Description: After impressing Yamazaki in a battle, Dante takes a personal spar... And makes a request, gaining some interesting information in the exchange.
Ryuji Yamazaki, rarely, is a patient man. But right now, he's got a few drinks in him. And he knows that Dante is going to show up sooner or later. Part of what's going through his head is that the description from the news matches the person that he ran into in the aquarium. Part is that this is.. well, this is where he lives, essentially. If he's in Southtown, chances are likely that this is where he'll be found. Being raised in Hong Kong, mixed with the fact that this is where he does business, means that it's likely that he'll be found somewhere on these busy streets. At the moment, he's perched on the rooftop of the bar he just spent the last hour at, crouching onto his haunches while he looks over the people milling around.
Ah, commerce.
Yamazaki does provide a certain measure of protection to the area of Southtown that's been adopted as Chinatown. A good amount of his protection money comes from this district; not all of it illegitimate. Some of the shopkeepers quite happily pay the Southsynd lieutenant to preserve the peace, and to beat the blood and teeth right out of anyone that might cause them grief.
Unsurprisingly, the black figure can be seen slithering down the adjacent alley of this particular bar, no longer mingling with the general population on main streets and sidewalks; Such is a bad idea within this district after the attempted murder, although who's footsteps he might of stepped on are as of yet not completely known. He slips to the side of an adjacent dumpster, likely aware of where the other man is. And flows down into a cross-legged sit, with the same disturbingly fluid nature that's been demonstrated thus far. "Ryuji Yamazaki." is called up, his voice having a peculiar rasp to it. Almost an undertone of a cough, or hiss. "Offering me the chance to face you one on one... It's quite an honor." He sounds neutral, but certainly respectful and honorable. He knows both the power and the somewhat volatile personality of the person he now chose to approach alone.
He figured Dante would be prompt; from talking to him in Australia, he knew that he'd show up. It was just a matter of time, after all. When his name was called, Yamazaki slowly straightened up from his crouch, and a grin pulled up his lips. "Well, now." He slowly turns to look towards Dante, and a low chuckle rumbles in his throat as his right hand slips itself into its pocket. "That fire of yours; it's not what I'm used to. I wanted a chance to see it without that stupid bitch Ingrid in the way." Slowly, he tilts his head off to one side, causing his neck to pop. "And to go and stab your fighting partner in the back like that?" He grins even wider. He almost appears to have fangs, oddly enough. "That's class, son. I don't care you who you are." He laughs, this time, a brief cackle. "So I figured I'd let you have what you wanted. A shot at Ryuji Yamazaki."
"I've got no illusions of winning." Dante states, calmly enough. There's no sign of this being something that he is truly despondent of, to say the least. "I am at the beginning of my journey. I still have miles to pass." He unfurls back to a full stand, drawing up either sleeve back to his elbows while cracking his neck to either side. "And none are quite familiar with my poisonous fire. Ah... Those fires I summon..." One is ignited in his palm, a disgusting purple, and causing a wince of pain before extinguishing with a clenched hand. "I enjoy sharing that pain with others. Ingrid stole my chance to try such on another who might know it. Your flames... I have seen them on Saturday Night Fight. They are not quite my own, but... Yours are similar to Iori Yagami, am I right? ... Does it not sear and scald you whenever that energy is brought forth as well?" Stepping within the middle of the alley, Dante squats rather low to the ground, a position that might seem comical to most unfamiliar with the dynamics of battle. "And I might have a favor to ask a mercenary of such renown, if I can suitably impress you..." But if there is to be conversation, apparently such will be in the confines of combat. For now he shall focus his mind and body, tensing and drawing inwards like a serpent preparing to strike. And Yamazaki knows just how fast he can be, despite the huge gap between them.
COMBATSYS: Dante has started a fight here.
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Dante 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Dante 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Yamazaki
COMBATSYS: Dante focuses on his next action.
