Neo League 401 - #417: Rock vs Akira

Description: Akira comes across Rock Howard on his way home from the hospital. Eager to get his edge back after losing on SNF to Yamazaki, Howard agrees to her Neo League request. Ready, fight! (Winner: Akira)



It's been twenty-four hours since the shot heard round the world. Or rather, since Rock Howard was stabbed in the chest by an insane hitman in the employment of his father, Geese Howard. But he's got great genetics and the willpower of champions. While bandaged, he was medically cleared to both fight and leave the hospital early in the morning, a little after sunrise.

He walks out of Southtown Hospital now, a bag over his shoulders, a hat on his head. He's trying to look inconspicuous and avoid the looming paparazzi that are hanging around the hospital's parking garage and main entrances. It seems to work because he times his exit with the arrival of two ambulances. They are a good distraction.

Turning the corner from the hospital, he heads up the street. He's not wearing his usual clothing, sporting instead a pair of black warm-up pants and a white t-shirt. His bloody coat is in his bag and will probably need to be replaced. Gedo High looms on the horizon, but Rock pays it no heed. He just wants to get as far away from Southtown as possible. Maybe take another trip to Seattle or Metro City to compete in some tournaments /far/ away from his father's influence.

About that time ago, Akira was admitted to Southtown Hospital for multiple concussive injuries to her head and body. She got out a little earlier and took a motorcycle trip all over the place before being called back to take some more tests to make sure she didn't get any infections after that big beating. Riding in on her cycle, Akira and Helmet Of Doom drives down the street---and stops suddenly as the driver sees Rock Howard.

"Woah, hey there." Akira comments, "It's the Champ."

Rock stops his slow protagonist walk up the sidwalk. The stratosphere glows bright pink behind him, the beginnings of the morning creeping out across the Tokyo horizon. Adjusting his duffle bag, his head tilts over to watch the loud motorcylce zoom by. When it stops, his eyes thin, anticipating the worst.

It takes him a few seconds to recognize the source. Brightening considerably, he cracks one of the first smiles he's felt in a week. "Akira Kazama," he says, turning to face her. He's fought the girl before and considers her a worthy opponent and all around good person. Her brother kicked his ass once, though, so that's the rub. "What're you doing here?"

Akira takes a moment to remove her helmet, sliding her legs over so she's sitting on the cycle more like a bench or a chair. She looks sidways at Rock for a few moments, smiling back as she shakes out her hair. "I had a hard fight with Makoto and Heavy D!," Somehow she makes the ! not a punctuation mark despite being a punctuation mark, "They wanted me to come back for final checkups. How about you? From that last fight, right? Was pretty cheap, you think?" She saw the news, but she doesn't know if it was a PR stunt or what.

Rock frowns. He wishes he got into an epic fight with Makoto and Heavy D! rather than his gruesome battle with Yamazaki and Raiden. He wishes he wasn't going to have a continuous reminder of this fact emblazoned on his stomache in the form of a two inch stabbing scar. Even when he'd get bloody in a good tumble with Kurow, it wasn't like the kid was shooting his claws into his spine. Say what he will about Kirishima, that guy at least used his weapons to fight -- not to kill.

"Yeah, I just got discharged after that business. Avoid that guy, he's high on meth or something and doesn't feel any pain, if you can," Rock says, feeling big brotherly. "I mean, I wouldn't even have cared if he declared the knife before hand. But he just pulls it out when I get in close and shanks me. Total bullshit."

"SNF is like street fights'n'stuff," Akira shrugs a shoulder, though she seems pretty sympathetic because of the power of friendship, "I mean, some people fight with honor and all that, but others'll try to kill you. But in real fights, it's the same way." She fusses with her hair a little more ebfore adding, "But I'll try--I have had a lot of good experiences with SNF lately, but I'm gonna stop if I get too many more fights with people who are just plain mean about it all." Not that Akira doesn't have her moments of cockiness and typical fighter slang, but she's pretty light compared to most people out there. "Your dad doesn't seem to like you very much."

