Description: An attempt at reprisal towards Ryu on behalf of Geese and the SNF staff goes awry. (Draw Match)
Howard Arena
Cavernous and huge, Howard Arena is the epicenter of public display within Southtown. A multi-billion dollar venture by Geese Howard, the arena paid for itself within the first two years. The enormous arena is able to seat hundreds of thousands for any variety of spectacle--the most common of which being sports, concerts, and of course, martials arts competition. The latter has made Howard Arena famous, as it hosts various tournaments and exhibitions each year.
There's only one primary arena, and every effort has been made to make it impressive. The overall atmosphere of the arena is that of solemn magnitude. Thousands of seats ring the main central stage, the front row seats dropping to eyelevel of the flat stage. The stage sits in a large depression, with enough space between it and the seats to allow for trainers, officials, and other such people to run back and forth. These and exits in the stands lead off to countless corridors for spectators and competitors to travel in and out with ease. Naturally enough, these corridors are filled with vendors, peddling everything from food to Ralf-style bandanas to authentic Mai Shiranui thongs.
The stage itself is a massive rectangular block of stone. Six-inch thick flat slate tiles cover a much harder core of reinforced granite, giving the stage the look of a weathered, timeless mountaintop. Stairs on opposite sides provide a dignified way for the fighters to approach the center, the stairs appearing to be carved directly into the rock. Here, some truly spectacular battles are fought under the eyes of an entire city and, indeed, the world.
Somebody wasn't a good boy last week. Or so Geese and the SNF bookers thought, anyway. And so Ryu has been scheduled for a punishment match this week. A very fitting one. The announcer does his best to hype this match up, calling out little factoids on the fighters and giving their names, but in the end this is an underdog/handicap match for Ryu: Ryu vs. Sakura and Geese.
Geese looks positively smug as he's announced, marching into the arena with his usual hakama and gi-shirt, but also finishing off a fancy cigar. One nice long, final puff, and then he throws it aside with a laugh. Time to wait for the others.
Hey, even Ryu can only hold his breath for so long before it gets... silly. Not to mention, potentially brain-damaging. Ryu doesn't have any more trouble facing up to the decisions of the fight-makers than he did throwing away the insane conditions for his previous fight, however, and there's nothing but a steady calm on his face as he ascends the arena's stonwork steps for a battle he's well aware is stacked against him, with brutal purpose. Bare feet pad to the faux mountaintop steadily, the World Warrior's dark eyes scanning the opposite end of the arena and resting on Geese Howard. It's all too obvious from the brief frown that passes over his rough-hewn features that Ryu isn't particularly pleased with the prospect of seeing Geese again, but the displeasure passes as quickly as it came, and he simply lifts his hands, tightening his headband around his brow and checking the stability of his sparring gloves, feet shifting subtly as he slowly centers and prepares, focusing past the odds, and on the battle itself.
"Oh great, so I'm being used as an instrument of revenge?" Sakura's in some disagreement with her 'handlers', so to speak -- the people ushering her towards the door. "So lemme get this straight, I gotta fight my master, in the ring, with the CEO of the company? That's not quite -fair-, is i-- Y'know what? Never mind." Throwing up her hands, she walks out to the ring at a hurried pace, irritably tugging her handguards on as she looks out to the stadium. She'd heard the announcements, but wasn't... well, pleased. After a few moments of basking in her hometown arena's lights, and the packed-to-capacity crowds, she finds it difficult to keep from smiling warmly, tossing up one hand to shield her eyes from the light.
Walking over to Geese, she seems... ready, at least, in her winter-colored school uniform, with blue shoes and handguards. "Hiya, Mr. Howard," she chirps, fidgeting for a moment with the knot on her headband, glancing across the ring to her master. And waving to him as well, with an apologetic smile.
"Heh heh." Geese is darkly pleased to see Ryu out here. He expected Ryu wouldn't be glad to be here, and he was every bit as sure Sakura wouldn't like this. Both of these factors meant /he/ certainly would have fun with this. "How you couldn't deal with the two of them quickly is beyond me, Ryu. I've seen how hard you can hit...so what was the hold-up?" Sakura's greetings make him look to her with a smirk, "I see Almost Philosophical is about ready too."
Geese's hands drop to his sides, palms facing towards Ryu. His usual, if odd, stance for a fight. "This match begins now."
COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here on the left meter side.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
'Almost Philosophical?' The epithet is lost on Sakura, who didn't recognize it as referring to her aborted attempt at discussing the significance of varying fighting styles with Geese, while in Strolheim. Even still, she seems... prepared for a fight, nonetheless. She takes a position about fifteen feet to Geese's right -- plenty of distance so that the two both wouldn't be easily confused once the fight begins. She slips into her standard stance -- left side turned towards Ryu, right fist guarding her throat. She takes a deeeeep breath, and assents her readiness.
