Description: A multi-school tennis tournament at Justice High turns ugly when Aislinn accuses Momo of foul play. Will Aislinn avenge her fallen schoolmate? Can Momo clear her name, or at least punch Aislinn hard enough that she'll shut up? Inquiring minds want to know!
As is to be expected of the students of Justice High, today is yet another day for them to prove their superiority over the rest of the Southtown student body. The sport of choice? Tennis. The lovely ladies of Seijyun are here to prove their worth against the ultra-elite of the school hidden in the forest... though it appears that a few guests are here as well!
Undoubtedly wanting to better guage the abilities of a recently confirmed associate of Kurow Kirishima, the cream of the crop of Taiyo High has also been invited to participate in today's competition. It should be unsurprising, then that their number one Momo is bouncing across the courts almost as much as the ball she's serving.
There are occasional whispers among the crowd of her similarity to a child that Priciple Imawano may or may not have tried to eat a few days ago, but nobody can confirm it for sure.
Seijyun, though quite the school, apparently couldn't stand up to the might of Momo--at least on the tennis court. There were some murmurs; Seijyun was first to go up against Momo, and late in the third set--when the match was already almost sealed for the miniature tennis wonder, the Seijyun tennis player, one Seiko Narue, was struck in the head by the result of an impressive leaping overhead smash...
And as a result, she had to be taken out due to injury. Certainly, an accident, it would seem, wouldn't it? And yet... and yet at least one Seijyun High student has her doubts. That student is one Aislinn Doyle--a student as mysterious and whispered-about as Momo herself, at least at Seijyun. Known to associate with one Yurika Kirishima, Momo might recognize her from a dossier, if Kurow's people keep such things. For now, however, she seems to be waiting patiently...
It doesn't take long for the current set to end, unsurprisingly with Momo as the victor. Perhaps her HEADSHOT! earlier inspired fear in the other competitors, damaging their game, or maybe she's Just That Good. Whatever the reason, the littlest girl on the court has moved up to the next bracket, and now has a bit of a wait while the other matches finish. She's greeted by cheers from the other Taiyo students present as she skips merrily off of the court.
Does Aislinn earn any particular looks from Momo? Of course not, the Student Council has dossiers on a number of students, including all of Yurika's little friends. One being present is hardly news.
Momo may regret that; shortly after the set finishes, Aislinn can be seen--rather boldly, if as quiet as a mouse--standing, walking down the steps of the bleachers... and nimbly hopping over the retaining wall separating the bleachers from the court.
That action by itself causes silence to fall; Aislinn thus has a clear and open arena for her words, which is good because her voice isn't very loud. "You cheated," she says, simply and directly, tightening her gloves as she walks towards the littlest Darkside Student Congress member. "That disabling smash that struck Seiko-san was deliberately aimed."
The words probably cause as much shock as anything else. Stopping by the umpire's high seat, she adds, conversationally, "I do not wish to affect the outcome of the tournament. I simply wish to exact a measure of vengeance."
As silence suddenly falls upon the athletics field, Momo glances over her shoulder to see the source-- some random kid, no big deal. She's about to resume chatting it up with her team when the accusation comes out.
"..."
The girl turns, a look of surprise plastered across her face even as she sizes up the taller girl. "What!? Momo would do no such thing!" Her hands move to her hips as she continues to defent herself. "Maybe I hit a little too hard, because it was a really exciting game, but I wasn't trying to hurt her! I told her I was really sorry about it already!"
That won't even wash; Aislinn holds up a gloved hand, waving it in that ancient motion that is used to, as the adults say, 'call bullshit'. "I saw exactly what happened," she replies, softly--and yet, her voice holding immeasurable confidence and surety, for all that. Plus, she's a cyborg--she has some advantages.
"That shot was perfectly aimed and it struck dead-center on her forehead." Aislinn favors Momo with a slight smile. Really, this is -mostly- an act... but Ais knows a bit about Momo and is curious. After all, Kurow didn't just pick her for no reason.
"If you are not prepared to defend yourself, then you should choose a champion for yourself."
