Match of the Millennium

Description: The Southtown Syndicate are making their rounds in Southtown, pulling people out of booths and out on the streets, looking for signs of membership with the Akatsuki. And those who qualify? Are killed out in the open. With the attacks taking place in daylight, and striking out against even innocent civilians, it's more than Masaaki can take, as he makes a stand against the gangsters.

[DUKE]
It might be easy to miss, but there was a war going on at Southtown.

The Southtown Syndicate had finally broken out in their offense against the Akatsuki, the two Yakuza gangs in the midst of open war. While the Akatsuki were subtle in their fights, the Syndicate... was not. So much could be seen on the streets, where every day, the broken bodies of gangsters were found, stripped and beaten. People were torn from nightclubs, bars, even from their cars.

Sometimes it would even happen in daylight.

One such street of the village, supposedly the 'peaceful' part of Southtown, would be the place of another massacre. A small restaurant, a sushi bar, was suddenly having it's occupants emptied out, and lined out on the streets. A gang of eight men, armed with cleavers, clubs, and one -gun- makes it clear what kind of business was being run here. Half the crew was walking between the booths, giving the orders that they were making inspections. What kind of inspections?

"Take it off."

The other half of the team were pulling back the shirts, stripping the first man being lined up. Giving him a swift slam to the gut, they start searching over him. There, they see the tattoo. Carefully inspecting, they point at a half-moon tattoo. It wasn't quite the Akatsuki symbol. It was close enough though. "That's it!" The leader of the pack states, with a nod. A woman, next in line with her two children look in horror, as they begin to attack the man, tearing into him with clubs and cleavers. By the time he stops moving, he's dead. One of the gangsters shift their attention to the woman, who holds her children, trembling. "Hey, what about the women and children? We gotta check them too?" The leader looks over her, with a leering grin.

"Orders are, check everybody, so..."

"Take it off."

[MASAAKI]
Unfortunately for those the Southtown Syndicates gangsters on this particular day it just so happens that Masaaki Himura, a Yakuza with a near homicidal hatred for the Syndicate, was having tea not too far away. Close enough in fact that the commotion was enough to draw his attention as evidenced by the fact that right now he marches down the street where the Syndicate goons are indulging in their atrocities, bare chested to show off his Dragon Tattoo and with a sheathed katana held in his hand as he leans it on his shoulder. His mere presence just screams 'Fight me.'.

"Oi! Line up so I can cut your hands off all the way to your necks, bastards!"

[DUKE]
"What's this asshole up to?"

The response comes from the lieutenant, just as one of the gangsters grabs the woman. As the man steps up, the gangsters instinctively know. The leader of the gangster snaps his fingers, and the woman is shoved to the ground. She is terrified, grabbing her chest, but recoils to safety under the table with her children. The gang of eight spread out, closing in on Masaaki. Sneering, they form a half-circle out on the street. One of the goons actually pipes up about his naked chest. "He got a tattoo, it's just a dragon. What are we supposed to do." The lieutenant sneers at Masaaki, as he nods his head at him.

"How about we beat him up, and then check him for the Akatsuki tattoos then?"

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Syndicate Goons  0/-------/-------|

[MASAAKI]
"How about you shut up so I can beat you dead already?"

Masaaki just watches the gang surround him with a visible lack of concern visible on his face as he switches the hand with which he holds the katana by the sheath and settles into a Iaijutsu stance, clearly waiting to see who does the first move.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Masaaki          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
The half-circle spreads around, as there is a tense moment on when the attack would come out.

It starts out when the first goon breaks ranks, surging forward wildly at Masaaki, cleaver high. The gangster gives a wild swipe, and a second one if the Yakuza fighter allows it. As it happens, four more join him, armed with clubs and cleavers, attempting to surround Masaaki at the flanks. The dragon-tattoo'd man would not have much time before he had 2 more cleaver swipes at him, the two gangsters actually cutting off the club-wielders in their frenzy to carve up Masaaki.

All while the lieutenant readies his pistol, watching with leering interest at the scrambling fight breaking out before him.

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons successfully hits Masaaki with Reckless Attacks.
- Power hit! -

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Masaaki          0/-------/-<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
And cleaved and clubbed seriously Masaaki gets as he just barely fails to bear their onslaught by blocking their attacks with his katana. He immideately starts spitting blood as he breaks free from their assault to just laugh at them and abruptly run straight back at them, wildly throwing punches and uppercuts at anyone in reach.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki successfully hits Syndicate Goons with Dragon Rush.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Masaaki          1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
The lieutenant actually starts by laughing, as Masaaki takes the brunt of it. But the laughter dies as the one man bursts out, a sword in hand. As he starts deflecting out, surviving, the punches and blows shoot out. The lieutenant levels the gun out, taking aim at Masaaki as the cleaver-wielding gangsters stagger back, unable to block the enraged attack. Staggered, Masaaki gets the space he needs, as one of the gangsters drops a knife to the ground. It seems that Masaaki might have a moment of respite...

