Description: What starts out as a 2v2 between a team of friends and a team of..., well, not friends, rapidly deteriorates into something entirely different when an unexpected train arrives. Birdie lends his beleaguered cohort, Katana, a hand, helping even the odds... a little. ( Winners: Hotaru/Mizuki/Zach)
Flashing lights. Loud blasting music. Masses of people packed into limited space, filling rows of seating, aisles between them, and all the open area in front of the stage... It may be a fantastic evening out for some J-Pop enthusiasts, but for Hotaru Futaba, it's a nightmare. Strobe lights a plenty leave her barely able to see straight as she stands off to the side of the stage, watching the show in progress. The music is loud, cheerful, peppy. Qualities she doesn't inherently object to, but her taste in music tends toward the more soothing, relaxing genres.
As fate would have it, she's teamed up with her dear friend, Mizuki Kamigawa. And as fate would have it, one of their opponents is none other than the leader of Mad Gear, Katana. The masked shogun stepped out of mostly obscurity a year ago to really go on to make a world-wide name for himself, for better or for worse. Mostly worse. Pesky gangs. Of course, his partner this time isn't the frightening Tauros but rather a fellow YFCC associate, Zach Glen. The ramifications of which remain to be /SEEN/.
Popstar after another get their turn on stage, each with their own beat, tune, and singing. Hotaru recognizes some of them, others she doesn't. In a world where fighters are the real stars, Pop Idols are second fiddle so the infatuation just isn't there for the young fighter. Of course, given the setting, she's been dressed up in a getup appropriate for theme. A blue, knee-length dress with way too many layers and way too much lace. The top is sleeveless, leaving her shoulders and arms bare, and her feet and shins are covered in sparkly blue boots.
The girl exhales softly. "So we meet again," she speaks up quietly, staring across the stage to the other side where Katana and his partner are held in waiting. The singer before them finishes, sweeping off stage in a thick plume of artificially created mist, lights and crowd going wild. It's time for the fighters to take the stage. The real attraction is about to get underway...
Hotaru may not have too much interest in the pop stars. But Mizuki is passingly familiar with nearly all the artists and is a bigger fan of a fewer number of them. Truth be told, she was going to be here anyways--that her SNF is here just makes her want to win faster, or at least get through with fewer injuries so she can attend the rest of the event!
Her attire is also rather J-Pop influenced--though she retains the classic colors of the 'miko', that is, that white top and the red underneath that, the outfit itself is rather different. Mizuki is dressed in a white, short-sleeved blouse, with puffy sleeves and a large ruffle along the lapels, which is edged in black; her hair tied up into a ponytail as usual, but that wrapped with black ribbons... and a poofy, crimson red skirt with several underlayers of petticoats to boot. Her knees and calves are mostly exposed, with flared, red, low-heeled boots to match, bright silver buckles across the tops.
She's a little apprehensive about facing Katana again, seeing as the last time she fought near him she developed a bad case of the stabbings, but at least Hotaru's back to normal for this fight. The flashing lights and the smoke machines are a typical concert touch, but Mizuki finds herself wondering if they'll be a distraction when the fight commences; she steps up next to Hotaru, but a fair distance away. Zach... of course she's fought him before, and he is a fellow YFCCer, but that doesn't mean much in the context of the fight, now, does it?
There is a SHOGUN here. There wasn't one before. But now he is here. There is a J-POP festival.
Wait. Wasn't here before? IF THEY SHOW J-POP AND PLAY IT YOU BET HE WAS HERE BEFORE. But that's for another time. Some of those about, dancing, are part of the Mad Gear Gang. And who said Katana doesn't allow people to relax, kick back, and drink!? YOU BET HE DOES.
Katana knows the varying degrees of people who come and go one stage. And Katana is dressed .. like he usually is. Come on. He doesn't need to dress up for something he NATURALLY fits into. He is a master in Japan. Infact, one could say the Shogun is one with Japan.. IS JAPAN. If Japan is not welcome with J-Pop, then the world is wrong and upside down.
Today he has brought his jitte's, and Katana CHARGES ON STAGE. "Hahahahah!" He laughs, "Again, you are here! What luck .. today.. the Shogun and his sidekick shall defeat you for good, Hotaru! There will be no one who will forget the last performance, or this as well! YOU ARE DOOMED!" He cries out!
As he /should/.
He postures, jitte held upwards, pointing towards Hotaru..
"Do you not see .. THIS TIME YOUR LUCK SHALL FALTER!"
He never shuts up.. and that is Katana, a mass of muscles, brawn, and .. truck.
Zach follows slightly behind Katana, looking more than a little uncomfortable with this team-up. He gaze shifts between Katana, then over to Hotaru and Mizuki. He looks slightly apologetically at the two girls. He is dressed as plainly as he usually is.
It's not the apparel that gives Zach his flash. He gives Katana a flat stare before looking out at the crowd. At least they are just far enough off that they would be clear of most of Zach's... special effects. He looks at Hotaru, a sorry look on his face as he points at Katana, "Dude never shuts up, does he."
Glancing to her sidekick for this match, Hotaru gives Mizuki a supportive grin. She would comment how it's been a while since they fought alongside each other, but that would just be dredging up memories of a time the girl has done everything possible to move beyond. "We'll be fine. Though it does bring up the point that our team should probably practice together more, hm?"
She takes a moment to adjust both of her long blue gloves calmly, head bowed as Katana charges onto the stage. No match with the Shogan of Mad Gear is ever 'normal'. At least she doesn't have to worry about private /property/ damage this time. Just stabbing, skewering, and all around pain damage. "Looks like we're up," she notes, striding out onto the stage, waving cheerfully to the crowd as she settles in on one side.
The stage isself is hardly flat. There are raised areas, steps, stairs, and even platforms up above where singers have stood on during their numbers. The lights never calm down, the music never dims. The Kenpo artist closes her eyes and exhales, trying to find her focus in this extremely distracting environment. With sharp jitte being waved in her direction, she's gonna need to be on her toes.
Glancing up, she grins back at Zach. She knows all about being teamed up with unlikely partners. As a SNF regular, she has to do it all the time. So she can sympathize. Then she glances toward Katana, eyes narrowing just a little, "Luck? I've survived some close calls with you, but I'm not sure I'd dismiss it as just luck." the speaks back, just loud enough to be heard.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru takes no action.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Katana has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
"Looks like... and yeah. But Jiro's usually busy, Alma too... Maybe we should think about expanding the stable." Mizuki smiles, easily, at her friend.
