Description: A happenchance encounter with Hotaru gives Jiro a first hand chance to see just what it is she's been up to in her fights as of late. A vicious fight, the girl going all out, even unleashing the infamous Maou Satsujinken on the young man, but in the end he manages to hang in there through it all and maybe, just maybe, help pull her back a little from the brink.
What a month.
From bad to worse, the time in Southtown has been quite a brilliant ray of sunshine for the former Stray Dog. Starting from the return of Rolento, it involved getting doing well, but something in him, the old instincts, had a major contributation to his loss against the older veteran. As if that wasn't enough, fustrations against another newcoming fighter was horrible for him. It was, unfortunately, a near crushing defeat had his ability to refrain from staying down came in.
...But then he had to rely on the wrath and almost fell into his own emotions unstead of wielding it like a tool. ...Or at least, fight with it.
Doesn't help that one's girlfriend has gone evil. She told him that she would not use it! Then there is the announcement of stuff going on in Metro City.
What does Jiro do? He is walking into the park. That's it. A stroll in the park should do him wonders. That is where the blond haired young man enters.
Southtown doesn't receive snow this time around, and it is somewhat more sunny. The big city has green grass all around with the dry ground. However, the air is quite cool to where a jacket is needed. That is why Jiro adopts the usual new attire; the sleeveless jacket hoodie with a black short sleeved shirt underneath as well as the white pants and red tennis shoes. Okay, not quite dressed for the weather, but his irritating keeps him warm.
"...****ing Rolento. ****ing fight. ****ing Mad Gear." Jiro halts his movement along the side walk, exhaling a sigh. "...Damn it. Where is Hotaru?" He tried checking the church, but she was not around. ...He even wonders where Itokatsu went.
He just needs to cool his head.
The church has started to feel foreign to the girl. The last time she was there she encountered Frei and, well... that didn't go well. And in leaving, she saw Kentou, her young student, the boy she has been avoiding for a little while now. If she goes back there she might see people she knows. Frei, Kentou, Jiro... and lately she hasn't wanted to see any of them. She tried explaining to Frei. He didn't understand. He refused to. His hostility toward his brother blinds him.
She didn't try to explain to Kentou. He's too young, he isn't ready for the harsh realities of the world yet... No, going back to the church and risking running into them again is too much. Hence the girl has stayed in other places, not even going back to her home or the Kyokugen dojo. Renting rooms, walking alone through the streets of Southtown. She's shown up for classes at school though. Even though she has discovered a means of real power, she still recognizes the importance of obtaining knowledge through school!
Thus it is that Hotaru is walking through the park now on her way out of the Seijyun campus gates, lost in thought as she makes her way back toward a nearby apartment she has rented recently.
Dressed in her Seijyun uniform of blue and white, with a blue blazer, she totes a brown backpack over her shoulder. Her eyes are distant and unfocused, as if walking on auto-pilot, as she meanders through the park to head for the exit out on the other side.
Speaking of chopped liver, Jiro is still wandering around, letting his eyes roam about the woodlands and the grassy plains. He doesn't mind the cold too much now, even as he cools off. He lowers his head as he continues to walk through the park....
... Until he sees a familiar face. Although, her hair is down. Hot. Wait. Hotaru! The eyes widen, then he sprints over her way.
"Hotaru!"
He calls for her, aiming to snap her into attention as he's closing in her way.
As long as this doesn't turn into a chase scene, this day should be a little better.
Her forward most foot comes down to rest in the grass as Hotaru stops walking, pauses for a moment, then finally looks over her shoulder toward Jiro, blue eyes taking the young man in thoughtfully. The smile that should be readily present is absent, her mouth tight lipped and neutral for a moment as if trying to decide something before she can react.
In the end she turns fully to face Jiro, so he isn't going to have to chase her down at least, it seems. Hotaru dips her head in acknowledgement before standing up straight, shifting her backpack off of one of her shoulders such that it simply hangs off of just one shoulder. "Jiro," she calls back once the young man draws nearer.
