Description: Ken heads to Metro City for business, but decides to get himself a rematch while he's at it. Old wounds are re-opened and shocking secrets are brought to the surface... Oh and Todoh was involved somehow.
Regardless of how it looks, Ken Masters has snuck into Metro City once more, this time for business. The wounds of what had happened just a year ago make him shudder to see just how the city has moved on. Of course, he's got plenty of alterior motives for being here.
Zach Glen may be dragging his heels in a way on getting his laundry list of things taken care of for his current life goal, but the blonde Ansatsuken master is actually making a few more calls. One of them just so happens to be a bit more personal in a way.
Ken's a message sent to a certain idol's manager requesting her presence in Metro City for a friendly re-match, considering the brutality of what happened the last time they fought. A distinct lack of that almost ever present grin is kind of obvious due to the fact that he is pretty nervous in a way. This could go bad so fast in so many ways.
It's a big thing that Zach is working on. It's something he wants, but is not entirely certain he is /ready/ for. In such cases, Zach's preferred method is to prepare more. Ken is slowly, surely, pulling that route away from him. He is handling it as best as he is able.
He was in Metro City dealing with the bidding process, when he got the phone call from Ken Masters. He was given a time and a place, and not a whole lot else.
Needless to say, the psion is in for a few surprises.
The reply to the inquiry came back to the affirmative, arrangements were made, and plans put in motion. At the appointed time, she is there. A luxurous stretched SUV parked off to the side must be what she arrived in, but at this moment, she is already in the open, standing near the area that has been cordoned off at the Metro Square. Being able to reserve the famous Metro Square fighting pavillion on such short notice just hints at the influence the mastermind behind this event actually has.
The popular idol fighter would be getting mobbed by people if there weren't staff on hand to keep that very thing from happening. But her smile is friendly, her waves to those gathered plentiful, and her attitude the persistent cheerfulness that her public persona is known for. She is clothed in a sleeveless, form-fitting psuedo-Chinese-styled tunic that is a mixture of eye-catching bright pink with bands of white. It tapers off into flaps in front and back and on each side at her waist and beneath it is worn blue shorts. Her most renown hairstyle has her leaving her long, violet hair loose against her back, but today it is curled up into a pair of buns on the crowns of her head and a couple of braids to take up the slack. And of course her star-decorated headband is present as always - the singularly most consistent element of her ever changing wardrobe, it must bear some significance to the girl.
She turns toward Ken Masters when the world-famous celebrity approaches, but another signiture seems to catch her thoughts for a moment, and her eyes flicker toward Zach Glen himself. Head canting to the side slightly, she seems confused for a moment, but whatever thoughts go through her mind are tucked away quickly enough as her smile returns, focus once again on the man who put this event together. "Ken!" she waves, moving closer to him across the stonework plaza. Her feet are clad in shoes as distressingly pink as her tunic with a stripe of violet that closely matches the hue of her hair. "I'm glad to see you again." Last time was on, well, strange terms. But news of his recovery definitely circulated the rumor mills before long and her concerns about him were put to rest.
She senses something uneasy about him and almost opens her mouth to pry but decides not to. She's never quite sure where that line lies... that border that other people know not to cross when it comes to asking about feelings others might desire to keep hidden. It's hard to keep them hidden from her for long, but not knowing when to keep quiet has resulted in some rather... awkward conversations over the years. And this is in the open.
She settles for something safer. "Thank you for setting this up. I'm grateful for the opportunity to test what I can do against someone as capable as you." she finishes with a cheerful smile. People like him and Ryu, she muses, reflecting for only a moment on her recent bout against the other famous Ansatsuken master... the power to change the world, provided they use it well. She hopes to reach that point some day.
A slight smile rises on Ken's face as he extends his right hand out in greeting to the idol. "It's been quite a while Miss Asamiya. I'm not quite sure if you two have met, but this is Zach Glen. He's a friend and business partner of mine." The blonde Ansatsuken master isn't really allowing his emotions to seep through, doing his best to try and keep a level head. Of course he could apologize for hours on end for what happened, but the past is the past, and most people generally don't want to go digging it up.
