Ren - Strike! A Mysterious Stranger Appears!

Description: On an ordinary day for ordinary Gedo Student Council Secretary and Guardian King Kenji Ashima, things turn extraordinary when a mysterious young woman appears. Who is this girl? What are her motives? And why did she steal his manga anthology..?



1/26 - Half-moon
After School

Iris out. In the cold winter afternoon, one of Gedo High's most responsible students in history, their mighty student council secretary and member of the Guardian Kings strides out of the building, a little exhausted. Not only was he stuck with cleaning duties after class, but his day was double-booked with a student council meeting that's kept him in the grand halls of Gedo longer than he had ever really planned.

Fixing the collar of his lengthy winter uniform jacket-- as yellow as always-- as he strides out of the main hall, Kenji walks at a calm pace with his hands in his pockets and his backpack slung over one shoulder. Nodding at a few students as he walks by, the day's rumors of who did this and what when don't interest him. Getting home, finishing up his homework, and worrying about one of his classmates, though, does. Maybe, at some point, he'll have to talk to Tenma, Hakuya, and Stasya.

As he crosses the courtyard, totally unaccosted, he pulls a set of headphones out of his jacket pocket and clips them over his ears, and cramming a volume of this month's brand new manga anthology under his arm.

Totally unaccosted.



Someone has been watching Kenji Ashima for some time now.

While school at Gedo High may be over, that doesn't mean the campus is empty. Students calmly mill about, talking amongst themselves as Kenji makes his way toward the exit of campus. It's been a long day for the Guardian King student council member--he deserves a break after a busy day of school work.

With headphones in place, the Guardian King's Shounen hero poster child makes his exit. From the figurative shadows a set of eyes widen as a manga anthology is moved about and shoved under an arm. The figure unseen by Ashima moves, leaping off the rooftops from above, somersaulting through the air before it lands behind the Gedo student in a puff of dust. A few students nearby blink in surprise, followed by a few hushed murmurs. But the figure doesn't care--instead, it rushes forward and makes its attack--

By yoinking the manga anthology out from under Kenji's arm as it continues to dash forward past the young man. From a glance, the uniform looks like a girls' Taiyo spring uniform--without the vest. And as it seems, that figure has no intention of stopping; in fact, it begins to read the accosted manga as it runs, opening the anthology as hurriedly as possible.

"Oh man oh man finally--!!"



The sounds of rock fill his ears. Electric guitars, the occasional hum of a synthesized intsrument, and a smooth female voice singing on. Pleasantly relaxed as he goes, the first order of business when he gets home will be to do things like... read the entire anthology after dinner, and homework, maybe clean himself up a bit-- and then read the entire anthology again, before adding it carefully to the collection hereafter referred to as 'the entirety of his closet, and then some.'

But then a bit of his fantastically-styled hair twitches, be it an errant breeze or a psychic phenomenon. Whatever the case is, he knows:

There's a girl.

And then the manga is stolen from under his arm, snapped up by a girl in a uniform of a rival school and taking off like a shot through the courtyard. His eyes widen, his lips trumpet, and the fury is clearly obvious on his face.

It's something like this: #3#

"OOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!" That's the battlecry of Kenji Ashima as his backpack is set on both shoulders and he's not just chasing after the thief...

He's -skating- after her.



Whatever plans Kenji may have had for his precious anthology are otherwise cast to the wind the moment the Taiyo girl takes it from his proverbial hands. Dashing along, she doesn't hesitate to begin stuffing her nose into the book, hurriedly reading over and skimming the pages swiftly to see what is contained within. It doesn't seem to disappoint the girl, obvious from the sudden and girly "KYA~!" that erupts from her.

But just as the mysterious thief girl turns another page, her ears catch wind of a sudden and guttural battlecry that nearly causes her to fall forward. A split-second later the fleeting girl cranes her neck around, peering over a thin shoulder. The moment she does and spies Kenji rapidly approaching, yellowy green eyes widen as large as saucers.

"Euagh, no! Pursuit?!" the girl exclaims before she hops into the air and spins, turning around to face Kenji squarely before her loafers hit the ground. Skidding along, she hurriedly whips her large pink backpack around and rips its top open, stuffing her hand inside. A moment later she withdraws what looks like a massive piece of steel before she snaps her hand out. In mere seconds what seemed to be a mere chunk of metal unfolds and snaps properly into place, a large ring of steel held in her hand.

