Ayame - Operation - Not Expected

Description: Objective: Harassing the Seijyun student body President. Obstacle: A pesky parasol and capable soccer athlete. Alias: None. Summary: Assigned the task of giving a certain musical prodigy a rough night, Ayame's mission slips rapidly out of control when forced to cope with additional interference from an unfortunately familiar face. Though Elle steps in to back her up, the two are forced to retreat as the unlikely teammates prove too difficult to take down.



Working mall crowds during the busy time of the year is pretty easy for the unscrupulous sorts like Ayame. People are in a hurry, they crowd around each other, they stand in long lines, overcome by mind-numbing tedium. Easy marks, the lot of them. As people focus on giving to others, Ayame thinks only of taking as much of it away as she can get her hands on.

But the sheep are safe from the wolf this evening. Ayame is present on business rather than pleasure. Slipping through the crowds, she's got her eyes on someone in particular; a very important figure in the Seijyun High student government, young Yurika Kirishima. This evening she's working for Elle. Elle has plans. Ayame doesn't really understand the big picture, but she didn't really ask either. Big picture stuff is Elle's problem, the long haired Blackjack member believes.

The girl has had a fair amount of practice at trailing targets through crowds before, and Yurika more than stands out from the average consumer. It's just a matter of keeping up with her until the moment is right. There are places even a busy mall to get away from the masses. Small, quiet shops that don't cater to what most people are looking for in last minute gifts; fancy places to eat that no one has time for right now... Or, if all else fails, the girl will simply wait until it gets later and the population thins some or follow Yurika out of the mall itself.

She's got time to kill and a girl to catch off guard. Nothing is going to distract her from that. Not even the tempting padded wallets she sees some people pulling out when approaching shop counters. No matter what, she isn't going to let Yurika out of her sight. The right moment will present itself eventually.

Yurika most certainly does stand out amongst the others; some people would assume she does it on purpose, but the fact of the matter is Yurika has always been a softie for gothic lolita style. She doesn't stroll about in her school uniform today, but rather she wears a mid-sized dress of the same light-blue color with frills and ribbons and the whole shebang, with her usual white tights, gloves, and mantle. And of course parasol, she kind of looks like a walking doll.

Obviously this kind of attire and the moderatly regal air about her has heads turning her way, which she quite happily ignores in favor of her task for today.

Naturally she's in heaven. But her goal today was a bit uncharacteristic of her, she had done a little last-minute shopping and successfully found something to get for a little martial artist. She hadn't much of an idea what young boys like these days but martial artists in general aren't difficult to shop for thankfully. The young musician/president steps out of the sports store she had been in, and now with a shopping bag in hand decides to head on out of the mall and toward home. Hmmmn. Though there is the temptation of seeing if in the off-chance Roberto is at Taiyo.

Many walkways allow one to leave the plaza but the moment Ayame can tell which one Yurika is going to use, the long haired girl picks up her speed. A moment is taken to glance at the dwindling population as her pace increases. Just thin enough that interference seems unlikely... At least, for a little while. No security in sight. A few people hurrying off to their cars or to catch public transit, too caught up in their own business to take notice of what is about to happen.

It's definitely the girl. And it's a good moment to catch her mostly alone. She looks rich, Ayame ponders. Probable a coddled childhood, fed with a golden spoon, the whole 'gloved hands lest her fingers get dirty' thing... The runaway fehs silently. Whatever. Money doesn't buy skill. This prissy looking girl should be an easy enough job to handle. Her pace quickens, her steps light...

Yurika may feel the warning come as a tap on her shoulder. "Well, well." But if she should look in that direction no one will be there as Ayame has already stepped around her opposite side in an attempt to swipe the bag purchased from the sports store. A random 'purse snatching'? If only!

The musician, oddly enough, doesn't get mugged very often or... Well, at all actually. Yurika wouldn't be able to recall the last time someone had tried such a thing, but there is that faint feeling that she's being followed once she's on her way off. Yurika indeed feels the light tap on her shoulder, but it's not a trick that works very well with abilities of absolute pitch. Her dark eyes shift to the direction Ayame steps toward, but her bag is taken which was what she didn't expect.

Her reaction isn't immediete, first there's a moment in which she's suprised that she'd just had something stolen from her. But then a few seconds after that she realizes that it was a rather important gift and for the first time in a while the girl is extremely angry. After scanning a particular area of the mall very carefully, she reaches into the large bow behind her back and withdraws a tuning fork; it's quickly twirled and thrown just a ways before Ayame and the malls entrance.

To be more exact it's thrown at a slender cord that hangs from one of the malls arches, cutting it cleanly and sends a large, brass bell falling from the sky and crashing down heavily upon the ground to block the muggers path. Or heck if she's really lucky, trap her inside.

Indeed, with Ayame's initial back skipping, it seems like the brown eyed girl is interested simply running off with the procured bag. But the theif only hops back a couple of yards before the Seijyun girl decides to take a shot at keeping her from getting anywhere. Attentive eyes track the fork - it's not being thrown at her but rather...

The bell crashes down but Ayame takes a step forward, allowing to land behind her rather than locking her within it. The bag swiped is held up in her hand as she glances from it to Yurika, then back to the bag. "Looks like I have something of yours. That got your attention." she grins. "Oh well..."

The bag gets lowered to the concrete slowly next to the base of the fallen bell. "But believe it or not, I'm not really here for it. My target is you." Yurika is studied thoughtfully. It almost seems a shame. She doesn't LOOK like someone who can defend herself. Though that throw was spot on to hit the cord, which betrays that she must have some skill... In either case, Ayame intends to /mess her up/ bad.

"Yurika Kirishima, is it?" The girl leans forward a little, arms lowering to her belt. "Today is going to be the worst day of your life." And then she's dashing forward, hair trailing out behind her, both hands slipping butterfly knives from hidden sheaths and flicking them open as she charges forward remarkably fast. As she closes the distance, she weaves from side to side, trying to make it difficult to predict the direction that this entirely unprovoked attack is going to come from.

A glint of metal as one of the blades catches the light at just the right angle might be the only clue as Ayame slashes in from the right with the sharp weapon in her left hand at Yurika's mid-torso. Her right hand follows suit instantly with a second slash before the girl spins around to Yurika's otherside, trying to stay close.

