Description: A duel years overdue, Hotaru Futaba and Yurika Kirishima face off in a charity-earning bout in the peaceful courtyard of the Ginkaku-ji. The lives of both Seijyun girls have often come very close to crossing paths, occasionally running parallel for a stretch before going their seperate ways again. This once they do cross and the words exchanged are arguably more important than the techniques in combat.
Brett arrives from elsewhere.
For some, the end of the invasion was followed by a certain degree of 'shellshock.' For week after week, lives were harshly derailed, irrevocably changed, or all together lost to the horrors of war. Schools became battlegrounds, streets became steel canyons of suffering, mourning, and conflict. Criminals turned against criminals, and decent people were caught in the inevitable cross-fire. Until at last, as abruptly as it had all began with the invasion of Gedo and the assault on the YFCC, the Southtown Siege came to an end. A sense of relief washed over the city but also a deep, sobering realization of how much had been sacrificed upon the altar of greed and corruption.
They would have to rebuild and the price for that reconstruction would be collected in blood, sweat, tears, and billions of dollars. When the dust settled and people began to wander back to their homes or to examin the craters where their stores had once been, it was time for the city to come together and work toward what might have seemed an impossible restitution of things. With enough effort, some parts of life slowly started to return to normal. Cars began to appear on streets that weren't thoroughly shelled or crushed beneath the treads of tanks. Power was restored and stabilized along with running water and other basic utilities. Little by little, the very essence of life began to pour back into the fighting capital of the world.
For Hotaru, no day was a dull moment. Restoring her own home to the stately property it had once been before it got turned into a makeshift war-refuge camp was an ongoing process. Cars were towed out of her yard from where they had been used to construct a make-shift wall. The landscaping had to be torn up and planted anew. The flood lights strung up all over the property were taken down and the portable generators that had powered them hauled back off to whatever rental lot they had been 'borrowed' from. Her house and the dojo were being rennovated from top to bottom. Cleaned, redecorated, refurnished. Little by little, her own life was returning to a familiar point.
She could afford the repairs due to her family's money. But the same couldn't be said for others in Southtown and the girl was acutely aware of that. Thus when an opportunity to continue making some small difference in the world presented itself, she signed up. A minor celebrity in her own right, the girl brought with her a certain amount of name recognition and clout to the charity organized by Seijyun High's own Yurika Kirishima. And when the chance came to make good on her committment to bringing in as much pledge money as possible, the teenaged Kenpo artist was eager to oblige.
Whether by chance or design, she was to face off against the event organize herself to begin with. Unlike SNF matches or Neo League bouts, there wasn't a giant spending allowance for the charity matches. Fighters were to provide their own travel and locations for matches needed to be donated. For the match of immediate interest, a temple in Japan offered use of its courtyard. The site is marked by a tranquil pond on one side, and a contemplatively quiet rock garden on the other. Tourists already in the area have begun to gather around and cameras donated by a local news station are in place to record the fight for broadcast purposes.
Hotaru is in place, having arrived early to the site once the venue was arranged in order to take advantage of the chance to tour the premises before incurring the risk of fight injuries that might make such an indulgence difficult. But now it's time to focus her mind on the event itself. The Chinese-styled fighting outfit of pristine white and sharp, royal blues is a familiar sight to anyone who had seen the girl's public appearances before. Her hair has been done back in a pair of pig-tails tied off with vibrant red ribbons and the girl stands ready near the well manicured rock garden, her hands clasped behind her back.
Hmnn Southtown, Southtown.. Obviously many believe that Yurika Kirishima cares quite a bit for the Fighting Capital, but it's really more of a love-hate relationship. It's kind of complex, really, the only thing she's really hoping for is that with this rebuilding, with this restoration, will also result in a slightly less dominant American culture. But that was another problem to tackle at another time, first steps were first..
She was surprised to see Hotaru's name in the on the roster, even moreso that she would be matching up with the kempo fighter on this very day- A long long time ago, the first time the two had faced one another, their battle was resolved over a game of Paper-Rock-Scissors. She'd never seen the girl since, but that was mostly her fault as she had been keeping so busy that she wouldn't really come out to the yards more times than she had to. But she had wanted to see her, she wanted to meet the 'teacher' of a certain little Kentou Ondori. See the girls strength not via taped matches or the word of mouth, but with her own eyes. Perhaps a bit of jealousy? Yurika isn't telling.
