Description: Hinako and Megumi fight Geese Howard on board the latter's luxurious yacht. It's slow going at first, but the girls do manage to wear Geese down. Not quite enough, however. (Winner: Geese)
Ah, the end of 2006, and what better way to celebrate than with a boat ride and dramatic battle? What a vessel she is, as well, the superyacht spanning several hundred feet and numerous decks and sublevels. A towering span in polished blacks and contrasting whites and silver tones holds one of the ship's observation lounges, an angularly curved outer wall set in clear glass, overlooking the stern of the yacht and the ocean before her as she cuts away from port, and out to sea. The trip is accompanied by a buffet dinner, musical entertainment, and guests from the entertainment industry and competitive fighting fields, and the buzz is that those in tonight's match may be receiving a different sort of prize to ring in the New Year. Hinako and Megumi are free to enjoy the party and musical entertainment (from a rather exemplary string quartet) however they wish, or avoid it until the televised fight. Which is the real show, and the ample open space of the party deck is cleared, spectators moving to the borders as an announcer describes the fight to come.
Why would Geese Howard bring these two? Well, there's the ambiguous possible prize opportunities, along with the fact that, as the announcer states, Hinako and Megumi are two of the more promising artists of their generation, complete with unorthodox styles and interpretations... which is something Geese most certainly respects, and even enjoys. It's good PR, a chance to amp people up for his further spectacles, and what's more? He suspects these two lovely young ladies will provide quite the battle.
It doesn't show on Howard's features as he rises from his table, setting a half-full champagne glass down as he rises, in full business suit attire, and strides forward several strides. His smile is calm, his posture relaxed. Too cooly, he adjusts his black bowtie.
Megumi had been a lot more casual about things, favoring her usual look in contrast to Geese's fancy suit, and spending a mix of time enjoying the accomodations followed by heading off to check out the sights alone. But eventually the time of the fight was upon them, and she went up to the party deck to let SNF staff know she's ready.
Megumi's relations with Geese...are strained, quiet. She has no clue about his criminal empire, but his blatantly poor relation with Rock is enough to make her less than outgoing toward him and he gets little more than a nod to show she's aware of him. When Hinako shows up however, the sumo will see Megumi's more receptive to her, giving a wave and standing at an end of the deck opposite from Geese...probably ready for some pre-fight discussion.
Hinako has had more than a little schooling in etiquette for fancy parties from her parents, so she manages to mingle just fine with the various guests aboard the yacht as she awaits the start of the fight. Her clothes are a compromise between the party and the fight that's going to be taking place, with a modest purple dress and matching shoes, the latter of which she intends to simply kick off when it comes time to fight.
As far as Geese... Hinako doesn't have any particular reason to dislike him. She simply doesn't know very much about him, other than the facts that are widely known to the public. Once the time comes for her to make her way to the main deck, she gives Megumi a friendly wave, then bows formally to Geese. "Thank you very much for inviting me to this event, Mr. Howard."
Fighters don't -have- to dress up. Fighters are allowed to be eccentric. It's part of their charm. Which isn't to say that Hinako's efforts don't go over exceedinly well. Criminal empire? No, no, Geese is the billionaire philanthropist and media mogul that the world loves and adores. Rock? Rock's just crazy. And effeminate, did we mention that? As the two grappling prodigies take their places, Geese slips off his suit jacket, tossing the finely tailored garment over the back of a chair with relaxed accuracy, leaving him in a loose sleeved white shirt and the dark, satiny vest over it, along with the matching slacks and glossy leather shoes. It's pricey and risky to show up to a fight this polished, but hey, he can afford it.
Howard's cool smile remains, as he nods towards Hinako and Megumi, "A match of arts at the end of a year." Geese 'toasts', drinkless. A comparison of styles, old and new... and fighters, perhaps. This Megumi is one to watch, and Hinako's definitely proven an unexpected talent.
COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese takes no action.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hinako has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinako
Megumi watches the suit-toss with mild curiousity, before realizing Geese may not care very much if it gets torn up. So, Megumi's attention goes back to Hinako. "Probably goes without saying, but everything I've seen on TV shows he's pretty good...I'll work with ya on it. I've seen a little bit of what you can do...better up close, right? If so," Megumi shifts around a little, "I'll back you up once you get into it." And with that, she makes begins to pace off to the side of the deck, waiting...