"Ren Kurosaki, ready to strike!!"

Twisting her body, the girl reels her arm back before she casts it forward, sending all thirty-five pounds of forged steel screaming right at Kenji's stomach.

COMBATSYS: Ren has started a fight here.

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Ren              0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Kenji has joined the fight here.

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Kenji            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Ren


COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Ren's Medium Fling.

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Kenji            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Ren


She's ... running... while reading!! That's almost a criminal offense in some places, especially in the city! What if you walk out into the crosswalk like that, and end up getting plowed over into oncoming traffic because you were too busy finding out if Saionji and Asuka beat the crap out of the villain Takehiro?! No, no-- running with manga open like that won't do at all!!

But then she stops. She reaches into her bag. Kenji expects a stick, a collapsable weapon, even a knife. She couldn't have a gun, right? Guns were illegal in Japan, weren't they? Especially to a civilian. And-- and--

"WHAT THE--"

His heels turn out, his arms cross, and thirty-five pounds of steel crash into him, his body just barely finding the balance to stay upright. His knees bent, squatting down, one hand is thrust forward as a counterbalance. His eyes are narrowed, and all of his strength focuses in his legs.

"... Give that back!!" he declares aloud, pointing after the girl and her odd weapon.

And in response to that, he somehow manages to surge forward from his awkward position, skating at Ren and letting his fingers snake out toward her, to get a handful of Ren's collar and pick her up off the ground. Looking to carry her by the shirt right off her feet and on the roar of his wheels, brilliant white-blue chi surges through his arm with the intent to -launch- the hoop-swinging thief right into the sky!

"UUUUUUUUURAGH!"

COMBATSYS: Ren dodges Kenji's Sky High Rocket.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Kenji            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Ren


The ring of steel whizzes through the air, spinning hurriedly as it seeks its target, Kenji. But quick thinking spares him a potential cracked rib; shielding his body, that ring strikes his forearms and ricochets off, whizzing back toward the young, waif girl at its command. Opening a hand up, she snaps it forward and immediately closes her fingers, gripping the weapon before she drops it to her side.

"I yanked it fair and square, y'know!" she cries back, pointing a finger back at Kenji with a wide, Cheshire-like smile. "You should've just paid more attention!"

But Ashima isn't going down without a fight, it seems. Suddenly the Gedo boy skates forward, causing Ren to jump in surprise with wide eyes. The moment Kenji reaches out and tries to yank her by the collar of her blouse Ren moves, dropping and tumbling across the ground before she hops back up onto her feet. With one arm she raises the manga and waves it at him.

"HEY be CAREFUL!" she cries. "I could crush this by accident you know!"

But heedless of her warning she runs in again and attempts to deliver a sudden side kick at Kenji's stomach. "A reckless guy like you doesn't deserve such awesome!!"

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Ren's Light Kick.

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


The kick swings in, and Kenji catches it against his side-- literally. Letting his left arm remain low at his side, he takes the hit along his arm and keeps it from becoming what would otherwise be a swift, painful kick to the body. His arm tenses up against the impact, and his eyes narrow. "I bought that with hard-earned money!! I'm not about to let a little punk thief like you come running in and stealin' it on me!"

"URRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH--"

A bit of a breeze kicks up, his hair and the tails of his jacket flutter, and then his right arm -explodes- into a brilliant white-blue flame, a pillar of light that could be seen a few blocks away. It would shred the darkness, and make it so bright that Ren could read that stolen manga... if she could get away from him, or bottle that energy. It trumpets up wildly from knuckles to shoulder and beyond, 'burning' up almost halfway across his shoulderblade.

"I'll teach you the values of honesty!"

COMBATSYS: Kenji gathers his will.

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


"Hey! I am not a punk thief!" the Taiyo girl barks back, waving the manga anthology at Kenji with wide eyes and an expression of disbelief. "I am an opportunist--there's a BIG difference!" Her leg withdraws, pushing off of Kenji's arm before she hops back, distancing herself in that brief moment. She's not going to take him lightly--he's got a reputation here at Gedo, after all!

But he doesn't retaliate; instead, the air whips around him as he explodes with blindingly-white-blue chi, causing the young Taiyo student to flinch slightly in response. A second later she grins broadly, peering with curiosity from beneath her arm as Kenji all but glows intensely. "That's a neat trick!" she chimes, her arm reaching around behind her and boldly stuffing the manga into her backpack. Afterwards, she casts it to the ground.

