Description: Masters Arena is the location of another massive battle as Mr. Jones, Ichiro, and Sakura come together to take a shot at the Ansatsuken Master! Ken's people are all too happy to cash in on Ryu's battlelust.
"Look, we can't get people like Terry Bogard every night of the week. Sure, there was Ken shortly after that, but.. Mr. Ryu, sir, he works upstairs." A few days ago, the warrior in the white gi gets told how it is by a suited blonde lady, who seems kind of confused by the whole thing to begin with. "What we can do, is another group of professionals. Skilled fighters, one who just fought Sagat. Another, who requested to be scheduled for a fight with you, one on one, personally. We'll put them all in together." The Ryu vs. the World Blu-ray combo pack. Right now it's just a twinkle in the producer's eyes. Ryu just nods, "Okay." the surprisingly softspoken man concedes.
TONIGHT: Fight fanatics from around the world - even some Chinese - pack the once more near-capacity crowd that's come out to see the Ansatsuken master square off with some of Ken Masters' best and brightest fighters willing to sign a waiver. An energetic, synthesized version of the far east blasts through the stadium as Ryu makes his entrance, waving simply to the crowd before tightening his red headband - and tuning them /out/. The wanderer's hands fasten dark crimson sparring gloves on their opposite number with practiced precision, padding the pugilist for your protection. After the recitation of the championships and world-wandering amazingness of Ryu's fighting history, the announcer proceeds to introduce a /trio/ of challengers, a veritable fighting extravaganza!
"Look mang, I gotta get /some/ kinda fighting this week. NDP is all whacked out and I heard that dude from the Saturday Night Fights likes to take his own sweet time to get to the stage. Can't lose my groove over this thing bro, that ain't how the Jones do."
Mr. Jones heeded the call to battle once again, as he always does. But there's something strange going on this time. Rather than jump into the stage all dramatically with flair and disco music, he's seen talking on his cell phone back stage rather heatedly with someone, apparently it's Duck King. The reason may or may not be evident at first, but judging by the bandage he has over his swollen cheek and his taped knuckles, it looks like he just got out of a brutal fight himself. "Hey! Well maybe I wouldn't have gone all out if you woulda told me the dude was Sagat!" So that's where he got his wounds from. "Okay, yes, I probably would have anyway, but still! I ain't letting this get to me, what'd I tell ya bro? You gotta trust on the funk for this things." The dance fighter arches an eyebrow as the announcer starts calling out the fighters. There's no way he'd ever miss an opportunity to dance with the legendary Ryu, wounds or no wounds, he's doing this! "Look I gotta go, see ya!" He clicks his phone off and runs up to the stage to join his fellow 'dance partners'. Though he won't just yet as he has to go into the stage through an individual corridor.
Now the disco music flares causing Mr Jones to tear off the bloodied bandage on his cheek and smile for the cameras, hands up in the air looking ready and eager as ever.
"Are you guys ready!? 'Cause I'm about to put on a show!"
Ichiro's mouth is pulled into a thin grim line across his handsome face as the Masters Stadium trainers lace up his boots and tape his wrists in one of the locker rooms located just off stage of the White Arena. The jagged vertical scar that runs under the eyepatch over his empty left eyesocket detracts from his once perfect aristocratic Japanese looks; though some might say that the touch of toughness and experience that the injury gives his visage is worth the disfigurement. Sighing heavily, Ichiro shoos off the trainers as they finish their duties and goes about buttoning up his simple black Einherjar Initiative nehru-style uniform jacket. Having spent the better part of a year tracking leads, rumors and shadows around the world, trying to find any hint of where Shadaloo had taken his parents during the Southtown invasion, Oe's resolve was starting to falter. Maybe they hadn't been kidnapped. Maybe they were dead after all...
"No. Concentrate on the fight Ichi..." the young fighter tells himself as he picks up his spear and shield. Throwing himself back into the fighting circuit was Adelheid's idea; he'd gotten tired of watching Ichiro sulk around the Sky Noah for weeks at a time. His mind was wandering now, but once he stepped onto that stage he'd be back to his old self, he just knew it. Walking up the gangplank to the stadium stage entrance, Oe manages to crack a smile as the announcer calls out his name. "Showtime," Oe announces as he walks out into the stadium's blinding spotlights.
Lingering just outside the entrance to the arena Sakura suppresses the butterflies in her stomach and gives herself a quick pep talk "Hang in there" her fist pressed firmly to her breast as she sneaks a glance around the corner at the arena floor she laughs nervously "Calm down Sakura, focus, breathe, Its just nerves." She is thankful for the flamboyant man talking so loudly on his cellphone, it kind of drowns out the murmur of the crowd and her own little attempt to steady herself for the match.
Earlier in the day, Sakura leans right over the desk almost eye to eye with the employee behind the desk "Wahhhh, you can really get me into a match with him -that- soon?" the staff had been rather hesitant to let a lone school girl walk in off the street and make a challenge but all those problems had been moot when she they asked for id and a quick check by some of the senior staff members to verify her identity. The promise of a match-up against Ryu is almost enough to send her skipping around the room until she notes there are others signed up for the same event. Not quite the touching reunion of teacher and student she had hoped for but she signs the required paperwork right then and there with a enthusiastic smile on her face and a flourish of a pen.
Back in the present Sakuras smile is an uneasy one and she swallows hard still still trying to settle the last of those butterflies. Its true, Ryu was indeed her opponent and she couldn't ask for a better or stronger one for her late debut, thankfully her team-mates looked strong enough as well though she was anxious perhaps more over how strong she would seem to her Sensei, rival and friend, especially beside other talented fighters. "Ahhh, Its no time to be doing this." Sakura claps both hands to her cheeks giving them a slap. She tightens her fists and firms her resolve. Sakura will fight! she turns as Mr Jones asks if they are ready and she firmly nods "I'm Kasugano Sakura, Pleased to meet you." she bows to both of her team mates, the white tails of her fluttering up to rest on the back of her lowered head before she rises and offers a cheery grin "Lets give it our all!" she trails along behind the others into the Arena, seemingly hanging back until they are close enough to be considered in their places.
The somewhat famous japanese schoolgirl can hear her name being called and chanted in the crowd as well as the other fighters so she takes the time to give the crowds a big overhead wave before assuming her place.
Ryu had kept himself purposefully in the dark till this moment, in terms of his adversaries tonight. He didn't know to expect the one-eyed vigilante, the funky martial artist, /or/ his prodigal student. Granted, that last one is the most shocking to the nomad - it registers in a dramatic arching of thick brows, and a small, sincere smile. "Sakura." The Ansatsuken wanderer gives a brief, graceful half-bow.
"Have you been keeping up with your training?" Remember, /everything/ is karate. While training under Takuma or Gen or Saishu is certainly more chaotic, harsher, or crazier, or all of that combined... Ryu is no slouch. The nomad's eyes narrow slightly, brows knit, like he's looking through Sakura more than at her. "Hmm. I see you are still seeking... that which lies beyond your fist." There's no condescension in the note. In fact, Ryu seems pleased. To be a seeker, is to be on a path, and as with everything that is the fighting prodigy - it is the journey that matters.
The Ansatsuken master tilts his head slightly as he studies the others - Ichiro. He hasn't met the lad, but there's /something/ about him. A touch of power that tickles recollection in Ryu, but registers nothing conscious, immediately. He offers a bow to Oe, and then to Jones, smiling between the two men, and tossing a relaxed salute. "Glad we're all in agreement. Hold nothing back." Ryu's senses tell him that is a notably dangerous challenge. This brings a lingering smile to the wanderer's stern features as he drops into a ready position, and hammers into enemy turf.
It's a blur of white and red and black as the barefoot warrior interjects himself into Ichiro's airspace,suddenly lunging in sidelong at the shielded warrior, one hand slapping to the top of the shield. In ancient Sparta, warriors were outfitted with two standard issue weapons - the spear, which Ichiro has; and the shortsword - which Ichiro does not have. Ryu seeks to grab his hefty shield on the outside, and drag it towards the inside of his body, in effect locking down the weapon as the nomad feints in outside, and seeks to heft Oe up, up, and over. A traditional, powerfully executed shoulder throw, meant to slam the veteran vigilante into the dojo floor harshly, while the reach of his spear would ideally remain tied up... by his own damn shield.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has wandered into a fight here on the left meter side.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ichiro has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: MrJones has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
"Hey, Johnny Jones, first timmer." Mr. Jones flashes a grin at Sakura when she introduces herself, his shades flashing as the light is reflected on them, or maybe they just shine on their own just at the right time when he's making a pose? None can tell with the groovy fighter, the funk is an unpredictable whimsical thing and Mr. Jones claims not to control, he is merely it's emissary, the messenger of the groove. The retro warrior then turns to look over his other shoulder to see the man armed with spear and shield, his shades are raised slightly to get a better look at Ichiro, staring at him like he walked into the wrong movie. "You some kinda Zulu or somethin'?" Wonders Mr. Jones out loud before shrugging. If he had known this was going to be a weapons match he would have brought his nunchucks, but Ryu and Sakura don't seem to have any. Well, it makes no sense to him but fighting doesn't necessarily make sense.
