Description: A quest for Shermie's Christmas present leads our anti-heroes, CYS bandmates Yashiro Nanakase and Justin "Chris" Beiber, to Masters Stadium and a challenge to the newly returned to battle Ken Masters. How many Shoryukens will Ken hit them with? How many creepy vibes will Chris spread? Will Yashiro ever remember what the hell he was supposed to be doing here? Who cares? Triumph or die!
Normally, the Masters Arena would be packed with people, even if it were to watch some random fighter getting in some much needed training, however only a handful of reporters and cameramen litter the stands, broadcasting reports about the upcoming exibition match between Ken Masters and Zangief. This is all well and great, except for the fact for the past fifteen minutes, Ken has repeatedly ignored requests for interviews, and has remained in a handstand using the tips of his fingers in the ring.
Small beads of sweat have already formed upon Ken's brow as he drops down from the handstand, neatly rolling into a position to begin doing a series of pushups, this time only using his thumbs to lift his body. When he announced that he was 'back' to the media, it sure as hell seems that he meant it, and is using some much needed time away from the company and his dojo as time to train his body, and get himself back into peak performance, only to continue forward and push past his near-legendary limits.
*** YESTERDAY ***
Quirking one manly eyebrow, the famous and popular and handsome and great Yashiro looks up from his guitar -- he plays guitar, right? He's holding one right now, anyway -- and looks up at the hot babe who he lets hang out around him. On his left hand, his pet hawk ruffles its feathers. That's right. He has a pet hawk. It's canon.
"So, Shermie, what do you want for Christmas?"
His voice is low and disinterested. He and she both know that Shermie has so much money. It is almost all the money. There's not much he can get for her.
"Hmmm~. I heard that Ken Masters is fighting again."
Yashiro suddenly feels as though he has made a mistake.
"You know," she continues idly, "I have not yet received a King of Fighters invitation myself. But I bet Mr. Masters will have, now."
Yashiro clears his throat, a bed of sweat appearing on his brow. "Uh..."
"Be a darling and go beat up Ken Masters, will you?"
*** RIGHT NOW ***
"And so I said to her," the tall and muscular and powerful and white-haired (?) and great Yashiro Nanakase is saying to his shorter and infinitely less manly and non-heart-choker-wearing companion, "I said to her, Justin, 'Sure, whatever, babe, like, who cares? If you really /want/ me to take Chris along, I'll do it, but I'd rather fight him myself.' She insisted, though." His tone remains even. He doesn't seem to actually be making much of an effort to deceive his companion as he strolls into Masters Arena, looking around at the currently empty space. "Tch. Where's he hiding? I thought he was hanging around here, training, looking for challengers. He's probably slacking off."
Sighing, already bored, Yashiro squints and rubs the back of his head.
"HEY! KEN MASTERS! FIGHT US, AND GIVE US YOUR KING OF FIGHTERS INVITE!"
He pauses for about half a second.
"Well, he's not here. Let's go."
Yashiro is arrogant, not stupid.
"I need to go... polish my hawk."
*** THE PAST FEW WEEKS ***
The past few weeks have been a cloudy time for Chris, our young Swedish drummer/tween idol extraordinaire. It's the sort of thing that shows on his face, if only imperceptibly; the tiny bags beneath his typically bright eyes, the droop to his shoulders. The media hears it as "the trouble with studying for tests", but tests don't drain quite like this.
*** YESTERDAY ***
Chris was in his room the entire time Yashiro and Shermie were flirt/manipulating with each other. Flirtipulating. It sounds dirtier than it is. Occasionally one or the other might hear some high-pitched, swoony singing and rhythmic stomping from the younger CYS member's direction, but nobody had checked on it.
*** TODAY ***
Chris' latest YouTube submission, "Babe, Can I Borrow Your Conditioner?" has reached seven million views. He knows this, because he's looking it up on his cellphone while he and Yashiro walk into Masters Arena. It's the reason his face lights up while Yashiro is babbling on about whatever he was doing with Shermie.
"Ahuh, so..."
The two walk past a maintenance hallway by the entrance to the Arena proper. An elderly man happens to spy the both of them - his eyes widen upon sight of Chris, but before weathered, chapped old lips might split to decry whatever the geezer sees, he collapses to the ground, heart in some form of distress.
It puts the arriving duo in front of a backdrop of panicking individuals, and *quite* effectively isolates them, at least for the time being. Chris doesn't really give a shit; he's putting his phone away now, scanning the Arena with wide, impressionable eyes. Then Yashiro's up and *YELLING*.
