Description: Hayato is given two school girls with attitudes to deal with in this Seijyun Flower Garden brawl! One of the girls manages to keep her attitude in check while the other seems to have changed significantly. Tasked with keeping the younger generation in check, Hayato has his work cut out for him! ( Winners: Hotaru and Shurui )
It's been around half a year since Hotaru had last faced the champion of Taiyo's Burning Spirit philosophies, Hayato Nekketsu along with her partner for the challenge, Tiffany Lords. So much has changed since then. Tournaments come and gone, seasons of leagues, and oh, yeah, Hotaru's perspective altering encounter with Frei's younger brother. A cursory glance might miss the changes in the girl - the almost lazy way she leans against a large tree, arms folded at her chest, head bowed slightly as if merely passing the time content to do nothing for the moment; the way she's let her hair down; the subtly aggressive look in her eyes as she glances around the garden that she once used to find a remarkable amount of peace and comfort in.
Another chance to take on a fighter touted as being her superior, not unlike her battle against Chizuru just a couple weeks ago. The girl used to never mind being pit against more veteran fighters. The thrill of testing herself against someone more experienced with the excitement of working with a new partner each time was always something to look forward to. But now she can't help but wonder if she's being woefully underestimated. Are all those other fighters really so much better than what she's become? And what of her partner this week? She's never heard of Shurui. Where'd they get her from? At least Miu was an experienced fighter!
Exhaling softly, Hotaru continues to lean lazily against the tree as all the final set up is being completed, thoughts wandering, the girl wondering how well she is following in her brother's footsteps. Sure Gato doesn't show up for broadcast fights much, but he had to get good somehow, right? With cameras mounted and officials ushering people into the designated 'safe zone from which to watch', precious little time remains before the afternoon bout begins.
Hayato is, generally speaking, not very welcome at Seijyun. Not that there's anything unsavory going on... His personality is just an affront to most of the teachers at the school. They want to produce refined, cultured young ladies, and 'refined' is not a word that would generally be used in reference to Hayato. He might just surprise them with his familiarity with some of the cultural topics they teach at the school, though...
Still, this is a special event, and Hayato won't have access to most of the student body, making his presence acceptable. The staff did, however, make it clear that they were watching Hayato. So he's minding his manners for the moment, standing quietly, occasionally tapping his shinai against his shoulder. There's a hint of a frown on his face as he looks across the garden toward Hotaru. Something's not right... Hayato may not have the supernatural senses required to really know what's going on, but he's pretty good at reading people. He has to be, to be able to strike up a rapport quickly with any new students he meets. People can hide things from him if they really try, but Hotaru wasn't trying to mask herself the previous times the Burning Phys Ed Teacher met her.
Truth be told, Shurui hasn't heard much of Hotaru either. However, these are for reasons outside of how long Hotaru has been around or how gentle or fierce the fighter's style currently is. For Shurui, whose TV watching habits are marred by her horrible sight, a fighter doesn't exist in her mind until she's seen their aura, doing something she considers interesting. Then, for better or worse, those auras are marked down in Shurui's memory like others would memorize a face or a fighter's personal stance.
Wait, scratch that. Shurui *has* heard about a teacher at the YFCC having a change of personality. Like, a complete and utter one. How much and who it was is something she never followed upon, being rather selfish in what information she pursues. Information not relevant to her is limited to books about Aboriginines and the how the Celts revolted against the Romans. Library fare. There's too much information to digest otherwise. Of course, people who *do* catch the clone's interest probably would wish she'd go piss off, but that's something another story.
So here comes the clone, hands stuffed in the front pockets of her hoodie, looking about out of place as Hotaru's strange.... aura. For now, she remains ignorant of Hotaru's change of heart, even when she flips those shades up to rest on her forehead. Unlike Hayato, she has no context to judge the normally cheerful girl. As it stands, both energies come off as forceful and driven to the girl, but, while Hotaru's is gloomy and unfriendly, like a low-hanging thundercloud, Hayato's is fierce with the fire of undetered will and experience to back it up. ..... No wonder this teacher has such a reputation, even among Gedo students.
