** Casa de Lorenzo, Barcelona. Spain **

Ibuki manages to leap sideways, her moves wild and out of instinct, yet they suffice as the reason she’s still alive at the moment. Due to their instinctive origin she had not controlled the direction of her leap and thus she unwillingly collides against the wall quite hard, her back emitting a thud as it hits the wall, accompanied by a soft exhale Ibuki’s lungs force upon her.

Vibora's claws whistle past her abdomen, the eager blades being deprived of her blood just narrowly as Vibora zooms by Ibuki with amazing speed, turning around after her dash she prepares to press her assault onward.

Ibuki exhales upon impact and quickly steps back, scrambling to enter her fighting stance as Vibora leaps up and dives down at her claw first, this deadly assault exceeding a strong kick off the 10 foot high ceiling.

Ibuki manages to sidestep out of harm's way by twisting her body quickly in her motion, the claws once more, whisking by her, too close for comfort in the Shinobi’s opinion, that would change as soon as she managed to get into a more comfortable position, that she would make sure of.

"Not very honorable are you?" Ibuki mutters under her breath as she steps back and lifts one hand to guard her face and the other to extend before her body, entering her stance. She glares coldly at the back of her current, quite deadly adversary as she feels the adrenaline begin to rush through her veins, her breathing beginning to catch a slightly quicker pace.

Vibora lands in a crouching position and turns around to press forward her offensive only to be greeted by Ibuki's foot as it slams into her ribcage, forcing the Spanish vixen to spew out the air from her lungs.

"Merda, this woman is as quick as I am… Bah! That will not be nearly enough to stop me, Moreover in my own Casa…!" Alexis thinks as she feels Ibuki's heel sink slightly into her lower ribcage as she was about to press forward, leaving herself open as she turns around.

The blow is quite precise and painful, the ninja shoe sinking slightly against her skin and bruising it and the muscle tone beneath it. That would leave a mark and in Vibora’s Point of view that was nothing less than unacceptable for the Spanish assassin, this Shinobi would pay for that, all in due time.

Vibora reels backwards slightly, she shifting her body slightly with the reeling motion, bringing her clawless fist toward Ibuki's face in a quick whipping motion. Yet as she does she already readies her clawed fist and pulls her arms back to slash forward at Ibuki’s abdomen.

Ibuki pulls her face backward slightly, Vibora's first punch not managing to reach its target, her arm not long enough. But her follow up slash hits home and grazes against Ibuki's abdomen, slashing through cloth, bandages and skin lightly.

Ibuki gasps lightly and grits her teeth as she steps back, her hand instinctively reaching out for her wounded body. "D*mn, she's just like Vega was...gotta keep my distance...I better keep my defense up and plan a good retaliation...and fast..." Ibuki thinks as her eyes scan Vibora calmly.

Vibora's body was as well built and flexible, much if not more so than her own. The woman was older and probably more experienced and to make things worse she was serious about Killing Ibuki, not beating her, Ibuki didn't like the odds, not one bit, but she had gotten used to the odds being tipped against her, she had bad experience with such situations last summer, and she wouldn’t give in now, not by a long shot, the fight was long from over, it had only just begun.

Vibora, oblivious to Ibuki's thoughts or gaze counts on her reaching for her lightly wounded abdomen already presses forward again as she and leaps diagonally upward while sending her foot ascending toward Ibuki's face quickly and precisely, the power and speed of the blow is meant to more or less plow through Ibuki.

** Internal Security Office, Jerusalem, Israel **

Hours and hours they had tried, time and time again they had reconsidered strategies, and all had failed. Jason, murderer, assassin and terrorist, the man responsible for dozens of deaths, was as silent as a rock.

Chunli is outside the interrogation room, cradling her head in her hands, exhaling through grit teeth, frustrated and tired. It seemed like an eternity since she had rested when in fact she’d only been on duty for several hours.

Cammy and Guile exit the metallic door behind Chunli, their faces worn and aggravated. They to it would seem could not crack his iron strong resolve. She turns toward them, quirking a brow in a questioning look.

Cammy shakes her head and plops down beside Li, sighing heavily “This guy’s impossible,” she mutters tiredly and leans her head against the cold wood of the table. Guile leans against the wall and hmms.

“We’ve even tried illegal means, Truth Serum, hurting him, he won’t budge, I give up” he says and leans back against the wall. Soon a man comes by, looks at them and sighs “No luck, eh?” he says in accented English.

They nod tiredly as Guile moves to sit down beside the two ladies. He cradles his head in one hand and runs a hand through his brush like hair with the other.

“Well I’ve got some good news for you, we’ve run some DNA and background tests on him, and discovered some very interesting things about him and his past.” He says and places a file on the desk before them. He then sits down beside the table.

