23/11/05
Characters: Andy, Chun-Li, Naerose
Shrine
Odd. Placed in a small clearing of forest, almost in the middle of nowhere,
is a small Shinto shrine. It consists primarily of a miniature building and
the lengthy, stone walkway leading down to the stereotypical stairway. The
entire place, however, seems to be in disrepair, and isn't in the least
occupied...and hasn't been for some time.
[Exits : Northeast to North Outskirts, and South to Northwestern
Forest ]
Welcome to the Shrine. A place for worship, a place to learn about the mysteries
of life, and...to mourn the dead. Andy kneels at the shrine with two sets of
incense, offerings to the dead, nearby. There are many lost memories here for
Andy, for both his masters and both his fathers. Be they adoptive, surrogate or
otherwise. Jeff Bogard; Andy had only recently fought Geese Howard in an attempt
to avenge his fathers death...only to be beaten down as a joker, and treated
like a bug. That man...Geese...fractures both of Andy's shins by bashing them
repeatedly with golf clubs. Yeah, that hurt. But nothing hurt like hearing the
motives behind his fathers murder...
"I wanted to see the expression on that Clown's face when I killed him."
And yes, Andy hit Geese hard for saying those things about Jeff. But not hard
enough. He wasn't a match for Geese Howard, not yet. The Youngest Bogard might
be a Master himself...but he wasn't strong enough to kill Geese.
"I'm sorry, dad," Andy began. "I can only hope that you've been resting
comfortably in heaven since Terry did what I couldn't."
Andy bowed his head. Terry was still the strongest. No worries, no problems.
It's not a burden...Terry's not Heavy! He's my brother!
Ah, but the talk of Masters and Surrogate Fathers. Hanzo Shiranui. The man who
took him in and raised him as his own, and trained him in the vicious bone
breaking art of Koppou.
"Master Hanzo...I swear I'll train hard and maybe one day, I can truly live up
to your name. Until then, I'll take car of them. Hokutomaru and Mai."
Andy's face flushed with embarrassment at the mixed emotions circulating through
his mind. Andy truly does care about Mai, more than he'd admit but...he can't
disgrace the Master. He can't besmirch the name of Shiranui.
Andy bows once more setting the offerings down. He stands and turns to leave
but...well, the buts for you to decide!
This shrine is often called 'abandoned', 'derelict' and considered a defunct
relic of a bygone age. Ironic then, that for many of the fighters hailed as
among those most capable of entertaining modern citizens, this idyllic and
secluded building is very much as alive as it has ever been. Hardly is it rare
to find one of these contemporary gladiators kneeling within once hallowed
halls, making an offering in the manner Andy Bogard does now, or simply paying
their respects and refocusing confused minds. Neither does it seem all that
uncommon for two warriors to meet here - whatever the purpose, though on this
occasion the encounter will be entirely spontaneous.
Fresh from a long-haul flight, Chun-Li makes her way up the shrine steps slowly,
breathing in deeply and glancing around at the sprawling forest nestled beside
the bustling city of fighters. The events of two nights past may have led to a
narrow defeat at the hands of the World Warrior - indeed, the fourth time she
has tasted such defeat by her soulmate - but she feels entirely at peace with
herself. Content. Thus, her visit to this site is neither one of mourning nor
meditation. She comes here to pay her respects in light of something that
happened several weeks ago; and to check on the progress of repairs since then.
On reaching the summit and stepping up to the doors of the shrine, a pleased
smile graces Chun-Li's lips, at the restored sensation of completeness
resonating from inside. There is scant need to look within now, but she does all
the same, pale hand easing open the carved wooden door before she steps quietly
inside. "Oh!" The exclamation is unbidden but quiet, just beyond a whisper as
the woman feels two senses assaulted at once, Andy's aura making itself known an
instant before his white-garbed form is glimpsed. Smile restoring itself with
added warmth, the Chinese beauty brings her hands to her chest and executes a
formal bow to the ninja master. "My apologies for disturbing you, Andy Bogard."
There is nothing else added for now... she cannot be sure if he desires company.
Luckily for all concerned Andy Bogard's moment of angst is over. Not everything
is going bad for the Ninja Master right now, he's actually doing well in the
latest SNF bouts at the moment, and he's even run into a good friend who can
hopefully take his mind off all this brooding he's been doing lately. Which is
why Andy didn't notice Chun-Li's presence until she spoke up.
