SNF 2008.03 - Wisdom! Zach vs Mizuki vs Grigori

Description: Saturday Night Fight brings you a three-way battle between Zach Glen, Mizuki Kamigawa, and Grigori Lenya Yakushevic in one of the finest dojos in all of the world of fighting... but wait, a special guest?! You want spoilers, don't you? Too bad!! (Winner?: Mizuki)



The Todoh-ryuu Dojo. Tucked somewhere along the quiet Karuta district in the more rural parts of Southtown, it faces a small park and is nestled among a number of other humble buildings that surely cost a pretty penny to live within the vicinity of the great and mighty Todoh family! (lies)
It's a clear day. SNF crews have the gathered pointed towards the outside deck perimeter of the humble structure that appears to have seen better days. The lawn has long since recovered from an incident when one of the fighters visited the infamous elder Todoh, although now there is a shiny new steamroller parked out front. It is likely to be stolen from a local construction crew.
'NO SMOKING' signs are plastered all over the wooden deck perimeter around the building, perhaps the only thing that attempts to distinguish itself from any other similar structure you might see within the district. Quiet. Still. Maybe only in need of just a little sweeping.
Attempts to contact Ryuhaku Todoh have not borne any fruit, but Howard Enterprises has a very tight schedule to run here, see. The fight's going to have to start sometime, with or without that notorious ticket price dodger.

Zach had just gotten back from a suprise (to him anyway) visit to the good old US of A. He had just enough time to check in at the YFCC to make certain that he still had a job, then drop his bag off at his humble apartment. He didn't know that he had a match until he checked his answering machine.

Howard Enterprises does not take kidnappings into consideration when they set up matches.

It wasn't a total loss, however; he had seen his parents for the first time since his powers first awoke because of the situation. He would have been hard pressed to get back to South Town without the help. He makes his way onto the familiar yard, looking at the unevenly cut grass with a faint grin. Old Man Todoh's been practicing again.

... The Todoh-Ryuu Dojo, huh. Mizuki steps in, her mouth set in a thin line. Normally she looks happy, cheerful, open. Today, she looks quiet, determined, and serious. Rather like her friend Hotaru... only without the Ebilness(tm). Though she did have a recent encounter with the girl... in fact, she's still hurting from that, but a contract is a contract, and she signed up. The pain doesn't show on her face, and her rather grim expression lightens a little when she sees the dojo.

As the second to arrive, she nods to Zach, with barely a smile for him--she's distracted, a little, so forgive her. "It seems we'll be opponents again, today," she says, with another smile, a more restrained one. "I believe we're supposed to go inside, are we not?" she adds, as she...

... well, she walks into the dojo, going inside to tighten her belt and check her gloves... and then sit seiza, her legs folded underneath her, waiting for everyone to show up.

From the sprawling urban landscape of Damascus to...some no-name fighter's backyard. It would appear that Grigori has gone from 'epic' to 'fantastically lame' in just the span of a week. All attempts to reschedule himself or get into a far grander venue fell upon deaf ears--even when he threw a chair in a fit of anger. He was reluctant, but ultimately accepted his perceivably lame fate.

The last to arrive, the tall and doubtlessly broad Russian approaches outside the dojo, pale blue eyes fixed in a heated glare upon the outside deck, before his eyes are soon distracted to the side. There is a large steamroller parked on the lawn. A blank expression crosses the man's sharp features as a large hand lifts and rubs absently at his shoulder.

"Chėrtov," he curses. "What a waste of time."

Walking right past Zach without so much as giving the man the time of day, the surly Russian man ambles to the deck and waits. 'No Smoking' signs glare at him, brows knitting ever so slightly before he scoffs. What a drag this dojo is. His eyes only drift absently toward the innards of the dojo, where he spies the grim-faced, seiza-seated girl.

