Description: Kula Diamond seeks and destroys Ryu! Er, close enough. (Winner: Ryu)
So, it turns out that all this time, she's been looking in the wrong places. For months, Kula Diamond had heard talk about the 'legendary fighter' named Ryu. About how powerful he was, about how skilled he was, but also about how focused he was upon 'the fight'. And Kula, herself, had completely lost her focus as of late. Sure, she still took part in the Saturday Night Fights now and again, and she was part of the medal tournament, but beyond that...she prefered ice skating, cotton candy, and having fun to duels. And only once or twice has she ever had to fight like she felt her life might have been in danger.
That's why Kula's been searching for Ryu. Unfortunately, she's never been in the right place at the right time. Turns out you wouldn't /look/ for Ryu at an amusement park, mall, or Sizzler. Instead, through lots of questions and few answers, she's decided to try thinking like someone who knows what they're doing. And if she was as focused on the fight as she heard Ryu is...she'd need to go somewhere quiet to think, cause Southtown is too noisy for any of that. And it's why she's moving into the clearing she'd been to once or twice before. Not neccessarily to look for Ryu...but to try to think of where he might be.
Mmm, Sizzler. Actually, Ryu got banned from the Sizzler after the hair-pulling fiasco that his trial of their all-you-can-eat sirloin deal became for the local management. Funny story... anyway... Ryu also has this strange, zen sort of timing. In that he happens upon fighters, and fights, with an idiot-savant precision that really does tend to make one suspect he simply /attracts/ trouble. If it's true, however, the nomad doesn't show it, training away under the setting sun in a clearing on the outskirts of Southtown, nestled into the borders of the wilderness beyond. Fighting may not be Ryu's only pasttime, but it's certainly one he loves on its own merits, and that's evidenced in the expert precision, and sheer fervor, of the katas he now executes.
Fists and feet cut the air in fluid, powerful fashion, each strike audibly rushing through the space before the World Warrior as he advances through a paced offensive combination, each move leading into the next in an unrelenting dance that culminates in a leaping, spinning sweep of his foot, one that carries enough force to hurtle him a good number of feet into the air. Ryu lands out of the spin deftly, and twists to face the direction of Kula's approach. One wouldn't expect a chi aura like /that/ to come from a blonde-haired waif of a girl, would they?
Most people wouldn't expect that kind of aura to come from someone like Kula. The girl, still dressed in her school uniform with the little medals for the tournament pinned to her chest, hardly looks like an incredible fighter. But then, she can only assume Ryu's met others like her who didn't seem like much and turned out to be something. Kula's come to a complete stop to watch Ryu as he does the last moves, and she quickly puts the mental image she's assembled from descriptions to the face (yes, most people would know him from looking at him...but Kula isn't most people. Instead of the KOF Tournament, she was catching Teen Titans marathons. Weep for the future.)
Let's see, pajamas, check. Headband, check. Able to move like he's a fighter, check. ...that just about does it for her mental image. But there's something else about him that makes her pause before she says, hesitantly, "Um, e-excuse me. A-are you Ryu-" ...funny, you'd think she'd have asked around NESTS for a last name. She feels foolish now. "Um, I mean, are you Ryu? /The/ Ryu?"
There are certainly a number of fighters who fight a lot different from how they look, but... few with as dramatic a surge of energy from as diminutive a frame as Kula Diamond. Ryu looks surprised a moment, but it fades back to placid consideration, his dark eyes intense from the energy of the fight, but otherwise the man seems entirely calm, "I am." He answers simply, nodding his head slowly. Her demeanor doesn't do much to solve this puzzle... she's obviously a fighter, from the medals and the aura, but that's about all that Ryu's certain of just now. The nomad's own medal is pinned to the end of his kanji-adorned black belt, and other than his trademark white gi, the World Warrior is indeed only sporting his customary red headband. Yay for tradition! "Something you need, miss... ?" he inquires, as he's not entirely sure who this fighter is, despite the obvious talent.
