Description: Iori is called a girl by Takuma!! Will Iori force Takuma to back off his grill!? Will Takuma take Iori's sass?! WHAT IS THAT STRANGE, TINY BEAR?! Featuring an ending that will have you going.... WHAT A TWEEST!! (also featuring the Chinese Boy.) (Winner: ... Eiji!?)
http://www.end.com/~jynx/travel/japan/tiger.jpg
Ueno Zoo, Tokyo, Japan. The 'natural wildlife' cage. This is where today's World Warrior match is to take place, and the entire zoo's prepared for the event. The dangerous animals have been removed from the exhibit, leaving a variety of exotic and cute monkeys, pandas, koalas and the like. Impromptu seating surrounds the 'ring', filled to capacity with some hundreds of cheering fans. All in all, it's probably the most lucrative day in the zoo's history. The fans quiet down, though, as an announcer begins his pre-fight spiel, babbling on about thanking the Zoo for hosting the event, and various sponsors for their assistance.
Takuma is already in the cage by now, standing in the middle of a large, easily-visible clearing, one hand on his hip, the other positioned atop his head. He looks /confused/. He remains confused even after his name is announced and spotlights shone on him, because Takuma Sakazaki is far too used to being in the spotlight to be overly distressed by it. No... he's far more concerned with the small koala perched on a branch not five feet in front of his nose. Takuma scratches his head, leans forward, eyes narrowed.
"Is it... some kind of tiny bear?" Sure, he can't be heard by the fans, but he's not really talking to them. As for the fans themselves - they probably just think Takuma's doing some kind of secret, time-honored pre-fight meditation. Everybody wins!
Sometimes the ideas these people come up with for 'fighting arenas' are simply absurd. Case in point; this particular match of the World Warrior tournament is to be carried out in a zoo. Not only a zoo, but one of the various cages that house the /animals/ on /display/ in the zoo. And have the animals been removed? Some, but not all, leaving the fighters in some kind of mock jungle, a slice of artificially crafted nature to fight in. The spectators probably all find it to be fun. Exciting. Exotic, maybe, or even /thrilling/ to see their favorite opponents duke it out in a zoo.
Iori Yagami finds it to be ridiculous.
"... This is ridiculous." In fact, it's the first thing uttered out of his lips as he enters the supposed 'arena,' right on time for the fight to begin. His long, slender hands shoved deep into his pockets, Yagami's expression is venomous at best. He hasn't had the best past few days on the whole, and the idea of having to fight in something as terrifically stupid as a cage in the zoo just sets his Annoyed-o-Meter right off the charts. He contains it well though, if only because he's not got a reason to snap quite yet. Likely that'll happen once the fight begins. Those crimson eyes suggest one thing, and one thing alone: he's itching to beat on someone.
Still, he's patient enough to wait for the fight to be announced. Not patient enough, however, to deal with Takuma's antics. "It's a koala, you moron." Is snorted out, looking at the diminutive creature beside the Kyokugen master. "Che." No, he's not particularly pleasant today. But then again... when is he?
Takuma's face lights up at the revelation, and for all it'd seem, he's much too concerned with filing this new information away to worry about being called a moron. Curiousity sated, the old man nods once, rests both hands on his hips in a satisfied way, and turns his head Iori's direction. He -starts- to talk, but upon realization of just who he's supposed to fight, Takuma's jaw goes slack in tip-of-the-tongue, George W. Bush-esque mindblank.
"Tha-... wait, I've seen you before! You're that girl who flings herself all over Saishu's boy, aren't you?" He brings his foot around to properly face Iori, and begins an elaborate, forceful neck-roll that results in explosive crackling noises. Takuma shakes his head a bit, narrows his eyes, and settles into a traditional fighting stance. "You should dress more like a girl so people don't get confused about you. Had me thinking you were a boy for a few minutes, but that pretty face is what tipped me off. I'll do what I can not to smear your foundation, alright? If you lighten up, anyway." He rubs his nose. "Otherwise I guess I'll need to beat some respect into you."
Perfectly prepared to just shrug off any retaliatory comments that Takuma could offer, Iori is not exactly /prepared/ for what the old man says next. There aren't many people who have the gall to say something like that, and for a long moment the crimson-haired young man just /stares/ at Takuma, as if trying to fully comprehend what the man has just said -- if, perhaps, he heard him wrong. But the Sakazaki just keeps rambling on, and on, and on... and slowly, Iori's hands slide out of his pockets. His brows twitch. He's silent. It's a bit like the calm before the storm. And then...
