Match of the Millennium

Description: Rafferty takes a wrong turn onto the riverbed near Gedo Street late at night. When a mugger shows up to demand his most prized possessions, the American prettyboy is on the verge of an untimely bout of bravery - only to be rescued by a dynamic ninja duo! Well, at least one of them is a ninja, anyway!

[RAFFERTY]
"I know! Can you believe it? I'm so excited, man."

"Yeah, I'm wearing them right now. Johnny freaking Cage's shades on my face."

"Yeah. I've only taken them off to shower."

"Nena? She hasn't seen them yet. I guess she might be in to it. She didn't seem that in to his movies though."

The blond boy talks on his iPhone, as he walks along, excited to share the news of his recent encounter with a movie star, to whichever of his friends is at the other end of the line. He's dressed in an outfit fairly typical of a teenage boy. It consists of a grey Adidas hoodie, matching sweatpants and white sneakers. What probably isn't typical is the price tag. The designs are limited edition, so come at an extra cost.

He's so absorbed in his conversation, that he hasn't noticed he's gone a little off track with his evening stroll. What started off as a walk around a beautiful and tranquil park, has now given way, via the riverside, to a secluded looking and run down river bed. No longer holding any actual water, it now seems to exist merely for the purposes of spraying graffiti and getting people's footwear muddy. Speaking of...

Rafferty sighs, as he looks down at his now dirty sneakers. They are the kind that are definitely made for style, rather than any sporting activity and as such, are meant to be kept pristine clean, to get the full fashion effects.

"I'm gonna go, Ryan. I've kinda got an emergency situation going on here. I'll catch you later, back at the dorm."

He hangs up the call, slips his phone in his pocket and pulls out a silk handkerchief from the other one. He wouldn't normally use such an exquisite piece of material for this purpose, but he does have a bunch of these things and needs must.

He bends down and starts to work on sprucing up his sneakers. So focused is he, that he doesn't hear the man approaching him from behind.

"Hand your phone over" says the gruff, deep voice, causing Rafferty's head to turn to look at him.

"While you're at it, I'll have those shades you've been bragging about too. They should be a nice little earner, if I put them on eBay. Or I might just give them to my little bro for a gift. He's crazy about that dude."

He holds out a gloved hand expectantly, waiting for Rafferty to hand over the goods.

Normally the schoolboy wouldn't put up a fight. He's no fan of violence and is much more likely to run away than stand his ground, but this is his phone, with all his precious selfies and contacts and the sunglasses? They are his new favourite belonging and a talisman for his future Hollywood career. There's no way he's handing them over to this thug.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that" he responds, rising slowly to his feet, filthy handkerchief in his hand.

"So I suggest you just go away and leave me alone."

The thug starts to laugh. "Seriously? Oh well, if that's what you want me to do, then I will just be on my way."

Before Rafferty can say anything further, a fist comes flying towards him, aiming right for his beautiful face!

[RAIZA]
"Try to keep up, Liza-chan."

"I told you, *huff* you can call me Raiza, Hisashi-nii-san! *huff*"

"...And I told you, you can call me Hisashi-san!"

Two masked figures dash along the top of the concrete barrier on one side of the empty riverbed beneath the stars, which are just a little more prominent for the lack of artificial lighting in this part of the city. Each is clad in loose-fitting black hakama, black tabi, and a black top - a form-fitting long-sleeved turtleneck, in the case of Hisashi, and a sleeveless cropped one in the case of Liza - or Raiza, as she would prefer to be called. The much-distant cousins (though Hisashi fails to acknowledge their familial status) seem to be in some sort of foot race.

"So, if we're just *huff* running, why do we have to *huff* do it out here, with our ninja clothes on, Hisashi-senpai?"

"Because being a ninja is about speed /and/ stealth, and you need to learn how to do both at once! Speaking of stealth, your next step: practice the art of being quiet!"

Raiza falls quiet save for her heavy breathing as she struggles to maintain the pace being set by her more experienced and athletic cousin. As she continues her sprinting, she notices something out of the corner of her eye - the glow of a phone screen, as attention-grabbing and hypnotic to her as to any moth. She can't quite make out who's holding the phone, but she can make out the more sinister figure stalking aggressively toward them. She's about to call out to Hisashi when she remembers that she's supposed to be remaining silent. She can't get his attention from behind him, either. Sweat beads on her brow as her eyes narrow. The burning in her lungs and legs is intense - but she starts to focus her ki, and small blue sparks arc around her feet as she gains speed.

