SNF 2007.02 - Goooal! Iori vs Robert/Roberto

Description: Because Geese fancies even the Yagami clan a tool for his own amusement, Iori is matched against two overtalkative foreigners with similar names. And a half-dozen soccer balls. (Winners: Roberto and Robert)



Sometimes, Geese Howard picks the stupidest of matches. Well. Strike that.
MOST of the time, Geese Howard picks the stupidest of matches.
That's the problem with these Saturday Night Fight matches. Iori has no control over what punching bags he's saddled with, and more often than not the 'themes' makes him want to puke. Or at least punch someone as hard as he possibly can. Which just ends up feeding the eternal cycle that is Iori's Pissy Day. A day that is, on this fine evening, exceptionally pissy. Standing at the far south end of the Howard Arena, Iori Yagami stands perfectly still, his dark eyes roaming the stands around him. Right now, he plays the waiting game. His name is announced over the speakers, and their are... mixed reviews, at best. A typical reaction that earns an amused smile on the part of the last Yagami heir.
But then -- then -- here comes the stupid part. The announcer clears his throat, a broad, stupid grin on his face as he announces Iori's opponents.
"And maaaay I introduuuuuce... ROBERT... AND ROBERTO!!"
"..."
Iori Yagami's brow twitches. He bites his lower lip, as if trying to stifle something. But then... he decides to just come out and say it.
"You've GOT to be fucking kidding me." This is going to be a good day. He can already tell.

Iori isn't the only one who twitches. Enterting from another end of the arena, the last leisure-suit clad Garcia heir is still searching around for his opponent when the announcer speaks his name. ...And then speaks the most common mis-pronounciation of it. "I just had someone announce me as 'Roberto' last week, and now you're telling me I have to have a guy with the same name fighting along side me? I'm never going to live this down!" Shoulders sagging forward with a disgusted sigh, he turns towards the box seats and shakes a defiant fist. "I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON THAT LOBSTER." Friggin' snobby rich sumbitches. Always taking advantage of the poorer and less fortunate for their personal entertainment.
Thusly in a dark mood of his own, the Italian stalks forward towards the center of the arena, cracking his knuckles in a non-threatening manner, gaze at last settling on Yagami. Being placed opposite him would make him the opponent, he assumes. "Apparently I've been paired with someone who seeks to besmirch the fame associated with my name. I regret to inform you that I have no choice but to demonstrate my superiority over the Robert in this match. The fine art of Kyokugen must see to it that no confusion will linger over my name in martial arts!"
Thusly said, the Italian thrusts a single finger in the direction of Iori. "I don't go easy on women. So prepare yourself!!"

Roberto normally goes into his matches with an easy going smile. Ok there was that match on the other program where he was sorta rabid. There was the little freak out near the end of the fight where he did a little chi play but he was relatively calm for most of that match. But that usual calm this time is replaced by complete and utter disbelief.
He walks in dragging the usual bag of soccer balls. "How did I get into this? It must be that charity match." Roberto dumps the bag of soccer balls on the ground with a frown on his face shaking his head. "Ok. I guess we'll start."

God. This is just -- Iori frowns, and it is a deep, unsettling frown that suggests that he is so very close to the edge of his own sanity. Teetering precariously on that ledge, Yagami looks from the Italian Robert, to... the Spanish? Roberto. Dark eyes narrow into slits, his hands clenching and unclenching before finally, /finally/ one of them speaks up. And Iori stares at him, for a long, silent moment.
"... Who are you?"
He doesn't allow for an answer. Instead, Iori's hand lifts. "Robert, Roberto. I don't care. This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever seen, and I just want to get it over with as soon as possible. Got it, Roberto?" The eye not covered by that blood red hair focuses on Robert. Sure, the man already announced his name. Was Iori listening? No. And sure, Robert is wealthy. Does Iori care or know? Of course not. So, his left hand just shoves into his pocket, his left lifting to beckon Robert and the soccer-loving Roberto over to him.
"Whatever. You've both got awful names. So just come at me with everything you've got... /undestand/? Try and make this interesting for me."