Kula leans a bit to one side to put down her school bag, and then begins the great 'challenge' speech Candy had made her recite a hundred times until she could say it backwards, in three languages, and with six different types of drawl if she wanted to goad an opponent. "I-..."
So much for practice.
"Well, you see, I've heard a lot about you, and I've been told that you're one of the greatest fighters on the planet, and I was curious if maybe I could ask you some questions..." Her eyes do catch sight of Ryu's medal, and she quickly adds, "And maybe, um, if you're not too busy and you don't mind, maybe...I could challenge you?" She points to the medal hanging on her chest. "For the, um, thing...medal. For that tournament." As if he was wearing any others. She might have more confidence in the fight itself, but Kula seems to have little confidence in starting a fight.
Ryu simply listens as Kula struggles with the prepared, and then impromptu challenges. He considers a moment before saying anything, eyeing the girl steadily. Normally, he'd be inclined to say no, just given the girl's appearance... but the sheer power she exudes, along with the number of medals she still bears, gives him pause, and he simply nods. That agreement apparently extends to both her inquiries, as Ryu's only other response is to shift into a ready stance, his right fist drawn back at neck-level as his left hovers forward, in front of his chest. A ready guard, and dangerous offense, all in one... that's really how Ryu's style works, and he seems willing to practice that art with Kula, at least if she can make good on her potential, "Show me what you can do." He invites simply, shifting his weight lithely from foot to foot.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has started a fight here.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kula has joined the fight here.
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Kula 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
Kula blinks a few times, and then smiles, pleased. Both with the fact that he'll speak to her, and the fact she can try her best. She nods, and then takes a few steps before assuming her fighting stance. The shift in her hair comes quick as it turns to blue, and Ryu is more than likely able to notice the slight dip in temperature. And then Kula skates (a feat in and of itself) across the surface of the meadow towards Ryu. She's not going to start with anything great, just a jump, a spin, and a kick to his chest. Granted, if it hits, he might feel a chill.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Kula's Light Kick.
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Kula 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
Well that's a neat trick... it's sort of like Ken, except Ken's transformation powers come in a bottle of gel. He can certainly feel the chill, though his own inner chi goes a long way to oppose it when his own personal space is considered, but it confirms his initial sense of Kula nonetheless. Crossed forearms meet the kick that flies for his chest, sliding back slightly under the impact, though it seems to be little more than a momentary sting to the World Warrior, who immediately reverses his momentum and launches himself in on Kula, twisting a sharp, singular rotation that snaps his right foot out and in, even with the girl's skull. He's not exactly leading with his most formidable techniques, but he's obviously not intending to hold back, either.
COMBATSYS: Kula blocks Ryu's Senpuu Kyaku.
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Kula 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ryu
The foot is met with Kula's arm raised up. On its own, the thin limb wouldn't be able to withstand the blow, but the later of ice that's formed from her wrist to her elbow and back up her arm helps to shield her. She shifts her arm afterward, shattering the ice, and then drops down to the ground. The ground around her slickens with ice as she pushes herself forward with her gloves, aiming her feet at Ryu's to see if she can't knock him off balance. She doesn't expect it to keep him off-balance for long...maybe just long enough for her to come up with a plan.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Kula's Slider Shoot.
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Kula 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ryu
As the ground is covered by a sheet of ice, it's not a stretch to guess what happens next, and as Kula slides forward, Ryu leaps upwards, sailing right out of the path of the strike and up up, and away. His leap is mostly straight up, though, with a gentle forward momentum that leads into a midair twist, and as he descends? His right fist cocks back, and leads the last moments of his hurtling approach with a triphammer punch aligned squarely with the ice-imbued fighter's solar plexus, "Kyaaaaaaah!!!!" she's definitely talented, but Ryu's not going to let off just to acknowledge it. This is his way of showing approval, perhaps...
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kula with Sakotsu Wari.
