***Warning-description of violence***
Alannah woke up early as per usual. Her arm ached in the pot, so she got up and took a couple of painkillers. Memories of last night made her smile as she got changed. Kurt had been a perfect gentleman, not that he had a choice with five highly trained fighters keeping an eye on him. Alannah tried to put her doubts aside; she knew he would have to go back to England eventually. "Without me!" she thought.
On the other hand, relationships in her line of work never lasted. That is why the family unit was so important to the fighters. Maya and Tao were rare exceptions.n"So, why not just enjoy it?" She said this as she opened a cabinet in her room.
Unlike most people who store normal things like hairspray and clothes in the cabinet, Alannah had weapons. Her battle weapons were one of three things: gifts from the chairman, rewards from battle wins, or swaps with other fighters. All except one, her Tessen fan. Tessen fans are Japanese combat fans that were used in close combat. They were like normal fans, but they were completely made of steel, with sharp blades coming off the top.
At a battle, Alannah had met another cursed one like herself. At 17, she still had a lot to learn and was amazed by a Japanese man named Akihiko. Akihiko was a stunning fighter and an incredibly handsome 19-year-old. They had instantly hit it off and, for two years, were inseparable. They trained together whenever they could, and Akihiko taught her Fan Fighting. Alannah's and Akihiko's feelings for each other grew. Alannah closed her eyes as she remembered their first kiss and their night together. It had been awkward but filled with love and tenderness.
A few weeks later, Akihiko suddenly disappeared from the face of the Earth. Alannah had, of course, been heartbroken and worried. She constantly asked Tao and Maya for any news, and they eventually found out that Akihiko had paid his debt and went home. Maya had given her a box that had been addressed to her. When Alannah opened it, there was her Tessen inside.
Alannah had become famous in the fighting scene for her fan fighting, taking down many foes. It was her preferred weapon by far, and she could not remember the last time she lost with it in her hand.
Alannah walked onto the training floor after warming up and putting on some music. She then started to move her body into different fighting positions.
Kurt woke up to the sound of Clare de Lune being played. Surprised, Kurt got up and walked to where the sound was coming from. Kurt soon saw Alannah practising her moves with a fan. It was so rhythmic and fluid, it was almost like dancing. Kurt leaned against the wall, admiring the sight before him. Eventually, the song ends. "I did not have you as a Debussy fan," Kurt said, making Alannah jump and lose her balance.
Alannah, unable to balance herself due to her arm being in the sling, fell and facepalmed the floor.
"Owww!" Alannah moaned.
"Oh my God, Alannah! Are you OK? " Kurt said, rushing over to try to help her up.
"Yes, I just wasn't expecting you up at this time, that is all," Alannah said.
"Alannah, your nose is bleeding." Kurt was about to say that they needed to sort it out before he was interrupted.
"Step away from her now!" Tao boomed as he strode towards the couple, looking murderous. "I swear to God, Kurt if you hurt her..."
"I am fine, and I did it to myself. Plus it is a bit rich for you to complain about somebody hurting me after last night! " Alannah snapped. She had pinched her nose and therefore sounded funny.
"She has a point, you know, Tao!" Maya said.
Tao folded his arms and then pouted. A very un-warrior like expression if there ever was one. He eventually sighed and then, to Kurt's surprise, grabbed Alannah in a big bear hug.
"I am sorry, it was unforgivable. You know, I see you as a daughter and there is no excuse for what I did. Can you forgive me? " Tao said.
"Yes, of course, you big oaf! But next time, I will make sure that I kick your arse! " Alannah said, muffled by Tao's big chest, and Tao kissed the top of her head.
"Urgh!" Alannah said, and Maya chuckled.
"Shall we get that nose sorted? I think I got a couple of tampons in the medical kit to stop the bleeding," Maya said, guiding Alannah to her room. Kurt wanted to go with her, but the glare Tao was giving him told him it was probably not the best idea.
"I heard you two were getting cosy last night!" Tao stated unequivocally.
"I suppose so," Kurt said, putting his hand on the back of his head.