The blue-clad schoolgirl finally makes her entrance, it has been a very long time since she had been involved in a battle viewable to the public, so unlike with Hotaru, many people aren't really certain what to expect. The entrance is followed by an applause regardless though, perhaps more polite than what viewers may expect, but that's simply the kind of air Yurika carries about her- graceful, elegant, though not exactly no-nonsense. "Miss Futaba.. It's been some time, I'm please to see that you are well.." she murmurs.
In hand is a black violin case, she removes her wooden-looking violin and sharp-tipped bow from the case, nudges it aside with her foot and then approaches Hotaru with an extended hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you again, of course. Let us have a good duel."
The sound of the crowd responding to the second fighter of the afternoon's match prompts Hotaru to glance up from her quiet reverie and settle sharp, azure eyes on the other girl. Her mouth curls into a smile that while faint appears quite sincere. She had oft times had conflicting opinions about the silvery haired princess of her school. Her ties to her brother - a young man that Hotaru considered an example of one of the worst youths she had ever met - always made her wary. Her connection to young Kentou Ondori, on the other hand, and the way the boy spoke highly of the girl that had thoughtfully given him gifts softened Hotaru's opinion of her.
It was in the cauldron of war that Hotaru began to have her suspicions confirmed, however. Elle didn't go into details, but she said enough. Seijyun would be a safe haven. Yurika had ties to the forces invading, but could be persuaded to take the refuges Hotaru had been housing in. Playing a dangerous game of trying to keep both sides happy, Yurika's help had been crucial to freeing Hotaru and other fighters up to take the battle back to the invaders. Yet if the truth of why Seijyun High had been ignored by the invasion forces were to come out...
Perhaps it's these thoughts amongst many others that result in that knowing look in Hotaru's eyes. She knows Yurika /had/ ties that would make her very unpopular to say the least. Yet her actions also saved lives. Such a complex web of duplicity the young princess of Seijyun has managed to maintain. "I agree," she states as she extends her hand to shake Yurika's. "And it is a pleasure to thank you publically for your help with providing a sanctuary to so many refuges from the war. As well as to express my support for what you are doing for the city with this event." Her words are spoken with the utmost sincerity. She means it, even if there is a layer of uncertainty hidden behind them.
Hands shaken, she takes a few steps back, putting distance between the two of them. "As event organizer, I think it only appropriate you do us the honors of starting this off." she finishes with a quiet smile. Hotaru reaches up to check the tightness of her right red ribbon before dropping her hands in front of her and assuming a ready posture. Hands open, palms parallel, bouncing lightly on her toes for maximum mobility, the Kenpo artist stands ready.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has started a fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Yurika has joined the fight here.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Yurika
Yurika is quite aware of her potential problems of controversy, of course. But she's been sort of dancing around the issues; those 'in the know' could certainly take a wild guess why she rarely gives her last name. Should problems arise, she'll take continue to dance, and that is pretty much what makes today's Yurika the same as the musician of old. But enough about this psychological thing! She is likely in hot water with Shadaloo though. Yikes.
Yurika's dark eyes had been on the look-out of Hotaru's reaction and expression, she doesn't know what Hotaru had been told, but that isn't what she's worried about, obviously she's well aware the young Futaba had be a repeated victim of her younger brother. She looks like she wants to mention something else, which then appears to be brushed off with a small shake of her head, "Oh.. No, please the one who should be thanked is yourself, I believe it was your example that helped inspire our students to meet the same level of bravery and dedication. But I appreciate your gesture." the musician murmurs, giving the hand a light squeeze and then backs off. "Very well, let us begin. En garde!"
Yurika's already dark eyes seem to darken a touch more, as if signaling getting into the mood of the battle, her small smile growing even more faint. Violin set on her shoulder, opposite arm extends slightly holding her bow somewhat like a rapier. Yurika rushes forward astonishingly quick on her uncomfortable-looking shoes, weapon raised to her opposite shoulder and starts off with a downward diagonal slash toward her opponent, quick, simple and to the point, yet motion near-flawless.
