Description: Takuma and Lee answer Gen's demand for a nighttime spar - portents are discussed, as is Sakazaki's foolishness. Blood is spilled in honor of the new tournament.
The invitation was simple, dignified. A spar in the streets of the oldest part of Chinatown, midnight. A meeting of masters and minds. Two others received notes from Gen's messenger pidgeon - Lee Pai Long, anD Takuma Sakazaki. A precisely drawn, black-inked map points them to just the right part of the windy alleyways, if they were wondering. It's a park, now in the midst of dilapidated, mostly-abandoned old business/apartment buildings. A single tree stands in the middle of a broken-down, circular stone wall with a sizable expanse of still-thriving grass and wildflowers. The tree's leaves are red and gold and browning, drifting through the air in moonlit hues as the wind rustles down through the somber city's streets.
Gen himself waits in the center of that park, underneath the stalwart, gnarled old tree. Both hands are hidden in their opposite sleeve, sunglasses covering the old man's eyes despite the unlit streets, the dark green-clad kung-fu master waiting silently, thoughtfully, in the darkness.
This is the third time Gen has invited Takuma out for sparring. The Kyokugen patriarch received his letter some few hours ago - 10 PM - but as one might expect of one who is very probably responsible for the rash of 'Mr. Karate' assault crimes, Takuma Sakazaki does not keep the best sleeping schedule. Within moments he has left the Kyokugen Dojo in the very capable hands of its students and Marco - a taxi rolls out of the Dojo's lot, destination Chinatown.
It rolls up to the mouth of one of the small alleyways leading into the dilapidated park - a treasure amongst an otherwise forgotten section of town - and Sakazaki leaves it in bare feet, clad in his summer gi despite increasingly chilly weather. Those present in the copse would hear his footsteps long before seeing him; heavy, evenly spaced footfalls announce his presence far better than sight might. Before long he's spotted Gen - wizened eyes narrow grimly, and Sakazaki's mouth sets into a characteristic, discerning frown.
He is standing ten feet from the Chinese elder. Wind whaps at his hair - a leaf nestles in it, disturbing an otherwise perfect part.
"You look like a damn fool with those glasses on. It's too dark for those."
Our friend is correct Gen," a strongly accented Chinese voice calls out from the shadow of the facing alleyway. "Are you experiencing light sensitivity? I may have something for that back at the shop," Lee Pai Long calls out cheerfully as he walks toward the park, his gait is slightly stooped, but strong; that of an old man in good health. Lee is dressed in a simple white robe and brown tunic, his aged yet handsomely intellectual face is un-masked, save for a pair of small wire-frame glasses. "Good evening Sakazaki, the weather is quite nice compared to the last time we met, is it not?"
"Is it?" Gen inquires, removing the shades from blank, pupiless eyes. "I see." He just got a bit absent-minded, that's all. The sunglasses disappear, and Gen pushes off the tree, stepping out to face his two friends in the breezy moonlight. The legendary assassin seems unconcerned by this apparent oversight, however, instead arching one eyebrow from Takuma, towards Lee, "I thought you might want a better look at what we're really dealing with for King of Fighters, Sakazaki. Besides, as bad as things have gotten... it's well past time we spoke of what this might mean."
The chosen battleground is a study in cycles and struggles, offering many different symbols depending on what one looks for. "A friendly contest seemed the best way to resolve exactly what is necessary. I do not go to this invitational simply to face down other 'contestants', Sakazaki." Gen steps away from the tree, then back in towards it, each of his fingertips thrumming against the tree trunk. With a resounding, rumbling rustle, leaves aplenty fall from the tree's shaking limbs, blanketing the elder master's path as he raises claw-handed grips towards Takuma and Lee, "Both of you are ready to keep up, yes?"
COMBATSYS: Gen has started a fight here as a boss!
GEN
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0|---------------|---------------
"Gorgeous, Long." Takuma has yet to glance towards the other man, and his tone is curt, formal. Wounds take time to heal, even when the stagnation's been dealt with. His focus is more appropriately centered on -Gen-, brow furrowed. Arms cross over his chest in a manner that is rather obviously intended to segue easily into a battle-ready position - one foot slides backwards to present Gen with Sakazaki's profile.
He flinches at the sudden deluge of leaves - yet more slap him in the face, batter at his hair. He remains stoic.