As Ryu bows, Mr. Jones returns the salute in a standard Kung Fu fashion, fist wrapped on his palm symbolizing peace over power. He listens closely to the words of advice that his opponent says to the girl, looks like they might know each other, which can or can not be a good thing for this fight. Mr. Jones doesn't offer anything to do that, he's far too concentrated on ignoring the searing pain that already courses through his body.
Now, Ryu has been informed that one of these fighters had already fought Sagat, but he wasn't told /who/. For all he knows it may have been either Ichiro or Sakura who tangled with the Muay Thai boxer, unless he some how recognizes the wounds that Mr. Jones already sports on his face. His knuckles are clearly bleeding and there's swollen area on his cheek where he was clearly kicked...why is this guy even here?? He should be in a hospital! A mental one too since by the way he carries himself he's not exactly very sane.
"Aite....let's dance!!" Ryu is already on the attack causing Jones to circle around him when he goes for Ichiro "Hold on shield boy! I got your back! Just don't let 'im Judo toss ya!" Jones calls out as he attacks Ryu from his right side, aiming to throw a straight fist right for the legendary martial artists' kidneys "WOOATAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Ichiro blocks Ryu's Seoi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichiro
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
Ichiro politely returns Ryu's bow as he gives his teammates a cursory glance. The girl is kinda cute, and the legendary Ryu seems to know her, so she can probably handle her self in a fight. The other guy though... man, he comes right out of a comic book. Who knows what he'll bring to the table. Oe's appraisals are short lived though, as the World Warrior rushes him and yanks on his shield. It is all the young man can do to hang on. "Ooof!" he cries out as Ryu tosses him up and over. Luckily for Oe, he's been training up on his acrobatics in the Sky Noah gymnasium. Twisting his body in midair, Oe manages to get his shield between him and the hard stage floor. Sliding on the armament as he hits, Ichiro grunts slightly from the impact, but it could have been much worse. "Hng... Watch out. He's pretty tough," Oe warns his teammates as he studies the World Warrior with his lone eye. The man's technique is astounding, but everyone has a weakness... right?
COMBATSYS: Ichiro focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichiro
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
Sakura forces an awkward smile and weakly waves as Ryu pays her direct attention amidst her team-mates impromptu formation. Focusing on her on her studies for so long definitely left her far below where she supposes she could or should have reached a higher level and she can feel her cheeks heating a little at the thought, as well as memories of late night snacks, cookies and times she had just spent relaxing with her family.
Sakura is grateful for the smile the World Warrior offers, it soothes some of the rising embarrassment and hope he isn't disappointed. Training daily so not as to slip too far, this had been a void in her life until now, she missed the company of fighters. The exchange of fists is almost better than an exchange of words in terms of getting to know someone.
She bows quickly to Ryu, a more rigid and formal Japanese style bow and then raises both fists into an en garde stance. The fuku clad schoolgirl bounces on the balls of her feet in a self taught approximation of Ryus own fight stance if a little bouncier and smaller in stature. As Ryu begins to move, she slowly unfolds from her guarded position into a run, chasing and trying to catch up to him before he can take an early sprint into the lead against their team. She slides and scythes her leg at his ankles trying to catch the warrior in white while he is still in the middle of his throw, Her sneakers screech loudly on the sanded floor as she whips her foot around in that low leg sweep, staying crouched so as not to get in the way of Mr Jones as both fighters lunge in.
COMBATSYS: Ryu effortlessly blocks MrJones' Funky Impact.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichiro
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu auto-guards Sakura's Medium Kick!
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichiro
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
Really, Sakura needent worry about the forum - wherever they were, within some semblance of sane limits, Ryu would likely have reacquainted himself just this way. Albeit without the audience. The huge audience; and the other two skilled fighters threatening to put his internal organs in new and interesting configurations for a time. His feet are deft, certain. His stance, steady, ready. His eyes, drawing a calm line between Sakura and Jones, over to Ichiro's landing spot. The World Warrior draws a breath, again - he smiles. But yes - as they each come in, there is analytical, uncanny intensity in those dark eyes, as if each of the pair speak volumes to him through their style, their strength. Even Ichiro, in his choice; in the way the chi surges and flows around him, a blade ready to cleave a path through the moments to come.
As swiftly as the offense was launched, the nomad mounts a fluid, unflinching defense. Perfectly poised, his elbow drops to connect /above/ Johnny's striking fist, directly on the clenched instrument of pummeling. It's almost eerily precise, given the apparent reflexive, honed muscle memory it seems to involve. A theory compounded when the world's foremost wanderer drops into a fluid crouch, twists about, and clasps a palm overtop of Sakura's ankle, his weight and flexing tree trunk of a limb pinning the strike before it can even land. He breathes out; Ryu is in motion in the space between breaths, surging to his feet even as he anchors his stance, and strikes out with both palms, hands opposing, towards Sakura.
It comes in a sudden, spiralling blast of searing, concussive energy that swells from a seemingly limitless, resounding cascade within the nomad's own spirit; the Hadou. The audience just knows they love it, some of them even shout it.
"HADOOOOUKEN!!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura negates Hadouken from Ryu with Medium Hadouken.
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichiro
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
!!!!!
An elbow smash to deflect a punch! Why, Jones thought he was the only one that did that around here! His already bloodied knuckles are deflected as he staggers forward when the impact is merely redirected elsewhere and Johnny Jones' eyebrows wiggle slightly. The technique, the execution, the timing...everything was perfect! "Woo!! You ain't kidding!" Jonesy calls out to Ichiro's warning as he slides backwards flicking his wrist. This guy really is good, perhaps even more so than Sagat! Sheesh, Jones really knows how to pick his fights doesn't he? Having teammates won't be helping him any here.
Eyes narrow beneath those shades when Ryu adopts a familiar stance, the crackling chi energy being sensed on the air. He's going to go for it! He really will! Mr. Jones always heard legends of the epic Hadokuen blast but had never seen it. This causes him to just stand there in awe as Ryu fires the fireball at the girl, unable to react for a moment he stares at it as it flies forward before quickly shaking his head. Wait! He can't just watch and see his teammates get beaten, he's got to act!!
"HMRGG!!" Putting extra effort this time, Johnny attacks Ryu from his oblique side taking advantage that he has adopted a long stance and aims to ram a kick right into his inner thigh to cripple the fighter's movement! "WASHAA!!"
A grin leaps to Ichiro's otherwise somber face as Ryu's mighty hadouken is fizzled out by Sakura's own technique. "Good job kid!" Ichiro calls out as he repositions himself for a charge. That looked like it could have hurt. "Yeah, let's keep the pressure on him, Dr. Jones!" Ichiro calls out to his other teammate as he trails in after the disco fighter's running kick, giving himself /just/ enough of a buffer to see how Ryu reacts to Mr. Jones' attack before reaching down into the depths of his fighting spirit and gathering up a burst of golden energy.
"GYAAAAH!" Ichiro shouts as he bursts forward, using a portion of his gathered energy to propel himself toward Ryu while simultaneously unleashing the brunt of it through his shield arm and out into his shield, lighting the defensive armament aglow with golden chi. If all manages to go according to plan, Ichiro will attempt to bowl the World Warrior over with a chi-fueled shield bash, Captain America style.
Sakuras eyes widen as Ryus hand closes around her ankle, Not good, not good, NOT GOOD. She grits her teeth as trying her strength against the strength of his grip she cant quite lever herself free and finds herself pined in place, still crouched on her other leg for support and unable to roll out without intentionally hurting herself in the process. Her team-mates attacks seem to keep Ryus attention but so long as he has her ankle and leg pinned she knows he hasn't forgotten her.
The exchange of blows completes in just heartbeats but its drawn out to the nth degree since Sakura lacks an opening to return to the offensive, as Ryu surges back to her feet Sakura is quick to withdraw her vulnerable leg but is still crouched and waiting for an opening when Ryu seemingly singles her out, the palm formation angled at her is all two familiar. The bright energy build up of light is mirrored in her eyes but also in her own cupped hand where a smaller and significantly less potent version of the same attack is growing, she feeds it stoking the embers of a fire into a blazing fury while her heat beat is a slow loud thud in her own ears, it has to be bigger, I can't stop his without making mine even bigger! Her cry of "HADOOOOUKEN!!!" is slightly behind Ryus in formation from her lips but her is heavy with effort and intensity; her own attack is larger if not as bright and potent.
The two ki attacks forcibly ablate against one another leaving both fighters parted by a veil of diffusing blue-white energy particles. Her cupped palms are still angled at the world warrior and she is panting, chest tight with the small fright and jolt of adrenaline. That was too close! Kick starting her brain once again the girl rolls rolls backwards, partly to make way for the incoming team-mates and partly to buy her some time and room to clear the purple after image of those bright ki attacks colliding point blank in front of her eyes.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Ichiro's Auric Breaker.
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu effortlessly blocks MrJones' Bicycle Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
The shockwave of colliding chi throws Ryu's headband back, fluttering madly in the sudden, localized gusts. The slightly ragged edges of his clean (THANK YOU VERY MUCH) white gi rustling along with his hair as he leeeans away from the brilliant conflagration. "Heh!" He half-grunts out, pleased. There are no further words, though. Ryu needs all his focus, all his speed to keep ahead of these kind of strikes. The nomad shifts to face Johnny full-on, stepping into the funky fighter's technique with his own deflecting leg, driving it to the side despite a painful, bruising sting as he stabilizes his own stance with a pronounced kiai, his sole touching dojo floor with a tangible rush of air.
