Description: Gedo High is a place where you don't have to look too hard to find kids who feel that they've been abandoned by society. The perfect candidates for recruitment into a variety of unsavory causes. And when it comes to bad causes, Rolento has got plenty of experience. But Hayato has plenty of experience in being a mentor to troubled kids, and he's not hesitant to get his hands dirty (or bloody) if the situation calls for it.
Despite the fact that he only works for one school, Hayato Nekketsu has a pretty good relationship with students at all the Southtown schools. Well, maybe not /quite/ so much with Seijyun. They call him /uncouth/?! How harsh. But in general he's pretty well liked and/or respected. And part of that is because of all the time he puts in to help kids out, even if they don't go to Taiyo. Although at Gedo, at least, that may be second to the fact that he is quite willing and able to kick some ass if he thinks you deserve, AND he'll turn you over to Daigo afterwards.
Gedo is really a lot calmer than it used to be, though, back before Daigo came into power. And the streets around it are more or less safe to walk. More or less. Most of the remaining violence is students establishing a pecking order, but there's always some people who just don't want to get in line.
And so Hayato continues to make regular trips to the area, walking the streets and keeping an eye on things. Maybe chatting with some students who are hanging out, getting the word on the street. And today he's noticing that some of the less savory hangouts seem to be deserted. That's probably not a good sign; might mean somebody is up to something.
Gedo; the premier place in this city where those who failed the system are dumped. Teachers and faculty treat them more as inmates with a stay, trying to keep them under control until they move on. Rehabilitation is a fancy word only used in politics, and everyone knows the truth of those that dwell within. However, Rolento has long known of the unnatural strength of this city's youth and upcoming fighters. And the stoic monolith of Gedo has long stood in his way. But with the omnipresent non-graduate busy, he can speak with a number of surly looking students on the way home. He stands out sharply with his tan uniform and beret, but the laughs and mockery has shifted to silence as his pitch was leveraged. Rolento is an incredibly charismatic man of powerful personality, something easily forgotten. A life of power, wealth, purpose, and training is not so alien to the right sort of people.
A black briefcase is held up, and opened. Within is countless bundles of money, crisp and uncirculated. Eyes all widen in tandem towards it. "Funds I have an excess of. It is soldiers that I need. You do not have to wish to change the world. Merely walk my path, and find your own...!" Oh yes. A lot of people are on the hook.
Not everybody is into what Rolento is selling, although most are willing to kill some time with the unusual distraction. And some find him more convincing as he goes on... there are others, though, who have been whipped into shape by the likes of Daigo, and some of them don't have any interest in listening to the spiel. It's a pair of these types who are spotted by Hayato, and he stops by for a brief chat. Even 'reformed' as they are, if this was just a regular teacher, they probably wouldn't have anything to say. But it's Hayato. And even if they felt like holding out on him, well, letting him know what's going on has the chance to become interesting.
After listening for a few moments a frown crosses Hayato's face, and he gets some directions. He quickly heads off down the indicated street. After a few moments of discussion the two students grin at each other and then follow. They didn't have any plans for the afternoon anyway, so why not watch the fireworks?
Meanwhile, the crowd continues to listen to Rolento. But eventually there's a bit of a commotion from the back of the crowd, which quickly moves forward. And with his height, it's not long before Hayato can be seen pushing steadily through toward the front of the crowd. "All right, all right, what's going on here?"
Rolento is not trying to convert everyone here. Such would be an impossible feat, even with his orator skills. But even a few is worth more then his briefcase. They can be reconditioned, brianwashed, evolved, the moment they enter his personal system. And they are rather a lot more valuable then basic chaff from third world countries. Yet it seems even if Daigo is indisposed for the moment, a teacher has been drawn in. One that he recognizes, at that. "Mr. Nekketsu." mulls his deep baritone voice, closing the briefcase of money before it might be seen. A few people complain about such, however. "Nothing that concerns you, citizen. I suggest you continue on your way. Speaking in public is not illegal." Of course, being the world's #1 most wanted terrorist for years is another matter, but he's hoping that Hayato will miss that fact.
