Description: Jiro and Alma meet once again - though the ending is a bit closer than either may have liked! (Draw Match)
And so the epic rivalry between Alma 'Wonder Boy' Towazu and Jiro 'Stray Dog' Kasagi continues. Once again, these two fated friends and destined rivals are set up to meet in a clash of fighting spirits:
ON EASTER ISLAND.
Alma Towazu, stretching languidly amongst those big fatty stone heads as he stands in knee-deep windswept green grass and feels himself caressed by the dewy breeze off the ocean, considers how this must have gotten set up.
***
CHIBI JIRO: I want to fight Alma.
NEO LEAGUE OFFICIAL: That can be arranged! ^_^ What particular set-up did you have mind, sir? What location? What time? Any music? Any--
CHIBI JIRO: ...I want to fight Alma. >_<
N.L. OFFICIAL: ^_^;; Naturally, sir, but--
CHIBI JIRO kicks N.L. OFFICIALS desk in half.
N.L. OFFICIAL: I'll get right on that.
***
~ Well, it could be a lot worse. His sister could've picked a place. ~
Actually, Alma is enjoying this setup. Travel was fast, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable, and the area resonates both with natural beauty and the moving enormity of these mystic idol's ancient craftsmanship; yet on the other hand, tourists have come from the coast, whether just to see the fight, or to use the fight as an excuse to come visit the island once again. Either way, Alma hopes they will stick around. He casts his gaze up to the bright blue sky -- it's actually rather temperate here today -- and, shading his eyes from the sun for a moment, smiles softly.
It's a good day for another destined duel.
Actually, Jiro's set up was like that.
Jiro has not been the type to be diplomatic, so he had to come up with a simple persuasion to get the Neo League Official to work fast. Jiro did not give a dam how the job was done or where, he just wanted it done.
So, here Jiro is. He's arriving through the plains of the Easter Island with a calm look on his face. He keeps walking along while Alma is amogst the fatty heads. Slowly, Jiro is walking up along to meet with Alma.
He stops right before the pretty boy.
He stares at Alma.
He doesn't say a damn thing. It is an uncomfortable pause for a few moments.
Instead, Jiro winds his right hand over the left ear, then he swings it right across Alma's cheek for a pimpsmack.
COMBATSYS: Jiro has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Alma has joined the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Jiro's Quick Punch.
Alma's gaze shifts to Jiro at the younger boy's approach. The taller psychic meets Jiro's eyes quietly, the crowd beginning to quiet down themselves at what seems to be the beginning of the confrontation. The referee readies himself to asks the contestants if they are ready to begin, but something seems to stop him. Perhaps it is the way the sunlight frames the two inscrutible youths as they stare at each other, as silent and indifferent as the stone idols that stand behind them like gods in judgment. For a moment, it is as though Alma and Jiro are the champions of these silent gods; perhaps on opposing sides, yet clearly and inextricably linked by their similiar paths.
What these paths are, exactly, remains still in the dark. But today, once again, the two of them will strike to punch through that darkness, and attempt, through combat, the most difficult facet of self-expression: to truly touch another.
When Jiro slaps out, Alma moves instantly, blocking it without looking, eyes still on his opponent.
He smiles, mildly. "You seem," he murmurs, "different, today."
He lashes out in a series of three straight punches.
COMBATSYS: Jiro counters Strong Punch from Alma with Bull Fist.
[..........\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////''''']
Alma 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Jiro
The Eastern Island does have a mystical feeling to it. It's rather nice for the bout to be made. Just Alma and Jiro, no longer in Southtown, a familiar place. Instead, it is just another country where mystics rage on... So many secrets. Those Maoi eyes watch the fighters.
That hand swipes out towards Alma's cheek with a quick lash, but such simple yet quick reflexes from Alma captures the hand from reaching out towards his face. Jiro keeps an eye out for Alma for his next plan of action. A bit of struggle is made,but the hand quickly recovers to its original state; right at the leg.
"Hrmph."
Jiro's aura is very different. No longer is he plagued by the hatred. His body emits a brief glow... of white flames. Unfortunately, it is very brief in his grasp. Jiro draws his right hand back, aiming to put himself in a stance. And when Alma comes forth with the fist, Jiro launches his left hand to capture just that -one-. With the fist tightenig, Jiro is gatherig the chi in his grasp. White flames erupt along the youth, but it quickly dies away from the youth, which stirs its own confusion in his mind.