"But sitting around won't accomplish anything, you know!"

Lunging into action with a big, playful smile on her face, Ren grips the ring with both arms and, with a sudden plant of her loafer, whips her arms around, attempting to clock that heavy steel hoop into Kenji's side.

"HOME RUN~!" It doesn't have to make sense.

COMBATSYS: Kenji just-defends Ren's Fierce Strike!

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


Oh. There's his manga-- going right into her backpack, where that gigantic metal hoop somewhere fit.

He's still trying to parse that. Is it dimensionally transcendant? No, it had to have been folded up or collapsed somehow, that's just crazy. It was all in one big swift movement, and he's skating, and MANGA!!!

Both arms grip the ring, her foot locks down, and she takes a big swing at his side.

Kenji hops, skates and all, and -lands- on the hoop, balancing on the edge and half-riding the momentum built up in the swing of the weighty weapon. He weights himself down with a grunt and a push of his legs, shifts his footing, and leans in towards Ren. He skids on the inner track of the hoop with a short spray of sparks and jumps, swinging his legs. With an unusual amount of precision and skill, his hand reaches down to grip onto the ring-wielder's head and remain in a perfectly-balanced handstand-- for just a moment.

"Foul ball!"

+_+

Dropping almost straight down, his attempt follows a procedure of sorts, as if he's trying to spike the girl's head into the ground. Chi wells up not from within him, but from ... the ground below?! And should Ren not avoid this, not defend against it, another burst of white-blue chi will manifest from below with the intent to blast her into the air!

COMBATSYS: Ren blocks Kenji's Claymore.

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


He what--!?

Blinking in disbelief as the Gedo student leaps up and lands ON TOP of her ring, the girl is momentarily aghast when he half-rides around it. Somehow, the girl manages to keep her grip on the ring, her arms shaking beneath the sudden weight that bears down upon it. Gritting her teeth and planting her foot further, she refuses to drop her weapon--even when he grips her head after leaping off.

Held, he drops and spikes her head into the chi, but Ren wastes no time. Before the second burst she rolls as quickly as possible aside, wrenching her body free before she leaps up and hops a few times, ring held in hand as she tries to regain balance after the dizzying display.

"Woahuuugh," is her response as she wobbles still before finally shaking her head, black locks tossing about her face before she narrows her eyes. "How bold!" She doesn't seem entirely serious--the smile is a dead giveaway. "But that isn't enough--!!"

Dashing forward, Ren clutches the steel hoop tightly in hand as she charges Kenji, halfway the weapon ignites with oddly white chi. Once she's closed in her weapon snaps out, three strikes aimed swiftly, staring low with a shin-level slash, then a thigh-level slash, followed by a chest-level slash before she reels the weapon back and cleaves it downwards, icy energy trailing behind the weapon before it slams into the ground at Kenji's feet. As result, a massive burst of white energy and a small flurry of snow follows.

"SHAZAAAM!"

COMBATSYS: Ren successfully hits Kenji with Shimobashira.

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


It works! Sort of-- the sudden reaction, the defense provided by Ren causes Kenji to change his stance a little bit even while upside-down. From one hand to the other, he handsprings a little bit and lands in a crouch, sitting on his heels. The toes of his Kick-Rollers drag on the ground to provide a bit of a brake point for the two wheels on the ground, and his experience and balance have made the styleless brawler able to keep himself from going face-down into the concrete.

The strange girl comes running in with the hoop wielded, suddenly flaring up with -- white chi? Cold energy, cold as ice, comes with the assault-- two at his legs, and one across his chest. Kenji shifts his weight with each hit, his balance hard to find with the wheels still extended from his shoes. The final burst of snow and energy drives him backwards with a sudden gag, shifting him back and tumbling off his feet and landing flat on his ass.

Shifting his weight, getting his bearings, the Missile Fist narrows his eyes and rubs a bit of frost from his hair. "Oh... why you..."

His feet kick backward, rolling from his back to his shoulder and into a squat. Shifting his footing, his heels dig into the ground as he presses his feet forward, the riggings of the skates collapsing back into the bottom of the sturdy sneakers. Breaking into a more controlled run, Kenji's face has also become a grin-- while he throws a low, hooking punch at Ren's stomach. Though his fist seems to travel at a linear arc, his arm almost seems to bend like rubber, or cracking like a whip... and his fist? Well, it'll look like your regular, everyday punch, but something about the youth has hardened that fist into something harder than a slab of stone.

