Description: Battling on the Eiffel Tower! The Kusanagi spirit is revealed with an incredibly strong showing from Saishu right at the beginning of the match, but Krizalid's drive to get a decent sample turns this into a fight to the finish -- but in the end, Saishu Tactics must prevail. (Winner: Saishu)
"...It's been a while."
In one of his rarely witnessed moments, the older man smiles slightly through his pointed beard, eyes distant. The city of Paris hasn't seen Saishu Kusanagi since the 70s, back when he and Takuma had to stop the world domination designs of the Beret Brothers; literally designs, as it was their 'modern art' that was their secret to hypnotizing others and holding them in thrall -- good thing Gouken showed up to break them out of the spell when they fell into an ambush at that 'museum'. That was all a long time ago, and his memory's a little bit fuzzy about the whole thing... though he's pretty sure they were called the Beret Brothers, because he remembers going 'Ha ha!' about that quite a lot.
What he definitely remembers, though, is this skyline, the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. The surroundings may have changed, the times may have changed, and he may have changed, but somehow, in some way, the horizon hasn't changed. It's still, after all, in the distance. And that, he figures, is what counts.
Normally there's also the quiet murmur of tourists and people who are staring at whatever ludicrous thing he's doing at the moment -- at this moment, literally standing on the tip of the Eiffel Tower -- but the Neo League cameramen have cleared them away for this fight. The Kusanagi patriarch has no idea who he's fighting. He doesn't really care. But his wife threw him out of the house because she said he needed to get out and stop getting so emotional about the soaps because you know they aren't /really/ real, and so he went to the League HQ and said 'Ha ha! Send me to Paris!' And when Saishu says 'Ha ha!', you do whatever he says afterward. Something about his eyes. And that grin. Sheesh, that grin.
He leaps down silently from the tip and lands with purposeful loudness in the midst of the cameramen on the upper level, intentionally startling them. "Ha ha!" Saishu shouts, or rather says at his usual noise level, "Let's get this show on the road!"
They hustle.
Krizalid is no slouch. He got here right on time. And unlike Saishu, he knows exactly who he's come to fight. He always does. Whether they're relative unknowns or famous personages like Kusanagis. But it's not simply because the man does his homework before the fact. He seems to have some sway over who he's matched up with as far battles he fights for the league. Every single league fight he's had has been against someone he was interested in testing. First Benimaru, then Takuma, and now Takuma's old friend Saishu. Perhaps there's something to the order in which he's working... Or maybe, in this case, it's just a coincidence that he needs another sample from someone of the Kusanagi bloodline. Other than Kyo.
Whatever the case may actually be, the younger dark-skinned man is standing over to one side of the platform, there near the top of the tower, hands in the pockets of his large feather-mantled overcoat, waiting for Saishu to come down, and when he inevitably does, the sinister-looking NESTS agent just stares at him, one eye slightly more open than the other, eyebrow raised. And he continues this careful sizing-up of the other man well after the start of the match is announced.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid has started a fight here.
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Saishu has joined the fight here.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Krizalid
COMBATSYS: Krizalid focuses on his next action.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Krizalid
Saishu turns to face Krizalid as the announcer begins to speak to the camera, welcoming the distant audience to this Neo League battle. The elder Kusanagi's expression is settled and calm, lines crinkling around his eyes in a friendly-old-man sort of way, though he's not really smiling. It's hard to tell what he's thinking, whether he recognizes Krizalid in any way, or if he knows Krizalid is sizing him up.
Then, slowly, without any other facial expression changing... he waggles his eyebrows.
And lunges, /just/ as the announcer calls the beginning of the fight; the announcer himself seems surprised, staggering back towards the edge of the railing and then scurrying away as Saishu leaps forward with blazing speed -- and a blazing fist. It's a single punch, but it's a punch like a rocket, as though the Kusanagi flames that have just burst forth are dragging Saishu along with them.
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Krizalid with Kamu Kakari.
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Saishu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Krizalid
"Ha ha!"
As Saishu waggles his eyebrows at him, Krizalid's own sort of furrow. It's definitely not that brief moment of confusion he experiences that causes him to get hit here though. He was distracted after the fact, by that first spark of flames. And he was so focused on it that he just sort of, failed to react in any way, shape. He just gets struck soundly in the midsection and goes stumbling back a few steps, grunting.
There's a pause afterward, but a very short one as Krizalid takes the time to buff the talons of his gloves on the front of his coat, and then up and throws it off toward the elder Kusanagi man, setting it on fire in midair. That's not how he truely intends to attack, however. He's trying to obscure the fact that he's leaping in behind it, to swipe his claws down through the material and cut at Saishu, twisting in midair to get add more power to his attack. And he of course, neglects to give the usual battle cry, as he's trying to be sneaky about this.
