Description: Recruiting students through violent and intense action? Sure, why not?! It's time for seasonal YFCC course signups again and Hotaru has a really hot idea on how to wake up the audience. K' came highly recommended from snickering YFCC staff and thus it is the young instructor and her proud pupil, Kentou, face off against the broody, moody flame thrower.
It's a very well known fact to anyone that frequents the YFCC that there are classes in self defense offered and even some courses that cross over into techniques that would constitute basic martial arts. It's a fairly well known fact that some of those classes are taught by fighters who have obtained a small degree of celebrity status.
Enter Hotaru Futaba, young volunteer instructor for basic fighting skills. The course is titled: Better Living Through Martial Arts, with the subtitle of 'Discover first hand how learning a martial art can teach you better discipline, boost your self-esteem, provide focus and a sense of security in uncertain times, and improve your health to boot!' Admiring the sign mounted on a stand outside the gym room where the class is being taught, Hotaru reaches out to straighten it just a little before giving it a nod of approval. "Yosha!" she chirps with a little fist pump of enthusiasm.
She's been teaching pretty consistantly since sometime early summer of the previous year, course after course, her class population varying depending on a variety of factors. Sometimes attendence has waned after interruptions from unpleasant sorts such as a certain obnoxious French young man, for example. But if there's one thing that gets attendence to spike, it's sweet fighting demonstrations!
Tonight is open signups at the start of a new session for the class. Targetted at students that have been attending classes since last summer, it's a step above the most basic level classes Hotaru has offered before. And of course, to help drive signups, a demonstration fight has been promised! That'll pack in a crowd at least. In order to faciliate tonight's demonstration the girl asked the aid of her one and only dedicated pupil, Kentou Ondori.
While talking with others around the YFCC, the suggestion came up that she should have one of the more recent new hires participate as well. She somehow missed the snickers accompanying the recommendations, unfortunately, mistaking sarcasm for an honest recommendation. Huh, the girl had pondered, realizing that she hadn't had a chance to meet the staff member and this seemed as good an opportunity as any! After all, he's YFCC staff, so he should be able to help demonstration Better Living Through Martial Arts as well as anyone, right?
Breathing in, the proud young teacher exhales softly, becoming aware of a certain amount of commotion coming on from the other side of the door. "Sounds like folks are eager tonight," she remarks to herself, reaching down to the handle to pull the door open and step inside.
"....And another thing!" The boy wonder prods the beast of flame square in the chest with the tip of his finger. Utterly unintimidated by the looming specter of the ultra-predatory man, the youth stands tall a solid foot and an inch beneath the eye level as he frowns deeply, "Its one thing for you to be skulking' around like some kind of weirdo Yakuza, but I don't know WHERE you get off scaring students like that! As if kids in this town don't have enough problems already without you being all gangster on 'em!"
The point of contention of this growing kerfuffle? Lil' Amiko is sniffling over in the corner because meanie K' ignored her stuffed bear 'Foo-chan'. While the boy has had both good and bad experiences with this recent guardian of the YFCC, however the one thing the Kenpo Apprentice cannot stand is making girls cry. The would-be white knight leaped to the girl's defense and demanded immediate and complete apologies from the passing fellow which has lead to this particular confrontation that greets Hotaru as she finally enters into the room.
The other classmates? Hooting, hollering and chanting for the 'demonstration' to begin! Perhaps surprisingly to the clone, a good number of them are actually telling him to rip the kid's head off and throw his body out the window. Noooot much love lost between the prodigal fighter and the YFCC student body at large, interestingly enough. The remainder?
..Well, they just want to see a fight. Because fights are -awesome-.
The boy remains unbowed, getting all up in K's business and not letting the man budge from his spot near the middle of the room. >.< Looking for all the world like the most furious paper mache speed-bump the world has ever seen. He originally was here to find an appropriate fighter for the demonstration... however.. Aaaah, that little matter happened to slip his mind in light of this greater act of daring do and selfless (re:brainless) chivalry.
If he'd been wearing a watch, K' might have chosen this particular point in time to check it. Ostentatiously. Just to piss Kentou off more. The sad fact is, he doesn't; so he just settles for looking pointedly right over Kentou's aggravated, scolding head. It's not particularly difficult, and it spares him having to look at the kid.
Standing his ground, stance the picture of complete relaxation, hands shoved in his pockets, K' weathers Kentou's grievances with the sort of endless, mutely-amused patience only possessed by saints and expert douchebags. He rolls his eyes briefly as Kentou's accusations go up a notch in fervor, letting his eyes flick closed thereafter. Tilting his head back lazily, he takes in the distressingly bloodthirsty demands of the 'audience.' There is a moment in which K' seems to give them some due consideration. It -is- tempting. There's no denying that.
It gets even more tempting when Kentou actually touches him. The sole reaction here, in this situation, is a patronizing, strained sort of chuckle, but a slightly psychotic note under the surface amusement suggests that Kentou just came really close to triggering something else.
Eventually, as soon as Kentou's tirade dies down, one yellow eye cracks open. Its regard tracks downwards until it finds Kentou's indignant gaze. "Are you done...?" K' inquires, not uninterestedly. "I suggest you stop there. You're already lucky enough I didn't break your arm off for touching me."
A gloved hand lifts, aiming to settle-- quite harshly, though not exactly damagingly-- on Kentou's head to lightly push him away: with an added ruffle of the hair, for maximum infuriating effect. "Now if you have a problem with me..." Without actually looking in her direction, he indicates the newly-arrived Hotaru with a tilt of the head. "...ask your 'sensei' about the remedy she's gonna give you for it."
Well, this wasn't exactly the scene Hotaru had expected to walk in on. The young, pig-tailed teacher pauses at the door, blue eyes blinking at the rabble going on. Students laughing, hooting, and jeering, calling for a fight. Kentou all up in K's business like he owns the joint. Poor Amiko crying in the corner, hugging Foo-chan. K' antagonizing Kentou further and pretty much fitting the image of perhaps the last person Hotaru would expect to find in the employ of the Youth Center.
Whew. She really has her work cut out for her on this one. The class is supposed to be about discipline, self-control, well centered, well mannered behaviors. At the moment she's not really sure much of any of those attributes are being exhibited! Breathing in and exhaling with a quiet sigh, Hotaru slips wordlessly across to the nearby corner, hand coming down to rest on the shoulders of the young, crying girl, "I'm glad you could make it tonight, Amiko-san. And you brought Foo-chan as well? Would the two of you like to take a seat on the bleachers? I think I see a spot just for you on the front row."
Helping the girl to her feet, Hotaru gives her a comforting pat on the back before her eyes skim over the faces of the students gathered to see tonight's demonstration. Her mouth forms the faintest of frowns of disappointment at their behavior. Most of those gathered have been learning from her for over half a year now, and sometimes she wonders if any thing she's teaching them is sticking at all. "There isn't going to be any head ripping tonight," she remarks sternly, not even particularly raising her voice to secure their attention. She usually doesn't have to.
Finally the diminutive fighter shifts her attention to her two 'assistants' for tonight's exhibition. Back and forth she glances, from Kentou to K', head tilting up as necessary for the much taller white haired young man. "Good evening Kentou. And you must be K. I'm glad you could both make it tonight. It's hard to do demonstration matches without help, after all. I appreciate you both taking the time." The leather clad young man is given the most scrutiny, since the girl already knows Kentou well enough.
A brief review of his fighting history placed the surly participant at a backet well above that in which Hotaru regularly fights, which works well since she intends to have Kentou participate at her side in this match. Her stern expression shifts to that of a grateful, friendly smile as she continues, "As the invitation mentioned, you came recommended as a perfect candidate to help me with this demonstration match. I regret I haven't had the chance to make your acquaintance before now." A slight bow of her head is offered.
