SNF 2008.06 - I Scream for Ice Cream?! Kenji vs Mary vs Shihong

Description: Ice cream. The eccentric, umbrella-wielding Mary. Shihong Mao. The eternally-looking for love Kenji Ashima. An ice cream-shaped Ren & Larry's House of Ice Cream as the fighting arena. None of these things is quite like the other. Yes, this SNF premise was completely lost. (Winner: Shihong)



So, there was Kenji Ashima-- the almighty student council secretary at the not-so-illustrious Gedo High, the school better known for miscreants and gangs, getting a notice after having his name in the great big electric baseball cap-computer to see who it would be that he'd go fight, who the organizers of the show would drop him in with again. He's got a bit of a double-sided dread with these matches, too... his mother would rather he didn't, and it always makes him run the risk of having another match that somehow involves his floundering love life.

Sitting at the entrance to the popular little ice cream parlor, the Missile Fist sits at one of the well-crafted outdoor tables in a matching chair, his hands thrown up and behind his head, elbows cocked out to the sides. According to the time and the staff, his fight should've started by now. If that's the case, then what's the holdup?

Still, the student seems to be passing the time quite admirably: A bottle of water provided by the crew, and one of the pocket-sized shounen manga plucked from the back pocket of his jeans are what keep him company-- the melodramatic tale of Kazushi and his epic battles with big swords, lances, mechas, and a whole lot of super loud screaming.

And you wonder where he gets it from?

His phone likewise lets out the scream of a loud rock tune, talking about how you just can't kill the metal. Pausing briefly, he flips it open and glares at the screen, squinting off across the street. Oh god, did his sister decide to follow him to this one?

And where -is- everyone?

The premise and prize--a life time pass of free ice cream at the parlor--was of no interest. Instead, Shihong Mao finds the idea of pitting herself against capable fighters far more enticing. It helps her hone her style and strive for the top she so desperately seeks, after all. The pass was but a perk, as was the idea of victory in the Saturday Night Fight circuits.

A last minute call from the fight's coordinator disturbed the woman in her late afternoon cat nap. And before she knew it she was wandering aimlessly down the busy but familiar streets of downtown Southtown. Her destination?

Ren & Larry's House of Ice Cream. Shaped like ice cream. Two scoops!

With a distant look of interest lingering on her pale face, the Chinese Southsynd Enforcer peers up at the shop's sign before she glances to the lingering crowds of people waiting outside. It's a thick crowd, and why not? There's free ice cream for spectators to be had for everyone, as part of the promotion goes. A nice benefit to watching people kick and punch one another, surely.

Shaking her head lightly, the woman begins to move for the shop. But her heels cease, the click of steel stiletto heels pausing as she spies the lounging Ashima. A distantly familiar face in the fighting circuit, but one she recognizes nonetheless. This could be a struggle, if memory serves her from their last, more distant encounter.

Still, the woman lifts a hand and offers a wave of fingers before she passes. Her destination is simple: led by SNF officials to the roof of the shop, she'll go and wait there, for the fighters to gather and for the fight to naturally begin its course.

She had only appeared in the Neo League maybe once or twice before she was contacted, perhaps instead it was the fight against Ken, with the combined force of Drake as well. But it was the call that would get her from where she had rested elsewhere in the world to where she was now. The call certainly took her by surprise.. especially when she learned just what she was to do that day.. and the battle itself, of course, wouldn't be normal either.

But a chance to learn, to test, can never be passed up at all! Walking towards Ren and Larry's House of Ice Cream as well is an older woman, a rather large black umbrella covering her head, making it almost seem like she's headless. Ice cream. Oh how she loves the stuff, but Mary isn't going to get her hopes up for just the ice cream. Oh no, it allows her to do so much more as well! To move, to be in 'battle' is enjoyable in itself, to use what she had been given within those long years of immobility.

It's a much better than how she was before.

Mary herself walks to the store, not having much of a chance to look at faces, her own hidden behind the parasol. But she keeps walking forwards, and in the end, slides the parasol away, a white bonnet over her head, almost as white as her skin. And oddly enough, mostly white eyes. "Top of the mornin', darlin'." She curtsies a bit to Kenji, "Looks like there's a youngin' in this fight," She adds to Shihong, although takes her time getting set up.

Sure will be one kicker, that's for sure! She just can't wait to get such a preposterous fight on it's way, if only for the entertainment value for herself.

The summer breeze on his face, the cool air that rustles the corners of the weathered manga. The condensation on the bottle of water! If only that girl he met the other day was here-- or Shurui-- or Asai! Oh the woes of a teenage boy.

But all of those are blown away the moment that Shihong Mao waves at him, the teenager's invisible bowtie spinning at a speed somewhere around 2,300 rpms. He may forget names, but it's rare when he forgets the woman that he's met twice before, on the rocky beaches of that godforsaken European coastline.

And the other time when she was in the catsuit.

Springing up to his feet, the book twirls twice in the air before landing on spine and thumping down next to the bottle of water, swatting a little bit of nonexsistant dust off his shoulders and-- staring at Mary.

"U-Uh-- yo!"

Blink, blink.

It doesn't register to him immediately that Mary is the third contender in the battle, though with his track record, it probably should. No, he's too busy being blinded by the woman he's trotting up to the roof after, fixing the collar of his t-shirt and trying his best to be the most dapper chap there ever was.

Hey, it worked on Whip.

"The third time this is, isn't it?!" he calls after her, his grin huge.

Kenji's reaction goes relatively unnoticed by the Chinese woman. Instead she continues through, heading into the shop and up the staircase leading to the rooftop. There, an arena of sorts awaits the fighters. And that's precisely where Shihong Mao wants to be. The temptation of fresh ice cream and other sweet delights does not thwart her endeavors.

Besides, she's always preferred pastries.

Atop the roof, Shihong surveys the city. Roughly three stories above the streets now, it affords her a quaint view of the streets, where crowds of people watch from below. Around, skyscrapers loom like sleeping giants, watching through thousands of empty glass eyes. The Chinese woman idly sheds her long black trenchcoat, offering it to a SNF crewmember.

