Description: [Seishirou vs. Seth] Ryouhara confronts a cool, confident mercenary about business he's interfering in. In doing so, the first of many useful connections are established, and the first brick of the great house is laid.
Pool halls have three established stereotypes. The presence of numerous tables of the namesake are the first and tokenly obvious, kept in various states of (dis)repair and supply. Those tables which fall into disuse are scavenged for missing gaming stock and abandoned. The second sterotype would be the booze. Like any good pool hall, the bar is manned at all hours, with a range of alcohol to suit the various intoxicating needs of its patrons. The third...is the suffocating atmosphere of cigarette stench, a smoglike cloud of second-hand smoke an ever-present feature of the landscape during the more busy hours of the evening. And, sure enough, at least six men are currently nursing something near their fourth pack of nicotine sticks for the day.
At one of the corner tables is a regular. He seems almost too clean for the establishment, attired a crisp white business shirt and black suspenders, working a lone table by himself and practicing his game. He's the sort of person that someone new to the scene would think it fun to pick a fight with. The fact that no one in the room even looks in his direction, no matter how grizzled their stubble might be, is a testament to the fact that they know better. He may be gone for months at a time, but he always comes back eventuall. "The Regular", he's called. He dresses like a professional, and you don't mess with him. You don't ask questions about him, you don't pay much attention to the people he meets with. And you don't make a crack about the creampuff on his head.
This importance of this pool hall easily escapes that of the unlearned citizen of Metro City. Deep within West Side, this location is a place where one conducts business and makes deals. Those wiser in the way of the workings around here might say that places like these are the *real* centers of business for the city.
There were deals made with money.
Then there were deals made with word.
Not the kind of word most are used to--the kind of bargain rendered over expensive scotch and a check written in a clean hand. No. A business arrangement between professionals, where there is no recourse but the kind you can render with your bare hands. You see, the ninja isn't quite used to this whole pool hall atmosphere, the seedy environment, the thick curl of cigarette smoke forming an eye-watering soupy haze in the air, the various toughs that make up the regular camaraderie of the bar. Of course he's not.
He is a fish out of water. But he is one with the confidence to do so of his own volition.
He enters, perhaps drawing a slight stare from some of the more easily-interested patrons, after all, it's not often a fully dressed ninja walks into a pool hall as if he owned it. A simple, bald stare, a slightly twitched nostril at the avrid environment, and that is it. One sweep of the room will afford him the needed knowledge. He wastes no time; one hand raises. And points squarely at the man working the lone table.
"You."
If he didn't have the attention of most before, he will now.
Seishirou Ryouhara belongs here, if only for one allowance.
He has business to discuss.
The man in the corner does not smoke. Nor does he particularly enjoy the scent of cigarettes, for that matter. But like many things in the line of his work, those feelings are kept firmly in reserve for when the day is done and he's at his own leisure. Right now...isn't one of those times. He isn't actively persuing business matters, but a certain amount of time has to be clocked in at places like these for the sake of "maintaining shop". Much in the way of information is traded here, and usually it's enough to be here minding his own business for some merchant of secrets to try and peddle their wears.
The odd individual who confronts him now is no such peddler.
Seth does not look up from his game of pool, other than to allow his eyes a moment to dart over and assess the one who is, for lack of a better term, insane enough to go against hall rules. He calmly cracks the cue ball off the side of the table and sends two balls rolling into the corner pocket, the background occupied in the meantime by the sound of a few patrons snickering in open derision. Seth rises from leaning over the table, chalks his cue stick while contemplating the game before him briefly, and at last resigns himself to crossing a few steps over towards the stranger intent on getting a word in. A brief glance up and down. "Well, you're certainly a stranger to this side of town. You can get straight to the point, it's obvious that I'm the only reason why you're here."
The pool cue hasn't been set down just yet, instead idly leaning against his shoulder for the moment. He hasn't completely dismissed the possibility of getting back to his game just yet, clearly.
"Good eye."
It wouldn't be the first time Ryouhara has been regarded as insane. It's a familiar theme; he has been regarded as many things. Foolish. Insane. Demented. All are names he's heard before. He's never really made any move to support or deny any of them. Simply. All are ideas within his preference to entertain.
Conceptions formed about you are a valuable tool.
Thus, when he's all-too-coolly regarded by the man and subsequently the subject of a shadow joke he clearly wasn't meant to be privy to, it hardly bothers him. His look is critical, but hardly tense. It is the glance of someone serious enough to wear his sort of attire and mean it. But it is also the glance of someone whom isn't bothered by the consequence of nature's laws. He strides over, stuffing his hands absently into his pockets until he is only a scant yard away from the mercenary type. He doesn't speak for a moment or two, taking a moment to size him up and not a bit more.