Kentou's frown evolves from 'significant disapproval' to 'complete censure' as K' boredly offers his counter argument. Fists planted at his hips as he leans just slightly forwards, clearly not backing off a fraction of an inch even in the shadow of this young man's menace. The boy is an odd duck that way.
In terms of his own safety, Kentou sometimes shows concern for his well-being. However, when standing up for other people.. Even strangers.. The boy fighter is utterly fearless.
At the direct threat, the boy answers with a single 'HEH'. Offering a wide feral grin as he tilts his head, wild bangs rustling with the motion as he retorts, "You're -lucky- that's all I did, buddy! I-"
Pausing in mid-threat, the boy's mousy eyes roll upwards. Following the movement of that glove as he begins to warn, "Oooh no. Nooo you d-"
Bomp. His head pushed back abruptly as his noggin inclines away from the man. His braid rustling down his back with the movement as he remains leaning for just a few.. His eyes gazing at the ceiling as his jaw tightens.
That's it..
"Ooooh, Let me tell you all about the problem Ihavewithy-" The boy's head slowly descends. Rocking forwards in a slow build of momentum as the tension tightens his form. His words picking up speed until they blurt out in a rush.. JUST beginning to jolt forward and introduce this guy to a whole new world of respect.
Although, 'Sensei' is the one word K' speaks that freezes the boy in mid-charge. Halting abruptly with a 'grk' escaping his clenched lips. Eyes widened as he stumbles forth a step, very nearly brushing his forehead against the beast's chest as his cheeks pale.
"S..Sensei.." Kentou stammers. Saucer-sized eyes slowly sliding in the direction of K's head tilt to rest upon an equally disapproving Hotaru.
Immediately the boy wonder drops what he was doing. Turning to face and immediately bowing to Hotaru-sensei with careful formality. Likewise, the rest of the student body halts their adolescent reverie and go silent, mimicking Kentou's bow if a half-second later.
Naturally, leave it to Hotaru to cure little Amiko's sniffles as the now-smiling girl immediately shuffles to the indicated spot. Foo-chan ensconced upon her diminutive lap as she smiles happily. ^.^
The kids in this part of town are in need of discipline. But, perhaps it is a sign that she's getting through to them in her teachings a little bit that they indeed do offer her the proper respect teachers get in this country.
With Miss Futaba's presence, Kentou becomes worlds more manageable. His cheeks gaining color as his chocolate eyes drift towards the floor. In retrospect, realizing he veeery nearly did something he swore he wouldn't do. The boy can only try to do his best to regain some of the faith he lost by being a toch more obedient.
"H..Hotaru-Sensei." The simple reply of acknowledgement to her words. He neither questions nor elaborates her words in general, and most especially not when she's assertively teaching in the YFCC. "I am ready to.." The boy's voice jarring as realization dawns, "..to demonstrate, Sensei." Eyes darting to K' for just a moment then ahead at attention.
Wait.. K' was -invited-? HE'S the? ..... Oops.
An audible swallow as the Rosy hue of embarrassment grows brighter on the boy's face, though he speaks no further on that. Letting his Master acquaint herself with the hired help.
With a look of marked, feline boredom, K' tries to have the decency to look halfway interested in the fact that Kentou's furious temper has snapped and the raging youth is about to (theoretically) introduce him to a world of pain. Largely, he fails, despite his most polite attempts. He blinks slowly as Kentou lunges forwards, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a nasty half-smile. Is he really going to--
--ah. No. It seems that the one thing that could stop Kentou short has just showed up, and explained to her protege the exact details of what's to happen: almost instantly silencing and calming the room by her presence. K' has to admit being somewhat impressed at how quickly Hotaru can shut a room up. He's never met Hotaru, never bothered to learn about her outside of having seen a couple of her fight tapes; but this is hardly the worst first impression she could make on him. K' respects few things, after all.
He can tell she's got this room pretty well embarrassed by its behavior-- especially Kentou-- and the fact seems patently amusing to him. His vague smirk hara-kiris itself wide open into a malevolent sort of grin, a genuine amusement glinting fiercely along the ragged edges of that nasty look. Undeterred by the echoing, abashed silence, he lets slip a brief purl of laughter as he lifts a shoulder in a diffident shrug and circles back to open some space between himself and the two others. The need for posturing past, K' has no further desire to force himself to stand any closer to anyone than he strictly has to.
Surprisingly, he turns back to face Hotaru: which, considering that this is K', is actually more a courtesy than something to be expected as routine. Nonetheless, he is the only person in the room who doesn't bow. In fact, he doesn't even bother greeting Hotaru formally at all, other than to flick her an appraising sort of look and hear out her own string of formalities. His sharp yellow eyes consider her in silence a few moments, the direct and uncompromising look characteristic of a boy who remains totally unaware of the impropriety of such wordless intensity.
"I had nothing better to do," he eventually replies, curtly: but not, shockingly enough, entirely impolitely. His studying gaze soon gets its explanation with his followup: "I figured I'd see what you could do." Lazily, his gaze flicks over towards Kentou as the boy blurts out he's ready; and his intense stare stays on the boy some scrutinizing length of time as well. This kid, too? Briefly, K''s eyes slide closed, as if he might find some reserves of patience on the inside of his lids.
If Hotaru picks up on Kentou's surprise she doesn't let on, her attention firmly squared on K' for the moment as he's the odd man out in the room as being someone she doesn't know in the slightest. That isn't to say she's completely caught off guard by his borderline apathy. His style of clothing had her wondering if he would bear certain resemblences, in personality, to a particular young man she knows very well indeed.
"Good," she speaks up comfortably, "Hopefully we can make it worth your time." Spoken a certain way, the remark could come off as if trying to provoke him, but the sincerity in her voice makes it hard to assume she means anything other than simply what she said - that this evening's event won't be a waste of time for the before-now stranger to her.
"It looks like you two had already gotten acquainted beforehand," she continues, smiling brightly as she takes a couple steps back. Whether Kentou and K' met tonight or have already had a number of 'encounters' is unknown to her at the moment. Turning on her toes, the girl faces the four rows of wooden bleachers along the side of the room. The floor is covered with blue tumbling mats, common in such training gyms as this one and the walls are padded as well. Safety first at the YFCC! "Thank you all for coming out tonight. Will the match you will see doesn't really represent what will be taught during the upcoming season, there still might be interesting things to learn from what happens throughout it. Though," she cautions, raising a finger, "Don't go off and try and of these things on your own. The Young Fighters Community Center encourages all training and practice to be done in the company of an experienced instructor." Ah, brief legal disclaimers.
Clasping her hands behind her back, she continues, "All right, with that aside, Kentou, who you all know already," cough, "will be teamed up with me for this match as we take on one of our newer employees here," where does Alma find people sometimes, she muses, "K."
Unclasping her hands, one of the girl's hands comes up to rest at the back of her head as she smiles back toward K' and Kentou, "All right, please do keep in mind the audience here, ne? All projectile attacks should be targetted toward any of the other three walls." Eh heh.
Moving to one side of the room, Hotaru beckons toward her student, "Kentou, start over here by me." Not fair to begin with K' being trapped between them, after all. Not to say that things won't likely progress in that direction throughout the fight!
While the boy indeed stews in his own shame, this is not to say he's ignoring K' now.
Oooh no.
It's one thing to make lil' Aniko cry. It's another to disrespect Hotaru-Sensei right in her face with flippant behavior. K' may be some rude foreigner who doesn't know any better, but there comes a point where education is required. Often physical.
But, of course, the boy knows that his Master does not advocate respect under the threat of violence. Its a hard lesson to keep in mind, when facing down a young man whom clearly has issues with authority and discipline.
Not that Kentou would've known anybody like that.
