Description: At the Oxford Library in The Radcliffe Camera, the infamous detective Daniel Jack is drawn back into the Neo Development Project. Making the semi-finals last season, he had delayed his entry due to the crisis in Sunshine City. Sullen a string of bad news from the city, however, the detective is unaware of his mysterious opponent, only told that he has a surprise opponent. Little does he know that a certain Sensei of him is more than willing to test his technique, and to draw him out of his rut. (Winner: Daniel)
Oxford, England. The Radcliffe Camera. 2 PM.
And Daniel Jack's Season 2 breakout.
The detective didn't know why he was back in the game. He didn't know why he was putting himself through it. Todoh-Ryuu made it further in the finals than Kyokugen. Todoh-Ryuu had two competitors in the quarter-finals. For all purposes, Todoh-Ryuu had won the Neo-Development League. The renovations that Daniel oversaw of the dojo, half of the detective's total winnings, were put into it, turning the dojo grounds into something worthy. Even attendance had gone up in the wake of last seasons games.
And yet, he was back in for season two.
Fights in the library were difficult to arrange. Naturally, they couldn't fight where the expensive books were. But on the other hand, they had to keep up the 'refined' air. While bookcases lined the fighting area to give the intellectual air, they were really the teenage and young adult fiction. If a stray fireball destroyed a work of Shakespere, it would be a tragedy, in the classic sense. If it destroyed the whole of Twilight?
Comedy, in the classic sense.
RDaniel Jack sits at one of the reading tables, waiting as the crew got sat up. Dressed in his signature orange Zoot Suit, he was utterly and completely downcast within the depths of the old library. One hand, keeping his head up. The other? Clutching a small whiskey flask. He was brooding, lost in his thoughts. HIs 'breakout' role would be a surprise new opponent. A surprise. There were no more surprises for him. He was betrayed by his client. He was seduced and thrown away like a piece of garbage. Old scars were reopened by women turned into dolls. Life was a bleak wasteland for the detective right now. And here, in the library, there was only solace in the chance of some stupid gimmick match from Ken Masters....
And a measily $5000 for winning it.
COMBATSYS: Daniel has started a fight here.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|
There is such a thing as a fair fight. Today is not one, at least, not in the traditional sense. Normally the mystery opponent would not approve of an unfair battle for the amusement of the people, but this was different. Excellent explanations how this little unfair tactic would be beneficial to both participants were made, and the mystery participant had agreed.
She was dressed in an atypical outfit, wearing a mask to obscure her face and a hoodie to hide her hair, even those who knew her well would have difficulty recognizing her in this outfit. It's not a disguise, since it's clear that she is obscuring herself, but her identity would not be easily discovered.
As agreed with the organization, the moment she entered sight the bell rung loudly, obscuring her voice as she stated the name of her attack. Ripples of chi went across the ground, arching upwards and without doubt aimed for Daniel Jack.
Indeed, it is the Kasane Ate, a move Daniel should know quite, quite well.
COMBATSYS: Kasumi has joined the fight here.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kasumi
COMBATSYS: Daniel fails to slow Kasane Ate from Kasumi with Kasane Ate.
- Power fail! -
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Daniel 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Kasumi
And then, Daniel is torn from his introspection.
It's not the bell that breaks him from his inner monologues. No, it was the Kasane Ate. As the Kasane Ate comes, he responds automatically. There isn't any thought, any reflection. But in his dour state, there was no passion. No joy. No burning Todoh Spirit. And ultimately, that is what fails the detective. As he pours only half of his heart in the response, a lackluster cry is given. "Kasane-" Not even a shout. The beginning slash of orange energy from the detective is stopped cold, cut clean by the surge from his opponent. Daniel Jack doesn't even register what is happening fully...
Until Daniel is on the ground.
Dazed and confused, Daniel was making sense of what happened. He was utter the table. Whiskey flask pouring empty on the ground about 10 feet away. Chair knocked over. Body burning. Gripping the edge of the table, Daniel Jack was rising. The fight had already started? But he wasn't ready. Who... and why? The detective was struggling to force himself back on his guard, to force into the fight. Was it Marz? A Shadaloo agent? More Black Dragons? It is only as Daniel Jack fully rises when he realizes what had happened.