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Dante 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Yamazaki
To be honest, Yamazaki had never made that subtle mental connection between his own chi and Yagami's. But the last time he had dealt with Iori, there was that faint mental tingling whenever he got within speaking range. He had no idea how to explain it, but the comparison of the chi now was making him start to wonder. "Yagami." He chuckles underneath his breath once more. "never thought about that." He chuckled faintly to himself as he pondered over that for a moment further before shaking it off. He'll deal with it later. ".. favor? We'll see, kid. If you just crumple, you ain't gettin' a thing." At that, a grin pulls wide across his lips. When Dante coils, Yamazaki... just relaxes. His left arm dips into a slow, lazy swing, different from the makeshift bitchslap from before. "But I don't think either one of us is here t'talk, so." With that, he slowly leans forward, putting his shoulder forward. The arm continues to swing back and forth lifelessly, much like a windsock with nothing to guide it. Yamazaki dips his head down just a little, squinting at Dante before finally, he snaps into motion. His shoulder and head stay down, only letting his arm move; it snaps out, moving lightning-quick as it crosses the distance, and that hand aims to drive a judo-style chop to the snakelike fighter.
COMBATSYS: Dante interrupts Snake Tamer from Yamazaki with Taipan.
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Dante 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Yamazaki
"I have researched into my own personal difficulties with painful fire, and had hoped to find someone who knew of my problem more astutely. I know those of the Yagami clan have such an issue. Yet one can hardly gauge source from color... Even if there may be only a handful alive who create those of that type."Dante comments matter of factly, retaining his iron stance. But the prepared assault is met with narrowed eyes. Familiarity. He is going to attack in a moment, so that moment would best be spent in preparation. Holding still is hardly going to do any good. Suddenly rushing forward, one of the Ankoku disciple's hands flares with purple fire, assuming the shape of a snake's head. It hisses loudly, trailed by a stream of fire that forms something of a snake's body behind. This was begun a heartbeat before the hand streaks through the air. It impacts the lithe figure rather firmly, inciting a loud thud, but he still snaps forward his arm. That faux-snakehead hits Yamazaki in the neck, and he might feel two points of pain -- as if the fangs were real, before the summoned fire detonates rather harmlessly. Dante withdraws, gripping his hit ribs with a look of discomfort but still flowing back into his stance. "...Hmm." is all he offers. Even if Yamazaki might have two red points of irritation right upon his jugular, and that same nigh-poisonous feeling rushing through his blood.
There's a faintly disgruntled look on Yamazaki's face as his own Snake Tamer is poked through by.. well, by a snake. It's shaken off, however, as more attention is given to withdrawing his arm before that can be used to gain an additional advantage. He takes a short hop-step back before rubbing a hand along the side of his neck. "Huh." He chuckles to himself again, then shakes his head before he straightens up again. His left hand snaps down at his side, moving with that same briefly blurred motion. And a poisonous feeling, to Yamazaki, isn't much; the man's blood is poisonous already. But he can feel the way that it starts to drain at him, none the less, and it makes his brow furrow, just the same. "I'm startin' to see what you're about." He crouches for a moment, then pushes off his back leg as he starts to move forward again. He dashes in to close the distance, and his left hand comes across in a brief straight punch. There's no flourish behind it, simply testing the young fighter with a solid punch aimed for his chest.
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki successfully hits Dante with Quick Punch.
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Dante 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Yamazaki
There was an attempted shift away, but the chance of success was almost zero. Yamazaki would know pretty astutely that Dante decided to take that strike, to better save his energies for something more meaningful. He's sent skidding back a meter, which truly is testament to the incredible amount of force. But as his lips peel back in obvious agony, the stance pivots forward before erupting into motion. A burst of dust is sent spiraling away, before he hops up the last distance and attempts to quite literally cling to the front of Yamazaki's shirt, with both feet pressed against his chest. And then with a "HIYAH!" kick him backwards, hopefully bolstered by a rather incredible detonation of the purple fire, whirling through the air. If it's successful, the backflip would end with him landing in a crouch, a bit more vulnerable comparatively then he was just prior. Ah... He's out of his league still, but not quite so much as against Kain... But Yamazaki is still, it would seem, slightly weaker then Daigo himself in the same breath.
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki interrupts Strong Throw from Dante with Bomb Headbutt.
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Dante 1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0 Yamazaki
"Not bad. You stayed standing." Yamazaki dips his head in a short nod as Dante works to recover, and the grin starts to pull wider across his lips. "I'm not disappointed yet." But then, the snake starts into motion again. He leaps into the air and snags the Syndicate lieutenant by the shirt, and while Dante does manage to land a hard kick against Ryuji's chest.. the Snake Tamer managed to get ahold of the front of Dante's shirt. "Che! Not that easily, kid!" And with that, he yanks forward on that shirt as hard as he can. As one head approaches, the other head descends, and Yamazaki slams his forehead into the middle of Dante's face as hard as he can. At the point of impact, that wispy purple chi will manifest itself in Dante's face for just a moment before it detonates, exploding like a small bomb with enough force that right as Yamazaki releases, the youth will be propelled away with the explosion.
