a pole vault that wold boost him past the thrust and well out of range of the attack.

As the pole finished, the force of it would send Kuwabara an extra five or so feet into the air and behind Peppa, heading towards ten feet, flipping around swiftly as the sword returned to its normal size, going with the flip. The glow from his extended sword only furthered the light show as spectators ran off to the sides to watch from a distance...but this light show was about to get even better.

"I'm tired..."

At the apex of Kuwabara's leap and flip, Kuwabara would be around ten feet behind Peppa as he began to descend. Kuwabara's right sword would crackle with energy as if it was building up a stronger concentration of Spirit Energy.

"...of you trying to CUT OFF MY LEGS!"

And Kuwabara would swing his right sword towards Peppa, turning in the air with his flip as he did.

"SPIRIT SWORD SHURIKEN WAVE!"

As he swung, a wave of numerous small blades of spirit energy flew down towards Peppa from behind in a cone. At this time, Peppa's momentum had come to an abrupt stop due to how he slammed deep into the snow. Moving another inch further would have helped if Kuwabara was trying to move to Peppa's outside, but from this angle it only kept Peppa from making an easy escape. If he was able to move to the sides, it'd only mean less of the shards would hit him due to how they fired in a cone. At any rate, whether it be most or some, they would shoot past Peppa like a powerful wind, leaving cuts in various parts of his body based on the spread. The attack wasn't done with any fatal intent due to how Kuwabara had concentrated his spirit energy into his swords earlier, so blades heading for his back would just stick in rather than shooting through. It wasn't like a laser volley either, so in case Peppa's saber could be in two places at once, he wouldn't be able to block all of them if there was some possibility in him turning his hips in time to defend, considering the momentum of the charge.

Kuwabara was working hard to show the others what he could do. It had been his first HoH fight ever since he wasn't in a match last year. He was doing his best to make it count.

[11/17]

Lone Hand Wrote:

"You're over the hill, Sieg." He spoke in a hushed tone after all the man's shouting. "There's nothing more you can do here. How long have you been at this? There's nothing setting you or your disciples apart from the rest of the mixed martial artists. . . . Hell, you guys aren't even entertaining to watch, old man."

His gaze was cold as he said this, but there was nothing malicious about his tone. Just the cold truth, as he saw it. Turning away to lead Athena into the forest and dismantle her defenses, he glanced back one last time.

"You'd be best off retiring to some dojo in the mountains. I'd even visit, every once in a while."

The shuffle of feet in snow ceased as Clash turned to face the opponent he'd led into a smaller clearing away from the other fight. A small line of spectators and news crew filed in behind the two, fanning out into a thin semicircle that barred the way they'd come in from. In the sudden silence, he could hear his own rough breathing and the gurgle of a stream closeby.

"You ready?"

When he talked, he noticed his missing tooth ached. He'd have to pay Ebris back for that one when they met in the tournament. It still bothered him on cold days like this, but he resisted the urge to tongue it as he prepared to meet Athena in single combat. Despite what it seemed, he did have respect for the woman, and every fighter in this tournament brave enough--or foolish enough--to pit themselves against the world's strongest.

Shaking a clump of wet snow from his boot, he furled his brows against the sun--shining distantly through the haze as it gradually burned the mists off the forest--and waited for the signal.

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

"

Dojo, In the mountains, clash...You know I've been there and done that; I'm bored of it. Now me and my brothers have returned to the heaven or hell to do what we do. If it doesn't entertain you then too bad. ", Sieg said as he turned to look at clash with his easy eyes.

Sieg didn't seem to be insulted by the comment. Sieg was getting old and maybe one could see it. As he turned away, Sieg would say -

"And yes, look at all the mixed martial artist. That is how I wanted it to become. Lu-Bu fighters were the first to do it big on the ground and on the feet, and now look...Everybody is using MMA.

Athena. I know you can do this. So just stay loose... "

Sieg would follow them into the woods to watch the fight. Sieg had said all that he needed as a coach and team leader in peppa's fight. Ryu would be there at peppa's to root him on further.

• For God Carries Me +

Peppa would be left stabbing the air as his opponent pole vaulted himself up. He hardly could believe the man at some points, he was more slippery than a bar of soap in a gay prison. He just couldn't ever get the man pinned down or in a true off guard position.

Turning around, Peppa would let the force over come him as he visibly saw and felt his opponent charging up. He knew pretty much exactly what was happening before his opponent had spun around. He had all the time in the world to turn too...unless his opponents beam really could shoot out that fast.

