Description: A cryptic message brings Kentou to a clearing at the edge of town in the dead of night. Could this midnight rendevouz possibly mean anything good for the boy wonder? Jiro has words with Kentou, fully intending on showing the boy the truth of his newfound resolve. But, will the Apprentice ever accept his Master's lover? While the answer may be inconclusive, their duel certainly is anything but..
It is the middle of the night within the clearing of Southtown. It is a peaceful spot, away from all of the city parts and the smog that normally occupies the city itself. Although it has a highway that can be seen through the trees, it is relatively secluded.
The moon shines high and reveals itself to be a full shape. That massive ray of light beams on those below through the trees. Snow, however, is prevalent in such a place. Snow continues to fall as well, giving it a chilly atmosphere.
There is someone standing in the middle of the snow, someone who had gotten used to the cold for as long as he had been training himself. Although it may not look like it, but the young man had steeled himself to adapt with the weather, even if his attire suggests differently.
Standing in the very center of the clearing is Jiro, both fists held down and tightened as he stands within the snow. As the flurry brush against the hoodie jacket, he merely waits.
...He'll show up soon.
A leap of faith, that.
A vague message from his Master's suitor, whom he's accused of attempts to corrupt her, to meet in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night?
Hah Hah.
Kentou may not be the smartest person in Southtown, but he's not THAT dumb. If it wasn't for the insistence of the person whom was carrying the message that it was, indeed, Jiro himself.. The boy half-suspected it was a setup by someone jealous of his apprenticeship. Or worse, one of the various individuals the boy had fought away from the Youth Center looking for a little payback. The weird shadow boy, ice witch or crazy French girl all come to mind.
There was a whole litany of reasons for Kentou to not go. All of them sound and intelligent.
There was only one reason for Kentou to go. One that was both subjective and completely mired in pride.
The boy is no coward.
At least, Jiro is making no attempts at being stealthy.
The boy wonder slowly steps from behind a tree trunk at the edge of the clearing. Thankful for his Chinese slippers to keep his feet warm on the otherwise near-freezing grass. The youth was tired from a day full of working, running and training.. but still found the energy to get up in the middle of the night, sneak out and come here. He's.. going to pay for it in the morning.
Heck, he may pay for it right now.
However.. The youth isn't about to back down to this man. His Master's boyfriend. If he's going to show his true colors here and now, the boy wants to see them with his own eyes. For the sake of his Master, if nothing else.
"..Alright.." Kentou's breath emerges in a visible cloud on the cold night air, ".. I'm here.." Spoken loud enough to be heard over the midnight breeze, tousling the tree branches and his wild bangs alike. Glints of his eyes can be seen reflecting the full moonlight above.
"Good."
It is all that Jiro states for the longest time, looking towards Kentou with a serious look. "I had been doing a lot of thinking. There was something that I held back on talking to you about when we first met, because you brought up something a lot more important afterwards." Hotaru.
"However, we got that out of the way, so I will have to backtrack on something." He considers, "I did not bring you here to make you like me." He pauses, then he shuts his eyes, "However, I requested for you to come here to understand me and my power."
"Things aren't as black and white as they should be and that will never change." He shuts his eyes as the the snow around him melts. Like a smothering flame, the aura resonates along his body as he lifts a hand up. "It's not the fact of wielding the dark power that makes a person bad... It's what they do with it." He shuts his eyes, "Allow me to show you... why I chose to wield it."
Then, Jiro takes a step forward, expelling the aura out once to release a shockwave of the scarlet chi to expand across the snow, fully wiping it away from the field of battle. Then, Jiro tightens his stance, adopting himself to a more guardful stance.
"Get ready. You make the first move."
COMBATSYS: Jiro has started a fight here.
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Jiro 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kentou has joined the fight here.
