Description: Admist the bright lights of Metro Square, two rising stars collide. In this, the most intense battle between Alma and Hotaru yet, the battle rages back and forth, and it begins to look as though the both of them could dance all night long -- in the end, it just comes down to the flip of a coin. But now a new challenge awaits young Towazu... (Winner: Alma)
U.S.A! *whooooooosh*
The Crossroads of the World, famed cultural center of the United States of America and shining queen of the continent's eastern coast, Metro City. And here, in the middle of this fast-paced human maelstrom, this constant catastrophe of movement somehow poised into a semblance of harmony, is Tim--*cough* Metro Square. The gentle shroud of darkness hangs over twinkling starlight -- or are those just airplanes? -- but somehow the sky itself is dwarfed by the intensity of the lights that shine all around this notorious plaza. Enormous electric signs, beacons of information, stream their messages as fast as the people walk by, in an attempt to keep up with them -- just as the people themselves move faster and faster, in an attempt to keep up with each other...
But for a moment, here in the center, the flood has parted for one young man, who stands still and calm, unmoving but relaxed, strong bamboo unbending in the wind. An evening star twinkling here among so many other lights.
~ Will I see my face in lights up here, someday? ~
Alma Towazu, handsome young rising star of the Japanese modeling scene, looks up at the faces of so many other models in the advertisements that dominate the Square, and smiles.
~ That sure would be something, I suppose... ~
The tall blond half-Japanese reaches up, sweeping his stylishly unkempt red-tinged bangs away from his eyes with an idle and unconsciously elegant gesture, and his soft smile widens as his gaze passes through the crowd. They do part for him, a testament to his natural power, but even so, they don't spare him a second glance.
~ I guess... there are many especially beautiful people here. ~
Perhaps that's what being a cultural center is all about.
Well, they might not look at him, but they do spare a couple glances for the TV crews that are setting up here in the midst of this twinkling lights, starting to clear a larger space of their own. In a few moments, Alma will enter that space. For now, he is content to stand, hands slipped into his pockets, and breathe in the Metro City ambiance. It stirs his blood... and not in a wholly pleasant way.
hat 'ambiance', largely, is the collected, concentrated by-products of a large number of humans living in a highly industrialized concrete jungle. And Metro City -is- a concrete jungle; its heights are as pristine and shining as any skyscraper in the famed cities of the world, and its underbelly is as dirty, noisy, and dangerous as any snake-infested rainforest. And throughout it all, the people move--on foot, on bike, on motorcycle, on car. The lifeblood of a city, rushing through its streets and buildings like red, white, brown, black, and yellow blood cells.
At ground level in Metro Square it's still largely clean; the wintry cold has lessened somewhat, though it's still certainly biting. The center of the Square, like that famous square in New York City, is just as busy, and just as well-lit with neon; even as Alma stands in his little island of peace, like an eddy in the river, life swirls around him.
But Hotaru doesn't mind swimming in the river; having arrived earlier, she was given a hotel room a few blocks down, and instead of taking a cab or being driven in by a Neo League official, she decided to walk. Like on most trips, she left Itokatsu behind, along with the little pup of Max's that she'd decided to adopt, and her manner of dress means that she actually sticks out -less- amongst this hip, urban crowd than her normal outfit might. So it isn't inconceivable that she could arrive without Alma noticing, as she is alone; though she does tip her presence off to the Neo League officials that are beginning to set up the feature match.
"I don't think I could ever live here," she says, as she steps up beside Alma, familiar friend and league rival of sorts.
"But it is an interesting place to visit... I'm no psychic but I can feel the brighteness of life that permeates this city." The Metro Park might've been a more 'natural' place to have a match, but there is no denying that the pulse of the city beats, right here.
"Me neither."
Alma replies before he turns his head, but when he does look at his friend, the mild-eyed youth is grinning winningly, those sparkling hazel orbs full of life and in contrast as always to his serene expression. "For a 'psychic' like myself," he adds after a moment, still looking over his shoulder at the younger girl, "it's pretty complicated. On the one hand... the speed, the tension, is almost oppressive if you try to stand your ground and not be swept away in the tide of his power. On the other hand... it's just another city. That is, it's just people. People are people, in Metro City, in Southtown, in the cities and in the country." For a moment, he looks ahead of himself again, gazing up at the top of a tall skyscraper. When he speaks again, it's softer. "Lao Tzu said that one doesn't need to leave one's village in order to understand the world. That the same truths and beauties to be found in the largest things can also be found in the smallest things. I think that's true..."