Ryu's now-settled stoicism barely flickers as Geese speaks his part, eyes levelled on the Southtown boss with an even sort of intensity, alert without a great deal of ire or approval, he's just sort of... neutral, but clearly quite focused on what he's been asked to manage. He's not here to just take his beating, after all.. He's here to put up a fight, "If you can't understand why it happened as it did, I'm not going to waste my breath explaining it." the wanderer answers evenly, even if he does have more breath to spare this week. Geese's following words abridge any further attempt Ryu might make to converse, however, and his feet shift apart, a singular nod encompassing both of his opponents. Rather than agree verbally, the World Warrior answers Geese's invitation with action, hands dropping to his side and quickly summoning forth a flash-flood of chi, the blue-white burst blasting forth into the void between his cradling palms in a split-second, only to be hurled forward, heels of his hands coming together before him as the blast of energy is loosed from his palms, a fierce shout of , "Hadooouken!!" accompanying the wildly gusting blast as it hurtles across the arena, flaring wildly in its breakneck path for... Geese, of course!
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Geese with Hadouken.
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Geese 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
Geese should probably spend less time mocking Ryu. "Bah! You sure couldn't avoid wasting your breath last week!" He's laughing at Ryu even as a Hadouken is prepared, and it's moving way too fast for Geese to do anything about it since he's busy screwing around. It strikes his chest, knocking him back a few steps from the solid blow. "Hmph!"
Geese leaps towards Ryu, an incredible long-jump by any opinion. As he goes, he swings one hand forward and with a yell of "Shippuken!", he's sending his own, similar projectile down at a 45-degree-angle towards Ryu. The blast has the side effect of slowing his leap down, but rumor has it that same slow-down effect is how he survived his first tower fall; mixed blessing, techniques like that.
The Taiyo schoolgirl can already tell, this is going to be a very odd fight. On the one hand -- she already knows her opponent inside and out. She might not be able to effectively =counter= his particular set of moves, but still, every time she hears a fireball erupt from his palms, she can't focus on the perfection of form -- but rather, on getting out of the way and keeping her sensei busy while Geese lands. In other words, it's painful to know she's little more than a buzzing mosquito.
Still... this =is= a fight, and it's a pretty big one to boot. So she's going to have to be prepared for the inevitable -- and to that end, she stands back for a moment, keeping her distance and readying herself. Staring intently at her sensei, Sakura's skirt and headband flutter into motion, courtesy of a small breeze circling about her, cold blue energy swirling into her tightly-wound fists. "Haaaaaaaaaah..." she states, focusing on building her own power reserves.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
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Geese 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Geese's Shippuken.
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Geese 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
Ryu's attention is focused fully on Geese throughout that leap... Not out of slight to Kasugano, but rather, out of an intimate awareness of just how /dangerous/ Howard is, any day of the week. The young champion holds no illusions about Howard's abilities, or his willingness to use them... Their past bouts have taught him better than that. And so every bit of instinct is honed, his eyes following that arc as if he were watching a slow-motion replay, and as the blast comes in from above, Ryu is around it with speed and grace that mirrors the opening motions made by the Southtown crimelord as he darts to the side and forward, before suddenly launching himself up into the air. The initial leap doesn't last long, it's just a hop for all appearances... but as he ascends, the World Warrior's upper body begins to twist, his right leg snapping out in front of him as his upward momentum suddenly doubles and redoubles rather than falling short, his entire form shooting upwards in a spinning cyclone of repeated roundhouse kicks, meant to catch the half-hovering Howard and propell him back upwards, and upwards, before kicking him clear at a significant height. It's not a tower, but it'll have to do, "Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku!!!" The Ansatsuken master calls in forceful tones as he launches himself into the fearsome technique, winds gusting below him, buffetting his unorthodox ascent.
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku from Ryu with Joudan Atemi Nage.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
You might think Geese would learn. But today seems to be an 'off' day for him, and it's partially his own stupid fault for being so swaggering in this fight. Could be an act; he's gone on record before saying that he is 'playing a character' in SNF, since there's already plenty of shining heroes to cheer for. One of the few who might very well be 'role playing' (and yet, not actually doing anything unusual for himself) in these bouts. When he lands, he has Ryu twirling towards him and tries to snatch that spinning leg. Close, but not quite; Geese's head is battered a few times before he's knocked down. There's a distinct "Hmph!" as he rolls back up, but it's clear he's momentarily disoriented.
It seems like Ryu might not be quite so disadvantaged after all! Sakura had almost counted on it being a more even contest between Geese and Ryu, but from the way the fight is playing out... but it appears not, as the smugly-acting Howard seems to be getting his own just desserts. At this point, though... Sakura feels that she's more than ready to press the charge, dashing in to attack, in the wake of the furious Hurricane Kick, to deliver a quick kick of her own -- gray skirt flapping out of the way for her to deliver a high axe kick towards her sensei's shoulder. "Hriii-HAAAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Sakura's Flower Kick.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
Ryu certainly doesn't subscribe to any false overconfidence due to his initial success. He's fighting this hard for a /reason/... And it's not one he's going to forget just because it's working. Sakura receives a glance as her charge triggers those honed, intuitive defenses, his left arm snapping up and around to catch the kick before it can land on his shoulder, forearm absorbing the sting with little reaction from the Ansatsuken master himself as he finishes a half-rotation to drive it aside. He pushes off the block and sidesteps away from Sakura with a lithe quickness that belies his heavily muscled frame, hands once more cupping at his waist to summon up a quick burst of blue-white chi, the rampantly fluctuating energies surging to life only to be hurled in a flame-trailing sphere straight for the disoriented Howard, "Hadooouken!!!" Ryu incants as the bluish projectile blasts its way for Geese.... And makes it quite clear that Ryu has his objective for this battle clearly in his sights.
