Match of the Millennium

Description: Deep beneath Metro City in a long-forgotten nexus of tragedy, a decrepit, Buried Subway Station thunders endlessly with warnings of trains yet to come, forever threatening to barrel right through the Cackling Chaos Lotus and the Urban Kunoichi Maki's bout.

[LOTUS]
Deep beneath the earth, in an abandoned subway station, the sound of a phantom train can be heard occasionally echoing through the tunnels. Urban explorers, ghost hunters, photographers, the homeless looking for refuge from the weather, and others have long heard the sound, but none of search for it ever find it's source.....

At least, those that return to tell their story.

At least, that's the thought that goes through Lotus' mind as she makes her way into the old, abandoned, run down place. The idea of a dark and sinister history is SO much more interesting, even if it isn't true!

Or is it!?

Even she doesn't know, as the off-kilter redheads yellow, snake-like eyes glow faintly in the dark as they take in the gloomy details of the place.

The supposed site of her next battle!

[MAKI]
Phantom trains. Just an old urban myth, right? In an old subway station that has definitely seen better days where no one within their right mind (at least according to Maki) goes, that's what they say happens from time to time. Of course, nobody has ever seen it happen, and nobody seems to know what it's all about.

To Maki, it seems like something out of a Metro City ghost story that kids tell one another, but when you're actually in the station proper, you find that it seems somewhat possible given how things look. If you believe in ghosts that is.

The sound of Maki's sneakers hitting the ground can barely be heard as she makes her way in while trying to keep herself from being heard until she spots her opponent. The blonde-haired kunoichi wipes her tonfa with her opposite arm before pointing at Lotus. "All right, here we are, now shall we get things underway?" There is a hint of impatience in her voice as if she wishes to get this over with before something creepy happens.

[LOTUS]
The yellow eyes turn to peer intently at Maki, as a fanged grin forms on Lotus' face. She draws her daggers from her sides, licking the blade of one of them. A drop of her saliva strikes the ground, sizzling and smoking "I'm your huckleberry!".

She leans down, adopting a tight stance like a tiger ready to pounce on it's prey, staring Maki in the eyes.....

After a moment after their eyes meet, the sound of a train can indeed be heard in the distance, the sound marking the start of the battle!

COMBATSYS: Lotus has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/-------|

With a great bound, Lotus LEAPS through the air, daggers first, at Maki. A shriek of excitement punctuates her movement as she brings down both daggers on her opponent, aiming for the top of the shoulders between the bones of the shoulder blades. Not lethal areas, but painful and soft. Great for a messy start!

COMBATSYS: Maki has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Maki             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Lotus

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Maki with Catch the Prey.
- Power hit! -

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Maki             0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0            Lotus

[MAKI]
Well, what do you know. There does seem to be a train coming after all. Apparently, it's more than just a legend after all. But is Maki scared?

To be honest, she is a little bit on the startled side, but she seems to be putting that out of her mind as she jumps a couple of times in place to warm up before getting into her fighting stance. Even with the sound getting louder and louder, Maki doesn't seem to care about anything but her opponent.

In comes Lotus, fast... too fast for Maki.

And the area between the shoulder blades is soft and painful. Maki cries out as she finds herself getting stabbed, feeling the blood seeping from her wounds as she recovers from the shock. "Damn it, that was careless of me."

It seems Lotus is getting a bit too close for comfort, so Maki decides to give herself some space by attempting to throw Lotus out of the way so there's some space between the two of them on the platform.

COMBATSYS: Lotus interrupts Quick Throw from Maki with Boot Knife.
- Power hit! -

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Maki             0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
After being grabbed, Lotus manages a quick "MEEP!" as shes thrown!

However, the moment before she adjusted herself for such, and as she flies by the blonde ninja she twists in the air and slices into Maki's arms with the sharpened sections of the bottoms of her footwear!

She's quick enough to aim for the inside of the elbow, where an exposed vein will cause plenty of bleeding! The strike done, Lotus lands easily and rolls to her feet and spins around to once again face her opponent, grinning ear to ear at the sight and smell of fresh blood!

[MAKI]
That wasn't supposed to happen.

But it happened.

As Maki threw Lotus away, the opposing ninja's footwear had a sharp object attached that sliced into her arms before she could react. This causes Maki's throw to go awry as she staggers backwards and drops to one knee while looking at her arms, which are bleeding noticeably. "Crap," She hisses as she grits her teeth through the pain to get back up.

"I dunno what you're grinning about," Maki says as she grits her teeth a little more, wishing this pain would go away. Normally she'd be able to focus on fighting and not the pain, but the sudden impact and the amount of pain she's in make it difficult. "But I don't see anything funny about this!"

Still waiting for the pain to leave her arms, Maki opts not to use her tonfa this time around, instead using her legs as she attempts to sweep out Lotus's feet beneath her.

COMBATSYS: Lotus blocks Maki's Light Kick.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Maki             0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
This just makes Lotus giggle louder and more intently "SURE it is! YOU'VE SPRING A LEEEEEEAK! HEEEEEEEHEEHEEHEE!".

