Snippet #1065931

(I guess I'll just start here.)

The crowd cheered as the two combatants entered the 30 ft. by 30 ft. caged fighting arena. The first fighter was a tall man with short black hair and a mild, tan tint to his skin; his muscles held tightly by his gi. His brown eyes gazed at his opponent in obvious contempt and a wide smirk took its place on the combatant's face. He crouched down into his fighting stance, left leg placed forward, left arm extended, right arm drawn back next to the face, hand's balled into fists. His stance told of an eastern martial arts style. "In the left corner, standing at six feet, four inches and weighing in at two hundred and thirty five pounds; the challenger Lee Wong Jin!" the announcer boomed over his speaker amplified microphone.

Standing in stark contrast opposite him was a pale young woman with shoulder-length brown hair; a blank, expressionless look on set on her face. Colorless, pale eyes stared back through tinted sunglasses at her opponent. She did not take a stance nor did she appear if she were ready to fight at all. She shifted slightly, adjusting the sleeves of her black shirt to cover the shoulders her black fur lined coat did not. The young woman pulled on her open knuckled gloves and adjusted her midnight pants. "And in the right corner, standing only at five feet, four inches and weighing at one hundred and fifteen pounds, your champion Rei Koudo!" The announcer boomed once again followed by a loud cheer from the crowd.

"Former champion," the challenger, Lee, attested.

"Not yet big guy," Rei corrected. "You have to win first."

"Heh, I hate to fight little girls, but I'll be nice and try not to bruise that pretty face of yours. How's that?" Lee responded arrogantly.

"My, how chivalrous of you," she said sarcastically.

Suddenly the bell rung, signaling the beginning of the match. Lee approached confidently, striking out with his right foot in a rising kick. Then, almost as if anticipating the attack, Rei crouched slightly, catching Lee's heel with her left hand and smashing her right into his face. Unable to keep his balance against her force he flipped backward and face-planted. The challenger pushed himself up off the ground and regained his footing quickly. This time he struck out with a left hook and again Rei seemed to react before the man himself moved. She stepped in with her left foot, catching the wrist of Lee's attacking hand in her own, and slammed her left elbow into the man's face. Then in one smooth movement she spun inward, grasping the man's elbow with her left hand and yanking down on his wrist with her right. She pivoted her waist and flung him over her back. The impact of the back of his head combined with the trauma from her being hit in the face earlier overwhelmed the man, causing him to pass out on impact. "She's done it again! Rei Koudo is the winner and still champion!" the announcer called after half minute when Lee did not rise again.

Rei sighed and left through the cage door she'd entered. "Quite an impressive display Koudo," an approaching man in a black suit complimented.

"I thought I told you I wasn't interested," Rei replied coldly.

"Hoped you might reconsider," the man explained. "We still have a position if your willing Rei."

Rei stopped and turned on the man, "Look here, I said no the first time, no the second time, and for the hundredth time NO!"

"I wish you'd reconsider. We pay well and have excellent benefits. You'll never have to worry about getting by again. Think about it Rei. You can't keep fighting here forever. Sooner or later they'll find out your blind and they'll kick you out as disabled. Here's my card. You don't have to say yes right now. Sleep on it and give me a call. I'll be waiting," he countered, handing her a card. Rei stuffed the card in her pocket and pushed through the front door of the fight club. "I'm not going to be another one of your lackies," Rei called back......Yea, that's what she said, but the what the man had said hit the nail on the head. She knew she couldn't play this game forever. She knew gambling well, and once you play the game for so long the dealer always wins. So, what to do now? she asked herself as she turned onto Third Avenue and sat down on the bus stop bench.