But her thoughts are distracted when a distantly familiar voice calls. Third time is the charm?

Glancing over her shoulder she observes Kenji as he appears, as well as the oddly-dressed (and looking) woman with her giant parasol. An onlooker, or a contender. It WAS a three-for-all, after all.

"Ah...your name...uhm...Ashi...Ashimo? Ashime?" Snapping her fingers lightly, she tries to find his name. She knows it's there on the tip of her tongue.

Her fingers snap. "Ashima, yeah?"

Glancing back to Mary, the woman offers her a looking-over before she sports a distant grin. "There's a lot of 'young ones' in SNF," she replies. "But it's still fun. Ashima?" Glancing back to Kenji, the woman offers a faint smirk. "Are you ready?"

And whether he is or isn't, the woman suddenly dashes forward, letting her leg snap out low, aimed for his abdomen. Should it connect the woman follows up with a leap and twist, her opposite leg swinging upwards and around to clip the kid right in the temple.

"HUP-HIYAAH!"

COMBATSYS: Shihong has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Shihong          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Mary has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Shihong          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Mary


COMBATSYS: Kenji has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mary             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Shihong
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/-------|


Ah, young love. Yes, young love! At least, the youngin' has love in his eyes. Shihong probably doesn't even really want to look at him! Much. Mary doesn't get involved in this, and moving up to the top of the icecream statue, Mary stops upon one of the scoops, swinging around the parasol for a bit before closing it. No need to have it open just quite yet!

What an interesting boy that was, although it's not as if boys themselves aren't mostly the same to a point. This one likes those odd japanese magazines, she thinks, and nothing else seems too wrong about him. Or messed up for that sake. But then, she'll have plenty of time to see that herself! She's fooled by the dapper act, if only because the huge grin and his loss of words at being greeted, set on upon Shihong. Flustered, is he?

Shihong rather seems completely different, capable of looking over things! And she can see quite a bit, it seems. Oh yes. But she knows how to deal with unruly boys as well, because she certainly does. "Yes? Why, ya'll nice for telling me about all this, darlin'." She exclaims as she glances away from Shihong to Kenji, mainly speaking on that note.

But with Shihong already swinging for Kenji.

She'll just bother the moving target. "While I hate breakin' such a nice re-union, I must say... it'll be borin' if I just watch you two go at it! Let me jus' cut right in."

Expanding the umbrella, she spins it, raising it towards Shihong.. and then fires the bladed tip, sending it spinning towards Shihong's back. Best to keep it interesting, yes?

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Shihong's Strong Kick.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mary             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Shihong
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/------=|


On the way up, it crosses his mind-- if he wins this thing, he could totally use it for a date. Totally. He could hold up his coupon or his little laminated card, and just be like, 'Put it on my tab,' all cool an' stuff. Yeah. So long as that girl from Pacific doesn't confuse it for a pancake house or something, anyway...

Once they're up there, assembled, -then- it clicks with Kenji that the woman with the big umbrella is actually someone here to -fight-. But-- he can't linger on that for long! No, not while the powerful kicks of Shihong are flying toward him. His left forearm advances to catch the brunt of the blow, twisting himself a little to set up a second intercepting arm to the other foot. "I see you remember! Ah, yes, I can barely escape the hearts and minds of the ladies."

Pulling himself back with a bit of fast footwork, Kenji realigns himself to see Mary in full-- as well as the bladed parasol-- and his eyebrows run together. "Oh come o--"

Stepping up again, his hand snakes out to grab at Mary's face as a whole. If he can, next comes a sharp lift into the air, followed by a powerful, pounding -spike- at the ground. The apex to the whole thing, while he's still holding on? It comes with a sharp, "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--" and a surge of energy, a volcanic burst of white-blue flame exploding from -under- the elder woman's head, with all the intents to send her spiraling off into the air.

COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Mary's Medium Shot.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/------=|


"Of course I remember you. We've met, what? Twice now, is it?" the woman replies, regardless of Mary's observations or what-not. Grinning demurely, the woman hoods her gaze a touch, sizing Kenji up a bit before she rests her hands gingerly upon her hips. "You seem like you've grown a bit, too, mister Ashima." A compliment, perhaps?

But before they can fully engage in small talk, Shihong is right on Kenji's proverbial scent. Swift thinking spares the youth from the swift blows, each kick absorbed on his arms, rather than his poor body. Shihong, on the other hand, lands briefly and pivots, to pull herself away and put some small distance between--

Just in time to see a spinning blade firing at her?

Legs spread, heels digging into the rooftop as she squares her body. Lifting her hands, the Chinese Enforcer watches the blade's movement carefully--before she slaps her hands together. As result the blade catches centimeters before her stomach, palms weeping hints of red as she stops the sharp edge in her palms with a wince.

With a swing of her arm the blade is cast aside, to stick tip first into the rooftop as she throws it into the ground. Fixing her black eyes on the other woman in white, the black-clad Chinese woman smirks lightly, rouge red lips curling into a Devil's grin on her pale face. Well if she wants to play THAT way...

Moving in just behind Kenji, Shihong waits for the prime opportunity to come in kicking--literally. Weaving around the Gedo student council member, she has every intention of lifting her leg high before she swings it down, a swift and clipping downward kick aimed for the top of Mary's cranium with a loud guttural cry of "HOOAH!"

COMBATSYS: Mary dodges Shihong's Short Kick.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/------=|


COMBATSYS: Kenji successfully hits Mary with Claymore.
- Power hit! -

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/----===|


And then the fight goes back to Mary, it seems. At least.. goes to her at all.

"Ya'll just comin' at me now?" She exclaims to the two, as she watches on. Well, Shihong for example is already at her, and she has to deal with the woman first. Which is simply her target.. or was her target. With the Chinese woman coming from behind Kenji, Mary has just enough time to slide away from the kick, bringing the parasol back with her, before .. well, the blue powerful spike of energy causes her to erupt upwards, spiraling into the sky. Ping!