Hisashi's eyes widen when, a few seconds later, Raiza suddenly blitzes past him, turning around and flapping her arms madly to get his attention. Her sudden twist causes her to immediately lose her balance, stumble - and then the pair collide, tumbling over each other into the riverbed.

"Liza-chan! What the heck were you doing?!" Hisashi demands to know in a hushed hiss as he pushes himself off of the brunette with daggers in his eyes.

Raiza, committed to her task of silence, sits up and points a finger toward the mugging underway.

Hisashi observes the crime in progress and scoffs, hands on his hips. "So? That's what happens when tourists wander around shitholes like this! We're ninja, not vigilantes! Now, come on, before they see us!"

With that, Hisashi takes off again, hopping deftly up onto the barrier.

Raiza's eyes narrow, her brow furrowing. She hesitates for a moment, before pulling her blunted double-headed kusarigama from where it's wrapped around her waist, before dashing up toward the pair from behind, tabi nearly inaudible against the mud as she whirls her kama overhead by the chain.

"ASU-SEN!"

As she declares her attack's name (and intention to use it) in true ninja fashion, Raiza slings the chain forward, attempting to catch the thug with it and reel him away from Rafferty - and if she does so, he'll be subjected to an electric shock as an arc of blue lightning races down the the chain!

COMBATSYS: Mazin has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Raiza has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Raiza            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Mazin

[DAISUKE]
Not far off, a young man is perched at the edge of a building, in a crouch low enough for his hands to press down against the cement of the building's edge. A young man worn into a black, tight leather jacket, with a long, flowing red scarf coiled around his neck -- and a half-facemask of the same color covering his face up to the midway of the bridge of his nose, leaving messy, shockingly-red hair out into the open while it flutters subtly in the faint summer breeze.

The strangely-dressed man's eyes are closed, in deep focus. This is a method of training, in a sense. Self-conditioning to help develop better control over psychic senses that have been overloading him, lately.

Here, near the river, at this hour, the streets aren't so crowded, so he isn't as quickly overwhelmed by feedback in his surroundings-- and that, too, gives him the room to try and, perhaps, refine them some more. To focus deeply. Try to get a better sense of his surroundings, the people moving around. He still can't form a good picture in his mind, no, but he's getting a little better at it, at least.

But something flickers into those senses. Enough to draw his attention -- and enough to break his focus, as his eyes slowly open, revealing the faint glow within his green irises.

What is that, exactly? Animosity? Greed? It's hard to put a name on some of these specific frequencies of emotional feedback, still. And there's something else. Something he feels like he can recognize much more easily.

An instinct to protect.

The red-haired, masked man rises up from the crouch, and casts his gaze towards the dried riverbed, cordoned off by cement barriers.

A deep breath under that mask, and he leaps off of the rooftop. Blazing Panther is on the way to investigate.

COMBATSYS: Mazin blocks Raiza's Grounding Wire.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Raiza            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Mazin

[RAFFERTY]
As the thug's fist threatens to shatter a razor sharp cheekbone, the male model turns his face to the right and his lips start to form into a pout, familiar to his many followers. He's preparing to fix his piercing blue gaze on his assailant, when a lithe, black clad figure comes hurtling towards him.

"Oh hell, there's another one" he cringes, losing his focus and feeling his heart start to pound in his chest. Even worse, this one has a weapon and it's coming right for...

It's coming right for his mugger!

Taking the chance to duck out of harm's way, the scared schoolboy starts to back up, stopping only when he gets to what he believes to be a safe difference. He doesn't try to run away though. Apparently he's at least gonna stick around to watch the show. Oh yes and to make sure his rescuer is okay!

Mazin, for that is the name of the mugger, lets out a low rumble, that sounds almost like a growl, as Raiza launches the chain towards him. Throwing his hands up to protect himself, he starts to curse loudly as his gloves become static, providing him with a series of uncomfortable little shocks.
Launching himself into the air in fury, Mazin attempts to come down on the girl, as punishment for her shocking behaviour! Brandishing a bony looking elbow, he aims to smash it into her face, with the full force of his considerable weight behind it.

COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks Mazin's Flying Elbow.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Raiza            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Mazin

[RAIZA]
Raiza's brows lower as the Mazin' Mugger manages to fend off the chain that was meant to hook him into her range for an inevitable beat-

Wait.

This guy is actually pretty beefy!

"Hey, get out of here!" Raiza calls to the haplessly stylish victim of this mugging, only affording her brown eyes the briefest of moments to flick over in his direction - but just long enough for her to recognize the youth that she met the other day.

"Hey -"

The hulking shadow looming over her snaps her attention back to the battle (and perhaps saves her from an identity-revealing faux pas) - her kama suddenly form an X against the oncoming blow as she assumes the basic ninja defensive stance that she's just started practicing under Master Masayoshi.

"HuAH!"

The elbow drop is powerful enough to cause the crossed kama to collide back against Raiza's face - "Oww!" - sending the novice ninja staggering backward through the mud, nearly slipping and falling. She's already panting as she pulls herself together, shoulders heaving as she eyes the mugging miscreant sidelong with her left eye, right eye squeezed shut from the blow.

"I-is that all you've got, creep? You better run! I'll have you know, I'm a ninja! And there's only one of me, which means you're screwed!"

Electric sparks start to fly off of Raiza, crackling and dancing along the chain between her twin kama as she lowers her stance and draws a deep breath in through her mask.

"AhhhhHHH!"

The shout that the girl unleashes as the electricity starts to course through and around her isn't exactly the sort that one would expect from a master of stealth - but it does warn of impending danger, like the inverse of the report of thunder...

COMBATSYS: Raiza crackles with electricity!

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Raiza            0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0            Mazin

[DAISUKE]
Coming to get sights upon a fight like this in the middle of things might not pave much of a way to allow for a proper assessment on the exact situation, in terms of who's who. Hell, the ninja girl might even end up being mistaken for some kind of elaborate robber.

But thankfully, the figure approaching in has more than five senses to study things with. THe ability to suss out emotions and intents to an extent -- at least enough to figure out who's the one who should be getting the help here.

"Yari!"

A faintly-echoing voice precedes a sudden flash of light -- and more importantly, a mass of fiery, cyan-colored energy arcing through the air towards the would-be mugger's side while electricity courses through the female ninja in preparation for her more powerful attack!

And with it, the masked vigilante known (by an admittedly small number of people) as Blazing Panther suddenly lands into a crouch upon the riverbed, his descent briefly trailed behind him by the crimson scarf.

"Hey!" The mysterious masked man calls out with a sideward glance sent towards the american man - whom he assumed to be the potential victim too, apparently - while lifting himself up to standing upright. "Get going somewhere safe!"

COMBATSYS: Daisuke has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Daisuke          0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0            Raiza
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            0/-------/-----==|

COMBATSYS: Mazin endures Daisuke's Soul Arrow.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Daisuke          0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0            Raiza
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            0/-------/=======|

[RAFFERTY]
Rafferty considers her suggestion. Maybe he should flee the scene, getting his fine ass back to safety. Something deep inside stops him though. Perhaps it's human decency, perhaps it's a tiny sliver of courage. Whichever it is, there's not enough of either for him to actually risk taking a blow.

"I'm not going to leave you!" he calls out, before wincing as his heroine takes a hit to the face.

Mazin meanwhile is grinning broadly, revealing a single gold tooth, in a mouth otherwise lacking in dental attention.

"I've got plenty for you, princess. I'm just getting warmed up. If I was you, I'd go and join your feeble little friend and maybe stop playing with toys meant for grown ups, while you're at it."

His cruel, dark eyes flicker with surprise, as he sees sparks again, his expression a mix of fascination and confusion and as she shouts out, he does have the good grace to look startled for a moment.

His attention is soon drawn away though, by the new arrival. It looks like this one has some kind of weird and wonderful magic powers too. Looking between the daring duo, weighing up his options, he finally makes the choice to aim a jab at Raiza's face. Should it meet its target, he will follow it up with an uppercut to her jaw.

Hugging his knees to his chest, Rafferty contemplates running away for the second time, in as many minutes. These two seem to have things covered, right? On the other hand, he should at least stick around and thank them for their help. Maybe he could call the cops, whilst the burly bruiser is distracted. Yes, that's what he will do! He touches the screen, expecting it to light up and finds...that the battery is dead. His phone never runs out of juice! Of all the times for it to do so.