His opponent would shoot his volley, to this Peppa would be sending a telekinetic wave while assuming a defensive position. The wave, a force push would not stop the blades in any way. They would however provide a nice resistance....like running against a strong wind.

The art of being a force user, Jedi or Sith, was combining physical and spiritual movements. It was a act of always keeping a guard up and constantly probing the opponents defenses for that moment he can crush his opponent. This is why most Jedi battles didn't seem to be using a whole lot of powers.

This sort of way of acting allowed his physical body to act without much thought. When in submission to the force he simply acted with very little thought and paradoxically with more thought than he would if he wasn't submitted to the force. With that he was able to concentrate on his surroundings while acting.

The results?

The volley would be shot at Peppa with a slowed pace but still a harsh one. Peppa would perform defensive swings in near artistic paths due to the follow ups and the recoveries. The actual swings were the akin to swinging baseball bats. He was guided by the force and both by something he could feel terribly good, his opponents spiritual energy being shot at him.

Yet what made it so easy for Peppa to shoot them back?

Within each light saber is a series of force crystals which amplify Peppa's spiritual energy. Through these crystals he could project fields which were lamely called "Protection" around his light sabers. What Protection did was deflect any energy that Peppa understood. Peppa understood spiritual energy very well.

So with each swing, Peppa's blades would arc against his opponents shards with a blazing efficiency and speed. The beams of his opponents blades would be slowed down by the initial telekinetic wave than be slammed by Peppa's blades and his protection field. Peppa didn't need to block all of them, he had made the blast block itself in most cases. Sending many shards back at his opponent still. His opponent hadn't made a concentrated blast seeing as how he couldn't even dodge it if he wanted too.

Yet he had still been cut on various places. His arms and legs were fine because of his protective armor and in face Peppa had even used that to his advantage....his boots didn't look pretty. He had random cuts across his body but nothing nearly as bad as what was originally going to take place.

Which would be sadly first blood if he remembered right.

I hope that hits a leg!

Peppa had exclaimed, ironically enough examining that his own thigh had been cut up.

With that, Peppa would assume another pose. Surely his opponent was exhausted. Peppa just used a display of powers pretty well but he hadn't just unleashed a massive volley of his own spirit. Peppa himself was breathing harder now, holding both blades while he allowed his body to re focus.

The blood than began to show from the few cuts across his body, a thin one horizontally across his cheek too.

Kuwabara was smart enough to at least figure his opponent would want to use Kuwabara's own spirit energy against him. However, even if they were able to get to him, he probably wouldn't have taken too much more damage if he absorbed his spirit energy back into himself. That would have actually helped Kuwabara conserve, but as the shards came back, Kuwabara would be descending to the ground, the deflected shards shooting off through the air.

As Kuwabara landed, he didn't really have time to notice his opponent had been hit. Kuwabara landed in a kneel, his breathing a bit heavier than it was earlier. It was getting cold, and that made it a bit difficult after all the action. Luckily enough for Kuwabara, his lack of killing intent helped to keep him up. In his training before HoH, Kuwabara had learned about the concentration of spirit energy and how different degrees affect the sharpness of his sword. He already knew the effects of his sword at its most refined, but that wasn't something to use here. He remembered how he had used the same spirit shuriken attack on Elder Toguro during the Dark Tournament so long ago. Fueled by Kuwabara's emotion, the attack had much more killing intent and had left Toguro in pieces. But Kuwabara had to purposefully hold back most of that here. He wasn't fighting a heavily armored opponent, and he didn't consider Peppa an enemy at all.

But that was it. Kuwabara's emotion. As a human, it was linked to his spiritual power and resolve. Even in this cold, he had to focus. But in order for him to focus he needed a stimulus to that. That was when the cold weather started to remind him of...

"Yukina..." thought Kuwabara with his senselessly-giddy fantasizing, "All of this snow and stuff makes me think of you. If only you were here to..."

"...Hey...wait a minute...isn't this stuff being shown on TV or something?"

Kuwabara figured that the connections to Latent's TV lines that they had set up at the Amatsu from last year for watching the fight would still be there. Of course Yukina would be watching.

"That's right!" thought Kuwabara, his expression changing as he thought as if he was simply speaking. "She's watching this and cheering me on! I bet that jerk Hiei is watching it, too! He probably thinks I can't do this! I'll show that three-eyed pipsqueak what I can do!"

