Description: An exhibition in Metro Park turns into a battle of personal morals between Kazue and Maki... in more ways than one!
It's early evening. The sun hasn't set, but it's definitely getting towards the horizon, causing the sky to turn orange. A kid is feeding some ducks in a pond nearby.
Kazue walks through the park with a bit of a bounce in her step. Her clothes are rather bedraggled, and her hair is damp and even more unkempt than usual, and she has a black eye. She's had a few arguments with people today. Her eyes scan the trees and benches with quite a bit of focus. Her eyes finally focus on the child, before looking at the ducks and tilting her head a bit to one side. She kicks up a stone from the ground into her hand, and tosses it to herself.
Meanwhile, Maki is in a field, practicing her techniques, while a bunch of interested onlookers watch. She's a well known person in Metro City, what with having protected them against the Mad Gears for so long, and now her newest ambition is to become the master of her father's style of Bushin-ryu Martial Arts. As a result, she's taking whatever opportunities she can to train and improve her style. That is, when she's not actually involved in a fight, whether it's on the Neo League where she became a well known name for awhile, or just busting a punk who doesn't know when to leave well enough alone.
For now, Maki doesn't seem to notice Kazue, although her focus is on the pond as she works on a carefully coordinated combination of techniques to show how combination attacks work. Those who are watching aren't just those who are interested in learning to fight, but also learning about the hometown hero of Metro City.
Kazue blinks as she sees a crowd. A bunch of onlookers means something interesting is happening. She drops the rock, and walks over closer, and watches the combination, blinking a little bit. She's not really a Metro City native, or even familiar with it, so it's just another martial artist to her rather than a hometown hero. Still, she watches. She might not be able to tell how good a martial artist is, but she can kinda tell when they're better than her. And the easy precision of those combinations tend to imply that this one is one of those.
Maki still doesn't see Kazue. She merely continues on showing off her style, before stopping to talk to the various people looking on. "You must understand that this is not just waving a tonfa and kicking. These are years of perfected techniques, that when combined together, make up a truly useful technique against your opponent." She stops to take a drink of water and then continues. "But you must also remember that not just any techniques can be linked together. It's all about flowing smoothly from one technique to the next." Her voice is stern, yet it sounds like she's truly a master of this.
Then Maki notices Kazue and raises an eyebrow. "Oh, where did you come from?" She asks. "Are you interested in my style also?" She doesn't ask anything else, not wanting to instigate anything right now.
"Southtown." Kazue is silent for a moment, and meets Maki's gaze directly. Her voice is a little loud, direct. "It's interesting. The weapon's almost like a part of your body. Of course, the problem with weapon techniques is without them you'll probably be in trouble, and it's easy to end up in situations like that...."
%
She glances around for a moment. Oh right. This girl is surrounded by her gang. Might not be the most accurate thought, but it's definitely how Kazue is worried it might be. Not that they quite look like a gang, but can't be too safe. She takes a step back, scratches the back of her head, and adds more quietly, "But it's still quite impressive, as long as you have those. You could definitely defeat someone like me with them."
"What do you mean, 'Southtown?'" Maki asks, seeming a little confused. But she doesn't wait for a reply. Instead, she simply then adds, "The tonfa is like a part of your body when you know how to use it properly. But it's not just about twirling it around and hoping it hits." Her voice hits a sharp note.
And these people are not Maki's gang. They're merely just onlookers who were here to see Maki in person. "Wait a second," Maki asks, raising an eyebrow again. "Are you challenging me to a fight? When you have no idea who I am?" Her eyebrows lower a little. "Are you even sure you know what you're getting yourself into?!"
"Southtown is a town in Japan." Kazue raises her hands. "Ah, no. I don't fight people with weapons. My martial art's not really so much for fighting anyways, it's for stealing." She lapses into a long awkward silence, then raises a hand in front of her, plam out. "Um. Not that I steal anymore. Well. I haven't stolen again. I might go back to it." A small sigh. "I don't know."
She raises her eyes, and looks back into Maki's eyes. "Don't feel threatened. I'm not trying to make fun of you in front of your people." All of this is said in a rather flat voice.
"I know about Southtown, I've been there before. And did you say your art is for stealing?" Maki's eyes start to narrow. "Don't tell me that you're a small-time criminal, are you? Or perhaps you're with the Mad Gears?" She clenches her tonfa tighter. "And don't try to say that you don't do it anymore or things like that. Saying something and doing it are two different things."
Maki starts towards the girl then stops. "I didn't think you were mocking me either. Besides, it takes more than that to get me riled up. After all, I am Maki Genryusai, soon to be the new master of my father's style of Bushin-ryu Martial Arts!"
