Description: Sakura takes on Ken Masters on his home turf! Yeah, this'll end well! (Winner: Ken)
After seemingly beating the hell out of Vega in some freakish dream world and some long hours 'joyful' celebration with the wife after, Ken seems to be back to his regular self. Once only coming out every once in awhile, Ken is looking for fights and seems to have a renewed optimism in how the world works. Of course, this means that his ego is likely back to where it was, but it rarely got anyone hurt (save himself).
While Sakura likely wanted to talk to Ken or at the least IM him, it's only been the last couple of days he's said he's been willing to let her come over and face him once more. So he waits in his usual red attire, just tightening his belt as he waits on the White Arena floor for his challenger for the night to arrive.
Sakura's been fighting her own demons with regard to the Shadaloo shenanigans in Thailand... having sequestered herself away for several weeks shortly after, and then plunging headlong into a hotly-debated tournament for the juniors. She has no shortage of things to talk to her Ansatsuken mentors about, that's for sure... but the fangirl can also tell when she's getting too talkative. Really, she's been letting Ken set the pace of conversation, only yammering on about the relative mundaneries of her adolescent life when he seems receptive to them.
Getting into a fight, though, is something she's been wanting for a while. Oh, she's fought Ken before, sure! But it's important to /continue/ challenging herself in such a way, to see if she can put her training to the test, and actually -match up- with the blonde fighter's ninja-like reflexes.
Smiling, she marches into the White Arena with appropriate attire: the same pale blue training gi her master had given her several years ago. Barefoot: the only way to honor such a noble tradition as fighting on hardwood floors! "It's been a while, Ken... I think I might actually have a chance against you now!" Never hurts to be optimistic!
Ken gets into his fighting stance once the Neo League judge gives a nod of the head, the sign that he's ready for the fight to begin. "Well, if you really think you got a shot, come at me when you're ready... I'll only hold back if you really are off your game," Ken annouces confidently. Ryu's always been the humble one, Ken has never put that into question. "After all, I've been only improving as time goes on."
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
"I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't!" blurts out Sakura, pulling her belt tight with a proud smile. She hastens to add with just a touch of humility, "... Sir!" Yes, she knows he told her -not- to call him that, but it's been so long since they've fought!
She nods back to the fight official, and when the word comes down... Kasugano rushes right into a headlong punch, aiming to close the distance between her and her better as quickly as possible! "Hyyyyyyaaaaa!" She needs to warm up, after all!
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Sakura's Medium Punch.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
The blow comes right for Ken and grazes his gi as he effortlessly moves out of the way with a half hop, half step to the side. It was close, but he still manages to make it look like he had it under control the entire time. Moving to Sakura's side, Ken does nothing for the time being. "Let me know when you're ready," he offers with a smug grin. She might notice that he's tightening his fists. He'll likely not toy with her any more after poking a little fun at the promising young fighter.
COMBATSYS: Ken takes no action.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
Oh, now he's taunting her? Back in the ol' days this might've aggravated Sakura -- in fact, it =still= might later in the fight -- but right now, she's in too much of a good mood to let this bother her! "Will do!" she barks back at the blonde, feet squeaking lightly on the floor as the nimble fighter shifts to match Ken's new position. Once more she swings at Ken, this time with a hook... It'd be comical considering her reach is =terrible= compared to his! "Yaa!"
But it seems she's also /counting/ on her swing falling laughably short -- and follows it with a second leaping straight punch to the jaw! "Hrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Sakura's Fierce Punch.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
The first blow Ken doesn't even move. He sees through Sakura's attempts to trick him a mile away. The second punch is slower than the first, allowing him to weave his head to the side to look at the extended fist. He were back in the glory days with the long hair and single, he might have kissed the arm of Sakura in a sexy yet hotshot way to say 'Hey baby, you want to go a few rounds under some overpriced sheets?'. Thankfully for both parties, Ken doesn't do that.
Instead, Ken speaks. "Tsk tsk, Sakura. Never go for the big gambit early on. You need to start the momentum before you do something like that," Ken advices as he moves in. His foot lashes out swiftly, trying to nail the schoolgirl in the chin with a powerful axe kick. Should it hit, Ken will add, "See, fast" before bringing it down upon her shoulder as hard as he can.