Leaning her head to the side slightly, one hand lifts up to brush her hair back over her shoulder, her mouth forming a faint smile that looks on some small level to be a little forced, but not entirely.
As soon as Hotaru actually halts, Jiro has a sigh of relief. Why? This means that he doesn't have to chase her down. That would be uncool! Just imagine all of the people be like 'Look at that guy trying to do bad things to that poor girl!' or worse. Yeah. That would suck.
As he halts as well, his eyes focuses at Hotaru with a blank stare. She acknowledges him as if he was a stranger. This earns an inward cringe from th young man, who walks a little closer towards her.
...You know, this feels very uncomfortable." Stare. "It is like there is a forcefield between us at this point." His eyes shut once more, then he narrows his eyes. "You told me that you would not had used those flames in combat. You said that you were going to use it to mend the pain out of you."
Stare.
"So. Why did you?"
As he speaks her eyes narrow in return, mouth curling into a faint frown. "Why not?" comes the question back at him. "Or did you prefer that I didn't become as strong as possible?" Her smile gone, the girl takes a step backward, increasing the distance between them by a fraction. "I realized... I... came to realize that there was no reason to hold back. If I had it within me to do better, to exceed what had been my limitations before, then I had no choice."
Her right hand comes up, clenched in a small fist as she looks back at Jiro, her voice tense, "Or were you just afraid I would get stronger than you? Is that what makes you uncomfortable now?" The girl shakes her head, lowering her hand slowly. "I have already become a far better fighter than I ever was before, in just a short time. If Kataki had never shown me, I never would have known. I never would have obtained this kind of power. I never would have had any hope of catching up with my brother."
She hmphs softly, folding her arms as she half turns away. "I was tired of being left behind, treated like I was weak. Now no one will think that way of me ever again." Looking along her shoulder at Jiro, the young fighter falls quiet, as if challenging him to answer her questions.
"No. I just preferred that you didn't lose the Hotaru that I knew." The young man folds his arms towards her, narrowing his eyes at her. "I saw nothing wrong with you getting as strong as possible! Hell, I saw nothing wrong with you getting more powerful than I am!"
He grits his teeth, narrowing his eyes as he stares at Hotaru as his voice tenses as well. "What makes me uncomfortable is that you have alienated me from your life! Even when I first called you, it was like that you created a barrier right between us!" The young man braves on, stepping closer towards Hotaru.
"You said that when you gained the power, you had to exchange something." His voice loses the tenseness and his eyes shut. "...I think I know what it is."
"...How do you think I feel when you're doing the same thing that you helped me get away from?" His hands is now reaching for her hands, but there is the chance in the back of his mind that she'll distance from him or slap him. He'll brace.
"Your friends did not think of you as weak. I did not think of you as weak! We knew you had potential! But this isn't 'not holding back anymore'! You could do more even without it." ...He laughs, "...Of course, this is coming from someone of the darkness himself. Tsch."
"So you say, but the moment I finally break past my previous limitations you and everyone else reacts as if it's a wrong thing. I think you and them all got used to me being how I was, struggling to keep up, holding back what I could really do just to because I was afraid of what would happen if I were to seize upon what I could really do."
She pauses and frowns slightly, "I was defensive - I knew what you were going to say. I was debating as to whether I was in the mood to hear it or not." He steps in closer and Hotaru seems to tense a little, but she doesn't back up, merely holding her ground. The young man reaches for her hands and she unfolds her arms, letting him take hold, her expression softening slightly, the girl swallowing once.
"Look, what happened to you was different. You weren't in control, but I'm completely in control of myself. I haven't changed from who you knew, I just... I'm just..." she frowns, struggling for the words, leaving her hands in his as she bows her head just slightly. "Potential? I did have potential, and this is it." She pulls her right hand from his, clenching it again, holding it up inbetween the two of them. Flickering, red-orange energy spirals along her forearm as the girl stares back at Jiro. "It was my birthright as a Futaba to claim it, as did my brother and father before me. And now I am catching up with them as I had always wanted."
