Description: Sakura's new quixotic quest: to train until she's not just Ryu's protege, but his equal! To do this, her World Tour has begun, and her first opponent as she hones her skills is none other than the Red Cyclone himself!
Every now and then, it is important that a man return to his roots. Without a clear sight of where they came from, it is all too easy to lose sight of where they are going! Zangief is more tightly linked to his roots than most men, though. Which is why, after the events of Southtown, he had returned to Russia, and had only really ventured outside of the borders to defend his pride. Usually by cramming Adon's head down a toilet.
Plus, his roots are destroying bears. Nobody likes bears, so it is a form of public service, right?
However, he IS the pride of Russia! The Red Cyclone! He wasn't a hermit, and he wasn't one to retire completely from the public eye, well, ever! Imagine his surprise when he had learned that there was a /little girl/ who wanted to learn more about how to fight like a REAL MAN. Zangief's scorn for the fancy fireballs that Ryu employs- and people who use them- is practically legendary all on its own, so the opportunity to offer his own tutorship to Ryu's long-time pupil is an opportunity that he can't really turn down.
Which is why he has sent back a message to meet at this place. Where is this place? Well, it's a Russian forest, and it is in the middle of nowhere. These are his roots, and there is no other human being for miles around. There is, however, another spectator to the battle to come.
At the moment, Boris the Grizzly Bear is pinned underneath one of Zangief's mighty red boots, you see. The Russian legend has his arms folded across his chest, just standing atop the bear, and waiting for the youth to arrive. Smiling broadly to himself. It was going to be fun to teach someone again!
Sakura had briefly considered going to Rainbow Mika for pro wrestling lessons, but decided against it -- for one, she worried that Mika would be the 'easy mode' compared to the Red Cyclone himself, and for another, she didn't really want to learn how to win fights by ramming a frilly spandex thong into people's grills. So, Sakura has flown to Russia, and made an appointment with Zangief's press secretary to do a big ol' fight with the hulking grappler. Maybe she'll come out the wiser, but that's not what's important -- what's important is pushing herself.
"Man, I didn't think it'd be so cold here," Sakura grouses, thoroughly unprepared for the Russian weather in her flouncy schoolgirl outfit. "How does that guy do it? He's only wearing trunks, and his body hair only covers random patches of his body..." These are the deep musings of Sakura on the ride to the designated fighting ground. She pays the cab driver (a lot, considering that he drove her out to the middle of nowhere) and hops out, looking around and /pointing/ dramatically when she sees Zangief.
"Hey!" Sakura Kasugano cries, "That's animal abuse!"
For a moment, there is absolute silence.
And then Zangief returns the dramatic point, taking a deep breath, his eyes sparkle for a moment, "YOU!" He bellows, at the top of his lungs, as though he was addressing a rival or hated enemy. And then he carries on, as though remembering that there was more that he had to say. "Must be Sakura, hello! I am Zangief, it is very nice to meet you!"
That said, the accusation of animal abuse doesn't seem to really... have bothered him in the least. If he'd even heard it, he makes no real indication of caring. Though he does lean down to pick up the poor animal by the scruff of its neck, hefting the much abused thing to its feet. The bear had learned that resistance only made things worse where this terrifying man was concerned, it was just easier to go with the flow. Besides, he let the bears go sooner or later... to spread the word amongst their kind.
"I've been working on a new move!" He says, by way of explanation. "Now, I want you to tell me what you see is wrong with it."
Yes, Zangief isn't going to waste any time at all. Instead, he takes a firm grip with both hands on the bear, and lifts it up with a grunt. Then, with one mighty heft, he /HURLS/ the unfortunate animal right at Sakura, with a cry of- "BEEEEEEEEEARDOUKEN!" He'd always found it easier to make his point with demonstrations rather than words, which were always so complicated. What point he was trying to make by throwing an angry and confused bear at the schoolgirl? Well... she'd just have to decipher that herself!