Not really. She's sent upwards, which is quite true, but Mary uses the umbrella to negate some of the ill effects, gliding downwards. Despite the slight singing, she's not really all the noticing what has happened to her. "Ya'll should see the view from up here!" She exclaims, "And y'know, I'm feelin' a mite generous darlin'!"

Falling straight down, Mary rips the J handle off the parasol and whips it towards Kenji's leg.. but what he probably wouldn't quite enjoy is the clouds that form up, above them all.. and he's heading right into them as they begin to rain. It's not nice rain either, somewhat 'acidic' in terms of chi.. but oh, he's heading straight towards them if he's not lucky, whipped straight up.

"Ya'll such a nice man for keepin' up the tradition of ladies first, but ya'll just ain't my type." He's also way too young.

Looking onto Shihong, she shrugs. "Darlin', there ain't any good 'way' to play these games. Ya'll just have to enjoy yer'self!"

COMBATSYS: Mary successfully hits Kenji with Feed the Birds.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/-======|


In a rare moment of insight, Kenji analyzes the attack that was just thrown at him, layer by layer. She rips her umbrella apart, but then there's suddenly a cloud ... over his head? The stinging rain pounds down on him, keeping him from going too far in any one direction. His hands over his head, the Gedo student lets out a strangled, "Gyagh--!! Agh!! Ow ow ow ow ow ow owowowowowowowowowow kgghgaaaa--" And then he stands straight up and storms out of the chi-laced manifestation of water, swinging his arms around and stomping here and there. "WHO FIGHTS WITH FLIPPIN' RAIN?! God!!"

His shoulders, arms, back, and his head all sting and burn, though he certainly has no problem bearing down on the descending woman and swings his fist in a -huge- arc, throwing a punch that seems to intentionally miss. And it does so for a reason-- chasing after his knuckles is a gout of white-blue flames, looking to tear across Mary's front and deal with this problem right quick and in a hurry!

"UUUUUUUUUUURAAAAAAAAGH!"

With a harsh swoop down, Shihong's leg cuts through empty air.

And that's it.

With a slide back Mary avoids the kick, to which the woman watches with mild curiosity--especially when the umbrella comes into play as Kenji snares her and sends her airborne. Tilting her head slightly, rouge lips pull into a thin, pensive line across her face. That had to hurt, she muses. And the way she sailed so high...

It becomes clear when the hook-end of the umbrella's grip snares Kenji and thusly involves itself in the odd process of dumping chi rain on him. Further confused and perplexed by this odd turn of events, Shihong simply exhales and bites back a tiny chuckle as Kenji protests loudly. His frustration is understandable.

When spoken to, as Kenji makes his attack, the black-eyed Chinese woman does little more than observe the other, odd woman and her parasol. Rather than respond, however, she offers no more than a cold smirk, black eyes flickering with a hint of red, like new life being breathed into cooling coal. Have fun?

She'll just stand to the side and exploit the next opening instead. Council Member Ashima and the Parasol Lady can have their fun.

COMBATSYS: Shihong focuses on her next action.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/-======|


COMBATSYS: Mary blocks Kenji's Twelve Gauge.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            0/-------/-======|


"Darlin', I do." She exclaims, rolling her eyes a bit. But she is a bit of a kid at times, due to .. reasons.

But Kenji's protest only brings her to laugh a bit at the results. And with Kenji in pain, she's not one to really mind it. But she certainly does as suddenly, Kenji is on her again. Not even a moment to rest with such a forceful boy! Why, this is why the other woman knows him. He certainly never does back down.

But as she floats down, Mary has time to notice Shihong, and she waves to her as she falls. "Ya'll might want to focus on our friend here, darlin'.. she's not supposed to get a free ride just cause of the spring heat!" But what shall she do? There's just a whole lot of choices.. hers is simple enough. The blue flames that attempt to scar against her may end up dealing with the parasol, as she brings it around, and forwards.. she had thrown him there for a purpose, after all.

The umbrella begins to cave as the white-blue flames still burn her, the energy funneled around the parasol still against her, and she gets quite a few lovely burns from it!

But she backs off. "I'm sure your parents are quite proud, raisin' such a nice.. lively one." That's one way to put it, and for the moment, done dealing with Kenji, she turns towards Shihong, "But pardon me.... Miss? Darlin, lets play a game.. It'll be one we have to spin to find out, so!" And she does, certainly, begin to spin. The umbrella moves with her, and since she's on the ground.. the rain seems to help, allowing her to spin faster with less trouble. A side effect of the clouds that hover above her.

It might be a long shot, but the parasol is swung straight for Shihong in all of this spinning mess!

Like some sort of Mary-Go-Round!

With his strike raining across the surface of the parasol, Kenji's next manuver is a backwards step-- a lunge out of harm's way, to keep himself from getting caught up between both Shihong and Mary all at once. Shifting his footing, the young Gedo student, lively as he is, shakes his head. This is roughly the moment where he decides that this lady-- even -if- she were in his desired age catergory-- is a little too off her rocker.

Taking the moment that Mary uses to attack Shihong, Kenji lowers his stance and brings his fist to nearly punching the ground. An explosive burst of that white-blue flame erupts from the ground, punctuated by the gutteral scream:

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--"

The chi radiates up from his knuckles, screaming and trumpeting up to the sky in a wild and feral manner. It's stupidly bright, but the light of day makes it a whole lot easier to deal with it, and the heat isn't uncomfortable at all!

COMBATSYS: Kenji gathers his will.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Mary             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0          Shihong
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/----===/=======|


COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Mary's Element of Fun.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mary             0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0          Shihong
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/----===/=======|


"I think it's more because you pose to mister Ashima the greater threat," the woman offers with a low tone, black depths flickering red once more. "At least that's my perception." What with all the blades and acidy water being flung about and through the air, as opposed to Shihong's legs and fists. It's just a little bit of a hunch, Shihong privately muses, as pale features harden a bit.

