Description: It's time to put all of the intel gathered over the last few weeks to use with a daring prison break! This scene features Hotaru and Roberto trying to rescue Fio and other prisoners while having to deal with Khamis and a very conflicted Shoma Sawamura. The fight gets desperately close until Shoma finally begins to waver, giving Hotaru and Roberto the break they need.
Having been one of the chief sources of intel on the actual layout of the prison, there's no way Hotaru would miss out on the chance to help the resistance raid intended to actually put her information to use.
Getting past the outer perimeter ended up not being too bad. With information on guard rotations, pass keys, angles that had the least coverage, it was possible for Hotaru and Roberto to make it into the actual building itself without having to make too much of a ruckus or even fight all that many men.
But then the bomb goes off and everything starts going crazy. The time for stealth is over. Now it's time for action. "Okay," remarks Hotaru, referencing a small notepad in her hands. Scribbled details, a brief summary of the litany of information she was able to provide to the resistance when she got back from her recon mission that went a lot worse than they may ever know. Fortunately for her, no one seemed to interested in how she got free of the most tightly held compound in Shadaloo territory. They were /far/ more interested in the information she was able to provide in order to plan this all out assault once she retrieved the notebook she had stashed in the jungle prior to capture.
"There's a young woman named Fio. She's on this floor," the girl states to Roberto. "I've met her before. She's pretty tough. Getting her out will be a good win for us on multiple levels..." Let alone the fact that the nice young woman certainly doesn't deserve whatever might happen to her here! So absorbed in going over her notes, Hotaru isn't exactly paying attention to any opposition that might be on hand to prevent this little rescue operation, however.
It's truly a shame that Roberto wasn't there when she was providing this info. Knowing how to escape this place incase things went South would've been handy for to him to have known. It's also a surprise that Roberto wasn't invited to the meeting to plan this attack. It was after all his strategy that helped the Thailand forces weaken Shadaloo from the southern side.
Roberto has been fairly quiet the whole way over. He's had a lot on his mind. The fact that he hasn't heard from Shoma since he made that phone call and then there was the promise he made to Rose and the thoughts about what Natsu is thinking right now.Plus he wonders about what's going on with the people he came along with like Frei.And his fight with Yurika and how the Shadaloo forces barely repelled his group in the process of laying the groundwork for his promise to Shoma.
When Hotaru mentions Fio he nods quietly not knowing exactly what to say. He adjusts his grip on both of his makeshift soccer balls, one being one formed out of shrapnel on his first day here. The second made of twine and rags.
It takes a while but the quiet soccer player finally speaks, "Ok, let's get her out then."
Somewhere in the compound, a young man tugs on the collar of his uniform, with a slightly uncomfortable look on his face as he heads for main corridor of the building. The bomb had just gone off, sending the whole complex from high-alert to all hands at combat stations in very short order.
You wouldn't know from looking that the young man was one Shoma Sawamura right away.
The change in outfit was sweeping; gone was the baseball regalia, replaced by a black and grey Shadoloo uniform, and combat boots. The military cap is worn in the correct manner, and the once spikey hair has been slicked back. THis young man's eyes are cool, and the bandaid across the bridge of his nose is strangely absent. The only clue that this might be Shoma at all is the distinctly non-issue, let alone standard baseball bat. The black with silver taped weapon is carried on his back with his usual strap-rig. He skids to a stop.
"Stop where you are!" the youth calls out in a clear voice. It's only /then/ he notices Roberto. A flicker of anger flashes across his face as he regards the Blazing Striker, "I told you to go back to SouthTown, Roberto." Shoma scowls, "I knew you wouldn't listen."
Khamis was one of the few who might have the instinct to go along with information. He knew that something was going down today. He could smell it in the air, he would say, although nobody dared question what exactly that might entail. And his own vigorous, nigh genocidal campaign has not had the desired effect. Defending this pitiful compound is meaningless to the leader of Seven Days, but his manpower was decided. When one draws his power from fury and rage, that makes even being within his eyesight a precarious proposal at best. An abusive man who tolerates no failure on even a microscopic level in the best of times, that has been highlighted by the treatment of a rotating guard, who is pinned to the wall by his throat. He grasps uselessly at the powerful fingers slowly choking the life from him, eyes anything but sane glaring like furious red suns through squinted eyes.
"You were ten seconds late. Ten!! Do you realize how long it takes for a gap to be penetrated? Three. An entire team of half-witted special ops could of waltzed through the outer perimeter due to your negligence!" Of course, he's taking the time to do this after he has already rotated out. He was unlucky enough to be watched, and sadly Khamis is never wrong about such technical details.
"What do you have to say for yourself?!"is demanded. Of course, you can't talk while being strangled, and his prey is trying to convey that. Yet this is interrupted by a sudden detonation, Khamis jerking his head around in all directions. Immediately he's upon the radio, absorbing the flow of information and quickly filtering it. His core is pure, even if twisted, and he smirks. "I knew it... I KNEW IT!" He hurls the rather lucky Shadaloo grunt aside, clattering down the hall. Fingers flex and relax in sheer anticipation, as he begins to prowl the halls, blood beginning to boil.
The hunt is on... And he is in the mindset to tear the first thing he sees apart, be it friend or foe...
