Neo League 051 - #75: Hinata vs Hotaru

Description: League fight between new friends Hotaru and Hinata--in the beautiful city of Athens, Greece! (Winner: Hotaru)



Winter in the Mediterranean. Mainland Greece, to be exact, in the early afternoon. It's still sunny enough to be warm, but cool in the shade. The site? The Acropolis of Athens, just in sight of the massive marble structure of the Parthenon. No matter how hard they tried, the Neo League officials couldn't get the Greek government to agree to let people fight *inside* it, especially owing to the typical property damage that occurs in these fights.

So instead, in a clear grassy field with the Parthenon in the backdrop, people have already begun to gather around a large chalked-out circle in the grass. Camera setups ring the area, well back from the fighting circle, awaiting the arrival of today's road match of the Neo League Tournament!

Hinata can't stand still. Partly because of the coming fight, but mostly because this is the first time she's actually been flown anywhere to have one, and what a place! Too bad she's only here for the fight, having arrived this morning with barely enough time to buy some postcards and discover that there are no photo mini-booths in Greece so she could put them in her collector's book. She hops excitedly back and forth from foot to foot inside the chalk circle, waiting for her opponent to show up. She was rather hoping that since the tourney had paid out for her flight, they might bother to tell her who she's fighting this time. But they didn't. It could be anyone...

"Eeeeeee!" she squeals suddenly, balling her fists in joy and dancing in place. "This is gonna be so COOL!"

Hotaru's been a bit of a world traveler--she's been on a plane before, even gone 'round to other countries... but Greece, this is a first for her. And it's beautiful--and *warm*, unlike Southtown which is freezing and snowy. Not that Hotaru doesn't like the snow, but...
Itokatsu's lovin' it too, the golden ferret in full effect, scampering around Hotaru's feet as she walks towards the fighting circle. She's just met her opponent a few days ago... and she hasn't even fought her yet. It'll be interesting. Hotaru hasn't done any sightseeing yet, but if the fight's over quick enough--one way or the other.
"Hina-chan!" she calls, as she steps into the circle, leaving Itokatsu just outside of it. "Let's have a fun fight, okay?!?" And with a big smile, Hotaru steps to her spot in the circle, relaxing and waiting for Hinata to join in.

COMBATSYS: Hotaru has started a fight here.

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Hotaru           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Hinata has joined the fight here.

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Hotaru           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Hinata


"Hotaru?!" Hinata gapes for a second. Of all the people to be flown a quarter of the globe around to fight, it's someone from Southtown! Well that's a bit odd, isn't it? But she isn't disappointed in the least, clapping her hands excitedly and rushing to Hotaru. The Sunshine Girl siezes both of Hotaru's hands and shakes them energetically. "I didn't know I'd be fighting *you*! This is great!" The crowd titters slightly at the enthusiasm, then applauds at the show of good sportsmanship.

Releasing the other girl's hands, Hinata snaps two fingers to her forehead in a little salute. "Let's do our best and give them a good show!" She hops back and dusts off her skirt, stretches her arms over her head and then raises her fists. "Give me all you've got! No time for playing around!"

The judge nods to both fighters, raises his hand, and lets it drop. "Fight!"

Hotaru is surprised, but not overly so... fighting people from all walks of life is one of the greatest things about -being- a fighter... so Hotaru just smiles and nods when Hinata shakes her hands--both of them.
"Of course, Hina-chan! I wouldn't do anything other than give you my best fight!" Hotaru waits for Hinata to get back to her starting spot, her muscles tensed, ready... and then when the judge shouts out the word... Hotaru's taken off, running straight for Hinata, shouting out a kiai as she... leaps into the air... then suddenly *zoom* is headed straight for Hinata, left knee extended. Should she make contact, she'll kick off to push herself away and to the left, to land a few feet away.

COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Hinata with Ren-geki Shuu.

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Hotaru           0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0           Hinata


Her best? Hinata wouldn't give anything less! But on the other hand, she's never fought Hotaru before. Heck, she barely even knows her except for a few meetings here and there around Southtown. So it is with some surprise that Hotaru's first attack comes quickly and a little unexpectedly. A running kiai isn't unexpected, but the sudden swish of the knee toward her is.

It hits powerfully despite Hinata's best efforts to prepare, staggering the girl back a step and a half to keep her balance, but she doesn't fall. Ow! Now her shoulder hurts! The crowd cheers, waving Greek flags in the air over their heads. What a great start!