COMBATSYS: Ayame has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ayame            0/-------/-------|


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

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayame


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

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayame


COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Ayame's Medium Strike.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Ayame


It most certainly did get her attention, that goes without saying. But the student for a moment is quiet, and finding herself in a bit of a predicament. Apparently she wasn't expecting to get in any sort of fight today because she didn't bring her violin. Her weapon supply is... Limited, at best, and she can tell by the thiefs quick movements that she's rather skilled herself.

The musician gives a rather cold smile while giving her parasol a light twirl. "Yes that would certainly be me, though I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea who you are." the musician replies, drawing her parasol closed as Ayame decides to start some sort of battle. This is very unusual, did Kurow send her? Though it didn't matter, anyone who got on her bad side would certainly pay the price. Ayame's knife slashes end up coming in contact with said parasol, clanking down hard against its metallic surface and redirected when the musician pushes the attacks aside. "Though I'm afraid you have it backward, today will actually be.. Your worst day."

Yurika unscrews the little ball off the tip of her umbrella to reveal an almost needle-like point underneath; a rather silly looking weapon, but one nonetheless. It's abruptly slashed horizontally in hopes of cutting Ayame right across her nose.

COMBATSYS: Ayame dodges Yurika's Weapon Jab.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Ayame


The metalllic ringing of blades striking against the parasol tell Ayame that she didn't hit the mark she was going for. Though her knives are pushed away, the girl keeps her balance, having not overly committed to the slashes. She follows through with moving to close to Yurika's side all the same, not expecting much in the way of retaliation - best to be in position to follow up with another vicious strike, perhaps into her undefended side...

But as she slips into position, Yurika is twisting off the little ball to expose a needle sharp point before taking a swing for the theif. Eyes widening, Ayame hops back just out of range in time to avoid getting nicked by the little point. Clever thinking, she muses. This strange rich girl is quicker on her feet than she expected.

"Doesn't really matter who I am," Ayame replies with a bit of a shrug as she keeps her distance for a moment. "Maybe you'll come to understand what this about in time. Maybe not." She takes two steps forward, hands coming up with the twin knives, broadcasting an intent to slash once more. "Not my problem." And that's when she drops, bare leg sweeping out as she tries to sweep Yurika's ankles with her own boot clad foot.

COMBATSYS: Yurika dodges Ayame's Light Kick.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Ayame


Yurika seems to be up against a quick opponent as well.. Or maybe Ayame had gotten lucky being able to leap away in time. Yurika raises her parasol to her eyes and then gently in front of her in almost a fencers stance as she listens to her opponent, and she almost seems.. Amused by it, really. So she was dealing with another one of those 'punks'. She really didn't like punks, not that it could be told through the mysterious smile of hers, but rather through her words. "Oh no, it most certainly matters.."

Yurika manages to avoid the sweep in the simplest way possible, and that's just a quick hop and easily regaining balance on her maryjanes. Hopefully Ayame is still low because right afterward one of those feet are thrown in a roundhouse as well, to kick Ayame in either the chest or head. "Regardless of what happens after this, I'll want to know who to send flowers to at the hospital."

COMBATSYS: Ayame parries Yurika's Light Kick!

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0            Ayame


Any questions about Ayame's speed might be put to rest as the girl deals with the incoming kick. Still crouching from the sweep, her head seemed a likely target for Yurika's foot. Already the two knives she had a moment ago are hidden once more, returned to the horizontal sheaths sewn into one of her belts.

Speaking of her belts, it's one of those that comes to Ayame's defense as she whips it off from around her waist and catches Yurika's roundhouse by holding onto both ends in both of her hands. "You're a sweet girl; we barely just met and already you're concerned about my well being..." Ayame remarks, already rising up out of her crouched position and pulling back the belt-whip and swinging out for Yurika's neck with a swift crack.

At the same time, the girl attempts to slip in behind the well dressed student and pull the belt tighter, threatening to cut off air for breathing. "We'll see how much you care when I'm finished with you!" If she gets her way, her right foot will come up and press against the Seijyun girl's lower back as Ayame leans backward to draw the 'noose' as tightly as possible.

COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Ayame's Blackmail EX.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


That was an unusual defense, one Yurika didn't see coming. And then suddenly it starts to click in about what Kurow had tried to explain to her that last time they fought; being flexible, not in body, but in mind. She will need to have more than just her usual tactics if she's going to end this match swiftly, she realized.

To Ayame's words, Yurika gives a little, "Eh-heh." Those fake laughs that follow a forced smile, you know the one. Luckily she's just as quick to respond, as Ayame slings the belt toward her neck her parasol is raised again and grasped with both hands, adding resistance that makes the unorthodox hold almost, but not completely useless.

She ducks and slips from it afterward, turning to face Ayame as she then attempts to leap up and stand on the girls shoulders. She flips forward sharply, with the intent of smashing Ayame downard onto the flooring.

COMBATSYS: Ayame dodges Yurika's Quick Throw.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


The belt is snapped back as Yuriak slips free far earlier than Ayame would've liked. She so enjoys locking opponents up in painful holds that leave them helpless to fight back, after all. It makes her job so much easier. "Hn," she grunts as Yurika turns to face her. Her right hand comes up at her side, lashing the whip backward as if getting ready to take another shot at lashing out at Yurika. The girl she dismissed as being a prissy pushover has proven to be nothing of the sort, thus far. Someone's taught her a thing or two.

"Che. Not that I'm one to talk, but I really can't make out much of a style in your moves." In the next moment she finds Yurika leaping up for what looks to her like a leaping stomp, but Ayame ducks low and rolls to the side, coming up out of the way of the intended combination.

"Heh, nice try, but you will have to be way faster than that to ever hope to catch me." Her right hand cracks the whip out at her side. It makes for something to draw one's attention. Loud, obvious, and none-too pleasant to be struck by. But that isn't really what should be watched for.

Instead it's her left hand, sliding down to the hem of her skirt where she slides out a narrow piece of metal. A throwing needle - four inches long, remarkably thin, with a sharp point on both ends. Holding it between her fingers, Ayame lashes out with the whip in her right hand vaguely toward Yurika. She'll crack it too early for it to reach the other girl, but it might make perfect cover for the small needle she throws, the metal object zipping through the air, almost invisible to the eye. And the worst part is the mild nerve poison it has - capable of slowing down a fighter for a short bit if it gets into their blood stream.