A glance is spared to the aforementioned Kenji Ashima, who has since relented in favor of sparking up energy and otherwise making a huge scene there on the parlor's roof. If he's going to stay back for the time being, that is fine by Shihong. It gives her a chance to test the odd, parasol-wielding woman's mettle.

"Please, don't call me 'darlin','" the Chinese Enforcer states with a stern but level tone. "I'm not a child. As for your game..." There are no words; instead, the woman watches as the insane 'southern belle' swings and spins...and spins and spins. It brings a frown to the pale-faced Chinese woman's red lips.

"No finesse, no poise or grace or even style. This is fighting?" the woman wonders aloud, as Mary gets closer. Regardless of the Chinese woman's thoughts on the other woman's style, she intends on crashing into Shihong--to which the Asian woman swings her arms up and intercepts the brunt of the parasol-led assault on her forearms. The impact sends her skidding back a few feet on the rooftop, arms still shielding her face. A low chuckle rises.

"Well, I'm going to give the boy a little time to recover, I think," the Chinese woman offers to the other female fighter. "So for now, it's just you and I. Strong umbrella, I might add. A miracle it has yet to fall to pieces."

Lowering her arms, the woman gracefully extends them, long fingertips igniting with red energy. It sparks like flames, her black eyes now red as the unnatural flames grow, gathering and intensifying as she focuses deeply on that very energy.

"Training don't fail me now," she mumurs...

Before she draws her arms around in a flourish display, arms dropping at chest level before she thrusts her flaming palms forward. From her hands leaps the massive gout of psychic vermillion flames, reminiscent of a dragon as it sails with an open maw right for the other woman.

"You're next, Ashima!" the woman warns, casting the young Gedo council member a grin and glance.

COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Coiled Dragon EX from Shihong with Singing in the Rain.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mary             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0          Shihong
[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/----===/=======|


And then Kenji falls back, out of the way between the two. Oh bother! This means that the woman has to deal with Shihong, don't it? Even if she's spinning and spinning! That just makes it difficult. But while spinning, she certainly notices the white hot blue flames that shoot up about Kenji! That's something that's just a tiny bit hard to miss!

But there's something more, such as Shihong's attention on her. "Ya'll just flattering me now!" She explains, staggering back, somewhat dizzy still from her actions. But mostly alright. But the Chinese enforcer has many words to give. "Ya'll still a youngin'." She shoots back, wagging a finger towards her. "And why should I have to follow any o' your 'ways'?" She asks, "Fightin's just a game, ain't it?" But Shihong mentions something about the umbrella, as well as making it between the two. Unfortunately... the red energy that begins to gather around Shihong is one that the G-Project never .. 'imbued' their members with. They could never really focus on such a thing.

Which is why when the massive gout of psychic flames shoots out, Mary suddenly has something to actually worry about.

"Oh .. golly gee. What a bother." She exclaims.

And then dashes towards it, swinging around a chain .. only to get struck completely by the dragon, the woman screaming as she tumbles down the side. Rolling to the bottom, Mary ends up against the edge of the 'bowl', parasol covering her, but her body mostly jolting.

The G-project, as noted before, only gave her the infusion of energy she never had.. but they didn't prepare her with the capabilities against psychic manslaughter.

She stares up into the sky as rain begins to pour down more, dripping across her harmlessly.

That was a bad feeling, compared to all the rest she had felt before.

Lost in the roar of his own flames, Kenji doesn't hear what's being said between Shihong or Mary... but, eventually, he rises from his pose and continues to gather that brute force power in-- the entirety of his right arm soaked in it, from top to bottom. Surely, Kenji Ashima isn't the most graceful wielder of chi in the world: He doesn't have the means to saturate a weapon with it like Tenma, he doesn't have the fine-tuned control like Hakuya, nor does he have the precision and agility of Stasya...

But hey, relentlessly pounding the crap out of something with bare fists has worked for him for the past four or five years, hasn't it?

This is demonstrated as he takes his step back in, charging toward the two fighters and extending a hard stomp with his left foot. His heel pivots, his toes dig down, and the whole of his body comes around as a whip. Moreover, his right arm seems to unnaturally bend like rubber, though his fist travels a straight arc-- one that tries to drive square and true into Shihong's stomach, with skin, muscle, and bone suddenly seeming as though they should be a much harder material, like stone.

COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Kenji's Missile Fist.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Mary             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0          Shihong
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/-----==/=======|


Shaking her head lightly, the Chinese woman offers nothing in response, save for the actions of her body. Following the movements, Shihong's arms shoot forward and, as result, a burst of energy roars to life and at the odd southern woman. For all her best attempts, that furious gout of energy bites into the woman and sends her tumbling. The Chinese woman, on the other hand, simply exhales, long arms going lax.

That took a bit out of her, Shihong muses. Breathing deeply, she lets her body relax further, her head bowing slightly before she offers little more than a light grin to herself. Her training didn't fail her after all. She's proud of herself. It means she's getting strong--

Movement catches the Chinese woman's eye, black depths flickering red once more as she whips her head to the side. There she spies Kenji charging forward, a fist travelling right for her stomach with impressive intensity. The woman frowns lightly before she snaps an arm into action, dropping it low to catch that offending fist in her palm.

A friendly smile crosses Shihong's lips.

And then a leg shoots upwards, a vertical kick aimed right for Kenji's awaiting jaw, a powerful yell escaping her red lips..!

With Kenji assaulting Shihong.. and the reverse, Mary is still staring upwards, only listening. There's little she could have done, going all out upon Kenji ... in response, she had nothing back to respond to Shihong.. properly with. But she realizes, in order to continue this at all, she'll have to get back to her feet.

So the woman does. Mary finally pulls herself up, the water getting redder as she lays in it longer. The serpent was able to 'bite' into her side, and the white woman has little to do in response .. except just bear it. There is little to grin about in the response, altogether. Staggering, the parasol used to hold her up, even if it's somewhat bent, it works well enough.

