Description: After a two-week vacation due to the King of Fighters tournament, Saturday Night Fight resumes with a special exhibition match between Shingo and Yuri! (Winner: Shingo)
Saturday Night Fight has been absent from the airwaves for two weeks now, most networks choosing to set aside that time for KoF broadcasts and, time permitting, re-broadcasts. That's left Geese bored for about that length of time. It's not a full fight card, but he has rescheduled things to get a single exhibition fight in this afternoon, and there's a fair-sized crowd attending at the Arena.
Today's match is different. No announcer calls out the fighters. No, instead, Geese strides up to the arena, dressed in his gi-shirt and hakama. As if he was going to fight tonight. He also has a microphone, and once he's at center-stage, he has an announcement.
"If there's one thing I hate, it's talent going to waste. I'm sure by now all of you have seen how the first round of this year's KoF has gone. Some people were eliminated early, and others didn't get to fight at all."
Geese goes silent, to let this statement sink in. Once he's sure the crowd is listening, he continues. "It's a disgrace. Everyone has their favorites, and two particularly spirited ones...I felt they were denied." Actually, he felt it was pretty damn funny. But it makes good publicity to lie, instead. And he does it with a straight face. "I can't get to everyone just yet, but I will give two of them...no, one of them gets a second chance of sorts, and the other gets their first chance. On top of the prize money, the winner for tonight's match will have my resources at their limited disposal, for one favor. The winner cannot ask for all my fortune, nor can they ask me to do something illegal. There will be reasonable limits. But they will have one favor from me, Mr. Geese Howard." That should get them motivated.
"The fighters I've invited tonight are Yuri Sakazaki, and Shingo Yabuki. Get after it!" He's done. Geese paces over to the announcer's table, sets the mic down, and goes backstage to watch this from his arena office. Those two should know what to do.
COMBATSYS: Yuri has started a fight here.
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Yuri 0/-------/-------|
Indeed, they should. To Shingo this is all quite funny in a somewhat ironic sort of way. Wasn't it just a few hours earlier that he ran into Yuri and there was talking of her being able to beat him in a fight? A claim he didn't readily deny at all, in fact. And now here he is facing off against her in an exhibition match. Could Life get any more funnier? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.
There's no need for Shingo to stretch or warm-up. He's been ready for some time now ever since showing up at the arena. And he could pretty much say the same for Yuri. Nodding to first the businessman, then to his opponent, Shingo says to the girl, "Well Yuri. Looks like you get to beat me in a fight after all, eh? Good luck!" The boy smiles and bows to her. He slips into his stance and decides to start things off, "Teya!" He hops forward at the girl with a spin kick aimed at her midsection.
COMBATSYS: Shingo has joined the fight here.
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Shingo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Yuri
The true fanatics of King of Fighters, who follow the various entrys and collect the trading cards (all of which proceeds various nafarious groups) would probably know what a fight they were in for. It wasn't largely televised, but a few of the more fringe stations that tried to do the behind the scenes stories would of mentioned Strongest! having a goal motivating their progress. They would of also mentioned Yuri's departure after the loss, blaming herself. Indeed Geese Howard must be a very evil man. Shingo was Yuri's friend, but he had set this match up in the exact manner required to turn him into her enemy. Coincidence? The world may never know, but what is sure is how Yuri is regarding Shingo, cold, ready. To his polite introduction all she says is, "I will not lose, I can't lose.."
COMBATSYS: Shingo successfully hits Yuri with Oboroguruma Mikansei.
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Shingo 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Yuri
As the boy launches his first attack, Yuri finds it a dead on hit to her midsection. . Not a good start for the Sakazaki as she staggers a few steps, but then steels herself. Not even remotely shaken from her solemn vow of winning the fight. Right away she hammers back with a charge to grab Shingo by the cuff and attempt to backhand him in a very callous manner, completely drained of her usual jovial nature.
COMBATSYS: Shingo endures Yuri's Hyakuretsu Binta!
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Shingo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Yuri
Knowing very well what this fight means to and for Yuri, Shingo still won't go easy on her. He has never known to hold back in a match and has always felt that a fighter should give one hundred percent in any fight. There are always exceptions to this rule. Just that he really hasn't found such a situation. Not even when sparring with Sakura. This doesn't mean he goes in with intent to pummel her. Just that he always makes sure he gives his best. The same for this match up.
The opening kick to Yuri's midsection was the first stage of his plan. The complete version of his variation of the Oboroguruma usually involves three rising kicks. But in this instance he only did one. After landing, Yuri's slaps catch him. Though if one didn't know any better one would assume that he wanted to get caught by the move. Wonder why?
It all makes sense soon enough when suddenly Shingo makes a grab for Yuri's gi. Once the grip is accomplished, he forcefully jerks her in closer and then as she's yanked towards he slams a backhand fist into her midsection to send her flying off in the opposite direction, "I won't lose either, Yuri! Kiai!"
COMBATSYS: Shingo successfully hits Yuri with Hatsugane.
