" Hiya!!"

Kaneda bounded around the trees in the area of their rural getaway. He wore his usual workout clothes; black sweatpants and swinging his katana as his father had taught him. This was a vacation, yes. But he had to keep it deep rooted in his mind that these people were going to be his enemies one day. He was going to have to fight and worse come to worse kill them.

This meant he was going to need to scope out their moves and work harder to stay ahead. He was going to win just like his father had and keep the noisy Americans in their place. (OGE: Well…)

" Yah! Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya! Ya!" He launched a flurry of punches and kicks into the air at an imaginary enemy. Oh, this Gundam Fight was 3 years off, but it was going to be one slobberknocker of a Gundam Fight.

He landed kneeling on the ground and slowly stood up; panting." I'm gonna win. No one's going to stop me. Those losers are going to get beaten into the ground and Japan will rule the world." His King of Hearts Shuffle Crest shown brightly to emphasis his fighting spirit.

" Hah. You are a fool if you think that Neo-Japan!"

" Da. This competition will not consist of amateurs. You may not live to see the final round if we have anything to say about it."

**********************

Kaneda turned his head at the voices behind him. It was Dartagnan and Tiron. They were standing at the top of one the steep hills and they looked like they came to fight. Maybe he could have some fun with these yahoos after all.

" Well, don't you two look like early birds? Oh, I'm sorry. You two would be mudd birds." He smiled.

Both smirked at him taunting and jumped down so they were at his level. Dartagnan was wearing blue sweatpants and holding a rose in one hand. Tiron was wearing red sweatpants and he had a chained wrapped around his shoulders and hanging off his body.

" Keep on talking comrade Japan."

" Oui. While you're running your mouth, one of us will be the champion, our nation will rule the world and we'll be married to mademoiselle Ashleigh." 

Kaneda rolled his eyes at that remark. Those two were terrible with their fascination with the Neo-American." That again. Don't you two have mutants in your own country to swoon over so you can leave mine alone?"

Dartagnan quirked an eyebrow. " Your 'mutant' is she?"

" I-I mean, Ashleigh. Can't you leave ASHLEIGH alone?" He tried to save himself, but his slip-up was already clear.

Tiron swung an arm around Kaneda's shoulders. " Welcome to the club comrade Japan. Unfortunately, you don't stand a chance. Miss Ashleigh will be coming back to Mother Russia with me."

" Non mon ami. The early morning sun is making you delirious. She will be coming back to the City of Light to be married to me."

" That's assuming she doesn't win the tournament herself!!!" Came a loud voice from the balcony.

********************

All three turned and looked in the direction of the condo. There on the balcony of her bedroom, in American flag designed sweatpants and a white T-shirt and an American flag designed bandanna was Ashleigh Crockett.

She jumped up and off the balcony, curled into ball, flipped a few times and landed on the ground in front of them. She landed in a kneeling position, but when she stood up, she had her fists up; ready to fight for all she was worth.

" Mornin' boys. Whaddaya say to a little early sparring? 3 against 1? We can check out each other's moves and see exactly what we're dealing with in the Gundam Fight. Assuming you all can last long enough to fight against me in the finals. I'd hate to be there alone with you three just cheering in the stands."

" You're too cocky for your own good Crockett. That'll be your downfall!" Kaneda pointed an accusing finger at her.

Ashleigh scratched her nose languidly and placed both her hands behind her head; elbows toward the sky." Ne? Ya think so huh? Well then, you'll be pleasantly surprised when I beat you into oblivion. Yet AGAIN."

Kaneda almost fell over at that. " That was a fluke and a video game! Anything could have happened! Besides, my buttons were sticky! This is a real fight. And what the hell are you snickering at?!!" He directed the last part to Dartagnan and Tiron who were laughing behind him.

" Don't get mad because you lost to lil'o me. A lot of guys have lost to me. And when the Gundam Fight starts, you're all going to lose to the Miss with the Golden Fists! But enough bragging. I'm sure you're all ready to see what this girl can do to even qualify for the Gundam Fight."