COMBATSYS: Megumi has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Megumi takes no action.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
While Geese is removing his jacket, Hinako slips out of her shoes, putting them over to the side of the area that's been cleared up for the match. They'll only get in her way, anyway. She looks over at Megumi as the other girl speaks, then she nods. "Okay then. Let's see what we can do!" She turns to Geese with her back straight, claps both of her hands together, then bows to him once more.
Hinako doesn't completely straighten back up, though, coming up into a slightly crouched position with both hands held out in front of her. It seems she's ready to begin. And once Geese has made his toast, it seems that all the fighters are ready. The blonde girl charges across the deck toward Geese, reaching out for him as she draws near. His current outfit actually provides fewer handholds than his normal clothes, but Hinako is used to fighting opponents where grabbing clothing isn't really an option. She attempts to get one hand on Geese's hip, slid another hand up under his shoulder, then heft the man right up off the ground and hurl him in an arc in Megumi's general direction, trying to set up on an opening for the other girl. "Hyah!"
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Tasuki Nage.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
Apparently, what Hinako has seen of Geese's skills is rather accurate. The unlikeliest sumo wrestler executes her technique quickly, flawlessly, but in congruent motion, Howard slips away from it. It's a stable, precise shift, his hip drawing away with a single backstep even as the grasp darts in, his momentum leading into the slightest of leans as he evades the young fighter's offensive, while seeking to let her maintain her forward momentum.
... and his own proximity. His hand drops, seeking to grab Hinako's left wrist, where an ironclad nerve-lock would send a rather impressive jolt of pain up her arm, if the vicegrip is found. In the same moment, that arm would be jerked harshly upwards, as Geese twists about and steps in... almost like a dancing partner's pirhouette, but with substantially less grace and more violence. A second step would slam his left shoulder solidly into the then staggered and disoriented sumo wrestler, transferring a subtantial amount of power into that slam meant to tackle her right back to the ground. Megumi may need to get her back indeed, if the Syndicate boss manages to snag her partner.
Megumi isn't going for the back however. She may arrive too late to do anything about Geese's efforts to hold Hinako, but Megumi dashes off to be off to Geese's side, albeit several feet away. With a yell, Megumi's launching head-first at Geese, a fist wrapped in red energy held out as her body twirls toward him. The plan is to drive that fist into his ribs, and use her other hand to cartwheel away.
COMBATSYS: Hinako Toughs Out Geese's Combo Throw!
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Geese 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
When it comes to leverage, Geese has a bit of an advantage over Hinako. She's very, very good at resisting being pushed... but there's not so much that she can do when it comes to being pulled. Her arm gets jerked painfully up, and then Geese's shoulder crashes into her torso as she's sent crashing to the ground underneath the crime lord. But once Hinako realizes that she can't evade the attack, she simply goes with the flow. As Hinako falls she closes her hands on Geese's arms, and she rolls when she hits the ground. And a moment later she's getting back to her feet, while Geese is on his back.
Hinako knows that Geese isn't going to be slowed down for long by a little trick like that. She's earned herself perhaps a second or so of extra time. But if she can pull this off, that time should be enough. The sumo reaches down to yank Geese up off the ground, hooking one arm around him. She tries to time it so that Megumi's punch while be able to land while she's dragging Geese around before dashing off, getting up some speed, then hopping up and slamming Geese into the deck with all her might.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Spiral Knuckle.
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Geese 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Yorigiri from Hinako with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
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Geese 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
Ah, the classic sandwich destruction maneuver. In careens Megumi's energy-sheathed fist, and Geese shifts back, turning to face her sidelong, a flexed arm meeting her impact. To the keen eye, the flare of icy blue that flashes around the guard at the point of impact actually erupts a moment before the searing psi, blasting it outwards into little more than a stinging nuisance. Which is more than can be said for what Hinako accomplishes. Despite the quick deflection and return of Howard's attention to the sumo wrestler, she's yanking his legs out from under him. It might be enough to make him chuckle, if he had enough time to fully assess the situation before being leveraged up and slammed back down.
Impressively, for a man of his stature, Geese lands in a lithe roll, almost gracefully tumbling away from the point of impact and coming up in a crouch, a deep breath drawn as he pushes back to his feet, brushing down the front of his suit.
Megumi regains her balance just in time to see Hinako take Geese down, and tries to follow up on that. Too late; he's already starting to rise, but Megumi tries to change that by bodily hurling herself at him sideways, hoping to take him back to the ground. If successful, the plan is to go for an arm, then bend it back in a reclining arm-bar.