COMBATSYS: Saishu blocks Krizalid's Cut Spin.
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Saishu 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Krizalid
Lighting a coat on fire? That looks like fun!
After his leading punch successfully impacts, Saishu, right hand still ignited, continuing rushing, never allowing his movement to cease and instead continuing to build his momentum. And that's why Krizalid's coat throw doesn't distract him at all -- the kimono-clad Kusanagi elder just burns right through it with a simple sweep of his hand, breaking its surviving remnants into fluttering shreds and allowing him to see the attack coming in time. He brings up his arms, blocks the strike, and with a fierce grin pushes his opponent away--
--and follows up with a leaping series of kicks, revealing the startling spryness of his semi-hunched stance, not to mention the power in that old body of his. Heads up!
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Krizalid with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Saishu 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Krizalid
That, wasn't something Krizalid was expecting. Did Kyo fight this way? Granted, Krizalid is no Iori, but the man does =work= for him, so he ought to know one way or the other. Through his own experience, through battle data, or from what Yagami has told him. Regardless, he really expected that trick to work it seems, and it didn't. He was pushed back by the other man's fist before he knew it, and while that didn't damage him, the follow-through combo of kicks did. Yeowch.
"Damn!" shouts the frustrated executive, his battle suit shimmering a bit and humming to life as it downloads the power and speed of those attacks and commits them to memory for him. But he doesn't let himself get staggered this time. He plants his feet so that he only skids backward a couple of inches, and attempts to strike back with a hard right hand which aims to bust the old man's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Saishu Toughs Out Krizalid's Strong Punch!
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Saishu 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Krizalid
Saishu blocks the punch.
With his face.
Wait, that doesn't make any sense, does it? Maybe it wouldn't normally, but Saishu Kusanagi, through the art of Saishu Tactics, /forces/ it to make sense. He just drives right through the punch. It's not like he tilted slightly so it only glanced him or something; it literally strikes him straight on in the face. But even though Krizalid's fist strikes Saishu solidly on the jaw, not only does his grin not falter in the slightest, he keeps going as though nothing happened, in apparent defiance of the law of the conservation of momentum.
His hands, in the meantime, are already outstretched in an attempt to penetrate Krizalid's defenses at close range, bursting out with a large gout of flame from both hands and whirling around with his arms, striking with startling precision for such a wild movement. "Hou--" One wave of flame crashes high, and Saishu shifts on his feet and is suddenly slicing out with his other hand for a second and equally powerful wave. "--HYA!"
If you wanted to see Kusanagi spirit, you shouldn't've been analyzing /Kyo/, mang.
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Krizalid with Homura Gasane.
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Saishu 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Krizalid
[OOC] Hotaru just ... stares. ._.
[OOC] Guy says, "Saishu."
[OOC] Guy says, "Stop being such a stupendous badass."
[OOC] Saishu is sorry.
Oh man. See, what makes this even more frustrating for Krizalid is that Takuma did that same goddamn thing when he fought him the other week. He tried to punch him in the jaw, and the man didn't even budge. Now Saishu has made him relive that moment, somehow it's even scarier. With Takuma, you can like, =believe= he just stood there and took it, because his jaw looks really strong. Just like the rest of him. But Saishu looks like a much frailer old dude. But, he's =is= a Kusanagi. As he once again reminds the NESTS leiutenant commander by hitting with more crimson flames. Lots of them. For a moment Krizalid is wondering if his suit can even process all of that. It burns really bad, because his body, while it may be able to produce the same flames, isn't conditioned for it the way a true flame-bearer is. Not for lack of trying, mind. He had to go through hell to gain what little resistance he has to the stuff as it is.
"GRAAAH!!" Oh does he look mad. So what's he gonna do about it? BURN MORE. The man starts to glow a fiery orange as he wreaths himself in his own flames to try and kill off what remains of Saishu's, and then raises his leg high to slam the heel of his booth back to the high platform atop the Eiffel Tower where they're currently battling, and summons forth a horizontol hurricane between him and the the other fighter. Perhaps he can blow him off the tower. That's about his only chance of winning at this point. A ringout.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid successfully hits Saishu with Typhon's Rage - Strike.