"I have to admit I have a secondary motive for asking you here. Zach's got something brewing that I think would intrest you as well. He's not quite ready to go public with it, but I figured that there wouldn't be any real harm in getting some of the networking groundwork going for him." A quick wink is given to Zach as he takes a few steps backwards away from Athena now, trying to get his focus on what is about to take place.
He glances at the slowly gathering crowd around them, almost feeling sorry that the rest of the world isn't going to see this as a televised match. However, he's a martial artist as well and there are times where he wants to test himself against others without constantly having the world watching his every move. "I'm looking forward to this. I can only hope that You don't hold the past against me."
Zach looks more nervous than Ken does, realizing /exactly/ who Masters had invited. How could he not? Zach felt Athena's presence like... it's hard for the dimunitive psychic to put words to it, but it's not all that different from staring into a spotlight.
He waves to Athena, before shooting Ken a worried look. He shoves his hands into the pockets of that German greatcoat he is wearing, and casts around for a bench or some place to take a seat. For now, he'll let Ken do the talking. Masters is... in a lot of ways better suited to making pitches and selling an idea.
He's willing to simply watch this match unfold for the time being.
Athena grips Ken's hand tightly and shakes it when offered before releasing. He introduces Zach and her violet eyes settle on the fellow psychic. "We've met," she states, her tone is still friendly, her hand extended for his in turn, "You have quite the partner here in Ken," she states, always tempted to call him Mister Masters out of formal respect before reminding herself that he's not so many years older than she is. "I'm surprised to see you here." Her expression is still a bright smile. As far as to what lies beneath her friendly demeanor? Zach will find Athena's mind protected by a wall of one of the firmest psychic barriers he might have ever encountered, making her seem almost devoid of emotion at that brief moment of physical contact to shake hands. He'll have to trust his intuition and normal human empathy to get any read on the girl for now.
She's still listening to Ken speak, however, nodding at him as he continues. "Oh?" Ken promises to share something about Zach's plans and Athena glances back toward her fellow psychic, giving him a pleasantly curious look as if she's very interested in hearing what this will turn out to be about. She too glances at the crowd. The masses are far enough away - kept at bay by staff and retaining walls - that conversation should be possible without being overheard. There are no boom mics or cameras to pick anything up... Yes, this will do quite well after all. she decides.
Zach slips off to a bench within earshot and Ken backs up and Athena's focus becomes fixed exclusively on her opponent for this exciting match. "No..." she replies, her tone sombered as the past is mentioned, even if just briefly. "You didn't do anything that couldn't be repaired... And your actions were not entirely yours to control at that time." She inhales for a heartbeat then exhales slowly, as if burdened by a thought that goes unspoken. "Sadly, not... everyone has that excuse, not every atrocity can be undone." She doesn't look toward Zach.
She lifts her hands, adopting a ready stance. She is trained in Kung Fu and it is reflected in the way she carries herself, hands raised, palms open. For a moment she becomes completely quiet, closing her eyes and bowing her head. Fighting... fighting seriously takes a precarious balance for a girl with her power. The ambient excitment of the crowd is a psychic buzz in her head, a noise that can range from soft noise to as loud as a siren depending on how poorly she maintains her mental barriers. But she also has to let go a little... has to relax that control, to let her power flow.
That moment becomes clear - an invisible blastwave of psychic energy radiating out from the girl across the plaza. It is completely unseen and there is no disturbance of dust to mark its passing. Most in the crowd will not notice it directly but rather have the nagging sense that something just happened, though they can't identify what exactly. For someone as in tune as Zach or as talented as Ken, it will have been an unmistakeable shift in Athena Asamiya's presence. She opens her eyes, her smile returns, quieter now. "I hope I don't disappoint." states, her tone the perfect blend of playful and sincere. It matches the knowing wink that follows.
Zach blinks once in surprise once he notices the barrier. It comes as a surprise on a couple of levels. Before China, he wouldn't have even noticed them at all. The surprise settles into a certain amount of resignation, even as he accepts the handshake. Zach has absolutely no reason at all to be rude or even a little confrontational here, though had he known Ken was going to do this... Well, Zach probably would not be here.
The words, and the slightly hesitant wording gives Zach a good indication regarding the reasons. He looks away, but not before he reaches up and gives the greatcoat's collar a tug to reveal a bare neck. "It's... been settled," is all he says about it before turning back to the bench. "But we can talk about it afterwords."