"Oh, hello Miss Li," Andy begins with a smile. Such a nice boy this Andy
Bogard. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
Chun-Li may have eased herself gracefully into a formal caste, but this in no
way prevents the quick roving of her analytical gaze as she straightens.
Pinpointing the smouldering incense nearby Andy - along with the scent of it
reaching her nostrils - is enough to tell her his purpose her, thanks in part to
a knowledge of Bogard family history. A pang of sympathy resounds within, the
Tai Chi mistress harbouring such similar feelings within her; albeit the
graveyard of her father lies much further away, enough that it is easy to brush
aside her mourning when necessary.
"Likewise," she replies, honestly friendly beyond the polite veneer. "I'm.."
Hesitation. There is no sense in continuing petty small talk in hope of evading
the issue, and with a shake of her head, the woman drifts beyond the entrance to
circle around Andy, not taking her eyes off him as she moves. On coming to a
halt near the centre of the room, however, she tips her head toward the corner,
subtly indicating those twin offerings with a sidelong glance. "It never stops
hurting, does it?"
Andy is a little taken aback by the bluntness of her question, but it's an
appropriate history considering the similarities in their history. Andy pauses
for a moment to calm himself, the way Master Hanzo taught him, to come up with
an astute answer. "No, not really. Nor should it..." Andy stops to brush some
rogue strands of hair out of his face. "Grief and joy are two sides of the same
coin. The loss we feel is a reflection of the love we felt for our fathers."
Andy smiles, "It doesn't get easier the second time either, my Master Hanzo
Shiranui was like a father to me...but somehow losing him to old age didn't seem
to hurt so much."
Hanzo Shiranui may have preached astuteness, but the legendary assassin Gen is
nothing if not blunt when he deigns to speak. The disrespectful might even
choose to dub him a crotchety old geezer, though these foolish few would need to
be blissfully unaware of the man's ability to kill in a single blinding motion.
It's his teaching that Chun-Li so often employs in dealings with friends and
very close acquaintances, leaping to the point and tackling issues headways
on... a stark contrast to what her father taught her in the ways of detective
work.
There's a notable blink of the woman's eyes as Andy expands upon his reply
though; a frank discussion she is quite prepared for, but this catches her off
guard. Aside from their youngest daughter, the Shiranui clan are not known for
making public announcements, and this particular death was not known. Terry
never mentioned it, but then, why would he? Not hard to forget that the Bogard
brothers have trained in such radically different styles. "I don't suppose it
would... life is an easy gift to take lightly, but when we understand its import
there is a far greater sense of the loss involved."
Pausing for a moment, breathing in slowly, Chun-Li reflects on her own feelings
toward the oldest man in her life. How would she feel? Hardly is he like a
father to her - his emotions are too distant for that - but there would still be
regret in his passing. A passing he encourages every day of his existence. "You
honour their memory well, Andy. I have seen few use this place as it was
originally intended..."
Indeed they didn't. It wasn't something that Andy broadcasted to anyone besides
his close friends and family, but...there was something about Chun Li that Andy
trusted - as if that similar history gave each an understanding of the other
that most others couldn't comprehend.
And yes, Gen. The wily assassin was someone on Andy's list of people he wants to
find and fight, the fact was that Andy had fully intended to discuss the old man
with her as it was only after their previous battle that he'd made the
connection between her technique and Gen's Assassin Fist. But back to the
conversation.
"Oh?" Andy looks at the offerings. "I suppose it has something to do with my
upbringing here, I was more or less raised in the Shiranui dojo...I don't even
suppose you could call me American anymore. But oh well, I have wonderful people
in my life now. I have Mai and Hokutomaru, I have Terry," A quick smirk. "And he
has Blue Mary and, heh, I even have Joe."
Andy looks up at Chun Li with a look of slight concern on his face. "What about
you Miss Li? Surely you have someone special to you?"
"Hokutomaru?" Chun-Li echoes, a slightly bemused smile creeping onto her lips.
His master is... Andy? This hardly needs confirming, as it is unlikely the
Bogard brother would be the one making a mistake, and so she does not pause for
confirmation, merely shaking her head lightly before explaining herself. "We've
made acquaintance, he set me up a meeting with a friend of his." Not to mention
someone who is now a world famous fighter following her recent tournament
performance, but this is not a discussion about Li Xiangfei.
