Yukino Fuyumi vs Gabriel Vinlee - (Apex Qualifier Match)

[Hagen-Autem]

It's ironic, because, although she loves competitive wrestler, she wasn't the one who wanted a chance to participate in the big event.

The purple mist had already blurred the upper half of the ramp. "Ready to go?" Asked a producer while the first queen was already in Gorilla Position and she nods to him.

Music entrance

As soon as her titatron was pulsating the stadium with its crescendo, her female silhouette was already on the ramp. It was a perfect cut through the vapors with the light filters outlining her. And just as the pre-chorus was about to end, the Viper glamorously wiggled her arms towards the ceiling before abruptly opening them sideways with a hip movement and pierced the fog with her claws, presenting herself at last to the rest in her classic attire, her playful bearing and turning only once to gloat and would head for the ring at once.

Attire

And to some extent it was a punishment for both of them.

For Gabriel it was minor punishment because she wanted to give the federation a little more weight before deciding whether to get involved in a championship or not; on the other hand, for Vin it was a 'penance' for what happened with Nashi backstage and her other spoilt. But that is another matter.

Gabriel climbed up the steps, regally; grabbed the top rope with one hand and swung her leg over the middle rope in a single motion followed by her trunk and finally the other leg to finish her presentation by climbing her corner to greet a piece of her groupie from there and then wait reclining in that same corner for her opponent.

[CaptainL]

It had all come to this. Thinking back on it all, Yukino had come a long way since she first arrived in LAW. She'd started out questioning if any of this was even worth it, or if she was only going to get hurt chasing after a glory she could never achieve - and since then, she had reunited with her best friend, she'd grown in confidence, she'd formed a successful tag team, and she was ready to take on the world. Now, the only thing left for Yukino to do was to make it through Apex - to make good on the promise she had made to Kira Kusangi that she would rise to whatever challenge she put in front of her. When she first agreed to the plan, she was terrified. She could barely stand up to Kira herself, and she could hardly imagine how she'd be able to withstand all the opponents she would have to fight through on her behalf. But one by one, she had taken on each challenge, and she'd come away from each one stronger than ever. It was all down to this. If Yukino could finish this match, and impress the judges in doing so, she would cement herself in the runnings for Apex. And then...all she needed to do was win.

Sucking in a breath, Yukino sat up straighter on a bench in the locker room, turning back to face her friend. "All right, Nashi - here goes," she said. If all went well, Gabriel would be the final opponent Yukino would need to face between now and Apex, and she had the sinking suspicion that Kira would've saved the worst for last. But if she'd done so well against her last few opponents - and especially with Nashi in her corner - Yukino felt she just might have a chance!

Spoiler

When her name was called, Yukino stepped out onto the entrance ramp. She stood with both fists in the air, her head pointed to the sky - the fear and hesitation she felt in her earliest matches was gone now; if she had qualified with the last few matches, now she was ready to give Gabriel the fight of her life! When she heard all the cheers coming her way, she smiled a little wider, and she looked back over her shoulder to nod to Nashi, knowing the Fiery Idol wouldn't be far behind. From there, though, she focused in on the woman in the ring, heading down the ramp to meet her, where she would climb up onto the apron to look her in the eye.

"I'm not running away any more," she said. "No matter what Kira thinks, I know I can handle you! So bring it on!"

[SRG]

Nashi was in the locker room with Yukino hoping that she wasn’t afraid. To Nashi’s cheerful surprise, Yukino had fire in her eyes that she could see. “You betcha partner!” she jumped up smiling following her best friend through the backstage and into the top ramp. Once she made it on stage Nashi would take a few steps back and let Yukino take the spotlight cheered her on!!

On the way down Nashi would be close behind Yukino. They finally made it she said to Yukino”you got this bestie!” she clapped standing by the ringside to cheer on Yukino through thick and thin!

[Hagen-Autem]

That girl had a surprising verve. The viper's eyes turned grim from the moment Yukino's entrance hit the air, had merged with that edge of the ring with such naturalness that all attention was focused on the Idol; as it should be, while she remained evaluative from the safety of her corner.

And there was so much life in this girl that it was tender to her. Had a nervous, eager presence, ready to take on the world with her vibrant impetus; but also, Gabriel could sense hers need for emotional support and the reason for being with her chamberlain. She was very small..., but had that spark.

Maybe it was another one of those wildcards her managers put in her way to amuse her and the stadiums before her real hunt begins. And also to test her contender with an unknown target, of course!

But back to reality: when she came in and crossed her pretty eyes filled with impetuousness with the impassive and superb jade eyes standing out of the shadow in the opposite corner like the craving of a brazen predator in its prowl, and challenged her; Gabriel didn't say a word, just stepped out of that corner without breaking eye contact to let Yukino know what she had just called.

Her stride was calm. Her mettle: impeccable. Her deep, sharp eyes. And nothing about her begged for them attention and yet her pace towards Yukino absorbed it as if it were a conspicuous black hole on move towards a very, very striking-white star.