Rock thinks about Geese Tower. He thinks about the satisfaction of his knuckles cracking against Geese Howard's jaw. He thinks about the cooling sensation of justice he felt when his elbow exploded into his ribs and when the Reppuken lit him on fire. He looks back at Akira and grins, not commenting on the last comment. "That's a good philosophy. I like that you keep things simple, Akira, and I hope your head is okay."

Since the girl seems to want small talk, Howard's ready to move along. He slings his bag back over his shoulder and looks up the sidewalk. It's a long walk to his secret hotel room and he's not looking forward to it. He wishes he had an awesome motorcycle built by Daigo or something to get around town.

Akira is quiet for a while, watching Rock--then her hands. She twiddles her fingers. She could be thinking about anything, but it's making her rather thoughtful as well. The motorcycle is more Akira than Daigo right now--Akira is a fanatic. "Do you need a ride?" She asks, "I mean, I could skip the whole test stuff, I don't get sick after fights--and I could take you somewhere." POSSIBLY TO A FIGHT?! Then again, this might be a better place for a Neo League match since the hospital is right HERE.

The notion of a free ride does sound appealing. Rock looks over at the motorcycle, giving it an appraising, careful regard. But then again, riding on the back of a bike as a girl cruises across Southtown -- after getting shanked and beaten on international TV just one day ago -- doesn't sound appealing. There would be talk; it'd range from innuendo to jests at Rock's manliness.

"Sorry," he says, holding up a palm at the girl. "I'll just walk. It'll give me some time to think about stuff."

Akira nods slowly to Rock, "Alright, well, if you're sure..." She hefts up the helmet, and puts it on her head--as if preparing to leave. But of course, the Helmet has a kind of POWER. Ia Ia Helmet! She is quiet for a moment before adding, "But how 'bout this?" She turns back to look at Rock, "You want a real challenge, one on one, no tricks or anything?"
Rock stops after two steps and looks back at Akira. He can't really seem to get twenty feet through Southtown without someone alluding to a fight. Either people talk about it or people challenge him to new ones. Just the other day he was eating dinner at a nice restaurant and this creepy fat kid jumped in, asked for an autograph, and then started punching him!

But Rock can play the game. Catching her connotation, he breaks into his third grin. He's not sure why this girl is making him smile so much today. It might just be nice to have a fairly normal and /mundane/ conversation with a normal and balanced human being for the first time in what feels like years. "I always like a challenge," he admits, leading her into it."

That Akira is normal compared to many fighters is a little terrifying, but it's the truth. Sure, she acts very differently with the helmet on than without it, but it's not even multiple personality disorder! And if it's not MPD then that's not even approaching half the weirder fighters out there. Akira may have a cruel side but that's to be expected of any fighter and it's not really all that cruel, and ditto for her weirdness level.

Maybe Akira finds Rock's evil boiling blood intriguing. "They say Neo League was formed precisely because people were cheesed off about SNF. 'Course, now everybody does both." She hops off her bike and pushes it out of the way. "Got a terrible record at it, but I think I gave good fights." Except against Roberto of all people, "You in?"

She hops up and down a little to make sure her injuries hae healed, more or less. She doesn't get the fat kid.

Rock isn't sure if he should be fighting so soon after being hospitalized. He feels fine. But he knows that his stomache is bandaged and stitched. It's an obvious weakness another skilled fighter could take advantage of. Then again, with his particular fighting style...

It takes him about five seconds of rationale to work this all out. Satisfied, he immediately sets his duffle bag down. It hits the sidewalk with a mild thunk. He adds his Terry Bogard Official Licensed Replica hat to the pile and then bends down to pull something out of the bag's side pocket.

Sliding his fighting gloves on, right hand and then left, he stretches his fingers. They still fit. Head bobbing to himself once, he stands back up and runs a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he says, lining up to face Akira. "Let's do it!"

COMBATSYS: Rock has started a fight here on the right meter side.

                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Rock


Akira is also recently recovered, though her injuries are more 'general' than any particular weak point. Will Akira take advantage? Depends on if Rock takes advantage of his own weakness by leaving it the only open spot she can strike at!--but otherwise she'll probably leave it be. She doesn't charge ahead immediately, instead taking a glance to the Terry Bogard Official Liscenced Genuienely Authentic Replica Hat and then back to Rock. "Alright--I'm ready!--and I hope you are, cause here I come!"

