Description: Showdown in Pacific High! Sakura and Daisuke fight to a thrilling double-knockout, with some seriously -painful- strikes along the way... (Draw Match)
Six-o-clock. The sun's on the way down, but the sky's still a pale blue in the windows of the Pacific High cafeteria. Just because the gaijin happen to be able to afford one of the most picturesque views in the city...
But really, it's just a cafeteria, once you get down to business. A REALLY FRICKIN NICE cafeteria, and nothing like the plain vanilla decor of Taiyo High's cafeteria. Which might be why Sakura's just gawking, utterly in awe of the surroundings. "Wow..." she says, running her fingertips over the trim. "This is... just... wow! It's like an executive boardroom or something!"
Shame it's gonna be a wreck in about ten minutes. Fifteen, tops. Because the SNF staff have already made their way here, complete with a trio of cameras, microphones, and an overly loud emcee who seems to be completely ignoring the fighting fangirl's explorations around the cafeteria. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Tonight we bring you a showdown between two fighters with two very different modes of fighting. On my right..." -- well, apparently, the emcee isn't totally oblivious -- "... we have local fan favorite Sakura Kasugano, from neighboring Taiyo High School!"
Oh, yeah. Sakura throws up her fist as the cameras turn to her, flashing an eager smile to the viewers at home.
As the SNF crew wheels in their equipment and the emcee prepares himself for the fight, Daisuke sits easily atop one of the cafeteria's tables. Though dressed in full ninja garb, he's in plain sight, and appears to ignore onlookers. His expression is unreadable through the mask, though his baggy eyes to focus on Sakura. He raises his hand in a minor greeting if she happens to look his way.
The emcee begins his introduction, starting with Sakura, and Daisuke slips off the table as he speaks. "And to my left is the mysterious ninja Daisuke Nemura!" Dai leans forward in a smooth bow, reaching back to slide his sword out of its sheathe at the same time. He holds it in one hand for now, tip pointed at the ground, as he waits for the emcee to finish the introductions.
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Daisuke has joined the fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
Wince. Sakura's been up against Seishirou before... but this is probably the first time she's fought against someone who seems to be keeping his sword drawn from the very start of the fight. Ah well. There's enough room to walk between tables comfortably, so that's ... basically what the Ansatsuken fangirl does, approaching Daisuke with a friendly smile. "Y'know... this'll be a first!" Master of the obvious, she is. "Don't go easy on me, though!" It's been a while since their first encounter, but he ought to remember that the diminutive schoolgirl is anything but a pushover. She slides her feet shoulder-width apart, bobbing lightly as she keeps her eyes trained on the ninja before her.
The announcer, having continued on with his schpiel for the audience even while Sakura advanced to her position, brings it to a close. "And so it begins! Fighters, take your positions... And.... FIGHT!"
But Sakura doesn't start the first attack... not just yet, anyway! She nods to the emcee, and to Daisuke, but instead of attacking, just walks a wide arc around Daisuke, watching his stance. No sense in rushing in blindly, right?
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
The skin around Daisuke's eyes shift, suggesting a smile. "No worries. It's impossible for me to do so." He raises his sword, the bare, matte-black metal looking distinctly sharp on one side. He used to pad it for sparring matches where he wasn't out for blood, but Seishirou led him to see that wasn't a great idea.
As Sakura advances, Daisuke doesn't move. He even appears a little relaxed, although the sword now held diagonally across his chest belies his readiness. She begins to circle, and he tilts his head. With a light shrug, he raises his free hand to form the ninpo seal in front of his chest.
Four blue phantasms fade into view, silhouettes of Daisuke crackling with sparks of electricity. The four form a half circle around Daisuke, facing Sakura. They hang in the air for a brief moment, then as one, they rush her, their formation switching to envelope her in a closing semicircle, all aimed to impact at once. Daisuke, for his part, has not yet moved at all.
COMBATSYS: Sakura overcomes Half Moon Dance from Daisuke with Medium Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
-One- small advantage of not striking first is being able to see how the opponent begins the fight. Sakura had watched Daisuke in previous fights, mind -- but not very -many- fights. The fangirl's attention span obviously was directed to other fighters, as this particular opening gambit strikes her as something of a surprise.
