KOF 2005 - [R1] Rising Dragons vs Oyaji

Description: The first-round King of Fighters bout between Team Oyaji (Gen and Takuma) and Rising Dragons (Ryu and Alex) yields many surprising turns... (Winners: Rising Dragons)



The usual traffic through the busy underground tunnel has been stalled tonight. It is King of Fighters time and the cars around here are parked around the blocked off area honking in anticipation of the arrival of the fighters. This place is to play host to perhaps the premier matchup of the first round. Tonight it will be the Rising Dragons against the Oyaji team.
The elder Sakazaki is making his usual flashy entrance this evening. He has decided to be the second to fight since he has appointed himself the captain of this team. The thumping of the bass of the drop top El Camino that drives towards the blocked off area blasts Rage Against the Machine's rendition of 'How I could Just Kill a Man' loudly as people cheer at seeing Takuma clad in the black sleeveless gi as he rides on the hood of that car. He takes the towel off from his shoulder and throws it out into the crowd as he leaps from the car and into the sealed off area then raises his arms into the air. Tonight it is do or die time. Him and Gen have to show that age hasn't slowed them down yet and this team is serious. He then crosses his arms and waits for the arrival of the other fighters.

One man in particular trusts that age hasn't slowed their opponents tonight. Or at least, if it has, it's done little to ebb the tremendous skill exercised by two masters of their art. The World Warrior's fought beside Takuma, he knows what the elder Sakazaki is capable of... and he's fought Gen directly. To an outcome he intends to do his damndest to reverse, tonight. Clad in his simple, sleeveless white gi, the nomad known as Ryu makes his way towards the center of the artificially illuminated freeway tunnel by the most efficient route he sees - he hoofs it in quick hops along the tops of the cars parked to line the 'arena', a deft step every bit as graceful as it is unhurried carrying him lightly along the course to the center.
The battle plan is already drawn up, and the fight is at hand, and with a final vault, Ryu leaps to one side of the narrow walkway on the edges of the tunnel, standing over the blocked-off road as his dark eyes survey his surroundings, taking careful measure of the landscape... and awaiting his opponents. A deep breath rises and falls in his chest as the World Warrior steels himself, centers his will... for a battle he has no illusions about. This one will take everything he's got, and that's just what he intends to give. Perhaps a little more.

There was tension in Alex's body today, no doubt about if. King of Fighters...the big time, and it was about time. Like most youths he had grown up seeing the spectacle when it hit the TV screen, and it was nothing if not enthralling to impressionable minds. Still though, it seemed almost surreal to actually be participating in the event. Alex checked the upcoming sign on the freeway...yep this was it. The bulky brawler turned his battered Jeep onto the exit leading to the agreed upon spot. The road was blocked off in preparation for the event and he passed by a van with several crews unloading their video equipment. Interesting spot, jammed into the tunnel with all the stopped cars. There wasn't going to be much room to manuever...heh like it mattered. Alex liked his brawlin' up close and personal anyway. Slowly coming to a halt on the rough pavement, Alex scrambles out of the Jeep, looking about for his Ansatsu partner. "'Ey! Ryu, you here yet?...Where is that green tea drinkin' #*@$!@..." Alex flashes a small smile and a thumbs up to the gathering crowd before he starts sauntering into the tunnel, walking inbetween the cars.

Age slowing Gen down? Hah! Gen won't notice his age until he's 237, upon which he will die from not his Illness but finally getting his death match. Until then his Kung-fu will be at peek condition. For this particular fight, however, if Gen manages to make a repeat performance and take Ryu down, he's going to need a nap before going on to fight Alex.
Anyhow. Gen no doubt has his own reasons for entering KoF, reasons that even his teammates probably aren't completely sure of. But whatever it is, he's willing to show up which is probably all they need. And indeed, look who managed to get out of bed on time. Ok, perhaps he does show up a few minutes late. Regardless, as he walks up to the gathering of the other fighters, his first goal is to see exactly what he's up against, though unlike Ryu, makes little effort to survey the surrounding area. Instead he focuses more on trying to peer towards the other fighters present, be it his opponents or teammates, no doubt trying to tally up their abilities in his head. Of course, having never seen Alex before sort of makes that a bit hard, but nevertheless, that never stopped him from trying. With that out of the way, his eyes settle on Ryu, staring the man down regardless of whether or not Ryu returns the look, his eyes squinted, expression focused, but intense. Apparently, he's picked his target, and when Ryu jumps over the rail into the area they've decided on using for the fight, Gen follows, hoping up and over it just as easily, despite the fifty or more year age gap. His eyes never leave the World Warrior during this.

The elder Sakazaki gives a not to his team mate when he finally arrives, the master of Kyokugen keeping an eye of both Ryu and Alex when they arrive. The former is someone he has fought with and despite his style being a rip off of Takuma's own, he has to admit the World Warrior is well trained and one of the better fighters he has seen as of late. That is why Takuma hopes Gen can handle this fight. He remains silent and moves to stay out of the fight for now and hopes his team mate can handle his opponent for the time being. The elder Sakazaki sits on one of hoods of the gathered cars and waits for his own turn, letting Gen dish out the punishment for now.

Where is that green tea drinking #*@$!@? Why, he's standing quite stoically on the walkway where he landed, arms folded loosely about his chest, his eyes intent on first Takuma's approach... and then Gen's. It's on the latter man that Ryu's eyes stay, evenly meeting the gaze of the other master of a very different form of Ansatsuken, hollow as Gen's eyes may be. Absent. Not hateful like Akuma's, though the nomad is entirely certain of Gen's capacity for killing. Just now, that's not the issue. A slow nod is offered, Ryu's eyes not leaving the elder master. It's respectful, a warrior's recognition... They're both here to fight, and fight at their best... something that's all too evident in Gen's body language, the intensity in his bearing, the chi between the powerhouses gathered here more than tangible in the enclosed space.
This isn't your typical arena brawl, that's for sure... but it doesn't stop the announcer from introducing the participants from the different teams, and running down the fight to come. It's a process that the World Warrior more or less ignores, steeling his will and concentrating on his opponents. He'll need every ounce of centered chi for this one, and he hones it even in the moments leading up to the fight, his muscles loose, ready to move. The final countdown begins, and then there's that ever-vital shout... "FIGHT!!!"
... and the World Warrior does just that, shifting to a ready stance in a flash, but as his arms come forward, it's not to form fists, but to shove forward with his palms, a torrent of blue-white energy surging forth from both, and as the heels of his hands meet... the torrent blasts together, a swirling mass of densely packed energy blasting across the tunnel and casting flickering illumination in its gusting path, the flaring sphere lighting the tunnel in wild blues as it careens straight for Gen without a moment's hesitation, echoed by a forceful, "Hadooouken!!!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Gen with Hadouken.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Gen              0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0              Ryu


Upon reaching the fight spot Alex smiles as he sees Ryu. Focused and relaxed as ever. If only he was so lucky to have that inner calm, but alas 'calm' was an adjective rarely attributed to the wild maned blonde. Alex continues to smile as he notices the two opponents selected for the match. Jeez, those guys looked like they just came out of the retirment home. Alex takes a look at the white bearded one..."Pfft man...looks like I could break that sucker in two." He breathes to himself. He then looks at Takuma and grins..."Little bigger but...he looks like he's gonna run out of breath after two punches." Alex chuckles to himself, swelled up with confidence now that he's seen his slated foes. Ryu's expertly launched Hadouken attack helps alot as well. Gonna be a piece of cake. Loudly now, at both of the Oyajis he catcalls. "Hey, hope youse guys brought your Geritol today, otherwise it ain't gonna be pretty!"

