4685/A Lovers' Spat

A Lovers' Spat
Date of Scene:	16 October 2016
Location:	Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
Synopsis:	Sakura is upset at Li and a fight occurs, albeit in the appropriate place in Njorun. Li just doesn't get it. At some time she gets less upset, but he remains as clueless. And then everyone goes for ice cream. Even the spectators.
Cast of Characters:	172, 165, 1058, 1048

---

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    As Syaoran arrives, Sakura is already here! She's stood in the center of the Ring, dressed in a white cloak with red trimmings. The hood is up, concealing her face in shadow, although it's obvious it's her - she's got her wand in her hand already. The look is somewhat spoiled by the fact that she's wearing white sneakers with cherry blossom patterns under the cloak...

    The Ring is in its default 'Coliseum' mode. Keroberos and Yukito are in the stands.

Ren Tanaka (165) has posed:
    In one of the seats of coliseum mode, presumably next to Kero and Yue (probably because Kero bought snacks- Kero ALWAYS has snacks, and he wants to mooch) it's Ren. Well, he's partially here to mooch but also partially here to watch this, because wow you KNOW something interesting is coming up here.

    He has a placard reading EVERYONE'S A WINNER, because it seemed appropriate.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran blinked a few times and looked around. Kero. Yue. "You," two guesses who that was. You even had a sign up. He looked to Sakura. Stared at her for a long, long moment. He then crossed his arms.

"No."

Young Arthur (1048) has posed:
Arthur sits next to Ren and seems to be keen on watching this unfold himself, he reaches out towards the snack bowl to grab one for himself. When Li says no, he calls out loudly. "What, are you afraid of her? Or are you insulting her by saying she can't defend herself?" He dares the boy, "What do you have to lose?"

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura throws the cloak off with a dramatic flourish. Under it, she's wearing brown padded armour - just cloth, not leather or anything. It has many, many pockets, as do her pants - there are in fact little 'windows' in some of the pockets, showing she has a few of her Cards stashed there.

    "...What? So you'll just stand there and let a little girl beat you up?" She frowns a bit. "I'm very disappointed in you, Syaoran."

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran sighed and rested his face in his hand. "Sakura-chan, if this is to prove you're stronger than me, there is no need. I am already grudgingly aware of your strength. You have proven yourself superior me in nearly every time you and I have come into conflict." He didn't sound bitter, just resigned.

"There's merely nothing to be gained from us fighting." His cheeks were soooo turning red.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura shakes her head and sighs a bit. "That's not the point. And I don't really believe you, anyway." She walks over towards Syaoran, deliberately, moving with a subtle grace he might not actually be used to from her. "The point isn't that you've insulted me - although, you really have. The point is that ever since you returned to Tomoeda you've been nothing but a COLLOSAL JERK to ALL OF MY FRIENDS."

    "You aren't the Syaoran I fell in love with."

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran opened his mouth to object. Then she said that. There was a little flicker of doubt in his eyes. And then fear. But he hid it quickly. He looked off to the side. "I... err... I never... intended to upset toy, Sakura-chan. My apologies." She was coming closer. His eyes were looking away from her, his hands were shaking slightly. His normally tuned and precise movements and stance were getting lax.

"But... fine. If... if it is what you desire so... then yes. You will be using the fight card, I assume?"

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura doesn't stop walking, although she diverts her course to start to circle him slightly. "We've both changed in the past five years. We can't trust our memories of our past adventures together any more. If you're going to protect me, you need to know what I'm capable of."

    She drops into a rather odd-looking stance. Hands open instead of clenched into fists, back leg bent so her front leg is extended far forward. "...And I need to know what you're capable of if I'm going to trust you to protect me." She looks like she's NOT planning on using the Fight card! Weird.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran looked stunned, his eyes going wide. He then lowered his eyes. He looked... hurt. Torn, even. Well, no wonder. She just said the very thing that had been flowing through his mind since he'd arrived here.

