Description: ... when you're at the YFCC. A chance meeting between Mizuki and Acacia leads the two to discussion about teams and normalcy, and a chance for a 'team' fight ensues when God Gund--Frei--shows up and is asked.
The Young Fighters' Community Center. Shining beacon of hope against the darkness of the age! Haven and safe refuge for youth against the dangers of the world! A place of learning, education, and CONSTRUCTIVELY APPLIED VIOLENCE!
Well, no, Acacia muses, that's probably a bit too bombastic for a slogan.
Granted, it's not /that/ much worse than some of the ones already in use. It would seem that Alma Towazu - or at least his publicist - has a flair for the dramatic. Or maybe the melodramatic. Given the man, Acacia wouldn't be surprised if he personally had a hand in it. She leans against the information desk, leafing through the brochures available for perusal, flicking through fliers and leaflets. The colors are nice, though, and the paper glossy and high-quality. Always a good start. The cheerful 'please take me!' stickers are a nice touch, too.
The receptionist behind the desk seems vaguely unnerved, though. She gives Acacia an odd look, as the shorter woman continues thumbing through pretty much every information pamflet in sight.
"Er," the receptionist says, "Gillespie-san, wouldn't you be more comfortable reading in the library?"
Acacia looks up. She blinks, once. "No."
"...oh. Okay."
Aheh. The YFCC, bombastic in design or nature, has become a place for Mizuki to come when she's feeling down, or restless... or even when she isn't. The community center, despite the violent nature of its activities, is almost homey to her. She enjoys being there--it's as close to the atmosphere of home as she can get without going HOME. Which is a good distance away.
Mizuki wanders in through the front doors, carrying a big duffel bag--presumably it holds her miko/training gear. Actually, she has two sets of the gear--one is for actual miko duties and she doesn't use it for fighting when she can so help it. The other looks the same but is reinforced for better protection and also so it won't just come apart under duress.
Mizuki checks in at the front desk, nodding to Acacia with a warm, genuine smile. "Good afternoon, Chiaki-san," she says, to the receptionist, "are there any messages for me?"
Before the girl behind the information desk can reply, though...Acacia interjects. She lowers the brochure she's holding, peeking round the top of the folded paper. She doesn't return Mizuki's greeting. not quite. Instead, she gives her a rather more searching look.
"You're Kamigawa," Acacia observes. She identifies Mizuki, a spark of recognition in her eyes. She nods. "Aren't you?"
That earns a pause from the redhead, and a quirked eyebrow. Chiaki knows better than to interrupt--there aren't any messages anyways. "Yes, that's me," she replies, her smile still genuine, still warm, if a little hesitant, confusion seen in her blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, have we met before? I--I'm not sure, but you don't seem familiar..." Turning towards the other girl, Mizuki sets her duffelbag down, leaning on the counter with a bent elbow. How does this woman know her name...?
"Sorta," Acacia replies, "at Heinlein's place. When Jiro fought Dante."
Her expression darkens, slightly, as memories of that particular life-or-death encounter surface. But the shift on her face lasts only a second, before she pushes it aside. She turns her earlier nod into a tilt of the head.
"'viously," she adds, "didn't get a chance for introductions."
She smiles, just a little.
"Acacia," she explains, pointing to herself with the top of the flier.
Oh. Oh! Kamigawa blinks and... nods. "Right. I--I remember now. That was a while ago, I'm sorry... so much of that I've tried to put in the back of my mind." She smiles. "I remember seeing you now, Acacia-san. Ah... justa moment."
So saying, Mizuki turns from Acacia to Chiaki, the receptionist--confirming, in a quick, quiet exchange, that her next class isn't for another hour and a half or so.
"Is--is there something I can do for you, Acacia-san? Have you come by the YFCC for a particular reason? And--how have you been?"
"Still breathing," Acacia replies, levelly, "last I checked."
Still grasping the leaflet between the fingers of one hand, she makes a great show of rotating her wrist, exposing skin between her hand and jacket sleeve...and feeling for her own pulse.
"Usually a good sign," Acacia concludes.
Behind the counter, Chiaki giggles. Acacia turns, eying the receptionist, before favoring her with a sardonic grin. Then she looks back at Mizuki, wearing that dry smile.
"Help here now," she adds, in response to one of Mizuki's earlier questions, one of the many in that little miniature barrage. All things in time.
"Wanted to say 'hi'. That a crime?"
The question earns a wry smile from Mizuki. "Not last I checked, no... we're not big on crime here at the YFCC. So you're helping out here, too...? I take it that means you're teaching? I don't think Alma hires people on as bouncers, for example..." If she is put off by Acacia's nearly-taciturn style, well, she doesn't show it.
"I'm glad to hear more people are volunteering here. The place has really started to take off, it's great. I'm proud of Alma-kun and all he's already accomplished."
Mizuki muses, "What were you doing here just now? I have to teach a class in about an hour and a half, but I'd certainly like to get a cup of tea with you if we could do that..."
"Sure," Acacia replies, offhandedly. Deftly, she folds the leaflet she was reading, and adds it to the stack of others she's picked from the reception. She pushes off the counter, no longer resting her back against the surface, stretches ever-so-slightly, and begins a slow walk in the direction of the little cafe at the corner of the YFCC lobby.
Her back's turned to Mizuki, but Acacia addresses her all the same, her voice conversational. "Was catching up," Acacia says, waving the bunch of informational brochures, "seeing how they - and the place - looks to visitors. Important."
She gives a little shrug.
"I suppose you're right. We try to keep it looking clean..." Mizuki grimaces, remembering a time she came in to find that Duke had wrecked the place--and Alma--in a vicious battle. "But it -is- dedicated to training fighters, and since we don't hold back on teaching how to use chi and such similar techniques, inevitably there's going to be some damage. But I think it presents a nice look."
Very much like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, etc... Mizuki hefts her duffelbag up onto her shoulder, slung behind her. "So, if I may ask, Acacia-san, what kind of fighting style do you use?" It's an idle question, but Mizuki truly is curious... wondering, perhaps, if she's even heard of it before.
