18/09/04
Characters: Chun-Li, Ryo
It's been two days since Guy fell to the assault of the world's strongest woman,
and in that time she's been continuing her previous routine - training, catching
a couple of the other matches, and relaxing between these activities. A fighter
needs to keep a clear head after all, and cannot train forever. Now though, it's
the weekend.. a pleasant enough Saturday, the sun high in the sky with only a
few clouds marking the soft blue expanse, the streets are crowded with
merry-makers and most warriors have chosen today to take a break, catch a few
sights or just laze around in the sunlight. But not all. Chun-Li rose early this
morning after viewing the match between Daigo Kazama and Kelvin Anderson last
night, her opponent for the next round now known to her in name and in style,
and so she now needs to be fully prepared for the youth. What better than to
schedule the agreed-upon challenge with Ryo? So this is what she decided to do,
phoning through and leaving an anonymous message to his room at the hotel -
simply to 'come to the rooftop' with a time included, of course.
Chun-Li now waits at exactly that spot, her striking figure clad in traditional
garb and framed between two of the many broad skylights that line the vast space
atop the building. It towers above many of the others nearby, and so there'll
likely be few spectators - though the office block that in turn towers to the
north might get a good view. A few businessmen might fall behind in their work
today, it seems! As she bides her time, having arrived a little early, the young
Chinese woman's gaze is fixed upon the roof's one point of access, her hands
tucked loosely behind her back and her posture erect - she's still as a statue
almost, only the winds keeping her alive as they billow at the skirts of her
dress and at the white ties in her hair.
Ryo's presence in Seattle has been a lot more subtle than Chun-Li's, but
there've been a number of people who've noticed that the Kyokugen prodigy is
around and about, though with the tournament the most media he gets is wild
speculation on his purpose, and part in that competition. The lack of fanfare
doesn't bother the young Sakazaki, however, and he's kept to his own priorities
and training regimens without even paying the guesses and attitudes of others a
lick of attention. The phone message that he received this morning is easily
the most unexpected thing that's happened so far, and with his history, he
treats the issue with due caution, keeping the possible challenge from his
sister and preparing himself in mind and body to answer it at the indicated
time. Sure, it might be a trap, but that doesn't stop Ryo from walking right
into it, the door to the roof opening almost precisely on the scheduled hour,
and admitting the warrior to the makeshift battlefield. He's only caught
glimpses of Chun-Li since their meeting and her fight, mostly when watching the
subsequent battles himself, but the sight is enough to calm his steely nerves
now, and tension that wasn't evident in his graceful motions fades from his
frame as he continues to walk across the rooftop towards the waiting woman, "And
here I thought I might have been pinned down by an old enemy." He offers up,
projecting so she can easily hear him, his deep voice carrying only the
slightest tracing of sheepish tones in the admission. Bare feet pad quietly
across the distance, and he shifts slightly on them to get a feel for the
texture of the odd surface right off. He stops a few yards from Chun-Li and
turns his gaze out over the city skyline, taking in the view, "Nice choice. And
a good day for it." He's restrained but amicable, his focused demeanor not
breaking entirely to friendly conversation. After all, he saw what she did to
Guy. He looks back to her, meeting eyes steadily and thoughtfully. Looks like
she came ready, not that he's surprised, "So, we going all out?" It's only
polite to let her dictate the guidelines, after all. One of the traditional
facets of the Kyokugen Tiger.
Oh yes... media attention. Where does someone becoming as well known as Chun-Li
stand on that issue? Well, part of her can't deny that she enjoys the fame, the
sensation of being loved by so many people all gathered in one place to watch
you do your very best. Maybe that's why she revelled in it so after the battle
with Guy, got such a buzz from it.. because she -did- do her best, and the
recognition of others was already mirrored in her own heart. One thing is for
sure; nobody could ever accuse the polite Chinese woman as being egotistical,
not in the least. Doesn't everybody enjoy it to an extent? It also doesn't mean
she'll be stalking the Lobby looking for fans to sign autographs and swap
pleasantries, as to do such would be making herself lesser than she is.. and
diminishing the fans similarly. Humanity is better than that, deep down. Talent
and effort should be rewarded, but not with such fanatical vigour and the mere
act of walking and speaking is no achievement to be praised and even worshipped.