And so saying--she dashes forward, moving in close and and trying to grab Rock by his upperbody--and chuck him to the ground, back first (Rather than face first)!

COMBATSYS: Akira has joined the fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Akira            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Rock


COMBATSYS: Rock counters Houbu from Akira with Gedan Crack Counter.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Akira            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0             Rock


Rock's eyes also momentarily stray to the Terry Bogard Official Licensed Replica Hat Size 7 and Three Quarters Inches because it is such an awesome trucker hat. It's hard to resist it. It's like it's constantly drawing you in, asking you to put it onto your head and feel it's triple-stained seude lining. Rock almost reaches for it.

Then he remembers he's in Neo League fight. He takes that very seriously. He values his position as #1 in Neo League far more than he valued his Saturday Night Fight title belt. It's a pure league, driven by fighters who just want to fight each other. It's not a corporate machine and it's not something that lines his father's pockets. It's the perfect outlet.

Akira comes barreling in at Rock but he reacts smoothly. His hands shoot out to grapple Akira's oncoming grasp, meeting her with his own strength briefly. It serves to stall her tackling throw attempt and gives him just enough time to test his reflexes and see if there is lingering pain from his chest wound. Throwing his arms down, he sends all his strength down his legs to perform an open, arcobatic, flip over the girl. As he arcs around, he sends a besneakered shoe for the back of her behelmeted head. It thuds with a satisfying noise.

He lands and turns around, hand touching his bandages beneath his t-shirt, to see if anything feels loose.

Maybe it lines Ken's pockets, but Ken's cool because he doesn't have henchman, Ryu excepted. You don't see Ken with the psychological issues. He is an hero.

Akira is made to look really pathetic as she's nabbed midcharge, and kicked in the back of her head by Rock's foot of TERROR. She stumbles briefly but turns it in a twist around before she falls--it hurt, but she can't go down now--not against Rock. She has to keep up the offensive!--which she does by turning back and dashing for Rock again, aiming to smack him in the upper chest with the full force of her shoulder--rather than the stomach where the wound is. Of course, that doesn't mean it won't hurt if she manages to connect with it--Rock might want to watch out. "That's pretty good." She swallows--Rock's probably a better fighter than last time, what with all the championships and all.

COMBATSYS: Rock blocks Akira's Gate Shoulder.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Akira            0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0             Rock


But Rock survives it. He doesn't even wince from the pain near his bandages. And with Akira in close and intimate, his eyes thin and he finds a spot to strike. Taking a planting step forward, he throttles all his strength down through his body, letting his momentum carry his elbow on a brutal path towards the girl's sternum.

COMBATSYS: Akira fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Rock with Quick Throw.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Akira            1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Rock


Akira tries to take advantage of the opportunity--braces herself, raises her hands and...

Oh, he's going for the sternum, that's a completely different place on the body. Ouch.

Akira collapses with a thunk and twitches in pain before turning around, and hopping back up to her feet again--breathing out.

Rock rises back up after his awesome elbow smash. He loves to hit with elbows. Half his offensive strikes are based off of various strikes with one elbow or another. He even adapted Terry Bogard's famous Burn Knuckle into an elbowing assault. It worked on Geese Howard. It can work on anyone!

But with some space between him and Akira now, he takes a moment to breath. Two options flash through his mind. He picks the safer option, keep his advantage. Keep his offense. Slamming a foot into the cement, his fingers curl and then he thrusts his arm out and up. Chi suddenly bristles along it, a shear of energy ripping off it with the famous cry of, "REPPUKEN!"

COMBATSYS: Akira blocks Rock's Reppuken.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Akira            1/--=====/=======|===----\-------\0             Rock


This time, Akira is ready! She brings her arms up and takes the chi across her arms--crying out in frustration as it burns her arms. This guy's doing a lot better this time than last time! She has to start bringing in the pain or she'll really be in trouble! Comparatively.

Youch." She comments, "Were you going easy on me last time?" Akira taps her foot thoughtfully, considering how to proceed--but then decides to go for a kick this time--dashing in as if she was GOING to go for a throw--but instead lashing out with her foot for Rock's legs, hoping to sweep him off his feet! "I can't do those energy jahoozits easily." She comments.

COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Rock with Light Kick.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Akira            1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0             Rock


Akira's resolve to fight harder appears to be working. "I always try my best," Rock Howard says back to her, shielding his eyes with a forearm as the Reppuken explodes into a shower of chi-imbued light around the girl. This attracts the attention of the people a half a block up the road who were waiting for Rock at the hospital. The paparazzi engine whines to line, cameramen exploding like zombies out of the gated hospital parking lot behind the two fighters.

Howard ignores it. He has more pressing issues, like the oncoming Akira. Guessing she is going to try a variation of her earlier attack, Rock mimics his motions before, preparing to intercept a tackle strike. When, at the last moment, he realizes it's a kick instead -- his eyes widen and he twists his hips. Akira's leg strikes true despite his efforts, sweeping through his legs like tree saplings, and sending Rock slamming down onto his back.

He looks up at the girl for a moment, then reacts. Kicking his body in, he rocks on his back and then springs forward into a diving roll to get out of her threat zone. Coming out of it, he spins around and readopts his usual fighting stance. "Whew. Nice one."

COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Akira            1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0             Rock


Akira isn't paying much attention to them either. As long as they watch and don't drive into her or anything, Akira has tunnel vision. TUNNEL VISION FOR ROCK HOWARD. As Rock moves to try and get his stance back together, Akira keeps moving, throwing a really basic punch for Rock's upper chest--and perhaps just to keep Rock guessing, doesn't twist it into a throw or a kick or anything of the sort! It's just a punch heading for you, Rock!

"Thanks!" Akira replies, "But you've still got the upper hand here--so I'm gonna give you my fist!"

She's been spending a lot of time with Kyokugen. Yeah.

COMBATSYS: Rock blocks Akira's Strong Punch.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Akira            1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0             Rock


Rock's player takes a ridiculously long amount of time thinking about how to react. Meanwhile, Howard zeroes in on Akira's technique. It has a lot in common with her older brother, Daigo, and Rock's never forgotten his fights with that kid. He's one of the few people Rock has fought several times that has always gotten the better of him. When Akira fights like him, just pure punching and pie, Howard at least knows what to expect.

Her knuckles whistle towards him and his forearm is there to smash into her own in deflection. Bone meets bone and makes a terrible noise. It makes the paparazzi cringe, but these are two professional fighters. They can endure this as nothing more than a mild sting.

With Akira in close, Rock recoils and does something unexpected. The girl mentioned she wasn't strong with chi -- that makes sense because Daigo isn't either. Guessing that she doesn't have much experience in /avoiding/ it either, he ignores the usual strategy his father droned into him of when to release a Reppuken. He goes right to it, pounding a foot into the sidewalk as he steps aggressively at Akira. First his right arm coils and snaps forward, then his second, in an upper-cut fashion through the air. But this time twin, glowing, blue shears of chi shoots out across the ground. At such close range, it'll be hard for the girl to avoid them!

COMBATSYS: Akira blocks Rock's Double Reppuken.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Akira            1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0             Rock


Well, Akira doesn't JUST fight like Daigo. She has copied a lot of his stuff, but also the stuff of other people. It's made her a rather well rounded fighter, all things considered, though she's ot really all that great at much of anything either.

She doesn't avoid it, perhaps surprisingly. Instead she hops over it, the chi blasting across the ground singing her legs--but failing to slam her over much or engulf her. She falls to a knee as she does so, panting for a moment--taking time to recover her breath before she straightes again, shaking her head a bit to try and force the pain out of her mind.

"That was pretty nice too," She compliments, "Hurts too, even after all that..."

COMBATSYS: Akira gains composure.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Akira            1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0             Rock


Rock trots back a few steps from Akira, letting the girl catch her breath. He needs to catch his breath too, truth be told. Firing the Reppukens takes a lot out of him. Satisfied that his distance is enough that he can react to whatever the girl throws at him next, Rock stops moving back and starts pacing on the horizontal; perpendicular to Akira, keeping his eyes on her breathing to see how hurt she really is.