Rather than using his anger as fuel like all the end bosses of the street fighter series, Gen's style revolves around his empty heart, his perfectly calm thinking at all times regardless of circumstance. Ryu's nod is met, followed by a perhaps somewhat unusual set of gestures from the older man. His body mimics something that Ryu no doubt can recognize; the way he puts his hands in front of him, as if to block an attack heading towards his gut, followed by a palm stretched out in front of him, in Ryu's direction, the methods used in the last fight to stop both of Ryu's super techniques. Now if he can only duplicate that performance...
Of course, as the fight is shouted out, Gen perhaps was a little bit too confident going in to it, what with the unusual taunt--it wasn't his usual bring it, after all--and as such, the blue energy of chi slams against him. Ouch. But this isn't going to slow Gen. Well, not by more than 10% to his next attacks speed, one which is still fairly quickly. A hand lifts up in front of him, his hand making a form not unlike that of a Peace/Victory symbol, just with his fingers together rather than fanned out. And as he rushes in close, he follows through, stepping forward and coming around with the other hand, swinging it up and over himself before it comes down with a similarly figured hand, the goal to hit Ryu right on top of the head.

COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Gen's Kyoutetsu.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Gen              0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0              Ryu


Ryu hops down from his perch to the small portion of actual bare street below, right into Gen's path. Overconfident? Not quite... he's just prepared for the elder master's all-out charge, snapping his left arm up in a horizontal block that catches Gen's descending hand squarely on his forearm, the stinging impact more or less negated by the World Warrior's resilient musculature. His stern features remain a mask of calmly focused intensity, the fight burning only in his dark eyes. Despite his calm exterior, there's no denying Ryu's passion for the fight... or the fluid, unflinching hesitance with which he approaches it.
Shoving off and to the side in a quick circular motion of that left, Ryu seeks to put Gen off his balance just long enough to use the other master of Ansatsuken's momentum against him, the nomad's left foot planting on the concrete as his right is brought forward, accompanied by a quick snap of a cocked right, his crimson-gloved fist sailing with impressive speed and force in at the retired assassin, timed with the step as it launches. Thrown like a straight, but angled downward, Ryu seeks to plant his potent fist squarely into Gen's chest, the forceful strike accompanied by a focusing shout of, "Kyaaaaaah!!"

COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Ryu's Sakotsu Wari.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Gen              0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0              Ryu


This fight isn't starting the way that Takuma had hoped. Gen is a great fighter, but Ryu seems perhaps be too much for the older man. It is too late to second guess the order of the way his team will fight though. He has to hope that Gen will rebound from this bad start to but a hurting on the World Warrior. The elder Sakazaki pumps his fist along with the group of friends around him while keeping a serious look on his face. "Come on Gen! Don't let that kid beat you badly!"

The angled hook is likewise deflected through the use of an arm. Gen's defenses against this reveals that he is indeed still awake, even if the first strike didn't go quite in his favor. Almost instantly after the attack is blocked Gen is up and over, jumping straight up into the air and trying to get behind Ryu in this way. Whether or not Ryu manages to turn around to follow him doesn't matter to Gen; either way a leg comes out behind him, the goal to strike Ryu either in the back between the shoulder blades, or, should he turn around, in the chest before he can lift up a defense. His leg being grabbed aside, upon landing he'll roll a short distance away from Ryu, hit or miss, before rising quickly and turning once again to face his opponent. Takuma's cheering does little to improve or sway his determination, which is unfortunate; he could use a little pep talk, right now.

COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Ryu with Saizu.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Gen              0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0              Ryu


Gen's quick defense and sudden ascent work wonders in this moment, and before Ryu can fully turn to bring a readied arm around, the retired assassin's foot connects squarely with the side of the World Warrior's ribcage, jarring him to the side a half-step as he seeks to move with the blow, to negate some of its impact. It's only half-effective, as defense goes... if that. Even so, the nomad's strength is such that the strike, while painful, far from slows him down, and rather than back off from the dangerous master, Ryu continues with the momentum of his twist, planting his right beside him and spinning the remaining turn upon it, to bring his left side in-line with Gen. That alignment is, almost instantaneously, accompanied by a snap of his left foot, which leaves the pavement to blur in a rapid snap straight up and in for the elder warrior's jaw. Despite its simplicity, the quick side-thrust is executed with efficient power that certainly speaks to the level of Ryu's fighting... it may not have the flash of Gen's attack, but this Ansatsuken master doesn't seem to miss it.

COMBATSYS: Gen interrupts Medium Kick from Ryu with Uken-Shakudan.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Gen              0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0              Ryu


Boy...the old man is putting up quite a fight. He's already taken blows that would make Alex crumple to the ground, but still looks no worse for wear. The younger fighter feels it now, too swelled up with confidence before to pay any heed. A massive chi aura, dwarfing even Ryu's and making his own look miniscule in comparison. It was coming from the white bearded fighter and his partner. More than meets the eye in these two, no doubt about that. Alex trades in his smile for a stern look and he crosses his arms over his chest. The exchange in blows was still slightly in Ryu's favor, but it was getting close for comfort. "Let's go Ryu!! HUSTLE MAN, HUSTLE!!!" Alex cups both his hands over his mouth getting the megaphone effect. "Hooyah!"

Touching the ground for less than a second, perhaps through some form of sixth sense you develop from over 60 years of training in a style he can feel Ryu rapidly approaching him even if he's not quite righted and looking at the younger fighter yet. As such, he is almost immediately airborne again, and flying right back towards Ryu. The kick directed his way is intercepted, taken in the chest rather than the face at very least, and at the same instant, striking Ryu in the one time he can't move to block Gen's attack; when he's already in the middle of his own strike. Gen's leg flies out to strike Ryu in the side, though making it more than a simple jump kick, the other leg immediately follows to hit him in the other side, before the wires holding Gen through this finally bring him back down to earth, as he resumes a defensive position. He's aware that their attacks both did about the same harm to each other, and being that it wasn't all that much, Ryu can very easily retaliate rather quickly should he so choose.

A quick retaliation is exactly what Ryu goes for. The strikes to each of his sides jostle him some more, adding a bit of further pain to his ribcage, though he's not driven back for long... as Gen touches back to earth, Ryu leaps forward, bringing himself up and in at the elder master in a quick, short jump... one that, much like Gen's last ascent, is far more than it appears to be. As he rises, Ryu's entire body twists, right leg snapping out before him, parallel with the ground, his left perpendicular to balance out the gravity defying maneuver that sends him sailing directly in at the elder warrior, each spin bringing that forceful right around in-line with Gen's skull, the spins blurringly fast as he hurtles straight forward, looking to drive his opponent right back into the concrete wall formed by the tunnel's enclosure. Despite the stillness of the air within said tunnel, there's a rampant gusting of wind that centers around the formidable technique, as the World Warrior's deep voice bounces a fierce, "Tatsumaki Senpuuuu Kyaku!!!!" off the concrete walls.

COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Gen              1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0              Ryu


Ah, yes, the hurricane kick. Gen has seen this before, and as such can defend against it without too much effort. His arms are lifted, deflecting the blows away from him, waiting until the last kick... before he just totally just bounces. He's so out of there, running directly away form Ryu. Is he forfeiting? No... he's heading towards the wall, hopping over the rail to meet with it once he's close enough. And as he runs straight up it, defying gravity as he maneuvers to end up on the curved ceiling directly above Ryu. All this flash aside, he balls up as he performs a tight flip to end up with feet down once again. The goal here is to drop straight down, feet first, on to Ryu's head, crouching down to reduce the impact to his legs whether or not he hits or misses. Though if he hits, he's probably light enough to stand on Ryu's head without the fighter having any issues holding him up.

COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Gen's Ouga.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Gen              1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0              Ryu


Ryu lands lightly out of the hurricane kick, bare feet touching the asphalt right by the tunnel wall, as his eyes lift to follow Gen's uncanny run up the wall. All the impressive flare aside, it's not hard for the nomad to figure out via instinct and a veteran's battle logic what the elder master is planning... and as Gen descends, Ryu backpedals, leaving the older warrior with nothing but air to drop into, the force behind those fight notwithstanding. The World Warrior doesn't retreat very far, instead dropping to a crouch just in front of Gen's projected landing zone... a crouch he very quickly reverses, bringing his right fist up in time with a push of his legs, as he rises back to standing posture in a forceful, singular uppercut aligned to collide /squarely/ with the bottom of his opponents jaw, the nomad's voice again echoing with a shout of, "Hyaaaaah!!"

COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Ryu's Fierce Punch.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Gen              1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0              Ryu


Gen's attack having missed does little to put him in a position where Ryu can hit him back with such a slow, but no doubt powerful attack. As he ducks out of the way of the punch, leaning down and to the side a bit, he stands back up straight and stays in close with the World Warrior. This is so he can return the single, slow punch with one hundred of his own quick, but puny punches. His arm moves so fast that his sprite becomes somewhat of a blur, his arm impacting against Ryu, be it his soft torso or not so soft arms. The attack looks to be more trying to force Ryu on the defensive through constant pressure, rather than doing serious damage. The constant punches, regardless of outcome, are continued for a short while, hopefully throwing off the counterattack that will surely follow it. Gen is rapidly becomming quite serious in his fighting, knowing he needs to work a bit harder at this point to turn this one around.

COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Ryu with Hyakurenkou.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Gen              1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0              Ryu


Alex clenches his fist and stares, wide mouthed when Gen runs up the ceiling in his wire-fu powered attack. "Holy..." The next two attacks go wide and Alex growls loudly. "Damn..." The big man grunts as he watches Gen send out his blinding flurry of attacks. "Look out Ryu!! DAMN!" Alex smacks a fist into his palm fiercely, son of a bitch that old bastard was tenacious. At this rate he'll grind down Ryu at the very least, leaving Alex with some BIG slack to pull up...Not that he minded TOO much but still. "Come on Ryu!! That old fart can't have much left in 'im!!" Alex punches a fist into the air and screams out his encouraging roar.

In this case, it proves to be Ryu's torso, his guard not quite quick enough to stop the blurring attacks past the first strike, and it's the myriad of others that follow that /really/ bring the pain, driving Ryu stumbling backwards under the onslaught as he grits his teeth and tries to weather the formidable strikes that pepper his chest and gut, determined to keep his focus, his gaze burning all the brighter as he recenters on Gen even as the technique ebbs, his right hand shooting out in an attempt to grab ahold of the elder master's robe. Should he find that grip, it tightens with steely force, and the World Warrior throws his weight backwards, dragging Gen with him, only to snap out his right leg as he drops to his back, adding the force and leverage to that of his arms in an attempt to hurl Gen back and clear, at an angle designed to give his powerful opponent a potent reunion with the pavement beyond.

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Gen with Tomoe Nage.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Gen              1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1              Ryu


Gen's attacks falter, ending up with him grabbed and tossed as intended. And as he impacts with the ground a short distance away, landing on his upper back and shoulders, legs up and above him, his compressed form kicks straight up, lifting up back up off the ground so that he can land a little further away, but still, absorbing much of the damage from the throw in this manner. Henshin-A-Go-Go, baby!
Gen pauses for just a moment, staring Ryu down from his short distance away. He slooowly, most likely intentionally, drops into a low mantis stance, holding steady as a rock, waiting, anticipating, preparing... preparing to get blasted in the face with a projectile, anyway.

COMBATSYS: Gen focuses on his next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Gen              1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1              Ryu


For his part, as Gen leaves his grip, Ryu carries through with his momentum and plants a hand behind him, all but vaulting back to his feet, a quick midair rotation bringing him down facing the retired assassin, the nomad's eyes focused on his opponent. Even as he lands, Ryu notes that the elder master isn't pressing the attack just this minute, and as he regains his footing, his hands are already sweeping forward from his sides, trailing wisps of powerful blue-white chi, the tendrils of energy crashing together as the heels of his hands meet before him, projecting a cascading sphere of searing bluish chi from that point, in at his opponent, its flaring path again tracing the tunnel in luminescent hues, as Ryu intones the focusing, forceful incantation, "Hadooouken!!!" There's no intent to let up on his adversary, no hesitation in the motions... Gen is every bit as good as Ryu remembers, but damn if he's going to let the older fighter off easy.

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Gen with Hadouken.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Gen              1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1              Ryu


"YEAAAAHHHH BUDDDDY!" Alex lets out an exhultant cry and raises both fists straight into the air. A grin cracks his normally stern face, convinced that his pep talk is behind Ryu's stellar performance so far. The blonde points straight at where Takuma is sitting and he calls out. "You ain't ready for this chump! You ain't ready!" Alex takes a moment to flex dramatically and he turns his head to kiss a bicep.

Anyway, Gen was well aware that was coming. Oh, he was well aware it'd succeed, too. And yet his plan remains the same.
The Hadouken smacks him out of a daze of sorts, the impact certainly doing some harm, but the real pain comes from the fact that his next attack isn't at as hard to defend as it otherwise would be. And yet the attack still comes out rather fast. Ryu no doubt can expect what's coming next, the question is whether or not he can get out of the way anyway. Quickly closing distance with Ryu by sliding along the ground, a hand strikes Ryu in the side on the way past, or at least desperately tries too. And even though Ryu has felt this attack before, it will still take time between the initial hit and the remaining damage, the six strikes the accompanied the first impossible to feel until after Gen is well clear of his opponent. If they aren't blocked, anyway.

COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Ryu with Zan'ei.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Gen              0/-------/-----==|=======\=======\1              Ryu


Unf. Gen's charge is met by Ryu attempting to /throw/ himself back and to the side with a leap and a twist, but it's just no good... as soon as he feels that first hit, the nomad knows the agony that's going to follow, and sure enough, the searing pain across the points struck by those expertly-placed precise blows drops him to his knees, teeth gritted as he hits the street /hard/... one more bruise, the one now rising on his knee far less troublesome than those injuries sustained from the elder master's strike. For a moment, it looks like he might not be getting up... but anyone who knows Ryu, would know better. Instead, as he's crouched, there's a brilliant flash of light centered on hands that are brought to his side, fingers splayed in opposite directions... that flash is indeed incredibly bright, but it seems to steal the light from the tunnel itself, casting the surroundings in shadow, "Shiiiinkuuuuuuuu...."
The World Warrior's forceful voice precedes an equally determined shove back to his feet, eyes locking on Gen as he rises with a swirling mass of rampantly powerful chi in the void between his hands, that vortex coruscating with energy, the blues touched by darker cerulean, the forceful blast only growing, and growing, as the nomad's muscles tense, forcing more and more power into the strike. It takes him only mere instants to rouse the incredible levels of energy, which are then swept forward on corded arms, and launched from his hands straight for Gen, the nearby cars actually creaking slightly as their frames are tugged at by the sheer force of the projectile's inward wind, a wind that threatens to engulf Gen in mere moments... "Hadoooooouken!!!!!!!"

COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Ryu's Shinkuu Hadouken.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Gen              0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0              Ryu


The shout precluding the incoming 'even bigger fireball' gives Gen time to whip around to face the previously fallen Ryu, his arms lifting up to guard against hit though his usual forearm/palm combination defense. And it works, the majority of the blow taken by his arms, certainly scuffing him quite a bit considering he absorbed the hit as best he could. Make next time he'll grab a pedestrian and over come the Shinkuu with it.
Gen decides to retaliate quickly, wanting to keep his momentum. He goes low, getting in close as he drops down to a crouch, which is really him standing on one foot and looking as though he was sitting on nothing. The other leg snaps out to kick Ryu in the knee, a kick which, for no explainable reason, causes the average person to go sailing up into the air. The best explanation is causing the opponent to spasm and jump a slight bit due to a pressure point in the knee being struck in a certain way... but really it's just unnatural.

COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Ryu with Satsu Jin.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                          \\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Gen              0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0              Ryu


"Huh..." Alex raises an eyebrow after watching the aftermath of the Zan'ei. "What the hell..." The attack didn't make any sense in the brawler's mind. Looked like the old fart just barely tapped him! Still, Ryu looked alot worse for wear after that. "Come on...just a little more....."

Gen's recovery is more than Ryu was ready for... though he does drop to a crouch, bringing an arm around... just outside of Gen's kick, the retired assassin's strike catching the descending nomad in the face, and snapping his head back, though it seems to lack the 'oomph' necessary to reverse that momentum, or cause any lasting harm to the young champion... even so, it's one more stinging hit, and there's a stern set to Ryu's jaw as he recovers from the strike, pushing to his feet and stepping in on Gen, his right foot coming forward in-time with his right fist, which strikes in and down, aiming once more to use the elder master's momentum against him. A gauntletted fist angles for Gen's face, or chest should the old warrior rise faster than the wanderer, that formidable right once more focused by a determined, "Hyaaah!!!" This one isn't over yet, but the World Warrior is certainly looking to change that.

COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Ryu's Sakotsu Wari.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                           \\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Gen              0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1              Ryu


This time, Gen really is in a good position to be ruined by Ryu's attack. But, his arms fly up to block against Ryu's strike, the impact being absorbed without /too/ much effort. The hit having been absorbed, Gen retaliates with another recycled move, jumping straight up in to the air to deliver a jump kick to Ryu's chest. Of course, whether the first hits or not, the second can probably be blocked easily; while it makes for a good surprise, it's hard to use against people who can see it coming. Gen adapts for this, however; instead of kicking with his right leg first, his left hits Ryu straight, so that the side kick comes from the other side, making the attack more of a Shakudan->Uken. Probably not diverse enough to be quite as effective as certain other attacks... but at this point, he's rapidly running out of options.

COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Gen's Uken-Shakudan.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                            \\  < >  //////                        ]
Gen              0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1              Ryu


Bending his legs subtly, Ryu catches first one kick, and then the other, on vertically-aligned forearms, deflecting the hits to his sides effectively through sheer determination, his proximity and injuries doing little to make the process easier. Even so, he's not going to give up, not by a long shot. Why the bent legs? Well, as Ryu shoves the second kick off to his left, he leaps right up after Gen, aiming to intersect the aged master before he can fully descend from the aerial technique. Both hands reach for the front of Gen's robe, and should he find his grip? Well, the World Warrior will demonstrate his own wire-fu, and in midair, twist his upper body to flip Gen up and around, slamming the elder warrior back-first to the pavement, the momentum of the throw actually serving to drive Ryu higher into the air, and back, into a (hopefully!) safer descent.

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Gen with Kuuchuu Seoi Nage.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
[                                < >  /////                         ]
Gen              1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1              Ryu


Alex nods after that throw. That should about do her...The brawler takes a bit of time to tighten his red bandanna and adjust his gloves. It was going to be showtime soon, he could sense it. "Nice one Ryu! Keep him on the ropes!"

Looks like Ryu got what he desired... his rematch, and he didn't lose at very least, so Chun-Li can't pick on him quite as much. But a DKO is still a very real possibility. He is grabbed and thrown in the air as desired, seeming to give little resistance to this attack... but Gen uses the opportunity to perform another deadly technique of the Assassin's fist. Ryu will feel a single finger poke him right in the chest, near his heart. The jab itself won't hurt at all if it manages to successfully hit, probably because it was performed while Gen was being thrown. And yet regardless of what happens, Gen impacts with the ground and stays down... if Ryu doesn't manage to successfully ward the hit off, he may feel fine, for a few seconds at least. At the end of which, naturally, his heart will totally like, explode right out of his chest.

COMBATSYS: Gen can no longer fight.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////                         ]
                                 |=======\=------\1              Ryu


COMBATSYS: Ryu parries Gen's Shitenshuu!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////                         ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1              Ryu


It's a moment where bullet-time photography would /really/ come in handy. What happened in that nigh-instantaneous midair exchange? Gen was grabbed, yes... and as he was brought up and around, there's a slight shift to Ryu's eyes... their fiery, deep brown tracking that motion of his hand. The Ansatsuken master is well aware of the retired assassin's power even in subtle strikes, and as Gen is brought up and around... Ryu's left hand darts to the side, lightning quick, his palm meeting Gen's hand, and simply batting it aside, a subtle exchange of chi energies nullifying the force of that exchange as his right arm picks up the slack, snapping downwards and bouncing the elder fighter's back off the street, Ryu's descent far lighter, landing with a heavy breath on slightly bent legs, his eyes tracking Gen's skid for the moments it takes the older master to lie still. At which point a second, more lingering deep breath follows, and Ryu closes his eyes a moment, centering past his injuries and recovering a ready stance, this time turning to face Takuma. His right fist hovers near his neck, and his left extends, palm-up, fingers gesturing Sakazaki forward. The simple gesture, and the intensity in Ryu's eyes, says clearly what he wordlessly conveys... 'Come on.'

