Match of the Millennium

Description: Two fighters rescheduled when it turns out they're both in Southtown. Kasumi Todoh, young woman ready and eager to show the world the strength and power of her school, with high hopes to draw new students with a showcase of skill and talent. Leona Heidern, on the search for more information to the rage of blood that has been plaguing her mind and attention. Faced off from each other, a demonstration of skills between two young women in the fighting world. Who will come out on top?

[LEONA]
It was supposed to be some drive in Metro City. Someone was supposed to be there. Leona was supposed to be there. But she wasn't. She was searching again. Searching for the drumbeat in her ears, the pulse of blood in her neck, the itch in her palms. She was back in Southtown. She knows the bounty on her, she isn't concerned. She has other, bigger, things to handle right now. To remain cloistered away at the Ikari base is hampering her mission. Not just her mission to the world as an Ikari, but her mission to herself.

However, the people responsible for broadcasting top tier fights aren't so quick to let a showcase go unshown. They have their own ends to get to and the means to do so. An impromptu was put together by the last minute talents of the fight fil authorities. Find where the fighters have gone and find who is in the area. Set them up, wave some money and get pushy and pounce if need be.

They would be terrifying if they set out to do anything besides promote fighting.

Leona would, in many cases, have rebuffed the incessant badgering. But this time, she was considering the search. It came when she fought, when she felt the thrill of battle. It came with visions of blood and jungles and crying little girls. Maybe, she though, just maybe if she could cause it to happen again it would get her one step closer to figuring out what is happening and why it's connected her with those others who spoke of blood.

[KASUMI TODOH]
For Kasumi Todoh she was supposed to have a fight herself. One that was to show school spirit as she took on Natsu from Gorin High. The problem is Natsu never showed and no reason as to why she didn't show up. It annoyed Kasumi for the fact that it was a nice chance for her to show off the might of Todoh-ryuu Kobojutsu to a large group. Then maybe....just maybe she would finally have new prospects come to the dojo for training.

A rather empty dojo as of late. One that has left both Kasumi and her father in a rather dour mood. It must be the damn Sakazaki's spreading rumors and stealing prospective students. At least that is what she wants to believe if if deep down she knows that isn't the case.

Then came the offer. Another fight, but this time not against a fellow high schooler, but a rather skilled mercenary. Not just any mercenary, but an Ikari Warrior. She should have perhaps through things through a bit more, but she quickly accepted without thinking much about it and that is how she finds herself taking on Leona this day.

There is nervousness building up in her, but she doesn't allow it to show. For being so short in stature she carries herself with confidence while dressed for battle. A headband to keep her hair from her face and the dressed in a white gi and blue hakama. In appearance she seems badly overmatched and it might be true, but she is there and she isn't going to back out now.

[LEONA]
The Silent Soldier earns her epithet. She isn't far from where the fight is intended, set up on a public stage during a block party held in one of the many tight streets of Southtown's Downtown. The crowds are murmuring, somewhat loud, the kind of place an ambush would work tragically well. The kind of place that should make it easy to find the drumming madness and drag it to the surface.

But now she controls herself, she shuts herself off to the world around her. She tightens her gloves, checking their straps, clenches her fists and wriggling her fingers to loosen up.

A few steps and skips from boot to boot. Deep breaths and a moment to tie her hair back.

An announcer calls out the cat related moniker she's been using since she took to fighting publicly. Since that time with the costume and mask and Johnny Cage. She climbs the stairs. She brings with her identity a track record of failure in these fights. A desperate combatant fighting high schoolers for records. But each fight brings her closer to the things she needs to understand.

COMBATSYS: Leona has started a fight here.

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Leona            0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh has joined the fight here.

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Leona            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
Kasumi steps forward when she is announced and she looks around. There are several people gathered so that is a good thing. Or so she hopes. She just needs to remember to stay calm and show everyone her skills. Will she lose? It is a very good chance she will. This is an Ikari Warrior, not just a student from another dojo she is facing off against. It is a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she takes a deep breath then gives a bow to Leona.

