Part 5     Part 4 - Part 6

The fight started by them backing away from each other. Griffin feinted a move, making Julia jump to defend. When she jumped, Griffin seized his opportunity and rushed in for a throw. Julia was caught and thrown to the ground and kneed in the chest. She gasped and retaliated with a Flying Cross Chop. Griffin side-stepped it and pulled a punch-elbow-back spin kick combo. Julia fell once more, but stood up immediately and surprised Griffin with a Lightning Bolt. He blocked the first hit but was unable to counter the second. He fell to the ground and Julia executed her Foot Stomp. Griffin rolled over at the last second and grabbed Julia's legs.

She screamed as he pulled her down and put her into an extremely weird leg lock. It worked much better than it seemed though, because Julia screeched when Griffin twisted. Kechara didn't hear any bones cracking but it looked painful anyways.

Griffin grabbed her wrists and rolled over. Julia was too shocked to break free and was now caught in an even weirder looking position. She was bent backwards, forcing her fingers to touch her feet. Griffin pulled on her legs and arms and Julia screamed in pain. He let her go and she barely staggered up. There was no blood but the Indian girl was in obvious agony.

The crowd was stunned. Here was Julia Chang, all-around tough girl, fast and strong, who almost made it to the finals of last year's Tournament. And she was being defeated in the firs round of this year's, by a 15-year old, unknown American fighter. Boos begin to erupt and people were whispering, but Griffin was too caught up in the battle to hear them. He stood up straight and stared at the hunched mass of Julia.

Overcome by rage, she foolishly rushed Griffin and tried a G-Clef Cannon. He blocked the first two hits and countered the third, putting her again to the ground.

Now Julia played smart. She rolled back ad put on a defensive stance. She eyed Griffin warily as he began to circle around her. He faked a few punches, each of which she made to block. He kept circling.

Suddenly Julia did a Twin Arrow. Griffin was caught unaware and was thrown a small distance. Julia ran after him and as he got up, she prefrmed a Razor's Edge. It was timed perfectly and Griffin was juggled. Julia took advantage and started a multi-elbow combo. Griffin was again juggled and touched the ground only after a Front Snap Kick.

Julia began another Razor's Edge but Griffin was alert. He grabbed her leg in between his and squeezed. Julia, still in the twirling motion, fell on the ground again. Griffin put her in the same leg lock he had before, while struggled, screaming bloody murder.

Just as she was about to break free, Griffin shifted his weight, putting pressure on her. In a last attempt to free herself, Julia gritted her teeth, leaned up, and pinched Griffin with all her strength.

He yelled and let her up. His leg was bleeding from the giant scratch the pinch left. Julia dragged herself up again and charged him. She threw him into an Ultimate Tackle, then chained with punches to his face.

But as she was about to jump off of him, he grabbed her wrists and, pushing off with his legs, rolled backwards, putting Julia's back against the ground. Her forced her feet around her hands, put his arms around her midsection (Kechara was a bit worried there), and yanked.

His pull wasn't hard enough to break Julia's back but it was painful enough, as Julia's cries told. Griffin did another bakwards roll and went on the defensive. Kechara winced as she saw the blood stream down his face from Julia's Punches.

After all she had been through, Julia was still able to stand and put up a defense. After a couple of failed punches and kicks from Griffin, she launched her Bow and Arrow Kicks.

Griffin blocked the first two hits but, expecting it to hit mid to complete a G-Clef Cannon, was struck by a low second, and was caught by the last flying hit. He fell on the back in the dirt.

Julia refused to charge him, knowing that he would only catch her for another ground throw.

Griffin slowly stood up. When he stood, he fixed Julia with such a stare that she could not move. Kechara knew that stare; it was pretty much a free move in this match for Griffin if Julia couldn't break it.

She couldn't.

Griffin stepped slowly towards the Native American. The crowd yelled for Julia to break and attack, but yet she didn't move. Kechara understood; when Griffin fixed that stare on her, it was so intense, her heart melted and she could not break eye contact.

Taking hold of the moment, Griffin threw it Julia a long chain of punches and kicks. She recovered from her small "duh" bout, but hardly in time to block or counter any moves upon her. A high spinning jaw kick spun her to the ground. There was a crack.

The crowd gasped. They were slightly relieved when they saw the crack had only been an ankle but were still shocked.

Griffin had won. The realization came to him slowly, but when it had all finally hit him, he pumped his fist in the air and yelled happily. He turned to the standing and applauding Kechara and winked.

She blushed a deep red but smiled, putting her fingers in her mouth to whistle again.

"Griffin Burkhart wins!" the announcer blared and Griffin joyfully ran off the battlefield and into the woods.

Jin Kazama made his way over to Kechara. "That was a great fight!" he said. "I thought Julia would've had him down but I guess you should never underestimate the new people."