Unfortunately, sumo doesn't really lend itself well to team combat in close quarters. Hinako can throw an opponent at an ally, giving them an opening, but when she and her ally are both in close it's usually deterimental to keep hurling the opponent around. So with Megumi closing in, Hinako doesn't want to let Geese have some distance again.
Luckily, not /all/ of the techniques used by a sumo are grappling and shoving. While Megumi is attempting to pull Geese's arm back behind him, Hinako rushes at Howard from the front, lashing out with a palm strike aimed at the center of his chest.
COMBATSYS: Megumi successfully hits Geese with Medium Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Quick Punch.
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Geese 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Megumi
Geese's smile returns momentarily as his ice blue eyes shift from side to side, guaging the offensive. He sidesteps the palm-strike careening for his frontside, but Megumi crashes into his flank and takes him to his knees painfully by one arm. Blocking out the pain, Geese's rather impressive muscles flex, and his arm bends violently, seeking to not only free itself from her grip before she can fully recover, but drive the accompanying elbow back into Megumi's ribs, in order to stagger her as Howard fluidly pushes back to his feet.
At that point, should his plot succeed, Geese would sweep one foot around behind Andou's, intending to drop her quite soundly to the ground, courtesy of the kick to her ankles, and a second elbow-strike to her skull.
COMBATSYS: Megumi blocks Geese's Combo Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> /////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi knows she can't keep Geese down forever; she's too small for that. So when he starts to slip away, she lets him out and stops his elbow with her arms. It hurts, but not as much as it could have as she too rushes to her feet, only to be tripped by Geese...and she rolls with the fall, out of range of any additional strikes. Then she's launching herself right at Geese with the same twirling energy-wrapped fist as before, aiming for his stomach.
Hinako may have missed Geese with her strike, but it doesn't take long for her to recover. She's already pivoting around as Geese is moving himself to attack Megumi, and she moves to flank Howard while he's dealing with the other girl. She can't come up from directly behind him for what she has in mind, but it only takes a moment to get to his side and reach up, attempting to hook an arm around Geese's neck.
It's a bit of a stretch to reach it, but if Hinako does manage to snare Howard she'll use that hold to drag him down off his feet, slamming the back of his head into the surface of the deck. And hopefully leaving his stomach wide open for Megumi's attack.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Spiral Knuckle.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Kake Nage.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
This convergence thing is definitely becoming a trend, and it's that sort of pressure that keeps Geese going in a fight like this one. He doesn't have a moment to breathe, and even if neither opponent matches him in out and out power or ability... well, the fight thus far has certainly shown that isn't stopping the young challengers from putting Howard through the paces. But, perhaps he's getting wise to this approach, because he weaves out of the trap this time, dropping into a crouch as he deflects Megumi's strike wide, forearms crossed before him, the winds of his massive, centered inner chi again keeping the nasty psi energy at bay.
Chi which is brought to the fore suddenly, nearly point blank, as Geese rises, stepping in again towards what would be Andou's rear flank by her initial trajectory. As he rises, his hand snaps upwards, fingers curled and trailing that chill, vibrant power. A geyser of energy erupts all but under the girl's feet as she lands, "DOUBLE..." and Geese doesn't stop there, seeking to blast Megumi forward across the deck with a second swing of his arm, this one sending the massive wave rolling outwards, intent on enveloping and crashing around the pink-haired grappler, "REPPUKEN!" ... Primary cannons? Check.
COMBATSYS: Megumi dodges Geese's Double Reppuken.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi's non-striking hand is ready, letting her land in a cartwheel...one that she continues doing a few times as she feels, and sees, Geese creating a huge energy burst. It just barely misses her by inches, saving her from what would have likely sent her flying into a wall....and she even blinks appreciateively upon finishing her evasion. "...Wow! Looks even more dangerous in person than on TV." After that, Megumi tries to run just past Geese, reaching for a hand as she goes. The plan is to simply grab at some fingers and bend them back in upon themselves; quick, mild pain for the moment as she hopefully sprints by him.
Oh, man. The energy blasts. Hinako hates those. She doesn't really have a particularly effective strategy for dealing with them; how often do people get set on fire or blown up in sumo matches? At least for now it's Megumi who has to deal with it, and not her. It also leaves her free to run up behind Geese while he's trying to blast Megumi to bits. She tries to wrap her arms around his torso, then yank back and fling him up and over her shoulders. Hopefully it won't interfere too much with Megumi's plan, but with Geese in her way Hinako can't really see what her partner is doing.
