Description: Awhile ago, Yurika mentioned to Kentou that the strongest fighter at the all girl's school was a gang leader named Zaki. How could this be, Kentou wondered? How strong could a gangster at prim and proper finishing school possibly be? Months later, Kentou promptly finds out. Can the boy even hope to impress the incredibly tough and intimidating fighter?
"Hmmmm... Where are yooooou.." Kentou mumbles to himself amidst the branches of the yet unblossomed cherry tree. His tapped hands clenching the branch beneath him as his slipper-clad feet dangle over the edge a story off the ground. The tall trees of the verdant park just outside of the campus make for a picturesque landscape. They also make for great cover to hide from the summer-time crowd far below.
Alas, the youth has taken to stealth these days while around Seijyun. Not because he's in trouble with the campus security--Though he would be if he knew how often he's visited the grounds there--But rather because.. Well. The girls never leave him alone, darnit! Chalk it up to the kid-brother image the youth seems to convey. His feet kick lazily in small circles, as he leisurely munches on a rice ball. Brown eyes continuing to survey the campus ground just beyond the gate, ever alert for the extremely distinctive 'Zaki. While he's never seen the girl in the flesh, the boy knows enough about her appearance that she should be pretty easy to identify. Head and shoulders taller than the average girl at this high school AND, well, from what he's heard, a pretty severe sense of fashion.
His tongue reaching for a few grains of rice slightly out of reach on his cheek as he bobs his head a little lower, looking beneath an adjoining branch to get a better look.
From what Yurika told him, she shoooould be coming this way soon.. But then, everyone's summer schedules can be a little weird. Or so he hears.
As for the meaning of this stakeout? Simple! Yurika-sempai told him that Zaki was the strongest fighter at school. Considering that this very school houses the likes of Hotaru-sensei and even Sakura-sama.. That's awfully high praise indeed! Especially for a girl who is, by all accounts... Uncouth. This fighter he -must- see for himself!
Aoi Himezaki is definately one of the most distinctive people at the school. She doesn't wear the regular uniform, her hair is an outrageous color, and she wears all of those chains. She has the dress slit to the hips. She favors physics rather than the heavy emphasis on home economics and other, "more ladylike" subjects at Seijyun Academy. She has that thousands-strong gang laying in wait, somewhere, just itching for the call from their leader to assemble once more.
Indeed, this is Zaki.
Fresh off her recent stomp in the woods with Hotaru, the gang leader is on her way back to the campus after a little time to relax, away from the stifling halls of Seijyo and with a little time to reflect on her recent bout. There're people she needs to talk to, and there're classes that she needs to prepare for, but maybe, just maybe, Aoi decides, she'll put it off until later.
Walking on the frequently-travelled path, just in front of the campus, the masked gangster has no patience right now for things getting in her way.
Yup. That's Zaki.
After scanning the front yard of the campus for a solid few minutes, the boy exhales in defeat. Sucking the bits of rice from his fingertips one at a time, his attention begins to expand to include more of the park and the goings on within.
A glint of chain. A double-take. Kentou quickly looks over his shoulder to spy the extremely unique individual heading back TO the campus.
Wow. They even let her GO to school? For a long moment, the aboreal youth simply stares at the incongruous figure. Seijyun is a school filled with prim and proper ladies. S..Sakura-sama being an exception but as a gym teacher she makes sense! But this metal-clinking leviathan? A student? HERE? The image is far more at home at a low-class dive like Gedo or the more outre foreigners at Pacific. For some reason the boy didn't expect Zaki's image to be so.. literal. He figured it was her stage presence while fighting or similar. Not.. Like.. Everyday at school!
Regardless, Zaki is wasting no time getting back to campus and the youth's window of opportunity is shrinking by the moment. With a quick swallow, the boy dusts off his hands quickly before simply -falling- backwards. His legs hooking the branch as he smoothly flips upside down. Whirling in mid-air before landing in a three-point stance solidly several paces behind the gang leader.