The finer detail of the law is not really something Hayato concerns himself with. He just knows what's RIGHT. Although having the law on your side can certainly help. Even now, Hayato's not actually sure if using magical ninja flutes to brainwash people is actually against the law, but that didn't stop him from helping to deal with it! And while Rolento may be right about the legality of his position, Hayato /also/ knows that nobody here is likely to call the cops. Well, except perhaps to clean things up.
"Yeah, well..." Hayato looks around, giving pointed glances to the Gedo students on either side of him. Most of them avoid eye contact, edging away. A few near the fringes are starting to make themselves scarce, although others are seeing the possibilities the first two students he met have thought of. And they're also moving away, just not as far. "...It may not be illegal, but just the same I don't think you're welcome here. I'm sure all these kids were just trying to think of a polite way to tell you that." He only sounds mild sarcastic. This isn't the kind of thing he'd want to have to punish these kids over, so giving them even a blatant excuse to let it slide is okay by him.
"Observe." Rolento calls out to the Gedo students still lingering in the area. "One of the authoritarians that likely even you know about. A man who cares only about justice." Rolento begins to slowly circle Hayato, as the crowd backs away into a looser circle. There's nothing aggressive done by the U.S.P.L. commander, his briefcase of money still held in one hand. "Isn't that right, Mr. Nekketsu...? I wager that your arrival here is little more then coincidence. What have you done to help Gedo? Don't you consider those here a simple problem, like the rest of the system? A problem you are more inclined to solve with your shinai then anything else?!" People are definitely listening. Hayato's intervention could potentially work in Rolento's favor!!
Hayato cracks his neck, keeping his gaze locked on Rolento. "Different kids need different approaches. These Gedo kids, now, a lot of them know that the best way to read another man's soul is to cross swords with him. I know these kids, and I know that they all have potential. Some people may have given up on them, but I haven't and Kazama hasn't. They all have the potential to make something good of their lives. Hell, even you might. Once you pay your debt to society."
Hayato crosses his arms and looks sternly at Rolento. He hasn't reached for the weapon hanging from his back yet... but then again, he doesn't actually /need/ it to inflict pain on someone. The wind blows, ruffling his hair and causing his unzipped track jacket to flutter behind him, the Gedo students having edged away enough to provide some open space around him. "But for now, I won't see you tricking these kids into throwing their lives away."
"Affirmative. They need approaches that the system is not providing. You are but one man. A teacher in another school. How many of this large crowd have you 'helped' in any manner? Are you helping them now, or merely constraining them to a system you admit is failing?!" This is certainly some weasel wording and twisting. But Hayato is probably never going to win a debate with Rolento. When it comes to manipulative speeches, he's simply the best there is. "My debt...? So you know who I am. But what of the debt the world owes me? I was not born. I was made." Rolento stops circling, and stands opposite Hayato. His own white eyes slit nearly closed. Arms are folded behind his back, stance casual and spread.
"I refuse. What will you do? Engage in violence? Is that the only manner you can 'fix' problems such as me, and these young men?!"
Hayto raises an eyebrow. "I don't think you understand these young men all that well. Then again, since you're here recruiting them, maybe you do and you're just trying to play them against me." He chuckles for a moment. "These kids may be a bit rough around the edges, but they're alright. You don't actually expect them to be upset by fixing problems through violence, though, do you?" There's a bit of cheering and jeering from the crowd.
Hayato reaches up and behind himself, grabbing his shinai. "So yeah, I'm going to ask you again to leave. Don't want to see anybody getting hurt. But if you won't, well, I'm going to let the police deal with you. Once I've made sure it's safe for them. So it's your move." Rolento is definitely charismatic, but Hayato's got a commanding presence. And a long history of proving that he believes in these kids. There are some among them who really are just wastes, but they're outnumbered here. They might seek Rolento out later, but probably wouldn't stand up for him now.
