The Taikosaku Arena was already filled with the students, even before it was time specified on the fliers. Most of them were supporters of Maimi, and very few supporters of Berryz Koubou.
Berryz Koubou, including Maiha, was at ringside, while Airi and the other girls were seated behind them. They had Shin carry a Maimi banner for them.
Miki was there too, sitting beside Mai and Chisato with her videocam ready. She got a bit disappointed though when she saw Maimi walking out of the locker room already in her kunoichi outfit.
The Captain stood in the center of the ring, her arms crossed on her chest, waiting for Maimi to arrive. She was wearing a kunoichi outfit too, similar to the one Maimi wears, except the soles for her footwear were a bit elevated, you know, to make her look taller.
"Your outfit tells me what your decision is Maimi. You are going to fight me, aren't you?" Saki asked as Maimi entered the ring. It was Saki, but the voice belonged to the demon.
"Yes. I have to fight you."
"I see you've been training a lot." she added as she noticed her bruises and her heavily bandaged right arm. "Maybe you'd like to do this some other day. I'd like to fight you when you're at 100%."
"Nah. My arm's not broken. Those bandages aren't there because I'm hurt. It's a seal." answered Maimi. "I don't want to reschedule. We should finish this today."
"Hmmm. A seal for what? A secret technique? It doesn't matter. I don't think we'd reach a part when you'll be able to use it. I'm going to end this fight swiftly. You'll be sorry that you chose to fight me."
"I'll do anything. Anything to get rid of you, the one who possessed Shun and Shimi-chan."
"Anything? Like killing me the way you did to your former lover?"
"..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess you wanted to forget about that huh? Don't worry, there's a possibility that you'll be joining him soon if I won't be able to control myself." Saki said as she put on a fighting pose. Maimi was about to put a fighting pose but Saki suddenly dashed and attacked her. She was able to block it but she was thrown out of the ring.
"T-that was fast!" exclaimed Maimi as she got back up and climbed the ring again.
"Looks like your training paid off. If that hit you, it would have been over."
"I have good senpais."
"Good. I hope they're good at crying too. They'll need it after I finish you off..."
Before she could finish speaking, Maimi was already in front of her and gave her a roundhouse. She was able to block it too but she was also thrown out of the ring. But before she could hit the ground, Maimi appeared behind her and kicked her again, sending her into the ring once more. Maimi continued to press the attack a barrage of Raikou Knuckles. Saki blocked but she was getting hurt. Then Maimi grabbed her wrist and threw her in the air. Maimi ended it with an axe kick from above, sending Saki spiraling to the ground. Saki quickly got back on her feet and spat out some blood. She was fine but the sound of the crowd cheering made her fuming mad.
"Shit!"
"Do not underestimate me and Raikou Taikyokuken." Maimi said as she dashed to attack again.
Saki smirked and threw a punch at her left side. Suddenly, an unseen force hit Maimi on the face from the right. Saki threw another punch, this time to her right side and Maimi got hit on the left side. It didn't stop Maimi from advancing until Saki threw a punch aimed at the ground, causing something from below to hit Maimi like an uppercut. The last attack stopped Maimi and she backed off a few steps, thinking that it was a safe distance. Saki wasn't finished though as she punched towards the ceiling. Maimi knew where the attack would come from this time as she moved out of the way. The force came from above, shattering the ring tiles that it hit.
"W-what just happened, Fujimoto-san?" a bedazzled Shin asked Miki. "What hit Maimi oneechan?!"
"Fujin Seiken attacks are based on air right?"
"Yes. But that technique she used is different from Nakjima-san's technique."
"You see, all of us are surrounded by air. Fujin Seiken users can disperse the air around them. That attack Nakajima used on me before is a sample of dispersion; she punched the air in front of her, causing it to hit me multiple times. But this technique that small brat is using is a displace technique."
"Displace?"
"The air she hits doesn't disappear. It just transfers to another place. Imagine yourself submerged in a swimming pool that is sealed from the top so that the water cannot go out. Your body will take some of its space and when you move, the water will have to go to another place right? But it can't because the pool is sealed. The force made by your movements will try to travel some place but since the water is compressed in an enclosure, the force will just travel within the walls of that pool."
"So that means when Shimizu-san hits in any direction, the force will go somewhere and has to hit something or anything."
"Something like that. But that technique is pretty high-level, considering the size of this arena. She should probably know the exact area or space it has to be able to throw those attacks as accurate as possible. Unless she's preventing some of the air from leaving the ring area."
