THE OPEN HAND FINAL
The final had approached! Date had beaten Ieyasu with reletive ease, Ieyasu's conservative fighting style was not quite enough, and Date eventually wore him out. Naramo had his first decent opponent, and it was obvious that him making the semi-finals was by pure chance when he came up against Honda, who out-classed Naramo in every way. Honda was taking the match easy, throwing the smaller man around with relaxed movements; conserving his energy for the "One eyed dragon", whom he wanted to make an example of. It was to be Honda vs. Date in the final and although Honda was still the favourite, Date had shown amazing form all day.
Date and Honda moved to the center of the stage and bowed. "Good luck, Honda san. Let the best man win" Date snarked, obviously trying to stir the quick-to-anger man.
Honda replied, suprisingly controling his anger, "Indeed, let the fight be one worthy of this event."
They took their positions and waitd for the gong, which started all the finals in this tournament. Date looked straight at Honda and raised his eyebrows with a smirk. They charged towards each other. A hurricane kick from Date, Honda side stepped. An eagles talon from Honda, and Date back flipped. A Back fist from Honda, Date ducked. A sweep kick from Date, with Honda quickly jumping. They backed away from one another. Move after move after move. None were connecting, but neither of the men were tiring.
Honda smiled, "We all warmed up now Date san?"
"I'm glad you're having fun. But we should really stop playing around", Date claimed to have been holding back, which astounded all the crowd except for Tsuyoi. Honda seemed unphased.
"I noticed you were wearing some light armour, I have been to, perhaps we should take it off to put on a better show for this marvelous audience." Honda winked at Date, who now looked puzzled at how only Honda refused to fear him.
They quickly removed their armour and charged again. Honda connected with a leopards paw and follwed with a cranes beak, making Date stumble back. He pounced back with a ridge hand to the side, a shuto to the neck and a standing side kick connecting to the face. Honda fell onto his back.
He stood up and checked his nose. "Enough of these games! Come get me." and date dashed towards him. Honda took one step forward with his left foot, pulled back his right arm and before Date knew what had happened, Honda delivered a leopards paw to his chest taking every last breath of air out of his lungs. Honda walked over to the struggling man and grabbed his right arm, then hip tossed him to the mat, stood his right foot on Date's shoulder and yanked his arm out of the socket. He stepped back, knowing Date would get up.
Date pushed himself up with his left hand. Still straining to breathe and his arm dangling as his side. He spat out some blood. "Fool! You know not what you do!"
"You'll never change Date san." Honda finished him off with a spinning thrust kick and Date flew off the stage, to land on his back in a patch of mud.