Description: What should have been a fun, epically quirky fight instead turns into a rather serious affair. In the end, Mizuki is declared the winner, although nothing is really settled...
----------------------------<Paste from Mizuki>----------------------------
MATCH 7 ~ Marisol VS Ayame VS Mizuki IN 'Southtown's Next Top Fighter'
Location: Southtown's Next Top Model runway, Business District, Southtown
~ 'Next Top Fighter', the hit game-show wherein up-and-comers are liberally
encouraged to showcase their skills, flair, and stage presence in the
attempt to win the title of 'Next Top Fighter!'. Hosted by ex-Dynamite
Vogue coach, Danial Geshppurenst, professional fighter-model makeup artist
Shu 'Lashes' Oriyama, and fighter-fashion designer Benimaria, who is of no
relation to Benimaru but does her absolute damnedest to look -exactly like
him- (Interestingly, rumor has it that she is his sole fashion designer),
the Top Model competition is an austere one indeed. This weekend only,
fighters Marisol, Ayame, and Mizuki are invited to do their absolute best to
show their skills, appearance, and above all else, -CREATIVITY- off to the
Top Model judges. The fight takes place on a runway, naturally, and judges
will occasionally shout out SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS to fighters on-stage, to
test their adaptability. The most stylish (not necessarily the winner!)
will get, as a matter of choice, an interview with NEW CHALLENGER,
front-page mention, and the subsequent publicity. Do your best, warriors!
SPECIAL: OOC participants are encouraged to lob ideas to the room at large -
fighters, I urge you to make quick, unanimous decisions on ideas that seem
fun, and have the suggestor @emit one of the 'judges' who will make the
call. 'Ideas' are basically one-round specifications, like 'Use only your
hands!' or 'DO A BARRELROLL' or something of the sort. Fight on, and MAKE
THIS WORK. One of these damned SNFs will result in New Challenger billing,
I swear!
-----------------------<Paste to Business District>------------------------
"Not again."
It was Marisol's initial remark upon receiving the fight card. Another runway-based battle? The last time she did that she was forced to look like she got in a head-on collision with a Jiffy Pop wrapper. Then there was the belligerent K' and his flames. She tried to forget those - it was a very difficult task.
But unlike the train wreck of a fight before, there's a bit of fame on the line for the winner of the 'Next Top Fighter' SNF she's been thrust into. And best of all, she doesn't have to dress up like she crawled out of a dumpster. This is a far cry for the Derelicte disaster in Paris. But, still...it's a fight on a damn runway.
Standing near the backstage entrance of the runway, Marisol's gray eyes peer across the stretch of stage laid out before her. Clad in a comfortable pair of hip hugger jeans and heels, along with a white boho chic top lined at the collar with various small blue and green floral designs, the half-Spaniard girl absently toys with the long blue dress pearl necklace dangling from her throat as she waits. A foot absently taps, the toe of her white heel shoe rapidly striking the marble of the runway as she just watches. And waits.
Exhaling loudly, gray eyes drift to a watch at her wrist. "When is this stupid thing supposed to start, anyway?" she quietly mutters to herself, her lips pulling into a sour little frown as she stands on the runway. "And why are there judges? Who needs judges, anyway? We're just supposed to fight and punch each other."
Dropping her arm, both hands snake into the pockets of her dark jeans as she hunches her shoulders forward a touch. Gray eyes wander, peering around the general area for someone other than foppy judges or SNF crew. Namely, the other fighters.
Obviously, Marisol didn't bother checking the bill.
... The 'Next Top Fighter'. This is... suspicious. Mizuki is... well. She's certainly not used to runways; if you asked her she'd say she's not suited to be a model. And she really isn't--she doesn't dress flashily, she doesn't try to accentuate her natural features. A true down-home girl. She even arrived wearing her fighting outfit, something -she- considers to be quite stylish. (She is probably wrong about that.)
But she really has no idea -just- what's in store for her...
Because the fashion mavens descended upon her -just- as she walked in the door. "Wha---hey--d--don't do that!" Her cries were for naught, as she was quickly... well, not quite dolled up. Her long red hair is pulled into a ponytail, a thick, luxurious wave put into the length, makeup has been tastefully applied to her skin (usually she just wears lip gloss) and she's got on an ensemble that she probably wouldn't have picked out--tight black halter top, red-white-black leather jacket over it, hip-hugging bellbottom-styled pants in black with white flames on the sides, and comfortable shoes that squeak when she walks. (They got them from Mignon.)
Then she is pushed out into the waiting area. "Follow the judges", read the card, and... well, Mizuki will try.
At the head of the runway is one Marisol, a girl that Mizuki's only heard about through reading SNF match histories and such, but she smiles, nervously, and nods to the girl as she steps out. Uncomfortableness, thy name is fashion.
Another week, another free for all for Ayame. The third teen female fighter for this match is getting a bit used to being tossed into fights with no friends, where everyone is out for themselves. It's a sentiment she appreciates well enough. No ally to worry about, just a bunch of targets to go after until the fight's over. The only thing is, she's come to realize, every time she gets dumped into one of these fights she's /always/ the first one to get knocked out of them.
It took some time trying to contemplate why that might be. It can't possibly be her charming personality, so it must be something else... This time she's got it figured out. Obviously the problem was her concealed weapons. They're /concealed/. She doesn't look mean enough if people don't know what she's going to do if they come after her. Thus it is when she arrives for the fight this time, she's already prepared a lot of her weapons for the match. Her left hand grips a six foot long titanium staff, with three sharp blades protruding from one end of it. Her left hand idly flicks a shiny, metal butterfly knife open and closed. Draped loosely over one shoulder are coils of thin cable, with a small pointed weight on one end and a heavier blut weight on the other end. All in all, she looks pretty much ready to maim whoever attacks her. Maybe that'll get them to back off for a change!
Dressed in her usual fighting outfit that can be summarized as a disaster of goth, punk, and whatever she got her hands on and modified, the girl gets the fashion consultants to back the hell off with a icy glare the moment they even remotely begin to think about advancing upon her. "Y-yes, that looks fine dear," one of them murmurs with a distressed tone. Approaching the other two girls, Ayame fixes Mizuki with a smug smirk, "Hey there, pretty." she remarks. Palming her knife, the girl reaches for one of the chains around her neck and draws up a small silver cross which she kisses playfully before releasing it to dangle over her chest, "I've gone and found religion too. I'm sure we'll have lots to chat about this fight."
Right hand resting at her hip, knife still palmed, the girl leans her head to the side a little as she regards Marisol neutrally. She remembers her from her first foray into SNFs. Boxer. Tough, hits hard, fast enough in a pinch too. No matter, she's come along ways since then, she shrugs to herself.
And over by the judges' booth, some European white guy clearly too old to be ogling over young up-and-coming women wearing the most arrogant eyeglasses ever (use your imagination), his name is not important. Except it really is, because the name card on his part of the booth does indeed read as "Mr. Important." He's smug. He's confident. He likes the view. The other judges are so less important than him in comparison with his plain and not at all fashionable but yet in-season black shirt and blonde hair cut so short it may very well be any other given color you can think of.
"Welcome, ladies, to Top Model, and I am one of your judges, Mr. Important! Now, if you don't mind, we are running a bit behind schedule... but let's not hurry! Let's start us off... slow," he gestures appropriately with both hands pointing downwards and spreading outward. "I've seen more swagger than a roller coaster, ladies, so let us start off... subdued. Show me your simplest strike. A kick. Maybe some kind of shove. But add some /flourish/ to function! Make those at home marvel if they remember not to blink!"