As Zach leaves, Ken nods towards Athena, putting the younger psion out of his mind for the moment. "I doubt you will disappoint." It seems that when Athena decided to flex her muscles so to speak, thats just what the blonde Ansatsuken master needed to get himself focused finally. The noise of the people just outside the makeshift barrier no longer seems to be heard by him, allowing him to finally respond to the call of battle.
He moves his head to the side, rolling his shoulders as he adjusts the padded gloves on his hands. He's not about to give the girl an easy win.
It almost seems that the world is moving in slow motion as Ken finally decides to take the first strike, grinning as he allows his own inner spirit to flow freely. While Athena may be a master of harnessing the powers of her mind, there is little doubt that Ken is quite capable of handling the power of the soul.
His hands move down to his side, allowing the energy to gather and form that famous bluish-white ball of chi, only to thrust them forward towards the idol.
"HAAAADOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ken has started a fight here.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Athena has joined the fight here.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ken
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Hadouken.
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Athena 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Ken
Following her words, Zach speaks up and Athena glances toward him quietly, eyes focusing for a moment on his neck, the saying nothing, only to shift her attention to his eyes as he continues. As he finishes, she offers him the slightest nod of acknowledgement. Settled, perhaps, but there is more to say on that matter, for certain. Her mind returns to Ken and she gives him a slight bow of her head as well in response to his comment.
Her patient demeanor costs her initiative - a chance Ken isn't going to hesitate to jump on. She can visually see the swell of energy, as the Ansatsuken fighter draws the breath of the world to his palms, but she can't feel the build up like other trained fighters can and should. It's a strange contract of inherent nature that leaves her spiritually blind to such energy manipulations.
Inwardly, she is bemused that this is the second renown fighter in a row that felt it best to seek first strike against her. It would seem the upper echelon of fighters take her abilities as a fighter far more seriously than many of the skeptics out there that still think her bouts are merely pre-arranged stage performances to boost her image.
Still, there is hardly time for reflection when facing down the world famous Hadouken. Bracing herself a little, she tenses, watching it, then moves! A step too late, however, and the blue-white ball of chi crashes into her with concussive force! It's enough to send her sliding over the stone of the plaza, the energy reacting with her in a painful way. She sucks in her breath with a hiss through grit teeth. Her fleeting glimpses of foresight failed her there. She wonders, for only an instant, if someone like Vega had trouble predicting the chaotic nature of chi like she does, or if he had evolved beyond that before his demise.
Again she shakes her head, her tunic scorched a little from the impact, her ears ringing from the disruptive pain. Bringing her focus back to Ken takes concerted effort and squelching the noises in her head takes even more, but there is a place at which all the competing psychic frequences all around her intersect on a single point, and it is to there that she tunes her thoughts. The noise becomes silence, her mind becomes solely hers. A soft exhale as her violet eyes take on a certain focus once more.
COMBATSYS: Athena focuses on her next action.
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Athena 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Ken
Ken quirks his eyebrows slightly at Athena, noticing the mistake in her timing and getting smacked head-on by the full power of the Hadouken. "Hmm." He's slightly intrigued by this, wondering if it was a simple mistake, or something more. Of course, it doesn't even matter at this moment in time.
While Athena is gathering her focus, Ken's already rushing forward, seeking to end the use of energy flinging for the time being and force Athena into hand-to-hand combat. He knows she's a true threat on her own, and while the world at large may seem to think she's a fraud of sorts, he doesn't.
Closing the distance is a simple thing, and the intensity that Ken's already starting to display is enough to get most people pumped up to respond. The blonde man lets his emotions finally start to spill out, allowing himself to feel something more then sorrow over the recent events. Right now, he's alive and thats truly what matters the most.
Ken's right fist clenches tightly as he draws it upwards, allowing his muscles to finally do their job properly, sending a heavy punch towards the idol as he gets within range.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Aggressive Strike.
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Athena 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Ken
This time when Ken comes running, Athena doesn't shirk. She isn't going to give up ground. Though she does possess the capacity to fling her Psycho Power over long distances, she is, at heart, an inclose fighter; depending not on brawn or brute force, but rather fundamentals of Kung Fu tailored to her stature and reach, allowing her to deflect and weave through attacks in order to deliver strikes of her own.