"Kazue Yamada. Pretty good at breaking into things. I haven't really done much with the Mad Gears, though. I think I did a job or two for them a while back." Kazue is silent for a long moment. "I promised to give up stealing, but the guy I promised it to ended up being a jerk, so I don't know. Maybe I'll steal again. I don't think there's anything wrong with stealing."
Her voice gets a little stronger. "Do you think that property is more valuable than people? I guess that's the natural thought of a martial artist. Warriors think property should be defended, even if it hurts people. To me, they're just things. What do you believe, Maki?"
"How can you not believe there's anything wrong with stealing?!" Maki's voice starts to get harsher, indicating that already her impression of Kazue is not a good one. "Not everything can be replaced that easily. There are things that are one of a kind and priceless to people, and by stealing those, you're doing more than just taking an object. That could be something someone worked extra hard to earn, or it could be the last of someone's loved one." She tightens the grip on her tonfa as she gets even closer.
"Do you still feel that you wouldn't want to take on a woman with a weapon? Or do you want to try your luck against me?" By now, most of the onlookers have left, not wanting to be involved in a street fight. "It's your choice."
Kazue narrows her eyes. "People's hunger mean more than windows. People's arms mean more than weapons. People's lives mean more than houses." She smiles slightly. "If you want to fight me that much, feel free. But I'll steal your wallet. If material possessions keep you bound to this world and it's cycle of suffering, it's better that they're in my hands." She shifts her shoulders back and forth a little. "And I'll steal your tonfas. If you try to bully people with your weapons, it's better if they're destroyed."
"Your views are truly corrupt!" Maki snaps. "You don't understand just how important material things are to people! Everyone may have their own views of things, but yours are unacceptable. Especially because you want to try to steal my tonfa! This is the signature of my style of martial arts, and NOBODY will take it!" By now, it's obvious that Maki's had enough of everything.
"If you think you're that tough, then prove it to me!" Maki gets into a fighting stance and gestures towards Kazue. "You can't steal from something that you can't hit!"
COMBATSYS: Maki has started a fight here.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kazue has joined the fight here.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kazue
"I guess violence is all that's understood by a warrior." Without taking a fighting stance, Kazue rushes forwards, takes a quick step forwards, and sidesteps around Maki, slams her hands together towards Maki's vest, a series of palm strikes on every side she can get to. She strikes hard, but that's not her true goal - her true goal is to pinpoint where Maki's wallet is hidden through the difference in thickness.
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Kazue's Combo Attack.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kazue
"Violence is not the only thing I understand," Maki replies angrily. "I am merely disgusted by the fact that you are willing to brag about your being a dishonest person. Trust me, I don't like to fight that easily, but when you hit a sensitive spot, then it's on!" And Maki's words about not being able to hit her echo big time as Maki twists to the side.
"You didn't even hit me once!" Maki adds. "Didn't I tell you that you have no chance of defeating me if you can't hit me?" She narrows one eye and continues to look at Kazue.
COMBATSYS: Maki focuses on her next action.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kazue
Kazue takes a couple of steps back as Maki evades her strikes. "I state facts. You're stronger than me. You're violent. And I'm a thief. If I was dishonest, I would not claim to be a thief. No one likes thieves." A slight shrug of Kazue's shoulders, and she dashes towards Maki once again, steps so her leg is right behind maki's, and slams her shoulder into the tonfa-user's with the force of her rush - a manuever designed to throw her opponent off balance.
COMBATSYS: Maki fails to interrupt Trip Up from Kazue with Medium Throw.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kazue
"Strength alone isn't the only thing a warrior needs," Maki says in a stern tone, watching as Kazue comes at her. "You have to have other abilities too, such as knowing how to focus, knowing how to move aside when you need to, and also--"
The rest of Maki's comment is cut off as she tries to grab Kazue by the shoulder, but realizes that she's not quite that limber. She ends up falling face first to the ground, getting a little dirt in her face, but otherwise not fazed that much. Maki dusts herself off as she stands up. "Everyone has a style of their own, but you choose to fight in a dirty manner. I'm sure it doesn't matter to you, but no honest sensei would ever approve of your style!"
Kazue shakes her head. "This style, unlike yours, isn't developed to hurt people. That was the attack I use when I need to escape." She raises her hand. "This is the technique I use to cut glass." She forms a knife-hand, colorless chi with almost no glow forming on her fingertips, and swings it across Maki's chest as she stands up. "If I had a sensei, she would be dissapointed I was using this style just to hurt someone."
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Kazue's Quick Punch.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kazue
First, Maki ducks down, then comes back up, before glaring at Kazue. "You think she'd be disappointed? That's an understatement! I bet she'd be furious with you and consider your appearance an insult! Using your burglary skills to fight!"
That's when Maki finishes speaking and decides to emphasize her point with a swift swing of her tonfa, aimed directly at Kazue.