With renewed determination, Kuwabara advanced towards Peppa once more through the snow, his swords held in front of him with his left sword held vertically in the front. His right sword was at his right side, pointed towards Peppa. Did Kuwabara not learn from earlier what moving into attack range could mean for him?

No. That wasn't the case at all.

As Kuwabara entered Peppa's range, his right sword would swiftly pull in to Kuwabara's center before he moved it to the outside against Peppa's right sword. He was timing his steps so that once he had moved his sword in that parrying motion, he would step to his left and toward's Peppa's right side. With his blade clashing into the side of Peppa's, he would use it to bring him to the outside of Peppa's right arm as his left arm swung from outside Peppa's right, aiming to strike into Peppa's right horizontally and leave a powerful gash. Getting himself to the outside would make it difficult for Peppa to reach him with his left side. And since he would be against Peppa's sword, Peppa wouldn't be able to turn his body to meet Kuwabara without crossing himself awkwardly.

If Peppa turned off his blade as Kuwabara came in with the parrying motion, Kuwabara would have a clear shot at leaving a mark on Peppa's chest as he continued to move outward. That, and his left hand would still be coming in to use as a check to Peppa's arm as he moved. Either action would end up having Kuwabara facing Peppa from Peppa's right side, his right foot behind his front left foot from moving to the outside.

[12/17]

He paused on his way into the forest, shaking his lowered head suddenly like a dog bit in the nose.

"You're right, Urameshi," he answered over a shoulder. Caught up in the brutality of his ways, that other side of him was starting to come out . . . that meaner side . . . the side that'd made just about everyone hate his guts since his debut in the fighting circles of Gaia. Hesitating a second, he lifted both heavy fists and returned the thumbs-up.

Once at the clearing in the woods, one spectator looked around and saw that while other lookers-on were frowning at Athena's threat and shaking in their boots at the woman's impending wrath, Clash was grinning, as if anticipating her attempts at debilitating his arm. He raised that very arm of his to shield his face against the sudden gust of biting wind and snow, powerful enough to clear the area around Athena and make the sleeves of the coat still draped over his shoulder twirl. White luminescence played through the cracks between his fingers, and he beheld her in her battle garb.

As the feathered helm spanned across her head as the finishing touch and she charged, Clash bent at the knees and clenched the jacket hanging over his right shoulder with his left hand, whipping it aside toward the circle of spectators. Some kids gripped it up and one boy slipped it on, lost in its baggy folds, the coattail hanging down to his ankles.

"Mighty fine coat that is-!" Clash yelled, even as he pounded that menacing right hand of his into the snow with wild zeal. It seemed to close around some useless lump, but there was a unified crack, and he ripped his arm upward in a shower of powdered snow. When the crystallized dust cleared, he stood palming a thick log at least five feet across, talons sinking into the bark to hold it in place for the moment.

"Make sure it doesn't get all torn up for me!"

Eyes narrowed at the pinnacle of her dash, and he shoved the log at her torso as she came in. It flew horizontally through the air, more shaken snow trailing it like the icy tail of a comet.

THWOO~

"Alrighty, mister~!"

1

Walking back with some grocery in hand, it didn't take long for Snow to first spot Kuwabara and Peppa still fighting...

...

But also -

"Oh...son of a..."

Looks like he's left out after all. But giving a slow, heavy sigh the swordsman walked up to his teammates, handing them the bag of supplies.

"Some stuff to eat while we're watching. Can't do much on an empty stomach, yes?" He queried, turning about to watch the current fight going on.

((That means you left just as I posted. Had a long night.))

Peppa Clause Wrote:

So with each swing, Peppa's blades would arc against his opponents shards with a blazing efficiency and speed.

In order to have his "blades" deflect the shards, he would need to use two. Kuwabara was running at him with the idea that he had two blades at the ready. But if Peppa had turned around and shown he had only had his left sword on in a pose, he would use the same action he had planned...except with reversed sides.

Kuwabara would veer to the right, his left sword moving to hold Peppa's left as he moved to the outside. If Peppa was holding his saber low, Kuwabara would point his sword down to impede it against the guard of his sword. If Peppa held it higher, Kuwabara would do the same thing by pointing his sword upward to hold it against the guard. This would allow him to move to the outside and make it difficult for Peppa to come in with an easy left. !ith the motion of his parry and attack going against Peppa, his outside movement would be facilitated.

