Description: There he was just a walking down the street / Singin' Do Wah Diddy Diddy down diddy to / Poppin' his fingers and shufflin' his feet / Singin' Do Wah Diddy Diddy down diddy do / He looked good, he looked fine, he looked good / And I nearly lost my mind. What do these lyrics have to do with this log? READ AND FIND OUT.
A call from Saishu Kusanagi was certainly unexpected. Its execution, more so.
Still, it was a call of 'dire importance,' the old Kusanagi insisted. Meet him at the Genhanten in Chinatown around three in the afternoon. While anyone else would have simply been ignored, a man like the elder Kusanagi, and arguably the more respectable of the two male heirs, was what he considered a colleague. By other peoples' less stern, militaristic standards, he would be what some call 'a friend.'
Punctual and precise as always, Heidern was downtown by two-thirty. A short walk later, he was at Genhanten's front door around three fifty-two in the afternoon, where he patiently waits outside its busy doors. For once, perhaps, the Ikari Commander blends in well with the crowds that pass through; clad in a deep auburn three-piece suit affair, the one-eyed soldier stands with his hands buried in the pockets of a long black coat slung over his shoulders for warmth.
Patiently, Heidern waits, his weathered face devoid of any real expression as he waits for the arrival of the elder Kusanagi. But behind his one, good eye, the old Ikari wonders:
What on Earth could possibly be of dire importance to old man Kusanagi?
LONG AGO, IN A MAGICAL WORLD (three hours ago):
"... Are you /sure/ this is the one you want?"
"Did I stutter, boy?! Kids these days! Always second guessing the /customer/ when they should know the /customer/ is always right, even when they're /wrong./"
"Right, right, fine. Jeez. It'll be done just like you asked, don't worry." The shop keeper takes a long look at the product behind him. "But what could you possibly want /that/ for, and to put it at such a place..."
Saishu Kusanagi's eyes glint with a morbidly serious stare as he looks upwards towards his purchase.
"For something more important than you could possibly imagine."
Saishu Logo Spin to /now./ The commander of the elite mercenary warriors known as Ikari, Heidern, stands at the entrance of the Genhanten. It verges towards three thirty in the afternoon before there is even the slightest hint of activity. People pass, laughing and jabbering as they go, but none of them are here for Heidern. None of them are who he might be looking for, except--
"Hey!! Watch it pal-- is that... what the hell is that??"
A shadow looms high over the entrance of the Genhanten, casting darkness over Heidern as he waits. Something large blots out the sun, making itself known by the rusty squeak of wheels and the groan of metal. And if Heidern were to look up, he'd see it, plain as day:
A wall. Someone rolled a section of brick wall out into broad daylight, in the middle of Chinatown.
That 'someone' is a single man, hunched over and dragging the wheel-equipped wall steadily behind him with a small grunt of effort. His facial features are slyly obscured by the wide brim of a straw hat (though this does little to hide the distinctive sun-outline symbols etched on his equally distinctive green gi, a fact that the MYSTERIOUS STRANGER seems to be artfully ignoring). Slowly, the Mysterious Stranger looks towards the wall. Then, towards Heidern. Then, towards the wall again, as if trying to see if they were aligned properly. Once satisfied, he holds up a finger as if to say 'just a second' before disappearing behind the massive wall once more. There is an eerie moment of silence for exactly one second--
--And then a man, one man, one distinctive, far too energetic man, EXPLODES through the prop wall in a rain of brick and morter head-first, aiming to ram his forehead straight into Heidern's cycloptic face.
"Ha HA! Headbutt!" Saishu Kusanagi helpfully declares.
COMBATSYS: Saishu has started a fight here.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Heidern has joined the fight here.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Heidern
COMBATSYS: Heidern interrupts Fierce Punch from Saishu with Quick Throw.
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Saishu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Heidern
With an ever-observant eye kept on the crowds passing through the marketplace before him, Commander Heidern watches and waits for the Kusanagi elder's arrival. But the longer the minutes tick past, the more doubt begins to works its way into the man's thoughts. Will Saishu actually show? Or will he forget he even made the appointment?
Somehow, Heidern suspects the latter of the eccentric man.
But something draws the attention of passers-by. Something startles a few, who look up to the odd shadow slowly creeping its way forward on the rooftop of Genhanten. It blots the sun, casting a shade upon the one-eyed soldier. At first a thin brow arches, his gaze shifting over the various faces of people before him. Then, slowly, the man cranes his neck around and looks to the rooftop.
A brick wall.
A brick wall?
The Mysterious Stranger is observed, even as he lifts a finger and excuses himself. Briefly he vanishes, disappearing behind the wall. Heidern's stern expression doesn't change, even as an odd silence covers the gathered crowds of people outside the restaurant. It's quiet. Too quiet.
