Description: Kyosuke and Lita meet in the park for a workout. One is worried of his fragile relationship with his brother, and the other's heart cries for home. They focus on the physical to make themselves forget.
Delta Red had given Lt. Lita Luwanda orders to stay in Southtown for another Neo League fight courtesy of the Mishima corporation. This time they had told her that they would not give her information about the fight prior to it. Just location and time and that she was to maintain readiness for it. They had been sending Lita to Southtown so often for the fights, Delta Red arranged for her to have an apartment there to stay when taking on Neo League fights in Japan.
As for now though, Lita has taken to going to the park near her apartment for training while she waits for her fight to come up. Park goers would see her jogging through the park making multiple circuits around it for her cardio. And quite possibly strength training if one considers the huge sword strapped to her back.
Beads of sweat are rolling down her face as her breathing gets heavy, yet she seems like she's somewhat used to the level of exhertion that she's put herself through.
Wearing his high school uniform, Kyosuke is sitting on a bench in the corner. He seems to be deep in thought, as though wondering about the fate of the universe.
His brother has been getting farther and farther from him. Their fights have been getting more frequent, and Kyosuke has had to try more and more to peacefully subdue him. With so much pressure mounting on him, and all these whispers of some hands behind the curtain in the school have been driving the eighteen-year-old Kyosuke to the breaking point.
Shaking himself out of his reverie, he looks around at the people around him, trying to distract himself from the violent thoughts going on in his head. People aren't supposed to think bad things about their brothers, right?
Well, apparently not. Unless Kyosuke takes an active hand in things.
With that resolution, he gets up off the bench and starts to walk. Walking always has managed to clear his head.
As Kyosuke begins his walk, Lita is coming closer and closer and then she passes him on the right hand side. She manages to do so without bumping into the teenager, neither with her body nor the large weapon she's carrying on her back.
While Kyosuke's consumed by his own thoughts about his brother, Lita is thinking about the men and women serving under her back home while she was far away from home. She was thinking about how she missed each and every one of her trainees. How she missed putting them through drills. How she missed getting in to spar. The problem was Delta Red needed her to be combat ready and there wasn't anyone close enough to her level to challenge her, yet. And so in order for her to maintain her own personal combat readiness, she needed to be registered for the leagues. There was even talk about registering her PFW series but that would come later.
She shakes herself out of her thoughts in a bit of delay of realizing how rude she was for passing but not saying anything. She turns around and looks over her shoulder at the teenager she passed and gives a sheepish smile. "Oh. Pardon me!"
After that she's continuing her jog at an easy going pace. Shouldn't be hard to catch her if one was suitably motivated.
Kyosuke hates this. THis is the thing that has been eating at him the most. He hates being the go-to person when anyone fails. And the fact that he is so good at reading people doesn't help. It just hurts him most when they stab him in the back, or lie to him.
Gritting his teeth, he keeps trudging onwards. If he wasn't Japanese, he would scream out at this point with abandon. But he doesn't. He breathes.
In. Out. Find your center. In. out.
A woman passes him, the a huge sword hanging off her back. Her face shines with persperation, and she is so far away she probably wouldn't feel a bomb if it would land near her.
He is getting distracted. In. Out. Find your focus. In. Ou-
Her 'pardon me' distracts him again. For a moment, he considers not paying attention to her off-hand remark. She is continuing to run, after all, and doesn't mind much whether he pardons her or not.
Right?
But then something occurs to him, something he has heard or read somewhere. That while he is trying to find his center--alone--the world is trying to push him off balance. The solution is not to keep looking inward -- but to look outward. To seek companionship.
Well, that's what the book had said, anyway.
He decides to give this one a try. If someone needs a companion, it is definitely him.
With his school bag bouncing up and down on his shoulder, Kyosuke begins to jog after the woman. He isn't sure if the woman would appreciate her personal space being violated, but he is going to give socializing a try. He is quite charismatic, after all. Or so his friend told him.