"W-what!?" Momo exclaims. "How could you say something like that? You're being really mean!" Internally, the tennis player wonders how the heck this girl managed to see the aimed shot-- she'd pulled it off perfectly, her form that of a regular, if perhaps overpowered, swing, and the angle of the strike would've made it impossible to see that it hit square in the middle of Seiko's forehead. Outwardly, of course, she's significantly more belligerent. A single finger is shaken at Aislinn, as if scolding her. "Momo is not going to let you say such mean things-- OR hurt my friends! So stop being a bully, or else!"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Momo has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Momo
A slight smile continues to curve Aislinn's lips, something probably creepy to those who know her--or know of her--better. Mean? Her? Well, yes, this is true--but it's not a conscious thing. It's just how she was raised. Still...
"I take your words to mean that you are, in fact, prepared to defend yourself." The words 'or else' kind of seal the deal, don't they? Really, the thing is, Aislinn is kind of standing still, near the mid-point of the court...
And then in the next moment she's lunging forward, drawing her left hand back across her right shoulder, her booted feet barely not touching the ground. When she reaches Momo, she simply lashes out with a vicious backfist. Naturally, everyone is just too shocked to respond--except Momo, maybe.
COMBATSYS: Momo dodges Aislinn's Jab Punch.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Momo
"If I have to, I will!" Momo says defiantly. "But I'm warning you, you should-- eep!" The sudden approach of Aislinn-- far faster than the girl has any right to be --prompts the tennis player to drop to the ground and let the backfist hit air. She rolls to the side and is back on her feet in no time. "You should let Momo finish speaking, you big dummy!" the girl says with a childish huff.
Her pink, heart-decorated racquet is raised into the air and swing forward against the side of the Seijyun student's head. It's not a very hard strike; if Aislinn has any expectations of the Taiyo girl's strength, she's not living up to them at all.
The other Taiyo tennis players, meanwhile, are quick to back off and let the two girls have all of the room they need to 'sort out' their differences.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn endures Momo's Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Aislinn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Momo
*THUD* The racket impacts Aislinn's head, for sure--and yes, the strike was not nearly as painful as one might expect, even with the 'improvised' weapon. And really, the damage is barely noticed, as Aislinn was, with the whiff of her backfist, already twisting, sacrificing the ability to defend in order to attempt to simply sweep Momo's legs from underneath her.
The attack is very similar to a Tae Kwon Do standing sweep heel kick, Aislinn rotating around her back towards where Momo went, accelerating her attacking heel through a scything arc.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Momo with Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Momo
Unfortunately, in the process of thwacking Aislinn upon the head, Momo leaves herself wide upon to the sweeping kick. Suddenly finding her feet to be several feet to the side of her, the tennis player is left to wonder for a moment just where her center of gravity has escaped to before she falls to the ground with a squeal of surprise.
"No fair, no fair!" the girl whines, although she doesn't pull herself up just yet. After all, being on the ground has it's benefits. For example, if the taller girl opts to continue hitting her, Momo will automatically gain crowd support for being kicked while she's down. Not to mention that she's at the right height to totally wail on Aislinn's legs with her racquet-- this time with the side of it instead of the net. And believe you me, those bolts along the rim sting something awful if the manage to catch on you.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Momo's Flip Flap Racket.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Momo
... yes, Aislinn -could- attempt to kick Momo while she's down. In a 'real' fight she would. But, ever aware of the audience--who have shifted admirably from cheering on a tennis match to cheering on a fight on the tennis court, Aislinn opts to take the 'safe' route and simply drops low, taking the impacts of that racquet on her arms, doubled up and braced against the impacts.
From the ducking position, she rolls backwards, twice, before rising to her feet--and as she rises, she dusts herself off, regarding the form of Momo. "I see why you rely on trickery and deceit to win your tennis matches," she muses, almost to herself... it's not as if Momo was -meant- to hear that... right?
... or was she?
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Momo
"Tri... trickery and deceit!?" Momo says, testing the words in her mouth as she gets back to her feet. "Well... yeah, I guess you could say that." She scratches the back of her head, looking thoughtful. "After all, you're supposed to try and hit the ball where the other people won't be able to get to it. So if you fake them out and act like you're hitting here when you're really hitting there, then that's trickery and deciet!"
