Description: Oswald aims to redeem himself from an improper title given to him during a SNF match which he was Chaos Agent. First there was Blanka, and now there is Batsu.
It's been a while since that fateful Saturday Night Fight with the wacky theme. For a simple type like Batsu it's more or less forgotten; he came, he saw a green guy and a guy who fought with cards, he punched, he went home with some postcards for his mother. That's the deal with nonsense ninja fury, at least on the Imawano side apparently: it lasts long enough for them to deliver some fantastically death-defying combat maneuvers that defy all logic and the next day they're right as rain. Such... is the life of the nonsense ninja.
That being said, Batsu Ichimonji considers himself a bit of a guardian when it comes to Taiyo's campus, and let's face it... he's got plenty of reasons to want to fill that role. His memory's not so good that he could tell Oswald from description alone (let's be honest, some people probably just said "a creepy old man", and finding one of those in a public high school isn't exactly hard). But the idea that someone's been hanging around the campus just... sets his hackles up. The tale of a recently quite brutal fight on the grounds hasn't hurt either.
Thus as the blue of day sky turns to the orange-purple of sundown, Batsu's... not exactly prowling, since he is roughly as stealthy as a brick with a note tied to it thrown through a storefront. But he is... 'patrolling'. At this hour and this late in the week the place is mostly empty. The few students who are leaving from some club activity get a wave and a greeting, perhaps even a few seconds of conversation. Other than that, though, everything seems peaceful. Which is sure to last, and could never be disturbed in any way. For real.
Oswald is not far off... Batsu was right to prowl. One was looking for the other, and though Oswald knew it was to be a fight, the intent wasn't overly malicious. He had something to prove to Batsu, even though he did end up standing toe to toe against both the Beast and the Guardian-so-to-speak fair and square, there's just something unsettling when they both questioned his ... how do you say it...
Personal honor, yes. Something like that, though the word is best used extremely loosely with Oswald. He was selfish, but abberantly so.
"Heeeeee~" There are worried sounds coming from some of the students that are on the concourse to leave the school campus, "...he's here again... it's the weird man..." And indeed he was, the familiarily, formally dressed Oswald stands in the middle of the concrete bricked path, though not preventing anyone from leaving, is quite a presence in his six-foot-plus height and snow white hair.
He lacks his jacket today, sparing it and his usual amber and crimson shirt and tie, selecting something simpler today. The matte white of his shirt matches his hair but offsets his bronzed skin, the black tie about his neck isn't sinched as tight as it usually is. The pants are much the same, neat, black, well pressed.
Probably hideously expensive.
He almost looks like some sort of hitman, though he isn't much taking the stature of such, arms up and crossed comfortably in front of him. Simply waiting. He knew Batsu would pick up, sooner or later...
A year or two ago, this scenario would never have been possible. Batsu was so abrasive, so emotional, so unfriendly when he first came to Taiyo in search of his mother that many of the more timid student body were just as afraid of him then as they might be of Oswald *now*. He wasn't a known quantity, nor was he particularly approachable. But the events surrounding the Imawano clan's attempted 'takeover' of the city's schools' best and brightest not only made a change in his standing at Taiyo, but in Batsu himself. He opened up, and the students responded.
Thus when one warns him there's a strange guy hanging around, well... he takes it seriously.
There is nothing subtle about Batsu and thus his loud, stamping footfalls at a dead run are likely audible in other parts of the city, let alone the same campus... but when he sees Oswald, Batsu skids to a stop and raises an eyebrow, running a hand across his mouth briefly before speaking. "Aa... oi, it's you." His tone is... blunt. It's easy to mistake it for being unfriendly -- that was part of Batsu's problem as a transfer to Taiyo -- but in his mind, he's simply getting to the point. "Oi, oji-san... there's a few names for guys who go hangin' around schools dressed to the nines and lookin' for trouble, and ain't none of 'em good."