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

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Ayame
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|


COMBATSYS: Roberto reflects Sudden Fling from Ayame with Shining Clutch.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Ayame
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|


Roberto on the other hand had came out of the sporting goods store well before Yurika did which is why Roberto's path never crossed with Yurika. Instead Roberto comes from the direction of the food court carrying a near empty cup of soda, bags containing indoor soccer balls which for all intents and purpose are giant tennis balls.

When he sees the thief and musician fighting he finds himself torn as to whether to get involved let alone which side to choose. It then when he starts putting out feelers to find out why it started, he finds that it's not some type of sanctioned match. He then balances his decision of who to join in this fight. There's Yurika who seems to only to antagonize him and then there's Ayame who had robbed a large portion of Taiyo's population. It makes his decision so much easier.

Roberto kicks his cup of soda into a trash can and breaks into a mad dash before suddenly diving in front of Yurika with a glowing hand in front of the needle, making it spinning in mid air before it suddenly darts right back at the thief. "Well, I'll still show up at the party, but shall we call it even after this?"

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

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


The bell tolls.

It's not exactly a common occurance that the large mall decoration bells actually ring, since they're for the purposes of ornamentation. In fact, they've probably never been used as bells at all. Nevertheless, the large brass bell rings loudly, chiming out a single time, which is quite unusual since the heavy metal object has an entire floor to channel the vibration through.

The aftershock vibrations don't end like they should, however. In fact, they just seem to grow ever louder, sharper, more distinct. The massive bell almost seems to rattle for a moment or two, the lip of the might metal ornament dancing at the entrance of the mall like some kind of strange party favor. The rattling grows, and so does the pitch of the vibration. At first, it sounds like a low sputter, then a groan. The bell vibrates furiously, and the metal gives out a plaintive shriek as it bulges, glows red hot, and ultimately falls in two, the massive halves tumbling to the ground like two drunks at a Christmas party.

A closer evaluation of the bell will later reveal that someone had punched a single crack into the side of the ornament, then channeled a massive vibration through it, splitting the thing in twain. Right now, however, Elle steps through the halves of the bell, the rising dust from the collapse of the bell obscuring her only slightly. The woman's too distinctive /not/ to see as she stands there, a katar already armed and ready.

"I picked up the second player on the headset," she explains to Ayame, her dry voice carrying nothing further than information. "Didn't like the odds. Thought I'd even things up." Her free hand reaches up to touch her brow, eyeing the schoolkids for a moment or two. "You know the objective. We'll play it straight until you call the flush."

With that, Elle steps forward, her usual slow, plodding gait marking her footsteps as she assesses the situation carefully, not making any more actions as she prepares to provide the support that she always ensures Blackjack will give.

COMBATSYS: Elle focuses on her next action.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


If anyone asked, Yurika had the best teacher, of course. But this time around there's a lot of ad-libbing she has to do, she can fight without her instrument, but fighting well without it is another matter entirely. The most important thing is keeping calm, however, it'd be silly to try and take things too far over a mugging.. Possibly. It doesn't seem like Ayame is having that problem though, more weapons are brought out, Yurika responding with a slightly puzzled look and actually a little slow to deal with the needle with the whip being a distraction-

Looks like it's Roberto to the rescuse, the musician takes a small step back, suprised but not entirely unwelcome an interferance. "And here I thought you were saving me because you're a gentleman. You're telling me you want something in return? Tch, you naughty boy, I thought this was the season for giving.." Yurika's tone can't help but be playful now that the goalie is here, maybe even her mood is lightened a bit.

The lightenining however is cut short with the chord that Yurika's ears instantly recognize. And yet it's still a suprise to see Elle now coming into the mix, and actually only makes things more confusing for the schoolgirl. "You?" But one thing is clear, it isn't going to end until one side is down and her brows furrow just slightly, two fingers of her free hand raising to her lips at that moment. "I will accept it as a Christmas gift, however." is directed to Roberto and she proceeds to murmurs under her breath, shifting the chi about her body from her upper half to her feet.

COMBATSYS: Yurika focuses on her next action.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


COMBATSYS: Ayame dodges Roberto's Reflected Sudden Fling.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


Finally someone gets the chance to let Ayame enjoy a taste of her own medicine for a change. Roberto's interference catches Ayame by surprise as he makes it just in time to block her thrown needle and send it hurtling back at the girl. A last second lean to the side results in it skewering through her tie as she turns her body to avoid the dart. But the metal projectile flies on, not managing to draw blood from the assailant.

Now her attention is on Roberto and Yurika both. This definitely changes things. The soccer player had already thwarted one of her ventures in the past, and here he is again, with Yurika to boot? If Yurika was the pushover she had thought she was upon initially attacking her, that wouldn't be too scary, but she's come to find out the girl is anything but.

But Elle to the rescue... the woman smashing her way into the scene through the fallen bell, adding more confusion to an already strange situation for the two students to understand, no doubt. Ayame nods her head toward Elle, grinning a little in acknowledgement before snapping her attention back toward Roberto and Yurika.

"You should stay out of this or you're going to get brutalized," Ayame warns Roberto with a hiss. "My business is with /her/." And with that, the girl steps forward to close distance a little, lashing out with that whip of hers from its maximum range. Perfect control over the serpentine weapon allows her to curl the lash around Roberto to strike for Yurika's arm, "Come on, don't just hide behind him!"

The sound is strange to his ears and as he rises to his feet in a quick spin that causes the bag to tip over and a those indoor soccer balls roll out. And Roberto lays eyes upon Elle. He remembers her. He has fought with her at his side and has been jumped by her crew. He has a grudge.

He turns to Yurika, "A gift? I suppose that would do. Do you still want me to bring the gift I originally planned on bringing?" It's somewhat odd to his own ears to hear himself speaking to Yurika as if they are friends.

Roberto begins to dribble his oversized tennis ball towards the leader of Blackjack before performing a stepover that leads into a quick towards her leg to test her defenses.

COMBATSYS: Elle endures Roberto's Light Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


And so it begins. Elle's fought both people in the past, and she knows what they're capable of. Nevertheless, fighting alongside Ayame is new. The girl is capable in her own right, though. This should be interesting. With a final nod to Ayame, she clams up, focusing on her foes.