COMBATSYS: Zangief has started a fight here.
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Zangief 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zangief
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to slow Huge Thrown Object from Zangief with Large Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zangief
Sakura tenses as Zangief mentions his 'new move,' her brows furrowing into a bit of confusion and skepticism beneath her white headband. This is what he's going to train her with? New moves? Her moment of doubt has its price, though, as before she knows it, a live bear is flying toward her. "What the--" the teen barks, eyes widening in surprise.
Sakura scrambles backward, trying to bring her hands together and release a pulsing blossom of brilliant blue chi to volley the bear back toward its master -- but gravity is quicker, and the bear literally lands right on top of her, burying her in strata of leaves, snow, and soft earth on the forest's floor.
For a long moment, the forest is still, as the bear sits there, probably a bit confused. Eventually, though, the sounds of struggle can be heard, as Sakura tunnels out from the ground, sputtering dirt. "Guhhh--!"
Zangief huhs, scratching his beard as the bear looks up at him with a bemused expression. He missed what happened there. There was a bright flash of light, and then a lot of snow and leaves, and then a confused looking bear. Did Sakura use chi to turn herself into a bear? Did she perhaps explode?! Could that happen?! Could schoolgirls explode when hit by bears?!!?!?!!
Before he can really panic, though, she emerges from the ground, and the large man laughs heartily, "AAAAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, Sakura! You had me worried for a minute there! I thought you might not be made of strong enough stuff to deal with that. Hahah! Well!"
Stomping over towards her, the large man leans down to pick her up, and set her back down on her feet, still smiling bright and cheerful, as though he hadn't just tried to flatten her under a half ton of bear meat.
"Remember, the key to learning, is doing, and then thinking about what you did. So! What did you learn?"
Sakura makes a bit of a face as she's lifted, and immediately sets about fixing her headband when she's set down. "Uh," she says, apparently at a complete loss for how to respond. There's a bit of an awkward pause, before she responds, "Not to agree to meet strangers in the middle of the forest unless I'm sure they're not going to throw a bear at me?"
The teenager then frowns. "Seriously, though, who throws bears at people?! I came here to learn how to wrestle, not dirty tricks! I could have gone to one of those countless kunoichi bimbos for that! Show me what you've /really/ got!" Sakura then demonstrates a wealth of exuberance and a lack of general sense, as she immediately tries to send a strong young fist into the wall of meat that represents Zangief's midsection. "KIYA!"
COMBATSYS: Zangief takes no action.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zangief
COMBATSYS: Zangief endures Sakura's Fierce Punch.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zangief
Zangief laughs again at the indignant outrage she expresses. Apparently very amused by her response. The punch to his gut, though, does actually pack enough force that he feels it. Which is impressive! Very impressive! The mighty Russian does not budge an inch, however. It's rather like a normal person punching a brick wall. He simply takes it, and then he gives his teacherly explanation
"What I intended for you to learn." He says, seriously, no longer laughing after taking the punch, "Is just that! Dirty tricks like throwing things at people... they are only gimmicks! They are not a barrier to a real fighter! SO! I will demonstrate a real technique for you now!"
As he was talking, he'd have been reaching out to grasp Sakura's punching arm. Should he manage to get hold of that, he'll be showing her a move that relies not so much on brute physical force. Although many of his techniques /did/ rely on that, he is a master of grappling in its many forms as well. So she might actually be able to use this stuff, before she built up some awesome muscles of her own (which naturally she would do after being inspired by the mighty Zangief).
Should he have that arm, he'll wrench it up behind her back, and wrap his other arm around her neck. Starting to tug and twist, aiming to cut off her air for as long as possible.
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt Choke Hold from Zangief with Sakura Strangle.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zangief
"GACK!" Sakura is scooped up and hammerlocked -- her arm wrenches behind her back, and a huge bicep tenses against her slim throat. She kicks her tan legs, feet lifted off of the ground, and groans as she struggles in the huge wrestler's grasp. Sakura struggles proudly, though -- twisting her body this way and that, banging her head back and forth.