"As for me, yes, I have a few people. My mother is still alive... though I
rarely find time to speak with her in person. Terry and I are quite close, and I
spend a lot of time with Ryu and Sakura Kasugano..." Tailing off for a moment,
the world's strongest woman takes it as writ that the younger Bogard will know
those last two. Two champions in their respective generations. "Then," she gives
an enigmatic half-smile, glancing off to one side, "There are a few others
helping me attain what you seek with Mr. Howard."
"It would feel wrong to reveal their names, I'm sure you understand." Looking
back to Andy she bows her head briefly, somewhat in apology as he has revealed
so much of himself. But the note in her tone as she mentions Geese, and the
flicker in her gaze as her eyes again meet Andy's should tell well enough that
this is for good reason. Shadaloo's operations must be countered with a certain
amount of secrecy on behalf of their enemies.
The Lonely Wolf nods as she speaks. Chun-Li's a big girl, with guys like Terry
and Ryu looking out for her she hardly needs a fighter of moderate success
looking out for her. Her reaction about Hokutomaru was somewhat interesting
though, Andy smiles. "Hokutomaru is Mai's younger brother and a fighter with
some talent...he's what I'd call a diamond in the rough. Still, he's a good
kid," Andy looks out into the distance. "He actually fancies himself as some
sort of superhero. Can't say I blame him. Southtown needs a few of them."
Still, the talk of Ryu is interesting. Andy hadn't actually met the world
warrior since the Tournament where he beat Terry in order to go on to defeat
Sagat. But Sakura Kusanago? Andy had heard the name but he'd never seen the face
behind it. "Ryu? Takes me back to the World Warrior Tournament and...Gen. I
haven't seen your Master since he beat me that time," Andy gives her a quick
grin to tell her that he figured out her little riddle. "But yes, I haven't met
Sakura. I've heard she's quite talented, a real prodigy."
And then Geese's name comes up and Andy's face immediately darkens. Geese = bad
juju around Andy. "Yes, I'm quite sure. I've actually had a run in with Geese
myself." Andy closes his eyes. "I suppose I'm lucky to be alive considering how
he...beat the living daylights out of me."
"A superhero?" Chun-Li once more echoes Andy, this time with laughter in her
voice and a question that's nature lies even beyond the rhetorical. It certainly
goes some way to explaining Hokutomaru's actions when first they met; his
appearance hailed by the nailing of an attacking Chinese gangster to a nearby
wall. With surprising lack of injury - far less than that caused by the 'damsel
in distress'.
"Ryu and I are..." Wait, is that a blush from the world's strongest woman as she
moves on with the conversation? There is a hint of rose in her cheeks, masked as
it is by the gentle gloom of the shrine. "Quite close, and I've helped with
Sakura's training once or twice. I enjoy seeing her improve, and one day I
honestly think she'll defeat me." The smile accompanying this judgement is warm
enough to suggest there'll be no hard feelings here, and perhaps it suggests a
little more about the young beauty's motherly instincts.
Regardless, she moves on to Geese with a slight frown replacing this carefree
expression, stepping forward when Andy has his eyes closed and reaching out to
lay a hand on his shoulder. The contact is light and brief, accompanied with
just the slightest drawing inward of her fingertips before the hand falls back
to her side. "I don't have to say this, but keep fighting. No matter how much
pain it causes, you know as well as I do that he won't /ever/ finish you off.
You'll defeat him, someday, though it may take more than just yourself..."
A lesson she needs to finally take onboard herself. Perhaps she has, after all
this time?
Andy opens his eyes as he feels Chun-Li touch him, his eyes immediately darting
to her hand, it was a trained reflex really rather than some hypersensitivity
about being touched right now. Although if Mai had done it that'd be a whole
other can of worms and issues that Andy would rather avoid dealing with. Andy
takes her words in and just nods. "Yeah I know how Geese works. As long as I
keep him interested I stay alive, and I just gave him something to chortle about
for a couple of weeks." Andy broods for a few long moments and just shrugs. "I
suppose you're right, one day...I'll become a true master and win. I can only
keep fighting, and keep training until then."
