Description: Welcome to The Lightning Spangles All-America Fourth of July Spectacular... IN AMERICA! The Fourth of the July is a major holiday IN AMERICA, and you know what they say... what better way to celebrate the independence of your country than blowing up part of it?C Although Hayato Nekketsu is not an American, he's happy to be IN AMERICA to help out Jezebel with her major holiday show. Thrills, chills, and people might have even learned something about AMERICA. It's quite a patriotic display. ...IN AMERICA!
Mile High Stadium. Denver, Colorado. 6:45 PM. Backstage.
The Fourth of July.
The concrete underbelly of the Bronco's Football Stadium was abuzz with the backstage workings of a theatrical number. It was Independence Day here in the Mile High City, and the entire city was abuzz of the fight of America, for America. The true blue American, Lightning Spangles, was going to have a fight before 75,000 live people in the stadium itself, and before countless viewers at home. Sure, it was a sports stadium, primarily dedicated originally to Baseball, and now, to American Football.
But technically, Martial Arts was considered a sport.
The concrete underbelly was alive with activity. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Polk stride past a line of long-legged dancing girls dressed in form-fitting stars and stripes. Lincoln was -technically- owned by Disney right now, so they had to use a few of the B-List presidents. A tram, loaded with fireworks, runs through a nexus, nearly running over a man holding several Uncle Sam puppets. The band members of Val Halen (probably a cover band) is currently arguing at the band members of Aerosmith (Almost certainly a cover band), while Axl Rose of Gun N' Roses stands between them, mediating (definitely not a cover bad, haven't you listen to Chinese Democracy? They need the gigs they can get.)
But the shouting is nothing compared to the very angry man screaming.
Tall, square-jawed, and donning a black suit with a black toupee, the Caucasian was screaming at the small old lady with the 20 barking dogs. "I said GOOD AMERICAN DOGS! How the HELL are we supposed to show 'Muraka if we have nothing but Australian and German Shepherds!" The old lady sputters a bit. "Um, actually, Aussies are considers an American bree-" The tall man claps his hands. "Don't care!"
"Get them in makeup and costume!"
The woman stares, not sure if the man is joking. But as he gives a wave of the hand, the woman drags the barking dogs down the tunnel. "We are going to make them Golden Labs! A good American dog! Just like what I grew up with!" The man runs through his phone-based dayplanner. "Everything is a mess, everything is going to hell! Okay, okay, Jezebel is done with costume, and should be warming up in the workout room, we got 15 minutes till showtime, and." His eyes bug out. His jaw drops. And all the madness running through the backstage of the stadium comes to a halt as the man screams.
"WHERE'S MR. HAYATO!?!?!"
Hayato, meanwhile, is fitting right in as an American as he walks back from the concessions stands, with a big cup of beer in one hand, and two foot-long hotdogs in the other. He takes a big bite out of the hotdogs as he walks, licking some relish off his lips as he looks around the stadium. It's a big place, and he may have gotten lost once or twice, but he's pretty sure that now he's where he needs to be, as he walks briskly through the doors leading into the backstage area.
The teacher takes another big bite of hotdog, and a gulp of beer, as he continues walking, then spots the tall man. "Hey, this is the right place, right?" He appears to not have a care in the world, grinning like he doesn't even realize that he's put off the carefully calibrated schedule that this man has surely put long hours into making absolutely perfect in every way, only to have the incompetent people around him screw things up. Or something like that!
Very much something like that.
The toupee'd man begins to charge through the hallways, eyes burning furiously as he glues the phone to his ear. "Hey! Who the hell do you think this is? Where is Hayato?" The man shoves past a Bald Eagle and its handler, the bird chirping furiously. "He's in the stadium? Well at least that's something competent you mooks can do! What's that?" He scowls furiously as he passes the roadies with the sound equipment. "He had to step out for FOOD?! And you let him? I don't care if he looked like he was going to spank you with that sword or cane or whatever! My other headliner is missing because you broke protocol, and let him run off!" He reaches a doorway and promptly, pokes his head in. "Hang on a second."
"Jezebel, have you seen Hayoto?"
Within the small, blue-padded room with a mirrored wall and idle exercise equipment, a woman is stretching her legs against a bar upon the wall. Garbed in leather chaps, the tall, mousy-brown haired woman is garbed in the rhinestoniest of rhinestone cowboy outfits; adorned with gaudy stars and stripes all over. Jezebel turns around, tipping her cowgirl hat as she grins broadly. "You mean that handsome man I'll be fighting? No, he isn't here!" Jezebel pauses a moment, her mental gear turning. "Well, shoot, isn't the show about to start?"
