Just before the tournament (for sarah gatt)

Akashi stepped out of her dressing room and into the hallways. It was the greatest night of her life as she prepared to enter the ring and begin her climb to the top of the AFW. She inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. She was a little tense and excited. whoever she faced was going to be in big trouble.

Sarah yawned as she walked around backstage, not caring who saw it. She had won her first round in the Friction Belt Tournament with relative ease, but now she was bored. Her next match wasn't for a couple of hours or so, and her blood lust had yet to be satisfied.

It was then as she walked the hallways, she spotted a familiar face. Sarah raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. "Hello," she purred when she saw Akashi. This out to cure her boredom. Sarah quickly looked around to make sure no one was in sight, and in doing so she spotted a metal pipe on the ground. She grabbed it, ran to where Akashi was going, and hid behind a corner she would have to walk by. And then she waited.

Akashi could practically hear the crowd even from where she was. As she was walking she passed some one and asked them who her opponent would be. They told her and she continued, turning down the hall where Sarah was hiding. She stopped at a point where Sarah was just behind her. She heaved a final sigh, only waiting until she heard her music. "Judo babe, eh? I've seen some of her matches in the old league not bad but I should beat her. Maybe I can face Sarah in the next round I'd like another go at her." She slammed her fist into her palm. That was a good match and really I don't deserve the belt if I can't beat the best." She turned her head and grinned slightly. "Even if they have no honor." As she spoke she thought she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. "Is someone there?" she said as she started to turn around.

Sarah quickly hid herself behind the corner again. That was too close, Akashi had almost spotted her. Clutching the pipe tightly,Sarah tried to stay out of sight. She was a little confused when she heard Akashi talking about her, saying she wanted to fight her again. While the irony was something to chuckle at, she had never met anyone who actually wanted to fight her again, not after what she put them through. And she also said she was the best.

Well, can't argue with that, Sarah thought snidely. She concealed her presence and hoped Akashi would move on.

Akashi turned to look but saw nothing. She furrowed her brow and walked off to where the entrance ramp was.

"That's right, keep going," Sarah whispered to herself with a smile. "Don't mind me, I'm just here to kick your ass." When Akashi turned her back on her Sarah made her move. She quickly moved out from her hiding spot, clutching the metal pipe. For someone so brutal, she was suprisingly light on her feet when she needed to be. Sarah came up behind Akashi, reared back with the pipe, and with a dark grin would smash it over the back of Akshi's head!

Akashi didn't see the hit coming and nearly blacked out. Her legs buckled and she held her hand against the wall to keep her from falling over. "Sh...it." She she through gritted teeth and gasps. She started to turn around but her vision was blurred by the blood that was already seeping down her face. "Who...?"She said, seeing someone there but only being able to make out a figure. It was at that moment that Akashi heard her music playing. "Damn it, no!" She clenched her fist and threw a punch in Sarah's direction.

Sarah wanted to laugh, but settled for a light chuckle. She tossed away the pipe and let it 'clang' on the ground; it had done its job. Now she could do her's. Almost effortlessly Sarah caught the clumsy punch Akashi threw at her, and sneered at her bloodstained face. Then she sent a swift kick into Akashi's gut.

Akashi would have been surprised if she had connected but it was all she could do. The kick rank deep into her and she instantly fell to her hands and knees, gasping for breath and trying to make it through the pain. "Why not in the ring?" She questioned whoever had done it, seeing only boots through her alone stained vision.

Sarah leered down at Akashi, a predator with its prey. Taking the woman out of the tournament hadn't even occured to her; she didn't even know she was participating. "Because I saw you first," she answered with a sneer. She would lift Akashi to her knees by her long black hair and knee her hard in the face.