Description: The Stray Dog turned Agent of INTERPOL finds an ally in an unexpected interloper..... after he tries to beat the crap out of the son of Rugal for wearing black.
"Yes, I am aware that was a bust! What do you mean that it was poorly planned, not like they would had been able to handle the leader if it wasn't for me making a plan. I just performed poorly against him! Give me a freakin' break! Fine! Fine! Another all nighter!"
With the sound of the phone ending, Jiro is sounding a little pissed off. Currently, the young officer is leaning against a black vehicle, likely one of the Metro Police vehicles that they let him borrow for the time being.
It's currently the afternoon of Metro City. The clouds are a bit wispy and the spring air offers a nice atmosphere within the Downtown district. It's one of the places that the Metro City police has a hold of. The young man grumbles under his breath.
There is a thoughtful look, however, "Hrm, I wonder." His eyes narrow, "Hellraisers have died down as of late. Looks like those drugs did make them fade into obscurity."
More and more of Metro falls to Mad Gear, fighters the world over turning a blind eye to the sprawling, often dystopian megalopolis as they have time and time again in the past. Usually, it falls to the team of do-gooders who officially and unoffically run (or ran) Metro City, but where is its former Mayor? Where are his friends? Apparently the key point is the kidnapping of Jessica, and finally.... Mad Gear learns not to bring down wrath upon its head immediately by threatening her directly. The parts of the city 'held' by the police seem to be dwindling, not to mention bein severely limited in the first place by manpower and equipment.
Still, it's the safest place to put down unseen, and that's just what Adelheid Bernstein has done. Choplifted in, the black-clad platinum blonde is all but a shadow in a sneaksuit that any ninja would be proud to wear, garbed head to toe in midnight cloth and utility gear, a bandolier and belt providing him with all sorts of tricks for survival and infiltration. Leaping rooftops and grappling about is great fun, but he has a purpose, and presently, he's alighted atop a four-story tenement on the outskirts of the patrolled zone, incidently above where Jiro makes his excuse-laden call. Crouched, the Bernstein heir is unlikely to be noticed by most of Mad Gear, or the city's mundane law enforcement... his chi signature, however, is more pronounced than it has ever been, a focused peak that the rather accomplished Kasagi may note, or at least sense in the back of his neck, as he is watched from above.
Thankfully, The Downtown is one of the more safer regions, considering that the Metro City Police are on constant patrol. That, and it gives Jiro time to lick his wounds and then go after Mad Gear again. So the recovering state that the young man is in is settled on resting.
...
At least, until he feels something is -wrong-. The peak of the chi is quite familiar. It's been a long time, but there is distinct familiarity. His eyes shift up towards th sky, then he narrows his eyes out towards the building.
"....What the hell?" His eyes narrow, then he breaks away from the vehicle and then he starts walking towards the building. While it would be ideal to actually jump towards the building, that is impossible. He can't exactly fly, or pull a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Besides, Jiro may as well look like he's ignorant to the whole thing.
...Of course, his intentions are going up that very building.
He passes through each individual as normal, sighing while he thinks to himself. . o O ( Great, a fucking assassin. )
Jiro is, naturally, the one who stalled Adelheid's movement in the first place, so when he pushes off to head straight for the apartment building, there's little doubt in the prodigal Bernstein's mind what the not so Stray Dog has got in mind. As surely as Jiro can sense the power within him, Adelheid's own awareness of the aura of power within Kasagi is even more honed. Both are veterans, but Adelheid's serious training began around the time he learned to walk. Just as soon as his arm would obey the order to throw a punch, you better believe Rugal had them thrown and thrown again. It was an interesting childhood, to be sure!
