Description: The fight at the river bed pits the younger of the Kazama siblings in a quasi KoF rematch against Vanessa. This time the fighters start out on equal grounds and Akira scores the win. (Winner: Akira)
Given the moderately-sized crowd that's gathered, especially the cameras that are assembled, it's not hard to figure out that this is the place where the fight's being staged. True to form, Vanessa's there on time-- and with reinforcements. The more she does these matches, the more she's beginning to reconcile that a few beers ahead of time is probably her best bet. Even if she -has- read the roster, which, really, has her looking all kinds of rueful.
Straightening as the announcer shouts out his usual shpeil with the common enthusiasm, she stretches out either of her shoulders, reaching up to straighten the folds along her gloves. Though it's only once Akira shows up that a smirk paints her face. Really, given all the press about Yagami tearing his teammates to pieces after the KoF rounds, she should look more liable to enact swift and painful vengeance.
Instead...
"I'm not sure how you managed last time," she says, "But I'm hoping to at least give you a run for your money this time around." Reaching up a hand to brush aside some errant strands of red hair, she eases into a more defensive posture, though she doesn't appear to be making any move to look through the girl's defenses or, alternatively, make any sudden movements. "And just so you know," is added, apparently having some foundation in honesty, "No hard feelings."
Even if her apartment was trashed and a few heirlooms broken. It was bound to happen anyway.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa has started a fight here.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-------|
Saturday Night Fight, it has been awhile since the Kazama girl has been around for one. In fact it is only her second one and her first as an actual contestant. She had been a bit cautious in entering since the last fight she was involved in ended up being rather different than she expected. But this time around she is prepared to be attacked and she even came without the helmet on.
Of course Vanessa is no stranger to her. This time though Akira can promise an interesting fight since she has not had to fight someone before tussling with the red head. She steps forward into the ring and she smiles to Vanessa while bowing slightly. "No hard feelings at all, good luck to us both." she replies softly and then gets in a fighting stance while waiting for the other fighter to make the first move.
COMBATSYS: Akira has joined the fight here.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Akira
COMBATSYS: Akira focuses on her next action.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Akira
Idle meandering has brought someone down to watch one of the fights of today's schedule. He'd almost seem rather non-imposing, were it not for the trademarked red baseball cap and matching denim vest, complete with the red star spread across the back. The ponytailed Bogard brother has decided to drop in on the riverside festivities and sneak a quick look before he gets dragged off for his own. Halfway down the stairwell that seperates riverside from the concrete ledge and the streets above, Terry has himself a seat on one of the steps and drops his duffel bag down onto the step below.
It's not hard to see someone merrily punching holes in your defenses. To that end, Vanessa is wary of what her first manuever is going to be, though if her smile's deadened any, it's largely thanks to the whole 'thinking on your feet' deal. She knows Akira's fast-- so this is gonna be a helluva lot more tricky than she'd like it to be.
Apparently having made up her mind, she tosses back the rest of her beer and chucks the bottle off to the side, the shatter of the glass coming in time with the out-and-out bumrush she goes into. Unlike the last time, she doesn't have the bulldozing pressure of a angertastic halfbreed's eyes boring a hole into her back; and apparently, that's helped change her performance some. The second the rush is concluded, the boxer brings her left arm around in a -vicious- left hook-- one that stops short of its intended target.
Should the rest go through? Well... it's only a matter of the reaction given.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa successfully hits Akira with Dash Puncher.
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Vanessa 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Akira
"Bingo," is all Vanessa says, the wolfish grin that crosses over her features making it all too obvious that she's struck proverbial gold. ...So to speak. The second her left hand stops, her entire body snaps up to deliver a similarly hefty uppercut to the Kazama girl's jaw-- though the fast manuevering is leaving her a little too open to retaliation.
Not off to a good start at all it would seem. Akira was taking too much time trying to judge her opponents movements perhaps and she pays for it. She moves to defend against the ruse and that uppercut cleanly smashes into the jaw of the Kazama girl. She staggers back a few steps and goes down to a knee while rubbing her chin. She grimaces and then leaps forward to land in a roll that will bring her to the feet of the other fighter. Trying to bounce back from the hard strike she reaches to grasp Vanessa by the ankles and pull the feet out from under her then attempt to sling the woman high into the air and away from the biker. "Haaaah!"