".... So you're Mr. Nekketsu?" Shurui's eyes study the man, unsure on how to act around the Burning Phys-Ed teacher. Usually, she'd be herself, but teachers, children, and the elderly (the latter inforced the teacher part) always did create a bias in her. .... She goes with the credo of 'act nuetral until you're proven it's good to act otherwise', and lifts her shoulders in a shrug. ".... Guess we better get this thing started."
As Shurui approaches Hayato to speak with him, Hotaru hangs back, though her eyes are on the girl that is to be her partner for the fight, wondering idly what it is she brings to the table. Were she more attentive with her work around the YFCC she might have met Shurui by now. As it is she finds the Youth Center to be a bore, just another distraction holding her back from her true potential. As such she's never seen the Gedo student before.
But as Shurui expresses an interest in getting started, Hotaru finally pushes herself out of her lean up to standing, stretching her arms out at her side a little before walking forward. The gaze with which she regards the other student is neutral, blue eyes looking her over from head to toe before shifting back to focusing on Hayato. A curt, slight bow of her head is offered the Taiyo instructor, the girl's demeanor suggesting that she's all business. No interest in reminiscing over their previous encounters, the student partners she had brought with her to challenge the mighty instructor, or any acknowledgement at all beyond the head nod.
Gato could take him, she tells herself, which means she needs to be able to handle him too if she's going to prove her talent now. Exhaling a little, she slips into a ready stance, both hands forward, clasped into small fists, one arm further back than the other. Her feet are planted firmly, her normal evasive stance only an echo from this new rooted style. "Let's do this."
COMBATSYS: Hayato has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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|-------\-------\0 Hayato
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hayato
COMBATSYS: Shurui has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
Hayato gives Shurui a friendly nod and a grin. "That's right. Nice to meet you, miss Chiang." What? How does Hayato know who she is? Never underestimate Hayato Nekketsu's ability to know the high school students of Southtown, even if they don't attend Taiyo! Particularly Gedo. They may be unruly, but Hayato speaks the language of fists. And ever since Daigo's takeover it's been much easier for the Burning Phys Ed Teacher to get through to the students there.
Then Hayato turns his gaze back to Hotaru. "So cool, Futaba? You seem a bit out of sorts." Hayato rolls his neck, causing an audible popping of cartilage. "Well, I know a pretty good way to fix that up." Grinning, he lowers his shinai into a ready position, then glances toward the fight officials. He briefly twirls the weapon in his hand as he's given a nod to go ahead. "Ah, there we go." The Burning Phys Ed Teacher strides toward Hotaru, raising up his shinai... then suddenly twisting about on his left leg, bringing his right foot swinging around in a sweeping strike aimed at head height. Nobody ever learns anything by having someone go easy on them!
Shurui is a sort of strange ghost at the YFCC, coming and going like a stray cat having found a mark for an easy meal and a warm bed. In Shurui's case, it's a place to practice and another library to pursue, the latter of which is a little lacking at Gedo. Also, as she's slowly beginning to realize, there's weird people there, which she doesn't mind at all. As Hotaru regards her with that neutral gaze, Shurui nods in tandem. The name is familiar, now that she gazes at the fuzzy outline of the YFCC instructor, but Shurui can't, for the life of her, figure out where. Maybe she'll figure it out during the course of the fight?
As for Hayato? "It's nice to meet you too." ..... People watching the rebroadcast may puzzle at the girl being so mannerly; her fight with the Beast of Fire pretty much showed Shurui to be of rougher material personality wise, even if K' still outshone her in that area. Here? Her voice is level and polite, neither sucking up to the teacher nor showing any disrespect. When Hayato responds in kind, it seems to reinforce the latter aspect.
When Shurui's partner shifts to her stance, Shurui relaxes into hers, something that's just as solid and seemingly non-evasive as hers. "..." She shifts to the side and away as Hayato goes to Hotaru, but it doesn't seem to be her abandoning her companion immediately. Instead, her eyes focus pointedly at Hayato, studying him like a book while his attention is directed towards the more experienced of his two opponents.
COMBATSYS: Shurui focuses on her next action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Hotaru with Strong Kick.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
As Hayato studies the girl Hotaru merely stares back at him. His normally contagious grin is met with tight lipped silence. Another soft exhale through her nose, a hint of impatience. Maybe she feels patronized. Maybe she feels that for all of her effort she still isn't taken seriously. This is a match, not some laughing matter! She's here to prove how far she's come after all, not banter words with the Taiyo teacher!
