Description: Katana CRASHES HIS FRICKIN TRUCK into the Suiryuu! The whole ship is rocked, but... well. Aside from a little leaning and some water infiltration, seems the Suiryuu is fine. UNTIL THE PEOPLES SPILL OUT.
The Suiryuu's docking schedule, like most of the arrangements that take place upon the odd yacht-like vessel, are a mystery. The vessel doesn't, in fact, seem to *follow* any sort of schedule; sometimes it's out to sea, sometimes passengers will wake up to find themselves in dock. Tonight... it is safely docked in Southtown Harbor, with a small array of crewmembers quietly moving palettes of supplies aboard ship via a large loading ramp.
Kasugano hated being awake at this late hour, but nevertheless, it's one of the duties of the ship's Chief of Security. She's been awake for roughly 22 hours straight, actually -- the constant motion of the boat is making it very difficult for the city girl to sleep. Nevertheless, she's still aboard, leaning against the ship's hull just fore of the loading ramp, casually glancing out across the docks as one worker checks in.
"Hey..." says a drowsy Sakura to the worker, tossing him a couple coins. "Do me a favor, hm? Can you get me a bottle of Mountain Dew on your way back down? I'm dying out here..."
Things would be far different than any normal night. It's late out, and a Harbor to boot, which while not looking too different for the Suiryuu, will be. Following an agreement with Elle, the Mad Gear Gang had to make a few stops before the Suiryuu made it's, and when it turned out that it was docking in Southtown, the Mad Gear Shogun was given the message. Elle knew how to contact him after all.
And through Southtown, something positively glowing, colors flashing, Japanese patterns in a style surround the Semi as it barrels through the streets at speeds Trucks just shouldn't go at. Armor plated the sides and the front, especially, with dragons of all kinds painted upon the edges! Within it, Katana was taking hold of the wheel himself, and he's probably got some passengers aboard. They'll have a great use for the seatbelt. Things wouldn't get much smoother!
"Haha! The Mad Gear Gang will shine again!" He proclaims to himself and any unfortunate passengers.
Sakura would notice something slightly glowing, probably headlights, turning around the corner in the Harbor. Well, it's probably for another ship, right? Maybe. But it doesn't change the fact that instead of turning around the corner, the semi squeals around the corner, wheels ripping towards the Suiryuu at speeds which are downright dangerous!
And well, Sakura should probably get out of the way. "This is it! MY KAMI-KAZE ATTACK!" And the pedal completely pushed to the floor, the Truck isn't going to stop. At least, not until it imbeds most, or part of itself, right into the side of the super tanker. "KAMIIIIIIIIIIIII-KAAZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Sakura would be treated with metal tearing, as well as almost being run over.
It's far better than any coffee.
Sakura does quirk an eyebrow. It's not totally uncommon for a truck to be around at this hour - truckers keep weird hours, after all. But Seishirou doesn't often make use of trucking services -- if he does, he hasn't let his security chief know.
All her doubts are put to rest as she hears the truck's engine speed up, rather than slowing down. This is ... problematic. The young woman closes her eyes, drawing in a deep sigh -- this is =really= turning out to be a crappy night! Scowling, she smashes her fist against the intercom box. "ALL HANDS, THIS IS A RED ALERT. REPEAT, RED ALERT!" In the wake of her tomboy voice =thundering= throughout the whole of the ship, Kasugano pauses for a moment, realizing she never set security protocols here -- what the heck's a 'red alert?' Nor did she formally arrange for security staff. See kids, this is why you plan this stuff in advance! "... WAKE UP AND GET TO MAIN DECK, NOW!"
She has enough time to say all that, and to grab the nearest handrail, before Katana's truck can slam into the ship.
Now, for a brief physics lesson: Katana's truck and trailer are probably about 15 meters long, in total. The Suiryuu is just over 80 meters long: almost 5 times the size of it. A collision between two normal vehicles of this size would be akin to a motorcycle running into a UPS truck. The Suiryuu, however, is, for all practical purposes, a heavily armored stealth frigate. So the analogy would be more like a motorcycle running into a =tank= -- the truck would rock the boat, and simply glance off, falling into the ocean.
But Katana's truck is heavily reinforced as well, evening the odds a bit. And he's driving a =very= direct path into the ship... which means that =all= of the force of the impact is aimed directly into the Suiryuu's side. Immovable object, irresistable force... well, not quite, but close.
Metal and composite materials alike shred like cardboard as the truck punches right through the hull. There's no meager forces here, this is =seriously= loud, and that's =before= the ship itself is rocked to the side, kicking up ferocious waves. If Sakura's shout over the PA system didn't wake up everyone aboard the sounds of sick, twisting metal might, and the violent rocking of the boat definitely would.
There's a sucking hole right in the side of the hull, just a bit above the waterline. Alert crewmembers heard the call, and start to close off the hull doors to keep water from entering in the resultant rocking of the boat. Some water infiltrates the hull... but it's slowly being closed off.
After the initial shockwave of the impact wears off, Kasugano gets back on the PA system. "All security staff, to the port... uh... hull thingy! If you aren't part of the tournament, this is your sign to GET OFF THE BOAT RIGHT NOW!"
At which point Kasugano runs down the ladder to try and get a better grip of =where everyone is!=
The screech of tires and such near the ship is slightly surprising to the dozing Blanka. The beastman has a small mound of melons near him, his prize for his good performance in the SNF of the week prior, money not being an object that he seems to care about. He stretches, rolling to his other side and tries to fall back to sleep on the deck space he's chosen as 'his bunk', and wonders how Dan manages to do it so easily. It must be a 'human' thing.
However, Sakura's panicked voice heralds something more ominous than just a joyriding idiot burning rubber - oh no, it seems to be the dawning of something uglier. The ship's rocking sends the melons flying and Blanka down on all fours for stability, even as he starts to move. He's heading towards Sakura along the deck, to find out what she needs - he leaps and bounds, rushes to her...
Oops. That's just a speaker. Um.. She's probably over /thatway/.
There are some already waiting the truck striking the side of the ship. One of those people are named Birdie, waiting from a nice vantage point as he grasps upon a pillar in the ship, the initial shock of the truck devastating. But it wasn't strong enough to sway him from stopping his part in this plot. A dried up water rat two days ago, Birdie makes his move.
As Sakura gives the call to get everyone off the ship, he certainly follows! The large black man makes he way towards the bridge to dry land, sweeping, moving quickly through the panic that's set in the air. Almost using his arms as paddles, he makes his way towards staircase towards the Promenade Deck, hand over hand as he forces anyone coming down out of the way.
Many different fighters would be roused from their sleep, but Birdie had a job to do. And tearing through crowds is something he can do, until he came to an actual fighter, really.
Grunting and making his way up the stairs, he's obviously not getting his bag of things or helping and elderly lady out. There's something unnatural about his intentions. You can see it in the way he moves. He's probably just going somewhere to wait this out. Yeah. Totally not going after objectives.
"I swear t'god, if he doesn't hurry the hell up, I'm going to fall asleep up here." Birdie isn't the only person waiting amongst the pillars. Standing alongside him, Ryuji Yamazaki seems none too pleased to be up there. "He's late." Soon enough, though, that telltale squeal of metal tearing into metal echoes through the night air, and a slow grin starts to pull across the hired thug's face. "Finally, christ."