Then he tilts his head.. taking /one/ look at the pool table behind him.
His interest returns to the man.
"You've been doing research into an enemy of mine, a man with one arm, by the name of Nikolai. Initially, I was rather put off. But. It occurs to me that you might be able to provide some information that my traditional techniques can't handle."
Ryouhara's face does not flicker an ounce in the emotive.
"I'll say it once. Your information is required for my goal. But your interference is not."
Straight to the point.
For someone else who deals in information, Ryouhara is betting Seth can guess at the rest.
Oh yes, Seth can guess. In fact it isn't so much of a guess as an acceptance of what will come next. A grudging one. The suited man lowers his head briefly, enough so that he can take a single deep breath without having to risk gagging on the smoke above. At least he lets it out all at once, in the form of a sigh.
"I suppose I'll just have to tell you what I know and suffer the humilliation of having to limp home on a pool cue with a broken hip."
It's clearly meant as a joke of sorts, but...his lips lack any sort of mirthful twitch to them. There's no humor to be had in this situation, and it's clear that the man is not amused. His eyes lift to meet Seishirou's briefly, measuring their resolve without flinching, before at last he nods to himself and tenderly sets the pool cue down against the side of the table with all due reverance. That done, he takes all of five seconds to tighten his black gloves and lower his hands to his sides. His own eyes narrow into a squint that is decidedly dangerous.
"Do what you will. I intend to make this quick."
COMBATSYS: Seth has started a fight here.
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Seth 0/-------/-------|
"Then you understand how this will go."
The boy leans back. Seishirou's already measured the probability of getting someone like this to work with him without a fight. Unfortunately, for those who deal in information, it takes quite a deal of cash to get them to change buyers. Cash that Ryouhara currently doesn't have. But the need is there regardless of funds.
Besides. No matter how old you might get, sometimes there are negotiations that can only be made with your fists. Sometimes there are negotiations that are more preferable made in that way.
Seishirou doesn't exactly assume a fighting stance, no. He's a little fast for that. Instead, he just reaches behind him. A satchel at his back is partially unzipped at his right. His left hand raises only slightly, open and to the ground. "Hopefully we'll both be hobbling home in a matter of minutes," Seishirou comments in a dry tone suggesting he's never actually heard of humor.
"I'm guessing you're ready. Let's go."
One glance is all Seishirou has ever needed.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou has joined the fight here.
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Seth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Seishirou
COMBATSYS: Seishirou focuses on his next action.
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Seth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Seishirou
%Glances can be rather telling. Seth has already read the other man's eyes - and seen his own reflection back in them. No doubt Seishirou is noting the same in return. Really, if the other man hadn't implied that peaceful compliance would have been an acknowledgement that he would stay out of things...he might have been willing to work something out. But the arrangements of that particular contract are unfeasible, and this opponent will not be taking no for an answer.
"I rather my opponents strike first, but I don't want to stand here all night."
Instead, the man glides forward in two steps...and abruptly swings to the side, gloved palm striking out in an attempt to shove the strangely attired man off balance and spring any "trap" that might have been lying in wait for him. Hardly the move that one would expect from a supposedly accomplished brawler, but Seth is more than an accomplished brawler.
He's someone who knows you don't accept a ninja's invitation without a great degree of scrutiny.
COMBATSYS: Seth successfully hits Seishirou with Fast Throw.
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Seth 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Seishirou
Unfortunately, that's the way things worked out.
Sometimes this is really the only way to handle things.
Neither would be here if that weren't true, right?
Unfortunately, one of the things Seishirou didn't pick up on his glance was just how fast Seth was capable of moving. Seishirou isn't quite prepared to handle a large man moving quite that fast, and just.. pushing him a little bit. Had he invested in a little weight training, he probably might have stood up to it better. Weighing not much more than a small child, being pushed however, knocks him down. Hard. Off a pool table and off to one side. Grunting with the effort, Seishirou regains his balance with one hand bracing across the hard flooring.
Was there any traps? No. Not until he was shoved. The close proximity and the wanton movement his body allowed him to scatter several loops of wire on the ground. Seth might be aware of a few glints in the air. Loops of nearly invisible wire. FAst as a snake, he'll try and loop the wiring around Seth's leading limb. And then yank him off balance into the same pool table, in perfect time to Seishirou's fast flip backwards, creating most of the force for the pulling attack.
COMBATSYS: Seth blocks Seishirou's Leafwalking.