Lowering her arm, the girl starts to try and pull her left hand free in an attempt to turn away, "You just don't understand, just like Frei didn't. So be it." A chill wind blows, touseling her hair and clothing slightly, the girl tensed up once again, eyes half closed. "Someday you will understand. Perhaps you should meet Kataki..."
"Listen, I'm used to people being stronger than me. For the most part, you have been stronger than me." His eyes shut, then he re-opens his eyes to see Hotaru is tensed. As she softens her expression, Jiro is actually smiling at Hotaru.
"...In control of yourself." Jiro shuts his eyes, "Perhaps." His eyes lower, "Perhaps you are in control of your own energy, more than I have been as of late." His eyes widen as she finally pulls her hand from his, then clenches it. When she's holding the energy at him, the young man stares up at her and then the flame. There is no fear. He is used to the darkness.
...No point in running from something like that.
But he shuts his eyes. However, as she turns away, Jiro steps closer to wrap his arms around her. "Hotaru." He shuts his eyes, "...I want to believe you. Believe me, I do. It's just hard for me to swallow this from someone who shown me a better side that I strived for. ...You are the reason why I am as strong as I am now." ...Even if it's his old weakness haunting him. His arms wrap around her, "...Remember that promise... I won't break away from that promise."
That is his promise to Hotaru. ...But the question is if -this- is Hotaru.
As Jiro speaks of her strength before now, Hotaru glances over her shoulder toward him, eyes narrowed, brow furrowed in slight confusion, "But I-..." Stonger? But she couldn't ever beat him in fights, so how could he say that? There were times she helped him through difficult times, but any weakling could have done that, she tells herself. There was no power in that.
He wraps her in his arms from behind and Hotaru stays put, not fighting against the gesture, merely looking away, head bowed forward slightly as she listens to him as he credits her example for his present strength. "I-... I remember," she murmurs. A tremble courses through the girl as she struggles with something internally. But it passes, replaced instead by her body tightening, tension returning as the only warning before she lifts her arms to pry Jiro's hold off of her rather suddenly, whirling around to press her right hand against his chest and try to shove the young man back even further.
"No, no. You don't believe me yet. I can hear it in your voice. You think the problem is me, that I've changed." She frowns, her blue eyes cold, almost icy, "Well, I have changed, for the better. Everyone was just happier when I wasn't so strong, that's all." She smirks faintly, "Finding I have the kind of strength I really do within me... I suppose it might be a little frightening." A step backward is taken, "Very well, don't believe me. Frei didn't understand either even after I demonstrated full well what I can do now. I guess I shouldn't expect any better from you." she snaps.
As Hotaru remains in his hold, Jiro is looking at the young girl. As her body trembles, Jiro is hugging her close, uttering, "...Hotaru. I miss this. I just want the warm feeling between us again. ...And the warm feeling that you shared with your friends." He smiles.
...Until she breaks away and then -shoves- him off of her. He is pushed back, then he grits his teeth before his head lowers. "I see." He exhales a sigh, "As for Kataki, if I see him, I'll break him..." He grits his teeth, then he lifts his head up to stare at Hotaru.
"However. Between us... I still love you, Hotaru. ... However, you gave up something in exchange of that power. ...You gave up the heart and capacity for that love."
He grits his teeth, "...Show me..." Jiro shuts his eyes once more.
~ Mini-me. I need your help. ...Let's not fight each other, okay kiddo? ~
"---How stronger you've---" Soon, the flames ignite to life as the emotions behind Jiro fades away. As his exterior becomes calm and collected, the emotions behind the chi is fueled by the wrath that he is currently feeling towards this new power.
"--become."
COMBATSYS: Jiro has started a fight here.