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt Inazuma Kakato Wari from Ken with Medium Hadouken.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Well she was =trying= to build momentum! ... It just didn't work out too well against Ken's master reflexes! Overdrawn, she doubles back afterwards to regain her footing as Ken deals out his advice.
Nodding slowly, she pulls her hands up in defense. She can tell he's about to start his own offense, but knowing what's coming doesn't mean she can stop it. So if she can't =stop= it, she at least tries to garner some kind of fighting defense -- her hands curling about one another as a Hadouken starts to form between them.
That'd be about when Ken's heel cracks across her chin, totally breaking her concentration and dispelling the little proto-Hadouken into a cloud of nothingness. And while her head's snapping one way, Ken's foot is reversing direction to slam into her shoulder -- and the powerful action collapses Sakura to her knees, a sharp exhaled breath signifying one very clear point: ow, that hurt!
She doesn't remain there long though, springing back to her feet and leaping a fair distance away. Yeah, that'll hurt in a moment... but it got the adrenaline pumping, at least!
Ken keeps on the attack as Sakura fails her move. He pulls forward, just trying to snap a very powerful kick for Sakura's side. He isn't trying anything fancy, but it's unsure if it's to get back some of his breath after a swift move or doing it just to see how she reacts. He has to know that this might open him up for pain. But hey, if she wants to play high risk fighting, TWO can play at that game.
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Ken's Strong Kick.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Sakura smiles back at Ken -- sure, she expects him to continue pressing an assault. But now that the adrenaline's pumping, she remembers the one real hallmark of her training with Ryu -- patience.
When Ken's kick rockets in towards her side, Kasugano vaults out of the way just in the nick of time, leaping a good half-dozen feet out of the way. She lands in a crouch, but ... doesn't move to counterattack right away, instead rising to her feet with lightly-coiled fists. It's like Ken said -- she needs to build her momentum up before she can try to bring the pain, so she's going to be pausing a moment. For now... she'll be playing from Ryu's playbook, calm and collected, despite the mild metallic taste in her mouth. "Heh-heh..." she chuckles -- her infectious smile being the only part of the gi-clad warrior's current stance that =doesn't= resemble Ryu at the moment.
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Ken's faced Ryu plenty of times. Sitting back and trying to get a good weak point for someone's defense to put in a good fireball is Ryu Tactics 101. Of course, Ken knows the perfect way to ensure it doesn't work. Putting his palms together, Ken channels the energy about him, focusing his power in order to make a ball of blue chi. "Nice try," he offers before he casts his palms forward. "HADOUKEN!"
Looks like Ken's picking things up himself in this fight.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Sakura with Hadouken.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Sakura
Well.. yes! Ken's got a lot more experience fighting Ryu than Sakura does. And vice-versa of course. So why should she expect Ryu's strategy to be better against Ken than anyone else? ... Blind hope? Nah, probably just youthful inexperience!
"Uh-oh..." blurts out Sakura as Ken's Hadouken comes rocketing towards her. But words won't save her from the spiralling DOOOOOM that comes slamming into her raised guard... and it won't save her from barreling backwards into the wall, her arms shaky from the impact.
"Ugh... I guess I should've seen that coming!" she admits as she pushes back to her feet, a bit dazed from the bright lights!
But it's also not long before she curls her hands down to her side, smiling faintly. "I've been working on that, too, though!" True to form, a brilliant blue-white mass of energy swirls in her palms -- not totally unlike Ken's, but a bit larger, and a bit less dense. She offers the blossom of energy out to Ken as a present, shouting, "HADOOOOOUKEN!" in kind!
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Sakura's Medium Hadouken.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Sakura
"Yeah, you likely shoulda," Ken replies with no shame in his voice to Sakura's observation.
A swift roll allows Ken to avoid the return fire, smirking as he does. He knows what Sakura tried. While it failed just the same, it amuses him. "Nice. But if ye want to see how connecting painful blows works... Pay close attention," Ken offers confidently as he just leans forward as he hunkers down a little as he watches Sakura. Clearly he is readying his body like a big game cat, preparing himself with the speed to strike and the knowledge of where to go.