COMBATSYS: Yurika successfully hits Hotaru with Quick Strike.
- Power hit! -
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Yurika
"Nn," Hotaru responds to the beginning of the match, nodding just slightly, her demeanor becoming more calm as she puts herself into the proper mindset. Yurika's style is one that is difficult to get regular practice again. There is no one else in the world Hotaru is aware of that can claim to utilize a violin for a combat weapon. Perhaps it's that edge in secrecy that buys Yurika her opening gambit's success. The young martial artist follows the other girl's preparations, her mind trying to sufficiently predict just how the weapon would be put to use. With a lack of regular broadcast matches of Yurika's unique approach to fighting, the girl is going to have to learn on the go as they say.
First lesson - that bow is sharp. Hotaru follows Yurika's advance, bringing her hand up, attempting to slip a palm against the length of the bow with just enough friction to brush it harmlessly aside. The opening such a response would make would create seemed worth the risk of not managing the timing exactly right. The surprise is when her hand slides against the fine hairs of the bow rather than the sturdy wood and her attempt at brushing it aside ends up only having it jammed directly into her shoulder, provoking a soft yelp of pain before the girl is forced to spring backward to spare herself any painful followup.
A small splash of red stains her white puffy sleeve, but the girl pushes the pain from her mind in order to retaliate before any opportunity has been lost. Stepping forward, she drops for the briefest of moments into a lower crouch, arms out to her sides, feet seperated... And then a spring forward leads into a verticle twist through the air before Hotaru unleashes a pair of windmilling palm strikes designed to batter Yurika's guard and land a hit or two in the process!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Yurika with Enryuu Banda.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Yurika
Ahh, that certainly takes Yurika back. She remembers Kentou's reaction to seeing that the musician fought with a weapon. Though she can't quite remember how she managed to avoid cutting him.. More importantly, Yurika didn't really seem to expect her swift strike to land so soundly, it was intended to be more of a testing strike of sorts. It isn't enough to slow down Hotaru though, that much is clear, believing she can keep up with what she'd seen of Hotaru's speed Yurika attempts to stay just out of enough reach to take advantage of the anticipated opening- But her opponent's technqiue appears to cover that up quite well, the first sweep missing, but the rest meeting the mark across the upperbody, somehow keeping her in place and then knocking her onto her back!
However her knees clamp togeather tightly and she rolls with the motion to get to her feet, having little choice but to flash those in eyeshot the plenty of white frills and cloth beneath, nothing exciting she's afraid! She raises from her crouch, taking her graceful stance once more, no sense rushing back just yet. She daintily rests the bow upon her violin, closing her eyes while playing a simple, soothing melody. Nothing recognizable as it's an original peace, "This environment.. The sounds about this temple is unique to itself. Nowhere else in the world would my music resonate the same way as it does here.. So, in a sense, my style of fighting differs from area to area. The melody of this battle, I can hear it." An unusual pause indeed, but during this rambling she hides another unusual technique to manipulate the chi within her.
COMBATSYS: Yurika calculates her next move.
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Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Yurika
As she comes down out of her rapid combination, Hotaru lands much in the same way she launched - arms out to her sides like the wings of a bird, her feet seperated, one beneath her, the other out front. It's a low stance that affords her certain striking options at the expensive of her renown mobility. It is perhaps from that position that she was preparing to retaliate against Yurika's next move more proactively.
But her fellow student holds her ground, deciding to bring the stringed instrument to her cheek and run the bow across it, gracing those gathered with a musical piece of her own creation and sharing with Hotaru the dynamic nature of her style. Hotaru is quiet at first, seemingly content to maintain her lowered stance. The two had never clashed at Seijyun which might seem odd at first but for the way Hotaru had always somehow found a way to avoid being all too noticed at the all girl's school. As if wanting to find some semblence of normalcy in her life, she had put effort into trying to be like any other student there. Ignoring the politics, the matches to establish 'which girl was stronger than the others', and other affairs that would have brought more notice to her, she was content to carry out her education without much fuss and keep the 'fighting side' of her life off campus except when special events required otherwise.
