Description: The Yamaguchi-gumi has lost a great many members over this division -- two friends find themselves on different sides of a dispute. It just so happens that this dispute occurs during a date between two star-crossed lovers...
The Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza clan bears an easily-identifiable logo, or 'daimon' - it resembles a thick-outlined diamond turned on its side, with a line bisecting the diamond. Each member of the Yamaguchi wears the logo in some shape or form -- sometimes in tattoo form, though use of the tattoos is declining as of late. Nowadays, most opt for a silver or gold lapel pin, as it goes nicely with the black suits of their corporate attire.
The Yamaguchi-gumi stand for many things. Respect. Honor. Dignity. And most of all, the status quo, as they act behind the scenes to keep Japan on the track established by their forefathers, a track that feigns cooperation with the West without ceding the sovereignty of the once-martial nation to the foreign curs.
In contrast, the Akatsuki-gumi care less for conventions. Some were formerly in the Yamaguchi-gumi. Others come from quite different walks of life. Within all Akatsuki-gumi members lies a soul who years for change, progress, the abandonment of the 'normal' way of life -- and an appreciation of the fact that the 'normal' way of life wants no part of their existence, wishes for them to be banished to some other land.
Honoka Kawamoto identifies strongly with the Akatsuki mindset. Her elbow rests on the table, propping her chin up as she looks over the second-story balcony at the Yokohama street life. The restaurant's second story is open to the cool air, the last vestiges of winter making themselves known. And while dinner has been delightful, and her companion even moreso, every so often her gaze drifts out to the street.
To be fair, it is a pretty enticing view of Yokohama. The sun has gone down not long ago, and the street lights winking on all throughout the city can be pretty spellbinding.
She catches herself, glancing away, and turns back to Zach with a relaxed smile. "So, this may be a random question, but I was going back through the past few weeks of fights... was Ryu a big deal in the other world? Was he the World Warrior there too?"
Zach thinks about that around a mouthful of steak, his discomfort at the question both mild and evident to Honoka. "Yeah," Zach answers. "That fight with Sagat? I saw the videos of the fight, both times. Went down pretty much the same way." Zach thinks about this with a frown. "That fight was pivotal for both men, but not necessarily for the better. Sagat... he was a proud man, I think. He took that loss pretty hard." Zach takes a swig of water, before cutting another piece of steak.
%"I... He fought Ryu once," Zach comments after a moment. "Well, it was more of a spar. And it was seriously one-sided. By the time those two had met, Ryu had been fighting most of the other Zach's life," Zach explains. He takes another bite of steak. It's passably good; he and Honoka had visited places with better steak dishes. He tilts his head to one side.
"Why do you ask?" he wonders aloud.
Honoka spears one of the last leaves of her salad as she listens intently to Zach. It's always been somewhat impressive that her boyfriend has been able to recall an entirely different -life-. Elise assures her that he could just as easily be making it up, but the psion can never read any signs of deception -- not even pathological liars would show the same thought patterns as someone delving into their memories like Zach.
"Yeah... Ryu is definitely -something-. He gives his all in every fight, I never got any sense of him doing any less in our fight. Maybe it was just a spar to him, but I won't know unless I ask him, I guess." The acrobatic juggler was even able to test his compassion, in her final attack of the evening -- and she was quite pleased with his success in that test. "He's... a good person. I just hope he's okay..."
She drifts off for a moment, glancing out to the street again. But this is hardly unusual behavior for Honoka, as within the confines of a city she often finds herself coasting along with the thoughts of others.
Her pupils snap into focus again as she realized she didn't -totally- finish her thought. "... I don't think he's in the tournament right now, but... no one's really -seen- him since."
Glenn only WISHES he were making some of this stuff up. Zach's frown goes from thoughtful to concerned like a switch got flipped. He sets the fork and knife down and looks at Honoka. "Didn't he..." Zach says quietly. "Wasn't he fighting..." Zach can't bring himself to finish the question.
Glenn's fear at where that thought goes is palpable.
Wasn't he fighting, he asks. Honoka flashes a blank look at Zach. "He tied with that really scary guy Duke the first round, and then I think he lost to that Lee Chaolan..." She shrugs afterwards. "I just try to keep track of people once I've had a fight with them, is all. Tough for me to remember names till I've actually met them."