There's not exactly a look of surprise as he's gripped. Dante wasn't quite fast enough, although there's some satisfaction that he made Yamazaki go through such a desperate measure to insure the connection. When the explosion of chi hits, it's obvious the gap between them now. He goes flying, hitting the ground on a shoulder hard enough to dislocate it were he less flexible. Skidding away, Dante comes to a crumpled stop about ten meters off, and is slow to begin rising. Mmm... Kain didn't even hit him that hard. "...Ah..." Dante manages to get back up, breathing a bit shallow before turning to face the Orochi. "...Did summoning that chi hurt?" This seems to be the only question he had, blood pouring from nostrils and mouth as he allows a smile. "...I shall perform my strongest technique on you. ... It will likely not work on a man of your stature, but..." Dante then spreads his arms, and once more ignites with purple fire. The sound of hissing snakes fills the alley, and he's certainly got a fair amount of power for someone of his ability. His eyes glow brighter green in that moment, as the black suit starts to smolder and burn, unlike Kain not immune to his own ability just yet. Slowly, like some coagulating energy, the fire starts to take shape...
COMBATSYS: Dante focuses on his next action.
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Dante 1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0 Yamazaki
"Hurt?" He grins a little wider. "Nope. Ain't never made no sense of it, but nothin' hurts me, kid. I walked right through that stupid little blonde bitch's strongest technique and I didn't even stagger. I've been stabbed, shot, bludgeoned, I've been curbstomped by Yagami before; I don't feel pain." He straightens up a little more as Dante mentions the existence of a 'strongest technique'. "Is that so." The grin widens, full ear to ear. Complete with that nearly snake-fanged look. "You want me to do you a favor, kid? Fine. You gotta impress me to do that." And, with that, Yamazaki throws his arms out wide. "You have one chance to hit me as hard as you can. If you can do that, and you can stand up after I do the same to you, then you've got yourself a damn deal." And with that, Ryuji Yamazaki leaves himself wide-open. Almost in a pose that would mock crucifixion, he stands before Dante as the sound of hissing snakes fills the alley. "If you can't hurt me, then you ain't shit, kid, and I'm not doin' a damn thing for you. This is your one shot."
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki takes no action.
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Dante 1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0 Yamazaki
"This technique is founded on agony. If you can take it, then you shall truly be a masochist immune to pain." Dante states simply enough, but not with the arrogance of himself being capable of such. As he slowly places his hands forward, sleeves bursting into black ash and holes appearing all over his outfit, it can be seen he's making a snake. It begins to rattle, a single loud sound emanating entirely from Dante as opposed to the surroundings. A broad hood, that of a cobra, plumes around the thin boy. And then with a loud snarl, what seems to be a giant snake erupts across the gap between the pair, composed entirely of the Ankoku fire. It whirls, before striking out. The attempt is to coil tightly around Yamazaki and draw his arms against his body, before sinking those huge fangs into his shoulder. The entire body of the creature would burn with intense agony, trying to saturate him from head to toe with the devastating energy. And then it would suddenly explode, with no small amount of force, wisping away thereafter. Dante's already panting, many additional tattoos peeking from chest and thigh, suit almost ruined by this attack. Blackness flashes in and out. Heh. Far too much output... for his capabilities...
COMBATSYS: Dante successfully hits Yamazaki with Death Adder.
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Dante 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Yamazaki
An eyebrow arched slightly as he watched that snake start to form. Oh, this would be entertaining. His arms remained wide as he watched the cobra become visible, and the effect that it had on Dante's clothing. "Then let's have it, kid." His arms remained out wide, and that cobra would strike true. It pinned Yamazaki's arms to his side, and squeezed tight. Throughout that entire time, Yamazaki only grinned wider and wider as he looked right into Dante's face. And when the fangs buried themselves into his shoulder, that would cause Ryuji to stagger for just a moment, and the explosion would follow. For a brief moment, Yamazaki would drop down to a knee. He would straighten up again afterwards, and that high-pitched hyena-like cackling would start to echo throughout the alleyway. He tossed his head back, arms just going wide as he laughed, and laughed, and laughed. "Delightful!" Laughter, again. "I can feel it burning in my veins!" He straightens up again, still laughing as he starts to rush down the alleyway again. He charges straight at Dante, foot coming right up within striking distance as he aims to plant a slightly spinning side kick into the snake-wielder's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki successfully hits Dante with Light Kick.