And he finally turns all the way around to face Hotaru, grinning again. "But then again, perhaps I'm just the sedentary type anyway," the low-voiced youth adds good-naturedly. "I'm too easily satisfied to need adventures, eh?" And he winks dashingly, an unusual expression of the good humor flowing from him.
"You're looking good tonight, Hotaru," he adds, casting an admiring eye over her form, though, er, not for any longer than necessary. "Is that a new outfit? I've never seen you wear anything like that before." He himself is actually decked out in stylish black; very dark blue carpenter's jeans, a black cotton ribbed shirt, and a tight black overshirt with the occasional thin grey-and-white vertical stripe. Only his tan loafers offset the ensemble. Perhaps he's overdone the dark, but it seems to fit the setting somehow -- and besides, he so rarely does so.
"Ladies and gentlemen! This... is the Neo League! I'm your host--"
"We'd better get ready," Alma adds with a smile, beginning to walk toward the cleared space. He already appears to be in a poised stance similiar to his fighting stance; perhaps establishing himself so that the crowd flowed around him required him to be in the same kind of mindset? "Please, do your best."
COMBATSYS: Alma has started a fight here.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|
Hotaru merely nods silent agreement with the long speech; she can't imagine what it must be like, to have even fleeting and accidental access to the thoughts of others... much less to have them constantly swirling around. It must take a great deal of self-control not to go crazy with all of that.
"It's true that life replicates itself from the small to the large... but there is no denying the sheer power..." And then he comments on the clothing. Hotaru blushes faintly, but nods.
"It's new.. a friend at Seijyun made it for me... said it would be better for fighting in and that I should try and be more fashion-conscious." That's all she has to say about that; she thinks Alma looks as studiedly good as he always does, not that she's really ever been too interested in that kind of thing, herself.
Now that it's time to fight, Hotaru bows in Alma's direction, then trots over to her spot, pigtails bouncing. She offers no reply to Alma's standard pre-fight dialogue... proclamations would be useless at that point. To show him her best, she'll just have to -win-...
And then the call comes. "FIGHT!" And Hotaru is off and running, as it were; she decides to start the fight off flashy.
Even with all the lights, the glow of chi on Hotaru's right hand is clearly visible, as is the light-trace it cuts through the air as she thrusts the hand, palm out, at Alma, to release a pulsating, blue blast of chi, cored white.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alma
COMBATSYS: Alma negates Hakki Shou from Hotaru with Sacred Wave.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alma
Flashy, you say?
Sounds like a plan.
Though Alma doesn't have the initiative, he responds quickly to Hotaru's surge of gathering chi and the resulting blast. Stepping forward like a pitcher going into full swing, tight overshirt sweeping lightly around his torso, the tall young man draws his hand back across his face to his opposite shoulder. Eyes flash white; hand gleams white-pink. A halo of energy gathers around him as he slashes that relaxed hand out in a graceful arc--
--and fighting spirits collide.
A sunburst of blue chi and pinkish soulfire thunders out, drawing the gazes of those remaining who have not noticed the fight, and providing a powerful counterpart to all the artificial light shining around.
If the stars cannot be seen tonight, Alma and Hotaru will bring them to you!
Right behind that flare of negating energies comes Hotaru, running almost full out; her tactic appears to be a simple one, her focus visible in the draw of her face as she streaks out for Alma--reaching out to grab for his shoulders. Still riding the wave of momentum she built up in her quick dash, even as she's grabbing she's seeking to slide between his feet; if she lands the hit she'll simply be using her momentum to pull Alma forward and flip him onto his back.
Hard.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Alma with Strong Throw.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Alma
Alma used up his edge on that counterattack. His reflexes are too spent to react to his opponent emerging from the flames of their energy collision, and her sliding pseudo-suplex connects; she's able to grab him and hurl him to the walk behind her with a solid thump -- "Umf!" -- though he rolls to his feet almost immediately.