COMBATSYS: Mazin successfully hits Raiza with 1-2 Punch.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Daisuke          0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1            Raiza
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            1/------=/=======|

[RAIZA]
Raiza's heart pounds in her chest as she gathers her electrical energy in preparation for what's to come. This is her first real fight! Well, she did rescue that boy at school, and there were those hair-pulling contests and thrown Barbie dolls when she was a kid - but she's never been in a real kick-ass-or-have-your-ass-kicked scenario up until this point.

It hurts a lot more than she expected.

Her eye is swelling a bit from where her kama smacked into it before, but she manages to spy the mass of cyan-coloured energy flying past her toward the mugger.

"HAAAA?!"

There's a slightly questioning tone to her continued bellowing as the buzzing energy builds through her body. She's never met this red-headed vigilante, as far as she can recall - but she can tell that he's a hero, judging by his red scarf. She'd wanted to wear a red scarf herself, but Hisashi had chided her for it.

'Ninjas? Wearing bright red? Are you being intentionally stupid, Raiza-chan?'

Yet here was proof that you could wear a red scarf and still sneak up on someone perfectly well! She'd have to tell Hisashi-nii-san about -

*JAB*

*UPPERCUT*

The combination catches Raiza out, the jab dazing her before the uppercut rocks off her feet and into the air, flipping head over heels as she sparks wildly with electricity. She flinches with pain, eyes shutting tight - but the power that's coursing through her is begging to be released, and all is not lost yet.



"SANDOBADO-"

The teenage ninja shouts out with determination as she throws her arms and legs up, a blinding flash of blue light emitting from her before she's *BZZZT* suddenly flashing toward the muscular mugger's mean mug hip-first with the speed and power of a lightning bolt.

"- BURRRINKU!"

If she manages to crash into the Mazin' man, he'll be in for a powerful discharge of electrical energy and a localized crack of thunder!

[DAISUKE]
The newly-arrived mask vigilante frowns towards the mugger. The danger he had perceived the american boy to have been in is completely forgotten with the display of violence directed at this mysterious ninja. Even more so since he'd hoped he could have distracted the mugger's attention towards him, instead!

Nevermind that he might not have much better luck in defending himself. He's just that kind of guy, you know?

He'll just have to get closer, then. The instant the first blow lands onto Raiza, the be-scarfed hero(?) launches himself into motion forward, running in a slightly lowered posture with his left forearm folded just ahead of him in a vaguely ninja-like dash that carries him towards the two.

And as he approaches Mazin from behind at the same time as Raiza launches herself at him, he too sends himself into a slide across the ground--!

"Haa--!"

And thrusts out his right palm at the man's back in the exact moment Thunderbolt-Raiza flashes into the air to fly at the mugger, a wide wave of energy blasting out to hopefully send him flying into the female ninja's attack!

COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits Mazin with Empowered Thunderbird Blink EX.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Daisuke          0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1            Raiza
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            1/--=====/=======|

COMBATSYS: Daisuke successfully hits Mazin with Quick Throw.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Daisuke          0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1            Raiza
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mazin            1/-======/=======|

[RAFFERTY]
Rafferty's never been in a fight before either, not even one with a Barbie doll, though he has come dangerously close on a few occasions. He must just have one of those faces that other guys want to punch. He's still wearing the Cage shades, since he never got to complete his Blue Steel assault and as dusk becomes dark, he's finding it increasingly hard to see what's going on in the combat. Perhaps it's for the best.

Mazin the Mugger stands his ground as the female ninja smashes into him with her hip. Despite the fact his jawbone takes quite the knock he remains on his feet. He's not so lucky once The Blazing Panther pounces though. The combination of the teen superheros proves too powerful and he finds himself trapped between them, as Daisuke knocks him straight into the path of Raiza's rising storm. His burly body starts to vibrate with the shocks from the electricity, causing his muscles to contract and he falls to his knees, reaching his hands out in front of him, to steady himself against the solid ground.

Once the initial shock has subsided, the man rises again, seeking revenge for the pain and humiliation he has suffered. He sets his sights on the male ninja now, attempting to lift him above his head, before letting out a loud roar and dropping down to one knee, with the intent of slamming him across it spine first.

