Pix and Bits

The Big One!

We have the championship match, against guess who? Finishing up the semester and a few antics.

Early May now and we can all see finals from here. Some are ignoring that too, pretty sure. I wish them well. Doubt it will help much. But Bits and me are seeing something else, this year's championship match. We won our division cleanly, and now get to face the best from the Ivy League. Should be fun! Yeah, I have "caught" Bits enjoyment of a bit of mayhem from time to time. She kinda likes pranks too and I am wondering if kitsune are somehow related to Coyote? Will haveta do some reading, I guess. Bits will just go all inscrutable if I ask. I don't mind, she's fun to scrute with! Ha HA! Yeah, don't give up my day job, I know.

Today I check our mailboxes at the dorm and we have the meet! OMG, gotta tell Bits! And everybody, they won't believe this. I find Bits leaving class, and share. She is as excited as me and I can see it in her face. Inscrutable my butt! Wait, could be fun! Hee hee. I know, I'm a bad girl, always horny. But that's just me, I guess. And I am also kind and helpful so maybe not completely bad?

No matter what my too religious 'rents have to say? Still getting away from that, but it's getting easier. Loving Bits has helped amazingly, I think I have made years worth of progress there in a fairly short time. Less than two years and feels like forever, and not yet long enough. Guess it's what the real thing feels like.

We don't even wait for tomorrow night and go looking for our crew of miscreants. Happy ones too! If pirates were really happy and romantic figures, our Lethal Ladies would be a terrific crew! Oh, the fun we might have! But we all know that real pirates are pretty much scum, so not a thing. We find everyone by supper and take a big table in the cafeteria together.

I wait til they all have food in their faces and tell them we are going to Harvard in less than two weeks for the big championship match! No one chokes, but a fair amount of food lands here and there, some even back on the plate! Bits tells me I have a childish sense of humor. And she loves it! Our team seems to as well, happy for me. We linger for a while planning a training schedule. In a week and two days, we will be taking the team bus to Cambridge! WooT! Maybe I should be worried, but I am so sure that me and Bits can face anything and win. Always.

So to me it's just practice as usual and normal. Next time we spar, Bits teaches me that trick. Of running right up a vertical surface, like a wall or your tall opponent's body. It is so cool! And I seem to learn it easily once Bits reminds me of what Louis said regarding the improvements to our bracers. I can see so many ways this will be useful and fun. Bits is happy enough with my learning it that she shows me two new moves.

Ima gonna be a show off now! We are taking turns working with the others, so that everyone gets up to speed. Sue excuses me from my TA duties for the week to prepare and I thank her. Sue calls it giving back, guess she does like me. Tuesday night Nat shows at our regular time to show solidarity. Girl is big as a house.

Also naked as a frog so we all crowd her to check out the great baby hammock she has become. She promises to be there Friday night unless she is giving birth right then. I think her visit made everyone feel pretty good, I know I do. We had a good practice that night, and Wednesday as well. Took Thursday to rest, but Bits told everyone to still do their stretches. And Friday came. We took the team bus to Cambridge, Sue, Susu and Catherine on board too.

Susu had also gotten her video nerd to come along, we were gonna be a movie! Or something. Once we figured out where to go, the driver dropped us right at the building we needed. Seems Harvard has more than one gym! This was the "old" gym, but it looked nice inside. And the locker room was pretty nice and very clean. The Dean did not try to pep talk us, just told us how much confidence she had in us all, and to do our best.

Bits spoke to strategy, and told everyone that precision was more important than speed tonight. And reminded them of how we defeated Brandeis, and also Wellesley last year. Then simply told them she was proud of each one. And knew they would not disappoint. A Harvard usher came to tell us it was time and we filed out to the gym and our team bench. Cool, they had chairs, high stools really for the Dean and Sue. Much like last year, there were 5 judges and I knew two of them. One was our "angel", the elderly Asian man. So happy me, to see a familiar face. Looking around I saw a group of our people in the bleachers, about as many as on the Harvard side. And Kev and Nat! Kinda obvious with her balloon belly! My reverie was interrupted by the judges, who announced rules and such. Combat was largely the same as always, group matches first followed by single combat matches. With a final competition at the end by Harvard's request. Three from each side, to meet in a last person standing match. No killing blows but bone breakers would be allowed! The Dean and I both looked at Bits. I smiled and nodded, and Bits grinned and gave Catherine the thumbs up sign. She then accepted for our school.