But the clubs come.

Two clubs, one high for Masaaki's chest, one low for his knees comes rioting out, attempting to hurl through the loner. A fierce combination to be sure, but rightin the line of sight of the gun-armed lieutenant.

"Idiots! Out of the way!"

COMBATSYS: Masaaki blocks Syndicate Goons' Fierce Strike.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Masaaki          1/-----<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
The two strikes are easily blocked as he moves the katana in the way, lessening the brunt of the impact as instead his arms and the blade bear the majority of it before he pushes his attackers back before he just barrels right back into the fray, clad in a red haze as he swings a wild combination of wide hooks with both fists at them before transitioning into a far more devastating combination of several tornado kicks in an attempt to utterly annihilate his attackers.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki successfully hits Syndicate Goons with Dragon Kick EX.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Masaaki          0/-------/------<|=======\==-----\1  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
And the tornado kicks flatten them.

Now, there were 5 goons standing; the two club using gangsters were out cold on the street, while an unlucky knife-dropper got too close to try and get his knife back. Another one of the cleaver gangster was on the backfoot, clutching his chest from the kick. The lieutenant was snarling. "Get him! Grab him!" Now, three of the men were rushing at Masaaki, charging at him all together for a total beatdown, cleavers and bats whirling, as the fourth unarmed man catches his breath. THe lieutenant, holding back, scratching the back of his neck with his pistol.

Waiting for the opening so he can make an execution.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki endures Syndicate Goons' Synchronized Beating EX.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Masaaki          0/-------/---<<<<|=======\=------\1  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
The Yakuza simply endures the beating for as long as necessary with gritted teeth, waiting for a moment that looks like his assailants loosing focus causing him to abruptly crouching down in a forward movement during their assault to strike the nearest enemy with whats going to be a painfull punch straight into the lower torso or even the groin.

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons blocks Masaaki's Tiger Drop EX.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Masaaki          0/-------/--<<<<<|=======\===----\1  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
The lieutenant sneers, as Masaaki breaks out once more.

A punch to the groin is blocked, for some manner of the word. Crossing his legs will have to count as a block, as the man comes slamming back into his own partners. The partners don't take much of the hit. But what was at first 8 vs 1 was now 4 vs 1. And the leader was done playing around. "Grab him. I'm finishing this off, you morons." He rotates his hands, as the three gangsters suddenly make a single effort to try and -smash- into Masaaki's gut. And there, they would all three work together to try and seize Masaaki, to stretch him out by holding him place, punching and cutting him if he has to. All to let the lieutenant focus, pulling up that gun right at Masaaki. And once he felt confident? He would squeeze the trigger.

A gunshot aiming right for the dragon on that chest.

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons successfully hits Masaaki with Gang Warfare.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Masaaki          1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
The assault utterly overwhelms Masaaki as his wounds keep piling up and slow him down rendering him incapable of reacting to the shot aimed at him. Miracolously, aside from going flying backwards onto the street itself and spitting a lot of blood Masaaki is still not beaten although his laughter is far more subdued and interrupted by constant coughing as he clambers back up to face his opponents again.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki gains composure.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Masaaki          1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
"... The hell?"

The question comes from the Lieutenant, who watches as he takes his shot,and Masaaki refuses to go down. The gangster spits. He looks ready for a second shot.... Before he motion to the other gangsters. "Tenderize him. I want him to really feel this." The gangster stugglebto comply, to try and grab Masaaki, and slam their fists into his gut, just holding and pounding him.

As the Lieutenant waits for the next shot.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki blocks Syndicate Goons' Armed Combo.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Masaaki          1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
Masaaki simply blocks the attacks once again by moving his Katana in the way, although with far less speed or strength than before before he just rips the katana out of his sheathe and swings it around at his assailants in a lightling fast strike. After all, he did promise that he would cut them to pieces.

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons blocks Masaaki's Hidden Blade.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Masaaki          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
Oh no, the blade.

The whirling blade comes out, and the momentum shifts. One of the gangster actually manages to get cut, as he stumbles backwards. With a blade out, and the numbers... painfully even, they turn to the lieutenant. And the man just leers, as he shakes the gun towards Masaaki. "Take him down. I want a bullet in the back of his head, and we can go in, take the women, the kids, I don't care anymore. This whole place reeks Akatsuki. And we're going to sort it out. They are gonna look at what's left of you?" He focuses hard on Masaaki. "And they'll get the message. Take him down, boys."

The two gangsters make for the tackles, trying to tear down Masaaki, while the bleeding gangster takes a moment to gain composure.

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons successfully hits Masaaki with Multiple Tackles.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Masaaki          0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
Masaaki is quickly torn and dragged to the floor as he is beyond the point where he could possibly endure all the violence that is thrown at him. Unfortunately for the Goons? He manages to crawl away from under his assailants and stands back up AGAIN, still not defeated and still not stopping as he just glares at them.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki gains composure.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Masaaki          0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
"Alright you morons, step aside."

