Marisol - Of Resistance and Kings

Description: After Kenji's victory over Pacific Resistance member Preston, Marisol decides to pay this young upstart a personal visit--on Gedo territory. Calling him out, it would seem that neither she nor Kenji Ashima fight this battle alone... Also, witness the might power of a million power hits--and one critical hit. It's intense!



So, days after the raging battle in the Atlantic Ocean, the Missile Fist from Osaka has finally made his way back to Gedo High as the new Junior Circuit Champion and -- well, now well-known for his hilarious attire worn on the ship.

But hey, at least he made it back in time for that test.

Time has passed since then, though when he attended his first meeting after returning, the rest of the council was wearing pirate hats waiting for him. But he's taken it all in stride! So now that he's got some time free after classes at the end of the day, he's up in a classroom on the second floor with a short pile of paperwork and homework to catch up on. Having a classroom all to himself, having the time to work, and then being able to sneak out across the grounds later in order to get home... Oh yes, those are the things that the Ashima brawler covets right now.



While the school day may more or less be over, there's a buzz around campus.

It began just as the last bell for the school day rang, beginning with a flock of students hurriedly seeking out the captain of the school's Kendo team. With black eyes and bruised egos they spoke of another school's students 'breaking' onto the campus during last period and accosting them. 'Send me your champ!' they said she said, just before chunking them into a wall.

Yes, she. And they said she was not alone.

Now with the day over, there's a bit of uncertainty lingering in the air for some students. While they might not be champions, it's still some cause for alarm nonetheless; after all, no one likes a security breach in their stomping grounds, right? And the source of it all?

Standing in the center of Gedo's heart is a vivacious redhead. With her arms akimbo on her shapely hips, she wears a scowl as gray eyes survey her surroundings. While the crowd around her is relatively small, they look on with interest regardless, and not just at her thighs!

"Listen up, freaks," she says, her voice carrying over the grounds around her. "I came here for a reason, and that was to find this so-called 'Champ' you guys have been hiding. Don't think you can hide him - I know what he looks like! So do the right thing and have him show his cowardly face, or I'll punch through each and every last one of you until you cough him up."

Pausing, those eyes hood, glaring at the men gathered before her. There comes no response, save for looks of uncertainty and surprise.

"ARE YOU DEAF!?" she yells. "GET YOUR LITTLE 'CHAMPION,' RIGHT NOW!!"



The thing about Gedo, right, is that there's a heirarchy. And among the students, at the top there's Daigo, and then there's his trusted lieutenants, and then there's a lot of other dudes on the way down to the random schmoes Marisol is abusing. So in a way, you might consider certain other members of the Gedo Gang, the ones who can put up more of a fight, like... Middle management. For example, the leader of one of the gang's many subgroups, the Guardian Kings. Whatever his ego might tell him, he's not really that big of a fish in this particular pond.

But he's working on it.

The 'Champ' in question is in fact one of his teammates, and therefore, Tenma Kiryuu's responsibility. And if Mr. Secretary has other stuff to do with his student council responsibilities and the like, well, maybe certain crazy half-Irish girls are going to have to accept a substitute? Because the group of students watching her starts to part as a tall, dark-haired young man forces his way past them, a slender cloth-wrapped bundle over his shoulder. "Th' hell's goin' on out here?" Tenma wonders, chewing on a long wooden skewer. He was ENJOYING some TAKOYAKI. And not, for once, harassing Kenji about having dressed up like a pirate during that fight.

But it's pretty funny, c'mon.

As Tenma spies Marisol, his eyebrows rise slowly, and an equally paced smile crosses his face. "Oh hey, it's Red! What brings you out here, finally got tired of those boring rich boyfriends of yours? Probably a few guys 'round here desperate enough t' date ya..."



It takes a little time, but eventually the chain of rumors and stories ends up flying all the way to the Pirate King himself-- in the form of one of the underclassmen sticking his head into the door. "Ashima! There's some crazy bitch in the courtyard that's shouting for you!"

Completely confused and puzzled by this development, the student council secretary tucks his pen over his ear and closes his binder, walking to the window overlooking the yard and looking down to see who it is that's calling him out now. Who'd do something like that, anyway...? Is it because of the title and the Saturday Night Fight bout?

Popping open the window, the Gedo brawler rests his hands on the sill and leans out a little to yell back.

"WHO'S YELLIN' FOR ME?" he calls out, squinting a little bit.



Fearless and bold, the half-Irish, half-Spaniard girl stands in the center of Gedo's courtyard, looking not the least bit intimidated by how outnumber she is. And really, why should she be? She could very likely beat every single one of these peons with her eyes closed and one hand behind her back, easily.

Still, for all her shouting it really seems to get her much of nowhere. Still stared at, even after all that shouting, Marisol's gray eyes hood, annoyance clearly written across her soft, tanned features. "It's like talking to a wall," she muses aloud, but loud enough for everyone to hear her. "I see that they don't teach you idiots how to carry on conversations, either." Frowning, she begins to turn her back...

...until the crowd begins to move a little. Tilting her head ever so slightly, smoky eyes narrow, peering into the crowd. Then it becomes fairly obvious just who on earth approaches. Marisol's face falls flat.

"I said 'champ,'" she clarifies, folding her arms across her chest. "You know, winners. Not losers like you!" For the most part, Tenma's inquiry goes utterly ignored. Tossing her head instead, long red locks spill about her shoulders as Marisol softly issues a 'harrumph' of annoyance. "Figures you'd have ego enough to step up." At the mention of 'boyfriends' and 'dating,' however, she shoots him a glare.

"I'm not interested in Gedo trash!" Pausing briefly, she collects her breath.

Only, when her mouth OPENS someone else's voice breaks the silence.

