kemper01@ix.netcom.com (David Rubino)

KOR2 is a fanfiction about Kazuya, Kyosuke's younger cousin, set in
the KOR universe.  Much work has been done to maintain the original
KOR feeling and humor so please enjoy.  Comments can be directed to
kemper01@ix.netcom.com and check out the KOR2 homepage at
http://www.thunder.ocis.temple.edu/~tha/kor/kor2/kor2.html


KOR 2 : ANOTHER DAY

Episode 5 : Down for the Count!

The sun peeked through the shades of my bedroom window and 
announced the rise of a new day.  Sounds of laughter from outside 
reached my ears, it seemed that most of the world was in a state of 
peace.  

And I, Kazuya Kasuga, hated it all.

I can't believe I'm wrestling Eichi today.   I hardly slept at all
last night and I feel horrible.  I couldn't get the images of Eichi
totally clobbering me in the ring out of my mind.  I didn't deal very
well with pain and I surely didn't look forward to subjecting myself
willingly.  After all, it wasn't really my choice in the first place.
If only Miyuki wasn't always pushing me so hard... but maybe I could
cheat a little.

I got dressed and ran my fingers through my hair while walking down 
the stairs.  I dragged myself into the kitchen and sat in front of my 
breakfast, surprised that I actually beat the fat cat out of a meal.  
Maybe this could be a good omen.

"Kazuya, you're up early," Akane said as she entered the kitchen.

"Well, I couldn't sleep much."

"Why?  Is the wrestling match getting to you?"  

I looked up in surprise.  I couldn't believe it.  I thought for a
moment that she could read my mind, a very scary thought.

"How did you know about that?"  She gave a smile that said, `You 
thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you'.

"Miyuki called early this morning, she seemed pretty excited so 
naturally I wanted to find out why."  I mulled over the consequences
of Akane's involvement, she would ruin any chances I had of cheating.
I tried to pretend it wasn't a big deal.

"Oh well, it's not like I'm really worried or anything," I said as I
slowly chewed my food.  Akane slapped the table and leaned over to me,
her mischievous grin stood only inches from my face.

"Yeah, right.  The whole family knows that you're a slacker and there 
isn't a fighting chance you'll win without using the power."  

"What, me?  Why would you say something like that?"  I tried my best 
to act innocent.  I wasn't very good at it.

"Fat chance, Kazuya.  I'm coming to watch you and if I see you use 
even a drop of the power in front of all those people then I'll call
our parents." 

Well, there goes that idea.  This is definitely not going to be a good

day.  Well, at least I get to eat my own breakfast, that has to mean 
something.  I looked down into the bowl and ate each bite slowly.

****************************

I walked into Teacher Ishiguro's class, for the first time early.  I
hoped the morning wouldn't be so bad, at least I wouldn't have Teacher

breathing down my neck.  I just wanted to walk to my desk and look 
busy.  I didn't get far, though, because Teacher called out to me
right away.

"Kazuya!  Come, come!"  Teacher Ishiguro was standing in the center 
of the classroom with a student I had never seen before, and he way 
actually quite excited.  I never know what to think with this man.

"Yes, Teacher Ishiguro?" I said as I walked over to them.  He just 
stared at me with a large smile on his face.

"I would like you to meet our new student, Takashi."  He gestured 
towards the new student as Takashi finally looked up at me.  He was 
tall and slender, with brown hair, and definitely had a very strange 
expression on his face.  It reminded me of someone that wasn't exactly

sane.  He reached out his hand to me.

"So, you're the Kazuya that I've heard so much about."  I didn't take 
this as a good sign, it seemed that most people never had a good first

impression of me.  Teacher Ishiguro clapped both of us on our backs.

"Well, I'll let you two talk."  Teacher patted me on the back once
more and walked out of the door, out of his own class.  I had a bad
feeling that I was being set up.  Takashi still wore that manic smile.
I tried smiling back.

"So, Takashi, how is it that you know me?"  I had to ask, I had no
idea what was actually going through his mind and I was too afraid of
what I might see if I did a mind read.

"Well, I just joined the wrestling team and talked plenty with the 
captain, Eichi."

"Oh, Eichi."  It seemed that other plans may have been in motion.