The boy slowly turns on his heel to face K' with the single most disapproving look ever recorded in human history. The shorter youth neither shifts nor snarls in the manner of some ill-natured beast, but laughing in Hotaru's face is the world's fastest method of express ordering an Ondori knuckle sandwich. The boy meets that predator gaze unflinchingly. The very image of a mouse that stood up to the cat.
As his abrasive nature simply rolls off of Hotaru like water off a duck, the kenpo apprentice offers a slow, silent exhale. He's only seen his Master's temper flare once or twice before, but its truly a rare event. Only then in the midst of individuals whom truly deserve that measure of distain.
Kentou has known Hotaru to be a sublime judge of character. Seeing worth in individuals that he, himself, couldn't find a glimmer of redemption in. Especially of the rougher and less respectful sort. However, his Master does remind him inadvertently that he does know something of this hired gun.
His mousy eyes softening, if only a fraction, offering a simple, "Hai, Hotaru-Sensei." In reply to the possibly rhetorical question of knowing K-Dash beforehand.
As a matter of fact, Kentou took a metaphorical bullet for 'Kadish' already. A gesture which the older youth has yet to fully forgive him for. That, however, is neither here nor there now. Kentou has an appointed job to do, and he isn't in the habit of failing his master!
Dutifully, taking a few steps towards the padded region. Hopping quickly in thinly-hidden eagerness for the coming event, the boy pays little attention to the initial safety protocols amidst the student body. He may not be an experienced instructor, but Kentou has been in these kinds of fights more than a few times already.
At his introduction, the boy inclines his head in a quick little bow to all. Weathering the wearied glances from his peers before turning his focus to the man named 'Okay' once more.
As Hotaru lays out the ground-rules on projectile slinging, the boy can only sheepishly half-smile in his Master's direction. If ooonly he had that problem. ._.; He's been.. working on that 'projectile' thing. Not that he wants to telegraph that inability so obviously to his soon-to-be opponent!
"Hai, Hotaru-Sensei!" Kentou acknowledges. Once more altering positions as he immediately races to Hotaru's side. Once there, he begins to hop in place. Bouncing on the mat on the balls of his feet while rotating his arms in quick, limbering movements. Like winding up a machine, getting ready to spring into action.
Fortunately for Kentou's blood pressure, K' doesn't laugh at Hotaru in specific so much as the situation in its entirety; but whatever transient amusement K' might have derived from the initial tension of this event has largely already evaporated anyway. The scent of an impending fight is heavy in the air by now, and built for conflict as he is, he can't help the way that soon-to-be violence switches his mood to something a little more focused. He doesn't even bother messing with Kentou much more, his gaze changed from regarding the younger boy with contempt-- to watching him with a cold analysis as an opponent.
Besides, Kentou's infinitely more boring now his teacher is here reining in all his more amusing reactions.
Hotaru herself, K' can already tell, is the sort that is very hard to ruffle. K''s eyes half-shutter, but not in displeasure. He flicks Hotaru a direct, neutral sort of look-- which, in a more polite, expressive person, might have equated to an inclination of the head-- before he simply turns on a heel and stalks over to the opposite side of the room. He prowls to a stop in a gradual, circling manner, slowing rather than just cutting his pace dead; his left side faces Hotaru and her young protege, the young man choosing to stand at a slant and look over his left shoulder rather than face them head on. His stance is casual. It doesn't even look like a fighting stance. But in truth, he's already ready; now, he's just waiting.
"Hopefully." Uncharacteristically, K' speaks again; even more uncharacteristically, it's not with -quite- such a biting tone as usual. His eyes half-lidded, he just waits through Hotaru's introductions and formalities. With any luck, he didn't zone out during her warnings about where he should be aiming his projectiles; though honestly, even K' should have enough common sense not to shoot fire at small children. -Should-.
It seems to vary how easily it is for someone to get the course instructor riled up. Being standoffish, passive aggressive, or unpleasant may be a step in the right direction. But it takes more than that. She is dating Jiro after all. That isn't to say she doesn't notice the tension between her student and K', even if she doesn't really know the source of it other than what she has been able to pick up on since arriving tonight - which amounts to roughly K' being inconsiderate and Kentou not accepting that kind of behavior!
With everyone in position, however, it's time to start the demonstration match. It's been a while since the girl has fought alongside Kentou, and in all the prior occasions it was never in anything remotely sanctioned, unless one counts dealing with Mad Gear or being assaulted by Kurow out of no where a sanctioned battle. She smiles faintly, glad at the opportunity to do so now at last.
Exhaling softly, the girl turns one shoulder toward K', slipping her feet apart a little, adopting a very loose fighting stance. Bouncing on her toes a little, it's clear that she's not the sort to claim a part of the floor and just try to hold her ground the whole fight. "All right then, let's begin." comes the statement announcing the start of the match, her blue eyes focused on K' across the way, making sure that for all his assumed inattention, he is fully aware that the fight has started.
Proper time given for K' to make ready, even if that somewhat indifferent stance IS his combat stance. His style of combat is a complete mystery to the girl. This will be one of those 'Learn as you go' types of fights, she muses. But K' is going to see what she can do first, as the girl takes off into a sprint, bearing directly in on the taller fighter, a blue and white blur.
As she closes in, the girl brings her hands in close, as if readying a palm strike, but once she is nearly at point blank range, she shifts, slamming her hands forward and then out to the sides in order to try and get a grip on the leather clad young man's arms. If she gets the grip she seeks, it'll give Hotaru the leverage she needs to convert all that forward momentum into a series of rapid kicks right up the front of him before flipping up and over his shoulder to try and land somewhere behind him!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kentou has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
And typically, small children should have enough common sense to not throw punches at K'.
While Kentou has sense, it ain't very common.
At least, it appears this hoodlum's edge has dulled somewhat upon Hotaru's serene disposition. A phenomena the Beast of Flame is not alone in, as the boy wonder has likewise calmed himself in her presence considerably. Hotaru is the one, unfailing certain force that can bring Kentou to heel. A power that is not undeserved, or wholly unique towards the boy. Even the Monsters of Southtown find themselves captivated by her sincerity.
At least, until she kicks them in the head.
In near-perfect mirror image, Kentou turns his shoulder towards K' as Hotaru does so, his back towards her with his feet bouncing in synchronized movements. His arms lift with his elbows high and hands closed. The closed fist is one of the few remaining differences between Kentou's style and Hotaru's now, as their stances would otherwise be identical. They've trained together every day for months now and how much the youth has learned from her is strikingly evident when compared side by side as they are now.
The boy's jaw grits and his eyes sharpen, fighting back an eager little chuckle as his pulse quickens in his veins. He's been meaning to test his strength against this guy for awhile now, all he needed.. was a proper excuse! While the boy feels a tiny shred guilty for ganging up on the guy alongside his Master, this IS a teamwork demonstration! Besides, he has a feeling Kadish is a whole lot tougher than he originally thought..
As Hotaru darts into motion, Kentou is her shadow. Rushing with equal speed even if his slightly shorter foot-strides force him to run a little quicker. As Hotaru reaches for K's arms, only then does Kentou hang back precisely two steps. Allowing his Master to execute the initial grasping hold before racing up his form.. And Kentou will immediately launch into a series of stepping kicks on the dark brigand's opposite side. Racing across his Master's path and flipping over the beast's opposite shoulder, should the series of techniques succeed!
COMBATSYS: K' endures Hotaru's Shin-Jou Tai.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: K' interrupts Shin-Jou Tai from Kentou with Second Shell.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/--=====|
K' looks half-asleep. His yellow eyes heavily-lidded, sidewise stance loose, his breathing comes slowly; his gaze switching between Hotaru and Kentou with a lazily-intense regard. He is a complete mystery, in fighting style, to both his opponents-- just as their style is largely a mystery to him, outside of what he has seen in tapes of Hotaru's abilities. But just as Hotaru is quick to display what it is she can do, K' will be equally quick in rejoining with his own ability. Just-- not upon her person. Not yet, anyway.