COMBATSYS: Kenji successfully hits Ren with Missile Fist.
- Power hit! -

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Kenji            0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0              Ren


Snapping her weapon-wielding arm back as it fires off the explosion of energy and knocks Kenji off of his feet, Ren just grins brightly and hops back, twirling around on her heels before she draws the hoop back and holds it within both hands behind her. Tilting her head back and forth, she rocks for a second, waiting patiently for the Gedo student to get back onto his feet.

"Awh, come on!" Ren replies as Kenji's expression grows serious. "It's not like I stole something important, y'know! --wha? HEY!"

He comes racing forward, startling the girl before she attempts to tumble and roll out of the way. But she's caught in the middle of that rock-like fist, her waif body bending forward from the force of the blow before she's sent flying back, her steel ring dropped from her grip a short distance from where she initially hits. Hitting the earth, Ren tumbles thrice before she comes to a stop.

"Oh maaan," she whines, slowly pulling her body back onto her feet before she shakes her head out. Slowly, her yellow eyes shift up and peer intently at the Guardian King.

"Well THAT wasn't very nice!"

Running forward, the girl dips low and picks her ring up before she rushes in, attempting to get close to Kenji before she swings her arm up before she brings it down, attempting to crash the blunt steel weapon down onto Kenji's shoulder.

COMBATSYS: Ren successfully hits Kenji with Medium Strike.

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


He hits... and a bit harder than he thought!! Ren is sent tumbling away, and even the Missile Fist is forced to wince at the distance and degree that she's sent sprawling off. But she's back on her feet, chastizing him for how nice he is or ... in this case, isn't. Kenji's eyebrows quirk and his expression tries so hard to be serious. "W-Well, you were the one that jumped me, stole my book, and then -attacked me-, so!!" He's trying. Really.

She charges in, catching him off-guard and bringing the steel hoop down on his shoulder. He tries to dodge, get his footing steady and move, but Ren's weapon and skill are a bit higher than he had initially figured on... after all, in a world like this, carrying around a weapon like that means you're either psychotic... or a lot better than you first let on! And then Kenji grins a bit. "Besides..."

Taking a step ahead to keep the gap between them close, his whole body pivots. "I didn't want to hit such a pretty face." Wink.

And then his right leg hooks up in a swift arc, looking to crash the top of his foot across the side of the thief-girl's head and send her staggering sideways!

COMBATSYS: Ren blocks Kenji's Revolver.

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


"I didn't jump you, I promise!" Ren insists as she gets back onto her feet, wincing lightly at her now-aching stomach. The guy hit like a truck, which means she needs to play it safe. If what she'd heard at school was correct, he WAS one of the four members of the semi-famous Guardian Kings, and surely they're strong. Which means if she can do pretty well against him--!

"I just seized the opportunity! Like I said, big difference!!"

Making her move, the waif young Taiyo student charges Kenji once more, whipping her large steel hoop around and ultimately down upon him. "Kurosaki, successful!" she cries, followed by a cheerful laugh before she hops back a few feet, letting the Gedo student get back onto his feet.

But he steps in, causing her eyes to widen somewhat. When he flatters the girl and winks, her face turns a few shades of red, brows furrowing before she scuffs a foot somewhat. "W-well I don't think I-I am that-- HEY!!"

Snapping his leg up he attempts to smack her in the head, but quick thinking with her arm spares her the pain in her head. Her arm, however, pays for it, yellow eyes wincing visibly as she steps back and offers a rapid series of "owowowowowow."

"Flattery is cheating!" she cries, clenching tightly to the hoop in her hand. Lunging forward she attempts to grab Kenji around the neck by her hoop before she tugs back and down, attempting to drive him forwards into the ground.

COMBATSYS: Ren successfully hits Kenji with Medium Throw.
- Power hit! -

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Kenji            1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1              Ren


She blocked-- much as he expected. He's still grinning a little bit, getting a little more into the fight. Does he like fighting girls? No, not always. But there's something about the things that've gone on for the entirety of this battle that amuse him, a build-up to things-- everything that's been said, thrown back and forth. Kenji's arms lift up in a shrug. "I can't help it if it's truuUUUUUUUUUUU--"

*PAK*

Laying face-down on the concrete, Kenji Ashima's arms are thrown out to the sides. Wondering for a moment what that smell is, it seems to be blood. Yes, blood. A bit of it coming out of a small scrape on his forehead, a bit of it dribbling out of his left nostril. Laying there, he opts to let the cobwebs clear up a bit before getting back up into a crouch with the uniform coat trailing out around him. "True."