"Zaki!" Kentou announces as he rises tall! .... The top of his brow juuuuuust about level with her collarbone. One hand on his side with the other pointed, finger outstretched challengingly! Normally, Kentou does not go out of his way to fight ladies. Fighting girls still gives him a disquieted, guilty feeling. At a glance, however, he can tell this ain't no lady.
In a panicked moment, the boy feels the grains of rice still on his cheek. Hastily slapping his hand over the corner of his lips as he quickly tries to clean it off before she turns fully around. o_o;
And while she's walking by, passing by, the tall and toned girl's chain rattles louder and louder as she draws closer and closer. As she goes further away, the sound becomes quieter. Yes, much like a cat with a bell on the collar...
On the concrete walk, the effective roadway to the school's gates, the sounds of her metal-plated ankle boots are very crisp and clear. And when she's addressed with a challenging tone and authoritive voice, Aoi Himezaki rolls her eyes on high. The voice... too shrill to be an adult, and most of the teachers refer to her as Himezaki-san as much as she'd like to break their stupid arms for doing it. A kid from another school, maybe? That would have to be it, for someone to yell at her so stupidly. So then, she decides to turn around.
Facing Kentou, Zaki's imposing stare thrusts ahead as if it were daggers, as if with just -one stare- she could punch him right off his footing. That imposing, powerful aura she carries is well-earned and well-deserved... after all, how do you manage a gang as large as her own without a degree of intimidation and charisma?
Under her buckled leather mask, her lips part for a retort... but then her mouth closes, and the chainslinger turns away. No, he's not even worth the insult... and she hates picking on kids. Without even so much as a shake of her head, she continues on toward the gates of Seijyun.
The imposing girl turns at his challenge and Kentou's pointing hand lowers. A sincere smile just begins to creep out over his features before she levels him with that look.
The intensity of that sudden stare forces him to flinch. That widening smile wiped clean as he half-steps backwards.
Kentou has been in the presence of truly impressive fighters. People that could break him in half without hardly trying, he openly admits. Only one of them possessed a level of pure intimidation that matches what Zaki impaled him with in her eyes. And Kentou flat out ran from him once.
His voice rammed back into his throat, the boy lamely stammers unintelligibly. His mouth working without profit. Even as he fumbles to put words back on the tip of his tongue, the chained monster simply walks away from him. Walks away as if the kid doesn't even register.
Kentou's jaw hangs for long moments. Stunned eyes watching her back as she continues on in her unhurried pace. He's.. Never been ignored before. Mocked? Sure. Beaten? Of course. Utterly ignored? ... That's new.
Kentou doesn't find it to his liking.
Awkward, silent moments pass before the boy's jaw clamps shut audibly. Disbelief giving way to growing outrage as his voice picks up, "Hey.... H..HEY!"
The boy strides forward. Matching and overtaking her pace as he hastens after. "Yurika-Sempai said you were the best at Seijyun!" The small warrior walking right into her shadow, "I want to fight you!" Stating the challenge loud and clear. Its as simple as that to him. Kentou knows, in order to be the best he has to fight the best. See what they're made of and what he can learn from them. There are some fighters, he knows, that wouldn't give him the time of day and perhaps they shouldn't. But this is not a matter of simple arrogance, or so Kentou would tell himself. But in his time under Hotaru's tutelage he's earned himself a measure of self-respect.
Kentou fears nothing and backs down from no one. Not even Aoi Himezaki!
Listening to the footsteps and the pace at which he draws closer, Aoi's eyes roll off to the left, then straight up as she comes to an abrupt halt. He's yelling at her, and now... wait, wait.
Kirishima said what?
Though Zaki's arms are lowered to her sides, her right arm suddenly jerks-- and a massive length of chain spills out, piling down onto the ground. At least three feet, four feet, five feet, six feet...? After what seems like forever, the chain hooks once with a swift flick of her wrist. Looking to her left, over her shoulder, there's a very long pause before she addresses Kentou with a deep voice.
