Description: Another day in Gedo. Another perfectly pleasant and friendly conversation between Daigo and Acacia. The fact they're beating the living heck out of each other while talking is entirely besides the point.
The front yard of Gedo High...is strangely quiet. Unnaturally so. This is all the more unusual, for the yard is not actually /empty/.
Students watch from the walls, from the edges of the main building. A few faces look out through grubby glass, peering from classroom windows along the upper storeys.
Gedo watches.
But still, there's that strange hush. Only a few catcalls break the silence, and those are few and far between. There's an expectant edge to the quiet, an edge of tension in the air.
Down below, in front of the school entrance, Acacia Gillespie sits on the concrete steps leading to the main door. Her fingers grasp the toe of one combat boot as she completes a final stretch, muscles straining. Then she gets to her feet, brushing dust off the seat of her pants. She descends the stairs, until the soles of her boots meet solid hard-packed earth. Then she lifts her head, rolling her neck. Eyes gleam behind strands of silver hair as she regards the other figure standing across from her.
A much taller figure.
"Ready," Acacia says, with a hint of bemusement, "if you are."
The tall figure standing across from Acacia is one known very well by Gedo students. After all, it's the big boss.
Daigo Kazama cracks his knuckles, and drops into his usual, fairly neutral stance. His own prematch rituals are finished. He sizes up young woman he's fighting carefully. It would do him poorly to underestimate his opponent, especially as she is another Gedo student.
"Very well," He says, with a nod, "let us begin."
COMBATSYS: Daigo has started a fight here.
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Daigo 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Acacia has joined the fight here.
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Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daigo
There aren't many students in Gedo willing to take on Daigo Kazama one-on-one, though. Not Daigo Freakin' "I CAN PUNCH THROUGH WALLS" Kazama, not the man legendary for being able to survive more hits than a modern battle tank. Not the man who quite frequently trains by getting Edge and Gan to attack him relentlessly until /they/ collapse from exhaustion.
Acacia doesn't seem particularly concerned, though. She just stands there, inclining her head at the Gedo leader. If there's an undercurrent of electric tension in the air, rising from the distant onlookers...it doesn't seem to affect her aura of calm. She stands with her feet apart, combat boots planted solidly on the ground. Her legs flex slightly at the knees, her balance shifting subtly. Round her lean frame, the mottled fabric of a jungle-camo jacket flaps slightly in the wind, along with strands of silver hair that cross her face.
Either she's supremely confident in her own skill...
...or has something of a death wish.
In Gedo, the two are difficult to tell apart.
Acacia's lips curve up a little further, into a tiny little smile.
"Been a while," she observes, "since..."
She gestures slightly, indicating the makeshift battlefield.
"Gotten better?"
She asks the question, then, lets it hang for a moment.
Then she moves, lunging forward. She kicks off with one foot, twisting briefly in the air. As she descends, her other leg snaps outward, dropping in the crescent arc of a brutal axe kick. But her leap is short - even if Daigo doesn't move, it'll come nowhere near him.
Of course, that's when Acacia's heel blasts into the soil, raw concussive force exploding from her limb to send miniature fissures spiderwebbing across the ground - along with a rumble of earthquake impact.
COMBATSYS: Daigo just-defends Acacia's Aftershock!
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Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daigo
As the cracks in the ground from, Daigo manages to keep his footing perfectly. It is not done without effort, however. The Kazama just knows here he stands. "Let's find out." Is his response to the question, as he suddenly steps forward, closing the distance in a few short strides, before swinging out with a fast kick to Acacia's side. He doesn't want to start to ostrong, after all. That would hardly be a good way to see how things have changed, after all.
COMBATSYS: Daigo successfully hits Acacia with Light Kick.
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Acacia 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Daigo
Breath explodes forcefully - and involuntarily - from Acacia's lungs as the kick slams into her torso. She hits the ground, dirt flying as she rolls with the impact. She comes up in a crouch, one knee planted against the earth.
She inhales, her ribs heaving as she pulls in a gulp of fresh air, hauling it through her lungs. That's the only sign of exertion she gives, though. Her movements are confident, fluid with little wasted motion. And when Acacia speaks, the strain doesn't show in her voice. The syllables are mild, the sound conversational, barely carrying over the chaos of combat.
"Still fast," she observes, didactically.
