Description: French food. Subtle. Delicious. Only makes sense when you have an arrogant culture in the middle of a famine. Here at 'Le Petit Chien' Sidewalk Cafe, three of the greatest world warriors meet up for an epic match for fundraising. The exotic Ash and the hotheaded Batsu team up to fight the world champion Ryu in a do or die 2 vs 1. (Winners: Ash/Batsu)
Southtown certainly took its share of damage in the battles that raged in its streets until recently, culminating in the violent shift to its skyline, and the destruction of the bases that had fueled the war effort for the invaders. By many estimations, the war is over; but what of the fallout? Certainly, the rigors of the city's citizenry trying to recover homes, businesses, and livelihood in the wake of tragedy are not the least of these concerns for many. So, the charity competition organized by Yurika is appealing in the extreme to one particular wandering fighter. He's replaced his wartorn, tattered gi with a fresh, shiny white one that's not torn apart by numerous battles, and he presently sits beside the sidewalk cafe, just off the sidewalk, in a tiny little patch of grass near the street, with a pot of tea and a nice little tiny, simple rounded teacup. This, he sips from with much relaxation and contentment.
Of course, it's not just recreation that brings him out here. If one fight for charity is good, then two fights are better, and two -at once- is right off the charts! Scheduling things well has never been Ryu's strong suit, but this one is entirely intentional. Part of the street is already cordoned off, and Le Petit Chien is already quite overbusy with eager spectators waiting for the literal streetfight to begin. Ash and Batsu should be showing up soon....
A cherry red sports car speeds along /just/ adjacent to the cordons, and it does not stop until after the slender, white-haired man in its passenger side has given the woman behind the wheel a brisk kiss on the cheek before leaping out into the sectioned off area of street.
He gives his hair a delicate flick, causing tiny motes of green fire to fall from it in a harmless shower, and then he strolls towards the table with purpose, w--
"o/~ I have only one burnin' desire; let me stand next to your fire! Let me stand next to your fire! Oh, let me stand, baby... o/~" rings out from his right pocket all of a sudden, and with a put-upon sigh he stops, fishes his cell-phone free and presses it to his ear.
"Oh, this--oh, /really/? Oh, /well/, your timing could not be /better/..." he says as she slowly resumes his walk towards Ryu, chuckling softly to himself to the person on the other end.
If anyone knew about the ravages of the Southtown war, it was Batsu. The hot-blooded teenager spent most of the war protecting his mother, for the last thing he wanted was for ANYONE to mess with her mother again. Of course, the lack of his presence had terrible, terrible consequences. That was why he was here. Batsu knew for one reason, and one reason alone he had to raise money.
Taiyo High.
"Excuse me, pardon me, MOVE IT!" Batsu erupts from the crowd, his hands dug right in his pocket as he shuffles forward, his shoulders hunched menacingly. Yeah, a legit street fight, but Batsu hated the location. This was well too upper-crust for Batsu's tastes. Even the seedy alleyways near it had an air of atmosphere.
His eyes dashed up to the fair-haired man, chattering on the phone. "HEY! Get off the damn phone, we got a fight!" The student snaps, jabbing a finger out from his pocket and right at the Frenchman. This was his partner? Rolling his eyes, he drops the pair right on Ryu. Batsu stays quiet, observing the man with a tight-lipped glare. Ryu. One of the best fighters in the world.
Batsu takes a moment, letting Ryu finish his tea.
Sip. Ryu studies the kinetic Ash thoughtfully, if somewhat impassively, as the colorful fighter gets out of the colorful car, and onto the phone. Which is probably colorful too, but. Sip. Mmm, that's good tea. The Ansatsuken Master doesn't really seem to notice the affluent neighborhood - hence sitting cross legged on the grass in the midst of more well to do patrons. He doesn't really seem to mind the company, either, removed though it may be. People are people, and the divisions that society and culture impose on the various echelons mean very, very little to the nomadic warrior. Sip. Batsu. The burning prodigy of Taiyo High. A notably absent face in the resistance, but one with meaningful, if far subtler motivations. Such was Ryu's role in the invasion, for the most part. Aside from facing down Vega in City Hall, and Seth the Fifteenth outside the park base at the very end of the struggle, Ryu spent the conflict with the little people, off the 'front lines'. Getting refugees out of the city, to safe havens, and getting supplies -in- past the roadblocks. The stuff that people all too quickly forget about, or never think of in the first place.
Sip. That's still good tea. Ryu sets aside the cup and saucer next to the near-emptied pot, and rises smoothly, unhurriedly, with an inherent grace and shift of momentum that carries him to his feet in one even motion. Bare feet warm as he steps out onto the stonework, then the street, but the heat doesn't bother him. If anything, he relishes it, the Earth itself connecting to, through the Wanderer's spirit in one vibrant pulse, a cooling wind rushing down between the buildings, as the clouds above gather leisurely towards the coming conflict. Every current is felt, from the calm yet inexorable breeze, to the anticipation of the crowd, the heartrate of the dozens of fight fans as all three warriors arrive.
The Dragon inclines his head to Ash, then to Batsu, politely, raising his fists before him, "This may be about charity, but let's make it the best fight we can."
COMBATSYS: Ryu has wandered into a fight here on the right meter side.
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|=------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Batsu has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Ash has joined the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ash has left the fight here.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Ash has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Batsu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Ash 0/-------/-------|
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO:
"Yes, of /course/ I want the little umbrella; however do you expect me to enjoy this without? Honestly." Ash Crimson sighs as he waves a Hawaiian local off to the beach-side bar about fifty feet away from the spot in which the pyrokinetic Frenchman has chosen to recline. The reflective screen he's using to bounce the suns rays against his skin bears the image of none other than Shadaloo's Balrog across its unpolished back end, while his swimming... Speedo bears the Ikari Warriors' logo on its front.
