Description:
"YEH HAH HAH HAAAAAAAH!!" The Karuta district is alight in the laughter of at least one particular individual here in a pretty crappy evening. It's unnaturally cold tonight for a place that generally sees only mild winters, and the roads are frozen over so driving and walking alike sucks, it's terrible. But guess what, today it isn't. It's really freaking great to be alive today, oh yes.
And inside that run-down dojo, well, only relatively since it is somewhat recently rebuilt from when Zach blew it up but yet meticulously remade to the way it was so it's run-down all over again, is a proud man who should probably not be gloating here but instead back all the way in Germany but who gives a crap, right? This is a moment of utter triumph! The day everything turns around at last!
The sign lay on the ground before Ryuhaku's feet, vulnerable to whatever whims he may have, waving one of his trademark fans before himself no matter how freaking cold it is out there as he all but laughs the night away before his two newest students, and shall we say, absolute best students yet!
"You have done well! Yes. Very well indeeeeeeed! You have smashed the pride of our lesser enemies and educated them to the true future of all martial arts!! Yeh hah hah haaaaah!"
...Was that thunder that just cracked outside? Why, yes it is. Man, today's weather really sucks.
Roland looks rather incredibly smug. He's lightly battered, but probably nothing compared to Daniel, who was given a thorough fisting to the very cusp of consciousness. His hat is tilted at a rogueish angle, one clove cigarette smoldering between his lips. "I'd go light on the 'we', Todoh-sensei." He snaps out a hand, attempting to cover Daniel's mouth in anticipation of some kind of deft comment or resistance, as he continues onwards. As loud as he has to! He will get the first telling of this grand tale, mark his words! "Daniel distracted some big dude. While I singlehandedly took the sign, hid it in the forest, and returned in time to save him." He nods, having come to embrace this turn of events now that Marco's unconscious body is far away. "He was a strong warrior, though... the Kasane Ate..." He looks at Todoh, very seriously. "...did NOTHING."
A pause is here, so the sheer weight of this can be absorbed.
"Of course, it might just be Jewels' Kasane Ate. Really, he only laid a hand on the man when he leapt at him like a savage beast. I don't call that the epitome of Todoh-ryuu, sensei!! He should be SCOLDED!!" A thumb is jammed into his chest, which is puffed out as he stands at his tallest. "I brought you this honor, and it should be mine alone!!"
Daniel Jack sat down on his knee, in a position of penance to his master. Face down, he rested in repose. His body was incredibly sore, and ought to be broken in several places. But for some reason... it was not. Was it because of his natural talent? Or maybe it was the spirit of Todoh that flowed readily in his body. Or maybe it was his seething fury. Or maybe all three! In any sense, he WAS battered... but still had the warrior drive in his heart.
Just as long, well, he didn't move much.
The detective slowly mulled about Roland's words. The con-man was charging right into this situation, stealing all the glory, and all the credit. Ryuhaku Todoh, in all his wisdom, would be easily swayed by the facts that Roland brought forward. If Daniel WAS a better student of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu, he would have taken Marco down. Roland was a godsend in the whole sequence, while Daniel was the beefhead. Still, the detective needed to approach this with tact... and cunning as well. He looked up from his position of respect, and he... shook his head. "Woody, I am shocked. You should not be so modest. There is much more you did than those scant things!" He stated with a sincere tone.
And here, old man Ryuhaku was proud, on one of the very happiest days of his life when he saw a sign that could not be denied of his school finally gaining a measurable upper hand over his rivals in a dispute that has crossed generations, one of the fighting world's hottest (and most utterly ridiculous) blood feuds that will be recounted in history books many years to come... as a footnote.
And Roland, his proudest, bestest student (alongside Daniel) steps up to blunt this wonderful life-reaffirming news with such gems like the 'Kasane Ate doing nothing' and other such accusatory bits about his senior student! His laughter gradually fades from obnoxiousness to tolerable, from tolerable to forced, then from forced to a grin, then to a grin to a forced smile, and then... a groan.
"Bah!!" He throws his hands up! "What's with all this poo-pooing?! Here we are celebrating the advent of the fall of Kyokugen and more importantly our school's ascent to greatness! ...On top of their fall but also our rise, but mostly their fall!" He clears his throat. "And our rise over their fall, as they tumble over our flight. Yes."
He crosses his arms, but yet one hand just still absently waves the fan against logical constraints like the waving hand being buried in the opposite elbow, getting that bipolar swing back to euphorbia. "So! As you can see, it can only go up from here! How about we, say, talk about my plans to expand all over the world as we go over the next lesson, hm?"
Thunder strikes again. One should feel horrible to anybody who has to be driving to or from work out there.
Oh, no. Roland is many things, but mostly a con artist. He knows very damn well that Daniel is just trying to get him in deeper with a comment like that, so just moves to smack him one in the back of the head. "Quiet your ass, I said what I did!" More importantly, Todoh seems completely uninterested in his singlehanded efforts to bring honor to the dojo. Well, I never! It won't be that easy to shove Daniel aside and become the star in his eye, it would seem. No matter... he is patient... one stone at a time will pave him the road to glory. "You are right, Todoh-sensei. This is about our grand honor!" Turning around his chosen course rather smoothly, he crouches and pats it a few times. "...So, what are you going to do when Marco wakes up and tells everyone that two Todoh-ryuu students ran off with the sign...?"
Daniel Jack nodded firmly, still in a position of respect. He was about to go into the finer details of Roland's actions, for better or for worse. Yes, he could have done a whole whiny defense, but really. That would bring him down to a lower level, it would bring him down to ROLAND'S level. Even when Roland tells him to shut up, he shakes his head sadly.
Luckily, Master Todoh takes back the conversation, and stops the poo-poo wars. But both Roland and Todoh bring up valid points. This was time to celebrate, and this was time to worry. To spread the word of Todoh. And Daniel, rising up VERY slowly, crosses his arms. "Master Todoh, they will make this jacking a big stink, if at first inside their dojo, then to the rest of the good old boys. This will be our jollies, if we can keep the sign. However, once that word reaches the big dogs, we will start getting a real hell job here. All the Sakazakis will pile in, along with their students. Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu is superior to Kyokugen, but they got solid numbers on us. Unless Roland can hold the fort, that would break out a full war that they can bum rush us solid on."
The detective gingerly motions at the sign. "I agree, Master Todoh, we need to expand our team. But we need to sedate these droogies before they shank us. So we should make them wallow in the loss, and just to rub it in, we should return the sign to them..." The detective looks over at Roland, and nods firmly at him with cold, cold eyes.
"... After a minor modification."
Yes, celebrate! Be merry! Cackle! Pretend to ignore the bad storm out there which seems to keep wanting to add its own two cents to Master(?) Todoh's many blanket observations and glance-overs and dismissals that would prove legitimate factors against his preferred course of childish euphoria and mean-spirited vindication for his earlier childhood years.
"What'll I do, my dear student Roland? Hah! Laugh at their misfortune for ever crossing me, that's what!" He shakes a fist proudly. This fist belongs to the arm that got cut open pretty badly by Raizo. Pride and joy alike override the pain involved in this gesture two to one, so the motion stands undaunted by the sensation of terrible, throbbing agony that runs through his forearm.
"Of course they're going to make a big stink, Danny boy! Why, Takuma'll get a heart attack! Ryo will curl up in a corner in regret of that day! Yuri will go and max out their credit card for all the comfort food she can buy! Robert will... ah, hell, I don't know what he'll do! And that instructor of theirs? He's got to be in tears now! Yeh ha--"
The lightning strikes again. Todoh halts his laughter and throws a sharp glance at thin air off to the side. Oh, if it ever does it again he's going to go outside and show that storm who's boss for intruding upon his business like so. "As I was /saying/," he starts again as he crosses his arms anew, "it's not like they've ever kept their students!!" ...Look who's talking? "This victory is ours at last! And at your current levels of experience, you both have the brightest future imaginable with me! That's right! And... hmm..."