"I know." Batsu's blunt approach was responded with an equally weighted retort as his arms uncross and come to rest at his sides, he looks far more relaxed than his first encouter with Batsu, almost centered, eerily in control, "There is a stigma against my style, that I can't help, but I have genuine reasons to have troubled your school. This is one..."
... and with that, he bows. A praticed, formal, impeccable and proper Japanese bow, fourty five degrees, straight, posture-perfect, respectful at that...
"A month and half ago - you questioned my integrity, rightfully so. I showed you then with the benefit of your and my opponent that it was not a fluke." He raises from the bow as first his left arm bends at the elbow, right hand coming up to unbutton the left cuff, then mirroring the motion to the right...
"I have come to prove to you that I /can/ fight an honourable battle. Toe to Toe." and both arms straighten suddenly to awaken the muscles and start getting himself psyched up, "Eye to Eye." his feet slide along the paved path just a bit, one twisting and then the other to get a good grip...
"Man. To. Man."
COMBATSYS: Oswald has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|
Style? Oswald's already talking over Batsu's head, and it shows as the youth rubs the back of his neck in either consternation or embarassment (or both), turning his head to the side. "Man, that's not what I meant... never mind." Oswald might be weird, but it's highly unlikely he's a pedo. Pedos head for Seijyun, not Taiyo... Taiyo gets freshman college guys who want a hot senior for a girlfriend.
Don't even ask about the types who head to Gedo.
Turning back to Oswald, however, the Burning Fighter seems to take the man's declaration in stride. If you're gonna pick a guy for a man-to-man fight on Taiyo's campus, and need someone who understands the principle in his *marrow*, you don't need to look much farther than Batsu Ichimonji. Your other options are Kyosuke "Watch the hair!" Kagami, perhaps... a nice guy, but not exactly into machismo maximo. "Huh... I ain't been doin' SNF long, but I get the whole 'agent' idea... I don't mind it. That show's more like a game show than a real fight anyway, half the time... I do it 'cause the weird rules are good practice. But I get what you're sayin'. So if you wanna go 'man to man'..."
Tightening his handguards, Batsu gets into stance... a bit of boxer, a bit of brawler. Feet apart, fists up and ready... and mouth in a nice wild grin. "...I'm happy to oblige!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu has joined the fight here.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Batsu
Compared to Batsu's tight boxer/brawler stance, Oswald's is more open, stylish, and some would say foolishly low in guard. Deceptive but effective, that pretty much embodies how Oswald's technique is overall. There's a slow but visible nod that is sent Batsu's way as he accepts the challenge, the Gambler's arms raise up and swoop in short, but wide arcs for a short little bit - warming up just a bit more.
"I am grateful." his usually placid expression melts just a bit into a somewhat knowing smirk, a part of him knew he was going to take quite a beating - and have the opportunity to dish it out as he clears his name - and just maybe not be called a 'weird man'. A part of him hated that; while he liked being intimidating, he wasn't exactly much in the way of pervert.
There's a small bounce that takes his body as his ankles grow taut and then relax just before he sets into motion and jogs in forward. His body doing a full 360 twist as he closes in with a short and shallow leap - and through that leap do the cards appear to his hands with that distinctive 'flick', as he lands purposefully short, sweeping up and then down in two fluid and agile arcs with the bladed trumps...
COMBATSYS: Batsu fails to interrupt Diamond from Oswald with Fierce Punch.
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Oswald 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Batsu
Now the cards... the cards he remembers, and the fact that Oswald's curious way of using them is a little technical for someone whose fighting style consists of 'insert fist A into face B' definitely works in the gambler's advantage. "Don't be too grateful yet!" Batsu says with a grin as Oswald puts the fight in motion. He's not just gonna sit around and get smacked; he's gonna dish out some pain of his own! Rather than try to duck around the move, the resident nonsense ninja runs AT it, fist cocked back. "Might not be so grateful after!" The problem, of course, is that focusing on trash talk frequently means that you aren't focusing on other things... like the weird angle of the strike, which sinks into Batsu's side twice as his intended cross counter goes totally wide.