"The fuck? Is funeral?" he wonders to himself quietly before he simply thrusts his hands into his pockets and walks to the nearest wall, where he leans back and just waits. Todoh is nowhere to be found, but that's just fine with the former Spetznas. Meanwhile, SNF crew members assemble, attempting to gather the fighters together and get the fight started...with or without Todoh-Ryuu 'master.'

The doors slide open without any resistance on Mizuki's entrance. Inside the dojo is dark. Dramatically so. It doesn't appear as neglected on the inside as it does on the out, but one of the wooden supports, cracked in half, still has not been repaired since certain Blackjack members came for ELITE COMBAT TRAINING (echo echo echo echo). Grigori may find it a comfortable place to lean. The walls still have pictures hung up of what appears to be this very building and various men standing in the distance with their backs turned. Family portraits, perhaps? The only one that features anybody looking at the viewer at all is one of Kasumi when she was a few years younger. The odd (wo)man out of these portraits, clearly.
It is not a spacious place otherwise. If this place really is a dojo, then it's doubtful so many people ever train here at once... if anyone at all? Clearly the Todoh style is not clearly outpacing the rival Kyokugen dojo for profits and students. Maybe the man in question all but begged the officials to host something here? (Perhaps Howard Enterprises get a kick as to how low this man will go just to flaunt his ego or otherwise put down the likes of Hotaru and her little boyfriend.)
Ryuhaku Todoh's nowhere to be seen. Those officials on site, all but fed up with some of his antics prior, just signal for the match to start while the cameras start to roll in earnest. This could be just another little televised fight. Perhaps this is for the best.
...?

Zach does not get a chance to respond to Mizuki, or to thank her for what she did at the YFCC recently. Grigori seems... cross for some reason. He winces a bit at Grigori's pronouncement. Waste of time? Funeral? Perhaps it's the swearing that Zach objects most to.

"Mind your language, please," Zach says firmly. "It's not really necessary." That said, Zach turns, and gives Mizuki a slight bow. "Mizuki, the kids at the Center told me about your fight. Are you okay?" He does not bring up the fact that he is bothered somewhat by people throwing his name in Hotaru's face. After the bow is given, he pulls himself into a jujitsu stance. Ryuhaku... might not be impressed.

"Ready when you two are," he says as an intense burst of bright purple flames erupts from his feet.

COMBATSYS: Zach has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Zach             0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Zach             0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0             Zach


COMBATSYS: Grigori has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0             Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/-------|


As the combatants enter the Arena(tm), Mizuki rises. "No, this is not a funeral," she replies, to the big Russian man, softly. "This is a Saturday Night Fight." Something tells her that Grigori is not likely to be very benevolent; she opts for politeness but not a very forward friendliness. So she nods to him, and then to Zach, stretching her legs pre-fight to assuage a small ache.

A faint smile crosses her lips at Zach's admonition. That might get Grigori mad... but then, that's not her problem, now, is it? She moves away from Zach, forming a triangle with the other two men, and she nods to Zach. "I'll be fine, Glen-san," she says--and, mirroring his own actions, her blue-white chi starts flowing up around her in a undulating circle, illuminating her from below.

"I suppose it's time for us to begin, then..."

COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0             Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/-------|


The Russian's gaze stirs when he catches Mizuki rising out of the corner of his eye, the girl's clarification earning her the faintest of smirks from the man. "Is so? You seem so gloomy sitting around, devochka. I never know what you Japanese are doing." Despite his surly and irritable demeanor, it would appear Mizuki has yet to earn his ire. He merely watches her approach.

But when Zach firmly addresses the man...he slowly turns his head to the side, pale blue eyes fixing on the much shorter man a brief distance away. Grigori's expression is blank and unreadable, but his eyes...are clearly cold and definitely fierce. And slowly they begin to narrow, as a sharp, wolf-like smirk edges gradually across his face.

Sliding his hands out of his pockets, Grigori sweeps them broadly as he walks toward the others. "Da nu!" he exclaims, sounding sarcastically aghast as he eyes the other man. "Well, by all means, little princess. I will watch my languages just for you." The man puckers his lips and offers a wink.