"Hello, don't sweat it," he says as he draws abreast of the woman, drawing on the American expressions of speech he has heard.
Her eyebrow rises a bit as she finds that she suddenly has a work out buddy right next to her. Her first instinct is to tell him to buzz off. It's a sudden and uninvited encroachment on her training time. But it doesn't seem as though guy means any harm so she contiunes at her current pace as opposed to slowing down or suddenly accelerating.
She smiles a bit considering that other than her personal workout time where often, she does /more/ than what she asks of her subordinates back home, she's usually training with others. Her foray into the fighting world has given her more of the moments where she's alone training than she's used to and truth be told, she kind of misses pushing others to their limits with their workout regime.
Her lips curl into a smirk as she turns to her wouldbe jogging buddy. "If you're going to be my workout partner, I think we should at least know each others' names. Lita Luwanda."
Workout partner? Kyosuke is going to be no such thing. He is merely on for the ride -- only for a few moments. Until his mind calms down.
What does it is the smirk, though. He hates people that smirk when they talk to him. It's usually because they think he's too young, or too inexperienced, or too weak, or too whatever, and what he usually does in these instances is to show them how great he is, and how hard he has tried to improve himself -- physically and mentally.
Plus, he's a teenager. He is supposed to be concerned with these things.
"Kyosuke Kagami," he responds tersely, but quickly pushes his irritation down. He must not allow people to see his other side, the one that gets offended by a mere smirk. He puts on a smile. "It's very nice to meet you. I saw you are working out, and I thought, why not, I can work out alongside someone else as well. It should serve to take my mind away from things I'd rather not think about."
Perhaps not a workout buddy but hey workout therapy could work as well. She's not mad at that and perhaps they both could use a form of therapy. The annoyance is noticed but she doesn't quite catch the why and so the smirk goes away wondering if she said anything to offend him.
"Fair enough," she says in response to him only being along for the ride to take his mind off of things for awhile. "It might just help, though who knows? Talking to someone might help as well. I'm willing to lend an ear but you're free to tell me to 'Get bent.'" She smiles again, "I promise. I won't get offended."
Kyosuke smiles and nods. This woman is quick, he notes inwardly. The fact that her smile faded so quickly hints to the fact that she noticed his irritation, no matter how quick he was to hide it. "You seem like a fighter," he begins. "I usually work out with my robot. it gets rather boring and one-sided. What about you? Where do you come from? How do you work out yourself?" He changes the subject, hoping that getting closer to the woman might make him know her more, and maybe open up to her. Plus, he doesn't mind making the workout heavier -- the smirk he had seen still makes him itch to show her what he is capable of.
The topic shifts to her being a fighter and it seems as though he'd rather not talk it out which as far as she was concerned was fair as well. He'll talk when he's ready and around someone who he's comfortable around. She's telling the truth. She's not offended in the least.
"Yeah. The sword is dead give away," said in a playful tone. She's sarcastic but there's an underlying playfulness in the sarcasm. She figures the question was segue into asking for a fight so she slows down to a stop. "Or at least I better be fighter if I'm carrying this big ol' thing around or else I'd look foolish otherwise." Now she's turning the sarcasm towards herself.
"Anyway, I learned how to fight when I joined the military and learned bits and pieces here and there on my travels. Nowadays, I train my subordinates back home when they aren't sending me here for Neo League fights. For training purposes."
Kyosuke comes to a slow halt beside Lita, his eyebrow rising as he turns to face her. "Well, you see a lot of swords in Japan as decoration," he counters, grinning broadly as his mood seems to lighten with the playful sarcasm. "With all these fights going on, a lot of people are wannabes who think carrying a sword around will suddenly make them perfect fighters in the tournaments." He tilts his head, pursing his lower lip as he returns the light banter. "You don't seem like a wannabe, though. You seem very sure-footed and controled. I could almost put my finger on you being from military." He throws his head back, looking up at the Sun for a moment before looking back at Lita. "How high is the quality of the Neo League? I train a lot, and I wonder if I should start taking part in it. I just am afraid of getting my behind kicked." He chuckles at his own joke, looking at Lita expectantly for an answer.