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Shingo 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Yuri
For a moment Yuri is taken off guard, she tries to right herself before meeting the ground, but fails in that respect pretty miserably. She a slightly shaky stagger she gets to her feet, breathing heavily for a moment, but she just stands there, letting her breathing calm ... calm.. her eyes remain locked on Shingo and she exhales a sigh. "I... hope we can still be friends," Almost as if it were some kind of a break up, still it was quite unlike her to go into a fight so serious. This was supposed to be fun. Maybe that was her problem, not having fun with it.
Perhaps there is cheering, there is quite a beating going on here, but if there is cheering Yuri isn't aware of it. She's far to busy just watching Shingo, unusually focused for this girl.
COMBATSYS: Yuri focuses on her next action.
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Shingo 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Yuri
Apparently his plan was a bit more effecitve than he thought. What with Yuri backing off to strategize her next course of action. All through the short seconds of the match so far, Shingo has kept a amiable expression on his face. "Of course we'll still be friends, Yuri. It's just one match. Not like we're trying to kill each other or anything crazy like that," he says responding to the girl. "But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna stand by while..."
Instantly Shingo rears back and lunges into swift body blow with his fist at Yuri, "...your body is wide open!" His statement is completed with the arcking of his punch coming in at Little Miss Sakazaki from her left. Cause you know, he is using his right hand to throw the punch.
COMBATSYS: Yuri fails to interrupt Aragami Mikansei from Shingo with Yuri Chou Upper.
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Shingo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Yuri
She was about to say, 'whose wide opened' and then plant her hand into Shingo, but somewhere along the lines she got planted with HIS fist instead. This was part of the plan, she had intended to deflect it, so seen by the look of calm expectation, instead she gets plowed over and her own intended counter attack results in the girl getting completely knocked off balance and sent skidding across the ground with a few painful grunts and finally settling in a heap. For a moment she's far to stunned to move, her breaths heavy. Slowly and carefully she pushes herself up, her every move shakey untill she manages to stand with a wavering step.
"SHINGO KIIIIIICKU!"
Mini-Kyo can tell that this bout is about to be over rather quickly. More than likely less than thirty seconds left. That is if Shingo keeps up his attacks on the female. The shout of his signature battle cry ringing throughout the arena clearly shows that that's something he's fully intending. Yuri may have been sent skidding, but the distance is nothing he isn't able to cover with a short dash into the jump that usually sets up for his best technique. A single twist of his body in the air angles his leg in the perfect position to come crashing down on Yuri's trapezius. You know, that part of the body between the head and the shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Yuri dodges Shingo's Shingo Kick.
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Shingo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Yuri
For the first time this match Yuri manages to get out of the way of something. It's not quite too little too late yet but it's certainly looking more and more like that. She isn't going to give up, not yet, she's taken a lot of beatings. . . Rather more than she hasn't, but she stayed in the buissness not from surrendering. So as she moves past, almost like a feather passing in the wind she sends something at the back of Shingo's head. Her hand charges a pink glow and then it's flung at him.
"Maybe you're not.. But.. I'm not going to lose to you no matter WHAT it takes! Ko'ou ken!"
COMBATSYS: Shingo blocks Yuri's Ko'ou Ken.
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Shingo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Yuri
Still showing that he is having fun this match, Shingo doesn't even frown when his supposed best technique misses. Well, more like it didn't miss, but Yuri simply moved out the way. He's got to hand it to her. He didn't think she would still be able to move that quickly after taking some of his strongest hits. "That's the spirit, Yuri!" Shingo grins and cheers her on. Wait. Isn't he her opponent? Go figure. That's Shingo Yabuki for you.
Speaking of spirit...Yuri's spirit manifested in the form of an orange-ish energy projectile flies in at the boy. Though it's easily dealt with by him lifting a single forearm to cover himself from the brunt of the force. It's then he says, "Ok. Let's give this another shot. SHINGO KIIIIIICKU!"
Once again he throws himself through the air with the greatest of ease. Spinning his body in a single downward rotation with his leg extended at the trunk of Yuri's body. He's hoping that this time she'll have the good sense to stay in one spot to accept the attack graciously. Again, he's aiming for her traps.
COMBATSYS: Yuri blocks Shingo's Shingo Kick.
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Shingo 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Yuri
Indecisive as Yuri is, she seems to try doing two things at once. On one hand she seems to move as if to dodge and on the other hand she brings up her arms to catch the attack somewhat less harmfully on them. Luckily the second part works but the result is that she is somewhat off balance from the lack of commitment. It wasn't that uncharactoristic for Yuri to do that though, as her father would likely attest. Unfortunately for him he isn't here to lecture her just now. So Yuri gets away with it.. er.. sort of.
Speaking of enjoying themselves, it's easy for Shingo to say, he's had little trouble beating Yuri up and down the ring, unlike him, she's quite frustrated now and has tears in one eye while the other burns with fire. Now if only Shingo could manifest it so easily (of course we just mean rage). "TAKE THIS!" Hollars Yuri with emotion suggesting slightly less friendly feelings. "Chou UPPER CHOU UPPER!"