"Agh! Jeez!! Y-- y'don't think he's still in his dressing room?" Chris shrugs, thoughtless. "I mean, he might be putting on his makeup, or something. You've seen his eyebrows, right?"
A slight glance is given towards Yashiro as he demands a fight with him, only to continue doing pushups. "I'm sorry, but I don't do interviews, especially with bad musicians. Of course, if you contact my secretary, she might be able to set up an appointment with one of our more enthusiastic staff members." He grins slightly at Yashiro, only to push himself off the ground and land on his feet neatly. "So, you came here to challange me when I'm obviously in the middle of training, so you can get an invite I may or may not actually have? I.. kind of figured that they reserved those for people who are a bit more serious about fighting.. Then again.. Sure. I've got time. I'll take you both on if you really want." Ken moves to the side of the ring and reaches down to pick up a small towel and bottle of water, dabbing his forehead with the towel, and taking a drink from the bottle.
"Oh, man, he's here," Yashiro mutters, under his breath.
/Over/ his breath, the hulking pop star crosses his arms and immediately snaps back, "I tried to contact your secretary, but she fainted as soon as she heard my voice." Nanakase's tone remains low and disinterested, though something about the mild tension in his stance suggests he is not so impreturbable. He's vaguely intimidated, and he really doesn't like being intimidated. He's not used to it. This is a guy who lives with /Chris/, after all. Who isn't creeped out by Chris? "Needless to say, I couldn't very well let her talk to Justin." He idly gestures to the boy by his side. "At that rate, we'd hospitalize her."
Yashiro is really hoping Ken's secretary is not a man right now.
"Serious? I'm very serious. Seriously powerful." The long-legged man grins wolfishly, a sudden display that does not fully reach his eyes. "I'm just so busy. You must know how it is. And the invite's not for me. It's for a lady friend."
Chuckling, Yashiro waves a hand dismissively.
"I've already got my invite."
This is a lie.
"Why don't we just get this over with?"
Strolling into the center of the arena, Yashiro abruptly flips and promptly lands in a handstand -- a one-handed handstand. Then he does some one-handed handstand push-ups. It looks totally ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as his outfit. But just /look/ at those /abs/.
Eventually, once he ceases to marvel at how great and powerful he is -- the best way to forget that he's vaguely unsettled -- Yashiro flips back to his feet. "Come on, Justin," he murmurs. "We'll go see the butterflies after this."
COMBATSYS: Yashiro has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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Yashiro 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Yashiro
COMBATSYS: Chris has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chris
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/-------|
Chris knows damn well that Ken is here.
Ken can tell this because Chris has been -staring- at him ever since he'd decided to show his face. This isn't the sort of stare that begets notions of flirtation, admiration, or disbelief - this is the sort of thing reserved for career stalkers, cats, or blind people who really don't know any better. It's the sort of thing that persists despite Yashiro's loudmouthing and showboating; it's the sort of thing that suggests there are other, more pertinent conversations to be had. It falls apart pretty quickly when Yashiro mentions th-
"Butterflies??! I didn't even bring my net, jerk! Why didn't you tell me before we got in the bus??" Distraction broken, Chris jogs into the arena a few steps behind Yashiro, surprisingly nimble despite his ridiculously heavy shoes which is all sorts of a nod to an otherworldly presence: for one, why would he buy them in the first place?
Nonetheless, he takes up a position sort of kind of *behind* Yashiro; from around the brute's immaculate chiseled abs, Ken might see the a single, peeking blue eye, a pair of nervously extending and closing fingers.
"Alright, get 'im, Yashiro! Slap the dye out of his hair!"
Ken grins slightly at the two, only to reach down once more and grab his sparring gloves, quickly slipping them on. "Try not to hold back on me then." He climbs back into the ring, only to have a popping sound emit from his neck as he starts to roll his head to the side. It seems that after his match with Alma, Ken's truly starting to rediscover just what it is he truly loves to do...
It doesn't take long for the American Martial Arts champion to slip into his stance, gently swaying his body back and forth, eyes fully trained on the two opponents before him. "Dye? This is all natural." Of course, he doesn't waste any time now that the both of them are in the ring. He suddenly rushes forward towards Yashiro, turning his attention onto him directly as he unleashes a fierce punch towards the man's face.
COMBATSYS: Yashiro endures Ken's Fierce Punch.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/----===|
Yashiro's grin widens.
"Natural?"
And as Ken's fist flies toward him--
"Baby, I'm supernatural."
He drives his forehead forward, headbutting the punch.