It was a Kasane Ate?!
The lackluster response draws a scowl from the mystery opponent, one barely noticable because of the mask, which shifts slightly as its bearer closes in. There's no words, nothing is said as the origin of the Kasane Ate that came so reaches into close combat range, but without allowing the man she's fighting to see her moves yet.
Given enough observation, Daniel Jack might recognize her, and while he will soon enough, it is better that she delays that for just a moment, a bit of a wait to offer both her opponent and the audience the suspension that will make this fight just a little more exciting.
This does not mean she is content to do nothing. Her eyes look through the slits of her mask, analyzing Daniel's movements to see if they have changed any since they last met. Her own steps are deliberately different from what Daniel knows, to better delay his realizations just that little bit more.
COMBATSYS: Kasumi looks for an opening.
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Daniel 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Kasumi
And then, Daniel Jack gets his own focus.
Kasane Ate. That meant a lot of things. A student of Todoh was the easiest. Someone that understood the art of Todoh. The detective begins to analyze the woman; and it was a woman, that was clear. The figure was younger, probably teenage. A teenage Kasane Ate. Perhaps this is one of the tests from Marz. After all, testing was her thing. To use Kasane Ate, to make it a 'surprise' opponent, all reeked that this was a secret test of some kind. And if it was Master Todoh, it would be much more obvious. The only other person-
And then it comes to Daniel.
Not a word of it is spoken, of course. But the look in Daniel's eyes tells all. Gone was the dazed gloom, and in its place, was a fiery spark of mischief. The burning spirit of Todoh surges forth, building to a head as Daniel Jack casts away the darkness, and fully embraces the light. Drawing in a deep breath, he looks across the way. She was holding back. She was expecting something. And thus, Daniel Jack was intending to show it. "So!" He begins, a renewed air of power coming from within. "You dare mock the Way of Todoh with your Kasane Ate? Perhaps I should show you the full power of my Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu!" The detective boasts, as he begins to build within. He was moving slow, carefully, drawing from his own renewed energy. But as he builds up his momentum, the careful, cautious movements begins to accelerate. Both hands high, orange energy surges to his limbs, until finally, he hurls down both arms. Daniel's technicial practice comes to life as he returns with his own Kasane Ate once again. But this time, with purpose, with meaning. No mere burst of energy comes forth, but a whole shockwave is hurled down, risking not only to send his opponent flying away, but to utterly sunder apart one of the bockshelves.
Sending countless vampire novels to their demise.
COMBATSYS: Kasumi fails to slow Chou Kasane Ate EX from Daniel with Huge Thrown Object.
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Daniel 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Kasumi
Well that wasn't quite expected. The mystery opponent had little time to react, and the decision she made was chosen poorly. With the size of that Kasane Ate, she could not easily leap to the side, and so she tried to hurl a bookshelve into its way. Unfortunately, she was too slow, and the result of the whole experience left her to feel the familiar impact of that Kasane Ate.
An amused giggle can be heard when the woman stands back up again, in the same movement taking a hold of her mask. "You've gotten better, Daniel. I'm impressed." If her voice wouldn't give away her identity to Daniel, the fact she tosses her mask to the ground after those words would.
"I would however hope I wasn't mocking the Way of Todoh." The words are said with some light amusement, and perhaps just a little mockery of Daniel's quick assumptions. "I've been working very hard to get it right."
"Master Kasumi."
Daniel Jack has to restrain himself from bowing to his opponent. He had long bowed in honor to his sensai. But this was a test of his skill, not a simple spar. As the great shockwave comes forth, not even the bookshelf can slow the fierce momementum. Daniel Jack had gotten better. Eye bright, but face grim, he continues as he advances back on the woman. "You sound so surprised. I've learned from the best, Sensei, you should be expecting the best from me!" The detective belts back, building his momentum, his rhythm.
One of Kasumi's own, in fact.
Leading in with a palm thrust of the right, Daniel Jack chains it into a hand chop with the left. Ougi Mizo Nagashi; the combination strike of Kasumi herself. Daniel will continue with an upward palm strike with the right, before finishing the sequence with a sharp, thrusting straight kick, aiming to knock the woman back. Ryuhaku had the Kasane Ate. Kasumi had the Sasshou Inshuu. But Daniel?
