Description: Hark! Yon maiden is beset upon by the evil River Demon, Sergio! Worry not for Kentou is here to slay the beast and save fair damsel! What's This?! Alath and alack, ye beast is mighter than Kentou had predicted!--Can Hotaru save her impulsive student from being annihilated by the righteous indignation of poor Sergio just trying to get a date? Can the girl employ solomon-like wisdom to cool two of the hottest heads in Southtown?
The cold weather of autumn doesn't make wearing silk shirts the most comfortable. Especially when one wears it with a significant number of buttons undone. For Sergio, however, this is just the price of being a ladies man. Oh sure, it's cold, but toughing out the temperature just shows the women how strong he is. Besides, he leaves those buttons open for a reason! So far Sergio's luck in Japan has been slim to none. For some reason the smooth European's style just hasn't gone over very well with the population here.
Despite this he hasn't let it get to him. Perhaps it's simply because of the incredibly low average age of the women here, which is enough to make him wonder if some horrible disease didn't come along and kill off all the adults. A normal man might give up, but not Sergio. No, he's stronger than that. And finally, for a change, he seems to be getting some luck.
The Italian is standing on a sidewalk chatting up a woman in her late 20s to early 30s, just outside of a café. His body language is- well, it's hard to take it as anything but 'flirtatious', to put it mildly. The woman, on the other hand, is playing the classic game of hard to get. The pair are both enjoying themselves. Though the woman seems to be telling him to leave, her eyes are telling him to stay- and he looks like he's not going anywhere at all unless she comes with.
Rain, snow or gloom of nice Kentou will always be training!
The youth is trotting along the city streets. Not quite as slow as a jog, but not quite a full run either. Having just finished another afternoon of exercises in his recently appointed training curriculum, Kentou runs in place at a street corner as he waits for the traffic signal to change. His visible breath pumping out into the cool autumn air as recent events circulate through his mind. A bit of introspection amidst the insanity of the downtown urban cacophony.
As the traffic signal changes, the youth begins to continue his run.. until a soft 'no' catches his ear at the peripheral of his attention. The boy jogs out onto the street a few paces before quickly turning his gaze to a nearby cafe on the opposite street corner. Specifically to a young lady who keeps looking away and refusing some slick looking American guy who doesn't seem to be taking a hint!
...Of course, All caucasians kinda look like Americans to Kentou, but that's another story. ._.;
With a deepening frown, the youth alters his course. Quickly rounding the street corner and heading out across slowly moving downtown traffic, to the tune of a few honking cars he cut infront of. All of which, help to herald his thunderous arrival.
%T"Hey!" The boy blurts out! Looking for all the world like the girl's over protective kid brother.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly!"
"Aw, your just saying that, you know you'd have a good time."
"But what would the neighbors think?"
"That you're one lucky lady!" That one comes with a wink.
"Oh, you're simply -awful-!"
The woman has gone from hard to get to a flirtatious considering of his proposal. This is when Kentou shows up, and starts yelling. "Eh?" Sergio turns his head and looks down at the kid, one eyebrow raising high on his forehead when he realizes he's the target of the outburst. He takes notice of a slight... protective look on his face, and lets out a slight laugh. "Haha, mind your own business, alright?"
The woman pouts a bit, but isn't entirely put off, "Now, you don't have to be so hard on him. He -is- rather cute, after all." She bends down and actually tries to pinch one of his cheeks before standing up and laughing a little.
Sergio cracks a grin and laughs along, "Haha, yea. Kids these days, right?" He gives Kentou a 'run along' look with a somewhat forced friendly aspect, and then looks back to the lady. "Now then, where were we? I believe you were about to accept my proposal..."
'Couldn't possibly?' 'Awful??'
Kentou has heard about enough out of this guy! The youth's cheeks puff in indignation at this foreigner's obvious advantage-taking of this innocent girl!
The boy trudges right up to the American(?), whom is quite nearly twice as tall as the little fighter is. Craning his neck to peer up fearlessly and pointing a finger up and precariously close to the pervert's chin, "You better step back now, pal! I've have enough of you crazy Americans coming to our town and-MEEP"
Cheek pinched somewhat out of the blue, The boy flusters and stumbles about a few steps. Hands quickly rubbing his cheeks as he blush-smiles at the lady, "H..Hey c'mon now..I.."
Kentou shakes his head violently, braids flopping about and bangs flailing. Clearing his thoughts of such distractions as he gets back to the point of the matter.
In a smooth movement, the boy slides a nearby cafe chair over upon the smooth pavement, immediately hoping upon it to perch himself between the two. Clearly getting in Sergio's face... Or at least a couple feet closer as the boy still has to look UP to him.. "MAYBE you didn't hear the lady! She told you that she couldn't possibly be seeing you now! There aren't gunna be no proposal acceptings tonight pal, so you'd better just scram!" o_o
Sheesh, Old people these days. They never take a hint. This guy could be her Father for crap's sake!
Oh dear. This is starting to go from good, to annoying, to bad. Sergio tries his best to simply ignore Kentou as he further assails him, right up until the finger goes up to his face, which earns him an annoyed glance and glower.