But Saishu is sure to break it, suddenly erupting through the prop with a shower of debris that startles the crowds behind Heidern. The man himself remains cool and impassive, his arms and legs tensing tightly beneath his clothes. Saishu descends, head first, right at the one-eyed soldier. And just when his forehead crashes painfully into Heidern's--
An arm shoots up, his hand cupped tightly as he swings it upwards. Seizing the other man by his throat, he grips tightly before he twists sharply on a heel, clearly intent on taking Saishu and slamming him back-first into the street beneath the soldier's feet.
"It's been a while," the commander says, calmly--conversationally.
"How's the wife doing?"
Idly, Saishu Kusanagi feels bad for ruining such a perfectly good and expensive wall.
But he didn't really use /his/ money to buy it anyway, and thus such regrets are quickly forgotten.
Chunks of brick shower down and crash into the ground below in shattered pieces of rusty red building material as, amidst them, the head of the Kusanagi Clan descends like a human rocket. Eyes bright with enthusiasm and anticipation, Saishu Kusanagi continues to let gravity take its course, head tense and at the ready--
--and with one CRACK of impact, Saishu is forcefully introduced into the hard concrete of the street below. Ground crackes in spiderweb patterns as the eldest Kusanagi rapidly moves into a roll, springing up onto his feet in a moment of deft and grace that seems almost contradictory to his very nature.
Of course, he helpfully proceeds to grip at his lower back and stoop down with a wince afterwards, muttering something about 'why do rooftops have to be so high.'
"Gen must be out to kill me, what is he /thinking/ putting a roof up that high for a /restaurant/--" Saishu's grimacing, however, is cut off as Heidern speaks. He blinks, looks up, and squints for a long moment before a mischevious grin blossoms over his lips. "Has it?" he asks, honestly. "I must be losing track of time in my old age!"
Though really, he never had good track of it, young or old.
Scratching at his belly with his free hand, Saishu adopts a lazy stance once more, cocking his head thoughtfully at Heidern's question. "Oh, she's doing just fine! I think she was in the middle of cooking dinner when I left--" last week "-- you should come over and try some! I'm sure the boy would love to see you!"
A pause follows. Saishu once more adopts a serious expression, leaning in close -- confidentially. "More importantly, though, I have something I need to ask you:
"How are your reflexes lately?"
Like a snake, Saishu goes from lounging to active in less than a second, springing forward in a hopping kick meant to crash into Heidern's sternum, complimented by a single fist aimed to slam into the side of the man's face. "HAH!" /Psyche-out./
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Heidern with Nata Guruma.
? Strange Hit! ?
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Saishu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Heidern
Once Saishu has been properly introduced to the ground, back-first, Heidern swiftly withdraws, letting his arm recoil and rest loosely at his side. Still as calm as ever, the Ikari's expression remains unchanged as the spry old man tumbles gracefully back onto his feet. Once on them, only barely do the man's lips twitch slightly. It almost looks like a grin. Almost.
"Indeed; truthfully I can't remember the last time we had a chance to meet." Losing track of time, or simply too preoccupied with...well, whatever the hell Saishu finds interesting. Either way, the soldier isn't fussed. It IS good to see an old familiar face, after all.
"Good to hear. She's a good woman," Heidern replies, offering a crisp nod before he offers another vague smile. It only falters somewhat as he extends a dinner offer--and mentions his son. Barely perceptible is the slight hood of Heidern's solitary blue eye.
"That would be nice. Be sure to beat some manners into your son first, though."
The Ikari Commander lifts a brow as the conversation seems to take a serious tone, the man slightly inclining his head as Saishu addresses him. Vaguely, Heidern's expression is intrigued, thin dry lips pursing gently before he's hit with the question. How are his reflexes? "Fine, why do you--"
Rather suddenly Heidern finds the wind knocked out of his lungs, his back going stiff the moment Saishu's knee collides into his sternum. But before he can stagger back a fist smacks him in the face, causing the old soldier to reel somewhat, his feet stumbling a bit. Lifting a gloved hand up, he rubs at his jaw.
"Let me show you," he offers instead.
Lashing out with both arms, Heidern seeks to snare the Kusanagi by his clothes a heft him up before he twists sharply. The motion is concluded with a sudden SLAM of Saishu into the ground once more, back-first before Heidern himself slides to the side, positioning himself at the man's middle. Casting off his usual brutality in favor of keeping things friendly between them, he instead lifts his hand and balls it into a fist before dropping it down into Saishu's gut, knuckles first.
COMBATSYS: Saishu fails to interrupt Lead Belcher from Heidern with Oniyaki EX.
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Saishu 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Heidern
Barking out a good-natured laugh, Saishu uses his own fist and foot as some sort of odd springboard off of Heidern, removing much of the force of his blows but leaving him in a more prepared position -- relatively, that is. His feet drag against the rough concrete, sparks of deep red flame apparent between his fingertips. Saishu just grins.
