Description: Four fighters converge in Howard Arena, battling to become the champion of the Warrior's Belt. Batsu, Blanka, Hayato, Sakura... All spirited warriors, who display Burning Spirit right up until the finish. But, in the end, there can be only one! (Winner: Hayato)
Tonight's a big night here on SNF. Four fighters preparing to duke it out to see who will be the one to walk away as the holder of the Warrior's Belt championship. Perhaps the fight won't be as earthshattering as the highest level of competition, but it's still a sure bet that there'll be plenty of action.
And if the other fighters are lacking in their action quota, well, Hayato Nekketsu will be happy to try to make it up for them. But then, he knows both Batsu and Sakura, and he's pretty sure there won't be any lack there. He doesn't really know Blanka... But anybody who looks like that is sure to make for a pretty wild fight! Hayato doesn't really care about the belt; he's here for the fight, and to have some fun. Of course, he certainly wouldn't /mind/ winning the belt. It'd make for some pretty nice bragging rights down at the bar. And, hey, it might just impress some of the ladies... Okay, scratch that. He /does/ care about winning the belt!
With his arms crossed over his broad chest, chewing lightly on the end of a long grass stem held at the corner of his mouth, Hayato observes the crowd after having walked out into the arena. He flashes a few grins here and there, but most of his attention is saved for his opponents. "Well... Looks like we should be able to have ourselves a pretty damn good brawl tonight."
Blanka. Man of action!
Well, not actually so much. Blanka's got a fair chunk of action in him, the giant green beast-man very interested in the honor of this fight. He's been pleased to be recognized in such a way, and even though the fights are more about 'having fun' for him, he's more than willing to let that streak of competitiveness that beats in his jungle heart out to roar.
Dressed in a set of oversized pants and a big black hoodie, Blanka's 'features' are half hidden at first. He'll throw the hood back when he gets there, his giant green hands waving to the crowd. Turning this way and that, he'll give them the 'AHW-ROOOOO's!' the expect, then grin a fangy grin at Hayato. An eager nod, and Blanka shows just how childlike he can be, as he speaks.
"Ah... Very fun! Good fight..! Blanka go all-out, everyone else should too!!" He offers the other man a clap on the back, full of energy and excitement, tinged with just a hint of adrenile-laced fear. After all, what fighter doesn't get keyed up like this at being in Howard Arena, under the lights and cheers of the crowd?!
Sakura Kasugano is rarely the first one out of the gates, and tonight is no exception! Her perennial tardiness isn't the only tradition she'll be continuing tonight in Howard Arena: just for ol' times' sake she's wearing her good ol' Taiyo High sailor uniform! The crowd goes wild when she dashes out from backstage, pumping her fist into the air with each stride. "Yeeeeeah! C'mon, Southtown, let's hear you SCREEEEEEAM!" She's more than used to working the Howard Arena crowd; only a handful of people have had more fights here than Southtown's fighting fangirl!
Striding out to the center, she offers a quick bow to each of the two present, grinning ear-to-ear. And why shouldn't she? Everyone here is a good friend of the diminutive dynamo, in one way or another! "Looks like this'll be a fun fight!"
The last time Batsu was called to Howard Arena to be among the 'up and comers', he fought at least one of the people here tonight and ended up the first on the mat. He's taken it in stride, of course; a rematch with the snazzy-dressing blond guy is on his personal agenda, for example. And of course, a 3v3 isn't exactly the type of match he favors, the straight-shooting Taiyo senior preferring good old mano-a-mano brawls. But SNF has been good to him in terms of training; between hot tanks, a sauna, chaos agents, and other randomness, Ichimonji is getting some much-needed practice dealing with unexpected situations, pushing himself to limits he didn't know he could reach before. Even if there's been a few losses, it's worth it.
But once the explanation for tonight's battle came to him, Batsu's game face went on. He's already got a bone to pick with Raizo, one that's been simmering on the back burner... and one that involves Batsu's perception of his father's opinion of his own strength. Even if it is just SNF, picking up the Whatever Belt is at least a feather in his cap that will get people to take notice of him, perhaps. And, to Batsu, a little bit of proof that his recent vigorous training hasn't been a complete and total waste of time. Of course, fights are unpredictable even with two people; add in two more and the outcome is in doubt right to the final punch. But Batsu plans to give it all he's got.
Coming up to the ring, Batsu hops over the ropes and slams a fist into the opposite palm, looking around, standing with his typical combination of headtilt and swagger, as if he were confused as to what all these people are doing here even though it's obvious he knows. Hayato, Sakura, Blanka... all known quantities to the Burning Fighter. Dealing with 'em in concert? That's another story entirely. "Sorry, people, but I'm takin' that stupid shiny belt home with me tonight, and that's that!"
Hayato grins as the other fighters display their own eagerness for the battle ahead. Batsu in particular. The Burning Phys Ed Teacher turns his grinning face on Batsu. "Looking pretty confident there, Batsu! How about a little wager? Whoever doesn't win the championship tonight has to run 100 laps around campus!" Of course, it's entirely possible that neither of them will win... in which case they can keep each other company while running laps!
