Description: Zach and Jiro have a pretty random fight. The Psycho-Powered youth worker has some surprises for the Stray Dog, but luck does not last forever.
Snow covers the entire sky, fluttering along the air like fairies to coat the earth. Cars busily pass through slower than usual, due to the risk of slipping and crashing. Children are in school and classes are going through.
It's the afternoon. School time is almost over.
It's another day in Southtown. It took some time to recover from a lot of things, such as a savage beating by Rolento. Not only was it a crappy loss, but to get blown up in the face, it was rather irritating.
Jiro, for the most part, is rubbing his forehead, shaking his head as he considers the words that Rolento told him. "...My initial weaknesses, my rage." He sighs. "Meh, I suppose he was right." As much as he hates to admit it, Rolento did have a point. He was doing good until he decided to try to give the man a lot of direct, predictable attacks.
"Tsch." Jiro hisses out, "Now I want to fight again."
Explosions. The bane of many an existance. It's one thing to use explosives, another altogether to =be= one.
Zach is on his way back from the convenient store, heading back towards the Youth Fighters' Community Center, a bag loaded with snacks in one arm and the other loaded with cleaning supplies. He does not see Jiro yet, but is concentrating more on keeping his feet. The sidewalks haven't been salted yet.
While on his way through the travels, Jiro is having his arms in the air, stretching out a bit. Then, he reaches into his pocket to pull out a cellphone, making sure that he didn't get any unsuspecting phone calls while he was sleeping(read: unconscious).
But while passing by Zach...
...Jiro halts.
An eye lifts up slightly. His eyes shift to face the direction of Zach. "...Hrm? You're a familiar face." Jiro notes, rubbing his forehead. He's trying to clear the cobwebs out of his head. ...Saturday Night Fight? Neo League? ..Something.
Zach stops short. He does not appear as if his getting ready to lie, but maybe divert some undesirable attention. Jiro =does= look kind of fierce.
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," Zach says with a touch of confusion. Both Neo League AND Saturday Night Fight could be answers for Jiro. Perhaps the most likely? Zach is a newer hire at the YFCC. Perhaps Jiro has seen Zach pushing a broom or fixing a table.
Narrowing his eyes for a few moments, Jiro is assessing the man, rubbing his chin. "Hrm." Pause. "Actually, I think I've seen you around before." He nods, "Saturday Night Fights." He then raises an eyebrow, "Yeah. I remember now. Also, the youth center. I've been there a few times."
"You're a fighter, aren't you?" There is a slight, feral grin on Jiro.
Zach does not care much for the grin Jiro has. It worries him.
"Some might call me that," Zach says guardedly, "Others... I'm sorry. Didn't catch your name."
Zach shifts the bags in his arms, uncomfortably.
"Jiro Kasagi. Just a another fighter. No one to worry about." He shuts his eyes, adjusting his gloves slightly. When his eyes lift up to get a good look at Zach. "Not sure if you have any time, but... Needed some time to kill."
His eyes shut for a moment, "But! If you need to hurry back, I understand."
"Though, I would like to experience a battle against you for myself."
Zach looks around, and finally spots a clock. His eyes narrow as he weighs his options.
"Let's find a park, or a field. Someplace open," Zach says as he looks around some more. He's still learning his way around Southtown.
As Zach looks around, Jiro's stance relaxes, his expression becoming a statue-like state as he folds his arms. Shutting his eyes, he seems rather patient as he awaits for the man's decision. He would be understanding, if a touch disappointed should the man refuse.
But, when the man makes his decision, Jiro has a grin on his face. "Very well..."
And so, Jiro leads Zach onto the park. It is only about a fifteen minute walk from where they were currently at.
The sidewalk is a long trail, surrounded by snow. Not too many people opt to hang about due to the weather. But soon, some kids will be ready for their little war games.
For now?
There is a fight occuring.
Jiro is standing in the middle of the snowy hill now, hands tucked into his pockets. "Alright." Jiro removes the hands from his pockets, looking forward while he stretches his arms up. "Let me know when you're ready, alright?"