"Yes, you know him?  Well, I'm sure you do because I was supposed 
to wrestle him considering that I'm on his skill level, but he asked
if I could sit out this one time.  He said he wanted to give someone
new a chance."  A chance to what, get pulverized?!  This guy really
wants to kill me.

"Are you serious?  You don't have to do that.  Why don't you try 
wrestling him?  This could be a big chance for you."  I knew I had to 
try to talk Takashi back into wrestling Eichi.

"Well, yes.  Now that I see you I know for sure that he probably just 
wants to destroy you.  He's very strong, you know.  I'm sure that you 
want this chance as much as I do so I won't stand in your way.  If you

beat him you'll be a hero."

"But I."

"No need to thank me, Kazuya.  I'm just someone doing you a favor.  
And someday.."  Takashi's expression grew serious.  "Someday, I may 
need something from you.  Just don't forget what I'm doing for you."  

Teacher Ishiguro finally marched back into the classroom and called
the gathering students to attention.  I continued looking at Takashi
having no idea what to think of him.  He stared right back with his
infamous grin.

Class was boring as usual, but now more than ever incredibly slow.  My

heart was racing.  I thought of Miyuki and Mai cheering me on just to 
see me get totally smashed, the thought was killing me.  Just as my 
imagination was approaching lethal levels, the class ended.  I 
considered that even though the two girls would see me fall it would 
still be just a practice and maybe no one else would be there to see
my humiliation.

I began to walk out the door and into the crowded hallway.  Suddenly 
someone bumped past me and I practically flew in the other direction.

I looked to see who it was and to my dread it was Eichi.

"Hey, Kazuya, are you looking forward to practice as much as I am?" 
he said laughing.  He then ignored me and continued walking down the 
hallway with his string of girl admirers.   ARRGGHH, I hated that guy.

Just then I caught sight of Takashi figuring out the combination to
his locker.  I ran over to him determined to convince him to take back
the match with Eichi.

"Takashi!"

"Yes, Kazuya.  Nice to see you are still alive."

"What?"  His words seemed sarcastic but the expression on his face 
said otherwise.  He really seemed genuinely happy to see me.

"Kazuya, about that favor you owe me.  Can you give me your 
sneakers?"

"I.. uh.."  Takashi finally got his locker open and looked at me.  He 
reached out his hands as if I should give him something.

"Now?"  Takashi nodded.

"But I need them for class.  Whatever do you need them for?"  Takashi 
dropped his grin and closed the locker.  He almost looked as if he 
would cry but then he turned away from me.

"Fine, Kazuya.  See if I'll do anymore favors for you."  His voice was

cracking and he quickly hurried away from me.

I turned the other way not even trying to figure this one out.  First,
I had to get out of my present mess.  I stumbled down the hall heading

for next class until I heard Miyuki's voice behind me.

"Kazuya!"   I heard her screaming from the end of the hall as she ran 
excitedly towards me.  I didn't mind either, it was nice watching her 
running after me, watching her beautiful body in motion.  It turned a 
few guys heads.  Unfortunately, I saw that one of the guys was Eichi.

"Kazuya, I wanted to talk to you, and wish you luck.  I know you can 
do it!"  I think she knew how I was feeling.  The look I had on my
face last night showed that I wasn't too excited about this whole
thing, but she made me feel like I could.

All of a sudden, Hatta strutted over from his hall post and
interrupted us.  

"Kazuya, my boy!  I heard about the big match today!"  

"Yes, well, it seems as if everybody knows about it."  I was beginning

to gather a picture in my head again of a million people in the
audience laughing at my loss.

"The more the merrier, my boy, because I'm going to turn you into the 
wrestling maniac!"  Hatta had that look on his face that must have
been the result of some dirty thought behind this plan.  I looked at
Miyuki but she just seemed happy that Instructor Hatta was helping me.

"Well, Kazuya, it's time for class.  Just remember to kick his butt
for me!" Miyuki said excitedly as she ran off.  I turned to Instructor
Hatta to find out his plan but not to my surprise, he was still
staring at Miyuki running away.

"Hatta!"  I said, feeling annoyed.  Everything today was making me 
lose my patience.

"Oh, yes.  Back to my strategy, just for this event I had my friend
come down," he said, still smiling at me.  It was that lecherous smile
and chuckle again and this time I knew for sure that he had a dirty
plan behind all of this.

"Why are you helping me all of a sudden?"  I asked suspiciously.