Uncrossing his arms, Hayato reaches up behind his back and slips his shinai up and out of the loop on his jacket holding it in place. Tapping it against the palm of his hand a few times, he glances over in the direction of the officials' booth, looking to see if they're about ready to declare the beginning of this fight. He then turns to look at Sakura and Blanka. "You're both welcome to join in on the betting, too. Sakura, you're always welcome at Taiyo. And, ah, Blanka? You can feel free to stop by too." If Hayato was thinking about what the rest of the faculty might think about Blanka he might not be smiling quite so broadly... But hey, the guy seems to have a good spirit! And isn't that what really counts?
So many fighters! Blanka hasn't been in too many free-for-alls, but he's more than willing to be in them, to be part of the crowd, and to be treated like another fighter, not a freak. It's a refreshing change to some of the situations he's been in, and if he was more animalistic, he'd be wagging a tail right now from the eager acceptance and friendly support! He chuckles at boastful Batsu, giving the youth a good-eyed stare. "Can.. try. Blanka see how tough everyone is." He's distracted then, by Sakura and Hayato's determination. He gives them both a Dan Hibiki Patented<tm> THUMBSUP, and then flips his hands through the giant spiky orange mass of hair on his head, pushing it back. "Alright! Blanka ready... when you all are. Gonna have.. fun. Lots of fun!" With that, muscles flex, and teh beast-man is as ready as he can be for what is to come!
"Pfft!" Kasugano retorts, jabbing a finger in Batsu's direction, "I guess it just wouldn't be right to expect a neanderthal like you to know the Warrior's Belt from a piece of aluminum foil!" Kasugano smugly laces her fingers behind her head, looking up towards the announcer's booth with a wiiiiide grin. "But it's okay. Aluminum foil'll be about all you get, 'cuz it'll be -Seijyun- bringing home the win tonight!" Kasugano gets plenty of cheers to that, along with quite a few oh-snaps -- could it be that the Taiyo students actually be -stunned into silence- by their former star's sudden heel turn?
It's short-lived though, as she turns to face Hayato with a grin. "Heh, count me in! I won't have to do the laps anyway, so hey!" It's doubtful anyone would catch the wink she slips Hayato, if her face weren't plastered on the big-screen at the same time...
Still, she enjoys baiting Batsu, if for nothing else than his reaction! She takes a different tack for getting Blanka fired up, though -- throwing her fist up in a Saikyo-ryuu taunt! "Yeah! That's the spirit, Blanka! We're gonna rock this place tonight!"
Grandstanding more or less complete, she turns her shoulder towards the others and raises her fists defensively. "Ready!"
One brown eyebrow goes up at Sakura, when Batsu gets called a neanderthal, but he just hmphs, crossing his arms over his chest and giving her an amused grin that's almost a smirk, head tilted a little bit to the side. "Yeah, I don't accessorize much like you prissy-priss Seijyun types. Too busy learning how to kick ass instead of standin' around like a carnival barker yelpin' at the crowd." And thus did Batsu Ichimonji make an enemy of a number of Seijyun students, though perhaps not as many as expected given that most of them would consider 'prissy' a compliment.
Hayato, however, has said something entirely different and that gets a smirk as Batsu uncrosses his arms, shaking them out and getting into fighting stance. 100 laps? "Psh, that's no bet, I could do a hundred laps walkin' on my hands! How 'bout the loser has to pitch sumo club to Kyosuke again?" Because that went over so well last time, and really, baiting Kyosuke is not safe territory. "Either way, I don't care too much. I ain't goin' down here tonight. But whaddya you guys think?" he says, turning to the crowd. "We been talkin' too long, or what?!"
That gets a cheer, and Batsu grins like a wolf (though not a hungry one to avoid copyright infringement issues). "Thought so." Fists balled, bouncing on his feet, he gets into stance. "So if y'all are done grandstanding, let's get to the punching already."
COMBATSYS: Batsu has started a fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Hayato has joined the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Blanka has joined the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
Hayato cracks his knuckles and rolls his neck, still grinning at his opponents. "Well, looks we're all ready to go and the audience is all pumped up... So I'd say it's time to begin!" Lifting his shinai up high, Hayato gets some cheers of his own from the crowd, with a roar of approval for the start of combat. And since everybody seems to be ready, that's all that the teacher really needs.
"I wouldn't mind seeing you with that belt, Batsu... But you're gonna have to earn it!" Having shouted that, Hayato charges across the stage, his long stride quickly eating up the ground between himself and his student. His arm goes up and back as he draws nearer to Batsu, bringing the shinai up high. Then Hayato brings the weapon swinging down as he closes in, aiming a strike to crash down onto Batsu's shoulder.
Yay, fightin's startin'! Blanka is not /quite/ the first one out of the box, but he'll be close behind. He /did/ just spend the last few seconds getting his breathing and pulse down from 'energizer bunny' to 'fighting trim', after all! He howls out as Hayato breaks into a move, and then chooses his own target. He's not ready to pounce someone from behind, or to doubleteam a person, so instead he crouches down, and then launches himself at Sakura.