"Listen up, brat. Listen -good-. I'm not in the mood for beating the crap out of some elementary school student that thinks he's too large for his diapers, no matter who the crap you are or whoever the hell told you who I am. I'm just warnin' you right the fuck now, if you try to start something with me, I'm gonna squash you like a bug and send you cryin' home to your mommy. You -get- me?"
Her glare doesn't waver away, her attitude reaffirms, and her arms tighten. The chain may seem to be at rest, but she's waiting for the kid to do something stupid... and maybe then she can teach him a lesson about taking on people who are beyond their level.
Kentou's advance halts abruptly as Zaki unleashes an incredible amount of steel. Mousy eyes widen as a cascade of clattering links fall from her form, staring at the lethal chain before returning his gaze to her in full. Swallowing while keeping himself steady, he weathers that booming voice with small lips pressed into a tight frown.
Well. She's about as personable as he should have expected. And here, Kentou finds himself at something of a crossroads, unable to decide on his course of action immediately.
On one hand, Kentou doesn't want to be That Guy. You know, the guy who shows up at the worst possible time and demands you pay attention to them? That Guy. The youth's aim is not to interfere if she's got something else going on, and as such just timing a match in the near future is an acceptable option.
On the other hand. This could be a test. Not every fighter in the world is going to be as gracious as Hotaru, Frei or Sakura. If he starts backing down now just because someone's getting all angry.. He might as well just give it up.
Kentou does not give up.
"Y..You get ME." Kentou blurts with forced bravado. His fist rising in the air as his trailing leg settles into balance, "My name is Kentou Ondori! Apprentice to Hotaru Futaba and student of the Ondori Fist! If you always go around judging people by how they look.." His fists rise to shoulder level as he eases into a stance. Brown eyes narrowing beneath his voluminous bangs, "..Then you should stop wearing a leather mask to school!"
Hah! Hey, he got her good there! Ha ha ha... ha.. Oh crap, this'll hurt.. The boy begins to realize this with a slow tensing of his neck and shoulders. Well, right or wrong, he's standing up to her.
*woosh woosh woosh woosh*
The chain spins in the air, at slack at first, and eventually becoming taut as the slack disappears slowly but surely. Slowly, slowly wrapping around her forearm and piling around her fist, almost like a massive metal gauntlet of some sort. Zaki stands there with eyes that narrow up slowly, fist tightening up in the shifting chain links. Her gaze turns back forward, the whip of long red hair in the ponytail settling straight back one more time.
"You shoulda said you knew Futaba."
"Still, kid, your insults? Fuckin' suck. So if you say you're Futaba's brat, you shouldn't have any problem with somethin' like..." And suddenly, Zaki twists on her heels. She pivots to her left, turning around hard and reeling her fist around for a stiff punch to the kid's face, chains and all-- and boy howdy, with the oomph she puts into it, it might just give the kid a bloody nose... or a whole lot worse.
COMBATSYS: Zaki has started a fight here.
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Zaki 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kentou has joined the fight here.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Kentou dodges Zaki's Medium Strike.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zaki
As proud as the boy is to be Hotaru's apprentice, Kentou tries to avoid using that name like currency. If anything, he much prefers letting Hotaru's teachings speak for him in the quality of his fight! It just seems this time the boy needed to get his foot in the door, so to speak.
Regardless, that whirling chain's journey is followed with shifting eyes. Culminating in a dead stare at her chain-mailed fist, which is now directed at him.
At Zaki's appraisal of his verbal abuse.. Okay, fine. ._. Witty put-downs isn't his forte, okay!? Kentou doesn't like going out of his way to insult his opponent.. That is, unless they're REALLY really asking for it. A vaguely apologetic pout is all he offers, until the gang leader offers the last warning he's going to get this fight.
Thankfully for the boy, he was not kidding about Futaba's training. Even his stance seems an awful lot like hers--Mobile and quick. That quickness serves him well as he watches that wrecking-ball of a punch whirl and ram straight for him with astonishing speed for such a heavy load of steel! His widening eyes briefly reflect that incoming freight-train before he -whirls- about, dropping down into a whirled crouch with his arms spreading wide!
That's one bullet dodged! No time to waste..