COMBATSYS: Kazue blocks Maki's Medium Strike.
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Maki 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Kazue
Kazue raises her arm, warding off Maki's tonfa, but grimaces as it hits. Her other hand quick slides up to grab onto the tonfa, and she glares into the Bushin-ryu practictioner's eyes. "I don't need a thousand years of history or a teacher or whatever. I don't need approval. I am who I am, and I have created my style with my own hands!" She struggles over control over the tonfa. "I'm fighting you purely for my own satisfaction. And I'm fine with that!"
She steps behind Maki, twisting the tonfa to try to make her follow into the proper position, and tries to hurl her upwards, over her shoulder - while keeping hold of Maki's tonfa, if she can.
COMBATSYS: Maki endures Kazue's Medium Throw.
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Maki 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kazue
"If you find fighting satisfying, that's your own view. But my views are a lot different from yours, obviously." In fact, Maki seems so intent on proving her point that she lets Kazue grab her and throw her. Because when she lands, she's got a bit of a surprise for Kazue.
For one, the trajectory of Maki's landing causes her tonfa to break free of Kazue's grip. And another thing is that Maki's using the landing spot to her advantage. "I doubt you can keep up with my style, so let's see how you handle this!" Maki then plants her tonfa into the ground and begins to spin around rapidly with her leg outstretched.
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Kazue with Bushin Senpuu Kyaku.
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Maki 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Kazue
Kazue is knocked back by the kick, and is sent head over heels, stumbling back into the ground. She hardly pauses for a moment before throwing herself further backwards, and then up to her feet. "Oh? Then why do you fight? Just because people tell you to? Just because of your precious tradition? I don't hate people who have been given everything, but people who think they deserve it... well, at least you're strong enough to survive this!"
Kazue rushes forwards, jumps into the air, and energy forms on her knifehand once again as she rapidly slashes again and again at Maki's stomach as she falls towards her. Landing on the ground, she spins in place, and aims a fully committed chest - at the exact same point she was aiming all those chi slashes at.
COMBATSYS: Maki endures Kazue's Break The Wall.
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Maki 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Kazue
Maki sees Kazue's intention and, surprisingly, she makes no effort to avoid it in any way. Instead, she simply braces herself for the attack, and when it gets her, Maki takes the fall in an effort to get herself into a better position. "You may think I'm letting you have the upper hand, but in reality I'm simply showing you the err of your ways. Because sometimes an enemy will try to trick you in order to get the upper hand!"
Maki has a good point, too, because she's already planning her next attack while she's getting up. "You chose the wrong person to mess with, and now it's time to show you why!" Maki attempts to grab Kazue and administer a simple over-the-shoulder throw.
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Kazue with Quick Throw.
Grazing Hit
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Maki 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Kazue
Kazue flies through the air, and lands in a roll, standing back up almost immediately, her back still to Maki. She shakes her head. "Just because I'm weak doesn't mean I'm stupid. The only way to win against a stronger foe...."
She takes a long step backwards, then swings her leg backwards and upwards, placing her palms on the ground and aiming a two-footed kick back at Maki's stomach. "Is to attack them with everything you have!"
COMBATSYS: Maki interrupts Strong Kick from Kazue with Intercepting Strike.
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Maki 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
"Weakness and intellect are two different things," Maki comments, now starting to run out of patience. "I don't see why you're bothering to continue to fight me. Why can't you just go away and leave me alone?" As Kazue comes at Maki, she brings up her tonfa and attempts to knock Kazue away from her, and manages to strike her just as her feet connect with Maki. She goes down to the ground, having had the wind knocked out of her, before getting back up.
"I hope you've learned your lesson..." Maki says as she looks at Kazue, who's just gone down too most likely.
Kazue is flat on the ground, and for a moment it seems like she might be down. She slowly pushes herself back up to her hands. "You challenged me, you idiot." She takes a deep breath, and stands up all the way. "As for learning? I haven't learned /anything/ from this. Except a little bit on how to hurt people. But that's what martial arts are for, after all." She turns away, and takes a step, trying to keep walking until she's somewhere alone, safe. Does she have the strength, though?
COMBATSYS: Kazue takes no action.
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Maki 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
COMBATSYS: Kazue has reached second wind!
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Maki 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
"Go on, just run away, I won't try to stop you," Maki comments, thinking that Kazue has learned her lesson. "You obviously are still stuck with the same mindset that you had before." She adjusts her tonfa and turns away. "Maybe the next time we meet, you'll have wisened up..."
COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.
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Maki 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
Kazue's hands grip into fists, and she turns around back towards Maki. "Turn around..."
