Scarlet & Crimson Collide! (Hakune vs. Scarlaheart)

[dlamp]

The drop felt like it took hours. Even as Hakune's shout rang throughout the ring, even as the crowd was silenced by the surprising turnaround of events, it was as if the world was moving in slow motion. And Hakune's heel slammed hard against Scarlaheart's skull she felt world only grow slower. The feeling of contact sent a cold shiver through her spine. As much as the crowd had cheered for this vile woman's comeuppance there was only a sickening feeling in the Samurai's stomach as she caught a small glimpse of her opponent's starting to immediately crumple from the impact.

And Hakune fell right on top of her. An ax kick was in the realm of her abilities thanks her decent flexibility, but one from the top of the turnbuckle where she had little balance and was already fighting her own dizziness and sore body was another feat entirely. As Scarlaheart fell, so did Hakune, landing right on top of her in what seemed to be a right intimate and close pin, just as the ref started to count and Hakune fought her own dizzying state, taking deep breaths as the world started to flash back to life before pushing herself up so the ten-count could be given properly.

"ONE... ! TWO...!"

And at the count's start Hakune's eyes flickering down to the drooling, vacantly staring Scarlaheart. The woman that had made Hakune's previous beating a spectacle for the crowd and her family to marvel at. The eyes that seemed so disinterested and tired before now looked like they were slowly drifting away. "... ... ..." There was... honestly a bit of sadness to it. Cruel and ruthless as she was, Scarlaheart did push Hakune to the limit of her body and spirit. She was... a worthy rival in some way.

"FOUR...! FIVE...!"

Then Hakune looked up, seeing the mix of glaring and one oddly amused line of Reinhardts, sending a sharp glare at each of them in turn. There was something... off about their expressions. The disappointment was somewhat understandable, but... What are you all...? Hakune's eyes focused in on Karoline, meeting her gaze directly, as if waiting for the leading Reinhardt to speak her mind of the match she was witnessing.

"SIX...! SEVEN...!"

[Monsy]

The woman’s weight might as well be nothing. Not a groan to slip nor moan to usher. She collapsed like a pane of glass, splayed in all directions and rested, looking up with weary eyes, devoid of interest, energy, and even life. Together they seemed to close, and her cheek fell one way onto the canvas, her chin tucked against a shoulder. Hair was like her blanket as the count settled in, with little more than happier dreams and a nagging headache to pass the minute-long seconds.

Not even a twitch at five.
Karla looked over to Karolina, clutching the ends of the chair-arms, growling, “How many more times must we do this?!” Her tone was snappy, like a big dog’s bark. Karolina still seemed invested enough to smile, peered halfway to Karla, then forward again, “As much as it takes for her to learn.” Adelaide chimed in, “She’s going to get fed up with losing, one of these days… For now, however, she’s intent on giving minimal effort…”

“EIGHT!”

Karla turned over to Adelaide, banging the arm, “I am tired of seeing it! If you’re looking to break her in so bad, then I’ll do it myself.” A brow twitched, as did a portion of her upper lip that began a soft constant growl. Adelaide watched and laughed with a hand over her mouth, “Hahaha, you look so mad, Karla! And I thought you only cared about yourself.”

Karolina raised her hand, silencing them both, “Enough…” She stood and walked to the platform’s edge as the count continued. Her hands balled into fists beneath the cape. “It seems we’ll have to collect a corpse, shortly. I presume second-born has already made up her mind on what happens after the bell…”

Scarlaheart managed to fold her arm, splay her gloved palm and reach for the lights before the hand collapsed over her eyes. A lasting groan whispered like a spring wind, and the referee counted NINE…. TEN….! The bell rang and the crowd erupted into cheers.

[dlamp]

"... ... ... ..."

It... felt so unreal to her. Hakune's eyes looked up to the now-cheering crowd, their thunderous applause for the performance they witness washing over her ears to the point of deafening her, several standing in ovation for the deed she's accomplished. And Hakune stared wide-eyed as if a deer in headlights, first staring at the crowd, then down at Scarlaheart as she felt her movements, then against to the crowd as the ref pull her up and rose her hand in victory.