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Jiro 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kentou
Mousy eyes stare from the darkness beneath his shadowed bangs. The tension in his limbs turn out to be justified as the older youth erupts in a slow aura of fire. The circle of snow slowly expanding outwards and leaving glistening wet grass in its wake with fumes of steam rising high.
The display tightens Kentou's lips, but the youth says nothing. No accusations or words of defiance. The youth remains strangely quiet even as the tension never leaves his body for an instant.
There's nothing more to say, you see. Jiro said it himself. The boy completely agrees that his actions will speak far more than any protest he may have.
If there is any regret, Kentou slowly looks over his shoulder for a moment. If only for a moment.
...No. It's worth it.. It's all worth it.
In that instant the boy moves. Arms lifting and whirling about in a quick pattern, "HUT!" Limbering and quickening his pulse as he assumes his stance. One that, as Jiro will notice, is much like Hotaru's own now. Bouncing loosely on the balls of his feet with his arms upraised. The chief difference are his closed fists as opposed to open hands.
This young man is a superior opponent. Kentou knows full well that Jiro, himself, is possibly even stronger than Hotaru. But that's not the point of this fight... Not the point at all.
"HAAA-HUP!"
In a dart of motion, Kentou is off. Racing straight for Jiro fast enough to kick blades of grass in his wake. Movements blurring in the moonlight as he closes the distance way faster than a youth his age has any right to. "HATAAAH!" His opening attack? Kentou judges that Jiro is not as quick as his Master, figuring a more potent, earlier offense could be a wiser approach. The boy vaults high into the air, coming down like a rocket as he whirls his legs in a wide arc. Attempting to bring them down one after the other in a massive double kick!
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Jiro with Heavy Kick.
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Jiro 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Kentou
There was one thing that the observant Kentou was very good at as far as perception-wise, Jiro was not as fast as Hotaru. That would work against Jiro, at least, as Kentou opted for coming down with a massive double kick, which nails Jiro right in the chest. It causes the young man to cringe for a moment before he takes a huge step backward, trying to recollect himself.
Unfortunately, the impact nearly sends him bowling over, until he presses his hands on the ground and positions himself to a back-flip on the way back up. There is nothing that needs to be said to the boy.
He's good. However, Jiro will have to up his game in this fight. He immediately sprints towards the young boy, finally stepping forward with a wrist to sweep his right leg across Kentou's legs, as well as another sweep of the other leg.
But those are actually faints for the incoming arm coming forth as the fist snaps back to score a backfist across the young man's temple.
COMBATSYS: Kentou dodges Jiro's Medium Punch.
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Jiro 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Kentou
Kentou has been trained by some of the best, and that is very much in evidence as his opening strike heavily collides with his Master's suitor. The boy nearly bounces off the stronger young man's frame as he lands in a quick hop back and away. Brown eyes widen a fraction as he continues hoping on a single foot for a moment, just long enough to shake out his ankle and solidify his stance.
..Man.. This guy's tough!
The boy's alertness never drops, and that attention serves well as Jiro counter attacks. The boy wonder is light on his feet, deftly hoping over the two initial feints in continuously retreating vaults. One... Two...
On the third, the boy flips backwards. Arching his back as he plants his hands into the cold grass behind him. The spinning fist cleaves inches above over him as the boy completes his full reversed lay-up. It was a hunch.. and a -lucky- one. With how fast and hard that fist was swinging, if Kentou didn't immediately put himself into motion, he'd have been knocked into next Tuesday!
"HAH!" Orienting himself in a crouch, the youth -shoots- forth. Attempting to actually dive between Jiro's legs quickly in a surprising rush to get behind the taller youth. Quickly springing upwards to collide with Jiro from behind and -shove- him backwards into the ground hard. An unorthodox, impromptu technique!
Kentou knows Jiro is extremely familiar with Hotaru's techniques. And while their use is unavoidable, he can only hope throwing in some odd-ball non-Kenpo movements may shake up Jiro's prepared defenses. Thinking fast and on the fly..