And then the match begins and Hotaru tightens up, waiting for the inevitable incoming strike. The shinai goes up and Hotaru almost smirks faintly, taking a step in closer to Hayato and to the side, intending to end up at his side as his weapon slams harmlessly down. It's a split second later that she becomes aware of the feint that he was pulling on her, the teacher's leg coming around with a swift, powerful kick. A last moment attempt to hop back out of range comes too late, however, and Hotaru is clocked in the side of the cranium, the force of impact more than enough to take her clean off her feet and send her crashing to the dirt of the garden over to the side with a pained cry, barely catching herself on her elbow and knees before sliding to a stop. Vision blurry, the girl grits her teeth, shaking her head as she pushes herself back up slowly, a little wobbly on her feet as she turns back in the rough direction of the other two combatants. If she's trying to prove anything that wasn't a very convincing start!
"Don't just stand there," she growls, gaze shifting to Shurui for a split moment. What's the girl doing? Is she too scared to fight Hayato? Why's she just hanging back? Shaking her head again, Hotaru doesn't heed her own advice as she takes a moment to hang back, somewhat worried that if she were to aggress she'd simply trip over her own feet at the moment.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru focuses on her next action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
Hayato slowly lowers his leg until he's once more got both feet on the ground. Snapping his arm out, he points his shinai toward Hotaru. "Hey now, that's no way to speak to your partner!" Well, at least when said partner hasn't proved herself to be a jerk. There are definitely limits to politeness. And then Hayato realizes that both girls are just... watching him. Well, if they want to study his technique that's just fine, but they'll get a much better experience if they can get a first-hand look!
"If there's something wrong, Futaba, I'm willing to hear it. But unless you're willing to talk..." As Hayato speaks he begins steadily pacing across the ground toward Hotaru. "We'll just have to do this the hard way!" And with that he lashes out, swinging his shinai in from the side toward Hotaru's ribs. He follows through on that motion, swinging up as he passes before bringing the weapon back down, this time aimed to crash into the girl's collarbone. Yes, generally this is not how one goes about having a heart-to-heart talk with teenage girls... but hey, it works with Batsu!
Hotaru's comment earns the ready appearance of Shurui's own cyncial tongue, albiet still dampened by her focus on the phys ed teacher. "Don't go telling me what to do." It becomes even more apparent that the girl is preparing for.... something or another because as she says this, her eyes are still locked on Hayato.
Wait. See if he goes after her. If Hayato goes after her, she'll need to stop studying and respond. If he goes after Hotaru? A perfect opening. Group fights always makes thinking like this easier; one-on-one required you to never take your eyes off your opponent's fist. She can still find a body's weaknesses, but her ability to keep it up is not as sharp.
When Hayato goes for Hotaru, Shurui springs into action, attempting to take advantage of the teacher's open back to attempt to grab ahold of his arms.
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Hotaru with Scolding Slash.
Glancing Blow
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Hotaru 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
"I don't see where this became a matter of discussing my personal life, sensei," Hotaru replies as Hayato begins to advance on the girl. Even the tone she uses with the word 'sensei' carries a hint of distaste, as if she's merely using the moniker to humor him more than out of any sense of respect for the teacher that's never done anything but encourge her to do her best to keep on getting better in the past. When it becomes clear that she is going to still be his target, the girl slowly crouches a little, slipping her feet a part, hands tightening into fists, small flickers of red-orange'ish energy coursing around her finger tips as she gets ready to unleash a powerful attack. "You should worry more about yourself."
The rip cracking swip from the shinai hits its mark, shoving the girl to the side slightly as she lacks the strength or weight to stay rooted against Hayato's strength. But when the downward slam comes, the girl leans just enough out of the way to avoid it all together.
And in that instant she launches into an attack right back at Hayato, hopping inside the man's striking range, swinging out with a windmill of closed fisted strikes targeting his chest before springing forward into a second volley of identical strikes starting from her opposite side, each blow punctuated by small sparks of chi...
COMBATSYS: Shurui successfully hits Hayato with Grimalkin Waltz.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Hayato with Sou-shou Tenrenge EX.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|
Shurui grabs Hayato by the back of his arms, quickly shifting over to the phys ed teacher's side to land a harsh kick to that side's leg. Then, pressing him backwards towards her, she presses her opposite kneecap into his back, shoving him down to the ground against his back as her knee comes down.