"A... A-Aa..." It was hard not to cry. Not only from the sores and throbs of her body from the intense match, but the emotion welling up within her. It took a lot to maintain her composure and simply raise her other hand as she stood over her opponent. But soon, Hakune pulled away from the ref, standing over Scarlaheart's downed body with a face fighting tears. Then, she bowed.

The act brought the crowd to near silence as their cheers died down, but Hakune held the postured for a few moments longer before standing up straight and moving to grab Scarlaheart's wrist to help sit her up.

Even if her opponent had been dastardly and cruel. Even if she was a part of that venomous and evil family of Reinhardts, Hakune wasn't going to treat her opponent like just an obstacle. They both gave it their all, and even if Scarlaheart was ruthless in her methods... there was still hope for sportsmanship afterwards. To make amends and have a more platonic and friendly rivalry

... Right?

[Monsy]

Scarlaheart didn’t register anything but the land of beyond. She looked drunk, peering into the void and was limp when Hakune pulled on her wrist. A shoulder dipped as one rose, the task’s difficulty now tripled to lurch her body up, and even when she did sit-up, there was little reason not to crumple forward, slump with her face inches away from face-planting her shins. “Gruh…Yah... Wha... I'am a .... preeeeetty.... lady…”

On the ruby stands, something changed. All five Reinhardts had disappeared. The red lights at the base culled, and sections of crowds turned their heads to the approaching Reinhardt convoy, spearheading through the stands. At the helm was House of Hegenomies frontrunner, Karla, who carried this bloodlust in her eyes whenever she focused on an enemy, glued to the ring. She had it for both of them. She put two hands on the barricade and vaulted over, with Adelaide following suit, ever-smug and looking only forward. Johanna was further behind and smiled like a madwoman, running at the fence and dislodging it with her ox-strength kick. “HAHA!” She laughed stoically. Karolina stopped as all three took to the apron.

Karla was blocking the rampway, Adelaide was on the opposite side, Johanna on the far side, grabbing the top rope and hauling herself up. They all looked but said nothing. Some are more eager to say and do more than others, but this wasn’t their place to do so. This was Karolina’s play, who took her time up those steps, weaving a leg between the ropes and joining the two inside. She stood, her cape shrouding her broad shoulders and arms. A look of glee shined on her, with all intentions masked behind her intense eyes that peered beyond someone’s soul. “Back away. You don’t want any part of what happens next.” She took a step forward, with one look at Maria making her growl under her breath.

[dlamp]

"Hnng! Come on now," It was a challenge to get Scarlaheart sitting up. The Samurai was strong of heart and spirit, but of body... not exactly. Leg strength for her kicks was one thing, but outright lifting someone, especially someone that had gone this limp, was something else. It felt like trying to pick up a bag of sand. "Okay, there yo- hey wait!" Even getting her to sit up the woman still slanted and swayed, nearly falling back to the mat before Hakune caught her, heaving under the woman's limp weight. Did I... kick her too hard? She was out for ten seconds and barely stirred during it. That... probably wasn't a good sign. "Wake up, Scarla-san," Maybe she should ask for a me... dic. Something was wrong. The crowd was strangle in a small frenzy, and not just as Hakune's kind act.

She looked up, noting the now-empty row of chairs, and lights were all turning red as Hakune's heart started to sink.

Loud laughter was heard from the crowd, right near the barricades as a large Reinhardt kicked the metal fence to pry it open, right before two others hopped it. The House of Hegemony quickly descended, and three of the four women took to a different side of the ring as the leader started to make her way forward. The Samurai took a good look at each one of them, her heart pounding as each of them settled in place. They were all silent. Moreover, all but one of them was shockingly giving space for their leader before the ring filled with the group in full.

Then, Hakune met Karoline's eyes.