Grunting in pain, he clutches his side, then backs up a few steps. Alright, didn't go as planned... but he's taken worse, and he still wears an eager, if not cocky, smile. "Gotta admit, I've seen some real strange fightin' styles around this place... but cards takes the cake. Gonna take more than Go Fish to put me on the mat though, old man. What else ya got?"
A battle within Taiyo High? On Campus? Now this is something. Battles upon Taiyo campus tend to drop into 'large amounts of spectators', and what draws that much attention, tends to grab the attention of an entirely different sort.
Clad in a jacket, short gym shorts, and a white shirt, a velvet haired girl strides through the crowd to look upon Batsu and the other man. She's silent for a moment, and the 'weird man' that had been around certainly bothers Iincyo. HE was on property, school property, and was only interfering with the students.
But Batsu is here. Chairperson is sure he can handle it.
"When you are done with this ... or, until I anticipate Batsu knocks you out and we dump you out of Taiyo High ... please do not come back again.. you're interfering with School activities." Chairperson speaks to Oswald, calmly.
"PLENTY!" He shouts his response as he weaves away from the fist just in time, and not letting up in his assault whatsoever. Oswald stays in close, deciding to experiment a bit - a change of pace for his usual touch-and-go style of combat. Infighting was an art in itself - time to put the brush to the easel.
"Win or lose, I /Will/ be thankful!" He assures as he lets one foot skid out for a moment, then shifts his weight hard and fast in the opposite direction, bringing that leg that was allowed to skid out back toward the incircle, bent tight to deliver a knee...
For now... though, he didn't want to break his rythym with a response, but a nod of his head is enough to indicate he heard what was said...
COMBATSYS: Batsu interrupts Light Kick from Oswald with Guts Bullet.
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Oswald 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Batsu
"GOOD!" Batsu shouts back. He's fully in his element now, pumped up and roarin' to go. He's friends with enough folks of different 'disciplines' -- Natsu and her volleyballs, Shoma's baseball bat, Nagare's... Nagare -- to understand that not everyone comes into fighting with the same temperament. That said, meeting someone who isn't his gigantic hill giant of a father who fights with the same sort of roaring, full-bore intensity gets his blood boiling. The adrenaline rush is 100% what he lives for and it shows.
In fact, it shows really visibly, in that even as Batsu is positioning himself to deal with Oswald's attack, his hands are already glowing an intense cerulean blue. "'Cause I can take WHATEVER YOU GOT!" The knee is assessed and summarily dealt with... which is to say Batsu walks into it prematurely, shaving off some of the impact by choosing where he wants to get hit... and also leaving himself and Oswald in close quarters. Almost instantly, his hands shoot out, and that glow of blue chi lashes out as a screaming bullet at point-blank range, with Batsu's typical shout of "KIAI DAN!"
Only after he and Oswald are disengaged does Batsu seem to register that 1.) someone just said something and 2.) it sounds a lot like the student body chairperson. Half-turning his head, he spies his classmate and blinks. "Oi, Iincyo... it's not a big deal. He looks sketchy, but..." And here he turns back to Oswald. "He's just payin' back a debt!"
...and boy does Oswald hit the ground hard.
Even if it's a short fall, it's a fast and surprisingly painful one, the double-punishment from the blast and impact isn't exactly the most wonderful sensation in the world. Oswald is quick to his feet with a hard groan of pain, though, even as the remnant wisps of blue chi flitter through the air, he presses forward with a familiar intensity.
Batsu was giving him his all, he planned to return his level of devotion. This time it's an arm that lashes out, no card, fingers splayed open and hand crooked back. It's an open palm strike, not really something you'd see a kung fu artist or whatnot use, it's kind of messy compared to that - but Oswald's style was entirely to his own as he aims to deliver a blow to the same location he was just struck - square in the chest, and if successful, would aim to push 'through' Batsu, to give a good shove with the strike.