"Can't be so serious that we need to act like we're 25 again. We're there to give the kids an example of what hard work gets them. This bullshit about there being something 'between the lines'??" Takuma pulls his arms free, and abruptly balls his hands into fists. He's ready.
"I don't buy it. You're gonna have to give me a few -very- convincing arguments!! Hah!"
COMBATSYS: Takuma has joined the fight here.
GEN
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0|---------------|---------------
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|
FART
Lee raises a thoughtful hand to his chin as Gen and Takuma speak, content to hold his thoughts for a moment as the two argue about the philosophy behind their involvement in the upcoming tournament. When the question of readiness to fight arises, Lee only has one answer windmilling his arms in front of his body fluidly, Lee lifts his front leg off of the ground and holds a pose with his arms outstretched toward his sparring partners. *SNIKT* Two sets of sharp metal claws deploy from the old man's sleeves before retracting slowly back into the depths of his robe as the old Chinese assassin grins.
"Hmph. You're a man of many talents, Sakazaki. With strength that almost matches your volume." Gen steps forward lightly, leaves blowing out of his path as he advances along the dim park towards the wall, hopping up atop the crumbling stone and walking deftly, now without disturbing a pebble. "But seeing what's beyond your face too often eludes you. Power has been upset, balance, Takuma. Lucky for you, all you really have to accomplish is paying attention and punching things." Something that the elder assassin seems to think is right up Takuma's alley, really.
"Show them we're not actually going downhill, something they aren't expecting... you know it's possible, moreso /now/ than in capricious youth!" Gen twists, balancing loosely on one foot's toes and stretching a leg around lithely, "Ah, yes. Lee... not as accomplished as you, Sakazaki - not yet. But he has the right idea." A gesture from Gen invites action, at least to the fellow who knows him best.
COMBATSYS: Gen takes no action.
GEN
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0|---------------|---------------
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Takuma 0/-------/-------|
Gen's question invites a train of insight that Takuma quite frequently avoids - he doesn't need it. Why so ambivalent to the world's impending peril? Why so intent on teaching the youth? Why is he satisfied right now, with Ryo in charge of the Dojo in his absence? Why is he absolutely certain that Ryo should be at this King of Fighters more than Takuma himsel-- A shake of the head, a hardening of the eyes. These things aren't important. Sakazaki reaffirms his stance, rolls a shoulder, and regards Lee once more.
"Looks like we're finally getting down to some damned business. And Gen --" A shake of the head - power begins to accumulate around Sakazaki, while a grin touches to his face, eager, derisive in a familiar, competitive fashion. Chi, profound, deep, begins to coalesce into his right hand, now extended. He brings that arm back, eyes wide.
"I don't deal in riddles. We're men. What're you trying to say?" Polite for Sakazaki, especially considering the sudden step foward and *THRUST* of that right arm, the sudden, violent force that sends settled leaves fluttering furiously to the side, bisected down the middle as though by an act of God.
It is, at its basest, a nonverbal expression of 'Play serious if you want to talk serious'.
Sakazaki glances at Lee, nods to Gen. "You planning to in on this, Lee?? Or are you gonna start acting like this is some cheesy movie, too? Is this some weird Chinaman thing?"
COMBATSYS: Lee has joined the fight here.
GEN
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0|---------------|---------------
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Takuma 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Lee
A small smile raises to Pai Long's thin scholarly lips Takuma questions his intentions. "And just which Chinamen do you think those cheesy movies were based on Sakazaki?" he asks with a chuckle before breaking in at a sprint toward Gen even as the ball of chi soars toward the Triad leader. Leaping through the air with a front flip, Lee's claws extend as he twists over Gen's head and he slashes toward the old man's shoulders, attempting to rend cloth and flesh beneath.
COMBATSYS: Lee successfully hits Gen with Power Strike.
Glancing Blow
GEN
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0|---------------|---------------
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Takuma 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Lee
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Gen with Ko'ou Ken.
GEN
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0|---------------|-------------==
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Takuma 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Lee
COMBATSYS: Gen has joined the fight here in the center.