It's easy enough to tell how the crowd is working. But Rolento was only after a specific few. And it's certain that many will talk about him in the day to come. But there happens to be a way to make a much more meaningful impression -- one that Hayato has already revealed to be accurate. The teacher has proven a better verbal sparring partner then expected, but things continue to roughly go as planned. "My move?" Suddenly he kicks forward, still holding the briefcase in one hand. Smoothly drawing out his baton, he lashes in a brutal overhead arc towards the teacher's face. "This is my move!!" The fight is ON.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has started a fight here.
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Rolento 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Hayato has joined the fight here.
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rolento
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Hayato with Crushing Strike.
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Hayato 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rolento
Hayato starts taking a step back with the intention of letting Rolento put himself into a very awkward position right in front of Hayato. Unfortunately, he doesn't step back far enough, or quickly enough, and the baton impacts him square in the center of the face. Blood starts to trickle from his nose, but he remains standing. And then he grins around the baton. "Okay then."
The teacher releases his grip, not taking the shinai from the loop on his jacket just yet, instead reaching out to get both of his arms firmly around Rolento. He then heaves backward, aiming to lift the soldier up off his feet, and then slam him down headfirst into the surface of the road.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Hayato's German Suplex.
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rolento
The fact that Hayato can remain standing after that vicious blow to his forehead truly says something about his durability. Rolento isn't the hardest hitter around, but he is by no means a lightweight. But he gets grappled for his trouble, although he manages to break the hold as he is hurled towards the ground. Landing in a roll, he flits away a few meters and then slithers into an open stance, bracing himself with his baton. "It must not be common, Mr. Nekketsu. To be the younger and more inexperienced combatant in the ring. How often do you push your limits in battle...?" He then rushes forward again, his briefcase still in tow. He's not going to put it down, those Gedo students will TOTALLY STEAL IT. Instead he suddenly leaps into another roll, and bounds heavily at Hayato. "GOOOO!!!" Trying to slam into his lower body with surprising intensity, and stagger him backwards!
COMBATSYS: Hayato fails to counter Mekong Delta Attack from Rolento with Counter Thrust.
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Hayato 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
With someone leaping bodily toward him, low to the ground, Hayato knows just what to do! Use that proximity to the ground to introduce their face to it, by means of a fist to the top of the head. Unfortunately, Rolento is bounding forward a bit too fast. Hayato is lunging downward for the blow when Rolento slams into him, and with his balance shifted in such a way it's not too hard to send him staggering back.
Or at least, send his legs back. The rest of Hayato's body is leaning forward enough that it doesn't want to follow, meaning that he goes crashing down on his chest with a thud and a grunt. It looks like it hurt, but it also looks like he's already starting to push himself back to his feet.
In a split second, Rolento is back on his feet, adjusting the front of his suit with a couple fingers. The rest still dangle the briefcase. "Tch... have you gotten this soft?" This sounds genuinely distasteful, as opposed to some gambit to humiliate Hayato. "I have seen your ferocity. This is like a tiger with a muzzle!!" He suddenly steps forward, and lashes out his foot in an attempt to catch the teacher in the side, trying to send him over upon the ground. A lot of people continue to watch, although almost none are in favor of Rolento. They are, though, in favor of a brawl.
COMBATSYS: Hayato Toughs Out Rolento's Light Kick!!
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Hayato 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Hayato takes the kick to the side with just a soft grunt. But he also swings down an arm in an attempt to lock Rolento's foot into place as he rises back to his feet. He doesn't attempt to pull or twist on his leg, just hold him there for the moment it takes to stand up and swing his free arm up to grab his shinai from the loop on the back of his jacket.
He then turns his head to Rolento, spitting out some blood. "It's true, it's been a while since I've had a good challenge. I think you've got my blood pumping now, though." He grins, and releases his grip on Rolento's foot as he lunges forward, lashing out with a series of rapid shinai slashes at a variety of different angles across Rolento's head and torso.
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Rolento with Scolding Slash.
