Description: The crossover battle of the century you've all been waiting for! Sakura and Blanka team up to take on Ryu and... uh... Ryu! It was almost SFxT up in here but nevertheless, these three fighters put on an impressive show nonetheless. (Draw Match)
Sakura signs up for Saturday Night Fights because it gives her an... outlet. Between schooling and training sometimes she just can't let loose as much as she wants, even training against the hardies of Taiyo High. She doesn't always approach these fights--sometimes fun, sometimes contrived--with all the seriousness she perhaps should--having been both undermatched and seriously outmatched.
But she's got reason to be invested in -this- fight. There's a little clause that looks.. well.. intriguing. To say the least. So she'll definitely do her best on this Saturday. She arrives at the Shitennoji Temple just as the sun is falling, the last bands of orange and light purple giving way to darkness. But the temple isn't dark at all, especially not the courtyard, the place for this fight, lit with portable sodium lights at the four corners of the area, casting bright, almost harsh light.
It's that light into which Sakura steps, tightening her headband, brushing her hair out of her eyes, then tightening her gloves as she walks over to the side of the courtyard initially designated for her and her partner--Blanka. A good friend, of course, and she just fought him a couple of weeks ago...
A rematch with Sakura! Well, not really - but a chance for Blanka to help get her something she seems to intensely want. He hasn't fought /with/ the younger fighter in quite some time, and the chance to team up with her against one of her own mental mountains of perceived progress seems like a good thing. Something to cause a bit of nerves, surely - but Blanka is good at pushing negative emotions down and away, finding the positives of situations and maintaining a charged-up attitude.
He bounds in from the path that would eventually reach the city, easily noticed as a green and red blur. He skids to a halt at the outskirts of the courtyard, a few bits of dust and pebbles kicking up from his sudden change in speed. Craning his head left, then right, he brightens up his smile and in two bounding motions ends up by Sakura. "Awh-roo! Blanka try his best. Knows uh.." His foot scuffs the ground and he runs one clawed hand through his firey hair, trying to find the correct words. ".. this important for aroo. You so strong, Sakura!"
It's been some time since Ryu's last real public fighting performance, in the questionable Devil's Tournament. Since then he's spent time training, observing, and for the most part preparing himself to return to the fight. That tournament had it shares of ups and downs, but it was useful in its own way. Ryu even stopped through Sunshine City as Sakura battled her own way in the Trial of the Dragon, though he kept that visit secret for the most part. The Wanderer had an interesting time observing, noting that Sakura had come far, but didn't want to interrupt her groove with his presence. Satisified that she was doing well, he disappeared into the shadows to observe the rest of the tourney.
With that behind him, it was time to get back on the horse, as it were. A few poorly publicized bouts here and there for travel money and to warm up were all Ryu really needed, but when even those were insufficient for Ryu's needs, the more risky or dangerous fights needed to be found... and the best place to get that was back in public eye. Ryu's being here now is more Ken's doing than Ryu's. But secretly, the World Warrior is glad to see Sakura's strengt first-hand, and a fight against two simultaneous opponents is great for building up stamina and defensive techniques.
The other two fightsers arrive before him, and so the barefoot, white gi-wearing Wanderer steps into the ring last, squinting a little at the sudden spotlighr, but giving Sakura a terse nod. He's happy to see her, but showing it just isn't the laconic fighter's style. Instead he gets into a loose ready stance and beckons at his opponents. "Let us have a clean and honest match... I am looking forward to seeing how you grown since last we lsst met."
Sakura's good cheer is only amplified by the setting, by her partner, her opponent... it is perhaps the first fight she's had, with Ryu, in... a long time. A long, long time. And she's been working hard--though progress is not so -easily- measured at this level--it isn't a matter of throwing a punch more precisely, or a kick with more snap. It's as much spiritual and philosophical as physical...
Her good cheer is evident but subdued, as she faces her idol. Dropping her hands to her sides, she bows to Ryu, a perfectly correct bow--and then she raises herself and smiles. "Of course, Master Ryu! I'll show you everything I've learned..." Oh so serious Sakura seems to be out of place... until she grins and pops her right hand, curled into a fist, into her left palm, with an audible *smack*.