The phone he's been holding against his chest for the sake of keeping the mouthpiece blocked so long as he's in the process of dealing with strange, incompetent native people is brought back to his ear, and after heaving a deep sigh of exhaustion he says, "It's really a tragedy. 'Do you want the paper umbrella?' he asks. I couldn't imagine how /anyone/ could put up with these kinds of circumstances; it's nigh on criminal. Now, as I was saying. Five hundred on the YFCC being decimated..."
THE PRESENT:
With a deeply worn sigh, Ash covers the mouthpiece of his phone, hisses, "Do you /mind/?" to Batsu, and then comes to a stop a few feet away from Ryu. He holds his arm - the one with the stylish black armband that matches so very well with his red and black attire - out for a handshake, even as his eyes are nowhere near the Ansatsuken Master's.
"As I was /saying/, yes, I'll be wanting a double order of the Tequila Sunrise; the luster really /is/ quite something..."
Ryu, for all intents and purposes, was a legend.
Batsu knew about him. His victory in the World Warrior. His elusive nature. How he had taught Sakura his art. Ryu was known for one thing, and one thing alone.
Battle.
Batsu shoots daggers at Ash, rocking a fist at the man. "I DO mind! What the hell is more important than- ARGH!" Burning with rage, he advances forward... and slows down when Ryu completes his tea drinking ceremony. The bow is a sign of respect, a sign from someone who deserves Batsu's respect.
In response, Batsu bows to Ryu, returning the respect before drawing back into his battle stance. "I'd expect nothing less from you!" The hot-blooded teenage replies, driving a fist into his palm. "And you better expect nothing less from ME!" The teenager begins bouncing on his heels, waiting for Ryu to make the first move. Which... well, should be shaking Ash's hand.
A simple nod acknowledges Batsu's observations, as Ryu half-perplexedly watches Ash wander over while chattering on his phone. Oh, it's just another tequila sunrise. The nomad stares at the offered hand a moment, takes it and gives a brief but firm shake - Ken -has- briefed him on crazy western customs of greeting, after all... and then the announcer appointed by the business hosting this bout shouts out 'FIGHT!' with apparently little regard for Crimson's conversation. Ryu blinks once at the distracted flame wielder, and then darts around him in an instant, rushing for Batsu instead. Because, well, Batsu is paying attention. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to slack off. ... at least if you're like Ryu and -want- to be in the midst of the fray.
Charging in at the Burning Taiyo Champion, the Wanderer feints to the side, and lunges forward, planting his feet, launching both hands to seek purchase on the front of Batsu's clothes, and with an abrupt shockwave of energy surging through his arms, he would heave the young Ichimonji up, up, and over, leveraging the prodigy up and around with a sudden twist of his shoulders, only to -slam- him, accelerating him rapidly indeed towards the ground in order to slam him back and head-first into the street, "HAAAAH!"
"... oh, I /know/, and I /agree/ - she really had no business in /that/. It's almost as if she /wants/ them to think her easy. Oh, that? Don't worry about it. Now, as I was saying..." Ash chatters as he distractedly watches Ryu try to slam Batsu violently to the street. "... I was thinking of a nice red and orange, certainly; a nice summer motif."
He holds his right hand - the hand he just used to shake Ryu's with, with a fair amount of firmness - out to his side. Green fire burns into the air just above it to begin dancing across his palm, embers licking off to fall to the ground and set tiny pieces of debris a-sizzle.
"Perhaps a little dragon..."
The fire grows and grows until finally he feels ready to turn his body towards the Ansatsuken master to fling it towards him. It shapes into a sizable crescent of flaming chi that races across the ground towards the Wanderer, seeking to smack directly into his side.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Batsu with Seoi Nage.
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Batsu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
Batsu was supposed to be ready. He was supposed to be on guard. But when he shakes Ash's hand, he almost expects him to just snap the man out of it. Instead, he lives up to his reputation, and does the honorable thing... and goes after him. He expected a Hadoken. Instead, the man dove in to grab him. Batsu doesn't have time to dodge. He doesn't have time to block. So instead, he does the next best thing. Attempt to punish Ryu. He begins to sit the attack out, preparing himself to follow up immediately...
But then the impact hits him.
Batsu, in his favor, has a thick skull. A very thick skull, if his Japanese teacher's opinion had any merit. The asphalt craters, leaving Batsu with his head so far up the asphalt, it reminded him of... himself? Fortunately, the hothead rolls out quickly, tumbling upright with two streams of blood rolling down his grinning face.
"HAH! That's what I'm talking about!" The teenager roars cheerfully, winding back an arm. His eye catches the glint of... green flame? What? Whoa, this Ash fellow was just... tossing fire while on the phone? Maybe there was a reason he was paired with him. Feeling his balled up fist reaching an apex, the teenager dives into Ryu's personal space, attempting to force himself inward. In tandem, he hurls his fist around downwards, tossing a haymaker as he threw himself down towards the ground. A complicated move, though with a simple motive.
Avoiding friendly fire.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ash's Ventose.
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Batsu 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries Batsu's Fierce Punch!
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Batsu 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
A momentary grin answers Batsu's as the BURNING Champion rights himself, a fiery light shining in the nomad's own, dark eyes. His gaze shifts slightly, darting aside, as the charge of green fire builds, builds, and blasts forth. It tingles his senses even without a perfect view of Crimson, and is dealt with with almost intuitive efficiency. Ryu shifts sidelong, flexing one arm as he slams an elbow into the propelled plume of burny energy. The flames lick around his skin, a dark distortion momentarily erupting outwards as the fiery burst dissipates in a radial firework, bleeding chi out in all directions with a colorful flare. A momentary, almost surprised glance is shot to Ash. The energy is strong, but it's not that. ... it's strange. Like few things the nomad has sensed before, few fighters he's squared off against. A primal force not unlike the deep, soulful well he taps, reaches out for wielding the Hadou in battle, the natural intensity that fuels him even now.
