Floodlights illuminated the stage as a yellow cat dressed in a white-rimmed red top and trunks stumbled on the mat with a groan, forehead drenched in sweat. Her formerly spiky black hair had begun to droop from the perspiration, its light-blue tips pointing at the floor like water droplets as she kept her trembling fists raised. She stared ahead with emerald eyes burning in defiance, though her fingerless red gloves had seen considerable wear as large gashes had formed on its blue dorsal section. A massive leg flew her way and the feline ducked with a huff before tightening her guard as a long caudal fin followed, striking her forearms with a loud slap which sent the yellow mammal’s feet skidding backwards. She fanned her throbbing arms in response to the harsh slap and gritted her teeth at the opponent facing her, a large great white shark packed with dense muscles. Though she was faster than the landbound fist, the cat found herself struggling to land any clean hits and would take far heavier blows herself, as evidenced by the many dark bruises decking her stomach and face alike.

  Outside the cage ring, Anne gritted her teeth as she grabbed the chain fence, amethyst eyes staring at the view. The sheep had met the cat, whose name was Suki, many months ago by pure coincidence and the two hit it off on the spot. She was a feline packed with an abundance of energy and there was never a single boring moment with her whether they hung out normally or sparred, the latter of which provided a lot of intense matches. There was no doubt in her mind that Suki was very much a combat prodigy and so the sheep saw it upon herself to help guide her towards greatness…which had unintended consequences. Anne didn’t know when, but somewhere down the line she was beginning to grow very, very fond of Suki as they spent time together, a feeling which came to a heel the day her friend demonstrated all she had learned. The firm determination in her eyes, the methodical movements, the constant demonstrations of both mental and physical growth, the way she utterly dismantled the sheep in their boxing match …it lit her heart ablaze. Her mind would travel back in time to when she first witnessed Phals in battle and recalled that strong jolt striking her heart - it was the exact same feeling as what she felt back then.

  She had fallen in love.

  “Come on Suki!” Anne shouted. “Clear your mind and focus!”

  However, the sheep’s words only reached the cat’s ears in the form of an indiscernible echo. “C’mon Suki… You’re better than this… Don’t disappoint Anne…!” the cat gritted her teeth.

  “Do you hear me, Suki?!” the sheep called out. “You need to stay calm!”

  On Suki’s end, the feelings were very much mutual. The cat had been smitten by the sheep’s skill in the art of combat and the way she so flawlessly understood the intricacies of the craft, not to mention how drop-dead gorgeous she was in the cat’s eyes. More importantly however, it was the sheep’s very personality itself which left a mark in her. Suki recalled the sweet tone of her friend’s voice whenever she offered support, the advice she’d give to help her grow stronger even in the middle of matches, how kindly she treated the cat. She found herself smitten in record time and every time she saw the sheep her heart would start fluttering like a cluster of excited butterflies. With a faint, quivering smile, the cat looked ahead and braced herself.

  She couldn’t go and embarrass herself in front of the woman she loved!

  “Let’s go!”

  Suki charged forth and smirked as the large shark swung a kick in response, prompting the feline to jump over it, then kicked off the leg to catapult herself higher. Now at an altitude closer to her opponent’s head, the cat flashed a toothy grin and prepared a kick aimed for the head-

  *THUMP*

  A giant punch sunk into the cat’s stomach and saliva escaped her lips with a hoarse gasp before she was brought down to the canvas, crushed by the shark’s steel compactor of a fist. Tears escaped the corner of her eyes and more saliva erupted from the mouth like a fountain as the padded knuckles ground the cat’s stomach into dust. Her loins were beginning to burn with the intensity of a thousand suns and a dark spot spread out on her trunks, though she was given no chance to offer any resistance as a big foot came crashing down on her gut. Once again her belly was crushed, once again her body jolted with saliva spewing in the air and just like that, a brief squirt of cum passed through the fabric of her red bottoms. The shark pulled the gasping Suki up by the head and pushed her face first between her large breasts, trapping the feline in a deep Breast Smother before shooting continuous knee strikes to the gut. Given their great size disparity, the yellow cat spent the first few seconds dangling with her feet aboveground before being ragdolled by the sharp kicks, making saliva splash upon the cleavage with muffled moaning gasps. It soon came to a point where every other strike made her squirt and as the juices began to pool beneath her feet, Suki’s arms fell limp.