"Me 'n Blanka, we'll show you how far we've come..." Sakura takes a longish step to her left, and stretches out her right hand towards Blanka. Obviously, it is for a 'dap'. Once that's done? Sakura's fists take up guard position and she slides her left leg forward, dropping her right back...
And, with a shouted cry, she moves, closing in on her idol and suddenly stopping on her left leg, snapping a low roundhouse kick with her right foot, for Ryu's leading knee!
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu has wandered into the fight here on the right meter side.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Blanka has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
When Ryu shows up shows up, Blanka lets his jubilant nature subside - at least a little. He's excited by this challenge as well - who wouldn't be?! One of 'the legends' of our time, and Sakura's idol? It's enough to bring a pre-emptive flicker or two of lightning bouncing around his eyes and over his smile.
When Sakura moves to bow to her opponent, Blanka follows suit with a slightly less formal bow. When his eyes rise back up and he gets to his full standing posture, every bit of emotion is gone. Stone-faced, the green giant holds up his fist then brings it to the side in a easy fist-bump with Sakura. He holds the emotionless look until the young fighter leaps into action, and then he howls out joyfully, bounding forwards. Her attack is quickly followed up by his, the Brazillian Beast running in from behind, hands on Sakura's shoulders, vaulting over her and using her as a pushoff point for a kick of his own, both giant feet aimed at Ryu's noggin!
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries Sakura's Light Kick!
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Blanka's Aggressive Strike.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
Blanka... the World Warrior has a vague recollection of the bizarre green fighter and his unique jungle style, but the two have faced each other infrequently in the ring. He seems an unusual companion for Sakura, and so one dark brown eyebrow does go up at their apparent camaraderie, but he then vaguely recalls Blanka's association with Dan Hibiki, which solves that mystery to some extent. Besides, once they leap onto the offensive in a well-executed tandem attack, questions of how or why become academic; they're working together in harmony and that makes their unity a force on the battlefield.
Forced to respond in kind, Ryu spares no effort in his response. Deciding to deal with the low attack first, the white-clad fighter snaps out a short kick of his own, deciding the best defense is a good offense. There's no real force to it -- not enough to do any damage to Sakura -- but the striking surface for her kick suddenly becomes Ryu's prepared and extended calf rather than his vulnerable kneecap, immediately blunting the force of the blow without costing the elder Ansatsuken fighter any momentum. Which is good, because Blanka cannons in at head height and there's no time or energy to have a fancy defense for *that* too. Crossing his arms, Ryu catches Blanka's assault on his forearms, gritting his teeth and then pushing the green machine back and away to give Ryu just enough room to perform his counterattack...
...which he's perfectly placed to do quickly thanks to his defense against Sakura's kick. Drawing that leg back, Ryu suddenly spins, and then plants the defending leg down and extends the other leg in a vicious forward thrust kick intended to speed Blanka's retreat with considerable force. Best to test the unknown quantity now and see what he can do!
Regardless of outcome, however, the Warrior gives both his opponents a wan smile. "Well executed. This will be an interesting challenge!"
Sakura's thrown off-balance by the counter-kick; she stumbles, but recovers her balance. Her expression is one of both slight annoyance--that she was so easily read--and admiration--at how easily Ryu handled her. But she -knew- this was going to be an uphill fight. It's important to her to never give up. Never -ever- give up.
Sakura pivots to face Ryu as he literally lunges towards Blanka. She knows the power of those kicks, and she hopes Blanka can handle it. She'll have to trust her big green friend, as she fades back a couple of steps, the winds up for her own kick.
Visually it might seem very similar to what Ryu just did, but there's certainly less... -force- to it... to say the least. Sakura isn't consciously imitating Ryu, her would-be master--it's just that the position of that kick gives her something of an opening, no matter how small it may be.