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Kentou's Strong Throw.
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Jiro 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Kentou
Quite unothrodox. Not bad.
Jiro, for the matter, is immediately prepared for the boy's actions as he tries to rush forward to get behind him. However, when the boy is diving between his legs, Jiro immediately launches himself off of the ground and into the air. His body rolls forward before he lands on the ground, keeping the youth from getting the leverage on shoving him back.
Both feet landing towards the snow, Jiro immediately launches a foot towards the formed snow, kicking the fluttery element out within the path before he launches himself forward, aiming to close in on the boy to come forth with a left jab, then he shifts the arm over to snap at the boy's hand.
Should the grab be successful, Jiro will immediately launch his left leg out to the boy's back knee to bring him down while that same leg will come back and hook to the temple.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Kentou with Medium Kick.
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Jiro 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Kentou
As Kentou leaps backwards and notices a distinct lack of Jiro to collide into.. He knows he messed that up. Expression wincing in all the heartbeat of time he has left as Jiro wastes no time expounding upon his quick escape and attack.
The left jab striking the boy soundly in the small of his back, the youth arches in a jolt of pain.. only to get his armed grabbed and yanked outwards, holding him steady just enough to solidly connect the kick to the side of his head!
The small youth's head snaps away, braids flailing from the impact as a squeak erupts from him. Knocked completely off his feet as he lands roughly a short distance away..
...Aagh.. He is good. And while stars swim in his eyes he begins to wonder.. Where is the flame? Does Jiro have more control over it than the boy supposed? ... Was Kentou wrong?
Even as these thoughts swirl, the youth returns to his feet in a whirling kip-up. Shaking a few flakes of snow from his hair, the youth takes a moment to measure his opponent. Unwilling to repeat his earlier mistake, as he cannot take too many more hits like that one. Forcing his breathing to slow.. his senses to expand. Attuning himself to his environment, his opponent and himself.. Just as his Master showed him how..
COMBATSYS: Kentou focuses on his next action.
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Jiro 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Kentou
"Long ago..."
It is that finally, Jiro says something after the young boy is snapped away from the impact. Jiro's posture remains the same. He's breathing fluidly, his state is quite relaxed, all considering. "I was just some kid who wanted power to protect his little sister from getting stalked by someone that he had no power of ever beating."
"I just chose the wrong person to learn it from." He pauses, then he considers, "...Or, perhaps the right person, all considering." Jiro shuts his eyes, then he -snaps- his eyes open towards Kensou before he sprints towards the young man's direction.
"A mistake? I thought that for some time." He muses, then he winds his foot back. Instead, Jiro is actually now using the snow around him to sweep forth the flurry to spray along the boy's frame.
"But, it was the matter of turning it to something to work in my favor."
COMBATSYS: Kentou interrupts Thrown Object from Jiro with Tekkoudan.
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Jiro 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Kentou
'A kid who wanted power'. Jiro's words softens Kentou's gaze. Its a familiar story. One that the boy wonder is not unsympathetic to when forced to consider. At the mention of a 'wrong person', Kentou's eyes shift downward.
In that... Kentou is the lucky one. Thoughts move back to the fight with Kadish while at Hotaru's side. The Beast of Flame called him lucky to have such a Master. And here, we see yet again just where Kentou could have gone wrong..
However, Kentou cannot dwell on these thoughts for long, as Jiro is coming. The older fighter rushes across the distance at high speed. The youth bounces on his heels twice, his senses remaining acute as he feels the tempo of Jiro's charge.
The youth sharply intakes breath as Jiro sweeps a foot forth and splashes a vast swath of snow straight for him.. completely obscuring his assault and disrupting his senses.. Vision now rendered useless.
..But his hearing is not. The sound of Jiro's heavier footsteps.. the direction of his charge.. The boy can still feel it, even with his senses impinged..
"TEKKOUDAN!"