COMBATSYS: Vanessa blocks Akira's Houbu.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Akira
She's grabbed, sure-- but on the way back down, Vanessa's entirely too quick to brace for the impact, rolling back to her feet the moment she hits the ground again. She'll -never- get used to that kind of grappling no matter -how- hard she tries, really-- though she should've seen it coming, given who she's up against. It's too early to gage whether or not this is in her favor, either-- all she does is dash right back in.
The second she's within range she swings her fist around in what may as well be an out-and-out backhand, the sharp trail of amber that comes after it signifying the move for what it is. If the faux-roundhouse actually -connects-, her left hand comes out in a strike aimed directly for the poor girl's nose, the same shock of energy trailing behind it. Pulling away from the manuever, she makes it a point to get a better handle on her defensive chances, mindful of any incoming retaliation.
COMBATSYS: Akira dodges Vanessa's Forbidden Eagle.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Akira
The throw at least did what it was intended and put some distance between the two fighters. It is a comfort zone that is quickly eaten away though due to Vanessa's quick recovery. It was enough time though to allow Akira to clear the cobwebs and duck low when Vanessa comes back in swinging. Hoping the whiff was enough to put the boxer off balance somewhat Akira reaches to snag Vanessa by the wrist while standing back up fully then she pivots on her left foot in an attempt to pick up the red head and swing her down onto the ground hard. If she is going to win she is surely going to have to keep this woman off her feet as much as possible.
COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Vanessa with Aikido Flip.
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Vanessa 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Akira
It does put her off-balance. While she didn't put as much momentum as she usually does into that strike, it was enough. Caught off-guard by Akira's own fast movements, she goes from her feet to her back in a matter of seconds, the sharp grunt that comes from her indicative of the oxygen lost. Seems the girl's at least got a good handle on -how- to take her down a few pegs-- the trick is to not let it happen so damn often.
"Nice one," she says under her breath, though it may as well be lost on Akira entirely. Given her positioning and the fact that there's only a narrow window of attack, she straightens, putting some distance between herself and the youth for the sake of properly gaging her options. And, finally, making it a point to see through the girl's defenses-- assuming she's even got enough time to do so.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa focuses on her next action.
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Vanessa 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Akira
Having to fight Vanessa before has allowed Akira to learn how to at least handle her somewhat. The woman is much stronger physically so Akira has to rely on speed this time around. She just smiles slightly from the compliment, but tries not to distract herself with talking. Once back to her feet Vanessa seems to be biding her time. It might be another ruse to trick Akira to get in close again, a ploy that would work because the Kazama girl comes in again and attempts to get around to Vanessa's backside and grip her around the waist. If a firm grip can be established she grunts while hefting the other woman up and releases while tossing her backwards in another attempt to ground the red head.
COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Vanessa with Back Roll Throw.
- Power hit! -
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Vanessa 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Akira
It works. Just like before.
Sadly for Vanessa, it works a little -too- well. The distinctly surprised yelp that comes from her should make it glaringly obvious that she wasn't quite expecting the -mode- of the throw, much less the outcome of it. Therefor-- when she hits the ground, the pain she takes from it is a bit more than it should be. Rueful-- that's all there is to it. This is the same kind of 'schooling' she got during the tournaments, and -then-, she wasn't taking -any- risks in concerns to her speed. And while what she's moving in next to execute could be called a risk--
Getting back up to her feet, she's back to closing the distance with an out-and-out sprint, the feint that she uses to try and throw Akira off somewhat made with precision-- a faked right hook, no less. What strikes out next is a quick shot to the Kazama girl's abdomen-- if it lands, there'll be hell to pay.
COMBATSYS: Akira dodges Vanessa's Machine Gun Puncher.
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Vanessa 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Akira
The Kazama girl quickly scrambles back to her feet and thankfully it is quick enough to get situated by the time to ready herself for Vanessa's attack. She backpeddals out of the way of the strikes and once her footing is regained she pauses for a moment. A moment of indecision that might cost her, but usure of what to do she decides to move forward to close the distance between herself and Vanessa before ducking low and lunging forward in an attempt to slam her elbow hard into Vanessa's stomach with an attempt to knock the air out of her and keep her on her toes.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa blocks Akira's Gate Elbow.