Daniel had the combination strikes.
COMBATSYS: Kasumi counters Zoot Suit Riot from Daniel with Sasshou Inshuu.
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Daniel 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Kasumi
Whether it's the element of surprise, her solid knowledge of Daniel's movements, or something else entirely, Kasumi had no problem anticipating what Daniel would bring to the fight, his combination strikes. Daniel should have known this was coming. With a quick movement of both her hands, Daniel's combination was disarmed.
Immediately afterwards, Kasumi's left foot struck out and hit Daniel in the gut, throwing him back with force while she looked at her pupil, of sorts. "The more familiar your opponent is with your fighting style, the more creative you should be, Daniel. If you wish to defeat me, then you can't rely on what I know you can do."
Kasumi seemed satisfied with that little lecture, although she already had her arms raised back in a defensive position, ready to continue the battle at a moment's notice.
Naturally, she would know her own move flawlessly.
The elegant display of four blows is met with flawless defense. Every blow is parried with grace, the detective struggling to keep his momentum even. Daniel Jack knew Todoh-Ryuu as well; if he put too much forward, Kasumi would take the opening, and hurl him to the ground. But by the time the final kick comes, her opening comes. As the final parry comes, he receives an instant kick, stunning him as he stumbles back. "What you know I can do....?" Daniel Jack mutters back. Daniel Jack's style was... unfortunately very repetitive. All about the endless combinations. He would need to get more creative, Kasumi instructs.
So he gets more creative.
Lurching back towards Kasumi, he leads with another repeat of the combination; beginning with the palm strike of the right. But when the hand chop comes, the fingers are curled. Building up a flash of energy, a single, weak downward slash of chi is unleashed, the weakest of Daniel's own skill with Kasane Ate. It wasn't to harm Kasumi significantly, though; it was to stun her. As the energy from the left is hurled out, the right builds back into a wind-up. "Fantastic Todoh..." The detective roars, building to a peak of power as he finally hurls out the single, powerful palm strike.
"PAUNCH!!!"
COMBATSYS: Kasumi fails to counter Fantastic Todoh Punch from Daniel with Messhin Mutou.
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Daniel 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Kasumi
Kasumi thinks she has an idea of what's coming, and prepares to grab Daniel to throw him. However, the Kasane Ate being mixed up within a series of melee attacks is new, and it catches her off-guard for long enough for the Kasane Ate to land. Stunned as she is, the palm strike throws her back into a bookshelf, and she seems surprised.
"Creative, Daniel." She gets up again, a bit unsteady as she tries to recover her ground, looking at her student with a careful eye. "You're doing well." A few more steps forward, not getting too close but getting ready to continue the fight. It would be a disgrace if she gave up this easily, and so she doesn't.
Wouldn't think of it, either.
Kasane Ate really was useful like that.
The detective's momentum continued to advance, moving with the careful dilligence. The stunning opening was what saves him; as he knew all too well of how his master's technical expertise. But Daniel's own technical skills were learned from the best. And with it was the full power of Master Ryuhaku. Speed and Power, both were part of Daniel Jack's style. Daniel's perfomance to pierce Kasumi's guard was the cake of which he would feast on.
And Kasumi's words were the cake.
A smile spreads across Daniel's face as his punch breaks through. "Thank you, Sensei!" He responds briskly as the detective already moves into the next technique. "It has been too long since we have last sparred. How has your school been? Or is it out for the summer?" The detective asks. A personal question, for certain.
But Daniel Jack was practically family at this point.
Stepping in towards Kasumi, Daniel Jack begins to focus. Eyes sharp, utterly focused, he thrusts with another palm strike, initiating the attack. However, Daniel Jack pauses, holding himself steady as he draws from within. His other hand, flattened like a knife, was held back high, building in chi energy, delaying the assault. Focusing on Kasumi's collarbone, he reaches the apex of his power. And in a smooth, flawless movement, he unleashes the full Todoh-Ryuu power towards the collar of his sensei. Taking the cutting motion of a Kasane Ate and applying it to a knife strike, he unleashes a hand chop that could shatter skeletons, tear battleships in half, and threaten the very earth itself with the boastful power of...