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Saishu 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Krizalid
"Ha hwhorugh--"
As much as Saishu's chinrush-through-fist technique wants to deny it, for every action, there is a reaction. With such an explosion of force as the one Saishu has just unleashed, such an outpouring of emotion, there must be a moment of repose that follows. In Saishu's case, he stands there shaking his fist Bruce Lee-style, although the expression his face makes the motion seem more like a silent 'Yeeesss!'
So the whirlwind catches the old man headon and flings him away -- but not far enough. He flips in midair, redirecting his fall, and skids to the ground. At the very least, his constant rush that has endured this entire fight seems to have stopped; though he's certainly done enough damage in the meantime. In any case, Saishu straightens himself into his semi-squat stance easily and just observes Krizalid with sparkling eyes, apparently unconcerned. More amused, in a benevolent and non-condescending old man way. He's not smiling, but his eyes look as though he is.
Those eyes show a lot. But what do they hide...?
COMBATSYS: Saishu focuses on his next action.
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Saishu 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Krizalid
Well, that's something at least. The fans here almost certainly have no idea who Krizalid is, and the way he was fighting probably wasn't impressing anyone up until now. All eyes were on Saishu, as the audience was in awe of the way he just kept rushing. He just kept going and going. But now that the gothic man in the shiny leather outfit has finally put a stop to that, it looks like they're going to have a staredown. And that means the fans are going to have to watch both of them, not just the one that's moving the fastest.
Krizalid, for his part, goes ahead and puts his guard up though. Just in case he finds himself getting rushed at again. It's the most likely course of action for the other man, in his mind.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid focuses on his next action.
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Saishu 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Krizalid
A staredown with Saishu, eh?
Interesting.
*whoouuushh* goes the wind through the metal frame of the Eiffel Tower, while a few cameramen take the initiative to pan out and get a glimpse of that horizon the Kusanagi elder was admiring not so long ago.
Saishu maintains eye contact.
He continues to maintain eye contact, even after he's blurred forward, whole body suddenly suffused in waves of heat although no flames manifest. And he lashes out with a quick punch -- but whether Krizalid dodges this or gets lightly smacked doesn't really matter, because Saishu Kusanagi is only doing it to merely snap his fingers right in his opponent's face.
A little spark emerges, fizzles softly, and fades.
Saishu grins.
And an enormous geyser of Kusanagi flame explodes from the floor of the Eiffel Tower beneath Krizalid's feet. The metal is unscathed, but his opponent may not be so lucky...
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Krizalid with Tsumugari.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Krizalid
So it is a rush, as Krizalid was anticipating. But it seems that trying to stop it, and expecting for it to be some sort of heavy attack from the get-go were both wrong. Krizalid blocks the quick punch, sure, but he can't stop the pillar of flame that erupts from the floor under him. All he can do is stand there and try to endure the heat. But we've already been over the fact that he's not very resistant to Kusanagi flame. But hey, at least he got his sample. When he leaves here today, he may look much the worse for wear, but his suit will be chock full of data for NESTS to analyze. And that's really his only mission right now.
Regardless though, there's quite a bit of excess left that he can afford to throw back at the other man for his trouble, and he has no qualms about doing so. So after the roar of Saishu's flames dies down? =Another= geyser of flames erupts from around Krizalid's feet, and wings of crimson flame shoot out from behind him as he swipes his claws out and throws a fiery cross at the old man. Perhaps now we'll get to see how much more resistant to his birthright the old man is than he.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid has reached second wind!
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Krizalid
COMBATSYS: Saishu Toughs Out Krizalid's End of Heaven!
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Saishu 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Krizalid
How resistent is Saishu to the Kusanagi flames?
Are you /joking/?
Saishu like ignores that crap, man. He just plunges through, suddenly grinning hugely, like a complete maniac. He tears through Krizalid's attack like it's nothing (which it clearly isn't) and just keeps on moving, the obvious focus behind his movements seeming to negate the problems he'd normally suffer from being hit by a long-ranged blast.
"HAAAAAAAAA!"
Finally, a straight up battle scream. Saishu Kusanagi launches himself forward and transitions into a flaming uppercut, aiming to cut off any of Krizalid's attempts to backpedal or withdraw, and smash through the other fighter's defenses once again. If he can break through successfully, he'll just flat out bust out with another gout of flame, the plumes now rising upward along with the man himself.
"HOOUUURYYAAAHHH!"
He's /still grinning/.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid dodges Saishu's Oniyaki.
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Saishu 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Krizalid
Krizalid can't really say he's surprised. That attack has been getting punched through by electricity and stuff like that. Amd people always go right through the middle, like it's somehow weak at that spot or something. It's a freaking X, man! That's the =thickest= part and people still plow right through. What the hell is that?