"In any case, I'm glad we're not fighting each other every week on SNF, the way we used to... I may be better than I was before, but I'd just as soon fight with you than against you." Reference to those darker times is left to be inferred or implied, rather than mentioned directly, as Hotaru does herself. The Shogun comes charging in, and Mizuki's lips thin, pursing as she watches him come with those sharp weapons.
But that's what you let yourself in for, when you join SNF... Mizuki does her best to put it out of her mind, as she smiles and nods to Zach. Can't feel good, being teamed up with Katana. But maybe, for Zach, it is better that he's on that side... less stabby-dangerous for him, anyways. Unless he does something wrong.
She'll let Hotaru and Katana banter some--she's mostly focusing just on retaining her spatial impressions. The lights, smoke and noise are just as confusing for her as for Hotaru, perhaps even a bit more so, though she's gone to her fair share of concerts. She just hasn't had to -fight- during one.
Hard to focus? HAH. The Shogun is IN HIS ELEMENT.
There is nothing that will stop him from complete and total VICTORY.
Yet as the Kenpo artist tries to focus, the Shogun just takes it all in. "Chi yaaa No bookunnooooo!" He sings, enjoying this time. Well. Let Zach NOT CARE. FINE. he doesn't need his approval .. he hardly EVER WILL.
"Hahahah! That is what you think, girl... and I shall show you today just what my strength REALLY MEANS!" He poses, muscles flexing, letting Hotaru SEE THE POWER that lies within his arms. HIS MIGHT. And yet it's the sight of Hotaru and Mizuki that draws Katana to do .. WHAT MUST BE DONE.
"Hoo haaa yoo noo KOOO BAAA CHOOOO!" He hops on one foot, then the other, and then raises his weapons while doing it. He is a master.. a SHOGUN MASTER. GOTTA BE A MASTA.. NUMBA WAUN!
But the Shogun must stop his .. terrible dance of might, and focus, once again. "Now.. YOU SHALL FALL BEFORE THE MIGHT OF THE SHOGUN AND HIS POWER!" Katana charges, already, with his MOST POWERFUL ATTACK. The heavens quake, the earth doth shake!
And the Katana doth CHARGE. "SHOGUN .. SPECIAL.. FINISHAAAA! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Oh, those jitte ramming towards Hotaru's gut might not look too good as they attempt to pierce and slam into the wall!
Zach frowns a bit as he takes in his surroundings. He's /seen/ the fights between Katana and Hotaru and Mizuki. Hotaru, at least, got /over/ her crazy. Katana might just surpass Naerose in Zach's list of 'craziest people I've ever met.' He tugs on his ballcap a bit, recalling the rather savage beatings that the Mad Shogun has delivered to these young ladies.
He's not eager to enter this fray. Not in the least. He simply jams his hands into his pockets, and keys up his own energy. He knows his role, why he is in this fight. At least it's better than a museum, or a national monument. Purple light spills forth from Zach, adding to the already chaotic light show that the stage technicians have provided...
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Katana successfully hits Hotaru with Deep Strike.
- CRAZY Hit! -
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Zach
The vibrating stage, the loud speakers blaring, it's all Hotaru can do to keep her attention on Katana. And when he starts singing, she quickly regrets that. Eyebrow twitching, the hint of a headache creeping into the side of her head is hard to miss. It's hard to keep any kind of focus at all. Fretting over dealing with the weapon user in the midst of so much confusion starts to weigh on her mind. How to pay attention without getting thrown off from it...
Opening her eyes as she shakes her head, the girl is startled to find Katana already leading the charge, sharp pointy ends first. Stumbling backward in an attempt to gain distance ends up taking a turn for the worse as her foot comes down on a lower step that she didn't realize was there. Landing hard, the heel of her right boot snaps, twisting the girl's ankle right before Katana plows into her and carries her straight across the stage to smash her back into the wall.
Crying out in pain from the wounds and final impact, Hotaru stumbles off of the wall, limping on her hurt ankle, hand coming up to rest at her stomach. Her outfit has been rendered berift of a middle by the savage slashes, leaving her wounds quite visible. Complexion paling, she looks vaguely sick as the shock of such a punishing assault registers.
Glancing toward Katana, the girl grits her teeth, determined to keep going even after such a catastrophic beginning. Drawing her hands away from bleeding wounds, she tries to get a tight hold on his nearest forearm before she spends too much time getting. Should she get a hold, she'll pull forward, stepping to the side, twisting in an attempt to work the much taller fighter to the stage as quickly as possible before skipping back a step in an attempt to gain distance and collect herself.
"HOTARU!!" Crap--she wasn't expecting things to go this badly so fast. Mizuki pales--she once endured a similar assault from Katana... and she -wants- to go help... she -has- to go help. There'll be time to heal Hotaru later, to give her a boost. Right now... right now isn't the time for a delaying action. She turns to Zach.
"Excuse me," says the redhead--she knows that she should -probably- be fighting Zach right now, but what are teammates if they won't help each other? That said, she turns away, closing in on Katana--but not attempting to get close to him. Instead, she stops maybe ten yards away, sweeping her right hand forward in a horizontal arc.
A glittering energy follows her hand, drawing a line that suddenly extends into a frost-covered, flat shard of icy energy, extending outwards at Katana's position as Mizuki shouts, "You LEAVE HER ALONE!" Okay, okay. It doesn't make sense and they -are- in a fight... but whatever! The important thing is to give Hotaru some room to breathe, to collect herself... to stop dripping blood on the stage.
COMBATSYS: Katana blocks Mizuki's Hyouryuu no Kiba.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Katana dodges Hotaru's Quick Throw.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Zach
There is no hope for Hotaru, perhaps, in THIS situation. The Shogun shows it rather well, as Hotaru stumbles off the wall, already plowed against something she shouldn't and then even worse, the Shogun .. has only begun. Backing off, he lets out a terrible laugh, enjoying his handiwork. "Do you not see now!? The Shogun is only defeated, truly, BY LUCK! There is nothing else you can do .. that the Shogun shall be defeated by!" He truly really never does stop talking.
And she's already going after him. "I admire your ability to keep fighting.." The Shogun mentions, as she slides an arm towards his .. but he bats it away, pulling back, retreating. "BUT IT SHALL BE FRUITLE-" He can hear chi. And a yell. And that's NOT GOOD. He turns to face Mizuki as she sends that icy energy, flat shard of destruction, and brings the armoring upwards, letting it impact fully on .. but it does far less than she might have hoped for, as he erupts. "HAHAHAH! That is all, this time!? IF YOU TRULY WISH TO FIGHT FOR HER, then I, THE SHOGUN, SHALL!"