It feels good, she ponders, to fight for sport once again. For too long her well-honed techniques had been put to use in fighting to harm - at times not even against the right side. To get back to her competative roots is a welcome change. It seems a shame to interrupt the musical interlude, but she can't let Yurika take all the time in the world either. "I may not have your gift for such things, but I think I understand." the young combatant remarks.
But then she acts. Hopping, she lands, maintaining her low stance even in the very act of converting her forward momentum into a swift but strong strike. Her right palm slams forward, her body leaning into the sternum-level lunging strike, her torso twisting opposite the direction of her feet in order to provide a flawless counterbalance. The technique leaves her moving quickly without compromising balance and able to push back swiftly with her forward foot to take defensive action as well. "HA!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Yurika with Medium Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Yurika
Juni arrives from elsewhere.
Yurika was actually gaining useful information during her little prolude, as finely attuned to music as she is, the sounds tell her what is close to her and what is not, and so the melody's 'sheet' shifts a little into her mind. There isn't too much she can use 'safely' it would seem, but the musician would make do. Her tune quite convinently ends about half a second before Hotaru's strike threatens to touch her, and unfortunatly Yurika ends up underestimating the speed of that palm to her own, again cutting it much too close costs her to take the full-brunt of the blow and the musician doubles over with a good puff of wind forced out of her.. Though she at the very least can use the forced momentum to her advantage!
She does take a step back, then catching her weight onto the toes of one foot, Yurika makes a full pirouette! The bow sweeps along the strings again, then with a full swing she attempts to slam the wooden section of her bow into Hotaru's hip, the swing accompanied by a red colored blurr of musical energy that, should the blow even connect completely, aid in making Hotaru feel like her entire body is her funny bone and she hit it -hard-! That brief shake up would buy her the momentum she needs to bring back her weapon and swing a second time toward Hotaru's shaky knees and sweep her right off her feet.
COMBATSYS: Yurika successfully hits Hotaru with Tragic Hesitation.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Yurika
Her palm strike connects and Hotaru begins to draw back. She can't help but be impressed by how swiftly the other girl recovers on her feet from such a blow with how formal the attire she choses to fight in is. Part of her wonders if the girl has always been holding herself back just a little from getting too 'into' the spirit of a fight by staying so dressed up for it or if her entire presence in a match depends on such an aristocratic presentation.
She doesn't have a chance to give it too much thought as the musician wastes no time in retaliating. The girl, having resumed a defensive posture, attempts to ward off the attack by slamming her right arm into the path of the swing. She didn't expect the energy accompanying it, however, as Yurika had yet to demonstrate her ability to manifest chi in the encounter thus far. The surprise catches her off guard enough such that the bow connects cleanly to the side of her hip, unleashing a pulse of that resonating chi throughout her body.
It slows her reactions even further as she finds her muscles sluggish to respond, and the effect it has is made manifest in the way her eyes widen from a degree of surprise. Never before had she felt chi quite like that, and even though her eyes see the follow up strike coming, no attmept at guarding herself or bracing for the impact is sufficient to keep the featherweight from being swept clean off her feet and onto her back with a gasp of surprise.
The effect lingers only a short while, however, and by the time her back hits the ground she's already starting to recover, rolling into a spin to the side and landing in a low crouch, shaking her head as she tries to ward off the mildly disabling effects of the attack. An interesting technique indeed. A flicker of a smile crosses her lips as the only warning before she attacks right back. The rhythm of the fight may not echo within her like it does the other girl, but she can appreciate the spirit of the match all the same.
Her advance this time is difference, the girl lunging out of her low stance into a sudden burst of forward momentum. Her intent is to slip in under the other girl's guard in order to hook her left arm up under Yurika's shoulder and use her forward momentum to twist the other girl to the ground into a quick tumble, thinking perhaps to keep her off her balance and work that to her own advantage somehow. "YA!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Yurika with Power Throw.
