The Tournament (closed for KattDclaw)

[Trucken]

Derek Norton closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the pacific ocean. It was as good as always, the fresh air mixed with the aroma of salt water always made him smile. It relaxed him and made him feel like he didn't have a care in the world and, truth be told, he rarely did. He still had his job to do, but he knew it was a cozy job which paid him extremely well. The only time of the year that could even be considered rough were the few days ahead of him, and calling those rough would've been an exaggeration.

Derek looked out over the pacific ocean, nothing but water in front of him. He was dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and green tie. The tie certainly stood out, but it was a part of a system so everyone would know what role this particular member of the staff had. Blue ties meant that they had a specific task, like bartender, dealer in the casino, or busboy. Red ties could be called upon by anybody for assistance with various tasks, like carrying bags or simply escort them to the restaurant. Green ties meant that they were the fighters personal assistants and were not to be bothered by anyone as they were expected to attend to their every need 24/7.

So what was this all about? What was happening on this remote island east of Japan? Some of the richest, most powerful, and most famous people in the world had gathered here, but why? Simple.

It was time for the Yakuza to host the annual Tetsu wa tōnamentomasu, which translates to The iron will tournament. Thirty-two of the worlds greatest fighters are invited to compete for a cash price of $10,000,000 where the winner takes all. The tournament is legendary for having the greatest fights in the world, even though it's completely illegal. Even so it attracts people from the entire world, but the Yakuza are very careful with who gets invited to make sure that the location of the island remains hidden from the public eye. Still, there are over a thousand guests each year that pays quite a lot to watch the tournament, so it's not like the Yakuza lose money on it. In fact, with all the bets and the money made in the casino they earn at least $20,000,000 each year, and that's with all expenses accounted for.

So now it was that time of year again, and Derek was to be a personal assistant to one of the fighters for the first time, even though he wasn't officially a part of the Yakuza since they didn't allow foreigners into the organisation. He did work for them, but it was more like a independent contractor. Derek was fine with it, he knew he would never get a job this good anywhere else and it wasn't like they treated him bad.

Derek and the other personal assistants stood lined up perfectly on the dock made of wood in eight rows of four, all wearing grey suits and green ties. Derek certainly stood out as he towered over the others at 6'2 and 210 lbs, his braided ponytail which almost reached the small of his back making him even more noticable. He was also the only caucasian, the rest of the assistants were japanese. Derek knew a few of them, but most of them were complete strangers to him.

At the front stood mr Miyamoto, the head of the Yakuza. He wore a black suit with a black tie, his face stern as he gazed over the ocean. He wasn't a tall man, only standing at 5'4, but he commanded respect and had certainly earned it. Flanking him were his closest men, mr Aoyama and mr Doi. Mr Aoyama had thick black hair and round glasses and was about 5'8 tall. Mr Doi was only 5'6, but shaved his head just like mr Miyamoto and looked considerably meaner than mr Aoyama, much due to the scars across his face which he had earned through the years. Mr Aoyama had a bit of a babyface in comparison.

Behind the servants, on land, stood hundreds of the guests, eager to see the fighters arrive. On the side of the dock stood a band, waiting for their cue to start playing music to welcome the fighters. There were also dancers waiting to welcome them.

"<Mr Miyamoto, the boat is arriving.>" Mr Doi leaned in and pointed out the huge yacht which was just coming around the corner of the island. Mr Miyamoto nodded slowly.

"<So it is.>" He made a gesture with his right hand. "<You know what to do.>" Mr Doi and mr Aoyama stood in front of mr Miyamoto and bowed deeply before getting to work. Mr Aoyama went over to the band and the dancers, giving them their cue. The band started playing a soft japanese song which almost evolved into a march as the dancers did their routine, gracefully taking their steps on the wooden surface.

Mr Doi stood in front of the personal assistants. "<Get ready!>" he barked in japanese, making everyone stand a little bit straighter. "<Our honorable combatants are arriving! You will not move until you are called upon! When called upon you will immediately come to me and greet the combatant you are assigned to, then escort them to their room! You will always be polite and you will do anything they ask from you, is that clear?>"

"<Yes, mr Doi!>" The assistants answered in unison. Derek took another deep breath as the yacht came closer. God, he did love the scent of the ocean.

 

[KattDclaw]

Rikki Quick sweated while others relaxed. She hammered away on a punching bag while they sipped Mai Tai's and ran several miles while they enjoyed the refreshing ocean breeze. To many it was a great opportunity to kick their feet up and enjoy the spoils, but for Rikki it was all the more reason to focus. Now wasn't the time to let her guard down, not when everything she had worked for was on the line. Rikki didn't see the trip was the golden meal ticket as more than a few did. Fighters could love off the honor of just having been invited to the tournament, win or lose they could cash in. Reputation was a big thing in this world, the fact that you even made it to the island was enough to prove you were worth a damn. It would have been easy to just sit back and enjoy the opulence, Rikki saw more bling on the yacht than she had in all her years. While it seemed absurd to her, she knew all to well that image went along with reputation.

So Rikki kept to her routine, if anything increasing it as they sailed across the bright blue ocean to their destination. She was never one for boats, but this thing was more like a floating mansion, sometimes it was easy to forget just where she was. Especially when she focused on her training, pushing herself to the limits within the confines of the yachts gym. It had all the amenities one could imagine and a few they couldn't, all free and of the highest quality. Every was brand spanking new, from the crisp sheets to the mouth watering food. The temptation to relax was ever present, Rikki couldn't walk a few feet without encountering it. She wasn't alone in her dedication though, but those focused individuals rarely drew attention to themselves. It was the braggarts and the gluttons, the ones sitting on the deck pounding down the drinks and proclaiming just how 'bad ass' they were. Every time she encountered one of them she had to resist a new temptation: bashing their faces in and showing them just how bad ass they really were. Rikki was nothing if not confident in her abilities, it came with the game and Rikki was fully invested in it.

After all that was all she had. Life was hard growing up with a dead father and a meth riddled mother. The one thing that Rikki ever had to count on in life was herself, so far she had been the only person to not let her down. So she grew up fast and hard, fighting came natural to someone with so many anger issues as she had. Instead of letting it consume though she managed to focus it in the boxing ring. A few friendly faces managed to help her focus that rage and more than a few unfriendly ones helped her vent it. Boxing came as naturally as breathing, so the fact she branched out into other martial arts wasn't surprising. Kick boxing had a certain calling that Rikki couldn't resist, something that came naturally to someone with long and powerful legs such as hers.

The fact that Rikki wasn't half bad to look at was an asset and a detriment, given the particular situation. She had a tall and statuesque frame, standing at five foot ten inches tall Rikki was a sight to behold. She was all sleek yet powerful muscle, from her broad shoulders to her long legs. Never once did that musculature detract from one hell of a figure she had. Those previously mentioned shoulders gave way to a modest yet perky bustline, to a taut and toned core before dipping in with a sleek waist and finally flaring out to shapely and curvaceous hips. She had a derrière you could bounce a quarter off of and spend your life staring all, not to mention a set of legs that went 'all the way up' as the saying went.

Her face was sharp and beautiful, though the often brutal and determine mask she presented to the world made her look pissed at the best of times. Her eyes were a bright and vivid green and her hair was a fierce and bright red. She had freshly dyed it just for the trip, it was a habit of hers to dye it the most outrageously bright colors she could find. It was cropped at the shoulders, with a defined undercut at the temples to the back of her head, down to a dark brown burr. The most striking feature of her face might be the slight crook to her nose, a obvious indication of having it broken once if not several times. Battle scars lined her tanned flesh, along with numerous tattoos. One that stood out more than the rest was the black silhouette of a mongoose on her inner forearm. Several lines shot back behind it, indicating the thing moving at great speed.

Rikki Quick wasn't her real name, just went she went by as a fighter. Her real name, Rischelle O'Rourke, wasn't as cool or catching. She had always gone by the nickname Rikki and had picked up Quick soon after starting her career. She was pretty damn fast. The mongoose? Who didn't love Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?

So Rikki spent her time wisely, focusing on her training and keeping herself sweating and hungry. She wanted this more than anyone, if not for the giant chunk of change then for the fame of actually winning. It had been her singular purpose since she had learned of it. The fact it was run by the Yakuza and completely illegal only made it all the more alluring. Who didn't want a little danger in their lives, right? So when the chance came Rikki leapt at it. The fact she scored an invitation still left her feeling a little dumbfounded. While she didn't doubt her own abilities, the moment just felt a little surreal.

That was what she focused on as she stood on the deck with her belongings thrown over her shoulder in an old, tattered dufflebag. She wore black tanktop with the logo of her old gym stretched across her bustline, the letters and image faded from wear and age. A pair of cut off jean shorts clung greedily to the curve of her hips, white tufts of the frayed jean material giving way to her impressively long and powerfully built legs. Her fiery red mane was tied back in a tight ponytail, which jostled and tickled at the back of her neck with each movement. Green eyes were hidden behind a pair of steel aviators as they watched the deck on the island grow ever bigger. She had lined up with the rest of the fighters as the yacht pulled in with great fanfare. She was a little surprised by the music and dancing, though she easily hid it behind a passive mask and sunglasses. The excitement started to get to her though, and as the group started to shuffle towards the deck she couldn't help but fill the thrill of it starting to quicken her pulse. They lined up, their names called off one by one and the weirdest thing happened. Rikki watched as a person in a grey suit with a green tie approached the named fighter and escorted them off. Many tossed their bags at the person as they walked, not giving them a second glance. The realization slowly started to dawn on her just as she heard her name called out sharply.

“Rikki Quick!”

She smoothly approached, her sneakers scuffing lightly against the wooden deck as she approached. The guy with the bald head and scars looked like one tough son of a bitch. She couldn't help but wonder what things he had seen and done. It was kind of creepy in a he could probably pop your eyes out without making a sound kind of way. Rikki liked that. She pushed up her shades as she approached, letting them settle in her red hair as those intense green eyes caught the movement of her own approaching minion. She saw the green tie at first before she took in the whole package. That calm and stoic mask cracked briefly as she let out a sarcastic little huff of laughter.

“Someone's been eating their Wheaties,” She said sardonically, mostly to herself, waiting for the everything to play out as it was planned. At least the breeze was nice.

 

[Trucken]

Derek looked on as the yacht docked, the workers waiting on the dock catching the ropes tossed from the boat and tying them around the wooden poles at the edge of the dock. Six men brought forth a big wooden gangway and placed it next to the yacht, allowing the fighters to walk down it onto the dock. And just like the dock the gangway looked old and unstable, but both of them were sturdy and were always thoroughly inspected in time for the tournament to make sure they got repaired if they needed to.

The workers were efficient and did their job quietly before lining up next to the gangway as the fighters walked down it, gathering on the dock. There were cheers and applause from the guests on land, some even taking pictures and yelling out various fighters names.

Derek looked at the crowd gathered on the dock, moving only his eyes so he could maintain a perfect stance. Some of these were famous, guys that had made a name for themselves in mixed martial arts, kickboxing or other styles. He could see some familiar faces, like Bogdan Katranjiev, a bulgarian middleweight wrestler who hadn't lost a match in the last 6 years. He could also see Cooper Martin from Australia, one of the more prominent names in muay thai.

