Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

3900/Seriously, The Absolute Blade VS. The Northern Deva!

2016-03-13T01:52:57Z

Scrimbul:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/03/12
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Challenged by The Absolute Blade, 'Zekken', Momoyo finally falls from her position as the strongest... but only by a hair's breadth. The vicious natural disaster of a woman was finally taken down and handed her first official defeat.
|Cast of Characters=627, 874, 928
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo had been quiet for the most part the past couple of weeks, most likely busy with school. By the time the day of the challenge rolled around, she looked quite excited, and was terribly bored prior.     However, her opponent had appeared more or less out of the blue. Most of her challengers she had heard of before, but someone strong enough to walk right up and challenge her for her spot right off the bat was giving her a thrill. Could this challenger give her a closer fight than the last ones...?     Her fingers tapped on the console as her audience filters in, evidently some of her fan club from Kawakami City having finally ventured through the Gate through to Njorun in awe. Setting the arena terrain to the defaults, she stretches and rolls her shoulders. Today she was wearing the white pleated skirt of Kawakami Academy, but also a long buttoned down blouse.     "Hmhmhm~. The Absolute Blade, huh...? I imagine this'll be my last challenge before I have to seriously get some work done on the front lines somewhere." she murmurs, mostly to herself and her little sister quietly as she steps into the center of the ring. While she looked calm at a glance, a closer look showed she was practically shuddering, her red eyes and crossed bangs making her look as violent as ever. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Zekken. The Absolute Sword. It's a pretty grandiose title. Granted Yuuki never called herself that. It's a title given to her by those she's fought, one earned the only way a title truly can be. And yet, there's no sign of it in the girl that arrives.     She's... bouncy and carefree, in the way that shows the exuberance of youth more than her mere appearance does. She's dressed well in her usual gear, including sword, armor and kimono-like accessories. Again though, nothing that suggests her title. She looks like what she is, a kid playing games. She's got no aura to speak of, no killing intent, no apparent seriousness about what's about to happen. And of course, no one here's ever seen her fight or heard of her before the challenge was made.     Njorun doesn't exactly awe Yuuki. She's seen impressive areas in VR. This is, however, in reality. It's impressive, and magnificent, and so very very serious. She can't sightsee too much though, so she mostly goes from the gate to the Ring of Philosophy, her challenge and invitation enough to see her through any security checkpoints her cheerful demeanour doesn't let her pass.     The Ring is interesting though. It's a VR world of its own, more or less, where battle is simulated rather than real. It's home, in a way. Yuuki smiles as she enters, feeling immediately better about this sort of challenge. She had no real business making random challenges, not having any real intentions of making herself famous or of beating people up for fun. She has better things to do, but she's kind of been bored to death lately. Searching through VRMMOs is fun but it's been futile so far. School has been great and fun but ... well, likewise it's been essentially useless. She's got nothing to live for right now except to be herself, as much as she can be. Yuuki. Zekken. The unbeaten Absolute Blade. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Tilting her head a little, her eyebrows knitted a moment, just a tad uncertain. She couldn't see any sort of aura off of Yuuki. That could mean several things, but she hadn't paid very close attention to VRMMO technology even though Nero had bugged her to before disappearing for some time.     "Yo." she waved, before her arms folded again. "I guess it's fair to say I'm undefeated. That probably only makes it even more exciting for you, though." At least, not defeated in any official capacity, but the opponent who beat her last was a beast of the night like herself... he had no interest in spreading that information before Momoyo ran him down again.     "You're kinda cute, too. But here, we won't have to hold back." she spreads her arms widely. "So... we'll probably still have people filtering in for a bit, but unless you're waiting for anyone specific... I'm ready to begin." she claps her hands together, giving a traditional Japanese bow to indicate that the fight had begun as soon as her opponent returns it.     "I'm curious about you, of course, but I'll learn more by fighting you than talking." she finishes her open hand rising in the air near her cheek with her characteristic slight smirk. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Yuuki's outfit is undeniably martial though really really inefficient, sharing the MMO principle of form over function. Large areas of the Imp girl are easy targets outside the protection of her small breastplate, especially her arms, legs and head. At least it doesn't expose her belly. It's probably pretty good protection against fists, but against a duellist sword like the one she wears at her hip? It's pretty fanciful armor to be sure.     Yuuki tilts her head at Momoyo's introduction. Cute? Well, she doesn't take the comment the wrong way, only smiling in a simple manner. "Huh. I'm undefeated too!" she comments with a smile of delight, no hint of scorn or mockery. "67 wins, one draw, against any challenger. That was a different world than this of course." she adds     "Are there any special terms for the fight? Magic? Flight?" Yuuki asks. "You can use whatever you want. I'll just use this." she says, resting her hand on the pommel of her duelling blade, that simple smile still present. Still, she doesn't appear to be stressed or aggressive. That smile of hers shows not the slightest trace of a smirk, just simple joy in being here... and presumably in being about to fight. She doesn't return the Japanese-style martial bow despite being Japanese however. She's never taken formal martial arts, and that particular courtesy isn't one she follows. She simply touches her sword's hilt, curtsying over the blade before drawing it and holding it ready before her in a fencer's vertical guard. "I suppose one of us won't be undefeated after this. Unless we draw?" she suggests, settling herself and becoming ready. The smile fades, replaced with an intent focus. Still no killing intent to be felt, but Yuuki seems to finally be acting the warrior rather than the trivial girl.     "Let's find out about each other then." Yuuki says as Momoyo assumes her battle pose. It's an odd remark for a potentially deadly battle, but she doesn't explain as she advances with the sword high and slightly to one side of her body. There's barely a moment's pause before Yuuki darts forward, her needle-thin blade swinging with power and precision to slash with only the final inch of the blade in a sweeping, shallow cut. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji Murasame is present. This much is obvious. Momoyo's presence necessitates it. The corporate heir has taken a keen interest in observing the goings-on of the fighting woman ever since he had acquired the title of Southern Deva from Nero. His gaze turns to the swordswoman, measuring, observing stance, speed, and technique... And just as importantly, Momoyo's response. He says nothing. There is nothing to be said. Actions, as ever, speak louder than words. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo brings her arm up to block the thrust, a long shallow cut down the length of her arm. Already she could tell Yuuki was /fast/. Much faster than Christiane Fredreich even, just from that one attack. Already she begun to move... but if this girl wasn't going to reveal her strength soon there was no choice but to completely brutalize her.     "Title Matches are no holds-barred and any spectators are usually responsible for their own welfare." she explains, her arm dripping blood to the ground a bit already from the shallow slash. Because of the speed, she was forced to block it directly. "But now it's my turn!"     "Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!"     Her straight punch came out like a boxer's straight, but with a speed matching the duelist's sword... and a ton of force compacted. It was easy enough to feel the wind from Momoyo's punches as she threw her signature move right for her opponent's midsection. She needed to learn what the duelist was capable of in a hurry, with no aura that made the assessment take much longer than she'd hoped. Still, the fact that she had announced her attack in advance mattered little... the martial artist was likely not outside of Yuuki's range of experience but she clearly lacked the carefree attitude her opponent was taking. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     There's a certain comfort in being fast. Yuuki wasn't always faster than anyone she'd ever fought, but she's grown rather accustomed to having that as a reliable advantage in recent years. She's accustomed to others being surprised, even shocked by her speed. When Momoyo defends the blow, barely injured by the obsidian blade's attack, this isn't new. Others can do similar; it just means Momoyo's high-level. But that counter-attack! Yuuki's eyes widen as the punch comes in, slamming into her gut. She spins, escaping the full power of the punch, but still the attack's startling. As powerful as any weapon, she judges... and at least as fast as most of her serious opponents.         That seriousness ought to make Momoyo happy at least, as it makes Yuuki happy as well. Her eyes narrow again, and her smile draws down to a more tight-lipped one. Strain, but joy behind it. "Sword against fist." she says, nodding her head. Yes, it seems a perfectly reasonable matchup now. "Get ready, oneesan!" she cries out.     The term isn't one of endearment. It's acknowledging Momoyo as an older girl, akin to calling her Senpai except it's more the term a young child would use rather than a martial artist. Still it's an acknowledgement. And then Yuuki simply BLURS, her speed ramping up well beyond the simple lunging slash. She spins right around Momoyo, her sword coming about in a series of blind slicing blows with no weight behind them but with considerable speed and accuracy. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Amazingly, many of the slashes Momoyo is able to parry between her fingertips. It cuts up her hands a bit, but two of the strike slip through her defense. "Hmhmhm~!" she chuckles a little. "Good... you're strong enough to have to make me go all-out. I like it best that way!" "Kawakami Style: Restoration..." she takes a moment to seal some of the wounds with her ki, a violet aura seeping out of her skin as the long gash from earlier most noticeably goes away. Momoyo was already difficult to harm, but that technique of hers was almost cheating if not necessarily rare in the Multiverse.     "Hahahaha! Let's see how fast you really are, Yuuki~." she takes in a breath, her feet still not having budged from her spot much as her opponent dances around her.     "Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"     Luckily for Yuuki it's the same technique again, which allows for speed and memorization. Unfortunately for her... Momoyo was using both hands, pummelling at her position viciously in an instant with two dozen of those loud artillery-fire punches! 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Perhaps amazingly, Yuuki makes no particular effort to parry those shotgun punches. An opponent is most vulnerable, she's learned, when they're attacking. She's willing to take damage as long as she dishes out more than she receives.     That might be tricky against Momoyo, of course. And of course Yuuki doesn't simply stand there and take the hits. She spins, dodges and vaults, never retreating and never wasting momentum to block. Instead her sword probes out in feints and jabs, making it perilous for Momoyo to fully commit to a deadly blow. She plants one open palm on that last strike, jumping. The punch strikes her in the shin, doing little harm as she extends and vaults, flipping over it and using the momentum of Momoyo's own punch to drive her leg around in an axe kick aimed for the martial artist's head in a cry of exertion. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' The corporate heir seems to flick his gaze between the pair, considering the progress of the battle. It's still early. The application of the self-healing trait doesn't seem to surprise Souji as much as it might for others. Monks are known for their Chakra powers, after all.... And their flurry attacks. But while that strike blew away the last person she saw someone use it on, the woman who is called the 'Absolute Blade' makes a sacrifice play in ordr to try to punch through defenses. There is an edge of scorn on his expression, not at the elegant counterassault, but at the pretention of such a title. He will soon see if this woman is worthy of such an appellation. Momoyo has a habit of exposing truth with her fists. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Bringing her arm up in such a hurry to protect her head did her no favors. The heel still landed heavily on her skull, but nowhere near as hard as it could have.     "You're not heavy enough for that attack." she snarls. In truth, with how well placed the strike was, even Momoyo would be open even longer were she not blocking the heavy drop. Suddenly, her hands twist out of the block rapidly to grasp the other girl's shin! "You're pretty good at protecting your vitals, so let's see how well your bones do! Hahahaha!"     Her arms show off her monstrous strength as she yanks Yuuki by her single leg and swings her with both hands in an arc over her head like a ragdoll...     Her wide red eyes are seething from the head blow while she brings her attacker down furiously toward the dirt. Brace for impact!     Her fist arced over her opponent, ready to come down on her if she moved from the ground with excited menace. "Get. Up!" her chest heaved, her chipmunk top already torn with holes in places from Yuuki's thrusts, and no doubt some of her own bracelets were cut as well from all the upper and mid body attacks as the dust clears. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Yuuki might not have the mass to attack like that. She's even lighter than she looks it would seem, as if her body weight had no share of adult muscle. Impossible, of course. Her speed has to come from somewhere, and her sword hits have weight and power behind them... but her power has more to it than body mass would suggest.     Yuuki cries out as her body's slammed into the ground. The grab wasn't something she could avoid, and grabs aren't normally something possible in Alfheim Online. Bosses, sure. But bosses generally lack the speed of Momoyo. She wails a cry of fright as she's whirled up then down. The impact pounds the ground as Yuuki's treated like the business end of a piledriver. For that moment, driven hard into the ground, the purple-haired Imp remains down, apparently crushed.     It's only for a moment though. Yuuki's mana gauge is full, and she has MUCH more in her than she's shown. Her sword, drawn back behind her, begins to glow with a violet light. "You're really strong, Oneesan!" Yuuki says, her voice weak from the impact. It strengthens however. "Vertical Square!" she cries out, lashing upwards with her blade as she rises, apparently not even stunned from that crushing impact.     Zekken's blade carves four glowing purple lines through the air, the afterimage forming a diamond between Yuuki and her opponent. The attack has more than physical power as well, the glowing blade hitting with added elemental force that sends a blast of purple impact cloud up all around the fighters. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      A rare event, Momoyo is actually blown off her feet and on her back, her body covered in vicious cuts. "GAAAAAHHH!"     Quickly, she springs back to her feet, breathing as heavily as her opponent. "Restoration!" Her ki flares, sealing the worst of the wounds again as she burns more spirit energy. "Hmhmhm... heheheh." she chuckles softly, staring down Yuuki a moment. The fight was remarkably even, which was Momoyo's favorite sort of fight. If it continued like this, win or lose, she'd be very satisfied indeed. "Alright... enough trading blows... let's try something else!"     "Momoyo Microwave."     Her hands clap together as the arena suddenly turns from it's default state to rapidly rise in temperature... like the aftermatch of a nuclear blast. Waves of radiation flowed out from her body, quickly heating things up to beyond human limits. Her intent was to tire Yuuki out faster... but likely the consequences would be something she wouldn't expect instead.     "Let's see how long you can keep holding on to that blade." she murmurs, still quite excited as she batters the arena oppressively. Her hand comes up to ready for the next attack, eager for her opponent to get in close again. The spectator seats warmed up noticeably, but nothing like the 120 degree Celcius the arena was heating up to as the waves continued to flow against the barriered walls. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Some might call the Vertical Square cheating, the way Yuuki used her downed state to trigger the Sword Art state and begin the attack. The strike itself was precise, perfectly aimed, nothing that could be complained about. And of course in a duel like this, deception isn't cheating; it's just the wise thing to do.     As the smoke of Yuuki's attack clears, she stands fully erect and glaring at her opponent. There's no hatred in the glare though... it's just a mark of concentration and focus. That smile that's been everpresent on her though, it's finally gone. She frowns as Momoyo charges up her attack. The heat is intense, but it's not really any problem. She doesn't HAVE human limits when it comes to temperature. Her exposed-skin armor can handle any environment and she'll still be comfortable. It won't protect her from flesh-rending environments or the like, but she'll feel no discomfort until her health starts dropping. She readies her blade, taking a balanced stance, ready.     "You're right, oneesan." Yuuki says. Remarkably, that smile makes an appearance once again. She narrows her eyes. "You're really strong! Maybe even stronger than ojiisan! But if you're not going to trade blows, I'm not planning to hold back." she warns. The warning is brief, only a moment, before she blurs forward and dances, her body never remaining still long enough to be solidly hit, her sword lashing out in cut after razor-edged cut. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo had been wanting to fight Yukie Mayuzumi for ages but she'd never commit... this girl was probably the closest she'd ever get to Yukie being serious enough to fight her.     The strikes were fast, and Momoyo is covered with countless slashes and cuts. She could see through the strikes, but Yuuki was fast enough to where it mattered less. Her fingers continued to be a blur, a major hassle in mitigating most of Yuuki's attacks. Once again a thrust gets through her defenses, but glances off of her collarbone instead of nicking a major artery. That the heat wasn't wearing her opponent down was surprising Momoyo (other than registering as environmental damage for her opponent). But Momoyo hadn't caught on she was fighting a game avatar.     "Kawakami Style: Diversion!"     The name of the attack was difficult to hear, and at close range almost necessitated a block. Throwing a punch through the blinding light that wasn't really an attack, she quickly turns on her heel and flees from Yuuki... running up the side of a nearby wall while it abruptly appears her opponent has the advantage! It was, of course, a bait, but without an Elite's sharp eyes it was a bait that would be forced to be decided in a split-second. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Make no mistake, Yuuki's concerned with Momoyo's healing ability. Healers are always a pain. The only answer is to out-damage their healing, of course. She's done it before, many times. It's not as worrying as Momoyo's strength however. When she fights, Yuuki's confident about being able to out-damage her opponent. In this fight, she's concerned that might not be the case. Her health bar's solidly yellow now, a state that's rare enough in her duels. Most of her sixty-some duels were decided with her health barely dipping into yellow. Only the best opponents got her to red. Four opponents so far. Momoyo might well become the fifth, if she doesn't end Yuuki's undefeated streak that is.     Yuuki also feels the heat of Momoyo's earlier attack now. Damage over time, something any MMO player's familiar with. If only she could heal, or if her armor would protect her from that! Oh well, she figures, she can do nothing about it. The only thing she can do is fight. She's struck by the diversion, not quite getting her blade in position to bat the attack away. She shakes it off, bringing her blade up to her shoulder pointing outwards, seeking Momoyo.     Yuuki sees her. Finding an opponent, reacting to a split-second event, that sort of thing is easy for her. Yuuki charges and leaps, her blade glowing again as she raises it to strike. "YaaaaAAAAAAH!" she cries out, not naming her attacks in the Kawakami style. Her movement is fast, faster even than her normal blurring attacks, and she brings the blade down hard in a cleaving strike meant to do the kind of damage that stops fights rather than being healable. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo suddenly let herself fall rather than continue to run up the wall. That made hitting her rather simple, really. "Gnnnh!!"     It remained to be seen what taking that special attack would mean for her later. Still, she simply let gravity do it's work for her. If anything, getting attacked made that even easier, given Yuuki's speed and flexibility if she saw this coming.     Which was why the move usually was so devastating. "Kawakami Style: Izuna Drop!"     Wrestling with Yuuki at breakneck speed, she hurriedly pinned her sword-arm behind her back with her monstrous strength. Wrapping her leg around Yuuki's as well, her figure mashes against the other girl, grinning widely inches from her cheek. "I've got you now...!" she declares, letting gravity and her body weight do it's work on her lighter opponent. Both opponents spiralled toward the ground head-first, but Momoyo was going to ensure Yuuki broke her fall from the altitude two or three stories high! 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Yuuki's usual mode of combat is to dodge as much as possible, not to avoid hits entirely but to minimize their severity. It's not a tactic particularly effective when someone's not trying to hit her but simply to grab her and pull her into reach. She'd have been better off treating Momoyo as a boss than as a duel opponent. Her defensive style changes quite a lot in that mode, when she commits to striking and falling back before the boss can retaliate effectively.     Grabbed by Momoyo's monstrous strength, Yuuki flails helplessly. This strike would finish her, she knows. Devastating if she takes the impact on her head, with all Momoyo's weight driving her down. Something... changes. Some small force pushes against all the force and momentum driving Yuuki towards the ground. Yuuki's wings, normally able to carry her and to assist another into the air, don't have the strength to stop this headlong plummet. They do, however, have the strength to slow the piledriver move to something survivable, and to orient Yuuki so she lands on her shoulders rather than her head.     As the explosion of impact goes off, Yuuki tears free more from the force of the hit than from any force she herself can muster. Her wings gleam black, batlike, with white stars floating throughout. The wings don't beat, but nonetheless she hovers, panting, her body glowing a faint red. Not the glow of power, but the aura of damage given by impact rather than by a cutting or piercing weapon, spread out across most of her small body. Her brow furrows, her frown one of concentration rather than agony. Pain... well, she's lived with pain most of her life. She's not shielded from the pain of wounds while not in Alfheim Online itself so she feels everything... it just doesn't matter to her right now.     That glare, the held-cocked blade, it's clearly a setup to an attack. The blade begins gleaming with a violet light, intense and radiating. If this isn't the time for her best attack then she might as well give up now. She's not giving up though, not by a long shot. She charges, bat wings beating down and propelling her forward in a way not entirely explainable by science. The blade lashes out, a fast sweep down from right to left, only it's not a sweep. Her arms piston rapidly side to side, the attack not one slash but several stabs. It reverses, sweeping down from left to right. And then, the sword BLAZES.     Ducking, pivoting, Yuuki brings her obsidian blade back. She pulls back as well, gaining distance, or perhaps the force of her series of blows sends Momoyo hurtling away from her. It amounts to the same thing: room to extend the final blow. "RRRRRRAAAAH!" she cries, thrusting the blade for the point her earlier strikes crossed, straight for the heart and aiming to come out the other side. The purple explosion would end up covering most of the Ring's fighting surface, concealing the immediate outcome of the devastating special attack. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The tension in the air is palpable after she's run through by the blade amid the explosion. Even for Elites it may not have been entirely clear what happened, not just because of the speed, but because of Yuuki's mana. That strike should, by all rights, have been a come from behind victory.     "Ah... ah-ah.... nnh..." she staggers a moment with Yuuki in front of her. Still standing, but the glowing red X crossed over her bustline, showing she was hit very close to her heart. Blood poured out of her body, her earlier wounds being inflicted by such an attack as to prevent her Restoration technique from being as readily useful or rapid.     "...re..." she whispers softly. "Yuuki..."     Suddenly, her aura blazes out in brilliant violet sphere before focusing on her fist. In a split-second, her punch fires toward Yuuki's head. There was no sound to this attack until after it was done... most of her remaining ki was packed into this assault. How!? How was she /still/ standing???     "Kawakami Style Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher!!!"     Her fist glowed as she slugged forward. If she couldn't restore, then there was no problem being reckless with her ki at this point. The opponent that shouldn't be standing, who had so handily kept a solid advantage was now on equal footing with Yuuki... and that only motivated her to become even more reckless and berserk.     "I'M NOT DONE YET! I'M NOT EVEN NEAR DONE YET!!!" 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Yuuki pants, desperately trying to pull in air. Her avatar may not need air, but it still does a remarkable job mimicking the functions of a living being. VR wouldn't be VR if the characters didn't react realistically, and Yuuki's certainly taken a beating. It shows in more than merely her health bar, now in the red, and in the digital damage markers showing everywhere on her.     She'd done it though. She'd landed Mother's Rosario cleanly. Unless Yuuki holds back, such an attack is lethal to pretty much anything except bosses. She didn't hold back. This isn't a duel to the death, but she knows they're in a simulation where no one's truly getting hurt. Running Momoyo through isn't a bad thing, just an opportunity to end the fight.     Yuuki's eyes widen as the purple explosion clears and Momoyo's still standing. Yuuki's clearly amazed, flat-footed in wide-eyed shock. "How..." she begins, staring. She never finishes the question. Momoyo charges what seems to be her entire soul into her fist, then throws the entire thing at the wide-eyed Imp. Checkmate.     The fist is already inside her guard, giving Yuuki no chance to stop it. She smiles at the last moment, a grin of pleasure hinting at triumph. Time stands still, seemingly, both for her and her opponent. They're looking into each other's eyes, measuring, committing everything they've got. Yuuki's no longer wide-eyed. She's intent, and she ducks with a twisting motion, pulling her blade tight against her.     One moment Yuuki's there, the next moment Momoyo's blazing fist is past the Imp girl. She's struck only by the shockwave, and even that all but knocks her to the ground, her health bar screaming well into the red. She doesn't fall however. She's down, bent nearly to the ground, and still spinning. With a roar, Zekken STRIKES with that spinning cut, rising up with a stomp to put more power into the move. Nothing special is behind it, no glowing aura of elemental darkness, no mass of superhuman muscle. The only thing making the attack strong is the speed of Momoyo's missed smash. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Nearly disembowelling Momoyo, her body jerks to pull itself out of range of the attack. There wasn't even any aura of hostility coming from this girl though her emotions were obvious on her face.     However, if she stopped now, she was done. The attack put Yuuki in close enough again, and an idea pops into her mind as the blade is pulled out of her midsection mid-spin.     With very little ki left, she would have to get creative. Yuuki had no armor warranting this technique, but it would put a stop to her movements if she could pull it off. Abruptly, her fists move in a combination of strikes and pressure points, designed to disable the opponent in a special way.     "Ruby Overdrive!!!"     The move was intended to penetrate and destroy armor rather than do maximal damage, but against such a speedy opponent it was the best way to slow them down and try to fracture bones in multiple places. Like a wild beast she forged onward, absolutely having the time of her life. At this point, her rationality was completely gone, so very little of her speech was coherent as the samurai girl moved like a truly vicious and cornered beastly predator. The absolute thrill and emotional rollercoaster of coming across someone this strong clearly showed all over her face. 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Again, Momoyo refuses to fall down! Yuuki's beginning to fear Momoyo's tougher than Karian. Certainly tougher then Tecchi and Jun. If she'd met Momoyo when seeking an adventurer to join the Knights to take down a floor boss, she'd have stopped the fight already and offered her the job. Good thing the floor boss battle was in the past... because Yuuki wouldn't have met Asuna if she'd fought Momoyo first! And as strong as Momoyo is, she could never be the equal of neechan~     Yuuki's no longer shell-shocked by Momoyo continuing to fight, however. She brings up her blade, her grin a mirror for the samurai girl's. Not snarling irrational fury, but delight in a fight well beyond anything she'd expected. The mastery of well-reasoned rational skill mirroring the strength and passion of a beastly predator. Her blade snaps out, down, across, up. For the first time she parries Momoyo's lightning-quick attacks... almost. She mistimes the last, hurrying the parry too much. Instead of stopping or deflecting that last strike, she cuts before it and Momoyo's strike lands clean.     Yuuki's eyes bulge, this time in pain rather than surprise, as an armor-break blow lands cleanly on her obsidian plate. Jagged red fractures fly across it, radiating out from the fist's strike. Then the entire breastplate shatters into red pixels. The girl flies backwards, dropping to one knee, her armor gone. That would probably upset her if she weren't having so much fun, and if this weren't a duel in a place where no permanent effects can occur. Gathering her remaining energy, drawing the sword back and seating it as if it were sheathed at her left hip, she channels her power. The sword begins to gleam once again, nowhere near as intense as before. All or nothing, she figures. Literally. Her health bar's not red any more, it's blank. There's no color remaining to it whatsoever. The slightest graze will finish her, nothing left but a Remain light.     Yelling harshly, Yuuki lunges forward, bringing her sword around her body and upwards in a diagonal cut, like an iaido strike done without the sheath. A simple cut, one with minimal elemental power behind it given her low energy reserves, one going from left to right slanting upwards across Momoyo's body. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      With no reserves left, Momoyo is brought to her knees. Her fists clench, but the Ring anti-climactically calls Yuuki's victory before Momoyo even hits the ground. As a matter of fact, it took all her strength just to remain kneeling, with her opponent also a hair's breadth from defeat.     Soon the ring clears everything, though even when both girls are restored to their best condition, Momoyo's shoulders shake a little. "Heheheh... hmhmhm~."     She tilts her head back and breathes out a huge sigh of relief... but can't seem to stop herself from laughing. "Ahahahah! Hahahahahaha! YES!!!!" her fists rise up in the air before she falls backward on a handy patch of grass in the Arena defaults.     "You'd better believe I'm coming back for my title, Yuuki. But for now, you're the best. I don't understand why you don't seem human, but I don't care. That was fantastic! I came through the Gate to find fights like that! Hahahahahaha!" she starts to clutch her own slightly sore midsection as if she'd done too many crunches, laughing hysterically as if a whole bunch of pent up stress was released. It was a truly magnificent fight.     "I'm okay with losing my title if it was a fight like that! The Grand Duelist surrendered, and the Mage of Space acted like a fool... but you, you're incredible!"     Her hands flop backward on the floor. It was a measure of the actual kindness in her heart beneath the brutality, that she was so utterly elated that she couldn't stand up to give Yuuki a formal bow.     "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''     Yuuki's quite exhausted as the ring announces the end of the duel. That fatigue's only partially wiped away as it restores everything to her. The armor is most welcome. Her fatigue, however, is as much mental and emotional as something the Ring can restore.     Despite being exhausted though, she smiles as she sees Momoyo laugh. She comes forward, reaching out with her hand extended. The smile's the same one she wore at the beginning of the fight. One of pleasure, not a smirk or a grin of triumph. "Hnnnn! That was a great fight!" she sighs happily. "I've never met anyone as tough as you, Oneesan!" she smiles. Then she looks puzzled. "Human?" she asks, startled. She reaches up to her ears, elongated and pointy. "I'm not exactly human!" she laughs. "Mostly human though. I'm an Imp!" she explains, without going into details of her true condition. That's no one's business, not here, and her friends have made that fact abundantly clear.     After a moment, Yuuki reaches down to help Momoyo up. She doesn't care about the bow. The respect one shows another opponent has nothing to do with such formalities. "I look forward to fighting you again!" Yuuki grins, offering surprising strength to help Momoyo stand. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji has been watching the entire time. He doesn't look pleased. His frown is evident as he sees Momoyo fall, the expression like someone who has had a fine meal taken from him before he could eat it. "... Very well." He sighs. "You can expect to receive a challenge from me shortly. I look forward to claiming /both/ of your titles, Absolute Blade." 

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:''' Yuuki's smile falters as Souji challenges her. Surprised, she nods. "You're welcome to challenge for this title." she says carefully, not sure if she understands his words. She's just a kid really, not a wise sage. "But I only have the one. If you mean Zekken, that's not mine to lose." she explains. "It was given to me by proud fighters, and only they have the right to take it away." she says, not quite smiling. 
}}

3900/Seriously, The Absolute Blade VS. The Northern Deva!

2016-03-13T01:48:37Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/03/12 |Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy |Synopsis=Challenged by The Absolute Blade, 'Zekken', Momoyo finally falls from her positi..."

3839/Seriously: Don't Stop To Think Kawakami!!!

2016-02-25T14:35:04Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/22 |Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy |Synopsis=An extremely bored Momoyo finally gets a challenge a week before she does someth..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/22
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=An extremely bored Momoyo finally gets a challenge a week before she does something reckless: The Mage of Space, Arthur Lowell. As it turns out, Arthur is completely unsurprised by Momoyo's over the top fighting style, bringing his own zany spin on things! Ultimately Momoyo's raw endurance prevails as she successfully defends her title from bombastic spatial assault!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=33, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was pumped, though her sister was fighting, she was in the Ring. For her own part, her hands trembled, since as much as she came to respect the Karate Hobo... he was a bit of a disappointment to her.     Tapping the console, she started to set up the terrain for the defaults. Clad in her uniform where her jacket ended up as more of a cape than anything, she strode out to the Ring to wait. Her head rolls around as she adjusts her neck. Seeing a brand new opponent for the first time was always thrilling after all. She wasn't about to comment on her opponent sounding like he just rolled off a game of Call of Duty, since that only made it even more interesting to her at least. Were she not raised in a dojo, she'd sound about the same after all.     There was a nice feeling to doing a match without a large audience, as her fights tended to draw crowds constantly as a general rule. She stares up at the holographic ceiling thoughtfully, tossing her long hair. While she was still placid on the surface as a veteran fighter, she continued all the signs of quivering with excitement. Her opponent didn't sound like a slouch, after all. Even a brazen or stupid opponent could be a little entertaining. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     ARTHUR LOWELL is here! His striding into the default arena comes with a certain degree of theatricality. Which is to say: He is literally using space magic to set off starry fireworks on his path. There's little spotlight spell-constructs floating around and showering him in light. Just because there's no crowd doesn't mean Arthur isn't going to put on a show, and if his WMAT performance was anything to go by, it's clear that these sorts of sparring things are times that he's GOING to put on a show.     "EVERYONE OUTTA MY GODDAMN WAY." Arthur shouts, arms raised dramatically. "I've got KNUCKLES FULL OF BLOODLUST, RADIOS FULL OF CHALLENGES, and a BUNCH OF BONES in need of some SEVERE CRACKING!" His enthusiasm is intense and his blood is already about at half boil, which is to say, Momoyo is actually be able to see a little UI bar labeled 'Blood Boil' at about half full above him. "YOOOOOU! With the BOREDOM and TOO MUCH BLOOD! Let's FIX THOSE FUCKIN' PROBLEMS!" He slams a fist into the opposite palm with enough force that the fireworks are dramatically dispelled from the shockwave. "Are you READY?!" With a flourishing motion, a heavy, black steel... Broom is in his hands, suddenly flickering out of his inventory. It looks like it has several heavy-duty pieces of equipment built in.     That suspicion might be reinforced by the fact that he pulls a heavy ripcord on it, making something inside roar to life. And then, of course, his BLOOD BOIL bar is filling, and his body is surrounded by shining white SPACE MAGIC fire, and a light shockwave of wind. He takes a place opposite Momoyo in the default field. "I hear you're a TOUGH GUY or somethin'! I wanna walk away from this all my SPARE BLOOD outta me! Gimmie ALL YOU GOT! You READY?! Let's get this shit BLASTING. YEAH!!"     There is not any shortage of enthusiasm here, but Momoyo may notice that despite the theatricality and hot-bloodedness, Arthur Lowell's actual physical appearance appears to be that of some kind of scruffy nerd. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhm~." she chuckles softly, her usual all-smiles smirk displaying openly as she looks her opponent over. He honestly looked ridiculous, but his aura told a completely different story. "I like your attitude."     It started to dawn on her that she might be looking at a video game character in reality as soon as she realized the blood boil gauge was present inside his aura. "I'm already excited! This is gonna be a blast. With Wanko fighting in my world, I don't need to worry about this getting emotional." She raises her hand. "Get ready, Arthur Lowell! I am Momoyo Kawakami of the North, Goddess of Martial Arts! Let's see if you can finally break my undefeated streak!" she shouts back, her own aura visible now as well, a dark crimson flame just above black that fought against Lowell's pure white light magnificantly already. It wasn't an attack, but she certainly wasn't going to read too much into his appearance.     Foregoing her usual strategy, she could already tell her opponent was slightly stronger than her. That excited her to no end, but the difference was small enough it mattered how each used it as she charged forward at a speed barely discernible by non-Elites.     "Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!" 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     Arthur's gauge fills, and then explodes dramatically in a burst of crimson fire. The white light blasts out of him in tremendous waves as Momoyo approaches at high speed! "SHIT YES!" He calls out. "COME AT ME!!" And she approaches... So, too, does Arthur. He levels his broom back, so the steel bristles face directly away from Momoyo. There's a moment where that might look strange... And then an ominous 'beep'.     The bristles, in a clean motion, 'bloom' wide into a trio of ROCKET BOOSTERS. "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHH!" And with a tremendous gush of exhaust, Arthur blasts forward at a similar speed, intending to meet Momoyo in the middle, and swing around a heavy, rocket-powered overhead swing. Regardless of how solidly it hits, the impact is going to be enough to create hairline cracks in the simulated floor and produce a shockwave that kicks up dust for several yards. Despite that, this DOES just seem like a heavy, somewhat brash opening strike, meant to feel out how Momoyo handles her defenses... 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Wide-eyed and disoriented with how she was hit during her blink-of-an-eye attack, her teeth grit as she broom handle smashes into her with the rest of the scruffy kid. She didn't have time to consider the difference in speed however, as her opponent was right up against her and in mid-air, the perfect time for this type of attack. "You've got one hell of a punch, kid. Let's see how you handle this!"     "Ningen Bakudan!"     As if to make Arthur's show even more ridiculous, her attack triggers from the broom slammed into her and his shoulder leaned in closer to her frame. With a demonic smile, an explosion emits from out of the ki coating her midsection ten feet or so in the air.     Landing on her feet herself in a recovering stance, she clenches her fists as she keeps an eye on her magical, absurd opponent. "Ghhh... Restoration..." she murmurs, her shoes already having dug furrows into the ground with a large chunk of her clothing ripped off her midsection. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     Arthur's slammed back, and then UP, by the explosion. There's bits of his God Tier robes tattered and frayed by the impact, and he's got a little bit of burning -- and does he have a little aura fire going on at a bit of his shoulder? -- but he seems like he's still capable... His skin! Somewhere over the surface of his body is a slight warping effect. He coated himself in some sort of spatial magic! "HAAAANDLED!" He calls out, trying to right his course. He also very quietly swears and pats out the fire a bit while he does. Momoyo will have no lack of opportunity to fix his landing point; his mid-air mobility is limited due to the disorientation of the blast! She can easily intercept the landing point, especially with her speed. But before she does... Arthur's broom whips around again!     This time, he doesn't hold it like a bludgeon, he holds it like a rifle. The bristles brace against his shoulder and a trigger might be noticed at the handle. Hot-blooded and martial-artsy as the kid may be, his fighting style's a complete mess, a mix between street brawling and, apparently, some kind of weird broom-based gunplay. The heavy, thick handle of his broom bears a RIFLE along its body! He's firing a series of shiny, authentic gensokyian DANMAKU BOLTS, which manifest as heavy magical bullet patterns that rush forward! If he's going to land at a vulnerable place, he's going to make it a punishing gauntlet to reach the point where he impacts the ground, where Momoyo will be able to re-engage combat on her own terms.     Of course, he shouts. What would any Xbox Live Jerk be without trash talk. "GODDESS of MARTIAL ARTS, huh?! HA HA HA! I never learned a BIT of it in my LIFE! I'mma show you what happens when PURE ADRENALINE and GUTS rams HEAD-FUCKING-FIRST into all those WHATEVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF TRADITION you got! SHOW IT TO ME! I wanna FEEL the HISTORY on my BRUISES! You want a STREAKBREAKER, you're 'boutta GET IT!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Without bothering to dodge, she knew it was pointless to try to block energy like this. Bullets were one thing, ki and magic were quite another. Instead, she continues to restore her vitality through the assault, landing beneath Arthur where he's about to land. "Here's your pure adrenaline, guy!!! Hahahaha!!!" she laughed in return, quickly getting caught up in Arthur's energy... and freely able to go berserk herself. Already crazed, her response was always to charge in just that little bit harder!     "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"     Taking advantage of his downward momentum, she simply grit her teeth and bled through the spewing bolts only to unleash her twenty-four punch barrage in an instant right before he would land on top of her. The sound of artillery fire issues forth as her fists move like a blur, creating small shockwaves of her own and conserving her energy to endure Arthur's wide area barrages. She'd already learned fighting Fate: she wasn't going to win against magic by allowing her opponent to get distance on her. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     Arthur's expecting one attack, but he's not expecting the others. The protection holds for the first of 24 attacks, but rapidly disintegrates afterwards. With an audible SHATTER, Arthur's spellshield dispells, and there's a series of rough, vicious cracks at the start of the series of blows. But partway through... While he seems utterly untrained, he's subtly not as stupid as he looks. The barrage of blows has a pattern, as any martial arts technique does, and Arthur's incredible reflexes eventually let him catch up to it. With a combination of his broom and his forearm, he even manages to parry some of the strikes! But the strain and exhaustion of doing so hit him hard near the end. His dextrous, efficient movements slow.     "Haaaaahhhhh... Got a lot of PUNCH in you!" He shouts, as he tries to work around the brutal barrage. "Hahahahhh! I SEE what you're DOING! I KNOW YOUR GAME! Can't keep any DISTANCE, huh? Gotta make sure the SQUISHY MAGE-CLASS keeps OFF HIS GAME? 'Cause those WIZARDBALLS MOTHERFUCKERS, all they got's BEAMS and not GUTS!" For a moment, he sticks to the defensive, trying to hold off Momoyo's blows, and straining to keep up just enough... And suddenly: Another violent yank of the ripcord, and the engine is screaming. So, too, are motors within the blade. The steel bristles are SPINNING! Like some sort of horrific, violent blender on a stick. The gyroscopic force gives it TREMENDOUS physical impact weight and more than a little bit of nonlethal laceration to boot. Right after the series of blows finishes execution, the broom whirls around from the side, and Arthur starts bearing down with a rushing charge of his own, with heavy, swift blows.     "I can KEEP UP with you BRAWLING SONS OF BITCHES just as hard as ANY KNIGHT-CLASS! YEAH! COME GET SOME! I got MORE THAN ENOUGH to GIVE!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Blocking with both her arms proves to be somewhat fruitless. It was better than taking the hit directly, but that sort of a hit was intended to, as Arthur said, get rid of extra blood. Stepping back slightly, she does the least sane thing to stop the madness in this instance... that is to say, thrusts her hand in to grab on the brook directly and stop the spinning by force with her inhuman strength. "Here it comes again, kid!!!"     "Kawakami Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher!"     All at once she brings a swift ki-fuelled uppercut toward his chin. The sort of ridiculous attack Knight-classes were known for, the punch was even faster and stronger than her original Dynasty Warriors Punch. Covered in her purple ki and flaring out around her body in a sphere, the attack itself was rarely seen and only usually showed up when Momoyo was serious. "I WANT MORE FUN, LOWELL!!!" she howled, just about reaching her fevered peak. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     Arthur's broom stops and grinds into Momoyo's hand, but it does stop, even mid-swing. Arthur wasn't expecting that. There's a moment of wide-eyed surprise, and then comes the Shoryuken Moment. There's a noise like meat being tenderized mixed with a cheap plastic toy snapping in half. A shockwave of white light blasts out of Arthur's body and he's launched up! Unable to hold onto his broom, he's launched up, up... High up from the impact. Shining purple ki is around chunks of terrain launched as well; this kid may be a squishy caster, but he's maximum level, leaving him still pretty resilient. Some of that attack's tremendous force was purely halted, creating a tremendous blast. Arthur is dazed and disoriented; for a moment, Momoyo might see the Cool Shounen Hero facade he has break for a moment, clutching his jaw in agony. But that doesn't last long.     Snapping out of it on his upward arc, he completely halts his motion through a burst of magic. "You want FUN!? Good thing you're WISHING on SHOOTING STARS here, I'mma boutt'a BUST YOUR SHIT like a METEOR IMPACT, BITCH!" Up among the chunks of shattered terrain, Arthur screams, his long hair billowing out dramatically, and his whole body gushing white fire. With a sudden rush of GRAVITY MAGIC, he slams himself down, bouncing between blasted chunks of terrain in a series of rapid, high-speed leaps. Some are launched up by his leaping downward, and others are distinctly launched DOWN, right for Momoyo! He's making sure she doesn't back off from this, and if she does, she'll have to deal with huge chunks of Default Arena slamming into her.     Halfway down, he lets out an intense, roaring scream. The white fire flares bigger, and true to his word, he does appear to be some kind of falling star. "RrrrrroooooAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!" The shockwave of the magical field around him impacting nearby would be hard not to take damage from, but the heavy strike is aimed right for Momoyo. Even if blocked head-on, the force just keeps going, fueled by gravity magic, pushing more and more and more. He's going to press this attack as hard as he can right up until Momoyo's counterattack! He's not keeping a distance from her outrageous melee-range power in the slightest. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She hadn't used up much of her aura yet, but it was time to go ham, after all, her opponent had been so far. Even covering her arms with her ki his attack was pushing her back in the ground, her feet digging in as she grit her teeth. Still, his air time and that attack... she was just barely starting to see the patterns. They changed from time to time, but the cunning and reckless girl realized this was her chance, and she would have to take it now even while his aura was still strong. While blocking the attack with one arm (which still meant relying on her endurance as the attack begun to shred into her muscle), her other arm charged up... to fight back against the blast.     "Kawakami Style: Star Destroyer"     At this close a strength level, it was less about how much power you had and more about how you used it. She used her berserk fury as a battering ram to shove the beam backward, panting aloud as her shoulders heaved. The violent yellow beam shot upward abruptly, with the only clue it was coming being Lowell's aura being pushed back. "Yes!!! I needed this fight! I KNEW you were strong when you walked in! I don't care how a crazy moron like you got strong, this is perfect!!" she howled in ecstasy, as her planet shattering beam shook the Ring and absorbed the blast within it's hallowed ceiling's energy barriers. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     Arthur is grinning, wildly shouting and tearing himself up from the strain of forcing himself through this impact. And there's that moment of wide-eyed surprise again -- you can imagine an overdramatic 'THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!' going on in his head -- as his field of magic is shoved back, and then suddenly breached by the havy beam! Arthur slams back from the impact of being brutally out-skilled this way. Impacted head-on by the blast, he is carried up by the wave of energy, slamming into the ceiling's barriers, splayed out against it by the force of the strike. He's pinned there for some time, suffering the intense endurance and contusion damage from the beam...     And then, Momoyo's perception of his aura goes dead. Or rather, it disappears from where he's pinned. There was a flash of green light, a brief spike of magic, and then nothing. Did she KO him? No... There's something off to one side. A strange, circular, spirographic construct. Momoyo is one of those Union associates (though Arthur wouldn't know that) who hasn't yet been privy to Arthur's TRUE specialty: GATES.     The shining Aura suddenly being at Momoyo's side instead is the only warning she'll get as Arthur -- scooping up his broom in one hand, recovering it from its lost place -- rockets towards her, and attempts to slam into her while she's still got all her offensive power oriented up. He's messed up bad, bleeding a fair bit and heavily bruised, and his nice God Outfit is ripped up more than a little, but he's still screaming his way into a heavy ram... And then back through another Gate. Then he's coming for a strike from a low angle on the opposite side! Then two strikes from the same angle! Then another from above! And three, from three diffrerent side angles! He starts an accelerating rush of brutal ram attacks, meant to knock Momoyo around a little instead... It's possible that maybe Arthur is feeling a little insecure about how he's the only one being launched here!     "SHIT YES! I've got the PRODUCT that EVERYONE NEEDS! I run the BLOOD BANK of FIGHTS! I've got the HYPE TRAIN running outta PAIN CITY and I am EXPORTING THE EVER-LOVING SHIT out of those COMMODITIES! EVERYONE wants some'a what I GOT!" He seems, in his own way, near about as hype about this as Momoyo is.     Which is a scary thought, honestly. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Restoration!!!" she cheats again, with her unfair move. She was going to need it after all, but now her reflexes were back up to snuff as she manages to block the Whole. Entire. Barrage. Other than the last hit, which smacks the side of her head, and would have been even better of her opponent wasn't so wrecked. However, her ki-sense was her only weapon against these gates, as there would be no pattern. Suddenly, her eyes widened sharply, and she jumped into the air.     That was because instead of trying to predict the gates... she forced the gates to predict her.     Her arm slams into her opponent, curling around him viciously. "Hey, hey, hey!!! How were you gonna say this, huh, Arthur!? TIME FOR A TRIP TO GROUND POUND TOWN!!!"     Twisting Arthur's arm violently, she forces her leg around his... making the trajectory of the broom awkward and uncontrollable. "Kawakami Style: Izuna Drop!!!" Forcing him to navigate his broom with only one messed up arm, she jerked him around, and after a flashy somersault in the air... she started to speed a hundred feet or so toward the ground. Letting her body weight and gravity do the work, she pressed in against his neck as she twirled viciously while he was forced to figure out how to wrestle her in the space of ten seconds! 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     There's a brief moment where maybe Momoyo might see something... Distinctly unlike the image Arthur Lowell projects. It takes about half a second for him to assess the full details of where his body is positioned related to her. In the span of the remaining nine seconds where he can commit to action, she can feel, in the twitches of each muscle and the few calculated counterattacks he attempts, a much more wise and thoughtful mind trying to find an escape. It's practically a moment of insight; an utterly silent moment of wordless communication. "Right arm disabled. Right leg disabled. Wounded left arm to steer, leaves 120 degrees range of practical motion in thruster orientation. Eight seconds remaining. Primary weaknesses in hold at knee. Apply free knee from side. Six seconds remain. Execute knee strike. Failure. Five point five remain. Disorient assailant. Attempt knee strike again. Disorientation options: Headbutt? Execute with knee-strike. Failure, poor angling. Three seconds remaining. Attempt retro-rocket reorientation, brace assailant between self and ground. Attempting. Arm too wounded, failure. One point five seconds remaining. No options."     "Fuck it. Roll with it."     Arthur hits the ground brutally, slammed into the field with a heavy, snapping impact. He needs both legs and so in the process of landing, he has to sacrifice his left arm. There's a heavy, brutal snapping sound as a bone gives way entirely. The blastwave from the Izuna Drop comes like the shockwave of a true lightning strike, slamming chunks of blank sim-terrain all around, leaving a tremendous cracked crater in the field. But Arthur's rolling-with-it impact is specifically meant to ensure Momoyo can't keep the hold on him. It won't do much damage, but the slamming roll tries to bash her into the ground and toss her away... Giving Arthur enough time to get to his feet. Clutching one limp arm, breathing heavily, bleeding more than a little, and heavily bruised, Arthur gets to his feet at the base of the crater, propping himself up on the broom.     "Hahhhhh... Hahhhhh... Last shot at this, looks like... Hahhhhh..." He struggles for breath, putting a tremendous amount of willpower just into standing defiantly. If Momoyo allows -- and let's not kid ourselves, this is a Shounen Combat Pacing fight, of course she will -- he's going to take a moment to catch his breath... And then bring in the final rush. Gripping the ripcord of his broom in his teeth for lack of a functioning arm, he tears it away from the broom and restarts the motor, gushing fire from exhaust pipes on the heavy contraption. A screaming roar builds up inside it... And then he blasts forward, not flying but skidding over the surface of the crater. With a heavy sweeping motion, the exhaust kicks up bits of the debris...     And they follow him, as if guided by something. As it turns out... Guided by a gravitational pull. He's pulling up all the ripped up chunks of terrain here into a tremendous final rush of brutal crashing force, screaming in a rising hot-blooded shout of continuous damage output that slowly escalates, and when the rock exhausts itself, it's starlight and pure gravity that's coming after Momoyo; Arthur's short-range damage output is just burning through every bit of his reserves that he can. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The debris sliding across her was getting worse and worse. She wouldn't be allowed to block this any longer if it went on, and she could see his aura running ragged... it looks like those Gates of his burnt up a lot of energy for too many small attacks on a tough foe.     She owed it to her opponent to finish him gracefully, since he was probably too concussed to think much longer. Turning around and ignoring the debris as best she could, she used his gravity wake against him to guide a shot that was difficult to be accurate with it's speed.     "Kawakami-HAAAAA!!!!"     Throwing another violet-violent burst of energy at the broom rider, this shot was intended to finish him off... as blocking it was out of the question and riding the broom was taking all his strength. While she wanted to be beaten even worse than this, she could really only thank Arthur in her head. She was a week away from doing something supremely stupid after all if he hadn't done it first. And she wanted to fight this kid again. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     The beam tears through a rush of terrain, ripping a hole throuh it and straight at the boy mage and all of that hot blood. It lances into his chest and slams him back with more heavy bruising, fracturing ribs and dislocating his other shoulder with the intense force of the impact. "HaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-HURK!"     He tears a trench through the crater in the arena, down one side and up the other, with the impact. At the opposite lip of the tremendous gouged-out hole in the ground, a massive chunk of Default Arena terrain explodes into dust. When it clears, the disabled Arthur is... Still not quite knocked out, laying there in a pile of rubble. "Hhhhhhhhffffffuuuuuck." He hisses through pain. Limply, he tries to wave the dislocated arm at the elbow, and sort of vaguely flops the broken arm at her. Despite his heavy damage and disorientation, it's clear he's still putting ONE HUNDRED PERCENT EFFORT into standing up, and presumably continuing the fight if he could! It's just that his body is no longer physically able to go through the motions, regardless of his will. "Aaaaahhhhhhhrgh, get over here, I'll BITER YOUR LEGS OFF, ffffffuck."     He struggles to keep up the HOTBLOODED ENTHUSIASM, but it's not fooling anyone, least of all the systems of the Ring of Philosophy, or of his own Sburb UI elements, both of which have collaborated to declare him KO'D! You can tell because they very literally project a large red bold K.O. above him, regardless of his continued consciousness. After a short while, things will revert with a short 'ping!' leaving him very well back to where he was, and /sore as hell/. He's already popping to his feet and stretching out the soreness. "SHIT YEAH, that HAPPENED! You weren't HOLDING BACK on THAT SHIT, that was TIGHT!" He laughs! In that forcefully enthusiastic sort of way. "So you get your BOREDOM DONE? FUCK that got the BLOOD GOING, HO'YEAH!" This involves a lot -- I mean a LOT -- of wild gesticulation. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Arthur." she quips, moving over toward him and setting her hand on his shoulder... shaking it lightly. "...Thanks. You better fight me again, kid. You're a blast." she chuckles happily, though like Arthur the Ring mostly replaced her spiritual energy which was difficult to entirely virtualize. She would be fine by the morning.     "Well, to be fair, Arthur... they stopped classifying me as a martial artist long ago. They clarify me as a natural disaster in my world on Wikipedia now." she admits, waving a hand dismissively. "But still... you should challenge me again. I think you could take my title next time." she replies. While even if she could see it through aura as surely as the math whiz calculated his chances at winning as pretty good, it was rough for her to admit someone was stronger than her.     "I better check on my sister, Arthur. She had a Title Match from Lina Brand." She strides out of the arena with a respectful wave over her shoulder, the back of her hand displayed to him as her uniform jacket flutters behind her with a soft but theatrically appropriate wind along with her hair. 

:'''{{#var:33|Arthur Lowell (33)}} has posed:'''     "HA HA HA HA! A FORCE OF NATURE! Fuck yeah, I do THAT KINDA GIG BACK HOME too!" Unfortunately, Momoyo made a mistake. She grabbed his shoulder. No, he doesn't have some kind of PTSD violent counterattack, but instead, after the light shake, he immediately transitions it into some sort of highly complicated cool-kid handshake. Even a martial artist turned natural disaster's incredible reflexes and dexterity won't be able to keep up. It involves several daps, two high-fives, an elaborate sequence of pounds, one weird little finger-wiggly thing, and then several shoulder-patting gestures on the side. This all executes in the span of about two seconds and it's near impossible to keep track of.     "FUCK YEAH, I'll get the SPARE BLOOD outta you ALL OVER AGAIN sometime! It'll be HYPE AS HELL. NEXT TIME, ain't NO goddamn SURPRISES on EITHER SIDE, aside from ME turnin' this around and KICKING YOUR ASS." The trash-talk is still strong, but at least it seems pretty friendly. "Go check the SIS, pro'lly had a GREAT FIGHT if she's got any'a YOUR FAMILY in her! PEACE." He's heading out himself, too! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:''' Momoyo Kawakami says, "Hahaha. I'll figure out that handshake by the next time we fight!" 

}}

3843/Seriously, A Tiger In The Dojo!

2016-02-25T14:29:29Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/25 |Location=Kawakami City |Synopsis=Momoyo is challenged by the mysterious Sagat, the Emperor of Muay Thai. The Goddess of Martial Arts ha..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/25
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Momoyo is challenged by the mysterious Sagat, the Emperor of Muay Thai. The Goddess of Martial Arts has a close match but ultimately the Dragon succumbs to the Tiger, leaving plenty for Momoyo to think about and a lonely Northern Deva an actual rival to chase!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=95, 575, 928, 940, 942
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Dressed in her top displaying 'a chipmunk' on the front and some punky wristbands with her denim slacks, she walks around the arena picking up trash from a recent exhibition. The Dojo had been seeing a lot of usage lately, so Momoyo was helping pack in the ground again and clean up various bits of trash.     She knew an unknown fighter was showing up today, and it wasn't uncommon for her grandfather to withhold details from her every so often by the fighter's request. Still, it seems that her steady stream of challengers was continuing and even expanding slightly since the Gate opened. By now, the signage pointing in to Kawakami City so no one wandered off into the rest of Japan from the Gate was easy to follow over the suspension bridge into town. One of the first major locations in the city was the Dojo itself, set up quite nicely for a street fighting exhibition. Momoyo's senses continued to strain to sense anyone within a mile of the place who seemed out of place. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Mairead is here to watch the fight against Momoyo and Sagat. She has seen a few, but she has heard that this will be an amazing fight. For now, she sits int he stands, behind Momoyo's starting point. 

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''     Ayako is here, sweeping the ground on the Dojo's arena. Why? Well, whenever Ayako gets in a thoughtful mood, she tends to clean. Almost anywhere in the Multiverse is fair game. Nevermind that she's not dressed like a maid like she usually does when she cleans. Oh no, she's in her witch outfit right now. Although the witch otufit does come with a flying broom, so that does help. Even though said broom isn't flying right now. At least it's good at cleaning.     Sweep, sweep, sweep. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' 'Out of place' is likely putting it mildly; Sagat is tall enough to stand out for his height alone, and a complete lack of hair (plus an eyepatch over where his right eye used to be) is an even more distinguishing set of characteristics. And then there's the scar across his chest, prominently on display, since he's only wearing his usual fighting outfit - wrist- and ankle-wraps, a pair of shorts, and nothing else. Any other clothes or possessions which he owns are presumably in the duffle bag he's carrying. And he *did* call ahead to the Kawakami Dojo, to make sure Momoyo would be there for a match. Something like that isn't so much a 'courtesy' as an obligation - showing up without any warning and trying to challenge a fighter on his or her home ground tends not to go over very well in Sagat's circles. He would have given his name, and as little additional information as he could get away with without being rude; if Tesshin kept his name from Momoyo, that's Tesshin's business. As for his aura? .... Yeah. Momoyo's probably going to sense him coming without much of an effort. It won't be very much of a wait, either; Sagat is a fairly brisk walker, and if Momoyo's waiting for him to show up, he doesn't want to leave her waiting longer than necessary - again, less of a courtesy, more of an obligation. Some fighters might mess with their timing on purpose to try and get some sort of advantage, even if it's merely psychological. Sagat considers those kinds of mind games a waste of effort. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo could sense Sagat's aura on the horizon... stronger than her own. That made her shudder with glee. This match was going to be a brutal fight. "Hey, Ayako... it's time. Have a seat in the bleachers with Kazuko and don't do anything until the match is called, alright sweetie?" she directs... her knuckles cracking as she eyed the entrance to the dojo shortly before he strode into the arena.     She could see what he looked like... and the aura matched up. He had to have a decade or two on her. Oh man, this was gonna be fun!     She folds her arms, her characteristic slight smirk as her red eyes looked Sagat over. She could guess that he was a Muay Thai fighter... but couldn't tell for sure until he introduced himself. She was a solid five foot eight, Amazonian by Japanese standards, but this man dwarfed even her. "Welcome to the Kawakami Temple. My name is Momoyo Kawakami, Goddess of Martial Arts, Northern Deva of The Big Four." Her voice was even, and respectful. While much of the audience might flinch and mutter about his appearance, hers was a relative calm... reminiscient of a dragon, even. But the pent up energy in her form was visible miles away for an extremely experienced fighter. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko's pittering about the dojo dutifully, handing out waivers to the audience alongside the other monks. It's the easiest way for her to keep an eye on the action today, after all, especially since it's a fight involving her sister and... Actually, nobody's told her anything about today's challenger. Not that it takes her long to identify him among the people filtering in, what with the BADASS SCAR and the EYEPATCH and FREAKY TALLNESS.      If Sagat was merely a challenger from their own world, she probably wouldn't be paying too much attention. But as someone coming from the Multiverse proper? The puppy's getting excited just looking at him. "Coo-ool... Wonder what the story on that is." She gawks for a few moments before waving at Momoyo, a bright grin on the younger Kawakami's face. "You can do it, sis!"      There's a hop, a wave, and then she hurries up in getting those forms gathered before finding a seat for herself and Ayako. 