COMBATSYS: Ken focuses on his next action.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Sakura
Apparently... Sakura still has quite a ways to go to reach Ken's level! But she's always felt the gap in their relative power levels to be wide... but not insurmountable. She's hit him a positive number of times, ergo, she has a chance, no matter how small.
"I'm watching closely!" she affirms, narrowing her eyes just slightly upon the blonde fighter. She hasn't done much of anything against him so far, but she feels her luck may be about to change. Drawing in her breath, she takes long, loping strides towards her opponent, gathering her hands by her sides once more. With Ken bunkering down, she knows a frontal attack like her punches probably won't be too effective... but she'll have to get closer just the same.
And when she judges herself close -enough-... she slams her hands forward, loosing an even larger mass of chi towards Ken! Maybe this'll be what she needs! "HADOOOOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ken with Large Hadouken EX.
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Ken 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Sakura
The judge watches as Ken goes from 'TIME TO POUND YOUR ASS' to Ken being forcefully invited to check out the other side of the Arena. Ken lands on his back about twenty feet where he once was. While he can see just find, he finds himself much further away from Sakura than he had planned. "What the heck," he mutters to himself before he tries to race toward the young woman.
Once he gets into range, Ken offers a simple, "Nice... But it's time to get serious!" as his hands try to grab onto Sakura's shirt. But in a G-rated way. Really. Once he gets the hold, he will roll backward and try to launch Sakura toward the spot on the floor he was on just a minute or so ago.
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt Jigoku-guruma from Ken with Shou'ou Ken.
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Ken 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Sakura
Sakura's smile just -has- to take an upswing when her attack finally hits her Ansatsuken elder. "See? I can dish it out when I need to!"
Okay, just a =wee= bit too smug for her own good there, yes. Kasugano doesn't press too far forward though, knowing that Ken will be a lot more likely to close the distance -- and he's gotten hit a lot less to boot, so why not let him wear himself out while he's at it? ... Problem with that strategy is: by grounding herself too far, she sacrifices the precious split-seconds she needs to get out of the way of Ken's grapple. Once she realized his objective -- and how close he was! -- she had tried to uppercut him for his trouble, but that sudden roll across the arena puts all thoughts of a counterattack out of her mind. "Uwaaaaa!" she shouts, before getting tossed into the air, and slapped back onto the hardwood floor! "Ugh!"
Never down for long, though, she manages to sweep her legs around and spring back to her feet... but for how long?!
As Sakura is getting back to her feet, Ken is already racing toward her once again. Ken's energy is surprising to most that fight him for the first time, wondering where he gets his stamina. Usually direct questions are eluded to his love life, but that's far from a surprise.
Whatever the cause, Ken has his hands reaching out for Sakura's arm. Should he get her by the wrist, he will pull down and back, trying to pull her off center. Should he do this, he will spin around in place to drag her about before letting her stumble off to the side. It would just be a slightly rough tumble if Ken didn't reenforce the move with a powerful roundhouse kick to the head.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Sakura with Tsukami Nage.
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Ken 0/-------/=======|=======\=======\1 Sakura
Kasugano's normally pretty quick... but there's no -question- as to who's the faster of the two. Kasugano zigs to the left, but Ken zags the same direction, snaring the young woman's arm and flinging her sideways before applying a Tae Kwon Leap!
The Ansatsuken Angel stumbles forward weakly with her arms out to either side, but no... she's not falling over just yet -- while her shoulders do drop, it's only to give a counterbalance to the roundhouse kick she sends rocketing up into Ken's shoulder! "Hyaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Sakura's Strong Kick.
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Ken 0/-------/=======|=======\=======\1 Sakura
Ken ducks.
Ken's thankful Sakura's decided to wear pants today.
Standing back up after the missed attack sails over his head, he gives a simple but rather powerful punch right for Sakura's jaw. He doesn't go for the nose, not wishing to break it. "Still got a bit to go," he offers simply.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Sakura with Medium Punch.
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Ken 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Sakura
Sakura's fans are probably -not- enjoying the show from up in the stands, as the match looks pretty one-sided! But, at the same time, Sakura wouldn't have it any other way. What kind of people would she hold as =heroes= if she could beat them easily in a fight, anyway? Every successful attack Ken lands upon her is just more fuel to the fire!