COMBATSYS: Daisuke interrupts Backbreaker from Mazin with Blazing Blow.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Daisuke          0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1            Raiza
[                          \\\\  <
Mazin            1/-------/=======|

[RAIZA]
Raiza's bared hip (thanks to the slits in the sides of her hakama) bounces off of the Mazin Mug Man's face as she ricochets away, though not before unleashing her thunderous discharge. She flips away and rolls through the mud up to her feet.

"Arigato!" she shouts with a wink to Blazing Panther for his assistance in the execution of the double-team attack - but now it appears that it's Blazing Panther that's in peril for his efforts! Her eyes widen, then narrow, a glint flashing across them as she surges with adrenaline. She's seen this maneuver before, and she's not going to let this guy be the Bane to Blazing Panther's Batman, no matter how badly bruised she may be!

"Let go of him, you jerk!"

The kama in her right hand gleams as she hurls it at Mazin, attempting to hook it into his clothing as an anchor. Then, dashing forward at full speed, she attempts to clothesline him with the other kama before darting back in the opposite direction with her elbow in an attempt to smash it into his face in passing - each pass potentially entangling the mugger further with the chain as she flits around him again and again, aiming kicks and knees and kama strikes at whatever part of him is exposed until he's practically cocooned by the kusarigama's.

"Ju Oku-Boruto No Batteri!"

Then, if she's managed to entangle the man as intended, she'll give a hard tug on the chain while leaping away, rapidly unwinding the weapon while sending a continuous current crackling along the steel tether and into Mazin!

[DAISUKE]
The sliding across the ground of Blazing Panther's comes to a stop, and he nods towards the female ninja with a rumbled question of "Are you okay?" And definitely not reacting in any way or form to the blink. And not just because the mask is hiding most of his face. Nope. Definitely not.

But MAzin's quickly up again?! And so quickly at that, that Blazing Panther suddenly finds himself hoisted up before he can properly react to the quick approach. "Whoa--whoawhoawhoahey?!"

The redhead's arms and legs flail in an effort to get himself wriggled free while he's hoisted up, at least -- and desperetaly trying to get out of there before he's slammed down for that matter!!

THankfully, Raiza's quick on her feet too. Regardless of wether or not the chain properly finds purchase on the mugger, it distracts and tugs at the brute's arms enough to create an opening for the vigilante.

"Dhhhaaa---!"

His outer arm folds up, fist clenched tight while cyan energy gathers around it -- and suddenly more bursts in a blazing flame outwards by his elbow, suddenly rocketing him into a motion in the instant Mazin's arms go swinging down. The rapid spin, traced behind him in a trail of his red scarf and the flicker of the energy both while it's lead to his gloved fist slamming square into the face of the thug.

And down the rest of the way he goes-- slamming side-first down onto the ground instead of back-first onto a knee. There's an audible wince of pain, but the redhead's quick to roll around over in spite of it and land onto one knee, with his fist slammed down onto the ground for further support.

COMBATSYS: Mazin Toughs Out Raiza's Billion Volt Battery EX!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daisuke          0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0            Raiza
[                                <
Mazin            1/------=/=======|

COMBATSYS: Mazin can no longer fight.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daisuke          0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0            Raiza

[RAFFERTY]
"Not a chance" the man fires back, through gritted teeth.

It seems he has little choice in the matter however, as Raiza's kamas combine to capture the criminal. Frantically trying to wiggle free, as his hoody is hooked, a look of panic appears in his eyes. As she successfully gives him the elbow, he's unable to keep his grasp on the red haired boy, allowing him to make an escape and avoid the fate of Batman.

Luckily for Daisuke, he's free just in time to ensure he's safely out of the currents crackling along Raiza's chain. Mazin twitches and twists, looking like he's doing some kind of distorted dance.

As Blazing Panther's fist finds his face, the display comes to an abrupt halt and the mugger's gaze goes vacant. He collapses to the floor, but not before lashing out one last time, trying to bring both his fists down on the top of Raiza's skull.

A cheer sounds out from the observing American boy. He may not be able to see clearly, but he has a good enough view to note the mugger's distinctive shape starting to fall. Hopefully his celebrations aren't too premature!

COMBATSYS: Mazin successfully hits Daisuke with Double Fisted Fury.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daisuke          1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0            Raiza

[DAISUKE]
Blazing Panther, despite not being a ninja, is actually pretty quick and agile, it turns out! He's almost instantly bouncing up from the kneeled landing. The thug is still on his feet, against all odds! And he's determined to put him down before he can...

...Before he can...

