Yang could hardly concentrate on her schoolwork all day. She kept her mind on her fight this afternoon. She ate her ritual pre-fight diet, consisting of oatmeal, fruit and fish. When her last class let out early she grabbed her gym bag, already packed with her gloves, mouth guard and clothes. Yang walked swiftly to the gym. She hoped to see Clay in action before they stepped in the ring together.

When she got there, the gym was eerily quiet, but she'd guessed Lee had sent the regulars home since she was fighting Clay. Lee was sitting beside the ring.

"Hello, Yang!" Lee said cheerily, "You're a little early. Clay isn't here yet, but why don't you go change and get ready and I'll let you know when he gets here."

"Alrighty" Yang said. She went back to her locker to change and prepare. She left her hair down, changed out of her boots into more appropriate shoes. She disliked not having her boots, but she was going to fight within the regulations. Yang calmed herself and taped her hands as she put on her black and yellow gloves.

After a few more minutes, Lee called and Yang left the locker room. She saw Clay standing in the ring; he had silver and red gloves, and red shorts and shoes. His skin was dark, like Fox's, but his eyes were blue like the ocean. Lee opened the ropes and Yang stepped into the ring. Clay smiled a mile wide. I really don't want to mess that smile up, Yang joked to herself.

"Okay you two, you're my best students. I want a fair fight. No semblances. No dust. No un-sportsman or sportswoman-conduct." Lee said. "Now if you agree, touch gloves and go to your corners."

The two touched gloves and walked back to her corner. Her nerves were calm now. She knew that she could do this. She had to win. She had to prove that she was still the fighter she's always been.

Lee rang the bell, and the two started towards each other. Each throwing test punches, gauging the other. Yang opened up on Clay with a series of jabs at his face, but they were just made to have him get his hands up. Her next punch was at his stomach. Her punch landed pretty squarely, but she felt him land a good punch on the side of her head. Her next few jabs were at his stomach, and when his hands dropped she delivered an uppercut to his jaw. He rebounded with a shot at Yang's head, this time she blocked with her shoulder, as much as she could.

Clay's next punch landed in Yang's stomach. Ouch. Fighting without my semblance sucks. Yang thought. Clay landed a few more good punches before Lee called the round. They both returned to their corners. Yang got a drink. He's holding back, and so was I, but now I won't Yang thought.

The next round began and Yang opened up with a flurry of punches towards Clay's abdomen. Clay responded with a solid punch to Yang's head. The punch left Yang a little disoriented, but she wasn't out yet. She focused her next attack on Clay's head, hoping to land a solid KO punch but she was met with quite a few counter-punches and a blocks. Lee called that round next.

My muscles are starting to wear out. I need to end this in this round Yang thought.

Yang didn't hold back. She threw everything into the opening assault, and Clay took it all. Yang threw a punch at a small opening that would open up for a finishing blow. Just as her punch neared, Clay ducked his head to the right. Yang had already shifted her weight and was now off-balance from that punch.

Not good Yang thought.

She felt Clay's punch land on her side, and grimaced. Her hands instinctively dropped, and she knew she was in trouble. Clay's punch hit her hard in the head. He hadn't held back this time, and she could tell. Everything spun then faded to black for a second. Yang dropped to the mat. She was done.

When she opened her eyes a few seconds later Clay was standing over her. She was angry and embarrassed. She'd lost control again. Yang sat up quickly, ignoring the still spinning room and stormed off to the locker room.

After changing into a yellow hoodie and black sweatpants with her logo on them, she walked into Lee's office.

"You knew he'd beat me." Yang said angrily.

"I had my suspicions." Lee replied.

"So you thought that to make me a better fighter, you'd have me lose against your new prodigal son?" Yang asked.

"Clay's parents were killed by members of the White Fang. He was a lost soul, just like you, but he wanted to prove that he could fight, so he plans on entering the Vale tournament. I promised I would train him to beat the best, and Yang, you're the best fighter I know." Lee said.

"Second best now" Yang said quietly and bitterly.

She left without saying anything else. There was nothing else to say. She stormed out of the gym, with her bag in tow.