Glaring up at the window, those gray eyes narrow sharply. That's him! Turning away from Tenma briefly, Marisol thrusts a finger forward and shouts, "I AM!! NOW GET THE HELL DOWN HERE YOU COWARDLY PUNK AND FACE ME!"



Guys desperate enough to date Marisol?! Why, there's one right--

Wait, wait. Preston's oar isn't an animate object.

Loitering outside of the school itself, standing on the very border between Southtown and Gedo territory, is a rather large lad. There's really no denying his presence, even so far back; he's big, he's bad, and he's built with an oar.

For the now, it seems he has little intention of interfering. With a lit cigarette in one hand and the oar slanted over his shoulders, the Brit seems happy to simply let Marisol go about her business. His presence should be an indicator as to his affiliation though, if the fact they're both Pacific students isn't enough.

Just be happy he's wearing a shirt, guys.



"Ohhh?" wonders Tenma, still chewing on that wooden skewer. "An' when was the last time you beat me one on one, eh Red?" But then Marisol gets all yelly about his dating trash-talk, and /then/ Kenji can be heard shouting from the window. His eyes roll, ever so faintly, at the redhead's return shout. "Oh for the love of... ASHIMA JUST GET DOWN HERE AND SPARE OUR EARDRUMS!!" Kiryuu adds to the shouting. "OTHERWISE THIS RED-HAIRED HAG WILL JUST DRIVE US ALL NUTS!" He's such a sweet, nice boy, Tenma Kiryuu is.

Anyway, it's about then that he does finally notice the fact that Preston is there too, his blue eyes sliding past Marisol and the remaining gathered Gedo students to spot the oar-wielder. Now that's a surprise. "What," Tenma wonders of the big Brit. "Are you here with this psychopath?" He gestures, of course, at Marisol. Well, at her butt, anyway. For some reason.



As he leans out the window to better survey, there he sees Tenma out there to talk to the fiery redhead. And as for Preston, well-- maybe he'll notice the Brit once he does something to call attention to himself. Still-- who -is- this girl?

Once it's opened and he's yelled, things become much more clear. She wants to fight him, and Tenma's nagging him now to get down there. He doesn't retort or refute the trash talk, but his shoulders sag and his head hangs with a sigh. Looking over his shoulder, those on the ground can see him look back to speak with the student in the classroom with him.

Then Kenji climbs up into the windowsill. And jumps.

Landing on his feet and dropping into a deep squat with his arms thrown out wide, the brawler bounces back up to his feet and dusts off his pants while walking over to Marisol, hands in his pockets. When not dressed as a pirate, he could be mistaken only for the moment as someone respectable-- except for things like, you know, the massive skull emblem for the school on the back of his jacket. Comfortable and casual as can be, he stops at a close-but-safe distance and lifts his eyebrows, pleasant as can be.

"Hi! Can I help you?"

Now he can see Preston-- and one hand briefly exits his pocket to wave at him before returning to safety.



"Oh shut up, Kiryuu," the girl snaps, rolling her eyes at him. When has she ever beat him one on one? She doesn't really want to remember the fact she really hasn't. Yet. "Don't you have a soup kitchen to return to or something?" Her attention isn't invested in Tenma as much today, it seems - today, she is interested in hunting down one Kenji Ashima.

Fortune smiles upon the half-Spaniard when Kenji shows himself. Shouting from a window, the girl seems mildly annoyed before SHE shouts back, causing Tenma to shout back too, likely to the dismay of, well...most people in the courtyard, evident by the flinching and plugging of ear drums. Glancing away from Kenji as he leaps from the window, Marisol glares at Tenma. "Shut UP!" she hollers, "I'm not a fuckin' hag, you retard! Go ... just get away! SHOO!" To emphasize her desires, she gestures with her hands at him.

And he goes. A part of her is feeling a little smug.

When gray eyes swivel back, Kenji is approaching. Though he seems far from hostile or unpleasant, Marisol appears unimpressed. Scowling lightly, the girl just glares. "You won?" Sizing him up, the girl circles around Kenji, eyes hooded. "Feh, you're scrawny and scraggily," Pausing, she spares a glance toward Preston, then turns them back onto Kenji.

"It was an unfair fight. I'm gonna show you and Gedo that it was all a fluke!"

And, with that...she swings right at Kenji's face with a wide smirk.

COMBATSYS: Marisol has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Marisol          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Kenji has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Kenji


Isn't that the kid who he had noodles with that one time, after knocking him into a car? Despite the outburst from his team mate towards the kid, the Brit just looks at Tenma as he starts ranting and raving and shouting up at the guy in the window. He's for some reason not surprised that the lucky devil who won that fatal four-way goes to Gedo.

Then again, he doesn't truly care. As Tenma speaks though, he follows the gesture -- and finds himself staring at Marisol's butt. There's a musing expression from the lad, before he shrugs his massive shoulders.

"I've seen too many of those fuckin' douche... dodge... doujin?" He isn't sure on the phrasing, clearly, but with a shrug he carries on. "I'm not about to leave her alone with a bunch of Jap school kids," Preston adds pointedly, as his gaze lifts from the view and back to Tenma. Yeah, he knows precisely what happens to school girls in Japanese schools, and he thinks it's sick.

He shifts the oar, slinging one arm over the weapon; it makes it easier to spring it into action, particularly as the so-called Captain comes out of the school building. The wave earns a curt nod in response. The Brit is stoic as always. But with Marisol apparently intent on defending his honor, if her phrasing is anything to go by, he not so discretely lifts the oar from his shoulder.

Her form may be what it is; he does not watch like the slack-jawed onlookers, so easily caught by Marisol's fiery temper, her confidence, her looks. Preston's gaze remains on the only other fighter with potential he can see; Tenma. Is the swordsman going to interfere?