Ryu gets a second to take a close look at Jones, canting his head slightly. "You.. you're hurt? Why?" Why push himself, why risk his health? It was clear that Ryu meant to continue his close and personal discussion with Mr. Jones, but instead, he abruptly changes course and launches himself into a backwards roll, somersaulting out of the brutal charge led by Ichiro's shield.
Ryu comes up in a three-point crouch, and quickly scans the battlefield - before he rushes in on Oe, sprinting into a leap at near point-blank range, suddenly whipping about to rotor a reaving right foot out for the spear-wielding crusader's hopefully helmetlike head.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Ichiro with Senpuu Kyaku.
> Determined Hit! <
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sakura
"Woopsie daisy!" Mr. Jones once again feels his attack being deflected, this guy is too good! He had prided himself in being one of the few that knew how to deflect attacks like that but it seems that has only been the case because he's been too busy playing in the little leagues. Never had Jones fought against such a skilled opponent, sure, he has been soundly defeated before, but this happened against chi users that took him down before he ever got close. To be defeated in his own game, his speciality, the gory glory that is hand to hand combat, it's a humbling experience. Jones realizes how far he is from his goal to ever becoming a grandmaster, how truly little experience he has in the ways of the funk.
Explosions are heard from the other side as his young teammate stops the hadouken with one of her own. So that's how they know each other! They are of the same school if they know the same techniques. The lighting effects make a grand show even as Mr. Jones' leg is kicked out of the way, causing him to spin on his heel in a full 360 degrees like the dancer he is and stand to face Ryu head on, standing on his Jeet Kune Do stance, a moment Ryu uses to get a good look at his wounds. "Hm?? Oh this?" Even to an untrained eye it's quite obvious he's wounded "Just got into a scuffle with a Thai boxer before coming here, you know, to warm up! Haha!" Ryu isn't the only crazed fighter that puts fighting before healing. Mr. Jones will become better no matter what his body tells him.
With that said he looks about ready to attack except he's making a backwards somersault and the Zulu warrior is ramming into him instead with his shield. "Yo!!" There's no friendly fire involved although Mr. Jones /is/ quick to notice Ryu coming at Ichiro for a counter attack "Look out behind you!!
Jones tries to warn his ally in vain, but even if he can't save him through normal methods maybe he can take advantage of Ryu committing himself too much on the attack to finally nail him one. When Ryu finishes his tornado kick, Jones slides in forward aiming a quick jab to pop him right in the nose! "Shoo!!"
The big smelly foot smacks solidly into Ichiro's head and sends him crashing to the sanded wood floor of the arena. "Hnng... such power..." Ichiro mutters as he tries to shake the stars out of his vision. "This doesn't seem to be working very well guys..." Oe calls out to his teammates as he picks himself up off of the ground. The man is so fast he seems almost untouchable. They can't even land a solid blow on him, it looks like they're going to have to get lucky; and if he needs to get a lucky hit in, then it might as well be a big one! Grasping his spear in both hands, Ichiro takes off running at the World Warrior. It is a charge that lacks any sort of finesse or technique, but hopefully will hurt even the Scion of Ansatsuken if it manages to connect.
Sakura rolls to a stop and skids lightly on the sanded floor, sneakers were maybe not the footwear of choice for this arena, everything she seems to do is noisy. She forces herself to rapidly blink away the after image of the Ki attacks. Her comrades are fighting hard and trying to press Ryu and that just adds fuel to Sakuras fighting spirit. She cares about them, about whether they win or lose this match and more than just her own interests in proving herself.
It's exciting, her blood is starting to simmer as she gets fired up! Ryu moves through them like this is a scripted dance, passing from one partner to the next as though it is carefully choreographed, it would be impressive to watch and .. wait this whole fight would probably be on DVD or something later, maybe she could get an advanced copy. Sakura shakes her head, letting her mind wander in the middle of one was a sure way to lose a fight, the only way she can catch him is to interrupt the flow of his fight at the right point. Smiling lightly she waits for the moment, when his back is turned.. when there's any opening at all that might be legitimate and not a baited trap.
She misses most of the exchange between Ryu and Mr Jones but her head turns and she looks quizzically at the man with the taped hand. He's already hurt, before the fight even began. Ryu noticed this and chose not to prosecute immediately Sakura feels small and a little in wonder of fighters some times, when they keep going, get back up or fight on when injured its hard not to build up a tremendous respect for them. And for her Sensei who shows a great restraint and compassion in the midst of a fight in not exploiting that fact.
She shuffles closer to Mr Jones, if he is hurt and may be the weaker link its possible Ryu will try to thin them out.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks MrJones' Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ichiro's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Sakura
Ichiro's strike, indeed, certainly hurts. The all-out charge meets a steely wall as spearhead grazes off a rising forearm moments before it passes too close, moments before it skewers Ryu. That hair's breadth is all he needs to knock the strike high, a shallow cut drawn in chi-imbued muscle along the wanderer's forearm, and he gracefully weaves aside, leaning his head away from the deflected path of the spear as his guard guides it high.
Ryu's style is not a flamboyant one - like Jones in some ways, yes, despite their very different behavior patterns. It's based in fundamentals, in a total absence of wasted movement; simultaneously, this foundation has proven itself quite broad and adaptable over the years, and Ryu builds on it today. He twists off, out of the path of the barreling Ichiro's potential follow-up shield bash and faces the rushing Johnny - well, he manages to make it halfway to facing Jones, before he has to abruptly raise a guard, the snapping fist slapping audibly off a sparring glove with a stinging whip. "You all fight well. Now fight as one - reach out, feel those currents."
Yes. He's giving advice to his opponents on how to beat him. Then, he's giving his erstwhile student a new test. Ryu's brow arches, he spins about to face Sakura. He can feel that buildup of chi, just as he advises others to sense, he himself listens to notes unheard. There's a moment's study - apparently sneaking up behind him is not in the cards, because it's followed by a cometlike blast.
The Ansatsuken master's hands heave forward a meteoric congregation of said energy with a pulsing eruption from his palms, the multi-hued red burst of pure fire leaving a sheen of black on the very surface of the dojo's finished, hardwood floor as it courses towards Sakura, echoed by that trademark call, "HADOOOOUKEN!!!"
Of course, he already knows she -does- know techniques that could stop that blast - and after the show a moment ago, she's going to have to find a way now.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Ryu's Shakunetsu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
> //////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Sakura
"Dang it!" Jones jab collides with yet another well placed guard, there's just no openings he can exploit here! Johnny isn't one that simply overpowers his opponents, he doesn't have the kind of build for that. He's all about outmaneuvering, faking them out, annoy his opponents to the point where they charge in recklessly at him and expose themselves to counter attacks. No such thing with Ryu, he's simply has a perfect defense! He can't get through!
Despite their continued and failed attacks Johnny Jones ain't giving up and he starts to circle around the fighter when Ichiro goes in for the shield slam, which incidentally also fails. There has to be a way, there has to be an opening he hasn't seen just yet.
"Uh oh!" Although in that moment he has bigger things to worry about, like a Hadouken sent his way! The funky fighter braces himself for the attack, except Sakura gets in the way! "HEY! Tha' hell are you doing!!?" It's not that Mr. Jones doesn't appreciate the cover, but he's not one that likes to be coddled.
"Listen to your freaking sensei girl! I ain't never gonna feel the funky currents if you want to play meat shield for me!!" No, Jones /is not/ going to take it easy simply because he's injured. He's a fighter in the end and he wants to be treated like one. Which is why he simply runs right past Sakura to engage Ryu head on once again! He wants to fight toe to toe and he will. "HHRRAAAA!!!" Gathering strength as he runs, the disco fighter ducks low making it look like he's going to go for a low blow, only to stand up straight once he's inside Ryu's circle of defense and slide a sneaky, yet powerful, fist right towards his neck clearly wanting to injure his windpipe! "HAAAII!!"
Ichiro's spear is deflected easily enough, but at least he drew a little blood. Ichiro doesn't enjoy drawing blood, especially in matches as friendly and sporting as this, but shedding blood is a part of fighting, it is what they've all signed on for. Also, if it bleeds they can KO it.
Ichiro closes his eyes as he tries Ryu's advice (I mean, why not?), letting his mind reach out and feel the currents of power flowing between the four fighters, their ebb and flow, the give and take of energy between the four of them, the crowd around, and the Earth below. The information is all there, it just takes practice and focus to decode it all and make sense of it...
COMBATSYS: Ichiro enters a trance-like state.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Ichiro
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Sakura
Arresting her move to join up with the others Sakura finds herself on a direct collision course with the inbound roaring fireball of Ki. She buckles down and tightens her defence swinging both forearms in front of her body to form a rigid and strong block. The force of the attack hitting her bare arms however is enough to shift the relatively lightweight girl backwards while the energy mass of fire seeming ki consumes itself trying to bypass her guard. Her eyes are screwed shut against the feeling of heat and light but she endures the full length of the fireballs duration.
Sakura stands blinking and dumbfounded as Mr Jones rushes right on past her, she feels chagrined that the other fighters might not be grateful for her assistance. Her heart and confidence wavers slightly "H-hai" before resuming her rush to close ground with Ryu, if with a little uncertainty. Running along behind her team-mates and trying to make up some of the lost ground and time that defending had cost her. Her fists uncurl and fingers twitch nervously as she runs in, this is going to be risky but she is determined to make the attempt, A grab and throw, vaulting over her opponent and then slinging them in turn over her own shoulders in a nasty throw, the Sailor Shoot isn't one of her more damaging attacks but it might be fast enough to catch up to Ryu.