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Medium Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Fast Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi is quick. Damnably quick. Coming and going, it seems. That Double Reppuken should have... oooh, he'd be fuming, if these two weren't proving such excellent sport. This is a game, after all... and SNF his stage. Howard is far from out, still seeming rather fresh, though his suit is getting a bit more wrinkled. Andou snags his hand, but Geese turns with the bend, his fingers flexing against it, and he wrenches his digits free in a matter of instants... which buys him the split seconds he needs to veritably glide away from Hinako's grasp on smooth leather soles, the deck rather well suited for the sudden shifting of weight, though his footing certainly seems sure enough nonetheless.
As his back leg plants, Geese lunges forward leading with his right foot, which drives up and around in a flying, twisting snap straight for Hinako's face, looking to punish her straightforward charge once more... and follow it up with a sudden, heel-driven roundhouse as he lands from the short, powerful leap.
Megumi keeps going past even as she feels Geese pull out of her trivial attack, stopping a few feet away to spin and see he's going after Hinako. Megumi raises a fist, another energy-glow forming around it as she charges at Geese, fist drawing back...and then thrusting forward once she's close. If she can tag him in the back, great. But she's willing to accept any hit she can get, with the energy 'exploding' off her hand as she completes the punch, hit or miss.
COMBATSYS: Hinako blocks Geese's Strong Kick.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
Hinako plants her feet firmly on the deck, bringing up her arms to stop Geese's kick. She's driven back slightly by the impact, but she stands her ground far better than a girl as small as she is has any right to. That still stung quite a bit, though. Hinako's arms are throbbing, but the pain is already starting to fade away.
She can't let it slow her down, because speed is of the essence here. She may not be as fast on her feet as Megumi, but she can still react quickly. Hinako intends to slam herself into Geese while he's still settling down from his kick. She doesn't weigh very much, so one wouldn't think that it'd be all that effective... but the force that she can exert with her legs more than makes up for it, giving her a surprising amount of momentum as she tries to slam Geese into the deck. A common theme for her, it seems.
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Strong Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Megumi's Crimson Blast.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Megumi
As Geese throws out the second, finishing kick to little dramatic impact, he's nonetheless impressively prepared for that possibility, his foot snapping back down, stabilizing his footing and immediately flowing into a sweeping sidestep, a lunging weave carrying him clear of his previous location as the blonde sumo launches herself into it, and Megumi blasts in from the flank with that impressive explosion of crimson energy, albeit all for naught as Geese turns to face his adversaries from his new, safer perimeter.
He doesn't maintain any distance, however, looking to snag the recovering Hinako and, with a flex of his arms, yank her off the ground and violently in at him, to be met by a rising knee. Then a second. Then a third. Then, Howard would kindly turn a sharp half-turn, and fling the young wrestler headfirst away from him.
Megumi has little to show for her efforts as Geese evades both of the assaults...but she seems to be fairly good to go, lunging low at a leg to tackle one of Geese's knees. She may not get there in time to stop his assault on Hinako, but she's hoping to distract him from it or at least make him pay for any success he might have. And if she does manage to take him down, a quick ankle-twist will follow.
COMBATSYS: Hinako fails to interrupt Combo Throw from Geese with Tsukidashi.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Hinako
> ////////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Megumi
As she's being yanked in toward Geese, Hinako tries to use the added momentum to her advantage. Her right hand flies out, aiming a palm strike for Geese's face. /Just/ as she's about to connect, though, Geese's knee slams into her. One would think that someone of his skill would have predicted her reaction, wouldn't they?
The sumo gets knocked about by Geese's knee, before being sent sailing away and collapsing in a heap. A moment later she manages to drag herself up to her knees, her left arm crossed over her bruised stomach. That... hurt. Quite a bit.
COMBATSYS: Geese interrupts Medium Throw from Megumi with Raging Storm'.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Hinako
> /////////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Megumi
One down, one to go. Howard is as quick on the offense as his defenses have proven, and as Hinako is hurled away, Geese turns to his side as Andou slides in low. Her tackle, at first, seems to connect quite soundly, slamming into his shins. What becomes clear only too late, however, is that Geese is already dropping quite fervently into a crouch, both his hands palms down towards the ground, "RAGING...." the crimelord's deep voice intones, a glint in his cool eyes as he regards Megumi for the split second it takes a near-literal hurricane of dark blue-purple energy to erupt around them both. The tumult of power blasts shearing razor edges in a rampant conflaguration, centered on the crouching Geese, who lets out a fierce, "STORM!!!" as the gale continues for several moments, long enough to almost certainly rattle Megumi, give Hinako pause, and send the former girl blasting back out of the maelstrom.
