Niche

THE FOUR OF THEM FOLLOWED SORA to wherever she was heading. They heard distant shouting, like there was a crowd. Niche looked around and got amazed. Ground Zero looked just like any other city, except it was underground. No wonder it could not be found despite all the efforts. Not even Interpol found it.

Niche suddenly noticed the abrupt stop and halted too. In front of them was a spacious concrete area, and in the center were people that were fighting.

"Where are we?" she asked Nica.

"The Arena."

"The what?"

"Everyone! Yukoso, to the Ground Zero Arena!" Sora announced upon their arrival.

People were shouting. Niche guessed all of those people were either gangsters, part of the mafia, criminals or just people who got nothing to do.

Sora led them to a balcony, and sat in a throne-looking seat. Niche noticed a man with a clown's mask that went to Sora. Niche took this oppurtunity to talk to her younger twin sister.

"How did you know this place? And how did you get yourself affiliated with the mafia? Libero is a terrorist organization, right?" Niche asked Nica who was watching the fight that was happeningon in the arena.

"Hmm, not all intel in Libero are actually right on. Sometimes you need other sources of intel as well." Nica leaned on one of the post. "I stumbled on this place because of Sora last year. I've been getting intel here ever since too. Sometimes, intel given by the dark side has more information than the government."

"I suppose you're right." Niche sighed.

Nico suddenly put his hand on their shoulders. "Uhm, what are we doing here, exactly?"

Suddenly, Sora came with a Cheshire grin on her mouth. Niche got a bad feeling about this.

"Okay! So I've already arranged a fight for you guys. If you win, you get to have everything you're asking for!" she said.

"And if we don't?" Nis asked.

"Well, one of you must be left behind here and work for me. And I'd choose Megane-kun here." she smiled again.

"What?!" was the response of the three. They were newcomers to Ground Zero after all.

"Game!" Niche heard Nica piped up!

"You serious?" Nis questioned with wide eyes. Sora was playing with his hair.

"Don't worry. We won't lose."

***

Niche and her siblings were on the center of the arena. Niche, Nis and Nico had a handkerchief that was covering half of their faces. Nica wore nothing to cover herself.

"So, how did you have time to play here?" asked Niche to Nica who was smirking. She seemed really giddy and excited.

"Hmm, when I'm on day offs. Don't you think it's odd that I'm always gone from my room every Friday night?" Nica replied in a 'duh' tone.

"You sneaks out every Friday night?" Nis piped out behind Niche.

"Yeah. No one bothers waking me up early every Saturday anyway, so I got plenty of time."

"Seriously?" Nico grimaced.

The crowd suddenly got rowdy. This made Niche look at the balcony where Sora was and saw her with a microphone in hand.

"Everyone! We shall have a great show today! Our number one fighter, Arrow, will give us a show! Together with her are her siblings!" the crowd became more rowdy. "Fighting against the quadruplets is our very own, Rainstorm!"

From the side of the arena, four individuals came out. Two girls and two boys, all were wearing gray hoodies.

"Yo! Long time no see, Arrow." said the person whom Niche thought was the leader.

"Oh? It was just last week Storm. Although I did do a great number on you." Nica said in a taunting voice.

"It won't happen again." said another one.

"Yeah."

"Uh huh. I'm still unbeatable you know?" Nica's words were playful and full of sarcasm.

"Just watch."

The Rainstorm distanced themselves. "So, what's the plan?" Niche asked.

"Nothing. Just fight to your heart's content." Nica smirked.

"Oh yeah? Then I don't have to hold back, yes?" Nico commented. Niche guessed there was an unusual smirk on his face.

"I can use my inventions, right?" Nis asked.

"Of course! There's only one rule in this arena; that is not to kill."

"Now! Let the fight, begin!!!!!" Sora announced.

Rainstorm attacked first. Nico and Nis intercepted it and fought the four by themselves. Niche noticed Nica by her side, her smirk was getting wider as she watched her two twin brothers fight.

"They're enjoying themselves." she heard her say.

"This is the first time I'm seeing this."

"How come you're not as excited as them?" Nica asked again.

"I'm not as unmoved as you."

Suddenly, a fist came thrusting forward and hit Niche in the face which threw her out of balance.

"Don't lose focus on the fight. Remember that." Niche heard Nica comment.

"Tch. Shut up!"

Niche got up. "That hurt, you asshole!"

"Ooh, bad words for a fifteen year old. That's bad." Nica taunted.

"Shut up!"

She kicked her opponent, which was another girl, and that girl got thrown. The girl, threw a kick too but she blocked it. Suddenly, a roundhouse kick greeted Niche and she skidded a few meters.

"Not bad. No one has ever defeated me, other than Nica." she muttered.

"Well, this is your lucky day. I will defeat you."

"Nope. You won't."

With five swift moves Niche's opponent was down. When she looked up, her siblings were already done. Nica was sitting on top of Rainstorm's leader. "Did you enjoy it?"