At the challenge from Shoma, Hotaru glances up from her notes, blue eyes coming to rest on the young Taiyo student so far from home, and so out of his element. She thinks there's something familiar about the boy. Perhaps she's seen his face in a school newsletter. Or maybe one of the girls at Seiyjun has a crush on the star athlete and was showing his picture to any girl who would look. Wherever she may have seen him before, the girl can't recall. But he and Roberto seem to have a connection.
"Roberto," young Futaba cautions. "If you know him from somewhere, he may not be the same as you knew him. I've seen others..." Her voice sounds pained, recalling a hurt that stings deep, "He won't hold back to stop us. We'll have to fight him seriously."
Slipping the notepad into a brown bag she has flung over her shoulder, Hotaru braces herself, slipping into a ready stance, her side facing Shoma. She glances sideways at Roberto, as if gauging whether or not the soccer player is going to be ready to strike the face of his own friend. "Can you handle it?"
"Shoma, god dammit. Of course you knew. I /told/ you I wouldn't." Both balls drop down to the ground. The twine ball with a dull thud, and the metal one drops down with a sharp clanking noise. Seeing his friend in Shadaloo uniform has him in complete shock and anger.
He takes a deep breath as his hands open close as he stares at Shoma. "After what Rose told you, and after fighting along side me when that incident. You should know better." He steps forwards as kicks the rag ball forward just slightly. "You know what I'm all about which is why you ought to know I'm not stopping until you stop me yourself."
Shoma frowns. A voice at the back of Shoma's mind laments; it wasn't supposed to play like this. This wasn't the plan at /all/. He shakes his head slightly, banishing that voice to the depths as he grips the bat to pull it free and level the weapon at the pair of Taiyo students.
"If that's the way it has to be, Roberto. I'm sorry. I'd rather not have to fight a friend."
With that, Shoma charges in at Roberto, ready to bring the black bat to bear, before pivoting, and slamming for Hotaru's ribcage.
Maybe he was serious ab out not wanting to fight Roberto?
COMBATSYS: Shoma has started a fight here.
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Shoma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shoma
COMBATSYS: Roberto has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Shoma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Roberto 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shoma successfully hits Hotaru with Grand Slam Smash.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-------|
Hotaru watches Roberto when maybe she should have been keeping her eyes on Shoma. Perhaps she's worried that the soccer fighter won't have it in him to fight his friend. But her concern ends up leaving her an easy target when the bat-weilding boy comes at her. The whistle of the wooden sports tool smashing through the air is the only warning she has before the girl finds herself being hammered in the side and sent smashing against the wall with a gasp.
The impact of the bat and the wall itself takes the wind completely out of her and as she staggers away from where she landed, she looks like she might be sick to her stomach, her complexion an unpleasant pale color.
Okay... so much for warm ups! Clenching her hands, Hotaru charges back for Shoma, attempting to grab hold of his bat weilding arm. If she gets a tight grip, she'll use the leverage to land a sequence of strong kicks to his shin, knee, stomach, and chest. In the end, she'll pull him forward and try to slam his chin into her knee before finally letting him go. "Ha!"
"Shoma! What the hell are you doing!?" His voice ringing out in alarm as he watches his friend go after Hotaru. And cringes as he watches her get hit. He knows how much that attack can hurt. He felt it on that day they had the spar on the rooftop. It's why he feels he must get involved right away. "By putting that uniform on and knowing me so well, you pretty much made that decision."
"After all we've been through. You, Natsu, and me? How do you think she would feel about you wearing the uniform of people who are doing the same thing as what Hyo did back then?" The soccer star says no more as his foot drives into Shoma's body in an attempt to drive him up in the air.
COMBATSYS: Shoma blocks Hotaru's Shin-Jou Tai.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shoma fails to reflect Thrust Kick from Roberto with Return Swing EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/------=|
Shoma allows Hotaru to grab his arm. He winces slightly as she gives a sharp tug, and as the kicks start in on him, the Slugger parries each one in turn. He shoves the girl away sharply as Roberto starts in. Shoma grips the bat tightly, a dull golden glow covering the metal weapon as he swings high over the Striker's head.
Sawamura slams into the ceiling before dropping to the floor. He pulls himself to his feet slowly, staring daggers at Miura.
"And what about Sakura. Did it occur to you that she is /happy/ here? That this is what she wants? Or were you too wrapped up in your crusade to think about it?" Shoma asks bitterly.
Ah, the glory of semantics. This encounter is truly a battle involving friendship, deepseated relationships, and likely no small amount of passion. However, at least Khamis will bring the latter, if not in a way that might be cared for. Slipping into the hallway, his wild eyes flicker across before pinpointing Hotaru, Shoma and Roberto. Many might hesitate at the sight of children, but all that is registered in the crazed man's mind is 'intruders'. Shoma at least has the garb of Shadaloo, but as his titanic charge begins, the sound of his aide is simple. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!!" He's literally barreling down the narrow hallway, a vicious growl turning into a loud snarl, both hands beginning to gout and flicker with purple psycho power. Just who he's aiming for is anyone's guess... but in a few seconds he is going to be upon the trio, likely making things all the more -- troublesome in this encounter. After all, few care to have a rampaging unbalanced fighter nearby, even if hypothetically an ally...
COMBATSYS: Khamis has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Khamis focuses on his next action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Khamis
Shoved aside after Shoma manages to block her attacks, Hotaru manages to keep her footing. She pauses for half a second to rest her hand against her ribs where he struck her, wincing a little. She can't tell if anything is broken by the touch, but she does know it hurts like hell either way.