Acacia pauses at the threshhold of the little cafe, situated at the edge of the lobby - her footsteps slowing, then stopping, just as she crosses from carpet to tiled floor. There's no lack of tables and seating. Rather, she stands there, studying the little standing chalkboard-and-easel with the day's specials scribbled in big colorful letters.
Then she turns, giving Mizuki a faintly impish grin.
"I punch things," Acacia answers, evenly, with a profound air of intentional understatement.
"I... see." Sounds kind of Jiroish, doesn't it? Mizuki smiles at the impish grin. "I bet you're pretty good at it, too," she muses, studying Acacia again. No, she doesn't really look like, super-impressive... but usually the best fighters don't. And there's something about Acacia--an air of competence.
"What'll you be having?" she asks, conversationally, glancing over the board--though it's a stalling tactic. Mizuki generally just has the green tea here, hot on cold days and cold on hot days. Sometimes hot on hot days, too... sometimes hot tea is just necessary.
Acacia stares at the specials for a good long moment, before turning to the more permanent menu board upon the wall. She furrows her brow, thinking hard. Eventually, in a rather self-consciously quiet voice, she murmurs:
"...chai latte."
She seems almost embarrassed for making the trendy heavily-sweetened choice.
Acacia recovers, though. She tucks her little stack of leaflets under one arm, freeing up her hands. This lets her reach into her jeans pocket, retrieving a battered-looking cloth wallet. Velcro parts as she opens it.
"Don't underestimate," Acacia says, as she pulls out a couple of note, "what appears simple."
It's not a didactic statement, not pedantic, not any sort of lecture. Just a matter-of-fact statement.
She hands the money to Mizuki, quite obviously more than what's necessary for her own drink. The implication clear, and the brief look in Acacia's eyes underscoring it - don't fight me for the bill.
Mizuki's protests die in her mouth, as she catches Acacia's stern gaze. "A--alright," she says. It's not that she doesn't appreciate it, of course, but... well, the order is placed, anyways, and Mizuki considers Acacia's words for a moment. "I don't think I've ever really 'underestimated' anyone... but maybe you're right. I've been underestimated myself... though, I guess not often."
Mizuki steps over from the ordering area to where the drinks are placed, turning towards Acacia. Her smile is wry. "I'm skilled, I know that, but I'm learning--all the time--just how much my skill matters... or doesn't. It's worrying, I guess, at times. But I have to stick to my guns, so to speak... Alma tried to convince me once that such a 'normal' girl shouldn't be involved in this kind of thing."
"He said -what-?"
Acacia's eyes widen slightly as she spits the exclamation, her voice climbing up an octave. Her lips tighten. She frowns, brow furrowing.
"Why," she asks, giving Mizuki a sharp look.
"Didn't take Towazu for a chauvinist."
Far from being insulted by the words of Alma Towazu, Mizuki seems more tolerantly amused than anything else. She smiles, gets her drink, and sits down. "Well, he seems to think I'm a 'normal girl'... who has been trained almost from birth in the martial arts and chi manipulation... so I don't know what he was thinking."
"It's almost flattering, in a way. I don't think he's the type to really coddle anyone." A sip of her drink and Mizuki smiles.
"It's just too bad for him that I'm not really normal."
Acacia hooks a foot around a chair leg, dragging it backwards. She slides down, setting her own drink on the tabletop. Hot liquid sloshes round the rim, coming close to - but not actually - spilling. She doesn't lift the cup just yet, appearing content to simply inhale the aromatic steam.
"Hn," Acacia sniffs, "who is? Train to beat people up, gonna develop -some- neurosis."
She arches an eyebrow.
"'s prob'ly required."
Mizuki laughs a little. "I suppose so. Mine must be feelings of inadequacy. I probably let Mr. Drake 'Domino' Vyril into my head a little too much... and it's really hard to get his words out of my head."
Mizuki shakes that head, and takes another sip of drink. "So yeah, I'm still working on that. Working with the kids helps, and of course, my teammates... we haven't done much 'as a team' yet but I'm hopeful. Frei's been a great help, and Alma of course... I'm glad I was able to convince him."
"Mn," Acacia muses, as she brings her glass to her lips. She lets the sweet liquid rest in her mouth for a moment, savouring the taste, before swallowing. Cradling the drink with both hands, she leans forward, elbows on the table.
"Should do something. Team-wise. Never did much with mine, 'xcept camping one time...and small-unit assault against mobile target to extract captured member and neutralize opposition."
Acacia rattles that off without blinking.
"Not best foundation," she notes.
"We-eell.... it's complicated. People are busy and there really hasn't been much team-based tournament or other types of things to do. But -- hey, I have an idea. After my class," she says, sipping her drink.
"I think Frei should be around. If you'd be willing then we could ask him... and we could have at least a partial team event... and it'd be a good exhibition for the kids to see. Varying styles and all..."
"Educational violence," Acacia replies, with a faint snort. She takes another swallow of her sweet beverage, before breaking out into a wry grin.
"But isn't that...what the YFCC's about," she adds, more to herself than to Mizuki. Acacia nods, thoughtfully, her eyes half-closing.
"Mn," she says, after a moment, "sure. Why not."
"Great!" Mizuki smiles and tips her drink back, finishing it... and catching the time on the clock.
"Oh, no... I'm almost late!" In a hurry, she rises to her feet and bows. "Gomen ne, Acacia-san. Please wait around--or watch, if you want to--and we'll ese if we can catch Frei afterwards, alright?"
"... thank you for waiting around, Acacia-san," says Mizuki, coming out from one of the classrooms, having just finished teaching a class. She smiles faintly.
"Actually... I wanted to ask you a question. I wondered if you might consent to a sparring match of sorts." Considering her words, she hastily adds, "Not one on one! I -- I mean, I've heard how strong you are, I don't think I'd be a challenge all by myself. But--"
The young girl smiles. "You see, I joined Alma's 'Glory Hounds' team... and since so many of us frequent the YFCC... I know Frei-san will be in, too, and I thought it would be nice to set up an exhibition fight for the students and it'd also be a nice way to do some teamwork training with Frei-san. We really haven't done much with it in a while..."
Mizuki looks at Acacia hopefully.