He hadn't reckoned on Kentou's style being -quite- so similar to hers, however, so as to imitate her techniques at the same time she executes them. The both of them arrow towards him one a little behind the other. Hotaru's hands snap out towards his arms, and-- K' lets her snag them, his cold eyes watching her with that same dispassion even as she slams that series of kicks into him hard enough to hiss the breath out of him. A tightening of his jaw remains the sole visible indication of how hard she hits, the boy having learned how to dull shows of pain long ago.
He moves with the last blow, turning sharply in the midst of his backwards skid as Hotaru flips deftly away. His stillness evaporates instantly, defensive nonmotion converted instantly into a searing aggression. With a sharp hiss from the sudden pain of it, he draws on the fire in him, the sudden spark of energy perceptible to anyone with the senses to perceive such things. A twitch of his right hand bursts the holy flames into existence in a bright arc directly before him, the Kusanagi fire burning with a consistency absent to any normal chi flame.
Still using the momentum of Hotaru's strikes to his advantage, K' whirls sharply with a slashing kick, cutting the blow clear through the fire and into Kentou-- right in the middle of the younger boy's assault on his back. The horizontal blow strikes with sufficient force to knock the young fighter clear into the opposite wall. K' retracts immediately after that sharp, snakelike reprisal, lapsing back into the watchful stillness of his original stance as quickly as he'd exited it.
If Kentou was initially feeling a bit guilty about ganging up on K', perhaps his first taste of the flames the man can bring to bear will have him thinking otherwise. Hotaru is mid-air when the Ondari style Shin-jou Tai gets cut drastically short by the timely retaliation of K', having converted her own strikes into momentum to let him dish out a quick attack on the poor kid coming in second.
Landing from her flip forward, the girl slides only briefly, spinning around on her toes to face back toward him, sparing an instant to evaluate Kentou's condition following getting struck by fire hot enough to feel even from her distance. Eh, he'll be all right, she decides. Might need a fire extinguisher if he eats too many more like that though! The exhileration of a good challenge has started to occupy her thoughts, though she focuses on keeping her mind on the task at hand.
She starts to open her mouth to comment on Kentou's valiant attempt only to close it a second later, deciding that not only should the pressure be kept on the more capable fighter but under the circumstances, even possitive commentary might be taken the wrong way.
Only now Hotaru is behind K', the man having turned around to send Kentou packing with a bit of a surprise, and the girl decides to see how well he is at watching his back. It's an important part of being double-teamed after all - situational awareness.
Her next attack comes in the form of a spinning kick through the air aimed rightly at the level of his upper back. The intent is to drop into a sweep toward the back of his ankles, a second strike just in case he's left open after the jump kick.
Eeep!
While Hotaru's offensive is completely successful, it appears the youth's own ascent is met with much greater difficulty. After vaulting a mere pair of steps, that wall of flame erupts before him with astonishing intensity. Chocolate eyes reflecting fire for a brief moment as his mouth widens, completely unable to alter his course..
..That is, until K' alters his course for him. The kick striking true and swatting the smaller youth clean out of the air. With a sharp YELP the boy crashes against the opposite surface. Rebounding from the raw kinetic blow and flopping in mid-air to land in a roll.
Gasping for air, Kentou presses a hand to his chest a moment. Eyes widened in surprise at the force and conviction behind that painful attack.
..Okay.. He's definitely stronger than.. Wait.. Whats?
The youth's eyes blink a moment as he glances down. A puzzled look crosses his eyes as he stares at the small flickers of flame yet burning upon his traditional kenpo uniform. With a squeak, the youth quickly pats down his chest.. putting out the little fires before hopping to his feet once more.
The fires.. they were still there? ...But .. Chi-invoked flames always disappear? ... Is this part of his technique or? ...
Something about those fires doesn't jive with Kentou's small familiarity with Chi, but the boy is hardly an expert. Eitherway, K's still his opponent and this fight is hardly over!
While Hotaru makes her attack, the boy sees he'll need to close the distance swiftly in order to take advantage of numbers.
"HUT!" Kentou hops forth in a sideways lunge, crossing one leg forwards before -stamping- down. "SHINSOKU-"The impact gives the boy a -burst- of speed. Blurring across the distance of the mat like a human-bullet. His fist leading with arm outstretched parallel to his shoulders. Like a human-spear.
"-YARI!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits K' with Shinsoku na Yari.
- Power hit! -
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits K' with Light Kick.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-======|
K''s gaze flickers between Kentou and their little audience-- Hotaru being out of his line of sight. His eyes shutter again, K' paying attention not just to visual cues, but also to other telltale signs of impending attack. The touch of light steps on the mat-- the sudden absence of sound that indicates a leaping kick. Despite his stillness, K' is a well-tuned machine of thought and reaction; but unfortunately for the instructive purposes of this match, the vast majority of K''s fighting process is completely internal: not even the slightest shred of an outward indication given away to broadcast any of his intentions.
Even fighters like K', however, are occasionally prone to error. Misconstruing the speed and closeness of Hotaru's kick from his auditory cues, K' leaves it to second. He settles to deal with Kentou's lunging strike, fully prepared to catch and throw aside the blow; the sudden acceleration catches him off guard, getting under his defense before he can adjust it. The resulting kinetic force is sufficient to drive him back into Hotaru's attack, one which takes him off his footing.
Even despite the short distance between himself and the ground, the boy still manages to twist to land on all fours like a cat: skidding into a bestial prowl with a sharp, irritated breath. Looks like all that training has paid off for these two, even if their opportunities to fight in tandem have been small... but then, the few times they did were in very serious situations: ones that would teach far more than mere exhibition spars.
Still mantled in that aggressive, predatory stance, K' lets his head dip slightly in seeming thought. A moment later he's ripped straight from zero to some ludicrous speed, aiming a sharp snapping kick clear towards Hotaru in a characteristically vicious blow.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru parries K''s Minutes Spike!
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-======|
Her sweep completed, Hotaru comes up in a backstepping motion, recognizing just how swift K' was to take control of his fall and not wanting to be caught off guard in close range with the flame wielder. She only just caught a glance out of the corner of her eyes at Kentou patting away the fire lingering on his outfit and for a fleeting moment she tries ponder the implications.
But the time for thinking is brief and it is on pure instinct that the girl moves to defend herself. With a reputation for being flighty and a stature that rather supports the that style of defense, she does, at times, focus her speed into a more aggressive reaction than simply trying to scramble out of the way of incoming attacks.
K's snapping kick comes in so fast that the time to react is miniscule, but she pulls it off. Such an aggressive attack like that leaves K' open to having his momentum turned right against him. A minimal sidestep is taken, Hotaru taking her face out of harm's way, her left hand snapping up to strike out at an angle toward K's forward shin with just enough force to jepordize his landing.
The intent is to create a window of opportunity for what the Kenpo artist has brewing in her right hand, her forearm ablaze with a sapphire blue aura that looks as cool as ice though bears no such properties.
Completing her turn places her at K's back, and that's when the attack comes, as Hotaru slams her right hand forward, unleashing a blast of pure force at very close range. Unlike his fire, there would be no secondary effect - simply the sensation of being struck solidly before the mass of chi would splash away and cease to exist. "YA!"
Kentou may not strike nearly as hard as many in these fighting circuits, but the youth is -fast-. The Ondori-Style is about speed and execution, and few techniques out there can match the God-Speed Spear in its velocity when properly performed.
