After seeing that match, I knew something was off. I had to get off my seat and find out where the heck did White went throughout the entire match. I didn't really know the truth at the time but once I found out what happened though...my feelings toward a certain person kind of changed a bit. Just a bit though.

"Where are you going?" Hemrietta stopped me.

"Leaving. What else? I'm bored of watching this thing."

"Well at the very least don't be so sour, Yumiko."

"Do I look like I am sour?" I was annoyed, "I'm just going someplace else in this arena. It's not that I'm going anywhere further than that."

"At least be more polite, jeez."

"I am done being polite..." I passed by him and purposely step on one of his foot as I was leaving the watch area.

"What is up with that girl?" Hemrietta rubs his feet after being stepped on by me.

Aspye then calmed him down by saying, "Just let it be. You'll get use to her."

"I guess this is what I get for neglecting my roommates, huh?"

-

I figured that a bathroom break would be just the thing that I needed so I went to the bathroom and cleanse myself off from all of the trouble I have on myself. In all honesty, if only I could just wash away all of my trouble with water. I wouldn't be stuck between such a rock and a hard place. Plus, judging by what just happened with Ethereal's last matchup against that mechanical guy, I felt a similar presence coming from her.

"Best I go to the locker room then..."

Violet then suddenly appears from the mirror next to me and said, "Should you really be over here at this time, Yumiko?"

"I know that..."

"You're conflicted right? On one hand, you're friends are still in this arena but on the other hand, trouble is about to come. And you can't simply ask them to leave the arena without any valid reasoning behind it."

I laughed a bit and said to her, "Whatever it may be...In the end, I just hope this is all worth it."

I got out of the bathroom and went for the locker room. Once I reached there, I saw Ethereal was resting along with two other girls. One of them seemed familiar while the other one was someone that I never seen before. I decided to take a closer look and greeted them.

"Why if it isn't the Shinobi of Magic Studies, Lin. What are you doing here?"

"Yumiko?" She looked surprised for someone who used to do stuff in a surprising matter.

"Nice of you to come and join our group at the last minute." I gave her smile.

She then replied, "Well...I'm only here on behalf of Lala's order."

"Is that so? I thought you're here to have fun. I mean the Koi Dragon Invitational is one of the biggest event during our travel here in Nippon."

"True...but..."

I stopped her there and said, "It's okay to be enthusiastic for a bit. I used to be like that as well. Just enjoy the moment while it last, Lin."

"Okay..." Lin suddenly feels less tense than she used to.

Somehow, I calmed her down and allowed her to relax and forget about abiding her duty. But still, I'm surprised that the Cardinal of Magic Studies could be this cautious even during a vacation like this. It really just says that there is a big difference between Lala and the rest of the other Cardinals including Sam Maximus herself.

With that in mind, I turned my focus to this 'new' character that I saw was hanging out with the resting Ethereal and Lin.

"I've never seen you before, are you a local?"

The 'girl' nervously replied, "Um...yes? I'm a local here..."

"Is that so? Then why do you wear that clothing? Isn't that what Ethereal wore just now? And why did Ethereal changed back to her normal outfit?"

She started to sweat bullets until Lin suddenly interrupted and said, "She's actually Ethereal little helper." She then whispered to me and said, "In other words...Ethereal here is cheating. Just don't it to anyone."

"Cheating, you say? Well I'm not saying that it is wrong to cheat in a tournament but if you're not caught, then I'm fine with it. It's just that Ethereal's little replacement here is a tad too short and...flat as a board."

"Excuse me?" The unknown girl responded.

"Did I say something wrong? Its truth isn't it? And where is your manner, young lady? You should have introduced to me first..."

Lin quickly cuts me off and said, "Her name is uh..." Her eyes weren't looking at me. Instead she was looking for something in the room until she finally said, "Ah yes. She is..."

"Zephyr. Just call me Zephyr." The girl answered for herself.

"Oh that's a nice name you have." It was at that moment where I finally stopped the act and said, "Too bad you can't lie your way out of this, White."

The 'girl' sighed and finally gave up, "Even with this voice you can still recognize me?"

"I don't need to know you more other than that stupid dagger and that time stopping ability of yours was in full display on that last match."

"Jeez...I knew I would get caught...and of course it's you who found out first."

I laughed at him and asked, "Where do you even get that name, anyway? It's sound so...creative. Just like you. Of course..." I nodded my head as I said that.

Zephyr...or White then replied to me, "It's just a name that my mother thought of for me if I was born a girl. It's just that..." He crossed his arm and continued, "Nothing else..."

"Your mother must be disappointed that it's a boy." I made a light joke out of his misery.

"I think we have enough of that Yumiko." White was serious.

I then said to him, "In any case...Looks like the bets are off. You broke a rule and that means I'm the winner."

"Can we do this another time? I have one more fight to settle." White prepared himself for the final round of the invitational.

"Good luck! Don't get caught cheating!"

"Shut...up..." White sounded defeated even before his battle started.

-

As both Lin and I continued to watch the final round from the television inside the locker room, Ethereal seems to be getting better after taking that short rest. But in this case, she is pretty much out of the invitational and now White...I mean, Zephyr will be taking over this match. I find it funny how crucial things seem to always come to that guy. I don't know if he's that lucky or he just have a pure bad luck. In any case, he might as well steal this victory instead of...I don't know, purposely giving up.

But back to what at stake, I noticed that the final round hasn't started yet because of the appearance of the special guess had just arrived. The Emperor of Nihon, Emperor Kai. He also brought along some of his personal bodyguards just in case. It's pretty standard that we get to see The Emperor finally appearing at the very last round. Just in time for him to crown the winner of this year Koi Dragon Invitational.

But something else catches my eye and it wasn't the Emperor's bodyguard but it was his subordinate that also appeared and took a seat next to him. Out of all the subordinate that could have come and join us, it was the most obvious one that arrived to foresee the outcome of this 'controversial' tournament according to this subordinate himself.

He's totally prepared for anything from the looks of it. With that shogun armour and that ferocious looking helmet of his. I'm sure everyone can tell who it was. But deep down, not many really knows what he had kept to himself for a long time. I can't believe he covered his entire face with a metal mouth mask. Covering his entire face except for his glowing red eyes that was lurking under the shadow of his helmet.

Yes, this was none other than the one everyone has been waiting for. The Leader of The Yokai, The Shogun, Kitsuneki. Now that might just be too weird because I'm already used to his other title. What was it again? Oh yeah, I can probably remember that if I take another look at his armour. Yup, it wasn't just a normal shogun armour, it was in purple. Purple is the colour of chaos. Allow me to introduce to you to my retainer, The Fourth Champions of Chaos, The Chaos Shogun, The Leader of The Yokai, The Legendary Seven Tailed Fox, Lord Kitsuneki.

That's awfully a lot of title for just one man. But at the end of the day, that guy means business. I'm here today because of him but at the same time...I fully despise him. But for now, his appearance over here might just mean that something is about to happen to our 'lucky' winner...once again...Good luck...

TO BE CONTINUED