Turning to face her even as he's rising, Alma's lunging almost before he's fully standing. Aiming to pepper Hotaru with a few fast jabs, perhaps even before she manages to turn around to face him, he'll try to take advantage of whatever imbalance may have occured with two fierce straight punches to the girl's abdomen and head.
"Hm! Hou!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Strong Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Alma
Hotaru appears to be holding the edge for now; bobbing and weaving around the jabs, she slips both stomach and head punches, the latter being dodged by a mere centimeter or two, with just a tilt of the head. Bold, and perhaps crazy--Hotaru knows how hard Alma can hit, right in close. But she doesn't really seem to care; she fakes a low kick, but instead comes up high, aiming for the side of Alma's head with a snapping roundhouse kick--hit or miss, she'll be taking the full rotation, quickly, rather than attempting to pull her leg back.
COMBATSYS: Alma interrupts Heavy Kick from Hotaru with Divine Intervention EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Alma
Alma's punches didn't connect -- but they /did/ build up his momentum. If there's any frustration in the fact that he missed, it certainly doesn't show in his calm and intent expression; but in this case, that's actually because he /isn't/ frustrated. He's getting ready.
Hotaru's feint is ignored, Alma awaiting her high kick -- and once it comes, he quickly snaps his right arm around to block it with a raised forearm. And not just any raised forearm. A raised forearm on fire. That's right, folks. Even as he's parrying, Alma is summoning up his gathered energies, and as the girl's powerful kick is repelled, he's already lashing out--
--and firing a beam of white energy directly into Hotaru's forehead, striking painfully at the connection between her body and her mind.
"HOOUUUAAAH!"
Hotaru recoils; the psionic energy is as unsettling and painful as it always is, and as always, getting a dose of it is no fun for the girl. Funny, one would think that a strong-willed girl like her would be able to deal with it better... in any case, she shakes her head, retaining enough of her senses to back off of Alma, looking to refocus and re-establish her sense of being and her sense of the fight.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Alma
Well, Alma could tell you, it's one thing to have an iron resolve and another to have a will sufficient to defend against Psycho Power. Resolve is the determination to do what you feel is right; will, in this sense, is your certainty of self, your sense of identity. For a while, Alma was as passionate and inspired as ever, but had no sense of self through which he could defend against psychic attacks. Perhaps Hotaru, in her innocence and even naivety, has not yet fully established her own conception of self -- no matter how arbitrary it might be. Perhaps she hasn't been close enough to anyone to see her self reflected in them...?
But speculation aside, Alma too is re-establishing himself. With a quiet and long exhalation after his completed resolve-enhanced blast -- "Haaaaaah..." -- the tall youth settles himself on relaxed legs, straightening his posture again and raising his hands into a loose guard position. For a moment, he closes his eyes... and just breathes.
A rosy gold haze warms the air around him as coils of transculent white-pink soulfire begin to rise off his arms and shoulders and spiral into nothingness, fading in the air.
COMBATSYS: Alma gathers his will.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Alma
Hopefully--maybe--Hotaru can take advantage of this. Though she thinks Alma is setting up to do something awful to her, at least in terms of winning this match, it would be far worse to be TOO cautious... so once again, she rushes the young model... and once again, she reaches for his shoulders. But the result this time, would be different, were she to hit; upon a successful grab, in a blindingly fast series of moves, Hotaru would 'run' up Alma's body, stomping on his thigh, abdomen, then shoulder, using the last stomp to push off into a backflip.
That is, if she hits...
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Hotaru's Sha-jou Tai EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Alma
Alma opens his eyes to Hotaru's rush -- fuelled by her timing and her fighting spirit, the attack is impressively fast, and it is initially successful. Alma's right leg, shifted forward in his current stance, is stomped on by the girl's small foot, and the way the boy's body jerks is a testament to how much potential power is contained within Hotaru's small frame. Yet her assault is halted here. With impressive reflexes, Alma prevents Hotaru's foot from reaching his abdomen by snapping out with his cupped hands, catching her 'kick' and coiling in with the momentum before bouncing back -- and hurling her into the air!