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Jiro 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jiro
There it is again. The mention of a cost. Frei raised the same point. What was the price for this new found power? Nothing comes for free in life, not even strength she felt entitled to by virtue of bloodline. But if what she had discarded were the things that she felt made her weak, then was it really any price to pay at all? The girl's hand comes up, clenched in a fist as Jiro grits his teeth. "Then you want to see for yourself... So be it. Perhaps then you will understand."r
She inhales then exhales slowly, shrugging her backpack the rest of the way off, letting it land in the grass with a weighty thud. And then she turns one shoulder toward him, raising her near arm up, hand in a loose fist. Her other hand is held back a little, elbow bent. Rather than bouncing lightly on her toes as she had in the past, the Kenpo artist merely stands still, as if she has no intention of giving up her ground.
"I... suppose this outcome was inevitable. I wish it hadn't come to this. But, Jiro, I will show you exactly what it is I mean." The girl exhales, eyes narrowing slightly. The delay isn't to give Jiro time to prepare so much as it is to ready herself, for no further warning comes as Hotaru suddenly advances, ducking in low as if trying to ram her shoulder into his chest.
At the last moment she rises up, trying to slip her own shoulder beneath Jiro's shoulder and get a grip on his arm so that she can twist him up and over her to slam him down flat on his back, finishing with a vicious twist of his arm the moment she finishes should she be successful.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Jiro with Quick Throw.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
"...It is inevitable, isn't it?" Jiro shuts his eyes, "As I mentioned to Kentou, the only way to understand things... is to fight." Jiro, of the Deimos, tightens his fists! Okay, not Deimos, but still. The former Stray Dog is drawing on that fury born in him as he readies himself.
It is then when Hotaru actually exhales out before she advances. That sudden advancement is prepared in a steady manner as she comes forth. As the shoulder hooks beneath his, Jiro is trying to move to the side and swing forth an arm. Unfortunately, he is caught by the arm and he's flung onto his back, given a vicious snap which results a roar to echo from him.
...Hotaru isn't holding back.
So be it.
There is the feral grin in Jiro before he twists his arm about, aiming to rip it off from her grasp as he launches his right arm up to catch her in an uppercut.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru endures Jiro's Medium Punch!
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Jiro
And uppercut he does, Hotaru releasing her hold on Jiro's arm yet not backing up in the slightest. In fact, at first glance there would seem to be no attempt at defending herself in the slightest as she doesn't even try to block against the young man's attack but rather keeps her feet rooted, stepping forward into the rising punch from his right arm.
But in the moment Jiro attempts to recover from the rising punch, the smaller fighter takes a second step in, seeming able to ignore for a moment the pain of his punch as her left hand snaps out, attempting to grab a painful hold of Jiro's extended arm and wrench it hard into twisted lock, trying to leave his guard open in front.
But unlike the simple slam to the ground moments ago, the girl has so much more in mind this time, her right arm flaring to life with that red-orange, spiraling energy she had showed Jiro for just a moment a little earlier. "Now is your chance to feel it," Hotaru murmurs, slamming her hand forward, her palm stopping just shy of his chest if she's managed to secure her hold.
And then it comes, all of that pent up energy discharging out of her arm at nearly point blank range, exploding outward in an eruption of savage, piercing chi. Unlike the pure force she used to strike with when using her energy attacks, this energy seems designed to rend flesh, easily cutting through cloth and skin alike...
COMBATSYS: Jiro endures Hotaru's Maou Satsujinken EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Jiro
It is after the fist delivers the blow at Hotaru that Jiro is trying to get back from her. Unfortunately, the young man is starting to regret it as she takes a hold of the extended arm and wrenches it. His eyes widen as he is caught withn the lock. Growling in pain, Jiro is forced onto a knee as he resists the urge to scream.
He won't give in.
He snarls and he looks at Hotaru as she reveals her right arm. As it flares to llife the red-orange, spiralling energy, the young man grits his teeth, and then he...
Leaps right into it.
..As that energy wells and pierces his entire flesh, he can feel the shirt become tattered and his chest opening wounds as he is practically impaled by the energy.
Only.... Jiro eaches his arms around Hotaru to embrace her. "...I see... so this is your power."