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

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Preston takes no action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/-------|


Really, Tenma didn't go /anywhere/. He's pretty much right there, though he's now effectively behind Marisol, in her blind spot. The perfect place from which to launch a sneak attack! "Doujin? Man, you read that kinda stuff?" Kiryuu wonders of the British youth, looking rather disbelieving. "You some kinda pervert or somethin'?" Seriously, what's with all these weirdo foreigners? However, the Gedo swordsman is a bit disappointed to discover that Preston is some kind of ally of Marisol's. He seemed pretty cool, for a westerner.

As Preston's oar is unshouldered, so too is Tenma's cloth-wrapped bundle, now held casually at his side. The wooden skewer between his teeth wags up and down as he chews on it. IS he going to interfere? That's a terribly interesting and complex question. Does his faith in his teammate outweigh his desire to beat Marisol until her hair turns blonde? "Hey Mr. Secretary! Don't you go losin' to her, she's just some mouthy boxer with a nice body!" Almost a compliment? Kind of? Certainly contradicting his usual childish insults to her appearance. "I'll make sure her buddy here can't interfere none," he adds, grinning wolfishly at Preston. But who knows what might happen, in the heat of battle?

COMBATSYS: Tenma has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Preston          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Tenma assists Kenji.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Preston          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Marisol's Hook Punch.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Preston          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Tenma


Standing still as Marisol starts to circle him, he peers over his shoulder to keep track of her movements-- and, well, check her out too. While he does stare oddly at Preston-- the hell is he reading, anyway?!-- his attention is turned back to the redhead that comes back out in front of him. Marisol's fist swings around in a speedy rush, and-- *SMACK*

Though it doesn't contact with his face, the impact is far less meaty than she was expecting, no doubt. Instead, it's much more bony-- as in, his knuckles pressed to the Pacific student's own. Kenji looks a little unnerved, but his left hand is still in his pocket-- a sign of nonchalance? Or is he just not ready yet? Holding his fist in place for as long as Marisol matches resistance, the Gedo student finally takes a short step back and shakes out his fist to aleviate the protest of his fingers. "Sheesh, getting famous sucks. Tenma! I'll leave the boatman to you."

His hands emerge from his pockets, palms up and presented. "I've actually got a lot of work to do right now... so do you mind if we make this quick?"

So with one step in, his right arm lashes around for a stiff blow to Marisol's gut. Nothing too fancy, just something to knock the wind out of her.

COMBATSYS: Kenji successfully hits Marisol with Strong Punch.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Marisol          0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0            Kenji
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Preston          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Tenma


Lashing out, Marisol pulls no punches as she swings for the Gedo student. For now, Tenma has been more or less forgotten. Instead, she focuses on the fact that Kenji has more or less intercepted her attack with his fist. For a moment, Marisol seems mildly surprised. Then she just looks annoyed. And smirks as result.

"You're getting COCKY!" the girl bellows, gray eyes going wide as she stares at the young man. "And I will make you pay for that!" Pausing, the redhead looks annoyed before she suddenly adds, loudly, "And leave that asshat out of this!"

Swing he does, and his fist impacts the girl's gut. It knocks the wind out of her briefly, but, slowly, those full pink lips pull into a gradual smirk. "Is that it?" she asks, hooding her eyes as she glares up at the boy.

Rather suddenly the girl swings both fists, two hooks delivered at Kenji's face before she pulls back and twists her body at the waist. It allows her to come at him with both fists rather swiftly, to slam him in the torso with both at the same time. "HAAAH!"



Preston just squints down at Tenma as he accuses him of being some kind of pervert. Really now, didn't he say he was here to protect Marisol? Despite his affiliation though, he's still pretty cool -- but then, just as he doesn't care for the Junior League Title he lost, neither does he care for the opinion of the swordsman.

With the oar in the open, and the closest Jap shouting encouragement towards his fellow, the Brit realizes that they all look alike. Hell, these two are both from Osaka no less, how'd they end up so far from home? Not that he's one to talk.

For Queen and Country, the oar is tapped into the other meaty hand as he weighs his options. Are they just going to shout encouragement from the sidelines, and let the two brawlers duke it out? They're doing a fine job of it, and that fist going into Marisol's middle earns the faintest of grimaces on the Brit's face. "Hmm. You interested in her or something?" he asks Tenma instead, noting the talk about her body. The cigarette is lifted from the corner of his mouth, and he blows the smoke at the Jap.

Yeah, he's an ass like that. "She's single," the Brit adds, sticking the cancer stick back in place as he flips the oar sideways -- and, banking on Tenma's attention being on Marisol in that moment, goes for the sucker punch. The oar is swung through low, for the Asian's middle, aiming to knock him back a few paces as the fight between the other two escalates.

COMBATSYS: Preston successfully hits Tenma with Medium Strike.
- Power hit! -

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Marisol          0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Kenji
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Preston          0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Tenma


"What, interested in Red?" Tenma wonders dubiously, seemingly unaffected by the smoke blown in his face. Sure, it's a disgusting habit, but it's not exactly uncommon at a school rife with thugs and delinquents, either. "Personality like hers, she's gonna stay that way, likely as not." But unfortunately, Preston's sneaky deception works, and Tenma is glancing back at his teammate and Marisol, and Marisol's backside, noticing a moment too late that the Brit is going for an oar attack. He twists around, trying to get his arms in the way, but he's too late, and the blow blasts him back, stumbling.

That kinda hurt!

"All right, y'wanna throw down again?" the longer-haired boy says, pulling his wooden sword free from its sheath, and biting into his thumb to draw blood. From there, it's a simple if slightly macabre process as he creates the link between himself and his bokken, now alight with a crimson aura of mingled blood and chi. Lunging forward quickly, he lifts one leg and thrusts it out in an attempt to bury the heel of his sneaker in Preston's gut - payback?! - before swinging the chi-charged blade right at his face. "We'll send both your sorry asses packin'!!