Even that was only barely enough to find a chink in Kadish's defenses while heavily distracted by his Master flanking him. The boy literally bounces back a few steps after the initial impact. With his rigid stance, the image of the youth sliding back with his fist-outstretched and wided stance is almost comical. But, Kentou's attunement to Hotaru's timing pays off yet again as the lancing blow pushes K' just enough into Hotaru's trap.
Even as K' recovers, the boy again returns to his stance. Recovering his balance after that fast technique and returning to his prancing, nimble stance. The youth was just about to reengage before K'.. disappears.
Kentou cannot repress the soft gasp in the back of his throat, staring at the after-image of where K' is most certainly no longer. A nervous look around until he spies Hotaru finishing a magnificent evasion as she sidesteps an attack that Kentou couldn't even follow with his naked eyes. Not only that, but whirling about and loosing a combination of movements and a glowing sphere of brilliant power.. Again reinforces the fact that Kentou is a child playing in the giant's playground. For a heartbeat, Kentou stops being an active participant to simply witness the skills unleashed before his own eyes.. No different than the other gawking children in the audience.
Whoa.
Time in.
The boy wonder snaps out of his stupor with a slight shake of his head. Perhaps realizing his hesitation the youth wastes no further time as he rushes into the fray. Having no training in how to best compliment such an advanced technique as the Hakki Shou, the youth just has to improvise. "HAAAAA-HUT!"
With a kiai, Kentou vaults up into the air in a risky, if high-powered move. Whirling as he flips forwards while spinning about, pole-straight. Rigid legs cleaving downwards in a powerful stomp in an attempt to vector K's potential recoil from being struck by the ball of chi and -stomp- him to the floor if he can!
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits K' with Heavy Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits K' with Hakki Shou EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
Violence does always have its downside, doesn't it? Aggression leaves you open. The skewing strike snakes into that little spot with deleterious consequences, K''s balance disrupted long enough for Hotaru to point-blank blast the boy with a burst of that blue chi. K' lands awkwardly but halfway upright, stance wide, skidding backwards as he attempts to regain some semblance of equilibrium and steadiness. It's in those instants of unprepared tenuousness that Kentou catches the older boy with his carving kick, robbing K' of the last vestiges of his upright stance. K''s stance widens even further, his right hand nailing to the floor as he's knocked into a three-point.
Breathing steadily, if somewhat strainedly, K' grins sardonically, licking along the edges of slightly parted teeth. "And here we see," his voice eventually crawls lazily out of him, "the quality of teamwork." The sneering cynicism in his tone is just audible-- at least to anyone above the age of eight. "Maybe someday," he continues, in a didactic tone completely out of place from a person like him-- certainly out of place for his slightly macabre phrasing-- "some of you kids will have the ability to so efficiently take others apart."
But despite the heavy sardonic quality of his delivery, he doesn't sound as if he's -unimpressed- with the efficiency demonstrated by this pair's experienced, in-tandem attacks: nor speaking in any particular denigration of them. He and Maxima practice tactics far more cruel; and as said earlier, K' respects very few things. A strength sufficient to put him down is among those.
Up until now, he hasn't even bothered to straighten out of his low stance. Presently, with a deep, sighing growl, he pulls himself upright with a languid tilt of his head to the left-- an accompanying lift of his right shoulder in a slow roll. The resulting crack clicks right between his shoulderblades. Focusing back on Hotaru and Kentou, K' just waits. A lick of fire snakes to life about his wrist, a small and ignored companion that eventually spreads into a greater wreath of flames: wound about his arm, burning in a sustained line about his shoulders.
COMBATSYS: K' gains composure.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
There's no denying that the team work Hotaru and Kentou bring to bear is formidable. The two have trained alongside each other for months, the girl going to great lengths to explain the purposes behind her motions and the secrets to her techniques. Advising the youth on utilizing timing to put the remarkable speed of the Ondari style Kenpo to use rather than hoping to overcome vastly superior opponents with simply brash speed was one of the earliest things she had to start teaching him...
The two now fight with a certain efficient synergy that allows them to defy expectations, as K' is finding out first hand. The duo is hard to dismiss. At his mildly acerbic commentary Hotaru simply smiles faintly, glancing toward the brown eyed youth she's been teaching. A real future as a fighter in that kid, there's simply no denying it.
Clenching her right hand, the aura that was so vibrantly visible moments ago is gone now, leaving the blue in her vest and irises as a reminder of the power she had drawn forth. The young man hasn't disappointed in his ability to weather the constant pressure from the two fighters, to say the least. Which means that while he may not have had the chance to dish out too much pain on the Kenpo pair, she fully expects that it wouldn't take much from him to strike either of them down if he should land more hits. Getting over confident isn't a vice the girl tends to fall into much.
And now maybe he's going to get a shot at getting one of those hits in as Hotaru charges forward, chosing to close distance to stay in close. The Kenpo art she practices is a primarialy close ranged, striking style of combat, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have her own twists to it as well! The white haired young man becomes the target of a flip forward as the smaller fighter attempts to plant her hands against his shoulders while upside down, balancing in a hand stand for a moment up above the flame wielder...
And then comes the spin as she swaps shoulders, turning around and dropping down behind him, attempting to drive both of her feet into his upper back and send him stumbling forward while backflipping away herself. A lot of her opponents find they tend to get used like a trampoline practically... K''s experience might not be much different at this rate!
The boy wonder completes his risky move, physically stomping down upon K's shoulder and for a brief moment in time precariously balancing upon his adversary in a crouch. Arms spread to balance as a gymnast would upon a narrow bar, Kentou quickly departs as he leaps up and away as K' recovers in a three-point stance. Vaulting away and landing with a single bounce on his feet, instantly returned to his kinetic stance near Hotaru once again.
Exhaling quickly, Kentou catches his breath a moment as K' begins to actually.. lecture? Deep brown eyes blinking a moment as he passes a look to Hotaru in question, idly shaking out his leading hand a moment to get feeling back into his knuckles.
What IS that guy made out of anyway?!
The youth frowns slightly at the sarcastic tone, but the advice is sagely enough.
However, as K' begins to gather himself and slowly erupt into ever greater flames.. Kentou's lips press tighter. While the boy is virtually fearless, there's nothing cowardly about caution as he inches backwards just a fraction in his stance. Cleansing his mind of all other thoughts as he prepares for what will doubtlessly be an extremely unpleasant assault as K' is clearly done messing around with them now.
As Hotaru charges, Kentou follows her lead. Banishing his worries for now as he trails behind his Master by precisely two steps. Such intense familiarity with Hotaru's method of combat allows him great insight into her thinking and planning, even when no words are exchanged. As she leaps high in the air to balance upon K's shoulder, the boy already knows what she'll attempt next.
As Hotaru goes high, Kentou goes low. The boy dives downwards for K's legs. Grappling and shoot-fighting is not a large part of the Ondori-style. Many such techniques he had to alloy from the Futaba-style as well as observing others. Besides, Kentou doesn't try to take the older boy down himself. Rather, complementing Hotaru's attack, the boy attempts to tackle one of K's ankles and encumber the other by ramming with his knees. Hoping to be the anvil upon which Hotaru drives the hammer, with K' in between.
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits K' with Quick Throw.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Hotaru's Ten Ranku-Tou.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
K' watches the pair as they arrow in again, the look in his eyes almost bland. Still and watchful, he almost seems to simply be waiting for their assault: a lithe form, eyes shadowed with thought, cut from tense and deft lines. If the intention in asking him to this exhibition was to obtain a fighter capable of weathering continuous attack for a long enough time to provide a worthwhile demonstration of some decent length, they certainly got what they wanted. In the realm of returning their assault, however... K' simply hasn't had the time, in between the synchonicity of their perfectly-timed attacks.