"Manners?! The boy should be learning that in school!"
Apparently he doesn't keep track of these things.
The words are spit out only a second before Heidern attacks. Saishu sees the forward lunge, and knows what comes next; rather than prepare any meaningful sort of defense, however, the head of the Kusanagi somewhat recklessly charges /forward/ to meet Heidern halfway. This only works on the vaguest levels of preempting the assault; whatever the rest of Saishu's plan was, it is lost the moment that Heidern snatches him up and SLAMS him into the ground, following it up with one punch to his solar plexus that drives all the wind from his lungs like a hammer pistoning into a nail. The force is enough that Saishu rebounds off the ground, hacking up saliva as he gasps for air and crashes into concrete shoulder-first.
A few seconds later, Saishu recovers himself, slowly pushing himself back to his knees with a grunt.
"That's... /pretty/ good... I /guess/," he remarks dismally as he catches his breath, lips pulling into a delightful smile. "For a /cheap shot/, anyway!
Like some serpent the man recoils smoothly from the assault on the elder Kusanagi, his fist breaking and long digits unfurling before he paces a step away. Leaving the man to get up by his own accord, the Ikari offers a discreet smirk, his one good eye drawing to a close as he offers, flatly, "Unfortunately, he doesn't have an ounce of manners in him. You should probably look into that."
Heidern knows well not to bother asking if the man is all right; he's Saishu Kusanagi, after all, as much a legend as his son. He's also a formidable fighter; to inquire would be an insult on his skill, the commander figures privately. For the moment he merely observes, as the man catches his breath and smiles. Cheap shot?
"I'm only getting started," the man warns.
Shifting forward, Heidern moves swiftly, his coat billowing out behind as he closes in as swiftly as possible and shifts his weight, a leg swinging out sharply to try and catch Saishu in his stomach with a solid blow of his heel.
COMBATSYS: Heidern successfully hits Saishu with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Saishu 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Heidern
"Hrrrmmm," Saishu muses in concern, stroking his beard. "You'd think I'd have spent enough of his money by now for him to learn not to take life for granted," he continues, as if this somehow explains what the issue of his son's poor manners is.
"Personally, I blame the hippity hop."
Nodding solemnly to himself, Saishu Kusanagi lifts dark eyes just in time to hear Heidern's words. "Wha? You're only just getting started with your lucky cheap shots, or just getting started figh--"
And Saishu gets his answer with one kick to the stomach that once more forces every ounce of wind from his lungs in a burning exhale.
"HARRUUMPH" is his defiant exclamation.
Launching backwards through the air from the sheer force of the blow, the Kusanagi elder still expertly manages to make a recovery about mid-fall, suddenly twisting through the air. As he does, he lands against the wall of the Genhantan feet-first, sandals pressing against the hard concrete of the establishment with the tensing of muscles and the flash of a bright and dangerous grin.
Now /this/ is exciting.
Like a bouncy ball on speed, Saishu rebounds off the wall a second later, spiraling through the air as a trail of flames suddenly sprouts in faint traces behind him in his wake. He bounds towards Heidern like a rocket, lashing out with his right hand, whipping it forward as if to smack the man -- save for the fact that it carries with it a massive gout of crimson fire meant to engulf Heidern if he doesn't move in time. "Ha HA!"
COMBATSYS: Heidern blocks Saishu's Homura Gasane.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Heidern
@emit
"No, I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge that your son is a slacker when it comes to academia," the man offers solemnly, giving the Kusanagi man a level expression before he moves. Swiftly jerking to life--perhaps unexpected of a man who expresses little or shows hardly any sort of 'life' to begin with--his foot meets the midsection of Saishu and, as result, the man is blasted back, kicked into the air as he's sent flying.
As for Heidern, he merely recoils his leg and sets it down with a muted click of polished shoes on concrete. "I don't blame you or your wife, though." Kyo's just a lazy, arrogant bastard. But who doesn't already know that?
"And for the record, I consider myself a fairly honorable fighter," the Ikari commander explains calmly, the faintest hints of a smirk dancing at the corners of his mouth. Brutal, but fair.
Just then, Saishu rebounds and swiftly springs forward like some odd, awkward human rocket blazing with energy. A hand moves, a gout of flame aimed for the soldier. Lifting his long arms, the Ikari shields his face from harm, Kusanagi flames lashing out over his coat and past his arms, licking at what bare flesh it can reach and burning through garments with its incredible heat. But despite what pain is there, Heidern remains eerily wordless.
Especially when he suddenly lunges forward with an arm straightened behind him. Silently he moves forward and low, closing in on Saishu with the intention of driving his arm suddenly forward and slamming a fist clean into the man's stomach with brutal force.