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Seth 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Seishirou
Wary as he was for traps, it almost seemed too easy when a simple shove sent the ninja flying...and as often is the case, such suspicions prove themselves warranted. A telltale glint of light alerts him to the impending danger, causing him to react in a way that is rather surprising - he immediately drops his weight to the ground and firmly anchors the leg closest to Seishirou. His precaution is rewarded by a suddenly painful constriction as the strangely attired man fails to gain the leverage needed to throw him across the room. Glancing downward, Seth allows himself an annoyed 'hrmph' as he reaches down with both hands, not to tie his shoe, but to grip either side of the wire and yank outward, snapping it with a small grunt of effort.
Rising once more, Seth simply extends both gloved hands to chest level and lowers his head a notch. The words are unspoken, but the message is clear. Your turn.
COMBATSYS: Seth focuses on his next action.
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Seth 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Seishirou
Ryouhara.. actually grins at that a little.
Clever.
His bodily weight and momentum provides most of the force for the wire maneuver. However. When Seth yanks against it, the response of most would be to simply halt in the air and subsequently fall on their faces. Not Seishirou, he manages to redirect his momentum by completing his flip, letting some slack open on the wiring trailing from his arm and driving a kick straight up into the air, holding his momentum in the air in an equilibrium for one instant.
Instant enough to observe.
"...Fought good ninjitsu before," he mentions placidly.
The comment's still tainted with the color of effort--a blade whips past Seth into the far wall. Another wire glints there. This time Seishirou clips the free wire--the one Seth just snapped--off by shutting the higher clasp of his arm simply. From his lower clasp, however, leads the other wire. He yanks hard. Though the weapon wasn't meant to hit Seth, it did anchor Seishirou somewhere past Seth. Allowing him to redirect his aerial momentum once again.
The product, at least, is simple. A flying kick aimed across Seth's face.
It's called 'Leafwalking' for a reason.
COMBATSYS: Seth counters Medium Kick from Seishirou with Doh-Kuzushi.
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Seth 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Seishirou
...Ninjas. Full of tricks. Seth is halfway expecting the unnamed stranger to prey on his suspicions, to throw something more mundane at him under the guise of something more complex, but it seems that the agent is thinking a few moves ahead of himself as usual. The blades fly past him quickly, far too quickly for him to dodge, but that same trait also allows him to recognize that if they were meant to hit, they would have. His attention naturally gravitates towards Seishirou himself, given that, and once again he is not disappointed. The ninja flies towards him rapidly, no doubt about it, but he's given enough of a moment's warning to judge the situation and respond accordingly.
Seth simply steps to the side and...snatches Seishirou out of the air.
He then proceeds to spin on his heels with the momentum and *HURL* the guy right into the very wall that his wires had imbedded themselves in. At least they're within convenient retrival distance now!
In the meantime, a cigarette drops from the mouth of one of the chain-smoking spectators. "Yeah, I remember why I stopped betting money on the challengers now."
Gh... hmpnh!
Seishirou slams into the wall. He hits it hard. Really hard. Hard enough to hear his back crack under the stress. And probably a section of the wall itself. Seishirou's cry comes loud as he slides down, with the fragments of what used to be a picture of dogs playing poker.
Well, they're still playing poker.
But this guy is playing hardball.
Seishirou stands slowly, shaking stars out of his head, and brushing a little bit of hair from his eyes. Hmph.
This guy was all substance, no flash. The standard suite probably wouldn't work. Not in this tight terrain. He hated to to do it, but .. well. Repair costs for the pool hall would probably be less than this guy's fee costs. Besides.
Seishirou has no problem with substance either.
Hitting the winder on his wire bangle, Seishirou only takes time enough to sniff once and go through a set of hand seals to refocus his energy, before the wire grows taut, shifting the kunai in the wall. Somewhere along the way, the wire snaps.
Because it's already headed towards Seth, a grey flicker-streak in the air.
Thrown by Seishirou, it's not just 'fast'. It's aimed at an extremely precise location just beneath the Seth's solar plexus. If Seth doesn't take immediate action, it /will/ land there and should it land exactly there.. One release seal later, Seishirou will detonate the kunai rather catastrophically inside the wound.
COMBATSYS: Seth endures Seishirou's Kunai Critical.
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Seth 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Seishirou
Good ol' Seth, he takes action. Just not always the traditional ones, such as in this case, self-preservation. He doesn't bother with dodging the flying projectile, as he's already stomping across the floor after the downed man without any hesitation. The threat of the weapon is perceived as a dismissable cost of admission - one which he shortly finds himself regretting immediately as the weapon cuts through his shirt, into his abdomen, and abruptly *explodes*, inflicting far more injury and pain to his person than he had initially anticipated. ...One would hope that something like this would be enough to make a man stop and at least clean the shards of metal out of himself.