" I agree. Let's get started." Kaneda stood in an offensive position.

" I disagree. I cannot spar with mademoiselle Ashleigh. I could never forgive myself if I damaged her in any way." Dartagnan shook his head.

" I must side with comrade Dartagnan. The chance of hurting Miss Ashleigh is too great. Count me out."

Kaneda covered his eyes with his hand. " Oh please. You two are impossible."

" Look, look, squash all that. You're gonna jump up or get beat down. You made be afraid to hit me, but I ain't afraid to hit you. Let's get it on!!" Ashleigh threw a Cyclone Punch and unleashed an incredible amount of wind.

" Ah! Ashleigh!!" All three of them were thrown back a good 20ft. from the surprise attack. They certainly didn't expect that from little miss boxing gloves. Said American was bouncing and had her fists up; grinning like a thief.

" Come and get me boys." She winked flirtatiously at them.

********************

" Now that's more like it. Hiya!!" Kaneda jumped up in the air to avoid anymore attacks from her.

" That ain't gonna save you. Cyclone Pun-uh?" Just as she was about to launch another attack on the Neo-Japanese pilot, a large chain wrapped around her wrists. She followed the line and ended up with Neo-Russia and Neo-France. " Hey! What happened to 'damaging Miss Ashleigh'?"

" You attacked us mon belle. We wouldn't be representing our countries fairly if we did not respond accordingly."

" Do not worry Miss Ashleigh, we'll be gentle. If it becomes too much for you, we'll just continue without you."

Ashleigh closed her eyes and made a 'humph' noise." Of course you realize this means WAR!!" She yanked her arms away from her body. The chain around them pulled Tiron down to the ground.

" Forget about me? Ha!!" Kaneda came down on her with his sword aiming right between her eyes.

Ashleigh brought her arms up and blocked the sword's attack with the thick chains around her wrists. " Think I didn't see you coming down with a surprise attack, there Kasshu? You're gonna have to better than that!"

" Then I shall try!" Dartagnan threw his rose directly at Ashleigh.

" Whoa!!" She tried to jump out of the way, but the rose imbedded itself in her shoulder.

" Do you concede now mon belle? Do not force us to further harm you."

" Oh that does it!!" Ashleigh wrapped the slack of the chain around Kaneda's wrist and pulled him down. " Hey!"

Then she wrapped more of the chain around his katana and pulled; effectively breaking the chain. Next she painfully removed the rose in her shoulder and tossed it to the ground. Blood seeped from the small hole in her shoulder and stained her shirt.

" Now I'm pissed! Cyclone Punch!!"

***********************

They all jumped in the air to avoid her punch. But she was throwing an uppercut in the air and all the flower petals around her went up in the air like wisps of paper. Then she stuck her hand out in their direction; changing the flow of the flowers from straight upward, to straight forward.

" Agh! I cannot see!" Dartagnan cried covering his eyes.

" That's the point Rose boy! These ain't your French roses, so you have no control! Burning Punch!!" Ashleigh was in front of him in no time. And as soon as she launched her attack, he was socked square in the face. This sent him spiraling backward.

" Ah!"

" That'll learn ya! Ack!" Before Ashleigh could attack again, Tiron's chain wrapped around her neck and pulled hard. Her hands flew up to free herself, but she couldn't pull it off.

" You shouldn't be so cocky American. Your distraction only lasted long enough for you to attack one of us." Tiron gloated.

" You're…You're…pissin' me off!" She choked out.

" And I'll finish you off!" Kaneda was coming at her again. His fist was raised and he would hit her in a matter of seconds.

Ashleigh's mind was searching for an answer. She needed to get away, but Tiron was pulling her backwards too much for her to run.

' That's it!!' She thought. As Kaneda closed in, she let Tiron's pulling take over and simply jumped back. He pulled her the rest of the way. Kaneda's fist hit the ground and caused a huge crater.