"Good one, Hotaru-chan! But let's see how you like this little number!" She whirls on Hotaru's new position and rushes forward to jab twice with her left, hopefully before the other fighter can fully prepare a defense. A third punch hooks in powerfully from the right, sunlight glinting off it. Wait.. that's not sunlight. A distended bubble of rainbow chi encircles the hard right cross!

COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Hotaru with Rengekiken.

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Hotaru           0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0           Hinata


Apparently the first exchange will be give as good as you get--though Hotaru lands lightly on her feet from giving Hinata a knee and kick, but--it's just in time for Hinata to tag Hotaru with a jab, jab, right-cross; it sends the girl spinning away, before she can regain her balance.
"OOF! Wow Hina-chan, that was a good one!" Hotaru gathers her will, and her chi, and grins, "Let's see how you like this one!" Her right palm glows, bright even in the sun, and she thrusts it forward, at Hinata, tracing a thick line of bright white-blue energy that coalesces into a blue-white chi projectile, about as wide as Hotaru's chest, headed straight for the girl. And no, it's not a Hadouken!

COMBATSYS: Hinata slows Hakki Shou from Hotaru with Kikou Shoutei.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0           Hinata


Fight fire with fire, or chi with chi! Hinata presses both of her palms together at her side, whipping them both toward the incoming non-Hadouken. "HIYAAAA!" she shouts, yellow energy welling up in her palms and flaring into a bright and cheerful sunflower shape. The two fireballs impact powerfully to amazed 'oooooh's from the crowd, but it seems the Sunshine Girl couldn't quite muster enough to completely counter Hotaru's attack.

The sunflower flickers and fades, only taking a portion of the bite out of Hotaru's Hakki Shou, which then continues on its merry way and slaps right into her open palms. "Aaah! Ow! Ow!" Hinata squeals, shaking her hands out as if she'd just grabbed a hot pot off the stove without pads. She blows on them with a pained look on her face.

Hotaru would feel bad about hitting Hinata with that but--but it is a fight and they both agreed to give their best. So Hotaru does just that. With another burst of speed she's on the Sunshine girl again, reaching out to grab her by the shoulders.
Should she manage to grab, she'll twist to her right, pulling Hinata in that direction, using her right leg to trip Hinata down, quick and simple. And hopefully not -that- painful...

COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Hinata with Quick Throw.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0           Hinata


Tsk, Hinata. Haven't you learned anything? Pain is just a distraction. A distraction your opponent can and almost always *will* exploit. While she's busy blowing on her still gently smoking palms, Hotaru grabs her roughly by the shoulder and twists her in place. Hina-chan suddenly finds she can't actually move her feet to retain her balance, owing to someone else's leg unexpectedly whisking them out from under her. She falls to the grass with a whump and and 'Oof!' of suddenly exhaled breath. Lucky it's just grass, though.

An annoyed expression crosses her face. Pay attention, girl! Sieze momentum, use whatever you've got at your disposal and other inspirational phrases! Lying on her back, Hinata grabs two big handfuls of earth to anchor herself and whips her right leg in a fast arc up toward Hotaru to drive her back and give the Sunshine Girl some space to stand back up again!

COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Hinata's Heavy Kick.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0           Hinata


Well, Hinata gets her space--Hotaru nimbly skips back away from the arcing foot, getting about five feet away. And--and she waits for Hinata to get back up and be ready again, another show of sportsmanship that one might not see with other fighters... Hotaru's no heel, though, and Hinata either. The blue-haired girl smiles at Hinata, "You okay, Hina-chan?" she asks, worriedly... worrying about her new friend and current opponent.

COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.

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Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0           Hinata


Hinata kicks both feet into the air and keeps her grip tightly on the ground to whip herself up into brief handstand before flipping back to her feet and wiping her nose with the back of one hand. "You know it! I'm not down for the count yet!"

She crouches suddenly, lightly brushing the blades of grass with her fingertips and waiting for a scarce moment. Then she leaps with all the strength in her legs, not at Hotaru, but straight up! ... She's got game. Japanese schoolgirls *can* jump.

High in the air, well over the heads of grown men in the crowd, Hinata clenches her teeth and tenses before hooking her thumbs in the straps of her Taiyo backpack, which she even wore all the way to the fight. True to her name, the Sunshine Girl is actually silhouetted briefly against the dipping afternoon sun. Quickly she whips her right foot forward in a snap kick, then her left, well out of range of actually hitting anything. But in the blur of sunlight, two very heavy and fast-moving somethings strike out, straight as an arrow toward Hotaru. Shoes! Heavy hightops at that!