As he moved towards Peppa's left, he would swing his right arm in to strike Peppa in the side. At this rate, with all that they had been doing so far, Kuwabara's sword and Peppa's own spirit energy would probably hold together well, leaving Kuwabara's blade as more of a powerful impact into his ribs than a cut.

Either that, or Kuwabara was doing it intentionally. Or rather, uninentionally. Seeing his opponent bleed didn't make him very comfortable in this situation. Kuwabara was a man of honor, and he remembered when he severely injured Kiyoshi Mitarai with an attack even though he didn't want to see him as an enemy. Kuwabara's emotions were connected to his spirit energy, so as he struck, Peppa would feel Kuwabara's sword crash into him like a powerful blunt weapon rather than a blade.

If Peppa was able to avoid and try to turn his body to get to Kuwabara, his outward turning motion from moving outside would keep him from being an easy target. Things were coming down to the wire now, and Kuwabara wasn't going to disappoint.

"Then let's do it!" Kuwabara would reply as he made the attack.

[13/17]

"If I didn't know better... I'd say the goofiness was just a front." He said out loud, though more to himself than anyone. "Still... I wouldn't count the Saber Man out yet... While Spirit Sword has more than enough steam to carry on, this match is far from over. It only takes a single hit to be taken out for good... Either way, they both need to make sure that the next hit isn't their last."

It was times like these that the wanderer appreciated the knowledge he had of swordplay that he had. There was already a pretty good feel that he knew who was going to come out on top of this all. Still... that's what all spectators like to think when they come out and watch the fights brawling back and forth, when deep down the excitement and anticipation of how it all will end still rings endlessly within the core of their mind. It was just too soon to say either one had the fight in the bag just yet.

And then there was Clash and Athena who just now got underway... A little bit of garble was strewn, a tree was thrown, and already the two looked to have a promising match. This was what HoH was all about... and its why he decided to come watch again for another year.

Glorious Athena Wrote:

Five feet...

And he drew his left knee up to his chest, kicked out, and planted the heel of his boot square between her armored tits, giving a little push off the ball of his right foot to add more power to it.

His head scooted back, eyes craning downward to follow her center of gravity and keep an eye on those lean, protected limbs of hers, as well as that nasty knife he'd taken note of since Sieg's attempt to dice up his teammate. Tape rolling and cameras flashing in earnest now, his left fist waved out to the side some for balance, the right held before his chin, and he bent his right knee to maintain equilibrium.

She was one strong chick, no doubt, as the log that'd just gone smashing into that tree could testify, but he hadn't expected any less of her, and he was anxious to see what she was all about.

2

• I do not walk with God +

Body:

Soul:

Sieg was surprised. The way athena was coming in, he was sure Clash was going to land her spartan kick but once again Sieg knew not to doubt the most beautiful and powerful woman in gaia. She was going to make this good. Sieg sat near a tree just outside the fighting, leaning in as if anxious to see what would happen next.

• For God Carries Me +

He looks to Sieg then back to the battle between Athena and Clash, and sighs, "Too bad we can't coach, huh, Sieg?" He chuckles softly then looks to the match knowingly having a great feeling Athena's prepared for this match more than Clash would assume.

She was grateful for the leg, but with his hands coming in to try to take a grasp of her right hand, she was going to react accordingly. With a push kick kept against her body like it was, it gave enough distance to see a grab coming directly in her line of view. All she had to do was swirl her hand around to the right, and the grab would miss, while continuing to push him backwards with just the aid of her left hand. It should be enough to send the already unbalancing Clash to the ground, for a missed grab was even a risk to tipping over.

This would lead to him falling backwards with her having to let go of the foot, since she could not control that leg solely with just a grasp of his ankle. But when he does fall back, his legs flinging in the air, Athena dives forward, letting her upper body fall forward, and grabs her hands around the thighs of his legs as she brings her head inbetween them, her feet stamped into the ground on her toes. Bracing herself and all innuendos aside, she hugs his thighs to her shoulders, and quickly rises up, attempting to bring Clash into the air with the strength of her arms, knees, and back adding the fluid power to it. She had to do this just when he landed, or else he would have enough time to react and probably stop her from bringing him into the air. He was now sitting upwards on her shoulders, yet her feet has her step forward quickly through the snow. It looked like she was about to follow up with another move.

4

His metal hand grasped the front of her face, the helmet extension keeping his palm from truly pressing against her mouth, nose, and eyes until light came from his claws gripping down upon the helmet itself as she was raising him off the ground. His left palm pressing against her chin caused her to tense her jaw muscles as she has her head steered up. Eyes did indeed stared down this daredevil, who stoops forward...