The woman laughs, now a bit nervously. "My, my. He is an energetic one, isn't he?" And then he goes and gets the chair, putting it between them. Sergio, at this point stares at him. "Look, kid, first of all, I'm not American-"
"You mean you're not?"
"...No, I'm Italian!" Keep it cool Sergio, keep it smooth... "And second, you've got a lot to learn about flirting before you go stickin' your neck out and interrupting people. She wasn't -actually- tellin' me to get lost, if she was she wouldn't talk to me at all."
The woman is starting to look just a bit perturbed by this, and the mood, as it were, is starting to go down the crapper. Sergio, in a near desperate attempt, reaches into his pocket and pulls out a nice crisp 5000 yen bill and attempts to stuff it into Kentou's hand, "Here, why don't you run along and get yourself a new toy or something." He then looks to who he hopes will be his date and gives a smooth smile and soft laugh, "Like I said, kids these days, right?"
A-hah! Progress!
As Sergio starts to get tremendously annoyed as his mojo is being thwarted, Kentou crosses his arms imperiously as he balances upon the chair like a veritable sentinel of innocence and chastity.
The Cherubic Impromptu Chaperone narrows his mousey gaze at this European, snorting once at denying his obvious American heritage but speaking no more on that account. Happy to help dispel the lies he's doubtlessly woven about himself to entrap this poor girl in his web of deceit. Heck, Kentou even briefly glances at Sergio's fingers on the off-chance he even forgot to take off his wedding ring.. This obviously cheating cad.
At which point.. Sergio desperately breaks out with the crisp 5000 Yen spot, obviously intending on slipping it past Kentou to the poor girl behind him to buy her virtue as his pretty words fail him. With a -gasp- of outrage, Kentou's hand flies forth in a bid to slap away that devil money from his vision as the boy's eyes widen, "WHO do you THINK this poor girl IS?! EAT THIS DIRTBAG!"
In a sudden flourish of motion the boy -VAULTS- from his perch on the chair, wheeling in mid-air in a bid to slam the poor misunderstood Italian upside the head with a whirling reverse roundhouse kick, "HUT!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou has started a fight here.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sergio has joined the fight here.
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Sergio 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kentou
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Sergio with Heavy Kick.
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Sergio 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Kentou
The slap to the hand brings a frown, as the money drifts to the ground. Ok, this kid is really starting to get on his nerves. When Kentou speaks up it isn't Sergio that reacts first, however, but the woman. She does this with a loud gasp.
"You!" A glare at Kentou, "How dare you insinuate that I'd-" She can't bring herself to as much as say it. "I've never been so insulted in my life. HMPH!" She has a dignity to maintain, after all. And so, quite angry, she storms off down the street, Sergio seemingly completely out of her mind.
In the meantime, Sergio is getting /kicked in the head/ by the Kenpo artist. He stumbles backwards holding the side of his head, only to see the lovely woman angrily leaving. His face turns dark, very dark. "Oh... that's it, kid. You just made a -HUGE- mistake. If you think you can just walk up, scare off a possible date, and then -kick me-, you've got another thing comin'!"
With that spoken, Sergio pulls his fist back, grits his teeth, a frighteningly pissed look on his face, and swings in a hard underhand motion to try and pound his fist as hard as he can into Kentou's stomach. And he's not holding anything back either- there's a nice shiny slick of water surrounding his fist as it goes. The kick was strong enough to tell Sergio the kid at least won't -die- from getting hit this hard, but to everyone else on the street... it's a huge burly guy punching a tiny kid in the gut!
COMBATSYS: Sergio successfully hits Kentou with Strong Kick.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Sergio 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Kentou
Kentou seems quite satisfied as he lands back upon the chair in near-perfect balance, wobbling only slightly as he restraightens in the aftermath of his pre-emptive strike.
As the woman storms off in pure fury, the boy nods to himself in satisfaction. That poor woman should be furious this dastardly sort just propositioned her like that!
However, as the boy turns his gaze back.. those eyes quickly widen in surprise. Most sorts who look like him don't often get back up after Kentou thoroughly whacks them with one of his strongest kicks! The boy quickly then grins sharply as he lifts his fists, remaining where he is for the moment. He may get a fight out of this after all!
And as the tall man rushes for the youth, he just about begins to leap away from the fury-driven strike.. That is.. until Kentou stares at the globe of water shimmering into existance at Sergio's outstretched fist. What in the-
*WHAM*
The boy can only let out a sharp gasp as the air is completely blasted from his lungs. Smacked away like a -ragdoll- as he's completely knocked off the chair, which also crashes away. Going through one table.. then another.. then flopping through another set and smashing through a half dozen chairs to come to a crashing halt in a heap on the otherside of the outdoor section of the cafe.
TThe table umbrella flopping down ontop of him moments after..
...He's.. going to lay down for a minute.. ooogh..
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Sergio 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Kentou
Ah, the drudgery of weekdays. School, training, homework, training, bed. That's pretty much Hotaru's schedule all week until the weekend arrives and brings with it competitions, teaching classes at the YFCC, among other distractions that aren't /school/. Having left Seijyun High's campus a little while ago, the Hotaru makes her way along the sidewalks toward her quiet property way off in Southtown Village.