They say the best defense is a good offense, and clearly Elle subscribes to that particular mantra in some cases. The young boy is already in her face sending a kick her way, and there's really nowhere for her to go. Not swift enough to avoid it, Elle has two choices. She can block it, or step into it, heedless of the damage in order to land her own punch.

The kick smashes firmly into her shins. It hurts, but Elle's not going to dwell on that for any appreciable amount of time, as her body is already compensating for the hit. Instead, she shifts her weight to her other foot, and lets fly with the katar with the full force of her body behind it. The punching dagger is already humming, her power increasing the force as she hurls forward to slam into Roberto's gut with all the grace and subtility God gave a brick. Should it connect, Elle will follow through with the forceful strike, channeling her sonic energy through the blade to make the wound even worse as she lifts him up into the air and slams him back down to the ground.

COMBATSYS: Yurika dodges Ayame's Quick Strike.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yurika           0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Ayame


Yurika's brows raise. "Another gift? Are you teasing me, Mr. Miura?" she asks with a small chuckle. She hadn't a clue that Roberto knew either of the two fighters. But so long as he has no qualms with fighting alongside her, well.. She supposes that this will have to be the truce of truces, even if it is a 'gift' of sorts. She's also glad that Roberto has decided to pick Elle; the result their last two bouts had left Yurika's confidence shaken by the rocker.

"We'll discuss this at a better time perhaps. As for you.." Yurika isn't entirely certain how to parry a whip, that's a brain scratcher, so she instead shifts to the side in a full pirouette- It's certainly a bit overdramatic for the attack in question, but it reveals to be a set-up for yet another attack and this time the end of her spin results in a strike with her parasol at Ayame's knee, hopefully with enough strength to knock her onto the floor. It's followed with a stomp down toward the punks stomach.

COMBATSYS: Ayame blocks Yurika's Tragic Hesitation.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Roberto          0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yurika           0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Ayame


Erk. Yurika spins to the side to avoid the lash of the whip, letting her get in quickly on Ayame while the girl's arm is still extended. She's moving faster than even before, the hooligan muses. A step back is taken as she expects a higher attack with that parasol, but Yurika strikes her knee instead, driving to girl to the ground with a bit of a gasp.

It's when that stomp comes that it's Yurika's turn to be disappointed, as instead of getting a satisfied crunch against Ayame's stomach, her shoe will clang against metal instead. Inspection will reveal that Ayame has defended herself from the sole of Yurika's shoes with a sturdy, iron Japanese war fan. Lying on her back with Yurika's foot crushing against the fan, Ayame grins up at the Seijyun girl. "Neat trick. Had you been but three percent faster, I wouldn't have made it in time..."

The analysis is just to distract, like usual, as Ayame swings out with her foot to try and sweep Yurika's ankle that isn't trying to smush her. In the process, she rolls out from beneath the other girl and stabs upward with the sharp, bladed edge of the fan before sweeping it to the side, aiming to give the young musician a slash across her torso before attempting to take advantage of the moment to get back up on her feet.

COMBATSYS: Roberto blocks Elle's Chase the Ace.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Roberto          0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0             Elle
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yurika           0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Ayame


The katar was different. The movements. This was definitely not the Elle that Roberto was teamed up with that fateful day nor was it that same Elle that attacked him on the street. He quickly struggled to find what was different and what was the same.

But to do this he'd have to continue to be able to fight and so he brings his forearms together to knock aside the weapon however the energy given off by the weapon becomes incredibly jarring to him though.

The thing is the fact that he didn't go with the slam hopefully provides a good opening and he attempts dive at the rocker and drive her down to the ground before rolling back to his feet using those goalkeeping skills he's known for.

COMBATSYS: Roberto successfully hits Elle with Quick Throw.
- Power hit! -

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yurika           0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Ayame


Elle crashes to the floor with a thud, the dive catching her slightly off guard as she misjudges her step a split second too late. The hit doesn't seem to do quite the kind of damage it should have, even if it was a solid hit.

She rolls across the ground, and sweeps back up to her feet, steadying herself as she raises her free hand carefully. She hasn't been in combat a while, and it means her skills are probably a little slower than normal. Nevertheless, she's still got more than enough fight in her to call it a done deal just yet.

Power crackles across her hand, the energy flowing easily from the ground and from above, her energy siphoning abilities causing a brownout in the lights abover her head as she narrows her eyes behind her glasses. The power streaks down the arm, snapping from her fingertips across the metallic elements in her gloves.

The gesturing hand lets loose a powerful bolt of electricity, meant to blast Roberto back and away from her, giving her enough time to plan her next series of moves.

COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Ayame's Medium Strike.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yurika           0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0            Ayame


An almost clean hit.. Well it's a start. But Yurika doesn't look that disapponited when her foot hits metal, it simply just would have been nice to tack on whatever she could with the initial strike. What does suprise her is the analysis from the other young girl, which she can't hide. Though it's more confusion than actual suprise; was it some sort of bluff? And where are all those weapons coming from anyway?

Again though, not enough to throw her off her guard, the fan swings up, and it again comes in contact with her parasol, clashing for a brief moment and then pushed to one side as she leans in the opposite direction. This still gives Ayame enough time for her to get up, but maybe not enough time to deal with the next again? Yurika is hot on the others trail and this time gives swing of her weapon, using the bluntness to strike at Ayame's neck (its handle must be a pipe or something), followed by a front kick to the stomach afterward.

COMBATSYS: Ayame fails to counter Medium Strike from Yurika with Light Kick.
- Power fail! -

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


Her bladed fan knocked to the side, Ayame rises up to her feet, taking a step back to put distance between her and Yurika. But the parasol weilding girl keeps the pressure on. Deciding to retaliate rather than play evasive, Ayame kicks out, aiming for a direct, preemptive blow to Yurika's stomach to keep her from getting any closer...

But the Parasol gives the Seijyun girl the range she needs to crack Ayame hard against the neck. Caught in the middle of trying to lunge forward at her, herself, the girl begins to fall forward from the staggering blow, only to eat a knee to the stomach as well, dropping the strawberry-blonde to the ground with a hard gasp.

Groaning, Ayame rolls over onto her side and starts to push herself back up. Her right hand free, her left hand occupies itself with folding the fan closed and clamping it tightly. "L-lucky hit," she grunts, sounding somewhat weakened by the unpleasant combination of strikes.

COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Roberto with High Voltage.
- Power hit! -

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


Roberto hadn't been fighting much himself and so he still has some ring rust to deal with himself. This fact doesn't bite him in the ass until Elle begins to start to draw energy from the ambient lights. Expecting that she was using some type of stall tactic he attempts to charge through the energy in an attempt to press the attack.

Unfortunately he didn't expect that the energy she'd send out would be as overwhelming as it was and he's actually sent rolling backwards almost comically.

Elle did get the range she wanted out of that attack but one thing to keep in mind is that Roberto is still dangerous at range as long as there's a soccer ball still near him. He dashes for the nearest soccer ball and boots it at the Blackjack leader.

COMBATSYS: Elle overcomes Long Shot from Roberto with ACDC.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


Elle's torrent of power doesn't seem to stop even though she's blasted Roberto backward like a rag doll. The lancing electricity is like a thing alive, ripping forth from her hand like a snarling, coiling snake. It snaps across the ground, and she raises her other hand as the soccer ball closes in on her with an almost impassive expression. That's not going to be enough to stop her.

The second hand bursts to life, the twin reigns of electrical power snapping under her control as it tears across the mall floor, riping up linoleum, shattering lights amd setting displays ablaze for a moment before pounding straight through the soccer ball. The leatherbound sphere bursts into flame and pops with a sharp sound as Elle's blue lightning heats to white.

Bringing her hands together, Elle concentrates, and sends the remaning voltage towards Roberto like a straight pillar of lightning before stepping back, stopping the charge for the time being and leaving him to deal with the rolling force of nature.

A step higher in Yurika's book, there's a small smirk of satisfaction once she finally gets a clean hit on the other fighter. It seemed that Ayame was preparing for a different kind of strike, something the musician will have to keep in mind for later. The smirk becomes a kinder smile afterward though, "Was it? I wonder if that means, then, that I should use my real strength to offset that.."

"Probably not." Her fingers raise to her lips again; instead of pressing the offensive as she had already been, she drops that in favor of starting another incantation, murmuring under her breath.

COMBATSYS: Yurika focuses on her next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


As Yurika holds back Ayame has time to get back up cleanly, brown eyes studying the musician intently. She's proven trickier than the girl gave her credit for initially, and it's making her rethinking her approach. Getting in close hasn't born out like she would have hoped...

With Yurika holding back, she now has time to improvize something else. Ayame drops the folded fan to the ground, her right hand immediately busy digging a small pointed metal weight out of her pouch, her left hand zips off a length of wire thin cable from a reel on the side of one her belts, quickly affixing the weight to it.

"It doesn't matter to me if you chose to hold back. It'll be your loss either way..." The weight attached, Ayame drapes the cable over her shoulder and begins to spin the weapon over her head. With the soccer goalie off to the side, she doesn't have to worry about /his/ antics with her projectile this time. Swinging the rope dart down at her side, Ayame spins once, kicking out with her left foot to strike the weight and send it hurtling toward Yurika's chest. While it does have a pointed end, it isn't remarkably sharp. The impact would be more like a solid punch should it connect.

COMBATSYS: Roberto fails to reflect ACDC from Elle with Shining Clutch.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


As the soccer pops due to the electricity. The mall fills with loud bang of soccer balls blowing to bits. And then Roberto brings a pair of hands to meet Elle's attack. Unfortunately he wasn't quite able to redirect the energy and he finds himself flying backwards once again and driving him into a trash can.

The soccer player slowly picks himself up and shakes his head attempting to clear his head. Those back to back impacts is beginning to make it hard for the soccer player to think his way around the situation.

Elle's thoughts, however, are as clear as ever. The mercenary doesn't even react to the successful hit. No shouts of success, no rallying cry. Nothing. Roberto taking a blast to the face seems to be about as exciting to her as throwing away a gum wrapper. The maddening dance of electricity just doesn't seem to stop for the most part. The electrical power is just reigned in, it's offense turning into defense as the lights above her head grow dimmer still.

Power flows into Elle again, fuses burning and lights exploding around her as she starts to make her advance. Stray licks of power shoots from her form, crackling and grounding itself on metal railings, setting books aflame and melting cheap plastic toys as she goes.

The energy seems to feed into her legs, drawing up to her torso, fueling a snarling, snapping aura that makes her features seem somewhat ghoulish. Energy plays off her hands, off her boots with every step, and the rims of her steel framed glasses as she approaches Roberto with her slow, precise steps.

COMBATSYS: Elle gathers her will.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


COMBATSYS: Yurika dodges Ayame's Medium Fling.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


Yurika isn't paying too much attention to Roberto, just naturally assuming that he's doing well- Or at least will pull through in the 'clutch'. While they may be enemies most of the time, she has faith in his fighting skill, as unusual a style as it may be.

The musician gives a curt nod of her head, dark eyes spying Ayame's weight and gives her parasol a lazy swish from side to side. "You sound quite sure of yourself, do I seem that unskilled?" she asks as she slides back just a little her weapon making contact with the weight as she rushes under it, and then continues to pace quite quickly toward her opponent. "Well I suppose if I saw it from your point of view, maybe I would say the same."

Once she's close, she'd jab her weapon at the collar of Ayame's blouse, then twist in order to fling the girl over her shoulder and quickly onto the ground,

COMBATSYS: Ayame dodges Yurika's Quick Throw.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


The rope dart bounces off the parasol with a glancing hit, doing nothing to slow Yurika down in the slightest as the girl slips in closer to Ayame. But Ayame is reacting in turn by backing up. The rope dart is a long ranged weapon and that's where she seems intent on staying for the moment, leaning back and hopping out of range of the incoming jab just before it would have snagged her.

"Well," the girl replies, twirling the retracted rope dart at her side idly. "All I can make of your skill so far is that you have a couple years of Umbrella-fu under your belt. And that just doesn't mean much to me." She smirks back, as unpleasant as ever as she skips to the side a little, seeming to be trying to figure out a better angle to slip in an attack from Yurika. Her reaction speeds have been remarkable thus far.

"Though I will give you credit. You're a lot quicker on your feet than that loner Seijyun girl that molts black and white pillow stuffing."