"So, will you?"
Acacia looks up. She shifts her weight, uncrossing her arms. She remains leaning against the wall, resting her weight on one side of the corridor. She does, however, give a little shrug of the shoulders before hooking her hands round her pockets, slipping her thumbs beneath the denim.
She doesn't reply immediately. Instead, Acacia studies Mizuki for a moment. One second rapidly becomes two, then three, the silence stretching out. Acacia turns her head, looking past the other girl - at the classroom door behind her, where more than a few of Mizuki's students are looking at them curiously.
"You put it that way," Acacia replies, wryly, "what am I supposed to say. 'No, go away'?"
Meanwhile...
Today just happens to be one Frei's days off... though presumably, a nominally jobless monk who just happens to have naturally fallen into the role of teacher and coordinator at the YFCC technically has every day off. Still and all, he's not actually required to be in the center today. Yet apparently, as luck would have it for Mizuki's request, the girl's not going to have to go far to find her teammate and make this proposed match happen!
Sorta.
There's some noise coming from the front lobby: a couple oohs and aahs, a laugh or two, and actually one shriek that sounds like a surprised schoolgirl. And a sort of... tromping noise, like someone marching in heavy boots, that eventually gets closer and closer to Mizuki and Acacia's position...
...until God Gundam walks around the corner.
Really.
Perhaps drawn a little downscale, it really does appear to be someone in an *excellent* God Gundam costume, which stomps down the corridor toward the two, and then, well... removes its head. Luckily, it's just the freckled, red-headed face of Frei Renard under there, beaming like an idiot. "You guys are never gonna believe this!" he bubbles, not bothering to say hello. "Bandai Visual saw that one SNF I was in and they thought it'd be perfect for the DVD release of the show if I did a publicized fight in this costume, so they sent it to me free of charge!" He is seriously beaming like an idiot.
"Well, I--" ...
... what.
WHAT WHAT WHAT.
Kids start cheering, and many of them make GOD FINGER poses and start shouting out attack names and singing the themesong... it's quite the cacophony.
Mizuki tries to compose herself. "Y--you don't hav--" ...
Slowly, inevitably, her head twists around, ratcheting one degree at a time. "..."
That sound is her train of thought being derailed. Want to hear it again?
"... um." She rubs her eyes and smiles wanly.
"F-frei-san... perfect timing... Acacia-san has agreed to do an exhibition fight for the kids to watch, so we can show off some more advanced techniques. If you'll help, of course..."
It's amazing they can hear her over the kids!
Beside Mizuki, Acacia pushes herself off the wall, getting to her feet. She turns her head, looking directly at the not-so-giant robot.
Slowly, Acacia blinks. Then she blinks again. Finally, for good measure, she blinks one more time, her eyes opening and closing with disbelief. Her mouth follows suit, lips parting in an 'o' of surprise...before coming together, twitching. Her eyebrows arch, curving up all the way.
She starts to say something...and then appears to think better of it, shutting her mouth once again. Instead, she lifts her hands, held by her side...palms turned towards the ceiling, in a gesture of total utter helplessness, having surrendered control of the situation.
Prudent, really.
The actual processing of the individual *identities* of who he's talking to only seem to hit Frei once he's exuberantly belted out his big news and, for good measure, put the helmet back on for a moment and waved at Mizuki's students over her shoulder, striking a couple poses for good measure. What a ham. Turning back to the two ladies in question, the GUNDAM SPEAKS. Mostly muffled, too, because the helmet's still on. "Oh, hey, Miz Gillespie," Frei adds, stressing the 'z'-like sound in 'Miss' for effect. "Fancy meeting you here."
Of course, then he realizes poor Mizuki asked him a question and he blinks (not that you can see it) before responding. "Well, I don't see wh... hold on a sec." Then up come the hands and off comes the head again (prompting some 'awww!'s from the class). "God, it's hard to breathe in that. Uh, I don't see why not. I'm not doing anything beyond wandering around Southtown being a big ole otaku freak."
Mizuki scratches the back of her head. Typical Japanese reaction to weirdness. It's true, manga and anime tell me so. Mizuki smiles a little. "Um, well... that'd be great then!"
Pause.
"... maybe you want to take that off first? I mean--don't want to risk damaging it before your publicized fight, right?" She sounds serious--and kind of hopeful. But... well, she can't -demand- he take it off. The kids -would- love it.
"In any case..." She turns away from the two and claps her hands, then raises them, getting quiet. "Kids, if you could go sit over there," she says, pointing to the opposite wall, "to give us enough room to do this... you're in for a rare treat!"
She sure sounds enthusiastic as she turns back, smiling. "Thank you both for this..."
As Mizuki turns, Acacia leans over. She raises a hand, cupping it by the side of her mouth. In a low voice, pitched just so Mizuki - and probably Frei - can hear, she asks quietly:
"You want him..."
Acacia points to Frei with her other hand, waving her fingertip from his bare head to big chunky boot-clad feet.
"...to take clothes off..."
Acacia indicates the gathered children in the corridor.
"...in front of kids?"
"Feh." Frei waves a hand at Acacia dismissively. "I don't mind. I stay in shape. Besides, it's hot in this thing." The monk, as is typical, entirely misses the point. "Still, I don't want to crush their little hopes and dreams..."
Stepping back from the door, Frei DOES stay in the hallway... and then, after setting down the helmet on the ground, reaches behind his neck and starts taking the costume off. The molded plastic breastplate is the first to go, followed by the boots. It really does look like he's just going to change right here in the hallway in front of God and everybody, especially when he reaches for the zipper in the small of his back. With the *zzzzzzp!* sound of a zipper being undone, the top of the suit is pulled off, followed by the entire jumpsuit peeling from the monk's skin...
...revealing the white t-shirt and denim shorts underneath.
As he steps out of the lower part of the one-piece jumpsuit under the plastic molded pieces, Frei wipes his head and then starts gathering the thing up. "Man, it's hot in those things..."
"I--I'm sure he's wearing clothes underneath the--" ... before she can finish responding, Frei has proved that he is indeed not naked under his armor. "... whew," comments Mizuki, unconsciously.