Trudging along, weighed down by her heavy book bag, the girl had hoped to catch Kentou when he stopped by for his assigned daily concentration practice but had been held up at the campus by the one of the teachers who wanted to lecture her about how much time she was spending on the road for her fight schedule - missing out on valuable lessons!
It's by unfortunate or fortunate happenchance that she happened to be on a collision course for Kentou's return trip back home, rounding a street corner just in time to see Sergio lay into the young boy with his water laced fist, knocking the young would-be 'hero' through several sets of tables and chairs before the umbrella plops down atop his head.
Nothing quite provokes a leap to judgement than catching someone in the act of demolishing her student. She doesn't even recognize Sergio at first glance as the young fighter grits her teeth, running forward and slipping the heavy bookback from off her back. "Hey you jerk, leave him alone!"
And then she lets fly with that backpack of hers. Unfortunately, it bears more than simple school books, which are among the heaviest substances known to man. The bottom of it is also layered with lead bars... part of Hotaru's grueling strength training thanks to Ryo. "HAAH!" If her shout doesn't give Sergio enough warning, the educational package might blindside the poor, misunderstood Italian out of the blue!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Sergio with Large Thrown Object.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
Sergio simply crushes Kentou with his fist. ...and that's exactly what he wanted. If this wasn't enough... "Yea! That's right, you little punk! That's exactly what you get for messin' with me!" He hooks his thumb towards himself on the last word, his voice still filled with anger and rage. He's really fuming right now. He could have handled the woman leaving him- it's not like that hasn't happened constantly while he was here already. But getting kicked, -hard-, along with it? No, that was just too much.
But then it gets even worse, because now there's a white knight coming to save the white knight, and Sergio is -really- not in the mood for it. His head turns as Hotaru calls him a jerk, but it's slow enough so that he only has a moment before the bookbag is upon him. In the split second he does realize what's about to happen he tries to get his face out of the way, but it's no use. /Lead/ slams right into his face, his neck twisting backwards painfully, the bag ricocheting off of his face and landing a few feet behind him.
His hand is on his face, covering it, trying to withstand the pain of a -second- 'suckerpunch' style blow to the head. He pulls his hand away just a little, and sees blood. "THAT'S IT! IF THIS WHOLE DAMN CITY WANTS TO TAKE ME ON, SO [Censored for Content] BE IT!" He then faces his assaulter, and charges, lowering his shoulder just rushing head on, screaming at the top of his lungs and just not giving a damn. "RRRRAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Uuagh.
Slowly, the table umbrella is carefully pushed asside as a wincing Kentou tries to take stock of the situation. Blurry eyes hardly focusing on much of anything as an arm remains coiled over his middle. That.. definitely took the fight out of him.
Immediately realizing the boy is way out of his league against this surprisingly stronger fighter, Kentou still doesn't mind so much. The important part is that he managed to save that poor girl from this jerk! What happens to him is irrelevant now, but he isn't about to take this lying down!
The youth slowly clambers to his feet. Stumbling upon overturned chairs and collapsed tables, wobbling about with barely any balanced regained.
The sound that snaps his mind back into attention from its delerium, is a very familiar voice. Mousey eyes unglazing with a quick blink as he watches Sergio's screaming charge at his mentor!
"HOTARU LOOK OUT!" The boy yelps! Stumbling over a few more toppled outdoor furnishings as the boy tries to get back into this unfolding fight.. His heart sinking immediately as he wonders just what he got his master into!
COMBATSYS: Kentou assists Hotaru.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru reflects Fierce Punch from Sergio with Kobi Kyaku.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
Sliding to a stop, the Kenpo artist gets to watch her bookbag sail right into Sergio's face. Hah! Serves him right! No doubt that 'ton of bricks' will put a decisive stop to his assault on her innocent student. The school girl lifts her hands, brushing them off as she believes the matter having been settled. After all, that backpack is serious business.
It's only when it slides off of the man's face and he wipes the blood from his lip that recognition settles in. Whoops. This isn't just some random jerk, it's a special jerk-... er, misunderstood father seeking female companionship for his son!
"Yikes," Hotaru gulps, remember what a tough foe the foreigner was the last time she fought him for real. And he wasn't even raging mad like he is right now. In fact, she's never actually SEEN this side of him, in spite their frequent encounters. It's more out of fright that she seeks to defend herself from the incoming rampage, kicking a swift reverse roundhouse, leaving a swath of blue energy in the wake of her leg.
Spinning back around to follow it up, Hotaru places her palms against the chi barrier, causing it to solidify for an instant into a shimmering, reflective wall with the strength of steel. "KYA!" The instant passes, however, and the chi barrier collapses as suddenly as it had appeared. Too little time to ask what is /really/ going on here, the Seijyun uniform clad girl keeps her hands raised as if bracing for a follow up.
Sergio is charging straight forward, with little care for his own safety or health. That said, he simply slams into the barrier at full force when it's put up, crushing his body against it and bouncing off, and backward. "Ugh!"
He clenches his teeth, and glares at the barrier... and then it falls. ...and then he sees Hotaru standing there. "Y-you!" For a moment, it probably looks like he's going to double up a fist and try and smash her in the face. He doesn't though. Instead he just screams in frustration. "AAAAAAAH!"
