SNF 2007.09 - Sergio and Katana vs Shingo

Description: This old gold mine hasn't seen use in over a century, and now it's lit up for the first time in years. A fair sized section of the mine has been determined to be structurally sound and has been set up with lights and cameras to record the fight. Or at least, that's what the fighters have been told. What they don't know is after the first round, the lights are going to be turning on and off, alternating from round to round. Will the fighters be able to compensate for the alternating bright lights and pitch blackness? (Winner: Shingo)



Not so far underground in the side of a Californian mountain camera crews are setting up equipment. They're in an old exhausted gold mine, having to use some more interesting cameras than the normal ones in order to keep the enclosed space open enough for what needs to be done. Luckily these are masters of their craft: the Saturday Night Fight film crew. They're used to this sort of thing- setting up camera equipment where it'd otherwise seem impossible.

The starting location of the fight is to be the second level down on a long angled section of the mine. There are twists and turns off the main stretch, and cameras are set up long past the starting point, in case the fighters migrate. The entire scene is lit by old, weak and yellowish looking light bulbs.

The tall Italian Sergio is present and accounted for, looking fairly miserable in the location. "Man, what is this bullshit. Not only do I have to team up with Samurai McShogun over there, but we gotta fight in this dirt pit? Where're the fans, where's the excitement?!" He lets out a sigh and shakes his head. "Guess we'll just have to make due." He seems to be talking mostly to himself, as the camera crews, now doing a final check, are too busy to listen to him.

Hahaha! What could be better?! ROCKS. GOLD. FIGHTING!

Underground with little lights?! Katana looks around, bulbs lighting the area. Katana could not wait for such a thing. And he RECOGNIZES the man who did it. Perhaps, however, he was a true warrior and not some stupid boy! Who just stands there while a monster tries to eat you!

"Good to see you, again! You had proven yourself a strong warrior when we had last met.. I am happy to have you on my side. But the boy .. he is strong. If you believe we truly can take him, you must believe in the spirits, as well as your ancestors! .. I already, so I will not have a problem. But I can only imagine!" Katana exclaims, and holding the Jitte, The Mad Gear Shogun begins to pose.

First - Swan. Then snake. Then phoenix .. and he does them all wrong. BUT HE DOES THEM .. for the CAMERA!

Another week and another barely engrish invitation to an SNF match. If Shingo Yabuki only had a nickel for every invitation to a fighting tournament he's received that was barely written in a coherent manner. He'd be rich. He'd probably be more rich if he could find out who writes these stupid invitations and took their job, since it'd be quite difficult to do worse than this latest masterpiece.

'In Carifornia, enemy mine. Attack the darknesses.'

Brilliant really. Sometimes Shingo wonders if they write these silly invitations like that just for him, or if all fighters for the match receive the same invitation. Oh well. Regardless, after perusing the list of opponents and conditions, Shingo packed a small bad and headed off to California - taking extra special care to remember to bring the wakizashi he'd swiped from the Mad Gear member Katana a few weeks ago. While he hasn't had much use of the sword since, Shingo figured it might come in handy during this fight. Then again, it might not. Either way, at least it gives Katana an opportunity to earn his sword back.

With a hard hat on his head, and the aforementioned wakizashi strapped to his back, Shingo makes his way down the mine shaft, and ends up arriving right in the middle of Katana posing for the cameras. With a joyously large smile, and a wave to not only the cameras but both Sergio and Katana, Shingo walks over to where the makeshift arena has been set up. Of course, with Katana and Sergio already conversing, Shingo does the polite thing, and stays silent...for the moment. Once they grow a tad silent or notice him, he'll bow deeply and greet them plainly. "Hello to you both! As you may or may not know, I'm Shingo Yabuki, number one student to the great Kyo Kusanagi, and I'll be your opponent today. I wish you both the best...and...well...yes."

Sergio looks over to Katana as he speaks up and then does his ridiculous poses for the camera. He wonders if it's even turned on. "Yea, I'm strong and you hit me with a bus." He crosses his arm, frowns, and then cracks a grin, "But you know what, my lunch was avenged, so I'll go ahead and call it even." As for all that ancestors stuff... he'll just pretend didn't hear it what is with that guy?