"Exactly..." Chun-Li voices her affirmation of Andy's words with a slow nod,
noticeably pausing as their import sinks in deep within her own mind. Nothing
she has not considered before, but perhaps.. perhaps it is time to take her own
advice more plainly to heart - Vega doesn't keep her alive out of some universal
code of evil stupidity, after all, but because it feeds his violently expanded
ego to have such interference in his plans. For every scheme she thwarts there
are two she cannot, and this proves to him that his methods are effective in
more than one way. The Vigilantes are exactly what he needs...
Therefore, they must be his undoing. "Fight me." The words come forth seemingly
from nowhere, a sudden blaze of life within the young woman's gaze as she looks
into Andy's eyes. Taking a step back, she raises her guard in an instant, curled
fingers assuming satellite positions about her torso as her legs take firm
rooting below. When she next speaks - aiming to cut off any protest that may
arise - the strength in Chun-Li's voice is almost unnerving from someone who was
so soft a moment ago. But it is genuine, a fire sparked by the conversation.
"Before the eyes of our ancestors, we can show the the intent we have to honour
their memories through vengeance. Besides..." A smile breaks through the veil of
determination, only briefly, as she adds, "We never did finish up."
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has started a fight here.
Andy looks at Chun-Li confused for a second wondering if he heard her correctly,
but once she assumes that fighting stance there can be no mistake. The Lonely
Wolf clenches his fists. Andy nods in reply and takes up a fighting stance of
his own, his feet wider than shoulder width apart the blonde bomber extends his
arms outward, and then violently smacking his left fist into his right palm.
"By all the spirits in this place, and the Shiranui I accept your
challenge!" Andy then takes his more conventional stance bouncing from toe to
toe. "You're right. It's time to see if my fist really can match the Assassin's
Fist!"
COMBATSYS: Andy has joined the fight here.
With the challenge accepted in such a way, Chun-Li can't help but express a
flicker of mirth, a light snort of amusement sounding as she sinks a little
deeper into her stance. "So you made the connection. You gave my master quite
the run for his money... I'd like to see you two fight again, now he is in
better health." Something she'll have to mention to Gen too. Doubtless he would
be only too prepared to accept a rematch with the younger Bogard, now that
adequate time has passed for his pride to heal.
In the present, his student needs no further time to break into a quick stride
toward Andy. Her feet move lightly across the creaking boards of the shrine, and
in a moment she is dropping down before the guard of her opponent, one hand
slapping itself to the floor and taking the full weight of her body as she
swings those powerful legs forward in a crushing sweep.
"HYAAH!" The Assassin Kick. A staple of Gen's style and something the Tai Chi
mistress has made her own... what better way to start this particular rematch?
Andy can only hope that the ancient martial arts master would be up for the
challenge, for he knew that he improved with every fight. He became more
skillful, more determined. Andy spotted the attack coming and immediately
forward flipped over Chun-Li completely dodging her attack, and then as he
landed he viciously brought his right leg around in a crescent kick aiming to
punish the Tai Chi master for missing the first strike, hopefully striking with
his heel right between her shoulder blades.
COMBATSYS: Andy successfully hits Chun-Li with Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Chun-Li 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Andy
Well, the gambit appears to pay off perfectly - not that there was much the
young woman could do to evade such a counter. With her toes still aimed to smash
Andy from his feet, Chun-Li finds herself taken for a brief ride by the ninja's
responding kick, his feet punishing her shoulders with a jolt of pain sent
rocketing through her body. Almost toppling onto her side as her hand is unable
to take their combined weight, the Chinese beauty only just manages to get her
feet down in time to shove up and backward with a martial cry.
That should be enough to unbalance the Shiranui master, but she has greater
plans in mind, spinning about as she subsequently stands and lashing out to
capture any flailing limb she can find. Obtaining a hard grip, she then drags
Andy back toward her, right leg lancing out to catch him full in the chest and
propel him away should the attempt succeed. "SeiYAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Andy with Strong Throw.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Andy
Andy is indeed unbalanced as Chun-Li proceeds to grab Andy by his uniform, damn
that pesky clothing...he definately had to change back to his tighter classic
uniform with the red flames, and Andy is then struck by the magnificently
powerful legs of Chun-Li full force in the gut. Not very friendly. Not very
friendly at all!