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''     Ayako blinks her eyes once as she's jogged out of her 'cleaning mode', "Ah." and then nods her head once with a soft smile. "Alright." She lifts her broom sideways and then sits side-saddle on the now floating broom as it whisks her away to the bleachers.     Ah... sis? That must be who Momoyo is talking about! Once she floats over to Kazuko, she slips off of her broom and lands lightly, sitting down simultaneously. Her broom is shoved together quickly, and folds compact with a soft click. Don't want to get in the way of the audience, after all.     Ayako looks over to Kazuko. "Hello! Oh. Right... we probably haven't met before." She knocks herself on the head lightly. "I'm Ayako Hasekawa, a water spirit." She winks slowly. "Not a witch. Although I'm dressed like one right now." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat inclines his head briefly but respectfully to Momoyo, not taking his gaze off her as he unslings his duffle and tosses it to land at the foot of the bleachers. Apparently there's nothing in there he's worried about breaking. "I am Sagat, acclaimed in my homeland as the Emperor of Muay Thai," he states, his voice a currently-subdued rumble that seems to be clawing its way out from inside his muscular chest. Then he takes a few seconds to look Momoyo over once more. 'Goddess.' 'Northern Deva of the Big Four.' Sagat has to consciously refrain from shaking his head; he already has a few suspicions about what kind of fighter Momoyo is, just by the titles she waves around. "I'm aware of your 'Deva' title," he continues, "but I'm not here to challenge you for it. Just to fight you, one on one, warrior to warrior. Do you have any reason to decline my challenge at this time?" Again, the question is mostly pro forma ... but those who've followed Sagat's career as a fighter might be aware that this is a degree of formality he *doesn't* usually engage in, except maybe if he were seeking out a fellow World Warrior back on his native version of Earth. And even as Sagat's question hangs in the air, the Muay Thai fighter is already shifting into a ready stance, his arms in raised in front of him, fists loosely clenched, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. His aura is even plainer - he's ready for Momoyo to come at him at any second. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Tesshin, the old man with the long beard comes out... a man clear to Sagat that despite his age his power is massive. Standing between the two fighters, he looks Sagat over. "Hmm, I see, I see." . o O (Maybe this man can tame her properly. If these sorts of challengers come before her,...)     Momoyo claps her hands together, giving a characteristic bow signalling the match start. Her arms sit folded as she's relaxed.     "Ready?" the old man raises his hand, looking between both fighters as the tension rose in the air... Momoyo's smug look compared to Sagat's outright cruel glare.     "FIGHT!!!"     Momoyo's form had no openings upon her approach, but her approach was quicker than with opponents were weaker than her. Cognizant of Sagat's superior reach, she moved to arms'-length-and-a-half away, which was just outside of Sagat's range. "Hmhmhmhm~. You don't know how rare it is to see someone on your level show up. I wouldn't miss this for the world..." she replies. And so, she steps in to test her opponent properly!     "Musou Seikenzuki!!" 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      An unfamiliar face! Hearing Ayako, Kazuko turns to face her as she floats over on that broom and lets out another excited noise. "Oh! Hi, Miss Hasekawa. I'm Kazuko Kawakami, Momoyo's younger sister and a student of the Kawakami Style." She looks up and down while peering at Ayako closely, brushing her nose once and giving her a long look for whatever reason. "But you floated on a broom just now, didn't you? And..." There's some suspicion in there at first when she claims not to be a witch, but after a moment...      She breaks into a broad grin. "Well... If you're helping out here, you're probably alright. Good to meet you!" She keeps quiet once the actual fight starts, of course, watching with rapt attention! She... Just might end up climbing on Ayako a bit later, though. 

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''     Ayako winces slightly at being called 'Miss Hasekawa'. "I... Umm... please call me Ayako!" She then smiles brightly. "Nice to meet you, Kazuko! Eh heh... I floated because I'm a water spirit. Even if I do look like a human." Her head nods quickly and then... the match starts!     Ayako's amber gaze goes straight towards Momoyo and Sagat. She becomes quiet as well. And also happens to watch with perhaps a bit more enthusiasm than one might expect out of a pacifistic healer. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Maread sees Kazuko and she gets up and heads over to where she is. Smiling, she sits down, "Hi Kazuko," she states to her as she turns and watches the fight. "Any idea who this Sagat is?" she asks Kazuko and nods her head towards Ayako as "Hello ma'am," she states to her as she was not near Kazuko when she, Kazuko, introduced herself to Ayako.     Looking at the two, "Mind if I join the both of ye?" she asks them as she keeps an eye on the fight. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat returns Momoyo's bow in kind, *still* not taking his gaze off of her. After the bow, he resumes his ready stance, nodding almost imperceptibly to Tesshin's query of preparedness. And then the match is on. If Momoyo doesn't show any openings, Sagat is less obvious about it - but as soon as she takes that last step into striking distance, he's on the move, snapping his forearms down to intercept her punch and push her arm aside before the blow can land. He doesn't settle for simply defending, though; he doesn't grab Momoyo's arm or anything like that, but attempts to keep her guard open while he brings his left arm up and aims a swift elbow strike at the side of her head. His movements are swift and efficient; one might describe them as 'pragmatic' in their efficiency. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo's punch was dealt with properly, a punch even Servants had trouble blocking. Not only that, but she was precisely countered. Wow. Holy hell. There were basically no martial artists she had fought since the Gate opened that did that properly.     Did that slow her down any? Not in the least. Most fighters would take that as an opportunity to back up and re-assess their plan of attack which would let Sagat lay into them more... the strike only increased Momoyo's momentum, even as Kazuko could clearly see she was bruised at her temple in that fraction of a second. At this speed it would be difficult for non-martial artists to keep up but Elites could definitely manage.     The strike Momoyo took as an invitation to keep punching, her fists a blur as she continues a flurry of blows and even a side kick. "Hmhmhmhm~!!! Yes... someone worth my time...!" she hisses. It was clear her strategy was a brutal offense, taking advantage of her speed combined with her strength to completely overwhelm her opponent. This presented a patient fighter with many opportunities, but definitely put their stamina on a timer. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' There are times to go on all-out offense, and there are times to pick and choose your strikes. Sagat knows better than to expect that a single blow - even a bell-ringer like that elbow strike - will leave an opponent dazed and reeling, so as soon as he's landed the blow, he closes his guard back up. And just in time, from all appearances; Momoyo goes into a barrage of blows, fast and furious enough that Sagat has his work cut out for him on defense. A combination of blocks, parries, and sidesteps generally keeps up with Momoyo's onslaught, though; he allows a few hits to connect, picking and choosing and prioritizing - partly to let her confidence build up, to see if it *does*, and partly to conserve some of his efforts. He's not bothering to say much. He's confident in his endurance, though; one of the hallmarks of Muay Thai training is a level of conditioning which borders on the brutal, even down to the fighter's bones; Sagat has been training in Muay Thai for decades and has taken his conditioning seriously every step of the way. Not that he's taking Momoyo's offensive strength lightly; he doesn't underestimate any opponent if he can help it - but he's willing to let her exhaust herself and present better openings for *him* to exploit. 

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''     Ayako glances back to Mairead as she approaches. "I don't mind." And then her eyes blink. "Ah. I think I've heard that voice before... you're Mairead, right?" She smiles brightly. "It's Ayako. You've talked to me on the radio before, remember? Eh heh." Her amber gaze looks back to the fight.     "Momoyo sure charges in, though..." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Continuing to pummel at Sagat's impeccable defense and realizing the hits she did land were minor at best, it was time to increase her offensive even more. With only the briefest of pauses showing she was gearing up for a technique, she pulls back to unload and try to crush Sagat's guard     cxterm93">"Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!"     If Sagat was already working defensively, he was in for a treat... this attack was the same but performed two-dozen times in the same instant. While his eyes could keep up... it was questionable which parts of his body he would guard and which would take the artillery fire punches.     It was disappointing to Momoyo that her opponent was so quiet, but that only allowed her to concentrate more on her movements. Immediately after the technique... she crosses her arms over her chest to try to prevent a kick at her midsection... she was wisely more worried about her opponent's feet than she was his arms, and thus tried blocking on instinct rather than predicting his next move. "!!!" For whatever reason, she was intent not to give up the ground she was gaining by pushing Sagat around the arena slightly with her relentless assault. If there was any fatigue in her movements... it was becoming clear it was hopeless. Her breathing was perfect and stamina near limitless. Most likely a function of her bloodline. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Mairead blinks, "Ah, I have. I remember ye," she says to Ayako. "I did not know that ye were so pretty," she states as she watches the fight and sits down. "I am glad to have meet you," she adds as she watches the fight. "I thinkt hat this will be interesting," she mentions to the two in reference to the fight. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' There's just a hint of a surprised noise from the towering Muay Thai fighter as Momoyo rears back to begin the Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi - and he doesn't try to simply block or parry this set of blows. He *leaps back*. At best, the sudden absence of a target within Momoyo's range might leave her off-balance, and if she closes the distance again, it buys Sagat a split second to determine his strategy. Besides watching her center of mass to judge where she's going to move next, the Emperor of Muay Thai is also gauging the look in Momoyo's eyes; reading your opponent's mental and emotional state can be a vital clue in the middle of a fight. Are they confident? Anxious? Desperate? Crazy? Furious? More important than those, though - Sagat knows from experience, personally and through facing many opponents, that after unleashing a special assault, the kind of attack that you call a name for when launching it, there's ALWAYS a brief window of opportunity for your opponent to capitalize. And when Momoyo's assault gives way to a guard, he's ready, closing the distance again and kicking, not at her chest - But at her *head*, aiming to smack his heel squarely into her face, hard enough to rock her head back on her neck if it connects squarely. It shouldn't crack her skull or inflict a concussion, but if it lands ... well. If that kick lands, *now* Sagat closes in to take the offense, a swift combo of a punch, a knee strike, an elbow, another punch, and another kick. This is where experience and long training pay off, as he attempts to dismantle Momoyo's defense and land his own series of hits. But it all depends on that first kick, because if Momoyo adjusts quickly enough to block it, Sagat's not going to push for a not-yet-existent advantage. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The gambit works. Momoyo's head is only partly guarded, but the heel knocks her forehead back enough that Sagat's brutal combination lands on her perfectly. For her frame, she was quite bruised all over, her nose and lip busted as he plows into her.     But somehow she wills her hands to move and grasp Sagat's ankle on the final kick as it heads into her mid-se     cxterm93">"Ningen Bakudan..."     There's an explosion strong enough to shatter the ankle of a non-Elite. Buried against her body as his foot was, it clearly hurt her quite a bit more as the flames singed up to his knee, forcing some distance between the two fighters. One of her eyes nearly closed from the repeated hits, her bare midsection was a mess. Regardless of the outcome, she clearly took more damage in that exchange.     "Tch." she spits on the ground, forced to build up distance herself. "Good... Restoration..."     Her spiritual energy glows visibly about her frame, healing all of the wounds very rapidly. With this, it was pointless to rush back in, so she took a ready stance, her hand up as she gestured Sagat back in with a wild grin. "More, Sagat..." Luckily, she wore her emotions on her sleeve at all times. Rather than demoralized or merely angry, she was... ecstatic. Most people had some kind of negative emotion in their matches, but she was genuinely feeling alive, her teeth bared as her hand stood in the air, open palm facing her cheek. "I haven't taken a direct hit in a while, you know? It feels exhilirating..." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "Nnngh .." Sagat wrests his leg back from Momoyo's grasp, and sets his foot back on the ground - carefully at first, a split second to confirm how bad the injury is. Even setting aside being an Elite, the conditioning of his bones applies to *all* of the bones that he uses for striking and guarding - fists and feet, arms and legs alike. "Suicidal, but I suppose it's effective." He trusts his foot again, settling back into his ready stance, considering Momoyo's own stance and status. She took the hits just to capitalize on that opportunity, and she's likely doing more harm to herself than Sagat's own combo did. Even if she can 'regenerate' from injuries inflicted, that HAS to come from somewhere ... which leaves Sagat with roughly two options: make her deplete her own ki, or try to overwhelm her ability to recover. And given that she seems to *like* getting hit and hurt ... "Well," he rumbles. "If you're a ki user ... TIGER!!" He opens his guard for a split second, bringing his arms up with his fists clenched, then 'punching' forward with both arms despite being well out of punching reach at the moment. But then, that's what the wave of ki is for - a Tiger Shot, erupting into existence as the normally-invisible energy leaves his knuckles, a simple ki projectile headed straight at Momoyo's face. If Momoyo thought she could capitalize when he lowered his defense to launch that, it should catch her wide open; either way, Sagat follows his projectile in with a leaping kick. He's not going on an all-out offensive or leaving himself totally unguarded once he lands, but he doesn't intend to give Momoyo a chance to use Restoration again. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      There was that flow of ki. She knew it was in him but not when he'd use it, so watching the move flow through his arms, she kept her guard up. Naturally, the force of that blow singed her wrists and bare arms, but now she was properly on the defensive. She even blocked that leaping kick that came instantly after with a grunt, her impressive strength evident when the man nearly twice her weight crashes into her guard.     "Kawakami-ryu Ougi Ten no Tsui!!" She brings her own vicious axe kick from above out of the guard. On a smaller opponent it would be meant to break the shoulder, but against Sagat it was intended to capitalize on his recovery from the leaping kick. If he had to use his hands to balance coming down from mid-air she could at least tag the huge beast's chest... before stepping in with more vicious punches at his midsection to force him back! "Hahaha! I like how you fight! Fantastic!" she would even rain compliments on her opponent, despite his silence. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Inwardly, Sagat has to approve of how smoothly Momoyo went from defense back to offense - and approves further of being *able* to defend herself against strikes which ought to break through a lesser fighter's guard. Granted, it's not about brute force so much as it is about leverage and timing. And as far as timing goes, Momoyo's transition into that axe kick is impeccable; Sagat takes the hit - without particularly wobbling, but the grimace that crosses his face confirms that he felt it, much as he feels the punches with which Momoyo follows up. He finds a gap in the combo and manages to get his defenses up, smirking a little at the compliment paid to him in the middle of the assault. He's back to not saying much, though, too focused on the practical aspects of the fight. It *is* a good match - Momoyo's giving him a reasonable challenge, even as he keeps gauging her moves and her psychology. Fights are about more than muscle and technique, after all. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Continuing her onslaught as he steps back with his guard up, she jumps into the air, giving an acrobatic flip... and comes down with a punch from above. It'd been a while since her opponent's size matched their endurance for her, and that was one of the rare few times she'd bait him into anything.     "Kawakami-ryu Sasori-uchi!!!"     Her fist comes down at high speed from the sky, aiming for Sagat's head again. While it was a fairly surprising move coming from her sister, the extra height coupled with her strength made it a more devastating move that demanded a response, if risky. It left her quite wide open, but was perfect for a tall fighter intent on staying on the ground. She was getting more confident even as she knew he was studying her. All she had to do was run out the clock on his stamina... against such a larger fighter, her larger hits were too risky until he felt like attacking. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' ... Seriously? "TIGER UPPERCUT!!!" Momoyo goes high and launches a descending attack; Sagat responds by dropping briefly into a crouch and then *rocketing* skywards, fist-first. Given Sagat's superior reach, Momoyo doesn't stand much of a chance - his arms are longer, she's in mid-air at the moment he executes the Tiger Uppercut which gives him an additional advantage in terms of aiming ... Sure, Momoyo's fist MIGHT still hit Sagat's head, but he's anticipating that his blow will land hard enough to take the strength out of her descending punch. And given that this is one of Sagat's own big moves, it may take more than *that* out of her. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "AAAARGGGGH!"     Momoyo is sent flying properly across the arena several feet. Her body bounces once before she rolls on her back, looking much worse for the wear as she's given the ki-powered uppercut. "Nnngh...!" she hops to her feet, breathing heavily... while wounded, she still didn't look /winded/. In response to her opponent probably closing in on her, she had to unleash a move of her own.     "Kawakami Style: Killer Fireflies!!"     She sent small balls everywhere in Sagat's direction, trying to impede his lumbering forward movement. The balls themselves were powerful enough to need to be blocked, but were no stronger than an individual punch of hers. More importantly was how the move kicked up dust the more she sent at him. Even if she had to weave through or block Tiger Shots, it would be much harder to see her as she either forces the fight into the air for obscures Sagat's vision for her superior speed. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat is definitely moving to close in, but not unguardedly; the Killer Fireflies force him to go on the defensive again, although he's studying out the pattern those ki balls come in, if there is one. He's also alert for gaps in the barrage, any opening that he can potentially take advantage of ... But in the meantime, he's largely on the defensive again. So far, his best hits against Momoyo have been when she leaves herself open, while she's too focused on offense to wait for him to give *her* openings. Combine that with her approximate age ... well, he remembers being that young. Brash, cocky, rising through the ranks of the Muay Thai world, certain that nothing and nobody could stop him. He was a grown man when somebody genuinely outmatched him for the first time, and ... he took it badly. Badly enough that he's still making up for it, in many ways. Maybe Momoyo can bring herself to heel if she realizes how vulnerable she is on particular fronts - although she doesn't have the unmatched record of wins that Sagat did, she has the attitude anyway, or something that he thinks is close to it. And in the meantime ... "TIGER!!" He drops into a low, tight crouch and sends another Tiger Shot racing towards Momoyo, maybe a foot above the ground. If Momoyo heard the attack call and expected it at the same height as before, she's in for a surprise; if she catches on that it's coming in low and jumps over it, it should still interrupt the Killer Fireflies. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      At the same time as Sagat's Tiger...     "Kawakami-HAAA!"     She had a projectile of her own to throw.     The benefit was neutral, as she slung her own violet charged beam at Sagat and then crouched to take the brunt of the shot in her knee with her block. She couldn't force her opponent in the air... damn. So, she would have to choose another strategy.     Closing the distance rapidly, she tries to throw more punches from out of the clouds of dust... but instead of continuing her flurry, she quickly jabs both her open palms in... to try and grab Sagat's wrists. "Kawakami Style: Roasted Meat!" It was her idea of a throw to get through Sagat's block, instead frying his limbs to discourage him from blocking. With the edge on her speed and their strength about comparable, she might be able to whittle down that impeccable defense and force him to attack her more often. She had a sinking feeling he was finally adjusting to her chaotic and reckless style though... if she didn't pull out some more tricks, her defenses would eventually be negligible against this Tiger. Everyone else in the Multiverse was nervous being around her, how did this man have such nerves of steel in the face of her talent and savagery!? 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat's defenses come up again, although Momoyo's ki blast rocks him back on his heels even through his block. And while it's not exactly 'as expected,' sure enough, Momoyo comes racing in with another barrage of punches - And tries to grab for his wrists, invoking another technique. Rather than trying to pull his arms away, Sagat attempts to break her grip in a different manner, namely by using Momoyo's grip to spread her arms, and then snapping his leg up in a two-stage kick, leading with the knee before following through with the foot, aiming for her belly and solar plexus in turn - and likely hurling her backwards, whether she lets go of his arms or not. "TIGER KNEE!!!" And if the initial kick doesn't do the trick in either part, he drops into a crouch once more before rocketing up and forwards, accepting whatever damage she does to his arms but *punishing* her with the leaping knee-strike, and - if she's still capable of putting up any measurable resistance - leading out of the Tiger Knee into another elbow strike, this time aimed just below her collarbone. All the while, he's being reasonably careful not to shatter any of her bones. He likely could break something badly enough to lay her up for a while, and if he were letting himself go all-out, odds are he WOULD have busted something in the Kawakami girl's skeleton by this point. Maybe several somethings - and whether the kick he began his counter with broke anything or not mostly depended on how quickly she realized what was happening. Savagery, is it? Sagat's been accused of that before - and the desire to simply overpower Momoyo without any semblance of mercy .... well, it's there. He doesn't like the idea of losing to, or even tying with, a schoolgirl - even one who's this skilled and strong. But he's learned something through his years as a fighter, through experiences both lawful and unlawful. And if Momoyo realizes that she's not going to win this one if he has a say about it, he's going to try and explain it to her. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She has no choice but to cough as she's brutally and adeptly punished again. Knocked on the floor and on her side, she fitfully coughs up blood. "Hmhmhm... heh..." she murmurs after the savage beating. She got what she wanted, but was punished quite a bit in return. Slowly, she shifts back to her feet, staggering as her mouth wipes off her chin. She hadn't had the snot beaten out of her this soundly in... well, ever. The fight wasn't over, but she could tell just looking from his eye... if she tried to use Restoration again, he would simply do whatever it took to end the match right there. Still, it wasn't as if she had a choice. "Kawakami Style, R-"     Her guard was down as she set about trying to regenerate again. If she could just get back on her feet she could easily turn this around... he was getting tired and going more on the offense... but no.     "Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher!!!"     She attempted to bait him into dropping his guard in order to bring out his strongest move... only to violently throw as much of her ki into her return blow as hard as she could. This was the only way she could equalize the match, or even buy enough time to heal. If she didn't throw him on the ground, the truth of the matter was she was finished. No amount of blocking or stamina would stop him from choosing however many of her bones he needed to break to put her down. It was, in a sense, like fighting Ex-Assistant Master Shakadou. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Again, it's not an unguarded offense that Sagat goes for; Momoyo is fast enough to take advantage of those openings, so he has to minimize them. But the Fuji Smasher still catches him by surprise, and the Muay Thai fighter brings his guard up - and yells in pain. Blocking with forearms that are still recently-burned is NOT a terribly smart move; there may be some blood soaking through his wrist wraps, either now or soon thereafter. But for all that Sagat lets out a roar of agony, for all that Momoyo's strike drives him backwards with his heels digging furrows in the ground ... he's still standing. Maybe just barely. But 'just barely' is still enough. Momoyo is practically at his mercy when the ki 'shield' dissipates, and his retaliation is immediate, kicking repeatedly with knees and ankles, aiming for her arms and her ribs until he finally reaches out to grab her by the throat and *lift* her off the ground, never mind how much his hands hurt. The one arguable mercy is that he's not choking her with that hand, but he does drive his knee into her belly and/or solar plexus a couple of times before flinging her away. And if that STILL isn't enough to put Momoyo down for the count or get her to concede ... well, he *is* running out of reserves, but he's not down for the count either. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Damn..." it was almost enough. She nearly turned the match around. Still, even if he was that pissed at her, she was going to force him to have to end the mat     cxterm93">"Kawakami Style: -cough- Restora..." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' She's still trying to recuperate? Sagat is almost tempted to let her - she probably NEEDS to use her healing move now, if she still has the ki to fuel it. "I've heard about some of the fights you've had," Sagat states, wheezing a little - she really DID land some telling hits, and he's going to need medical attention as well, or a protracted rest. "And fighting you myself ... I see a lot of myself in you. A younger me. Brash, headstrong, confident, even arrogant ..." He walks over to where Momoyo is currently sprawled on the ground, wary, but not carrying himself like he means to attack again. "... and severely lacking in discipline," he finishes. "You trust your strength and your speed and your special moves, but you don't read your opponent, you don't anticipate the unexpected well enough to be ready for it. And you go all-out - you unleash your moves without thinking of the cost, trusting that Restoration move to pick up the slack. What does that cost you to use, anyway? How much ki does it take to heal yourself from self-inflicted injuries like that Human Bomb move?" He could crush her. Easily. He could probably kill or cripple her, if he wanted, and it'd be a matter of whether anyone else could stop him. But those are thoughts that Sagat has been distancing himself from for years - and he didn't come here just to fight, or even to fight and win. He came to try and *teach*. And if it took beating Momoyo to a pulp for her to listen to him ... well, hopefully she's still conscious enough to remember what he's saying. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Tesshin calmly walks out of the side of the arena. "The match is over. Sagat wins." the old man declares, despite Momoyo healing her injuries completely. Still, it was easy to see that her spiritual energy was all but spent.     She sits up slowly, getting to her feet... and looking completely fresh. "Heh. Doesn't matter... I had fun." she murmurs. While she could probably still take a punch and was aware enough to fight, she was clearly wobbly, mentally. Most of her bones had been brutalized in those last hits, around her ribs, and she was probably paralyzed before restoring, even.     "Normally, I can restore about thirty times... that technique depends on the user's body, and how much of it I used elsewhere." she admits, grudgingly. It wasn't as if she was teaching the move itself, but not answering her victor would be just plain disrespectful. While others might be upset about her loss, her voice was filled with reverence almost. It was clear, though, given the beating the received, had the match continued to it's logical conclusion, and how much ki she put into the Ningen Bakudan and Fuji Smasher... she would be on the ground again in about five minutes looking just as bad and nothing to heal with. She was wobbly enough for the monks and Ayako to look at, since her mental acuity was nearly all spent, but with how she was half-dead thirty seconds ago, the technique was truly remarkable. While she was proud of her offense, it was clear her more experienced opponents were anxious about her ability to recover.     "Psh, not like you didn't get beat just as badly as I was, there." she points accusingly at Sagat's scar, but after dusting her shredded clothes off, she was an entirely different woman. "We're going to fight again. A fight between you and me can still go either way." she murmurs, the amount of ki she used betrayed by her heavy breathing. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat's expression hardens slightly, and he runs a hand along his scar, remembering the blow that inflicted it. "A reminder of my first loss," he says reflectively. "Once, it was a source of hatred towards the one who gave it to me. Now, it is a reminder of the dangers of my own pride." He looks at his hand and forearm for a moment, grunting .... then steps closer to Momoyo, offering a handshake. "I look forward to our next match. Thank you - you were one of my toughest opponents yet, and a reminder that one never truly *finishes* one's training in the ways of battle." He's not going to be offended if Momoyo doesn't accept his handshake, given the abuse his hands and arms have taken - and *he* doesn't have an instant-heal technique like Momoyo does. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      After Momoyo accepts the handshake with the same reverence she usually gave her grandfather when they weren't discussing fighting, Tesshin starts to discuss Sagat's dinner, room and boarding arrangements off to the side while the monks attend to him.     "Wow..." she murmurs, looking at the bruised and burnt fighter, scarcely able to keep her eyes open while Sagat's third-degree burnt arms and broken ribs from the Fuji Smasher were addressed. "He's... amazing, Wanko..." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      So this was the level that Elites were really on. The sorts that could not only be a match for Kazuko's sister, but outright kill her given the time. The younger Kawakami definitely isn't looking comfortable at all, gritting her teeth while looking over at Tesshin anxiously while waiting for him to stop the match between Momoyo and Sagat. It's only because she knows that he's still watching the fight that she isn't trying to get in there herself, although she's fidgeting quite a bit on Ayako as if she's ready to springboard right off the water spirit if need be.      It's only when Tesshin officially calls an end to the fight that she quite literally leaps out of her seat to check on Momoyo with the other monks. She's not even quite sure what to say after all that, although her posture is somewhat defensive as her gaze turns to Sagat. But if Momoyo's pleased with the fight... Kazuko can't be too mad at him either, right? "Y... Yeah. I saw. Uh..."      She can still be thoroughly lost, at least. 

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''     Ayako uncollapses her broom once Tesshin declares the match to be over. She moves to sit on it and... "Eeep!" Kazuko leapt away really fast! She startles visibly and then blinks her eyes quickly. Once she recovers from that, she sits down on her floating broomstick and floats over to Momoyo, following much more slowly after Kazuko.     Once she makes her way over to Momoyo, she hops off of her broom and snatches the floating broomstick up with her right hand. "Well! That was an interesting fight!" Ayako smiles brightly and then smiles at Momoyo and Sagat. "If I may... I'll care for both of your wounds and exhaustion. It's the least I could do after watching something like that!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat is quite willing to accept the monks' medical attention, and he's clear-headed enough to reply to Tesshin when he mentions matters of hospitality. As for how to pay for those things ... well, Sagat has some money, but if Tesshin would rather, he can also help around the temple. He certainly doesn't intend to be a freeloader for any length of time, and if he can't do anything until he heals, he'll repay his debt. If it's a matter of teaching anything in the dojo ... well, Sagat would be happy to coach other fighters, maybe help them work on their own techniques, but it's going to take a lot for Sagat to train anyone else in his moves. (And some people, like Momoyo, just don't NEED to learn any of his special techniques.) Sagat nods to Ayako, "I could use the assistance, yes. Momoyo's strength is impressive." Of course, that partly depends on the monks making room for Ayako to work. 

}}

3785/Seriously, She's Fighting A Hobo!

2016-02-12T20:08:03Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/09 |Location=Kawakami City |Synopsis=Shin visits Momoyo to spar with her. Momoyo gets increasingly frustrated at the fact that she feels li..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/09
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Shin visits Momoyo to spar with her. Momoyo gets increasingly frustrated at the fact that she feels like Shin is holding back... and then finally relents because of her past experiences with Fate. Calling the match, she invites him to be trained periodically in the Kawakami Style, in order to unlock the rest of his potential. For Shin's part, he showed up mainly to learn and observe rather than win.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=481, 756, 928, 942
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo had been feeling listless since her last public match teamed with her sister. She'd done a good job of avoiding Wanko for this reason until today, but kept tabs on her from afar as usual, with texts and whatnot. Surprisingly doting for how absolutely insane most of those not in the Union had observed of her.     So while the look on her face was sort of bored and restless, she didn't feel like /doing/ anything... until this match. It seemed to perk up her mood considerably looking forward to any sort of match.     She continued to practice forms, tapping on a dummy in the middle of the large arena which had already been prepared for a match beforehand. While not announced to the public at large, random spectators were still allowed to attend... and it seems Momoyo actually had laid out, while not exactly a buffet table, a decent amount of food from the Kawakami Temple cooks. Stuff she might have been bored eating, but that her opponent might want to chew on before the match start. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika has no real knowledge of this Momoyo Kawakami beyond what she skimmed of the reports, regarding that incident with Sanary. The tournament was something of vague interest to the kitsune, though she had no real urge to join in herself. One might feel she's been out of the loop for a while now, being home for the holidays, dealing with affairs there when not catching up with family.     The kitsune removes her cloak and her boots, leaving them with footwear before she enters the dojo proper, finding her way towards where the match is to be held. Perking her eyebrow, Kirika observes Momoyo's form while snagging some noodles to slurp, quiet enough to avoid disturbing the martial artist as she trains. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Okay, so the phone says it's twenty-five hundred yen. Where's the option to tip?"     Shin is looking at his phone as another man does as well, standing next to an idling car, "Oh, you don't tip Uber drivers. That's Lyft."     "Whaaaaat? That makes no sense."     "Well we make more per fare, so it balances out." The driver explains as Shin closes his phone.     "Oh, alright. Well, later, man."     With a slightly tired yawn, Shin waves to the driver, who gets in his car and heads off. The wandering martial artist rubs the back of his head and then adjusts his tie and sunglasses. He easily jogs the distance between his dropoff point and the location he's actually going to be fighting.     When he does arive, he lazily waves a hand to Momoyo, "Yooooo. I've seen you fight and you're probably way outside of my weight class, but here I am. As requested." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Just because Momoyo has been avoiding Kazuko doesn't mean she can hide forever! Kazuko's a stubborn one, and with her wounds from her last match healed enough, she's diligently keeping an eye on the observers from within their numbers rather than joining the temple staff. It's still a little uncomfortable going near them more than necessary, but at least this will have to do.      Tellingly, though, she almost seems to be trying to hide her presence today with a hoodie obscuring her head partially. Not that it really helps to hide her face or her aura from anyone who's paying attention, but... Maybe it'll help her blend in a little more.      Probably not. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo tosses her hair a bit, setting her hand on her hip. "There's some more crepes on the table, if you want." she yells to her opponent. Seems she remembered quite a bit about Shin from the various times he was in the stands. Her sharp, red eyes though... she continued to watch him carefully. Her characteristic mild smirk returns as she folds her arms, already standing in the middle of the large arena.     "Take as much time as you want to eat. I invited you, so we're a hospitable dojo. And don't be dumb, I've been looking forward to fighting you for months now, Shin. But, I've got a question before we begin." she asks, tilting her head a little.     "Since Kenji won't tell me, is there any particular reason you know of that he'd consider it a personal favor if I beat your face in?" It was a challenging, confrontational question, but she was still more curious than hostile toward the Karate Master. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, I don't eat before fights. Makes you pukey and can give you cramps," Shin lifts a hand up and waves it a couple times before he sighs faintly when her red eyes watch him carefully. He carefully pulls off his sunglasses, revealing that heterochromatic red-yellow gaze of his as he puts them in his jacket pocket.     "Oh that guy?" Shin considers it, even as he then takes off the suit jacket and neatly folds it, setting it down on one of the tables. His tie is removed next, folded, and put on top of the jacket, "Normally, I'm all about keeping peoples dramatic secrets, but he kinda acts like a douche to me, so sure. I'll spill."     Shin unbuttons the cuffs of his dress shirt and starts rolling up his sleeves, "Allenby Beardsley. He has a crush on her. I kinda dig her too, so I marked her down in my little book as a potential love interest for later, but we generally just bum around and have fun," Shin rubs the back of his head as he finishes rolling up one sleeve and starts on the other, "I guess he doesn't like that, so one day he declared himself my rival and started acting, well. Typical teenage drama, I guess," He waves his free hand vaguely.     "It's not really a mutual thing. He gets all riled up at me, I mostly just let it happen since I guess he's desperate for someone to benchmark against. I'm his rival, but he's not mine. THAT person is probably Madeline Vance or Shizune Nakamura."     "SO. All told, you're probably gonna actually beat my face in pretty hard, not gonna lie," He muses, flexing his hands a bit as he walks over to her, "Most girls I fight do. Dames are crazy strong around the Multiverse. BUT. I've seen you fight a couple times now, so I'm at least going to try to make it interesting by using a tactic I hope you haven't seen before." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Putting her fingers to pinch the bridge of her nose lightly, her shoulders shake a bit. "Hmhmhm~" she chuckled. The explanation couldn't really make it more hilarious. "Don't sell yourself short, Shin. I can tell you're a bit of a smooth talker... you were definitely going to get that girl at least once before Kenji ever got her completely. But I think you can tell I'm not exactly a stranger to 'the world of men' that most girls talk way too much about behind your backs. You don't need to flatter me."     "I'll have to tease Kenji when he's done looking for whatever it is he's looking for right now. I'm a little disappointed that's all it was, but even other girls are interesting when the men are boring..." she claps her hands together, clad in the Kawakami Dojo's characteristic white gi. Giving the customary signal it was alright to begin the match, her form tensed even more now... and if there were any openings in her defense earlier, they were gone now as her hand comes up in the air in front of her. Any depression and introspection she had been suffering from the past week instantly vanished.     "I respect guys who can keep up with me in one form or another, Shin. Don't try to flatter me by selling yourself short, come at me like you mean it. I'm betting you'll be pretty interesting after all... and maybe even see why Kenji's being an idiot over a little smooching." she grins, standing about thirty feet away from Shin on the hard-packed massive dirt field. For whatever reason, she didn't approach first like the other matches, as the way she was reading Shin's body language seemed to imply he had more pent-up energy than he let on... 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko keeps her movements strategic even as she loiters around the food table, snagging this and that while trying not to stray too close to where Shin is. It'd be weird if that conversation between the two fighters led Momoyo's sight to her, after all, and it's not like she /needs/ those crepes right now.      Even if they look really good. And smell really good. And she hasn't had crepes in a while. She'd have her chance soon enough, though.      For now... Kazuko's intent on just observing and listening. She does look a little confused at the reasoning behind the match, though. "Romantic stuff's too weird..." She mutters to herself before finally finding an opportunity to snag a crepe before retreating to where Kirika is watching. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     The first comment gets a laugh out of Shin, "Hah. I'm not that kind of guy, really. As a protagonist, I tend to hold myself to a higher standard. I'm not in it to just 'get with' girls. That's scumlord behavior. Allenby's actually my best friend, so if Kenji makes her happy," Shin shrugs a bit, "So don't get the wrong impression there."     Still, she claps her hands together and takes a stance. That signals to Shin that it's time to fight, or at least get ready to start. He takes a slow breath and restrains his own natural urge to charge into combat headlong. His strategy for Momoyo is different from how he normally fights, so it takes a lot of his focus to stay in the mindset.     His stance isn't an aggressive one, though. Instead, when he finally takes a martial arts form fully, it's almost passive in its nature. That heterochromatic gaze watches her like a hawk as his left foot slides backwards, resting behind him and letting him put more weight on the right one. His hands are kept at waist level and forward, open and relaxed as if challenging her to come in against him.     He grins, "I try to give everyone a good fight, even when I lose. So let's see what you've got." He challenges, not wanting to be the one to make the first move. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      For the first fifteen minutes of the match, the tension is thick. Both were ready to fight and the monks made the relevant preparations in the background to minimize the amount of collateral damage. Even the food table was moved, but plenty of it was given to Kazuko. It would have to be kept warm for after the match.     "I've had best friends unexpectedly ask me to be their girlfriend before, Shin. I can see why he's worried... that just makes your reply even funnier. I wonder what that girl is like." she teases. It wasn't /meant/ as a taunt or psychological banter, she was a bit too straightforward for that. She also filed away the other names Shin mentioned... she'd have to hunt them down as well if they didn't challenge her first.     In spite of that comment in the middle of the fifteen minute gap, she stared down Shin's eyes. Shin had the pleasure of watching her first, but Momoyo hadn't learned a thing about her opponent prior. So for a long while other than the last few comments, she stood stock-still, looking over Shin's eyes slowly. Each fighter could tell plenty about the other from where they looked, after all.     Right when Shin would be about to get tired and make a comment or make an impatient first move... Momoyo steps forward first. It was a slow stroll, but given her previous matches, it may as well have been like she was still standing a distance away. She gradually closed the distance, her eye's on Shin's... but the first exchange that would set the tone for the match was about to begin. Eventually, she would get within arms' length, her arms barely twitching as if she were going to attack... and then stopped.     Once the tension broke, the brawl would be an unstoppable spectacle, at this rate. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     For the kind of guy he is in casual conversation, Shin proves to be a remarkably patient martial artist. He doesn't show much sign of impatience or over-aggression as he faces off against Momoyo, watching her carefully. It's not a bad sight to have to stare at for fifteen minutes anyway.     "The potential's there, but that's down the road," Shin comments simply, keeping his eyes set upon her. He keeps his breathing slow and steady, "Point is, I'm just not as competitive over the topic as he is, I suppose," Shin adds mildly, occasionally flexing his fingers to keep his hands loose in his stance.     When she starts to move towards him, he carefully steps in towards her as well, making sure to never take a step so large as to prevent him from immediately retaking that balanced stance he was in at the start of the match. The tension is there, and thick in the air, but he mentally refuses to flinch and act rashly.     Momoyo wasn't the average goon he went up against in Syndicate missions, and he was treating this a bit more like a tournament match than he treats his average fights. When she arrives at arms length, Shin moves no further. He's waiting for the moment she opens up and tries to take a swing at him.     He still manages to crack a grin at her, "I dig the gi. I used to wear one, but I switched to leisure suits because they're cheaper, have about as much movement, and never go out of style." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Her arm winds back, the movement that Shin likely expected for her usual test of her opponent. In the blink of an eye, she goes through the wind-up and into the movement.     "Kawakami-ryu Musou Seikenzuki..."     Her fist comes forward, but halfway through the movement, her other arm moves as well rather than remaining clenched at her waist! "...Midareuchi!!!"     She started with her singular straight punch, but Shin deserved a better test than the usual. So she followed up with the other twenty-three near-simultaneous blows, in order to test his defense viciously unless he could stop her fist during one of the punches. Naturally, given the force of each punch, they all nearly sounded like artillery mortar-fire.     "Neither do pleated skirts. You should try them sometime!" she replies between attacks, right before the returned action. Already she was having fun! 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     And that's when Shin reveals the secret of his stance. While he's normally a hybridized fighter by nature, today he's opted to use a single style against Momoyo after seeing her overwhelming offensive capabilities in two separate fighters. So as the fist slides in towards him, he focuses in and shifts his weight, moving it from his front foot to his backfoot without actually leaning away from her.     Those relaxed hands come up and his body weaves to the side a bit. There's almost no word from him due to the focus it takes to track her hand in motion. At least one strike glances his ribs, doing some decent damage even with the partial hit. But eventually, both hands dart upwards in a flash. He's trying to grab her by the wrist and by the middle of her arm.     If he can get ahold, he steps in and hooks a foot under hers, twisting his hips and trying to use the remaining momentum of her combo to transfer into his maneuver and throw her hard against the floor of the arena. Whether she actually goes sprawling or manages to recover from his powerful reversal of her momentum, he hops back a couple steps and brings his hands up, once more taking his stance.     The cat's out of the bag, so to speak. Shin is going to try to counter Momoyo's raw power with Aikido rather than try to match it, because he can't equally match that power.     He does, after a couple moments to catch his breath, say, "Nah. Though I wouldn't complain if you put on a skirt." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Letting out a grunt as her arm is caught, she only manages to get off maybe a half-dozen of her technique before being thrown. "!!!"     She's been thrown before, and what's more, had actually been knocked around by someone focused on countering her attacks recently. As she's in the middle of her technique, she didn't get to react with any fancy tricks. It was all she could do to smash her elbows into the ground after being thrown on her back, and use the momentum to bounce back on her feet in a ready stance.     "Tch! Alright, /now/ I'm interested!" she grins gleefully. She wasn't used to being countered with her opening manuever, most people simply took a defensive stance and prayed they could take it. Those that did were usually knocked back several feet.     She had misread Shin completely. What was coming natural to him wasn't what he was doing now. This suddenly turned less into a show of unstoppable force against an immovable object and more of a chess match. "You wouldn't get to see much even if I did... unless I like you."     "Kawakami Style: Diversion!"     There was a blinding blast of light as she fired a technique toward Shin, which wasn't entirely obvious what it was... but then she stepped /through/ her own technique to try and grab his wrists in return! "Snowman!!" and thusly, tried to freeze his arms next to make it harder to block or grasp her. He'd be able to quickly counter the hold of the attack of course, but if she could make contact with his body when he thought a short range projectile was coming... 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Told you I'd try to be interesting," He shoots back, smiling widely as she recovers and hops back onto her feet, "I made sure to brush up on it, just for you~," His footing shifts again and he hops up and down gently, trying to keep himself loose and limber, "It's not all I've got, but hey."     The pithy comment about him not seeing much unless she liked him does get him to grin a bit wider, "See, I like your moxie. Makes this fun," He muses, stepping back a bit to try to avoid the projectile maneuver that she sends flying towards him, thinking it's an energy blast meant to hit him at long range.     This means he's wide open when she grabs his wrists and starts trying to freeze his arms. He lets out a hiss of pain as she makes contact and begins freezing him. With his arms grabbed, he does try a wild and slightly unpredictable counter, switching up his style once more.     The technique is a headbutt, seeing him lunge in towards her while she grips him and slam his head squarely towards the bridge of her nose in an attempt to drive her back and away from him so his arms can get some time to defrost. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She grunts a bit from the hit, shaking her head. A concussion was a split-second of course, but still troublesome to deal with blocks of ice frozen on one's forearms up to the wrists and elbows.     "I don't think you're even here to win... you're having fun and learning too." she quips, rather than complaining about the blow to her nose. Still, she kept up her barrage... while his arms were frozen, she didn't need to attack with anything fancy. Blocking with hands going numb was going to be a problem, let alone performing any holds reliably. So she continues a flurry of blows until his arms warm up again, punching just to pummel his chest and wear him down, and aiming hard tae kwon do kicks at his midsection and sides.     "...What's the matter? Use your ki and deal with it!" That really did start to bother her, he was brimming with as much or more energy than she was... and he hadn't yet used an ounce. He was too preoccupied with watching her and not enough with attacking back and it was starting to annoy her as she noticed it more. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Fine, fine!" Shin says as she goads him about his Ki, "Sheesh, so demanding!" He sing-songs. He hops back a couple steps and tries to keep evading her punches as best he can. She does manage to land some good hits, cracking a rib and knocking the wind out of him as he tries to focus.     But then there's a flash of red under his feet and he hops back farther than usual. The ice on his arms also begins to crack and fall off in sheets as he starts to focus his internal energy and pushes it into his arms to free them up again. As he lands from his backwards hop, his feet skid against the ground.     Anticipating that Momoyo will keep coming after him, Shin coils his hand back as he lands and then slams his palm into the ground, "Power! GEYSER!" He cries, causing an eruption of energy right in front of him to try to intercept where he estimate Momoyo will come at him from.     "It just tires me out of I use this stuff too much! I thought a girl like you would appreciate a stamina-oriented approach more." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko's watching the match earnestly, no longer eating anything with her gaze so focused on the two in the middle of the ring. She's still careful to keep herself partially obscured behind some of the larger observers, although she does cross her arms as it becomes more obvious that Shin is holding something back. She can easily tell that Momoyo's getting irritated, but...      Any fears of her sister going berserk are relieved once Shin finally lets loose with that burst of energy. Now things are really starting to get moving, and she can finally relax! Sort of. She's still keeping an eye out for any debris coming towards the audience, at least. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Guh!" she crosses her arms, having to block a chunk of the ki blast herself rather than continue to follow him. "Hah... you can try to flirt all you want, Shin. But we both know if you stand around all day observing me I'll grind you into the dust. I'm just going to outlast you if you keep this up. You have to be able to use your ki like an extension of your own body." she mutters, noting the bruise and cracked rib she's caused. Still, now his arms aren't going to be numb so other than the inflammation the monks would have to take care of after the match, he was ready again.     "Kawakami Style: Killer Fireflies!!!"     She started spewing small balls of energy at Shin, an interesting technique in and of itself in that each ball was dangerous enough to force the opponent to block or dodge, but otherwise it just created a bunch of smoke, making it harder to see where she would choose to go next. Her fingers continued in a blur, barraging him at a range to force him to react. It started to dawn on her that he wasn't kidding... she might actually have to hold back. It didn't bother her, but she still had an uneasy feeling he was just observing her. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "I really think you're overestimating my fighting potential here," Shin remarks, bringing his arms up again and focus on the fight once again, "I mean, the vote of confidence is appreciated and all, but I'm giving you all I've got right now," He replies honestly, seeming pretty honest about his potential.     Rather than block or dodge, he chooses to graze. He charges in towards her at full bore, diving right into the incoming barrage of energy pellets as he tries to close the distance between them. It's dangerous, especially since the ones he can't narrowly weave through strike him and leave clear bruises and abrasions from their contact.     Planting a foot firmly on the ground when he closes in, he lunges in towards her with a shoulder, "Tetsuzankou!" He shouts, trying to collide with that shoulder. At the moment of impact, if it hits, it releases a burst of ki to increase its striking power and try to send her driving backwards. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Leaning into the strike, she grunts as she's hit... because she let it happen. She wanted to test and see what he was doing. She's knocked back a few steps, but.     "Tch. I heard you were stronger. /I can see you're stronger than this!/" She's visibly frustrated, waiting for his next attack... but.     She finally hops backward. "Stop the match. I said, stop!" She said that as much to the monks around the arena as Shin himself. Her hand holds up, as she looks the other fighter down. "You can't go on. You're right, you're not ready yet. You've got a ton of potential, and no one on the radio lied about your skill. You have the potential to be stronger than me. But..." she folds her arms, muttering under her breath. "If I get serious, you'll be too wounded to work. You're always dirt poor like I am, right?" she looks at Shin, seriously. Visibly frustrated, but... it seems her recent conversation with Fate had a certain effect on her even. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     Shin stops as soon as the fight ends, his stance switching to a more relaxed one as he watches her. His eyes switch to a more half-lidded sort of look as he keeps his gaze upon her. He lets his hands fall to the pockets of his dress pants and he answers her honestly, "People say I'm strong because I do strong things. People don't say I'm powerful, because I'm not yet. There's a difference."     He rolls his shoulders a bit, working out some stiffness before calmly taking his hands out of his pockets and beginning to roll down his sleeves. He doesn't seem upset or disappointed that the match has been called, nor in relation to the reason. Rather, he smiles at her, "I lose a lot. The reason people will tell you I'm strong is that I fight even when I know I'm going to lose. That Lezard guy gave me the Hero of Fists title not because I beat him, but because despite losing I refused to stay on the ground. And because I waded into an army I couldn't defeat to hold him off."     As he finishes unrolling and re-buttoning his sleeve, he looks over at Momoyo, "I'm homeless, yeah. Or well, I crash in hotel rooms and stuff and do odd jobs for money for the Syndicate. I'm not homeless any more, but it's not a nine to five."     "It was fun, though. I was way out of my league here, but I still had fun with this tussle. I hope you're right and I'm some day strong enough to really challenge you." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko's not sure what to think of this development. On one hand, she really was hoping for a bigger fight. On the other hand, after what happened to Momoyo the last time she went overboard? She'd much rather have the fight end disappointingly than go through that again. With the immediate threat of audience injuries ended, however, Kazuko relaxes again and munches on some more food. It's still there, after all! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo studies Shin for a moment. But rather than let him turn and go to the buffet table or go straight to the monks to have his rib addressed, she holds up her hand. "Wait."     "Shin... you've got a ton of natural talent. You don't have to stay here for a super long time, but I'd be happy to see you come back... as a student. Instead of just an opponent." She walks in close, swatting his shoulder and rubbing it lightly... on the side opposite the one she hit.     "You can mouth off to me all you want, but. What I'm saying is... don't just show up as a tourist. Study in this dojo for a while. You're the opposite of my little sister, you both could learn from each other a ton." she tilts her head. "She's all hard work and doesn't have the talent you do... and you're just like Kenji. You two don't have any discipline. You could be really strong contenders... and even protect yourselves and others better in the Multiverse. But you guys would have to train here and probably even join my group of friends, the Kazama Family." she continues to speak from her heart, honestly, looking the young guy in the eyes. "Seriously... you're not the only one I need to ask this of. But you're one of the people who could benefit from hanging around Kawakami City a while. Besides, we can even let you board here for a short while, free food and drink... and I know you were here to learn today, not prove yourself."     "So... what do you say?" 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     Shin tilts his head a bit and watches Momoyo, "My talent isn't all-natural. I've spent ninteen years training, fifteen of them under a Master of a single style. I AM on a quest to learn as many different martial arts as I can, that's why I do... this." He waves around as if to indicate that he's telling her why he travels and lives as a vagrant.     "So don't think I'm not refined. Or mistake my casual demeanor for a lack of discipline. I chose a very specific life because it's who I am and it shapes who I want to be in the future," He doesn't seem insulted by her words, just more like he's clarifying who he is and why he lives how he does, "You know, just so you don't get the wrong impression here."     He shuts his eyes briefly and seems to think, "You make a tempting offer, though. Partially since I like you so much. I'm not against studying here, or stopping by regularly to learn stuff. But I doubt I'd board here, even if we wound up good friends, you and I." He admits to her, "Because you're right, I was here to learn. But that's because I try to learn from every fight."     "So I guess my answer is 'sorta-yes'. I'll study here part-time, hang around and all, but I doubt I'll ever stay around TOO long, since the whole Multiverse has things I need to learn from if I ever wanna go back to my original Master."     He pauses, "Muuuuh..." He grumbles and then taps the toe of his shoe on the ground behind him, "I hate when people make me be all serious and heartfelt. I like it more when I can act how I usually do." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo chuckles softly herself with a wry smile. "I think you'll learn plenty from my grandpa. And even if I tried to stop you... you'd watch me enough times to pick up bits and pieces of the Kawakami Style." she replies. "I can work on your overall stamina a bit... but I already have a friend like you named Shouichi Kazama. Naieve adventurer sorta. He never runs out of energy and can even keep up with me."     "Wanko, come out of the stands and say hello to our new part-time student. I'm gonna train him like I'm training Yang and you're helping Mairead." she calls out, having noticed her little sister the whole time. The monks come in of course with ointments and splints, performing first aid on Shin beneath his shirt while they chat. "You don't have to think about it long... and I need to start wandering like you do anyway myself. I wanna find stronger opponents to fight... and since you're a martial artist you know how it is. Seeing other strong people fight makes us wanna fight too."     She tilts her head wryly. "Besides, if Kenji shows up while you're here it'll piss him off and I know you'll enjoy that. I need to train you two side by side... you could really use it." she rubs the back of her neck. "But seriously... you've seen enough of my style by now that I think you'd have fun working odd jobs in this city with me while we spar. I won't go all-out on you until you tell me to." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko flinches when Momoyo calls out to her. Was her disguise seen through that easily?! Defeated, the younger Kawakami hurries over to where her sister and Shin are waiting, keeping her hood up the whole time as she lowers her voice to a raspier tone.      "Misterrr Tokuyama. It's been a long time, hassssn't it?" She waits until she's close enough to them before holding the edges of her head, then performing a DRAMATIC UNHOODING. Sure, it'd probably be a lot more dramatic if it obscured any part of her face, but then it'd just get in the way and not be practical at all. "You shall know me assss..."      And as quickly as she put on... Whatever type of act that was supposed to be, she drops it almost immediately. "Hi! I'm Kazuko Kawakami. You're gonna be joining us for training, then? You'd better be ready, 'cause I'll work you to the bone!" The raspy tone from earlier is still infecting her voice a bit, but she does have a friendly (if somewhat distracted) grin on. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Hah, you're an interesting lady," Shin says, slipping back into his more aloof persona that's a bit less honest and open, "You may not read me half as well as you think you do, but that's okay. Any good protagonist is supposed to keep surprises for the people in his life," Shin replies to Momoyo with a bit of amusement to his voice as he adjusts the sleeves of his shirt and tidies himself up a bit, "Means I can surprise you later when you learn a bit more about me."     Shin watches the approach of Kazuko. He'd met her once on radio, so he's curious to see her in person. When she approaches him and introduces herself, he is fully back into his aloof attitude, "Oh okay, cool. So we're gonna be doing the training buddies dynamic. I'll put that in my book later next to your name." He gives her a double thumbs up and a grin in return for her greeting.     "Your sister will probably be marked as like..." He considers it, "Optional Boss-slash-Hidden-Romance-Option or something," He notes, looking longingly towards his suit coat where he keeps the book with all these names and roles for people, "But yeah, sure. This all sounds pretty alright with me." 

}}

3762/Seriously, Knight+Mage vs. Martial Artists!

2016-02-04T05:49:10Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/03 |Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy |Synopsis=Momoyo and Kazuko challenge Kyra Hyral and Nero during a long overdue rematch ov..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/03
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Momoyo and Kazuko challenge Kyra Hyral and Nero during a long overdue rematch over a high school tiff on the radio. Unfortunately, Momoyo didn't arrive for settling a score but drops a bomb: Win this match or never accomplish your dream, Kazuko. The results are inevitably explosive, but heartbreaking...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=180, 626, 880, 928, 942
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Coming into the arena where she was scheduled to meet Kyra and Nero, the Northern Deva is back after a week long hiatus. Rolling her neck a bit, the most apparent thing when she wanders into the arena is that she's already setting her energetic little sister on edge... her face was clouded with absolute murder. The laid-back woman who liked to test her opponents and take her time in her vicious brawls was gone... for some nerve-wracking reason she was ready to pound her opponent into dust and was not very patient at all.     Little did anyone know, as she dusted off her chipmunk shirt and tapped on the console to configure the Ring, that it had little to nothing to do with her opponents' mouthing off directly. Her obvious low anger as if coals raked near a fire was present well before ever setting eyes on Nero. "Wanko. Are you ready?" 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko's looking fighting fit today! Well, physically. She's got her yellow track jacket on, her training weights are on, her naginata's off to the side of the arena, and she's not injured in any foreseeable way! Mentally, though, she's looking just a mite intimidated even as she gives her sister something resembling a shoulder-massage.      She's also looking somewhat excited at the same time. It's been a while since she's seen her sister in this state, so the fight's sure to be an exciting one at this rate. "Mhm! It's been a while since we actually fought together like this..." Surely that's the only reason Momoyo's that fired up, right? 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     Kyra was actually not looking too forward to this but her, and Nero's, honor was on the line. She would face this challenge unflinchingly and fight on her own terms, unleashing all of her tricks and items to get the edge she assumes she's going to need for this fight. Sure, she's heard that Momoyo has had some kind of drama with the TSAB recently but she's not going to assume that'll stop the rather crazy-seeming fighter.     Kyra arrives, already removing her hoodie as she steps into the arena, neatly folding it and leaving it on a seat. With it off, both opponents can see her guns (she has three-two handgun-looking deals and a rifle hanging from a strap) plus the bandoliers stocked with vials and syringes hanging from either shoulder. She wears fingerless gloves on each hand with the left covered in some strange circular thing on the back of her palm. Normally she would have belts and pouches at her waist but both of them are absent, except for one used to hold the holster to one of her handguns. The other handgun is held in an under-arm holster beneath her left armpit.     "Okay." she says, voice devoid of amusement. "I'm here." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      It's been awfully busy lately. Ever since this Four Heavenly Kings business started up, it's been challenge after challenge, and there was suddenly a lot more fighting in Nero's technical unlife. How was an artist supposed to wow the world with her brilliant creations, when she was off swinging a sword every other day!      Nonetheless, the Roman Emperor had her pride, and she would defend it. As such, once Kyra had stepped into the arena, geared up for war, Nero materialized right next to the White Mage. As usual, she wore her typical regal, red combat dress, arms crossed and a smirk upon her face.      "Lady Kawakami." The Servant greeted, eyeing Momoyo and taking stock of her murderous expression. And then her gaze swept over to Kazuko. "And Lady Kawakami the second, I presume." There was a second's pause as she looked over the redhead, a hand pressed to her chin in a contemplative manner. And after several moments, Nero nodded. "I see! So this is your sister, harm? I am pleased!" Pleased by what exactly?      Nero turned her attention to Kyra next. "Praetor, we shall come out of this bout the victors this time! Have no fear!" Someone was confident. And then with a flourish of the arm, Aestus Estus was materialized into Nero's grasp.      There was a swing, and then a twist as the blade was embedded into the ground, her hands resting atop the pommel.      "Now then, when you are both ready, we shall begin." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shakes her head to Nero. "A moment." she replies, but her voice had none of the bemused mutual smirk she and Nero usually shared when facing off. Her voice softened a bit, but she was still firm to her sister. "Wanko. Get your naginata. Now. Make sure it's the bladed one like I told you."     "Then, come to the center and state your name and dream."     She wasn't playing. There was a point to this, but she'd only hinted at it to Nero. Momoyo, of course, wore her emotions on her sleeve, so... only the knight had any inkling as to why Momoyo's hostility was overreacting to Nero and Kyra both. This wasn't the fun, sarcastic brawl they had agreed to initially, anymore. Even her eyes swept over Kyra's, glaring as she waited for Kazuko to properly introduce herself and her reason for being with Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko blinks slowly as Kyra arrives, a confident (yet cheerful) grin offered to her opponent. Her attention is quickly drawn to the hoodie even as it's taken off, that brief glimpse enough to draw a quiet excited noise from the girl. "Cute...!" Even if she's looking rather intense, that doesn't mean Kazuko can't try to keep things friendly enough. Both Kyra and Nero get friendly waves from the smaller sister. "Hi, Miss Kyra! Hi, Miss Nero!"      She's about ready to step into the ring, but pauses when Momoyo gives her that instruction. "Not the...? Oh! Right. The Ring... Got it!" Although she looks confused at first, it quickly fades, and Kazuko gives her sister a quick nod before darting off to retrieve said naginata. It looks almost like the one resting at edge of the ring, but the blade is actually... Well, a blade. Well-crafted, actually sharp, the whole nine yards. Once she makes it into the ring proper, Kazuko clears her throat before speaking loudly and clearly.      "My name is Kazuko Kawakami! My dream is to become an assistant master at the Kawakami Temple to support my sister, Momoyo Kawakami, and everyone else at the Temple!" 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     Wow, the difference between the two was night and day. Kazuko was super friendly, Momoyo was oddly /murderous/ today. Kyra's never seen her act like this before and it was kind of worrisome, "...shit, are you still that pissed off about the healing thing? Get over it, it's not like dying was /permanent/ in that dungeon."     She walks to the ring with Nero, throwing her a grin, "I have every expectation that we will triumph, Nero. How can we not? /You/ are here, after all, and with my support there will be nothing you can't do."     Kyra swings her rifle around to her front and idily starts loading it with darts. "Hello Kazuko, I didn't know Momoyo had a sister. It's nice to meet you, Kazuko, even if we'll be hurting each other pretty badly in the next few seconds." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "Mhmhmhm! You know well, Praetor!" Soaking up Kyra's praise like a plant soaks up sunlight, Nero beamed and looked ahead, meeting Kazuko's eyes and hearing her greeting. "I shall look forward to redeeming myself in this battle!"      And then Momoyo tells her sister to get a different weapon and state her name and aspirations. Odd. Why do that now? Nonetheless, it is heard and and understood. But there was something off about this situation that the Servant couldn't help but notice.      Was she wearing weights? Was she looking to be cut down from the start? Or was she simply /that/ impressive? Now she was curious.      There is a nod, but Nero does not budge. She waits for the sign that the fight is going to begin. She hasn't gotten that sign yet. 