He kneels down before the fallen sign at Daniel's attention towards this sign. "Yes. We should claim this ours once and for all! That poor tree who was sacrificed for this monstrosity demands justice and our loving, gentle, wholesome touch."
He just said 'loving,' 'gentle,' and 'wholesome' all without losing a beat and with a perfectly straight face, for Todoh is a man twisted far beyond the confines of dignity and respect of Marco's faith in his martial art and everything he has worked towards.
The sign makes a silent cry for help!
"Just wear it.", snaps an unseen and unheard figure. "It's a matter of pride.
A rumble is heard in the distance, quite unlike thunder. It is the rumble of justice, if the rumble of justice happens to be that of a red Ferrari. It pulls to a slow stop across the street, headlights off despite the rainy weather. Two doors open, interior lights flashing to life long enough to reveal a brief glimpse of two individuals. The one in the passenger side appears to be wearing a gi, if anyone manages to catch the brief glimpse. That is probably very worrisome for the two younger miscreants gathered here. The man in the driver side, however, is one that Todoh himself will recognize immediately. He wears expensive clothing, but lacks the mind to have driven home and changed into something more fitting of the weather and encounter. His hair is bound back in a black ponytail. And he's wearing sunglasses.
No word is spoken. No challenge is shouted. In fact, unless any of those gathered are paying attention to the sound of the approaching car or the fact that a vehicle came to a stop across the street, the man will simply wait for his companion to circle around the vehicle and approach the dojo unannounced, shoulder-to-shoulder.
Another flash of lightning splits the night. The form of the approaching Robert Garcia is briefly made plainly visible, shades white with the reflection. The traditional attire of a man with a mission.
"This is ridiculous," the large black man rumbles under his breath as he walks abreast of Robert on their approach towards the ramshackle hut grossly mislabeled as a dojo. "Why the hell are we wearing these damn glasses? We should be tearing apart this shack with our bare hands and smearing those little punks across the pavement, not walking up like we're trying to sell them insurance!" Marco fumes quietly. When the Kyokugen Bear finally awoke he was furious with how he'd been duped by Todoh's brats and began to run all the way into town to take care of the problem himself, but happened to run into Robert on his way back to the dojo after a mile or into the journey. So Robert insisted on the shades. Fine. Whatever. Just as long as they get a chance vengeance on their way to getting the sign back, that's all Marco is concerned with; Style be damned.
"Uh huh." Roland offers towards Todoh when he brings up a plan of action bound to end in a bodycast. Surely it is an excellent prank, but these people are forgetting the most important aspect when it comes to ruffling the feathers of the unaware: Legging it. He has no intent for this scheme to end with him being slugged in the face, but the more he ponders it, the more he can't help but think he's made a BIG MISTAKE. Not much is commented; he doesn't look euphoric in the slightest, really. Eyes are wary, and the hackles at the back of his neck are coming up. Oh, he has a wonderous sixth sense. It's saved his ass many times from bands of angry people. Peering around, he starts his way towards the door. "I, ah, I need to grab more cigarettes. And paint! Yes, lots of paint, so we can properly deface the sign!" he states, pondering which safehouse to duck at until he recieves news that Todoh's dojo has been completely demolished. The front door is reached, and he slides it open, revealing the elements.
Roland looks directly at Marco and Robert as they approach, his expression calm as the ember of his cigarette flutters in the storm. He slides the door back shut.
And then BOLTS across the room, diving for a window and trying to wrestle it up.
Daniel Jack looks cold at Todoh. Those thunder bolts were pretty weird. Did Japan get thunderstorms in winter? But in any case, the detective considered the strategic options. Marco was nasty tough. If he wasn't the top instructor, he was at most the right-handed instructor to Takuma. Roland and him managed to take him down, and Master Todoh was more than a match for Takuma.
Daniel watches as Roland heads for the door. Oh, he knew what he was doing. Roland took his description of the Kyokugen snap back seriously. The student of Todoh follows him steadily, a smirk forming over his face. "Let me handle it, Roland. You need to celebrate with Master To-"
The detective watches Robert and Marco from right behind Roland. He just stares, taking in the pair of powerful fighters with a calmness equal to Roland. As his partner closes the paper door, Daniel just continues to stare. He takes a few steps away from the door, bringing his arms up to enter the defensive stance as taught by Todoh. With his body sore, he unfortunately holds it in a fairly sloppy manner. Right in front of his teacher, too!" Coldly, he states over behind him to his sensai, "Master Todoh... Outside... there are-!"
%
Todoh finds absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about Roland's attempt to go find paint by trying to go out a window. This is a consequence of being ascended beyond common sense, as when others reach this same level of enlightenment there is hardly a point in ever suspecting any oddball action as anything other than agreement with his principles. The window is as stubborn as the man who runs this dojo and does not budge under Roland's own power. He may be screwed.
"Eh? Outside there's what? Someone who wants to see what'll be our new dojo sign?!" Ryuhaku grumbles as he stands straight, "ahh, they can wait! I don't care how great our triumph is, kids need to learn to be patient! Because if they aren't I'll knock their teeth out!"
He steps past the cautious Daniel and out the open front door, eyes squinting as he looks upon that odd imprint on the snow a ways away that looks a whole lot like a percentage sign.
Oh, and also these two guys in sunglasses. Why wouldn't he notice them first? He grunts a contemplative hum. Of course, these two people in front of him are beneath his notice, he feels further enlightened by awakening further to this truth that is divine and right and nothing will convince him otherwise as the wind picks up and blasts a little cold in Ryuhaku's face, sending his long black hair dramatically waving before the two who have come to visit.
So, pop quiz, to all of you reading this log. Two of your worst enemies have stepped up to your front door, and you know what they want, and what they will do to get it. What do you say?
Todoh harrumphs, putting one hand on his hip and fanning himself even though the wind is already doing plenty of that with the other. "Those shades to hide your shame or something?!"
That's right, log readers. Anything but that.
COMBATSYS: Robert has started a fight here.
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Robert 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
COMBATSYS: Todoh has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
COMBATSYS: Marco has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
COMBATSYS: Roland has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
The rain doesn't seem to bother Robert all that much. If anything, most of it seems to be bouncing off the top of his head harmlessly. Either the weather itself is frightened of his Kyokugen WRATH tonight, or all of that oil makes for excellent water repellant. Knuckles are raised and cracked in an attempt at silent intimidation as Todoh stands at the door, not inviting his guests inside and being a terrible host in general. Only when Todoh speaks, does the Italian man see fit to acknowledge his presence.
"No, Todoh. It is because I am a gentleman who does not like the sight of blood."
Before this can be contemplated much further, the man proceeds to launch himself in a single flying kick aimed at the face of his Strolheim mentor, and hopefully wrecking the fan that covers it in a single shot.
SOMEONE has to get the old man out of the doorway. It's cold and damp out there!
