Old Friends, Old Rivals (Chigusa Vs. Mai)

Chigusa was nearly out after Mai's kick. She managed to stay on her hands and knees, but her body felt like giving out, and her head was dizzy from the blow. When Mai grabbed her, she let out a cry of surprise, but couldn't fight back. She was rolled up into the humiliating pin, her skirt falling down and revealing her panties. Chigusa groaned, feeling too weak and dizzy to fight back.

"One!" the referee yelled.

As the ref slapped down the first countl Mai gripped Chigusa as tightly as she could, a little bit of adrenaline running through her from the success of the pin. She just hoped it could be enough. She new no matter what victory was never assured with Chigusa. But Mai felt as though she had more pride on the line. She was just debuting and losing this match might make the whole proposition of joining the league back fire. Not to mention she had alresdy lost once to her idol friend. Honestly she wasn't sure where she was getting her strength from. The match with Chigusa was really brining something new out of her. She just needed to hold on for two moreseconds.

"2!"

One more!

Chigusa groaned when the ref counted two. She had to break out now! At this rate, Mai was going to beat her! Chigusa gathered all her strength, all that remained after this exhausting match, and kicked upwards as hard as she could to break the matchbook pin. It was a pretty futile and hopeless act, for even if Chigusa broke the pin she would have no energy to respond to Mai. But she didn't break the pin. Rather, the little energy she had left just pushed Mai upwards a little, not nearly enough for Chigusa to break free.

Mai's eyes widened when she felt Chigusa try and force herself out of the pin. The match had been so grueling and she was about ready to collapse. She was sure that Chigusa had taken a bit more punishment if even by Marginal amounts. At this point gravity was holding the pin more than anything so she wondered how Chigusa could still kick out. When she felt little more than a jostle from her fellow idol and saw the ref slap her hand down for a final count, Mai heaved a deep sigh.

"3!"

The ref cried out and Mai rolled off Chigusa, flopping onto her back and panting. She couldn't stand and her body ached everywhere and she felt to heavy to even receive the victory hand raising. She looked over to Chigusa and hoped she looked back. "Yuuki-San." She whispered reaching out to try and grab ahold of her hand and hold onto it. "You're too amazing." She said with a hopeful smile on her face.

After Mai finally got up, Chigusa flopped onto the mat, panting hard, lying there unmoving. Her eyes were closed at first, but they slowly opened when Mai grabbed her hand. "Heh, you beat me this time Mai," Chigusa said.

Her face was shining with sweat, and her entire body was sore and tired. Her leg especially bothered her, it now throbbed with pain. Chigusa slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position, not wanting to look weak in front of her rival. She saw what condition her leg was in when she got up. The bruise covered her leg in a nasty purple splotch, and it was beginning to swell.

"Oh god," Chigusa said. She tentatively poked her leg, and winced in pain. "Geez Mai, what did you do?" The medics were already running into the ring, preparing to hustle both girls away to the hospital wards.

Mai sat up as well but was also wincing. She wasn't sure if she could even stand up. She didn't want to see the condition of her own legs seeing Chigusa's "Barely Yuuki-San. I think if I hadn't of gotten the jump on you, It would have gone the other way. You're even tougher than I remember."

She looked over at Chigusa and saw her poking at her injury. "Waaaah! Yuuki-San! I'm so sorry! Your poor beautiful legs." Her look became crestfallen and she looked up at Chigusa with an apologetic tone in her eyes. "Please forgive me! In the heat of the battle.. I just..." She felt horrible now the match was over. She went to stand up to see if she could help Chigusa to a standing position but let out a yelp and fell to her hands and knees, tears of pain welling up in the corners of her eyes. Despite the pain she smiled. "Yuuk-San... I take that apology back.. I'd say were definitely even." Despite the pain, she looked up at Chigusa with a smile and laughed at the sorry state they were both in, hoping to lift her friends spirits as well.

"Even?" Chigusa said, a little confused. She didn't think she had hurt Mai that badly, though in all honesty both girls were pretty beaten up and in very poor condition right now. At the very least the medics were coming in. "Yeah, I guess we're even."

The medics quickly put Chigusa on a stretcher and made sure she was comfortable, then lifted her up and began walking her backstage. Chigusa watched the other team help Mai as she was led out of the ring.