"Well, my boy.  Your cousin, Kyosuke, only managed to get two girls 
after him in this school.  I believe that if you win this match then
you will win all of Eichi's popularity. and gain all those girls
chasing you!  Which means that we could take pictures of them all!"  I
was not surprised in the least at such a tacky plan, but since he
offered help I was in no position to turn him down.

"Okay, you're on," I said to him.

"That's great!  Just come down to the gym during your lunch break and 
we'll train then."  He turned away and went back to his post as 
substitute hall monitor.  I noticed how pathetically out of shape he
was.  
I made me think that I had to devise my own plan to beat Eichi.  If I 
couldn't use the power during the match then I would have to do it 
before.  I remembered what I did to Ryosuke at the library.  If Eichi
fell down the stairs, he would have to forfeit.

The idea of settling the score before the match grew in my head, but
if I did something maybe Akane would find out.  No!  I can't face the 
embarrassment of the whole school, I can't worry about Akane now.  I 
stood in the empty hall, not realizing that the bell rang minutes ago.

I saw Teacher Ishiguro walk out into the hall like he always does to 
catch students in the hall who aren't supposed to be there.  He looked

both ways and then stared me down.

"Kazuya!!"

"Yes sir."  I said, shaking my head in an attempt to get my thoughts 
together.

"Normally, I would give you detention for cutting class like this, but
I wouldn't want you to miss your first big match!  It seems to be the
talk of the day.  Don't get hurt too quickly."  He gave a smile like
he just couldn't wait to watch me go down in the ring.  "Well, don't
just stand there.  Get to class!"

"Oh, yes sir!"  I jumped at his voice and shot down the hall to my
next class.

*******************

Now my mission was clear, there was no way I would let myself totally 
fail in front of the whole school.  I would have to do what I'm best
at: cheat.  Cheat using what I hold most dear, the power.

I sat in Literature class where the students spend most of their time 
talking rather than studying.  Because of Eichi's popularity, all of
his events get plenty of publicity, including the talk of me getting
clobbered in today's wrestling practice.  

I looked to the other end of my classroom and saw Mai.  I was sure 
that she heard about the match by now, but she just sat quietly and
read a book.  There was always an air of mystery about her.  I had to
hear what she thought about the whole thing so I walked over to her.
Most of the students watched me walk over and scattered whispers went 
about.

"Mai.  How are you?"  I said as I sat at an empty desk across from
her.  She looked up at me and when realization struck her as to who I
was then she smiled.  Her eyes shone glistening blue-gray and her
smile, as always, set my heart racing.

"Fine.  I guess I should be asking the same question to you.  You seem

to be the talk of the school today."  

"Not in any good perspective," I sighed.  She laughed and then looked 
at me again with that perfect smile.

"Kazuya, you'll do fine.  I'm sure of it."  When she said that, I felt
like I could do anything.  I could climb the highest mountain, race
past the wind, wrestle a bear, and yes, even Eichi!  Maybe I still did
have a chance.  Just because he's more popular doesn't mean he can
beat me.

"Thank you, Mai."  I turned the other way and took two steps before 
fear overtook me once more.  I regaining my senses and realized that I

was an idiot to even think for a second I could win.  I went back to
my dirty plan to cheat.  I knew that next period Eichi had to go to 
Mathematics class, he has to go up the stairs to the second floor.  
That's when I'll get him!

*****************

I stood near the bottom of the stairs just as the bell rang to
announce the changing classes.  It occurred to me that I would have to
face him before he goes up, but now I was confident.  Now we were
playing my game.

Eichi threw open the doors to the staircase.  As he passed, it was as
if in slow motion.  He walked by me and turned his head to look right 
into my eyes.  He gave a little laugh and then looked ahead,
completely ignoring me.  I was never so angry.

I watched him go up each and every stair, counting down the remaining 
steps to the top.  12. 11. 10.

"Hey, Kazuya!"  Two hands grabbed my shoulders.

"What?!"  I was turned to face the new student, Takashi.

"Coach Hatta is looking for you.  Don't look so angry, accept losing 
like a man!  Pain is but momentary."  He looked up as if he just
recited a poem and then smiled at me.  "Well, get going!"

He shoved me out the doorway and closed the door behind me.  I stood 
there stunned until I realized that Eichi was getting away.  I threw
open the door and looked up just in time to see Eichi clear the last
step and disappear onto the second floor.  Takashi was about halfway
up, skipping up the stairs and singing an odd song.