"I'M A GUY, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF CRAP!"
Iori doesn't even /wait/ for the fight to be announced, now. The host is just in the middle of declaring the two's names when Yagami LEAPS through the various shrubbery and branches, his hands clasping together into a tight fist. His body twisting wildly through the air, the Yagami seems to have just one intention: to whip his hands around brutally and SMASH them directly into the side of Takuma's head, accompanied by a brutal and morbidly beautiful explosion of violet fire that erupts soon after the strike. "GUUUUUWWWWWOOOAAARGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Iori has started a fight here.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Takuma has joined the fight here.
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Iori
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Tsumagushi.
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Takuma 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Iori
It's like, Takuma doesn't really /expect/ people to rush him before the bell rings. And, in his addled mind, he's speaking perfect truth - there's no absurdity here! Look at Iori's hair! That's a girl's hair. Regardless, it doesn't really matter once Yagami's EXPLODING THROUGH THE FOLIAGE and targeting Takuma's /face/ with a hammer-fist. A purply, firey hammer fist.
*Ding!* goes the bell as Takuma makes a muffled, surprise noise before stumbling backwards, /almost/ tossed to the ground. Almost. Takuma Sakazaki is, you see, made of Tough Stuff. His attitude takes a dive, though, and the old man's face turns stern before he starts running back at Yagami. "GUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOAAARRGHHHH TO YOU TOO, YOU POOR, POOR CONFUSED GIRL!" He lunges forward, and attempts to capture Iori by his ridiculous clothes. If he /does/ grab the singer, he spins to the left, roughly, and releases Iori just in time for the taller fighter to slam into a nearby tree.
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Iori with Strong Throw.
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Takuma 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Iori
Is this person /dense/? That seems to be the case as Iori's fists crash into the other man's skull, and then... Takuma comes back with yet another one of those infuriating comments. It's enough to distract Iori -- at least, before the other man grasps him by the clothes. There is a small effort to yank /away/ but it's not quite fast enough, and the Yagami is sent spiralling through the air, SMASHING into that thick tree with the brief crack of bark. It stings, but --
--It's not enough to keep Iori down for long. Almost as soon as his back strikes the tree with the splintering of bark and the slight backwards bend of the tree, the Yagami heir is already pushing OFF it with his feet, flinging himself through the air once more to snap a single foot forward. It's a lightning-fast snap kick, aimed at Takuma's sternum and delivered with a single proclamation of, "GO TO HELL!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Light Kick from Iori with Mouko Burai Gan.
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Takuma 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Iori
Akira sits in the WORLD WARRIOR STANDS. She -had- to come see Takuma fight--after all, she tried to hit him over the head with a table. Every now and then she waves a little flag with Takuma's face on it. He's going :|, but not as :| as Heidern's flag.
Takuma is an enigma. On the one hand, he apparently has a baffling case of senility, while on the other -- well, anybody can tell he's clearly /qualified/ to be a World Warrior. He hardly blinks while Iori shrugs off the toss into the tree, and is even quick enough to insert a meaty forearm between his opponent's foot and his sternum... if barely.
"Good lord, lady! You're the least disciplined /warrior/ I've ever seen! But I suppose this /speed/ makes up for it. Sadly..." Takuma can talk this long because somehow his forearm stops time. Who knows?
Takuma steps /into/ Iori after trailing off, and there's a very quick, lethal-looking straight punch delivered to the other fighter's midsection. One that, given Iori's positioning, should have an easy time slamming him back into the tree again. Almost like a punching bag. A very, very, very dangerous one. Takuma steps back after the punch is delivered, and brings his hands up again. "Kyokugen is unbeatable, sonny!
Stopped before his strike can even begin. It's not that shocking to Iori -- nor is it really so much painful as it is annoying and frustrating to fight his assault swiftly dealt with and a counterattack crashing through his defenses before he can manage to mount them successfully. The sudden thrust is enough to send Iori flipping through the air due to a lack of feet on the ground. But he lands on the tree feet first unlike what Takuma may predict, instead using the trunk as a springboard to launch himself STRAIGHT off and into the air in a sudden display of feral acrobatics. Unbeatable?