Andy recoils and looks like he stumbles, not true - simply a bit of misdirection
on Andy's part as he rolls back onto his arms and then suddenly launches himself
feet first at the Tai Chi guruette, hopefully smacking her in the face with both
feet.
"YAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Andy's Kuuha Dan.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Andy
Unfolding her attacking limb as quickly as she uncoiled its power, Chun-Li
watches Andy recover as she takes in a deep breath. The action serves to focus
her completely, and on raising her guard she is certainly held completely within
the rhythm of this battle. His misdirection, then, is not missed - it is marked
all too well by the woman, who gives a light grunt as she raises her arms to
deflect the full force.
And then... her arms snap instantly out to the sides, cutting a wide arc that
turns away the blow and simultaneously gives the ex-Interpol officer extra
momentum to launch herself backward off suddenly tensed legs. Flying at a
horizontal, feet just off the ground, both hands are glowing with blue-white
energy before she even touches down again just shy of the shrine's wall. "Ki-"
Bringing both palms together, fingers curled before her, she concentrates for a
moment before thrusting them forward.
"KOUKEN!" A blaze of golden light spills forth, coalescing into a vibrant
pinpoint that forms the true power in her projectile, surging onward for the
Lonely Wolf with a blue-white shroud encompassing it. Now the battle is truly
joined, and doubtless any onlooking fathers will be pleased with the skill their
offspring display...
COMBATSYS: Andy slows Kikou Ken from Chun-Li with Geki Hishou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Andy
Feeling his feet booting blocked arms, Andy lands into a crouch and steps
backward to gain some distance between himself and his opponent. This is,
however, a little late as by the time Andy's gained his precious distance
Chun-Li is already blasting him with her Ki attack.
Feeling the fight take over him, the Lonely Wolf decides to meet her ki blast
head on with an attack of his own. Andy gathers all of his will, channeling his
ki into his right arm he steps forward to meet the extension of her Ki with his
fist. "Geki..." Then suddenly his hand explodes with bright blue Ki crashing
against Chun-Li's. "HISHOU KEN!"
The resulting clash is spectacular as both Ki blasts explode against the other,
Andy grimaces as he feels remnants of her Ki assault his body.
The Youngest Bogard steps back. It's her move.
Chun-Li's eyes narrow as her hands drift back to her sides, fingers gently
squeezing against the air. Last time she launched one of her signature
'fireballs' toward the shinobi, he was able to crush its path with an attack of
his own seemingly no smaller in stature or lesser in speed. This time she's not
disappointed to see a similar manuever, and a light smile creases her stoic
visage as chi battles chi for dominance. Anticipating the outcome before it is
revealed, the Tai Chi mistress drops low and begins to dash in toward the fray.
'About equal?' she mouths to herself during the short sprint, watching with a
keen gaze as the fight-within-a-fight reaches a finish, her own Kikouken
blasting onward to impact with Andy. "I've been practicing." The words come with
dry humour, as through the dissipating energies she comes, leaping forward to
land on one leg in front of her opponent. A lightning fast kick is fired toward
his midsection, before she switches legs and spins about to bring the other
crashing down across his chest in a vertical roundhouse.
"HAH- HAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Andy with Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Andy
Andy looks over at Chun-Li when the result of their Chi battle may as well have
ended in a tie once more, "Hm. It would seem that you have." Andy replies. But
then, Chun-Li's next move gets Andy completely by surprise as she snaps kicks at
midsection and chest before Andy even has a chance to block, once more sending
the Shinobi reeling in pain. I've got to focus! Andy says to himself as his face
twists into a grimace of resolve. I'm fast enough...I can get through her
defenses and strike back!
Andy crosses his arms in front of his chest. "Here goes nothing!" He says
enigmatically as he gathers his Ki for something? Perhaps for another Ki duel?
But no! Andy charges forward with lightning speed striking out with his elbow.
"Hishou..." Andy then unleashes a mesmerising combo of punches and kicks each
more brutal than the next - pure Koppou - and then finally he unleashes the
finishing touch with a huge ball of Ki set to explode right around Chun-Li's
sternum. "RYUUSEI KEN!"