She looks awfully proud at having turned around Aislinn's insult. A tennis ball is pulled out of her outfit and bounced idly on her racquet; first one side, then the other, then the first again, then off of the side. This repeats as she taunts, "So have you had enough?" all the while watching her foe's movements. That Seijyun student is planning something for sure, and Momo will be ready for it!
COMBATSYS: Momo focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Momo
Aislinn quirks an eyebrow. Really, it wasn't meant as an insult. But if Momo wants to take it that way then she will not complain. There's a soft chuckle... and then Aislinn draws her hand from behind her. (So that's where it was!) Still, whatever's in her hand is held out of view--the hand not fully edged out into sight yet.
"Yes... trickery, deceit, and confusion are standard tactics in war," she agrees, softly... and then she crouches. That's only for a moment, though, as she then pushes off with her strong legs and leaps high, into the sun, before whipping her right arm up, then straight down...
... the motion of throwing something. In this case, a tennis ball, and right for Momo's forehead. Payback, perhaps, for what happened to her Seijyunmate.
COMBATSYS: Momo overcomes Thrown Object from Aislinn with Whale Serve.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Momo
Momo's head tilts as Aislinn begins to murmur, putting away the ball she's been bouncing. "What? You'll need to speak up, Momo can't hear you!" Not that she needs to, as Aislinn makes it very clear as she leaps into the sun. "Now who's being trickery...ish!" the tennis player calls upo, squinting and raising a hand in front of her eyes.
Her tennis racquet is raised awkwardly, unable to see past the glare from the sun... until something rapidly approaches and blots it out, at least. "Now!" cries the girl as she takes a step back and swings as hard as possible, nailing the incoming tennis ball perfectly and sending it right into the airborne girl's path of descent. You do not mess with tennis when dealing with Momo!
COMBATSYS: Aislinn negates Whale Serve from Momo with Diamond Flare.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Momo
Hnn. Of course, Aislinn expected something like that to happen--girl's carrying a damned tennis racket. Still...
As she hangs in the air, in that moment of time, somehow frozen... she sees the ball batted back at her and she lowers her right hand. There's a sudden gleam from her knuckles, and a sheer white beam-like blast of energy is emitted, tearing the ball to shreds.
Then, Aislinn lands, dusting her hands off as she lands. "An interesting technique, but ultimately worthless," she muses. "You do not seem like much of a combatant..." Actually, Aislinn is a little impressed at the way Momo managed that, but she'll never -show- it.
"Of course Momo isn't much of a combatant!" the tennis player counters, mildly impressed by the ball-dissolving energy but also not showing it. "Do I look like one of those big and beefy martial artists, or a giant muscle-girl?" She poses cutely. "I'm just a tennis player!" Her racquet is brought down, pointed at Aislinn. "And you are not! So get off of the courty. We're trying to have a match here, and you're in the way."
There are a few voices of agreement from the team behind her. "Yeah!" "You go, Momo!" "Get her off the court!" One of them, in a sudden fit of bravery, even throws a tennis ball at the Seijyun student.
COMBATSYS: Momo successfully hits Aislinn with Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Momo
The ball strikes Aislinn in the body and while it isn't thrown with much force, it's enough to give her some pause. And... her eyes narrow, and a laser-like gaze is made, to -anyone- who might've thrown that ball or who might try to interfere. Nothing is said--only a deadly serious promise. If anyone else inteferes... then they will also receive a beating. It's enough to quiet those Taiyo girls.
Then, and only then, does Aislinn return her gaze to Momo, briefly. "I will not leave until I have exacted revenge for my fallen comrade." She sounds intensely, not quite deadly, serious--but she's also not going anywhere. "If you want me to leave, then you will have to remove me fro this court... -by yourself-." Aislinn's posture doesn't change--but there's a sense of buildup around her, a focusing of an invisible aura... and her words leave no leeway as to what she thinks of others stepping into a battle.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Momo
The Taiyo tennis team withers under Aislinn's glare, all of them pointing at the culprit. "H-hey, it wasn't me!" he defends weakly after noticing that he's been ratted out.
"You picked a fight with the Taiyo tennis team!" Momo declares. "That means you have to deal with all of us! Right, guys?" After a moment's silence, the girl glances back at her team. "Riiiight?" They mutter in vague agreement. "Oh, come on!"