COMBATSYS: Geese endures Ryu's Hadouken.
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Geese 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
Geese is getting angry now, shaking his fist at Ryu once he's gathered his wits. Another Hadouken? Geese plows into it, and it slows him down some...but he keeps rushing right ahead. Time to make up for lost opportunities. "Raging...." His wrists cross one another, high above his head as he gets close to Ryu, "Storm!" Hands go down to the ground, and the resulting blue curving 'cage' of chi that blasts around Geese actually tears a gouge out of the arena itself. Sakura might want to stay back for a moment.
Like Ryu keeps his objective firmly in mind, so Sakura has her own. Losing =this= match would be a major embarassment to both Geese and herself. Mr Howard could easily laugh it off -- but Kasugano would have to skip school all next week! So... once her kick is deflected, Kasugano takes a few hurried steps back, out of the range of the firefight -- and once more collects herself calmly, eyeing her opponent. She can see right where he's headed -- and hopes to be able to capitalize on that. So, rather than press a charge, she waits for an opening...
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Geese's Raging Storm.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
Anger isn't a surprise. Ryu can read it plainly on Howard's face, and in the up-front hostility of his charge... And that means it's a place that the World Warrior really really does /not/ want to be. A quick bend of his legs subsequently sends Ryu up and back, a backflip carrying him out of the reach of that rush of chi in a graceful arc, the legendary nomad landing lightly a short distance away, already in a ready posture.... A show like that deserves reciprocation, and Ryu aims to please.. With a vibrant flash that centers on the wanderer's cradling palms, light seems to be stolen from the stage itself and centered on that one, singular gleam, a gleam that flashes outwards and leaves a spiralling vortex of multifaceted energies whirling madly beween the World Warrior's splayed fingers, the rampantly surging sphere drawing at the very air around it with a constant, forceful inward rush, "Shiiiiinkuuuuuu...." Ryu intones, muscles flexing powerfully as he forces more and more energy into the attack, drawing from himself, from the very air around him, the very essence of chi growing quickly to epic proportions, which he then delivers with a quick sweep of his arms towards Geese, the spiralling, densely-packed wrathful fireball careening for Howard along with a nearly-echoing call of, "Hadoooooouken!!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Geese with Shinkuu Hadouken.
- Power hit! -
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
Geese is taking this seriously now, however. It may be a case of 'Too Little, Way Too Damn Late You Idiot.' Geese attempts to jump over this latest, NEW AND IMPROVED version of Ryu's typical attack...but it's just so unusually fast, and speed isn't his strong suit at all. He's knocked head over heels by the Shinkuu Hadouken, and for a second it looks like he might be out of it.
Sakura's right that Geese can laugh this off. In his mind SNF is largely a game, and his losses are okay because he is 'playing the villain.' But for some reason hard hits rarely fail to anger him, and that was quite the blow. Geese stands quite a range away from Ryu, and does underhand pitching motions. "Double Reppuken!" One arm motion, then two, and a giant blue chi wave races along the ground and gouging out more of the arena floor as it goes. Geese's performance tonight might be downright laughable, but he can still fling around incredible amounts of gathered chi.
Well... maybe Sakura won't be so much of an annoyance after all. On the one hand, the Taiyo student's really disappointed that her teammate is losing so badly -- and that she'll need to be trying really hard to make up for it. But on the other -- oh my god did you just see that Shinkuu Hadouken plow into Mr Howard like a freight train this fight is so COOL! Stadium seating just doesn't compare to the intensity of seeing someone get slammed with a Vacuum Surge Fist at close range, after all!
Though... it's about time for Sakura to start unloading on him, right? Fighting to keep from cheering for the hit, she cups her hands by her side in obvious mimicry of the perfected form everyone was witness to -- heck, if it weren't obvious that Sakura was Ryu's student before, it =definitely= would be now! "HADOOOOOOUKEN!" The blazing aura of chi in her palms converges into one solid orb, rocketing straight for Ryu. Kasugano can fling incredible amounts of gathered chi, too!