And then there's a a J-Pop theme starting up. "Nya nya nya!! No No Nyaaaa, boku noo tyaaa NYAAAH!" He sings along with it, body bobbing with the tune, and it's clearly about cats and how awesome they are, in such cheesy music.
THEN comes Katana, charging at Mizuki, jitte flashing as he swings! "... ASSAULT YOU!"
The jitte are swung.. less slashing, more striking!
Zach gives Mizuki a polite wave as he continues to build his light show. The psycho power sweeps to and fro across the stage, and Zach attempts to add to the display with sweeping arm movements, causing swaths of the energy to seemingly dance at his whim. He seems incredibly focused during all of this.
Maybe he is trying to avoid the fight, or simply preparing. It's hard to say at this point, but one thing is certain. He has little or no intention of helping Katana out right this second...
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zach
Her attempted grab is a bit clumsy. Given the circumstances, it's probably not a big surprise to her that her hand gets batted aside, Katana slipping out of range before she can recover and do anything about it. Stumbling forward a step, the girl slows. Pausing for breath, her hand back to resting against her stomach as she glances off to the side to see Mizuki drawing Katana's attention. That should be her job, she chides herself, to keep the masked warrior of Mad Gear from going after her partner. But for the immediate moment, she's just not in any condition to do anything about it. "Che," the girl gasps, wiping her arm across her mouth. Her blue dress is stained dark with her own blood.
She can't stop Katana from going after Mizuki, but that doesn't mean she can't try to catch him afterward. Forcing herself forward, doing her best to ignore the pain in her twisted ankle, the young fighter slides in behind the armored fighter. Scooting low, arms out at her sides, feet spread apart, she moves through that low posture for only an instant before springing up into Katana's back, lashing out with a rapid pair of windmilling strikes.
It's all preparation for the final blow to come should her feet touch the ground again, that is, as the girl slams her right palm out, pouring all her strength into a devastating palm strike with enough force to possibly be felt even through his thick defenses. "YAA!" Maybe she can draw him back off Mizuki as the two girls play with Katana's aggro attentions. Zach's preparations aren't ignored, but she isn't in a position to make much issue about it. Right now she's just going to try and keep standing!
COMBATSYS: Katana successfully hits Mizuki with Medium Strike.
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Mizuki 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zach
Soon, Mizuki's blouse is stained with blood, as well; despite her efforts to avoid the slashing weapons, she catches one in the shoulder, carving a short, deep wound. The sharp, glittery pain of the cut makes her cry out, just as sharply, as she stumbles backwards--but, like Hotaru, she is resolved to keep standing! And with Hotaru attacking from the back, Mizuki resolves to attack from the front, perhaps letting Katana be the brief filling in a schoolgirl sandwich of a violent nature.
Her attack is simple, really, and borrowed from Hotaru's own playbook, as she summons her courage, stepping forward and thrusting both palms forward in an open strike--one high, one low. Of course, Katana's crazy enough to defend against it, and skilled enough... but perhaps magic can happen when two schoolgirls work together, eh?
The dark red blood flows down one side of her shirt, staining it--the ensemble's already ruined, though the blouse can be replaced, easily enough.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Katana with Soushou Shin.
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Mizuki 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zach
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to counter Strong Punch from Mizuki with Random Strike.
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Mizuki 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zach
As Katana attempts to take the strike from Hotaru, the Shogun is battered against by the assaults from both Hotaru and Mizuki. First comes the strike from Hotaru, as the young fighter slips behind him, and strikes with both arms, slamming once and over again. More and more strikes as she springs onto his back, and casuses him to slam her palm outwards, the strength enough to force him to stagger forwads! "You DARE TOUCH THE SHOGUN!? YOUR FRIEND SHALL NOW TASTE NOW PAIN!" He cries, clearly not enjoying it, and collapsing backwards a bit, he attempts to grasp for ZACH, and use him to strike Mizuki.
But it is impossible. He is too far away, and well, Mizuki is right there. The punch slams into his mask.. but only manages to anger the Shogun.
"I will take care of YOU next... infact.. ALL SHALL FEEL THE MIGHT OF THE SHOGUN, SOON, AND SHALL LEARN OF THE MIGHT I TRULY CONTAIN!" He's obviously taking this extremely well.. who could argue otherwise?!
"I demand ... THAT THERE BE MUSIC FROM GUNDAM! HYAAAAGH!" He cries out, yelling to the air.
And then to Zach. "Do something .. YOU WORTHLESS MEMBER!" He doesn't really like Zach's uselessness so far. "The Shogun will only carry YOUR worthlessness for so long!"
Zach looks up from his display. People who are sensitive to such things may be experience slight headaches from the sheer amount of power Zach has brought forth. The sweeps of energy waver slightly as Zach's attention is broken. It flickers a bit as Zach frowns at Katana. He brings one hand up, and all of the loose energy he has been shifting around collects in one fist. He holds it there, slightly away from his torso as it shakes and glows.
The glow starts to intensify, swallowing the fist that holds it, throwing glares and stretching shadows across the stage. "Hey you," Zach asks Katana almost conversationally. "Are you okay?"
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
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Mizuki 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Zach
Her palm strike delivered, Hotaru snaps her arm back quickly. The sound track changes on demand to give Katana he's ORDERED GUNDAM music, only provoking another eyebrow twitch from the pained Kenpo artist. Headache city, even without thinking about the loss of blood. She steps back quickly, rising back up to standing, hand going to rest at her stomach again. Having walked off the hurt ankle a little, she drops down to a one knee crouch a few yards off, getting her breathing under control.
She's managed to draw Katana's fire off Mizuki a little, maybe, and now she needs to pull herself together, get her breathing under control, and try to focus out the pounding beat of the loud music. Glancing up from her kneeling position, she takes a glance toward Zach. That he's staying out of the way and not doing anything to help the Mad Gear gang leader is readily evident now. And judging by Katana's yell, she isn't the only one who's noticed.
Shaking her head quickly, she unbuckles both boots and slips out of them. Easier to fight in stockinged feet rather than try to deal with the fact that one boot has a broken /heel/. "Careful, Zach." Katana isn't the sort that will take a lack of cooperation casually. She glances toward Mizuki next, making sure that her friend is doing all right. "Hang in there Mizuki," she gives her friend a smile after a moment, "I'll be all right!" Maybe.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru gains composure.