They seem to rejuvenate at the prospect of some good news for a change. All peering at him curiously, sitting straight and listening intently. He opens the file and passes them some papers.

“This fellow, who seems to call himself Jason was once a Navy Seal operative. His name was Jeffery Jay McNeil. Around 2 years ago, he and his platoon were sent on a recon mission to Burma, none of them came back, and he was the only one whose body was never found and was declared missing.

Guile blinks and nods “Hey, I remember that incident, the guys up on DC wanted to try and sniff out one of Bison’s old bases…after Shadowlaw had been disbanded, the reports say a bomb tore them all to shreds, and the base as well…” Guile says at which the man nods to.

“The files say, That JJ McNeil was the most proficient and skilled trooper in his Special Ops team, and also, that he had a slightly disturbing habit of hitting his foes in quite…interesting manners, with great precision, he almost got kicked off the force three times, but was pardoned when he convinced the Psychologist he was alright…” he says.

They look at him, then back at the door and a look of realization comes over them. This was indeed an interesting turn of events.

** Back in Vibora’s estate **

Ibuki is smarter than Vibora had anticipated, the instinctive move was well real, but Ibuki was a ninja, and she knew just how foes like Vibora act, for she had sparred and learned under some of the best Assassins in the world.

She grins under her mask, springing the trap over the unsuspecting Vibora who had probably not encountered many foes with similar states of mind and strategy as herself. Vibora as anticipated is rather surprised and shocked as Ibuki quickly lifts her hands and parries the kick, grabbing onto her heel and throwing her leg sideways, sending Vibora off balance and stumbling to her feet clumsily.

Ibuki's eyes flicker with wisps of blue Ki as she lets her life force collect into her fist. In mere seconds wisps of blue energy swirls around her knuckles and fist, a blue hue emitting from her skin as she steps forward, twisting her whole body as she throws his fist forward.

Vibora doesn’t have time to think or brace herself as Ibuki fist hits home, a cry of "Raida!" escaping her lips whilst Ibuki's fist screeches forth, a trail of blue chi following her almost blurry fist as collides with Vibora's body.

Alexis inhales sharply after impact, the sheer force behind the blow was painful enough, but the waves of Ki and recoil of the collision were an extra uncomfortable bonus as they send her flying backward, rolling a on the ground few times before stops while lying on her front side.

She coughs once and narrows her eyes angrily, before looking upwards and seeing Ibuki approach her, intent on kicking the exposed back of her head. "Ah Ah Ah, I don't think so..." Alexis thinks as she rises to her feet quickly and kicks upwards.

Ibuki stops her momentum in order to step back lightly. She then smirks lightly, thinking she is now able and going to slip in a devastating blow under the now exposed defense of Vibora. This proves however not to be the case, for as Ibuki approaches once again she doesn’t notice the fact Vibora kicked off her left foot after the initial kick.

Vibora thus keeps on the jumping motion and spins sideways in midair while thrusting her foot forward along with her momentum, clocking Ibuki's chin with a powerful with her left foot that Ibuki never saw coming.

Ibuki's eyes widen slightly as she's forced backward, her head whipping sideways where Vibora lands on her hands and flip flops back to her feet, smirking under her mask as she resumes her stance quickly.

Ibuki recovers quickly but feels a dull and annoying pain exploding in her right cheek. She growls lightly under her own face mask, her eyes narrowing slightly, her mind trying to analyze Vibora and make up a suitable tactic to match her opponent’s ones.

"Not an easy kill, am I little assassin...?" Vibora asks in a sweet soft tone, followed by an amused chuckle. "Aren't accustomed to your foe having the same acrobatic and retaliatory ability ability as your own, are you?" She adds and winks as she hops lightly on her feet, feeling quite smug at Ibuki’s obvious difficulty to dominate her as she has so many others.

Ibuki doesn't give her the satisfaction lashing back verbally and grits her teeth, clenching her fists tighter, ignoring the harmless yet extremely annoying burning sensation from the cuts on her abdomen.

"Not a great talker, are we? Oh well, we'll find a way to hear your sweet voice…hmm, I believe your screams of pain as you writhe in agony will suffice..." Vibora ends her sentence with a venomous tone.

Ibuki narrows her eyes at this, her brow ticking she unsheathes her Katana, the metal brushing against the hilt and then shining lightly as the dim light of the room rebounds of its texture.

She shifts her stance accordingly for a weapon based fighting style, spreading her legs more and loosening her arms and bringing them slightly more forward as she holds the blade before her, ready to take the battle to a much more dangerous tone.

Vibora recognizes the more offensive stance and can not help but admit she is intrigued by what would come next as Ibuki edges closer to her, and also knows, whatever happens, for once she would enjoy a battle, a true battle and that makes her grin in anticipation and glee.