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Marisol's El Matador.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Marisol          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Kenji
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Preston          0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Tenma


*WHAM* His fist impacts with her stomach, and much to his dismay-- she's quick to recover, and he too frowns a little. "To be honest, I was hoping that would've done the trick." And-- "W-Wait. Who's being cocky? What?" His confusion seems genuine, but will that be recieved as such to a girl like the rowdy redhead?

Marisol's fists again impact with Kenji's hands, though this time his palms are turned out to soften the blow to his body. "Pwhew, ... dangerous." His feet shift and distance him from his opponent by only a few steps, his shoulders shrugging and arms tossed up. "I'd hate to have to punch a girl in the face, but--"

Just like that, the young man is suddenly back in range of Marisol-- and his fist flies at her face, pretty damn fast. "-- SORRY!!"

COMBATSYS: Marisol fails to interrupt Missile Fist from Kenji with Iron Butterfly.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0            Kenji
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Preston          0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Tenma


"Don't write me the fuck off!" she hisses, looking sincerely offended by his words. So far, it would seem the girl's opinion of the supposed Junior League championship is far from making a good impression on the girl. But, then again, when have any of the Guardian Kings done such a thing? Furrowing her brows, the redhead just glares.

Again, he shrugs her attack off. Clearly irritated by this fact, the redheaded half-Spaniard steps back, glaring at the youth with steely gray eyes. "What the hell? Who the fuck becomes a fighter if they're afraid to punch a girl in the face?" she asks, sounding almost incredulous at the fact. Really! What kind of fighter does he expect to be?

Whatever the case, try as she might to cut his punch short with a sudden flare of yellow chi from her own fist, the girl is punched in the face, sent staggering back while holding her nose in her hands. "You asshole," she growls, hiding her face in her hands.

COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Preston with Deep Strike.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0            Kenji
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0            Tenma


As charming as the talk about Marisol and her backside is, the Brit doesn't dwell on it for too long; instead he drives his oar into Tenma's middle, although it isn't long before the other boy is going about that process of dripping blood onto his sword. "That's a little weird, eh?" he simply states instead, ignoring all the talk about them throwing down. He would've thought that was obvious.

The boot comes for his middle though, and Preston attempts to sidestep it -- but it clips his side, and then that glowing sword is swinging down to try and decapitate him. A slight twist brings it into his shoulder, but even still, it hits and it hits deep.

The Oarsman staggers back with a grunt, working the shoulder in a little circle. "This is what I get for wearin' a fuckin' shirt," he grumbles, and then gives a massive flex. The shirt threatens to rip, but whatever damage that was done to his shoulder seems gone, the limb back in working order as he takes a step forward.

Bringing the oar through underarm, he stabs it forward like a spear. Tenma should remember this; the ride of a lifetime, potentially, as he aims to slam it deep into the boy's middle, and then do the sane thing. Simply send him flying out of school grounds to land a ways away, so the Brit can weigh into the fight between Marisol and Kenji. He said he was here to protect her, and now she's getting hit in the face. "Oi, you sod, don't hit her in the face, it's the only thing she's got goin' for her!"

COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Bunting Tosser from Preston with Initial Breaker.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


Speaking of doing he sane thing, let's review what Tenma Kiryuu is doing right this minute. As Preston recovers from that hit, the Gedo swordsman pulls his weapon back, holding it horizontally along his body, pointed towards the Brit, his free hand held near the tip of the blade. He's waiting for the next attack, and when the oar is speared towards him, rather than doing something, you know, SANE, Tenma steps into it, thrusting his weapon forward... But he doesn't quite guess the reach right, and his weapon barely misses Preston as he's heaved up and over, crashing to the ground beyond the schoolyard. Of course, he's not going to stay down for long, is he? But at the moment it seems Preston is unobstructed...



Yellow? Crazy light? That must be -- energy! But Kenji's fist proves to be the faster of the two attacks, rocking into Marisol's skull. While she stumbles, he shifts his stance and again lowers his arms to his side, looking rather resigned to the matter. "I wasn't trying to be a fighter. I -was-! And then when I came here, I gave up my title and my record to live a -normal- -student- -life-." And those last three words are punctuated with a rather direct glare at Tenma. Bastid.

Turning back to Marisol in that instant, the Gedo student allows his fingers to slide into his pockets while he offers a friendly grin and a small tilt of his head. "But it looks like I can't escape this sort of thing, so ... while I do complain about it, I have to admit I do have a -little- fun with it."

Staring at Marisol, his relaxed posture carries an undercurrent of preparation. "So-- can I get your number later?"

COMBATSYS: Kenji focuses on his next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


At this point the girl doesn't seem to particularly care to hear what Kenji has to say to her. Instead, she cups her hands around her face, protecting her poor, bruised face from bleeding everywhere. Glaring up from the tops of well-manicured fingernails, Marisol just continues to seethe toward him. Yeah, she's sporting a look that say "go to hell."

He's having fun? Hissing through her hands, the redhead just offers a glare, fair features twisting into a spiteful expression. He wants her NUMBER? "Like hell, you Gedo trash!" the girl shouts, dropping her hand - and offering a look at her face. It's quite a picture! Her nose is bleeding, staining her fair features. But that awful sneer makes her look all the nastier.

Rather than add insult to injury verbally, Marisol charges forward, to deliver unto Kenji's gut a body blow with her harsh fist!



"Too slow!" Preston roars as his oar slides past the counter-attempt from Tenma. In short order he hefts and throws the boy, giving a glance over his shoulder to watch the landing. Well, that was satisfying.

The deed done, he turns his attention to the fight between his team mate and the good Captain. "Well, I've got no idea what you two are talking about, but like I said; I'm here to protect your ass, Mari!" And there's already been entirely too much talk about her ass for his liking, not around these perverted Japanese boys. Who knows, Kenji could sprout chi-laced tentacles in a moment, and ...