COMBATSYS: Hotaru reflects Renkyakudan from Hinata with Ko-bi Kyaku.

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Hotaru           0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0           Hinata


Hotaru is momentarily nonplussed, when Hinata just leaps up--she shades her eyes, peering into the sun... and--and wait--she saw Hinata do this in teh gym--quickly Hotaru jumps back and turns, kicking upwards in a modified mule kick. But it isn't the kick so much that's effective as the blue chi field that springs into being--which... somehow... (don't ask) kicks the shoes straight back up at Hinata.

COMBATSYS: Hinata blocks Hotaru's Reflected Renkyakudan.

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Hotaru           0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1           Hinata


Hinata had allowed herself a moment to smile. Use the battlefield to your advantage, too! But it's when her patented Flying Shoe Bullet technique meets a sudden flare of blue chi and just... bounce off that she realizes something has gone drastically wrong with her plan.

"Oh cra-" she starts to curse. In the air she can't dodge! This is bad! Like really bad! The girl brings her arms up to cover her chest and her face, the places where it would hurt the most to get hit. Oh the shame, getting nailed by your *own* shoes. The first hits powerfully against her elbow, much harder than she'd originally kicked it, but it's better than taking it right in the stomach. The second, though...

With an almost comical *FWACK* sound, the heel of her other shoe hits her right in the forehead and totally throws off her sense of balance. She knows she's falling, because she's been there all too often. And what's this? The ground? Hello ground! *WHOOOOMP*

Headfirst, the Wakaba girl meets the grass again. She stirs slowly, sitting up and rubbing the treadmark on her face. "That... could have gone better." She's going to have a hard time explaining the print of her own shoe in the middle of her face. Though it's only a momentary daze, hopping to her feet and sliding them back into either shoe, which landed conveniently right in front of her.

"Oooooh!" she says peevishly. "I'll get you for that one, Hotaru!" Gritting her teeth, she charges recklessly and leaps, bringing the heel of her right foot around with a bright and burning trail of fiery red chi. If she's lucky, Hotaru will get hit by the other foot following around the circle, and again by the first!

COMBATSYS: Hotaru blocks Hinata's Enbukyaku.

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Hotaru           1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1           Hinata


There's no shame in it, Hinata! You're the only person Hotaru's ever seen that uses her shoes as weapons other than kicking people. Hinata's fall gets a wince from Hotaru as well, and she's about to say something to Hinata--when the Enbukyaku comes in. Hinata just don't quit, and Hotaru's glad to see it. She definitely wants to recruit Hinata now, no jokes, and that is further reinforced by the pain she feels even as Hinata's feet tag her upraised forearms--once, and once again, leaving brief scorch marks on her arms.
"Wow, Hina-chan! That's a good one!" she cries, bouncing away from the other foot, then stepping in to strike with a basic, but hard-hitting (for Hotaru), stepping side-kick, aiming to take Hinata in the stoamch with the blade of her foot.

COMBATSYS: Hinata fails to interrupt Heavy Kick from Hotaru with Rival Launcher EX.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Hotaru           1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0           Hinata


Hinata never gives up! Anybody who knows her could tell you that! So it's when Hotaru lashes out a powerful kick to her midsection that Hinata braces with her palms against her stomach to catch the foot and whip the other girl around for a ride!

But it doesn't quite work. Having just put her shoes back on, Hinata failed to tie them. As she steps back to lower her center of gravity, she steps on the laces of her own left shoe and stumbles. "Wha-.. OH N-" With a loud and painful crack, the kick that was aimed at her stomach hits her hard. In the face. Hinata is taken completely off her feet in a spinning fall like a ragdoll, knocked back almost six feet! The crowd alternately cheers and winces. There are no favorites here, some cheering for Hotaru's powerful strike and others putting hands to their face at Hinata's clumsiness.

Hotaru lands--and lands mid-wince, just like some of the crowd... that looked... looked really painful, far more than Hotaru was expecting... and she doesn't want to hit Hina-chan in the face.
"H--Hina-chan... are y--are you okay?!?" Her concern almost outweighs her desire to win the fight--though Hinata's certainly gotten her share of licks in, Hotaru isn't thinking about that (until her jaw starts aching a little again), and she bounces on the balls of her feet, hoping Hinata'll get back up. It's been a great fight and Hotaru just wants to see Hinata's strong heart a little longer...

