The Arisawas vs. The Rodriguezes - World Warriors

As both a boxer and a boxing fan, Carmen was not unused to the sound of a booing crowd. As a wrestler and a wrestling fan, she knew how loud they could get when they were really riled up.

But she’d never heard them this loud and this pissed off all at once. Carmen would’ve thought she’d shot their collective cats or something from the reaction she was getting.

She didn’t move away from Natsu, but she didn’t move in, either. She stood there, looking between her and Goto, figuring it would be best just to watch from a distance. If the two men wanted to go at it solo, fine. She’d made her stance on the matter known.

Army, for his part, was once again surprised when Goto showed him his back in the middle of a fight, distracted by whatever Carmen and Natsu were doing out on the floor. He wasn’t about to let it mess up his opportunity, though. If Goto didn’t yet understand why turning his back on Army was a bad idea, the Puerto Rican wrecking machine would demonstrate.

He stood back up and made his way towards Goto, spinning around as he neared, building up momentum. At the end of the turn, he brought his arm out and charged straight at the barefoot fighter, trying to clobber him with his signature discuss lariat - ‘Hurricane Armando’, as he liked to call it.

Goto turned around just in time to see the Rodriguez boy completing his circling motion. It caught him flush in the chest and the martial artist once again found himself on his back. He groaned, holding his chest and rolling onto his stomach, cursing himself and trying not to curse his younger sibling for stealing way his attention once again.

Army spun around after his signature move connected, he raised his fists high into the sky in triumph, and...everyone booed.

Why was everyone booing?

He got his answer when he looked to the side and saw Natsu on the wrong side of the commentator’s table, laying there in a mess as Carmen watched her. He had no way of knowing exactly what went down, but judging from the vociferous reaction, his sister had been on the antagonizing side of it.

Figuring it would be best to sort this sort of thing out after the match, Army turned back around and dropped down on Goto’s chest, going for a pinfall.

”1…!”

"TWO!"

Goto had been dazed by the brutal clothesline, caught unprepared for it as he was pinned quickly after. By the time the two count came, he was only just starting to gather his bearings. It wasn't until the third count was coming down that Goto even attempted to kick out. He just hoped it wasn't too little too late.

Army grasped tight, thought he had the final count on lock, got ready for the bell, and…

"3...!"

"Yes!" Carmen had been reluctant to do this tag team match with Army, and he was starting to see why. It was much different from singles competition. More fast-paced, that was nice, but more complicated, too. It made the simplest things into massive problems, with a high potential for clusterfuck.

But he'd won. Not easy, not something he was making a habit of, but that was one match in the bag for Team Rodriguez, and now...now…

Where was Carmen?

Army stood up as the referee raised his hand. He looked to one side and saw his sister, walking up the entrance ramp, looking like she didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. He looked to the other side and saw Natsu in a heap by the commenter’s table.

1+1=2, and… ”Ah, shit.” Army rubbed his eyes and groaned as the crowd rained down boos all over him

Goto's kick out was in vain and the final count hit. He turned his head as the shameful bell rang. When Army got up, Goto rolled away and when the younger Rodriguez was finished receiving his accolades for the both of them, Goto stood up and politely bowed. He didn't think he should have lost, but his own foolishness had cost him. Army took advantage and that was that.

Goto quickly rolled out of the ring and walked over to Natsuko. Trying his best not to sound too upset, he looked down. "Natsu-chan, are you ok?" Though his tone was terse, his concern was real.

Shuffling and grumbling beneath overturned office chairs and the announcer's scattered notes, Natsu slowly unearthed herself from beneath the pile like a zombie shuffling from her earthly tomb. She clasped onto the barricade behind her while rubbing the back of her head, feeling like she had just gone multiple rounds with an MMA fighting champion...oh, wait she kind of did. That still didn't make her feel any less miserable from the aching pains coursing through her body.

"H-huh?!" Natsu peered up towards her concerned brother and back inside the ring, where Goto was seen reveling? in the win. He seemed more like he was nursing a headache from the way he was pinching his nose. But that didn't matter right now. Natsu found out what she needed to know, feeling decidedly more miserable now. She lowered her head and turned to face her brother, perking back up with a forced smile and a slight stutter to her normally chipper voice.

"A-aw man...I-uh, I guess they got the better of...of..." Natsu's cheerful voice dipped along with her posture, slumping her shoulders down until she collapsed and sat her backside on the floor with her legs crossed and her feet under her thighs. "...of me. I stunk up the joint, didn't I? I dunno what I did wrong...*sigh*.... but I know it's my fault...I'm...I'm sorry..." Natsu scratched her head and removed her white bandana, clutching it in her gloved hand while keeping her head low. Her brother was a renowned MMA fighter and perhaps the best in Japan, so it was pretty easy to assess who deserves the blame here...

Once Natsu was back to her usual chatty self, that was all the confirmation Goto needed. "Stand up. Let's go." Was all he said. His tone was firm and he was trying not to get angry but he wasn't going to coddle the girl or excoriate her in public. They would have words in private, that was for sure.

Without waiting for Natsuko to stand up, Goto turned to exit the arena.

Goto may not have said much, but the tone of his voice spoke volumes. It cut right through her and even made her flinch as if she were physically sliced with a blade.

Natsu willingly obliged as she raised herself back up and followed behind her brother, keeping a few feet of distance between them on their around the ring and up the ramp. She sighed deeply and kept her head low while her arms dangled loosely in front of her, feeling more like she was being escorted to the principals' office for yet another stern lecture...which is probably what's in store for her anyway...