Yuki Kazikura vs. Amano Jaku

[CaptainL]

Yuki thought it was over. The bell had rung, the match had been called, and she had another victory under her belt. As she looked out at her fans at the side of the ring, she hoisted a fist in the air, joining in the cheers. As far as she knew, Amano Jaku had been defeated. Her threats had dried up, unable to phase her or slow her down. Yuki stood tall, and nothing was going to stand in her way. She had proven herself worthy of standing in the ring with the best of them!

Yuki was just about to climb over the ropes on her way to the back when she heard a voice ring out. Then she stopped, turning her attention back around to look at Amano. "Huh..?" Yuki froze in place, the confident grin melting away as her expression turned to a confused stare. Amano, it seemed, wasn't done with her.

[dlamp]

Yuki stopped in her tracks, looking at Amano with both surprise and confusion. The reaction only sharpened Amano's glare. "What? Did you think I'd poof away like some video game enemy, dumbass?" As much as Amano wished it, she couldn't just disappear like that, and this loss wouldn't just fade away after a few weeks either. And for this... this airhead to just ignore her after all the hits and words exchanged like Amano was some chump jobber... hell no.

"You're not walking away like I'm some stepping stone, Yuki-chan." Amano staggered over toward the other lightweight, looking her in the eyes with a sharpened glared. "And this isn't the last time we're fighting each other."

[CaptainL]

Hearing the pointed verbal barb that Amano threw back at her, Yuki's eyes narrowed and her teeth clenched. Though she was usually known for keeping a tranquil attitude that helped her to focus, Amano had been testing her patience - in fact, it seemed as though this had been the demon's intentions from the very beginning, using her erratic behavior and taunts to whittle away at Yuki's mental fortitude in the hopes she would make a mistake. She had been able to rise above that easily enough - but even now, Amano wasn't done with her.

To have her moment of triumph interrupted like this made things even worse for Yuki. She thought she was done, and that she could celebrate, but now, things were only beginning. As she heard Amano's words, she was tempted to strike back out at her here and now - but she couldn't do that, of course. The match was over. Things were settled between them.

Or were they?

Amano certainly didn't seem to think so. She locked eyes with Yuki, the two staring down each other with an unblinking gaze. Yuki crossed her arms, her muscles tensing as she honed in on her foe. "So you're not done?" she replied. "Fine, then. I'll take you on again any time - if only to prove to you that I'll just beat you one more time. It won't even be hard." Yuki wasn't normally one to escalate things like this, but with Amano, it just felt right...

[dlamp]

Amano didn't know what stung more, the almost casual dismissal Yuki was giving her, or the arrogance that she'd have an easy win if they fought. Actually no, the latter pissed her off way more. Oh, so this brat thinks it'll be an easy fight, huh? The words actually made Amano smirk. "Oh, think so? Like how hard you were flopping around when I choked you?" She shot back, injecting as much venom as she could in the retort. Not the best one she had, but she didn't want Yuki having the last word in that regard. Still, it was damn tempting to take Yuki at her word and take a swing at her right here and now for the rematch. But no, that wouldn't be fun, nor would it make much of a point.

Besides, she didn't want Yuki to call foul and claim she cheated to win.

"But okay Yuki-chan, in two weeks we'll do this fight again. And next time we'll fight on my terms." She gave a sharp, toothy grin, her yellow eyes lighting up with mischievous glee. "A humiliation match. You and me. Let's see you act all stoic and cocky after I shove your face in my butt and do more with my feet than just choke you."

[CaptainL]

As much as Yuki's calm temper had helped her keep herself on track in her matches, Amano's taunts were slowly but surely breaking down her armor. Even after the match, Amano insisted on having the last word - and when Yuki had come away thinking that she had proven herself and bested her opponent, the fact that Amano was this insistent was only irritating her more. She bit at her lip, the demon's words bringing the pain in her throat back to the forefront of her mind. She could still feel a low ache there, and she was almost tempted to rub at it to dull the sensation - but she only crossed her arms tighter, reminding herself she couldn't. To do that would be to let Amano know she had succeeded, and Yuki wouldn't dare do that. This had become a battle of wills, and Yuki was ready to approach it with all the seriousness she would any other battle.

"You know what, fine!" Yuki called back, rising to Amano's challenge. "Name your stipulation!" And then, Amano did just that - and for a moment, Yuki froze, her eyes widening. One of her first matches in LAW had been a humiliation match, one that had been a crushing loss for her when she had faced an opponent more versed in such tactics than she herself was used to. But even that was eclipsed by her infamous loss to Rose Gold, a match that left her afraid to show her face in LAW for weeks. Though Yuki had sworn herself to improving and becoming stronger, this was still one area she couldn't help but feel nervous about. What if she lost here? Then her entire climb back to the top would be all for naught.

But Yuki had no time for that! If she had committed herself to becoming stronger, she couldn't let fear hold her back. If she was to prove herself, she would have to overcome her fears and show she had grown since that match so long ago. Beating Amano at her own game would do that - and she took a step forward, her chin held high. Yuki had made up her mind.

"It's a deal. But come our rematch...you'll be sorry you thought you could get one over me!"

[dlamp]

For a moment, for a good solid moment, Amano saw a bit of hesitation on Yuki's face. A sort of fear at the mention of a humiliation match. Which was... odd. The Lightweight division tended to have a lot of humiliation matches as a kind of stable in a way, and with how cocky Yuki was acting Amano was sure she'd just accept and even give some back sass. Granted, Yuki did accept and quip back, but... the determination and sharpened look in her eyes was that of something that steeled herself for something to come.

Did... Did I strike a nerve or something?

Granted, that was Amano's goal, but the way Yuki shot back at her felt a little deeper than just getting annoyed at the match type. Whatever, I got my chance, and like hell I'm gonna' waist it. She stared right back at Yuki, taking a step forward herself and bumping chests with her, a smirk on her face. "It's a date then!" She said, giving a small heave before stepping back. "Don't think it'll go down like this a second time." She hissed out, now starting to stepping out of the ring. Now, time to turn into a real demon for the next fight.

[CaptainL]

Yuki's fist balled at her side, so tightly that her nails dug into her palm. She clenched her teeth, her jaw rigid. Even after the words had left her lips, Yuki was second-guessing herself. Did she make the right choice? She hardly had the best record with humiliation matches, and when it came to having to humiliate her opponents Yuki couldn't help but feel at a loss, being more accustomed with using her agility and striking prowess in the ring to deal damage physically rather than emotionally. But...she couldn't back down. Especially not in front of Amano, and especially not after she'd made such a promise to both herself and her fans. If she turned down this match, she might as well have admitted defeat. If Yuki was going to prove she was stronger than she'd been when she faced Rose, she couldn't back down from anything.

The tension was palpable as Yuki stared Amano down through narrowed eyes, not wanting to even blink. She straightened her back, standing as tall as she could as Amano approached, and she leaned in closer, pressing her chest back into the demon's as she looked her dead in the eye. Her serious expression met Amano's smirk, and she stood firm in her determination. "We'll see who's deserving of coming out on top," she replied - though the pointed glare she sent at Amano indicated she intended that to be herself.

With that, Yuki too turned and marched out of the ring, heading to the back. This match had finished - but the war was only beginning.

Winner by Pinfall: Yuki Kazikura