Inwardly she still reels from the feeling or rejection and mistake in trying to coddle or protect one of her team-mates, her mind tries to race and explore options but she reigns it in. She is almost close enough to attack and any kind of distraction or wavering on her part will get her outed from this fight before it really gets good.
COMBATSYS: Ryu effortlessly dodges MrJones' Funky Impact.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Ichiro
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Sailor Shoot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Ichiro
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 MrJones
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Sakura
Jones' sentiment is one that Ryu can understand. One that the World Warrior has echoed untold times over the years, through the trials and tribulations of his own training. Something he needs still today, to fight on past the point where his body tells him he should really lay down and quit, that he risks hurting himself further by pushing so hard. It's not a little voice that the Ansatsuken master has ever paid a great deel of mind. He doesn't interject into the argument, leaving it to Jones and his teammates - he simply makes his own mind up. If Jones wants to push, well.
For one: the other skilled martial artist is going to /have/ to. To the mind-expanding Ichiro, it might feel like the fluctuations of electricity, surging through Ryu's being as he suddenly weaves aside Jones' strike, and around the attacking fighter. It's a bolt of motion, of strength and energy, imposing itself over and into the wake of Mr. Jones' charge as Ryu's left leg snaps out low in a ground-level thrust, his foot seeking to take the funky fighter's ankles right out from under him.
... in the instant before the overcharged and enthusiastic Sakura erupts onto the scene, choking Ryu painfully for a moment before she finds her positioning... and sends her sensei hurtling off into the air, heels over head. Ryu tries to shift with the force, find his bearings and adapt his momentum to a new course - but in the end this new course is skidding, shoulder-first, into the dojo floor. He slides a little ways before rolling out and into a crouch, drawing a deep and steadying breath. It's as if the entire experience only redoubles the wanderer's focus, the echoing swell of the Hadou that suffuses him.
COMBATSYS: MrJones blocks Ryu's Medium Kick.
Swing and a miss! Jones doesn't doubt that Sakura's sensei had told her to always give it her all, perhaps not with the same vocabulary since Ryu doesn't strike him as the type of person that would say something like 'funky vibes', but the sentiment is the same. Mr. Jones never really had a sensei, he trained himself just hitting random gyms and trying to emulate the fighting style he saw in movies as a kid, yet not matter their paths, or where do they hail from, their destination is the same, spiritual enlightenment by becoming the best fighter that there ever was.
When his fist sails right past Ryu as he evades it, Mr. Jones already knows that he has left himself in a vulnerable position and gets ready to get out of the way. The attack comes much faster than he had expected, yet at the very least he recognizes the attack as a sweep and knows how to respond. "No way!!" His ankles are swept from under him but the funky fighter pushes himself back making a hand stand to break his fall and twirl back to land on his feet. "Too close!"
Deciding that it's best to retreat for now, continuing to back flip his way until he's away from Ryu's circle of defense, landing just in time to see Sakura Judo toss her own master. "Nice!" His shades shine watching that look of dejection from Sakura. Weird kid, Ryu must have his hands full teaching this young fiery girl and though she has a lot of potential she still seems to have the heart of a girl. It was wrong for him to react in such a manner as it might have hurt his teammates' feelings.... and that's not groovy.
"Don't you fret none girl." Jones switches strategy now, waiting to see an opening rather than make one, an opportunity he uses to lift Sakura's spirits. "Ain't nothing wrong with protecting others, but we all have to find our way. You should believe in us, just like we believe in you. Trust the funk and it will guide your fists."
COMBATSYS: MrJones focuses on his next action.
As the waves and eddies of chi impart their patterns on Oe's receiving mind, the spear fighter begins to feel distinct patterns of energy amid the seemingly chaotic fight. That mass of energy just flipped the other over; Sakura attacking Ryu... then Ryu.... lashes out at Mr. Jones... a kick maybe? A slow smile raises to Ichiro's serene countenance as he begins to make sense of it all. Will this help he and his teammates triumph as the fight continues. Possibly not, but it should turn out useful nonetheless.
"Good job Sakura!," Ichiro calls out to his teammate. She shows a lot of tenacity and promise. This must be why Ryu has taken an interest in her. A thoughtful look crosses Ichiro's face as he briefly wonders what Sakura's stance on 'proactive crime fighting' is. "Keep it up guys! We're starting to break through his defenses!" Oe calls out encouragingly. Adjusting his grip on his spear and setting his metallic round shield in a defensive position in front of him, Oe charges in again, right past Mr. Jones doling out his own wisdom like some sort of funky Jedi.
The sonar-like chi map of the battlefield still plays on his psyche as Ichiro nears Ryu and snakes his spear out around his shield, lashing out with a probing jab meant to throw off Ryu's balance before he strikes with his shield arm, attempting to bash the large metal object into the reacting Ryu even has he keeps his circular momentum turning by spinning into a back over-hand spear slash. Ryu doesn't seem to have much trouble blocking a kick here, a punch there. Maybe an efficient, punishing combo will do the trick!
Sakura rolls through the full momentum of her Sailor shoot right back onto the soles of her feet with something approaching grace but rendered inelegant buy throwing her arms wide for balance and the blue flap of her sailor scarf folding up over the back of her head, the tails of her headband doing the same but hanging right down in front of her face.
There are cheers form the crowd that someone finally landed a real hit on the World Warrior, Sakura wears a serious expression for a moment as she watches Ryu bound back to his feet but it quickly enough turns into a smile. She got him!
Her head cranes around eyes wide and blinking confusedly as Mr Jones tries to build her confidence back up with his speech about 'believing in one another and the Funk.' Having no idea what Funk could be the girl slowly nods along, As she receives words of encouragement from Ichiro as well she turns her head the other way and seems to be a little embarrassed about suddenly receiving praise from fellow fighters, the tails of her headband falling from her brow to lopping over either shoulder. Sakura is honoured, but she also has to give her very best to be worthy of it.
"Hai, lets shine even brighter!"
She rises back to her feet and squares her body off against Ryus position and begins to focus, deep rhythmic breathing as her clothing begins to flutter, shes building up an enormous amount of ki and focusing on Ryu her awareness of her surroundings and even her teammates positions starting to dim. She can do this.
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
Ryu's crouch simply won't do. Not when Oe rushes full on in like a whole phalanx of old world pain. The World Warrior darts left, darts right, weaving under the spearstrike before stepping aside in a swift rotation that subsequently brings him clear of the punishing followthrough. The Ansatsuken master smiles, sensing the distant thunderstroke speaking of the trio's preparations, seeking to sense those of one another... the slow, subtle synergizing. He seems to approve. Ryu also does something else.
The legendary wanderer attunes his own spirit, reverberating with the currents around them all - even those summoned and enhanced by the three warriors seem to drive the nomad's inner ki to ever-higher intensity, a flickering blue-edged, ragged white aura erupting all about him as he anchors his stance in a hard, wide set. Gloved hands flow through a quick kata, and the nomad's eyes narrow as he beckons - who? - forward. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it's an open invitation.
COMBATSYS: Ryu gathers his will.
Jonesy's hair billows in he air as Ichiro charges right past him. It's a rush just seeing Ryu fight and expertly evade those attacks as the experienced warrior that he is. Does he have practice against foes armed with spear and shield or he's just that damn fast? Even Jonesy with his keen eye to study foes' techniques and his knowledge of martial arts can't tell. He only knows that it'll take more than that to take this guy down.
"He's doing that thing..." Amongst Sakura's own cheer and Ichiro's battle care, the funky martial artist whispers, sensing a disturbance in the funk! "He's doing the same thing Sagat did." Now this is something that Mr. Jones recognizes, having danced with very high level fighters as of late. The electricity of chi flows in the air just like that Thai boxer had done in their little test, which means that soon after this there will be a very attack coming in the same way Sagat had done. He must not be allowed to do that!
"Yeah, we gotta keep at 'im!" This ain't over yet! Jonesy snaps his fingers and starts moving slowly forward, thinking of a break in Ryu's defense. "Ichiro's already on wedge formation, Sakura get to his left, I'll take his right." Like a groovy commander, Jones issues out orders, quickly following his own advice. "Spread out, don't let 'im caught you all tangled up!" Is his reasoning as he dashes to Ichiro's left, being Ryu's right, waiting until they are all in position before attacking! "HMRRGG!" The groovy martial artists seeks to capitalize that Ryu is on a long cocky stance to return the favor of how he attacked him earlier. Jonesy explodes from his back leg with a fist extended making it look like he's going to go for Ryu's face, only to switch midway and SLAM a kick right for Ryu's naked ankle to break his concentration, in more ways than one! "WOSHAA!"
Frowning dourly as Ryu dancing away from his barrage, Ichiro's mind races as he tries to come up with his next move before Ryu can interject. "Right on brother!" Ichiro replies to Mr. Jones as the funky fighter joins presses the attack to his left. Feint high, sweep low, not a bad tactic, Ichiro muses. What's even better? High-Low-High. As Mr. Jones goes in for the sweep, Ichiro once again dips down into the deep well of his Fighting Spirit and comes up with a metaphorical bucketful of the pure golden energy.
"Hiyaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Ichiro bellows as he forces the wave of energy down his arm and into his hi-tech alloy shield. The energy causes the clean titanium silver shine of the shield to glow suddenly as the energy builds past the material's energy gap, the bright golden glow quickly blinding as it builds to a crescendo before bursting a gout of gilded energy toward Ryu's upper body a split second after Mr. Jones' foot closes in.
The swell of energy building up within Sakura begins to reach a level she can't readily control and so she needs to channel it, the cupped hands at her side begin to fill with a swirling vortex of blue white light that emits strong levels of blue light that casts rays of light where is can escape through the gaps between her fingers. This is taking precious time and Ryu is on the move; but she has support, she isn't in this alone. Mr Jones and Ichiro are still on the offensive and that is buying her precious seconds. Sakura grits her teeth as she keeps pouring her ki into the attack, she begins to totter forward a little, closing some of the distance between Ryu and herself just to try and give him less opportunity to dodge.
"SHINKUUUUUUU"
The fight seems horribly far away, only the fact that Ryu shines so brightly lets her keep her focus on him rather than the effort that is starting to raise beads of sweat on her brow. The attack was straining to build and even more so to hold until her team-mates are safe and clear of the line of fire. Her eyes track and follow Ryu, have to find the right, moment, to...
"HADOOOUKEN!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Shinkuu Hadouken.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks MrJones' Slide Double.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ichiro's Auric Barrier.
'Each path is the conjunction of infinite branching choices, Ryu. All tied to those made by the ones around us - sometimes, even those we never knew, nor came close to meeting. Each thread of fate reaches only so far, before the branches are too numerous to count, much less discern causality within. Feel the moments as they pass around you, know why you fight. See what lies beyond your fist.'
The masterful student senses, he acts, his stance sturdy enough despite Jones' adept feint and strike. Much like the time before, Ryu steps into the blow, diverting Mr. Jones to one side while he grits his teeth and flexes his arm, driving a hardened elbow and forearm into the center of that reaving pulse of energy Ichiro unleashes on his other flank. His footing slides under Johnny's forceful strike, but it does not falter. His muscles scream at the intensity of the chi that cleaves into them, but his guard does not waver, the eruption dissipating outwards in a tremendous shockwave.
"TATSUMAKISENPUUUUUKYAKU!!!" The World Warrior is in motion forward again in the next breath. He feels the buildup of power from Sakura - but her choice, her patience, brings Ryu not -out- of her targetting zone... but into it. Whipping about himself, right leg rotoring like a helicopter blade, Ryu crashes right back through his assailants; though instead of beheading Ichiro and Jones - it simply threatens to hurl each of them harshly should it connect.
This also translates to a -perfect- shot for Sakura. Ryu doesn't even see her take it, not until he feels the pulse of chi closing in, coming about to raise his guard in midair.... and finding himself hurtling backwards at high velocity, the eruption crushing through his guard and slamming into him. The wall stops his motion with a harsh crack, and Ryu drops to the ground in a three-point crouch that rumbles all four walls... from something beyond the force of the nomad's descent.
Dark eyes snap back upwards, headband trailing behind the motion as he scans each opponent swiftly, carefully.
COMBATSYS: MrJones blocks Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro endures Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
>>> Punitive Hit!!! <<<
Is this guy made out of iron or somethin'!? Mr. Jones is impressed by all the redirects Ryu can make, but that would certainly take a toll in one's body! He's sure that if he were in Ryu's place right now, at least one of his bones would have snapped by now! It looks like Ryu not only has experience /and/ skill to back him up, he also has the body endurance to pull it all off! This guy is a machine, it's like punching a steel wall, except this wall moves lighting fast and punches you right back!
Wellp if it's any consolation at least Mr. Jones knows now that if he ever gets hit by an actual steel wall, he'll be able to survive it. "Oh shi--!" After their attacks connect with an indomitable guard Ryu looks like he levitates and starts spinning with a leg outstretched like a helicopter blade. Having no idea nor the time to think of how dodge that, Mr. Jones acts on instinct going to protect his important bits. Raising his forearm hight to take the blow there rather than in his afro! "ARGH!!" The strike solidly hits his arm causing the retro fighter to spin around several times and stagger backwards, his forearm feeling like it nearly snapped in two. But it's not for naught it seems, because even if Ryu can withstand all their attacks he still can't withstand his own chi strikes.
"Yeah! Nailed him!" Cheers Jonesy as he straightens up going for the rebound! He usually doesn't go for underhanded attacks like this, but if Ryu is down on the ground it means that he's not in a position to defend himself. Dashing towards the Legendary Warrior with blurring speed, Johnny Jones prepares to capitalize on Ryu's position with a fancy attack of his own. "Ayyo!!" Least thing he can do is hail him before attacking though, as he makes a somersault going for a vicious axe kick right for the nomad's head "Shooo!!"
Attack. Defend. Attack. Defend. And so the pattern goes. The give and take of a fight always has a rhythm to it, and this is something all good fighters can sense. Up until now every time Ichiro and his team levies an assault against Ryu, the older man is able to defend against it and ripost with an attack of his own, causing them to scramble and try and protect themselves, giving Ryu an opportunity to ready and unleash another devastatingly effective onslaught. Sometimes there is only one way to break free of an unfavorable tempo.
Gritting his teeth against the oncoming whirlwind of kicks, Ichiro reaches out for Ryu's leg as it flies toward him after slamming against Jones' guard. Attempting to catch the crushing blow as it slams into his body, Ichiro manages to hold on for a moment, even as he hears his ribs cracking painfully. Then Sakura's hadouken hits. Most of the blow is soaked up by Ryu, but the force of the attack still sends Ichiro flying backwards just the same.
Landing with a metallic clatter behind the World Warrior, Ichiro doesn't waste any time in surging forward, rushing toward Ryu's back even as Mr. Jones charges the front gates. Ichiro's spear erupts with golden chi as he raises his shield and attempts to slam it into Ryu yet again. If he is able to connect with the shield charge, Ichiro will unleash a barrage of chi-imbued lightning fast spear jabs aimed at Ryu's torso before launching into a spinning overhand shield and spear combination, lashing out first with a shield swipe, then a brutal spear slash as he spins into Ryu, his attack threatening to send a wave of golden chi over the World Warrior as Ichiro spins like a deadly top.
Relief wells up as the surging mass of Ki collects Ryu midstream of its path and trajectory rather than him nimbly dodging it. Sakura is over the moon that she managed to land the strike, the gathered power of that attack had taken time and was one of her strongest techniques; but the grim set to her mouth tells of the regret the young fighter feels that the attack could not have been launched sooner. The impetuous nature of youth and inexperience trying to tell her that she could have been faster and saved her team-mates rather than waiting for an opening.
But all three fighters are still standing and fighting despite fighting a man who may well be a living legend! Sakura starts her inbound rush "Guys..." she can't be the only one holding back from going hand to hand with Ryu, she not afraid to!! she could continue to batter away at Ryu from a distance but she already knows he will outlast her if she tries that tactic. Arms and legs pumping, sneakers squealing as she varies her angle of attack slipping left and right to keep Ryu guessing. As she closes in however she dips her knees enough that her fingertips brush the floor and launches into the air, a flying Kick and a high pitched kiai "Chesto!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Sakura's Strong Kick.
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries MrJones' Medium Kick!
COMBATSYS: Ichiro successfully hits Ryu with Heavenly Jewelled Spear.
All that power - all that potential. Ryu's senses are flooded by it, as the three make their concerted move to end the fight - or at least take it dramatically back. Ryu slides into a ready stance, eyes flashing between Sakura, and Ichiro, and Mr. Jones. Even the most finely tempered steel can be stressed beyond its limits - but near said limits is the place where the legendary wanderer /lives/. It all happens in a blink of an eye, to the rest of the stadium. The triad strike, in near-perfect synergy, one into another with no moment to prepare. No moment to think.
So, Ryu acts. If he was fast before? Well, it seems he found the nitrous switch. Even to the trained eye, Ryu's sudden motions are difficult to track, perhaps difficult to believe. Despite his inopportune posture, he's blurring in a sidelong lunge out from under Jones' pragmatic descent, coming around in a ready stance aligned sidelong with Sakura. His palm comes up and around, and the flying kick is deflected so gently one has to watch the replay to be sure contact was made. In a perfect fighting focus, Ryu weaves and steps around and under Sakura, his head snapping about as eyebrows rise at the sudden surge of power within Ichiro Oe.
Forcing past the remarkable amounts of dazed pain and jiggling the stick fast enough to avoid a dizzy, Ryu capitalizes on Oe's proximity as his hands thrust forward, reflexively more than consciously, reacting with intense power of his own to get this guy /off/ him - now. "HADOOOOUKEN!!!" It echoes out as a fiery surge swirls into existance in the scant space between Ryu's thrusting hands, and the recovering Ichiro. It burns the air therein in an instant, the bits of white gi still in the air going up like floating ashes, incinerated in an instant. Another instant, and that may be Oe.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Ichiro with Shakunetsu Hadouken EX.
> Determined Hit! <
This guy is not only incredibly tough but fast too! Mr. Jones knew that it was the honorable thing to do, but maybe in a situation like this giving Ryu a heads up of his attack was perhaps not the smartest thing to do. Oh well, considering everything he has seen so far, it's likely Ryu might have dodged that anyway. His axe kick fails to connect by miles, Jones lands on his feet facing the wall and feels a sense of dread even before he can turn around.