It'd be a mistake, though, to assume that Sakura's not ready for -something-. Her white headband had been trailing along behind her, but it peaks sharply as she pulls to an abrupt halt at Daisuke's attack. Her hands snap open, clasping around a small blue orb, which soon becomes a fairly -large- blue orb out of the necessity of four blue Daisuke's surging at her. At least it's close to the same color -- for Sakura suddenly leaps backwards, letting the phantasms converge on the spot she -was- standing, and offering a meter-wide blossom of blue energy in exchange! "HADOOOOUKEN!" she cries, just as her sneakers tap onto the top of the table behind her. A brilliant flash of light fills the room for an instant, and when it clears...
COMBATSYS: Daisuke dodges Sakura's Medium Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
The four ghosts converge on Sakura's last known location, and being simple chi projections themselves, they are in no position to dodge the Hadouken flying right at them. The ghosts resist the Hadouken for a bare second before they break apart, a sizable chunk of fireball still blazing toward Daisuke. Or, at least, where Daisuke was.
At the moment the brilliant light flashes, Daisuke leaps into the air, coming to crouch upside down against the relatively low ceiling for a bare second. The Hadouken, its path unchecked, slams into a table, leaving scorch marks along the wood. With a quick push, Daisuke kicks off the ceiling, his path taking him behind Sakura's current spot. He twists in the air, coming around to land feet first. He raises his sword in both hands above his head, and as he lands, he brings it down in a slash aimed for her back.
COMBATSYS: Daisuke successfully hits Sakura with Heavy Strike.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
Grr. Ninjas. Sakura was wooed into a false sense of security by her skillful evasion -- such that she didn't expect Daisuke to be pressing a charge so quick. The flash seems to have disoriented herself more than it had the ninja, though... which was why she was still looking towards the spot Daisuke -had- been standing when the light cleared. And that would be why she got hit in the back so hard she didn't even know what hit her, legs buckling as she tumbles face-first into the floor. Her formerly pristing school uniform tainted red from the ginormous gash in her back, the prone Sakura seems down for the count!
At least, until she barrel-rolls a quick one-eighty to her left, tears welled up in her eyes from the pain, and HOWLS a much-belated scream. Choking once as she sits up, she wipes the tears from her eyes -- and has actually formed a smile by the time she's pushed herself back to her feet. "I'll beat one of you ninjas yet, you'll see!" And it's not long at all before the schoolgirl comes racing back at Daisuke -- one long (and somewhat revealing) striding leap putting her back atop the table, the next carrying her into range of the ninja, and the third launching her up into a ferocious uppercut! "SHOOOOOU'OOOOOU KEN!" she screams, as her fist slams up at the ninja's ribcage, her entire body a streaking blue blur.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Daisuke with Shou'ou Ken EX.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Daisuke
Daisuke lands on the table with the end of his swordstroke, barely jostling it with his motion. He merely waits for Sakura to work through her pain, grounding the tip of the blade into the table. "Maybe, but will it be today?" His voice is pretty deadpan, though a tinge of amusement filters through.
Daisuke cocks his head as she starts rushing toward him, and begins to back up, aiming to get off the table before he leaps away to safety. His left leg is just moving off the edge of the table to step down onto a chair when Sakura leaps toward him.
Damn skirts.
The distraction offsets his movement juuust a little. On firm ground, it normally wouldn't be an issue, but rather than putting his foot down on the chair seat, his heel catches the back of the chair. He wobbles...and that split second of instability is all Sakura needs. The punch slams into his chest solidly, the resulting *CRACK* sounding louder and sharper than it usually would.
Daisuke goes flying backward in a high arc, coming down on top of another table. The momentum carries him on, pulling the table over on its side with him. He falls behind the table, for a brief moment out of Sakura's view.
A deep hum resonates from behind the table, and suddenly the top half is sheared off as a thin horizontal crescent wave, once more made of blue lightning, crashes through it and continues on, slicing through the air straight for Sakura.