Zach looks less than thrilled, but walks over to a bench. He sweeps the snow off, and then sets his bags down. He walks back to the center of the area, before settling into a jujitsu stance. He inhales slowly, and exhales slowly before fixing Jiro with a firm look.
"Let's go, then."
COMBATSYS: Zach has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Jiro has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
Although the young man looks less than thrilled, Jiro shakes his head. For some reason, Jiro is imagining that he is going to be disappointed by the fight. Hopefully, he is proven wrong. For now? Jiro is finally raising his guard up, keeping a good eye on the young man.
When Zach is fixing him with the firm look of his readiness, Jiro offers a nod. "Good."
First off, Jiro is sprinting towards the young man with a sprint. His fists tighten, slowly manifesting a blaze in his hand. The scarlet light swirls along his hand, then Jiro aims to thrust that fist towards Zach's direction.
...Only for it to fade as quick. The flames are no longer there, the fist twists to a different direction as Jiro swoops down towards Zach, charging forward low with that arm; elbow struck out towards the stomach.
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges Jiro's Medium Punch.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
Zach shufflesteps back a half pace to let the elbow clear his midsection, before rapidly shifting his momentum. Closing quickly, Zach plants a leg behind Jiro's, and an arm upwards across the younger man's chest. Classic fighting suggests that Zach is simply going to shove Jiro to the ground from here.
Zach is far from a classic fighter. Instead of using his hands to push, Zach gives a hard shove with some kind of purple energy. It definitely does not feel like chi.
COMBATSYS: Jiro Toughs Out Zach's Quick Throw!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zach
After the elbow is swung and doesn't hit it's target, Jiro is pivoting his direction onward with his left leg, shifting his body to move towards the right. Next up, Jiro is stepping towards Zach as quick as he can, using that ball of the foot to launch Jiro to get close towards Zach.
While he does so, he is bracing himself to take the incoming manifestation of that purple energy. As it crashes onto Jiro, he winds his left fist back, hissing as the scarlet flames ignite once more. As he charges through, Jiro roars out before he thrusts the fist at Zach, aiming to send that fist to plow -through- the violet energy and the arm to punch right into Zach's stomach.
The impact will result in a violent explosion.
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges Jiro's Burst Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Zach
Zach leaps clear, his eyes narrowed with focus. Jiro's fast. Zach's response is simple.
He brings up both hands, right hand pressing against the left as three purple... sheets appear above Jiro's head. "KASANE ATE!" Zach yells as he brings his hands down. The sheets come crashing down a moment later.
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Jiro with Ka-Psi-Ne Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zach
Now, this is rather odd. Zach is very fast. Unfortunately, this does put Jiro in quite a situation. As he charges into the blow, Zach manages to leap clear away from the attack. Skidding along the snow, Jiro finds himself a bit stuck from the charge. Damn.
When he turns around to see Zach, his eyes widen as he notices the kasane ate coming his way. THere is a hiss at the sight of the legendary maneuver that literally blows him away. As the psychokinetic sheets spray along his body, Jiro is blasted across the ground, landing roughly on the snow.
"...s--shit." He grits his teeth, then he steps back up to his feet.
Deciding to take it easy now, Jiro runs towards Zach, coming forth with a basic maneuver. The first two attacks are two leaping front snap-kicks. They are mere feints, however. The real move is the incoming back knuckle closing in on Zach's temple.
COMBATSYS: Zach interrupts Jab Punch from Jiro with Third Stance.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Zach
Zach slides and weaves to avoid the kicks, but sees the fist coming in. "Back..." Zach sweeps a fist upward. "...OFF!"
The fist smacks Zach in the head even as the jagged purple spike of psycho-power lances up from the ground, impaling Jiro before blasting the ICPO agent away.
....Pehraps challenging someone to a fight after getting savagely beaten by a war veteran was a -bad- idea. Jiro needed time to recover and all. Unfortunately, Jiro could not help the fact of sating his desire for a fight.
Maybe Jiro -is- out of practice, which could contribute to his downfall.
OW!
That spike of psycho power impales Jiro, causing his eyes to widen and his body to shiver. Such power that this guy has. It sends Jiro sprawling back and landing on his back heavily. "Errggg..."