** Back in Israel **

Everyone has read through his history, his skill had shown amazing shooting skills, he was a black belt in both Karate and Kung Fu and a very sharp tactical mind, he was supposedly going to make it very far in the military with his exquisite talents…” he says.

“Before he disappeared you mean” Guile says and at this the man nods.

“It would also seem, he has changed greatly, he was of Latino and Pilipino Origins, his hair was short and black and his eyes, well his eyes were green where they’re not normal anymore, not to mention somebody conducted very intense and thorough plastic surgery over his face” He says and looks at them.

“But how? I mean, he couldn’t have survived…” Chunli says, “The records say they got blasted by C4 explosives, the damage to his tissue would be irreversible….not to mention he should be disemboweled across a few good feet from the recoil and intensity of the blast” she says.

“That’s where we’re stuck on at the moment, but we did find out more details about him, from some scanning readings we did on him…” He says and shows them a skeleton picture of Jason, a thermal reading and page with many sentences in Hebrew.

“His skin, is not made of cells, it’s made of synthetic plastic, very touch, durable and flexible, like real skin, except….it’s much thicker, tougher and can withstands heats to up to 200 degrees” he says, “The compound is indeed odd” he muses.

“But who would have the technology to…oh no…it can’t be…he’s dead…” Chunli mutters, remembering all the rumors of Shadowlaw’s genetic division, remembering Cammy herself had been researched in that very place.

Cammy’s face pales and she gulps “What’s do the other scanning results say…” she asks quietly, looking quite disturbed and appalled.

“According to X-rays, his skeleton is made of a metallic alloy, he’s not human, he’s a machine, a living machine it seems, for he registers pain and harbors emotions. Whatever or whoever made him, had conducted research into the most forbidden parts of Genetics and Cybernetics. Our scientists have concluded by his structure that he’s nothing less than a killing machine.” He says.

There is a tense silence, and everyone looks at one another. “Call DC Li, we’re going to need transportation for him, we’ll make him talk, or crack him open, either way, we’ll find out who’s made him, and what he wants…” Guile says.

He then thanks the man, and he leaves, leaving them the file. They look at each other warily, fearfully. “Looks like we’ve got more than we anticipated on ours hands…” Guile says quietly.

“This Jason, is probably a very advanced Cyborg, the newest of Bison’s toys, this isn’t good? It isn’t good at all, what’re we going to do? We couldn’t beat Bison then, how’re we ever going to do it now?” Chunli asks.

“Don’t worry Li, we’ll find a way, we did then, we will now, soon, soon…” Cammy whispers quietly, her voice fading away before all three fall silent, each falling into his own thoughts and memories.

**Meanwhile, outside Rose’s estate, Venice, Italy **

Rose and Richter approach one another quickly, the gap between them fading away to nothingness as Richter throws his fist forward, furious black flames enveloping his knuckles as he aims it at her face.

Rose is wearing a long flowing robe of dark crimson red and her shawl, the present Bison once gave her, many years ago. It is wrapped around her hand at the moment and glows in bright blue, the light illuminating the dark atmosphere before her wrist accommodates his fist, swatting it off course. Their energies clash and crackles upon contact.

Richter throws another fist forward, his power coiling around his fist as it screeches toward Rose’s face, the psychic woman dodges the blow and brings her palm into his solar plexus. He grunts as her power jolts him, causing his muscles to cramp and tense.

She then grabs his shirt and pulls her fist backward, as she’s about to throw it forward, Richter stops it with his own telekinesis and lifts his knee, ramming it into her midsection. Rose shuts her eyes holding in her breath as she’s pushed back, losing her grip.

Richter continues the motion and ascends quickly while lifting his fist to accommodate Rose’s head. His knuckles ram hard into her slender chin, and her head whips back as she stumbles back, shaking her head as she spits some saliva due to the surprising blow.

Rose’s hair whips along with her head’s motions as she falls to her knees after losing her footing on a crack in the ground, stumbling to her knees, cursing under her breath in Italian as Richter kicks her while she’s down, sending her rolling backward as his foot hits her ribcage.

She grunts painfully as she stops rolling, now lying on her front side, her eyes shut. She pops one eye open and grits her teeth, she senses her opponent approach and a deep bluish-green hue surrounds her body before she release a battle cry and it intensifies.

The air around her begins charging up with power as Rose uses a telekinetic wave to shift the movement of the very ki inside the air, forming it into a huge gust of concentrated wind which stops Richter from landing another blow on the winded Psychic.

Richter is sent off balance and spiraling toward the ground quickly, his eyes then glow in black as he manipulates the air around him, using it in order to levitate around an inch above the ground in so he does not lose his footing.