"Yikes!!" Jonesy slides right out of the way when Ryu comes back at him, though it's not because he wanted to slam him with his back, but apparently it was due to Ichiro impaling him with his spear right into the wall! Jones eyes boggle for a moment thinking that the legendary might as well be killed now after taking a spear to the body like that and he whistles. "Time out dude, you don't wanna kill the guy." If only Johnny Jones knew that it takes much more than that to take the Legendary Ryu down.
"What the---" If his eyes were wide before, now they're as wide as dinner plates. Ryu not only survives the spear blow, he also has enough energy to gather enough chi to blast the poor spearman into smithereens. "No freaking way!!" What is this guy made off!!? "GRAAH!!!" The music inside Mr. Jones plays faster and louder now, it's a deadly dance now, if Ryu can do that to someone in the verge of being defeated he really doesn't want to see what he can do to him! He cannot stop on his attacks, he has to find that opening and he has to find it now! Jones is as always on the attack and swings a lariat strike right for Ryu's neck, to slam his windpipe with Jonesy' forearm and ram him back against the wall. He's bleeding, if it bleeds he can be KO'd.
Panting heavily with exhaustion after pinning Ryu against the wall, Ichiro manages a bloody wolfish grin for the World Warrior. "Gotcha-" he starts to informs Ryu, but his victory is short lived as the older fighter manages to raise his hands for another hadouken, even after just taking all that punishment. "-NO!" Ichiro cries out as he realizes what is about to happen. Rather than fall back or dodge to try and avoid the attack, the battered and beaten Einherjar, still in his all out, all or nothing mindset, simply raises his shield and rushes forward, attempting to smother the hadouken with his defensive armament even as he unleashes one last attack against the worldly champion.
HADOOOOUKEN! The fiery surge of energy blasts into the shield with such force that the straps binding it to Ichiro's arm almost seem to disintegrate as the shield, supposedly made out of a nearly indestructible advanced metal alloy, blackens and warps as it flies off of Oe's forearm with a loud PING and rockets across the arena to skitter to a stop on the ground like the twisted piece of trash that it is. The burning chi, diverted for a moment by the shield continues to wash over Ichiro as he presses in on Ryu, the overwhelming force of the attack quickly taking the force out of the young man's charge and turning it into more of a fall as the black haired youth softly slumps against Ryu's chest. "...got me..." he coughs before sliding down the World Warrior's torso to collapse at his feet.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro can no longer fight.
Sailing through the air with leg stretching out and skirt flapping wildly Sakura brushes past Ryu in such a manner that she's not sure whether she just plain missed him, he's long gone by the time she crouch slides slow to the point she can turn and manages to come around. Her feet squeal as for a moment she seems to run on the spot trying to gather up enough traction to start going the way she actually intends.
Her newfound charge faulters while watching the spear tearing and throwing torn pieces of white fabric and scattering droplets of red as her Sensei is driven back into the wall with nowhere else to go. Both hands raise to cover her mouth, the scene in itself is horrific to watch from that close even if the fighting spirit of neither man seems to be diminished by it "Ryu-san!"
The gathering ki in the world warriors hands is a relief, its still strong and bright her worries over his health diminish slightly as the moment where she realises he is fighting back against someone who is point blank right in his face. Spear tip still pinning him in place but his arms free Ryu is in a a dangerous yet advantageous position. She tries to call out a warning but it is already too late, perhaps both fighters in that position already knew that "ICHIRO-SAN!" Twisted metal flies past her head close enough to shift the hair and flap the long white headband tails as Ichiro sluimps forward to fall.
Her gloves creak as she tightens her fists and and assumes her en garde position. "Ichiro-san, we wont lose!" the burning desire to win positively ignites, even against her sensei and even if he's hurt. Someone is depending on them to continue a fight she bounces on the balls of her feet giving Ryu time enough to slip away from the downed Ichiro, fighting in and around a downed opponent would be as dangerous for them as it was for the fighters themselves.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends MrJones' Jab Punch!
Battered bloody, pushed to his limits, but somehow not exhausted, not even slowing down. Ryu steels his jaw, a steadiness reflected in the wandering champion's eyes as he guides Ichiro's fall aside and finds his own ready stance. No, he's not about to give it up - no matter how well this trio has done so far. "Heh. One heck of a fight." The nomad half-coughs, mostly to Ichiro; or perhaps himself.
As mentioned: All the pummeling doesn't seem to be imparting any delay to Ryu's reflexes. His instincts intact, perhaps even /sharpened/ by the chaos around him, Ryu leaps back into the fray with tenacity, catching Mr. Jones' forearm on the way in and guiding it down and around. The classic motion diverts all that force into a twist of Jones' arm, the outward deflection threatening to rip through his jumpsuit sleeve, so abrupt is it. All that energy courses up through Ryu's limb, to ears that can hear its motion, his other hand clenched back, and to his side. "NrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHH....."
The power gathering sets hair on end even in the front rows of the audience, who join in a joint breath as Ryu steps one pace away from Jones, and bunkers down around his own frame, arcs of electricity surging inward from the very air. Inward, to a wildly luminescent, crackling, blue-white ball of pure stormfront fury. It bolts from the ether, it courses up from his core, arcs of lightning erupting down wildly tensing arms. When his eyes lock on Jones? They are vacant, flooded with white energy that burns through, blotting out his brown irises.
"HADOOOOOOOOOUKEN!!!!!" It's projected forward, a densely packed taser++ of crackling, purest chi, threatening enough current to rip the funky fighter's muscles apart with spasms.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits MrJones with Denjin Hadouken.
First the 'fro, now the suit, Mr. Jones thinks Ryu really has it out to mess up his style. When his forearm is grabbed with such skill, Jones already knew he was about to be taken for a ride being caught overextending himself and it honestly doesn't surprise him that Ryu goes for the Aikido throw and uses his own momentum against him to fling him to the side nearly ripping through the sleeve of his yellow jump suit. "Dang!" This is really not looking good, Mr. Jones always was the faster one in fights, he has no idea how to deal with someone that can out maneuver him.
Nor does he know how to deal with projectiles yet. As he is tossed aside, he twirls on his own axis to keep his footing and face Ryu, only to realize that he's about to get treated with the same deal that Ichiro was just moments ago. "Aw man." That's exactly what he didn't want to happen. But alas, he's going to go down like a man before getting smashed disco style. He clenches his teeth, digs his heels on the ground and braces himself for the collision of chi that blasts right through him with a powerful explosion!
When the smoke clears, surprisingly, Jones is still standing. Smoked, part of his hair on fire and his shades cracked, which promptly break apart and fall to the ground in pieces along a shaky Johnny who goes into one knee. "Guh...I had just gotten those repaired after Sagat.." One mishap after another for Jones.
COMBATSYS: MrJones gains composure.
It's happening again, Ryu quickly traps and counters another assault with a answering attack with a second hadouken. Its all starting to go bad and tipping closer to Ryu's favour. Ichiro-san is already down and that attack and sent Mister Jones reeling, the small fire in his hair made her heart go out to the man. "My turn" She may have landed some hits but up until this moment she has still been fighting cautiously and with great respect for what Ryu is capable of. She hasn't really punched it and pushed her limits because she is maybe afraid of what those limits will be.
Foot steps thundering on the sanded wooden floor as Sakura rushes; she suddenly takes on an odd gait she bounces to her left in a hop, comes back right in a higher leap gaining a bit more momentum and speed and then explodes into a dervish like spin extending her leg in a twirling kick "Shunpuu Kyaku!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu fails to interrupt Shunpuu Kyaku from Sakura with Shoryuken.
Ryu is never finished until he's down, and out, possibly several times over relative to a rational human being. Case in point: now. The battered World Warrior fights like a man possessed, electrifying Jones and turning without missing a beat to redirect his offensive at Sakura. But his pupil is fast, and the fight has been long - all the speed in the world can't stop Kasugano from whipping in past his guard, her sneakered foot cracking squarely into Ryu's head.
The hard-skulled warrior staggers backwards, launched out of his crouch by the sudden introduction of, well, said boot to the head. A brisk shake of his head spatters blood still leaking from Ichiro's assault, aggravated by Sakura's, from his face to the floor, but the Ansatsuken Master just cracks a quick - if someone macabre - grin. Still, there's no lack of easy warmth. Fight on! It's just a flesh wound!!
Something in common with Jones, indeed.
People will never guess it, but Ryu and Jones have a lot in common, why dare I say, they are kindred souls! Yes, really, people will never guess just by looking at them. The by the book stoic and sharp eyed martial artist in comparison to the yellow suited, afro clad, shade sparkling, flamboyant movie actor. Yet as they both hit the ground and start getting back to their feet, their movements are the same, their look is the same, their thoughts...maybe the same? You never know what can possibly be going through Jones' head.
Except now, by the look Jones gives Ryu after he got smacked by Sakura. It is definitely clear what he's thinking when staring at the side of the Ansatsuken warrior.
There's the opening.
COMBATSYS: MrJones focuses on his next action.