He recognizes Jiro, his near-eidetic mind recalling with ample clarity the wilderness conversation he had with a depressed and defeated Jiro one night well over a year ago. There he is, an agent of the authoritarian arm of Metro's finest. Somehow, Adel isn't surprised. Indeed, beneath the full-coverage facemask, the lithe Bernstein's lips curve into a smile. Looks like the kid found some direction, after all. Kasagi may be slightly older than Adel, but let's face it.... the Prince of War doesn't share the outlook of your average teenager. To him the Southtown squadron of his peers are an entirely different breed. He hears the door below close behind Jiro, and chuckles before releasing a slow sigh, and pushing up from his crouch. He drops the grapple gun and its ample spool of reinforced line to his side, and moves out closer to the center of the rooftop.
There, the rebellious young 'R' lieutenant waits.
It is the moment that Jiro enters the building that the officer breaks out and runs straight towards the elevator. He extends his shoulder out to go through the crowd as he says, "Excuse me, on duty!" The young man activates the elevator and he hits the highest button available.
o/` Smooth Operator.... Smooooth Operatorrr... o/`
Tucking his hands into his pocket, Jiro waits, tapping his foot to the beat of the song while he waits. He looks up at the elevator's numbers go up and up and finally... *DING!*
Jiro finally breaks out running once more out of the elevator as quickly as he can until he sees the exit door. Once he approaches the door, Jiro opens the door to find...
...A large flight of stairs.
"Remind me to punch the asshole in the crotch for the design." He rolls his eyes...
... Moments later...
The door leading to the top slams open, creating a loud boom in the air befor the young man says, "What's up?"
Jiro step out of the hallway, finally approaching the grounds where fresh-air, figuratively speaking, rests. Jiro takes a deep breath, then he blehs. "...So much for fresh air. I'd ask what's with the black get-up, but...." He tightens his fists, then he steps forward to his fighting stance, "I guess I will end up learning the hard way."
As Jiro rides up the elevator to stop the intrepid interloper from moving deeper into Metro, said interloper simply stays put. One arm is stretched out to his side, and the black-clad Bernstein gives a graceful, precise crack of his neck in the interim. Really, were Jiro the type to pause and reason investigatively, he'd realize that Adel could have simply leapt to the next rooftop, or swung away. Instead, he's just waiting where he was standing when the intrepid Interpol agent literally busts onto the scene, his dark eyes panning to follow the abrupt path of the door, and then back to Jiro. The smile is once more hidden by the mask he wears, the Prince of War slowly shaking his head as Jiro 'greets' him.
"You always do." The prodigal Bernstein replies in a smooth, cool tenor, his tone carrying just a hint of the bemusement that he feels at Agent Kasagi's assumptions regarding his purpose in Metro. What was he just saying to Ryouhara about reactionism and the world's heroes? Ah, well. A black gloved hand rises, and an extended index finger curls several times in quick succession. C'mon over, Jiro. The invitation is as clear as the relaxed stance is less than imminently threatening, but the casual demeanor and brush-off are sure to bring Jiro down on him full-force, or at least that's Adel's working hypothesis.
"I bet you can find /all/ the answers you're looking for if you just hit a little harder. It's not like Metro City is slipping through your fingers like so many grains of sand up till now, now is it?" Yes, alright. The tone is just a little bit sarcastic, there.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid takes no action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jiro
Well, figures that the guy would be waiting for Jiro to come. True, the guy could had easily left, but then that would mean that Jiro would have to do stupid things in order to catch him. That, unfortunately, would make Jiro -really- upset. Nevertheless, Jiro narrows his eyes when he sees that the assassin remains cool.
The voice is quite familiar, "Huh, you again. Well, I guess this is time for round two!" When the eyes become sharpened, they focus straight at the Bernstein as he remains still, as if waiting for Jiro to strike. If that wasn't enough, the sarcastic remark earns a twitch of a snarl before Jiro sneers and then he sprints towards Adelheid.