And the second Hotaru is certain she has an opening thanks to Shurui's attack, she presses on with the assault, the small chi sparks becoming larger. Finally, the young fighter slams her shoulder into Hayato, cupping her hands together at her side, away from him, as she gathers a massive amount of that chi in her palms.
There's precious little time to react before she finishes by slamming her hands forward into the instructor's chest, discharging the pent up energy in a massive gout of piercing energy. "HAAAAH!" Entirely unlike the pure striking chi she had used on him in their prior fights, this power seems intended purely to cause as much savage trauma as possible to her target.
The blastback from the unleash of energy sends Hotaru stumbling backward herself, her arms out at her side, gasping with some surprised. She had expected a solid hit, but that was a bit more than she had counted on.
Shurui deftly floors Hayato when he's not quite quick enough to pull his arm away from her grasp. That alone wouldn't be so bad, even after getting hit with her knee... but it leaves him open to Hotaru's attack. Air escapes his lungs in a loud grunt as her chi blast slams into him, causing large cracks to snake through the ground beneath him as he's pounded into it. Rolling over, Hayato clutches his chest with one arm, coughing briefly, as he drags himself back up to his feet.
That /definitely/ didn't feel like the kind of attack Hotaru was throwing around before. And the expression on Hayato's face is stern now. He's not particularly upset about getting hit, but he doesn't like what the manner of the strike is saying about Hotaru. "I don't know what's gotten into you, Futaba, but it's not a change for the better." The already cracked ground begins to split a bit more as Hayato tenses up, orange chi starting to radiate off of him. He's actually looking serious now; something for which he'll have to apologize to Shurui later. She didn't ask for this!
COMBATSYS: Hayato gathers his will.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Hayato
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Shurui 0/-------/------=|
"...." Thankfully for the both of them, Shurui doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she seems to welcome the idea of Hayato being distracted- makes it easier for her to get in and hit him, and it's enraging her companion to throw some hard attacks. ...... Of course, Shurui has no way of knowing that this is the girl's current nature, not some sort of anger or issue that SNL just happened to capitalize on.
And yet, when it becomes apparent something is more off than just a little rivalry between two people who know each other, especially when the sudden flare in Hayato's orange chi seems to correllate with his confident body energy seeming to radiate something.... more serious. Now, even Shurui has to stick her nose clear in the middle of it. ".... Can either of you tell me what's going on?" The tone of the question isn't exactly annoyed; even if the clone's socialization skills are as careful as a baseball through a glass window, she isn't about to get her ally mad enough to throw all pretenses of the fight away and come charging straight at her. So, the question is careful, testing the waters of what could be a delicate situation.
Whether there's an answer or not that the clone can accept, she decides to charge back into the fray again, not wanting to allow her curiosity derail what make become a difficult battle if she doesn't concentrate. Charging in, she runs at the phys ed teacher, gaining speed before she leaps into the air, flipping her two feet around in an attempt to hit Hayato's center line before hitting the ground.
The combination of strikes delivered, Hotaru catches her balance after a few steps backward. Shaking her head, she glances at her right arm, the final traces of the potent energy she had unleashed slowly fading away beneath her skin. That put the hurt on the teacher but it didn't feel too good herself. There's a certain lack of satisfaction in delivering the strike - a certain sense of a having cheated to get that strength, like it isn't hers. It's a feeling she's had in previous matches, but it was easier to shake when fighting people she didn't know too well or that she suspected were simply biased against the young man that had opened her eyes. In the face of Hayato it's different. He's seen another side of her already... and she used to think highly of him as well...
The girl glares back at Hayato as the Taiyo instructor begins to accumulate a massive amount of power up around himself. "I've gotten much much stronger," Hotaru insists back, "It should be obvious by now." she continues, clenching a hand and holding it up in front of her. Exhaling softly, Hotaru shakes her head. Why it is no one seems to appreciate that she's so much stronger now is beyond her!
Shurui's question is mentioned with a quick glare in her direction, "It doesn't matter, just quit holding back!" she snaps, not really providing a welcome environment for asking what her problem is!