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Geese's Double Reppuken.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Sakura's Medium Hadouken.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
Ryu eyes that massive ground-based surge of energy for the split second he has before it creams him, already sensing the gathered chi careening for him from Sakura's angle, and there's really only one option open... He darts to the side, closing distance with his opponents by means of a direct motion /towards/ Kasugano and the less deadly projectile, throwing up an arm to intercept it as the schoolgirl's fireball crashes into him, flaring blues announcing its contact, though Ryu's centered defense keeps the energy from firing through him, and instead dissipates around, the painful sting ignored through gritted teeth as he veritably launches himself at Geese, his jump carrying him an impressive height upwards as he arcs in for Howard, his descent culminating in a blurring singular clockwise spin during which his right foot kicks out for Geese's skull.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Geese with Senpuu Kyaku.
- Power hit! -
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Geese 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
Even fights between two masters can be one-sided. One of them can simply fail to get their footing going, have their strong suits be negated, and it just goes downhill from there. That's the kind of night Geese is having right now; he's made sport of some of the best before, now it's happening to him. He tries to sidestep the jumping spinkick, only to underestimate the angle and get struck solidly in the ol' braincase. He doesn't go down, but he's probably wishing he had. His stance faltering, Geese tries to grab Ryu by the throat with one hand, and lift him up to literally chokeslam him to the ground. Don't count him out just yet, he may still have some fight.
COMBATSYS: Geese has reached second wind!
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Geese 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
Sakura might have expected Geese to go down after that barrage of nearly uncontested attacks -- but Sakura's not going to wait to see Geese's result! All she sees is that her sensei's spin kick is just about to land -- and without even waiting for the final verdict, she's already dashing in to deliver a healthy serving of pain. Leaping into the air, she takes flight with a spinning kick of her own. "Tatsumakiiii--" She's been practicing her chi manipulation in the past few weeks, even though it would have been really easy for her to slack off -- such that when she soars towards him, her flight's much more level than it might otherwise be. "---senpuuuuuukyaku!" Around and around goes her foot, whirling about with the hopes to tag her master several times, and give Geese a much-needed distraction for his own attack.
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Ryu with Tate Katate Nage.
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Geese 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Sakura's Shunpuu Kyaku.
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Geese 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
It's happened to Ryu before, as well... But he's not been inclined to let up just because Geese is having trouble falling into the rhythm of the fight. As long as the advantage is his, it's clear that the Ansatsuken master intends to press it. However, there's very little he can do as he lands right in front of Geese, and the powerful crimelord doesn't decide to just fall down. There's nowhere to move, and while he tries to weave away, he's just too close, and Howard's hand gains an ironclad grip on the World Warrior's neck, subsequently slamming him to the hard rock and illiciting an 'Ooomph!' from Ryu as the wind is knocked from his lungs. Of course, this unplanned trip along the unforgiving ground does have the side-effect of carrying the Ansatsuken master clear of Sakura's spinning kicks, a vague recognition of the technique showing in Ryu's eyes as he catches a glimpse of the young warrior flying overhead... There's no time to ponder form, however, as Ryu kicks back to his feet and brings the fight to Howard once again, a quick stutter-step closing the mostly negligible distance once more as his own hands dart for the Hakyokusaken master's gi, firm grip looking to find purchase there so that he can use the leverage of arms and shoulder to carry Geese up and around, and slam /him/ down back-first into the stone. One good turn.....
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Ryu's Seoi Nage.
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Geese 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Ryu
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
Geese throws his head back suddenly as he successfully grabs Ryu and slams him, momentarily getting into the 'groove' he's been missing this entire fight. Ryu's return grab and throw is fine, but for one thing: Geese is extremely knowledgable about throws of all kinds, and he simply rolls out of the slam to negate the worst of the damage. "Ha!" And in retaliation for such a minor hit?
Geese steps in with an elbow strike at Ryu's solar-plex with stunning intent. From there, he follows into a series of strikes, kicks, sweeps, and finally brings his hands together much like he was going to fire a Hadouken of his own, but he doesn't know that technique; what comes out is more a brute-force blasting of chi.
Well, Sakura's pleasantly surprised at the way the fight's going. She hasn't hit Ryu squarely yet, but that's hardly cause for alarm. Maybe if she were to tie her headband around her eyes... But that'd just be brazen and silly. The world's watching!
Landing nimbly on the arena floor, Sakura spins around to face her sensei again. Well... she can still be an annoyance, right? Counting on Geese's ability to draw the Ansatsuken master's attention, Sakura rushes up behind him -- snaking her arm about his neck in an attempt to keep him from getting out of the way of the attack -- and in the process, to lock her arm in place with her other elbow. The ultimate goal, of course, would be for her to hang onto the taller man from behind, her whole 92-pound weight applying extra force to her chokehold.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Geese's Deadly Rave.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Sakura Strangle.
[ \\\ < > //////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/=======|
It doesn't take a master to expect, or see, that Geese would come back with something positively punishing in retaliation for the rest of this fight, and this time, it's even faster and more deadly than the raging storm. Ryu backpedals quickly, avoiding the initial stun and weaving beneath and beside the follow-throughs for the moment it takes him to put enough distance between himself and Howard not to be subjected to the punishing technique. It takes every bit of his focus, and a fair bit of reliance on instinct and anticipation to avoid Howard's charge, and it leaves Ryu utterly open to being choked by his protege, though he weight and the hold itself do little to abate his backwards momentum, the World Warrior absorbing the pain and moving anyway, even though it jostles him that much more with schoolgirl firmly attached to his neck. A forceful jerk to the side is meant to either dislodge or loosen Sakura's hold, but whether she manages to hang on or not, Ryu ignores her for the moment and focuses on Geese...