The man just facepalms.
"Look. We can make this work. Okay. Okay. Jezebel!" The organizer states, jutting a finger to the woman. "Warmup's over! Get your ass in queue; we are gonna get started! Get ready to stall if you have you. You hear that Joe?" He begins, turning towards the phone as he rattles off. "We are gonna get everyone ready to stall, if we don't have a Hayato! And start combing the concession stands, anywhere, for that Japanese asshole-"
And then, Hayato strides in.
The tall man's face turns bright red. He trembles furiously, eyes bulging out. And there, he faces towards Hayato. "GARGH" He chokes, angruish flowing from his lips. "WHERE WERE YOU! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WE- I- GRAAAAGH!" Jezebel shrugs as she deftly steps past the organizer. She puts her hands on those hips, a bright, toothy smile on his face. "Well lordy, Mr. Hayato! Where the heck were you! I was hoping for a partner to help me warm up!" She shakes her head, walking down the tunnel as the organizer continues to sputter. As she walks past Hayato, she pauses next to him, a twinkle in her eyes as she glances back towards the Physical Education teacher.
"Well, ain't you gonna escort me to the stage, or you gonna finish up those hot dogs first?"
Well, Hayato's certainly not going to waste food! He's already gotten through most of them, so he chomps down on the remnants of the hotdogs, quickly washes them down with beer, then flings the cup over his shoulder without looking back. It bounces just once on the edge of a garbage can before falling in. "Ahh! Sorry about that, lost track of the time. And then just got lost. This place is huge!" He glances at the sputtering organizer, then has his attention drawn to Jezebel.
"Oh, of course!" He offers his arm to Jezebel and grins in her direction. "Allow me, ma'am." Then his brow briefly furrows as he glances around the area, looking for signs that indicate the way to actually get to the stage. "Oh, right, that way." Sure, if he'd hung around back here someone probably would've pointed it out to him already, but where's the fun in that?
The organizer just grabs a fistful of pills, and crams them down his own throat.
As he screams into the phone, Jezebel allows her arm to be taken by the Japanese gentleman. Of course, as she is escorted, the woman just begins to titter. "Oh lordy, lordy, just listen to me! Giggling like a school girl! Don't worry about him though. You always have people like that in the business!" Jezebel places a hand on Hayato's own, as he bumbles his way to the proper side.
"Now, there are a few things you gotta know!"
As they approach the edge of the stage, they find the rest of the cast bunching up there. Countless presidents, dancing girls, rock stars, and what looks to be a very convincing Guile cosplayer. Jezebel keeps up that bright, sincere smile, hopping a bit on her cowboy boot heels. "The most important thing is to have fun! We do things a little differently in these fights! Don't get overwhelmed by what's going on, and just try your best to fit in! Just remember to avoid any crass language, stuff you wouldn't want a kid to listen to." She unhooks her arm from Hayato, and gives him a little one-armed hug.
"You'll do great, I can just feel it!"
As almost if on cue from Jezebel, the lights of the stadium begins to dim. A great, booming voice roars out over the stadium loudspeakers. "Ladies and Gentlemen! The 'Lightning Spangles All-America Fourth of July Spectacular is beginning in 5 minutes! Please takes your seats, and get ready for a tasteful, patriotic journey through American Culture!"
"In AMERICA!"
Hayato isn't really 100% certain what to expect, and Jezebel's pep talk just makes him all the more confused. He's seen showy fights before, and he can see a bunch of the cast now, but he's not really all that familiar with Fourth of July celebrations in general. He does at least expect some fireworks, though. And avoiding crass language, that he can do. He's got plenty of experience being a role model, after all. So, fight when it's time, have fun, don't traumatize the kids. "Got it!"
And while he's currently not occupied with fighting, Hayato's certainly curious to see what's going to be happening. Southtown does get a fair bit of exposure to American culture, but here it's going to be the real deal! And from the size of the assembled cast, and the size of the venue, he's guessing they've got a pretty impressive show planned.
Showtime.
The audience's chattering dies down. Jezebel adjust an earpiece and headpiece, putting a mic out around her mouth. She hands a spare one to Hayato. "Wear this! It will help people hear you!" Jezebel gives a wink, as the stadium goes dead silent.
And it is the presidents who step out first.
George Washington strides out, carrying himself with the noble diginity befitting the father of our country. Dressed in old colonial wear, George stands on the stage admist the arena, a spotlight fixed upon him, the actor upon the megascreen. Looking as regal as he can muster, the president looks out upon the audience, hand tucked into his coat. A small headpiece mic pokes out, giving him a medium to speak through.