"And... I-I bet you're happy here too," Hotaru replies, gasping for breath. "Just woke up one day and decided you wanted to help take over a country?" She shakes her head slowly, eying the baseball player with a mixture of pity and wariness. "Did they put you on tank leading duty yet? Crushed any villages in your spare time? Ruined any lives lately?" She fehs, lifting her hand to wipe it against her mouth to remove the saliva that had escaped her lips from his first crushing blow.
"I hope you have a good excuse for taking their side. But I also hope that you realize in stopping us you're only furthering the progress of a madman who cares nothing for others..." Her eyes seem to focus on something else behind the young boy close to her. A raging being of raw fury. Gulp. "Look out!" the girl calls out, rolling her arm back to charge a focused ball of chi in her palm. It takes a moment, but when she's finished, she swings her hand forward, flinging a pulsating blue sphere from the end of her fingers. While the charge up was quite obvious, when the ball takes flight, it moves very swiftly. At first it might seem like she's aiming for Shoma, but regardless of what the boy does, that pitch is going wide - and is headed straight toward the new arrival.
"I agreed to be here before my thoughts about what happened to Sakura even came into the picture. I'm here because of what I know about Vega. I'm here because one of his people came after me." Roberto slides in between Shoma and Hotaru. He knows he nowhere near as eloquent as Hotaru is about this war.
"That person from Shadaloo who I fought when Rose came to help me fight her off." He pauses and takes a deep breath still positioning himself between them. "When she hit me with her energy, she put an image of seeing you and Natsu die right before my eyes as a result of Shadaloo's onslaught into my head. Use your head Shoma, does this sound like a group of people you'd logically throw your lot in with?"
Roberto charges in and dives at Shoma with two fists directed right for his breadbasket. His face filled with intensity.
COMBATSYS: Shoma endures Roberto's Strong Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Khamis
Shoma? Use his head? Yeah, right.
Shoma braces up for the strike, exhaling as it lands. He takes a half-step back in response to the force, not taking his eyes off of his friend.
"Not /their/. /Her/. You're all so quick to condemn, quick to accuse," Shoma states in response to Hotaru, eyes narrowed. He doesn't say anything to Roberto. He seems to look for the right words to speak to his friend, his ally. "So quick to tell others how they should be something they /aren't/," he finally says to Roberto as Hotaru snaps of her chi-ball.
Right before he charges Hotaru again, dropping into a fast, chi-enhanced power slide with the boots aimed to bend Hotaru's knee in a way it really should not.
COMBATSYS: Khamis endures Hotaru's Hakki Shou.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Khamis
It's a very good thing that Shoma decided to move towards the girl who launches that keeling ball of energy towards Khamis, for he seems to have no interest in getting out of the way. He's a proverbial juggernaut at the moment, and it impacts his shoulder in a detonation of burning pain, the fire fueling his hate and seething the growing power in his right arm. It seems to pulse, the purple Psycho Energy intensifying before the large man hurls himself airwards, skimming the roof and dragging his imbued fist across the ceiling. It leaves a scorched rivet, burning through stone and causing many lights to detonate in a shower of glass and sparks. "HRRRRAUGH!!" He then unleashes a titanic downwards punch, aiming to impact Roberto within the chest and /drive/ him into the floor, unleashing a gout of mind-shattering energy with no small amount of aesthetics. The entire floor would shudder beneath the force he summoned up. ...It doesn't appear that Khamis has any intention of pulling his punches, but that goes against the essence of his being /anyway./
COMBATSYS: Shoma successfully hits Hotaru with Homerun Slide.
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Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Khamis
Lowering her arm as her fireball is sent flying off toward the latest arrival, Hotaru grips her wrist, wincing a little as if feeling a burn from the effort she had to put forward in order to create the Hakki Shou. "You're not the only one here who cares about Sakura, Shoma," she repiles, her tone softer now, some of the initial distaste she has for the boy's decision to stand alongside Shadaloo fading. "Still... I just hope that you've been manipulated into this. It will give you an excuse when it's all said and done. Or else the guilt of what you have helped create will haunt you forever," she continues, pity in her voice. "Just look at the kind of allies you've made for yourself..." she comments with a bit of a nod toward Khamis.
She shifts her focus toward Khamis now as Roberto lunges for Shoma, perhaps thinking that the two will focus on each other for a bit. She's not feeling too hot already though from what the bat has already done to her, so making the best of tactical choices is hard to do right now. Her shift in attention leaves her open to Shoma's incoming slide kick.
She wouldn't have expected such a nerve-wracking, jarring slide kick from the young man that's about her size, underestimating the percision that he is able to strike with due to his experience as a ball player. "AH!" Hotaru cries out, her knee struck and her leg kicked right out from under her, sending her crashing to the floor, writhing in pain.
Both of her hands reach to press against her knee as she rolls over onto her side, eyes clenched shut, her face flush red with the intensity of the agony. Rolling into a seated position with her knees bent up in front of her, the pig-tailed girl leans forward, clutching her wounded knee with both of her hands. She hasn't the strength to get back up yet.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru gains composure.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Roberto endures Khamis' Dead Reckoning!