:'''{{#var:180|Taylita (180)}} has posed:'''      Taylita was really hoping to get -in- a fight, not get -to watch- a fight, but as she hears about what is happenin in the Ring she rushes there anyway. When she arrives, she is still in her mechanic gear. She bursts through the door of the Ring of Philosophy, then awws audibly as she sees fighting is already getting underway. Still, watching a fight can be good, too.      The red-haired saiyan makes her way over to where other spectators have gathered, then leans against a nearby wall. Her tail swishes back and forth anxiously as she waits for the combat to begin. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo waits for Kazuko to introduce herself formally, to the opponent and the gathered audience. She tilts her chin up, as much speaking to Nero and Kyra as announcing it to the spectators as well. "I am Momoyo Kawakami, Goddess of Martial Arts, the Northern Deva of The Multiversal Big Four. I am the candidate for the representative of the Kawakami-ryu Dojo when Tesshin Kawakami retires!" She cuts the air with her hand behind Kazuko.     "To become Assistant Master of the Kawakami Dojo is an elite position. Only the best and most talented reach that position. It's not simply a matter of hard work. Being a daughter of the Kawakami Temple confers no benefits! We are professionals with a long, illustrious history!" she declares, seething, but her voice remains steady until the brief pause.      "Emperor Nero Claudius. You are the Southern Deva for a reason. You know your Praetor needs to be tested in battle as well, in battles where her life is at stake. There is more at stake here than Kazuko's life!" She puts her hand on Kazuko's head, looking down at the ground a moment while she speaks. "Kazuko... will not fight me seriously if I test her, Nero. Normally this test would be done... by attempting to hit me or force me to block. This is her. One! And Only! test of martial arts, to see if she is talented enough to train to become an Assistant Master!"     She raises her head again. "You are the only one I trust to test my younger sister, Southern Deva! Your Praetor fights to support you like Kazuko wants to support me. That is why this test is appropriate! I respect you, and you have always fought me like I requested... so now I ask you, Nero. With your Praetor's support, fight us like you're going to kill us!!! If she doesn't win, the dream of an adopted orphan for the past ten years of gruelling training ends here!!!"     "I ask you. One more time. Do you accept this responsibility!?" Her emotions were only roiling forth further. Rather than mere aura, her ki was beginning to seep out visibly... as cold blooded murder seeped from her berserk eyes at the blonde. It was the only way she could keep from crying or getting sad. The other fighter... could likely clue in that this was the only way she could hide how she suspected this fight was going to go.      This was Momoyo's way of pleading with Nero and Kyra. The sparring match... had turned into something else entirely. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      It did seem a little odd that Momoyo had asked her do this. But... Kazuko hasn't really introduced herself with her aspirations formally yet, has she? Still grinning at Kyra and Nero, the younger sibling rests the polearm against her shoulder and rests her free hand on her hip. "Nice to meet you, too! This should be a good fight. Once we're done here, you want-... Uh?"      Quieting down as Momoyo starts to speak, she leans at her sister's hand while listening intently. A look of genuine surprise crosses her face once the reason behind this whole thing is made clear, though, and she looks back towards her opponents again.      The one that fought her sister to a draw. The one supporting that fighter. This was why Momoyo wanted her support in this fight. This test would be her best opportunity to prove herself. That confidence in Kazuko's eyes never wavers even though the grin disappears, and she wastes little time in removing the training weights from her wrists and ankles, then setting them at the side of the ring.      All that's left to do is wait for their response. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "Whoah whoah whoah." Kyra starts waving her hands. "Wait a second, wait just one damn second. Are you telling me this fight is just something to vet your sister against for your ridiculous dojo standards? Really? No, no Momoyo, I'm calling you to the carpet for that shitty behavior of yours towards me, and I'm doing it /right now/. I will not be a pushover for some knuckle-brained monk types and I will /not/ be used as some kind of sharpening tool for your sister's claws!"     Furious, Kyra holds a hand out towards Nero and murmurs, first dropping a damage-reducing Protect spell on her Servant. She follows that up with a spell called Bravery, which increases attack damage. Then, after that, she casts Blink, an evasion-increasing spell that makes the target flicker in and out of existance.     She places a hand to her chest and murmurs even more words of incantation, ending in "Stoneskin." Her already pale skin seems to flicker even paler for a brief moment, taking on the look of chiseled marble.     "Come on." she growls angrily. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "......"      Nero closed her eyes, calmly thinking on Momoyo's words, even as Kyra exploded beside her. Another simple battle made complicated by the machinations and emotions of the human condition. She would have sighed, but...no, this was fine. This would do for now.      "Very well, Lady Kawakami." The Roman Emperor opened her eyes slowly, leveling a gaze at Momoyo, and then Kazuko. "When such intent is expressed with that level of meaning, it surely would be remiss of me to refuse this request."      Finally, Nero's hands left the pommel of her blade, gripping the handle and removing it from the ground. "However, it seems that my Praetor has other ideas." She smirked as Kyra's empowering spells cascaded over her. "I will test your sister, as you request. But it seems that my Praetor still has business with you."      This sounds like a bad idea. Facing Kazuko, and leaving Kyra with Momoyo, that was. But things would work out. If the Emperor willed it, then that would be the case. "And now. With our destinies decided...!" The Servant spread her stance, and gathered Prana into her body. Streams of blueish white magic particles permeated through the air rapidly, before vanishing into Nero.      And with a stomp to the ground, she launched forward like a bullet towards Kazuko, Aestus Estus reared back. Once in range, she let loose a furious horizonal slash aimed for the torso, powered by her Master's buffing spells. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      There was nothing for it but to leave Kazuko to the wolves, now. While the vanguards of the match would inevitably square off as they felt their charges were being overwhelmed... the stars of this match were inevitably Kyra and Kazuko. How each handled support for Momoyo and Nero would determine the true winner of this brawl, but also the injustices argued about before.     Momoyo was no longer listening to Kyra, and respectfully she needed to let the buffed Nero have the first attack. Nero being herself would inevitably step in when Momoyo finally overwhelmed Kyra... but both were moving at the speed of teleportation practically. Distance in the arena barely mattered relative to proper communication.     Stepping off to the side far enough to keep line of sight on Kyra, her fingers pointed into the air. Shooting a ball of aura over the arena, bits of ki shrapnel started to shower down... a much bigger problem for the softies but inevitably a partial distraction for Nero as well. Naturally, her next step was similar to Nero's... a dash forward and a straight punch where Kyra was standing. There was no technique used yet, because she didn't feel she needed it. It would give away her game after all, and Kyra needed to become target practice for a short while. Still, she barrelled down on the buffed white mage with murderous intent. 

:'''{{#var:180|Taylita (180)}} has posed:'''      Taylita's eyes widen a bit as she listens to the stakes of the contest. That seems pretty drastic to her! Even if Kazuko doesn't die, she might felt like she has if she loses this fight. And as an adopted child herself, she can't imagine if her adopted family were to disown her simply because she lost a fight. Under the circumstances, she feels like she has no choice but to cheer for Kazuko. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      The test had barely started, and things were already heating up! Between Kyra's rage and Nero's acceptance, Kazuko's certainly looking excited with how things are going. "Don't hold back now!" She gives her naginata a quick flick up to hold it ready, observing Kyra's buffing magic and Nero's... Ki manipulation? No, it's definitely something different. Whatever it is, it looks as if the combatants are decided!      As Nero shoots towards her, Kazuko too steps forward to meet the Emperor head on! Not literally, though, since it appears as though this battle will be decided by speed rather than a direct bashing of heads, and that's just how she likes it. Weaving around that shrapnel of energy coming down from Momoyo's shot, she drops into a sudden crouch, narrowly avoiding Nero's powerful swing by a hair. As she rises, she opts for vertical slash with her own weapon aimed at Nero while backing up some, trying to keep her within the polearm's optimal range. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     She wasn't even listening, Kyra realizes, halfway through her yelling. It only made her angrier. It was too unfair to her, big stupid muscle-bound frontliners just being able to smack support like her around. And what else could she do to fight back besides passive aggression and maybe judicious use of explosives? Her only consolation was that she couldn't actually die in the ring of philosophy and that she had some /damn/ good painkillers on her to use later.     Kyra seems to be ready to handle ranged attacks. She lets her rifle drop, dangling by the strap, to quick cast a Reflect spell over herself, deflecting and slowing the ki blasts enough that she could dodge them. She moves just at normal person speed, which seems pretty glacial compared to the other three opponents in the arena. Momoyo will find that punching into Kyra will work, but it will also be a lot like hitting a wall of stone with her fist.     (Though Kyra would not be surprised if that was a thing that Momoyo actually did.)     Still, the result is that Kyra doesn't fold with one well-placed punch. She does exhale loudly before she grabs one of the syringes on her bandolier and stabs it towards Momoyo. It's contents is a bacteria not seen in the Ring before, most likely since most Unionites didn't use biological warfare. This one is her own engineered version of a shigella strain, made to induce fast-acting fever and nausea. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And the two vanguard speed right past each other to attack their opponent's supporters. Nero trusted that Kyra would be fine for a few paces. That was plenty time to give the Kawakami sister a good testing herself. And that would be exactly what the Servant would do.      Weaving through the mildly annoying energy shower caused by Momoyo, Nero found her opening swing narrowly dodged by Kazuko. Hmph. As expected of a Lancer-Class Ser- I mean, just a lance user. But Nero would not give up this position. She could already see what the younger sister planned to do.      Use the range of her weapon to keep the Emperor at bay? A basic, effective strategy. ...If the opponent were a typical one. Nero was not a typical opponent. "Elementary." Nero muttered with a smirk. And with a simple tilt of the head aside, Kazuko's thrust grazes past the Servant's cheek, drawing blood and taking off a few strands of hair.      ...And Nero pressed right on forward, letting loose an uppercut slash to throw the naginata off course, and then a second, overhead slash aimed to smash right into the spot the girl was occupying. Nero was making good on her promise. She was fighting as if she intended to kill Kazuko.      Of course, the ring wouldn't let that happen, but nonetheless. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Her next followup hit was coming, as Momoyo's punch would only bruise Kyra, the effectiveness of the Stone Skin spell itself evident against a woman who could tear tanks apart with her bare hands.     Her followup strike comes in of course... Kyra's only hint as to what Momoyo was going to try to do was her dual open hands toward her head... but the syringe forced Momoyo to react. With her momentum, she couldn't just dodge the syringe at this range...     "Kawakami Style: Forehead Flick!"     With a small barely heard 'clink' the syringe ricocheted away... thankfully stuck in the simulated wall since it was too tough to just shatter with some tumbling. Momoyo glances toward the syringe... and back toward her opponent. "Rrrrh!" she didn't have time to think about the purpose of the syringe now, she new damn well how Wanko was stuck entirely on defense against Nero.     "Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     She snarls, as her cannonfire punch sets about decking Kyra away. She would have to try for another opening...     ...because, initially, Momoyo had meant to box her ears, not only to disrupt communication in an extremely painful fashion that would immediately draw Nero's attention, but potentially cause problems with further verbal-somatic spellcasting. The simplest counter. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Even if the fight might be skewed against her with having to handle Nero, Kazuko's still confident that she can at least keep up with her long enough for the fight to swing into their favor. There's a very brief grin when her slash draws first blood (however minor it is), although that momentary distraction from Nero's comment is enough for the Servant to knock her naginata off course, the bladed end swinging up and over her head.      "Keh..! You're fast!" Her body reacts almost immediately as she sees that sword coming right down for her, using the momentum of her own weapon falling behind her to swing herself around it and narrowly avoiding getting cut in half. It does still graze her arm, however, drawing blood and a sharp hiss of pain from the younger Kawakami.      Instead of going on the offensive again, however, she shifts her stance to a more defensive one, using more cautious horizontal swipes at Nero's legs to, once again, try and keep the Emperor at bay. Even if she can't beat her in straight fight, she can still try to keep her from turning the fight into a two-on-one! 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "Damnit!" Kyra swears, her first syringe disposed of. She had plenty more where that came from but it's obvious that she's not going to get it past Momoyo unless she came at a flank or from behind. That was a problem in and of itself especially now that she was already in close quarters with the martial artist. Based on her previous fight with Audrey, she knows this is a pretty bad place to be.     Which is why when the next strike lands, she goes with it, allowing it to launch her across the arena with little protest. She's pretty lightweight so she soars easily but seems to hit the ground in a way that minimizes getting really hurt-in particular, she tucks her chin in so she doesn't bang her head on the ground. As she picks herself up, Kyra swings her rifle around and starts unloading rounds. When Momoyo inevitably catches the 'bullets', she'll discover these are all darts, each with liquid resevoirs attached to them baring a purple substance. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      This girl was fast. Fast enough to get out of the way of her strikes. Aestus Estus smashes into the ground, kicking up debris before she swiftly lifted the blade and followed Kazuko's movements...      Nero narrowed her eyes and pressed forward again, weaving in and out of her opponents defensive strikes, and she smirked. "Hmph! Buying time, is it? Another elementary tactic. But not a necessarily bad one." A step back, and a swing from Kazuko's spear scraped the ground where her leg once was. And then she crouched low.      Prana gathered once again and Nero leapt upwards. She sailed above the younger Kawakami, sword bursting into flame upon her descent. In that moment, the Servant took a moment give the other side of the battle a glance. Kyra was on the defensive, as expected. But Nero figured she would be good for at least one more pass. Then it would be time to engage her real opponent.      That in mind, the Roman Emperor tucked forward, flipping in the air before lashing downward with a flaming, helm splitting slash aimed right for the top of Kazuko's pretty little head. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Kawakami Style: Burst Hurricane!!"     A sudden tornado of wind gusted out around Momoyo to deal with the long-range rifle fire. She could block the hits, but Kyra was far enough away that...     ...she could see the flame out of the corner of her eye. That was her cue. Kyra was not open, but she was more likely to be so if Nero was under attack. Ordinarily she wouldn't do this... but her sister's dream was on the line.     Momoyo darts off just in time for the second half of Kyra's burst fire to sail past where she stood. For the time being Kyra was left unmolested. Instead, she took advantage of this precious moment to try and grapple Nero's ankles together from the back, slightly to the side. "Snowman!!" It was Momoyo's attempt to limit Nero's mobility just enough for Kazuko to not get crushed by the Haste and Blink... but she did not have time to stay and completely destroy the buffed fighter. That's if she could even get in and attack before Nero reacted... and Kyra would eventually cure the problem if left alone. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Although Kazuko can't spare any time to actually watch how Momoyo and Kyra are doing, she can certainly hear Kyra's shout well enough. If she can just keep this up against Nero, then her dream will become reality! It's still a very big if, though, and with the way the fight's going, she can only hope that her sister can remove Nero's support from the fight faster than Nero can remove her.      "Even the basics are important! And if it works, then I'll do it!" Smirking back at the Servant, Kazuko utters a quick kiai as she takes that swing and a miss at Nero's legs, her eyes following her up in that majestic jump. Perhaps as expected, Kazuko backs up rapidly even before she comes back down. While maintaining her distance, she starts to spin the naginata in her hands rapidly, her own ki starting to flow into the weapon as if charging it up with each spin.      As if using Momoyo's attempt to freeze Nero's feet together as a cue, the younger Kawakami resumes her approach shortly after the descent. She moves in a little too soon, however, and there's an awkward pause as she's forced to jerk herself sideways just to avoid taking that slash right on her head. Even without taking it head-on, though, the flames from the falling blade still sear her back and draw a painful yelp from the girl, the smell of burning flesh wafting into the air.      "K... Kawakami Style... Daisharin!"      Gritting her teeth through the pain, Kazuko spins herself around once before aiming a massive horizontal swing at Nero with the naginata, practically aiming to cleave it right through her rather than just cutting her like with her previous attacks. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     Another seething noise comes out of Kyra at this. Damnit, everything was just being /countered/ so far. Fighting on her own terms just wasn't working.     She's a little surprised when Momoyo peels off to attack Nero. Part of her is a little insulted since it probably meant she wasn't a good /enough/ fight. She watches as Momoyo tries to weigh down Nero by grabbing onto her. Now she could straight up help Nero but she'd already buffed her up enough. No, instead she takes aim with her rifle again from afar, firing off the rest of those poisonous rounds into Momoyo. So instead of focusing on healing herself or replacing the stoneskin, she tries to take advantage of the lack of pressure on her to try and get a better shot at nailing Momoyo with a status effect. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      This was it. The time to strike this child down and then take care of Momoy-whuh?      Nero found her ankles grabbed and she swerved aside slightly. Her flaming strike grazed Kazuko, but she was in no position to dodge the counter technique! All she could do at this moment... was defend. And so she did just that.      Aestus Estus was pulled back after it's swing and impact was made. Between the two Kawakamis. Nero was blown back across the arena, in Kyra's direction. She tucked in mid-air and landed roughly on her feet, blade embedded into the ground as she skid back a ways, still she was near her Master and slightly ahead.      Prana gathered again as the Roman Emperor straightened up, this time, coming in as red particles and evolving into plumes of flame across her body. "Mhmhmhm...! Ah ha ha ha ha!" And after a short, personal exchange with Kyra, one, which only they heard, Nero burst out laughing for some reason!      "Kawakami Sisters, I commend you! For this will be the first time since my summoning, that I have used this technique seriously!" And then Aestus Estus was lifted, gripped with both hands and raised in front of the Servant. Flames burst to life across the weapon. "Behold my glory! Hear the thunderous applause! Sit down and praise..." She spun the red and black sword, turning it downwards to the ground. And then with a single thrust, she embedded it right into the surface of the arena.      "...My Golden Theater!"      And with that, Nero turned her blade. With the sound of a key unlocking a door, light streamed forth from the ground, breaking it apart at the conceptual level as fragments of earth rose up all around. The light grew more and more intense until it enveloped everything! And on it faded...      ...What replaced the scenery of the ring was now a glorious Golden Theater of old. The arena was now a stage, and Nero, her previous combat attire altered. An extravagant golden gauntlet and cape adorned her right arm up to the shoulder, and she wore a confident smirk on her face.      "Kingdom of Heaven and Hell! My heaven, reconstructed! This is where the limelight shines!"      This is it. Her ultimate skill. Her Noble Phantasm, Aestus Domus Aurea. Thw Golden Theater. And it was here, that she was in full control of her surroundings. This was her domain. "Now, Kawakami Sisters...the time as come!"      Nero raised Aestus Estus before her, smirking with supreme confidence. "My ultimate sword technique!" Flames surged forth from all around, creating a storm of flame that radiated around the Servant.      "Fax Caelestus!"      And then Nero was gone. Vanished. Did she teleport!? No, right before the two sisters, the Roman Emperor came in like a red streak, and without stopping, she gracefully dashed right past the two before coming to a complete stop. "......." Nero straightened up, and at that moment, a hugely delayed slash followed, exploding with a huge blast of pyrotechnics across the immediate area! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''     With little choice, she quickly waves her arms in a blur, taking in the rounds flying her direct. "Tch!" she murmurs, staggering a moment as the poison takes hold. But then, the eyes of that murderous beast are given a treat...     as the Ring of Philosophy fades into Nero's theatre. Both Kazuko and Momoyo were treated to an attack that could only be performed by a foe on the order of a God... a Reality Marble.     "WANKO!!!" She tackles her sister and her naginata to the ground... the massive explosion carving into her body as both sisters are buried in flame, Momoyo taking the brunt of the atta     cxterm93">"Restoration..." she murmurs. The shells clatter to the ground from her arms, as she uses a large amount of ki to heal her body... but given the way Restoration works, her heartrate is increased. That intensified the nauseating effect of the poison, her eyelids drooping. Until her adrenaline and heartrate did the work, her accuracy and power was going to be a problem.     She really did choose the appropriate test for this. But if they were in this theatre, there was only one way to win... make sure to focus the mind and try to resist the illusion. She didn't have time to tell Wanko this.     "Turning my back on a lit-up town, the path I shall follow is an endless wasteland... there are no miracles, nor no signs. Only the night extends before me." She murmured this, but because of the effects of Fax Caelestus, her every word echoed throughout the chamber. She left the remainder of the saying to Kazuko, as her hands quickly moved.     "Kawakami Style: HOSHI KUDAI!!!"     She had to aim the blast such that Nero and Kyra were in the same line, it was the only way to create an opening for Wanko to move... and choose the right opponent. Therefore, she spoke the final part of the quote to keep her sister focused, while she finishes the last half.      "PUSH, FORWARD!!!" 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Bracing herself with the naginata for a moment, Kazuko takes a moment just to fight through the pain spreading across her back. The back of her jacket (or at least the parts that haven't been disintegrated already) is a pure black in color, and the exposed flesh is similar charred from those intense flames. To make matters worse, it appears as though her strongest technique isn't even enough to harm Nero!      "Even stronger than...?" Her eyes dart about as the entire ring itself changes into some sort of theater, and her gaze falls on Nero's sudden costume change and that flaming blade... No, the flames surrounding Nero entirely. Before she can even attempt to process what's coming towards her, however, she goes down with Momoyo with a horrified look on her face.      "Sis! You..." Even with that Restoration technique, she knows that there's even a limit to what Momoyo can handle. By the time her sister gets up and starts to recite the Kawakami Soul, there's a distinctly different fire surrounding her eyes.      Kazuko's not happy. She's not happy at all.      "I feed on the unwavering spirit, and forge my way through the dark journey. PUSH FORWARD!" And yet, she's still able to speak calmly and clearly in following with her sister. Picking up her naginata once more, she grips it tightly with both hands with blood running down the shaft, and she charges forth while using Momoyo's blast as cover.      Instead of going for Nero, however, her target is... Kyra? She knows she's no match for Nero in her current state, but if she can just get to the White Mage in time...      "Kawakami Style, Mozu-otoshi!"      ... She might still have a chance. Instead of thrusting or swinging the naginata, however, she's trying to close the distance in order to get behind Kyra with her arms around her waist. And if she can manage that? It's time for a jumping German Suplex! 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     As Kyra fires, a request comes to her direct from her Servant. It was a simple request that demanded a good deal of MP investment from her but despite that, Kyra is more than willing to grant it against this murderous duo. "Go ahead, do it." she whispers, letting her rifle drop again so it can dangle by the strap around her shoulder. She squints a little, thinking she saw at least one of those darts hit, before slipping around the arena, running quickly so she can put herself behind Nero. The reality marble takes hold though Kyra herself remains unchanged by the scenery. It's easy for Momoyo to see, via her aura-sensing powers, that loads of energy has left Kyra to power this alternate reality. In fact, it'd be safe to say that at least half of it has been consumed by Nero's Noble Phantasm. She stands way out of dodge, right up against the arena wall, downing a hipotion taken from one of her bandoliers.     There's a ghost of a grin on her face as she watches Nero, akin to that of a proud parent. Her grin widens as she sees Momoyo jump into the way of the attack to take it entirely on behalf of her sister. She doesn't cheer, though, the white mage remaining oddly silent. She might be trying to disappear into the wall at this point-and for good reason. Much to her dismay, both of the sisters are still intact.     White mages are not really known for their strength, it's more for utility. Still, they did have one thing in their arsenal that could hurt. Sometimes. (Not if you were a Lancer, though.) "NERO! MOVE!" Kyra barks out suddenly, her hands spread out, spellcircles dancing out in front of them slightly reminiscent of TSAB agents and their devices. She seems completely okay with the Hoshi Kudai coming right at her because she has a Holy spell incoming to meet it and clash against it. Typically she casts them vertically on her targets and not horizontally but this way seemed the only way to be able to meet the blast. For Kyra, it works-she's able to commit to the holy and stop the opposing blast, resulting in a big explosion in the center of the arena where she meets.     Unfortunately, she can't do that and protect her back. Kazuko grabs her around the waist and Kyra shrieks, kicking her legs backwards at Kazuko. There's nothing she can do to stop her at this point and she's driven right into the ground.     Kyra does not get up afterwards. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero turned around and regarded to two. Momoyo took the brunt of the attack for Kazuko. A good call. That technique would likely have ended the poor girl. But now there was another problem. While her Noble Phantasm was still active, the fact that these two were still standing, albeit barely, left their options limited. Deploying this alternate reality drained a ton of MP, as Kyra would definitely have felt. Despite this, the Servant does not change her tactics. She remains in position, sword raised to intercept Momoyo's launched technique.      ...At least, until she heard 'NERO, MOVE!'      As if on instinct, she dashed sideways, out of the way of the technique, watching as both blasts crashed into each other, struggling back and forth for several instances, until both forces simply exploded.      But Nero saw a shadow pass by her in that explosion, "No!" She turned in that direction, hearing Kyra's shriek soon after, and then an impact. "......." Once the smoke cleared, there was Kyra, crumpled over after that suplex, and Kazuko before her. There was stark silence as the Roman Emperor regarded her fallen Master. "....Ha....Haha......Hahaha...Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"      And without restraint, Nero let loose an uproarious round of laughter. "Kawakami Sisters...you have just made your final mistake." She muttered, a dark grin forming on her face. Lowering her head and gripping Aestus Estus, Prana gathered once again. The final trump card that she was saving. Saving for the right moment. This was not the right moment, but it would do.      "Invictus Spiritus."      An aura flared up all around her, and then she set her sights firmly on Kazuko. Nero smiled an unsettling smile.      And then she vanished.      In a flash, she appeared before the younger Kawakami, bringing blade to bear as she aimed to simply bat the girl straight into an arena wall. With all of her boosted strength, all of her speed, all of her reflexes. All aimed into this single moment.      Revenge was in order. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo couldn't move fast enough. Even if Nero was ignoring her, there was no possible way she could cover enough ground before that technique hit.     But if she could ensure Nero would make an even dumber mistake... no, it was impossible in this reality.     She was the strongest... it was a theatre. She simply had to make it a good performance, right? There was no logic here, she knew her sister was done for... but she was about to watch her get literally cleaved in half, only held together forcibly by the Ring preventing injury.     So she hopelessly rushed in. Even as dazed as she was, the inhuman monster Momoyo set aside her feelings about her sister being 'executed' and prepared her blow for the back of Nero's head, hovering in the air behind her a foot off the ground.     "Kawakami Style: Fuji Smasher."     Her attack came out as fast as Nero's, faster than her usual ones. But it may not be enough in the Globe Theatre. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Even though Kyra might not be a close-range specialist, the fact that Kazuko's more of a speed-type rather than a power-type means that those kicks still hurt! Between having her shins bashed in and her already-scorched back slamming directly on ground with that maneuver, she's not in much better condition than her target. "That's... One!"      There's a high pitched whine coming from the younger Kawakami sister as she pries herself off the ground, quite literally peeling herself off the ground. Those burns are really taking their toll on her, and she nearly falls over just trying to get back up. She can still see what's going on, at least, and what she sees... Isn't very good.      Nero's pissed. Perfect. Even with as burnt and battered as she is, though, Kazuko's not ready to give up yet! Brandishing her naginata again, she braces it in front of her as the Servant faces her and... Disappears?      How does someone just disappear like that? Just how fast is this servant? Too fast, apparently, as she's caught off-guard by the Emperor's sudden appearance in front of her. She can only manage a clumsy swing downwards with the handle before noticing that Nero, her sister, and the rest of the arena are quickly getting smaller while feeling her back slam into something and sinking into it.      On the plus side, at least she's embedded in the wall and unconscious rather than falling off of it. She'd probably be screaming more if she that happened. One thing's for sure, though: Kazuko is not waking up any time soon. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      The chain events followed as such:      Nero made impact with Kazuko, and sent her flying into a wall of the theater. She wasn't coming back.      Momoyo's Fuji Smasher made impact with the back of Nero's head.      Nero collapsed to the ground, seemingly unconscious.      .......      This was it. The battle was won. This is how it ended. The Kawakami sisters have grasped victory once agai- No.      Whether or not Momoyo let her guard down in those moments, there was a flash of light, and a roar of flame. Nero was back on her feet, and with a determined look, she dove right for her remaining opponent. The final skill. The last attack she would muster before this world crumbled and the ring took it's place again.      "Laus Saint Claudius!"      Aestus Estus exploded, and torrents of flame spilled out of the weapon. With one final stroke, the Servant let loose a heavy horizontal slash against Momoyo, unleashing everything she had left against the girl.      This was it.      The final moment. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Dropping to her knees, Momoyo was glad Kazuko wasn't conscious enough to see this.     Blood spilled out her midsection... thankfully not deep enough to be gory, but were it not for the Ring, Momoyo would have bled out.     It was a testament to her raw stamina that she could still stay on her elbows, but the match was clearly lost. She used too much aura just to get her sister in for that one attack... and had to heal through Nero's most destructive blows.      At that point, the Ring called the fight itself, Momoyo didn't even have to pass out. It was obvious she couldn't continue, but there was a sudden shudder as all the wounds were restored. Once Kyra and Kazuko woke up, they would be in pristine state, like they'd had a bad dream.     Momoyo finally turned, her head to Nero over her shoulder, though she was quite satisfied... if broken-hearted. There were actually tears in the corner of her eyes... tears she didn't want the two sleeping girls to see.     "I knew she couldn't. But it was time. I had to say something to her eventually, Nero." she murmurs.     "I sent her to the Union... but she doesn't have the talent to support me even if she's a strong martial artist in her own right."     Her fist punches the ground. She had only briefly sought comfort from her rival, as she looked at the two knocked out figures. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero panted and lowered her sword. This was it. This was the result of this test?      The ring ended the match there, and Nero's world crumbled away, returning them all to reality. Momoyo's confession is met with an even look. "......" And then she took several steps forward, Aestus Estus vanishing from her grasp. "Your sister is a strong combatant. But she lacks the spark that you possess." She started calmly, looking towards Kazuko's direction.      "I can tell that she has worked hard to attain the skills she currently has, but she is lacking something. Something that will make her great." There was a short sigh and a shake of the head. "However, these Myriad Universes are vast. I am most certain that your sister will find it in herself to attain greater skill and strength on her own terms. Sometime into the future."      A hand is offered to Momoyo to allow her to stand. "Whether or not she attains her dreams, is up to her own determination. However... as her sister, I believe you have done all that you can. The rest lies with her." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko actually looks rather calm and even serend by the time the fight ends, largely due to being unconscious. Thankfully, the Ring's healed her wounds and extracted her from the wall, but she's probably better off staying asleep for now.      Unfortunately for her, she's waking up. Groaning lightly as her eyes flutter open, the younger sibling glances around slowly before jerking up into a sitting position. "Ah! Wha... Uh. Is the fight over already?" She glances from Kyra to Nero and finally to Momoyo, an excited smile crossing her face.      "Hah... We did it, right? We won?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shakes her head. Like she suspected, Nero could tell the exact circumstances of the test without needing to be bogged down with the details of the samurai lore.     "My cute sister." she mumbles... curling her arms around the smaller blonde to give her a hug. It was clear as day, at that moment, that Kazuko was a pillar of Momoyo's mental stability, beyond just their familial bond.     Her voice ceases breaking as she wipes away her tears. "I have to get her back to the Dojo and report to grandpa." she murmurs.     Kazuko could see Momoyo separating from... a hug with Nero. She had to let Nero attend to Kyra's mental state as well after all. She moves over to Kazuko, giving her hair a slow stroke. Pressing her sister's cheek to her bust, she sighs slowly... regaining her composure rather than answering immediately. No doubt causing that sickening feeling in the pit of one's stomach.     "Wanko... it's not that you're weak... it's that Nero and I are too strong. You did fantastic, all your hard work... was magnificent." she replies gently, continuing to give comforting pats to her head. "But you have to listen to me."She glances down at her adopted sister, with the kindliest smile she can manage.      "...You have no talent for this. You're a fine martial artist. But you will never be an Assistant Master." 

:'''{{#var:180|Taylita (180)}} has posed:'''      Even Taylita's heart sinks as she sees that Kazuka and Momoyo lost their battle. Even more when she sees Momoyo's face, and even -more- when Kazuko wakes up and cheerfully asks if they won. As one who is well-trained and talented herself, she can only imagine what Kazuko will feel when she hears Momoyo.      Taylita feels like she should say something, but this is not her fight or her life. Anything she said would only be out of place and unwelcome. So, she just stays quiet and watches, arms crossed over her chest and a dissatisfied frown on her face. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Why did Momoyo hug Nero? The swordswoman couldn't have taken the loss that badly, could she? Kazuko's confusion is only amplified when she's pulled in by her sister, humming lightly at the contact and praise. "Ehe.. Yeah, I've still got a lot to learn before I catch up with..."      Wait. Something's wrong here. Why is her tone so serious? "S.. Sis? What do you...?" The pieces finally start fitting into place. That serious tone, waking up instead of standing victorious, what Momoyo's just said...      "... No. No, that's... I just need to work harder. If I keep working, I can make it eventually!" There's a slight panic in her voice as she says that, but something in her tone indicates that she's already aware of what happened. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She pulls her arms around Kazuko to hug her tightly... but also to prevent her from running away. "It's over, Wanko." she whispers in her ear, softly. "You and I were in peak physical condition. But... you only grazed a Knight, and surprised someone who had already fulfilled her role in combat. The test was like a dream. And you did fantastic." It was a tight bear hug. If she let Kazuko go after this news, she'd probably never find her even with help.     "You must choose another path, Wanko. You are still powerful... even the Union accepted you to unify the Multiverse and let our Dojo have more challengers and students... but that was your chance. Your goal is impossible." she murmurs, rocking her back and forth. It was probably the one glimpse of tenderness Kyra had seen Momoyo give at all, even. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko's face appears numb with shock as Momoyo continues, going limp in her hold despite her usual boundless energy. "R.. Right! I.. Still got a couple of good hits in.. Right?" Although there's the faintest glimmer of hope in her voice, it's clear that it's rapidly being crushed, and it's only getting worse as she looks up at her sister's eyes.      "... But I couldn't pass. I heard back in elementary school that you can achieve your dream if you try. I wanted to be like you, and I worked hard, but... That was just a lie, then." Oddly enough, she actually laughs before letting her head slump forward again. "Ehe... I guess I don't have that much talent. I'm not a... Real daughter of the temple, so that's... I guess that's to be expected. I couldn't..."      She starts tearing up, digging her head further against Momoyo before trying to shove her away. "L... Let go. Leave me alone!" Regardless of what she does do, however, Kazuko starts sobbing uncontrollably. 

}}

3759/Seriously, TSAB Drones And Paperwork!

2016-02-03T19:35:24Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/02 |Location=Kawakami City |Synopsis=Momoyo goes with Fate to the TSAB as an aide. During simulation training to burn off Momoyo's excess e..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/02
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Momoyo goes with Fate to the TSAB as an aide. During simulation training to burn off Momoyo's excess energy, Fate and Momoyo finally get into the argument that has been building all week long like a pressure cooker and find unexpected common ground. Kazuko shows up to pick up her sister after being lonely during her first week in the Union, but the conversation turns somewhat dark around her in ways she doesn't notice. Still, Momoyo and Fate part ways that night with a renewed understanding of one another after Fate finally unseals Momoyo's ki, convinced she's no longer quite as dangerous.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=306, 928, 942
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' The promised day has come! And Fate does live up to her word. After finishing a morning workout and getting cleaned up and dressed again, the blonde motioned Momoyo out to her car for the drive to Long Arch. The drive is peaceful (which may disappoint her passenger) but at least it's fairly short! Before long, she pulls into Long Arch's parking lot and leads the way to the training grounds in the back. "The drones we use are real, but most of the terrain is holographic. It still feels solid, though." She waves vaguely in midair, and a keyboard and viewscreen pop into view. "I can set it for an old ruined city, unless you want anything in specific.." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was deathly bored, of course. Without having any Union identification, it took Fate filling out a bunch of paperwork marking Momoyo as an aide and filling out her personal details. She had slowly but surely come to adjust to the absolute quiet Fate's house offered when Fate, Nanoha and Vivio were gone... but she'd done everything from sleep on the couch upside-down to wander around a large amount of Mid-childa like they both knew she would despite having been told to stay within the house's environs. Mid-childa had a much lower crimerate than Kawakami City, so she found nothing interesting.     Today she was dressed in the uniform fitted to all the sizes Fate finally found on her clothes. The fabric was comfortable, so she didn't have to break it in... but since she insisted on arguing about her hair before coming on-site, it was down and therefore she looked like a Japanese neanderthal woman. Towering over most of the TSAB and baffled by all the children running around in uniform, her red eyes intimidated many of the lower class mages. While Momoyo usually had an easy time making and keeping friends, while she was shadowing Fate she wasn't in the mood.     Stepping into the arena, she looked a bit more excited as her interest was perked. She knew it was as much Fate measuring her abilities as anything. Other officers milled about nearby watching Fate and Momoyo... but Fate had Bardiche's combat data. She could tell within a very educated ballpark what Momoyo could handle while Sealed.     For her part, she stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for it to widen out into the bombed out shell volunteered. "Just give me something to beat up." she replies, not thinking too hard about the fact that her opponents were going to be non-human. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Outside of the highly urbanized Cranagan, Midchilda has quite a lot of natural beauty. Even here, they're far enough from the capital that there are some beautiful forests just over the ridge. There was some fussing over Momoyo's hair, though not as much her uniform... okay, there was at least a little fussing over that as well. The fact Momoyo was with Fate at least keeps most passersby from being too scared. They're used to Vita and Signum as well, after all. "If you want to hit a wall to see how the terrain feels, don't hesitate. The ruins field was meant to be damaged." Fate taps a few more keys on her floating console, and several flashes of light can be seen randomly in the distance. "Drones spawned. Do you want to know their capabilities, or would you rather find out on your own?" Fate doesn't want to spoil if surprises are prefered. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Don't bother." she replies, her hand rising up as she deals with the simulated wind. Like a scene out of an action movie, she stood amidst the ruins as she scanned the horizon. She didn't bother to seek cover, either.     Walking through the landscape, she rubs her fingers over some of the charred remains and rubble, glancing over the sky. Because she didn't bring a Device she had very little way to tell she was in anything other than another city all of a sudden. In some ways it was the same as the Ring... and in others, much, much more advanced.     After a moment she finds one of the buildings that is more or less intact... and begins hopping up the side of it here and there, both on the wall itself and the ledges to go climb to the very top. All the while, the simulation was collecting even more data to fill in Bardiche's gaps. However even some of the officers present looking over Fate's shoulder started to notice something very unnerving... Momoyo's speed and agility shouldn't be possible without much magic. By now they were used to the Multiverse no doubt, but they started to comment on things other than her looks. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I figured you might like to remain in the dark." A faint smile comes to Fate's lips as she sets the drones to autonomous mode. "Make sure you record it, Bardiche." ~Yes, Sir.~ Despite being holographic, the rubble does indeed feel real. If pushed too hard, some of it even crumbles. "Hmm..." Fate herself is a capable fighter even without magic or her Device, she just becomes even more so with Bardiche and her Barrier Jacket. Momoyo's speed doesn't surprise her too much, though she does turn to hush some of the onlookers. "I hope you don't mind if we talk while you're fighting. There are still some things I'm curious about." It doesn't take long after Momoyo reaches the rooftop before the first of the drones arrives. It looks like a large floating cylinder, rounded on top and bottom. Panels slide open on the sides, and metallic tendrils extend outward, whipping toward Momoyo. the surprise? The tips have tasers. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Shaking her hand after trying to block one, she could ignore it by blocking faster, but it was easier to dodge. Even her head just moved as she weaved around the tentacles. When she was done examining it, she finally responded. "Yeah, go ahead. I bet you're gonna make these tougher, though."     "Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     She finally decked the thing with her cannonfire punch, just to see how much damage it would take. Punching it didn't seem to hurt her fist at all, though it was only the first drone. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I can increase the difficulty, if you'd like." That first one isn't very tough at all, really. The punch craters in its armor, and although it's still in the air, it wobbles and floats unsteadily. Those tendrils whip out again, electricity sparking from the ends. A second, similar drone floats down from above not long after, aiding its fellow robot in the assault. Despite the fact that the tasers are nonlethal, they're incredibly strong, and the whipping tendrils are fast enough to shatter concrete, as a missed swing that hits the rooftop shows. While Momoyo deals with those two, a beam of energy sizzles through the air in her direction, courtesy of a smaller drone hovering down to get the right angle for a second shot. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch." she replies. "You had me cooped up in the house all week, I've got a lot of energy to burn off." She's finally forced to give up her footing on the roof, jumping off the collapsed building above the drones to smash an axe kick into one from above. "Kawakami-Ryu Ougi Ten no Tsui!!" she watches them spiral down toward the ground, ready if they survived the assault. "I shouldn't be surprised one of my punches won't completely down these things since you're mages." she replies, quickly scanning around for more drones. Even without her ability to heal herself, she was /aggressive/. "So... what did you want to ask me?" 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "Oh? So the murmurings I heard about you gallavanting all over Cranagan and the forests nearby was someone else?" Fate sounds quite amused, though, and is probably teasing. "Mm hmm. The drones are pretty tough, but bigger ones are a little stronger." Case in point, as one of the drones explodes from being pummeled and sent crashing to the ground. A larger one, this one spherical, takes its place, firing another beam as it approaches. "I've been trying to understand you these past several days, Miss Kawakami. I was hoping getting to see you fight again would help pin it down, but..." Fate pauses, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Why do you fight?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch!" she didn't have time to protest, but she completely forgot that a high tech city would have non-intrusive surveillance. Or maybe it didn't cross her mind. Still, the forests didn't have anything for her to fight so she always came back frustrated.     "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"     There went those two dozen punches on the tougher drone, but she wasn't satisfied. Now that she had forced a jagged edge on the smooth drone, her fist punched /into/ the drone and she tried to rip it apart to test her strength. Because these were non-human opponents, she could be especially vicious. That is, until a stray laser catches her. "Ghhh~!!!" She simply got caught up in the moment and lost track of her surroundings. Quickly darting away after ripping out the drone's mainboard, she avoids the explosion and takes cover long enough to answer. "Isn't it simple??? I have a lot of energy. My parents failed the test to become the Kawakami Dojo Assistant Masters so they went on a journey to train and haven't been back for years. I've exceeded both of them..." she checks her wound, since she couldn't heal herself. Just a minor burn... but this drone exercise was a half-assed test of her defensive skills as well after all. Mages didn't constantly heal themselves between attacks.     "I fight to push past my limits, and feel more alive." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "You didn't think I was keeping tabs on you?" Once more, Fate's voice is much more amused than anything else. The drones may be tough, but enough punishment can still take them out. Once their armor is breached, they explode pretty readily. Unlike the Ring of Philosophy, though, the damage here isn't just simulated. It's quite real, even if the drones are non-lethal, and it can hurt quite a bit to be shot or zapped or whipped. "I can understand pushing past limits. It's important to give yourself challenges so you can grow. But..." Fate frowns just slightly. "It's the way you fight that concerns me. Is that a tenet of your martial arts school, or a personal one?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She steps out from behind the cover, now that the drones have been sweeping the area for her... and faces five of them head-on. A collection of the newest most difficult ones Fate's spawned so far... and a couple of the older ones.     "You don't understand. You're a mage. You're strong, Fate... I cannot call myself a true warrior unless I can some day defeat you toe to toe." she admits, while all the officers see the woman that steps out from cover... no longer looks human. The vicious glare on her face only says she's here to destroy and massacre the drones before her.     "But the simple reason the way I fight works, Fate... is that a martial artist is ready to /die/. Martial artists are trained this way. You... probably only accepted this as a veteran soldier and not a student. What will be, will be. There were officers who understood that concept that I passed... but most of them are children who do not. Including Vivio."     Her harsh criticism of not only her audience but what she saw of the facility... there were at least a handful of high ranking officers in the facility capable of standing toe to toe with this woman, but the fact of the matter was she considered a mage at the same level as her not a warrior at all.     Charging into the drones, she snatches one out of the sky and violently throws it into one of the others. Waiting until the tentacles come at her for the next two, she dodges those and lets the drones hit each other... the drones were starting to bore her. The attack patterns were getting predictable.     "Fate... /double/ the difficulty of everything on the field." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I'm not a warrior, no. Signum is a warrior. So are Vita and Zafira." The blonde glances at some of the readouts from the drones, though she doesn't react quite the same way as the onlookers. "The difference is a way of thinking. But that doesn't mean I ever stop trying to improve myself." That look.. Fate doesn't like seeing that look on Momoyo's face. Not because it's scary, but because she recognizes the shift in mentality it represents. "I'm not sure you realize just how much hard work goes into training magic, but..." Fate pauses again, tapping at the controls floating in front of her. "You say that you're ready to die whenever you step on the battlefield?" Crimson eyes blink slowly, and the blonde lets out a soft breath. "So am I. Every single time. But we're still different. You want to put your life on the line for the chance to improve yourself and... and sometimes it seems for the thrill of the risk, I'm sorry to say." Fate glances down at the palm of her hand, an old memory resurfacing. "I put my life on the line to protect those important to me. The innocent citizen who won't have to worry about a dangerous criminal trying to kill them. My friends, who have given so much to me. My family... I don't risk my life for myself. I risk it for others, which is why I refuse to risk it without cause." She considers for a moment, then increases the difficulty to day one training for Mages. "So, I suppose I'm asking you plainly.. Do you fight and risk your life for yourself, or for others?" There's no accusation in her question, just curiosity... and concern. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhm~." she chuckles. "If you don't understand me, why is it you haven't asked the other warriors yet...?" she asks. While she preferred to do it differently, she picks up a trash can lid of all things, blocking a blast of magic and a few lasers before they were no longer any good for doing so. "It's the happiness of a warrior to fight strong opponents, Fate. I can protect my friends and family if it comes to that... but even the old man acknowledges and is concerned about the fact that I'm selfish when it comes to pushing my limits. I do it for myself."     "Kawakami-ryu Ougi, Chi no Ken!!"     She performs a vicious roundhouse kick into two more drones... but then when her first foot lands, brings the second around as well. More drones were exploding as she was getting faster and faster at ascertaining weaknesses... that was the difference. This test was designed for mages to force thinking about overall battlefield strategy. In the earlier difficulties, Momoyo would do just fine without her ki using tactics and raw power... if the intent was to exhaust her, attacking her in ways not normally possible in her own world would be necessary. "Martial artists are sinful like that... we watch others fight and get primally excited ourselves, Fate!!" 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "There are some things I'd prefer to find out on my own." Besides, her friendship with Signum over the years has taught her a lot. Crimson eyes watch the fighting continue, as improvised shields come into play. That's part of the reason for the terrain, after all. One drone is kicked into another, the two of them slamming into and through a wall and exploding. This was a training ground, after all, so the drones were programmed less to be a challenge and more to really test the participants, though sometimes the difference is a fine line. The drones' tactics seem to be adapting, though, and some of them are getting better at dodging Momoyo's attacks or snapping a taser-tipped tendril in at an opportune moment. "That's the entire point, though!" Fate slams her hand down against the floating control panel. "You acknowledge your fighting is selfish, but you also want to protect your friends and family! I get excited when I see a good opponent as well, but... but what will happen to your friends and family if you come across an opponent you can't beat? One who will kill you because you are trying to make that happen? What..." The blonde cuts herself off, bringing a hand up to rub at her temple. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I've seen what destructive behavior can do to loved ones, and I wouldn't want to see anyone else have to go through that." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "You... you..." she dodges a few more attacks... and then a glint happens in her eyes. Something about what was said, but also the present situation. She didn't feel like swinging anymore, being questioned was killing her motivation. Her killer instinct was fading from her eyes finally listening to the mother despair over her rushing headlong into Nanoha's mistakes.     "You... DAMNED FOOL, FATE!!!" she viciously brings both her fists forward into the foundational bar of a near-collapsed building... fifteen stories started hurtling down on everything in the area. Including the four drones, even magic shields weren't going to resist several tons of rebar.     She was lost in the simulation now, though it was her first time in it. Both women were forgetting to spawn more opponents for her. She had broken a sweat it was true... but Fate likely didn't have enough time to watch her do this through lunch. So instead, she sat shouting at the simulated sky in what was actually a small boxed room.     "What's the point of worrying about that!? How DARE you disrespect a warrior's heart by claiming you understand what they MUST do and then denying it!?" She punches the ground, putting holes in the concrete and blistering her knuckles. Without her ki, she was now going to have to go to medical after all this mess. Her uniform was torn up. She finally calms down, breathing slowly. "Que... sera sera." she murmurs, a saying that... wasn't Japanese nor did it get translated properly to Mid-childan. "What will be... will be. To worry otherwise is to destroy your performance, your pride... your identity." That was what she chose to say shortly after the apology.     "It's too late for you to go back and train as a warrior now. It's completely different from learning magic. I understand that now..." She brings her head back up finally, looking around the destroyed landscape. Getting to her feet, she kicks a pebble that ricochets off of several buildings and clinks off a drone's hull. But now the conversation was getting awkward for the listeners.     "...Turn it off. We're done. I'm hungry." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' For a brief moment, Fate gets angry. Genuinely, furiously angry. And not because of the yelling, either. But... she's a mother, and she knows how to control her own annoyance. Taking a deep breath, the blonde rubs her forehead again. "I'm not disrespecting you. But you're right, I -don't- understand. There are a lot of things I don't understand." The blonde laughs softly, briefly. "I'm not a warrior, and I'd probably make a terrible one. I'm usually too busy worried for who I'm fighting." She tilts her head slightly. "Being a warrior and using magic aren't mutually exclusive... but they're also not necessarily linked. One is a mindset, one is a tool. I'm sure you know that." She gestures vaguely toward Momoyo. "Your power isn't what makes you a warrior." Fate can sense that waning enthusiasm in the fight, though. So when Momoyo calls it, the blonde nods briefly. "It's... a good time for a break, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      There were no words spoken in medical, though the puzzled looks on the various officer's faces went unnoticed by Momoyo too, at least. The lady was pretty of course, and she wasn't as bad as some... but she wasn't a mage and the Ace was walking around with a psycho. People were already gossipping.     Sitting with her bandaged hands, her burns taken care of, various wounds disinfected... this wasn't surprising in the least to Fate but Medical expected a non-mage on those difficulty levels to be much more banged up. Momoyo for her part was eating four times as much food as Fate.     "I had a master." she admits, finally. "One of the assistant masters of the Kawakami Temple. For a martial artist, becoming an assistant master of the Kawakami Dojo is like an olympic medal." she explains between bites. She still didn't look Fate in the eyes, but her own eyes looked empty now that she had worked off all that steam.     "I enjoyed my master. He taught me that strength and power is everything, in martial arts." Suddenly, it became extremely obvious where Momoyo went so utterly, terribly off the rails, even further than Nanoha. A young prodigy was trained by someone inherently evil.     "Shakadou was later expelled from the temple for this point of view. I've never pursued it as far as him, but... it's what fuels that shock and trembling when people watch me fight recklessly." she explains. That was why her eyes looked so bloodthirsty and vicious when she fought... why she was even giving people stronger than her pause... and why she was here today Sealed in front of you. Had she not been Sealed there might have been a crisis if she challenged a strong mage. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Oddly enough, Fate isn't at all surprised by the amount of food Momoyo is eating. Nor is anyone in the Long Arch cafeteria. For her part, Fate eats quietly, though she glances up as Momoyo begins to talk again. "How old were you when he started training you?" She's a little worried that she might be able to guess that answer. And yet... "I'm going to ask you something personal. You can feel free to say it's none of my business." Glancing over at Momoyo, Fate tries to adopt the most level expression she can. "Outside of sparring, did he ever... do anything to you? Try to hurt you?" The way she phrases it isn't just as some concerned adult trying to poke her nose in, though. Something about her expression says that she is quite sincere in asking. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "I was about Vivio's age... well, no. I was eight." she admits, leaving out whether her parents were around or not and when they started journeying. "I know what you're getting at. He was kicked out around when I was fourteen or fifteen. Like I said... I agreed with his views and liked him at the time, but never carried it to the same extreme or I'd have been kicked out the same as he was." she explains.     She does meet Fate's eyes briefly as she continues to keep her voice very quiet and level... Momoyo's answers were carrying farther than Fate's questions but Momoyo was just like that. Still feminine, but her voice was deep and carried. Chewing on the rest of her meal she eats rather quickly... but other than volunteering that information for Fate to get questions answered after the brief shouting match, she was very terse with her answers for the moment. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      The past week has been rather busy for Kazuko between training, suppressing protestors, exploring weird ruins, and fighting obscene green things, but she's finally found a good day to kick back and relax! What better way to do that than to show up unannounced at her sister's kidnapper's domain?      Well, plenty. For starters, she could have remembered the directions better. She's only been wandering for an hour, at least, but she does look a little frazzled by the time she arrives at Long Arch's parking lot. Some leaves here, a torn sock there, a couple of scratches on her arms, but she's still made it!      Of course, the first thing she does on arrival in that lot is peer right at one of the cameras and standing with her arms firmly at her sides. "My name is Kazuko Kawakami. I'm here for my sister!" She's a little stiff in her delivery, almost looking... Nervous? Anxious? Excited? Possibly all three. She's even got half a mind to just find another climb-y-er way in, but she'll behave for now. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "Mm..." It's a sound of acknowledgement as she thinks of how to bring this up. "That's an impressionable age. My mother and her Familiar both had a big influence on me at that age. Mostly Mother..." Closing her eyes briefly, Fate takes a deep breath. "Let me put it this way. If you truly think that your method of doing things is in your own best interest and is best for all your loved ones, I'll step back. But in my experience--" Fate pauses. "--personal experience, if you want a change, no matter how small, no matter how much you try to tell yourself you don't want it... it can take an outside factor." The blonde holds one hand out. "Don't answer me now, though. Think on it, okay? Signum and Vita have both shown me that a warrior can still fight with others in mind. I think the two of us may have more in common than you know." Fate looks like she's about to say something else, but a soft chime sounds from her coat pocket. The blonde lifts a hand and summons a viewscreen in front of her, translucent enough that Momoyo can see the image backwards: feed from the outside camera of a certain Kazuko. "It seems like your sister is here. I'll have Shario show her in." A moment later, Kazuko can see a young brunette in glasses approaching the glass doors. She takes a moment to open them slightly, then close, then reopen, just to make sure they aren't locked, before smiling brightly at Kazuko. "Hi! I'm Shario Finieno, Fate's aide. She and your sister are having lunch now, if you want me to show you to them!" She pauses and slowly reaches out to pluck a twig from Kazuko's hair. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      When Wanko gets in the cafeteria door, she can see Momoyo wearing a strange uniform, similar to Shario's. The Mid-childan uniform was fitted to Momoyo's size, but she was torn up... and not healed. This was a rarity, but Momoyo had already explained she was Sealed right before Kazuko joined the Union. All her wounds were minor, just disinfected cuts with bandages and blistered knuckles wrapped up, a few cuts on her forehead with gauze taped in. Things that would likely only heal in a couple days, just like Kazuko. But the expression on her face... was dead. Very empty.     She and Fate were clearly having a serious conversation which Kazuko's sensitive ears could pick up from across the cafeteria already.     "Tch. You beat me, I was undefeated before you challenged me to make this point. I can't just tell you it's none of your business how I fight my battles." she muses, is one of the things Kazuko can hear carrying from Momoyo's voice. She had clearly been angry not too long ago, but now she was having a respectful, if tense conversation with a very worried blonde that looks about Ume-sensei's age. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Spotting movement from the inside, Kazuko has her eyes practically locked onto Shario by the time she steps outside. It's not until the woman introduces herself that she finally relaxes, keeping still to let her get that twig out before nodding excitedly. "Yeah! Erm. I-I mean..." She clears her throat, obviously trying to put on the airs of someone more composed than she could ever hope to be.      "She's doing good, then, yes? |Very excellence.|" Even with the translation effect, it's easy to tell that English is not her native tongue, and she's just trying too hard to look composed (as if she wasn't already). Just to really seal the deal, though? As if on cue, the mention of lunch even has her stomach grumbling. It's been over three hours since her last snack, after all!      Thankfully, there's not too much time for the awkwardness to set in, and it's all but forgotten when she hears her sister long before she even sees her. Not because she's overjoyed, but because something sounds off. Wrong, even. Kazuko's still trying to read the mood on the way in, and she desperately wants to just latch onto Momoyo, but she also doesn't want to interrupt the serious-sounding conversation.      Plus, the angle's all wrong. She can't get her face into her sister's chest from the side! 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I still don't want you to make your decision right now. Just... think on it." Fate quirks up the corner of her lip into a smirk. "Consider it a challenge, to see if that's a direction you want to try to grow in." She looks thoughtful for a moment. "This isn't telling you how to fight your battles as much as... asking if you'd do a little self-searching. See if there's anything more you want. And then a puppy arrives! But not either of the ones who commonly visit Long Arch. Shario was quite amused at the attempt at English, and chattered the entire way to the cafeteria. Thank goodness for that universal translator, right? But when the girl arrives, Fate turns around and smiles warmly at her, crimson eyes shining. "And you must be Momoyo's sister. My name is Fate. Your sister has been staying with me for the past few days." She certainly doesn't look like some monster who could beat Momoyo in a fight. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Wanko." Momoyo's voice calls out clearly over the cafeteria during Fate's greeting. Unlike Fate, Momoyo kept her elbow on the back of the cafeteria seat at the booth they were sitting in. Instead, her chin nodded upward to Kazuko... like a boy. "Come, puppy."     Momoyo's mood brightened considerably when Wanko arrived. Momoyo wore her emotions on her sleeve as well... so her sudden positive change in mood was a hint for Fate as to her relationship with her sister. Since right before the drone battle Momoyo had essentially been following at Fate's heel like a caged beast... now she was just a playful tomboy inviting her sister to share her meal. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      There's a momentary flinch from Kazuko as Fate turns to look at her. Even though she can't sense auras all that reliably, the fact that she's speaking with Momoyo after admitting defeat so easily has the puppy a little on edge. That, too, goes out the window when Momoyo gestures for her to come over, and Kazuko's practically bolting towards her sister (leaving poor Shario all but forgotten).      "Sis!" Latching onto Momoyo while looking and sounding happier than she has all week, she nuzzles her face against her sister's before peering at her intently. "Are you okay? Did you eat enough? You can come back now, right? You're..."      Isn't she forgetting something, though? Right. The unassuming, yet freakishly powerful magical girl! Or magical lady, at her age? Taking her eyes off Momoyo, she manages a slow bow of her head at Fate while climbing off her sister. "H... Hi. I'm Kazuko Kawakami. It's good to meet you." She sounds uncertain, possibly even a little terrified! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hahaha... yes. This is Miss Fate Harlaown. She is a horrible and frightening magical girl that can destroy a galaxy." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Fate notices that change in demeanor almost instantly. She also notices the way Momoyo seems to treat her sister. And yet, there's affection there, it's impossible to miss. All the hugging and cuddling gets a smile from Fate as she watches, waiting for the girl to get her fill. It's been a while, after all, and they seem so close. "It's very nice to meet you, Kazuko. I..." The blonde pauses and glances at Momoyo. "You can call me Fate, and I am neither horrible nor frightening. Come here for a moment." And should Kazuko get within arm's reach, Fate will get to work removing any stray leaves from her hair and clothes, then lightly patting the girl on the head. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Rubbing noses with her sister briefly, she does stroke through her hair and ruffle it a bit... and then feed her a piece of meat from her lunch. "You're probably hungry. But seriously, go say 'hi'. I know you flipped out when you heard she was a magical girl. She's one of the good guys." she murmurs, kissing her on the forehead lightly. It was obvious at a glance that Kazuko was likely the adopted one, as there was no resemblance between the two.     "Let me guess, Wanko. You came to pick me up and forgot to pack an overnight bag in case I had to stay the night... I have no idea when Fate plans on unsealing my ki." She leans in a moment, closer to Wanko's ear... but Fate can read the words 'Chancer' on Momoyo's lips. She was likely reminding puppy that she was in the Union but Momoyo was still a secret agent, even here. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Even that one piece is enough to get Kazuko to lower her guard, munching on it happily and letting out a satisfied sigh. Meat cures all that ails a hungry Kazuko! After getting the go ahead from Momoyo, she scoots towards Fate. Although she's apprehensive at first, she does relax after not too long, and she's even leaning into the patting by the end of it. Has Fate won her over so easily?      "Mmrf... You do smell nice. So I guess it's okay." It'd probably sound more convincing if she didn't look so content at the headpatting and didn't start letting out a low, excited noise at being reminded of Fate's magical prowess. "Uh... Yeah! I forgot to get an extra bag for, so I..." She looks from Fate to Momoyo with a confused look, trying to parse what she was trying to get her to say properly. "Came to... Get you one from here...?"      She's not doing a very good job at it. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Wanko... Fate is a Captain. She outranks you. It's okay. She knows." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "Mmm... Probably tonight, once we get back home. Though if you're spending the night and don't want to feel restless about it, I can wait until morning." Fate isn't quite sure that Momoyo won't want to immediately go out and get into a fight the instant the seal is lifted. "But it would be nice if your sister could try some of the cookies you made, wouldn't it?" The blonde had no idea how well headpats would work, but she giggles softly at the reaction. "Oh, I..." Fate blinks a few times as her scent is commented on. "Thank.. you?" She doesn't usually go for anything strong, and Arf has never mentioned anything out of the ordinary... Clearing her throat, she gives Kazuko's head anohter pat before lowering her hand. "If you two like, you can both stay at my house tonight, then leave in the morning. And.." She glances at Kazuko, then nods toward the serving area of the cafeteria. "You can go get some lunch, if you'd like." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She shrugs her shoulders. "I'm sure this is the deal you wanted me to make, but I'll promise to think on what you said if you unseal my ki." she replies. She was going to feed Wanko the rest of her food, but now that she was able to go get a tray of her own, she didn't need to. "Yeah. Fate tried to teach me to bake cookies. Once we were both certain I wouldn't crack the countertop, they turned out okay." she muses, just a touch disinterested. But the constant bestial tension in Momoyo's frame seemed to stay gone with her sister nearby. The effect couldn't merely be accounted for by familial status... Kazuko was, this close up, clearly a very key pillar to Momoyo's emotional state.     Seems she didn't blow off quite as much of what Fate was talking about as she was trying to convince the mage, but rather was being her stubborn old self. On the bubble still, perhaps, but given how she treated Vivio and Kazuko both, not anywhere near as close to going off the rails as it appeared when she threw herself at Fate the first time. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko giggles lightly as Momoyo gives her that little reminder, and her eyes light up when Fate mentions cookies. Specifically, her sister's cookies! "Ooh... You still have some of those?" She looks between the two with a hopeful expression, and almost all of her previous tension has been shoved aside already. "Yeah, I wanna try those!"      Still, it's not hard to tell that Kazuko staying incredibly attached to Momoyo for the time being. As relaxed as she's sounding, she's still got some of her guard up between her unfamiliar surroundings combined with Momoyo's visible wound treatments. "I don't mind staying, but... Only if sis says it's okay."      Like her sister, Kazuko's wearing her emotions on her sleeve as well. Still, the call of food is tempting, and her hunger wins out after not too long. It's time to nab as much food as she can from the serving area! 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I'm keeping my word, Momoyo. I hope it hasn't been too bad, this week." The blonde smiles to Kazuko, "I can teach you tonight as well, if you'd like." One would have to be both blind and deaf to miss the change that being around the girl has with Momoyo, though seeing that change at all helps relieve a little of Fate's worry. Just knowing that Momoyo's aggro isn't turned to max at all times tells her a lot. Once Kazuko has gone to get food, Fate leans forward and asks the elder sister in a low voice, "You really love your sister, don't you?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Yes." she replies. In fact, Fate's chatter reminded Momoyo of something she hadn't said... and Kazuko could easily have gotten hurt in the last week. Being in the Union was no slouch, and she knew her sister had no talent to be the best like her... but she could still be extremely useful as long as she was told to push forward and fight for her home.      "Yo. Wanko. You know I love my cutest little sister, right?" she yells, over the cafeteria even. It seems Momoyo lacked the reserve some siblings had... most likely because Kazuko was adopted, but still. It was comments like these that could make Kazuko forget just how believeably strong her older sister was.     "Yes... she was left in a baby hatch. My grandfather adopted her when her foster parents died and an alcoholic uncle tried to adopt her. We won legally." she tilted her head a bit to Fate while Kazuko was preoccupied with food... extremely mindful of Kazuko's superior sense of hearing. Being around Arf as long as she was, Fate wouldn't be surprised by Momoyo's behavior if she thought about it a moment.     "She wants to become an Assistant Master of the Kawakami Dojo in order to support me... a role that leaves her in charge of administrative duties and my manager as representative. But..." her eyes soften just a touch. It looked like, just for a fleeting moment, the scratched up warrior was about to cry. "...she's an expert at hard work but has no talent for martial arts. She is a strong martial artist in her own right... but her dream... is impossible. It would be like... trying to teach an especially stupid girl with low grades how to be an Ace." Her analogy was clumsy and based only off a couple days in the TSAB but obviously every child in here could cast a stronger spell than either of the Kawakami Sisters. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      If she had dog ears, they'd be perking up as she turns around at Momoyo calling out to her. "Eh? I love you, too, big sis!" She shouts back in return with a broad smile, not really paying much attention to things like general cafeteria etiquette. She doesn't even seem embarrassed by that, for better or for worse.      That's certainly helping to brighten her spirits even more than they were already. Conveniently enough, she doesn't hear a thing once she zeroes in on the task at hand: Getting that food. A good balance is usually something Kazuko strives for with her meals, but when someone's treating her? The temptation to cheat a little is strong. So, so strong.      Alas, if she's going to be eating cookies later, too, she'll just have to grin and bear it. Eventually, she returns to the table with two plates full of meat and vegetables, taking a seat by Momoyo and wasting little time in digging in! 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "You two are so cute. My brother would start to sputter and flail if I treated him like that in public." Fate knows this because she has before, and Chrono was pretty adorable. Such is the right of a little sister. She certainly has no issues with adoption, especially given her own kids. "I see... Though, you know..." Fate glances over toward the foraging puppy. "If she's that good at hard work, I'm sure she can find her own style. It may not be her current dream, but it can become one." The blonde waves a hand vaguely. "But that's not something I know enough about to be able to give many opinions of yet." Upon Kazuko's return, Fate gives the girl another pat on the head before the devouring commences. "I think we'll have fun tonight. It will be a nice send-off before you both head back home." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She continues to pet Kazuko's hair slowly, rubbing over her scalp. "Fate... I heard reports of something I haven't told High Command yet. This was a week ago and whoever passes through the Gate is none of my concern... but after talking to you..."     She narrows her eyes a bit. "If you ever come across a man named Shakadou who wears a business shirt with rolled up sleeves, a watch, short hair in his fourties... and is with any delinquents of mine and Wanko's age..." she narrows her eyes a little toward the Captain. "...Kill Shakadou, if you can do so legally and I cannot. They know the Kawakami Style and are outside my family... he knows Wanko and often speaks to her before any of us notices and slips away before any of the other martial artists recognize him. He... will likely join the Feds." she says this without hesitation, right when Kazuko has food in her mouth. That would clue even someone as dense as Kazuko on the nature of her conversations with Fate. Despite all the affection she held for the ex-master, Momoyo was ready to execute him and the three siblings on the spot. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      As if Fate didn't win her over before already. Headpats, free food, and more headpats? If Kazuko had a tail, it'd be wagging up a storm already! It's getting to be rather hard to even concentrate on the food with all the attention she's getting from both Fate and Momoyo, but she doesn't seem to mind. Really, after whatever her sister's been through this past week? She's just glad to see her again.      "Mrmph... Yeah, that sounds fun~ We can..." Sensing that tension in the air as Fate finishes and Momoyo starts, she quiets down rather quickly. The whole situation behind Shakadou's ousting from the temple has never made much sense to Kazuko nor really explained, but even she can tell that this conversation is an important one.      She's even making sure to eat with her mouth closed. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I'll keep that description in mind, but..." Fate leans forward slightly, leveling her gaze evenly on Momoyo's face. "We don't kill. But if he appears, we'll subdue him. If he's as dangerous as you say, I'll make sure the Bureau knows not to take him lightly." Dropping the seriousness for now, Fate gives both sisters another smile, and Kazuko gets yet another pat on the head. "So, you two will have to decide what sort of cookies we're going to make tonight." There may be danger in the future, but tonight... there is only desserts. 