"TODOOOOOH!" a booming voice calls out from behind Robert as the Italian launches himself towards the Todoh-ryuu Kobojutsu master, drowning out the thunder and lightning that crashes in the clouds above Southtown. "YOU WILL REGRET THE DAY YOU CROSSED THE KYOKUGEN DOJO!" Marco bellows as Robert tries to clear the doorway for them. "The sign is inside!" Marco announces with certainty as his hair, which is normally pomped up above his head, hangs down around his face in wet jheri curls. "I'm tired of playing it cool, Garcia! I'm taking back the sign, NOW!" Breaking away from Robert and running straight for the side of the dojo, Marco raises an arm above his head as he growls like the bear he is rumored to train with and brings it crashing down at the exterior wall, sending wood and sheetrock exploding in all directions as he rends a hole big enough for the large man to stick his head and a shoulder through. HERE'S MARCO!
"YOU!" the Instructor snarls as he points at Daniel and Roland with his large meathook of a hand. Thrusting himself forward, Rodriguez breaks the rest of the way through the obstacle and stands panting with rage as the rain blows through the new entrance behind him. "I hope you had fun stealing that sign," the Brazilian says darkly as lightning strikes behind him, "...because now it's MY time for a little fun, and I don't think you're gunna like it."
COMBATSYS: Marco focuses on his next action.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
Damn. Once the assaults take place, Roland stops completely, his hands resting on the edge of the windowsill as he looks out it, somber and tense. "I knew this day would come..." he offers towards Marco, voice wavery. Pieces of wood and debris scatter near him, as he steps away and rather drunkenly whirls to face Marco. His eyes look to be lidded, and everything about him screams that of a sick man. "Our fated rematch... it is a shame... we had to face before on a dishonorable battlefield!!" He brings a hand up to cover a hacking cough. When it pulls away, there's a smear of crimson blood running down the corner of his mouth. A capsule, that he had prepared when he knew this would be inevitable. "I must warn you... I have a terrible sickness. My endurance is sapped, so I will not be as strong as when we fought before!!" He then brings up his hands, weaving into a combative stance. "But I will not allow my honor to be sullied by rejecting your righteous fury!!" Well, hopefully Marco will go easy on him and not break him in two now. If this act works that far, he'll be a happy man. With a snarl he then advances, palming a sticker. It glows fiercely green between his fingers, as he then swipes down clawed hands in a broad arc for Marco's chest. "DELAYED BLAST KASANE ATE!" is cried. Of course, he'd only slap it on the man, and it would explode fiercely thereafter in a wash of green fire!!
"-The Kyokugen Warriors?"
Daniel Jack watches his Master casually walk out to face his opponents. Ignoring the storm, ignoring the fact that one of them was the man who they had fought and the other... was the real reason why Daniel was frightened. Yes, he knew that man. The ponytail was a dead give away. He never thought an alliance would have come between the two schools, but they did. Daniel remembered fighting a student of the man, Himeko as a sexy female santa. He shot her in the hea- yes, this was what it was about.
Dan Hibiki was getting revenge on Daniel.
The detective would have paled, but he didn't. Instead, he just began to sweat. He couldn't let his composure be broken. Already, his master was taking on Dan with a full fury. That left the teacher/student, Marco. Woody was already after him with a bought of... blood? Sick? Daniel figured it was another bluff. Still, it was great mindgames for the poor man. Clenching his right hand into a claw, he glared at Marco with an icy glare. The lightning strike does nothing to him. He was a man consumed by the spirit of Todoh.
His body no longer ached. His joints were no longer stiff. Daniel Jack stomped towards Marco, trailing his right hand behind him. As Roland goes for the front, Daniel goes for the flank. Raising his right above him, he manifested a small blob of orange energy in the crook of his claw. With a swipe of the hand, he attempts to rake it across Marco's left side, roaring the call of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu.
"KASANE ATE!"
COMBATSYS: Todoh blocks Robert's Hien Ryuujin Kyaku.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
That's because no Kyokugen punk is allowed within these hallowed(?) walls! No Kyokugen user is ever allowed a polite formal entry into the birthplace of the future of martial arts! They would have to ask for it with their might instead! Or, in Marco's case, walk around to the side and make his own way in.
The destruction of one of the exterior walls punctuates the impact a flying Robert foot makes with that fan which, in turn impacts against Todoh's cheek as he skids back with a grimace and his fan stuck to his face, holding his posture tight and rigid against being completely blown over by simple force of refusing to be so easily shown up by that buddy-buddy rich kid and the Sakazaki family! Even if the stuck fan makes his cheek all puffy enough that he can barely see out of one of his eyes.
"Grr!" Growls the Todoh as he nonetheless stumbles a step or two back for the remaining inertia of taking a flying kick to the face, hands rising upward before a cloud of dust and debris from Marco's forceful entry to little glows of orange and green from his students. "And here I thought you'd be sharing tears with Takuma and his little clique of chowderheads!!"
Removing his hold on the fan which is now nicely stuck to his face, both his hands rise up to the air in the most tell-tale sign imaginable. The rain continues to pour outside in the darkest hour of at least one of the feuding schools yet, as another violent chapter of this unfriendly rivalry unfolds, opened and narrated once more the only way it can as the hands come throwing down with a sharp kiai - as does the yellowish-orangeish globs of chi that are no doubt part of the most amazing technique in history that Robert and that bear would bear witness to before their next(?) trip to the emergency room!
"HEEYAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Robert overcomes Kasane Ate from Todoh with Ryuugeki Ken.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
Robert doesn't need to hear the apology to know what the sound of that crash was. Normally he'd be against such dramatic destruction of property, but...c'mon. It's Todoh's cronies. And they started it!! "The acrid stench of your students would make anyone cry, /Todoh/." Kicking off of Todoh's raised fan and into a backflip, the Italian ricochets back into the pouring rain. He lands neatly enough, though a brief slip of footing in a puddle fails to land him any lasting coolness points for it.
Bodyblocked by Todoh as he is, the Italian casts a haughty grin around the doorframe at his poor 'students' all the same. "The fact that you're not doing so yourself only indicates that you're used to associating with such filth by now. Hah!" Then he spits across the doorframe, onto the nice dry floor. Spitting into the self-cleaning streets would not convey sufficient disdain for this lot!
Robert's insults are not tolerated for long, however. Raising his arms to the skies mightily, Todoh prepares to unleash the one and only chi technicque he knows! If he werent't familiar with it enough beforehand, his recent participation in the Strolheim tournament was more than enough to fill him with enough sightings of Kasane Ate. ...And then Daniel says it too, argh!! "Damn it, enough with the Kasane Ates. I'll show you a real man's fireball! Ryugeki..." Watching Todoh's hands intently, Robert throws his own hand forward just in time to push back against the energies as they begin to fully manifest - overpowering them with a well-timed surge of his own chi, the vile, seeking tendrils of Todoh-ryuu are snuffed out in favor of a brilliant kyokugen fireball. "...Ken!"
COMBATSYS: Marco dodges Roland's Roulette.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Marco fails to interrupt Mikansei Kasane Ate from Daniel with Gedan Harai.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
A terrible sickness? Marco looks a little crestfallen as he watches Todoh-ryuu's greatest disciple cough up blood and look rather pathetic. "Any sickness of yours must be divine retribution for your sins against your betters," Marco replies coldly. He's not about to let his satisfaction be taken away from him just because his opponent isn't 100%. Besides, this guy is very powerful. As sick as he is, he might just now be at Marco's level. He managed to make escaping from the Ryuuko Ranbu look easy after all.
His left hand extended in front of him in the shape of a claw facing the heavens, his right held back in a fist, Marco watches the advance of his fearsome opponent with intense interest. A delayed blast kasane ate? This must be a new technique that the disciple is working on! Quickly retreating a step as Roland's clawed swipe flashes toward his chest, the Kyokugen Bear manages to pull himself out of the way of this deadly new technique... OR DID HE? He did say it was DELAYED, did he not? Who knows when the Kasane Ate could strike?!