"Arock... and Arooool!" With that, he's tumbling forwards in one of his blistering balls of destruction, body curled up and careening along the floor of the arena, bouncing once or twice on his way to attempt to knock the Ansetsuken prodigy off her feet! This should be fun, and he's determined to have it, no matter... the cost!
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt Rolling Attack from Blanka with Medium Punch.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
"Prissy-priss, huh? You must've spent all night thinking of that one!" Kasugano twirls a finger in the air dismissively, giving Hayato's shinai a glance. ... She'd forgotten about his reach advantage there, admittedly, but she'll keep it in mind for the fight. For now, though, Blanka has her attention...
... =wow= he's coming in fast. Kasugano pales at the sudden bestial rush, rearing her fist back as she withdraws a few steps... but when it comes time for her to strike out with a well-timed punch... she barely misses the opportunity! *BAM!*
Kasugano goes flying backwards, skirt flaring as she skids once, twice off the hard stone floor of the arena. Wincing, she rubs her lower back as she plucks herself back up to her feet. Forging a grin, she admits, "Guess I should've seen -that- coming!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu interrupts Medium Strike from Hayato with Medium Throw.
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Batsu 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
"Hehe... I wouldn't expect less, Sensei!" Batsu says to Hayato enthusiastically. Hard work? The Burning Fighter is all about the hard work. He puts in plenty of it, and while he's not going to be joining MENSA any time soon it means he doesn't shy away from trouble and is quick to solve problems. Case in point: how do you solve a problem like Hayato trying to shinai you into the ground at high speed? "Don't mean I'm takin' it easy, though." Sharp eyes look out at the incoming attack, Sakura and Blanka momentarily forgotten as Batsu tries his damndest to find something he can do with that surprisingly quick strike...
...and inspiration hits him. Pushing off the ground of the ring, he shouldercharges right into the blow, shoving it out of the way. The weapon still smacks into his shoulders with bruising force, but it's not enough to stop his momentum... and as Batsu sails by Hayato, he snaps out both hands for the PE teacher's extended forearm and, planting one foot back on the mat, pivots and directs all of Hayato's weight right into the floor. Not a strong or elegant strike, but he appears to have given as good as he got.
Hayato would comment positively on Batsu's reaction to his attack, but he's too busy being yanked up off his feet than slammed down into the floor. He lands on his shoulders, then the rest of his body topples over to the stone floor. He's only down for a few moments, however, before he suddenly sits up, then springs forward and onto his feet. "Ha! Good one, Batsu... Of course, you're not the only one here..."
Hayato eyes Blanka thoughtfully for a moment. He's the only fighter here that the Burning Phys Ed Teacher isn't familiar with, and his fighting style definitely seems... unusual. All the more reason that Hayato should take a better look, up close and personal! After popping up to his feet, Hayato runs across the floor toward Blanka, coming to a sudden stop as he gets within reach of the green fighter. Planting his weight on his left leg, he brings his right leg up to swing a roundhouse kick into Blanka's torso.
COMBATSYS: Blanka fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Hayato with Electric Thunder.
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Batsu 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Blankaball bounces off Sakura with a howl of amusement, the green giant glad to see that his timing was perfect, catching the girl /just/ before she had a chance to pepper him with a punch. As he rechambers, dropping down and lolling out a laugh of pleasure from his effectiveness, his Blankasense tingles! Years of jungle training tell him that he's about to be pounced by a jaguar, and have to tussle his way out of it, or give the big cat a shock!
Blanka's body lights up in electric arcs, shocks of blue and white that blaze around his body as a defensive measure, and intent on making himself a not - very - tasty sort of snack. However, the effort is a very, very difficult one, and he drops it after just a moment - sadly, a moment too soon. Hayato's mighty foot smacks into Blanka's noggin, and sends him crouched futher into the arena floor. Much like a kirby hit by a hammer, he's flattened out and not laughing anymore. Not that he's upset, no.. but that /hurt/.
So... Sakura starts this match with a really embarassing hit! Though really, with fighters of this caliber all together in one place, there's bound to be some massive injuries!
Drawing in her breath, Kasugano decides it'd probably be for the better if she figure out some sort of strategy -- the scrappy tomboy's easily the weakest of the four gathered here when it comes to brute strength! So, rather than launch right into another strike, Kasugano keeps her guard up, maneuvering in a wide circle and positioning herself for the next attack -- shadowing her master, perhaps?
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
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Batsu 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Apparently Hayato's decided to take the fight to the green man, leaving Batsu to stare down Sakura while she gathers herself and the other two fight it out. Looks like his PE teacher just kicked Blanka pretty bad, and the Imawano scion's sense of sportsmanship tells him not to kick a man when he's down. That leaves Sakura and Hayato... and between the two, he maybe has more of a score to settle with the Ansatsukitten than he does with the phys ed teacher. Grinning at her, Batsu cracks his knuckles, rolling his head on his shoulders a bit.
It seems like some trash talk would be the logic next step, but Batsu doesn't even bother with it. He does give a loud, inarticulate shout, and then he's blazing across the distance between himself and Sakura, leaping into a low arcing jump with one leg extended high, already glowing with his trademark cerulean energy. "HEADS UP!" he shouts, before spinning in midair and looking to slam Sakura into the mat with a dropping axe kick, glowing with energy.