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Mizuki 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Zach
A hit! Mizuki is happy about that. But not too happy, because Katana's still an exceedingly dangerous foe. Hotaru's rest looks to have done her some good, and that's all to the good for her... Zach... well, Zach's not doing anything except glowing. That's actually really good for Hotaru and Mizuki, isn't it, though? He'll be a problem--later, not now. Right now, her focus is on Hotaru and Katana. Mizuki smiles back at Hotaru, as she warns Zach and assures the miko.
She's sure Hotaru will be fine. No one's died yet on an SNF, right? Medics -are- standing by. But with the breathing room she just got, she's got to think about what she wants to do. Fading back, she takes up a spot about five yards from the edge of the stage... and then, like Zach, begins her own lightshow.
Energy--chi, not psionic energy--begins gathering, licking upwards in a circle around her, the edges undulating and coruscating like the meters on a graphic equalizer, blue-silver. When she's ready, she'll work with Hotaru, as teammates should.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.
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Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Zach
The SNF was just going great. People popping around and fighting. Katana kicking butt and taking names (last round never happened). And Zach making sure that this light show for the J-Pop idle show in southtown goes off without a hitch.
What could this be missing?
A train. And that's exactly what's coming into the station. Driving a miniature train, a conductors hat over his hair and a giant bling solid gold pendent around his neck, Birdie moves. Oh and boy does he move. Chugga chugga. Right through the front of the show, right through. He doesn't care about the cameras or people, but a large man in a small train that was hijacked escaping slowly just comes right through.
And since he's so quick he saw the whole thing with Katana. The large, black man just makes his way forward, putting the train in park after a terribly piercing CHOO CHOO before the smoke floods the aid. Birdie snorts, looking around.
And then he cups his hands.
"KATANA," Birdie shouts, loud and terribly grating, "KILL HIS ASS." As one can tell, Birdie is quite cultured. Slowly making his way out of the small cramped train front, Birdie is just about twice as large as it is at full height. "I'm sick of his bloody horrible attitude! The bloke wants to be made into a piniata." Birdie snorts.
Lets totally forget the who J-Pop playing in the background. Birdie has, well, mostly. It's sort of comes with the whole jacking a kids train and driving it to Katana to tell him something important. YEAH. It's that important.
So very important.
COMBATSYS: Birdie has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
> //////////////////////////////]
|=======\====---\1 Zach
COMBATSYS: Birdie assists Katana.
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Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
> //////////////////////////////]
|=======\====---\1 Zach
As Hotaru takes this time to regain herself, Katana watches as Hotaru and Mizuki make normal conversation.. NO! THIS WILL NOT BE. One glows, the other rests, and his ally.. glows.
Katana looks towards Hotaru and Mizuki carefully, eyes flashing over the two. "I .. am bothered that you two see THIS as fighting. There is not spirit.. THERE IS NO SOUL! The Shogun refuses to believe some could be so daft.. TO ALLOW YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. Hotaru.. truly a fighter.. but the rest I have seen... "
Well, Katana needs say nothing. The Shogun stands, facing the two for a bit. "But I am done with you. You as my opponents have fought well.... you have truly shown yourselves to be violent.. but apparently.. I can not say the same .. FOR MY WORTHLESS ALLY!"
The Shogun turns about, facing Zach, "I SHALL NOT BE DISHONORED SO! AND I SHALL SHOW YOU THE TRUE MIGHT OF JAPAN.. the might that YOU WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN, for I shall make sure your cowards ways .. ARE GONE FOREVER!" And The Shogun begins to charge.
His charge only gets more frenzied as Birdie goes on to speak of KILLING HIS ASS. That is a VERY NICE TRAIN. Katana would agree with, but damaged, as he is, wounded, as he is, and fully perfect.. as he CLEARLY is .. the Shogun must only grunt. "Then for Japan .. I SHALL KILL THIS ASS!" He bellows, his charge towards Zach telling.
Especially as his jitte come up. "NOW you face the Shogun's .. STRONGEST ASSAULT! DAIKYOOOOOOOOOU!" The jitte come to knock Zach flat on his ass.. so he may kill it .. BUT CHARGING IT AGAINST THE GROUND, BURNING HIS ASS IN THE PROCESS.
And then leaping up, after throwing Zach there, and spiking him, head first, into the ground.
"BURRNIIIING!"
He jumps back, no matter the end.
COMBATSYS: Zach fails to interrupt Daikyou Burning from Katana with Burst Strike.
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Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Katana
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
> ///////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
Zach starts his charge almost at the same moment as Katana does. "BUSTER WOLF!" Zach whirls that glowing mass of psychic energy around in a charging punch aimed at Katana's torso that goes wide. The follow-up flaring of energy off of the stage makes it appear as if Katana has ROCKET POWER. Or something.
Zach yells, long and painfully as he is dragged, then thrown into the stage. He lays there gasping for air as he tries to regain his bearings. Stupid. STUPID!! You waited too long, you should have moved SOONER. Zach gambled, and paid for it. Paid in PAIN!
Okay, Hotaru muses, watching the events play out. She's pulled herself together. She's landed a hit. Mizuki is doing all right. But there is the matter of Katana and his lack of partner. It's not like she feels bad for the Shogun of Mad Gear having to fight alone. It's not particularly her problem if the SNF officials put him up with a partner that doesn't respect him in the slightest and isn't going to help him. If anything, he might need to worry about getting nuked in the back by his partner...
She doesn't feel bad for him at all. On the other hand, she questions the merits of a match that's so lopsided. She participates in events to push herself further. To find challenges and do her best. And while she finds fighting Katana on her own to most definitely be a challenge, double-teaming him might not be. And of course she can't hold it against Zach. That the young man doesn't want to fight at Katana's side is certainly not something she can blame him for.
But all that uncertainty breaks down the moment a fifth is added to the party, coming in on a... train of all things. The stage and surrounding area is covered in smoke as the hijacked engine rolls to a stop and then an all too familiar sight jumps out of it. "W-what are you doing here?!" the pig-tailed girl exclaims as her eyes come to rest on just who was all cramped into the locotomotive.