He puts on that wide, arrogant jackass smile and sets his fists, clasped together, on the booth. Ladies... begin!
And just when Marisol believed she was going to be bored to tears waiting!
Mizuki is the first of the other two fighters to arrive on the long, sleek black runway, her appearance earning her a mildly bemused look from the half-Spaniard girl. Leather and halter tops? Tilting her head slowly to one side, long coppery red wavy locks spill past her shoulders as she just stares at the other redhead, eyes drifting from head to toe, before they fix on Mizuki's face.
Eventually, the girl offers a light smirk and exhales lightly, nostrils softly flaring as she pulls her eyes to a close. Likewise, Marisol's knowledge of the priestess-girl is minimal, so, to her, it's quite the learning experience. And Marisol does enjoy experiencing new things.
"Good luck," she casually offers, eyes drifting elsewhere.
And then...Ayame enters.
Slowly do gray eyes turn to the weapons-toting goth-punk blonde, and when they get a good look, those eyes begin to hood. Her hands in her pockets pull into tight fists, her shoulders shaking lightly, barely noticeable beneath the short sleeves of her white top. The neutral look is by no means returned. If looks could kill, Marisol would be committing murder in the first on poor Ayame. Whatever did the girl do..?
And then some old, pretentious white European guy talks. It idly draws her attention, Marisol's expression still a touch dark as she absently pays mind to the guy rambling. He wants them to start out slow and subdued? The girl's full lips begin to tug into a toothy sneer.
"I can do that," the girl remarks, eyes drifting to Ayame.
That's when the half-Spaniard marches with a sassy swagger of her hips right for Ayame and reels a hand back over her shoulder...before she cuts it loose, right for the weapons girl's cheek. It's light and swift, but...Marisol pulls no punches.
COMBATSYS: Marisol has started a fight here.
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Marisol 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ayame has joined the fight here.
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Marisol 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ayame
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Marisol
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/-------|
Mizuki's eyes narrow. 'Found religion', huh. Probably stole it from some poor nun she shanked... no longer is Mizuki entirely charitable; if Marisol happens to give Ayame a few lumps, that will be just fine by the redhead. She bounces lightly on her feet, her air-cushion-soled shoes squeaking ridiculously. "I bet we will," she murmurs, softly. She hasn't forgotten that Ayame was going to kill her--literally kill her--and suddenly, she's kind of glad she's not wearing her own clothing for this match. Because she's bound to get bloodied somehow.
Marisol--well, she'd actually like to properly greet the boxer girl, but there seems to be little time for it, as there always is in these things. So the judge wants to see -panache- does he? Well! ... wait, what's that? Oh, flair, style... right. Mizuki, however, cannot help but notice the look on Marisol's face as she starts the fight off by sassy-walking over to Ayame and delivering a classic bitch-slap.
That certainly is sassy. Mizuki is actually right on Marisol's heels--not literally--though she doesn't stop walking when Marisol does. Actually, she stops just past Ayame, pivots sharply, and attempts to deliver her own swift kick, right for Ayame's behind. Yes, yes, this is a free for all, of course... Mizuki will attack Marisol too, in turn... but first.
COMBATSYS: Marisol successfully hits Ayame with Jab Punch.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Ayame with Light Kick.
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Mizuki 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/--=====|
Ayame picks up on Marisol's regard fairly quickly and her mildly bemused expression shifts to one of neutral inspection. There's definitely something there, even if she can't really begin to guess as to what it might be. A quick mental inventory is iterated over of all the people she /knows/ she's wronged before, and Marisol's face doesn't appear on any of the little index cards in her brain. That means she must be someone she's /unknowingly/ wronged. Well, that happens.
Instructions are rattled off by some self-important judge off the runway, but Ayame isn't even listening, brown eyes glancing back and forth between the two girls. Okay, this might be a bit troublesome, she muses, lacking the presence of mind to snap something off back at Mizuki's reply. "What's the matter," she starts in on Marisol, right hand still resting at her hip, "I don't remember maiming you-" she begins to rattle off. Her remark is cut short by a solid smack across the cheek with enough force to send Ayame reeling. Okay, that hurt. Her hand is just barely starting to come up and test her cheek when she finds herself kicked in the behind to boot with enough enough force to send her sprawling forward, crashing to the runway face first. Knowing that that kick didn't come from Marisol she has to rule it has having been Mizuki.
Growling, she gathers herself quickly, rolling forward into a crouch and whirling around to face the other two girls, her cheek pink from the impact, her staff held in front of her at an angle as she holds her ground for a moment, keeping both of the other girls in her sights. "Cute. You both so scared of me you planned this out ahead of time? Che." she spits to the side. "Can't say I blame you."
She launches from crouched to aggressive in an instant, tearing in on Mizuki quickly. The sharp end of the staff is pointed toward the girl, but it will fly right past her harmlessly as Ayame tries to get in close and personal in order to deliver a solid knee toward Mizuki's stomach. If she gets a clean hit, she'll turn into a hip bump to try and knock the other girl stumbling back in hopes of forcing her to concentrate more on not falling off the runway than attacking back immediately, clearly trying to buy a window to contend with Marisol as well.
Mr. Important really is a jerk. Scrutinizing every movement as though he could do each and any one of them any better than they could, as though he wrote the book on sassy female combat maneuvers. (He has, five of them, buy them! $$$$$ <3) He rests his head between raised hands, flattening out against the opposite palm. He has that jerk smile.
"Ooooh, that's very nice, Marisol... ah, that one was cute, too, Mizuki," he's gabbing even though Ayame is busy sassing back, GUESS WHAT HER DIALOGUE TAKES SECOND PLACE AND ALSO THIS MY OOC SHOUT OUT TO KATANA FOR HIS AWESOME CAPITAL LETTER SHOUTING WAYS, I WILL MISS YOU AS KATANA sorry ahem that's not appropriate for posing.
A whistle escapes Mr. Important's lips at Ayame's attempt. But right in the middle of it, before the resolution to the melee, he speaks up quickly before the ladies all get carried away, "Good! Good! Excellent. Now I'd like for all of you to take to the air and fly! Fly! Fly for stardom and show off your moves off the ground. Your only enemy is gravity, ladies, one I'm certain fighters of your caliber can easily overcome!"
You heard him. His voice carries loud and very clear. This is because he has a microphone in his shirt and you all do not. Well, not as good of ones. He's Mr. Important. And he deserves the best shirt mic possible. And to demand you all to jump.
With a loud, sassy slap, the fight begins, leaving Ayame with a red face...and a red ass.
But Marisol doesn't seem cocky or pleased by her accomplishment; instead, the girl just fixes her smoky gray eyes on the petite blonde as she rolls and faces the both of them. Her comment earns her a light sneer from the girl, Marisol's arms lifting to fold casually over her chest. Shifting her weight from one high heel to the next, the half-Spaniard tips her head to one side.
"No, you haven't maimed ME," she replies. "And I'm not afraid of you. Or your toy." A finger points to the girl's long titanium staff. Behind her glossy pink lips, the girl's jaw tenses considerably, her neck lightly bulging as she eyeballs the blonde. For now, the priestess-girl in leather is ignored.
The sneer on the redhead's lips widens, as the blonde makes her move for Ayame. And just when the half-Spaniard begins to lurch forward and make her move again--
A whistle cuts her off, followed by more rambling from the judge. He wants them to what? Fly?
