Match of the Millennium

Description: Billy Kane, one of the scourges of the Southtown underbelly meets Maki Genryuusai, practitioner of Bunshin-ryu and stalwart citizen and enemy of the Mad Gear! Who will come out on top, the ruthless gangster or the warrior for justice?

[MAKI]
What is a 'World Warrior?' Is it someone who can handle taking on any opponent in the world? Someone who considers themselves the strongest of all?

Whatever one considers a World Warrior to be, it should be noted there's no gender disparity in the World Warrior tournament, as both women and men are allowed to compete. And one of those women is none other than the Bushin-Ryuu kunoichi Maki Genryuusai. She has always believed that women are just as capable of being strong like men are, and her ultimate dream is to become the next successor in the Bushin-Ryuu style.

That is not why she's entered the tournament, though.

Rather, it's a chance to improve herself and become a better kunoichi in general. And so she's here in Southtown, preparing for a fight against someone known as Billy Kane. She doesn't know exactly who he is, but she has heard the name. For the time being, Maki stands off to the side getting warmed up and doing some light stretching as she prepares for her opponent to present himself.

[BILLY]
Every fighter who entered has their own reasons and motivations. Some more grand than others. Some seek power, money and fame. Others like Maki look at the tournament as a way to improve one's self by facing off against some of the best fighters across the globe. For Billy Kane? Well reality he was a bit bored as of late and getting to bust some heads seemed like a good way to work off the rust while he has had some off time.

Sure Geese gives him the odd job here and there. Ones he completes not because he wants to, but he is loyal and doing grunt work sometimes is just part of life. Much like laundry. At least that part of life is relaxing and almost zen like. It is also possible that he had Geese manipulate things to where the fight would take place in Southtown and at one of Billy's usual hangouts, The Old Line.

Finishing up a beer, the punk steps outside where a crowd of drunkards and casual fans have gathered to watch this match. Billy casually twirls his cane as he saunters in with a bit of a smirk as he regards his opponent for the night.

The twirling abruptly stops and he points it towards Maki while lazily jabbing it forward. Not near far enough to strike at her though. "Hey hey hey! Good to see you show up. I was starting to wonder just how much I was going to need to drink before you arrived." He gives a bit of a stretch and lazily drapes his cane over his shoulders. "You ready to get started?"

[MAKI]
Upon seeing Billy step out and approach her, Maki smiles a little as she twirls her tonfa a few times. "Ready? I was born ready!" She does a few techniques with her tonfa as if to emphasize her point with this whole thing. Sure, Billy may see himself as a punk, but Maki just sees him as another opponent.

She doesn't know about his affiliation with Geese Howard, and honestly that would be a good thing, since she knows about Geese and how he's a real bad guy. (Not to mention he's got a goofy name, but that's another time and another place.)

"You were drinking before fighting?" Maki asks, seeming surprised before shaking her head with a smirk. "I didn't know you were of the drunken fighting style!" She laughs. "Regardless, I'm not holding anything back!" Maki jumps in place a few times before getting into her fighting stance. "Come on!"

COMBATSYS: Maki has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Maki             0/-------/-------|

[BILLY]
There is a bit of a half smirk. "Not drunk just yet, but more of a nice way to relax and get prepped." He certainly seems confident. There is good reason why. He isn't exactly the tallest or biggest of fighters, but those who know of Billy's reputation know he not exactly one that people go out of their way to mess with.

"Now that is something I like to hear. Someone ready for a good fight." He has to like the spunk that Maki is showing at least. The way she acts seems to show she might not know who he fully is beyond the fact he is good enough of a fighter to be in World Warrior. It isn't exactly like they let any old bum into the thing (unless his name is Ryu).

The smirk turns to a more serious look and the staff is brought about. His stance shifting some as he prepares himself and she coaxes him to come at her. "Come on? Who am I to say no to such a request. Good luck." He doesn't add the rest of what he is thinking and he eases forward, his movements quick as he leans forward and pushes out the staff in a jabbing motion. It looks like it shouldn't reach, but there is a clatter and the staff breaks apart showing a chain is holding it together and allowing it to stretch out just enough to strike at Maki's abdomen.

COMBATSYS: Billy has joined the fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Maki with Quick Strike.
Grazing Hit

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

[MAKI]
Maki keeps her stance firm and her gaze fixed on Billy, watching him as he goes in with his cane. She doesn't know what a cane fighter like him is capable of doing, which is why she's got a serious fix on him. She prepares to move away when he comes in with his cane, but she's slightly off with her timing.

The cane hits her in the abdomen, but just barely as she manages to twist away just as it hits hurt. It's barely even a flesh wound in her opinion, as she barely even winces from the hit.

"Not bad," Maki comments as she returns to her stance properly after recovering from both the impact and the dodge. "Seems I've got a bit to learn." With that, Maki attempts to throw a swift kick at Billy's stomach. Nothing special, just trying to show him that she means business.

COMBATSYS: Billy blocks Maki's Light Kick.

