Second Victory - R2: Takuma/Kasumi vs Iori/Yuri

Description: High atop an Aztec Temple, Takuma and Kasumi attempt to defeat Iori and Yuri... (Winners: Iori and Yuri)



Finally, the time for the second round of the Second Victory tournament has come. Battles great and small have been fought, and the victors of the first round have gone to the second. Takuma and his partner, Kasumi Todoh, won out against the 'Self-Styled God of Battle', Shenwoo and his partner Cody, and Iori Yagami and his partner--Takuma's only daughter, Yuri Sakazaki--defeated the mysterious Grant and his partner, Shinobu. And, as fate would have it, they're meeting here, today, for the second round--the battle set at the top of an ancient Aztec temple, hot sun making the air shimmer with heat waves, old stone growing moss, fierce carvings of Aztec warriors and Aztec gods... and the ancient blood spilled in sacrifice to those gods... all adding to the intense atmosphere here, the feeling of history... of gods watching this match.
Just before the start of the match, Takuma seems a little distracted, a little out of it, even though he's not up first... perhaps it's knowing he has to fight his own daughter, and that he can't hold back, no matter what he would like to do? Or perhaps he's somewhat worried about how Kasumi's antipathy towards Kyokugenryuu will show itself against his daughter. In any case, before the round can begin, Takuma has something to do. He holds up a hand, to forestall any action, walking over to Yuri and Iori--walking right past Iori, in fact, and crouching in front of his daughter.
"Yuri," says the Kyokugen master, "I want you to know... no matter what happens here, I'm proud of you and the way you've fought until now." Awww, what a warm moment... the world practically goes fuzzy-edged. Then Takuma opens his mouth again.
"But if you lose, it's thirty thousand push-ups!!" And he laughs, uproariously, turning back to his corner. And as he passes Iori, he says, cheerfully, "That goes for you, too, kiddo!"
Then it's up to Kasumi. As Takuma passes her into the waiting area, he grins.
"Don't go easy on her, even if she is my daughter!"

Yagami seems to be in a sour mood before this fight, as he typically is before most. There's nothing particularly 'thrilling' to look forward to, as far as he's concerned. His hopes of defeating Kyo in the finals have been dashed yet again -- not since the Masters Championship have the two clashed, due to early eliminations. And Kyo's first-round loss with Gabriel has pretty much killed the so-called enthusiasm he might have for continuing -- which would be why he hasn't even bothered giving much training to his partner Yuri. Though... if the last fight is any indication, she'd copy him anyway, training or no.
So Iori's reading the paper when Takuma strolls by. Folded up, he's idly glancing through current events. Yes, he cares, and no, you don't want to mock him for it. ... But Takuma does anyway, in a roundabout fashion.
"Whatever."
He doesn't even bother looking up from his paper -- just starts walking after Takuma, assuming Yuri will be following. "Just shut him up, girl."
And that's about all that Iori's concerned with, as he finds himself a place to prop himself up so that he can pay attention to the paper. Fight? What fight?

One would expect Kasumi to be really psyched for this fight from the get-go, but from the looks of things she's really more concerned about the heat right now. She's busily fanning herself with one of those paper fans they sell back at Howard Arena. At least, one would assume. It could very well be the genuine article taken from Ms. Shiranui herself. She used to team with her and all, just as she's at one time teamed with Yuri. And that would be the main reason she's not all that hyped to beat the other girl down. She's not her brother, afterall, or her boyfriend. Kasumi does still think she can be kind of annoying though, so she has absolutely no intention of going easy, which is why she kind of scoffs at Takuma before folding up her fan and stepping out toward Yuri. "Just rest while you can, Takuma-san. Never know when she might tag that guy in."

The kendo girl taps the toes of her geta down against the old stone and gives a little nod to her opponent as well as the announcer, who in turn gives a nod to his camera crew. All of the focus immediately goes to Yuri, as they're now waiting for some sign that she is ready as well. Once they get it, the fight is declared to be on. Not being one to rush things, Kasumi simply steels herself and puts her hands out at their usual high/low range.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi focuses on her next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Kasumi           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Praise from her father! Who could ask for anything more? Yuri is on cloud nine as she's given the words of encouragement from the stern Master of Kyokugen. Pride blooms in her chest, and fire burns in her eyes as she starts to tell him 'I will do my best, Dather! I'll prove you a good teacher!' And then, well..

Pushups. UGH. Dear _god_, is she tired of pushups. Her head slumps, slouches as she feels him walk away. For a moment, she ponders copying Iori, and going 'raaaaaaaaaah!' and ripping Takuma up into itty bitty bits. But it's fleeting. After all ... thats _dad_.

A glance, and then a laugh is given towards her tactiurn teammate. Yeah, she doesn't get a lot out of fighting with him - they aren't really a team at all. But she's still giving it her all. Even if Iori seems more interested in the comics. Pfeh! He'll get to deal with his, later! And then, well - we'll see what happens!

Kasumi's bowed to, out of respect - the other girl is skillful, and stronger than Yuri, at least to her recollection. But really - strength is not everything, now is it? She gives Kasumi an energetic smile, not quite as brilliant as Mister Kaphwan's, but really - is anyone's? "I'll do my best in this fight. You do too, alright!?" She gives the other girl a big 'ol thumbs up, and then nods in return at the camera crew. Sure - why not really show them a show? As Kasumi takes her stance, Yuri goes on the offensive. In her hands, a ball of red-gold energy forms. She winds up, and then hurls it directly at Kasumi, trying to catch her off guard with it's speed.

"KO'OU KEN!!"

COMBATSYS: Kasumi negates Ko'ou Ken from Yuri with Kasane Ate.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Kasumi wasn't expecting a bow! That's cool of Yuri, so she gives one in return. The smile though, she's not so good at forcing those so she doesn't bother to try. It's still unbearably hot out here, and she doesn't really consider Yuri a pushover so she knows she's going to have to work for this just a little. She's not looking forward to getting her headband all sweaty. But whatever, the time for smiling is soon long past as there comes a fireball roaring toward her. Pursing her lips, the aikido expert sweeps her hands up and then comes pushing down on the air in front of her, causing a trio of blue energy waves to coalesce before her and stop the Ko'ou Ken. The projectiles both sort of repel each other back and forth before just plain exploding and raining red and blue sparks everywhere.

"Well, NICE!" Kasumi's given a grin, and another patented YURI THUMB UPPU! The Kyokugen girl's relaxed and ready - she didn't expect the thing to hit, instead just to shake her concentration. To confuse and confound, perhaps! Yuri, waiting and biding her time, leaps forwards right after the clash of sparks hits, ducking low and trying to smack Kasumi in the stomach with the flat of her hand, to knock her off her feet. "Let's see how this fight goes, Kasumi!" With that, it's ba.. er.. Yuri going all out!

COMBATSYS: Kasumi counters Jab Punch from Yuri with Morote Gaeshi.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Oh god is that where she picked up that recent habit of giving the thumbs up? Kasumi has been doing it a lot lately, and seeing Yuri do it twice now in the spam of a few minutes is making her start to wonder if she didn't pick it up from her, or possibly Robert. That's a little unsettling. Not unsettling enough, however, to keep screw up the timing on her counterattack. Yuri's wrist is caught with one hand and dragged back as the kendo girl turns to avoid the attempted jab, and then the other hand shoots out to grab the front of Yuri's gi and pull her up off the ground by it, until she's swung around to the side and thrown far behind Kasumi herself. "Hyaaa!"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaugh!"