Finally, she tries to reach up with her free arm and wrap it around Zangief's own neck, to choke him out while he's choking her out. Unfortunately, his grip is so tight -- and so huge -- that she's already having trouble getting air into her lungs, and her efforts are handicapped accordingly, reduced to a bit of flailing and groping at the side of Zangief's neck. "Glughk!"
Zangief is apparently not very impressed with Sakura's effort to get free. He holds on for a few moments longer, as he continues to speak. "The key to getting out of a situation like this is not to panic." He says, calmly. After all, he wasn't the one being choked. He was just getting slapped in the face, which- whilst annoying- wasn't actually very painful.
That said, he lifts up, and simply aims to throw Sakura to the ground. "Strength helps to break those techniques, but you need more! You need to have absolute control, so that you can be slippery enough that no matter how tight I grip, I cannot hold on to you! Like an eel... or a salmon!"
He nods his head, then. Apparently pretty happy with his assessment. Yes, that was how you got to be a good wrestler. By being like a salmon. That's certainly how Zangief got to where he is today.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Zangief's Quick Throw.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zangief
Sakura is thrown -- but has enough wherewithall to tumble in mid-air, landing on her feet rather than on, say, her neck or her brain. "Oof!" she says, tilting forward and hunched over a bit, before drawing herself back up. She frowns at the lessons thus far, considering Zangief's words -- "Wait, you mean like how wrestlers oil themselves up? That's... gross," she notes, voice trailing off a bit as she has a brief daydream sequence:
INSIDE SAKURA'S MIND
Sakura is oiled up, her clothes sticking to her and her blouse nearly translucent, sticking to her sports bra underneath. She is slippery and shiny.
BACK IN THE REAL WORLD
Sakura twitches for a moment as she forces herself not to throw up inside her mouth. "Uh, let's -- get back to that one! First let's see if /wrestling/ can stand up to... /THIS/!" Sakura hops into the air, and then arcs downward in a continuous spin -- one leg jutting out to try and not only sweep Zangief off of his feet, but keep him destabilized through a few more spinning kicks. "SHUNPUU KYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Zangief interrupts Shunpuu Kyaku from Sakura with Banishing Flat.
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Sakura 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zangief
Zangief scratches his beard again, looking more confused than anything else. "Do I look like I am oiled up?" He asks, looking down at his ... well, mostly-naked, hairy, scarred body. He looked a lot of things, but oiled up was not one of them. He has to hand it to her, though, she wasn't giving up easily! That was a spirit that he could admire.
Which means that when she throws down the challenge, he meets it head on. Sakura comes in with her kicking, and Zangief completes a single spin, his fist glowing bright grin as he lets out a loud "HOO-HAH!" The mighty Russian's fist simply... ploughs into the side of Sakura's head, and stops the combo before it could really get started. The kick having just... hit his legs. Unfortunately, he was just too sturdy to unbalance that easily. Though the technique was definitely good...
"I approve of the spinning." He intones, "That helps you a lot, momentum is an important thing not to lose... but I think you need to bulk up a little bit. Look at you! I bet you don't even have any scars!"
Sakura is punched in the side of the head so hard that she spins off in another direction entirely, felling a tree with her Shunpuu Kyaku before she can stop herself. Upon doing so, she staggers a moment, and then just falls over, clutching her skull. It's a half-second before she kicks herself back up, still a little woozy. "That didn't h..." Sakura says, losing track of her sentence and slumping against a tree to catch her breath. "Pain... don't... hurt..."
The girl then shakes her head and seems to regain use of her brain a bit. "I don't need scars! I have /chi/! And you're about to get a taste of it!" Sakura rears back, and then pushes her fists forward, opening her fingers and releasing from her clasped hands a blue fireball that sparks and sizzles as it cuts through the air. "HADOKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Zangief fails to slow Medium Hadouken from Sakura with Huge Thrown Object.