Shaking herself off a bit, she controls her breathing, looking, watching the youngin' and the woman clash.

She'll let them revel in their youth! While she takes some time to catch up with them.

COMBATSYS: Mary gains composure.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Mary             0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0          Shihong
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/-----==/=======|


COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Shihong's Medium Kick.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Mary             0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0          Shihong
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/-----==/=======|


At one time, each time one of his punches would get caught, and Kenji would react adversely-- but now, after this long, he's become a little more tempered to it. Still, it forces him to react accordingly and immediately, as it suddenly occurs to the teenage boy that the Chinese woman seems to be incredibly flexible.

And then -he- grins.

His arm hooks around just below his chin, catching the leg in the bicep -just- below his jaw, immediately swinging his arm down to push it away. He pushes off with one foot and scissors the other leg up, trying to stomp down on Shihong's chest with his bulky Kick-Roller, the stomp bad enough-- but then a surge of chi screams down his leg and tries to force it's way into Shihong on impact. If it takes, then it becomes a whole lot worse for her as the chi 'explodes,' and it'll more than likely give her insides a good, violent rattle!

"UrrrrrrAGH!"

COMBATSYS: Shihong fails to interrupt Magnum Spike from Kenji with Savage Tiger.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Mary             0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0          Shihong
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/----===/=======|


With Mary out of the picture for the time being, it leaves the two remaining fighters to do as they will. And Shihong's will is quite simple: attack Kenji, which she attempts, a leg swinging up to attempt to clock him in the jaw. Rather than strike clean, her heel meets his hand. It brings a small pout to the woman's pale face.

Pushed away, she staggers, eyes hooding slightly as she struggles to maintain balance. But rather than let it be, the woman attempts to counteract his attempts to seize her by reaching for his arm.

She poorly miscalculates.

Snared, she's shoved to the ground and stomped hard, followed by an angry gout of chi that lances into her. A ragged, pained gasp escapes her lips as the woman is struck, black eyes wide as she stares at the blue skies above. She got a bit ahead of herself, she realizes.

She won't make that mistake again.

Oh, it's cute how young love spikes. Or at this point, at least seems to. But she's no fool, and Mary knows if she hangs back much longer, she'll only draw more attention. Which is why, when Kenji gets Shihong's attention, the older woman once again decides that waiting for the moment is over.

That, and she now has some feeling back from the rather painful jolt that was sent through her earlier. She feels she has the ability, once again, to completely enjoy it. And she's going to have fun with it too.

As Kenji seems to forget her, Mary moves forwards, behind Kenji as he may just get done stomping on Shihong's insides. That just can't feel good, she notes, but the way she does it might be slightly odd. "Peek a boo!" She cries, aiming to hook the J shaped handle on Kenji's shirt and then slide about the the rounded edge, rain letting her skid, the chains digging deeper and deeper into Kenji.. if he can't free himself.

It might induce loss of breathe, as well, before he's released.. and sent spinning, towards one of the edges!

"Ya'll like stratchin' your lungs, darlin'? Might lose your voice one a these days!"

COMBATSYS: Mary successfully hits Kenji with Sleeping Time.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Mary             0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0          Shihong
[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/--=====/=======|


Strangely, Kenji doesn't even seem to acknowledge or even process that Shihong had attempted to break through his attack, his eyes and focus straight ahead-- on the task at hand. Though even to his surprise, a little, he seems to overdo it a bit, taking Shihong to the ground with the stomping kick to the stomach, burst and all. His foot withdraws almost instantly, though, taking a few steps back and changing his stance a little.

'Cause it would be rude not to let a lady rise!

Looking over his shoulder, now he's suddenly processing an umbrella in his shirt, chains just being -there-, and having the life just squeezed the hell out of him by those lengthy links of metal. It ushers in a gagging noise and wide eyes, suddenly realizing just how much it -sucks- to not breathe-- but then his arms pull against the metal and he wriggles a bit, trying to quite simply power himself right out of it-- to shake the chains loose and likewise throw the umbrella hook away, immediately glancing back at Shihong-- expecting an attack.

Kenji hops once, then starts to take a light, almost casual jogging gait backwards, keeping the pair in his sights. Looking between them, he seems to be getting a little more focused than he was before, though a little, "Heh heh...!" escapes him. Pardon him, just catching his breath!

COMBATSYS: Kenji gains composure.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Mary             0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0          Shihong
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/---====/=======|


And all the while Shihong holds back, black eyes observing both Kenji and Mary as the two engage briefly once more. Snared and strangled by the odd chains connected to the giant black umbrella, the Chinese woman just paces back a few steps and moves aside, letting the two have it out before Kenji escapes and shoots the Southsynd enforcer a fleeting glance. She's not attacking him.

Well, yet.

He doesn't attack himself, either. Breathing a light sigh, the Chinese woman just offers a light, roguish smile to the youth before those eyes slide back onto Mary. She seems kind of lonely at this point, anyway. And it just wouldn't do to go on 'ignoring' the older lady.

Wordlessly the black-clad woman moves, racing across the rooftop. A few feet from Mary, however, the woman leaps, a sharp kick aimed for the woman's chest and, should she land, the Chinese woman will simply springboard off of Mary and flip midair before landing in a slight crouch.

COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Shihong with Beg Your Pardon.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Mary             0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0          Shihong
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/---====/=======|


As she wraps up Kenji, Mary isn't worrying quite too much. Especially not with all the trouble that he's made to go through .. and even if he hangs back a slight bit, gathering his breath and all while shaking himself out of the snare that she has put him in.

Yet this time, as she's turning, Mary notices Shihong.. coming towards her, as well! "Ya'll such a nice woman, not forgettin' me." She exclaims, before spinning the umbrella around.. and then promptly trying to dash towards Shihong. It doesn't quite work, the woman getting a footprint in the middle chest for her efforts, stumbling backwards and backwards, staring upwards at the end of the assault, but flipping to her feet after.

