Description: Alex confirms his hatred of Iori. (Winner: Iori)
Thailand.
The incoherently named Team Alex has been making a series of strikes along the Southern coastline of Thailand, inching their way up the coast towards the capital. Having marshal'd an unusual number of skilled fighters to his cause, Alex's approach -- treating the whole of Thailand and the fighting of Shadaloo the same as he once treated keeping the forces of Mad Gear out of his home neighborhood -- has been getting results. He's not a skilled general (in fact, his general plan -- hit people until they stop moving -- is usually the extent of his tactical output), but he's got the moxy and the motivation to push people into action.
Right now Alex is on the edge of a Resistance camp, sitting under an awning out of the pouring rain and leafing through a few pages of a Thai phrasebook. He's not making any progress.
Iori is a resistance fighter too, though not a very good one. Since flying over at Chizuru's urgings, the redhead has almost entirely abandoned his mission due to Kyo being an intolerable prick. Sure, he's killed a few people here and there when they got in his way, but war wasn't really his deal. No, being in such close proximity with Kyo and not being able to physically harm him calls for some very special therapy.
In particular, it means Iori is out to ruin someone's day. Ever since he found a slip of paper with the most recent Neo League standings under his bed, he's been meaning to slap around some of the no-name fighters that have risen to the top by virtue of having nothing better to do with their lives. Alex may not be a no-name considering he is technically one of the new King of Fighters, but Iori's not the forgiving sort.
The rain parts, or at least seems to, as a tall, dark figure cuts straight towards Alex's resting spot. As no one really changes their clothes for reasons not yet seen, the man can be easily identified by Iori due to his trademark jacket and distinctive haircut. It, fortunately, seems to resist the hair-ruining aspects of the storm.
"Hey, you," the redhead says suddenly, still standing in the rain. "You're number two in the Neo League, right? I'm here to kick your ass."
Alex looks up from his book. He glances at it, and then at Iori, and then tosses it over his shoulder. "Finally," Alex grunts, before standing up. "Only reason I got those damn points was to lure out fighters like you. Ryu hasn't shown up yet... so I'll settle for you." Alex knows who Iori is, and he's seen how he fights. Alex himself is wearing gree fatigues and a brown bomber jacket; he shrugs that off and leaves it behind, clad ony in a white muscle shirt.
"One catch, though," Alex says. "Far as my memory serves, you're ranked behind a teen pop idol. You don't really have much to offer me, pal. But I don't turn down a fight. Not my way," Alex says. "I don't know what you've been up to lately, but if I win, you're on my team. You got that? You'll be drafted until we break Shadaloo open like an egg." Alex steps out into the rain, tying his hair up with his red bandanna. "That sound legal to you, eagle?"
Iori lifts his head, allowing Alex to see the face beyond the hair. He doesn't look angry, insulted, or even amused at the request. After a moment of what must be consideration, the fighter withdraws his hands from his pockets and spreads them as if showing he has nothing.
"If you win? Yeah, sure. Let's hurry up and smash all of those hopes of yours then."
To get one thing out of the way, Iori is fast. The moment he finishes talking, before Alex even has the chance to settle into a more comfortable fighting stance, the redhead is running at full tilt with his arms extended as if he had suddenly sprouted claws. With a slightly pained cry of "HRROOOOOOOAAAGH!" he leaps into the air, spinning around and using the momentum to rake his hands across Alex's bared chest, plumes of purple flame curling around his fingers.
COMBATSYS: Iori has started a fight here.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alex has joined the fight here.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Alex with Tsumagushi.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Alex
"Rrrgh!" Alex doesn't like that. Iori's fingers rake across his chest, tearing apart his shirt and catching him completely by surprise. He's used to a lot of things; most of his opponents at least try to fight fair, except for the sporadic bio-monsters. Staggering away from the blow, Alex cringes, looking down at the wound. "Figures--" he grunts. "--What's next, pal? Hair-pulling?" Alex says, before reaching forward to grab Iori by his still-outstretched arms. If he can grab at flesh he'll immediately crane backwards, working on bringing Iori up into the air and then back into the ground for one brutal and immediate Power Bomb.
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Alex's Powerbomb.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Alex
Iori feels Alex's hands wrap around his arm and, strangely enough, does not make any attempt to pull away. His lips pull back in an ugly, feral smile as he is wrenched into the air. As he is directly above Alex, the redhead's eyes open wide, pupils shrinking to red pinpoints.
"WELCOME TO THE EIGHT THOUSAND HELLS OF OROCHI!"
And then shit hits the fan. The fighter's other hand explodes into a giant plume of flame, hissing in the rain as purple sparks rise through the air. In one simultaneous motion, Iori slams his fist into Alex's face and is then summarily dropped roughly to the ground where he rolls into a crouching position. The flame, meanwhile, explodes upwards in a hideous display of power that rocks the very ground.
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Alex with Ya Sakazuki.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Alex
Alex rushes straight ahead and into the funky-magic-chi-fire, unconcerned about the sheer amount of pain and fury that Iori is baking with. He doesn't appear to have much of a defense against such things, but when he sprints through the explosion he still finds himself reaching, his eyes white with fury as he barrels ahead without delay.
"Lemme guess, pal--"
"--You're the last descendant of a cursed magical bloodline, or something, huh? Sorry for your blood oath, but I've got one too--I'm from Metro City! Let's see how your magical destiny stacks up!" If Alex can make contact, he's going to mercilessly and repeatedly drive Yagami into the dirt, once and then again and then again.
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Alex's Hyper Bomb.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Alex
Oh, Iori is far beyond the point of talking. He rushes towards Alex with his mouth hanging open in a silent scream, and as a result is an easy target for the talented Alex to snatch up in his ultimate technique. Unfortunately, his opponent might have the most experience with fighting through pain in the world.