The actual outcome is...somewhat unexpected. Before the smoke can clear, Seth is hurtling through it, eyes bulging with teeth exposed. It would seem that upset him. "Hraaaaaagh...!"
Arriving at where Seishirou was a moment ago, his arm lunges forward to try to grab the insolent ninja by his shirt and haul him forward. If successful, he has every intention of punching the man in the face repeatedly until he manages to wrench himself out of his grip. "YOU. DON'T. DISRESPECT. A. MAN'S. TIE. LIKE. THAT. YOU. LITTLE. PUNK."
...Oh, yeah. It looks like that explosion ruined Seth's tie. This could turn into a bloodbath.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou blocks Seth's Combo Throw.
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Seth 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Seishirou
.. Well.
That was certainly unexpected.
While Seishirou knew the explosion would mar some clothing, he hadn't expected to take it quite so hard. As a result, Seishirou takes it equally hard. Battered about the head pretty hard, Seishirou finally displays /just why/ he's wearing that headband. When you're being pummelled in the face, bringing it in the way of your opponent's fist is a good block while you think of something else to do.
Ryouhara, however, is well aware that even trusty steel plate probably isn't going to protect his face or his braincase for very long. He endures. But he doesn't plan to do so for long.
Head spinning, he can only perform one jutsu, one that forms in a milky-white kind of smoke drifting from his hand. This he will, very simply and without any pretense, attempt to slam into Seth's upper shoulder, more specifically, the one connected to the arm holding him. The ninja doesn't.. quite try and wriggle free. No.
Because of that lands, it will take of another handseal later to activate the Ryuuouin seal. That seal, slapped onto the body in athe shape of the same clan sigil that's displayed on his back.. gathers heat energy when activated. It gathers Seishirou's heat chi and sinks past the opponent's defense and into their body, burning all the way.
There, it will overload with chi.
Inside the body, it will explode.
The idea? Seth, even enraged, probably doesn't want a piece of what Seishirou has in his hand. He probably knows this as well as Seishirou does. Two options. Be more iron than any man prior, drop the ninja.. or.. drop the ninja. Only one of these solutions involves having a properly working arm afterwards.
COMBATSYS: Seth fails to interrupt Ryuuouin EX from Seishirou with Ashi-Tori.
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Seth 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
Which isn't to say Seth doesn't catch wind that something is going on here. The arm that was prior to this moment administering punches abandons its task for the moment to swing to the side, a basic deflection maneuver that works surprisingly well given just how solid the arm is. Unfortunately, that just doesn't mean much in a situation like this where speed is what counts. Seth drops to one knee in preparation for his next strike regardless, but he doesn't get the chance to capitalize on it.
With the explosion, Seth is sent flying backward away from the ninja and into yet another pool table, splintering into toothpicks and sending colorful balls scattering across the floor in all directions. Also, scratch one shirt - the sleeve and torso are ruined beyond mending at this point, and one suspender looks dangerously on the edge of being eaten halfway through. Stunned for a moment, the man is quick to roll forward out of the wreckage with a grunt, fully aware that how quickly he recovers his feet has everything to do with whether or not this will constitute as an opening the ninja can capitalize on.
Enraged? No, not him. Blind rage interferes with his objectives. He instead takes a deep breath of air through his nostrils and lets it hiss out through his lips, the acrid odors burning his throat but achieving the desired calming effect all the same.
The ensuing explosion launches Seishirou in the opposite direction. His own shirt, though not ruined, is certainly scarred by the event. After all. He didn't have much time to plan to be clear. Wriggling out of the way would have reduced his defensive position to nothing. Best to force the enemy away.
Now. While Seth may not be enraged?
Ryouhara sniffs direly, wiping his lip free of some stray blood.
Seishirou's /face/ would beg to differ.
Regardless. This is not a time to let up. Many would simply ocunt on the ninja taking a moment to regain his perspective, to regather himself after the pummeling. To say something pithy. That's not a rhythm Ryouhara is committed to upholding. You see, his eye has told him something. Something he'll make use of now. His hands blurring through another set of complex gestures. He won't let up. Instead, he purses his lips and breathes outward through the last handseal.
As if the ninja held a massive flamethrower in his hands, he'll fill Seth's half of the room in the boiling heat of dragon's breath-style fire. The stamina expenditure for the jutsu is troubling. But it is necessary.
Else Seth is just going to crush him and go home.