"Hah... Looks like I might still have to get used to this .. thank ya'... you're such a peach." She exclaims, "All rosy like one too."

But the woman seems to enjoy black a bit too much! Winded, completely now instead of somewhat, Mary has to pull back .. perhaps she's a good target at such a time! But that was a nice solid strike from the young lady, that's for sure!

Enjoying his moment to view things from afar, the young Ashima twists at the waist with his elbows held up at shoulder level, getting a good stretch to either side in and wiping a little bit of sweat off the brow. Why did they have to make them fight outdoors in the summer on top of a place that by it's very nature is so very cool?

Kenji then takes a moment to consider his options: First, he could punch someone. Then he could punch someone harder. Or he could call one of the girls saved to his phone's address list!

For the time being, though, he'll settle on doing something.

Running ahead again, breaking back into the fray, he seems to be capitalizing on the fact that Shihong's got herself facing Mary and pressing through the older woman's attack. To this extent, he swings his arms ahead and tries to ensnare the woman in a great big bearhug around the waist from her crouch, then lean himself backward and -toss-, looking to fling the woman onto the roof with the intent of driving head and shoulders into it. You could call it a rather sloppy German Suplex if you wanted to nerd about it, but why sweat the small stuff?!

"OOOOOOORA!"

COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Kenji's Strong Throw.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mary             0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1          Shihong
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/---====/=======|


A compliment? It briefly puzzles Shihong, but soon enough the woman makes her move; springing into the air, the Chinese woman delivers a swift kick that strikes the poor woman before she can swing that odd umbrella up to catch her. Springing immediately off, Shihong leaps into the air and flips, landing a bit away from the southern woman in a slight crouch, legs bent at the knees.

"I suppose so, miss," does Shihong ultimately reply to Mary. What a weird lady.

The sound of footfalls from behind draw the Chinese woman's attentions from Mary, however, as Kenji comes blazing into action once again. Frowning slightly, the woman spins around and drops her arms at her side. The result? Despite the bearhug, it makes it a bit more difficult for Kenji to really grasp the woman as strongly as he'd desire.

A smile briefly haunts her lips. "Hi~"

Then she's lifting those arms up and breaking his firm and suffocating grasp, before he can summarily smack her head and shoulders-first into the rooftop. That's the last thing she needs, after all.

"You should show your elders more attention," Shihong explains to Kenji, as she swings a foot around and up, attempting to deliver a swift hooking kick at his neck to disorient and send him staggering--hopefully toward the other woman! "She might get jealous~!"

Having been forcibly knocked away, Mary is .. mostly at the end of her rope. There's little that she hasn't done at this point, and she's winding down. The other two seem to be doing quite better, in comparison, and she.. may perhaps pay for it in the end.

Yet as Shihong is set upon by Kenji, Mary spins the parasol around, preferring to bother the boy once more.

"Ya'll always pick the best times." She notes, to Kenji. Shihong's already away from her by then, and certainly.. she wants nothin' to do with that lady. She'd much prefer Kenji, truth be told, and there's nothing like playing hard to get like ordinance to the chest!

Kicking off the scoop, she slips to the edge of the bowl, taking a deep breathe and overcoming the fatigue, attempting to keep going. "Ya'll don't worry 'bout me, if I need attention, I'll get it!" And .. taking aim, sends two bolts, spinning towards Kenji's back, the two quick presses on the J handle causing them to shoot out.

The rain is still, oddly enough, coming down.

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Mary's Power Shot.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mary             1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1          Shihong
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/--=====/=======|


COMBATSYS: Kenji endures Shihong's Short Kick.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mary             1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1          Shihong
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Kenji            1/=======/=======|


The signal that something is immediately wrong is when she's resisting the hug intended from behind-- but now ever-so-close to the love of the last hour. His arms are pressed to the side, and he -sees- that leg whipping up to slam into his throat, but the Missile Fist holds his ground-- letting the kick power right into his neck full force-- all while his right arm begins to draw back, the chi he wields beginning to swell within.

Smacked to and fro like some sort of flea, he turns in time to see the pump-action parasol fire off two bolts of metallic pain his way. Twisting to the side a bit, the young man's forearm catches the two blades with a bit of a surprised squawk and a loud, off-key, "OW HEY GOD WHAT--" cry of pain. From being stabbed by his military goddess to this, he's getting quite tired of it! As seen from the hint of light in his eye, the sudden expression of anger that could, if he exaggerated himself any further, could look very comical.

"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!!"

His right arm explodes into that white-blue fire one more time, roaring in the air and flaring about. In the meantime, a blue light shoots across the rooftop, spearing through Mary and going right beyond. It causes no damage, but it serves as a marker while Kenji comes storming in at her. When he stands before her, his left leg impacts first, kicking up a puff of debris at his feet.

"SET!!"

The chi surges from his shoulder and compresses itself into his forearm, crushing itself further into a brightly glowing fist. When it touches the blue light, it rockets forward as though it just hit a track, looking to drive a powerful punch right into the woman's chest. Not only is it hard, his wrist twisting on impact and driving his knuckles in further, but there's a hesitation-- a spearing burst of white-blue light before the exploding shockwave-- or, in short, a loud -ka-BOOM-!

Scattering rooftop gravel, debris, dust, and whatever isn't nailed down or weak to the sudden ripple of power in the air, the attack fully intends to confer the impact and shockwave to Mary and the surroundings beyond his punch and throw her right off her feet. His voice yells out two words in English over the roar:

"RAIL GUN!!"

Tilting her head slightly as the kick connects with Kenji, Shihong can't help but watch as Mary shoots off an odd sort of device at the Gedo student council member, another set of blades fired from the odd umbrella. Unfortunately for the youth, they're far more keen than they appear, leaving a nasty mark on his forearms. Even Shihong has to wince slightly in response.

Weapons-based martial artists. She'll never understand their art.