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Khamis
Roberto stops talking at this point. If there's one thing he realizes that Shoma is about as stubborn as he is even if he's not always as quick to voice it. As a result he focuses on the man that's flying right at him. He should probably move but it's coming too fast. Instead Roberto stands his ground and he's not quite driven into the ground. But he's extremely hurt by it.
He's going to attempt to punish person responsible for it and jam his foot glowing with chi right into Khamis' chin and drive him up just like he drove Shoma. Putting all of his fury into the kick.
"But I seem to be the only one willing to /listen/ to her, instead of telling her she is wrong," Shoma intones as he pulls himself to his feet. "Working with Shadoloo is not a pleasant thing," he comments as he raises his bat high.
"The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right." Shoma quotes. He regards the girl for a moment, "I am doing what I think I should do. Do not feel sorry for me." With that, Shoma brings the bat in hard against Hotaru's head, aiming to knock the girl out.
COMBATSYS: Khamis blocks Roberto's Thrust Kick.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Khamis
"What idiocy are you prattling?" is hissed towards Shoma, turning to gaze towards him with the narrowed cunning of someone who might be doubtful suddenly of his supposed allies' credentials. The sudden rush of Roberto's assault is met with a forearm interposed, absorbing it seemingly harmlessly before shrugging the youth aside, rolling his shoulders. "If you speak another word to these useless whelps, I'll beat you to death myself...! They are DEAD!! I am the ranking officer in this prison! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Whether one is even supposed to respond is questionable given he just more or less said to be silent, but he's here and very much paying attention. That Shoma might be anything but a common thug is distant at best. He's violating dress code, for one thing. But he can bring that up afterward. Turning back towards Roberto, he suddenly lashes out, trying to catch his forearm across the soccer star's throat before violently hurling him into the ground like a ragdoll, letting out a simple grunt in the endeavor.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Shoma's Random Weapon.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Khamis
The exchange of words gives poor Hotaru a moment to catch her breath. She's having a hard time seeing straight, and even her vision is beginning to blur, eyes tearing up from the intensity with which she's been attacked. She's watching Shoma though, aware of how vulnerable she is from the seated position, but also so very afraid that if she does try to stand up, her knee will give out and that will be the end of her.
When the vicious swing of the bat comes for her head, Hotaru has the presence of mind duck, the weapon whistling over her head close enough to bat her cowlick in passing. Whew! Sitting up again, she begins to slide away now, eying Shoma slightly differently. At first she thought him confused, maybe somewhat brainwashed. But after hearing the threats from the one who /clearly/ seems to be the ranking member of the two fighter team, young Futaba isn't so sure.
"Are you some kind of monster?" she yells back at Shoma, taking a moment to lift her hands and wipe her eyes, trying to clear her version. "If you beat us, /that/ man will kill us! Is that how you're helping Sakura? Is that how you're standing by a friend? Are you insane?!"
She lifts that brown travel bag from off her shoulder, still trying to scoot away from Shoma now and flings it at him, hoping for just a moment's distraction at the very least before he comes at her with that bat again.
"We're not even here FOR Sakura, you mindless buffoon! We're trying to rescue people that have been locked up here. Tortured, starved, beaten, denied any type of medical care... and you want to stop us from doing THAT? You want to condem all these people, even Roberto, to DEATH?"
COMBATSYS: Roberto blocks Khamis' Guerilla Combination.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Khamis
"My motivations aren't guided by the fact that Sakura is here. It is a major concern but not my main objective. I'm here because Vega is cruel man. You know Hyo? I'm here because Vega is a thousand times worse than Hyo was. Had it ever..." and this is where Roberto is cut off by Khamis' attempt to slam him. It's at this point realizes that he realizes that he could be in deep trouble. He knows that he's out matched and so far as managed hold up only through luck. "I wouldn't be here risking my life and a possible career ending injury and not being able to see Natsu and my brothers faces again if I didn't feel as though that the man wasn't pure evil. Look at the company he keeps!!! He's threatening to kill you as well!"
He then devotes the rest of his focus towards Khamis praying that he can hold on longer. He rips the sleeve off of his left arm, the scar Hyo gave him left exposed hoping that the visual might slap some sense into him. After that he just charges at Khamis, his concern being hold him off.
COMBATSYS: Shoma overcomes Thrown Object from Hotaru with Fast Ball.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Khamis
Shoma scowls in Khamis' general direction, before being taken aback by Hotaru's words. "But Kurow said..." His eyes go wide as the bag sails his way. Shoma snaps to attention quickly, plucking a baseball out of seemingly nowhere. He throws the ball with almost impossible speed.
The two projectiles collide, and the bag is sent flying to the side. Hotaru will still have to deal with the Fast Ball, however...
COMBATSYS: Khamis interrupts Strong Throw from Roberto with Bleeding Edge.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Khamis
The charge is initially successful. Roberto gets a good grip, and begins the process of hefting that incredible weight, before Khamis suddenly flashes out his right hand. Fingers dig deep into the youth's stomach, suddenly igniting with hellish psycho power before literally tearing free, in a savage jerking motion intending to floor the other more through the prospect of being gutshot then any following force. It's likely remarkably bloody, even if such does not add too much to the assault itself in terms of damage. ...And the glare is noticed. Khamis slowly snakes his eyes towards Shoma, narrowing them, before returning his attention to Roberto and licking his pursed lips. "Time to snuff you out like a candle..."
