Description: The bold Kenpo Kid decides to take a shortcut to fame and notority by sneaking his way in to see a fighting circuit ringleader in person and demanding a spot! Unluckily for him, R Corporation does not take audience with riffraff and a helpful secretary was there to see him to the door. Behold, the terrifying madness of Vice. How will the boy survive this one?
This is it.
Youthful eyes stare at the placard on the door of the executive office with a sudden wave of trepidation. Fingers gripping the edges of his purloined 'Employee' jacket tossed about his shoulders in a hasty disguise, the matching cap long-since discarded. It took no small measure of guile and speed to get to this place. Three guards evaded and careful movements through every last square inch of indoor terrain. Not to mention, more than a little dumb luck.
However, the goal is finally in sight. The operator of this little fighting circuit in the rundown district of Southtown.
The jacket collapes in a heap about the youth's bare feet. Once more adorned only by his weathered, yellow Chinese boxing uniform. Lean, yet toned arms clasp together in brief as mousey-brown eyes close while issuing a calming exhale. Having difficulties getting accepted into many tournaments, undoubtedly due to his barely teen age, Kentou has only one recourse left to him if he wants to show his worth.
Walk right up to the owner and demand entrance to the circuit. Even show him precisely what he's made of if he has to!
The only thing inbetween him and that goal? Whatever secretary is on duty in the reception room of the executive office. With any luck, he'll just march past her so fast that she won't even think to call security until its way too late.
"Okay.." The little Kenpo fighter repeats, "..Okay.." Calming himself with the words. Ankle-length braid shifting as he reaches out to grasp the door knob. Frowning at his trembling hand and willing it to stillness.
"Okay."
%TTwist, push and forward to greatness. Its really that simple, isn't it?
It's truly admirable that Kentou made it this far. Really. Guards avoided, cameras edged around, steps silenced down to nothing so as not to alert anyone within the building itself. It's a feat of stealth that is to be commended.
It's a pity that it'll all come to naught the instant he opens that door.
The view that greets Kentou beyond the door is innocuous enough. A slender young secretary holds court behind the main desk of the reception room, as expected, but her demeanor isn't quite so mundane as her surroundings. She's reclined back in her chair as far as it'll go, a heavy slouch weighting along her entire relaxed figure, and she's filing her nails idly. The piled paperwork is entirely ignored; it's for her saner half to do that kind of thing.
It's also worth noting she's filing her nails to points.
Kentou's left to sweat and wonder for a few moments; after all, Vice isn't done with her nails. Presently, however, when she finally finishes, she flicks her gaze grudgingly up at him. The impression the look in her eyes gives is twofold. One: she's bored. Two: it's probably not good news that she's bored. "Thought you'd never get up the balls to just come in..." Her low voice snakes into one's perception more than it's simply heard. She regards him intently a moment, deceptively calm: and then, without any noticeable warning, she slams the file point-first into the desk surface. The abrupt noise punctuates her words: "Now what do you want?"
Kentou saw this in a movie once.
"ExcuseMeComingThroughHiLateForAnAppointmentCan'tTalkI'llSeeMyselfInThankYouVeryMuchGoodDayLikeYourHair-" Rattling off as fast as his voice can manage as the boy pushes the doors open and briskly marches straight ahead. Hoping to catch the secretary completely unawares as he keeps his mousey gaze focused forwards towards the door beyond the reception hall. Trotting over with all due haste.. Figuring, hey. She's probably just some bored, underpaid secretary right? It'll probably take her a minute just to stop filing her paperwork to even notice the kid marching through.. right?
Which is why the -SLAM- onto the desktop earns a squeak of surprise. The boy hopping in place as his hand halts a few inches away from the Main Office doorway. Luminous eyes slooooooowly shifting over towards Vice proper.
She was saying something a moment ago? "...Oh..Ah.. I have an appointment! With.. Um.." Eyes quickly moving back to the door. Rising up on his tiptoes to get a better look at the placard on the door, unfortunitely seeing none, "..The.. boss.... executive.. person. Type. Guy." Hand waving about in a circle, as if trying to conjure the proper term.
Huh.. This woman looks a little.. off. Not to mention surprisingly pretty for a secretary. *o_o*; If.. kinda scary.
Vice does not look fooled. At all. Her head swiveled slightly to keep her gaze trained on Kentou, her hand lingering at rest upon the end of the nail file she's just murdered the hapless desk with... she looks about ready to tear out his lying tongue.