Angered by the thought, he growls and aims for a team maneuver; as Marisol goes in for the fisting of a lifetime, the Brit aims to take up the slack should Kenji actually evade the strike. Thinking ahead, he sends his massive boot hurtling through the air for the Asian's back.

Yeah. Pacific's playin' dirty.



That kinda hurt. Tenma takes a few moments to get his footing again, but by the time he does Preston's gone after Kenji. A double team? Yeah, that's about what he expected from a bunch of cultureless barbarians. Don't worry though, he's got a solution for that. Quickly getting back onto school grounds - which seems a bit counterintuitive when getting into a fight in highschool, but this is Southtown - the sword-wielding Gedo gang member gets his footing again...

And swings his bokken through the air, misty red energy trailing behind it; a crescent of mingled blood and chi springs forth from that trailing arc, roiling as it speeds through the air... Towards Preston, since that's who Tenma was fighting already. "HEY!! Heads up!" he shouts, because you can't just attack without saying anything. Unless you're from Pacific High, apparently.

COMBATSYS: Marisol successfully hits Kenji with Medium Punch.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Preston's Light Kick.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


"Trash? Aw, man. I'm not -trash-." But something registers on his radar-- something bad, from both sides. The brief glance afforded to the Brit moving behind him gives Marisol all the room she needs to slug him harshly in the stomach, his body buckling forward a bit from the force of the blow. Still, he manages to get his left arm up to throw a strategically-placed punch to stop Preston's boot cold. "Tenma! I'm picking up your slack here!"

Looking between the pair, the Gedo brawler blows a hard sigh and hops back from between the two to buy a little space and a little breathing room. "All right! If doing this for fun offends you, then I can go full throttle."

And then, he drops his fist to the ground as if to punch it. "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-- RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-!!"

The energy that -explodes- from knuckles to shoulder is almost instantaneous, an amazingly -bright- form of light blue that burns like magnesium. Rising from this posture, he looks up to Marisol and rubs his wrist while the blaze of chi dies down into wisps-- still stubbornly clinging to his arm, but not nearly as bright as before. His tone has changed, his eyes a little more serious. "BRING IT ON!!"

COMBATSYS: Kenji gathers his will.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


Leaving her mark in a particularly nasty fashion, Marisol draws from his grief a certain sense of satisfaction. Yes, there's nothing more pleasant than watching someone buckle in pain from your punches. For a moment, the girl rubs her knuckles into his gut before she pulls back, putting some distance between herself and the other Gedo boy. For now, Tenma is forgotten. And really; he seems to be perfectly pleased in getting the crap slugged out of him by Preston and his mighty oar.

However, as the young man suddenly ignites with chi energies, Marisol frowns. "Stop procrastinating the inevitable," she snaps, hooding smoky grays with a look of irritation lingering in them. "You're only going to make this far more humiliating. Not that you're not already making a fool of yourself!" With a scoff the half-Spaniard tosses her head, arms folding neatly across her chest.

"You Gedo boys are all show. This is such a disappointing fight." Slowly those eyes roll back onto Kenji, peering at him with a broad, rather arrogant smirk.

COMBATSYS: Marisol focuses on her next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Preston dodges Tenma's Dharmapala.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Kenji
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


Having your boot stopped by a fist is certainly something different, although at the least Preston can see that it's not as though Kenji has come off scot-free from the strike. "Hmfh," he grunts, although the shout from behind warns him of Tenma's impending strike. Thus, he slams the oar down into the ground and slides to the right, the spray just missing him. "Stop with that stupid fuckin' blood-play, you sick fuck!" he shouts over his shoulder at the other teen, giving him the ol' stinkeye as he does so. Honestly. Playing with blood. Kids these days.

Other than that though, it seems the supposed leader of the team is the one doing all the smack talk, and the Brit leaves her to it; she's more than capable. Instead he keeps a careful watch on Tenma, noting the boy's approach...

But that lightshow from Kenji, that just won't do. Lifting a hand, he brushes the bristles on his chin for a moment before opting for action. "I'm tired of your fuckin' shoutin,'" the Brit complains, and stabs the oar out to collect the nearest garbage can. Hefting it up one handedly, he sports a scowl as he aims to cram it right down the Asian's throat! "So shut the fuck up!"



Honestly, Tenma didn't think Preston was capable of /moving/ that fast. Learn something new every day! His blood wave keeps going until it finally sputters out, leaving crimson droplets everywhere, and Tenma himself... Is left with a bit of a dilemma, since the British boy is now going after Kenji instead. That sort of thing is going to hurt his feelings! "Tch," he mutters, and figuring that Kenji can probably handle himself against Preston - hopefully - the taller Gedo student instead rushes forward, vaulting a bit to actually sprint lightly up the mountainous Pacific student's back and leap off of him, right at Marisol.

Hi, Marisol!

Dropping downwards at her, Tenma leads with his chi-charged bokken, aiming to let gravity add a substantial amount to the force of the descending, stabbing blow. He doesn't even shout out a warning or battlecry or anything, he doesn't feel like the girl deserves the heads up!

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Preston's Random Weapon.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Marisol          0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1            Kenji
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


That lightshow is a problem for them-- and a boon for him. As the light begins to fade away, Kenji's brow furrows and his left hand lifts to guard against the trash can aimed for his face, cushioning the blow against a spread-open hand and directing the blow to his chest rather than his face.

Looking stern and quite serious, his other arm sweeps up to shove the can to the side, lunging in close and jumping into the air a few feet-- just far enough to get him to the proper height to strike. That same blazingly bright chi explodes from his foot as it thrusts outward at the center of his gut. "KYAAAAH!"

If it hits, Preston might feel a little more than just the wind knocked out of him.