Despite so many famous faces there was one person that certainly stood out from the group, mainly because of the fierce red hair. Rikki Quick. Derek knew he was assigned to her, but he didn't know much about her. He knew that she had trained kickboxing, but that was about it. Derek himself had trained some boxing when he was younger, but he had no illusions about actually standing a chance against any of the fighters that stood in front of him. He liked his teeth fine the way they were, he didn't want them scattered on the ground.

Mr Doi and mr Aoyama had taken place next to mr Miyamoto again, facing the combatants. Mr Aoyama called forward the fighters one by one, who were welcomed by mr Miyamoto. Mr Doi then called forward their assistant who escorted them to their room. This went on for a while, and when about half of the fighters and assistants were gone it was Derek's time.

"Rikki Quick!" said mr Aoyama in a loud voice. Derek looked at her as she stepped forward and he couldn't help getting a crooked smile on his face when he saw all of her. Everything about her, her hair, her clothes, her height, clashed with the three men standing in front of her. Even her toned body was completely different from theirs. Mr Aoyama was lanky and mr Miyamoto was wiry. Mr Doi on the other hand was a lot thicker and had gained some extra pounds over the years, but it was clear to anyone that looked at him that under that fat were muscles. Derek had heard rumors that mr Doi could still benchpress 300 lbs with ease and he had no reason not to believe it.

When Rikki walked up to mr Miyamoto he gave her a slight bow and a kind smile, taking her hand in both of his.

"Miss Quick, I am Miyamoto Shota, the leader of the Yakuza. Welcome to our island, and welcome to our tournament. We are honored to have you here, and we wish you the best of luck. May your journey here not have been in vain." His pronunciation was not perfect, but fully comprehensible. This was mr Miyamoto's standard welcome which he gave to every fighter, but he did mean every word he said. He respected the fighters and hated the thought of those not winning feeling like the trip had been a waste of their time. That was one of the reasons why they were so extremely pampered during their stay.

Mr Doi turned towards Derek and looked him straight in the eyes. He gave him a quick nod and Derek walked forward and stood next to mr Miyamoto and miss Quick. He turned to Miyamoto and gave him a deep bow, his braided ponytail lying on his back.

"<Mr Miyamoto, I'm honored to have been chosen for this assignment and I will do my utmost to honor the Yakuza, which I humbly serve.>" Derek said in japanese to Miyamoto. This was also standard stuff, though Derek had a modified version. The others said 'I'm honored to have been chosen for this assignment and as a part of the Yakuza I will do my utmost to honor it' since they were actually a part of the organisation.

Derek stood up and turned towards miss Quick and gave her a deep bow as well, this time his ponytail falling to the side of his face and dangling about a feet above the ground. He straightened his back and was surpised at how tall she was. He was used to tower over women, but she only seemed to be 3-4 inches shorter than him. Even so, he didn't show a hint of surprise on his face. He was a professional and he acted like it, smiling gently at her in a way that some might interpret as smug, but actually was courteous.

"Miss Quick, I am Derek Norton, and I'm honored to be your personal assistant during your stay here. Please, allow me to carry your bag for you and I will escort you to your room."

Derek got the bag from her and made a gesture toward a path beginning at the edge of the dock with his free hand.

"This way, madam." They walked towards the path, the sound of their shoes against wood soon being replaced by the sound of gravel. On both sides of the path stood guests, taking pictures and calling out to her, asking questions or cheering her on. When they had passed them they headed towards the gate about a hundred yards from them. The gate was open, and taking off in both directions from it was a thick white wall about 18 feet high. On top of the wall were black tiles, elegantly decorating the otherwise bland wall.

"The wall is a symbol, madam." Derek said as he made a gesture towards it. "It's meant to say that what happens behind these walls, stays behind these walls. Now, I'm sure you know that isn't true nowadays, what with Instagram and all. Instead, it's meaning now is more along the lines of 'stay hidden, stay out of sight'. It means that noone is allowed to tell the world where this island is located, even though the japanese government is highly unlikely to look for it." Derek didn't elaborate on it, but it basically meant that the Yakuza had bribed politicians to not look for the island and even deny that the tournament existed. It had worked for over 40 years and would continue to do so for a long time.

"If you walk along that path," Derek pointed at a path that broke off from the one leading to the gates. "You'll get to the north side of the island. There is a beautiful forest there, even though it isn't big. At the northern tip we have the airfield. Some of our guests like to fly here in their private jets, others want to take their yacht instead. They are docked in the marina just east of the airfield." Derek kept talking, not sure if miss Quick actually cared. "The path goes all the way around the island, and there is even a wonderful waterfall on the west side. There are a lot of wonderful things to discover outside these walls."

As they walked through the gate two guards bowed politely towards miss Quick.

"But then again, you're here because of the things that will happen inside these walls, right madam?" He smiled a little broader and stopped just as the path made a sharp turn to the right, heading down a slope. "Madam, please allow me to be the first one inside these walls to welcome you..." He made a grand, presenting gesture with his arm. "To the Iron Will tournament."

Following the direction his arm was gesturing towards you could see a large grey-and-white building shaped like a U surrounding the large white mat where the tournament would take place. The mat was roughly 60x60 feet and was elevated about 3 feet off the ground. Surrounding the ring, also shaped like a U, were the bleachers, each side having about 20 rows. At the top of the bleachers were the base of the building, the northern side of it being about 15 stories high. The west side were only 6 stories high and the southern about 8 stories. The eastern side looked towards the gate and nothing was built there, instead the green of bushes and trees stretched out below Derek and miss Quick.

Derek turned towards miss Quick again, still holding out his arm and smiling at her. "We hope you will enjoy your stay."

 

[KattDclaw]

It all felt so very formal. Formality was not one of Rikki’s strong points, but she knew mostly what to expect out of the meeting. She smiled brightly, something that only brought out her features all the more. Her hand was taken by the man who indicated himself as Miyamoto Shota. He was obviously an important person, the name sounded familiar but in truth, Rikki wasn’t too good with names. Foreign names were all the worse, unfortunately. Still, she offered a bow as best she could, took the greeting and thanked him for the opportunity to compete. Then she was ushered off as the next competitor was taken by his hand and greeted. Rikki’s green gaze fell upon nothing short of a hunk in a gray suit and green tie. It was an impressive sight, from the ruggedly handsome face, to the obvious toned body underneath the suit. It wasn’t ill-fitting either, despite the fact he didn’t seem to like wearing ties, he cut a pretty good picture. Wasn’t it ZZ Top that said ‘ever y woman loves a sharp dressed man?’ He had an easy smile, some might even call a little arrogant or smug. But someone with his looks and stature could pull it off. Rikki couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him, regards of the proper meeting and his very formal and professional demeanor. She let her gaze flick over him quickly, obviously taking in the man before she even took a step forward.

“Derek, huh?” She said at length as he offered to take her bag. She shrugged it off her shoulder and causally tossed the dufflebag at him. It was a good thing he caught it, otherwise that would have been an interesting scene. With another bout of laughter Rikki followed after Derek without a second thought. Gravel replaced wood and the sounds of her name caught her attention. All manners of people stood on either side of the path, snapping pictures with their cellphones and calling out her name. Some just cheered her on, others shouted questions and at least one guy asked for a selfie with her. Rikki was happy to comply; she threw her arm over the man’s shoulder and flipped the phone a bird as they took the picture. All in all, Rikki was riding high and feeling like a star before they even got to the gate. It was an odd feeling, one that she had tried to resist the entire boat ride here. She wasn’t here to inflate her ego. Even still, she couldn’t deny the rush that it caused; similar to the one she got from fighting. With a sigh she followed after Derek, her sneakers crunching gravel and her hips swaying with an undeniable rhythm. With her hands free of her baggage they settled on the swell of her hips, thumbs hooking into the mostly pointless belt with its large belt buckle. Her green gaze drifted over the gates and the impressive wall. She clucked her tongue on the roof of her mouth and let out a soft huff of laughter as Derek explained the situation.

“Kinda like Vegas. But off the radar. Oh how the rich people play,” She muttered, almost condescendingly as she followed after Derek once more. She listened to him describe the island, it sounded like a ridiculously gorgeous place to enjoy. For a moment she found her mind following his directions, even her gaze drifting across the path. She could picture the blue waters, the waterfall and the peaceful breeze drifting through the trees. It was all very tempting but at the same time seemed superfluous and ultimately a distraction.

“The only thing I need to know is where the gym is,” She shot back rather sharply, despite his pleasant nature, which was already starting to grate on her nerves. She chewed the inside of her lip as they pressed on, finally coming upon the place that Rikki would realize her greatest accomplishment or ultimate failure. The building stood out, as did the large white mat in the middle. Rikki paused then as she gazed out across it, hands resting upon her hips as she took it in. There was a sense of awe and anticipation as she peered out across it. She couldn’t help the excitement that rippled up her spine, sending the hairs on the back of her neck on edge. She cocked her head and smirked, a confident little gesture as she glanced back as Derek, listening to him greeting her to the Iron Will Tournament. She met that smile easily, before turning to him fully. She pushed her sunglasses back once more as she approached the man slowly and purposefully.

“Alright, Derek. Enough of the nice talk. The name is Rikki. Not Miss Quick. Alright? Just call me Rikki, the Miss shit is getting kinda annoying. Also, are you going to be all creepy and weird the entire time?” Rikki shot off quickly, straight from the hip. Despite his pleasant attitude, Rikki felt it grate on her nerves. Perhaps she was just venting any nervousness and doubt she had about the entire thing on the easiest target. After all he was basically her slave for the stay, so she didn’t have to be nice, right? Right.

 

[Trucken]

“Alright, Derek. Enough of the nice talk. The name is Rikki. Not Miss Quick. Alright? Just call me Rikki, the Miss shit is getting kinda annoying. Also, are you going to be all creepy and weird the entire time?”

Derek was surprised by her sudden words but only showed it by slightly raising his eyebrows. He was accustomed to treat people with respect, especially since he started working for the Yakuza where he was expected to be polite and professional at all times. And now, at the tournament, it was even more important. Despite being some of the toughest men and women on the planet, being able to win their matches despite broken ribs, hands or noses, a couple of them were divas that would throw a fit over the smallest things.

Also, his mother had been adamant in Derek's upbringing that he would grow up to be a gentleman. "Always treat people like you want to be treated, with respect." she used to say. "And when that fails, punch 'em in the teeth." his father would always add. Derek thought it made a lot of sense. Be respectful, and if that fails, fight.

Derek tilted his head slightly and blinked slowly, forcing the right edge of his mouth up into a crooked smile.

"If that is what you wish to be called I will happily comply, Rikki." He straightened his neck. "I apologize if you find me 'creepy' and 'weird', I will try to work on it." He made a slight bow and made another gesture with his hand along the path. "Please follow me, Rikki, and I will show you to your room. I would then be more than happy to escort you to the gym which you asked about before.

They walked along the path which sloped downwards, the right side of it being bordered with cherry trees. It took a turn to the left and ended at the southeast edge of the tallest part of the building. The gravel disappeared beneath their feet and was replaced with stone slabs in various colors, like black, white, grey, and red. They walked along the building, the bleachers just to their left. There were some workers down by the mat, sweeping the area and making minor repairs and adjustments.