"I'll start with you then, asshole!" Jiro steps forward with his right leg swinging low for a quick sweep, but then he makes a full spin and he just brings that leg back for the preparation of the real strike. It comes out with a quick snap towards the stomach, aiming to shove Adelheid back before Jiro attempts to recover his stance.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Jiro's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jiro
But his disguise was perfect!!! Not overly worried at the fact that Jiro seems to recall him as surely as he recalls Kasagi, the 'R' heir maintains his footing, tracking the Interpol agent's charge with analytical intensity. The feint does little to throw off Adel's readyness, and despite his seeming nonchalance, it's a fluid motion with which he moves at the same instant Jiro's foot snaps up for his midsection. In the blink of an eye, the prodigal Bernstein redirects his momentum in a graceful, fluid sidestep, his left hand shooting down and around to impact Jiro's leg palm-first, a jarring flex stopping the strike and shoving off of the agent's shin. It's a deflection that not only abates much of the force behind the stinging strike, but places the Prince of War in an opportune position right on the aggressive Kasagi's flank.
"See, you're doing it all wrong." Adelheid encourages, even as his left boot wheels up and around, a swinging side-thrust aligned with the soft point just below Jiro's ribcage, centered beneath the solar plexus. The reinforced toe is intended to impact fiercely there, before Adelheid wheels his weight around, to come down on the previously kicking foot and twist into a full, heel-led axing roundhouse that's meant to crash soundly into Kasagi's temple, and destroy the Stray Dog's steady footing rather abruptly, "Like... THIS!!!"
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Jiro with Double Tomahawk.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
As the foot finds itself towards the palm, Jiro sneers and he grits his teeth before he is shoved back from the deflection. It knocks his balance off-course in time for Adelheid to get a good move on Jiro. That first kick from the left boot strikes the young man below the solar plex, lifting him up before he hunches over with a sneer. He clutches onto his stomach, then the foot strikes Jiro straight into the temple, knocking his head flatly against the ground. The impact results in a thunderous roar before the concrete receives a few cracks.
"Tsch...." He laughs a bit. The hard-headed Kasagi tightens his fists, before he steps towards Adelheid, reaching out to swing his fist out at the younger man with a cross, twisting it into an uppercut that intentionally aims to miss before he steps forward to drive his elbow out at Adelheid's right cheek.
Not long after the elbow is the left hand coming forward with a fist strike towards the confident youth's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Adelheid with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Jiro
Jiro falls, and Adelheid's stance corrects itself almost intuitively, feet falling slightly wide. A fluid posture, it is difficult to attribute the Bernstein hybrid form to any single martial art, Eastern or Western - and with good reason, considering it borrows from so, so many. Despite being quick to recover, however, Jiro is faster than the prodigal Bernstein recalls. He weaves back from the uppercut, realizing too late that that was the exact motion Kasagi desired. Even mid-backstep, he's met by that leading elbow, Jiro's strike rattling his skull in the instants before his fist slams home into the Prince of War's gut. He's driven back, lurching under the force of it, but one of the first things one learns when adapting to take a punch is that toned, taut abdominals are indispensible to success. Kasagi doesn't hit him quite hard enough - this time - to break that discipline and wind his opponent, and as the Prince of War is staggered back, he quickly resets his footing, both arms snapping in, and then up.
His intent is quite simple, and succinct: that outstretched arm provides a lovely lever of opportunity, in his book, and he twists about should he find a grip, intent on leveraging Jiro right up over his shoulder, in a fairly traditional, sudden flip. Should he prove successful, the Interpol agent will be released to the opposite side, flung out free into the air. Free, like a bird. Except usually, birds don't crash back to the course-stoned rooftop under force of gravity and hurled momentum.
COMBATSYS: Jiro blocks Adelheid's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Jiro
There was a great degree of satisfaction of slamming the elbow and the fist across the cheek of the look-alike of him. But the differences may be a little more now. Nevertheless, Jiro plans to deal with his 'long lost brother' in the sense of delivering pain to the Bernstein prodigy.
The momentum brings Jiro to the point of getting captured by Adelheid and he is suddenly flipped up from the ground. His body is soaring from the certain assault, but Jiro manages to spin himself over to the point where he actually lands on his feet. The impact on the ground of his landing, however, is a bit painful for him.
