Red: Hey. Are you alright?

  As Red approached Raioten, his eyes shot open and he let out an intimidating roar. Red paused in her tracks, but saw the pain and fear in his eyes. She inched closer to him nonetheless.

  Red: Don't worry, we can get you out of here.

  Yasu: Don't get any closer!

  Yasu tried to force himself up, but he wasn't fast enough. Raioten watched Red's feet and lashed out when she got too close. He threw a powerful kick aimed right at her head. Yasu and Raioten were completely dumbfounded when Red perfectly guarded his attack. Yasu had forgotten that he had never once beaten Red in their training matches.

  As she began to strike back, Yasu still didn't feel comfortable. He didn't want either of them to have to die for the Warden's sick games. Red showed that she was the much more well trained fighter, but one thing Raioten had, was experience. Each of his strikes were aimed at her weak spots. He had learned the human body's weakest point through his thousands of death matches.

  After a swift dodge of one of Red's punches, Raioten bit down hard on her wrist. The opening allowed him to land a brutal head kick. The force of his kick made Red tumble to the ground, splashing in the built up blood. Raioten roared out and rushed her, but was blocked by Yasu.

  Yasu: Yo, little Blue. We're not your enemies. I know all of these people came to hurt you but we won't.

  Yasu dropped his hands and fell to his knees. His body was worn down from his earlier fight with Raioten.

  Yasu: We're going to figure this out Blue, somehow. Just trust us ok?

  Raioten's face began to soften a bit. Red got up to see Yasu kneeling in front of Raioten. She ran towards then to save Yasu's life.

  Red: Get away from him!

  As Red closed in, Raioten went back into self defense mode. Yasu moved ever so slightly, trying to turn to tell Red to stand down. Seeing his body moving, Raioten kicked Yasu down.

  Red: Noooooo!!

  As Raioten turned around, he barely had time to react before the entire Pit was filled with a bright light. The Warden and his team were momentarily blinded from the dazzling light. As the light finally subsided, they approached the viewing window. The room was full of smoke that slowly dissipated.

  ?: Should we go down there?

  Warden: No, we'll keep watch for now.

  Down in the Pit, Raioten sat back against a wall, clutching his bleeding face. Red peered through the smoke at Raioten.

  Red: It was you? You killed all of them!? How could you? You're a monster!

  As she stomped towards him, he spoke for the first time in years.

  Raioten: I will kill you!

  He rose up and the two clashed again. Refusing to hold back, Red thought that she'd have an easy time taking Raioten down. After being beaten by her already, his fighting style changed completely. He began to learn from her style little by little. In a burst of creativity, he ripped out one of the knives in his back and stabbed her shoulder.

  He was aiming for her throat but she was barely able to defend by raising her arm. Utilizing the many weapons lodged in his back turned the tide of the fight in his favor. Red took note that he fought like a wild animal.

  She couldn't find any patterns, any sort of rhyme or reason to his attacks. All she knew for sure, was that if she didn't end things quickly, he was going to kill her. Rushing forward, she left her head wide open as she barreled a powerful punch into his stomach. As she did, he connected with a flawless high kick right on her temple.

  The force of their strikes threw them both into the edges of the Pit. Red struggled back up to her feet, her head spinning and ears ringing. She stumbled over before she regained her balance. When she stood up again, she saw Raioten. He was seated in the spot he landed after her titanic punch. His piercing blue eyes didn't move from her for a second.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  His intimidating gaze made her take a step back. Suddenly, she wondered why he hadn't attacked her a moment ago. He had completely shut down her body for who knows how long, and even after she got up, her head was still spinning. Even though she was totally defenseless, he didn't rush to finish her off. She looked to him with confused eyes and took a step forward. As she got closer and closer, Raioten began to growl.

  ??: Sir, there's only three of them left! We should-

  Warden: Shut up! If you can't understand why this has to reach its conclusion, you're a failure. I can feel it in my bones, this is important.

  Red continued creeping towards Raioten, even as he was snarling at her. He removed another knife from his back and pointed it at her.

  Red: You really aren't trying to hurt me, are you? Wait! YASU WAS RIGHT!