Of course, part of being able to pull this off requires actually fending off the opposing strikes thrown her way! She sees Ken's arm pulling back, and this time knows where it's going. Her own arms raise to intersect it, intending to deflect the blow just enough to stay in close to the master tier martial artist. In her mind's eye, she sees the course of attack clearly. But what that glimpse of pending force couldn't tell her was the magnitude of strength behind it. His fist powers through her block, knocking her forearm aside, and, due to her positioning, catches Athena solidly in the cheek.
The power behind is almost enough to send her sliding back again, losing the ground that she was so intent on keeping. Still - the distance has been closed now, she /can/ retaliate. She leans forward, foot lifting as if to step - only she's gone then, a blur of rose-hued energy.
Ken might be aware in time to notice the attack coming from his right, possibly before he can even pull his hand back in time. The nature of the threat is an utterly ridiculous sphere of Psycho Power that threatends to completely obscure him from view should he not happen to escape its wrath. "AAAAH!"
The assualt would only last for two to three seconds, but if his nerves have to suffer from it, it may feel like it persists far longer than that. The pain might be blinding and the numbing after effects might slow him a little. Of course, she's committed a lot to the attack as well, that kind of demonstration of energy won't last without concerted effort!
COMBATSYS: Ken parries Athena's Round Psycho Reflector!
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Athena 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Ken
It's kind of a surprise to Ken as Athena vanishes from infront of him. It's obvious that she's got her own bag of tricks, and even though he was under an outside influence he remembers some of them. As the sphere of energy closes in on him, he moves towards it as a plan starts to form in his own mind.
Split second timing allows him to allow his plan to move into motion, quickly leaping over the psycho energy only to use it to propel himself forward. He's choosing to be flashy for those who are watching, obvious allowing his own charm to win them over.
This doesn't mean that he's done with his own plan just yet, using the extra bit of momentum he just obtained to twist his body, extending his right leg outwards as he hurtles towards Athena once more. Small currents of air form beneath him as he spins, almost as if he were trying to form a cyclone right then and there to draw the Psycho Soldier into it.
"TATSUMAKI SENPUU KYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Athena blocks Ken's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku EX.
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Athena 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Ken
She can't see Ken over the massive detonation of Psycho Power she's channeling right in front of her, but she can sense him. Where there is expected recoiling or reaction from pain, there is instead the exhiliration of the fight and the precision focus of launching a counter attack at an opponent that might not be ready for him. It's the only clues she needs - he may be good at keeping his emotions in check, but in the midst of battle, against one such as her? There's few that can hide everything from Athena.
She pulls her hands back in time, eschewing anything fancy for litterally bunkering down to weather the strikes that come, one after another, Ken's foot battering against her raised arms with the kind of force she's come to associate with the best fighters in the world. She's familiar with the technique but not how to contend with it this close. If she stays here, eventually her guard will be battered and he'll be able to catch her right after while she's sent reeling again.
Finally, she decides she's had enough. One instant his foot bashes against her forarms again, the next instant it whisks through air and Athena is six yards back. Whether she moved or teleported will be hard to determine without any cameras on hand for replays. Her forearms are red and aching, and she knows better than to think that she can withstand something like that again! "You fight better when you're yourself," she replies, managing a smile while sucking in a breath for air.
But then she acts, knowing that against someone of Ken's caliber she hasn't a moment to spare. "Psycho-!" Drawing her arms back, energy courses down them, gathering at her fingers before she swings them forward, the collected Psycho Power slammed together into a singular powerful sphere of energy that hurtles toward Ken at high speed. "Ball!"
COMBATSYS: Ken instinctively blocks Athena's Psycho Ball.
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Athena 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ken
In the brief wide camera shot detailing Athena's famous Psycho Ball shoot, over in the audience there's someone munching on popcorn. A magnet dangles carelessly over them. They seem to belong to some figure who is hidden well aside from their tabi socks and wide trousers, and the hint of long black hair.
What's more mysterious? The magnet or the individual behind them who is responsible for it? Perhaps we'll never know.
"Well, I'm glad you think that!" Ken fights the urge to rush after Athena, knowing full well that she could launch any sort of counter-attack that would really do some damage. Instead, he holds back to watch. It's time to shake this game up some.