She sees the fear on his face, though. And shakes her head. "I'm sure he's fine. It's just a matter of where he -is-, and who he gets to fight next. I mean, it's not like he's going to -call- someone to let them know where he's at, eh?"
Honoka makes short work of her salad, bowing her head to some degree. "... They can't all be winners, I guess."
A beat passes, and she points down at her salad. "Still, we never know about these places until we try, right...?"
Again, she finds her attention drifting off to the street. By this point, it becomes clear that there are several distinct masses of people moving towards one another. About fifteen people in one crowd, all well-dressed in black suits, with the glint of silver upon their lapels. And converging upon them, three different groups of about five each. Each member of the converging groups is attired less distinctly -- some in suits with red lapel pins, others in heavier coats and slacks, still others in turtleneck sweaters.
The streetlights catch on some other highlights as well.
Weapons are being drawn -- handguns, live steel... all sorts of illegality is about to unfold.
Honoka really might be expected to frown here. Really -should- frown.
She's smiling, like a hockey fan about to watch a fight between two bitter rivals break out. "Oh, goody... I hope those jerks will just throw down and get it over with... I'm tired of all this squabbling."
Zach shakes off the concerns as his gaze follows Honoka's. His response is not nearly so cheerful. He counts the groups quickly, sizes up the hardware. Honoka can alomst read the numbers running through Zach's head. "This isn't going to play out that way," Zach mutters. "The mismatches," he gestures with his fork at the three groups, "Are actually employing something that looks remotely tactical. The guys in suits are going to open up, and spray lead everywhere." He shakes his head, and starts to stand up.
"We need to get ready to either leave, or do something about this," Zach states as he fishes some money out of his wallet. "And there are still people in the restaurant."
"Do something about -what-, Zach?" Honoka pales considerably -- it's that she can even say she needs to stay to finish her meal, but... "... I've still got half my drink, Zach. You can't just let that go to waste, that's alcohol abuse."
She looks back at the growing numbers, taking similar notes about the weaponry involved. "I mean, it's none of -our- business. Just get the restaurant to close the doors and we can stick around to watch, y'know... and make sure no one -else- gets hurt..."
Sure enough, right now, the men are just barking at one another. The leaders of the central mismatched group is wearing a sport jacket with a flamboyant red silk shirt. They bark loudest, but both of the psions should be able to tell that the situation is -about- to get a lot more heated.
"I mean, heck. If it comes down to it, I can -make- them miss."
Color starts to flood back into Honoka's cheeks, as she smiles back up at Zach. Perhaps it's the asian blush syndrome. Or perhaps, as she leans her chin onto her palm, she really does just want to watch.
Zach looks torn here. "Even shots that miss will hit something. Or someone." Zach says quietly. "I'm not adverse to letting these clowns have it out," he states as he heads towards the stairs, "But I'm not about to let them put people who aren't involved in this fiasco in the line of fire."
Zach stops, and sighs. He looks over to Honoka. "I won't make you do anything you don't want to do," he finally says quietly. "But I can't just do nothing." Zach head down the stairs at a jog.
Honoka looks somewhat disappointed as Zach points out something that should be obvious to anyone thinking these sorts of things through. "Well... do what you think is right, then. I just kinda get nervous about helping people out ever since the Butcher, and all..."
That doesn't explain her act of mercy towards a snake-woman, but that's beside the point.
"Oh, and don't call them 'clowns,' okay? Hittin' kinda close to home." She winks back at her boyfriend, blowing him a kiss for good luck. "Just don't get yourself hurt, I don't think I can heal you quite as well as you heal -me- up..."
No, she stays seated, perfectly poised to watch the situation unfold. As Zach reaches the downstairs exit, the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi shrugs his shoulders -- and his fifteen men draw guns, levelling them on the various forces at bay. It is just a threatening gesture, meant to keep the Akatsuki from advancing any further on their position.
"What's the matter with you guys?! Scared!?" The leader of the Akatsuki contingent seems unfazed from the show of force, pleased with just his knives. As Zach gets closer, he may begin to see some Korean features in -both- leaders' faces. "Maybe you didn't hear... Ishida has it in for you. Both him and a buncha his buddies were all up in one of those Zaito rallies..."