"... ... ..." She couldn't move. Just barely keeping Scarlaheart upright, Hakune couldn't move her body. Just feeling the near-sadistic gaze of the Reinhardt leader. She could feel her heart beating through her neck as the woman towered over her. "A-Ah..." She opened her mouth to speak, but flinched as the woman took a step forward, as if the very movement shunned her into silence.

"... ... ..."

She couldn't speak. The blackhole in her chest wouldn't let words come out. Breathing alone was a struggle. But... she didn't move. "... ..." Stayed where she was, still trying to keep Scarlaheart propped up with her body, forcing herself to keep meeting Karoline's gaze with as calm and determined an expression as her stunned body would let her, nudging herself in front of her former rival, as if trying to hide her behind the Samurai's tiny body. "I..." The words came up raspy, choked by the fear she still felt deep down. "... ..." She tightened her jaw, forcing herself to breath in oxygen.

"She... fought well." It came out slow, but the tone was thankfully strong. It was the most of a sentence she could let out at the moment.

[Monsy]

The other three stood as battlements for this one great bastion. They occupied three sides, the fourth covered by Karolina, who entered the ring. She watched them and lorded with her gaze, unmoved by the sight, but the slight twitch might as well spell disgust. Maria was still slow to register the world, black with fadings of colour. Her mind swam within the sea twilight zone, and she still sagged but eventually came to follow Hakune’s interest and strike an uneasy balance with her hands pushing down on her thighs, shaking and twitching.

They may have met Karolina’s eyes, but she had no gaze for them. Only for Maria, her eldest. That was until she spoke, and her stare flicked to meet them as though she summoned a monster. Adelaide chuckled from her side, tutting as she shook her head.

“You don’t get to judge a Reinhardt’s performance.” Karolina started, “Especially one where it’s evident that the result brought nothing but humiliation towards our great name. That is what we call unacceptable, and your sheathing of her from her own family is even more insulting than our eye contact.”

An arm emerged from her cape’s trappings and pointed towards the ramp. “You may leave.”

[dlamp]

The weight and balance of holding Maria thankfully started to easy a little, but the weight of her mother's gaze only increased. A dark, heavy aura pressed hard on Hakune's shoulders, choking the air around her as she continued to meet Karoline's sharp and vile gaze. Had she not been on her knees they'd likely be quaking, even more so as the leading Reinhardt spoke. They... stung. The words were barely even aimed at Hakune directly, but they stung enough to make the Samurai flinch in place, her eyes looking away for a moment before trying to force them back up.

"... ..." She lost her voice again, no words leaving her mouth as she watched Karoline gesture for her to leave. "... ... ..." Her eyes turned to the ramp, a thankfully easy task compared to the previous eye contact. I... could leave. Even as she turned away she could feel the massive weight being lifted, no longer meeting Karoline's piercing gaze. It got easier to breath, easier to move. To follow the Reinhardt's instructions and no longer be under this pressure... it was inviting. Inviting enough to make Hakune almost mindless lurch forward.

"Ah-" She tried, but another weight stopped her. Scarlaheart's weight, still propped up somewhat by Hakune. "... ..." Scarla-san... That's right. This weight... was far heavier. If the fear Hakune felt was just from sitting in Karoline's presence... then what did Scarlaheart have to endure? What would she endure if Hakune left her to her fate. "... ... ... ..." It took nearly half her soul to do it, but she was able to suck in the heavy air around her and force herself to breathe. Craning her neck upward to force herself to meet Karoline's gaze again.

"No." It came out a lot quieter than she wanted, but she was able to keep a straight face. She had to stay here. If she left her opponent to these vultures then she'd be no better than them.

Her Bushido would not allow her to run from someone in need of protection... even if it meant being a human shield.