COMBATSYS: Ryu takes a breather.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////////                     ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1              Ryu


COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  //////////                    ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1              Ryu


&tLooks like the kid has more spunk than expected. Gen put up a valiant effort against Ryu, but it seems like the World Warrior is tougher than expected. Most of the time Takuma has remained silent and just observing what has been happening between the two fighters, but now it is time to take action. With Gen taken down it is now up to the elder Sakazaki to step up. With brow furrowed he hops off the hood of the car he was sitting on then rolls his shoulders to loosen himself up. "All right kid. You are better than I gave you credit for, but prepare to face the might of Kyokugen!"
After his little statement the older man is ready to fight. He doesn't take his time about holding back to give Ryu much of a breather. He moves in quickly before pushing off his feet to go flying towards the World Warrior with foot outstretched to hit the younger man in the chest. After that first kick is sent he spins about in mid air to throw another kick outwards to slam into Ryu's jaw.

"Yes!" It's not a yell this time, merely a happy confirmation of the results of the first bout. "WINNAH IS...RYU!" Comes the KOF announcer and Alex breaks out into his uncharacteristically youthful grin. Things were looking up, and Ryu seemed to have a considerable amount of pep left even after grappling with the old master. "Alright Ryu! Told ya we had this in the bag! Just leave a little for me, eh?" Alex reaches out and gives his comrade a good and probably more than a bit painful swat on the back for encouragement.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Ryu with Hien Shippu Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////                         ]
                                 |=======\====---\1              Ryu


Crack! Ryu isn't quite quick enough to sidestep that first strike, and it catches him squarely in the chest, the force behind it driving him backwards with a grunt, the second roundhouse catching him squarely in the skull and sending him tumbling to the road sidelong, skidding along the pain-inducing asphalt for a moment before he rolls, flipping back to feet despite the pain, and charging right in at the elder Sakazaki. As he closes, a quick twist of his body sends his weight, and his left fist, crashing in at Takuma's ribs, all of the World Warrior's impressive strength behind the assault. It doesn't stop there, however...
There's a tremendous upsurge of chi, but this one's focused inward and not outwards, centering within the World Warrior's muscles as he twists the opposite direction, his form traced by a wispy blur of bluish energy as he drops to a crouch, and lashes upwards with his right fist, the strike powerful enough, especially combined with a shove of his legs, to send him hurtling skyward, rocketing in a chi-trailing flash into a ferocious rising uppercut aligned to welcome the Kyokugen master to the fight properly... and possibly give him a jaw-cracking gift for joining, the nomad's voice emitting a cry that echoes powerfully back and forth off the tunnel's walls, "Shooooryuuuuuuken!!!!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Takuma with Shin Shoryuken.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////                         ]
                                 |====---\-------\0              Ryu


Feeling a bit overconfident perhaps, Takuma lands easily on his feet while grinning widely. "Oh come on. You can't even dodge such a simp-hrk!" Looks like he doesn't have time to finish when he gets slammed in the gut by Ryu and then sent flying back over the barricades and into one of the cars behind it. Yeah, that shit stun. Being none too happy about that attack the elder Sakazaki starts to get up with a more serious look on his face.
"Haoh....sho..." he begins while standing on the hood of the car he fell on. The amount of energy gathering around him is immense as it crackles about and becomes concentrated in the man's clenched fists. He pulls his hands back before shoving them forward to emit a large wave of chi right at the World Warrior while yelling. "Ko'ou ken!" As if that isn't enough he leaps from the car after that first wave and tosses another right at Ryu in mid air and yet a third when he lands back in the enclosed space meant to be the arena.

COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Takuma's Triple Haohshokoken.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /////                         ]
                                 |====---\-------\0              Ryu


A gravity-defying midair twist accompanies a forceful throw of Ryu's arm off to the side, altering his flight mid-descent, the sense of incoming chi /too much/ for anything less, the first blast crashing past him, and all but obliterating one of the bordering vehicles, a nice, late-model black sedan, which crumples under the potent chi, its frame bending as it lurches powerfully to the side, crashing into the next parked car, the sound of shattering glass and rending metal predominant in the enclosed tunnel as the nomad lands in a roll, carrying himself out of the way of blasts number two and three. Two leaves a hearty crater in splintering asphalt, and three, well... three obliterates a minivan, giving the far side of the arena a look not unlike that of a pileup, as Ryu pushes back to his feet and launches himself back in at Takuma, two quick steps culminating in a forceful leap. His arcing ascent brings him in at Sakazaki's position, or rather, at a point just past it, his intent as he nears to snap out his right leg in a quick, downward-angled straight kick aligned with the side of Takuma's skull. A single, jarring notice that he's not out of this yet, focused with an enunciated, "Hyaaaaah!!!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Medium Kick from Ryu with Mouko Burai Gan.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  //                            ]
                                 |======-\-------\0              Ryu


"Jeez..." Alex covers his ears to guard himself from the crashing sounds of squealing metal as the chi blasts send cars flying like 'Hot Wheels' caught in a child's rage. The two old men were definately proving their power was nothing to be snorted at and Alex quickly moves to the other side of the arena to avoid the glass shrapnel that scatters throughout the tunnel. He grimaces as he watches Ryu's flying kick get countered. "Don't worry man, i'll take care of this chump!"

Property damage? Those idiots shouldn't have parked their van there so it could be hit by a misplaced projectile of fury. When the elder Sakazaki lands and realizes his error he just lets out a low wistle and is glad no one happened to be near that blast at the time to get hurt. he almost seems distracted enough in observing that scene that the kick should hit him easily. That really isn't the case in this matter though. Ryu slings that leg at Takuma only to have it slam against a raised arm while the older man still doesn't seem to be looking at the World Warrior. He then twists about to plant the fist of his free hand right into Ryu's chest to knock him away and then return his attention to his opponent. "Sorry, was just making sure no one got hurt."

Ryu lands... a lot harder than he wanted to, and in the reversed direction as Takuma's fist slams into his chest, his own momentum adding to the pain of that as he crashes to his back and skids a short distance, tearing bloodied tatters in his gi, thanks to the torn skin beneath. It's a toss-up which hurt worse... Sakazaki's fist, or the way that fist planted him against the road. Either way, he twists with the momentum, bringing his legs back under him after a quick shove of his hand, and pushing back to his feet, eyes intent on the older fighter as he brings his hands around, and forward, the path trailed this time by a robust, red chi, the multihued flames surging forth with intensive power. As Ryu brings the heels of his hands together in front of him, the roiling mass of chi crashes together, swirling into a superheated sphere of raw energy, the wrathful blast launching itself with flame-swirling fury in at Takuma, its shape surrounding by licks of fire, the napalmy sphere alarmingly quick, given its power, its formidable conjuration intoned by an echoing, "Hadoooouken!!!!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Takuma with Shakunetsu Hadouken.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /                             ]
                                 |=======\-------\0              Ryu


Ahh! God damn copy ninjas. You think dealing with fireballs similar to his own that Takuma would be well versed in dealing with them. Instead he finds himself engulfed by that powerful ball of chi from the World Warrior. The blast staggers him back a few steps and the older man has to shake the cobwebs before rubbing his chin. "Not bad kid...not bad at all..." he mutters to himself before he decides to keep things simple this time and sling his fist forward to glance off Ryu's jaw. "Kyah!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends Takuma's Jab Punch!