What he's doing here seems to be jumping to Katana's side just as the Shogun turns on Zach for his refusal to aid him. Swallowing, the young fighter shakes her head, standing up. This fight has just gone completely insane! Gritting her teeth, she decides that the only proper way to greet Birdie is with a good kick for ol' time's sake. "If you're going to help him, then you're in this too!" She darts forward, no in position to see what transpires between Katana and the YFCC employee, Zach.
Jumping up into the air toward the massive fighter's back, the girl drops her right leg down toward the back of his heed, trying to get his attention with a Hello-Heel drop! "KYA!"
... Trains, planes, and Birdiemobiles. Well, okay, the Birdiemobile is a train, but hush. Mizuki wasn't -expecting- Birdie to come in but... as he does, she just sort of nods to herself. It 'makes sense', as the two are cohorts. She well remembers that the last SNF with her and Hotaru was against Birdie and Katana. Frei dropped in on that one--now, though, Zach's here instead. And he just took one hell of a blow; Mizuki winces a little as she sees Zach getting the ultimate Indian burn.
Hotaru proves herself fearless as she flings herself at Birdie--how, then, could Mizuki do anything less? Her mouth set in a frown, she resolves to be of use in this fight. Further use, that is. And so it is her turn to charge in on Katana. She doesn't yell the way Hotaru did; her fighting style isn't like that. But...
"Fighting is violent, true! But we aren't doing this for the love of violence, unlike you!!" Oh man, she's started rhyming subconsciously. Next up: RAP BATTLE. Or not. In any case, she's chasing Katana down, leaping up at him and attempting to throw herself into a full-on dropkick into his back.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Birdie with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
Wait for it.
Wait for it...
THERE. WHAM. That's the sound of Birdie turning around to see Hotaru's foot coming for him. And striking him in short order. Birdie just sort of looses it all in the J-Pop setting because it's frightenly loud and terrible for Birdie to hear them butcher everything! Andn ow Birdie must deal with the masked Hotaru running rampant. And you know? He doesn't like that.
Being driven backwards by the kick, so hard that his face could NOT stop the blunt of the assault, Birdie's pretty sure that it wasn't a really great deal for that to happen. All he's sure of is that when he's getting off his ass, Hotaru just signed the 'hit me hard' card. And Birdie's all over that.
"Oh, hey there chick-a-dee. I didn't see you there!" Birdie snorts, rubbing his temple. "But that doesn't bloody matter. Cause I'm going to have to finish what you all started to Katana here. Ain't that a kicker, huh?" Birdie snorts. "Oh, and I'm here cause I was just watching this on the television, and y'know what? No, I friggin think you're all damn in need of a beating." Birdie snorts, turning once more towards Hotaru. And with a grin. He just paves himself forward, leading with a monsterous punch to drive Hotaru screaming back into the stage wall.
Be careful, it's a meteor! Ish.
"I'M FRIGGEN' TIRED OF YOU GOODY GOODIES JUST RAMPANTLY SCREWIN' WITH US. IT'S TIME TO FIGHT BACK!" Birdie cries. He means it too. Ain't pay back terrible.
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to interrupt Heavy Kick from Mizuki with Deep Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
As Birdie deals with Hotaru, Katana laughs at the rest. "Yes.. PERFECT! Boy did you think you had a chance?!" But the Shogun is in an unfortunate position now. Such that, Mizuki is leaping towards Katana, and Katana .. well.. HE DOES NOT LIKE SUCH. And she's falling down. What did he do before?
Simple. Raise his blades up for her to fall on.
Clearly this is the best choice. The blades slide upwards, but the jitte are slammed away by the dropkick, Katana's armoring ready for just an occasion.
"Hahhaha!?... Is that all you have, CHILD!" The Shogun booms, struck by the assault, knocked backwards, but not completely knocked away. "This time .. you shall be in for it now .. THE SHOGUN IS READY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF YOU!" He cries. "And Tauros.. YOU HAVE COME JUST IN TIME.. today .. THEY SHALL SING PRAISES OF, IN REMEMBERANCE OF SUCH TERRIBLE VICTORY!"
The song of J-POP begins.
GROW GROW, FIGHT DA POWA.
"With my power.. ALL OF YOU SHALL SEE DEFEAT!"
Zach picks himself up, and starts to shake the cobwebs loose. He wobbles slightly as he decides his next course of action. Of the two crazies, Katana is definitely the more beat-up of the pair. So Zach decides to continue with that trend. He brings both hands up as he takes a firm stance.
Three sheets of glorious violet magnificence shimmer into existance like light coming in from a stained glass skylight. They stay there, held in place by Zach's will power. They hover over Katana's head like the Sword of Damocles as Zach takes a deep step forward. "KASANE ATE!" Zach yells as he sweeps his arms downward. The sheets drop on the would-be Shogun, gravity doing much of the work for Zach.
COMBATSYS: Birdie successfully hits Hotaru with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
Her drop kick might've connected solidly, leaving Hotaru to rise back up to standing slowly, looking a bit unsteady but managing to get upright all the same. Well, that got his attention! The much smaller fighter takes a step backward, trying to prepare herself as the beast of an opponent advances on her. There's really no point in trying to explain that this wasn't his match. He obviously doesn't /care/! He's here to back up Katana and the three YFCC affliates are going to have to do their best to deal with the unexpected change in circumstances.
Gritting her teeth, the girl turns to the side, bringing her arms up, bracing her feet. She needs to fend off that piston of a punch coming her way, and right now being defensive about it seems to be the only choice. It isn't enough. Not by a long shot. Her arms do little to slow that punch, teaching her a harsh lesson in needing to just simply stay out of Birdie's way or get crushed trying. Sent clean off her feet, the girl gasps as she strikes back against the wall and slumps down to a seated position for a moment, struggling for breath.
Glaring back at Birdie for a moment, a slow grin works its way across her lips, her arm coming up to wipe across her mouth. Only moments ago she was conflicted about how unchallenging the match was turning out to be. Nothing much to learn in beating down Katana all by himself. But this? "Good," the Kenpo artist speaks up, hands planting against the floor as she tucks her feet beneath her, pushing back up to standing. Ignoring her tattered J-Pop idol dress's state of affairs as long as it keeps her decent, the pig-tailed combatant focuses back on Birdie.
"Let's see what the two of you can do!" And with that she pushes off, charging forward, bitzing directly for Birdie as she takes in her breath, hands drawn together as if preparing to strike. He might remember this trick though as the girl goes for his arms instead in an attempt to hold them in place. If she gets a tight enough hold to keep him from being able to defend himself, she'll pour all that forward momentum into a series of rapid stomps right up the front of him, using him like a set of stairs before flipping off of his shoulders to land on an elevated platform. "Ya, ya, ya!"