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Sakura 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Zangief
All in all, Boris the Grizzly Bear is having a pretty bad day. This morning, he was beaten senseless by a crazed Russian. This afternoon, he was thrown at a young girl and had to watch in dazed horror as the crazed Russian touched her in all sorts of painful and nasty ways. Boris could only hold out hope that the day would get better from here on out--
Wait, why was he being lifted--!
"BEAAAAARDOUKEN!"
In truth, Zangief was impressed. Not that Sakura was using chi. Or that she was throwing energy at him. Actually, that kind of pissed him off, because only losers use energy attacks like that. But that she got up again, that was impressive. The energy proves strong enough to smash the impromptu hairy missile out of the way, defeating the very latest in Soviet offensive technology, and lifting Zangief bodily off his feet. The large man smashes into a tree, and the tree cracks. His chest hair actually noticeably singed in the aftermath of the blue glow. It takes a moment for him to shake it off. Shaking his head quickly as he lurches forwards on his big red boots.
"BAH!" He roars, "Do you think THAT is enough to stop the RED CYCLONE, /LITTLE GIRL?!/"
"...no, but it definitely felt good!" Sakura replies, the statement mostly bluster because she is inwardly horrified that she just hadoken'd an innocent bear. Still, if she pauses to show concern for the animal, Zangief will just hit her with an Atomic Buster, and she doesn't want to take that chance. "Maybe a taste of your own /wrestling/ medicine might, though!"
Sakura charges forward, running at Zangief full-speed while he lurches. Then, suddenly, she skids to a stop -- and /swings/ a foot up toward the wrestler's midsection, hoping to kick him so hard he hunches over.
From there, it's a simple feat to spin around, take hold of the huge man's thick neck -- and drop her legs out from under her, falling down so that his chin and throat slam into her shoulder.
That's right.
The Stone Cold Stunner.
COMBATSYS: Zangief blocks Sakura's Combo Grapple.
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Sakura 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Zangief
Zangief has seen this move before. It actually annoys him a little bit that she chooses to try and use it on him, as though he didn't know what was coming! Who did she think she was dealing with, here? The nefarious Triple H?! (Haggar Haggar HAGGAR!)
The kick comes in, and his hand comes in to block it, though he does bend down enough to let her grab his neck, the result... is not exactly as impressive as had been hoped, as he simply wrenches himself upright, and Sakura, well... she dangles momentarily from his neck, which is probably not a very comfortable place to be.
"You are using OTHER PEOPLES moves?!" He roars, "Who do you think you are?! Wrestling is about SPIRIT! It is about expressing YOURSELF! Not about trying to rip off someone else! GRARGH! That really MAKES ME ANGRY! WHY would you do that?!"
He's so furious spittle actually accumulates in his beard, his hands balling up into fists and relaxing multiple times, "Grrrrrrgh! Next you'll be trying to steal my Screw Piledriver, like that... that CAPITALIST! POLITICIAN!"
COMBATSYS: Zangief gains composure.
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Sakura 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Zangief
Sakura is left hanging from Zangief's neck, and drops to the ground when he starts roaring, as much because the veins popping from his throat force her arm off as anything else. "Oof!" she says as she lands, tucking into a roll and coming up on her feet. "Well, it's not like I'm a trained wrestler or anything!" she retorts, brushing some leaves out from the inside of her loose, midriff-baring blouse.
"Besides! I've been throwing my moves at you this whole time!" Well, okay, Sakura's moves as filtered through her appropriation of Ryu's style, but, you know, she's got a personal enough take on them. ...right? Sakura doesn't allow herself time to consider this, as she runs forward, and takes to the air, bringing her fist up--
"SAKURA OTOSHI!"
See, that one has her name right in there!