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Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Yurika
Perhaps one day Yurika and Hotaru will sit down and have a little chat over tea? Well.. Not with their schedules likely; everyone is likely rather busy during these times. Yurika, however, is still impressed by the other's skill, there's most certainly grace in her opponents movements that matches her own! Well then, no longer will she underestimate this art of kempo, she at this point starting to admire it silently, a small playful smile still upon her features. Hotaru slips in close, the sudden shift of attacktype catches the muscian off guard, and the older Kirishima doesn't get a chance to show off that she can deal with throws quite will even with her rather odd-stance. In mid-toss, just after the release does she attempt to shift her weight! Instead she hits the flooring with a heavy thump belly-first, and slides along it in a way that kicks up a little dust accompanied by a chorus of sympathetic groans.
She's not as quick to get up this time, not to say that she's suddenly slow, but she pushes herself off the ground and as she lands eases back into a crouch for just a brief moment.. The toes of her shoes shift just a little, pointer finger raising to her violin and makes a subtle pluck at it's string. It's not a loud sound, but it's enough for her to do what she wants, as suddenly Yurika is rocketing toward Hotaru again, silver brows knit and determination in her features, "How about this, Miss Futaba!" As she attempts to assault Hotaru with ryhtmic, seemingly choreographed strikes, swapping from wood to string, the musician drives the pointed tip of her weapon first to each of Hotaru's shoulders, a downward swipe at the nape of the neck then curves toward the knees for another attempted sweep. This is then finalized with her weapon upraised and then brought down swiftly upon her foe as if to cleave her in half! Naturally, such cleaving would not happen. A beautiful dance, somewhat lessened by the now-frazzled hair and dirtied clothing.
COMBATSYS: Yurika successfully hits Hotaru with Fatal Requiem.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Yurika
Hotaru slides out of her momentum-driven hurl to the ground with her usual control. As much as there was a flicker of reluctance to interrupt Yurika's music before, there's also the mild tinge of regret at having to get the well groomed Yurika dirty in the course of the fight. But that /is/ how fighting goes. It isn't a sport focused around sipping tea peacefully in cool afternoon shade after all.
And in a moment, she's introduced to another component of Yurika's fighting style and /reintroduced/ to that bow once again. She watches the other girl prepare herself with the tug at the string, sending a single wave of sound throughout the courtyard before bolting forward, her speed seemingly at harmony with the lone note. Her fellow student speaks, suggesting that she's preparing for something to shake the Kenpo artist up a little, and Hotaru nods just ever so slightly.
The speed is pressing. The two opening strikes slide right past her attempt at guarding against them with the same general ease that the musician has managed to circumvent her guard thus far. They hurt, forcing aside her attempt to defned herself and staggering the girl. The smack at her neck provokes a wince and an instant later, she finds her feet swept clean out from under her again, dropping her to the ground to make her an easy target for the overhanded 'slash' of the bow to strike her where she lands.
It's desperate, timely defense that spares her the final stirke as she rolls onto her back and slams her hands up. A thinly veiled aura of blue covers her palms as she jams them into the downward path of the bow, blocking the final strike even as her elbows bow slightly from the pressure. Grunting, she forces herself into a roll to escape out from under Yurika and rise up to standing a few yards to the Mistress of the Note's side.
It is from rising to leaping, Hotaru takes to the air in an instant, flipping forward into a sharp angled dive, right knee first. She moves through the air like she belongs in it, the young fighter exhibiting a certain acrobatic talent that exceeds even that of many agile fighters. But there's nothing graceful about her attempt to land her knee into Yurika's shoulder and - if successful - follow up with a swift follow up kick with her left foot that gives her the leverage she needs to spring backward to possibly safe distance!
COMBATSYS: Yurika dodges Hotaru's Rengeki Shuu.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Yurika
Yurika doesn't take offense. Once upon a time she would get prissy or upset to get herself scuffed up or to her have serenades interrupted, but she's learned over time to adapt. Music was a part of her, as well as her apperance, it's not something she can just get rid of, but instead get over and continue on. She's been having difficulty keeping up with Hotaru's speed at first, but as time went on it seemed she'd been able to not just catch up, but start squeaking by as well. Her dark eyes catch the sight of blue chi to the very end, and her small smile grows a touch.. Intruiging, if that techni- No, the entirety of Hotaru's style, she approves whole-heartedly that Kentou is learning this, unaware of his growth thus far.
