Seven Fights, One Love.

Chapter 7: The Breaking Point

Two weeks passed. Maya healed from her fights and The Thunder Cats advanced to the semi-finals of the Battle of the Bands. They were getting close to meeting Victor Stone himself.

Maya had also managed to avoid the next ex, Yuki, for a while. But she knew it was only a matter of time.

That time came on a rainy Thursday afternoon.

Maya was walking home from the coffee shop when she noticed someone following her. A woman in a traditional martial arts uniform, walking silently twenty feet behind her.

"Are you Yuki?" Maya called out without turning around.

"Yes," the woman replied. "I am Ex Number Five. We must fight."

"Can we go somewhere dry at least?" Maya asked. "I'm getting soaked."

They went to a covered parking garage. Yuki bowed formally, then attacked.

The fight was different from the others. Yuki was a true martial artist, with perfect form and devastating technique. She didn't rush or make mistakes. Every move was precise and powerful.

Maya was losing badly. Yuki landed hit after hit, bruising Maya's ribs, bloodying her nose, kicking her legs out from under her. Maya fell to the concrete over and over again.

"Give up," Yuki said. "You're not a fighter. You're a musician. This is not your path."

Maya tried to stand but her legs wouldn't work. Everything hurt. She was exhausted from all the fights, all the stress, all the pressure from the band competition.

"Maybe you're right," Maya said, spitting blood. "Maybe this is stupid. Maybe none of this is worth it."

She thought about Luna. About her purple eyes and silver hair. About the way she laughed at Maya's terrible jokes. About how she made Maya feel alive.

But was it worth dying for?

Yuki prepared for a final strike.

Then Maya heard a voice. "Get up, Maya! Don't give up!"

It was Tommy. He was standing at the entrance to the parking garage, soaking wet from the rain.

"Tommy?" Maya said, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I followed you," Tommy admitted. "I've been following you for weeks. I know about the exes, about the fights. I've been watching to make sure you're okay."

"That's really creepy, dude," Maya said, but she smiled a little.

"I know," Tommy said. "But I still care about you. Even if you're with someone else. So get up and fight. Show her what you're made of."

Something in Maya sparked back to life. She stood up, her body screaming in pain.

"Thanks, Tommy," she said.

Then she turned to Yuki and fought with everything she had left. She stopped trying to match Yuki's technique and just fought wild and chaotic, using her drummer instincts to find the rhythm of the fight.

She caught Yuki off guard with an unpredictable punch, then followed up with a series of fast strikes. Yuki blocked most of them, but Maya was relentless.

Finally, Maya swept Yuki's legs and delivered a punch that sent her crashing through a parked car's windshield.

Yuki exploded into coins.

Maya collapsed to her knees, completely exhausted.

Tommy ran over and helped her up. "You did it."

"Two more," Maya whispered. "Just two more."

But when she got home and saw Luna waiting for her, covered in blood and bruises, Luna started crying.

"I can't watch you get hurt anymore," Luna said. "Every fight, you come back more damaged. What if the next one kills you? What if Victor kills you?"

"I can handle it," Maya said, but even she didn't sound convinced.

"No," Luna said firmly. "I'm ending this. I'm going to talk to Victor. I'm going to convince him to break the contract."

"What if he won't?" Maya asked.

"Then I'll leave," Luna said. "I'll leave Portland and you'll never have to fight again."

"No!" Maya grabbed Luna's hand. "Don't leave. Please."

But Luna pulled away. "I'm sorry, Maya. I can't let you die for me. I'm not worth it."

She walked out of the apartment, leaving Maya alone.

Maya sat on her couch, staring at the wall. Her whole body hurt. Her heart hurt even more.

Was Luna right? Was this all pointless?