"It is an honor to fight you. I am Kasumi Todoh, let us have a fair and honorable fight." She says before straghtening up. She adjusts her gi just slightly and takes in another deep breath before letting it out. She needs to let herself get focused and be prepared for the coming fight. Just treat it like any other one.

She brings a foot forward and her hands raise as her gaze remains focused on Leona. Much like the Ikari she isn't much of a talker when it gets down to a fight. It would seems Leona found someone very similar at least when it comes to having a rather serious demeanor.

[LEONA]
A demonstration for people. But a way to push herself, to practice her control and to maybe learn what's going on with her own heart. Silent as she is, she's kept a good deal from her family, as one could call them, back at the Ikari base. Similarly, she's certain that Heidern, Ralf, and Clark could all figure out what and where she is should they need to. She has no misgivings about their talents. She has back up, even if she is being foolish, impetuous and emotionally rash.

Stone-faced, she nods to the talk of honor and fair fights. "I'll make it my mission," she tells her opponent, lowering her weight on her back foot, lining up and measuring the distance.

She bursts forward, running low to the ground, boots scuffling the wooden fight platform. A charge and a leap with a clear huffing grunt. Rolling in the air, she comes down toward Kasumi's head and shoulders. The pounce brings with it the momentum to toss if she can get close enough. But regardless, it comes with an explosive burst of chi to rocket Leona up and away from her young opponent.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh blocks Leona's X-Caliber Assault.

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Leona            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
There is just the slightest of nod. Already Kasumi is trying to think of how to approach this fight. With Natsu she at least knew a bit more about the style of her opponent and what to expect. Leona on the otherhand she knows little to nothing about other than her affiliation with an elite mercenary group. She hasn't had time to study tape and she is just going to have to figure things out out the fly.

Then things start rather quickly. Leona is quick and the distance between the two fighters is gone in moments and she is quickly coming down right at Kasumi. The smaller fighter grits her teeth as she raises her arms to try and somewhat catch Leona and the impact has her driven down to a knee, but she steadied herself enough to keep from getting planted on the ground firmly before Leona leaps away.

She rises back on both feet to and she watches for where Leona lands and quickly moves in. Keeping things close works to her advantage, or at least she hopes. She is reaching up to grasp Leona by the shoulders and yank her forward around the same time she kicks out a leg looking to knock the other woman's legs out from under her while letting go after that tug in an attempt to have Leona hit the ground face first.

COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Kasumi Todoh's Kagyuu Kake.

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Leona            0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[LEONA]
A close in fighter. Trained well. Father a master? Leona gauges the other fighter's movements. She isn't much younger than Leona is, despite their differing backgrounds. Leona can see the intensity and determination in Kasumi's face when the two are close enough for grappling. It gives her a read on the situation.

Shoulder's grabbed, a leg behind hers. Leona falls forward, but with the movement, she pitches herself into a roll. A rough tumble later and Leona is back to her feet, facing down her opposition. Rough, but just the opening of what is most likely a dangerous to fight close in opponent.

Leona will simply have to live with that reality. Once more, Leona charges Kasumi. Once more she takes a bounding arc of a leap over the girl. This time, however, she doesn't pounce. In the midst of her leap, Leona cuts a wide X into the air, a blast of cutting chi that slices downward toward Kasumi, and with enough force to flip Leona back in the direction she came.

COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Kasumi Todoh with X-Caliber.

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Leona            0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
There is a light 'tch' that excapes from Kasumi. She felt she had a good grip, but Leona shows her experience and rolls with the motion and the result is her not getting grounded as intended. She spins about on her foot to face Leona once more and she takes a step back when it looks she is going to be pounced on again. Her arms raised looking like she had something planned, but that plan quickly changes when Leona switches things up and this time it is a blast of energy.

It causes Kasumi to hesitate before she tries to move out of the way. The hesitation is what causes her to get hit and she bites back from letting out a yelp when being hit and stumbles back to fall on her rear. She looks a bit frustrated. More at herself than anything for being fooled so easily. It honestly might have been something she would try with a Kasane Ate.

She gets back to her feet and takes another deep breath. She can't let herself get frustrated. It will only give Leona more of an advantage. She just needs to approach this better. She just stays back for now and seems content to watch Leona and try to find a weakness to exploit.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh looks for an opening.