COMBATSYS: Blanka fails to interrupt Joudan Sokutou Geri EX from Ryu with Electric Thunder.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|
When Blanka's feet hit Ryu's guard - while he's just deflected Sakura's attack, it's enough to make the jovial, determined beastman quail a bit internally. Ryu's so fast, and so strong! The impact of Blanka with all his mass doesn't seem to do anything - and Blanka's the one pushed back! He rotates in air, catlike, ending on his feet and knuckles, a four point stance.
He roars out a challenge and starts to spring fowards - directly into that brutal kick. It hits him in the midsection and sends him sprawling away, skidding a few feet on the courtyard. Wheezing, he gets back up - electricity flickering around his frame as a defensive measure - far too late for the impact of Ryu's kick, leaving him with nothing to do but yell out a cheer for Sakura as the green giant starts moving forwards again, shaking off the impact and prepping himself to fight the brutally efficent opponent again!
COMBATSYS: Ryu fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Sakura with Seoi Nage.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|
Freed of the distraction of a second attack, Ryu faces down his erstwhile student's attempt to give him the boot right in return. There's no need for holding back in this fight, for sure, and so the Wanderer goes on the offensive, deciding to try and use Sakura's extended kicking leg as leverage. It's an aikido or judo-style maneuver, using the striking surface of an attack as leverage to put the attacker flat on his or her back. Unfortunately, Sakura aimed high with this one, and her master is a little too slow coming off his own fully committed strike at Blanka. The result is that his lunge forward to catch Sakura off-guard is cut short by her foot planting itself on his chest, shoving him away with the force of the blow.
Grunting a little in pain, Ryu backs off, patting a hand over the impact point before shaking his head, standing up, and getting back into stance. He is still smiling, ever so faintly; considering the Wanderer's laconic personality in general, this might be an encouraging sight for Sakura and Blanka. Ryu's gotten a round one strike in on the tandem team, and a misjudgment let Sakura land her own counterstrike. Opening moves are done, the pawns put in play... now things get serious.
There's... a certain amount of 'I'm still alive?' in Sakura's expression, but not a whole lot. She knows Ryu's strengths, and her own weaknesses, and in this she can be honest. There's little braggadocio involved in a fight like this--it would be foolish to bring -that- to the table versus a man such as Ryu. So when she retracts her leg, she also holds her ground. Moving in again, she presses the attack, trusting Blanka to do the same--
--her movements are swift as she ducks into a half-crouch, kicking low again, but in a feint, before planting her kicking leg. That distraction allows her to draw her hands to her stomach, her chi surging up, into her hands, white-cored and blue-edged, expanding again before she unleashes it.
Ryu will, of course, know the pose, and the shout, as she thrusts her palms outwards, unleashing a spherical blast of chi, as wide as she is in the torso, with her high, girlish voice crying out just as sharply, "HADOUKEN!!"
%"WAHOO! Keep it up, Sakura!" Blanka's certainly good at cheering for his friend - even as he starts to close in again. The beast holds one hand against his chest, certain that if he were to move the limb aside, everyone would be able to see Ryu's footprint stuck in his skin as a bruise. The man kicks hard! Eager to face up to the strong warrior again, Blanka wastes no time in re-engaging.
But Blanka's already tested Ryu's strength, and knows that his doesn't /quite/ match it. So he needs to call on something else to aid him - a combination of teamwork, and his unique style that gives him speed and strength! He approaches from behind Sakura, then falls forwards in a controlled tumble. It quickly gathers speed, allowing him to become a red and green blur. When Sakura rises up, Blanka aims right for her back. Just after her own shout, Blanka straightens out from his balled up motion, a green blur sliding right through Sakura's open stance, wind whipping up around them from his speed. He throws himself into the air and into a ball directly behind her chi-blast, his own voice calling out his attack as he aims to impact Ryu at the same time! "AWHROOOKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Ryu with Rolling Attack.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ryu overcomes Medium Hadouken from Sakura with Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|
Two projectiles coming his way... well, sort of. In the strictest sense one of them isn't so much a projectile as a... there really is no precise word for 'human cannonball'. At least one of these attacks seems familiar to Ryu, in the end! Realizing that Sakura has, in her own way, thrown down the gauntlet with her choice of attack, Ryu engages that challenge with relish. His hands come to his side, in the cupping position that broadcasts to all and sundry that he's going to see Sakura's Hadouken and raise her one. Swirling blue-white energy cyclones into being between Ryu's spread palms as the Wanderer takes the ambient energy and shapes it, giving it deadly form and power.
