Biggie and Kai Get Swaggy

A Fat-ful Encounter

It had been quite a long time since Kai had traveled; life in the village was slow but comfortable, sapping any urge to leave. The urge had been growing over the last few years though, finally culminating in an impulse purchase of a ticket to Chicago for a once-in-a-lifetime musical event: the first concert that her favorite rap artist, Biggie Cheese, had put on in years.

Kai first encountered Biggie's music when she was given a Zune with an offering of food, changing her life forever. His impeccable flow, incredibly polished beats, and lyrical mastery were second-to-none. She was immediately hooked.

As she stepped off the plane, she took a deep breath, taking in the crisp, fall Chicago air.

"I can't believe I'm actually here... the same city as Biggie", she exhaled excitedly.

After collecting her luggage and getting checked into her hotel, she glanced through a list of restaurants nearby. After what felt like an eternity, an intriguing name caught her eye.

"Mr. Boomba-Steak?" she wondered aloud to herself. "That sounds like it might be a cool place to check out, it's only a few blocks away too."

Throwing on her coat, she started down the sidewalk, ignorant of the meeting with destiny that awaited her.

Easily finding the large illuminated sign in the fading sunlight, she opened the door and stepped inside. It was a quaint place, a bit on the small side with polished dark wood furnishings and playing loud mid-2000s hip hop. However, it wasn't the decor that held her gaze. No, that honor went to a singular guest sitting in the back left corner of the restaurant. He wasn't facing her, but she immediately knew exactly who he was.

"Biggie...!"

She couldn't help herself, in her shock the name just slipped out. She covered her mouth and turned away, but by then it was too late.

"Yes, that would be me. And, pray tell, who might you be?" Biggie's powerful voice carried easily across the restaurant.

Kai froze for a second, then regained her composure. Fuck it, she was already here, might as well. She walked over hesitantly, eventually stopping next to his table.

"My name is K-Kai. Kai Saikota. I'm a big fan of yours Mr. Cheese-"

"Please, call me Biggie", he said, turning to face her.

"O-oh, alright! Biggie, your music has been an inspiration to me for years. I'm actually here in town to see your show! You singlehandedly introduced me to the joys of freestyle rapping and helped me through so much. Thank you."

Upon hearing her earnest, straightforward gratitude, Biggie broke into a warm smile.

"No, thank you Miss Saikota. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for fans like you, and knowing that my music has helped someone means the world to me. You said you enjoy freestyle rapping? Let's hear some bars."

"Oh no Biggie I couldn't possibly-"

"You could say it's only a hunch, but I can sense untapped swagginess within you. Please, let me hear what your soul has to say."

Kai, by this point, was incredulous. She was having a conversation with her hero, the artist she'd been a fan of for years. On top of that, he was asking her to drop a sick freestyle? She couldn't believe what was happening, but she knew in her heart what she had to do.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and immediately spat the hardest bar since man forged titanium.

Biggie was completely blown away. A man known for his wordsmithing, he was bereft for the first time in years.

"Well, how was it?" Kai asked nervously.

"Kai... I knew I sensed a great power within you, but this is far beyond anything I expected. So far beyond that I have a proposition for you. While I did come here to perform for my adoring fans, I also have another objective... Every fifty years, in a secret underground bunker in downtown Chicago, the greatest freestyle rappers from across the globe gather for two on two rap battles, duking it out to crowned as the greatest in the world. I've been searching for a worthy partner, but I'd been unable to locate someone with enough swag to match me. Until today, that is."

"I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what you mean", Kai said quizzically.

Biggie folded his hands in front of him, his expression growing more serious. 

"What I'm saying, my fire-spitting flame dragon friend, is that I want you to be my rap battle partner for the 33rd Rap God Ascension Tournament."

Kai's eyes lit up, a burning passion within them.

"Say less. It's time to get swaggy."