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Vanessa 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Akira
Thankfully, Vanessa's quick on the uptake. -This- time, her defenses are solid against Akira's advance, her arms coming down to absorb the worst of it. It still stings a bit, though not as much as this fray is stinging her pride. However, this puts the girl in a prime position for what she's got planned, even assuming that the redhead can so much as touch her.
With Akira in close, however, the boxer takes a firm hold of the front of her shirt, or -tries- to-- if successful, she'll quickly drag her in for a sharp shot across her jaw, the hand that holds her steady relasing her for the sake of putting forth an out-and-out barrage of attacks. Again, assuming that she's able to eke past Akira's ability to weasel her way out of damn near anything. Still, it seems like the rain of punches continues well past the point that it should just -stop-, the final note being nothing more than the uppercut that she nailed her opponent with at the first go-around.
COMBATSYS: Akira blocks Vanessa's Champion Puncher.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Akira
That blow doesn't land like she hoped it would and Akira finds herself in a position where she won't be able to get out of the way of the assault. All she can do is hunker down and protect her torso and face as those multiple punches slam into her forearms. The pain she feels in her arms makes her thankful she managed to avoid the hardest of hits. Once it seems that the attack is over with she lowers her arms some and lashes out to grasp Vanessa by her shirt. Once again if she gets a firm grip she falls backwards while kicking her legs forward to slam into Vanessa's gut as she tries to monkey flip the other woman and ground her once again.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa counters Rolling Slam from Akira with Parrying Puncher.
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Vanessa 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Akira
Instead of following her instincts, Vanessa decides to work this to her advantage. Notably, it could backfire completely, but when her hand finds purchase on Akira's own wrist, she knows she's managed to reach a breakthrough. ...Sort of.
"Nice try," she says quickly, smirking broadly as her fist comes around to plow straight into the teenager's face, the attack meant to throw her backwards and once again put some distance between the two women. While she still has no idea how to account for the girl's ridiculous speed, she's beginning to get a more solid idea as to how to deal with the oncoming assaults. Or, at least, that's what she's telling herself.
"Should've had a helluva lot more to drink before coming out here," she adds then, swiping at her mouth with the back of a gloved hand.
Akira's eyes just go wide when she finds her hand is punched away and she at least attempts to lean back when the fist aimed at her face comes in to soften the blow. It is enough to floor her though and she lays there with an eye slightly squinted. Sure she has taken harder hits before, but Vanessa still packs a mean punch. She has to be more careful it seems. She gets back to her feet and shakes her head about to clear the cobwebs. Then again this is a ruse of her own to let Vanessa think the girl is wide open, but that doesn't last long as Akira suddenly launches herself forward and spins about to bury the heel of her boot right into Vanessa's side. "Hup, hah!"
COMBATSYS: Vanessa blocks Akira's Heavy Kick.
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Vanessa 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Akira
Given Akira's speed, thinking in terms of 'wide open' is the last thing on Vanessa's mind. Rising her arms to once again bat off the worst of the kick, the boxer is still brought to heel (no pun intended) by the power the girl shows behind the strike. Needless to say, she's grateful that her reflexes were more in tune with the -inteded- outcome, rather than anything else.
Even if it's clear that the exertion of this fight is starting to get to her.
And in this case, it's a matter of playing the odds. While she's taking yet another risk with this, it could finally even things up a little; that in mind, the strike that comes out at the girl is a fierce left hook to the same spot on her jaw that was hit before, the attempt meant to dizzy her enough to open her up to the rest of the blows. They come in a more calculated succession as opposed to the rapid-fire blows that rained down before, the last one coming in as another brutal uppercut after a decidedly lengthy pause.
Once she's through, she takes another couple steps back, breathing steadily.
COMBATSYS: Akira dodges Vanessa's Puncher Weaving.
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Vanessa 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Akira
Where last time she might have had no choice but to hunker down and take the hit, Akira has room to maneuver this time around and she pivots on a foot to avoid that swing from the boxer and she backs away again as an aura of orange energy starts to form around her. Yes Vanessa should be rather familiar with this move from last time. It is something that was used against her twice the last time these two fought. The Kazama girl takes a deep breath and clenches her fist and starts to gather the energy before her. "Kikou...." she begins and the energy starts to take the form of a giant skull that gets pushed outwards and comes hurtling towards the red head. "KAI!"