And now there's the matter of needing to keep the pressure on Hayato. The man is charging up for something bigger now and Hotaru isn't about to hang back and let him get away with it. Hopping forward into another series of strikes much like the combination she had just opened with, the Kenpo artist aims a series of rapid palm blows high against the instructor's chest before leaning low and slaming both of her hands forward into a double palmed strike aimed toward his stomach, attempting to knock the breath out of him. Maybe that'll quiet him down!
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Shurui's Heavy Kick.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Hayato counters Soushou Shin from Hotaru with Counter Thrust.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|
If this were just a normal, friendly fight, Hayato would probably have thrown a few blows in Shurui's direction by now. It's not really fair for Hotaru to get all the fun! But things have gotten a bit more serious. Hayato has seen far too many students have abrupt, unexplained changes in personality in the past... This change in Hotaru would hardly be the first time. If somebody from Justice High has been engaging in brainwashing again, Hayato's going to have to have some words with them... But in the meantime, it's in Hotaru's best interest to be put down before she does anything she might regret. Sadly, Hayato can't just take her off and tie her up in a closet or something until he figures out how to fix her, but at least he can try to keep her from doing something foolish today.
Of course, just because the teacher is focusing on Hotaru, it doesn't mean he's /ignoring/ Shurui. When the Gedo student leaps in, Hayato's quick to bring his left arm up, blocking the kick. For a moment Shurui actually /lands/ on his arm, before Hayato pushes back to create some distance. This is necessary, since Hotaru is leaping in with blows aimed for his chest. Sadly for her, she doesn't manage to reach him. Hayato's arms are much longer, so when he brings his right fist crashing down into Hotaru's head he's able to drive her into the ground well before she gets close enough to reach him.
As Shurui's feet hit Hayato's arm, the girl leaps back from it to avoid a possible counterattack, flipping back into the air to land on her feet, sneakers skidding over dormant grass. 'Just quit holding back.' "*Tch*." Getting up from her last attack, Shurui makes a show of dusting off her pants. Holding *back*? What does this Hotaru know about her?
... Hotaru. Hotaru. Damn it, that name still sounds familiar. Hotaru.... Fubu-something? "You don't happen to teach at the YFCC, do you?" Didn't Alma mention her? Maybe that's where Shurui heard that name. And, is she possibly the teacher that was rumored to have changed in personality? "... There were rumors about this one teacher there. One who did a sort of 360 and completely changed personality-wise. I guess that's you."
Detective Shurui, on the case? .... Well, this *is* proving more interesting than any fight. However, she *does* have an obligation to Hotaru to keep going, especially since the phys ed teacher has an edge on her. Shifting in at Hotaru makes her own move, Shurui attempts to press her fist knuckles first against Hayato's side, pushing her body against it instead of using the momentum of a swinging arm to provide the power needed to produce a genuine one-inch punch, Wing-Chun style.
Hotaru's feet barely touch the ground before the Taiyo instructor puts a solid stop to her attack, his fist crashing out, slamming down atop her head, driving the girl face down into the dirt a second time with a surprised yelp, failing to catch herself in time as she crashes down hard. She isn't quite out but it's getting there, the girl finally having found her match in her pursuit of challenge in the last months since her encounter with Kataki.
No one had managed to quite school her to this extent as the Physical Ed teacher is managing to do. Shurui is too busy yapping again, Hotaru growls internally, rather than actually doing anything to slow down the shinai wielding juggernaught. YFCC, teaching, what does that have to do with this match? "So what if I had?" Hotaru snaps back at her as she pushes herself into a backward roll to give herself a little bit of distance from Hayato. "Just focus on the fight!" Why does she have to carry the battle?
But the instant she's on her feet, she's charging back in, right hand drawing back, sheathed in the same red-orange energy she had plowed into Hayato but moments before. Her left hand lashes out, attempting to get a tight hold on Hayato's right arm so that she can yank it aside int a twisting arm-lock, leaving his chest exposed for another blast just like before, hand swinging forward, Hotaru trying to plant it against the teacher and blast him just as hard as she had before. "HAH!"
COMBATSYS: Shurui successfully hits Hayato with Strong Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Hayato
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Shurui 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Hayato dodges Hotaru's Maou Satsujinken.