Megumi finds herself in much the same situation as Hinako, the one of 'That hurt quite a bit.' Being sent flying by a Raging Storm that takes her from feeling great to being genuinely dazed and shocked, landing in a heap. "...That was...ugh." Not very eloquent, but sincere. For the moment, Megumi simply focuses on getting up and clearing her head as well...and making sure it's even still attached.
COMBATSYS: Megumi gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Hinako
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Megumi
Climbing fully back to her feet now, Hinako eyes Geese warily as she settles back into her combat stance. In retrospect, it looks she was lucky. Geese's knee hurt, but the Raging Storm probably would have hurt quite a bit more. Megumi seems to be okay, at least, if a bit battered. But Geese wouldn't do anything to /seriously/ hurt them, right? A broken bone or two is the risk you have to take in a fight, but he wouldn't do anything that could /kill/ them. ...Right?
For the moment, Hinako keeps her distance, circling around Geese. He can't keep his eyes constantly on both of his opponents if they're approaching him from different angles. And even somebody as skilled as Geese has to slip up occasionally, right? Hinako just has to hope she can find an opening of that sort, and take advantage of it.
COMBATSYS: Hinako focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Hinako
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Megumi
Rising whisps of dark chi burn off Geese's form as he rises out of the powerful technique. Sure, it could kill somebody, but Megumi can take it! And Howard knew that beforehand... probably. She's certainly not the first to regret being in the midst of that particular gathering of chi. When faced with the hesitation.. or preparation... of his opponents, Howard takes the time to simply draw a few deep breaths, clearing his own head and cracking his neck audibly to the side, "Admirable efforts so far. But you'll need to do better."
An even, uncompromising challenge. Even as his eyes narrow slightly, keeping both Megumi and Hinako within his field of vision. They're preparing something, but... he can play that game as well.
COMBATSYS: Geese focuses on his next action.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Hinako
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Megumi
Megumi gets herself focused on the fight at hand, and nods over at Hinako. "Ready?" Then Megumi's hands cup together in front of herself, creating a swirling, nearly head-sized ball of glittering red. It hovers, then a gentle nudge from her sends it flying at Geese with a disproportionate amount of speed and Megumi runs in behind it; it'll get there well before she does, however.
Hinako flashes Megumi a quick thumbs-up. "Ready!" And indeed she is, for the sumo girl charges at Geese once more. She knows he's good at side stepping, and she's hoping that she can take that into account this time. She tries to go with a zig zag pattern, and she plans not to commit to the direction of her final lunge until the very last second. All this leading up to her attempt to slam her shoulder into Geese's sternum. If she can just get in with that initial attack to blow through his defenses...
COMBATSYS: Megumi successfully hits Geese with Crimson Comet.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Oo-ichiban from Hinako with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Hinako
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Megumi
Fwoom! The hurtling ball of psionic hurt crashes headlong into Geese despite his attempt to raise a guard, dropping him back a step, then two, finally dazing the powerful Syndicate boss. It might seem like the perfect setup for Hinako's shoulder-led charge, but that proves to be misleading, as despite her feinting approach, Howard is alert enough to step back with that lunge, his palm meeting her at the shoulder as a flexing arm absorbs the force, while allowing the blonde wrestler to lunge closer...
Until Geese's right palm thrusts forward, even with Hinako's midsection, unleashing a sudden flashpoint of blue-white energy, so cold it burns to the core as it blossoms outwards into a sudden, punishing sphere meant to blast Hinako right back the way she came, and buy Howard room to deal with the charging Andou....
Megumi keeps moving as Geese is knocked back, though she stops when she sees Hinako being caught and blasted away. Not one to press a typical attack when Geese has just shown he's very adept at dealing with them...she vaults into the air, body spinning again as she divebombs at him with another energy-wrapped fist...this one aiming low for a knee.
Hinako gets blasted away away by Geese's attack before she even manages to connect with him, but she actually manages to stay on her feet. She skids over the surface of the deck as she tries to come to a stop, but finally she comes to a halt, still standing, even if just barely.