A moment after that he takes deep breaths, and mutters out. "I need to cool off..." Still sounding very ticked off, but apparently not wanting to drag out a fight with Hotaru, he takes a step back. He then lifts his hands up... and proceeds to blast himself in the face with water. Apparently it's not the incredibly potent kind, however, and it just drips down from him and evaporates before it hits the ground. "That's... a little better." He turns to face Hotaru, "Don't tell me you know," an angry point, "That punk."
COMBATSYS: Sergio takes no action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
After finally disentangling himself from the ruin of the outdoor cafe's tables, the boy hops over the last of the crumpled chairs. Bouncing on one foot before stumbling back towards the confrontation. Gasping for air a bit painfully, the youth quickly moves to a few paces distant of the rampaging Sergio. Looking then to the uniform-wearing Hotaru as he coughs out, "Watch out! *huff*.. He's a.. *puff* He's a pervert!" The youth weakly lifting his fists again. He may not have a prayer, but if this lummox thinks he can have his way with his Master he's definitely got another thing coming! "I stopped him f..from terrorizing a girl!" The kenpo kid helpfully elaborates, pointing in the direction that said offended individual had long-since extricated herself from this mess.
For the moment, Kentou is content to let him cool his jets.. Literally. But if he makes so much as a single wrong move, so help him..!!
Wait.. Where IS all that water coming from anyway?
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
Her quickly formed chi barrier holds well, giving her a moment's reprieve from the human pain train that was bearing down on her. She recognized him before her defense was raised but he clearly recognizes her shortly after. When he tenses as if to follow up that last attack with a second one that she might not be so quick to defend against, the girl slips into a loose stance, her shoulder facing him, her feet seperated a little. Waiting, her blue eyes studying him as her mind tries to puzzle out what the heck's going on here.
But his fury, actually justified for once!, is vented against himself as he uses his control over watery chi to give himself a cold shower on the spot. The action causes the school girl to relent, lowering her hands and standing up a little more straight as she shifts her glance back and forth between him and Kentou as the young teen slides to her side, accusing Sergio of being one of those foreign perverts all Japanese girls are warned about! "A-actually," the young fighter winces, one hand coming up to rest behind her head.
"He's my student," she answers Sergio, being perfectly honest. Not only is she bad at lying anyway, but it's not like she could say anything else with Kentou at her side. And from the sound of things, it's likely that Kentou got the same initial impression of the older man that she did so many months ago. "I-, ah... still looking for someone for your son to meet?" she asks, sweatdropping slightly. Maybe it was one of his desperate attempts to get a young lady to meet his son that Kentou interrupted. Those are certainly easy to take the /wrong/ way. It sounds like she certainly knows who this guy is in any case.
Still in the process of trying to calm himself- quite an effort, considering that he was literally seeing red at that point, Sergio moves little while taking big deep breaths. The revelation that Kentou is one of Hotaru's students... actually causes him to relax a bit. "Oh. I get it. You must take in a lot of the trouble cases, huh?" He glowers a bit at Kentou. This... isn't the first time he's been wronged by a student of Hotaru's. "I guess I can understand that from you, but it still doesn't get -him- off the hook."
He shakes his head a little to Hotaru, mentally groaning. This is going to be painful to talk out. "No, it wasn't for my son. I was tryin' to get a date for myself. She was probably in her thirties too, so you don't have to worry about -that-." He then looks up at the sky, "And while my intentions weren't exactly /wholesome/ I wasn't 'out to get' her like this kid seems to think, and even moreso, she was flirting back. But then -he-," accusing point at Kentou, "Comes in and starts accusing me of all kinds of things, and finally ends in calling her a whore and kicking me in the head!" He crosses his arms, and then looks to Kentou, "And if you don't cool your jets, I'm gonna cool 'em for you. Got it?"
As Hotaru divulges the truth, Kentou crosses his arms and nods yet again! Eyes closing as the youth decides this revelation must fill this old pervert with incomprehensible dread at knowing he faces the student of such a legendary master.
However.. As she then offers that nervous question, even KENTOU looks up to Hotaru through slitted eyes, "...I can't believe you fell for that..." He murmurs underbreath. ._. Clearly this means Hotaru needs training to spot old perverts like these at a suitable distance! The youth can't allow his innocent and unfortunately gullible Master fall for whatever sweet lies this dandy may whisper in her general direction.
..Quickly tacking on, "..Sensei." '_';
Kentou then returns his full attention to Sergo as he tries to worm his way out of his obvious guilt, "AH-HA! UNWHOLESOME! So you -admit- it!" The youth immediately points accusingly! And with -that- counter accusation, the boy looks utterly aghast. Jaw dropping as his eyes widen, "I Di..w..WHUA? ME?!" Pointing to himself incredulously as he looks back and forth to his master then to this lying braggart, "YOU were the one who tried to slip her MONEY! EVEN when she was telling you 'I couldn't possibly' and 'You're simply awful!' and giggling all scared-like! Iiiiiiiiiii can't believe ANYBODY would sink so low to prey on girls like that!" The boy frowns with the strongest disapproval on record. Pointed finger clenching into a fist, "Keep it up, Waterboy! Taking you down a peg would do the girls of the world a service!" >o< "Isn't that right Hotaru?!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has saved the state of this fight.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Sergio
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has left the fight here.