Sakura is on fire, she wont stop until something makes her stop, the impact of the hit transitions up her leg and as she drops to the floor she keeps that spinning momentum going. fast as she can be! strong as she can be! Muscles are straining as it feels like the air itself is trying to slow her down, her teeth are bared in effort but her eyes are bright with enjoyment and hope. The fight isn't over yet and the Japanese schoolgirl is finally giving it all she has got.
She leeeeans into this hit, even as her spin is slowing she unloads all of it into a hook, her wrist, elbow and shoulder all rolling slightly trying to add even more weight to the strike she even leans to the side tipping her waist and upper body; only her head differs as a part of her sinking down like she is trying to bob her head out of his reach to avoid a counter hit from someone with a longer striking zone or reach "Haaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Sakura's Strong Punch.
Ryu is sort of like the Oprah of the fighting world. He is every warrior. Sadly, he is not rich enough to give away cars to the audiences at his fights. ... or is he?!?! No one is looking under their seats just now, however. The nomad catches Jones' look, the martial artist's preparation. Preparation he can scarcely afford - yet welcomes in the same breath.
There's only a scant half-instant for that glance, and awareness, however. Sakura presses the attack, and Ryu deftly drops under the swinging fist, the rush of air further tousling his hair as he slips around Sakura... and steps in. His back is to Jones, but only for about another half an instant. Ryu's hand snaps out, for Sakura's uniform. Should he find his grip, she would join him on the abrupt trip backwards, his weight rolling away, to the floor, as his foot seeks to add momentum to the effort to /heave/ Kasugano clear - maybe Jones will catch her?
The classic sacrifice throw is exercised with supreme efficiency, and an echoing, "HAAAAAH!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Tomoe Nage.
- Power hit! -
Mr. Jones meets Ryu's stare with one of his own, the funky martial artist returning to his Jeet Kune Do stance thinking that Ryu is about to engage him again. Though as Sakura comes in with a swift kick, he realizes that he is currently too preoccupied going down on his back to fling the spitfire of a school girl directly at him. Now, one could argue that in theory his afro is a pillowy cushion that can easily break Sakura's fall, though by the look that Jonesy gets when he looks up, licks his fingers and uses it to put the flame on his hair out, apparently he has other ideas.
Sakura sails directly towards him and the funky dancer flashes a grin remembering a previous fight he had giving him an idea. "Oh? You wanna dance too?" Laughs he as he reaches up to grab Sakura by her hands and spin her around giving her an airplane ride. What in blazes is he doing!? "Gotta remember your positions girl, you stay on his left." Grins the funky dancer as he spins around and around before tossing Sakura clear over Ryu's head returning her to her original position beside the World Warrior. Hopefully Ryu will be wondering what's going on at this time to look up at the flying school girl, an opportunity the retro dancer will use to dash against Ryu's right side and engage him from both sides. With his back to the wall he'll have little places to run.
"NOW!"
Commands the groovy martial artist, going into a flying kick aimed directly at the back of Ryu's neck, possibly with the intent of injuring the fighter's windpipe with a guillotine strike. "WATAAAAAAAA!!"
Her body is already stressing with the weight and method of her attack, As Ryu slips past she doesn't even have time to question how he can move that fast before she is wrenched skywards "Guahhh" her body protests under the strain and she can feel muscle and bones protesting the abrupt change in direction.
Sakura actually experiences something new as even the bloodflow inside her body is subject to the sudden increase in G-forces. Her vision tunnels and everything starts going grey and fuzzy. Her eyes dulled buy the lapse of consciousness the fuku clad girl arcs gentyle through the air with a lot of momentum and covering some distance, probably in for a painful landing if but for her team-mate. She hardly even registers the contact of his hand grabbing hers before he whips her around and sends her rocketing back, The gentler spin helps her regain some of her sense but before she can even cobble together a comprehensible sentence she flying once again.
Taking control of her arc she begins a back somersault in her slow descent and is glad some of the cobwebs are starting to shake free. She hits the ground and starts running, a kiai building, she may have lost out just then but the same motivation keeps pushing her forward. Further, the knuckle guard of her gauntlets scrape along the ground as she rushes at Ryu. "En'nou ba!" energy building for the Shou'ou Ken her body is protesting so but she is pushing it as far as she can. She can barely see the opponent in front of her fist but that that won't stop her giving it her all.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks MrJones and Sakura' Time for some of that Funk Milk.
The all-out onslaught. Ryu knew it was high time - one way or another, it was coming now. He steadied his stance. His legs hurt, but they were steady, stable like the base of the mountain. His head ached, but his mind was clear, clear as the forest spring, quiet as its burble... despite the ample, resounding noise filling the arena, now. His body was sore, but his spirit burned on, bright and agile as the fire. His limbs were heavy... but their weight did not slow him. The legendary wanderer breathed in, focused all the strength left in his body, and faced down the assault with fearless determination.
The swinging, axing kick (Mr. Jones sure does love to choke a guy) meets a vertical forearm, the harsh impact jarring Ryu to the bone, even as the leading blows of his protege's own technique crash hard into the swiftly realigned guard, crossed arms guiding her up and away from his body. The Ansatsuken master, however, does not retreat. He answers in kind. As Sakura's sneakers touch down, there's no time for the duo to do anything else. Ryu's elbow is leading like a bullet train for Sakura's sternum.
It's just a lead-up, really. That's a great comfort. He drops low in a sharp, coiling compression of muscle mass and ki power, all of it reverberating towards a central point, and focusing out through his right fist. A resounding warhead of a punch, something almost supernatural, at the end of the day. A swell of raw spiritual potential, delivered in a strike that would send tremors throughout the dojo arena.
"SHOOOOOOORYUKEN!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Shin Shoryuken+.
+ Epic Hit! +
> Determined Hit! <
Ribs creak under the stress of the impact, Ryus gauntlet buried in her sternum doubles her upper body over and pulls her lower body up in its wake, a rocket ready for ignition and flight. Her eyes shrink to small points and a trail of saliva from her gaping mouth and recently compacted ribcage. There is pain like most people wouldn't believe and a threshold in which people just switch off, where pain isn't an issue any more.
'Sakura, why do you fight?' Kei understands her more than most but its hard to explain, she doesn't know how to really answer that question, 'Honey, we worry you are going to get hurt' that was always a possibility the people she fought were strong and skilled, she can't explain herself well enough for her parents liking. 'Sakura' *flash* 'Sakura' *flash* 'could you?' *flash* 'Sakura' *flash* 'why Sakura?' *Flash*.
She arcs backwards through the air on a high flung arc, eyes glassy and hardly responsive, the stadium lights are so bright and far off and she is looking right into them. 'Sakura' Ryus voice, Ryus back.. always walking along on a path thats hard to follow, one foot in her own world and one foot in his trying to catch up or not fall further behind.
"Sa-ku-ra" its a low chant, a thumping she can feel in the arena floor as she lays face down on it. Sakura can't let herself fall unconscious just yet, that delightful band where pain just stops is a luxury she cant afford., after all. She is a fighter and she has a fight to finish. Drawing her arms under her body and pushing off with both her hands and her forehead Flash 'Sakura, you're pretty cool sometimes when you fight.' that had made her blush 'Give it you all then honey, train hard so you don't get hurt.' she had been over the moon
"Sa-ku-ra! Sa-ku-ra!"
she levers herself of the ground, getting her legs under herself and tottering shakily to her feet. Gauntlet wiping at the corner of her mouth and breathing heavily, standing shakily. I don't know why, because I can.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Sakura has reached second wind!
The edge of his foot connected with thick forearm /again/ instead of the soft neck that he had aimed for... /again/. Jonesy knew that he had ran out of luck this time, caught in mid air like this reminds him far too much of his fight against Sagat and how he pummeled him right after he took one of Jones flying kicks right in the face. The groovy fighter had given it his all, but sometimes, your all is not enough. It was a good dance, he says to himself, he had learned a lot which he'll be sure to put to practice if he doesn't forget everything after Ryu uppercuts him away. So certain he is that Ryu will turn around to pummel him, so sure he is that he's the next target, that he doesn't realize he's shouting until the name comes out of his mouth.
"SAKURAAA!!"
First Ichiro and now Sakura!? It wasn't supposed to happen like this! The two of them were supposed to shield the girl until they could hold no longer giving the fuku clad girl the opportunity she needed to finally knock out her sensei. To see her fall before he does makes Mister Jones feel that he has failed them all. He's not one to despair easily, but let's be real now man, the only one that had a chance here was Sakura, Jones and Ichiro were just meat shields.
But wait, maybe there's still hope! Sakura is starting to slowly get back up from the devastating blow and she may yet be able to return to the fray, at least if Ryu doesn't smack her down again just as she's getting up. However he won't be able to do that if he finds himself attacked from the other side.
"Yo! Over here tough guy!" Looking to draw Ryu's attention to him, Jonesy heckles him from behind as he rushes in to attack him once again, leaping to the air leading with both feet as he sends a flurry of kicks towards his body!
"ATATATATATATATATATA!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges MrJones' Bicycle Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MrJones
They all call her name - and rightly so, as the Taiyo prodigy holds defiantly to her wits through one of the fighting world's most infamous techniques. Or at least, /regains/ her wits - and quickly. Ryu doesn't join in the chant, he simply murmurs it, "Sakura." There's an element of concern, but also respect. Consideration. Has she come this far? Or is it her spirit that outshines the spotlight? Always, with this one, it is the combination that makes her as good as she is - and as unpredictable.