"!!!"

Eyes open wide, his lips smack into hers, causing eyes to swell up in shock as this man had just did one of the most provocative things any man could do to her. She knew she had fans, but she was nowhere near as willing as certain blonde celebrities. But when the lips leave, she feels his fist bash against her mouth, causing her face to squint as he begins to pulls backwards. No blood resorted from the strike into her lips immediately, but it was only when a flow began to come from the right corner of her lips that she realized that her lip had been busted in that area. The taste of metal would soon reach her tongue.

While her opponent squeezes his legs, he would find that they did not go past the plate collars placed around her neck. So even as he squeezed and pulled back on her helmet, he was not doing much to her that would give her a stop in thinking twice of her actions.

At this point, Athena grows angry in her expression after the kiss ends and her mouth takes a mighty blow from his artificial fist, her eyes showing more of her fierce side than what anyone has seen before. Her teeth were showing in a vicious frown, deciding to not go through this entire fight until she has broken at least one major bone in this scoundrel's body.

His leaning back would not go far, as she would catch his thermal shirt by the sides with gripping hands, keeping him nearly horizontal to where his head did not dip down toward the ground, but instead, remained upwards unless he relaxed his neck and let his head hang back. The muscles of her arms bulge as she held him here, the weight he was bringing onto her causing her to bend her knees to compensate for a moment as she held him here, feet stanced apart in a wide distance to balance.

Though they were both okay for the present moment, she was going to change that condition for Clash. Standing there holding him as he scissor-locked her weakly, her Twilight Gauntlets glow as magic surges through them, Athena managing to concentrate in this type of situation to bring upon a force that will help her remedy the brief problem she was suffering with keeping him in her grip like this.

5

She was almost there until he suddenly swung his fist at her again. As much as she wanted to stop it from impacting, she had a more important move to worry about, letting the fist hit and strike her in the nose, causing her face to turn to the right as the fist rolls off. But yet again, she survived, returning her facing to him. She wanted him to think of her as an equal fighter instead of the usual woman stereotype. She was not here to dance around and try not to get hurt. She was not going to cry because a guy hit her in the face. Unlike those girls out there, Athena was different. If a guy hit her in the face, she was going to hit them back, but harder. Maybe enough to make him never think about hitting another woman again.

But this was sport. Despite the punch, she took it like any other attack, until he throws himself forward, his shirt ripping where she gripped. His leapfrog has her turning around to her right to reface him, but spots a dropkick coming her way. Where it was positioned, it would strike into the plate of her stomach, causing Athena to go stumbling back before falling backwards onto the stump of a tree that had been cut down long before they arrived, her rear sitting her forcefully onto it.

"Oof!"

But standing just as quickly back to her feet, she stood there once again with her stance ready. The right foot the forward, the left the rear. Body hunched over and her arms out, though more relaxed since she was trying to let the effect of her spell flow through her body. That was right. The spell she had casted wasn't something that would harm Clash. Instead, it was a spell meant to enhance her own body's attributes. She could feel power suddenly flooding through her arms and legs, the effects of her Battle Mage spell Bull's Strength coming into effect.

With this spell in effect, her strength was temporarily increased by half. It was meant for her to use the extra boost to hurl Clash into a powerbomb that would have resulted with his back struck onto the stump she was currently sitting on, but at least she now had more strength to call her own. Her right thumb smears the blood that was running from her lips, and gives a grin meant to display sadism.

"Nice. Ready for round two?"

6

Landing painlessly on his right arm, he watched Athena stumble back into the stump and then rolled to his feet, brushing a little snow off his jeans before he stripped his torn shirt off. A great moan went up from the sidelines.

"All those scars. . . ."

He seemed deserving of a wall of Purple Hearts. His tough flesh was striped with the lasting reminders of welts and cuts, cratered by puncture wounds, branded by burns. His back looked like it'd once been used to make sushi. Some of the injuries appeared relatively fresh, or they'd just never healed properly.

His eyes caught the light glistening off the blood on her thumb and he absent-mindedly grinned in return, moving in with easy but calculated strides, ready to stalk her movements, both dukes up by his chin. While Clash had once wrestled a bull as a part of his training, he assumed she'd simply banished whatever spell she had cooking up, so he didn't quite know what he was in for yet. . . .

6