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

[BILLY]
The cane snaps back to it's usual state quickly and he makes note that the woman he faces is going to be on the quick side. Not that he is exactly slow, but he will have to bide his time and just look for the proper openings when he can. "You here for a learning experience? Not a very good teacher, but will see what I can do."

His response comes moments before her own strike looks to land, his cane being brought about to absorb the brunt of the kick, but Maki delivers it with enough force to push him back a step or two, though he is quick to move into his own attack while she is close by. He can't give her much time to think. If anythign he has always learned pressure on quicker opponents always seems to do the trick. His cane comes about again, this time in an upward sweeping motion. One meant to lift and knock Maki back a bit to put some distance between the two as he already starts to think ahead about his next move.

COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Billy's Sparrow Drop.

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

[MAKI]
It's true that you don't want to give your opponent too much time to think. But what do you do when your opponent knows how to think on their feet? In more ways than one, no less?

As soon as Billy swings his cane upwards again, Maki has leaped into the air, somersaulting over him, then landing behind him. "You'll have to do better than that!" Maki says as she makes her landing.

Remember about not giving your opponent too much time to think? That's what Maki's banking on here as she comes in and attempts to grab Billy before he can react and then toss him to the ground!

COMBATSYS: Billy fails to counter Quick Throw from Maki with Water Dragon Pursuit Cane.
- Power fail! -

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

[BILLY]
There is a slow smirk, almost as if he was expecting that, he was already moving the cane about as if ready to follow up with another quick strike of his own, though in this case she comes in lower than he anticipated. His trust coming in too high and not hitting at all and allowing Makin in close.

"So close, buy me a dri-" he is cut off because he gets thrown down into the ground where he lands in backwards roll and into the crowd gathered around. He gets to his feet and pushes people about as he tchs and adjusts his jacket. "Heh." He must be letting himself get soft. All these easy jobs Geese has been giving him as of late maybe making him get cocky.

He readies himself again. One hand gripping the cane as he motions for Maki to come at him again. This is just what the doctor ordered. Something to keep things interesting and knock the rust off.

[MAKI]
"Buy you a drink? Sure, if you beat me!" Maki says with a grin as she pulls back a little and watches Billy recover. "But I'm not going to let that happen!"

Maki looks around, noticing all of the various objects nearby, then spots a nearby trash can that looks sturdy enough as she jumps on top of the lid.

And then, Maki launches off of the garbage can, flying directly at Billy with her leg outstretched. At the same time, Maki has her gaze focused directly on Billy as if saying, "What will you do now?"

COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Billy with Hassou Kyaku.
Glancing Blow

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

[BILLY]
It might be too early for him to be thinking of claiming that offer. Or if he is even considering it right now. The thought of drinking isn't exactly on his mind, but instead thoughts of his next move. His brow furrowing a bit as he waits for Maki only to find her quickly tossing a trashcan right at him.

Well he didn't really expect that sort of attack from ninja, but it isn't exactly a bad option. Billy is quick to move and the trashcan makes little impact as he takes it on the arm and knocks it away. Surging forward he picks up his speed as there is a flicker. A small flame at first forming around the staff.

A flame that quickly grows larger when he brings the staff about, another lunnging motion to bring that cane forward in a jab. One more forceful this time along with the fact the staff is full blown covered in flames when it seeks to slam into Maki.

COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Maki with Blazing Cane Thrust.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

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

[MAKI]
Billy's quite the unique fighter it seems, what with his cane and his ability to shrug off Maki's attacks. Not to mention, his cane hurts... a LOT.

Maki is hit by the cane that is somehow engulfed in flames, and she not only gets burned by it but she also gets sent flying across the area and smashes into a nearby wall. Down she goes, with stars spinning around in her vision for a moment as she struggles to get up.

"Oww... that was unfortunate." Maki says in a somewhat dazed voice as her mind comes back to reality. "You've got some clever tricks up your sleeve, I'll give you that." She approaches Billy again. "But I'm not done just yet!"

As soon as she gets within range, Maki drops down and begins spinning around on the tip of her tonfa while extending her leg outwards. To think she originally would do this balancing on her hand, she now does it on her tonfa! Quite a talented kunoichi that Maki is!

COMBATSYS: Billy blocks Maki's Bushin Senpuu Kyaku.

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

[BILLY]
The flames die down almost as quickly as they appeared and Billy stops his forward momentum. That felt pretty good for him. Not often he gets to bust that sort of attack out against the usual people he deals with. If anything he rarely has to do more than use intimidation tactics on the locals let alone actually needing to take a swing unless he really needs to make a statement.

Getting to fight someone made of sterner stuff is a nice change of pace and the fact Maki is already recovered and making a move causes another smirk to be flashed for a moment. He watches intently and that kick comes about with that spinning kick.

He leans into it, that first kick coming across his back while his sweeping motion from the cane coming in low to hit the tonfa and try to throw Maki off balance enough as he follows up with another swing to deliver right across her back.

COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Maki with Medium Strike.

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

[MAKI]
Getting hit in the back hurts... a lot.