Yuri is flying through the air with the greatest of ease, she's just the girl on the crashing into the ground tumble thump. Ow.. She gets back up to her feet after a moment, holding her head and staggering a bit, swaying from side to side. Oof! She stamps around twice, and then takes in a breath.

"Good hit! But you're just building up dramatic tension. It is _YOUR_ turn to bring this fight to me!" With that, she drops into a low stance, and then curls her hand up, once, twice, three times. Gesturing Kasumi on, into the battle. And with her eyes narrowed - she prepares!

COMBATSYS: Yuri focuses on her next action.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Kasumi flexes her fingers a bit at the first joint as she pauses to consider Yuri's words. She knows it's not fair to just stand there and wait /all/ the time, so she gives a polite nods of her head and sweeps her hair back over one shoulder, calling back, "As you wish."
The Todoh girl then begins a steady rush forward, the ridges along the bottom of her sandals clacking against the hollower stones as she passes over them and looks to get her hands tagged onto Yuri's shoulders. Should she get that far, she plans to pick her up once more and try to throw her toward the stairs this time.

COMBATSYS: Yuri interrupts Medium Throw from Kasumi with Yuri Chou Upper.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Getting a hold of Yuri's shoulders is easy! In fact, she seems to love it when people do that. Because that lets her lean in, and duck down - and better yet, it lets her shout out an attack in a burst of energy. In this case, it's her signature move, the Yuri Chou .. well, heck, we'll just let Yuri say it.

"YURI... CHOU.. UPPAAA!"

This is a very large uppercut, to drive Kasumi well and far away from the Kyokugen girl, Yuri landing a foot away from where she started, looking only a bit worse for wear from the grab. Ouch, still kinda hurt, Augh! "There! Now, let's see how this battle goes, Kasumi!"

Yep, Kasumi walked right into that one. Or perhaps for her that can be called running. Looked pretty slow though, perhaps it's the pants. Maybe in exchange they'll parachute out and slow her fall though, now that she's spiraling up into the air and about to come back down twice as swiftly. Survey says? ...No.
"Nngh." The kendo girl falls on her side there at the edge of the flight of steps she intended to shove Yuri tumbling down, and takes a somewhat shaky breath as she once put puts her hands out, up high and down low, just a little tighter together than before, because she's starting to raise her chi at this juncture, intent on making a little compensation for the damage she just took before she continues. Wisps of bright blue begin to swirl around her, and her ponytail whips behind her dramatically.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi gathers her will.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Kasumi           1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


A raising of chi?! Yuri fears not these things! In fact, she relishes them - any time an opponent takes a moment to recover, she's in like Flynn, and beating up people like it ain't no thang. She gives a quick glance to Kasumi, and well.. she leaps into action!

There is, even, action involved! And leaping! Hands high above her head, Yuri tries to catch the sun behind her, to blind Kasumi as she moves in. If she can, well - she won't see the two handed strike coming down that is aimed for her noggin. Even if she does see it, she still has to avoid it!

"RAIOU KEN!!"

COMBATSYS: Kasumi blocks Yuri's Raiou Ken.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Glancing at Yuri over the top of his newspaper, Yagami offers a faint, nearly imperceptible smile. He seems to be ignoring the battle, but the truth is... he can hear what's going on. And he can tell the two are a pretty good match, with regards to capabilities.
"Mm," he notes tacitly, before flipping to the local news section.

Before Kasumi can quite finish, Yuri starts all blocking out the sun. Thanks for the shade, Yuri! Too bad it's not there long, and there are two glowing hands coming down on her head here pretty soon. She's able to stop them by bringing her forearms high and crossing them up above her dark mane of hair. Her forearms are still a little tender from what Cody did to them though so it still hurts jusssst a bit. "Owowow."
The Todoh-ryuu fighter backs up a step after that, and shakes out her hands before taking a slightly-altered combat stance. She looks more set to karate chop something than play catch right now. "You're doing pretty well for yourself, Sakazaki-san."

COMBATSYS: Kasumi focuses on her next action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Landing and then backing away quickly, Yuri nods at the statement that Kasumi makes, offering the other girl a tight smile. She watches that preperation, then... well, breaks out with the copycat. Not of this move, oh no - that would be silly. Instead, she's going to use that earlier stance, copying it and finding her center, wisps of red-gold chi whirling around her and settling into a raising flame around her body.

"Let's do this, Kasumi. Dad's not getting any.. well, okay, he _is_ getting older.." she says, then laughs. Might as well have fun, right?! And really, what's more fun than making a joke at Dad's expense?

COMBATSYS: Yuri gathers her will.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Kasumi           1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Oh yeah, she's totally telegraphing. She has every intention of throwing a karate chop. And Kasumi's not gonna start hesitating /now/, so Yuri's concern is completely unwarranted! The kendo girl wants to get this over with and go take a seat in the shade before she overheats and stuff.
"Right, let's go! Kya!" the hard edge of her archery glove comes swinging out at the youngest Sakazaki just as quick as she can get it to, aiming to chop her right in the side of the neck.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi successfully hits Yuri with Quick Punch.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Kasumi           1/---====/=======|=======\=------\1             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Hey! Who reaches through fire to slap someone with the side of a glove! That's just not cricket! Nor is it fighting fa.. okay, yeah it is. Yuri takes the shot in the side of her neck with aplomb, falling a bit and then bracing herself on one knee. Ow!

"Let's go indeed!" she says, and sweeps her feet out, one after the other - trying to catch Kasumi behind the knees, to knock her down with a fast, strong footsweep! Here we go, Yuri! Fight strong, Yuri! Make her eat pavement! Raaaaar!

COMBATSYS: Kasumi counters Medium Kick from Yuri with Kuzu Otoshi.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Kasumi           1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Kasumi's chop lands, and she watches Yuri go down to that knee. She then reaches down with somewhat inhuman quickness and grabs Yuri by the shoulders once more. The difference is that this time she lets Yuri hit her, and pushes back on the other girl's ankle with her own, kicking it up and rolling the other girl onto her back just like that. The technique is without the usual lift and slam, but to make up for it, the kendo girl slams both her fists down into the other girl's sternum, one after the other before sliding back and taking up her battle stance. At least Yuri's left on her back, and didn't have to eat any of that old blood-stained pavement, right?

Very grateful for the lack of slammage, Yuri tries to catch her breath. Sadly, this isn't a very easy thing to do, what with the whole punches to the sternum thing that she just took. Augh. *gasp* *gasp*

"Nggh. Ni.. nice." But the fear of pushups is enough to get Yuri back to her feet. And this time, well - she's not taking no for an answer. At least, as long as the question is 'Will you stay down?!' She pulls her hands back in front of her, and then jabs them outwards, a ball of chi swirling into life, the red-gold ball the size of her body - aimed right at Kasumi's determined face.

"HAOH SHO KO KEN!"