~ ...What the... my chi... it didn't come out.... shit... Screw it. ~
"SEI!" He tightes his stance, then he launches his fist right at Alma's stomach, "DO!" He calls forth, aiming to send the powerful fist right at Alma's chest, aiming to send him flying.
Alma jerks forward at the impact, the breath knocked out of him as he goes skidding back through the grass with the fierce strength behind the strike; but he maintains his footing, and when he straightens, he allows no other sign of injury. His eyes are clear, and his expression... strangely thoughtful. He stands quietly for a short moment, before his eyes grow warmer, and he smiles slightly, mysteriously; almost slyly, even, though he seems a bit too serene for that. "Oh hoh?" the youth says, eyes sparkling now, low tones delightfully bishonen-esque. "Jiro-kun, you seem to be trying something new. White flames... how refreshing."
He lunges.
"But a bit of a flat tone," he's saying, even as he seems to materialize right before Jiro. Alma draws his hand back, and it suddenly surges with gathered Psycho Power... and he winks at Jiro. "Perhaps what you need is a dash of pink?"
White-pink flame surges forward, aiming to engulf Jiro point-blank.
COMBATSYS: Jiro endures Alma's Self Expression.
Unfortunately, the Stray Dog does not take Alma's words too kindly, especially when he is lunging forward while he speaks. Alma's statement earns a hiss from Jiro, "Not a chance in hell, you fruit." There are many things that Jiro will not do. One of them is that Jiro will not put himself into the position of being Alma's color. Pink? The fruity color?
And as Alma is lunging himself outward, so does Jiro. And his materalizatio with the Psycho Power is engulfing Jiro at point blank. He is quick to act himself forward by lunging himself into the fray of the attack. Absorbed and engulfed with the pink flames, Jiro feeels his body writhe in pain in the very most core of his heart. His spirit is being ravaged by the strange tingles that haunt his very core. That same power that Alma has that isn't chi. It is more devastating than chi. At least, for him.
Jiro is striving past the white-pink flames, extending his right hand out as he releases a hiss. His eyes narrow as he launches his right arm out. "Have... at... _THIS_!" He calls forth, aiming to clothesline Alma straight into the ground while he's diving from mid-air.
COMBATSYS: Alma interrupts Strong Punch from Jiro with Divine Intervention EX.
- Power hit! -
[ ...........\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////............. ]
Alma 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Jiro
Naturally, it's impossible to actually *avoid* Jiro's clothesline, as it is, in fact, his ultimate technique. But Alma doesn't even seem to really even try. As Jiro dives down upon him, arm outstretched for the fierce throat attack, Alma's gaze softens, and he looks into his rival's eyes solemnly, thoughtfully.
Alma takes the hit, but only to drop back and, thrusting a palm out, use his own momentum from being struck to gather a sudden surge of Psycho Power into his hand, motes of white-pink streaming from inside and outside him to that one focal point. "What's happening to you?" he murmurs. He doesn't sound concerned or worried. He just sounds... curious. "You're like before, when I first fought against you... only stronger. And some things... some things have changed."
The beam that he unleashes from his hand strikes Jiro heavily on the chest, and searing through the boy's body, the mind-shattered force numbing Jiro's senses, it carries the Stray Dog several meters away, giving Alma some room.
As Jiro lunges himself dowward, Jiro is findig himself pushing over towards Alma's trajectory of his Psycho Power. That thunderous illumination carries over to wash along Jiro's entire body. Carried over into the light, Jiro releases a hiss from the entire pain of being crushed by the hand strikes to the chest.
"Eghhnn....." Jiro is sent flying from the air, landing about a few meters away from Alma, crashing on his back with a loud thud. Coughing up a bit of blood, Jiro narrows his eyes angrily before he pulls himself back up to his feet, "Tch..." Blood is dripping from his lip, which is easily wiped off. "Hrmph." Jiro smirks at Alma once, then he lunges himself forward to meet with the model. "I am finding myself again..."
He takes a giant leap into the air.
The Leap of Faith.
His right leg launches itself into the air, shining brightly with its glow, then Jiro aims to have the leg drop down towards Alma's head. "Here's an example!" He calls out.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Guillotine Kick.