Soon enough, Sakura's call goes across the ship, and an eyebrow cocks on the gangster's face. "The hell. What's she doin' makin' announcements on this ship." Most of the information given to him over the past few days has been forgotten; this ship is enough to bother even him. He follows alongside Birdie, though, on his way down to the Promenade deck, growling at the crowds and shoving people hither and yon, even going so far as to pick the occasional person up and toss them right off the boat. "Goddamnit, you better be goin' somewhere useful. Money or no, I'm not followin' you just to hide in some goddamn corner."
Sakura drops Deck Pose Order: Sakura, (Hotaru), Katana, Aislinn, Naerose.
PURE CHAOS. This is =totally= not something Sakura wanted to do at 2 in the morning, but... well, at least she's getting the fight on this ship she desired so much! ... At significant disadvantage! Scowling, she looks back... and sees Blanka bounding over to her on all fours. ... Assistance?! Sweet! "Oh, hey, Blanka! Just in time!" Poking her cheek for a moment, she points up to the promenade deck stairwell. "Can you do me a =huge= favor...? Can you go up to the Promenade deck and stop =anyone= from getting anywhere close to the bookshelves? If you see =anyone= there, take 'em down. Got it?" Smiling, she bows curtly, adding, "I'll toss in a few dozen bananas for you, promise!"
Orders given, the Taiyo student dashes down the stairway to the main deck, approximating about where the folks would be. She finds water sloshing about on the floor -- sure enough sign as any. Following the water, she finds the truck right where she'd expect it to be... along with a huge hunk of twisted metal! Terrible stuff, really! But she also sees folks getting out of the boat... which is a bit of a problem!
Narrowing her eyes at the truck's occupants, Kasugano's aura flares, her form silhouetted by brilliant cerulean blue flames. "I'd ask you to get the heck off my ship, but I s'pose I'm gonna have to educate you guys the hard way!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Naerose has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
As Sakura dashes towards the stairway from the main deck, coming to the beaten up truck, nothing stirs much. That is. Before Katana looks up and sees the flaring aura, as well as her complaining. Get of MYYYY ship. I'LLLLLL have to educate you the hard way. IIIIII s'pose. Such a self centered brat!
That's when Katana leaps from the truck, wakizashi being raised upwards. "Hahhahaha! You ... a mere child, will educate me, THE SHOGUN OF MAD GEAR!?" Katana raises the weaponry. "You ... WILL STAND NO CHANCE TO MY MIGHT!" Holding the wakizashi upwards, Katana then points down towards Sakura both blades. "And to think all that will stop me is but a girl. I'll show you .. THE MIGHT OF A SHOGUN!"
Charging off of the broken top of the truck, beyond repair really, Katana launches himself off the tip, bringing back a sandaled foot as he flies through the air. And then he does .. it.
"SHOGUN STRIKE - LIGHT KICK TO WHINEY SELF CENTERED GIRL! HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
And then .. HE FLIES.
COMBATSYS: Katana has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
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Katana 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
Abandoning the truck is easy--it's not as if Aislinn particularly cares about the damn thing, though she suspects Katana loves it in ways that should not be physically possible. In fact, she's already out of the vehicle; added to her usual all-black wear (standard 'raid' issue) is a balaclava, which should obscure her face from view. This of course will not help much if Sakura has a good memory for attacks, but even so...
Regardless, Aislinn turns to Katana, letting him 'lead' this little shindig off... Right. There he goes... Aislinn shakes her head just faintly and notes their fortune. For now, it's a three-on-one battle and that favors the three, of course. But Aislinn knows how strong Sakura is and she doesn't anticipate the girl not putting up a fight. Idly, she wonders how her participation in this action will affect her chances of 'winning' Jinchuu...
But all told she's gonna do it anyways. First, she hangs back, studying Sakura, though. Let Katana and Naerose charge in first, if possible...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
Charge in? If Aislinn said that Naerose would have words for her. Instead she stares the entire truck drive, thruogh her shades, brooding, well not really, actually she was considering how best to ask Aislinn her burning question, 'Got tree fidddy?' But she doesn't ask, instead the truck crashes into the boat and the witch stumbles out. Ugh. Then Sakura is coming.
"Iyee. Sensei-Sakura.. or something, Hi! Hey, looka meee!" Maybe Sakura will buy it, look at her and get pummeled by Katana. The witch didnt know what to think of either 'comrades'.
"Tell me what I've learned, Sagita Minor!" And with that the witch flings some chi that can't make up it's mind of it's form, going from air and settling on needles of ice.
"Coool." she muses softly, watching them fly and hopping onto the roof of the driver cabin of the truck. She liked high places.
COMBATSYS: Naerose successfully hits Sakura with Sagita Minor.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Sakura
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Katana's Light Kick.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
... Ohhh, it's =this= joker again. She should've known when she saw the truck, but... wow. That's ludicrous amounts of crazy there. "Pff, whatever! This 'girl's gonna kick your--"
Kasugano trails off in mid-sentence as she catches sight of Aislinn and Naerose spilling out of the truck. Aislinn she half expected -- working against her even now that she's free of Shadaloo influence. But Naerose... ugh. Kasugano looks visibly wounded as the red witch slings an array of icy needles at her. As if she was hurt even =before= the needles pierce her, driving a numb body back a half-step. No, perhaps it isn't pain... but dissatisfaction.
Sighing, she shakes her head as she recollects herself, just in time for the Shogun Strike to land against her forearm, raised at the last possible instant. "... Yeah, can I count on my student to =help= me, maybe?" she asks, no small amount of sarcasm in her voice as she turns her gaze back to Katana.
"Look, pal, I don't know what your problem is, but you aren't getting on this ship!" Yes, she said 'this' ship, this time. But with her overflowing energy... well, she's just gotta do =something= with it. "Here, catch!" Kasugano slams her hands forward, unleashing the vast majority of that cerulean blue energy at Katana! "HADOOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
2 AM. Normally there's no way Hotaru would be awake. But with the roommate she somehow ended up with, her schedule has shifted around some. Lot of late nights spent thinking about all the angles to this oh so very strange event and the various people that factor into it. And considering Elle never goes to sleep as far as Hotaru can tell, it's not like she's keeping anyone up by being awake later than normal.
Thus it is that while she's far from the first to make her way out to the deck, Sakura isn't left to her own for TOO long! Darting down the hall from the cabin area, the girl slides to a stop to take in the mess on the deck. It doesn't take long for her to figure out the situation here, even if she doesn't know the details. Sakura. Friend. Katana. Bad Guy. Aislinn... erm. Fellow student, but always seemed kinda shady. Naerose? Hell if anyone knows. But she's fought everyone here before, which means she kinda knows the score and she shouldn't leave the recent Taiyo grad on her own for this one.