They reached the entrence to the building which had large glass doors with golden details. A man dressed in a red suit and black hat stood next to it and opened the door as they came closer. He greeted them and gave them a slight bow, Derek giving him a nod and a smile in return. They entered the lobby and Derek made a deliberate pause, allowing Rikki to take it all in.

"I've been told that the chandeliers was a gift from a former south american president." Derek said as he pointed at one. "The diamonds in them are real, making each chandelier worth more than $1,000,000." He knew he sounded like a tour guide but he thought she might find it interesting, especially since there was about 20 of them hanging from the roof.

They continued towards the elevators and Derek pressed the button calling for them. One soon arrived and they walked inside it, large mirrors covering the walls of it. Derek took out a keycard and held it in front of a panel which let out a beep and turned on a green light. He then pressed the button for the fourteenth floor.

"The two top floors are reserved for the participants in the tournament. Since they want you to have your privacy you will have to use your keycard in the elevator to gain access to your floor." He handed the card to her, pointing at the writing on it. "This shows your floor and room number, in case you would forget it. This one shows my floor and room number." He pointed at some other numbers. "It is in case you need to see me urgently. It also gives you access to my room. I realize it might seem strange, but the Yakuza wants us to be available for you at all times. We are, after all, here to serve you." He smiled again and made a light nod with his head. "My keycard gives me access to your room, but rest assured, I would never enter your room without your permission. It's merely there as a precaution if you would lose your key."

The elevator dinged and came to a stop. They exited the elevator and walked down the hallway, the walls decorated with a floral pattern in white and gold. Derek stopped in front of a door whoch had a little black sign on it saying '1412'.

"This is your room, Rikki." He said with a smile and used his own card to unlock the door. "I hope it will be up to your standards." He pushed open the door and made a gesture as if to say 'please enter'.

They entered the room and Derek couldn't help but smile behind Rikki's back, knowing that she must be impressed by now.

"If you ever need more wood for the fireplace just let me know, it sometimes gets chilly at night." He pointed at the fireplace below the large TV as he walked over to the far side of the room and pulled a cord, making the large wooden blinds go to the side and reveal that the entire side of that room was one big window facing south. "You can see the mat from up here, but I personally like the view over the south part of the island." The view was beautiful, the yellow sand from the beaches creating a barrier between the green forest and blue ocean. The only thing that slightly marred the view was the other buildings, but they were low enough to be able to ignore.

Derek continued into the bedroom and put Rikki's bag down on the bed before opening the blinds in that room too. "The minibar is fully stocked and just like everything else it's on the house. Feel free to help yourself." He pointed towards a door behind Rikki. "The bathroom is over there, it's complete with a bubble bath and a shower with massage jets."

Derek pulled a phone out of his pocket and handed it to Rikki. "This phone is yours while you stay here. It has various numbers in it, such as roomservice. My number is in there too in case you need me. Please, don't hesitate to call me." He smiled and nodded again. "The phone is also programmed with the schedule for the tournament and will automatically update when the matches are decided tonight. Every participant is expected to be there for the ceremony." Derek remembered one more thing about the ceremony and it made him glance at her dufflebag. Yeah, there was no way that she had anything like that in there. Derek cleared his throat before continuing.

"The ceremony is a black tie event, so formal wear is expected. If you don't have anything..." Derek weighed the words in his head, trying to find some that wouldn't sound insulting. "... appropriate with you, we have a wide selection of dresses and tuxedo's available that you may use." He gave her a uncertain smile, hoping that she wasn't offended.

"Anyhow, would you like me to escort you to the gym now? Or would you rather like to settle in first?"

 

[KattDclaw]

“Of course I do,” She responded easily. Watching him react was a little bit awkward and made her wonder just how annoying the rest of the trip was going to be. Despite whatever his status was, he was going to follow her around like a little lost puppy. That was really going to ruin her cool, Rikki needed all the concentration and focus she could get. Rikki had grown up mostly on her own, so having others do things for her was almost a complete foreign concept. She could have easily gotten a key card from the front desk and found her own room and the gym. The entire thing was more than she bargained for, all she wanted to do was fight and maybe win. Was that too much to ask for? But this place wasn't about that, Rikki could tell that with one place. It was like an amusement park, for those pretty faces with wads of case in their pockets. The Yakuza was herding them around and making sure their every wish and desire was fulfilled and giving it to them with a smile. Money always talked and on this island Rikki felt like it was screaming. Images of that old movie where they genetically engineered dinosaurs and decided to make an amusement park with them came to mind. Rikki knew what side of the electric fence she was on. But hey, at least she was the Velociraptor.

Rikki met his crooked smile with a smirk of her own, easily letting her gaze rest upon his own. She didn't flinch or look away awkwardly, there was nothing but confidence and resolve in those green pools. Whatever his true feelings were about her comments, he handled it like a professional. Rikki had to admit keeping a relatively straight face was impressive in itself, of course that just made her want to try and crack his cool demeanor all the more. She was sure the opportunity would resent itself. So she followed after him down the path, enjoying the cool breeze on her bare skin. The high ponytail swished and flicked behind her with each step she took. They approached the building in relative silence, Rikki let her gaze drift towards the mat as they approached, letting her gaze linger on it till the building blocked her view. She gave a sharp tilt of her head in recognition to the doormen, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her shorts. One slipped up and pushed her sunglasses from her gaze once more as they entered the lobby, finding it as grand as any five star hotel she had ever seen. Her gaze swept p over the first chandelier, then the next and the next till she found they just kept going on. Her lips pursed and she gave a low whistle of appreciation.

“I wonder how many little South Americans starved or got two between the eyes to afford those,” Rikki said with that caustic sarcasm she was known for. At least she kept her voice down to a minimum when she said it. Without further insult or witticism she followed after Derek, slipping into the elevator and leaning against the back wall. She took the card when he offered it, giving it a spin between her fingers before bringing it closer to her face to make out the letters and numbers on it. She gave a little chortle and flashed a grin at Derek as he pointed out his room number.

“Aw. You aren't bunkin' with me?” Her tone dribbled with sarcasm all over again. She tossed the card into the air, letting it spin a few times around before she caught it and stuffed it into her pocket. As he mentioned that his card gave him access to her room, Rikki made a rather disgusted face, her brows furrowing and her lips tightening in a straight line.

“It better be,” Was all she said, though her look denoted she thought far more on the subject. They road the rest of the short distance in silence, the elevator giving a ding and its doors swished open. Rikki followed him down the hallway, taking in the wall murals and the doors they passed. They finally came to stop before room 1412, her room, Derek told her with a smile. She simply scoffed and let that familiar smirk drift across her lips.

“I'm sure my standards are considerably lower than you are your Bosses,” Rikki sniggered as she followed Derek into the room. For once, Rikki didn't say anything to his comments, instead she was suspiciously quiet. Slowly she roamed about the room, her green gaze wide and curious as she took it all in. Impressive to say the least, the place was big enough that a family of four could live comfortably. And she had it all to herself, well, at least she had plenty of room to walk around naked in, right? The view was spectacular, the bed bigger and softer than she could imagine, and damn, she had to take a second glance at the bathroom. She peaked her head in here a couple times actually, before Rikki laughed once more and offered a shrug of her proud shoulders.

“Not bad,” She said lightly, despite how impressed she might be with the accommodations there was no need that Derek had to know. Rikki took off her glasses and set them aside, drifting her fingertips over the back of one of the couches before she strode slowly back towards the window. She took in the view again, far more impressed with the island and its beauty perched way up high than she ever was before. She slipped a knee up onto the couch underneath the window and slipped up onto its plush cushions, only to draw herself up fully to kneel properly upon it. She leaned over herself, hands resting on the back of the couch as she went in for a better view. The fact that her already teeny tiny shorts did little to cover up the natural curve of her athletic backside was not lost on her, yet she didn't particularly care. Rikki took her sweet time looking down at the tiny world below, feeling like some voyeuristic giant that made her laugh aloud. She didn't bother to fill Derek in on her amusement though. It was about then that he offered her the phone though, she was just slipping back to her feet and she snatched it up readily. She ran her thumb over the front and gave the screen a few pokes, idly interested in the tiny bit of sophisticated technology.

“So you have to answer it any time I call right?” She asked curiously, though there was something in that statement and the look in her eye that indicated whatever intentions she had were far from pure and good. But the mention of a black tie event was enough to ruin Rikki's mood, the idea of rubbing elbows with rich people and her possible opponents in the tournament didn't exactly sound like a fun time. Actually, it sounded like a waste of time, though perhaps she could use it to size up the competition. With a frustrated sigh Rikki tossed the phone aside, letting it bounce onto the nearby couch before she shook her head and scratched at the short bur of darker hair on the back of her head.

“I'm not exactly a normal size, if you haven't noticed? Ugh...This is gonna suck balls. Fuck. So yeah...I could really go for hitting something right about now, the gym is a good idea.” Rikki said as she strolled off towards the bedroom. She unzipped her dufflebag and started to unpack, searching for some workout clothes.

“I need to change though, so yer just gonna have to be a good boy and wait.” She called out from the bedroom, before her T-shirt went flying from the door way and landed on one of the chairs across the room. It took her several minutes to change, the shuffling and rustling sound coming from the bedroom until she emerged in her new attire. It wasn't much of a difference really, it covered just about the same of that beautiful body but with less denim and more stretchy black cotton. Rikki was busily tugging her gloves on as she emerged, giving a glance about the room before finding Derek and instantly throwing her head back. She gave her best highbrow, snooty look and gave him a dismissive wave.

“You may lead the way, Jeeves.”

 

[Trucken]

Despite the professional manner in which Derek carried himself, he was only human. Rikki's remark about the chandeliers was one that had actually crossed his mind. They were beautiful, but he was certain that somewhere a lot of people who were less fortunate had suffered for them.

Her sarcastic remark about them not sharing a room and the somewhat mocking tone she had about her standards when it came to living arrangements wasn't lost on him either, but he let those pass with a gentle smile on his face. He had started to notice that she seemed a bit uncomfortable, and even though he could guess why he wasn't certain. She didn't seem like someone that was used to anything, well, nice. Her clothes were old and the colors were faded and her duffel bag didn't look much better, making her appearance clash with the other fighters who either arrived in suits or casual clothes that looked new and fresh.

Despite that there were no denying that Rikki was a very attractive woman, at least in Dereks eyes. She ticked most of the boxes in what he liked in a woman; a toned body, tall, and red hair. Well, OK, the hair was obviously dyed, but that didn't really bother Derek. He still liked it, and even though he did find her very attractive he didn't show it. He was a professional and wasn't about to ogle her.

Or, so he had told himself until she stood on the couch on all fours taking in the view, allowing Derek to take in a completely different view. His eyes were firmly glued to her backside, his gaze trailing up her long legs, looking at the muscles working under her soft skin when she shifted her weight. His eyes reached her butt and he wondered if it was as firm as it looked. Even if it wasn't she still had a very nice ass and her cut-off jeans made the view even nicer. His mind started to drift, and he found himself imagining what it would be like to stand there behind her, both of them naked, his hands on her swaying hips and Rikki begging him to come closer as he slowly pushed his hips forward and...

Derek snapped back to reality and saw that Rikki was still looking out the window, apparently having missed him spacing out. He collected himself and offered her the phone which she started to navigate casually.