Several of the kids do go 'awww' and they start up another rousing verse of the theme song but that quickly dies down as Mizuki turns to the kids.
"Alright, kids... remember, what you're going to see her are going to be advanced techniques. Enjoy the show but please remember, we're all highly trained..."
"I think... to be fair it will be Frei-san and me against Acacia-san. Is that alright?" she asks the other two.
Acacia, meanwhile, seems...mildly distracted. Just ever so much. She's still looking at Frei, watching as he discards the last of his ornate costume. As he scoops up the jumpsuit and plastic pieces, clad in his t-shirt and shorts, Acacia coughs. Then, in a soft monotone, she states:
"'s not the only thing that's hot."
Almost immediately after saying that, she turns back to Mizuki, tilting her head. She peers quizzically at the younger girl - a little /too/ quizzically - her expression guileless.
"Hm, did you say something?"
If the monk hears any of what either Mizuki or Acacia said in the past 45 seconds, he doesn't show any signs that this is so. Instead he trundles into the classroom, loaded down with the weight of the costume's bulk, and after a quick scan of the surroundings finds a storage closet, which he unlocks (thank you, staff master key) and unceremoniously shoves the costume into before shutting the door with a loud *SLAM*. Turning around he grins at the kids and says, in a far too cheerful tone, "Remember: if you thought the costume was neat, nag your parents night and day until they buy you the DVD box set!" What does he care, he lives alone!
Glancing across the room at Mizuki, he vaguely pieces together bits and pieces of the conversation and seems to recall something about teams. "I guess that sounds right... heh." He turns to Acacia and smiles broadly. "I guess our one on one rematch will have to wait, Acacia... though I'm sure we can pencil in some private time alone together later." Poker face + obliviousness = comedy.
Mizuki doubletakes at Acacia's comment, then... "... uh." Once again, she loses her composure for a moment, then shakes her head.
"Maybe... maybe we should get started," she says. Pleeeeeeeeease. Before any more innuendo and weirdness break her brain in half!
Resolutely, she turns and walks over to Frei, taking her place beside him and drawing her baton. "I think, since you are doing the solo part in this, Acacia-san, you should be the one to start us off," she says.
The kids have, meanwhile, quieted down and started watching rather intently--and quietly, perhaps to everyone's surprise. After all, both Mizuki and Frei are well-known and loved teachers here, and Acacia's in for quite the fight...
COMBATSYS: Acacia has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Acacia 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Acacia has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Acacia 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Frei has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Mizuki
"Right," Acacia snorts, faintly, glancing towards their little audience.
'Little' not in terms of number - there's a fair number of them. But little in terms of /stature/. She grins just a little. While she's been helping out at the YFCC lately, she hasn't really gotten much into the teaching thing, seeing as how her own fighting style and chi discipline is a very specialized one. Not exactly the kind of regimen suitable for weekend classes. Yet all things considered, she's almost tempted to sit down and work something out...
But not now. There's more pressing matters now. Like the fight at hand.
She walks into the centre of the floor, putting some space between herself and the walls. The common area outside the teaching rooms is a fairly large space in itself, built perhaps with this very purpose in mind. It is, after all, a /Fighters/ community center.
Acacia nods to Mizuki and Frei. She flexes her gloved hands, black leather crinkling over her knuckles, her bare fingertips digging into her palms. Thick-soled combat boots brush against the flooring, gauging the strength of the ground.
"Ready," she says, looking directly at Mizuki, eyes narrowing fractionally.
"Go."
She moves, then. The blow clearly telegraphed - fair warning to Mizuki, as was her intent. Acacia lunges towards the other girl. It's a simple forward punch, her arm whipping out to nearly-full extension, coming close to straightening at the elbow. Simple in all respects, save for the /speed/.
Whoa there, Comanche. Looks like the battle has already begun! In fact, it's almost comical as Acacia blurs right on by Frei, who was in the process of digging his orange-brown-gold headband from a pocket and tying it around under his long red bangs. A little too late for the monk to throw himself in the way of that miniature jackhammer, and part of Frei does wince. He knows how hard Acacia hits, and Frei himself is no slouch at sucking up that sort of thing. Hopefully Mizuki's up to it.
Instead of attacking, he chooses this time to carefully observe what happens, perhaps to take advantage of any crack in Acacia's defense. He also gets to throw out random fight commentary to delight the audience, which happen to be little kids. "Aaaaaaand Gillespie opens the bout with a straight shot for her opponent's forehead! Let's see what happens, folks..."
COMBATSYS: Frei focuses on his next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Mizuki blocks Acacia's Quick Punch.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Mizuki
Wh--whoa!! She didn't mean for Acacia to come after -her-! Instinctively she reacts, dropping her baton (it dangles from the wrist-loop, of course) and throws up crossed forearms, the impact of Acacia's fist met with Mizuki's block. The impact saves her from the full hit--but it also blows her guard -wide open-, forcing her to stumble back in the same motion.
"Yikes," she mutters, mastering the urge to rub the impact point... snapping her baton back into her hand, she...
Kicks off, and back, whipping her body around, flying backwards as she whips the baton out for Acacia's head. Seems like her attitude towards attacking people's head is changing, slowly... but she also knows that this technique is more about speed than power.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Acacia with Kouryuu no Shippo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Mizuki
The baton connects with a solid crack, the sound echoing through the impromptu battlefield. Solid wood against bone. Thankfully for Acacia, she has a /very/ hard skull. The impact rocks her head back, though, all the same, her eyes closing involuntarily as she reels. A faint hiss of breath escapes her lips. She slides backward a step, her boots skidding across the tiled floor underfoot, rubber screeching.
"Yikes yourself," Acacia replies, dryly, cracking one eye open.
But there's only so much time for banter. Acacia recovers quickly, attacking again. Not Mizuki, though. She's still close to the other girl - but her gaze swings to Frei. Acacia twists her body, raising one foot and slamming it down. A surge of chi erupts from her heel. No visible colour or glow, just a shimmer in the air of pure spiritual energy...releasing as concussive force. She reins the blow in, such that it doesn't crack the floor like it usually does.