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Shoma's Fast Ball.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Khamis
Now that she's cleared her eyes, Hotaru can actually /see/ what's going on for a change. Well enough to see the bag get flung aside by the incoming baseball and well enough to gauge it correctly to lean her head to the side, allowing it to smash against the wall behind her.
Whelp, it's now or never, she supposes. Leaning forward and getting back up to her feet gingerly, wincing from the pain that wracks her leg as she places pressure on it. It's going to keep her from being at her best, but she can't give up now. With what's happening to Roberto, she has no choice but to press on. "I don't know what you've been told," she replies. "But I know Kurow Kirishima... I don't think he intended for this to happen. He told me that things are very confusing here, and that sometimes it's hard to tell why things are happening. But he wouldn't wish harm on me. Not him."
Her voice is soft, thoughtful, and intended for Shoma alone. It's not like the other two men off fighting are in a position to listen to the girl carry on with the Shadaloo convert anyway. "I don't know what else I can say. I don't believe you want all this suffering to happen. I can't believe that. You do the things you think are right. But look what is happening here. Look at the people locked up," she gestures toward the wall of cages and doors. "Is Shoma the type of young man that would want for this to happen?"
She presses harder against her leg and finds that it /can/ hold her, even if it hurts. Deciding to really put it to the test, Hotaru leans forward into a run, attempting to slip past Shoma in order to strike out at Kharmis's shoulder with a palm press meant only to slow him briefly, trying to get the soccer fighter a chance to breath.
Roberto has an idea but for it to work he needs to get Hotaru out of the way. He can also see the opportunity Hotaru is trying to provide and he heads to the metallic soccer ball and begins to dribble it away to get some range after that he stares as the situation while trying to get his mind together. Then the next order of business is to get Hotaru where he needs her to be. "Hotaru. Hit the psycho and and /move!!/"
COMBATSYS: Roberto gains composure.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Khamis
Shoma simply...lets Hotaru pass. She's given the young man some things to chew on, and the air in his lungs is burning hot. He leans, somewhat heavily, on his bat as he tries to catch his breath.
Maybe Kurow is right; maybe he /does/ overcommit on everything...
COMBATSYS: Shoma gains composure.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Shoma
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Roberto 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Khamis with Quick Punch.
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Hotaru 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Roberto 1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0 Khamis
And indeed, that blow hits Khamis rather heavily, but it's more of a dull thap. He's remarkably solid, and slowly his gaze shifts to observe the small girl, as if only now noticing her. "..." Shoma has shut up for now, and if he wishes to leave the grand finale in his hands, he'll gladly do it. With another snarl he rushes forward, rearing back his right hand before lashing out, trying to strike out in a rending blow across her chest, vicious and precise with a speed that belies the berserker mentality thus far displayed. Simple, but it just might suffice to end the battle on /her/ end...
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Khamis' Cutoff Attack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Roberto 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\0 Khamis
Erk, THAT got his attention. Hotaru's palm lands, but it clearly wasn't meant to hurt the man. Just give Roberto time to prepare himself for whatever her teammate has in mind. As the strike comes for her, the girl leans to the side, allowing the vicious blow to miss her by a fraction of an inch.
Just the power of the air blown aside by the attack clues the girl in just how close she came to getting perhaps critically wounded for a moment. Hopping backward now, she lands with a grunt, the air escaping her lips as she hisses from the injuries she's coping with all this time.
The evasion puts her next to Shoma, however, which is a major risk. Chancing glance at him, her blue eyes focus on brown ones, "If you really want to make a difference... one that will mean something... help us." she pleads. "We just want to save these people. Is that wrong?"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Roberto 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\0 Khamis
Roberto takes a deep breath as he catches his breath. He tips his visor towards Hotaru and smiles as he prepares to do something insane but may be his only chance to pull this off. He takes a step towards Khamis and then another. One step following another slowly picking up speed until he's a bit out of the solidly built Shadaloo soldier's range and then he slams his foot into the metal. The hunk of metal becomes a ball of fire traveling towards Khamis and then on impact explodes sending the pieces of shrapnel in various directions shredding everyone close by with burning metal. Luckily neither Shoma nor Hotaru are in range.
COMBATSYS: Shoma successfully hits Hotaru with Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Khamis
Shoma's response is simple. He slides a heel behind Hotaru's already injured leg, blocking it as he reaches back to grab the front of her shirt. A sharp application of force puts Futaba on her back. It also puts Shoma's face inches away from her's.
"The only thing I can do to help you is to let you and Roberto escape alive," he whispers hoarsely, conflict showing in his eyes, "I...I know this is wrong...but I...Sakura needs me /here/. I-I can't just abandon her like that."
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Khamis with Blazing Strikers.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Khamis
The maneuver works exactly as desired, hitting Khamis within the chest. The air whuffs from his chest as he slides backwards, doubling over and bracing himself, gritting his teeth. But he's not brought down by the assault, breath coming sharper as his quivering rage is instead directed towards Shoma. "...I told you... not to speak with the insects again...!!" He wipes the blood from his lips, before yanking out a jagged piece of shrapnel from his chest and rolling his shoulders lazily. "Alright..." One hand flickers to life in purple Psycho Energy, and then the other. "...Let me show you why I am the leader of Seven Days..." So it seems he's preparing some manner of apocalyptic assault. Well, one might assume. Roberto's effort to finish him failed. What next is there...?