The sweep connects, knocking the leg off the ground, but Lotus manages to leap with the other leg, spinning in the air to land in a handstand "Heeeeey! Why're you on the ceiling! No fair!" as she cackles at her own dumb joke she lashes out with her feet, sending a few handstand kicks, with the sharpened footwear, at Maki in general with no real specific aim other than openings!

COMBATSYS: Maki blocks Lotus' Light Kick.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Maki             1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

[MAKI]
"Leaking? That's a funny way of looking at it," Maki comments sarcastically. "Then again, I suppose given what's going on, that's to be expected of you, given this whole unreal situation." More of that bladed footwear. Maki does not fancy being sliced and diced again, and her arms are starting to feel a little better, so she brings them up to try to deflect them away with the help of her tonfa. She does get knicked briefly, but it's mild compared to what it could have been.

"Fighting upside-down, huh?" Maki asks with a sneer. "You are quite a unique one, but I'm afraid that this isn't a talent show!" She gives Lotus the courtesy of waiting until she's back on her feet again, unless she chooses to remain on her hands. When either of those occurs, Maki swings her tonfa with full force at her opponent.

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Maki's Genkou.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Maki             1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
"Expected of me!?" Lotus frowns "I'm getting PREDITABLE! Say it aint so!".

When the attack comes, still in a handstand, Lotus LEAPS with her arms into the air over Maki's attack! "I must regain my unpredictability!"

As she comes down, she attempts to bring down her hands along the length of Makis back, shredding the skin with the sharp metal filigree adorning the index and pinky fingers of each hand!

COMBATSYS: Maki interrupts Vicious Rake from Lotus with Aggressive Strike.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Maki             1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1            Lotus

[MAKI]
"Oh no, you don't!"

Maki's been raked enough for once, and she's not about to let Lotus continue to make her into a bloody mess. She spins around just in time to bring her tonfa into Lotus just as the blades make contact with her back. She's still hurting, but at least she got her point across.

"Predictable or not, you're pretty good, but you'll never be as good as the Bushin-Ryuu ninja!"

[LOTUS]
An "OOF!" comes from Lotus as the strike hits her in the torso, sending her flying a short distance before catching herself and rolling to her feet, still grinning

Are you the advertising agency? 'Pushin the Bushin'? I dunno. you seem to be gettin banged up pretty good. What kinda ninja doesn't use smoke bombs, or throwing starts.... or, you know STEALTH!" She laughs "Some Ninja!". For the moment she just stand there, laughing

COMBATSYS: Lotus takes no action.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Maki             1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1            Lotus

[MAKI]
Catching her breath for a moment, Maki watches as Lotus simply stands there and laughs. The pain she's going through is enough to make her even angrier, but she knows a ninja without focus is one who will lose their battle. Granted, Maki's already losing as it is, but she refuses to go down without a fight.

"Not all ninjas are the same," Maki says after a moment. "The Bushin-ryuu style is a unique style created by my grandfather! I'm prepared to succeed him when he passes!"

With that, Maki leaps onto an old bench, which surprisingly doesn't fall apart when she does so, then flies at Lotus with her leg outstretched. "Take this!"

COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Lotus with Hassou Kyaku.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Maki             1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Another grunt of pain comes from Lotus as Maki's furious kick connects cleanly with her midsection!

The grin returns quickly, however "You assume he'll pass first! Don't get AHEAD of yourself!".

With frightening speed, Lotus sends a blurring series of stabs and slashes at Makis neck, aiming for the arteries on either side!

COMBATSYS: Maki parries Lotus' Slice and Dice!

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Maki             1/-======/=======|=======\=====--\1            Lotus

[MAKI]
Once again, Lotus comes in for the neck, trying to draw more blood. Unfortunately, Maki's on top of her game this time, and she makes sure she deflects away every single strike with amazing accuracy! It's almost like something inside her changed briefly!

"You're not killing me today!" Maki says with an evil grin. "You may have wounded me, but I'm not going to die today!"

Without waiting for a response, Maki drops down onto the ground and begins spinning around on her tonfa with her leg outstretched, turning her into a human whirlwind.

COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Lotus with Bushin Senpuu Kyaku EX.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Maki             2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Lotus

[LOTUS]
The only response Lotus manages is "You say that NOW!" before Maki starts her attack. Being too close, and Maki's speed being above average compared to a lot of other fighters, Lotus is for once unable to get away in time! Maki's spinning assault batters her body, before sending her flying into a wall with a dull *SMACK*, leaving a red mess of her own in a dramatic, Lotus-shaped outline!

She stands quickly, looking rough, but not seeming to care as she grins madly "NICE! That's the spirit! Fight to the bitter end! Make the chase that much more fun!

With that, she blurs, closing the gap faster than a normal person could follow, attempting to send a pair of strikes at either side of Maki's head, left followed by right, with the blunt ends of her knives pommels!

COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Lotus' Power Strike.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Maki             2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Lotus

[MAKI]
Now Maki really seems to have upped her game. She's going faster than ever and avoiding being caught by the enemy attacks.