"That's stupid," the girl remarks, shooting a glance to the judge. She just wants to punch face, not FLY.
Exhaling an annoyed sigh, the girl's eyes drift between Ayame and Mizuki, before she just smirks. Moving backwards, the girl places considerable space between herself and the other two...before she dashes forward, giving herself a good few feet before she crouches, leaps up and sails forward. She can fly..!
Right at the back of Ayame's head with a fist.
"HYAAGH! You KNOW what you did..!!"
COMBATSYS: Ayame successfully hits Mizuki with Light Kick.
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Mizuki 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/--=====|
Well, if Ayame thought -that- was a response unlike Mizuki, then her next response will be even moreso. Her voice is low, intense, containing none of her usual kindness and cheer. What she's saying is for Ayame's ears only, although probably Marisol will be able to hear...
"Afraid of you? I've faced scarier things than you, now." Her discourse is rudely interrupted by a combination of Ayame's knee to the gut and the hipcheck--they do in fact send her stumbling away from Ayame, clearing the way for Marisol to come flying in with her fist.
Gathering herself, Mizuki watches the path of Marisol as she attacks Ayame... and finds that she doesn't have much of a way to get at Ayame. And, truth be told, she -would- be a bit uneasy about teaming up on Ayame 'til the girl goes down.
For that reason, she murmurs a swift apology as she starts running, the few steps accompanied by those infernal squeaks, and she leaps, aiming to shoulder-barrel into Marisol's back. It isn't really a particularly graceful move, but Mizuki does her best to sell her impromptu rocket-shoulder as a twirling strike--a little imitation of her friend and sometime-Satsujinken-user Hotaru's Sou-Shou Shin.
COMBATSYS: Ayame counters Fierce Punch from Marisol with Requiem For Fallen Blossoms.
- Power hit! -
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Mizuki 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/---====|
She gets the knee in that she was looking for, driving Mizuki back a little bit, buying her some distance and time. Already whirling around with the intent to tear in on Marisol, the teen thief is brought to something that sounds like a beat cop whistle, which causes her to freeze mid-step and shift her attention toward the judge off to the side. Oh, so that's the voice she's heard prattling on all this time. "Hey!" she shouts back, "How about you just stay out of this fight, pops! I don't remember asking you!"
Spinning back around to face Marisol directly, Ayame grins, trying to ignore the pain of the dual assault long enough to stay focused. "Maybe you should be," she states with regards to Marisol not being afraid of her staff. The knife in her right hand gets flicked closed and slipped into a sheath on her belt, freeing her right hand to point back at the Pacific student, "But whatever it is you're going on about, I don't really care."
Her partially gloved hand slaps down over her staff tightly, the girl grinning as Marisol launches into an attack that may not be particularly her forte. A flying, leaping punch... that brings her directly into Ayame's line of fire. The titanium polearm flares to life with a vibrant red aura, flickering at the ends almost like flame.
And with that, Ayame lunges into the flying punch, cracking Marisol up under the arm to render her strike harmlessly off target. She steps forward then, drawing the staff back and up over her head to bring it crashing down on the other side toward her shoulder before leaping up, using the leverage against the Spaniard's shoulder to vault herself up and over her, dishing out one final smack against her back before landing behind the red-head.
With each impact a small explosion of chi flares out, sending red particles drifting down around the two, floating slowly toward the floor. The display is augmented as Ayame lands, spinning back around to face Marisol, twirling her staff over her head before bringing it back in front of her into a defensive posture. The falling chi particles fade out slowly before reaching the runway floor.
"I know everything I did," the girl replies, her tone cooler now as she readies herself behind her weapon. "I just don't know which item on my itinerary for the last few months happens to be the one that's got you all bent out of shape. I'd like to see what you think you're going to do about it though!"
That smile of Mr. Important's fades a little. These ladies do not seem to be used to graceful aerial movements. How can they hope to... hm, perhaps he should not be so hard on those so young, except he should, because making women cry on national TV is a favorite of Mr. Important's and that's how he makes a seven figure income. That's right, he's richer than any of you will ever be. EVER. Even you aren't dishonest enough to lie, cheat, and steal your way to Mr. Important's salary~~~
His head leans a little towards the left while LESSER JUDGES talk amongst themselves. Maybe there's need for the benefit of the doubt somewhere, he can appreciate the attempt at a flourish on Mizuki's part, but Ayame was clearly the most comfortable with the idea - even if not a hundred percent in the capacity he imagined. But it gives quite a bit of overall insight into the ladies' adaptability.
He claps his hand together to try and call for attention before things get too far out of hand, eyes alight with other ideas. "Ladies, ladies! Listen to me. I suppose I was going too fast, asking so much of you in such short time. I am here to assure you that you will not be receiving a break tonight! Show me... show me some of your," finger quotes, "special techniques," end fingerquotes. "I want something beyond a simple slap or a toss! I want something special! Tell me, ladies, what makes you, /you/."
COMBATSYS: Marisol interrupts Strong Punch from Mizuki with Snap Wind.
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Mizuki 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/---====|
Just before Marisol's fist kisses Ayame...her staff intercepts the redhead.
Struck in the underneath of her arm, Marisol is forced to the side, a burst of red chi exploding on impact. A second strike comes, jarring the girl to one side, coupled with another burst before the weapons girl practically leap frogs over her and smacks her upside the back hard. Another burst follows, and Marisol is sent staggering forward with a horrible scowl.
"You little b--!"
Staggering forward right into Mizuki.
Whatever the judge says, the redhead is only half-paying attention; instead, the girl's features twist, as the rich European weirdo rambling about 'what makes them, them.' Does he want a show? The apology is briefly noted, but the girl's face just remains stern and hard, as Mizuki comes flying at Marisol with an odd strike. Initially it hits, rocking the half-Spaniard girl's body lightly, a grunt slipping past her lips.
Then, rather suddenly, Marisol whips a hand forward, a straight punch right for the center of Mizuki's face to disarm the girl. But the redhead doesn't stop there; instead, the girl draws in a deep breath and dips low, a fist tense and coiled oh-so tight at her side before she whips up and strikes Mizuki in the chin, to send her flying.
Only THEN does Marisol whip around and sneer at Ayame. "You'll see. Ohhh you'll see," the girl warns darkly. "If not here, then when you least expect it. Got it? You're going to pay for what you and your boss did to her and her friends!"
Briefly the girl pauses in her vehement rant to glance over a shoulder, cautiously looking out for Mizuki. This is a three for all, after all...
... unexpected! But perhaps not really. This is, after all, a fight, and Mizuki expects no undue kindnesses from Marisol, whether they have a common enemy or no. Marisol's technique does in fact strike true; Mizuki is socked in the face and then uppercut hard, sent flying, and not quite in the manner that is to be normally expected. 'Show me makes you, you', he says... something she dimly hears as she flies back down to the runway, impacting hard.
Well, if there is ONE thing that makes Mizuki her, one thing that sets her apart from nearly very fighter out there... She rolls backwards, getting back to her feet. Ow. She'd say something but she's not sure her jaw isn't broken... for now.
Then... she nods to herself, almost. Her stance widens, her hands clasped in front of her with her index fingers pointing out and up. And she concentrates. Suddenly, flashily, blue-green energy begins to gather above her like a raincloud, building for a moment before bursting down over her like warm summer rain, literally sounding the pitter-pat of rainfall, rain that disappears just before it would hit the ground. In the meantime, she's getting all sorts of information about the kind of person Ayame is...