Heart pounding in his chest, Kentou hardly pauses as he -springs- back to his feet. Continuing the momentum of his quick stand, the boy leaps up into the air. Hoping to grab Zaki's outstretched arm with one hand just enough to balance himself as he tries to race up her front in a series of fast climbing kicks! The last kick theoretically sending him into a full back-flip up and away from her! "SHIN JOU-TAI!"
COMBATSYS: Zaki blocks Kentou's Shin-Jou Tai.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zaki
There's a moment of approval in the back of Zaki's mind as the child suddenly dodges down, ducks away from the blow thrown at him. The length of chain piles forward as her fist moves, the slack reeling forward and trying to carry her fist ahead, keeping her from pulling it back immediately. This ends up working to her favor; muscles settle, contract, extend, and then her limb moves in kind.
Her chain-wielding hand is indeed caught, but as Kentou gets his foot working it's way up, as he prepares to 'run up' Zaki in a way that she's so familiar with, the gangster girl whips her arm out harshly to the side, catching his foot somewhere around the second or third kick and shoving him off of her.
Her arm goes forward before reeling backwards, the chain spiraling off her arm like it were an animated serpent of steel links. Flying out, out, and hitting full extent, her arm goes back just a little further-- just enough to put a slight curve into it. Cracking her arm ahead like a whip, the chain tries to wrap around Kentou's leg and clamp down painfully. If she can pull this off, there's a fierce,
"URRRAGH!!"
Pulling with all she can in her arm, Zaki starts to charge toward the Seijyun gate with Kentou in tow, looking to drag the boy along the ground along the way-- and fling him off the end to tumble across the concrete path!
COMBATSYS: Zaki successfully hits Kentou with Chain Flip.
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Kentou 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
One of these days, Kentou is going to learn that just about everyone has dealt with Hotaru's Shin-Jou Tai and has figured out ways to deal with it. Just as the boy was committing to the attack, his foot slams to the girl's forearm and is immediately thrown back and away. Faaaaar away.
The light boy flails in mid-air, attempting to control his wild descent as he manages to half-turn while the ground rushes up to meet him..
..Which is when he feels that chain wind around his leg.
"..Oh craaaaaaaaaaaa-!"
The gangster's powerful pull -yanks- the boy clean out of the air! Completely thwarting his controlled landing as he -crashes- torso-first into the concrete ground. Arms flailing as he's dragged, fingers desperate to find purchase in the Earth as he's taken for a wild, painful ride. His continuous yell tapering off into a sharp cry as he's then -flung- through the air. Sent hurtling like some kind of chain catapult before crashing and rolling end over end and slooowly sliding to a halt--flat on his back.
Moments later the boy's eyes agonizingly open. Briefly crossed and out of focus before the gates high above loom into focus. "Hnnrgg.." Gritting his teeth, Kentou's fingers clench at the stone as he forces his legs to lift into to the air. Generating just enough leverage before whirling about and spin-kipping back up to his feet. Wobbling a few extra steps as he finds his balance once more, Kentou raises his fists towards Zaki as he regains his barings. It seems the boy is tougher than he looks! While clearly battered, he's still on his feet. Fists clenched in determination as he stretches out with his senses. Now that the fight is on in earnest, the boy does as he was trained and starts to 'feel' his opponent. Listening to her. Judging her movements. Get an idea of her intent.
Which is beginning to look like a whole lot of violence.. Real fast..
COMBATSYS: Kentou focuses on his next action.
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Kentou 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Once Kentou's flung off of the chain, sent to skid across the ground, Zaki recoils back-- brings in her chain, letting it dangle at her side. Her 'necktie' continues to jingle and jangle with each swift move. When Kentou gets back up onto his feet, she smirks a little under her mask. He's still a lightweight pissant of a kid, but he's tougher stuff than she had barganed for.
But then she notes that he stands there to get a good look at her, study her movements. Zaki's no idiot herself, she's an insightful sort-- and she knows how to play with the mind of her opponent.