Arcs of electrical energy course down Ryu's muscular arms as his hands come together at his side, the fearsome current quickly surging together into a brilliantly pulsing mass of white ball-lightning, the potent charge growing alarmingly quickly, "Denjiiiiiin...." Ryu intones, forcing more and more of the electrified chi into the attack, and hurtling it in for Geese with the speed of its lightning-strike inspiration, the taser++ accompanied by a mighty shout of, "Hadooooouken!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Geese with Denjin Hadouken.
[ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/=======|
Geese can't help but laugh as Sakura's literally dangling from him like some sort of alien parasite, and it does wonders for dispelling his anger. Problem is, he's too busy laughing to get out of the way of the Denjin Hadouken, his thoughts going something like 'Hahahahaha look at that stupid girl hanging from Ryu like thawaitwaitHadouken jump it now.'
Ryu may have a charge-up time for that technique, but once it goes flying, it's real fast. Too fast for Geese to possibly do much about since he literally laughed away his window of opportunity. The Taserplusplus turns out to be Doubleplus Ungood for him, knocking him back and making him woozy, but he's not quite out just yet. One more try: Two underarm pitching motions create a blue chi wave, and send it racing towards Geese. In the back of his mind, he's hoping this'll knock Ryu into Sakura. He's long since stopped caring about punishing Ryu for daring to breathe last week, he's just going to try and do something fun with what remains of his stamina.
COMBATSYS: Geese can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Ryu
And... that's pretty much it. Sakura is finally knocked off her sensei, landing soundly on her feet and scrambling backwards a few steps -- but now she's free to fight her master as she will now. It'll be just like training sessions, except with the WHOLE WORLD watching. Oh, and except with Geese's wave of chi rushing towards her -- one that would really kinda sting if it hit, judging from the way it took two quick uppercuts from the Hakyokusaken master to form it. So... while Geese might =enjoy= seeing Ryu and Sakura both hit by the wave, it's just... not gonna happen. Nope. In fact, Sakura's going to add to the blow -- hands gathering a small orb of cerulean blue chi by her side, just before she slings it forward with a cry of "HADOOOOOUKEN!" She smiles afterwards, because she hasn't been hit -- but that's bound to change!
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Geese's Double Reppuken.
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Sakura 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Ryu fails to slow Small Hadouken from Sakura with Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sakura 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu's attention doesn't immediately leave Geese as the undeniably effective charge hits home... He's not going to underestimate Howard, not after the last time, and it pays off in this case... partially. In that he's in motion in time to avoid the second Double Reppuken, leaping to the side, out of the way of the last-ditch effort by the villainous Geese, but with substantially less time to react to the quick projectile hurled at him via Kasugano. He tries nonetheless, hands coming together to summon forth a quick burst of blue-white chi, but the Hadouken is only half-formed as Sakura's plows into his chest, knocking away the effort as surely as it sends Ryu sliding backwards a short distance. The impact wasn't that frightful, but it certainly hurt, and the World Warrior's breath is coming in more laboured intakes now, clearly winded and drained from the assault on Geese... But that doesn't mean he's going to fold, not even close. Shifting, his feet come shoulder-width apart, fists tightening and hovering about a guard position as he turns to face Sakura, his acknowledgement a single, simple nod. He's ready for act two.
So it's Sakura's show now? Ohhhh great. "Guess it's just you and me now, huh?" she chirps to her master, re-settling into her defensive stance as he recovers. What to do? She's fought her sensei plenty of times before, but now she's back in her school uniform, rather than her training gi -- and now she's on stage, rather than hard-packed dirt. Oh, the contrasts. It really shouldn't shake the heart of a true warrior -- but that's just something the Ansatsuken protege will have to get used to.
And really, she'll have to get used to her attacks having practically nil chance of landing against the seasoned veteran, now that he seems to be giving the fight his all. But that doesn't mean she should try any less! Grinning, she takes a quick stride forward to close the distance -- and then leaps into the air, foot whirling around in an aerial kick for Ryu's face, practically bleeding a gush of blue chi in its wake.