COMBATSYS: Marisol fails to interrupt Deep Strike from Tenma with Red Clover.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Marisol          1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1            Kenji
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0            Tenma


For the moment, it would seem that Kenji has his hands full with the massive Brit and his oar. With that in mind, the redhead just keeps back, observing with mild interest the so-called ‘Junior Belt' champion as he shrugs off Preston's attacks. Frowning, her thoughts drift, eyeing the pair as Kenji tears off for the Brit. How will he respond?

But soon the young half-Spaniard finds her hands full. Pausing, gray eyes blink before they drift skyward, in time to spy other Gedo boy falling at her. Frowning harshly at that, the redhead just growls before she attempts to swing her foot up and intercept him with a straight kick right to his groin. At least it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Struck, the redhead rolls back, tumbling clumsily as she rolls across the courtyard, only stopping as she strikes up against the side of a building. She makes no immediate moves to get to her feet; instead, she lays there, looking really pissed off.

COMBATSYS: Preston blocks Kenji's Rib Crusher.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Marisol          1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1            Kenji
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Preston          0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0            Tenma


The trash can may be blocked and knocked aside, and Kenji may well have his 'game face' on, but it means precisely dick to Preston. Again that shouting comes, and it just serves as additional warning; a smirk plays the Brit's face, as the boot meets the oar, cushioning the blow. "Tryin' the same tricks again? I'm not about to let you hit me in the plexus again, sunshine."

Admonishment given, he turns savage. The oar swings into play, the meaty hand of the Brit sliding down the shaft until he grips it near its head, the blade of the oar held like a short sword.

Let's see if Kenji can stomach it. Again, he seems to favor the idea of shutting Kenji up, this time by knocking his teeth in with a spear-like thrust from the oar.



Landing in a low crouch with his bokken braced tip-first against the ground, Tenma smirks quite self-confidently, his blue eyes following Marisol as she ends up flat on her back. "Nice try, Red," the swordsman says, and he might almost sound like he means it, too! "But I guess you're too slow to handle /me/." ...And he definitely sounds like he means that. He's an arrogant son of a bitch, that's for sure!

Rushing forward at Marisol, he reaches to try to grab the fallen girl by one ankle. "But you can't do anything just layin' there!" Tenma chides, before aiming to swing around, using his own self as a pivot to pick Marisol right up off the ground and whirl her about like some kind of discus or something, only to let her go at an inopportune time and send her sailing into something hard. A wall, the ground... Preston. Y'now, something nice and dense. "Show me some of that spirit!!"

COMBATSYS: Marisol interrupts Strong Throw from Tenma with Shoot the Moon.
- Power hit! -

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Marisol          0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1            Kenji
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Preston          0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Kenji interrupts Fierce Strike from Preston with Gatling Break.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Marisol          0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0            Kenji
[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Preston          1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1            Tenma


It was worth a try-- or at least, so he thought. Landing flat on his feet, the Gedo brawler's stance leaves him in a particularly vulnerable state, and his face is suddenly an inviting target to the oar-wielding Brit. Kenji's reactions have a tendancy to be knee-jerk in battle. He doesn't plan, he just -acts-. Such as this case:

Instead of connecting with the intended target, the Junior Champion's face? The oar jerks to a sudden halt well before it reaches the intended target. The edge is slammed against the brawler's now-split knuckles, blood dripping between his fingers as his sneakers struggle to maintain traction-- and then he presses forward.

Stepping in close and actually stomping down on Preston's toes to hold him in place, Kenji's lean frame suddenly becomes a flurry of strikes-- punches that move -so fast- it looks more like his fist is in three or four places at once with a single swing of his arm. Swing, swing, and swing-- and after an amount of hits that's actually a little hard to gauge, the brawler springs up to match Preston's height and let loose with a powerful overhead punch to the chops-- and when he hits the ground, one foot plants to suddenly -surge- forward, slamming his shoulder into the oarsman with enough force to knock a great many people clear off their feet. "PISS OFF!!"



Too slow to handle Tenma?

"Are you actually priding yourself on being fast?" she asks, slowly grunting as she lifts herself from the ground with her arms. Once on all fours, she staggers a bit, rising up from the earth and giving her legs a ginger dusting, followed by the front and backside of her garments. Only when she's content does the redhead turn her attentions fully toward Tenma, sporting a wolfish smirk. "That's a trait not many girls like, you know."

Clearly she's insulting him. If he's clever enough, he just might pick up on it!

Then he's charging after her. Frowning again, the half-Spaniard girl just narrows her eyes. "Come on and show me what you're made of, one-minute man!" That being said, she charges at him and, with a jerk of her hand to the side, intercepts his leg before she suddenly kneels and punches the earth at his feet. With a deafening roar and a guttural yell from Marisol, the earth erupts in yellow chi and concrete - with enough ‘oomph' to send Tenma airborne!



Now that's not something that sane people do everyday. Punching the oar proves a rather solid move for Kenji in the end, as it allows him the chance to get up close and personal with everybody's favorite Brit. The punches rain down, but it proves to be much like punching a wall, as the Asian well knows; the Brit is made of muscle and steel, and he eats dwarves for breakfast.

Even his face proves difficult to strike, and that shoulder at the end, which is meant to drive people off their feet... causes Preston to skid backwards with a heavy grunt. When all is said and done, he simply looks down at Kenji.

"That tickled, son."

With that statement said and done, he opts to utilize Kenji's quickness. Like a bull with a head full of steam, he moves the oar to one side and attempts to simply gore the Asian combatant onto his proverbial horns--!!

COMBATSYS: Preston successfully hits Kenji with Bull of Barney.
- Power hit! -

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /                             ]
Marisol          0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1            Kenji
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Preston          0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1            Tenma


Yeah, that's gonna hurt.

It starts with a proverbial goring, that shaved head of Preston slamming down with a disturbing, crushing force in an attempt to simply break Kenji's ribcage -- but once the bull has him by the horns, it rears up, lifting the youth high thanks to a blistering uppercut.