"That's amazing..." said Shin.
"Yeah. That technique can hit you from anywhere and is unpredictable compared to a dispersion attack."
"I wasn't talking about the technique. I was amazed at how I was able to have a conversation with you that didn't have any perverted undertones."
"..."
"So, yeah. This chapter is still below the PG-13 rating."
"I kissed Airi-chan before."
"Like I'd believe you..."
"She's telling the truth Shin-kun." Airi told him.
"..."
"That's more painful than getting kicked in the nuts, huh? But don't worry, it was just an innocent, friendly kiss."
"Like a mother's kiss to her child?" Shin asked. "Nah, you won't know that since you never had a kid before."
"Well if you like to put it that way. But I'll never tell you where I kissed her though." Miki said as she glanced downwards.
"..."
"So you can still stand up after that. Looks like you're a worthy adversary after all." Saki said as she did some stretching. "But that was just some warm up."
"I know. I'm just warming up too. That technique won't work on me again though." answered Maimi as she wiped the blood from her lips.
"Oh yeah?"
"Go ahead. Try again."
Saki punched to her left again. Maimi closed her eyes as if she was waiting for something. When she heard the sound she was waiting for, she threw a punch to her left side. The air that Saki displaced with her punch was sent back to her, hitting her on the face.
"What the fuck?!" said Saki as she touched the part of her face that got hit. "What the fuck?!!!"
"Ishikawa-senpai and Yoshizawa-senpai taught me how to defend against that technique."
"What?! It's impossible for a lowly fighter like you to do that! I am the Fujin Seiken successor!!!"
"No you're not. You just happen to possess the body of the Fujin Seiken successor. And not being able to avoid a simple counter attack like that shows how pathetic you really are. Stop hiding in Shimi-chan's body. So I can destroy you, you coward."
"You bitch!" Saki yelled as she charged at Maimi.
She started to unleash multiple punches but Maimi was able to block and avoid some of them. In one punch, Maimi stepped back to evade it. However, she didn't notice that the recoil of Saki's punches created a vacuum, and it sucked her within striking distance. She got hit a couple of times before Saki ended it with a sweep, grabbing Maimi's leg and slamming her on the ground.
"Do not mock me!"
Saki continued her attack by creating a sphere of air using her ki. She threw it at Maimi who was still lying on the ground, launching her into the air. The Fujin Seiken successor then started to wind up her right arm in a circular pattern until a small, visible tornado was forming on her wrists. Then she aimed a punched towards Maimi.
"Fujin Seiken Tornado Crusher!!!"
A full-blown tornado came out from her fist, and it devoured Maimi who was still in the air. Maimi was caught inside and the sharp winds cut her in different places while she was being tossed around. She dropped back on the ring once the tornado was gone.
Saki walked towards her and grabbed her by the throat. She punched Maimi a couple of times before throwing her away.
"Not so tough now huh?"
"It's not...yet...over." Maimi said as she tried to stand up.
"Oh yeah. I guess I should finish it."
Saki started with the displace technique, throwing punches from every angle. Maimi got tossed around by the hits and Saki only stopped when Maimi landed in front of her. She picked her up again and used the same disperse attack that Nakki used on Miki. Saki's technique was more brutal since it was done in close range, making Maimi's body absorb all the hits. Before losing consciousness, Maimi leaned on the Captain's petite body so that she won't fall on the floor.
"Should we kill her? She called you short, remember?"
"I'm sorry, Maimi-chan." Saki said.
"What are you apologizing for?" the demon asked. "Is this not what you wanted?"
"Stop putting words into my mouth. I never wanted any of this."
"Whatever. Too bad we didn't see her secret technique. Anyway, we've won already. Time to...huh."
The demon was cut short when he saw the bandages from Maimi's arm floating in the air. Saki stepped back, thinking that Maimi, who was still leaning on her would fall on the ground, but she didn't fall. Instead she was covered by a blinding light. Everyone in the arena couldn't see what was happening. By the time everyone could see, it was only the Captain who was standing in the middle of the ring.
"Fuck yeah! Time to kick her ass, Maimi!" Miki shouted from her seat.
"Where'd she go? What happened to Maimi-chan, Fujimoto-san?" Airi asked.
"Maybe she changed her clothes. The release must have disintegrated her previous one."
"..."
"Just kidding. She's just there Airi."
"So that's what those bandages are for? A fancy light show? Come on, I was expecting something better." the demon said.
...
"I'm talking to you! Answer me, bitch!"
...