In a moment of pure surprise, Kentou -bursts- through the wave of snow. Turning the obscuring veil against its wielder as Kentou drives straight through like a bullet. Fists outstretched and parallel to eachother like a battering ram as the boy puts the whole of his body and momentum into the lunging strike! Colliding solidly with Jiro's middle!
Recovering from this assault, the boy skids to a halt.. Hands quickly moving to brush freezing snow from his limbs to keep them from slowing or shaking while Jiro recovers, "..Hnn.. Its not.. Too late.. Hah.. To find the right person..." Fingers curling into fists once more, "..Like..haa.. I did.."
That.... is unexpected.
That is where Jiro will have to commend Kentou on such a maneuver, just rushing straight into the attack. In all honesty, Jiro valued the way how the boy can do it without coming off as a berserker, just headstrong. But it is that very moment that Jiro is caught into the solar plex by the boy's lunging strike.
His body arches forward as he grits his teeth, then he staggers on back as the boy recovers from the assault. He hisses for a few moments, then he chuckles. That is actually amusing.
"Actually, I already found the right person." He shuts his eyes, "I draw from myself. It was, however, difficult to come in terms with myself."
He pauses.
"But I don't just draw on myself for strength now. I have my friends to draw from." The thought of Alma, Frei, Acacia, Yoko, Mimiru, Sakura... Hotaru. All of them. All of them are in his mind as he considers those that give him strength.
"Your teacher included."
The young man quickly lifts his right hand out, "I learned to control my power by understanding myself and confronting my fears. That is why my flames do not control me anymore!"
As Jiro immediately launches his hand up, the scarlet flames form into a large cutter. The size of an entire arm, that blade is sailing straight towards Kentou.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Kentou with Balefire.
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Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kentou
Headstrong is the polite way of phrasing it. Foolhardy is another. The boy has a tendency of leaping before he looks, even as Hotaru has tried her best to train that out of him. He is much more cautious and careful about what he commits to in battle now, but every now and then.. He just acts without really, fully considering the consequences.
It can work out for the better, from time to time..
At Jiro's response, Kentou blinks precisely once. Himself?
During that pause, Kentou's eyes again grow distant in thought. Remembering what it was like to train alone, to be alone. He couldn't improve that way.. he never improved that way. It wasn't until he met Hotaru where he learned just how important having a real teacher is.
And that's when Jiro touches on the truth of it. The older boy does have a teacher. Or.. teachers. Plural. Not unlike Hotaru's suggestion of learning from many others. He may not be anyone's apprentice, but that is not to say he hasn't been taught by the best himself.
But.. There is another thing..
As Jiro then sends forth that blade of flame, Kentou's eyes immediately widen. The light reflecting in his wide eyes as he tries to scramble out of the way, but far too late..
The flame rakes across the boy's chest. Barely managing to whirl about to avoid being cleaved in twain. Shouting as he throws himself backwards into the snow, a massive blackened gash smoking across his front as the boy lies upon the Earth. Hissing from clenched teeth as his fingers slowly, shakily, rise to touch his pained flesh..
...Eyes only then looking back up to Jiro then. Eyes reflecting pain and accusation, "...And what happens.. when you kill someone.. with this fire of yours... Huh?.." The boy struggles to sit up slowly. Flinching all the way.
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kentou
After the flame rakes across the boy's chest, Jiro looks towards Kentou as he lies on the ground. With his accusation, Jiro shuts his eyes upon reflection.
His first kill. It was done with rage that he could not control. It was done out of desperation of what could happen to Mimiru had the guy ran free.
To this, Jiro replies.
"Then it was done on purpose."
His eyes shift towards Kentou, "Once you understand yourself, you can wield it. Once you understand yourself, you cannot be controlled by your power." He pauses, "Love, hate, happiness, sadness, these are also acceptable tributes to draw the strength from. The man who I first learned it from taught me to draw it from hatred because it was seething and cold. I was warned by him and another that drawing from anger, or fury, would turn me into a berserker."