COMBATSYS: Khamis gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Khamis
Gasping as Shoma takes advantage of her close proximity to slam her to the ground, Hotaru probably feels pretty weak in his grip by now, the girl not having much left in her to go on. As the boy makes his final offer, her expression darkens, eyes narrowing slightly. When she speaks now, her voice is no longer soft but quite loud. Loud enough to be heared by Roberto. Loud enoug to be heard by the Psycho driven monster that would see them dead given the chance. "The offer of a coward... you hope to make cowards out of /us/ by asking us to run?! It's a pity, too. What do you think that monster will do when you let us escape? You think he'll let you live? He already looks your way with murder in his eyes...!"
"And you are willing to doom all these people... you make me sick. You better hope for your sake you never hope to go home. If I live through this, I will make sure everyone knows who you are and what you are, Shoma. You'll never be able to show your face at home again."
And with that, Hotaru rolls to the side, wresting herself from the young student's grip, no longer willing to speak to the boy. One last, dismissive glance is cast his way, anger in her eyes and a silent shake of her head. And then with that, she's off, sprinting toward Khamis, teeth set with determination as the young fighter pours everything she has left in her into this final attack. "Tenshou..." It starts as a roll toward his feet that quickly turns into a rising flip kick, a swath of blue chi trailing behind her legs, powering her to strike harder than she would on raw muscle power alone.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Khamis with Ten-shou Ranki EX.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Khamis
While Hotaru goes to knock him down, Roberto is moving towards Khamis to assist with that effort by running at him as fast as he can. While she hits him high, Roberto dashes in to hit him sliding right for Khamis' heel. At this point the time for words is over. If he wants to have any chance at both seeing his friends again and setting the rest of the prisoners free, he's going to need to take the big man out.
The powerful kick and surging energy behind it is enough to drive the man off his feet - perhaps he was caught off guard or perhaps the frustration and anger that fuels Hotaru now is enough to drive home more force than many might reckon she's capable of.
Her flip kick ends with her planting her feet against the ceiling the moment she's upside down, not having enough room to complete the entire motion. And then she's diving back down toward him, landing on the man knees first, driving them into his stomach. Already her hands are pressed against his lower chest, palms digging into him as she begins to charge the air around them with an incredible amount of energy, drawing life from herself, from the world around her, her own spirit resonating with the hopeless many behind bars, lending even more strength to her attack than she has ever been able to manifest before. Glaring into his eyes, the girl opens her mouth, kiai'ing with the sudden burst of power. "aaaaaaAAAAAAH!"
And then it's too much for her to control any further and she releases the build up, funneling all that power back into her own body, channeling it down her arms and into Khamis's chest with explosive force. "KYAAAAAA!"
There is an explosion, blindingly bright blue light in the dark hall and then an exhausted sigh as young Futaba slumps forward, only able to keep herself upright by propping her hands against the chest of her enemy.
COMBATSYS: Khamis blocks Roberto's Sliding Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Khamis
Well; Khamis was entirely taken off guard by the dual onslaught, and although he manages to deflect the sliding kick without any difficulty, this leaves him completely helpless to Hotaru's, ah, assault. He's struck, staggered backwards rather then knocked into the air. But when she rebounds, he's finally grounded, although it's still an arduous process. He's even attempting to raise as the energy builds, one blood-splattered hand reaching for Hotaru's throat with a snarl, before that detonation takes place. Khamis spasms, the ground denting beneath and cracks arcing out in all directions. For a few moments it seems the fight's over... until one were to realize the purple flames have not died out. "Enough..." Both suddenly glow brighter, and then all of it is merely unleashed. The entire hallway flashes bright with purple energy, swathing out in a blanketing onslaught. All those nearby, including the supposed teammate Shoma, might very well be consumed by the hateful fire of one candle that adamantly refuses being blown out. But by the panting and trembling failure to raise afterwards, it's likely he has little left in him anyway...
COMBATSYS: Shoma reflects Ground Zero from Khamis with Return Swing.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Khamis' Ground Zero.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Roberto reflects Ground Zero from Khamis with Shining Clutch.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Khamis
Kurow's work on Shoma is very much a work in progress, and working against a /VERY/ strong spirit. As such, it's a very tenuous thing; sessions with Kurow are impressive as Hotaru might know, if she could remember. They are as effective on Sakura as they are because they are reinforced with the Doll programming. Hotaru's words, and Khamis' actions batter against the framework Kirishima has laid in the last day or two. His eyes narrow as Hotaru opens a can of whoop-ass on Khamis. Part of hm rejoices, loudly. Actually, ALL of Shoma rejoices; Khamis is a bigger jerk than Kurow /OR/ Vega. Vega can at least /act/ civilized when he wants to.
Any desire to help this madman goes RIGHT out the window as Khamis tries to open his own can. Shoma's eyes go wide as the bat sweeps in a massive arc. The black bat shines with a golden light as it slams into the wave of energy, carving a place where it won't hit Shoma. He roars in pure fury as, unbelievably, some of that energy is returned to sender.