Yashiro's hair is presumably supernatural, too.
Needless to say, that hurt a hell of a lot more than Yashiro would like to admit. In fact, that was incredibly reckless and ridiculous. But as anticipated, not only does the pain steel Yashiro's nerves, it starts to piss him off, and getting pissed off has always been a useful supplement to Yashiro's fighting style. A fighting style that could easily be described as What Yashiro Does When He Gets Pissed Off.
"I'll tear you apart!!"
Roaring mightily, if only to encourage poor Chris a little, the hulking star dashes forward, spinning into a mighty kick with one shockingly long leg, aiming to hammer it into Ken's side and tear through his defenses, and then rushing into a wild haymaker to clobber the all-natural king of American martial arts right in the face.
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Yashiro's Missile Might Bash.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/-----==|
Chris says, "+OOC Like it probably wasn't mentioned because it's really, truly not a huge deal."
Chris generally spends time behind Yashiro when he's scared or worried. It's got a lot more to do with how Yashiro is decidedly brick-like than any sort of comfort or security Yashiro provides Chris. This is, at least, what Chris will wind up telling his friends or fight critiquers on any given day. In fact, it's *BECAUSE* of those critiques that our young pop sensation is about to---
Latch onto Yashiro's beltloops once Yashiro starts screaming. It's a lot like the world's dumbest bull-ride, wherein the cowboy weighs half of the bull's weight and is really in a shitty position to begin with, so ultimately just winds up flailing around in the air behind said bull, BUT...!
Chris is better at riding Yashiro than even the best cowboy might profess.
In fact, seconds before the taller man lurches forward and catapults his foot towards Ken's body, Chris *THROWS* himself beneath Yashiro's extending leg, hitting the ground on his knees and *SLIDING* over that Arena floor like some kind of Michael Jackson superstar.
"HE'LL TEAR YOU APART~~~!! Hah!" Chris maintains a cherubic tone despite the very non-cherubic fist he's curled his fingers into, and the very non-cherubic trajectory of said fist: Namely, he's launching his hand straight into Ken's groin during that flyby slide-through. LOOK OUT, KEN.
The moment Yashiro bullrushes towards Ken, the blonde dynamo leaps backwards neatly out of his range, continuing to take a few more steps back, a grin slowly growing on his face. "Whoo. Just barely missed me." He grins at the white-haired wannabe, motioning towards him with his left hand. "Come on."
Of course, Ken doesn't even miss a beat as he brings his hands to his left side, a blue ball of energy suddenly springing to life between them. Simple, effective, and capable of really messing someones day up.
"Hadouken!"
Of course, the moment he brings his hands forward to launch the projectile of pain, Chris decides that this would be a great time to leave his mount, and try to do one of the more dishonorable things one can in a fight. This is a no-no, and Ken merely lets loose the fireball, casually noticing that its on a direct course for Chris and that oh-so-perfect hairdo the teen sensation tries to maintain.
COMBATSYS: Ken fails to interrupt Quick Punch from Chris with Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ken 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/-----==|
At least Yashiro got the moral victory.
Vicariously.
Or whatever.
"Ha ha ha!" the hulking star sympathizes. "Right in the Master Balls." Then Yashiro bites his lip, realizing he has once again revealed his deep, dark, abiding Pokemon obsession.
The point is, if there's any way to stop Masters from unleashing one of his famous techniques, it appears to be hitting him right in the chi engines. Yashiro's not going to do that, even though, let's face it, he's super duper pissed that Ken avoided his manly assault. It is decidedly unmanly to avoid attacks. That's why Yashiro never does so. (Sometimes, he does so.) "Get over here, Masters!" he roars, lunging from the side to grab Ken by the arm while he is, uh, recovering, and Chris slides to safety.
He wouldn't be so uncouth as to follow up by also hitting Ken in the nads. But he will attempt to wrench the Ansatsuken master's arm hard enough to hurl him to the ground, and potentially expose him to whatever upcoming strike Chris has /next/ in store. It might be a song. If it's a song, Yashiro will hold Ken's arm in place, and make sure he can't cover his ear.
"Aiy-uh-" Briefly, Chris feels the raw *connection* one feels with another man, especially when punching him in the balls. This is disrupted, entirely, by the blue glow between Ken's hands. It's what puts the fear of God in young Chris' otherwise perfectly adorable face. By the time he's realized what's going on, Masters is thrusting all kinds of ultracompact chi at him; it's all Chris can do to lean *waaaaaaaaay* back, absurdly flexible for somebody his age. His head's practically touching the ground.