The Yamaguchi-gumi leader takes a half-step forward, planting his finger right in the chest of his rival. "Ain't got nothin' to do with that. He looks out for us."
Guns are trained -- on -both- sides.
"How much longer do you think that's gonna last? Boss-man's getting scared -- and that's makin' him -crazy-..."
Honoka has risen to get a better vantage point. Placing one elbow on the railing, she sips at her drink with amusement.
Zach blushes quickly when he poor word choice is pointed out. The fact that Honoka was very intent on helping that snake woman goes unremarked vocally, though a single eyebrow goes up as if to suggest that he knows better. He moves quickly, asking hurriedly to talk to the restaurant's manager before trying to convince whoever is running this place to close up and move people away from where the confrontation is.
As open-minded as Zach is, he'd be hard pressed to tell Korean from Japanese. It's not racism so much as inexperience on Zach's part. However, he takes up a position near the doorway, leaning out slightly to keep an eye or ear on the situation.
Despite his downright vigilantism against those who stalk humanity in the shadows, Zach is generally a law-abiding citizen. He wishes he had an iron of his own. He reaches for his jacket pocket, taking his smartphone in one hand. He fumbles for a second to orient his hand on the device before swiping his thumb in a pre-arranged pattern on it, sending an emergency text to his cousin.
He makes no moves yet, but readies himself to act on a moment's notice.
"Aki -- it doesn't matter if he's crazy -- he's the boss. You do what the boss says. You swore an oath!" The Yamaguchi executive flattens his hand, offering a light slap to his counterpart Aki's cheek. It's much more insult than injury. "Come back now, I'll cover for you. Or..."
He doesn't get to finish. The red-shirted Aki lashes out with his knife, dragging it across his Yamaguchi executive's chest. Fabric parts way for spurts of crimson, as the man staggers back. "I told you before, Yodo, don't cross me!"
The subordinates are less controlled than this. Gunshots ring out -- and similar blossoms of crimson explode from the shirts of those present. The Akatsuki forces draw back in their individual vectors, but that's when the Yamaguchi-gumi surge forward to reclaim the void. Not -all- are using guns -- just most of them.
A stray bullet lands in the post just to the right of Zach.
Zach's eyes narrow as the blood starts flying. His phone buzzes, and Zach fishes out a Bluetooth earpiece. A muttered word connects the incoming call, and Zach responds. "Rival gang stand-off that just went off," Zach states. "I'm going to..." Zach pauses to duck back behind the door from the stray shot. "Yeah. We have live guns. I'm stepping in," Zach informs the person on the other end. "Ambulances. Police."
Zach's hands drop in front of him, his left wrapping around his right, with the index and middle fingers of the right hand extended. It's suggestive of a gun, as golden light collects at those fingertips. He leans out again, eyes flicking around to find where the guns are. He locks in on the nearest active shooter, and leans out to aim before loosing a bolt of psychic energy at the man. It doesn't really matter which side of the brawl the shooter is on; Zach's targetting the people with the guns as the larger threats in this mess.
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn has started a fight here.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|
"He's not -my- boss any more!" cries out Aki, not giving Yodo too much breathing room as he slides in to slam his balled-up fist into Yodo's already-aggrieved chest, slamming him backwards. Two shots are fired at him, but by leaning sideways just before the shots are loosed, the expert fighter is able to avoid both. Which... doesn't mean much for the men behind him, who fold from the haphazardly-fired shots.
"Dammit, it didn't have to =be= this way, Aki..." curses Yodo as he steps backwards, withdrawing a knife from his bloodied jacket. He lunges forward with the knife, only to have his arm twisted out of the way by his red-shirted rival. His shoulders and arms twist about with the motion, leaving him with a perfect vantage point of one of his Yamaguchi buddies being taken out by a third party.
"Who the hell is -that-..." spits Yodo, right before he crashes into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach Glenn
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hits Yamaguchi Gang with Scatter Barrage.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/------=|
Aki spares a glance back at Zach, but it's only to allow the gaijin to see his smirk. "Thanks for the help, but we got this." He stomps on his former friend's arm, while his other Akatsuki goons proceed to waylay their way through the Yamaguchi forces.