And then they both start to glow.

Mizuki is of little concern to Grigori; instead, the burly Russian's eyes are still fixed on Zach, the corners of his lips twitching as the muscles in his arm tense. "Well princess," the man says darkly. "Let us dance?"

And soon after he charges Zach, with every intention of headbutting the guy in the face before grabbing his collar and slamming him back-first into the ground without restraint, laughing harshly all the while.

Purple and really bright blue illuminate the dojo. PSI AND CHI RAVE PARTY?!?! Not really, but that would actually be kind of neat. Save the world some cents on their electricity bill by letting all the fighters light up a party themselves. Brilliant!
In fact, somewhere around the western wall where Mizuki gathers her strength, one can clearly and unmistakably make out the general shape of Ryuhaku Todoh who, in spite of any laws of the universe concerning light sources, somehow remains shadowed out from the waist up against the bright chi light. That takes serious skills, man. Or a novice failing at rendering such a scene with some low-end 3D modeling program. You decide.
He clears his throat quietly and seems to continue to tip-toe around the perimeter to somewhere slightly less bright. Pay no mind to the man blatantly in view of your fighter pyrotechnics. Pay no mind at all that you are probably among the first to catch him in the act of being sneaky outright while you're all beating the crap out of one another for the sake of self-fulfillment/contractual obligation/money/lulz. Yes.

COMBATSYS: Zach blocks Grigori's Combo Throw.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0             Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/-------|


Zach knows one thing about headbutts: Initiative is EVERYTHING. Rolling with the strike is another good idea. Zach lets his knees bend, defusing some of the downward strike. This turns out to be a smarter move than Zach could have anticipated, as it allows him to roll with the shove in an eel-like motion. He tucks, and rolls back over his shoulders and to his feet.

"Nice to know you won't be wasting =our= time," Zach says as he raises his hands above his head. Three sheets of pure purple brilliance shimmer into exquisite existance. They stay aloft by the force of Zach's will as they yearn to drop on an unsuspecting foe from above. Zach simply lunges a bit, sweeping his hands downward. Gravity assumes the most honorable role of delivering Zach's payload atop Grigori's waiting head to deliver swift justice!

% ... right. Okay, apparently Grigori has it in for Zach. That... may or may not be good. Hey, I mean... it gives her a better chance of winning, right? But that isn't how she thinks... and this -is- a fight... so she looks back and forth. With Grigori advancing on the psi-user Glen, that leaves Mizuki with... an opportunity.

And while many would scream foul play at being attacked from behind, she suspects that Grigori might be used to that kind of thing. Still, she apologizes, as she lunges for him, intent on delivering a set of three ice-chi enhanced chops to his back.

"Sorry 'bout this!" Yeah, it's lame, but... what can you do?

COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Grigori with Ka-Psi-Ne Ate.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0             Zach
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Grigori with Kouryuu no Renda.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0             Zach
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/=======|


Zach's remark earns him a bitter, sarcastic laugh from the burly Russian, blue eyes widening as he just glares at the younger man. "Believe me," he replies, eyes drifting absently to eye the shimmer of energy. "I would rather be put out of misery than deal with you, princess." Grigori puckers his lips and blows another kiss.

And that's when the energy comes crashing down, colliding with the man and sending him staggering back with a loud grunt. From behind, the other energy-slinging fighter in this match punches him in the back with her icy-chops, apologizing--apologizing!--for the attack. He grunts again, stumbling forward and gasping for breath.

"Chėrtov," Again the Russian curses, rubbing his back as he slowly rises to full height once more, keeping his distance between both. "Bullshit. Is bullshit. Utter bullshit," he growls deeply, spending the moment nursing his newfound aches with a glare cast not only on Zach, but Mizuki as well. Yet despite his anger...the tiniest of sneers lingers.