And then he looks past the attack coming his way and realizes Blanka's *right behind it*. His brows furrow. That's... troubling news.
He's already committed to striking back at Sakura's shot with his own. He could move, but it's not going to be at a speed he's used to now that he's gathered all this energy of his own, and swinging his arms around to block would be awkward indeed. Left with few other options, Ryu attempts to sidestep without ruining his angle of attack, but it just doesn't work; Blanka Sonic Spinballs right off the Wanderer's chest, sending him stumbling back a few steps but thankfully not breaking his concentration or hold, which means...
...as Sakura's Hadouken comes screaming in, Ryu extends both hands palms out and shouts, "HADOOUKEN!" in return. The rippling burst of cyclonic force streaks out, enveloping and even consuming Sakura's version before heading off toward the younger Ansatsuken fighter at speed. Blanka may have landed a telling blow on Sakura's master, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to save her from the potential fate that awaits...
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Ryu's Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|
There's no thought of evading. She's close enough that Ryu's hadouken burns through hers immediately--and she throws her arms up. It's half training, half reflex, and it saves her--even though the chi blossoms against her upper body, forcing her back a good two steps, she's not all that worse for wear for it. But now she's out of position, which is, probably, at least half of what Ryu wanted...
Briefly she considers charging back in, but with Blanka there to harass the Ansatsuken master, She of the Falling Cherry Blossoms decides to hold back--just a bit. Ryu might recognize the stance she takes--sunk back on her right foot a little, fists up but not in guard...
... as well as the surge of power that rises up through her... focusing itself inside her, at what some call a 'chakra point', spreading out from there, a swirl of dust rising up around her feet in reaction.
COMBATSYS: Sakura taps into her inner strength!
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|
That's right, Sakura. Blanka is the distraction..ater. Whatever. He's big and green and very visible during a fight, especially once he's bounced off the Ansatsuken warrior and is in midair, trying to recover his balance. He sees Ryu's chisphere impact Sakura - and he's quite happy for a second or two that he's still up out of the way. That's when gravity realizes that Blanka's still airborne, and starts to pull the green beastman back to Earth.
Death from above?! Death from above. Blanka's attack is pretty simplistic, the big man spreading his arms wide, and trying to aim his chest for the middle of Ryu's headband. Wide open, yes - But a heavy Blanka falling chin or knee or elbow-first onto Ryu will certainly make for an annoying evening! If he can get a good grip on the other man, he'll even try to turn the momentum into a hip-toss! Plus, by throwing himself right at Ryu from above, it might get Sakura the time she needs to refocus and ready herself!! "AWH-ROOOOOOOO!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Combo Grapple from Blanka with Shoryuken.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Ryu
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Blanka 1/---====/=======|
Fortunately for Sakura, Blanka is a persistent threat, one that Ryu must continue to pay attention to. For someone who grew up alone in the jungle, the Green Machine has a clear and vital understanding of team tactics... though to an extent, they're resulting in him taking all the hits on Team Tandem's side of the battle. Sakura gathering energy can only have problematic consequences for Ryu down the line, and the Wanderer would like to try to head that off... but Blanka is just There, attacking from the sky with savage speed and strength. You can't ignore it, and you'll regret not taking it seriously. And so, true to form, that's exactly what the World Warrior does.
Even as Blanka dives at Ryu chest-first, the Ansatsuken Dragon drops down low, one fist cocked to the side like a spring-loaded shot, before he suddenly rises upward, fist pistoning out and up so that it impacts squarely on Blanka's chest. The impact is sudden and fierce; the Brazilian Beast's weight and force still bear down on Ryu, compacted to the point of his fist, making him grimace in pain, but he still finds his way clear to knocking Blanka away with a cry of "Shoryuuuuuken!"