As Athena calls out her next attack, Ken's allowing his instincts to take over. It's obvious she's able to predict somewhat how he's going to move, but he's not going to make easy for her. It's time to be a true wild child. He rushes towards her once more as the ball of energy is called forth and sent hurtling towards him, arms crossing as it slams into him hard. The pain is enough to almost snap him out of this path of attack, but he focuses himself further as he powers through and continues rushing forward.
Spinning on his left foot, Ken's right leg surges forward as he brings it hurtling towards Athena with a powerful roundhouse kick aimed for the side of her head. He's not going to purposely hit her in the face if he can help it. She is a lady.
COMBATSYS: Athena interrupts Inazuma Kakato Wari from Ken with Psycho Sword.
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Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Ken
She sees him playing it careful, hanging back for a moment, cautious of the kinds of counter attacks she can launch. It proves fortunate as he doesn't end up charging blindly into her most well known manifestation of Psycho Power. She would expect as much from him. Fights at this tier require flawless coordination to stay on top and so far the Ansatsuken master has demonstrated as much. It's time to catch him in a way that he might /not/ anticipate for a change.
He weathers her first attack fine, but it's not with its slightest delay. She saw ahead just enogh to know that would happen. But even before it becomes visibly possible to know what Ken is going to do next, Athena has already shifted her footing. Sometimes to do what needs to be done, you have to be willing to do something that you would rather not do - you have to be willing to take the pain to see it through. She /must/ know something.
His right foot snaps out at the same time that she lunges in. Were it possible to avoid it all together, she would, without a doubt, have preferred that. But this is what it takes sometimes. Her right arm dips low, her knee bending, a bright flash of rose-hued Psycho Power surging into her hand. His foot finishes its arc, crashing into the side of her head, but it's too late by then, she's already on the inside of his reach, it won't be possible to defend now.
Her hand never touches him, but that sharp infusion of brilliant energy in her hand cuts up right through the center of the man like a knife. It may be the closest one's nerves can come to feeling the sensation of being severed without actually suffering the slightest bit of physical harm.
Her own momentum takes her up into a spinning ascent, before she'll descend to a graceful landing moments later, her stand still gripped tightly about what almost seems a physical manifestation of psionic energy in the form of a sword. Athena of old was most known for being the goddess of Wisdom. But she also symbolized attributes of War and Justice with Mercy. The Christian faith depicts the sword as truth, purity, and justness revealed. Maybe that is why it persists in her hand as she whirls on Ken, eyes suddenly extremely serious, expression solemn. There's a reason Zach shirked when he saw Athena present. That moment of contact, of slicing clean through her opponent with that 'divine' blade, was all she need to know to understand his utmost sincerity in what it is he's trying to do in helping Zach Glen with his project. "Ken. Do you know of your partner's past? I understand you need networking to make his plan come to fruition. But before I can be associated with anything he is a part of, I have to know how his debt to society has been paid. How those he hurt..." She flicks her wrist, the shimmering form of Psycho Power scatters into small, fading motes. "Have been given peace." Of the dead, no peace can be offered, but what of those they left behind? The sinner can seek Mercy, but Justice is still owed a debt that must be satisfied. "I know it's important to you. I do want to help." The situation is just not so simple.
She slips back into her ready stance, hands raised, expression still remarkably serious. This isn't over yet - either bout nor conversation.
The sensation of being sliced open by that psychic sword is enough to make Ken fall to his knees. Psionic power isn't something he's generally good with, but he does make due in his own ways. He isn't quite sure what do at this point, but he does know that he can't quite give up either. Then he hears Athena's words.
"Athena, you yourself gave me forgiveness for what I did. I can't say I know everything that happened." The polite behaviour he displayed earlier is gone, as he now treats Athena as if she were an old friend. An almost inaudible sigh escapes his lips as he stands back up. He isn't quite sure how to react to her words, but right now he has to focus on what is infront of him.
"Zach came to me, asking for pointers on what to do, and possibly being an investor for what he believes could help numerous people the world over. Some debts can never be repaid no matter how hard we try..." Chi suddenly springs to life upon Ken's right fist as he starts to move towards Athena once again.