"Well..." She pauses as she brings a finger up to her lip. "So far. It has been challenging for me. Had to work hard for my currently undefeated record I did. I also know I haven't been facing the strongest the league has to offer yet so, your milage may vary."
She turns her palms upwards as she gives Kyosuke a shrug before continuing. "And the match making functions are flexible since you can either send out invitations to another fighter or you can let them do the work in matching you up."
She had to think about what he said though. Wannabes. He talked like someone who knew how to fight and looked down those who for all intents and purposes were 'all show and no go.' What's more, he also mentioned how she seemed to move sure-footed and controlled.
"Oh! So you fancy yourself a fighting Sherlock Holmes, do you?" She lets out a bit of a laugh. "Only way to find out though is to try it."
Kyosuke chuckles, interlocking his fingers. "Well, I am almost what you call a great judge of character," he says, grinning. "You are older than me, and more experienced, and most of all, you have formal experience whereas I have just read books and tried them out with people in my school. So, if you would show me a few things, it would help."
He tilts his head for a moment, then continues, "I think you can also show me what the Neo League almost looks like. Hmm?"
Lita's lips curl in a grin. Her feet spread wider, her hands go up into a guard, somewhat closer to a combative than a swordfighter's stance. The sword is conspicuously untouched. Is it because she's looking down on him, is the sword for show, or is she just wanting to hold back her own secrets?
If one took a look at her public fight record, the sword didn't make an appearance and the sword had only came out for a few moments in her second fight before she finished the fight with her hands.
"If you want a sample, here it is. But be gentle. I have a fight coming up soon."
The smile is back as she beckons the teenager in. The people in the park are starting to gather in anticipation of a fight.
COMBATSYS: Lita has started a fight here.
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Lita 0/-------/-------|
"Gentle?" Kyosuke queries, chuckling softly. "I don't think I stand a chance against military. You are the one that's going to show me, not me." He settles comfortably into a wide stance, hands raised into a guard, and gazes at Lita with concentration.
"Who is this fight with, then?" He asks, coming in for a quick punch with his right hand. It is a quick jab only, not much power behind it.
COMBATSYS: Kyosuke has joined the fight here.
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Kyosuke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Lita
COMBATSYS: Lita blocks Kyosuke's Quick Punch.
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Kyosuke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Lita
Kyosuke's hand darts in and the Delta Red fighter intercepts the fist with her palm pushing back against it and checking the punch before it can fully extend. She then shuffles to the side attempting to angle in before. "Pretty good technique. Clean. Not particularly a wild fighter, are you?" She then throws a couple of feints to attempt to get his hands moving around and that's when her hand lashes out.
If her hand manages to grab a hold of the teenager's wrist, she'll give him a bit of a yank to pull him off balance and then wrench him face first to the ground then make an attempt to perform an armbar.
COMBATSYS: Lita successfully hits Kyosuke with Close Quarters Catch.
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Kyosuke 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Lita
Kyosuke used to play a game with Batsu. They would stand opposite each other and each one would put both hands in the palm of the other. The person who was holding the other's hand in his would try to catch his opponent's hand with his other one. It was a very easy game to play, but a complicated game to explain.
The point is, in that game, feints played a very big role. If you feinted expertly enough, you could easily succeed in that game, and Kyosuke was always a wonderful player.
That is the reason he lets out a surprised yelp when Lita's hand reaches out like a snake and grasps his wrist. He tries to wrench his hand free but when that fails, he extends his hand, attempting to slam his palm into the woman's chest as he is going down. Whether or not his hand would hit her, he'd use that hand to catch himself and help him roll back up to his feet.
