Match of the Millennium

Description: Buford and Kenzo faces off in an Odyssey of their own, as they return with a vengeance and a rematch.

[KENZO]
Of all the people Kenzo was hoping to not have to face again, it was the same person he was scheduled to face off today. Buford. It wasn't fear of his prowess. After, all Kenzo did win in their one on one. There was a bit of left over bitterness about being taken out in the Rumble because Buford cherry picked him after running away from Ichika. Instead, what Kenzo didn't want to deal with was how annoying the weeaboo was.

In anticipation of the fight on the football pitch, fans can be seen holding up various signs. One particular contingent is holding up signs that say, 'Ichika 2 - Buford 0.' It is clear that group of fans want to rub in the fact that he ran away from the Justice High student instead of finishing out the fight.

When Kenzo himself arrives, he's wearing his standard tech suit though as a nod to the theme of the fight, he's wearing a Corinthian helmet with the combat specs nested in them. Over his torso is a vulcanized rubber cuirass molded into a muscular torso similar to the hoplite armor though rubber so it won't interfere with his movements, and pteruges in leather strips around his waist worn as a defensive skirt as a nod to Greek armor over his combat suit. For all intents and purposes he looks like a Greek soldier gone futuristic.

WHile he waits for Buford to arrive a look of annoyance is visible on his face.

[BUFORD]
Buford, himself, was making his own preparations.

Certainly, his own account of his previous encounters with Kenzo were somewhat more sanguine that what reality might reflect. The large, towering Ronin from Canada certainly remembered how much of a hero he was in those fights, and how much of a wily and insidious ninja Kenzo was. Of course, he remembered the ninja's deep respect for his fighting style and particularly his general presence. And yet, as he comes out, dressed in what looks like a Roman toga or maybe even a bathrobe, the bristly-faced samurai shoulders his vapor blade lazily. Naturally, though it breaks the immersion of his costume, he wears his fedora on his head, and his hairy legs moving in and out of his robe as he strides out on the field. He looks to the sign, bragging about Ichika's points over Buford, before casting his gaze on Kenzo, his blubbery lips curled up in a smug sneer.

And he loudly snorts.

"What a ridiculous costume." Buford declares loudly, puffing his chest up against his toga. "And hardly in line with the actual history of what the real greek wore. Only truly cultured warriors like myself can recognize the correct ways someone like Odyssey would dress, especially in a proper Greco-Roman court." Buford chortles, shaking his head. "But I can understand, with your background, why you might have a somewhat distorted view on Western Culture's rich historical legacy. I will not fault you on that, Kenzo. For you see, I must tip my hat to you, old friend." Buford tips his hat to Kenzo. "For your noble actions in protecting those arcade cabinets. I may have thought of you as a lesser man before. But a true samurai spirit would sacrifice a fight, in order to protect both innocent people and innocent video games from unnecessary violence." Buford adjusts his hat back to normal. "Now. Enough praises." He gestures to his katana blade.

"Are you ready to battle?"

COMBATSYS: Kenzo has started a fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Buford has wandered into the fight here.

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Kenzo            0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0           Buford

[KENZO]
This right here was exactly why Kenzo did not want to fight him beyond the fleeting bliss of beating the Canadian wannabe samurai senseless. He has to deal with him letting his mouth run reckless. In a span of less than five minutes, he's insulted his research into the armor of Greek Hoplites, the effort of making it work while not interfering with the technology in his combat suit, his education in both high school and university, and he's pretty sure there was an indirect insult about him being a ninja in there. If it wasn't for that Corinthian helmet the frown would be very obvious. He takes a breath in order to compose himself.

Kenzo's counter insult takes less than 4 seconds. "Old friend? Who are you, again?"

The chain and sickle come out and the ninja looks at the official as he taps his foot to get across his impatience to get this fight over with.

[BUFORD]
"Hmph!"

Buford's face turns a sharp shade of crimson, as Kenzo irrationally acts like he forgot about him. Certainly some of Buford's fans had shipped him with the ninja (to the say the least his internet girlfriend), but for Kenzo to ghost him like that, like he was some kind of Fightubers he follows online, was too much for the Ronin's heart. Buford tenses up, body trembling under his toga. Lips curled up, his mossy teeth bared, he takes a deep draw from his hilt, before exhaling a thick cloud of misty vapor.