The judges then reminded all that normal rules were in place for the usual events. So no bone breakers, no grappling and no killing blows of course. Told us to choose our teams and wait. Easy enough. Bits told me to be on my guard, she was getting suspicious. I told her that outside of sparring with her alone I was always on my guard and she gave me a quick kiss. We chose our teams quickly. I took Jenny and the Marylou. Bits had Jude, Claire, and Chloe.

That left us Suze in reserve, and she was looking eager to be called in. As usual for us, my team would be first up. A few seconds later the gong chimed. Harvard, technically a boys school had partnered up with Radcliffe, so they had a mixed team.

We faced one medium sized guy and three women of varying size, but all bigger then any but Jenny on our side. We all bowed as always and Harvard bowed also. The boy kept his head up and glared a bit, kinda rude. Decided I wanted to see him at the "special" competition.

We all moved in cautiously, circling and watching for a mistake. The gals looked normal but I swear that male looked like a snake, or some sort of lizard. Nothing so pleasant as a frog either. Now I was even more on guard. One move that Bits had showed me was kinda strange, more like a weird dance move. She had told me though that if I ever faced a snake it would freeze them in place for a second or two. I decided to wait.

Jenny was playing bodyguard, and the Marylou were hunting. I focused on snake boy while acting like I was after the larger of the girls. Yep, I can do subtle, just don't generally bother. But they like fancy at Harvard! Or so I was told. We danced around for a minute, my big girl focused on me, the other two on Jenny. Snake boy was looking for an opportunity. When it happened, it was fast. The Marylou took out both of the mid sized women at the same time, and Jenny made a feint at the big girl. Snake boy thought he had a chance at Jenny's back. He would have but I was watching him, not his team mate. Or both, really. Bits had been teaching me for months now what she called "battle awareness", to know where everyone on the field was even if you thought they were down. It was clicking in big tonight.

He swirled into Jenny from the side, and it was too easy to catch his foot, and twisting both my torso and my wrists, put him on his belly with his leg in my possession. Rather than accept his loss he struggled, until I lifted my own leg and waved it at his face. He conceded and I let go. Just as the big girl had planned to take me from behind. Seemed they like that, this team.

I twisted to one side and dodged right back, sweeping her legs. Then waited til she got up again and gave her the universal come on gesture. No surprise, that made her charge like a boar. I like that from an idiot, makes my work almost too easy. Advantage to my size, everyone thinks they can crush me with size alone. OK by me. Come right into my parlor! Could have flipped her, instead I dodged and somersaulted, coming to my feet beyond her. She was now too angry to think and charged again. What I was waiting for. This time I waited til the last second, spun and dropped onto her back as she passed the spot I had been in. And used a nerve pinch Bits had taught me on her neck. Very cool, she went all boneless, landing flat with her limbs spread in a star and me on her back, standing. With one foot on her neck pressing lightly. Opening an eye she scowled but nodded, accepting her defeat.

Snake boy gave me a look and I knew we were not done, and once again hoped to see him at the special. We made our bows to the defeated, and then the judges. Neither snake boy or the big girl returned our bow, so rude! Back at our bench as Bits gave me a kiss I warned her to watch for dirty tricks and snakes, She was starting to grin til that last word, and then she turned as grim as I had seen. I told her to watch her back and she kissed me lightly and nodded just as the gong chimed.

Bits took her team and went out to meet the others. Both when they bowed to the judges and to the opposition she made an odd gesture, but I could not see it entirely. I turned to the Dean who leaned forward and spoke softly telling me the gesture looked like a child pinning a snake with a forked stick, but that was all she saw. I saw one judge and two members of the team from Harvard flinch. A judge? Sympathetic or a member? Need to watch him. Not sure what I can do, but I will pay attention anyway. Harvard may graduate lawyers but I bet they would take pause with these guys if they knew. I didn't know myself, but I suspected.