"They were right for some time." He shuts his eyes, "But as I understood myself and made resolution." He smiles, "I can no longer lose myself."
"The way how I draw my chi, the emotion is nothing more than a tool. It is the matter of if you have attuned yourself to separate yourself from it. No one will die from these flames because I will not use it to kill. Unless I have to. Even then, I've learned to respect myself and the emotion I draw from."
Pause.
"I am not saying learn through it. Hell, I'd tell you to avoid this kind of power. However, this is a matter of turning what may seem like a mistake into something to a good thing."
He laughs, recalling his conversation with Alma. "...I was once told by someone wise to never be ashamed of my anger, but as long as I refuse to indulge in it, I will not allow it to trouble me."
His power, is no longer a scar, but a mark of foundation.
COMBATSYS: Jiro takes no action.
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Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kentou
For Kentou, the answer is troubling.
Eyes hardening at the initial reply, Kentou's jaw sets. A mindset that colors the following words as the boy slowly returns to his feet, fists rising as he returns to his stance. The pain from the terrible burn shoved to the back of his mind forcefully, keeping his attentions upon the fight alone.
Although, Kentou does have words with that resolution, "...I never wanted power." The boy replies slowly, "Maybe you needed it.. For your sister. But.. I've.. My family is all gone now. I'll I've ever wanted.. Is Honor."
Fists turning upwards as Kentou bounces on his feet, energy and rhythm returning to his stance, "I don't want to learn techniques that can only kill. That can only cause pain and suffering.. Like yours. I'd rather never fight again than learn something that could kill anyone! No matter the reason!"
Letting that notion hang in the night air as Kentou's mousy eyes look distrustfully upon Jiro, "...How much control do you think you have.. If you find your own life.. or even your family's life.. more important than someone else's?"
Kentou could never bring himself to trust someone who would learn a murdering technique. No matter how 'in control' of it they say they were. How could he trust someone like that?
He need look no further than his Master, Hotaru, whom would never use such hateful abilities. Obviously.
This fight is a test. Kentou fully expects Jiro to kill him here and now. Figuring that when they find his charred body, Hotaru will finally know just what sort of person Jiro really is. And now, there's only one way to find out for sure.
"HAAA-HUT!"
In a rush of motion, Kentou once again launches into the fight. Closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye, the youth -launches- himself over Jiro's shoulder. Attempting to curl an arm around his neck in a bid to then use his flipping momentum to -throw- Jiro hard, should the technique connect! "NADARE! KUDAKI!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Jiro with Nadare Kudaki.
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Jiro 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kentou
"Well, no one said that you have to." Jiro glances back at the kid, then he blinks as the boy looks at him with distrust once again. At that, Jiro merely offers a shrug, "Unfortunately, there are the times where you will have to draw on it. To protect someone from losing -their- life."
But, Jiro figures that he won't exactly make the boy understand it too much. But at least he made some progress. It is the matter of showing the kid of his capabilities. But for now, Jiro has a fight to finish. Or at least, to deal with.
When Jiro finds the distance closed, Jiro launches straight towards the youth, but the fact that he is over his shoulders actually surprises Jiro enough to be caught around the neck and he is thrown by the momentum towards the ground. Skidding across the ground, Jiro lets off a hiss before he grips towards the ground. Ow, damn.
No matter.
Jiro merely sprints towards Kentou once more, aiming to get a better chance of closing the distance to the boy. Springing into the air, Jiro lifts his right foot up, then he slams the heel right down the boy's cranium.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Kentou with Strong Kick.
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Jiro 1/-------/=======|=======\=======\1 Kentou
Naivete is almost certainly a large component of Kentou's world view. He's never had to make the hard, truly hard choices. Weighing your own sister's life verses the life of another, with no solution in between or time to think about it. Its easy for Kentou to be down on others who make hard, deadly calls.. When he's never been there himself.