"However, he has to live with what he's done for the rest of his life, as well with the sorrow of the loss he just received a short time ago. He plans on helping those with the talents that the two of you share, as well as any who are willing to obtain an education that would be focused on helping them to better understand /our/ world."
Quickly rushing forward now, Ken drops down low as he proceeds to unleash his own creation upon Athena, seeking to draw her into that powerful battery of blows that seems to leave most worse off then they've been in a long time.
The first blow seems to be a simple uppercut, which would only lead into brutal onslaught of kicks aimed to leave his target dazed and hurting. The final blow would be the most devistating of his arsenal, seeking to draw Athena into that final and vicious uppercut, as torrents of flames would surround them.
"SHINRYUU KEN!"
COMBATSYS: Athena instinctively dodges Ken's Shinryuu Ken+.
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Athena 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ken
She stays in her ready stance, senses tuned to the battle and the matter at hand. It's not small thing to consider. Some lines... once you cross, it's very hard to come back from. "You never killed anyone." she replies bluntly. Yeah, that would be where that line is for her, it seems. She closes her hands then opens them again, stretching her fingers. She bounces on her toes lightly. She's still in this fight, even though it's quite the uphill battle against Masters. But then again, what worthy fights aren't?
"I'm glad to hear that," she adds, her tone softened slightly, as if the edge of justice in her voice has been dulled if just a touch. "It shows that he's doing what he can to heal the wounds." She shifts her feet a little, adjusting her stance. Preparation for what is about to come. She knows Ken can attack out of nowhere with the speed of lighting in his step and the pain of burning chi in his fist.
Then he mentions another loss, more recent, and at that comment the girl seems to be at a loss, not familiar with the ties and circles Zach Glen operated in, or all the numerous contacts Ken himself must surely have. He wants to reach out to other psychics? He, of all people, can probably appreciate their circumstances better than many, but... "That's good." she replies thoughtfully. "Tending the suffering and confusion of others is... one of the best ways of healing the deepest sorts of wounds."
She inhales, not taking her eyes of Ken as he rushes forward. He's fast, as he's already demonstrated throughout the match. It takes more than simply action honed by years of training. It takes more than precision reflexes tested by fight after fight. To avoid the attack he's throwing her way, she has to see a bit further, to know exactly how it will play out!
A surge of Psycho Power whirls up around the girl as she releases a portion of her energy, blessing her with a glimpse of forsight - just enough - the swing of his fist, the crackle of that famous burning chi, the twist of his body, the tension of his muscles, she can see every minute detail in that brief moment of time. And when he attacks, she's already moving, skirting around the upswing of that powerful uppercut. The flames surge up to accompany the strike and she kicks against the ground, darting back in time, arms lifted to protect her face from the erupting inferno. The technique may be legendary, but in this case, the strike is not.
Sliding to a stop, she comes to rest in a half crouch, arms out at her sides, exhaling softly. As she stands, the energy released to help her ecsape his move is absorbed back in. It's enough to mend some of the ache and revitalize fighting reserves. The glint in her eyes makes it clear she's ready to keep going.
"I don't know that. There were times where I don't even remember what I was doing." Ken watches Athena closely as she works her own brand of magic to help relieve some of that fatigue she must already be feeling. He could keep talking, but they still have to bring this to an end or else they'll be here until the end of time going around and around.
The blonde Ansatsuken master's chest rises as he takes in a deep breath, slowly releasing it as he moves to get into another stance. It's not a stance he uses frequently, but one that has a higher purpose. He leans forward, shifting his weight to his left leg, allowing the right to keep the balance as he once more shuts the world around him out.
It's time for Ken to quit playing around.
COMBATSYS: Ken starts to get serious!
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Athena 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Ken
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully aids herself with Healing Aura.
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Athena 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Ken
The aura has a moment to wash over her, knitting minor scrapes and bruises and reingivorating her strength to continue. There's tension there. He just unleashed one of his more fearsome attacks, and surely she must be thinking of retaliating with something similiar. But for now, she restraints herself, the psychic energy around her almost an invisible, palpable force. "I think you would know." she replies, not letting go of the fact that she knows some people died because of Zach's failure to control his own power. Killing someone must leave a trace, right? It has to change someone, she tells herself. How couldn't it? If she... if someone had been able to help Zach before that time, then maybe that tragedy could have been prevented. But he shouldn't have been fighting with that lack of control. In the end, it was his chosen path that cut short the lives of others, and Athena seems stuck on that point to a severe degree.