Of course, the glow on his body manifests slightly as the waves of scarlet flames burn in view.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to reflect Defiance from Jiro with Kobi Kyaku.
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Hotaru 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Jiro
It is at the very moment that Jiro embraces Hotaru into his arms. "... Despite all of this, Hotaru." Jiro shuts his eyes, tightening the hold on her as to keep her from escaping.
"Do you still love me?"
And with that, Jiro's body lights up like an inferno as the scarlet blaze wraps around him and Hotaru. While her his body is shielded from the flames... that side of him is gentle with his body. ...Hotaru? Not so much.
"Time to pull..." The heat swells up, "-- an ALMA!!!!"
As the flames consume her, the roaring fire bursts and lashes outbefore the flames die away, leaving Jiro stumbling back and he grits his teeth. "Remind me to punch myself for that."
The ruthless attack delivered, Hotaru begins to pull back, only to realize at the last moment that Jiro hadn't tried to avoid the brutal explosion of chi in the slightest but rather is slamming through it to try and get to her. "Tch," the girl grunts, raising her hands up, intending to stop his attempted advance with a barrier he couldn't hope to force his way through no matter how determined.
But just as the shield of red chi begins to appear between her extended arms, the young man has slipped in behind it, catching the girl before she could fully manifest the barrier. Gasping as his arms encircle her, she tries to pull away for a moment, eyes widened with some surprise.
Face to face with the young man, Hotaru remains silent, blue eyes staring back at him, trembling ever so faintly, as if from anger being held back or uncertainty begining to kick in as even after the powerful strike she delivered him he continues to be able to overpower her defenses.
The surge in fire engulfs the two of them and Hotaru stumbles backward, a second gasp as she shakes her head, trying to catch her breath, face lowered for a moment before she glances up, eyes narrowed toward Jiro. She won't let her guard down like that a second time...
After the flames wash away....
Jiro is standing and staggering back from Hotaru, keeping his eyes watchful of her every move. He knows that she will not allow him to make a maneuver like that again. Perhaps this is why that Jiro should try to make sure that this attack counts.
"I will admit that you've gotten stronger. ...But it doesn't feel like you." He shuts his eyes, "...Perhaps you may be yourself after the match." He narrows his eyes, "... However, I refuse to lose you!"
Jiro is stepping towards Hotaru as quick as he can, then he lunges forward with the right arm swinging forth the elbow, then he leans back to snap the arm out with a chop towards her temple, but that is used for him to lean his arm over to move her arm over so that he can thrust out both of his legs to snap at her stomach as harsh as he can with a double snap kick.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Jiro's Light Kick.
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Hotaru 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Jiro
By the time Jiro comes in for the punch and kick combo, Hotaru has hopped back out of range, leaving him to strike at air as her feet touch down a couple yards away. But rather than charge back at him, the uniform clad girl merely glares back, teeth clenched tightly, silent for a moment, her impatience from before nearly spilling all the way over into seething anger.
"That's what I thought. You would take losing to me as an insult because in your mind it just shouldn't be possible. I knew that's how you thought of me all this time," she hisses, fists tightening. "Saying I was ever stronger than you... just a miserable lie, trying to appease me with foolish words I know not to be true."
The girl exhales, shifting her stance slightly, slipping back into that rooted posture she started the fight with. "We'll see, then, if things have changed now." Hotaru states, her voice quiet, reserved. "At least one thing has changed for certain..." She shakes her head slightly, "But now I know how you think of me. Don't patronize me, Jiro Kasagi."
COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.
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Hotaru 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Jiro
"Wrong. I said I refuse to LOSE you! Pay attention in class, there will be a pop quiz on this later!" The young man grits his teeth, then he sprints towards Hotaru as he closes in on Hotaru. "What I said was true. Even at the time, your strength was your ability to draw the feelings of others. ... You had the ability to know the creatures of nature, just like I do! You had the understanding of other's feelings and you gave those who were hurt comfort!"