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Batsu with Medium Strike.
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Oswald 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Batsu
Iincyo crosses her arms as Batsu takes the time to sort of respond to her. "Oh? Not a big deal... ah. Well then.. just try not to cause any harm to the students, or the campus, would you?" She asks of Batsu, like it might be a bit hard, and meanwhile, backs up from the fight a bit.
Some of the students are cheering, others watch from a distance, and some of them don't pay attention. Batsu has enough of a fan base that some are literately cheering for him.
Meanwhile, THE BATTLE RAGES ON.
Just because you blew someone across the courtyard doesn't mean you've won. The distance Oswald has to cross to attack him again means Batsu has a little more time to react, but the card-using fighter has pretty good reflexes. The Burning Fighter tries to duck down and to the left when he should have pushed through on the right, and the open-palm punch slams into his chest, making him flinch and stumble back a few steps. Painful, to be sure, but in some ways Batsu really is Raizo's son... maybe not AS tough, but he has his moments.
"Hehe... not doin' so hot gettin' out of the way today," Batsu confesses. His footwork could probably use some polishing, but if he's going to let it keep him down, he doesn't show it. Fists once again come up, the Taiyo student light on his feet for a moment as he considers his next move. "Gotta hit a little harder if you wanna bust my grill, though!" He suddenly ducks forward with a brief flurry of quick jabs... but none of them are intended to hit. They're merely a feint for what comes next: Batsu twists his entire body into the air low to the ground, leg sailing up and over and looking to low-altitude heel drop Oswald right in the shoulder, the kick trailing a corona of deep blue chi. "GOTCHA!"
COMBATSYS: Oswald fails to reflect Crescent Star Kick from Batsu with Heart.
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Oswald 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Batsu
That was a heck of a response. The feints do their job and Oswald is brought in to dodging and weaving in, then the spin begins and the flare of blue fires up. It's almost an instinctive reaction - much like the first fight he had with Batsu when he suffered the precisely same fate - the Shooting Star Kick meets the red-emblazoned card and punches through, delivering a heck of a lift and blast to the Gambler's body, sending him quite a distance further than the palm strike did to Batsu.
For the first second as the dust settles just a bit about his body, Oswald takes his time to sit up, eyebrows raised a bit before he brings himself up to his feet more proper, arms a bit tighter against his body, a bit more guarded. The back of his white shirt is matted with the sandy dirt of the yard.
"That's twice." He utters to himself, squaring his shoulders and bringing his arms up once more into his open stance, "I always hate Deja Vu. But I only have myself to blame for that. I never thought I'd find a rival so interesting in someone so young, Batsu. You do your art of combat proud, I'm certain... I want to see more..."
For a moment, Batsu considers telling Oswald that he *had* to be tough, but actually shakes his head without saying anything and thinks better of it. He doesn't press the attack for the time being, and instead focuses on trying to accept a compliment with something approaching grace, and also respond in kind. He's a fair person, after all. Getting up from the crouch he landed in after his last attack, Batsu just hehs and grins at Oswald by way of answer. "Not so bad yourself. That style's too rich for my blood, but fightin' against it is good practice..." That much is true. In both fights they've been in together, Batsu's seen first hand how Oswald's creative use of those cards and the surroundings makes him a formidable fighter indeed...
...but Batsu's not going to be outdone, either. Raising his hands over his head, he suddenly throws them down to his sides, the motion punctuated by a surge of that blue chi and a brief burst in the air as the Burning Fighter does what he does best: gets good and pumped. After that, there may be some punching and other such activities. What Oswald can accomplish with technique, Batsu has to do with pluck and... well, let's face it: Guts. It's right there in the movenames. "ALRIGHT! WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?!" he shouts, voice amped by his patented DBZ charging pose.
COMBATSYS: Batsu gathers his will.