Would be a bad idea to wreck the community center, after all. Or endanger the kids sitting so close by.
But there's enough power in the blast for it to radiate out in a straight line, a wave of kinetic energy surging towards Frei.
COMBATSYS: Frei overcomes Mass Breaker from Acacia with Hadou Souran.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Mizuki
For all the colorlessness of Acacia's energy, Frei certainly has the opposite in mind. He's seen many of her concussive attacks before and is actually quite interested in them; he only has one attack that acts similarly, and it's his most potent and closely-guarded one... one that fuses all elements, in fact, which is why he finds Acacia's so interesting. Perhaps she has touched the Void in some way and is thus able to tap into it?
Maybe she just has anger issues.
tEither way, Frei's in no mind to get thrown around by any forceblasts today, thanks, and as the wave of force sweeps toward him, he's already cupping his hands at his sides, gathering a swirling white sphere of energy trailed by multi-colored tendrils. "That Ryu guy, who begat Sakura, who begat Frei, who begat..." And then he thrusts his hands forward in the traditional pose, a person-high multicolored shockwave of chi blasting through Acacia's attack... weakened, but by no means stopped. "...Hadooooukeeeeen!"
Wow. She hit. Not, of course, that it seemed to do much damage, all told... and then she gets to see one of Acacia's chi techniques in-person.
(I'm glad that wasn't aimed at me), is what she thinks, briefly... and then Frei just blows through it. Man... what awesome people these friends of hers are. But Mizuki can't be just standing around...
Or can she? Well, she's still standing, at least--but she's not idle. A surge of chi clearly announces her intent--blue-silver chi welling up in a licking, corona-like circle around her feet that surges and fades with the rhythms of the earth, visual effort to match the power she's pulling in.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Frei's Hadou Souran.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Mizuki
Energy splashes across Acacia's upraised arm, spirit-forged flames licking over her sleeve, scorching the tough camo-patterned jacket. She winces slightly, as glowing embers slash across her face and hair. It hurts - but not as much as it could, the main force of the attack blunted by her manuever. She eyes Frei in her peripheral vision.
Acacia snorts.
"You pay licensing fees?"
But even as she delivers that rejoiner, she's already once more on the move. She can't afford to give up momentum. Acacia drops her arm, whips it sideways. Her sleeve still trailing smoke and residual energy from Frei's attack...
...she slams her fist in a brutal backhand, aiming at the other girl still besides her. Right at Mizuki, plunging it in and through the maelstrom of gathering power crackling round her.
"I think if she was worried about that," Frei says with a smile, "she wouldn't have taught it to me." You can't get much better than quoting the master, right? Of course, he did say 'she' and not 'he'...
Of course, then Acacia is hurling herself at Mizuki again, and the monk frowns. He can't stay at range forever, especially because this is a team effort... and letting Mizuki take the hits when it's reasonably clear to Frei that he might have an edge over Mizuki on that front. Driving forward, he snaps out a hand to grab and twist Acacia's arm behind her back... and then channel a nice burst of voltage in the form of purple lightning through her body. It'll be nice if the somewhat slow technique works, but the real goal is to put him back in range of the melee...
COMBATSYS: Mizuki blocks Acacia's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Frei
> ///////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
*SLAM*
The sound of impact is roughly like the sound heard when two football players in full gear impact each other going roughly thirty miles per hour. It's a loud, deep cracking sound that causes the kids to gasp.
And Mizuki, too, for that matter; the punch is met with her right forearm, reinforced doubly--once by the baton against her forearm and secondly by her left forearm. The impact rocks her again, despite the block...
But this time she's going to retaliate, ignoring the pain in her forearm as she brings the baton around in a mid-level slashing strike--at least, it would be slashing if Mizuki had a blade.
COMBATSYS: Acacia endures Mizuki's Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Frei
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Charged Throw from Frei with Fracture.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Frei
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
Caught between two oncoming attackers, Acacia sets herself. Timing, this is all about timing. She's not in a good position - but then, any time she's outnumbered hasn't been good. Mizuki called this training in teamwork for herself and Frei...but it's training she needs too. Since she's never had a good track record dealing with multiple opponents.
This time, though...
She lets Mizuki's attack smash home. Just lets it hit her. But Acacia twists her body as the strike lands, such that the impact - while painful - actually causes her to -move-, to spin. She rolls with the blow, quite literally so. She spins around just as Frei comes at her, just as the other fighter gets a good solid grip on her arm and begins to channel lightning. Acacia's motion wrenches her free of Frei's grasp...
...and lets her send her own hand slamming solidly into Frei's gut. Her fingers clench, getting an iron grip through the fabric of his t-shirt, into the flesh of his abdomen...
...before she /spikes/ him into the ground, spine first, like a human volleyball.
Well, if he wanted to distract her from Mizuki, that apparently worked. Frei isn't exactly *surprised* -- Acacia's fighting style is highly effective but it it's effective because it relies on established principles of toughness, after all -- but that certainly does *hurt*. The monk, who despite his own toughness is actually fairly light, rebounds off the floor with a *THUD* sound. He at least manages to right himself in midair, landing in a crouch.
Standing up, Frei wipes a hand across his mouth and grins. Taunt successful. Now to switch into Defensive Stance and sunder a couple times. "Right." He rotates his arm a little, cracking his neck. "Let's try that again." Shaking out his arm, he suddenly drives forward at Acacia, a blaze of scarlet fire around his fist as he aims it right at Acacia's face.
That uh... that was not good, not at all. Although really, Frei probably took it a lot better than Mizuki would have. He really is a tank in a monk's body. She has to toughen up, some, herself, of course... but that's something she -is- working on already.
Suddenly, Mizuki surges forward just as Frei comes in with his attack. And where he uses fire, she uses -ice-.
The baton is twirled in a circle, the tip glowing brighr blue--and she seeks to draw that circle around Acacia. Regardless, the area within the circle is suddenly inundated by a chill, mirror-like disc of icy chi, the hope being that Mizuki can catch Acacia in it...
COMBATSYS: Acacia dodges Mizuki's Suishou no Kagami.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Fierce Punch from Frei with Ground Effect.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Frei
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
Robert Frost indeed. Oh yes, Robert Frost /would/ be proud. Some say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice.