"ERK!" Presumably bits of Masters Stadium arena floor erupt not even a full inch from the back of Chris' head; he continues shrieking forth across that arena floor, scrambling for some sort of purchase, some way to regain his inertia! He finds it in a desperate kick that brings him from "shooting forward" to "breakdancing", and ultimately winds up in a totally sweet-looking three-point position, eyes narrowed, attention on Yashiro and Ken.
"Yeah, Yashiro!! I softened 'im up for you, so... let 'er rip! Tell him I'll hit him in the balls again if he doesn't give us that invitation!"
COMBATSYS: Chris focuses on his next action.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Yashiro successfully hits Ken with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/----===|
Oh, hello Mister Fist, how are you? Wait Mister Fist? What are you doing? You're not supposed to go there. That's a painful place Mister Fist. Mister Fist, you have now just opened up a world of hurt upon yourself.
The look on Ken's face will explain a thousand things to Chris, especially as Yashiro manages to yank him through the air, slamming him into the ground. Of course, as Yashiro tries to pin him to the ground, this causes Ken to turn his 'gaze' towards the poor white-haired pop-idol. His free arm suddenly launches towards Yashiro's face, aiming directly towards that oh-so-perfect nose of his.
COMBATSYS: Yashiro blocks Ken's Aggressive Strike.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/---====|
Not in the face! Not in the f-- oh, right, Yashiro defended against the last attack /with/ his face. Okay, scratch that. Still, the mighty man has learned his lesson, to whit, that Ken Masters has the mightier fist. He swiftly releases Ken after throwing him, noticing that, actually, Chris isn't going to follow up in any way whatsoever -- whatever, dude -- and is thereby able to bring up his guard in time, parrying Ken's fierce strike with a slight grin. "Hang in there!" he chuckles. "I want a good story for when I--"
Even as his other fist is plunging down, aiming to slam into Ken's chest before the American champion can roll aside in a swift counter-blow, Yashiro is blinking, his brow furrowing slightly.
--do--"
If his fist happens to miss, it will most certainly plunge into the floor, whereupon, trapped, the muscular star will continue to contemplate his circumstances.
"--the thing I came here to do."
Okay, he's totally already forgotten what he was doing here.
Fights do that to him.
Also, he really didn't care that much.
A few things happen here. For one, Chris is getting to his feet with all the grace of a savant; his eyes first widen at the sight of Ken's palpable *rage*, but irritation quickly overtakes respect once Yashiro starts doing the thing he always, always, always does.
--------
LOLLAPALOOZA AFTERPARTY, 2009: The Dallas Cowgirls have asked Yashiro to sign their chests. A sharpie lies on the floor, forgotten, while Yashiro pushes a critical fan's head into the toilet.
BONNAROO AFTERPARTY, 2009: Once again, the Dallas Cowgirls have asked Yashiro to sign their chests. Once again, a sharpie lies on the floor, forgotten, while Yashiro pushes a music critic's head into the refrigerator.
WARPED TOUR AFTERPARTY, 2009: Yashiro enjoys a chamblis and discusses the future of modern music with a gaggle of interested fans.
TEN MINUTES LATER: The fans are forgotten while the Dallas Cowgirls request to have their chest signed for the third time this year, but they too are forgotten when somebody attempts to dis CYS again. The toilet is clogged for the rest of the night.
--------
And now, Yashiro is *forgetting* *Chris*. "HEY! I ASKED YOU TO TELL HIM!" Chris is *running* forward; he's very quick about this. In under a second he's cleared the space between himself and Masters/Yashiro, more a blur than anything else; by the time he arrives, he's vaulting into an impromptu somersault, foot lifted high over his form in a momentum-aided axe-kick that should impact not even a full second after Yashiro's own Jet Counter - ideally it'll land on Masters' chest.
"Leave Yashiro alone!!! He gets... distracted!"
COMBATSYS: Yashiro successfully hits Ken with Jet Counter.
- Power hit! -
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Ken 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Chris' Reverse Anchor Kick.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/--=====|
Pain, this is pain, and this is something that truly gets Ken Masters fired up. There is a brief moment where Ken actually thinks these two have the upper hand, then he remembers something very important. He survived fighting Akuma, and he's grown a lot since then. These two are no Akuma, and thusly they must be soundly beaten. He winces slightly as he rolls himself away from Yashiro, only to barely miss Chris' axe-kick a split-second later. Of course, this puts him into a prime position as he rolls to a crouching position, he starts to grin as his right fist suddenly bursting to life as if a fire were set on it. He suddenly launches himself upward towards Chris, aiming square for the pretty-boys jaw with his most famed attack. "SHORYUKEN!"