Taking a deep breath, Hinako springs forward from that same position, skipping completely the motions of getting into a better stance that might be expected. She draws both of her arms back as she rushes in toward Geese, intending to slam both of her palms into his chest with all the force she can muster. And while Hinako may not be able to generate blasts of chi, it doesn't mean she has no power of her own. Anyone sensitive to the flow of chi will see /something/ going on as she thrusts both hands out at Geese.
And if she manages to get a clean hit, it'll be a good thing that Geese isn't between her and the water. Because there's enough force in Hinako's arms to put Geese straight through one of the cabin walls if he doesn't manage to dull the blow somehow. And if there was nothing between him and the side of the ship, he'd probably be going for a swim.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Spiral Knuckle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Morote Zuki from Hinako with Gedan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Megumi
Alright, stage one worked out alright... Dropping low, Geese deflects the energy of Megumi's fist once more, turning to face Hinako's charge in the last moments... right about when she plows into him, the palmstrike crashing into his chest and sending him flying across the deck, his already low posture saving him from the wall, by affording him a rather undignified tumble along his forced path. He comes up in a rather uneasy crouch, eyes shifting between Megumi and Hinako. He's definitely taken a beating now, but Howard isn't one to count out too quickly, either.
Megumi pretty much bounces off of Geese, but doesn't seem frustrated by the lack of progress and backs off a moment to get her breath, watching as Hinako plows into him and cheering when she sees it completed. "We've got him! Let's finish it!" And Megumi's ready to try just that, raising a hand up high. That's when over a dozen tiny, baseball-sized red energy spheres form above Megumi. Then with a downward swiping motion, she sends them at Geese in a broad spread; one shot after another going at him sort of like rain-fall...just horizontal.
Hinako takes a few deep breaths after sending Geese flying across the deck. That takes a fair bit out of her, and she's not exactly in the best condition after those last couple of hits from Geese. In fact, she's feeling bad enough that it doesn't seem like a good idea to rush in at Geese while Megumi is sending a hail of energy blasts at him. Too wide an area being covered, too high a chance that Hinako might get struck by mistake. But that attack should be over soon, and after a moment to catch her breath the sumo should be ready to help Megumi with trying to finish Geese off.
COMBATSYS: Hinako gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Hinako
> /////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese negates Blaster Vent from Megumi with Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Hinako
> /////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Megumi
Ah, there it is. Megumi certainly had more volatile power to unleash, Geese expected that much, but the unorthodox assault leaves him few options. The one he chooses is rather direct, and explosive, sweeping his left hand upwards through the air, a geyser of chi exploding before him. It's a half-second later when he swings his other arm up, charging in behind the man-high wave of rampant energy as it cleaves through a number of Megumi's spheres, clearing Howard's path.
That is, however, all it does, both surges of power nullifying one another in an explosion of crimson and blue, as Geese struggles to regain his breath, and control of the fight itself, his attention still split between both adversaries.
Megumi is left blinking in light of Geese stopping her assault rather convincingly; an even trade between the two, and she's just as short on breath as he is. "Amazing...you're the real deal..." As if there should've been any doubt. But Megumi charges in after that, trying to leap just past one of Geese's shoulders with an arm held out, trying to wrap around his neck and slam him head-first into the deck.
Coming in a short distance behind Megumi, Hinako intends to follow up on her partner's assault. Whether or not she actually manages to slam Geese into the deck, Hinako attempts to get her hands on the leader of the Southtown Syndicate. If she can do that, it doesn't really matter whether he's on the deck or on his feet, because either way she's going to try sending him flying.
COMBATSYS: Hinako successfully hits Geese with Tasuki Nage.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Medium Throw from Megumi with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Megumi
This time, the advantage seems to be totally with the ladies' team. As Geese struggles to recover his bearings, the unrelenting assault hurtles in, Megumi's chokeslam carrying him down to a harsh meeting with the deck, before Hinako hauls him up, and sends him hurtling away before he can unleash whatever nefarious rebuttal he had planned. Landing hard on his back, Howard is once more slow in rising, but once more he rolls into a crouch...
... and once more he does move to rise.
Megumi gets up well before Geese does, but it doesn't matter since Hinako ends up tossing him. "Awesome, keep it up! We can end this right here!" And so she sprints after Geese, trying to roll beside and past him. The plan is to get behind Geese, and wrap an arm around his neck. A choke-hold, plain as it gets...the sort of thing that can slowly sap a fighter down.
Hinako's grappling style doesn't really lend itself to holding onto the opponent for long periods of time, and so doesn't have much in the way of submission holds. The point is really just to make your opponent fall down. For the sake of fighting opponents who don't follow the rules of sumo, it's making your opponent fall down /really hard/.
