Always Training [MPC 83C]

Karate. Judo. Taekwondo. Boxing. Muay Thai. The flier from the human world had branded this event as an open mixed martial arts competition. If that was the case, then a little Luminas combat training sounded like an acceptable entry. Raimei hadn't put that down on her application form, of course; she had just checked the 'other' box instead. Regardless this would be a perfect opportunity to see how humans fought and defended themselves, and how she could better herself as a warrior.

She arrived at the large gym with her holosuit on, and with her outward appearance reformatted to be wearing a black gi with a white belt. Her long black her was tied into a bun. Her application had already been accepted prior, but her appearance seemed to cause some confusion what with her white belt on. After some assurance on Rai's part however things proceeded as smoothly as she could have hoped for, and she was directed to a waiting area with other participants.

Many of her competitors looked to be adults, but there were still some younger contestants. As she waited for her turn she eagerly watched the stances and techniques of the active fighters. How they moved their feet. How they formed their hands and fingers into different ready positions. As a digimon her own stature was naturally short so she always had to improvise. Using a holosuit she could properly form these varying fists and other gestures. As she practiced those gestures a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Kind of a bad time to be practicing, don't you think?" asked a taller Japanese man next to her. His clothes were the polar opposite of Raimei's, with a white gi and a black belt.

"It's never too late to learn," answered Raimei with an earnest smile as she looked up to the stranger. "As fighters, how can we learn without exposing ourselves to danger?"

"Listen white belt," said the man with a smirk as he shook his head, "..don't think people will go easy on you. I won't."

"I'd be disappointed if you did." The disguised digimon sighed as she tilted her head to the side curiously. "Where I'm from I don't get to see a lot of these fighting styles. Are the colors of our belts really that important?"

"You really got no clue, do you?" The man rested his hands on his hips with a scowl. "Do us all a favor and just walk out. It'll save you the embarrassment, and move things along that much faster."

As the man started to turn away Raimei reached out and grabbed his sleeve. She forcibly held him back with one hand until he turned back to look at her.

"Just wanted to get a good look at your face," she explained with a polite smile. "..if we get paired up, by the light of Luminas I'm going to punch it." With that she released the man, and ignored any further blustering of his.

When Raimei's turn did come up she faced a kick boxer. Being unable to use her special attacks made what should have been an easy fight an uphill battle. Her upper game was holding its own, but never really learned how to kick with her short legs as a BlackGabumon left her open below. Several times she had her legs knocked out or swept from under her, but she was finding the challenge decidedly fun. Her score was looking rather dismal nearing the end of that bout, but she managed to pull off a win by submission with a bit of effort. She had caught her opponent's foot after a front kick, and took them to the ground in an ankle lock.

Her next round was a more comfortable match up for her. Her second opponent utilized judo, some of which was very similar to what Raimei had learned from her old master in Luminas. Leveraging her strength after getting a solid footing, combined with putting her opponent off balance. The process was the same with her opponent she noticed. Again she was unconcerned with the score of their fight, and drew it out to see what kind of throws her opponent used. To their credit they almost launched Raimei out of bounds, but holding onto her opponent's sleeve had saved her. She returned the favor by tripping and kicking the man out of the marked circle.

All in all her rankings weren't great after two matches, but she wasn't here to keep score. She couldn't help but smile in satisfaction though when she saw that her third opponent was the man who had told her to leave the tournament earlier. There was nothing wrong with having pride as a fighter, but there was also a point where pride became a self defeating weight on your shoulders. If she had anything to say about it she'd be leaving this opponent humbled by the time she stepped out of the ring.

When the two met at the center of the sparring area Raimei bowed as was her custom before a match. Her opponent didn't return the courtesy. That wasn't something worth complaining about, but the kick to her head while she was in an unguarded stance was a problem. The blow sent Rai sprawling and almost rolling out of bounds. The referee immediately tried to stop the match, but Raimei slammed an open palm on the ground as she slowly rose to her feet.

"Give him his point," she said through clenched teeth as she glared at the man. "I am good to fight." Rai stepped forward and put a hand on the ref's shoulder before urging him back to the side. If anything her doggedness seemed to excite her enemy.

"Should've bowed out, white belt," taunted the man as he moved in for more hits.

It pained Raimei to admit that the man's technique was pretty good. Even if she hadn't been groggy from a hit to the head she would still have trouble keeping up as they traded blocks and blows up close. Again her legwork in a human body started to slow her down, but she didn't relent. When another sweeping kick came at her head from the side Raimei turned to meet it with a fist. Her knuckles contacted squarely with the man's ankle, and she could feel flesh and bone give way. Her own wrist suffered from the blow, but she wasn't the one shouting and hopping on one foot afterwards.

Keeping her injured wrist close to her side to protect it she rushed in now that her enemy was more predictable in their movements. With only one good hand she used the next best thing she had been taught to use. Her strong jaws and teeth. It took a bit of parrying and maneuvering but she eventually got a hold of one of the man's sleeves between her teeth, while her hand held the other. Tripping and flooring her opponent came next, and with an animalistic growl she managed to topple the larger man. Releasing her enemy's sleeve from her jaws Rai then headbutted the man's head down onto the ground, knocking him out.

Feeling more than satisfied by the results she forfeited the match. There was no point in continuing with the tournament with an injured wrist, and she had gotten her word in with that unruly man. With his ankle already bruised and swelling he was out of the fights as well, and his victory would be a hollow one.

Walking out of the gym with her head held high and a bag of ice taped to her wrist, Raimei sighed.

"..I wonder if the Boss will forgive me for quitting, heh."