Ow ow ow. Jiro staggers up to his feet, then he sprints towards Zach once more, deciding that he wants to take the guy down hard. Growling under his breath, Jiro springs off of the ground, aiming to come forth with the fist....
Until he remembers that his temper is what caused him to lose his previous fight.
Instead, he opts to change the direction of his attack and instead utilize both feet to plant itself into Zach's chest.
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges Jiro's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Zach
Zach spins away from the kick, Jiro's missing the spot that Hotaru slammed a pair of murder fists into less than two weeks ago.
"Somethin' about the way you move," Zach says as he throws his arms out to his sides. "Seen it before somewhere. Or somethin' like it, anyway."
That's when the column of psycho power engulfs Zach, shinging like a bright lamp in the street.
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Zach
"Eh?"
That is all what Jiro asks. He lifts an eyebrow about Zach, "...Seen what before, or somewhere? Who did you see it from?" He lifts an eyebrow, looking quite curious. Nevertheless, Jiro is starting to draw his attention to a more focused look, trying to regain his mind.
He has not been doing well this fight. He better change that.
COMBATSYS: Jiro focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Zach
"Heck if I know. I'm new to all of this," Zach replies as he dashes in. As he closes in on the younger man, as impropable it may seem, Zach lowers his shoulder even as more of that insane amount of psycho-power collects at the ramming shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to counter Blast Bash from Zach with Excessive Force.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Jiro 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zach
Perhaps Jiro should had rested.
There is a grunt for a few moments as Zach replies to him with a crappy answer. There is a sigh for that, then he stares when Zach charges at him. This, nevertheless, draws a grin on his face. "Heh...." Then, Jiro takes a step back, tightening his fists as the chi erupts once more. As he winds the fist back, he channels his raw power into the blow.
"SEI!!" His eyes narrow, then he steps towards the man as he gets near....
Until he eats a powerful amount of psycho power as Zach RUSHES into him, sending Jiro sprawling quite hard. There is a high amount of pain that Jiro is in as he is sent sprawling along the fight.
Slowly, his words are mixed with swears. Ow. Getting badly beaten.
He coughs up a bit of blood.
"It's like... you're just angry," Zach says. "Not at anyone in particular. Just... angry."
Zach straightens up. "But unlike her, you run hot," Zach comments as purple flames lick around his body. Some collect between his palms, while others seem to soak into Zach, energizing him somehow. "She's... I dunno, cold I guess."
Zach then thrusts that glowing purple orb of Psycho Power at Jiro. The orb then explodes in a torrent of pain!
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Jiro with Burst Stream.
[ \\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Zach
Anger... is an understatement. His eyes narrow at the mention of her. And running cold. "...Who is this person who's energy runs cold?" He grits his teeth, channeling his scarlet flames once more as he feels the rage ebbing him.
But it is then that the burst of energy STRIKES Jiro quite hard. His eye widen as the torrent sends Jiro sprawling far and across the ground with a skid and a thud once more.
...But, there is that will in Jiro as he staggers up to his feet. He slams his fist towards the ground.
"Heh... you're good." Pause. "But I'm not done yet!" Jiro is sprinting towads Zach's direction, then he runs forth. As he closes in on Zach...
Fury comes to life. That fury forms the flames as a scarlet inferno this time. As that inferno breathes into life, the erosion of flames come forth in a powerful uppercut as he closes in on Zach.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Zach with Scarlet Slaughter.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Zach
After that initial uppercut makes contact with Zach, this has he man soaring into the air once more. And while he is in the air, Jiro has the fist tighten and he immediately drives that powerful force of chi to come to that other arm that has winded back.
"Arrrggghh!" Then, the next fist strikes towards Zach stomach. As it makes contact with the stomach of Zach.... a huge explosion erupts from the pure contact with the man, aiming to scorch the snow around him as well as bowl Zach far.
Zach goes skidding back several feet, slamming back first into a tree. He coughs up some blood as he slumps to the ground. He slowly, painfully pulls himself back to his feet as psycho-power collects at his left hand.
"Hotaru Futaba. Her anger's cold," Zach says even as the wanderer charges in and simply slams that power-mailed fist into Jiro's midsection.
COMBATSYS: Jiro counters Burst Strike from Zach with Helldrive.
