Rain Dance

Kimi purposely moved back to the defensive, trying to lure Curtis into a false sense of victory, she even purposely let a few hits slip through as she waited to launch her surprise attack.

Curtis took the bait, more out of aggravation than anything. He knew hand-to-hand wasn't his specialty, but he didn't think he would be doing this badly at it. How he longed for a whip or some other long-distance weapon.

Kimi lashed out at him suddenly and viciously. She punched him in the stomach a few times before throwing an uppercut and cutting her fist on his teeth.

Curtis staggered back and fell squarely on his butt, coughing and rubbing his jaw.

"Well, I say that's a loss, Curtis," Barrett remarked. "Can't underestimate those little spitfires, eh?"

Curtis nodded, remaining quiet.

"Sorry" Kimi mumbled. "No hard feelings?" She asked softly, carefully wiping the blood from her knuckles before offering her hand to help him up.

"Why are you apologizing for winning a fight?" Curtis asked with a smirk, taking her hand to help himself up. "It was a good match. Proves I've still got training to do myself."

Kimi blushed and looked to her feet shyly. "I'm sorry" She mumbled again. "Its just, you looked a little cross when I knocked you down..."

"I've yet to know anyone who likes losing," Curtis replied with a shrug. "But I'm not a sore loser. Or I try not to be, anyway."

Soon Voltaire walked in, quickly going over to Kimi. "Hey, I've been looking all over for you."

Kimi looked up at Voltaire with a grin. "You're better" She chirped before hugging him happily.

"Yeah, finally," Voltaire replied.

"She's getting better at fighting," said Curtis. "We've been sparring. I lost."

Voltaire gave him a look of mild disbelief.

Kimi grinned up at Voltaire. "I did. I didn't think I would but I did and training was fun"

"Like I said, proves I need to pick up the slack some," Curtis replied, as he and Barrett walked away. "Anyway, we need to get to our match, so we need to get going. See you later."

"Later," Voltaire answered, watching them walk out.

Kimi followed behind Voltaire. "Good luck" She smiled

"Thanks," Curtis replied as the Cats disappeared from view.

Voltaire turned his attention back to Kimi. "So you showed ol' Curtis a thing or two, huh?"

Kimi blushed and looked away modestly. "I was just lucky I guess" She mumbled

"Only wish I could have seen it," replied Voltaire with a smirk. Kimi was getting to be a good fighter. That was essential not just for the tournament but for any trouble outside of it as well. That helped assure him.

Kimi giggled. "Why? We were just sparring"

Voltaire shrugged. "So?"

"Well, I mean, it wasn't really anything special. He was just helping me practice, Like Adair was this morning." Kimi mumbled. She slipped her hand into his shyly. "We should head back to Ava and Adair"

"That's the plan," Voltaire replied.

"m'kay..." Kimi smiled. She continued to follow Voltaire until they got to the room, where she made a beeline to their blankets.

Voltaire soon followed, burrowing under the blankets. Adair and Ava were already asleep.

Kimi cuddled up next to him. She slightly hoped that he had forgotten his comment to Adair earlier about misbehaving because she was tired after her spar with Curtis.

Voltaire hadn't forgotten, but Adair and Ava were here sleeping and he himself was tired. Voltaire wrapped his arms around her and soon began to go to sleep.

As soon as Voltaire's arms were around her, Kimi was out like a light. She slept deeply in his reassuring and safe embrace