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  ////                          ]
                                 |=======\-------\0              Ryu


Takuma's incoming fist is met with a steady backhand, Ryu's corded muscles giving just enough to fully flow with the strike, absorbing its impact just far enough to negate it cleanly, the force utterly nullified, the World Warrior's centered chi tangible in the exchange... if anything, he seems invigorated by the quick motion, the back of his gauntlet absorbing the force of Sakazaki's fist as Ryu pushes off with that left hand, twisting his body as he leaps in on Takuma, his right leg snapping out before him in the ascent as he hurtles forward with gravity defying flight. Again, and again, and again that rotorblade of a right snaps around, level with Takuma's skull, Ryu aiming to batter the elder warrior back, and to the left, with repeated roundhouses that set swirling gusts of wind rushing outwards beneath his spinning form, "Tatsumaki Senpuuuu Kyaku!!!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  ///                           ]
                                 |=======\-------\0              Ryu


Still a bit dazed by the powerful chi blast, the elder Sakazaki is a bit too slow to be able to move out of the way of Ryu's next attack. He has to opt for raising his arms and let the series of kicks glance off of his forearms while Takuma backpeddals to keep his footing. He wasint expecting such a tough fight from an already battered opponent. He has to do something fast and right now the only thing he can think of is to try to take the World Warrior down right now. "Ko'ou Ken!" he cries and slings his arm forward to send his own ball of chi at Ryu. It is much smaller than the previous ones he had thrown, but hopefully it manages to do some damage.

COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Takuma's Ko'ou Ken.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  //                            ]
                                 |=======\-------\1              Ryu


As much as Ryu had a hard time with the white bearded wonder, he seems to have no problem against the other karate master. "Man.." Alex sits down on the hood of a nearby car and whistles. "Looks like YOU got it then...heh." The plucky japanese fighter never failed to impress after all...

Ryu lands ready out of the forceful assault, throwing up crossed arms in front of the point-blank fireball, the searing chi crashing in a colourful wave across his hardened guard, stinging like hell against his already-battered frame, but not stopping him... not yet. He backpedals away from the blast as it ebbs around his arms, and drops his own hands to his side, cupping an empty space as crackling arcs of electrical chi course down his muscular arms, searing their path out of his fingertips and palms, and arcing together into a wildly fluctuating mass of white-hot energy, "Denjiiiiiin...." the nomad intones, muscles flexing as he forces more and more power into the electrified variant of his trademark technique, the searing current pushed to greater and greater heights in the matter of instants before Takuma gets a blast right back, this fireball coursing with bolting lightning as it all but strikes across the distance between the two men, echoed by a finalizing, "Hadooooouken!!!!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Ryu's Denjin Hadouken.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >  /                             ]
                                 |-------\-------\0              Ryu


Oh no no. Fireball me once, shame on you. Fireball me twice shame on me. Takuma is feeling his groove slowly come back and when he is faced down with the ball of energy he narrows his eyes and spins about at the last moment to avoid it. He needs to keep on his feet and think fast at this point. Not only is ALex still fresh but he finds himself still having to deal with Ryu at the moment. Oyaji cannot go down so easily! With a bit of anger behind his next attack the elder Sakazaki rushes at Ryu to grab at his gi then jump upwards to slam his knees repeatedly into the jaw and face of the World Warrior before kicking off the man's chest to seperate the two fighters.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Ryu with Shouran Kick.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex
                                  >                                ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0              Ryu


Unable to recover quickly enough to move after the lightning-quick Hadouken is deftly evaded, blood sprays from Ryu's mouth and nose as his gi is grabbed, and his face repeatedly smashed into Takuma's knee. It's a painful process, skull-jarring to say the least, leaving the World Warrior's features a mask of bruises and blood, the stuff flowing freely after the pain from that last combination of strikes, and his previous encounter with Gen. Staggering backwards, the nomad nonetheless looses a final straight punch aligned evenly with Sakazaki's face, aiming to snap a gauntletted fist squarely into the older fighter's jaw in the instants before he falls away. Hit or miss, well... the young champion is down. But hell if he doesn't fall harshly to the asphalt with the slightest of smiles on his face, his skull bouncing off the road as darkness blurs his vision, "All up... to you." He murmurs half-consciously, and half-articulately. He doesn't have the energy for the guy's name, but hell if Alex doesn't know who he's talking about.

COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex


COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Takuma with Medium Punch.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex


COMBATSYS: Takuma takes a breather.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex


COMBATSYS: Takuma takes no action.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex


That last punch still packs alot of power for someone that is going unconcious. Takuma staggers back a few steps again while raising an arm to rub at his chin. "Kid hits hard...." Well at least one obstacle is out of the way. Unfortunantly there is a real big one still standing in his way and his name happens to be Alex. It's time to get serious again for Takuma and he just eyes the other fighter while raising a hand and making the 'come get some' motion.

Thats it then...Ryu did an AMAZING job in softening up the second round contender so Alex -lazily- rises up from his sitting position and saunters into the makeshift ring. "Nice Ryu, nice...heheh. I told ya to save some for me though DORK! Ah well." Alex shrugs his shoulders back and rolls his head about in that /irritating/ cocky manner of his. "Heh...Kyokugen eh? Not a frigging problem! I smacked that other karate guy from your dojo around like a retarded leukemia patient...What was his name?...Hyo? Kryo? Something like that...I'm sure you can't be much worse grandpa..." Alex looks at his soon to be foe square in the eyes and grins. "Tell ya what, you're lookin tired...and I don't just want to break you in half right away, no fun in that at all! So, i'll let you have the first hit eh? How bout it?" Alex stands at the edge of the ring and assumes no stance, just letting his arms hang to the sides casually, that smug smirk hanging on his face just begging to be wiped away.

COMBATSYS: Alex takes no action.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0             Alex


The insults from the larger man don't seem to have much affect on Takuma. He takes a moment to size up the fighter before him. He is uncertain of the man's fighting prowess, but he cannot afford to take him lightly. Hopefully the older man's speed can save him this time around and he can surprise Alex with a few attacks. "Ryo....my son." he finally states then takes a deep breath before he becomes a blur that speeds straight at Alex that attempts to slam his fist into the large man's chestmeats in an attempt to knock him off balance for a series of more powerful blows.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Alex with Ryuuko Ranbu.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Takuma           0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0             Alex


And that was just the opening he needed. That fist slam of his fist against Alex knocks the bigger man off balance enough for the elder Sakazaki to leap into action and start flinging fists and kicks into the man's midsection and face before jumping back and slamming him with a large blast of chi. "Ryuuko Ranbu....the specialty of Kyokugen karate."

