Description: You know how some fighters really showboat during fights? In this case it's literal. Acacia and Maki clash on a yacht anchored in Southtown Harbor. Maki makes an amazing series of comebacks, but Acacia manages to take the win - keeping her top of the Neo League standings. (Winner: Acacia)
It's a good thing, Acacia muses, that I don't get seasick.
She sways slightly. Back and forth. Not because there's anything wrong with her balance. But because she's standing on the deck of an old motor yacht - in the middle of Southtown Harbour. Anchored in the centre of the bay. The soles of her combat boots scuff against the wooden planks as she tries to find the best footing. Without much luck.
There's a large crowd of spectators gathered round the shore, and a few closer by on other boats. Which is where the cameras are, too. And the Neo League fight announcer, his amplified voice booming across the water.
"...aaaaannnd the NUMBER ONE PLACED FIGHTER," the man yells, "the LEADER of the NEO LEAGUE TABLE! ACACIA GILLESPIE!"
Acacia ignores him. She's got other problems.
She really wishes the damn boat would just /stop rocking/.
Acacia is the champion, while Maki is pretty much just some 'pretender to the throne,' based on her standings. But nonetheless, Maki is here, prepared to take on the number one in the league, without any fear whatsoever. She is currently finishing up her stretches as she prepares for her fight with Acacia.
"All right, let's do this," She says as she performs a few quick jabs and kicks into the air to finish her warm up. The rocking of the boat seems a little annoying, but not too bad.
Acacia nods curtly. She rotates her arms at the shoulder, rolls her neck. Then she meets Maki's eyes, tenses...
And as the League commentator screams the start of the match, followed by a piercing foghorn that rolls across the bay... Acacia /moves/. One booted foot slams down, propelling her forward like a sprinter. She charges, swift and low. Close to the deck. Her camo-pattern jacket flapping behind her, one fist thrust forward. Knuckles first.
Acacia's heard this 'Maki' is supposed to be pretty fast.
Let's see how quick she really is.
COMBATSYS: Acacia has started a fight here.
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Acacia 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Maki has joined the fight here.
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Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Maki with Quick Punch.
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Acacia 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Maki
Unfortunately, that punch is quicker than Maki can respond, and she finds herself staggering backwards as the knuckles hit her. They're not too painful, but they remind her that Acacia means business. After all, she's the best of the best.
As soon as she recovers, she brings her right leg up and aims the sole of her sneaker at Acacia's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Acacia fails to counter Strong Kick from Maki with Icon of Stone.
- Power fail! -
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Acacia 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Maki
As Maki moves, Acacia swings an arm to intercept. Gathering her chi, drawing it into---
No.
Too slow!
She grits her teeth, forcing back the eruption of pain. She stumbles back, driven by the powerful impact to her abdomen. A hiss of breath escapes her lungs, involuntarily. It doesn't help.
Acacia's eyes flicker.
"Nice shot," she says, dryly.
The sarcasm doesn't faze Maki one bit, in fact she's used to this kind of treatment all of the time. She says nothing or does nothing in response to the remark. Instead, she takes advantage of her opponent being dazed and attempts to administer a medium powered throw that should hopefully further emphasize Maki's presence on the yacht.
COMBATSYS: Acacia endures Maki's Medium Throw.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Maki
She's knocked off her feet. Sent spilling to the deck - dangerously close to the side. For a second, it looks like Acacia's going out of control, into the railing of the yacht.
Almost.
But Acacia manages to roll with the impact. She lands on her shoulder, flips on her back. And as she tumbles away, she lashes out. Kicking -up-, driving the heel of her combat boot towards Maki.
Acacia's expression isn't one of sarcasm, by the way. Her features are intent, perfectly serious.
That was a good shot. She has no problem admitting that.
It's just that she doesn't intend for Maki to get many more.
COMBATSYS: Maki endures Acacia's Light Kick.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Maki
The kick is swift and aimed well, but Maki's prepared herself physically and mentally to take the kick. When it does strike her, she's ready for it, and the result is that even though she's hit, she's moved into a better tactical spot for a counter attack.
She immediately goes at Acacia with a very strong punch that is apparently more focused than usual, and yells out, 'Genkou!'
COMBATSYS: Acacia endures Maki's Genkou.