There's one thing she detests in Vega... his dictatorship of Shadaloo sees his
back patted for the most inane things.. and powerful or not, no man deserves
that. It lessens all involved.
This unease at celebrity activity is another of the reasons she has come to meet
with Ryo today, and as he steps out into the rooftop she smiles openly, falling
from her statuesque posture to reach up with one hand and shift a few loose
bangs of hair from her eye. The hand lowers and sketches a wave towards the man,
before falling back to her side as she takes a single step forward. By pure
coincidence, this step carries her right into the path of the sun, her form
silhouetted only briefly in the time it takes for one leg to drift back below
her and for the woman to lean back on said limb, her arms raising around her
body in a relaxed stance. "I thought the idea might be a little amusing.." she
only then admits to Ryo's first comment, gaze sliding downward with a little
embarassment. Like the idea of celebrity, she can't help but dance a little with
such mind-games... though there was nothing intended to be a slight to the man,
and it was no tactic to see this battle won. This is a casual fight, between
friends, and while she won't hold back her skill there is no need for a victory,
and no shame in a loss. This is the sentiment in her eye as she nods and looks
up once more towards the Kyokugen warrior. "There's no need to hold back, Ryo. I
intend to test myself today." A small smile, before a noticeable tension enters
her position.. slight, but visible to someone on their level. Just a tightening
in preparation for the first motions of the fight. And there's her reply, body
language suggesting that the karate master is more than welcome to make the very
first move.
COMBATSYS: Ryo has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has joined the fight here.
The worst is definitely when celebrity goes to someone's head, and the ego takes
over. It's easy to lose sight of what's real, and what's important, not to
mention which things to say and do that fit well with either principle of truth.
So easy to lose one's self in the flashing of bulbs and the gleam of lenses.
Maybe that's the real lesson in the aboriginal beliefs regarding photographs and
one's soul. Maybe not, but it's certainly one lesson, and of the many things
that could be said of Ryo Sakazaki, he has no preoccupation with his own fame or
fortune. Now with skill and advancement? That might be a different story.
Chun-Li's movements are undeniably graceful, and Ryo watches with a keen
awareness of where they mesh with her fighting style, knowing full well the
effectiveness of the powerful technique, "I don't think you'll be the only one
testing your limits." He replies with a grin that shows his own agreement with
Chun-Li's attitude. A friendly bout, and hopefully, quite an impressive one.
Legs together, standing at attention, he bends at the waist and presses his
hands together, offering a smooth and respectful bow, formally opening the bout.
His feet shift to a ready stance, shoulder's width apart, the left forward and
more pronouncably bent at the knee, and he tugs the half-gloves tight on his
hands, just to be sure, "Osu!" He salutes, tone carrying the strength of his
own artform, and spirit. He doesn't miss her subtle invitation, and he gladly
takes it, his own speed quite impressive as his legs bend ever so slightly more
and powerfully launch him into the air, his jump a smooth arc up and towards
Chun-Li, as precisely timed as it is quick, and his right arm is what leads as
he descends, a strong overhead chop opening the bout with a fiercely enunciated,
"Hyaaaah!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Chun-Li with Mouko Raijin Setsu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ryo 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Skill and advancement indeed.. the very things Chun-Li hopes were recognised in
her form two nights before. Many would say the battle with the Bushin Master was
one-sided, and perhaps it was in many ways.. but even were that the case, surely
if anything that could be called an even greater proof of the victor's skill?
She certainly saw it within herself, a notable improvement since the duel with
her nemesis two years before.. but still she can't help but feel the need for
more. Maybe she'll never be strong enough to topple the Shadaloo boss, but she
has to try, and fighting Ryo Sakazaki will be yet another milestone upon her
path - win or lose, something will be gained. Something always is. Why else does
one fight?