And then, he begins to speak.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. The warmest friends this Nation has do not contend that it is free from imperfections. But there are doors open for change. This country has the incredible potential, blessed by god, and not shared by any other country in this world." Striding after him, the similarly-wigged Thomas Jefferson strides out, garbed in the same colonial wear. "When I went and formed this glorious nation, I found that my reading of history convinced me that most bad government results from too much government. A nation of people, by the people, was the worst form of government there was... excluding all other forms." Finally, hunched over on an old hickory cane, Andrew Jackson hobbles out, a scowl on his face. The spot like fixed on him, the man glares out at the audience furiously, before neatly spitting out.
"And that's why I kicked those Injuns off American Soil!"
George and Thomas look flabbergasted. "What?" George asks curtly, as Andrew Jackson continues. "You heard me George! Not all of us was all neat and roses! Some of us actually had to DO things. Some of us actually had to make hard choices, that everyone wouldn't love you for! Some of us actually are TOUGH." Thomas Jefferson casts a glance around nervously, turning the mic aside as he approaches Jackson. "Hey, uh, that's not-"
Jackson promptly smashes Jefferson in the head with his cane.
As Jefferson hits the stage face first, Andrew Jackson swings the cane around furiously. "See! That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about! Founding fathers? A bunch of lily-livered aristocrats! They weren't shot at! Heck, when that man tried to assassinate me, I tanned his hide something fierce! Nobody picks a fight with me! I'm Andrew Jackson!"
"And this is the Lightning Spangles All-America Fourth of July Spectacular!"
On cue, Lightning Spangles bolts out on stage, hopping and striding out with her jean-clad long legs. Waving to the crowd, the kids in the audience goes wild. George, behind her, helps Thomas back up, while Andrew Jackson looms near them, the cane slowly spinning in his hand. Jezebel waves a hand at the audience, smiling brightly. "Howdy Y'all! I'm Lightning Spangles, the All-American Hero! Can I get a Yee-Haw?" The actress-fighter gives a little fist pump as the audience roars out in unison. "YEEE-HAW!" Jezebel claps his her hands once. "That's great! Now, I am here to help all of you celebrate what makes his country great! But I can't do it alone now, you hear? That's why I'm going to have my opponent tonight to help me out in telling y'all just what makes America awesome!" Jezebel beckons a hand off stage.
"Come on in here, Mr. Hayato, and say hello to the audience!"
Oh, huh. Was Hayato supposed to have lines? He puts the microphone on without thinking much about it, then settles in to watch the show for a bit. Andrew Jackson seems like a pretty cool dude! Nice form with that cane, and Hayato likes folks who go out and do things. And speaking of going out and doing things. Hayato watches Jezebal go out, then blinks as she calls him out. What makes America awesome. His mind starts racing, but in the meantime... well, they want him out there and saying hello?"
There's only a brief delay for that to be processed before Hayato bounds out on the stage, waving at the audience. If he actually was American, maybe he'd have dressed up a bit more, but hey, at least his track suit and shit have got red and white covered, right? He grins widely for the cameras and those members of the audience that can actually hear him, then calls out, "Hello America!"
A smattering of applause erupts as Hayato says hello.
Of course, Lightning Spangles is applaud right along with them, smiling briskly. "Okay! That's great Hayato! Everyone at home in the audience says hello right back." Jezebel strides across the stage, bouncing a bit as she turns around to face Hayato. "Now! Lets get this started...."
"Right after a rendition of our national anthem, of course, from Pop Superstar Sensation Ke-Cash-Sha!"
A blond-haired woman in rags stumbles onto the stage. A microphone rises up from the middle of the stage. Andrew Jackson, scoffing at the two presidents, suddenly turn his lecherous eyes towards the pop star dragging herself across the stage. Ke$sha reaches the microphone, leaning over it. As the musician grunts a bit into the mic, Jezebel places a hand over her heart, as a giant American Flag unfurls on the megascreen. And mumbling into the mic in full auto-tuned glory, Ke$sha begins to sing.
"Oh say can you see,
By the morning's light,
"What so proudly, we be,
And the night's last fight!"
"Stars and Stripes, and all that junk,
Over rampart we watching hot,
As we blew up that british punk,
And the flag was gone- not!"
"Oh, uh, say, that thing!"
"Does that starry banner wave,
"Over the land of the bling,
"And the home of the brave!"
And Ke$sha promptly passes out at the mic.