"To Forget A Face
Fleeting In Your Arrogance
Reminded With Action"

The thick scent of yogurt fills the air as the fog expands around him. Buford pounces. Lunging through the fog, he unleashes a trio of three, short swipes, cutting through the air in a vaguely Z shaped pattern as he charges right at Kenzo.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo interrupts Fierce Strike from Buford with Whirling Chain Blitz ES.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Kenzo            1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0           Buford

[KENZO]
Kenzo only allows the Canadian to get through the first slash before it's redirected by the sickle of his kusari-gama. It wasn't a complete success seeing as the blade manages to dig into his shoulder as he simultaneously steps backward and swings the weighted end of his weapon for Buford's head, right where that fedora is located. That is only the beginning.

Kenzo bashes his opponent over and over. His face, arms, legs. If it is there, Kenzo is swinging the weight at it as he attempts work out his annoyance with being forced to be within eyesight of the larger man. Kenzo then lets out a hiss as he glances down at the shoulder before looking at Buford once more and tilting his head slightly as if to non-verbally say, 'I still don't recognize you.'

There was a reason that in almost all of his NFG interviews, Kenzo was careful not to mention Buford in interviews. He wanted to make it clear that he felt as though the NEET wasn't worth talking about.

[BUFORD]
Right to the noggin.

The blow collides hard, and Buford sees stars. His fedora flies off, revealing his thinning scalp before covering him with blood. Staggered over, he is hammered again and again, beaten brutally right out of the gate. Laying there in a now crimson-stained toga, he gurgles, spitting up blood. Moaning, he rolls over, as he is not recognized. He reaches over, gripping his fedora.

And furiously he stands again.

"You know who I am! I'm the most important fighter in this whole event!" Buford bellows from bloody mouth, as he squeezes on his hat. "I am the Ronin of Rationality! The Samurai of the Streets! It's a privilege that someone like me even thinks of someone like you!" Buford picks up speed, unleashing a long, driving slash as he dashes forward. Fetid mist clinging to his frame, he attempts to rip right through Kenzo's rubber armor, and cleave savagely with momentum. Buford wanted to be nice at the beginning. But now?

HE wanted to bring some Metro City justice on the ninja.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo blocks Buford's Bushido Of The Blade EX.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Kenzo            1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0           Buford

[KENZO]
The ninja draws back his weighted chain as Buford rages at Kenzo's refusal to recognize him much like Buford refuses to recognize why the words he says are often so abhorrent to women. When a somewhat socially awkward person like Kenzo can say, 'I can see why none of the women in the NFG don't like Buford,' life decisions need to be reconsidered.

Getting back to the subject of the fight itself, Kenzo quickly stows his kusari-gama only to replace it with a tessen. Kenzo manages to intercept the blade with his fan, the attack driving into him and reverberating into his wrist. He manages to prevent the worst of it but still it was not a fun experience. A deep sword mark is left in the hard rubber but it is still in one piece. More of a testament of Kenzo's reflexes and the toughness of his war fan than the strength of his 'armor.'

He remains silent as he shrugs but then returns to the business of fighting Buford. He steps forward into range with his fan and attempts to smack Buford with the fan before leaping back as he opens it readying himself to react to the weeaboo. Is a part of Kenzo enjoying Buford's anger? Yes. Of course due to the Corinthian helmet, his face is hard to read.

COMBATSYS: Buford fails to interrupt Reaction Strike from Kenzo with Revengeance EX.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Kenzo            1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0           Buford

COMBATSYS: Buford blitzes into action and acts again!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Kenzo            1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0           Buford

[BUFORD]
To be fair, it's most of the men too.

Buford brings his sword back to it's sheath, as he brings a thigh forward and braces down as Kenzo shrugs. The fan comes around, and he braces himself. The fan smacks him, and he slashes out, taking a brutal hit to his cheek. But the slash catches nothing. Kenzo's quick back dash slips out of range. But Buford does the unthinkable. He brings his sword back around, and sheathes it.

In a single movement.