COMBATSYS: Hotaru takes no action.

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Hotaru           1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0           Hinata


With a pained groan, Hinata pushes herself up off the ground. It's been a bad day for her face, hasn't it? "Uuuugh..." she says intelligently and shakes her head to clear the spots that have suddenly started crowding her vision. "That *also* could have gone better." Groaning again, she hauls herself to her feet and puts her palms on her knees, doubled over and breathing heavily. She swallows once. What went wrong today? Did she forget to eat her morning bowl of rice with her favorite chopsticks? No, she doesn't think so.

Panting a few more times, she starts to straight, draws a labored breath, and puts her hands back on her knees, occasionally lifting her head to see if Hotaru will press the advantave of having her opponent momentarily dazed.

COMBATSYS: Hinata takes a breather.

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Hotaru           1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0           Hinata


In a more desperate fight, she would; Hotaru knows that there are times one can't let up. But in this fight, against this person, Hotaru... just won't do it. Not this round. She watches Hinata, worriedly, but not -terribly- worriedly.. the girl's up and breathing so she'll be okay. And Hotaru is willing to give her a chance to rest up. 'Giving your best' doesn't necessarily mean being ruthless. But it also means being prepared--and that's just what Hotaru is doing... preparing for whatever Hinata may throw at her next.

COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Hotaru           1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0           Hinata


Face toward the ground, Hinata pants a few more breaths but manages to raise her voice to call over the whistles, cheers, and jeers from the crowd to get on with it already. Unlike Southtown, people in Athens don't seem to get many chances to watch real combat like this, so even the small break is starting to get them riled up. "HOTARU!" she says, and then has to pants to draw another deep breath between her teeth. ".... thank you."

Hinata draws herself up, a little trickle of blood running from her nose. Considering how hard she just got kicked in the face, such a small wound is hardly serious. Almost symbolic. Her shoulders rise and fall with each breath, a palpably intense aura starting to rise all about her. BURNING VIGOR, YO!

Hotaru's ready. She's already let Hinata have more mercy than most fighters would. There's only one way to repay such kindness. "Here I coooooome!" Off like a shot, Hinata rushes forward with as much speed as she can muster, leaping off the ground and practically diving straight at her opponent, right fist outstretched and clenched so hard it hurt. Oh yeah, that aura from before? It *ignites*. Like a burning corkscrew, she dives at Hotaru, executing an adaptive take on her typical Rising Dragon-style punch. "ORYAAAAAA!"

COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Hinata's Shouyouken.

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Hotaru           1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0           Hinata


The announcement of "Here I come!" ... it, well... it gives Hotaru fair warning. So she is well and able to get out of the way of the incoming attack, ducking and tumbling well out of the way. And a good thing, too, it looked like that would have been especially painful.
"Eeeyah!! That's not playing around, Hinata!" Hotaru exclaims as she is passed by, by the girl. She rises to her feet and lunges forward as Hinata's attack ends, attempting to simply pouncetackle the girl--if she's successful she'll push off with her feet just after landing and bounce away and back to her feet.

COMBATSYS: Hinata endures Hotaru's Quick Throw.

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Hotaru           1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0           Hinata


The flames around Hinata's Shouyouken attack wisp away in the light afternoon breeze. It would have been better if she'd hit, naturally, but no matter! She lands heavily in a crouch, fully expecting Hotaru to hit back and tensing her entire body to take it.

And hit she does! With a grunted 'oof', Hinata suddenly has a Hotaru on her back who then kicks off and away, driving the Sunshine Girl's knees into the grass. But only briefly and then she's off again and clear of the burning Taiyo girl.

From her tense crouch, Hinata kicks both feet off the ground and vaults herself fully into a flip to bring a snapping heel down toward Hotaru right after the pounce.

COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Hotaru with Light Kick.