Lightning Spangles, however, removes the hand from her heart, and wipes the single American tear from her eye. "Such a beautiful interpretation of our national anthem." Bringing up her arms, the feisty cowgirl begins to pump her fist, the guard of Tae Kwon Do rising up. Legs spread apart, she gets her balance swiftly, as she grins towards Hayato. "Now lets do this, Hayato! Not just for us! Not just for our martial talents. But do it now! Together!"
"For America!"
COMBATSYS: Jezebel has started a fight here.
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Jezebel 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hayato has joined the fight here.
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
Hayato's pretty sure those aren't the lyrics, but hey, it's not his country! But that doesn't mean he won't fight for its peoples' god given right to be entertained! "That's right!" He whips out his shinai, giving it a good slash through the air and stands facing Jezebel. "Get ready for some action, America!" He waits a few moments, just in case there's any pyrotechnics or the like setup to indicate the start of the battle. But then one way or another, he charges across the stage toward Jezebel, a wide smile on his face.
The PE teacher comes in head-on, not hiding his intentions at all. He's just rearing back, bringing his shinai up for a downward strike aimed at Jezebel's head or shoulders. No need to get fancy right off the bat, but surely the audience is going to want to see some action, not just two opponents circling one another and sizing each other up.
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Jezebel with Power Strike.
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Hayato 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Jezebel
Most people were pretty sure that Ke$sha wasn't a pop star, either.
As the blond-haired woman remains unconscious on the floor, the cowgirl has her guard up and ready. Andrew Jackson sneaks around the charging Hayato, slipping towards the sleeping woman. And as Hayato slams his shinai into the actress, the president drags the pop star away.
It was a very romantic drag.
Lightning Spangles, however, clearly seems to be caught off guard by how vigorously Hayato was tearing into her. The burning PE instructor can see it unfold in slow motion. Jezebel was reacting too slowly, she was watching, then reacting. A common amateur mistake. The wooden shinai slashes into her shoulder, a gasp escaping her lips. Her arms were nowhere near where they needed to be to block that blow. But as she takes the hit in the shoulder, instead of the head, the reality of the martial artist is revealed.
There was where the woman's talent reveals itself.
She was anticipating the impact, rolling with the hit as she sends herself flying away. Hitting the ground with a tumble, she oversells the impact. Hayato did manage to land a strike in the shoulder, that was certain. But As Jezebel writhes on the ground in pain. She slowly recovers... until a strange from the side stage comes out, giving her a helping hand. Lightning Spangles takes it, looking up. And there, she exclaims.
"David Lee Roth from Van Halen?"
"That's right, Lightning Spangles!" The rock star exclaims somewhat monotonously. Helping her back up, the actress rolls her shoulder a bit. Focusing on the rock star, she leans her cheek into her fist. "But what are you doing here?" David Lee Roth rolls his eyes, but keeps a smile going. "I'm here with my friends from Van Halen to help you support America! You don't think Rock N' Roll would be abandoning you out here?" Lightning Spangles nods firmly, giving David a quick hug. "Rock N' Roll? Is it just Van Halen?"The rock star sighs, as not only the rest of the 'A Different Kind of Truth' Van Halen files out, with the whole of Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith following behind them begrudgingly. "No, Lightning Spangles! We have all our friends out tonight, to help out America tonight!" A stage hand suddenly runs out, handing the increasingly exasperated David a large fast food container. The rock star takes it, and immediately shoves it towards Lightning Spangles.
Here, take this new Angus Bacon and Bleu Burger, new from McDonalds!"
Lightning Spangles gasps as she takes the container, and opens it. "McDonalds!? The most American of all the Fast Food places! Wow, David Lee Roth! Thank you!" Lightning Spangles immediately snarfs down the burger, swallowing it painfully. As tears well up in her eyes, she chokes out a response. "I can feel it invigorating me already!" Turning around, she faces Hayato, as David points downwards, towards the audience. "And if that doesn't invigorate you, then my buddies and I will make sure of it, as we rock out on all the American classics or something." True to his words, the instruments are revealed to be set up right in front of the stage, countless electric guitars in place as the bands begins to rush over to it. They clutch their instruments.
And rock they did do.
The combined forces of Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Guns N' Roses begin to wail on their guitars, playing Stars And Stripes Forever in a full metal ensemble. All while Lightning Spangles, still choking down that hamburger, charges down on Hayato. Lunging in swiftly, she will attempt to seize the man by the hem of his britches and his collar, and swing him right around once, then twice. If successful, she will hurl him up into the air, and before he even hits the ground, let out a crackfire roundhouse kick to knocking him straight down to the ground.
For America.
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Jezebel's Hang 'Em High.
CSYS: This exciting moment brought to you by McDonalds!!
