Black Bone Tower Part 10

Previous: Black Bone Tower Part 9

Chio was more than relieved when he heard the announcer state that there would be an hour long intermission before the next fight. He used this hour wisely, sitting outside of their room, in the balcony hallway and thought for a moment. Even with a name like Little Mac, he knew he couldn't take his opponent lightly. Given what he'd seen from the smaller fighters in each match. He thanked his lucky stars that Alice fought against an opponent with a similar level of skill as herself. Those other matches were not so fortunate in their outcomes.

Before long, he felt a hand come around and wrap onto his shoulder. Then he felt Usagi lean her head onto his. He stayed like that with her for a moment, really wishing that it would make time go by slower, but it didn't.

Usagi: Hey, I just wanted to come out and check on you. I know how you must be feeling now. You don't like to fight without a reason.

Chio: Yeah, I guess that's true.

Usagi: I just want you to know that this tournament is not worth dying for. If this Little Mac is too much for you, there is no shame in standing down from the fight.

Chio nodded at this, but said nothing.

Usagi: I know you'll do great, not matter the odds. [She planted a kiss on his forehead, which he quickly returned.]

Chio: Thank you.

Usagi: [Smiled.] Of course.

In their balcony, Rinji and Dala had fallen asleep leaning against the wall beside one another. While they did this, the others conversed and mingled amongst themselves.

Kimi: [Held up Alice's knife.] What did you call it again?

Alice: A Vorpal Blade.

Kimi: It's so light [Waved it up and down very gently.] But it's still sharp enough to cut a strand of hair in half. Where did you get such a wonderful blade?

Alice: It came to me in a dream. [Smiled and took a small bite of her rice cracker.]

Kimi: S'that so? Do you use it in your cooking?

Alice: Certainly not. The Vorpal Blade is never to be used lightly. I merely use it when I am in need of it. Never for something so rudementary as cooking.

Kimi: Ooohh.

Alice: And what of your axe? It's so large, one would hardly expect such a petite to carry it around so easily.

Kimi: [Smiled.] Yes, it was my father's.

Alice: I see.

Across the room, Jana, Jiro, and Gonzo Lee all sat around a table. Jiro did several flashy tricks while he shuffled a deck of playing cards, and then he began to deal them out.

Jana: And we're playing Poker?

Lee: Yep! Five card draw, you've really never played?

Jana: Oh, no, I'm much too busy to be playing such games.

Lee: Really... on a Pirate ship in the New World, you haven't found any downtime to play Poker? How many islands have you been to?

Jana: Besides our homeland, and this island, we've only seen one.

Jiro: Oh? What was that like?

Jana: Oh, there wasn't much to see [Picked up her cards and switched them around in her hands.] other than a bunch of forested areas, and some cannibal cavemen.

Jiro and Lee: Cavemen?

Jana: Yes, [put down two cards and picked up two cards.]

Lee: How did you get through that? [Picked up three cards.]

Jana: We ground their bones up and ate them. Can we only switch our cards out once? [She looked at both of them, where as both of them were staring at her in awe.

Lee: You said that very convincingly. But yes, only once.

Jana: Okay. [Showed her hands.] Three kings.

Lee: What?!

Jiro: Hmm. Oh well. [Put down his two pair, two fours and two sixes.]

Lee: Beats the hell out of me. [Put down his two aces.]

Jana: Play again?

Announcer: Alright folks! There's only five minutes remaining, would our two contenders please make their way to the arena? [Huge burst of cheers.]

Jana: Answers that, [Helped Jiro gather up all of the cards.]