With that Yuri launches into a series of uppercuts, each leading to the next.
COMBATSYS: Yuri successfully hits Shingo with Yuri Chou Upper.
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Shingo 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Yuri
Fortunately for Shingo, out of the entire series of uppercuts that Yuri belts out in succession, only one manages to get through and strike the boy against his jaw. One of glass he doesn't have, but backed by Yuri's drive it causes Shingo to stumble a few steps. Hrm. His plan for ending this within thirty seconds is quickly approaching the time limit. He's gotta move fast. But not too fast as to make an error in judgement. So it's back to basics.
Using the distance he gained from being struck, Shingo pushes forward into another quick dash towards Yuri. There is no grapple upon reaching the girl, however. Instead he ducks down any potential counter strikes and quickly launches into a reverse elbow strike that takes him and hopefully Yuri into the air. The force at which he swings his elbow up is enough to put him into a spin that he uses to extend his fists outward and up to see if he could give Yuri another hit, "Oriyaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Yuri fails to interrupt Oniyaki Mikansei from Shingo with Shin Yuri Chou Upper.
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Shingo 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Yuri can no longer fight.
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Shingo 1/---====/=======|
Once again Yuri tries to deflect just a little in order to leave Shingo opened, a balancing act as was the last one, but this one is no better. As she starts to pivot the girl takes the whole of it on and then gets nailed several times succession.. Well two then the ground, but it's enough. Yuri doesn't really move for a while. But from the way she's laying there you can tell she's still conscious, but out of strength. Were you to get close you might get the leavae me alone vibe.. Not that she could do anything about it. Luckily the crowd's cheering completely eats up the girls' own sounds.
Not quite thirty seconds yet. Probably closer to twenty. Shingo accomplishing his own personal goal with ten or so seconds to spare. Yuri hits the ground the same time Shingo lands from his rising attack. Getting up from the crouch, Shingo holds his fist high in the air, "I...won!" The ensuing roar of the little crowd that's here filling his ears. With his win pose taken care of, he walks over to Yuri to see how she's doing, "Hey Yuri...you did great! Don't feel down." As you can tell he's ignoring her vibe to leave her alone. Friends don't let friends emo. Or something along those lines.
COMBATSYS: Shingo has ended the fight here.
Geese could tell how this was going to go after a while, and returned to wait just short of the aisles leading to the arena. When he sees Yuri go down, and Shingo celebrates while trying to cheer up a friend...Geese returns. "Heh heh heh. Seems I was right, you did have a lot of pent up energy from not getting to fight. Well done!" With a smirk, Geese is walking towards Shingo and Yuri.
After a moment Yuri returns the favor and picks herself up, sort of. She could pass as Vice with posture as good as this. The favor she returns is to ignore Shingo and starts to stagger away. Somewhere in there she might of murrmured, "Yeah. . .good fight." But if she does it's lost in the roar of the crowds. She leaves the way she came though somewhat slowly nand clearly off balance. Geese approaching the pair causes Yuri to stop for just a moment, having made a fair bit of distance already, but she still pauses with her back to them.
Shingo watches Yuri get up and start to walk away without even a word in reply to him. He reaches out to stop her but decides to leave her alone. That and Geese chose this time to come over to congratulate them. The boy allows his hand to go limp by his side and turns to the benefactor of this exhibition match. "Thanks Mister Howard." He checks to see if Yuri is still here with a quick glance but most of his attention is on Geese. Rubbing the back of his head he chuckles, "For the opportunity and all. I mean, I know you're a busy man." In more ways than one. That's right, Geese. Shingo is onto you! Then again, what fighter isn't?
"Your chance isn't here quite yet. You're right, I am busy...too busy to give you your prize now." Geese folds his arms, with a slight leaning back, swaggering posture. "But if you stop by my office in a few days, you can tell me then what it is you want. The money will of course be awarded right away at the front desk when you leave." Yuri right now is...all but beneath his notice. She lost, and he already has a very low opinion of Kyokugen fighters. Better to focus on the winner.
Ever leary of Geese, Yuri waits only long enough to make sure that this isn't going to be another oppertunity to threaten the Kyokugen. For a moment she wonders what it would be like to win and have him congradulate her... Shudder, maybe losing is better. But at any rate she only goes so far as the archway which she entered to lean on the side and make sure they finish without Geese being evil. . not that Yuri could do much about it right now anyway.
Shingo nods to the owner of the arena, "Of course. That's not a problem. It actually works better like that, Mister Howard." He turns again but Yuri has already left. Oh well. He'll catch up with her later. Or maybe he'll just take Sakura out to celebrate both their teams getting past the first round of competition in King of Fighters. The latter of course being the more likely of all possible choices left to the boy. "If that's all then, I guess I'll go to the front desk now?" Shingo may know that Geese isn't all that he appears. But that doesn't mean he can be rude to someone who's older than him. His mom taught him better than that.
Log created by Yuri, and last modified on 11:01:59 09/28/2005.