Kechara grinned. She stood up and Jin caught her hand with his own. He then smiled and put his arms around her shoulders.

Kechara glanced out into the battlefield and saw Julia standing, supported by two paramedics. Julia looked at her, and at seeing Jin's arm around her, instantly cast her face into a malignant glare. Kechara quickly looked the other way.

So Julia had feelings for Jin. Great, she thought, I haven't fought one punch and I already have an enemy.

Kecara, Jin, and Ling walked out of the ring. They started back to their rooms, dropping Jin off at the main building. Ling had giggled after watching Jin kiss Kechara sweetly on the cheek and give her puppy dog eyes as he disappeared into the building.

Kechara sighed. "Ha ha, he likes you!" Ling squealed. "That's so cute!" But then she saw the frustrated look on Kechara's face. "What's wrong, Ra?"

"First of all, it's Jin and Griffin," she sighed.

"Aha, so you do like that Griffin kid," Ling said brightly. "He has pretty eyes."

Kechara ignored that last remark. "And then Julia Chang is hot for Jin."

"Yeah, I remember last year, she was so crazy over him." Her eyes gleamed wickedly. "I don't blame her. Rich, nice, very good looking..."

"Hey!" Kechara said scoldingly, "You've got somebody else! Back off!"

Ling laughed.

"Oh, I'm hungry," she said suddenly. "Let's go eat."

Kechara remembered Kunimitsu's request and agreed. They about-faced and raced to the dining hall.

They chatted and laughed over a good meal. Kechara ordered a little extra to take home. "Snack," she said when Ling eyed her with suspicion. Fortunately, the Chinese girl was so happy with her peking duck and dumplings, she let the matter pass without a "why".

After they finished, they left and went back to their apartments. Kechara promised to go to the next match, which took place in 15 minutes, with Ling. She shut the door.

Kechara heard the shower running and realized Kunimitsu was taking a break from the PS2. She set down the box with food on the kitchen table, then walked back into the living room.

Kuni's dagger and the Manji sword were laying on the coffee table. Kechara wanted to see both of them better, but knew better than to spark the cat ninja's anger.

And her instinct was good because just then, Kuni walked out, hair wet and mask off. She was still wearing her purple ninja outfit.

Kechara inhaled. "Hey, how did you get your suit to smell so good?"

Kuni smiled. "Old Manji secret. Sorry, but I can't tell you it."

"I get that," Kechara agreed.

Kuni eyed her. "You've been checking my weapons out, haven't you?"

Kechara felt her hands turned cold. "Yes," she admitted.

The cat ninja waved her hand. "He, don't get worried about it. Just so long as you didn't touch." She threw one of her bright red ponytails behind her shoulder and then picked up the dagger. "If I know you long enough, I'll train you in the dagger arts if you like." The blade flashed brightly and Kuni offred it to Kechara. "Touch it while I'm here, but at no time else."

Kechara grasped the dagger by the handle, surprised by how heavy it was. She struck a momentary pose, then laughed. "I probably won't be very good, but, sure, I'll accept your offer." She handed the sharp blade back to its master. "By the way, there's some food for you in the kitchen on the table. Hope you like stir fry."

Kuni's eyes lit up. "Good choice! Thanks!" She started into the kitchen, then turned to say, "Get to the next match. You might be interested." And she disappeared through the doorway.

Kechara thought about that as she knocked on Ling's door. She didn't have much time, though, as her friend was ready to go.

"Hey!" Ling said brightly. "One more match then it's my turn!" She giggled. "Oh, this match has another new person. Her name's Allison Huay. I think she's 17."

"Was she on the boat?" Kechara asked.

"If she was, we would have found her," Ling said. "I heard she had something to do and then got helicoptered in. No, wait. She flew in an airplane and then got helicoptered in." She nodded. "She's Canadian."

"Cool." Kechara grinned. "C'mon, I wanna see if somebody's at the match. Let's get there early."

Ling snorted. "Yeah, like 5 minutes will make a difference." But she ran off anyways.

The fight would take place in front of the famous Draon Wall of the Zaibatsu main building. Kechara had barely reached the site when she was jumped by Griffin. He came up from behind her and put his arms around her shoulders. She screeched in surprise.

Ling was laughing so hard from it that she didn't hear him whisper in Kechara's ear, "Thank you," and then kiss kiss her happily on the cheek. He let her go and then caught her hand. "Going to the match with anybody?"

"I think that thing," she giggled, pointing to Ling's wheezing-with-laughter form. She thought guiltily of Jin but didn't say anything about him.

Griffin grinned. "Mind sitting with me too?"

"Sounds great, let's go!" She started to walk with him when Ling caught her other arm.

"Leaving without me, eh?" she demanded weakly. "Just a little note to myself to beat you up later." The three of them laughed and they sat on the ground outside the fighting ring.