How far he tosses her and how effective it is... well, we're about to see. Because once he cuts off her technique with that, the young warrior-model immediately steps forward and leaps straight up himself, twisting around and igniting his legs with the gathering momentum as he roars in rising fury. "Huuoo... KAAAAAH!" A series of spinning roundhouse kicks follow Hotaru upwards, aiming to catch her while she's helpless in mid-air (if indeed she is) and blow her back with his combined physical and spiritual might and momentum.
White-pink flame, trailing the sparkling fluidity that is the trademark of Psycho Power, highlights the flashing lights of the advertisements that surround them above, and the cameras follow the two of them upward into the night air.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru reflects Rising Fury from Alma with Ko-bi Kyaku.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Alma
Because she's still airborne, she can't just do what she normally would in this case--try to dodge, or use her patented Ko-bi Kyaku... at least, not in its original form. So... so she's gotta try something different. While she's not the total innovator some people are--look at Frei, for example, he's always doing something different--this time, she can make an exception. So she twists, in midair, flipping herself over--and kicking downwards. You might call this a Reverse Ko-bi Kyaku, if one might be so inclined; the end result is Hotaru's blue chi field overpowering Alma's psionic attack and the energy blowing through to hit Alma--not hard, but enough. And Hotaru completing her flip to land, lightly, on two feet, grinning a little at the success of that impromptu technique. Not bad, eh?
And Alma lands... rather heavily, on his back. The chi itself didn't burn him too badly, but the force did send him offbalance, and he's not able to land with any grace. Although admittedly, there is something pretty dramatic about the way he crashes to the ground; maybe that's cool enough.
Lifting his legs, Alma quickly kip-ups into a three-point crouch and raises his head, his gaze meeting Hotaru's. He doesn't smile himself -- it would simply be out of place -- but he does nod once, a mid-battle gesture of genuine appreciation and admiration. And then?
His eyes flash.
He blurs.
And then he's lunging, trailing white flame.
"Uuuuryyaaaahh--!"
A blur of flaming punches commences...
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Destined Duel.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Alma
"--ehh...?"
Alma's battle cry trails off as he feels his punches meet nothing but air. He stumbles slightly, the flames fading.
He looks a little wide-eyed, there. Is he sweatdropping?
... and once again Hotaru simply isn't there--if you've ever seen that arcade game Rival Schools, then you might've seen the kind of dodge that Hotaru just performed--a low duck and a hellaciously fast quickstep. So while Alma's just standing there, Hotaru is standing behind him. But--she can't just attack Alma from behind without -some- warning. So...
"Ahem. Looking for someone, Alma-kun?" she says, impishly--before attempting another lunging grab--less a grab, really, than attempting to leap on Alma and put her full weight on his back and just drive him to the ground. Might ruin his clothes, but c'mon, it's not like he can't afford new ones even if they -do- get ruined...
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Hotaru's Strong Throw.
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Hotaru 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Alma
Well, if she's not in front of him, she's probably...
Even as the girl is leaping, Alma is turning around and doing a little quickstepping of his own, slipping back and out of the girl's reach. The tall youth's normally mild expression looks a bit chastened -- but also a bit drier than usual. His trademark deadpan sets his face in stoic repose.
"Cute," he mutters to himself.
But his defense turns quickly to attack, as is the Hiten-Ryu way. Bouncing back off his own withdrawal, Alma lunges forward in a fast knee strike to Hotaru's midsection in an attempt to force her back a bit, before immediately shifting into a twisting back kick, aiming high for the girl's head. "Hmph!" is his grunt of effort and concentration.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to interrupt Light Kick from Alma with Ten-shin Shou EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Alma
... and even though Hotaru -seems- ready--winding up for a counterattack--Alma's foot proves too fast and it tags Hotaru in the head, snapping her head around and sending her stumbling back.
"OOF!" she cries, quite elegantly, as she struggles to regain her footing, hopefully before Alma can take too much advantage of the successful attack.
"Houuaaah--!"