To begin this milestone, there comes a bow from her opponent.. and a wry smile
darts across her lips. How could she forget herself so easily? It's no large
matter for the Chinese woman to briefly unfold from her stance though,
straightening up quickly with her hands coming together at her chest to offer in
return a similar gesture. As is proper.. she's a little embarassed at this slip,
and only tries not to show it now that she returns smoothly into her ready
position. A small grin of her own is thrown out in return to the man's
enthusiastic manner, she can't hold it back even as a sterner mood slowly
envelops her. The mood of battle. Battle which is now joined with a startling
quick movement from her opponent - she offered him the first move, and he's
taking it. Impressively too, her hardening brown gaze barely following that arc
through the air. A subtle change again comes to her position, and at the very
last second, her feet are shifting to propel her to the side and around.. to
launch a countering attack of her own. But she's too slow.. he too fast.. not
underestimated at all, this was no mistake but simply a good blow struck to
begin the fight. (Excellent form.. fast, strong... this should be just what I
need...)
As summarising thoughts move through her head, she's taking the chop dead on her
right shoulder, body crumpling inward in that direction and legs giving away
shakily. Not for long though! She's too professional, too well trained, to go
down inexpertly, and one foot bends flat to the floor as she sinks down, barely
avoiding hitting the floor facefirst and instead bracing the opposite hand to
the floor at her right flank. It's this that after a moment of recovery she uses
to rear up onto, balancing her weight solely on this one point and whipping both
legs up in a blow the Kyokugen warrior will have seen before. It closed her
match against the sneaker-clad ninja. An attack directly learned from Gen.. the
legendary assassin kick. A little less powerful, less controlled and more rushed
than when she threw it against Guy, it's likely Ryo can dodge it far better than
he. But then, this fight could be a lot more challenging in many ways.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ryo with Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ryo 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Ryo gathers his will.
Ryo's expression doesn't change in the least as the overhead strike lands with
its intended effect. It's not expected or unexpected, it simply is, and that
fluid flow of battle is a concept that a warrior does well to remember, and is
expressed to Ryo in no uncertain terms with Chun-Li's response. With the
strength and momentum behind his airborne attack, it takes a moment for Ryo to
reverse it as he lands beside the powerful woman's recoiling frame, knees
bending to absorb the landing without showing the slightest jarring from the
impact. He's light on his feet, that's for sure, but then, so is she... The
powerful kick catches him in the gut even as he's pushing off to back away from
the strike, his dodge just a hair's width short of effective, but it's enough
behind to hurt like hell, breath rushing out of him as his ribcage is slammed.
He's more resilient than most, however, his fighting style conditioned to take
hits, as well as stand up to the otherwise painful backlash of some of his own
techniques, and he's not ready to fall any more than Chun-Li was. He rolls with
the strike, absorbing as much of the follow-through as he can, tucking his head
in to his chest as he tumbles head-under heels and flips back to his feet, not
far from his fierce opponent. Rather than rushing back in, though, he too
smiles, a small thing rather than a grin, pleased with the first exchange and
the indication of the fight to come, and his arms flex at his sides, palms
forward at waist level, his Chi energy suddenly flaring, a torrent of blue-white
energy resembling flames rushing through him from the ground up in coruscating
waves, a low, throaty rumble vocalizing the surge of power in hard consonants.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ryo 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
A solid hit, for a solid hit. Chun-Li's eyes close only briefly as her kick
connects, her chin shifting downward in a nod of sorts - one of approval, and of
affirmation. This will be a good fight. The slight numbing in the right side of
her body professes it, as does the graceful form flipping away from her
connected attack. A move that, however fast, doesn't fail her often.. this is
what comes of having an elite tutor oversee your blossoming power. Something Ryo
himself knows of only too well. As she unfolds from the blow, sliding with one
steady motion up to her feet and falling back into that self-same stance..
simple, effective, and tested to be perfect for her style.. she doesn't once
remove her gaze from the man any more than is necessary. And though no smile
breaks her now stony demeanor, another small nigh-invisible nod is given. This
again, the gathering of a warrior's power, the tightening of their resolve in
preparation for a truly thunderous attack. She herself practices this more
subtly though arguably less effectively, perhaps waiting too long at times
before launching herself in with full vigour.