That massive fist threatens to send Kenji clear up into the skies, to clear him from those horns, as the oar is waved. There's even a guttural roar from the Brit, the bellow of the bull successful!



Oh. Oh no you di'n't, Marisol! Tenma gets blasted away by the crazy explosion of exploding stuff, and you know that's no fun. But the worst part is that the redhead actually thinks she's /clever/ with her insults there! Picking himself up off the ground, Tenma spits out a gob of blood to one side, before grinning wildly at the half-Irish girl, red running between his white teeth. "That all you ever think about? Guess it's true what they say 'bout girls with those kinda lips," he says, swinging his sword back behind himself, out of the way... And then rushing forward at Marisol again.

As he gets closer, the Gedo swordsman skids to a stop, lashing out with a series of quick punches at her torso and chest, aiming to disrupt the flow of chi through her body... As well as herding her into a more advantageous position for Tenma, though it sound slike something bad is happening over where Kenji and Preston are.

The skull slams against his chest, and for a moment, Kenji could swear that his ribs touched his spine. His eyes go wide and his teeth bare in shock and a total lack of understanding how much pain he's in-- and how much he's in for. The fist rocks up his jaw and sends the brawler skyward, his arms and legs completely slack.

But what goes up must come down.

And so it is that Captain Kenji lands hard on his heels, deposited no more than two feet from where he was launched from. Looking staggered and lost while his brain reconnects to his nerves, his body instead decides to lash out with the speed of a striking serpent. Taking one step in and grabbing at the Pacific student's shirt, he finds the strength to reel back his arm and propel his fist at Preston's mouth with the kind of strength that completely betrays his actual body size-- as much as the British Behemoth has seen that firsthand.



The skull slams against his chest, and for a moment, Kenji could swear that his ribs touched his spine. His eyes go wide and his teeth bare in shock and a total lack of understanding how much pain he's in-- and how much he's in for. The fist rocks up his jaw and sends the brawler skyward, his arms and legs completely slack.

But what goes up must come down.

And so it is that Captain Kenji lands hard on his heels, deposited no more than two feet from where he was launched from. Looking staggered and lost while his brain reconnects to his nerves, his body instead decides to channel out that power he showed before-- that bright glow that could be better tamed with a pair of sunglasses. The Gedo yard fills with his gutteral roar, one that's been heard a few times since the Student Council's secretary has been shown to be a fighter of some caliber. "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH--"

Bloody fingers grabbing at Preston's shirt, his right fist reels back as that blue glow explodes onto his hand, preceded by a blazing ray of light that sets the path for his punch right square at the Brit's chest. There's enough force behind it to crush bone, and the Gedite's flow of energy will -explode- on a successful hit-- while the light that sets the course for his path fades slowly away.

COMBATSYS: Kenji can no longer fight.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Marisol          0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1            Tenma
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Marisol blocks Tenma's Flow Breaker.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Marisol          0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1            Tenma
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/-------|


The spit noted, Marisol just cocks her head to one side, hands finding purchase on her curvy hips as she rises from her kneel. "No, I think about a lot of things. Like how annoying you are. Or how much of a dick you can be, Tenma Kiryuu." Her grin widens a touch, gray eyes going wide before she simply lifts a finger up and pushes it gently against her bottom lip. "And aw, it's just a pity you'll never know the touch of a woman outside of sheer violence, huh?"

When Tenma comes charging in like some flailing fool, however, Marisol just scoffs. Swiftly her arms move, intercepting the blows to her torso and chest, grunting lightly with each strike. Only after the last strike does the girl suddenly push off her white sneakers and land a bit away, hooding gray eyes with a broad grin.

"Looks like Preston did a number over there on your amigo, Kenji," she remarks, tossing her head in their general direction.

COMBATSYS: Marisol gains composure.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1            Tenma
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Preston blocks Kenji's Rail Gun.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1            Tenma
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Preston          0/-------/----===|


For all that fancy yelling, it's a real pity that the blazing fist lands square against the oar once more. The flow of energy goes about Preston as a result, residual damage minimal compared to what the brunt of the blow would have been. Left standing, he hazards a glance down at his weapon, which miraculously remains whole. "Man, that stung a little," he says, mostly to himself, as he reaches out to push Kenji over. He reckons the boy is done.

With Marisol calling it like it is though, the Brit, somewhat lumbering for breath, decides to press the attack. "Stay back, Mari," he calls to his partner in crime, as he scrapes a boot along the pavement. Setting off, he charges at Tenma.

The oar becomes a whirl as he nears, the staff-fighting background clear as he leads on the offense. Back and forth in front of him, he spins the weapon end over end, twirling it with that dangerous blade looming, threatening with every pass. "Bit rude of us to just barge right on into ya school and kick ya ass like this, isn't it, son?" he asks the remaining Asian as he swings.

But it isn't with the oar that he strikes with; rather, it's his foot. A gap opens up in the whoosh of the oar, and that massive boot lashes out, aiming to kick Tenma square in the stomach.

COMBATSYS: Tenma interrupts Light Kick from Preston with Dead End Breaker.
- Power hit! -

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Tenma
[                            \\  <
Preston          0/-------/=======|


Of course, even though Marisol blocks his attacks, Tenma doesn't seem too disappointed; if she was easy to beat, he wouldn't have any fun fighting her, now would he? Even worse, how could there be a rivalry if things were so unbalanced? "Whatever, Red," Tenma says blithely as the girl leaps back away from him. "Just 'cause you gotta pay people t' like you doesn't mean we're all as bad off as you are." But when Marisol so gleefully points out what's happened to Kenji, it can't help but draw the swordsman's attention that way... Just as Preston lashes out at him.