COMBATSYS: Grigori gains composure.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0             Zach
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/--=====|


"YEH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAAAAAH!!" That terrible laughter! That can only be one man! If you have ever heard him laugh, to the extent that one would bother paying attention to such. He's that sort of guy one tends to forget about at a glance. But it's his laugh, and it is loud. Something large and plastick-y drops to the floor, a little hula-hoop of some green chemical light in a tube illuminating the floor around their feet with only little breaks in between what appears to be segments. For all anybody knows, they just put a bunch of glowsticks together in a loop.
And they'd be right. It really is a bunch of glowsticks put together in a loop.
"So, /boy, you have come to appeal to one of the greatest fighters this generation will ever know, practicioner of the most graceful, elegant, and powerful fighting styles this world has never seen!" Wait, what? Who could he be possibly talking to? The glowsticks grow juuust a little brighter to the point that a little touch of green refracts off the icy chi chops of the mighty miko Mizuki.
And there Ryuhaku Todoh is, fan in hand. "Not just Ryuhaku Todoh! You may call me today... NIGHTMARE TODOH." It's not thundering outside so he mimics the sound, rather poorly, with his voice. His feet shuffle to move the glowstick hoop on the floor forward a little in some ill attempt to replicate that awesome chi circle some fighters of legend were said to have around them.
"You seek my wisdom?! My power?! Well now, perhaps I can give you a taste of what such ancient knowledge had granted me!" Does he ever shut up? No. He steps forward enough that the features of his face can be seen. Livid. Bloodshot. Stark white knuckles. Angry.
"TAKE IT OUTSIDE BEFORE I STUFF MY MIRACULOUS POWER DOWN YOUR THROAT AND MAKE YOU CRAP SUCH GREAT MYSTICAL DEVASTATION THAT FELLS SMALL NATIONS!!"
...A modest proposal?

COMBATSYS: Todoh has joined the fight here.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Zach             0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0          Grigori


COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Zach             0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0          Grigori


"So much for the language, then," Zach says almost cheerfully. He prepares to charge in again when...

...well, the situation speaks for itself. Ryuhaku's insanity utterly takes Zach out of his stride, causing him to trip and fall flat on his face.

Zach lays there for a moment, twitching before pulling himself to his feet.

He pulls a single hand back, focusing his energies for a moment as a slender rail of bright purple energy slips into existance just off of the forearm. "Just because we are fighters," Zach says softly, "Does not mean we don't need to have manners."

Zach throws his clenched fist forward, and the rail seems to follow the motion of the punch before extending slightly to lance out at Grigori. Zach does not seem to like him much.

She kind of forgot how it felt to actually hit with that move. Usually it gets denied. Mizuki smiles only a little, though... because Grigori does, in fact, look pissed off. And then ... Todoh. Mizuki is momentarily stunned by the dojo owner's appearance; she startles a bit, and then the moment to continue her attack on Grigori is lost. But that's okay.

She wasn't planning on attacking him again anyways; instead, she moves around, sidestepping to her right, to circle the man. Zach, too, is an opponent in this fight, and as such, she has to give him his due as well. In this case? She'll wait until he passes by her to turn and try to give him a swift roundhouse kick to the side. It's simple, but it could, potentially, be very effective...

COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Grigori with Zero Stance.
- Power hit! -

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zach             0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1          Grigori


Keeping to himself, the Russian just scowls darkly as blue eyes watch both fighters. Even as Todoh makes his dramatic and very boisterous appearance onto the scene, the Russian does not bother to regard him. His attentions are clearly invested in anything but the Todoh-Ryuu master. Behind dry lips the man's teeth clench tightly--painfully so. He begins to see red with pale blue eyes.

Another 'scolding' from a guy half his age? The man laughs coldly, eyes wide as he just stares incredulously at Zach. Mizuki is again forgotten, her intentions are elsewhere, clearly. If Zach doesn't like him, well. The feeling is clearly mutual.