He then throws his hand forward. Energy escapes his skin and collects into his open palm, forming a concentrated sphere. The accumulated energy spirals toward Rose, charging up the air behind it, leaving a strong energy imprint in the air and being followed by a fading trail of energy in its path.

Rose holds onto her shawl tightly her energy charging up the mystical cloth, her eyes picking up the bluish energy which also accumulates around the cloth. Richter throws a ball of black Ki and fire at her.

Rose pulls her hand back and brings the shawl swinging forward. Her energy crackles violently; the air around the shawl is disturbed and bent to her whim, being pushed forth and sending Richter’s energy sphere catapulting back toward him.

Richter leaps over it, his power augmenting his muscles as he courses through the air, spinning in midair before shifting his momentum telekinetically and diving down toward rose, hurtling forth like a bullet, aiming his fists toward her body.

Rose’s eyes narrow as she stands steady, not startled or wary of his upcoming move as the diving psychic approaches her with break neck speed. She sidesteps while turning around, her power building and igniting wildly as she pulls her shawl alongside her turning motion, her body moving with blurry speed, shifting position and momentum with all the grace and beauty which results of her years of well honed skill.

The cloth is strengthened by the force of Psychic power and Ki as it glows in bright green, Rose hence brings it hurtling upward, colliding with the descending Richter. An audible gasp of pain escapes Richter’s throat as energy crackles violently around him and sends him catapulting backwards, soaring through the air a few good feet back.

He lands heavily on his back, the air forced violently out of his lungs as he groans and shakes his head. He rolls sideways and pushes himself off his hands, rising to his feet. Sensing Rose approaching him rather quickly he throws his hand forward, the air around him concentrating into a sphere which is sent forth, surprising Rose with it’s speed it slams into her.

She exhales sharply and is pushed back, spinning sideways as she’s swept off her feet, she manages to balance herself with her power in the last possible moment and turns to look at Richter from the corner of her eye.

He is shaking his head, and then resuming a loose stance “You’re wasting your and my own time with this futile attempt of stopping me Rose. I suggest you give up; I will make sure you go back to your little prison and this time, forever. You cannot escape the destiny your actions have brought upon you,” he says confidently while inhaling deeply. “So stop trying” he adds as his eyes narrow.

Rose’s freezes and shuts her eyes tightly, the pain and trauma swirling before her eyes to a dizzying effect, the pleading, screaming, rape, pain, all the horrible things she had to endure and it lights something dark in her soul, something which had lay dormant for a long time.

Her purple cornea glow softly as she clenches her teeth and runs her tongue over her lips as she stands straight “Never…” she mutters icily and grasps her shawl tightly, holding it to the side of body as she resumes her own stance.

** Back in Barcelona **

Ibuki’s eyes narrow in a cold bone chilling glare as she steps forward and slashing her Katana at Vibora, in sense trying to cut the Spanish Assassin down. The blade whistles toward her neck before being blocked by Vibora's claws, an audible clang heard as metal meets metal hard.

If her foe were only as simple as her training partners, perhaps Vibora could be content and lower her guard, but Ibuki was not your average foe, she knows and takes full advantage of her foe's lack of range, quickly pulling her blade back before spinning her body around, using the momentum to bring the blade toward Vibora's body.

Vibora gasps and jumps back, being saved from fatal injury by narrow millimeters. Vibora flip flops back, trying to gain some distance from the now offensive Shinobi. But alas, against her anticipation as her objective isn't obtained just as she expected as Ibuki had more than just her Katana in her weapon repertoire. She takes out a Kunai dagger and hurls it toward Vibora's leg.

Vibora manages to kick her leg upward and out of harms way, but in doing so loses her balance and slips as she is forced to dodge the dagger just as she lands from her leap. She stumbles back and has to use the wall to regain her balance, these few crucial seconds she uses to repair her position are just what the doctor ordered for Ibuki.

Vibora grunts heavily as Ibuki brings her foot toward her upper chest, hitting it lightly and more pushing Vibora than hurting her.

Vibora grunts upon impact, being pushed back into the wall heavily, her face twisting immediately to a grimace as she exhales. That is before the second kick hits, Ibuki’s heel ramming violently into her diaphragm.

This kick however packs quite a punch and leaving Vibora literally breathless, the blow forcing the air out of Vibora's lungs. She coughs violently, her face reddening behind her mask as she's pushed back once more.

Then the third kick follows forth, aiming to ram Vibora's head into the wall. Vibora somehow, with sheer instinct or perhaps in sheer luck manages to duck under the kick. Ibuki's heel hits the stone wall hard, causing the Shinobi warrior to grimace involuntarily as she places her foot on the ground again, her body’s weight now causing pain to explode in her foot as she steps on it.