Ashleigh was still letting Tiron's lugging pull her back. When she reached him, she planted her elbow right in his face.

" Ow!"

He released the chain and held his face. Ashleigh removed the chain from around her neck and fell to her knees panting. She thought she had a little time to catch her breath before she had to worry about Kaneda attacking her.

" Heeya!"

She guessed wrong. A strong punch connected with her cheek and she flew backwards before skidding into the ground. There was now a large purple bruise on her cheek. She rubbed it gingerly while glaring at Kaneda.

" You're going to pay for that!! Ah!!" As Ashleigh was going to deliver her threat, she forgot that in the confusion with Kaneda and Tiron, Dartagnan was given time to rest. And he now had launched an attack of roses at her. She couldn't roll out of the way fast enough.

Three of the many roses imbedded themselves in her pants leg and in the side of her shirt; pinning her down to the ground. Now she couldn't move at all.

****************

All three males stood over her smiling. Kaneda had his katana on his shoulder smirking like he already won the Gundam Fight. Tiron was still swinging what was left of his chain. Dartagnan had three roses in his fingers, just waiting for her to make a move.

" Well Crockett, it looks like you're out of the tournament. Give up now before you get really hurt." Kaneda said.

" Da. It is wise for you to give yourself up now while your injuries are minor."

" Please concede mademoiselle Ashleigh. I do not wish to hurt you further."

Ashleigh growled at them. But she was outnumbered and she was at a disadvantage. Her shoulder was still in pain and she couldn't possible attack them from this position without getting attacked at least once. However, there was one chance…

She stopped growling and calmed down. She raised her hand up; open palm, as if she were actually conceding and asking for one of them to help her up.

" That's more like it. You deserve to be at my feet woman." Kaneda smirked even broader.

" You couldn't possibly beat all of us Miss Ashleigh. We're better pilots, we've been training longer than you and we take this fight much more seriously." Tiron said.

' Oh he's asking for it.' Ashleigh thought. As Dartagnan was leaning over to help her up, Ashleigh closed her hand into a fist and slammed it down into the ground.

" LoveFuryPassionEnergy!!"

Three large cracks in the ground, glowing with yellow energy, come within reach of all three boys. When they reached them, the yellow energy exploded and blew them away from Ashleigh.

" Ah!!"

They slammed into the ground a good 15ft. away from her; slightly smoking from the energy. Ashleigh had managed to rip the three roses from her clothes and stood with a lot of trouble. She held her injured shoulder and panted heavily. That was the last attack she could do. She wouldn't be any good to anyone for at least 3 hours. But her attack had left a nice crater in the ground though.

********************

Kaneda, Dartagnan and Tiron were lying on the ground panting as well. They didn't expect that from her at all. Who knew she had an attack like that? Who knew she was still able to attack?

" That attack was incredible." Kaneda rolled on his stomach and tried to get up.

" Mon Dieu. She is a an animal, no?" Dartagnan managed to sit up with little trouble and smile at the sight of the American girl.

" A wounded animal is usually the most dangerous. Even Lionesses can fight." Tiron untangled his chain and stood up.

***********************

Ashleigh looked at the three males collecting themselves and heading for the house. They looked burnt in some places and were smoking in other places. She had to use her desperation attack or she would never hear the end of it from Kaneda. She would not let him beat her just so he could spout some chauvinist crap.

So she smiled. She almost lost, but she had managed to pull a win out of this. These boys would think twice before they thought lightly of her again. And Kaneda, she had a special present for him.

" Oi Kaneda!!"

She swore she could hear him growl from where she stood." What?!!"

" Waraku omou na yo."

" Shut up!!"

A/N: There you go. An entire chapter dedicating to fighting. Now the next chapter will get real exciting. War Horsemen will meet the Shuffle Alliance, past and present. And if you're wondering what Ashleigh said, it was: 'Don't think bad of me'.