  “You really thought you’d win, huh?” the shark hissed. “Don’t get your ego inflated just because Water Fist endorsed you. We’re all pros here.” she said, knee grinding against the cat’s bruised abs. “I can tell you’ve got some skill though, there’s no wonder that sheep brought you here. But…” She gave Suki a hard squeeze, “you’d be a fool to believe she expected you to win!” The shark suddenly let go and as the cat’s feet touched the ground, a vicious Right Hook sent more spittle flying. “You’re inexperienced, a fresh bud.” She followed up with a Left Hook. ““You’ve still got a damn long way to go!!” A heavy fist sunk deep into Suki’s gut, producing a torrent of saliva as fresh nectar poured through her trunks. “Now sleep tight, little housecat!”

  Suki was far too groggy to even think as the muscular shark’s fist crashed into her chin and launched the cat skyward, letting her glistening limp body bathe in the floodlights before she plummeted to the canvas with a loud bang. Her eyes were distant and glazed as she lay there, bruised body convulsing in agony while the count kept rising - in the end, she failed to move and the bell rang to the count of ten, signalling her defeat. Though Suki’s mind was hazy, the wave of defeat washed upon her nonetheless and the cat’s body arched upward to release all pent-up sensations with one final orgasm, splattering her juices on the canvas with a barely audible moan before passing out. The cage was lifted and the shark watched as Anne entered to pick up her friend, their eyes clashing for the briefest of moments before parting ways. No words were uttered by the two muscular women, yet the air surrounding them was thick as the sheep lifted Suki in her arms.

  The shark broke their silence. “She’s not half-bad, you know.” she said with one hand on her hip. “But you brought her too early.”

  “Absolutely not.” Anne’s eyes were fixed onto Suki’s face. “I’d argue the opposite.”

  “Another one of your ‘projects’, huh?” The shark sighed. “How long will it take before you realize you can’t make a second-”

  “We’re done here.”

  And so, Anne left the ring…

  Half an hour had passed and Suki sat on a bench by her lonesome, somber swollen eyes staring at a mirror. Thin strips of gauze covered the bleeding, her lower lip was busted and an uncomfortable ice pack lay wrapped against her bruised belly by numerous bandage rolls - she was a far cry from the good-looking, confident cat she had entered the ring as. Her lips began to tremble and she looked away, eyes glistening for a moment before they were buried in her hands. The cat’s elbows rested against her knees and she lifted both feet off the floor as she curled into a ball of shame. Anne had gone through all this effort to refer Suki to this big tournament using her good name, yet the eager feline failed to even reach the halfway mark! Not only had she disappointed herself, she had also put the sheep’s own reputation at risk and thrown it into the dirt. Yes…the dirt… That’s where Suki belonged right about now…

  Her ears flicked as she caught the recognizable sounds of clanks and clacks outside followed by the door knob turning with a click. Suki knew it was Anne who opened the door, yet not even the sound of the approaching sheep urged the cat to lift her head. How could she possibly look her dear friend in the eyes after such a poor performance? Not to mention, didn’t she pay a lot for the tournament admission as well? The cat wanted nothing more than to throw herself off a cliff, eagerly embracing the warm and welcoming rocks below.

  Anne placed a stack of bills next to where the cat was sitting. “Your placement earnings.” she said in a bland, neutral tone. “At least you made the minimum requirement for a payoff.”

  “...I don’t deserve it.”

  The sheep raised a brow. “Okay, let’s not delve into the pity party over one single loss. What, did you think you’d win this entire tournament?”

  Suki went silent again.

  “Oh for crying out-... Suki, did you forget what kind of tournament this is?” Anne slouched her shoulders and leaned back as she sat down. “Fighters from all over the world takes part every year and-”

  “-you sacrificed your spot to get me in. Yeah… I know…” Hidden within her hands, Suki chewed on her trembling lips. “And I screwed it up.”