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Kula 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
Fortunately, the solar plexus is not an area Kula Diamond is hit very often. Unfortunately, this means that when the punch connects, that little bundle of nerves there twinges and Kula makes a very un-fighteresque sound in the small, girlish squeak of pain. She doubles over and rolls away from Ryu, but then pushes herself back up again to her hands and knees. Looking at Ryu, she charges forward again, drawing one hand back. She leans suddenly to skate around him in a circle, and shoves her hand out to try to hit him with the lance of ice that extends from her arm suddenly. It's blunt, as she doesn't want to /stab/ anybody, but if it hits and shatters, should still be painful.
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries Kula's Critical Ice!
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Kula 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu lands on bent knees as he finishes the powerful strike, and just as quickly, he pushes back to a ready stance as Kula skates on in. His motion is a perfect rotation with her movement around him, almost too fast, considering he's matching the ice-slider at her own game... and even one-ups it a bit, as the lance of ice stabs in, and his palm catches it on the side, a surge of blue chi rushing from the World Warrior the answer the chill sting of Kula's lance, and all but blasting it apart mid-slice. The luminescent shockwave shoots outwards in all directions, and the surging chi at Ryu's palms roils in angry reds, fires rushing forth as his arms sweep back around, propelling that conflaguration in at Kula in a spherical mass of napalmy fury, flame-orbitted blast searing the tips of the grass as it crosses the distance the ice princess skated, echoed by a fierce, "Hadoooouken!!!"
COMBATSYS: Kula reflects Shakunetsu Hadouken EX from Ryu with Counter Shell.
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Kula 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
Fire and ice, hm? Kula's faced quite a few people with fire abilities. Iori, K', Kyo, and others. Enough that she can't help but wonder if she was designed to be a counter to more than just NESTS wayward clones. The Hadouken charges at her, and Kula does the only thing she can immediately think of when it impacts.
When the last of the flames clears, it reveals Kula standing there with just a microthin ice shield left in front of her, held by her hands. The ice block reforms, and then Kula releases it from her hands, turns, and kicks it, sending it spinning at Ryu. Backatcha!
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Kula's Reflected Shakunetsu Hadouken EX.
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Kula 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Ryu
"Not bad." Ryu whispers, sensing the upsurge of Kula's chi before he fully sees it through the obscuring flames, and as the converted blast surges back as ice, he throws up his arms in front of it, the stinging shards shattering outwards against a renewed shield of centered energy. It's not the most pleasant of things, but Ryu seems able to weather it alright, drawing a deep breath, and giving Kula a nod, "You have immense talent, where did you learn to focus chi this way?" He inquires. From the master of all kinds of other elemental chi... it's not an unlikely curiousity. But he doesn't really pause for the answer, instead focusing his own remarkable energy, the wind about the clearing seemingly drawn to him, rustling trees more volatilely, rushing across the grass, cutting through the nomad himself. Ryu draws a deep breath, a wispy aura of blue trailing from his form as the breeze suddenly intensifies, and rushes outwards, surging from Ryu himself out in all directions, "Let's keep this interesting." He invites once more, apparently enjoying the show, even if he is defending himself well against it.
COMBATSYS: Ryu gathers his will.
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Kula 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Ryu
Where? Um. Kula pauses at that, and seems to get hesitant for a second. "I...don't know, really. As far back as I can remember, I've always been able to do this." Which, considering her memory only goes back 4 years, isn't that big a shock. She shrugs a bit, and then starts her circling again, skating around Ryu. With this sudden insurge of chi, she isn't sure how to approach him, but decides to go with something a bit basic. The girl skates forward, and then jumps up into the air, pointing her feet at Ryu, and dropping...well, like a rock. Maybe that's because her feet have become encased in a solid block of ice. Since Kula only weighs about ninety pounds, it's pretty much the only way she can add any 'oomph' to her physical attacks.
COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends Kula's Strong Kick!