And then Shingo arrives. "Yea, great to see you again. You're the kid who set up that match at that high school right? I didn't get a chance to try my strength against you then, so I'll give it everything I've got this time." He stretches his muscles a bit while he talks, "Looks like the people here think you must be pretty tough to put you against the both of us, but don't be surprised if it's unfair. I think they're underestimating my strength!" Cocky much? Always.

As Sergio stands there, waiting, Katana raises the jitte once again, stopping his motions and looking over to Shingo. That.. kid. "YOU!" Katana exclaims, looking over to Shingo. "You have my blade .. and I will have it back! ARM YOURSELF! I will defeat you and reclaim it!" Katana seems serious about this, the jitte out and being spun as he focuses on the kid who stands there, welcoming both of them to be his opponent. Maybe Shingo didn't know? Or maybe he DID.

% Still, Katana stands before the two, looking over to Sergio finally. "You avenged your lunch indeed, and it was the fault of a Mad Gear member who had caused it. But he was nowhere near to be interesting or strong enough for you! I had stood in. It was truly not an act of malice!"

Backing up, Katana readies himself, steeling each and every section of his body. For today... HE WOULD AVENGE HIS ANCESTORS, AND HIS HONOR! Or .. something like that.

COMBATSYS: Katana has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Katana           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Shingo has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Katana           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Shingo


"I, er, didn't set the match up...I didn't even know it was going on until I was ... well, no matter. It's in the past right? Either way, it's fantastic to see you. To see you both in fact." Shingo's smile seems to beam more brightly as he looks from Sergio to Katana, to Sergio, then settles on Katana. After a few blinks, Shingo nods deeply in acknowledgement of Katana's words. "I do have your blade, Mr. Katana. Should you win, you'll have honourably earned it back today. If not, I'll continue to keep it and use it for justice. Either way, I hope you're both ready for a fight. Sergio said he'll be giving it everything he's got...and just so you both know, I, Shingo Yabuki, number one student of Kyo Kusanagi, never hold back. So whenever you're ready to give the folks at home a show, let's get this party started!" Shingo exclaims in his normal jovial manner, saftening the hardhat, while assuming his Kusanagi-ryuu style stance...albeit with a modification or two to allow for drawing the wakizashi he now has strapped on his back.

COMBATSYS: Sergio has joined the fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Katana           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Shingo
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


"I expected nothing less." Sergio looks over to Katana, "Looks like we're in this one together. So you're gotta avenge your sword or something like that? Great." He balls his hand into a fist and grins. "Avenging things gives you POWER!" Just look at what happened when Sergio avenged his lunch, after all. "So, are we ready yet!?" He looks over to the camera crew, who shake their head and hold up a finger. One more minute.

Sergio minorly deflates, "Tch, what a buzz kill." He then crosses his arms and waits, looking upward and tapping his foot in an impatient manner, muttering quietly to himself. Then the crews nod amongst each other, "All right guys, we're good to-"

"ORRRAAAAAAA!!!" Sergio doesn't even wait for the sentence to be finished! It's on, it's time to -FIGHT-. His arms uncross as he rushes towards Shingo at his maximum, unimpressive, velocity. He then leaps into the air, his head brushing the top of the mine shaft and making a real mess of his hair, and tries to smash his foot into Shingo to knock him backwards. "Hah, hah, hah!" He then attempts to pound him across the body with three hard punches, followed by a palmstrike that stops just short of hitting, a burst of watery chi spraying forth. "Haah!"

As Shingo speaks against Katana, Katana is generally still not happy. "Hahahah! It doesn't matter, boy! We will have a glorious battle, and that weapon will be mine! And for me to hold back .. you would mock me to think I would!" Shingo is ready for a fight alright, and he's rather happy about it! But still, Katana is already wearing a mask, he needs no helmet!

"I will retain my honor .. and my weaponry!" Looking as Sergio charges already, mentioning how they were in it together.. Katana agrees. "Yes, we are brothers in arms for now! And we shall defeat this boy, who's strength is far beyond normal boys, and especially cowardly boys who run from monsters!" No, he won't forget that.