COMBATSYS: Zangief endures Sakura's Sakura Otoshi.
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Sakura 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zangief
Zangief isn't one to let mere facts get in the way of his incoherent fury. For instance, the fact that he had appropriated some of Haggar's own moves into his own style would make one think that he'd accept that wrestlers do, sometimes, take queues from one another in order to build their whole form. Much like directors or artists touching up certain elements of their work in line with industry standards.
That would imply Zangief has thought this through, though. He hasn't.
Zangief's chin is met full force by the punch, and it grinds his teeth together. This, however, is not the time to worry about such things. No, instead, he brings both arms around, and aims to grab hold of the girl before she can hit the ground. If he can manage this, he'll demonstrate his own signature technique. Sure, it might not have his name in it, but it was undeniably the move he was best known for.
Spinning her around, he'd slap her face between his thighs, and leap into the air. Spinning in a glorious motion that would almost be relaxing, were it not for the promise of pain to come. And what pain it is, the might Red Cyclone channels every scrap of power he's got into the final movement, fully intending to break the ground using the handy medium of Sakura's skull. *crunch*
COMBATSYS: Zangief successfully hits Sakura with Screw Piledriver.
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Sakura 1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0 Zangief
Sakura Kasugano: human drill bit.
When Zangief releases her from the brutal Screw Piledriver, she is suspended upside-down for a long moment, legs quaking, her skirt hanging halfway to her ears. Which are beneath the earth. Her head has been plunged beneath the ground, and she wobbles like a cartoon character or a lawn dart, before gravity takes hold of her body and she pitches onto her back, head rising through the dirt, the girl left coughing and sputtering.
"Gahh... guhh... hhh... huh..." Sakura rasps, rising once more, dirt matted into her hair. "Okay... you... you... you asked... asked for it..."
Then, weakly, Sakura plods forward, slowly gaining speed until she's in a full-bore run -- and then she spins, surging upward with a succession of powerful uppercuts -- the most potent technique in her arsenal, the feared...
"MIDARE ZAKURA!"
COMBATSYS: Zangief blocks Sakura's Midare Zakura EX.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Zangief
Zangief raises an eyebrow. Alright, so, he was impressed that she was still getting up- not many people her age would, that's for certain- but was she really going to try and plough through him with fists? She got definite points for style, but his response is simple. Crossing his arms over his body, the girl hammers away at him. Though the repeated impacts raise red patches on his arms, and he skids back a step defending himself, he's still very much standing there when it is all over.
"You have a lot of spirit!" He decides, after it is all done. "But! You DEFINITELY need to bulk up some more if you want to be a threat with those techniques. Which you could be, you have some spunk! Haha! Now, dosvedanya, Sakura!"
With that, he aims to scoop the girl up, and /leap/ through the air. If he manages it, he'll be slamming Sakura bodily into the waiting, unconscious, slightly singed form of the unfortunate bear who had suffered so much already. Because, it seemed to him at least, that it might as well serve as a decent pillow to rest on if it was going to lazily fall unconscious so early in the match!
COMBATSYS: Zangief successfully hits Sakura with Flying Powerbomb.
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Sakura 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Zangief
Sakura is helpless to the advances of the burly Soviet as she's flipped up -- the last thing she feels, before hitting the ground like a meteor, is the wind whipping through her shaggy, short hair. "Whoaaa--!"
Then: Kaboom.
The earth moves and ripples from Sakura's impact, the bear beneath her being driven into the ground. The shock of impact ripples up through its bulk and into her, sufficient to knock her unconscious.
Has Sakura learned anything? Possibly. If nothing else, she knows she sucks against skilled wrestlers now. Or, rather, she will know it, whenever she wakes up.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
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Zangief 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
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Zangief 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zangief has ended the fight here.
Log created on 12:33:42 10/10/2009 by Sakura, and last modified on 15:46:34 10/10/2009.