Not allowing the brief lull to go too poorly in her favour, she gathers a little
chi of her own, both hands drifting around to cup at her side. Blue-white flares
along with a little rivulet of gold, and then with a single whiplash motion she
darts forward a pace and brings both feet together below her - the flapping of
skirts quite audible even over the soft torrent of energy as she hurls her force
into two outstretched palms, cupped together and now glowing with a pinpoint of
gold which blossoms up into a small pulsing sphere. The work of but a moment,
but as always with chi.. a spectacle that could be comfortably and attractively
viewed in slow motion. The stuff possesses a beauty all of its own, and the
inner surge echoes this pleasing aesthetic. Regardless of poetry though, Ryo now
has a projectile to deal with - the golden orb shrouded in a field of organic
blue as it whips forward with surprising speed and just a little force, to take
him at stomach height. "KOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo blocks Chun-Li's Kikou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryo 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
Ryo's focus and gathering of power is dramatic and effective, but it does leave
him at a bit of a disadvantage when he's pressed, which Chun-Li manages to
capitalize on. The rapidly approaching Chi attack is one of those things that's
better not to play risky games with, particularly since Ryo is fairly sure he
needs to hold the inner reserves he's managed to draw forth with his previous
technique, and his reaction to it is simple, bringing his arms up in front of it
and blocking the rather potent bolt with his forearms, the energy dissipating
around him as it impacts his guard, a slight gritting of his teeth the only
indication that the unpleasant experience impacted him at all. His eyes don't
leave his opponent either, watching hers as much as her motions, though it's
fairly evident that the gaze is broad in its alertness, Ryo instinctively
keeping his peripheral vision alert and reading the body language and motions of
muscle as surely as the intent in the warrior's eyes. It didn't take the
gathering of Chi to prepare for the fireball, though it certainly helped to
announce it, though the distance gives him fewer options than he'd like. As the
projectile strikes, he's already in motion, legs bending fluidly beneath him as
he drops into a crouch, darting forward in a motion that's as much slide as it
is stride, his right fist drawing back as he goes, the muscles in the
corresponding arm tensing with the impending strike as the momentum and strength
involved carries him in low at Chun-Li, the attack launching upwards at the last
moment into a fierce uppercut, the moment of anticipated impact synchronous with
a mainstay of his style of karate, the cry that focuses his strength, a
pronouncedly ferocious "Hyaaah!" again delivered with the Kyokugen Tiger's
intiative.
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Chun-Li with Mouko Raijin Gou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryo 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
A block... and a slight softening in the gaze of the Chinese woman. Could she
have expected less? To catch the man off his guard seems just as difficult as
others find catching her off her own. This might well be an excellent fight,
but.. it could also be a very long one, despite blows being struck on both
sides. He barely seems fazed by the projectile, and turns it to his favour with
admirable speed, coming towards her through the dissipating energies as she
straightens and finds her stance again, hands shifting in a lightly pronounced
rhythm about her body. (Fast.. I never expected him to move so quickly...) Her
feet shift on the floor at the last instant, just as he.. changes the momentum
of attack, and she finds herself stepping in and around him only to have her
chin met with a very real and solid blow. "Nngh!" Teeth grit in shocked pain,
and she's sent up into the air at the end of the Tiger's fist, body extending
fully with the upward momentum.
Again though.. she won't let herself simply come crashing down, and when the
zenith of the blow finishes, he beginning his own fall shortly before she begins
her own, said drop is turned into something that can be worked with. A simple
backward flip, her form curving lithely and coming fully around in the air. But
she doesn't drop at a vertical, instead drifting some way from her opponent..
with intention placed into this after a quick sidelong gaze is darted. She's
heading for the raised edge of a skylight, and as its reached rather than moving
to crouch atop it or land just in front, she braces a hand and a foot to the
brickwork and launches herself directly back toward the karate master. The
intention? It's something else he might recognise... a move a supporter in the
audience particularly wanted to see, but one she never ended up utilising on
Guy. With the launching she's turning to stand headfirst in the air, and before
she can lose height both hands rise or fall - depending upon your perspective -
to shove her into a rapid spin, retaining her alignment perfectly and sending
her right in at the newly landed man. "SPINNING BIRD KICK!" With the cry comes
the finale of the move's entrance, those thickly muscled legs whipping out to
either side as she performs an aerial gymnastic split, the spin giving great
power to each assisted kick aimed near the top of the chest.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ryo with Spinning Bird Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryo 1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
Ryo's upward momentum carries him in a midair twist with the potent uppercut,
though once more his aggressive style costs him against the incredible agility
of the Tai Chi master. He lands a moment before she does, touching down in a
crouch with a palm touching the floor this time, once more as lightly as the
first leap, though he's showing the exertion of the battle ever so slightly.