The paparazzi take the moment to start snapping an insane number of photos.

"It's /supposed/ to," Rock says about the Reppukens. "Geese wouldn't have invented them if he didn't want to hurt people."

COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Akira            1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0             Rock


"Is he really that bad?" Akira asks, not knowing him at all. This is different than saying she doesn't know of him. Of course she knows OF Geese, but she doesn't know he's a evil bastard. And it's hard to imagine Rock with evil and boiling blood. "I'm not saying he's not, I just don't really know much about him." She pats her legs for a moment before straightening. She seems hurt, but not that badly off. She could go for a while longer yet, assuming she isn't obliterated into the next dimension. "Did he treat you poorly? I didn't know my parents that well..."

She then uses this moment to do something that's supposed to hurt people--namely a flying spin kick for Rock's face! Wind chi erupting across her legs as she strikes! Of course, this probably isn't as painful as a Double Repukken.

COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Rock with Dancing Cyclone Kick.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Akira            1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0             Rock


Rock has to admit that Akira has some good moves. He learned that the last time they fought when they had a double KO. She can really lay on the pounding when she's in the right frame of mind. He's not sure about the practicality of fighting with a motorcycle helmet on, but it seems to be working for her. He can punch her in the face and it'll probably hurt his hand more than her head, right?

Red eyes widen when the somersault kick is launched. He remembers it from before. He'll remember it again. Her leg twists with her body, aided by invisible chi strength, to slam into the side of Rock's head. It snaps him back, his neck twisting and his hair shooting with the ripcord whiplash. Stumbling some in both directions, Rock regains his footing and lifts a glove to his jaw. He got punched in the face by Kain earlier. Akira hits harder.

His expression conveys his approval. He doesn't need to voice it. Instead, he comes much more concerned with what she'll do next, eyes tracing her movement.

COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Akira            1/=======/=======|=======\==-----\1             Rock


That's because Kain is a whiny girl! Akira is a girl who is mistaken for male even when she isn't wearing her darn helmet by Mr. Big. Perhaps this should be taken as a compliment. She has to be proud of some things, right? Her record with the helmet seems to be better than without it--though she rarely seems to use it. Perhaps it doesn't do anything, and it's the frame of mind that gets her to put it on is what makes the difference.

Akira decides to play it safer. Rock isn't doing anything, which means he's up to something! She throws another quick jab for Rock--and that's really it. She seems to enjoy Rock's approval.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Akira            1/=======/=======|=======\===----\1             Rock


Rock stands there as Akira comes in. He can tell she's striking cautiously and he's willing to take it. Her knuckles his his sore jaw again, blasting him back like a Stallone in the final act of a Rocky movie. But it's not a terrible blow for a guy who is trained to take a punch. Rock's been taking them since he was born. Akira will notice he ignored her questions about Geese. The less he talks about that man the better.

But memories are hard to ignore. Especially when your best techniques bring them about. Fondness is not what he feels about his near year of lessons to learn what he does next. Akira came at him, like he wanted, and she extended herself to strike him. That leaves her body exposed. That leaves her open to a special symphony, a beautiful ballad of power and pain.

Deadly Rave Neo.

Rock explodes forward on a pool of power. His chi spikes visibly, his body eclipsing in a blinding blue-white glow. He comes right into her chest, his fists whistling and crackling with flowing chi. He slams them at her, one after another, a furious fussilade of punches and kicks. It's one of the fastest combos in existence. People watching it think they is no harmony, no order, just wanton destruction in a frenzy of unplanned strikes. The truth is much deeper.

It all ends with one final blow towards the chest, a spin on the heel, and the combining of both of Rock's wrists. With one final two handed thrust, chi shoots off his body into a concussive beam straight for the poor girl's core in a blinding pillar of light.

COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Akira with Deadly Rave Neo.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Akira            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0             Rock


Akira decides to tank the Deadly Rave Neo.

This is VERY STUPID. What happens to Akira is probably best not elucidated in great detail, but suffice it to say her entire body is pummeled. She is punched, kicked, punked, and smacked, and for a moment she even passes out--right until the beam slamed into her chest and obscures her form for a few moments like the end of a DBZ villain.