Glancing to his side as he begins to circle around Roland, a sneer rises to Marco's lips as he notices Daniel closing with his flank. "Ah, so the dog is back, looking for more scraps from his betters?" he inquires bitterly. "Be careful dog, there are men fighting here," he adds as Daniel lets loose with a Kasane Ate of his own. Ducking low, Marco attempts to avoid the energy and lash out with a strike of his own, but it is obvious that he has foolishly made a costly error as the vertical nature of the Ate causes it to slash down at Marco's face and leave bright red gouges along his dark skin. "Gah, that stung!" Marco exclaims in annoyance.
"Maybe you are right... I have sinned much in my life..." is agreed with Marco, tone morose and face rather long. Even if his frantic, desperate weavings likely only seemed easy because Marco didn't get a good look of his wild features and outright fear. When he doesn't make contact with Marco, the energy dissipates; he's not about to blow up his own hand instead, after all. But the great bear has been dutifully distracted, although the howl he hears doesn't seem to be in true pain. "What the hell, are you trying to tickle him?!" he states in irritation towards Daniel, keeping the wheezy quality to his voice. "I'll show you... my newest self-made technique... It is still being revised, but do not doubt the TERRIFIC POWER!!" Suddenly Roland hurls himself forward, landing with both hands slapping the ground in front of Marco. He pulls up his knees to his chest, pivoting at his shoulders. "ROLAND..." And he hurls himself straight up, spiraling as both feet strike out, attempting to slam right into Marco's face with catastrophic force!! At least, where he's concerned!! "ROCKET!!" It certainly looks cool, but the buildup makes it despairingly predictable. Given the spatters of blood that land on the ground, that is doubtless from his terrible sickness acting up. He's in a support group with Gen.
Oh, the belittlement are taken in. And to someone less hardboiled, they might hurt. Buut Daniel Jack's flimsy excuse for an Kasane Ate, nevertheless, is the most successful one of the three attempts. As his swipe rakes across the face of Marco, it leaves nothing bigger than a pretty nasty welt. And that was a good beginning for the student of Todoh. The Master himself was toying with Dan Hibiki, who was quickly getting on Daniel's blacklist by his rude insults. Oh, he was going to GET MORE Kasane Ates, don't you worry.
The detective winds his arms back, keeping his feet steady and stable. There was a lot going around him, so he was trying somewhat to keep tabs on everything. Stomping his feet back, he listened for the Roland Rocket build up. Well, might as well banter. The detective stares at Marco, bringing his arms to bear. "Choose your titles carefully, Marco Rodriguez. And watch the talents careful, got it, scuzzy?"
When Roland finally piles on through, the detective explodes forward with an left elbow jab. Immediately, he follows up with a palm strike with his right hand. With a smooth motion, he brings his right hand again into a knife hand strike towards the collarbone of Marco. Finally, he finishes up the four-hit combination strike with a single, driving straight kick with his left leg, attempting to widen the distance between him and the man.
COMBATSYS: Todoh fails to slow Ryuugeki Ken from Robert with Kasane Ate.
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Marco 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Todoh
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Robert 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
Venomous words fly between the two, and then someone spits across the room and onto the dry floor. The sign would breathe a sigh of relief if it had, well, lungs. And a conscience. The sign has neither!
"Well if it'd make anybody cry and you aren't, you know what that makes you, ratface?!" What does that make Robert, Todoh? "Nobody!!" Notice how he doesn't even come to the defense of his beloved students just to get in the last word on insults against a hated foe he almost considered wooing onto his side for the funding (let's face it, Takuma and co. only like him for the money) of his empire!
Actually for a moment Todoh would almost be polite enough to ask Robert if he had to clarify his burn for him, save for the fact that the descending wave becomes a compacting bit of squares that scatter into the aether from whence they came as the brilliant (ha ha) Kyokugen (what a joke) fireball (more like GIRLBALL) overpowers the wave and leaves Ryuhaku on the defensive. Except the gesture pisses him off so he's on the offensive. But then there's a fireball on him so he's still on the defensive, but he stays on the offensive because that is what Robert's presence is, totally offensive enough to make anyone defensive.
"
Venomous words fly between the two, and then someone spits across the room and onto the dry floor. The sign would breathe a sigh of relief if it had, well, lungs. And a conscience. The sign has neither!
"Well if it'd make anybody cry and you aren't, you know what that makes you, ratface?!" What does that make Robert, Todoh? "Nobody!!" Notice how he doesn't even come to the defense of his beloved students just to get in the last word on insults against a hated foe he almost considered wooing onto his side for the funding (let's face it, Takuma and co. only like him for the money) of his empire!
Actually for a moment Todoh would almost be polite enough to ask Robert if he had to clarify his burn for him, save for the fact that the descending wave becomes a compacting bit of squares that scatter into the aether from whence they came as the brilliant (ha ha) Kyokugen (what a joke) fireball (more like GIRLBALL) overpowers the wave and leaves Ryuhaku on the defensive. Except the gesture pisses him off so he's on the offensive. But then there's a fireball on him so he's still on the defensive, but he stays on the offensive because that is what Robert's presence is, totally offensive enough to make anyone defensive.
The hands go up as the fireball draws in closer, closer, closer... actually both Ryuhaku and Robert aren't that far away from one another, what the hell is taking so long? Maybe that fireball is just waiting with its beady little flickering chi flames just for the perfect moment to snuff him out. That would be Ryuhaku's excuse, believe you me.
Why an excuse? The hands go up with the exact same vigor, the same speed, the same... everything, and as Todoh's mouth opens wide in another kiai, a different sort of utterance comes as he takes fireball to the breadbasket, slipping his feet against the slick wood floor from the rain that got inside and onto his butt as a particularly traitorous yellowish-orange chunk that manages to phase partially into reality from the effort falls into one of the scattering bits of chi from the Ryuugeki Ken post-old man gut slam and disappear after repelling one another. Maybe they were exchanging a high five?
Kasane Ate overpowered not once, but *twice* by KYOKUGEN MIGHT, Robert's sweeping arm motion ends with clenching fingers and a fistpump. "YeeaaAAAAAAHH~! Suck on that, old man. Guess that means your precious technique just got trounced by a nobody, huh?!" Eyes sweep the room in the wake of the keeled over Todoh, the arrogant Italian immediately seeing fit to invite himself in.
Without taking off his rain-slick Italian shoes. Oooooh!!
Respect for any mat in the room, if so present, is completely discarded as he struts right in and extends two arms; one directed at his fallen nemesis, the other at his two students. "Come and get it, jerkfaces! There's more than enough here for all of you Todoh-ryuu disgraces. Gonna just sit there and cower while your master gets knocked on his ass? More like hired thugs than students..." Still, disrespectful as Robert is, it probably goes unnoticed that he doesn't ruthlessly persue the fallen Todoh. Instead, he turns to Roland, an incredulous look on his face. "Roland...Rocket? What the heck kind of move name is that? That's no human missile...:
The man leaps across the room, straight and true, feet alternating between a series of kicks against the back of the man throwing himself against a fellow practioner of Kyokugen Might. Nevermind the fact that this will likely end in a three-way pileup between himself and the other two.
COMBATSYS: Roland successfully hits Marco with Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Marco with Zoot Suit Riot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
The next few moment sort of pass in a blur for poor Marco. One second Roland is touting his new devastating technique, the next he is being mule kicked in the face and savagely combo'd by Daniel. While none of the attacks are extremely painful, the constant barrage is beginning to take its toll. Stumbling backwards a few steps, Marco holds a hand up to his jheri curls and gives his head a shake to try to catch his bearings. "No. It's not goin down like this..." the large man tells himself, before quickly snapping his head up to survey his opponents. "...I guess it's time to start taking this fight seriously," he says grimly.