Vibora grins as she pants lightly, licking her lips under her mask and glaring at Ibuki as rushes forward, taking advantage of the woman’s momentary distraction. She steps forward and lifts her knee upward quickly, her knee ramming into Ibuki's solar plexus hard.

Ibuki exhales violently and shuts her eyes for a second, her body forced to bend forward; Her Katana doesn't allow her much maneuvering or blocking in such close quarters, the long blade not short enough to be swung with Vibora so close.

Vibora then head butts Ibuki with her masked face, causing her to gasp in pain as the cold metal rams into her forehead, sending her reeling quite a ways back as she finally stops and leans against the wall lightly, leveling herself with one hand.

Vibora chuckles lightly before speeding forth, leveling her claws, ready to disembowel Ibuki for good. “Time to die B*tch.” she says in a smug and content tone as she rushes forth speedily.

Ibuki lifts her gaze, focusing on the charging Vibora. Her breathing is slightly labored; her abdomen wound now stings painfully, her body aching and tired, not to mention a dull burning in her lungs.

Her past wounds which she obtained at the hands of one Mai Shiranui were still bothering her. She hadn't come to this battle at 100% of her ability. She alas didn't have time to wait for 100%, or so she thought a while ago.

As Vibora approaches a thought crosses her mind, was her truly decision wise? Obviously not, as the Spanish vixen that was now only 3 feet away was extremely skilled, equal if not superior to skill wise and physically superior to Ibuki at the given time, with Ibuki's injuries.

She doesn't have to ponder this thought much longer as she’s forced to react before it is too late. She leaps upward, kicking off the ground hard, the feat quite hard and dangerous with the low ceiling, but she luckily doesn’t collide against it and somersaults over the assassin.

She then lightly on her legs behind Vibora, timing a well placed swipe perfectly.

** Back in Venice **

Richter shakes his head “You haven’t changed much, still the stubborn simple woman you had always been…” he says in a weary tone. Rose does not answer his patronizing remark and instead edges closer to him, willing to wipe the arrogance and confidence off his face, preferably with her fists.

Richter snaps back into attention and thrusts his kick upward, his foot approaches Rose in a cleaving motion. Rose lifts her forearm, parrying his kick, pushing the leg downward before stepping forward and closing the gap between them, sending her fist towards his face.

He swats her fist off course and retaliates with his own only to find Rose block his blow as well. He prepares to lash out his fist again but Rose beats him to it, as both her palms ram into his upper torso, pushing him backward before the clasp around his clothing tightly.

Rose leaps upward while charging her energy, her eyes bursting into purple, an eerie dark purple, wisps of Ki and energy crackling within her eyes and coiling around her palm, a soft hue surrounding her skin as they both soar upward.

Richter tries in vain to break her hold, but due to surprise at her sudden speed and strength, he is unable to react in time and then cries out in pain as Rose’s power invades his psyche and body, his whole being and physical manifestation burning with pain.

Liquid fire pours through him, daggers stab his temples, his muscles cramp violently and his breathing turns labored, hard pants escaping his lips before the hellish hold is released and Rose tosses him downward.

He hits the ground heavily, his body landing with a thud. He lies down, his body still trying to recover from the agony it had felt only moments ago. His heart pounds and his body tenses and untenses lightly as Rose lands lightly on her feet, panting lightly from the extrusion as well.

”Concentrate Adolph, you can do this, she can’t dominate you for long, all you need, is an opening…” He thinks as he rolls onto his front side, his cheek kissing the ground, his warm skin sucking in the cold and humidity from the moist ground as he pushes himself to his feet tiredly.

Rose collects her power around her, forcing it to swirl around and build into a dense ball of Ki as she swings her shawl backward, the edge curling around the ball of Ki as Richter resumes his stance.

She then swings her hand forward, the shawl whipping forth and letting loose the ball of pulsing purple energy aiming at Richter. The German psychic crosses his arms and grunts as it hits him, pushing him back slightly as he shuts his eyes tightly.

Rose had counted on the contact and approached him the second her ball of Chi was released, pressing her offensive once more, past pains and indignation fueling her resolve as she shapes the Chi around. It swirls and it’s shape sharpens, surrounding her with crackling green energy as it morphs into a blade like shape as she aims to ram into the seemingly winded psychic.

Her mistake is critical as Richter had absorbed her energy, topping it with his own he suddenly explodes into black flames and thrusts both hands forward, his power lashing out at her, engulfing her with raging intensity.

She gasps in surprise and cries out in pain as the momentum of the power throws her back, her body now enveloped in searing hot energy. She manages to negate it with her own, but the damage had been done.

