Rai and the others were waiting at the airport as he was thinking about what Geese's words that was told him.

=== Flashback ===

Geese: Now, I know that this is all new to you, but you must thrive to win this. There are some fighters that would want to make a name for themselves. And there are those who will cheat to win. So, be mindful when you fight them.

Rai: Okay. 

=== Flashback ===

Jiwan placed her hand on his shoulder to make him lost his train of thought. He was looking at his mentor and friend. 

Jiwan: is everything alright?

Rai: Yes, master. I was just have a lot on my mind. We barely been in America for one day and now we're involve in a Tournament.

Jiwan: Just how you feel. I wanted all of us to enjoy ourselves with new students. 

Then suddenly they were interrupted by Pinball who walked up to the group and he was wearing shades. Chai was glaring at him because she was holding a grudge against him. He brought his shades down as he was looking at the group because he could feel the tension in the air.

Pinball: Yo, Rai. I thought the boss told you to come alone on this trip.

Chai: Nice try. Wherever Rai goes, we go.

Jiwan: And we want to make sure that Rai will return to us in one piece,

Pinball: Well, I can't stop you all because the fact that you all will kick my ass if I don't let you. So, grab your stuff because we're heading out now.

Then everyone started to grab their belongings and followed Pinball to the terminal. Once they boarded the plane, they started to placed their bags into the compartment and they took their seats. Rai sat down next to the window as he looked out the window. 

???: Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Rai turned his head to see a woman with long blue hair and she was dressed in orange sleeveless shirt that goes down to her needs with black belt and blue pants. He noticed that she was not wearing any shoes.  

Rai: No, help yourself. 

The blue haired woman sat next to him until the plane started to take off. Rai noticed that she was wearing a green wristband that a gem that had a tiger symbol on it. 

Rai: The symbol of the Tiger. You know the Tiger style. Could you be a member of the Tiger class?

???: Wow, you got all three right on the first try. Yes, I am a student of the Tiger style. My name is Beingal and you are...

Rai: Rai Ryugen. I am student of Jiwan and Nagi.

Beingal: Ah, Master Jiwan aka the "Master of the Heaven Sword" And Master Nagi. They are living legends. How did you landed to be their student?

Rai: Well, Master San-Te assigned me to Jiwan after I leaned everything from him.

Beingal: Wow. you must've been a prodigy.

Rai: I wouldn't say that. I owe master San-Te for saving my life after he found me on the beach of the Monastery.   

Jiwan was looking at Rai talking with another student. She could tell that this would ease his mind. She was sitting next to Chai took keep close eye on her. Chai was reading a romance novel and she sighed as she came across as paragraph that pique her interest. She blushed at the side of the passage to be a erotic scene in the book as she quickly closed the book.

Jiwan: Is something w-

Chai: It's nothing!

Jiwan shrugged her shoulders and she went back to her reading. 

Time Skip

The plane landed on the runway and everyone started to leave the plane to be greeted by tons of armor trucks. Rai was looking around to see that there was a lot of fighters. Then several men dressed in suits and had sunglasses on. 

Man 1: Fighters that are taking part in the tournament plese follow us and we'll take you to the Tournament.

All the fighters were walking towards the armor trucks as they drove off. The trucks were driving towards a coliseum. Once all the trucks stopped, all the fighters got out of the trucks. Rai was around for a moment to see that among the fighters were some animals.

Rai: Please tell me that I'm not the only one see this.

Jinsoyun: You're not the one that is seeing this.

Jiwan: Well, animals like these are a rare find to learn fighting styles just by watching people. 

The five them were looking at a bear, a panda, a kangaroo, and a Lizard.

Chai: This is going to be a wierd Tournament.

Nagi: Never underestimate your opponent before the fight start.

Chai: Yes, master.

Rai was looking at the other fighters until he was pumped by a woman who was had a death glare in her eyes. 

???: Watch where you're going.