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Oswald 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Batsu
Batsu had Guts. Oswald had an inner zeal. A titanic clash of abstract concepts. Every fight seemed to linger so heavy in his mind - as if every moment saturated his being, his senses and his will. It almost seems, right now, like he simply is enjoying the fight. It's hard to tell anything Oswald is feeling, unless you have some sort of sight or actue instinct, but there's something in him, all right. It made him feel alive, and he definately liked it.
The visible flare of power and whipping wind lashes that kick up the discarded leaves and motes of dirt is responded to in the most quiet of ways. Oswald stands straight and hunches in a bit, bringing a hand up to push the glasses up the bridge of his nose to obscure his eyes. A dry laugh, a single one meets the growing smile on his lips, showing the pearly whites of his teeth.
"You'll have to ask politely to find out, Batsu."
COMBATSYS: Oswald focuses on his next action.
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Oswald 1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Batsu
He's amped. He's pumped. He's a lot of other adjectives that advertisers want you to think applies to, like, that drink that got marketed alongside Halo 3. Yes, Batsu is... burning. It's an interesting tableau, a study in polar oppposites: Oswald with his perfect poise, his nice outfit, his stylish moves, his multisyllabic vocabulary. Batsu is wearing a much-patched Taiyo uniform, tends to speak with grunts and kiais, and wouldn't know poise if it smacked him in the jaw (in fact he would probably not bother asking what 'poise' was and just punch back). But judging by the smile on Batsu's face, that's exactly how he likes it.
"Ask politely, huh..." the Burning Fighter mutters, rolling his head on his shoulders a moment and considering Oswald carefully. Tactics... Kyosuke says it all the time. Tactics, think things through. Once you know your opponent's moves it's just a matter of eliminating him with precision.
Screw that.
Batsu all but bull charges Oswald, looking to hook an arm around the older man's torso and then just shove him into the ground.... hard. His battle cry? "THIS IS HOW I SAY 'PLEASE'!"
COMBATSYS: Oswald blocks Batsu's Shovedown.
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Oswald 1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Batsu
The rush brings Oswald's casual stance to something more ... feral. His legs open stance wide and his left fist touches the ground to steady himself as the arm moves to wrap into his torso... Batsu does grab on to something, and for a moment it does seem like the ground is incoming to Oswald's back - but no... the rush stops short...
It's a dramatic thing - even with Batsu's impressive strength and gusto, the well placed feet keep Oswald up against the raging strength of the throw, the arm impacting hard against him, and yet Oswald is pushing through and sliding under the arm 'just so', letting it sail over his body as he bends back in a limbo-style bend. Almost like a reed.
Then something strange happens. It's almost as if Oswald flickers or blinks for a moment and... just in the corner of Batsu's eye. It's hard to see... just what...
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Batsu with Fierce Strike.
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Oswald 1/--=====/=======|=======\====---\1 Batsu
It's a blind-sided attack perpetrated by some sort of strange manipulation of ... chi? Probably? The distracting blink puts him perfectly in Batsu's blind spot as his arm is already raised high into the air.
The waiting youth receives a punishing slash down the side of his body, from shoulder to hip...
Iincyo continues to watch as the battle goes under way, while Batsu generally seems to give and take equally to Oswald. There's no use getting involved, and so, Chairperson just stays nearby to overlook the happening. At least if someone ends up breaking off the pavement or anything, she'll know.
The cheering continues, and as it gets more down to the wire, the cheers grow out, get louder, and more students participate. As it goes on also, more students happen to be done with classes..
If anything, lots of walls and highb points are being taken to get a good view.. someone can CHALLENGE Batsu? Wow.