COMBATSYS: Iori focuses on his next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Robert           0/-------/-------|


It isn't that it bothers him that the emo cowboy dressed in black doesn't recognize his name. Robert fights for the name of Kyokugen after all, not a legacy of his own. But the guy is clearly trying to make an unenjoyable situation even worse, and the Italian isn't here to just push up daisies for this guy's amusement. "Sure! I'll also try not to break any of your pretty nails, but no promises on that. Heat of the moment and all that jazz." Flashing a brief grin of self-assured mockery, Garcia tenses his knees briefly and springs a surprising distance upward, flipping once in mid-air for flash and to throw off defensive timing, before uncurling his body into a rapidly descending diagonal kick at Iori's thigh. He said nothing about breaking those child-bearing hips, after all. :(

"Quite frankly, I'm just here for college money." The star striker for the first time in this match lets his go from annoyed to relaxed as he begins to juggle one of the MANY soccer balls littered about the arena floor. "I said nothing when he made me wear a costume but this..." He punctuates the stoppage with a high thigh juggle before continuing, "This..." Off his head, "is..." Then another header, "a..." There's a long dramatic pause as the drops towards the ground but it never really touches the ground since the soccer star kicks it at Iori before the final word "joke!!!"

COMBATSYS: Iori endures Roberto's Long Shot.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Robert           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Hien Ryuujin Kyaku from Robert with Yumebiki.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0             Iori
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Robert           0/-------/----===|


This is a joke?
"Couldn't agree with you more, Robert."
First things first. Iori assesses his situation; and while his casual pose suggests he isn't taking this seriously, well -- well, he isn't. But he is taking it serious enough to note the movements of both Robert and Roberto, and the rapid acceleration of both of them as they begin to attack. "Finally." He mutters. And just as he turns his head... he notes a soccer ball flying straight towards his face.
"Are you /SERIOUS/?" And what is Iori's response? He rears his head back...
... and just HEADBUTTS the ball. Straight at Robert.
The ball flies fast, but it's not meant to hit Garcia; it's only a distractoin, intentionally whirling past the Kyokugen user's head JUST as Yagami moves right into the greasy fighter's attack. "Having similar names... IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY FUNNY!" Though the attack hits, it only slightly grazes the last of the Yagami's side. He hardly even FLINCHES as he brings his right hand back, and TEARS his 'pretty nails' straight across Robert's gut. "GUOOOOOHHH!!" Swiftly followed up, of course, by a rapid spin, and an intentionally humiliating backhand. God, he hates cheerful wit.

Augh, it figures. Not only does the other guy have a similar name, he's actually helping Iori out! Robert's head jerks aside to ensure that the soccer ball doesn't bean him in the nose, which unfortunately just falls right into the lines of Iori's plan. GOD TO THOSE PRETTY NAILS HURT. Red gouges are briefly visible in Garcia's leisure suit as he descends adjusts his descent to compensate for the rocking slap to his jaw. A foot shoots back to brace himself as he crouches inside of Iori's guard, the rent fabric sticking to his stomach ignored for now. "Pfeh, you think I find it funny? And on top of that, put up against someone whose idea of fighting is long fingernails and sissy slaps? Come on now, cheer up!" Springing upward from his crouch at Iori's knees, the Kyokugen fighter launches into yet another series of kicks, trying to take advantage of his positioning to keep Iori on the defensive. "This fight isn't going to last very long anyway, right!?"
What's worse? The man is still grinning with that dark cheeriness. Certainly less amused than when he was torn into, but the world is just out to annoy Iori as usual. It'll take more than that to upset the sunny disposition of Robert Garcia! :D :D :D

Roberto almost has to smile. Almost. That was quite possibly the most creative use of using his soccer ball he's ever seen another fighter use against him. Ok technically it wasn't against him but you get the point.
"You know, that was interesting." It's then the soccer player makes a quick run to place his body in the path of the soccer ball, trapping it and letting it hit the ground before dribbling the soccer ball towards Iori. When he gets close, he flips the soccer ball from behind him up and over him while he passes him. In the process of passing Iori, he gives a kick towards the back of his knees, relying on Iori to be destracted by the looping soccer ball, and then continues moving until he's just slightly out of kick range.