Landing in a crouch, Ryu yanks himself to his feet and forces himself into a defensive stance. The reprisal for that is going to come swiftly, he can feel it in his marrow. And Sakura and Blanka have displayed excellent teamwork so far. Yet he isn't unexcited; in fact, the challenge and the call of battle make his blood run hot, and in a pleasant way. He will have to pull out all the stops on this one.
Sakura winces. That... that really looked painful. For Blanka. Then again, just about any punch like that probably is! Sakura calls out, sounding concerned, "Blankaaaa!! Don't fly away!!!" A bit of theatricality for the viewers at home, perhaps, or a young girl just amusing herself for a moment. Either way, the energy fades as she reaches her limit, and, thus-equipped...
--*she* leaps at Ryu. Smart? No, probably not. But she does it, arching backwards, then kicking her legs out in a wide vee as she brings doubled fists smashing down for Ryu's head. It's an odd sort of impact, possibly enough to let her bounce Ryu off the ground--and to go with him--so smash him twice more.
Certainly it's one of her stranger attacks, a true Sakura Original, and it can be quite effective.
If it doesn't get her punched out of the air. Risks must be taken, though.
'Jimmy, Jimmy, that's the school bell ringing. You should get up and out of bed, lazy boy!' 'Aw, five more minutes, Mom!' 'Jimmy, Jimmy, don't fly away!'
Don't fly away?! Mom?! This must be a concussion or a dream. Blanka's eyes flick open and he realizes he's in midair, and that everything is very foggy. He doesn't have time to twist and land well - it's a heap of dust and green that flumps onto the ground. There's a sound somewhere from in there that sounds a cross between a grunt and a howl - Blanka's still concious. He's very slow to get to his feet though - and can't aid Sakura as she leaps forwards.
To his knees, then to prop himself up with gnarled knuckles. He shakes his head a few times to get the ringing alarm bell sound out of his ears, and then he sucks in a breath. He can't give up on Sakura, not now or ever! She's giving it her all, so he has to as well. One more deep lungful of air and then he's moving again - in the opposite direction of the two fighters, towards the pagoda. In a flash, he's scampered to the third floor of it - and from there, he grabs a SNF-planted crate (it's a condition of him being in SNF, didn't you know!) He throws it into the air towards the two combatants - and leaps off into space after it. In midair, he smashes the crate with a brutal overhand strike, splintering it and sending wood shards plus giant green melons towards Ryu! In the midst of this, Blanka howls out as he comes down feet first, trying to prevent presenting his chin towards the World Warrior, "You cannot Sharooooooken them all!!!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Sakura Otoshi.
- Power hit! -
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Blanka's Tropical Hazard.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
Things are about to get ugly.
Blanka is right, and that's a fact; Ryu can't sho-aroo-ken them all. In fact he doesn't want to try on either of these attacks, truth be told -- with both assaults coming at him at the same time, and with considerable speed behind both, there's a good chance he's going to end up eating one of them if he tries. Thus Ryu hunkers down and does his best to defend himself, but it's a challenge... especially since Sakura slips past his guard and effectively rebounds off the top of her master's head. Being hit in such a soft spot hurts... quite a lot, actually, making him grimace. He had hoped to put up a better show against Blanka, doing his best to avoid the melon-empowered divebomb. As it is, he's forced to brace himself and take the hit, mitigating it as best he can. But goodness, these two have put a significant dent in Ryu's stamina in a very short time indeed.
But to say he's given up is definitely not in the cards.
Realizing he has to catch one of these combatants before they flee out of range, the Dragon locks on to Sakura, letting Blanka aside for the time being, perhaps wanting to land a telling blow on the young woman who so far has managed to protect herself pretty well. Bizarrely, he seems to land just short of actually *attacking* Sakura, a confusing aspect he's hoping works to his advantage, as Ryu then immediately pushes off the ground and twirls through the air, one leg extended. "Shinkuuuuuu..."