Ayame remains off to the side for a moment after her attack on Marisol, content to take a second to see what the other girls are up to. That they're now exchanging blows at least dispells her original theory that they had conspired to gang up on her. She's a little disappointed.
Marisol unleashes a solid combo on the priestess before whirling back around to face Ayame. Ah, the story comes out then. At least, all Ayame needs to know. This has to do with /that/ business. She knows enough about Marisol to know she isn't from Gedo High, which leaves her a bit puzzled at what the connection is. Something to investigate later, she supposes. "You'll never find me," the unrepentant rogue replies steadily, "So your threats don't mean a whole lot. Besides, no one dies." Her grin and accompanying shrug reflect an abject level of apathy about what happened to the girls she captured.
Oh damnit, that judge is carrying on again. Ayame stands up out of her crouch, glaring to the side. Her next act is a blur to all but those with the most trained eyes, her right hand slipping beneath the wrist guard on her left forarm. An instant later a small thowing knife thunks right down on Mister Important's desk solidly enough to imbed itself in a few inches. "I told you to stay out of this, old man!"
So far she has yet to listen to a word he says... even if all of her attacks have been cooperative with the requests. It doesn't matter to her. Defending herself against the two girls ranks as the only issue of importance. She senses the build up of chi around Mizuki and her attention snaps to the red headed miko. She knows that power, she's seen her use it before to strengthen herself. Smirking, Ayame narrows her eyes on Mizuki.
Her staff continues to flare a violent, churning red after her last assault on Marisol, some of the energy congealing near the low end of it, dripping to the floor, the color of blood, before vanishing. "Oh no you don't!" she shouts, leaning forward into a rapid sprint toward Mizuki. The energy builds up even more as Ayame comes in fast, a black and red blur of violence leading into her signiture assault.
The low end of the staff slams upward, attempting to catch Mizuki in the gut. The chi broiling over the weapon trails behind, forming what appears to be scythe blades of energy in the wake of the staff's motions. If she connects, the second violent strike will be toward Mizuki's chest before Ayame will leap up, hefting the staff over her, and bring it crashing down toward the poor girl's head to try and smash her against the runway!
Mr. Important is the most important thing in the whole wide world and you'd BETTER listen to him. IN fact as soon as he's done saying it he realizes he almost blinks and misses the might of the Snap Wind. Simple, effective, no nonsense, he can see the appeal in this. Mizuki covers herself in energy. He goes "oooooh," chi is pretty, maybe he's been compensating all his life for his inability to summon it to the beautiful degree he wishes he could.
Then he is brought to reality when a knife flies for his part of the booth, narrowly missing his elbow. Ayame is an excellent shot. He visibly flinches and cowers. Ha ha, Mr. Important, you suck.
"Such... such aggression! Hm, wait, I have it!" He makes a 'frame' motion with his hands. "I have it! The pent up aggression, all those things you have bottled in you all! Sometimes you just need to /scream!/" He says this on top of Ayame's flashy assault. "So let it all out, young ladies and future champions among women! Let it all out! Be as loud and proud as you possibly can! Just for me, Mr. Important. Yes... even you."
He cowers again and says in a small voice, "don'tstabme."
When Marisol looks, it would appear that Mizuki is doing...well, something weird with her chi. The half-Spaniard girl isn't sure what precisely she's DOING with it to herself, but she's sure of one thing for the moment: she's relatively harmless. That leaves the real source of her agitation.
"You know, I'm not surprised you'd say something like that," the redhead replies, ignoring everyone else present for the sake of staring Ayame down. "I'll never find you. Ha." Turning her head to the side, the girl scoffs, arms folding over her chest as she smirks. "You clearly underestimate me. But that's ok. The threats still stand. You can't hide and run away like a coward forever.
"You will get what's coming to you."
But when she comments so flippantly that 'no one died,' the girl's face seizes into a truly angry expression. Her face reddens, her gray eyes wide with anger as she just stares at Ayame in furious disbelief. How can she write their lives off so easily when it was HER fault to begin with. Does this guy watching them want aggression? Screaming?
Does he want them to let it all out..?
"YOU ARE GOING TO FUCKING REGRET THAT!!" the half-Spaniard all but screams, hands curling into painfully tight fists as she hollers. Despite Ayame's assault on Mizuki, Marisol does not seem to care; in fact, the redhead sprints right after the girl with a positively furious look on her red face, pearly whites bared as she pursues.
Only when she's close enough does the girl throw a fist out, a straight punch aimed for Ayame's head. Should it connect she follows with a swift uppercut to the girl's jaw before she whips a foot up and around, a spinning hook kick aimed for the side of Ayame's skull!
"HRAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Mizuki with Iki no Mizu.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Ayame's Harvest's Reaper.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/----===|
She really isn't much of a screamer, is Mizuki. That energy washes over her, and while the effect is difficult to describe, there are -some- obvious changes. The damage to Mizuki's face from Marisol's excellent punches starts to fade. Not completely, but the bruises that were flowering into green-yellow-purple seem to have reversed course somewhat, and stabilized. That's the most obvious effect of what she's done--it's pretty subtle, otherwise.
Then, of course, she has to deal with Ayame's thrusting pole--er--staff. Family rating, right? That is not -quite- as simple, mind. Ayame -is- fast, almost blindingly so. But in -this- particular moment in time... Mizuki is faster. A twitch of the legs--instinct and training melding into one singular moment. The makeshift scythe almost grazes her body as she throws herself wide, spinning on her left leg, twirling away from the initial strike. And as she twirls, she realizes something--that Ayame seems to want to put her out of the fight. Past experience seems to suggest that this would, in fact, be a very painful thing.
Scream, huh? Mizuki reaches deep inside and unleashes a wordless scream--it starts fairly low, then goes high, almost into a shriek, as she stops her spin, facing Ayame, and drops her hands... then smashes them upwards, sending a waist-high wave of her icy chi rushing long the ground towards the weapons-girl.
Coincidentally, the wave probably happens just after Marisol leaves the ground for her flying hook kick. But it isn't coordinated, not really. It just -looks- that way.
COMBATSYS: Marisol successfully hits Ayame with Iron Whip.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ayame parries Mizuki's Hyouryuu no Fuki!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 1/-------/=======|
Oh yeah, it seems like Ayame set Marisol off with her parting remark before charging the priestess. Just as well. The ridiculous fight is barely even on her mind. Hurting these two annoying girls some while she's got a shot /is/. Her spinning assault is avoided by Mizuki, the other girl swift to get out of Ayame's way. The effort leaves the girl a bit over extended, however, as she comes back down to land, her staff smashing a nasty dent into the runway floor, the rest of the chi built up over its surface discharging in a small explosion.
Hefting the weapon up and spinning around into Marisol, the girl seems intent on contending with her while Mizuki recovers from her necessary evasion. Underestimating the strength of Marisol's punch just a tad, Ayame first attempts to swing her polearm back around and into the girl's side, the thought being that she'll simply trade blows for what it's worth. She gets a healthy helping of reality that that's not such a great idea though as she's sent stumbling backward from the first punch, staggered by the uppercut that follows, and finally driven sideways by the kick to the side of her head.
Dropping down to her knees before she would have simply fallen over completely, she's an easy target for Mizuki's incoming icy blast of chi. A burst of adrenaline is what it takes to push herself up into a verticle leap, pressing one end of her staff against the floor to launch herself up an extra couple of feet, letting her vault over the miko's energy... Pulling her staff up into a mid-air spin, the girl's right hand slips down to her waist, pulling off one of her belts into a yard and a half long whip mid-twirl...