COMBATSYS: Kyosuke successfully hits Lita with Quick Punch.
- Power hit! -
As Lita gets that armbar in, she cranks it a bit and then lets it go, and that's when that palm strike comes in, pushing her back even more than she had originally planned on. She takes a step back to put the stumble to a halt and when Kyosuke rolls back to his feet, she returns to her own stance.
She carefully moves in again, searching for the right angle to approach and then she darts in. When she's right in the teenager's face she delivers a palm strike to the stomach followed by an elbow to the chin and then hops back to get a better view of her opponent. Watching and waiting as she bobs and weaves like a boxer.
CSYS: Lita has attacked you with Medium Strike. (#1)
COMBATSYS: Kyosuke dodges Lita's Medium Strike.
"So, who is it you are going to fight?" He repeats, stepping back and letting the palm and elbow fly past his stomach and face.
"Wow, that was close," he breathes, and then steps in, and reaches for the aforementioned elbow. If he catches it, he'd try and use Lita's weight to topple her to the side.
"Who am I going to fight? No idea." That's all Lita has time to say before her elbow is being grabbed. Her eyes bulge wide open in surprise and then all of a sudden she goes up and over and hitting the ground on her side, assisted by weight of the sword strapped on her back.
The Brit takes a moment to get back to her feet and then dust herself off and then she's in her stance again. She suddenly reaches out for the teenager's neck with both hands as she attempts to perform a clinch on him. If she should get that clinch, she'll squeeze her forearms about his neck as she slams her knees into his stomach a few times, alternating between knees, and then twisting to the side to throw him off his feet.
CSYS: Lita has made use of Vary.
CSYS: Lita has used Control.
CSYS: Lita has attacked you with Random Combo. (#1)
COMBATSYS: Lita successfully hits Kyosuke with Random Combo.
Kyosuke doesn't have much time to enjoy his victory before his neck is clinched by lita's forearms. The most he can do as her knees slam into his stomach is to clench his muscles. He tries to hold Lita as he is thrown to the side, but he proves too slow for that.
"Ouch," he says, getting up to his feet. "That was unfair. You hit harder than my robot." He laughs softly. He stands there for a moment, getting his breath back. "Why are you taking part in these leagues, then? Is it to train?"
With his words having been said, Kyosuke steps forward and backward a few times, dancing lightly on the balls of his feet before he spins around on one leg, raising his other foot to hit her in the shoulder and make her lose her balance.
CSYS: Attacking Lita with Heavy Kick, spending -6% reserve and 0% super.
CSYS: Lita has used Control.
COMBATSYS: Lita interrupts Heavy Kick from Kyosuke with Overhead Strike.
As Kyosuke dances on the balls of his foot, just before he lifts his foot to kick, Lita's knees bend just slightly and then as that foot rises to connect with her shoulder, she darts in. The back of his thigh catches her in the ribcage, and with blunted but still significant force just as she brings her hands together and comes down upon his head with a double axe handle smash to the top of his head.
The Delta Red fighter takes a large step back as she rubs her side. "For training. My CO arranges the fight. Sometimes he'll let me know who I'm fighting so I can scout them out. Sometimes he'll keep me in the dark so I have to figure things out as I go. My next fight is one of those cases."
She then puts her fists up once more and begins shifting around. It's interesting to note, that not once has she gone for her sword.
It is a really bad kind of offence to leave yourself wide for a counterattack. However, Kyosuke has done just that.
He knows what's coming even as Lita steps in to deliver that double-handed strike to the top of his head.
He is dazed for a few moments, and then he shakes his head. Lita could have delivered another attack, and she probably would have were this a league fight, but with things the way they are, he appreciates the fact that she is giving him time to recover.
"Err, why do they do that? What are you preparing for?" He asks as he gets enough of his senses back to be able to form words. He shakes his head again then steps in, reaching to grab Lita and pull her into a hug. If he would succeed, he'd backflip, and hit Lita against the ground several times before hurling her to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Lita blocks Kyosuke's Back Roll Throw.