  “Suki. You just fought Syrin Maws, one of Diamond League’s best MMA fighters. Even I would have had a hard time against her.” Anne replied with a frown. “Besides, you managed to beat Tristan Hayes and Monica Sears, both of whom are very respectable fighters with a rock solid track record.”

  “Still…”

  The sheep parted Suki’s face from her hands by force and stared into her trembling eyes. “Now listen up and listen very closely. I’m by no means disappointed in you, because I never expected you to reach the top from the very beginning.”

  “Y-you…didn’t…?” The yellow fighter could feel her heart sink into the abyss. “Oh…”

  “Suki.” Anne straightened her friend’s face to look her straight in the eyes. “This tournament was your proving ground, to see how you measure up against the greatest this world can offer. Now listen up, because I’ve got your performance feedback.”

  “...Okay…”

  Now that she had Suki’s attention, Anne raised a finger. “You’re too impulsive.” She raised a second finger. “You’re too reckless.” She raised a third finger. “You put too much faith in your endurance.” Then a fourth. “You’re too confident.” And a fifth. “Your grappling needs serious work.” A sixth. “You really need to work on better escaping submission holds.”

  The sheep continued and Suki could already feel her heart hitting the bottom of the sea floor before being dragged deeper into the cold, merciless sand. It wasn’t until a tenth finger was raised when Anne finally stopped the critique and the cat was already on the verge of tears. Not a single compliment to be found, only pure criticism about her overall performance…and she agreed with all of it. Anne had a deep understanding of combat sports and the cat acknowledged this, but not even she could find a sliver of good? Her mind drifted for a moment until she felt Anne’s warm hand touch her chin and their eyes met, causing the cat to blush.

  “Suki.” Anne said. “Those are your current enemies.” She held up her prosthetic hand. “Now punch them.”

  “...Huh…?”

  The sheep punched her prosthetic palm. “One, you’re too impulsive.”

  After a bit of hesitation, Suki punched the palm. “Like thi-”

  “Two.” Anne started. “You’re too reckless.”

  Suki punched the palm again.

  “Three. You put too much faith in your endurance.”

  She punched again.

  Ten critiques, ten punches. For reasons unknown to her, Suki found that her heart lightened for every swing and by the time she reached the tenth punch, the cat struck with enough power to make the prosthetic arm shoot backwards. She stared at her throbbing knuckles for a moment and showed a faint, quivering smile before letting out a snort, then burst into tearful laughter. It was such a simple and inconsequential practice, yet it lifted the giant boulder off of her shoulders with relative ease. The cat couldn’t tell if the idea itself was good or if she was just a very simple-minded person. Regardless, she still leaned in for a hug and pressed her cheek against the sheep’s wooly chest.

  “Thank you, Anne. I feel better now.” She wiped her tears on the wool and chuckled. “I’ll work hard on improving myself!”

  “Great! However…” The sheep pushed Suki away and smiled. “I’m not done with your performance feedback~”

  “...You’re not? Geez, I really screwed up, huh?”

  Anne showed a cheeky smile and raised a finger. “One, your skill at improvisation is impressive!” The sheep reveled in Suki’s surprised face as she raised a second finger. “Two, you adapt quickly to changes.” She raised a third finger. “Your reaction speed has improved a lot.” Then a fourth. “Your fighting spirit is an incredible boon.” And a fifth. “You’ve polished your kicking technique a lot.” A sixth. “You fought incredibly well given your opponents.

  Like with the critiques prior, Anne’s praise of Suki extended to ten fingers though the cat could tell her friend held herself back from saying more. The feline’s heart had traveled all the way from the sea floor to the heavens itself as she sat there with red cheeks, only to jolt when the sheep cupped her chin and their eyes met again. There was a certain sincerity and warmth behind those cool amethyst eyes which Suki failed to describe, the kind which made it impossible to break contact. She couldn’t bring herself to stop smiling as her green eyes were locked with Anne’s purple, body vibrating with anticipation of what was to come.