Well...hell...never seen an old fart move THAT fast before, thats for sure! Who knows what went on in Alex's head as the flurry of massive strikes pummeled his body into so much pulp? Not known for great decision making ability, this one just might rank up there as A #1 on the "not a good friggin idea" list for poor Alex. Still though, there was pride at stake now, and Alex wasn't about to just go and start showing a bunch of respect to Kyokugen, 'specially after all that trash talk. Alex kippups with remarkable vigor after being levelled by the final chi blast of the ranbu. "Guess somebody DID take their Geritol today AFTERALL!!" Alex roars with passion and jumps straight at the venerable karate master. "HYAAAAAAAAAHHH!!" Comes Alex's battle cry as his leap takes him straight and to the -side- of his opponent. A huge trunk of an arm lashes out at the last moment to try and catch Takuma in the midsection and slam his body unceremoniously to the concrete.

COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Takuma with Spiral DDT.

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Takuma           0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0             Alex


It isn't that he is coming off a high from beating the crap out of Alex, really. It is more that perhaps Ryu took out alot more energy from the elder Sakazaki that Takuma would like to admit. His pace is a bit slow and his movements just aren't quick enough to get away from Alex's grasping arm. He soon finds himself lifted then slammed hard against the road. His ears ring and his gaze is unfocused when he gets up, but he isn't finished just yet. With the big man still in range, Takuma attempts to slam into him with a flurry of fists against the already damanged midsection of Alex.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Alex with Zanrestu Ken.
- Power hit! -

[                          \\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1             Alex


Its a fairly damaging move, but still, there is just no way to recover from performing a DDT quickly. The old man once again proves his insane speed by launching his second fist flurry. These hurt ALOT! Alex just has no time to defend, and punch after punch crashes into his body...just when the ache of the previous blows was starting to fade! Finally, the wind up, and Takuma's massive arm crashes straight into Alex's jaw for the finishing uppercut blow. Things don't go -exactly- as planned though, maybe Takuma isn't anywhere close to feeling his age yet, but he has taken quite a beating, and the punch doesn't exactly send the gigantic wrestler flying away as planned. Alex launches up, but rather slowly, and takes the time to reach out for a last ditch attack before falling away. "Errghh!!!" Alex launches his palm out to grasp at Takuma's head, no, hair actually. If the fingers find purchase, it'll be time for the coup de grace!

COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Alex's Stungun Headbutt.

[                          \\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0             Alex


Alex putting his hands on Takuma's Eric Estrada-esque hair to mess it up? Oh ho ho, no he doesn't. That hand grabs nothing but air when Takuma ducks low to avoid the oncoming attack. While that arm is outstretched the elder Sakazaki grasps for it to latch on firmly and twists in an attempt to pick Alex up off his feet and swing him around to slam him hard onto the ground. If successful he follows up with a rather painful punch to one of the big man's shins before leaping away and landing in his readied fighting stance.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Alex with Oosotogari.
- Power hit! -

[                           \\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Takuma           1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0             Alex


With a bit of a nnnghh, Ryu rolls to his side, staring at the battle through somewhat bleary eyes. He has to blink once or twice to work out what's going on, but what he sees... isn't good. There's a bit of a grimace, not out of pain, though that's certainly the predominant sensation in the World Warrior's body... this... can only mean one thing. Alex's ego got in the way of what should've been a sure thing, "Stop... playing and... take him down." Ryu utters through gritted teeth. It's unlikely Alex can hear the fallen master, but... there's certainly enough determination behind the sentiment.

Takuma does something that Alex would have done in a similar situation. Reach out, grab the offending limb and lob the sonofabitch. It's Alex's turn to feel that punishment now, and he is flung right into the concrete with satisfying crunch. "OOF!" is all he can utter and he says nothing at the next strike, all the air has exited his lungs now. Getting up sloooowly, Alex wobbles on his knees. Dammit...stupid old guy had ALOT more fight in 'im than he had thought. "Alright..so you got SOME talent...I give you that..." Alex grinded his teeth together in defiance as he painfully resumed a fighting stance. He thought he could hear something in the background...but it was muted considerably by the whirring of the rolling video equipment, the excited bystanders, and the low roar that always accompanies the inside of a tunnel. "Still though...its not enough to take me down...because now...you..FAAALLL!!!" Alex cries out with rage and frustration, smashing a fist into a nearby economy model, shattering glass and warping steel before charging again at the founder of Kyokugen. It was perhaps a last ditch charge, but Alex was determined to make it a memorable one...The blonde maned brawler moves with speed impossible for one his size, zooming into point blank range nearly instantaneously in front of Takuma and lashes out with a fearsome chi imbued elbow to the midsection. "HYAAAAHHH!!!!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Alex's Slash Elbow.

[                           \\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Takuma           1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0             Alex


Did Mr. Karate seem to replace Takuma? No, no tengu mask to be seen. It is the spirit of of Kyokugen Ryu running through the older man's veins. Alex may be quick, but Takuma is quick and once again the large merc finds himself swinging at air. Backflipping a few times, Takuma once again lands on top of the hood of a car. "Here we go! Let's see how you handle this kid!" He pumps his fist and yells out to the crowd gathered about before he begins. "Haoh sho...." once again he is gathering what energy he has left in his body to focus into his hands. The glowing orange chi growing before ending up a large ball of fire being thrown towards Alex. "Ko'ou ken!"

COMBATSYS: Alex endures Takuma's Haoh Sho Ko Ken.

[                            \\  < >                                ]
Takuma           0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1             Alex


!$)!*#!! Thats all that can be said about that...Alex's charging elbow is just flipped away from, and so casually at that. "No...dammit!" Alex growls as he sees his opponent on the car, charging his hands back and intoning the summoning words that bring scalding chi death. The blasts are certainly Alex's weakness, frustrating to the extreme...but DAMMIT it's not going to be enough this time!! Alex takes no defense, he doesn't bring his arms up but little, and he certainly attempts no dodge either. Pure steel and determination runs through his veins now, it was his first KOF and he was going to make a showing by god! Illiciting a small gasp from the crowd in the tunnel Alex simply runs straight INTO the chi blast, continuing his headstrong charge at Takuma. The blast wave washes over him like a tsunami, engulfing his entire body and threatening to lay him low. "RRGGHHHAAAAAAHHAAAAAA SCREW THAT!!!" Alex roars as he pushes past the chi and seems to almost tear the ball apart with his hands while running. That was it, no doubt about it, the last of his strength would be gone in moments, but not before one last effort! Alex jumps onto the car with his foe, the grin he had at the beginning of the match returning for a fleeting microsecond. "EAT THIS!" Alex reaches once again for Takuma, nothing is going to stop him from laying the master low now.

COMBATSYS: Alex has reached second wind!

[                            \\  < >  ///////                       ]
Takuma           0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0             Alex


COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Takuma with Stungun Headbutt.

[                                < >  ///////                       ]
Takuma           0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0             Alex


Alex grabs right onto Takuma's carefully parted 'do this time. "You can't escape!" Alex breathes audibly only to Takuma as he rears back and slams his forhead right into his opponents. Once, twice, three, FOUR times the brawler's thick skull crashes into Takuma's noggin before Alex collapses onto the ground by the car.