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Leona            0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[LEONA]
Leona lands softly despite her heavy boots. Dropped to a low crouch, her fingers grace the ground as her cold and emotionless eyes watch as Kasumi is struck by the cutting force of Leona's chi. Her fingers tap, she readies herself to charge in, but holds herself. Something is different.

Her opponent is gauging her, Leona can tell. A studying eye of a fighter. Clever and paced. Leona rises up to her leaned back, coiled posture. She bristles with readiness, debating internally. Decisions made, she moves. A darting side, lowering herself, slinking with a serpentine motion. A hauling charge toward Kasumi, her hand held low. A slice at the air, a rolling crescent blade whirlwinds toward Kasumi, a dazzling blue with a slashing intensity.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh fails to counter Moon Slasher EX from Leona with Sasshou Inshuu EX.
-*- DEVASTATING HIT! -*-

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Leona            0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
An opening. That is all she needs. Or a moment where Leona might just underestimate her. Isn't that the same thing in the end? There is that moment where the two seem to wait and see who makes the first move and it ends up being Leona to finally close in.

Her brow furrows and she thinks she sees her opening right as Leona comes in with that strike. She goes to grasp for the striking arm to stop it, but Leona's movements are too fast. She misses her moment and she pays for it dearly. There is no stopping a cry of pain escaping this time as she feels the burn of both hand and blade slashing across her and she stumbles back and falls over. She grits her teeth and lays there for a moment. The pain isn't going away, but she can't just accept defeat. Not yet.

What kind of example does this set for those seeing her? They would think her style a joke. She gets to her feet once more and she is in obvious discomfort no matter how much she tries to mask it.

[LEONA]
Serpentine style. The Heidern assassination technique in full display as Leona reads the opposition, creates a false opening and pushes past the waiting defensive position. Strike hard, shock the system and lay the groundwork for a crumbling opponent.

Leona is low, crouching, chest rising in falling. She can't hear the gathering crowd, but she can hear the cry of pain from Kasumi. Everything drowns out, a din in her ears, a rush of blood, hers, pumping so hard it's all she can hear. Until a single sound cuts through it, a light in the red mist descending in her eyes. Breathing and the sound of pain in her target.

It's happening again. And with a scream of rage, Leona pounces less like a trained killer and more like a wildcat. Hurtling toward Kasumi, a coiled leap over head, bringing herself to the other side of her opponent, a maneuver followed with a sharp boot toward Kasumi's lower back, and a second, sliding, twin leg takedown at her knees. A low, eager, violently mad laugh coming to Leona's violence hungry voice.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh counters Combo Grapple from Leona with Kuzu Otoshi EX.
! VENGEANCE !

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Leona            1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
Fighting through the pain Kasumi makes sure to do her best to keep a defensive position. She isn't sure she can take much more punishment like that previous hit and Leona so far has proved hard to land a single hit. She feels embarassed even if she knows she shouldn't be. She is well trained, but this is a professional trained to do more than subdue an opponent. Kasumi knows Leona could have done far worse if she really wanted to.

She sees the mercenary quickly moving in once more. This time leaping upwards to try and go up and over the short fighter and get a strike from behind. This time Kasumi's hands move to catch Leona and this time they get a grip on her as she is going overhead. One hand on the top of the woman's outfit and the other grasping on her pants as she uses the momentum of Leona's leap with her own strength to slam her down on the ground with all he strength and follows it up with an open palm thrust right into the back of the other woman's head.

She winces and staggers back as step afterwards and sort of clutches herself where Leona's last strike landed. The exertion just making things hurt worse, but at least she has shown she will not let herself be defeated so easily.

[LEONA]
Crashing down, air gone from lungs, a snap-crack of her head off the palm of Kasumi. Leona staggers forward, slumps to a knee. Her eyes screw shut, her hair hangs, she hangs. The world starts to spin and spiral. And like water down a drain, the rushing blood silences itself.

The crowd. The clear headed focus on the fight. Leona opens her eyes and scuttles forward, away from Kasumi, to steady herself and ready her position. "Failure," she mutters to herself, not loud, but by no means keeping her low opinion of her performance and of her control over the blood.