"I'm getting tired of being bitten by flies." Turning towards the recovering Todoh, Marco suddenly charges straight toward the older man before suddenly stopping his feet and sliding across the wet dojo floor. Letting his momentum carry him towards Todoh, the Kyokugen Bear thrusts his right arm forward, bracing it with his left by firmly gripping it at the wrist, effectively turning his massive arms into a battering ram aimed right at Todoh red chest armor.
COMBATSYS: Robert successfully hits Roland with Flying Whirlwind Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Success! He slams into Marco's face, but he feels like he just met solid steel. It takes more effort not to be deflected off the man's CHIN then he has time to apply proper force. Kicking out, he stumbles as he lands, teetering back awkwardly. Robert is kind enough to talk to him first, glancing over while pushing up the brim of his hat with a blink of surprise. A moment is spent to respond to Marco. "Flies! I may be sick and crippled right now, but I'm far from a fly!" Roland offers, coughing to himself. That moment really should of been spent trying to not get hit by Robert. .oO( Here he comes, I'll-- ) That's as far as he gets before he poleaxes around the foot, back seeming to contort in a manner no healthy, non-shattered spine should. Eyes bulge out, his hat flies away, and he's shot much more like a human missile then his self-named attack to crash into a wall, denting it with his HEAD. Genuine blood spurts out his nose and lips as he teeters back, crashing down. "Hack... hack...!!" Managing to roll over, he eyes Robert with sheer disdain. "Alright..." Managing to get up, he then rushes forward. "I'LL TAKE YOU ON!!" But he snaps out his hand, trying to catch the prettyboy by the collar. To yank him over double, pull the back of his shirt over his head, and then shift to boot him in the ass and send him sprawling. Damage? Minimal. Humiliation? Extraordinary.
COMBATSYS: Roland has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
Daniel Jack was the underdog in this fight. The underdog around Todoh students. That was like being under another underdog. Like the bottom of bottoms. And yet, there was hope. For his best weapon so far was what Kasumi taught him: the combination strike. As his four strike rattles the brick house of Marco (he is awfully mighty), Roland piles in with his own attack. And Daniel lets his kick knock Marco back. He waits for the Kyokugen instructor to move in for his follow up, and...
He doesn't come.
Daniel sort of holds there nervously, eyeing both the master of Saikyo piling into Roland... and Marco tearing straight for his teacher. The detective looks unsure of who to jump. It seemed rude to jump either. No. He needed to focus. Let the flow of battle rush over him. Fight like the honorable Todoh Bear, who lets his opponents draw the first blow. Daniel takes a deep breath, and shoots his fist forward. "TO!" And then, his other hand. "DOH! Drawing both back, he tensely holds his position, planning out his next move as he growls. "RYUU-KOBOJUSTU!"
COMBATSYS: Daniel focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Marco successfully hits Todoh with Ryuu-Sen Ken.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
There he is, on his ass, slighted so not by Kyokugen! Not by the apparent ease of overcoming his proudest (and only?) technique! And, despite this being the most sensible reason of any to feel so slighted, not because Robert fails to remove his shoes. Oh, no. Todoh-ryuu disgraces?!
"Why you... you and your... your... your wordplay!!" Todoh growls as he shakes an impotent fist and starts to stand at Marco's declaration that he's done being bitten by flies. Todoh has always held at least one bit of pride (...among other, bigger bits of pride that may very well be unwarranted) that he always at least had a better head on his shoulders than Marco, which is always part of what made it fun to tease and belittle that Kyokugen instructor. Why, it would be simple. Just a little sway to the left, why, maybe he'd slip on the rain-slick wood and help his own ass out as he leans just a bit off to the left.
'A bit to the left' does not make for adequate evasion against such a mighty, fast ram. It doesn't get him in the chest. The fist slides under his left arm and punches him near the heart, a pretty sucky place to be punched if one has to be punched as he goes flying comically out the front door with a loud, echoing yell indicative of one whose fighting spirit has been extinguished. Daniel and Roland are left to stand alone in their battle, their Todoh-taught spirits guiding them against a seemingly unstoppable threat... but!
Moments later, sniffling comes from a nearby window as the old man wipes a tear away from his cheek (but given the rain, he could just be getting /that/ out of his eyes), one hand holding his side. "Such spirit! I'm so proud of him!" Is Daniel truly the underdog of his style? It is such high praise for one who may be perceived as being so scrawny on the big fighting totem pole!
COMBATSYS: Todoh assists Daniel.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Robert blocks Roland's Las Vegas Strip.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Words, such incredibly VILE words, assault the ears of Robert Garcia, even as he's assaulted by the other so-called "student" of the so-called "dojo". Roland discovers what many other fighters have learned, that...trying to get a proper grip on the Italian is a tricky thing. His hand fails to acquire a solid enough hold, fingers...slipping on the fabric, almost as if it were greased. Trickery!! Still the kick comes, though without the proper leverage it's a trivial matter for the victim to pivot around with a lifted knee to deflect the oncoming assboot. "Ha!! Not so sickly now, are ya?"
Right now, it would make the most sense to persue Roland. However...HOWEVER...there is that little matter of those words he just heard on the air. Words that demand the most true of rebuttals. Even with Todoh sent rocketing right out of the dojo, there is no time to revel in the moment. Robert's eyes turn to fix on Daniel-san, the little pupil that could. He issues his challenge, and the eyes of the Italian Bull lock on in turn. "KYOOOOOO..." Nostrils flare. "KUGEEEEEEEEEN..."
"MIGHT!!!!"
Two things happen then. The raised knee comes stomping to the ground, hands of Robert thrown out to either side with the intent of shoving Roland out of his personal space. Successful or not, both arms are drawn back in to cross in front of his chest as he crouches low, a sudden burst of orange chi erupting from the vile Todoh-ryuu floor below him and animating the air, ponytail whipping behind the man with the force of his own chi!! ...Okay, so maybe it's really the storm howling through the multiple holes in the exterior of the building at this point. It doesn't matter! His display of school spirit looks way better than Daniel's ever will. Whatcha gonna do about it, punk?!
COMBATSYS: Robert gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
A grim smile grows across Marco's massive head as his brutally solid punch sends Ryuhaku flying out of his own dojo. A perfect strike with perfect technique and power. Enjoy it Todoh; revel in the true might of Kyokugen Karate. Turning his back on the open door and walking over to his ally, Marco crosses his thickly muscled arms and stands next to Robert as he finishes his impressive display before Marco hardens his grin into an intense stare as his head swivels around to take in the two Todoh-ryuu Kobojutsu students.
Slowly unwinding and milling his arms in front of his massive chest, Marco's eyes flutter as his internal focus intensifies and all of his inner strength begins to focus through the powerful lense of Kyokugen Karate. "Hnnnnnnn..." the large man growls as his outstretched arms pause in front of his chest and burst into long flames. "KYOOOOO..." A secondary explosion of orange chi bursts up from around his feet. "KUGEEEEEEEEEEN..."
"SKILL!"
Marco intones as his chi mixes with the residual power from Robert's own energies. This is true Kyokugen synergy in action folks, and it's all primed up for a good old fashioned Todoh-ryuu assbeatin.