Though -- it's not an aerial maneuver, not like the Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku of before. No -- Sakura's screaming, but it's just a battle cry -- for her other leg huddles close, and she drops to the ground, repeatedly spinning her foot around into his ankles. That's the -plan-, anyway -- much like the final phase of the plan would involve standing again, to deliver one final standing roundhouse to put an end to her spinning momentum. "HAAAAAAAAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Sakura's Haru Ichiban.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
A second nod is paid to Sakura, confirming her take on the fight. Yep, Ryu's attention is now focused on the Ansatsuken prodigy, rather than the fallen master, and worn down or not, he's going to give her a fight. There's a subtle tension that passes through his muscles as she considers and subsequently charges... He's seen this move before, so while the feint doesn't throw him, it's no less threatening as a technique. A weaving duck carries him under the first kick, the young champion already in motion backwards as Sakura lands, her sweep falling just short of catching his ankles, a simple half-step and lean carrying him out of the range of the finishing roundhouse. He doesn't stay back long, however, regaining that step in a flash and turning to face Kasugano with his right side in one fluid motion, right foot snapping up and out for her skull in a darting snap-kick that veritably rockets from floor to face in the blink of an eye. Yes, this is a 'real' fight, and there's no room for advice or consideration. Ryu merely draws on what's left of his energy, and fights with the same centered clarity that helped him perservere against Howard's deadly attacks.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Ryu
A second nod is paid to Sakura, confirming her take on the fight. Yep, Ryu's attention is now focused on the Ansatsuken prodigy, rather than the fallen master, and worn down or not, he's going to give her a fight. There's a subtle tension that passes through his muscles as she considers and subsequently charges... He's seen this move before, so while the feint doesn't throw him, it's no less threatening as a technique. A weaving duck carries him under the first kick, the young champion already in motion backwards as Sakura lands, her sweep falling just short of catching his ankles, a simple half-step and lean carrying him out of the range of the finishing roundhouse. He doesn't stay back long, however, regaining that step in a flash and turning to face Kasugano with his right side in one fluid motion, right foot snapping up and out for her skull in a darting snap-kick that veritably rockets from floor to face in the blink of an eye. Yes, this is a 'real' fight, and there's no room for advice or consideration. Ryu merely draws on what's left of his energy, and fights with the same centered clarity that helped him perservere against Howard's deadly attacks.
Ansatsuken isn't about deadly arts such as the Hadouken or Shoryuken -- it's all about the simple, direct application of pain to the most critical parts of the opponent's anatomy. In Exhibit A, witness the artful snap-kick which lashes out, without bravado or fanfare, in a brutal transferrence of kinetic energy from Ryu's foot to Sakura's jaw. Some of the more astute in our audience may recall that the young girl's maxillofacial bones were deeply bruised by an earlier combat sequence with another subject, a 'Mike Bison', though this is presented as reference only. Further, witness that the schoolgirl spins around in a haphazard matter, wildly flung out of control by the sudden transfer process. This is what we would like to designate as a "Boot to the Head."
Even as the schoolgirl falls to the ground, left hand snapping up to make sure all the facial bones are still connected to one another -- if only by sinew rather than physical location. She springs back to her feet, choking back the pain she no doubt felt. No time for whining -- she's here to fight! And fight she will -- dispensing with the need for any more words, throwing a rapid underhand jab at Ryu, but swinging it around into an overhead axe kick. One she'd used before in the fight, sure -- but can her adoring fanbase really get enough of her skirt flapping out of the way in its delivery? "Hriiiii-haa!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Flower Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu's foot slips back beneath him, quickly retracted as the kick lands, and he moves forward on Kasugano's position with a light bob to his step. He seems quite willing to continue to engage her, perhaps a little /too/ willing, because he's caught off-guard by the sudden jab, which does little to injure him, but plenty to throw off his attempt at sidestepping the kick entirely, his momentum altered enough for the axe-kick to catch him square in the chest as he tries to turn, the painful impact knocking him back a moment, a deep breath drawn as the Ansatsuken master considers his student. Patiently fast rather than needlessly rushed, Ryu utilizes only a moment in analytical thought before he's beck into the battle, his right fist leading the way as he comes in low, an underhand blow that's by no means a simple feint coming in for Kasugano's ribs, followed quickly by the left as Ryu's body twists clockwise, bringing that punch around with even more force as it sails in straight for Sakura's face once more, accompanied by a fierce, "Haaaaaah!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Ryu's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
As Ryu's gut punch comes flying towards her, Sakura can sense he's going for something with a bit more 'oomph' to it. Two somethings, really, and she'd rather not be in the way of either one. Deftly, she swings her torso out of the way of the blow, her elbows raised to either side as a counterbalance for the slight twisting maneuver. By the time the second punch is there, she feels safer using her legs to escape the blow, leaping backwards sharply, landing in a crouch with two fingers tapping the ground quickly. Chuckling lightly, she rises, taking two quick steps backwards -- no need to press the charge -right- away, after all. No -- she can tell she's already moving a bit too fast. She'd gotten used to tagging Ryu while his attention was diverted, and the last smack to her face -- now a cut bruise, dribbling a faint trail of blood -- proved she might need to slow down a bit and focus on landing hits -- rather than focus on delivering them quickly. But Ryu should be proud that she's sticking to her stance, rather than letting her training slip from her mind.