COMBATSYS: Saishu blocks Heidern's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Heidern
This man's blows -- they're brutal! It's as if--
--As if he lines his gloves with razor blades!!
These random, startled meta-musings aside, Saishu is quick to slam feet-first into the earth as he releases that spiraling whip of flames through the air. His sandals drag across concrete as inertia carries him forward with such force that he is literally propelled /past/ Heidern and towards the outdoor tables of the Genhanten, digging up shallow furrows through the concrete before coming to a halting, smoking stop.
"Whew!" he whistles out, chest expanding to heave out a breath. "That was a doozie! I don't think these old bones can keep up--"
And then, before he knows it, Heidern is already in his defenses. Swooping low, that punch aims for his midsection once more -- but this time, the Kusanagi elder is prepared. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice--" Forearms jut into the path of Heidern's blow, absorbing the brunt of the punch. His arms go numb as he staggers backwards, both from the force of the blow and simply to gain distance between himself and his adversary. Stopping nearby a couple dining at one of the tables, he looks down and silently stares at their meals.
"Hrm, I could use a pick me up... excuse me, but this is of the most grave importance!" One hand snaps outward at this declaration; Saishu snatches up a plate of sweet chicken as one of the customers lets out a startled and indignant gasp. Picking up a piece, he chomps into it, letting out an 'aaaaaaahhhh' of enjoyment as he begins to eat.
"Ah'll be righd dere in a schecund," he manages to slurr out between bites, only the very subtle and brief pulses of crimson fire around his arms and glinting in his eyes hinting at something more than a senile old man enjoying some stolen chicken.
COMBATSYS: Saishu gathers his will.
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Saishu 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Heidern
"Try to," is Heidern's only reply...before he lunges forward.
After all, he started this.
His fist swings forward, and were it more than just 'friendly' sparring between two older fighters, he'd likely try to impale the man on his hand. But he doesn't; instead, that fist sails; but rather than connect with the elder Kusanagi's stomach, it instead collides with forearms, the man's stomach shielded from harm. Swiftly and fluidly, Heidern whips back, all six feet, three inches of his wiry form standing upright once more. His stance is again casual at best.
But the other man's actions briefly bemuse the Ikari Commander, his solitary blue eye hooding somewhat as the patron's chicken is snatched and devoured with little remorse. Bluntly, the soldier states the obvious: "I don't think Gen would appreciate that."
The energy does not go without notice; in fact, Heidern's gaze narrows a touch further before he offers a faint smirk, fingers curling slightly at his side. Rather than advance, the Ikari--perhaps wisely--refrains, instead holding his ground as he merely observes.
"By the way, Kusanagi," the man asks.
"Is your son still dating that girl?"
COMBATSYS: Heidern focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Saishu 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Heidern
"Huh? Oh, it's fine," Saishu says, waving a piece of chicken through dismissively the air as bits of sweet and sour souce splatter errantly across various customers' tables. He takes another bite, and frowns distastefully.
"Gen should be more worried about how /dry/ this chicken is! I'd expect better from him! I'm going to have to give that crazy old geezer a stern talking to!"
Shaking his head most solemnly at the state of the chicken he eats, Saishu Kusanagi takes another bite, chomping down once more and gulping down the supposedly dry meat. His beard and lips now smeared with sauce, the flames around him have also noticeably increased, rising up in coils of mystical heat as a sly glint flashes in the corner of the Kusanagi elder's eye.
"Girl?" Saishu asks curiously, almost perplexed.
"My son is dating a /girl/?"
The multitudes of ways that can be interpretted falls by the wayside as Saishu suddenly lunges forward without preamble or hesitation, vaulting across the distance seperating himself and Heidern -- tray of chicken still in hand. Like a blur of motion, he cuts straight through his comrade's defenses, eyes flaring dangerously for a brief moment. Eyes wide, his right hand snaps forward with unbelievable speed--
--and thrusts a single piece of poultry at Heidern.
"HA /HA/!"
Or at least, this would seem to be the case for the first three seconds before that chicken suddenly combusts into flames, exploding in one unbelievably massive, yet finely honed and controled, stream of liquid fire, crimson power pouring forth from naught more than the combustion of a chicken to spawn the Kusanagi clan's mightiest technique.
Chickenagi.
Or something.
"Oh!" Saishu shouts even as the gout rages. "You mean that little boy named Yuki that always hangs around my boy?" A pause.
"He's a GIRL?"
COMBATSYS: Heidern interrupts Orochinagi+ from Saishu with Moon Slasher.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Heidern
Heidern's response?
The man's only eye simply draws shut, the faintest smirk still lingering on his lips. How on God's green Earth someone as obnoxiously rude and arrogant as Kyo is related to someone as odd and eccentric as Saishu perplexes the old Ikari. Maybe one day the mystery will be solved. But for now? Saishu remains the only of the two Kusanagi men he can tolerate.