"What makes you think I'm just going to wait for you to find me, hm...?" she asks back to Marisol as she descends, cord whipping out toward the other girl's neck. If she gets a solid grip, she'll pull the red-head forward with a jerking yank on the whip before stepping up into a solid bashing attack into Marisol's stomach. Her voice is neutral, requests for shouting or excessive volume denied by the young bandit intent on leaving a mark on one of these fighters if possible. "I can hurt you in ways you can never hurt me. You have friends you care about!!" she shouts, the implication of the threat clear as day.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has saved the state of this fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ayame successfully hits Marisol with Blackmail EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 1/-----==/=======|
At this point, one would almost surmise that Marisol has otherwise forgotten that Mizuki even exists. Instead, gray eyes are lively and livid as they stare at the blonde girl as she staggers back before dealing with Mizuki's icy chi. It is briefly noted at best. Marisol just scowls darkly, the hands at her sides curling into very tight fists. Any tighter and her knuckles might bust open...
"Wait for me to find you? I don't NEED to," the girl growls, watching as Ayame descends. She attempts to lift an arm up in the process, to slap the cord out of the way. It doesn't go quite as planned, and it binds around her throat, causing the girl to offer a choked sound as she stumbles forward, before being bashed in the stomach. Winded, she stumbles back and sneers, ripping the cord from her throat.
But it fades. Ayame just touched into dangerous territory.
"You...bitch. I will fucking rip you apart if you ever - EVER - lay a fucking hand on ANY of my friends."
Shoulders heave, rising and falling rather visibly as the girl breathes heavily, eyes wide and almost manic. They see only Ayame...and without a word further from the half-Spaniard she bolts forward and attempts to sock the Sneak Thief in the middle of her face.
Judges, fashion, top models - they mean nothing to the boxer. Not when Ayame crosses that fine line.
... she probably has. Ayame seems to have this effect on people--attracting attention. One can't say 'undue' attention, because she's certainly earned it. Nonetheless... for now, Mizuki doesn't think it wise to get between the two right now--even if she really wanted to. Though she doesn't want Ayame to be hurt too bad. She's a little too soft for that. The redhead's brow furrows as she wrestles with this question-- because Ayame -did- try to kill her, and she -has- apparently done some things that are worse than that--
... but does that mean she should just let Marisol beat the girl into oblivion? That is, after all, what the half-Spaniard is stating she'll do. For the moment, Mizuki backs off, not sure what to do. This is something more personal than SNF for Marisol, clearly, and getting in the way will -probably- get her punched in the face. (Again.)
It probably will disappoint the judges and the fight-fans watching, but Mizuki has to follow her instincts, and her instincts say not to get facepunched by Marisol. (Again.)
COMBATSYS: Mizuki takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Marisol successfully hits Ayame with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 1/--=====/=======|
Aranha had heard about the fact that Ayame would have an SNF in Southtown and he had to make sure his presence was felt by one of the fighters in particular. Aranha wouldn't make himself known vocally, especially when there was much to be said for subtlety.
So instead, Aranha made himself comfortable waiting for the moment that his and Ayame's eyes met before he fixes her with a hateful gaze with eyes that curse her very existence. The only thought on Aranha's mind is making sure Ayame knows he's there and that their feud isn't over.
After his message is delivered not so much in words but in body language, he then fades into the crowd. Whether or not he's still close by is unknown.
Ah yeah, that's the ticket. Ayame had a feeling she'd find Marisol's button issue eventually. She was pretty certain the Spaniard was far more hot headed than she was coming across thus far. She was only /nearly/ broiling over before, but Ayame knew that somewhere there had to be something that'd get her even more riled up, something that would break the dam, something that would let her see Marisol's real anger surface. Bingo. Friends. A weakness others have to contend with but not a burden she shares with anyone... or so she likes to think.
It seems Ayame's flung knife finally got the sideline judges to shut up, the entire room begining to realize that there's a whole lot of personal issues between the fighters on the stage. Breaths are held as everyone listens to the words exchanged. The anger, the violent threats. The drama. This is what SNF is all about! Ayame meets Marisol's threats to tear her to pieces with a smirk. "Oh will you."
The girl comes charging in, one of those hard hitting fists of hers drawn up with the intent to smash into the other girl's face. Ayame's prepared to intersect the strike with her staff, more than expecting that very thing. But it's in that instant that her brown eyes happen to lock on someone way out past Marisol... a young, dark skinned man that she's wronged oh so many times in the past. Great, might as well invite Tenma and Stasya and all the other great friends she's made lately here to the party at this rate.
Distracted by Aranha's glare, her defense is a second late in rising up into the path of Marisol's fist, the girl getting cracked squarely in the center of her forehead, sending her sliding backward again with a growl. "Che," grunts Ayame, shaking her head to clear her vision. "And what are you going to do, huh?" she snaps back to Marisol. "Going to kill me, hm? Go right ahead. Probably get away with it too. No one mourns the wicked, I know that."
She braces herself, drawing energy up heavily from the world around her. Vibrant, red, angry energy that channels directly into her staff as she begins to spin it slowly at first. "But you had better think twice before making threats at me, girl. Whatever you think you can do to me, I can do to your friends too. One by one. It'll be your fault. You think I care about the repercussions?" Her staff picks up speed, forming a bright circle of red, crackling chi in front of her. "I have nothing to live for, so it doesn't matter to me. You do though. So just remember that. You have a weakness!" she exclaims, stepping forward and spinning around once, finally unleashing all of the pent up chi into a giant swath of heated energy in a large crescent wave toward Marisol.
COMBATSYS: Ayame successfully hits Marisol with Final Sunset.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/----===|
Without a word, Marisol moves, punching Ayame rather ruthlessly in the face to send the girl skidding back across the runway. By now, many of the judges - and even the gathered audience - have kept their distance from the seemingly-vengeful Marisol and her apparent victim Ayame, no one brave enough to step into the fray and put an end to it. That would probably be a Very Bad Idea, anyway.
"I'm going to punch a very real fact into you, Ayame," the redhead calmly replies, her face a touch red from anger barely-restrained. "If you mess with my friends, or their friends, or THEIR friends like you have in the past, I will hunt you down and punch you until you stop breathing. I used to think you were a pretty o-k person. And then you went and messed the fuck up."
Tilting her head, the girl just observes the blonde, poor Mizuki forgotten for now. "So tell me. Why did you do it? Why did you help your pedo employer or whoever the hell it was kidnap people? Did you get something out of it? Did you enjoy kidnapping innocent people for some perverts whims? Do you get off on others' humiliation? Just a question, really." Gray eyes narrow dangerously.
Think twice about threats? Marisol laughs coldly, eyes wide. "Think twice? I'll stop it right here and now, that's for sure. This will just be a warning to you. If you do happen to go after them? I will do a LOT worse to you, or what's left of you. You don't know my friends very well." The chi is noted, eyes narrowed a touch. She claims she has nothing to live for.
"Bullshit," Marisol calls her on it. "That is a big pile of bullshit."
The pent up chi is then launched, sent spiraling into the girl's chest. It strikes her hard, causing her to stumble back on her heels, very nearly losing her footing as the chi flames collide and singe into her chest. A deep grunt escapes her, a hand gripping at the singed front of her white boho chic blouse. But what is obvious anger...turns into a smirk. And then a laugh.
And she keeps laughing, as she leaps forward and attempts to punch the girl swiftly across the face once more, eyes wide as she delivers the blow.
