"First up, Jay will take on Kai. Then, it'll be Lloyd and Zane, and you, Rose," he gazes in my direction, "will fight against me. The tournament will go from there."

                          
Jay and Kai take fighting stances on the mat as the rest of us sit down. The fight doesn't last extremely long, as Kai pretty much gives Jay a smackdown with his katana. Jay rolls off the mat, grumbling something about "next time" and a stomach ache. Sore loser. 
                          
Lloyd and Zane get up next. I watch their movements intently, trying to figure out how Lloyd fights so I can use it later. Lloyd fights with a spiked golden staff, twirling it deftly as Zane throws a golden shruiken at him. He deflects it, and the shuriken falls clattering to the ground. Zane throws the other one to the left so it swings around like a boomerang. Lloyd has barely enough time to dodge it, but he succeeds, and the weapon flies back to Zane. Lloyd charges, and the two fight at close range. 
                          
Lloyd keeps leaving his left guard open, which gives Zane plenty of chances to strike. I take careful note of this. I blink, and somehow Lloyd ends up on top of Zane with the green spikes pointed at the robot's neck. 
                          
The two return to their seats as Cole and I rise to our feet. 
                          
I can feel everyone's eyes on me. My hand goes to my belt, and I pull out my ornate sword hilt. Jay leans over and loudly whispers in Kai's ear, "Is it a laser gun?"
                          
I purse my lips together in amusement. 
                          
"Give up now, and you don't get hurt," Cole takes out his golden weapon, parading it around theatrically. 
                          
I move into position. "I think we went through this last time." 
                          
He charges with his scythe in hand. I jump to avoid its swing, and backflip over his head. Before he can whirl around, I fuse my element into my weapon, leaking the bare minimum over the hilt. 
                          
In an instant, a gleaming sword blade emerges from the hilt, flashing with streaks of gold and afterglows of blue. 
                          
The ninja gasp in amazement. Cole's expression reveals his surprise, and I take this as an advantage. Since he's too shocked to move quickly enough, I pounce on him, putting my blade to his throat.
                          
There's silence. 
                          
Blessed silence. I wonder how much of it I'm going to get these next couple of days (none. I will get none. I need to treasure these moments). 
                          
"Rose wins," Kai's voice comes from behind me. I retract my blade back into the hilt and get off of Cole to sit down beside Lloyd, closing my eyes to avoid their stares. 
                          
"No fair! I was distracted!" Cole complains. 
                          
"And I used it to my advantage, just as you did when I was distracted in the forest. You shouldn't be caught off guard so easily; it's only a weapon." I keep my eyes closed as he plops down on my other side. 
                          
Well, it's not "only" a weapon. It's an arma, a weapon forged uniquely for every member of my kind. Katara's daggers are her arma, this sword is mine. 
                          
"Yeah, a weapon that came out of nowhere!"

                          
"Do you mind sharing where you retrieved it?" Zane asks. 
                          
My eyes snap open. "Yes, I do mind." 
                          
 "Please?" Lloyd begs.
                          
 I jerk my head. "No. Don't we have a tournament to continue?"
                          
"Yes, we do. I believe it would be logical for Kai to go against Lloyd, and then let Rose take on the winner," Zane states as the rest of the team sighs. 
                          
"Why does Rose here get a free pass?! That's no fair!" Kai complains. 
                          
"She's already defeated you once before. Besides, I believe it's a term called 'ladies first'," Cole replies. I frown at 'ladies first', but I don't object. If they want to play gentlemen, that's fine with me. It only makes everything easier, despite how annoying it can get.