Right. Mizuki executes a little flipturn, landing on her feet--the petticoats protecting her innocence from any prying eyes. (She's also wearing bike shorts underneath, she's not dumb.) Then Zach comes in, slashing at the air with his Kasane Ate technique--something that Mizuki does -not- want to get involved with. And it's not nice to leave Hotaru alone with the -other- brute. But what can she do? They're huge monsters... and the physical skills are -not- her forte. Not yet, anyways--perhaps not ever. But she'll try.
Turning towards Birdie, she sees Hotaru going in for the attack--and she nods to herself. It's time to 'go', and she runs forward, in a slightly looping path; the cheering of the crowd, the J-Pop, the swirling lights and fog... it's a very chaotic scene, but maybe that'll help them, as she draws in close to Birdie.
"C'mon!!" she half-shouts, as she sweeps her hands forward, unleashing a roiling wave of blue-white, icy chi at Birdie, about waist high--for her. So maybe it only comes to just about his knees instead...
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Birdie with Hyouryuu no Fuki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Birdie with Shin-Jou Tai.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/--=====|
Oh, Birdie just slaps Hotaru down like the red headed step child she is! And then Hotaru desides that it's not the best way to do things, getting hit by Birdie. Who ever thinks of that! Birdie has a great plan. A plan he just couldn't ignore. He's going to get around both of them in a pinch, and there is nothing they can do to stop him. Except, well, you know...
Hotaru comes right now, and Birdie, knowing what that move is, just thrust himself into her. She comes in in a horrible display, striking out and holding him down. He charges in DIRECTLY INTO HER. And it fails horribly. She just stomps him into the ground before flipping off. Birdie's left seeing nothing, and when he gets right back up to look towards Mizuki, Birdie's struck by a wave of ICY BLUE CHI. It rolls right over him as he tries to jump out of the way. Birdie's just blasted. It's horrible. HORRIBLE. Birdie needs a miracle. His figure's already completely beat the hell up! He went from okay to a bloody pulp in seconds!
And now, well, Birdie's pissed.
"THATS BLOODY IT. I'M TIRED OF BOTH OF YA!" Birdie shouts, clenching his fists. "GET READY TO FEEL IT!" Birdie cries, his figure bleeding terribly and his rage overtaking him. He just starts to peck. Oh he pecks. And he pecks. and he PECKS. Oh boy does he PECK. His hair becomes a weapon as he thrusts it forward, over and over again, striking out towards Hotaru first, and then Mizuki not too later. SOME ONE WILL PAY. And their names are there. In somewhere.
J-Pop is also good.
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Katana with Ka-Psi-Ne Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-======|
As Birdie gets pummeled, Katana is blasted by an eruption of Psi-energy. That's irritating, but as Katana tries to leap over it, the Shogun soon finds there's too much of it.. and he jumps into the blades. That's a problem. And while they strike into him, the Shogun does not cry in pain, nor scream. He is a Shogun.
AND THE BOY WILL BE TAUGHT INSOLENCE SHALL BE PUNISHED.
The Shogun crashes towards Zack, despite the blades having struck him .. the jitte held outwards, attempting to be a joust of some sort. "Boy I tried of this .. AND NOW IT'S OVER!" And his charge is FIERCE. The Shogun does not let up, making a break towards Zack, jitte swiping forwards to grasp Zack.
"TEN!" The jitte swing forwards, to crash Zack into the ground.
"CHUUU!" He would be run against the ground. Then thrown into the air and slashed.
"SATSUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" AND THEN LEAPS UPWARDS AND SUPLEXED INTO THE GROUND.
Remember the last time that happened? Katana sure does. LETS SEE THAT AGAIN IN REPLAY.
COMBATSYS: Zach fails to interrupt Ten Chuu Satsu from Katana with Third Stance.
*KNOCKED AWAY*
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/-======/=======|
Zach takes half a step back from the charging Katana. He growls as he sweeps a hand low and away. Sparks of psychi energy trail in its wake as Zach tries to focus, tries to time this =just right.= He steps forward, throwing the moving hand up and towards Katana.
The psychic lance erupts from the stage... in Katana's wake. What follows is a repeat of what had happened before. Zach ends up on his back, his shirt in shreds and his body bleeding as he gasps for air, trying to fight through the pain.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru blocks Birdie's The Birdie.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/--=====/=======|
Hotaru and Mizuki's dual-tech charge on Birdie proves to be frightfully effective, the two young fighters combining their forces to dish out one painful combination against the monsterously large combatant. Landing in a half crouch, she rises to standing, whirling around to face Birdie directly, knowing full well he isn't about to let that one slide!
He comes in swinging - well, pecking. With his hair. That blade-like spike of hair that she's felt so many times before, much to her misfortune. She isn't free from being hit this time either though she does manage to fend off the worst of it. Crushing blows, one after another, sweep in toward her, and the young martial artist moves to avoid some strikes and brace herself against the few that are far too fast to avoid entirely. Having learned her lesson when her earlier defense was easily crushed by Birdie, her reactions are more fluid this time, retreating, blocking here and there, and at last making it out of the path of terror.
The retreat is only for an instant however before she takes her own chance to strike back. The moment her backward sliding comes to a stop, the girl charges forward right back for Birdie, relishing the challenge of facing the incredible durable fighter again. "Whew. Close." she whispers. "Look out Mizuki!" she warns as he turns his storm of hair-spear-strikes toward her friend. She's out to test Birdie's durability, however, as she springs into the large man shoulder first with all the strength she can muster.
If she manages to land back on her feet, she transitions out of that rising slam into one of her rather common palm strikes, right arm slamming out to finish the combination on the second hit. "HAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Birdie's The Birdie.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Hotaru 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/--=====/=======|
See, Mama Kamigawa din't raise no fools. Mizuki's strike on Birdie was a good one--she could tell. But of course, hitting a bull in the face (in this case, a Birdie) only enrages it--she knew to expect that Birdie would come at her and Hotaru both. So what does she do? She gets the hell out of Dodge. Even before her strike is finished, she's beginning to turn; as Birdie roars, Mizuki is backing away.
Of course, there isn't -that- much room but she's got enough of it to begin an intricate dance of avoidance. She hasn't -seen- anyone use their hair as a weapon but this is a strange, strange world, and besides, Birdie's hair also comes with a big, thick-skulled head as an accessory.