She walked off as Rai was looking at her which he could see a dark aura illuminating from her.  Then there was a sound of a horn which getting everyone's attention as they all looked at the large TV monitors. Rai, Chai, Jinsoyun, Jiwan, and Nagi saw Geese was standing on the stage. There was another gentleman dressed in a gi standing next to Geese and other man that was wearing white suit with a mask.

Rai: Who are those two?

Pinball: Oh, those two are the benefactors for the tournament. Basically, the three of them are the big cheese on the tournament. The best not get on their bad sides. I heard that some people went missing that way.

Geese: Welcome, honor guests. My fellow sponsors and I would like to introduce ourselves. My name is Geese Howard, this Victor, and Master Heihachi. We are in charge of the new Tournament. 

Some of the fighters started to applauded the three of them which Rai started to get a strange feeling for some odd reason. He was looking around for a moment, but the feeling passed.  He turned his attention back to the stage. From afar, there was cloaked woman with a hourglass body with long red hair. She was wearing a purple training gi and she was looking at Rai.

???: That warrior has a strong aura.  I will enjoy breaking him.

She was walking away. Then on ledge of the arena was a woman with a purple hiar and she was focus on Rai. She was holding a card in her hand and another card as a demon eye on it.

???: hmmm the world's hero has return. The upcoming battle for its futures. What will you do, reborn warrior?

She disappeared as a card floated down next to Rai. 

Victor: We will be expecting the best of the best in this tournament. So, give it your all in the ring. As you all see that this tournament is being broadcast throughout the world. Everyone is watching you all right now.

Rai was looking around the colosseum to see that Victor was right about there being cameras.  

Heihachi: Only the strong can advance.

Geese: We have two round of the preliminaries. First, is an easy one on one battle. The Second, is the going to be a survivors battle. Complete these two, you will earn your spot in the qualifying rounds.

Victor: Now, without delay. Now, the time as come...

Heihachi: For fighters to make their mark in this world. 

Geese: To determine the victor. Now, Fighters...get ready...to...

Geese, Victor, & Heihachi: FIGHT!

The crowd started to cheer at the top of their lung. Then Rai was approach a referee which Rai was looking at him for a moment with a confuse look on his face.

Referee #1: Mr. Ryugen.

Rai: Yes?

Referee #1: Please follow me. We're about to start the first match of the preliminaries and your opponent is with Kuma. 

Rai: (Shock) The bear?!

Chai: That's not fair.

Referee #1: Sorry, I don't make the rules. 

Rai sighed because he knew that this was not the battle to win. He follow the referee to the ring. Once he made it to the ring as he waited for the giant Grizzly bear making his way to the ring. He walked into the ring and stood up on his hind legs. 

Kuma: *Roar!* (I'm gonna crush you!)

Rai: *swallowed a lump* Okay. take it easy, Rai. Don't get discouraged.

Rai took to his fighting stances as Kuma raise his front paws into a fighting position. Heihachi was grinning as the referee was looking at the both of them to see that they're ready. 

Referee #1: Fighters ready...FIGHT!

He jumped back as Rai charged at Kuma and he threw the fight punch. It connect but the impact was soft because of Kuma's fur. Kuma was getting ready to bring down a left hook, but Rai block it. He felt the attack connect and he heard a bone crack. He jumped back to see that his right was sprane. 

Rai: Ugh! Damn...Kuma is tough. *Thought* Calm down, Rai. Just think a solution on defeating this big fella. I know that my punches does effect as much  because his fur absorbed the impact. 

He popped his right arm back into place. He wince because of the pain and Kuma started to charge towards Rai on all fours. He dodged the bear and tried to sweep the both legs. Kuma fell over and slid towards the edge of the ring. He opened his eyes to see that he almost fell out of the ring. He got up and shook it off and turned to face Rai.

Kuma: *Roar!* (I am gonna get you for that)

Rai ready himself for Kuma as the grizzly bear stood up. He tried to kick Rai, but Rai jumped and kicked Kuma in the face. Kuma stumbled for a bit. Kuma shook his head and hit Rai in the chest as Rai was sent flying. He landed on the ground as he placed his hand on his chest. 