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Takuma 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|------=
"If you do not like the uncertain... then all I can tell you is to wait and see, Sakazaki. I brought you here to cement that alliance, and offer further help." Something that's demonstrated, after a fashion. Lee's sudden descending claw draws Gen out of his reverie, a line of shallow gashes drug along one shoulder as he hops off the dilapidated wall, narrowly avoiding harsher pain. An arm aligns, square with Takuma's burst of energy.. but the golden explosion rushes through him, knocks him back, back pressing hard into the side of an abandoned house, its sagging balcony overlooking the clearing and its tree.
"I think you'll see how Lee Pai Long might add much needed specialization to Oyaji Team, Sakazaki." The bloodied assassin observes, pushing himself back up from a little ditch one knee drug in the dirt, and suddenly sprinting in at Takuma, planting both legs into a wide stance, and hammering a closed fist from high to low, its path more akin to the reaving slam of a very large rock, hand vhhhooshing deeply through the air between masters.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Takuma with Kyoutetsu.
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-----==
Long isn't the only one allowing himself a little, victorious smile. Sakazaki's fireball explodes into Gen's side, doubtless doing some significant damage to the older master, and he steps back, reasserting his stance, bringing that outstretched arm back in a simple, windmilling movement.
It's nice to see people fall off of their high horses.
"Lee Pai Long? Is -that- his whole name? Mouthful." Sakazaki's tone is less insulting than his words - he regards Lee in an assessing fashion. "He mentioned something about helping out in the Tournament. I've been wanting to see him at his best. That Syndicate mess..." A slow shake of Takuma's head. He frowns. "That must've been a fluke. Ryo was barely out of his colored belts."
Gen is SPRINTING towards Takuma. Sakazaki is alerted to this at the last second by means of a helpful clatter of rapid, spry footfalls against cobblestones. His reaction comes too little, too late - an attempt to run /into/ Gen's downward chop leaves Takuma meeting it before he's adequately prepared, and the blow batters into him before momentum might carry /him/ through /it/. It sends Sakazaki to a knee, one arm on his shoulder, grunting.
"Nngh! You're done acting like this is a damned movie, then??" Takuma hasn't stopped moving - he's rotating, bringing his foot around in a lethal, practiced sweeping-kick.
Miles from here, a pupil at the Kyokugen Dojo has been waxing the kitchen with a rag tied to his inner calf for the last two hours. If he could see Takuma in this moment, that training would make -considerably- more sense.
"In China, we use belt to hold up pants," Lee says helpfully, his mouth raised into a mischievous grin; perched on the stone wall that Gen had just vacated. Reaching behind his back, Pai Long removes a gold and silver monkey god mask with green accents as if by magic and slips it over his face. "Kee kee!" Lee screeches happily as his dignified scholarly personality begins to slightly give way to that of the trickster whose face his mask mimics.
"Even the strongest arm cannot slow the boulder of fate, you should know this Sakazaki! Kee!" Lee's piercing black eyes watch the combatants as they exchange brutal blows from behind the mask's slits; small windows of steely focus piercing through the comical guise.
COMBATSYS: Lee calculates his next move.
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-----==
COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Takuma's Light Kick.
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-----==
"The avalanche has already begun." Gen observes on the tail of Lee's words, as his squared elbow collides solidly, reverberating through the park as Takuma's kick meets it. Yes, this is a friendly spar for the three old men. "It is too late for the boulders to cast their /vote/." Pushing off the descending defense, knee and elbow absorbing the impact as his surprisingly lithe frame suffuses with refreshed energy, Gen seeks to quite literally push off Sakazaki's face and springboard clear of the Kyokugen master.
Of course, it's not a polite motion - singular foot kicks out from singular leg in a singular snap kick that rockets his heel square for the center of Takuma's rugged features, with enough force to, ideally, stagger Sakazaki - and propell the legendary assassin into a graceful backflip.
COMBATSYS: Takuma endures Gen's Light Kick.
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-----==
Dimly, Takuma is well aware that Gen is probably alluding to something. It rankles him - if Saishu were here, Gen would undoubtedly be eating the business end of an Orochinagi complete with a sprinkling of uncalled-for mirth. This is not the case, however, and Takuma is treated to a slippered foot slamming into his face, sending him *TUMBLING* backwards roughly enough to crack the copse's worn cobblestone paving. Presumably, Takuma would fall on his ass, lie on the ground, and feel like a proper fool.