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Jezebel
Normally Hayato would follow up on that first strike a bit more quickly, but after a moment or two of confusion he gets the gist of what's going on, and stands back. He doesn't relax or let down his guard, but he also doesn't do anything to particularly draw the audience's attention back to him. Not that it'd be too easy to do so, at the moment. He waits for the product placement to complete, and then for the music to start up. He gives Jezebel a questioning look, then nods slightly as she starts to move in toward him.
Of course, just because they're putting on a show, that doesn't mean Hayato's going to throw the fight! He will, however, work to make things look good. He allows himself to be grabbed and swung around, preparing himself for impact. When he's hurled up into the air, he's already bringing his arms up, and has a good guard established before Jezebel's foot slams into him. It still sends him rocketing to the floor, but he hits the ground rolling and springs back to his feet. "Well done! Now keep it up!" And with that he bounds back toward Jezebel, lashing out with his shinai as he gets close in a flurry of slicing motions, coming in at rapidly changing angles.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel blocks Hayato's Scolding Slash.
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Jezebel
And then, the line dancers begin to stream out.
Lined up side by side, the long-legged girls begin to swing their legs, dancing along as the rock and roll roars out. Swinging their legs back and forth, George and Thomas rush over to Andrew Jackson. The cane-weilding president swings his cane violently with one hand, the other clutching Ke$sha firmly. And all the while, as Hayato is caught, and thrown to the cheers of the crowd. The kick is deflected, but impact is made, to the appeal of the audience. But Hayato was roaring back. Still having a bit of mayo in the corner of her lips, Lightning Spangles burps a bit. "I am doing well! You are being an incredible symbol of America, Hayato!"
"But that's partially because of the rich legacy that Japan and the United States share together!"
Lightning Spangles explains, as she shoves back against the frantic frenzy of slashes. "As you know, between 1945, and until the Treaty of San Franscisco in 1952, Japan was essentially part of the United States, like our own little island in the Pacific!" She shows far greater finesse and rhythm now, meeting the combination of slashes with the sweeps of her arms. Each blow is met with a hammed up recoil from her limbs. But her footwork remains steady. Stepping back, as the rock n' roll roars out, as the dancers behind her continue to dance, as Andrew Jackson fondles the unconscious Ke$sha, Lightning Spangles thrusts a fist in the air.
And she begins to burn with the Red, White, and Blue energy.
The cowgirl continues to explain. "There, Japan got to experience all the best features of freedom! Free democratic elections! A heavily revised education system! Labor standards! Giving women a greater participation in society! Shikata Ga Nai! You can see the effects of Japan's time when America occupied it in effect to this day in Southtown, if not in the whole cultural identity of Japan! So a hurrah for Japan!"
"The icon of America's success!"
COMBATSYS: Jezebel burns with the AMERICAN SPIRIT!
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Jezebel
There are certainly people in Japan who would have some objections to Jezebel's claims, but Hayato is not a particularly ardent nationalist. Also, he's a little bit distracted by the line dancers. It's still a somewhat dangerous conversation to get into, though, in terms of people back home, so rather than speak Hayato just flips off a quick salute with his shinai to Jezebel, and waves at the audience. That taken care of, there's still a fight to do! And so once more Hayato closes the distance between himself and Jezebel, once it looks like she's done speaking for the moment.
He starts leading in with his shinai, but then suddenly steps to the right and stretches out his left arm. He attempts to slam into Jezebel, hooking his left arm around her torso and then using his momentum to pivot around, pulling her off her feet and then slamming her down into the stage floor.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel blocks Hayato's Medium Throw.
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Hayato 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Jezebel
Who cares about Japanese Nationalism, when this was all about American Nationalism!
The line dances are roaring along, the rock n' rock buzzing, and the presidents fighting over a woman's honor. Lightning Spangles is still burning with energy as Hayato himself comes blitzing in. A swing of his shinai easily catches Jezebel. Lightning Spangles wasn't accepting the hit clean, nor was she failing. As the Taiyo instructor hurls the martial artist through the air, she begins to flip. Rolling with the toss, she tumbles on the ground, launching into the air a second time. Flipping the air again, she finally tumbles again, and lets out one last leap into the air.
And right on a motorcycle.
The motorcycle roars to life, Lightning Spangles revving it up. Tossing off the cowgirl hat, a stage hand hands her a helmet. The Harley rumbles across the stage, as Lightning Spangles awkwardly balances it. "Yeeeee Haw!" She calls out, as the Motorcycles roars down the stage slowly, running up and down the stage around Hayato. "This Harley-Davison is really impressive!" She explains. She makes a pass around Hayato a third time.
And then she jumps off the Motorcycle.