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Daisuke's Solar Wind Dance.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Daisuke
Well... Sakura might pick some other attire later, but this is working for her advantage, apparently! Brand recognition, or something like that. And besides, her fans would complain! Can't tick off the fans.
Kasugano's momentum carries her forward, so that she lands on the relatively stable carpet, her headband trailing down afterwards. She doesn't immediately press her advantage, though, waiting to see what Daisuke's going to do from behind that overturned table. She has a sneaking suspicion it won't be a puppet show.
And right she is! For when that table gets sliced in half, Sakura's ready for it! Even if 'ready for it' means throwing one hand at the ground to catch herself as she falls backwards, the crescent wave passing harmlessly overhead. Even still -- she felt the heat from that one! "Whoa..."
Pushing herself back to a standing position, Kasugano can tell it's time for something a wee bit larger than the last. Her hands snap to her side as she walks a wide arc around the bisected table, glimmering with blue chi as she gathers her strength into another orb. This spinning, crackling frenzy of energy is -quite- a bit larger than the last though, about a meter wide as Sakura hurtles it towards Daisuke with a cry of "HADOOOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Daisuke fails to reflect Large Hadouken from Sakura with New Moon Dance.
- Power hit! -
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Sakura 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Daisuke
Daisuke rises up from behind the table, sword held out cautiously. After that arc tore through the table, Sakura is almost certainly somewhere else. There's got to be some hiding spots around here...
No time to look for them now, though. Sakura's back on her feet and prepping a new fireball for him. Daisuke raises his sword, eyes fixed on her. And as she looses the Hadouken, he doesn't move...but rather, slashes out with his sword, the blade cutting right for the heart of the chi.
It comes as rather a surprise when the Hadouken passes harmlessly over the sword and continues straight for him. With no time to react further, Daisuke is slammed in the chest once again, driven back by the sheer force of the blow. His back slams into the wall, and he drops to one knee as the hadouken dissipates.
For the time being, he merely rests there, his swordtip dug into the floor for support, his free arm wrapped around his chest protectively. The tides, they are a-turnin' pretty fast.
There's getting a few lucky hits in ... and then there's too much of a good thing. Sakura's beginning to think this fight might be tilting a bit towards the 'too much' side of the house, really. She'd felt a bit guilty throwing a fireball that forced and unpolished at a practiced ninja, but it seems the instability may have actually worked in her favor, allowing it to continue on practically unperturbed and crash into Daisuke. Dusting her hands off one another, she nods back to Daisuke. "Might be this time -after- all!" chirps the schoolgirl with a faint smirk.
Now, now. The time for being cocky is -after- one's beaten their opponent, which is why Sakura starts jogging at Daisuke, weaving between the mass of tables separating the two. As she takes flight, her sneaker spins about to crash into the fallen ninja's upper torso. Her body held aloft by a faint blue aura, Sakura hopes to land two more revolving kicks afterwards before landing once more, announcing as the maneuver's name: "SHUNPUUUU-KYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Daisuke dodges Sakura's Shunpuu Kyaku.
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Sakura 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Daisuke
It's unusual for his sword to do something like that. Daisuke will have to look into it later. Now is not the time, though. The tables and chairs provide enough obstacles for Sakura that he has time to catch his breath, and as she leaps into the air to attack, he darts forward, curling into a roll that just barely brushes Sakura's foot.
Past the danger point now, Daisuke bounces up, leaping onto a table and from there to the center of the cafeteria. He turns to face his opponent, brigning his sword up in a two handed grip, the hilt near his right temple, the blade pointing straight forward. He takes one deep breath before his dark eyes tighten in concentration.
Starting from his grip, blue chi begins to form along the sword, sparks dancing ahead of the main electric fire that builds up, coming to fully encompass the blade. Soon, the entire sword is flashing blue and white, wreathed in chi. Were it not for the frenzied dance of the electricity, the snapping and cracking audible to the entire room, it might even look like a weapon from a more civilized age.
The infusion complete, Daisuke takes off running again without a word. His aim, Sakura. While she's surely had time to see and prepare for this, the ninja is fast, his sprint carrying him up and over tables without a second thought as he homes in on her like a guided missile. As he reaches striking distance, his arms snap out, pulling the sword back, and as he passes by her, the charged sword will slash out, aiming to catch her along the side as deeply as he can manage.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Daisuke's Cosmic Rift Dance.