Just in time to see the the ice needles strike the poor chief of security, the girl leaps into action, putting pent up, restless energy to work in the best way she knows how. By kicking someone! "Hey, Sakura, you never told me you had a student!" the girl comments as she takes a leap up onto the cab of the truck in order to aim a swift kick at Naerose's side. She kinda feels like she has unfinished business with the witch in red /anyway/. "Mad Gear now? Is there any gang you /won't/ affiliate with?" she asks.
COMBATSYS: Katana dodges Sakura's Large Hadouken.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
As Sakura responds, Katana makes a 'yeah right!' motion, dismissing the woman, Sakura. "Hahahah. To think you really have a chance! It's nice, but I need to remind you .. it's wrong! The Shogun of Mad Gear falls NOT to little girls who think they can fight as big as they can talk, but to hardened warriors!"
His wakizashi are held, even as his strike is stopped short by the strikes. "HAH! YOu are alon-" Okay maybe not.
Hotaru.. HOTARU!? "YOU BLASTED WOMAN, I'LL GET YOU AS WELL!" That's when Sakura speaks to him again. "I believe.. you cannot stop my destiny! The Mad Gear Gang WILL get on this ship!" And that's when a vast majority of energy is launched towards Katana.
He dashes forwards, leaping over the Hadoken with ease and then just slamming a wakizashi into Sakura's face! .. If only it could go so well!
Actually, that's exactly what happens. In a display of what some might say as 'odd', Katana leaps over the giant blast of energy, even preparing himself to absorb it .. but no. It never comes.
Landing finally, Katana draws the blades, on the other side of Sakura, and readies himself, his arms and legs in a crane stance. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"I .. WILL SHOW YOU MY MIGHT!"
A Katana is taking in sunli-preparing for his next attack!
COMBATSYS: Katana focuses on his next action.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
Ah, wonderful. Another segment heard from. Aislinn raises her eyebrows in mild surprise as Katana adroitly avoids the Large hadouken... and we do mean Large with a capital L. That sucker is bigger than the junk in Sakura's trunk. Aislinn muses briefly. She's fought both Sakura -and- Hotaru before... so she knows, to an extent, their strengths and their weaknesses.
Hotaru will probably be the 'easier' fight... so, gathering herself, she jumps to the attack--literally. Once, twice, three times she steps, gathering speed and momentum, and then she lunges forward, hurling herself across the deck for Hotaru's form--drawing her right hand back, stiffening the fingers, and stabbing them forward for Hotaru's throat in a spearhand strike.
It won't be a killing strike--Elle didn't say anything about ordering death, to her--but it should, if it hits, hurt plenty.
Athena ascends from the Main Deck.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Naerose with Light Kick.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/----===|
A flicker across Naerose's shades indicates she's actually paying attention to Sakura now. Wow, she looked upset, wonder what's eating her- BLARCH! Naerose gets pelted by Hotaru and sent off the cab of the truck onto the ground to stew a moment.
"Ow, hey, that hurt and besides, I totally wans't ready." The witch complains, but.. er.. maybe she'll keep quiet. Yeah, she doesn't move for a moment or two, let Hotaru forget about her, she hopes, as Aislinn charges in with great fury.. Then ... Katana .. speaks.
"Woah, he's totally out of his mind, I better..." She considers a moment. "Help.. him...?" she looks uneasy about that idea.
"Er, hey teach, did you say you didn't want me to train?" she asks, looking almost shocked while adjusting her shades, wathcing Sakura and hopefully - buying herself time.
COMBATSYS: Naerose focuses on her next action.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/----===|
Well, now, that's a surprise -- someone got out of the way of Sakura's sure-kill fireball! ... But more than that, Kasugano finds she has reinforcements from the ship. Good thing the chief of security has friends all over the ship! "Heh... kinda slipped my mind, actually!" Of course, Naerose might not be her student for much =longer=, here... but at least Hotaru's taking the battle like she ought to. The fact that Naerose is still pressing a charge is annoying, at best. Kasugano at least knows =her= capabilities.
And she knows Aislinn's as well, having been challenged pretty hard by the Silent Assassin in their last battle. But she's also going for Hotaru, a fact which Kasugano notes, "Hotaru, on your left!"
Of course, she says this while charging towards Katana. "Sure! If you wanna train, show me what you've learned by beating up this guy!" And just to put a punctuation mark on that, Kasugano lurches forward with a furious punch for the Shogun-wannabe's mask! "HYYYYYAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Hotaru with Medium Punch.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/----===|
And down goes Naerose off the cab of the truck. Hotaru had meant to tackle her here in her high ground, but now that she's down there she should probably follow up. That is, of course, before Sakura calls out the warning and Hotaru reacts to the sound of feet landing on top of the cab as well. While she tries to avoid the strike, Aislinn's aim is true and she ends up spearing the girl in the neck.
The reaction is obvious as Hotaru slides back several feet, hands coming up to press at her throat, her eyes widened while her complexion pales. That /hurt/. She just about slides off the cab before her feet get traction, but by that point she decides she doesn't really want to be stuck up there alone with Aislinn either.
Lowering her hands from her neck, the girl takes a backflip down to land behind Sakura, standing between Naerose and Aislinn and the beleaguered security chief. "Rough crowd," she murmurs, her voice a little horse as she coughs once. But she doesn't give Naerose too much of a break as she does end up lunging forward again, this time trying to snag a hold of her arm and twist her down to the ground with a simple but effective judo-like slam.
COMBATSYS: Katana counters Fierce Punch from Sakura with Shiraha Catch.
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Katana 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/----===|
And ... Sakura comes towards Katana as he's charging up! This looks like it's it, sports fans! Sakura wouldn't have a chance to fail again, would she!? Such things .. would never be heard of! Either way, as Sakura races towards Katana, the Mad Gear Shogun is ready!
Or at least, likes to think he is ready. The furious punch is launched towards Katana, and she plans to beat him up! Katana is certainly not happy! In a single move, Katana sheathes the wakizashi's, before waiting. "Hahaha... You're still going at it!?" Katana asks in disbelief. "I will have to teach you humility! SHIRAHA ..." His hands shoots forwards, going to clasp close upon the woman's hand. Like stopping a sword! But is he too late?!
Apparently not, because as Sakura's fist slams towards Katana's face, he's already got it taken care of, "You attempted ... To WOUND... The Ceremonial Mask." Glaring at her behind it, Katana quickly wrenches the arm, pulling her up and around, dragging her on the ground before tossing her back towards the twisted metal.
"Let that be a lesson to you! The Mad Gear Shogun ... WILL NOT TAKE SASS FROM LITTLE GIRLS!"
Ah, success. And the strike has more than just physical value--perhaps it's put a little of The Fear(tm) into Hotaru. that's just fine with Aislinn, if it's true--a scared opponent is more apt to make a mistake. Hotaru seems to want to down Naerose first, though. A quick glance reveals that, for the moment, Katana is not only holding his own but doing quite well against Sakura... and so Aislinn continues to concentrate on her chosen target, Hotaru.
And she has no compunctions about attacking Hotaru from behind. Still standing atop the truck, she reaches down, stabbing her fingers into the roof of the cargo container... and she rips out a manhole-sized chunk. Turning away, Aislinn then just hurls the thing at Hotaru, like a gigantic frisbee.
COMBATSYS: Naerose fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Hotaru with Wisp.