Taking a hop backwards, almost skipping the distance out between them, it's clear that the Missile Fist is catching his second wind, his hands tucking into his pockets one more time. "What's your name?" he asks, putting on his most charming smile.

COMBATSYS: Kenji gains composure.

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


Yeah! Ren is faring much better against the Guardian King than she anticipated, which excites the young ring-wielder. Kenji is hefted up and summarily slammed into the ground, the young woman almost immediately yanking the ring off the Gedo student's neck before she hops away and gives him space. Besides, she doesn't want to be right there if he gets up and is all angry or something.

When he gets back up, Ren's body tenses as she holds tightly onto her ring. With a touch of uncertainty she observes Kenji, eyes hooded slightly as she listens. But then--he's making casual conversation? She blinks twice, uncertain before she grins broadly.

A foot raises and stomps the ground dramatically.

Her ring-wielding hand presses to her hip as her finger shoots forward, aimed at Kenji.

Boldly, the Taiyo student raises her chin.

"REN KUROSAKI!!" she proclaims, beaming brightly. "Sixteen years old, practitioner of my clan's formidable style, Kougetsu-ryuu Rinjutsu!" Drawing her finger back, she brings her hand up to her forehead in a salute before she winks and lifts her ring-wielding arm, spinning it absently around her forearm.

"I already know who YOU are! You're Missile Fist Ashima of the Guardian Kings."

Hey, if he wants to take some time out, so will she!

COMBATSYS: Ren gains composure.

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


She strikes a dramatic pose-- one worthy of dance theatre, almost, with the drama added to it. Her finger points, and she proudly introduces herself. When she notes that she already knows who he is, the student council secretary puts a hand to his chest with a pleasant smile. "Please, call me Kenji," he says with a smooth voice. "Perhaps later, we could spend a little time over at the cafe down the street."

"Well. After this, anyway."

Shifting his weight, it's clear he's going to start moving in again. Running at Ren, the self-styled brawler hooks his arm around for a stiff punch, trying to plant his fist right into her weapon-wielding shoulder in an attempt to send her staggering!

COMBATSYS: Kenji successfully hits Ren with Strong Punch.

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


Grinning brightly still, Ren looks proud of herself as she holds her pose, yellow eyes alight with glee. This trip to Gedo, however out of the way it was, was so worth it! She got manga, AND she got a chance to test herself against one of the 'famous' Guardian Kings of Gedo. Lucky~!

But when he offers to spend time after, the girl's face flushes before it turns a furious shade of pink, yellow eyes dropping to the ground as she lightly stammers. What?? Is he asking her on a date? But why?? They're fighting and she pilfered his manga, and--

Wait. After this?

When Ren looks back up, there's a punch delivered into the girl's tiny shoulder, causing the ring-wielding Taiyo student to buckle to the side with the force and stumble several steps away with another barrage of "owowow." After a moment she reaches up with her good arm and rubs at her shoulder with a pout.

"You tricked me--again!" Ren exclaims, taking the ring in hand and lifting it. A moment later that ring of steel erupts in furious amounts of crimson-colored energy roaring like intense flames. Beneath her, Ren shifts her weight and steadies her balance.

"OoooOOOOOH!!"

Snapping her hand out, the girl unleashes the roaring ring at Kenji, a direct strike aimed for his chest. But it doesn't stop there--the ring will ricochet back into her grasp before she unleashes it again, a strike aimed for his side, before it comes back and flings at the opposite side; several attempts to barrage the Gedo student from seemingly all directions with her fiery ring before finally it retreats. But the girl doesn't stop; instead, Ren leaps up high, ring held in both hands overhead before she swings it down, the steel hoop aimed to land at his feet. It'd be harmless, if not for the sudden gout of pure chi that roars upwards, daring to consume Kenji!

"GOKUSHO!!"

COMBATSYS: Kenji blocks Ren's Gokusho.