There is no time to ask questions or consider options, however. Batsu is already leaping in, and Ryu twists counter clockwise as he slams a palm squarely into the reaching wrist attached to the launched fist, diverting Ichimonji's assault with a similar, midnight distortion of air that rushes up his entire forearm, even as Ryu all but rebounds off the point of contact, landing a short leap and suddenly on Batsu's rear flank. Where he answers by tapping his own inner strength. The air around his hands sizzles, wavers with the distortion of heat as he cups his hands at his side, conjuring forth a voluminous blast of crimson fire in the same motion as he brings his hands forward, fiery energy blooming from his palms, fire trailing from his fingertips, rolling together into a meteoric blast of searing energy that crashes forward at the nearer of the two opponents: the lucky Taiyo prodigy, "HADOOOUKEN!!!"
Another put-upon sigh is heaved, and then Ash holds his cell-phone out towards the tail end of Ryu's thunderous vocalization.
"Yes, are we happy now?" he asks when the phone's been returned to his ear. "It--oh, you know, it's red, it's on fire, it's really quite something, truly, I'm feeling a tingle in my nether regions. Can we get back to /me/ now?"
Ash's tone, dismissive as it is, is deceptive, of course; /whatever/ it is that precisely powers Ryu(and Ken, and perhaps to a dim extent Sean and Sakura) is nearly as interesting as the powers of the Three Sacred Treasures, when it comes down to it. Perhaps not to the point that outright thievery is a desired outcome, but the interest is /there/.
He just happens to be smug enough that he can say these things with a straight -- no, wait, smirking -- face.
"Anyway..."
He takes off in a low and rather fast dash, a few thin green flames igniting behind him to trace along the cracks of the concrete.
"Tell me, how much /glitter/ could we manage if we mixed the Teq-Sun with Starry Night?"
He throws a quick snap kick towards the back of Ryu's knee, seeking to destablize him slightly as Batsu is focused on.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Batsu with Shakunetsu Hadouken EX.
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Batsu 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
Batsu was taking a beating. After being, well, on the defensive for so long, maaaaybe jumping right in to fight one of the biggest powerhouses wasn't the best idea. His haymaker is shoved aside, and naturally, Batsu responds professionally. "CRAP!" He exclaims, feeling a very powerful man landing squarely on his flank. He is already turning around when he hears the end of the Hadoken. He can't dodge. He can't block. So instead, he tries to barrel on through the assault.
And once again, he overestimates himself.
Batsu lands on the ground in a skipping tumble, stopping short from smashing into the crowd. He gets up fast. Staggering up, his clothes are in tatters, both from the impact of the chi and from the skidding. As such, he rips off his school uniform, revealing a sort of fishnet top underneath. Charging towards Ryu, he roars at Ash, irritated that he has spent the entire fight on the phone. "Come on, PARTNER, get your HEAD IN THE GAME!" Teeth gritted, he leaps up in the air, his heel flaring with a bright wave of energy. And promptly, he rockets down in a flying kick, attempting to crater Ryu right down to the ground with a wave of burning fury... and an unbreakable drive.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Batsu's Shooting Star Kick.
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Batsu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Light Kick from Ash with Shoryuken.
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Batsu 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/---====|
And still, Ash's colorful conversation continues unabated. It's one thing to pass by the phone fondling flame fiend while the fight begins, but an entirely different matter to give Mr. Crimson all the time in the world to finish his little glitterchat while launching attacks at Ryu. He may have more attention on the fight than it appears... but Batsu's insistence is not bad advice. Particularly with what happens next. The two warriors converge on the Ansatsuken Master, and all of Ryu's energy seems to draw inward. The air rushes in around him, he drops into a crouch, and twists, pushing away from Batsu's descent... and launching himself full bore into Ash's charge, instead.
Crimson's kick stings as it launches in, but the force of the premature impact is readily aborted as Ryu drives a crimson gloved fist solidly into the enigmatic antagonist's chest, reaving a resonating path up to his jaw, and launching Crimson up with far less grace and comfort than Ryu himself attains as he flies forward, rockets skyward from the point where his fluid crouch began the legendary technique. It is no simple rising uppercut, but rather the singular release of untold energy through a single thrust of his fist, potent enough to redouble his ascent, though a disciplined, focused application of force... relative to the one which nearly crippled Sagat, at least.
"SHOOOORYUKEN!!!"
Ash is sent flying up, up, up, further up... his teeth were clacked forcibly together by the hellacious impact of Ryu's counter-attack, making the shocks shooting through his jaw that extra bit worse.
He's still clutching his cell-phone, though; he's /tenacious/ when it comes to hanging onto it, it seems.
"Y--yes, I am /still here/," he growls shakily as he tries to pull himself into a controlled descent towards a roof-top. "No, once again, it was just this side of sexual--what do you /think/? Oh, hold /on/..."
He swipes his free hand through the air, and immediately the air distorts and ripples due to the heat suddenly passing through it. A small bolt of green flame leaps from the Frenchman's immaculately painted fingertips to race in a diagonal arc towards Ryu, and afterwards he manages to land in a crouch upon a roof-top.
*CRACK*
The asphalt rumbles upon impact, ripping up the street well around the feet of Batsu. The teenager missed Ryu, the wandering master living up to his expertise. Barely breaking a sweat, Batsu digs his other foot down, pushing hard. With a jerk, he frees his foot from the crater, though not in time to rescue his partner.
Though, it did serve him right.
