Kozachi vs Asami

The conditions were very much the same as yesterday's matches, with wonderful weather but a gloomy crowd after the execution of one of the contestants. Risako was unable to attend to today's fight, but Miko took her place as the announcer.

"Kozachi, Asami, you may enter when ready."

[Same rules as last time, same arena as last time, glhf.]

Spoiler:

The roar of the crowd was absent today. Making her way through the relative darkness of the entry hallway, Asami grit her teeth. She had sworn off the childish habit years ago, but now, in a moment of undeniable weakness, it came back to her as if it had never left. The unpleasant sound of grinding settled the uneven thud of her heartbeat in her ears and muted the click of her steps on the concrete floor. Not twenty-four hours earlier a nervous energy had possessed her as she walked down the same hallway to her first tournament match, but now it was different, very different.

I don’t want to be here.

The death of a contestant on the first day cast a pall over the whole event and silenced both the enthusiasm of the crowd and her own. On the first day she felt the crowd before even stepping onto the field of battle. Today, however? Well, today her entrance onto the stage was met with indistinct muttering as if the crowd had gathered for a solemn event. A funeral perhaps? Or maybe a wake? Asami couldn’t be sure, but it sent a chill down her spine despite the warm sun beating down on the arena directly overhead.

I don’t want to be here.

Taking her first steps into the light of what would soon become a battlefield, the chuunin hopeful let out a breath and set her jaw—the door slid shut behind her with a thud. She didn’t have time to dwell on the crowd’s disposition any longer. It felt as if an invisible hand guided her every movement; years of training now guided her actions. Her body knew what it had to do even if her mind felt unwilling. This was the beauty of endless hours of preparation.

I don’t want to be here.

Not unlike in her previous fight, Asami came to a stop twenty meters from the door she’d entered through putting her eighty meters from the only other entrance on the opposite side of the arena. Her opponent had yet to arrive when she came to a stop, but she was ready. Her flak jacket encased her torso over a long-sleeved shirt of sky blue, black tights reached halfway down her claves, and the emblem of the Mist hung proudly around her neck. On either thigh was strapped a single weapon pouch filled with her arsenal for the battle to come. Even now, as her hands hung by her sides, she would not be hard-pressed to access her weapons with a flick of her wrist.  

I don’t want to be here.

Facing the opposing entrance and watching for signs of movement, young girl felt as ready as she was ever going to be. Naturally, she still clung to the hope that her opponent would not appear. After all, if her opponent did not show up soon, the match would then be called in her favor and she could leave the eerily quiet stadium in peace

I really don’t want to be here…

TWC: 508

Sometimes wishes do come true.

Asami waited and waited, but no one ever appeared. After a few uncomfortable minutes, the speakers crackled to life and declared the Kirigakure Kunoichi the victor by default. The murmurs of the crowd turned to boo's and catcalls as Asami exited the arena after giving a bow in the direction of where the Hokage had sat the day before. The whole thing, honestly, felt rather confusing. Who was the crowd booing? Was it their absent champion? The lack of entertainment? Her?

Asami couldn't be sure one way or the other and it bothered her all the way back to the locker room. Once there she eschewed the cold shower she had intended to take after her match—she hadn't earned it. Instead, she changed out of her combat gear and into a more comfortable pair of clothes. If she hurried she'd still be able to catch the entirety of Hayate's match.

Next stop: finals.

[Exit, claiming victory via houring. Talked with Kozai and he is not interested in playing the fight out. TWC: 666, +3 stats and all WC towards Fissure Vent]

Approved