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


"It's not a trick! I really do mean after this! I mean-- after ... -this-! The fighting! And the ow ow OW OW OW OW OW--"

The massive steel ring slams against his outstretched arms, impacting to his chest. Barrages of strikes, over and over, trying to break through his defense with something like FIRE, and more FIRE, and then one more large helping of FIRE blasted right up at him! Kenji weathers it well enough, the flames scattering and his stance shifted. His legs are spread out wide, knees bent, his eyes narrowed. His jacket sizzles and smokes a little bit, and he blows a bit of smoke off of the back of his fist, looking up at Ren with an arched eyebrow and the faintest hints of a smile. "That was pretty sweet."

Running forward, Kenji takes a hop into the air and seems to tread the sky itself, crossing the distance between himself and Ren in a single bound. Instead of hitting the ground, though, his whole body twists a bit and his right leg swings around at Ren in a heavy blow, looking to knock the girl back one more time with a sturdy, heavy blow with the heavy duty sneaker-boots and the skate riggings therein!

COMBATSYS: Kenji successfully hits Ren with Heavy Kick.

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Kenji            1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0              Ren


Despite all her struggles and efforts, poor Ren Kurosaki can't catch a break!

The ring explodes the ground, but Kenji shields himself fairly well from the blows, that heavy steel ring ricocheting back to Ren as she swiftly descends to the ground. Catching the heavy hoop in hand, the girl exhales loudly and wipes her brow. Surely he's learned his lesson, right?

Wrong!

Before she can properly respond the Gedo student charges in and swings a leg out, catching the girl with his sneaker boot and sending her flying back in pain. She hits, rolls twice before she stops face-down in the dirt, a low groan and soft "wuughrgh" escaping her lips. But...but she's not down yet.

Pushing her body back up off the ground, Ren is determined as ever to rise up to the challenge! Dusting the front of her outfit off, she offers the Guardian King a wry grin before she winks (or is she wincing??) and chimes, "Here I go! Kurosaki special--!!"

Rushing forward, the waif Taiyo girl springs into action as she attempts to close in on Kenji and snare him by the throat with her large ring. And should her efforts prove successful she'll whip her body around, positioning herself around on Kenji's back before she scales him with nasty stomps, each step marked with a burst of fiery crimson chi. Once she's reached the shoulders her body will flip over and, with a loud "HUUUUUUAAAGH!" of effort, use the steel ring to slam Kenji into the ground, back first!

COMBATSYS: Kenji interrupts Shitatari from Ren with Missile Fist Ashima.

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


Usually when someone screams that it's their special, it means that something bad is going to happen.

Something really, really bad.

The ring snares him around the neck, and Kenji gags hard. Ren's stomping leads up his back, and she's just about to spring right off his shoulders...

And then he turns around.

Kenji's whole body arcs around as his arm tightens up and muscles work in concert. There's no flash or flair to it, no brilliant lights or super moves full of chi and themed manuvers. He turns around to face Ren as she's going up, and his arm hooks up high into the air. It comes right down into her stomach with a powerful strike and seeks to send her slamming right down onto her back just as she had intended for him, hoop and all.

Ren Kurosaki met the power of the Missile Fist at full force, and it's a punch that can hit a lot harder than it probably should-- especially for someone his age, as friendly and dopey that he looks. Once the punch is fired off, once all of the proverbial smoke and dust clears, he looks at his downward-hooked fist, then looks at Ren with wide, almost horrified eyes.

"Oh ... sssssssssssssssugar."

Whatever Ren's condition is when she hits the ground, the student council secretary moves to hurry on over there and stand next to her, biting on his lower lip and rubbing the back of his head. "I, uh-- a... are you okay?"



"HAAA--HEY YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!!"

Midway, Kenji does the unthinkable: he turns around and faces the girl squarely. Then, a split-second later, she's being punched so hard she swears, briefly, she can see time. She can see the past AND the future--until her world goes white and she goes flying backwards, right into the ground with enough force she actually bounces twice before she comes to a stop.

"oh god I think I taste blood," is the only response she manages.

Is she okay? The girl doesn't move much, save for a bit of writhing and squirming on the ground as Kenji runs over. But the moment he looks down upon the girl, her yellow eyes narrow, a flicker of amusement in her gaze, despite the HORRIBLE pain.

"Ugh. You've left me no choice, formidable Missile Fist Ashima... I didn't want to use this--!" she warns.