Shihong begins to move, as Kenji suddenly ripples with chi. It draws an odd expression over Shihong's features, black eyes widening slightly. Her body jerks slightly, as her heels dig into the ground, her steps ceasing. That energy. 'Chi,' she was told. Man she hates that stuff.

Rather than pursue, the woman backpedals swiftly and takes a defensive posture, black eyes flickering red as she watches both fighters. A calculating and tactical sort, the Chinese enforcer does not pursue directly; instead she glances about before she spies something--piping atop the roof. Beelining for it, the woman delivers a harsh kick to the piping and dislodges a portion, which she picks up and reels an arm back before releasing it, sending the piping spiraling through the air, right for Kenji's middle back.

It's cheap but...hey. It's a fight, and that free pass WOULD make a good gift...

COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Rail Gun from Kenji with Practically Perfect.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1          Shihong


COMBATSYS: Mary can no longer fight.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1          Shihong


Unfortunately, the blades don't quite do what they are intended to.

And unfortunately, the flaring arm comes about, and the chi surges forwards. Mary herself hasn't had quite much luck with such things, and as the rocket rushes towards her .. oh, she could hang back .. but where's the fun in that? there just isn't any! So like some sort of loony, she dashes towards the rather large punch, spinning the umbrella.. but it just doesn't work as she expects.

The burst of energy causes her to suddenly erupt away, being shot through the air.. and clanging hard against the wall of the metal framework where they fought. Stopped completely, Mary doesn't get up this time.. the clouds vanishing for the moment, and the woman, white and pale, getting a little rosy color due to the blood that begins to seep.

But honestly, she's quite alright! The G-Project has told her it's perfectly natural! .. As natural as whatever she is now, that is!

COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Kenji with Thrown Object.
- Power hit! -

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1          Shihong


The strange rain over the older woman's head ceases, and Kenji seems to click back to reality now that he's seeing his handiwork-- and how he just knocked that woman flying like that. Inwardly and outwardly he cringes, his hand momentarily extending toward Mary blown across the roof and slugged right out of the match. That's when it clicks that Kenji has other things to worry about, like say--

PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPE!

The pipe slams into his back right on cue, Kenji's back arching and his eyes gone wide as the crushing weight digs in and keeps pushing. For a second there, his legs go weak. For a second there, he stumbles and falls to his knees, clambering forwards and then staggering to the edge of the roof. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW-UH."

Bent forward but with his back still arched back, he's holding onto a section of the edge of the roof for support, blowing air out of his mouth in huge gasps and eyes as wide as saucers. "Ow. Oh man. Oh jeez-- ow. OW. OW!!" After that bout of baww'ing is finished, though, he forces himself straight and twists at the waist again, the satisfying crunch of bones signaling him getting himself straightened back up a bit.

Kicking the pipe to the side, he opts for the more direct approach now:

Running in at Shihong, Kenji's left arm hooks low, trying to drive his fist in for a stiff blow to the gut, a little extra 'oomph' tossed in there for good measure. But even if he hits, even if he misses, he tries his best to stay close-- keep in and be ready to throw the next shot!

COMBATSYS: Shihong dodges Kenji's Strong Punch.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1          Shihong


In one swift, heroic and loud moment, Kenji takes out the umbrella-wielding southern woman.

It's impressive, really, so much so the Chinese woman refrains from approach. Instead she dislodges and throws piping at poor Kenji's back with surprising force, so much so he's stumbling and staggering very near the roof's edge with a loud yell that draws an odd look from the Southsynd enforcer.

What an odd kid, that Ashima! His display earns him a lopsided smirk from the woman remaining.

Soon enough, however, Kenji is back in action, attempting to drop an arm and drive his fist into the woman's gut. Rather than take it directly, Shihong opts to avoid it period; with a leap high and backwards, the Chinese woman flips out of harm's way, landing on her palms before she pushes off and lands on her steel heels. Only then does a smirk edge over her rouge red lips. No closeness for Kenji!

Hooding her eyes, Shihong lets her gaze fix on the bold Gedo council member before she bursts to action. Charging in, the woman attempts to leap off the ground and swing a leg outward, to side flying-kick into his abdomen. She'll bound off shortly after and swing a leg up, concluding the aerial strike with a second kick aimed for his sternum as she kicks away with a loud cry of:

"HAAAAYAH!"

COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Kenji with Strong Kick.

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1          Shihong


Kenji's in-close manuvers better closely resmble that of a boxer's-- quick footing, manuvering, and the punch hooked for the stomach in a tight arc. But no, Shihong's quick to avoid it-- and even quicker to go out of her way to clear away from the young man and keeping him from throwing an immediate counterattack. There isn't much that could make this worse for the youth, except--

--Well, the other kicking.

Staggering hard, the second kick digs in and drives the student off his feet, reeling backward and slamming down on the rooftop with his arms and legs thrown out, head snapped back. That hurt-- it really did.

But Kenji Ashima's not one to drop that easy.

Rolling over, onto his side, Kenji presses down with both hands and scatters the gravel noisily around his feet as he stands. His chest hurts, and his vision's a bit blurred. Still, he's up.

"You sure kick hard, miss," he says, hand holding his chest and grinning faintly. Things are looking bad for the hero, sure, but he's not down and out yet. No, there's gotta be some kind of chink in this woman's armor, a way to break past those defenses. Move faster than her, even, or hit her hard enough to make it count real good?

Breathing hard, Kenji Ashima takes a moment to consider his options.

COMBATSYS: Kenji gains composure.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1          Shihong


Bounding off Ashima as if he were some human springboard, the woman sails and summarily lands, knees bending slightly as poor Kenji is sent skidding across the rooftop. On rouge lips a sly grin rests; she knows well it hurt, and Kenji tells her as much. Of course it hurt--she prides herself on her ability to dole out some pretty painful attacks when necessary.

"Thanks," she offers, eyes half-lidding as she continues to smile.