COMBATSYS: Robert successfully hits Iori with Flying Whirlwind Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0             Iori
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Robert           0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Roberto's Light Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0             Iori
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Robert           0/-------/---====|


That Robert. He's going to piss Iori right off, he certainly is. He's already doing a fantastic job with those jibes and jeers -- though it's Iori's own arrogance that results in him underestimating the speed of Garcia's own series of kicks. The soles og Robert's shoes strike Iori over and over, sending him staggering /backwards./ It's a testament to the man's tolerance for abuse that he only takes two steps backwards - just in time to see /Roberto/ coming at him with a... distraction? "How pathetic ARE you?" He snarls out, before leaping up and OVER both Robert and Roberto, dodging the other man's kick entirely before he lands DIRECTLY behind the Garcia man. The one who's been annoying him so much. Whichever one he is. It doesn't matter.
Iori moves quick; both hands hanging high above him, Yagami's fists explode into plumes of violet, cursed flames before he simply seeks to rake them DOWNWARDS straight across Robert's body, accompanied not only with cutting force, but hateful, burning fire. "GUWAAAAARRR!!"




At this point, Robert's stunt double "Garcia" takes over, since having both Robert and Roberto in one fight managed to confuse the CSYS more than it did anyone who was actually involved in the scene. (audience included)





COMBATSYS: Garcia interrupts Tsumagushi from Iori with Ryuugeki Ken.

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


Yea-aaah~! Now that's more like it! The Garcia Heir manages to land a satisfying series of blows against his opponent, and it doesn't even really bother him that the man doesn't stagger much for it. He's confident in his moves, he knows it hurts. And thinking to himself that it doesn't won't make it better anyway, so...alas, Yagami has done nothing to deflate the rich guy's ego.
Robert does arch a brow when Iori bounds up and over, but if he can do it, why can't someone else? Quickly turning, Robert has enough time to register that Iori is coming at him with those fingers are coming at him again, this time ablaze with some form of energy...and his responce is his smuggest grin yet. "Nice move. I'll take it."
Two seconds later, the two fighters stand with their backs to each other, another slash of red visible on Robert's upper torso this time, but likewise Iori's this time. An orange glow subsides from the Kyokugen practitioner's hand as he rises to his feet again and turns, raising it for a cursory examination of bloody finegrs. "A bit on the gruesome side though. You're pretty sick, do you know that?"

"Well then... Perhaps I should switch positions." Roberto gives the soccer ball he was previously dribbling a small kick and takes a different stance. He pulls his hands close together his fingers wiggling as he moves closer to Iori on the balls of his feet. With his lack of succcess in attacking him, he might as well serve as harassment so Robert can do the damage. So he takes a running leap at Iori with little regard for his own safety and at this point not even expecting it to land but on the off chance that he does take Iori off his feet he will kick the red head in the ribs hard.

COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Iori with Mundane Save.
- Power hit! -

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


Now that's a bit unexpected. Iori blinks as he suddenly finds himself on the opposite end of one of his own attacks. It's not exactly the same, of course -- Robert uses chi, a poor stand in for the true flames of the Yagami heir. It stings, certainly, but not enough -- and even so, he feels his own claws rake through the Garcia man's body with something of a growling smile, even through a wince of pain. The force of the blow sends Iori staggering back, red welts forming along his chest --
--And setting himself up perfectly for Roberto's assault. Iori blinks as he suddenly finds the soccer player LANDING on him. He has little time to move out of the way, or even assemble a defense, and suddenly -- the Yagami heir finds himself kicked rather harshly in the ribs. Still. The effect is akin to kicking a brick wall, and even as Roberto moves off of him... Iori leaps to his feet. "WRONG MOVE, ROBERT!" Right fist exploding with flames, Yagami RUSHES forward, intent on grabbing the young Roberto by the head. And if his grip holds true, he'll simply channel an IMMENSE amount of those flames right into Roberto's face, engulfing him before sending him flying back with an explosion of power. "DIE, YOU ASS!!"