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Kula 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu's right comes up and around, slamming a fierce backfist into that descending block of ice, though it's more the flare of energy than the sparring glove on his fist that seems to shatter the shimmering accent to Kula's strike, the glittering shards once more scattering earthward to quickly vanish into the air as Ryu simply dances back from the girl's descent, looking none the worse for wear... in fact, he looks quite refreshed from the moment's he's borrowed to gather his breath, simply nodding to Kula before he leaps forward, snapping his right leg out as his entire form spins in ascent, building momentum alarmingly quickly, quickly enough to be carried forward in blatant defiance of gravity, right in on the talented girl's landing spot. Ryu's form twists again and again, his right foot a rotorblade of roundhousing kicks, chest and skull-level, that gust wind beneath him as he hurtles forward, "Tatsumaki Senpuuuu Kyaku!!!"
COMBATSYS: Kula interrupts Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku from Ryu with Claw Bites.
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Kula 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Ryu
Fortunately, Kula fully expected that ice shard to be batted away. In fact, the girl uses it to flip herself over, pulling her arms back from behind her to reveal the set of claws on each hand formed from ice. They're not razor sharp claws (heck, they'd have trouble cutting through Ryu's shirt), but as she twists herself around, extending out her hands, she's able to impact them against the incoming Ryu twice before the kick connects against her back and sends her flying off to the side to land in a heap. The girl uncurls herself, and pushes up again, ice claws shattered, and takes a few deep breaths, watching Ryu.
Ouch. Getting jabbed by powerful shards of ice-chi wasn't part of Ryu's plan in the aerial assault, and it drops him to the ground a lot more roughly than he intended to land, crouching a moment before his eyes lift, and he focuses back in on Kula. A sudden upsurge of Ryu's own energy brings a luminescent burst of blue-white to his palms, which sweep forward, shoving the mass in a gusting, flaring orb that swirls about itself on a breakneck path for Kula as the nomad pushes back to his feet, echoing the blast with his trademarked, "Hadooouken!!!" It's not quite as damn /hot/ as the last... but the attack is a legend for a reason!
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kula with Hadouken.
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Kula 1/--=====/=======|=======\===----\1 Ryu
Again, the ice shield is thrown up by Kula, but she's a bit drained from the fight so far. It /looks/ like it might hold, but then it crumbles, melting at her feet, and the fireball goes right over Kula, knocking her back. She lands on her back and rolls again, using the cool surface of the ground to make sure she's 'put out', as it were, and then pushes herself up to her hands and knees. To Ryu, the chi around Kula should swirl madly for a moment, and then spread out from her.
To the normal layperson, it should seem like nothing's happening, though a gust of wind blows through the meadow, bringing a chill with it. Suddenly, a column of ice erupts out of the ground at Ryu's feet, not an attempt to hurt him, but just to knock him into the air.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Kula's Freeze Execution.
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Kula 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Ryu
A hop, skip, and a jump... or at least a sprint into a leap, carry Ryu away from the eruption of ice beneath him, the veteran fighter's senses giving him that essential instant where instinct told him of the gathering power, and the nomad's honed reflexes do the rest. He lands after that quick leap, into that same sprint that he began with, rushing right in on Kula, a weaving motion to her flank the only warning that comes before his right fist, which snaps out in a potent, quick straight aligned evenly with the side of the young fighter's skull, "Haaaah!!!"
COMBATSYS: Kula dodges Ryu's Medium Punch.
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Kula 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Ryu
Kula's own training is kicking in, despite her constant reminding herself it /isn't/ a serious fight, and it's just for a medal. Instinct reacts faster for her as well, and when Ryu comes in with the punch, Kula is already crouching and pushing with one foot to skate out of the way. And when Ryu slides past (as she hopes he will) on the ice slick she left behind, Kula spins around and lashes out with a foot to his back. Normally, there's a skate made of ice there to slash, but instead Kula's blunted it, coating the bottom of her shoe with the slippery substance instead.
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Medium Kick from Kula with Denjin Hadouken.
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Kula 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
As his fist flies through nothing but air, Ryu goes with plan 'B'... a sudden spike of chi rushes through his body, crackling in blue-white arcs down his corded arms, a white-hot sphere pulsing between his splayed fingers as that rushing current surges into it, forging a powerful attack in mere instants, "Denjiiiiin...." The nomad incants, and as Kula's ice-imbued kick strikes in, he slams the charge of taser++ chi right into the younger fighter, the strike bruising and chilling with a frostbitten, nasty sensation... but there's no getting around that crackling blast of electrified energy that she gets full-on in the face in reprisal, its mass coruscating with wild lightning bolts of power, "Hadoooooouken!!!!!!"