Now Hotaru takes a bit of the skies, the musician takes less of a chance, and shifts back just a little earlier allowing Hotaru's knee to miss it's mark as well as the follow-up, luckily she doesn't respond immedietly or she would have gotten kicked! ".. Your 'kempo' is soothing and beautiful," Yurika concedes, "More resilient than I expected, Miss Futaba."
Yurika's bow touches her violin, and the musician plays once more, taking light steps away and then moving as if to circle her young foe, once again attempting to mask her technique, re-analyzing the area. ".. Ah, can you hear it? We are quickly approaching the crescendo of this battle. My heart is raceing with anticipation.."
COMBATSYS: Yurika calculates her next move.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Yurika
Yurika's evasion proves effective and rather than have to deal with Hotaru colliding swiftly with her, the Kenpo artist speeds right on by into a slide on her feet along the courtyard floor, her arms out at her sides for balance, a small wake of dust kicked up from the stones in her passing. Her recovery is swift and controlled, as if she had factored the possibility that the Seijyun princess might manage to esacpe her steep trajectory after all. Within a matter of a second, the girl has already shifted into a defensive, ready stance, prepared in case Kurow's sister tried to sneak in a quick hit as she landed.
But instead she is treated to a compliment and another sample of the violin music. Hotaru raises her hands, one foot back, the other forward, as she turns in time with Yurika, watching her circle her, never letting her attention slip for a moment. "Thank you," she remarks, her smile barely perceptible as if she's putting effort into not being distracted by the kind words. "Improving it has been a focus in my life. Your own art is unique. It has been interesting to see it in action."
The music picks up in intensity - an audible reflection of the truth the fighters know in their hearts. This fight may not have all that much longer to go. But it's hard to say, isnt' it. Such things can be difficult to predict even for masters years beyond them in experience. "Perhaps," she replies, her tone still calm, subdued. "I think I feel it too..."
And then she acts, darting forward, slipping into her low Sparrow stance once again. She doesn't stop moving for an instance as her forward momentum is poured into an aggressive, lunging strike with her left hand leading. Should she connect with the other girl's torso, she'll twist to the left so that her right hand can follow up with a secondary blow of equal or possibly even greater force as the young girl once again demonstrates her surprising striking force. "HAH!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Yurika with Fierce Punch.
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Hotaru 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Yurika
"I try not to disappoint," Yurika replies to the compliment she's given. After that though is the most unfortunate unexpected; the musician was predicting the end being near for the young Futaba not for herself! As her opponent comes closer once again the end of her playing seems to end at a coincidental time, not sounding interrupted in the least, the muscian brings her bow outward to serve another purpose, her wrist twists to bring the tool downward in an attempt to bring it within the path of her foes first strike, only for her to blast right by it and make her first mark, "Nngh!" her body jerks back, allowing room for the second strike to meet it's mark that indeed plants enough force to blast the musician away a bit and threaten to knock the girl onto her back once again!
But Yurika doesn't allow the pain to overtake her, she keeps her senses for the most part and twists in the air, her bow-holding palm hitting the flooring and allows her to land rather roughly on one foot which she pretty much surfs on.. And again seems to redirect the momentum to start steering to the side. Like some sort of ballerina, Yurika springs off the ground and spirals rapidly toward Hotaru in almost a blurr, the moment where her bow again touches her violin is unseen,
And she strikes, the swing is almost vicious in execution, though the trail of musical chi this time is not red a much more gentle blue. WHAK! would be the ideal sound should the wood strike Hotaru with stunning force that it'd launch the kempo artist upward, and Yurika leaps up afterward, following up with a couple of 'x' motion slashes and a kick back downward!
COMBATSYS: Hotaru just-defends Yurika's Tragic Waltz!
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yurika
Hotaru strikes swiftly, but each blow packs a solid punch as the young martial artist demonstrates that one need not be human behemoth to know how to hit hard. It's a matter of coordinating one's entire body - arm, legs, torso - into each point of impact, making up for the lack of bulky biceps or triceps. By the second strike's connection, she knows she's landed the combination of strikes and is already withdrawing to form her defense. Fighting another fighter as light and quick as herself, she believes the impact will have bought herself precious seconds in which to prepare her guard.