COMBATSYS: Marco draws upon his Kyokugen spirit.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Well, Roland's almost a little surprised that he's so unscathed; although it only took a single kick from Robert to make him start eyeing the damnable window that he was struggling with at the start of this. Seeing Todoh fold like a house of cards and then make the utterly insane decision to inspire DANIEL... he's beyond words. This is a nightmare. You're a survivor, Roland... what to do, what to do... "Alrighty... Let's see how you stand up to MY burning spirit!" He points his finger towards Marco, a man he's at least familiar with. And he knows is at least somewhat wary. Might as well use that to his advantage while he still can, after all! Charging forward, arms pumping as he bears into the considerable weight of his many inventions, he plants a hand on his hat to keep it on his head, while whirling around and sweeping the heel of a foot towards his face. "HRRRRGH!" That's a sound of effort. He doesn't do roundhouse kicks or jumping kicks for a reason. Marco had better appreciate the expenditure.
Daniel's shout for the spirit is smothered by two events. The first was that Marco knocked poor Todoh right out of his own Dojo. And then, they all went and did a great Kyokugen shout. The room was in a massive shoutdown. Daniel could only stare at Dan. Even the master of the Saikyo Groove turned on his own art? "Dan... what the HELL, you cheap bozo, you went Kyokugen?" Daniel stomps towards the pony-tailed man. "Scuzzy, it looks like we are going to have to take this solid. Real soli-"
Suddenly, there was a crying sound. The weeping of the manly tears of joy. Was that... the spirit of Todoh? Proud for him? Daniel gripped his fist, staring hard into it. ALready, Roland was getting revenge on Marco, Daniel had to beat some sense in the obviously brainwashed Mr. Saikyo. With that, he wound it back, staring right into the depths of the Italian gopher for the Yuri one. "I am Daniel Jack! Student of Todoh! And I have a bone to pick, scuzzy. CAN. YOU. DIG IT!?!"
Winding the fist back, he flattened it into a palm. Already, the roar was being unleashed in the dojo. "FAAAAAANTAAAAASTIC...." The detective began, focusing hard into the storm of energy. "TOOOOOOOOOOOOOODOOOOOOOOOOOH....." Balancing his body oh so delicately, he let the power of TODOH flow through his every pore. Aiming it straight in the heart of it all, Daniel unleashed the palm with a single yell, attempting to tear through all that stood in the way of TODOH and MANLY TEARS OF JOY.
"PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUNCH!!!!"
Kyokugen might?! Not in the house of Todoh! Tears of happiness (or at least obnoxious cold rain going down his face, maybe even both) flow down Ryuhaku's face as he cheers on his favored student. Even in the face of the sheer /power/ of Robert's gathering of power that provides a slight breeze for the entire dojo. It is such a mighty shout made mightier when Marco adds in his own spirit into it, making the very floor shake. It's like a low-powered earthquake in here, and everyone's invited to duck and cover.
Todoh does not accept this invitation.
A fan waves up and down once for Daniel's dramatic declaration. Truly, a fine student! What's this 'hired thug' nonsense about?! This doesn't exist! Never mind how many miscreants have passed through and gotten even rudimentary training from the dojo with little promise of actual long term dedication. Standards? Perhaps... not so high.
He steps back into the dojo proper as Daniel winds up all sneaky-like, which is to say not really as the punch winds up. He leaps up against a wall on the 'FAAAAAANTAAAAAASTIC.' He kicks off on the 'TOOOOOODOOOOOOOOOOH.' This would all go nice and cinematically sneaky if it weren't for the fact that the older man arbitrarily decides, for whatever reason, to make a loud vocal cry of 'DAH!' at the money shot of the whole gesture as he looks to jump kick Robert from behind in perfect timing with the punch, swinging his leg out at its fullest potential reach.
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Robert with Fantastic Todoh Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Robert 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Robert just-defends Todoh's Strong Kick!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Robert 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Robert's attention is rapt on Daniel. The challenge has been issued, and he will certainly not be the one to come out-- "Dan? Oh, for crying out loud, I do *not* look anything remotely close to that dopey, lemonade whoring..."
So much for Kyokugen pride. Apparently women come first, and the pink-clad men who make advances on them. The blow lands cleanly, sending Robert flying back! ...Just in time to save him from the downward arc of Todoh's kick, the...skirt...offering a pleasant, refreshing breeze even as he goes flying back to land in the hole that the dojo's master emerged from. Rain patters down on his face mockingly, a flash of light in the sky marking his slowly pooling anger. Much like the puddle under his head. Slowly, oh so slowly, the Italian rises from his resting place, hair dripping wet.
With INDIGNATION!
"For. The. Last. Time. I AM NOT THAT DAN GUY!!!" Hands practically *strangle* the air at either side of Robert, clutching at chi for lack of reach of a convenient Todoh-ryuu student in arm's reach, the man hurling all of it forward at the student who just had the audacity to...to...accuse him of being that slut of a man! "HAOH...SHOU KOUKEN!!"
COMBATSYS: Marco dodges Roland's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Sadly for Roland, no, Marco doesn't really appreciate his expenditure. Ducking a shoulder, the large man rolls under the roundhouse kick with much more agility than his bulky frame would suggest. Springing out of his roll and landing in a crouch on Todoh's busted up floor, the Brazilian stares at Roland with fire in his eyes as he weighs his options. This young Todoh-ryuu fighter had shown a lot of talent and promise in their earlier encounter, but he hasn't quite fought up to par so far. Though, he is claiming have succumb to some sort of illness. Maybe there is some truth to that after all.
Straightening up from his crouch, Marco cracks the knuckles of his huge meathooks and briefly scans the room. "AH!" the big Kyokugen Bear exclaims as his gaze falls on his beloved Kyokugen Dojo sign. Roland forgotten for the moment, the large martial arts instructor trots over to the huge wooden slab and picks it up easily in one huge hand. "It'll take weeks to get the stench of Todoh off of you, but you're mostly unharmed," he says to the sign as he holds it up in front of his face before resting it easily on his shoulder. He's not going to let this thing out of his sight until they get back to the Kyokugen Dojo.
COMBATSYS: Marco focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
One foot slams into the ground in a rather ominous way when Marco slithers past it, but this is more a wild gambit to keep himself upright then the resounding show of strength it could be interpeted as. He swings back, only to see Daniel get a flash of chi that could only mean imminent destruction. This is bad. Bad!! Loyalty and honor are two things he's never much cared for. A glance over his shoulder is done towards the door, now that there's no attention upon him. But no. If he does that, who will he get training from? Nobody! Todoh may be a fool, but his endurance practices have worked well! "EAT MY ULTIMATE, DEVASTATING..." Roland shoots forward, skidding towards Marco from behind. A rather impressive twirl produces a short, wedged blade. "ATTACK!!" And then he slams it upwards, with a twist. Hopefully, right between Marco's ass cheeks.
COMBATSYS: Daniel slows Haoh Sho Ko Ken from Robert with Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
He wasn't Dan? Then who was he?
Daniel's question is put aside after his FANTASTIC TODOH PUNCH gives Robert the what for. With the POWER of TODOH, he manages to knock him RIGHT OUT (of the building). Frankly, Daniel was proud of himself. Crossing his arms like his teacher, he nods firmly. "Let that be a lesson, then, poser." As he returns, Daniel doesn't even flinch at the projectile being unleashed. There was one solution. Ryuhaku Todoh taught him very well. You just raise your arms up. And as the projectile came, Daniel just dropped it right down, unleashing a wave of orange energy right at the wall of Kyokugen Fire.
"KASANE ohcrap"
Daniel technically slows it down.
There is a smashing sound as Daniel tears through the wall of the Dojo. Another crashing sound as he tears through the wall that just surrounded the Dojo. Another crashing sound as he finally smashes into a small peach tree, planted years ago and forgetten until this very moment. There is silence. And then a slow, steady clip clopping sound of someone trying to return back to the dojo AND pulling the baseboard and plaster out of his hind-quarters.