And then he is a literal tornado of power, the chi-created vortex of this upgraded spinning kick looking to draw Sakura in whether she likes it or not (she probably dislikes it). If she can't get away, the young fighter is going to be subjected to a punishing hurricane of blows, one Ryu likes to call "Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Shinkuu Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
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Sakura 1/=======/=======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|
And Ryu proves why he's the master. Sakura fights the vacuum power, and, too late, realizes she won't be able to get away--and so she throws her arms up. But the first kick blows her guard open and the storm of limbs batters her several times in the space of seconds--until the last kick sends her flying out of the hurricane, tumbling across the ground twice.
She rolls to her feet almost immediately, though it's clear that that was not only painful but -incredibly- painful. Were she facing anyone else, she might not care about showing some weakness... okay, no, that's not true. But it's even more true that she doesn't want to show weakness in front of Ryu, of all people. So she has a few seconds to waver, and then she straightens up.
"G--good shot, sensei," she gasps, breathing hard, oxygen helping her to control the pain. In her mind, there are two chibi Sakuras. One is going '*.* WE JUST GOT KICKED BY RYU!!!' and the other is... well, also going like that, but also realizing how much it hurts.
A final shake of the head and Sakura grins. "Guess.. it's my turn!!" She takes a long, low leap forward, twisting her body in midair--and the moment she touches down, in front of Ryu, she's twisting. The revolutions of her kicks aren't as powerful or strong as Ryu's, but she manages them--four low spins, at ankle level, and a fifth as she comes up, aimed right for the breadbakset. On that final kick, a spinning, heel-first reverse roundhouse, her blue aura suddenly flares around her foot!
Blanka's far enough away that the vaccum doesn't do more than yank his hair forwards and cover his eyes, keeping him from seeing the beating that is about to commence - but boy does he hear it. Quite the long amount of 'whud whud whud', foot to various body parts noise, and he winces in sympathy, knowing just how hard Ryu can hit. Sadly, he really is too pooped to offer much more than that wince.
And that's a problem. One he needs to quickly change - figure out a way to readdress it, rectify it, and get right back into the fight. Gold eyes scan the fighting area - and settle on the camera crew's generator. Blanka uses Sakura and Ryu's distraction to his benefit, vanishing from the fight for just a second, leaping onto the humming, busy generator, and chewing directly on the output wires for it. Lights in the dusk flicker, brighten, pop or die, leaving just the wan light of sunset to illuminate the fighters. Blanka, meanwhile - well, he's glowing blue and white now, soaking in the current, using it to re-energize himself for the rest of the fight!
COMBATSYS: Blanka gathers his will.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Sakura's Haru Ichiban.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|
No fancy tricks, this time; Ryu sees Sakura deploying one of her strongest techniques, and he doesn't do anything but buckle down and try to weather the storm. It involves dropping into a defensive crouch, considering the low angle of the continual whirl of kicks, but when all is said and done Sakura has mostly succeeded in continuing to erode Ryu's ability to stay on his feet, bit by bit. When the two disengage, Ryu's arms are red and bruised from the punishing they just took at Sakura's offensive, and he takes a moment to take a deep breath, trying his damndest to stay calm and even. He's excited, truly; these two are pushing him to the limits of what he can do, and it's a great challenge. But he's not going to be satisfied unless he gives it everything he has.
Getting to his feet, Ryu glances over at Blanka's lightshow, and realizes -- despite his intense need to take a breather at this point -- that he needs to do something about that NOW and not later, or it's going to come back to haunt him. His hands up to his sides, again, perhaps telegraphing his intentions, but knowledge doesn't mean anything can be done about it, per se. The cyclone of blue-white erupts into being, but as Ryu grits his teeth and bites out a single word -- "Shakunetsu!" -- the velocity of the spin whirls from wind to flame, becoming a true 'fireball', a scarlet and orange sphere of flame that Ryu hurls at the Green Machine with a shout of, "HADOOOOUKENNNN!" Hopefully, a little fire will burn out that electric charge!