This woman wasn't like the blonde man, or like Iori. She didn't stir the blood in the same way. She didn't make her palms itch with anticipation, just an eager rage that made her sloppy, if strong. And this wasn't a fight that berserk fury would win.

Mind clear, mistakes made, Leona redoubles her attention on the fight. Like a coiled serpent, she readies herself to strike.

COMBATSYS: Leona assesses the tactical situation.

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Leona            1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
Finally a solid blow delivered and it was a mighty enough one to make Leona take a moment to rethink her strategy. Kasumi's lips shift just slightly. Something of a smile showing momentarily. Does she have a shot of turning this around and winning? It is too soon to think on that, but she seems a bit more confident now even if still in pain.

She raises her hands as she watches Leona. If she is going to stand there then there is only one proper way to handle the situation. She gathers her energy while taking a deep breath and then with a step forward she swings her arms downwards.

The energy gather coming off as a rather large blast of energy hurtling in the direction of Leona while Kasumi gives the cry of "CHOU KASANE ATE!" A blast powerful enough to bowl Leona over if she does not prepare herself adequately or get out of the way.

COMBATSYS: Leona full-parries Kasumi Todoh's Chou Kasane Ate!!

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Leona            1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0     Kasumi Todoh

[LEONA]
Calculated odds. A plan of attack. Target acquired and the time was ripe to strike. A powerful blast hurtles toward Leona. She charges it. Her arm snaps out behind her, whirling, cutting and sparking energy coats Leona's forearm, honing it to a bladed edge. She leaps for the energy blast, turning like a corkscrew in the air.

Above the blast, Leona strikes it, the two energies meet, they explode against each other. A maelstrom of chi that sends Leona hurtling high into the air, and rapidly coming down toward Kasumi. High ground obtained. Bombardment imminent.

A streak of chi-produced fire, Leona Heidern at the head of it, roars down toward Kasumi. The bolt of flame crashing toward her. She hits the ground, coiling tightly, all that force splits upward, exploding up at an angle into, through if it has to be, Kasumi Todoh. A flaming V burning in the air in the aftermath of the meteoric strike.

COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Kasumi Todoh with V-Slasher EX.

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Leona            0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1     Kasumi Todoh

[KASUMI TODOH]
Kasumi had put everything she could muster in that Kasane Ate and it shows. She is a bit winded and even more so surprised and caught off guard when Leona easily handles things and comes crashing down and deliver that upwards slash. Kasumi's eyes go wide as she falls backwards. The small woman lands hard on the ground with a groan with arms clutching her torso. Her gi tattered and singed while she rolls onto her side and winces.

Dammit, she wanted to do better. She wanted to show what she is capable of, but the pain is too much. She tries to sit up but ends up leaning back and remains laying on the ground. After another moment the official calls the fight.

"Dammit...." she curses again to herself quietly. She just needs a few moments and hope the pain fades. A fight like this just makes her realize just how much harder she has to train and push herself. She can't let something like this become the standard or Todoh-ryuu will continue to be viewed as a joke.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh takes no action.

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Leona            0/-------/-----==|

COMBATSYS: Kasumi Todoh can no longer fight.

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Leona            0/-------/-----==|

[LEONA]
Boots land on the ground. Leona Heidern, silent soldier, on the run and in service at the same time, stands and adjusts her glove. She looks behind her to see the girl fall to the ground. She can hear the official call the fight. But it's all a distant thought to Leona, her mind is stuck on the tasks ahead of her. The fight will provide some funds to keep her going on her search into this blood and rage.

"I still have my mission," she reaffirms to herself, walking off the platform while fixing her hair back up behind her. She has so much more to do. She felt the rage, but it wasn't the same as before. She wanted to kill the girl, to tear into her, to see blood. It was distasteful. It was uncontrolled. And it was not what Heidern had taught her. But it was something that Leona Heidern needed to learn if she were to know herself.

COMBATSYS: Leona has ended the fight here.

Log created on 11:43:47 02/25/2019 by Leona, and last modified on 12:17:37 02/26/2019.