Well, Iori will get an opportunity to test just that. As he flips through the air, he soars past Takuma. A single hand snaps out, swift to attempt to grab the other man SECURELY by the face. If successful, when Iori lands, he will YANK Takuma forward as a sudden onrush of those strange, corrupt flames flood outward from his arm, intent on enveloping Takuma's entire head with them before knocking him BRUTALLY into the air in the wake of the sudden BOOM of an explosion. "HWOOOOGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Koto Moon Negative.
- Power hit! -
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Iori
Takuma is a man who stands by his predictions. Largely because thinking on your feet is something delegated to the younger years, when your mind's quicker and you've got inspiration. So... when things do NOT go as planned, Takuma Sakazaki has troubles. The punching bag effect turns into a springboard effect, and Takuma, mid-pretentious-boast, is head-grabbed, and exploded.
It's sad times in Takumaville, judging from the way he's tumbling to the ground, still enveloped in those purple flames. But, anybody who's fought an Oyaji before /knows/ that this is just FUEL for them.
This is proven, it'd seem, as Takuma stumbles to his feet, shaking his head, and doesn't even bother falling back into his stance before just /running/ at Iori. "YOUR FIRES MIGHT HURT LIKE A BITCH, EMO GIRL, BUT THESE FISTS ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN!" And, intent on giving Iori an example of just what he's getting at, Takuma ends his sprint forward with a single punch, targeted at Iori's head. If it connects, it's followed by a dazzling array of rapid-fire, cannon-strength strikes, two sweeping round-house kicks, a forceful uppercut, one hop back, and a one-handed Haoh Sho Ko Ken intended to catch Yagami as he's falling to the ground. "HaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Takuma's Ryuuko Ranbu.
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Takuma 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Iori
Oh, that's it. Yagami has heard himself be called a girl for the absolute LAST time. He's really just letting his rage control him at this point, but this doesn't mean that Yagami isn't AWARE of what is going on around him. Knocking the eldest Sakazaki into the ground by way of a fiery inferno of explosive pain, it seems that now would be an appropriate time for Iori to gloat. But instead? "... Get up. Are you really that weak? Get up and COME AT ME."
And that's exactly what Takuma does. Takuma certainly MOVES fast enough... but age gets the better of him. Makes him a bit more sluggish than he might have been when he was younger. So those rapid, unbelievably strong strikes? Are all blocked with strong forearms, the palm of his right hand intercepting either brutal roundhouse kicks. The uppercut is handled with the left hand, and as Takuma hops back, Iori?
Rushes RIGHT in.
"YOU'RE /TOO WEAK./" It's bellowed as the Haoh Sho Ko Ken is fired off. Iori's own hands BURST into an inferno of amethyst fire, and just as that brilliant chi rockets from Takuma's fists... Iori SLASHES both of his arms forward, flames dispersing for only a brief second before a literal GEYSER of mystic fire erupts from the ground beneath Takuma. It disperses most of the chi the other man had built up, while making a singular, intent path to consume Takuma and launch him RIGHT off his feet through a roar of fire and the Yagami's sadistic, cruel laughter.
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Yami Sugi.
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Iori
Oh no. Oh NO. Takuma watches in confuison and then pure horror as Iori's fire slashes through his chi like some kind of hot knife through butter. And then, even before he's able to emit a confused, horrified noise or two, Takuma's caught entirely by surprise by Iori's fire because it is STILL APPROACHING. Sakazaki is, for a brief moment, obscured by painflames. It's not a good place to be, at all. This is further emphasized by the way Takuma, ONCE AGAIN ON FIRE, is ejected from the top of the column of fires and deposited on the ground.
He gets to his feet after a moment, in horrific condition, and shakes his burnt, battered head a few times to catch his bearings. Then he's looking at Iori, frowning, but at least a /bit/ more respectful. "I think... hnh... you're just getting lucky. Doesn't hurt to have that ridiculous flowery fire, I guess. But this old man's not gone yet!" Takuma stops on the ground, spreads his arms wide, and... chi blossoms around him in a circle, enveloping his form in a warm golden glow.
COMBATSYS: Takuma gathers his will.