While Ryu was dealing with Mr. Fantastic in his front, Batsu was going to bring this up a notch. Tightening his fists, he took a sharp, deep breath. And promptly, he began to roar. The Burning Spirit of Taiyo began to swell, a warning light for someone as attuned as Ryu (or even Ash, if he could tear away from himself). Batsu was becoming consumed in a burning fire, wreathed in blue and orange. And then, the fires begin to die as Batsu pounds a fist in his palm.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAI!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu gathers his will.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ash's Rapide Ventose.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/----===|
Wait. Ash is -still- on the phone!??! That /is/ dedication. Just maybe not of quite the right kind. Ryu's dark eyes track the midair correction, and as the burst of flame crashes down, he slams his own fist into it, launching a powerful backhand led by the padded gloves that cover his fists, a tremendous clap of what sounds like thunder accompanying the moment of impact, as once more the destructive, rather disturbing energy is blasted outwards, rather than penetrating the Wanderer's remarkable defenses. The surge is minimal next to what Batsu suddenly summons, though, drawing his own power to the fore, filling the street with sweet, sweet hobo music that Ryu all but hums along with. His stance shifts wide, the young champion's hands open, and he weaves into a graceful, meditative kata, momentarily closing his eyes. He breathes.
It's a deep, fulfilling breath, as the air around him stirs, whirrs about his body, his headband whipping outwards wildly, the edges of his gi rustling in answer, as a dark, bluish fire seems to wisp smokily from his shoulders, from his arms, the flame almost drawing -inward- rather than erupting outwards, as if he is basking in the fire that Batsu brings to the fight, paying reverent homage to the spiritual power that suddenly fills the outdoor, makeshift arena. He breathes out, two fingers remain outstretched as the rest of one hand clenches, coming to rest at a point between his opponents as he merely holds his position, draws more power to him. Lightning crackles in the clear sky, entirely, literally bursting out of the blue.
COMBATSYS: Ryu gathers his will.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/----===|
"You're going to hear a loud 'whoosh'; pay it no mind and continue telling me--mm-hmm. Yes, /exactly/..."
People within the little kitchen that Ash is standing over are shocked and /pissed/ as the lights within flicker and ceiling tiles rumble and fall, shattering on counters, people, the ground, anything, without a care. More distressingly... the gas burners of the stoves and ovens are triggering in unison, jetting to massive heights, then burning down gradually to more reasonable intensities before guttering out. and then up again, and down, over and over.
As for Ash himself? He's surrounded in a towering pillar of green flame that sheds no small amount of sickly light across the nearby surroundings. The cracks spider-webbing all along the kitchen roof sputter little bits of emerald flame from in between them now and again, and if he's aware of what he's doing inside... he doesn't seem to be bothered, because he's showing little more than a little smirk as he looms.
COMBATSYS: Ash gathers his will.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/=======|
It isn't the size of your aura that matters.
It is how you use it.
The ring of fire around Batsu erupts, flashing outwards. The audience flinches first at then, then the crack of lightning from Ryu's charge. And then, they pretty much just take a collective step backwards from the fight when Ash cranks it up to 11 with his fantastic green fire. For a second, there is a tense silence as three powerful world warriors all gather their chi. However, Batsu has one thing they don't have.
Initiative.
Batsu dashes in, moving with blinding, almost startling speed. Batsu's martial art is fairly crude, brought to expertise by his own natural talent and burning spirit. He is a street fighter in the classic sense, using his own homebrew techniques to the best of his ability. Ryu was holding still. He was trying to focus. Batsu could have treated him as someone to be revered. But he knew what Ryu would want. He would want him to do whatever he could to win... short of killing. So as Batsu blazed in, the energy of his aura still trailing from his frame, he did the only thing that popped into his head.
Try and push Ryu to the ground.
"TAAAAAAAAAAAAAIYOOOOO!"
COMBATSYS: Batsu successfully hits Ryu with Shovedown.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/=======|
Ash draws up more of that intriguing, primal fire. Ryu doesn't have quite the same innate appreciation for basking in the Frenchman's flaming, but the upsurge in power is certainly interesting indeed. Though again, he has little time to ponder it in depth: Batsu rushes in, and Ryu crosses his arms, aligning them to oppose the burning charge... but not quickly enough. The Taiyo warrior busts past his guard, and Ryu is sent skidding to the ground, his back impacting the asphalt harshly as he skids a brief span, suddenly kicking his legs upwards in an abrupt, but graceful backflip.
The Ansatsuken Master lands back in a ready stands, and shoves his arms forward. This time, it a tremendous flare of blue-white that erupts from his fingertips, pure, focused spirit erupting from within, from without, forged into a densely packed, wildly flaring sphere of power-trailing chi, the searing, explosive blast washing forward at a remarkable pace, looking to punish Batsu for his nonetheless impressive charge, "HADOOOUKEN!!"
The powerful emerald vortex whirls around Ash for several seconds before being sucked inwards and compressing until it's little more than a tiny spark to be held in his palm.
"Okay. Well--yes, he did--/focus/! Do you have it? Yes? Okay. Good."
He dashes off of the edge of the roof, coasting down to the ground on green fire that flickers out harmlessly before actually, say, falling to the cafe below. After sliding along the ground on his shoes - his... heeled, platformed shoes that give him a good two extra feet of lift - he gives his hair a flick.
"Of /course/ you appreciate it. I know I would, were I you. Mm-hmm. Oh, yes, it was a /pleasure/."
As if he didn't just witness Ryu firing another ball of uniquely rarified chi towards Batsu, he strolls towards the master of Ansatsuken as two more words are spoken into his phone.
"Kiss kiss."
He smacks his lips gently to approximate a kissing sound, snaps the phone shut, then passes it into his other hand, which he brings up near his mouth. As his smirk widens, he opens his palm and blows gently, as if sending his affections towards the student of Gouken, and if one were to ignore the fact that the phone is leaving his palm at high speeds, it would not be so unusual.