Fortune willing, He'll never have to know what that's like. And, perhaps, until Kentou does.. He may never fully understand Jiro.
The boy possesses a lofty nobility of intention that doesn't truly exist in the world. Very, very few can live up to the pure white that Kentou bestows those worthy of calling a friend. Its a sad fact that so few in Southtown can be as kind and good as Hotaru. Frei may be inscrutable, but gentle. Mizuki bound by her family, but sweet.
Compared to them, can Jiro compete?
As the boy completes his throw, the youth doesn't land well. Jiro's stance prove steady and difficult to budge. By the time he manages to complete the throw, the slippery, wet grass beneath his feet gives way. Forcing the boy to flail his arms outwards to keep his balance, if only for a moment!
And a moment was all the Dog needed.
The leaping kick connects audibly. Cracking over the top of Kentou's head and the boy -crashed- into the ground, face-first. The grass flying into the air from the impact as the rest of Kentou's body flops onto the Earth a moment later.
For a heartbeat.. It seems the smaller boy is knocked completely out cold. Not stirring until slowly a hand slides forth. Fingers sifting through the grass.
He'd reply.. But frankly his mind is completely void at the moment, filled with swirling stars and chaos in the wake of that heavy blow. Kentou isn't even sure what planet he's on. The taste of the dirt on his lips is the only real clue his senses give him.
Normally.. This is where Kentou would be forced to concede the match, if it was a sanctioned fight. However, this battle is not about such trivial matters. No.. This fight is worth something greater, and Kentou is not about to back down.. Even now.
"Gnnn.." The boy wonder's arms shift. Shoulders tensing as he dredges forth what strength he has left, "..Ten..chi.."
The boy suddenly -springs- high into the air. Pushing up into a handstand and -vaulting- up on arm-strength alone in an amazing display of tenacious strength! The youth tightly controls the spin, whirling in a rapid motion faster and faster until -landing- hard a short distance away. Whole body tightly crouched as a coiled spring, holding all the energy of that leap.
And then -unleashed- in a single thrust of speed. The boy explodes in a rushing punch so fast.. The eye cannot follow. A ring of force spreads outwards from that explosive attack, bowing the blades of grass and sending a wake of snow skywards.
"SHUUEN!"
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to counter Tenchi Shuuen from Kentou with Excessive Force.
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Jiro 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Kentou
After planting his foot towards the boy's head, Jiro takes a deep breath, frowning slightly as he looks at Kentou. It is interesting to see that the young boy has managed to put up even more of a fight than anything. But, it looks like that he's down, nevertheless.
Or not.
He can hear the groan on the boy, so Jiro merely waits. He just waits for the boy to get up when he draws forth the strength that is left.
"Oh, good."
Jiro tightens his fists, then he steps his right leg backward as he casts the arm with a tucking fit. Narrowing his eyes, Jiro grits his teeth and awaits for Kentou to come forth.
When he does...
"SEI!" He calls out, his aura manifesting to help steel himself. Then, he lunges straight towards Kentou as his own fist plows forward, "DO!" However, the boy sends that explosive strike through his own and plows Jiro back, sending him flying towards the ground.
It was a good thing that he utilized his chi to steel himself, or that attack would had hurt a lot worse.
Jiro's technique was potent and fast, but the Stray Dog underestimated the measure of attack Kentou would throw at him. The Tenchi Shuuen is Kentou's master technique. The best strike he has. Its speed and strength has grown tremendously under Hotaru's guidance, and now even she has difficulty dealing with it.
As fast and strong as it was.. Kentou is running on fumes.
The boy completes the strike, sliding to a halt after crashing against Jiro's empowered defenses with his fist remaining outstretched. After a moment, the boy drops to a single knee.. gasping for breath with his arms shaking. Chocolate-colored eyes blinking out of sequence as the world continues to spin around him.