COMBATSYS: Kasumi overcomes Haoh Sho Ko Ken from Yuri with Chou Kasane Ate.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Yeah, putting some distance between herself and her downed opponent was definitely a good idea. If she'd been much closer there would have been no stopping that Haoh Sho Ko Ken. Those things are so huge. But, at least it isn't three in a row. From here, she can deal with one, but two or three and she'd have to start running or something. As it is, she has just enough time to raise her hands up high, gather her energy, and then shove them down at a hard angle, leaning forward and turning them toward the temple floor as her chi level begins to spike and summon up what looks like ten of these wicked red spikes. They're actually taller than the fireball headed her way, and the first couple slice right through the middle of it, making way for the rest of them to pile into Yuri and slam her back lest she's able to get out of the way. "Choouuuu Kasane Ate!"

COMBATSYS: Yuri reflects Chou Kasane Ate from Kasumi with Saiha.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


SPIKES!... ON A PLANE!

Well, not really. They're on the ground, and coming right for Yuri. Yuri is back up on her feet, really she is, skidding backwards as she sees the giant red doom rushing for her. But still..

There's a glance over her shoulder, towards where Takuma stands proud.. And she realizes that she can't let her father down. She has to do this - she has to prove herself the better in this battle. And she will not allow herself to lose!

"SAIHA!"

The red-gold sheild pops into existance directly in front of the attack, and the giant red spikes bounce offwards, skidding along rock and stone right back at Kasumi. Here we go! What will she do to avoid this!

COMBATSYS: Yuri successfully hits Kasumi with Reflected Chou Kasane Ate.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Kasumi really loves that attack, but every time it's sent back at her like this she's reminded of how scary it is to be on the recieving end of it. Yes, her father has thrown plenty of them at her. It's easier to see that coming though, and there's more time to react. When things are like this and her own Ecstacy Crunch is thrown back in her face, all she can really do is try for a last-minute block! It's way too fast for her today though. Must be the heat. Her hands are way too slow, and her arms don't quite make it up in time to guard. She just kind of gets hit and goes skidding back. It doesn't look like it hurt her all that bad, but y'know, it -is- a little embarassing to her all the same, so she pushes her pride down and tags in Yuri's father as she goes sliding past him, then sidles off to the sidelines and plops down Indian-style. "Hmph."

COMBATSYS: Kasumi drops her guard to recover.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Kasumi takes no action.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


What -has- Takuma been doing all this time? Well, he's been leaning against one of the statues... pretty much snoring. It's not like the old man isn't interested. He's just... old. So he gets his naps in when he can. It's not his fault, really. But the tag wakes him up, popping the snotbubble that is mandatory for these kinds of things.
"Huh? Oh... my turn?" Suddenly he's all energy as he quite -literally- leaps in, practically from that leaning stance... the old man sure can be impressive when he wants to be.
"ORYAA! YURI! TASTE MY PATERNAL LOVE!!!!" Paternal love? More like... flying jump-kick. But don't tell Takuma they're different. Different strokes for different folks, after all.

COMBATSYS: Yuri dodges Takuma's Medium Kick.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


"YOUR PATERNAL LOVE TASTES LIKE WEAKSAUCE, OLD MAN!"

Yuri says this as she eels to the side, dodging that super-duper fast jumping, flying kick, sliding into the ground and skidding along the stones towards Iori and his paper. Sorry to interrupt Iori when he's working on the Sudoku, but hey.. "Upper square, third row, third colum is six, Iori. And uhm.. Can you take my dad? I'm pretty sure he's looking for someone to play with." With that, she taps him on the shoulder.. And then hides behind him.

COMBATSYS: Yuri drops her guard to recover.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Yuri takes no action.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Takuma           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Iori glances over his paper at Takuma. Tagging out so soon? "Mmm." He'd have to agree with Yuri's sentiment there.
He is a bit surprised to see Yuri duck behind him though. "... pah." Iori crumples the paper up in irritation -- partly at Takuma for forcing the swap, partly at Yuri for cowering behind him, partly at the fact that he was just about to write that damn number down. "Whatever." The paper erupts in a bath of purple flame, the half-finished puzzle lost in the blaze as the Orochi halfblood rushes forward at his opponent. Not in the mood to waste time with casual introductions, clearly.
He leads off with his elbow swinging towards Takuma's face -- but that's not the attack at all, no! The real danger comes from the orchid remnants of the paper in his right hand -- which comes rushing forward at Takuma's face. Should it connect -- well, *boom!* Takuma will find -himself- engulfed in a gigantic blossom of violet flame. "PLAYTIME'S OVER!"

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Koto Moon Negative.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Takuma           0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0             Iori


Engulfed he is, the flame blossoming all around him, causing much pain and injury... well, at least a lot of pain--but it's not like Takuma's burnt to a crisp, not yet anyways. He lands, scuffing along the pavement, bouncing once... but he gets up, with a smirk, despite all the pain.
"Not bad, kid... that's quite a blast!" So let's see if Takuma can return the favor--from his standing start he suddenly launches forward, scything first his left around in a roundhouse kick, then, without pause, twisting his lower body to follow up with a reverse roundhouse from the right leg.

COMBATSYS: Iori fails to interrupt Hien Shippu Kyaku from Takuma with Yumebiki.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0             Iori


Kid? ... Well, okay, yeah, most fighters would be 'kids' when compared to Takuma, so he can't be -too- offended, right?
... This is Iori, though, so Takuma gets a sneer for the trouble. Not that the Orochi halfblood has much time to reflect on that sentiment before Takuma's closing in with a kick. Iori's hands clench, as one hand raises overhead in anticipation of a swift counterattack...
But the elder Sakazaki statesman's kick cracks him in the ribs a bit too early. Iori falters, stutter-stepping backwards from the kick, only to be cracked again by the second. Staggering backwards, he looses a howl of disbelief.
... It's a testament to Takuma's strength that he's already -this- mad, -this- early in the fight.

A solid hit, and well Takuma knows the sensation of his feet striking, one after the other. Hien Shippu Kyaku... it's a powerful technique. Takuma lands on his feet, lightly, bouncing almost like a boxer, but just for a moment--his karate isn't really based on incredibly fast footwork.
When one has the advantage... one -presses- it, as far as it goes. That is one of the combat strategies of Kyokugenryuu, and few can embody this as well as Takuma. He dispenses with the boasting and tomfoolery, because that purple flameblast was no joke, and attempts to follow up the Hien Shippu Kyaku with another rush. This close, he only needs to snap his arms out, seeking Iori's shoulders...

COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Takuma's Strong Throw.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0             Iori


... and feeling, perhaps, the grip he wanted, he attempts to twist his upper body and fling Iori sideways, into one of the Aztec statues.