Because of this, Hinako can't really throw Geese around too much while Megumi is grappling him, unless she wants to toss her partner around as well. So once more she has to fall back on striking techniques, lashing out with a palm strike that, while not having a huge amount of force behind it, is aimed for the man's solar plexus.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Fast Throw.
[ \\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Quick Punch from Hinako with Random Weapon.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\ < > // ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Hinako
> //////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Megumi
Unfortunately for Megumi, latching onto Geese's neck seems to be a lot easier than choking him out. Taut muscles greet her efforts, and it's not unlike trying to compress a brick in one's hand. Which gives him breath enough to shake free of the lock, and as Hinako rushes in, a twisting Howard comes about in perfect timing to sweep the blow aside with the swinging passage of his hanger-on, lurching out of the choke and into a lunging elbow strike that strikes fluidly into the reeling sumo wrestler's temple, hopefully putting her out of the fight via the application of her own teammate's handy mass.
Megumi tries to hold on for a few seconds, but Geese ends up being able to force his way loose and swing her around. Being used to 'block' Hinako's strike doesn't hurt much, but it does drive the point home; Megumi won't put Geese down like this, and lets go. Hinako...might be out of this, after that elbow to the head. And in a case of tactical repetition, Megumi vaults into the air, inverting and spinning down toward Geese head -- and glowing fist -- first, aiming for a knock-out punch to his head.
Hinako's vision is starting to swim after that last blow to the head. A concussion? Possibly. At least Megumi and Geese are easy enough to differentiate even if everything is starting to go a little bit blurry. While Megumi leaps up into the air, Hinako staggers toward Geese, trying to grab him one last time. She's going down, but she tries to grab him by the arm and yank, bringing him down with her.
For her part, at least, Hinako doesn't get back up after hitting the ground this time. She might not actually be unconcious, but she's definitely in no condition to continue fighting.
COMBATSYS: Hinako can no longer fight.
[ \\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Hinako's Kote Nage.
[ \\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Megumi
COMBATSYS: Megumi successfully hits Geese with Spiral Knuckle.
[ \ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Even on his last legs, Howard proves to be rather wily and difficult to pin down. Not only in the makeshift use of Andou, but in the quick footwork that keeps him clear of the dangerous blonde's last-ditch takedown. He's not so lucky to get a face full of Megumi as she rockets down and asplodes his face with crimson psi, however, and it staggers him back, dropping the crimelord to a sliding crouch.
The back of one hand wipes a trickle of blood from the now heavily sweating Geese, but a half-smile, reminiscent of the cool, alert confidence he held leading up to this fight still quirks his lips, "You're still... going to need better... than that." Howard gasps out, surprisingly strongly, as he rights his posture once more, the flow of power through his frame tangible even in his current state.
COMBATSYS: Geese gains composure.
[ \\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi backflips away after striking, taking deep breaths even as Geese backs off. "Still going...a little better, huh? Well...if that's how it is, then...!" She leaps right at Geese, intending to land in front of him and wrap her arms around his waist. If she manages that, Megumi will start spinning in place, trying to get him lifted...and from there, jump and fling him down at the floor.
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Tornado Slam from Megumi with Gedan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\ < > ////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Yes, that's most definitely how it is! Just ask Rock. Better this, more that, stronger blah blah blah. Of course, Howard is the sort of man who can back up that talk, and definitely walks the walk. The momentary respite seems to do wonders for Geese, as he focuses past the pain and simply isn't where Andou lunged for as her grasp comes in. He's stepping back, and simultaneously grabbing one of her extending arms. A sharp sidestep is accompanied by a painfully exerted leverage on her gripped appendage, and then a sudden, singuler brutal forearm chop delivered courtesy of the non-gripping mitt, the impact used to push back, and regain some defensive distance. Obviously, the pink-haired psion will still have to work for this one.
Megumi has a lot taken out of her by that reversal, utterly floored by Geese's blow. And she's slow to get up; a gradual pushing back to one's feet rather than her usual handsprings. "Unbelievable...you're really something else. One more." She's up, and runs in headlong at Geese, grabbing for a hand. The intent this time is to hold that limb, stretch it out, pivot and kneel, and toss Geese past her knee in what she hopes will finish the match; she's exhausted.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\ < > /////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
"Just one?" Howard quips, managing a dry levity that belies his bruises and blood and sweat. He's fought to death's door, and beyond. Challenges like this, they keep him sharp... and clearly, he's gained something of an advantage over Andou, even if it's only in the impact of his fighting on on her resolve. Howard is entirely too limber in the motion of the takedown, this time, rolling around and kicking out of the intended slam, rolling away from Megumi and up into a crouch. He draws a deep breath once more, and again there's the half-smile, challenging, "You two were impressive, but if that was all you have left...."