Tao took a step closer and stared down at him before saying, "There are a lot of things about you that don't quite add up!"
"Really?" Kurt said, trying to look innocent.
"Yes, for a businessman, you have some fighting skills and your chest tattoo is in the style of a gang tattoo as well!" Tao said, with his eyes narrowing.
"Well, Tao, if you think I have some skills in fighting, then I am truly honoured," Kurt said, trying to steer the conversation away from his tattoo.
"Shut up! I don't like you and even trust you less, but mark my words: if you hurt Alannah, I will post you back to the UK in bits! " Tao threatened.
"Fine!" Kurt said as he looked around.
Kurt was getting used to Tao's threats, and to be honest, Kurt was happy Alannah had such a protective family. They would all soon learn that Kurt was going to treat Alannah like a queen. He looked around and saw Alannah's fan had fallen on the floor and went to pick it up.
"I would not do that if I were you. It is bad luck to pick up another fighter's weapon without their permission. Especially one they made their first kill with, " Tao said.
"First kill?" Kurt said, surprised.
"What do you think they do here, Kurt? Have tea parties?" Theo chided him as he arrived to start training.
"She is not called the Red Vixen because of her hair, you know!" Tao said.
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11 years ago-Battle Stadium
"God, the Triads must be fucking desperate to have you two in their ranks!" A fighter from the Three-Headed Snake said
"Yeah, look at the ginger! Hey sweet cheeks, did they throw you out of your whore house? Look at you with your little fan, pathetic! " The other fighter, who was taller, said.
"Keep focused—the Three Heads are renowned for not following the rules!" Alannah nodded as Bruce cautioned. Bruce had been Alannah's fighting partner for over 6 months. They knew each other's movements as well as their own.
"You don't need to tell me they are scum!" Alannah said fiercely. She had seen these two fighters beat on a couple of young twin teenage boys because the water they brought was not cold enough. Their scared faces had pulled at Alannah's heartstrings.
The countdown was finished and the fighting began. Bruce took the chain fighter, whilst Alannah took on the sword fighter. After a lengthy fight, both of them managed to get the fighters to tap out. The crowd went wild as the victory for the Nine-Tails was declared.
Bruce and Alannah were making their way to the gate to be released from the fighting cage. Suddenly, one of the Three Heads fighters moved and threw a knife straight at Alannah.
"Alannah!" Bruce said, pushing her out of the way. The result was Bruce getting a knife in the ribs. "Get out of here!" Bruce gasped as he fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Oh, look at the weakling, putting himself in the way to protect the ugly one. Perhaps they are fucking? " One of the fighters leered.
Alannah looked down at Bruce and saw a pool of blood-forming. Time seemed to slow down for Alannah. She could hear Tao roaring and the crowd protesting the foul play. She also saw the Three-Headed Snake fighters smirking and getting ready to attack.
"Let's finish them both off!" one of them said, and they headed towards Alannah and Bruce.
"You are not hurting him!" Alannah said, and the men laughed.
"Oh, and who is going to stop us? You? You are nothing but an ugly whore! " One of them retorted.
Alannah saw red and screamed as she ran towards them. The swordfighter was taken by surprise and thrust his sword out. Alannah used her fan and trapped the hilt in between her fan's spooks. She closed the fan and twisted it, causing the sword to be released from the fighter. Alannah flicked the sword back and grabbed its handle.
Alannah now had a sword in one hand and a fan in the other. The fighter with the chain tried to swing and hit her, but she dodged it easily. She ran past them and then ran up the side of the cage, resulting in a backflip. Upon landing, the crowd realised that she had driven both her fan and the sword into the back of her opponents' necks.
"Go to hell, you fucking scum!" Alannah said as she pulled out her weapons. Blood poured out of the two fighters and they fell to the floor.
"Red Vixen! Red Vixen! Red Vixen!" The crowd chanted.
Later, Alannah was in the shower, cleaning the last of the blood off herself. Tao had pulled her off her opponents and dragged her into the Nine-Tails wing. She was still screaming and fighting when Tao dumped her in the ice pool.