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Katana 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
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Naerose 0/-------/--=====|
Huh, "what the snap? Lemme alone!" Cries Naerose at Hotaru and opens her hands to a huge flash of chi, harmless except to blind people, sadly for Naerose though, her shades are just low enough on her nose to let the flash past their dark shadyness.. Then to make it worse, the inside of the shades reflect the flash back in her eyes.
"Awww snaaaap!" she cries and gets flung to the ground with a judo slam.
"Err. hey, are we taking on water..?" she asks, on the ground.
"I was totally about to hepl my teacher.." She grumbles, from said ground and then glares at Katana.
"Mad Gear?! You told me you were the Crazy Eighty Eights!" Is she for real? The world may never know.
Oh, don't worry about the water, Naerose... there's crewpeople to take care of that. Plus, the truck's weight is such that the boat is actually leaning to port (that's 'left' for you landlubbers), so that even if water =was= continuing to get into the boat, it would fall right out due to the way the ship is listing. Crewpersons are getting that under control as we speak, with the emergency doors slowly creaking into position.
By the by, the ship -- if it can be deemed to possess a soul at all -- is =not= happy about this. Get too close to the walls and you're liable to get zapped with a significant but not entirely painful charge of lightning-like chi -- it's intended as a caution to keep people from getting too close to the walls in a real fight, but... well, it serves nicely as a deterrent to falling through the gaping hole.
Also... is the ship =moving?= The docks sure seem to be getting further away, by degrees. Maybe the sound of the engines starting up was lost in the commotion.
Regardless... Kasugano hears none of this, because she's getting grabbed, jerked about, and tossed into the twisted metal. ... Where a bolt of electricity neatly fries her, her skeleton visible for just a split second before she stumbles back to deck. "GRRR..." she growls, springing back to her feet. "Oh, I'll wound a lot more than your mask!" Kasugano curls her hands up to her side, the seals on the inside of the ship flaring up as the young woman gathers her energy... and hurls it towards Katana in a blast clearly intended to knock him into the side of his own truck! "HADOOOOUKEN!" When the going gets tough, the tough get, uh... desperate!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Aislinn's Large Thrown Object.
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Katana 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/--=====|
Flipping Naerose to the ground seems to put the Red Witch out of action for a bit, which means she gets a moment's reprieve from the young Kenpo artist. "Going to help your teacher? Is that so," she replies with a shake of her head, sounding rather skeptical. But rather than kick the young woman while she's down, Hotaru backflips away to land closer to Sakura, putting her out of harms way of the projectile that would fit in great in a friendly game of Death Frisbee of which she must admit to not being a big fan.
Hotaru had intended to stick close to the Ansatsuken fighter, but with Katana tossing her away, that ends up not being the case either. "Yesh," the girl exclaims. With Naerose taking a breather and Aislinn some distance away, she finally turns around to face Katana, "I seem to recall you not sounding so proud when I trounced you a couple weeks ago," she comments, her voice controlled as if merely making an observation rather than trying to get him even more riled up. Is it even POSSIBLE to get Katana more riled up than his default state of mind?
Maybe the glow in her forearm will do the trick as the girl focuses a vibrant aura into the palm of her hand at her side before swinging it forward to unleash a small, shimmering projectile. "Ya!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Katana with Large Hadouken EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Katana dodges Hotaru's Hakki Shou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/--=====|
As Naerose gets Katana's attention, Katana looks over. "... I would never say such a thing!! Some of my members may be from the Crazy Eighty Eights, but you see... WE ARE MAD GEAR THROUGH AND THROUGH!" He raises both blades to the air. "To say otherwise... I would be lying to my heritage as well as all of them.. I would not have it!"
This .. kinda distracts him from Sakura.
"But I would interrupt battle to continue!" And whips around back to face Sakura!.... Who's unhappy. How is she unhappy? WELLL. Katana looks up to see a GIANT BLAST OF ENERGY - DUEX - rushing towards him. His eyes open wide, and Katana attempts to simply run towards it, and kick off the side of the truck, so that it misses him .. and he once again goes to leap over the giant death blast approaching him!
"You .. WILL BE DISAPPOINTED THEN!"
WILL HIS LEAP LAST!? And then Hotaru blasts a small, shimmering projectile towards Katana. ".... YOU SULLY THIS DUEL!" He responds, but he MIGHT not make it. There's only one way to see!
And then Katana eats the giant death blast face on. Burning, and collapsing onto the ground, the blast at least knocks him out of the way of the smaller one, but the body hits the ground forcefully /all the same/.
But then .. HE LIVES. "I ... REFUSE..... TO GIVE UP! YOU BOTH HAVE RUINED THIS DUEL!.... NOW YOU HAVE EARNED THE SHOGUN'S WRATH!" Dashing towards Sakura, Katana's blades are thrust forwards, the man seeming to slide on the ground as he erupts in place towards the girl. "JIGOKUUUUUU!" He then repeats afterwards, strike or not, "SCRAPPPPPPEEEEE!"
This time, Hotaru was able to evade... well, that's fine. It's not like the ragged circle of steel was going very fast. Still and all... Katana just got -gobsmacked- by Sakura. And so Aislinn decides she might need to jump in as well. With Katana coming at her with his weapons, Aislinn makes a quick tactical decision...
And switches targets. She leaps high from her perch on the truck, calculating her position, taking into account the wind, the movement of the boat... and attempting to, quite simply, land straight on Sakura's shoulders, feet-first. The timing is such that she will hopefully land after Katana's attack, but stranger things have happened.
Regardless, it is almost a signal to Naerose as well--target Sakura, -now-. At least for now.
It doesn't go beyond Naerose. . She sees Aislinn's look and visibly drains from her usual color to pale her usual color. The thought seems to visibly cross her mind that disobeying would mean very scary people doing very painful things to her, the alternative? Well Sakura at least wasn't known for being brutally vindictive. This is a visibly frightened witch.
"Look, ah Sakura Sensei-. . . You're totally fighting for the bad guys here, when was the last time you ever knew a tournamaent to be sponsored by good intended people?! I watched the King of Fighters videos, I must save you from this, or something.. or erm " in a very low voice, barely above a whisper to herself, "My own skin anyway."
And this isn't without an attempt at hitting Sakura, there is a big sweeping motion of her broom toward the Ana.. Anatusk Anaimpossibletospell prodigy.
"Aw dangit." she curses to herself.
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Katana's Jigoku Scrape.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Naerose successfully hits Sakura with Clean Sweep.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura interrupts Strong Kick from Aislinn with Shou'ou Ken.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Kasugano frowns at Katana's missives about honor and duels and all that junk. Really, what's his malfunction? "Oh, wait, I see, you say we're ruining the fight when we back up our words? That's just a like a guy to change his mind like that! Tch!" Kasugano dashes forward, hoping to give Hotaru some support for a moment.
... Thing is, once she sees Aislinn =and= Naerose sending attacks her way, coming straight for her, she tries to slam on the brakes... and for some reason finds herself unable to stop! Naerose's sweep knocks her right off her feet -- but for some reason, her flipping feet are pulled towards the ship. It's a bit faster than Sakura expected, though... for reasons she'll know in a moment!