For just a moment, after that dodge, Kula had thought it would have gone differently. She didn't think she'd be able to /beat/ Ryu, but she was hoping to wear him down a bit more. The hadouken crackles against the off-balance fighter, and she falls back and rolls for a few seconds before lying still. There's a moment of silence, perhaps to let Ryu think that he hit her /too/ hard, before she raises a hand and pushes it down on the ground. With wobbling arms, the girl forces herself up to a crouching position, and crawls back towards Ryu a few paces. Maybe she just didn't want to disappoint /him/. Whatever it is, the girl says, "N-not th-that easil-ly..." And then slams her hand down on the ground. There's a sudden surge in her chi, and a column of ice thrusts from the ground toward Ryu. Then another, and another, all in a row and pointed almost in the same direction they come for him.
Once that's over though, Ryu should easily be able to see Kula lying on the ground, her head turned to one side and eyes open as she takes deep breaths. Mustn't pass out, you'll embarass yourself in front of the master martial artist.
COMBATSYS: Ryu slows Diamond Edge from Kula with Shakunetsu Hadouken.
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Kula 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Ryu
The incoming pillars of ice are answered by surging fires, the reddish hues rushing together in a searing blast that's driven into the foremost construct with a fervent, "Hadoooouken!!!" ... keeping the ice at bay is becoming a full-time job, here. THe surging literal fireball crushes through the first pillar, sending luminescent shockwaves of vaporized ice everywhere, and it even gives the second a similar treatment, pulverizing the ice with superheated, steaming fury. The third, however, blasts Ryu's offering aside, and crashes into the World Warrior himself, sending the nomad staggering back. The little stinging strikes along with the potent stabs he took are catching up with him, though he still looks willing to fight, fists returning to a ready stanceas he faces the prone Kula, "Not bad at all." He murmurs, more audibly thanbefore.
Kula pushes herself up slowly to her hands and knees, smiling at Ryu. "T-thanks...I'm gonna..." She weakly gets to a crouch. "G-gonna do my best...for you..." She smiles weakly, and then takes a deep breath...and then just sorta leans towards Ryu, and has her fist lightly 'paf' against his chest as she supports herself there. Of course, Ryu might not be fooled like other people, and might be able to detect the surge of chi coming from Kula as ice starts to spread from her hand and water condenses in the air around him. She's attempting to encase him in a thin layer of ice that should last, oh, about .2 seconds against someone who radiates so much chi, but hopefully she can get a point of damage in if it works.
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Ice Coffin from Kula with Joudan Sokutou Geri.
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Kula 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu's certainly lucky he didn't let his guard down just because Kula hit the ground... that ice that spreads from the point of contact /hurts/ like crazy, but the sharp chill doesn't deter Ryu from his initial plan, as he holds his ground and plants his left foot, rotating a hard counterclockwise turn to bring a suddenly bent upwards right leg in-line with Kula, the side-thrust snapping out with impressive force and crashing full-on into the blue-haired girl's ribs with a focusing, "Kyaaaaaah!!!!" It's meant to be the coup de grace to finish this fight off, but well... Kula's certainly shown some resilience so far, so Ryu's not letting his guard down just yet...
Again, Kula is knocked back, and this time she just relaxes as she lands and bounces on the ground. One thing she's learned from fighting Saishu Kusanagi and now Ryu is how to take a hit that knocks you on the ground. Kula once again pushes herself up with wobbling arms, and she stumbles over to Ryu. She weaky reaches out to grab him, and it doesn't seem like she's using ANY chi as she tries to take a firm grip. She crouches then and jumps, doing her best to start to land behind Ryu and THEN channel her chi down to make an ice spike appear under Ryu, knocking him up and over her head. Yeah, it has about as much luck as going off as Kula winning the lottery, but like she said, she's doing her best. When it's all over and done, though, Kula just seems to stumble once, and then flop against Ryu. Poor thing needs a nap. ...but she also has that question for Ryu as well, and needs to give him his medal.