[ .................\\\\\\\ < > //////////////....... ]
Alma 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Jiro
Alma clucks his tongue slightly, quietly, as Jiro launches himself into the air. This move? This move is predictable. Especially since Jiro's aura signature is so obvious in its intensity and--
Wait. No. This really is like before. Jiro's aura is-- subtle, again. The boy seems to be fighting with his instincts. Only the instincts are more honed, more developed, now; but the artificiality is gone. Gone is the Hatred, the false borders vehemently maintained between self and other, friend and enemy. Now, again, there is only the fight. Jiro is no longer an open book.
Somehow, strangely, that makes Alma feel he understands Jiro better.
The attack connects and Alma is sent sprawling to the ground, coughing and shaking his head -- combined with the clothesline, he's having a hard time getting to his feet again. Jiro hits, as ever, like a ton of bricks. Still, despite how battered he looks, Alma seems unable to help but smile at his rival, getting to his feet with a calm look in his eyes. It's respect, of a fashion: neither grudging nor patronizing, certainly not overt but not particularly subtle, either. "It's in moments like these," he finally says, low tones a bit hoarse, "that I think we have a lot in common, little brother."
As he speaks, his eyes glint with the joy of the fight, and power starts to ripple around his arms, the light wind that picks up from his power-gathering ruffling his clothes slightly. His fighting spirit surges, but Alma's expression does not change. He just watches Jiro...
COMBATSYS: Alma gathers his will.
After planting his foot against Alma's head, Jiro's lips curl into a feral grin while looking at Alma. He can't help but be radically amused at his own change and the spirit of being free once more. Just for a brief moment, Jiro feels free of his hatred and the way of Kain. He feels no longer bounded by his aura as a collar. He's the Stray Dog again.
And with the man stepped into his fighting stance, Jiro finally says something that is different.
"You're right, I suppose."
Then, Jiro is starting to sprint straight at Alma, gathering his own self as he sprints towards Alma's way. Lunging himself outward, the young man finally releases his right foot over towards Alma's cheek with a twist of the hip. Should that kick strike, there will be more than where it came from.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Jiro's Public Execution.
[ ......................\\\\\ < > //////////////...... ]
Alma 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
There is a flash of light as Alma, still and meditative, suddenly lashes out with his forearm to parry the beginning attack of Jiro's combination strike and steps in, eyes glowing with the intensity of all his gathered strength. Within him is the nexus of this battle, the channel through which the flow of battle must pass, the rising tides of fury and passion strengthing the ferocious beat, the one-two of a destined duel--
Can you hear it? It's the stuff of perfect moments.
"Yes," Alma replies, quietly, almost gently.
His body then ignites. He punches out with a series of flaming jabs, to widen gaps in Jiro's defenses...
COMBATSYS: Jiro blocks Alma's Destined Duel.
CSYS: You take 16 points of damage.
[ .................\\\\\\\ < > //////////.......... ]
Alma 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Jiro
The foot smashes agaist the forearm that parries against it, halting him from unleashing his very own combo. The youg man releases an irritated hiss from the impact, then he winds the hand back a bit. Narrowing his eyes at Alma, the young man takes a few steps back from the older man when he feels something come forth. The rising tides of the battle call for him. And Jiro feels the sensational feeling of the Psycho Power as his fists fly his way.
Keeping his guard up to help him with the impact, Jiro gives off a snarl as he keeps Alma from actually getting a good grip on breaking his defeses. With the forearms lifted to keep the body from crushing him, Jiro snorts and he lunges himself forward by having his right leg smack against the side of Alma's head, only to change up for another clothesline as he swings his right arm out to capture Alma's throat, hoping to force him into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Strong Punch.
[ .......................\ < > //////////........... ]
Alma 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Jiro
Alma's combination is halted as well, and Jiro is able to get around his defenses while he recovers. Stunned by the kick, he can't stop himself from being thrown to the ground by his throat -- ouch. His eyes are hazed with pain, his body protesting fiercely against such treatment, but even so, that slight smile apparently just can't be completely wiped from his face.
He looks up, slightly blearily, at the boy standing above him, and with a quiet sigh, smile widening, his eyes glow until they become fields of pinkish-purple power.
"Perfect..."
And then the ground beneath Jiro explodes in a huge and instantaneous geyser of soul power, white-pink flame aiming to wash over him and carry him up into the air, if he can't maintain his footing or sense it in time.
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Alma's Full Confession.
[ ...................\\ < > //////////........... ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Jiro
It doesn't take Jiro too long to finally get back to what he does best, kicking ass. The Stray Dog is finished with clotheslining Alma to the ground. What does he have to say?