But the net result is, getting swept by Naerose lets Sakura escape her fate from Katana that much more. Landing from her flip just a hair's breadth out of the jitte's range, she finds herself... right in Aislinn's. The Silent Assassin is able to land right on Kasugano's shoulders as she crouches low, but oddly enough, Kasugano uncoils right back up with a ferocious uppercut, slamming her fist up into Aislinn's lower thigh. It's as if her body's moving of its own accord, though, as she adds a moment later, hesitantly, "... SHOOOO'OOOU KEN!"
After landing, though, she looks at her hand, stumbling to the side a bit. Shivering slightly, she exclaims, "I =love= fighting here!" with a grin, bobbing back and forth from one leg to the other. "But that's crap, Naerose! If you wanna impress me, win the tournament! And to do that, you're gonna hafta get these two off the boat!" Okay, she can't really eject Naerose from the tournament...
... Or can she?
Yikes. All three of the pesky attackers are gunning for Sakura now. The plus side is that means Hotaru doesn't have to worry about metal disks of flying death, bright flashes of chi, or neck stabs, and that's a pretty good thing. On the downside, it means poor Sakura has to deal with a lot at once. Good thing she's got a lot of that fighting spirit Hotaru is always talking about!
The girl getting paid to put up with this nonsense tears into Aislinn for a bit... Which leaves Katana a good target in Hotaru's mind. Keeping her attention on the masked fighter even after his impressive display of evasion against her energy blast, the girl charges toward him now, potentially blindsiding him.
An upward leap is made in an attempt to launch herself over him while she spins in the air, trying to snag his neck with her arms on the way down. If successful, she'll end up hanging down behind his back while trying to wrench is mask around in a circle. He better hope he has it on tight!
COMBATSYS: Katana endures Hotaru's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
As Sakura dashes out of the way, Katana watches as she moves away. "Hahha... I am glad you are not all talk! Such a battle.. I would never believe that it would be worth it if there was not but one person to give me a challenge!" Katana flicks the wakizashi forwards, looking upon Hotaru. "You .. here.. of all places! ... And all of your irritation .. will be taken care of!"
And that's when Hotaru launches herself up towards him, snagging Katana's mask and attempting to wrench his mask around in a circle. Katana stands through it.. but does he WORK through it?
He's brough towards the ground, falling, collapsing .. and then he wrenches around, taking the wakizashi up, Katana attempts to dig them into Hotaru as she stays close.. "You've gotten involved in TOO MUCH.. I'll .. have to take care of you!" Katana says, before he moves quickly, attempting to make sure, if the blades dig in, that Hotaru gets the HAPPY FEELING of being ran against sheets of steel!
"DAIKYOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" He cries out as he charges towards the wall of the ship, and attempts to lift her upwards, slamming her against the steel siding if all possible. "BUUUUUURNIIIIIIIIIIIIING!"
"SHOGUN SECRET TECHNIQUE DESSUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" He poses afterwards, strike or not.
That hurt, to be sure; Aislinn's landing is more than a little rough. But she hits the deck, and tumbles briefly, and comes up looking... well, neither angry nor scared. But she doesn't look confident or cocky either. She's just... expressionless. (Under her mask.) Win the tournament? It's entirely possible. It's also entirely possible that Preston will whip her like a red-headed stepchild.
That doesn't mean that she won't give her all in this fight. However, her initial assessment still holds--Hotaru is the weaker fighter and thus she needs to be disposed of immediately. Hotaru is attacking Katana--although, it appears, to not much success--and Aislinn shoots a look over to Naerose before she also approaches the young, blue-haired Kenpoist once again--rushing in to coordinate attacks, this time Aislinn seeks to simply cave Hotaru's head in with a punch to the head.
She's taking strikes that might not be 'kosher', but this isn't an arena fight... while death is probably not on the table, this is the very definition of 'anything goes'.
Sigh.
"Ugh, this isna't really a tuornament at all anyway Sakura, this is just some sick fella's game, fighting spirit, will, smarts, none of that matters, it's like a standardized test. And I Suck at tests!" says the witch and then catches Aislinn's look and sighs again.
She decides to plant her broom stick first into the ground and do alittle vault toward her target, the kenpo artist in an attempt to give her a little kick. A cute little kick.
"Umm Shoedouken?" She says, apparently trying to be cute.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Katana's Daikyou Burning.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Aislinn's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Naerose's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Hotaru actually has some time on her hands as Katana recovers from her mask twisting endeavor. And time is all a fighter like Hotaru needs to stay ready for whatever he's got coming next. Unfortunately for Katana, the more the girl fights other people, the better she gets at predicting their attack sequences. Being an astute observer of other styles plays a key role in staying one critical step ahead... Which is about the only way a fighter like her can get by!
"Me here? You should look at yourself," the girl replies to Katana. "At least I walked aboard legitimately. What's Mad Gears' interest in this place anyway?" Out come the sharp pointy things though, and Hotaru sidesteps around, allowing his daring charge to continue along, sans girl. Letting him run off on his own, Hotaru whirls around to see Aislinn coming. She knows how /that/ girl fights from unfortunate experience. Not keen on finding out what the inside of her head looks like, the girl ducks down, sliding sideways into a quick roll to come up on her feet. "You really don't seem his type," the girl remarks with a quick nod toward Katana and a half shrug. The idea of the psychotic Shogun getting along with the laconic, deadly Aislinn just doesn't make any sense.
And in comes Naerose. Hotaru ducks down out of the range of the incoming attack, kicks her foot out to try and knock Naeerose's 'pole vault' askew, then spins around into a quick swing with her elbow aimed for Naerose's stomach in an attempt to catch her before she can recover her footing. If she pulls it off, she'll simply roll forward after that and come back up on her feet a little ways away. "Whew."
COMBATSYS: Naerose fails to interrupt Quick Punch from Hotaru with Wisp.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Shoedouken, huh? Kasugano's really not impressed there! She scratches her cheek, glancing over at Hotaru, now the target of all three fighters' rage. Frowning, she shakes her head. "It isn't a =standard= tournament, no... but you're supposed to learn something =other= than the thug life!" Kasugano rushes forward, though it's not at Naerose -- it's at Aislinn. She may not be able to see the face through the mask, but she knows -some- of the motions. And it doesn't really matter -- she wants to get these folks off the boat! Kasugano lashes out with a high roundhouse kick aimed at knocking Aislinn into the truck's side! If she can't get Katana, better luck this time, eh?
Plus, by attacking Aislinn, she's provoking Katana, which could be good in its own little way, she figures!
Haha! Like Katana would EVER give up! As Hotaru tells Katana to look at himself.. she really needs to think things through. Not a /single word/ gets to Katana. "Hahahahah! You believe you have won .. but that is far from the case!" Katana just has this interest in Hotaru, and for some reason .. HE STICKS TO IT.
Rushing towards Hotaru once more, the Shogun doesn't give up, doesn't surrender! Not a step. "Come back here .. and taste my steal! I refuse to let it go untasted! Not with the spirits of my ancestors around .. I WILL NOT SHAME THEM!" His wakizashi slides outwards as Katana dashes across the ground towards Hotaru.