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Dante 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Yamazaki
"...Hmm. As I anticipated, the power of my chi is insufficient against you." Dante states, softly. Both forearms attempt to intercept the flowing kick, a step backwards taken but doing little as he's hit dead on, blown skidding backwards. Dante wavers, before spreading his stance and breathing heavily. His eyes weave in and out, wiping blood from his lip before flaring his free hand. Another serpent bursts into view, flaring with a hiss and then hurtling across the distance between them. It seems to indeed be merely a smaller copy of the original assault, striking out in an attempt to catch any flesh possible before detonating into Ankoku flames. Dante's back in his rigid stance, but it's somewhat shaky. He's not going to win this. But... Ah, the progress. He knows now how far the fires of Hell have taken him in only months...!
COMBATSYS: Yamazaki endures Dante's King Cobra.
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Dante 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Yamazaki
Another snake. Yamazaki was already charging in again; it was too hard to change direction now. "It's your turn, kid!" And in he will charge. The King Cobra will quite literally bite Yamazaki square in the face; he ducked down into it and rushed. The fangs sink into his cheek and forehead, and the explosion would be enough to stagger the average man. Ryuji, however, is nowhere near a normal man. He will continue his forward momentum, and that high-pitched cackling will once again start to echo as his left hand shoots out, curling up in a sharp uppercut aimed to bring the flame-wielder right off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Dante endures Yamazaki's Yondan Drill.
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Dante 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Yamazaki
.. and that uppercut is enough to bring Dante into the air. "Survive if you can!" A sharp hop is taken backwards, and then, an unholy torrent of pure rage is unleashed. Much in the way that the fight started, Yamazaki plans to end it. The first Snake Tamer lashes across the distance, and he hits Dante in mid-air hard enough to keep him aloft just long enough for the second strike to slam into him. This would continue, keeping Dante in the air with strike after strike, slamming into his face and midsection until he would push hard off that back foot. He surges forward, and his right hand slips out of its pocket, giving the youth a more up-front demonstration of the Orochi-blooded power. His entire arm erupts in that wispy purple chi, forming a spike around his right forearm as he brings it up in an uppercut, driving the spike of the dagger into Dante's stomach before finally letting him drop to the ground.
"Hah. I can guarantee it will end the fight... But it will not end my life." Dante actually rushes forward, right into the uppercut. The air is knocked from his lungs as he finds himself neatly airborne. The onslaught of Snake Tamers bite into him, riddling his limp form before the final uppercut plows into him. But the moment the man hits the ground, he writhes forward, likely while Yamazaki is still gloating over his victory. Trying to shoot between the man's legs, and raise up in other to shift either of his languid limbs beneath an armpit, and similarly hook about his thighs. "...That hurt..." would be all he states, before attempting to constrict as hard as he could while his entire body bursts into deep purple flames, attempting to break Yamazaki as best he can with the last bit of his strength...! Only to collapse thereafter upon the ground, smoldering and thoroughly beaten. Although he could of done far worse against an opponent of Yamazaki's caliber, to say the least.
COMBATSYS: Dante can no longer fight.
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|-------\-------\0 Yamazaki
COMBATSYS: Dante successfully hits Yamazaki with Redtail Boa.
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|==-----\-------\0 Yamazaki
There was still a slight grin pulling at Yamazaki's lips after he watched Dante hit the ground, and a curious eye was given to that slithering. The kid /was/ a snake. And he's slithering. Across Chinatown concrete. This alone was enough to make him cock an eyebrow. It was a very unusual fighting style, and he wasn't quite sure what to expect. When Dante came up and off the ground to construct around him, Yamazaki just laughed again. "The hell?" And it was then that he got squeezed. There was an audible grunt before the explosion fof flame, and that was enough to cause him to stagger backwards a couple steps. But Yamazaki remains on his feet. "The hell." And, after that, a low chuckle just rumbles in his throat. "Alright, kid. The deal's still on." He walks over to a corner in the alley, reaching down to snatch up a bottle that he left there; vodka. Expensive vodka. He can't even pronounce the brand, to be honest. He pulls the top off, then takes a deep swig straight from the bottle. "Let's hear it."