But she can see Ken getting ready for bigger attacks himself and she feels the need to re-engage. There is more to discuss. But that can wait. For now, fists and feet can do the talking. She charges forward then, leaning into her sprint, trying to read Ken, trying to predict his next move so that she can precisely position herself in such a way that she can weave around it cleanly and still get a hit in. Fights like this come down to moments like that, and she has to make the best of it.
She leaps from a yard out but it's a short hop that doesn't take her fully airbound. Rather, the nimble girl drops into a slide, aiming to sweep her right leg into the shins of Ken, trying to land a solid strike at a lower level than he might be defending. "Ya!" She isn't doing this blindly - if he moves, she might be capable of correcting in time to stay safe. It will come down to the microseconds of their pending transaction, to be certain.
COMBATSYS: Ken endures Athena's Light Kick!
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Athena 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Ken
It seems that Ken's no longer really trying to avoid the damage, as Athena's kick strikes his right leg with a solid thud. He seems to shift his weight once more, quickly moving into a new position as he trains his eyes upon Athena, watching her movements for any further hints as to just what she might do next in order to evade his next attack.
He quickly moves forward once again, spinning now upon his right foot in order to bring his left leg crashing towards the girls defenses, seeking to batter them down so he can unleash yet another flurry of devistating attacks.
"I don't think that it should be so clear cut, but then again I can't tell you what to do. It wouldn't be right. Not to mention, if my wife caught wind of me telling another pretty lady to do something.. I might end up facing someone even more dangerous then Akuma if you catch my drift."
A slight smirk appears on the man's face as he tries to let his words distract Athena, proceeding to send a flurry of kicks that even Chun-Li would be proud of towards Athena, knowing full well that if even one of them hits, the likely hood of the rest of them are just going to add more damage.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Shippuujinrai Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Athena 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Ken
His response to her kick is the last one she saw coming - and she of all people should've known! She hits cleanly, in a sense, but it becomes clear to her as the attack connects that it's exactly what he wanted - he desired to catch her at a point where she's committed - and there's nothing she can do about it. Attempting to scramble back to a more defensible posture is futile as the Ansatsuken martial master is attacking back with remarkable speed.
Her arms are raised though her stance is unsure, and though the first couple of strikes are warded away accordingly, the relentless nature of his assault eventually crashes through her block. The hits that follow are pushing the limits of what kind of strikes Athena can weather. Direct kicks, blows to the side, another to the crown of her head - and with each impact, her stance becomes more shattered. Finally her balance is lost and she begins to fall, just in time for another round house kick to the side of her head that sends her twirling!
She lands in a sideways roll, tumbling along the plaza stone in a very uncomfortable looking manner, before coming to a rest on her stomach. When she pushes up with her hands, it's clear that she's looking a little dazed and uncertain, like maybe it would be best to stay put for now. One of her hair buns has been knocked out such that half of her hair is tightly wrapped up in place and the other half is draped over her shoulder and against her cheek, and she seems to have picked up a number of small scratches from the ordeal.
Shaking her head, she blinks her eyes again. She's not done yet. She can still fight, she tells herself. But she can't hold back the power she's been syphoning from throughout the fight any longer. Gritting her teeth, Athena pushes down with her hands, an aura of Psycho Power errupting from within to surround the girl. Breathing in, she stands up straight, eyes closed in concentration. "aaaaaaAAAAAAH!" Ken has seen this technique before, but his memory of things might be a little fuzzy from last time...
It would be insane to try and strike her from behind her barrier of surging rose-hued psionic power, but she isn't counting on Ken to just charge into it. Her feet hover a little off the ground, her arms extended a little from her side, her face bowed toward the ground. In this state, she can see everything around her, the psychic echoes of the crowd in the distance, the blend of determination and concern from her opponent, he really wants to help Zach, even with what she said. Zach's own desires to help others like him before they end up in his situation. All that and more is visible to her in a sea of pinks, blues, and yellows. "Perhaps you're right..." she muses beneath her veil of power. "Perhaps this is the best way for him to make amends... It would be wrong to deny him that now."