COMBATSYS: Geese gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi rises as Geese does, shaking her head. "Somehow, going methodical on you isn't working...head on attacks aren't either. I think I can say in all honesty that I'm not confident I'll win, but..." She backs away a few steps, forming another sparkling red ball. A tired, sloppy push sends it flying at Geese in an attempt to take him back down.
COMBATSYS: Geese overcomes Crimson Comet from Megumi with Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Geese doesn't reply in words to Andou's monologue. Nothing is ever a guarantee, but that's what makes it interesting, isn't it? At least where battles like this are concerned. The crackling pulse of power is met by another surge of chi from the ground, as Geese slices the projectile apart with a cleaving blast born of cutting, burning icy void. The same roiling storm that threatens to envelope Megumi as Howard's other hand swings up, a gutteral shout accompanying the rampant tidal wave of dark, thousand-edged energy.
COMBATSYS: Megumi dodges Geese's Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi sags in disbelief as Geese goes into the motions for one of his more famous moves, but doesn't linger on it long for a very good reason: Huge wave of pain coming at her. She jumps high and lets it go past, then lands and...stands there, breathing in and out, trying to gather herself. "What's it take to put you down, anyway...?"
COMBATSYS: Megumi gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Megumi
A chuckle comes from Geese, a singular sound, rather deep and resonant, amused rather than warm, per se, "One might wonder the same about you. But you'll never find out at this rate." The time spent gathering her wits, and giving Howard his space after the powerful energy wave... well, Geese enjoys it as well, making no move to pursue Megumi after the unleashed Reppuken, and instead using her hesitation to cement his efforts of righting his senses, deep steady breaths coming as he simply considers Andou, "You'll never have a better chance, but wearing me down won't guarantee your success." Not for long, at least.
COMBATSYS: Geese drops his guard to recover.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Megumi
Megumi realizes something out loud, "You're not going to come after me until I've put you in a very bad position or worn myself out, huh." And as she thinks on this prospect...she can't determine any smart way to change that situation; time for the 'all or nothing' approach. Megumi leaps, corkscrewing so she's backflipping toward Geese. As she finishes her leap, one energy-fused leg swings down, trying to kick down on Geese's head and take him out...but the advantage likely lies with the master, at this point.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Megumi's Crimson Blast.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Megumi
All or nothing, well... it definitely stings. The potent energy rakes Geese's arms, which he manages to drag up in front of him in the last moments of Andou's flipping approach, the crossed, densely muscled guard deflecting the strike wide as Howard simply... steps around Megumi. The crimelord is either having a bit of fun with his opponent, or legitimately trying not to show his own excessive exhaustion... an effort that's at least somewhat successful, to this point, "One more." Howard echoes Megumi's earlier words, with a more warning, ominous tone, as he takes a step back, and seemingly just waits... there's something equally ominous in the gleam to his eyes, however.
COMBATSYS: Geese focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Megumi
"...That's about all I've got left," Megumi answers as she stands up...and then backs away. "Let's stop. Call it a draw or a concession on my part or whatever...but I'm not too wild on driving myself too far in a civil match." Her stance drops as she walks over toward Hinako, checking on her teammate...is the sumo even conscious?
Hinako groans a bit as she's approached. Apparently she's not unconcious, but she's been knocked for a bit of a loop. She doesn't appear to have any visibly serious injuries, at least.
"Hah! Suit yourself." Is Geese's not exactly enthralled, but unconcerned agreement, "We've all fought hard. You put on a good show. So good, in fact, that when the new competitive fighting show, Real Bout, starts... you two will have a special advantage in the opening challenges." Ooh, mysterious! Obviously, more details on that one would be forthcoming.
COMBATSYS: Megumi has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Geese 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Geese takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Geese 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Geese has ended the fight here.
Megumi finishes checking out Hinako and assesses, "...You seem alright...need a hand?" And while waiting, she glances back to Geese, curious and repeating: "Real Bout? What's that? A TV show you're planning, you said, but..."
Log created by Hinako, and last modified on 19:07:30 01/03/2007.