She is reasonably sure that Hotaru's strike will finish Birdie, but she decides to make absolutely sure--leaping up to throw a kick to Birdie's head. Using the heel of her foot, not the toes. She doesn't wanna break a foot.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Birdie with Tanshou Shin.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Hotaru 1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Birdie interrupts Heavy Kick from Mizuki with Bull Revenger.
*KNOCKED AWAY*
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Hotaru 1/=======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Birdie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Birdie can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 1/=======/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Zach 1/--=====/=======|
Now, if there was one thing Birdie just COULDN'T deal with is Hotaru coming down on him like a pile of bricks CONSTANTLY. All he had strived for. All that he tried to accomplish, it was all for nothing. But that's perfectly fine. Because Birdie, seeing Hotaru's strike? He just moves right into it before BIRDIE IS SLAMMED INTO A BY A PUNCH OF PALM STRIKES. Now, they're just palm strikes. They really should hurt so much.
BUT BIRDIE'S CHIN FEELS FRESHER THAN THE FRESH PRINCE. It just has been waxed and all the hairs trimmed by Hotaru's hands. THAT'S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT. And now, as he's faultering, he looks towards at Mizuku. And he just is completely done with being beat up by several thousand different thinks at once. the heel of the foot comes at Birdie. So Mizuki doesn't want to break a foot? That's too friggen bad. Birdie grabs a hold of her foot, whipping it into him and then pulling her forward. The foot strikes his chest, knocking him back, but Mizuku forward. Soon, her head meets his. Over and over and over again. Birdie's just finished. He can barely stand, he's bleeding heavily. And he wants revenge.
"I'M... FINISHED WITH THIS!" Birdie cries, pulling the chains over her foot as he whips Mizuku downwards, spins her about before whipping her down once more, using the chain to just blast her up and rip her out of the air, back into the cement.
Once he's done, Birdie just topples. He topples hard. There's actually an audible crash and a slight tremor.
But the mighty Birdie... HE IS DONE.
As Hotaru and Mizuki continue to assault Birdie, Katana isn't sure.. the boy, the psi-boy, is CLEARLY OUT OF IT NOW. Clearly. He does not expect the man to get up once again. And his attention turns to Birdie and Hotaru... and Mizuki. What he sees.. is a Birdie being assaulted, by two, WHOM WERE HIS TARGETS BEFORE. Now that just ain't fair! Say it ain't so!
It is so, yet Birdie comes off remarkably well for being terribly defeated, as he seems to have taken the nation of Mizuki along with him.
It's a nice nation. Really.
It just looks better AFTER renovations . "Good Job Tauros... YOUR ACTIONS WILL NOT BE IN VAIN!" The shogun states, before he turns to Mizuki. "You .. YOU SHALL TASTE THE SHOGUNS WRATH FOR FALLING THE MIGHTY ONE!" The music begins to pump louder, more j-pop, loud .. obnoxious.. LOUDNOXIOUS, as Katana charges towards her.
"This time... YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE MY BLADE!" The jitte sweep forwards, to slide along Mizuki, and crash her into the ground, and then thrust her away!
BUT WHAT SHALL HAPPEN!?
Oh no. Zach goes down a lot. He only sometimes, okay maybe a lot of times, /stays/ down. Zach wobbles a bit as he focuses his energies for one last effort. "HEY! COME ON!" Zach yells as he takes a fast leap at the Shogun, landing heavily behind the Mad Gear dictator. He lands in a hunched over position, psychic energy whipping around his feet, building to a crescendo.
Zach lurches upward, leaning backwards slightly as the energy erupts in a surprising tight vertical column that washes over both Zach and Katana. Zach seems unharmed by the blast, which lasts about a second before tapering off into nothing. The young man slumps forward, breathing hard afterward...
Exhaling softly, Hotaru lands after her charge into Birdie. Like every time she and the titan fight, the exchange of attacks ends swiftly one way or another. As if each were the perfect antithesis to the other and there's no way for the fights to go other than brutally fast. Of course, this time she had Mizuki helping her out. A help that might prove expensive for the other girl as she's driven back by Birdie's parting shot.
Wincing, Hotaru glances back toward Zach to check his condition as well. The three of them are banged up, but still standing. That leaves Katana. The girl breaths in deeply, deciding to aid Zach in dropping the powerful Shogun with the strongest hitting attack she's got. Sprinting forward, she ducks in at Katana's side after Zach unleashes his torrent of psycho power. "Ten-shou..." A build up of chi helps explode the girl into a rising flip kick, attempting to smash Katana into the air.
And if she manages, she'll dive right back into him to take him back to the stage. "Ranki!" It isn't exactly the floor show anyone was expecting as she'll pin him to the floor, pouring all of her chi directly into his chest to try and finish the leader of Shogun's endurance for this fight, but anyone who's seen the small fighter battle a lot has probably gotten used to it by now!
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Katana's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mizuki 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
Oh dear lord he's going to stab her _AGAIN_. Only not, as she feels, despite the terrible, terrible hit Birdie put on her, well enough and nimble enough to avoid the attack, bending trembling legs to jump backwards from the place where Katana is stabbing. Then she's leaping forward again. It's time, isn't it? Time to end this.
Hotaru's already coming at Katana, but Mizuki isn't going to just idly stand by--she lands on her feet and her hands are glowing, blue-white, as she unleashes a deadly dance of attacks, spinning forward as she fires off chops and palm strikes, each one tinged with her own icy chi. As an attack, it isn't as flashy as Hotaru's--and Mizuki isn't exactly the strongest girl out there.
But perhaps quantity can make up for sheer power, as she unleashes that storm of attacks, carving brief images, arcs of power flaring then fading in her wake...
COMBATSYS: Katana endures Zach's Storm Flare.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Katana endures Mizuki's Kouryuu no Ranbu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Katana endures Hotaru's Ten-shou Ranki!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
As Zach yells to 'come on' The Shogun looks to him. All of them, on their own.. and Mizuki manages to avoid the strikes. Jumping backwards and all.
The Shogun is only faced with one response. Become the SPIRIT of Japan.
He must shed his own body, and replace it with pure Japan spirit.. one that shall have the strength of TEN THOUSAND samurais. And then Zach is after him. "No.. YOU COME ON! Do your WORST!" He cries, as Zach lurches forwards, the blast of psycho energy crashing into the Shogun.. but he does not move. He does not falter. He stays in place.. like a warrior under a waterfall.
