[[Loyalty]] A Kiba Inuzuka Story [1]

[[Chapter 17]]

Ryuumaru raised his palm and his fingers twitched slightly and he lowered himself. Kagami's breath hitched again. T-That stance! He can't be thinking of using… Kagami's eyes widened with fear. Ryuumaru opened his eyes and his lips twitched into a cold smirk. This is the end for you Akio-kun. Ryuumaru looked at the panting Akio.

"Suji Haretsu!" Ryuumaru looked for the weak points in Akio's muscles, discovering plenty open spots. Kagami bit her lip again.

"AKIO WATCH OUT!!" Kagami yelled, her voice cracking a little. Almost everybody looked at shock at her sudden outburst. Especially since she used his first name. She gripped the railing, and Ryuumaru only glared. She was definitely going to get punished for this. Akio looked up and nodded. Ryuumaru growled and got his hands ready to badly hurt the younger boy. Ryuumaru immediately launched himself at Akio. Akio promptly ducked from the first attempt from Ryuumaru and moved his body perfectly to dodge every hit that Ryuumaru tried to land. Damnit, he's moving too fast for me to land any hits! Ryuumaru growled and then jumped back to regain some breath.

"Peh, I thought you were stronger than that Ryuumaru." Akio teased. Ryuumaru growled as his hands started to glow a dangerous red color.

"You just asked for your own death!" Ryuumaru growled. He glanced at Kagami for a quick second. It's because that weakling warned him…Damn her... He looked back at Akio. Kagami's eyes widened with fear again. Ryuumaru yelled again in fury and charged at Akio again. Akio gulped and lowered himself, preparing himself for himself and carefully got out a paper bomb. This was it. This was going to be the final hit he could get. Ryuumaru's hands glowed a red color and got his hand ready to hit. Akio smirked softly and activated the bomb, the paper slowly burning away. He looked up and took a silent breathe. Ryou's eyes twitched for a second as his grip on the railing actually made his hand start bleeding again.

"This is it!" Ryuumaru growled and brought his hand forward.

"AKIO!!" Ryou yelled, actually leaning over the railing. Tsume bit her lip and lowered her head watching intently on what the boy was thinking going head-on like that. Ryuumaru hit Akio straight on the chest, sending a wave of red chalkra straight through him. Ryuumaru just sent his chalkra like a blade, ripping through the muscles... Tsume thought growling slightly. Akio winced and coughed blood directly on contact. Ryuumaru smirked in victory until he felt something on his side. His eyes widened as he realized a paper bomb was stuck to his side.

"You-You idiot!" Ryuumaru shrieked. Akio smirked slightly.

"I guess I won’t win. But atleast I can take you down with me." Akio smiled weakly. Ryuumaru just looked at Akio like he was insane or something. But then a piercing light went off and an explosion of dust occurred, causing everyone to shield themselves from the dust. Akio had too little chalkra to create a dangerous explosion, so Ryuumaru shouldn't be that badly hurt. Tsume thought. The dust cleared and both boys were unconscious. Hayate looked at both before raising his hand.

"Due to a double-knock out. It's declared a tie. Both are disqualified." Hayate called. Everyone gasped. Naruto growled and raised his fist in the air.

"No way! That's not possible! That Akio guy gave it his all! Doesn't that mean anything!?" Naruto yelled. Hinata looked at Naruto, blushing but then at Kagami. She only had her head down, not sure of what to do. Her bangs hid her eyes and Ryou only clenched his fists. He growled aloud and quickly jumped over the railing and ran over to where Akio was being carried off. I-…I don’t know what to do… Ryuumaru-sama, forgive me. She looked down and jumped over the riling as well, following Ryou to the young Giroshiki.

"Akio-san..." Ryou whispered, gently touching Akio's arm as he walked past. There was some blood on Akio's chest and mouth. Kagami brought her hands to her chest and her eyes drifted to where Ryuumaru was being carried off. Ryou looked down, trying not to let some tears out.

"It's alright Giroshiki-sama, he'll get better soon. I have faith in him." Kagami assured, putting a hand on his shoulder. Ryou looked at the small girl and sighed audibly.

"I know, it's just that. He only gave it his all… Was to prove he wasn't a baby." Kagami looked at Ryou with interest.

"I was always teasing him about crying, since he was the youngest." Ryou paused for a second and turned around to look at Kagami.

"He wanted to prove himself… To me." Ryou stated, his eyes showed sadness and the past of him and his younger twin playing. Even as kids Ryou was always serious. Sometimes not even smiling. And then Akio was always the happy go-lucky one. Having fun no matter what he was doing. Sometimes Ryou felt a bit jealous, but felt glad that his brother was just enjoying what life gave him. Kagami looked down and tugged lightly at Ryou's arm.

"Come on, we need to get back up." Kagami said softly, trying to offend him in anyway. Ryou nodded and walked up with her. Hayate looked at the two genin and nodded.

"Alright, now we'll arrange the next match." He called and the screen started to mix names again.

"It's alright Ryou, Akio's a tough kid He'll pull through." Tsume smiled and patted Ryou's back roughly. Ryou nodded and smiled weakly. Kagami looked at the screen and froze. M-Me…? Already? Why me!? Why not somebody who actually wants to go!?! Kagami screamed in her head. Ryou looked at Kagami with slight sympathy. She couldn't stop staring. She kept blinking to try and see if it was just an illusion of some sort. She took a breath and looked up again.

Kagami Chousei

V

Ichiro Komokage

"So it's me next huh?" Kagami scratched out. Kiba looked at Kagami jump down hesitantly. She's scared that she might lose, He looked at everyone's eyes, just looking. Just expecting Kagami to be beat down. But in front of everyone too. Akamaru barked in support to his other favorite human. Ichiro growled and jumped down as well.

"Why do I have to fight a girl? This should be over fast then.." Ichiro smirked and Kagami bit her lip from speaking out. Hayate coughed and nodded while stepping back. Ichiro sighed and lowered himself.

"So, you're the cousin or Ryuumaru huh? You know, I've always considered Ryuumaru-san to be my… mortal enemy you know? Though, I've secretly wanted to beat him in a fight. But I guess you'll do." Ichiro charged first. Just keep calm and avoid all strikes.. Kagami moved to the side, turning on her heel to keep Ichiro in sight. Ichiro kept trying to throw punches but Kagami kept ducking and moving out of the way.

"Coward! Quiet wiggling around!" Ichiro yelled and lowered himself even more. To try and trip her. Kagami jumped and her own hands started glow with white chalkra.

"That's the Chousei technique..." Asuma whispered. Ino looked at him with interest.

"Kawaii-chan's clan has their own technique?" Ino asked. Shikamaru sighed before turning to his blonde teammate.

"Of course they do. Haven't you noticed with Ryuumaru an Akio's fight. They attack the muscles." Shikamaru paused. Asuma nodded and smiled taking out his cigarette for second to breathe out the smoke.

"If they attack the muscles, it renders them useless, partially paralyzing the enemy. Using Lee and Gai's ferocious fist they can rip through muscles with their chalkra. A delicate art and usually ends up fatal. Either for the enemy.." He looked at Kagami's hand.

"Or the Chousei using it." His eyes strained. Ino's eyes widened and she looked back at her other childhood friend.

"You get him Kawaii-chan!! Beat his ass!!" Ino yelled, leaning over the railing and holding her hands next to her mouth. Shikamaru groaned and covered his left ear.

"Troublesome woman, you don't have to yell so loud." Ino gave a glare at the lazy Shikamaru before looking at the fight again. Kagami ducked from another punch and brought her hand back to attack.