She hits the ground hard, being dragged against it, her clothes tearing and burning and her skin being breached and wounded as she rolls against the ground, before coming to a stop a good dozen feet away, her purple hair lying limply over her face as she pants weakly, her shawl blows away from her on the wind, lying as lifelessly as her.

Richter grins and sighs in relief “Poor woman, you never did know when to quit, I guess we’ll have to try harder on locking you up…this time you…” he mutters before blinking in surprise as Rose stirs and shivers.

Her clothing is mostly gone, only small burnt and smoldering remains left, barely covering her lithe and feminine body, hanging together weakly, her skin burnt and bleeding from several places where she had been wounded from the collision against the ground.

“You’re still alive, are you? You never did know when to just lie down and quit, or maybe you did, by letting that monster impregnate you and govern you as Bison did…” he says and shakes his head again.

That was the last straw, he could insult Rose, humiliate her, hurt her, but he wouldn’t blemish her and Bison love, the emotions which kept her going for so long, the only good thing she ever had, the thing they took away from her, the thing they turned tragic, the deprived them from.

Rage builds inside Rose and she feels everything fade away, only rage and anger left, so hot it seems to burn her from within, washing through her, pushing down all other things, all mercy, all thoughts, she would make them pay, she would make them pay for her pain, starting with Richter, now.

She rises to her feet shakily, glaring at him with totally purple eyes, the intensity, the hatred and rage in them bone chilling as her power builds and surrounded, coiling around her rapidly. Her fists are clenched hard, her breathing ragged and heavy as she brushes her hair from her eyes.

The color drains from Richter’s face as Rose growls in quite angry way, her gentle calm self gone, now the deeply suppressed dark side of the psychic being unleashed, the side the circle had tried to stop from ever being released, the side Bison’s psycho power had augmented.

Now Richter knew fear, he knew panic and soon he feels, he’ll know the touch of death as Rose paces toward him her aura so intense it’s hard for Richter to breath the closer she gets, but he would fight, he wouldn’t give in to fear, he wouldn’t let down the circle, somehow, he had to win.

** Back in Barcelona **

Vibora gasps in pain, Ibuki's katana hitting home and leaving a long deep gash across her back, slicing through the thick leather suit and flesh alike, the well chiseled and forged Katana regarding then both as a knife does to butter.

Vibora stumbles forward and shuts her eyes tightly. She feels an extremely burning pain spread across her back like fire through a thorn field. She turns to Ibuki who's panting slightly, blood soaking her suit's front from the previous slashes, obviously her foe in quite an amount of pain as well.

She stares at the ground with shut eyes, falling to one knee, panting in small labored breathes, trying to regain control and try and choke down the pain. She shivers slightly, feeling the warm liquid ooze down her back and stick to her choice of clothing, the odor of sweat and Blood quite strong and making her wrinkle her nose and feel slightly nauseous.

"Touché Alexis, now come and get me, if you can..." Ibuki says in a smug tone, while leveling her Katana to her side, motioning for Vibora to come to her, before bringing her Katana to a defensive sword jousting stance.

Vibora growls under her breath, her blue eyes filling with rage and hatred. How dare that little b*tch injure her?! And moreover how dare she mock her! It was unthinkable, it was unfathomable, it would cost that little Ninja, cost her dearly, but first, she needed a weapon, a real weapon.

She retracts her claws, the metal brushing against the glove as it enters it’s adobe, the high pitched sound sending chills up Ibuki’s spine and then the Spaniard woman turns and breaks into a sprint "Ok then, come and get me little pawn and we’ll see if you can beat a real foe?" Vibora says with a chuckle as she runs for the staircase at the end of the long corridor.

Ibuki's eyes ignite with cold and controlled rage. That jibe would not pass unaccounted for; she would pay for ridiculing Ibuki's situation and skill, oh yes how she would pay for her arrogance. Ibuki would make sure of that, the minute she could get her hands, or better yet her Katana on Vibora.

Vibora runs across the corridor, Ibuki close behind her, the two women moving like blurry shadows through the dark rooms, their running swift and graceful. Vibora then reaches the railing of the staircase and puts her hands on it before leaping and placing her feet on it. She then kicks off it, somersaulting before landing on the ground below a bit heavily.

Ibuki is right behind her, more or less belated by 4 seconds before landing on the marble floor a tad heavily as well, seeing her foe before her rushing toward a large shield which is hung on the wall, two Rapier blades crossed against each other over it.

She takes off one the long blades and takes a test swing before she levels it to her body, turning to Ibuki and pointing it at her “Now my little ninja, we shall fight for real En Garde!" Vibora says coldly, her voice slightly tense and full of venom, each word laced with contempt and rage at the insolent young woman before her.

Ibuki instinctively leaps back a few feet and shifts her Katana wielding stance, bringing herself to a mixed posture, leaving her space for both defense and offense, but not stressing on any particular strategy.