Hey now, that's not nice! You're supposed to take out your aggression on Garcia and *suck*, not use the less statuesque guy as a punching bag! ...AND HE GOT THE NAME WRONG, ARGH. "For the last time, I'M ROBERTO." ... "I mean Robert. Argh!! That's it!" Dropping into a crouch and drawing one fist back while extending the flat palm of his other hand foward, the unmistakable flicker of chi begins to light the air around That Garcia Guy. "THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE."

COMBATSYS: Garcia gathers his will.

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


COMBATSYS: Roberto stops Koto Moon Negative from Iori with Shining Clutch.
- Power hit! -

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


Roberto prepared and calm, catches Iori's hand as it comes down into his own glowing hands stopping the attack. His hands draw the Yagami flames in before sending the flames up harmlessly into the air in the form of a huge, flaming column.
With the attack suitably dealt with, he steps back and wags his finger at Iori before chiding him, "Now, Now, Iori.. Temper temper..." He tips his sky blue visor towards him. "Since this seems to be a bit more than you comprehend, let's try this... Call me Mister Miura."

Well... that was largely unsuccessful. The fact that this /soccer player/ of all people would have the sheer GALL to try and stop his attack -- and the fact that he actually SUCCEEDS just adds injury to insult. Dark eyes buldge only for a brief second before Iori leaps backwards with a snarl. Is this kid... /chiding him/? His eye twitches. But Iori is not an idiot. He won't be falling for such cheap taunts any time soon -- especially from someone so obviously far beneath him, as the red-haired man can tell.
"Sure... /Robert./" It should be all too obvious at this point he knows the names; he just finds it amusing to call them otherwise. What does it matter? In the end they're both chumps. "Think you're such a /hot shot/, ass? Then come and get some." Iori's hand lifts, and he beckons Roberto -- and Robert -- towards him with a smug smile. Let them come. He's not in any real hurry.

COMBATSYS: Iori gains composure.

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


At last, The Real Robert rises from his little display looking slightly more collected. At this point, the audience stands on edge, watching for just what he'll funnel that gathered energy into. Will it be an onslaught of melee prowless? A spectacularly awesome fireball that explodes Iori into a berserker rage? Robert himself seems to be contemplating the options himself as it turns out. As usual, he goes with inspiration, this time taken from Yagami's verbal cue. His reaction to Iori's goading and intentional slurring of names will surprise most.
Namely, Garcia uses the window of Iori's beckoning and goading to ever-so-calmly close the distance with an evenly measured walk and deliver an extremely well-collected roundhouse kick to the man's chapped ass.

When Iori doesn't take the bait, Taiyo's Supergoalie shrugs. "Eh... Whatever." And then his teammate makes his move. While Garcia is making a kick towards Iori, 'Mr. Miura' shifts himself over and looks like he's about to drop to the ground for a slide tackle but he changes his motion just a bit and instead performs a diving header towards Iori's stomach.

COMBATSYS: Iori endures Garcia's Strong Kick.