His fists are already swinging. But not at him.

Something clicks inside the head of the boy behind the mask of Blazing Panther. He can *sense* where the overhead fists are aimed for. A rapidfire sequence of calculations are ran while he witnesses the motion in slow-motion and his feet are rapidly carrying him towards the thug.

And yet, regardless of how bad of an idea those calculations might make it seem, a particular decision is made, and the trajectory of his lunge redirects by a few degrees.

Suddenly, a gloved hand is shoving at the side of the female ninja's shoulder, as Blazing Panther sweeps in front of her, turning at the same time to try to--

THUNK

There was never enough time to do anything else about it. That was the cost of the choice he made. But at least he got to make sure those meaty fists came down upon the top of his skull instead.

"Ggghhhuuh--"

The impact sends the redhead right down onto both knees on the ground at the same time as Mazin's body falls down -- but at least he's still awake, still supporting his nearly-slumped body with his forearms. Even if he is shaking with the pain of a nearly-concussive hit that even knocked the cloth mask looser and slightly ajar.

[RAIZA]
When the plan goes off - thanks in part to the tandem efforts of the mysterious Blazing Panther - Raiza's eyes light up, not just with the reflected blue glow of the electrical zapping that she's subjecting Mazin to, but at the rush of impending victory.

"Nice one - !!"

The kunoichi catches the second kama in a clenched fist and pumps it in the air in celebratory manner - though it turns out that it's a bit premature. The big man in the hoodie is aiming to come down on her like a sack of bricks. Her body tenses as she prepares to make an attempt at leaping out of the way - until she feels a hand on her shoulder.

"H-hey!"

Thus, the brown-haired ninja suddenly finds herself toppling over, hitting the muddy ground and rolling through it. It's unpleasant - especially with her turtleneck face mask getting covered in muck - but it's probably a lot less bad for her health than getting double-clocked in the noggin. Sitting up, she sputters and wipes her fingers through her hair - only succeeding in distributing the mud in it more broadly across her scalp.

"H-hey! What did you do that for?" she demands to know of the redhead now shuddering on the ground, clambering over to him. "You could've really gotten hurt!"

Perhaps she missed the part where he -did- get clubbed in the head?

Suddenly, a shadowy presence on the periphery of the scuffle makes his presence known.

"Tch. All this to save some rich American asshole."

Hisashi's voice is low and bitter, his arms folded across his midsection and turtleneck pulled up over his nose to conceal his face. His dark brown hair dangles over half his face.

"Come on, nee-chan. Let the other wannabe take it from here."

"B-but he looks hurt, Hisashi-nii-cha-"

Raiza starts to protest, before suddenly slapping her hands over the cloth covering her mouth as her eyes widen.

"I-I mean, senpai!"

Hisashi lets out a noise that goes from a low grumble to a fierce growl at his cousin's ineptitude, one hand digging its fingers into his scalp.

"You had to reveal my identity, didn't you?! It was /bad enough/ that you run off in the middle of training...!"

"I-I'm sorry, nii-chan!!"

Raiza's brown eyes start to water visibly at the situation as she sinks on her knees, her shoulders slumping dejectedly.

[RAFFERTY]
Rafferty is on his filthy feet now and comes racing towards Daisuke and Raiza to show his gratitude.

"You both saved my life!" he claims, perhaps a tad dramatically. There probably wasn't a real risk to his existence, as long as he handed over his phone and those damn shades.

Speaking of, they are still planted firmly on his face, despite it now being fully dark.

"Please, let me repay you in some way" he insists, reaching into his wallet to pull out some notes. Apparently Mazin didn't notice that!

The model approaches the mugger's body and gives him a firm kick in the ribs, seeming rather pleased with himself. What a brave boy he is!

Turning to look at Hisashi (though it may be hard for him to tell, from behind those mirrored shades), Rafferty says in a clear and calm voice "I may be reasonably rich, but I am not an asshole. You however, are wanting to leave an injured man to his fate."

He looks towards Raiza with sympathy "You were amazing. You both were. Don't listen to him."

[DAISUKE]
"Hhhghh..."

Still doubled over, the redhead down on the ground draws his hand up to pressing at the top of his head, feeling out his own skull. Okay, it doesn't *seem* like skin got broken. At least he doesn't feel like there's any blood there. Making out blood in there might be a bit tougher with how red his hair is, though!