... yes, some seriously heavy shit is going down. Mizuki doesn't want to be anywhere -near- this anymore. This isn't a three-for-all anymore--it's Marisol and Ayame and Mizuki is just playing backup. Truth be told, she wants to face Ayame again... but one on one, not in a situation like this. Not in a situation so... out of control. Biting her lip, Mizuki glances at the judges--stunned into silence--and raises a hand towards the two other fighters.
... but what can she do? She told herself she'd be strong, that she wouldn't back down anymore... isn't that exactly what she's doing right now? It's not like she can't tell Marisol to stop it. The girl has a right to her vengeance. This... this SNF! Ayame is just a trouble magnet. What should've been an enjoyable, oddball, quirky match is instead turned into pure bloodsport, only with more blood and less sport.
... Christ. She... inside, her heart sinks, as she realizes that if Marisol really does intend to kill Ayame--and she seems pretty close to the edge--that Mizuki is going to have to step in. Probably, if she does, that will earn her at least a little of Marisol's anger.
But there's nothing she can do, not right now. She won't be party to teaming up to beat Ayame into submission, not like this. Not with this kind of raw, naked anger. But she won't get in the way either. It's...
... it's Complicated(tm).
COMBATSYS: Mizuki takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ayame counters Light Punch from Marisol with Armed and Dangerous.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/-----==|
The burst of chi goes flying and Ayame finishes spinning around, coming back to face Marisol directly, some of the residual red flickering out along the titanium pole, no longer fueled by the girl who's rapidly becoming exhausted at keeping up with the pressure of the fight. Devoting her less than stable mind and all the physical expertise she can muster for such a long period is catching up with the girl and it's clear with the way she's sweating, doing her best to ignore her bruised forehead or red cheek.
"Oh are you," she replies to the mention of punching a truth into her, maintainging her flippant attitude even if her voice is winded now. "Well, I'm glad we got that misperception cleared up," she replies with a smug look in response to having been considered decent at one time. But then come the questions. The whys. And some of that smirk drains from the strawberry-blonde. "It was my job. I got money." she replies. There's a certain distance with the way she answers that makes it seem as if she doesn't really want to think about it any. "That's pretty much it." the girl states, some of the vigor sapped from her attitude. A shake of her head, her right hand coming up to brush some of her hair back over her ear, the girl shrugs a little.
At Marisol's mention of her friends, and what would happen if Ayame goes after them, the girl smiles just a little, a certain malevolence to the expression, as if she's thinking of something horrible, her mental gears turning rapidly. "It sounds like we're just going to have to find out..." she declares, her voice calming now. Again Marisol comes after her, intent on socking her in the face with another solid strike.
But Ayame is quick to respond, trying to detatch herself from her own feelings on the matter. To watch the other girl get so passionate about her friends, to discover another button in another person whom she could have gotten along with if she had just made a couple critical choices differently in life. It's a collapsing spiral of destructive behavior she engages in time and time again. Deciding she's had enough of poking and proding and lobbing chi at Marisol, the girl shifts gears, ready to get close and personal now, mouth curling into a faint smirk as she simply drops her staff to the ground, freeing up both of her hands.
Another area of expertise of Ayame's comes to play here. Limb manipulation. Both of the girl's hands come up to sieze hold of Marisol's incoming arm, twisting into it as the girl converts the aggressive attack into a tumble to the runway floor. She's dropping down right with the boxer, however, her hands gripping Marisol's arm as tightly as possible, as she literally tries to twist it to the point of popping something out of place, if she only had a bit more strength to do so.
"Should stick to fights you have a chance in. Schoolyard brawls with your pals. If you don't bother me ever again, then maybe they'll be left alone." she hisses.
The more she prods the girl for information, the less inclined the half-Spaniard seems to be to believe she means the majority of things that come out of her mouth. Truthfully, the girl never HAD issues with Ayame - if anything, the fight she had, months ago, was amusing. The girl has spunk. But...she's really chosen a poor path. Does she even still walk it, Marisol wonders.
It does not still her fist, however. The girl charges forward at Ayame with a cold, serious expression. The other girl drops her staff, and it only encourages Marisol. And just when the girl's fist is about to strike her in the face, Ayame seizes her arm, tossing her and locking her before she's suddenly on top of her, twisting her arm painfully. The girl sneers, a grunt of pain escaping her lips as she glares up at Ayame.
She'll shove at the girl afterwards, to shoo her off without a word. Her barbs fall upon seemingly deaf ears, as Marisol lay on the runway with eyes narrowed at the ceiling. She's bargaining with her now?
"Tch."
However, a glance is spared briefly, as the girl struggles for a good, deep breath, gray eyes fixed on the redheaded priestess standing off to the side. Since Marisol began trying to punch the OTHER girl's face in, the third party here has been keeping to herself. It almost annoys the girl. Shouldn't she be fighting too? She can't understand why she'd stand aside, but the half-Spaniard is blinded by her own angers and annoyances.
Grunting, the girl finally pulls her back off the floor, smoky gray eyes snapping shut. This fight is pissing her off, much like the fight she had with Tenma and her best friend a few weeks ago. These are supposed to be fun, she thinks to herself. Not stressful or angering, and that's precisely how the girl feels right now.
Lifting a fist, the girl drives it into the ground, punching the runway hard. Around her fist, the ground spiderwebs, the stage cracking as she lets out her anger in another medium that isn't Ayame's face. For now, anyway.
If Mizuki wants her chance at Ayame, well. She's got it. Marisol is taking her down time.
COMBATSYS: Marisol gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/-----==|
Mizuki? Yeah, she's... well, she's been passive. It's -hard- for her to step between the two, and her own (perhaps misguided) sense of honor and fair play keeps her from doubleteaming Ayame -despite- all that Ayame's done. Marisol would likely call her soft, perhaps too kind-hearted. It's all probably true. But Ayame's pulled off quite the reversal; she's fended off Marisol with admirable skill. Then again, one ever said that Ayame -wasn't- skillful--far from it.
It's that skill, put to such nefarious uses, which troubles Mizuki the most. The characterization of 'evil' is that it is often unskilled--but this is far from the truth. With Marisol not attacking this go around, and the judges thankfully quieted from their snappy instructions, Mizuki feels freed to fight in her own way--and though she hates attacking an already-wounded opponent, the truth is, she fears Ayame much more than she fears Marisol. Marisol uses fists--Mizuki is alright with that. But the memory of being -stabbed-... -repeatedly-... is still too fresh in her mind.
Mizuki starts to move, quickly and steadily, those ridiculous shoes sounding out a squeaky serenade as she takes a quick step, that turns into a quick run, that turns into her leaping into the air, pulling her legs in, then turning and kicking outwards into a classic jumping side kick aimed for Ayame's shoulder. So softhearted she won't even go for a real knockout blow...
COMBATSYS: Ayame blocks Mizuki's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/----===|
It seems the two girls have finally exhausted the anger on each other. Marisol shoves Ayame off and the reprobate lands on her hands and knees, gasping for breath, hair falling down around her face as she refuses to collapse just yet. She isn't even sure what she's fighting for. She doesn't particularly care about fight, as evidenced by her constant threats against the judges. And she's gotten her licks in thus far. But in the absense for a reason to continue is the fact she doesn't want to give up just yet either.
Besides, she's barely re-made Mizuki's aquaintance, and what a great chance she has there, right? Slowly Ayame pushes herself to her feet as Marisol gets up to catch her breath as well. Brown eyes narrow, glancing over the other two girls, breathless and at a lack of anything to say at last.