She turns back to the other girl, picking up a tennis ball from the ground and tossing it into the air, aura be damned-- the tennis player isn't the most skilled of chi users, after all, her training has focused squarely on increasing her natural agility. "Momo doesn't like fighting, but if that's what it takes to get the game started again...!" she calls out, whacking the ball as hard as she can.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Momo's Whale Serve.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Momo
Aislinn reaches up, batting the tennis ball out of the air with negligent ease, and her glare is still laser-sharp as she eyes the murmuring members of the Taiyo tennis team. "No. I chose to combat -you-, Momo, for your dishonorable actions on this selfsame tennis court." Raising her left hand, she points outwards at the people behind the tennis player.
"I have no quarrel with them, only with you. They will only be hurt--and they will be hurt--if they choose to attempt interference. This is between me and you." So saying, the Silent Assassin--though not-so-silent anymore--lunges forward again, drawing and as she closes with Momo she comes to a sudden stop, pivoting on her left leg, and using the momentum to fire a tight right hook for Momo's temple.
On this attack, a red-white, crackling aura of chi electricity springs into being around her attacking hand, promising more than the usual pain.
COMBATSYS: Momo fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Aislinn with Throat Racket.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Momo
Momo's eyes narrow at Aislinn's numerous declarations. "It wasn't dishonorable, it was an /accident/," she insists once more, shifting the grip on her racquet. "And you're making your school look bad by making such a big deal about it!" She prepares to strike as the ninja of a girl approaches... but her swing is too slow, and she ends up taking the chi-laden punch right in the head.
With a squeal of pain, the tennis star goes tumbling down the court, her light weight making it somewhat difficult for her to gain traction. After a few yards she finally manages to come to a halt, holding her arms over her head as she staggers to her feet. "Ow..."
Aislinn's punch connects, and she arrests her motion swiftly. Her expression is... displeased, mildly, which may be somewhat odd considering she just connected with a good, strong attack.
"You and I both know what happened," she says, just loud enough for both her and Momo to hear. "Your tactics are unacceptable within the rules of this game, and you willfully injured a classmate. These are offenses Seijyun will not stand by for."
Then she raises her voice, and adds a slightly mocking tone to it. "... have you had enough yet?"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Momo
Still as obstinant as ever, Momo merely grunts, "I don't know what you're talking about." Her head is killing her-- being electro-punched will do that to a girl! And that didn't feel like any normal punch, either. "And you're not really holding back from hurting other students, either."
But then it's time to return to normal volume, so everyone else can hear it. "N-no way! Momo has to uphold the honor of Taiyo High! If she gave up now, it would be like saying she really did hurt your friend on purpose!" There's another cheer from the Taiyo side of the match when the subject of SCHOOL SPIRIT comes up, but this is to be expected. At least nobody's throwing stuff into the fight this time.
Focusing what chi she can manipulate into her racquet and being rewarded with a slight glow along the rim and a pink glowing heart in the middle of the net, Momo runs towards her Seijyun opponent, swinging as she approaches... and far too distant to have any hope of hitting her. Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the purpose of the swing, as she instead breaks into a spin and zooms across the court like a top, aiming to slam into Aislinn racquet-first.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn counters Spin Smash from Momo with Heaven's Drive.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Momo
Very well. Aislinn well understands the value of seeing a charade through to the end; she's done so before, is doing so now, and will do so again. "Very well," she says, echoing her thoughts. As Momo comes zooming in with that odd pink chi, Aislinn is put in mind of a terrible sort of pink energy she encountered once before... and she dances back a couple of times and then, once the timing is right...
... she reaches out, and grabs Momo by the arms, mid-swing, absorbing her momentum and stopping her utterly. "We'll see this through to the end, then," she says, and concentrates a moment; while she has Momo stopped, she summons a man-sized, dual-edged blade of lightning chi, red-tinged white, to slice up through Momo, before releasing her.