"That's just it, Sakura-chan. I'm not capable of protecting you anymore." The despair in his voice just seemed to leak out when he said that, the life slowly draining from his eyes.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    And Sakura's off - dash towards Syaoran, palm thrust towards his midsection. "Then you'd better get training!" Oh my, Sakura has gotten violent!

    Or maybe she's just really, super pissed off right now.

Ren Tanaka (165) has posed:
    At some point, Ren lost the placard. Instead, he's got the ace of spades in his hand. And, accordingly, he hums a couple lines of Chris Cornell's 'You Know My Name'. It's not entirely fitting for this confrontation, but it's appropriate enough.

    He doesn't expect anyone else to join in, that would be silly.

    But it probably starts playing as cosmic background noise, in at least one version of things.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran cringed. "Sakura-chan, I'm trying and--" And then he gets struck. He stumbles back a few feet, then actually trips over his own feet, landing with an oof on his butt. He looks up at her, shocked. "Did... did you actually just hit me?" He felt his chest.

It actually hurt. "When did you learn to do that?"

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura steps back after the blow, trying to avoid any counterattacks - but none come! So she steps back and squats into that pose again. "Two years ago. Taught by Altair ibn-La'Ahad."

    She circles Syaoran slowly. "Come on. I -know- you're better than me at this. Aren't you even going to try?"

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran stared at her. The doubt was evident on his eyes. He rubbed his chest. She was better than he remembered. That had actually hurt a little. What if she had gotten better at this than him, too?

More doubts flooded his mind. Yet, still, he got to his feet. "Very... well. Sakura-chan, if you so wish. I will do as you desire." He went into his own stance. Left foot out, left arm out, right arm over his back. But it was... sloppy. The stance wasn't nearly as honed as the one he used against Arthur. He was hesitating, awash in a sea of doubt.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura is using a martial art Syaoran isn't familiar with, so he may not be able to really read her level of skill that well. She's... good. She's been practicing, and fighting actual opponents. But she really isn't as good at Kalari than Syaoran is at Kung Fu.

    This time, Sakura goes for a kick to Syaoran's shin, to try to throw him off balance - but she's left herself open to a counter trip, or even a punch or shove!

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran jammed his leg down, steadying himself. He'd take the blow to his leg, stabilizing himself so it would do little. Then his right foot would shoot out, to kick her in the stomach. Followed by him rushing in and launching a flurry of punches at her, from different angles.

At least, that's what his reflexes tried. Instead, his right leg went up, but came back down, throwing his stance off. He looked down, towards his feet. His body twitched as if it wanted to move forward, his arms moving slightly, but instead raising up in a defensive gesture.

Ren Tanaka (165) has posed:
    So much for mooching. Now Ren's expression is deadly serious as he takes up what's going on.

     Although, after giving it a moment's thought, his eyes flicker over to Kero and Yue.

    "Do you feel like something like this was inevitable?" he asks, to neither guardian in particular.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    "I think so," Yue responds after a moment's though. "Sakura... sees a lot of herself in young Syaoran, I think." Whatever could THAT mean?

    Sakura looks surprised as she brings up her opposite leg to try for a - somewhat sloppy - roundhouse kick. It's easily blocked, because she hasn't put that much force into it.

    "I should be on my ass by now! Are you even trying? You're way better than this!"

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran lifted both arms up, catching the leg with his forearms. He froze a little there, before shoving back against the leg. At worst, she might get a little bruised. Fall on her butt. He was sure it wouldn't hrut her.

"Sakura, I... you're not... It's fine," he muttered. She was definitely no meiling.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Meiling would completely thrash Sakura in a martial arts duel. Heck, Tomoyo was actually getting close to Sakura's level of proficiency - practicing a single skill is faster than trying to be a jack of all trades, after all.

    Sakura does indeed fall down, but she rolls backwards back onto her feet all in one smooth motion. "Stop going easy on me! I am not some delicate flower!" She's cross~ "What would your mother think?"

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran grks. Oh, that was a line to cross. "Very well." Just... just once. Just one blow. That'd be it. He wouldn't hit her too hard. He could hold back.