Tricky. Very tricky. And Batsu doesn't react well to tricky. He's far too straightforward for this sort of thing to ever be in his purview. The flicker makes him briefly frown, but it's not enough to deter him from effectively just trying to barrel into wherever Oswald *supposedly* was. In Batsu's view, he could take whatever it was Oswald could dish out and hopefully turn it to his advantage. Sadly, what he gets is a nice big slash across the chest for his efforts... but at the last second he's able to duck back, making what could have been a devastating blow merely pretty painful. A few buttons on his school jacket are sliced off, the shirt pulling open somewhat to reveal the mesh training vest he wears underneath.
However, he's *still grinning*. It's a challenge, an actual challenge... and against someone he might not understand, but can at least get along with. That guy from SNF... he was a challenge too, but he was also a jerk. And while jerkdom has its benefits (such as getting someone else to REALLY want to punch your lights out), fighting someone you can respect is a little different.
Wiping a hand across his mouth again, Batsu lets out a little chuckle. "Heh... pretty spry, old man. Been a long time since I fought someone like you. So lemme show you..." And suddenly, he is once again in shounen anime badass mode, pose aggressive, air saturated with his battle aura that moves from blinding blue to a blazing orange-red fire around his body. "...HOW I PAY MY RESPECTS!" Kicking off the ground, the Burning Fighter lunges at Oswald at sonic speeds, the sidewalk under his point of departure cracking from the force of it. When he gets in close -- IF he can get in close -- he drives forward with a downward punch, trying to seemingly drive Oswald into the pavement. "GUTS..." But that's not the end, by a long shot; the first punch is followed up by a fierce, whole-body uppercut wreathed in a geyser of fiery chi that bursts from the ground like a rocket taking off, looking to send Oswald skyward with all the force Batsu's body can muster: "...UPPER!"
COMBATSYS: Oswald reflects Maximum Guts Upper from Batsu with Four Suits.
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Oswald 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Batsu
Batsu was grinning and Oswald was smiling. Oswald gives an encouraging nod to the Burning Youth as he finally compliments him. It was a small victory for Oswald, even if he were to lose today, that was enough to make it worth while. There was no doubt in his mind that he now had Batsu's respect, as much as Oswald respected Batsu.
And he does not respect many people.
Batsu does indeed get in close, and the first punch strikes in against the side of his arm to time into the upper...
...Which goes up and wide at first...
Oswald had hopped back from the rushing rise of the upper; time almost slows down as a set of cards - four in total are in his hands, each matte black like four cuts of pure void. The wreath of fire and wind accompanies the rising fist - but a rivulet starts to trickle from the presence of power - a rivulet that turns into a stream. A river. A /raging torrent/. By the time Batsu is half way up through the tremendous show of strength and agility, the wreath is consumed.
"Our beloved mother of fortunes..." his eyes close and his arms flick out behind him as his body crouches down... "hold this youth in your arms..."
That corkscrew twist starts at his shoulders, bringing those long limbs about him like whips as his legs thrust him into the air, sending him in full spin toward the waiting Batsu, a flurry of blades and strikes, each laced with the same presence of pure force that Batsu wished to unleash upon his foe... returned to him in favor.
This was for the two Shooting Star Kicks. This was for the Guts Bullet. This was for /his HONOR/.
Now that was unexpected.
Luckily for Batsu most of the force of Oswald's mysterious and sudden counterattack is taken up by consuming the fiery power of his own technique; the chi that bursts through to push him back across the ground, skidding to a stop on the concrete, is actually much the weaker for it. Which isn't to say it doesn't hurt; Batsu's teeth are clenched and a faint trickle of blood runs from his nose. But he's not down yet, not by a longshot. He's not smiling anymore -- who would be, after seeing their best technique shut down? -- but he doesn't seem unhappy. Just... driven. And privately wishing he could do stuff like that.
Secretly, though, he knows it's not his style.
Standing up, he doesn't go on the offensive again just yet, instead taking a moment to wipe the blood away and shake out his limbs. "Nice... you got me pretty well there. But you shoulda hit a little harder, old man..." he taunts, the grin finally seeping back into his expression. "I ain't done yet! Show me some more!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu gains composure.