Andy has been practicing too it seems.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to interrupt Hishou Ryuusei Ken from Andy with Sen'en
Shuu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Chun-Li 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Andy
The nature of a roundhouse strike like that last one makes it impeccably simple
for Chun-Li to recover, simply setting her foot down after the blow is landed
and sinking back into her stance with nothing save a quick intake of breath to
impede her concentration. Gaze focused upon Andy as he staggers back, she can
see he is preparing for something big, and can feel that spark of uplifting
energy tickle at her mystical senses. Very well. If he comes forward with full
force, she owes it to herself and her training to attempt to halt him - how
better to gain in skill than to challenge herself?
That elbow strike is allowed to land with full force, the beauty barely grunting
in pain as she prepared well for such a thing. When the next stage of the
assault comes, one of those devastating Koppo-Ken kicks, she thinks herself
prepared for that also - but on weaving around it she opens herself wide for the
next, failing an attempt to spin herself into a lightning fast front flip and
instead getting hammered by the remainder of Andy's combination... the chi blast
itself sending her tumbling to the floor in a crazy roll, recovering some
distance away and pushing herself to a crouch with a pained wince.
"Well played, Andy.." she murmurs breathlessly, drawing a hand back across her
mouth to wipe away a slight trickle of saliva. There's no blood there, but that
was a lot of damage to take in one go. Even the most graceful of sorts cannot
prevent all outward signs of injury.
When Andy saw Chun-Li plummet to the ground like that he felt a pang of
regret...that move was pure Koppou combined with Hakyokusaken, both arts were
brutal and potentially fatal for even someone of Chun-Li's strength. Andy even
felt a little barbaric for striking a woman so savagely with a move he perfected
for the purpose of breaking the body of Geese Howard. Terry and Rock between
them had told Andy the stories about how Geese had beat Rock's mother at his
leisure, and for a moment as Chun-Li was sitting up Andy saw Mai sitting there
and Andy recoiled. For that brief instant Andy felt horror, even revulsion for
the Martial Arts. The desire to cause pain, to kill...was this the true nature
of Martial Arts? Could this ...murderous intent be the key behind it's true
powers? Andy looked at Chun-Li with a look of remorse on his face until he heard
her speak.
Well played, Andy...
Andy clenched his fist. No, he wasn't like Geese. This was a contest of skill,
not a muscle bound male beating on a defenseless woman. Chun-Li was anything but
defenseless! Andy felt disgust for himself, how could he disrespect a friend...a
comrade like that? No. Andy couldn't let things like this dwell on his mind,
this is a real fight! Andy stepped shoulder width apart and began to gather his
will. "This, is a real fight! Fight it to your fullest!"
Golden Ki began to flare around Andy's body as he began to channel his great
hereditary power from deep within calling on that great strength, the spirit of
the Lonely Wolf!
"HAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Andy gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Chun-Li 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Andy
Having missed the expression upon Andy's face, lost in the motions of recovery,
Chun-Li is momentarily puzzled by his sudden exclamation, rising to her feet
with eyebrows arching upward. "Hm?" There's a pause before she raises her arms
around her, finally giving a small smile as the realisation dawns - that /was/ a
brutal series of attacks, and she would leave it to a Bogard to care that much
about the actions taken in battle. Not that this is anything to be ashamed of.
"I'd expect you to do nothing less!"
After all, she would not request a fight if she did not expect a warrior to push
her to her limits. There can be no holding back... anything less would be mere
training. Emboldened and recovering fast thanks to that upsurge of chi from the
impressive shinobi, Chun-Li wastes little time after her response. Starting
forward at a slow pace, she picks up speed steadily until she is finally running
headlong once she closes with her opponent, coming out of this abruptly with
another combination of kicks.
Two are aimed again for the midsection, though a good deal harder this time and
delivered with a hopping motion between first and second, before the woman drops
that limb and ducks low into Andy's guard with a swivelling of her body, coming
up with the left leg reared up for a thrust kick to the chin. "HAAH! HAAAH!
HA-YAH!"
COMBATSYS: Andy blocks Chun-Li's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Chun-Li 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Andy
[ \\\\\ <|
Mimiru 0/-------/--=====|
Andy's eyes are full of fire and brimstone as she comes charging at him. The
shinobi with his faith in his path restored meets her barrage of kicks head on
deflecting each of the savage blows with blocks and parries, "HAI! HAI! HAI!"
Andy's arms are on fire from the pain, but that doesn't matter to him anymore.