I felt tempted to throw Takashi down the stairs out of spite but
seeing him skip up the stairs and sing made me wonder if he was all
there mentally.  I decided against it but it still didn't change the
fact that my plan was ruined, I was going to feel a lot of pain very
soon.  My mind clouded with the picture of myself falling flat on my
face and the whole school laughing.  I couldn't take any more of this.

"I CAN'T STAND IT!!!"

I sat on the empty staircase with my head in my hands listening to the

echo of Takashi's song.  I felt a tapping on my head and looked up to 
see Teacher Ishiguro looking down at me, disappointed.

"You must really want detention, but I don't believe in catering to 
slackers.  Run along now."

He hurried me off and closed the door with Takashi's strained voice 
behind it.

************************

I stood in the middle of the practice mat in the huge, empty boys' 
gymnasium.  Instructor Hatta told me to wait while he got ready and I 
was alone.

All of a sudden, all of the lights in the gym clicked off.  There were
no windows and all of the doors were shut, it was pitch black.  A
spotlight flashed on and shone on a lone figure.  I remember him
slightly from Hatta's perverted friends, it was Komatsu's brother.  He
looked exactly the same after all these years.  He was wearing the
cheapest, ugliest white tuxedo I had ever seen.

"In this corner, we have Kazuya Kasuga!  And in the other corner, we 
have the big, the bad, the perverted purple Blob!!"  He threw his hand

out in a gesture to the opposite end of the wrestling mat.

All of the lights shot back on and I saw Hatta on the other side of
the mat growling at me with thick purple war paint smeared all over
his face.

"Come on you skinny punk!" he screamed as he ran towards me.

I was frightened by a man that size running at me, but at his speed
even my fat cat, Jingimi, could escape his line of fire.  I stepped to
the side a second before collision and watched him fly out of the ring
and into the wall.  His body stiffened and he fell back with a
distorted expression across his purple face.

I realized that I would have been better off eating lunch instead of
this.  This was going to be a long day.

**************

When the last bell finally rang my heart sunk.  I was already in the 
locker room since my last class was gym, so all I had to do was wait.
I slumped down on the bench, breathing heavily.  How did I get into
this mess?

All of a sudden the locker door opened up.  It was Takashi.

"What do you want from me?!" I snapped at Takashi.  This student has 
just bothered me all day long and it's his fault that I have to
wrestle Eichi.

"What's your problem?" Takashi defended.

"This is all your fault.  Why did you let me wrestle Eichi?  Look at
me, I'm not a wrestler."  Takashi sat down next to me.

"Kazuya, I have faith in you.  You can do anything if you set your
heart to it.   It's what wrestling is all about."  

Takashi was definitely a confusing person.  I never know if he's on my

side or not.  I put my face in my hands and tried to forget where I
was.  A final bell rang for extracurricular activities, my death
knell.  

Takashi got up and patted me on the shoulder before he walked out.  I 
got up and faced the exit door of the locker room.  I pushed open the 
doors with my eyes closed, I was afraid to see the mounds of people in

the audience booing and hissing as I walked though the door.  I walked

out into the arena, opened my eyes, and slowly looked around.  To my 
surprise, there were only about a hundred people there.  I walked over

to Instructor Hatta in surprise of the little show-up.

"I thought that the whole school would show up."

"No, it's only a school practice.  We don't usually get even this
much, only Eichi's girl fans, which should soon be yours especially
after that great warm-up we had."  He just kept staring at all the
girls and smiling with his arm around Komatsu's brother, like this was
their moment.

I looked around some more and finally found Miyuki and Mai.  They 
were together with Akane and Ryosuke right in the front row.  Akane 
gave me a warning stare as if I needed more pressure than I already 
had.  This was the worst.

I thought my introduction wasn't too bad, considering Eichi's fans 
didn't boo me.  Then I saw Eichi's introduction and I was jealous.  He

walked through the door like he didn't have a care in the world.  All
of the girls in the audience exploded into cheers, some even fainting
as he waved to them.  It made me look pathetic.

Eichi made it to the wrestling mat.  Instructor Hatta came out and 
brought us both to the center.