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Hotaru 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Hayato
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Shurui 0/-------/------=|
The blow to the side from Shurui forces Hayato to stagger a step to the side, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That fist gives him the first bit of momentum he needs to deal with Hotaru's assault. He's already moving sideways when she reaches for him, so it's a simple matter to just keep going in that direction to evade her grasp. That last blast hurt, and Hayato would rather not have to see what else the girl is hiding up her sleeves.
Despite the fact that Hotaru's lunge leads to an easy opportunity for Hayato to flank her, he waits for a moment before attacking. "If winning is so important to you all of a sudden, Futaba, losing your temper and taking it out on your opponent isn't going to help. I think it's time you sat down and took some time to think about things." As he finishes speaking, Hayato raises his shinai up high, then brings it down toward Hotaru in a punishing blow meant to drive the girl to the floor. And then again. If she tries to get up, he'll smack her back down. If she tries to roll away, he'll smack her back into place.
Focus on the fight? A curt sigh passes Shurui's lips and she gives a slow, rolling shrug across her shoulders, almost as to spite Hotaru back for her words as the clone moves to the side, almost innocently." Yeah, you're right; it doesn't matter." In reality, she's waiting for the best chance to exploit her one advantage in this fight; at this rate, Hotaru may or may not last all that long, and Hayato will then turn his attention to *her*. When that comes? She'll need to expound a hell of a lot more energy than she does now. "Just was trying to see where I heard your name, is all."
There. There is her chance. Hotaru comes in for her next attack and Shurui jumps on, her hand slashing downward from afar in a wave of greyish psi energy, a pluck of her inner power meant to accent the once-pig-tailed companion's own assault. ".... Don't tell me what to do- I'll help you out my own way."
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Hotaru with Burning Push-Ups.
[ < > //////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Hayato
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|
Sliding to a stop as her attack misses, Hotaru clenches her right hand closed, sealing off the energy before it would have been unleashed in a wasteful gout of chi. Hatayo is swift in his evasion and the girl is winded after her aggressive attack, and by the time she whirls to face the Taiyo instructor he's already bearing down on her with that shinai of his.
A desperate step backward is as far as she gets before the weapon cracks her on the top of the head hard enough to bend the girl forward. The second strike drives her the rest of the way into the dirt with a gasp as she crashes down. An attempt is made to rise, hands digging into the dust, but Hayato is relentless in keeping her grounded with another slap against her back, elictiing a pained hiss. Sensing another blow coming, she tries to slip backward into a roll, only to be caught on the top of the head again.
Finally, the girl gets her break, rolling to the side in one direction then right back the other way to avoid the inevitable strike, and at last lunges back up at Hayato, attempting to assault the powerful teacher with another flurry of chi laced strikes. But that last lunge is all she's got, for the girl's strength just isn't there to continue. A few more steps and she'll simply slump down into the dirt, leaving Shurui to complete the match without Hotaru's oh so helpful scathing remarks.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru can no longer fight.
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Shurui 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Hayato
COMBATSYS: Shurui successfully hits Hayato with Quartz Shard.
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Shurui 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Hayato
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Hayato with Sou-shou Tenrenge.
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Shurui 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Hayato
And Hotaru's gambit to lash out the instant Hayato missed with one of those powerful strikes of his seems to pay off, the smaller fighter getting right inside his superior range where it's not quite so easy to deal with her as it was when he kept her at a distance. The strikes this time come slower than her previous assaults, but their potency is no less vicious, each searing chi laced blow intending to cause as much physical harm as possible, as if the teacher's well being is of no concern to the girl.
She lacks the strength to dish out the final catastrophic blast she had done earlier, however, and as her legs begin to give out, she slips forward, hands pressing against Hayato's chest, looking up into the face of the much taller teacher, eyes narrowed for a moment as she whispers, "...Now you know my strength... how far I have come..."
Pulling back her arm as if to sock him one last time, her legs give up on her at last and Hotaru stumbles sideways before falling to the ground unconcious.
Hayato is sent staggering by Hotaru's finally lunge, the series of strikes hitting home... but at least she's down for the count now, and won't be getting in any more trouble. Until she wakes up, anyway. Unfortunately for Hayato, while he's still staggering backwards Shurui's wave of energy strikes him, exploding in his face. He's already off balance and this is enough to send him toppling over backwards to hit the ground with a thud.