~ Tsch... Shit. ~
He winces in pain, but then he sprints towards Adelheid once more, stepping forward with his left fist out towards Adelheid's chest, but then the right fist strikes towards the ground. As it impacts with the ground, the scarlet blaze ignites and sparks trace along the gloves as the blazing chi roars to life while the knuckles grind with the ground.
As Jiro darts forward, Jiro swings the arm upward to a devastating uppercut towards Adelheid.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Burst Strike from Jiro with Reppukyaku.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Jiro
"You've gotten better." Adelheid observes, as he stands his ground and simply watches Jiro land, more like a cat than a canine, out of the substantially forceful hurl. If one took a moment to consider, there's a distinct difference in his approach to this fight, as compared to others. He almost -does- seem to remain nonchalant, more than a facade, an actual relaxed ease. It's certianly a stark contrast to Jiro's emotion-fueled ire, and stands in rather intriguing opposition to the assumption of Adelheid as infiltrating assassin. He doesn't seem to be here to kill Jiro - indeed, he doesn't seem all that worried about this confrontation at all. It could be arrogance, but the Prince of War can be a hard man to read.
Still, he's correct. Jiro's assaults are faster, the youth himself stronger, the explosion of energy more impressive than it once was. He's preparing for it, readying himself for a sharp reprisal.... when the impact hits home, and with an explosion of fire, the young Bernstein is launched upwards and away by yet another of his shameless dopplegangers. Arcing through the air, he strikes down back-first, the air leaving his lungs, this time, in a sharp 'Whooomph!!!'. He slides away, kicking his legs up into a sharp backflip and fluidly tumbling back to his feet, an impressive feat given the pain he's in at this moment. The drawn blood from his lip is obscured by the darkness of his mask, and he takes a moment to push back to his feet, nodding once more to Jiro.
"Better, but it's still not enough. You've bitten off more than you can chew, here." Again, the words could be a simple show of arrogance.... that, or Adelheid doesn't just mean this battle.
As Adelheid manages to flip himself away from distance between him after the assault, Jiro watches with a relatively calm look. He offers a feral grin, then the smirk grows. There is the chastizing of him bitten off more than that he can chew.
"You know..." Jiro shrugs helplessly, then he is slowly stepping back into his fighting stance. His right leg is the leading foot and both hands are held up in a guarding position as he watches the assassin carefully. His eyes become focused as he wills himself to sit still and concentrate.
"I tend to have the habit of doing that. But hell, that's just me, I guess." His eyes lock up on Adelheid, just waiting for his assault.
COMBATSYS: Jiro focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Jiro
"Yea...." Adelheid muses, taking a moment to lift one gloved hand and pull the special forces mask from his head, his platinum blonde mane tumbling around his brow in a tousled mess that hits the wind erratically as the black cloth is dropped to the ground. He smirks back at Jiro, a wry sort of half-smile, "I know how that goes. But this time you leapt.... before you /looked/!!" His right hand sweeps upwards, the Prince of War stepping into the motion swiftly. Stones erupt outwards in an immense, sudden explosion of sheer, unadulterated hurricane force, a silvery torrent of raw chi ripping forth from nothingness to reave a glaring trench in the rooftop between the lithe Bernstein and his strangely similar looking opponent. A silvery gout of rampant, nasty-edged power, the cleaving edge towers nearly as high as Jiro, a reaving tidal wave of wildly coruscating, crackling windshear.
The edge of energy wastes little time bursting forth, cascading about itself even as it closes on Kasagi, threatening to envelope him in its rampaging torrent, "Or do you really think I came to Metro to prey on your impulsive ass?!??"
The edge of energy wastes little time bursting forth, cascading about itself even as it closes on Kasagi, threatening to envelope him in its rampaging torrent, "Or do you really think I came to Metro to prey on your impulsive ass?!??"