“So you have to answer it any time I call right?” Derek noticed the almost mischievous look in her eyes and realized that she would more than likely call him in the middle of the night just to ruin his sleep. That didn't stop him from giving her the usual courteous smile and slight nod.

"Any time you need me I will be at your service." Derek continued and mentioned the ceremony. He was surprised by her sudden foul mood and his eyes traced her phone as it flew through the air and landed on the couch.

“I'm not exactly a normal size, if you haven't noticed? Ugh...This is gonna suck balls. Fuck. So yeah...I could really go for hitting something right about now, the gym is a good idea.” "As you wish, Rikki." He said to her back as she disappeared into the bedroom. He could hear the sound of something being unzipped, followed by rustling.

“I need to change though, so yer just gonna have to be a good boy and wait.” "Certainly, Rikki." He answered just as a shirt came flying from her bedroom and landed on a chair next to him. He realized she was topless in there and it made him clear his throat quietly before walking over to the window and take in the view again while waiting for her.

"About your concerns, Rikki." He said as he continued to look out the window, watching the waves cover a part of the beach only to retreat just a second later. "About finding something that might fit you? We have a wide selection and also an excellent seamstress, miss Hasegawa, I'm sure that she can help you in the unlikely event that you can't find anything that fits."

He continued watching the waves, his hands on his back. He heard steps behind him and turned his head, looking over his shoulder.

“You may lead the way, Jeeves.” Derek smiled at her little act, it was actually quite funny. He turned to her and gave her a slight nod, taking in her attire. It wasn't that different from before, but it looked like it showed off her body even more. Maybe he was just imagining things. The gloves somehow added to her athletic build and Derek honestly thought she looked even sexier with them on. He had always said that there was something special about a woman that could kick your ass, and he meant it. For some reason it was a bit of a turn-on for him.

"Please follow me." He said and escorted her out the room. They walked over to the elevators and one arrived just as they got there. A large man, who looked like he was from the middle east, stepped out of the elevator, followed by his assistant. Derek didn't recognize him, but he was obviously here for the tournament, otherwise he wouldn't be on this floor or have an assistant following him. Derek gave him a polite bow as the man passed him, but he didn't seem to notice. When the elevator was empty they stepped inside and Derek pressed the button for the bottom floor.

"I'm afraid that the gym is located in the western part of the building in the basement, but I assure you that we have an excellent gym which can cater to your every need. We even have a number of massage therapists if you wish to relax after your workout." The elevator stopped at the ground floor and the doors opened, revealing the large lobby. It was full of people now, most of them guests chatting among themselves, but there were a few fighters there as well, talking to groups of people about the tournament. The room was buzzing from the sounds of people talking and laughing as Derek led Rikki through the crowd towards the western part of the building.

"The west building is where all the amenities are located." Derek said as they moved away from the crowd. "Here there are several different restaurants, a spa, the casino. We even have a movie theater if you ever feel like watching a movie. All of this is free of charge, of course." He made a pause, then added "Except the casino."

They reached the western part of the building and Derek guided Rikki to a wooden door to the right which had a guard posted on each side of it. Next to one of them there was a large sign which said 'Tournament participants only' in several different languages. The guards bowed as they approached and opened the door for them.

"This gym is only for the ones competing. If the guests wish to work out they are referred to the gym on the second floor." He said as they walked down the stairs which turned to the right, eventually leading them to the gym. Derek stood next to Rikki and pointed out the various doors. "That door leads to the showers and bathrooms, unless you wish to shower in your room." He leaned in a little. "I would recommend using the shower in your room. The massage jets makes a world of difference." He smiled and straightened his back, pointing at the next door. "Behind that one we have a pool if you would like to do some laps. And behind that one there are a number of smaller rooms with some weights and and mats if you would like to work out more privately. Most seem to stay out here though, sometimes you get to see some sparring in the octagon." He pointed at it as he said it and looked around the gym. "It would appear that you are the first one here. What would you like to do first? We have some sandbags and pear balls over there if you would like to hit something." He said as he pointed them out to her.

 

[KattDclaw]

Rikki brought her arms over her head and gave a little stretch, her hands busily brushing through her red mane, smoothing the long strands at the top of her head back before tying them up in a loose bun. She heard listened to the comment on finding something fitting to wear that evening, from the look on her face she still wasn't all that impressed or eager to think about it. She scrunched up her nose, an almost endearing look for a brief moment before she let out a defeated sigh.

“Not like I got a choice. Hopefully this Hasegawa is my fair godmother.” Rikki let her customary smirk take over, adding a little roll of her eyes for effect. They were on their way within minutes, Rikki gathered up what few things she needed, a water bottle, towel, and of course that damn phone and keycard. She didn't want to have to rely on Derek for much and was keen on ditching him at her earliest convenience. Firstly though, she needed the layout of this place, namely where the gym was, maybe a place to wolf down some food from time to time.


So with that intention she followed after Derek,back into the elevator. The doors pinged and swung open as they approached, a rather large man of middle eastern decent stepping out, followed by his own little gopher. Rikki couldn't help but think, hey, at least hers was good looking. Rikki eyed the big man as he passed, not giving him an inch of space as they brushed past one another. They were in the elevator for another awkward ride within a few moments. Most rides in an elevator were awkward at some point, no one wanted to make contact with another human being, physical or otherwise. So Rikki stood as far away from the tall man as she could, arms folded neatly under her bust, a finger tapping against her forearm and a hum on her lips. She listened intently as Derek went on once more about the facility and all its many conveniences. For once though he caught her attention, she arched a dark brow at the mention of massage therapists. That smirk returned and she gave a little chortle before cocking out her eblow and giving Derek a jab in the side. Physical contact was okay if she initiated it, by the way. Totally.

“Do they give yah a happy ending if you tip 'em enough?” Rikki snickered and flashed her pearly whites with the wide grin that stretched across her face. It was a lewd little look, though one that seemed to fit her sharp, pretty face.

The doors swung open and they were back in the lobby. Most of the fighters seemed to have finally gotten here, the hum of dozens of conversations assaulted them as they stepped out. Rikki saw many fighters milling about with guests, the two were relatively easy to distinguish. She couldn't help nut notice that most seemed to be relaxed and enjoying themselves, chatting people up like they were good friends. She couldn't help but think she was doing something wrong then, was there more to this tournament than just a superior fighting style? The thought of networking with rich bastards made her stomach turn. Was this place some kind of Hunger Games? Rikki really hoped not and almost asked Derek as they veered off towards the western side of the building. She refrained though, instead she worried her bottom lip and listened to Derek's regurgitated speech some more. Restaurants, a spa, even a movie theater and a casino. If only Rikki didn't have more pressing matters on her mind she might actually consider taking advantage of the situation. For now though, all Rikki could think about was getting to the gym. She had wasted enough time walking around listening to speeches, shaking hands and offer fake smiles. Silently Rikki started to pump herself, her sleek muscles rippling with anticipation as she took on a little bounce to a few steps.

“Sup,” She nodded at the guards as they passed, entering the place she sought so eagerly. The gym was impressive to behold, stocked with so much gear that it could probably fit all the fighters in at once. Yet to her surprise they were indeed the first ones here. She blinked slowly, taking in the sights with a curious and surprised look.

“Huh. Well...let's start it up then.” She gave a little shake of her head, which sent the loose bun jostling lightly. That tall, svelte frame sauntered off through the gym and went directly for the sandbags. She found a place for her gear and started in immediately. Firstly, she began her stretches, taking time to do it properly despite her eagerness. In her skimpy attire it was a sight to behold, unintentionally she gave Derek another show as she lunged and squatted, taking a great focus upon her long, toned legs. She didn't skimp on any one part though, everything was eventually limber by the time she finished.

“Hmph, alright.” She snorted like a bull, her green gaze narrowing upon a nearby pear ball. She strode closer, her hips giving a natural sway with each step. Once she drew in she turned to the side, drew up her leg and stretched it out till her toes pressed against the leather. Rikki displayed a rather impressive level of agility as she held the position for a few moments before she lowered her leg. She wasn't finished though, indeed her legs spread, drawing in under herself before she launched that powerful frame into the air. She spun quickly, arms before her and one of those legs launching out in a spin-kick that caught the pear and sent it whipping about fiercely. Rikki gave a little huff of breath as her foot contacted the ball and she landed without sparring an ounce of grace. Only then did her green eyes fall upon Derek, a little smirk lingering upon her lips. She knew he had to be watching, so why not give him a little show? Rikki wasn't above teasing her man meat, all he could do was stand there and smile, after all. But what was going on behind that placid exterior? Rikki wanted to know.

“So. You just gonna stand there or are yah gonna help out? Course, yer monkey suit isn't really appropriate. Do you sleep in it?” She couldn't help but push on with more sarcastic comments. Rikki turned from him and moved on to one of the sandbags, giving it a few kicks with both shins to warm up some.

“C'mere and hold this, Jeeves. Put some pep in that step!”

 

[Trucken]

“Do they give yah a happy ending if you tip 'em enough?”

Rikki's elbow had connected perfectly, just under Derek's ribs, hitting the spot that would make anyone grimace. So did Derek, even his perfect stance was ruined as his hips moved away from her and his body bent to the side where she jabbed him. For a moment he was disappointed with himself, feeling that he should've been able to stay still, but the question that followed combined with her tone and grin almost made him laugh and he realized that she was just messing with him.

"Our massage therapists work for free Rikki, so there's no need to tip them. As for a happy ending... well, I honestly doubt it." He wanted to say something along the lines of 'maybe if you ask them nicely', but he didn't do it. If he did and she got mad there would be trouble, and he really didn't want to be the cause of it. It might seem ridiculous that he was worried about making a little joke, but he knew you had to tread lightly around people like these. Athletes, fighters even more so, often had huge egos that were very frail. Minor things, like a joke, could set them off. Granted, Rikki seemed pretty laid-back but he wasn't about to risk it.

They reached the gym and Derek showed Rikki where everything was.

“Huh. Well...let's start it up then." Derek nodded at her words.

"Very well. I'll be right here if you need me." Derek stayed by the wall near the entrance. He figured that Rikki didn't want him breathing down her neck as she did her workout and decided to give her some space. Besides, he was only across the room, if she needed him he wouldn't have any trouble hearing her call for him.

Derek looked around the gym and his eyes stopped at the row of photos on one of the walls. It was the winners of the previous tournaments. They were there to inspire the fighters, to let them know that they had the chance to be on that very wall, a chance to be considered the greatest fighter alive. Derek understood how much it meant to all of them. For a full year the winner would know that he, or she, was the best damn fighter in the world. Even better, so would everyone else.

"I'm guessing the money doesn't hurt either." Derek muttered to himself as he smirked. He looked over at Rikki again and the sight made him blink, his eyes widening momentarily. Rikki was stretching her toned body, and right now he was getting another glorious view of her perfect ass. It made him divert his eyes momentarily before looking at her again. She really was something else, and even though he was discreetly checking her out he also admired her for her work ethic. Looking like that, having that body didn't come cheap. It required hours and hours in the gym and Derek was impressed by people that could dedicate so much of their time to take care of themselves. Sure, she was fighting for a living, but it didn't make it any less impressive. Derek worked out a few hours every week, but he just didn't have the drive to push himself further. He was in good shape, but he wasn't ripped like a model or bodybuilder and he didn't have abs. Well, if he sucked in his stomach you could see them but he couldn't go around holding his breath all the time.