Though, perhaps notably, not as much as most would be - He seems to still have
energy to burn, probably because of the dramatic energy techniques demonstrated
earlier. Chun-Li's reaction catches him slightly off guard, as he's not used to
fighting an opponent that can recover -that- fast from his Mouko Raijin Gou,
much less launch out of the recoil into a move that fierce, and the arm he
manages to get up to stop the strike is knocked painfully aside as her feet
connect most nastily with his chest, his frame knocked backwards with each
strike, though Chun-Li may notice that it's not quite as effective as it
should've been - There's something resilient in the way he takes the strikes,
absorbing the impact with more grace than a man of his unassuming size would
usually be able to retain. None the less, he's very nearly dropped to the dirt,
finally sliding out of the strikes and down to the ground, the palm that finds
the rooftop this time not arriving their out of intent to assist in a lithe
landing, but out of necessity to keep the descent from being broken by his face.
He doesn't have time to worry about the pain, however, and he holds his ground
as Chun-Li's attack ends, launching out of his forced crouch as if he had
planned to start down there, left foot leading in his own aerial kick barrage,
the kick aimed at Chun-Li about the same level as her previous attack, though
instead of spinning, his right leg follows through with a ferocious roundhouse
at the side of her head, the momentum altering his direction and bringing his
feet back under him in anticipation of his landing.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Ryo's Flying Gale Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Ryo 2/<<<<<< /////////////////// ]
Ryo 2/<<<<<< /////////// ]
Ryo 0/-------/--=====|=======\=====--\1 Chun-Li
Chun-Li's eyes once more close in a brief mental lull as her kick reaches its
point of impact, the impact with flesh and bone sounding solidly both externally
and up the length of her leg. Which lowers in a graceful completion of the spin,
setting down just in front of her. Her eyes only then open, a slow breath
expelling itself between dry lips. The fight is taking its toll upon her too..
and though nothing like as damaged as her opponent, remaining so quick and
clever is a task in itself. Her muscles fill with the slow beginnings of an
ache, ever the reflection of hard activity. A smile is allowed then as she
watches Ryo Sakazaki rise, his own burning vigour practically palpable to the
young woman - if he'd been down after that, there would have been mild
disappointment. The sight of his rising and suddenly rushing toward her is a
welcome one indeed, his cries falling on open ears. And quick senses. A gaze is
shot back over her shoulder, the world's strongest woman jerking herself back to
reality in time to realise her position and account for it, taking a quick hop
forward then spreading her legs evenly and awaiting Ryo, one hand raised in
front and the other pulled to a fist at her side. The same defensive position
that worked so effectively against the Bushin Master.
Can it be just as effective today? In the time it takes for the man to cover the
ground separating them, little more can be done and so she can only hope.. hope
that she is fast enough, and as canny as his judgement has allowed. Not that
this will necessarily help, as along with his vigour she can sense the power
about to be unleashed... she didn't ask for it this time, verbally, but it was
owed to her from the beginning. When she told the karate master not to hold
back, to give her his all. This is it. This is what she was prepared for, and
what she needs if she is to topple a similarly strong opponent in the next
round. Though she tries to dart away, feet shifting on the gravel and upper body
twisting, such a charge is nigh unstoppable and she takes the first couple of
hits with a stagger and a straightening of her form. An opening of her guard,
arms going out to her side with each subsequent hit and face turning away with a
grimace and a faint cry before teeth can meet lip and prevent another. It
continues on, her body numbing with pain under the assault and then... the
finisher.