But if we're talking about the end of the world, then here's a sign of the apocalypse.
Acacia dodges.
She's not a fighter known for agility. She's one known for standing her ground, despite the odds. But between two powerful assaults like that - yes, she /does/ move.
Just as Mizuki begins to draw a circle of energy around her, Acacia releases one of her own:
Downward.
She crouches, flexing her legs at the knees. Then she leaps, propelled by more than muscle power alone. A shockwave of pure concussive force explodes in her wake, as she launches herself like a human missile. Clearing the danger zone, just as crystals of frost scratch against her jacket.
Rocketing forward, she crashes into Frei. The monk's flaming punch smashes into her head, blazing into her cheek - but it doesn't blunt Acacia's own balled fist, smashing into his chest and ribs.
Perhaps Acacia and Frei will just smack each other in the jaw back and forth until they're both flat on the ground and Mizuki is dancing over their smoldering corpses. As Acacia's fist drives into Frei and slams him into the wall. Thankfully it doesn't crack or anything, but it does shudder... more from the monk's effort not to break it on impact than on Acacia's powerful strike.
As he drops back to the ground and gets into stance, Frei can't help but laugh. "This is getting a little repetitive," he murmurs, shaking out his hands. Throwing his fists down at his side, the monk centers himself, drawing chi within, phantom wind blowing his headband behind him. "Kids, remember: Just because you can throw a punch doesn't mean the other person's gonna sit there and take it."
COMBATSYS: Frei gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Frei
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
Well, dang. Mizuki wasn't expecting Acacia to just go straight up--she's actually rather surprised by it! But as Acacia straightarms to Frei's body, that's daunting enough to make Mizuki hesitate for a moment. Somehow, really, charging at Acacia alone just does not seem like the smartest thing to do... particularly having seen Acacia hit Frei a few times.
Again, that doesn't mean Mizuki is idle; she backs off a little bit, but her eyes are focusing on Acacia. Out of the corner of her mouth, she says, "If you have to fight, also remember that sometimes it's better to wait and watch... if you can figure out what your opponent is going to do, then you can effectively counter it."
Good words but... can Mizuki follow up on them?sp
Well, dang. Mizuki wasn't expecting Acacia to just go straight up--she's actually rather surprised by it! But as Acacia straightarms to Frei's body, that's daunting enough to make Mizuki hesitate for a moment. Somehow, really, charging at Acacia alone just does not seem like the smartest thing to do... particularly having seen Acacia hit Frei a few times.
Again, that doesn't mean Mizuki is idle; she backs off a little bit, but her eyes are focusing on Acacia. Out of the corner of her mouth, she says, "If you have to fight, also remember that sometimes it's better to wait and watch... if you can figure out what your opponent is going to do, then you can effectively counter it."
Good words but... can Mizuki follow up on them?
COMBATSYS: Mizuki focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Frei
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Mizuki
This is turning into a veritable classroom session, isn't it? Acacia shakes her head slightly as she skids to a halt, landing in the wake of her furious assault. She looks at the gathered crowd of YFCC kids, watching the impromptu fight with an almost unhealthy amount of enthuastic interest.
"You two," Acacia chides, mildly, mock-glowering at Mizuki and Frei in turn, "making me feel inadequate."
She brushes her bangs from her forehead with the back of one hand, slicking sweat across her brow. Dryly, she adds, to the kids:
"On other hand, in my position, outnumbered...always keep moving..."
Acacia kicks off from the ground, speeding back towards Mizuki. Crossing ground in a headalong rush, arm lifted to deliver another brutal hammer punch.
"...DON'T STOP!"
So Acacia ran back to Mizuki. Probably a good strategic move, all things considered, but it does force Acacia to split her attention, which is something the teamwork-oriented people can exploit. His movement from defensive action to gathering power for an *offensive* action shows that while Frei's technical fighting might be lacking, his ability to manipulate chi has few matches in his 'bracket' of fighters. Blue-white chi swirls in both hands as he grins at the kids off to the side. "They're not always gonna let you keep moving, either."
Both chilly spheres flicker through the air at a reasonably good clip, aiming for Acacia's back. When you're at a *disadvantage*, take every opening you get... as long as you're not looking to use something lethal. And while Frei's ice shard attack might have some (frost)bite, it's not exactly... lethal.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki fails to interrupt Strong Punch from Acacia with Koori no Hebi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
Apparently, at least in this instance, she certainly -can't- follow up--she tries, seeing Acacia flying at her with that incoming punch, but she's just a fraction too slow--the buildup of chi is fizzled by the impact of Acacia's fist before anything concrete can happen.
Well, except the feeling of Acacia's fist impacting Mizuki solidly. _That_ feels like concrete, to be sure, the punch knocking Mizuki down and sending her tumbling across the mats. She's a little slow to get up, but she looks determined as ever--perhaps even more so.
COMBATSYS: Frei successfully hits Acacia with Hyoushou Rengeki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
Mizuki's not looking too bright, no. But then, neither is Acacia. The ice shard smashes into her back, shattering into glittering crystal dust - the frost smearing over the back of her thick Army coat. It largely dissipates as the chi matrix falls apart, but there's some residual frost left as Acacia stumbles...marking the point of impact, silent witness to the power of Frei's strike.
Acacia gives a sharp yelp, the involuntary wordless exclamation escaping before she can clamp down.
"Yeah, well," Acacia retorts, out loud, for the benefit of their young audience, "always difference between theory and practice..."
Acacia's being flanked constantly, and -that's- not good. But she keeps going forward, now, her back still towards Frei. Pursing the fallen Mizuki. Acacia reaches out, trying to get a grip on one of the other girl's legs. To just lift her up and send her flying across the room - over to where Frei is. A throw powered not by any leverage but sheer brute strength.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Acacia's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
Hm. Well, trying to get her attention by hitting her in the back didn't work, which... well, if it had, where would Frei be right now? He does grin at Acacia, though, charging right in even as the Stonewall Girl herself charges at his teammate. Over his laughing, he nods his agreement. "Rule one is that every rule will inevitably be broken about 22 seconds into every fight. The unexpected is the only constant! I totally sound like Kawi Chang Kaine right now too!"