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


COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Strong Punch from Roberto with Oniyaki.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Roberto          1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1             Iori
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           1/---====/=======|


Well then. Now /this/ is how you draw people to you. Iori's lips sprawl into an easy smirk as Robert approaches, his visible crimson brow arching with hardly veiled amusement. "You going to stop hitting like a little girl now, /Bobby/...?" Iori snarls out towards Robert -- only to see the man pull back, and swing. Right towards Iori's ass. And what does he do? ... He doesn't even budge. Instead, Iori just takes what might be an otherwise humiliating boot to the rear... and /moves/ with it. And furthermore? Iori laughs. A barking, terrible laughter as he moves WITH the momentum of the kick... right towards Roberto.
"Next time you wanna play mind games..." Iori begins, and it's about then that Roberto may notice that Yagami's /hands/ are on fire once again. "... try and keep in mind that I'm SMARTER THAN YOU, JACKASS! HUUUAAAARRRGGGHH!!" And now, it's time for Roberto to take a trip on the pain train. Diving right into the soccer player's header, Roberto may find himself abruptly interrupted... by an inferno of violet fire that explodes outward from Yagami in a beautiful and terrible stream as the last Yagami heir LEAPS upwards, spinning as the trails of violet flame leave an eerily beautiful double-helix pattern.

And there it is, an opening. Garcia wastes no hesitation. He even goes as far as to launch his body forward into a flying kick to Iori's back without so much as any lip in advance to tip him off to the uncoming assault, indeed quite the rarity for him!
Touching down on his other foot, the Italian Kyokugen immediately launches into a flurry of alternating kicks. "...I know that you're a smartass..." Sparing no expense to his opponent's poor backside to punctuate the next few words, "...and I know that your ass is smarting..." At last the grinning man quickly crouches and attempts to launch Yagami away with a kicking backflip, landing square on that expensive Italian footware as his hands flow into the stance of his Ryugeki Aspect. "...But don't go babbling about how smart you are before this is over!"

Roberto gets up off the ground a bit shaken by the rising attack. After taking a few moments to look at his singed soccer uniform. He smiles a bit as he clutches his stomach. "How come I get the feeling you taking this just a touch too seriously." He takes a deep breath before continuing, "You seem bit overly concerned about the 'mind games' I'm playing and besides I've never made claims about my intelligence. Perhaps you need to remind yourself about it every now and then to boost your ego? Whatever... I don't care." He steps back and towards a soccer ball and begins to juggle it and shrugs with a smile in between taps off his foot, "I'm just a soccer player who decided to cross train." After that he continues to juggle the soccer ball while waiting.

COMBATSYS: Roberto gains composure.

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


COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Garcia's Muei Shippuu Juudan Kyaku.

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


Robert -- Roberto -- Bobby -- is moving pretty fast. It's almost /hard/ for Iori to keep up with. Almost. Unfortunately, it's still not quite enough. Even as Robert comes rushing at him, those dark eyes of Yagami keep up with the sudden movements of Mister Garcia, and even as the man starts to kick... Iori begins to apathetically jerk his body to either side of the powerful kicks the Italian martial artist delivers. "Hmph." Is all he feels is worth giving to Robert as a reply to the man's chiding, before he swiftly jerks BACKWARDS, bending as the final kick soars JUST beyond his chin. Almost. But still -- not quite good enough.
But Iori isn't exactly interested in the Italian right now. As soon as he bends backwards, he drops into a sudden roll, a rapid flurry of black and crimson before he lands just underneath Roberto, his eyes flaring dangerously. "You think you can just TAKE A BREAK?!" And that's when Iori suddenly JERKS upwards, one clawed hand flinging /up/ to catch the Taiyo soccer star just underneath his jaw with a vicious, terrible rake of nails and pain. Take a break? Not on Iori's watch.

Garcia is on fire. He's delivering kicks like a human machinegun. He's...teaching that air a lesson it will never forget! His barrage is an impressive feat, just not as impressive as Iori's second sense when it comes to dodging things aimed at his back. At last, Robert touches down, and watches as Yagami just...rockets off after the poor soccer kid, jaw dropping. He had enough trouble with attention in his last match, he didn't come here just to unleash showy displays of his skill and just be ignored like that! He regains his composure pretty quickly though, contemplating. He goes back to the strategy that seems to work best.
Put simply, Robert lets out an extremely loud, pronounced yawn, crossing his arms behind his head with a grin. "...Yeah, we do. Can't say this has been the most thrilling match of my life, really. Is there a problem with that? ...Is your make-up running?"