The motorcycle crashes into the line of dancing girls, taking a sudden turn away from off stage. But the cowgirl was committed. Spiraling through the air, Lightning Spangles begins to burn with Red, White, and Blue energy. Body flaring with energy, she tries to rip up Hayato into the cyclone of energy. If successful, she will carry Hayato on over the rock stars, unleashing a trifecta of kicks; A straight kick exploding with red energy, a roundhouse kick flaring with white energy, and a finishing heel kick with an eruption of blue energy to spike him down.
Right into Slash's drum set.
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Jezebel's Where Eagles Dare EX.
CSYS: This exciting moment brought to you by Harley-Davidson!!
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Hayato 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Jezebel
Hayato doesn't spin around to keep his eyes on Jezebel, but his head and eyes are moving quite a bit as he tries to keep her in his sight even while she's doing laps around him on a motorcycle. Not that he doesn't feel up to punching a motorcycle, if it comes to that! But then she leaps and comes flying at him. Once again he allows himself to go with the flow, but tucking his legs and arms in, protecting his body as he gets pulled into the energy vortex, then gets kicked about. Finally he comes flying down, managing to snap his body about to come down on his feet... but still right into the drum set. "Oh, c-" He catches himself. "Sorry!"
Then he hops out of the busted drum, apparently still ready to go! He runs across the stage toward Jezebel, sparing a brief glance in the direction of the motorcycle. That really was a nice machine, hopefully it's not damaged. Oh, right, and hopefully nobody got hurt. No time for Hayato to check on them now, though! He gets in close to Jezebel, reaching out to grab her by one arm with his left hand, while bringing his right swinging up in an arc to slam into her stomach with enough force to lift her right up off her feet. If that works, Hayato has the leverage advantage to then swing her around and toss her across the stage.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel endures Hayato's Power Punch!
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Hayato 0/-------/---====|=======\======-\1 Jezebel
One dancing girl ignores the motorcycle.
The rest are sobbing and screaming as the motorcycle does not STOP. Chasing the dancing girls around, another President emerges from behind. James Polk, stern faces as ever, lurks in the background. But the rock... the rock is subdued, not stopped. Slash manages to leap out of the way of the spiked-down Hayato. Axl Rose throws down his mic, scowling at not Hayato... but David Lee Roth. "Look what the hell you did!" He roars out, giving the vocalist a shove. The two begin to fight.
As Jezebel lands, still wearing the helmet.
"Oooo. Sorry!" She apologizes as well, bringing her guard back up. She starts to walk towards Hayato, in case he can't get out, but when he seems all together, the woman nods firmly. "Okay! Lets-" She starts, as she is suddenly grabbed by her arm. She moans a bit as she suddenly takes a right punch right to the gut... turning away from the impact ever slightly. As he takes the leverage to the natural direction, she is hurls off stage. Out of sight, there is a moment of... rock n' roll from Aerosmith, and the screaming dancing girls.
And Lightning Spangles bursts out in a swimsuit.
Dressed in a skimpy two-piece bikini of grey, she has a grey dress portion stretching down her legs. Wearing a grey-green crown upon her head, she looks very much like the Statue of Liberty. Or in this case, the Statuesque of Liberty. Bouncing out from the side of the stage, she takes to the air, her form rippling as her leg infuses with energy. With a sweep of her leg, a blast of energy roars out from a kick, burning with red chi. The small orb of energy may strike Hayato, or it may miss; but in either case, the energy will be absorbed into where it hits, flesh or floorboard. A second kick comes as Lightning Spangles lands, unleashing a white orb of energy. A third kick is hurled out, bringing out a blue orb of energy. And there, bikini-clad in full, Lightning Spangles turns her back to Hayato, slowly walking away as the three orb points explode into a chi-burst, in the shape of fireworks..
In the shape of the American Flag.
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Jezebel's Unforgiven.
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Hayato 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Jezebel
Hayato holds up his arms to protect himself from the incoming energy... and then he can't do much but stand there and try to endure it, as more and more lights and energy join the party, culiminating in a blinding explosion. Hayato finds himself in the center of an American flag, not that he can see anything but a blur of red, white and blur light. And even after the chi fades away, it leaves blinking afterimages on his vision. He shakes his head a few times, trying to clear it up.
But there's a show to do, Hayato doesn't have time to be stunned! He knocks himself on the side of the head, shakes his head one more time, then casts his gaze around looking for Jezebel. Then he spots her, and her new outfit and stops again. His eyes widen, followed a moment later by his grin, but... he can't just stand there staring like a moron! And so Hayato lunges forward again, swiping out with his shinai in Jezebel's direction.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel blocks Hayato's Power Strike.