As Sergio goes towards him, Katana .. CHARGES FORTH AS WELL. "If you will not hold back, I refuse to even LOOK like I'm holding back! SHOGUN STAB!" Katana yells out, rushing forth towards Shingo, blades flashing through the air. "DEEP STRIKE - FLYING DRAGON LION POUNCE MAUL!" This is .. just slamming both jitte towards Shingo so hard as to imbed them, and him, into a wall.

THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT! "Ahh! My vision is fleeting!" The Shogun cries out!

COMBATSYS: Shingo dodges Sergio's Breaker.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Katana           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Shingo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Katana successfully hits Shingo with Deep Strike.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Katana           0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0           Shingo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


The unfortunate part about unimpressive velocities, is that by and large, they're unimpressive. That isn't to say that the people behind such velocities aren't impressive, but the speed that they can attain, isn't. So, when Shingo sees Sergio coming at him, foot first with a bit of a leap, the youth can't help be be reminded of his lovely Shingo Kick. He also can't help but be reminded that a good roll to the side usually avoids such things, and with that in mind, Shingo does just that - with much effort due to having a sword on his back, leaps and rolls out of the way of Sergio's graceful attack. Unfortunately, this dive puts Shingo right in the oncoming path of Katana's 'Shogun Stab : Deep Strike - Flying Dragon Lion Pounce Maul' attack. Whatever the heck it is, it sounds about as painful as it ends up being. Without any time to react, Shingo ends up on the business end of a pair of jitte missing his flesh, but snagging him by the jacket and sticking him right into the wall, including the impact of it all.

Does it hurt Shingo when this happens? Yes. Is he in pain? A bit. Is he smiling like a Cheshire Cat after being fed? Oh, you bet your bottom dollar he is. Of course, that's when the lights go out. Shingo would of course blink at this point, but there's a reason he brought the hard hat! Reaching up to the top of the hard hat, Shingo feels around for a while, looking for the little switch that'd turn on the little light that...that....

...that was on the hard hat he decided not to wear, assuming that the lights wouldn't go out. Audibly sighing while retaining his smile, Shingo begins feeling around at his sides for the jitte that are currently keeping him held against the wall, and finding them begin to yank them out of the wall - all at the same time as the lights begin to flicker on. Then off. Then on again, making the makeshift arena look somewhat like a seizure inducing dance club. Moving away from his 'place on the wall', Shingo backs up a few feet, allowing his eyes to adjust to some of the light and the darkness...or at the very least the flickering.

"Well, that was well done on both your parts. Interesting technique Mr. Katana...I shall have to make note of it." Smirking, Shingo whips out his notebook, scribbles and jots a few things in there while keeping his gaze on Sergio and Katana, before replacing the notebook inside his jacket. Notes taken, and without warning, Shingo takes a few hasty steps towards Katana and jumps into the air, aiming his toe towards the rocky mine ceiling, and lightly bouncing it off of said ceiling to aim his heel directly at Katana's head. "SSHHHINNNNGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KKIIIICCKKUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!! DEADLY POUNCE FROM THE SKY HEEL COMES DOWN TO CAUSE PAIN!"

...hey, if Katana is going to make extra long exclamations of his attack, far be it from Shingo to not follow suit.

Sergio lands and throws punches at nothing but air, stopping the palm strike before it begins when his fists fail to make purchase. He whirls about and intends to chase Shingo down when Katana ends up stabbing weapons through him. And pinning him to a wall of the mine. Ok, he can deal with that. He starts moving forward- and the lights go out, causing him to trip on a rock and fall on his face. "Agh!"

He picks himself up while grumbling, and tries to find Shingo in the semi darkness. Wait, what the hell was that blur jumping off the ceiling? Something about this fight is just way too weird for Sergio. The blinking lights completely interfere with his fighting style, so he's left standing like an idiot while Shingo engages Katana, moving quickly towards his partner so that whenever Shingo emerges to strike one of them, the other might actually have a chance at getting a shot in too.

COMBATSYS: Sergio focuses on his next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Katana           0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0           Shingo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Katana fails to counter Shingo Kick from Shingo with Shiraha Catch.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Katana           0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0           Shingo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


As Katana slams the jitte into Shingo, they go in well! And slamming him against the wall, Katana retracts the blades at the end. But Shingo is SMILING. That's all Katana sees before the lights go down.. and then the helmet kind of sits there. Well, looks like while Shingo is lucky, he didn't bring the right hat!