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Sergio 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Kentou
Hotaru is left in the uncomfortable position as pig-tailed arbiter in this situation. On one hand is Sergio, a man she has met on a few occasions prior. Highly prone to awkward situations in Japan but to date has never actually be caught in a /lie/ in his dealings with the teen fighter. On the other hand is her younger student, eager to met out justice and protect all the girls of Japan from the sound of it. She knows he would never lie to her, even to cover his own behind from a mistake that was his...
"I-it sounds like this has been a confluence of misunderstandings," the uniform-clad girl replies, raising both of her hands, palms forward as she shakes them back and forth pleadingly. "Maybe we should just head our seperate ways before..." Anything useful she would have had to say is drown out quickly as Kentou continues to rattle off a litany of accusations.
Her cheeks blush a slightly embarassed shade of red as Kentou goes on and on about how Sergio was propositioning some woman of appropriate age... "Well now, sometimes that's how people meet, Kentou..."
On the whole Hotaru's reasoning seems to be getting to Sergio; in the right way, that is. "Yea, I guess you're right. Y'know, some time we're going to have to meet in some way that /doesn't/ involve one of you're students misunderstanding me." Pause, a look at Kentou, "And no that ain't a pickup line." He shakes his head a bit, trying to calm down... when Kentou starts up again.
"WHAT?! Slip her money, I was trying to slip /you/ money so you'd buzz off and get yourself an ice cream or something, I practically shoved it in your freakin' hand!" As the accusations continue, and then the threats, his face starts to turn red, his fists clench and he looks like he's about to start screaming at the top of his lungs. And then, suddenly, he seems to calm down.
"No, y'know what? Forget it, this is easier." He then lifts his hand up and simply holds it towards Kentou's face and lets loose a blast of water at point blank range. "Like I said, cool off kid."
COMBATSYS: Kentou interrupts Alpha Release from Sergio with Tekkoudan.
- Power hit! -
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Sergio
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Kentou 1/------=/=======|
The boy wonder's challenge hangs in the air for scant moments. Keeping his finger pointed aloft at this suave foreigner as Kentou's expression is crafted of pure disapproval. Still.. Hotaru's efforts to calm the situation down meets with a measure of success as his hand slowly lowers. Mousey eyes turning to her as the youth becomes progressively more sheepish, "..W..Well maybe.." The boy comments slowly to her sagely wisdom to just part ways. Afterall, the boy did save the poor girl from a fate doubtlessly worse than death! Although his master's last comment forces the young fighter to blink up to her, "Huh?.." How they meet? But he was..
At which point Sergio flies into a giant rage at the boy's words! Fists immediately raising back into the air again as Kentou settles into a fighting stance in the spanse of a heartbeat. His middle still aching powerfully from that previous blow he took.. But the kid has had plenty of moments to recover a little bit. Enough to face this freakazoid in battle once more! ..
Although.. Sergio's comments actually seem to begin to make sense as he repeats the incident, "...." He was kinda pushing the money in his direction more..
And as this water blaster seems to calm down, Kentou's fists begin to lower anew, "...Alright.. Alright.. In that case.."
And then Kentou is talking to the hand. A brazen move as Kentou reacts to so quickly that time itself seems to freeze for a heartbeat. The pressure-hose like blast just begins to thrust from the man's outstretched palm as Kentou twists. The water blasting against his cheek as the youth spins away just in the nick of time--twirling in place like a paddle-wheel spinning upon a rushing river.
But that spinning force is not lost as the youth completes the single smooth movement. Darting inside Sergio's reach as he -leaps- forward in a vaulting strike. Both fists held parallel together as he strikes the man with surprising force for such a small figure!
"TEKKOUDAN!"
He's right. This is easier!
As Sergio's temper escalates due to Kentou's tirade, Hotaru's eyes widen, those pleading, waving hands of hers frantically waving even more desperately. She's never seen him this mad before. It would seem that the scrappy kid at her side has really ruined his day. At this point she is probably going to have to insist on a round of apologies from both sides before this matter can be considered closed.
She's relieved as Sergio seems to calm back down, reigning in his anger as self-control becomes the dominant virtue. Okay, yes, this can be resolved... except he tries to cool the boy off and Kentou refuses to be calmed, giving every bit as he takes as he fearlessly leaps to the offense.
It's all the poor instructor can do to cover her eyes and cringe. At this point it seems like she's going to have to let unbridled testosterone settle this dispute! Or not. Lowering her hands, Hotaru inhales, realizing that she *IS* responsible for this boy. That's part and parcel to her agreeing to teach him. She has to not just teach him how to fight, but how to behave as well. "Kentou!" she barks, her own volume nearly matching his exuberant battle cry, "Get behind me right now!" Unlike prior times she's asked him to do something, this demand carries a certain edge to it. It isn't just a request or suggestion.
Hotaru doesn't move, her position remains the same, mouth set in a tight lipped expression, eyes fixed on the boy as she expects nothing less than compliance. Rather than get between the two, the girl intends to insert herself by controlling the location of the only one she has any right to.