For a few moments, Shurui might even think that the fight is over, but then Hayato stirs. Sitting up slowly he shakes his head, then coughs a few times as he pulls himself back up to his feet. "Phew. That was a bit rough." Rolling his right shoulder, Hayato turns and looks in Shurui's direction. "Sorry about all that. But now that things have been taken care of... I believe you came here for a fight." The Burning Phys Ed Teacher grins, then starts stepping away from Hotaru's fallen form. Stay still and be good, Hotaru!
COMBATSYS: Hayato gains composure.
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Shurui 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Hayato
Indeed, for a moment, the short girl wonders if the battle has indeed just ended. But, a short look at Hayato's body, right before it stirs, confirms that, instead, Shurui will have to go at it solo for the rest of this battle, however long that'll be.
Another fighter may have launched themselves at Hayato as he got up, but Shurui stays back. But it's not entirely out of courtesy that she does so; the Burning Phys Ed Teacher's energies have long shifted along their natural courses since the girl last studied him; she'll have to do it again in order to achieve any sort of victory over the man's brutal assaults.
"Yeah, I did," Shurui finally admits. "Didn't think you'd let me get away with all those potshots at you." She smirks, then casually shifts to a Wing Chun stance, feet parted and hands held open in front of her torso. "Do your worst." Her tongue struggles to add something negative and chiding along with that note, but she manages to keep it in. After all, Hayato's a teacher. Until he proves her otherwise, she does have to give him at least an iota of respect.
COMBATSYS: Shurui focuses on her next action.
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Shurui 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Hayato
Of course, despite Hayato's position as a teacher he's still going to attempt to give Shurui a beating. He begins striding toward her, tapping his shinai against the palm of his left hand. "Well now, I think it's about time to get down to business." A few more steps and then Hayato suddenly springs forward, swinging his right arm back as he does so. His strides quickly eat up the distance between the two fighters, and then he lashes out with his shinai. The weapon swings up, then comes crashing down toward the top of Shurui's head.
COMBATSYS: Shurui dodges Hayato's Fierce Strike.
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Shurui 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Hayato
Well, not only is Hayato a teacher, he's the Burning Phys Ed teacher! Beatings must occur. It's probably in his contract. 'Must beat students on a regular basis TO BUILD MORALE.' Or something. "Y'think?" Shurui smirks, even if her comment skirts the edges of being respectful and, well, mouthing back.
The shinai flies down forcefully, only to hit empty air, the grey-haired girl now aside it on the ball of one foot. Then, in a fast twist around to place both feet on the ground, she throws her arm forward like a snare, attempting to grab one arm of the downward thrusting teacher. "Haumph!"
COMBATSYS: Shurui successfully hits Hayato with Spare the Rod.
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Shurui 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Hayato
The hand successfully clamps down on Hayato's arm, which Shurui uses to manipulate the Phys ed teacher's body around so she can jam a foot against his legs. Then allowing his body to fall, she plants a few punches to his body, quickly stepping away to avoid an immediate counterattack.
And once again Hayato is introduced to the ground. Unpleasant, certainly, but still not enough to keep him down! The punches slamming into his body as he falls don't help matters, however. And he hits the ground pretty hard. After a few moments, however, Hayato pushes up with his arms, raising his back. It's not a good position, not with Shurui standing right over him... but Hayato has a plan.
That plan is to suddenly increase the speed with which he's rising. Surging to his feet, Hayato reaches out with both hands to grab Shurui by the hoodie. Once he's up to full height that's enough to lift her up off her feet as he gives her a good shaking. Then he suddenly lets go and in a flash his fist is racing toward her head, looking to send her flying back before she even hits the ground.
COMBATSYS: Shurui dodges Hayato's Power Punch.
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Shurui 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Hayato
Hayato is clever, and, if not for Shurui's third eye, he would have brilliantly succeeded. Yet, even with Shurui detecting the sudden surge of energy just a nanosecond before his body rises, she can feel the teacher's nails just barely rasp against the cloth of her hoodie as she leaps back, the glasses jostled slightly on her head.
"You're really quick-...." Again, her tongue wants to say 'for an old guy', but memories of a particular old man landing a balanced chop on the shoulder whenever she insulted his age come to the forefront of the girl's mind. "...." Yeah. Hayato's quick! It's a compliment! She was totally being respectful there!