COMBATSYS: Ayame focuses on her next action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


Roberto has found that while he's normally comfortable at range, he just doesn't seem to be able to get into a groove from a distance and so he needs to close back in and fast.

The other soccer balls he has in the area are all but ignored as he moves in to confront the Electrical Storm once more. When he's inside, his hands go up in an orthodox boxer's stance and he sends out a pair of quick jabs before dancing off to the side to angle off in preparation for something else.

COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Roberto's Quick Punch.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Roberto          1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0            Ayame


A gloved hand reaches out, and Elle's forearm catches the punch before it can do any real damage. Her body shakes slightly under the impact, but overall, she doesn't seem entirely too concerned. It's like she /knows/ exactly what Roberto is trying to set up, and either doesn't care, or has already set up a contigency in her head.

It could be either. It could be both. Elle's not an easy fighter to read, and so far she's done rather well for herself, keeping a little step ahead of her opponent. For now anyhow. The Blackjack leader has yet to take any advantage for granted in a long while.

Pushing forward, the electrical power dies down as she steps to the left, avoiding the follow up jabs in order to shoot one hand forward. The hand is like a steel rod, and the clutchign fingers are like a vise as she reaches for Roberto's Neck. It's not a powerful attack so much as it is a fast one, focused on throwing the boy off balance for a moment to keep him busy. Elle's got her own plans to execute, and none of them really involve taking hits for much longer.

Should the hand connect, the fingers will clutch firmly, applying a thumb against the adam's apple. It's just enough to cause a startling pressure soe she can heave the boy away, giving her the proper range she currently feels like fighting in.

Yurika isn't exactly certain what to make of Ayame's analysis at that point. Then again, it is difficult for her to display her skills without her violin, which in a way was rather frustrating; using a different style wasn't landing her many hits much to her frustration. And yet all the while her expression is calm, dark eyes locked on her opponent.

Well she did know one thing, she had a bad attitude. "Black.. And white.. Pillow stuffing." She must mean Miu, and she hadn't heard any rumors of such a match herself. She doesn't worry too much about it however, she instead reaches behind herself and then quickly whips her gloved hand forward. Ayame may see a gleaming, silver tuning fork whipped her way, she may not, but it's coming toward her gut fork-first with amazing precision! Hopefully.

COMBATSYS: Yurika successfully hits Ayame with Thrown Object.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Ayame


As Yurika hurls out the fork, Ayame gets ready to whip it out of the air with her own rope dart. But the projectile is coming in too quick to quite pull it off. Trying to correct at the last moment by stepping to the side, she ends up getting struck hard in the stomach instead. "Ugh," the girl gasps, bending forward, left hand coming forward to press against her stomach. Tuning forks should come with safety disclaimers if they're going to hurt that hard!

"Che," Ayame grunts, slowing the whirling rope dart to simply drop it at her feet, her right hand going to her pouch of tricks to whip out a six inch long metal tube. Pressure applied to the center results in it expanding out swiftly into a full length metal staff that Ayame twirls at her side until it is ready.

"That was cute." the girl snaps before pushing off to charge Yurika again, the weapon out at her side until she gets in close enough to swing hard for Yurika's side. A second hit comes from the other side before Ayame hops back and stabs the weapon out, attempting to jab Yurika with it in the stomach whereupon the girl will maintain the stance, holding the weapon more like a lance for just a moment.

COMBATSYS: Roberto fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Elle with Blazing Juggle.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Ayame


As Elle began to reach for his throat Roberto knew he had two ideal options that would allow him to stay in his perfect range. He could move out of the way, and attempt to pop a jab in her face while still dancing around like a boxer.

Roberto ended up choosing the other option, ramming his knee into her and attempting to plow into her. Unfortunately the soccer player's decision was the wrong one. The hand gets wrapped around his throat before his knee can get there but he's flung away but he's fortunately able to roll with it so it doesn't serve as much more than harassment.

Which is exactly what the attack was meant to be. Little more than a means to force a mistake, which may end up costing Roberto in the long run. Still, Elle's not about to let up the pressure. The aborted attack is noted, but it doesn't stop her progression. Roberto may be rolling, jumping back, moving quickly, but Elle's motions are slow, steady, and focused.

Elle stows her katar, switching one weapon for another, the mace twirling into view with a calculated ease. The weighted meatl bar twirls in her hand with an almost casual air as it immediately blurs, becoming indistinct as she sends a powerful pulse of sonic enegy through the resonating metal.

Then with a sudden burst of speed, she jolts forward, arm drawn back. The two foot long bludgeoning device leaves a blurring aftereffect as she closes in. Her lips a drawn in a tight line as her boots skid to a halt a yard or so away, steel hobnails kicking up sparks as she uses the torque to go into a backhand spin. The mace whips in a quarter circle arc with decided alacrity as she aims not for his head, but for his chest. It's a decidedly larger target, and should the weapon hit, the sonic chin she's charged the weapon in will make it feel like she's struck him a sight bit harder than it would first appear.

COMBATSYS: Yurika interrupts Random Weapon from Ayame with Fatal Requiem.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Yurika           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


The frilly Seijyun student knows her instruments, even if they aren't the usual ones she uses in battle. There is a look of mild satisfaction once the humming weapon strikes, though her gaze then falls to her closed parasol for a brief moment. ".. Was it?" the musician replies, again with her small smile. "Thank you, I think if that is the case.. You will see something a whole lot cuter."

Now it's a staff? She has more experience with that weapon than most of the others Yurika had scene so she sees this as an amazing chance. As Ayame comes close, there's a flash in Yurika's eyes as she raises her weapon into the air, and the two strikes land, both Ayame's and Yurika's.. Though Yurika's combination ends up blowing through with enough force to cut the thief short with the weapon striking Ayame's neck again. This is followed with a series of strikes in a graceful manner, slashing at the girls chest in an 'x' motion, a pirouette into horizontal slash, and then three more clubbing blows at the shoulder, ribs then knee. "Un! Deux! Trois!" It's finalized with a twist and a fierce back-kick to the girls gut with suprising force. Yurika brushes her hair flat into her shoulder afterward.

"What did you think? That is one of my favorite melodies."

Trading blows, huh? Ayame figures it's worth it when Yurika strikes out at her at the same time she aims to smash the bo into the musician's side. Several seconds, slashes, and bashes later, the girl is lying on her back, wondering about what went wrong back there.