"I never really cared for Chinese food," the Ikari idly remarks. However, when Saishu seems surprised to learn that Kyo is, in fact, dating a girl, the old commander again smirks. "Now, Saishu," he explains, dryly. "That isn't nice."
Suddenly Saishu moves, a swift and sudden lunge that distantly surprises the Ikari CO. But rather than toughen up, he drops a shoulder low and lets an arm thrust out behind him. Thin, dry lips purse, his one good eye narrowed sharply as the fabled flames come. The roaring crimson flames engulf the soldier, the stench of burning cloth and the faintest hint of burning flesh filling the immediate area. But within that inferno is a flicker of blue energy.
And then, a sudden arc of energy.
Heidern plows THROUGH the flames, his long arm cutting a wide, circular motion through the air and separating flame to forge a path. The energy is aimed at Saishu, a slashing crescent of pure chi that intends to slice into the man, should he not be careful and knock him back. But Heidern is not without injury.
He staggers somewhat, a faint wince of pain crossing the old soldier's face before he chuckles deeply. "She might be a nice girl, you know. However."
As best he can, Heidern stiffens his posture, assuming a casual stance once more.
"I don't think she does much for his attitude. I think Kyo could stand to find someone who can whip him into better shape."
Pause.
"Much better shape."
COMBATSYS: Heidern has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Saishu 0/-------/-----==|
"Hah HAUH??"
Saishu's boisterous laughter is cut off with a decidedly questioning stare of surprise as Heidern calmly cleaves through the massive gout of mystical fire with a single crescent of blue. The writhing, serpentine mass of flames is cleaved through like Moses parting the Red Sea, if one were to assume the Red Sea was considerably smaller than it actually is and made of crimson fire rather than, you know, water.
The main point here is, that Heidern's moses-chi disrupts the flow of the Orochinagi(+), setting Saishu up to be rather surprised and completely unable to react as that crescent continues its searing path, carving straight into the Kusanagi head's upper torso. Carving into his chest and burning away some of the front of that deep green gi, Saishu cannot help but looking anything other than shocked as, his footing already unsettled, he is launched into the air. Kusanagi crashes into the table he had just stolen food from back-first, breaking through it and landing on the ground in a spray of noodles and rice. Blearily, Saishu looks up, noodles crowning his head in a mop of soggy pasta. He leans forward, squints, and frowns.
"And the /sauce/ is bad, too," he remarks dismally as he sucks up a noodle dangling from his head.
On the matter of Kyo, Saishu scratches the side of his head, dragging himself back up onto his feet. "Uhn... well, she seemed fairly bossy as it was! But maybe as far as women go, she's not? Hrm... I don't know, what do you think the male-to-female conversion rate on sass is?" Saishu seems entirely serious about this question -- until suddenly, he snaps out of it, something else dawning on him.
"But I didn't come here to talk about my son's desperation!! His inability to woo a woman just means he has much more training until he can become head of the Kusanagi household! No! I came here, to--" Saishu points a dramatic finger at Heidern. From his fist sprouts a mass of crimson flames, as the Kusanagi head grins wide.
"--RECRUIT YOU! HUUAGH!"
One push of his feet, and Saishu surges forward, intent to plant one flaming fist straight into the side of the Ikari commander's face. "KAPOW!" he declares, for no real reason than it felt appropriate at the time.
Because that is the way of a /true/ warrior.
COMBATSYS: Heidern blocks Saishu's Kamu Kakari.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Heidern
Though Heidern's counterattack proves itself to be more than efficient against the elder Kusanagi, he isn't without his share of pain. Aching where the crimson flames singed and burned bare flesh on his person, the Ikari CO winces somewhat as he recovers, shedding the long black and now-smoking trenchcoat from his body. Casting it aside onto an empty table, the man slowly turns his attention back onto the other man as he looks up from beneath a bowl of noodles.
"Well, this place seems popular enough," Heidern coolly replies. "Maybe you're just too picky?"
A vague smile edges over Heidern's mouth shortly after.
Once Saishu is back on his feet, the Ikari Commander shifts his weight, assuming a casual but ready stance with arms raised at chest level. "Well, I'm sure it's a low conversion rate, but still. Your son has a terrible mouth on him and no respect for his elders. Lord knows how he treats women. He needs someone who can whip him into shape."
But before any thoughts, if any at all, can be further voiced, Saishu's sudden declaration catches the Ikari slightly off his guard. The dramatic gesture, followed by chi, causes Heidern's one good blue eye to hood, as the grin blossoms wide. Recruit..?
The flaming fist soars, but Heidern's arm shoots up and intercepts. Crimson flames lick against his gloved hand, a flinch of pain crossing the man's weathered features before he offers another faint smirk. "Recruit?" Giving his arm a light shove, he seeks to dislodge Saishu's fist before Heidern drops the arm and dips low. In one, smooth motion he sends his fist out, to drive it straight into Saishu's sternum as he lunges fiercely forward.