Vibora licks her lips, running her tongue over the dry texture, her body still in quite a bit of pain, and fatigue lingering in her sweaty body. Ibuki grunts lightly as her abdomen bothers her more, it wasn't too bad, but still hurt her like hell, her sweaty, blood stained clothes sticking to it and aggravating it more.

But this didn't weaken her resolve, nor did it weaken her determination, not one single bit. She had felt such wounds before, in both battle and training, she had to keep focused, she had to get that part, for her mother, for her poor abducted mother, for her, she would triumph.

She quickly brushes some loose bangs of her black hair from her forehead, the black threads blocking her eyes lightly, the moist hair obeying her strokes as she resumes her stance and prepares herself, having a feeling Vibora knows that blade as well as she knows her Katana.

Small tendrils of steam escape both women's mouths and noses as they pant lightly. Both women are ready to take this battle to the next level and they execute they can't bear to let their respective foe have the privilege of more rest and thus, they both rush toward one another, weapons and minds at the ready, the duel entering it's next and most deadly phase.

** Back in Venice **

Rose’s body lurches forward and she then sends her fist toward Richter’s face, the psychic blocks and retaliates with a sound punch to her midsection. Rose’s hand swats it downward, before clenching and whipping upward and crashing into his nose with a crushing uppercut.

Richter reels backward and grunts immediately as she jump kicks his face, her heel crashing hard into his nose, an audible and sickening crack heard. Richter steps back and holds his nose, moaning lightly in pain, panting as his breathing is now hard, crimson flowing down his hand.

Rose gives him no time to recover as she punches his midsection, causing him to bend forward involuntarily right into her palm which ignites with bright purple Ki, searing his face and causing him to gasps loudly and hold his face between his hands.

“You thought you could just lock me up and forget what you made me do….didn’t you?!” Rose asks in a booming, dark and angry tone, her breathing labored and small, angry tears escaping the corners of her eyes, memories of her long lost part filling her and paining her heart.

She grabs him by the collar and shakes him “What the hell do you bastards want from me?!” she asks angrily before punching him again, sending him staggering back as she cups her hands, her Chi fluxing within her palms as she shuts her eyes.

Richter shakes his head and tries to stand straight, coughing blood and spitting it as he forms a shield of power around himself, bracing himself as Rose tosses a powerful sphere of power onto him, crashing into his shield, both energies negating one another.

Rose’s eyes are now watering as all the suppressed pain, all the bitterness and hatred well up, the infection causing her to lose all shreds of control and seemingly sanity she still had, letting loose all she had been swallowing for all these years.

“I betrayed him, for you! You and your stupid circle of conniving, scheming bastards! And how did you thank me! You tossed me into a jail, locking me up with a sexually deprived psycho who abused me in ways you can’t imagine! And you knew…and you didn’t care!” She hisses and blasts him with her Chi again, forgetting her shawl, her arts.

Her mind so uncontrolled now that nothing less than totally unstable power pours out of her body with abundance as Richter falls back, unable to stand any longer as the blast of raging ki sends him falling backward on his back heavily.

Richter coughs heavily, his body wounded and aching all over. His consciousness is slipping and he sense Rose vaguely looming over him, peering down at him. “Look at me D*MNIT!” She screams and stomps on his diaphragm, causing him to cough more and his eyes to open painfully.

He looks at her, trying to hit her with one last desperation move, his last it may seem, but perhaps he could stop her. She reads his mind and stops him by punching his midsection hard, her power backing up her blow, his ribcage unable to hold anymore and cracking and breaking slightly inwardly.

He cries in pain and grits his teeth, shutting his eyes tightly. “This time…I win…” She hisses and that’s the last thing Richter hears before a sharp, burning pain erupts inside his chest cavity. The pain tortures him in an inhumanly agonizing way for several moments, and then it ceases.

Darkness envelops him, and all thoughts, feelings, fears and pain leave him as he slips into the grasp of death. Rose gets up shakily, crying, wounded, weak and weary, she slowly walks up toward her mansion.

She felt better, free, full with herself and not lying to herself on being so d*mn rightous and alturistic, she was human, she felt it, she had lost her innocence and niavity, perhas too late but she had just now.

Hence she needed to think, she needed to rest and reevaluate thing, to contemplate what she had just done and what she can do from now on, things were different, ever so different for her now, and it was time for her to adapt to it.

** Back in Barcelona **

"B*tch!" Vibora screams as she slashes her rapier in a wide arc. Ibuki's facade doesn't change, nor does she voice a retort as she brings her blade to collide against Vibora's with an audible clang.