That all of that gathered chi is wreathing the object makes it that much harder to truly buy.r
COMBATSYS: Batsu overcomes Hadouken from Ryu with Guts Bullet EX.
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Ryu with Brumaire.
-**- LUNATIC HIT!! -**-
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Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Batsu's Guts Bullet EX.
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Batsu 1/-----==/=======|=======\=====--\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/=======|
Shoving Ryu down seemed like a foolish technique, and somewhat demeaning to the Ansatsuken master. Batsu, however, was on the ball on this one. As Ryu hits the ground, he is already drawing back his right arm. Hooking a grip, he snatches a bit of the cast off energy from his aura, taken in from his previous charge. Ryu rolls back up, ready to teach the teenager a lesson in HADOKEN. But as he cries out, Batsu screams right back, another flash of his BURNING SPIRIT overwhelming his body.
"Guts BULLET!"
As the Hadoken is unleashed, Batsu hooks his hand up. A wave of energy erupts from his entire arm, blasting forth much like the Hadoken of his opponent, bearing even the same blue color. But in this case, the burning spirit of Taiyo was behind it. For a second, both balls of energy collide, the spirit of Ryu against the spirit of Batsu. The teenager knew this. But there was another thing he knew.
Nothing could overcome the BURNING SPIRIT!
The Hadoken is blown apart, the energy of the Guts Bullet absorbing it in. With the distinct sound of an implosion, it breaks through, aiming right for the torso of Ryu... just as Ash was unleashing his fires. It was then he realized that finally... FINALLY... he was off the phone. Now, Batsu realized as he pumped his arms, was time to really work together. Cupping his hands, he roars out to the Frenchman.
"Hey! PARTNER! Lets lay down some real firepower, team work style!"
The power of sheer GUTS manages to forge through the shimmering Hadouken, and Ryu is once more confronted by assault on both sides. ... this time, it doesn't go quite as well for him. While the dissipating energies that cleaved through his own fireball are little more than a stinging impact on his forearms, the sizzling impact delays him long enough for Ash to not only close, but lash out with his own tremendous inferno of inner power. The maelstrom washes over him, and the nomad is launched backwards, blasted through the air, to crash back-first into the foundation of a bordering townhouse, mild cracks rising from the cornerstone as he drops back to the ground... in a three point crouch.
Seared, battered, but /far/ from downed, the Wanderer all but erupts back into the fray. He leaps into the air, crossing the distance back at Crimson in a single bound, his fist launching outwards in an downward-angled strike carrying all his force and weight behind it, gloved fist all but blurring for the white-haired flamewielder's skull, with a mighty kiai. His intent is to land, and on subtly bent legs, the nomad would launch a second strike, a brutal standing uppercut, seeking to plant the young champion's fist and elbow squarely into Ash's jaw, "HYAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Ash blocks Ryu's Strong Punch.
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Batsu 1/-----==/=======|=======\=====--\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 1/-------/=======|
Thankfully for his delicate good lucks, Ash manages to get his forearm up in time to deflect a goodly portion of Ryu's punch away from himself, and once he's gotten past the soreness of asborbing that level of impact with nothing more than his wrist, arm and shoulder, he flashes a sweet smile towards the Ansatsuken master.
"I must say, you're positively /humming/ with delicious chi," he says before... giggling? Yes that is probably a giggle that punctuates that statement. Possibly because he's trying(futilely) to play with Ryu a little, possible because he's really that girlish, possibly all of the above.
He pushes off of the brief lock-up with a little flash of harmless green fire licking along his arm, and then he cants his head slightly to the side and extends his right hand towards the Dragon.
His eyes do flick very briefly towards Batsu's, but that's all the communication he offers in response to the suggestion of teaming up; it's a fabulous idea, certainly, but letting Ryu /know/... he could do without that.
"Really, I would love a lesson sometime, if you aren't busy. We could make a thing of it." About a mile a way, a gas main flat out explodes; thankfully, the area around it is pretty much a wasteland /anyway. Right here, right now, the green fires that were moving almost decoratively along Ash's arm are now racing towards his palm, pooling together in it and tracing its gloved creases intricately. It is almost like a liquid as it folds in against itself, growing rapidly larger and taking on a spherical shape.
"Dinner. Perhaps a movie. Training beneath the moonlight..."
When the massive ball of chi is fully formed, it is flicked casually up and away, arcing well above Ryu. As soon as it is released, the Frenchman turns, pockets his hands, and... walks away, saying, "Ah, well. Let me know how that bounces off of you, will you? I'll be /waiting/."
The power of Batsu's pure GUTS saves in a wide range of ways. They pierce through powerful defenses, gives him an unstoppable offense, and even allows him to keep going well beyond he should. Most importantly, often when Batsu is struck with an attack that would normally knock him unconscious, the rolling HP damage sometimes stops at one, allowing him to keep on going.
Earthbound was an awesome game, screw you all.
As Batsu's Guts Bullet hammers Ryu softly, the teenager awaits to see what Ash delivers. And by his mother, does he deliver. Ash tears through Ryu like a strong super man through tiny baby man at control point. And then, he... banters. Batsu was somewhat used to 'beta male' talking, especially from his experience with his cousin Kyosuke. Still, Batsu was bothered by these obvious sexual advances, and just had to bring his foot down.
"STOP FLIRTING WITH HIM!" The young man shouts. Then, he catches sight of that.. twinkle in his eye. And then, the ball of chi is tossed passively up. Batsu immediately knows what to do. It was like a wave of knowledge, much like puberty when he was a kid. The burning teenager is hurling himself high up in the air, meeting with the ball in midarc. Positioning himself right above the ball, he draws back both of his arms. Blue chi ripples across his body as he glares down. "And lets just BLAST HIM! MAXIMUM GUTS BULLET!"