No he couldn't. He moved in quickly. He steadied himself, right foot forward, right fist out, hard, a blow designed to break through boards and people. Then he stepped in again, left foot forward, left elbow towards the side of the head. Swing around in a full circle, right foot coming out like a piston from the right, aimed to his her square in the stomach.

If any of that hit, his eyes went wide and he'd step forward. "SAKURA!" He'd only MEANT to do one quick blow. But years of training in fighting and never holding back didn't help.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    And Sakura is... not nearly good enough to deflect any of those blows, even though she brings up her wand in an attempted parry. Smack! Right in the chest comes a fist, although it's partially absorbed by the armour. The elbow in the side of the head isn't similarly protected against, sending Sakura's head snapping to the left.

    Then a kick to the stomach sends her staggering back, doubled over. She gags and coughs a bit, before looking up.

    She's grinning like a maniac. "Finally!"

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran was already moving towards her, his guard completely down, his hands up. "Sakura? I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" The chan was gone, too. "are you okay? Did I hit you too hard? Did I--"

Wait, grinning? Enjoying it? His mouth fell open and he stared. Finally, he spoke up. "By your star. I'm in love with a maniac."

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    "Finally SOMEONE notices!"

    What?

    Sakura takes hold of her Wand, flips it around, and promptly pool-cues Syaoran in the gut with a motion almost too fast to see. She then jumps back, banking on him being stunned for a moment. "Remember: neither of us can be permanently injured in here! Now, let's step it up a notch~"

    Oh dear.

    "ARROW!"

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran looked confused. "What?" Then "OOF!" He stumbled back. He looked up. Wait, arrow? He knew arrow. Wasn't that the--

"GALE!" he yelled, holding out his left hand.

He didn't use a talisman or anything. Didn't even draw his sword. Just the incantation. The flurry of arrows rained down on him, but the powerful winds swirled around him, sending the arrows scattering aside. "Can't permanently hurt you?" He didn't even want to temporarily hurt her! "How's your stomach?"

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    "Oh, it hurts a lot!" she shouts above the sound of the arrows crashing into the ground, and the wind whipping them around! Her head snaps to the side as an arrow very nearly hits her in the face. "But it'll be okay once the simulation ends, trust me!"

    She's still grinning.

    "Okay! DASH!"

    Suddenly, in a blur of motion, she's right in front of Syaoran. "...Power." SLAM goes her fist towards his chest. Even if he blocks it, he's not staying on his feet!

    Oddly, it just seems to be pushing him - no breaking bones or bruising, which he fully knows Power is capable of doing.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran looked confused. Dash? she was going to run straight at him? He considered trying to attack her. But what was the worst that could happ--

A moment later he hit the wall across the arena, leaving a crater in the wall. He fell and hit the ground, little swirls for eyes. He uhh... he was going to need a moment. Possibly a bucket of water, too. He didn't even TRY to dodge it. Though that was more because Sakura had him off balance than him not trying to.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    "Rain."

    Syaoran sure gets that bucket of water, helpfully delivered by a giggling cloud sprite.

    "You okay? Wanna keep going or do you get the idea~?" Tease tease. "I'd like to see more of YOUR magic but I guess we can do that next time..." NEXT time? Oh dear.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran slowly, delicately got up. He then looked up at the crater. "Well, I'm not dead." Definitely a good sign. "Very well." He went into his stance. Well,that last strike seemed to have lit a fire in his belly.

Just treat her like meiling. That was all he had to do. "Petals of wind, I bid thee! Come to my aid! Gale!" And then air formed behind him and he rocketed towards her. He spun kicked once, before landing on the ground. It started with a right ook, aimed at the abdomen. Then his left leg shot out. Strike once to ankle, knee, waist, then, if that dropped her low enough, to the head. Followed by spinning around in a half circle around her and driving his right elbow to the back of her head.

Followed by a mild panic attack and checking to make sure she was actually okay.