And not even in the metaphorical sense.
But at his mention of having an appointment, her face abruptly smoothes with shocking rapidity. Her mood swaps so fast she might as well be disassociative. Suddenly she's all sunshine and smiles. She even puts a hint of apology in the sweet curve of her mouth. "An appointment! Ah, I see. Very good..." She even has the grace to remove the file from the poor desk's split flesh.
"In that case," she continues. Suddenly, the cast of her smile isn't quite so kind anymore. It's gone wrong, gone twisted: still beautiful, but now in the manner of a swordblade's edge. Her eyes, wide and thicklashed, are so guileless as to loop around and cross the line right back into 'sinister.' "Why don't you come over here and show me..." One finger taps gently on her desk's surface, right atop the calendar sitting thereof. "...which appointment is yours?"
From the look in her eyes, noncompliance is not an option.
For a looooooong moment, the boy wonder stands at arm's length from the office door. Wide eyes occasionally shifting from the woman then back to the door surface. Between the Gates of Hades and Cerebus. The boy fights the urge to just ignore her completely and race into the office anyway. The longer he talks to her.. the higher the chance of someone else walking in, or her calling security to have him chucked out the nearest window.
Not to mention the other issue at hand.
Kentou's anxiety only increases as this woman's madness begins to unfold. Watching her switch from expression to expression, playing a psychotic version of musical chairs in her own head. With a deep swallow, the boy decides that getting within arm's length of her would be of dubious wisdom.
H..He'll be standing .. right over here. Thanks.
"U..Uh.." The Kenpo fighter rises up on his tiptoes, tilting his head back as he tries to see beyond her and to the calender. Head waving to and fro as he squints and looks.. pointing in the general direction as he adds, "Oh! O..of course. That one! Right..right there.. For.. Uh.. Today. You see it there? Um.."
Lets hope its something he can possibly fake. Please don't be a Rocket Scientist or a Politician. '_';
The craftiest sort of look sinks into Vice's expression, her smile lined with poison. A fingertip taps idly on the table top as she waits for him to answer her god damn question.
This false patience persists throughout his nervous waffling. The look on her face goes from "sweet and concerned young woman" to "wolf with its fangs sunk deep." When Kentou finally attempts to commit to something, a brow arches: a gesture oddly elegant, considering the woman's nature. Perhaps she's picked up a couple things from Mature, over the years.
Vice doesn't even bother looking at the spot the poor boy indicates. She just keeps staring at him levelly, her expression now completely cold. "No. No, I don't see it there. Do you know why?" Other than the smartass response of 'well, you didn't look!'
"Because--" She's out of her chair in an instant, going from lazily-reclined to upright and poised in one single smooth movement. She closes with him in three steps, and on the third she simply reaches out and attempts to snare and throw him, bodily, towards the door by the back of his shirt. Right around the collar, at the place kittens get grabbed and hoisted when they've been bad. "...it doesn't exist." Her features have coiled into a snarl. "Did you really think you could get past me...?"
COMBATSYS: Kentou has joined the fight here.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Akira
[OOC] Vice says, "unless you want first shot"
COMBATSYS: Vice has joined the fight here.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Akira
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vice successfully hits Kentou with Quick Throw.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Kentou
Okay.. Sheeeeeeeee's a little on the crazy side. Make that a whole LOT on the crazy side.
Kentou takes yet another step back as the woman continues revolving through a half dozen emotions. Wide eyes staring at her for a few more moments before slowly turning away. The boy inwardly decides that he better leave this one alone and just keep right on trucking. Yup! Sounds like a plan.. uh huh. So-
A squeak leaves his throat as he finds his feet no longer on the floor... dangling from the back of his jacket as his eyes bulge, "Wha-"
WHOOPH.
The boy is easily tossed like a weighted ragdoll. Thown across the room with astonishing ease as he -slams- straight through the door to the reception office. Breaking the hinges clean off as he then -CRASHES- against the farside of the hallway. Hanging for a moment as the air is -blasted- out of his lungs. "-HRK!"
Moments later the boy simply crumbles down to the floor in a heap. His mind having hardly caught up with him on his impromptu flight as he just fights to fill his lungs with air..
"H..hk..Holy C.kof..Crap.."
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Kentou
Barely breathing hard, eyes half-lidded down into the most unimpressed of expressions, Vice stands regarding her handiwork. For a good while, she does nothing other than stare hard and cold at the coughing form of the young boy she's just broken the door with; and then, disconcertingly... she howls a brief and mad spate of laughter. Her figure slumps, the tense line that had hitherto wound through it going slack and careless, and when she quits her amusement her stance is so relaxed it's like an insult.