That would be terribly anticlimactic.
COMBATSYS: Seth negates Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu from Seishirou with Large Thrown Object.
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Seth 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
As luck would so happen, this is in fact a pool hall. Where one pool table lies smashed by the force of his impact, others are conveniently a few steps away. A single brow arches upward as the man's hands begin convulsively flowing through a series of gestures. Now, Seth has fought ninjas before in his line of work, but that doesn't mean he can actually read these things and understand the meanings of them. He just sort of invents a few of his own definitions on the fly.
The first three, hrm. If that last attack was any indication, 'hurts alot'.
The next few are a bit troublesome to analyze, but fortunately he also has Seishirou's adjustment of posture to help him with context clues. 'Not giving you much space to work with' looks about right.
When the sea of fire starts encroaching on his side of the room, he's already at the table. Despite the injury taken to his arm, it's still not asking too much of his body to heft it upwards and use it as a shield. The table stands against the initial test of the blaze (if you ignore the immediate combustion of the green felt), withstanding the attack for a good three seconds before the general heft of his shield begins to suggest that it's losing its structural integrity. Making a spot decision, Seth simply hurls it in what he believes is the ninja's direction -- only for it to incinerate in midair. ...Thankfully, by that point Seishirou seems to have run out of breath.
Ninjas. Pfeh.
A burning hulk of cinders crashes into the ground at Seishirou's feet. By now, pool implements have scattered everywhere, in various levels of 'on fire.' But his opponent is not included in that list, and it chafes him significantly.
Seishirou frowns. He should have guessed that. All in all, a waste of chi. He'd need to be more careful from here on.
Still, he understands now. His opponent is a simple fighter. A lot of the time, the simple things are the most effective. But this comes at a cost. Ryouhara's victory will depend on his ability to capitalize on the cost paid without maneuvering himself into a situation where he is at Seth's mercy. He'll need some time to get into position for a proper tactic.
His hand snaps back. His wrist twitches, and then, connected to a wire, a pool cue flips easily into the ninja's hand. He has to be careful of the resources he has available. And make use of what he has here--the more implements he uses against Seth, the less chance Seth can use them against him.
Establishing an eerie kind of military rhythm, the ninja sky-bridges his free hand back. And starts flipping the still-flaming pool balls into the air.
And with that dead eyed precision, begins to take well-aimed pool shots at Seth.
A delaying tactic?
COMBATSYS: Seth fails to interrupt Thrown Object from Seishirou with Irimi-Nadazuki.
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Seth 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
Well, it's not like Seth doesn't *try*. Lowering his brow once more, the older man simply shakes his head, eying the objects in the air...and picking the moment that looks just right, he makes his move, sprinting forward at first only to dive downward onto his back in a sneaky attempt to slide *under* the barrage and unleash some punishment for these annoying stall tactics. Seth does not particularly like long fights, you see. Nor does he like fighting much at all these days, but if he has to do it, it may as well be brief.
Ah, but that damn ninja, he's just too clever. A number of the projectiles are sent crashing down into his trajectory all at once to make a nuisance of themselves, making it far too easy for his opponent to keep his distance and avoid unscathed.
Annoyance level rising.
Strategic battery of pool balls in critical locations will interfere with any attack.
More or less, Seishirou is able to mostly keep him buttoned down and in one spot. Howeve,r it's only a matter of time until Seth breaks through his assault. Or he runs out of pool balls to throw. Either way, it'd result in violence.
A small change of tactics is necessary. Seishirou's bridge hand twitches, imparting some upwards momentum on the pool cue. Then, from his opposite shoulder, he javelins the cue at Seth.
As far as Seishirou can tell, it alone will do minimal damage.
The custom-shaped pack gunpowder charge *attached* to the back end of the pole however.
That'll explode into the grain of the wood. And turn it from a vaguely painful blunt object, to a very well-aimed splinter missile. This, shaped in a tight spray, may do some damage. Further, Seishirou's not willing to throw projectiles at Seth, and then hand him the means which he needs to return them.
Ryouhara is hardly willing to bet that he's better at war pool than this guy is.
COMBATSYS: Seth interrupts Large Thrown Object from Seishirou with Sho-Yoh.
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Seth 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Seishirou
A pretty good assumption. One would not want to gamble on where Seth would be likely to put that object -- or probably be conscious for the process for that matter. On the other hand, it appears that the agent has decided that these little games are starting to annoy him. Hail of blunt objects be damned. He's finishing what he started.
Charging through the wave of splinters, twisting to the side so that he takes the minimum of damage necessary, he gets close enough to swing one arm forward just outside of Seishirou's dance range. Whew, that was close, he almost hit!