The Yamaguchi forces, though, are conflicted. On one hand, they need every man they can spare against the now-unsettled Akatsuki. But on another -- there is Zach Glenn to contend with. And the gaijin just downed one of their own, sending him flying backwards and knocking another one of their number over.
"Gaijin! Butt the hell out!" And the three closest to Zach zero in on him, aiming to dogpile onto him and keep him from lancing any more of their number with that golden energy!
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang successfully hits Yamaguchi Gang with Power Strike.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Yamaguchi Gang's Multiple Tackles.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|
Zach shoves the first two chargers aside with a scowl in return for the thanks. The Akatsuki-gumi man doesn't realize Zach is here on an intervention aimed at both sides. He snatches the third by the back of his coat and his belt, before whirling once, then twice. On the third rotation, Zach hurls the hapless goon directly at Aki.
"I'm not here to help /either/ of you," Zach growls.
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang interrupts Large Thrown Object from Zach Glenn with Medium Strike.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|
The Yamaguchi gang is sustaining a number of injuries, both from Zach and from their Akatsuki counterparts. Though, as the first two are shoved aside, and the third is used as a missile, the Akatsuki are already paying attention to his words.
And the Akatsuki are not particularly happy with him either -- even less so than their Yamaguchi brethren. The two nearest Zach catch wise to the plan before it starts, bum-rushing the gaijin in the midst of hauling his human missile into the air. Tackling him to the ground, they are relentless -- in so much as pistol-whipping and punching can be involved, anyway. "Stay down, gaijin! This doesn't concern you!"
The Yamaguchi contingent sees this as an opportunity. As Yodo lurches back to his feet, he aims to clock his fist alongside Aki's head, following through with a brutal kick. His men follow up with more gunfire -- highly targeted, aimed at disabling rather than outright killing their former brothers-in-arms.
Zach turtles up as best he can, but the beating is still viciously painful. A couple minutes, Zach thinks, counting the time that has passed since he hung up on his cousin. Need to buy more time. But to do that, he needs to get these guys off of him. Golden energy flickers around Zach's arms as he lashes out with a wave of pure willpower. The reactions should allow Zach to clamber to his feet.
"Had you done this in the back alleys," Zach says as he sizes Aki up, "I might have agreed with you. You chose to do this here, where there are bystanders."
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang successfully hits Akatsuki Gang with Large Thrown Object.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang dodges Zach Glenn's Claw Flare.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-======|
"Butt the hell out!" screeches Aki, as he gets -nailed- by his rival Yodo's punch to the noggin, bashing him to the ground. He scrabbles backwards to his feet, balling his fists up as he turns the bulk of his attention to Zach.
Aki's men, though, don't fare quite as well against the Yamaguchi -- three fall to gunfire, and two more sustain shots which make them seriously consider feigning unconsciousness. But the others, the ones who had tackled Zach -- they sense the growing power, and they back away from him. With the numbers at play here, it's clear that Zach is the number-one threat...
Yodo, though, is -pissed- that Aki's torn his attention from the fight. His knife clatters to the floor as he whips out a Colt 1911 from his jacket, aiming it squarely at Zach. And his finger begins to squeeze the trigger...
Only to stop, with a confused look in his eye. It's then that the Yamaguchi executive looks up... to Honoka.
From up on her balcony, Honoka shakes her head at Yodo, making a dismissive flick of her wrist to the right, towards Aki.
It seems like a completely insignificant gesture, but a moment later, Yodo hurls his gun at Aki, no questions asked. And in fact, -all- the Yamaguchi-gumi throw their guns at Aki.
The 'scent' of Honoka may suddenly feel very, very potent to Zach -- almost as if she were standing right next to him.
<< Beating violence with violence is a wasted effort, Zach. These men speak it. It's the only language they know. >>
The Akatsuki aren't privy to the private conversation though. All they know is that the Yamaguchi just threw all their guns away. And they still have not only guns, but -knives-. The Akatsuki charge suddenly -- but it's not at Zach, this time, but their now-disarmed brethren-in-arms, with wild reckless slashes of their knives.