In the instants just before Hotaru leaves the ground in a lunge, K''s eyes narrow in some unrelated consideration. He has always been aware of the danger of such a perfectly synchonized team-- he has a similar dynamic with a certain cyborg-- but he had not, until now, realized his own vulnerability to such assaults. He might yet derive some lessons of martial worth from those at this Center.
K''s arm abruptly leaves his side as Hotaru's hands bite towards his shoulders. It hooks swiftly over his head, and the NESTS experiment catches Hotaru's grasping hands upon it in a motion reminiscent of a falconer letting a bird of prey come to roost on his forearm. Skidding back fractionally as the impact resonates down through him, he balances Hotaru's weight and momentum an instant upon that focal point, eyes narrowing further as tension winds down the length of his bracing arm. Then, with a sharp movement, he snaps his arm, spurning the girl with a deliberate harshness.
In the next fraction of a second, Kentou is on him. K' has no time to react to his attack. One ankle is pinned, and the other slammed backwards in an unbalancing movement designed to pitch him forwards. Taken off his balance, K' hits sharply and jarringly on his left shoulder. Turning his momentum instantly into a roll, he twists around into a skid on all fours, fingers clawed into the mats to kill his speed.
He's barely stopped before he's lunging again, closing with Hotaru in a bounding rush. Two attempts to drive a sharp pair of kicks into her front ensue, before K' snaps up one heel and scissors it harshly in a sharp, downwards-angled arc towards her face, the intent to simply take her off her feet and knock her sprawling across the floor.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to interrupt Spot Pile from K' with Tenshin Shou.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|
Perched on K's arm instead of his shoulers, Hotaru is just starting to try and correct for the unexpected change in her circumstances. No one's ever exactly reacted to that attack quite like /that/ before. Wobbling for a moment, she finds herself drawn down toward the floor with a lot more speed than she can correct for.
Landing in a bit of a tumble, the girl comes up on her feet, spinning around in a quick pirouette, so that she's facing K' by the time her feet touch the ground. She slides a little before the soles of her shoes find traction again, and while it takes a little bit of arm flailing, Hotaru seems to recover just about the same time that K' comes in to attack her again.
Misjudging the time she had to prepare, Hotaru decides to give him a solid hit back for his trouble, bending down a little into a crouch in preparation to drive a rising shoulder slam right back into his chest to knock him away. But his first kick aimed for her torso catch her in the face instead for her trouble, knocking her back into standing and leaving her open for the second kick to her chest and the heel that drives hard into the side of her face at an angle that nearly takes Hotaru clean off her feet, spiraling on her toes as she stumbles back several feet.
Okay, yeah, that hurt. The Kenpo artist lifts one hand to brush lightly across her lip, coming away with specks of blood from where she ate the first boot to the face. Shaking her head to clear her slightly jarred mind, she settles quickly into a little bit of a shakey ready stance, trying to ignore thoughts about the bruise she'll have on the side of her head before too long. Blue eyes narrow as she regains her focus, watching K' carefully.
Hrm! That didn't go quite as Kentou thought it would.
As K' deflects Hotaru's flip, the boy thought he was dead meat in the aftermath of his dive.. He can only thank whatever God happens to be looking out after him right now as he managed to collide with K's feet just hard enough to send the older youth crashing to the mat.
By the time Kentou rolls out from beneath, the Beast of Flame is already lunging and racing for his Master yet again. The youth all but ignored now as Kadish goes after the vastly more competent threat.
A spurned 'Hmph!' escapes him as Kentou gets to his feet swiftly. Flinching once as Hotaru takes that potent hit, but not wasting any further time. His Master has taken far worse hits than that, and she would insist he should be more worried about himself! Not that he'd take that advice.
The boy again employs his extreme speed, darting across the intervening distance in a burst of motion. Hoping to give the vastly taller boy something to worry about, Kentou unleashes yet another Futaba-Style Technique as the boy vaults. Briefly windmilling his arms in a tight circle while sailing through the air, "SOUSHOOOU"
Terminating the distracting whirl as he lands, transferring the kinetic energy of the motion in a single powerful palm-thrust for K's middle. Putting the whole of his slight body into the attack in a bid to shake K' off his shaken prey, "SHIN!"
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Kentou's Soushou Shin.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 K'
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Kentou 0/-------/-======|
Spinning sharply around in midair to follow the momentum of his horizontal, downwards-slashing kick, K' lands with his back to Hotaru and instantly lunges forwards again in a blur. The sudden movement has two reasons. The first is to clear distance between himself and Hotaru to avoid reprisal. The second is to bring him crashing straight into the brunt of Kentou's whirling attack.
With a sharp arresting of motion K' draws up short, just before Kentou's last palm-thrust lances out. The older fighter catches Kentou's attack in his armored hand, letting the force of the blow transfer down his arm and jar his right shoulder. With a quiet, noncommittal grunt as acknowledgement of the force behind the strike, K' shoves forward slightly, trying to open a small window of space between himself and the young martial artist.
Whatever opening he can force is swiftly capitalized upon in the next instant. K' bursts forwards abruptly in another of those unusually-violent attacks, attempting to slam his left hand forwards in a vicious strike at Kentou's chest. At first, it looks like a mirroring palm-strike-- but in the last instants, K''s hand snaps shut into a fist and veritably doubles in striking speed as the brunt of his momentum is brought to bear.
Given time to recover her senses as K' turns his attention to her student, Hotaru regains her bearings in time to witness Kentou performing yet another one of the techniques she's been teaching him. Performed perfectly, in her mind, even if K' manages to shrug off the attack with a timely grasp for the boy's wrist.
Noticing the space created between the two she half expects K' to come back at her again for another attack in a bid to take advantage of the opening his last one seemed to create in the fragile fighter's defenses. Instead K's hand slams forward out toward Kentou. An experienced fighter, she recognizes the nature of the technique. Concealing the sheer amount of power with the almost casual wind up, only to unload it all at point blank range. Hopefully Kentou recognizes it for what it is... he does after all know something similar...
While she can't get there in time to help her student cope with the incoming strike, she can be there right afterward. With her thoughts centered on trying to cut short any potential prolonged follow up against Kentou, Hotaru zips forward, approaching K's back. As she nears, the girl turns sideways, sliding the last little bit as she presses her hands together and jams her elbow out hard toward K's back. A single, simple strike, the purpose is clearly to just get his attention!
COMBATSYS: Kentou fails to interrupt One Inch from K' with Tekkoudan.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 K'
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Kentou 1/---====/=======|
Kentou has succeeded! .... Unfortunately for him.
The boy manages to get K's attention as his outstretched hand is firmly caught. A squawk erupts from the shorter youth's lips as K' shoves the jarring blow back with enough force to send the youth stumbling. Staggering back several steps, Kentou's arms flail about. Completely off-balance by that abrupt redirection of power.
One of Kentou's hardest hitting techniques.. Dismissed with little more than a hand-wave! Only then does the boy truly understand exactly what he's up against.
This guy is easily as good as Kurow.. Maybe tougher..
Kentou cannot dwell on that thought for long. Seeing the extra distance, the boy tries to take advantage and press the attack. His foolhardiness finally getting the better of him as he attempts to reignite his relentless offense. The youth -vaults- forward once more, springing off his trailing foot with arms upraised.
The only sound that manages to cross Kentou's lips is "TEK" before the rest of that breath is expelled in a hoarse blast. Kentou lept right into that deceptively potent technique. His outstretched arms no defense against that piston-like fist jolting squarely against his chest in a single jackhammer of movement.
To the audience, it seems as if K' barely took a half-step forward and nudged. But Kentou -flies- across the room at a speed nearly matching his own charging dash. Slamming against the far wall with enough raw kinetic force to leave him hanging there against gravity for a single heartbeat. Spittle, both white and crimson, erupts from parted lips as eyes stare widely.