Yurika's recovery is graceful. Anyone who would have expected the well-off aloof Seijyun girl to crumple at the first trace of pain would be sorely mistaken, Hotaru realizes. Her eyes pay fast attention to every move the girl makes even as her ears continue to try and pick out the subtle sounds of her unique brand of chi manifestation. And then the counter attack -
The amplified speed of her opponent almost catches the young sensei off guard. Yurika's style has demonstrated elements of fencing with her bow but also unique aspects that the beribboned girl can't quite predict as well as she can more traditional martial arts. Case in point: the blurring spin with which the young aristocrate zips back toward her. Hotaru prepares her defenses, deciding to dig deep, willing to expend energy to ward off as much of the attack as possible. A glimmer of blue at her hands accompanies a sudden flash of movement on her own part.
There is a crack of wood impacting something - but rather than a clean hit, it's hitting Hotaru's chi-guarded palm as the girl moves with the force, allowing herself to be knocked up into the air as intended...
Only, Yurika will find as she leaps to finish her combination, that her opponent is not flailing in a stunned arc through the air but rather very much ready for her. Hotaru spins once, avoiding the first slash of the bow and bringing herself in tight against Yurika's side at the same time... Her intent is clear - the girl attempting to hook the event organizer with her right arm and convert her own spinning momentum into enough force to send the dress-clad girl slamming back down toward the courtyard below! Hotaru would follow suit, landing a moment later not far off.
COMBATSYS: Yurika blocks Hotaru's Hantentou.
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Hotaru 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Yurika
"W- What?" Even Yurika can't contain her surprise to find her bow meeting Hotaru's palm instead of elsewhere, perhaps a lucky guard but she wouldn't be able to defend the rest! Or.. So she would have liked. The sweat is visable on her forehead at this point with each strike, no blow withheld but a hint of frustration with each strike until the end. Yurika's arm is caught, she is indeed swung about and slung like some sort of frilled discuss, and she only looks helpess until the last possible moment in which she hits the ground with her feet and falls to a crouch, arms extended perhaps in a mimicry of Hotaru's stance- But the impact is intense still, the stone below her indented with serious webbed cracks. If it wasn't for the visual that she looked like she knew what she was doing, people would probably suspect that actually hurt a lot. Because it did!
Yurika knows she's not in a good position, she'll have to bank on one of her strongest techniques after all, this all decided in the moment when she hits the floor, and then sprints toward Hotaru upon her landing. The bow touches her violin and the furious movements of her arms, the intensity of the tune that follows almost gives away how much she's pushing herself to do so, and this technique, of course is the most unusual of all!
Light blue chi shifts into a more intense, violet hue and trails behind her with her movements. once she's close she twirls on one foot like a diagonally leaning top, the chi seeming to act like a ribbon and twirl around her, attempting to 'snatch' Hotaru and drag her into the spiraling energy. Leaping off the ground and hopefully carring Hotaru with her, her masterpiece continues its work, battering the kempo girl in such an unusual way until finally the piece ends, Yurika flipping in the air and dropping to the ground with her arms held out to keep her balance, and then collapses to the ground once her knees, screaming with pain, give.
COMBATSYS: Yurika can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru fails to interrupt Fatal Rondo from Yurika with Ten Ranku-Tou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|
Her swift defense and counter attack prove successful. With all the airborn momentum she can muster, Hotaru forces Yurika back down toward the unyielding blocks covering the courtyard below only to follow shortly behind herself. She lands lightly, in full control over her momentum. But it appears the other girl didn't land nearly as hard as the Kenpo artist had anticipated. If anything, it seems she managed to correct for the fall and absorb the impact with her legs as evidenced by the webbed cracks extending out from beneath her expensive dress shoes.
Hotaru takes in her breath. This fight has been a swift battle, with both fighters having to learn the hard way about how each other do combat. With neither quite certain how each other's style works, the mistakes and harsh lessons seemed to come one after another, but even under such conditions, the two had maintained a certain intensity and vigor for the battle that the audience cannot say that they weren't treated to an impressive display of combat prowess!