Todoh lands from the ground in front of Daniel, crossing his arms and giving his smile of approval at this exchange. "Yeh hah hah! You sure showed that..." Robert rises up, evidenced by the creak of body against damaged, weakened floor, "...that..." his head turns, elation turning to anger in yet another one of his fantastical mood swings, "...persistent..." and then it just all goes to hell as Marco takes the sign back! "...punk!"
His students are fighting practically for their very lives and pride. A master such as he should be doing the very best he can to protect his brightest wards! But a matter of pride, a matter of deadly pride washes over him as he takes off right at the point of impact between Daniel and a weakened Haoh Sho Ko Ken.
He takes this opportunity for him to try and tug at Marco's beloved board. It's tug of war, even as Daniel is sent on the ropes by being hurled through various scenery as though he were being awakened to the wonders and dangers of the third dimension alike.
"Ah! Ah! Put it down!! That's gonna be our new signboard soon enough!!" He tugs. He tugs hard. He won't give it up so easily after finally bringing one of the biggest symbols of Kyokugen pride home! This is a war-winner! This was the thing to make Takuma finally acknowledge that his style has fallen!
But is it truly the sign that makes a Kyokugen? Nah, Todoh's not gonna fall into that Very Special Afternoon crap, he's just petty.
...Who he is?! "Robert Garcia, are you daft?! I was just in a tournament with your--" Err, why are you talking to the thin air, Bobby? Yet another hole in the wall is created, and another Todoh-ryuu tenant is evicted. ...Though doubtless not for long, as they tend to scurry back in like rats. "Man...I gotta give you credit, old man. This place is sturdier than I thought, I'm amazed that it isn't falling apar...t...? Hey, where'd you go?"
With horror, Robert turns to see that everyone else has converged on his ally in this holy mission, who has recovered the object of their mission! "Marco, no! They're coming for you...!"
No, that's not enough, Marco doesn't give a rat's ass about himself at this point. Thinking on his feet, he quickly amends:
"THEY'RE COMING FOR THE SIGN!!!"
COMBATSYS: Robert assists Marco.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Marco blocks Todoh's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Roland successfully hits Marco with Quick Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
Khushnood Butt says, "An Endure would have overwritten my focus bonus."
THEY'RE COMING FOR THE SIGN!!!
Robert's words reverberate in Rodriguez's ears like vibrating crystal as Todoh and Roland close in on the larger man. "No..." Marco whispers as Todoh's fingers close around the symbol of Kyokugen. The sign itself is just wood and paint, but the power behind the sign is so much more. Takuma entrusted Marco with the sign's safekeeping, with the Dojo's honor, which is why the Brazilian will defend the object with his life if need be.
"NO!" Marco shouts as Todoh tugs on the Dojo marker, twisting the object out of the rival's hands even as the strength of his counter pull forces him down to one knee. "You.. you have no right," Marco growls a half second before Roland's strike, which was previously aimed for his BUTT, hits him in the small of his back and sends him lurching forward, forcing him to plant on hand on the ground next to the sign to brace himself.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TOUCH THIS SIGN!" Marco bellows as he thrusts himself upwards, swinging the wooden object that easily weighs as much as a full grown man right at Todoh's face as the Brazilian rises into the air like a well executed Kohou uppercut. Todoh has no right to touch the Kyokugen Dojo Sign. The sign touching Todoh. That's a whole different issue.
Crap, crap, crap. Roland wants to pull out his hair. He looks at the tip of his knife disbelieving; it didn't do much at all to Marco, and he had hoped to distract him into dropping the sign and giving his allies more of a chance to work the man over. A glance is given to Robert, but everyone's attention is on Daniel and Todoh. Good. This is his element, where he can work his magic the best. With that he spreads his stance, planting one fist into an open palm before his chest. "Todoh guide me..." he mulls out, and then advances. One steel toed boot foot whirls backwards, throwing his upper body backwards, propelling it with an audible whoosh of air. To strike Marco right between the legs, with enough raw force to potentially lift him an inch off the ground. And then take advantage of that turn of events to hurl him forward, hopefully to swandive across the dojo floor!!
It takes a while for Daniel to return back indoors. With the rain pouring down, and the physical state he was in after being blasted through two objects, tossed around by a large black man, and jammed into a tree, he was in rough straits. As he makes it to the ragged doorway of the Dojo, he drunkenly observes what was unfolding before him.
Looks like everyone was fighting over the scene. Sign. Making a scene about the sign. Daniel was trying very hard to focus. At the moment, the only thing he was sure of was that Roland was... a cowboy, Saikyo was actually allies with Kyokugen, and that Dan is using the worst disguise in the world. Oh, and everyone was fighting over the sign. Daniel took a long sigh. Pulling the giant splinter out from his right shoulder. He needed to think of something. ANYTHING.
So he tries something dumb.
"Master Todoh! Dan... he... destroyed the Peach Tree!"
Maybe the peach tree is special to Todoh?
COMBATSYS: Daniel assists Todoh.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Marco 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Marco successfully hits Todoh with Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Marco 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
That the cursed piece of wood he has strove so long to obtain for entirely selfish, childish, and all-around wasteful reasons as part of a dick-measuring contest spanning generations is in his grasp! Thanks to his students, this night was to be the moment of ultimate triumph! And then these two had to come and ruin it...
But then again they always do, this should be no reason to be any more worked up than usual. The 'usual' is actually pretty hard to top, come to think of it. Todoh attempts to keep his grip on the sign for as long as Marco struggles to yank it out. It is easy to see that Marco has the upper hand in raw physical strength, as Todoh's balance slips with Marco's powerful counterpull to a kneel. Both are at a kneel at that instant.
Daniel recovers from his inertia intermission to bring dire news. Dire news that the peach tree has been utterly destroyed. The peach tree! The glorious peach tree, the tree that gives peaches whenever someone cares to pick them off when they're ripe enough! He had one and now it is gone, gone from collateral damage between hardened warriors (and a few up-and-coming hardened warriors).
At which point, the master(?)'s ire is raised as the Kyokugen Bear and... that other guy, that other guy being himself in this equation rises to a crescendo of cocked eyebrows and bared, angry teeth as he proclaims a loud declaration that could shake the very foundations of this battle, between board and bastard.
"...I HAD A PEACH TREEEEE?!?!" He exclaims, blood pressure going up to dangerous levels as a large vein bulges over his head to a context that absolutely does not match the things being said or the gestures being made.
Board makes contact with chin. Saliva and blood fly out of his mouth in wholly improbable and ultimately unrealistic amounts as he is shot up through the ceiling and, unfortunately, his rise is halted enough by the breakthrough that he comes back down and makes another hole in which for the cold rain to further make its presence known in these hallowed(?) grounds, lying on his back for a few moments.
"So... that is why Takuma entrusts you with it... hm." It is as though for one defining moment, perhaps for the one and only moment of their shared existence, that they are on the exact same page. His vision swims while blood spills out of his mouth. The rain is very annoying. He watches Roland rush up on Marco to go for the groin. Clearly, he should act now.
At which point he lazily (yet fiercely) thrusts a sock-clad foot for Marco's shin from his place on the ground and spits raspberries from a most immature gesture. "Pbbt!"
Relief washes across Robert's face as Marco manages to weather the twin assaults favorably, but with everyone dead set on the sign, he's going relatively ignored - and if he doesn't act soon, the frothing maniacs may eventually force his mighty bear of an ally into a war of attrition. "MARCO!"