"Matt, get the fucking doctor now!" Tao had been trying to hold her in the pool.
"I am going to fucking kill them all! Let me go! They will pay for what they did to Bruce, the cheating cunts! " Alannah had screamed, trying to get out of the pool. It was useless, though. Tao had blocked her every move until the doctor came and sedated her. Alannah's body felt weak as she got out of the shower and put a towel on. Maya was there in the changing room with Tao, Xan, and an official-looking man.
"Oh, God! Please tell me Bruce is not dead! " Alannah whispered.
"No! He is fine, Alannah, his surgery went well, "Maya said quickly.
"Good. I am ready to turn myself in as soon as I am dressed. "Don't worry, I am not going to fight any punishment," Alannah said softly as she sat down on the bench.
"Hand yourself in? For what? " Xan said, confused.
"For killing two men!" Alannah said.
"Alannah, they cheated and tried to kill you and Bruce; it was self-defence," Tao said.
"This brings us to why I am here. My name is Tristan Lakes and I am here as a representative of the Gang Fighter's Council. " Tristan said, in a very posh accent.
"What can I do for the council?" Alannah said carefully. The council was only brought in when there was an extreme breach of the rules. It was set up to stop gang wars from breaking out.
"In light of the significant rule-breaking, the Council has deemed it fit to award you reparations from the Three-Headed Snake Gang," Tristan explained.
"Reparations?" Alannah asked, confused.
"You can ask for anything you want, Alannah, including your freedom!" Xan said seriously.
"My freedom?" Alannah asked, surprised.
"Yes, the Three-Headed Snakes would have to pay off your debts!" Tao said.
"Could I free everyone in the Nine-Tails?" Alannah asked.
"As thoughtful as that is, it would be impossible. The debt is too large for this sort of infringement." Maya said with a smile, and Tristan nodded.
Alannah thought, a couple of years back, she would have bitten this man's handoff. Yes, her life was dangerous and she got hurt, but she also had the security of a family. If she had her freedom, where would she go? What would she do? If they were all free, that was something. But they all made an oath to pay off their debt together. She could never break that oath! Suddenly, the frightened faces of the twin boys came to mind.
"Alannah?" Xan said softly.
"I don't want my freedom, I want the Twins in their gang," Alannah blurted out.
"What?" Tristan said, shocked.
"There are two identical twin boys in their gang. They have blue eyes, black hair and look 14. I want them to move into Nine-Tails. " Alannah said firmly.
"Alannah, are you sure? You could be free here! " Tao said.
"Yes, I am. I want the twins. Tao and Xan can discuss if there is anything leftover." Alannah said.
Later, Tristan sat opposite Xan and Tao in an office. "I have to give it to you, Xan. That is one incredible group of fighters. Bruce wanted to reduce everyone's debt, and Alannah wanted to save two teenage boys. Both of them could have walked, and they didn't! " Tristan said, astonished.
"They are not a group of fighters, they are a family!" Xan said with a smile.
"Well, whatever you are doing, keep doing it. Their fight record alone is second to none. " Tristan said, not fully understanding what Xan was getting at.
"Yes, we will. But let me make myself clear, I could have lost a fighter tonight due to cheating. We were lucky that Alannah and Bruce both protected each other. If this happens again, I will not hesitate to take action. Is that clear? " "Xan said seriously.
"It takes a lot of time and effort to develop your property," Tristan said. Xan and Tao visibly straightened when the word "property" was used.
"You could say that. Now the full compensation will be paid by tomorrow night? " Xan said in a strained voice.
"Yes!" Tristan confirmed.
"Well, that concludes our business then!" Xan said, dismissing Tristan. As soon as Tristan was out of the room, Xan said, "Tao, order a hit on the Three-Headed Snakes fighter's headquarters. I want it burned to the fucking ground tomorrow night. Get Denug to help you. "
"Boss?" Tao said, confused.
"Nobody fucks with my Nine Tails and gets away with it!" "Xan said simply.