I like to read and I like to know stuff. So I have been reading for more than a year about kitsune, spiders and Japanese tales in general. There was a repeating idea about snakes and spiders being enemies. Also snakes and foxes. And I was thinking I remembered the boar being allied with the snake somehow. I may be wrong too, pretty much a novice at this stuff. But that team looked reptilian as heck, and that big girl looked and acted like an angry boar, too.

Shook my head and paid attention, my sweetie was fighting, and these were not normal opponents at all. At least not most of them. So I wanted to watch as closely as possible from here. Jude and Chloe were circling, and Claire was sticking near Bits. Who suddenly leaped into the center of the mats and did the weird dance-like move she had shown me. Even from here I saw two of the boys freeze, staring at Bits as if mesmerized. That was causing the remaining two confusion, I could also tell by the way they were moving. Jude and Chloe each took their man out and down. Then Bits and Claire each took a man, and did the same. Kind of.

They both went for a more showy take down. Claire flipped her man and twisted his leg up, one foot more or less smack on his groin. Bits stood in front of hers and slapped him awake, then smiled and without using a single "dangerous" throw or hold, took him apart til he was quivering and finished him with a forehead strike. That was allowed, I knew, as I had been surprised by it. Even if my opponent had missed that time. Not one we used, but I approved completely. Bits did the unthinkable then and turned her back on her opponents and bowed to "our" judge, who returned it impassively and came back to me. And got a kiss, you bet.

I saw a taller, thinner snake boy come over from the opposite team and argue something with the judges, before leaving with an angry look and posture. The judges argued too, but I think they have to follow some rules themselves, because they announced we had won both rounds, and gave our points. Kind of like the Russian judge I felt, but a clear win too. So OK. Fine even, just not good. We now had a short break before the individual combat. I checked and everyone seemed to be OK. I also told the Dean that I was pretty sure at least one judge was not trustworthy, She didn't even ask, just nodded, and focused on him.

I asked Bits if she had seen the taller one and she nodded, and said he was the leader, or one of them. The first one I fought may also be a leader she thought. Then she said that snakes do not like spiders. I asked her how boars feel and she almost smiled! I think she was proud of me for figuring that out. I saw the judges begin to draw names and knew we were starting again. In a moment the gong chimed.

Jenny was up. She was facing the big girl too. I had my fingers crossed. Jenny was both good and also pretty big, our "giant" at five foot ten. Curvy and deceptively so. She was all muscle. With this one at least it seemed we were no longer about gracefulness, but only winning. Jenny had a hobby, she liked roller derby. As a player. Gave that gal a serious hip check when she charged, using her own momentum to knock her a few feet over. Then waited, which meant to me Jen was annoyed. When pig girl got up Jen gave her the come on. And a fat grin. Yep, Jen wanted her. It worked as before too. That big gal charged right into Jen's knee. Can't blame jenny if the woman hits her on the knee with her head, right? Slick, that one. From the looks on my team, everyone was a lot annoyed by that team. Uh oh, sucks to be them, pretty sure.

Next up was Chloe. As always, looking sweet and charming. She was against a guy, a not snake boy. He liked her hips so much she rolled him right over one. Hope he appreciated the kindness. Then Bits was called up. I looked and saw she was facing the tall thin one, who had not participated in the team portion. He did bow, but so slight as to be offensively rude. They danced, those two. He could not lay a hand or foot on my girl, and she was aware of that fact as quickly as I was, and began smiling. Soon she was tapping him from behind, only to be somewhere else when he turned.

Bits was very good at this game. Once she had made him look foolish enough, she simply leg swept him, leaped high and landed on his abdomen, with one foot raised. That heel stopped so close, I wondered if a sheet of paper would fit between it and his nose. His eyes were white as he conceded. When Bits returned I gave her a five and a grin. The Marylou had been ruled to be a single fighter earlier this year, and was called against snake boy, my snake boy.

And they had fun! Dancing around him, feinting and dodging. I could see they were having a good time. And not being careful, darn it. So it happened. He watched and waited, and caught Lou from behind and she went over his head and off the mat, landing on her face. Mary went nuts, because unlike me she could see blood all over the floor where Lou's face was.