The lieutenant, bristling in anger, decides to use his coup de grace. "I was saving this for the locals, but, you've done it. You've chapped my ass. You've pissed me off." The gangsters step aside, staggering aside. It isn't clear what is exactly happening... until he reaches into his jacket, and reveals the secret weapon.

A firebomb.

A bottle, filled with a cocktail, is quickly lit by a match. And there, right in front of all the bystanders, the gangster -hurls- it at Masaaki, attempting to set him on fire.

Cook him alive, for everyone to see.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki blocks Syndicate Goons' Molotov Cocktail EX.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Masaaki          0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
The thrown bottle is met by Masaakis sheathed katana, causing it to burst a good step before him and spill most of its fiery contents past him on both sides instead of hitting him directly. The result of only a few meagre flames actually managing to stick to his body which are quickly patted out causes the Yakuza to burst into laughter as he waves his blade around in a clear taunt as he takes another moment to catch his breath some more.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki gains composure.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Masaaki          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
It was time for the coup de grace.

"Lets do this, boys." The lieutenant sneers, as he finally steps forward. The other three men circle around Masaaki, armed with cleaver, club, and the gun. All circling around Masaaki, the leader across at the laughing, wounded gangster. He doesn't mince words, as he -drives- a staggering kick, aiming right for that dragon tattoo.

Gun still in hand.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki endures Syndicate Goons' Strong Kick.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Masaaki          1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0  Syndicate Goons

[MASAAKI]
This is it. Enduring the kick to the chest with as much stoism as he can manage Masaaki staggers backwards as the kick impacts before he abruptly lunges forwards again to throw another and perhaps the last combination of jabs and Tornado Kicks at the goons in the hopes of flattening at least one or two more.

COMBATSYS: Masaaki successfully hits Syndicate Goons with Dragon Kick.
- Power hit! -

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Masaaki          0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1  Syndicate Goons

[DUKE]
Impossible.

The lieutenant feels the crunch as he drives that leg in, bringing in the bone-crushing impact into Masaaki. He should be dead, after all this. And yet, the counter-attack comes in a flash. Nearly perfectly, as the kick knocks the wind clear out of the boss. Dropping his gun, it neatly goes off, shooting the already wounded fourth gangster in the leg. Confused and panicking, the remaining two gangsters are neat pickings for the gangster, as the final tornado comes. And there, on the street, what was once an 8 vs 1?

Was now just the one.

THe people come out to the streets, not cheering. It was, after all, a gang fight. A crime. What was Masaaki? He was tattoo'd like the others. Were they safe?

Or were they just about to fall under the yoke of a new gang?

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons lets out a large yawn, slouching.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Masaaki          0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Syndicate Goons can no longer fight.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Masaaki          0/-------/-------|

[MASAAKI]
Certainly impossible.

Masaaki knows about and has seen lots of evidence of the strength drawn out of desperation, but the effectiveness of his final assault surprises even him as he was expecting to go down himself any moment now. But now? Now he still stands there, weak on his feet and unsure what to do, particularly with the people heading back out onto the streets.

Ultimately, its pragmatism and blood loss that causes him to get a grip on matters again as he pilfers his opponents for valuables while kicking them in the sides for good measure before turning around to retrieve his jacket, scattering about a third of the valuables which he may have gotten from the goons for whoever may want to pick it up as he himself is going to get bandaged and then visit a restaurant or two.

After all, with Masaaki its in hindsight ultimately less a gang fight and more an angry man acting on a grudge to protect those who need protection.

[DUKE]
******************

"Sir, uh.... Boss Sir?"

Hyena snivels bitterly, as the yellow eyed crime boss seethes at the bar, sitting at the table with a wine glass upon the table, a cigar in one hand, and a new, firewalled tablet in the other. The long-nosed man in the green suit bows his head, as he appoaches. "Um... boss... boss?" He raises his voice. The crime boss bellows a deep, rumbling baritone.

"I heard you, Hyena."

Hyena chokes, and squirms. "Um, some of the... boys had some trouble. A local tough around Taiyo High, uh, during the purging rounds. THey got arrested, and they want to know when the bail is going to come around." Duke growls, his eyes transfixing on the tablet.

"There won't be bail."

Hyena pauses. "But... that would mean..." Duke interrupts the thought, pulling his eyes upon the minion. "That would mean, that this is a war, and every single one of our soldiers should be considering very carefully that their incompetence will lead to their arrest. And there won't be any easy bail outs. Make sure that word gets out, do you understand?!" Duke bellows, as Hyena, bowing and whimpering, flees. Duke relaxing, still apprehensive. He didn't tell Hyena the real reason, those men would be waiting.

There was still no more money left.

Log created on 18:26:55 06/15/2018 by Duke, and last modified on 12:44:06 07/01/2018.