It definitely wasn't the impact she -wanted- to make, but she'll take a reduced impact. There are victories large and small in fights, and it's important to take the small victories as well. Instinctively, reflexively, she takes a step to the side as Ryu hurls that flaming sphere of energy--and she is momentarily quite jealous of it--but with Blanka the target...
"It's really an honor to fight you again, Ryu..!" cries the girl, perhaps unwisely alerting Ryu to her continued presence, though she's sure that he is -quite- aware that she's right there. And then she moves in--closing to melee distance.
Left jab, left jab, right cross, and then she tries to grab Ryu's arm--and use it as a lever to jump up onto Ryu's stomach and plant her feet, and use her weight, such as it is, to hurl him overhead. It's kind of like the seoi nage, but she needs both legs...
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Blanka with Shakunetsu Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Ryu
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Blanka 1/---====/=======|
GNAW GNAW GNAW, how much power can this generator give? Blanka's flickering at a fierce rate, blue and white electricity crawling over him like a thing alive. The lights that haven't exploded yet are about to, small pops and crushes of glass as the feedback from Blanka and the gas generator starts to grow. He's far too busy forcing energy into tired muscles to throw up an effective defense, instead trying to crawl to the other side of the generator, to use it as a shield between himself and the fireball.
The gas generator.
As the fireball hits the metal device, there's a *WHUMPFH* as gas goes off, and the magnified Hadouken blows the metal up. With Blanka on it. Well, he is only actually /on/ it for a second or two more. After that, he's airborne. Up into the air, then back down into a heap to the side of what's left of the generator. He's quiet for a second, and then one hand digs into the wreckage. He hefts it up and with his strength almost completely failed, throws the flaming mass of metal at Ryu!!! Exhausted, he slumps down...
But he can't give up. Sakura still needs him, her big green distraction. He's singed, and his hair is in definite need of some TLC from a salon.. but he struggles to his feet, and starts to stagger twoards the fight again.
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Ryu with Large Thrown Object.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Ryu
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Blanka 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Combo Grapple from Sakura with Shin Shoryuken EX+.
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Sakura 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
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Blanka 1/---====/=======|
"This has been a terrific chal--"
*EL KABONG*
Ryu is focused on Sakura, on her words, on his feelings, and not on a Blanka that he thought had been thoroughly downed. It's a rookie mistake, for someone used to fighting multiple opponents. Or perhaps he simply overestimated his ability to not get hit by a relatively slow-moving, massive projectile. Either way, Ryu is mid-sentence when he is cut off by the massive generator entering his peripheral vision. His time left to react is quite low indeed, and so it is little surprise that the generator more or less rebounds off Ryu's head with a distressingly meaty sound before dropping to the ground with a *CLANG!*.
It is thus in a daze that he looks at an advancing Sakura, squinting a bit to retrain his vision, but even this is not enough to dampen Ryu's indomitable spirit. It is perhaps because he is tremendously proud of Sakura that he takes the action he does, readying himself, eyes focusing, and then becoming glassy with the steel resolve Ryu summons. His pupil has shown great promise today; that he's been pushed to using this technique tells you everything you need to know about the skill Sakura and Blanka possess.
Two of her jabs connect, but Sakura is then faced with a ragged, but entirely conscious Ryu, who says in a somewhat staid voice, "Consider this a token of my respect," before he swings his fist forward into Sakura's stomach with punishing force.
From there, the execution is textbook, flawless, an explication of the mastery of Ansatsuken that perhaps Sakura herself will achieve someday. The fist continues upward, under the chin. "Shin!" And then, both the Dragon and the schoolgirl are ascending skyward, Ryu truly becoming a dragon in flight as the massively powerful uppercut separates the two in midair. "Shoryuuuuuuukennnnnnnn...!"