COMBATSYS: Garcia gathers his will.

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


COMBATSYS: Roberto endures Iori's Quick Punch.

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


Roberto sees the claws coming and has already prepared for it with a kick of the soccer ball into the air as he takes the raking on the chin performs a controlled spin with it and times the drop of the ball with the full extension of Iori's arm and it's when he slams the ball as hard as he can possibly muster filling it with as much chi as it can hold as it flies towards Iori. When the ball gets to Iori, the ball violently explodes filling the arena with an echoing boom.

COMBATSYS: Iori negates Blazing Strikers from Roberto with Ya Sakazuki.
- Power fail! -

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0             Iori
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/=======|


Robert, charging up like a battery again? Check. Iori will overlook that part for now. As it stands, he has more pressing concerns. IE, teaching this little pissant Roberto a lesson. And it seems the young man has a bit of a spine after all. Iori blinks as Roberto accepts the full blow of his sudden upward strike. It becomes fairly evident at that point that the Taiyo soccer star is up to something, and it is at this point... that power crackles between Iori's fingertips. He doesn't have much time to muster a counter, yet still it churns up most of those painful Orochi energies within him.
A single flick of Iori's wrist is all it takes. Violet flames spill out in a brief flicker... and as that ball flies towards him? It never quite makes it. Instead, suddenly, a bolt of power, like lightning, screeches down from the air above them, directly intercepting the ball of power with a deafening boom. That's it. One bolt. And slowly, Iori pauses, and frowns. ".... I'm going to kill /both/ of you." He... is not pleased.

And somewhere up in the stands is a group from the one and only party place in Southtown, The Duck Pond. Yes, Duck King himself is holding up a 'I Kidnapped Yuri!' sign while his best bud DJ Buddy Lee is holding up a sign that seems to be for Iori that reads a bit long 'David Bowie called. He wants Ziggy Stardust back'. Along with them are various other signs and even one got made for Roberto despite him still being a up and coming name. Mostly it is one of the waitresses bobbing up and down for him holding up a 'Take a Long Shot with me, Roberto!' sign as well. With that being done we return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Robert really isn't sure what to do at this point. He'd like to just finish this up with a hard hitter and call it a day, but miraculously Iori has managed to keep his stamina up pretty well so far against two opponents. Glancing down to his feet, he notices one of Roberto's soccer balls lying on the ground and idly kicks it up into his hands for an examination while Iori and the ball's owner are locked in a fateful, life and death struggle that seems to consist of repeatedly snuffing each others' attacks out. He has to admit, the kid is showing an amazing amount of talent for negating all of these fancy attacks while otherwise relying on these silly soccer balls.
Hmm. Maybe there's something more to this than Garcia had previously put credit to. Dropping the ball to the ground, he gives it an experimental nudge with his Italian shoe. Unsurprisingly, it moves a few feet. Nodding to himself with satisfaction, he begins to kick the ball and pace around the two in a half-circle while jogging. At last, coming to a stop, he toes the ball into the air once more, bunts it high with his knee, and concentrating intently, he leaps into the air and roundhouses it at Iori. It streaks off with an orange blast of chi to aid its built-in propulsion systems, the highly advanced projectile acquiring a lock onto Iori's solar plexus and afterburning straight for his solar plexus.

When he sees his team mate kicking a soccer ball towards Iori, he smiles impressed with how the Dragon is taking to the game. The soccer hero goes into a running dash at the red head. It looks similar to that first tackle he performed earlier on him but there's a few subtle differences. One, there's more of an upward lift and two his hands are glowing as he rises and if he gets ahold of him, he gives a chi enhanced shove right into the path of the chi-blasted soccer ball Robert is sending his way.

COMBATSYS: Iori parries Garcia's Thrown Object!

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0             Iori
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/-======|


COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Shining Save from Roberto with Yumebiki EX.