Chivalry is one thing, but respect between fighters is another; Alma won't show mercy until Hotaru is truly finished, and that sure has heck ain't now. So when his kick connects and rebutts Hotaru's attempt at an interrupting strike, Alma leaps immediately, channeling his gathered momentum forth towards his opponent almost immediately. Right hand drawn back, the tall youth soars in, illuminated by the backdrop of bright multicolored lights, and aims a fierce downward chop at the unbalanced Hotaru's shoulder -- if it hits straight on, it might have enough force to plant her right into the pavement. Harsh!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Strong Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Alma
Unbalanced she may be but not that much so; Hotaru turns as the chop comes in, letting it pass her by. And she continues her turn, until it becomes a spin, and the spin becomes a hop... giving her some distance as she once again tries to settle her mind, the fact that she missed her counterattack apparently of some concern to her. But she can overcome it; the fight isn't won or lost yet, not by either party... slapping herself on the cheeks, she shakes her head... thinking to herself, perhaps, ~ c'mon, Hotaru... get yourself together! ~
COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Alma
This time, Alma isn't going to let Hotaru rest easy. His momentum is diverted by the missed follow-up attack, but he doesn't let that stop him; turning immediately, Alma skips in quickly with a lashing jab to the girl's head. The opener is half attack and half feint, because soon after he follows up with a fast step kick to Hotaru's shin -- and even then, he's assaulting her with a few more fast punches, attempting to at the very least distract her, even if he doesn't cause much actual damage.
"Hm! Hm! Hmph!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru blocks Alma's Quick Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Alma
Despite Mr. Towazu's lashing out... Hotaru is prepared for those punches and the shin kick. She elects not to attempt to dodge, this time, instead taking the impacts on shin and forearms, more like a traditional fighter would, though obviously Hotaru is no tank; the speed of Alma's attacks convinced her that to attempt to do otherwise would be more harmful.
Her response is to gather herself, for a moment--and ONLY a moment--then thrust out both palms in a centered, twin-palm strike, aimed for Alma's chest.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Hotaru's Strong Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
"Hrn--!"
Alma's block is a little unconventional here, but he has no desire to play defensively right now. His punches don't fully penetrate the girl's guard, but his attack isn't finished yet; so when she attempts to retaliate with a double-palm strike, he twists and literally shoulder-checks his way through the attack, taking the hit on a less vulnerable area than Hotaru was aiming for and seeking to bull his way in past her defenses.
And as he turns back from his twisting move, his hand draws back, and trails of white energy spark through the air before he strikes out suddenly -- and a lance of surging white pink-tinged soul fire blasts out toward his opponent's body, eliciting a forceful explosion of mental energy point-blank in the girl's close vicinity.
"HA!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Self Expression.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
Hotaru ducks low, then pushes back, and hops out of the way. To her, it seems like slow-motion... but that's what happens when you see your life on the line. She knows that any expression of energy from Alma--self or other--will hurt if it hits. So she does her damndest to make sure it doesn't. The backhop is turned into a handspring, and as Hotaru is coming up, she's once again on the attack--suddenly shifting her momentum, she's flying at Alma in a low arc, her arms windmilling as she twists her upper body through a three-sixty rotation. The moment she touches ground, she's striking out to finish the combo, one open palmed strike towards Alma, the other away--for balance.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Hotaru's Sou-Shou Shin.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
The moment she touches ground--
--Alma is ducking under her strike, shifting immediately and with elegant simultaneity into a sweeping low kick, aiming to force the girl to stagger and follow up the attack with a fierce and fast knee strike to her abdomen, possibly even knocking the wind out of her.
A real audience has gathered here to watch. Alma and Hotaru may not be the most famous fighters, but they're putting on a serious performance tonight. The Neo League won't regret setting them here in the midst of Metro Square.