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Oswald 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Batsu
Oswald was on the ground by the time Batsu gets up, and while he would usually be in a rather confident pose of looking over his shoulder and back toward his opponent, this time he takes something far more respectful. He's standing face forward, glasses off and one arm visible in the breast-pocket of his shirt. No more visages, no more facades.
"This isn't SNF, Batsu. This isn't the Neo League. I'm not here to show mercy, but I'm not here to beat you to a bloody mess." His head turns a bit, looking at the crowd. He probably wasn't too popular - they didn't know the background, the blood between the two combattants. It was probably good to make sure things were clear.
"This is you, and me, proving we have ... as you say ... guts. That our spirits are strong. But this is also about me clearing my name with you, Batsu. You asked me if I could fight like a man, and I answered your challenge... but tomorrow's still a school day, and while I don't intend to show mercy, I'm pretty certain your student council and teachers wouldn't appreciate me making you miss class because of our vendetta."
The leather of his gloves creaks as he tightens his hands into fists, and lets his posture slide into something more tense. "Now, let's make this a finish worth of Taiyo High School, Batsu." And in comes Oswald with that speedy dash, drawing a leg up to deliver a thrusting kick to the Burning Warrior's chest...
COMBATSYS: Batsu fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Oswald with Guts Upper.
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Oswald 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Batsu
Iincyo is nearby, and Oswalds words.. mean something. They aren't empty or anything. "It's quite true.. Batsu.. while you may be having a break soon." She comments, pulling out a clipboard, and flipping to a page, holding it up and out, she points as well.
"You have a test tomorrow, as well. A midterm." She explains. A mid term? Well, mid of third term. "It wouldn't be too good if you missed it." Some of the students still cheer, many of them are on the wire.
If anything, Oswald doesn't seem like the person she expected him to be, from the whispering and rumors. Silly her. "I apologize as well, Mr. Oswald... for my less than welcoming words." He doesn't seem to be .. entirely bad.
It is just not Batsu's night for making good on his promises, looks like. He hehs faintly at Oswald's speech. "Vendetta? I ain't got nothin' to prove, old man. I'm fightin' 'cause you're strong, and fightin' someone strong is worth your time." His hands come up in that brawler's stance again, inelegant but ready for anything. He inclines his head at the people up on the walls and off to the side watching the fight, his expression going neutral for a moment. "They've seen me fall on my face 'cause I can't fight anymore. What Taiyo spirit means is gettin' back up afterwards!"
As is typical of the Burning Fighter's way of doing things, when he sees a slow strike moving in he dives right in. Whether it's taking it on the chin or making sure he gives as good as he gets, that's just the Ichimonji-slash-Imawano-slash-whatever way. It's not win or lose, it's whether or not you got something out of the fight... and Batsu got something out of this.
The fiery uppercut manifests itself again, Batsu getting out at least the "GUTS...!" before his mis-timing of the strike means Oswald's foot smacks into his stomach, hard. He goes tumbling backwards but doesn't fall over, catching himself at the last minute. Breathing heavy, his stance slumps a little forward, a bit like a baseball pitcher, but he's not out of it yet. "Mercy's got nothin' to do with it. See through whatcha started! I ain't afraid of goin' down!"
With Batsu's tumble back, Oswald dashes forward, coming to a neat stop just a few feet or so from the slumped fighter. He's still somewhat in a pugilistic stance, but not as heavy set, not as tense. Well within striking range of the youth, and the youth well into his striking range, what comes next isn't exactly part of the 'Orthodox School of Kicking Ass'.
"I know you have no fear. You have few regrets. You fight with a fury I rarely get to witness in others, Batsu Ichimonji." his hand reaches down, cautiously, outstretched in an open sign of acceptance, "This is why I /respect/ you. It's why I'm here today. If I didn't respect you and your art, I would not care what you thought of me.