Bringing both arms, he almost charges right into the orb of energy, unleashing another Guts Bullet... of even greater magnitude. The bullet rips into Ash's energy, and the both merge. A shimmering ball of blue and green, the two blasts of pure chi rocket right back to the earth...
Straight for Ryu.
That's going to leave a crater.
COMBATSYS: Ash and Batsu successfully hit Ryu with Maximum Thermidor.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
It's basically an unopposable maelstrom. Which isn't to say that Ryu isn't prepared to oppose it. Sometimes, it's just not to be. He crosses his arms, he centers his chi... energy whirls around him. ... and then abruptly -over- him. Fire and raw GUTS explode, and Ryu is blasted off his feet, to the pavement, crushing out large chunks of the street as he skips like a stone, if it were a one ton stone, back down the road. Rippling cracks erupt from each impact, bloody scrapes rise on his arms, his back, his chest as his gi is almost literally blown away. AGAIN. He's left in tattered pants and his kanji-emblazoned belt, rolling to one knee, pressing a tensed arm into the street, and gritting his teeth. If it weren't for the ringing in his ears, he could hear his own, "Nggggh." ... that was a lot of energy. Plus, Ash is apparently trying to use it as an opportunity to 'get with' him, and that's just not even a little bit kosher. It's like Ken during that 'phase' he hit at 15.
"You're not really... my type." Ryu observes, defiantly pushing back to his feet. By all rights, he should be down by now. By all rights, he shouldn't be -able- to rise, much less answer that charge with one of his own. But he does both. Squaring his stance, his hands drop to his side. His muscles tense, powerful biceps flexing mightily as a pinprick of light is forged between his hands. Forged, and suddenly... all the light cast by the sun, all the remnant luminescence from the firestorm that just frickin' -destroyed- him, it's consumed in that singular point, a flare erupting in all direction as it completes one, almost languid rotation, and then all the focused power, drawn from within, from the air, from the ground, from the fiery residue in the air erupts into a dark, swirling vortex, "SHIIIIIIIINKUUUUUUUU..."
Every fiber in Ryu's body is focused on it, every muscle charging the tremendous, consuming void. The cerulean coalescence bursts outwards, grows in leaps and bounds in the blink of an eye, only to be heaved forward back at Batsu with a powerful forward lunge, its swirling mass ripping a literal trench in the roadway, devouring the shards of broken asphalt along its course, and tearing into the ground itself. Napkins and plates come flying off the tables nearest the street, Ryu's headband flutters madly trying to chase the massive blast, and dark energy all but roars from Ryu's grip to fuel it into the last moments, as the mighty burst crosses the distance in a blink of an eye, no shortage of raw conviction - and power - behind it.
"HADOOOOOOOUKEN!!!!"
"Of course I'm not," Ash Crimson replies with a lilting giggle. And then the lights go off... and his little smirk only widens. It's no real surprise that Ryu is unbelievably powerful, but experiencing it first hand, /this/ closely... it really is exciting in rather a unique fashion. Tantalizing, even. Perhaps he /will/ need to do a bit of revising to his list, just to cover all of his bases; who knows what he might be able to accomplish if there were actually some way to develop control over that particular technique, after all?
Another giggle rings out, this time lost amongst Ryu's shouts and the sounds of the ball of destruction building between the hands of the master of Ansatsuken. His own hair and clothes are whipping wildly, impelled towards the ultimate expression of Hadou but remaining ultimately fixed.
Just as it is released, Ryu might feel another flare of the chi that's drawn his attention so, though not for offensive purposes; it merely burns into being in a tight shell around Ash's body, illuminating him and casting ominous shadows in a small area around him.
"And the rest of your lot? Am I /their/ type?" he wonders, now standing /right/ behind Ryu. With that said, he tries to leap /away/ from Ryu, spinning through the air in the way that a ballet dancer might. His right foot is extended such that his heel might slam against the Dragon's ribs in the process, however, almost as an after-thought.
COMBATSYS: Batsu blocks Ryu's Shinkuu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
Now that is a terrible thought. Ken at 15. Dear lord, when did Gouken have to confiscate the comic books? When Rob Liefeld really starting to put out (no pun intended?)
Anyways, Batsu's and Ash's storm of energy is, simply put, effective. Landing on the ground, Batsu falls to his knees, rising up quickly. Ryu, of course, was still standing. And then, Batsu saw the flare of power. Saw it before he even heard it.
The hot-blooded hero of Taiyo High dug down his heels, the energy already unleashed. The ground was being torn asunder, the very audience was almost at threat... if it weren't for the exceptional control of Ryu. The teenager crossed his arms in front of his body, and jut his block outwards at the blast as it closed in. The young man is consumed by the energy, driven back by the sheer force. He holds there, only a dim outline left in the wave of force. When the ultimate attack finally dies down...
Batsu is still standing.
Arms burning slightly, he shakes his arms free of the block. He wasn't going to be able to block anytime soon, he knew that. He managed to only get a fraction of that power; In that fraction, he was almost taken down. The teenager was nearing the ropes now, obvious abrasions forming where the chi pierced through his block. His arms were useless. He couldn't risk a kick at this speed. Therefore, there was only one thing left. Picking up speed, Batsu unleashed a rapid charge. Like a bull, he was trampling forward, beelining it to Ryu and Ash... who was still putting the moves on Ryu. As Batsu tried to overrun Ryu with a charging headbutt, he grumbled to himself about the antics of his partner.
Didn't he hear how Ryu and Ken were...
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Batsu's Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ash's Prairial.