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Hotaru           1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0           Hinata


Hotaru is only half-turned after the successful pounce--not realizing that Hinata took the hit deliberately, she's ultimately surprised when the heel comes in and tags her right on the shoulder, sending her back down onto her back. She didn't even have a chance to defend it; she rolls backwards with the impact, grunting in pain.. and when she springs up she's ready to show Hinata some pain.
Hotaru's attack is sudden, the girl whirling towards Hinata, arms flailing out in a circular storm of hits. Hotaru rotates around twice, palms and wrists seeming to strike everywhere; the moment she touches down from the second short hop she's in the air again, spinning upwards (she used to get really dizzy doing this...), attacking Hinata with shoulders and elbows... carrying the girl up, if she's successful, to finish with a final attack, a diving double-knee, her body thrown back, chi blazing suddenly from Hotaru's knees out, like a shooting star.

COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Hinata with Sou-Shou Ten-Ren-Ge EX.
- Power hit! -

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1           Hinata


There are a few times when time seems to dilate, slow down and give you a brief moment to reflect on things past and things to come. This is one of those times. ... This is sooooo going to hurt.

Two palm strikes catch Hinata quickly before she can get her sluggish body to react. One drives the breath from her lungs, the other snapping her head down painfully. Then comes the second wave, an elbow catching her sharply in the chin and driving her skyward. Boy, the clouds sure are pretty in Greece, aren't they? Another elbow hits her in the stomch, but by this time it hardly even seems to register. Then two knees introduce themselves to her sternum and send her rocketing backward so hard she's going to clear the chalk circle on the grassy field.

Except, by sheer reflex, Hinata steadies her flight and puts out a foot. A very surprised looking heavy-set spectator finds himself with a Japanese schoolgirl's foot in his chest. Hinata didn't exactly *mean* for that to happen, but he was there and all. "'Scuse me!" she offers quickly and springs off him back into the chalk circle.

Gravity's a funny thing. You can actually defy it if you just try hard enough. Though it's a good 15 feet to Hotaru, the Sunshine Girl sails across the distance and whips her feet around like helicopter blades, flaring with the last remanants of her burning spirit, moving so fast the rainbow chi around each foot blurs into a large circle.

COMBATSYS: Hinata can no longer fight.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Hotaru           0/-------/--=====|


COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to reflect Rasen Enbukyaku from Hinata with Ko-bi Kyaku.

[                        \\\\\\  <
Hotaru           1/----===/=======|


Knowing Hinata isn't down just yet--though her Sou-Shou Ten-Ren-Ge must have done quite a number on the girl--Hotaru prepares to attempt to stop Hinata's attack--but fails. That burst of determination gave Hinata what she needed, and the storm of fiery kicks takes Hotaru full on. It's time for Hinata to Form Blazing Pain--using Hotaru's body--and she does so spectacularly... but when it comes right down to it, after all is said and done, Hotaru gets back to her feet, singed and bruised but bearing a big smile... overjoyed not just at winning, but at having given and gotten a great fight from the Sunshine Girl.

Hinata lands heavily after her last ditch effort, panting and resting on her hands and knees in the grass. The crowd is silent for a moment, except for the one fat guy Hinata bounced off who seems to be saying something a bit angrily in Greek. Finally, she raises one hand in the air over her head. She submits.

The Wakaba girl rises too, hair fallen down forward over her face and plastered there with sweat, hiding her eyes. At last she looks up, and is *smiling*. "You did great, Hotaru-chan! You were awesome!"

Hotaru grabs Hinata's hands and smiles. "So were you, Hina-chan, that was a great fight!" In the background the Neo League officials are busy recording everything and all that and Hotaru pays them no mind.
"You're really good, Hina-chan, I'm really impressed. I know someone who'd love to meet you..." says the blue-haired girl--who then squeaks as Itokatsu climbs up the back of her clothes and peeks over Hotaru's shoulder at Hinata... grinning wildly and offering a ferrety thumbs-up kind of motion before settling onto Hotaru's shoulder.
"I wish we could stay longer, it's so beautiful--and *warm*--here..."

She's still trying to catch her breath, but Hinata offers a similar if significantly less-ferrety thumbs up to Itokatsu. The girl whips off her backpack and looks at her cell-phone, does a few quick time-zone calculations and then GRINS. "Well, since I bet we both go home on the same flight and *that* doesn't leave for another three hours..." She beams and claps a hand on Hotaru's non-ferret inhabited shoulder. "I bet we could find someplace to eat!" Hee-hee-hee. She rubs her palms together. "Before I came I looked on the internet to find out what kind of cakes they make in Greece. There's this one with almonds, and they put syrup on it, and even though I don't remember how to say it I'd know it if I saw it! Let's go!"

Log created by Hotaru, and last modified on 15:15:40 12/19/2005.