Zach catches himself squarely facing Yodo as the gun comes free. His eyes go wide as he realizes the tactical error. There there is... an achingly familiar sensation. Yodo looks away, and Zach's head whips around to follow the gaze. Then Yodo throws the gun away, and Zach's stomach drops. If he were not still in a fight, he'd probably have a thought to lose his lunch. He might still, later.
<<Then I'll just have to explain it in the way they understand it,>> Zach returns, his feelings a roiling storm not only concerning the fight but Honoka's involvement in it.
Zach launches in, meeting the first Akatsuki slasher to arrive before ducking low. Zach launches into a flying uppercut, following that with a pair of spinning kicks before dropping an axe kick at his first target. His plan is to wade through this line to get to the shooters, who may regret having employed these weapons.
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang blocks Yamaguchi Gang's Huge Thrown Object.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang blocks Zach Glenn's Storm Kick.
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Zach Glenn 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/-======|
Zach's expression does not go unnoticed by Honoka. The juggler is now frowning at the notion that -saving his life- invokes such mixed emotions from her boyfriend. Would he rather have gotten shot at near point-blank range?! Or, worse, would he rather that she just stand and watch him get beat down by waves of people he's never met and has no connection to?
<< You just -shot- these men with your -own- psychic powers. I used mine to -protect- you. >>
Honoka's presence in the fight diminishes sharply -- and if anyone looks back to the balcony, they would see her sit back down with an irritable expression knitted across her features.
The gang-on-gang violence continues, but the Akatsuki are ready for the non-parallel threat now. They're able to throw their arms up to ward off the multiple firearms being thrown at them -- and, considering the circumstances, picking them up is pretty much out of the question.
"So, what the hell..." spits Aki, once he looks around to Zach and Honoka... "So lemme get this straight, you're wrecking our shit because -bystanders- might get hurt? All's we gotta do is ditch the guns to get you guys to leave us alone?"
The Akatsuki with guns are quick to pay attention to their leader -- and the first thing they do is try to stash the guns back into their holsters. Zach ought to have a perfect viewpoint to see it -- the only man who doesn't stow his gun immediately is the one he's dropping an axe kick onto, and he's using the gun to block. Forced to his knees, he rolls back to a safer position, holstering his sidearm and holding his hands up.
The other Akatsuki, though -- renew their assault on their now-disarmed foes, charging at them with knives. No collateral damage -there-, right?
The Yamaguchi-gumi hasn't -quite- caught on to exactly what's going on. The fog involved in forcing them to throw their guns seems to be lifting, but the last thing they'd really remembered was attacking Zach. So that's what they do -- charging forward to grapple hold of him. And if they manage to latch on, they'd be giving him the good ol' heave-ho right into the nearest alleyway...
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Yamaguchi Gang's Medium Throw.
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Zach Glenn 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/=======|
<<I can appreciate that. But you took away their /choice/,>> Zach growls. He might be more angry with Honoka that he is at these thugs. <<You took away what they /are/.>> Men charge Zach, and the former Marine shoves them aside as well. He is still jostled, and none of the attackers are exactly lightwieghts. He'll feel that for a minute or three. <<And it will affect you just as much as you did them. I've seen it before.>>
Zach ignores the Akatsuki man's challenge for a moment, launching himself into the charge of them, and lashing out with several kicks as he flies through them. He lands lightly. "Wrong," Zach informs Aki. "You still chose this course of action. Choices, actions, they have consequences."
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang fails to interrupt Gale Force Kick EX from Zach Glenn with Synchronized Beating EX.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/=======|
<< So their -choice- to shoot your face off, that's one you're totally okay with?! I'm not. >> Honoka leaves her mostly-unconsumed drink on the table, and begins making her way downstairs. If Zach has the mental bandwidth to process it, he can tell -- she's at least as displeased as he is right now.
The Akatsuki, though, still have to contend with more than agitated thoughts -- particularly, both the Yamaguchi who were attacking them, and those fierce kicks from Zach. Each man tries to deal with the kick in an aggressive fashion -- the first, by raising his arms, and the second and third by raising their knees to deflect. None of them are successful in their attempts -- the power of Zach's sheer will is enough to overpower the lot of them, leaving them flattened in his wake.