Noble effort, yes. That Hien Shippu Kyaku hurt like heck, even to Iori's battle-toughened frame. But... while it was indeed a solid attack, it doesn't seem that Yagami's don for the count yet, nor is he going to completely succumb to the followup attack. Jerked about in Takuma's grasp, he nonetheless shakes himself free along the trip to the statue. His back still cracks against it, an unsightly pattern crackling its way into the centuries-old statue, but he rolls with the blow, shifting his weight so that it doesn't hurt as much as it -could- have. Arms hanging low as he lands back in a partial crouch, he shakes his head in disapproval. -That- was no joke, either.
But he's not about to stop attempting to attack -- Yagami launches forward with a vicious sidearm slash at Takuma, before following it up with an uppercut from the opposite hand. "GUUH! GUWOOOH!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Iori's Quick Punch.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0             Iori


Slash? Check. More like, checked by Takuma's forearm, really, the talons of the Orochi-halfblood scoring only a thin set of gashes rather than opening up the old man's gi--and his side. The uppercut is similarly blocked, by the other arm; those blows were no joke either. Iori is out for blood, and he obviously wouldn't mind ripping Takuma open and feasting on the entrails.
But it won't happen just yet. Takuma growls, a little, and begins a counteroffensive...
Suddenly, his fists are alive, striking out with heavy straight punches, raining down on Iori, aimed at his head, at his chest, at his lower abdomen, those old fists blazing with golden chi, suddenly. Fourteen punches fly out, and then a fifteenth, to finish off the combo, Takuma stepping into Iori with a blazing right uppercut.

COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Iori with Zanretsu Ken.
- Power hit! -

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0             Iori


It's one thing for Iori to face a little resistance in a battle like this.
It's a completely separate matter for him to, y'know, =fold= when someone punches him as hard as Takuma is. Iori raises his arms as Takuma sails in -- the first punch, he's able to suss out, but he clearly isn't ready for the Kyokugen-ryuu rapid-fire assault that gets unleashed upon him. Each blow lands solidly, knocking him back just that much more. The final blow, though, sends Iori flying backwards on a collision course with the same column he'd faced before -- only this time, he hits it, and hits it =hard=, limbs flying out to either side from the sheer force of the impact.
Yagami's frame slumps forward afterwards, limply. He's still standing, but he takes a moment, growling under his breath as he takes a moment to collect himself. As much as he'd like to keep pressing Takuma, it's clear he needs a moment to reverse the elder man's commanding lead. Yagami curls his hands, sweeping them before him as if =daring= him to attack again, hissing through his bared teeth.

COMBATSYS: Iori gains composure.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0             Iori


Hmph. Underestimating the old man, are you, Yagami? Think Kyokugenryuu's easy to beat? No sir; apparently Takuma somehow got his personal MVS set up to Level 8, if only for the moment. He takes but a moment to regard his handiwork; honestly he'd feel bad for Iori, if the man didn't give off the aura of a powerful fighter--Takuma can still feel the sting of the claw furrows on his arm.
Still--like he said--he can't just let up. One step, two steps, and then Takuma is launching himself high, kicking outwards with a snapping sidekick very much like the one he came in with. No declarations of paternal love this time, since Iori is in no way related to the Sakazakis.

COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Medium Kick from Takuma with Yumebiki.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0             Iori


And there ain't no way in hell Iori'll call Takuma his daddy.
Iori's aura is running awfully hot tonight, yes. He isn't even bothering to act cocky -- at this point in the fight, he's got absolutely no justification for it. It's not like he's demolishing Takuma or anything, after all -- quite the opposite.
Nor is he going to lie down and take the attacks Takuma is dishing out, just like that. Sensing that Takuma's closing in with the same sort of kick he'd started with,.Yagami howls out, "Reruns already!?"
And steps forward to change the channel -- in this case, by lashing out with his right palm in a diagonal strike, neatly intercepting the kick and knocking it down to a more favorable impact zone along Iori's thigh. But he continues forward, snapping back sharply to smash the back of said hand hard into Takuma's jaw, roaring, "GURRRRAAAAAH!"

Ooh, talky. Takuma is indeed smashed back by that backhand, pulling a neat little flip in midair, landing with some distance between Iori and himself. The fight, in this case, has been reset, somewhat, by Iori's smashing backhand... and now Takuma -does- stop, a moment, to take a breather of sorts, crouching down, getting his guard a bit tighter.
It's as he thought--Yagami no joke, no joke at all.
But that doesn't scare Takuma, because the master of Kyokugenryuu? He's no joke either.

COMBATSYS: Takuma gains composure.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0             Iori


"Hmph." Iori pauses in his assault to stare down Takuma, backing away for a moment with his hands extended once more in a wary sweep across his body. He's taking no chances here, and in fact, he's backing away to the stone statue he's made blunt acquaintance with twice this match. No, no joking.
Iori even hazards a glance over towards his partner, wherever she may be on the sidelines. The two might not make the best team, but he =does= have some concern here -- at least with Takuma putting the pressure on.
But he's about to introduce himself to the statue again -- this time voluntarily as he delivers a high kick to the statue, heel smashing right into the point it had before. The statue crumbles, its decapitated head rolling off and landing right in Iori's awaiting hand. "Heads up, Sakazaki."
Yagami pitches the head at Sakazaki, smirking broadly. Bad pun? It's doubtful he's concerned of audience opinion though.

COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Iori's Large Thrown Object.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0             Iori


Yagami has a sense of humor?!?! WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL TAKUMA?!?! Goddammit, these things are IMPORTANT. But not as important as blocking that big ol' stone head--Takuma actually catches it, the impact forcing him back a few steps and all. He drops the statue head, off to one side, shaking his head.
"Good throw, kid, but you gotta work on your delivery," he replies... then stomps a foot down, going into a low stance... calling up the energies he controls, chi flowing up around him in a golden column, for at least a brief moment.

COMBATSYS: Takuma gathers his will.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0             Iori


Delivery? "Mm." Iori doesn't really care -what- Sakazaki comments... the fight's taking a much higher priority in Iori's mind at the moment. And really -- it doesn't matter to =him= if Takuma throws up a golden column of light.
Because Iori can still punch him right in the face. And that's exactly what he plans to do, plunging his fist forward to smash the old guy right in the pearly whites. "GURAAAAAAAH!"

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Quick Punch.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Takuma           2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0             Iori


"GNUUF!" shouts Takuma, quite rightfully so, as Iori's slamming right fist comes in. He'd thrown his arms up to block but to no avail... however, as dire as things are looking at this point, Takuma isn't about to give up hope. The punch hurts, sure--but it doesn't fell him. And Takuma decides what he must do, in a flash.
Normally, there would be some windup to this move, some posing and some gathering... but Takuma's already gathered his energy and so all he needs to do is reach out, really--his arms high, and low. And he releases all that built up energy, with a growling cry to match Iori's--no time to shout attack names now. This, then, would be the Triple Haohshokoken--in a very abbreviated form, at least, for the first one... should that connect it'll certainly make the other two hit, as they issue out without a pause.

COMBATSYS: Iori Toughs Out Takuma's Triple Haohshokoken!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1             Iori


No time? There's =always= time. Unless, of course, Iori just happens to be plowing straight =into= the Triple Haoh Sho Kou Ken with every attempt of running square through the pancake-shaped blasts. Tucking his head down low, he rams his shoulder through the triple blast -- with his profile cut down to the bare minimum, he's able to punch right through the centers of the wavefronts, the majority of their hurt-dealing energy sailing right around him instead.
And once the waves pass by, Iori's right there in Takuma's face, smoking with the remnants of the energy even as he hisses right in Takuma's face -- "DELIVERY?!"
And, in a twist of irony, Iori's leaping forward to plant a sideways kick into Takuma's ribcage, much like the elder Sakazaki's own kick at the start of the fight!