But it isn't over yet--Akira retaliates immediately, screaming as she does so--probably because she's in so much freaking pain that retaliating quickly is hurting her even MORE than the pure chi assault. Her own body glows with pure chi as she lashes out in something that is definately chaotic and not as skilled as Rock's Deadly Rave Neo--it's a bunch of strikes for whatever Akira can get at with her fists, allowing her chi to do most of the talking.

COMBATSYS: Akira successfully hits Rock with Destructive Barrage.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Akira            0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0             Rock


Rock Howard's body feel like it weighs three thousand pounds after he peforms a Deadly Rave Neo. Akira actually does the best thing possible in face of the explosive offense. She withstands and is still alive, she's close, and she's attacking. Even Geese Howard is exhausted in the wake of the tremendous mental focus it takes to conjure the Deadly Rave. It's a Howard's weakest point.

Akira mauls him like a grizzly to the side of a cadillac. His body bruises and batters. Several of her strikes slam into his already wounded stomach. When it all finally ends, Howard is a dozen yards up the sidewalk, body smoking, t-shirt gone, and his bandages bleeding freshly as he holds them on one knee. He'll have to get the stitches reset.

Before Akira can feel bad or anything, though, Rock shoots off his knee. He comes burning right back for her again, his body streaking with chi. "HARD EDGE!" he yells, willing Terry Bogard's Burn Knuckle technique into his own improvisation. His elbow streaks straight for Akira's core, his other hand coiling to follow it for a blow to the jaw.

COMBATSYS: Akira interrupts Hard Edge from Rock with Gate Elbow.
- Power hit! -

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Akira            0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0             Rock


Akira has THE INTENT TO KILL. It makes her more powerful. Well, not really, she doesn't want to kill Rock because he's kind of cute and is kind of a bad boy and not TOO MUCH of a bad boy. But she doesn't want to lose all her Neo League fights either.

She opens her mouth to apologize to Rock Howard for his bandages--Akira will probably have to go right back in there too, she's even more beat up than she was when she lost to Makoto--but Rock is already moving in, flying forward with Terry Bogard's signiature move! Perhaps it will make Geese giggle if he watches this and sees Akira smack Rock's fist away from her body--and then slams her elbow right into Rock's chin. Geese's own technique was a lot more useful to Rock in this fight. It's practically automatic movement, that's how smooth it is.

Akira breathes out when she's done, and tries to steady herself--and keep an eye on Rock in case he tries something desperate. She might not be able to take much herself, barely able to move--though she is standing. She looks apologetic.

Akira totally is ready for what Rock's bringing at her. She's hearing the music and pounding the same symphony. She answers his guitar riff with her hard rock crescendo and he's got nothing he can do about it. There's less than a wink of an eye that he has to react after he realizes that the girl is fully prepared for the Hard Edge.

Her own elbow starts it's path for his jaw. He knows it's going to strike. But in that narrow exchange, his elbow drawing back and her's exploding forward, Howard manages to will a final burst of chi between them. The Gate Elbow strikes, blasting Rock back. His toes lift off the ground and he lands on his back a dozen feet away from the girl. But she has two more Reppuken's to deal with.

COMBATSYS: Rock can no longer fight.

[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Akira            0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Akira blocks Rock's Double Reppuken.

[                        \\\\\\  <
Akira            0/-------/--=====|


Akira is too tired to hop about like some hyena! Insted she falls into a crouch and brings her arms up to protect her face, and her knees up to protect her body. She's still bowled over by the time the second energy burst slams into her, and she falls flat on her back--and she stares up for a moments, breathing heavily--before pulling back up to her feet.

She hobbles over to Rock to see if he's okay.

Rock's pride is more damaged than his body. Even though he'll need to get restitched and probably chastized by the Doctor, he's more worried about when he'll get a rematch against Akira. Losses never settle well! That's why he'll be champion again someday. Of Neo League. Of Saturday Night Fight. Of it all! By the time Akira is awake and over at his side, he's managed to get to one knee. He breathes deep, looks over at the girl, and nods with approval. "Good fight."

Log created on 18:00:03 06/03/2007 by Rock, and last modified on 21:35:58 06/07/2007.