COMBATSYS: Saishu fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Heidern with Jab Punch.
# Disabling hit! #
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Saishu 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Heidern
"Picky?! Humph! Picky is just another way of saying 'critically refined!'"
And, in the spirit of good timing, Saishu helpfully burps after declaring this.
One fist slung forward with all the crimson fury of the Kusanagi clan, Saishu's burning strike meets forearm in a sparking clash of fire and kinetic force. Grinning all the wider, the Kusanagi elder is pushed back with that shove. Stumbling backwards, he tenses his left hand, apparently preparing for something.
"Ha HAH! I see right through your--"
*CRACK*
Saishu's torso has been receiving a lot of punishment, but he doesn't see yet another brutal blow zooming in for it until it's too late, despite his otherwise declaring he saw right through it. Whatever his DEVIOUS PLANS were fall by the wayside as Heidern's mighty fists plows into his sternum with the crack of bone, eyes going wide and throat making a vague "HUWARHGH" noise as he is blown backwards once again. Soaring through the air, he offers a wave to the couple still, for some reason, sitting near the battlegrounds.
"Helloooooooooooo--"
WHUD.
Crashing into the ground shoulder-first, Saishu rebounds, landing in a crouch. He breathes heavy, blood trailing thinly down the right corner of his mouth. But he's still smiling that dangerous smile of his, eyes flashing with life.
"YES! Recruit you...
"... into Team OYAJI 2000!" Saishu pauses, squints, and frowns.
"... or is it 2002? I can never bother to keep track of these things, what year is it again...?"
Gloved fist meets sternum, and as result the Kusanagi elder goes flying. As for Heidern, he simply draws his one eye shut, lips pulling into a thin line as he slowly withdraws his extended arm. Fluidly, the man curls back into an upright stance, giving his blazer's front a brisk dusting off before his attentions shift back onto Saishu, just in time to watch him bounce and rebound into a crouch.
"I thought for certain you'd had enough by now," he remarks, daring to grin as he tugs absently at a leather glove. "It's good to see, however, I am mistaken. You haven't slipped in your age just yet."
But in true Saishu fashion, he recovers quickly enough and explains his intentions. Recruit him back into Oyaji? For once, Heidern appears genuinely surprised, however vague the expression on his weathered face may be. But then, slowly, his one good eye hoods somewhat, the corners of his thin lips curling into a slight grin.
"Is that so?" Heidern eventually replies, lips pursing slightly. "And why is that? Is Sakazaki not pulling his weight on Oyaji?" Whether Saishu replies immediately or not, Heidern silently moves, a blur of movement as he closes in. Twisting his lanky form, a leg lifts high and crooks, his knee descending to crash down atop Saishu's head, followed by the top of his foot.
COMBATSYS: Heidern successfully hits Saishu with Shooter Narnagel.
- Power hit! -
[ \\ < > //////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Heidern
"Old age? HAH!" guffaws Saishu mightily.
"I'm twice as old and twice as limber as you'll ever be!"
Rolling either shoulder in two languid movements, Saishu presses both hands against the small of his back, stretches, and looks up towards the sky as he lets out a long, heavy yawn. He looks around him at the property damage done to the restaurant, and strokes his beard for a moment of quiet contemplation.
"I suppose," he remarks absently, "paying for all of this will teach Kyo a lesson in manners."
A productive father is he.
"Oh, you know Takuma!" Saishu responds wistfully. "Last I heard he was off instructing pandas the meaning of the Kyokugen spirit, which is RIDICULOUS, as everyone knows they would only respond to Kusana--" Whatever he intended to say, Saishu's attention is taken up by Heidern suddenly invading his personal space. Whether it be due to Heidern's sheer speed, or the mild case of indigestion Saishu will assuredly claim to be suffering from later on due to the poor quality of Gen's chicken, Saishu is once more on the receiving end of Heidern's violent technique.
With the crack of bone, Saishu's head is introduced to Heidern's knee, and then foot, knocked downwards towards the earth. As he goes, though, his hand starts to crackle with crimson fire. Body tensing, he suddenly /leaps/ backwards, whipping his hand through the air as a gout of mystical flames EXPLODES across the ground in a chaotic blossom, ripping through concrete to crash into Heidern as it goes. Saishu lands, he wobbles.
"Hah! This is... nothing..." He teeters...
COMBATSYS: Saishu has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Heidern
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Heidern with Yami Barai EX.
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Heidern
And then straightens like a /man./
"HAH! See? Nothing!! You hit like a woman!" And then promptly crouches, in a coughing fit.
"... just give me a second to get over your womanly blows!"
"Are you sure about that?"