  “Suki, those ten are your closest friends and allies.” Anne started. “You must treasure and tend to them.”

  The cat nodded slowly. “Y-yes.”

  “One, your skill at improvisation is impressive!” she said before leaning in to give the yellow feline a warm kiss on the lips.

  Suki’s tail straightened up in an instant as she was kissed and her eyes widened in shock. “Hmmff-?!♡”

  Their lips soon parted. “Two, you adapt quickly to changes.”

  Another kiss, this one deeper than the last - and the cat was utterly silenced.

  After parting again, Anne licked her lips with a gentle smile. “Three, your reaction speed has improved a lot.”

  Ten compliments, ten kisses, and each moment of contact was sweeter than the last. God, Anne was such a good kisser! Suki’s tail could only sway in anticipation every time their lips parted ways, her heart melting from the heat of Anne’s affection. By the sixth kiss, the two sat together in a warm embrace, by the eight Suki sat on the sheep’s lap and when they got to the final compliment, the cat felt a gentle hand brush the back of her neck. Time felt as though it stood still when Anne leaned in for a passionate french kiss, tongues dancing together in harmony as both women pressed against the other to trade saliva in a mutual dance of love. While Suki’s tail swayed to and fro like a clock’s pendulum, the sheep’s tail refused to slow down for a second as it happily fanned the air. It took a while for their lips to even dare parting ways, but as they did, long strings of saliva connected their lips and tongues alike - though their eyes didn’t part for a single second.

  “How are you feeling now~?” Anne asked with laborious breaths.

  “Like I’m in the seventh heaven~♡” the cat replied.

  The sheep leaned her forehead against Suki’s. “Funny, I feel the same way.”

  “Then prove it~♡”

  Neither syllables nor vowels were exchanged any further as she went in for the eleventh kiss, fluffy tail wagging like a dog’s.

  As they kissed, neither of them could truly imagine a world without the other…

  A couple days passed and the two found themselves sitting on a grassy field, basking in the bright sun as they relaxed at the local park. They sat on a blue and white blanket with square patterns with smiles on their faces as Anne put down a picnic basket filled to the brim with all sorts of edibles before puffing her chest with pride. There were slices of chocolate cake she had baked in the morning, their light brown top layer glistening with moisture from its temporary stay in the fridge. Next to those were sandwiches with mayonnaise, goat cheese, fragrant salami cuts and an assortment of fresh greens all neatly packed in even layers, each piece wrapped in plastic so the bread wouldn’t dry. Two apples and pears were on the opposite end next to a tall container filled with a personal smoothie blend of yoghurt, banana, oranges, frozen mango and strawberries which Anne had prepared mere minutes before leaving, so it was still cold to the touch. Suki was flabbergasted by the sight and sat there with her mouth agape, starry eyes gazing upon the delicacies her friend had brought. The sheep took notice and flung one of the wrapped sandwich slices into Suki’s awaiting hands before watching as the feline undid the plastic with the ferocity of a kitten catching a ball of yarn. It was an amusing sight to say the least.

  Suki wasted no time chowing down on the unwrapped sandwich and her eyes lit up. “Oh… This is good! Like, GOOD good!” She took another bite. “Mmm~”

  The sheep snickered. “Glad you like it.” She got a sandwich of her own. “Nothing beats a tasty sandwich under the sun~”

  “Right?! Especially yours~!” the cat chirped as she savored the many flavors. “How did you get so good at making food?”

  “It was…a necessity.” Anne said with an awkward smile. “You remember my big sister?”

  Suki nodded. “Amanda, right? What about her?”

  “When we lived in the slums, she’d always be there to protect and provide for me. I relied on her a lot growing up.” the sheep explained. “She also tried to make us food. Emphasis on ‘try’.”

  “Oh, so her food tasted horrible?”

  A visible tinge of dread flashed in the sheep’s amethyst eyes. “Oh if only…”

  “...Huh?”

  “I’d be able to bear it if her food simply tasted bad. We couldn’t afford to be picky.” Anne shuddered. “No, the reason why I taught myself to cook was because of my sister’s innate ability to make anything…taste weird.”