He's not about to give Gen that satisfaction. With one frustrated glance towards Long - what is Long DOING over there??! - Takuma gets to his feet and, just as Gen is coming down from that graceful backflip, rushes the elder.
Sakazaki's fast - he's got one arm pulled back in a habitual preparation for one *massive* haymaker - and Gen's likely going to hear the heavy pound of his opponent's feet chasing after him soon enough to be completely unsurprised at the faceful of Takuma he'll be receiving upon landing. Ideally, not -too- surprised:
This would prevent Takuma from setting hands on Gen's shoulders, leaping into the Chinese assassin's face, and battering the hell out of his nose with a multiple-kneeing.
"LONG! Are you going to do anything, or sit there and laugh??!"
Takuma's frustrated plea causes another round of piercing laughter from the old Chinese monkey man. "Yee HEE hee hee... don't be so impatient Sakazaki! We are old men, remember?" he replies with a chortle as the surprisingly limber old doctor leaps from the stone wall and catches one of the branches of the tree at the center of the small park.
Swinging around the branch once like the namesake of his mask, Lee Pai Long plants his feet and leaps toward Gen as Takuma lunges for his friend to introduce him to the knees that Lee now knows so well. Sailing over Gen's head, Lee attemps to lash out with his trailing foot as he passes by to strike the old man in the back of the head even as Takuma's knee could very well be pummeling the front. Sorry Gen! Lee has just the poultice for this back at the shop if you end up needing it!
COMBATSYS: Lee successfully hits Gen with Kashira Sai Kyaku.
- Power hit! -
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Takuma 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|----===
COMBATSYS: Gen parries Takuma's Shouran Kyaku!
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Takuma 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|---====
"All things come to those who wait for their... GHRKH!!!" Gen suddenly goes groundward as Lee does acrobatics off his own skull, drawing a hearty, cheerful - if pained guffaw from his oldest friend. Yes, a chuckle, despite the fact that Takuma's knee -is- crashing in from the front at nearly the same instant. The only difference is, while Lee's keen sense of timing tickles Gen's funnybone, he's back on his game - and then some - before attention even visibly returns to Takuma.
The elder assassin lands gently atop Sakazaki's knee at the height of its extension, perching there for one lingering, frozen moment before he leaps forward, snapping both feet for Takuma's skull. One would snap in from both sides, and there would be an abrupt twist. And then, Gen foresees himself riding Takuma's fall to the street, where he will land, harshly atop the Kyokugen master's face. "You two will barely get to know one another like this!" He barks out too cheerfully. Possibly while hopping off of Sakazaki.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Takuma with Shuuga EX.
- Power hit! -
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Takuma 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-======
For whatever reason, Takuma is just -not reading Gen- properly. Maybe there is some truth to the crazy Chinese mystic's rambling. Maybe Lee is a damning presence! Maybe the moon is full, which (if you ask Sakazaki) gives crazy people much more power than usual. Maybe Takuma is just off of his g-
*GRUNKT* is the sound of Sakazaki's skull hitting pavement. It isn't a pretty sound, but the impression of head against concrete isn't pretty, either. Briefly, Takuma flutters into and out of consciousness.
"Hmmp. Mmp!!" The Kyokugen master's talent is not primarily in simple karate - he can take hits like this, life-ending hits, and -keep going-. It helps to have somebody you are uniquely furious with. Right now, Lee Pai Long is that person.
"LONG!" Takuma's sliding out from between Gen's ankles, pulling himself to his feet. He's already falling into an easy, thundering run towards the sprier man.
"Gonna knock those damn proverbs out of your mouth! I shouldn't be the only one dealing with this shit, understand??" A strong, blunt right cross marks the beginning of a prolonged assault on Lee Pai Long - Takuma, if he hits with that first strike, will fall into a blindingly fast, expertly-executed flurry of elbows, waist-kicks, knees, and jabs. At its very end, he sends Lee -flying- with a hopping uppercut, hops backwards, and extends one arm in a brutal, claw-fingered thrust.
Briefly, everything in a mile radius feels less -vivid-.
Three enormous, yellow-tinged fireballs streak from Sakazaki's outstretched hand, one after another, all seeking to juggle Long before he lands.
COMBATSYS: Lee dodges Takuma's Ryuuko Ranbu.