Hopping back away from Ken, Kasugano feels she's prepared herself for Ken's strike... but it seems she's mistaken as he clocks her right in the jaw! Bam, right on the opposite side from his first kick -- now the Seijyun student won't be lopsided when she goes into class tomorrow!
Still... considering how far back she'd been knocked from that punch, Kasugano's still determined to make her mark! Her aura is even starting to show now, a faint, barely visible blue glow fringing her slight form. Dashing forward at Ken, she makes a wild grab for the front of his gi, hoping to fall backwards and use her leg as a fulcrum to toss Ken overhead and into the wall! Not quite as flashy as his own tossing move, but one she hopes will land just the same! "Hyaaaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ken interrupts Strong Throw from Sakura with Shoryuken.
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Ken 1/------=/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Sakura
Ken gets throw by Sakura. However he stops much sooner than Sakura likely planned. His hands move around her wrist for a second time in this fight. His feet smash against the mat painful, feeling it in his bones. That really hurt. Now he is in an awkward 3-point position, his legs supporting his lower half, with his arms around Sakura's wrist for the upper half. Pushing forcefully off the school girl's arm, he rights himself. He still doesn't let go though, pulling Sakura up as he does. She is yanked to be right in front of him before she is released. Before she knows what's going on or what Ken is planning, his fist is already engulfed in flames.
"Shoryuken!"
Ken lands on the ground after the attack, merely rubbing his ankles sore from his rather painful move. It's likely be something he regrets doing ten or twenty years down the line.
Hey, so she got to throw him around a bit, yeah, that's cool, ye--- OH CRAP! Kasugano didn't expect =that=, that's for sure... but that's why Ken's on the top tier of martial arts mastery and she's on, like... not-quite-the-top tier! ... But the point is, what comes next hurts Sakura a heck of a lot more than it does him, as she gets yanked to her feet, and then flaming-uppercutted right into the stratosphere! ... Er, close. She's on fire and flying upwards at a high rate of speed, that's just not comfortable!
... And yet she's still somewhat exhilarated by it all -- fighting Ken is one of the few challenges that forces her to keep improving her skills! It's this thought and many others that occupy her mind as she hurtles back down to the hardwood floor...
She lands... and =hard=, bouncing not once but twice before landing in an unsteady crouch. Howling with pain, she nonetheless pushes herself forward, shaking her head twice before pushing to her feet. Oh, how her head hurts... but, as she wheezes out, bruised well beyond what a young girl ought to be... "One more... thing left... to try..."
She thunders forward again, trying to tag Ken in the chin with one uppercut much like his own! Maybe not the -fire-, but certainly the -speed-... and maybe not the -strength-, but certainly the -passion!- "SHOOOOOORYUKEN!"
Not that she'd have much energy -afterwards-...
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
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Ken 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ken with Midare Zakura.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Ken 1/--=====/=======|
Ken lifts his guard up, expecting a slow-BOOOM. Ken goes flying into the air. He lands on his feet, though one knee is on the ground for support. "Nice hit in there. A little late...," Ken pauses to put a hand to his chin. He rubs it for a bit, but doesn't seem too phased. "Better than never."
COMBATSYS: Ken has ended the fight here.
Not far off, Sakura lands, also on her feet... fist still held high as in the uppercut. She was so surprised at her own strike that she'd forgotten to put her fist down afterwards! Panting, she has a disbelieving smile on her face as she turns around towards Ken, nodding... "I... I did it..."
Of course, she's white as a =sheet= afterwards, and summarily collapses into a pile of exultant, exhausted schoolgirl upon the floor. "Th-thanks for the f-fight! Th-that was so awesome..." she stammers, looking up towards Ken.
Looks like =someone= will be making good use of the recovery wards here...
Ken chuckles and nods. "No problem, Sakura... Take a rest, if you want to stay for a day or so and chat, I don't have a problem with that," the King of Fighters offers before he turns to go. He makes sure that his victory is noted by the judge. The roars of the crowd are just ignored since well, Ken's used to the praises of the masses by now. Either way, he moves back toward the locker room to get himself cleaned up, but he seems to have a noticable slowness to his stride as he does.
Log created on 19:14:14 03/18/2008 by Sakura, and last modified on 01:28:11 03/19/2008.