At first the spray seems to get the kid good, which was exactly according to plan. What /wasn't/ according to plan was that he immediately spins away and gets Sergio /just/ as good, the fists slamming into his stomach and causing him to stagger backwards a short ways. "Augh!" He puts a hand on his stomach and grits his teeth. "You're gonna pay for that one k-" Pause, it seems that Hotaru isn't too pleased at all with the situation. For his part, Sergio is a bit annoyed. He feels he has all the right in the world to give this loudmouthed kid a walloping of a lifetime.
However... he doesn't really want Hotaru mad with him. It's clear she doesn't want an angry battle to continue any more than it already has. In truth he doesn't really have anything that makes it so he could care overly much about Hotaru's opinion of him, but with the number of times he or someone else has made him look bad in front of her he'd rather not do it again.
"Grr..." He crosses his arms, giving one last rub to his stomach, and looks away from Kentou, "Better do what you're told." The look in his eyes speaks volumes of how much he intends to make Kentou regret it if this paltry peace offering is rejected.
COMBATSYS: Sergio takes no action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Sergio
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kentou 1/------=/=======|
The youth's technique strikes true, and the boy is still in a terrific position to continue the attack! Dark eyes brightening as the boy can see the man has hesitated, he'll never get a better shot at finishing this loudmouth off! It's time to--
'KENTOU!'
--The boy freezes. All at once Kentou's momentum completely dies with an awkward half-step forward. Hands upraised as if about to attempt yet another technique.. save aborted in mid-motion. His eyes remain attentive on Sergio, lips firmly pressed in a moment of confusion. Kentou fights as an arrow sprung from a bow, without second guessing and without hesitation.
Which makes Hotaru's ensuing command uncharted territory.
Even MORE shocking... Is that Sergio doesn't completely blow the child away for hesitating and holding still. The break in aggression is just enough for reason to reassert itself as the smaller boy slowly lowers his arms in a rather halting and ungangly fashion.
"..Y..yes, Sensei.." Kentou stammers after a moment. Beginning to back up and away one step at a time.. never turning his back to the older man, not for an instant.. But backing off. His snapping remark ALMOST earns a loud and impudent remark in turn that almost certainly would have reignited hostilities..
But a quick sideglance to Hotaru silences the boy's tongue. Snapping his jaw tightly closed as Kentou shuffles slowly to where directed. Shorter form partly eclipsed behind Hotaru like a puppy unused to this good manners thing he's being taught.
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Sergio
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Kentou 1/------=/=======|
Hotaru exhales a little after the altercation is brought to a screeching halt. It's part of their agreement, after all. She said she'd teach him... but he swore to obey her in exchange. Never before has she held the boy to that promise so exactingly as this moment. Her arms lower from their previously plantive waving to fold over her chest as Kentou moves behind her.
"Now, apologize to Sergio," she continues. Telling him to stop fighting before the fight was 'done' was bad enough. But to offer an apology as well? Does the boy have what it takes to comply with such a pride-pricking demand? It gets worse. "And forgive him of any offense you may have taken at his actions."
"And after that, please get my bag for me," she finishes, the final request voiced a lot less sternly than the prior instruction. Her poor, /heavy/ bag simply lies on its side where it landed after pinging off Sergio's face, it would appear. The whole time she regards Sergio quietly. She makes no requests of him. She has no authority to bark out orders to the clearly older adult. But of her student? She can... and... perhaps WILL ask anything. For now she asks him to do something harder than any of the training in the days to come. To forgive.
Sergio isn't exactly surprised, but he's certainly happy that holding back didn't get him clobbered. As such, he's going to return the favor and not attempt to smack Kentou when his own guard is down. Besides, that'd definitely burn any trust he might have gained by this point. He'd really rather walk off at this point, but if he does this so called apology isn't going to be very possible. There's a small urge to make a snide comment about it, but he stifles it easily enough. For him pulling his punches was the hard part, and the rest is simply annoying.
The tension left in the air is still very real, however. Hotaru doesn't look like she's going to ask -him- to apologize, but in the back of his mind he's thinking that she'd probably prefer it if he did. After all 'he's the adult and he should be the bigger man'. Bah, he left all that crap behind him when he set out on his own as a teenager. Responsibility: What a pain in the ass. For now he uncrosses his arms and faces Kentou again. He hasn't decided whether or not he'll apologize for something he doesn't need to apologize for yet, but he's certainly not going to do it -first-, of all things.
YahbuhWHAT?
Kentou does his best to stand Hotaru and not make a fuss. Jaw set tightly as he very purposefully looks in a direction that doesn't include Sergio. Arms held firmly at his sides, breathing in.. breathing out. Think happy thoughts, like Master Cluck fighting a hundred Ninjas bare-wingedly.
However.. At Hotaru's edict the boy makes a sound through clenched teeth akin to getting lanced by a rusty spear. Kentou winces as he tenses all over, hands clenching into fists. APOLOGIZE? Kentou isn't going to apologize to that uncouth, loud-mouthed jerk of the world! That guy doesn't even begin to deserve an apolo-.. Grrrr! Small hands shaking in their grip, shuddering at the blow to something far more painful than anything Sergio's hydraulic techniques could devise.
For a moment, Kentou seems like he won't comply.. An uncomfortable eight seconds pass before the youth jolts to halting, stilted motion. Shuffling forth from behind Hotaru with eyes affixed firmly upon the pavement just beyond the tip of Sergio's shoes.