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Hayato 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Rolento
A sudden look of surprise is upon Rolento's face when Hayato sweeps out and catches his booted foot. In a battle of raw strength, he is at a losing position, although that doesn't make him stop trying. Pushed off balance, and attempt to leap back is not enough. In the two seconds he was airborne, an onslaught of impacts rained down on him, forearms having angry red shinai marks. "..." Well. That's better, he supposes. "This might not be a waste of time..." His baton is then momentarily held in his teeth. So he can yank off a grenade, pin flicking sideways. It is dropped, and then suddenly kicked heavily towards Hayato. With the speed of a major league fastball. However, if the teacher dodges, it is liable to run into the crowd still watching... where the explosion might do a lot more harm. Nobody said he had to use fair tactics!
COMBATSYS: Hayato fails to interrupt Grenadier from Rolento with Devastation Kick.
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Hayato 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Rolento
Dodging is not even to be thought of, although once the grenade was recognized students started to think maybe they should give the two men some room. A large crowd of people in a panic, shoving each other, does not move very quickly, though. And while dodging the grenade is out of the question, just standing there and soaking up the blast also seems like a bad idea.
So of course the perfect response is to just kick the grenade right back into Rolento's face! It can't fail! Hayato leaps forward, lashing out with a blazing kick to the incoming grenade... which bounces off his foot, changing its trajectory only briefly before exploding in front of Hayato and sending him flying back and to the ground, smoke rising from his tattered shirt and jacket.
Indeed, the maneuver was not a poor one. But the fuse was so short, it's likely that even were it not kicked, the explosion would of taken place before the students were reached... who still spare little time in scattering in the wake, covering heads with shouts of surprise. There is no shrapnel, this one made for more personal confrontations. Rolento strides forward, seen through the veil of smoke still hanging in the air. "Pathetic." he repeats once more. "You were once a man I admired. But it seems without crisis, your teeth dull!!" He suddenly hops in the air, before the madman descends, trying to force Hayato back to the street with his baton pressing beneath his throat, hopefully giving him quite a strangle. "Give it up. Your combative performance is far beneath me...!!"
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Rolento's Medium Throw.
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Rolento
Hayato manages to get an arm in the way of the baton, although he still has to deal with Rolento's weight bearing down on him. Thankfully, this isn't especially difficult for someone of Hayato's size. The initial impact as Rolento comes back down to earth forces him back a step, but then he's able to plant his foot and keep himself firmly in place. "Yeah, well, we'll see about that, won't we? If the Chinese army didn't scare me, you think you do?" Wait, crap. He really shouldn't try to bring too much attention to the damage he caused to the Chinese army. They probably still aren't happy about that.
The teacher shoves back at Rolento with the arm he used to block the baton, trying to knock the soldier back a pace. He does this to hopefully provide an opening, which he follows up on by swiftly stepping forward, then bringing his shinai slashing down. He aims with great precision for the point where Rolento's collar bone meets his neck.
COMBATSYS: Rolento interrupts Power Strike from Hayato with Mine Sweeper.
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Hayato 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Rolento
"THE CHINESE ARMY WISHES IT HAD THE POWER OF ME ALONE!!" Rolento roars out, his face looking almost demonic. Pushed backwards, the impact to his shoulder misses... he is struck in a much less painful position, while rolling backwards at the same time. And then, rolling behind Hayato's legs, is another heavy grenade. There is no avoiding this, although there'd be time for precisely half one curse word. It explodes, launching him forward... into another grenade, then another, the fourth one sending his smoking body sailing over the assembled high schoolers, who quickly scatter away. Rolento is spiraling overhead once more, catching upon the side of a telephone pole and hanging there, a few meters up. "Don't you yearn for battle...?! A fight with actual stakes?! War is needed to keep one sharp, to keep one strong! The games played in this city are laughable!!"
By the time he lands on the ground, there's quite a bit of smoke rising from Hayato's body, and there's some splashes of blood scattered about, but he seems to have avoided any maiming injury. After a moment he shoves himself to a sitting position, then climbs back to his feet. "Yearn for battle? Oh, you bet. I yearn for battle all the time." The teacher gives a bloody grin.