Mizuki comes in to try and knock the girl over again, but Ayame's arms rise up, the girl managing to block against the attack even though the impact sends her stumbling backward, evidence of just how on the edge she is now. Brown eyes fix Mizuki. She can't even remember, for the moment, why she got angry at her before. But she's sure it'll come to mind eventually. Something about pretentious religions, she's sure...
But that doesn't mean she can't get fired up - a fact she begins to demonstrate as she inhales deeply, hands clenched, teeth gritted. Perspiration rolls down her cheeks as she begins to pull heavily from the world around her. Chi is just one of many toys to her, and right now she needs it to breath strength into her limbs, ease aching muscles, and give her the strength to continue fighting at all.
Red chi begins to build up around her, flickering flames that cool to violet then blue as they reach up to the levels of her shoulders, becoming more like icy wind halfway up. The girl breaths in deeply, letting the collected energy invigorate her a little long. She's barely standing, but she's not out yet. Much to everyone's dismay, no doubt.
COMBATSYS: Ayame gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/=======|
With Marisol keeping off for now, it gives the two girls a chance to get reacquainted with one another once more, and plenty of time for the half-Spaniard girl to catch her breath and gather her wits. And, most importantly, let her anger slide a bit. A wary glance is cast to the weapons girl, a brow lifting slightly. She can't get over their conversation. Despite the mudslinging...something seems odd.
Gritting her teeth, the redhead struggles to her feet, a hand favoring a rub at her singed and burned shoulders that ache. It's a culmination of strikes and assaults endured from the blonde, and they've begun to take her toll.
Still, it would seem the blonde is ignoring her - and that's fine with Marisol. So, instead...she stands to the side, gray eyes hooding dangerously as she observes the other girls, just watching. And slowly but most assuredly...full glossed lips pull into a grin. In an odd, morbid way...she's having fun.
And the fun isn't over YET.
COMBATSYS: Marisol focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Marisol
[ \\\\\\ <
Ayame 0/-------/=======|
The kick doesn't land as planned--but at least she wasn't staffed into oblivion. Frankly, that would have been worse. Landing from her kick, Mizuki doesn't draw back, even as Ayame begins charging her lazors. See, Mizuki can do that, too. She is intimately familiar with the touch of chi, the flows and pools of it... she can feel how it's burning into Ayame, filling her almost like liquid fire. Does it take effort? You bet it does.
Mizuki is going to do her best to disrupt that effort. Up close, it doesn't take much effort to stay in range, Mizuki feinting a shoulder rush--then stamping down with her left leg, arrowing her right backwards, going into a low horse stance then pistoning hands out, one high, one low, throwing almost her whole body into the attack, a slow, but powerful strike meant to put Ayame out for this fight.
Oh, and if Ayame can't remember, it's likely because Mizuki isn't wearing her miko robes... Mizuki isn't belike to remind her that she is a represntation of the path Ayame -could- have taken...
COMBATSYS: Ayame fails to counter Strong Punch from Mizuki with Random Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/-======|=======\====---\1 Marisol
[ \ <
Ayame 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ayame can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/-======|=======\====---\1 Marisol
Mizuki decides to stick to the exhausted teen, coming back at her with a solid pair of punches. Her staff may not be in hand, but that doesn't mean the young menace is out of options. Her right hand slips to her blouse, drawing out a folded fan between her fingers. Flicking it open in the very act of drawing it, the girl swings out, aiming to stab Mizuki in the gut right between her two punches, forcing her to slash herself to get a hit in.
She's a fraction of a second too slow, however, her fan not reaching its mark before Mizuki's punches land home, sending Ayame stumbling backward before she finally drops the fan with a rattle to the floor. She falls to her knees shortly after, the last surge of strength she had left finally abandoning her as she falls forward to catch herself with her hands, gasping for breath.
A warning voice in the back of her head tells her she really shouldn't linger around this fight, which is why with her last bit of strength she drops onto her side and rolls right off the runway to the walkway around it, landing on the floor with a grunt. Now she just has to... find the wherewithall to go collect her staff from where it stopped, then... maybe take a nap. Or maybe nap first. It appears no preparation prevented the pattern from repeating itself. When it comes to free for alls there's just no way she can avoid being taken out first!
And all the while, from the sidelines, Marisol watches with an intent gaze, gray eyes peering at the two girls as they square off. Mizuki, still in considerably good shape, attacks Ayame, who attempts to SHANK HER in the process, pummeled something fierce. It brings the weapons girl to her knees, and a light frown over Marisol's lips.
Really, she wanted to take her out. But she can't complain. She's still bothered and unnerved.
Shaking her head lightly, the girl exhales softly and snaps her eyes shut, as Ayame rolls off the stage and hits the ground floor. Only a brief glance is spared, gray eyes opening to glance toward the spot from which she fell off. A cold grin edges lightly over her lips, before gray eyes drift back up, and onto Mizuki.
"Well, now that she's out of the way, I guess it's you and me. We haven't really had much a chance to get properly acquainted, I think. So...hi." A casual lift of her hand follows, a sloppy greeting wave given before she drops her arms to her sides. "Nice to meet you. Please, don't take this personally."
And without warning the half-Spaniard girl blazes forward, fists suddenly igniting with dandelion-yellow chi as she charges Mizuki with a yell. Closing in, she attempts to hook the girl across the face...
COMBATSYS: Mizuki blocks Marisol's Cloud Nine.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Marisol
Mizuki actually seems more relaxed, without Ayame around. Funny that. Someday she'll pin that girl down for a talk that doesn't involve bladed weapons. (Ayame will probably be in jail or restrained like Hannibal Lecter first.) "Uh... yeah. It's nice to meet you, too," replies Mizuki, sounding a little nonplussed. It's just a weird thing to hear mid-fight. That said, she's hardly surprised when Marisol comes charging in.
"Hey, it's a fight, we're -supposed to--whoa!" She wasn't expecting Marisol to come in -quite- that fast--her legs twitch, as she thinks about getting out of the way, but the boxer girl is far too fast for that; instead she throws her arms up, absorbing the punch on her forearms. Whatever Marisol had in mind, that was one -hell- of a punch; it actually sends the miko stumbling away regardless. And while she would -like- to soothe her bruised arms, and she probably could, she's going to concentrate on -fighting-.
So, she regains her footing, lunging forward, attempting to close with Marisol and grab her at shoulder and hip. If that's successful, she'll turn to her left, planting her right foot across Marisol's path, and force her down into the runway, going to a crouch to keep her hands on the boxer, and release a jolt of icy chi into the half-Spaniard.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Marisol with Hyouryuu no Gari.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Marisol
The punch connects - but not how Marisol would like for it to. Rather than have the chance to punch the other redhead in the face repeatedly, the girl instead meets the forearm, a chi-laced punch driving harshly into those bony arms and drawing a light frown over her lips. It fades easily enough, her eyes half-lidded in amusement.
"Yeah, of course! It's a fight, I know," she replies, giving the girl a bit of room as she backs off. But just when she doesn't expect Mizuki to press things, the miko-girl catches her off her guard, drawing a bemused look over Marisol's face. What the.
Moments later she's grabbed and turned, forced into the runway before she's jarred by ice chi that draws a light gasp from the girl. Thank god it's not water chi, she privately decides. She IS wearing a damn white blouse, after all.
Groaning lightly, the girl pulls herself to her feet once more, lips pursed tightly. It's been a chore and a half to keep going, but...