The rail forms, a pierce of energy striking him through the chest, drawing a loud groan from him as he's sent stumbling back once more, nearly losing his footing. Winded and pissed, the man breathes heavily, eyes still wide as he struggles to fend off a fit of sharp laughter.

"Gah ha...F-fuck manners," he growls, turning his head to the side and spitting blood. "I not need them."

Only after Mizuki has made her move does Grigori launch himself forward, attempting to wrap an arm and lock Zach's painfully around his while the other hand snares his neck. Should he get a firm hold the Russian will sling his legs up and wrap them around the man's chest and let all of Grigori's weight fall, taking the man with, to slam Zach's head brutally into the ground. Only after will the Russian untwine himself and rise, to deliver three cruel kicks to his ribs.

COMBATSYS: Zach blocks Mizuki's Light Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zach             1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0          Grigori


A modest propsoal is made and does not appear to be heeded. A few more blows are exchanged between the prize fighting trio. Ryuhaku Todoh's face does not speak of amusement, eyes narrowed and expression growing so neutral it could only be considered one of an intent to murder.
"You dare ignore the ways of NIGHTMARE TODOH?! Can you not see the power I command?!" Like that segmented glowstick hoop? Sheer immeasurable power and limitless talent, right there. A brief silence.
"Yeh hah hah! Your courage is commendable! But your ignorance... it could bring an old man to tears!" A very loud scraping noise comes from the plastic hoop o' glowyness being kicked around gently towards wherever he wants to go. In fact this pretty much gives anybody who bothers to pay any attention a clear view on where he intends to go on this terrible tirade.
"So! Young lady. You seem like the smartest one here. It appears my class today is so dreadfully slow! VERY SLOW INDEED!" If he is given the time of day, and even if you don't he's going to make it because he's Ryuhaku Todoh, he brings a palm to the top of her head. And whether or not he gets a good enough grip to suddenly shove her around from the top of her head, he asks a simple question.
"Young lady, what do you do when a kindly old man STRAIGHT FROM YOUR VERY NIGHTMARES asks you to take your little slap fight outside of his terrible inner sanctum built from the fears and doubts of far lesser men than he?! Hm?!" Care to give an answer while your scalp is in danger of being molested by someone over thrice your age?

COMBATSYS: Grigori successfully hits Zach with Marchosias.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zach             1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0          Grigori


Zach raises a forearm to catch Mizuki's kick. Unfortunately, this leaves him wide-open for Grigori's savagery, leaving Zach beatn on the mats of the Dojo. Zach brings himself to his feet, pain etched across his face as he regards the Russian.

He stands upright, his hands raised high as he locks his eyes on the angry Russian. "You heard the man," Zach growls. Energy flares to life around Zach's arms for a moment.

"Todoh Ryu," Zach lunges forward, "CHOU! KASANE ATEEE!" Zach throws his arms forward.

For the briefest of moments, nothing happens. Then the first spike lances up from the ground in front of Glen's feet. Then another spike fires upward, slightly taller. The procession continues, the spikes growing taller and wider as the advance towards Grigori as they tear their way through the dojo in an attempt to blast Grigori right out the door. "Let's take it outside."

COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Mizuki with Quick Throw.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zach             0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0          Grigori


... wh... HEY! Mizuki's head is gripped and she's shoved around, painfully. "Gah...! But we were -told- to fight here...!" she gasps, needing to get out of that grip; she does so with a minimum of hair lost, at least, though her scalp is tingly and not in a good way. She -is- being respectful... however. Seeing the two other fighters in such dire straits after such a short time... she shakes her head. But, she thinks, Zach has the better of it... for now...

Lunging forward, she closes in on the YFCC member; after the beating Grigori just doled out, there's no way she's going to approach him. That was really vicious, and Mizuki's had her share of viciousness lately. Instead, she quite simply lunges for Zach, intending to plant both palms into his chest.

It's fairly refreshing to not have a fight where she may be in danger of losing her life...