Uhhhh, that looks bad.
"Whoops."
Yashiro was so satisfied by the sensation of his punch totally hammering home on Ken's chest that he's a little slow on the whole Ken Has Just Rolled Out Of The Way And Is Now Fire-Uppercutting Your Little Buddy uptake. Squinting, he rises to his considerable full height as the attack goes underway.
"Good luck there, Justin."
But even if he can't take the shot for Chris this time, he'll be there for the kid, as he has been. Whatever the aftermath, he'll be lunging at Ken right quick, presumably aiming to tag him on the descent as he rears back and plunges yet another raging haymaker in the Ansatsuken warrior's general direction. If he makes contact, he'll drag Ken to the ground and slam him there, even as he braces himself for any possible counterattack -- and thereby makes himself a decent shield against which Chris might hide again. Sort of making up for what's happening right now.
Sort of.
But how can you be mad at a guy with a heart choker?
COMBATSYS: Chris blocks Ken's Shoryuken.
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Ken 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/--=====|
----------------------------<Paste from Chris>-----------------------------
COMBATSYS: Chris blocks Ken's Shoryuken.
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Ken 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/--=====|
---------------------------<Paste to Red Arena>----------------------------
When that flaming uppercut slaps into Chris' hastily upraised arms, a few things happen. 1: Chris endures significant pain to his forearms, which will develop into long-lasting bruises that will cost hundreds of dollars worth of foundation to mask properly. Eventually this trauma will contribute to late-age osteoporosis and a full crippling of Chris' physique. 2: Every eleven-to-fifteen year old girl the world over feels an incredible pain in their forearms. Nobody can explain it. More than a few mothers and fathers are dubious of this, and more than a few boyfriends are villified.
Chris *does* skitter back several yards, heavy-booted feet digging poignant furrows into the Masters' Arena floor, eventually contributing to the way he simply falls the hell over when he's finished streaking backwards. While other fourteen year-olds might collapse from the pain, the flames licking into nonexistance along their arms, Chris is better than this. Chris is getting to his feet, in fact.
"It's still garbage, when you look at what his rival's done with it. Who cares about an overdone uppercut?? Tired old bags should just give it up and go home, where it's safe." His tone - has softened. There's a touch of understanding there, perhaps the slightest bit of mercy. His face is gaunt, though that *smile* is everpresent.
And then he's gone.
A blue streak flitters through the twin furrows he'd left in his recoil - less than a foot from Ken, that streak fades into visibility in the form of Chris, arm extended, legs unmoving, palm thrust into the older fighter's hipbone. He's not looking - his eyes are closed - but his lips *are* moving.
In the distance, the man suffering his heart attack shows a turn for the worse. The paramedics are baffled.
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Chris' Slide Touch.
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Ken 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Yashiro successfully hits Ken with Lever Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/-======|
As Ken starts to come down to the ground, he suddenly feels Yashiro's wild haymaker suddenly plant itself into his side, causing him to wince visibly in pain, considering he still hasn't fully healed from his last fight with Alma. As he's drug down, he barely has enough time to lower his arm to block Chris' next attack, which causes him to once more wince. The moment his feet touch the ground however, he's suddenly gritting his teeth as he launches himself upwards once again.
Ken's body suddenly starts to spin rapidly as he extends his right leg, causing a surge of air to propel beneath him, moving to strike both Chris and Yashiro with another of his well known attacks. "TATSUMAKI SENPUU KYAKU!!"
COMBATSYS: Yashiro blocks Ken's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/=======|
Okay, that's a little terrifying.
"Whup!" Yashiro Nanakase is a large man, a very large man, a manly large manly man, and those spinning kicks still drive him back with their sheer intensity. He grits his teeth and braces himself, his expensive shoes skidding across the floor of the arena despite his best efforts. Even his heart choker cannot protect him -- at least, not completely.
"Alright, my arms hurt," he announces, sounding as though vengeful anger and a certain fundamental indifference are warring deep within him. Sort of a subdued and listless, limp-wristed war, though, like hipsters trying to out-obscure each other with indie music sub-sub-genres. Yashiro, however, is hardly so apathetic. Instead, he takes advantage of his absurdly long legs, lashing out with a decidedly not-hipster violent shout and aiming to powerfully slice Ken's legs out from under him as soon as the guy lands -- which he has to eventually, right? -- with a fierce sweep kick.