"Okay, men.  Just remember that this is a practice so go easy on each 
other."  Hatta gave me a knowing wink like I was his secret weapon.  
Eichi looked completely confident.  We shook hands and that was it, it

was time to begin.

"Ready?" Hatta asked.  We both nodded.  "Then go!"  He blew the 
whistle.

Eichi stealthily shot down to my waist level and grabbed my body, 
throwing off my whole balance, and finished by slamming me down on 
the mat.  I didn't expect him to be so fast, I was more used to
Hatta's slow motion technique.  Through all of Eichi's fans'
screaming, I could barely hear Miyuki screaming out my name.  "Go
Kazuya!  Fight!"

I felt renewed.  I had to do this.  He slid both of his arm under mine

from behind and turned me to the side and slammed me again.  I used 
all of my might to pull out of his lock, and it finally started to
work.  I pulled myself up and slipped out of the hold from one arm and
turned to grab his waist.  I had him!  All I had to do now is pull him
down.  I got my other arm free from his hold and then had a better
grip of his waist and attempted to slam him.  Instead of lifting him,
I fell down.  He was too strong for me.

I jumped back up.  I can do this!!  I looked up and saw Hatta cheering

me on.  "Go Kazuya!  Remember the women!"

We circled around each other twice and gave each other our dirtiest 
looks.  He shot toward my waist again, but this time I reacted in
time.  As soon as he grabbed me, I bent down and grabbed his waist and

twisted him to the side causing both of us to fall down.  A little
more and I'll have him!  I tried to get him in a head lock but it was
looking worse the more I was on the ground.  I was outmatched.

Then I heard Mai scream, "Come on Kazuya, you can do this!  You can 
do this!!"  Hearing the voices of Mai and Miyuki gave me that feeling 
again, that I could do anything!  I struggled harder and I expected
Eichi to yield to my new strength, but it was of no use.  The tougher
I wrestled the tougher he got.  Until the final blow when he locked my

arms behind my head and slammed my shoulders into the mat.  

Hatta reluctantly went down to the ground for the count.

".1."

Then I heard Miyuki scream out my name again.  She almost sounded 
like she was about to cry.  I can do this!  I once again struggled as
hard as I could to break his hold.

".2."

This time it had no effect, I was defenseless.  The only thing I had
left was my power.  I could cheat, but then it wouldn't be me.  Akane 
would know and it wasn't fair to Miyuki.  If only she knew how much I 
would do for her.

".3."  Tears flowed from Hatta's eyes as he stood up.  "Eichi is the 
winner."

All of the girls in the crowd exploded, screaming and shouting Eichi's

name.  Eichi casually tossed me over and stood up to take a bow.  He 
then walked over to his gym bag on the side of the mat and pulled out
a dozen roses.  I saw him walking towards a stunned Miyuki.  My cheeks

were fire red with embarrassment.  I'm her boyfriend, I'm supposed to 
defend her.

Eichi kneeled down and presented the roses to Miyuki.  All of the
girls swooned at his romanticism except for Miyuki who was still in
shock.

"These are for my darling, Miyuki.  Now you know who is the better 
man."  Miyuki finally did react.  She looked at me, crumpled and 
beaten, and a tear formed in her eye.  I let her down and had no idea 
what to do.  She swatted the roses down to the ground and then ran 
past the crowd and out of the gym room.  My heart dropped to the 
ground.  Akane and Mai both looked sorry for me, and I just sat there 
like an idiot not knowing what to do.

Eichi gathered up what was left of the roses and placed them back in 
his bag.  He looked at me and for a moment I didn't see any of his 
usual pride or confidence.  He actually looked hurt.

It hit me that this wasn't all about me and who I chose to like.  For
the first time in my relationship with Miyuki I feel doubt, that she
might 
lose interest in me.  Never have things been worse, I felt horrible.

Hatta came over with a pathetic look and helped me up.  Komatsu's 
brother stood by the side of the mat and just looked down and cried.
I 
headed straight for the locker room, I didn't want to face anybody.  
Then someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled back.  I turned and saw 
that it was Takashi.  Surprisingly, his insane smile didn't shock me.

"Hey, Kazuya, don't worry about it.  Tomorrow is another day, right?"

It was the first time that I actually welcomed what he had to say. 

But then tomorrow has its own problems, and the one thing I learned is

that when you have powers, use them.

- End of Chapter 5 -