Blades flicker through the air as he attempts to imbed both of them into the sides of the frail woman.. but things must be done for success!
And one of them is to TAKE CARE OF HOTARU! "CHEN KONG HYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOKO NO - FIERCE STRIKE!"
STAAAAAB.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Aislinn with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Crushed into the side of the truck. Aislinn just did not expect that from Sakura, and she pays for it. It might be comedic, if Aislinn were one for comedy, the way she peels herself out of the dent in the truck. But she's certainly not amused, and her lavender eyes are starting to spark with serious annoyance. That annoyance remains, but Aislinn doesn't act on it. Instead, she simply uses it to her advantage.
Though she's a fair stranger to emotions, she is well-versed in manipulating her physical reactions... and so the adrenaline that annoyance sparks is used to power an energy conversion and intake.. it's practically invisible, except to those with really refined chi-senses, but the way Aislinn is just standing still must herald -something-.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
"That's it, I'm so going to.." As Hotaru comes in with her attack, aiming for Naerose with a punch that.. hits her. Whatever the witch wanted to do, it failed. Again! But this wasn't a totally fruitless battle, tagging Sakura twice was pretty impressive, even if she couldn't tag Hotaru and just what did she think this was? A tag game in a school yard? The world would never know.
"Okay, Time out!" cries the witch,
"I think we need to readjust teams, I say Sakura and me on one team versus.." she looks over the assembled before rubbing her nose some. Seems even that light hit has the witch quite dazed and confused.
"Er no nevermind, Surrender now and we will not take your shoes." She says with a weak little grin,
"I'm er.. not really a thug.." she says finally, frantically trying to buy time
... Not take your--
Okay, it's probably better not even trying to understand what Naerose is yammering about here. Kasugano gets the satisfaction of seeing someone pounded into the trailer, and now... well, Katana is attacking her backup! She had been going easy on the big man for the past few moments, so what better time to strike than now, when he least expects it, right? Right!
"Geez, you sure do love running your mouth! Here, let's get some real Japanese culture into that head of yours!" Kasugano rushes up behind Katana, aiming to jam her heel into the back of his knee. If that works, Katana would start to fall forward, but just in case, Kasugano will apply direct pressure to the small of his back with an open palm -- and hopefully help him become intimately acquainted with the ninjutsu seals imprinted upon the walls! ... And maybe even a side helping of electricity courtesy of the Suiryuu's defensive systems. "Hyaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Katana's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Once again, Katana with the stabby things. Problem is, Hotaru's already had a taste of those blades of his before, and she's entirely uninterested in a repeat of /that/ experience. Both weapons come flying in at her now as he charges her. There is a faint shake of her head as she jumps straight up... and comes straight back down behind him as he lunges by. "You really need to tape record yourself sometime and play it back. Almost nothing you say makes any sense, in ANY language!"
And with that, the girl swings toward him with a swift kick, whether or not he has recovered enough to turn around and face him. She quite hopes he hasn't. Her foot doesn't quite reach, but the swath of bright energy that blasts out toward him at close range afterward just might do the trick. "Kya!"
COMBATSYS: Katana endures Sakura's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Katana 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Katana interrupts Kobi Kyaku from Hotaru with Ten Chuu Satsu.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
There you go again Hotaru, talking as if Katana actually listened! ... Oh wait that's Sakura. Maybe if they had something different to say, but both are girls with chi powered palms who runs their mouths and run around alot!
Katana really doesn't see a difference. "Haahaaa! To think any of you had believed you could take the Shogun of Mad Gear! This battle .. is growing boring. NOW! TRY HARDER, or I will defeat you all!"
Katana raises the wakizashi again, looking towards the two, he sees a glint through the mask. "I have reason to young lady .. I AM THE SHOGUN OF THE MAD GEAR GANG!"
Being slamming into the wall, his body being electrified, Katana grits his teeth as his armor is ripped through by the electricity. "NGGAAAAH! I REFUSE.... TO SIMPLY FALL.."
Stuck in the electrical seal, Katana is .. hopelessly stuck. He can't get unstuck!.. And then there is a saving grave.
As the kick, slamming into him, flls with energy, Katana realizes.. that is how he'll get out. As the foot connects, the chi interrupts the electricity for a moment, and ripping off the wall for everything he's worth, Katana slams forwards, blades forcing themselves into Hotaru's hide.. "I have you now ... NOW, BEAR MY ULTIMATE POWER!" Kicking off the wall, Katana charges forwards, with all the strength he can muster, driving Hotaru against the ground as he goes. Hotaru might feel .. rather burning. She's felt this before.
And then at the end, Katana rips Hotaru upwards, to slam her against the sharp metal of the truck/ship break. "Hahha!" Leaping upwards Katana finally slams her to the ground, both blades bringing her hard to the ground.
"NEVER... Count the Mad Gear Shogun .. OUT! KOOOOBUOOOOOONO!"
Aislinn is allowed to charge up, unmolested. How odd. Normally that is a tactical error... and Aislinn sees that Hotaru finally made a tactical error too--she got close to Katana. The resulting... result... is none too pleasant, and yet Aislinn can't bring herself to care too much. Still leery of jumping into the fight yet, she continues to wait, with purpose.
She hasn't forgotten her original purpose, or NESTS' goals, and so she's also gathering data. Multipurpose, like a swiss army knife. But she'll be jumping back in momentarily--it's clear to her that Katana can't stay on his feet for too much longer. But she needs to be prepared.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
Wow, that was impressive. The witch can't help but admire the whole way that works before it's business as usual. She isn't wearing a tie or she'd straighten it, but she does have a hat and shades, which she does straighten, then she's like
"Woah wait, who doesn't make sense him or me? Oh you meant him.. Right of course." Naerose grins broadly, having dodged that bullet she goes in for the kill, or at least the nuiscance and makes a move on Hotaru.
It's like the dough boy comercials, only she uses her broom instead of a finger and even says,
"Poooke!" <3
Kasugano stopped trying to make sense of Naerose a long time ago -- really, it's just not in her best interest to try! So... after she ends up slamming Katana into the wall (which earns a mighty fist-pump from the egocentric tomboy) she turns back to the =other= opponent. Aislinn. Who's... standing around doing nothing.
Kasugano rubs her forehead. "C'mon, you're still at this game? Geez. Wonder what's in this truck that's so darn important, anyway..." Sighing irritably, she just narrows her eyes...
And changes her mind abruptly. Katana's too dangerous, he must be stopped! So she just runs to the truck, leaps at it, and then rebounds =off= the truck, sending herself flying at Katana! And with any luck she'll be bashing him over the head with her fists. "Hya! Hya! HYAAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Naerose's Weapon Jab.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Katana 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Naerose 0/-------/-======|
She thought she was keeping her distance just enough from the crazy Shogun. Many times he's caught her for getting in close to him, so Hotaru is content to keep it a bit of a distance game. That doesn't work out so good in the end though as he barrels through the small wall of chi and stabs the small fighter with his blades. Having the weapons dig into her is enough to stun her, the Kenpo artist being bent over his hands for a moment before slammed to the ground, dragged along some distance, and then bashed against the side of the truck. The final powerful slam to the ground leave the girl breathless and beaten. "O-ow," she gasps as she rolls onto her side and all the sudden has Naerose coming at her again.