There's that...Roland Rocket guy. As if trying to violate Marco in the Butt (WTF?!) weren't bad enough, now he's going to go and rack a guy in the jewels? That's just not RIGHT, man! "Endanger the legacy of a Kyokugen scion, will he...?!"
It's a simple enough matter. The Italian sprints toward Roland while he's focusing on Marco, falling to a low crouch briefly before springing off of the grounds into a reverse handstand, attempting to give the infidel a taste of the same venom he's seeking to dish out. "Make a break for it, man! I'll cover your retreat...the sign's safety comes first!!"
COMBATSYS: Marco dodges Roland's Coyote Ugly.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Marco 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Marco with Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Marco 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ///////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
Break for it? Cover his retreat?!
"No way man," Slamming the bottom sign down onto the dojo floor next to him with a satisfied grin as he sends Ryuhaku through the roof... twice, Marco causes what is left of the dojo's structure groaning and creaking in protest under the forceful weight of the sign. "I appreciate the offer, but the sign IS safe now. There's no way they're getting it away from me again," Marco adds, spinning on his heels just in time to see Roland's foot heading RIGHT towards the Brazilian's substantial package.
"Pump your brakes kid," Marco warns as he hops back a step just in time to let the younger man's foot pass harmlessly through the air. "You ain't ready for THAT big a fight yet." Lifting the huge sign off of the ground again as Robert rushes in to give the kid a taste of his own medicine, Rodriguez jabs it straight for Roland's gut with enough force to snap a normal man's spine in half and turn his insides into jelly. Luckily Roland is made of stronger stuff than just any normal man... hopefully.
COMBATSYS: Roland blocks Robert's Ryuu Zanshou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Marco 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> /////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Roland interrupts Random Weapon from Marco with Sleight of Hand.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Marco 1/--=====/=======|=======\===----\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Robert 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Roland
That sign's no joke. Roland is the one who stole it. He's a big man; despite all his faults, he can be content in his body and his looks! But he's swinging it around effortlessly. Freakish! Freakish! "Kid?!" is stated, with a sharp intake of breath. "DID YOU FORGET WHO I AM?!" With that, he digs out a handful of something, and then hurls it as the jab is attempted. A blast of sand, which would likely be rather distracting for poor Marco. Sufficiently so that he twists, and is only given a glancing blow. That's one fucking hell of a glance, though; staggering, his hands pull apart to reveal a gleam of wire. And he slithers behind Marco, pulling it taut to dangle from his back and start slugging him as hard as he can right in the kidneys. Over and over. It's one way to distract someone. "I AM TODOH'S GREATEST DISCIPLE!!"
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The scene drifts from the Dojo across to the Fjords of Norway. There, a delicate piano melody begins to hum underneath the image of a deep canyon, lined with rich tundra greens. From the rear of the scene a small yacht drifts up the fjord. The warm ivory tones of a leslie rotor amplify the soft melody. The boat itself does not make any noise itself.
A single seagull flies over the beautiful Scandinavian landscape. Perhaps this is exactly what the world needed. Peace. Traquility. Seagulls. There is nothing more calm and soothing in the universe than this beautiful boat traveling through this beautiful scenary.
The scenery fades into a beautiful panning shot of a cliffside. The gray, weathered rock acts as a loving home to the lichen that cling onto it for stability in a world frequently spoiling more and more by the advances of urban expansion and increasingly petty squabbles between rival martial arts schools.
As the camera pans, it seems to lead off into a great, bright, white beautiful void that soon comes into focus as a beautiful green landscape. The brightly colored grass and shrubs would smile, if they were to have faces. The camera circles the cliffside until it comes across a majestic waterfall, the fresh waters pouring fourth into the clean freshwater river below. Its thunderous landing is muted in respect of the soft piano melody.
This world is beautiful.
The view pans once more to stare down into the churning waters, slowly zooming inward on the frothy bubbles until they fill the screen with white once more. That white becomes the sky, and the view lowers once more to reveal...the plains of a desert, in a seeming show of irony.
Even in the desert, the scene is that of serenity. A lone cactus stands tall and regal, imperious over its domain and denizens that it safeguards.
Cut to the side. A meerkat stands on a rock, head angled to the side, eyes wide and shimmering in the desert sun. Is it a cloud that fascinates it so? Is it a bird? The animal's chitter is lost to the gentle crescendo but the motion of its head is unmistakable, as is the fact that it is sooned joined by a second meerkat next to the rock. And then another. Together, they all stare into the sky at something wonderous that the viewer can only imagine fascinating them so.
Even here in the desert, there can be peace and coexistence, a coming together of likened minds to share a single greater experience. The blood feud between Todoh-ryuu Kobojutsu and Kyokugen Karate seems like a distant memory, because here, everything is in perfect harmony.
Again, the soft mewling of a seagull brings the screen back to the waters. Now, the sun is setting, lying upon the horizon. The long arms of orange and red rake across an ocean landscape, drawing towards the serene beach. Here, it is almost completely empty in this tropical paradise.
A small fiddler crab scuttles along the beach, moving behind a trio of palm trees. A pelican dives into the water, scooping up a single fish. And finally, a man lies in the sun, lying down upon a lawn chair in perfect repose. He slowly sips a coconut from a single straw plugged in it. The crab scuttles from the tree towards the chair. The sun sinks lower and lower as the music tinkles along.
The blue skies take on more of a yellowish tinge as the sun begins to settle over a great forest on a hill overlooking the ocean. The breeze makes a gentle pass through the late afternoon, making branches flutter and leaves fly. The camera follows the incredible journey of these leaves as they are carried out into the ocean, as though they were to travel towards the setting sun itself.
Their journey cannot last forever, as the wind will eventually make them settle on the surface of the sea. But to be able to take joy in the scarce time one may have on the journey of life reflects upon this latest act of nature.
They pass by a few seagulls overhead before settling in the water. Not far off, a herd of orca splash through the water every so often as they themselves seem to pursue a path towards the sun that is looking to continue its own journey from the standpoint of this planet.
The splashing does not create many disruptions through the ocean, as the waves peacefully form from and fall into the water from whence they originate. The camera zooms over the orca family, and then off to the distance.
Small specks can be seen drifting in the distance. More seagulls? No...they're pink, and too numerous. The view cuts to a different angle, revealing countless cherry blossoms scattering into the darkenened sky above the ocean, sun distant and low on the horizon. Overhead, the view follows the trail of the blossoms back to their source, the waters below providing a gently rocking backdrop to a snow of petals.
Finally, the camera comes to rest on a small island of cherry trees, but its arrival is late. Not many blossoms remain, the wind carrying them off one by one until the trees stand completely berift of petals...denuded of their glory, but standing tall and proud in spite of the fact. Their season has ended, much like the day, but a new one will come eventually. And many more beyond that. But for now, both must come to a close, while in the distance the stars - this far away from the glaring lights of the city - begin to emerge and pay silent tribute.
The island of cherry blossoms fades away to a single image of the planet earth, standing in the heavens completely alone. How perfect the world is. How beautiful.
It is important to remember that in this world, in this shared reality, there is no need for violence. There is plenty of potential for love and care. And you must remember, as part of this greater world, you must tap into the peace, love, unity, and respect.
So when you go out into the world today, remember how peaceful you can make it. Read a book. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Spend time with your friends. Rebuild bridges with your enemies. All is possible in making the world a better place because you are a better person. So whether you are black or white, Jew or gentile, or even whether you are Kyokugen Karate or Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu, just remember this short phrase.
Love conquers all.
Log created on 22:35:08 12/17/2008 by Todoh, and last modified on 16:37:22 03/22/2012.