He's still dazed enough that he can't do much more than listen to the conversation going around him, at first-- but eventually, he tries to push himself upwards.

"Hhhggh... Sorry..." The redhead rumbles, while drawing himself up enough to reach a hand out to Raiza, setting it on her shoulder for a moment... before suddenly realizing his mask is ajar, and quickly drawing that hand back so that he might re-situate it. Whoops. Hopefully no one noticed.

"...Sorry I got you all messy..." He adds in then, leveling his eyes on one of the four Raiza's in front of him. Wait, four? Oh, sheesh, maybe he got hit worse than he thought afterall.

[RAIZA]
Hisashi looks across at the American who's wearing sunglasses at night in a dark riverbed.

"Hmph. No wonder you got lost. Wait, are those Johnny Cage sunglasses?"

There's a sudden shift in tone, a hint of a crack in the ninja's icy exterior.

Meanwhile, Daisuke's hand finds Raiza's shoulder, causing her to turn her head.

"Hey, you don't have to apologize -"

Wait. There's something familiar about this situation. His hand on her shoulder, his red hair, those green eyes...

"- D-daisuk- I mean -"

Close call there, Raiza. You almost managed to out two of your disguised acquaintances in one night! It's clear that this one is a prodigy of ninja subterfuge.

"I'll take those sunglasses... as payment for services rendered. Raiza-chan isn't a full member of our clan, yet; she can't take payment."

The imposing presence of Hisashi looms over Rafferty, arms still folded across his chest, as he makes his demand.

"Hisashi-nii-chan! You just totally dropped my name too! And we're /not/ taking payment - he's my friend!"

Raiza hooks her kusarigama around her waist as she stands defiantly, glowering at her cousin.

"WHAT?!"

Hisashi's face flushes, as much in embarrassment at failing his own standards of deception as anger at the junior ninja's defiance.

"You can't let him leave here knowing your identity!"

In a flash, there's a gleaming silver shuriken between Hisashi's fingers. Without hesitation, he looses it toward Rafferty - only for the female ninja to suddenly interpose herself with a burst of lightning speed, one hand outstretched.

*THKK*

The bladed star pierces into Raiza's flesh as it strikes her palm; it's embedded in an instant. She stands, trembling, in front of Rafferty, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she holds her lips tightly shut behind her mask.

Hisashi's eyes widen.

"R-Raiza...!"

[RAFFERTY]
"Yes" Rafferty replies to Hisashi, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Johnny Cage himself gave them to me. As such, there is absolutely no way that I can hand them over. I have to return them to him in immaculate condition, when we film our first movie together" he explains, making no secret of his lofty ambitions.

As far as he's concerned, that's the matter closed.

When Raiza starts to say Daisuke's name, the Pacific High schoolboy looks at the redhead with recognition. How ironic, he was only talking about having to rescue this boy the other day and now the Taiyo student has rescued him! Futhermore, the person he was discussing it with is his female rescuer! What a small place Southtown is.

"It's good to see you again, Raiza" he tells her, beaming a bright smile in her direction. "It seems like you have other skills besides tennis." He opens his mouth to continue the chatter, when he sees the silver shuriken flying in his direction. Instead of words coming out, he releases an ear piercing scream and starts to wave his hands around wildly.

Thankfully for the blond boy, Raiza reacts rapidly, swooping in to save him again. He looks at her in stunned silence, as he realises she's taken the hit for him. He finally removes the precious shades, his blue eyes flickering towards her as he utters the words "Thank you" and then promptly faints at her feet.

[DAISUKE]
"...?"

The redhead hears a name uttered by the female ninja. Slowly, his head lifts up, to look at her, with visible confusion. How could she know about him? With how rattled his brain still is, he doesn't quite manage to put two and two together on his own, and it takes her cousin inadvertantly dropping the ball for him to really catch on properly.

"Ra...iza...?"

That revelation makes the unfolding events afterwards all the more worse for him. He's hardly quick enough to even get up in time to interfere -- only up on one knee by the time his eyes land on Raiza, with shuriken digging into her palm, and Rafferty falling over unconscious from... shock? Something.

"........Ah."

A switch shifts over inside of Daisuke's head, barely held back from flipping all the way ot it's opposing side.

"You--!!"

In an instant, Daisuke has suddenly stomped up from the ground!

"Absolute JACKASS!!"