Well, Hayato will occasionally kick a man while he's down if the fight calls for it, but he doesn't make a habit of it. Outside of certain perfectly valid techniques, that is. In this particular instance, though, it doesn't seem sporting to go stomping on Blanka right after the beastman got floored with a kick to the head, so Hayato hops back and opens up a little distance between the two of them, casting some glances around to make sure Sakura or Batsu aren't coming up on him.
Having satisfied himself that he's not about to get jumped from behind, Hayato slams his fists together, his body tensing up as waves of orange chi begin radiating off of him, causing his clothing to flutter. "Looks like things are heating up! I hope nobody was thinking that it was gonna be easy, trying to win this championship!"
COMBATSYS: Hayato gathers his will.
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Batsu 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
So much to do, so many people to chew on. Some seem to be hanging back a little bit, but Blanka is not one to do such, himself. Instead, he's more the kind to launch into over-drive, to push himself all the harder and try to make things all the more showy. This means he's got choices, choices that he must make, to determine where and when to strike. He wants to make Dan and Himeko proud of him, no matter what!
He's unwilling to double-team still, so instead he simply stands back up and crik-craks his neck. Fingers reach into his hair, and he pulls out a sphere, green and tasty. It's a melon, yes. Hidden in his hair. He's nutso, crazy - but it just might work. He hauls back and hucks it at Hayato as the whirlwind of energy wraps around him, laughing and grinning in an almost feral manner. "Have.. never thought easy. Fun, though! Catch!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Batsu's Crescent Star Kick.
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Batsu 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Sakura
So... it would seem Sakura's attempt to hang back and gather her wits has not gone unnoticed! (Gathering /all/ her wits would take a lot more than one night, anyway...) Though this time, when Batsu closes in, the Taiyo graduate is ready! She drops to one knee, trailing hand supporting her leading vambrace as it absorbs the brunt of Batsu's scything kick. Gritting her teeth, Kasugano's able to push back into a brief hop to clear herself from the brawler, clucking her tongue with disapproval. "You -almost- had me that time..." she notes...
But now that Batsu's right in point-blank range, Kasugano can't help but show him what she was planning. "Almost!" she cries, snapping both palms forward sharply. What's more important than that, though, is the deluge of energy that comes rushing forth to fill the void between her and Batsu -- large enough to bowl him over completely, should it hit! "HADOOOOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu blocks Sakura's Large Hadouken.
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Batsu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
He'd hoped he could forestall whatever Sakura's planned move was with the ferocity of that strike, but Sakura's defense doesn't catch Batsu by surprise. She's a good fighter, and he knew that if she stopped fighting for a moment, it was only long enough to get her bearings and plan a new attack. Thus he's fortunately preparing himself for it even as he falls at her and rebounds off her defensive effort. Thus when the massive burst of energy comes at him, Batsu's arms are already crossed over his face, weathering the storm, bits of blue flaring around his body as most of Sakura's attack splashes off his aura, Batsu working on instinct now and not much else. "Heh... right back atcha," he says to Sakura with a faint grin.
However, having been pushed back even though he wasn't knocked down, attacking Sakura again doesn't seem particularly feasible. Or does it? Hoping to capitalize on a moment of surprise, he drives right back at her, letting Hayato and Blanka keep at it for now. They'll head his way soon enough... and honestly, Batsu feels a strong rivalry with Sakura at this point. Dropping to the ground like a baseball player, he slides at Sakura, hoping to knock her off her feet with a quick kick to the shins.
COMBATSYS: Hayato interrupts Thrown Object from Blanka with Scolding Slash.
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Batsu 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
What's this? A melon?! Well, this simply will not do! When Hayato sees the fruit flying toward him, there's a momentary glint in his eye. And then he lunges in Blanka's direction, his shinai whipping about and leaving a blur through the air. The bamboo blade slices toward the melon, then passes right through the airborne fruit, cleaving it smoothly in twain. The effect is only slightly spoiled by one of the smoothly cut halves bouncing off of Hayato's shoulder, but by that point he's already in full motion.
With no more fruit salad to be created, the rest of Hayato's blows fall upon Blanka. A rising blow to the ribcage, followed by two quick horizontal strikes, and all finished off by a swift crack over the top of the head. Luckily Hayato managed to slice through the melon so quickly that it didn't even leave any residue on his weapon... sadly, the same cannot by said for the shoulder of his track jacket. Hopefully that will wash out.
Augh! Blanka is pummeled by strike after strike, bending forwards and curling into a ball in an attempt to salvage his pride and perhaps keep from taking too much damage from the weapon. He's already behind in this fight, he can sense it - in the ebb and flow, he's lost his pace, and needs to recover!
"Hard.. hit! Not enough to stop Blanka!" he taunts, bounding backwards and trying to put some distance between himself and Hayato, though the effort puts him far, far too close to Sakura and Batsu for his liking. This sort of inattention might get him punched upon, but he's putting all his effort in towards the teacher - for now, at least!
COMBATSYS: Blanka focuses on his next action.