The World's Greatest Hand Chop.
COMBATSYS: Kasumi fails to counter World's Greatest Hand Chop from Daniel with Morote Gaeshi.
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Daniel 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Kasumi
That certainly was a great hand chop. Kasumi crouched down and tried to grab Daniel's arm to use his own momentum against him, but somewhere she wasn't fast enough, the hand chop hitting her in the shoulder as may have been intended, and the younger Todoh felt the strike's impact. The World's Greatest Hand Chop might threaten the very Earth itself, but Kasumi Todoh is made out of sterner stuff.
Rising again, still ringing slightly from the impact, she dismisses his inquiries. "Let's talk about that when there's no camera running, Daniel? I don't think the entire world need to learn about my private life." And she is back into position, a slight but clear, twinkle in her eyes. The fight is more difficult than she had anticipated, and this, it makes her proud. Of herself, but mostly of Daniel.
Daniel blushes.
It might be hard to see, But Daniel does blush. Embarassed, he realizes that yes, the cameras were running. And asking about the private life of the Todoh family was... probably too much info. Wait. The cameras running. Daniel Jack does quirk his eyes a bit as the chop comes back in. It was likely the odd timing of the chop that threw off Kasumi; while interrupting the chop isn't too difficult, predicting when it comes in is the true challenge. As Daniel hurls it down, he steps back towards a bookshelf.
"Well then, Sensei, I better finish this."
With a pound of his fist, Daniel Jack hammers his hand against the shelf. The entire shelf shudders, as Daniel surges to life with burning orange energy. Reaching into an apex of power, the books begin to fall from the shelves. As they fall towards Daniel... he suddenly snatches one out of the air. Quickly infusing it with raw chi energy, he hurls it towards Kasumi. And then he does it again with another book. And another one. Faster and faster the frenzy of books come, Daniel advancing towards Kasumi. Grabbing the chairs around the table, he begins to hurl them too in a frenzy of energy and random objects. With an idle slash, he rips apart the table, and concludes the frantic fury as he tears off whole chunks of the table, bringing the avalanche to a halt as he falls to a knee.
Completely exhausted from the effort.
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Kasumi with Mean Business.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Kasumi
The whole avelanche would certainly be well considered to be named mean business, and as much as Kasumi tries, her attempts to parry, block or deflect the incoming barrage of attacks are lacking in effectiveness. She takes the strikes with a smile on her face, one of the true prides of being a master is to see your student become a capable combatant himself.
This does NOT mean that she is going to let him get away with this too easily. The distance complicates things, but she gets up close, aiming to grab Daniel and throw him to the ground in a mass of chi. It's not her best perfomance of this move, but it is most certainly better than nothing, and she aims to give this her best shit.
As she slumps down, unable to continue fighting, her words are simple. "I'm proud of you, Daniel."
COMBATSYS: Kasumi can no longer fight.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Kasumi's Shiranui.
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Daniel 0/-------/-----==|
The onslaught ends, but the fight was not over.
Daniel Jack was catching his breath. The early assault had winded him, throwing him well off balanced. And now.... now was the closing work. As she closes in for the final blow, the detective is seized. But as he is hurled down... the detective breaks into a tumble. Like his sensai, he had experienced a wide range of Todoh-Ryuu. And even when he is on the end of a throw, the detective was proving that the aikido base of the art was in full form. The energy blasts upwards, and Daniel, rolling with the blast, picks back up, standing unevenly. He barely won that one, and only by the skin of his teeth. He had beaten Kasumi, and in a public forum too. But it did not matter.
Because she was proud of him.
As the fight is called in his favor, Daniel Jack turns away from the cameras, arms crossed. He had beaten his sensai; and this was all he could show? That was all he would allow to show, for looking away, he could keep the private business of Todoh-Ryuu. The private family secrets. In this case, Daniel Jack was staring off into space.
Manly tears rolling down his cheeks.
COMBATSYS: Daniel has ended the fight here.
Log created on 15:03:18 08/07/2012 by Daniel, and last modified on 19:29:54 08/08/2012.