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Maki
Acacia blinks, once. She nods, fractionally, at Maki's move. Weathering an assault to put yourself in a better position...yes. She can respect that.
Of course, Maki's not the only one who favours /that/ tactic.
The punch slams into Acacia's head. Digging into her cheek, forcing her face aside. But she shrugs off the blow. And whips her own arm up. While Maki's still close to her, Acacia delivers a powerful blow of her own. Propelling a clenched fist towards Maki's gut...
Waves of concussive chi radiating from her knuckles as she drives the punch.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Maki with Bonecrusher.
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Maki
Ow! Now that really smarts. The radiating chi doesn't make it any easier either. The punch sends Maki staggering backwards, gasping for air. She tries to maintain her balance as she draws in deep breaths, trying to keep from passing out. Once the air is back in her lungs, though, she's ready for business again.
Maki rushes at Acacia like she's going to administer a running attack, only to abruptly stop short of Acacia and literally balance herself on the palm of one hand, and then spins around with her leg outstretched while yelling, 'Bushin Senpuu Kyaku!'
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Acacia with Bushin Senpuu Kyaku.
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Acacia 1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1 Maki
Okay. She wasn't expecting that.
Quite evidently. If she -were- expecting that, Acacia's eyes wouldn't have widened...a second before eating a pair of spinning sneakers. Once again, Acacia meets the deck. Hard enough to rock the yacht, doing rather bad things to its nautical stability. Thrown towards the bow, Acacia lands, on her back. Not very gracefully. She shakes her head. Then hauls herself upright, grabbing the nearest thing - a life buoy - for support.
Need a moment. Catch her breath.
COMBATSYS: Acacia gains composure.
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Acacia 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Maki
It seems Acacia is taking a rest, and Maki can understand why, as this is a pretty tough fight for both combatants. But Maki's not in need of a rest. Instead, she decides to take this opportunity to focus her mind on the battle so she'll be ready for the next strike.
COMBATSYS: Maki focuses on her next action.
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Acacia 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Maki
"Standoff," Acacia quips.
A small smile, just a tiny ghost of a grin, crosses Acacia's face. The edge of her mouth crooking very slightly upward.
Her shoulders move. She shrugs.
Then she breaks the impass. Acacia launches herself into a run, her footfalls pounding the boat. Rocking it more. The uneven footing doesn't seem to slow her forward charge, however. Acacia whips her right arm round, gloved hand thrust towards Maki. Fingers formed into a fist.
COMBATSYS: Maki blocks Acacia's Quick Punch.
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Acacia 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Maki
Maki knows there's no way to avoid that punch, so she simply raises her arms in a defensive position, forearms ready to endure the pain that comes from the attack, even if it's just a small amount of pain. She barely staggers back, in fact it's more like sliding back a little.
At any rate, Maki decides that it's time to utilize some 'heavy artillery.' Namely, in the form of one of Maki's most powerful combination attacks, which she launches at Acacia by rushing at the woman and launching a barrage of punches and kicks while yelling, 'Bushin Gou Rai Ha!'
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Acacia with Bushin Gou Rai Ha.
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Acacia 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Maki
Driven back by the unrelenting fury of the assault, Acacia crashes into the metal railing running round the edge of the yacht - and crashes through it. Steel gives way, deforming under the pressure, bolts ripping loose. She falls towards the water.
But before she goes completely over the side, Acacia twists round, grabbing hold of the bent metal. Gloved fingers closing like a vice. With a roar of exertion, she -hauls- herself up. Spinning in the air. She slams back atop the boat, skidding in a slide - but she doesn't waste that momentum. She moves on Maki like an enraged freight train. Powering an upraised forearm towards the other woman's throat, a solid bar of bone sheaved in rock-hard muscle.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Maki with Stonewall.
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Acacia 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Maki
Maki's attempt to endure the attack fails badly. She finds herself getting hit in the throat very hard, and that really does big damage to her. In spite of being short of breath and bleeding a bit, Maki's still on her legs, ready to keep going against Acacia.
"You're good, but I won't admit defeat just yet!" And with that, she throws a punch aimed right at the stomach just below the navel.
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Maki's Fierce Strike.