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Batsu 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Batsu successfully hits Sakura with Light Kick.
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Batsu 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
Batsu seems really determined to take Sakura down! Though she can't really claim innocence in defense, considering all the trash she was talking at the start of the fight... Regardless, she had just made up her mind to attack Hayato when Batsu comes right back at her, diving a kick right at her bare shins! "Yeow!" she howls, tumbling to her side and landing hard on her shoulder.
She recovers quickly enough, though, shaking her head. "Man, was it somethin' I said?" she quips over her shoulder, while dashing headlong towards Hayato, hoping to close in from his side while his attention's still on Blanka! And her plan for attack is a patented Tae Kwon Leap boot to the shoulder! "Hyaaaaa!"
While the fact that he could make his kick connect is good, the sliding part means Batsu still has momentum to deal with even as he glides past Sakura. Struggling to tumble forward and snap to his feet, he somewhat succeeds; in an almost kneeling position he slams to a stop, nearly toppling off the granite block that makes the ring. Whistling, he gets to his feet and shakes his head a little bit, disoriented. "Man... maybe that wasn't a good idea." He doesn't sound put out, just noting that for future reference.
Turning, he finds everyone otherwise engaged or hanging back for a moment, and the Burning Fighter realizes he hasn't taken any time to assess the situation either. Deciding not to attack, he takes a deep breath and throws his hands down to his sides, blue light swirling around his body as he focuses his energy, trying to draw on that energy and rage that really gives him the extra kick in battle. "Was a lotta things you said!" he finally throws out, but he's grinning as he says it.
COMBATSYS: Batsu gathers his will.
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Batsu 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Sakura's Strong Kick.
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Batsu 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Sakura
One thing about Hayato's shoulders... they're pretty tough. He manages to spot Sakura coming in from behind, and tenses up from the impact. So, yes, her foot slams into his shoulder, but he's prepared to take the impact, leaning with the blow. Then, without turning around, he suddenly reaches behind himself, attempting to grab Sakura. At the same time he tenses his legs, preparing to leap into the air.
Should Hayato manage to grab Kasugano, he'll spring up into the air, then drag her up and over his shoulders, holding on tightly with his legs pinning her arms, and her head pointed down toward the ground. Then, as they start falling back to earth, he begins to spin. Sending both of them crashing back down... but with one of them in a position to break the fall for the other. With her face.
Flailling and falling back seems to be an effective move for Blanka - he's managed to comically avoid being punched in the head, side or any real body part. He's recovered his wits, ready to leap back into the fray, but really - he's unsure of what to do! The target-rich environment leads him towards an attempt to beat on the m all, but there isn't a way he can reach each and every one of them at the same time. Forced to choose, Blanka seems to pick almost at random. He ducks down into a ball, and begins to spin in place. There's a few hoots and hollars from the crowd as he gets up to speed, and then bounces in place, once, twice, and /forwards/, rushing right at Hayato and Sakura. At the last second, he decides to go high, a blurring ball of green and orange and black that aims to bowl Hayato right off of his current opponent, and remind him why he doesn't pick on Blanka's buddy Sakura!!
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Hayato's Kaiten Shinai Otoshi.
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Batsu 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Sakura
Once Sakura realizes she's been spotted (and how can she NOT have been spotted with that shout, really?), it's a bit too late for Sakura to pull out of her flying kick. So she may as well follow through with it, letting the momentum carry her into Hayato just long enough to rebound backwards.
Thing is, by following through, and springing back, she'd given herself just enough clearance to get free of Hayato's wild grab! "Whoa..." she keanus, landing a bit shakily a few feet back, otherwise unscathed... Just in time to see Blanka barreling around like crazaaay!
Yeah, Sakura wants no part of that.
"Batsu-pyoooon!" she calls out in a sickeningly saccharine voice while running back to the Taiyo bruiser, "They're goin' crazy over there!"
But while she's crying out nonsense, she's also reeling back for a crazy attack of her own -- a headlong punch aimed right for the scar on Batsu's forehead! "Kyaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu interrupts Fierce Punch from Sakura with Guts Upper.
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Sakura
He might have been content to take the blow on the chin, maybe. He might have been content with a little give. He might have shifted his focus.
She called him 'Batsu-pyon'.
The Dread Pirate Roberts LEAVES NO SURVIVORS.
Perhaps Sakura can see it as she gets close... the idea that maybe she chose the wrong thing to do. Oh yes. Because that widows peak-wearing, scarred head turns to her, and the eyes are full of fury. He'll put up with a lot, a heckuva lot, and laugh it off. But he was ALREADY looking for a link to the fury that makes him such an effective fighter, and she handed it to him. The blue glow of his swirling aura fades, but not completely; some of his resolves into his right fist, which glows bright blue, then hot orange.
Her punch smacks him in the cheek, but fury and adrenaline negate a good deal of its force. That, and the sudden movement he makes. "DON'T... CALL ME THAT!" Batsu bellows, before swinging his now flame-coated forearm up in a mighty, vertical punch intending to rocket Sakura away for absolute certain. "GUTS! UPPERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Hayato with Ground Shave Rolling.