Derek's eyes followed Rikki as she walked over to one of the pear balls. He looked at her curiously as she stretched one of her legs and pressed her toes against the ball.

"Man, she's really agile. But what is she doing? Is this still part of her stretching?" he thought as he peered at her when she suddenly lowered her leg again. "Oh, I guess it wa... whoa..." Her sudden spin-kick caught him by surprise but it also impressed the hell out of him. He almost applauded her when she landed but decided not to, feeling that it might be inappropriate.

"Very impressive, Rikki." he said instead, giving her a slight nod. Their eyes met and Derek could see that she was smirking. "What's that all about?"

“So. You just gonna stand there or are yah gonna help out? Course, yer monkey suit isn't really appropriate. Do you sleep in it?” Derek smiled and took a heavy breath. "Oh, so that's what it was."

“C'mere and hold this, Jeeves. Put some pep in that step!” Rikki said after giving a sandbag a few kicks.

Derek realized he had made a mistake. The assistants were expected to helt the fighters train if they wanted their help, but Derek's clothes was in his room. He had forgotten to pick them up on the way to the gym, and he didn't want to keep her waiting. At the same time he didn't want to risk ripping his suit. Sure, he had more of them in his room, but it felt stupid to risk it. There was only one solution really.

"If you will excuse me for just a moment, Rikki, I will be right back." He gave her a slight bow and walked over to the dressing room. He returned about a minute later, now having stripped down to his black boxer briefs and the tight white tank top he was wearing under his shirt. His right arm was tattooed, branches stretching down his arm and ending at his wrist, emanating from a tree tattooed on the side of his ribs. His arms and legs were slightly hairy and so was his chest, some hair peeking up above the tanktop.

It did feel weird walking through the gym like this, but then again, he wasn't showing more skin than Rikki did, and she was actually wearing gym clothes. He had adjusted his boxer briefs so they wouldn't cling to his groin as he didn't want to show off his bulge. He knew he was kinda big down there but he couldn't imagine that Rikki wanted to watch his bulge bounce around as he helped her train.

"I'm afraid I forgot to bring appropriate clothes with me, Rikki. However, I'll do what I can to assist you in your training." He gave her another smile and nod before grabbing the sandbag and pressing his chest against it, his legs tensing up as he steeled himself for the incoming kicks.

"I'm ready when you are."

 

[KattDclaw]

Rikki honestly wasn't sure what she was expecting from Derek at that moment. She half expected him to just dive right in wearing his suit. Yet with a slight bow he disappeared off in the direction of the changing room. Rikki just stood there with an curious, somewhat surprised and curious look upon her face. She watched him go, her hands came to settle upon her hips and she let out a little scoff of disbelieve.

“What the hell is this bonehead doing?” She muttered to herself a moment later, already turning back towards the bag. She was about to just start herself when she heard the door open once more and Derek walk out in nothing less than his underwear. Rikki took a double take at the sight, those green eyes widening sharply. Her lips twitched and she scrunched of her face, choking on the laughter that came up from her throat. The sight was ridiculous, at least at first, so Rikki just laughed. It wasn't a mocking laughter, more the type of someone seeing something that couldn't believe just happened. Despite it all, Rikki's gaze devoured what she saw. Sure he looked good in a suit, he was tall, dark, and handsome, but now that he was out of it Rikki saw just what he had to offer. While he wasn't exactly stacked there was no denying the strength that lay underneath his tanned skin. The fact he went the natural route was appeasing as well, the whole idea of men shaving as much as women just never made sense to Rikki.

Rikki made no effort to conceal her appraising eye that ran the length of Derek's body, the laughter leaving a wide grin upon her lips. It was natural enough, not the sarcastic smirk she had worn previously.

“Well lookit that,” She clucked her tongue and chuckled, her shoulders rolling slowly. “Maybe next time you can remember your shit, eh Derek?”

She teased, that grin drifting back into its customary smirk. Rikki circled about the bag as Derek took his place before it and assumed the proper position. Rikki gave another little stretch before without another word she fell into a ready fighting stance. She didn't give Derek long before she started in, displaying her quickness by closing the distance between the two. She hit the sandbag hard with her right fist, the left following suit with equal force. She pummeled the bag for several brutal moments before she broke off far enough to lash out with that wicked right leg again. As powerful as her fists had been, her legs were where most of her strength truly lay. Rikki struck with all the force she could muster, hitting with her shin on the bag and releasing a thunderous impact. She traded off a few more kicks, switching legs before she started to repeated her moves with trained precision. It didn't take her long to break a sweat, perspiration beaded across that luscious, dangerous frame and dampened her attire. Rikki didn't relent though, she pushed herself with a ruthless aggression of a trained fighter.

After an impressive display Rikki finally relented, breaking off fully as she turned and strolled in a slow, predatory circle. Her hands settled on her sides, her chest heaving with each breath she took. Her cheeks and limbs were flushed from the effort, though it wasn't blotchy or angry as it was with some fighters. If anything she seemed more vibrant than ever, the light in those green orbs undeniable, hungry and focused. That was till they settled upon Derek still at the bag. She took a breath and gave a shake of her head, the red bun at the back of her head jostling lightly.

“That's it for a few. Thanks,” She said in between labored breaths. Rikki turned and retrieved her water bottle, spraying a cool burst of water across her face and into her mouth. About that time the doors to the gym swung open and several bodies filed in. Rikki's attention turned to them, though nothing seemed to catch her interest amidst the bulk and thew. She turned back to her immediate area, the bottle still in her grasp as she let her gaze settle on Derek. Her lips parted to say something, no doubt sarcastic, before a high-pitched squeal that sounded awfully like her name made the tall woman pause.

Rikki turned just in time to see a petite and achingly gorgeous Asian woman practically bouncing her way. The woman was young and ravishing, with the face of a model and the toned and trimmed body of a professional dancer. She was a tiny thing, barely coming up to Rikki's shoulder though despite her short stature there was a certain radiance to her that made her all the more imposing. The spandex bodysuit that clung to her shapely curves didn't detract either. She wore a bright smile upon her full lips.

“Rikki!” She let out another high pitched giggle and came to stop before the taller woman. “I didn't know you were even here. Where were you on the boat?”

“Hachi?” Rikki said in disbelief, truly caught off guard by what she saw. The woman laughed and nodded, before she greeted Rikki in Japanese. The redhead let out an embarrassed bout of laughter and returned the greeting, though she could barely get out the words.

“You still need to work on your Japanese I see,” She said with a mirthful grin. Rikki gave the shorter woman a nasty glare before her face split into that familiar smirk.

“I know enough. Sake. That's about all I need,” Rikki snorted and laughed, to which Hachi returned it easily. It was about then that she took notice of Derek, her grin only widening at the sight.

“Oooh. Is he yours? He's dreamy.” Hachi said with nothing short of hunger flashing in her gaze. Another figure appeared, wearing a similar suit as Derek had been shortly before. Rikki took in the obvious feminine figure and gave a snort.

“Yeah. How did I get stuck with the guy and you got a girl? I think they are hatin' on whitey here.” Rikki said and jerked a thumb at herself. Hachi giggled and shrugged.

“Stop complaining for once. He's cute. Though if you get bored with him just send him to my room, kay?” Hachi flashed a rather charming smile, which was obviously directed at Derek. Rikki laughed regardless, glancing back at Derek with that smirk.

“You aim to please right? Hachi here might be tiny but she'd chew you up and spit you out.” Rikki said without missing a beat. As if to emphasis the words Hachi curled her fingers like claws and did her best tiger impression. The two women shared a laugh at that.

“Anyway. Gotta go train. Hopefully we get tossed into the ring together. I can't wait to kick your ass again,” Hachi said with that same charming smile and somehow managed to make the words sound sweet. Rikki just grinned and shook her head. She took a step to the side to let Hachi pass before she retorted.

“Yer slimy like an eel. I didn't want to touch you,” Rikki shot back over Hachi's shoulder. The woman just laughed and didn't bother to slow down, her own helper hot on her heels.

 

[Trucken]

Derek did feel slightly embarrassed when Rikki laughed at him, showing it in a shy smile and slightly flushed cheeks. Even so he felt it was somewhat ironic since he was showing less skin than she was, his torso being completely covered just like hers and his underwear covering more of his legs than her gym shorts did. Derek did not point this out to her however.

“Well lookit that,” she said with a chuckle. “Maybe next time you can remember your shit, eh Derek?” Her comment did make him calm down and the embarrassment disppeared as he nodded slightly at her again.

"Will do, Rikki. I will remember 'my shit', as you so eloquently put it." Derek smirked at her, deliberately teasing her before grabbing the heavy sandbag and positioning himself.

It soon became clear to Derek that he had underestimated Rikki, in more ways than one. First of all, her speed. Derek had steeled himself at first, but when she started stretching again he had relaxed slightly, even when she got into a fighting stance. She had been too far away to attack the sandbag from there, so he had still been waiting for her to get closer. Suddenly, she was right in front of him, her green eyes focused on the sandbag. Derek hadn't even seen her move closer, it was like she had teleported four feet forward, materializing in front of him just as she threw a punch.

That was the second thing he had underestimated about her, her strength. The first punch came with such force that it made him lose his balance momentarily, almost falling backwards. But he regained himself, holding on to the sandbag and planting his feet again, the punches rocking the bag in his hands.

He had also underestimated her kicks. The first one struck the sandbag brutally, making some of the force travel through it and continue in to Derek's torso which was pressed against it. It made him grimace as it almost knocked the air out of him, briefly wondering how the hell that would've felt if the sandbag hadn't been between them. He adjusted himself and after a while he found a position that took some of the edge off from her kicks while still allowing him to keep the bag steady.

Derek was impressed by her. She was quick and packed some serious power, especially in her kicks. He studied her as she let loose, trying to see if she had any tells that would let him know what was going to happen next. It was something he had been taught to do when he was boxing, and even though he wasn't fighting Rikki he was curious if he still had it in him. He was starting to see some patterns, but he couldn't tell from looking at her body what exactly she was going to do. So he focused on her eyes instead, knowing that some fighters looked at the spot they were going to attack before they did it.

Derek was taken aback by her eyes. Sure, he had noticed that they were green earlier, but now that he was really looking at them he realized that she had beautiful eyes. Combined with her focused gaze it made them seem even more vibrant.

After a while she stopped attacking the sandbag. By this time both of them had broken a sweat, a few strands of hair hanging down in front of Dereks face. His eyes followed her as she walked around, wondering if she was taking a break or just quickly regaining herself when she suddenly looked at him and shook her head.

“That's it for a few. Thanks." Derek let go of the sandbag and stretched his arms, sore after grabbing on to the bag for so long.

"As you wish Rikki." He said as she took some water and the doors to the gym opened. Other fighters, along with their assistants, walked into the gym. Some of them had already changed into their gym clothes, others headed towards the locker room to change. Some of them were happily chatting to each other, others didn't say a word and had a focused look in their eyes as they headed towards various machines or other sandbags. One of them headed straight for the octagon, his assistant following him inside the cage. Derek didn't know or recognize either of them, but he wondered if the assistant had a fighting chance. Probably not. It wasn't uncommon for some of the fighters to use their assistants as punching bags, maybe just because they could or it somehow boosted their ego and confidence manhandling some poor guy that didn't stand a chance. Either way, Derek didn't get it. He just hoped that Rikki wasn't one of those.