"If you want in so bad..." She holds her ground, stance powerfully set for all its casualness, and effectively blocks the way in like some kind of rabid guard dog, "...maybe you oughta prove you're worth it." Her head tilts, a mock-concerned look ghosting across her face, "Or maybe you should just go home now while you've still got all your limbs... quit playing like you're something special..."
COMBATSYS: Vice takes no action.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Kentou
The youth would make a funny quip if he had breath to make it with. The boy's wide eyes slowly rise up to the secretary with a whole new world of dread.
There's no WAY this woman can just be some pencil pusher. He.. can't rightly recall ever having being thrown that hard. And she didn't even try! What kind of monster is she?
As a droplet of sweat rolls down his cheek, Kentou seriously considers his options. Eyeing the hallway beside him and to the freedom beyond.. seriously contemplating flight as his heart pounds faster in his surely bruised ribcage.
But then.. what did he expect? He wanted to be in a real fighting tournament, he should consider himself lucky! He gets to fight one of the real deals right upfront, before entering even! This is what he wanted.. isn't it?
If that was fully true.. Then why does the youth feel so terrified?
"..D..Don't think.." The youth pushes himself up to his feet. Wobbling a moment before regaining control of his balance, easing into a wide stance with fists rising up to shoulder level, "..Y.. you're gunna stop me.." He stammers weakly.
Okay.. Okay. Do it.. No fear.. No fear..
"HHrrrAAAH!" The boy screeches as he leans forth and -dashes- ahead. Darting across the distance with modestly excellent speed. Considering his age. The boy doesn't typically like fighting girls.. But this woman is playing for keeps!
Rushing ahead as he hops at the last and THRUSTING his heel straight out in a powerful kick, transfering the whole momentum of his run into it, "HUAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Vice with Heavy Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Vice 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Kentou
Vice watches Kentou intently, with the singleminded and predatory attention of a hawk locked on to a target. The look in her eyes, certainly, is no look that should appear on the face of any average secretary-- or, really, any average human. It is too rife with mindless fury, unquenchable frustration, and malignance for that.
That madness of hers helps her pull off some incredible feats when she's fighting. But sometimes, it is also a hindrance.
She's honestly not expecting this slip of a boy to be quite so quick. He arrows in quick, worming his miserable way under her guard, and hits her hard enough to send her skidding back several feet. She folds slightly, surprise warring with a stab of pain in her face-- and then, that visible trace of humanity wipes away. Her gaze slowly fixes right back on Kentou. "This pain--" She trails off. Her judgment on the matter is reserved. If only for a few moments.
"...Boring." Her conclusion is a growl so low it almost hums. It's only the only forewarning given before her hand snaps forward. It vises into a fist only inches from Kentou's chest, but that fact doesn't make the rapid and stabbing strike any less dangerous.
COMBATSYS: Kentou endures Vice's Quick Punch.
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Vice 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Kentou
Wham.
The impact of the kick is felt cleanly through his body. For a moment, juuuuuust a small moment, the youth manages to extinguish the manic smile on that evil woman's face. Exhaling sharply as he rebounds, landing on his feet a moment later.
For a faction of a moment Kentou relents.. As she mentions pain he pauses in mid-motion. Wait wait! .. He isn't supposed to hurt girls. Suddenly wondering if perhaps he already passed her test.. that he can call it good there and move right along. Even beginning to consider speaking words to that effect..
That is, until, she restraightens. Completely unaffected by an attack that turns out to be.. utterly trivial. Jaw dropping as he stares up at the looming, taller woman. Mousey eyes wide as he barely has enough time to see that striking fist sailing forth.
Its a miracle Kentou even sees the attack coming.. In a heartbeat he knows there's no way he can evade it. Closing his eyes tightly, he instead leans -INTO- it. Taking the punch full on, dead center as it strikes his center mass. Dispelling whatever stirrings of air he managed to claim for his lungs in a silencing rush. Feet skidding back half a foot as he reaches up and -grabs- her wrist. Using her as a fulcrum so as he isn't simply blown away..
The small youth would shout the name of his technique, but its barely all he can do to will his arms to motion as he quickly takes another rushing step forth. -Yanking- Her arm in a bid to heave himself forth in a point-blank lancing punch. Leaping the short distance as his spearing strike aims right for her solar plexus beneath her chest. Which.. is basically at shoulder level for him anyhow.
