Description: In a Bullring... on the edge of space... Two old friends... meet again. For the first time. (Winner: Saishu)
Saishu Kusanagi, legendary warrior and patriarch of the Kusanagi lineage, stands composed in a darkened arch, smiling slightly at the distant roars of the crowd. One hand scratches at his pointy beard thoughtfully, his arm slipped through the front of his classic green kimono, and while he doesn't look distant or detached, his gaze is thoughtful...
South America. He has been here before.
Saishu remembers...
*** THIRTY YEARS AGO ***
"Hey, kid!" Saishu shouts over the roar of the engine and the loud rata-tat-tat of machine gun fire. "You'd better get your head down! I know you're tough, but-- whoa!" The young man quickly ducks, his sentence cut off as bullets shatter the rest of the windshield. When his head pops up again, though, he's grinning hugely, apparently unfazed. He turns to the heavy-set man gripping the steering wheel. "Gouken! You hanging in there, buddy?"
"I'm fine," the young monk rumbles in response, otherwise calm features set in the mildest of frowns. "This is quite a mess you've gotten us into again, Saishu. Make sure that boy doesn't die."
"Shut up!" shouts the third and final member of their party as the pickup truck skids along dirt roads. The boy is standing on the back of the pickup truck glaring fiercely at the cars pursuing them, recklessly ignoring the bullets that occasionally miss him by hairsbreadths. "I'll kill them all! Stupid bandits! Haaaaa... KO'OU KEN!"
One of the pursuing vehicles explodes, to the cheerful laughter of Saishu Kusanagi. "Ha ha ha, trust a Japanese guy to be able to take care of himself! See, Gouken, he'll be just fine! Some kids get tough early, like me!"
"Your nationalism is refreshing, if not reassuring. We must--- get down!!"
*ratta-tat-tat-tat-tat*
*** THE PRESENT ***
...or at least, Saishu is pretty sure it was something like that.
That slight smile gradually turns into a grin as he steps forward into the light and saunters through the archway, thrusting his fist into the air and unleashing an explosion of Kusanagi flame as the crowd cheers its approval. There will be no matadors at Santa Maria Bullring today, but the people of Bogota, capitol of the South American state of Colombia, have gathered to see something much more impressive: a bout between two great fighters and old friends.
Saishu stands near the center of the bullring, arms still mostly hidden in his kimono, and waits calmly, that grin still gleaming in the sunlight.
Takuma will skip the thirty-year-old -fake- flashbacks, thank you very much. They take too long and anyways, he doesn't look good in sepia. Besides... what the hell man? Takuma's got to get Saishu off the wacky baccy. It's playing with his head and that shit was already messed up. Then again...
Takuma's probably not right in the head either. Because, well... his entrance? It's from the opposite side of the bullfighter's ring... and it's on a bull. A bronco bull. A bucking bronco bull.
Takuma rides the great beast out, even as the massive beast bucks and kicks; Takuma rides the bull with practiced ease, wearing a tengu mask (of course) and a ten-gallon hat.
"HYAH! HYAH!! WOO!!" That last comes as he literally -leaps- off the bull--kicking it between the horns in the process it knock it the -fugg- out. And then he's standing across from Saishu, grinning.
"So we meet again. There's something at stake here, Kusanagi. Something important." He leans in.
"Loser pays our bar tab at that joint we hit the last time we were here."
COMBATSYS: Takuma has started a fight here.
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Saishu has joined the fight here.
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu's grin subsides as Takuma enters, and the older man just maintains that slight smile of his as Takuma bucks around on a freaking bull, to the wild cheers of the audience. Then he kicks the bull in the face -- a proper way to start a Saishu/Takuma contest -- and lands in front of Saishu... and makes his suggestion. Saishu appears genuinely startled at this, raising his bushy eyebrows at his old friend.
"That bar tab...?"
Saishu remembers...
*** THIRTY YEARS A... never mind, we don't have time for this, and he'd just make it all up anyway. The Kusanagi elder can't help but grin again, eyes sparkling at the founder of Kyokugen karate. "Ha ha! Alright, you're on... kid."
'Senores y senoritas! Tenemos un gran lucha hoy, porque estos hombres son...'
As the announcer continues, Saishu steps back, smirking good-naturedly as his legs spread and he drops down into his somewhat squat fighting stance, arms raising as he prepares to spring forward at any moment. Gaining focus, with a deep breath he places his palms together and draws them apart, forming a ball of flame between the two palms and allowing it to crackle there before he slams his hands back together and extinguishes it. Battle meditation complete, the older fighter, smiling in his inscrutible, awesome way, stand ready.