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Takuma 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-======
"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow, Sakazaki," Lee warns Takuma as the man bull rushes, blinded by rage. The monkey man remains motionless as Takuma streaks toward him, waiting until the very second his punch is about to graze Pai Long's monkey mask before spinning aside and letting the punch narrowly miss. "For he who seeks vengeance must dig two graves: one for his enemy and one for himself," Lee continues, ducking low to avoid an elbow and back-flipping to avoid a kick.
"But take heart Sakazaki," Lee continues leaping straight up into the boughs of the tree as the three immense yellow fireballs streak forward. "...Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up." Leaping out of the tree moments before the fireballs reduce the once proud maple to toothpicks, Lee extends his leg in the form of a jump kick and dives down toward Sakazaki as he recovers from his potent, yet ultimately ineffective assault.
In all fairness, Gen does make something of a habit of being very, very difficult to pin down. "You see what I'm saying, about the tournament at /least/, right Sakazaki?" After all... Lee's kind of putting on one hell of a bloody display out here. "It's going to take more than you and I, and I haven't even seen that fool Saishu come down out of his neighborhood watch tower long enough to consider joining up." As Lee momentarily turns his agile performance on Takuma, Gen observes the battlefield in a ready stance, shoulders shaking loosely with silent laughter.
"Ahhh... a moment's midirection, ends a half-century's growth." Gen shakes his head sadly, bowing it once towards the splintered tree. The elder assassin does not immediately move on either of the others, allowing the a moment to dance unmolested. The blank-eyed old master instead moves towards the center of the park, stooping to pick up several dried leaves and breathing a deep, steadying breath that seems to reverberate at is fills his lungs, and is expelled. Fallen leaves rushing outwards in a sweeping breeze. "I think Takuma may need some of your balm, my serpentine friend."
COMBATSYS: Gen gains composure.
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Takuma 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|--=====
COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Kachou Takeshi Ashi Kasane from Lee with Mouko Burai Gan.
- Power hit! -
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Takuma 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|--=====
It's not precisely the same thing, but God if Takuma is not spurred out of his wheezing, disbelieving stupor by the sudden descent of Lee Pai Long. It's not enough that the skinny, monkeyish Chinaman went and -dodged his best attack-, or made him look foolish - no! He's coming down out of the used-to-be tree, foot lancing downwards in an arc-like motion that is -disturbingl----
YEARS EARLIER: Takuma Sakazaki frowns at his newly maligned Kyokugen Dojo sign, and frowns even further at the pair of baggy kendo pants marking the perpetrator's escape.
ANOTHER TIME: Takuma Sakazaki frowns at the graffiti on his newly maligned Cadillac. He frowns even further at the resounding, rat-like laugh echoing from the nearby shrubs.
IN THE VERY BEGINNING: Takuma Sakazaki puts his fist directly through Ryuhaku Todoh's signature, double-handed arc of a Kasane Ate.
NOW: "I!" Lee's foot is -GRABBED- by a newly enraged Sakazaki. "HATE!" With great effort, Takuma puts his right fist into Lee's back, and immediately collapses to a knee, panting, labored.
"THAT ATTah- ooh. Ah. Ooh. Let's take a moment, here. I..." A hand moves to Takuma's back - he winces. "I might need to take a turn in the hot tub when I get back... yeah. Do you boys have a hot tub, or do you want to use mine?" Takuma may or may not have heard Gen. For the moment, his back is on fire.
Monkey-mask shielded eyes widen as Takuma reaches up and plucks Lee out of the air like a child picking an apple out of a tree. "Gyaaah!" the elderly man cries out as he is yanked around and has a giant meaty fist planted into the small of his back. Scrambling across the ground and wincing as he clutches at his back, Lee Pai Long lets loose a long string of curses in Mandarin as he reaches into his robe and draws out a small unmarked tub of some sort of home made salve.
The curses keep on coming as Lee furiously works the pungent smelling ointment into his back until the burning sensation begins to dull the pain. "Hnng..." Lee moans as he pushes himself to his feet and hobbles back and forth a few ginger steps. "Sheyaaa that hurt... you hit like an ox cart Sakazaki," Lee mutters, his voice slightly muffled by his mask as his old lungs attempt to chase down his breath.
COMBATSYS: Lee gains composure.