}}

3736/Seriously, Wanko Joins Up!

2016-01-28T18:18:49Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/01/28 |Location=Kawakami City |Synopsis=Kazuko finds her sister frustrated with her first real loss to Fate. Not being particularly bright, th..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/28
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Kazuko finds her sister frustrated with her first real loss to Fate. Not being particularly bright, things get a bit crazy as Momoyo tries to explain before sending Kazuko off to Kawakami City's Union Embassy to join up before she can follow her to visit Midchilda, Kazuko's first trip into the Multiverse.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=928, 942
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo sat in her room, the TSAB seal dropped on her dresser as she started tossing clothing into a large camping-sized duffel bag. Muttering under her breath, she tosses her hair. She hadn't said anything since getting in late from being thrashed by Fate... but it was obvious something was up as her usual unshakable confidence was actually shaken. As discreet as she was trying to be about it, she was as noisy as ever packing with the door unlocked in the Dojo. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Even Kazuko can see that something's bugging Momoyo, although she hasn't quite figured out the source of her troubles just yet. That's about to change, of course, since she's finally finished her morning routine! Hearing that noise coming from her older sister's room, she creeps up along the wall and nudges the door open carefully. Once it's open just enough, she carefully and delicately... Takes a flying leap right at Momoyo. So subtle. "Sister! What's bugging you? What's..." She glances over at the bag, then turns back to Momoyo with an inquisitve frown. "... What's going on? Are you going somewhere" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Letting out a grunt, she strokes through your hair lightly while continuing to pack. "Yeah. Again." She had already been drafted into the Hikari Fleet Daughters and told Kazuko about that. Now, it seemed it was happening again... but the TSAB seal on her dresser was obvious as well.      Seemed like yet another para-military organization of some kind outside the Gate had an interest in her abilities again, but this time Momoyo wasn't nearly as pleased about it. Moreover, since the Gate opened, half of her dealings were rather secretive, even among the Kazama Family. Half the time even Kazuko couldn't give any answers.     One might expect Momoyo to just spill the beans, but she goes on packing with one hand, continuing to rub your scalp with the other. The secretive tension was about to hit it's limit, since it was obviously completely unlike Momoyo to even omit information. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Kazuko lets out a content purring noise at the head-stroking, but it only lasts for a little while. This is one of those rare moments where she's focused on something other than training, after all, and she turns her head to just stare right at Momoyo's face from close up.      "Nn... Why do you keep getting dragged around to do this stuff? Didn't you do enough last time already?" Even the next round of head-rubbing doesn't do much to comfort her (much), and she slides off her sister to pick up the TSAB seal to get a better look at it.      "... You didn't look like this until after you came back from that place. What are they doing to you, sis?" She sounds concerned, but also like she's holding something in. Fear? Anger? She definitely doesn't sound pleased, and judging from that white-knuckle grip she has on that seal... 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She shrugs simply. "I.. lost. To someone way out of my league." she finally admits. This was a bolt out of the blue, of course. Momoyo was /the best/. A vicious unstoppable terror. It was extremely rare for her to lose in any way that didn't involve a technicality. For her to say that straight up, meant that she actually lost a fight of brute force and found someone stronger. This could mean a million things since the Gate opened, but it was already clear she was getting into even more fights since the Gate opened... and the tape of Nero's sparring match with Momoyo existed. It still wasn't entirely clear who Nero was.     "Because I lost, they sealed my ki. Remember when grandpa did that, for a crime I didn't commit? Fate did that too." That was the name on the TSAB draft notice. It mentioned a bunch of Union mumbo jumbo, but basically was using that authority to coerce her involuntarily to another country, 'Midchilda' 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      That revelation stuns her into silence for quite a while. How could Momoyo lose? There had to be some kind of explanation for that, right? Kazuko waits for the one that would never come, instead only listening further as her sister continues to speak about the sort of thing that she's only heard of her grandfather doing. Was this the level of people Momoyo had to deal with past the Gate? She had been warned so many times not to mess around near there, but if her sister's ki was sealed, then...      "... I'm going with you." Placing that seal back on the dresser, the shorter girl gives her sister a determined look with a fire in her eyes rarely seen before. "If they're really that much stronger, then that means you gotta train even harder, right? And what better way than to have someone else with you to make sure you don't slack off?"      Although she's finally grinning her usual broad grin again, there's still worry hidden beneath all of that. Someone has to keep her protected, too, right? 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She chuckles softly. "Ugh... I'll be able to train in the Time-Space Administrative Bureau's facilities. Don't worry." she quips. The name of the administration hinted at all sorts of tantalizing possibilities, not only how such a person beat Momoyo but the reason they could mandatorily draft her from beyond the Gate.     "I don't know how long Fate will let you stay and it'll be a pain for you to get letters to be absent from school if they don't draft you too." she muses, having sent those earlier in the day, both to Tesshin and the school. "You should be able to come with me or come shortly after to meet Fate, though." at the very least that should calm her sister down.     "We're dealing with one of my Captains, that's how she's able to do this. You can talk to her about the Union, but remember that the organization I work for doesn't exist. I'm not part of them." That much was true. Only Yamato would be able to figure out that kind of information, and was trustworthy with it besides Kazuko. The rest of the Kazama Family only was let in on it on a need-to-know basis. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Time-Space...? That sounded like something straight from an anime. The fact that Momoyo tells her not to worry, though, is all the more reason to worry. Kazuko furrows her brow as she shoves her face into Momoyo's arm, a thoughtful hum escaping the brunette for a while. "... But if they do draft me, then it'll be fine, right?"      Everything's falling into place now. Probably not in the way her sister might like, but Kazuko's sounding more determined about it if nothing else! "I'll meet this Fate lady, and then I'll have her draft me. Then you don't have to worry about a thing!" She grins proudly at her deductive reasoning skills, although she does grunt again after a moment.      "But if you're gonna be with this group now... What about the last one? And the Union? Are they...?" All the names and organizations are hurting her head. She grimaces after a moment, slumping slightly and just latching onto Momoyo's arm instead. That's much easier to process. "Does anyone else know about this?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She shakes her head. "I'm only with the TSAB for a week. Fate will unseal my ki and everything will go back to normal... except I have a total large audience that watched me get my ass kicked." she mutters under her breath. "The Union is who you should join if you want to keep tabs on me, not the TSAB. The Union is for all the other dimensions. TSAB is just like the JSDF for us... but they're way ahead of us in technology. Technically, I think the lady Fate that beat me... is a magical girl." she grouses. Momoyo always did hate losing the rare time it happened. But people had been muttering she needed to lose for most of the year. It just finally happened when she got literally nuked.     Wait, what, magical girl??? 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      That's more like it! Knowing who to sign up with will make things a lot easier for Kazuko to process, and she won't even have to pester Yamato to figure it out for her. " Union... Got it. So I sign up with them, and then I can get out of classes /and/ make sure you're training /and/..."      Silence, then a double take. ".. Magical girl?" She responds flatly at first, her mouth just hanging open in utter confusion as she looks up at her sister's face. "You got... W-wait. Those are real?" Her face is lighting up, and she's looking even more excited than before. At least the anger seems to have subsided?      "Did she transform? Did she pose? Was there a mascot? Was the rest of her team there?" Possibly a little too quickly at that. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      This was going to get awkward to explain. "I was sparring with her daughter first, then she stepped in for some reason. Yes, both transformed. Yes, Vivio's mascot was a bunny named Chris. No, I don't think the rest of the team was there." she pushes her little sister lightly.     "Seriously. There's a lot of people out there I wanna fight. And a few who want to kill me. That whole mess where I had that huge diplomatic blowup in that Chinese restuarant to stop me from beating up Fed agents was part of it." she ruffles your hair. "Seriously. Go apply to the Union first, they are an army that tries to unite all the different Multiverses under a single democratic unified government. What /I/ do..." she lowers her voice. "...is work as one of their ultra-elite special agents to get around some trumped up prison charges related to the people I fought when the Gate opened. Don't tell anyone this. Those special agents don't exist. It can get me in serious trouble if anyone knows." she murmurs, deathly seriously. Though, she did expect Yamato to find out sooner or later. He even would make a good Chancer himself. 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      So magical girls /were/ real, and there was another Chris around. Kazuko wouldn't be calling that one Cri anytime soon, at least, but she does seem to have her curiousity sated for the time being. "Coooool.... Wait. Kill you?" That'd be taking it a little too far, wouldn't it? Sure, Momoyo's probably made some enemies, but...      "... Okay! I'll apply to this Union, and I'll make sure none of those people come anywhere near you!" Sounding confident once again, the younger sister leans in to listen to Momoyo closely, her eyes lighting up yet again when it sounds like her sister's become...      A SECRET AGENT. There's a high-pitched whine straining to escape the back of her throat, but she does get it under control eventually before nodding slowly. "I understand. Nobody's going to find out from me, then. And once I get stronger and level up more, I can join you in the..." A pause. "... Team that doesn't exist."      Perfect plan. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo rubs her temples. "If people know you're in the Union, it's kind of pointless to join a secret organization working for the Union AFTER you've already officially joined... but whatever." she gave up trying to explain the specifics. Yamato had more patience for that sort of thing and was better at it. "I need to leave, doggie. You can follow me later, I'll give you a copy of the directions to my place in Midchilda." If anything, having Kazuko wander into AN ENTIRE OTHER UNIVERSE would probably wrap her head around things faster than trying to bring her to Njorun first or show her on paper... her and Momoyo were both like that unless they were completely focused. "But yeah... I'm not going to be able to fight in any title challenges for the next week." 

:'''{{#var:942|Kazuko Kawakami (942)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo's got a point there. "So I should... Nnn. Then maybe if... No, that won't work." Kazuko lets out a pained grunt before just nuzzling Momoyo's chest, then backing off to give her space to do her packing. If nothing else, she could probably get Yamato to explain it without telling anyone else. "Alright, I will. I'll memorize them and make sure they don't fall into anyone else's hands!"      Moving over to give Momoyo a tight hug, she retreats back to the bed and crosses her arms over her chest. "I'll keep an eye on things here, too. If anyone comes, I'll be the gatekeeper and beat 'em off! Besides, if they can't even beat me, then they'd have no chance against you." She grins broadly as she says that, all sorts of plans starting to run through her head already. So what if Momoyo's had her ki sealed? Kazuko's still confident that nobody could beat her sister, anyway! 

}}

3729/Seriously, Strike Arts VS. Kawakami Style!

2016-01-27T14:54:53Z

Scrimbul: Fate seals Momoyo's ki and drafts her into the TSAB temporarily for retraining.

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/26
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Fate reviews Momoyo's sparring surveillance footage, asking Vivio if she'd like to spar. Vivio agrees, so shortly thereafter Fate contacts Momoyo to set up an appointment. Unfortunately, Momoyo goes overboard and Vivio won't back down... prompting Fate to overreact and step in to teach the Chancer the meaning of control and moderation. After 'befriending' Momoyo in an over the top display of non-lethal overkill, Fate seals Momoyo for a week and drafts her involuntarily into the TSAB as an aide... preventing Momoyo from fighting while Fate schemes to mother her to death in that timeframe while the much of the rest of the Union snickers and chides Momoyo for her first actual loss and what it's meaning is. Entirely Fate's fault, but Momoyo had it coming for some time...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=306, 369, 680, 709, 737, 863, 880, 906, 928, 940
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Fresh from her trip through Deathtrap Funland, also known as Sen's Fortress, Momoyo tapped on the console to change the Ring to default settings. Since Fate was somewhat cryptic about the specifics, she was just busy setting the holographic terrain to default settings and attuning the Ring to herself.     Generally Momoyo had very little interest in electronics outside of video games, but learning the Ring's consoles, or at least what she was allowed to have access to, was one of the few things she was genuinely interested in. The console hummed slightly as she tapped over the futuristic technology, her typically loose and unkempt hair draped over her shoulders. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "It's been some time since I've actually come to the Ring here. Are you ready for your match, Vivio?" Fate steps out into the ring, still wearing her Enforcers uniform. There's no need for magic here, so she hasn't even transformed. Besides, this is Vivio's day! "Just be careful, okay?" Turning slightly, she faces the young girl and crouches down enough to pat Vivio on the head. "Remember your training and don't forget your defense. And make sure you have fun." She glances at the Device which is almost certainly floating about. "And you keep her safe, Chris. I'm counting on you." The rabbit is given a warm smile, before she stands up straight again. "The same goes for you, Miss Kawakami. I'd like for you to have fun, so both you and Vivio can learn something! Just don't go overboard, okay?" Fate is being vague again, but she hopes that an experienced fighter like Momoyo gets what she means. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato leans back against a wall, the one area where she felt the most comfortable outside of the ring. That same ring where she fought to a draw with Momoyo... and now she gets to see this again, this time on the other side of the fence. It's here that her eyes rest upon her former Submarine's form, a brief nod of confirmation... and she just waits. "Kawakami, do your best." she speaks, waiting. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio Takamachi enters the arena alongside her mother, Fate. She hasn't transformed into her adult form yet, simply wearing a cute pink short-sleeved dress, with a white jacket. She bounces on her feet a little as she walks with Fate, nodding in agreement and then smiling, "Yup! I'm really looking forward to it." She stops as Fate does and turns to face her. At the head patting Vivio beams, nodding quickly in understanding, "Got it! I'll be okay!" She turns her head to look at the plush bunny floating beside her, "Right, Chris?" The little bunny swings his pointed arm up to his head in a salute at Fate, always willing to take on the responsibility of protecting his Master!     As they meet up with Momoyo, Vivio bows to the older girl, "Hello! I'm Vivio Takamachi. It's nice to meet you." She straightens again, her vivid red and green eyes shining in anticipation of the coming fight. She grins as she finishes, "Let's have a good match!" 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Oh, would you look at that? The Ring is being used again.      And so, here comes Nero, sauntering in like she owns the place. If The Ring was active, then surely, Momoyo must be up to no good again.      WELL.      Nero would come to bear witness to this 'no good'. Because it would surely be entertaining. And so without a word, and a smile on her face, the Servant took a seat in the stands, watching and waiting for it all to start. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     A new person walks into the Ring of Philosophy after seeing a lot of people enter here, "I wonder what is going on?" she asks herself in her Scottish accented voice as she walks in. Stopping, she looks around and whistles, "Wow," an dhe looks at those walkign by, "Oi, what's going on here?" she asks someone random that maybe passing by to find out what is going on. Lookign at those here, Mairead wonders just what this s all about. . o 0 (This is not for me is it?) she thinks to herself as she looks on. 

:'''{{#var:863|Haguro (863)}} has posed:'''      Haguro's standing by Nagato to watch the fight today, looking a little more serious than she normally does. Focused, even! Looking between Momoyo and Vivio, she furrows her brow before taking a seat. It's sure to be an interesting fight, but that's not quite the same thing as saying it'll be a proper one. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang stands near the entryway, giving Momoyo a firm 'look' before Mairead walks in. "Momoyo's gonna spar with the girl with the two tone eyes." she explains, arms crossed under her bust. "Lets just hope she doesn't go overboard again..." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Ah..." Momoyo is actually left speechless for a brief moment, when she turns around. She sensed two reasonably powerful auras she didn't recognize, separately from her usual spectators.     But this was ridiculous.     Granted, Vivio at a glance was a young prodigy. Period. Just like Momoyo herself, Vivio was absurdly strong packed into a small body, and likely reasonably talented to boot. But... Fate was no older than a college student. This had been the first time Momoyo had seen both after Fate and Vivio reviewed Momoyo's sparring footage, even against Nagato.     "Did... you adopt her?" she asks, gesturing. She must have been familiar with Kazuko her younger sister. Vivio was cute like Kazuko.     Vivio's aura was ridiculously strong. Approaching Momoyo's own, the odds were still overwhelmingly in Momoyo's favor... but it was likely due to the relative experience gap between the two fighters. Vivio's aura looked like Nero's almost, to Momoyo. And then... there was Fate. Who still looked strong, but surprisingly mundane, even weaker than Vivio. Something was seriously off about this match, though Fate looked perfectly honest and serious. "Why am I beating up a nine year old, Captain?"     She had to admit though. Vivio was absolutely adorable... just Momoyo didn't usually visibly react that way. She did reach down and ruffle Vivio's hair, before stepping down the stairs into the Ring at the appropriate distance away and letting Fate review the console settings. Because neither fighter had bowed yet, she set a hand on her hip, waiting patiently on Vivio as she conversed. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''     "Ah, Miss Harlaown! It's been a while." The voice comes from somewhere behind Fate, as Shizune Nakamura approaches with a brisk pace and a wave of greeting. "It looks like I got here just in time, I wanted to see this." Once she gets in closer, she offers a quick bow of greeting to the whole group, before giving both Momoyo and Vivio a quick lookover with a practiced eye. She opts not to say a word when Momoyo asks a very specific question; part of her is curious herself, part of her suspects she knows why already. 

:'''{{#var:709|Fujiwara no Mokou (709)}} has posed:'''     Sometimes it's difficult for Mokou to slot something in her busy schedule. Between 'being a hermit' 'being a hermit' and 'being a hermit' the guide and 'guardian' of the Bamboo Forest has to pull a lot of strings to get the half a hour off needed to be here. But she's still mildly interested in Momoyo, so it was worth the paperwork.     Seated next to Nero by coincidence, the white-haired teenager recognizes the Servant from one of Momoyo's prior matches, if not by her voice once she actually says anything at all. You'd have to be deaf not to recognize Nero by voice with how much she talks!     "Huh, aren't you that emperor? I've never been to Rome but I think I'd heard of you when I was a kid. Or... one of you, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Looking at Yang, she blinks, "Ah, so this would be a match," she states as she nods, "I see, so this will be interesting to watch then yes?" she asks her as she looks at the two. "What ye mean by going overboard again?" she asks as she is new and has no idea just who Momoyo is or what she can do. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero perked at a voice addressing her, and turned to look. Upon spotting Mokou, she blinked.      And then she smiled wide, pressing a hand above her chest in a haughty manner. "Why yes, I /am/ that Emperor! Specifically, Her Imperial Majesty, Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus! But you may call me Your Majesty, Your Grace, Radiant One, or Your Greatness."      Talking to her was a mistake.      In fact, she was so caught up in herself, she didn't realize the oddness in the hermit's statement. Or maybe she did, and simply hasn't addressed it yet. Priorities. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "I did, yes. Vivio is my youngest." That means Fate has more than one kid! While she might be flattered to be confused for college age, she's actually in her mid-twenties. Momoyo is given a warm smile in return. "She's eleven. And don't worry. Like I've said, she's very strong." Leaning over again, the Enforcer fusses with her daughter's hair a bit more. "And don't forget everything Nove taught you. I'm sure you'll do fine, sweetie." To perhaps add to the embarrassment, she kisses the girl on the forehead before taking a step back. "Bardiche, do a quick scan of the settings. Is everything in order?" From somewhere in the pocket of her coat, a soft chime sounds, Yes, Sir. Preparations are made. "Thank you, Bardiche. I'll..." Stop embarrassing Vivio? Well... maybe. But Fate does turn back toward the stands. "I'll be watching from up there!" When her name is called, the blonde turns, then smiles as she sees Shizune. "Ah, Miss Nakamura! I think you'll enjoy getting to see Vivio fight. She's a student of Strike Arts, like in that book from a few years ago." 

:'''{{#var:709|Fujiwara no Mokou (709)}} has posed:'''     "Oh. You're not the one I heard of. I think his name was..." Mokou rattles her head. She wasn't exactly the studious type, but when her father talked she listened. Ancient emperors who left their marks in history were always a hot topic. It was... started with a J. Right! "Julius! Julius Caesar, that's right, that's who it was. Sorry, I guess I got you confused because of the middle name in there."     Awkward, possibly button-pushing, but not intentional. "Why do you have so many names? Was that normal back then?" She can guess at least one of those names must be a title, much like her own, at least.     She gets a feeling she probably shouldn't take her eyes off the arena, but it doesn't look like they started yet. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     For the moment, Vivio's eyes are fixed on Momoyo. They study the older girl closely, Vivio getting a good feeling that this person is probably just as strong as she's seen. There's also a tough attitude there, perhaps a bit rough. But that's okay, Vivio has some friends like that. Vivio doesn't seem to mind the hair ruffling, staying quiet as Fate explains things to Momoyo. She watches as her opponent moves down into the Ring, then turns to her mother.     Vivio is only mildly embarassed at the momming, trying to reassure Fate with, "Mama, this isn't the first time I've fought an elite!" She's had her fair share of bouts, including a rather exciting one with a Saiyan. From what Vivio's seen, she's kind of expecting something similar from this fight. Or perhaps that's hoping so?     It's once Fate turns to head up into the stands that Vivio realises they have quite the audience. Not quite what she figured, but she's certainly not the type to get stage fright. Turning and walking to join Momoyo below, Vivio says to her Device, "Alright, Chris. Let's do this!" The plush bunny narrows his eyes in determination, nodding in agreement with his Master. Once reaching the centre of the arena, Chris floats down in front of her chest, turning away from her as she raises her hands to his sides, "Sacred Heart, Contact Mode. Set up!"     A glow surrounds Chris as he floats back and sinks into Vivio's chest, disappearing. A torrent of iridescent light bursts up around Vivio, mostly hiding her from view. The silhouette of the young girl inside suddenly starts to grow, becoming taller and filling out. Finally the magic bursts, producing a light gust of wind as Vivio is once revealed. Though now she's look older than she was, clothed in the unique looking protection of her Barrier Jacket. Adult Form Vivio throws a few air punches to warm up before grinning and nodding to Momoyo, "Ready when you are." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Nevermind, you're that new girl, right?" replies Yang, moving up into the stands now the two fighters are getting ready. "If it happens, you'll know it when you see it." she adds, parking herself and resting her feet on the backrest of a seat in front of her, leaning back and closing her eyes... might as well put that Aura Sense to work... get some practice with it when two big forces clash. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "..."      "......"      "............"      Nero's face goes red. With anger. "H-H-H-H-HOW could you mistake me for that rotund man!?" Sputtering comically, she flailed an arm hilariously. "Look upon me! Look! How could you ever possibly mistake such beauty for a man like HIM?"      ...Talking to Nero was a mistake.      "And if you must know, each name I possess exists only to accencuate my majesty, beauty, radiance, power, and charisma! It is elementary!" But after that spiel, the Servant took a deep breath and smiled.      "HOWEVER. I am a forgiving Emperor. I shall allow this slight to my honor to pass. For the mistake of the common man are not made out of malice. But out of ignorance! Be glad that I have taken the time to educate you!"      ...TALKING TO NERO WAS A MISTAKE.      Thankfully the match started then, and Nero shut her yap to watch. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo started to listen to the chatter in the arena. This was not unusual. But two people annoyed her in particular. What was this, a soccer match with a pack of moms attending?     "Admiral... would you please sit the Captain /down/ next to /you/?" she gestures, a little pleadingly. Then she turns on Nero.     "Oh my god Nero shut up! SHUT! UP!" she yelled at the Southern Deva. Apparently, she was still cranky over her bitchy high schooler argument with her over the radio recently. But seeing as how she was still the stronger one both from beating Nero and in completing Sen's Fortress, she had a certain right to incite Nero's indignant responses. But only to a degree.     She gives an exasperated sigh, until she watches Vivio's transformation... into a girl Momoyo's age. "...Wow. You really are /cute/." There was no increase in Vivio's aura, but she looked a fair bit more experienced now and in control of her reflexes. But her physical appearance... well Momoyo tended to toss out idle compliments to girls around her age regularly. Even Yang had to listen to enough of them even when those who knew her better knew it was never serious or even frequent.     With no choice though, her hands clap together in a deep, formal Japanese bow. That signalled the beginning of the match. After that, she didn't round on Vivio immediately. No, she did her usual gambit for opponents around her level of experience...     She simply stolled slowly toward Vivio, her jacket fluttering around her shoulders. Vivio could tell... there was no opening in Momoyo's defense or stance. She intentionally made things very tense as she got closer, to close the range for the two fighters. She was raising the tension to force Vivio to react and see what would happen, those red eyes of hers locking on Vivio's two-toned ones like a predator now. Her expression was not the same as the Elites Vivio usually fought... she was a practiced, determined fighter but also resembled an amused wild predator. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Nodding, Mairead looks, "Oh," she says to her as she moves and finds a seat next to Yang and nods to people as she probably sticks out with the school uniform and being only 17. Sitting down, she does so lady like and looks on, "If you do not mind me asking, Who is who?" she says to Yang and others near her as she looks. Additionally, she stands up real quick and looks around her seat and double checks everything before sitting down. She reall does nto want to find any insects that causes itching, since she has a fear of them.....She woudl probably shoot up the seats trying to kill it.... 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "I dunno the girl with the two-tone eyes, but the one that looks like a really smug cat playing with a mouse is Momoyo Kawakami." replies Yang. She's no older than Mairead, but has an air of an experienced fighter about her.. though probably nothing compared to the two below. 

:'''{{#var:863|Haguro (863)}} has posed:'''      As inappropriate as it might be, Haguro's actually smiling slightly at the different reactions of her fellow Elites both inside and outside of the ring. Nero's indignance at Mokou's comparison, Momoyo's frustration at Nero, Fate's doting over Vivio, and even the arrival of Mairead drawing Yang's attention.      "This has gotten quite interesting very quickly, hasn't it, Admiral?" A moment later, and Haguro's back to her usual flustered self while bowing her head quickly to Nagato. "Ah... I'm sorry! Mm... How do you think this fight will go, though?" She turns her focus back on the transformed Vivio and Momoyo after speaking, a quiet grunt escaping her after a moment. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio giggles quietly for a moment at Momoyo's antics towards the audience. She then smiles at the compliment, "Thanks~" Although she looks older, Vivio is still a young girl at heart, so simply takes the comment at face value.     There's the bow, and then Momoyo begins to stroll deceptively casually towards Vivio. Vivio's only real reaction is to slip into a combat stance in preparation, holding her ground. Her eyes are fixed on Momoyo, analysing her opponent closely, checking for openings, signs of attack... Anything really. Vivio is patient though, maintaining her position even as the distance between the two slowly closes. Right now it looks to be a battle of wills more than anything. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo stands in front of Vivio. She had no idea what this girl was trying to do... but not everyone seized on a defensive stance like she did when Momoyo got close. That was unusual in and of itself. She knew Fate was careful not to drop any unnecessary hints either. Well, it was time for the litmus test. Anyone who got hit with this as the first attack had no business in the arena with her.     "Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!"     The wind-up of her punch couldn't even be seen. It was the most basic of technicues Vivio had likely been blocking for a couple years now, even enhanced... Momoyo's was not enhanced with her ki. In spite of this, it came out with the speed and force of a battleship cannon, with the appropriate backdraft following. Her fist sped toward Vivio's midsection, testing her Strike Arts with her fearsome signature move! 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Those eyes. So full of energy, excitement, focus. An open window into Vivio's pure hearted soul and also her greatest strength. The Strike Arts practitioner moves an arm to block the sudden punch, taking the hit dead on. The impact is accompanied by a brief flash of magic as a combination of defensive magics soften the blow, though not entirely. The sheer force of the blow sends Vivio skidding back a few feet, but she otherwise remains stable.     In the aftermath of the attack, Vivio grins. Both because it wasn't anything too unexpected, and because it was now her turn. Vivio pushes forward off her foot, quickly closing the distance to Momoyo again before bringing her leg up in a magic-boosted high kick towards Momoyo's torso. A strike roughly equal in power and force to the one Momoyo just dealt. Clearly Vivio is also testing Momoyo's worthiness as an opponent. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Widening her eyes, she reached out to block Vivio's foot with her open palm and slap the kick aside viciously. It was necessary to block that after all, but her reactions were on point. That was strange, though. She attacked with equal force and only using a fraction of her magical aura...      From there, she stood off with the honey-blonde fighter. A blurry looking flurry of punches with the occasional kick, she started to trade blows viciously.     "You're pretty good, Vivio. Hmhmhm~" she murmurs, the tension in her voice rising only slightly. She didn't know what to expect but she was beyond pleased with her opponent. Vivio was actually strong enough to compete with most students in her world. It was one thing to say it, but another to really see it in action. She continued to pepper Vivio with blows to see how quickly she would be overwhelmed with the simple combination of inhuman strength and god-like speed. As she trades blows with Vivio, naturally more dust is kicked up off the ground, even with no particular technique used. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     As her kick is block and her leg pushed away, Vivio quickly backs up a moment to regain her footing in preparation of the inevitable follow up attack. As the flurry of blows start to come in, Vivio does a good job of keeping up with the fast attacks, trading her own back. This is mostly thanks to Chris currently merged with her, who can follow the blows better than she can and through a combined teamwork of Master and Device, creative an effective defence. Some of the hits do get through, though Vivio's Barrier Jacket does its job of keeping them from doing too much harm.     Vivio blocks another blow, during which there's a brief pause in the assault. Vivio grins at the comment, saying, "Thanks. You too. But I think we both know this is just the start!"     Vivio uses her block to push Momoyo back a bit, generating some breathing room. Her foot shifts ever so slightly as she begins, "Jet-" Vivio moves so fast she essentially vanishes, reappearing behind Momoyo, "-Step". Vivio turns, launching a spin kick towards Momoyo's hopefully unprotected back. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She watches, only having a fraction of a second to see Vivio start a move... a move which let her match Momoyo's own speed. It was a good gambit, she had to grudgingly admit.     But her ki sense was as handy as her eyes. Dropping to the floor, she quickly crouches very low under the spin-kick, countering for Vivio's remaining foot with a sweep kick of her own! "Good try!"     Whether her opponent had fallen on her butt or managed to prevent herself from being tripped, she advanced on the mage relentlessly. "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!"     She laughed aloud a bit, not just because of how cute her opponent was but because she was having fun too. In spite of this, both her arms moved at brutal speeds, rapid-firing the first technique such that if one didn't get blocked, more than one would inevitably hit. Dampening two-dozen of those punches would be a severe stress on any magical defense, but even from such a terrible position, two dozen of those blows meant a counter 24 times as powerful in return, less the blows dodged or failed to be blocked... 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     The dodge and counter sweep do manage to knock Vivio's leg out from under her. But she manages to twist her body during the fall to land more gracefully than on her butt, and in a stronger position to deal with the follow up attack. She is still forced to block as many of the blows as she can, but now that she's somewhat used to Momoyo's impressive speed, Vivio can begin to consider alternatives. Such as the following.     Vivio fails to block one of the fast strikes, taking the hit against her shoulder in what looks to be a painful hit. But on second inspection, the hit is not for nothing as magic glows around Vivio's fist. Having intentionally taken Momoyo's attack to create an opening for her own, Vivio rises from her position with a strong punch aimed for Momoyo's gut.     "Accel Smash!"     The resulting blast of magic is far larger than anything Vivio has displayed so far in the fight, the force behind it large enough to knock Momoyo through the air if she can't defend against it well enough. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Auuugh~!"     The attack hits her right in the gut. Internal organ damage for certain, the force of her blows were near-instant, but if someone didn't fear her in that near-instant she was left entirely open for such an uppercut. However, something else happened in the instant that fist was buried in her gut, before she flew backward from the force. Momoyo had a counter of her own to the counter. A decidedly unfair one.     "Ningen Bakudan...'Human Bomb'"     The result of coming in contact with Momoyo's body with Accel Smash was an explosive force in return, her ki applied at the area she was punched in. Such an attack would almost certainly hurt Momoyo far more than threatening to break Vivio's fist. Both fighters are blown backward dozens of feet from the twin explosive forces, Momoyo looking far more hurt... but she just chuckled softly like a madwoman.     "Restoration..." she murmured, using her own ki to heal her bruised organs and the burns from her own technique as she staggers to her feet. "Hmhmhm~. You're not only good but pretty brave... fighters more experienced than you even wouldn't risk their shoulder to counter that technique." 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' In the stands, Fate slowly frowns. She shifts in her seat, but doesn't move to stand. "I'd hoped she wouldn't do that, and so soon..." 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio bounces across the floor a couple of times before planting her hand into the ground and spinning up into the air. Landing once more on her feet, Vivio takes a moment to breathe. Her fist is still smoking from where Momoyo's Human Bomb exploded her away. She grins as she rolls her shoulder, it hurts a little but is still working properly, "As my coach says... It's a calculated risk."     With the two separated by some distance, Vivio takes the opportunity to switch up her style a bit. Whipping her arm out to her side, a triangular spell circle appears on the ground beneath her. She begins, "Sonic Shooter..." A dozen orbs of iridescent light form in the air around her, crackling with energy. Momoyo will probably recognise a ranged attack when she sees one...     ... But then Vivio charges forward, closing the distance towards Momoyo, with two of the orbs following. At the last moment, Vivio flicks her wrist and the orbs dart forward to hit ground in front of Momoyo, the blast of light and smoke briefly clouding the area. A cover up for Vivio's attack?     Not exactly! Vivio doesn't appear again continuing her charge, but instead soaring over Momoyo's head. She lands behind Momoyo again, but unlike her previous rear attack, it doesn't matter so much with this one whether Momoyo knows she's there or not. Placing her hands together, palms open wide and crackling with energy, Vivio launches the strike towards her opponent. However the attack carries little actual damage, instead the magic implies a great force on impact, strong enough to once more knock Momoyo through the air. This time though, it's in the direction of Vivio's remaining orbs.     Jumping away to gain more distance once more, Vivio finishes, "Assault Shift!" The orbs converge on Momoyo's location in a series of magical explosions. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      For the time being, Momoyo is knocked around like a rag doll. While the first few attacks could be sidestepped, she wasn't prepared for Vivio to just push her in the direction of more smoke and energy. There's more screams of pain as she's forced to take the attack... but she didn't fall from the air.     "Kawakami Style: Killer Fireflies!"     The smoke didn't have time to clear before the directly hit Momoyo counterattacked. Like Vivio, individually each ball didn't do much damage, but the more exploded, the less visibility one had on the ground and getting hit by them still hurt. None of the attacks were as guided as Vivio's, but she would be forced to come after Momoyo in the air, her uniform shredded in places from the attacks she's already taken. The problem was, the longer the fight went on the more psyched up Momoyo seemed to get. She simply wasn't getting tired! 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio lands again after the aftermath of her last attack. However she doesn't get a chance to rest as Momoyo quickly throws her own ranged attack against Vivio. Vivio had been prepared for the possibility, though once more Momoyo's speed makes things more difficult. Vivio quickly raises her hand, a Round Shield forming just beyond her palm. The circular barrier blocks a number of the incoming shots, however its strength wanes and quickly fails.     The barrier shatters into light, the remaining shots impacting Vivio and the ground around her as she briefly cries in pain. Smoke quickly clouds the arena floor.     Recovering from the attack, Vivio glances around. Visibility is poor and she isn't aware of Momoyo's position exactly. Perhaps that was her opponent's intent. Or not. Either way, Vivio decides to take advantage of the cover and do something unexpected.     From outside the smoke, a glow can be seen building within it. Vivio's voice can be heard once more, "Sonic Shooter..." The light grows stronger as the hum of energy becomes noticeable. Then there is a sudden CRACK. A pause, then a rush of wind bellows out from a central point. Vivio is quickly revealed to be kneeling in a crater, her fist still impacted against the ground. She had uses the force of her strike to blast the smoke away and return her sight. A closer look would reveal Vivio's Barrier Jacket is scorched in a number of places, a testament to the effectiveness of Momoyo's attack. However, one would probably be more focused on the large spell circle glowing beneath Vivio, and the couple dozen orbs of crackling energy floating around her.     Standing once more, Vivio smirks as she looks up towards her opponent, line of sight restored. She raises her hand to point at Momoyo and then finishes, "Phantom Shift." The two dozen orbs dart away from Vivio, streaking towards Momoyo. However before they reach her, they each burst into multiple streams of magic, the great number of beams arcing through the air to converge on Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhmhm~... hahahahah! This is fun, Vivio!!! I should take you for a cup of tea after!!"     And there it goes, Momoyo's invitation would be completely over Vivio's head... but would irritate the crap out of Fate that much more as her apprehension grew.     Abruptly, Momoyo let herself speed toward the ground in a hurry, her fist hitting it in order to drop beneath and between the beams quickly. A few of the orbs she couldn't dodge she simply blocked on the way down, swatting them aside... the magic blasts scorching her arms but her pain tolerance was such that she ignored it for now to dodge the atta     cxterm93">"Earth Splitter!!"     The arena shakes as she takes advantage of the crater Vivio is in. Trying to force her to dodge awkwardly, she cracks the earth apart, as the magic explodes over her head. Of course, she followed with an attack of her own. Vivio was having trouble being pelted with many individual shots, but that kind of barrage could always be weathered if it wasn't followed with a show of for     cxterm93">"Kawakami-HAAAAA!!!!"     As many times as Momoyo had been hit with long range magic thus far, it was baffling that she could spit out a beam of this size. An extremely wide attack soars, a wide glowing golden light shooting toward the general direction she was trying to bait Vivio to dodging in. She started to zig-zag over the arena behind her own attack, flinging more fireflies herself as she closed the distance in. Sure, she could beat Vivio at range... but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun. "I'm coming for you, cutiiiiie!!!" she catcalls, getting psyched up as ever. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato moves down to where Fate was sitting, only to sit next to her. "Kawakami has a reckless fighting style." she mentions towards Fate, her eyes not breaking from the scene at hand. "However, Vivio seems to be keeping up just fine. I'm quite impressed. Did you train her yourself?" Nagato leans back a bit, eyes bouncing back and forth between the two fighters... "The outcome will be interesting, wouldn't you say so?" 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio grins as it seems like Momoyo is having just as much fun as she is. Once more Vivio misses the subtlety and simply accepts the innocent-appearing invitation, "That would be nice!" But for now, battle focus! Vivio aims her beams to try and knock Momoyo out of the air, even as the evasive flier begins to close the distance towards her.     Suddenly the ground seems to become unstable and Vivio jumps away, concerned about a possible strike from below. Unfortunately it places her in prime position for Momoyo's large beam attack. Vivio can't raise any active defences in time, so simply braces herself for the hit. The blone fighter is engulfed by the beam.     As the energy fades, Vivio is still standing, if a little wobbly. More of her Barrier Jacket is scorched and in some places, gone completely to reveal skin beneath. Vivio raises her head to fix her eyes on Momoyo. While the rest of her looks pretty beat up, there's still fire in those eyes. The drive to continue on shining behind the red and green.     Vivio shifts her stance again, holding her ground as Momoyo flies in towards her. Then with a slight movement of her foot, Vivio Jet Steps once more, immediately closing the distance to Momoyo. She attempts to take hold of the fast moving fighter and use her own momentum to swing her into the ground at high speed. However Vivio doesn't finish there, iridescent orb of light appearing in her palm. She swings it around to aim near point-blink at Momoyo as she calls out, "Divine... BUSTER!"     The huge cone-shaped blast of energy blasts towards Momoyo just feet away, before continuing well beyond her to rip apart a swathe of the arena floor. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The nice thing about Jet Step was it suited Vivio's fighting style perfectly, allowing for instant repositioning. The only wonky part of Jet Step, is that it had limited success on martial artists who spent their lives countering instant repositioning themselves.     Instead of letting her momentum trip her up, she tumbled... and kept hold of Vivio's arm, throwing both in multiple circles. It would look ridiculous if it wasn't so fast, and a tense moment of both fighters being off-balance. Nevertheless, the full force of one of Vivio's strongest pure-magical attacks fires off.     Having crossed her wrists, she suffers the brunt of the attack, looking just as worse for wear as Vivio. Her skin smoked and clothes were singed, having withstood it through sheer endurance at point blank. While she was likely knocked back a few feet, it was a testament to Momoyo's raw endurance rather than her skill that she could be standing after a finisher type move.      "Restoration..."     She chuckles softly, as she could see Vivio's clearly diminished aura, not just in general but after that attack. Momoyo was now fresher other than the spent ki... but her reserves now were solidly ahead of Vivio's in spite of that hit. "Hmhmhm...hahahAHAHA!" It was at that point, Momoyo's voice took on the hard edge Fate and Nagato were clinging to the edge of their seats for. "You've kept up well Vivio. Now give me more FUN!" she charges the battered honey-blonde. Were it not for the gradual loss of her rationality to her adrenaline, Vivio might just see Momoyo as really really excited... rather than having hit that point where she was getting bloodthirsty.     "Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher!" 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "Mmmn," comes Fate's noncommittal reply to Nagato. "I taught Vivio a few spells, but Nove did most of her training." Her voice is somewhat tense, though, as she watches the fight. There may be a slight twitch from one eye. Taking a breath, Face lifts a hand to the side of her mouth and calls out, "You can do it, sweetie!" Mom cheer mode, engaged, even if that tone of Momoyo's voice has her worried. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato gives a non-commital nod towards Fate as she watches, listening to to the cheering on from Fate, she gets a light grin. "Kawakami, you can best a battleship, and you bested some of our destroyers, you can best her as well!" time to cheer on her own member.     Nagato turns to Fate a bit, "Spells? I'm unfamiliar with magic, unfortunately." then she turns back towards the battle, tapping her foot. Almost-Mom-Mode active. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero is all smirks. Arms crossed, eyes locked onto the battle. The exchange of techniques, skills, and blows.      She is in 'Entertain the Emperor' mode, of course.      What do you mean 'isn't that all the time?', no one asked you! 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Well, that didn't go exactly as planned. But at least she got her attack off! Vivio slowly returns to her feet after the two had clashed. She's a little wobbly and silently admits that she might be falling behind. What with that restoration ability of Momoyo's. But that doesn't mean she's going to give up! Vivio settles into a stance again, steadying herself as she prepares for the next strike.     Vivio watches Momoyo charge in, taunting her as she does. As focused as Vivio is on winning, she doesn't really notice the troublesome tone of Momoyo's words. Instead she raises her arms to block the incoming strike. A punishing blow, it launches Vivio backwards again, sending her bouncing across the ground until she finally stops.     Vivio looks quite battered at this point... And yet the look in her eyes hasn't changed as she struggles back to her feet. The encouragement from her mother helps restore her spirit as she shifts into an attack stance this time. Vivio begins to charge forward to close the distance once more. But before she reaches Momoyo, she raises her hand towards her and calls, "Hoop Bind!" Several rings of light appear around Momoyo, before quickly contracting to hopefully catch her, binding her in position to give Vivio a clear shot. The binds won't lost long, but hopefully long enough!     Jumping high into the air, Vivio arcs over and begins to fall towards Momoyo. Iridescent magic gathers around her leg, growing in strength as the distance shrinks. Reaching her target, Vivio cries, "Revolver Spike!" She brings her leg around in a devastating round kick, another blast of magic on impact and forceful blow likely to send Momoyo crashing through the ground. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Ghhh...!" she snarls, the Bind catching her arms against her after pounding on Vivio's magic reserves and dampening fields with that vicious barrier-shattering punch. She, however, didn't stop to struggle to even test the strength of the glowing binds. She didn't move, her feet still planted in the ground, watching the tired Vivio rise in the air with a relative unnerving calm.     This was her chance, she wasn't about to let binding magic hold her in place for it. Right when Vivio begins her downward momentum, Momoyo inhales deeply... and then uses her monstrous strength with an exhalation to short out the binds by force!     She recklessly charges directly INTO the Revolver Spike... seizing Vivio's leg and shoulder, she lifts it abruptly, sending her briefly up in the air again... before she starts to fall with Vivio. Using that strength and the speed she hadn't been using up to that point, she keeps Vivio in a submission hold as she lets gravity do the work for her. If Vivio didn't figure out a counter to her opponent's grapple, she was going to have her collarbone and shoulders broken by the ground from this height given Momoyo's weight.     "Kawakami Driver."     "This ends now, Takamachi!!!" she snarls with gritted teeth. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio lets out a yelp of surprise as her leg and shoulder are grabbed. She hadn't expected Momoyo to break the bind that quickly! Vivio is lifted and then finds herself falling towards the ground head first. She struggles, but can't seem to escape Momoyo's grip. She quickly runs through her options and decides on a risky move... It's her only choice at this point. Vivio argues, "Not yet! Sacred Defender!" A barrier of light surrounds Vivio's entire body not a moment too soon as she and Momoyo impact the ground in a burst of dust and debris!     As the dust settles, Vivio lies in the resulting crater. Her body is battered and bruised, her Barrier Jacket in tatters. And yet, she's still conscious. Groaning quietly, Vivio pushes herself to her knees. There's blood trickling from her mouth, but she moves a hand to wipe it off. Looking up at Momoyo, those vivid eyes still burn fiercly, Vivio determined to not give up... To keep fighting... To get stronger.     The blonde Mage struggles to stand, turning to face Momoyo. She clenches her fist, beginning to channel more magic into it... Or at least try to, as she looks to be having trouble drawing the strength. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' And the instant of impact, Fate is on her feet. "That's quite enough. Bardi ~chy">Yes, Sir~ chimes the device from her pocket. Fate doesn't even need to approach the console, as her Device activates it remotely. The Enforcer instead hurries down from the stands and walks right up to where the pair landed. "This fight is over." Though there's no power released yet, the look in her crimson eyes conveys her emotions well enough. Fate is not happy about the last few moments of the fight. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Dusting herself off, when she realizes she's not going to have to bury another technique in Vivio's face while neither girl will yield... the Ring immediately heals both girls. Looking not that much worse for wear than when they started the fight other than her tattered clothes, she eyes the Captain. "What is your /problem/!?" While the other fighter knew her mom better, it may have been the same thing on her mind too. Momoyo and Vivio were just starting to feel the burn... particularly as Momoyo was pushing Vivio beyond her upper limits. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     The sudden clarity of a no longer battle-fatigued mind briefly causes some confusion for Vivio, who looks around in surprise for a moment before realising what happened. She looks questioningly at Fate, "Mama?" 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' "Go ahead and step out of the arena, Vivio. We can talk about this later." Crimson eyes flashing, Fate looks evenly at Momoyo. "I was hoping if I got to see it myself, things might be different. But I'm sad to say that I've seen you exhibiting the same self-destrutive behavior that I've heard reports about. Behavior that could seriously hurt your opponent or get yourself killed." Fate tilts her head slightly. "So I think I'm going to have to cool your head a bit, so we can properly talk." Reaching into her coat pocket, the Enforcer pulls out a trianguar yellow gem. Until now, Fate's powers have been suppressed, but she speaks softly, "Bardiche, remove Limiter. Engage Shin Sonic Form." ~Yes, Sir~ And, with a burst of golden light, Fate's uniform fades into her Barrier Jacket, and Bardiche extends out into a long sword. ~Riot Zanber, Get Set.~ 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio still looks a little confused, though gets the impression that she's in trouble for something. So she nods obediently to her mother, "Oh, okay... Chris, mode release." Vivio's adult form grows brightly before fading away, leaving behind Vivio's real body again with her Device floating in the air beside her.     Vivio turns and heads out of the arena, climbing the stairs of the spectators area before she finds a seat. Sitting down, she watches for a moment, before turning to ask Nagato, "Did I miss something?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The look on Momoyo's face was absolute shock, but even then she quickly jumped back to create distance. There would be no bow to start the match. No warnings. No quarter.     "You've been holding out on me." she murmurs. She was flooded with excitement now, at seeing Fate's actual aura. It didn't look too far removed from the Sun God she just got ran through by in the past week... partly due to the same self-destructive behaviors Fate is raising hell about now. In fact the grin on her face was wild. There was no way she could win. And that excited her to no end.     "Hmhmhmhm~. Seriously??? You were this strong all along? This is fantastic!" her fist comes up open-palmed... but she didn't stop to examine her opponent's behavior. Not like she did with Vivio. If she didn't put on the pressure immediately there would be no way to crack the blonde. Not everyone in the arena could see why Momoyo suddenly got deathly serious, but enough of them could to know that both fighters knew the other had nearly lethal intent this time. The tone was entirely different from when she struggled with Vivio.     "Fuji Smasher."     Her fist smashes brutally against Fate's first barrier... the first of many. Well within range of her sword, she tries to keep her in close and back her in against a wall... if she allowed Fate any time to think she was going to be done in the blink of an eye. She wasn't going to die, but her body quivered as she felt damn close. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato shakes her head, there went Momoyo again, being a reckless destroyer... though when Vivio addresses her, she turns to look down towards her, "Kawakami is getting in over her head as usual. I do look forward to seeing her get knocked down a bit though, should serve her well in the coming days..." she turns back towards the fight at hand, not before moving to rub Vivio's head, "You did wonderfully, Vivio. I think you will go very far if you continue training." 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio ohs quietly, though still not understanding. Although she can turn into an adult, sometimes she still can't understand them. Still, it looks like Vivio will get an opportunity to watch her mother fight. That's always fun!     Vivio beams happily at the headrub and the praise, "Thank you very much. I hope one day I can be as strong as my mamas!" She still has a long way to go until then... So for now, Vivio settles for watching one of them battle! 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' There are reasons Fate keeps her Limiters on, but 'holding out' is not one of them. "Your reaction is the very reason why I stepped in, Miss Kawakami." There's a sadness to her voice as one arm snaps up, forming a round shield in the way of the incoming punch. It's almost like punching a wall, but the shield does have some give, and eventually begins to crack. Before that can happen, though, Fate grips her sword and swings it, not at Momoyo, but at the air in between them. "Hurricane Thunderclap." The soft call of the spell belies its power, as a loud CRACK sounds and air pressure bursts, sending a wave of hurricane-force winds in a very narrow tunnel from directly beneath Momoyo. The blonde extends her free hand, fingers curling into a fist, and a trio of crackling golden spheres form in the air around it. ~Plasma Lancer, Get Set.~ "Fire!" On command, all three of the balls of magical lightning elongate into arrowhead shapes and fly straight toward Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was forced into the air now, before she realized the three bolts were pointed at her. "Damn..." each one of those bolts alone was as powerful as her Fuji Smasher. Just one was enough to stun her for a much bigger move. This was insane.     "Momoyo Microwave."     She needed to buy more time. While the audience couldn't feel it nearly as severely, she started to turn the arena into a pressure cooker. Waves of radiation began to cook the air... it was her attempt to try to fry enough of Fate's equipment to cause complications, the same thing she tried on Nagato. This wouldn't matter immediately, but a 120 degree Celcius arena was going to rapidly cause issues with anything heavier than clothing.     Abruptly, she zips around to try to dodge the bolts... but she had a sinking feeling a fighter with this much power and experience expected her to dodge. "Kawakami-HAAAA!"     She sent a blast of energy toward Fate, but even a blast this powerful was a gambit on Momoyo's part to create room to maneuver, it would do just below moderate damage to Fate's defenses, assuming she would even need to bother to dodge. Desperately, she tried to find a way to close the distance in order to pummel the blonde, knowing it was a lost cause. 