[OOC] Vanessa says, "...Oh, damn. e.e"
COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Vanessa with Kikou Kai.
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Vanessa 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Akira
Well, there it is. The likely 'endgame' to a fight that could've gone in either direction. Mind, Vanessa isn't dead-set on the idea that she's lost the battle entirely-- but it's getting pretty damn close to the wire.
But the audible "Ohhh, -shit-," is obvious enough to hear before that blast of energy impacts with every inch of intended power, the blow bowling her over and forcing her to skid a good ten paces before she comes to a dead halt.
Yeah. -Definately- gonna consider taking down moer alcohol next time. At least then, she doesn't notice all the aches and pains until its too late. "Fuck, girl, you're liable to make a friggin' joke outta me," she sputters as she gets to her feet, though it's clear she's far from angry. If anything, the incredulous nature is giving way to amusement. "The hell'd you get so damn fast? I can barely -touch- you!"
But, well. Just one hit, girl. That's -all- you need. One hit, and the playing field might be level.
Striking out in another dead run against the younger Kazama, she goes in for another attempt at the energy-backed, two-hit attack she used earlier. Hopefully this time, it'll be met with better results-- though at this point, the energy that trails behind each punch isn't nearly as fierce as it was before, even if getting your head rocked from side to side is liable to suck no matter how you look at it.
COMBATSYS: Akira dodges Vanessa's Forbidden Eagle.
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Vanessa 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Akira
Even if she is trying to keep a serious face during this fight, Akira can't help but smile. "When you got a brother that hits as hard as Daigo you learn how to move fast if you want to stay concious." she replies. She has to admit few people hit as hard as him and if she can think of anyone that does then Vanessa would have to be one of them and the biker has nothing but respect for the other woman she is fighting. Respect only goes so far though. She surely isn't going to let herself be hit if she can help it. That is why she keeps playing hard to catch and avoids Vanessa's punches by ducking again and once again reaching to afterwards to grab her by the arm to swing her about and let her taste ground again.
COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Vanessa with Aikido Flip.
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Vanessa 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Akira
Hey, you can respect the hell outta someone and still beat the everloving christ out've them. No harm, no foul.
Though... ouch. As indicated by earlier reports, the ground is -not- Vanessa's friend, nor will it ever be. Hitting heavily, the boxer knows that whatever she can strike out with this time around had better count-- and if it doesn't succeed, well. It doesn't succeed.
Rolling to her side, the rush that comes at Akira is far more ungainly than it was before-- even easier to read and -far- more telegraphed than it ever should be. The first hit that comes in is meant to stagger just as much as anything else she's thrown, only moreso. The rest? That'll come in time.
COMBATSYS: Vanessa can no longer fight.
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Akira 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Akira parries Vanessa's Crazy Puncher!
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Akira 0/-------/---====|
Alright, so-- regardless of whether her fist is caught, thrown back at her, -eaten-, hell-- Vanessa just chuckles softly, stumbling once before she falls immediately to her knees, taking in a slow breath of air as she tries to see past the numerous injuries that've been wrought upon her. "You kids sure as hell've got a great way'a making someone my age feel -way- older than they should," she offers, looking up towards the girl with a broad smile. "Damn good fight-- didn't expect anything less've you when I saw who it was I was up against."
That list looks like it was enough to take out the last of the gas in Vanessa's tank. Even as the woman comes in at her Akira knows all too well she is on her last legs. That fist comes lashing out with much less intensity than it has the entire fight and Akira easily pivots to the right and bumps that punch away with a forearm while spinning and the girl ends up with her back to the other fighter when Vanessa slumps over. "I am honored to fight a person such as you again. I would never turn down another match with one of your calibur." she replies and becomes less tense as the fight seems to be at an end and the announcer bellows out that Akira would be the winner of this afternoon's fight. She bows some to the crowd then turns to Vanessa for another bow. A good fight and a well damn hard one at that.
Log created by Akira, and last modified on 18:19:17 07/30/2005.