What matters is the fight! Still with plenty of momentum with his series of
blocks the Shiranui Master counter-attacks with a series of punches, one aimed
at her sternum, the other at her stomach, and the final blow to her face.
"YAAH! YAH! YAAH!" Andy steps backward, regardless of wether his blows
find their mark taking up a dynamic fighting stance with one fist level with his
nose, and the other down at his hip. "Shoush!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Andy's Strong Punch.
After Chun-Li feels each of her devastating blows being shoved aside by a
skilled hand, she straightens up with a violent snapping motion. "Come on!"
Spitting the words with excitement born of adrenaline, her hands meet the
challenge put forth by Andy's own a moment later, two backhanded strikes
deflecting the first and second, then both rising to catch the blow to the face
with a cushioning flash of blue-white energy. As it dissipates, she steps back
and raises her frame up on one leg, the other lifting and bending at the knee
before her. Arms snapping out to defensive points around her, fingers grasping
at the air, she pauses to offer Andy the ghost of a smile.
"I'd say we're a good match for one another... with that in mind, I'd like to
see how you handle this." Such words cannot bode well. However, they are meant
not in taunting mockery - but exactly as they are delivered, the Tai Chi
mistress truly intending to do exactly as she initially stated. Put on one hell
of display for generations past. There is no further lull then, the woman
spinning herself around and setting down the lifted leg to shove herself off it
into a horizontal leap for her opponent.
"HOUYOKU SEN!" Landing just shy of him, once more upon a single point of
balance, she rocks herself back to deliver a series of lightning fast strikes
from one booted foot. A blaze of chi erupts, and she lowers that leg only to
turn full circle and land upon it, the other raising to fire off another
crushing assault up the full height of the younger Bogard's body. As he staggers
back, she is ready for the final stage to her newest, fastest and most damaging
technique... dropping herself down inside his guard with a very similar blow to
one she attempted a moment ago.
A monstrous thrust kick, straight to the chin, accompanied with a flash of chi.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Andy with Houyoku Sen.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Andy
To say that this technique absolutely devastates Andy's body would be an
understatement. Chun Li caught the Shinobi completely off guard and let's face
it - the power of the attack was more than enough to crush Andy's remaining
strength. Blood spills from all different places on Andy's body as he falls away
from the last blow onto his knees panting. He looks up into Chun-Li's eyes and
knows that he is beaten. But he's got one last attack up his sleeve, and it's
quite evident by the fire in his eyes.
There's a sudden upsurge in Andy's fighting aura as he places his hands on the
ground he pushes himself off the ground and launches himself at his foe!
But...can he be doing a Kuuha Dan at a time like this? Then it happens! Andy's
burning will explodes all around his body, immolating himself in red ki flames
the Lonely Wolf flies at his opponent like a fiery arrow of vengeance!
"CHOU REPPA DAN!"
COMBATSYS: Andy successfully hits Chun-Li with Chou Reppa Dan.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chun-Li 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Andy
Chun-Li is just unfolding from that last thunderous kick, swinging her leg back
down to touch the floor, when she sees Andy get to his feet. He may be hurt -
and very clearly so - but with spirit like that it hardly matters, and the sight
brings forth a slow nod of respect from the Chinese woman, as she slowly lifts
her arms about her torso. "So this is it..."
His energy surges all around, barrelling into her senses and causing her to
stagger briefly, righting her footing and preparing to meet the massive force
that the young Bogard has now become - enough chi there to rival his brother's
own ultimate technique, and the tang in the air is familiar aside from the
obvious differences. Chun-Li waits until the last instance before she attempts
to flip herself over the spear of force, gathering energy into her hands to fire
a passing shot and take the Wolf down as she once did her nemesis. But.. in
endless credit to his abilities, it comes on too fast. She is taken down with a
scream of pain, crashing backward and falling side over side toward the distant
wall of the shrine.
Easing herself to a leaning crouch against the timbers, the woman fights to stay
conscious, a hand going to her stomach where the bandages have been torn wide
open and hang in tattered scraps about her thighs. "Ngh... but... I'm not
finished..." Closing her eyes, she forces herself up to her feet, still using
the wall as support, and draws her hands around an imaginary ball. "Ki-" Pausing
for longer than she might usually, it's with a desperate surge of energy that
she shoves her palms forward and steps away from the wall... prompting a golden
flash as another of her projectiles whips forth - a spiral in its trail as it
homes in upon Andy's signature. "KOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Andy fails to interrupt Kikou Ken from Chun-Li with Shouryuu Dan.