"That's for the Saturday Night Fight, bitch." He comments.
Now Jiro feels so much beter.
And when Alma is gathering the purple aura... Jiro gives off a snarl, then he lunges himself over to the ground while Alma unleashes the gyser from the ground. Rolling along the ground, Jiro gearing himself to meet with Alma's back, trying to get himself at a good distance. With Alma unleashing the gyser, this leaves him distracted.
Jiro immediately rolls himself off of his feet, meeting with Alma's back. Jiro greets Alma by jabbing his left fist right at Alma's lower spine.
"Tag."
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Jiro's Quick Punch.
[ ..................... < > //////////............. ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Jiro
Well, so much for the Weaken Jiro's Guard strategy. The Stray Dog is really outdoing himself today; but maybe that's the point. Something really has changed within Jiro. Changed for the better. He's fighting for the right reason again, and that is...
...well, maybe, no reason at all.
Alma coughs again but struggles to his feet, his only sign of disappointment at his sneak attack's failure a quiet sigh, although perhaps that's just a sigh of fatigue. Jiro, meanwhile, has come around Alma's back, and punches out-- and Alma, without looking, slips his hand around and catches Jiro's back attack. Then tugging on Jiro's hand, Alma spins on his heels and thus quickly turns to face his opponent, lifting up his other hand, which now glows white-pink.
And the guy is *still* smiling*. Looks tired, though.
"You're it."
He stabs out.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Jiro with Self Expression.
[ ...............\ < > //..................... ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Jiro
A grunt is given by Jiro, who just stares at Alma after unleashing a powerful strike towards his chest. The young man smirks to himself as he pushes himself away from Alma. "...Heh..." He snarls under his breath as he pushes himself awayf roim Alma. But, when he gives him his tired feeling, Jiro finds himself writhing in pain. "Arrghh...." He growls under his breath, struggling to break out of the pain.
Such... Power.... His eyes lift back, then he collapses onto his knees. But, Jiro immediately gets back up to his feet to where he launches himself outward, aiming to lash out his right foot across Alma's cheek with a quick round house.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Light Kick.
[ ................ < > //...................... ]
Alma 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Jiro
Alma staggers as his attack connects. The two opponents are clearly totally exhausted at this point, and yet the audience continues to watch with surprising silent. The fierce persistence of the two adverseries lends a paradoxical grace to the failing young warriors. As their bodies collapse, their unflagging fighting spirits surge all the more to keep them move, to continue fighting. It seems inevitable that at some point, one of them will just burst free entirely of his body, shedding the weakening skin for the sake of experiencing, even if just for a moment, that pure freedom, finding perfect harmony in the chaos of combat--
--and then Alma is struck.
There is a moment of silence, where both fighters are perfectly still.
Alma sinks to his knees, and slumps, without a sound.
The grass flutters slightly in the wind.
And then, with a roar of sudden and incredible fury, with a passionate and yet somehow joyful cry to the heavens, Alma Towazu impossibly manages to throws himself straight into the air, and use the last of his fighting spirit to strike Jiro with a series of flaming kicks, just lashing out almost at random, the last spasms, the crescendo of this battle--
--but hit or miss, when Alma lands again, he is still, and at peace.
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to counter Rising Fury EX from Alma with Public Execution.
COMBATSYS: Jiro can no longer fight.
So much has to be done... With the tide of the battle rising forth a new spirit between the two warriors, the bodies are rejuvinated for the one purpose, and that is to fight until one is down. Jiro is finding himself to the point to where he has to continue his fight. He won't give in to the pain. But, something will give in.
Alma is the first to go. That right foot is lashing against Alma quite hard, and then he stares at Alma with a feral grin. But, with Alma coming forth with his own fury, Jiro keeps a close eye on Alma's tired form. Jiro sprints towards Alma.
....So this is how it ends. Both fighters are charging into each other for the dramatic finish. Jiro is lunging himself off to lash out h is right leg against Towazu's chest, aiming to stop him dead on his tracks. But, the series of flaming kicks strike home against Jiro as he is one point too late....
... And Jiro is the next to fall from the pain, unable to continue.
Jiro grunts, then he falls on his face.
....He only grins.
...And that ends the fight, but the war between the two rivals live on.
For their destiny are Still in the Dark.
Log created by Jiro, and last modified on 13:51:26 12/05/2005.