Suddenly, Ren flickers. Breaking off into eight hazy white chi clones, the young ring-wielder is suddenly surrounding Kenji, each mirage-like clone appearing somewhat weak and hazy. But she's determined!

"This is IT!" she cries, as she and her eight 'clones' lift their rings up and begin to attack in synch--!

COMBATSYS: Ren can no longer fight.

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


COMBATSYS: Ren successfully hits Kenji with Jyoya No Kane.

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


In a sudden burst of movement, each hazy, icy chi clone begins to attack with their own 'rings' of energy, following the movements of the young girl at their command. Over and over the clones and Ren deliver a series of slashes and swipes, slamming the ring repeatedly into the young Gedo student over and over and over again. Juggling the poor guy about, she holds nothing back as she and her clones deliver twelve strikes before she and her clones raise their rings once more and, a split-second after, slam the ring down hard. A massive pillar of icy white chi explodes with Kenji at its center!

Meanwhile the eight clones flicker out of existence, a flurry of snow around the girl before she simply falls back onto her rear, heavy steel ring clattering noisily at her side as she tries to breathe. "Ugh...it hurtssss...oh god...I think I really am bleeding...oh god did my kidneys explode??"



Clones, clones, clones everywhere. It was like some kind of powerful bunshin, like that one manga-- or the-- the-- god it hurts what the hell is going on rings everywhere but now there's like eight girls at once is it a hallucination or pain or a dream or the BEST DAY EVER

The white chi sends him flying skyward, sending Kenji Ashima screaming through the air like a rag doll. His arms and legs are limp, his jaw is tightened up with pain. And as he drops toward the ground...

COMBATSYS: Kenji takes no action.


COMBATSYS: Kenji can no longer fight.

... he hits like a sack of potatoes, letting out a loud guff of air and laying still for a minute. His hand lifts up with a finger pointed weakly toward the sky. "... I deserved that..."



Breathing heavy, labored breaths, Ren just pinches her eyes shut as she tips her head back, not even truly aware of what happened to Kenji as he hits the ground nearby. Only after a moment the girl finally cracks a yellow eye open and peers toward the felled Gedo student. Is he..?

He...he is!

Rolling across the ground the girl covers the distance that once lay between her and the Guardian King before she merely tumbles and hops into a crouch. With her hands atop her knees she peers down at Kenji, grinning broadly before she reaches out and pokes him in the forehead a few times. "Sorry about that," she offers. "I shouldn't have unleashed my FEARSOME technique. But you were a formidable foe...I couldn't just hold back."

Rolling backwards across the ground, she rolls right for her backpack before scrambling tiredly to her feet, her balance waning a bit before she finally catches it. Her insides feel like mush. Did he crush them all with his fierce technique!? Maybe she should see a doctor; however, she won't show weakness!

"ASHIMA!" the girl exclaims, using the ring-holding hand to swiftly collapse the large steel hoop once more before she puts it into her bag--WITH HIS MANGA. "You have fought well this day. I, Ren Kurosaki, am forced to retreat--FOR NOW." Whipping her backpack around, the girl positions it securely on her shoulders with a light wheeze.

"oh god it still hurts--ANYWAY!" Widening her eyes, she points a finger toward Kenji.

"Do not think for a MINUTE I will forget this fierce battle! HOOAH! Kurosaki--away!"

With a puff of pink smoke, Ren just...vanishes? And just stole his manga, too!



Even as Ren pokes him, there's part of him that can't resist the chance to grin. She sounds so ... right out of the books, just like all of the stories he's read. Just like all of the manga that exsists, piled to the ceiling in his oversized (especially for a Japanese home) closet. Kenji gets up as she gets the backpack on, opens his mouth as the puff of smoke erupts in front of him, and ... then he stands there and scratches at the back of his head.

"Looks like I'm gonna be needin' to keep an eye on Taiyo now, huh?" he asks himself, too amused by this. He'll have to go get his manga back sometime, and ... well. He can't let a thief be a thief forever!

Taking a few steps, his heels click as though he were jumping through a 1980s Toyota commercial with the rigging to his skates bursting out from under the sneakers. Breaking into a steady skating pace, Kenji Ashima just has one thing to say through his grin as he roars down the streets and sidewalks of Southtown:

"She totally digs me."

Log created on 19:39:20 01/26/2009 by Ren, and last modified on 01:31:47 01/28/2009.