"Heh," Rubbing at her stomach, the girl's eyes narrow. "Neat trick. Don't see that sort of thing every day."
Without a word AGAIN the redhead springs to life, lunging at Mizuki with a fist coiled at her side. Only when she nears does she swing it forward, a blow armed for the stomach as she drives it forward. Should it strike home, Marisol will grab the girl by her collar and smirk, meeting Mizuki's head with her own in a fierce headbutt before she shoves back and, in another unorthodox display, swings a leg up and delivers a vertical kick right for the girl's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Marisol's Chain Reaction.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Marisol
That chi-laced punch hurt a lot more than Mizuki's willing to let on; she's lucky she was able to block it, as a full-on hit would have been devestating, not to mention whatever Marisol had in mind to follow up with. Bemused, hmm? A lot of fighters give that look to Mizuki--it's like they don't expect her to really be a fighter. Some have accused her of just using tricks--like her healing--to make up the difference.
In some ways there's truth to it, but Mizuki's doing her best to get better. She released Marisol quickly, after that burst of icy chi, pulling back and pondering her next move while she waits for Marisol to rise.
"Thanks," she replies, softly. It's a battle of redheads now, apparently, and Marisol's turn to press, coming forward again with that body blow. Mizuki, still on edge, sidesteps to her left, turning her body to present a side-profile and actually moving forward to get behind Marisol. She doesn't headbutt, of course, but she can attempt a strike in the back, planting her left foot and using it as a pivot, or a fulcrum, to shift her momentum forward into a double palm strike for Marisol's back.
It's not exactly a sneak attack, since she utters a loud kiai as she does so.
COMBATSYS: Marisol fails to interrupt Strong Punch from Mizuki with Red Clover.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Marisol
When she swings her fist, Mizuki isn't there. It makes the girl frown deeply.
A moment later the girl is making her move, attempting to sock the girl twice in the back. Despite Marisol's attempts to whip around and punch her in the face in turn, it doesn't quite work out and, as result, the girl staggers back, winded lightly as the blows catch her in the ribs. Her frown lingers a bit.
"You seem nice enough." The girl offers a light smirk. "But answer me this at least."
Rubbing her side, she tilts her head a bit, peering at the other redhead.
"Why'd you just stand by idly? If you didn't like that Sneak Thief girl Ayame, why weren't you getting involved on attack her when I was?" Bending at the waist, the girl offers a Cheshire's smirk, hands resting on her hips as she eyes the other girl closely.
"Did you wanna pick us both off easily? Are you just as sneaky as that Ayame girl? You weren't scared were you?"
Really, the half-Spaniard is jibbing at this point for the sake of being a bit light-hearted after all the seriousness from before. She doesn't seem remotely scathing or rude about it! She...just needs to blow off a bit of the steam from all the raging she did at Ayame, after all.
"It's ok, you don't have to lie about it."
That... gives Mizuki pause. Why -didn't- she attack? Mizuki stops moving, though she's not -not- watching Marisol closely. "I... don't like doubleteaming. It isn't... how I was taught to fight." It's not adequate; Mizuki fumbles for a more complete response. "I--she tried to kill me, once. I think she might have actually done it. I don't know. But you--"
"--you seemed to be even angrier with her. I didn't-- I didn't want to get in the way. Maybe it's soft. But I want to defeat her on my own terms... by myself. To prove myself. I'm sure you want the same thing."
Mizuki begins to move around, circling slowly--or at least, moving back and forth, her steps deliberate.
"It--it didn't seem right to attack you. Or her. No matter what kind of fight this is, I have to go with what my heart tells me is right. Does--"
Mizuki frowns. "Does that make sense? I don't--I don't care about winning this SNF, not in the way you're thinking. I want to win my fights. I want to get better. But I don't want it to be because you kept presenting your back to me. I wasn't thinking 'I'll let them beat each other up and then clean up.' You just seemed like... like you really wanted to fight her and... I wanted to let you have that chance if you wanted it right now." Jibbing she may be, but Mizuki answers honestly, and seriously.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Marisol
Mizuki's response...is a little surprising.
Blinking once, Marisol looks mildly stunned. She doesn't like double teaming? But this is SNF...
Shaking her head lightly, the redhead leans back from her bent position, arms folding across her chest as she studies Mizuki carefully. For a long moment, the half-Spaniard girl holds her ground, offering a puzzled look as she observes. And then, what? She tried to kill her.
"Wow," the girl ultimately replies.
"If she tried to kill you, you really should have been at her throat. I know I would've." A glance is spared, eyeing the spot where the sneaky little weapons wielder fell before she looks back to Mizuki. "To be fair, I think your beef with her was a bit more justified than mine." Pausing, the girl's arms fall as she exhales, her eyes drawing shut.
"But...yeah, you're right."
Sighing a bit, the other redhead just sags her shoulders, thin brows gently knit as she broods. The miko-girl has a point, after all. Defeating Ayame on one on one terms would be infinitely more satisfying than, say, ganging up on her in a fight. She dwells for a moment on it, the tiniest of grins slowly edging over her glossed lips.
"It makes sense, I think," the half-Spaniard replies.
Slowly, gray eyes open, lifting to rest on Mizuki as a tiny, lopsided grin finally blooms across her sun-kissed features. "To be fair...when I think about it...I dunno. If I were in your position, I probably would've done the same myself." Shoulders lightly shrug, a soft chuckle escaping her. "And when I also look back...if you had ganged up on her with me, ...I probably wouldn't have been as happy, you know? Truth be told, this ISN'T how in envisioned punching her."
Half-turning on her heels, Marisol...begins to walk away, toward the entrance of the building.
"My apologies," the girl calls out, lifting a hand over her shoulder. "I really dunno if I have it in my heart to fight you like this now. You can take it as a win or whatever you'd like. But me? I'm going to bow out here. You did good, by the way, and nice to meet you Mizuki." Pausing, she looks over her shoulder with a tiny grin.
"Maybe we'll get another chance, without...well, interferences." A laugh follows, her shoulders shuddering in mirth as her hands ease into the pockets of her jeans. "You've got a good head on your shoulders. I think I'm going to take your advice and fight that girl one on one. Sorry if the fight was ruined."
And if not stopped, well...Marisol will be on her way.
Wha-- Mizuki explained herself properly. She just wasn't expecting -this- response from Marisol. Slowly, the redheaded miko lowers her arms, dropping out of her battle stance. Mizuki smiles, tenatively. "Frankly, you looked kind of scary. I didn't think getting in your way would've been healthy. I suppose I didn't want to get punched in the face again," she offers, with a faint grin.
Then Marisol starts to walk off. "I--thanks. I guess. It isn't... I won't take it as a win, Marisol," (yes, she did read the fight card), "Unless you agree to fight me one on one sometime. SNF teaches a lot of valuable things... but I want to pit myself against you. Without distractions. You..." Mizuki nods.
"I think I can learn a lot from you. And good luck finding her. She's slippery." Mizuki? She won't stop Marisol--she only waves to the Pacific redhead and turns to walk away too. They are going the opposite direction... but perhaps only physically.
The announcer seems kind of stunned--and falteringly he announces, "Ah... uh... ... I guess... the winner is Mizuki Kamigawa!" ... there are few cheers. What just happened here was too dramatic for anything like that.
After a few minutes, the lights in the studio start shutting down. The fight's over--perhaps not satisfactorily, but it -is- over.
Log created on 23:10:59 04/18/2008 by Mizuki, and last modified on 14:56:11 04/23/2008.