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
A deft maneuver by anyone's definition, but Ryu doesn't have time to appreciate it, or offer encouragement... His eyes track Sakura as she backpedals, and once it's clear she's not charging /right/ back in, he sends her a bit of an incentive... Hands dropping to his side, Ryu once more focuses his chi, though it's the first time this particular technique has made an appearance tonight. The blue-white glimmer does not appear, instead it is a massive torrent of angry reds, swirling together in a superheated mass of punishing chi, the tumultuous charge firing itself up with more and more power for the moments it takes the World Warrior to gather such a potent blast, and hurl it forward, heels of his hands coming together as he looses the fearsome sphere of napalmy wrath for Kasugano, his deep voice clearly projecting the fierce, "Hadoooouken!!!" on the tail of the wildly flaring literal fireball, the heat burning off it more than evident as it careens across the arena.
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Ryu's Shakunetsu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Ryu
Ooh, pretty flames! Which is to say: 'ooh, I don't want to be in the way of that!' She'd fought Ryu enough times to know that whenever she backs off, the wanderer's sure to follow up with an incentive such as that fireball. Concordantly, the strategy for that is just to get the heck out of the way -- and that's exactly what Sakura does, diving at an angle which would allow her to close the distance to Ryu without any of the burning, flaming side effects that running straight into it would entail. Rolling about on the arena floor for one tumble, she then plants her foot down hard, stepping forward to close the distance further. She'd already practiced the whole sequence in her mind before it came -- so that when she's there, she knows exactly what to do. No need for diversionary tactics -- she simply keeps her head low, rising up sharply in one uppercut. No running forward, no anticipatory moves as in her usual "Cherry Blossom Fist" -- just a surging uppercut as she uncoils her fist under Ryu's chin, aiming to knock him skyward with the form she perfected under his wing. "SHOOOOOOOOOORYUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Shou'ou Ken EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Sakura 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
And that's what he gets for being predictable, isn't it? Of all people, Ryu should know the cost of such ruts, having turned them against his opponents time and again with his own sense of the flow of battle, and ability to quickly 'read' other styles... But nope, he gets this lesson the hard way, and before he can move to take advantage of Sakura's proximity, he's taking a rising dragon right to the face, a crunching 'unf' sending him skyward and landing him on his back in a quick roll, his palm coming to the ground as he pushes back to his feet, a trickling of blood running down his face as he focuses back in on Kasugano. Maybe he was more exhausted than he though... But that's not going to stop him. Rather than charging, the World Warrior leaps, arcing in at Sakura from above and snapping out his right leg, right fist flexed by his side, the left outstreteched in a pseudo-punch that, along with his bent left leg, balances the fearsome jump-kick, the young champion focusing his strength into the point of impact with a powerfully-shouted, "Haaaaaaaaah!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Sakura 1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
Well... the disadvantage of throwing herself into that one attack meant that she was also at a severe disadvantage for, y'know, following up on it with another series of attacks. Nor was she ready to effectively get out of the way of the jumpkick which follows her -- having barely set foot on the ground herself. The kick plows through the Ansatsuken prodigy's defenses, impacting her in the chest and sending her flying backwards long before the trailing fist can follow it -- skipping her rear off the arena floor once, twice, three times before she finally stops, tilting backwards at a precarious angle -- as if she might have actually fallen over, had she not thrown a hard punch to reassert her momentum in the forward direction. Indeed, the motion of throwing her energy also carries the girl back to her feet -- albeit with gritted teeth considering the sheer intensity of the blow that she took full-force. It's a wonder she's even =breathing= after that -- but Sakura's defiant enough to put even those bodily necessities to the wayside in order to prove herself! She knows she's still got the form she'd recently practiced down pat -- and that's why she charges forward, dashing into a furiously fast run towards her master. But rather than just open herself up to a widely telegraphed attack, she suddenly sidesteps to her right just before impact, ducking low and ramming her left elbow towards her master, in a move aimed to take advantage of his relatively defenseless back. "SHIN!" She's crouched down at this point -- which is why the followup unleashed is bound to be all the more powerful, should it hit -- she drives her fist upwards at the small of Ryu's back, aiming to land another Rising Dragon Punch just like the last, only burning with the blazing blue aura of her immense wellspring of chi: "SHOOOOOOOOOOOORYUUUUUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Sakura's Midare Zakura.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Sakura 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu lands with a slight skid out of the forceful technique, adopting his defensive stance with his attention focused firmly on Kasugano. He uses the moments he has before she rights herself more conservatively this time, centering himself, and gaining a slight measure of time to catch his breath, which is even more pronouncedly hard-drawn now, the World Warrior looking rather bruised and battered indeed. But he's not down yet... Nor is he easy to get the jump on, as cunning and powerful as Sakura's next technique may be. He takes the elbow in the side, already turning to reorient himself with her sudden maneuver, and it hurts.... But it gives him a clue what's coming next, her low posture another telling sign, and drawing on instinct as much as planned reaction, Ryu crosses his arms in front of him, absorbing that fist's path along his hardened muscles rather than his more-fragile face, the impact nonetheless driving him backwards, and just a bit upwards. He lands and draws a deep, slightly ragged breath. He'd spare words for her improvement, here, but he doesn't have the time, or the air for it... So he simply darts back in, point-blank with the schoolgirl in a flash, his right fist snapping up and around in a simple, standing uppercut that brings fist and elbow in for Sakura's jaw. It may not have his full weight behind it like certain other uppercut techniques that she just demonstrated so capably, but that doesn't mean it lacks much force, the triphammer of a punch both quick and dangerous.