A quick roll in the other direction avoids the broom poke, even though the evasive move elicits a hiss of pain from her side where she had gotten smashed into the truck. Dealing with tall these opponents is really starting to wear her down. Another attack like that and she'll be out of commission for sure. She isn't even certain what she's fighting /for/, except that Sakura needs her help, and anything Katana is up to can't possibly be any good. But if she's going to help Sakura out, she needs to deal some heavy damage here.
Still scrambling to get up, she forgoes rising to her feet exactly, as she rolls back toward the broom weilding witch before launching into into a powerful, chi-laden flip kick!
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to counter Sakura Otoshi from Sakura with Shiraha Catch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Naerose 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Katana can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Aislinn 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Naerose 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
As Sakura finally notices Katana again, it may .. JUST BE TOO LATE! As she charges Katana, Katana looks back to her as she screams. "Hahaha! Here you come again .. did you not remember what had happened last time!?" Katana responds, and braces himself, readying his body as Sakura comes closer, leaping off the truck and rebounding, sending herself flying at the Shogun.
His eyes narrow behind the mask. The woman is coming towards him. It's close. It's hard to predict, his body tired, his sight a bit skewed, his hands slippery and ... he knows if he messes this up, he'll be collapsing. But he tries anyways.
His spirit still burns strong, even if all others are slowing.
"SHIRAHAAAAA!" He cries out. Sakura wouldn't be able to turn away from her assault. And that's when Katana launches his hands for her fist, to grab and yank out of the air.
"CAAATTT-" The punch goes through. Katana couldn't do much more. He clasps his hands against one of the arms, but the fist slams through.
Staggering backwards, Katana points towards Sakura and Hotaru. "You .. I ..WILL REMEMBER BOTH OF YOU...... The Mad Gear Shogun .. never ..." Cough. " .. ... .. Ko..koro .. no ..." If he was going to say anything else, it doesn't matter.
The Mad Gear Shogun falls to the floor, finally silent, albeit his burning spirit still burns. There's just no wood left of the body that is Katana.
And... Katana just went down. Someone will have to roll Katana back into the truck before its set floating back to sea. Right. Sakura and Hotaru are both very very competent fighters--but Hotaru is still the weaker one. Aislinn steps into the light, so to speak... and focuses in on her target.
For theatrical purposes, if one could see into Aislinn's eyes, one might see some barely readable scripting scrolling across her eyes. They seem to flash, and she turns, precisely, in Hotaru's direction... after whatever Hotaru's attack does to Naerose... Aislinn suddenly bursts forward, moving with all speed for the blue-haired girl.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Naerose with Ten-shou Ranki EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
[ \\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Naerose 1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
Okay woah woah woah woah woah. Seriously, who invented that move and then who actually let a girl like Hotaru use it? Is her family that neglectful? It's like the girl from the professional during the dress up scene. Way creepy. But the witch takes it, and is totally like ded. But then her shades, they're still opened! She reaches a hand to grab at Hotaru and says to her,
"I.. I see bread people.."
In a whisper,
"Ginger bread people.. They don't know they're bread!"
If that distracted Hotaru . and Sakura, then they might not of noticed the forming chi over the head of the tomboy, like little stars, that begin to fall in a brilliant array, the witch meanwhile is totally dead. Unless you listen closly.. you can hear her snorring
COMBATSYS: Naerose can no longer fight.
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Aislinn 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
> //////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Naerose's Star Fall.
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Aislinn 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
> //////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Sakura
So... Sakura's flying fists got the best of Katana? Excellent! Bounding back to her feet, Kasugano glances over to Hotaru, Aislinn, and Naerose. ... And sees the witch just in time to also notice the ball of chi she's formed over her head. Time to dive! Kasugano throws herself forward into a low roll, carrying herself just out of Naerose's path.
But seriously, folks, bread people?
Ugh. So yeah, Naerose is unconscious, and Katana's unconscious... ugh. Bad news! But there's still the problem of this... truck. It seems to be jammed into the Suiryuu something fierce... and Kasugano really doesn't know if there's some kind of explosives in it or what! So... she does the first thing that comes to mind, hoping that her SHEER MIGHT could get rid of the truck!
That is, she gets a running start, and =slams= her shoulder into the cab of the truck. With an iron will and mighty determination, one can do anything they set their mind to!
... Except dislodge a truck stuck in the side of a stealth frigate, apparently. The truck... barely moves at all. ... And Kasugano reels in pain, mouth gasping open soundlessly as she staggers back from the truck. So much for =that= idea.
But the =ship= rocks, instead... which could be enough to give Hotaru the edge against Aislinn!
COMBATSYS: Sakura assists Hotaru.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Hotaru
> //////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Hotaru with Momentum Overdrive.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Hotaru
> //////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Sakura
... Or not. Aislinn sweeps in and -snags- Hotaru, and it's only a few feet from there to a steel-sided wall.
*SLAM* That is the sound of Hotaru being thrust against the side of the ship by Aislinn's grip on her shoulders.
*thudthudhthudthudthudthud* And that? That is the sound of Aislinn's fists impacting into Hotaru's body. She's held back before--she's only barely doing so now. Her fists blur as she slams them into Hotaru's body--peppering her lower abdomen, then her upper abdomen, then back to her lower abdomen... and then she pushes off, drifting back for the coup de grace, shooting forward and striking Hotaru clean in the sternum with doubled-up fists.
It's only then that she turns to Sakura...
Katelynn ascends from the Main Deck.
Blasting Naerose to oblivion seemed like a pretty good idea while Sakura dealt a finishing blow to the crazed Mad Gear gang leader. But pouring everything she has into an attack has its downsides too. Namely, in spite the unintended interference from Sakura, she just doesn't have anything left in her to avoid Aislinn as the other Seijyun student grabs hold of her and swings her around to slam against the side of the ship.
She's been through this before. And it was just as ugly last time. The rapid strikes beat the stuffing out of her as the girl all but crumples against the wall - an easy, sitting target for the double-fisted strike that provokes an ugly sounding cough. The girl is fading fast as she stumbles forward off the wall. One clumsy chi-laden kick is aimed for the born and raised killer. One parting shot before she drops forward to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Aislinn dodges Hotaru's Kobi Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Sakura
Parting shots are fickle. Indeed, Aislinn doesn't even think twice about what Hotaru may do; she's advancing towards Sakura--at least, enough to make Hotaru miss. Feeling that wave of chi, though, she pauses, and glances back long enough to make sure that Hotaru is out. She is, so now she just has to deal with... Sakura.