And in front of the Idol, the difference was not only in their sizes. Gabriel wasn't looking at her, she was stalking her from a few centimetres away and over her shoulder. It was as if someone had thought it would be funny to put a rabbit down a snake's hole; one that has already woken up and is curled up at the only exit while looking straight at its stowaway. And all that was needed to know where this bring face to face would lead was for the referee to give the signal for the bell to ring to officially start the show because Gabriel was already expectant...

[CaptainL]

Yukino grinned to Nashi, raising a hand to wave to her as she made her way to the ring. There was a part of her that was nervous, she couldn't deny that, but when she knew she had Nashi in her corner - her best friend, her friend who was always there and ready to cheer for her no matter what happened - she felt just a little bit better about what she was about to go into. Even if no one else in the world would, Nashi would always see Yukino as a worthy competitor, and as someone who deserved to be in the title scene. As long as just one person believed in her, Yukino was sure she could do anything.

But she turned her attention back to Gabriel, and she grew tense, balling her hand into a fist. If there was ever a match that would test her, Yukino was confident this would be the one. This was the champion Kira had chose to face her, at the culmination of her ascent to Apex, and she was sure that such a decision wouldn't be made lightly. She couldn't make any mistakes. She needed to be prepared for anything - a single wrong move could spell her doom. She couldn't even take her eyes on her for a single second, lest Gabriel pick that very moment to strike.

Yukino's eyes locked on the blonde's own - and Gabriel didn't say a word. She didn't need to - the look in her eyes said enough. And, as it set in, Yukino's spirits wavered. With each step she took, steadily closing in on Yukino, the idol felt more and more unease creep through her. She already knew what that look meant. She knew it was the look of someone who was already convinced she had won this match. To Gabriel, beating Yukino would be as effortless as breathing. The pit of her stomach sank lower and lower just thinking about it. If her opponent was that confident...how was Yukino supposed to stand up to her?

She wasn't sure if she could answer that question. But she did know one thing - she couldn't give up, and she couldn't back down. She'd come this far in the name of proving herself, to Kira and to everyone. No matter how afraid she was, she couldn't let that show. She had to be ready. And so, she narrowed her eyes in a glare, lowering into a stance, and prepared for when the match would begin...

*DING DING DING*

With the sound of the bell, Yukino moved in closer. She kept her eyes trained on Gabriel, strafing around her with an unblinking stare so as not to let down her guard. Slowly she would move in closer, her fingers outstretched and ready to grab hold of the blonde's own to enter a lockup. Yukino knew she had to keep Gabriel under control...the question was, would she only be exposing herself to danger by doing so?

[Hagen-Autem]

The silence that was generated between the two strained the preamble. Yukino wasn't the only one who hesitated for a moment, even the referee became indecisive. But when the Idol narrowed her eyes and confronted the abyss, in the most imposing manner! putting her priorities in order! And demonstrating the kind of attention she was going to give to Gabriel, in what could be felt as a withering glare! The stadium could not keep quiet about it! She's simply worth it!

"That's it," she hissed; the liminal nature in the eyes of the larger woman vanished. "That's the attitude," she encouraging with a smile complicit and then she stepped back because, well, from so close it doesn't give her much room to do what she can do. But Gabriel held her posture deceptively open.

Then when Yukino held out her fingers with clear intention of locking her in, the Viper narrowed her eyes, but accepted it. But just as it looked like they were about to measure each other in strength, Gabriel leaned back with all her weight, dragging Yukino with her as she lifting her legs between them to grab hers head between her thighs with a headscissor and nuzzling hers nostrils with the edge of her skirt in the process, while retaining the hands in a wrist lock so as to reduce hers chances of escape. "C'mon, you can escape this..., can't you?".

[CaptainL]

Yukino heard a few words leave Gabriel's mouth. For just a brief moment, her eyebrow rose a fraction of an inch. She didn't want to let down her guard, of course - if there was ever a time for Yukino to give it her best shot, to push her body to its limits and to cement a name for herself as being worthy of Apex, this match - her final qualifier, and one that everyone was watching closely in light of the white-haired girl's ascent through the ranks - would be it. She didn't want Gabriel to think for a second that she had her eyes off of her, and her expression was cold, focused, and calm.

But inside...Yukino couldn't help but feel just a little vindicated. She'd been out to send a message, and it had worked. Gabriel could see her courage, her willpower - that she was going into this match knowing the danger full well, and she was ready for it nonetheless. She could recognize that in her, even if she was her opponent, and even when she had been specifically selected as a foe who would challenge her. She still knew she was worth taking seriously. That gave Yukino hope. That told her that she really could do this.

The tips of Yukino's fingers touched Gabriel's own, and she bent at the knees to sink into a stance, prepared to enter a test of strength. But that was when Gabriel struck. Suddenly, Yukino was pulled forward; she felt the ground beneath her give way, and she let out a gasp as her eyes went wide in shock. She was thrown right between Gabriel's legs, into the waiting embrace of a headscissor!