But then he cracks his neck, looking up at Rolento. "But who cares what the stakes are? If you need every battle to be life or death to keep you motivated, you must not trust much in your skills. Luckily, I don't have that handicap." He grins again, tensing his legs, then leaps up toward Rolento. He kicks off the ground with a spin, holding his shinai out at an angle, and the spinning motion causes it to become a blur. A blazing blur as Hayato's orange chi flares up around it. He's aiming to just strike Rolento, without damaging the pole, but great precision isn't easy with something like this. He'd prefer not to be responsible for destruction of city property, though.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Hayato's Burning Windmill.
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rolento
"...me?! Not trust in my skills?! I have had nothing but such my entire life...! I do not have the strength and speed of even you, an elder man far from his prime!!" Although he has an incredible amount of agility, such assuredly stems from experience in leaping around like an idiot as opposed to anything else. He truly looks to be enraged, which never means well for bystanders. Luckily, the majority have either retreated to a safe distance, or just retreated period. As Hayato rushes upwards, Rolento leaps away at the same moment. The weapon just barely swishes past him, before he drops the briefcase in midair. A hand lashes out to catch Hayato, hopefully using his doubtlessly superior aerial combat skills to slap a sticky string of grenades upon him, and then with a snarl kick him towards a dumpster. If he lands within, a sizeable explosion will take place afterwards. "GO!!"
COMBATSYS: Hayato dodges Rolento's Deadly Package EX.
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Despite his battered condition, Hayato isn't out of the fight quite yet. When Rolento leaps past him, the teacher is able to spot out of the corner of his eye that the soldier is up to something. He suddenly lashes out with a foot, kicking off of the telephone pole and flipping right up and over Rolento. The grenades end up sticking to the telephone pole instead, and after a few moments unleash the civil damage Hayato was hoping to avoid.
Hayato lands a bit heavily, but manages to stay on his feet. "Really? Sure seemed to hit a nerve, though." And maybe that will anger Rolento even more! Hopefully it causes him to slip up, instead of unleashing vengeful wrath. Hayato seems to be hoping it'll provide an opening, as he jumps toward Rolento with a leaping kick for the other man's chest, followed by twisting around to unleash a second blow with his other foot.
COMBATSYS: Rolento blocks Hayato's Second Kick.
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
That was genuinely unexpected. Every single impulse in his brain and mind said Hayato was caught. He had nowhere to go, and nothing to do. Instead he avoids the precise strike, luckily not pulling the chord to make them detonate. They are still hurled aside, given he can't very well put them back at this stage. The first kick is deflected with the baton, although the other is absorbed by his bicep, sending Rolento skidding a good meter away. "Tch... enough!! You have lost this battle! SUBMIT!" He then hurls himself forward, whirling around his weapon before spinning to apply first a kick, then an overhead blow, trying to slam Hayato into the ground once more!
COMBATSYS: Hayato fails to counter Medium Strike from Rolento with Counter Thrust.
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Hayato 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Rolento
COMBATSYS: Hayato can no longer fight.
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|
When Rolento's leg comes up, Hayato attempts to lean around it, bringing his fist swinging in at a shallow angle for the other man's jaw. Unfortunately, legs are longer than arms, even if Hayato has a bit of an overall reach advantage over Rolento. He isn't able to get a clean blow in on Rolento, and he's left overextended when the overhead smash comes down on him.
Hayato falls to the ground, hard, and for a few moments he doesn't move. Eventually he stirs a bit, managing a groan, but just propping himself up slightly with one arm seems to be about the extent of what he can manage just at the moment.
Rolento slowly approaches, and then kicks over Hayato so he ends up on his back. Breathing heavily, but certainly not looking all too terrible for the battle. The commando plucks up his briefcase, and then approaches the teacher once more. "Were I truly a monster, I might kill you now. But there is no value in your murder. Tch... you are no longer a threat to my operations. Judgement! Grade C! Dulled combative potential!" Turning to those remaining, "Those who wish to find a new life beyond this... come with me...!" He then leaps off, quickly headling along the rooftops towards somewhere quieter.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has ended the fight here.
Log created on 18:33:29 04/04/2011 by Hayato, and last modified on 14:28:52 04/10/2011.