...Except it would seem that this man might not be such the one-trick pony after all. What travels in the wake of his fist's motion is an invisible wave of bladed chi that tears through the ninja's chest, returning some of the laundry bill from earlier to its point of origin. "Hraaaaaaagh!!"
He isn't far behind. No, he isn't letting this guy get far away from him again.
Troublesome.
Though some of the splinters hit, Seishirou knew that with the current momentum of the mercenary, he wouldn't have a ice cube's chance in Hell of slowing him down. One step back. Then Seth lets loose with a very fast arm swing. Two sleps back. That was.. easy.
Too easy.
Seishirou has chance enough to glance downwards.
An eruption of blood and fabric undoes the intricate sash tyings at his waist, sending the ninja slipping back and away from Seth at a sudden explosion of equal parts speed and surprise. The ninja catches what's left of his sash in a single hand, the shredded attire swinging stiff and slow back towards the ninja with the motion. For an instant, Seishirou is silent, mildly concerned.
"..Nice," he finally manages.
He wasn't expecting that. Now he's only got his fire veil at his waist, secured somewhere underneath his shirt. Notably, underneath his sash... he is wearing normal if baggy cargo pants, no matter how ninja they might have seemed prior. THey're even held up with a belt. But his shirt.. well. THat's... very shredded right now. And very bleeding. But Seishirou hardly has time to worry about it.
He is currently doing his level best to at once look for an opening to make in move in these close quarters.. and avoid getting his face smashed in as a direct consequence. Both concern him equally.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou focuses on his next action.
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Seth 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Seishirou
Ahah. Now that's the way he prefers this guy. Wary and on his guard, looking for an opening. Seth much prefers battles of this nature. However...however...as much as his plan was to press the advantage of this point, the lapse in the battle place allows him an opportunity to consider something previously unaddressed for the last ten minutes. By his count he has at least three fragments of kunai imbedded in his stomach and six sizable splinters of pool cue on his arm and shoulder. The chi-blasted arm, well, there's not much to do about that on the spot. The rest is hindering his operational efficiency.
Consequently, Seth's reaction to being circled and analyzed for an opening...
...Is to begin removing various shards of metal and wood from his person an a rather dignified and laid back manner.
he also goes as far as to begin smoothing out his ruined shirt and tie when Seishirou still hasn't attacked him yet. Any moment now.
COMBATSYS: Seth gains composure.
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Seth 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Seishirou
Ryouhara glances once at Seth's preparations and cares taken. Seishirou himself--well. Most of the things impeding on his operational efficiency.. are mostly the aftereffects of Seth pounding him like a fine beef and Seth's deadly chi attack. There's not much he can do about that without rewinding time.
That's for later.
Seishirou's eyes are studying, dire, watching Seth's every move carefully. Watching.. Watching for potential attacks? Openings presented? Mn. Once Seth recovers himself, he seems to lose interest in doing so.
He slides his hands into his pockets.
"Watch your back."
Seth was correct. Seishirou's attack was inevitable. But the vector..
The voice comes from behind Seth.
Though Seishirou stands not too far from Seth and is in full view, one could very, very easily make the mistake that the Seishirou standing behind Seth is the ninja himself, simply leaving that Seishirou there as an afterimage. Unfortunately, no. Normal Ryouhara nin aren't known for exploding like a firebomb, like the unstable duplicate that tries to grab Seth from behind and detonate suicidally does.
Seishirou himself is.. patiently standing there. Hands still in pockets.
Sometimes, he doesn't have to find an opening.
COMBATSYS: Seth blocks Seishirou's Kawarimi Crisis.
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Seth 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Seishirou
Naturally, the truth was that Seth was carefully analyzing his opponent during that entire display. This fact probably did not escape Seishirou's attention. It was a good gamble that this *surprisingly* studious mauler of face and limb would still be unable to compensate for an attack from behind.
Yet compensate he does.
He hears a voice behind him. The original ninja remains in front of him. The combination of the audible clue and the sense of the unstable chi behind him is enough warning - barely enough, but just so. Seth's reaction is to crouch and actually spring *forward*, the double detonating behind him but...sadly...doing very little more than propelling him forward and adding a few more shreds to his shirt, this time the back. At least it's a little more uniformly torn now.
Also, the springing forward wasn't just an evasion maneuver. The larger man's arms swing wide in mid-step...is Seth going to hug him? No. His intention is to deliver a ringing slap to either side of the ninja's head, but it wouldn't end there. As if more cranial abuse wasn't enough, he would then proceed to use that purchase to fall backward onto his shoulder blades and send the ninja flying.