"Hahaha! Child, I show you that I TRULY am the strongest here!" Lights flicker on and off as the jitte are removed, before Shingo moves away... and then takes notes? "My style IS impetuous .. I shall not argue such!" Katana responds, before Shingo takes a few steps, jumps into the air, the foot bouncing off the ceiling and coming down, heel first, towards Katana.

"You have made a mistake!" Katana exclaims, before raising his hands upwards. "SHIRAHAAA!" CLAP.

And the kick slips through his grasp, slamming into Katana's face! The hell strikes solidly, but this just causes Katana to be knocked backwards. He doesn't do too much afterwards though, holding his mask. "How dare you!"

Katana, however, just had a steel mask slammed into his fleshy face. Owwwwww.

OW x5 actually. But he raises the jitte once more. "I ACCEPT YOUR PAIN ... and find myself WANTING MORE!"

While some may hold back in an unfamiliar situation (as in, not really being able to see all that well), Shingo just goes with what he knows of the Kusanagi-ryuu - in short, when you start attacking, you don't let up. Of course, here comes a decision. Does Shingo continue to assault Katana, or does he attempt to toss an attack down Sergio's way? These thoughts and more run through Shingo's head as his heel slams into Katana's face, and the moment he does, the youth hops back a few feet, adjusting as best he can to the odd flickering in the lights.

He doesn't take this opportunity to respond to Katana however, instead he strains his eyes looking for Sergio, figuring that if perhaps he can get between the two fighters in this darkness, he can use it to his advantage...perhaps have them attack each other...or have any number of things happen. With that thought in mind, Shingo quickly makes a dash towards where he thinks Sergio is (for all he knows it could be a rock wall...or Katana), and pulling back his fist, launches it towards where he thinks Sergio might be with all his might. Worst case scenario, he looks like an idiot, and hurts his hand on a rock wall. Best case scenario...he hits something that isn't himself.

COMBATSYS: Shingo successfully hits Sergio with Fierce Punch.
- Power hit! -

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Katana           0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Shingo
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/--=====|


Shingo says, "And Katana, I have yet to see you do something stupid."

Sergio is still confused by the flickering lights, but his time spent finally gives him an idea of where Shingo is. And there he is indeed, rushing at him and trying to slam him harder than crap with a fist to the face. Sergio's mind churns over the possibilities of this. ...and then the lights go out completely. "What th-"

WHAM! The fist smashes him right in the face, and hits with enough force to lift him off the ground and throw him into a wall, the tall man crumpling to the ground like a sack of potatoes. "Oooouch!" He grits his teeth and slowly picks himself up, holding his bleeding nose, hoping it didn't just break. "Son of a bitch!" He glares... at the darkness. "I'm gonna get you for that, kid!" He drops down into a low stance and pulls his hand back, none of which can be seen, and the ground begins to tremble. His hand then thrusts forward in a powerful motion, water tears through the floor of the mineshaft, huge hunks of it coming up as massive amounts of water chi surge in Shingo's general direction. Hey didn't Shingo put himself between Sergio and Katana? "HAAH!"

COMBATSYS: Sergio successfully hits Katana with Whitewater.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0           Shingo
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-======|


As SHingo slams into Sergio with a punch of STEEL, Katana was ready for that.. but he WASN'T READY. No one is every ready for a massive amount of water chi! And Katana is washed backwards, and out, away from the two, Shingo and Sergio. He tries to fight against the water chi, But Katana is washed outwards!

And that's when he finally is released from the horrible vortex of water, collapsing upon the ground, and then looking down towards those below. "Accursed.. trickery... to think I believed he was on my side!"

It looks like Katana, a bit away from the other two, is going to get revenge on ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

On principle.

COMBATSYS: Katana takes no action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0           Shingo
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-======|


COMBATSYS: Shingo fails to counter Whitewater from Sergio with Tsuki Hiji.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1           Shingo
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           1/-------/=======|


To be caught off guard is an acquired skill that Shingo has mostly mastered...well, except for being prepared to be caught off guard. That's the tough part. One minute his fist is connecting with something remotely fleshy, and getting a verbal response of pain, and the next, the lights go out completely, or maybe they did before he hit, and the next thing Shingo knows, the sound of rushing water encompasses him and the best he can do is flail as the water forces him deeper into the mine.