  Now the cat was just confused. “But didn’t you just say you couldn’t be picky-”

  “Suki.” Anne pointed at one of the cake slices. “Imagine that cake tasting overly salty and bitter. Or a sour steak. That’s how my sister’s food end up. I couldn’t stomach it.”

  Just the description was enough to make the cat grimace and she looked at her food. “That sounds rough… Your sister must be cursed or something.”

  “It does feel that way sometimes.”

  A silence blanketed over the two as they ate, the only sounds being the blowing wind and occasional birds chirping from the trees. Suki had finished two whole sandwiches and already helped herself to some chocolate cake before Anne could start her second serving. The sheep didn’t mind, seeing Suki hum and bob her head in delight made it all worthwhile. She got a plastic cup and poured some fresh smoothie for the cat, causing the condensed vapor to rise like smoke. Suki wasted no time in taking a sip and her pupils dilated on the spot as the fruity flavors traveled down her throat. She took another sip. And another. Then she chugged until there was no more…and promptly hunched over to clutch her throbbing forehead.

  “Owowow, my head…” Suki groaned. “Too fast, too fast…”

  Anne showed a cheeky smile. “Oh, I know a quick fix.” She leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

  Suki froze and her entire face went red as her tail swayed erratically.

  The cat’s silent response brought a chuckle out of the sheep. “You’re really cute, you know that~?”

  Her friend was still silent.

  “Suki…?”

  The cat sat there, chocolate-stained lips trembling as she twiddled her thumbs. Her cheeks were flushed and she had begun to sweat more than she would after heavy exercise, emerald eyes shaking like an anxious fly trapped within a glass dome. She wanted to speak but words eluded her. Her heartbeat wouldn’t stop rising. For a moment she was beginning to hyperventilate and breathing turned into a struggle. Suki then blinked to see another slice of cake on a cardboard plate, courtesy of the sheep. Like magic her anxieties faded like dust in the wind and she took a bite of the sweet delight, then another - a faint droplet grew from the corner of her eyes and she put the plate down.

  She inhaled, then exhaled. “Anne…” the cat finally said. “I’ve got a confession…”

  “Is that so? I was wondering what got you so anxious.” She poured herself a drink and went to take a sip. “What happened? You can be honest with me.”

  “...I love you.”

  Anne’s eyes shot open and she spat out her drink.

  The colorful smoothie splattered all over the blanket and Suki stared at the stain before watching her friend cough up a storm. She could see the sheep’s face had turned all pink and the calmness in her eyes had been abandoned in an instant. To Suki, this was the cutest Anne had looked all day and she felt even more vindicated in her belief than she was mere seconds ago.

  “When I first met you, I just thought you were just some strong boxer that I’d surpass eventually. Then I fought you again…and again…and again… Before I knew it, we were friends.” She turned her gaze to Anne. “You were strong, you were skilled, yet it hadn’t gone to your head. The more time I spent around you, I found myself learning more about my own limits, I learned more about you. I…respected you a lot. Then…” Suki ran a hand through her bangs with a bashful smile, “I fell for you. You were always so kind to me, gave me good advice and gave me a good reason to push myself harder than ever before. I’ve become so much stronger thanks to you!” She stared at her hand for a moment and clenched it, then turned her glistening eyes to Anne. “And your confidence, your Herculean build, those strong unyielding eyes that stare into my soul, they send shivers through my spine every single time. You’re not just a wonderful person, I find you incredibly beautiful too!! The way you look at me is just so, so hot!”

  It was now Anne’s turn to stammer as she sat there, overwhelmed by the cat’s bold declaration. “I-I-... Umm… This is all so very sudden and-...err…”

  Suki’s energy began to dwindle and she showed a somber smile. “If...if you don’t share the same feelings that’s fine of course. I just…needed to get that off my chest before I’d implode.”