Her breath comes back to her in a timely moment, it seems, as Hotaru's eyes widen, sensing the build up of a dark power she can't even fully understand. "Watch out!" is the only warning she can offer before she's on her feet and RUNNING as far away as possible from the impending wave of destruction, managing to leap into a forward roll to avoid the blast. Though the shockwave is enough to knock her roll astray, causing her to tumble into a heap on her back some distance away. Gasping, she simply lies there, trying to get her breath back.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Khamis
As the wave threatens to overtake the three, he watches as Shoma bats a portion of the energy right back at Khamis. Meanwhile as Hotaru is running like a cheetah on crack, the Shining Goalkeeper moves right Hotaru was standing and draws the remnants of the energy into a pair of glowing hands before throwing it right at the Leader of Seven Days. "No thank you!"
COMBATSYS: Shoma successfully hits Khamis with Reflected Ground Zero.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Khamis
COMBATSYS: Khamis endures Roberto's Reflected Ground Zero.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Roberto 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Khamis
Well, this is by far the most ineffective saturating assault that Khamis has ever had the pleasure of unleashing. Both of the reflected remnants are like little tickles, scarcely causing him any pain; But when he's already dangling on the edge of oblivion as he is, there's no real recourse. "Hnnngh...!" And with that he staggers towards the nearest target. Which just so happens to be Shoma -- one arm rears back before snapping out, attempting to sink his hand into the man's chest, before unleashing a few savage blows towards the head and then attempt to hurl him towards the ground. But such is the last of his burned-out anger, and he sinks down before crashing face-first. God help whoever wakes him up...
COMBATSYS: Khamis can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Shoma dodges Khamis' Cataytic Attack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
Shoma scowls, and hops back from the attack. He looks at Futaba, laying there on the ground. Roberto can't see his eyes under the brim of the hat. The blackened bat is raised high.
"Please do not misunderstand me, Futaba-san. I have had no intention of seeing either of you dead," Shoma says in a low, shaky voice.
And then the bat comes crashing down.
"Wake up, Shoma! HE JUST FUCKING TRIED TO KILL YOU!!!" Roberto shouts as he moves towards Shoma and moves between Hotaru and the Homerun Slugger. "Look at what's going on around you. If you continue to stand in are way that's exactly what will happen." He raises his voice shouting as he looks down towards his friend. "DO YOU THINK THAT VEGA OR WHOEVER THE FUCK THIS GUY IS GIVES A DAMN ABOUT WHO LIVES?" He brings his hand right across Shoma's face attempting to smack him. "OPEN YOUR GOD DAMN EYES SAWAMURA!!!"
COMBATSYS: Shoma successfully hits Hotaru with Grand Slam Smash.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
It's amazing that she managed to move at all with the condition she's in, the poor kid having just been put through the ringer by Shoma's previous attacks. She's slow to open her eyes, squinting up at the boy. And then the bat is raised and she realizes that while he may have paused to defend himself against the blastwave of phsyic energy, he still in no way intends for her and Roberto to release the prisoners.
Gasping, she rolls to the side, taking the bat to the arm instead of being hit directly. There's still a painful cracking sound as the bat strikes bone and she clutches her arm tightly as she gets back up to her feet and leans back against the wall, the only thing that's even keeping her standing now. Panting, the girl glares at Shoma, clutching her arm. She waits a long moment before finally attacking again, pushing off the wall to give her a small burst of speed. Leaping as high as the low roofed hall will allow, the girl comes down toward Shoma with a diving knee for his shoulder. If it connects, she'll swing her other leg around to kick him squarely in the face, then push off into a backflip to put distance between them.
COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Shoma with Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Shoma fails to interrupt Rengeki Shuu from Hotaru with Fishing Swing.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
Obviously, /something/ is going on in Shoma's mind. He turns to face Roberto, and is promptly clocked. He staggers, his eyes seeming...flat somehow as he staggers away from the Taiyo Striker with blood coming from his mouth. This leaves him wide open for the three-hit combo that Hotaru lays on him, falling to the floor. He doesn't seem to get up after this.
Roberto looks over to Hotaru and begins issuing orders, "Hotaru, head up to give our people support. I'll finish things up over here." After that he begins to look at the locks on the bars. After a few moments he begins to work on the first lock by using his powerful leg kick the door off it's hinges. "Go Hotaru! I'll catch up!"
He then moves to next door and then next one kicking them down until there were cells left. "Hotaru? Which one is Fio?"
When she lands after the backflip, Hotaru's legs give out on her and she drops forward to her knees, catching herself from face planting by planting her hands against the ground. Panting, she shakes her head slowly as she ponders the anger in Roberto's voice. It's perhaps the most desperately furious she's ever heard the soccer player from Taiyo.
Lifting her head, her hair clinging to the side of her face, wet with perspiration, Hotaru is silent for a long moment, wondering at her own anger, her own hatred for the young man that finally collapsed under the dual assault. This war has changed people, she muses. Changed everyone it touches. Regardless what happens, no one will go home untouched by its taint.
As Roberto takes charge, the girl smiles faintly. What she'd /like/ is a plane ticket out of this hell hole. But he's right. She can't think about the life she's missing right now. Pushing herself slowly to her feet, she staggers over to lean against the wall. "I- I will. In a little bit," she pleads, sounding sorry that she can't hurry off on her own.
At his question, she speaks up, "That one," she gestures with her hand without needing so much as a second thougt. With how much she poured over the recon info she obtained, the exhausted fighter actually has most of the key locations of the prison memorized by now.