His own path is a deeply personal one, clear and focused from early on - even if he did not see it more clearly until later. Paradox is par for the course. As is a lack of time to contemplate when in the midst of an all-out fray. The chance to get reacquainted with Jones' feet is not welcomed by the World Warrior, the flurrying onslaught seeing him dance back on the heels of his feet with alarming quickness, staying one step ahead of bruising impacts that he really can't take the time to chat with, just now.
Mr. Jones doesn't have to shout to keep Ryu's attention - but he will have to think fast to keep his own footing as the nomad steps back in abruptly the instant the other warrior touches down, weaving a bracing forearm high, for Jones' neck, and a sweeping heel low, for the back of his legs. It could end with a rather unpleasant inversion. "HYAAAAAAAAH!!!"
COMBATSYS: MrJones blocks Ryu's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 MrJones
> ///// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sakura
It would truly be a touching scene if it weren't such a desperate struggle for survival. Mr. Jones does hate to interrupt on such a touching occasion between teacher and student, if could help it he'd be happy to stand on the side line and watch, it's just that it's too tempting of an opening to not attack Ryu. Having grown frustrated with Ryu's indomitable defense, the groove master sees a mere inch in the Ryu's guard, a little tiny crack on the nomad's concentration and this causes him to try and take that chance! A chance that is dashed away as soon as it was given thanks to his reflexes, the groovy fighter ends up sending his flurry of kicks against the air when the World Warrior merely starts to backpedal to avoid him.
This time though he's not going to be caught flat footed as he was with his other flying kick. If Jones still had his shades on they'll be flashing now when he notices Ryu going inside his defenses. Yes! Hand to hand just the way he likes it. "GGKK!!" There's a thick forearm that connects solidly against his neck accompanied by a sweep of his feet. Yet, even as he loses his balance feeling himself toppling backwards, Jonesy can be seen grinning since he recognizes the technique Ryu had tried to pull on him earlier. Just as before, Jonesy doesn't resist the throw and actually pushes himself backwards to go with the flow, giving him enough momentum to go into a handstand to then kick himself back to his feet. "Woo!!" He reassume his Jeet Kune Do style trying to still keep Ryu's attention on him and away from Sakura. "Gotta be honest though, I hope that one day I become as groovy as you are."
COMBATSYS: MrJones focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 MrJones
> ///// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sakura
Pegasus Ichiro squirts more cocoa butter on them. "Thanks." :(
Sakura is still struggling with the whole concept of consciousness, breaths do not come easily and every one is painful but that just means she is still alive, she can still fight. She raises one arm, looking right down it at the seemingly distant figure of Ryu, the other arm is slower in rising but meshes with the underside of her raised arm forming the lower half of the clamshell formation her hands are taking. Hands are shaking and vision is a little bit wobbly but clearing still, her knees aren't entirely along for the ride and keep trying to tell her brain to give up and let them buckle.
"Shinku--"
She pulls her arms back and pours her ki into the space between her palms, The formation is sloppy but her endurance is questionable after that last hit, this could be as far as she goes so its everything she has. The crowd revels in the drama as she totters forwards, weaving sideways and advancing with her fiery blue storm of ki held between her palms. "Had-" she can't quite muster the energy just yet, Another tottering step, her energy is still coming back.. but its with each pace its more time to recover, its not much but its enough!
"HADOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Shinkuu Hadouken.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 MrJones
> //// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
This Jones guy! He's tenacious. He's skilled. His defenses? /Electric/. Color Ryu impressed - and when he was pushed to his limits a few instants back, well. Now he's needing even more juice to stay in the game. Not the funky milk, but perhaps a cousin of some sort. He can't let up, not now. Not when they've come so far together! Ryu finds another gout of chi from his seemingly endless inner reserves, mirroring the motion Sakura makes, but in a much swifter - and less voluminous fashion.
The legendary nomad's palms thrust back in for Jones, refusing to give him an instant to get his bearings - and calculating an instant longer than it takes Sakura to find /hers/. "HADOOOOUKEN!!" The brilliant blue-white blast erupts for the closer adversary, and then Sakura's uber fireball rips into her teacher. Or does it? At the last moment, Ryu moves. Not /entirely/ clear, but what would have taken consciousness from the nomad instead rips painfully through his shoulder, as he comes about in crouch... facing Sakura and Mr. Jones, his vision clear. Save the blood trickling down around his left eye, at least.
"How you fought today... is as cosmic as groove comes." The nomad half-hisses out. The very /idea/ of laughing right now hurts. Not until he's done with these two.
COMBATSYS: MrJones fails to interrupt Hadouken from Ryu with Slide Double.
[ \\\\\\ < > //// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: MrJones can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ < > //// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Sacrifices must be made in a fight. Jones knows, just as all good fighters know, that sometimes you have to get in to land a solid blow. Or in cases of a chaotic brawl such as this, sometimes you have to go in and distract a foe so that an ally scores a well needed hit. Throws, kicks, punches, even shoryukens and that other tornado kick with the really long name, Mister Jones can take 'em, he's got the groove to back him up. Hadokens and fireballs like that? He's not that down with the groove just yet.
"Crap." The funky fighter recognizes the move instantly, he's in trouble now, more than any other time in the fight. In a mad suicide dash he thinks that he can simply rush Ryu and punch the fireball away as he did once before with his encounter with Frei. Though as his knuckles collide with the blue blast of chi he finds that the nomad's blast is a weeee bit more powerful than the chi master. "Well this is gonna suck---" Famous last words. Mr. Jones is enveloped in the blast and tossed aside by the pressure, his smoked figure rolls on the ground several times until he finally lands on his rear holding a burnt arm, coughing smoke. "Ugh.....I'm all....funked out....man..." He wheezes, landing somewhere around where Ichiro is. "Sakura...it's all up to you babe..." Manages to say with all the groove that remains with him before collapsing.
You know, no pressure!
Sakura lets her arms begin to lower but tightens the cupped palms one more into fists and assumes her guarded stance, there is no energy left for her to bounce on the spot, one eye has drifted closed and her mouth is constantly open as she pants, short sharp breaths that aren't taxing her already sore ribcage. She is in trouble but she is still standing.
Her heart sinks a little watching the exchange between Ryu and Mr Jones, their exchange of words is lost on her. But she recognises the fact that her team mate is down, its just her and Ryu, No pressure. Despite it all the corners of her mouth turn up in a slight smile, there is no animosity between teacher and student, she feels nothing but respect and privilege in being someone who knows and gets to fight the man.
But she wouldn't be who she was if she wasn't also trying to win, for herself and her team. The crowd is mostly quiet now as these will probably be the last moments of the fight quiet enough that she feels she could say something, but its a good feeling just facing off against him. She swings a fist experimentally in a jab looking right down her arm and gauntleted fist at the Ansatsuken master and then at the man beyond it. Sakura is smiling as she does a finger wave beckoning Ryu. Come. she doesn’t trust her own legs enough to move from the spot.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Sakura
The moment that Jones moves in counter to the Hadouken, Ryu's eyes narrow - he's alert for the moments it takes for his talented adversary to find himself blasted aside, rather than powering through the blue-white burst. There's a respectful nod offered to Jones, and then Ryu's guard is brought up anew as he shifts to face Sakura, flexing one arm back near his body - ready. "That's still... quite a bit of will." The nomad notes with a slight smile.
... but is she ready to focus it, as surely as she summons it? "I will honor your challenge." The legendary wanderer inclines his head once more, and despite his own aches, despite his own desire for a moment's breath... he fights on. He fights harder, still. He charges the span of the dojo arena separating him from Sakura in the instant, slides low, and ERUPTS skyward in a demonstration of the ultimate concealed hand cannon.
It takes a blink of an eye, if that, to decide the course of their fates - his gloves fist reaves skyward, reverberating with so much inner force it distorts the currents along its legendary trajectory. Ryu whips upwards, the camera rigs fly in around to get /all/ the angles, and the cry echoes off the reinforced clear safety barriers. "SHOOOOOORYUKEN!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\ < > ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
[ \\\\\\ <
Ryu 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ <
Ryu 0/-------/----===|
Being treated as an equal by fighters is a hard won honour, double edged since it means they wont hold back against you, accepting you as one of their own. Sakura can hardly move and facing down a man who has already defeated two of the three fighters arrayed against him, her fate seems sealed but she won't admit defeat until it is forced upon her. Her smile brightens as Ryu acknowledges her challenge, perhaps even out of pity for how hard she is finding it to move right now.
Still panting but watching the incoming master she shifts her guard trying to work out how he will strike, as he begins to slide and come in low her eyes widen "Oh no." She can see it, she abandons her weakened block and tries to throw herself backwards but it is too late to avoid, her grin is strained but smiling down at her opponent "Maybe, next time." A flash of spirit and cheek as the rising fist scores along the front of her torso and glancing on her jaw enough to snap her head back and somersault the girl lazily backwards through the air.
She hits the ground in a limp seemingly boneless fashion, already unconscious, limbs splayed wide as she bounces and comes to a halt as she rolls onto her side, her face is peaceful and mellow in unconsciousness, marred only by the scrapes and injuries from the fighting she looks as she might if she were asleep.
COMBATSYS: Ryu wanders on to find the next challenge.
Log created on 20:51:01 11/26/2011 by Ryu, and last modified on 16:45:09 11/29/2011.