The opposite arm drops slightly as his posture relaxes further, "That's why I cannot accept a victory. But I can request a draw, if you're satisfied. You fought me with a resolve I've seen in no other so far, in both our encounters."
COMBATSYS: Oswald takes no action.
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Oswald 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Batsu
Batsu would be lying if he said he 100% felt like keeping this going; he's been hit pretty hard over the course of this fight and the spirit may be willing but, as Zapp Brannigan once said, 'the flesh is spongy and bruised'. He doesn't take the offered hand, but he does eventually pull himself standing... not out of rejection of Oswald, but a grim determination to get himself on his feet, on his own. Still, for a *moment* he almost looks angry that the gambler would offer him what SEEMS like pity at first blush. However, after a moment he cocks his head, expression carefully neutral but at least, for the moment, betraying no real wrath.
"Draw, huh..." He raises one eyebrow. "Alright. You got me today... and I appreciate you comin' to settle your affairs. But this ain't the last time we're gonna fight... you know that, right?" And then Batsu's grin comes back, somewhat. "I get a little stronger every time I throw a punch, old man. You knock me down, I get right back up... like you said. Taiyo spirit." A hand comes up, brushes through his hair absently. He looks... frustrated, as if this isn't the outcome he was hoping for but he's willing to accept that. "Besides, like she said... I do have a midterm tomorrow."
COMBATSYS: Batsu takes no action.
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Oswald 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Batsu
"Taiyo spirit..." Oswald repeats, straightening more proper and out of his fighting stance as Batsu gets up under his own strength, adding with a single yet powerful word: "...impressive."
"Believe me when I say, Batsu Ichimonji, that I would be very disappointed if this was our last tete-a-tete." A foreign word, but if Batsu didn't know French, he probably could dice out what the Irishman meant, "You take your midterm - and you better pass it. Because next time we fight on /your/ terms, time, and place." the stare into Batsu's eyes isn't one that is looking down to the Highschooler if you discount the fact he's shorter.
It was twice Oswald would 'technically' be the victor, and he was not in the best of shape either. Those strikes to his chest have aggravated the wounds left by Malin the fight before; the twitch in his brow betraying his best attempts at being tough and stone-cold through the pain. "My work here is done. And your chairman made herself clear." A few steps backpedal - as one would properly do - before offering a bow once more. Once to Batsu. Once to the crowd, and once to the one named 'Iincyo'... before turning and making his way out the same way he came, one hand up to rub at the center of his chest, eyes slowly closing to try and ebb out the stabbing prickles of pain.
COMBATSYS: Oswald has left the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/----===|
Iincyo nods, flipping the clipboard back out of sight. "Of course.. I'm sorry to get in the way of your fight, Batsu..." This is always a trouble for her. As the others, and some other students, begin to pull away, due to the fight being over, and when Oswald turns away, she corrects him.
"Chairperson."
Afterwards, she pulls back as well. There's little she can add to a fight. Batsu .. he'll be okay. He's standing right? TOTALLY OKAY.
For a moment, Batsu doesn't say anything, he just watches Oswald go. Something unique about that guy... maybe not 'special', but certainly unique. However, without the fight to keep his focus elsewhere, the toll of injury on his body starts to catch up with, then totally overtake the adrenaline he felt in battle. Folks, there's a reason why berserkers and brawlers pump themselves up so much and rage out like Glenn Close in a steroid rage. It helps dull the pain of getting smacked too many times in the skull.
Batsu finally seems to re-process Iincyo's presence, and he shrugs her comment off with a wave of the hand, turning back toward the school. Walking home like this would suck a lot... better put some bandages and salve on here. Tomorrow morning he'll be right as rain -- Batsu's a fast healer even for a fighter -- but for right now, he's hurting. "Just doin' your job," he says simply to the Chairperson, before starting the hike back to the main building.
Log created on 19:52:52 03/06/2008 by Oswald, and last modified on 23:44:53 03/06/2008.