Shoma, for some reason stays down. Perhaps it's the tension of the situation, or maybe Roberto's too upset, but the Blazing Striker should realize that Shoma...
...can take more abuse than this. He's done so before, anyway.
The Slugger goes from flat, to curling up into a fetal position. He grabs at his head as things try and sort themselves out.
COMBATSYS: Shoma gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
Roberto moves towards Fio's cell and kneels by her. "You're Fio, right? I'm here to rescue you." Whether or not Shoma can take more abuse wasn't important right now. There was a reason he sent Hotaru up. He knew he had a better chance of dealing with his friend than she did, atleast, on the physical level. Plus if he needed to put Shoma down, he would be able to cross that bridge when he comes to it.
COMBATSYS: Roberto drops his guard to recover.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
And isn't Ms. Germi a sorry sight.
What Hotaru and Roberto end up finding in that cell is very much a different woman from the vibrant, energetic young lady who helped Hotaru out when Cross showed up on campus, who was so intent on finding and tracking down the vampiric creature that haunted Southtown's dark and terrifying places. Oh, no -- what they get to see is a pale, drained young woman, barely sitting upright next to some three-quarters-eaten food that's been left for the flies due to -- at the time -- having been too weak to eat. Her arm has a solid (if hasty) field dressing fashioned from some of the fabric of her top covering what is obviously a massive gash along the blood vessels in her wrist, and caked-on blood goes down to her elbow.
Fio looks to Roberto, forcing herself to stand up. It's hard, but she's finally had food and water -- even if she's drained, she's got a strong constitution. She's a fighter. She can do it, she reminds herself. "... I'm so glad... you finally came..." she says, before walking past him slowly and peeking out of the cell, seeing young Futaba. Her eyes light up a little, and she sniffles. "Are you all okay...? I heard things getting a little crazy..."
The girl watches Roberto head in to check on Fio. But after a while her gaze falls to Shoma on the ground, her expression gentler now, much of the anger in her having been drained from her in the final moments of the battle.
"I..." She stops, frowning a little. She isn't sure that she should say if it she doesn't mean it. Which is why for a few seconds, she tries to decide if she really does. "I'm sorry, Shoma," she finally states before turning to make her way down the hall pluck her bag off the floor and hoist it over her shoulder. Sorry for fighting him? No. Sorry for trying to convince him to help rather than harm? No. Sorry that it came to this. Here. This conflict, this war.
Exhaling slowly, she moves to the doorway to check on the first person to be rescued as a result of the vicious battle. "Hello Fio," she offers as a tired greating toward Fio. As to how she's doing? "Not too good, I guess," she admits with a weak smile. "Can you walk? We need to help get more people out."
If Shoma hears Hotaru at all, he shows no indication of it. He has his hands clasped behind his head with his knees between his elbows. He rocks slightly, but doesn't make a sound.
His bat is also well out of his reach currently...
COMBATSYS: Shoma drops his guard to recover.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Shoma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
He moves away from Fio and moves to the other prisoners, taking long time to check on their status and find out which of them can walk and which ones require assistance. He goes into what can be considered triage, escorting the ones who can walk out of the prison first, followed closely by the people who need support and then working to those who needed to be carried out.
COMBATSYS: Shoma has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roberto 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Roberto has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
With a little nod, Fio starts to walk toward Hotaru. It's hard at first; she's barely had to use those legs of hers recently, and she's been so weak for some of her imprisonment thanks to being forced to feed that terrible creature that appeared in her cell. Her entire body aches as she does it, but she tries to hit a stride that hides it and replies, "I'm okay... don't worry too much about me -- we need to get everyone else out first."
Having been unable to see the battle as it unfolded, she looks down to the unmoving Shoma, and says, "... is he, um, a friendly?" She stays a fair distance from him. It is about this time that she realizes her body is /significantly/ over-taxed right now, and she leans against a wall, clutching her head. (This reminds her that her glasses have disappeared, which isn't exactly a stellar situation even when she's otherwise A-OK.) "I'm sorry... I feel kind of sick -- I can't really help too much..." she admits, with a sigh.
Hotaru watches Fio and shakes her head a little. The two seem to be just about equally bad off. Poor Roberto, he doesn't really have much backup left after all this. "Stay away from him," Hotaru advises Fio and then nods toward the way out. "It's okay, don't apologize..." She studies the young woman, trying to make sense of what she's been through. What torture devices. What horrible experiences did they PUT her through?
"Roberto," Hotaru calls to the soccer player. "I'll go with the prisoners, try to keep them safe as best I can. I would just be a liability were I to try and continue on." Just thinking of the beating she took from the baseball player turncoat makes her wobble a little. "Here!" She lifts the travel back off her shoulder and tosses it toward the other young man. "Just in case you need my notes for anything else. And Roberto? Nice work. That... that couldn't have been easy." she murmurs, a glance toward Shoma. She doesn't go near the boy, herself. Bat or no bat, she isn't about to risk getting close to him in her condition. As Roberto helps more and more prisoners out of their cells, Hotaru waits at the exit of the prison, keeping a watch for any trouble outside. Finally a victory after so many trying defeats. All she can hope is that things have gone better elsewhere in the prison.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has ended the fight here.
Log created on 22:17:42 06/30/2007 by Hotaru, and last modified on 00:28:35 07/08/2007.