"Gah!" Momo yelps as she's suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, whiplash sending her head forward and back painfully. Her attempt to get her bearings is then viciously cut off... by a sword! "H-hey, that's not fair!" the girl cries in surprise as the lightning chi is sliced through her, sending waves of miscolored electricity arcing over her body with a great squeal of pain. The crowd gasps, and plenty of cries of "Momo, no!" are heard from the Taiyo team.
The release comes not a moment too soon, smoke trailing off of the tennis player as she stumbles back, her pigtails poofy and frazzled. "H-how sh-shocking," she stutters, trying to regain her sense of balance. Eventually it comes, and she coughs. "Don't think that I'm through ye-eep!" A bolt of static leaps from the metal rivets on her racquet into her leg as she accidentally brushes herself. "Oooooh! Now Momo is mad!" she says, pouting ever so cutely. "Feel the wrath of a thousand-- no, a million burning suns! Momo PUNCH!"
And with that massively telegraphed speech, the girl raises her fist and CHARGES at Aislinn, trying to sock her one in the cheek.
Of course, this IS Momo we're talking about, and she's not exactly a slugger.
COMBATSYS: Momo successfully hits Aislinn with Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Aislinn 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Momo
... "If that is the wrath of a thousand burning suns," she replies, her cheek glowing pink from the fierce strike of The Momo, "then I believe that I will not fear sunburn." Aislinn's head was turned, sure, but otherwise she just doesn't seem that affected by it. And then... then she's drawing her left hand back and seeking to affect the same manuever. What is that phrase? Oh yes. 'Beat her cheek'. Well, that's exactly what Aislinn intends to do.
Now, last time, Momo evaded the attack, but that hardly means anything... everyone gets lucky a few times. Aislinn included. But she's certainly prepared for whatever Momo may attempt.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Momo with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Aislinn 1/---====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Momo
Momo takes the blow to the face, stumbling back thanks to her lighter weight and the damage she's already incurred. She can't possibly have more than one rose left in her life meter, but she's going to keep on truckin' until the finish. Such is the Taiyo way!
"Momo will not let down her team!" she says defiantly, looking up at the Seijyun student with a pouty glare. It's really hard to look genuinely angry when you're so damn adorible, and it would appear that Momo hasn't mastered the ability. She rushes at the taller girl once more, this time leaping at her, trying to grab her around the neck and tug her down to Momo's level. Come here!
COMBATSYS: Aislinn interrupts Quick Throw from Momo with Brutal Hammer.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Aislinn 1/--=====/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Momo
Oh, it will be the end, this time. Aislinn will make sure of it. She tenses, recognizing what Momo is about to do--and while Aislinn isn't really much larger than Momo, she's -strong-. Strong enough to catch Momo as she leaps and grabs. Momo gets to put a little strain on Aislinn's neck but that is about it.
Because, you see, Aislinn is already moving--slamming her head forward as Momo leaps. It is a single, titanic headbutt, and it should be enough to throw Momo to the court and -end- the fight. In fact, she's so sure of it, she's turning away from what she thinks is an unconscious Momo, already preparing to walk off the court.
Whether Momo is down for the count or not, sadly, will not be found out, as one of the coaches finally decides that enough is enough. "Hey!" he calls out, running onto the court. "Just what do you think you're doing, anyway, jumping into the court in the middle of a tournament and beating up the competitors?" he says to Aislinn, before helping Momo to her feet. "Are you okay, Karuizawa?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," the girl mumbles, looking a little green after getting headbutted right in the gut. After a moment, she adds, "...I'm not fine," and stumbles off the court to empty her stomach in a nearby trash can.
Needless to say, Aislinn gets a wave of boos from the Taiyo team, though the Seijyun team is undoubtedly matching (if not exceeding) them with their own cheers. Go go school spirit.
COMBATSYS: Momo takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Momo can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 1/--=====/=======|
Ais, for her part, is already walking away, her attitude clearly saying that anyone trying to -stop- her will be in for more of the same. And while the Taiyo girls may boo loudly, the Seijyun girls are more reserved... but their support is just as strongly felt. Surely, there will be rumors come Monday morning... rumors that Aislinn will do little to deny or confirm.
She's only concerned about doing her civic duty--and that being done, she just prepares to head back home.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:55:25 08/19/2007 by Momo, and last modified on 00:32:33 08/20/2007.