COMBATSYS: Vice endures Kentou's Shinsoku na Yari.
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Vice 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Kentou
It's a good thing Kentou doesn't mention anything about not hitting girls, because that would send Vice into fits of laughter. And then she would maim him while asking him exactly who's the one that needs delicate handling here...
Not that there's anything delicate about how Vice is handling Kentou now. Though in truth, she's not being quite as brutal as she could be. Her lenience isn't out of any sense of mercy or compassion, however; she's just playing around because this way he'll entertain her longer.
Disappointingly enough, however, even this lenience isn't enough to make him all that interesting. Pity, that, because her 'kindness' will only last as long as her interest: and that's waning pretty fast.
She doesn't even try to stop him getting ahold of her wrist: resulting in the fact that she's suddenly used as a brace point for Kentou to plant his fist in her chest. Too close to avoid it, Vice simply takes the blow, giving slightly before it to reduce the shock-- a fluent movement that gives away her experience in such close-quarters fighting-- and then, she surges back forwards, arcing one knee up to impact the boy in the chest and get him -off her-.
"Why did you even come here...?" The indifferent tone now lurking in her voice is-- should one understand the way Vice's mind works-- even worse than the mad and furious one she sported earlier.
COMBATSYS: Kentou blocks Vice's Light Kick.
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Vice 0/-------/---====|=======\=====--\1 Kentou
The boy may be inexperienced in just about every possible way compared to this monster woman. But one thing the youth certainly is.. Is tenacious.
Kentou hisses in a breath finally as his knuckles impact soundly on what should be, by all rights, a vulnerable spot just beneath the ribcage on any human being. The fact that the blow hardly so much as earns a twitch from the woman sends a chill down to his very spine. The reality of the fact that he just can't hurt her is beginning to hit home..
She's strong.. too strong.
The boy quickly moves to throw his arms before him. Deflecting that swift knee with crossing forearms, finally managing to pull together some sort of defense. But even -that- impact is enough to jolt the youth into the air. Briefly at eye level with the woman before landing a short distance back. Shooting pains run up his arms from the impact alone as his fingertips tingle.. Yikes..
Glimmering mousey eyes affix upon the villainess. Finally dragging ragged gasps of air into his lungs to blurt out in reply, "T..To f..fight the best!" Stating in all honesty..
Its beginning to feel like Kentou may well be up against the best right now. He..He should use it. His best technique.. Its possibly his only chance of actually putting something resembling damage on this killing machine.
But no.. No. Something about her.. He only uses his family technique in true challenges. A square fight against an honorable opponent. This isn't an honorable fight..
She's toying with him. He can sense that now.. She could have crushed him any time she wanted. She's just playing around.. The thought galls him. Kentou has enough pride in himself to feel indignation at this.. No. He won't use his best technique.
But the boy still has something up his sleeve for just such an occasion.
Gripping his fingers tightly into fists, Kentou exhales sharply in a mind cleansing shout, "HUT!" Dispelling the creeping fear in his thoughts and bringing his target into clarity. This.. maybe the last time he can strike her.
With a determined burst of motion, the boy races forth. Ducking low and all but diving ahead in a ducking rush. "BAKURETSU-"
Roaring the words as he then springs upwards. Hoping to catch her inside of her defenses as his open-hand reaches forth. Extended fingertips briefly seeking to touch her stomach if he is able..
"-TEKKOUKEN!!"
His open hand snapping closed into a fist as his entire body -jerks- forth. Expending all of the built up momentum into a one-inch punch, striking with surprising, rock-breaking force like a Jackhammer at point blank range!
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Vice with Bakuretsu Tekkouken.
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Vice 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Kentou
...What a tired answer. She's heard that one way too many times, and she's long since gotten sick of hearing naive brats spout off about such stupid things. She ought to just kill him now: or at least cripple him. Quit playing, and just break him in half.
While she's thinking about this and how exactly to go about it all-- these sorts of thoughts are really the -only- thing she actually does think about-- Kentou is making his own decision. And he's rocketing forward before she can start caring enough to pay attention to him again.
This careless arrogance costs her. But sadly, it doesn't quite put her out.
Her arms snap up in a block-- but she blocks a little too early, anticipating a true punch and not a one-inch. Kentou's strike weaves around her block, knocking the wind from her, and she goes skidding back several feet: left trying to catch her breath. Once she's got it back, she puts it to use in the most constructive way possible.