Left doubled over forward, her head held low and her behind in the air, with her face trapped in Gabriel's thighs, Yukino let out a muffled groan. She tried to twist herself back and forth, hoping to shake off her opponent's clutches, but with Gabriel still holding onto her wrists, there was only so much she could move - and she hissed from the pain as she felt the blonde torque harder on her joints. There was one thing left for her, however. Yukino knew that in this position, she was off her balance point. But that could work to her favor just as much as it could to Gabriel's!

Yukino rolled with the motion. She leaned forward a little further, hoping that she could find the tipping point between herself and her opponent. She would attempt to push Gabriel off her feet and onto her back, hopefully falling atop her in the process!

[Hagen-Autem]

Gabriel sketched a subtle smile as Yukino traced her exit. She tried to control this girl's mobility by keeping her wrists twisted and accommodating herself with slight twists in order to sink Yukino's face deeper between her thighs as the idol tried to lean forward. But that countermeasure might not be enough, humiliating perhaps, if things escalated that much, but it was the blonde's body that was practically resting on her upper back and shoulders, while the white-haired idol just needed to struggle harder or realise that if she managed to lift her hips Gabriel's entire body would be supported on the back of her own neck, forcing her to release.

Seeking to reduce the pursuit of that lean angle by leveraging wrist locks was one option; the other was to open up her submission and roll to retreat and give this to Yukino - but then her submissions would have no merit and Gabriel would not be the headache her managers say she is. Gabriel focused on manipulating Yukino's leans with the wrist locks, loosening enough, twisting sufficiently. All with the aim of taking small opportunities to better engage her legs at hers shoulders, prioritising the question of whether or not that "compromises the integrity of the headscissor" to loosen and accommodate or tighten and resist.

If she managed to open a window, the Viper wasn't going for anything spectacular or unnecessary: she would push the girl's right hand while pulling the other and simultaneously twisting her own body to support the pull to drive the position until Gabriel came to lie on her side on the canvas, with Yukino's head still between her legs, and ready to complicate things a little more by spreading her crossed legs to close her thighs even more severely against the idol's neck.

[CaptainL]

The two girls barely moved much more than an inch, but a desperate battle was raging nonetheless. Yukino was fighting as hard as she could to break free, twisting her body from side to side as she pushed and rocked with her shoulders. She was trying to find the tipping point she could use to unseat Gabriel's stance - if she could get that, the rest would surely follow. Not only would that free her, it would also leave her opponent off-balance and primed for Yukino to take a new position, one she might be able to exert more pressure on Gabriel and take back control!

But for each move Yukino made, Gabriel was out to pay her back with one of her own! Every time the white-haired girl twisted in one directon, her opponent gave a yank to the opposite arm, causing her to wince and shudder as she shrunk back. Yet Yukino kept fighting. It was a dance of careful, evenly matched motions, and the two competitors were keeping it at a tightly controlled pace, never letting one overtake the other. But that was only the beginning of Gabriel's plan. As she tightened one especially painful wristlock, the idol began to slow. And as soon as Gabriel saw enough of a break in Yukino's advances to spring her trap, she wrestled her to the ground, bringing her legs tighter together around her throat!

Now, already stifled by the pressure of Gabriel's thighs compressing her head and holding off her airways, Yukino could hardly breathe! Her face began to grow red under the pressure, and sweat trickled down her brow. She could feel her head spinning and the world around her growing darker. It became quite clear to Yukino that she would need to make her move soon if she wanted to get out of this before she passed out. But she couldn't lose now! Desperate to do something, she whipped herself into a frenzy, her legs kicking at the air as she tried with all her might to strike at Gabriel while the two were on their sides!

[Hagen-Autem]

Gabriel had done it! She lay the other supine on the canvas and squeezed her throat, twisting her body as she constricted hers throat between her legs with a playful pleasure in her expression as she tested it. The blonde had released her hands so that she could better support herself and she couldn't say that this was easy; Yukino was not an easy opponent to break down. And the queen was starting strong with her. Wanted to see what she was really capable of. And the best thing was that neither could finish the other yet because the fight had to last more than 5 minutes or it would be omitted.

Nonetheless Yukino's body was unruly enough to make the other bite her lips in interest and forget that rule; fighting against her to hold herself together, squeezing and daring her to give more of herself. Hers guilty pleasure. But likewise, Yukino brought her out of that trance with a well-placed push on her back - It was hers first desperate kick. "Auch" It made her mumble; but the next, the third and the fourth made the situation clear to her. Yukino was going to get away one way or another! The queen began to crawl in circles to make her aim more difficult, keeping her legs still on hers neck. Was like the chase of the minute hand running away from the second hand, and you know which one is faster. Gabriel had to choose. Yukino was going to get away. The submission that no longer tightened. Had to give it to her.

The blonde spread her legs.