Oof, augh, eek, gah! Each of those headbutts land solidly against the skull of Takuma. He made a valiant effort to score the win, but in the end it seems the merc was just a bit too much even for the master of Kyokugen karate. Blackness starts to over come him, but not before he can focus on Alex long enough to stagger closer and then he throws his arms up before falling down on top of Alex while swinging his arms in a overhead axe handle in an attempt to just leave a lasting impression if he can help it. .....BARF! *No coin*

COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.

COMBATSYS: Alex blocks Takuma's Keima Uchi.

                                  >  ////                          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0             Alex


Alex's eyelids flicker for a moment. Hey...maybe i'm not as bad off as I first....CRAP! Takuma's massive body crashes down for that last clumsy blow and Alex raises his arms up to basically catch him in an odd sort of embrace. Oof...that hurt...but still...maybe he could still get back on his feet...Alex pushes the Kyokugen founder off of him slowly, and then rises up to his feet on unsteady legs. "Heh...I won...I WON!!! Yeah!!!!!" Alex points at Takuma for a moment. "At EASE loosah!!" The young fighter raises his arms up and winces in pain. "Owww..owowowwow..." Heh, who's kidding? He won that by the skin of his scrotum...not like Alex will ever play it like that though. Moving over to the collapsed Ryu, Alex stoops over to help his team captain to his feet. "HAHA RYU! KOF BABY, WE'RE KICKIN ASS!" Alex is nearly unintelligible now, like a youth caught up in the mere excitement of watching KOF on TV for chrissakes.

Unf. Ryu groans a bit, and plants a palm to the pavement, pushing up to a sitting position, leaned back on that hand as he just sorta stares up at Alex, watching the larger fighter bluster. It's a vague cross between disbelief and mild amusement that holds on the nomad's face, and for a moment, he just shakes his head, subsequently pushing up with a bit less fluid grace than he had at the start of the match, unfastening a sparring glove and holding it in his hand as he lifts the bare one to his face, dragging the back of his hand across the blood that was flowing from mouth and nose, wiping away, or perhaps just smearing, some of the ebbing trails, "You got careless." Ryu answers, point-blank, "Just be glad your skill trumped your ego before he finished you off." Pleased with Alex's performance? Not especially. The brawler could have done a /lot/ better, and Ryu knows it... along with the reasons he didn't, even if he wasn't really all-there for the initial exchanges, "You knew these two were masters, you're lucky it's not you on the ground." Apparently, that's Ryu's peace, as he turns to head down the tunnel the way he came. 'course, it's not likely Alex is going to let him walk away like that, is it?

What happens next is probably surprising to anyone who knows the pair. Alex watches Ryu walk away from the battle site, and after a moment of hesitation he starts to follow. The KOF officials are buzzing now, recording the official results and the camera crew appears to be ecstatic about the excellent footage they got from the battle and now, it looks like they might be scoring some after battle drama as well. A swarm of reporters are running up the tunnel now, so many that it would take a Tatsumaki Sempu Kyaku to clear them out easily. Alex moves up to get to Ryu quickly, to exchange a few words /before/ they get mobbed. Alex opens his mouth to speak, and the words come out kind of jumbly and disjointed. Its partially because of the beating he just took...but there is another reason. Despite his bluster...on some level Alex actually cares what Ryu thinks of him, not just because he wants to trounce him one on one in battle someday, and he wants to think of himself worthy of the fight...but it also went deeper than that. Ryu had a special something that Alex didn't and perhaps never would even glimpse...and to hear words like that coming from him...frankly, it hurt. "Ryu." Its simply stated to try and stop the fighter in his tracks for a moment. "I'm...er...I'm ahh...ehhhh....I'm eh...sorry...about that. You did great, put your full heart in it from square one...and I almost jacked it up for the whole team...we won in the end yeah...but if we had lost, it would have been all my fault, and I acknowledge responsibility for that misjudgement...It won't happen again..you can count on it!" Alex nods gravely and gives a small smile. This coming from Alex...was just...unheard of to most.

Ryu's step pauses as Alex begins to speak. A moment before, actually. His dark eyes survey the camera crews and reporters moving in for footage, and interviews, he doesn't really want to give them. But regardless of that, he /is/ interested to hear how Alex responds, how the brawler takes the blunt assessment of the situation. For the first bit, he simply holds his ground, standing calmly in the tunnel, his expression neutral. He's not really looking at anything in particular, his eyes on the ground ahead of him, somewhere near the jumbled mass of cars left by Takuma's ultimate attack. Midway through the reply, however, Ryu turns his head to look back, halfway, towards the blonde fighter, sort of studying Alex out of his peripheral vision. For a moment that likely seems longer than it is after Alex finishes speaking, he just sort of stands there, face revealing little.
After that moment, however, the World Warrior smiles. Not a large, or broad thing, but a warmly subtle expression that reaches his eyes, and he nods once, "This is the big leagues." He begins, but he's not chastizing the brawler, judging from the warmer tone, "and I know what it's like to come into that just sort of jumping in the deep end. You pulled it off, and you understand." Really, that's what's important, isn't it? Beyond the victory, and all the rest, the nomad does indeed care that Alex's pride doesn't wind up ruling him. For reasons both known and unknown, "Let's go get a drink." He finalizes, turning slightly to clasp a hand briefly, firmly, on the brawler's shoulder before he starts back down the tunnel, apparently not holding any ill will about it, at all.

... looks like the media is denied their feeding frenzy.

Alex nods and chuckles softly. "Heh, man you were amazing out there! Keep that up and we're in the finals for sure." It was all Alex needed, the lesson was learned, and there were harder battles coming, no doubt about that. The streetfighter launches back into his boisterous personality and he takes a quick look down the tunnel, seeing the media mob charging towards them. "Heh...sure thing bud, I'll buy!" With that Alex launches a big brown boot at the hind end of a nearby car. "HYAH!" The impact from the kick dents a neat waffle pattern into the steel, and more importantly, it slides the car from being parallel with the run of tunnel into being almost exactly perpendicular. The vehicle creates a makeshift barrier for the reporters who cluster behind it in a sudden angry buzz. The blonde points over to a side access door on the wall of the tunnel that leads to the street above. "Shall we?"

Ryu's attention is grabbed by the motion of the car, his head snapping to the side at the impact. Evidently, his instincts aren't entirely dulled by the beating he took. It doesn't alarm him so much, though, and there's another slight smile at the end result. It'll take the reporters longer to breach that than it'll take the pair of them to make for the exit, and he offers a nod, hopping up to the walkway and heading for the indicated door, "Sounds like a plan." He concurrs, his pace steady, if a bit slower due to the aches in his bones, "But... let's just get a bottle. I need to get somewhere to wash up, and actually relax." A barstool doesn't suit that, and the World Warrior isn't too keen on doing the social, 'omg i saw ur fight' thing just now. That said, he opens the access door, and makes his way away from the makeshift battlefield.

Log created by Ryu, and last modified on 18:09:40 05/31/2005.