At least he assumes he's being forced deeper into the mine. He could be pushed by the water out of the mine for all he knows. At this point, all Shingo knows is that it's dark, he's cold, and there are wolves chasing him. Err. Fighters. Chasing. Possibly.

Drenched from head to toe, Shingo spits out some water as he slowly rises to his feet and attempts to shake some of the water off like a dog might. "Well, that certainly was...um...interesting. And. Oww--" Shingo stops as he clutches at his ribs - between Katana's attack and now the rush of water presumably by Sergio, the youth has taken a beating. Needing to catch his breath, Shingo stands wherever the heck he is within the dark dark mine, and, well, waits for what'll happen next, hands firmly clutching his ribs as he does so.

And right about then the lights turn back on. "Oh thank -god-." Sergio grins as he sees Shingo down the mine, washed away. "Haha! Got you good, didn't I?" He starts advancing on Shingo now. He just dealt a harsh blow, now if he and Katana team up- hey, wait a minute, where's Katana. Looks like he decided to split for a moment. Oh well, guess that leaves Shingo up to him, doesn't it? "All right. Looks like we're even. You just about break my nose, and I wash you out. Time to get this show back on the road!" He then rushes Shingo, water building up behind him as he goes, forming into a wave that covers his body and helps to speed him up. Sergio then leaps, lifting off the ground and attacking with a flying...swimming/bodysurfing tackle? "GOT YOU NOW!"

As Shingo doesn't respond, Katana doesn't either. Staying on the outside, Katana has moved simply to the side of the shaft he had been halfway ejected from, still within the mine, but not within the battle. As Sergio goes to take Shingo alone, Katana raises his hands up and thinks back to his ancestors and his spirits!

However, while Katana does this, what he hears is a busy signal. Maybe they're on hold.

But he will keep trying! For he must ask the spirits, and his ancestors, about how where the courageous warriors have gone! There is but few times that Katana has seen the worthy, and none of them had been within the SNF! Monsters and cowardly children! And the time he does get a warrior, it is interrupted most rudely!

He will need to ask the spirits .. if they ever get off the phone.

COMBATSYS: Katana takes no action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1           Shingo
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           1/-------/=======|


COMBATSYS: Shingo counters Strong Throw from Sergio with Tsuki Hiji.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1           Shingo
[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           1/----===/=======|


There are many advantages to 'training' under Kyo Kusanagi...one of which is knowing how to deal with opponents who end up being cocky about landing a blow. Oh sure, Shingo is smiling the entire time that Sergio points out that he hit Shingo. And Shingo holds on to his ribs the entire time Sergio is talking. The moment Sergio shuts his yap and and begins his 'water propelled' rush, Shingo resumes his fighting stance and raises a solitary finger to waggle from side to side in a 'no-no' motion. "Sorry pal, not this time."

The moment Sergio gets close enough, Shingo sidesteps the oncoming attack, raises his elbow in the air and calls out his attack like he normally would...only this time with more flair! "Shingo's Self Made Style! MOOOOOOOOONNNN EELLLLLBOOOOOOWWWW!!!! Elbow Drop! *coughcough whisper*temporary name*whisper coughcough*" And with this words he hops into the air, and brings one of his elbows down towards Sergio, a veritable elbow drop...much like the name of the attack.

Of course, after connecting his elbow with...well, some part of Sergio, Shingo bright-eyed and wide-smiled begins looking around for Katana, who oddly enough isn't in sight - and then the lights go out, ensuring that neither Katana nor Sergio, nor even himself...would be in sight. Of all the places for the SNF match to take place, it had to be in a barely functioning mine.

That was not expected!! A step to the side, ok that makes sense to Sergio, but then attacking him before he gets a chance to recover? Not at all. Sergio is smashed straight down into the ground, and lets out a groan. Okay, that didn't go as planned. He picks himself up as quickly as he can, and gives Shingo a long stare in the thankfully present light. "Hmph. So you're quick and hit like a ton of bricks. Don't think you have me down just yet, though. And there's still my partner to think about! Where ever he is..."