"You're not so bad yourself."

Beneath sharp heels, sparks of vermillion energy crackle like cinder from a smoldering fire as the woman paces forward slowly. But soon enough those legs suddenly ignite as the woman's stride breaks into a sprint before she takes to the air again, her body twisting as she flies heels-first for Kenji like some odd human drill. And should that kick land the energy erupts, to send Kenji flying back even farther across the rooftop!

COMBATSYS: Kenji just-defends Shihong's Strutting Crow!

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Kenji            1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0          Shihong


The time for compliments has passed, and the time for getting hurt-- badly-- is now.

Shihong travels toward Kenji like some kind of energy-powered Ryobi drill of death, bearing down on him with that weird power. In this moment, it seems as though victory is assured. It seems like Shihong's got it in the bag, with no way for the young man to do anything except take it.

And Kenji Ashima proves himself to be impossible one more time.

Shihong might find a sudden, strange resistance and the subtle feeling of warmth at her feet as the young man's hands, glowing faintly with his bright energy, are grabbing either one of her feet. His hands release, as if to let her fall straight to the ground. His left leg extends just to the woman's side as his whole body shifts to his left, her right-- and then his foot stomps as if he were driving down an anchor, complete with a burst of dust and debris.

"SET!!"

A harmless blue line of light skewers her chest.

"RELOAD!!"

His arm explodes one more time into that white-blue energy, the brilliant glow immediately compacting itself down his arm and into a brightly glowing sphere at his fist. One that touches the blue light, and one that swings straight at Shihong with the force of a freight train, looking to deliver both a solid blow with that impossibly hard fist and the powerful shockwave to follow it. One more time:

"RAAAAAAIL GUN!!"

COMBATSYS: Shihong just-defends Kenji's Rail Gun!

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Kenji            0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0          Shihong


He stopped her. Kenji Ashima stopped her.

And odd look crosses the woman's pale face as she's grasped by the feet, an odd blue haze emanating from beneath the vibrant, fiery vermillion psychic energy that glows beneath the woman's heels. Legs tense, muscles tight beneath the long black slacks adorning the woman's long legs. Is he going to counterattack immediately?

Instead, she's released.

Immediately does Shihong let her body twist, the fires of red snuffing out as her heels land on the rooftop before she whips her head up. He's doing that move again? The woman lets a frown cross over her rouge red lips. Squaring her shoulders and bracing her body, the woman's black eyes suddenly going red as she just holds her ground.

And soon enough he lunges into action, glowing like some human supernatural bullet right for the woman, fist first. Red eyes widen, as the light begins to swallow her...

And suddenly his fist meets an open palm. A fiery open palm.

"You can't use that same trick twice, mister Ashima~" the woman offers, her words hardly patronizing. If anything, Shihong's tone sounds friendly and playful as her palms glow brightly, to counter that energy Kenji wields.

A sudden motion slaps his fist away; a second brings her other, equally-burning palm forward, to close in and deliver a pure energy strike that bursts violently into the young fighter's stomach!

COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Kenji with Swallow's Wings.

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenji            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0          Shihong


When his fist drives into her palm, he can feel the part where something's -wrong-. Still, he has to go through with what he started, as control of the volatile chi he wields is something he still has a whole lot of work to do with. So with that, when his fist strikes, all of that pent-up force -releases-, the shockwave blowing out around Shihong still. The heat leaves his fist, and the light dies out in his hand.

And then Kenji feels a brutal pain in his stomach, the explosive force of the energy blasting Kenji off his feet and landing one more time in a pile. Gritting his teeth, he throws an arm to the ground as if he were going to break fall-- after he's already down-- and scrambles back to his feet, pulling his hand back and taking one more lunging step toward Shihong.

"One more TIME!"

Reaching out, he tries to grab Shihong by the face proper, to pick her up off the ground with a strange surge of strength, and to spike the woman headfirst into the rooftop. If he can, she'll feel the heat from his chi one more time-- not from his palm, but from below.

"URRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

That's when, to finish this debacle, Kenji Ashima's powers flare up one more time with an attempt to blast Shihong Mao from the rooftop and send her spiralling into the air, out of his grasp and to god only knows where.

COMBATSYS: Kenji can no longer fight.

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


COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Kenji's Claymore.

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


Once again the poor student is swept off his proverbial feet. A smile graces over rouge red lips, as Kenji lands in a heap of barf orange uniform and battered skin. The fight as far as Shihong is concerned is over, and with a curl of long, pale digits, the woman snuffs that psychic flame in her palm.

But...the youth still has fight left in him, as he slams his arm to the ground and gets on his feet.

The woman's red eyes flicker brightly before she smiles, lids hooding as she observes his motions closely. One more time, he loudly proclaims and promises. "Very well," the Chinese woman replies, a grin haunting her lips.

"Let me see what you've got!!"

He attempts to snare Shihong by the face, but the woman moves in kind, a hand sweeping out from her side and inwards, her hand cupped and thumb extended to catch his incoming appendage and bat it aside. Chi flames erupt from below, however. The woman is left with little option but to go with it.

Launched by the flames, the woman is sent high...but lands with a dainty click of heels on the rooftop. Her pants' legs are singed and smoking, no thanks to the chi flames of Kenji's. But hey, she's left in one piece.

And she has a card for a lifetime's worth of ice cream to give as a gift, apparently.

The SNF officials announce the winner, Shihong Mao. But she seems less-than impressed. Grinning lightly, she instead turns her attentions to Kenji, extending an arm to the youth to help him to his feet if need be.

"You did good, Ashima. I see a lot of promise in a kid like you," she offers with a demure smile.

"Keep at it, okay?"

Given her pass and SNF medics attending to cuts and bruises, Shihong...simply heads for the exit of the rooftop. She's done here, and besides. She knows just who to give this pass to.

COMBATSYS: Shihong has ended the fight here.

Log created on 21:41:17 06/23/2008 by Shihong, and last modified on 16:58:35 06/25/2008.