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


Now, there is something to be said for Iori when he gets truly angry. He is a frightening sight to behold; and is NOT the kind to just blindly rage like an idiot. Case in point. Standing between Robert and Roberto, the Yagami's livid, dark eyes narrow, and a dangerous smile splits across his lips. "Heh..." And that's when it starts. First comes Robert Garcia, experimentally kicking at the soccer ball. But Iori already knows what's coming... and knows exactly what Roberto plans on doing. And as soon as that Kyokugen user kicks the ball, the crimson-haired young man's smile broadens into a full blown grin.
"Thanks, you clown."
The ball comes for his solar plexus. But all too frighteningly soon does Iori's right foot snap up, almost gracefully, catching the ball between the top of his shoe and his ankle. Letting momentum carry him further into the air, Iori just as suddenly BACKFLIPS right towards the Taiyo soccer genius, launching the ball at the bottom of Roberto's feet. "STAY DOWN ALREADY, ASSHOLE!" The soccer ball is meant to trip Roberto up, so that his chi-charged tackle falls clumsily... and right into Iori's waiting claws. One, sudden TEAR of his claws rip across the soccer player's chest, before Iori spins -- "GUUUUUOOOOOHH!!" And SMASHES a backhand right across Roberto's face. "COME ON! I'LL TAKE BOTH OF YOU DOWN!"

Not waiting to see the attack land, Pierre--I mean, Robert (no giant robots in this setting, my mistake), continues his jog around Iori's perimeter and comes to a stop behind him. Snapping his fingers above his head before pointing at his wounded teammate and offering him a conspiratory wink, Garcia quickly sprints up to Iori and hops onto one foot, other knee raised. Brow furrowing with concentration, the Kyokugen Dragon grits his teeth...and suddenly that raised leg is everywhere at once. At least from Iori's perspective. "GEN'EI KYAKU!"
Of course, the trick to this move is that it's easy to dodge if you stay away from the user, but if he has a little outside help...maybe that's not asking for too much, eh? Regardless of whether or not Iori stays around for the performance, Robert just sunders the air in front of him like jackhammer. A little help here?!

Roberto leaps to his feet again this time with a pained grunt uttered before he attempts to slam his foot into Iori hopefully slamming him into Robert's foot and turning Iori into a soccer ball though if things go south he's prepared to dash around to continue the series of kicks and headers himself or to press Iori into Garcia's kicks by positioning. All things considered he'd rather work the deadly give and go.

COMBATSYS: Iori endures Roberto's Pass and Shoot.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0             Iori
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/-======|


COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Gen'ei Kyaku from Garcia with Yami Sugi.

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


And once again they double team him -- at least they do as Iori so politely requests. How generous of them. One coming in from one side, the other from opposite, the dual Roberts come, but they come slowly enough that Iori has plenty of time to develop a plan. For example -- Robert's kicks are going everywhere, but they are easily predicted and slow. But Roberto -- well... Roberto provides Iori the extra momentum he needs.
MORE than happy to accept that sudden kick, just as he did with Robert before, Iori rolls with the momentum, a wide, savage grin breaking across his lips. It's only then that the two may notice something off -- the fact that flames have begun to engulf his arms once again. Those ominous, violet flames. And as soon as Robert's first kick connects with Iori's shoulder...
"GUUUUWAAAAARRRGGHH!!"
Iori's fists POUND into the ground, and Robert may suddenly find himself being consumed in a violent pillar of purple flames, scorching at the Kyokugen user's skin and attacking him with the vile feelings of the Orochi before the gout subsides, leaving a panting, but still all-too ready to fight, Yagami.