There's many pants from Dante, as he manages to feebly get to his feet. Yamazaki was a masochist, but to be able to manage all those hits without being much staggered is exceptional. Ah. There might be hope left. "I have one enemy... One I cannot yet manage defeat of alone. I'd like him to survive so one day I can surpass him. But..." Blood is smeared away from his lips, before an actual cough leaves a splatter on the ground. There's no look of concern on Dante, who opts to settle cross-legged and lean forward, breath wheezing in a frightful fashion. Green eyes are narrowed, but his blood is poisonous as well. If it's possible to 'mimic' the Orochi, this boy has likely managed better then any other. He will heal. "...I wish to at least bury the rancor of my past, so I may continue with my future. My ancient vendetta is... Gedo High. ...I would like you to help me attempt and bring down Daigo Kazama. I am no fool, and know it impossible to do alone." Another slow breath. "The order in that school is a house of cards, prepared to collapse. ...I believe that if they feared him brought down, the anarchy of old might once more bloom..." And once more it would be the strong who survive and the weak who die or serve. Kain would be proud of that ambition -- and the defeat of an ancient rival merely accentuates it. Add on a potential war with the Syndicate of reprisal and not Heinlein? A plotting snake Dante is indeed.
Gedo. Ah, how intriguing. "So that was you." He smirks as he leans back against the wall, then takes another pull from the vodka bottle nestled comfortably in his right hand. "You make interesting requests, kid. So, I'll tell you straight up. I've got orders from higher up that I'm not supposed to take out Kazama yet, but I've got an eye on him." He touches his wallet a couple times. "I've got someone on the inside at Gedo, though. He's feeding me information. I'll know when it's right proper for me to strike." He sighs briefly to himself as he settles against the wall. "Whether he knows it or not." Again, another drink. "But Kazama's going to end up crippled soon enough. Soon as the man that signs my paychecks decides he wants it to happen." "But that's just between you and me, savvy? 'Cause if I find out that someone heard about our little conversation?" And again, that fanged grin tugs at his lips. "Then I'm gonna know exactly who to send the cops after for attempted murder."
"There is no rush." Dante states, holding up both his palms in a placating fashion. "But it is peculiar that you would desire Daigo in power. ...And none of my business, I assure. ...Although." There's a slow stroking of the chin, as a distant thought reaches the Ankoku specialist. "...The student I assailed had said to me to tell a man of your appearance... he could not complete dry cleaning due to lack of money. Hah. ...I'm afraid the boy I tried to kill could of been your mole. But I hear he survived." Slowly standing, Dante brushes off the ash from his blackened outfit, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "But that could play in your hands. Geese Howard is the proprietor of Saturday Night Fight. Have the video edited so it does not seem we left on good relations, and there should be no rancor. If he believes he needs your protection, he would be all the more in your hands." That's curious right there. Dante outright spoke that he knew the businessman not only controlled the show, but had the ability to manipulate it as he saw fit. "You will find me hard to find in this town if I am not wanted. But I will keep in touch, Yamazaki-sama." And he would turn to begin his lazy retreat into the alley, back to whatever lair he resides in order to lick his wounds.
... oh, there's an angry look on Yamazaki's face, now. His coffee boy and errand runner; that's why he hadn't heard from Saf lately. His eyes narrowed, then, and he growled faintly in the back of his throat. "No one hides from me in Southtown, Dante. You would do well to stay hidden for the near future; you've just set my plans back several weeks, if not longer. This isn't going to fly." He takes a sharp drag from the vodka bottle. Oh, Ryuji's pissed, now. "Stay hidden. Because if I find that you've interjected yourself into my goings-on like that again, you're not going to find that I've been anywhere near as pleasant as I've been tonight." He may very well be talking to nothing. He's walking the other way down the alley already. Half the vodka bottle is gone, and the other half will be finished soon enough. Damnit. Well, if it did nothing else but help set Saf on the right path again, he could at least tell the little bastard that he beat the hell out of Dante. But this would be a thorn in his side, to say the least.
Log created by Dante, and last modified on 19:27:05 03/23/2007.