Into another goddamn wall.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou counters Tomoe Nage from Seth with Calculated Tactics.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Seth 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Seishirou
That's impressive.
Seishirou wasn't expecting Seth to be able to properly compensate for that. He had even taken the greatest care to interrupt him when his facade was at the most vulnerable. The truth, of course, was that Seishirou fully expected this to be a facade. That's why he didn't bother to attack with his own body--in his condition, it would have been worthless. He'll need to be careful not to underestimate Seth in the future. That'll be twice the mercenary has performed above and beyond his own expectations.
However. Don't let it be said that Seishirou is someone easy to catch with his pants down.
As the youth stands there, hands stuffed in pockets, one might notice the sash he still holds, wrapped around his right hand. He didn't bother to use it to bandage up his middle, because he was preparing a backup plan just in case Seth handled his bunshin attack better than expected.
Therefore it may be mildly unsurprising to Seth when Seishirou.. does not flinch when the huge man comes barreling in towards him like a giant black creampuff man-rocket. He does not flinch. He just takes his hand out of its pocket.
.. It swung stiffly ..
.. Not like stiffened cloth. But now, with the benefit of hindsight, like something that was loaded with a very heavy weight in it. Something which Seishirou took the utmost care to keep out of the eye of suspicion.
That cloth is now whipped around, the iron weights in it clear now that Seishirou swings them faster, and more than once. With his free hand, he makes the release seal as he lets the ninjutsu morning-star come around to fly at Seth's head. Inside the sash, a prepared seal glows.
"Kai!"
As with most things that Seishirou touches, the iron weight explodes into a fireball just before impact as it catches. He has only the benefit of his aura and many flame-retardent cloths to keep the sash (and the rest of his outfit) mostly intact.
...And so, Seth is sent careening back again, this time taking an explosion in the head of cloth, iron weights, and more firey chi. He stumbles backward, clawing at his eyes for a moment - mostly to clear his eyelids of lingering soot - and finds himself with a gap between himself and the ninja again.
"..."
Suddenly, the man pauses. Clearly an idea occured to him.
Clearly this is not a good thing for Seishirou, because the man is suddenly grinning.
He's also drawing the gun holstered at his left hip.
"Your turn. Dance!"
*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*
COMBATSYS: Seishirou dodges Seth's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Seth 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Seishirou
Wh--
Seishirou is clearly offput by this. You can see it in how the ninja clearly and visibly *backs up* when Seth draws his gun. He.. frowns.
It is, in fact, the only thing he can do before Seth begins to fire and Seishirou is forced to act. In all due speed, the boy blurs--quite an impressive feat, considering the amazing amount of force Seth has levelled on him in a very short amount of time. This is, of course, no doubt the result of much livery amongst the many bar patrons who are simply *too tough to leave in the middle of a fight*. After all, how often is it one sees a ninja run up and across the wall to escape bullets? Yet there it is, and there he goes, dragging the sash--still flaming--along with him. Seishirou is going to end this, one way or another. After all. He's committed.
He isn't gonna run out on that.
Bracing on the wall, the ninja kicks off, fast and low, stopping only for an instant on the ground. He seems to be looking to whip the gun out of Seth's hand--anre more importantly, make a very good attempt at breaking his arm underneath the flaming weight. To go in with full commitment. .. If he can do that, he might finish this favorably.
COMBATSYS: Seth fails to counter Calculated Tactics from Seishirou with Doh-Kuzushi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Seishirou 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Seth can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Seishirou 0/-------/----===|
Seth was in turn ready for this - he had every in intention of snatching the ninja out of the air again and giving him another good spanking, but it's a much harder feat to repeat this time since one of his arms was the subject of a point blank *explosion* of that magnitude. He's set up for the catch, but...but...at this point, his arm just doesn't have that sort of badness left in it. At this point it's a very good thing that Seth decided to go with the sensible choice and take aim with his more operable arm, because Seishirou just comes crashing into ruin THAT ARM's business as well. The arm starts to twist in a very uncomfortable way, and at that point he knows that it's checkmate. Two bum arms just isn't worth it, and he's willing to call it quits before this one is broken. "Alright. ALRIGHT, already! Damn kids. I'll need that arm if I'm going to give you the goddamn file."
Seth is a dignified man, he's not going to say that he was off his game due to jetlag, he's just going to give the crazy kid his information and let him do what he will with it. ...He only carries copies of the original documents with him in his folder anyway.