Acacia curls her hand into a fist, fingers digging into her palm. She chambers the punch, then drives it upward at Daigo, exploding from her half-kneeling position as she does so, putting her weight behind the blow.
"Or maybe I've gotten slower."
COMBATSYS: Daigo blocks Acacia's Strong Punch.
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Acacia 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Daigo
And once again, as Acacia comes in for the strike, Daigo is able to block. But this time, he feels it. "Hmm. You definitely have more force in your strikes." He says, the conversation seemingly seperate to the fight. It's more as if the two things are happening in different rooms to him. But that may just be him. "How about this..." He moves to grab at Acacia's arm, and step forward and trip her leg as he pulls. A classic, simple throw, but also, an effective one.
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Daigo's Medium Throw.
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Acacia 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Daigo
Acacia falls.
But it's a controlled fall. Realising that her balance has been cut out from under her, the girl sets herself the task of rolling with it. She wrenches her arm free of Daigo's grip, and when her body smacks into the soil, she meets the earth with an elbow and forearm, diffusing the impact...far less painful than catching it with something like one's tailbone. Or spine.
"Not bad," Acacia remarks, matter-of-factly, "still in form, I see."
Lying on the ground, she scissors her own legs, denim fabric and leather combat boots flashing through the air to entangle with -Daigo's- own lower limbs, before he can get free. With a hiss of breath, Acacia attempts to send /him/ crashing to the ground as well, in her wake.
She continues speaking, her voice just as measured as Daigo's.
"Exercising," she quips, "for the TV cameras?"
Referring to his recent return to SNF and public matches.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Daigo with Strong Throw.
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Acacia 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Daigo
There's no way Daigo can get out of this one. He was caught by his own technique. And as he slams to the ground, he feels it. "It leads to some interesting challenges." He says, recalling the rather intense last match he had, as he pulls himself to his feet, with a grin. "Well done, by the way." The Gedo Boss suddenly launches a quick straight kick at Acacia's mid section again, which is hard to read as either a feint, or a real attack, until, with a quick recovery, he follows up with a roundhouse from his other leg. For someone as large as Daigo is, he has his moments.
COMBATSYS: Acacia endures Daigo's Phoenix Kick.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Daigo
Acacia's just barely regained her own footing...when Daigo's kick comes rushing in. She narrows her eyes, her expression shifting subtly. She moves to avoid the first move - but no, a /feint/ it was, it seems. The follow-up crashes into her abdomen, pounding hard into her gut. Her eyes widen, a hiss of breath escaping between her teeth. But she rides out the collision, digging her own heels into the dust. Bits of earth explode from the ground, churned up by the friction of Acacia /refusing to fall/.
"Not the only one," she remarks, "to appear..."
Thus anchored, she breaks off. Leaving one foot planted, she brings her other leg up in a simple brutal rising knee, aiming to retaliate through Daigo's guard while they're still in close proximity.
"...on TV lately," she finishes.
It could be a reference to her own regular participation in SNF. But with the way Acacia's eyes flick to the side, indicating the rest of the student body watching this clash, she probably means the others of Gedo.
COMBATSYS: Daigo blocks Acacia's Heavy Kick.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Daigo
The knee drives into Daigo's arm, the wall of a man being able to get his guard up in time. But even so, she pushes him back, at least a small way. "Indeed..." The Kazama is still very calm, even as Acacia renews her assault, pulling back one hand. "To be honest...I am somewhat surprised that they haven't tired to pit us all into one free for all." With that, Daigo thrusts his palm forward, spikes of energy flying from his hand to try and hit Acacia off guard. After all, Daigo rarely uses any ranged attacks when fighting. On the other hand, Acacia has had plenty of time to learn the way Daigo fights.
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Skull Aura from Daigo with Ground Effect.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Daigo
She has.
Of course. It's impossible to be in Gedo and not take at least an /academic/ interest in the abilities of Daigo Kazama.
The chi is unusual, but it isn't /entirely/ unexpected. As the spiritual energies flare to life around Daigo, Acacia's eyes go half-lidded. She gathers her own power, sending it racing through bone and sinew, charging through flesh and muscle.
Acacia isn't exactly the most capable fighter either, in terms of long-range capability. She's an /infighter/, primarily.
But that just means she's developed her own way of dealing with those damned projectiles.