Derek turned back to Rikki only to find her talking to someone. A woman that looked japanese to be more precise, that obviously was there as a fighter. She was very pretty, gorgeous actually, and there was a huge height difference between her and Rikki who was towering over her. The woman noticed Derek and eyed him while grinning.

“Oooh. Is he yours? He's dreamy.” Derek wasn't the best at reading people but even he could tell what that look meant, and it genuinely surprised him. He had lived in Japan for four years and was now well aware of the 'gaijin stare', the look he would so often get when he was walking down the street. Fact was that the japanese were kinda racist. Well, maybe not racist, but they certainly kept their distance from him and gave him odd looks and even though he was respected by most members of the Yakuza he was often still referred to as 'the gaijin'. This also carried over to his love life as the women had no interest in him due to him being white. He had been on a handful of dates while in Japan, but he never got to a second one. He didn't know why they agreed to go on a date with him in the first place if they were just going to vanish on him after it. The Yakuza could set him up with women, but he had politely declined every time someone brought it up. He just had no interest in having sex with someone that was getting paid to do it.

That's why it surprised him so much to see that this woman, who he was pretty certain was japanese, actually seemed interested in him. He certainly didn't mind, it had been a few years since a woman looked at him like that and it made him smile shyly.

“Yeah. How did I get stuck with the guy and you got a girl? I think they are hatin' on whitey here.” Derek noticed her assistant. He had seen her at the docks, but he didn't know her name.

“Stop complaining for once. He's cute. Though if you get bored with him just send him to my room, kay?” She smiled at Derek who cleared his throat, almost starting to feel uncomfortable. There wasn't really any doubt now, this woman was very interested in him and it had been a few years since Derek had gotten laid. And even though he didn't know her he certainly wouldn't say no if she wanted to have some fun.

“You aim to please right? Hachi here might be tiny but she'd chew you up and spit you out.” The two women laughed as Hachi did a tiger impression and Derek smiled politely at them, his eyes wandering around the floor before settling upon Rikki.

"I will have to take your word for it Rikki." He nodded as he said so.

“Anyway. Gotta go train. Hopefully we get tossed into the ring together. I can't wait to kick your ass again.” That was interesting to Derek. They had fought each other before?

“Yer slimy like an eel. I didn't want to touch you.” Rikki replied as Hachi left with her assistant.

"She seemed nice." Derek said to Rikki, momentarily glancing at Hachi as she walked away. "Is she an old friend of yours Rikki? It sounded like you had fought each other before?"

 

[KattDclaw]

Rikki watched Hachi go, her green gaze lingering on the departing frame for just a few moments more. As she disappeared around the corner the smirk fell from her lips and Rikki just gave a contemptuous little snort. The friendly, jovial look she had worn for Hachi was gone, replaced by a sever scowl. She shot Derek a glare that could easily stop the big man in his tracks, she almost seemed offended by his words for a moment before she took a deep breath and let it out in a sharp snort.

“She's a flaming cunt is what she is,” Rikki shot back, her attention focused on Derek as the venom poured past her lips. “You don't become friends with a viper like that. That bitch is after one thing and one thing only: herself. You'd think I'd admire that, right? Fuck that...I wasn't kidding that she would chew you up and spit you out. But not before she used you till there was nothing left to give.”

Her tone left little doubt that Rikki was harboring some angst towards the woman, though as to what instilled those feelings in her, Derek should have known by now Rikki wasn't the type to go offering that juicy tidbit.

“She'll do whatever it takes to win. Let's just hope yer bosses frown upon cheating.” Rikki spat, snatching up her towel and burying her still wet face in it. She closed the conversation down after that, whatever good mood she might have been in previously long since melted away. Rikki towel dried her face before she turned back to Derek and let her narrowed gaze settle on his own.

“Back to work, Maggot. Let's hit the weights...”

Rikki pushed herself farther than she had to, but focusing on her training routine was one way to keep her anger in check. At the very core, Rikki was just an angry, disgruntled person waiting to snap. If it hadn't been for her friends and teachers in the ring she would have long since given into her rage. The hidden geek in her liked to think of it in a similar aspect as the Sith from Star Wars. She focused her anger and rage into a source of power, not a debilitating curse. It was truly amazing how much punishment and pain she could put herself through before she finally relented. The hours stretched by and Rikki was still there, her tall, lean frame drenched in perspiration. That dyed red hair had been tied back a few times after falling out of its loose bun. Thick red strands clung to her brow and temples, mingled into the darker bur of hair at the sides of her head. To most people she might look a total wreck, her cheeks flushed and blotchy, the angry look ever present upon her sharp features.

Finally Rikki relented, calling it quits well after most of the others had come and gone. She was tired, sore and hungry. Oh and she smelled like ass. She used her top to wipe excess sweat from her hands and forearms before she reached for her towel. Her lips remained slightly parted as she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling heavily but evenly. Rikki felt the ache deep down inside and only briefly wondered if she had pushed herself too far. It wasn't good to destroy herself so completely so close to a bout, but now as she stood there looking at herself in one of the full length mirrors, drenched in sweat and practically glowing in the lights above she knew there had been no other choice. Letting her anger get the better of her was never the right decision, the one thing she had never truly developed in her time fighting was a thicker hide. Rikki felt the sting of insults, slights to her pride all too intensely and the woman absolutely loved to hold a grudge. Derek also proved useful today as a sounding board for her anger. Rikki vented on him wordlessly, using him more as a mindless servant than an assistant. Rikki knew she was exhausted, no doubt the man had to be wavering in his resolve as well, not that she particularly cared about him or his feelings.

“Aright, Jeeves. Pack it up and wipe the machines down for me. I'm gonna go up and hit the shower. When yer done come find me and we'll go find Madam Bovary or whatever the fuck her name was...” Rikki commanded with a few waves of her hands in an exaggerated manner. She waited just long enough for Derek to acknowledge her demands before she snorted and turned on her heels and drifted towards the gym's exit. As the doors swung open she gave the guards a head bob of acknowledgement before she made her way back towards the elevator. She remembered the way back to her room, at least the floor and room number. The air was chilly in the building compared to the thickness and humidity of the gym. Rikki felt goosebumps dancing over her flesh and certain other areas of her body tightening up and poking out. She wrapped her arms in front of her chest, tightening them flush against her modest bustline to shield the fact. The elevator doors opened and Rikki piled inside with a few other guests. She made her way to the back of the cart and leaned against the wall, still trying to catch her breath. The tall, powerfully built American woman with crimson hair kind of stood out among most of the guests and even the other fighters. Rikki was use to it for the most part, but she still found the stares annoying. A young Asian woman stood beside a tall man in a fancy business suit, whispering something into his ear in a language she couldn't pinpoint. Rikki glanced towards them to find both of them exchanging glances between themselves and her, much to Rikki's overall annoyance. She was about to say something when the girl suddenly broke free from the man's arm and approached her. Green eyes narrowed upon the girl instantly but she was met with nothing but an embarrassed little smile.

“You are Rikki Sweet?” She asked in a thick accent. Rikki offered a stout nod of recognition, to which the girl's smile just widened.

“Can I have autograph?” She practically giggled in excitement as she reached into her purse and fished out a pen and a small notepad. Rikki felt a tingle of embarrassment ripple up her spine. It wasn't every day that people recognized her, sure, they gawked at her and oogled her tight and toned body as she passed, but someone knowing her name, knowing just what she did for a living? A fan, that was something she really hadn't dealt with much, outside the fighting circuit she was unknown, even then the kinds of fights she did weren't broadcast on national airwaves.

“Uh...yeah sure...What's the name?” Rikki hesitated for just a moment before she reached for the offered pen and pad. She scribbled out the name as best she could, though she had to ask the girl to spell it, slowly, since she had absolutely no idea what letter it started with. Her arms had to unfurl from her chest of course and in the process she exposed the undeniable little bulges of her nipples pressing through her sweat soaked top. Rikki wasn't sporting a pair of obscenely large hooters now, mind you, what she had was a solid A cup, but what she did have was ripe and perky, something that could easily draw the attention of any eye that drew across them. She had completely forgotten about it as she wrote the name a few times, finally getting it correct on the 3rd attempt. With a pleased smile she gave the pad and pen back to the girl, who seemed all too delighted to receive it. Rikki glanced up from her towards the man she had been clinging to moments before. His attention had been on the pair, but it was a totally different pair he was currently staring at. Rikki felt the familiar anger bubbling to the surface at the very sight. That smile twisted into an angry frown and she instantly brought her right hand up and snapped sharply.

“Hey. Up here.” She caught their attention, pointing to her face. The look on their faces was priceless, the look of embarrassment at being caught on his, one of surprise and then anger as she realized what was going on. In a high pitched squeal the girl began to berate the man, Rikki fell instantly quiet from the sheer force of the outburst. She had absolutely no idea what the girl was saying, but as the elevator doors swung open and Rikki slipped out as silently as she could, she knew the verbal assault was going to last for quite some time. She was thankful to depart after that unintentional and odd situation, her long legs carried her down the hallway and into her room.

The air felt even cooler in her room as she emerged, giving a little shiver before she tossed aside her stuff and started to peel her workout clothing from her frame. The top came off first, sticking to her tanned flesh as her arms crossed before her and tugged it upwards. Rikki sighed as she felt the cool air assault her chest, her nipples hardening fully from the cool air. The flimsy piece of material was tossed aside without a second thought. One by one she lifted her legs, set her foot on the couch and unlaced her shoes, kicked them off and peeled her socks off as well. That left her in nothing but the teeny tiny pair of shorts that clung to her hips. Rikki started to tug them down over the subtle swell of her hips as she sauntered towards the bathroom. Only when her bare feet slapped against the tile of the massive bathroom did she pause, bend gracefully at the waist and slid them down over her hips and thighs. Rikki felt instant relief as the shorts fell about her ankles, she stepped from them and left them right where they had fallen. Rikki tugged down her hair before she approached the standing shower and slid inside. The multitude of buttons for the shower was almost staggering, though she managed to figure it out without too much trouble. Soon the heated water was pouring forth, rushing down her ravishing figure, causing her crimson mane to stick to the side of her face, neck and shoulders. She stood under it for long moments, palms pressed against the wall with her head bowed. The hot watered pounded down on the back of her neck and shoulders, doing wonders to ease the sore muscles before trickling down the graceful arch of her back and beyond.

 

[Trucken]

The glare that Rikki shot Derek was enough to make the man take an inadvertent step back. It made him think about what he just said, if he had happened to say anything that could anger her but he just couldn't find it. He had just said that Hachi seemed nice and asked how she knew her, certainly there weren't anything aggravating about that?

“She's a flaming cunt is what she is.” The words made Derek's eyes widen in shock. "What did she just say?" “You don't become friends with a viper like that. That bitch is after one thing and one thing only: herself. You'd think I'd admire that, right? Fuck that...I wasn't kidding that she would chew you up and spit you out. But not before she used you till there was nothing left to give.” Derek was visibly surprised by her words, his eyes darting between Rikki and the direction Hachi had wandered off.