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Sakura 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Daisuke
Seeing an oncoming attack and being able to stop it completely are two very, =very= different things. Even while her skirt calms down from her unsuccessful Shunpuu Kyaku, Sakura keeps her eyes on the prize -- that being Daisuke. The telltale crackle of electricity is a shining beacon to the schoolgirl -- and even as he pulls his sword back, she knows it definitely won't be good if it lands the way he wants it to.
The answer, at that point is simple -- change the point it lands upon. The execution, though, is a bit more difficult -- as it's pretty hard to stop a sword crackling with electricity, no matter how strong you are. Sakura's answer to that is the same as with many attacks -- a quick step to the side, a forearm raised to shoulder the brunt of the charge off to a less opportune position. She's quick enough to pull it off, miraculously, but the sword still looses a rivulet of blood from the flesh of her forearm, even though her padded handguard caught part of the sword's keen edge. She pushes herself back, upending a chair in her haste to get away and once more tearing up from the pain -- though at this point, it's probably a moot issue.
She'd be crazy to get too far away from the crafty ninja, though. It seems that the need to defeat the ninja has caused the schoolgirl to unlock a new echelon of speed -- one that causes her to fly forward, a mere blur as she rushes forward. She crouches low, and uncoils herself with a strike aimed right into the center of Daisuke's stomach, aiming to ram him high with an uppercut much like the last. "SHOOOOOU'OOOOU KEN!" If she's successful, though, she won't just let him fall to the ground like last time. No, if it works: as soon as she lands, she'd instantly spring right back up into Daisuke with a second ferocious uppercut: "SHOOOOOORYUUUUKEN!" Sakura learns from the best, after all!
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Daisuke with Midare Zakura.
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Daisuke
The lightning fades from Daisuke's sword as he skids to a halt. He lets the blade drop to his side, turning to look at Sakura. Damn, that took a lot out of him. Have to keep moving, though. She doesn't exactly hit like a girl, after all.
He hadn't felt the sword cut very deep, but the damage was less than he'd expected, and Sakura is already on her feet as he spots her. He tries to slide out of the way, but she's moving too fast, her punch coming in as a blur. She catches him on the side of the ribcage, launching him into the air, perfectly set up for the next strike. His body folds around her first on the second uppercut, eyes wide in pain, before he flies off, arcing now to land heavily on a table, his body twisted around so he lands facefirst.
Panting heavily, it takes a bit for the ninja to push himself to his knees. His shirt and mask are stained black now -- what that is is fairly obvious for anyone who's seen him in most capacities, particularly as he jerks his head forward, coughing hard for a second before he pulls it under control. "Not bad," he mutters.
Reaching into a belt pounch, he slips out three kunai, each held between his fingers. He curls his hand for a moment before flicking out, sending the knives streaking through the air toward Sakura. Just a little bit...just need a little bit of time.
COMBATSYS: Daisuke successfully hits Sakura with Thrown Object.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Daisuke
Buying time! It's a good strategy, and one which Sakura would fully appreciate were she not bleeding from the big gash in her back, and the one across her left forearm. It might have felled less hardy individuals, but Sakura's blindly ignoring the blackness creeping at the edges of her vision. Even still, she catches the compliment and replies, "Thanks! Not so bad yourself!" Her blurry view of the world right now could easily explain why the schoolgirl just happens not to notice the three kunai screaming towards her -- one nailing her in the arm, one in the lower thigh, and one right in her side. "Gyuh!"
Forced backwards a step in surprise, Sakura yanks the blade out of her side, shaking her head in mild irritation. "Don't count me out just yet!" she shouts, taking two long strides to close the distance to Daisuke. It might seem like she's throwing two quick punches to daze him -- but in reality, it's a cover for her leg to raise up high. A brief flicker of red follows, though it's not her handguards as those are suddenly hurled to the side to speed the schoolgirl's leg around, as it comes crashing down at the coughing ninja. "Hriii-HAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Daisuke dodges Sakura's Flower Kick.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Daisuke
Daisuke slowly gets his breathing under control as Sakura takes the opportunity to throw a few phrases back at him. Amazing what a couple of words will do sometimes. He watches Sakura approach, not bothering to move once more. So near the edge of his limit, anything at this point would be wasted.