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Hayato 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Sakura
Brilliant idea time: Giant ball of rapidly spinning beastman bouncing toward you? Try to catch it! After Sakura manages to get clear of his grapple attempt, Hayato spreads his arms wide as Blanka comes careening in toward him, planting his feet and attempting to hold his ground against the force of the impact. It doesn't work so well. For a brief moment Hayato is still standing there after Blanka crashes into him, yes, but it doesn't take long for physics to assert itself and send the teacher flying backwards, hitting the ground in a bouncing roll of his own before he finally comes to a stop.
Now, Batsu has largely escaped Hayato's attentions since the start of the fight, and really... is that fair? After all, what good will it do for Batsu to win if Hayato doesn't at least give him the best challenge possible?! ...Also, as stated before, Hayato wouldn't mind winning, himself. Regardless of intent, Hayato begins running toward Batsu. "Better watch out, Batsu!" Leaping forward with a twist, he extends his arms out in front of him, his entire body spinning around as he flies through the air toward the student. Flaming orange chi sprouts from the blade of his shinai, which twirls around like a plane's propeller as Hayato barrels down on Batsu.
Ah, so happy! Blanka cackles in amusement as he bounds and bounces off of Hayato, in response to the third law of physics. Isn't that it? That a Blanka in motion tends to stay in motion? No, well... Blanka was never big on book learning. He is a little surprised as Hayato chooses to leave him to his standing about, the green giant suddenly left without a dance partner.
Not for too long, of course. In fact, that's over now, as he stretches up and leaps into the air, an attempt to intercept Sakura in mid launch. If he can get there in time, he'll help her down - by hopping on her stomach in mid-flight and using her as a trampoline to get a bit more vertical air. Those of the schooled here who does not say that it is possible, have not yet learned that Blanka does not believe in gravity! Apples in the air stay in the air, unless he reaches up, picks them from the tree, and eats them!
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Blanka's Medium Kick.
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hayato 0/-------/-------|=======\====---\1 Sakura
... ow. Okay, maybe she did push it a bit, but Sakura still didn't expect to get a face full of uppercut when she came charging in towards Batsu like that. Perhaps she =should= have though, considering the fine art of the uppercut been an Ansatsuken specialty for almost as long as the art has existed!
So it's okay for -Blanka- to attack Sakura, but no one else? Must be... Sakura seems to be a bit more ready for that, even after taking that big ol' uppercut to the jaw from Batsu. As she flies up towards Blanka, she happens to catch sight of him -- and in the process, pulls both arms over herself, protectively. As luck would have it, Blanka's feet slam down onto her forearms -- and she pushes off -them-. So he might get some lift from it, but she'll get some control back -- which sends her plummeting to the ground all that much faster!
But... she also starts spinning at about the same time, so that when she lands, it's on one foot... but she immediately springs right back in Batsu's direction like a wayward top. "We've still got a score to settle, Batsuuuu!" cries the be-skirted one, spinning her foot around and around into his shins just like he had earlier! Should she tag him with the kicks, she'd rise to deliver a final roundhouse to send him into that block wall! "HA! HA! HA! HA! HAAAA!" Here she is, rockin' you like a hurricane?!
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Batsu with Burning Windmill.
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Batsu 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Batsu with Haru Ichiban.
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Batsu 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
Well, that's not good. It appears everyone's goal is to get rid of Batsu now that the dust has settled, and indeed that's what happens. Had it been normal strikes, perhaps the Burning Fighter could have handled two fighters plowing at him at once, even two fighters as skilled as Hayato and Sakura. As it is, they're using some of their best, their strongest, their fastest techniques... that changes things. He had it in his mind to weather the storm, tough it out... it was going to hurt, but how could they possibly get away from him at such close range?
The answer is by beating him so hard he loses consciousness.
Both chi-powered strikes slam into his body, producing a nicely dramatic little cough of blood from the mouth as not one, but *two* spinning strikes slam him into the concrete block wall, which naturally cracks and shudders from the strain. For a second, Batsu simply hangs there, limp with the sudden shock to his system. But then he smirks, and coughs, and says, in a quiet voice: "...heh. Gettin' a little braggy... tonight, aren't we... Kasugano?"
Then he explodes. Both Hayato and Sakura decided to pummel him together, and they get to share in the pain, as Batsu all but falls off the block... but as he does so, his hands fly out and the world is filled with bright cerulean energy, an unfocused and ragged but still blazingly powerful burst looking to envelop both fighters and all but blast them right back into the ring they came from. "KIAAAAAAAI DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu has reached second wind!
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Batsu's Maximum Guts Bullet.
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Blanka
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Hayato 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Sakura
When Batsu explodes, Hayato at least has the advantage of familiarity with his student's techniques. It doesn't really help with getting out of the way, of course, since he came flying in at high speed... but at least he knows what to expect to be hit with, and can prepare himself for it. Hayato manages to pull his arms back in time to cross them in front of himself before Batsu's attack is unleashed. Although he's sent flying back, Hayato manages to absorb the brunt of the blast on his arms, so that he actually manages to land on his feet, skidding back a bit further before finally coming to a halt.