Even as Daigo releases his power, Acacia lets fly with her own. The ground beneath her feet blasts outward in a ripping geyser, distorted by a release of pure concussive force. Acacia slams forward like a human missile, the force of the launch leaving a crater behind her. She crashes through the oncoming wave of Daigo's Skull Aura, the energies lacerating her body and tossing her in flight - but not enough to significantly slow her as she barrels into Daigo like a rocket.
"Scheduling problems," Acacia replies, blandly, a heartbeat before collision.
Daigo is caught head on by the attack, sliding backwards as he tries to dig his feet into the ground. But it's enough to send him slamming into the ground. Hard. The wind is completely knocked out of Daigo, as well as some potentially cracked ribs. He will have to deal with those later. But he won't be kept down. But Acacia's comment elicits a smirk from the Gang Boss, as he pulls himself up.
And just as quickly, he suddenly sweeps around with a kick at his opponent to take her down once again. It's starting to seem like a battle of who will fall and stay down.
COMBATSYS: Acacia fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Daigo with Fracture.
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Daigo
She hits the ground, and hits it hard. The dusty hard-packed earth of the Gedo courtyard is something Acacia's intimately familiar with by now, but it's not like she appreciates getting it between her teeth. It still isn't an acquired taste. Her side aches, now, from the last punishing impact of the kick. Acacia clutches a hand over the injury as she levers herself back upright, one foot against the ground, her other knee pressed alongside it.
Perhaps it wasn't -such- a great idea to try and grab Daigo's leg like that. Maybe she's getting a bit too cocky.
Acacia angles her head, fractionally, acknowledging the point.
Even as she does, she continues to speak. Her voice remains casual.
"So," she asks, "what -do- you think of the new kids?"
"To be honest..." Daigo continues to press his assault, drawing his fist back, as it is encased in Chi. He's moving rather like an unstoppable force now, as he continues his attack. "I'd really need more time to see for myself." He follows through with the punch, his now semi famous Phoenix Fist, continuing a ferocious assault with a calm conversation on the side.
COMBATSYS: Acacia auto-guards Daigo's Phoenix Fist!
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Daigo
A massive rolling BOOM echoes across the courtyard, the shockwave stirring leaves from the trees, rattling windows in their frames.
Furious energies sizzle against leather and skin, wisps of smoke rising from Acacia's hand. A gloved hand closed around Daigo's much bigger fist. The Gedo boss' knuckles rest in Acacia's palm, her fingers clasped over his. Acacia's arm trembles with the effort, muscles straining. But it soon becomes clear that she's not just stopped the Phoenix Fist, she's /caught/ it.
"Fair enough," Acacia replies with equanimity, possessed of remarkable sangfroid for someone who's just managed a feat like that.
Granted, she's pretty sure she wouldn't be able to repeat it anytime soon, but she's hardly going to draw attention to that fact.
The doing alone certainly seems to be impressing the students clustered round to watch this fight.
"Still," she says, "Gedo's got more representation now, out there..."
She gives a small toss of the head.
"...than ever before."
COMBATSYS: Acacia focuses on her next action.
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Daigo
"VERY impressive." The boss states, rather impressed by Acacia's skill. But he also acknowledges that Gedo is, in fact, a much bigger prescence than it was. "It would seem to be the case." But he watches, now. She's preparing something. And this time, Daigo is not going to rush into an attack that could catch him unprepared. The Gedo Boss steps back, and watches, waiting to see what's coming. And how to respond to it.
COMBATSYS: Daigo focuses on his next action.
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Acacia 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Daigo
Acacia arches one eyebrow. Then she snorts. Not precisely a ladylike gesture, but she doesn't particularly care about that. She stares across the expanse of the makeshift battlefield, narrowing her eyes at the much larger presence of her opponent.
Waiting for her move, is he?
Acacia's face remains impassive, almost dispassionate. But there's the faint trace of a grin, a smile ghosting at the very edge of her features.
"And," Acacia prompts, "what do you think about -that-?"
As the question leaves her lips, she moves. Another forward charge, as she powers an arm straight forward with crushing force. Aiming to drive her hand into Daigo's torso and just /lift/ him...before slamming him to the ground.
A feat of strength that should by all laws of Physics be impossible, especially for someone of Acacia's elfin height and build.
COMBATSYS: Daigo endures Acacia's Fracture.