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to slow Kaiser Wave from Adelheid with Meteor Hammer.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Jiro
This is quite a situation. While Adelheid pulls the mask from his head, Jiro has a grin on his face. So, the young man finally decided to reveal himself. But while he sweps the right hand forward, the chi manifests into an explosion of the hurricane force. His eyes widen at the sight of the silvery torrent rushing towards him.
Taking his stance, Jiro extends his right hand out to channel forth his scarlet chi. That right hand opens up like a claw, grasping out in the air as a spark of scarlet bubbles manifest. That flare soon envelops towards his hand, producing a small sphere. One can hear a roar of energy as the sphere continues to glow. Rapidly eating at the air, it expands out until it reaches to the size of a beachball. The charge behind it emits an audiable whine. The ground before him swirls with a scarlet shockwave, before fireflies flutter along his body. Spiralling along him, they converge until his body glimmers with a red aura, melding with him.
"Haaaarrgggghhhhhh!!!"
The combustion echoes into the air as the orbiting spheres explode, firing the large ball straight towards the silvery torrent. At the same time, Jiro's body is blown back from the impact, but he immediately lands onto his feet, even if he's skidding across the ground. Unfortunately, the torrent consumes the giant sphere hole, elicting a shocked look from Jiro before he too is consumed by the Kaiser Wave. The torrent washes over his body, sending Jiro flying to a distance. He lands on his back, skidding across the floor before he twitches in agonizing pain.
Not many powers in the 'verse that can overcome the Kaiser Wave when properly focused. Of course, Jiro's manifestation of raw power is impressive in its own sense. The boy has worked hard to get where he is... both have. It's a coming of age that's both subtle and gradual, but difficult to ignore. In this case, though - Kasagi is up against one of the foremost chi prodigies of his generation. One might imagine, not unlike Kain may have been at a younger age. Even if the similarities may begin and end at the blonde hair and mighty talent, "Not bad, Kasagi. Not bad at all. I have to admit, when last I fought you, and saw what Heinlein turned you into.... I never figured you'd amount to anything at all." One thing the Prince of War isn't is hesitant, the opinionated youth having little motivation to deceive or butter up Jiro.
"But here you are, fighting a battle you can't win - and I mean the city, not just this fight." Adel finally clarifies. So he shamelessly taunted the Interpol agent with double-speak about the mission here. That's part of the fun of dropping into a hotzone with information that others lack, isn't it?
"Either you're still not too swift, or you care about your heart more than your hide. Have to admit, I saw you going in the other direction. Glad to be proven wrong." Which is an odd thing, perhaps, coming from the son of Rugal. But Jiro isn't the only one who's made a stand, and started to etch out his own place, "Either way, the world was never changed by dead heroes - you have to think beyond the moment, analyze your own course, and everyone else's you might intersect." Wasn't he offering advice last time they met, too? Experience beyond what anyone of his years should have has certainly colored the Prince of War's outlook, "For instance, if I were what you thought I was, you'd never leave this roof alive. Then what would happen? Near as I can tell, Metro's short of heroes right now. Not too many people willing to actually shake up the status quo, in the end. Are there?"
A light chuckle leaves the Bernstein heir's lips, and he simply takes the moment to breathe, recentering his chi, seeming unnervingly unwinded from summoning such a tremendous blast, "So what about you, Kasagi? Are you ready to rattle the cages?"
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Jiro
Smoke... Destruction... The rooftop is undergoing a lot of reconstruction. WIth the chi making itself worth, Jiro had found himself fighting against the person who he is meeting his match against. However, Jiro remains defiant in the face of it all.
"Tsch. Actually...." The smoke clears, leaving a beaten and bruised Jiro to slowly stands up to his feet. "I figured you were here for some other reason. However, I'm curious as to _WHY_ you are here, to be honest. I know all about your father's organization, thanks to my induction in Interpol and for the fact that he decided to personally congratulate me on making it. I'm _STILL_ reeling from that, by the way."