%Breathe in.. Breathe out.
"...I ap-" ... Jaw clicking closed again, choking on the word as his eyes tremble, "..I apolo..gize.. for attacking yo..you." Kentou manages out, exhaling in a rush as if that spear was just yanked from his side, "..I for..forgive you for atta-..." Nnng, ".. defending yo..yourself." The boy amends.
With that admission dredged up from the depths of the boy's unwilling spirit, the youth then slowly bows at the hip as is tradition. Holding that gesture for precisely three seconds before -racing- over to Hotaru's hurled bag.
THAT part of her order, Kentou is all but too happy to comply, not wanting to spend another second in that crucible of responsibility as he immediately rushes past collapsed chairs and tables. Hands immediately gripping the arm straps of the bag and quickly yanking-
-Aaaand immediately falling over with a -thud- as the lead-lined thing refuses to budge. *crash*
Hotaru isn't budging until Kentou complies. There's a lot on the line here. Pride weighing in on one side. His promise to do what she told him a hefty weight on the other side. There is some relief in the girl's eyes as he utters those painful words. If he had refused to... If he had spurned the demand, then what? It would have been a betrayal of the teacher and student relationship and she would have had to come up with an appropriate response to such defiance whereas presently she had none. In a way, he spares the girl by going through the ordeal.
As he finishes and rushes off to collect her schoolbag as asked, Hotaru bows toward Sergio, arms at her sides, "I also extend an apology for the behavior of my student as well as my own attack that was not deserved in the slightest. I'm sorry." She can't ask Kentou to do things she wouldn't be willing to do also. She's told him as much before. She straightens up and offers the foreigner a polite smile, seemingly not begrudging him one way or the other if he should chose to return the peace offering. After all, that's the tricky thing about an apology. If it requires the other party to return the favor then perhaps it wasn't sincere in the first place.
At last, her eyes stray toward Kentou as he struggles with the bag the girl carries around every day at school. It looks like he's getting a sneak peek at where her strength training comes from... As she doesn't move closer, it looks like she's going to let him work it out.
"Apology accepted." This spoken to Kentou's back as he rushes off to complete the second, far less humiliating task. Whether the meaning was behind the words isn't questioned. At least in that, Sergio can sympathize with the young martial artist; he'd be pretty ticked off if he had to apologize for something he didn't feel was wrong, either. The older man watches Kentou run for the bag for a moment before turning to Hotaru. Much to his grief, she apologizes too. Shit, now he'll /really/ have to do it. Also, he doesn't bow, he's European. Something tells him trying to shake her hand would be a bad idea, for many reasons.
"Uh, yea, don't worry about it." His hand comes up and rubs the back of his head, "And, uh, I'm sorry for taken it out on him so hard. I guess he's young enough not to know better, but I probably shouldn't have walloped him as hard as I did." Pause, shiftyeyes, "Even if he did kick me in the head..." He then heaves a large sigh and gives a great shrug of his shoulders, "What are ya gonna do though, huh?" A slight grin forms on his face, "This really isn't my city though, is it?"
What is he gunna do? He's gunna call a forklift because LAWD ALL MAHTY.
Kentou, whilst on the pavement, slowly looks over to Hotaru with the most absurd of expressions. Sitting up after a moment as he then -stares- at the bag.. Inching a bit closer as he very carefully leans down whilst yet on his knees. Peering under the bag to make sure it isn't hooked on something attached to the cement. Finding nothing obvious.. the puzzled boy takes another few moments to scratch his head in confusion. He REALLY wants to open the thing and figure out what the heck could possibly BE so heavy.. But then, Master wouldn't like it if he started looking through her things without permission. ._. Not to mention... How in the heck was she carrying this thing around so easy like that?!
Still, the youth indeed clearly overheard Sergio's acknowledgement. Almost wishing the old man snapped some witty remark in his direction, just to confirm what Kentou severely suspects! ... But Sergio's own apology bids the boy to hang his head slowly. Okay.. so a nonviolent solution really was possible. Somehow.
The boy definitely thinks better of saying anything else in this matter, letting Hotaru finish her remarks as she's certainly taken the lead in this matter. He feels a bit of outrage for letting Hotaru apologize for ANYTHING as she absolutely had nothing to do with that fight! ... But again, no speakie or Hotaru will snap at him again. ._.; Kentou doesn't mind if he gets whooped or yelled at really. Its when other people get whooped or yelled at for him.. That really hurts.
As is, Kentou busies himself trying to budge the immovable object. Getting to his feet as he leans down, hooking his hands onto the arm-straps tightly as he heaaaaaaaves. Gritting his teeth and grunting with effort, slowly managing to drag the leaded bag a few inches at a time before finally, slooowly managing lift-off. Hefting the thing up to his shoulder and hooking an arm through the loop.. wobbling back and forth a few unsteady steps for his trouble as sweat rolls down his brow. Hrk!
Clasping her hands together in front of her, Hotaru's smile is restrained but not cold as Sergio returns the sentiment with his own words. There. That turned out not so bad. And therein lies the lesson at the crux of this experience. The one taught by actions rather than lecturing. As her student, Kentou's behavior is a reflection on his teacher now; his offenses hers, his triumphs hers, his failures hers. It's a link young Futaba seems to take very... very seriously.