For the moment, Batsu appears to be fallen, so Hayato will turn his attention elsewhere. Sakura got blasted off in her own direction, but there's still Blanka. Grinning wildly, Hayato dashes toward the green man, the tape around his hands creaking as he tightens his fists. Then there's the wind up and the swing, as Hayato attempts to deliver a running uppercut to Blanka's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Blanka fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Hayato with Vertical Rolling.
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Batsu 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Blanka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Hayato 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Sakura
There is /always/ 'still Blanka', large teacher man! Blanka is always there, waiting for the important time to strike, the time to make a difference. He's there in the hearts of every good little girl and boy, there to protect them in their time of need. He is, however, also in midair, and falling back towards earth. As he flails, cat-like, he attempts to right himself and deal with the incoming punch.
He starts to spin. Spinning is what Blankas do best, after all. He attempts to use the momentum of the fall to run /through/ Hayato's punch, but manages to catch himself just the right way so that the man's uppercut catches him right where he wanted it, the green beastman suddenly dazed, knocked to the ground and bouncing on the ring's floor in a somewhat painful manner! He'll get up in just a second or two. Really!
COMBATSYS: Batsu successfully hits Sakura with Maximum Guts Bullet.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Blanka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Hayato 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Sakura
Sakura really likes throwing her fireballs. REEEEEEEEEEALLY likes throwing her fireballs. She's not used to anyone other than Ken or Ryu actually throwing one =back= at her though. It kinda sucks! And since Sakura's right up there in Batsu's =face=, thanks to having sent him back with her roundhouse, well... there isn't much room to get the heck out of the way of a kiai-dan of -that- size.
Kasugano's response could best be summed up as 'bewilderment'. It's just not been a good night for her.
She has plenty of time to think about what she =could= have done better this fight... though really, the only thing she can come up with is 'don't get hit next time'. Excellent strategy! The generally cheerful schoolgirl still has a very thin smile in place when she hits the ground in a three-point stance, panting heavily as the last vestiges of Batsu's burning chi nip at her uniform, before wisping into nothingness. Burned, weary, and having trouble even seeing straight, let alone standing straight... she rises. She'd avoided Blanka for most of the fight, knowing he'd be much better as someone to handle -after- everyone stronger had softened him up... but right now, she figures it's Hayato who could use some more o'dat. And since he seems to like inspiring his students to throw bigger and better fireballs... well, it's time to one-up Batsu. By hitting Hayato.
"SHINKUUU...." she shouts, able to summon forth massive amounts of energy even though her limbs are still shaking from the effort of even -standing-. Such... is Sakura.
"HADOOOOOOOOOUKEN!" she cries, aiming to nail Hayato right in the side. As if one mega-fireball wasn't enough!
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
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Blanka 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hayato
[ \\\\\\\ <
Batsu 0/-------/=======|
Breath heaving, Batsu is on his knees once he throws that final burst. He expected to be flat on his face afterwards and, in fact, he WAS flat on his face for a moment. But some echoy sound in the back of his head told him to get up, to give it one more shot. It's a torturous process, body unfolding upward like a mummy rising from the grave, and Batsu has to wipe blood from his mouth, one eye shut to make his vision a little less blurry. "Guess... I still got some fight after all..." he mutters, dazed. He stumbles forward, determined to fight, and all he can see is Sakura's powerful burst illuminating Hayato to his left... and so he suddenly and violently lunges at his PE teacher, spinning about unsteadily and looking to plant his boot right in Hayato's jaw, hard. Ungainly and slow, but he's still got the power to make it stick if it connects.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Hayato with Shinkuu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Blanka 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Hayato
[ \\\\\\\ <
Batsu 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hayato counters Strong Kick from Batsu with Counter Thrust.
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Blanka 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Hayato
[ \\\ <
Batsu 1/-----==/=======|
Having a giant fireball slam into your ribs is not fun. Not fun at all. But it's even /less/ fun if it manages to smash through your guard, thus leaving you open to /additional/ attacks. Hayato quickly sees just how badly this could go as the hadouken explodes against him, while at the same time Batsu's boot is coming sailing in toward his face. Fighting through the pain, Hayato forces himself forward, even as he's starting to fall to the side.
The fist at the end of one long arm flies up, and as Hayato falls forward and to the side, he manages to stay up long enough to slip his arm past Batsu's incoming leg, pushing the limb aside as he drives a punch square into the student's face, bringing him down to the floor as Hayato himself falls down. Even as he lands, though, he has the presence of mind to roll a short distance away.
Blanka, when reqatching this fight, will maybe be lucky enough to see the decision in Sakura's eyes. He'll be impressed, curious, and have many questions for her the next time they meet. However, now is for jungle-thoughts time, now is for quick moving, quick thinking, and quick action. Swinging along like the jungle-man he is, Blanka scrabbles along the granite floor on all fours, his feet and hands kicking up sparks as he tries to find the best place to next launch an attack from. Between the two still standing, well - it's a tough decision.