[ \\\\ < > //// ]
Jiro 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Zach
As Zach is skidding from the impact, Jiro is taking a breather, staring at the psychic fighter as he hunches low. He hisses for a few moments, gritting his teeth as he takes a deep breath. He has been beaten badly in this fight. The guy is definately powerful due to the psycho power around him.
This fight is -CLOSE-. His eyes narrow once more at the news, however. "...What?" His eyes narrow at Zach, then he reaches over towards the wanderer as he aims to slam his hands towards the man's throat. That power mailed fist is smacked away and Jiro clutches onto the throat.
"Elaborate." The choke becomes quite fierce now as his anger is quite apparent.
Then, Jiro reaches over to toss Zach up a bit to where he can easily grab the man's shoulders. Hunching his back, Jiro is now forcing his body downward to slam Zach onto his back.
"NOW!"
Zach chokes for a moment. The front of his shirt is wet. Jiro's experience would tell him that it isn't water. The smell is all wrong.
Zach can't really say anything at the moment. Air is becoming scarce. All he has left...
...is the psycho-powered kick that fires for Jiro's midesection.
COMBATSYS: Zach can no longer fight.
[ \\\\ <
Jiro 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Zach's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\ <
Jiro 0/-------/---====|
It's quite interesting. What was supposed to be a normal fight is starting to turn out to be something more fierce. Jiro's eyes is narrowing as he takes a deep breath.
His anger is telling him to -beat- the answers out of Zach. When he shifts his gaze at Zach, the young man spins out of the way when he sends the psycho powered kick, allowing it to hit air.
After that, Jiro looks at Zach, almost ready to push forward to choke him.
..Until he shuts his eyes, trying his hardest to regain himself. He decides to fall onto both knees. Rubbing his eyes, Jiro frowns, "...What was this cold energy that you mentioned that Hotaru has? ...Was it red?"
COMBATSYS: Jiro has ended the fight here.
Zach does not get up. His everything hurts far too much for him to do anything else.
"...yeah," Zach croaks as he gasps for air, "...got a real good look as she slammed it into my chest twice. Red at the core. But not cold like snow."
Zach slowly pulls himself upright, dabbing as his chest, "She's using it more than the other way around. You though," Zach coughs, "You tend to let the anger use you."
Damn. He still has not overcame his anger. He still hasn't fully gotten control of his anger. He came this far. His eyes lower at the ground. "...I really need to work on that."
He considers.
"..I should had been able to use it by now. ...Or at least, work with it instead of letting it control me." Shutting his eyes once more, Jiro is staggering to his feet. He supposes that winning a fight has been more important than losing it. That could contribute to the downfall.
"...Thanks." Jiro stands up, rubbing the back of his head. "...Sorry about that. You've given me some valueable infomation." As he considers about Hotaru, Jiro's hands rub against his shoulders.
~ Hotaru, why? ~
"She worries me," Zach says quietly as he drags himself to his feet. He shoves a hand down his shirt, drawing a wince and a hiss as he pulls out a bloodied hand. He looks at it with concern; he has not had to worry about long-term injuries since he came into his power. "She says it was a decision she made. Something she did."
Zach slowly walks towards his bags. "We all have our demons, Jiro, and at some point, we either overcome them or..." Zach blinks once, shakes his head loose.
"...sorry. I need to get back to work. Hopefully Alma will understand the need for a new shirt. Can't work with the kids like this."
"...I thought I overcame mine some time ago. I think I am either losing focus of that again or something." He sneers. "...I've gotten too laxed on that." He shakes his head, then he shrugs, "No matter." For now, seeing Hotaru is primary. ...Okay, REST is primary first, then see Hotaru. Jiro is starting to walk off.
At the mention of Alma, utters, "Tell Alma that Jiro said that he's still a queerbag." And with that, Jiro is walking out of the park once more.
Zach waves over his shoulder as he scoops the bags up gingerly and makes his way back to his apartment. He also has work to do. Jiro showed him that the wanderer still has not bridged the gap Hotaru mentioned.
Log created on 20:15:40 02/14/2008 by Zach, and last modified on 22:46:10 02/14/2008.