He growls as he sprints towards Hotaru as he dashes closer towards Hotaru, "Can you still feel the feelings of the animals around you? Are you still attune with Itokatsu or any of our other friends?!" The flames....
Burn with a bright, illuminating aura as the wrath becomes more apparent.
"...I am not patronizing you... I am giving you my full power!" As the flames swirl around, Jiro finally thrusts the arm upward across her chin as he moves at Hotaru. "SO GIVE ME YOUR ****ING FULL POWER!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru blocks Jiro's Scarlet Slaughter.
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Hotaru 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Jiro
As Jiro corrects her Hotaru pauses. How had she misheard? Did she already just hear what she wanted to hear? What she thought he would say? She's certain he said he wouldn't lose /to/ her... And the confusion in the discrepency reflects in her eyes as the hardness of her expression fades slightly. Can she feel the animals, he asks, and Hotaru wonders when the last time she felt anything like that was. "I-..." Perceiving the hurt in others - so often others had credited her with being able to do that, "But..."
When Jiro comes in, Hotaru's defense is almost lazy compared to her normally swift movements around any battle field. Arms coming up, she makes no further effort to get out of the way of the incoming, powerful strike but rather bunkers down and weathers it out, Jiro's fist crashing against her guard, shattering it easily, sending Hotaru stumbling backward several steps. She may have avoided the worst of it, but the pain ringing through her arms is proof alone that he is doing everything he has, giving it his all, respecting her even this state to fight the hardest he can.
"Jiro..." comes the soft murmur as Hotaru's feet cease slipping, her hair blowing out behind her in the aftermath of the attack she just guarded. Fists clench tightly, the girl lowering her head slightly, "My full power... FINE!" Her cry echos across the park and then she's upon him, dashing forward and sliding in low. The build up chi around the school girl is incredible, lending strength to her next strike far beyond what she can normally accomplish.
And then it comes, a surge in chi accompanying a powerful flipkick upward as Hotaru gives the next attack very last ounce of strength she has...
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Jiro with Ten-shou Ranki.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Jiro
At the point of impact, the girl transfers so much force into the young man that she sends him flying upward, clean off his feet, rising up just as she does as she follows through with the force behind her flip kick. At the apex of her rise, the girl flips forward, adjusting her trajectory, taking her into a diving collision course for the air-born Kasagi.
The drop back down to the grassy park ground comes fast and at an angle, the two sliding along several yards before coming to a stop, the uniformed girl stradling Jiro, her hands pressed against his chest. Around the two energy begins to build up, swirling into a powerful whirlwind of raw energy unleashed, drawn from the world, from herself, and from Jiro into a small storm. But unlike the miasmic red-orange energy she had blasted the youth with earlier, the chi is her traditional blue, mixed with rings of crimson energy similar in hue to the flames Jiro controls.
"This is everything," Hotaru whispers, her mouth tight lipped between statements. "Everything I can do, all my power, all my strength..." The torrential churning energy continues to build up around the two, whipping at hair and clothing alike as the girl pins Jiro down, losing the ability to speak as the concentration required to focus transcends beyond that.
"aaaaaaaAAAAAAH!" And then it ends, Hotaru letting it collapse, all of that power drawing back into her, the girl acting as a conduit as she funnels the entire blast into Jiro's chest. But unlike the devilish attack from before, the explosion of chi is pure, concussive force as she had always used in the past. "KYA!!" An invisible blast wave explodes out from around the two, stiring up leaves, flower buds, and dust. And in the silence of the aftermath, an exhausted, tired sigh as Hotaru slumps forward, her hands shifting from trying to pin Jiro down to simply trying to prop herself up.
After the fist is aiming to strike against Hotaru, but she manages to hold the arms up to weather it down, Jiro is giving off a snarl and he twists his weight into the blow, trying his -hardest- to fight her, even as much power as she has gained. But...
It does now good. See, when Hotaru manages to get out of it and then lower herself for the full power, Jiro's eyes widen as she comes forth with that kick. He is caught with that powerful flipkick, then he is caught into he blow. He is launched into the air...