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Batsu 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
It's times like these that Ryu is pushed to his best. His ultimate Hadouken deflected, at least partially, by the still-fighting Batsu. His flank unguarded to the blurring fast Ash Crimson. Ken's sexuality clearly in question. ... okay so really, it's more about the fight still dragging on, his own fighting spirit battered but not yet waning, as he's faced with opponents he needs everything he's capable of to trump. It should be the end. It should have been the end when the inferno of dual-chi rampaged over him. Yet still he endures. Batsu's thrusting forehead is met by a squarely aligned forearm, which readily accepts the bruising impact. Ash's near-teleport? To the audience, it is blurring. To Ryu? Ash Crimson just darts behind him. The Dragon rotates with the motion, drops a reinforced arm vertically, and intercepts that swinging kick before it ever gets close to his knees, his dark eyes darting back upwards, between Ash and Batsu in an instant.
He goes for the hopefully off-balance Taiyo prodigy, reaching for one arm. ... as the young champion pushes unrelentingly back to his feet, and it's his turn to step in on Ichimonji, push past his flank... and seek to drag his arm along for the ride. Ryu's fingertips would dig into three seperate nerve endings in his hand and wrist, even as the arm is twisted around at an angle it's just not meant to turn. That is just the prelude to having his legs kicked out from under him, his screaming arm ideally used as a lever to drop him, harshly, straight to the torn asphalt with abrupt, unflinching efficiency, "HAAAAAH!!!" It's one of those fights that was ended, but not ended. They're simply going to have to do better!
"Well, /that/," Ash remarks as he watches where Ryu's first strike is going, "that looks unpleasant."
He makes a production of lacing his gloved hands together and thrusting them forward, joints popping melodiously as his arms are extended to the fullest. "I /suppose/ we don't want that, do we?"
With that, he tightens the grip that his fingers have on one another, and moving low along the ground he darts towards Ryu. His elbows are both bent outwwards so that his right can be jammed towards the bottom of the Ansatsuken master's spine, and after striking he'll try to hop a step away and blow another kiss in Ryu's direction. This time without the super dense balls of chi or cellphones; just a few harmless green sparks.
COMBATSYS: Batsu blocks Ryu's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
So Batsu does better
His attempt at overrunning Ryu fails, his head striking those powerful arms. For a moment, he is quite dazed, an easy victim for Ryu to pick off. The World Warrior easily gets a grip on his burned arms, and he twists. Batsu grits his teeth, seething in pain. Ash was going to take advantage of Ryu (oh god no), but Batsu was done for. His defenses were almost destroyed. He overextended himself. Ryu's leg snaps around, ready to knock the teenager down for the killing blow...
"NO!"
A fresh wave of energy overwhelms Batsu, bursting over himself. When the leg comes, Batsu just doesn't fall. He struggles against the knockdown, resisting the twisting with raw GUTS. He was getting frantic, spazzing about as he just struggled, struggled against the better warrior. The struggling harmed him, almost as much as a solid throw, but he didn't care. With a last, violent explosion of force, he attempts to hurl Ryu over his back...
Headfirst into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Ash's Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Batsu successfully hits Ryu with Head Drop EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Batsu 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Or any of the dozen other cliche phrases that apply to a situation where nothing but pure, burning spirit can carry one through. Batsu clearly has it, Ash is trying to help now that he's off the phone. Ryu? Ryu is -made- of the stuff. Which is lucky, because he can only take being dropped on his head so many times. While he can't exactly dodge the kiss Ash freakishly blows into the air, the Wanderer's quick footwork brings him ahead of Crimson's nasty elbow strike... and right into the path of Batsu's grappling defiance. Lifted up, leveraged around, and slammed down not unlike the first blow he applied to Ichimonji at the beginning of the fight, one might think Ryu is rather out of luck indeed.
... but the momentum of the impact is driven forward into a roll, and the nomad -does- rise once more, fighting against the dual tide with his legendary resilience. He comes up on one knee, pausing only to draw a breath, ignoring the blood running down his face from injuries in mouth and nose, and a nasty gash across his forehead, and simply charges the Taiyo warrior one more time. He throws his own gloved fist forward in two quick jabs, culminating in an elbow strike that brings his full weight in behind it: crashing the bony natural weapon in for the center of the Burning Prodigy's face, looking to put his lights out more fully, this time. If he can just hold on, fight further.....
He really wasn't kidding about pushing it all the way /for charity/!!! "KYAAAH!"
Ash's fingers unlace, and as he cracks the knuckles of his right hand against his left palm he contemplates Batsu and his bravely continuing to fight on in the name of pride and spirit and charity. It's kind of familiar; not exactly /inspiring/, but familiar.
Ash, of course, has quite a lot riding on this whole thing too, and that's contributing heavily to his seeking to keep his momentum going as best as possible in the hopes of pinning the elusive wandering warrior down. For instance, people /love/ charity, and to be responsible for a nice, fat charitable donation to the city would do wonders for his image, and that is always a boon. It would certainly make it that much easier to continue scoring little conveniences like free rides in fancy cars to fighting events, for instance.
He shifts forward to grab for Ryu's gi from the side, smiling brightly as his reach is made; if he can just hang on, he'll drive his knee into the Ansatsuken master's ribcage, strike him resoundingly across the face with the backs of his knuckles, then send him flying a short ways with a resounding uppercut that traces a line of harmless chi into the air, in its wake.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Batsu with Medium Punch.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Batsu 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
Everything every down and dirty fighter wanted to be, Ryu embodied. He was just that good. When Batsu hurls him over himself and smashes the master to the ground, he thought he might have some leeway. Apparently, that wasn't the case. Ryu is back up, and ready to hurl the punches out. Ash has been impressed by the fighter so far. Batsu has been impressed by the Frenchman's unique powers and absolute might. But this was it. Batsu could lift his arms to block. His body was sore. His only option was to endure the punches. The first hit lands squarely. The second does the same. The teenager takes a simple step towards Ryu.
Batsu falls to the ground.