..Only for the boy to simply tumble to the floor in a heap. He may not be entirely out of the fight yet.. but he's certainly not quick to get back up. Limbs stirring only slightly while face-down on the mat at the other side of the room.
COMBATSYS: K' endures Hotaru's Quick Punch.
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Hotaru 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 K'
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Kentou 1/---====/=======|
One could indeed regard success in attracting K''s attention as being a patently bad thing. Especially after seeing what happens to Kentou after he gets it. With a vicious sort of cruel efficiency, K' narrows analytic yellow eyes on Kentou's attempt to come surging right back. And instead of trying to abort his own attack or block Kentou's intended reprisal... K' just proceeds with his stabbing strike, seemingly careless of the boy's seeking fists.
A sharp, martial bark of "Slow!" later, K' shrugs off the pretense of his windup and completes one final, infinitesimal movement: a forceful twitch of a blow laced with enough hidden, built-up power to send the boy clear off in the opposite direction.
Drawing up to a stand in the wake of that attack, K' doesn't even have time to catch his breath before he hears the light, hissing skid of small heels against the mats. Alerted instantly, K' whirls just in time to face her swift elbow strike. He has one moment in which to decide what to do-- and he opts to just stand there and take it, letting her founder her momentum on his chest. The girl hits him squarely-- a solid strike-- but the extent of the pain-hardened boy's reaction is a vague frown.
If Hotaru wanted K''s attention, she's certainly got it now. His response is immediate, meant to capitalize on the instants of imbalance he's tried to force by simply soaking her attack. With a sudden snarl of igniting fire K' lunges forwards in a blurred rush, aiming a pair of flame-wreathed, clawing uppercut blows towards the girl. The first is primarily a means to stun her-- and if it connects, the second rips her up into the air, K' following her up to crack a sharp, fire-trailing kick around hard enough to send her searing back to the mats.
COMBATSYS: K' can no longer fight.
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Hotaru 1/-------/=======|
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Kentou 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to reflect Heaven Drive from K' with Kobi Kyaku EX.
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Hotaru 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
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Kentou 1/---====/=======|
The rather conservative strike leaves Hotaru not too committed with her momentum once the blow is delivered, even if K' manages to surprise her by turning into her elbow faster than she imagined he would be capable of by now given the constant flurry of attacks he's been weathering all this time. Everything is a bit of a blur to her now with Kentou taking that powerful close ranged punch only to go flying off and the leather clad fighter whirling back on her without any hesitation.
Her balance is easily regained, the fighter taking only a half step back before the rapid attack from K' is unleashed. The spark of flame is detected and Hotaru attempts to capitalize on his energy manipulation to quickly create her own energy barrier in defense. In that narrow space between them, Hotaru kicks, attempting to match K's forward momentum with enough speed on her part to create her own aggressive protection in a sense.
A swath of chi trails behind the fighter's leg as she spins. And were she but a split second she might have pulled it off, allowing one of her more well known techniques to finish coalescing into a barrier capable of repelling just about any type of energy sent her way if she's quick enough about it.
But K's fist slips through, the flaming uppercut staggering the fragile fighter as she's caught in the chest, shattering her attempt at forming the blue reflective barrier she had hoped to. Gasping, she's caught in her poor glass jaw by the next hit and knocked clean off her feet up into the air. With the speed everything is happening, she is unable to defend herself from the final, flame wreathed kick that drives her right back down to the floor.
Landing hard enough on her back to bounce up a little and flop over before landing again face down. Arms sprawled out at her sides, Hotaru lies still for a moment, lingering flames flickering across her now black-streaked outfit. It takes a good while before the girl finally pushes herself up, hands flat against the mat as she rises up into a half kneel, one knee on the mat, her other foot in position. Her right harm hugs against her stomach, nursing a pain in her side where his final kick struck her hard. Wincing, her blue eyes take in the situation quickly as she glances toward where Kentou took a hard landing before settling on K'.
A faint smile flickers across her lips. There's not really any point in going on with this demonstration. Everyone got their licks in by now, and pressing any further is just going to force someone to the point of injury hardly justified by something intended to draw kids /into/ the sport.
Her left hand brushes at her vest, putting out a risidual bit of fire. Curious that, she muses silently. The properties of his chi attacks are unlike any she's faced before. "All right, that should be enough," the girl's voice finally speaks up though she remains in her half-kneeling position for the moment. Though she is calling an end of the match, she doens't exactly relax quite yet. Sometimes fighters can get lost in the moment, operating on pure adrenaline alone, not realizing when a friendly spar has gone beyond that. Everyone got their chance to dish out some impressive moves, no sense in prolonging it.
"Thank you both," she continues, raising her voice, finally pushing herself a little unsteadily up to her feet. A bit pale, she'll be all right in a moment. There's no mistaking the power of K's attacks, though, that much is for certain. "I hope it was worth the trouble." she adds, eyes staying focused on K'.
Kentou would be staring in awe at K' circumventing his Master's defenses... If he wasn't busy closely inspecting the surface of the mat. That is.
With a grousing murmur, the boy wonder's fingers dimple the pliant surface of the training floor. Roughly two seconds later, the boy jolts upwards. Thoughts finally unscrambling from the power of that hit he took, realizing that the battle is certainly not over! Hotaru!
Gasping for air, Kentou inelegantly kips to his feet. Stumbling around in a vague semblance of his fighting stance with his fists drunkenly wavering at shoulder level.. Squaring off in the entirely wrong direction, "Uhu..Huah?" Dapping the side of his head with a fist to clear out the cobwebs, he quickly realigns to square off with K' again, attempting to reassess quickly in case the older boy is following up the attack or if he needs to leap to Hotaru's defense..
..Instead, the boy sees Hotaru calling the fight, standing with a black ashen stain upon her front she had not moments ago.. Kneeling in a way suggesting she just took a hard hit. The scrappy youth immediately looks back to the Beast, lips pressing tighter a moment as he gauges his health.
Is it over? Did they win?? He can still fight! Don't call it! He.. Wait. This is.. just a demonstration. Calm down, Kentou!
Besides.. He suspects.. if this was a REAL fight, this yazuka boy may not have gone so 'easy' on them. The youth then gathers himself, placing a hand on his chest with a wince. Just taking a few moments to breath and give his lungs a chance to recover from their abuse as he slowly walks back across the mat to rejoin his Master. Concern clearly in his eyes, unable to walk over in time before she gets to her feet on her own. Unsteadily bowing to her, fist-into-palm, and mirroring the gesture to K' after a somewhat hesitant fashion. Adding his own wordless thanks to Hotaru's spoken variety.
It was educational, the boy inwardly admits. The fight gave him a lot of insight.. Whether he'd choose to admit it to the Beast's face or not.
K' lands heavily. At first he remains upright-- but a few instants later he drops, stance widening, one hand slamming to the mat to brace him up in that coiled, predatory crouch. Hotaru doesn't have to be concerned about K' continuing further; though his bestial stance holds steady, his slumped shoulders moving slightly and regularly with the rhythm of his panting breaths, he doesn't seem inclined to move any further. Much less attack again. For the space of a few moments-- about as long as Hotaru takes to recover from his attack-- he stays where he is.
Eventually, he pulls himself back to a stand, shaking white hair out of his eyes and glancing back towards Hotaru as she calls the match. Moodily, K' simply blows a noncommittal breath, his yellow eyes downcast; not in disappointment, not in irritation, but merely in some absent, self-absorbed thought. Eventually he flicks his head up again, letting it cant to a confident-- almost arrogant-- sort of angle, regarding Hotaru and her charge with a neutral sort of look.