It may not be clean, but who said fighters were clean fighters? This isn't boxing!

Before Maki can get her bearings back, she gets hit from behind in the back, and she stumbles forward while losing the air in her lungs. Gasping and trying to hold her back in pain with her free hand, Maki grits her teeth for a moment before turning to face Billy with her eyes narrowed.

"I think I've held back enough! Now I'm playing for keeps!" And this time, when Maki swings her tonfa, she actually steps into the motion to give it more power.

COMBATSYS: Billy counters Genkou from Maki with Ifrit Crisis+.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Billy            0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Maki

[BILLY]
Those comments seem to spark something within Billy. "Oh?" he simply asks when she makes her statement. Has she really been holding back? If so that just makes Billy feel a bit on the giddy side. He hopes it is true and if that is the case who is he call her a liar just yet.

There is a bit of a glint in his eye when she comes foward. That tonfa coming in for a swing only to be met with Billy's staff managing to stop all forward momentum. For a man his size he has surprising strength to just stone cold stop an attack in such a way. Even worse it is enough to have left Maki open.

The staff flickers again and Billy brings it about with an upward swing to knock Maki right up under the chin with enough force to lift her off the ground long enough for him to leap high and bring the stuff upwards. He grips it with both hands and swings downward to bring Maki back down to the ground with him in a fiery inferno of chi that exlodes about them.%r
The fire dies down and Billy stands there with staff in hand and adjusting his jacket a bit with the other while brushing debris off his shoulder. "Be my guest, luv. Don't hold back at all."

[MAKI]
When you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not, you're not.

Maki, unfortunately, is a bit too hot for her own good. She gets countered big time and goes flying again. This time she crashes into a trash can, causing a lot of trash to spill out (but no cats, thankfully.) When Maki gets up, it's obvious she's in a bit of pain, even having a bit of trouble keeping herself steady as she gets onto her feet. "Ungh... ohhh..."

Then Maki looks at Billy, and even though she's clearly on the losing end of things, she's not going down without a fight. "All right, it's time to show you what I'm truly capable of!" Maki glows a little, as if her chi is flowing through her quickly, then she dashes at Billy and attempts to strike him with her tonfa. If she's successful, she'll deliver a flurry of strikes as well as a few kicks and top it off with a flying kick. All in a swift motion no less!

COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Billy with Bushin Gou Rai Ha.

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

[BILLY]
So she got back up. Call Billy impressed because most people rarely get back up after one of his strongest attacks. Yet Maki not only stands up, but has the energy to keep fighting. This actually causes Billy to let out a chuckle. This is turning into more entertainment than he thought. He was glad he decided to join this tournament now.

Perhaps he is letting himself get too distracted. Maki shows off more speed than expected after the beating she has been taking and Billy attempts to back away out of reach only to stumble and get caught up in that flurry of strikes from both tonfa and feet. That final kick is enough to knock Billy off his feet and back into the crowd who somewhat break his fall. He gets up to his feet and fights his way out of the pile of people that weren't really looking to get THAT involved in the fight.

Billy cricks his neck. His staff brought about and he starts to twirl it. He continues to twirl it as speed gives up and fire erupts around the staff once more. He takes a deep breath as his gaze narrows and he watches Maki before finally stopping the twirl in a sudden manner that causes the gathered ring of fire to come hurtling forward looking to slam right into the ninja.

COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Maki with Blazing Whirlwind Cane.
Grazing Hit

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

[MAKI]
Once again, Billy brings up that blazing cane... and once again she gets hit again.

Maki stumbles backwards, feeling like her body wants to turn into gelatin. In desperation, Maki shakes her tonfa at Billy and says, "You were just lucky... Next time will be different!"

Then the ninja drops to the ground...

COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.

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

COMBATSYS: Maki can no longer fight.

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

And that's all for this fight. Maki is out like a light. She lost this fight, but the next one might be different. For now, Billy will have to wait until Maki's healed up to get that drink she promised him.

[BILLY]
Not as much of a hit as he hopes. Maki seemed to move enough not to suffer the full brunt of the blow, but it may just be enough. He can see she is a shakey leg street and yet he only gives a nod that she manages to stay up for as long as she has. "Lucky, heh, sometimes it is just skill."

Though the way she is talking it is almost as if she was trying to lull him into a false sense of security. He grips the staff half expecting a kick coming his way, but instead Maki falls over and finally seems to have taken too much punishment. There is a moment where he makes sure she remains down and eases up his guard. "Got to say. Tougher than you look. Maybe next time."

Not a bad little skirmish. One that finally got the blood pumping some and for once Billy isn't feeling bored with things. No he looks forward to what may come next. He then pauses and takes a sniff. "Okay, which one of you are smoking? Put that bloody thing out! You better hope I don't find you." The crowd scatters as he waves his cane and after a smirk Billy heads back into the Old Line. He might not be getting that drink from Maki, but he can have all the hooch he wants since he feels a bit celebratory.

Log created on 18:15:08 09/13/2023 by Billy, and last modified on 19:52:40 09/13/2023.