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Hayato 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Jezebel
Everything was falling apart.
For America.
The explosions comes out, the blasts tearing across the stage. The dancing girls scatter. The Motorcycle was now ON FIRE and not stopping. Guns N' Rose and Van Halen were in open fisticuffs in front of the stage, while Aerosmith plays. Andrew Jackson makes out with the still passed-out Ke$sha... until James Polk stands right behind him, his grim eyes unyielding. As Jezebel keeps walking away, she suddenly hears a shout.
"Watch out LIghtning Spangles!"
The martial artist pivots, her guard rising up. As the shinai comes swiping out, she catches the blade with her forearms, wincing from the impact. Taking the firms steps back, she arcs and eyes to Hayato. "Wow! That was close!" She turns to the side of the stage, giving a salute to the barista that had now moved to the side of the stage. The barista, garbed in the uniform of Starbucks, holds a four-cup container, each holding a steaming cup of coffee. The barista grins, as she holds up the coffees. "No problem, Lightning Spangles! We are Starbucks are always looking out for you, as well as the rest of America! Here! Have our newest line of Espressos!" The Tae Kwon Do artist leans down, taking up one of the brews, and gives it a sip.
And she twitches, violently.
"ohwowthatsverygoodthankyouverymuch!" Lightning Spangles takes another sip of the coffee, and then, a chug. Finishing it off she spasms a bit, pupils dialating. "thankyouforthecoffeeAMERICA!' She shouts. And there, she explodes forward, unleashing a blazing combination of kicks straight for Hayato's chest. A straight kick, chained into a roundhouse, chained into another roundhouse...
Before finishing with a high-octane crashing heel.
For America.
COMBATSYS: Hayato endures Jezebel's Quick and the Dead.
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Hayato 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Jezebel
Hayato stands his ground during the caffeine-fueled onslaught, letting the kicks slam into him as he waits for the perfect opportunity. It'd be difficult to track and deal with Jezebel's movements right now anyway, given how jittery she is. All the stuff on fire and additional fights breaking out is kinda distracting, too. Still, Hayato endures the kicks, waiting, waiting... and then he sees his opportunity! Jezebel brings her heel crashing down on Hayato's shoulder, and he grunts from the impact but his legs don't buckle.
And then, while Jezebel is lowering her leg, he makes his move, reaching out to grab her. He's easily got enough of a size advantage to get both arms wrapped around her, then lean back, pulling her up off her feet. The intention is to give her a brief view of the ceiling as he pulls her up and over, before slamming her down head-first into the floor of the stage.
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Jezebel with German Suplex.
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Jezebel
There is a sickening crack.
James Polk punches Andrew Jackson squarely in the back of the head, knocking him out. Picking up the drunk, passed out girl, he hefts her into George's and Thomas's hands. He points off the stage. Aerosmith continues to rock out, now playing America The Beautiful. The sole remaining dancing girl continues to dance alone, while the rest take cover. Finally, the barista just continues a blank smile, as the burning motorcycle suddenly finds itself on a ramp, leaping through the air. Lightning Spangles herself lands the final crushing kick squarely. But As Hayato roars in, the attempts to turn away, trying to break from the grapple.
And fails.
Jezebel is swept off her feet, grabbed cleanly by the martial artist. Hurled into his arms, she tries to turn to minimize impact... and she barely musters it when the slam comes down. With a bone-breaking smash, Lightning Spangles stiffens her neck, attempting to keep the impact from snapping her neck. When she is finally released, she goes limp for a moment.
But she wasn't out just yet.
"imokaywowthatwasgreathayatoAMERICA!" Was the response as she takes to the air again, bursting straight upright. The helmet falls off her head, in shattered chunks. Her pupils were so wide. And yet, through her smile, those eyes also were oddly off-centered. Hopping on her heels, Lightning Spangles jumps through the air in tandem with the motorcycle now firing off a ramp. With a mighty bound, she hurls out a flying kick, aimed squarely for Hayato's chest...
Aiming to knock him squarely into the path of the motorbike.
COMBATSYS: Hayato blocks Jezebel's Fierce Kick.
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Jezebel
Again Hayato manages to deflect Jezebel's attack with his arms, but there's still enough force behind the blow to force him back and into the path of the motorcycle. However, since he wasn't sent back flying, he actually manages to maintain some control of the situation. That in mind... well, these people want a show, right? He can both hear and see the motorcycle coming toward him, even over all the distractions of the rest of the show, and seeing the flaming bike... he comes to a decision.