COMBATSYS: Takuma fails to counter Light Kick from Iori with Mouko Burai Gan.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Truly, Yagami has shown some impressive skills--Takuma tries to bring an arm up to guard the kick, but it just isn't going to happen and Takuma gets a rib broken by the crunching kick, causing him to stagger. He looks well and truly out of this fight now, but he's still up... somehow.

Takuma's no slouch himself, really -- it just seems that Iori's making up for his abysmal luck earlier in the fight. With Takuma now on the defensive, the Orochi halfblood sees no need to hold back, and descends upon his opponent like an animal moving in on wounded prey. He rushes forward with his shoulder, aiming to slam into Takuma's chest and knock him back -- but then he follows it up with a rapid backhand. And if that backhand connects, he'd reverse that sharply into a diagonal slash across the man's ribs, his talons spread wide for another bloody strike if he can manage it. "GUROOOOOW!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Iori's Yumebiki.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                       \\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Iori


Down... but not entirely out, Takuma manages to form some sort of defensive against the Orochi's talons. But for now, he has to retreat; he crouches and springs backwards, to his corner... and he turns a truly worried look on Kasumi. Forget Kyokugenryuu or whatnot.
"Don't get killed," he says, briefly... hating to tag her in, but absolutely needing a rest right now.

COMBATSYS: Takuma drops his guard to recover.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Iori


COMBATSYS: Takuma takes no action.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Iori


Kasumi has been sitting in the shade given off by the peak of the Aztec temple on one-side, in her and Takuma's corner, waiting patiently for the higher-level portion of the battle to be decided. When Takuma comes leaping back to where she is and gives her that solemn warning, she just pushes up to her feet and gives a firm nod to her father's old rival. This is going to be so much fun. That's totally what that big frown on her face is saying. In Bizarro World.
The first thing she does when she steps back onto the stage of history is shake out one sleeve of her gi until that fan from earlier comes sliding down into her waiting hand. She then promptly spins around once, folds it out and lets it go spinning at Iori.

COMBATSYS: Iori endures Kasumi's Thrown Object.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Needing a rest? "Pfft. You bring shame to Kyokugen-ryuu today, old man..." he notes, voice ringing out loud and clear upon the top of the temple -- as well as the laughter that follows. At least -someone's- having fun with this match.
And then there's Kasumi jumping right back up to take Takuma's place -- only she does so with a folding fan. Isn't that Mai's technique? "Bah, you're both cowards!" roars the Yasakani descendant, plowing forward and slamming his face into the fan, bucking his head hard to the side like a bronco bull. "WEAK!" And he continues charging forward, seemingly unharmed by the attack as he rushes a rapid underhand punch into the girl's stomach. "Fall!"

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Kasumi with Quick Punch.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


The little kendo girl nearly doubles over when Iori comes rushing in and slams his fist into her stomach, but she doesn't come anywhere close to falling. "Hmph. I can see you're in a hurry to get this over with Yagami-san, but you're going to have to try a little harder than that." Though, this is very nearly said in its entirety through clenched teeth. Kasumi then takes a deep breath to prove that her diaphragm is still a functioning organ, and pulls back a step before starting to turn and turn, throwing out a long series of underhand chops, hammer fists, and etc. It's like some long kata. Let's hope it's at least somewhat useful for more than showing off at martial arts demonstrations. "Hup! Hap! Hyaaa!"

COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Kasumi's Senkou Nagashi.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Unfortunately for Kasumi, it's not -- Iori mildly steps backwards, the idle smirk on his face hardening somewhat as the plucky girl steals the focus away from the man on the sidelines. "Better..." he notes, taking one step back for each step young Todoh takes forward, upper torso swiveling out of the way of the longer strikes while he simply sidesteps the closer ones. "Not =good=..." he mocks, "... but better than your coward partner." Can someone shut the redhead up, perhaps?
... Oddly enough, he's backed towards Yuri. And with Kasumi easing up, Iori leaps backwards, extending his hand towards Yuri. "Go. I won't waste my time with her."
He's beginning to think he should have saved the paper from a fiery death.

COMBATSYS: Iori drops his guard to recover.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kasumi           0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Had the sudoku been not set on fire by that jerk Yagami, Yuri would have finished it by now. Grr. Instead, she gets nothing but a snarly 'blah blah blah' from Iori and a terse command to get back in there and fight! So, well - she's gonna!

"C'mon, Kasumi. Let's see if the rest did you good!" With that, she bounces to her feet, walks ... well, runs past Iori, and then brings her foot up and around in a wide arc, aiming for Kasumi's forhead with both her feet. Time to show her some Kyokugen POWAAA!

COMBATSYS: Kasumi counters Strong Kick from Yuri with Messhin Mutou.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Oh, the rest did her loads of good. But Iori's gut shot, not so much. It's actually probably more the latter that helps her to counter Yuri's kick though. People are more defensive when they're wounded, and Kasumi is like, twice as bad about that. In addition to that, it always kind of seems like people are made to pay dearly for aiming at her forehead for some reason. No, it has nothing to do with Xiangfei. It seriously doesn't. Maybe she was just flicked in the head a lot as a small child or something. Or, hit with a shinai...
In any case, Kasumi drops low and catches Yuri's leg with one hand, then reaches further and grabs the other, before wrenching back on them and just yanking them out from underneath the poor Sakazaki girl, sending her sprawling onto her back and then shoving her away by her upraised legs, coughing a little bit afterward. "Ugh. S- see? I'm okay."

Geez! Every time she gets near Kasumi, she takes a shot, and gets tossed aside like the wrapper to a Hostess Fruit Pie! Far beit for her to complain, though - Those Hostess Fruit Pies are yummy! However, REALLY, this is getting a bit more annoying than it should be! Not to be dissuaded, Yuri's only getting started! Fierce in her determination, not to mention her desire to KICK SOME BUTT, Yuri stands herself back up, and clenches her fist most mightily!

"You've faced my power, Kasumi and fought it back - but this time, the might of my spirit and my body are as one! This time, face your fears, and face your downfall. The Kyokugen might will surround you with my blazing heart!

"SHINN YURI CHOUU UPPAAAAA!" Much like a freight train, she comes barrelling in, her fist cocked and loaded, ready to pummel Kasumi's chest - and well, if she does, she's going to eat a very hefty chunk of fist! And then again! And then a third! Because, well.. That's what the Shin Yuri Chou Upper does!

COMBATSYS: Kasumi blocks Yuri's Shin Yuri Chou Upper.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


That sure is a lot of talking. And sadly, Kasumi hears every word of it. She's just, not quite focused enough to tune it out as usual.
"Man, Yuri. What kind of cartoons have you been watching?" is all she can offer by way of reply in the midst of catching Yuri's fist and using some kind of weird aikido/judo physics to stop all of the other girl's momentum. The kendo girl still grunts with the effort, and her arms shake a little bit, but Sakazaki just doesn't go -anywhere-. Not until the Seijyun student has let go and gone hopping away, to a safe distance where she can try and calm herself down and perhaps shake off whatever excess kinetic energy she may be holding onto.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi gains composure.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


"Geez! This is gonna be _forever_!" Yuri shakes off the effects of the battle as best she can - she knows just that she's been taking a buttload of abuse. At least for the moment, she's keeping her partner out so Iori, the grumpy man, can get some well-neeeded rest, before he has to go beat on Takuma again.