The blurry Jiro-shape seems stunned, or at least not immediately continuing the assault. Something that the groggy, battle-weary Kentou knows he'd best expound upon while he's still conscious. The youth shakes his head quickly in a vain attempt to clear his vision, forcing himself to his feet and barking a sharp Kiai to cleanse his thoughts.
One.. more.. attack. This time.. A little something Hotaru taught him..
"SHIN-"
Kentou races forth. Staggering the first few steps but gaining momentum and clarity as he rushes. Again closing the distance between them as he thrusts his hands forth in a double-palm strike..
Which turns out to be a practiced feint. Attempting to grip Jiro's defending arms to give the youth a fulcrum.. Immediately attempting to -race- up Jiro's form as if climbing a ladder in a series of hard kicks, "JOU-"
And finally, once upon the Stray Dog's shoulder, flip-kicking off like a spring-board as a last hit and to regain some distance between them if he can! "TAI!"
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Kentou's Shin-Jou Tai.
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Jiro 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Kentou
The boy is good. Jiro will have to give him that. Kentou surprised him with the sheer force of his maneuver. He paid the price for underestimating the kid. That should never had been done. No matter, no regrets. The fact is that Jiro has still to take the kid down. He has a lot of tenaciousness in him. It is something Jiro can appreciate.
He will need it in Southtown.
When the boy, however, starts to utilize a move that is very familiar, Jiro is stepping back from the practiced feints of the double palm strike.
When he races up to his form...
Jiro is no longer there as he sweeps underneath and to the side of the boy's strike.
"You learned one of Hotaru's official techniques. That's cool."
Then, Jiro twists about and he sweeps his leg out, aiming to trip the boy off of his feet from behind.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Kentou with Quick Throw.
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Jiro 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Kentou
Kentou should have remembered his own advice about using Hotaru's techniques against Jiro! But then, the boy wasn't exactly thinking. The youth was at wits end and barely able to complete thoughts with that head-blow from earlier. Its a miracle he was able to complete the techniques he did! Finally, however, the youth is at the end of his rope.
As Jiro is no longer there, the boy almost comically flails in mid-air for a moment. No longer having anything for balance.. And by the time his feet begin to find purchase they're swept completely out from under him. The boy flips backwards a full revolution before crashing to the Earth once more.
Astonishingly.. The Youth slowly begins to push himself back up again. Keeping his hands beneath him as he forces.. Gritting his teeth and grunting with all the effort left in his body. In the end, it isn't his will that gives up.. but his body can only take so much.
His arms begin to waiver until they simply collapse. The boy flops back to the ground, utterly spent.
"Nngn..gh.."
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
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Jiro 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kentou can no longer fight.
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Jiro 1/------=/=======|
After the boy flops on the ground, Jiro remains standing with a calm look on his face. His eyes narrow as he looks down towards Kentou. After a few seconds of silence, Jiro steps over towards the young boy.
It is a slow, rhythmic motion as he stalks towards the youth.
Bit by bit.
Step by step.
Crunching of the snow by the crunching of the snow.
Jiro stares towards Kentou, sneering as he lifts his hand up. With the fist clenching, those scarlet flames ignite and consume the hand like an inferno.
"One last thing." There is an evil grin.
"You won't get in my way anymore. Goodbye, Kentou!" The hand comes down.
OR AT LEAST, THAT MAY BE IN KENTOU'S MIND!
But in reality, Jiro is actually walking off towards the hospital, with Kentou over his shoulder as he heaves a sigh, "Well, I guess you'll never really understand me until you experience what I have experienced."
"But, honestly, I just hope that you won't have to deal with that." His eyes shut while he looks onward.
"I wonder how Hotaru and the others are doing."
COMBATSYS: Jiro has ended the fight here.
Log created on 23:51:56 02/02/2008 by Kentou, and last modified on 05:00:33 02/03/2008.