COMBATSYS: Grigori blocks Zach's Burst Stream.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Zach             0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0          Grigori


When all is said and done...it's safe to say the Russian feels a lot better. He grunts after the last kick to Zach's ribs, blue eyes--once wide and feral--now hooded as he offers a cold smirk. "As I said," he growls, boots grinding into the ground as he begins to skulk off and away from the other man. "I no need fucking manners." A low groan escapes him, a large meaty hand rising to rub at his chest.

He hates that mystical crap so much.

But then Zach gets up again, and slowly the large man turns to glance over his shoulder at Zach. Poor Todoh is forgotten in favor of glaring down Zach, watching as the ground spikes with purple energy, a procession that gets larger with every thrust. In response the man braces himself, arms folded tightly in front of him as he weathers the blast.

And then, slowly, arms drop.

"Naaaah," he replies, smirking. "Don't really feels like playing out there."

Mizuki and Todoh--despite how utterly LOUD he is--continue to go unattended by the Russian; instead, he charges Zach, clearly bearing a sort of vendetta or grudge against him. As he closes in an arm swings out to deliver a fierce knife hand at Zach's neck before it swiftly recoils. A split-second later he drives his elbow savagely into the guy's face before he lifts a leg up and attempts to knock the poor guy flat on his duff and send him rolling.

COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Zach with Strong Punch.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                        \\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Zach             1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0          Grigori


COMBATSYS: Grigori successfully hits Zach with Cimejes.
- Power hit! -

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                             \  < >  ////////                      ]
Zach             1/--=====/=======|===----\-------\0          Grigori


Man, Kasumi must have had the worst upbringing ever if her father did that to her scalp every time. The parenting of the newest Todoh generation must have been a frightening thing to behold, for this /is/ NIGHTMARE TODOH. Or so he claims to be. Does having a glowstick hula hoop at your feet to kick around in a poor attempt to emulate a scary visible energy aura bestow upon you the right to put 'Nightmare' as your title?
Ryuhaku Todoh thinks so, and so it shall be.
Zach unleashes such a beautiful thing in that moment. To cite his name, to cite his technique, with that power that may or may not be Zach finally foregoing that poor little fighting fad for REAL ULTIMATE POWER. It's this distraction that actually lets Mizuki escape further scalp shaking! "Oh? What's this?"
Insert more obnoxious plastic-versus-tatami mat hardcore noise action as the little hoop is kicked along to wherever Todoh damn well wants to stand on his own turf, somewhere closer to the exchange that would brew between Grigori and Zach. "Has the little whelp who once forsook me, NIGHTMARE TODOH, for that Kyokugen nonsense come to try and appeal to me, maybe? To curry my favor in hopes that I may overlook every little way you have ever WRONGED ME?!" That vein in his bulges so... bulgingly that it might even dislodge his bandanna, just to put a fine point on it.
"Feh! True mastery of the Todoh way dictates you do it more than once! Like... like a thousand! Do it nine hundred ninety-nine times!!" A fan rises above the darkness and light, the chaos and order, the corn chips and the salsa, shaking violently in his grip. Tears stream down his face in a most passionate, soul-encompassing cry of what is universal truth. "A REAL MAN DOESN'T MAKE A FLUKE! HE MAKES A ROUTINE!!"
Words to live by?! Or...

COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                             \  < >  ////////                      ]
Zach             1/--=====/=======|===----\-------\0          Grigori


Zach was hard-pressed to defend himself from Grigori. Let alone Grigori AND Mizuki. Singles competition tends to be a little easier for Zach; randori was never part of his daily routine. He slides across the mats haphazardly, completely without control of his landings.

However, he manages to find his feet one more time. Despite the beating, his eyes are wide-open. However, he does not seem to be focused on anyone one person in the room. Mentally, he is not here. He's back in Metro City, staring down someone who was trying to prevent escape. "I told you before," Zach hisses, "I have no use for someone like you."