But she surprised me and didn't take his head then and there. Girl can kick up to almost seven foot, and could have taken his head right off, pretty sure. But she did a neat weep, while catching his wrist, and knelt on his back talking for a moment. When she let go, his face was white as paper. Catherine saw and now she and Sue went swiftly to check on Lou. Mary and Sue took Lou to the locker room, I assumed to clean her up. I decided right then I owned snake boy and told Bits. She surprised me by not arguing. Sue was back in a couple of minutes and not long after the Marylou came back to. Lou had a broken nose for sure, but looked angry, not hurt. I knew for myself that a good shot of adrenalin can really help if you get hurt.

Jude was lucky, fought one of their gals and did very well. Soon the individual combat was finished. The judges began muttering and the Dean went over to register a complaint against Harvard on Lou's behalf. And the tall snake apparently complained about Mary taking his boy down. He was sent back and they had points deducted from their seasonal accumulation and put in our account. At the end of that turn, we were far ahead. And normally would now be on our way with the title.

But we had agreed to the final three on three match. And oh, I wanted it. We had decided it was me, Bits and Jenny. And I told the Marylou I was gonna own that guy. Bits nodded and they both smiled, dangerous shark like smiles. Jenny offered her spot to Jude, who was pretty friendly with the Marylou and was probably their girlfriend. Jude just told her to break something real good for her, looking madder than I had seen her.

I told Bits to leave me my guy, 'cause I had plans. She promised, surprising me again.

A few minutes later the gong chimed. The judges gave us a reminder that anything short of an outright killing blow was allowable in this match. After waiting to see that we each understood, they rang the gong once more. We walked out, and faced the mat. Opposite us were all the snake boys except the tall thin one. Bits must have said a word to Jenny, as they both stayed back a bit, just facing off the other two as I moved toward my guy.

As I got close, I smiled and asked him if Mary told him to watch out for spiders. Forever. And I got too close. He grabbed my left arm, and flipped vertically to land behind me. Along with my arm. Damn, that hurt! Oops! Hey, mom in law? Please don't burn up Cambridge. Yeah, I am pissed but I'm gonna take care of it. I saw Bits move but held up a hand (still had one good one) and she stopped. I turned my head slowly til I was looking at snake boy. Smiled and pulled myself out of his grip. I measured him and smiled some more.

That was making him nervous, but it was all quick enough that no one was seeing it unless they were here on the mats. He muttered something about my arm and I just grinned, and told him I was a spider. And spiders regrow their limbs. How do snakes do with vertebrae?

Then I leapt straight up and landed with my legs tight on his neck. Heard Bits inhale, she knew exactly what was about to happen. I used the second way to do this one, and instead of seeing the top of my head fly back, I saw his head fly up. I landed several feet back, and he went almost straight up, coming back down on his head, with his entire body's weight behind it. Could have been lethal, but I had not tried for that. I wanted him in an iron lung forever. Or as long as it took him to regrow a new spine. I could tell my shoulder was knitting together already as I turned and smiled at my ladies. Bits winked at me and she and Jen turned to their own victims. What Jen did was not illegal, just unusual. She didn't throw her guy, she picked him up. One hand on his hip and one on his neck and snapped him down across her thigh. Owie!

Bits though? That gal is gonna get a big lickin' and not on a mat! Ha HA! She turned to her fellow, gestured me over and bowed! I was across the mats, so I did a cartwheel to get there fast. And show everyone I had two working arms. Oopsie, snake boys!

I didn't give him a chance. I came in fast slapping and kicking. Not as hard as I can, but very fast, to keep him disoriented. It worked, too and I could tell he was confused. Bits yawned and looked at her wrist, play acting. Jenny giggled and drew her thumb across her throat.

So I did a move like the one his buddy used on me. Except I was holding an ankle when I flipped and not a wrist. That put him face down with me standing on his upper back holding one leg that must have felt real bad. So I made it feel a whole lot worse. By kicking it right where it joined his body as hard as I can while holding it with both hands. Sure he was not going to walk well, ever again. Also thought he might not make any snake boy babies either. But when he woke he was gonna be one hurting unit for certain.

Bits took my hand and Jenny's too and we bowed to the judges table. And Bits turned her head and very deliberately spit on the snake boy I took down first, the one that hurt our Lou. One of the judges started to rise and our judge put a hand on him, restraining him. We started back to the bench and tall boy came over demanding the judges do something. Bits held a hand to the judges! stopping them and faced him full on.