So she makes no outward tells to her next attack, save one-- her chain. Swirling it in the air with a smooth motion, pulling some extra slack to carry it properly, Aoi Himezaki walks toward Kentou with a smooth stride.
Step... step... step...
And then suddenly, she -moves-. It's a blur of motion hard to properly trace, but with a lash of dark clothing and bright red hair, her chain changes direction while she dashes in close to him. While normally a move she uses for anti-air tactics, Aoi is down on bended knee to fling her chain straight out into the air-- to slam into Kentou and pile in -hard-, to literally launch him up and off his feet and send him flying. The second half of the attack comes when she suddenly pulls hard, the chains attempting to snag any limb they can to pull him back down to the ground for a painful slam.
This kid fancies himself a fighter, he's gonna learn how bad some things hurt.
COMBATSYS: Kentou blocks Zaki's Kuuha no Tessa EX.
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Kentou 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Zaki
While Zaki slowly advances, Kentou's eyes close. Just listening to the sound of metal softly whirling in the air. Very formulaic movements, she's pacing herself evenly and slowly. That's strange.. Someone as aggressive as her.. Why would she be approaching him so slowl--Its a trap!
Mousy eyes bolt open as Zaki somehow crossed the distance between them faster than his eye could focus. He knows, she caught him flat footed. He can't get out of the way in time... Which is when a thought occurs. No time to think it through, because he's going for a ride!
Kentou's stance steadies as that chain -launches- into him. His hands cupping together and intercepting that strike to no avail as he's sent -skywards-. The youth's slight frame is hurtled waaaaay into the air, pushed aloft by that ever-extending chain.. Which is still gripped in his tightened hands. Eyes squint past the pain of the impact, watching her even as he sails high.. Until her arm tenses..
"HUT!" The boy's own arms -yank- just as the Gangster does. Using the force of her recoiling chain to help redirect him in mid-air. Sling-shotting him as he darts straight for Zaki like a bullet.
"SOU-SHOU-" Arms spreading out, acting like rudders and driving him into a tight spin. One second before impact the youth takes all his collected momentum and -thrusts- his fist forth at the culmination of one last full revolution! "-SHIN!!"
COMBATSYS: Zaki dodges Kentou's Soushou Shin.
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Kentou 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Zaki
He caught the chain-- no, now he's hanging on, and trying to slingshot himself at her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Zaki chides herself for letting the little punk get a hold of her weapon like that-- but it's no big deal, she figures, she'll just get back at him for it later. It starts when Kentou comes flying in at her with his fists presented, and Aoi takes the initiative by ... not being there. Her right heel shifts back in a swift arc, her left heel scooting in to near-click heels and make a graceful step off to the side.
Letting the chain crack out to the full distance, Zaki whips it ahead in a stiff snap of her wrist. It goes for a direct sting, though steel links may just hurt more than a leathery whip. After the first snap, the chain-slinging girl pulls her arm back once more-- catching the length in her hand so it doubles over and gives her twice the chain for half the length-- and then with both hands set upon it, her body twists at the waist to sweep up at Kentou like she were trying to play some kind of hellish gang-variant of baseball and send the youth reeling from the force!
COMBATSYS: Zaki successfully hits Kentou with Random Strike.
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Kentou 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Air. Nothing but air.
Kentou's striking fist pierces open air as Zaki side-steps with a grace that completely belies her rough, chain-clad exterior. He was so close that time!
The youth immediately dives into a roll as he darts straight past her like a bolt. Rolling three complete revolutions before continuing the momentum to kip straight up to his feet, whirling about in mid-air to face her..
..Only to be -swatted- away! A yelp escapes his surprised lips as the heavy steel -slams- into him. Sending him flying back several paces more in a high arc! His limbs flail in the air, desperately trying to regain a reasonable facsimile of control before crashing back onto the grass of the park before the gate.
For a slow moment, Kentou groans. Eyes fluttering while teeth grit and bear down the pain. Trying to process what he's seen so far, even now his mind at work as Hotaru had taught him..