Striking Saishu swiftly and, apparently, harshly, Heidern lets his leg swing around as Saishu threatens to hit the ground. But just as the old Ikari turns around to face the thought-to-be incapacitated Kusanagi elder- -
Flames cloud his vision.
Struck, Heidern staggers, his blue eye a mix of surprise and bemusement as his footing stumbles. Clutching at his chest with a gloved hand, smoke curls from singed threads, the soldier's features stern as he shifts his disoriented gaze back onto the Kusanagi as he gets back onto his feet, coughing. Hits like a woman?
"Try harder," the Ikari warns. His arms drop, a flicker of blue dancing across his long fingertips...
A split second later both arms swing up, cutting a massive swath of pure blue chi through the air, all of which scream right for the elder Kusanagi.
"I'm not even /tired/, Saishu."
COMBATSYS: Saishu blocks Heidern's Final Cross Cutter.
[ \\\\ < > //////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Heidern
Panting deeply, Saishu's own exhaustion seems to be settled in deep, as if he'd been pushed to the very limit. He takes in a slow breathe, then exhales, clutching at his chest.
It's only when that massive blade of chi carves through the air that Saishu finally dons a wide and dangerous grin. "HAH!"
In one surge of motion, crimson flames snake across Saishu's left forearm. His arm pistons forward, /straight/ into the pulse of chi, greeting it in one seemingly direct blow. In reality, that mystic fire works the instant that it makes contact with that blue chi; while his arm shudders and his sleeves rip apart from the contact with that energy, the Kusanagi flames snake into the offensive burst of chi like an infestation, crimson overriding blue as that mass of power is all but dispersed before it can ever truly bring harm to Saishu's body. Blue chi shatters in sparkling blades all around the bearded man's form as he stares, with a cocky grin, towards Heidern. It's a truly dramatic pose--
--ruined a second later when Saishu hunches over once more and begins gasping for breath, lifting up a hand index-finger first as if to indicate 'one second.'
"These bones are too old! I blame the young people, using up all the calcium in the world for their own selfish gains! Haaah... whew!" And he continues to breathe like that, in a completely exaggerated manner. Truly out of wind, or does he have a DEVIOUS PLAN (again)?!
COMBATSYS: Saishu focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Heidern
There's a distant expression of surprise when Saishu, presumed to be running on vapors, cuts Heidern's attack in half with his sacred crimson flames. Really, he figured that would do the trick. But as expected of the eccentric Kusanagi elder, he proves Heidern's intuitions completely incorrect. Part of the old Ikari is forced to offer a grin.
A slight grin, anyway.
"Too old?" the Ikari parrots, looking distantly bemused before long arms tense. "That's an awful excuse for a man as spry as yourself, Kusanagi. Really, it's becoming for a wise old man such as yourself." Is that sarcasm?
Whatever it is, Heidern seems content to let Saishu have his moment. Instead of pressing the offensive, Heidern instead seeks the defensive; shifting his stance wide, his right arm folds across his chest, the left hand clutched in a claw-like fashion near his hip as an odd red aura--chi--begins to permeate from his feet and slowly serpentine its way over his form.
"So why is it you want me to join Oyaji, Kusanagi?"
COMBATSYS: Heidern gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Heidern
"Spry, huh? That reminds me of the parable of the old tortoise..." Saishu's sentence trails, and his face scrunches. He seems to be in a moment of deep contemplation, as seconds of awkward silence fill the air.
"... hrm, I thought I had something."
Swiftly enough, the forgotten tale is cast aside with an energetic shrugging of shoulders and a single finger pointed towards Heidern. "Regardless! Just like the tortoise from that tale, I will achieve ultimate victory! Not through spryness, or quick wit, or /youthful ability/ but through sheer, old, sluggish, STUBBORN FOOLISHNESS! Write that down, that's something to remember!"
Rushing forward once again, Saishu is a sudden whirlwind of activity, in distinct contradiction to his early words. Bounding forward in a blur of dark green and brown, he seeks to grip Heidern by the lapels of his outfit with a grin.
"Because old men need to stick together to teach youngsters not to be so young, of course!"
If the grip is secured, Saishu will suddenly /fling/ Heidern through the air and over his shoulder. He pivots with the motion, his right arm pistoning forward as soon as he releases Heidern to level a punch into his chest like a jackhammer.
"Ha HA!"
COMBATSYS: Heidern blocks Saishu's Issetsu Seoi Nage.
[ \\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Heidern
The awkward silence is only made all the more awkward when Heidern returns it, his one good eye peering at Saishu, waiting. Only when he casts his thoughts aside does the Ikari offer a faint smirk, the corners of his lips twitching slightly in response. "Your age is really starting to show, Saishu," he offers. A warning, maybe?