True to his word, when released Seth does pull himself up off the ground, dust himself off with a twinge of pain at the effort, and walk over to the pool table where this all began. From the ball tray, he produces a folder. Nice hiding place. After flipping through it for a moment, he withdraws two sheets of paper and extends them over to the ninja. "Here, Seishirou. I figure that's you, it'd make the most sense. You can have the info, but I can't promise to stay off the case for long. I'll buy you a little time to do things your way, but you've got a month. That's the cutoff."
The iron weight smashes into the ground, the fire on it only fading at the expense of Seishirou's further jutsu. He doesn't seem to change outwardly. But in the piercing silence after the man finally gives his assent, his breath can be heard.
Slow, methodical, controlled. .. Labored.
He is tired. Exceedingly so. The expense of the tactics necessary to gain his end was a sheer fatigue beyond most of his fights. It took 110% to even take this much from Seth. But then again. 110% is exactly what he was prepared to give.
Making a quiet sound of approval at the hiding place (A work desk as much as it was a pool table? Seishirou would have never guessed.) the boy accepts the sheets silently. There is no gloating. Even if he wasn't too tired for it, he doesn't bother to even look faintly smug. He's since outgrown the behavior. And besides. This is.. merely business. No ego tied up in it. That was the cleanest fight.
He studies the papers for a moment, peering up over them, suspicious through one eye that is *going* to be black and swollen in a few minutes. It only lasts a moment before he nods in satisfaction, tucking the papers into the satchel at his back, a brief look of ... wonder crossing his face. "So you know my name," Seishirou suggests. "Proof that your information-gathering skills aren't wanting." The day that Arinori died was the defining moment in his entire existence. But it was hardly a defining moment for his target.
He'll give silent assent to the window. Four weeks will be enough.
He does, however, withdraw a sheaf of cash from his pocket. He counts out bills onto the nearest (intact) pool table, trying to keep his vision straight. He counts them out into neat stacks.
One stack. "For the pool tables. Carpet. And paint."
A second stack. "....Sorry about the tie."
Hey now, that wasn't what Seth saw coming his way. It looks like the ninja managed to surprise him once before the night was over anyway! "It's nothing new to this place, but usually someone ends up on the floor and their wallet pays the tab. The owner will be happy." ...
Then Seishirou gives him a wad of bills for his tie. You have absolutely no idea just how much of a reputation boost Seishirou just got in Seth's book. A man's tie is holy and sacred. A person who can appreciate a tie is a downright solid fellow in his book. "Well. That's downright gentlemanly of you."
Producing a pen from the folder, he tears off the corner of a sheet of paper, scribbles a note on it, and hands it over as well. "There's something extra. It'll save you some trouble if you need info from someone else."
'IOU: 1 dirty secret on a street-peddling scum of your choice. -Seth'
Well. It's not like Seishirou is a terrible tie-hating fellow.
It's just business. Nothing personal. The tie was.. an innocent bystander.
Of course, Seishirou prefers not to think of it that way. If he begins thinking in terms like that, Koganei would have won. Call it.. honor. A simple enough idea for Ryouhara to wrap his head around, even in this state.
With only a simple nod, the ninja was actually halfway on his way out when Seth returns, prompting the ninja to look over curiously to accept the slip. He will regard it in much better airs that one might regard a very small diamond. After all. Saving one another from a mutual beating? That's golden.
He doesn't say anything immediately, Ryouhara. Instead, he just raises the slip high and gives a faint nod, as if to honor and thank Seth at once. Then he pockets it too. And, instead of saying anything of it--to do so would dishonor it--just glances past the mercenary. ".. Hey. You can probably make game in four shots," he mentions, of the pool table.
He only needs one glance.
Provided he isn't given any further reason to stay, he'll make his way out.
It'll probably be some time later when he's far down the street that Seishirou will bother wrapping the sash around his waist to control his bleeding. "Guy hurts bad," is his last observation for the day. Before he finds a comfortable spot to land face-first and sleep.
Seth glances down at the pool table. Six was his estimate. But sure enough, he analyzes it a little further...no, there is no shot that can get it in five, but sure enough, there *is* a possibility for four. "Damn. Out-read by some punk kid of a ninja. ...You're gettin' old, Seth. "
In the meantime, one man alone at the betting table is cackling with glee. "I won, I won!! 500:1 odds on tha kid inna dress! You ALL have to pay up, bitches!"
In unison, all heads turn toward the newcomer. No word is spoken. They all just...stand at once, and walk over to that side of the table.
Looks like the tab is getting paid tonight after all.
Log created on 23:32:17 04/13/2007 by Seishirou, and last modified on 16:58:15 08/01/2007.