Buford refuses to stagger. Once the blade returns, his quickly swelling, bloodied face curls into a sneer. Twisting his wrist, he defiantly stares at Kenzo, as he brings his hilt to his lips, with no sword attached to it. Free of the weapon, he begins to vape. And vape. And vape. A cloud of sharp smelling mist builds around him, mingled with the scents of gyros and yogurt, as he puffs and puffs. Soon, the fog engulfs him. And there, it stops. THere is a clicking sound, of his hilt returning to his blade. And the shadow of his shape remains. "Well?" Buford states from within.

"What are you waiting for, Ninja?!"

COMBATSYS: Buford furiously puffs up a sweet cotton cloud!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Kenzo            1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1           Buford

[KENZO]
If an analyst goes back to that moment where Kenzo had delivered the smack with his fan and put it in slow motion, they'll notice that as he was delivering the blow, Kenzo's free hand tugged on the toga to move Buford's shoulder back. It was tiny movement but it delayed the slash enough that Kenzo was able to escape unharmed. The giant cleaved Pikachu card left in its wake falls to the ground, the card cut at an odd angle due to Kenzo's subtle interference with the strike.

Once again, it is probably for the best that Kenzo continues to wear the Corinthian helmet because he'd probably be betrayed by his facial expressions as he watches Buford puff on his vape and then ask what he's waiting for as if he hadn't been whacking him silly with two different weapons.

Kenzo quickly exchanges the fan for the chain and sickle weapon then presses a button on his bracer to add a heat vision outline overlay on his combat specs so he can lower his chances of losing Buford in the vape mist. Suddenly, the ninja disappears in a flash of lightning and reappears behind Buford with his chain wrapped around the mall samurai's neck, sending electricity through it as he digs his knee into his back for a little extra pain.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buford with Shocking Ambush.
- Power hit! -

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Kenzo            0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1           Buford

[BUFORD]
It was all according to plan.

Buford chuckles to himself, hissing a laugh as he sets up his trap. He knew that his shape would lure Kenzo not to attack head on, but from the sides. Naturally, he was already turned, but he was crouched. Kenzo would be surging in with his chain from the sides, and Buford, perfectly hidden in the mist, would immediately evade it, and then, strike. He can barely contain his giggling, the brilliance of the ambush so obvious to him. But not to the ninja, how ironic. Buford is chortling so much, he doesn't even notice that Kenzo is -behind- him, practically teleporting to his position. But he does notice the chain coming around his neck. His laughter stops short, and he has only enough time to say two words.

"Oh No."

That's all he is able to squeak, before the electricity riots through his body. Spasming violently, he howls in pain. Whether the knee brings the extra pain isn't clear, but it certainly brings more damage. The current rakes his body Toga ripping free, Buford stands in brief, his hairy form in full display, thankfully concealed by a tasteful armored set of undergarments, locked and sealed. A gift from his girlfriend, to ensure protection and discretion. Staggering around the mist, he flails his sword hand around as he moans and groans. Until finally, he rips free from the hook. And now, he was angry. Hurt. And wild. Flailing his sword around, the mist churns and boils as he brings a slashing frenzy towards Kenzo's general direction. Slashing the air wildly and furiously, he just tries to direct his rage at Kenzo as the sword becomes a blur. Only to turn, recentering himself as he brings the full weight of his strength into a horsekilling overhead slash. Half Naked. In pain.

And in total rage.

COMBATSYS: Buford successfully hits Kenzo with Tenderless Reaper.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Kenzo            0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0           Buford

[KENZO]
Has Kenzo pushed Buford too far? Possibly. As far as Kenzo is concerned, there's too much bad blood between them for the ninja to care beyond making sure that Buford's rage keeps him from doing something too unpredictable. Kenzo tipped him over the precipice and now Kenzo was no longer able to use his rage to lead him by his nose.

Kenzo finds himself looking at the very unwelcome view of a toga-less Buford delivering wild, rage-fueled slashes towards him over and over. Kenzo isn't able to anticipate when and where the next strike is coming from. When it ends, Kenzo is sent rolling away from the mall samurai. The vulcanized rubber armor made to look like an Ancient Greek bronze muscle torso cuirass falls to the ground in pieces leaving his tech combat suit under it slashed in multiple places but otherwise still in one piece.