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Ryu's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Sakura 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Ryu
Stopped dead by his guard, Sakura takes two quick steps backwards, a faint smile crossing her features -- at least she was able to fully transfer her momentum into his -arms-. That ought to count for something, right?
Though she also is quick to keep an eye on the followup, now. Ryu's punch lacks the full weight -- but it also lacks the speed, the spring of the legs apparently being the hallmark of the dreaded Rising Dragon Punch technique. Kasugano's able to use that to her advantage, sidestepping quickly to her right, letting the uppercut whip harmlessly past her face, brushing instead upon the headband left in her wake. Rather than let her proximity go to waste, though, Sakura rushes back and delivers a quick kick to the back of Ryu's ankle while simultaneously making a grab for his gi, aiming for a quick grapple move to take the wind out of his sails. It's not something she's tried much before -- but she's a quick learner!
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Quick Throw.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ]
Sakura 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Ryu
A quick learner, and with the weight and force behind the punch he just threw, Ryu is wiiide open for it. He tries to roll with the maneuver, suddenly snagged and swept off his feet, but with his exhaustion, the maneuver actually serves to carry him into the ground /harder/ than she had planned, rather than dulling the blow. And so he crunches back-first into the hard stone, groaning low and rolling out of it a bit too late to do him any good, pushing back to his feet slowly, and standing on wobbly legs. There's no question that the fight's just about left him, but if Sakura thinks she's going to get out of this that easily, well.. She's got another thing coming! A rather electrified thing, at that. The World Warrior's hands drift to his side, somewhat more lethargically than normal, and he focuses the last of his energy between them, arcs of coursing lightning rushing down his arms to surge together in a rampant conflaguration of brilliant white-blue chi, the World Warrior incanting through gritted teeth, "Denjiiiiiin...." as he pours more and more energy into his last-ditch effort to fall his student, thrusting his arms forward to propel the lightning-strike in at Kasugano with plenty of electrified fury behind it, "Hadoooouken!!!" The forward momentum is too much for Ryu to keep standing, however, and he falls to his knees, then a palm, as the projectile hurtles for the Ansatsuken prodigy, the World Warrior barely able to keep his eyes raised to watch it fly. It's a fair bet he's not going to be fighting past this one.
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Sakura 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Denjin Hadouken.
[ \ <
Sakura 1/------=/=======|
Oh, Hadouken? Sakura never expected to see one of those in a fight against Ryu! ... Nah, seriously, she did -- but she tries to dive out of the way of the fast-moving projectile at the last second -- but maybe she should have tried that a second earlier, as the crackling fireball catches her full on the hip, sending her hurtling backwards, rolling sideways on the arena floor just like the fireman showed her: stop, drop, and roll. Again, though, maybe she should have tried stopping first rather than last. Singed from the blow, still sizzling from the intense electricity, she lies there for a moment...
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
And that... would be that. Ryu can't help but smile slightly as Sakura stays down... It's not that he wanted to trounce the schoolgirl, so much as he wanted to triumph against the odds set by the SNF crew and their illustrious benefactor. So, whether he's dropped or not, it's a feeling of satisfaction that fills him as he drops to the stone more fully, arm just sort of giving out below him. He could probably get up, if he had too, he's not /out cold/ despite his bruised frame... But he certainly doesn't feel like it just now. Laying on the cold stone is just such a nicer place to gather his breath than trying to stagger his way off stage. His eyes close after a moment, and a long yawn punctuates the fight on Ryu's behalf, shifting slightly to enhance his comfort-level... Until someone makes him move, of course.
Over the loudspeaker, a very excited-sounding announcer calls out, "What a stunning turn of events, ladies and gentlemen! This fight is a DRAW!!!"
Sakura's of a similar mind -- or at least, she is after a few moments of unconsciousness. It's the price she pays for forcing herself to constantly exceed her limits -- sometimes, her body just fights back and cuts out on her, such as it did tonight. But even still -- as she slowly opens her eyes, pushing herself to a recumbent position as she looks around at her surroundings, the words 'This fight is a DRAW!!!' echo in her cloudy mind. "...wha..." she murmurs, slapping herself in the cheek lightly. "Crap, I blacked out," she states for the benefit of those who weren't able to surmise otherwise. But... she sees Ryu on the arena floor also, so at least she didn't go down without a fight. "Heh heh... Pretty good fight..." she notes, before her arm goes weak again, forcing her to rest back against the arena floor. "I guess the audience got their money's worth tonight, huh..." she states, barely able to keep her eyes open long enough for the medics to come around.
Log created by Ryu, and last modified on 04:46:39 04/25/2005.