As the motorcycle draws close, Hayato leaps into the air, grabbing one of the handlebars and flipping himself right around onto it. Despite the fact that there's flames billowing out all around him, he manages to swing the bike around and bring it roaring in Jezebel's direction. He turns the throttle to full, bringing the flaming machine barreling in toward Jezebel, with the intention of jumping off at the very last minute!
COMBATSYS: Jezebel dodges Hayato's Large Random Weapon.
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Hayato 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Jezebel
And the crowd roars as Hayato mounts the motorcycle.
"AMERICA! AMERICA! WOOOOOO!" Comes the cry as a round of fireworks set off around the stage. James Polk strides across the stage, down at the bandmembers. And quietly, he begins to talk with them, mediating. The last dancer begins to be rejoined by other dancers... while George And Thomas drag Ke$sha off-stage. As Hayato roars along the stage on his motorbike, despite the flames all around, Jezebel stands her ground, watching the bike carefully with hyperfocus. The bike comes roaring towards her, and with a great heft, Jezebel leaps, tumbling aside.
And the motorcycle continues to roar along past her.
"WowthatwascloseAMERICAithinkicandothisyouaredoinggreathayatoAMERICA!" She babbles as the cowgirl surges back towards Hayato. Kick after kick becomes unleashed, a frenzy of snap kicks, roundhouses, straight thrusts, and slashes. The assault ends with a sharp jab with her foot... to try and launch herself into the air. "Wowthiscoffeeisgreaticantevenfeelmyselfslowing..."
".... Doooooown."
Lightning Spangles suddenly begins to look as if she was hit with a metaphorical truck.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel successfully hits Hayato with True Grit.
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Hayato 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Jezebel
Hayato manages to leap off the motorcycle as it goes flying off on its own again, but he was counting on Jezebel not being there and waiting for him. He lands on the stage and is immediately subject to a flurry of kicks, driving him back as they slam home. He goes staggering back, but manages to stay on his feet, and eventually Jezebel's energy starts wearing down. Hayato takes the opportunity to settle himself, then rocks forward on his feet and lunges forward to push the assault! He doesn't need caffeine to get his hot blood pumping, so no crash for him until his heart gives out!
To add to the pyrotechnics, Hayato leaps into the air toward Jezebel, with blazing orange chi springing up around his shinai. He kicks off the ground as he leaps, starting to spin around, faster and faster. His body is a blur as he spins through the air toward Jezebel, with that bright orange chi around his shinai turning into a blazing propeller.
COMBATSYS: Hayato successfully hits Jezebel with Burning Windmill.
?!? Weird Hit! ?!?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Hayato 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Jezebel
Jezebel was passing out right before Hayato's eyes .
Physically exhausted, Lightning Spangles suddenly loses the zip in her step. Exhaustion overwhelms her, the espresso having burned out of her system. As Hayato comes, she struggles to muster a dodge, to rip away from the flying leap. But to no avail. The whirlwind comes tearing into the poor woman as she is ultimately knocked away from the whirling blades... into that rogue motorcycle.
Which then carry her right into the fireworks.
There is a vast explosion the motorcycle explodes, exploding the fireworks in tandem. All the fireworks lift off, rocketing them into the air... to the cheers of the crowd. The people flee from the stage, scattering across the arena as the explosions do not stop. A firetruck rushes across the arena. But a figure stands up in the blaze, a silhouette within the flames. Who could have been crazy enough to brave the flames, and reemerge?
Who other than James Polk.
The stern-faced president carries Jezebel over his shoulder, emerging from the conflaguration unharmed. Carrying the woman, he approaches Hayato. Staring him in the eye, he speaks curtly. "I have done everything I have intended to do. Take this woman." He states, handing Jezebel off, dropping her on the ground if he must. And there, he turns around, leaving the arena to the cheers of the audience, still taken in by the fireworks.
"My work here is done."
COMBATSYS: Jezebel gives y'all a free turn!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hayato 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Jezebel can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hayato 0/-------/-------|
Hayato doesn't actually recognize James Polk, but he does accept Jezebel, holding her carefully. He shifts her briefly, though, to support her with one arm. Why? Because if she's not available, there's something that he has to do as the winner. Really, it's the least he can do. He turns to the audience, holding one hand up in the air, and shouts, "Thank you, America!" To the expected cheers and fireworks. Now he'd better get Jezebel and himself out of here, so the fire fighters can get to work. And the audience will actually start leaving, hopefully before the fire spreads that far.
COMBATSYS: Hayato has ended the fight here.
Log created on 15:55:09 07/04/2013 by Hayato, and last modified on 19:16:11 07/08/2013.