"Chase, huh? That's only when I'm pursuing my target! The fight is what it's all about!" Maki twirls her tonfa a couple of times to drive her point home.

She doesn't wait for an answer, instead attempting to go in from behind with a fake-out into a strike from behind with her tonfa.

COMBATSYS: Lotus blocks Maki's Medium Punch.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Maki             2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Lotus' state of mind is not one that really seems to care about being hurt. She spots the fake-out, and lowers herself so the strikg is stopped by her shoulder and bicept! What's a bit of bruising between friends?

Now nice and close again, she rushes into hug-range, whispering in Maki's ear "You look delicious.....

She then opens her mouth, revealing her sharp, pointed teeth dripping with green, toxic saliva, and goes for a large bite, aiming to sink her teeth deep into Makis shoulder and neck!

COMBATSYS: Maki blocks Lotus' Deadly Kiss.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Maki             2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>---\-------\0            Lotus

[MAKI]
Now Lotus wants to bite Maki? OK, this has gotten stranger and stranger by the minute.

"Get away from me!" She snaps, trying to push Lotus away, but the ninja does manage to get her fangs in just enough for some kind of poison to flow through. " Ugh... the hell?"

Maki feels a bit woozy and unsteady, but even though things are starting to get a little strange, she's not going down just yet.

"Is that the way you want it?" Maki says in a forced strength tone of voice. "Then take this!" Somehow, Maki manages to call forth all of her power and launch at Lotus, attempting to deliver a series of strikes and kicks finished off with a swift flying kick like the one that sent her flying earlier.

COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Lotus with Bushin Gou Rai Ha.
Grazing Hit

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Maki             0/-------/---<<<<|>>>>>>>\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Suprisingly, even in this proximity, Lotus is still an elusive opponent. She IS well known for her unnatural speed, after all!

Even with Makis speed, her attacks narrowly miss or are blocked up until the final hit, which once again sends Lotus flying back, though not as far. A last minute attempt to leap backwards manages to reduce the power of the impact just enough. A loud *CRACK* is heard from Lotus' ribcage, however, as it still packs enough punch to cause decent internal damage!

For her part, Lotus has gone from looking intense to looking outright crazed! Her giggles become louder as she grins through bloodstained lips "Delicious...... LET'S KEEP THE FUN COMING!".

She blurs in from the side with a leaping kick aimed at Maki's head, with a followup kick with the other leg aimed at the ninjas knee, attempting to injure it and hamper her ability to navigate!

COMBATSYS: Maki fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Lotus with Tengu Daoshi.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Maki             0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1            Lotus

[MAKI]
Maki's geting a bit on the impatient side and thinks this would be a good time to take to the air to try to intercept Lotus with a throwing technique.

Bad idea.

Maki fails miserably and goes down to the ground with even more blood coming out than before. She coughs a few times and rubs her head before forcing herself back up. "Damn it, this is bad..."

[LOTUS]
Not trusting Maki to stay down, Lotus leaps back upon landing.

With rapid speed, she pulls what look like several studs from her clothing, revealing they are in fact needles that have been embedded in her flesh all along! Several in each hand, she flings these needles, poisoned with her toxic blood, at Maki's downed form!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Maki with Poison Rain.
- Power hit! -

[                          \\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Maki             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Lotus

[MAKI]
Maki doesn't have a chance. She gets caught by the poisonous attack... and her body becomes numb and paralyzed. "What's... going on?" Maki asks. "Can't stop..."

Her eyes start to close, despite her best effort to keep them open. But Maki's eyes close and they don't reopen. Even her breathing starts to slow down.

COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: Maki can no longer fight.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/------=|

[LOTUS]
Slowly, Lotus steps over to Maki's prone form. This was a FUN one!

But now she's hungry.....

Taking the downed ninja by the gi, she lifts her up, holds her against a nearby cement wall, and gives her face a good smack. The poison was not enough to kill, just enough to weaken, or in someone injured enough, paralyze.

As Makis eyes slowly start to open, Lotus' near cheshire-grinning face comes into view. Lotus leans in, saying "Good luck 'saving face' after this one!". She breaks into giggles again. Before Maki can puzzle out just what Lotus means, the madwomen lunges! That gaping maw enveloping her face, biting the entire front of her skull up to the ears clean off with a loud *CRUNCH!* that echoes through the corridors! Makis ears would still pick up the sound of Lotus laughing maniacally in the blackness that ensues....

Before abruptly waking up with a start, in the dark room of her living quarters, in bed and physically unharmed.

[MAKI]
Maki's eyes open...

She's going to be eaten?!

"N...no... damn it..." Maki struggles, but her body won't move. And then Lotus comes in and bites down on her face!

Maki can't even scream as everything goes black. She's expecting to see her life flash before her eyes before awakening before Saint Peter...

Only to sit up suddenly in her bed, her face drenched in sweat and her breathing going rapid. Surprisingly, there are no scars or wounds on her body. "Was I... was I dreaming?" Maki wonders as she turns on the light and looks around. "It was so real..."

Log created on 19:23:07 08/17/2022 by Maki, and last modified on 07:36:23 08/18/2022.