Part 6     Part 5 - Part 7

Kechara and Griffin chatted for the small amount of time until the match started.

"Round 1, Fight 3," came the announcer's now familiar voice. "Enter: Allison Huay!"

A short, dark Asian-looking girl stepped lightly into the ring. She kept her face down as she stretched then crossed her arms, waiting for her competition to arrive.

"Enter: Paul Phoenix!"

Kechara snorted quietly and shook her head when the American street fighter pushed into the circle, wearing the same red karate gi he had in the previous 3 Tournaments. She watched as he shook his fist in the air, then smiled and gave the crowd a thumbs-up. He, along with the Canadian girl, entered a fighting stance.

"Ready? FIGHT!"

Paul jumped forward into a Shredder. Allison had been distracted as the fight began and was thrown into the air. Paul was fast enough to perform an okizeme Bone Breaker for even higher damage.

As the Canadian girl got up, Kechara noticed a peculiar gleam in her eyes. It was a bright yellow gleam which contrasted with her dark hair and clothes. The gleam grew brighter as she countered Paul's next move and sent him to the ground.

The American man grunted loudly as he hit, but was immediately back on his feet. He Hammer to Power Punched, with no connections to his opponent. The crowd was then surprised as she clotheslined him, something that was unexpected from a female.

Paul flew to the ground again. "Damn!" he muttered but was on his feet in good time.

Allison flew forward, right foot first, and landed behind Phoenix. He was confused, so she had enough time to grab him. Her hands went around his waist and she lifted him up. Paul swore again, this time very loudly, as the Canadian girl slammed him down on her knee.

Phoenix lay still for a moment before rolling backwards slowly. As Allison rushed him, he grabbed her arm and popped her shoulder out of joint.

Allison made her first noise of the match. She rolled back, and when Paul rushed her, she simply kicked him away. She took advantage of his recovery time to wiggle her shoulders. Kechara heard a POP! and saw that the Canadian girl had popped her arm back into place. With a sigh of relief, Allison again faced the hot-blooded Phoenix. He was a little more hunched over than usual, due to his new found back problem.

She set up for a move, but he caught her with a right uppercut, followed by a left punch, Shredder juggle.

Allison stood, then went into a low stance that was surprisingly familiar. Kechara heard Ling take a short, sharp breath as she recognized her own Art of Phoenix.

Paul had kicked high and totally missed the low set figure. She came back with a Power Wave Crest, sending him into the air, then juggling with what looked like Lei Wulong's Lift-Up Cannon. Lei hadn't entered this Tournament, for reason unknown, and he probably wouldn't have liked seeing someone else perform one of his favorite moves.

Allison got up, kicking Paul in the head as he landed. Paul had endless curses, which he said each time he was hit. She was just about to set him off again, but he quickly launched his Phoenix Smasher and sent her flying.

A smile of accomplishment on his face disappeared as she neatly used a backwards roll while in the air and landed on her feet. Allison stood in place and watched Paul with still gleaming yellow eyes.

Phoenix was now insanely pissed off. He charged her with an Ultimate Tackle and forced her down. He chained into an Ultimate Choke, and when she tried to break out, he said, "Oh, you're a live one. How about coming to my place after the match?"

Kechara saw the Canadian girl's eyes flash with rage at the insult and suddenly hit Paul with a knee in the crotch.

He growled loudly in pain and rolled over. Allison stood up and planted her foot on his chest, then kicked him in the head before he could get up.

Kechara heard some people in the crowd gasp as Phoenix stood. She and Ling joined them when they saw the American's tall blonde hair had been messed up.

Paul must have noticed also because now he snorted like a bull and screwed his face together in a look of pure fury.

And was immediately knocked out by a strong unblockable move from the dark girl. He fell to the ground and lay there quietly until the paramedics rushed in and took him away on a stretcher.

"Allison Huay wins!" the announcer cried, but she had vanished. The gathered people looked around in bewilderment, wondering how she could slip away without being noticed.

The crowd then dispersed; Kechara, Ling, and Griffin went back to their rooms.

"I fight next!" Ling said excitedly.

Kechara rolled her eyes to Griffin. "Pure psychopath," she muttered to him. "I never knew anybody who was so eager to get the crap kicked out of them."

Griffin laughed while Ling tried to get Kechara to tell her what she had said. Then he left into his own apartment after giving Kechara a hug and promising Ling that he would be at her match and cheer her on.

Kechara then left Ling to her excitement and checked on the match schedule and Kunimitsu.

Kuni had finished the stir fry and was meditating on the living room floor. She greeted Kechara then turned on the PS2. "I need some real competition," she said, handing Kechara a controller. Kechara laughed and proceeded to beat Kuni almost consistantly until she had to leave for the next match.