COMBATSYS: Andy can no longer fight.
Andy see's his attack strike home as Chun-Li falls wounded to the ground, so
does Andy, still not understanding how he has any energy left to fight with. To
be perfectly honest, the Shinobi thought he'd spent the last of his reserves.
But, when Chun-Li launched a final spiralling Ki attack the Youngest Bogard knew
that he had to either let his fists do the talking or lose. So, Andy met her
attack head on leaping upward in a forward flip he attempted to strike Chun-Li
upward into a spiralling combo of aerial blows, but found himself leaping a
fraction too late and being blasted by the attack. Andy blasted backward rolled
haphazardly onto the ground completely spent, he had nothing left to give. Andy
Bogard was rendered unconscious.
It was one of the many responsibilities of the members of the Official Chun
Li Fanclub, team Strongest! I mean, the strongest team which is not in any way
affiliated with Chunli or her fan club, or stalking for that matter. This was
homework, follow good fighters, see what they are capable of, complete
coincidence that one of them happens to be Chun Li. The fight was over,
thankfully, this particular watcher, a fish clad witch, was getting tired of
waiting. It was, just as the Bogard yogurt boy goes down that the fish makes
it's move. . . Slither slither slither, let not anyone notice, or let them be
too shocked to stop her from getting her fishy mouth around said yogurt's feet..
.
Chun-Li might let out a sigh of tired relief as she sees Andy knocked instantly
back down by her Kikouken, which explodes into a thousand glistening motes of
blue and gold after it connects, these twinkling down to the ground like
restless spirits. Hardly the most well-formed of attacks - she is a little
exhausted herself - but the effect seems appropriate enough. Lowering her hands,
the Tai Chi mistress begins to walk forward slowly, passing by Andy's
unconscious form with a smile directed downward. "Rest well..."
Her eyes closing, she swallows and moves onward, drifting over to the offerings
that are now smouldering their last within ceramic holders. Dropping to her
knees, the Strongest Woman in the World pays respect to her fallen opponent the
best way she can; setting about the lighting of fresh incense. Her hands move in
deft, accustomed motions as she breathes a prayer in Chinese, voice little more
than a whisper but still barely carrying around the rafters of the shrine.
The prayer is finished with a downcasting of Chun-Li's gaze, as she lays her
hands in her lap and allows her eyes to slip shut, this coming only too welcome
to her weary frame. "May you soon rest in peace, life's worries forgotten..."
Her voice dies away, leaving the building in a majestic silence. Three men have
been well honoured here today, their skills and deeds living on in the young
fighters who have done battle.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has ended the fight here.
Don't mind me, just a fish slithering away, in while Chun li prays, out
while she.. erm, okay, she might see the fish but does she see the deed of shoe
removal? That is totally another story. Afterall, what reason would she have
to assault a fish? It tries to look innocent as a giant fish would in a shrine,
slithering across the ground. Someone looooves Halloween, yeah yeah?
The Legendary Shoe Thief seems to time her entrance perfectly, passing Chun-Li
by as she made her way over toward the Shinto trappings and removing her
unconscious victim's shoes in the time it takes for that prayer to be uttered.
The woman rises to her feet with a sudden gasp only when she hears the sound of
movement at the door. Ordinarily she would assume this to be one of the old
monks who happens here on occasion, those whom she gave the funding to repair
this place after last month's encounter with a fire-slinging youth, but in her
current state and in the peace descended upon the room... it is easy to be
startled.
"Who's there?" She calls out, taking a few quick steps toward the strange blur
at the entranceway before dropping to her knees with a soft grunt. Perhaps she
is less prepared for movement than she thought. Reaching out for a wooden
support, she pulls herself up and leans against it, head tipping back against
the welcome beam and gaze roving about for whoever just made themselves known.
But there is nothing, even her less mundane senses telling her only of the weary
Bogard and herself...
A few minutes later, she slides to a seated position, trusting the spirits and
her instincts to guard her as she rests herself a short distance from her
opponent. He fought well, and she is loath to abandon him here.
She'd have saved his shoes if she could. @.@
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