"Huh. You're pretty crazy." As soon as those words have left his lips, the silver-haired man looks to have a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over him, and he almost falls to his knees. But he catches himself by placing his hands on top of them and forcing himself to stay up, clenching his teeth and flashing this sudden feral grin as he throws himself to one side, leaping and planting his feet down several yards from where he was. Far out of the range of Saishu's rising uppercut and the resulting swirl of flames. And he doesn't wait for the old guy to come back down to the Tower with the rest of us before he starts rushing toward him, with his hands pushed out in front of him. He wants to catch him out of the air, by the front of his kimono, and shove him clear back to the railing along one side of the tower platform.
COMBATSYS: Saishu interrupts Desperate Overdrive from Krizalid with Kamu Kakari.
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Saishu 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Krizalid
You caught a Saishu! Fighting / Fire. Would you like to renam--
*KERBLAM*
So that attack might have been seriously hardcore all things considered. And Krizalid succeeded at the very least in getting ahold of the old man's kimono. But while he was doing that, Saishu was already pulling back his fist -- and as soon as Krizalid's ready to strike, Saishu already has. A flaming fist in the face, ladies and gentlemen.
He breaks free with the blow and goes flipping back, landing in a three-point crouch, but the Kusanagi elder winces a little this time, cracking his back a bit as he rises. Even Saishu can't use this much flame without seriously exhausting himself, and it's really starting to show...
...but that grin never falters.
Grinning as toothily as Krizalid is, he gets flame all up in his grill when Saishu punches him mid-rush. He still hit the man hard, grabbing up the old man by the scruff and dragging him at least halfway across the platform before he's forced to hit the brakes, stunned for long enough that the eldest Kusanagi is able to make a clean escape. Man. There was going to be such a =punching=. But it doesn't look like Krizalid will be able to show off how fast he can punch this day. Perhaps another time.
Right now, however, the tall, dark man is dreadfully aware of how much little fight he has left in him. So all he offers is one last heavy swipe of his claws as he goes dashing at the old man, hoping to catch him off guard.
COMBATSYS: Saishu endures Krizalid's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\ < > / ]
Saishu 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Krizalid
The strike tears through Saishu's kimono and causes his body to snap back, and for a moment, it looks as though he will simply topple over--
--and then, in an odd, almost liquid reversal of momentum... he topples /forward/ with sudden speed.
And aims to slam his forehead right against Krizalid's.
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Krizalid with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\ < > ]
Saishu 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Krizalid
*clonk*
It's more stunning than damaging. In fact, Saishu himself seems a little stunned, staggering back with a dazed grin.
But still, for how can he not, he manages one last:
"Ha ha!"
Once more Krizalid's brow furrows. Is this old dude =falling= on him? Is it nap time? Apparently! But not for the older man, for the younger one. The headbutt itself isn't what brings him down though. It's the fact that there's a limp Kusanagi falling on him, when he barely has the strength to stand on his own two feet anymore due to the stinging pain of all the burns and bruises he's accumulated throughout the fight. At least he got some Kusanagi blood on his claws though! That's bonus. Maybe he'll get extra vacation time for it.
Thinking about that though, it motivates him to try and collect a little more, just to make sure there's enough for a good sample. He turns his talons out toward Saishu just as he's about to fall over to one side, and tries to carve the same symbol that's on the back of Iori's outfit into Kusanagi's chest, as he pushes off with his feet and tries to shove him off in the process, and then stab the points of his claws into the other man for good measure. He doesn't quite have the energy to get himself off the ground as usual, and he's probably still going to fall on his face regardless of the outcome, but at least he tried. And he'll be sure and tell them so back at base, too.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ <
Saishu 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Saishu dodges Krizalid's Cut Spin.
[ \\\\\ <
Saishu 0/-------/=======|
Saishu leans back, baby.
His gaze meets Krizalid's as his opponent's claws pass over him, and though the skin around his tired eyes remains crinkled in that pseudo-smiling state, there's a sudden chillingness to his gaze. For once, Saishu gives his opponent a genuinely /knowing/ look.
"Funny," he says, unamused. Does he really have an analytic enough eye to tell what symbol his opponent planned to carve on him? Or is he just BSing?
"Oh... and tell cape-man I said..."
And he tucks, rolls, and rises, looking somehow refreshed as his opponent collapses, eyes sparkling merrily as, finally, he unleashes the biggest grin of them all.
"...HA HA!"
COMBATSYS: Saishu has ended the fight here.
Log created by Saishu, and last modified on 19:08:09 03/06/2006.