But the purpose of the technique is to attack, and to that end she acts at the peak of gathered energy. Her eyes snap forward, her feet drop to the ground, and all of that Psycho Power is gathered into a singular point above her raised arm, compressed into a Ken-seeking missile that she unleashes with a gesture so simple that it seems out of place compared to the blast she sends hurtling his way. She points at him!
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Ken with Shining Crystal Bit+.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Ken
The blast of psycho power once more drives Ken to his knees, sending waves of pain throughout every nerve in his body. The memory of his last encounter with it is actually extremely fuzzy. He just remembers there being a cliff somehow involved, but its enough to force him to make a mental note for all future encounters: DO NOT TRY TO TAKE IT ON.
Of course, the fact that Athena is in the same boat as him is enough to make him rise back up to his feet, allowing himself to work through the pain. Maybe he should ask Athena to give him an indepth crash course on Psycho Power so it doesn't make him feel like someone stuffed a jar of fire ants down his pants.
The blonde man's eyes focus once more upon Athena, moving back in to attack. His hands fly out to grab ahold of her most likely very expensive costume, hoping to send her flying as he throws himself backwards to add a good deal of extra power and momentum to the move. It also might give him that extra edge he could really use right about now.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Jigoku-guruma.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\ < > /////////// ]
Athena 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Ken
Her attack unleashed, Athena is slow to move after that, leaning forward a little to rest hands against her knees, gasping for breath. Keeping up with the likes of Ken Masters is a demanding feat, to say the least. The injection of pure, ah, disuasion to keep fighting buys her just enough time to catch her breath, but she's still feeling the beating she took from his previous combination. Now that she's having to focus with just her eyes, she becomes acutely aware of how dazed she actually is. She's pretty sure the blurry thing in front of her is Ken himself, and for a moment he doesn't seem to be aggressing.
Blinking her eyes again, she gets a clearer picture. One of the determined martial artist pushing himself back up. Another blink and she notices him on his feet, advancing rapidly toward her. She starts to take a backstep, followed by another blink, finally seeing him just inches away from reaching out for her. She misreads his arm snapping out as a punch and weaves backward with the intent to evade him, but that doesn't do anything in the slightest to keep him from getting a firm grip on her tunic instead!
Eyes widen as she's picked up and flipped over, his own momentum delivering the power to slam her hard against the stone. Dazed as she is, she's unable to try and control her landing at all, causing her to slam into the stone with even more impact than Ken might have expected out of the technique. "Ow!" Her back hits hard enough to rattle her bones a little. Gasping for breath, the girl rolls onto her side then back to hands and knees, shaking her head once more. Another grunt and she's back on her feet. She has one more attack for Masters to contend with, if she can pull herself long enough to do so...
Leaning back unsteadies her balance a little, but it's part of summoning up what amounts to another collosal sphere of Psycho Power. It looks like a Psycho Ball's big daddy by the time she slams her hands forward and launches the massive psiball Ken's way. Or at least, roughly where she thinks Ken is. She's rather unsure.
The effort of the attack drains the last of her stamina and Athena stumbles backward, landing with a grunt in a seated position on the stone. Wincing, she lifts her hand to push her loose, haphazardly arranged hair back over her shoulder. "Whew."
COMBATSYS: Athena can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ken 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Ken with Psycho Shoot.
[ \\\\\ <
Ken 0/-------/=======|
The ball does infact strike true to the intended target, once more forcing Ken to his knees as the psycho energy tears through his body. But, he still has enough strength to force himself back to his feet once more. It's obvious he's in pain, but it doesn't matter at all. He managed to get a great fight out of someone, and this time win under his own power (even if it was by a small margin).
He makes his way over to Athena, once more offering his hand to her, this time to help her to her feet. "Great fight." The feeling of satisfaction is obvious, and he's not about to lose that feeling for a while.
"I'm pretty sure that there's going to be some very grumpy fanmail for me when I get back to the office. No one likes to see their favorite idol beat up." A casual wave is offered to the crowd, letting that famed charm once more shine forth.
"So, about Zach..."
Log created on 22:04:24 05/16/2012 by Ken, and last modified on 05:11:11 05/17/2012.