'LUUUUUCHAAAAAA--!'
Takuma watches the older man posture and demonstrate, shaking his head and snorting through his nose. All that effort and for what? Takuma briefly ponders the word 'lucha'... he seems to remember kicking some luchadore's ass, months ago. Yeah, good times.
Takuma's prefight preparations are blessedly short; he rotates his shoulders, givin them a good popping, and cricks his neck. Then, with blinding speed, he's lunging forward, intending on headbutting Saishu right in the face.
"Tag!" he cries, laughter in his voice. No matter what, it'll be fun.
COMBATSYS: Saishu fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Takuma with Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Takuma 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Saishu
The crowd roars its approval again as the fight commences, and Saishu, tactically poised in the fighting style he refined from the knowledge of the ancients, completely centered and controlled, sees Takuma lunging towards him in, of all things, a headbutt--
I mean, come on, coming in a headbutt. This guy is a karate master. What is he thinking. Saishu, kick him in the head or something, teach him a lesson...
"Raaargh!" is Saishu's response, as he throws himself forward and collides face-first with Takuma, aiming to overcome a headbutt with a headbutt -- but this time, he comes out the worse for wear and staggers back, the Kyokugen master able to utilize a more effective headbutt. This time.
They've fought way too many times before to do anything other than have fun.
"Curses," murmurs a woozy Saishu, staggering back dramatically. The crowd laughs -- and Saishu grins, casting Takuma a look.
Takuma feels the solid impact of his forehead on Saishu's and it brings a happy smile to his face. After all, that knock on Saishu's head must've sounded like a hollow coconut! 'Kid', indeed... well, can't waste opportunities! Takuma catches the look, and grins back... but he isn't about to let up either, as he steps in, attempting to grab Saishu by the lapels of his gi or robe or whatever it is and just... bodyslam. Seems like Takuma wants to go more ECW or WWE for the moment! Kyokugenryuu isn't about technique anyway. It's about philosophy. The philosophy of POWER. And smashing face.
COMBATSYS: Saishu interrupts Strong Throw from Takuma with Oniyaki.
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Takuma 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Saishu
It's a freaking kimono, you hooligan.
Well, your strength is impressive, Sakazaki-san, but the Philosophy of Power is no match for the Philosophy of Awesome, and mere face-smashing cannot contend with the magnificence that is Saishu Tactics. Prepare yourself for immolation as Saishu slips back from the label grap and, still grinning, neatly brings his hand in between himself as his assailant, igniting his fist with Kusanagi flame as he bursts into a rising uppercut and breaks free. "Haaa!"
The explosive punch catches Takuma right under the jaw and knocks him back as Saishu soars up and twirls away, landing spryly. The crowd just keeps cheering, and Saishu takes the moment to slip his hands back into his kimono in his usual pose, looking as though that grin of his is saying 'See how my clever ploy of letting you defeat my headbutt drew you into my trap!' Really, Saishu, you think of everything.
Or at least, you're good at making it seem like you do.
Oniyaki. And a fine vintage, too, judging from the blossom of pain that unfolds around Takuma's head and wraps its spicy hot petals around his face. No, wait, that's just his face, on fire. Argh. Well, he's now flying through the air... that can be corrected, and it is made so, Takuma arresting his momentum and flipping upwards.
And now it's time to take a trick from his idiot son and do something fun; he pulls a palm back, the center of it glowing like the sun, and thrusts it forward, while flying backwards, releasing a dense spheroid of chi energy at Saishu. His deep voice booms throughout the bullring.
"KO'OU KEN!"
COMBATSYS: Saishu blocks Takuma's Ko'ou Ken.
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Takuma 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu catches the fireball on the back of his hand, dismissing it with a wave as it bursts into nothingness and leaves the old fighter basically unscathed. The reason for the quick and precise block isn't just to taunt Takuma, though, but to make it so Saishu can spend most of his energy and effort throwing himself into a full-on attack, trying to prevent the projectile from slowing him down much. The Kusanagi elder springs forward into one of his usual fast lunges, lashing out with a couple claw-like hand strikes before twisting into a roundhouse kick, eyebrows bunching forward intently as the old man continues to grin.
"Hou! Hou! Hyah!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma interrupts Medium Kick from Saishu with Zanretsu Ken.