..She's fast. She's strong. That chain gives her incredible reach. He hasn't been able to land a clean blow yet! Her defenses are almost as good as Sakura's.. Perhaps just as good. The only detail he's noticed.. She can't seem to easily change directions when she swings that weapon.. She can pull it back but it takes total commitment from her. If he can only get her to over extend somehow..
"HUT!" The boy again kips to his feet, if slower this time. Wobbling a few steps as he wipes the blood from the corner of his lip. Dark eyes burn not with anger or outrage.. Only.. Determination. She IS as good as Yurika said she'd be! Already he's learning a lot.. And he can learn more yet!
The gangster may be familiar with Hotaru's techniques.. Lets see if she recognizes one of Instructor Frei's..
This time, its the youth who presses the attack. Moving ahead briskly, but cautiously. Approaching that swinging chain with the respect it has clearly earned.
Lets see how easy she is to distract..
The boy quickly strikes forth. His foot jetting forth low to the ground in a darting kick.. Only to stop short and lean into that leading foot. Hands thrusting up with palms touching and fingers curled!
"HIZASHI!"
A globe of emerald energy comes into being within his hands only to -explode- in a brilliant flash of light! The chi equivalent of a flash-bang lighting off as close to Zaki's face as he can manage..
COMBATSYS: Zaki blocks Kentou's Hizashi.
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Kentou 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
He's quick to get to his feet-- perhaps a good sign, in this instance. Getting smacked around like that, still getting up... is she getting sloppy? This should've been over with already!
Kentou's sudden retort is met with a glare, the doubled-up length of chain in her hands put to a new, harder spin. The slack doesn't wrap the length properly-- not like it normally would-- but it still flips around in the air and tightens up around her extended limb like a bracer of some sort, a sturdy gauntlet presented to Kentou's energy burst. Sure, the light is a little dizzying, but the brunt of it ends up being absorbed through chains-on-arm, the metallic links singing as they rattle up against each other.
"Nice try, brat."
And yet, she doesn't even move away, she doesn't dodge around, she doesn't bother with trying to throw another attack in his face. No, this time she stares at him-- and stares at him as though she were looking -through- him with a brutal, penetrating eye. Where's he going to go next? What's he gonna toss next? Is he going to go running home and cry to his mother?
Well, one can only hope.
COMBATSYS: Zaki focuses on her next action.
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Kentou 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Run? From a fight? Kentou did that once, and only once. -Never- again.
As the boy's flashy attack briefly envelopes the gang leader's upper half, the youth quickly hops back. Fists up and at the ready, waiting for what he presumes to be Zaki's half-blinded response. From what he's seen, the chain warrior never passes up an opportunity to launch a potentially brutal attack. Coupled with the impatience from earlier.. He felt his trap was sound.
..That is, until the light clears and Zaki glares at him with nearly physical force. The youth's eyes widen, taking a half-step back from the threat behind those eyes. He's never met anyone before who's raw powers of intimidation were so jarring. For a moment, even he reconsiders pressing an attack..
..Until his fists tighten. Jaw setting, ashamed of that moment of weakness for even crossing his mind. He started this, and he will finish it!
This fighter is definitely not understimating him anymore. Kentou can feel her scrutiny now.. Perhaps she's confused? Or at the very least, reassessing. Good! That's very good. It also means he can't hold back anymore as she's fully on guard. Time to use one of his stronger techniques.
The boy coils his fist back.. Shrugging his shoulders as his mobile stance roots itself flat to the ground. "HAAAAA!" Kiai building into a roar as he launches a fist forward, stepping into the relatively simple attack. Nothing outwardly special about it. Simply a punch leveled with excellent speed at about stomach-level. "BAKURETSU.." Thrown remarkably weakly however, simple enough to block or deflect away..
..Except that the boy then -lurches- forth. Shoving his entire center of gravity forward as his fist uncurls explosively outwards. Translating an incredible amount of point-blank force at a deceptively close range. The one inch strike enough to knock a grown man clean off his feet! "TEKKOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Zaki blocks Kentou's Bakuretsu Tekkouken.