Ren Tanaka (165) has posed:
    Ren tucks the card into his pocket, which has turned from an ace of spaces into a two of hearts while the camera was off of him. Interesting or possibly the director thinking he's cleverer than he really is? In any case, Ren is quietly applauding.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    There's still some residual speed left over from using the Dash earlier... And, well, Sakura has always been good at fast casting.

    It helps she doesn't have to say long incantations like Syaoran does.

    "SHIELD!" she cries, the feathery kite-style shield materialising in front of her for a split second before a dome of force erects itself around her... just in time to not block any magic headed her way at all.

    Sigh.

    At least it dampens Syaoran's blows and converts them mostly into momentum, sending Sakura a good few yards back. Bounce goes she, like a pinball.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran smiled softly. "The inferno of destruction, I bid thee. Come to my aid! Burn!" Fire shot out from his hand, aimed at her. Well, with shield up he didn't have to worry.

And in fact, that was his plan. It was nothing more than a distraction. Once the flames scattered, he'd already be there. His left leg locked and his right leg shot out in a flurry of rapid strikes. Leg, torso torso hip head thigh ankle and then side kick. Followed by him spinning and-- "Strike!" Then his eyes went wide as lightning shot from his arm at her.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" Oh shoot he realized a moment later he'd started to get serious.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura is completely caught off guard by Syaoran's feint! Biff, bam, pow go his blows to her shield, sending her flying again! Man, how strong IS this guy? Then, lightning bolt right to her already-weakened shield!

    A card. A wand twirl. A single word Mantra: "ERASE!"

    A flurry of cloth. And all the magic in the arena is gone, as if it hadn't be there at all. Including the Shield, but Sakura doesn't really worry about that.

    Tap! And she lands gracefully, hands raised like a gymnast.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran lets out a sigh of relief, his hand over his chest. Wait, wasn't supposed to be relieved by that. Right, fighting. He had loosened up a bit. He readied his stance... before charging in again. One kick to the shins, except this time there wasn't any more kicks. His fists flashed out, abdomen, abdoment, shoulder, chest, abdomen, before finishing with a left elbow strike to the side of the head and then a powerful right knee towards her stomach.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    And... Sakura has no Shield up.

    Well this sucks. Smack, crack, bruise, aaaand Sakura is hurled into the air, flips right OVER Syaoran, and lands on her back.

    She may have done that last part on purpose.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran blinked a few times. "Wait..." He didn't feel the resistance from-- His eyes went wide and he was kneeling by her a moment later. "Sakura-chan! Sakura! Are you okay? I thought you had shield up!" He'd reach down to grab her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I'm so, so so sorry, why didn't you say something? I'm so sorry, I'm so so so so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry." She was getting ALL the chocolate later.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura raises one hand, pointing at the ceiling. "...End program?"

    And then she flops down onto the ground as the air shimmers around them. "...Haha, wow. Tactical error on my part there, my bad." She sits up, apparently sore but not particularly injured. "Weee should stop here, I think." She's grinning again, even though she's developing a black eye.

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran reached out and hugged her, tightly. "Sakura-chan, you're going to be the death of me," he muttered, squeezing her so tightly he could crush her. "I'm so, so sorry. How is your face feeling? How are you feeling? I'm so sorry. H-how about we go get some ice cream? Or chocolate? My treat?"

He sounded horrible, obviously very apologetic.

Ren Tanaka (165) has posed:
    "Well," Ren says from the stands. "That was interesting. Who wants icecream?"

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    Sakura raches up and knocks her knuckles against the top of Syaoran's head. DOOK.

    "Don't be silly. You won, so it's MY treat." Hup! She hops up off the ground, dragging Syraoan up with her. "C'mon. We're getting yaki-udon, because I am STARVING." Screw icecream!

Li Syaoran (1058) has posed:
Li Syaoran blinked and cringed when she dooked him. He got up, well, was more pulled up. "S-Sakura-chan! I... I hit you! It's my responsibility to buy you dinner! And you need some ice for your eye! I'm so sorry!" They'd be hearing the 'sorry' line for a while.

Sakura Kinomoto (172) has posed:
    "Nope," is Sakura simple reply, as she basically drags him by the hand away~