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Acacia 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Maki
Acacia draws a ragged breath, lungs burning with exertion. She hauls her arm back, the same one she used to strike Maki...placing it in the path of the oncoming strike. Blunting its impact.
"Wouldn't," Acacia replies, "expect you to."
With that rejoiner, she swings her other arm. A simple straight-line punch to Maki's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Maki with Quick Punch.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Maki
Maki knows there's no escape from this attack in the condition she's in, so she simply attempts to endure the punch, but ends up taking the full brunt of it... even though it's a mere jab.
COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Maki has reached second wind!
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Maki
She's not exactly /surprised/ that Maki's still on her feet. Surprise isn't the word. No, Acacia never underestimates her opponent. But she had /hoped/ her punch would put Maki down.
Hoped.
Apparently Maki's still got fight in her. Truth be told, Acacia's a little impressed.
She doesn't let that show, though. Acacia gives a little nod, angling her head. But that's all she lets show on her game face.
Acacia doesn't pause her assault. She presses her attack. This time dropping low, planting one palm flat on the wooden boards of the deck. One of her knees touches the deck as well...while her other leg sweeps out. Aiming to hit Maki low, cut her off at the ankles. Toss her down.
So far, Acacia's been having a lot more balance problems with this whole 'fighting on boat' situation than Maki. Maybe she can make the ninja feel a bit of her pain.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Maki with Quick Throw.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Maki
Maki is surprised to find the spirit rushing back into her body, but that's when she sees that Acacia is coming at her again, and she tries to move out of the way of the attack, but it's no use. She's grabbed quickly and tossed to the ground. She rolls a little and stands back up, a little dazed from that one.
But after the stars are shaken out, she quickly jumps into the air and jumps off a nearby object and attempts to slam her foot into Acacia while yelling, 'Hassou Kyaku!'
COMBATSYS: Acacia counters Hassou Kyaku from Maki with Icon of Stone.
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Maki
Acacia plants her feet firmly on the deck. Far as she's able, on a platform such as this. Astride a rocking boat, tossed by the waves and the clash of two fighters.
Good enough.
Feet apart. Knees bent. Spine curled. Crouching. A lower centre of gravity. Chi racing through her muscles.
She holds her ground. She doesn't dodge, doesn't evade, as Maki leaps through the air. Acacia just waits.
For the right moment.
It's not a large movement. Just enough. She brings her guard up, intercepting Maki's kick. Not just blocking it, but -knocking it aside-. Acacia's forearm slamming into Maki's leg like a hammer blow.
It looks like Maki's really blown it this time. She got one of her best attacks countered, and it really hurts. She's sent flying, and unfortunately, she might find herself all wet if the fighting spirit doesn't return to her in time...
COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Maki
COMBATSYS: Maki has reached third wind!
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Maki
Acacia arches an eyebrow. She cocks her head.
She's not entirely sure where Maki's finding the strength to keep going. Frankly, she's getting concerned. What /does/ it take to put her down?
Acacia sets her jaw, eyes narrowing. Alright.
Once more, she explodes into a charge. Right for Maki. Aiming just to slam the woman right off the side of the yacht.
COMBATSYS: Maki endures Acacia's Quick Throw.
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Maki
Maki prepares herself to endure the throw, and when it comes, she rolls, but unfortunately, it's too much for her to take yet once again. Her fighting spirit has gone down too far.
With one last attempt to strike Acacia, Maki heads down for the count.
COMBATSYS: Maki can no longer fight.
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Acacia 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Maki's Deep Strike.
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|
A last attempt that smashes against Acacia's defence. The smaller girl rocks with the blow. But it doesn't put her down. She lowers her warding arm, rotates her hand at the wrist. Flexes her fingers.
Then she straightens, coming back to full height.
As Maki, finally, falls.
Acacia takes a breath. She holds it for a moment, before releasing it in a rush.
She leans against an intact section of railing, letting the tension drain from her muscles. Eyes closed, hair flying in the sea breeze.
In the distance, she's vaguely aware of the League announcer yelling her name, declaring her the winner. Acacia doesn't look up.
Because -damn- that fight was tough.
COMBATSYS: Acacia has ended the fight here.
Log created by Acacia, and last modified on 22:07:43 03/29/2007.