:'''{{#var:737|Vivio Takamachi (737)}} has posed:'''     Vivio watches wide-eyed as Fate and Momoyo duke it out. It's always awe inspiring to Vivio when she sees her mothers in battle. Vivio can't help but cheer, echoing Fate from earlier, "Goooo, mama! You can beat her!" 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Radiation, dangerous as it may be, is still energy. And as much skin as the Sonic Form of Fate's Barrier Jacket shows, it's still got a full body magical protective field. The constant bombardment of heat and radiation is visible on her Jacket, at least, but she seems to be operating just fine for now. In an extended fight, this would be a problem, but she doesn't intend on letting this go terribly long. When the energy blast gets to Fate... the blonde is no longer there. Her own high-speed movement spell is even faster than Vivio's and, in Sonic Form, is automatic, without the need of an incantation. Fate is just suddenly -there- right in front of Momoyo, and her sword is sticking right through her opponent. Of course, it's incorporeal at the moment, but that's about to change. "Sprite Zanber," says Fate softly, and another sharp CRACK echoes through the arena as the boundaries of reality are knocked on by the sword... and a massive surge of energy is fed through the blade if Momoyo is still touching it. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Vivio is a talented young girl... she's skilled enough that her eyes can actually follow the action. Most of the people in the arena can't other than the hardened veterans. Having been run through with one sword recently, she wasn't about to let it happen again.     Much like how Fate is simply 'there' in front of Momoyo, likewise Momoyo shifts to Fate's side. Those bolts were still in the air, so she needed to keep Fate between herself and them. So, she unleashed, since the barrier she's visibly watching burn now absolutely prevents any grapple attacks Momoyo could possibly try.     "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"      She tries to pummel the barrier with her artillery-force punches as the lightning arcs into thin air. It was likely Fate had prepared for this... but Momoyo's speed was on-par with the mage. Yet Momoyo was stuck wailing on walls harder than steel to pierce, that would give Fate more than enough time to calmly decide how to deal with her fury.     After the attack, Momoyo abruptly darts out of range again to keep an eye on the bolts... since Fate's aura wasn't concealed keeping track of everything going on in the arena was more important than tunnel-visioning on Fate. Her senses were in complete hyperdrive. She'd seen Fate move once... she could probably predict where she was going to end up next. In the split second, Momoyo turned around and dropped an axe-kick into empty space, an educated guess as to where the mage would ambush her next to try and stay one step ahead. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' An angry opponent was dangerous... but also easier to deal with. Besides, Fate has gotten to see several of Momoyo's fights, so she's got at least a vague idea of what to expe ~chy">Defenser Plus~ As that flurry of blows comes in, a sphere of translucent golden energy forms around Fate. This is a different kind of barrier, and the blonde can actually feel the strain on her magic as each strike lands against the shield. "Miss Kawakami, that is--" And Fate is already moving. "--quite--" Momoyo was correct that Fate slowed down near her, but the blonde only blurs there briefly before vanishing again, letting the kick drop down on thin air. "--enough." Finally slowed down enough to easily see, Fate is a bit off to the side of where she was predicted, left hand curling into a fist. ~Plasma Arm~ While originally developed as a defensive spell, letting Fate use her magic-coated arm to block incoming attacks, she's since adapted it to be more offensive in nature. As golden energy forms around her left forearm, the Enforcer swings her arm upward, launching a powerful uppercut... that discharges that magical lightning on impact. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Her senses numbed with her jaw as that hit her. She let out a grunt. One or two more punches like that would drop her... the fact that she wasn't down already was just a testament to exactly the problem Fate was trying to address.     Letting herself hit the floor, she knew that Fate had watched her enough. She was going to lose the edge of her unpredictable, reckless moves. There was only maybe a 25 percent chance of this not just leaving her open again... but predicting that move had just shifted the positioning of that punch slightly to where she could still do this.     The bolts and Fate were all aligned in the same direction now, so she didn't have to worry about dodging anymore right this second. Unlike most mages, she didn't need a magic circle for this attack... it was on par with many mages.     But definitely not Fate. "Kawakami Style: Star Destroyer!!!"     A beam larger than any Momoyo had fired shook the arena, hurtling at high speed for Fate in a flash. That beam took a massive chunk of her ki out... all of Fate's energy readings could tell her the attack was dangerous enough to shatter a planet, and probably the most she could throw at this point. There was a choice here, defend from the attack, absorb it, or blow right through it to make a point... but there would only be a quarter of a second to make that choice. It was Fate's best chance to end the fight cleanly before she actually exposed any of the disadvantages Momoyo was sniffing around for, if it was dodged this would drag out way too long for Fate to do what she had in mind even when she won. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' This is the sort of battle that Fate absolutely hates. It wasn't fun to have to put someone in their place, so she couldn't enjoy it like she used to when she was young. While this fight was to protect someone... that someone happened to be her opponent. That made it a bit touchier. It also didn't help that Momoyo seemed intent on continuing her behavior. "Bardi ~chy">Yes, Sir. Cartridge Load.~ The cowling over her Device's central shaft slides back, revealing a revolver-like cylinder. It spins, locking a single shell into place, then spins again to load a second. KACHUNK. KACHUNK. A small cloud of steam releases from Bardiche as the shape of his sword blade shifts slightly, growing longer and more symmetric. Rather than dodge the incoming blast, Fate brings her sword up and holds it in the path of that huge beam, the blade deflecting the energy to either side of her. Her hair whips in the backwash from the blast, even as purple lightning begins to crawl over the surface of the blade. So much energy is pouring around her that parts of her Barrier Jacket are already beginning to smoke, but Fate still stands firm. "I said... that is quite enough, Miss Kawakami." A sudden burst of energy explodes from the blonde, dissipating the tail end of the blast, as she swings her sword downward. "Plasma... Calamity..." At the low point of her swing, all the stored energy is released along Bardiche's blade, sending a massive blast of magical lightning toward Momoyo. "BREAKER!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The attack was simply too wide, fed with Momoyo's own ki. This was a disaster, she should have stuck to trying to deck her.     "GRAUUUGGH-" Well, that was terribly exciting for Momoyo. The most excitement she's EVER had. But she's also finally eaten her first honest to goodness loss, by annoying someone flat beyond her ability.     The combined punishing force of all the energy Fate absorbed and Momoyo's own ki (which did not feed perfectly through such systems given the differing sources, naturally Fate may or may not have to maintain Bardiche later but the damage would be minimal) pummelled Momoyo into a crater. She couldn't lift any of her limbs given the paralyzing effect of that much electricity... and therefore couldn't perceive what was going on. Even though the Ring dinged a victory bell for Fate, it would be at least fifteen minutes before she regained her senses even considering the healing. Her skin was only reddended in places given the non-lethal effect of the attack, but her fingers wouldn't respond and Momoyo could not get off her back. "D-damn..." she mutters in admiration. But the aching pain of that lightning was going to keep her from passing out. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Midchildan magic is, by design, non-lethal. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like anything, though. As the match ends and the barrier comes down, Fate lands lightly on the ground near Momoyo. She considers for a moment, then lifts her hand, materializing a keyboard screen in the air in front of her. A few taps later, and the screen vanishes again. Now what was that about? "Bardi ~chy">Sealing Form.~ The sword blade vanishes, and the hilt collapses inward, first returning to poleaxe form, then flipping the head back to create a more halberd-like shape. Leaning over slightly, the blonde touches the very tip of the blade to Momoyo's chest, and a soft glow comes from the yelow gem on the Device's head. ~Sealing Complete.~ "Thank you, Bardiche." The device responds with a soft chime as Fate kneels down next to Momoyo. "Let me know when you're able to sit up. We have a few things to discuss." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      It's a long five minutes before Momoyo's limbs obey her again. Speaking was even difficult, but when she did move, her moves weren't sudden. She knew as well as anyone she was thoroughly beaten.     "W-wow..." she mutters, rubbing her fingers through her hair. "I haven't been that thoroughly trounced since my grandpa." The tone of her voice had abruptly changed, the radioactive heat gone from the arena. Once again, her uniform was going to have to be replaced at the school. She was in awe of Fate, and had finally calmed down. It was highly unusual for her to be seen like that, so rarely did anyone have to display that much power.     Soon the static calms down from her body, but she knew better than to try to climb out of the crater just yet, her equally red eyes meeting Fate's as she tilts her head, meeting her gaze with more mussed up hair than usual. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Mairead was busy typing up a message to the Union's computers when the final attack occured and she looked up and blinked, "My now that was an amazing fight," she says in her Scottish accented voice. At the same time, she sent the message and blinked as she looked and placed the tablet back in a bag she had with her. Looking at the others, she stood and then sat back down, since she had seen matches like this before back at the IS Academy, but never anywhere else. For now she waited like the rest. 

:'''{{#var:306|Fate T. Harlaown (306)}} has posed:''' Even that crater will be gone before long. "Mm. That's not something I like to do often." It's not... entirely true, but Fate has mostly grown out of her younger battle maniac days. Somewhat. Kinda. Regardless, the blonde lets out a soft sigh. "Raise your right hand a bit?" When Momoyo does so, Fate presses something into the palm of her hand. "You've been officially deputized into the Enforcers as my aide for the next week, Miss Kawakami. I'm sure you'll enjoy the work." Tilting her head slightly, Fate gives her a surprisingly warm and kind smile, reaching out to smoothe some of that mussed hair. "Once you've caught your breath enough to walk, we'll be dropping by your place to pick up clothes enough for the week." 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato ruffles Vivio's hair just a bit more, "I think you'll enjoy having her with you, Miss Harlaown." the Admiral comments, "She does chores extremely well and is quite efficient at it." a bit of ribbing from the Admiral's expected, "But you put on a grand show, I'm impressed." she turns to look at Vivio and gives a bit of a grin, "Your mother is quite strong, she definately makes a fine member of the Union." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo groaned like a petulant teenager. She just got drafted. Again. God. Damnit. This is not how being popular is supposed to work, but maybe that's just how it is around the stronger people. What's more, her chi is gone.     "How am I supposed to defend my title?" she complains, realizing her aura was gone... permanently. The Ring would heal her, and her strength was more than enough to pack a large overnight bag... but everyone in the arena was going to be laughing at her out of Fate's earshot once they realized what happened. "You're not seriously going to send letters to my school and grandpa are you!?" He was going to laugh at her too. She could only follow Fate around, complaining... but her attitude had changed remarkably. She no longer saw Fate as a background object but someone to be respected. The change in attitude was absolutely remarkable once she had been handed her first loss in the Multiverse. 

:'''{{#var:940|Mairead Sandilands (940)}} has posed:'''     Mairead stands up againa nd walks outof the stands and over towards the two combatants, "I must say that what I saw was amazing," she states in her Scottish accent. "I have only seen these types of matches at the IS academy, and it usually ended up with someone being bruised or pride hurt afterwards," she mentions to those gathered. "I will say that I am interested in what I did see and think that I will be asking for lessons or some sparring with a those within the Union," she adds. 

}}

3727/A Primer On Friendships

2016-01-25T11:27:20Z

Scrimbul: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/01/25 |Location=Kawakami City |Synopsis=Yang questions Momoyo on why she made a show of sadistically brutalizing Sanary. Momoyo defends hersel..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/25
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Yang questions Momoyo on why she made a show of sadistically brutalizing Sanary. Momoyo defends herself by explaining Yari put her closest friends in the line of fire, after Momoyo had effectively given her a warning early on in their friendship. Yang comes away conflicted, understanding the reasoning but baffled on the scale of the sadistic theater and the purpose of The Big Four titles...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Again."     Momoyo had a large stack of Dust next to Yang. The exercise of course was to punch Momoyo and have her block. Momoyo, however, was not using padded gloves for blocking like training a boxer. Yang could use kicks if she wanted, but punches and Ember Celica were the entire point.     Momoyo was, after all, using restoration in small increments. This was still aura perception training, both for perception and mental stamina. She set her stance for the next punch, but because Momoyo was not attacking back it meant Yang could go at her own pace as long as she used Dust to cause damage. Momoyo's pain tolerance was extremely high, after all.     "You still look bothered after reading my reports..." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     CHA-CHUNK. BLAM!     Yang shifts and brings her right fist around in a hook punch, ending the strike with the shotgun blast of Energy Dust in a kinetic burst. "That's because I am..." she replies, shifting again and comboing into a three-punch rush, each one firing another shell of Energy Dust.     Hey eyes flicker Red for a moment, but she reigns it back in, and steps a half measure back, wiping her brow with the back of her glove after retracting the gauntlet on that arm.     "What the hell were you thinking?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''     "Restoration."     The shredded skin on her crossed wrists and open palms, depending on what made more sense to block the steady attacks regenerated quickly in between punches. "Yari tried to assassinate Nagato. Sanary mouthed off to me. If I wanted to get Yari's attention to stay away from my friends, making a show of beating up Sanary was a good way to do it. Again."     Her eyes met Yang's, but since she was already blocking it didn't much matter if Yang threw something she didn't expect. She could see Yang's Aura which was strictly defensive, but Dust was a touch restrictive even if it was a fantastic equalizer. Kuki Corp. was already trying to get their hands on it through various trade deals. "I seriously didn't hurt Sanary any worse than anyone else who was below my level. I only made it look like I did, but they overreacted. That meant my plan worked without hurting them really bad. Though I can't say what would have happened if I shattered that magitek Eye of hers." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Redeploying the gauntlet, Yang tchs and frowns at the red-eyed fighter. "My Dad always told me that fighting for the sake of fighting is a fools errand." once again she steps back in, punching steadily. "Power without purpose has no meaning."     "I'm also worried about you..." she adds, after purging the spent shells in her gauntlets and reloading. Lilac eyes focus on Red for a moment. "That kind of sadism... I've only read about it in history documents from the Great War eighty years ago on my world." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhm~." she chuckles softly, before her eyes turn serious again. Restoring more wounds, she readies for the next strike. "Yang..."     "...she was rooting around in my personal life after having assassinated a woman I only just came to respect. Do you know how /much/ restraint it took to take Yari to the Feds? I should have shattered every bone in her body and handed her to the Union for execution but I didn't know Nagato was wounded from assassination before I found Yari in my personal space not even concealing her aura." she asks, tossing her hair lightly.     "Do you know... exactly where the hell she was sneaking around to find information on my friends to hurt me? ...Did I ever tell you how I joined the Kazama Family?" The family name was different than her family name, so she must have meant her group of friends. Hanging around Kawakami City meant one picked up the names of various bands of friends who considered one another small scale samurai families like the Warring States era. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Still doesn't make it right to pound someone flat like that." Yang replies. She might just sound like a petulant child trying to explain something to an adult.     At the revelation of Yari's actions, Yang's face only hardens that little bit more. "Then why didn't you on principle? You seem to enjoy it." she grouses, taking a step back again. "Kazama Family? I thought you were part of the Kawakami family, or am I misunderstanding the meaning?" She seems a bit glad for the mild change of topic, but for the moment, doesn't attack again. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "When I was in fifth grade, a bunch of sixth graders were picking on a bunch of fourth graders in a field." she huffs, her stance relaxing, but only barely. "Those fourth graders came to me for help. I accepted on the condition that Naoe Yamato be my junior. Indefinitely. I had no juniors in the dojo so I was getting told what to do all the time."      Her hand sets on her hip as she sighs. "I kicked the shit out of the sixth graders, of course. But when I wanted leadership of the Kazama family, Capt... er, Shouichi Kazama... he refused. So I broke his arm. He still refused. I didn't want to hurt him more than that, so I finally admitted defeat and let him go." she shakes her head, chuckling ruefully.     "My grandpa beat my /ass/ for that stunt. But it was at that point I accepted Capt. as a man. We started raising an agave root plant together, and that plant sits outside our secret base... it's our hangout filled with shelves of manga, games, food... you name it, we drag it into that abandoned building and have hung out there for years."     She finally whirls in and seizes Yang's collar. "Do you understand what you would do to ANYONE who you caught sneaking around trying to collect information on your sister Ruby in case they wanted to hurt you later...? It's my duty to protect my friends. I'm the /strongest/ of them. Do you understand what she did to me? What kind of trust she violated? Do you not understand how much I had to hurt her friends, for her get it through her dense skull what she dragged my /family/ into!? They didn't have a choice in this war, Yang! I did!"     She shoves Yang back lightly. It was suddenly obvious that, at least in this instance, her giant sadistic act had a very passionate reason behind it. "Hit me again. NOW." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     It isn't surprising when Momoyo moves that fast to grab at her collar. What is surprising is the vehemence behind the words spoken. Yang frowns again at Momoyo though, and retracts her gauntlets. "I wouldn't break them like you broke Sanary. That's the difference between you and me."     The blonde then turns her back on Momoyo and walks away. "I'm done for now... you have your reasons, I respect that... We just live in two different worlds." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch." She didn't really have any words to that, but it was true, compared to Yang she was a total wild, vicious animal. Less a martial artist and more a natural disaster. Even the Cookie droids categorized her as such.     "You can't leave yet." she quips, rolling her head side to side. "You wanted to be on my level someday, right? The fastest way for you to do that is to claim the title of the West from that Fed archer." she folds her arms. "You'll understand me better if you try to take my title, Yang." she says, flatly.     "Who knows... maybe you'll even make your point. Because that wasn't the first time I'd caught Yari sniffing around my private life. But it /was/ the first time I realized she'd put a target on the heads of people I consider siblings. I love them as much as you love Ruby... and Yari doesn't understand conversation. You didn't think I didn't corner Yari once before already for sniffing around me like a bloodhound? Please... she was shaking before I was done with her but I didn't lay a finger on her."      "She has a crush on me, duh. But that didn't teach her, and Sanary challenged me. What was I supposed to do, Yang, turn her down and tell her she wasn't gonna land a scratch on me...? I didn't just ambush her, you know that. She challenged me like an idiot on two hours of sleep and then her damned pride marched her through that arch to face me down. Yari had it coming trying to willfully throw a bunch of high school kids into an entire damned war. Only half of them could even defend themselves, Yang. HALF!!!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Talk to Ozpin." Yang replies as she stops, looking over her shoulder. "He's specifically stated that Beacon Academy supports the Union, but the Kingdom of Vale is neutral. Do you think that'll stop the Feds from attacking the City if they had a reason to? Not even half of the citizens can defend themselves from Grimm, let alone Elites."     "I need some time to think..." she huffs. "People can be really stupid sometimes..." 

}}

3700/The Big Four Proposal

2016-01-19T03:18:50Z

Scrimbul: The Big Four Proposal

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/19
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Lute comes to negotiate to keep Momoyo from hunting down more Feds. Momoyo brings backup. Since Momoyo wants to fight and Lute wants to get back to business, Momoyo proposes an eternal fighting tournament closed to officers in both factions to jockey for the spot as the strongest fighters in the Multiverse to take the focus off of innocents and sharpen everyone's skills accordingly. The Feds think she's completely insane, but tentatively accept pending discussion with faction superiors.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=188, 234, 446, 680, 880, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The next day.     Shortly after noon, all of the parties that weren't injured are present in the conference room inside this decent Chinese restuarant. Why a Chinese Buffet? Why not. Momoyo was hungry and it was Lute picking up the bill, whether he realized it or not yet. All the nascent Multiversal ATMs were in place for both factions after all.     Sitting on Momoyo's side of the table, Momoyo, Nagato and Nero, with Kyra and Kenji lurking outside. On Lute's side of the table, Sarracenia and whomever else he brings for escort, plus whoever else /he/ leaves at the buffet table.     Momoyo picks her teeth already with a toothpick, leaning back in her chair. It was all but obvious whose side she was on now, but in this case she was in control of the situation so Admiral would have to follow her lead. Nero was almost completely a mirthful neutral observer unless Kyra ordered otherwise. This was now a tense negotiation and the pretenses of where Momoyo stood were all but off as she waited for the 'greasy sleazeball' to speak first. Luckily, Momoyo presented no particular rules about weaponry. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato's sitting on one of Momoyo's sides, the Admiral is there just in case Lute decides to pull something. She knows that the Trainer has some bad blood with some of her Fleet, but she's going to keep her silence right here, this is Momoyo's show.. she's not going to interrupt it... unless it's nessesceary. She does, however, flag down a waitress, "This looks good, I'll take one. And a parfait."     Even Admirals have to eat... 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero is here, sitting on another side of Momoyo, and she is of course, all smiles. Servants have no need for food, though they can taste. But right now, she was more interested in what would become of this situation. She wanted to see just where the next act of this play would take the actors.      Yes. This was a play.      And she was the silent observer. 

:'''{{#var:234|Lu-Mey (234)}} has posed:'''     And on he Confesderate side of the meeting is a dusky skinned woman with a horn. Lu-Mey, despite the bright red skirt-suit she has on, is for once attempting to not be in the way or suck attention towards herself like a sponge. The oni woman simply adjusts her glasses, looks very secretarial, and scribbles notes in a note pad.     Anyone looking over her shoulder will see most of her notes are doodles of how to torture an Au Ra creatively.     As a side note the buffet better be all you can eat, because she has already put away about six full plates of food. And is whittling away at a seventh. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute is, in fact, aware that he is going to be paying the bill for this. In fact, he plans to put absolutely everythign he can into resolving this.      Which is why his first course of action, before he even begins to negotiate, is to slide three objects across the table. Three heart-shaped red boxes. Filled with chocolate. For once, he is glad that stock for Valentine's Day is put out so early. The boxes go to, of course, Nagato, Nero, and Momoyo. With Momoyo getting the biggest one.      ...Aside from Sarracenia's, who he gave to her before they even arrived.      Lute is dressed as he normally is. White labcoat, blue jeans. No shirt. His arms rest upon the table, to show that he isn't hiding anything. He /did/ bring his Pokemon with him, the Pokeballs strapped to his belt. But, he knows full well that Momoyo is a weapon herself. And, Nagato and Nero are dangerous foes as well. Nagato in particular, he has some bad blood with. He wouldn't put it past them to try and attack first. He even has his I-Class Destoryer waiting outside the resteraunt as well. It isn't a secret, either. He's not going to make any effort to hide it.      But, he is here not to fight. He is in fact, here to talk. He looks straight at Momoyo, smiling as he speaks.      "I think, what we have here, is a major misunderstanding. I want to try and clear up a lot of the bad blood. And, I want to make a number of things clear."      He closes his eyes. A serious look is on his face.      "First and foremost. Yari, breaking into your clubhouse. This was not, in fact, Confederate approved of a mission. You are not considered a major target by the Confederacy, or considered an enemy. There are a handful of Confederates interested in you for your strength, but nothing more than that. Yari did this for her own reasons. I am not /entirely/ certain why. But. I will tell you what I have gleaned from the conversations I have had with her."      He smiles.      "Yari has a bit of a crush on you, I'm almost certan, and did not know how to express it." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia collected a plate full of tasty food before she sat down, but she is only nibbling at it. She listens to Lute speak, then blinks a bit as he declares that Yari must have a crush on Momoyo. She pauses, then nods lightly. "I think he is right. Her comments during your battle ranged between reverence and hatred at the same time." she says, then nibbles on some kind of meat on a stick.      "Also, I do not know what happened between the three of you, but Yari started it. Of that I am sure. Whatever she did she did without authorization and without consideration toward the consequences."      Though she is eating and talking peacefully, Sarracenia has an airship floating around nearby, and has her massive hammer resting against the wall beside her. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Letting her chair fall to the floor, she leans in a bit, glancing at Nero. "Hah. This guy. Telling me stuff I already know." she sighs turning back to Lute. She didn't trust him, but no one at the table trusted one another.     "I tease girls when I'm bored. Sometimes they're idiots about it. Yari is a huge idiot about it especially." she shrugs, letting the subject pass rather than having it get awkward.     "So firstly, why are /you/ hitting on us now?" she asks, turning over the box of chocolates in her hand. "Your operative tried to kill my ex-Admiral, and Sanary opened her mouth. Trust me when I say I knew she had no business in my Dojo but she challenged me and... well, if you put the assassination and her caught more than once sneaking around my private life together, is it really any surprise I decided to make an example of her friend for hurting mine?" She leans in closer. "I'm /not/ done hurting people over this." she continues, ominously. It was a threat, but also a promise. And she had the leverage to back up that half-insane glint in her thuggish red eyes.     She had more to say, but needed to hear Lute's side of things. And of course, people chiming in. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato politely pushes the box of chocolates away as Momoyo goes into her tirade. "Yari is her name?" she gives a bit of a nod at Momoyo before turning back to the people before her... "Momoyo has the means to do such and I'm honestly surprised she did not go right after your operative from the get go." as the food's delivered, she listens to more and starts politely eating, all while keeping eye contact with the ones across the table. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero picked up the box offered while Lute spoke his piece, and turned it over in her hand.      "......"      No, she wasn't disgusted or insulted, or anything. In fact, the look on her face, that smile, seemed to suggest that this was 'an inevitable happening'. She would take this offering, from the common man. There was no need to refuse.      Momoyo's opening statements are heard, as well as Nagato's comments. But Nero herself says nothing. Not yet anyhow. This meeting was between Momoyo and Lute. She was just an observer.      One to bear witness to what will happen. Even as Momoyo makes her threat, and her promise, Nero does not speak. No, this isn't considered too far for her. Not in the least. That line was still very much far away. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute nods a little, shrugging a bit, "I'm not attempting to flirt with you. Consider it a minor peace offering. Soemthing to break the ice." He makes a motion with his hands, somewhat dismissively. "Don't read too much into it. Not that you aren't lovely, but."      He smirks a bit, leaning forward, looking between Momoyo and Sarracenia. "Well. We're all agreed, then. Yari did that of her own free will. I am also going to make it clear that Sanary acted on her own as well. I likely should have warned you. But... Her /own/ connection to Yari was what brought her to fight you earlier. She is also going to be punished."      Lute locks his fingers together a little, smiling still. "One thing I will say, though? There are better ways you could have handled it. Telling her you're not interested. Being more up front and open. Things as such could have made this a /lot/ better. I mean, I'm open with who I am, and it rarely backfires on me."      With that, he lifts an arm to put it around Sarracenia's back. Yeah, this isn't the sociopathic Lute who was willing to stab Yari the other day. This is his normal self.      "I will make a note, though. I wanted the violence to end, and the feud to end. We will keep Yari out of your life, unless you find it in your heart to forgive a foolish lovestruck girl."      He then looks towards Nagato. He smiles, a somewhat jerkish look on his face. Part of him really wants to just attack Nagato right now. He has encountered her so rarely. But.... No. Not the time. "As for her assassination attempt on you? That /was/ Confederate approved. I would ask that you not hold Yari responsible for that. It was, in fact, the Confederacy's will."      He looks back to Momoyo, "But. If you really need to keep the violence up? Who is it that you want to suffer next for this?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia frowns lightly as Nagato pushes the offering away. Well, that isn't a good sign. And a bit rude, to boot. Nero is...a bit of a mystery to Sarracenia. But, Momoyo makes it clear what she wants, and what she is willing to do. It seems obvious to Sarracenia that Momoyo is the irrational sort. The sort who, once she has her mind set on something she isn't likely to change it.      "What good will further violence do?" she says after a moment. "Do you think you can scare everyone away, and no one will attempt to harm you or Nagato ever again? There is a multiversal war going on. The attempts will never stop. Not until the war ends and either the Fleet Daughters or the Abyssals are finished. Further violence on your part will just bring more and more danger down upon you and the one you are trying to protect." 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato's eyes focus intently on that jerkish face, that smug look, it pissed her off. However, she keeps her facial expressions neutral, leaning back as she takes another bite of the meal. "So, Abyssal lap dog. I appreciate you telling me that." Nagato gives an idle look towards Lu-Mey's notes. Those notes actually give her a brief smile, "If you need help, I have a few ideas for that lizard girl for proper punishment on my end."     Nagato takes a quick look towards Sarracenia, noticing that frown. "I'm allergic to chocolate. Sorry." of course, that was a lie but.. "While we do want peace, there's just things we have to finish. The Abyssal fleet has to sink, every last one of them and then the Fleet AND Abyssals will know peace as the war ends. As for Momoyo.. I'll let her decide what she wants to do." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Heh. So one side wants to keep fighting and the others are ready to stop." she shrugs. "Okay, I get it. You don't have the stomach to cover for her stupidity."     She slams her fists on the table, standing up. "Do you NOT understand that the fact that you have information about ALL my childhood friends can't be undone!? That's what she gathered! They're in this war now and didn't have a say in it! /I/ did, you know!!! It's /me/ who wants the fights, they didn't get a choice because of HER!!! The fact that she just hurt one of the strongest women I've yet to ever meet doesn't help but it sure as HELL isn't the reason you're sitting here now!!!" she rails at Lute, very likely it would take Nagato to pull her back down, which she would do even mid-speech.     This was also not the angle she would have taken in this conversation prior to fighting Nagato. The Admiral could see the subtle differences in how she thought between then and now, but kept up the appearance of a monster needing to be appeased.     "No. I have an idea how to resolve this. I want to beat that smirk off your face too, and you want me to leave you alone so you can hash out your politics. Fine. I know something that will make us both happy." she gestures to the whole room, spreading her arms wide. "I am Momoyo Kawakami Of The North, Goddess of Battle! You have people in the Confederation that wanna face me down. I wanna fight them too. But it's pointless if we don't know who is strongest, and if we don't segment it away from the War, right? So forget having a single tournament." she slams her palms down again on the table.     "I'm gonna make you a proposal, Lute. We make a 'Multiversal Big Four'. M. B. F. The Four Devas Of Battle." she tosses her hair with a playful smirk, continuing. "That way we don't have people like Yari doing stupid dishonest things to keep an advantage in their back pocket... we know up front who's who and what's what. North. South. East. West. Any challenger who defeats a Big Four Member in a Big Four fight gets their title and their strength ranking. Killing challengers or members of The Big Four disqualifies whoever would have earned or retained their title. No officers allowed, any fighting style, formal matches only. Hmhmhmhm~" she waves her hands grandly. "I think everyone here can agree without making a goal for everyone to get stronger and refine their skills in single combat separate from the war none of us will be satisfied. We can hammer out the details, but that's my baseline proposal. Take that to your Feds and pick two. I am the North. Nero lost to me. So now, she is the South, the second strongest. It keeps everyone safe and I can keep hunting down people to beat up when I'm bored... and so can everyone else. I'm already top of the heap anyway so nothing changes for me, but reputation is huge in the Multiverse." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia sighs softly as Nagato says that. That sort of thinking is exactly why the war has continued so long. Because the only solution is to completely destroy the enemy, at least in the minds of many individuals. Sarra can't think of anything to say after that.      And has even less to say as Momoyo speaks up. The princess ends up just staring at Momoyo. "That...while such a society of elite fighters is certainly possible, I...do not see how that will prevent such actions as Yari's theft of your information. Especially if the members of the Big Four are also members of the superfactions. But, even if they are not, there are many less than honorable people in the worlds. Many would pay for such information that could be leveraged for an advantage in combat." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And then Momoyo makes her proposal. And Nero bursts out laughing. "Hah! Ah ha ha ha ha ha! A Multiversal Big Four? I like it! It is appropriately grandiose!" She swept an arm out as usual whenever she had something she was going to give her approval on, and... "Very well! I shall allow it! I decree that it shall be so!"      Was this a bad idea? Yes! Was it entertaining as all get out? Yes! What mattered more to Nero?      No need to answer that one. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      It is not often that Lute is completely absolutely stunned. But he stops, but for a moment, to consult his allies over the radio. This is, by far, not the best idea. It only risks making the grudge /worse/. Lute sits there for a moment. Calmly.      "...We accept these terms. I am the East. Another Confederate, Lina Brand, will be the West. And, from this point on, we have no hostilities related to this world aside from this competition itself."      He holds up a hand, finger up, "Barring, of course, you joining the Union, or if the Confederate's hands otherwise being forced."      He sighs, slumping over in his chair.      Facepalming. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Folding her arms, Momoyo gave her usual smirk. But the tension was completely gone from the proceedings. "Then it's decided, then. Write up the reports, find out if the East and West slots change, let your superiors know, I'll have Nagato do the same, and we'll see what everyone has to say... honestly, if you can't beat Nero, what chance do most people have against me...?"     She chuckled, if she were any younger she would be giggling madly. But if her proposal worked as planned, it would keep a LOT of conflict centered on The Big Four, limiting a ton of activity to officers only and those involved in homeworlds. Which meant the flow of battle changes a bit across the Multiverse.     In this way, she could keep her friends safe even if The Fed had information on them already. Likewise, gathering information on Fed Big Four members would be moot... it will disseminate like wildfire.     There might even be hats, figurines, merchandise... but mostly, Momoyo could keep getting the edge of her seat fights she wanted, and so did many others. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia shakes her head, her expression clearly saying that she thinks this is not any kind of solution to the problem. But, she supposes if Momoyo thinks it is a solution, then it may be solution enough to put the 'Goddess of Battle' at ease. And, as that /was/ the point of this meeting, the princess is going to count it as a win.      "Well...I suppose if that is what you want, then there is no reason to say no." the princess says, leaning back in her seat. "But, won't such a thing bring even more attention to you?" 

}}

3695/Seriously, A Shieldmaiden Challenges Momoyo!!!

2016-01-19T03:15:11Z

Scrimbul: Outmatched Sanary challenges Momoyo

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/18
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Sanary comes to challenge Momoyo as promised and garners an unexpected audience. Unfortunately, Momoyo who is out for blood, is looking to provoke the Feds in return for Yari's malfeasance...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=446, 680, 691, 714, 756, 819, 880, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo grunted softly, as she practiced various forms in the Dojo fields. Tapping various spots on a dummy, she was nearly through and it was about time to go on her jog next. Dressed in her white competition gi, the forms were meant for muscle memory rather than power, so she wasn't doing much more than touching the dummy. Milling about the dojo were the various monks guiding tourists through the area, answering questions about history or martial arts, or the samurai bloodlines in Kawakami City. Naturally, many of these citizens were Multiversal now. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' 'But when we do? I'm taking you down.'      In retrospect, that probably wasn't Sanary's wisest decision in a while. She's heard the stories. Hell, she's /seen/ the stories up close. It'd be easy to come up with excuses, but even the pig farmer has her own pride! That's why she arrives at the Kawakami temple today, donning her... No armor?      Well, at least she has her shields and axe on her. There's a serious look on her face as she spots Momoyo not too far away, holding her hand up in a stiff wave to the warrior. "Hey, Momoyo. You busy right now?" It's clear just from the tone of her voice that she knows what to expect, but she's not going to back down now! 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari is here as well, right behind Sanary! Or, rather, Chiyo as the school knows her. The ninja is dressed in the local academy uniform, fresh out of one of the classes. She's visibly trembling at the sight of Momoyo, who's caused her equal amounts of admiration, agony, fear, and now pure humiliation. It's hard to pin just /what/ is in her gaze as she looks between the two women, but she crosses her single arm. Right next to Sanary for support! She leans in to Sanary. "Kick that....that /humiliatingly strong idiot/ into the ground, Sanary! I want to see teeth on the ground!" She hiss-growls. That tail lashes about angrily, her face flushed with all of the annoyance and pain from her boss after last time's little shenanigans. She then settles against a wall, pulling out a hip flask to calm her nerves. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Among those multiversal tourists is Nero. For once not dressed in her flashy, regal, showy red battle dress, she's dressed in a simpler red dress, smiling and looking all around, the emperor was content to listen to the guide's explanations.      At least until she caught sight of Sanary wandering in. "...Oh?" And unceremoniously, the Servant wanders off, following after Sanary from a short distance. Surely this would be more interesting then a tour, if she were to trust her intuition. And of course, the shield bearing hero approached Momoyo. Seeing this, Nero couldn't help but grin.      "What is this? A fated meeting, sure to determine the destinies of both in a mere instant?" She swung out an arm dramatically. "Very well! I shall allow it!" Like it was up to her to allow in the first place. "Lady Kawakami, Lady Rondel. The time has come!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Turning to face Sanary, Momoyo's thuggish grin twists into her usual arrogant smirk. She even crosses her arms, tilting her head slightly... but she was much more composed today. "My, my. I didn't think you'd actually show up." she murmurs calmly... with the softness of a predator tensing up. The challenge hadn't begun yet, but she did signal to some of the monks that a competition match was about to begin. Other monks... just shook their heads as they looked at Sanary. They could tell what was the likely outcome just by looking at her as well, but they didn't cheer for Momoyo. Still, there were too many of the Kawakami Ryuu to provoke into a large scale incident, even setting aside the city being neutral territory.     She glances at Yari, but while she regarded Sanary as a plaything... her expression twisted into a vicious glare, pinning Yari down on the spot. "And you brought the burglar, too... So you're still angry I didn't just bring her to the police station?" she raises an eyebrow at Sanary. She could sense the various auras of other people filtering in unless they suppressed them, but her focus was on the spy and shieldmaiden before her.     Slowly, the monks began to clear the field in anticipation of a competition match. These were not uncommon when people walked in and addressed Momoyo directly. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The Sundew Princess known as Sarracenia has also joined Sanary. Sarracenia has heard Momoyo on the radio, and seen a few reports, so she has some idea of what the woman can do. But, she is here merely for moral support rather than to try her luck against Momoyo, even though Sarra is certain she could handle the apparently humiliatingly strong idiot.      Of course, Sarracenia never dresses down. She is wearing the dress Lute gave her a while back. It is a very elegant and flattering outfit. She takes up a spot near the wall as well and holds her hands politely in front of her, her small purse clutched in them. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' Establishing his tradition of showing up places Momoyo is going to fight people, but never drawing much attention to himself, Shin Tokuyama is here. Random flight of New Years fancy saw him check out a relatively new city to go see what the deal was in that world and disposable income saw him taking a day off from training and hobo-ing to take a day off. That means he's mostly wandering around the city with a japanese crepe (stuffed with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce) in one hand and his phone in the other, taking pictures of things and people and generally looking far more like a tourist than a martial artist of some minor Multiversal fame. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Sanary actually grins a bit when Yari... 'Chiyo' chimes in behind her, glancing back and offering the lizardy student a grin. "Hey, I'm not gonna go that far. I'll put 'em back if they come out." It's not a confident grin, but it's not a joking one, either. Just what is the healer thinking, anyway?      She certainly wasn't expecting a familiar audience, for once. Nero's comments actually draw a chuckle from her and she shakes her head for a moment before turning back to Momoyo. "Right, right... Ah. About that, actually."      The serious look returns to her face as she closes her eye, taking a moment to prepare herself before before offering Momoyo a bow of her head. "Thanks. For bringing Yari to us, I mean."      There's a genuine softness in her voice as she says that, although it's quickly replaced by a more confident tone and smirk. "Of course I'd show up. I don't half-ass... Most things." She's not lying, at least! "I issued the challenge, so I'm ready for whatever happens. So. What kind of ground rules are we working with here?" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari glares right back, swallowing her fear and gritting her teeth. She wants to punch the woman, but this is Sanary's show and she's caused enough trouble. She finally just huffs. "That's operative to you, /Momo-sempai/." Snaps the lizard, before grumpily lounging against the wall and drinking away. She lowly mutters alternatively horrible and vaguely complimenting things about Momoyo. More loudly, she's already cheering on Sanary. "Knock her down a peg Sanary! Show us blood!" Not helping. At least Sanary's confident and she gets the first real grin in a while. "Believe in yourself, Sanary. I know you've got it in you." Is her lighter words to Sanary! 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     It wasn't as if N'raha /didn't/ know how to be a tourist, but it's nice to be in a place where people didn't gawp too much at a Fellow With Cat Ears. That said he /had/ been here to find a nice place to sell off some fish at the local market.     And then he'd spotted Shin and just sorta tagged along at that point. And so, carrying a set of eel skewers, the catman was flush on some local currency and able to spend /some/ money at least. "Honestly, I am getting used to the Privateer thing, I guess. You should come out and see the No-Name some time, Shin. I'm not sure how much of a sea-goin' guy you are though." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "I heard about Chiyo's little... waterskiing accident with my drill instructor." She was speaking in very general terms, but if she could be even angrier with Yari than her snooping around the 'secret base', this would do it.     "I know you just opened your mouth without thinking, but I was getting bored anyway. So I'm not letting you change your mind. But... I'm nice. I'm not gonna do to /you/ what she did to my friend." she seethes at Sanary indirectly. She had a different target in mind for that.     "It's quite simple. No holds-barred, and a standard ten count unless you yield. Normally we use replicas here... but that wouldn't be very fair to you, now, would it?" she muses to the other girl, taking her position in the ring as the monks slowly back the various tourists and Neros out of the ring and into the stands to watch.     Naturally, very short no-liability forms were passed out that each and every close range spectator needed to sign, which also allowed for removing extremely weak spectators at the monks' discretion. Tesshin was a shrewd sensei, after all. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' "Oh right, yeah, yeah. You still have the ship and all. I haven't really had the time to go back since the whole Ramuh thing," Shin comments, taking a bite out of his crepe with one hand while he-offhandedly signs a liability form with the other, "Mostly because that stuff on Kay's world kicked up. Now I've got Lezard blowing guff at me, but I got a new title out of it all." He gives a tired shrug and then looks over towards where people are positioning for a fight and making challenges, "Looks like a duel's about to happen. I think that's the girl who fought uh... Kenji. Guy who decided he was my rival." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia listens to all the talk around her, a bit confused. She apparently missed something important, but then she has never been big on current events. "Would you like to borrow my hammer, Sanary?" she asks as Momoyo mentions unfair advantages. When she sees the release form, Sarracenia raises an eyebrow before smirking lightly. She signs, then reaches into her purse and pulls out said hammer. Taller than Sarracenia herself, the hammer looks pretty dangerous. But, she's just pulling it out for show most likely. She sets the heavy head down on the floor before returning to her passive stance.      "Whatever happened, you can defeat her Sanary!" Sarracenia calls out, giving Sanary a confident smirk. "I know how tough you are! There is nothing you cannot do!"      Not knowing the others, Sarracenia just offers them a nod of greeting. 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     "Man, I don't have a title. Titles are cool." A little mopey grump from N'raha, beofe he perks up at the fight brewing and... "Oh hey, that's Yari and Sanary. What... what's going on?" He knows Sanary from the Zaibatsu and Yari because she's a dirty Garlean but the other girl is new to her.     His tail swishes a bit, and starts to jockey for position for a good spot to watch. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Yari's even more pumped up for this than Sanary is, isn't she? Still, the healer can't help but feel some swell of pride at the confidence the Au Ra's showing. Granted, she does look somewhat confused when Momoyo speaks about waterskiing and.. Drills? "O... Kay." She even glances from Momoyo to Yari for a brief moment with a raised eyebrow, but dismisses it fairly quickly as the successor speaks up again.      "Sounds simple enough. You don't think I'm /that/ weak, though, do ya?" Smirking once more, Sanary follows Momoyo into the ring and sets the riot shield aside. She does need to maintain some amount of mobility, after all, and keeping the larger shield on her back with the kite shield in hand should still let her manage that.      "Thanks, Sarra, but I'll stick to what I brought. Don't want to break this place apart too much." She removes the shells from her pockets and gunaxe next, setting those aside as well before finally looking ready to fight. "Whenever you're ready, then, Momoyo. Make sure to keep a timer running for this, eh? And if you lose any limbs, I'll make sure to put you back together properly~" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' After a quick signing, Yari very visibly tenses. She knows. All of that bluster evaporates from before, the the ninja's eyes narrow in. For now, she simply watches, scowling and planning. She'll definitely have to consider Momoyo someone to be taken down, if it comes to it. Her hand squeezes a nearby target dummy. Her frustrations only seem to be mounting. Not a good way to start the week for the ninja. At least Sanary doesn't get it. She'll have to explain later. Then, she turns to Nero, and offers her flask over. It's awful, low-grade gin. "Sanary will definitely beat her!" She proclaims. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' "I think that's some girl that fights people a lot. I saw her martial arts fight that blonde over there," He points in Nero's vague direction, "And Kenji was around watching her then too. Plus I heard they fought through the grapevine," He adds a bit conspiratorially. "You have titles. Like Catptain. That's a pretty cool title," Shin muses, tilting his head a bit to watch them square off, "We oughta be careful. Fights like these tend to have collateral and I don't really wanna get caught in an explosion today." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero perks at mention of herself. "AHEM! You may address me as Her Imperial Majesty, Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus!" She smirked. "Despite your scruffy demeanor, I shall allow you the honor! Be grateful!"      And then Yari offers cheap booze. "Hrm? Is that so? Well...we shall see!" Nero offered no opinion, and took the flask. A huge gulp followed. "Ahhh! It is cheap beyond measure, but I suppose that this sort of drink is fine once in a while!"      She handed it back and returned to watching. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Giving the customary bow that signals it's okay for the match to begin, one of the monks calls for the match start from aside.     Slowly, Momoyo approaches Sanary. She wasn't quite sure what the woman was capable of, other than she was talented in defense. Still, Momoyo left no openings in her defense, her favorite way to start a match. Closing the distance this way increased the tension, but it also let her gauge how her opponent would choose to react. Very few people would let her get in arm's length without reacting violently, and Sanary's range was longer no matter what weapon she used.      "I don't plan on losing any limbs... but your friend seems really intent on pissing me off. I don't know why you challenged me... you're outmatched. I saw you in Lordran. You belong in a team, not an arena." she chides Sanary, shaking her head. "Since your friend tried to kill my friend, I can't be held responsible if you're not able to fix everything I do to you." she continues to chatter murderously, in her soft voice. Momoyo was not subtle, and now that all the pretenses were dropped, she made sure her presence was overwhelming. Even those who had fought or spectated her before, could sense that this time was different. It was personal, now. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      With the match underway, Sanary keeps her own guard up as Momoyo approaches her. She's seen the warrior woman fighting elsewhere, after all, and she's fully aware that getting too aggressive wouldn't work in her favor at all. No, for now... She'll have to play it safe. She keeps the shield ready in front of her and the gunaxe ready to lash out, but she's not going to be making the first move.      Oddly enough, she's not even firing any ranged attacks, either. That'd be dangerous with spectators around, after all! "You hurt her when she was already injured. That's enough reason, ain't it?" Slowly, that fire is coming back to her eye. Not a literal fire from shooting heat blasts or anything, but a figurative one!      "So what if this isn't my specialty? I might not be strong enough to take down a dragon on my own, but I can sure as hell take you down." A confident boast, but will that be enough? She does seem just a little confused when Momoyo speaks of past attempts to kill her friend, but she doesn't say anything in response to that. Instead, she keeps approaching the fighter, waiting for an opportune moment to strike! 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari is all tension, and she nods to Nero. See indeed. As the match grows more personal, anger turns to fear for Sanary. She doesn't want to see the woman hurt. But when Sanary confidently responds, and even backs her up? The ninja smiles to the cleric. She stands a bit taller, more confident, and puts her trust in Sanary. Even if she doesn't win, just beating down Momoyo will prove a point. Feds stick together, and they fight for each other. The ninja is sure to keep a smokebomb tucked in her sleeves just in case there's the need for a quick getaway. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia doesn't like this. Yari did something, and now Sanary has to face this dangerous opponent who is obviously out for blood? Sarra glances over at Yari, a disapproving look on her face, then returns her attention to the match. She knows Sanary is tough, but she isn't sure Sanary is dangerous enough.      After listening some more, Sarra isn't sure what to think. Sanary seems fine with taking up arms even with this additional information simply because she thinks Momoyo wronged Yari. Sarracenia can't help but smile at that, but that fades as she thinks about things. Still, she punches into the air and says, "Do not underestimate Sanary! She is tougher than she looks!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Sword and board was a more European style Momoyo wasn't quite familiar with. It almost never appeared in an arena, but she'd played enough video games to know the gist of what Sanary was attempting to do. Sanary was strong enough that trying to slip around the guard was going to create openings pointlessly, and an axe was a precise weapon... but it created openings for the wielder at most sizes. A solid stance, but only one arm...     She finally decided how she wanted to approach this. Instead of attacking her or slipping around to her side, she charged Sanary head-on... and gave a flat-footed forward kick with the force of a freight train to try to force her guard aside with the flat of her foot and disrupt her stan     cxterm93">"Kawakami Style: Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     It was her opening gambit, that battleship cannon force punch intended for Sanary's gut. Like with any fighter, the reaction to this one punch often told her all she needed to know about an opponent past their aura. Luckily, she didn't follow up her attack further after that vicious straight punch that sent wind gusting past the audience. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Quietly, a certain black haired, tall, twin pronged headband wearing woman slips into the dojo to hang back at the wall. Getting wind of it from some of her girls, she decided to take a visit to see how Kawakami was planning. "Mmm. Seems it's underway..." she whispered, leaning back against the wall, the metal prongs on her headband propping her head up to watch. "Do your best, Kawakami..." 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     N'raha finally gets a good spot to watch just as the fight kicks off, literally. He has to actaully make sure not to suck his eel down the wrong pipe as he coughs and blinks at the speed of that kick, the sudden strike lancing out from Momoyo. "Aiiiiyaahhhh."     He settels into a low crouch to get comfy, his tail wrapping itself closer so people don't step on it. "That's insane." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      It had been a while since Sanary fought someone that was unarmed. She knows better than to underestimate Momoyo, of course, but something about it still feels a little... Unfair? Then again, considering the caliber of unarmed fighters she's faced before, she can't afford to go easy on her now. That's why, when Momoyo comes in with that massive kick, she swiftly...      ... Slams her shield right back. This isn't the time to dodge or make a show of things. That's not Sanary's style, and she'd just get dismantled if she even attempted to match her speed against anyone else. Her only option here is to fight Momoyo head on and go blow-for-blow with her! She can feel the bones and ligaments in her arm tearing from the impact, but the magical energy circulating through her body does keep her from dropping that guard from just that single hit.      "Keh... N-not bad!" Sanary's actually grinning as she slides back a bit from the force of the kick, narrowing her eye at Momoyo when she comes in with the punch next. The healer adjusts her stance to keep the shield braced in front of her before ramming the shield forward, taking that next hit head-on as well. As she does so, however, she also swings her axe upward suddenly, trying to trade hits with the martial artist and cause more damage than she's already received from those devastating strikes. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' And then it begins. Yari watches as Momoyo comes in with that massive hit, and Sanary takes it on the shield! Yari lets out a cheer! "That's it Sanary! See? You can withstand her! Show her pain and humiliation!" Encourages the ninja as she keeps drinking. This won't end well. Sarracenia gets a look in turn, but she ignores it. What /does/ catch her attention is a certain shpgirl entering. All of Yari's cheers stop as she stares openly at the Admiral. Her mouth drops open just a bit. Someone should give her a hand here. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero doesn't cheer, she doesn't comment at all. She just watches, her arms crossed. And on her face is a smile. One that speaks volumes for how entertained she is right now.      She doesn't care that people are in danger, and that this is a dangerous situation. This is simply another page in the play known as 'The Multiverse'.      She does glance aside at Yari, having noticed her weird actions. "Is something the matter?" 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' "Oi oi!" Shin shouts into the ring, raising a fist towards Momoyo. He looks no different than any other rowdy spectator. He's shouting encouragement her way as he hops up and down a bit, "Yeah! Body shots! Get inside and under the shield! Compact uppercut!" "Rocky Balboa! Inside the guard! Dig in!" He seems to distracted shouting tactics at Momoyo to really address Nero giving him a too-long title to call her. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia winces when that hit lands, but then cheers as Sanary tanks it and keeps going. "Excellent, Sanary! Show her what you are made of!"      Sarracenia has never met any of these ship girls before, so she doesn't really take notice of Nagato until she notices Yari staring. The princess raises an eyebrow, then looks over at Nagato. "A friend of yours?" she asks Yari cluelessly. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato's eyes scan the area. That awkward feeling of eyes on you courses through the ship-woman's body before setting a gaze on Yari, red eyes staring in a dissapproving manner towards the ninja. "Mmm." her head slowly turns back towards the two fighters, eyes keeping locked with Yari's for a few moments... then those, too, trail off towards Momoyo and Sanary.     "Kawakami. Do your best." she continues her stoic face, voice barely above normal speaking levels. Best not to interrupt the girl who fought a battleship..' 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Sidestepping the upward swing, it was quite a close retort. But that kick and that punch told her all she needed to know about her opponent's strength.     "I see." She could tell from the flow of Sanary's aura into her arm that she was healing the exhaustion and strain of blocking the attacks of someone ten-fold her strength. There were a few efficient ways to go about this, but her goal wasn't to just beat Sanary. She had to prove that resisting was impossible. And if she didn't do it right she could easily be backed into a corner herself.     "Musou Seikenzuki! Musou Seikenzuki!"     She continued to pummel the shield with measured, regular blows that sounded like cannon shots. It was like a pickaxe to a boulder. Eventually, she would dent that shield and create an opening. Figuratively, even if the shield was fine, all she had to do was run Sanary dry. It wouldn't be that simple, but a shield left very little room to punish an opponent that didn't overextend. Unlike her other matches, Momoyo started to patiently take her time. She was just too experienced to freely make a mistake without Sanary changing tactics soon. She just kept her eyes on the flow of where Sanary was casting as she punched, and kept one eye on the axe... plenty could still go wrong, but there was nothing for it but to continue with this measured pace. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' Moments later, for the sake of fairness to both sides, Shin is shouting to Sanary and giving her advice. She always seemed cool to him over the radio, so he has no reason not to be encouraging both sides of the battle. "HEY! OI! Rotate your shield! If she hits the flat part, she's just gonna wear you down and just get sore!" He hops up and down a bit, "Get her to hit the rim of the shield instead of the flat! She'll break her knuckles! " 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     And N'raha's right there with some axe advice. "FORGET THE EDGE SMACK HER WITH THE HEAVY BITS, SANARY!" Another bite of eel and he tries to watch this a bit closer. The pugilist girl's got an anamzing strength behind her but he knows what sort of punishment Sanary is able to take. This is a classic matchup, if nothing else. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Scoffing lightly at the whiffed swing, Sanary takes advantage of the opening to catch her breath. Staying on the defensive really won't keep her going forever, but the fact that Momoyo's coming at her straight on instead of trying to get around her defenses does give her an idea...      Channelling some of that energy into her eye next, she doesn't do anything with it right away as she keeps the shield braced to weather those repeated strikes. The suggestions from Shin and N'raha don't go unnoticed, and she healer waits until the last moment before twisting the shield up at an angle and thrusting it forward, aiming to drive the corner right into Momoyo's fist.      And that's when she's finally letting loose with the energy. Activating the Break matrix in her eye, she fires a distorted grayish blast at the fighter's legs, trying to limit her mobility and create an opening to strike back. Is she actually trying to fight strategically for once? 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Sarracenia and Nero both manage to get her to come back to reality. A deep, calming breath. She matches nagato's gaze for a long moment, before turning back to the fight. "No. She just looked like someone else, that's all." She quickly lies her tail off. But she's not above yelling advice, either! "Go for the legs! Her mobility's greater than it looks! Don't take direct hits, use that power against her Sanary! Bite her ear off! Cut out her knees!" Not helpful, Yari. Every now and then, however, there's a glance to Nagato. Her tail is tucked into her kimono, and there's a kunai ready to be flung now too. Just in case. And then Sanary shoots energy from the eyeball! "Perfect! Drill through her bones, Sanary!" Someone's getting really fired up about this thing. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia doesn't quite believe Yari, but there is no reason to push the matter. She joins Yari in cheering Sanary, though Yari's cheers advice of biting and cutting draws a curious look from Sarracenia. "Bite her ear off?" Sarracenia asks, somewhat unnerved. She shakes her head, then looks back to the battle. "You can do it, Sanary!" she calls out before blinking at the eyebeam from the little white mage. You learn something new about your friends everyday, it seems! And that corner to the fist must have been painful! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Her fist hurt a bit. She's done worse to it, but the edge of that shield she didn't expect at all. Her eyes widen as her legs go numb, making it quite a bit harder to move. "!!!"     So dodging would be much more difficult now, but her opponent was open. There was only one thing to do to stop this from being a problem later. Her fist darts in close to the Break Matrix.     "Secret Technique: Kawakami Style Forehead Flick!"     It was, exactly as it sounded, a forehead flick with the speed of a bullet and the pressure of a focused blast of water. She had to damage the eye in order to keep her advantages, or else she would be forced to speed this fight up quite a bit faster than she wanted to. Naturally, even if she didn't blind Sanary in that eye, it created a fair bit of distance being as painful a move as it was.     "Restoration..." she murmured, fixing up her bruised fist, but it only partially helped with the numbing in her ankles. Until she could figure out what to do about her ankles, her speed just dropped from 'god-like' to 'bullet'. Not much of an improvement, but she could now be perceived by people other than the experienced martial fighters in the arena. At least, her movements for the next five minutes, perhaps not her attacks. "Cute." she gritted her teeth. She could dodge, but she would be stronger trading blows in spite of the shield. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      "Forehead...?" That's all Sanary can get out before Momoyo gets her hand right in her face, and the only thing saving the magitech eye from being smashed right inside her head is the healer's reflex to turn away from the blow... Flick... Painful hit? Very painful. The healer staggers back several feet and grasps her head, looking rather woozy even after saving her eye. The healing magic does help with the physical wounds somewhat, but she doesn't have enough time to really fight off the dizziness or keep it from affecting her aim. The strap holding the eyepatch also breaks from that direct hit, revealing...      ... A gap where her eye should be. She's not wearing it for show, after all! "Hn... So. You can heal, too, eh? That'll make this more fun, then." Sanary chuckles quietly as she fiddles with the strap holding the massive oval shield on her back. "Just means we're both in the same boat, then." Detaching the strap, she cringes slightly when the shield slams into the ground with a loud thud on the dirt floor.      "... Good thing that wasn't tile." With only the shield in her hand now, she does appear to be moving a little more freely. It's a strategic decision after noting the lack of strikes at her back, but will the speed boost be enough? She'll have to hope so as she finally goes on the offensive, lashing out at Momoyo with controlled forward steps to try and keep the unarmed warrior within her own optimal range! They might not be as precise as she hopes with the dizziness still affecting her aim, but her footwork is still decent! 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' The dreaded Forehead Flick! "Ah! The Forehead Flick! Amazing!" Yup, Yari can't help it. Despite being quite angry herself at Momoyo, that admiration still stands. She catches herself. "But it's nothing compared to the Rondel-Style Genocide Eyebeam!" Glug glug glug. Yes, Yari is indeed drunk. "Swing! Swing!" Encourages Yari as Sanary rushes in. Outranging her? Yari looks utterly proud of Sanary as she indeed fights with her head! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia does have to admit that Momoyo is an impressive fighter, but she is still the enemy of he friend Sanary! "It was not amazing!" she says, almost scolding Yari. "It was simply a thump! Anyone can thump! I shall demonstrate!" And...she proceeds to flick Yari's forehead. Of course, it is just a flick. Nothing special, maybe resulting in a slight red mark but that's it. "See?"      Sarra then turns back to watching. "You have her on the ropes, Sanary! Finish her off!" Sarracenia cheers, even going so far as to clap her hands excitedly. She accidentally drops her large hammer in the process and doesn't move to pick it up just yet. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She wasn't confident moving on those petrified feet of hers (and didn't know the duration) but at least two minutes went by. The forehead flick ate a bunch of time after all, but luckily Momoyo didn't try to follow up because of the petrification.     Well this was just swell. She'd fought Nero before. This... was just clumsy in comparison to the sword strike.     Taking a page from Sanary herself, she leans into the wide shield swing. With a loud grunt, her palm SLAMS into the edge of the shield, taking hold of it abruptly with her superior strength and remaining footing. "This /ends/, cutie." she snarls, her red eyes looking like a demon as she wrassles the dizzy fighter.     "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"     A dozen of those cannonfire strikes into Sanary's exposed gut, she was going to make her regret not wearing armor today. With the shield pinned down, it was dropping it or dying. At the very least her other shield is nearby, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as effective as the one the monstrous girl just pinned down. She could only perform half this move, with her other hand holding the shield, but a dozen punches would be enough to stall for more time to wait for the pins and needles in her ankles to fade, right?     "Kawakami-HAAAA!"     Without moving her feet she violently follows up with a massive ranged energy wave, to try to keep Sanary limited to just her axe. Just a bit more time... without the shields her endurance meant very little under the force of Momoyo's attacks. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Grabbing the shield? Sanary probably should have expected that, all things considered. Although she does let go of the shield as expected, she's still not quite fast enough to actually get out of the range of those rapid-fire punches. She toughs out the first few, but the ones following that actually draw pained cries from the healer, and the last few even get her to cough up blood!      It's really a good thing she's got that self-healing thing going on. Otherwise, she'd probably need a hospital right now! At least with the healing, she can delay it until after the fight. She's still standing, however, and wobbling on her feet a bit as she tightens her hold on the gunaxe with both hands.      "Nn... Heh... Th-that all you..?" Grinning defiantly and sounding incredibly groggy, she looks up just in time to see the giant energy blast coming her way. She considers dodging it for just a moment, but with the spectators somewhere behind her...      "... Shit." Sanary braces her arms in front of her in a weak effort to protect her from the absolute worst of the blast, getting knocked back and tumbling over several times before stopping face-down on the other side of the ring.      That definitely could have gone better. It takes her a full minute just to start moving again, but move she does! Barely. Really, it just consists of standing back up and coughing out blood again, her gunaxe over in one corner of the ring and her clothing in tatters from the force of the blast. She's definitely seen better days, but at least her limbs are all still there! She's even got enough motor control to raise her hand and beckoning Momoyo to approach.s      "Ain't.. Done yet. C... Come on. Let's finish this!" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Wah! Forehead flick! She is still wounded, after all! The ninja cringes. The hangover isn't helping from rather rabid drinking. The ninja stumbles a little. "...Fair point. I'm being a fool. Sanary is far superior!" And then she winces as those strikes come. Yari steps closer and closer to the battle area, her every muscle flexed and coiled. Her own anger is long gone, her entire focus on the woman who's made such an impact in her life. She glances to the Unionites present. Indeed, she looks ready to pounce to break things up if Sanary falls. But neither is she going to just intervene and embarrass her. "Hang in there Sanary! Don't let this overblown idiot get the better of you!" She calls encouragingly! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo waves off the ten-count, though the monks ignore her and count it anyway. "Get up." Normally, she wouldn't keep fighting an opponent that for all practical purposes hadn't managed to scratch her yet. But in this case she needed to make a point to a certain lizard.     She picks up the shield instead of finishing Sanary off. "Hmm. Decent piece of hardware... I wonder how it'll work for me." she quips. Sliding the straps around her wrist, she equips Sanary's kite shield, taking a few practice swings... Sanary in tip top shape was plenty able to get around someone using a shield. Sanary was not in tip-top shape and Momoyo hadn't broken a sweat yet.     "Oh. Hey. The feeling is starting to come back to my ankles." That was Sanary's final warning and she was not in much of a condition to take advantage of it. For four and a half minutes, Momoyo had been standing still, and now she has control of the entire arena. Sanary would have to get up at the count of nine, but it was obvious if she did Momoyo was only going to be sadistic now instead of merely terrible. She swung that shield around a bit, playing for a moment. Only the Kawakami Ryuu present (and possibly Nagato herself) stopped her from just brutalizing Sanary completely instead of just humiliating her. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia winces as Sanary is pummeled and gasps as Sanary is sent tumbling away. "Sanary!" she calls out worriedly, then quickly stoops down and picks up her hammer. She looks quite ready to use it, but she resists for now because there -is- a count going on and the fight -might- end without further violence.      But, it is obvious now that Sanary is weakened and Momoyo isn't about to take it easy. If this Momoyo plans on trying to seriously harm Sanary...      Sarracenia grits her teeth, holds her hammer at the ready, and waits. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      "Like it...? Heh.. Should take to you to.. Wyveria some day." Even in her unsteady state, Sanary's still managing to hold something resembling a conversation! Staggering from side to side a bit as she watches Momoyo, the healer barely even attempts to move as Momoyo takes those practice swings with her shield on.      It'd probably make her angrier if she wasn't so delirious at the moment. "Nn... H-hey. Momoyo." The healer coughs at a fist-sized clump of blood and grasps her gut, focusing some of her healing energy there to keep whatever's bleeding from getting worse. "You... Nnrgh. You remember what I said... Before, right?"      It looks like she's still not ready to go down yet! Settling back into something vaguely resembling a stance, she raises her hand again to beckon the warrior forward. She's not in any condition to approach her herself, but she can at least defy the Momoyo as long as she's still on her feet. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari is beyond cheering now. The beaten, battered form of Sanary has sweat dripping down her face, fear and concern for Sanary writ into it. If Momoyo wanted to absolutely terrify the ninja? She's succeeded, by how she inches closer to the duo, dithering on whether to get involved. A glance to Sarracenia. A swift nod, and a whisper. For now, she waits, heart pounding in her chest and face one of pure terror for someone she cares so much about. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato looks between a few people, and the cheering from the lizard girl. Watching her give that nod to the other woman, Nagato makes it a point to move closer towards them, "Pardon me, just moving to get a better angle on the fight." She didn't trust Yari at all, much less most of the people she didn't recognize here. Except maybe Nero.     Nagato's former Submarine was in there and she's going to protecct her ... just in case that ninja decides to do something she didn't like... 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero meanwhile is smiling wide.      This is the most exciting part! The true climax of this perfomance!      What would Momoyo do? What would Sanary do?      Stay tuned, and don't touch that dial- "Oh, hello Lady Nagato." Nero greeted casually as she kept her eyes on the bout. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch." She swings her arm, letting the shield fly away. The pointed bottom end of it sinks into a thick wooden pillar, about a third of the way in near the audience. "Why couldn't you have been stronger." she mutters.     "Kawakami Diversion!"     She throws a blast of ki that looks like a large attack of some type that Sanary will need to dodge.     By the time the energy fades, she's behind Sanary, and clutches at her hair viciously, forcing her chin up into the sky. She tries kicking the back of Sanary's knee to get her on the floor. But then, an idea dawns on her. Mercifully, Sanary isn't subjected to any more abuse, unless she struggles.     Her head turns... and she narrows at Sarracenia. She could sense the hostile intent from here, see her posture... "...You." she points, at the woman with the hammer. "I'm going to let her leave and you're going to take her place. Don't... and I'll take her eye." she calls out. It was a threat that she could, by this point, convince the Feds she would make good on even if she had no intention of doing so. She was irritated of course, but she was getting enough of a rise from certain people that this was the best way not to cause a brawl in the entire Dojo. "You're going to look like her when I'm done, so you'd better think this through carefully. But this /one/ time, I'll let someone tag her out. It's more fun for me that way." she angrily tosses Sanary forward on the ground, away by her hair several feet away. At this point, she was fine with the healer regenerating... but wanted to humiliate her, and the Feds were absolutely convinced this monstrous woman would cripple her. She really didn't want to do that, but she was still bored. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato gives a brief nod towards Nero, "Lady Nero." she returns the casual greeting, leaning back against the wall once more, mainly to keep an eye on the Ninja and now the hammer wielding princess. Just what was Kawakami up to? Not that she'd mind Yari getting her head bashed in by Kawakami... she keeps her mouth shut otherwise, to keep a good eye on what's going on. 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     "OY!" But it's not a Fed that speaks up now. It's the catman, getting up to his feet as he slides the leftover eel skewers into the ties of his shirt to hold them and get his hands free. "I think you've made your point, miss."     N'raha's tail is puffed out, his ears folded back a litle bit. "A duel is one thing but let it go, you won. Unless you're gonna start killin' people and I I am prett sure folks'll frown on that one in an 'honorable duel'."     Oh dear. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia hmphs at Momoyo. "Fine! I will gladly take Sanary's place if it will free her from your ruthless attacks! I do not know what transpired between you, Sanary, and Yari, but I will not stand idly by while a friend of mine is tortured for someone else's amusement!" The fiery red-head seems unafraid, even after watching Momoyo. Perhaps she is confident, or perhaps just arrogant, but she steps toward the ring with her hammer raised.      "But, as the catboy said, this was supposed to be an honorable duel. My honor will not be tarnished if I step in, but yours will if you continue when your opponent is clearly beaten!" Sarracenia says, even as she steps forward. She is clearly ready to fight, but as a princess she still keeps the diplomatic option open. "Either way, Sanary must be allowed to leave the ring before anything else can happen. So...you can release her and allow us to go, or you can prove what a barbarian you are and continue this charade of a duel with me in her place. But, I warn you, I hit much harder than Sanary." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Dodging's not going to happen. Not because Sanary's willing to tank yet another hit, but because she doesn't have enough strength to get her legs to move that much. Even so, she's still caught from behind and cries out painfully from having her head yanked back, glaring up at Momoyo even when she's forced to her knees.      Well. This is embarrassing. Grimacing painfully, the healer still manages to put up a token struggle before getting thrown back onto the ground, rolling onto her back to continue facing the martial artist. Listening to those words, though, seems to be stirring something in the healer as her magical energy starts to circulate once again.      "... They're not... Involved in this!" "      And then everything explodes all at once. Not in the literal sense, but figuratively. All of her anger at Yari being injured, at being underestimated the whole time, at having another one of her friends threatened. All of it fuels the sudden burst of energy rushing into her eye, activating the Fire matrix and shooting a heat-laser upwards between herself and Momoyo.      She hadn't used it before out of a fear of collateral damage, but at this angle? The only people that could get hit would be the two already in the ring. Detonating the laser early, the laser promptly explodes above herself and Momoyo, amplified by the Psycho Power infusion inside her and turning the normally orange-red explosion of fire into something far more powerful.      And purple. It's very purple. She's not going to be a pretty sight by the time everything is said and done, but it's the only hope she has left to end the fight without anyone else getting involved! 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' The brutal beating to Sanary is too much, even for someone like Yari. She very nearly draws a gun and just shoots Momo, but realizes the power of that forehead flick of hers. Instead, N'raha calls out, Sarracenia is ready, and then Sanary gets up. Yari screams in terror and rage as her own lazer-ability explodes, sending up that power that's purple and horrible and frightening. A swift nod to Sarracenia, and something falls from her hand. POMF! A smokebomb obscures much of the audience, mostly aimed at a certain Admiral and Nero. Then, the ninja is over like a flash, rushing onto the battlefield with reckless bandon. She'll try to snatch up Sanary from the wreckage of the two's battle, kunai in her tail, ready to use it if necessary should Momoyo be anywhere near touching the woman! She'll try to haul her back! "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS MOMOYO KAWAKAMI, I SWEAR ON THE EMPIRE!" Howls Yari, voice full of anger, terror, and pure sadness as seeing her friend so hurt and even harming herself in the process. She's more like a snarling animal than a person at this rate, protecting her pack. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato frowns, part of her wanted to see more torture on the lizard girl but with N'raha's calling, Sarracenia's willingness and Sanary's up, something's not right.     And then that laser.     "Forgive me, Kawakami..." Kicking off the wall, through that smokebomb, Nagato moves to tackle Kawakami and pin her under the Admiral, to cover that psycho power infused blast. Kawakami was part of her fleet before, and she said she'd protect her fleet.     Wincing through the explosions, Nagato turns her head back, "And your empire shall fall!" she waits a moment for the explosions to cease... but for now... she's doing her best to cover Kawakami from Sanary's explosion. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero's smile grows      Yes, good. Very good. This is the kind of dramatic climax she was waiting for. And Nero is not disappointed in the least.      Even as that explosion from Sanary is fired forth. Even with Yari dives in. Even with Nagato does the same. Her smile is wide. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:''' Dust, explosions, flying debris, smoke in the air, vows of vengeance, talk of honor duels. All of these things are flying through the air in a huge flurry. And amidst all of them, Shin is calmly sitting on a bench with a crepe in one hand and his phone in the other, tapping away at the screen with his thumb. Shin Tokuyama ?@CombatVagrant 9m     Today I watched a street brawl turn into a street war. Crazy shit. All I wanted was a crepe. #JustMultiverseThings #HungerIsABattlefield Of most present, his reaction is possibly among the least dramatic. He simply sits on the bench and swings his legs a bit, watching all the action unfold as he takes another bite. "Huh." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's eyes widen as Sanary herself sets off that explosion of purple power! Yari takes off, and Sarracenia rushes in to cover her and Sanary if she can from any counter attacks that might arise. But, she is not lightning fast like the others. Her run speed is pretty normal, and she can't see in smoke.      That doesn't stop her from trying, though! She follows Yari as best she can and helps get Sanary out of there, trying not to cough from the smoke in the air. She isn't sure if she is proud of Sanary or angry at her for pushing herself so far! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo saw Nagato's aura move... so since there was no hostile intent she didn't bother to dodge. She didn't expect Yari to practically jump into the explosion, though.     Nagato's armored body slams into the martial artist as the pressure cooker finally blows. Nagato's body was much better at taking an anti-army attack like the one Sanary just cooked up, so she's simply a tangle of limbs with her would-be battleship doppelganger. A furrow is dragged into the ground where the Admiral gives her cover, and even Momoyo winces. "A-Admiral!?"     If this chaos was any indication it was now obvious what sort of unpredictable behavior Kawakami tends to stir up in her opponents. Trying to do anything to help or hurt the situation would only make it worse, so she's forced to watch the laser shoot into the air from several feet away as the worst of the beam's burns sears Nagato's armor with the indirect hit. She starts at the laser, but with the weight on top of her, gave up trying to process that many events all at once.     Welp, NASA would know that wasn't Momoyo at all and would be calling soon... 