And so the fight is taken to the air, Alex repeatedly slamming Iori into the ground, and the Orochi scion shrieking at the top of his lungs and attempting to slam his fists repeatedly into Alex's face. He throws at least three clean shots, two to Alex's face and a final one to his crown with a double-handed axe blow.
"DIE! DIE! DIE!"
COMBATSYS: Alex endures Iori's Aoi Hana.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Alex
Iori hammers at Alex's face and chest repeatedly, driving the brave but outmatched fighter backwards repeatedly. It's like hitting a brick wall, but, odds are, Iori could rip through one of those with relative ease. Alex digs his heel in at the conclusion of the assault, blood pouring from a wound in his scalp and his torso beaten to pieces. It's enough time for him to reach out and grab at Iori's wrist with the last fading vestiges of his strength.
"Not today, pal!"
Soldiers have arrived, pointing a multitude of guns at Iori, but Alex yells, "It's fine! Let him walk!" he says, before picking up his foot and driving it forward towards Iori's face, wobbly on his one leg.
COMBATSYS: Alex has reached second wind!
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Alex
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Alex's Strong Kick.
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Alex
Iori backs off now, panting and catching up with himself. He has enough of his mind left to catch Alex's kick with his forearm, backing away. He seems to be forcing himself to stop, to catch his breath and calm down. It's one of those fights.
"Are you gonna quit? I don't want to have to disappoint all your friends by tearing you up too badly." The bluster is somewhat blunted by the exhaustion in his voice.
COMBATSYS: Iori gains composure.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Alex
Alex watches Iori retreat, tilting his head as he finds himself still standing, still moving despite the burning rage of the day and the power that Iori has behind him. "Ha!" Alex says, steadying himself on his feet. "You're an asshole, but you're just the kind of fighter I've been looking for--none of this namby-pamby burning angel wings bullshit or big speeches."
And then Alex seems to perceive something. Those taciturn eyes see more than his muscles might suggest. "What's wrong? Need a breather, big guy? You want a bottle of water? How 'bout a cold compress? What happened to 'Die! Die! Die!', huh?!" Alex roars, sprinting straight ahead for Iori, his arm sweeping forward again and again, looking to push Iori backwards far enough for Alex to pick him up and drop him on his head.
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Boomerang Raid from Alex with Yumebiki.
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Alex
"Just setting you up," Iori lies, but does so convincingly. He hunches over as Alex rushes towards him, calling upon his years of experience fighting the best to estimate the perfect time to strike. They clash mildly at first, Iori gritting his teeth and intercepting Alex's arm sweeps with his arms, but then he makes his move.
As Alex darts forward again, Iori rips his hand dowards, raking with his fingers to stumble him, and then takes advantage of the change of pace to end the assault with a vicious backhand to his foe's face.
Alex has little more than steam and momentum to push him forward, but he's almost the exact opposite of Iori -- Iori, fueled by hatred and rage, and Alex, fueled, it seems, by the desire to hit and get hit in turn. If ever there was a man that was only looking for a fight, here he is. "That everything?!" he roars, even as the Yumebiki tears through his full-steam-ahead offense.
"C'mon! Show me the man that beat Ryu! I don't know who you are, pal, but I got more of a charge out of fighting that blond guy in a leisure suit than you--" Alex is probably referring to Kain, but he's referring to Kain even while he keeps /moving/, running straight for Iori and driving his knee up into the seemingly unstoppable warrior's chin. He, himself, is faltering -- his knee wobbles, his balance fails, but even as his body seems to be giving out his desire to keep /going/ remains firm. But is hope alone enough to animate a man when his ribs are shattered and his body beaten?
COMBATSYS: Alex can no longer fight.
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Strong Kick from Alex with Yami Sugi.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|
Alex drops to his knees and slumps back, supporting his weight on one hand. He's still trying to stand, but anyone can see his body's given way.
"Huh? Show you?"
Iori leans forward, eyes widening. "You... you're lucky I'm taking requests."
This will be painful. Not for Alex, no, not compared to what it will be like for Iori. But, it'll be worth it. As Alex extends his leg, the redhead whips his hand up, a burst of flame knocking the blond into the air. Iori makes things even worse by setting him up with another curtain of flame, leaving Alex stranded some twenty feet up. As he falls down, the air starts to get dark. Iori raises his arms up to cover his face, his teeth slamming together in pure grit. The ground won't be the wrestler's fate today; it is much worse than that.
With a shriek, the redhead lurches over, a giant pillar of flame bursting from the ground, sending clods of dirt flying through the air along with the cursed fire. "THIS IS THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED RYU!"
Alex lands, finally, after his stamina failed him. Heaving and puffing as his ribs suddenly don't work right, Alex barely manages to hold a hand up to signal to his shooters not to... well, start shooting. "Hoo, boy," he says, his voice labored. "Haven't lost like that since I fought Ryu. You're... almost as good as he is." Almost. He's barely conscious. "I sure hope you're on our side."
COMBATSYS: Iori has ended the fight here.
Iori remains hunched over, looking almost as bad as Alex. For a long stretch he doesn't speak, just pants like a wild animal. That, however, subsides with time, as does his poor posture. The redhead stands straight, and shoves his hands into his pockets again.
"Sides? I don't care about what's going on here. Maybe if Vega shows his face I'll do something."
And then, abruptly, the Yagami heir walks off into the sunset. The rainy, cloudy sunset.
Alex lands on his back, looking straight up at the rain. "Yeah," Alex grunts. "Magical cursed destiny heroes."
"I hate those guys."
Log created on 16:06:15 06/24/2007 by Iori, and last modified on 14:32:27 06/25/2007.