Sergio begins summoning up his power, reading it for a single massive release "Prepare yourself!" A moment later two massive waves of water form, one of them behind Sergio and another behind Shingo. The two huge waves sweep together, Sergio getting caught up in his and riding inside of it towards Shingo, just waiting for the moment where the student of Kusanagi is swept towards him!

Continuing in the same line as before, Katana is not in Shingo's fight .. nor is he in Sergio's sight! He is .. OUT of sight. It is not unexpected, but at the same time, Katana is .. focusing on something else. It seems .. the spirits.. THEY HAD ANSWERED. 'Please Deposit 25 cents'... Katana, stumped at how to insert money into a spiritual questionaire, is unfortunately stopped by that very same problem!

And he continues to think, but he stays, legs crossed, incense burning as he readies himself for whatever battle may still be below. Sergio seemed to be able to take care of himself, so Katana need not get involved.

He trusts you in spirit, Sergio. Fight on.

COMBATSYS: Katana takes no action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1           Shingo
[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Shingo endures Sergio's Unrealized Potential!

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1           Shingo
[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-------|


Somehow, someway Shingo is caught up in the wave of water. The two waves careen together and Sergio pulls back his fists, slamming both of them into Shingo's chest as hard as he can manage, while all around them the water swirls, creating massive powerful eddies and turning into an incredible maelstrom designed to tear into Shingo, while Sergio remains peacefully unharmed.

Regardless of where Katana might be, Shingo knows where he is. He's right in the middle of a veritable oncoming water sandwich! Now, Shingo didn't mean to step to the side when he dropped his elbow mere seconds before...but, a slip of the foot. Now? No slipping of any feet. He's aware of the rushing water behind him. He's aware of the rushing water-clogged Sergio before him. He's also aware that there's really nowhere to run or hide from the oncoming assault, and so Shingo merely embraces it.

The water wave comes behind him, sweeps him up and crashes into the other wave not to mention Sergios fists...and a wonderful maelstrom like effect on the water that rips at his flesh and his clothing...but all the while, Shingo does his best to smile, grits his teeth, and bears it.

When the assault finally ceases, Shingo is left on his knees, completely soaked if he wasn't before, his clothing tattered, his body already beginning to bruise - but all the same, a smile on his face as he slowly looks up at Sergio. "That was an excellent attack, Sergio. I'd like to think I was prepared for it, but maybe I wasn't. Still...impressive. I'm not sure where Mr. Katana is, but I'm sure he'll pop up when least expected. Either way, you gave me fair warning on that last attack, so I'll do the same for you." Shingo props himself up one leg at a time, getting to his feet and dramatically dusting himself off, even though he's not dusty - a symbolic gesture if anything. At this point in this battle, Shingo has little to lose. He's been tossed about, battered, and nigh on beaten...but he's got a few tricks left up his sleeve, and if he's going to pull out the big guns, now might be the time - especially since there might not be a later.

"Your body is..." Shingo starts, his words calm, concise, clear. With those words spoken, the youth pulls back his right fist, and charges at Sergio, but his movements almost seem awkward, pained, and that would be because right now Shingo is fighting through massive amounts of pain. Pain caused in no small part by both Katana and Sergio, but yet he persists. When within range, Shingo will thrust forth the pulled back fist towards Sergio's face with maximum speed and impact intended. "--WIDE OPEN!!! BBURRRRRNNNNINNNGGGGG SHHINNNGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Should the first attack hit, Shingo's left fist will follow up aimed at Sergio's torso. From there, in rapid succession, his fists will pelt a mix of Sergio's face and torso - 6 strikes in all. Should those all connect, both of Shingo's elbows will come up, and then swiftly be brought down in a deadly arc aimed towards Sergio's collarbones/shoulders...and should that connect? Shingo will end it all off with a hip check intended to knock poor Sergio away, if not down.

...of course, should none of that connect, Shingo will still go through some of the motions, and make a decent dance out of it, before stumbling forward a few feet and doing his best to recover from the embarrassment.