"Wha-... Um, really?" Derek had a hard time believing Rikki. Not just a hard time, he didn't believe her. Sure he had just met Hachi and it was a very brief encounter, but he did not believe for a second that she was as bad as Rikki said. Sure he was basing this on a first impression, and that impression was that she seemed like a nice and happy person with a very pretty face which matched her tiny but toned frame. No, this had to be about something else.

“She'll do whatever it takes to win. Let's just hope yer bosses frown upon cheating.” Rikki spat out the words before angrily grabbing her towel and wiped her face off with it. As she did Derek nodded slightly, though not at Rikki. No, it was a nod to himself as he was pretty sure what this was really all about. Hachi wasn't as bad as Rikki said, no, this was something else. This was a professional grudge. From their earlier conversation there were no doubt that they had fought each other before and that Hachi had won, and that was the reason to why Rikki said those things about her; Rikki was a sore loser. Sure she claimed that Hachi was a cheater, but Derek wasn't so sure. No, this definitely felt more like jealousy, Hachi had bested Rikki in a fight and Rikki couldn't handle it. It made sense.

Rikki finished wiping off her face and stared at Derek with narrowed eyes. Derek met her eyes with his normal look, not showing any signs that he didn't believe her. No, he just looked like he was waiting for her next order, which he actually was.

“Back to work, Maggot. Let's hit the weights...”

"Yes Rikki," he replied shortly but courteously as he followed her.

The way Rikki worked out was ridiculous. Not that she had bad form or did useless exercises or anything like that. No, it was for a completely different reason; the woman seemed to have no limits. She went on for hours, hitting the weights like she was possessed when she wasn't beating the shit out of the sandbags. And even though Derek was simply aiding her by holding the sandbag for her or spotting her when she was using the weights he got quite the workout as well. Fact was that he was drenched in sweat, his skin glistening and the hairs on his body pointing in the direction that he had last wiped himself off in. Even more strands of hair had broken free and hanged down in front of his face, some of them getting stuck in droplets of sweat, clinging to his cheeks and nose.

“Aright, Jeeves. Pack it up and wipe the machines down for me. I'm gonna go up and hit the shower. When yer done come find me and we'll go find Madam Bovary or whatever the fuck her name was...”

"Will do Rikki," he replied with a noticeable strain in his voice. "Oh, and her name isn't Bovary, it's miss Hase..." Derek's words faded into nothing when he realized that Rikki wasn't paying attention and simply walked away from him. He didn't let it faze him though, instead he simlpy stood there, following Rikki with his eyes until she disappeared from the gym. When she was gone he took a look around and noticed that he was alone right now, and he seized the moment to do what he had wanted to do for the last hour; he took a deep gasp for air and nearly collapsed on the floor, ending up on his knee and supporting himself on the machine next to him. He had been more or less gassed but didn't want to show Rikki. Probably for typical male reasons, like not wanting to admit defeat to a woman, even though he was fully aware that she would slaughter him in a real fight.

"Oh fuck me," he said between ragged breaths, swallowing hard as he tried to keep his heart from hammering a hole in his chest. Derek hadn't been through a workout like that in years, and he had only assisted Rikki with hers. How she managed to get through it, and coming out of it better than Derek, he didn't know. Sure, she was an athlete, but Derek was no slouch either. He did spend a few hours of the week at the gym, but he wasn't really pushing himself to become a weightlifter or anything. Clearly, as his sessions at the gym didn't kick his ass this much.

"Christ, how the hell does she keep it up? Is she a damn machine?" More and more of the real Derek crept forward, but it was OK since he was the only one there. The Derek that he showed to Rikki and any other guest or fighter was obviously a front, one that was expected by the Yakuza. They wanted Derek and all the other servants to treat everyone with the utmost respect while being a perfect gentleman. Not that Derek was an asshole otherwise, but when he was alone or in the company of friends he certainly wasn't so uptight.

"Better get this done," he said as he pushed himself up to his feet, grunting as he did. "So I have time to take a shower before taking Rikki to miss Hasegawa."

After wiping off the machines Derek put on his clothes and left the now empty gym. He didn't like putting on clothes when he was all sweaty since he had to walk all the way over to the elevators and didn't want guests or any workers to get a whiff of him, but it wasn't like he had any choice. All his clean clothes were in his room after all. Fortunately for him he didn't encounter a lot of people on his way to the lobby, and even better for him he didn't have to share the elevator with anyone. It didn't take long for his odor to fill the elevator, but even though he was going all the way to the twelfth floor where his room was there weren't any real risk of making the elevator stink as it was well-ventilated and moved quickly. It could seem strange that the assistants would get rooms that high up, but the Yakuza had their reasons. They wanted the assistants to live close to the combatants so they could get to them quickly if called upon. Anything to make sure that they would be satisfied.

Derek reached his room, number 1209, and swiped his card in the lock, a green light coming to life indicating that the door was now unlocked. He opened the door and entered his room, loosening his green tie as soon as he closed the door behind him. The room certainly was small, but it was still very nice considering that he just worked there, plus there was a large window on one of the walls giving him a great view over the island. The bathroom was also small but nice, though it didn't have the massage jets that could be found in the fighters rooms.

He quickly took off his suit and hanged it over the back of the chair by the desk, before removing his socks and his tanktop which left him in only his black boxerbriefs. Glancing at the watch by the bed as he walked to the bathroom he realized that he needed to hurry. He wasn't sure of Rikki were one to take long showers, but he didn't want her to wait for him so he quickly discarded his underwear as soon as he entered the bathroom and headed straight for the shower, turning on the water without waiting for it to heat up. The first few seconds the water was cold which made Derek grimace and let out a low grunt, but the temperature quickly rose and he let out his hair, his dark mane released from the braid. He looked good with his hair out, making him look even darker than he was, but he rarely left it out as he thought it was annoying when the wind blew the hair in his face.

Even so, when Derek finished his quick shower he decided to leave his hair out. After using the hairdryer he felt that he didn't have time to braid it, so he left it like it was and headed out to the wardrobe, sliding one of the doors to the side. Inside it there were ten identical suits, all looking like the one he had worn earlier. Again it was the Yakuza's idea, they wanted the staff to look proper at all times, so they made sure they had a change of clothes. Derek quickly got dressed and adjusted his green tie one last time while looking at himself in the mirror. Even though he didn't see it himself he looked very different with his hair out which was straight but still had volume, the hairs at the front making a little turn upwards before going down the sides of his face. He was mostly concerned with looking proper, and even with his hair out he certainly did.

"Do I have everything?" Derek muttered to himself before patting down his pockets, finding that he indeed had everything he needed. With that he left his room and took the elevator up to the fourteenth floor where he soon found himself in front of the Door to Rikki's room, knocking on it with three soft knocks.

"Rikki? It's me, Derek. Are you ready to go and meet miss Hasegawa?" Derek stood in front of the door, one hand grabbing his own wrist, waiting for Rikki to respond. Even if she weren't ready he would simply wait next to her door just as the Yakuza had instructed him to do.

 

[KattDclaw]

Rikki stood in the shower for quite sometime. The heat felt good on her sore muscles, trickling down over her head, down the back of her neck and over her shoulders. She felt the water washing away the outermost layer of sweat and grime even before she set about lathering up. Rikki was done cleaning herself after only a few moments, but she stayed in the shower well after that. By the time she emerged the mirrors were fully steamed up, the tiled surfaces slick with humidity and the wisps of heat still snaking about her. Her pace was leisurely, Rikki didn't bother to fully dry off till she was well out of the bathroom. She had set a wandering pace about the hotel room, once more taking in the extravagance that was all hers. She left damp footprints in the plush carpet along with a trail as she cast off the remnants of water that clung to her tanned flesh. She found herself standing before the same window she had before, just behind the plush couch that was probably more comfortable than her bed at home. With no hint of modesty Rikki stood before it in the buff, staring out in the gathering darkness as night rapidly approached.

It was only the soft knock at the door that finally drew her out of her reverie. By then it had grown a little darker, as Rikki's gaze refocused she could easily make out her nude reflection in the thick glass. She still glistened from her shoulder, her hair slick and clinging to the back of her neck and shoulders. The shower she had brought with her dangled idly over her shoulders, offering a hint of modesty without really covering much. It was back to the real world now, so much for daydreaming. With a huff Rikki brought up the towel and flopped it over her head, giving it a through ruffling as she rigorously dried her hair. She turned from the window and made her way towards the front door. She could have easily just told Derek to wait, barked out an order and been done with it. But where was the fun in that? He was her Manservant after all, waiting on her hand and foot like the good little bitch he was. He was far from little, at least now, so Rikki decided to knock him down a few more pegs. As if helping her workout in his boxers wasn't enough. Without a second thought she grabbed the handle of the door and flung it open. She didn't open it fully, but just enough that she could stand before the space and he could see almost all of her.

Rikki stood there in the buff, the same look of nonchalantness upon her sharp face. That tanned flesh glistened in places, giving a bit more definition to her already rock hard muscles. It was in that moment that she revealed her true hair color, dark brown as it were, a neatly shaven patch just above her lower delicates. Her lips twitched ever so lightly as she stood there for a moment, enough to let Derek drink in what he saw before she laughed.

“Shoulda taken a picture. Maybe if yer tight ass doesn't piss me off I'll send yah a nekkid text,” She idly spoke, almost an after-thought as she tossed the towel over her right shoulder. “Gonna need a minute. Then we can go see Misses Doubtfire.”

She turned then, giving him the moment to get another glance of her from behind before she nudged the door closed with her hip. That little movement offered a better view of the sleek curve of her hips, far from an hourglass figure but it still had enough curves to draw the eye. Rikki tittered to herself as she made her way towards the bedroom, enjoying herself way too much.


She emerged ten minutes later fully dressed, at least as much as Rikki Swift was want to wear. She was going to get fitted for a dress anyway, so what was the point of wearing a lot? The plastic slap of flop-flops followed after her with each step she made, those long legs were left exposed by the pair of skimpy cotton shorts she wore that barely crested the curve of her backside. Over that she wore a baggy T-shirt with another gym logo on the front. Under that she wore a tanktop, just in case Ms. Haverdasher wanted to get up close and personal. She wasn't really sure what to expect, she had never had to get fitted for anything in her life. The fanciest Rikki had ever gone was going to a Department store at the mall. The journey was slow and uneventful, Rikki let Derek lead the way as she had done all day. Her focus was more on her phone, having finally deciding to check it out. She wasn't big on technology, she felt more like an ape beating a computer with a stick.

“Why do smartphones have to make you feel so fuckin' stupid? And what the hell is a Flappy Bird?”

 

[Trucken]

As the door started to open Derek straightened up slightly, making his usual good posture perfect. He wore that same friendly smile and his hair, even though it now was free from the confines of the thick braid he usually wore, looked impeccable. As always, he was a true professional.

That didn't last long though as Derek realized Rikki was right in front of him stark naked. He blinked almost comically and widened his eyes, his mouth opening slightly from the sight in front of him. His eyes darted across her body, taking her in as he was stunned by how she looked so perfect. Her breasts weren't big, but they certainly were perky and seemed made especially for her toned body. He also couldn't ignore that little patch of hair below that were just above where her slit started.


“Shoulda taken a picture. Maybe if yer tight ass doesn't piss me off I'll send yah a nekkid text.” Derek snapped back to reality when he heard Rikki's words. He realized that he had just been caught ogling his client and his embarrassed face turned red, blushing so much he got the color of a boiled lobster.