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Kyosuke 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Lita
Lita gets caught up in that hug and then goes up and over reaching out with her hands to abort the movement and folds over so she's on all fours and then proceeds to twist out of the hold so she can get breathing room and quite possibly a good position. "I'm usually the one responsible for training recruits and as a result, they want facing the best and brightest in an attempt to see what techiniques I can help them learn to guard against."
And then the jockeying for position begins in earnest once more. If she can slip under and behind him, she'll attempt to perform a sleeper hold on the teenager.
COMBATSYS: Kyosuke blocks Lita's Medium Throw.
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Kyosuke 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Lita
Kyosuke is lifted off his feet, but is able to reach both hands and pull in his legs to land in a perfect position to roll back up. "And what do they need these fighters for? Are they planning to take over the world?" He chuckles, and it is very clear it is a good-natured jibe.
With the throw having put some distance between them, Kyosuke takes a few quick steps toward lita, using his weight and momentum to throw a strong punch at her.
COMBATSYS: Lita dodges Kyosuke's Strong Punch.
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Kyosuke 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Lita
If not for the fact that it was obviously a good-natured jibe, Lita would probably take offense. That said, she does seem to have a smart-assed response to it. "It was once said that the sun never sets on the British Empire."
And then Kyosuke's haymaker comes in and then the Lieutenant slips right under it before lifting a leg and delivering a side kick right to the teardrop muscle on the thigh and slipping to the side once more. Circling and angling. Always constantly moving.
COMBATSYS: Kyosuke interrupts Heavy Kick from Lita with Shadow Wave.
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Kyosuke 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Lita
Kyosuke raises an eyebrow at Lita's words. "What is that supposed to mean? I've heard the weather there is usually clou--"
He sees the kick too late to react. He steps back a little, but the kick still catches him in the back of the thigh. He raises his right hand and moves it in a crescent shape, calling on his chi to create a white-blue ball of energy and hurl it at his opponent.
Stepping back and panting with exertion, he slowly sits down on the grass. "Phew! You were supposed to go easy on me!" He complains, clearly out of shape to continue.
That bluish-white ball of energy plows into her abdomen causing the Delta Red fighter fly backwards and sends her skidding on the ground. She takes a moment to get herself together before she rises back to her feet laughing. "And you were supposed to take it easy on me!"
She dusts herself off once more and then she finds she has more to say. "And by the way, I did go easy on you." To illustrate this point she takes her finger and taps the handle of her sword then taps the kunai on her thigh bandolier, both weaponry that she chose not to use during her fight with Kyosuke. "Even still though, you'd probably do well in the Neo League. Anyway, I'm willing call this fight if you are."
She steps back and makes no move to continue combat.
COMBATSYS: Lita takes no action.
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Kyosuke 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Lita
Kyosuke stays in his seated position as he lets out a chuckle. "Oh, of course. I don't think I can stay on my feet for much longer." He raises his right hand, and as if to punctuate his words, lets it flop back down into his lap. "I was really frustrated at my brother. Working out with you has at least made me let out that energy." He grins.
He looks up at the sky, and realizing the time adds, "I'd tell you how stupid things are, but I'd lost track of time and now it's too late. I'd be willing to have a coffee over it some time. What do you say?"
"I'm sorry to hear things are bad between family. And sure I'd be willing to have coffee over it." She reaches into a pocket and produces a pen and piece of paper, writing down her email address on it before handing it over to the teenager.
"I should probably be free after my match later this week and I can lend you my ear." With that she begins to walk away. Still holding her ribs. Man did that teenager get some nice shots in. After she washes up, her next destination will be a nice pub.
Log created on 11:34:40 12/16/2014 by Kyosuke, and last modified on 11:56:32 01/08/2015.