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Takuma 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Iori
Akira sees that Takuma is having trouble! She stands up--right there in the stands! She makes an obscure gesture with her arms to cheer Takuma on! Other people in the stands see this, and copy the maneuver, and soon a whole section of the stands is full of people wiggling their arms in vague ways as if to cheer Takuma on... on to VICTORY! His name is chanted, the world holds its breath! Is Takuma going to get out of this one or will that lady beat him up?!
A little chinese boy shouts, "YOU CAN DO IT, TAKUUUUMA!"
Akira sat back down after her initial gesture and is mildly shocked that people are going this far.
And now Takuma gets to see what happens when you push Iori off the deep edge when he's already had a terrible week previous. The blazing inferno of chi engulfs and consumes Takuma like some kind of tasty treat before he is quickly spit out. Iori stands amidst it, his cockiness getting the better of him now and beginning to edge away at his rage as he so terribly brutalizes the Sakazaki. But... the Kyokugen master STILL manages to get up, which is truly a rather impressive feat. If Iori had been anyone else, he might have been awed, or at least have some ounce of respect for the other man. Instead?
He's just annoyed.
So much so that he doesn't even wait for Takuma to make his bold proclamation. As chi swells around the old man, Iori is already RUSHING across the distance between himself at Takuma, coming to a scraping HALT right next to Takuma. "YOU'RE DONE! GUUUUUOOOOOH!!" A single claw swipes OUT, intending to /rake/ them across Takuma's gut in a bloody, violent spray. And then, he'll spin, bringing one fist spinning OUT with intent to /slam/ into the side of Takuma's head with such force as to knock him straight into the ground in a rather humiliating manner.
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Takuma with Yumebiki.
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Takuma 1/=======/=======|===----\-------\0 Iori
"Oh," The chinese boy says, "I guess you can't, Takuma!"
These are the worst moments. When you see the attack coming, you've got some options rolling around in your head, and you think: "Can my arms take another hit? Should I go for the reversal?" This changes, rather abruptly, as Iori sweeps in and simply claws at Takuma's stomach. Unorthodox fighting styles are weird in that they don't really offer much, if any indication to the other fighter. Painflames don't help, either.
And so, with a pretty, gory little spin and punch, Iori's almost disembowled Takuma and sent the man tumbling to the ground, quite obviously on the verge of unconsciousness. Is it a flashy way to go? Not really, but Takuma's taken a /lot/ of heavy hits this fight. His last few moments of lucid thought are spent regarding Iori for a moment, through that red haze of pain. "Remind me... to try and intercept that one next time." His head falls back onto the loamy soil beneath it, and the very last thing he sees is that damn koala, sitting on a branch some thirty feet above him.
For thirty seconds, the crowd murmurs in confusion. Takuma's side of the audience is wondering if their great champion went out with such a small-time bang, while Iori's side is probably headbanging and cutting themselves in jubilation or some-such. Waiting a suitably long amount of time for Iori to perhaps drop his guard, Takuma /surges/ to his feet with one heavy, guttural "HAR!" before fixing the fighter with a horrific, insane old-man grin.
"LOOK OUT! THAT LITTLE BEAR THING'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" Takuma says this while he thrusts his hands forwards, eyes narrowed in effort. And while he's telling the truth, and there /is/ something behind Iori, it's not a koala.
It's three enormous Haoh Sho Ko Ken fireballs. Takuma falls to the ground after this final effort, but, at least he put on a proper show.
COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Takuma's Triple Haohshokoken.
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Iori 0/-------/-======|
That little bear thing is right behind him.
"What are you, retarded? It's a KOALA--"
Iori doesn't exactly have TIME to respond to Takuma's little attempt at a distraction. As it stands, Iori is a little too lucid now, a little too on top of his game, to be tricked so easily. Especially with such a pathetic attempt. But... does Iori attempt to get out of the way? Does he try to mount a defense to whatever Takuma is mustering? Of course not. Instead, as he watches Takuma surge forward with an almost bland expression, his fingers twitch. Chi brews up around Takuma, and in that instant... Iori THRUSTS his hands out to either side of him, his scowl transforming into a swift grin.
"This is NOTHING!!"
And indeed, Iori doesn't move out of the sudden storm of chi. Instead, he braves all of it, each massive Haoh Sho Ko Ken in repetition as chi burns away at the Yagami's clothes, singes his flesh and batters his body. But he still stands. The second strikes, brutally as the last, and Iori still stands. And then the THIRD comes crashing in, engulfing Iori with a beautiful and deadly explosion. And in the aftermath?