"Oh, uh, I..." Derek stammered, obviously flustered as he tried to say something, anything, that could make up for his behavior.

“Gonna need a minute. Then we can go see Misses Doubtfire.”

"Uh, yes, I..." He still weren't able to get the words out and Rikki doing that little move with her hips that closed the door didn't make it easier for him. Even with the door closed right in front of his nose he still stood there, trying to come up with some sort of apology but after a while he realized he might as well drop it. Rikki had teased him intentionally, that much was for certain, but he also came to the conclusion that he was far too flustered to actually come up with something akin to an apology. And, he didn't know if Rikki could hear him through the door anyway.

Instead he stood by the side of the door, looking like a guard posted outside it. His face was still red and he rubbed his eyes as he let out a sigh, his heart beating like a drum inside his chest. It was amazing really, Rikki had been wearing very little all day and already showed Derek most of her body, but removing those pieces of fabric really made a difference.

"She's quite bold, isn't she..." Derek muttered the words and couldn't help but let out a silent laugh, rubbing his eyes again as his face was returning to his normal color and his heart was calming down. Rikki sure was something else, he couldn't deny that.

Eventually Rikki had gotten dressed and they headed over to miss Hasegawa. They didn't say a lot during their walk, both because Rikki was tinkering with the phone that had been given to her and because Derek didn't have a lot to say at the moment. His mind was still partly on the sight Rikki had given him earlier, so finding the words to say something of use were a bit difficult by then.

“Why do smartphones have to make you feel so fuckin' stupid? And what the hell is a Flappy Bird?” Derek turned his head and looked on Rikki's phone, surprised by her sudden outburst. He didn't have a problem personally with smartphones, but he wasn't about to point that out to her. She could take it as an insult after all. He did have an answer for the other question though.

"Flappy Bird is a game, Rikki. You navigate a bird between pipes and try to go between as many as you can before hitting something. My best score is 17." He offered her a smile but wasn't sure that she actually cared about what Flappy Bird was, or even cared about his high score. He knew it wasn't that special, but it had taken him a couple of hours to get there.

"Anyway," he continued and tilted his head towards her while pointing forward. "That's where we're going." About 40 feet down the hallway was an elegant grey wall with an opening in it. It looked like a fancy clothes store, display windows with mannequins showing off various clothes to the people walking by outside. Inside was a bit different from a store though as there weren't racks of clothes everywhere, instead there were more mannequins standing around dressed in different suits and gowns, some set up to look like they were dancing or holding hands. It all looked very fancy and luxurious, just like everything else in the building.

Derek showed Rikki the way to the counter found in the back-corner of the store where a short young japanese woman stood, dressed in some sort of elegant floral dress that went well with the store in general.

"<Hello,>" Derek said in japanese as he bowed courteously to her, the woman responding with a little bow of herself. "<We need to see miss Hasegawa, is she here?>" It was a bit of a dumb question as she was almost always there, but it didn't hurt to ask.

"<Yes, she's here. But...>" The woman grew silent and glanced up at Rikki who towered above her before turning back to Derek. "<She's very busy right now.>"

"<I see,>" Derek replied, not surprised to hear it. "<But I'm afraid it cannot wait. Time is of the essence.>" This was really more about being polite than anything else. Fact was that Derek heavily outranked this woman and could've easily blown right past her to go see miss Hasegawa, but Derek didn't want to be rude. Plus he knew that the ones that were rude against the ones working for her were more likely to have to wait longer to get help.

"<Very well,>" the young woman replied, taking a step back and making a gesture towards a door next to her. "<She's back there working.>"

"<Thank you for your help,>" Derek replied while giving her a slight bow, walking behing the counter with Rikki in tow. He opened the white wooden door and stepped into the room behind the counter.

Very different from the quiet and elegant front, the workshop were bustling with life as sewing machines could be heard and seen working full speed. Miss Hasegawa didn't do all this alone. No, she always had a few assistants helping out to make sure the workload didn't become overwhelming. Fact was that it always nearly was anyway due to various reasons.

The workshop also looked like a bombshell had hit it, pieces of fabric all over the place, but despite how it looked it was actually orgainized, though probably only in a way that the seamstresses could figure out. From a stereo somewhere alternative rock could be heard, but Derek wasn't sure what band it was. He didn't relly care to be honest.

"Please wait here Rikki," Derek said as he turned to her. "I'll go and find miss Hasegawa, I'll be right back." Walking away he headed straight towards where he knew he would find her. She always worked around a corner in the room to give her a bit of privacy and as Derek turned the corner he saw her working on something by the sewing machine.

"Hello, miss Hasegawa." Derek bowed politely to her and she lifted her eyes from the machine, looking at Derek. Miss Hasegawa was nearly 50 (Derek had enough decency not to ask her about her age) but still looked good, a few wrinkles on her face telling the world she wasn't in her 20's anymore. Her hair was long and brown and right now tied up in a loose bun on her head. She was also wearing a white shirt that she had rolled up the sleeves on and a pair of blue jeans. In her mouth a cigarette dangled, the smoke snaking up towards the roof.

"Goddammit Derek," she replied in perfect English with a light southern accent. "I told ya to call me Gwen. That miss-shit makes me sound old." Derek smiled at her as she scoffed and went back to work, focusing on the fabric in the machine in front of her. That was miss Hasegawa for you, she didn't mince words and didn't adhere to the politeness the Yakuza expected out of the ones working for her.

"Forgive me, Gwen," he said as he made a slight nod and a gesture with his hand. "It wasn't my intention."

"Well ya fucking did it," Gwen grumbled as she continued sewing two piece of fabric together. "Whadd'ya want anyway?"

"Well, I need your help." Gwen stopped the machine abruptly and looked up at Derek again with wide eyes and furrowed brows.

"No ya don't," she replied sharply.

"Miss Hasegawa..."

"Stop right there Derek." Gwen leaned back in her chair as she took a quick drag from her cigarette and sharply exhaled the smoke towards the roof.

"No Derek. Ya don't need my help. 'Cause I can't help ya. I'm out of help to give. 'Cause about five fucking morons with way too much money decided to bring their teenaged little fucksluts here without anything fucking decent to wear, but hey, what's to worry about? They can always come to Gwen, can't they!?" Gwen went back to focusing on the machine, sewing quickly as she frowned. "I got more than enough to do Derek, if ya got a tear in yer suits go borrow someone elses. Not that I know anyone on this fucking island that wears your size..." Gwen grumbled the last words, visibly irritated by the whole situation.

"Miss... Gwen, it is not for me. It's for a guest. I think you would like her." Derek said the words with a gentle smile on his face, hoping that Gwen would at least listen to him.

"Don't care," Gwen replied shortly. "If I have to make another fucking dress for one o' these little bimbos..." That made Derek grin slightly. He knew Gwen hated making similar things in similar sizes over and over, but he knew something she liked if it was interesting enough.

"It might be a bit of a challenge Gwen. She's kind of big." The words made Gwen's head snap up and glare at Derek with murder in her eyes.

"I swear to fucking God Derek!" She stood up and nearly bit of her cigarette as she stormed towards him with quick steps. "If you have brought another one of these fat fucks here that thought they could fit into that dress that made their ass look nice ten fucking years ago!" Gwen stormed past Derek as she glared up at him, the smirk on his face aggravating her even further. She stopped dead in her tracks though when she saw Rikki, the rage in her face vanishing as she took in the tall woman with the red hair in front of her, her eyes wandering across her body.

"Holy shit, Derek." Gwen took a deep drag on her cigarette before grabbing it with two fingers, removing it from her mouth as she blew a thick pillar of smoke towards the roof. "I could fucking kiss ya." An excited smile spread across her face as she flicked her cigarette away, one of her assistants quickly rushing over to put it out before it lit fire on the fabric it landed on. Meanwhile Gwen had started making circles around Rikki, her hands occasionally touching her shoulders, waist, and hips as if to somehow measure her.

"Damn woman, ya are fuckin' gorgeous." Gwen stopped in front of Rikki, staring up at her as she nearly jumped up and down out of excitement.

"This!" She suddenly exclaimed loudly as she pointed at Rikki, getting the attention of her assistants. "This is why I got into this business! To make a perfect dress for a perfect body!" Gwen suddenly reached around Rikki and grabbed her ass, giving it a squeeze.

"Fucking HELL! It's perfect! Like two bowlingballs without the holes!" Gwen took a step back, eyeing Rikki again. "Oooh, do I have ideas for ya my dear. Oh, yer a gift, ya hear?" Gwen's mind raced with the possibilities and didn't hear anything around her until Derek cleared his throat.

"Gwen, she needs something for the opening ceremony tonight. There's only three hours left, are you sure..." He didn't get to ginish his sentence as Gwen interrupted him.

"If I can make a good dress for that fat fuckin' rapper that thinks she's black in an hour I can definitely create a masterpiece for a masterpiece in three hours." She quickly turned to Derek and pointed at him. "You! Get out!" She made a sharp gesture with her thumb over her shoulder towards the door. "Go to the kitchen and get me a meatball sub and a large orange juice. Ya want one... sorry, what was yer name?"

"Rikki Quick." Derek said to Gwen.

"Rikki. Ya want something to eat? Yer gonna be here a while honey, but I promise it will be worth it. And I recommend the meatball sub, they use real Swedish meatballs, and they're amazing!"

Derek took their orders and left, leaving Rikki alone with Gwen that had started to calm down slightly.

"Sorry if I came on a bit strong there honey, but it's unusual for me to make something for someone with such a fantastic body." Gwen's hands landed on Rikki's hips and she moved them upwards along her sides, giving her body a little squeeze as she moved them. "I mean, holy hell! I'm not even gay and I already wanna fuck ya!" She laughed afterwards before turning to her assistants, speaking to them in japanese as she gave them orders, obviously redirecting what they were supposed to be doing.

"Now then," Gwen said as she reached for her measuring tape. "Let's get you measured. Lose the clothes honey. Ya don't have to be buck naked, but I want ya down to bra and panties to get a good look at ya."

As Gwen took her measurements she started talking about how she ended up here. Gwen was actually American, born and raised in the northern part of Texas. Her parents were Japanese, and Gwen became interested in the world of fashion at a young age. After graduating college she moved to Los Angeles to try and make a career out of making clothes for the rich and famous, and after a few years of struggling she finally made it as she had made an amazing dress for the actress that won the Oscar for best actress in a leading role. Gwen shot to stardom overnight as some of the most famous people in Hollywood wanted either a dress or suit made by her. After a few years she was approached by the Yakuza to become their seamstress during the Iron Will Tournament and after getting a six-digit offer she accepted. She knew she had to work hard during that week, but the money was too good to pass on.

Derek arrived with the food shortly after Rikki had gotten dressed again, placing the brown bags containing the food on a table by the door.

"So, how's everything going Gwen? You think you can get it done in time?" Gwen scoffed at him as she jotted down some notes from the ideas for a dress she had discussed with Rikki.

"'Course I can! I got a model that most fashionistas would kill to have, this dress is practically sewing itself!" Gwen looked up at Rikki and gave her a wink. "Trust me honey, yer gonna look amazing tonight. There won't be one guy there that can keep their eyes off ya, and all their little fucktoys are gonna piss themselves with envy."