  “Well-...” Anne pressed a palm against her forehead, amethyst eyes trembling as the sheep’s caramel skin was overtaken by a bright pink hue. “I had no idea you felt that way, but this does answer a couple things… You DID seem overly flirty at times…”

  “Haha…yeeaah…” The cat scratched the back of her neck. “I just can’t resist sometimes…”

  Anne sighed and chugged what remained in her cup before giving Suki a look. “Well, since we’re on the topic of honesty I guess it’s my turn.”

  The sheep poured a second serving of smoothie in each cup and took a brief look at its cool contents. “As you already know, I grew up poor. Our parents abandoned us to the slums and dipped, we had to survive on our own and grew to become proficient fighters, so on and so forth. Then there was the whole attempt on my life which drew my sister crazy with paranoia…” She took a sip and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “She robbed me of my freedom. No matter where I went, it’d only be a matter of time before she found out and chased me down under the pretense of ‘protecting’ me. I’d go all sorts of places and perform well, get contracts…only for her to destroy it all. I’ve lost count of how many organizations she fed to the Diamond League but I know it’s in the latter double digits. All because of corporate greed and misguided affection. If I hadn’t come across the GROWTH organization, I’d have just given up and grown numb to it all.” A pensive smile formed. “The friends I found there saved my life in a sense…and I fell in love. One of their members, Phals, is the one who re-ignited my passion for fighting and managed to set my heart ablaze with feelings I had assumed lost. Though she doesn’t share the same romantic feelings as I do, we still became best friends nonetheless and I treasure her a lot.”

  With slouched shoulders, Suki hung her head low and took weak sips of her cup. “A simple ‘no’ would have been enough, you know…?”

  Anne glanced at the cat. “I’m not finished.”

  A pair of dull green eyes drifted upward to face the sheep. “Okay…”

  “See, turns out I have a soft spot for a very specific set of women, the kind with undying eyes and formidable skill in battle. There’s a certain appeal in facing those who simply refuse to break regardless of hardship.” Anne looked directly into Suki’s eyes. “The first time you defeated me Suki, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of yours. It was very reminiscent of Phals’ and with every blow I took, I could FEEL the hard work you had put into polishing yourself. It was a visceral experience that blew my mind - and heart - away.” The sheep could practically see the light returning in Suki’s eyes. “Before that match, I viewed you as a good friend who I respected a lot. Despite your many losses, it didn’t shake your will in the slightest and you kept improving at a rate I could barely fathom. But more importantly…” She held the cup with both hands and showed a warm, gentle smile, “your energy, your demeanor…it’s brought me a warmth I never knew I needed. You always bring a smile to my face every time we meet, you give me a sense of safety whenever you’re around. I can be myself around you.” she said before finishing her drink. “Suki?”

  “Y-yes…?”

  “I love you too.”

  Before Suki could even gather herself, Anne put down her cup and leaned forward on all fours, then went up close before giving the cat a sweet kiss on the lips. The feline’s tail shot up like a nail and her yellow fur stood on end as she was kissed, then closed her eyes to savor this beautiful moment. They soon embraced one another and Anne pushed her new girlfriend into the grass as they made out, hands stroking each others’ locks while staying close. Neither had any idea how long it lasted - nor did they care - but the pair was left covered head to toe in loose grass. Anne stayed close and nuzzled the cat’s cute nose as they lay there, though it didn’t take long before the two rolled around in a casual play-fight to see who’d be on top.

  In the end, the fresh couple leaned against a large tree, its green canopy casting a shade over the loving pair. While Anne used her wool as cushion against the bark, Suki rested the back of her head against the sheep’s soft chest - it felt even more comfortable than the pillows she used at home. The two just lay there in silence, blushing as they relished in each other’s warmth under the tree’s cool shade. As they closed their eyes in bliss, Anne absentmindedly scratched the cat’s ear with a sweet smile on her face, an action which soon rewarded her with the cutest purrs she had ever heard in her life. Suki, in a moment of absolute peace, raised both hands much like a kitten would and smiled ear to ear as the sheep soon helped her drift into a deep sleep.

  With the cat’s sleeping moans as her company, Anne couldn’t stop smiling at her cute girlfriend. “Sleep well, my sweet little kitten~♡”

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