The young man's eyes narrow for a few moments, then he has a feral grin on his face, "Yeah, Haggar's been MIA and shit, so I gotta help these guys out." He grunts. His best friend is part of the Metro City police, for goodness sakes. The young man narrows his eyes for a bit, then he has a grin curling on his lips.
"Yeah, I plan on rattling those cages. However, you do forget. I -DO- have friends that I can depend on to help them." His eyes narrow, "And for some reason, I get the feeling that I will end up needing them soon. I don't know what's going on, but something is going down bad. ... Plan to offer a hand?"
"...Actually, let's finish this fight first. You got my blood boiling, after all! I hate for it to all go to _WASTE!_"
Slowly, energy is swirling along his body as the fireflies flutter along him once more. A field of energy slowly expands out in place. The chi channels along the hand, the scarlet flames ignite and illuminating brightly. A circle of fireflies continue to spiral around his body as his aura brightens. With the palm into the air, the spiraling fireflies center in on his hand.
And the aura fades.
The look on Jiro's face is placid. However, the fury that the flames feed from is an inferno. "...Let's see your barrier break through this!"
Jiro lays a hand towards the ground. It is pressed on the ground very gently.
A red glow emits from the touch.
Then the storm occurs.
A torrent releases a powerful impact, the rooftop shuddering violently as the field of red energy spreads across the roof, appearing nothing more than a globe of light from those who look up at the building. Blowing everything in its path, the energy-field expands and tear away at the atmosphere as it grows and expands.
"IIINNDIIGGGNAAATIOOON!!!"
The thunderous explosion spreads, the flames eating everything around as it seeks to consume all life in its awakening.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to reflect Indignation from Jiro with Dark Steel.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
Churned stone, battered agent, and an ample aftermath of rampant energy unleashed. It's all too clear what's coming, even as Jiro rises. Yes, of course... Rugal. With everyone, it always comes back to Rugal. He does have quite a way with people, doesn't he? Of course, Jiro knows /all about/ R. It brings a slow, exaggerated eyeroll to the fore as Adelheid takes in the declaration, "Right. Because -I'm- the one who inspired my father's course, and he consults me every time he goes out to rampage all over some kid's face." Hell, he doesn't even get a say in his /own/ assbeatings, "Don't tell me -you'd- like to be held responsible for all the acts and attitudes of the man who trained you." There's a wry, sly sort of smile that spreads over the Prince of War's austere features. He's learned more than he wants to know about Kain since 'R' allied itself with the man, or vice-versa. To think /he/ once wanted instruction from the fiery fighter.
"If your friends are so capable and reliable, then what are you doing here alone, letting gangers run rampant over most of the city? People are dead, dying, terrorized, and what? You're waiting? You want to be the hero? You think this is about ego or challenge? This isn't a sport, this isn't a fight where you win fights and impress the crowd." Adelheid openly scoffs, for the moments it takes Jiro to build up that immense outpouring of chi. The blazing wall of fire forestalls any objection he might make, and suddenly, Adel tries to shift back to fighting readyness. A verbal warning just isn't enough, though: he pushes both hands out in front of him, just in time for the fiery wall to wash into him, and over him, erupting in violent fury and scorching him in searing heat. The prodigal Bernstein is blasted backwards by Jiro's own manifestation of rampant chi, launched off his feet, end over end back across the roof. Another shockwave sounds, more of the roof burns away, and Adelheid rolls hard against the edge, a low groan leaving his lips.
That hurt... but to say he has felt worse would be an understatement. One gloved palm presses to the ground, and he shoves to a crouch, raising his eyes back to Jiro, "The stakes here are /real/, you dumb kid." Again, he's speaking to his senior, but you wouldn't know it from how he acts, "And you want to beat the living shit out of each other first? Fine, let's feed your pride." The crimson-eyed Adelheid begins to rise, unsteadily at first, but finding his footing again quickly as he recovers his breath, "Let's see what you've got left, then. But after that? I hope you're as quick to recover as you are to leap into the fray, because otherwise I'm just using you as a shield." The wolfish smile returns, and the Prince of War just shakes his head at Jiro.