COMBATSYS: Chris dodges Ken's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/=======|
It's not like Chris is good at DODGING or anything, but when he's this close to Ken, and Ken is lurching into a wind-whipping Hurricane Kick - well. Ken might feel the unusually silky, flowy fabric of Chris' shirt, even impact the lowest of his rbis. Beyond that, though -- nothing. The Swedish drummer has disappeared, presumably doing something ridiculous to get out of the way.
Ordinarily, this would certainly be the case, but for now there are OTHER factors dictating Chris' behavior, his demeanor. Chilly stoicism freezes the youth's expression into an unsurprised mask - even as he vaults through the air, past Ken's head, he is unsurprised and perhaps more concernedly -uncaring-. Numerous right feet pass through the air just beneath his inverted head, and even as he's airborne, Chris manages to lash out.
Specifically, he tucks into a tight roll, bringing his feet downwards, twisting his hips so that those heavy-soled boots impact *firmly* with Ken's oh-so-vulnerable skull. Heels impact, knees extend, and Chris ensures that he's more using Masters' head as a springboard than a target, but this doesn't mean the damage isn't done.
"Yashiro!! Don't embarass Shermie now, you hear??! She gets so angry!"
COMBATSYS: Yashiro successfully hits Ken with Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Chris' Glider Stamp.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
As Ken lands, he suddenly notices that the angle of the room is changing as his feet are brought out from beneath him, causing him to lose his breath as he slams hard into the ground for a moment. Of course, the blonde dynamo doesn't have time to sit there and catch his breath, especially since he's got Chris coming right towards him. He quickly rolls to the side, causing the youth to land squarely in the ring and not his face which is a rather relieving thing for Ken.
This isn't a good scenerio for Ken, especially since he's feeling the sting now, glancing quickly between Chris and Yashiro, only to nod his head as he suddenly darts forward, swinging his leg towards Chris' side with a medium kick.
Hey, it worked.
But Yashiro doesn't have time to be smug about it. --Okay, he has time to be a /little/ smug about it. There's always time to be a /little/ smug. But as soon as a moment passes, Ken is lashing out at poor Justin.
"Little buddy!"
The hulking New Face throws up his hands, aghast, as Ken Masters goes for, of all people, the fighter /not/ wearing a heart choker. What is this? Did Yashiro forget to mention he has a pet hawk? How could he be ignored? But he's... he's so...
"Hang in there!"
...tall.
Letting one arm fall limply to his side -- it still hurts -- he shakes the other vigorously in Chris's general direction. Fighting is cool at all, but he /really/ wishes he could remember why he showed up here in the first place.
This /always/ happens.
COMBATSYS: Yashiro assists Chris.
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Ken 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Chris dodges Ken's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
'Little buddy!' Sure, Yashiro's helping Chris out of a bind that might, objectively, end his short-lived life, but Chris isn't worried about things like that right now. Even as Ken launches towards him like some kind of tightly-coiled spring let loose, Chris is pulling to the side, barely managing to hit an *extremely* awkward lunge-dodge to the side. Near-death unnoticed, Chris narrows eyes at Yashiro.
Little buddy??
"HEY! I'm getting taller! I can't hit any high notes anymore, either! I'll be able to beat -you- up any day of the week, jerk!" Whatever had mulled Chris' mind earlier has since left; he's more focused on perceived slights than anything el---
"..! Holy sh-" SUDDENLY: Chris realizes that Ken has just launched past him, wholly intending to kill or at least maim the drummer. The Swede claps a hand over his mouth, eyes wide. He's not about to go -there-; he knows what language is allowed and what language isn't. It still leaves Ken to be dealt with; howling, Chris lurches into the air in a expertly-executed somersault-jump; at its apex, he unfurls a leg to bring one heavy-shoed foot *CRASHING* down on Ken's lunging form.
"Take this, loser!"
COMBATSYS: Ken interrupts Heavy Kick from Chris with Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
Ken's eyes narrow as Yashiro leaps in the way of his kick, only to drop down in a crouch as Chris rushes towards him. He waits and bides his time for that perfect moment to strike, his right fist once again coming to life with flames dancing upon it. It doesn't take long as the teen sensation brings down what would have been a beautiful axe-kick to anyone else, but to Ken? This is his chance.
The trap is sprung as Ken suddenly launches himself upwards as Chris' leg glances off his left arm. Thankfully however for Ken, no momentum is lost as he brings the fist up along the teenager's chest, drawing up along it until it is positioned right beneath its final destination -- Chris' Jaw.
Hi Mister Jaw! This is Mister Shoryuken, you two will be the bestest of friends.