By now she's moved back far enough that the edge of the roof once more looms,
and as an uppercut is whipped up into her chin she feels herself sail a short
distance into the air, an turn onto her back. Sudden panic moves across her
returning consciousness, but it's too late - she's already falling, curving from
a horizontal to a head-down vertical and plummeting clearly over the edge of the
hotel's rooftop. The Chinese woman has disappeared from her opponent's vision by
the time she can do anything about it, one hand going out desperately for the
edge of a balcony some twenty feet below the roof. Flipping herself neatly
around closing fingertips, her weight is carried up over this second ledge and
onto the solid surface, where she pauses.. breath heaving from her lungs and
eyes rapidly deblurring from the gathered tears of agony. (He's good... I've not
fought like this in a while...) How long does she pause? Not too long, standing
and dusting herself down before she flings herself into a short hop, feet
gripping at the edge of a window ledge then propelling her into a visually
staggering dash up the wall, back towards the roof. She springs over, soars into
the air with a carefully applied palm to the brickwork, and flips around in the
air aimed at Ryo's estimated location with a quickly hurled flying kick.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ryo with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ryo 0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Chun-Li
It would be almost an insult for Ryo to hold back at this point in the fight,
against an opponent who's obviously as strong as Chun-Li is. He knows he's
outmatched by a fair margin, even as skilled as the Kyokugen Tiger may be, and
there's no option besides full-on and give up. Sure, he could call the fight,
but giving up isn't his style, and he'd be very surprised if it was what Chun-Li
wanted out of him. Still, with his addled skull and fatigued status, he does
miscalculate just a bit. Punching his amazing opponent off the side of the roof
is -not- what he intended, and as he comes out of his ultimate technique,
there's more than a bit of concern etched across his face as he rushes towards
the edge, leaning over to try to see what the outcome of the fall may have been.
Lifting a hand to wipe the blood from his face, he tries to get a clear view,
and the vulnerable stance turns out to be the worst thing he could have done, as
Chun-Li comes hurtling back up to the rooftop, with another of those
lightning-fast kicks. It appears that worry clouded his judgement, and the fact
that he actually cares what happens to her, as opposed to certain other
fighters, leaves him undeniably vulnerable. It's all he can do to backpedal as
Chun-Li comes in hard, and he leaps up and back as the kick connects fiercely
with his chest. It's better than taking another hit to the skull, but it's
still more than he can handle as weak as he is. He grunts in pronounced pain as
new nerves cry in protest to the beating he's taken, managing not to bite his
tongue as his jaw clenches shut, along with his eyes. He's beaten, there's no
way he's getting up from the tumble he's now taking through the air, but his Chi
still flares impressively, and his inner strength is quite a bit more willing
than his physical frame. As he tumbles back from Chun-Li, his right arm draws
back almost instinctively, launching straight at her in what seems to be an open
palm strike, but erupts at the last moment into a flaring ball of Chi, the
sudden surge of reddish energy lacking the warning charge of her Kikou Ken,
though the motion launching it is certainly distinctive enough, as is the
forced, rather breathless sounding cry of, "Ko'ou Ken!" The quick projectile
hurtles towards the victorious woman, even as Ryo crunches unceremoniously to
the ground, unable to form a coherent thought much less forestall his
crash-landing, and he thumps twice before laying rather still, an almost
inaudible groan coming from his bruised mouth.
COMBATSYS: Ryo can no longer fight.
COMBATSYS: Ryo has left the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Ryo's Aerial Ko'Ou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Chun-Li 1/=======/=======|
From the start, holding back was never on the agenda. Any doubts that either
fighter may have had were allayed in the last few blows, each giving their all
especially in that last monstrous series of strikes by the Kyokugen Tiger.
Chun-Li could well have been hurt a great deal more by that too.. any lesser
martial artist could have missed the ledge, and even catching one lower down
would have effectively ended the match. Once again, her wits and speed carried
her back into the fight and away from a loss. The responding kick was wild,
energetic and full of the spirit possessed also by her opponent... he likely
appreciated it for its brutal honesty, as heavy in power as the woman could
manage given the acrobatics required to place it. Apparently it's been enough,
and she has earned the right to name herself victor of this friendly match. Or
has she?