This is going to be a tough proposition, no lie; Aislinn used most of her spare speed in taking out Hotaru. But that doesn't daunt her at all, and even if she knows, logically and analytically, that Sakura probably has her number... in her own way she's stubborn. So it goes, that she turns to Sakura... and raises her right fist. It might look like a salute--
--until a man-sized blade of energy comes ripping up out of the decking, right underneath Sakura, all set to split her in twain--or at least, to bisect her.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Aislinn's Shining Edge.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Sakura
Hey, Sakura sure as heck doesn't expect a salute from Aislinn -- especially not in the middle of a fight! Kasugano can generally expect what's coming, so she dives forward to evade it in much the same manner as Naerose's falling stars... at least until she realizes the attack is coming from UNDER HER. Too late to abort the dive completely, she instead shifts her stance from a tumble into a cartwheel. Her legs get caught anyway, knocked upwards in the process, but it's still much nicer than taking the attack head-on. Or, y'know, getting bisected or some such.
Unsteadily, she lands on her feet, a bit shaky. Staggering to the side, the security chief -- working on her 23rd hour of continuous wakefulness -- shakes her head out dizzily, raising her fists in a boxer's guard. "Haven't you had enough yet? You better start thinking about an escape plan!" Giving Aislinn a weary smirk, she lashes out with rapid one-two punch combination to the nose!
COMBATSYS: Aislinn counters Medium Punch from Sakura with Heaven's Drive.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Sakura
"Escape is not an option," replies Aislinn, briefly, as she watches Sakura defend against the blade of energy. Unlike Sakura, she is relatively fresh, and maybe that is what makes all the difference in this moment. Perhaps it can't hold, but Aislinn is getting kind of tired, herself. All the same...
The first punch of the one-two combination, Aislinn just tilts her head away from. But the second punch--the long, power punch--well, Aislinn sets herself... and then throws her hands in the way.
There's a sharp *SMACK* as Sakura's punch is caught in both of Aislinn's hands. And then that infernal blade rises again, this time cutting right through Sakura's body--perhaps not leaving actual physical damage, but plenty of pain instead.
Kasugano gives Aislinn a sour frown in reply. "It's =always= an option..." she insists... just before her fist is caught by two of Aislinn's hands. Kasugano's eyes cross at that. Right around the time Kasugano wonders how that happened, another blade is striking her from below -- that same sort of blade that struck her before. Severe pain races up her spine from the sudden strike of chi, amplified by the peculiar dynamics of the yacht.
The Ansatsuken prodigy stumbles backwards, clenching her hands into fists. "Geez... twice in a row? Talk about =laaaaame=... " Really, she's just lashing out at anything -- people about to pass out after being awake so long will do that, after all! But Kasugano doesn't -really- care... she's more intent on taking out Aislinn, so she can help the folks on the rest of the ship.
"Fine... you wanna play that game?" 'Game' in this instance is defined by a thunderous mass of electrical chi gathering in the security chief's palms. "Let's see how if you do any better than your Shogun over there..." Slamming her hands forward, a sudden, sharp bolt of concussive energy rushes forth with every intention of blasting Aislinn into the back wall! "Shinkuu... HADOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Aislinn with Shinkuu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Aislinn 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Truth be told? Aislinn's pretty well out of juice, too. Not really liking her chances at avoiding said Big Butt Projectile, Aislinn grits her teeth and stands up to it. That...
... that is her mistake. She thought she was prepared and she wasn't--and so she's just blown away by the Shinkuu Hadouken. The blast of energy rocks her back almost to the guardrail of the ship and yet...
She doesn't go down. And despite the distance between her and her opponent... she lunges forward, her hands probing, seeking for Sakura's clothing...
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Aislinn's Frenzy Hammer.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Sakura, decked out in a rather =boring= Jinchuu uniform (her only concession is that the short shirt leaves her midriff bare), just... isn't there when Aislinn reaches for her, thanks to a sudden stutter-step backwards. It almost looked like Kasugano was going to tip over doing that, actually... but somehow, miraculously, she's still standing afterwards.
The prudent thing to do would be to stand back and give herself a moment to collect her nerves.
Sakura Kasugano's reputation is not built upon prudence. She lunges forward sharply, aiming to get her hands around one of Aislinn's wrists, jerk sharply to the right, and bodyslam her into the reinforced metal decking. "Hyyyyyyaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn fails to counter Quick Throw from Sakura with Heaven's Drive.
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Aislinn can no longer fight.
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Definitely tired now. There's only one viable option... but it turns out to not be. Aislinn's just too fatigued for the technique to work--she finds her wrists grabbed and she's neatly flipped onto the decking. *thud* The damage isn't bad, but it pushes her past the threshold where she can fight... so even if she's still conscious, she won't be fighting.
But as she said... 'escape' was never an option. The only thing that remains to be seen is if Aislinn will be thrown off the boat--she *is* an active participant in Jinchuu, after all, still in the tournament.
Panting heavily, Kasugano pulls herself free of Aislinn. Sure... the Silent Assassin might be conscious, but the Chief of Security can tell there won't be much fight left in her. Looking around, she notices ... lots of unconscious people! Two participants, one of her now-closer friends, and... one weeaboo. That equals out to three more people than she could possibly carry out of here.
"Helloooooo? Can you unseal the compartment now?" Kasugano walks over to the door, hoping beyond hope that the crewmembers had the good sense to keep the door cracked open just a bit.
But as soon as she gets that door open, there'll be three orders of business for her crew to handle:
1. Getting folks patched up good and nice
2. Tossing Naerose and Aislinn into the brig - a totally dark section of the ship
Tossing Katana into the harbor with a life preserver and a bottle of water.
The truck can wait till after she finds out what's going on with Blanka... and after she gets some rest!
Panting heavily, Kasugano pulls herself free of Aislinn. Sure... the Silent Assassin might be conscious, but the Chief of Security can tell there won't be much fight left in her. Looking around, she notices ... lots of unconscious people! Two participants, one of her now-closer friends, and... one weeaboo. That equals out to three more people than she could possibly carry out of here.
"Helloooooo? Can you unseal the compartment now?" Kasugano walks over to the door, hoping beyond hope that the crewmembers had the good sense to keep the door cracked open just a bit.
But as soon as she gets that door open, there'll be three orders of business for her crew to handle:
1. Getting folks patched up good and nice
2. Tossing Naerose and Aislinn into the brig - a totally dark section of the ship
3. Tossing Katana into the harbor with a life preserver and a bottle of water.
The truck can wait till after she finds out what's going on with Blanka... and after she gets some rest!
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura has ended the fight here.
Down and most definitely out cold for a spell, Hotaru completely misses the final exchange if vicious attacks that bring this battle to its conclusion. Slowly pushing herself up off the deck, she rises to a kneeling position, one hand coming up to rub against her mouth as she looks over the mess this was. But Sakura's up and busy, so it must've turned out /okay/, even if she doesn't feel great herself.
There's something strange about all this in her mind. Katana's random assaults on who the hell knows what kind of target aren't unusual. But to come with someone like Aislinn on his side? And Naerose... Hotaru knew of her ties to Blackjack back in Thailand, but the red-clad weirdo always seemed to be more of a free lancer than anything. Heck, she didn't even seem to know what she was fighting for or what, when it comes down to it. But one can never really tell with her.
Rising to her feet eventually as Sakura takes care of clean up duty, her other hand comes to press against her side as she staggers off to get the medical attention so kindly provided aboard the boat.
Log created on 18:44:04 09/14/2007 by Sakura, and last modified on 02:49:28 09/15/2007.