:'''{{#var:819|N'raha Tia (819)}} has posed:'''     WELL THAT HAPPENED.     It would appear that N'raha's call for snity has gone UNHEEDED as lasers and smokebombs and explosions and VITAL THINGS take place and... uh.     Well. He's no longer directly involved with anyone here so he lamely applauds at the street show for what it is and shuffles back and out of the crowd before people start coming around with questions like 'oy what's all this then' and 'are you a witness sir, also what's with the cosplay'.     Oh hey, Shin's still here. He shuffles into place next to the older fighter and murmurs. "...Does this happen a lot around you?" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Meanwhile, Sanary is... Good at being unconscious. She had put all of her energy reserves into that literally emotion-charged explosion, after all, and the wounds building up along with no magic left to fix those wounds has left her a little limp. Also, she's bleeding some from her eye.      That's normal after this sort of thing, right? Right. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari's back sizzles from the after-effects of Sanary's own explosion, shielding the fallen cleric. Her lovely kimono is ruined, and people can clearly see the results of back-tanking a horrible anger-bomb bodily by a squishy ninja such as her. Hauling Sanary to her, cradling the woman protectively, she sends a scathing glare towards Momoyo and Nagato. There's venom, anger, and tears running down her face. "Let's go, Sanary." She whispers, gritting her teeth as she leaps off towards the nearest medical facilities, tears in her eyes and anger in her heart. 

}}

3676/Invoking the Wrath of Momo-sempai

2016-01-18T19:04:57Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo captures wounded Yari

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/16
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Yari goes snooping in the Kazami Family 'secret base', an intimate childhood hangout stuffed with sensitive details about Momoyo's closest friends while Cookie is under maintenance. Momoyo finds her, and things quickly go south. Sanary and Lute bail out their ninja when Momoyo, ignorant of Yari's recent assassination attempt, mercifully drags her to the Fed-JSDF Embassy in Kawakami City instead of the Union.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=188, 691, 714, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari is not exactly one to stay down for long, even /after/ she got exploded to death three times by a certain Admiral. She is, however, looking like she's been through hell. There's bandages over one eye, she's limping thanks to that leg that had to be reattached, and she's barely hiding her fighting aura. It's sloppy compared to the tight control she usually has, and might even let most of the Family realize their comfy secret base is being invaded. Finding it took plenty of stalking, too, but some quick lock picking and other cieling-based ninja shenanigans has her in, and then down to the floor. Blink. Frown. She didn't know what she was expecting, but it wasn't this. Still, she's already ruffling through bookshelves and games for anything that might be worthy of intel. And breathing hard. She actually has to stop and lean on a wall, her vision blurring and the ninja growing weak. Her tail droops. Nagato didn't exactly go light on her. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Lo and behold, Momoyo came by hauling the sofa chair she had in Kenji's medical room on one shoulder. Unfortunately for Yari, she started to move even quicker once she senses Yari screwing around inside the base... Cookie must have been out for maintenance or with one of the other friends.     She hadn't seen Yari's aura very often before, but she could tell whoever it was rummaging through the pile of manga and games (and unable to hack Moro's laptop) was pretty weak. Some mock diary entries from some of the various girls were around, but the information available here was nothing like compared to the dorm Yamato lives in which Yari did eventually find the address to. So there's that.     Yari could probably sense Momoyo coming, but in her state she probably forgot just how fast Momoyo could move, even bearing a load. She brought the sofa chair inside with the intent to use it on whoever was snooping around, only to find someone who needed to be in a hospital.     "You look like you rolled around on a dozen grenades in a trench, Yari." 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Some of those entries are memorized, then quickly put back. When Momo arrives? She's grumbling at that laptop. Clearly she needs more experience. And then Yari goes ramrod straight. Including her tail. Then she realizes it's Momo, and the kunai goes back into her sleeves. The ninja takes a few steps, stumbles, and likely has to use the martial artist just to stay on her feet. Cling. "Five grenades, four explosive tags, multiple shrapnel and bullet barrages." Adds Yari, the silly ninja. One might question how she's still technically in one piece. "Hello Momo-sempai. Your hideout is less impressive than I thought. I was expecting at least some illegal weaponry." Pause, then she frowns a bit. Her tail reaches up, and tries to poke the woman on the nose. "And where have you been!? It's been boring without you causing trouble. The others aren't as fun to shadow. I think some of those maids don't like me either." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Uh huh." Her fingers casually slide into Yari's hair... and then curl tightly. Tilting her chin back, she keeps a firm grasp on Yari.     This was the second time she's caught her violating some very private territory... and it was worse than previous after all.     "You must be feeling pretty okay to violate my 'family's' secret base." The inflection on the word implied she wasn't talking about Kawakami, and given the slang bandied about school, most likely the roving bands of friends. The rest of the evidence strewn about and people's names on it implied exactly how many had been around since at least 4th grade, and how many were recently invited. But none of that was really relevant right now.     "I know you're just snooping me and my friends so you can decide when to kidnap one of them when the need arises. It's pretty frustrating that you're using the world neutrality to poke around in my private life when I'll tell you anything you want to know." Probably Yamato, his family ties are wealthy but extremely questionable from what little research Yari was able to do now and in the past. Momoyo's fingers start to roughly paw over Yari, and slowly remove every single weapon she has on her body, using her hair as a leash.     "I was gone for a week enlisted in the Hikari Fleet Daughter Navy. They drafted me for training... which they are sort of able to do reasonably since I'm a Japanese citizen." her nose curled up into a sneer, her eyes half-lidded as she leans in close to the Au'Ra. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari notes that look in Momoyo's eyes, and then she's suddenly being held there like some sort of animal. The ninja doesn't resist, even as she gets de-weaponed. That'll take awhile. Four knives, a dozen kunai and shuriken, plus three holdout pistols and what appears to be a sickle attached to a long chain. The ninja was packing lightly today. "This is part of my job, Momoyo. I can't just rely on information from one source. I have to confirm everything. You're honest, but everyone is biased. First rule of spying, get multiple sources. And people usually leave valuable information where they feel safest." States Yari, trying to look up at her and be somewhat authoratative and frosty. Which she completely fails at, and she looks down with her eyes at that sneer. Yes, she's blushing, and looking shamed. "...But I should have at least asked. My apologies, Momoyo-sempai." At least she's humble. And dips into a bow, which she regrets as her wounds ache and that grip on her hair tightens. "And I wanted to see how you and the Family live." She adds quietly. A pause at the mention of Hikari. She could very easily have ran into Momoyo out at sea. It would have turned a mostly successful operation into a failure quickly. Who knows if she'd even come back alive. "Still. I'm glad you're back and safe." No deception here. Though the emphasis on safe might be odd. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Safe, huh? I might be safe, but you probably aren't." She continues stripping weaponry, and then... thinking better of it, takes hold of Yari's /tail/ instead of her arm, pulling that taut. Yari's tail was delicate and Momoyo was just about mad enough to rip it off and see if it would grow back despite Yari's injuries.     "Pop quiz, lizard. What happens if I take you to Union-JSDF headquarters and tell them you were picked up for tresspassing!?" she yells. She didn't know what Yari did precisely but the wounds were enough of a clue that she couldn't escape again. Not with Momoyo's eyes on her. She presses Yari against the wall nearest the doorframe. "How am I going to explain to my friends what /you're/ doing here just because the Gate opened!? They're all in danger now!" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari can't help it as she's easily grabbed by the tail, and then shoved against a wall. To say the pain right now is excruciating would be an understatement. But worse, even as she very nearly blacks out from the pain, the ninja has to face the wrath of Momoyo. Momoyo can see the utter fear on her face as she mentions giving over the lizard to the Union. She trembles in place. It'd be a death sentences. She manages to get her fear under control enough to stammer out, wilting beneath that gaze. "I...Nnn. You've all been in danger the moment that Gate opened. But...please, Momoyo. If you turn me in now, they'll execute me. I'm a spy and an assassin." She pleads, even as she quickly intones over her radio. There's no attempts at escape. "I'll submit myself to whatever punishment you want, Momoyo. I'll take responsibility for this. Just please...I have a lot to live for now. I don't want to die." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She starts walking. Yari has no idea of she convinced Momoyo or not, and is way too wounded to put up a fight against someone who's spotted her. Moreover, the one slim chance Yari has of getting away is being held... Yari's tail is more dangerous than her remaining arm and Momoyo knows it.     She keeps Yari walking... it was debatable whether or not claiming she couldn't walk any further would just anger the string-taut Momoyo further. Without Yari's maps the twists and turns the city took were impossible to remember, since Momoyo didn't take her down any main streets...     Until the area becomes more familiar to Yari, gradually. Momoyo took her to the Fed-JSDF embassy. Like the Union embassy, it was just a rented office building with Fed-specific technology installed and likely transport facilities to enable them to arrive from the Gate.     She stopped right on the physical border of the Embassy. Any ground Momoyo was standing on was still Japanese territory, beyond the fence.     She yells to the guards. "YOU BETTER FIGURE OUT WHO IS GONNA TAKE IN THIS FED SPY FOR TRESPASSING!!!" She roughly holds the lizard up to the camera. Not that Feds weren't already trying to figure out where Yari was. Soon, Momoyo would be swarmed whether she could perceive it or not. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Every moment walking with Momoyo is tense. She's wondering if this woman she admires so much is going to be the cause of her execution. But she doesn't resist. Yari faces it with a stoic face. If anything, she's more afraid of Momoyo at this point. But it's the Fed agency. And as she's held up, that fear vanishes from her eyes. She does dangle and moan from the pain, however, the injured, beaten ninja wobbling in Momo's grasp. She looks as shamed as appropriate. In all likelyhood, there's a bunch of Fed soldiers around giving the spy very annoyed glances. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute hasn't heard much of the situation. He simply knows where it is, and that Yari is in trouble. He has been to this area before, some time back. He helped fight against a monster that ended up appearing. But, he knows little enough about the situation currently that he is somewhat nervous. He makes fast pace through the Warp Gate Network, until he finally arrives at the Confederate Embassy. He runs out the door of the building, only to hear the yelling. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. His mind focuses. Normally, the 'true' Lute, his more idiotic version, does not allow his smarter half to take control willingly. For a situation like this? Lute will let it happen.      He walks up towards the fence, casually. He takes a moment to lift a hand to his face, moving the hair out of his eyes a little. His braids and labcoat flutter in the wind a little. He looks relaxed, and calmed. His eyes narrow a little as he looks towards Momoyo, and Yari.      He smiles towards Momoyo in a friendly manner. Glances are given to the Confederate soldiers. He motions for any of them who seem on guard to stand down. Finally, he looks back towards Momoyo. He speaks in a calm tone, lacking much of the normal rough-around-the-edges manners Lute can have at times.      "Mmm. I apologize for our spy. We will take her into our custody. I will admit, I am not quite sure what she was trying to find. But. I do know that she has provided much support and assistance to this city. She even has aided in fighting creatures within this land, to protect it. I am sure that her previous assistance to this town will, without a doubt, be /more/ than enough to help us bring this to a peaceful resolution." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      Sanary's not normally one to raise hell in neutral territory. Even though she's not quite as educated as most of her allies in the Confederacy, she does know better than to do anything rash that would jeopardize the Confederacy's standing with said neutral territories.      Usually. This sort of thing would probably have her ready to go on a rampage, but yet... She's actually behaving today. The healer simply arrives at the embassy fairly quickly, not decked out in her usual clunky ass armor or even carrying multiple shields. No, she's only got her guanxe at her hip and a Mend staff in hand today, and she makes a beeline for the two women and the Pokemon trainer at the front of the building.      She also looks like hell. Heavy bags under her eyes, hair a mess, and not at all like a professional... Anything. She might have just woken up from the looks of it. "We'll take her from here. You're..." Sanary adjusts her eyepatch as she looks from Yari to Momoyo to Lute, then Momoyo again. The temptation to just go up and grab Yari is strong, but she's still managing to behave somehow. "... Oh hey. You're the one that fought what's her face. Kyra's servant." 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Seeing Lute, the ninja looks as though she could leap into his arms at this point. Dangling from Momoyo's grasp, the injured ninja's life is very much in the hands of her allies right now. And then in comes Sanary. She might actually live now. Best to own up. "Momoyo-sempai caught me in her hideout. I overstepped my bounds foolishly." Admits the ninja, and even manages to give a bow of apology to the two before her. But most of it is directed at Momoyo, who has spared her life...even if certain actions as of late might get the woman to reconsider that. Thankfully, the ninja is wisely being tight lipped. Yari looks horrible at this point, given her injuries and now /this/. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "I don't know what this idiot did." she shoves Yari on her knees roughly on the ground right outside the fence. Any steps taken outside the fence would end up putting people in Japanese territory. Granted, an armed response was entirely feasible if they didn't kill Momoyo, it was not unusual for Momoyo to get in fights after all.     But it's questionable if Sanary and Lute by themselves could stop Momoyo from hauling the lizard to the other end of town in a heartbeat to Union's embassy.     "But I'm pretty sure the last thing you people need is me hauling her to the Union embassy for snooping my private life!!!" Yep, when it boils down to it, Yari got caught peeking in someone's diary of all things.     "You better tell me whether or not she's going to be charged for violating Japanese law. I'll file the report with you people." she grits her teeth lowly. She was still seething, but she couldn't just resolve this with violence. Any of the wounds Yari has currently will still take hours for Sanary to address, but Momoyo couldn't tell how strong Lute was, either... 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      So that's what happened. Yari gets a long stare from Sanary that seems to be asking 'Really?', and the healer lets out a tired sigh before her attention turns back to Momoyo. "We'll take care of it. We got our own procedures to handle this sort of problem, and the Union embassy doesn't have any authority over her, anyway. We do." Probably? Maybe. She's not an expert in these things, but she can at least pretend to sound like she does! Maybe.      "Besides. I don't think any of us wants to see this place turning into a war zone over some snooping." There's a veiled threat in there, but it'd probably be more effective if the healer didn't look like she was half-asleep. Or would it be even more effective? Either way, she's staring straight at Momoyo, not seeming to care at all about the height or size difference between them. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      The veiled threat from Sanary gets a smirk from Lute. Really, he knows that if this /does/ become a major incident, it would lead to more problems for Momoyo than for the Confederates. But, the loss of Yari? It would be, without a doubt, a major downside for the Confederacy.      Which is why Lute is going to take a bit of a different route than threats.      "I will see to it that Yari is punished to the full extent that the Confederacy will punish someone for such a failure. In fact, I will punish her. Myself."      Lute reaches into his pocket. From them, a pair of handcuffs are pulled out. He holds the metal cuffs up for Momoyo to see. He smiles calmly, his other hand remaining in his pocket. He shakes his head, looking down at Yari, "It's a shame it came to this. I heard you talk so /well/ of this woman. And yet you sneak into her base, without permission? The pains you will face for this in your punishment? You will be /lucky/ if you survive them." Of course, it is a bluff. But, Lute is willing to put on a bit of a show of punishing Yari here if Momoyo doesn't take the bait.      Which is why he has a knife in his other pocket. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was unbelieveably upset, but this was the best way to make sure Yari wasn't harmed and stayed in a hospital. She wasn't sure what she did to get those wounds, and was too pissed off to care. But beating Yari up wasn't going to make her feel better... and Miss Kawakami was already an expert at scaring the shit out of the lizard so her point was made.     There was a tense political undercurrent to the whole situation, where none of the parties involved were fully aware of the other's motivations. Momoyo's, at least, were honest as usual, but what was left unsaid was just as important.     She did let out some of her frustration though, violently KICKING Yari to Lute's feet, and perhaps a few feet past both of them, into Fed property where she was 'safe'. "If I EVER see you in there /again/..." Sanary and Lute could be easily fooled into thinking Yari had picked up valuable intel. Boy were they going to be just as pissed off as Human Resources when they find out all she got out of the venture was an address and a list of manga and games and... ramen packages. A mini-fridge and a lethal personal robot that was blessedly absent or Yari might not have survived Cookie either in her state. She had essentially trespassed into a treehouse and caused a ruckus at what was essentially a vacation destination for no good reason. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' This is at least going far better than she expected it to. Yari flops to the ground bonelessly, hunched over. That look from Sanary has her flushing even more. Yes, really. Clearly this lizard was not thinking at all when she did this. And then the veiled threats, and Yari could kiss Sanary right now. They might make it out of this alive. Though she's not looking forward to what Lu-Mey is going to do to her. Well, one potentially lethal problem at a time. And then Lute lets the plan go over the radio. It doesn't make the ninja feel any more safe, and there's honest fear in her eyes. Really, she feels bad about the whole thing by now, what was meant to be some snooping turned out horrifically wrong. "I...I submit myself to your judgement, Sir. I've violated the trust of a woman I respect." Oh yes, there's pain incoming for the ninja. And then she's kicked into Fed territory, literally. She lands in a heap, slumping at the feet of Sanary and Lute. Nnngh. She just lays there, wracked in pain, physical and emotional. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute kneels down next to Yari. His hand leaves the knife in his pocket. He grabs ahold of her by the left arm, linking the handcuffs to it. The other side of it is linked to Lute's own right wrist. He pulls on her arm, trying to pull her to a standing position. His movements are rough, and rude. He is going to need to apologize to Yari later. Especially because he has to keep up the charade for a bit longer.      He has to make a point, though. Once Yari is standing, he lifts his left hand up. With a swift motion, he backhands Yari across the face.      "You have caused enough problems. You will not speak again until we give you permission to."      He looks back towards Momoyo. Through all of this, Lute has kept the the smile on his face. He seems rather unphased by all of this, oddly enough. He speaks again to Momoyo, looking her right in the eye. "If there is any other compensation you need for damages caused by Yari? Please, file a formal complain with the Confederacy, and we will do what we can do to appease you." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      There's a look of both relief and undeniable rage on Sanary's face when Yari gets kicked over. On one hand, the Au Ra is safe! On the other hand, she did just get kicked when she was down, and there's even a brief glint in the healer's eye as she barely manages to keep herself from letting loose with a heat laser right then and there. It's only with the orders over the radio that she keeps herself under control.      "We'll take care of it. But if you want to fight someone, /I'll/ take you on." Another defiant stare is sent at Momoyo before she turns to pick Yari right up, hoisting the ninja over her shoulder carefully (and resisting the urge to deck Lute in the face despite the act). "But not right now. I've got some work to take care of, and then I need to take a nap."      She pauses for dramatic effect (and to suppress a yawn) while starting to head towards the inside. "But when we do? I'm taking you down." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhmhm~. You know where I am." she gestures to the entire city. Mainly in the direction of Kawakami Academy or the Dojo. The dojo being the appropriate place for a formal challenge and the latter being a really stupid place to attack her with a complex hierarchy of numerous high school students that could get involved on a whim.     She badly wanted Sanary to provoke her, but assaulting Fed grounds directly even with justification was suicide even if they didn't know who she really was. Shrugging her shoulders, she tosses her hair. "Tch, dumbass lizard..." she muses, turning around and stuffing her hands in her pockets as she wandered off. Now, what to do with all that illegal weaponry all over the floor she was going to have to explain to her friends back at the secret base... 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari is hauled up, cuffed, and then, slapped. The smack has her going cross-eyed in pain, coughing and shivering. She doesn't speak, vaguely hunched forward. Between the kick and now the slap, she's barely managing to keep her eyes open. Sanary's words, however, bring the slightest of smiles for a moment. It quickly fades, however. When Momoyo begins walking off? The ninja slumps into Lute's arms, breathing heavily. All of the adrenaline drains, and she's left exhausted and wounded. "...Thank you both. I'm an idiot." Ugh. Not the brightest moment of her career. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Once Momoyo is out of sight? Lute's entire bodylanguage changes. He starts, once again, acting like his normal self. As Momoyo is leaving, he even lifts a hand to flip her off, muttering, 'Fuck you' under his breath. And he frowns, looking towards Sanary, and Yari.      "...Heal her right now."      At least, this could have gone worse. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''      "We can talk about how dumb you were after we've fixed you up. Come on." Despite the fatigue, Sanary's magic is still working just as good as it normally does! She uses the staff first to provide a nice burst of healing for the immediate pain, and that's followed up with a direct transfer of regeneration-boosting magic!      She'll probably regret challenging Momoyo after she's slept enough, but for now... She'll just have to simmer for a while. 

}}

3651/'Cauterizing The Wound'

2016-01-18T19:01:18Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo KOs Kenji

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/11
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Kenji is distraught and Momoyo thoughtlessly offers to pound him into the dirt. When she realizes how wounded he is and won't listen to reason, Momoyo induces a coma with a move that subjects him to nightmares about his failures, in order to prevent him from hurting himself further.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=715, 880, 906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Already in the Ring chatting with Yang, Momoyo waited for her would-be dispirited opponent in the stands next to the stairs entering the Ring below. Her fingers tapped on the console to set the Ring back to standard settings, though if one was careful they could stop to listen to the two girls chatter beforehand.     "He's so damn moody. I should really fight him more often... but risking his life against the Feds would work better than brawling me." she quips, tossing her silky black hair. "I don't think him watching me spar Xiaomu cheered him up very much either..." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang leans against the wall, eyes closed and arms folded under her bust. "Yeah. He kinda reminds me of a few students at Beacon." Fists clench for a moment or two. "That attitude really gets me pissed off though... but challenging him would be like trying to challenge you. I'd lose, and it'd only make him moodier."     The blonde then looks over at Momoyo. "You sure you're up for this? You've been pushing yourself really hard lately." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shrugs her shoulders. "Yes, Nagato liked to make me clean the base... she didn't think it was very funny when I would get bored and flirt with every ship in earshot but kept me hanging around a pack of middle schoolers. I wanted to fight Kinu or Tenryuu, but..." she mutters under her breath. "Anti Submarine Warfare was... an experience. I scared the crap out of those little destroyer girls you know?" 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji Kawasaki is Fucked Up. It's painfully, blatantly clear when he arrives at Njorun that he is in a bad way, both mentally and physically.      The physical scars are easy enough to spot - there's a burn wound on his arm that on further examination is probably *cauterized shut*, a black scar from his shoulder down to his elbow. There's cuts across his face and arms, lesser cuts that he doesn't seem to have even bothered to do anything about, probably from glass - there might even be a few shards of glass sticking to him, though if they are, they've undoubtedly melted, giving his arm a weird shimmer as he walks into the ring. There's bruises along what's visible of his chest, his torn tantkop showing damage consistent with a heavy object falling on his six-pack and possibly busting one of the cans. There's fire damage, too, some burns on his face that look like he's been through an explosion, maybe two.      But it's the lack of anger in his response to Momoyo that probably is the most worrisome. The haunted gaze in his eyes. Like he just saw somebody die in front of him.      Kenji stops at the edge of the ring.      "Shut up," he says to the air, "I'm doing it anyway. You can help me or you can watch, Kojin, I don't care which."      Silence.      "Okay," Kenji replies, "Great."      And from there it's just waiting for Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      At that point, Nero had strode in, hands on her hips as she took a glance around. "Hm! I had seen a notification that The RIng was started up. And what do I find, but Lady Yang, and Lady Kawakami!" The Servant grinned. "Indeed, I must be clairvoyant!" And then Kenji gets a look as well. "Aha! Sir Kawasaki! Come to test your mettle once again?"      With a smile more entertained looking than it should have been, she went up to the stands and had a seat, arms crossed. "Well then! Do not mind me! Clash fists and wills to decide who will come out on top! To decide who amongst you is worthy is standing under heaven!" And she swept an arm out dramatically      "Go! I will allow it!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang smirks at Momoyo then. "Heh, I heard about that, can't say I'd do much against a /ship/ though." a shrug, then Nero comes tromping in with all kinds of pomp. "Hey Empress Noisypants." a roll of eyes, "Thanks."     And then there's Kenji. "Whoa, dude, you look like you just walked through a warzone!" she's /actually/ worried, her entire expression changed in an instant. "You should be in Medical, not down here!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo grins wryly to Nero, but doesn't have much time to banter with the blonde Italian very much. She raises a hand, but her opponent's just arrived.     "...You're in no condition to fight me, and none of us is going to use you as a punching bag, Kenji."     She narrows her eyes, while Yang abruptly goes to tend to his festering wounds. "Nero... look at him. He looks like he's ready to go to the gallows, not to fight me." The Emperor and Yang both knew exactly how this was going to go. She came for a fight, but she was going to refuse to be an executioner as best she could. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      "I'm fine," Kenji says, shrugging his shoulders and hiding the wince. "I can't sit down there for hours. Not right now. Sorry."      If he sits down it will catch up with him. Allenby. Alfonso. Everything. It'll come crashing over him and drown him in a wave of powerlessness and despair and the last thing he wants, the /last/ thing he wants, is to be that guy. To be that guy who's moping about shit all the time. To be that guy who can't do anything because he's so miserable.      It's a bad decision. Kojin already told him so. Kojin told him so a *lot*. But if he doesn't *do* something, if he doesn't *hit* something, he won't be able to think through it. He needs to be moving, he needs to be active, he needs...he needs this. He needs it right now. He needs the mindlessness of violence, the heart-pounding, pulse-pounding adrenaline.      Kenji's fingers go to his head. "I'll go to medical right after this. Look, just..."      It takes him a moment.      "...just don't make me go lie in a bed right now, okay? I need this." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero just smirked at Yang and Momoyo's concerns. A stark contrast.      "And what of it? You can clearly see that this man here, Sir Kawasaki, has come to settle matters." She cants her head in his direction. "...Perhaps settle matters that currently addle his mind, more than his body." And a glance to Momoyo again. "As a true warrior, you surely cannot turn down a man that is facing not only you, but himself as well, no?"      "Therefore...engage him. The outcome of the battle is not what matters. But what your fists convey to one another." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang frowns a bit, then looks back at Momoyo questioningly.     The blonde brawler isn't an empath, but she can read people easily enough that Kenji's emotional state is all but shouting at her. "I'm not as strong as either of you... but if you need to hit something, I might be the sturdier target." she says, glancing back at Kenji after the offer's made. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Nero's not wrong. The way Kenji's looking, the look in his eye, the way his hands are moving - he's not here for an execution. He's not depressed. He's working something out, something that he can't work out in a hospital bed, or something he doesn't feel he's capable of working out in a hospital bed. It's hard to tell, but it's there.      A ball of reluctant fire appears in his hand. It is clearly reluctant, because it's flickering away from him, but he shoves it into his chest anyway.      "KOJINSHINTAI!"      His clothes burn white. His hair turns to flame. His eyes burst into fire. An ashen symbol draws itself on his tanktop.      "I don't care," Kenji tells Yang and Momoyo, "I don't care which of you. I'll fight you both if you want."      "I'm not here to die." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch." she spits, moving to the center of the ring and shoving Kenji down the stairs by the shoulder. She couldn't have put it anywhere near as elegantly, but Nero was absolutely right. And having fought the Servant, she wasn't about to argue any further. "No, Yang, I challenged him... the Ring will keep him alive so I'll be merciful and make sure he leaves it unconscious." she mutters. A man might have argued with him more, but in this moment she knew what needed to be done. And besides, Nero was all but ready with fruit and popcorn.     She gives the customary bow to Kenji at least twenty feet apart, before her open-palmed hand comes up beside her in her ready stance. She was going to hit first, but needed to be sure he was able to stand. "You're always such an idiot, Kenji." she muses, though it's not as if she would have been any different given similar circumstances. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang watches the pair, pensive and looking worried. "Stubborn as a Goliath... Just glad we're not on Remnant." she climbs up to the stands, pointedly leaving Nero plenty of space. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero glanced aside at Yang. "Why, Lady Yang, why so distant?" Feigning surprise, she brought a hand to her chest. "I feel as if we do not know each other any more! What has happened to you?"      Dramatics aside, the Roman Emperor's gaze settled back onto the two figures below, expression evening out into one of calm observation. "What sort of answer will Sir Kawasaki find, I wonder." 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Relief, visibly, washes over him. The dead-eyed expression gives way to a dim smile. "Thanks," he tells Yang and Momoyo, "For worrying about me."      Was he really so afraid that they'd worry him into Medical? Was that something that was weighing so heavily on the young man's soul - that he might be trapped with his own thoughts, immobile, forced to contend with his emotions without an outlet?      Probably.      Kenji returns the bow to Momoyo, which looks perhaps a bit funny, because he's floating in the air and also on fire, partially. He hits the ground, taking up a stance - and then, in seconds, just goes right in. It's almost a repeat of their last fight, except this time there's no teleporting, no fancy flickering, nothing like that. Kenji's roar is a roar of frustration and anger as he charges Momoyo.      And he's picked up some things since they last fought, too. His punch is smoother, cleaner, than it was last time. It's more direct force, more direct/ed/ force. Behind that fist is anger, deep and furious anger. It's not sorrow, or despair, or moping over his own weakness. It's fury, raw and uncompromising.      And this time, at the end of his hand, it's not a fire.      It's a fucking explosion. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang isn't ignoring Nero... well she /is/ but her focus is more pressed toward the fight beginning. Her eyes have taken on a more darkly purple tone as she focusses that Ki sight skill, drawing on her Aura to watch the ebb and flow of the two fighters energies... and she's nearly blinded by the raw power of that first punch. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Kenji's first attack was similar to Ageha Kuki's, but had a force all it's own. While her eyebrow raised blocking even such an explosion, she could note that his technique tightened up. If it weren't for his wounds he'd be that much closer to sewing up the gap between them nicely. She was right not to let Yang take him on, she still wasn't ready. Re-closing the distance, she punches back in a blur. Dozens of punches, two or three kicks in a row, a vicious uppercut, all in succession as she continued to trade blows. His offense was cleaner, but he probably wasn't in the mood for defense in his current state.     "Musou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!!!"     Her assault begins brutally as well, with the two-dozen cannonfire punches fired near-simultaneously. She wasn't about to underestimate him, but it would be better to go all-out and end this quickly. She had an end-game in mind that Kenji wasn't aware of yet, but needed to see how the early and mid played out first. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo meets Kenji with a cannonfire brigade, and will be shocked to learn that despite his state of mind, despite his overwhelming anger, he's apparently *learned something* since they last fought. He meets her fists with his, parrying wherever he can with blow after blow.      It's not perfect. Kenji's fists aren't as fast as Momoyo's. Each hit hurts his hands, his already-wounded hands, and the hits that do get through punch through his defense and leave fist-shaped bruises on his chest, pushing him backwards along the arena with each hit.      Momoyo is hoping for a quick finish. Kenji is hoping to have plenty of time to work out his anger.      The Banchou of Taiyou High's hand swings upwards.      "GOD COLLIIIIIIDAAAAAAAAAAAA!"      The Shinra Rookie swings his fist forwards. He's not even close to Momoyo - he's nearly half the ring away at this point. It's almost laughably clumsy, a full-power swing that looks like it took him off balance. What was he even doing?      The answer is made apparent a mere split second later. A massive pillar of fire comes pouring down from the sky out of *absolutely nowhere*, directly above Momoyo. The fire rolls outwards as it hits the ground, spilling across the arena like a deluge. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang winces her eyes half closed. "So much... power..." tears actually well up in the corners as she shuts off the Ki sense hands coming up to cover her eyes for a moment or two. When she opens them again... the entire arena is bathed in fire. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "AAAAAAHHHH!" She screamed in agony. It was a good, solid direct hit. Her clothing was singed, the school jacket around her neck all but useless now. She would have to pay to get it replaced again. That was, however, in her mind, a finisher move. Hitting an opponent with a move that large in the beginning while they were fresh would only motivate them to be more careful. She staggered, but weathered the attack quite well. "Restoration..." she murmured, healing wounds that, at first glance, looked nearly as bad as the ones Kenji started with. "If that's the way you wanna play it..."     She hopped up into the air herself to get out of the flaming arena, performing a good-looking somersault to avoid any other incoming attacks. "Kawakami-HAAAA!"     A wave of her violet aura converted to gold as she blasted it back at Kenji. Even at the supersonic speed this blast moved, many fighters would be tempted to dodge it, but she doubted Kenji was in that sort of mood and she was now going to have to stay in the air to avoid all the smoke on the ground. Kenji's attack had set the remaining terms of the match, most of her observed matches at this point didn't stay aerial for very long. She was sufficiently pissed off now to match Kenji's fury, as she clearly hadn't taken him seriously at the start. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo is right. Kenji doesn't bother to dodge. The young Banchou instead turns, moving like a rugby player about to shoulder-check someone on the other team. He bends his damaged shoulder into the shot.      Violet aura hammers into the place Geralt of Rivia's silver sword had sliced, and that he had later cauterized. There's a nasty crack.      The impact of Momoyo's aura nearly sends Kenji out of the ring, shoving him down face-first into the ground, and his own fire, after a spinning arc through the air. He bounces once, letting out a roar of frustrated pain. His arm is probably broken. There's another scream of pain as he hits the ground again, right on that arm, after that catastrophic impact.      The fire disperses - it was never meant to stay around, after all - as Kenji reaches up, staring at Momoyo. He grabs his shoulder and *shoves* it back into place, and there's another ugly noise as he does so. He grits his teeth through it. That specific area on his body bursts into flames as he stands.      There's a wild grin on his face as he vanishes into the floor.      This is where he lives. This is where he is most comfortable. It's not out talking to people. It's not being an asshole. It's not connecting with other human beings, because God knows after what happened he's not sure he's ready for that for a long, long time. It's *violence*. Pure, untamed, wild violence. This is where he is at his best.      Kenji comes roaring out of the ground directly behind Momoyo. He goes right for her shoulders, moving to hook his own arms up and under to put her in a sleeper hold. That wild grin, close to Momoyo's ear, parts.      "Thanks for not holding back."      "GOD FIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"      Every part of Kenji ignites at once. It's almost like the God Collider, but this time, it's not coming down - it's going up, a blazing pillar of fury roaring out of Kenji's body as he releases his anger and frustration and problems into his own aura, and then weaponizes it for maximum effect.      And if Momoyo is caught in his grapple, then she's right in the center of the conflagration from its origin point. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Having no choice but to endure the flames, Momoyo is caught in the blast as well. Evidently this was going to be a battle to see who was tougher, dodging was not going to be an option for either party. Gritting her teeth, the heat was more painful than the flame itself, but she did have an answer to this. Swiftly reaching down before the sleeper hold completes, she snatches Kenji's leg up against her, driving her shoulder /hard/ into the one he just reinserted back into it's so     cxterm93">"Kawakami Driver!!!"     At that point of course, she simply let herself fall with him. If he couldn't match her raw strength in his wounded state, not with a mere burst but finding leverage in mid-air, he would be helplessly crushed between her 140 lbs. weight, his own weight and the ground. More ribs were going to get cracked, if not all of them, and the state of his collarbone would be unknown after such a fall. "You're doing good, Kenji!!! But if your next move doesn't stop me, I'm putting you out cold!!! You can't keep this up like I can!" It was unknown what move she would pull out next, but she seemed extremely confident she could force him into Medical rather than end the fight normally. What did she have up her sleeve that was only going to get harder to block with broken bones...? 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji's leg goes upwards, and that immediately worries him, but it's too late - he's committed now, and girls hate guys who break committments.      Momoyo dislocates his shoulder. Again. The sickening pop comes with its own scream as Momoyo hammers him into the ground. There's definitely a cracked rib in there, at least one, and the state of his collarbone is - well, it's probably fucked-up, but fortunately this is the multiverse, where medicine comes with white magic and all sorts of other ridiculous bullshit.      But the wild grin hasn't gone away. "You're pretty fucking cocky!"      "I'LL TAKE THAT CHALLENGE!"      Kenji's free hand snaps up and goes right for her face. There's no attempt to break her grapple, no attempt to get himself into a better position. He just shoves his hand against her skull. "HERE WE GO!"      The fire around Kenji's right hand seems to solidify. It hardens around his arm like a glove - a glove with two burning eyes and four 'arms' projected in front of it. The fire races along his body into the glove, setting it alight with lines of flame.      In the center of the four arms, fire builds. It builds and builds and builds, spinning furiously in the air like a miniature sun - a miniature sun directly in front of Momoyo's face. She's getting not only the discharge, but the *build-up*.      "KOOOOOOOOOOOOJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"      "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"      Kenji releases the miniature sun *directly into her face*, with enough backlash to send his arm slamming into the ground. The sun expands rapidly, flying upwards into the air until it hits the artificial ceiling, where it smolders and burns. The divine fireball finally explodes in the air. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang's eyes go wide. "MOMOYO!" she calls out, just about ready to leap over the guard railing and break up the fight, when Kenji starts building up a damn FUSION BALL right in Momoyo's face. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She didn't have a choice, but with that shoulder dislocated she could at least ensure her move would come out sooner. She couldn't stop it, but she could certainly limit the damage by following through with her original plan. When she sat up, her red eyes widened as her pupils dilated when his move started... it was not going to be a pretty attack. Nevertheless, her fists moved with instant muscle memory, a much quieter move as this was one of finesse and not sheer strength. It wasn't a standard knock-out, after all.     "Kawakami Style Hidden Technique: Kaleidoscope Genma Fist..."     Her fist was a simple quick punch to the temple... but she was only going to send him immediately into his nightmares to face everything he was fighting to keep back unbeknownst to her. It would not be a peaceful sleep at all... but it was a well deserved response to this technique. Kenji was not in a position to resist a mental attack, but who knows how much of that fire she would put out before the accelerated healing of the Ring would keep her indisposed for an hour or two rather than a few minutes...? 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Through all of this, Nero just watches. Her arms crossed and an entertained smirk on her face. It was akin to an old timer watching the youngin's work out their dramatic frustrations.      Or like a theater goer watching the climax of a play. Either way, she was not worried in the slightest. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Fist taps his temple. Kenji slumps backwards a mere instant before the shot goes off, and the Kojin Cannon discharges straight upwards rather than directly into her head. The ridiculous heat is still crazy intense as it passes by and explodes in the cieling, gouging a hole out of the false landscape.      A moment later, Kenji's hair and eyes stop burning. His jacket goes black. What remains of his tank-top (and there is not much, after the back-to-back assault from the Shadow and then Momoyo) is torn and shredded.      The fire, as his clothes burn black again, all congeals on the ash emblem on his chest. The ashes burst into flame, then rise, a tiny little ball of fire visible for just an instant before it *puffs* and disperses into invisibility. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo's face was still singed and red from the heat, at least a first degree burn. She was, however, still conscious. Slowly she stood up and dusted herself off. "Yang... get him to medical. And have them tranq him. Hard. Put him in a coma for a week or he'll wake up from the worst nightmare he's ever experienced in a few hours traumatized. He'll start sleep-talking soon." she mutters.     She turns her wounded face to Nero over her shoulder. "So... are ya happy, you sadist?" she quips. She's breathing heavily, though, were it not for the intensity of the attacks she still looks like she could have put up with another hour of Kenji's tantrum. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      At Momoyo's question, Nero just smiled, clapping her hands in light applause. "Oh yes. Very! It is always wonderful to see the children work out their frustrations in such a rousing manner!" This really was a play to her, wasn't it?      "I should hope that Sir Kawasaki comes out of this a better man than he was before." A glance towards his fallen body. "And if not..." Shrug!" "...Well, that is also human nature! Ah ha ha ha ha!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang leaps over the railing, rolls on landing and runs over. "Got it!" she scoops up Kenji and turns to carry him off to medical, calling ahead with her Scroll to get the emergency team on standby and an induced coma unit ready. "You're such an idiot." she chides the unconscious man. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo just shakes her head. She didn't know what exactly caused all that, but she had a better idea of his emotional trauma than anyone else in the arena at that point. The humor was entirely lost on her. "I should have beat you even harder Nero..." she mumbles under her breath, clearly unimpressed... but she still respected the Servant after all. It was her turn to sit in the Ring, right on the steps like it was a spa for a few minutes. 

}}

3671/Kenji, Seriously Heal Please!

2016-01-18T18:59:19Z

Scrimbul: Kenji visited in Union Medical by Momoyo and Nagato.

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/15
|Location=Njorun Station - Medical
|Synopsis=Turns out Momoyo has a softer side as she spent the week in Kenji's Union Medical room, having knocked him out prior with a move that caused him nightmares about his failures fighting Shadows... Nagato makes a cameo at the end, a veteran of the type of shame Kenji is suffering.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=680, 715, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      There were numerous empty cups of what looked like a combination of soda, water, juice and protein drinks. Various different wrappers around despite the nurses cleaning occasionally, and a stack of primarily fighting manga nearby. Well, two or three stacks, really. Despite all the sanitation, the room even was scented quite feminine to boot. It would have been nice to contemplate were it not post-op recovery from surgery to handle the various semi-permanent wounds inflicted by the Shadows.     Sprawled sideways in a sofa chair Momoyo must have stubbornly hauled in a week ago, she laid beneath the television flipping through manga pages and texting her friends back in Kawakami City. For Momoyo of all people to sit with this much evidence of not having left the bedside, she must have been seriously bored. Sipping what must have been her 48th glass of water waiting here between other goings-on, she quietly turned the page on the manga she was reading, dressed in her chipmunk tee-shirt and slacks along with various leather straps on her arms. If anything she actually looked a bit tired from worrying over the patient. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji Kawasaki's eyes fly open.      Immediately, he's sitting up, hand on his head. His eyes are wide and angry, burning with fury. His aura is the same, a raging bonfire of...well, rage, screaming out of all control.      His other hand has nearly crushed the metal bar of the bed. There's blood flowing from between his fingers, but he doesn't seem to have noticed.      Slowly, Kenji takes stock of his surroundings. Njorun medical. It takes him a moment to release the metal, as if he's not quite sure he can without falling. When he doesn't fall, experimentally, his shaking breath evens out *just a little*.      His eyes jerk upwards and to the side. He doesn't say anything.      A moment longer. Then his eyes flick across the trail to the couch, and to Momoyo. The bloody hand closes into a fist as he stares at her. His hand shakes.      His eyes flick upwards again. There's a very long moment before he relaxes his hand and pushes back up against the bedpost.      "In between the fucking dreams," Kenji says slowly, his voice hoarse, "I started imagining what I'd do to you if I woke up."      "I'm still fucking thinking about it. Do you have the slightest clue what you put me through?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah. I'm sorry. I wasn't about to let you fight for real in that condition... Yang couldn't handle you, and there was a non-zero chance Nero would have just bled you out for fun." She replies calmly... but her eyes were red. Not just her irises, but, it looked like she'd been crying quietly off and on.     She turns the page on the manga slowly, freely giving the boy time to assess his surroundings. She reaches up to wipe away a tear, but didn't bother to tell him to be careful of his stitches.     "If you keep moving around, I'm going to have to put you down again, and I only know one way to do that without hurting you." she replies finally, her voice cracking. Well, except for that. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji focuses on her for a long moment, like he's not quite sure of what he's hearing.      Then he slumps back. "Yeah. Okay."      He glances at his bloody hand. The stitches aren't torn. He crushed the metal with his bare hands, without Kojin. The hospital bed's mangled sidebar has his hand's shape engraved in it from the force of his...fury? Fear? It's hard to tell. Certainly his adrenaline, at the very least. Kenji under normal circumstances just isn't that strong, not without Kojin. Then again, is it really a statement of strength if you bleed to cause it? With a resigned sigh, he tears part of the hospital blanket, wrapping it around his hand.      His eyes swing back around to her. "Have you seriously been here the whole time?"      "...did you drag that fucking couch in to sleep on or something?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah. I did, okay!?. Just... /SHUT UP/ for a while, Kenji. You're an idiot. I felt guilty. I know that technique was the last thing you needed before they flooded you with enough morphine for you just be a vegetable." It might not have been morphine, but she wasn't terribly composed herself, either.     She turns another page, trying to keep her hands from quivering and her shoulders from shaking. The boy wasn't helping at all, but Xiaomu or Yang weren't around to remind Kenji he was being an asshole. "How are you feeling." she asks, lamely, but it was a hard edge in her voice that demanded he change the conversation from how long she'd been waiting there. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji is suddenly extremely awkward. His face goes red, and, for a moment, the barriers of the young man are lowered. The admission of it - the apology, the statement about guilt, the knowledge that she's been sitting here for a full week to keep an eye on him, the tears around her eyes, all of it hits him at once, and he suddenly looks immensely uncertain of himself. The teenage swagger and the anger and all of it just kind of die in his throat as he suddenly is looking anywhere but her, probably to hide a very powerful blush, or to hide the look of shock on his face. He looks very little like the Banchou of Taiyou High at that instant, very little like someone who can pour fire from the sky and merge with a god. He looks like a chastised, embarassed young man.      "...I'm not okay," he admits. He works his jaw for a moment. Talking after being asleep for so long left a strange taste in his mouth.      "...I'll get better, though. I'm not hurt anywhere. I guess whatever it was you did gave me time to heal. Except my hand, but that's my own stupid fault, so, whatever. Don't blame yourself."      Kenji looks down at his bloody hand for a long moment.      His defenses are down.      "...I'm really...goddamn weak. That's how I feel. Powerless. Pointless. Pathetic. I feel like somebody who can't help anyone, no matter how hard I try. People important to me, random people I've just met who need help...just keep fucking slipping through my fingers every time."      "That's...how I feel right now." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Unable to sit quietly in the chair, once she was certain her knees wouldn't just give out, she gets to her feet. Her hair obscured her eyes, one of the clues as to how upset she was, as she dropped the manga on the chair. She hadn't even tried to keep her place, she'd been toying with it as something else to focus on.     "I should have gone with you, instead of enlisted." It was a funny thing to say, since Kenji was the veteran to traipsing the Multiverse relatively. But she crosses over close to the bed, clearly not having collected her thoughts. Instead, she leaned in, curling her arms around Kenji and just started slowly crushing his head into her bustline. Her hair drapes over him, and it was a remarkably calm, feminine moment for her. Aside from her inhuman strength only causing a dull ache in his neck after a few seconds, which he might have endured. Unmistakably, a few tears dropped into his hair, along his scalp. "You're a moron." she insists, though she was being hypocritical there.     She lacked the ability to be articulate and try to comfort him about it, so she just settled for comforting herself, treating him like her bro. A slow, ragged sigh passed through her frame as she contemplated what he must have been thinking, but she couldn't put words to him beating himself up. "So friggin' stupid."     "Hey... Xiaomu's been texting me all week asking how you were doing, and I've been switching with Yang. I... I had to fight a battleship while you were out... so... she watched you too." she started rambling just a moment, her fingers stroking through his hair softly. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      So that was unexpected.      Kenji *was* about to reply. He was about to say something like 'it's cool' or 'I don't think you could've changed what happened' or a bunch of other things. He was going to say *something*, at the least.      And then all of a sudden she's got his head in her chest and she's /crying/ over him.      And that's, well, that's *weird*. That's really weird. It's not something that.../happens/, to Kenji. People, in general, baring their emotions to him like this, doesn't really happen to him. Emotions in general aren't something he's used to dealing with, let alone emotions like *this*, affection and fear and someone *literally crying over him*. Hell, he doesn't even usually deal with the emotions of other teenagers - he's gone out with two girls, *ever*, and one of them turned out to be a Confederate, and *neither* of them had cause to treat him like this.      So Kenji just...shuts the fuck up. He doesn't say *anything*. He doesn't move, he doesn't speak. His face is probably redder tha the blood flushing it, but he's not...he just...he /doesn't/.      He's just silent for a long moment.      Finally, some part of Kenji's brain decides that it might be wise to actually *answer* her.      "Oh. Uh. That's cool. Did you win?"      It says a lot that the first thing he can think to ask, jammed into a woman's cleavage, is whether or not she won a fight.      A moment later, with great difficulty (largely from avoiding her chest, and also being blind), his hand goes up to her cheek, carefully avoiding her chest. With yet more great difficulty, he wipes away her tears.      "I said it...uh, Monday...and I meant it. So, uh...I guess I'll...say it again."      "...thanks for worrying about me." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She lets out another sigh, finally collecting herself as her arms release Kenji's head. "...No, it was a draw." she moves from Kenji, instead staring out the window at the peaceful scenery below of Njorun's natural beauty fading into the mists.     "It turns out Admiral Nagato originally sank from nuclear tests." she tosses her hair lightly. "During the match, I used some moves that reminded her of the bomb that sank her. She... started going off about protecting the Fleet. It was only for a few minutes and she recovered right at the end of the match, but I unhinged her a bit." she sniffles a moment, her fingers adjusting her hair again.     "At first I was excited that I'd finally gotten her to take me seriously... but then I saw the look in her eyes. This was a hardened war veteran, Kenji. She's seen more death than you and I can even think about." she tilts her head a bit. "And I just made her relive her death. First thing she does is spout off about all her Fleet Daughters, only after that did she start mistaking me for an enemy ship in a war that in my world was sixty or seventy years past."     "Hah. Talk about pressure for protecting people... you have no right, Kenji. No right to feel useless about protecting people compared to that woman. I bet she feels ten times worse than you do and she's a decorated veteran... and I broke her heart just to get a stronger opponent. It was an accident, and she challenged me, but... I enlisted under her for a week Kenji before she fought me as an equal. I'm sure she had her reasons but she was incredible."     "And so are you." 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Just outside the door stands the Admiral and in her hands she clutches a small pin and a hat. She's been standing outside the door, away from the entrance listening to everything inside, initialy coming to visit to check up on Kenji. "Incredible, huh?" she whispers, taking a look at the door. Does she go in to interrupt the two or does she leave the 'get well soon' gift on the floor and walk away. The former is chosen.     Nagato gives a knock on the door frame before making her apperance, "Afternoon." she speaks in a soft, but firm voice, "Kenji... and Momoyo." Nagato looks around the area, having not been in an actual hospital room before, "I would ask if you're comfortable, but I shall take the obvious answer..." 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      As she releases Kenji, he fights his blush back down to normal. She's already seen him vulnerable more often than he'd like. Probably, if Kenji had had his way, she'd never have seen him like that at all. But the repeated emotional blows, the repeated realizations, the affection and intimacy, it had all left him severely unbalanced. Off his game. The mask came off.      Some small part of him regrets veering back into waters he is experienced in. Some small part of him wonders if that wasn't important, if what just happened wasn't important - not for her but for *him*. If letting someone else see him, uncertain, off-balance, and weak, wasn't something that he needed. Something *people* needed.      "Ah."      Kenji listens. He listens in basically silence, because there's not really any natural interjection points, and he's still sort of rebalancing after that emotional battery. It's a break he needs to get his own thoughts in order, and while he listens, he doesn't really see he needs to say anything. It's a story, not a discussion.      And, when he opens his mouth to say something - probably to protest the 'no right' thing - he doesn't say anything. He just sits there with his mouth open for a moment before closing it and shaking his head.      Oh, he wanted to say something. He wanted to say a lot of things. He had all kinds of thoughts about *that*...but...it just...      It wasn't really *important*, was it?      "That sucks," he says finally, because he's not sure what else to say that wouldn't start a fight. And...well, starting a fight is the easy way out, right? And maybe that's not what he needs to do. Maybe instead he can just shut up. Maybe he can just shut up and accept it.      At the end, he shrugs. "No, I'm not. I don't think so, anyway."      Nagato enters.      The change in Kenji's demeanor is almost immediate, almost /subconscious/. The look of vulnerability vanishes in an instant as he goes back against the bed's back. There's a subtle change in his shoulders, a subtle squaring as he sits against the pillows. It's not all that easy to see.      Kenji moves his injured hand a little and shrugs. "Been better." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The change for Kenji is noticeable, but for a sharp judge of character like Nagato, the contrast to Momoyo was probably hilarious.     While Kenji decided to toughen up when an attractive thirty-something wandered into the room, Momoyo turned, without confirming who it was (as if the approaching aura didn't make it obvious beforehand) and /saluted/.     "Admiral."     It was still clumsy to Nagato most likely, but for Kenji to see her do that might have been jarring, especially given the conversation at hand.     "He hurt his hand waking up from the nightmares I gave him... but he looks like he's doing better. I'm sure the medics will want to keep him in bed a day or two longer..." she glances over at Kenji. "...but he won't put up with it."     "Kenji, this is Admiral Nagato. She's stronger than me." she quips. That was her casual introduction. It was objectively true for anyone who could see her auras, but for Momoyo it was an about-face given her constant warranted arrogance. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     The sudden change in demeanor catches the Admiral's eyes and she shakes her head breifly, both Kenji's and Momoyo's. A small salute is given back towards Momoyo, "You no longer have to call me Admiral, however, I do appreciate the continuance of such." She gives a brief nod at the explination and the interesting introduction. She gives a brief, short bow towards Kenji, "Greetings."     She approaches the two slowly, placing the blue naval hat and anchor-pin on the bed near Kenji, "Speaking of nightmares, you ... did do a good number on me that day. Though, I won't be here long, I only came to check up on Kenji, I didn't expect you to be here, Kawakami." she eyes the couch, "Much less with a couch."     There's things Nagato would want to say in this kind of situation, many different ones but finding the right time to say it is the question... for now, she just keeps her stoicism there and regards both of them with another nod... 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah. Nice to meet you."      Kenji shrugs, a little. It's not that he's trying to be cold to Nagato - he's really not. He's *really* not. Momoyo clearly respects her, and that says at least a little. But...but it's different. The situation's changed. A moment ago, Kenji was defenseless because someone was showing him affection, fear, a lot of things that Kenji is just totally unused to. Not just someone, but someone he'd dealt with repeatedly before, someone he had some social tie to. Nagato is...      Well, she's a stranger.      It's not like he doesn't know who he is. But they've never met. They've never spoken. And the look on his face - the set jaw, the squared shoulders, the /closed-off/ look - makes that really clear.      "Thanks, I guess," he says, shrugging and scratching the back of his head, "I mean, you don't really have to. I've been asleep for a week, it's not like I was even critical before then anyway. Momoyo makes it out to be way worse than it was."      That's not true. He was beat up pretty badly. But elites, fortunately, heal rapidly. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo moves to start gathering her piles of manga up (and Yang's and some of Xiaomu's borrowed ones) and clearing her trash off of the desks and dressers. "I'll be back later to get the sofa chair. Medical won't care since they don't have the traffic of a standard hospital." she replies.     She does stop though, placing a hand on Nagato's shoulder with her back to Kenji. "Kenji... I know you need to grapple with what you were telling me about yourself. But the pain I saw in your eyes was the pain I saw in Nagato's. If you wanna get through hell a bit faster than brooding..." she nods her head to the other red-eyed woman. If one squinted it was like looking at an older, wiser Momoyo. "...She can help. Just enlist with the Fleet Daughters. Haguro could use you sparring with her, you'd enjoy arguing with Kiso or Tenryuu. Helping middle schoolers open peanut butter jars would be good for you... and you'll have the baths all to yourself when she's not making you scrub them for getting bored and eyeing up girls." Clearly, Momoyo had been up to more mischief in the past week than Kenji ever would have in the same enlistment.     "But if you wanna know how to protect people better and who to talk to when you /can't/... Admiral's gonna be in High Command before too long and that's going to make it tricky to talk to her when Xiaomu is flaking." she finishes, waving on her way out. While it was impolite to leave in such a situation, it tended to be the way Kenji and Momoyo preferred to operate. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato gives a brief nod from the brief acknowledgement, the visual look of Kenji gives the Admiral a light frown, but it's nothing new to her. She's seen the look many times before with some of her destroyers and even cruisers giving the same look after reprimand. Plus...     She's still a stranger.     "I offered her a chance to retreat from the sparring to come check on you, a match can be rescheduled, a persons health cannot." she gives a slight chuckle, "She had a different countenance than she normally does when dealing with people when it came to you, Kenji. She had care." Nagato takes a brief look towards Momoyo when she makes the suggestion, she shakes her head, "If he wishes to, he can, however, I won't force it on him." o O (Like I did you, Kawakami...), "High command, huh? That would certainly increase my responsibilities. Perhaps, you might be overstating things, Kawakami..." 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji is not someone prone to emotional displays. He's not someone prone to /showing/ how he feels, except anger - anger is *easy*, hot blood is *easy*. You can just default to screaming and hitting something when you're hot-blooded, and that's basically all that's expected of you. It makes it easy to...well, to *hide*. To hide *behind*. To pass off the emotional stuff as something you don't have to deal with. That's the easy way out, and...      Well, Momoyo may have started some thought, but it takes more than that for a person to change.      He watches Momoyo leave without a word. He shrugs. "I'll think about it, I guess. I don't do great on water, though. Not really good ship material."      Nagato speaks. Kenji nods.      "Yeah, she told me." He shrugs a little, staring at the sheets. "That you offered to let her take off, I mean."      She didn't talk about the other thing, but he sort of deduced that when she started crying over him. He scratches the back of his neck, looking away from Nagato to hide his blush. "Dunno why," he says, "I'm not that important. I'm just some asshole punk from Taiyou High." 