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|--=====
"The ox! yes! You see it, now? It is like I said!" Gen is by far the most elated about this turn of events, and the only one not currently gasping for breath or choking on their own lungs. In fact, the elder assassin looks... a hell of a lot better than he did a few moments before, apparently happy to walk off the beating Lee and Takuma put on him, to help his old buddy Lee. Suddenly. The oldest of the old men is just standing there next to the Triad boss, stroking his long, stark white beard.
Then, he's seeking to clap the White Dragon on his back. Over, and over, and over and over and... you get the idea, "Walk it off, White Dragon!" Gen chuckles gleefully, "Good lord Sakazaki, is your ashthma kicking up again? This is standard training from now on, until you can both /obliterate/ me in single combat!" The challenge comes, plainly stated!
Takuma is not nearly as sardonic when he is suffering an acutely compressed lower back. The Sakazaki patriarch drops to a knee, grimacing, and shakes his head for a moment, trying to clear it. Something. Anything! "Ghn... no, Gen -- you must've shaken something back into being irritating with that last slam into the ground." His breaths deepen, both in scope and breadth, and Takuma manages to twist at his waist in such a fashion that an explosive *CRACK* rips through the copse.
He collapses to a sitting position. "Lee." Takuma fixes Lee with a concerned expression. "What the -hell- are you rubbing into yourself? It smells..." His nose wrinkles. Briefly, Takuma recalls the casserole Yuri prepared a week ago. He blanches, but recovers smoothly. Leans back.
"Be up in a second, you two boys go on without me~"
COMBATSYS: Takuma drops his guard to recover.
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|--=====
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Lee with Rapid Grapple.
-*- DEVASTATING HIT! -*-
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|-======
Lee glances at the small glass jar and shrugs, "Let's see, Duan e Huanglian, Ginseng, Ma-Huang, both White and Red Peony, fermented ox urine, aaaand ginger, for taste, of course. Plus a few other ingredients that I'd rather no- GYAA!" Pai Long cries out as he is basically chopped down to the ground by Gen as his back is turned. Crumpled down to his knees, Lee wearily reaches up to his face and whips his mask off in frustration.
"Walk it off, I may never walk again you old goat," he mutters at his old friend Gen as he proves himself wrong by pushing himself up to his feet. "And we may not have time left for that amount of training. I probably only have another 50, 60 good years left in me!" The elderly man complains mirthlessly. "But if that's what you're looking for, then so be it!" Lee Pai Long mutters as his claws spring from their sheaths. "SHINKUU KUUTEN TSUME!" Lee shrieks as he leaps toward Gen and spins like a top with with claws extended and fiery orange chi exploding outward from his body. A violent painful top.
COMBATSYS: Lee successfully hits Gen with Shinkuu Kuuten Tsumeu.
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Takuma 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Lee
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Gen 0|-------|=======
"Works wonders for bruised or inflamed muscle, I'll tell you." Gen augments Lee's ingredients list with his unqualified endorsement of the product, "Some of his teas are really.. otherwordly, as well." The blank-eyed master is only partially distracted as he pummels Lee Pai Long down towards the ground via the too-enthusiastic backslaps, but it's enough for the opportunistic clawfighter to catch his counterpart off guard, the fiery cyclone of blades and chi slicing into him repeatedly before he's thrown clear. There's an attempt at a laugh, that fades quickly to a 'Grrrnkh.'
Still, Gen is on his feet in a moment, giving Takuma his moment's rest in favor of thrusting two fingers at Lee. The thing of that is, however, each thrust leaves lingering, dark afterimages in the air, each thrust is precisely aligned for a different pressure point or energy crossroads on Lee's body. The way he knows chemistry - Gen understands the anatomy of a strike. It's almost impossible to say how many times he strikes in that half-second, but Lee's entire body would be aflame with the assault for long, lingering moments afterwards.
'Fermented Ox Urine' has Takuma looking up, alarmed. He's dimly aware that the two other men have been referring to him as some kind of ox, and it is not hard to make the connections. "--Hey--.." It's forgotten, however, as Lee leaps overtop Takuma's head, shrieking, -spinning-, and otherwise setting the Kyokugen patriarch to a show of jaw-dropped staring. This staring continues on as Lee mauls Gen, but by the time both men are finished, Sakazaki's taken the opportunity to -get back to his feet-.
To say the least, he's kind of surprised. Gen, at the very least, should have ---
Maybe the two are trying to show him something after all.