"Ha ha ha!"
Yashiro is really sympathetic to Chris's viewpoint.
"The last time you beat me at anything was at Dance Dance Revolution," he chortles to himself, before pausing, his eyes suddenly narrowing, as he remembers 1) that was five hours ago and 2) he was really pissed off about that. "I demand a rematch, by the way. Furthermore-- ooh."
That didn't look so good.
"As much as I'd like to exchange witty banter about how one of your balls may or may not have dropped, Justin," Nanakase grumbles as he rises to his full height, stalking toward Ken. "I'm going to have to kick this guy's ass for kicking your ass. Huuuoh!" And you know a sound like that means trouble. He lunges at Ken from behind as the man lands from his savage blow and, aiming to thoroughly unbalance him with his greater mass, he hopes to hurl Masters to the floor of the arena once more, spraying chunks of stone everywhere.
"Give me... your... give me..."
Grimacing, he reaches up with his other hand to tap his temple.
"I almost have it."
"Hulp!!" That's the sound Chris makes. It's the least manly imaginable, considering it's managed to hit the highly-esteemed contra-soprano range. Contra-soprano is a weapon unto itself, really, but when combined with the particular -spectrum- that pained, jaw-breaking sounds happen to accomodate, various awful things can happen.
For one, all of the windows in Masters Stadium just, like, *explode*. For another, Chris' eyes bug out of his head, and his jaw goes *sideways*. There's a particularly sickening crack that echoes throughout the room, and truly, he's gone flying in the worst of ways; the youth hits the far walls of the arena, back-first, before fading INTO them, utterly ruined, exquisitely ended.
He's not really *saying* anything so much as he's trying to breathe through a suddenly compromised airway; he hangs there, embedded in the wall, for at least a minute or two. Just long enough to get his bearings.
TOMORROW'S HEADLINE: MASTERS ABUSES INTERNATIONAL CHILD STAR
COMBATSYS: Chris gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Yashiro successfully hits Ken with Hatchet Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/------=/=======|
There's a slight ringing in Ken's ears as he makes Chris hit the very octave most singers can only dream of hitting, making him slightly proud at this fact. That is of course until he lands on the ground and is finding himself being tackled by Yashiro. The moment he strikes the ground however, Ken's hands suddenly fly forward to grab ahold of Yashiro, trying to force the freak off of him, and flying away with extra momemtum and strength.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Yashiro with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ken 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/--=====/=======|
Who's a freak!?
"Urgh!"
Yashiro grunts in pain, frustration, and overall irritation as he finds his flinging resulting in some unfortunate flungingness of his own, soon finding his own grapple countered as the tall man is hurled back toward the ground himself. Shaking the stars out of his head, he snarls at Masters from his prone position. "How am I supposed to remember what I came here for," he snaps, scrabbling for a largish chunk of rock, "if you hit me on the head!?"
And, just to make his point, he throws said chunk of rock directly at Ken's head. Now you'll know how it feels.
"...give me your... lunch money? No..."
Chris comes to - his face is ablaze in searing pain, but he's nothing if not plucky.
J-14 ANNUAL POLL RESULTS: JUSTIN BIEBER VOTED 'PLUCKIEST HUNK' OF 2010!
Bright blue eyes regard the distant Ken Masters, and slightly lest distant Yashiro Nanakase - Chris pulls a grimacing frown out of *somewhere*, and winds up lurching out from that hole-in-the-wall he's created. He closes the distance between himself and Masters as noisily as possible; namely, he's reminding Yashiro about their purpose.
"Yashiro!! We're getting an invitation, remember??? It's for Shermie! You wouldn't shut up about it! We're supposed to take this schmuck out and grab his invite! Just..." Chris pales. "Look out for that uppercut, OK?" How can Chris talk despite a dislocated jaw?? It's got nothing to do with fighting.
He's an --==INTERNATIONAL POP SENSATION==--.
Just like that Chris is shooting forward again, arm and hand extended, angled for Ken's right buttcheek.
LOOK OUT, KEN.
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Yashiro's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ken 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Chris successfully hits Ken with Slide Touch.
[ \\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ken 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/--=====/=======|
Ken's really out of practice, especially as he easily dodges the rock that's flung at his head, rolling to the side and climbing slowly to his feet. There's a faint pant from the man as he's feeling his vision blur slightly, only to feel himself being hit in yet another inappropriate place. That's twice now Chris has touched no-no parts, and like Sonic the Hedgehog says, 'If someone touches you in a place you don't like, That's no good.'