He holds there, rolling a bit, rolling his head ever so slightly. Darkness was consuming him, the last punch was too much. Batsu ran through his mind what had happened. He was about to lose. Did he put up a great fight for Ryu? No. A great fight would have at least knocked him down. The charity of Taiyo High came to mind, as well as the honor. Was he going to lose to the World Warrior... for charity?
"HELL NO!"
Batsu roars as he staggers up, clearly punch drunk from the last punch. Yet, he was back. He had returned from across the line, through the sheer will of a very angry teenager. Batsu hurls himself forward again, swinging a wild straight right for Ryu's jaw. The hot-blooded youth wasn't even reflecting martial arts at this point. It was pure will, simple as that.
Will that could not be broken.
COMBATSYS: Batsu successfully hits Ryu with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\ < > //// ]
Batsu 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Ryu with Vendemiaire.
?!? Weird Hit! ?!?
[ \\\\\\ < > // ]
Batsu 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Ryu
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
Ash and Batsu pile on once more - Ryu is really getting impressed by the tenacity of these Taiyo kids - and it's all he can do to keep his bearings as he tries to stay one step ahead of the onslaught. After the extensive battle leading up to this, however? It's a losing battle. Batsu's ire-fueled fist rings true, and Ryu weaves -into- it rather than out of the way, blood sprawing from his mouth as he reels back, and is grabbed by Ash.... and slammed with a mighty, gut-wrenching hit, and backhanded soundly across the face, in the same region just wounded (twice) by Batsu. Sadly for Crimson and Ichimonji, the uppercut doesn't so much send the Wanderer flying as it does drop him to the ground. He clenches his jaw, grits bloodied teeth, and throws everything he has between a pair of gut-targetting uppercuts, that suddenly culminate in another, voluntary crouch.... and a rocketing eruption that defies all logic.
The young champion all but /rockets/ upwards, a tremendous burst of invisible energy bursting outwards as he releases it all on the fighters relentlessly dogpiling him. If either Ash or Batsu get within the radius of that launch? Well, the fist to the ribs will be the least of their worries. Because, well, "SHOOOOOORYUKEN!!!" Ryu's right fist leads a spiralling, imminently forceful ascent, looking to send his adversaries literally flying clear.... before he crashes back to the ground, landing harshly, and unable to fight on. ... yet still smiling. Which is a little freakier with blood leaking from his mouth.
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ <
Batsu 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Ash auto-guards Ryu's Shin Shoryuken+!
[ \\\\\\ <
Batsu 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
"Oh, Ryu," Ash says after softly clucking his tongue and leaning forward to better loom over the fallen warrior. "Really, I appreciate the thought, but a simple moment of applause will suffice. I can live without your /worsh--"
The incendiary Frenchmen's words are cut short by the fist coming at his ribs; more or less expected and moreover blocked. Less expected is the titanic explosion of muscle and sheer /will/ that follows it. In the blink of an eye, Ryu is ascending, leading with his red-wrapped fist to potentially shatter the young flame caster's body the same way that he once upon a time shattered Sagat's pride. His hair and clothes are once again windswept in the wake of his dominating rise, and rather than duck for cover, he does what he oftimes does when faced with the unknown:
He plunges without a care.
Ash Crimson's right palm thrusts out to catch Ryu just short of full contact being made, and rather than his every bone shattering, he some how, some way hangs on, the horrific inertia of the Shin Shoryuken grounding itself out through his frail body and cracking the ground in gradually expanding arcs around his feet.
Those fractures, thin as they are, are soon filled as the seemingly frivolous Frenchman's chi is brought to bear to make final his denial of this last attack; he is surrounded in green flames, first due to their leaping upwards in sheets from those cracks, and then because they are hanging in the air around his body.
His teeth grit in honest to God effort as he focuses himself on blunting the impact, and not so far a way a rather sizable, if mundane fireball shatters the walls of the already abandoned cafe kitchen thanks to the stove's burners firing catastrophically. Soon afterwards, he finally, /finally/ manages to push Ryu's arm away, and with that he steps back to let the wandering warrior fall. A soft breath of exertion is exhaled, his hair is teased for several seconds to be sure that the wind didn't muss it too badly, and then he looks between Batsu and Ryu.
"Ah. Memories. To be back in Maui..."
Once more, as at the beginning of the fight, his hair is flicked. Green sparks fall. A winning smile is flashed.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Batsu with Shin Shoryuken+.
[ <
Batsu 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
Wait, wasn't Shin Shoryuken the attack that gave Sagat that scar?
Oh Great.
Batsu's wild punch lands true, landing the felling blow upon Ryu. The juggernaut is down. He is actually down. Ash seals the deal with grace and elegance, and Ryu is on the ground. Batsu regains his composure for a moment, hovering over Ryu with distant reflection... and gasping breath. He listens to Ash, watching Ryu carefully. And then, he spots it. Ryu is moving again. Batsu tries to hurl himself back.
Needless to say, he fails.
The teenager is launched high in the air, with gasps from the crowd. The teenager drops shortly after, landing on his front with a sharp crack. The teenager lies there, the ground ruptured from Ash's tearing up of the asphalt. Slowly, Batsu raises his head, looking up at the arrogant, aloof fighter he was pair with...
COMBATSYS: Batsu takes no action.
[ \\\\\\ <
Batsu 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Batsu has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\ <
Batsu 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 0/-------/-----==|
And rises up, taking in long, painful breaths. This wasn't to fight. This wasn't to win anymore. No, the iron will of Taiyo extends well beyond simple fighting, simple combat. Batsu stands erect, his body broken, bleeding, and burned. And he glances at Ash, then at Ryu, the World Warrior. Charity. Yeah. Batsu was afraid of taking another step, so he spoke loud and clear at the downed fighter and the French.
"Good fight."
Log created on 19:12:49 06/23/2009 by Batsu, and last modified on 08:00:28 07/01/2009.