And then comes Mizuki's assault.
Chops and palm strikes of energy explode into the Shogun, before images of power, burn, crash, and flow into the Shogun. Nothing moves him. NOTHING. The wounds bring forwards more, Katana should not be standing. He stands. He weathers Mizuki's assault, the pain equal to Zachs..
But the worst is yet from over. Hotaru comes forwards.. and the girl explodes forwards, a rising flip kick that DOES move Katana.. and he's ridden to the stage, chi poured directly into his chest. This is like Adelheid's assault.. to a point.. it is almost worse. The Shogun has never felt so much pain.
The flare of chi, however, stays there... and as it's gone.. the Shogun does not stir.. initially.
Bloodied... Battered.. wounded. All and all.. The Shogun raises to his feet, eyes scanning around, blades raising. "Now... NOW YOU.. ALL SHALL TASTE THE SHOGUNS... TRUE POWER!" He cries.
But he begins to laugh, clearly insane, or just punch drunk..
But something hits Katana.. the sheer exhaust of it all .. he begins to falter..
COMBATSYS: Katana focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Katana has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/------=|
But the Shogun .. does not fall.
"Hahahhaa. HAHAHAHHAH!" The Shogun's laugh begins anew. Blood runs down him, but the Shogun does not fall. He does not falter. He stands. "Show me then this .. EFFORT you warriors still show... I SHALL DEFEAT IT! IT IS OVER, NOW!" The Shogun cries.
But .. is it true?!
Zach watches as Katana takes the best all three fighters have to offer. And yet... Katana still stands. That can't be good. Dude's still ranting, too. That's even worse! Zach takes a couple of steps back, and settles back into his stance. He needs to make an opening, and exploit it!
Zach charges in, before dropping into a crouch. He rises quickly, channeling his energy to attempt to shoulder-launch the Shogun. Zach puts enough force behind it that it lifts him clean off the ground. "POWER!" Zach spins in the air, focusing energy into a fist that is slammed at Katana in a downward thrust "DUNK!"
Leaping back away from Katana to land on her feet, the exhausted Hotaru slides to a stop, leaning forward, propping herself up with her hands against her knees. Whew. What a workout. It started out rough, then turned a bit too easy, then got rough all over again when Birdie rolled into town! But now it should be over, right? The girl gazes at the smoldering foe. The three of them might've over done it a little...
"How can he even..." she murmurs in surprise. This is just impossible. His power to continue fighting is just insane. Swallowing, she returns to her fighting position, watching as Zach goes charging in to do what he can.
"Okay, we can do this." she offers words of encouragement. They can't let up yet. A soft exhale, and then the harried idol-dressed fighter sprints forward into a leap. That leap changes into a knee first dive, aiming to plant herself on Katana's shoulder knee-first just long enough to follow up with a powerful kick with her left foot then backflip away just as quickly as she had jumped in "YA!"
"Unreal..." Katana should, by all rights, be paste. Less than paste; he should be utterly vaporized, all the power that just went into him. Mizuki is a little weary--she still aches from Birdie's powerful attack--but she's committed to this fight... and damned if she'll let Hotaru face Katana alone. With both Zach and Hotaru coming in high, Mizuki decides to come in low instead.
She, like the others, charges forward--but drops low, seeking to grab Katana's legs and lift up, pushing off with her legs, to try and upend Katana, maybe even lift him up into the other two's attacks--adding a burst of her icy chi as well, if she manages. It isn't all that much, really--but, it's three on one, how hard could taking him down actually be?
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Katana with Hyouryuu no Gari.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Katana with Rengeki Shuu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/---====|
[ \\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to counter Second Stance from Zach with Shiraha Catch.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/---====|
[ \\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Katana can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Mizuki 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/---====|
[ \\\\\\\ <
Zach 0/-------/-----==|
As the burst comes forwards, Katana attempts to grasp the arm .. and it slips from the amount of blood already on Katana's body. There's too much for him to keep holding on to, and the Shogun crashes backwards.
Worse yet, Hotaru assaults forwards.. and the knee strike does as told, the powerful kick with her left foot slamming into him, tossing him backwards.. just as Mizuki comes forwards with a burst of chi, attempting to upended Katana.. and it certainly works. The Shogun staggers backwards finally.. crashing against the ground. "How .. CAN THIS BE!? I was going to have .. a GLORIOUS RETUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN!"
The J-Pop music finishes.
As does Katana.
A DEFEAT THAT SHALL LIVE IN INFAMY .. or perhaps, not infamy. BUT IN-FAMILY.
Wait.
Still, the Shogun is down and out .. no matter WHAT he had wanted. "I ... Will remember .. THIS!"
Zach
Zach lands in a low crouch, gasping for air. When that man finally goes down, Zach falls to the ground sitting on his rear end. He looks up at Mizuki and Hotaru. "All's well, right?"
Her kick lands, the small fighter flipping back to land on the stage once more, sliding to a stop, arms raised, ready for retaliation. After what she's seen thus far during the fight she knows better than to make any assumptions. Ready to defend as she may be, the need to do so never comes as Katana's power to continue against impossible odds is at last bested.
Exhaling, the pig-tailed girl lowers her arms slowly, blinking before a smile curls across her lips. There may have been some unexpected interruption, but that just made things all the more interesting. "Nice work, everyone. And now..."
Her hand goes to rest against her stomach. The worst of the bleeding from the early wounds has passed, but that doesn't mean she's feeling all that well. "I know I need to get patched up." A bow of her head toward her two fallen opponents, then a quick bow toward Zach and Mizuki, and then she turns to limp off the stage, wincing as she does so.
"...it's over, right?" Mizuki breathes out a sigh of relief. So she didn't get stabbed -too- badly. And Zach is... well, Zach's okay, Hotaru is mostly okay, Katana is... probably going to be okay. He's probably just fine already, dreaming of small Japanese women. She's about to offer healing to the Futaba girl, but instead lets the medics take care of it; she's not feeling so hot, herself, after all.
"... I could use a nap... and some hot chocolate. And you know what? We need to browbeat Alma and Jiro into doing something as a team... it's been too long, we've all been doing other things, and I want us to be a real team." That said, she surrenders to the medics, fatigue catching up with her in a dizzying wave.
"I--I think I'm gonna go with these guys here... I'll talk to you later, Hotaru-san..."
Log created on 16:02:59 09/28/2008 by Hotaru, and last modified on 01:28:07 10/06/2008.