Rai: AHHH!!! Shit that hurt.

He noticed that some blood on his hand. He was looking at Kuma's paw to see that some of his blood was on his claws. He got up and he was holding onto his open wound. 

Kuma: *Roar!* (You're finish!)

Kuma charged at Rai as fast as he could. Rai balled up his fist as he was looking at grizzly bear before his right hand started to feel a burning sensation from his blood. Then the blood ignite into a bright green flame. Heihachi, Geese, and Victor were looking at Rai. Kuma was getting ready to strike, but Rai caught his paw with the green flame burn off some of the fur. 

Kuma: *Roar!* (What the HELL?!)

Rai gave him a quick jab in the chest which created a distance between them. Kuma was looking down at the flame as he started to patted himself to put the flame out. He sighed as the flame left a bald spot on the chest.

Kuma: *Roar!* (I am ripped you apart)

Rai was looking at him and then looked at his hand to see that it was covered in flames. He clenched his fist as the flames grew bigger, but he clapped both his hands together as the flames transfer to his left hand. 

Rai: Alright, big guy. Time for round 2.

Kuma: *Roar!* (Bring it on, whelp.)

Both Rai and Kuma charage at each other, but Rai jumped and gave Kuma a right hook to the jaw. As the fight went on, the spectators were watching from the balcony. Hitachi was stroking his chin while Victor was grinning.

Victor: Wow, I never thought anyone would keep up with Kuma. I thought that you say that bear was unstoppable, Lord Hitachi.

Hitachi: This just the first match. Kuma has hidden potential 

They continue to watch the match. Rai did a high kick as it hit Kuma in the face. Kuna was trying to kick him but Rai jump back to avoid it. Then he gave Kuma was quick jab from both his right and left hook. Some of the flames started to catch some of Kuma's fur on fire. 

Kuma roared as he was trying to put them out. Rai caught on attacking with everything he got. With each blow, Kuma was being pushed back while he was trying his best to put the flames out.  Rai noticed that he was close to the edge of the ring. He knew that it was to take the advantage to win this fight. He started to run towards Kuma and jumped into the air. He did a triple spin kick which it landed as Kuma started to lose balance. 

Rai: One more attack should seal the deal.

Then he brought both of his fists together and thrust into a double punch as the result of the shockwave, Kuma fell out of the ring and he landed on his back. The referee was looking at me and looking down at Kuma. 

Referee #1: Ring out, winner; Rai Ryugen.

The crowd started to cheer for Rai as Rai dropped to his knee because he was exhausted from his fight. He was looking at his hand to see that power of his had disappeared.

Rai: That's was strange.

Back at the VIP balcony, Victor was laughing because he witness that Hitachi's student had lost. Geese was looking at him as she was smiling from watching while Hitachi was gritting his teeth because he was humiliated by Rai. 

Hitachi: Well, I have to deal with Kuma after he recovered.

He turned to leave the room while Geese looked over at her bodyguard as he walked over to her. He lean forward as she brought her hand over her left side her face.

Geese: Make sure that he doesn't do anything to that fighter.

Bodyguard #1: Of course, milady.

He turned to leave as both Geese and Victor looked on.

=== lower part colosseum ===

Rai was leaning on a wall and he was panting from exhaustion. He placed his hand over his open wound. He was walking around towards the exit to meet up with his masters and fellow students. Then he stopped as he was looking at a group of people which they were wearing mask to hide their faces. 

Rai: I take that you guys are not the infirmary unit.

Thug #1: No but, you are to die here.

Rai watched as they drew weapons as he sighed because he knew that he need to defend himself. Then a group of people jumped in front of him. One of had a dark hair woman with pigtail and she was wearing a blue outfit. Next to her, is a woman with blonde hair and she dressed in a green unitar. The last two were a brunette and she was dressed in a blue kimono outfit and the other was a purple hair and she was dressed in a ninja attar. 

??? #1: Attack an injure people is a poor choice.

end chapter

Let me know which character you want to see in the next chapter.