"All of you. You don't understand. One key thing. The weapon of all these men. The stakes of every operation like this." Booted feet shift to realign his stance, and Adel flexes one powerfully corded arm, "You don't understand terror."
As Adelheid tosses the scenario back at him... HE being blamed for everything Kain is doing, Jiro sneers, "I am not -affiliated- with Kain anymore. He and I have removed affiliation from each other long ago." His eyes narrow once more, then he tightens his fists once more.
The young man narrows his eyes at Adelheid as he goes on about the subject of his friends. His eyes narrow as he considers the -real- reason why he hasn't contacted his friends. Many of them have been dealing with their own problems. Hotaru with her dark chi, Sakura with class, Frei... he hasn't seen Frei, nor has he seen Alma. Daigo is busy with his own school when he asked for help. But the more Jiro thinks about it, Jiro rolls his eyes, "Don't you think I know that?! I am operating under Interpol's orders, for goodness sakes!" He tightens his fists, then he grunts.
After a few moments, Jiro is taking consideration over the situation. He frowns a moment later, before he gives a relunctant grumble. "Two, three years ago, we dealt with a situation a little worse than this. Rolento took this place under seige. Sakura, me, and few other fighters did vigilante work. Now? Interpol is working on things to back-up Metro City. Unfortunately..." Jiro's eyes narrow, "I have a gut feeling that something else is going on. I don't know what, but I get the feeling that something else will happen here. Whether it's bigger than Rolent's Shank Squad, I don't know." He considers, "No, it hasn't gone that level yet. Rolento actually had this whole city under his control. We have some grounds here. This district is one of those grounds."
Bah, Adelheid just had to sour his fighting mood. "Bah, don't even feel like fighting now."
He considers, "After being crucified as a warning to all of those who rebelled against Rolento, _THEN_ dealing with the fact that our side's several leaders were getting assassinated, I'd like to think that I know terror. People were AFRAID to even step outside the cities." His eyes narrow at Adelheid, "So don't think I don't understand terror. This hasn't gone THAT far. We will make sure that it will -NOT- get involved. ... Even now, Interpol is working on some things." He won't say what. "...But, to be honest, my friends -are- undergoing some things, so contacting them hasn't been possible. I've been dealing with the crap here as much as I can, but recent battles showed me that I have a lot of work cut out for me."
He snorts, "So, mind helping a long lost brother out?" He jests at the comment.
COMBATSYS: Jiro takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
Crucified as a warning? Interesting. That is certainly news to Adelheid, and it does indeed give him pause. His first reaction to Jiro is a softening of his serious tones, however, ebbing into a relatively hearty chuckle, "I'm afraid just leaving is a bit more complicated, for me. There is more at stake than just me, and I have other goals than simple freedom." Goals that he couldn't accomplish by burning bridges before thoroughly exploiting the side he already stands on. But then, where Jiro was trained by Kain... Adelheid was /raised/ by Rugal. Honed into the fighting machine, and indirectly, the man he is now. Until he turned 15, it was literally all he knew. The outside world, those who live and work and thrive or fall without the dubious benefit of a megalomaniacal legendarily strong tyrant guiding them, is still something the Prince of War is discovering for himself. Beginning to understand, though how much a part of it he is remains open for debate.
"If I misjudged you...." Adel shrugs slightly, not speaking the end of the thought, "I don't doubt you've come through a lot - but you still need to learn when to fight, and where. All the passion in the world, all the good intentions in the universe aren't worth a damn if they go off at the drop of a hat. Unfocused." Even so, the tone isn't half as derisive as it was a moment ago.... the situation starts to make a lot more sense, "Maybe this doesn't scare /you/ like the promise of a nuclear detonation, but think of the people trying to -live- out there." Adel encourages, and explains. His friends have problems, but really, who doesn't?