COMBATSYS: Shingo successfully hits Sergio with Burning Shingo.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Katana           1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0           Shingo
[                        \\\\\\  <
Sergio           0/-------/-======|


Shingo's words could never be more true. Using that attack takes an amazing amount out of Sergio, and he has barely any time to think. He tries to pull his arms up to protect his face, but doesn't get close. At this point he just does the only thing he can, rolling with the attacks as they slam into him to deaden the blows as much as he can. They all smash into him perfectly before he's elbowed and thrown to the ground, lying on the ground almost completely broken.

But just... not quite. The rolling with the punches was -just- enough to leave some fight in him, and with a huge groan of pain he lifts himself up from the ground. "You hit... really hard kid. Almost as hard as that bus Katana hit me with." He rolls his shoulders to try and get some of the pain out of them. "But I'm not done yet!" He reaches into his shirt and from out of nowhere pulls six feet of rope, and throws it at Shingo. It spins around in the air, and a little whirlpool of water forms around it, almost like a tornado of water. The rope is at neck height, so as to choke Shingo as the chi blasts him. "YOUR BODY IS... probably ready for this!"

Katana, meanwhile, has gotten upwards, gathered the incense, and picked up everything. Standing up, the large man looks down at the fighting, and takes the other path, treading upwards, towards the Mineshaft entrance that he had .. well entered in!

It seems the Mad Gear Shogun's Spirit... is just not burning today, as Shingo and Sergio fight, Katana sheathes his weaponry, sliding the jitte into his waist, before he walks upwards and away from the battle. There's no honor in such a thing! Even if he doesn't truly always focus or believe it.

He will leave them to conclude their fate!

COMBATSYS: Katana has left the fight here.

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Sergio           0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0           Shingo


COMBATSYS: Shingo dodges Sergio's Whirlpool.

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Sergio           0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0           Shingo


Shingo's body is quite ready for what Sergio throws at himm, even if Shingo himself isn't quite ready for it. So, when the rope goes flying, Shingo goes ducking!

Thankfully Shingo's ducking allowed for him to avoid the watery rope of doom, but the fight is far from over. Standing back up, Shingo smiles brightly as he begins taking big steps away from Sergio. "As much as you're not done yet, neither am I, so here goes nothing!" Shingo smirks ever so slightly as he takes a few large strides towards Sergio, leaps into the air, and sweeps his leg upwards and then down towards Sergio's head in as deadly an arc as can be permitted in the small confined space. "SHHINNGGOOOOOOO KIIIICCKKUUUUUU!!"

COMBATSYS: Sergio fails to interrupt Shingo Kick from Shingo with Old Faithful.

                                  >  ////////                      ]
                                 |===----\-------\0           Shingo


COMBATSYS: Sergio can no longer fight.

                                  >  ////////                      ]
                                 |===----\-------\0           Shingo


Well it looks like Shingo was able to avoid his attack. Really, that isn't so surprising. But then, as far as Sergio is concerned, the teen goes and does something stupid! He runs up and then jumps at Sergio. Jumps at him! Doesn't he know that just about everyone has a way of taking out people who jump in at them? Sergio will demonstrate this! His hand shoots up into the air, and a geyser of water blasts up from the ground directly in front of his feet! ...about two seconds after his head takes about the fifth blow of the fight, knocking him over to the ground, and more than that, knocking him completely out. Brains can't take that much punishment, people!

After Shingo's kick connects, he lands on the ground, and remains there for a while, one hand on the cold mine floor, the other resting on his knee. At first he doesn't even look at Sergio, he merely attempts to catch his breath, breathing quite heavily after exerting himself so much - spreading himself so thin in such a short period of time. Finally after a few moments have passed, the Taiyo Youth rises to his feet and takes a very deep breath, looking towards Sergio as he does so. "That was an excellent fight, Mr. Sergio. You did amazingly, and I'll remember this. I only hope you're okay over there. Speaking of okay, I wonder where that Mr. Katana went..." Trailing off, Shingo sighs, looks over at Sergio, then to the SNF crew, knowing full well that they'll take care of the fighter, and with that, Shingo begins searching the mine for Katana, calling out for him, all throughout the mine both inside and outside. Will he find Katana? Nobody knows.

Laying on the ground, out cold, Serigo's head kinda lulls back and forth. Maybe he's trying to answer Shingo in his sleep!

Log created on 21:32:26 09/15/2007 by Katana, and last modified on 08:34:31 09/16/2007.