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Acacia 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Daigo
The laws of physics do indeed agree with the assessment of this shouldn't be possible. Which is why it should be kind of surprising. The Kazama crashes into the ground, as he's lifted. But he is also practically underneath Acacia when he lands.
And as he stands up, chi rises with him, like a tornado of energy surrounding him. He stands with a large amount of force. "Again, that is something I still need to judge." He says, as the Super Phoenix Fire surrounds his body, and, hopefully, Acacia.
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Daigo's Super Phoenix Fire.
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Acacia 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Daigo
The blast of energy blows Acacia off her feet, throwing her skyward. The energy whips her hair wildly, tossing the fabric of her jacket as she ragdolls in space. But she isn't flung out of control. No, her spine's arched, her arms raised and crossed protectively to shield her head and upper body, energy cleaving round Acacia as her guard absorbs the brunt of Daigo's fury.
"Conservative," she chides.
It's hard to tell whether she means his stance on the rise of Gedo fighters in the semi-pro circuit, or that last attack.
Acacia twists in mid-air, her arms parting, her body flowing out of the defensive posture. As she drops, the air ripples around her, distorted by her own chi. It lacks the luminosity of Daigo's attack. It's something almost more felt than seen, raw kinetic energy spilling out from Acacia's body - but it /is/ heard, the wave rising in a bass roar as it explodes forth, near-invisible fury crashing downward in a wave of pure force.
COMBATSYS: Daigo blocks Acacia's Ground Breaker.
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Acacia 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Daigo
The energy blast flies at Daigo, who manages to block in time. Almost instinctually. "Perhaps. But I have never liked to be reckless." The boss moves to step close into the fray again, pulling his fist back, and taking a hefty swing at Acacia. Simple, and to the point. Better to stick with the classics, sometimes.
COMBATSYS: Acacia fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Daigo with Ground Effect.
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Acacia 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Daigo
Maybe.
Acacia certainly seems to have a brief moment of second thoughts about /her/ chosen means of reciprocriating. She gathers the chi for another of those explosive leaps. But Daigo's into her guard before she completes the move - the punch crashes into her head, snapping it back at the neck against the protesting grind of wounded vertabrae. Pummeled into the earth, she gives an involuntary gasp before managing to recover some trace of composure.
Still lying in the courtyard dust, she cracks one eyelid open and looks up from ground level.
"Not even," she remarks, "a little?"
Daigo smirks, impressed at Acacia's resolve. And, then he suddenly reaches down to pull his opponent up. "Living life without a little recklessness would make it boring." And, as he moves,he suddenly pulls her forward try and step behind her, grab her by behind, and suplex her back into the ground. A manuever that is certainly not without it's risks, by any means.
COMBATSYS: Daigo successfully hits Acacia with German Suplex.
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Acacia 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Daigo
The yard /shakes/ with the resounding impact, one that echoes through the school grounds. When the plume of dust fades, Acacia collapses out of Daigo's grasp, having being smashed into the earth so hard that she lies in a little crater of broken ground. She twitches, wincing at the messages of pain being transmitted through tortured nerves.
Weakly, she lifts one hands - even that effort costs her - to gesture with an open palm in surrender.
"Enough," she adds, while struggling to sit up, breathing heavily.
Between gasps of air, Acacia murmurs, "Daigo Kazama's guide to healthy work-life balance."
COMBATSYS: Acacia takes no action.
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Daigo 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Acacia can no longer fight.
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Daigo 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Daigo has ended the fight here.
But with the fight over, Daigo extends a hand to Acacia, to help her up, should she accept it. "Hmmm. Don't tempt me, or I might have it all committed to paper." After all, he did do so with his laws of manliness. "You fought well. I'm glad to see you've improved." He even attempts to be a good winner. "Now. Do you need any assistance?" And there's the concern. After all, if he broke anything in what was, after all, a friendly match, he'd feel somewhat bad.
Acacia accepts the arm up with a faint grunt, a low sound from somewhere at the back of her throat. She clasps her hand to Daigo's, using the offered leverage to pull herself back to her feet.
She bends over slightly instead of rising completely, at least initially...her legs not totally steady. Still, she's on her feet.
It counts.
"I'll live," Acacia replies, dryly.
Straightening, she rests a hand on the small of her back, rubbing her abused spine.
"And," she advises, eying Daigo, "stick to day job."
Log created on 03:35:59 03/26/2008 by Acacia, and last modified on 04:30:16 04/06/2008.