Once more, he raises his hands. Energy flares to life, black instead of the bright purple most people see. "Chou. Kasane Ate." Zach lunges as he throws his hands forward. The spikes start their procession once more. However, Zach is not at all selective of his target. His mind is back in the lower levels of the Capital 7. Everyone in the room is trying to re-capture him for lord only knows what.

COMBATSYS: Zach can no longer fight.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Mizuki with Storm Flare.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


Well, she got away. And then Zach done went and exploded. That... that hurt a lot. Mizuki isn't just engulfed; she's thrown into the far wall, barely able to shield her head from being the first thing to hit the wall. She slams in on her back, gasping as she bounces off, landing on her face. She knew Zach was powerful, but... that was quite a hit.

Shakily, the miko rises to her feet... and concentrates. Her own chi, which is formidable at least amongst her peers in terms of her control, finally makes another appearance; the girl's power swells, invisibly, then visibly, forming a blue-green waterfall that explodes over her head, pouring down over her.

Immediately, she straightens, her body healing from the damage and pain caused by Zach's attack... that nasty explosion.

COMBATSYS: Grigori dodges Zach's Storm Flare.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Todoh
[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


What the hell is Todoh rambling about?

That's a distant thought that floats through Grigori's clouded mind, as he keeps his attentions fixed on the other man present in the fight. Hands clench at his sides, as he watches the man get angry himself and spout nonsense. A cold smirk haunts the Russian's features, blue eyes hooding.

"Is that so?" he asks, though he expects no response. Instead he summons gouts of angry-yet-familiar energy that swells, a huge burst of psychic energy launched his way. However it hits the others, Grigori cares not; instead, the man lunges aside and rolls, avoiding harm altogether as he continues to sneer. But his path doesn't end there.

Rolling to his feet the man charges for poor Mizuki now, even as a sheen of bluish green energy cascades over her form. Still sneering, but to a less-severe degree than when he was, say, assaulting poor Zach brutally, he attempts to grab the girl by her throat and heft her up before slamming her down onto the ground with a loud, almost merciless laugh.

COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Todoh with Storm Flare.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0            Todoh
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


If anybody ever figures out what Todoh is going on and on about, send in your theories to the home office in Wahoo, Nebraska. Really, he, the great MIGHTY NIGHTMARE TODOH, may soon wonder what it is that just happens when Zach explodes in that deliciously vague way as black encompasses the Dojo.
The ceiling scatters into the sky like a volcanic eruption. Walls crumble outward and around the dojo. What was once the dim home of a martial art with only a dismal hope in its current family head and a small sparkle of light in their only child is now just an open platform to the elements and the sky. Camera crews duck for cover.
Ryuhaku Todoh, somehow, has not been blown clear of the area and lying down on his back. Glowsticks rain from the sky (o/~ glowstick raaaaaaaaiiiiin o/~) onto the badly damaged tatami mats that managed to stay where they were laid.
Hair especially windblown, bruised inexplicably and having somehow gained a black eye in the blast, Ryuhaku rises nonchalantly. He has found a broom.
He tries to interrupt her regularly scheduled recovery efforts the same way any scorned elder of his upbringing probably would - by jabbing her in the shoulder while outstretching the broom towards her. She still looks so healthy to be so glowy! But big Grigori there, you know, maybe he might be politely removing her from arm's length and honestly whatever fate he may have in store for /her/ may be far more kind than what Todoh might do were she to refuse.
No words again. Only a scorned old man and a ruined dojo. All in all, an improvement! (...*sob*)

COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Mizuki with Iki no Nagare.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0            Todoh
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Grigori's Medium Throw.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Todoh
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Mizuki with Jab Punch.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0            Todoh
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Grigori          0/-------/---====|


Whoa. Mizuki has just enough time to complete her technique, before she has both Todoh and Grigori coming at her in a rush. Scary stuff, these two. Todoh may look goofy but she knows better... and even with Zach out of the picture, that just puts her into it. Adroitly, she backsteps from Grigori at the last possible moment, watching him snatch air--and then she gets pegged by a broom. Nh.