For Yuri's part, well.. She's trying to get herself psyched up about this fight. Kasumi's taking the best she has - and just kind of ignoring it. This is bad! Yuri's gonna have to pull something good out, pretty darn quick! She pulls her hands in, and then thrusts them forwards, a chiball the size of her head flaring forwards, right towards Kasumi as she tries to get her breather, intent on knocking her down a peg! "KO'OU KEN!"

COMBATSYS: Kasumi blocks Yuri's Ko'ou Ken.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Kasumi           0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Kasumi is used to that, herself. Her battles always tend to take longer than most, unless they're against someone way too strong for her. But it's really not so much her fault in this case. She's pretty hurt, and so is Takuma. She got sent in against one of those strong sorts of people she has little chance against, took a big hit, and then the guy got bored with her and called Yuri out again. Even if Kasumi is able to take Yuri out of the fight, her situation isn't going to improve very much. Hmm...
The kendo girl's thoughts are interrupted by the fireball that's thrown at her, and though she blocks it in time, she's pushed back a few steps. Now, she'd just /love/ to throw a Kasane Ate at the Sakazaki chick right about now, but she suddenly realizes she's neglected to gather any energy for things like that, and she's sooo gonna need it for later, in the event that Yuri doesn't just up and kick her ass in the next five minutes. Kasumi really wouldn't put it past her. That girl is definitely the impatient type, and Kasumi is totally going to make her wait even longer with her attempt at summoning more of those blue wisps to herself from out of the ground below. And it probably doesn't help much that she begins to hum to herself as she does it. Nervous habit, perhaps? "Hmhmhm."

COMBATSYS: Kasumi gathers her will.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Kasumi           1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Fine. Yuri's too straightforwards? Too rash? She'll take a page from Kasumi's playbook. There's a moment here, where she just leans back, stretches and yawns, and looks back over towards Iori. "So, uh.. What do _you_ think, Iori? What's the best way to do this?" Pfeh. She almost, almost just takes a breather - but, y'know? That's just not the Sakazaki way. Or the Kyokugen way. Or the YURI WAY!

"C'mon, why don't you FIGHT, Kasumi!?" Yuri yells, rushing in, and dropping her leading shoulder. This is something she'd normally do - but it's a little different - this usually signifies a Yuri Chou Upper - but instead, she simply latches onto a piece of masonry, the stone skull that her father had to 'catch', and swings it up in a uppercut, at Kasumi's chin.

"YORICK CHOU UPPAAA!"

Of note, Iori throws an uppercut in the air, to signify his intent. ... He's not a jerk -all- the time, after all.

COMBATSYS: Yuri successfully hits Kasumi with Random Weapon.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Kasumi           2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0             Yuri
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1             Iori


Kendo girls don't like uppercuts. Or random weapons. Rather than taking advice from Iori, Yuri could have gleaned both of these details from watching Cody beat on Kasumi in the match she had before this. And putting them both together like that? Yeah, that's just the winning combination you're looking for.
Before Yuri calls out the words that go along with her attack, Kasumi seems to be expecting the other girl to throw the skull at her, so her guard is a little too high, and she gets caught under the chin and sent reeling back. It looks like her ass is as good as kicked for a moment. But, she still doesn't fall. Her head jerks back really far, but she brings it back up and forces a smile, eyes squeezing shut as she dashes blindly forward and tries to tackle the youngest Sakazaki to the ground as hard as she can.

COMBATSYS: Yuri fails to reflect Shiranui from Kasumi with Saiha.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


COMBATSYS: Yuri can no longer fight.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


Todoh slams into Sakazaki and knocks her down, that part's easy. But during the second part, it almost starts to look like Yuri's gonna throw up that same little shield from before at the last minute. This doesn't make Kasumi question whether she wants to continue, however. Sure, she could save all of this chi for Iori, but would it really make a difference at this point? He could knock her over with a feather, and really so could Yuri at this point, so it's this or nothing. That's why she puts her right =on= that Saiha, and struggles to keep her hand still as she forces an invisible stream of pure force out the other side and down into Yuri's torso as she bares down on her, clenching her teeth and grunting with the effort. "Grrrr!"

HO SNAPS!

Yuri's never actually had someone go _through_ her Saiha before. That's crazy! She's got her shield up, and she's used to it dropping at just the wrong time, but.. but.. It doesn't usually get _punctured_ like a overripe canteloupe! Yuri's dumbfounded, spread out on the floor - and, well.. Knocked into something approaching unconciousness on the ground from the force of the blast. Ow ow ow ow. She's probably at least still sorta aware - cause she can give Kasumi a grin. "Good... job, Kasumi... Next time, you're... mine.." Her head hits the stones with a slight thump, and she looks back towards where Iori is. His turn, now. Time to see what happens.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi drops her guard to recover.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


COMBATSYS: Kasumi takes no action.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Kasumi           0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


Even with a newspaper in front of him, Iori had been paying some attention to the fight. It's hard -not- to, when one gets in as many battles as he has, so that even when he isn't -watching-, per se, he still has a general idea.
Without the paper, it's pretty darn obvious his interest is directed to the fight -- his earlier 'cheer' being something of a sign in that regard.
He... is a bit disappointed to see Yuri fall, even when she was starting to make a comeback, but... well. There's only so much one can do here. "... not bad." he notes, glancing down at her briefly as he strides out onto the field.
"... we meet again." he intones, glancing over to Kasumi, one thumb tucked in his pocket. He's clearly benefitted from his brief respite, as he looks pretty refreshed.

Other martial arts styles have lots of tricksy things like that. Try learning something besides Kyokugen, Yuri! Kasumi reaps the benifits of knowing several, and being the captain of the respective clubs for each one at Seijyun! She lives for the stuff. Aikido, Judo, Kendo... it's just too bad she can't have a Todoh-ryuu club. But that's fine. Until there's a Kyokugen club at one of the schools there'd really be no point! But yeah, Kasumi's chi can go through solid objects, bodies, and etc. It's just not something she can do carelessly. She has to have enough energy on hand, because it takes /loads/. And that's why when she backs up off of Yuri, she looks exhausted, and has to hunch down and prop her hands down on her knees just to stay up on her feet. She huffs a few times and tries to get her breathing under control, and squints at Iori just a little bit as he reenters the battlefield. He didn't bring a feather...