What's left of the mist begins to fade as the ninja rises to his feet. The ninja takes a deep breath as he spins the chain once more. If Buford remembers their previous fight, he'll recognize the beginning of this move even if the weight is moving a bit faster than when he delivered it before and a little bit more direct this time even if the goal of the initial part of the attack is the same. Wrap the chain around the neck and send electricity through it.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buford with Violent Electrocutioner's Snare.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Kenzo            0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1           Buford

This is when Kenzo introduces Buford to the new modifications he made to the move. The tech-ninja yanks the chain, pulling Buford into a side kick delivered to the body before turning off the electricity. He wants to make sure Buford hears this before he goes unconscious.

"Unworthy swordsman
Falls to his knees, remembered
as false samurai."

Kenzo then resumes sending electricity into the chain, then stomps down on it. Where the head goes, the body will follow. As a result, the swordsman gets sent into a kneeling position, face smashed into the ground. Kenzo isn't done as he whips the formerly toga clad fighter up and over, slamming him on his back. Kenzo then moves in, placing his knee on his stomach making it harder to get his breath as Kenzo pulls out his fan and smacks Buford across the face with a closed, electrified, warfan, multiple times before rising to his feet.

[BUFORD]
The electricity is too much.

Jolt after jolt, volt after volt. The chain hooks around his neck once more, and Buford grabs at it, desperate to rip it off. IT's too late again, and Buford is sent to a prostrate position as Kenzo's cruel poetry rings in his ears. Brought to all fours, the nearly nude Buford is electrified, until he is flipped over and pinned down. Trapped under Kenzo, the assault comes to it's sadistic climax as Kenzo smacks him in the face with the fan, again and again, hitting him like a dog. Buford blubbers as he is down, smelling greatly of ozone and steamed hams. ANd yet, the moment Kenzo gets off, Buford was already bringing himself up to an upright stand. He was flashing red now, likely from the electricity. ANd Buford brings his own Haiku in rebuttal, hands balled in fists as he the nearly naked Canadian flails his limbs around in a tantrum.

"No! NO! NO! NO! NO!
NOOOOOOOOO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
NOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOO! NO NO NO!"

Tears stream down his cheeks as he clenches his jaw as tight as his fist. Gripping his heroic weapon with both hands, he rises back up from his knee, and surges at Kenzo. Swirling himself through the air, he spins as he swings his sword in the air once, twice, and thrice, giving his last pasty white effort as his hurls his full exposed frame at Kenzo at full force. If the slicing doesn't do in Kenzo?

Then the unconscious body slam at the end might.

COMBATSYS: Buford can no longer fight. Is this the end of lovable Buford?

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

COMBATSYS: Kenzo dodges Buford's Dewy On The Mist.

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

[KENZO]
Kenzo tilts his head as he watches Buford flails in a tantrum. It is an image that Kenzo would have been happy to not have ever seen in his life unfortunately preserved in his memory for as long as he shall live. Even if he were to remove it, he'd still have to deal with the memory of it due to having to review fight footage. If he has to suffer, the broadcasters and editors have to too. Maybe even the rest of the world if it doesn't end up on the cutting room floor. As Buford makes his rebuttle, Kenzo notices something odd about Buford's poem of only one word.

"One extra phonetic unit..."

Of course, that ceases to matter as the mall samurai rises to his feet. As the first strike comes in, Kenzo leaps out of its range. The second one comes in and he does the same though that strike gets a bit closer. As the third strike (not intentional I swear) comes in Kenzo is finding he's starting to run out of space to manuever and that's when he goes wide-eyed at Buford launching himself at Kenzo.

"Oh crap."

Kenzo performs a body replacing technique and instead of landing on the ninja Buford will find himself landing on a partially eaten sandwich. The person with a missing sandwich will find more than enough money to replace their sandwich, and Kenzo himself is located right behind Buford.

"Better to stay mum
And thought foolish. Yet you speak
And remove all doubt."

With his final haiku delivered, Kenzo walks off, more than happy to remove himself from the presence of the Canadian.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo takes a moment to do absolutely nothing.

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

COMBATSYS: Kenzo has ended the fight here.

Log created on 11:20:54 03/14/2024 by Buford, and last modified on 08:02:38 03/25/2024.