Perhaps for the first time that night, some Metro City folk have slowed to a stop, here to witness power, beauty, and seamless flow. Surrounded by light, the two fighters dance.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Light Kick.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
Hotaru is momentarily surprised when Alma -dodges- the Sou-Shou Shin; it isn't often she doesn't at least hit the opponent's blocking limbs. But she's perhaps hyper-alert--to a degree at least--as she almost *feels* that sweeping kick coming, thrusting herself up into the air. And as that knee comes in she's putting her hands -on- it, redirecting herself up and backwards, gracefully flipping once, twice, three times, before landing. Phew. Once again Alma shows his speed and grace... Hotaru can feel herself teetering on the edge of fatigue, but she can't let up now--she can't admit weakness. She doesn't want to disappoint the fight fans. She doesn't want to disappoint Alma. And she doesn't want to disappoint herself. And the only way she can do that is, win or lose, to do exactly as Alma requested: her best. The fight's been going back and forth, for now; Hotaru decides to try something different, borrowing a trick from Xiangfei. She flips a coin out of her pocket, which sparkles brightly in the neon lights, then twists and whips it out at Alma's forehead.
Hey, it worked on Xiangfei once...
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Hotaru's Thrown Object.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
Ting!
The coin flips through the air, catching the light -- and Alma is forced to halt his advance temporarily as he snatches it deftly from the air. For a moment he settles himself, shifting his feet slightly, before he looks up, and smiles slightly.
"Miss, I believe you dropped this..."
And he flicks it right back at Hotaru, just as quickly and with equal force.
Or does he? The coin, catching the light in the same manner, is a tad too high; it sails easily over her head. The real danger here is the lunge that follows immediately, his hands blurring out in a series of fast jabs. If he can only make serious contact again, he'll be able to re-establish his momentum...
Those punches may be quick, but if they manage to strike her head and body as planned, they will still most certainly sting.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Alma's Quick Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alma
Serious contact is to be denied, yet again; Hotaru is not fooled by the 'look there!' trick that Alma pulls--her focus remains firmly on her opponent as she shows off her agility once more, slipping and duckin those fast and furious jabs. Once again, she elects to remain close to Alma, having let him close the gap, and she seeks to force him back with a series of quick, cutting kicks at Alma's shins, almost more footwork than attack.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Alma with Light Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Alma
Waurgh--
For one thing, his punches put him a bit more off-balance than he expected. But mainly it's the immediacy and power of the girl's strikes he didn't anticipate. The first kick gets him staggering and unable to defend against the rest, and the final slice of her leg literally knocks his feet out from under him, battered shins giving way. Grunting in pain, Alma slams his palms on the pavement to prevent himself from faceplanting into the concrete, but it looks like his legs are in a bit of a bad spot at this point--
--but with sheer resolve, Alma literally pushes himself off the ground with his palms, lifting into the air with supernatural suddenness to grab Hotaru by the top of her undershirt and pull her forward roughly. If he can manage that, he'll continue with his path forward and brush his body against hers, channeling his momentum into a final and sudden shove. If he's successful, it will hopefully send her sprawling -- and get him back on his feet!
"Hmph...!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru blocks Alma's Quick Throw.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Alma
Almost everything goes as Alma planned. Almost. The only thing that doesn't is that Hotaru keeps a hold of Alma's shirt as he shoves--the actual impact still stings a little but she -doesn't- go sprawling. She does, however, attempt to pull him off-balance, quickly, using her grip on his shirt and twisting to her left, seeking to trip him over an outstretched leg. It's simple but it might just work...
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Hotaru's Quick Throw.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Alma
What is this, a shirt-grabbing contest? If you want him to take off his shirt, Hotaru, all you have to do is ask. No need to be so aggressive about it. Although, then again...
Well, the girl may be strong for her size, but Alma is at the very least much bigger. There's no real grace about the way he halts her attack at this point; he just staggers to a stop, simply not allowing her to trip him and maintaining his center of gravity.
But he's also maintained his grip on /her/ shirt...
"Rrrr...!"
She may have a tough time escaping from whatever he has planned at this rate. And it doesn't take a psychic to tell that what he has planned might be bad, because even the audience are able to feel the sudden intake of force as Alma draws his hand back -- appearing to move with dangerous slowness despite his actual speed -- and he begins to shine with inner light...
He strikes once.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Hotaru with Absolution.
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Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Alma
He connects.
For a moment, there is stillness in Metro City.
And then a flash of light that overwhelms all else...
...and explosive force carries throughout the square, all able to feel it, yet all unharmed save one. The one whose ego is torn to shreds by the incredible power that has been the flow of this battle.
The light fades, leaving Alma still holding Hotaru by the collar. Gently, he sets her back on her feet -- and gives her a little push. Does she keel over? Does she just stagger? That's up to her.