Internally: Chibi-Sakuras both clutch their stomachs, looking suddenly 8-bit. "OH! BARF!" And then her vision fuzzes with static, stuttering, as she is.. well... launched. She can see Asuka's fat, bulbous ass from here! ... no, no, wait, that's just a big pair of balloons... She hits apogee... and then starts falling backwards... and lands hard, on her shoulders, the breath forced out of her in pure physical reaction to the forces that compress her body against the ground.
She crumples, ass over teakettle, and then tips over... but then pushes herself back up to her feet. She is definitely bruised, busted up, but the fire still burns in her eyes, briefly at least, as she steadies herself in a wide-footed stance. Her hands clutch to her stomach, and her power washes over her again, concentrating itself in her hands, through the pit of her stomach, it seems, into her hands, building brighter and more intense. "Shinkuu..." she rasps, coughing at the end of it, compressing the power down further... until she has to unleash it, flinging her hands forward, the ball of power roughly the same size as the hadouken unleashed before--but far more condensed, practically solid, as she shouts, defiantly... "HADOUKEN!!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
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Blanka 1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
... and then... teetering... Sakura falls forward, onto her knees... then her face. Oddly? She has a rather blissful smile on her face for all that.
"Sakarooa! Look out!!"
Blanka looks on as Ryu does his magic, the Shin Shoryuken - but he doesn't end up watching Ryu as he lands. No, he's heading towards Sakura's predicted landing spot. He's near her when she throws out that ball of energy, and when she slumps down, he spares her one more glance to make sure she's not seriously hurt. She's a tough girl, though - and he gives her a thumbsup, even if she can't see it.
With that, his head whips towards Ryu - and he's no longer playing games. He curls down into a ball and starts to roll towards Ryu again. He's slower this time, but the power in the move is completley unmistakable. He's putting everything into his electrical generation, his skin flickering, bones showing in shillouette from the amount of light his cells put out. The roll picks up speed - and again, he follows Sakura's Hadouken in. After all, it worked well the last time - how can it work worse than before!! "THIS FOR SAKAROOA! Blanka help her win!!!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Shinkuu Hadouken EX.
Glancing Blow
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Ryu with Direct Lightning.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
It is eminently clear, as both attacks come sailing his way, that Ryu has very little -- if anything -- left to avoid them with. A short hop out of the way means that Sakura's blazing projectile merely clips him, but even a glancing blow from an attack with all her strength behind it is not negligble. And truth be told, all that final blow really does is put him directly in the path of Blanka's electrified followup, which impacts with serious force. In the end the Wanderer ends up on one knee, thoroughly spent... but unwilling to let it go just like that. Blanka appeared to strike again from beyond the grave, after all!
"I wonder... why we haven't fought seriously before..." the Dragon murmurs to Blanka, before summoning the last of his strength and lunging forward, driving straight and then down with a hooked punch intended to slip past the Green Machine's guard. Sluggish from fatigue, it may be an easy evasion for a nimble fighter like Blanka, but it is Ryu's parting shot, and his pledge not to give in on a fight until he has given all that his body can give.
However, whether it connects or not, the Wanderer is done after that, dropping to one knee again. The crowd goes wild for the show, as well it should -- all three fighters put up a hell of a fight today.
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Blanka with Sakotsu Wari.
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|
Blanka's given high praise indeed. In the seconds before Ryu attacks again, when Blanka's bounded off and no longer glowing, he just smiles to the words, answering in a quiet, gruff voice. "Blanka glad to fight. Always fun to challenge strong people." With that, he sucks in a deep breath, crouches and gets ready to just leap out of the way of the last attack. Unfortunately, he jumps upwards. This means that the hooked punch comes down on the half-airborne beastman, and solidly knocks him right back to the ground, splayed out arms and legs akimbo. He opens one gold eye from his unglorious resting place, and makes a noise that's somewhere between a laugh and a sucked in whine of pain. "Heh. Heh. Heh. Blanka... think he stay here for while." Then his eye flickers shut for a little longer.
Log created on 19:37:41 08/18/2012 by Ryu, and last modified on 16:20:07 08/22/2012.