Even as the kick connects with surprising force, the shockwave carrying up into
her body, her weary eyes find Ryo and see him preparing for a retaliation.
Quickly her opposite knee comes up to her chest and the extended leg retracts,
doing similarly now that she drops away from the blow, landing in a crouch on
the raised edge of the roof, booted feet clinging to warm bricks. She has no
time to prepare, to think of a more subtle way out of the countering
chi-explosion, and she almost lazily throws up her arms to the side, bracelets
clinking together as crossed limbs take the assault and let it wash back over
her. Chun-Li's eyes close as she absorbs the last ounce of pain, and finally..
after a pause to hear Ryo go down.. she smiles warmly and hops down from the low
wall, rising to her feet a little shakily. But still with that captive grace.
"You did well.. I've not fought many better..." she comments quietly, her breath
not allowing much more. And her words ring true - for all her skill, few of her
adversaries have been as worthy, as strong and fast, as Ryo Sakazaki. Only a
handful have come close, and maybe two or three at best have surpassed his
level. Now she moves over to the man's side, bending at the waist to lightly
grip his shoulder - to attract his attention - before shifting the hand to offer
it towards him. "Can you stand?"
In some ways, it's almost a pity that the fight was as private as it was.
Certainly, the level of competition and the ferocity of the match was on a level
deserving of the cinematography of the high-budget Masters Stadium. However,
there is no regret to that aspect for Ryo, that sentiment will have to be left
for those who missed the battle. For the young Sakazaki, it was everything he
had hoped it would be, and while a few tactical errors loom in his analytical
mind, that's just the sort of thing that can be built upon and avoided next
time. Though if his body has any luck in the matter, the next time won't be
against someone of quite Chun-Li's calibre. Of course, Ryo doesn't base his
decisions off the potential for a bit of hurt, or else he wouldn't have advanced
to the level he's at today.
The warrior who embodies the strength and spirit of the Tiger lays rather still
for a long moment, finally stirring with a somewhat ragged cough, brief but
pronounced. His eyes open, then close again, though there's a voluntary aspect
to the gesture that was lacking when he first hit the hard roof, "Sure." He
answers the question, a little less than convincingly, "In a second." That's a
bit more believable, and probably closer to accurate. In truth it's a little
more than a second, but a fair bit less than a minute, before his eyes flutter
open again, a bit more clarity in the depths this time. His head lolls to the
side, towards Chun-Li, and he does reach up to grasp her hand, using it along
with his legs and other arm to drag himself back to his feet, a bit less than
steadily at first, but he does hold his footing. Ryo swallows hard and clears
his throat with another, singular cough, and blinks slowly before raising his
gaze to Chun-Li's, "I can see even more clearly, now, why the tournament bout
went as it did. You truly earn your reputation." The Kyokugen prodigy
congratulates, quite sincerely, either swallowing his pride or not overly
bothered by the loss in the first place.
Chun-Li does feel her reputation has been earned... and while not truly the
world's strongest woman, perhaps not by some way, she appreciates the title and
works her very best to fulfill the expectations of those who believe it to be
solid truth. As she helps Ryo up the smile remains on her lips, only subsiding
slightly when she gives a soft grunt... he's not a light burden to lift, even if
her kicks can propel him some distance. But he gets there, and she retracts her
hand, folding it lightly behind her back with the other... a moment later once
his words have reached her ears, her head inclining in a bow of sorts. "Thank
you.. I've improved a lot in the last few years. Ever since..." she tails off,
gaze flickering from Ryo to the edge of the roof. A tension enters her shoulders
that has nothing to do with the energy burned off during the fight, this is..
mental tension, and her lips slowly begin to curve downward. "Never mind."
Looking back to him she hastily restores the smile and glances him over, for any
obvious signs of heavy damage. Since he seems to be.. alive, at least, she turns
on her heel and takes a step back towards the rooftop entrance. "I'll buy you a
drink.. I think you've earned one, and I could do with it!" The smile gains some
true warmth again, as she looks back over her shoulder and says this, and she
waits for his confirmation before heading back to civilisation proper... she
really does need that drink.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has ended the fight here.
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