By the time the dust settles, the only Akatsuki left standing are Aki himself and one more. And Aki is busy swinging his knives at Yodo.
The Yamaguchi goons, by this point, can only count Zach as one of theirs. Their attempt to chuck him to the side failed, but as he didn't attack them, they quickly come to their senses and strike while the iron's hot. Aki and his last remaining assistant are ganged up on ... and they move to overpower the pair with an onslaught of furious strikes. 'Thanks for your help' -- That's the look Yodo gives Zach.
<< They were going to hit each other anyway. You -stopped- that. You -changed- their choices from killing each other into -finishing you off-. And you =turned the tide=. How is that =different?= How is that =any different at all!?= >>
Honoka exits the restaurant, having paid off the bill. She folds her arms before her, her hair swishing about in the light breeze as she watches the rest of the fight unfold.
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang endures Akatsuki Gang's Fierce Strike.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Akatsuki Gang
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yamaguchi Gang 1/-------/=======|
<<I'm okay with my choice to put myself in that position,>> Zach answers Honoka. <<When they decided to focus on me instead, that was something they chose for themselves. I did not make them do anything that wasn't already in them to do.>> Zach sees the look on Yodo's face. Something about it doesn't sit right with him.
Zach scowls, then grins as something comes in on his Bluetooth. <<Besides,>> he thinks in a tone that has one of those mad grins Honoka recognizes. <<I just need to hold them here for about another thirty seconds. Then the police will be here.>>
With that, Zach launches himself the Yamaguchi goons, lashing out with a swift punch at one, a low sweeping kick at another. Zach grabs for a third to fling at a fourth. Whatever the Yamaguchi think Zach was supposed to be, they were probably wrong.
<<They chose this fight,>> he thinks to Honoka. <<If they did not think to consider someone might object to it, then that is neither my fault nor my problem.>>
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang successfully hits Akatsuki Gang with Gang-Up Beating EX.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang fails to interrupt Armed Combo from Zach Glenn with Gangbang.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Akatsuki Gang
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|
<< Now -that's- just splitting hairs. You have no way of knowing what they would do without your interference unless you just -don't interfere!- What is gained by this, other than you now putting yourself on a yakuza hitlist? >>
Yodo and his men continue striking at their quarry -- under their combined might, Aki and his lone defender go down like a sack of potatoes. Those bearing the lapel pin of the red crescent moon have no more fight left in them for now...
The Yamaguchi, then, have no further purpose in being around. They start to withdraw -- but then Zach is on them like white on rice. The first's attempt to turn his punch into an arm lock fails. The second's attempt to drop to a crouch and hold him still also fails. The third misreads Zach's intent, his hasty guard providing Zach with the means to haul him around and bowl over the fourth.
<< So they're starting to turn around, is it the =right= thing or the =wrong= thing for me to help you knock these dumbasses unconscious to serve justice? Tell me, Zach, =I'm confused.= >>
Aside from her eyes flicking about to keep track of the multiple moving bodies of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Honoka holds her ground with arms crossed firmly.
The Yamaguchi who are still standing -- and those who have ... start to pull back, with their hands up. But there's nothing for the Yamaguchi-gumi to fight for -- with the remnants of the Akatsuki-gumi starting to crawl away and disappear into the woodwork in multiple vectors. The Yamaguchi-gumi, though -- move as a single pack, bunching up into one another and moving as a single unit.
Yodo glares back at Zach. "You. I don't know who the hell you are, but you've made a huge mistake..." He keeps his knife handy -- levelling it as a threat as he continues to face the foreigner, withdrawing towards the location of their vehicles.
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang lets out a large yawn, slouching.
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zach Glenn
COMBATSYS: Akatsuki Gang can no longer fight.