"Alright... alright." Takuma settles into a more relaxed, disciplined stance - he watches the two other men fight, for now. He's paying close, clear attention.
"Gen, Lee. What do you two know about this upcoming tournament? I believe you, I suppose. You wouldn't've let me sit on my ass, otherwise."
COMBATSYS: Takuma focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Takuma 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Lee
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Lee with Shitenshuu.
~ Cruel hit! ~
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Takuma 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Lee
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-------
Lee knows all too well what is about to happen as Gen's fingers strike toward him; he has seen all too many lesser men fall dead from the assassin's dreaded touch. Pai Long's first instinct is to dodge out of the way of the simple looking strikes, but it is no use. He is too depleted, his old legs have begun to feel their age.
Clenching his eyes shut as the deadly series of strikes hit crucial pressure points on his body, throwing off the precious flow of chi that connects his head to the heavens and his feet to mother earth below, the White Dragon attempts to harness the pool of energy that still resides in his old and battered form, fanning the flame of energy within to try and counteract the draining blockage with which Gen's expert strikes had infected him. "Hnnnnnnn!" Lee intones as he staggers backwards cannibalizing his own chi to try and reconnect himself to the universe. Hopefully this strategy works, the old doctor can sense that he only has a mere few moments of consciousness left.
COMBATSYS: Lee gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Takuma 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Lee
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-------
Lee's chakras are left to devour him whole, even as he gathers massive amounts of raw power to his struggling body. Gen's attention shifts to Takuma, blank eyes narrowing on the once more prepared Sakazaki patriarch. "I know that we are..." He breathes deeply, "Will be prepared for it. That something is not right, is spiralling out of control with the world... that concentration of power, it will be a target. The way Taizhou was. Perhaps worse."
"I know we need to be at our /best/, not just 'good enough.'" The elder assassin paces around Takuma for a moment, then flips up, disappearing into the shadows. Gen 'lands' sideways on a second story balcony's base and rail, kicking off into a sharp, descending flip that hurls him in at Takuma feet first, arms crossed over his chest as he rockets out of the night.
COMBATSYS: Takuma blocks Gen's Ouga.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Takuma 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Lee
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|---====
Chakras and Chinese gobbledygook are not things Takuma cares overmuch about - while Lee closes his eyes and focuses, Sakazaki is keenly aware that the slight man is preparing for -something-. He can feel the Earth pulling to Lee, feel the power flowing from core to core. He also knows Lee won't be doing anything for the next few moments - it brings his attention to Gen.
"You're going to mention something about ley-lines, aren't you." Somebody mentioned ley-lines to Takuma once - he did not understand, and has been forever frustrated by their existence and apparent importance. He'd be even more frustrated if he knew how much they had to do with chi - and even -more- frustrated if he understood that right now, with Lee pulling that energy up towards him, Sakazaki might just be standing -near- one. It's the reason this energy comes so naturally to him. It is the reason that he knows - in his heart - that he is capable of ending this fight right now. It might in fact be what both Chinese men needed to see in the first place.
"Whatever the case - let's finish this!! I've got a cab waiting out front, he knows to pick us up! Show me your best, Gen!! Show me the world ending - I want you to -kick my ass!-" Chi rockets from chest to fingertips on either side of Sakazaki, and with that prompting the man lifts his arms - one towards Gen, the other towards Lee. "Lee! Show me your game face! If we've got to go out there and save the damn world, this is the way we're signing our pact, right here! Nothing says trust more than knowing you damn near killed a man, and let him do the same to y-"
akuma's voice is drowned out - violent eruptions of chi - two of them, this time, and only two - leave Sakazaki's outstretched hands to send a double-dose of chi-laden impact towards either of his opponents. His utterance has turned into screaming, but even that is lost against the sudden din of displaced atmosphere.
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Lee with Triple Haohshokoken+.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Takuma 0/-------/----===|=======\=======\1 Lee
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|---====
COMBATSYS: Gen endures Takuma's Triple Haohshokoken+.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Takuma 0/-------/----===|=======\=======\1 Lee
[ |||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-======
Lee's breathing and heartbeat finally begins to slow to normal as his pumped up chi levels begin to smooth out the blockages in his chakras like a log rolling over tall grass. "Good... good..." Pai Long mutters to himself as he brings his attention around to Takuma just in time to see the huge fireballs flying toward their targets; himself unfortunate enough to be one of them!