Focused, Hotaru commits to take Yurika down with her next attack. A harder blow or perhaps a tackle of some sort. The other girl can clearly not keep going for long. Drawing herself back before assuming a stance not unlike a sprinter at the ready line, Hotaru suddenly bolts forward even as Yurika speeds into her own final attack. Perhaps the Kenpo artist sought to overwhelm her with direct force and applied momentum. Maybe she drastically underestimated the strength Yurika still had within her. Either way, just as the girl is about in striking range, Yurika shares with her yet another song, another demonstration of her prodigy level chi usage, and young Futaba finds herself running headlong into a ribbon of spiraling chi acting at the precise beck and call of its master.
Caught by the ribbon of chi, Hotaru finds her defenses battered, arms raised helplessly to ward off the attack as she's drawn up off her feet all together as the intense tune continues. Eventually it comes to an end as Yurika pushes herself beyond her limits and the two fall. One landing hard on her side with a soft grunt, the other landing on her feet only to collapse from the pain of her jarring landing after their last exchange of airborn attacks.
Hotaru is quick to roll up into a crouch then push herself back to standing, an exhausted breath escaping her lips, arms raised once again to a defensive, ready posture... Until her vision clears and she can see that the bout has run its course. A long, second exhale follows as she leans forward, dropping her stance and resting her hands against her knees for support. Her mouth, open from the need to take in air, curls into a ready smile all the same. She glances at her right bicep where a humble blue band is wrapped, a symbol of her participation in Yurika's charity event. In a way, no one walks away a loser from this match. Everyone, including the citizens of Southtown, wins something here.
"Your skill with chi is impressive," the girl notes. "As well as your choice of weapon." Hotaru stands up straight, stepping forward, offering her hand to Yurika in a bid to bring the other girl to her feet. There's a certain intense look to her eyes once she's close enough to speak without being overheard. "I know... some of what you did during the war..." she murmurs, her tone heavy with disapproval. "But you also helped many people with whatever hard decisions you had to make. You can do much good for Southtown if you chose to do so..."
She would back up a little after having said that, her voice still soft and for Yurika alone. "However, I feel that I can trust it to be safe for Kentou to continue his visits. Please..." she shakes her head, "Don't ever do something to make me regret extending that trust." Another couple steps backward and Hotaru speaks up, this time for everyone. "Thank you everyone. Especially the sponsors who have pleged money to these matches that will be going on. It has been an honor to participate and I look forward to many more opportunities like this one." The girl presses her hands together and engages in a deep bow toward one side of the gathered audience, then a second bow offered to those on the other side of the cordoned off area. Everyone has to make a difference in their own way. All she can hope is that she's doing the right thing herself.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has ended the fight here.
Ah right, of course the bands. Luckily for Yurika her pink band hadn't taken any major abuse, though she hadn't been paying too much attention to it. Glancing over her shoulder she sees Hotaru.. And sees her as the victor. The musician gets to her feet, holding violin and bow in the same hand as she rubs at her knees, "As is your own skill. It would appear that I still have a bit to learn myself, thank you very much for such an adrenaline pumping battle.." the hand is accepted, caught a bit off-guard by the others words afterward, but her smile doesn't budge an inch, the musician instead leaning forward as if to kiss the girl on the cheek, murmuring back, "I don't believe you really do, Miss Futaba, but understand I will do whatever it takes to protect which I hold dear. You should know that feeling well."
Hotaru will have to take that as it is, but Yurika isn't trying to sound ominous about it. And she settles back, gloved hand brushing at her unkempt hair, "But I appreciate your trust, even after what you've been through. Thank you very much. I- I'm sorry that I was a coward back then." Yurika gives an apologetic smile, with a light bow, and then following Hotaru's speech, the musician makes a curtsey or two of her own, and joins in the applause that follows.
"I as well thank you all for your continued support, and encourage everyone to keep their heads high during these difficult times. I believe that the Southtown we love and cherish will be restored quickly so long as we all work togeather." Indeed inspiring words from two peaceful students who can thrash like the best of them!
Log created on 22:59:58 06/23/2009 by Hotaru, and last modified on 07:55:31 07/01/2009.