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zach Glenn
<<If I did not step in? Someone would have been shot. Someone who didn't have any stake in this pointless fight. I know,>> And Honoka sees more than a couple of scenes of firefights with civilian casualties supplied by Zach's memories, along with the images of Navy Corpsmen helping as best they can. <<That stepping in prevented that.>> Zach answers as he turns to face Yodo. He keeps a ready stance for about two seconds, then slides into almost contemptously relaxed one that happens to be a total lie. Zach's still ready if Yodo wants to continue this dance. "Perhaps," Zach replies as much to Yodo as to Honoka. "But it was my choice to make." He is about to say something else when he pauses. He tilts his head to one side, grinning as he does so. There is a sound on the wind. To everyone but Zach, it is probably a familiar sound. It is markedly similar to a civil defense horn. "You hear that," Zach asks Yodo. "I reckon you have about two seconds to leave before this place is swarming with police responders."
<<You do what you want,>> Zach says to Honoka, leaving the choice to her. <<I'm probably going to spend the rest of the evening with the local police. I won't mention you were here, if you want to leave.>>
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn focuses on his next action.
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zach Glenn
Honoka grimaces as she sees the thoughts in Zach's head -- a mishmash of firefights. They make sense to Zach, with the body of memories he's experienced, but without the necessary context, the viewpoint is too chaotic. Her nostrils flare as she stares back at the unraveling tapestry of combat, disappointed at the unnecessary involvement.
This was supposed to be a happier celebration, after all.
Yodogoro and his Yamaguchi men continue to withdraw -- the words are hollow and meaningless to them, responses a conversation that they can only hear one side of. And when given the permission to book it -- they do so, bolting with their every last reserve of speed.
<< People -were- shot, maybe you glossed over that point. =Bad guys=, people who signed up for being shot as soon as they joined the ranks of the underworld. These are the scum of the earth, Zach. The only thing you helped here was your own ego, your own peace of mind. >>
Honoka shakes her head. Her face is flush with frustration -- or maybe from just standing in the cold. Though now, she stuffs her hands in her pockets. "I'll leave you to it, then. Standing around answering ten variations of 'I told him not to' isn't my idea of a good time." She doesn't say 'thanks,' or even 'goodnight,' as she turns around and starts to walk down the street, away from those fleeing Yamaguchi goons as they pile into two Lincoln towncars.
"Don't worry about the bill," she adds, as an afterthought.
<<I didn't. They put themselves in that position,>> Zach maintains. <<I don't have much in the way of sympathy for them.>> Honoka feels the truth of the statement. <<I'm not protecting anyone from the choices they make.>> Police scream in, weapons raised. Zach has his hands in the air.
<<But the people in this restaurant, in the other shops didn't ask for a firefight on their front steps. Police wouldn't have been here fast enough.>> Zach lets out a tired sigh as he asks the police to slow down. Zach's Japanese is pretty functional, but he's just shy of fluency, and the heightened emotions are making it difficult for him to understand.
<<I'm sorry for ruining the date,>> he apologizes to Honoka. He means that as well.
Some of the Akatsuki have managed to stumble to their feet -- and they disappear just as quickly as they appeared. The unconscious ones, though -- and the ones who were shot -- have no such luck. Similarly, there are about four of the Yamaguchi-gumi who really can't move on their own -- and their brethren didn't really think they could afford to get loose. The cops descend on them in short measure -- and the conscious ones raise their hands accordingly. As captures go, this one was easy-peasy.
Honoka has no great love for the Southtown police department -- despite saving one of their own from the Butcher, she's still got a rap. She's got better places to be.
<< I'm sorry for not being more supportive. We'll talk later. >> There might not have been the -word- 'thanks', but the warmth is in her voice all the same -- she's frustrated at the situation, but grateful to be excused from it.
It's only -after- she walks away from the scene of the crime -- and out of the comfortable range of Zach -- that she feels comfortable dwelling on the true -loss- of the situation. She pulls a pair of fine leather gloves out of her pockets, putting them on. Withdrawing a phone from her backpack-purse, she fires off a quick text to warn the Akatsuki-gumi's crack legal team. She fires off another quick text to Kyong Su. And then she subtly flips the phone into the next trashcan she walks past, without a second thought on the matter. The train station is not far.
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang lets out a large yawn, slouching.
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Yamaguchi Gang 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zach Glenn
COMBATSYS: Yamaguchi Gang has left the fight here.
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Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----==|
Log created on 15:06:11 03/13/2016 by Honoka, and last modified on 00:06:06 03/14/2016.