"Little harder than I expected," K' finally replies curtly, rotating a shoulder in an idle shrug. "Fine. It -wouldn't- have been worth the trouble otherwise." Shoving his hands into his pockets, he glances across the audience, and then lets his gaze settle on Kentou. A flicker of startling bitterness glints in his eyes briefly, the cast of his mouth briefly souring with some unpleasant internal thought. His head slants, shadow sliding across his eyes instants after a glimmer of anger-- its source mysterious-- taints that cold, impersonal yellow with something a little more... human.
When he breaks the silence, it's suddenly. "They're lucky kids. Having a dedicated teacher." His rough, abrupt voice betrays nothing of the momentary envy-- the jealousy he holds towards these children, who have so much of what he lacks. Sharply, his gaze pins on Kentou. He doesn't bother to return the bow, or the thanks, or even to do much more than level that hawklike gaze. There is an almost accusatory tone layered beneath his gruff voice. "You especially."
He lapses into silence, that cryptic phrase delivered. He is not accustomed to explaining himself. Nor does he have the patience to do so for those who fail to understand him.
The children in on the bleachers are dead silent for the longest time as the match reaches its firey, explosive conclusion. Expectations were all over the place going in. Some expected Hotaru to do something incredible. Some expected her student to get the stuffing beat out of him. Others, familiar with K''s real fight records, expected the fighter to do quite well in spite being the handicapped participant in the match. Turns out, everyone got some of what they expected and no one has to leave disappointed.
When it becomes clear that the fight is definitely over and K' gives his gruff reply to the pig-tailed girl's statements, the kids in the bleachers begin clapping, thoroughly impressed with the skill, speed, and strength they saw on display here at the YFCC. Hotaru is quiet, any attempt to speak would be hard to hear anyway for a moment as the children make known their appreciation for the trio.
While K' may go to great lengths to conceal his thoughts, enough of his nature slips through for the perceptive girl to figure some things out. Interesting pick for an employee, she muses, getting a little bit more of a sense of why Alma made such a decision. Her hand idly brushes at the front of her singed vest, not paying the damage much heed. She does go through a lot of fighting outfits, after all. They don't seem to last more than one match a piece.
The smile his remark toward the kids provokes is gentle and a little bit sheepish at the compliment paid, albeit indirectly. Turning away from K' and Kentou to face the seated youths, Hotaru offers them all a bow, hands pressed together in front of her, finally speaking up once the din had died down some. "Thank you all for coming tonight. Please do remember to sign up for next season's courses on your way out," she gestures toward the doors where a few sheets are on clip boards. Turning toward K', Hotaru gives the employee a warm smile and another nod, "Glad to have met you. I'm glad staff recommended you for the task." Those helpful staff people. She'll never know they were being sarcastic!
Moving her right hand away from resting against her side, Hotaru presses it down on Kentou's shoulder, glancing down at the youth, "You did really good. I saw your Soushou Shin. You've really been practicing." Squeezing the boy's shoulder once, she turns her attention back toward K', "I'm sure glad Alma brought you on board here. Considering the occasional trouble this place attracts, we can really use people with your kind of abilities around here." That might make the boy at her side cringe a little. Perhaps that's why she's holding his shoudler in the first place?
Slipping her hand from his shoulder, Hotaru wipes her forehead with her forearm. Whew, that was quite a work out to say the least. Shifting her stance to clasp her hands behind her back, she grins at the other two fighters, "You can take off, I need to hang around to collect the signup sheets. Thanks again."
For a moment there, Kentou was not entirely sure if the Beast was actually going to stand down.
The boy warily holds firm at Hotaru's side, fist lingering in his palm as he holds the respectful posture for the moment.. mostly because his hands are in a position to move quickly if he requires it.
However, as K' indeed rises and places his armored hands into his pockets in the manner one absently holsters weapons, the boy's tension subsides only in part. The mousy boy meeting that predatory gaze head on from beneath his wild bangs, not shying from the intensity he finds there. Its only when K's own gaze dulls its edge does Kentou's eyes likewise soften. An admission that he did not expect to come from the older boy and with what little knowledge Kentou has of the Beast of Flame, those words are potent with meaning.
They are, after all, extremely true. Kentou is aware of just how lucky he is. How lucky everyone here is to have someone like Hotaru to be there for them. Few children have that luxury anymore. The boy's gaze is broken, drifting to the floor as the brash youth is tamed by kind words far more than the threat of pain, "...Hai. Kadish-san." A soft smile threatening to tug at the corner of his lips.
K-Dash isn't bad. He's just drawn that way!
The moment is stolen by the most unlikely of sources, though. The sound of applause filling the air causes Kentou to blink. Eyes shifting about the room with quiet astonishment. They must be clapping for his Master and K' primarily of course, but he can't help but feel like.. maybe.. they actually appreciate him. If a little.
The feeling magnified as Hotaru's hand finds purchase on his shoulder, immediately turning his gaze up to hers and grinning purely! All thanks her her training, of course!
See, he only cringes a liiiittle bit as his Master finally reveals why the Yakuza-boy is around here in the first place.
Wait.. He's supposed to deal with trouble here? ...
...No wonder he was mad about beating up his French faux girlfriend. ._.;
Though, as Hotaru dismisses them, the boy hardly budges, "Oh! I'll help!" Immediately piping up and moving towards a group of students just finishing their signups! Not even waiting for her to accept the help. After all, she doesn't really need to.
Unsurprisingly, there's an awful lot of sign-ups to collect.
K''s yellow eyes flick their gaze to the ground, and stay moodily downcast in the wake of his rare moment of verbosity. The gentle fall of wispy white hair across his eyes, the shadow that obscures his face... both serve to hide the slight sneer that bares a white canine as the kids give their heartfelt applause. He was honest in his feelings regarding their fortune; and honest with himself in that he finds himself caught between debilitating envy and something that verges on a hateful anger. They have such resources at their fingertips-- a teacher who cares for them. Who was ever there for K'? They have their lives as children, and their -memories-. K' has neither. Whatever other troubles drove them here, he's fairly certain each one of them know -who they are-. He can't say the same for himself.
Nonetheless, it would be a mistake to construe his words as words of kindness, or compliment, or anything benign: though an easy mistake to make. K' speaks out of a grim desire to forcibly remind these people that they have everything he does not-- and they had better not fail to appreciate it.
But whatever his hidden feelings, he also has his restraint that prevents him expressing it. That admirable quality is weak yet, fragile: a nascent idea, only recently taken hold in his immature, self-serving mind. Raised as a weapon and career murderer, forced to spend the formative years of his new life as an amnesiac amongst the worst of humanity, it was only by the intervention of external influences-- among them Maxima-- that he escaped being nothing -more- than an implement. That he started to learn about acceptable behavior.
And now, this place is doing its share of teaching K' what it is to be a person rather than just a killing force. Why it is what NESTS did to him-- and continues to do to others-- is wrong on a general level: one beyond the mere sting of personal, selfish slight. There's something about the people here-- about the way Alma and Frei looked at him in the past, and the way Hotaru and Kentou are looking at him now. Something welcoming. Something encouraging. Something that believes him to have a worth and quality which he doesn't even see in himself. It bothers him on a fundamental level, -disturbs- him intensely, and he reacts the only way he knows how.
K' tilts his head sharply in something half a gesture of assent, half an arrogant cant. Acknowledgement of Hotaru's smile and her words. His expression twitches into something coldly amused. So she's glad Alma brought him on board. "As I told him," K' rasps in curt reply, "I hope none of you come to regret it." It's his awkward, pessimistic, and very easily-misunderstood way of saying he hopes he doesn't fuck up in what he's here to do... and it's all he has to say before he shoulders past and stalks away: a tall, solitary form cutting through the growing crowd of kids who've come piling down to gather around Hotaru's slight form.
Log created on 21:24:37 01/27/2008 by Hotaru, and last modified on 03:18:29 01/31/2008.