The words probably cause a few to take notice, if only because, well, someone's actually talking. For all the talking that was going on earlier, the match has gotten rather quiet; it's now just a solid fight between an experienced fighter and the newcomer, both showing their skill. Shurui's too haunted by the visage of vengeful old Chinese men to insult the considerly younger in comparison teacher, while Hayato? .... Well, in Shurui's mind, he probably just wants to give her what she had coming the moment she stepped in and chucked punches at him while he dealt with a very serious issue.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Shurui rushes the Phys Ed teacher, leaping up into the air in order to bring her fists back... and, hopefully, down on Hayato's shoulder. "Hyah!" Time for something ... not to Wing Chun-ish.
COMBATSYS: Hayato fails to counter Strong Punch from Shurui with Counter Thrust.
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Shurui 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Hayato
Hayato's plan for dealing with Shurui is pretty simple. She's jumping in, which means she's got limited ability to change her postion until she lands. He's got a longer reach. What could possibly go wrong with attempting to just punch her right out of the air? Enough, apparently. Hayato misjudges the speed with which Shurui is coming in, so by the time he starts swinging it's too late. The Gedo student's fists slam into Hayato's shoulder as he's extending his arm, causing him to buckle and fall to his knees. Given how tough Hayato is, that blow probably shouldn't be able to do that... but it looks like this battle has been wearing him down.
Also, it wasn't exactly a one-on-one battle. Previous issues between Hayato and Hotaru kept the fight one-sided; Hotaru's change in personality was more pressing an issue than any SNL fight, especially if it meant something darker and deeper was afoot. And, in the middle? Shurui, who, unfortunately for Hayato, was set as Hotaru's companion for this match.
The fists slam hard on Hayato's shoulder, narrowly avoiding the pain of his quick counterattack by timing alone. Shifting backwards after she lands, foot over foot, Shurui waits for Hayato to rise again while she calculates her next move. The imprint that the man's energy made on her internal radar is showing wear; it may be good to end the fight with something quick and fast, without expending a lot of precious energy.
You see, her own energy is getting a little fatigued too, even if her body feels fine. Shifting forward, Shurui attempts to land a stomp kick against the teacher's right shin, hopefully tripping him.
COMBATSYS: Shurui successfully hits Hayato with Quick Throw.
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Shurui 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Hayato
Hayato takes the kick to the shin, and begins the process of toppling toward the ground. His vision is getting a little spotty... but even still, he's not defeated just yet! As he falls, Hayato lifts up his shinai, holding it out above his head. A twist of his body starts him spinning as he falls, and by the time he's at about a 45 degree angle he's able to jump off the ground, leaping toward Shurui.
As he spins, fiery orange chi erupts from Hayato's shinai, trailing behind him as he attempts to crash into Shurui. Unfortunately, the rather abrupt start to his leap means Hayato hasn't been able to make any preparations for /landing/ after this, which will lead to crashing into the ground painfully... but hopefully Shurui will be sharing the pain.
COMBATSYS: Hayato can no longer fight.
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Shurui 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Shurui parries Hayato's Burning Windmill!
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Shurui 0/-------/--=====|
Like a righeous crusader of...... well, spirit, Hayato's charging at Shurui, the man wielding his shinai with burning morale. Or.... something like that. Either way, if it hits, it'll be a *lot* of pain.
5t .... Shurui never took chi all that well, try as she might. And, after facing K'? She reeaaalllyyy doesn't want anything to do with flames, no matter the source. FIRE HURT BAD.
And yet, when the teacher speeds towards her, the girl's ingrained and beaten down instincts seem to take over. Hands press up in front of her to divert the fan off its course, sliding past them just enough to meet his arm and nudge it with the delicate motion of a surgeon. It just takes a little, and her dodge becomes something more complete, rather than something akin to an eagle slamming down on a rabbit in mid-run.
That'd be Hayato as the eagle. WITH BURNING CLAWS.
Somehow, it all works. Shurui narrowly misses feeling the brunt of Hayato's burning shinai fan, and, when he lands, she's sure to train her eyes on him for quite a while, not quite trusting her third eye or any announcement from the crowd. She...... won?
Log created on 20:09:16 03/01/2008 by Hotaru, and last modified on 14:18:52 03/06/2008.