The blades cross each other and both woman push their respective weight against the other's blade, trying to push the other back. Their faces lay a few inches apart, both faces masked and concealed, but their eyes speak their emotions. A mix of rage and hatred being mirrored by both blue and brown alike as both lay in a stalemate.

Vibora pulls back, pushing against Ibuki's blade causing Ibuki to step backward. Then the Spanish vixen lunges forward, aiming to thrust her blade through Ibuki's upper torso. Ibuki parries her attack but in doing so leaves herself open to the much more maneuverable and quick weapon.

Vibora grins under her mask and steps forward and slashes toward Ibuki's body again. Ibuki gasps in pain, unable to silence herself as the stinging, burning sensation washes over her as the blade slices across her abdomen.

Ibuki reels back, her stance being disbanded by surprise, pain and sudden weakness. Vibora grins and the minute she finishes the slashing motion, she slashes in the opposite direction, this time toward Ibuki's head.

Ibuki sees it coming in the corner of her eye but is unable to bring her weapon up in time, all she can do is turn her head sideways to protect her eyes and gain a thin line of crimson across her cheek.

Ibuki grits her teeth and steps backward, her fingers coiling hard against the hilt of her Katana as she struggles to bring up her defense. Vibora doesn’t let her and decides to “help” step backwards as she leaps forward and stabs her foot into Ibuki's forehead, throwing her off balance and causing her to stumble backwards and fall on her rear end, panting and lying on her back.

Her skin is flushed and she pants heavily, her breathing slightly shallow. She was so tired, so weak, so dizzy. Her limbs feel heavy and her mind is disoriented, yet she senses her foe approach and resolve fills her, her determination pumping adrenaline through her.

Vibora takes advantage and attacks again, stabbing her blade at Ibuki quickly. This time however Ibuki is ready, straining against her wounded and aching body she rolls aside before climbing to her feet. She quickly sends her foot forth, aiming at Alexis' head.

The unprotected side of Vibora's head is hit by the quick lashing foot and her head snaps sideways. Ibuki doesn't finish her offensive there, the minute she lands before Vibora she spins around and Chi begins to wisp around her foot, blue tendrils making the energy augment her speed and strength.

Her eyes glitter in bluish-white before she leaps upward while bringing her foot in an upward arc, aiming it onto Vibora's chin, on the small area which the mask doesn't cover with her famous Kazekiri kick.

Vibora feels as if someone had uppercut her with a glove made of metal made of steel as Ibuki’s foot collides against her chin, Ibuki's chi enveloped foot detonates her rage unto Vibora.

Alexis is catapulted backward and crashes heavily onto her back, rolling a few times before stopping, her blade sliding far away as it slips out of her grip.

Ibuki gasps in pain as she lands on her foot, the already hurt heel from before unable to hold her weight, the muscles cramping and aching too much as it forces her to her knees. She then grasps her wounded abdomen, blood staining her clothes as well as her hand. The warm crimson liquid bathes her hand as she presses her hand against the wound painfully, grimacing and feeling her consciousness close to slipping away, panting from loss of stamina and chi.

"Focus...concentrate...mustn't lose it...now..." Ibuki thinks and shuts her eyes before painfully rising to her feet, standing on one leg unsteadily, pressing weight only on the frontal part of her foot, her stance now weak and somewhat useless, her vision blurring.

It was cold, so very cold, the lost of blood paining her and causing her to lose her focus, the added pain of her dislocated ribcage from before not helping her either. She pants heavily, looking at Vibora which climbs to her feet painfully.

Alexis spits blood and wipes the remains of it off her chin as blood oozes out of the bottom of her mask. "You were good, packed a few good blows, but enough games..." Vibora muses in a smug tone as she

Ibuki pants very heavily. She could hardly hold her Katana straight, feeling as if the Katana she was holding was ten times its true weight. Her vision is a tad blurry and her stance not as steady as she would like it to be since her head is spinning and it's hard to focus on Vibora without feeling ill.

Vibora sees her chance and thus takes it and lunges forward while extracting the claws from her special glove. Ibuki waits for her, swinging her blade with the last ounces of her strength, working on determination alone.

The first blow she blocks sends her off balance; the second slash sends her Katana flying out of her hand, the third she tries to dodge and thus slips and falls back, hitting the ground heavily. She could fight no more, her body too fatigued and weakened.

Vibora grins under her mask and grabs Ibuki by the hair, looming over her while pulling her clawed hand backward. Ibuki grits her teeth, too wounded and exhausted she can only in vainly try to break the hold.

Vibora levels her claws at Ibuki and pants lightly "You...lose..." she spits out with glee as her clawed hand flies forward toward Ibuki.

"Mommy...I'm sorry..." Ibuki thinks as Vibora's hand approaches her with lightning speed and then darkness envelops her.