Yukino Fuyumi vs. Carolina Reine Youngren - Apex Qualifier Match

[CaptainL]

Back in the ring, Yukino sank lower on her knees. She panted a few times, trying to catch her breath. She still couldn't quite convince herself that what she had just seen was real. It had only been by a streak of luck that she had been able to get into the ring in time - if she had let Carolina's knee hit, that would have sealed her fate. No, no, it wasn't that - it wasn't luck, she told herself. She owed it to Nashi for being able to warn her in time! Yukino sat up a little straighter on the canvas, her smile growing wider across her face. She knew that her unbreakable friendship with Nashi would hold strong through their tag team career, and it was definitely working well for her now! "Thanks, Nashi...I owe you one!"

Then, the Winter Idol turned back around to where Carolina lay crumpled against the apron. When she heard her cry out in pain, she felt a shiver go down her spine. It felt almost unbelievable that Carolina, this same woman who had been such a threat just a few minutes ago, was down and vulnerable now, and that noow she was the one in control. But Yukino soon smiled with a growing sense of confidence welling up inside of her. She knew she could use this - and now that Carolina was lined up right, she knew just how she was going to!

While Carolina was slumped against the side of the ring, Yukino leaned through the ropes, bending down to grab her by the arm and pull her up and forward - such that her upper body was draped over the ropes, half-in and half-out of the ring. There, she would grab a hold of her head, folding it under her arm - and, letting out a battle cry, she pressed her foot against the ropes, then kicked off them to fall back and plant Carolina's head into the mat with a DDT!

[ReticentCone]

Carolina hated it, but in this late juncture, as she was akwardly perched on the ring apron and hurting all over, that Yukino had certainly been getting the best of her. Through all the pain, she could muster a degree of frustration. She swung this girl to the floor and she more or less tried to break her back against the ring apron, yet the smaller woman still managed to endure the assault. To make matters worse, she didn't only endure it, she managed to put Carolina through a great deal of pain for herself. The adrenaline that had numbed the pain for a few moments when it seemed she'd turned the tide on Yukino had run out and now her back was burning in pain yet again.

Though in a moment, her thinking about that pain would come to an abrupt, all be it temporary, end. Her oppoent would pull her more onto the ring and across the bottom ropes, before putting her head under her arms. Carolina knew exactly what was coming, but lacked the ability to fight it or do anything to brace for it. So a few short moments later, her head with be driven hard ring by Yukino's DDT, knocking Carolina out.

[CaptainL]

When Carolina hit the mat, she hit it hard. The canvas rumbled and the ropes shook against the impact of her head, dropped straight down from the ropes. Even when the crowd had favored Yukino in this match, there were still a fair few that had to wince when they saw how hard her opponent had landed. Yukino had fallen too, but soon she scrambled up to her knees, panting a few times to catch her breath. And when she looked up to see Carolina splayed out on the mat, she grinned. She, too, had seen how hard she'd hit - which gave her confidence in the knowledge that now that Carolina was down, she wouldn't be getting back up. If there was ever a time to go for the pin, it would be now!

In a burst of energy brought on by her eagerness to win the match, and to prove to everyone she even could when she was up against an opponent who seemed to easily outmatch her earlier in the bout, Yukino lunged forward, throwing herself down on top of Carolina with one swift pounce. There, she would grab her by the leg, looking to pull it upward for the pin!

"One! Two!"

As the ref counted, Yukino looked over her shoulder back at Nashi, where her smile grew a little wider. She wanted to be sure her best friend saw her in her greatest moment yet!

[ReticentCone]

Three!


Though the win was technically a pinfall, Carolina was out entirely cold. Even if she had been conscious, she also certainly wouldn't have been in position to kick out of the pin on account of pain her back was in. All in all, when Carolina finally did come to, she'd be disappointed, but not absolutely dejected. After all, after the start of the match, win or lose, it was an Apex qualifer, so losing didn't really set her back from her goal of securing the Openweight and Middleweight Championship, it technically brought her closer just to finish. But losing never felt good, not mentally and especially here not physically. She'd certainly be taking out this anger on someone, sooner, rather than later.

[CaptainL]

And then, it happened. The bell rang, and the match was over - Yukino had won! The white-haired girl could hardly believe it herself. When she had struggled so long and fought so hard to be taken seriously, she wasn't quite sure she was ever going to reach Nashi's level. But here, she had done it. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped in a gasp when she heard the bell, and when she looked up to see all the fans cheering her. Even when the announcer called out the results - "Here is your winner, by way of pinfall, YUKINO FUYUMI!!" - it felt almost too good to be true, like this was all a dream. Those words almost felt wrong to hear - Yukino wasn't good enough. She wasn't going to get anywhere; the only reason she was trying out for Apex at all was because she had been backed into a corner. But now, she'd proven all those inner doubts wrong. She had won.

Tears of joy began to well up in Yukino's eyes the more she thought about it. Echoing the cheers of the crowd, she hopped up to her feet, pumping her fist in the air. "YES!!" she cried, before she spun around to face her partner, waving to her. After such a victory, she would be remiss not to let Nashi share in her excitement!

"Nashi!! I did it!!"

[SRG]

Nashi had watch the entire match right in front of her own eyes. She was cheering for Yukino to pull out a victory but also cared the bigger woman would dominate her in front of everyone to see. All of her fears went away as Yukino gave the DDT to end the match! When the ref started counting, Nashi had her fingers cross Carolina wouldn’t break the hold. Thankfully to the shock of everyone Carolina stayed down and Yukino won!


Nashi couldn’t contain herself she jumped for joy as well as the crowd proud of her friend for winning her first qualifier match! When Yukino turned over and offered Nashi to come in Nashi couldn’t refuse. She immediately stepped through the ropes and ran her putting both arms around her for a hug! Once she let go she said”I knew you had it in you Yukino! Now since Carolina treated you badly wanna pose over her?” She raised her eyebrow with a smirk across her lips. If Yukino did she would step to the side and put her arms down pointing to her saying”the true ice queen of law!”

[CaptainL]

Yukino's heart was still racing from excitement. When she looked out at the stands, she was beaming with pride. What she had just done had sent a message. Kira had put her in this match to keep her down, to prove that she wasn't worthy, that she didn't belong in the ring. She had put her up against an opponent who, by all means, Yukino couldn't stand a chance against, with her lack of experience and her natural shyness holding her back. But despite it all, Yukino had still fought hard, and in the end, she had won. Now, there was no question - she belonged right where she was. There was a place for her in LAW. She could take on anyone and come out on top, and she could only grow from here. If this was the start to her career, she could only imagine what else her journey would bring!

She giggled with glee as she pulled Nashi into a hug, practically spinning her around with how excited she was. Even if Kira wanted her to crash and burn, now she would take all her plans and throw them back in her face, to use this as her rise to power instead! When Nashi mentioned taking a pose, Yukino paused for a moment, looking back at Carolina. She wasn't usually the type of person to rub peoples' losses in their faces - it just seemed too cruel. But Nashi had a point. Yukino was making a case for herself, and she had every reason to take pride in her victory. On such an occasion, she deserved to feel powerful. Perhaps just this once...

"Well...how does THIS look?" Yukino stepped over to Carolina, getting in position. She planted one foot down against the blonde's stomach, holding her down against the mat, as she flipped back her hair and puffed her chest out while she held her chin high and faced the fans. When she heard the cheers reaching her from the highest levels of the stands, Yukino could feel like she was a winner. And she was only getting started!

Winner by Pinfall: Yukino Fuyumi