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Takuma 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Saishu
So Saishu thinks that he can overcome Takuma with such simplistic movements? THINK AGAIN! Takuma lands easily, well before the other man reaches him, and despite the grin and the laugh and the bluster, he's thinking in calculations, summoning precision and power to his hands. The first claw-strike hits, the second arrested as Takuma lunges into the movement, stopping it short, and that roundhouse never lands. Instead, in the space of naught but two seconds, Takuma's fists are hammering out like sledgehammers on an anvil--and the anvil is Saishu's chest. Fourteen times he strikes, then he steps in with a final uppercut, his right fist flashing with his golden chi, to close Saishu's fool mouth with a mighty flash.
As the Marines say. Hoo-ah.
The crowd emits a collective gasp as Saishu gets caught by the sudden unexpected rain of blows, Takuma revealing the true might of Kyokugen as the elder Kusanagi can find no escape from the blistering series of fourteen sledgehammer strikes. The final uppercut is quite a revenge for Saishu's own Oniyaki, sending the older man flying back and away and crashing to the ground in a heap.
Silence. Is the fight already over? Is this what happens when fighters of such high caliber meet -- such sudden and overwhelming might?
"Heh..."
Saishu rises, battered but still grinning, and he twists his neck from side to side in a very Takuma-esque manner, eliciting little cricks and cracks. "...I must be getting old!"
And he lunges again, hurt but far from defeated, unleashing a sudden close-range blast of Kusanagi fire as he stubbornly attempts to close in once again. If physical attacks won't do it -- take this, you scoundrel! With a twist, he unleashes a second blast, the same as the first, like crashing waves of flame.
"Hou! HYAH!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Saishu's Homura Gasane.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1 Saishu
The hissing flames engulf the eldest Sakazaki, and well... what does he do? He MANS UP, that's what. Purely relying on the strength of his chi aura, he repels the flames, only being a bit singed for his trouble. His eyes gleam, his expression stern--but in a friendly way (you figure it out)--as he smirks. "_Getting_ old, Kusanagi?!? You were old when the dinosaurs died!!" he cries. Simultaneously he kicks out with a foot, intending on tripping Saishu up with a quick foot. Now that... -that- folks... that's classic Karate, right there.
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Saishu with Light Kick.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Saishu
"Ha! Dinosaurs! Now /they/ were worthy opponents!"
Saishu grins as he draws his hand back, attempting to maintain his footing and tough out Takuma's attack, but the battering he took must have weakened him more than he anticipated, for the blow manages to knock him off his feet. He's still tough enough to maintain his self-control, though, and he only falls to his knees rather than go sprawling -- and moreover, this doesn't interrupt what he was getting ready to do...
...that being, unleash a huge fireball right in Takuma's face.
"Hoooooohhhhhh--"
Yeah, this is what the audience deserves to see! The crowd goes wild in the split instant that Saishu's hand begins to glow white hot with gathering power and the true force of the Kusanagi lineage--
"HAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
--as Saishu unleashes a searing blast of red flame, a dragon's breath of Orochi-slaying power to engulf his formidible friend and opponent. Of course, it's not, like, at Orochi-killing levels, here -- Saishu may be old, but he's not from 1800 years ago.
But it /is/ a big freaking fireball.
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Takuma with Orochinagi'.
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Takuma 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Saishu
FOOM! Takuma is LIT UP. He burns like a roman candle, blown the FUGG AWAY by Saishu's goddamn Serpent Mower. WTF, Serpent Mower. More like Forest Fire Starter. Smokey the Bear would be appalled. Takuma picks himself up out of his crater, coughing dust and soot... and just glares across the distance.
"Not bad... *cough* Kusanagi..." Then Takuma pulls his hands back, to his stomach, and roars, "BUT I'M NOT DONE YET!!!!!" Power builds in his hands then he thrusts them forward, firing a wall of chi every bit as impressive as that Orochinagi. Really.
COMBATSYS: Saishu dodges Takuma's Haoh Sho Ko Ken.
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu rises after his fireball blasts Takuma away, and for a moment it looks as though Saishu might have put his opponent into a crater for good. It's quite the turnaround, and the audience roars its approval, but the Kusanagi elder himself looks stoic and steadfast, just staring forward--
--until Takuma rises out of the smoke, and Saishu grins again.
And lunges.
He charges forward as Takuma prepares for his powerful attack, and again blinding light engulfs the arena as the huge wall of energy is unleashed and surges towards the dashing old warrior. He disappears into the light for a moment, still rushing forward at breakneck speed -- is that crazy fool going to crash right into it!?