  Red understood that all of the bodies around them had to have constantly tried bringing Raioten harm. Realizing she was in no danger if she wasn't a threat, she got a bit too excited. As she ran forward to him, cheering, Raioten stabbed her hand with his knife. She winced in pain, but decided against further aggression.

  Red: I'm sorry! Owowow! We're ok. Please, let me try again.

  Red stood tall above Raioten and slowly reached her hand out to him. Her figure reminded him of Yona.

  Red: Why don't we be friends? We can escape this horrible place, together. What do you think?

  She kept a pleasant grin as Raioten remained still.

  ?: Sir! Shouldn't we stop them? I thought you wanted him to become a monster.

  Warden: This.. this is different. We cannot interfere whatsoever. We'll make do with the last three we have, as planned.

  The Warden remained in a trance-like state, simply observing the two children.

  Red kept up her pleasant grin, even as Raioten's piercing blue eyes glared at her. He analyzed every inch of her face, simply searching for a speck of malice or deception. Her crimson eyes were unflinching and her genuine intentions were palpable. He reluctantly moved his hand forward and grabbed hers.

  She helped lift him to his feet slowly, careful not to startle him with sudden movements. Standing still with Raioten for the first time, Red noticed that she stood over him. Looking down at her previously fierce enemy, she accidentally began to laugh.

  Red: Ha! I didn't know you were so short!

  Raioten's face scrunched up.

  Red: I'm sorry but thats funny. Don't worry little guy, you'll get taller eventually, I hope.

  Red continued poking fun at Raioten for the next few minutes. He didn't enjoy the teasing, but he found solace in being around someone so lively who wasn't trying to kill him. He looked down at his bloodstained hands, and the floor that was flooded with blood. The sight kept flashbacks of his actions fresh in his mind.

  With Red, he began to wonder about what he could've done differently to avoid killing so many people. The thought that he went too far drove him to tears. He fell to his knees, silently crying to himself. Red came over and immediately stopped her teasing. She held him in her chest, unsure of what exactly to say to him.

  Red: We're going to make it out, together, just you watch.

  She looked down his back at the remaining few knives and all of the scars that had formed since he descended into the Pit.

  Red: Hey, I need to take these out ok?

  Raioten nodded in her chest.

  Red: Ok, I'm about to start. This is going to hurt really really bad. You ready?

  He simply nodded again.

  Red took the knives out as quickly as she could. The fact that he didn't move a muscle or cry out loud hurt her heart. He simply looked up to her and nodded in thanks.

  Red: So, what's your name?

  Raioten couldn't think of a way to show her what his name was, and just shrugged.

  Red: I heard you speak I thought, what is it?

  He shrugged again. He thought for a second before pointing to his hair.

  Red: Spike? Mangy? Dummy?

  He shook his head with a disappointed face.

  Red: What? Blue?

  Raioten nodded enthusiastically. He then pointed at her with a confused look.

  Red: What me? No way. If you can't tell me your name, I'm not telling you mine!

  Raioten turned away, pouting.

  Red: Aww, are you mad at me? If you tell me your name before we escape this place, I'll tell you my name. Deal?

  Red stuck out her hand again and Raioten eagerly accepted. As they shook hands again, the Warden returned with a crying Marina. Raioten hopped away from Red, growling at her apparent betrayal. He was prepared to defend himself against them all.

  Red: Hey, what's wrong?

  Raioten kept his distance.

  Warden: Congratulations, you two and Marina here are the final three survivors of the bottom floor. As of today, you three will work together as a team on the second floor. Only the strongest of teams of three are allowed to move on to the top floor. Keep up with your training you two, you'll have to carry the weight for Marina for awhile.

  The Warden led them towards the stairs to the next floor. He turned around to see that Raioten hadn't moved.

  Warden: Let's go, now. Unless you'd like to have a little chat in my office.

  Raioten grumbled and began to follow, but at a considerable distance.

  Warden: (Good, good! With any luck, he could be more promising than even Jugo.)

  Raioten remained a good distance away as they approached the entrance door. The Warden unlocked the door and Raioten immediately sped past them all and ran off on his own.

  Marina: Oh no! Can you go get him?

  Warden: Me? No, he's your responsibility now. I'll send someone to show you around. Good luck.