"Little shit!" The look in her eyes is positively ugly. "Think you're doing well?! Huh?! You know the only reason you lasted this long?" And she's lunged forward on the tail of her last word, attempting to seize ahold of him and sling him into the nearest wall. "It's because I LET YOU!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou fails to interrupt Misanthrope from Vice with Bakuretsu Tekkouken.
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Vice 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kentou can no longer fight.
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Vice 0/-------/=======|
The boy can feel his strike land true. The explosive impact of such a deceptive, ultra-short-range strike manages to send even this monster reeling. For a moment.. for a tiny fraction of a moment, the youth actually catches himself daring to hope. His stance shaken, his footing wobbly as his fist remains outstretched in the wake of that mighty blow. Pointing at the woman, almost challengingly. Sore lungs a pain to him as he pulls the blooded corners of his lips up into a very slight smile. "Heh.."
That, however, will be the end of his resilience. Kentou can see now the terrible woman going completely berzerk. Perhaps her outsides are extremely lovely.. But what he sees inside those raging windows to her soul is ugly enough to turn him to stone. Freezing in place like a deer caught in headlights.. the boy is motionless with fright. A short gasp is hurt as he tries to rally his defenses at the very last minute. Trying to steady his stance once again in a complete panic as he prepares his OTHER fist.. Striking out yet again from a very off-balanced position, trying to time it juuust right.. But the endeavor utterly falls apart. The woman is just too fast and too strong. Her clawed hands grabbing ahold of him as the smaller fighter is slung away with terrible force. His squeak of shock cut-short as he slams into the wall further down the hall with enough force to crush the plastering. The wallpaper blasting open as the wall itself folds inwards and crumbles.. Sinking him into the exploding drywall within.
For a moment the youth just hangs there.. wide eyes glazing over as he balances precariously in the crater before slowly, simply toppling to the floor. Limbs completely limp.. The fight utterly removed from him.
Vice is very much like a beast in many respects. One of these is her reaction to any sign of fright. The fear that shows through in the poor boy's face is only greater incentive for the woman to attack with crippling brutality. It's almost as if she can scent fear-- and the reek of it makes her even more avid for blood.
Or, in this case, the satisfying sound of a body meeting a wall.
She doesn't even bother to remain on guard after she's slung the boy away. She knows it'll be enough to knock Kentou out. Straightening up, teeth baring slightly in a snarl of mingled disgust and brief disappointment, she cracks her neck, casts one last pitiless glance at the limp figure lying amidst the ruins, and turns away.
"...Thought not."
Vice returns to her seat, as if leashed. Slumping back in the chair, she picks up the phone receiver irritably with some more force than necessary, punches a number, and snarls for somebody to come clean up. There's a mess up here to be taken care of, and she doesn't want to be forced to stare at that worthless crap longer than she has to.
Sometime later....
Fingers slowly grip the edge of the trash bin. A few handfuls of shredded office paper and discarded coffee rinds tumble from the edge of the bin as twitching fingers grip the corroded, chill metal. A grunt of extreme effort and Kentou slowly pulls himself to the edge. Resting his cheek on the foul-smelling pile as dizzy eyes look out to the back alleyway. A few rats scattering in terror at his awakening.
"...Ow." The youth finally gets to say weakly, ribs feeling like he was squished flat and puffed back out again. Tender muscles let him know that he's probably going to be a walking bruise for awhile..
Still.
As the harrowing events of an hour or two ago play themselves over in the back of his mind.. He'll have to consider himself very, very lucky. A chill runs through him as he remembers that look of terrible madness behind those eyes.. Shaking his head quickly as a few crumpled papertowels roll from his head. Kentou can probably count himself lucky that he just woke up here.. Hurting bad and in desperate need of a shower. And advil. Lots of advil.
"...Girls.. are scary.." The boy murmurs to himself as he begins the long and painful process of dragging himself out of the trash. Resolving to never underestimate secretaries ever, ever again. It was probably a bad idea ultimately.. But.. This setback does nothing to deter him. No.. For a moment there he could feel it. That glimpse of something.. better. Just like when he was up against that other terrible killing machine. Somewhere in the pits of desperation.. something amazing.
Was that what Hotaru saw in him before? And Frei? ... Maybe.. Maybe he should find some real training afterall..
Log created on 23:41:33 08/24/2007 by Kentou, and last modified on 02:46:36 08/26/2007.