"Not good!" Lee screeches as the huge ball of fiery energy slams into him, obliterating his outer tunic and sending him slamming backwards into the old wall; the impact of his smallish body managing to knock some of the stones loose.
"Kreeow... That... hurt..." Lee coughs, as black dots swirl in his vision. Only one thing left to do. Hopping up on the wall behind him, Long leaps up on top of what is left of the old tree in the center of their fighting arena. "Hyaaaaaaaaa!" Lee screeches as he somersaults toward Gen with his claws extended, spinning quickly end over end like a buzz-saw blazing with fiery orange chi as he zeros in on his target.
COMBATSYS: Lee can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Takuma 0/-------/----===|
[ |||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-======
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Lee's Kachou Hi Mashizume EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Takuma 0/-------/----===|
[ |||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-======
Faced with the sudden roiling fireballs that make up Takuma's ultimate HAOH SHO KO KEN, Gen does what most sane people wouldn't be caught dead doing. He charges full on into the damn thing. Shoulder and elbow crash into the first, the blast ripping through him, battering muscle and bone as he leaps up, flips over, and /lands on/ the next. Slamming down hard in the midst of it, a rumbling wave trembles outwards, bits of wall falling apart, bits of tree left alive smouldering, shaking. Gen's hand draws in at his side, and he does not answer Takuma's arguments... at least not with verbal debate of his own.
Under that flaming roll goes Gen, leaving Lee to crash through his assault in the dark afterimages of Gen's motion. Under, and forward - straight for Sakazaki. His right hand leads the assault, lashing out at the last possible moment, a stroke difficult for most to track. Fingers thrum a quick, precise pattern, aiming for the area around Takuma's heart. It's a brutal drumbeat of death, meant to rupture the heart itself, to leave a warrior bleeding out his last gasping breaths.
Tonight, the legendary assassin leaves off that last, reverberating touch, not that that makes the assault at all /gentle/.
COMBATSYS: Takuma Toughs Out Gen's Zan'ei!!
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Takuma 1/----===/=======|
[ |||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-------
At the end of his ultimate technique, Takuma's vision is blurry - his mind is weary, his body crying out for sleep. The Haoh Sho Ko Ken was not -meant- to be used three times, much less four, and really, Takuma should be on the ground with Long at this point. He's already in the process of sinking to a knee, but that just -can't happen-, can it, Gen. Though his vision is darkened, blurry, Sakazaki is not without a unique sort of focus. He feels -his- chi disrupted by Gen's aura.
When he should be fainting, he looks up, expression twisted, furious. "You..." Sakazaki's already getting to his feet, lightning fast, imbued with the last remnants of the pure, earthen chi that inspired his prior attack. He is -more- than Takuma Sakazaki at this moment, and that, utterly, is the only reason he is capable of moving.
Amidst a backdrop of battered cityscape, destroyed trees, and crumbling buildings, Gen's fingers find their mark, and Takuma is aware that however briefly, his heart has stopped. That would be the end of things, if it were just Takuma next to Gen.
Instead, Gen finds himself presented with a right cross to the face, potent, strong, laden with earthen force. A rapid flurry of kicks, elbows, knees, jabs. A devastating, short-hop of an uppercut to send him skyward, and finally, to finish it, one -inspired- Haoh Sho Ko Ken to carry the assassin home. It is the last of the energy that suffuses Takuma, and the last thing that keeps him alive, keeps him conscious.
It is a matter of character that has Takuma's heart beating by the time he hits the ground - some men don't die so easily. But they do know when they're done.
COMBATSYS: Takuma knocks away Takuma with Ryuuko Ranbu!
[ <
Takuma 1/------=/=======|
[ |||||||||| ]
Gen 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: Takuma successfully hits Gen with Ryuuko Ranbu.
[ <
Takuma 1/------=/=======|
[ ]
Gen 0|-------|----===
COMBATSYS: Gen can no longer fight.
[ <
Takuma 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Takuma counters Hyakurenkou from Gen with Kosatsu Jin.
COMBATSYS: Takuma can no longer fight.
Log created on 00:00:48 11/02/2010 by Gen, and last modified on 23:48:07 11/08/2010.