"The whole -world- has other things on their mind. Why do you think they call it the status quo?" The prodigal Bernstein observes, "If it were easy to change, if it changed when we have the time, nothing worthwhile would ever be accomplished. But yes, I hope you find your fighting spirit again - because I came here with the same intentions you did. So what do you say? Ready to make a stand? Take back a city?"
Adelheid extends a gloved hand, one platinum brow arching as he looks towards Jiro.
"Perhaps so. But I think is another person that you may have something in common with." Pause. "Rock Howard." He considers for a brief moment, then he offers a shrug a moment later. But as the conversation continues on, Jiro shrugs once more at the beginning of the misjudging. It actually rolls off of his shoulders after he said his peace.
"...Hrm." He frowns, looking down at the city, then he takes further consideration. Normal people living in this city, having to deal with the threat of Mad Gear. Again. "Yeah, you're right." He looks at his cellphone, wondering if he really can get in touch with Hotaru, Sakura, Frei, Alma and a few others.
"...True." He offers a feral grin towards Adelheid as the gloved hand is extended out. In response, Jiro extends out his hand towards the blond's hand, grasping it for a firm shake. "I've been ready. I need all of the help that I can get."
Now, if Interpol can get back with him on making further securities here.
"...It's time to take back this city." After the firm handshake, Jiro releases and then he narrows his eyes out beyond the sun. "...I get the feeling that there will be something else along with Mad Gear. It's creeping at the back of my neck."
"I know it."
The other blonde returns the shake with equal, firm resolve, dark eyes meeting Jiro's steadily. "It's easy to do the right thing, at the right time, when nothing distracts you or tries to distort your purpose." Adelheid observes, "Harder is to act with reason, patience, and wisdom when everything is stacked against you. When it may cost you your life, or your friends, or your chosen pursuits. Not everything is worth risking - some things aren't even our right to risk. But you can never hesitate, and for men like you and I, Jiro Kasagi.... those who've seen the truth, seen the world for what it is outside of competition, ambition, comforts and desires...." he pauses, "we can never say we didn't know. That we acted or didn't act in a state of innocence. There are men in the world that prey on that, those who count on it. Some are close to their dream of godhood, others simply act from selfishness, and thrive on the indulgence of an ignorant society." Adel has known too many of all flavors, in his book.
"There will always be more greed, more men who want more power and station than they can rightly hold. Too long have they owned this world from the shadows, and too long has the world been afraid of them. It is -they- who should fear -us-." His austere jawline shifts as teeth silently clench, grit a moment, and his anger subsides, if only slightly. Focused, channeled, an icy calm that seems to permeate his entire being, power tangible to one such as Jiro, "Call your friends, tell them it is time to act. Whether they come or not - we will not fail to. Whoever comes, they will be fought, and they will be beaten. Whether we triumph, or fall." It is the way of the world. Or at least, the world that Adelheid would see forged.
... clearly, the purpose of the young Bernstein here is not what Jiro expected from the son of one of the world's most infamous and powerful crimelords.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
This is exactly why Jiro left the competition for an indefinite time. For good? Hard to say. However, to Jiro, there are more important things than the Saturday Night Fights. This is one of them. Adelheid hits true when he explains the severity of the situation here. His eyes lower at the grounds beyond the hold that the police have.
"Yeah... we can't." This isn't the first war that Jiro found himself in. He knows that there are those who fought in the war against Vega during the Thailand incident. He'll have to get those that got a chance to see everything from a different perspective. Another war is brewing.
His eyes shift towards Adelheid. "...I will gather our army then." He grins, "Interpol has my back, but... vigilantes will -definately- be appreciated." Friends, what would Jiro do without them.
Jiro is glad that the younger Bernstein is not like his father.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Jiro 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Jiro has ended the fight here.
Log created on 02:10:35 03/31/2008 by Adelheid, and last modified on 09:09:19 03/31/2008.