...you'd think so, wouldn't you?
And perhaps that's why the wily old man thinks he'll get away with what he's pulled. Even the audience has to double-take before they realize that the Takuma's bright chi has only helped obscure Saishu's sudden vault, so Takuma himself may not realize until too late that Saishu has already made it halfway over his head, bringing his foot down in a quick twisting axe-kick.
"Hiyah!" he shouts, sounding rather cheerful.
Succesful or not, he lands a few feet away, in a tight and composed stance.
COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Nata Guruma from Saishu with Mouko Burai Gan.
[ \\\ < > // ]
Takuma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Saishu
May not realize? MAY NOT REALIZE?!? This is TAKUMA SAKAZAKI. Are you INSANE? ARE YOU MENTALLY RETARDED? HE'S THE GODDAMNED KYOKUGENRYUU MASTER!!!
.. ahem. Yes, Takuma doesn't -see- Saishu vaulting over. But he can -feel- it. It's in his bones. Without even looking, he's thrusting a forearm up, snagging the foot before it can impact his cranium, and tossing a quick straight punch right into Saishu's thigh, the easiest part of him to reach.
"HYAH!" he cries, fiercely, as he repels that attack... though he looks damn tired afterwards.
Saishu's leg buckles from the sheer power of that blow. The audience viewing this 'bullfight' is stunned once again as the sneak attack is intercepted, but Saishu himself doesn't have time to look surprised -- he's crumpling to the ground, not able to land in that tight stance as he had hoped. Yet even as he's falling, even as it seems the Kusanagi master is finished from that final strike, he's able to use his momentum to lash out with one final attack.
As he falls into a crouch, Saishu lashes out with a quick but powerful sweep kick, using the very weight of his failing body to propel him. Then, whether he hits or misses, the Kusanagi elder falls to one knee, and takes a deep breath...
"Heh...!"
COMBATSYS: Saishu has reached second wind!
[ \\\ < > /// ]
Takuma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Saishu
"...heh heh ha ha HA HA HA!"
...and rises back to his feet, grinning.
"Not nearly good enough, Sakazaki!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma dodges Saishu's Light Kick.
[ \\\ < > /// ]
Takuma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Saishu
Takuma's at the -edge-. He's barely hanging on. He leaps away from Saishu's kick... and when he sees the elder Kusanagi get back up, he just sighs deeply and makes sure his jump brings him far enough away to try and catch his breath. He's still got to try for the witty banter, though, even as worn down as he is.
"Kusanagi huh... more like cockroach..."
COMBATSYS: Takuma gains composure.
[ \\\\\\ < > /// ]
Takuma 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu, on the other hand, seems fresh and full of vigor. Perhaps this is an illusion, but if it is, it's an intimidating one. He was looking a bit haggard before -- now, he looks fine. Does he plan all of this? If so... he has some seriously multi-layered strategies going on. Never underestimate Kusanagi-ryuu.
"Don't be shy, Takuma-kun!" he roars cheerfully, lunging forward and leaping into the air, bringing his fist back in preparation for a mighty crushing blow. A hammerfist that, if it shatters Takuma's guard, could end it all!
"Hiyaaahh!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma fails to counter Gou Tsui from Saishu with Mouko Burai Gan.
- Power hit! -
[ \\ <
Saishu 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.
[ \\ <
Saishu 0/-------/-======|
Sadly, though Saishu can just get up off his damn ass whenever he wants to because he's a cockroach, Takuma belongs only to the class of human beings, and that short rest wasn't enough to let him clear the fog of fatigue. The hammer fist cracks down on his head and drops him like a rock.
The blow connects, and Takuma is down -- and that sudden vigor drains from Saishu, the older man slumping slightly and shaking his head as the announcer proclaims him the victor. He manages to grin and salute the crowd, certainly, but he looks exhausted indeed. He finally hunkers down next to his old pal as the medics begin to approach.
"Another close one, old friend," he murmurs. There's no one to see, but for a moment, the Kusanagi elder's eyes grow genuinely affectionate.
Then he glances up to the open sky.
"Heh! This reminds me of the time I accidentally dropped that chandelier on your head while we were busting up that Venezuelan smuggler's mansion!"
There's going to be quite a party at that bar tonight.
COMBATSYS: Saishu has ended the fight here.
Log created by Takuma, and last modified on 21:18:26 09/02/2006.