"You think that you're so great because you have a family?" She sways on her feet a bit. "That you're so great because you don't have to struggle to live?" Her breathing is growing unsteady. "You think you can treat me like that because I'm not like you? You think you can ask me to be your fiance and then look down on me all the time? Well, I'm sick of that sort of thinking! If you patronize me, I'll destroy you!" She slowly walks towards Maki. "Turn around, you bastard! I'm not afraid to hit people from behind!"
COMBATSYS: Kazue focuses on her next action.
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Maki 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
Abruptly, Maki turns around to find that Kazue is still there. "Wait, you want more?" Now Maki is really annoyed. "I thought I'd taught you not to mess with someone like me, but instead you insist on continuing to fight with me?" She sighs and readjusts her tonfa.
"You may not be strong, but win or lose, you always improve your skills somehow with every fight. That's how I've learned to improve, and that's how I'm going to become the new master of Bushin-ryu!" Maki stares at Kazue and then closes her eyes and begins to focus deeply.
COMBATSYS: Maki gathers her will.
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Maki 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Kazue
Kazue holds her hand in a knife-edge position, and once again energy glows around it - but this time, more, with a stronger glow. The same glow that's entering her eyes. "I'm not stupid. I already know to run away when I'm outmatched. I'm always outmatched. But right now, I don't care. Even if you break my neck with that stupid-ass tonfa, I don't care." She continues to walk towards Maki.
"You may have already seen it, but I'm serious this time! This is my strongest move, the move I use to destroy walls that stand in my way!" She slices the glittering edge of her knifehand again and again at Maki's stomach, aiming deeper so Maki is likely to either move or get driven back, then spins around, leaping into the air, and aims a flying kick at her stomach, screaming an incoherent scream.
COMBATSYS: Maki blocks Kazue's Break The Wall.
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Maki 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Kazue
"You think of me as a wall?" Maki asks. "Your visions are definitely obscured by your anger!" That strength isn't going to do too much when it's blocked by Maki. "You are rather strong, I will give you that, but without the knowledge of how to use your skills, you don't have it!"
Maki staggers back a little, trying not to lose her breath again.
COMBATSYS: Maki focuses on her next action.
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Maki 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Kazue
Kazue stumbles as she lands to the ground, after the flying kick. "Shut up! I could burn down your house if I wanted to, or make the building collapse on you and everyone you love while you slept! But I don't want to hurt anyone!" She lunges, her knifehand glowing with chi once again as she slashes it at Maki's face. "So die!"
COMBATSYS: Kazue successfully hits Maki with Glass Cutter.
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Maki 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 Kazue
"You don't want to hurt anyone? What kind of hypocrisy is that?!" Maki shouts, preparing to duck down out of the way of Kazue's incoming attack. She thinks that, because Kazue is such an amateur, it's no sweat avoiding her. But apparently Maki has gotten a bit too far ahead of herself. She finds herself getting hit directly in the face, and she staggers back, rubbing at her face in pain, and not surprised to find that she's bleeding now. But apparently, THAT was the last straw.
"I've held back long enough," Maki exclaims, now truly having lost her temper. "I'm going to show you what happens when you push me too far!" She jumps onto a nearby park bench and focuses her power into her body, glowing brightly. Then she literally flies at Kazue with her leg outstretched... in a rather fast motion too! "Tesshin Hou!"
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Kazue with Tesshin Hou.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Maki 0/-------/-======|=======\====---\1 Kazue
WHAM!
The sun has begun to set. The sky is turning a dark purple along with the bright orange. In the distant, there's the sound of a bell tolling.
Kazue slides down a nearby tree, green leaves and a few branches falling down around her. There's a crack in the trunk. She coughs up some blood, and slowly struggles to her feet again. Wordlessly, she takes a step towards Maki. Then another. Then another, at increasing speed, and then she's running across the ground towards the hometown hero of Metro City.
She's quite fast.
She leaps into the air, and aims a two-footed kick at Maki's face. Regardless of if it hits or not, though, that's about all her body can take, and she keeps on flying through the air, then lands on the ground, rolling limply a bit further as if all her muscles have stopped working.
COMBATSYS: Kazue can no longer fight.
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Maki 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Kazue's Escape.
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Maki 0/-------/-======|
Maki simply dodges out of the way before watching as Kazue hits the ground, obviously now out for the count. "I'm sorry that I had to be so drastic, but you gave me no choice." Her tone is obviously rather sarcastic. "For now, I hope you recover quickly. There are many people who roam the park at night, and not all of them are going to look kindly upon a girl like you lying unconscious." Fortunately, a few good samaritans have spotted the fight and Maki gestures to call for help.
"There is help coming. If you want it, be my guest. If not, suit yourself. But I hope you have a way out."
Log created on 19:45:05 07/01/2012 by Maki, and last modified on 22:55:33 07/01/2012.