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Kentou 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Zaki
He takes the staredown-- she can see it, the look in his eyes and the hesitation therein. ... And yet... she notes, he's still standing there. That, in Zaki's book, earns him a few points. He earns a few more by still going out of his way to throw another attack in the midst of all this, charging in for a very bold and direct attack from point-blank range. His fist drives in, and...
Stops. It comes into contact with the chains still around her forearm with a loud rattle, the metallic links shaking and vibrating much harder than she anticipated they would. It translates into some pain in her arm, but nothing vastly serious or terrible-- no, she can weather this.
She does weather this!
Though she still stands tall and true, Aoi has slid backwards just a bit from the force of the impact, her heels scuffing up the floor in the wake of the attack. And then her feet spread wide, her chains spiralling off her forearm until they reach the whip-like extension one more time. Putting a spin to her wrist as now she takes a step back, the chain wheels around at full extension time and again-- and then gets hurled directly at Kentou's chest with all the effort she's got.
If the chains strike, they pile against him one more time, driving on home to slam into him astart to snag, half-wrapping here and there and largely trying to keep him from getting too far away-- so that she can -yank- on the chains and drag him in close so that her fist gets to meet his face, up-close and personal.
COMBATSYS: Kentou blocks Zaki's Hakai no Tessa.
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Kentou 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Almost!
His explosive, short-ranged punch manages to rattle her chains but doesn't shatter her defenses as he had hoped. The youth's eyes widen as his fist vibrates in the aftermath of that jackhammer-like strike. Then and there, the boy realizes he's got nothing left. No other tricks up his sleeve that he can pull. He gave her his second-best shot and her defenses seem completely impenetrable. A lesser fighter would just take this as a sign that they'd best throw in the towel and just quit.
Kentou, however, does not take this as a sign to do anything but try harder. That and.. Zaki doesn't give him much time to think about it! That whirling counter-attack comes fast as the chain -lances- right at him. With a squack he manages to get his forearms in the way. The potent hit -still- pushes him waay back as his heels slide a long distance over the grass, green blades leaping into the air at his passage.
"HUT!" At the apex of that chain-spear's extension, Kentou thrusts his arms outwards quickly. Forearms managing to bat away the entangling steel before it can find purchase, the gangster reeling in her weapon alone. Pure adrenaline keeps the youth moving now, sweat rolls down his face and every movement is forced and tense. Kentou's almost at his limits, but he doesn't acknowledge them. Not yet.. He can still manage a little more.. Just a little more!
"SHINSOKU-" The boy shouts, lifting a foot with his arms raised across. And -down- his foot comes with an audible impact. The youth -crosses- the long distance between them faster than the eye can follow. A blur of movement and his fist is all but in Zaki's masked face, striking forth like a leaping spear.
"YARI!"
COMBATSYS: Kentou successfully hits Zaki with Shinsoku na Yari.
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Kentou 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Zaki
For all of Zaki's skills, she still isn't invincible. For example, she didn't plan on the kid she's fighting to suddenly gain bursts of speed quite like that, nor did she expect him to still yet be able to hit her with a shot that stiff and hard. The redhead buckles forward a bit as the fist digs in and takes her off her paces, arms and legs forward just a little bit.
She's reeling, for the most part. Staggering back to keep her footing, the Seijyun girl looks as though she were going to drop to one knee... but still, somehow, maybe even through sheer -willpower-, she just straightens right back up. As she rises, her chest does as well; inhaling deep through her leathery mask and catching a second wind.
Hooking her leg around low, Zaki's whole body rotates to the right. When she whips around fully, her leg arcs -straight up- into the air, her heel seeking to crash down upon Kentou's head with brutal, crushing force. Energy even gathers at her heel as it comes down, causing a trail of light set to add a little more insult to injury on the young'n's head! "GrrrAGH!"
COMBATSYS: Zaki successfully hits Kentou with Gankou Geri.