}}

3661/Who's Main Cannon is Stronger!

2016-01-18T18:53:54Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo spars Nagato

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/13
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=After debriefing Momoyo from the Hikari Fleet Daughters, Nagato challenges Momoyo to an actual sparring match as equals. What follows is an unexpectedly emotional match for both fighters that results in the battleship and martial artist developing a rapid mutual respect.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=670, 680, 709, 863, 901, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:''' One hour before:     Nagato sets off at the docks, rigging set as the Battleship sorties out towards the gate. "It's time." she whispers to a pack of escort destroyers behind her, the Sixth Destroyer Division. "Kawakami will be the most interesting opponents since Kirito." a fact that gives her a light smile. "DesDivSix, when I pass through, set up the mess hall with equipment for viewing this." with salutes all around, Nagato sails through the gate.     Thirty minutes before:     It's a very slow walk towards the Ring. The gear was heavy and with the traffic to the Ring, each step was carefully measured to prevent running into people, though the comments run abound around the equipped battleship. "Kawakami... the Submarine who fights like an Abyssal."     Now:     Waiting in the Ring stands the lone battleship, full rigging equipped and eyes closed. Measured breaths as she prepares for the duel to come from her former Submarine. Though to say that Nagato wasn't nervous would be a lie, though she doesn't show it, her head swims with all possibilities. "A land based arena should suffice, I wonder about the shelling protections for the spectators..."     "Battleship Nagato, ready for sortie." 

:'''{{#var:901|Hoshi Amakasu (901)}} has posed:'''     When Hoshi had first heard about what was going to be happening, she'd been... shocked. Dismayed, almost. /Why/ exactly were Admiral Nagato and Ms. Kawakami fighting? Nobody she asked would tell her anything! Eventually when it came time Hoshi threw up her hands in annoyance and decided to go to the field of battle straight out. Thus taking her to the Ring of Philosphy.     Now she was sitting in the stands dressed up in her Fleet Daughter uniform, tossing her hair tie up and down to herself as she frowns and looks into the ring. No words, but it's probably pretty clear who she's here to support for now. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo doesn't arrive until ten minutes after the appointed start time. She was clearly jogging, and hadn't bothered to even change clothes... wearing her black slacks, sweater and vest with her silver necklace. She slowed down as she stepped into the ring, but something was off.     Surely the Admiral had seen it before, it was written all over her face. She had been worrying over someone and likely in Union Medical with them. The radio chatter of her whereabouts in Njorun was only superficial until it came to light now. She definitely wasn't in there for a physical or anything.     "Sorry, Admiral." she replies. Her usual energy wasn't gone, but she was clearly distracted. "I was forced to put Kenji Kawasaki in a coma yesterday. He..." she looked at Amakasu with questioning eyes. "...he had been fighting Shadows in another dimension with August Kohler and... watched a friend die. I was the only one nearby that could knock him out and get him medical attention instead of sit and get in a shouting match with a junior. He wanted to fight and didn't care who, and I'm not sure Nero wouldn't have just bled him out for her own amusement and called it mercy." she muses, most likely making a passive reference to high school. She had probably slept, since she was a veteran fighter, but her mind wasn't on the current events at this moment. Her fingers run through her hair distractedly, before her red eyes meet her former superior's. 

:'''{{#var:863|Haguro (863)}} has posed:'''      Haguro's on the sidelines, watching the two warriors with an anxious expression on her face. Even though they're fighting in a safe location, she can't help but be worried anyway, and the gear she's brought with her certainly shows it. She's got stretchers prepared, salves, bandages, and even a couple of buckets just in case!      It'd be a lie to say she isn't biased here, of course, but she is at least keeping quiet. Those two probably have enough on their minds as is, and her cheering either of them on wouldn't help much. No, for something like this... The best she can do is just observe and make sure their dispute is resolved with finality tonight! 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     "I heard about the Shadows through Die Reisenden." Nagato comments, "But if it was that serious, then you should be at your friends side, not entertaining this." A shake of her head and she gives a brief nod. "Worry about your own is acceptable reasons to not hold the match, your eyes don't seem in it, Kawakami." Nagato steps back a few, allowing the quad turrets on her rigging rest, facing up and away from Kawakami.     "I will give you the opportunity to back out of this and reschedule when you are ready, I've no interest in fighting the... Abyssal before me... if she cannot show me her all." A surprising amount of care is shown in her voice, despite the firm words. "I leave it to you, Kawakami. If you feel that you can express yourself here, then I allow you the first blow, but I recommend making sure your friend is OK more than continuing this."     Those turrets slowly move down and the noise of shells changing inside them is loud and clear, "Type three sanshiki loaded..." comes a whisper, "Radar active." Nagato's red eyes move to meet Kawakami's, "Will you find victory on the dawn's horizon, or will you retreat for the day and take care of your obligations to your own friends?" *Kachunk* the shells are loaded in six of the eight barrels. Conspicuously, one seems to be rotating away from Kawakami, angling back. Nagato's left hand balled up into a fist, a few should know what will come next.. 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason has also come to see this fight, she's long been curious about The Fleet Daughtrs and just what they are. She's also been bit curious to see Momoyo fight as. The Levitani seems prety eager to see this brawl, she's even got a small spider drone on her shoulder, whose camera seems intent to catch all of the fighting as well. This should also be a chance to judge how well Nagato can fight, if her tour of Lyria's plate, goes into uncivilized regions as well. 

:'''{{#var:709|Fujiwara no Mokou (709)}} has posed:'''     Standing in the spectator area is a teenage girl with white hair that reaches her feet, long and loose, with enough volume not to be just a line of white behind her, but what could almost be called a cape. Contrasting that is her bright red pants, but otherwise there's not much to see; her hands are in her pockets, nonchalantly, she's got a buttoned up white shirt, and she's not making much noise.     Truth is, she'd meant to ask Momoyo about that ability she has to 'see auras' but then things just didn't work out like that. So, next best thing, Mokou'll just watch two people kill each other for fun.     It'll be a change from being involved. 

:'''{{#var:901|Hoshi Amakasu (901)}} has posed:'''     When Momoyo entered the RIng, Hoshi takes a moment to stand and offer a half-hearted wave. She still wasn't entirely okay with this, still. But... then she hears the reason why she's late, and who it involves. The teenager shrinks a bit, her eyes going down to the floor. It was always coming back to the stupid Shadow these past few days. Her hands tighten into fists in her lap.     "This isn't the best place to talk about it, but I don't mind explaining everything at a later time," Hoshi intones in an emotionally dead voice. "Or we can do it now, if you prefer to leave the fight alone." Except now she's not really looking forward to that anymore. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Her eyes scanned the crowd slowly, as if she finally realized where she was. There were a lot of worried eyes on Nagato who hadn't seen a spectated brawl in safe conditions before... in other words, no professional martial arts. "You've got quite a lot of people rooting for you, Admiral. I'm kinda jealous..." she muses half-heartedly.     However, her eyes narrow on Mokou's. Even Nagato could see it, Momoyo had zeroed in on the stronger girl like a feral animal. Mokou could see it, too. There was a reason Momoyo was often classified as a natural disaster instead of a martial artist and it was that wild look in her eyes that said it all. Mokou just standing there was exciting Momoyo to no end. Nagato getting serious was enough by itself, but... she shuddered with elation.     "I can't. Kenji would laugh if he heard I stopped if he could see this... I can't let her see me back down either." she huffs, tilting her head a bit toward the third red-eyed girl. She gave a slow, traditional Japanese bow, signalling it was alright to attack. The sortie had begun officially, nearly an hour late.     She starts to walk casually toward Nagato, in the dimensions the Admiral had set the Ring to before entering it. There was no helping it, most likely most of the arena was in range of everything she had. Still, Momoyo's posture as it tended to at the start of these matches allowed for no openings in her defense. Very little could pass her guard at the beginning of the match, and she was patient enough to give her opponent the first move unless they tensely waited for her to enter melee range. The glint in her eyes, even as Nagato was her friend had subsumed to something resembling a murderous smirk, the very same glint the Abyssal Fleet had to varying degrees. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     "My fleet has always been behind me as I strive to be their Admiral." Nagato replies back to the rooting comment, Amakasu... Haguro... many other unnamed fleet members in the crowd. Though, the submarines were there, rooting on for Kawakami, even with little signs they made. "Very well then, you've made your choice. May you find victory on the dawn's horizon, Kawakami!" Martial artist versus Battleship, this had the Admiral with a smirk on her face.     Returning the bow, she allows this to also make her way forward, kicking off the ground as the smaller turrets on Nagato's rigging start to fire, small caliber anti air shells trained to bracket the fighter, to try and get her to come in a direction Nagato wants. "Submarine that fights like an Abyssal! Show me everything!" the rear facing turret fires off, a loud bang and a plume of fire and smoke erupt from it, sending Nagato forwards with a recoil powered left hook.     "Make it interesting, Kawakami. You have the entire fleet watching you." 

:'''{{#var:709|Fujiwara no Mokou (709)}} has posed:'''     That is a horrible look. And she knows it because she spent a couple of centuries with it. Those were not good times, the early days. She wonders if it's luck that she can't remember most of that period. Probably. Mokou internally shrugs, discarding her train of thought to casually stare back, and hopefully not give the wrong impression.     Luckily for her she probably doesn't give off a very strong aura. Or at least, you'd probably not be able to tell at a glance why she feels that way. She wishes she could blend into crowds better, too, but that's harder to fix due to her hair. That she can't cut. Because it regrows. Thank god it grows so slowly, in turn, but in a couple more centuries she'll have to start tying it, or find a way keep it cut.     WELL THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT DERAILED TOO.     The point is that she was hoping Momoyo could provide input on how visible she is and how to make that stop. She might already have that first answer though. Well, whatever, she's also here to see what those two can do and relieve boredom. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhm~!" She did have to zip about. Pinning her down with the guns was somewhat effective, but she was faster on land than in the water. To the point that she could zip in and out of the cover fire between shots, even. While Nagato knew it in advance, videos never did fighters justice, and it was obvious Momoyo had both hands tied behind her back in Anti Submarine Warfare. Thus, when Nagato charged forward, she met her head-on, eventually coming in the direction she wanted.     "You classed me as a Submarine, but we both know I'm a Battleship, Admiral. Let me show you why!!! Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     Nagato was forced to see it up close and respond. Her simple straight punch toward Nagato's gut was so powerful without any aura that it was considered a technique... but the sonic blast was the same as a battleship cannon from Momoyo's /simple punch/ before it even hit. Both fighters knew this was just the beginning of a very /very/ long edge-of-your-seat slog. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Distraction fire was worth it. Getting in close to see what Kawakami could do. "Then show me that you can carry the pride that comes with it, Kawakami!" of course Nagato's watched the videos multiple times, studying it and subsequently armoring the areas she needed, and for good reason, the simple straight punch delivered manages to connect and cause the battleship to skid back a good ways, only mildy preturbed her own didn't connect. A mild cough and a grin...     "Sanshiki... Fire..." The three fully loaded turrets fire off, not aimed into the air, but directly towards the wannabe battleship, the shells exploding into hot shrapnel designed to take out aircraft, not to mention using the resulting smoke plumes to reload and grant her a bit of cover. "Type one armor peircing loading..." the loud noise of shell types switching in three of the four along with the reload of more blanks in that last turret.     Listening to her radar for the ping of Kawakami's form, she stares through the smoke before rushing forward once more, the blanks loaded turret firing off one more time with a recoil powered kick, "Are you underestimating my armor, Kawakami? It'll take more than that punch to send me sinking!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      As unarmored as Momoyo was, blocking every shard of shrapnel from that flak took full concentration, like any near instant sword slashes. That meant the hot shards were all buried in her arms, leaving minor scratches over her forearms and palms but also beginning to shred her clothing like any shotgun. Nagato could see her bleeding already, as most fighters would have flat had to endure the hit or collapse from the searing pain.     The smoke was going to be a problem eventually. Momoyo would be forced to address it or slowly suffocate even if Nagato never hit her. Responding to the kick, she leaped upward to try and use Nagato's shoulder to propel into the air. If she wanted to breathe, she'd have to pop up on high herself like this every so often... which left her vulnerable to certain chunks of Nagato's loadout. This time though, she was fortunate to try to get behind her, and the turning radius might be a factor even with the radar in play.     "Kawakami Style: Killer Fireflies!"     She spewed small balls of energy outward to return fire. Any that did hit Nagato would be a threat, but no more than medium caliber cannonfire, the main purpose being distraction as she tried to get out of the smoke plumes. As she came back toward the ground to weather the next assault, she clutched her arms. "Restoration..." she murmured, as the flak shrapnel clattered audiably all over the ground between her feet and her small wounds closed. 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason is paying close attention now as the fiht's about to get started. She looks to Hoshi for a moment, but she doesn't say too much she's more focused on watching the battle that's about to get going here she seems quite interested in how this fight will play out. She's oddly quiet and watching she's not being nosiy like she might with other fights she'd be wathcing she's being 100 percent serious today. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     There were a few tactics that Nagato was able to use back during the WMAT, anti aircraft shells for Kirito, armor peircing shells for Gaonoir and good old fashion punching and rudder kicking to seal the deal, however both of them used very different tactics than the martial artist before her, something that is having the Battleship think on her feet. With the smoke dissipating, and Kawakami in the air, a light grin approaches her face as anti aircraft fire starts filling the air.     This, however, does nothing for the energy balls shooting towards her own back, many of them crashing right into her back and the armor, making visible dents and even wrecking a couple anti air turrets in the back. "Agile. Very agile." Nagato comments, the reloading sound for the reverse facing turrets once again loud in the air. "But how much can you keep going?" though the Restoration does make Nagato perk up just slightly, watching the shrapnel just drop from the woman's body... "Ah, the one thing us fleet cannot do, instantly heal ourselves."     Those forward facing cannons take aim once more, the white shells inside just waiting to be released, with a loud rapport, the twin barreled turrets eject their ammunition, sending the white, armor peircing shells towards Kawakami as the battleship takes another rush down approach, coming in with another blanks explosion to the right and down to drive her fist up into Kawakami's own gut. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Dual Forehead Flick!"     She was forced to knock aside the armor piercing shells, small bits of aura in her fingertips, though given they were large slugs meant for thick hulls this took much more concentration on her part... allowing Nagato to bury her fist in Momoyo's gut. She grunted aloud, but in the same motion, pressed her body close to one of Nagato's turrets, letting her shoulder in close. "Hahahahah~!"     "Kawakami Style: Ningen Bakudan (Human Bomb)..."The resulting explosion may not have been worth rushing Momoyo down. In a suicidal tactic typical of the Abyssal fleet, the layer of ki that forms over all of her body making contact with Nagato created a vicious explosion of her own, not unlike mortar fire. She had intentionally taken the opportunity with the wind knocked out of her to try to massively damage a large chunk of Nagato's turret, using a move that damaged her own body as much if not more. The shockwave from the move is impressive if only because it was necessary to bear hug Nagato's side. The only reason that move works, is that she can expend the energy to heal the damage in the recoil.     "I can keep up just fine, grandma!" she snarls back, though her wild grin and widened red eyes showed she was finally starting to get into things seriously now. She moved to keep pressure up with a dizzying flurry of regular punches, trying to brute force Nagato to expose her turret again where the armor was weaker than her main hull on her figure. It would be Nagato's armored plating against Momoyo's massive ki reserves, and the cunning fighter was beginning to realize a head-on assault on Nagato would take days. Degrading her morale by destroying equipment was much faster... 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     "Gh?!" the laughter catches Nagato a bit off guard, more so when she presses up against her number four turret. "What are..." the explosion happens and she skids backwards, the turret looks quite damaged, scorch marks here and there, and a pair of bent barrels... that turret's no longer operable in this state, unfortunately, but doesn't mean she can't use it for other things. "Suicidal, aren't you?" comes a slightly ragged voice, "That's okay by me."     The grandma comment gets no response, only the Battleship starts backing away with each flurry, her own hands moving to block and try to return some of their own. Of course, they're definately not as fast as her opponents. Though, with how close she is, the secondary batteries on Nagato's rigging take aim and start shelling small caliber ammunition on Kawakami with Nagato's movements trying to aim them to keep her remaning turrets operational enough for another shot.     The reloading noise is heard once more and the rear turrets start to face upwards, "Sanshiki, fire!" the rear two turrets explode in fire and smoke as the shells are launched into the air, vertically before the shells themselves explode and rain down that hot flak shrapnel down on the two with pockmarks being made in the battleship's rigging.     In hopes for a more distracted Kawakami, the free turret on Nagato's front left, the number one turret, starts aiming away from Kawakami... another ammunition loading sound... 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She had to keep the pressure up. Taking the small caliber slugs in her arm, she would have to heal it later... what she had planned would help with the damage anyway. The MIRV fire was only going to cause problems if she didn't do something. The smoke from Nagato's gun barrels... suddenly gave her an idea. "You're not getting away from me!" she yelled as she locked horns with Nagato. Rather than letting the shrapnel fire rain down indiscriminately, the air around Momoyo and the battleship started to wriggle and lose fo     cxterm93">"Momoyo Microwave."     In the sort of move that would have caused Yari to flip out (Hi, Yari), the explosion from an atomic bomb never came, but the raw radioactive aftermath sure did. Smoke started to rise off of Momoyo and she gradually tried to overheat Nagato's weaponry much faster than her mental inventory had anticipated. She used her massive strength as the shrapnel rained like molten lava or incinerated entirely in wisps of ash, the walls of the Ring keeping the audience safe from the indiscriminate move.     With little other choice, Momoyo took the brutally vicious alternative while trying to use her strength to keep Nagato's arms under control... she started bashing her skull viciously against the battleship's. "RAAAAAAAGH~!!!" she howled, as her arm bled on Nagato's plating, she sound of her face bashing against the other girl's plated skull making audiable noises as she tried to grind down the fleet maiden's stamina. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Nagato knew this feeling. That fatal flash that sunk her so many years ago and here, Momoyo was trying to do that again. She didn't care that there was no flash, but the microwaves... and soon an atomic explosion she really didn't want to be near. The Admiral's guns start turning, the ammunition loading sound is made... "ALL MAIN GUNS!" she shouts with black, oil like blood seeping from wounds opening up from the 'Microwave'.     Her arms are grabbed, that's exactly what the Battleship wanted to happen. She returns a few of those head bashing attacks with her own "Tell me... do you know what happened to me so many years ago?!" Nagato starts to spin around, dragging the martial artist with her, the secondaries opening up fire once more to pelt her with all those small bullets, "IF you win, I will tell you..." she squeezes hard on those arms, her own arms crossing each other to grab each of Kawakami's own, digging her fingers into that flesh..     As she rips those hands of her arms to flip the martial artist, she comes to an abrupt stop and launches Kawakami away from her, "SANSHIKI! FIRE!" three of those four turrets explode in thunderous rapport, the flame and smoke filling up the area once more as those shells start raining down more shrapnel on the airborne samurai.     "You wll not sink me with that today, Kawakami!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "NRRRGGGGHHH!!!"she howled in pain, being forced to take many, many more small bullets. Even as she was hurled off her feet, she was forced to handle the full brunt of Nagato's main cannon volley.     "Hahahahah! I can't believe I found it! I've been waiting for you to look like this since we met! I WANT MORE FUN, ADMIRAL!!!" she howled, even as she smashed into the wall. While Nagato was surely still more rational than Momoyo, the other girl could sense the raw fear and panic she had caused. It only ramped up the battle for her more, making her want more fun in a climactic fashion. Naturally, she started to ignore more and more pain, there was no time to heal while the fight was speeding up. "Kawakami Style: Div-!"     There was a large flash of Momoyo's aura, a large attack coming straight for Nagato. Even the radar said Momoyo's position was there during the attack, so Nagato would be forced to react.     Instead, Momoyo used her godlike speed to zip behind Nagato between the radar blips. She still needed to smash that rigging or this fight would never even out for the peak she wanted. She couldn't take many more volleys like that without a break, but Nagato would survive a finisher.     "MOUSOU SEIKENZUKI MIDAREUCHI!!!"     Still saving her aura for Nagato's main armor, she pummelled at the main rigging desperately. Two-dozen battleship cannons fired at Nagato from behind in the space of a single heartbeat, is if roaring in her ears as she tried to smash and damage some of the larger turrets. Clouds of air and dust rose around Momoyo's feet from the attack, Nagato given the space of one radar ping to respond in the quarter of a second to more exploiting of her rotation speed. Sweat poured off of Momoyo, as the peak of the battle ensued. 

:'''{{#var:863|Haguro (863)}} has posed:'''      Haguro has barely moved from where she's been standing this whole time, enraptured in the sheer brutality of this fight. "So these are the techniques you've both been hiding this whole time. A-amazing..." There's no bias here now. No preference for the Admiral that she's served under for so long, no preference for the upstart that's made such an impact in such a short time. No... This. This is real combat. This is an all-out fight. These are the techniques of true warriors! 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     "Fun? FUN?!" Nagato's panting slightly, this girl was pushing her far and far, but she was one of the Big Seven... time to pull out the stops. "You aren't any manner of martial artists I've dealt with, Kawakami..." she stares, red eyes locked on her target, her vision painting her not as the girl but as something she knows she can fight without care... "Abyssal Ri Class..." she whispers... "Time to sink you." Nagato's eyes, go wide a bit at the aura flash, "Kawakami Style... I'm seeing this now..." a smirk...     Nagato plants herself in place, pulling something out of her rigging... it's then that the damaged turret pops out, leaving a hole where it was mounted, grabbing the damaged gun by the barrel. "I think it's time I get my triple barrels after this." she swings the damaged turret to protect herself from that ki blast but it proves to be the diversion that Kawakami needed.     Those pummelings into her rigging, each hit sending her skidding forward, the number one turret swinging towards the left. "Radar won't help me with you anymore, it seems..." Nagato angles a bit, the number two turret, the rear left, taking the brunt of the damage, and with an explosion, it breaks, the barrels twisting and even the rigging under it has stress cracks.     Ammunition loaded sound is heard once more before the main gun fires, Nagato's right leg pulled up to allow the recoil to spin her around, coming around with a rudder kick, a down angled one using the force of that recoil to give it more oomph. "Time to sink, Kawakami..."     Meanwhile, up in the rafters, the destroyers and submarines watching cling to each other... "They're scary..." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She could tell Nagato probably wasn't going to dodge the next attack. Hell, she probably didn't even regard Momoyo as human anymore due to the battle delirium. More importantly, both fighters were unsure if they didn't take the next attack how much longer they'd last. Nagato was not going to let up and let her restore... her healing was fast, but not fast enough to avoid the full brunt of the Admiral. Both women were bleeding massively, and one of Momoyo's arms was nearly ruined by all the small arms fire. Nagato was going to be forced to fight back using damaged turrets... but Momoyo knew she'd changed from thirty seconds ago. Neither woman was going to survive the other's berserk fury so the only thing left was who could slug harder now. Nagato looked majestic and furious but deeply shaken... and Momoyo had simply descended into near madness. It was impossible to view her as the submarine who had played so pleasantly with the Fleet Daughters now.     "Kawakami Style: Star-Destroyer!!!"     She drew her arms back, only to charge and fire a beam that could only have otherwise been described as coming from an orbital satellite. This is what Momoyo would need to crack Nagato's armor... enough power to destroy a planet. This was the hardest she'd fought in these sparring matches to date... while she could certainly dance around the arena longer with Nagato, if the battleship had any ammunition left, and she most certainly did, it was pointless to do so. She could restore herself once, maybe twice... or use her last hidden technique after an attack this massive. Covering nearly half the arena on the ground and with Nagato having little ability to jump let alone the kind of acrobatics required to hover over this thing, the only thing left was to fire back into the onslaught and trust she was more sturdily constructed. Momoyo's hair flew back behind her, her sweater in tatters and both legs of her black slacks in various lengths... her shoes all but useless now as her red eyes continued to widen with that dilated berserk lust. The beam crawled against the walls of the Ring, slamming into the windows nearest to the largest cluster of spectators, a testament to it's construction as it withstood the earthquakes this attack caused and the brunt of the beam itself. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Two of those turrets are damaged, the rigging has stress cracks, ammunition and fuel reserves very low.. how much longer could Nagato take this punishment. Not even Samar has driven her to this limit, but this was no ordinary girl... she wasn't Abyssal. She sure as hell fought like it, though. "Kawakami!" she shouts, rubbing her face a bit, slinging oil-like blood towards the ground. Two more turrets remain, her front two turrets. Nagato's breath is ragged, chest heaving from the exertion... she knew she was going to be in the baths tonight and possibly with her Amusphere as well...     Though when the attack was mentioned... and that beam... more flashbacks to those nuclear testing explosions... "That flash... no... not here..." Nagato's eyes close as that beam washes over her, "Am... I going to fail them again?" she whispers, hands clenching into fists, turrets snapping... then breaking off. The rigging crashing down and throwing up dust.     As the attack finishes, Nagato stands there, rigging on the ground with damaged turrets strewn aside. Her clothes torn, modesty forgiving and her body eminates smoke. Awash with cuts that seep black, she takes a heavy breath, "Is... that.. it?" those red eyes open and stare at Momoyo, a golden tinge to the edge of them. "Don't underestimate the power of the Big Seven!"     With the rigging gone from her back, she's a lot more mobile, kicking off the ground to chase after the martial artist, "MOMOYO KAWAKAMI! SINK!" Nagato leaps up and comes down with one leg outstretched and up, aiming to bring a heavy axe kick down upon the martial artists head, only to spin around once she touches ground to try and slam that leg into Kawakami's side. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo wills her body to dodge the axe kick, though she knew Nagato was at her limits. It started to dawn on her what she'd actually done to the woman... she looked as tortured as Kenji. Still, this was why Momoyo's brawling matches drew such an audience so quickly... and why even some Chancers had second thoughts around her.     Slamming her palm of her ruined arm on that kick, she winced, stumbling with Nagato. Still, she had one more attack now that the armor was /finally/ gone. Finally, Nagato was little more than a normal woman... well, at least as much as Momoyo was anyway.     "Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher!"     She packed the remainder of her aura into the singular punch many Unionites came to shudder from facing. The power of this punch was unknown, never before measured. Coating her fist in her ki, she used Nagato's leg to hold her in place and aim for her gut again, both women gritting their teeth. This punch was not like Musou Seikenzuki at all, many times stronger and faster... and the fact that she had kept this much of her aura in reserve showed how nervous she was at the start about Nagato's overall power advantage over her. Some of her opponents lost to this punch, others had to plan around it actively. With armor, this punch would have damaged some of Nagato's critical engines but otherwise she'd have remained battle capable... but after a beam with the force of a nuclear blast, it was questionable how both fighters would handle it. It was Momoyo's last move, anything else she'd have to struggle against raw steel and fuel with sinew, a losing proposition for even her inhuman capabilities. 

:'''{{#var:680|Nagato (680)}} has posed:'''     Panting hard, Nagato is definately at her limits, more so when the armor was dropped. Nagato's eyes have that look of pain to them, a rememberance of something she kept down for a long time... the time she became Abyssal... the time she was sunk by those nuclear tests. Oh, they wanted to rescue her but it was too late... the radiation took her.. and she regretted it. With the axe kick blocked, she lets out a surprised noise, only to go back into the spin.. and when that's blocked...     "Well... fought." she whispered to Kawakami, as that Fuji Smasher comes barreling towards her, Nagato's own arm comes barreling forth with a fist of her own. It's not ki-powered, it's not even recoil powered, but the sheer muscle on that arm would mean that if it connected, it'd hurt.     The punch lands, strikes directly in her gut, her breath escapes rapidly as her eyes shoot open... the strength of that drops the Battleship to her knees, gasping for air only to cough out some of that black fluid. Nagato's vision gets blurry, head looking up towards Momoyo. "Well... fought." she repeats, louder, propping herself up with her fists on the ground, black oil-like blood dripping from the multitude of wounds and injuries.     With a crash, the arms give out and set the battleship on her side, panting hard, breath ragged... "Nuclear explosion tests... Mutsu, I'll need to talk..." she mutters, hoping that this was the end of it, she couldn't go on any further with the state she's in, though a quick, pained look towards Kawakami... "Draw...?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo looked down on Nagato with that feral-eyed glint in her eyes, she'd fought the hardest she could ever remember. Her knees wobble as Nagato spills her heart out quietly... the most emotional anyone would see her get in a while most likely. Momoyo knelt down, and it looked like despite her ruined state she was trying to pick the other woman back up and get her back to her fleet. She was elated she'd won, but couldn't bear to see that she was really close to causing this twice with her relentless battle fury. Some tears stream down her cheeks into the blood and muck, her cheek next to Nagato. "I'm... sorry... Admiral." she murmured, the most respectful tone Nagato had gotten out of her since her enlistment.     Unfortunately, she collapsed forward, pushing Nagato over in the process with her weight. Seems her body gave out now that she had no more reason to push herself... so Momoyo forgot all about winning. As she laid on the floor in a jumble with Nagato, once the smoke cleared... it was not immediately certain who the Destroyers, Subs and Haguro would be rushing to help first once the barriers for the Ring came down and the critical life-saving measures began to engage on the arena. If they weren't left untouched in the Ring for a couple hours, they would need rest in Medical for days and Union would have to summon a Hikari Fleet Engineer. 

:'''{{#var:901|Hoshi Amakasu (901)}} has posed:'''     The fight was probably an incredible thing to watch. Hoshi knew it--she'd never seen half of the things that had been shown in front of her. But, for the life of her, she couldn't remember any of it. What she /did/ remember was how both Nagato and Momoyo looked after they'd torn each other apart. When the rest of the girls started milling around, Hoshi just stood up and looked at the two combatants with a pale face and wide eyes, shuddering and twitching as if she were freezing cold, despite the tempurature of the room.     Eventually, she sweeps her shadowed gaze away and starts shuffling to make her way out. She doesn't say anything to anyone as she leaves. When she gets close enough to the door, she flings herself at it and pushes it open as hard as she can, fleeing out of the door as if demons were chasing behind her. 

:'''{{#var:863|Haguro (863)}} has posed:'''      It's not until the fight comes to a close that Haguro finally moves from her spot, glancing over at Hoshi's hasty exit before hurrying towards the two combatants with the medical supplies in tow and actual medics not far behind her. "You... You both fought amazingly. Admiral. Kawakami. Please, rest now." What else is there for the Heavy Cruiser to say? If she wants to gush, she can do it after they've recovered. For now, however, she simply offers the two a heartfelt salute before stepping back to let the medical crew do their jobs, a new fire lit in her eyes! 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason sees the fight end and pauses she seems concerned as Nagato isn't looking too well. She gets up concerned and she hears the Admiral speak of nuclear weapons. A weapon from the miltiverse, a weaponiee mini star for lack of a better term. She seems very concerned now given she's by now well aware of, but it's not her place to ask, she'll let the medical crew do their jobs but she does seem concerned, she even orders her drone to cease recording. 

}}

3610/Epic Fight For Epic Lunch

2016-01-18T18:51:19Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo spars Xiaomu

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/05
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Momoyo is starting to establish a reputation for sparring for the smallest reasons. Once again, she's broke, and trying to get Xiaomu to foot the bill this time! But things don't quite go as expected when the wily Sage Fox counterattacks...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=20, 151, 391, 626, 705, 707, 867, 906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' It's not every day that somebody has the courtesy to *invite* Xiaomu to spar, rather than simply doing something within her range of attention which obligates her to respond with violence. It's even more rare than that for such a challenge not to take digital form. But the sage fox has finished eating (at one of Njorun's reasonably fine restaurants - not too expensive, not too cheap), and while she was digesting, she strolled on over to the Ring of Philosophy. From what Momoyo was saying, it's pretty much 'anything goes that the Ring prevents permanent damage from,' which is fine with her; she has her monk-staff, she has her handguns, and she's got a full tank of mana for using whatever magic seems helpful. All she needs is for her opponent to arrive. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo is a bit faster to move through the fortress the second time around. Once again, she could tell through the walls that her opponent was just as strong as anyone from her home city, and that made her even more excited. Likewise, no doubt, she could tell Momoyo's proximity as well.     The black-haired woman comes down the steps, as spectators scurry in on very short notice. Their red eyes met quickly, and surprisingly enough the manner of dress for both even complemented one another as opponents. Momoyo's school uniform jacket stayed attached to her neck, fluttering lightly behind her shoulders, but aside from that her uniform and skirts were all she wore. "Mhmhmhm~. I'm excited... and you look like you were bored too." she quips to Xiaomu, finally seeing her in person. She sets her hand on her hip on the opposite side from the blonde, tilting her head a little. "So you're fine with those terms, right? Same terms I fought Nero on..." 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Another who is here to watch is Terry McGinnis, and he is not dressed as Batman or in the hunter attire for Beacon, that attire is do tomorrow. Today, he is wearing his normal attire and is sitting in the stands to watch this duel. He is a friend of Momoyo and is here to cheer her on, although, he wants to see if she does the same thing when she went against Nero. 

:'''{{#var:391|Reina Kinney (391)}} has posed:'''     One person who is here (person being a literal term since technically, she's a Gurhalian,) in her uniform is none other than Reina Kinney herself. Then again, even if she weren't in uniform, it's hard to miss her with that bright red hair with a huge ponytail. She knows Xiaomu fairly well, and plans to cheer her on as well. She sits off to the side, with a big grin on her face and eagerly staring at Xiaomu, hoping her favorite fighter will win this match!     "Let's go Xiaomu, Let's Go!" She chants a few times, grinning. 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     Although Ainsley often carries herself with a friendly, somber or lukewarm demeanor, she's here to observe Momoyo in a battle, someone that might be considered an opposite creature. She has found her own seat to relax on, her tail draped over her lap and her mouth pulled into a serene smile. She's here to watch because she has grown to idealize the passionate and powerful, even if she believes she does not belong in that category herself. She wants to enjoy seeing Momoyo get into a fight.     She holds up a little paper flag and waves it. It says 'GO MOMOYO,' in well-written Japanese. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Catching fights in the Ring is always fun, and it appears that Terry and Reina aren't the only ones who are headed off to catch some sparring. One of the next people to arrive is a certain young teenager, and it seems she's bringing snacks. Toph Beifong looks rather relaxed as she moves to flop down next to Terry with a bag of chips. Though before she gets to open it she can't help but narrow her eyes slightly, looking pensive before she seemingly shrugs it off and gets settled, kicking her foot down into the ground to raise part of the stands into an impromptu footrest for her small, dirty feet.     "Maybe I should catch you for a sparring match one of the next days, Momo the second," she calls to Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "YEAH!! GO XIAOMU!!" Kyra sits in the bleachers, one leg crossed over the other, clearly showing her preference pretty clearly. She'd be doing this regardless of whether or not Nero was here. In fact, she might even be more aggressive if Nero had been here due to the flirting of last time. "Beat Momoyo into the ground!!!" 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' "Anything goes that the Ring can handle, winner gets treated to lunch?" Xiaomu asks Momoyo, sizing the Kawakami heiress up. "Yeah, sounds good to me. And I wasn't THAT bored; you should see my day job." She grins briefly. "Hard to stay bored as a Shinra agent ... except when you're catching up on all the paperwork. I'm happier letting Reiji take care of the dull bureaucratic stuff, and the higher-ups like his reports better anyway." She twirls her staff briefly, perking an ear at the spectators; it sounds like she's possibly the favorite here, but it's hardly unanimous. All the better. In fact, after a brief glance over the bleachers, Xiaomu raises an arm to wave to her fans (and Momoyo's too), then plants her staff next to her - and a *poof* of gold-hued smoke erupts around her briefly, leaving Xiaomu in a women's wrestling singlet, colored black with some red and silver highlights. "Might as well look the part, right?" Xiaomu grins, swinging her arms back and forth to loosen up some more, then taking her staff in hand again. "Bring it on whenever you're ready, Kawakami!" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Good, good... then I don't have to hold back." she replies with a grin. It was different from her smirk though, her grin was decidedly bestial and violent after her formal bow... and she already looked remarkably delinquent to start with.     Casually, now that the fight was signalled to have started, she begun to stroll toward the energetic blonde. She was slowly closing the distance, but it was a familiar testing maneuver. Everyone knew she wanted to get in close, but she wasn't about to tip her hand... in this state, initially, it was normal for an opponent to decide she had no discernible openings.     She was tense and even, humming to herself as she strolled closer to Xiaomu. It looked languid, but both opponents knew Momoyo was like a tense spring as she freely declined Xiaomu's offer to make the first move. She wanted to observe, first. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu's stance stays casual and relaxed as Momoyo approaches; she's still sizing the Japanese girl up, gauging how she carries herself, trying to discern any hints that can be gleaned about her style. She hasn't watched any of Momoyo's other fights, and asking for pointers now would be foul play ... But if Momoyo's not going to actually make the first move, Xiaomu isn't going to waste a LOT of time waiting for her. The rings on Xiaomu's staff jingle a bit as she jabs at Momoyo - not really intending to hit, but to try and stir up a reaction from the dark-haired girl ... followed by planting the staff's butt on the ground and using it as leverage for Xiaomu to execute a vaulting kick, aimed at Momoyo's face. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The spring snaps, and she got the opening move she was hoping for. This was purely a test for both, but now they could see how the first exchange was going to go. Blocking the first jab of the staff, her speed seemed to be on par with the Sage Fox's. Twisting to the side, her hand grasps Xiaomu's ankle from the vault. It seems she was used to vaulting kicks from people around Xiaomu's weight and build.     "Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     Her signature move comes out, hoping the flexible vixen had no leverage to dodge. The force of that battleship cannonfire straightpunch forces her to let go in order to follow through with the move completely, but she had a straight shot for Xiaomu's gut. She was, however, dealing with a fighter who had literally centuries of experience on her... 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Centuries of experience, sure - but there are still opponents who can surprise Xiaomu, and just the fact that Momoyo was fast enough to CATCH her in mid-kick like that was enough to put her in that rarefied category. Xiaomu rolls with it (so to speak) as well as she can, protecting her vitals and getting knocked away from her opponent by the force of the blow; she *still* gets the wind knocked out of her. And her staff is left lying on the ground, much closer to Momoyo herself than to Xiaomu. "Not bad," the sage fox wheezes, getting back to her feet. "A lesser mortal might stay down after a hit like that ... but there's the rub, see." She smiles, holding both hands out to her sides, flexing her fingers - and conjuring balls of eldritch flame in each hand. "You're not fighting a mortal." She winds up briefly, drawing her right arm back - and the foxfire ball in her LEFT hand just rockets forward like a mystical meteor, heading straight for Momoyo's face! Only after that does Xiaomu lob the ball from her right hand, flinging it in a high arc; Momoyo should be so distracted by the direct attack that she'll miss the indirect one. And if the gambit pays off, Xiaomu's going to rush in to reclaim her staff before Momoyo can get any funny ideas about using it against her ... 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Ghh!" Had she known about the attack beforehand, she could have weaved through it, but she was forced to block the first ball with both her wrists crossed, and then the second. Her foot comes down a quarter of a second too late after Xiaomu reclaims her staff. "Damn..." she murmurs. "You're faster than my little sister Kazuko."     Still, she wasn't about to let the fox get her breath back, even if she had to take that punch head-on. While a staff user was virtually impossible to hit with normal attacks, the fox was winded and she had to keep the pressure up. Closing with Xiaomu right after she brings up the staff, her fists become a blur, movements very difficult to track by anyone who hadn't had martial arts or visual training of their own. Carefully, she keeps the blonde under pressure, throwing in a few rapid kicks for good measure. She was no longer testing but earnestly looking for the right opening to wrestle the staff or get ahold of the blonde's hair-tails. "You're good, but you need to be on the ball when fighting me, grandma!" she panted. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' The jingling of the rings on Xiaomu's staff's headpiece is almost merry, in stark contrast to the focus with which the sage fox defends herself. She can't block ALL of Momoyo's strikes - the black-haired young woman is actually faster than Xiaomu is, and some punches and a couple of kicks get through - but Xiaomu is able to protect herself well enough to weather what she can't block, backing away from Momoyo's onslaught. It certainly looks like she's getting overwhelmed ... ... at least, up until she learns Momoyo's rhythm well enough to find a slight overextension, and capitalize on it. The staff whirls around and up, in an effort to break open Kawakami's guard like a hammer striking a chisel and splitting a log in half - and then Xiaomu just reverses course, plowing *forward* into Momoyo with a fast punch of her own, trying to nail the other girl in the solar plexus and knock the wind out of HER instead. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis has been watchign thew deul the entire time and is keeping notes in his head as he looks at Toph, "Sorry, keepign an eye on things and makign notes on how the two are fighting," he says simply and is completely obvious to any questions that was directed at him. And out of all of those here, only one knows who Terry is and if they know about Batman knowing everything aobut everyone he deals with, than Terry knowing can be both a good and a bad thing. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     A new voice chimes in. "KICK HER ASS MOMOYO!" Yang crows as she comes into view and spots the fight going on. She doesn't know the sage fox, and she's being trained by the black-haired girl with the red eyes... so there's some bias. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Forced to block upward with her arms, Xiaomu certainly does slip into Momoyo's guard. The fist does sink into her gut reasonably hard for Xiaomu's frame and strength! "Nice try... grandma!" Like Momoyo's punch, trying to knock the wind out of the opponent required following through with the move.     "Kawakami Style, Ningen Bakudan (Human Bomb)..."     The move causes ki to explode when in physical contact based on the amount of ki present and the surface area. Xiaomu's fist is most certainly in contact, and the move was so unexpected for her wind being knocked out, that the explosion surrounds her knuckles completely and possibly her wrist. Naturally, this wrecks Momoyo's waist too as she jumps back to create space and avoid further hits. "Restoration..." she murmurs, using a bit of her aura to heal the self-damage, considering the explosion was far more severe for the user than the victim. She breathes just a bit, but with any luck she turned that opening she left to her advantage. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' There's a distinct disadvantage associated with calling your techniques. When Momoyo starts *speaking* while Xiaomu's burying her fist in the other girl's solar plexus, the sage fox doesn't even wait to hear the full technique name; she reverses course, trying to get away without leaving herself totally open in the process - and ALMOST makes it. You know that old saying about 'close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades'? .... yeah. It could have been substantially worse, but Xiaomu is left looking rather singed and has a rueful smile on her face. "Lots of fancy little tricks with your chi, huh?" she says. "Bet that means you've got plenty to spare." She plants her staff next to her, grasping it firmly with her left hand and raising her right hand in front of her, fingers splayed. "DAKKI NO KATA!!" Those words herald Xiaomu's attempt to actually start leeching energy away from Momoyo - and for what feels like once in her Multiversal career, she's NOT worried about the energy she siphons turning out to be unpalatable. Of course, she also has to go easy on Momoyo; the Ring might not know how to safeguard against energy draining. But that's still no reason why Momoyo should be allowed to recuperate at will and deny Xiaomu the chance to recover. Xiaomu doesn't keep the draining up for long: half a dozen seconds, maybe, just enough to take the edge off (so to speak). 

:'''{{#var:391|Reina Kinney (391)}} has posed:'''     As Xiaomu gets the upper hand (for now anyway,) Reina goes into cheering mode again. "Go Xiaomu Go!" She hoots and claps her hands a few times. If Laia were here, she'd probably be getting a stern glare from her, but she's not, so Reina has nothing to worry about. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry watches and makes a mental note, and looks at Yang who is cheering for Momoyo and smiles, "Come on Momoyo, you can do it," he comments as he looks at Toph, "How are oyu doing?" he asks her finally as he watches the duel. . o 0 (I will have to try sparring with both of them sometime.) he thinks to himself. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "This has been tried before, foxy. Ask the audience!" she grins gleefully, completely unexpected reaction for being countered properly. It was true, energy siphoning was one of her weaknesses, but Momoyo had a habit of outputting far more energy in large bursts than most siphoners could contain as a desperate counterattack. So she closed the distance again.     "Forbidden Move: Fuji Smasher"     With Xiaomu's staff still in the ground when that leeching attack occurs, not only is she open for another unbelieveably fast attack, but the sudden surge in energy risked breaking the staff or causing all sorts of havoc. This was, after all, how Nero lost, and could even raise the hairs on Kyra in the stands. The strength of the attack itself is still nearly unknown as a result, but dodging it was difficult and blocking would require a runway's worth of space... A vicious overwhelming counter rather than trying to target the staff to stop the drain. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     Kyra shoots up out of her seat, "Xiaomu! Watch out!" she waves her arms, which, frankly, is not really good for an attacker that needs to do things. Like figure out how to defeat overwhelming super attacks like the Fuji Smasher, "That's the thing she got Nero with! Don't try absorbing it, that doesn't work!!" 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' There are two mistakes in Momoyo's response to the Dakki no Kata. One of them is in assuming that the staff is the key to Xiaomu's draining technique; it may well LOOK like it - which is part of the point - but Xiaomu's actually drawing energy from Momoyo, through the air, into her upraised hand. The staff is just braced there, if anything, for the OPPOSITE purpose - to help ground out stray energy from Xiaomu. But that's not the big blunder. Telling Xiaomu that draining energy from somebody is a bad move is enough to get her to abort the leeching, her hand closing and lowering - and the leeching just STOPS, which could mean Momoyo's going to run a power surge through her body's chi paths and NOT have it go anywhere. It gets worse, though ... Because when Momoyo charges at her like that, Xiaomu lets go of her staff completely (it stays standing on its own, at least for a moment) and tries to intercept the fighting schoolgirl's momentum, redirecting it up, over, and down in one of the most straightforward suplexes in the history of the maneuver. Fuji Smasher? More like Fuji Smashee, with Momoyo committing herself bodily to a move like that and not anticipating that the sage fox might not be as vulnerable as she looked. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      After the dust clears, Xiaomu has a few bruises but otherwise still looks peppy. There's a large crater in the ground where Momoyo was forced to unleash all that energy that she was in the center of after that suplex, enough for Xiaomu to reclaim her distance advantage. She staggers to her feet, finally looking worse for wear. "Hmhmhmh~..." her shoulders quaked as she breathed heavily. "Hmhmhhahahahaah~!" She certainly looked a bit winded, she certainly staggered like she was, as her red eyes met Xiaomu's similarly crimson gaze.     "I LOVE IT!!! GIVE ME MORE FUN, XIAOMU!!! EARTH SPLITTER!"     It certainly put Xiaomu out of the danger of trying to absorb way too much energy at once, but now she's psyched the berserker up. It seems like Momoyo was finally hitting her peak, her eyes crazed. Sure, she was absolutely pissed about getting countered. Punching the ground, she causes all sorts of spidery cracks between her and most of the arena Xiaomu could use. It created more dust, but her intent was to force the fox into the air and leap after her. Getting hit like that merely incited the sort of fury most only saw in Berserkers and the associated loss of rationality, and increase in unpredictably reckless behavior. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     For the most of the fight it appears that Toph has been satisfied with being quiet and merely observing the two fighters, though when Momoyo calls out one of her attacks, she can't help but let out a snort.     "... what's she calling an earth splitter?" she mutters to the others. Trust the earthbender to take such things seriously. 

:'''{{#var:705|Reiji Arisu (705)}} has posed:'''     Sitting out among the bleachers is someone who has TOTALLY BEEN HERE FOR HOURS. He most certainly was not NURSING SOME KIND OF TERRIBLE HEADACHE THAT ONLY JUST CLEARED UP. He is, however, munching on what appear to be thin strips of chilled, fried tofu, because apparently fox-ness is contagious. "Hmn, she's getting reckless," he observes, then shrugs. "That is a bad place to be around Xiaomu."     Reiji explains no more than that, remaining ever the cryptic observer. But maybe it has to do with Xiaomu's... affinities. Or at least, the ones that exist in Reiji's uniquely elemental worldview. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis looks at Toph, "um... I do not think it is a pillar of Earth she is calling," he comments as he sees the attack, "Or just just punched the ground and it split opened......." he comments as he too noticed that Momoyo is getting reckless and this can be a bad place for her to be in, especially if she uses all of her Chi like she did against Nero. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Somebody who just got suplexed like that shouldn't be LAUGHING about it. And you don't survive for over seven centuries by ignoring or shrugging off an enemy who's acting strangely. So the sage fox is already putting some extra distance between herself and Momoyo before the Earth Splitter is unleashed. That's not enough to get her entirely out of the upraised cloud of dust, nor is the growing web of cracks something she's going to avoid so readily - but the Ring of Philosophy SHOULD have relatively solid 'ground,' right? At any rate, charging into close combat again seems like a really bad idea - particularly given that berserk rage is also generally accompanied by an increased dependence on brute strength. So Xiaomu keeps her wits about her, brings her right hand up, and instead of sucking energy away from Momoyo ... Sends a batch of it back, in the form of shadowy 'laserbeams' projected from the sage fox's fingertips. They don't cut or burn like actual lasers, but they're sure gonna hurt ... and Xiaomu's raking them through the dust clouds before settling on a specific target location, to pin down Momoyo's location rather than assuming she'll still be where Xiaomu last saw her. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "I can split the earth open far better than that," Toph responds before she stuffs some more chips into her mouth, leaning back a bit more to get comfy. Somebody's relaxed! And why not? It's entertaining to witness. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Tch." it didn't work like she'd hoped, so this was going to take longer. That surge of energy would have to come out somehow... and it seems Xiaomu's set the new terms of the match. Ducking and weaving through the dust, she had to move quickly, especially as Xiaomu's sharp senses and ears could pick up on her new location and the lasers were more accurate. "Ghhh~!" there's a grunt. Xiaomu finally landed a solid hit with several of them.     ...or so it appeared. As the dust clears, it seems Momoyo had left her uniform jacket that had been swinging about her neck all this time to be destroyed by those laser beams about twenty feet or so away. The jacket started to fall to the ground, singed and destroyed beyond repair.     It would be the only time Momoyo could attempt this gambit. Pressing her speed advantage, she moved fast enough to slink behind Xiaomu. Entirely quietly, she used an attack she didn't have to call first, since those ears were a serious liability up to this point. Instead, she tried to grab Xiaomu's arms, right beneath the shoulders using her monstrous inhuman strength.     "Left Hand, Kawakami Style, Roasted Meat" "Right Hand, Kawakami Style, Snowman"     If she could get hold of her opponent, Xiaomu's endurance was such that one of those attacks was enough... but both would render her arms near-useless for an extended period if she could pull it off. However, that would depend on how well the dust covered her speed advantage and her sudden switch to a comparatively silent attack. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' "What the - ?!?" squawks Xiaomu as she gets ambushed from behind, both arms being grabbed right where she can't pry Momoyo off easily - she hasn't got any leverage to break free with, and the crazy schoolgirl could probably keep up with anything short of a flat-out run ... and there isn't enough stable footing left for enough of a run to escape. What she does have is her staff; Xiaomu jabs urgently behind her, half-flailing to try and break loose before Momoyo's techniques can go off. She's really only got one trick left if she can't make Momoyo cancel out of the move ... Namely, to cut loose with Suiren's power - the water/ice elemental magic forged into her staff's hidden sword - and try to freeze Kawakami in a massive casing of ice, enough to help Xiaomu pop loose while she can still use her arms. This may yet boil down to mutual incapacitation, though. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Once again, Momoyo's match ends only in mutually assured destruction. This seems to be a pattern for her with equally strong opponents.     Now because of the Snowman technique being enhanced by Suiren and vice versa, all of Momoyo and Xiaomu are encased in ice entirely, with only Xiaomu's severely burnt arm to show for it. Once the crowd realized both were okay, neither was going to live this draw down afterward.     Luckily the Arena could keep both cryogenically frozen fighters alive until Reiji and Kyra decided to figure out how to best undo this mess... or any other magic users skilled in delicate operations nearby. Woops. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis blinks as he looks at this, "I should have brought the suit," he says as he jumps down and lands on the cracked arena floor. Walkign over, he looks and knocks on the ice, "I take it that this is magical huh?" he asks as he looks around at his waist for somethign to help, like an exploding batarang.... which is with the Batsuit. "Anyone got a sun they can summon?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:391|Reina Kinney (391)}} has posed:'''     By now, Reina is shaking her head in disbelief. "For Falz's sakes, cut it out! It's going beyond acceptable norms!" The latter term being very loosely used, since Reina's being very sarcastic now. "This was supposed to be in good fun, not destruction!" 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "Well that's...new..." Kyra says slowly, hopping off the bleachers to examine the fighters fought to a standstill. She walks around them, doing a little figure eight as she looks them both over from all angles. As she moves, she throws a quick Scan down to check vitals. "Hm. Yeah, I think it is magic, isn't it? If that is the case.."     Kyra steps back, gesturing grandly at the pair, summoning forth her impressive white magic...!     No, wait. It's white magic-not even that, actually, but /antimagic/ as she lays down a Dispell on both of the frozen fighters as she attempts to mitigate the weird effects on both of them. 

:'''{{#var:705|Reiji Arisu (705)}} has posed:'''     Welp. That sure was mutually assured destruction. Reiji pops one more square of sweet tofu into his mouth before rising from his seat with a sigh. It's a good thing that he comes prepared for this sort of thing. Prepared with a sword. A sword that is ON FIRE.     He walks boldly into the arena with Karin ablaze in one hand. In his other is... A handgun. Even as Kyra begins unweaving the magic holding the ice in place, he starts doing things the hard and dirty way: hacking at the ice with his sword! But... Why the gun?     It's there to shoot the larger, less meat-filled sections of the ice cube. The people inside will probably be just fine! Probably. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis looks at Kyra and Reiji and just blinks, "Right...." he states as he steps back and away from Reiji. He is not protected from anything like he is in the Batsuit and well, he has no special powers like the rest of the people have... 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Well. That was kind of embarassing, wasn't it? And Momoyo's fire-based attack (or whatever 'Roasted Meat' was supposed to do) didn't even have the good grace to be COUNTERED by that much ice magic; if it weren't for the Ring's safeguards, it would be a long time before she could use that arm for anything more than a demonstration of why you don't let fire-users get close to you. Fortunately, they have not only the Ring's safeties, but Kyra's and Reiji's cunning use of their respective magics to come to the rescue. Between Kyra's dispel and Reiji's impromptu de-icing combo, the ice is quickly reduced to cubes and puddles, leaving the sage fox shivering lightly and rubbing at her badly-sunburned-looking left arm. "Guess this means we have to buy lunch for each other sometime, or did you just want to call it even?" she asks Momoyo. "Also, if you don't mind my asking --" She takes a deep breath. "WHO TAUGHT YOU TO FIGHT LIKE THAT?!" The abrupt yell isn't ENTIRELY an aggrieved one; Momoyo pulled some impressive moves in that bout, and reminded Xiaomu that even with all her experience and training and her diverse options in a fight, she STILL has a few things to learn. But Momoyo's tactics beyond that were ... well ... crazy, not to put too fine a point on it. At least the sage fox isn't bearing a grudge .... probably. She wouldn't talk about lunch so lightly if she *were*, right? 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      With both her clothing and Xiaomu's soaked, she sits up again and puts a hand on her shoulder. Like Xiaomu, she still was trying to gather her wits about her. "Ugh. Oh, is that your boyfriend?" she muses, peering at Reiji half-lucid. "I'm totally fighting him next."      She rubs her head, trying to prevent an oncoming headache as she starts giggling with Xiaomu. "Yeah... even among the martial artists here I seem to be really crazy. There's a reason I'm in the faction I am." she shrugs. "If you wanna learn all about it and you don't mind old martial arts teachers who may or may not have seen someone as cute as you up close in too long, you can visit my grandpa anytime in the Kawakami Dojo. His name is Tesshin." she staggers to her feet.      "Yeah, I guess we're just going to have to have lunch and rematch this later..." She starts to rub her wet hands all over Kyra's clothing, just as a gesture of good will and a fight souvenir. "You're not all bad, are you? If you managed to undo all that." 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis looks at Xiaomu, "Let me look at your arm, I have medical training," he says to her as he looks at Momoyo, "And let me look at you to make sure you are fine," he adds as he looks at the left arm of Xiaomu to see just how burnt it is. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' "This is my partner, Reiji Arisu," Xiaomu introduces Reiji with a reasonable semblance of courtesy. "I recommend not ticking him off, he's even more vicious in a fight than I am, especially sparring matches." The sage fox grins wickedly for a moment, "Ask Fayt if you don't believe me." 