Skidding to a stop once he gets near to Acacia, Frei crouches, then leaps forward, drawing his leg high toward his head as he sails through the air, then driving it down and forward in an axe kick that suddenly erupts with crimson fire in mid-swing. "Not that they know who Kwai Chang Caine is!"
Fortunately Mizuki has -some- wits about her. Just before Acacia's able to snag the fallen girl she bursts into motion, rolling up, over, and around, avoiding Acacia's grasp. And though it may be one of her greatest assets and it would certainly make it much easier to 'win the fight'... it seems Mizuki has made a conscious decision not to employ her healing powers. Instead, she comes on the attack once more.
Pushing off from the crouch she rolled from the ground up to, she proves that Acacia isn't the only one who can fly, as she slices a horizontal path through the air, aiming to plant her right foot into Acacia's midesction.
"HA!" comes Mizuki's spirited cry, the baton tucked along her right arm and that arm held out behind her picturesquely.
COMBATSYS: Acacia dodges Mizuki's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Kouen no Tsurugi from Frei with Unyielding Stance.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Acacia 1/------=/=======|=======\======-\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
It's a beautiful picture-perfect kick, fast and elegant. Acacia's evasion is not so elegant. She just barely manages to get out of the way, her boot soles scuffing the tiled floor, upsetting one of the padded practice mats randomly strewn at the edge of the teaching area. Mizuki's foot brushes against Acacia's stomach, across the fabric of her t-shirt...but the main force of it fails to land. Short, just a little too short.
And then Acacia gets fully out of the way, dropping to the ground and rolling. She rises in a crouch - just in time to meet Frei as he drops down at her.
The monk's fiery kick meets Acacia's ascending hand...as she /catches/ his leg between the knee and ankle. The fire scorches Acacia's hand, singing her jacket sleeve and burning her glove. Smoke curls round her fingers, and her flesh itself begins to smoulder. She ignores the pain, however - and brings her other arm upwards in a powerful uppercut, pounding her fist into Frei's chin.
I am Kain," Acacia deadpans, "come to Heinleintown and I will hurt you."
Oh yeah, the kids probably won't get the reference...Acacia knows that, much like Frei. But then again, given these kids are hanging out at the YFCC, they gotta be pretty martial-arts-crazy. And since most kids also like TV, there's a chance some of 'em might know the classics...
Martial arts and secret techniques never seen before!
He'd been saving this in the hopes that he could surprise with it, but as Frei sails through the air *upward* from the force of her blow, he rationalizes that perhaps throwing it out now might give Mizuki a necessary opening, or at the very least force Acacia to continue to split her attention. It's important to remember he's not the only one fighting here... maybe he needed those teamwork practices after all.
The ceiling draws near. So Frei does the only thing he can think of: he spins and lashes out with both legs, kicking OFF and lancing back down at Acacia like a human meteor, one hand cocked back. You need to give the audience what they want. His hand trails multicolored energy as he pours his chi into it, knitting the elemental forces together into one cogent whole, his most powerful strike. "This hand of mine glows with an awesome power! Its fiery grip tells me to seize victory!"
He lashes out toward Acacia, looking to get the merest of grips on her as he descends...
COMBATSYS: Frei successfully hits Acacia with Fukami Reikai.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Acacia 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
...and, finding one, he lands in a crouch and drives forward, hand pressed to her collarbone. "Bakuretsu! God Finger..."
In a nearly soundless burst, the colorful energy suddenly condenses and then explodes into a single point of sheer, concussive, invisible force that ripples the air from back blast as it pounds into Acacia like a jackhammer. "Heat... end!"
... right. Well, uh, with Frei releasing a God Finger (whatever that is)... Mizuki just doesn't think getting anywhere near that is a good idea. Really, she's been pretty ineffectual in this fight, all told--but she's not letting it get her down. Still... the kids love it. Mizuki hangs back a bit--at this point, really, 'tis pretty much Acacia vs. Frei. Perhaps not entirely the solo rematch they had envisioned...
But pretty close. Mizuki turns to the kids. "And another lesson. Sometimes it's best to let the more-skilled do the fighting for you," she advises--sounding impish but not -totally- unserious. "It's okay to recognize when you are outclassed--trying to fight against someone who is totally better than you is -not- a good strategy."
COMBATSYS: Mizuki takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Acacia 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
"Not ignoring you," Acacia grouses, from where she's lying flattened on the ground. She's flat on her back, in a little impact crater. So much for keeping the place intact. There's debris littering the floor now, cracks spiderwebbing the tiles. Hopefully the YFCC has hefty insurance or a budget for fight-related damages...damn, she'll have to remember to actually /ask/ Alma Towazu about that.
In the meantime, though, Acacia rises, bits of broken flooring slewing off her shoulders.
"Just busy."
Acacia winces as she speaks, her voice rasping. She coughs, resisting the urge to spit out phlegm. She eyes Frei, her lips settling into a thin line.
"Hn," she grumbles, "wasn't gonna break out big attacks in /this/ crowd. And then you go and start..."
Acacia clenches a fist, a surge of chi building in her arm. There's no visible signature, but anyone with even the slightest trace of chi sensitivity would be able to feel the energy rushing through her bone and muscle, gathering in her hand. Her voice rises in apparent ire:
"...with /that/ attack..."
Acacia snorts, disdainfully.
Then she smirks, suddenly.
"When everyone knows...the first season was better."
She blasts towards Frei, then, swinging her fist forward.
"SHINING FINGER!"
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Frei with Godshatter.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Frei
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
And at the moment of contact, as Acacia's knuckles land home in Frei's torso...that's when her gathered chi finally releases. All at once, in a single explosive shockwave radiating out from her fist. A shock large enough to rattle the light fixtures, shake the walls, and fill the entire teaching area with a distinct change of pressure. But the bulk of the power is directed /into/ Frei, concussive energy channeled through his skeleton, tissues, and sinew - internal damage from external force.
Well.