Stubborn foolishness seems to be paying off for the older Kusanagi. But from Heidern comes no response; instead, the Ikari CO holds his pose, maintaining posture as that odd haze encircles him. He only offers little more than that same, vague smile, his eye fixed on Saishu and his every movement. And soon enough, that old Kusanagi comes racing in.
Squaring his stance, Heidern is snared by the lapels of his blazer and thrown. But midair his form twists around, flipping to intercept Saishu's follow up with a shield of his forearms across his chest. It draws a faint grunt from the man, a brow twitching in grief before he flips once more and lands feet-first, his lanky figure skidding a foot across smooth pavestones.
"You have a point," the soldier offers. "But I'm not convinced yet."
Dashing forward, the Ikari moves swiftly, arms outstretched behind him and shoulders low. Only as he nears Saishu does Heidern's body sharply twist, his lanky form pivoting on one heel as the other swings around and up, a heel aimed to piston itself clean into Saishu's chest with a faint 'hrrmph' of exertion.
COMBATSYS: Saishu endures Heidern's Medium Kick.
[ \ < > /////////// ]
Saishu 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Heidern
"Good!" responds Saishu indignantly. "Children are more afraid of you the older you get, anyway!"
Shaking free some errant noodles still clinging to his unkempt hair, the Kusanagi elder frowns vaguely at the feeling of forearms impacting the powerful blow of his fist. His hand snapping backwards, Saishu regains ground as fast as he is able; unfortunately, the carry-through of that blow leaves him a bit sluggish in his recovery. Staggering back, he would seem for all the world to be an open and easy target--
--if not for the grin flashed across his lips.
"Let my fists convince you, then!!"
Heidern attacks, but Saishu moves /directly/ into the blow, perhaps suicidally. That boot impacts against Saishu's chest; ribs can be heard cracking, and yet -- Saishu continues to /power through it/, grinning all the while. Flames sprout around his fists, and he leaps right at Heidern, spinning like the Tasmanian Devil as crimson flames roar into bubbling life and trail around his body like a double helix.
"This is the convinction of my old SPIRIT! HAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Saishu can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Heidern 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Heidern fails to counter Oniyaki from Saishu with Killing Bringer.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\ <
Heidern 1/-----==/=======|
"Then convince me," replies the Ikari, his blue eye hooding sharply.
"...if you can hit me."
The slightest smirk edges over the man's sharp features in that moment, as Saishu moves suicidally into the sudden strike made against him. True to his eccentric self the man does not disappoint as he seeks to strike fiercely and swiftly. Almost instantly Heidern's leg drops, planting firmly as he tries to swing his long, lanky arms up and around to catch that incoming fist. But Saishu's strike proves superior; plowing through Heidern's attempt at an offense, those crimson flames beat into the Ikari CO, sending the man flying backwards and hitting the ground on his back with a faint 'oof.'
However, the man moves almost immediately after, albeit sluggishly; dropping his gloved hands flat, he pushes off the ground and sits upright before leaping onto his feet, peering toward the Kusanagi elder. At first his expression seems grim. Then, slowly, he smirks.
"Alright, you've proved yourself," Heidern dryly remarks. "I'll come back to the team."
COMBATSYS: Heidern has ended the fight here.
Saishu catches the proposal and throws it back.
With that final blow, Saishu spirals through the air, and then collapses to the ground, crashing into yet another table before greeting the cold, hard floor beneath. Letting out a low and pained groan, the dark-haired old man drags himself back up onto his knees slowly, before ultimately collapsing in a sitting position on the ground. He looks around him and, spotting an eggroll, eyes it for a moment pensively. "Five second rule applies," he ultimately decides, picking it up and taking a bit.
"Hrm..." he muses between bites. "... I /guess/ this is passably appetizing."
Lifting slowly back onto his feet, Saishu flashes a ghost of a grin at Heidern as the man speaks. "And you seem suitably old enough to make the cut," he declares. "Congratulations! You're back on the team. I'm sure Takuma will be ecstatic," he pauses, "when he's back from waging endless war against pigmy piracy in the Congo, anyway." He strokes his beard, frowning.
"Though he did mention it was an /endless/ war. Hrm..."
Ultimately shrugging nonchalantly, Saishu dips down to pick up his wide-brimmed straw hat -- which had fallen some time ago, laying pristinely amidst a heap of wall-born rubble -- and secures it over his head. "We shall meet again, when fate decides to tie the threads of our destiny together once more, Heidern! For now, I must be off -- like the wind!"
Five seconds pass. And then, Saishu turns, to very calmly and slowly walk away.
"Hrn," he grunts as he produces a notebook, crossing off the name 'HEIDERN' from it. "On to the next one." He looks at the next name, and frowns.
"... I'm going to have to get a lot of meat for this one."
Log created on 21:00:42 12/30/2008 by Saishu, and last modified on 16:08:24 01/04/2009.