The long weapon is used to pry herself back to her feet quickly, though once she's upright again, she finds herself feeling a little less sturdy than she expected, wincing as her knee threatens to fail her. One hand comes up to press against the gashes across her chest, thin red lines forming, carved by the umbrella's fine point. Gingerly applying pressure to that leg assures her that she's good enough to keep going, and at last she lifts her staff back up to grip tightly in her hands.

Feeling the aches and sting of the smacks and slashes, the girl eyes Yurika more warily now. She's handy with that stupid umbrella. Better than she expected. Pausing to catch her breath, she's silent for the moment, teeth clenched tightly. Spitting a mouthful of blood to the side, the girl fixes her eyes back on Yurika. "Very well..."

"I'll show you one of my own!" Concentration allows her to channel energy into the metal staff, the surface of it becoming covered by a vibrant, yellow aura. At places it crackles, forking out like electricity, though it doesn't share any particular traits with that type of energy. Biting back the pain, Ayame goes back on the offense, charging forward to close distance with Yurika, leaping forward into a spin, trying to smash the energy imbued weapon against the side of Yurika's head. She'll come out of the hop with a swing from the opposite direction toward the musician's side and then an overhead bash. Should any strikes connect, each impact is punctuated by a small discharge of the yellow energy, sending sparks showering down around the two girls.

COMBATSYS: Roberto just-defends Elle's Medium Strike!

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Roberto          0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0             Elle
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


Roberto's hands move up in front of him in the stance he knows so well. The stance of a soccer goalie. He watches and waits and then when the sonic energy enhanced maced comes in he raises both hands up to catch it his hands glowing as if he was doing the Shining Clutch, his hands drawing it in like before. There's a difference though. Instead of redirecting the energy back, he disperses the energy as he takes the moment to catch his breath in the process.

He still manages to push past the strike with his hands to deliver a strike of his own in the form of a strong kick to her torso.

COMBATSYS: Elle fails to interrupt Heavy Kick from Roberto with Powerslave.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0             Elle
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


It's about this time where Elle allows her mind to shift gears. Falling into a defensive stance as the heavy kick comes in, Elle sets her stance firm, and prepares for the incoming hit. It's the split second between decisions. She's basically got three options to choose from, and quite frankly this is taking entirely too long. It's not going to be long now until some kind of authority shows up, and if someone doesn't fall over soon, the mission is going to have to be scrubbed.

Therefore, Elle makes a decision that may very well cost her this game. As Roberto's powerful kick comes in, Elle moves in to interceopt and let fly with her mace, the weapon shooting forward, the head disengaging with a blast of electricity. Unfortunately, the kick connects a fraction of a second too fast, resulting in Elle getting smashed sideways and to the ground before the weapon can make it's connection. Her watch timer beeps, and she looks up for Ayame, whose watch is probably giving her the same message. If this can't get wrapped up soon, both of them are going to have to beat a retreat.

COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Ayame's Requiem For Fallen Blossoms.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


It seems for now Yurika still is keeping a decent lead in the match-up. And she certainly isn't concerned about any sort of time-keeping, not that she could come up with a reason to in the first place. The beep isn't something that escapes her ear, but it's dismissed as a hit of the hour. While her expression is plesent, her eyes are anything but forgiving, even as she makes a gesture with her finger for Ayame to come hither.

The energy embued staff yet again comes in contact with her umbrella with a heavy clank for the first strike, and the second smash is redirected instead of full-on blocked, her eyes locked on Ayame's all the while rather darkly. Her parasol seems to, oddly enough, ward of the energy oddly enough, Yurika using the audible clanks to do so.

"That is somewhat impressive.." the musician notes, falling back for yet a third time. "I'm going to give you an option at this point. You may apologize for your foolish deed now, or you may apologize two hundred times while a grind my heel into your back. Take a moment to consider your decision if you wish. I won't be going anywhere." This time she doesn't even raise her fingers to her lips, as she concentrates on the energy she has yet to unleash.

COMBATSYS: Yurika focuses on her next action.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


The strikes are defended against rather well and when the final stroke is delevered, Ayame hops back, putting distance between her and Yurika once again. A faint frown crosses her lips as her watch indicates that this little assault has slipped past schedule.

Yurika's invitation to apologize provokes a smirk from Ayame as the girl bunkers down behind her staff and shakes her head. "That little trick might work on those genteel ladies at that sissy High School you think you're so important at, but it's not going to work on me."

Breathing in and exhaling, trying to force the pain slowing her down out of her mind, the girl stops channeling energy into her staff, allowing the yellow energy to slowly bleed off. A glance is cast toward Elle, but only briefly. If the woman is going to make a call, Ayame will know. For now she just makes sure that she's all right for a bit longer.

COMBATSYS: Ayame focuses on her next action.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Roberto          0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


Roberto notes the look that the rocker gives to the thief but he can't focus on that. He needs to focus on the opponent in front of him. He doesn't want to be overzealous but his attack comes with risks. Then again what attack doesn't.

The moment the foot comes down he takes a quick half-step to swing his foot up one more time this time it goes right for Elle's head in an attempt to give her a face full of chi. If his foot should come down, he will have his back turned to his adversary.

COMBATSYS: Elle endures Roberto's Thrust Kick.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Roberto          0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Yurika           0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1            Ayame


When you're Elle, getting kicked in the head is just another occupational hazard. As the glowing foot smashes into her temple, she staggers sideways. Feet step erratically as she tries to regain balance. Unfortunately, she regains balance just a little too fast for it to be an accident.

With a short spin, Elle's already prepared, her left hand once again brandishing one of her katars. The punching dagger hums to life once more. With Roberto's back presented to her, all she has now is a big fat target.

Elle's arm lances out like a bullet from a gun, the gleaming peircing weapon ripping forward, trailing an afterimage as she tries to ram it into the base of the boy's spine, blood from the kick matting down her hair and tinging it pink. Should the blow connect, Elle will dig the weapon viciously, using the force of the blow to lift him into the air with the dagger and hurl him into the sky. The landing alone will be almost as painful.

".. Hmn." Yurika's gaze deadens, just so slightly as she stands, in a rather face-offish manner against her hooligan opponent. She didn't recognize Ayame, not a clue what school she's even from for that matter. That being the circumstance, she finds it only annoying rather than something to truly be upset about.