Arguments about which season are better become academic as the entire room holds its breath in this clash of the titans. Apparently all you need to do to actually unlock Acacia's potential to do really obscence damage is bring up old anime. The blow sends Frei flying into and then *through* the door, apparently proving that this match SHOULD have been moved down to the practice area where it belonged, though all told, one door is a small price to pay in the overall scheme of things, considering what most fighters can do to the fixtures.
All is quiet for a moment, even in the hallway. Perhaps Acacia killed him?
...and then a form, running raggedly from exhaustion but still willing to give it one last shot, barrels through the doorway surrounded by a blazing aura of silver energy, pulling a Jon Talbain for the most part. "YOUR DELIVERY IS TERRIBLE!" Frei bellows, as he dives at Acacia with this last ditch attack... but whether he hits or not, the monk then simply gives a "...heh," and falls flat on his face afterwards.
COMBATSYS: Frei can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Mizuki
.. ouch. Well, there are extra doors in stock, because this -is- a fighting center... Mizuki shakes her head. There's probably not much point in this fight now -but-.... the kids would be crushed if it wasn't seen through. Right? And they've been being nice and oh so flashy... Mizuki wasn't really allowed to watch much anime and she was more into the shoujo stuff, like Marmalade Boy, not mecha anime.
"Uhm... well, I don't know what you two are talking about but...!" Once again, she changes her stance, lowering it, power rising around her again in a helical spiral of energy, whirling with several 'arms' of the spiral...
COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Mizuki
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Frei's Gekkou Nocturne.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Mizuki
Even as Mizuki's engulfed in energy, once more, there's another flash of chi round Acacia...not /her/ chi, but Frei's, as the monk collides with her in a last-ditch attack. When the light fades, Acacia's still standing...and Frei isn't. Not that the girl's in such great condition. Her arms are crossed in a simple block, but her eyes are half-shut, her face drawn.
Slowly, she lowers her arms, carefully stepping over the fallen Frei - after giving him a quick glance, ensuring he's just down and not seriously injured.
Well. Okay. He may have a concussion or something. But for a fighter, that's just a flesh wound. So to speak.
She returns her attention to Mizuki, staring at her across the little makeshift battlefield, ringed by the YFCC students.
"Just anime," Acacia replies, providing an accurate - if not particularly informative - answer. Not that she's really able to say that much more, considering she's more than a little short of breath at the moment. Really, that would be a distinct understatement. She inhales, exhales, drawing air through her battered lungs, taking in much-needed oxygen.
Then...
She moves.
Oh yes, she's tired. But much like Mizuki, Acacia understands that it just wouldn't be right to leave this...without a conclusion. She charges at Mizuki. At the apex of her charge, she slams a leg forward, her denim-clad knee rising towards the shrine maiden's gut with all the force of a jackhammer.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki fails to interrupt Heavy Kick from Acacia with Kongou no Kagami.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Mizuki
A jackhammer indeed. Mizuki has some time to consider her options--it isn't as if Acacia is lightning-fast. She can feel that the end of the fight is coming closer...
And now it's -even closer-. It seems that lately, every time Mizuki tries to 'make a stand', and to actually end a fight... she pays for it.
And oh, how she pays. She hasn't even begun her response when Acacia's leg drives into her stomach. It literally folds her in half--the impact so great it drives the shrine maiden off her feet, and it throws her into the opposite wall.
She impacts tremendously, then slides down, going to her knees. This, too, is a lesson--fighting can be brutal.
And the next lesson is this: Never give up. From her knees, Mizuki pushes back up to her feet... and she has a smile on her battered face, as she stalks back into the 'arena'... ignoring the dent in the wall.
For a few long moments, Acacia just stares at Mizuki, watching her get up. Then, slowly, her expression shifts into a smile, the corners of her lips curving upwards. She nods, once, acknowledging the sentiment, her agreement.
And then she shifts into a simple stance. Her feet apart, planted securely on the battered floor. Her legs flexed at the knees, lowering her body. Her arms, raised, bent at the elbows, hands half-curled into fists. She stands there...and she waits for Mizuki's approach.
Here and now, with the eyes of their audience on them, some of the kids literally holding their breath...it's only right.
One more pass.
COMBATSYS: Acacia focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Mizuki
It's almost certain that Mizuki is losing this fight. She -knows- it. And she expects Acacia to know it. But she can't not try--not now. There are times when giving up is the best option--that is another lesson. This is the lesson on perseverance and courage.
Straightening, Mizuki -points- at Acacia, using her baton. Her voice comes, hoarse and tired. "This is it," she says, as dramatically as possible. "The final blow!" And she's sure they will be. Forcing fatigue and pain away she sets up for her final attack--dropping the baton down low, holding it with both hands, she begins charging forward like a samurai, an intense kiai building deep in her chest as her baton begins to glow with chi, a blue-green aura enveloping the weapon and then...
A final strike, a passing strike, the kind of final blow often seen in period dramas...
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Kouryuu no Renda from Mizuki with Unyielding Stance.
[ \\\\\ < > // ]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Mizuki
And energy sears Acacia's hand as she catches the baton, crackling down her arm. She grits her teeth, biting back the sheer agony, her arm trembling dangerously as it soaks up the attack. But her body holds. She stops the assault cold. And with an explosive shout, a battle cry, she rams a solid punch into Mizuki's abdomen, an impact carrying clear through the solar plexus and the nerves within.
And that, really, is about it for Mizuki; her last attack caught, literally, the punch to her solar plexus pretty much knocks her out. In Acacia's grasp, Mizuki goes limp, instantly--the most telltale sign of it being that her right hand opens and loses its grip on her baton.
And she slumps. But it appears the chlidren have taken the message, at least, as they erupt in cheers for their 'heroes'--and even the 'villain' (sorry Acacia, Mizuki's just too nice to be a villain)... Mizuki will wake up eventually. But she definitely made an impression, as did Frei and Acacia. So in that respect...?
A total success.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki takes no action.
[ \\\\\ <
Acacia 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Mizuki can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ <
Acacia 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Acacia has ended the fight here.
Log created on 16:40:24 10/14/2007 by Mizuki, and last modified on 23:20:53 11/06/2007.