Ah, but the kicks aren't slow - they're just easy to avoid if one stays out of reach. Which Iori doesn't. Even as the gout of glames flows outward from his opponent, there's still an opportunity to nail the other fighter from behind with a few good knocks before being forced to throw himself backward while screaming out from the agonizing sensation...leaving him in a state much similar to his opponent afterwards, down on the ground and crouching forward, so forward that his face can't be seen. "Heh heh. You might be fooling the crowd...but you're not fooling me..."
Robert Garcia forces himself to rise and take two shaky, experimental steps forward - he feels pain, pain that he has experienced many times before, but the odd sensations of those bizarre flames are causing his body to react unpredictably. One step. Two steps. It looks like he's almost out for the count, judging from those involuntary spasms, but finally he stops, turns his head up, and cracks a manic grin. All of that behind him, as he leaves this material plane behind those a few magic words, carrying the weight of his conviction to the Art.

"Kyokugen-Ryu Ougi!"

Flinging himself forward with all the strength he has left, Garcia swings wildly with a single punch to Iori's stomach. That one punch is a trigger for the Kyokugen Dragon to just...unload. It's similar to the display earlier, but this is far more than just a series of kicks, this is every blow that Robert has taken to this date and had reason to remember. All of it is thrown at Yagami, to a relentlessly cocky howl of, "Take that! ...And that, and that, and THAT!" There's no signifier to let the other fighter know that the final blow is coming, first a long series of blows and a powerful uppercut out of nowhere when the fire finally burns out of Garcia. "How's that?!"

Miura with heavy breaths doesn't move in right away. He hasn't had much success against Iori through lone wolf tactics, team-ups and so he feels a more tactical approach is in order. Instead he circles Yagami searching for a weak position and giving Garcia signals and praying that the dragon understands as he does so in the hope that the team can claim the match in the endgame.

COMBATSYS: Roberto assists Garcia.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             Iori
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/------=|


COMBATSYS: Garcia successfully hits Iori with Ryuuko Ranbu.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  //                            ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0             Iori
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/------=|


And there it is. That's the end of it. Though Iori, for once, attempts to put up an actual defense against Robert's attack, it seems it is for naught. He's just a step too slow, just a second too late, and it costs him. Blow after blow assaults the tall Japanese fighter, sending him staggering further and further back, coughing up blood in the wake of the series of violent assaults. It seems that Robert's just pushed him to the limits. And while usually Iori would scoff at such an attack -- he is just fargone enough that it pushes him past the brink, and sends him staggering back, swaying back and forth... until he stills. How's that? How's THAT? He coughs, and smirks.
"... weak."
And then, with one final burst of speed, Iori rushes towards Robert. Or Roberto. He doesn't even really know nor care anymore at this point. Lunging at Robert or Roberto or /whoever/, Iori suddenly twists, bringing his arms snapping forward in an overhead blow that is accompanied with the sudden, and violent, explosion of purple flames. "GUUUOOOOOOOH...!!" And that's... it. With that final blow, successful or not, he collapses on his knees -- the fight left from him.

COMBATSYS: Iori can no longer fight.

[                        \\\\\\  <
Roberto          0/-------/-------|
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/------=|


COMBATSYS: Garcia blocks Iori's Tsumagushi.

[                        \\\\\\  <
Roberto          0/-------/-------|
[                       \\\\\\\  <
Garcia           0/-------/----===|


Thankfully, one kindness that the crazy man offered Robert was that he was never forced to actually defend against any of his attacks - he never gave him any chance to, choosing to accept some of the punishment in exchange for attacks of opportunity. As such, it isn't with the usual battered arms at this point that the Italian makes his last stand, crossing his arms in front of himself with a solid enough defense that Yagami's overhead hammer explodes against it, but holds firm. Robert is left...standing, amazingly. Nudging 'Gami with his foot a few times to make sure the tank is empty, he takes a few shaky steps away from the man before staggering forward to the ground, spent.
There's a murmer. The battle is finally over. But the crowd isn't satisfied yet. Robert's eye hazily cracks open...and spying the soccer ball that Iori deflected earlier, he reaches out an arm to grab it before shoving it up into the air triumphantly from his prone position.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!"

Log created by Robert, and last modified on 03:22:54 02/23/2007.