Iori stands, his arms thrust out to either side of him and a most brutal grin on his lips still. Blood trickles down his lips, but there's one point alone to be made; Yagami weathered the entire bulk of Takuma's assault. Body smoking, Iori's head rears back... and he spits once on the ground near Takuma's feet, grunting most distastefully as his grin shifts to a frown.
"... that's the best you can do? How pathetic. You really are just a senile old man."
A plausible match. One certainly to on par with what has been seen all through the tournament. Any fan would be clapping after seeing such a display from two veteran fighters and yet through all this there was one individual that took a major interest in the two men fighting. That may be why there is the sound of clapping all too close to the side of Iori when he finally seems to have taken down the master of Kyokugen. "Talented, but a shame you waste it fighting someone like a Sakazaki." echos a calm and rather quiet voice.
"Tell me Yagami. Do you feel satisfied at all? I bet you aren't." the echoing voice continues as slowly smoke starts to curl about at a position not too far from behind Iori. Movement can be seen among it only briefly before a kunai plants itself at the frontside of where Iori stands. Eiji Kisaragi, the original opponent who mysteriously withdrew finally allows himself to be noticed as he keeps his arms folded and he stares down the other fighter. "Not enough blood has been shed this evening, Yagami. Let us indulge in our desires and tear eachother to pieces."
With that being said the ninja surges forward, giving Iori little time to catch a breather after that fight. His form almost seems to flicker in and out of sight from the speed he shows and yet he knows even a wounded Iori is one not to take lightly. He shall strike hard in hopes of downing the skilled fighter starting with a forward thrust meant to slice open Iori right across the belly as red chi surges about the ninja's fingers and seems intent on cutting through both flesh and cloth.
COMBATSYS: Eiji has joined the fight here.
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Eiji 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Iori
COMBATSYS: Eiji successfully hits Iori with Bone Cutter.
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Eiji 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Iori
There's a very slight problem with enduring an attack like Takuma's. The aftermath leaves Yagami a bit beaten down, despite his bluffs and his arrogant mockery of Sakazaki's strength. The bright flashes of light leaves him slightly dizzied, making him stagger a bit as he turns. But most importantly... the ringing sensation in his ears, the bursts of light that obstruct his vision... are all JUST enough to leave Iori wide open for something he hadn't even expected. The first sounding of the voice is almost dismissed with an unconcerned wave of his hand. But then...
... THEN he feels the sudden, burning slash of chi and sharp fingers dig RIGHT through his body.
He didn't see it coming, to be truthful. And though he would normally just dismiss it or toss it off to the side as next to nothing to be concerned about, with how beaten he already is, that single blow is JUST enough to push Iori past the limit. But... the Yagami heir does not feel pain as fingers slice a slightly deep cut through his torso, burning and tearing at the same time. No, the ONLY thing that Iori feels is burning, unbelievable RAGE.
"Who... DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" It's a single, simple statement as Iori LASHES out with one hand to grasp Eiji /securely/ by the front of his shirt before he can move. And... if he does...
COMBATSYS: Iori can no longer fight.
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Eiji 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Eiji stops Ya Otome from Iori with Mist Slash.
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Eiji 0/-------/----===|
Akira gapes. You're not supposed to shank someone after a tournament! That's like... against the rules!!!?
"Simple answer." the ninja says without wavering in his stance or with his tone of voice even as the enraged Yagami reaches for him. He keeps his poise and his hand quickly tugs out from where he stabbed the fighter and it remains red with the chi still surrounding it as he claps it together with his other hand and slashes at an angle to knock away the reaching hand as he leaps back to remain out of reach and keeping a safe distance from Iori. "I am the better man tonight." The voice may not hint at the smugness, but the way his features contort even behind that mask the other fighter believes what he says.
"Did you think I forgot about our last run in, Yagami? You showed little manners and in return I bring you a gift of my own. Much like the useless Kyokugen fighter you defeated you too shall have to deal with being a failure." The hand that earlier impaled Iori lightly flicks its fingers to let the blood smatter on the ground and he then turns about to walk away from the two fallen fighters. "This disgrace of a match is over. It ends in the way it was meant to. With Eiji Kisaragi on top."
COMBATSYS: Eiji has ended the fight here.
Log created by Iori, and last modified on 22:51:52 03/29/2007.