Alma himself... just turns his head away, breathing deeply.
"Let the beauty carry you away."
The audience watches, transfixed.
The light. It's blinding. The pain just as much so. Never let it be said that to be absolved is painless; if absolution hurts this much even Hotaru may just want to go to Hell instead. Not that Hotaru isn't already earmarked for a a front-row seat in God's garden. But that's neither here nor there. Staggered, Hotaru... doesn't fall. And perhaps Alma's turning away from Hotaru will be his downfall--because she has one last burst of energy within her. Seemingly from a standing position... she's suddenly flipping upwards, into the air, a two-footed kick aimed to launch Alma--a gout, a geyser, of blue-edged, white-cored chi flowing up, following the path of her feet.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Hotaru's Ten-Shou Ran-Ki.
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
Your attempt is worthy, Hotaru. However...
Alma does not need his eyes to see.
And Hiten Ryu plus Psycho Power? Means that his greatest moments happen when he has the opportunity to be the essence of cool.
He doesn't turn to see her attack. He turns *as she's attacking*, and as he's already stepping away. The end result is that Hotaru ends up slamming into the ground, with Alma facing her, looking down at her from his standing position with a calm gaze and a stoic expression that subsumes his true exhaustion.
"This time," he says quietly, "I was just lucky..."
The audience bursts into awed applause and scattered cheers; mainly, they are just showing their appreciation for the effort spent by both participants rather than showing pleasure at Alma's victory. Besides, they probably wanted Hotaru to win anyway. Hot as Alma is, there's something about slight little girls fighting big guys. The announcer does his job and announces the winner; but the two in the ring don't need to hear.
Alma leans over, taking a breath to steady himself, and reaches down, offering Hotaru a helping hand up.
"That was incredible, Hotaru," he adds softly. And he sounds like he means it.
COMBATSYS: Alma has ended the fight here.
Hotaru lets herself be pulled up; she has... not exactly a frown, or a pout, but she isn't exactly happy.
Then again, she's not -un-happy, either, really.
"Darn, and I was so close this time... but I guess that means I'm getting better... you're as tough as ever, Alma-kun," she says, finally smiling, if a bit wistfully--she -would- like to have won. But she fought her best and that's all she can ask for...
Alma nods quietly. He doesn't have to be a psychic to understand how Hotaru must feel right now, in spite of everything. He has absolute trust that she won't let it get to her -- he knows as well as anyone, perhaps better than most, how strong Hotaru's resolve really is -- but even so. There aren't any words of comfort that he can offer that will actually relieve the disappointment. Not any conventional ones, anyway.
"You know," the deep-voiced youth says, "I hear the shopping is great in Metro City. I've been here a couple times, but never had the opportunity."
His eyes warm noticably, expression reverting from stoic to simply mild.
"Tell you what. Allow me to buy you dinner -- and in return, come with me to see what the current Metro City trends have to offer. There are plenty of sights to see..."
Alma tilts his head slightly.
"...and plenty of outfits to try on. Hm?"
And he grins, eyes sparkling.
Hotaru seems about to accept--then she stops. And smiles a little. "You know, Alma-kun... I don't think I'll take you up on that offer." The smile is meant to take the sting out of the rejection--because it isn't -really- a rejection.
"Instead, let's do this. We'll have dinner--but the rest of that offer..." She pauses, and starts walking off the 'field', and the moment she crosses it, she twists to say to Alma, "... you make to Xiangfei. I bet she'd love it if you took her to Metro City for dinner and shopping. Do you want me to help you ask her?" Yes... she's offering even though the last time Xiangfei saw her they came to blows. That's just the kind of person she is.
"E...eh!?"
Alright, point Hotaru.
Alma is forced to jog after the girl, looking a bit flustered, eyes widened. "Help me...? Hey, I don't need /that/ much help, alright!?"
And just as her rejection isn't really a rejection, he's not actually defensive. After all, he has to recognize what sort of courage an offer like that must take, all things considered.
Still.
"Man, give me a break... what kind of loser do you think I am...?"
Log created by Alma, and last modified on 08:41:41 02/20/2006.