"Fine!" Saki said as she started to wind up both of her arms. "If you're fine with everyone in this arena getting hurt so be it! Fujin Seiken Tornado..."
Suddenly someone grabbed one of her wrists. It was Maimi.
"Surrender now if you still want to live." she said.
"Are you kidding me? I should be the one saying that to you! Fujin Seiken Tornado Crusher!" Saki said as she unleashed her attack with her free arm at point blank range. But to her surprise, It didn't even faze Maimi and she was holding on to her wrist.
"That won't work anymore." Maimi said as she let go of Captain. "Now surrender. Leave Shimi-chan's body."
Saki backed off and she attacked using a combination of the displace and disperse techniques. They didn't work on Maimi though.
"Last warning."
"Never!" The demon charged all of her energy into her fists and headed straight for Maimi. Maimi caught her fist with her left hand and countered it with a right. It sent Saki crashing out of the ring. The safety cushions on the wall were not enough to catch her. It did stop her from being thrown further but the wall was caved in.
"Fujimoto-san, what happened to Maimi-chan's arm?" Airi asked.
"Heh. That is the Raijin's hand. Damn thing can destroy a moon with one hit. I just hope that Maimi was able to control so the small girl won't get hurt too much."
Maimi's entire right arm was covered with Raikou energy. It was different from before because this time it took the form of a dragon's tail. The tail was so long, it spanned half of the ring's diameter. It could have been longer if it wasn't coiled onto one of Maimi's legs.
"What about those orbs hovering behind her?" Miya asked her sensei. "They're like the Raijin's drums from the drawings."
"Kinda. Those eight orbs are the essence of the Raikou Taikyokuken masters. Nakazawa-san, Rika, Yossi, Nacchi, me and three other masters. The secret technique has been passed down to us but the rightful successor will be the only one who can utilize it to the fullest."
"Oh. Your essence must be that one that's floating closest to her butt."
"Looks like it."
Saki stepped out from the wall. She was bloody and she could barely stand.
"I won't accept defeat!"
"Get out of Shimi-chan's body."
"Never!"
Saki attacked Maimi again but Maimi didn't bother to defend. She just let Saki land all of her punches and kicks. When Saki was about to impale her, she caught her wrist and hit her in the midsection. Saki crumpled in pain and started to throw up. A worried Maimi tried to check her condition but the traitorous demon used a flash technique to temporarily blind Maimi.
"I-I can't see!"
"You don't have to. I know that you'll always remember the face of the one who killed you! Goodbye Maimi!"
The demon prepared to chop off Maimi's head but it stopped at the last second.
"W-what are you doing, Saki!!!" the demon asked for he could not move any part of the Captain's body
"Maimi-chan, now. Defeat him!"
"Shimi-chan. What about you?"
"Don't worry about me. Just do it."
"I'm...I'm sorry."
"I will be fine..."
"Raikou Ryu Knuckle!!!"
It was a clean hit. The eight orbs behind Maimi twirled in her fist and a lightning dragon came out, taking the Captain and the demon up into the air and through the Arena's ceiling.
Maimi caught Saki's body as it fell from the air.
"T-thank you, Maimi-chan."
"Shimi-chan?! Shimi-chan?!"
The members of Berryz Koubou started to run inside the ring even before they could hear Miki's warning.
"Hey, you dumbasses! It's not over yet!"
Before any of the Berryz could enter the ring, torrents of flame started to come out of the ring's borders, creating a wall, preventing anyone from getting in or getting out.
"I don't need that body anymore. I've already absorbed all of her techniques, adding more to mine. Get rid of it before we start."
It was the demon, using his true form. He had black wings and the strange markings were everywhere on his body. The students started to evacuate the arena once they saw the demon. What pissed Maimi off was he using Shun's visage.
Maimi, still carrying Saki, walked at the edge of the ring. She flicked her finger, blowing away a portion of the flame wall and handed Saki to the Berryz Koubou members.
"Is she....Is Captain..."
"I'm not sure Momo-chan." Maimi said. "If she is, I'll give you the honor of taking my life. But for now, I have to finish this."
"Kick his ass Maimi-chan." Chinami told her.
"I will, Chinami-chan. Just watch." said Maimi as she walked back to the center. The torrent of flame rose up to cover the ring once Maimi stepped away from the edge.
"Are you ready to die Maimi?"
"I should be the one asking you that. Are you ready to die?"
"Of course not!"
"Oh? Then you should do something about that hole on your chest...."
"What hol......HOLY SHIT!!!"