And one gloved hand is suddenly thrust in to grab onto the male ninja's hakama, and brightly-glowing green eyes are set to a glare on Hisashi, while little arcs of otherwordly energy crackle in the air around him, a disturbation in the air currents bringing his hair and scarf floating upwards now with the barely-constrained surge!

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!"

It's taking roughly... *all* of Daisuke's willpower to not just slam his fist right into Hisashi's face right then and there.

[RAIZA]
For a moment, the two ninja stand opposite each other. Raiza doesn't even seem to register the gratitude displayed by Rafferty as she and Hisashi stare each other down. She doesn't even acknowledge the moment where he falls unceremoniously onto the ground at her feet.

"Raiza... why... did you...?!"

"Because I don't let let people hurt my /friends,/ Hisashi-nii-san!"

It's at this moment that Daisuke grabs onto Hisashi's clothing.

*KRAKK*

Lightning splits the sky overhead as a storm suddenly breaks out, the patter of rain felt throughout the city. As the flash fades, Hisashi turns his eyes down to Daisuke. The inclement weather kicks up a breeze, sparks crackling across Hisashi's eyes in response to the rise of energy from Blazing Panther. It's hard to say who might have more ability here; the ninja's coolly controlled chi doesn't spike as wildly as Daisuke's, but it holds a menace all of its own.

"Tch."

Hisashi turns his attention back to Raiza, who seems to be slumping slowly as the trembling in her body becomes more pronounced.

"I wasn't going to kill him," he claims, pulling away from Daisuke. "That shuriken was laced with sleeping poison."

Raiza's eyes betray her bewilderment as she looks down at the bloodstained throwing star stuck in her palm - a moment before her eyes roll back in her head, and she collapses into the mud next to Rafferty, now equally unconscious.

"It'll take two of us to carry them, now, 'Blazing Panther.' Let's get them out of here."

With a coolness that may fringe on arrogance, Hisashi turns his back and steps over to his fallen cousin, squatting down to lift her over his shoulder.

[DAISUKE]
Daisuke does, at the very least, allow his grip to release when Hisashi pulls back, even if the presence of his energy still remains for a moment longer.

Roughly the moment it takes for the sleeping drug's presence to sink in for both him and Raiza. For one of them in a much more direct way too, as it turns out.

"..."

Daisuke's left staring down at the two teens slumped down to the ground -- and even when Hisashi moves to lift Raiza up, his own hands still clutch into faintly-shaking fists for a few seconds.

"...You should think more about how she feels, you idiot."

But he has to put his complaints about Raiza's cousin aside for now. For there is another knocked-out teen to carry out of here. With a vaguely exasperated sigh, Daisuke moves to crouch besides Rafferty, and hoist him up over his shoulder... surprisingly easily? Huh. Is he actually getting stronger, lately? ...Or is Rafferty just way lighter than a boy his age should be? ...Probably best not to think too much about that.

"I'll get him to his school," he assures Hisashi either way when he stands up, blonde american draped over his shoulder and all. But he doesn't quite turn to leave without sending a glance beck to Raiza on the male ninja's shoulder.

"...Damnit..."

That makes four now. Four to know about his vigilante 'hobby' and the powers he's been hiding from most people. He might need to start working on this whole secrecy thing.

...And talk about some things with Raiza when he sees her at school the next day. Surely that won't be an akward conversation at all.

[RAFFERTY]
Mazin the mugger manages to regain consciousness, just in time to see the quartet heading away from the riverbed.

"Later, losers!" he calls out angrily in to the night.

No sooner have the words left his lips, than the sound of sirens can be heard in the distance. This spurs the criminal into action. Clumsily clambering to find his balance, he slides over in the mud, before managing to stand on his second attempt. He starts to run raggedly in the direction of the park, panting heavily as his large, boot clad feet pound against the pavement.

He breathes a sigh of relief, as he makes it to the peaceful green area and takes a break on a bench to catch his breath. As he closes his eyes and tries to ignore the pain flooding his body, he feels a hand clamp down on his solid shoulder. Turning around, he sees two cops behind him and they don't look happy.

He's too spent to put up another fight and finds himself cuffed and led away to spend an uncomfortable night in a cell. That will teach him to mess with Rafferty Lawrence Stewart!

Log created on 19:11:22 07/07/2021 by Raiza, and last modified on 19:38:11 07/08/2021.