"Maybe it's just bad luck," the girl replies with regards to the city not seeming to work out too good for him. "Yet you keep coming back to it. Perhaps you and Southtown will get along eventually." she states with a bit of a grin now, sounding like she hopes not ALL of his experiences in her hometown turn out to be bad ones.
Hands still clasped in front of her, Hotaru turns to face Kentou as the kid wrestles with that bag of hers. She's going to have to give him some strength training regimen it looks like. At last she moves from Sergio's side to approach Kentou, extending her hand to accept the weight of Atlas himself back from the boy.
The sounds of Kentou wrestling with the bag behind him, Sergio blinks a little at Hotaru, "Well yea I live here now." He seems a bit confused by one of the things she said, but quickly shakes his head a little and lets it go. "And yea, I hope it is too." A few moments later and Hotaru is off to help her student with the bag, at which point Sergio takes as his moment to leave. This really isn't a very comfortable situation, and he would still like to try and find someone to have a nice quiet dinner with.
"Weeell, I think I'm gonna head out. Nice seeing you again, Hotaru. And, ah, interesting meeting you, Kentou." Whew, he remembered his name. With those words spoken Sergio turns his back to the pair to leave them to struggle with the enormous weight of a lead lined backpack, and tries to find somewhere where he can ingest copious amounts of alcohol in record time.
COMBATSYS: Sergio has left the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Kentou
Atlas would be an apt description. The boy's pose even looks vaguely like the struggling titan as he holds the deceptively weighty bag over one shoulder. Stamping his feet with every step as he returns to Hotaru's side all in due time. BUT, Kentou certainly can't complain as she approaches him instead.
The Kenpo nearly insists on carrying this burden for Hotaru, even beginning to open his mouth to suggest that very thing. However, the residual sentiment from his sensei's authoritarian stance continues to quell even the most vague of insubordinate suggestions. At least.. until she's obviously reduced her disapproval of the youth's antics.
Only as the boy transfers the massive weight does he spare a moment to look in Sergio's direction. Glancing at the man with an expression that wants to be cross at him.. But the moment of anger and indignation has long passed. Bled out of him with that apology.. And forced to see events from a new light.
hat said! Kentou still looks away after a moment, pouting his lips tightly as his eyes narrow at an indetermined point down the street. Aw fooey.
COMBATSYS: Kentou has left the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
Hotaru hefts the bag to her shoulder before sliding her other arm in underneath the opposite strap, letting it slip into place against her back with a grunt. It would seem that she's not entirely oblivious to the weight either. Which means it's probably getting close to when Ryo is going to toss a few more bars in...
"Good bye, Sergio," the girl calls after the tall Italian as he takes his leave. One eye narrows a little as she considers him from a distance as he goes. "There's something interesting about that man," the girl remarks, turning around to face the opposite direction, but she doesn't elaborate on the nagging thought that there's more to Sergio than she has yet to see.
"Well, you sure know how to pick out tough people to pick fights with," she adds, sounding somewhat bemused. The darkly tanned man had stepped out of obscurity to prove himself an incredible fighter in the last few months. Leave it to her student to try and pick a fight with him out of the blue of all people!
"I'm guessing you were on your way back home after stopping by the church, hm?" the girl guesses, based on the time and location. "Let's get something to eat." Hotaru states, this idea coming across less as an order and more of an expression of wanting to spend a bit more time with the boy, perhaps feeling guilty on some level for having exercised her Teacher Power over him moments ago.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has ended the fight here.
The youth staggers as Hotaru accepts the massive weight. For a few moments Kentou just gawks at his sensei accepting the burden with little more than a passive shrug and a mere grunt. Incredulous eyes shifting between her and the pack in several circuits before shaking his head slowly.
He doesn't know.. he isn't sure he wants to know! ... Well, he'll ask later.
Kentou then falls in line alongside his teacher. His head bowed but small frown remaining indignant. The boy isn't angry at Hotaru for utilizing her authority. No.. He's just annoyed that she had to in the first place. Annoyed at himself.. and some resentment at having to apologize when he.. he really isn't sure he had to. Or.. Maybe he did but.. Eengh.. he doesn't know.
"..He's not bad I guess.." Kentou quickly blurbs, of Sergio's skill. While the boy isn't about to completely lie out of spite, he can't force himself to embellish upon that particular opponent's skill. Nevermind the fact that Kentou is forced to admit the man could have taken him apart and put him back together again seven ways from Sunday if Hotaru didn't intercede. The most puzzling thing is.. How did that guy GET that crazy strong? Seemingly without discipline or training? Nobody gets that good and live like some kinda weasel like that.. right?
Well there was Kurow.. But that's a different story..
At Hotaru's final comments, the boy nods in a subdued fashion. Eyes affixed to the ground a few paces ahead and no further. The boy's schedule is rather easy to pattern.. Afterall, Hotaru's the one that set it!
"...Mmm... Food.." Kentou intelligently comments as he rubs his aching stomach. That sounds like a very good idea.. Fighting infront of that Cafe did give him an appetite..
Log created on 00:07:17 10/16/2007 by Kentou, and last modified on 02:51:33 10/25/2007.