COMBATSYS: Kula can no longer fight.
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Ryu 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Kula's Strong Throw.
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Ryu 0/-------/-======|
As Kula uses him as a lever to rise up and over, Ryu lurches forward, leaping clear of the sudden slash of ice, and landing a fair distance from Kula. A safe distance! Ryu is a fair bit worn out, himself, breathing heavily as he steadies his stance, and his gaze on the younger fighter. As she slouches forward and goes for the medal, obviously out of fight for the moment, Ryu advances more relaxedly, offering Kula a hand up before he accepts the medal, which he pins onto the side of his belt. He considers her a moment, then states simply, "Your skill belies your years. It was an honour to fight you." Perhaps she isn't at his level yet, but the potentially is surely there, and she seems rather remarkable to the World Warrior, who bows respectfully, a simple gesture, but sincere.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has ended the fight here.
Another weak smile from Kula. "'ank you." She starts to slump a bit, but then picks herself up. "...it was...honor. Yeah." She still looks ready to slump over. But instead she just leans back, and falls onto her butt. Yeah. "...so, um...can I...ask you something now, Mr. Ryu? It-...it's a dumb question, but people told me you were the person to ask."
Looks a bit dazed... but then, much bigger fighters have finished their fights with Ryu rather dazed. He stands whree he is, folding his arms over his chest and nodding once to Kula, "What is it?" he inquires simply, apparently willing to field her question. Plus, it gives the aching World Warrior time to take a few deep breaths and center what's left of his energy, calming his mind a bit.
Kula brings her hands up to poke her fingers together. She seems ready to full-out ramble, but then just asks, "Why do you fight?" ... maybe that didn't come out right. Ramble-mode, away! Kula continues, "Cause, see, people tell me it's important to know how to fight, cause I have to protect things I care about, but I see so many people who just fight for money and fame, and I think it's kinda twisted that it's so popular to watch one person beat up another, but if I /don't/ fight then I won't get better and be able to help my friends and..." She trails off, realizing she's lost her point. "...I just...I was wondering why you fought, so maybe I can figure out why I should keep fighting."
"Why do I fight?" Ryu asks rhetorically, echoing the crux of Kula's query, "I fight because it is what I was born to do, what I've been taught, and how I live. It's what I enjoy, and it's where I believe my responsibility lies. To do what's right, and maintain vigilance, while improving my talents through discipline." It's a deceptively simple answer, perhaps, because walking the idealistic road of a traditional martial artist is never something so easy. Ryu reaches up to tighten his bright red headband, and smiles a bit to Kula, "The real trick is not always knowing why to fight, but when. Seeing one's goal beyond that fight, and the path of the participants. Why changes, how changes... the deciding factor is the will to know the moments as they come, and act on them with skill and precision."
Kula's expression well reveals that she's not understanding a lot of what Ryu's saying. Born to do? Yeah, that sounds like her. Been taught, yeah. Maintain vigilance? Wha? She scratches her head, and then goes, "I...think I understand. I just need to know /when/ to fight, and not worry about why?" ...it almost sounds like a dodge, but Kula nods. She's too tired to ponder much over it. "...okay. Thank you again for...the match." She shakes her head once, and then lies back on the grass. "...is it okay if I just lie here for a bit?"
"It's important to know why as well, but there is no one reason why. When is important because if the powerful apply their strength without care, they can cause great harm regardless of intent." Gouken's words, once upon a time, but Ryu is confident enough passing them on, "Then there is competing, training, pushing to excell... a fight like this. I fight these to prepare, and to test myself." He explains simply, then nodding, "As long as you like. I'll bring you some water in a few moments." He offers, starting off towards the dojo on the edge of the clearing.
Log created by Kula, and last modified on 04:30:42 11/10/2005.