"Yes well.. I suppose my first goal should be to change that image, shouldn't it. Tch, you could use a little reforming yourself, actually."

That said, she decides to take the intiative after the pause, and the musician uses her speed to get in close to and then behind Ayame, attempting to hook her umbrella into the girls loose belt and, with both hands, heft her up by the side by about a foot. Should she accomplish that, the parasol is drawn back and jabbed forward to press agaist the girls neck and proceed to twirl her in mid-air as if she were a gymnasts ribbon, finished off with a downward slam into the ground.

COMBATSYS: Yurika successfully hits Ayame with Melancholy Air.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Roberto          0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           0/-------/-======|=======\====---\1            Ayame


Ayame turns with Yurika at first, expecting an attack from the side, only to find that the girl has slipped in entirely around her. A last ditch attempt is made to slam her staff down in the way of that incoming hook, but she isn't able to in time. Finding her self caught by her belt, the girl erks, only to get lefted up and twirrled by her neck before being introduced to the hard, mall floor beneath them.

The theif lands with a grunt but she isn't completely out of it just yet. Without even taking the time to recover from the rough landing, she's already back on the offense. "That does it..." comes the soft growl. The only warning of the combination to come is a bright, angry red aura that cascades over her weapon, flaring up in places like flames licking along the surface of the shiney metal. And while on her back, she swings for Yurika's ankles before trying to use that as cover for getting up to her feet. And then the girl launches out with swing after swing, stepping into spins, hopping into overhead slams, backstepping on occasion to deliver jabs with one end of the staff...

All precursors, however, to distract from the final blow as Ayame whips the weapon up over her head and spins it one last time. "This is it!" A quiet hydraulic hiss and sound of metal sliding against metal would be the indication of the three sharp blades that extend out of one end of the polearm just before the girl brings the weapon down for one final, bloody stab.

COMBATSYS: Roberto interrupts Chase the Ace from Elle with Bicycle Kick.
- Power hit! -

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Roberto          0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1             Elle
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0            Ayame


Most would say that to turn one's back on their opponent is folly, but Roberto had a plan in mind when his foot came down from his Thrust Kick he began to inwardly count to himself as he waits for Elle to retaliate.

The katar shoots out for his spine but instead of finding purchase in his spine, Roberto leaps up and backwards as he flips himself over slamming his foot into her head.

The blade does still catch him on the back of his leg but it's not nearly as bad as it would've been if he hadn't made his move.

Well, that was unexpected. After applying that level of focus to an attack, Elle's not really prepared to have someone punch through her assault with that kind of finality. Still, there's a caveat for all this.

Roberto was never really the target.

Elle reels backward from the hit, twisted at a painful angle. They're overtime here, and the objective's not complete. As Ayame lets loose with the nastiest attack she can muster, Elle's forced to turn around and follow suit.

The cry of 'This is it!' is the signal Elle's been waiting to hear. Immediately, Roberto is forgotten, and her eyes narrow as the mace in her hand crackles to life, electricity flaring along it's length as she whips it around, the mace converting to a flail with the flick of the wrist. Instantly, the head and chain are coasted with her potent brand of electrical power as it goes shooting across the mall with a smooth motion. If she times it right, Elle will catch Yurika around the waist at the end of Ayame's impressive barrage of staff attacks to basically electrocute her, and then smash her into every available surface, still running as she motions for Ayame. "That's it! Time's up! Beat feet!"

COMBATSYS: Yurika parries Ayame's Final Solstice!

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Roberto          0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0            Ayame


COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Elle's Slayer.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Roberto          0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0            Ayame


Yurika looks mildly amused. "I did hear that, by the way. You seem a bit discouraged." As if the red aura wasn't a dead giveaway.. Or perhaps it could just be the set-up for a very large attack. Yurika simply hasn't a clue what to expect though because the girl simply carries so many different kinds of weapons. She'll simply have to act on instinct.

Luckily for her it's the cane again, and she meets each strike with amazing skill, the lowest strike is parried with her weapon, and then deflect after deflect follows, one hand held delicatly by her side.. And yet it takes enough concentration for her to break a sweat until the final strike is re-directed with enough force to send Ayame stumbling off to the musicians side.

And then Elle. Yurika looks honestly suprised, her dark eyes widen a bit, "... Miss? What is the meaning of this?" Her parasol still in hand she's at least able to struggle within the rockers grapple; it's times like these that Kurow's training sessions really shine. Her weight is dropped completely, though not quite enough to save her from being smashed through a stores glass window before she's able to slip free and roll off into the clothing racks that instantly come crashing down on top of her, and entangle her rather embarassingly within the coat hangers as well. Little help, Roberto!

COMBATSYS: Yurika takes no action.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Roberto          0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0            Ayame


As Yurika starts to parry, Ayame only picks up speed, certain if she can get one strike through it will be enough to open up the way for additional hits. But it's all in vain, the student's form flawless, leaving the wouldbe thief stumbling past her, completely out of strength and energy to continue. A glare over her shoulder is cast toward Yurika. She hadn't taken the girl for much at first, but she was definitely proven wrong on several fronts in this fight.

She doesn't linger long though. Elle said to beat it and Ayame is more than happy to comply. She's familiar with knowing when to call it quits - no honor to be found among bandits and all that. The polearm blades are retracted quickly and the weapon collapsed. The rest of her items she'll leave behind - they're all easily replaced besides her trusty staff.

"Splitting up," the girl calls out as she notices mall authorities drawing near over her shoulder.

COMBATSYS: Ayame takes no action.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Roberto          0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0             Elle
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Yurika           1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0            Ayame


Roberto looks on as the two members of Blackjack start making their hasty retreat. The soccer player then moves over to the clothing store where Yurika is and looks at her fallen form. He actually considers leaving her there, but there's something about fighting along side someone that allows him to put aside his feelings. At least temporarily put them aside.

The soccer star begins pulling the clothes racks and when Yurika can finally be seen, he offers a hand to Yurika. But even as he offers his hand to help her up, he looks to where Elle had gone as he thinks about how she handed him his only loss while working in a team even if it wasn't an official fight.

Log created on 22:56:19 12/25/2007 by Ayame, and last modified on 12:01:57 12/27/2007.