The feint with the oar doesn't fool Tenma at all, who instead slips around the wooden weapon and swings his own down in a wide arc as that big ol' boot comes at his stomach, the chi-charged bokken striking the big British boy at the precise moment Preston's foot... Glances harmlessly off of Tenma's side. Ooops? "Weak," the Guardian King says smugly, lashing out again with his sword, and then with a punch to Preston's face, before finishing it all off with a thunderous headbutt to the larger fighter. "IF YOU THINK IT'S SO RUDE, THEN GET THE HELL OUT!!"

Eventually, Marisol gets a chance to actually spare a glance toward her teammate - and just in time. As Kenji blazes forward, Marisol sports a strange look, eyes briefly widening before she smirks. As expected, the Brit holds his ground. At least he's still standing. "Don't be cocky!" the girl barks toward him, folding her arms across her chest. "It'll get you in trouble!"

However, at Preston's approach the redhead's demeanor gets a bit more uneasy. "Wait a minute," she remarks, watching as the young man goes blazing forward after Tenma. "Stop writing me off, Preston!" It almost sounds pleading, if not for the irritation that haunts her tone.

It was a good attempt, really. The girl winces as Preston's assault is cut short, shrugging her shoulders back in sympathy. Eventually her head shakes, a dark shadow passing her tanned features. At her sides, long digits curl into a tight, white-knuckled fist. How dare he? How DARE he!

As Tenma yells back at Preston, however, Marisol comes rushing up behind him and, in a swift maneuver, attempts to punch Tenma on the back of his skull before a foot lashes out, attempting to take his feet out from underneath his body and send him collapsing to the ground. "I DON'T FUCKING LIKE YOUR TONE OF VOICE!!"




Oh, that hurt a little. Just a little. His driving foot catching little but cloth, Preston finds the tables turned rather dramatically, culminating with a thunderous headbutt that threatens to send him reeling. He lurches back, a giant British oak about to make the long fall down -- but not just yet!

Perhaps it's that shout from Marisol that grabs the tall lad's attention, but that British wood isn't about to tumble just yet. "Fucker..." he grumbles, and dares for one last strike on Tenma.

Let Marisol strike from behind and up high; Preston strikes from the front and at the middle, in a strike that has yet to be foiled by Tenma. Once more into the breach the oar travels, aiming to hoist the opposing lad up by stabbing it deep into his middle and lifting him up high.

However, if that succeeds, is Marisol going to... end up punching Tenma in the ass?

COMBATSYS: Preston can no longer fight.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Tenma endures Preston's Bunting Tosser.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Marisol          0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0            Tenma


COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Marisol with Head Breaker.
- Power fail! -

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


COMBATSYS: Tenma can no longer fight.

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


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


Does Tenma even try to avoid Preston's attack? No sir he does not. Instead, he lets the oarsman's weapon hit him cleanly, rising into the air with it... But he pushes off of the oar rather than, you know, stay up there and get punched in the butt by Marisol. In fact, he twists as he falls towards the redhead, with every intent of doing something very bad to her as his hand lashes out to grab her by the front of her shirt - not in the least bit worried about doing anything indecent - but though he gets his grip, he just ends up walking right into the punch and the trip, hitting the ground hard.

That sucked. Hopefully he's not still holding any of Marisol's shirt!

"Pfft... Wow, you guys do pretty good when you team up on the same person, huh?" Tenma wonders, getting a bit creakily to his feet, but the glow around his bokken has faded entirely. His usual overconfidence is... Really not abated at all by the results of this little fracas. Not even by the fact that his clever plan turned out to be not so clever after all. "By the way, Red. Didn't you come to fight Ashima by yourself?" Which she totally didn't. Ha ha ha ha ha!



Whatever keeps Preston from landing back-first on the cold Gedo courtyard is a mystery, but pleasantly surprising nonetheless. Regardless, however, Marisol's burning with resolve and frustration - after all, Preston just got his butt handed to him by Tenma, and that isn't Cool. So what will she do? Why, sneak up behind him and punch him hard before trying to fell the Kiryuu boy.

Pacific Resistance makes a last ditch attack, but it's enough to overwhelm Tenma, it seems. However, when Preston attacks Tenma uses the attack to vault up into the air, clearly on his last leg. Blinking once, her expression appears mildly surprised - more so as he reaches for her shirt again.

Oh hell no. Not again.

"Quit trying to grab my breasts!" she screams, just before her knuckles bury into his face, followed by a kick to his knees. Felled, he lands hard. Marisol shoots her steely gaze down, glaring at the youth.

"What's wrong?" she chides, watching as Tenma rises to his feet. "Are you whining? Making excuses for your loss?" Curling her hand into a fist, the fiery half-Spaniard just grins broadly. "And I did, but you just had to butt the hell in by yelling and rooting for him. It's not my fault Preston decided to hit you, you know. And things were fine until YOU attacked ME. So it's your fault." Pause. "Quit bitching like a child." Scoff.

Tossing her head, the girl walks around Tenma, though an arm lifts and jerks out, the back of her hand playfully slapping on his backside - albeit a bit hard. "Nice try though, champ! And keep it as a souvenir." What? Why, the front of Marisol's uniform clutched in his hand, of course. "You can sleep with it, if you like. Ha ha ha!"

Ultimately, Marisol's path leads her next to Preston, and only when she's a half-step past him does she pause. "C'mon, Preston," she remarks, gesturing idly with her fingers for him to follow. "Let's go. We're done here." moving toward the gates of Gedo, Marisol seems intent on leaving - until she pauses, that is.

Pausing, she glances over a shoulder toward Tenma with an impish smile.

"If you're so sore about it, come see me sometime, huh?" Winking, the girl chuckles to herself before she turns her back completely, lifting it over a shoulder as a parting gesture. "Later, Kiryuu."

COMBATSYS: Marisol has ended the fight here.

Log created on 20:31:19 06/13/2007 by Marisol, and last modified on 04:18:04 06/22/2007.