... The young man is pinned down after the dive, and then he grits his teeth. He shakes his head, gazing at Hotaru. ....Then, he looks at the position that he is in.
"...In any other situation..."
Small comment. But that joke dies down as he is feeling that traditional blue chi, mixed with the red chi, he screams in pain as he is drawing forth that pure force.
"....There..." He laughs. "There is the Hotaru that I knew." He grits his teeth, then he extends his right hand back. The flames illuminate in his right arm, then he launches himself forward to catch Hotaru while she's somewhat exhausted, even as exhausted as he is, to launch forth a flaming punch to her cheek. The contact will give off an explosion.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Hotaru with Burst Strike.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Jiro
The young man laughs as Hotaru starts to try and push herself back up to standing in spite the weakness in her limbs, but she can't quite pull it off as the flame laced punch caches the girl right in the cheek. Stumbling backward with a gasp, there is a flicker for a moment, the girl eying Jiro, wavering as she stands, hand coming up to rest against her cheek. For a moment there is a questioning look on her face. The Hotaru he knew, he said. For a moment that statement means more to her than anything else she can think of...
Her knees begin to weaken though, the last strike taking more out of her both in what she dished out against the young man and what she has left in herself. Stumbling forward, her forearm flaring blue, the skirted girl swings her arm forward, unleashing her signiture blue projectile, the Hakki Shou she's used time and time again in the past, before finally dropping forward to her knees, landing by catching herself with her hands, silent other than the gasps for breath.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru can no longer fight.
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Jiro 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Hotaru's Hakki Shou.
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Jiro 1/-------/=======|
After that explosive punch, Jiro staggers and weaves about, looking at his girlfriend. He tries to hold his ground, panting and sweating while he bleeds. As the blood runs along his arms, chest, and the wounds along the aching body are open, the earlier arm being snapped is letting itself be known.
Grimacing, Jiro aims to toughen it out. When the signature move is used. The familiarity of it is move of a reason to move away. Jiro is sweeping his body over to the side, then he collapses onto his knees. As it moves over his head, Jiro is stepping back up.
...He walks over towards Hotaru once more, then he kneels and wraps his arms around her.
"...Even when you doubted your strength... I never held back against you. You tell me that I thought you were weak. ...If I thought that, I would had held back long ago. I respect you as a fighter too much to hold back." He shuts his eyes, "Even now..." His arms wrap tighter around her.
"...Hotaru... do you still love me?"
Pause, "...Can you preceive my feelings as you used to?"
~ Thank you, Mini-Me. ~
Right behind him. At least, to him, he can see his seven-year-old self smiling and waving before he fades off.
COMBATSYS: Jiro has ended the fight here.
Not moving as Jiro moves in to place his arms around her, Hotaru stays still, arms trembling to keep her upright, eyes shut, mouth closed tightly, cheeks red, partially from the pain of Jiro's strike but also from frustration. Still not good enough, still unable to handle his strength. Is not even the newly found power good enough to handle him?
Wordless, panting for breath, her strength to keep herself up wanes gradually and Hotaru begins to collapse against the blond young man, one hand coming up to grasp at his wounded chest, fingers trailing over the harmed flesh, blood staining her finger tips in the process. "I... that never changed, Jiro... that much never changed."
There's a final sigh and then the girl falls quiet, overcome by exhaustion as she falls asleep in his arms.
It takes a moment as her eyes remain shut. Jiro observes her, looking at the fustration on her face. He exhales slightly, then he runs his hand across her back, then he hugs her so close to him as he feels her hand along his wounded chest. Lowering his head to have his forehead meet hers, Jiro smiles.
"Good. That never changed from me either. I believe you."
Shutting his eyes at this point, Jiro leans over to give Hotaru a kiss towards her cheek, then he holds her close to him for now. Too tired to move.
He's content with resting with her in his arms.
However, Kataki is a dead man on sight.
Log created on 01:11:53 02/24/2008 by Hotaru, and last modified on 03:14:23 06/24/2008.