Finally, though - strategy wins over Blankavision. He's not going to try to take the stronger down, no - you cull the herd of the weaker ones, and risking that, you lower the herd enough so that you can succeed in your plans. Blanka's never actually /done/ this, so he may not be as effective at it as he would hope - but he launches himself towards Batsu, who he'd left relatively unattacked thus far. Bringing his hands in, Blanka chucks himself head-first at Batsu, attempting to finish what Hayato and Sakura has started with what essentially will turn into a belly flop onto the burning-hearted student!"AWH-ROOOOOO!" *flop*
COMBATSYS: Batsu interrupts Medium Throw from Blanka with Guts Bullet.
[ \\\\ < > /////// ]
Blanka 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Hayato
[ <
Batsu 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Batsu can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Hayato 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Blanka
[ \\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Hayato 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Blanka
What goes down as a result is almost comical in execution. Stumbling backwards from the sudden bop to the face from Hayato's counterattack, Batsu wobbles a bit and then comes to a stop... but the pain, curiously, gives him focus and at least snaps him out of the drunken-like stupor he'd been wobbling about in to point. "Ha... thanks, Sensei..." he mutters, voice oddly nasal thanks to his now bloody nose. Wiping his face a second time, Batsu tries to shake himself out of it. He's been in better positions, but he's been in worse too...
Oh, there's Blanka.
Batsu's reprisal is swift and brutal, but sadly not perfectly timed. Rallying as he is, there's great fervor in his voice as he brings both arms together, shotgun-like, and proceeds to fire off another cerulean bullet, this one a bit smaller, at Blanka, hoping to blast him away, bellowing "KIAI DAN!" Sadly, he does it a little too late, and even as the green guy goes hurtling away, his angle of attack and resulting angle of departure are such so that his rotating body, dense with rippling muscles, clocks Batsu in the head on its way OUT, sending him down to the stone floor in an ungainly sprawl.
There's a moment where it looks like he might be able to still fight, achingly getting himself to his feet... but sadly, he drops right back down again. Not unconscious, but absolutely out of the fight. "Agh... damn."
Pushing off against the stone floor with his hands, Hayato manages to push himself to his knees, then climb to his feet. He's just in time to watch Blanka and Batsu clash, with painful results for both of the fighters. Batsu falls and doesn't rise and Blanka, meanwhile, has been sent sailing away by the force of Batsu's attack. That leaves Hayato standing there, with no opponent to fight at the moment.
For all he knows, though, Blanka will be getting back up any moment and charging over to try and eat his head, so the Burning Phys Ed Teacher takes a moment to catch his breath, rolling his neck a couple times and feeling a few joints pop. He's battered, he's sore, but not really anything that much worse than what he puts himself through in his own training. On a good day, anyway.
COMBATSYS: Hayato gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Blanka
Up until this point... Sakura was still more or less standing there. Mostly. She falls over with the impact from two bodies hitting the stonework in short succession. *fwump*
Ow. Oh ow.
Blanka wasn't prepared for blast of blue energy that nails him in the stomach as he attempts to fall on Batsu. The blast knocks him away, to the side, and he lands in a heap. While Batsu has problems regaining his feet, Blanka manages to scrabble to his, though he's weak, unsteady. He looks around, seeing Hayato just catching his breath - and he nods. This isn't how he expected it to 'finish', but finish it seems to have. He turns, and starts unsteadily towards Hayato, past Sakura and Batsu both.
"Awh-... Strong. Heart of .. .warrior. Warriors... always get up. Punch again.. when they fall. Blanka strong.." He starts, and then goes woozy-eyed, gold glancing down and away, as if his talking was more to regain what little strength he has left, channelling it. "But.. not strong enough to be warrior. Not the warrior... crowd wants."
He could stop fighting there - he could slump over and let go, and he wouldn't hold it against himself later. But warriors get back up - they give it their all. And Blanka is /no/ exception. That feral grin comes into play, tired and lost, and then he just says one more thing as he lashes out, hands sparking up in blue and white. ".. Show everyone... how much warrior you are!" As conciousness finally starts to leave the green giant, he channels everything he has into that one last effort, that one last burst of blue-white electricity.
COMBATSYS: Blanka can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Hayato 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Blanka's Direct Lightning.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Hayato 1/------=/=======|
There's not really much one can do to /really/ defend against effectively getting blasted by a lightning bolt... other then being totally hardcore. Hayato stands his ground, gritting his teeth and just trying to weather the storm as who knows how many volts of power get pumped through his body. But when Blanka's batteries run out, Hayato is still standing. Granted, his hair is smoking slightly... but he's still on his feet and concious, and that's what matters.
And with the other fighters fallen, it's not long before the crowd figures out what's happened, and the cheering breaks out. After a moment to make sure he /isn't/ going to fall over Hayato is confident in his own physical status, and pumps his fist in the air for the crowd, eliciting even more cheering. For the sake of whichever opponents are still concious, Hayato grins and says, "Don't worry guys. You'll have your chance to try to take the belt from me before long. I look forward to it!"
COMBATSYS: Hayato takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Hayato 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hayato has ended the fight here.
Curled up on the floor, Sakura mumbles drowsily, "... ninety-six... ninety-seven... "
Log created on 20:08:49 04/11/2008 by Hayato, and last modified on 15:37:31 04/15/2008.