[Monsy]

Bar disputes amongst these five; one truth was undeniable. Karolina got what she wanted. She didn’t need to raise her voice nor ask twice. Just the look, her posture and stern way of speaking like she was played god with people around her. To challenge such a woman would be suicide. Yet here someone dared. A bastion of stupidity? Righteousness? Or simple morals? Karolina figured all options as she stared at silence. Adelaide’s relaxed disposition tensed. She grabbed the top rope with both hands and her yellow-ringed eyes gaped into full spheres, staring with a flat expression, yet Johanna could hear the air huff from her nose, and leaned the other way like it was avoiding this danger. Even Karla, who often rebelled against her mother’s presence, had to stop and look puzzled this woman would deny. Was that even a thing? Her nape crawled at the possibility, and her leg, without conscious, threw itself over the middle rope. Johanna saw this and one of her legs hooked over the top rope, ready to join Karla and Karolina. Adelaide was the only one not to move, but fume.

But Karolina’s hand raised just above her shoulder, and everyone stopped.
Her gaze stayed steadfast. She didn’t blink, nor flinch or even appear mystified. She even nodded, acknowledging that answer, then stepped forward. Once. Twice. Each advance was calm and deliberate, her tall cape-collar weaved, the ends danced by her calves and the ribbon flicked about. Her chin dipped further as the height became more extreme. Her shadow stretched across the ring. When she neared, she stopped and simply said, “You’ve made your choice.”

Her leg snapped like a viper. The tip of her black boot now swung its way to uppercut this samurai on its chin, and see to them dispatched of any vigour.

[dlamp]

"... ... ..."

The silence was deafening.

Hakune could feel all the tension pile up the instant she refused the Reinhardt leader. Her body tensed up, and her lungs tightened as the air around her started to choke her throat, as if the Karoline's mere disapproval was enough to deny the Samurai any oxygen. And every other Reinhardt turned their attention to the Samurai, some annoyed, some curious, some... enraged. And the air only got thicker as Hakune clutched Scarlaheart tight, as if the woman's near-lifeless body gave her some form of strength to at least keep meeting Karoline's gaze. But to Hakune's shock, Karoline denied them a chance to retort in their mother's place. Instead, the leading Reinhardt only stepped forward, each motion making Hakune's heart slow its beating as she was forced to look the woman in the eye as her very being blotted out all light as if a living eclipse. "... ... ..." And the woman only said one sentence. One sentence in recognition of the situation. Whether it was a blunt statement or acknowledgement of Hakune's bravery she didn't know.

Because all Hakune's saw next was black.

She barely even felt the strike, just a sharp pang under her chin before her mind's connection to her body snapped off like a switch. Her body swayed back, eyes rolling up to catch one last glimpse at the lights above, then... she fully fell back, Scarlaheart still in her arms as her upper body provided her former opponent with a small cushion to protect her rival's fall. The last bit of mercy she could provide before consciousness left her.

[Monsy]

The world didn’t breathe once that kicked silence these people’s hero. Stacked underneath the Reinhardt heiress, Karolina looked down, then forward, glaring at her second-born. “You’ll not lay hands on her.” Her head snapped towards Adelaide whose fire still raged inside her eyes. That frown curled further, and the two half-siblings almost challenged each other in a brief staredown of eye contact. “I miss that look.” Then she watched the unconscious pile. She leaned over, grabbing each of their collars and yanking them apart, then upward to sit them up. Her bicep curled as she raised them from the canvas, the arm sleeves expanded into a bulge until she put their stomachs over a shoulder and stood with them both, an arm over their legs. “Prepare a bed for these two, Adelaide. These two have had a long day. Arrange transport and they can lie together in whatever property is available in the area.”

Adelaide nodded, leaping off the apron to begin fishing for her phone, dialling up the necessary contacts within seconds, standing by the ramp. She snapped her fingers at Johanna and pointed at the ropes as Karolina approached them, samurai and daughter in tow. Johanna jumped into the ring, sauntered over and pushed the top-rope down so far, Karolina’s leg was able to swing her leg over, and scale down those steps. Karla shook her head, growling, and hopped down. There was something irksome about their kind showing kindness to such filth. Let alone the lack of punishment for failing. All these concepts she couldn’t grasp. It was just illogical to be sportsmanlike, or even merciful in this fashion.

Not that it mattered…
The House of Hegemony was leaving together, with a victim in tow to lick its wounds on this disappointing battle.