[ < > ////////////////// ]
Kentou 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Zaki
Frozen for a moment in time, Kentou's fist finally manages to connect! Arm at full extension, his feet off the ground at a leaping vault. Through the pain and adrenaline, his lips pull into a widening grin! Finally! He managed to crack her defense! He did it! He-
-...A whirl of motion. A glow from above. Kentou's feet never return to the ground as that wheeling kick -DRILLS- right against the top of his head. The world blacks out immediately as a short, sharp shriek barely escapes his lips as he's -driven- to the ground. The blades of grass beneath him pluming into the air as he crashes into the dirt like a meteor. Limbs collapsing moments after his head.
Slowly, the fallen leaves and long braids flutter to the ground. It appears that the tenacious speed bump has finally been purged from Zaki's path, as the youth does not stir from his face-down rest. Thankfully it isn't long after that a slight twitch of an akimbo arm and partly conscious groan proves the boy yet lives.
Even as he mentally takes inventory of all his parts and pieces, head pounding like a jackhammer, Kentou can't help but feel satisfied. He'd grin if his jaw wasn't mostly embedded in the dirt. She really -was- tough! One of the best he's fought yet! And he went toe-to-toe with her for a good round or two. He is improving.. He knows it! He'd thank her if he could..
..But a rest would feel oh-so-very-good about now..
COMBATSYS: Kentou takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zaki 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kentou can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zaki 0/-------/=======|
The bump in her path, finally squashed-- and Zaki won't be able to say that this wasn't for nothing. If this kid really does study under Hotaru, then clearly she's doing something quite right. Though you'll probably never see Aoi take on a pupil of her own, she can come to respect the methods that Futaba probably used in giving him a helping hand along the way.
So, all of it culminates in the crashing kick to the top of the head.
With Kentou put to the ground and the youth letting a groan out as proof of life, the chain-slinging gang leader can at least have that much off her shoulders. All right, good, then he'll be fine. He ain't dead, right? So she steps back a little, reeling her chain up into a large loop before slinging the mass around her neck like a demented necklace to compliment her chain-necktie.
Reaching down, Zaki gets a firm grip of Kentou's shirt and hauls the lad up to his feet, looking to deposit him standing and lightly smack him on the chin with the back of her hand, a short and slight way to get the boy to come to his senses.
"Not bad, shrimp. Go home and get yourself fixed up. Tell Futaba she has my approval." Saying nothing more to the subject, Zaki pulls the chain off her neck and carries it at her side now, striding one more time for the gates of Seijyun and, perhaps, a little time to rest up and study.
COMBATSYS: Zaki takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zaki 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zaki has ended the fight here.
The youth's body simply wouldn't obey him any longer, fully beyond his limits. All sense knocked from and incapable of continuing the fight. Then and only then.. Does Kentou admit defeat. He isn't one give up easily, not when he has an ounce of fight left in him!
But Zaki's strength was not denied. Ground into complete defeat, the youth was in no real hurry to get back to his feet.
His blurry half-consciousness is certainly puzzled at the sudden sensation of altitude. His limp body yanked into the air, amazingly light for someone who hit that hard. Limbs dangling like a ragdoll's for a very brief moment as he's pulled to his feet. Head lolling hard to the side, a moment away from simply flopping back to the ground in a rumpled heap.
Until that back-hand 'lightly' smites him across his chin. Jolting his head back as his legs stumble into motion, "U..Uah?"
Kentou's hands swiftly move to his head. One clamping over the back of his head while the other holds his chin. Eyes rolling in opposite directions until he barely manages to focus in on the gang-leader. As rattled as his cage is.. He cannot miss that command. The tone of her voice cuts through the fog of the beating, voice catching in his throat.
A smile slowly manages to spread on blood-flecked lips, "H..Hai!" Replying weakly.
Yes! He impressed her! He really impressed her! Moreover, he brought honor to his arts and Hotaru's teachings. That makes every bruise, every ache and pain he'll feel for days completely worth it. With what strength he can muster, he then presses his fist to his palm, inclining his head in the smallest bow. A gesture alone that nearly topples him, but he remains standing.. if barely.
Log created on 22:09:07 08/08/2008 by Kentou, and last modified on 01:47:30 08/25/2008.