The Blonde Dynamo suddenly spins around, ducking his body down as he waits for Chris to make the mistake of climbing back to his feet, which the boy will do, and once he does, he'll find a punch being aimed straight for his midsection, which only then trails upwards towards the boys already broken jaw, only to be followed by a flurry of powerful kicks. Once is all said and done however, Ken is ducking down once more, this time allowing all of his reserve energy to cause a brilliant flame to burst to life upon his fist, rocketing upwards again towards Chris' jaw, spiraling high into the air with trails of flames following him. "SHINRYUU KEN!!!"
Oh. My. God.
Yashiro's snaps his fingers, glancing away momentarily.
"That's /right/," he exclaims suddenly, his eyes gazing into the distance. "The /invitation/. Thanks, Justin, I don't know what I'd do with-- ooh."
Why does this always happen?
"I'M COMIN', LITTLE BUDDY!"
Does he say that despite the fact that Chris dislikes it, or because he does. The world will never know. (But it can guess.) For in the midst of it all, of all the flame and destruction, Yashiro is hurling himself toward danger, his fist drawing back and seeming to pulse with energy. "Noooooooo!" he shouts, and sounds vaguely as though he is trying to sound like himself in slow-motion. In fact, he is moving quite quickly, but it is not nearly quickly enough to save Chris before everything goes to crap.
You're on your own, kid. Good luck.
If it's any consolation, Yashiro seems to find all this very entertaining.
COMBATSYS: Chris effortlessly dodges Ken's Shinryuu Ken+.
[ \\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Chris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Yashiro 0/-------/---====|
It is pretty entertaining, seeing Chris at the point-end of a barbeque spit with his name on it. Yashiro will doubtless be telling stories to Shermie when they get back, but that isn't important! What's important is that Chris' very *life* flashes before his pain-filled eyes. Briefly, he sees images of the Teen Choice Awards he'll never visit, of the various cute girls he'll never get to make awkward, expectant demands of. He sees Shermie, unable to receive his biting wit when she finally does decide to show interest in boys that are more than handsome faces to her. Chris realizes, perhaps now more than ever, that he is about to die.
He also realizes that Ken's fist is about the size of his face. It is perhaps *this* that inspires the youth's full-bodied lunge to the side; Chris hits the arena floor roughly, hip-first. His shirt catches aflame, composed of silk and other flimsy fabrics - Chris doesn't seem to notice. In fact, he's rising to his feet, sprinting from that arena as though he were an Olympian competing in the 100 meter dash.
"YASHIRO, he's all yours!!! I'm gonna go get fixed up at the bus!" Spongebob is on. Chris doesn't miss his Spongebob.
The old man Chris had inadvertently sent into a heart attack is finally making a recovery - life returns to his face, and weary eyes flutter open. They immediately widen, as memory of what initiated the old man's heart attack comes to mind - just as he's about to speak, though, a fast-moving Swedish boy kicks him in the head with one absurdly heavy boot.
"OH, FUCK!" Swearing's OK when you hit old people.
The old man falls unconscious, to lapse into a coma. In a month's time, he will emerge to remember nothing of this situation. More importantly, Chris is long-gone, presumably seeing the band's doctor about his jaw.
COMBATSYS: Chris has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Yashiro
COMBATSYS: Ken interrupts Final Impact from Yashiro with Shoryuken.
- Power hit! -
[ \ < > ////// ]
Ken 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Yashiro
COMBATSYS: Ken can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ <
Yashiro 1/------=/=======|
Ken winces slightly as he misses Chris entirely, watching the kid flee the arena with speed that olympic runners dream of reaching. Of course, this isn't to say that he's out of the red just yet, as he still has Yashiro to deal with, and as he lands on the ground, he prepares himself for the worst as he puts every last ounce of energy he has behind his fist, causing it to spark to life one last time for him. As Yashiro draws close enough, Ken is unleashing another fullforce Shoryuken at the man, only to the impact of a pulsating fist full of energy slamming into his side.
Oh.
So that's how it feels.
This occurs belatedly to Yashiro, on the other side of the arena.
Cradled in a crater of stone around him, he raises one hand into the air, only to feel it slump beside him limply, as though it belonged to somebody else.
"...J... Justin...?"
Where did Chris go?
"Wh... What am I... doing here?"
Who's going to remind him what he was on about!?
Oh, well.
It's time for... a little rest.
COMBATSYS: Yashiro takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Yashiro can no longer fight.
Log created on 23:28:14 12/21/2010 by Yashiro, and last modified on 04:54:18 12/22/2010.