"I'll help you clean up later!" she promises, to Todoh, thinking that may be what he's mad about, but first she has a fight to finish... one way or the other. Turning towards Grigori, she nods to him, almost grimly, her mood already quite lightened from the beginning... but her will to win no less.

Stepping forward, she sweeps her hands up, sending a short-ranged, waist-high wave of her icy chi at the man.

Zach, at this point, falls flat on his face. He's battered and bloodied, but at least he's not bleeding out.

COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Grigori with Hyouryuu no Fuki.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0            Todoh
[                            \\  <
Grigori          0/-------/=======|


So. Yeah.

Todoh's dojo is a mess, no thanks to Zach, and Grigori's barely clinging to his last reserves. Gritting his teeth, he simply presses on, attempting grab the girl and slam her savagely into the floor. At least he doesn't want to snap her neck? That's always a definite plus, and more a plus when she ducks out of harm's way.

...only to get hit by a broom? That's cold, Todoh. Like ice.

Still, Grigori remains more than enthused to keep the fight going in some form or fashion--and clearly Mizuki is of same mind. Cutting the air with her hand, that swath of icy chi crashes into the man, causing him to grunt loudly, eyes wide. That probably wasn't good...because now he looks even angrier.

Roaring loudly, the man again clenches his teeth, eyes wide as he just presses himself forward, a last ditch effort before he's force to give up the ghost. A fist coils, lashing out to strike the girl fiercely in her sternum before he will snare her wrist and draw it down sharply, to smash her face into his broad shoulder. Only then will the Russian grab her by the neck, headlocking her tightly before he jumps up and straightens his back, to land back first and slam her head into the floor, taking her down with him.

And after that? Grigori is spent, laying on his back panting for breath before his eyes close.

COMBATSYS: Grigori can no longer fight.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0            Todoh


COMBATSYS: Grigori successfully hits Mizuki with Sitri.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mizuki           0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0            Todoh


Is it over? That chi must hurt--she -knows- it does, having had her own energies turned on her before... and indeed, she thinks Grigori is probably done. But... he's still coming. And looking angry and scary. Perhaps it's that which roots Mizuki in place for just a moment--long enough for Grigori to take her breath away with a punch to the sternum. Suddenly, she's wrapped up by the big Russian, flying through the air--controlled, by Grigori--and then smashed into the flooring. It hurts, a lot.

But, after a moment, Mizuki twitches, then rolls away, looking almost concussed--strike that, looking -very- concussed... barely lucid, of course, but enough to rise.

"Winner... Mizuki!" Of course... Todoh may have something to say about that, even as the announcer does too...

"That's right!" A slightly more enthusiastic Todoh has somehow shuffled up closer to the camera in that last exchange, quickly wrapping an arm around the neck of the announcer while tugging the microphone towards him. "The winner! Yes. The winner... of the single most prestigious contest in all the land, of all time, of all peoples of past, present, and future! The one contest that shall resonate through the generations to come!"
And this enthusiasm, in a completely bipolar fashion, quickly returns to the old man rage that one should have properly braced themselves for as he yanks the microphone clean and shoves the poor announcer off so he has a free hand to wave and point oh-so dramatically. "WHO WINS THE 'CLEAN UP AND HELP ME FIX MY DOJO' CONTEST AND THAT IS YOU!!" Was there any true wisdom dispensed? No. But perhaps over the next several untelevised hours, Mizuki gets to hear all the stories and wisdom and tall tales about life as a true fighter. And how much Takuma can suck it.
Zach is so very lucky he can't see Zach underneath a pile of plot fiat. Oh yes.

*Todoh is so very lucky he can't see Zach underneath a pile of plot fiat and also typos. Ahem.

Log created on 19:49:35 03/30/2008 by Todoh, and last modified on 16:38:01 04/01/2008.