And Sakura comes flying down, her kick seeking his head and giving him a show at the same time, but being on firmer footing this time, it doesn't provide the distraction she needs. From the one-knee kneel, Daisuke twists away, spinning around on his knees to come around to Sakura's side. "Nice shorts," he offers, even as his sword sweeps up in a quick one-handed slash, the arc carrying it along the leg and stomach. It's not an attempt at such a deep cut as the previous ones, but at this range, it can't help but hurt.
COMBATSYS: Sakura interrupts Medium Strike from Daisuke with Small Hadouken.
[ <
Daisuke 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
[ <
Daisuke 1/------=/=======|
Following through with her move even when it's proven useless, Sakura's face reddens at his quick comment. "You!" she snaps, her mouth pressing into tight grin even as he flits away.
When that sword comes cleaving down at her, though -- Sakura shows a blatant disregard for her own safety in completely ignoring it. Daisuke might get a brief warning before it actually happens, as her hands snap to her side -- but she's got a bigger, better plan in mind! And that would be to slam her open palms right at Daisuke's chest with a shout of "HADOUKEN!", unleashing a tight, focused blast of chi into the ninja with only a fraction of the usual warm-up time. Other people might not appreciate the training she's received from Ryu, but she's sure proud of it!
Even though that strike does still slam into her side at roughly the same time, a fine red mist spattering across the schoolgirl's outfit an instant before the force of the impact sends her crashing into a chair. Flipping over top of it, she takes the chair with her to the floor -- but by that point, she's completely passed out from blood loss. Ow.
Okay, maybe giving her one last moment of rage wasn't entirely smart, but hey. Though Daisuke feels the slice connect, he barely has time to follow through on it before the Hadouken crashes into him. Certainly doesn't hurt as much as the others, but when you're this far down, it doesn't really matter. It sends him tumbling off the table, coming to rest against a nearby foliage pot. He peers blearily at Sakura, and when she doesn't get up, he nods once before pulling a branch of the plant behind him down. Using one of the wide leaves, he wipes the blood off his sword using careful, deliberate motions. Just as carefully, he slides the sword back into its sheathe.
With that done, he closes his eyes and just..rests for a bit. No strength to stand = not a win, but at least it's not a loss.
COMBATSYS: Daisuke takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Daisuke can no longer fight.
Hushed silence falls over the officials, cameramen, and other staffers, as glances are passed between the two combatants. But finally, the silence is broken by the announcer: "And it looks like a double knockout! After a series of punishing, =painful= strikes, Daisuke Nemura and Sakura Kasugano have taken each other out of the running after a close, nail-biting finish!"
The announcer proceeds to ham up the event for all its worth, but the fact of the matter is -- now's the time for the medics to do -their- jobs. One crew rushes out to assist Daisuke, while another helps secure Sakura. A couple light slaps to the face are all it takes to rouse the schoolgirl -- you can tell she's awake by the light giggling, and the glance she casts back over to Daisuke. She's not laughing at him ... but rather amused by the irony of the situation. Apparently, she'll have to wait till another day to -decisively- defeat the ninja. But... in the meantime, she'll have to heal up and get rid of the wounds he's carved into her -- the wounds that are currently being treated by the medical staff. "I'm fine, thanks..." Sakura pleads in response that she lie back down fully, but she just -has- to shout over to Daisuke. "Thanks for the fight!"
Daisuke doesn't bother to open his eyes, but raises both hands instead. One to pull his mask down, allowing him to breathe more easily as the medics come over, and the other to raise in acknowledgement of Sakura's comment. She probably can't see it, but with his eyes closed he doesn't see her either, and right now it's tough to keep breathing let alone talk. Easier just to lie back and let the medics tend to him.
Log created by Daisuke, and last modified on 19:39:54 06/29/2005.