Shaking his head, Iori strides up to Kasumi with a broad smirk. Unlike the Todoh-ryuu fighter, he's had plenty of time to catch his breath. And he's also quick to expel it in the form of phrases and sentences. "Hmmph. You spend half the fight waiting for her to come to you, and now you're going to do the same against me?"
Snorting, Iori takes two longer strides, bringing him into striking range. "PATHETIC!" And just to show he means business, he drives in with a leading elbow, swinging it perilously close to Kasumi's face -- but, as before, his true attack comes in the form of a brilliant plume of violet flame erupting from his right palm -- a palm that careens straight into Kasumi's face. Should it land, he'd pull her close and trigger a massive explosion. He means business, in other words.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi interrupts Koto Moon Negative from Iori with Sasshou Inshuu.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kasumi           0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


Hey, that first part is her line. Hmph. And that's all she says as she crosses her arms and turns to the side after Iori is done talking, too. She faces the wind and lets it blow at her, and at the same time listens to the shifting in it as Iori swings his elbow and begins his attack. She saw him to this to Takuma, and she was taking notes, trying to find the point ripest for counterattack. And she seems to have found it too. She's not able to get any kind of hold on Yagami because she really doesn't want any part of those roaring violet flames in his palm, but, she is able to give him the boot all the same and make things a lot less painful for herself. Instead of getting all that purple death pushed into her face, she shoves her foot directly in the path of the redheaded flame-bearer's hand and throws a wrench into his plan by kicking him in the face. That really is a stretch for her tho', with him being a whole foot taller than her, but she totally just did it. And, her pants leg is on fire now, yay. The flames will go out in a few seconds unless Iori plans on rekindling them, but still.

Iori's impressed -- he hadn't figured Kasumi to be the type to learn from her partner's mistakes, and especially not the type to capitalize on them in such rapid fashion. This fight's proving educational after all!
Staggering back from that kick to the face, Iori tosses his head to the side. No, not because it hurt that bad, but because it's a more efficient means of cracking his neck. It's the nonchalance and ambivalence towards such attacks that nets him the fangirls, after all -- even if he could care less about his fans.
But ... while he's close, he may as well continue his assault. "Better. But not good enough!" And with his forehead throbbing from the pain, he figures he may as well put it to good use, also -- hammering his brow forward to crack into Kasumi's head, knocking her over with any luck. "GURAAAAH!"

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Kasumi with Quick Punch.

[                                < >  //////////////////            ]
Kasumi           1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1             Iori
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Takuma           0/-------/=======|


Kasumi is still bringing her leg down, because, as stated, that was a bit of a stretch for her. This makes it a bit awkward for her to try and guard, so she doesn't. She just tries to endure the a blow to the head for once, and she can't take it. Not even with the metal plate in her headband there to absorb some of the impact. In fact, that cracks and falls off, and she's left bleeding. The dazed kendo girl starts getting tunnel vision then, and begins to sway from side to side before falling forward onto her opponent. On the way down, she of course tries to grab on. Stubborn to a fault.

COMBATSYS: Kasumi can no longer fight.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1             Iori


COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Kasumi's Shiranui.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1             Iori


Pulling back from the headutt, Yagami smirks faintly. He's already quite impressed with the Takuma / Kasumi partnership here, but he isn't about to write rave reviews on their performance or anything. Just not his style.
He is glad to see Kasumi doing her best to the very last. Even though he's not willing to stick around as the girl attempts to pull off a last-ditch grab for his arm. He gives her the grasp, easily enough, but a hard pivot to the right is enough to wrench himself free, and allow the girl to fall.
"Now stay put," he commands, stepping away from the fallen girl, turning his attention to the old man waiting on the sidelines.
"... Naptime's over, Sakazaki. Let's get this over with." He hooks his thumb back into his pocket, smirking back as he taps his foot in anticipation.

COMBATSYS: Iori drops his guard to recover.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1             Iori


COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Takuma           0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1             Iori


Naptime? Oh, no. Takuma wasn't napping at all during that interval... far from it. But he -is- damaged... still he proudly takes over where Todoh left off. In his opinion, she's already ten times the martial artist that Ryuhaku ever was. But... Iori insulted Kyokugenryuu, earlier, and he insulted Takuma. Win or lose, Takuma wants to make this a fight that Iori will remember...
Despite the pain emanating from every part of his body, Takuma's little rest did him good; he's at least breathing evenly. His gaze is still strong, measured... as he jumps in, he also jumps, at least initially, to the offensive, firing his fists out in a series of fast, hard straight punches that Iori's already seen--but maybe that won't matter... as before, the combination of fists blazing with chi ends with a step-in right uppercut.

COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Takuma's Zanretsu Ken.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1             Iori


Punches? ... Yeah, Iori remembers those. And he really doesn't want to accept any more of them at this point, so he steps backwards, raising his arms in a cross pattern to deflect them away. He's marginally more successful this time, even though a small trio of punches manages to penetrate his guard, to his dismay.
But... it's still a lot better than it -could- have been. And he is able to step back and away from that final uppercut, flashing a smirk back to Takuma as a violet flame dances about in his right hand. "Where were we, anyway...?"
A faint chuckle, as the flame erupts with an even more chaotic surge of energy. "Ah, yes..." he comments, lashing his hand forward to sling the blaze at Takuma's feet.
Lightning strikes down from the heavens to intercept the blast, the boom of thunder tearing the sky in two. And then a second, and third bolt of lightning strike down as well. "DIIIIIIE!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Iori's Ya Sakazuki.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0             Iori


Certainly, it's impressive; the poor Aztec temple may never be the same again, not that too many people get up here to even look... thunder and flame, it's like an especially dangerous Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
Takuma has never really been fond of peanut butter, it sticks to his mouth and--... wait, where was I... oh yeah... incoming blasts. Takuma just says no; he weaves, ducks, dives, and dodges, somehow coming through unscathed, despite the torn-up rooftop and all that. And Takuma ... has no response. Right now his mind is locked on surviving this fight, and so he takes just another moment... despite what it may cost him.

COMBATSYS: Takuma gains composure.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0             Iori


Iori eyes Takuma, shrugging a bit. "... so... let me get this straight. You claim Kyokugen-ryuu is the ultimate art. The school of kicking ass with a smile on one's face. And winning through nothing but sheer might."
Smirk. "All I see is an old guy waiting around, hoping he didn't wet himself from scrambling out of the way of that last attack." He glances over to the fallen Yuri, thumbing over at her idly. "Girl has more guts than her daddy in her left breast. Food for thought."
Running his hand through his hair, he takes a deep breath, crimson eyes locked upon Takuma. "If you're just going to concede, I suggest you get it over with."

COMBATSYS: Iori focuses on his next action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Takuma           0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0             Iori


A sneer. Takuma's losing respect for Iori rapidly, and he no longer really cares about what the young buck says. Still, the teacher in him responds, all the same.
"It is clear to me that you do not understand the true nature of Kyokugenryuu, Yagami-kun. If you think Kyokugenryuu is about nothing more than 'kicking ass' and 'sheer might' then you don't know anything! Do you think it is 'macho' to take the attack? Why bother blocking my punches, if you think they're weak? Can't afford to take them?" Takuma crosses his arms at the wrist, then settles back into a lower guard stance, a writhing ring of golden energy coalescing around him.
"If you think to goad me into coming in on you unprepared then you are sadly mistaken."

COMBATSYS: Takuma gathers his will.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Takuma           1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0             Iori


Iori grins broadly, extending his right hand to one side, bracing his right hand with the left. A brilliant plume of flame erupts in his hand, once more.
"... and if you think I'm waiting around for -your- candy ass to bother sendng another attack my way, =you're= sorely mistaken.
And Iori mildly sweeps his hand forward, sending a purple plume of flame sailing across the temple floor towards Takuma. Perhaps Takuma has misunderestimated the vast stores of energy Iori commands, or forgotten the 1800-year legacy of the Orochi. But... maybe the =second= cascade of lightning crashing down from the heavens onto the burst of flame will serve as reminder. Lightning -can- strike twice, especially with someone like Iori calling the shots. "DIE, AS THE FOOL YOU ARE!" he howls over the roaring tempest of thunder and lightning.

COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Iori's Ya Sakazuki.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0             Iori


This time, it seems, there's no chance to dodge; the thunderbolts come crashing down right onto Takuma, enveloping him in brilliant purple energy... is it over?
The answer to that question is... not quite yet, as the blasts clear to show Takuma, crouched, rising to his feet. Still looking quite damaged... but still up.
"Heh. You young kids, always so hotheaded... you think you're gonna just knock me down..." Takuma pulls his hands to his stomach, aadopting a low stance, energy building up.
"Kid, you're not the only one who's got reserves left!" Suddenly, Takuma's hands are flung high and low, as he generates three consecutive waves of golden chi, taller than Takuma and wide around, his voice roaring to life like the tiger that lends his name to this technique. "HAOH... SHO KO KEN!"

COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Takuma's Triple Haohshokoken.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Takuma           0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0             Iori


Turnabout is fair game, right? And Iori seems to recall that Takuma dodged, ducked, and weaved his way right out of the way of the way of his first onslaught of lightning and fire, only to weather the storm of the second successive one. Iori -was- rather irked about that, but he wasn't about to drop his guard and admit it.
He can return the favor, though, by throwing his elbow hard to the left, carrying himself hard to the side and allowing the uber pancakes of red and gold doom to sail past without incident.
Iori clearly didn't expect this to actually -succeed-, though. And when he realizes that he has, a cocky smirk crosses his face. "Almost."
And then he slams his fist toward Takuma's midsection with a wild dash.
And if that hits, a uppercut will follow it.
And then he'd hop into the air, bringing both fists overhead to crash down onto Takuma's head with a double axehandle. "GURAA! GURAAA! GURAAAAOH!"
Eloquent, yes?

COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Aoi Hana from Iori with Mouko Burai Gan.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0             Iori


Well, that first fist? It hits. But it doesn't hit Takuma's midsection. No... it hits an upraised forearm... and Takuma, despite his weakened state, shrugs off the obviously powerful blow without any damage. The old man still has life in him yet; he sweeps that punch aside and, before Iori can continue on, Takuma is slamming his fist right into Iori's stomach, to blow him back. Possibly nothing more than a moral victory at this point... but Takuma's pride won't allow him to simply lay down, even when his body's screaming for it.

Yagami growls as he finds his fist redirected aside by the forearm. No damage? What gives here? Yagami's much more used to receiving the satisfaction of his knuckles cracking bones than he is having them swept aside.
Consequently, he's a bit too ticked off to realize the danger crashing into his ribcage, forcing him to stagger backwards.
At least the guy's -hitting- him though -- isn't that what Iori was asking for, however acerbic his request may have been?
Still. Iori had stepped back, but he, like Takuma, is far from retreat. "AGAIN!" he howls, clearly aiming to succeed where he failed last time, hammering a quick, direct punch right into his elder's jaw.

COMBATSYS: Takuma fails to counter Quick Punch from Iori with Mouko Burai Gan.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Takuma           0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0             Iori


Well, how can he refuse such a request? Takuma will surely try to counter that incoming fist... but he'll eat it instead, stumbling back, shaking his head. He's very nearly out on his feet... acting almost more on instinct and training than conscious thought... but he's -still up-. Though probably... not for long.

Iori's aiming to make that time just as short as can be. He continues pressing his assault, shuffling his feet forward in an attempt to ram his shoulder into the Kyokugen-ryuu master, knocking him back and opening up the space for a high overhead fingernail-rake across Takuma's chest, followed by a hard reverse backhand to knock him over once and for all. ... That's the -plan- anyway. "GURAAAH! GURAAAAOH!"

COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Iori's Yumebiki.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Takuma           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0             Iori


The plan... is foiled. But only for now. Takuma slips to his left, using some of the momentum from the shoulder-ram that Iori opened with, to avoid the damaging combination of raking fingernails and backhand. And then he has his own response to try out--he seeks to grab Iori by the back of the shirt while the man's still recovering, and simply lift him overhead and slam him onto the pavement. Nothing too fancy, really... the time for fancy and flashy is almost past. And it will be, if Takuma eats another attack.

COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Takuma's Strong Throw.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Takuma           0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0             Iori


Unfortunately for Takuma, Iori seems to have anticipated an evasion -- desperate times call for desperate measures, after all. Yagami can't really fault him for that at this point in the match.
But he =can= prepare himself, such that when Takuma reaches for him, Iori jumps in preparation -- thus reasserting control of the toss, landing in a less damaging position and breaking free of Takuma's hold before the -real- pain can be dealt.
Iori naturally feels that dealing serious injury is his own prerogative. And to deliver that pain, Iori leaps into the air, bringing his right hand overhead in a furious arc of purple flame -- a monochrome rainbow with Takuma as the most unlucky pot of gold at the end. "GUROOOOOOAH!"
... Yes, that's the lamest analogy ever.

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Tsumagushi.

[                             \  < >  //////////////                ]
Takuma           1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0             Iori


Takuma's pot is golden indeed, and encruste--nevermind. The burst of flame smashes into Takuma along with that right hand... and as he's flying back he's already gearing up for his last response. It's likely futile... but how could he just go down? _That_... that would not be Kyokugen. Takuma finally reaches the same lows as Iori's vocabulary, just roaring as he flings a final wide blast of golden chi, before he lays out on the ground.

COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.

                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |====---\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Iori with Haoh Sho Ko Ken.
- Power hit! -

                                  >  ///////                       ]
                                 |=======\-------\0             Iori


Iori, sensing the fatigue finally setting in, can only see fit to do one thing at this moment.
Laugh.
"Your techniques are =pathetic!=" he howls, thumbs in his pockets as he rocks his shoulders forward, a feral grin on his face. And Yagami clearly intends to take the attack standing just like that, wild grin plastered upon his face as he leans into the golden-tinged wind.
... He wasn't expecting the single wavefront to knock him back as far as it did -- a good twenty feet, nearly toppling him off the edge of the temple. But his leaning forward was the only thing that saved him from certain doom -- hands out to either side, he rocks forward on the balls of his feet, dusting his hands off like chalk-laden erasers. "Worthless scum!" he howls, erupting into peals of laughter as he strides back towards Sakazaki.
... the younger one, that is. Out of the two Sakazakis here, only one has left a suitable impression. "Maybe someone at your rest home can help you with your pushup fetish. Count us off the hook."
A virulent snort is tossed the elder Sakazaki's way, before the Yagami scion reaches down to Yuri's sarm, grabbing it forcefully and jerking the young girl up onto his shoulder, as he carries her away, caveman-style.
It'd probably be less amusing if the girl weren't already sitting up and consciously protesting the effort, which is enough to bring another arrogant smirk back to Iori's expression. He strides towards the terrace steps without another word on his part. As far as he's concerned, this match is -over-.

COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.

                                  >  ///////                       ]
                                 |=======\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Iori has ended the fight here.

Log created by Takuma, and last modified on 04:25:05 03/20/2006.