The Arisawas vs. The Rodriguezes - World Warriors

Natsu made a mental note that maybe she should consider coming down to the ring in a boxing robe just like Carmen's. Not because she was hoping to take on a more boxing-centric style to her strikes or from some faint idolization of Carmen or anything. She just thought it looked cool, especially when you can dramatically disrobe and fling it into the distance. Like a grand unveiling of badassery...

Carmen's reserved and unflappable nature was a sharp contrast to the gleefully exuberant schoolgirl staring competitively straight at her. After getting her blood going and hyping herself up from her bouncy foot work, Natsu stood on the balls of her feet to keep that spring in her step. She raised her arms up high in a spotty defensive stance. Her arms were extended slightly outward and chin not completely tucked down. It didn't ensure her protection, but Natsu preferred to go more gung-ho with her offensive and invite her opponent to take their best shot. Supremely confident that she was swift enough to dodge it and capitalize with her own counter strike.

Natsu sported a gleeful grin and spirited fire in her eyes as she circled around the ring with Carmen, stalking each other and looking for an opening in her stance for a full 360 degrees until her older brother Goto was behind her in the corner...

...upon which Natsu would spin in place and tag her stuffy brother into the match!! After the surprise switcheroo Natsu would roll under the the bottom rope and out of the ring, preventing him from tagging her back in and branding him as the legal man.

"Sorry big bro~...She asked specifically for you, and you know how impolite it is to keep a lady waiting. Besides, she said she's a a fan!! But don't take it easy on her, Goto-san. I still expect you to fight as best as you can!!" Natsu gleefully smiled up at her older brother, overwhelming giddy that her actual plan went off without a hitch.

Goto was just settling in, getting ready to appraise his sister's abilities when she came around and slap his arm. He was confused at first, eyeing Natsuko before she spoke. His eyebrows then furrowed into a deep scowl and he stepped through the ropes, glaring at Natsuko the whole time until it was time to turn and face Carmen.

He crossed his arms  under his chest and stood at his corner. "You see." He said. "She is still quite the immature child." Goto said to Carmen. He then nodded past her. "Tag in your brother, I'm not going to indulge her silliness."

”No.”

Carmen’s answer to Goto was clear, precise, and spoken with resolve, though it was becoming a bit difficult to hear over the restless crowd. She liked to think she was a patient woman and that she could tolerate a great many things, but chauvenism wasn’t one of them. She’d grown tired of that in her early life, and she wasn’t putting up with it as an adult.

She kept the same stance she’d presented Natsu. ”If you joined Tension and you have a problem fighting women, you’re the silly one.” Carmen broke her pose to point his way, then went right back into it. ”No more stalling - you want me to tag in my brother?” She beckoned him forward. “Come over here and give me a real reason to.”

Judging from the growing call in the crowd, they shared the sentiment. ”WE WANT WRESTLING!” Clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap! ”WE WANT WRESTLING!” Clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap!

Goto sighed as Carmen antagonized him. He began to rub his nose. This childishness on both Carmen and Natsuko's part was at least in part the reason he had an issue.

He shrugged his shoulders and took a fighting stance and began to shuffle towards Carmen. He bounced on his heels in a relaxed style He had an annoyed look on his face, however, and when he closed, he aimed a hard kick at Carmen's midsection.

Carmen looked plenty annoyed herself, but on the inside things were even worse. She could see the look on Goto’s face - that annoyed, disdainful, arrogant look, like she didn’t have any business being in the ring. Her fists tightened, her teeth clenched, her eyebrows set as he started to come her way. She was ready.

The kick came, and she got her arm down in time to block it, but that only let her absorb some of the impact. From somebody lower on the totem, that might’ve been enough, but Goto’s kick still had quite a bit of force left. Enough to make her grunt with irritation and pain, as she was forced away.

She took a step back, planted her feet down firm, then swifty stepped forward, regaining the lost ground as quickly as she’d lost it.

Carmen tried to close the distance with Goto, wanting to make the fight as tight as possible to favor her style. She slid towards him and threw out two jabs - the first aimed at his face, the second aimed at his chest, both rattled off in rapid succession.

Goto pulled his foot away as his kick hit Carmen's arm. After the initial strike, his body became a little more focused. He pulled his fists up and shuffled on his heels. He could fight at any range so Carmen trying to close in didn't matter too much to him.

His fists were up and his head dipped away from the first punch to the face. The second snapped into his side and he grunted and shuffled back, but smirked a little at the Puerto Rican and continued to back away as if he were retreating.

When he was at a comfortable distance, he dropped to his knees and arced his leg out, trying to catch Carmen with a leg sweep.

”Got him on the run!” Army called out from across the ring, hollering as if her were all the way in the back row. ”Keep it moving, keep it moving!”

As much as she appreciated his backing, Carmen didn’t need to be told when to press an advantage. She followed Goto close as he backpedaled, matching every step he made away from her with one of her own towards him.  Regardless, the karateka was fast, maybe even a little lighter on her feet than she was, and he managed to make some space. Just for a second, but that was all he needed.

His sweep connected, hitting her in the ankles from the side, sending her tumbling. Two years ago, maybe even one, a move like that would’ve kept her down long enough for him to capitalize. But she learned a few things, and one of them was how to properly recover.

Carmen landed on her back but stayed in motion, immediately kicking her legs up. She rolled backwards, pushed off the canvas, and popped to her feet with only a few steps lost between them, all in one, fluid motion. Her guard went right back up, clenched tight to her chest, preparing for whatever came her way next.

Knocking Carmen down felt quite good. Goto was definitely surprised with her recovery time as Carmen was already starting to get to her feet, but it didn't really ruin any plan he had. He was set as Carmen hopped up, his leg already shooting forward to try and hit Carmen with an elongated side kick as she was hopping to her feet.

Carmen knew Goto was fast - she’d learned that from seeing his matches, watching him in action. The best way to get a full appreciation for his speed, though, was to be in the ring, watch as his foot came towards her side at lightning speed. She didn’t think he’d give her much time to recover, and she was right. Barely had a second.

That didn't mean she wasn't prepared, though. She lifted her arm and let his kick crash into her side, hurting her ribs, stinging all the way down to the bone. But there was a / tradeoff - the lowered guard allowed Carmen to wrap her arm around his ankle, keeping it tucked tight under her shoulder. Trapped. It wouldn’t likely last too long before he escaped, but she only needed a second.

With a tight grip on Goto’s leg, Carmen dropped down and spun around as she fell, landing on her back to send him flying with the Dragon Screw,

Goto felt the impact of his side kick though he was surprised that Carmen was able to hold onto his foot. Unfortunately, he had been in the position before. Maybe he had never been dragon screwed before, but it wasn't the first time his foot was caught and even if he didn't know exactly what was coming he had an idea.

His body twisted as Carmen turned him and he went sailing through the air for a few moments before crashing against it. "Gnnh!" He continued to roll a few times before he landed on his back. The impact was jarring but his body would be ok. As disorienting as the screw was, it was just that. Goto lifted his legs up in the air and then performed a fairly impressive kip up to put himself back on his feet.

He spread his legs and got into a stance and looked at Carmen. "Great." He said and then stood up straight and relaxed his guard. "Now that everyone's had a bit of fun, I'm going to tag in Natsuko-san."