:'''{{#var:705|Reiji Arisu (705)}} has posed:''' "She'll probably be fine after a meal. This place stops bullets from doing much harm." Reiji asides to Terry, before glancing back towards his partner. "Hey. I brought you some snacks." A pause- he takes a moment to sheathe his blade and holster his handgun. "If you need energy, I've some to spare too." Xiaomu introduces him to her opponent. Reiji inclines his head, "It is good to meet you. I am not as bad as she says." He is in fact so much worse. 

}}

3576/Settling Debts

2016-01-18T18:48:18Z

Scrimbul: Nero Buys Lunch

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/12/27
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Nero and Kyra pay for Momoyo's lunch as agreed upon for Nero's loss. Yang tags along, as they all bond. Kyra seems to have developed an irrational jealousy for Momoyo even if she otherwise respects her prowess...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=626, 880, 906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Standing outside the Gate, it was clear enough how to get to the coordinates for Kawakami City. Momoyo kept one eye on the clock so that the train to Saitama wasn't missed, but beyond that she was the only one waiting. For the time being, she had to keep her friends out of the picture when it came to Multiversal citizens. Explaining to Moro what exactly happened in that televised fight was not a thing she wanted to do right now.     Dressed in black slacks, a black sweater and a vest for the cool weather, the red-eyed woman toyed with her silver necklace lazily. She wasn't sure what to expect from inviting these two to another Japan just yet. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And through the warpgate came Nero, dressed in a casual red dress, much less extravagant than her usual imperial, yet revealing red and white ensemble. This was a simple pinkish red one piece with ruffled black linings. Simple, yet fitting for Nero. As usual, her blonde hair was tied back in a bun with a red ribbon. Looks like that was never going to change.      "Behold, Lady Kawakami!" The Servant greeted upon spotting Momoyo, a hand pressed above her chest, at her collarbone. "I, Emperor Nero, have arrived. Not late, not early, but exactly when I needed to be!" ...Even in loss, Nero was still Nero. One could wonder if she even considers that battle a loss at all with the way she was acting.      "Now! Where shall we be going?" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang's head pokes out from the portal. "... This... isn't Beacon." she states intelligently, blinking lilac eys as she spots Momoyo and Nero. "Uh, hey... sorry, wrong turn at Albequerqe." she offers with a helpless shrug. She's going to vanish back into the aetherial pathways unless she's stopped. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:''' Kyra is no stranger to Earth or Japan. The novelty of Earth, compared to the clockwork world of Galianda, has long since worn off a bit. The big bomb sun that supports these worlds will continue to freak her out a little. Even then, she loves to travel. Today is no exception. Mostly. Ever since Nero was defeated, Kyra has been growly at Momoyo. Today seems to be no exception. "And me." she says, arms folded defiantly. "Kyra Hyral. Master of Nero." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo reaches in and pulls Yang by the shoulder. 'Gently' for Momoyo tended to be 'firmly' for other people given her strength. That being said, she keeps an arm around Yang's shoulders and grins. "Ah~, going out on the town with three cute girls. The day can't get any better than this. Especially with her gussied up just for me, hmm, Yang~?" she gestures to Nero. She was teasing the blonde of course, but there was no hint of sarcasm there which meant the joke came from elsewhere.     Out of the view of Nero and Yang both however, her red-eyed gaze met Kyra's with a smirk. She still didn't fully understand what she was mad about, but now that she had fully recovered, she was going to get some questions answered. "It's only been a month or two since the Gate opened. A lot of people are going to mistake some of us as cosplayers." she explains, moving everyone to the train station to Saitama. It seems she wasn't going to tour everyone around Kawakami City but a neighboring prefecture. Over the course of the next fifteen minutes, everyone would have to purchase tickets and wind through the neighboring city, and some of the alleyways toward the ramen shop Kuma recommended. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "Fool! It is a nice day and I am going to world where such dress is appropriate! I hardly call this 'gussied up'." And she fell for it. "But of course, it is no surprise that you would make the mistake of thinking so." Never is it too late to pat oneself on the back. Never.      Having been given general knowledge of the way most modern conveniences worked at the time of her summoning, Nero didn't have much issue figuring out how the whole tickets thing worked. Of course, it was up to Kyra to buy them. As a Servant, she didn't exactly make a ton of her own money these days. Not that it semeed to stop her, inexplicably enough.      After a short time, they'd gotten through the train ride, and through the streets at Momoyo's behest, eventually arriving at some ramen shop in an alleyway. How suspicious. "Strange. To think that such an establishment would be present in this cramped place. Most suspicious." Nero thought aloud, following after Momoyo regardless. She was hardly worried about danger. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:''' Momoyo will see Kyra frown a bit deeper at the smirk, clearly growing a bit more growly at this. It seems like Momoyo is already good at pushing Kyra's buttons. She does not say anything, but she does unwind her arms and follow along with her servant. Paying is not a problem for Kyra. She seems to have plenty of money. "Wait, cosplay? As what? This is perfectly normal dress for me!" Everyone loves moogle hoodies, right? "Don't worry, I am sure you can handle anything that might come at us." She pauses, looking at Momoyo. "Almost anything. Hey there Yang." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Erk.     Yang's yanked out of the gate and grabbed by Momoyo. She wiggles a bit in that strong grip. She pushes at the red eyed fighter a bit. "Heeey, lemme go!" she grouses, but once released, follows along without much more prompting. "I guess hanging around with you guys for a bit won't hurt." she remarks.     She's versed in using such machines... but doesn't have any local currency... this may be a problem.     Kyra gets a smile and a half salute. "Hey Kyra. Still tied up in a knot huh?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      After straightening out the tickets and dealing with the multiuniversal ATM's that were just barely getting set up in Kawakami City, they arrive at the ramen shop. "My world is a neutral zone for Fed and Union. You can thank my grandpa for that. Apparently it's a rarity for multiverses not to be in some type of total war? So people have been trickling in and out of here. We still have to be careful, but I think it's more of an issue if it gets out to the Multiverse Fed and Union are fighting openly in here than it is two idiots brawling." She says that, naturally, because in her world two idiots brawling with ridiculous superpowers was uncommon but a possible occurence, and she was one of them.      "It's called a 'local delicacy', Nero. High school students like to hang around local shops where things are cheap and high quality. Newlyweds do it too... but Yamato's brought me here before. I didn't even expect it to be this good." she sits down at a large table with everyone in the large Chinese-looking place. For Kyra and Nero, the menus were familiar or read like old Roman. Yang... was gonna need a little help or a translator from a smartphone.      "So, Nero." she had at least earned the right to call Nero on a first name basis now, so her tone was back to being tomboyish and irreverent. "Your Praetor has been sulking like you and I are dating now. Did you ever find out why she keeps glaring at me like she's gonna tape a 'Kick Me' sign to my back before showing up here?" she asks, while everyone is figuring out their orders and budgets. Her eyes are set on Kyra's with a feline grin. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "High schoolers, you say, hrm?" Nero mused as they walked through the alley and into the place. It was a chinese looking place. Seemed odd, but then, Nero wasn't intimately familiar with Japan in general, so who was she to judge? Off to a large table they went and were sat down to, and Nero proceeded to have a look through the menu.      "I see...so this ramen is a type of soup? How quaint! A fitting dish for the common man! Very good!" And nodding to herself sagely, the Servant spoke such brazen words with a huge, satisfied smile on her face. She didn't seem to mind Momoyo calling her just Nero. At least not at this moment.      "Oh?" Speaking of, the question brought up by that person gave the blonde girl pause, and she looked aside at Kyra. "My Praetor? Well, if I am to hazard a guess, I do recall that she has not been pleased with your manner of acting ever since she bore eyes upon you!" Blunt, but to the point.      And then Nero laughed. "And what is this? You believe you bested me once, and suddenly, we are dating? Lady Kawakami, I had no idea that this is the way your world's customs worked!" Despite losing, Nero seemed to be having fun, unlike her Master. "HOWEVER! If you wish to lay claim to me, then you must first go through my Praetor!" Again, using Kyra like a shield in a joking manner.      There was a pause, and then Nero set her gaze upon the aforementioned girl, and then Yang, then back to Kyra. "My Praetor, are you quite alright after all?" It would be remiss of her not to ask after all, even after making a guess. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:''' "Your arrogance and strength pisses me off!" Kyra blurts out, "And I'm angry you beat Nero! I was hoping she would stop you and knock that ego down but it didn't happen." She slumps a little, her face burning red. "That is what has me mad." The redness disappears as Nero points out that Momoyo must go through her to date Nero. "What? N..no! You can't! Nero is mine! See?" Kyra removes the fingerless glove on her left hand to show off the three command seals on the back of it. "Uh." Kyra looks rather nervous though. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Well that's convenient. Yang draws out enough to cover the ticket, and a decent meal with some left over, and follows along. She pulls out her Scroll, and loads up a new Multiversal Translator that recently got released on the DustApp store.     She scans over the menu and peruses it as it prints up in Remnantese. It's a highly eclectic language, mixing Asian, Cryllic and seemingly Romanic characters together. Truly a terrible Elder God tongue.     Yang peers at Kyra curiously, brow raised. "Y'know... y'actin' kinda like Weiss right now." she mentions offhandedly. Yang then looks at the seals on Kyra's hand... and snrks. "Wooooow, you went all the way to getting a tattoo for it?" she looks at Momoyo, "THAT'S dedication right there." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo continues to snigger with Yang. Her shoulders quake as she waves a hand dismissively. "Oh, geez. Seriously, you don't have to show me. I can see it already."      She leans in closer to Yang and nudges her with her elbow. "Check it out. Forget the tattoo, their auras are chained. You're used to seeing mine and yours and their guard is down. Take a breath and look at the outline surrounding Nero. Her aura was already as large as mine alone but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. If you count their auras together, Nero is twice as strong as she first looks."      She explains. Which, only kinda sorta might settle Kyra down, having Momoyo admit Nero's monstrous strength. Even then, Nero couldn't absorb an entire Fuji Smasher in the first fifteen minutes of a fight. "Put your hand away Kyra, we're only teasing you." she lounges back in her chair as everyone's various meals arrive. Momoyo begins eating, which creates a moment of silence for Kyra to regain her composure or stew in... the two Japanese girls and Nero would know not to slurp noodles too loudly, and Momoyo had an extra beef bowl besides, since Nero was paying. So even given Momoyo's thuggish manners, she actually was still pretty even when eating.      "Kyra. There are three others as strong as I am in Kawakami City. We are known as The Big Four." (It was later explained to Kyra and Nero that it was popular to make Numerical Groups Of Really Talented People in Kawakami Academy as it kept the conversation on-track for gossip.) "I am Kawakami Momoyo, of the North. The others are Ageha Kuki, Mayuzumi Yukie, and Matsunaga Tsubame." she slurps on some noodles. This was starting to sound like a completely telephone'd up version of Yang's power rankings as well. "Any of those three have an equal chance of beating me in equal combat. None have, and I fought all three at the same time." she shrugs her shoulders. "But you can tell just from their auras that they can beat me."     She points her chopsticks at Nero. "Ask her. She can sense every bit of warrior's bloodline in this land, especially in Kawakami City. She can probably sense every single one of those girls out further than I, and many others. Several are in my group of childhood friends, but there's more, even some in the Kuki Corp. building." she grunts. "Now, if three people as strong as I am can fight me and lose, technically that makes me the 'strongest', but I know the potential of each and every one of them... and Nero as well. Nero can still beat me, nothing has changed just because I won... I have good reason to be proud, and so does she." she shrugs, finishing her speech and letting Nero say her piece next. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero shook her head at Kyra's outburst. "Alas. I must apologize for being unable to best Lady Kawakami in this instance, Praetor. Perhaps another time." Yes, there would be a rematch. Sometime. Someday. But not today. Today they would be settling the lunch debt! Oh and speaking of lunch, here came the food. Not that Nero needed to eat, but sometimes tasting things was nice.      ....That is, if she could get a hang of using these infernal chopsticks!      But that aside, as the talk of auras happened, Nero listened, and nodded once the subject came to the linked auras of master and servant. "Aha, so you noticed." The Servant spoke in amusement, while still failing to get the hang of the foreign dining utensils. "Indeed, it is as Lady Kawakami says, Lady Yang. I am a being known as a Servant. And Lady Hyral is my Master. As such, she provides me with prana, which sustains my existence, and I in turn protect her from harm with the goal of winning a conflict known as the 'Holy Grail War'."      That was a mouthful. "There are plenty of other Servants, and they typically come in one of seven classes. Saber, Archer, Rider, Caster, Lancer, Assassin, and Berserker." Nero smirked and gestured to herself. "As you may have surmised, I am of the Saber class." That aside, the mention of the Big Four draws her attention. "Oho. So there are others here that have the same potential that you do, Lady Kawakami?"      Looking pleased, she glanced off towards nowhere in particular. "I was curious to know if what I was sensing was true or not." And her smile grew. "Interesting. That there would be other warriors in this land with such power. How exciting!" Eventually, she managed to pick up some noodles and slurp them up. Finally. Once she began to get the hang of it, she fell silent for a bit as she tasted the dish before her.      And then she spoke up again. "Lady Kawakami speaks the truth. My loss in that battle was merely due to a bad decision. Not for any lack of power." Nero smirked, locking eyes with Momoyo. "I imagine that now that we are familiar with one another, a second bout would prove to be much more...entertaining." And then came a wave of the hand. "That is, if Lady Kawakami can truly afford to lose." 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:''' Kyra slips the glove back on, flushing red with embarrassment once more. "Yeah well if Weiss has to deal with super powerful warrior women all the time showin' off then I can't blame her." Kyra looks miserable. "Nero feeds from my MP. Servants need a source in order to exist in the real world. I'm surprised you can see auras, that is a very mage thing." The explanation only seems to make Kyra a little more dejected. "Yeah...yeah. I guess to be that cocky you have to..well...earn it. Sorry." She falls quiet at that, taking in her ramen in with minimal slurping.r 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang nods to Momoyo. Closes her eyes, then takes a breath, before opening her eyes once more. She's practiced a bit with this sense, and gotten used to the truly monstrous auras of other Elites, so Nero and Kyra's combined aura doesn't make her recoil like the first time with Momoyo at the Dojo.     Her lilac eyes glimmer faintly as she focuses her Aura to a new purpose, the edges growing red for a brief moment, before she lets the sight fade out. "It's an application of Aura... or, Ki or whatever you call it. I guess it's a moot point." she says, looking over at Momoyo. "Kinda scary thought, there being more people like you around." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shrugs a little with her cheshire grin. "It won't be but another year before Yang can challenge one of the Big Four for their spot. Nero already has the potential. But they are considered the strongest in my world. Who knows how the Multiverse changes the rankings...?"      "Ah, but my cute friend is having trouble!" Momoyo does her usual bored crap, where she deftly wraps some of Nero's noodles up on her chopsticks and then offers them to the Emperor. The Emperor may or may not interpret it as a gracious gesture of subservience to her for fun, but it was going to annoy the crap out of Kyra, which may have been Momoyo's entire goal. "Say, 'Aaahhh~' Nero..." Momoyo croons. It might look ridiculous to anyone who wasn't the target or Kyra, but now Nero and Momoyo were sharing a... 'moment'. It was completely obvious Momoyo was just dicking around and enjoying her free lunch at this point, however, so each time it happened it was less embarassing to look at.     "Hmm, so each of those classes means you fight a different way? I think you'll have fun in Kawakami City. You could even transfer in as students if you wanted... but not everyone wants to go through high school again." she muses, referencing Nero and Kyra's older ages relatively. "On the one hand we don't have 'Grail Wars', but on the other hand none of your fights in Kawakami City are life or death unless the Fed starts mischief or Kuki Corp. misbehaves..." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And then the truly gallant Momoyo swoops in to assist Nero with her chopstick related woes! Oh how kind! How dashing! How noble! "Why, thank you very much, Lady Kawakami, however!" She took the offered chopsticks into her own hands, and bit into the noodles on her own. "-I am quite capable of feeding myself! But I cannot fault you for making the attempt. How kind of you, truly."      The smirk on Nero's face seemed to suggest this was just as much of a game to her as it was to Momoyo. The question regarding Servant classes gets Nero to sober up a bit as she answers. "Yes, the name of each Servant Class serves as a basic assumption of the manner in which they may fight, and what weapons they may use. A Lancer, for example, will typically use some manner of lance or spear, and will be incredibly agile, possessed or long reach, and other such attributes. A Saber will use bladed weapons at short range, and typically possess great attributes all around."      A pause for more noodles, then she continued. "But it is no good to merely rely on class names. Each Servant has a different weapon, personal combat style, and more importantly; a Noble Phantasm. Which is to say, a spell, skill, or technique otherwise that encompasses their legend." All of that said, Nero put down the chopsticks and took up the spoon, drinking the broth daintily.      "Oh? Me? Go to school? Hah! What manner of jest is this? Me, Emperor Nero! It is I who firstt instated public schooling, and now I should entertain the notion of going to one? Truly amusing! Ah ha ha ha ha!" Well, that was her laugh for the day. 

}}

3574/The Truth Hurts

2016-01-18T18:45:47Z

Scrimbul: Yari admits spying on Momoyo.

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/12/27
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Yari is cornered by a paranoid Momoyo and admits her espionage interest in her has been personal.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=691, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo texted Chiyo to meet at a coffee shop, one of the rare instances she contacted Chiyo first other than one of her friends, and on her own initiative to boot. The conversation sounded like she was going to bum money off of the Au'Ra like normal, bask in her infatuated attention a bit and then go back to her usual friends for the lazy week.     The conversation was going to be anything but, after Yang's commentary. She sat dressed in her black vest and slacks at one of the tables just inside the coffee shop, unable to order anything just yet. But she wasn't even looking at the menu so much as staring at the wall, her chin in her palm. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Ninja or not, 'Chiyo' has a horrible habit of being curious, and that's doubled when she's taken an interest in someone. Thus, the young woman arrives just on time, dressed again in her usual kimono. She /still/ hasn't gotten one in a modern cut, almost defiantly flaunting it. Traditionalist Au'Ra is go. "Good morning, Momoyo." She offers as she walks towards the table, for once not bothering to hide herself. She pulls out a chair, sits down, and crosses legs and tail. The tip flicks energetically, Yari's eyes staring right into the other woman's. Sigh. "It's rare for you to ask me directly. If you wanted to have breakfast that badly, I would have taken you somewhere in the Multiverse." At least the ninja is generous with her money! A pause. "What's on your mind?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Mmm, I'm done resting and wanted to see your face and tail again, naturally~." she replies, her thuggish grin continuing through her bangs as you sat down. Her fingertips drum on the table, but she was oddly not terribly interested in hustling out your purse just yet toward one of the new Multiversal ATM's.     After a long pause, her gaze drifts out the window. "So, Yang said you were a good person working for bad people, after you interrupted our training the other day. What's it like? Working for the Federation, I mean." she asks. After all, Momoyo was a relative newbie to the politics involved, herself... but while this conversation was inevitable, nobody could dump a bucket of cold water on it like her. The tension she had been hiding was obvious. She was upset about something, but it was hard to tell if that was even what was bothering her the most. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' That grin, that drumming of fingers, and those /words/. Yari Takane blushes furiously at the blunt compliment, before coughing and trying to retain some actual composure. Blunt honesty is still something she's not at all used to, particularly coming from seemingly delinquent martial artists! Still, there's a lingering sense of something being off the ninja quickly picks up on. And then the martial artist chucks a verbal bucket of freezing ice water all over her. It's about as effective as Momoyo was likely hoping for. She actually flinches, that nervous little smile twisting to the slightest of frowns for a moment. Why is it so hard to do her job around this woman!? Her cover's blown, and she's forced to evaluate the situation. A fight with Momoyo so publicly would only further ruin her designs here, even if she already has her worries with the headmaster. And it'd be just as bad if she tries to escape or disable the woman. And it's not like she can squirm her way out of it through misdirection with Momoyo being so blasted blunt. Her lack of tact is working to her advantage. Finally, after an awkward silence, she sighs. "...So you know then. I'd hoped it could've lasted longer." That voice of her is tinged with some amount of sadness she can't quite hide. Another moment's consideration, and she decides honesty is her best weapon here. She leans in, whispering to Momoyo as she looks at the woman's face. "It gives me the freedom to pursue my goals and ensures the honor of my homeland so long as I work for them. In exchange, I work beside many people I call the best of friends and family, and those that in other circumstances, I'd kill without hesitation. I don't agree with many of the things that the Confederacy does, but I'm honor-bound to serve them. Have you ever felt the touch of war, Momoyo? 'Bad'...I wouldn't be so quick to judge the Confederacy until you've fought alongside and against their members." "We seek to conquer and impose our own wills, each for our own reasons. Some more altruistic than others. The Union seeks democracy and preservation of 'freedom'." The last bit has her snorting dismissively. A shake of the head. "And I can't call myself 'good', either. I've spilled too much blood for that. I'm simply someone who has chosen her path and walks it, for good or ill." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo grins at the window. She might have been a high school student, but she had beaten enough students that had seen worse than her, that Yari referencing war didn't faze her one bit. "That's fine." she replies. It seems like, she didn't feel too strongly one way or the other... befitting given the faction both Momoyo and Yari knew Momoyo was in. Yari couldn't see the forms Momoyo had signed, getting that close to Amalthea was suicide when she was in Momoyo's room during the week she was detained. But her other actions made it blindingly obvious.     "So when were you planning to bring more assassins to gang up on me, Chiyo? I'd like to know when you're going to kill me. It would have been fun." was her cold sarcasm... it was the sort of flat reply that could only hide the kind of unease that barely conceals unbridled rage. She was angry about something but even that question didn't get to the bottom of it. A server dropped a coffee cup all over a customer in the background, but Momoyo didn't even turn to notice it when the rest of the coffee shop did. Depending on what Momoyo was angry about, Yari herself could have walked into a trap. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' That cold reply only puts Yari on edge further. She's almost too calm, Momoyo is. There has to be something more to it all, and not having the information is /bad/ in this situation. That tail of hers reaches into her kimono as quietly as she can. The ninja's prepared for violence, it seems. "...What would be the point? I've invested a lot of time in watching you. I'd just be wasting the few resources I could summon, even assuming I wanted you dead in the first place. No, if anyone is going to kill you, Momoyo-sempai, it's going to be me." Her voice hardens for just a moment, and yet that edge of fascination she's always had in her voice around Momoyo never fades. The ninja is definitely peering around with her senses as discretely as she can. The ninja's worried, on the wrong foot, and essentially trapped. "But that's not what you're really upset about, is it? I think I have a fairly good handle on who you are, Momoyo Kawakami. Blunt, thrillseeking, you want strength. But a very specific kind. The kind that doesn't dwell in shadows or diversions or preys on weaknesses." Yari leans in, leaving herself quite vulnerable. "It's not like you to hold back. What are you really angry about? Is it because of the way I fight?" A pause. "Or is it because I'm not Chiyo at all?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "I live honestly. It's not that difficult to understand. It's a code, the code of my family." she turns to face Yari. If the other blonde could see and hear this right this second, it would be difficult to tell who was the bigger fan of Kawakami.      "I hate liars. I hate people who hide things. That's why my friends are in the Kazami Family... and you're not."     The truth was so heartbreakingly simple. So that was really why she was angry, she uncovered the deception and couldn't be persuaded to see a reason for it. It was just a childish rejection of politics and spying. Momoyo's feelings were obviously a little hurt, but, it was still quite early in the game to make a scene about it. The differing factions really had nothing to do with it.     Other than some people casually wandering nearby and the presence of random samurai girls in whatever range Yari could sense aura in (or possibly Yang) it was suddenly very very obvious that Momoyo hadn't planned an ambush. If she was going to hurt Yari, it would have been a simple matter to break her remaining arm and end any other struggle very quickly in a Union cell with only a pissed off grandfather to deal with. She didn't even do that despite the implied threat in the Au'Ra's voice. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' The ninja can't quite seem to relax, but that weapon does slide right back into her kimono. So that's it. It's not the first time Yari's found herself in this position. She's burned away a number of names and lives in the interests of Empire and Confederacy. But hearing it from Momoyo hits her like a punch to the gutt. Yari can't lie to herself. She'd been telling herself it was all for her work. No, this had become far more personal. A hand runs down her face. Surely that wasn't a tear. Yari drops the act, and simply looks into Momoyo's eyes. She looks tired. "...So that's what it's about, hm?" Another long pause. The other women are ignored. All the world is Momoyo right now. "In my world, holding that kind of honesty so bluntly means people die, Momoyo. I'm a spy, an assassin. Deception and lies are what I do." Her teeth grit. Then she leans back and sighs. "But, you know? I think that's why I'm so interested in you, Momoyo. There's very few people I can be honest with completely. You're the exact opposite of myself. You're innocent, you've never known the truth of war and politics and how it twists people. You've never seen criminals cut down others without remorse for their own greed. Never seen companies sell others as livestock to the twisted pleasures of others. And yet, all of those things that show just how rotten and wretched the Multiverse can be, the lack of that insight hasn't harmed your strength." A shake of her head. "Alright. I'll be honest with you, Momoyo. But only if I can trust it won't lead anyone I work with or care for to harm. You...deserve that much." She stands, and then Yari motions to follow. She'll try to lead Momoyo to a back corner of the cafe, free of intruding ears. The ninja gives horrible glares until people sod off. Yari crosses her legs, and tells Momoyo everything. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' "I'll spare you the details, but the short version is this: My name is Yari Takane, Centurion of the Empire and Ensign of the Confederate Elite Forces. I was born in a land called Doma, I never knew my parents. My foster mother raised in the Empire's military forces as a scout and spy, and eventually, as an assassin. I fought for the empire in the shadows and on the battlefield until my world entered the Multiverse. We formed an alliance with the Confederacy. Eventually, my nation was forced to return to its own affairs, and I was sent to the Confederacy as a peace gift. Now I serve them, while I kill those who make the Multiverse a darker place." A flick of her tail. "I have been tracking you, Momoyo, because at first I thought you were dangerous. Powerful, recklessly so. You could be a powerful enemy or a wonderful ally." She bites her lip. "Even after I realized you never would join us, I kept following you. It's part of my duty, certainly. But...it's as you say. That honesty you possess, how your honor lets you be so forward with your companions and make truly strong bonds. I'm jealous. And I'm fascinated. Both in your strength, and the kind of person you are. I..." She closes her eyes. "I just wanted to be 'Chiyo' for a while, to get to know you, and maybe become friends with an amazing person, to grow stronger with you." She finally ends, letting out the last bit of truth she'd been hiding even from herself. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shakes her head, her arms folded as she tossed her hair lightly. That being said, the tension suddenly released from her shoulders. She wasn't about to throw Yari through the glass pane anymore.      "So aside from you being interested in me on a personal level... in exchange for the dribbles of information you're giving back to the Fed about Kawakami City, you get to stay in a neutral zone and hide away from the war for a bit... if you don't piss off any of the other shinobi trained girls here." She looks down at the girl with her legs crossed. "In exchange, as long as it's not an unaffiliated student of Kawakami Academy, it's really difficult for you to be harmed on a war footing... so you wanted to be normal. Am I understanding that right...?" Her voice was still measured and a bit cold, but it was obvious she was about ready to just exhale in relief comparatively. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Yari can't help it. She chuckles lowly. "...It really does sound like a stupid desire coming from someone else." She mutters, shaking her head. "Even if you're raised in it, even want war, it...wears on you until you either break, or your turn into a true monster. I don't want that. I have too many people I care about to become a heartless person that way. It's why I love Dun Realtai. And why I feel the same for this place. Here, I'm under no obligation to hurt anyone unless they come to me. No more tragedies, and I'd like to keep it that way if I can help it." She admits. "Becoming a simple student of martial arts and shinobi techniques here is what I want from this place, yes, Momoyo." She offers honestly. Then, she looks the woman back in the eyes. "Well? What now? Are you going to beat me into the ground?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Reaching down, she ruffles Yari's hair lightly, between the horns. "I don't feel like coffee anymore." she says quietly, with just a wry smile.      "You're such a crazy schoolgirl, Chiyo. I hope none of the other girls get jealous of you, hmm~? See you next week." she replies, turning about on her heel... satisfied as she leaves Yari in a puddle of her own emotions in the corner. Just as abruptly, like nothing happened, Momoyo was perfectly her normal self again. It seemed as if she wasn't really going to let the complexities get in the way of everything else as long as she was satisfied nothing was hidden from her anymore. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' All of Yari's talk of war is quieted as a hand reaches in, and ruffles her blonde hair surprisingly gently. Her mouth gapes a bit, peering at that little smile as the woman gets up. She walks out, Yari staring all the while, eyes a bit wide as that gaze follows. Five minutes later, Yari stands up, runs a hand through her hair, and then just falls backwards to collapse on the floor with a thud. "...Th...that girl is more dangerous than I thought! She...defeated me even that way." Even as she speaks to herself, and patrons look at the ninja, there's a wide smile and tears flowing freely as she sobs in joy and relief without a care in the world. 

}}

3565/Aura Perception Training-Yang

2016-01-18T18:34:42Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo trains Yang in Basic Aura Perception.

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/12/23
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Momoyo teaches Yang the basics of 'Aura Perception', a skill Yang lacks as a martial artist due to fighting Grimm who primarily don't possess ki or mana to perceive. A Fed spy rudely interrupts to make a point that some auras are suppressed...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=691, 904, 906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Ordinarily, Momoyo would have just wandered the town, even introduced Yang to her friends without necessarily taking her to the secret base. But due to a recent argument she'd had with her would-be love interest, Momoyo found herself alone until Yang called.     So she brought the blonde to the dojo. Lunch and walking around town could wait till later, and the pair of them would attract a lot of attention besides. The Dojo still had Union loitering around, as the Dojo was serving as the de-facto headquarters for each faction in a world that was remaining neutral. Eventually, those two factions would purchase real-estate and set up their own offices here, essential because this area was a tourist spot. But for the time being Tesshin has been preoccupied with non-stop meetings with both factions mediating between the Japanese government and the factions.     Walking Yang through the tall and powerful arches, she moves into the training field with her at a slow stroll. She seemed... discontented, a bit. But also the tension was absolutely gone from her frame relative to the fight with Nero. "This is my home. It's also where I'm going to train you in the Kawakami Style, if you're up for it. You have a lot of potential." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang isn't lacking in confidence, but even she could see that any fight between herself and Momoyo would only go one way... so instead of moping about it, she's gone to the source. "Yeah, I'm up for it. I can't do the energy manipulation stuff you can, not without Dust anyway, but I'm always willing to learn new ways of fighting. You don't get stronger by doing only one kinda thing, after all... I mean, sure, you could become the best person at punching holes in bricks... but then what if someone who doesn't have bricks comes along?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "We need to talk about what Dust is. You're going to be using it to copy some of my techniques and make your own." she replies with a shrug. As far as she knew it might not exist in her world, but once Yang explained it, it would be faster and just as powerful to use it than to teach her to use her ki. "We need to discuss something more important, though. Something very basic... Yang. You have no idea how powerful Nero and I are, do you? Or how powerful you are relative to me." she asks, setting her hand on her hip. Today she was just dressed in her tight shirt and slacks with the leather bands wrapped around her upper arm. Her red eyes meet Yang's, messy bangs framing her face as she sizes the blonde up properly. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang deploys her gauntlets, then ejects a shell from the right one with a pump of her arm. She grabs it mid-air, then holds it up. It's a yellow casing with an orange 'tip'. "Dust is a... solid state energy, thing. Nobody really knows what it is, or where it really comes from. Dust Companies like the Schnee Dust Company produce it, and it's literally everywhere. From vehicle fuel, to munitions, to even clothing." The lilac eyes meet those red ones, and she reinserts the cartridge into her gauntlet. "I know you're outta my league, so's Nero... an' a lotta folks in the Multiverse." she replies. "You've got not openings, every hit has to be earned, every break in your defense, made." she replies. "I've fought lots of folks, every one of 'em has a 'tell' an habit, or a weak point... I can't see that with you." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo waves a hand dismissively. "Dust can be manufactured here. Just wait for the Kuki Corporation to talk to the Schnee Dust Company, it'll make it's way here eventually." She tilts her head a bit. "But that's not what I'm talking about. You read fighters very well... I don't have any openings unless someone uses a surprise attack. There have been multi-universal glimpses of Aura I've noticed flitting about ever since the Gate opened and I can never track them." (Syndicate)      "But ki and the prana Nero uses seem to have two distinct differences, neither of which you could see till we put it to use. You can't see it passively. That's dangerous not to know. Very dangerous... everything has ki, even you. The prana Nero uses was coming from the ambient air and Kyra... not inside her like me." she shrugs her shoulders. "Those wounds you saw me heal... it took one fifth of my total aura to heal without resting." she shrugs her shoulders, as she let that sink in, as Yang could see how grievous those wounds were. Untreated, she would have bled to death. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Yeah, I can't see that stuff... I can kinda /feel/ it, when it's being used aggressively. Aura lets me sense danger, and deflect harm." replies Yang. "It's, an expression of my soul, a defensive field that surrounds my body." She turns her left gauntlet over, showing the small screen inlaid to the underside. It's a meter, showing a multicoloured bar, with a 'rating' in percent above it. Currently it's 100.     "That's a lot of energy to spend... but those were some really nasty wounds, so I'm not surprised." she adds at that revelation. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She nods. "You've got one-twentieth, I think, of my total reserve. It's just a lack of focus. You've got the potential to match me, you just have to decide what weaknesses to eliminate and which ones to compensate for." she spreads her arms, then raises one hand in the air, open-palmed with knuckles facing Yang.     The area seems to get a little more quiet. "Close your eyes. Breathe slowly. Count backward from ten, taking a full breath in between each and focus on the inside of your eyelids... then open them and look through me and around me. I want you to see how far my aura extends passively from my body."     "You'll have to talk to a Servant for the specifics. But from what I could see Nero's prana is... figuratively, stored in her skin, the air around her, and in her armor and weaponry. Ki is different. It's an exertion of the user's will upon reality, but it's pure instinct and empathy. It's channelled through the body and comes from within the soul. Ki is wonderful... but you'll never tap into it yourself without meditation or see it in others. Now... point at what you can see even if it fades in and out. It'll look just like yours when you're using it." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang frowns a little. "You sure I'll be able to do that? Aura sounds kina like this Ki stuff... already." she replies, but follows along anyway. Lilac eyes close, and she focusses internally, breathing like her father taught her to when her temper started to get to her.     Once she reaches zero, her eyes open and she steps back in surprise. It's only a brief moment, but she is /inside/ the burning red aura of the other girl. It's oppressive, like being smothered in a big thick blanket.     "E-Everywhere..." is her response. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "You don't know enough to do it during battle, but it's a skill you need to learn. Basic ki perception will help you judge a lot of things in the multiverse that aren't relying exclusively on technology. You can see traps, see ghosts, see residual traces of things. It's loosely tied to psychic power and is buried in the literature of a lot of old religions. But you only need to know enough of it to judge an opponent."     "Remember when I was staring through the walls? Nero's prana is equally visible. It's just gold-colored, to me. Your aura is very similar but extends about to... here." She puts a hand an inch or so above Yang's shoulder, enough for her to turn her head and see. "What you use it for depends on your fighting style. And humans, just like beasts, tend to pass down things like environment and personality and fighting through things other than DNA. I'm descended from the Kawakami samurai bloodline. A good chunk of it is still natural talent. Discipline. Willpower."      "The reason I don't respect Kenji yet is he just sits and mopes about how much stronger everyone is than him. He never gets serious without getting angry. He's dangerous... but an easy read. Not like you and I, you're still more of a veteran than he is." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang pants softly... it's gonna take some getting used to, actively 'seeing' stuff like that. But she recovers quickly enough. "Heh, I'm still learning... and, that's another thing, y'know... my Semblance? It's sorta tied to my temper." she admits, running a hand through her hair. "A Semblance is a special skill or ablity that comes from training Aura... mine lets me absorb damage and channel it back into my own strikes... the more I get hit, the stronger I get..."     She clenches a fist, and looks into Momoyo's eyes, flickers of flame appearing in her hair. "But the more I get hit, the angrier it makes me... and if I go too far..."     Blink. Lilac eyes become Red, and she literally explodes, a wash of flame and kinetic force flowing off of her, causing the mane of golden hair to billow outwards. It only lasts for a brief moment, before Yang slaps the proverbial cap back on the soda bottle, and her eyes shift back to the normal lilac. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' Stalking people has long become second nature to the young ninja. She'd always had a talent for scouting, and after her ninja training, she can truly become a ghost when she wants to be. Call it ki, magic, aether, aura...often different sources, but it's very much the same thing and the concepts are as helpful in stalking and assassinations as they are in direct fights. Though Momoyo and Yang are hardly normal, and though Yari keeps to rooftops and alleyways as she follows the pair through the city and then to the dojo. Who knows if the two noticed. Yari does manage to get up to the rafters though without the normal students in the dojo noticing. She'd been listening to the lesson, gaining /far/ more information than she thought. It seems wherever Momoyo treads, Yari gains insight. It's a beautiful relationship to be in for a ninja. But as much as she enjoys watching, she can't help but interject. It could barely be called a ninjutsu, but the smallest flick of a pebble combined with a tiny bit of wind magic is aimed for the back of Yang's head. Another is flicked towards Momoyo. It won't hurt either one, just sting like a pinprick. "Let me give you a piece of advice. No matter how powerful your opponent, they have weaknesses. Anger can be a weapon, but don't let it consume you. Without control you can't analyze weaknesses and take advantage of them. Judging by that burst, I'd say focused fury while retaining your mind would be your most useful method of fighting." She then smiles to Momoyo. "In that, I think, Momoyo-sempai can teach you a thing or two." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo gives some applause for that, having stepped back when Yang did it. "Hmhmhm. Good!" she nods. "You won't need your gauntlets to tell how much aura you have left. You can listen to your body. But the fastest way to see it is to get better at meditation. It's all intuition, instinct. As soon as you don't feel like you're making it up, the faster you can see things."      She tilts her head back a little. "I can see about two kilometers out--." She jerks Yang forward behind her.      "Secret Technique, Forehead Flick."     She snapped both pebbles back in Yari's direction with both hands. It was clear not even Momoyo sensed her sneaking up. "Who's there!?" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang grks as she's yanked around like that. She stumbles, thuds into the wall then brings her fists up in a boxers stance, ready to fight if need be. "Yeah, show your face! Only cowards stalk in the shadows!" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' If Yari hadn't seen Momoyo's speed, strength, and reflexes three times before, she might have been caught off guard when the woman sends her green-tinged pebbles flying back at her and with Yang nicely tossed down. That single dextrous hand whips out, catching the pebbles. It leaves a lovely red mark on her hand. She makes a mental note that immediate assassination against her classmate won't work without a distraction first. Something to work on. A shadow falls from on high, landing silently. The ninja is dressed in the local uniform, complete with a coat that, unlike Momoyo's usual style, is neatly buttoned up and formal. There's an umbrella held on her back too, as well as (to a person looking for them) very well hidden weaponry. "Hello, Miss Momoyo." She offers with a smile and a wave of her tail. "I know something of the subject, I just thought I could add to Miss...Yang, was it? To your lesson, Ma'am. You can call it cowardice all you want. Please, insult my methods. But if I were really aiming to harm you, you could've been dead if it weren't for Momoyo's reflexes. If you want to truly become strong, you need to know how to detect those who can hide their presence, even in things like aura or ki, or magic, or simply in physical ways." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Grrrrhhh... Chiyo..." Momoyo was actually slightly annoyed. She had thought, early on at least, that she was nicer than that.     She zips in close to grab her "classmate" if not by the back of her uniform then by her tail, to try and drag her in closer to Yang. "I knew you were shinobi but you are such a brat today!" she exclaims, darting around the arena to catch the newest member of her 'fangirl club'., the informal group of girls that follows her around occasionally that she teases. 

:'''{{#var:904|Princess Peach (904)}} has posed:''' Things have certainly been quiet in the Mushroom Kingdom as of late, and as such Toadsworth has encouraged Peach to get out and enjoy herself while the circumstances permit it. So, she has decided to do get out and see some places she hasn't been to before. Today that leads her to Kawakami City, dressed in one of her fancier pink dresses with her crown and usual sapphire jewelry. As she walks through the beautiful city, her eyes drawn to every neat looking building and even some of the people as they pass, she is really taken in by the balance of nature in Japanese cities. Soon she approaches a dojo, and wonders if it would be appropriate for her to enter. She makes for the entrance and finds she is welcomed in, and she smiles and gives a bow of thanks before making her way into the dojo proper. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' "With people like you around? I can't afford to be 'nice' about some things if I want to keep up. And don't tell me it's not a good teaching moment for a budding warrior." Then she leans in just a bit as she's dragged off by the scruff of her uniform. She doesn't resist. Peach doesn't get noticed just yet, but those horns and tail are certainly familiar! At least until she bows, and the ninja turns from the duo. "...Princess. You're the last person I expected to see here." This is definitely not good. Yari walks up, offers a Doman bow, and then whispers to Peach. It's hard to make out, but it's a bit pointed, but not quite aggressive. Time to see if the woman will actually comply. Then there's a package being offered. It's suspiciously parasol shaped. Where /was/ she hiding that thing!? "I actually couldn't find a proper address, so this was good timing. Merry Christmas." Pause. Riiing. Riiiing. Frown. "Ah, hello? Nnn. Nnn. I see. Alright then. Ten minutes." Click. She bows to the others. "Momoyo, Miss Yang, Princess, excuse me. Botany Club's meeting early. Let's trade techniques soon, Momoyo-sempai!" Waaaaave! Then the ninja is off! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang blinks a little... then relaxes her guard once Yari starts heading away. "Confederate... read a few reports dealing with her. Not a /bad/ person, but does a lot of bad things for the wrong causes." she says a bit sourly. "Though I suppose 'Right' and 'Wrong' are kinda meaningless, huh."     Yang looks over at Peach, and winces a bit. "Dang and I thought /Nora/ had a lot of pink." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Letting out a sigh, Momoyo rubs the back of her neck. "Oh. I... didn't know that." she muses. "I can never find her until after she's been stalking me for a half an hour. She's taken a very close interest in me... but I admit I can't track her. It's very hard for someone to assassinate me. Usually..." but she narrows her eyes slowly. "But I hate people who attack me dishonorably."     "She's trained in hiding her aura. There are people in my world that are capable of doing so as well, but it's less of a concern when they are bodyguards. She's not left my world in some time that I can tell, but she didn't follow us out to the sparring match either."     She's not allowed for too long to think about it, though. "Ugh, all the other monks are busy..." she moves from Yang's side over to Peach and claps her hands together. For her casual gear it was unusual for her to take such a formal bow, but she at least was greeting the tourist properly. The... tourist with the amazingly high quality cosplay. "Greetings... Princess?" she asks, with a smirk. 

:'''{{#var:904|Princess Peach (904)}} has posed:'''      Peach takes the offered gift with a smile, but blinks at Yari's whisper, then nods. "Oh, well, are you leaving Chiyo then? Will we meet again anytime soon? I do think I wish to talk to you more when you have time." She offers, leaving the subject ambiguous, but Yara could likely guess what Peach was referring to considering what was discussed when they last met.      Peach turns to Yang and laughs lightly, then also returns Momoyo's bow respectfully. "Is it too much? I'm Princess Peach, of the Mushroom Kingdom." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang lets Momoyo do her thing. This /is/ her dojo, after all. The blonde slowly slides down to a cross-legged sit on the floor, and just relaxes, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. Embrace the darkness, but don't let it drown out the light.     That's the core of Aura. Darkness and Light. Everyone has some of both. It's in embracing and channeling them both that Aura can manifest.     It's a slow thing, but the aura 'mass' surrounding her begins to grow outwards. A small fraction, but something Momoyo would likely notice. 

}}

3561/Battle of The God(desse)s

2016-01-18T18:27:05Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo spars Nero

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/12/22
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Nero is being her noisy, arrogant self on the radio. The newbie Momoyo gets tired of it and offers to be her court jester... whose only role is to punch Nero whenever she says something stupid. Momoyo's motivations for challenging a Servant are laughably trivial...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=70, 626, 691, 715, 756, 867, 880, 906, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Today was the day.      The day of the fated duel.      Having accepted this challengee, for better or worse, Nero had arrived at the Ring of Philosophy not early, nor late. Just on time. And it was there, in the middle of the arena, that she waited, Aestus Estus already manifested, and embedded into the ground.      Considering Nero's...modest height, it must have been stuck pretty deep in order for the blonde servant to rest her hands atop the pommel. And her eyes were closed. Like this, one could almost mistake her for a master swordsman, calmly awaiting the storm.      Almost. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang's still a bit beaten up, and a tad stinky from her little forey into Blight Town the previous day, but she's still out and about. She decided to go visit that other Fights Girl. She'd heard the challenge over the radio, and, since Momoyo's likely never been outside of her world, has chosen to be her escort.     "I'm still pretty new here myself, but it's not all that bad." she says to Momoyo, leading her through the gates to Njorun. The vista is a sight unlike anything else. A massive World Tree, literally the size of a large continent at its base. "Kinda trippy, seeing this for the first time." 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis walks up to the two ladies, as far as he knows, "Hey Yang and Momoyo," he states to them as he waves as he looks at the two of them, "How are you handling being in a different world?" he asks Momoyo as he walks with the two and just listens to them. "Its not too different, only thing that is different is just the rules and cultures," he states as he looks at them.     "And I have no idea how Nero fights, never meet her actually," he adds as he adjusts his cloak some. . o 0 (I need to get with one of the crafters at Beacon to work on something with them.) he thinks as he looks around and ponders what is going on. "Also, if you need medical help, I am in the process of becoming a Doctor," he states to Yang and Momoyo. 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji's not really...here...for any particular reason. He's not really excited to watch two people beat the shit out of each other, he's not really here to cheer Momoyo or Nero on...really, he's mostly here because Kojin told him he should go. 'It'll be good for you,' the god urged, 'go hang out. Branch out. You'll enjoy it. Besides, maybe you'll learn something.'      So Kenji arrives, hands in his pockets, dressed in his usual leather jacket and pants. Maybe he will learn something. Be nice, he supposes. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     There's a lot of things to wonder related to Shin Tokuyama, Combat Vagrant and recently dubbed Hero of Fists. The first is what he's doing in Union Headquarters. The answer is actually fairly simple: He was collecting hazard pay reimbursement for the Union after the last couple scenes on Kay's world where Lezard did a number on him. This gave him preliminary credentials to be inside the base. From there, he heard cool things were gonna happen involving fighting, so he drifted that way.     Also worth wondering is why he is currently shoulder deep in a vending machine. Well, the answer to that is also fairly simple: He was hanging out in the spectator area, wanted a Snickers bar, put in a 100 yen coin, and the machine ate it. Thusly, off to one side of the stands, is a Karate Hobo in a leisure suit elbow deep in a vending machine.     "Almost... got it... just about... there..." 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' ~Elsewhere~ Yari Takane is lounging in bed back in Dun Realtai, a side table with beer and popcorn next to her. The ninja is dressed down into a bath robe, looking utterly comfy as she rests and peers at the television she'd brought. It's tuned in, ready to watch the fight between the great emperor Nero and one Momoyo, classmate and spying-target. Linh is here too, doodling on a coloring book and eating cookies, lounging with her foster mother, and whistling happily. Yari excitedly checks the clock as she waits for the show to start, sipping beer and nibbling on popcorn. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo is appropriately in awe in the fortress. This is the first she's seen with her own eyes what she agreed to and some of the standard information unlocked in her folders once the signatures were down. "I don't think you'll need it... Terry..." Half her glimpses were through the walls of the Fortress itself, as she approached the Ring. It was as if she could see Nero's shining and ridiculously strong magical aura through the walls, and vice versa as she got closer.     Therefore, the only thing remaining when Momoyo stepped out on the platform with the spectators, was for the red-eyed figurative demon woman to see the petite blonde with the sword of unknown length in the ground. Moro, the computer and manga expert in her world, excitedly tried to show her some literature before she arrived, but she ignored it. Now, she was wishing she hadn't.     "I don't think there's much you can help with medically, Terry. But... it's exciting." she replies quietly. She was clearly a bit more tense from everything, but taking it quite well. But while it was obvious to everyone, probably Yang could tell exactly how quivering she was as long as the two girls had been chatting walking in.     She steps down off of the platform. It was time, and she never kept her fighters waiting long either. "Emperor Claudius Nero." she spreads her arms, separating from her 'entourage'. "I can see they don't call you that for nothing." Seriously, her aura was blazing gold, matching Momoyo's red in intensity for those who could sense these things. "I forgot to tell you something important about the challenge before we begin, you know?" She tosses her silky black hair lightly.     "Oh. And you look gorgeous." she adds on an entirely unexpected compliment on the end, folding her arms just a touch smugly at a safe distance. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang retreats up into the spectator stands. "Thanks for the offer, Terry, but I'm fine for the time being. I'll keep you in mind though!" she offers in return, propping her feet up on something in front of her seat as she relaxes to watch. "Hey, Kenji!" she calls as she finally spots the thuggish guy, waving at him to come join her. She hasn't noticed Shin doing his Combat Vagrant thing over by the vending machine yet. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry McGinnis nods to Momoyo, "Good luck," he states to her as he follows Yang and sits down, "Anytime," he comments. "That's what friends are for," he adds as he nods to Kenji, "Kenji," he states simply as he watches and will be watching, as he learned about people and seeing them fight helps him learn how to fight agaisnt them in the event of combat. Knowing how someone fights will help him learn ways at beating them quickly... He is Batman and Batman knows many things about people and how to stop them. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Ah, voices. Chatter. It sounds like they had an audience. How quaint. Nero opened her eyes, a smile forming on her lips as she watched one of the girls approach. That must be her mystery challenger. "That is Emperor Nero Claudius. But I shall let the mistake pass." Her green gaze slid up and down, observing the young lady before her. "Lady Kawakami, I assume?" Indeed, she could sense a fierceness from this woman. How exciting.      "Hrm? SOmething important to tell me? And what, pray tell, could that be?" Nero asked smoothly, not pausing to be surprised or thrown off. And at the compliment, the servant smiled wider, one of her hands leaving the pommel of her blade to rest above her chest. "Mhmhm! You have good eyes, Lady Kawakami." And of course, she just soaked it right up.      As if she would do anything else. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Ugh. This girl. She really was exactly like her S-class schoolmates. It would be a fun conversation, but a straightforward one. "Well, here's the thing... there's this restuarant in my world, Saitama. It's in an alleyway off the main roads, a short train ride away, but it has this great ramen and excellent beef bowls." She tilts her head a little with a wide smile. There wasn't a bit of deception in that comment while she looked at Nero.     "You can bring as many friends as you want, but loser treats the winner to lunch at that restuarant."     And thus, Momoyo's actual motivation for such a serious brawl with so little provocation was revealed. She was broke and wanted to bully the rich girl into paying for it, at the cost of working too many part-time jobs herself if she failed.     "I'd say it makes things a little more interesting between you and I. I admit all I wanted was lunch at first, but it'd be pretty fun to eat with you." she tilts her head with a wry smirk, her black hair swinging just a bit behind her broad shoulders and uniform jacket attached only at her collar. "So, you agree to those terms?" 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      At the appeaance of the Karate Hobo, Kenji's eyes roll upwards into his head. So much for it being nice.      "It's a damn vending machine, not a fucking mystic puzzle," Kenji tells his (possibly one-sided) rival irritably, "How do you not know how to do this?"      Kenji heads over next to the vending machine for a moment, then smacks it in the side with his fist. "And how do you go through life without percussive maintenance?" 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' ~~Elsewhere~~ And thus the meaning for the battle becomes clear! Yari raises a brow, peers at the television, and then just facepalms with a sigh. "...Momoyo. That's now how you ask people out to lunch." She mutters to the tv as though the woman could hear her. A shake of the head, and she settles in on her stomach, tail flicking as she watches with excitement and more than a little amusement. "Now don't let me down! You can beat that fake excuse for an Emperor any day!" Linh looks up at Yari. "Mother, why are you talking to the tv?" Yari blushes. "Er...habit." Her tail droops. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Dude! You don't punch the side! In my Japan, they installed locking mechanisms into the slots, if you try to smack the side to get candy to fall and the entire thing locks up and someone has to come undo it!" Shin protests as he finally manages to steal his peanut-and-nougat-based snack. Likely with some help from Kenji smacking the side, all told.     "Besides, the essence of the fist is to be practiced on opponents, not on food dispensaries," He remarks, undoing the wrapper and taking a bite immediately as he muses to Kenji, "Or something like that. I'm just not a Union person after that whole fiasco with the dragon, so I don't need security on my ass for a broken vending machine." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero blinked.      "You..."      Another blink.      "Do not tell me... you simply were lacking in funds and wanted a free meal? Is that it?" And her smile took on an amused edge to it.      "...Ah ha ha ha ha! People truly have gotten more and more entertaining over the centuries! Truly amusing! Ha ha ha!" And like that, Nero tossed her head back and laughed raucously, shoulders rolling, and blond hair swaying from the movement. After a few moments, she gripped the handle of Aestus Estus from the ground before her, pulling it up...and up....and up, before it came free. And with a single arm, she gave a test swing before pointing it forward at Momoyo.      "Very well, Lady Kawakami! If for some possible reason, I lose this bout, then I shall treat you to a meal at this Saitama! And if I am victorious...well, then I hope you are prepared to work to pay it off!" 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      "If you got thwarted by a vending machine I think it's okay to count it as an opponent," Kenji observes, perhaps a bit more acidly than is entirely deserved, but not as acidly as he probably could otherwise.      "Yeah, they installed those where I'm from, too. You just have to know the trick. There's a spot you can hit, like, right here," the Bancho of Taiyo High says, tapping a spot on the side, "It knocks the lock loose."      "Or you could learn to turn intangible," Kenji adds.      "You here to watch this fight thing, too?" 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Turning intangible seems like an unuseful skill for a guy pursuing a career in physically interacting with people," Shin muses as he snacks on the bar, "But I'll keep it in mind," He concludes, shifting his weight. In contrast to Kenji, he seems almost unflappably upbeat about things.     "I'll memorize that spot, though," He looks back towards Momoyo and Nero, "Oh, yeah. I was picking up some hazard pay from a couple jobs I did for the Union and I heard a fight was goin down. Thought I'd stop by before I picked up my backpack from the checkpoint and hit the road." 

:'''{{#var:70|Priscilla (70)}} has posed:'''     Thank the Lords for putting Blighttown behind again, now monster free, bell accessible, and overfull as actual doctors can start their work with Ayako cleaning up the toxic mire like the bubbly little saint she is. This frees Priscilla up to do useful things, like spectating random fights! Unsarcastically, she has her reasons, but they won't be coming out today.     She passes by Shin on the way in, lingering as long as necessary to deliver "Fortunately, few wouldst blameth thee, even amongst the Union itself" in a vaguely knowing manner before proceeding. She's playing the casual observer today, and so she goes no further than the stands, high up enough that it would normally be difficult to see any detail. She doesn't sit though. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry blinks as he hears this and blinks at Yang. "Wait, this was all about a free lunch?" and looks at the two. "Why didn't she just ask us," he mentions to Yang. "I mean I would have done that," he comments as the fight starts. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      That broke the tension. She laughed just as loudly with Nero, any previous insults were forgotten. She dug her fingers through her bangs lightly, before getting ready again. "Yup, you saw right through me." Many of her classmates would never have questioned her motives, including the ones watching at home. But Nero was no slouch, just like most of the geniuses she knew. "Hmhmhmhm~"     "Alright then, I'm excited." She claps her hands together and gives a respectful Japanese-style bow to her opponent. That was the signal, naturally, for it being okay to attack. The laugh helped, but she was very much on edge still. So /very/ excited. Not only was the opponent interesting, but strong, and teasing her a little was fun. "Good luck. I'm still undefeated, Nero."     With that, she casually started to stroll toward Nero's position. There was no release in her tension, and it was clear at a glance she had no openings or defensive flaws whatsoever at the beginning of a fight. The intensity of her red-eyed glare meeting the green-eyed beauty's gaze never wavered, so even when Priscilla's monstrously strong aura almost dwarfed the two fighters in the ring, she didn't take her eyes off Saber as she casually closed the distance. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      "Undefeated? Is that so?"      Nero lowered her blade, taking a more ready stance as Momoyo closed the distance. "We shall see if that record holds up after today or not." The presence of the spectators was of no concern to the red clad servant. Her opponent was in front of her. There was no real need to worry about anything else.      "Then if you do not mind..." Streams of blue and white prana gathered suddenly, surrounding Nero and empowering her. There was a rush that permeated through the air, a clear signal that things were going to begin. And then- Nero was gone from where she stood. Instead, she closed what distance was left and appeared before Momoyo. "-I shall strike the first blow!"      And without pausing, even in the middle of speaking, the heroic spirit lashed out with a wide inwards slash aimed at the raven haired girl's side. A basic blow to test the defenses and see just how she would react. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Sometimes you just gotta punch someone... you wouldn't understand, Terry." replies Yang, casually. She's watching both the fighters. Just as expected, she can't see any openings in Momoyo's posture, even with the casualness of her approach.     "This'll be an interesting match... Momoyo's strong, no doubt, but I've /heard/ things about these Servants." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was surprised, but only briefly. The way the woman swung that sword around like it was a rapier, was plenty of clue something like this would happen. She leaped up, and there's the briefest weight of sneaker on Nero's shoulder before she did an arcobatic flip over her head. The first few minutes of this fight were going to inevitably be like this, it got the heart flowing as each fighter read the other's movements.     Naturally, at least early on, she wove in and out of Nero's testing wide swings and thrusts. If it wasn't clear before, she was trying to get inside Nero's weapon range and test how she reacted to brawling proximity. Once or twice however, she had no choice but to block swings of the sword with her index fingers, swiping them aside just enough to turn away slices that would cause grievous gashes on her entirely unarmored foe by mere centimeters. Similarly, small punches were aimed at the shorter fighter since Momoyo could get more attacks in faster, mainly aimed at her chest or shoulders early on. There was no butting heads like she was forced to with Kenji, but an elaborate dance of two masters as she waited for a real opening or attack. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry nods, "I see," he states to Yang. "And i kind of understand, the punching aspect, but i try to talk people out of a fight, although I do speak fist punching," he adds as he watches the fight and makes mental notes. 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     Despite never having met Priscilla, Shin gives her a smile in passing when she comments even vaguely in his direction. Though he seems to quiet down as the fight is starting, electing to lean back against the vending machine and watch as the battle seems to start.     "Hm."     That's the first real sound he makes as his heterochromatic eyeline watches the conflict commence rapidly. He comments to Kenji more than anyone else, "You see how she's moving? Her dodges and attacks are meant to conserve her energy while still being effective. She's maximizing the gain from minimal energy loss." 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      "You'd think that, but it really helps being able to hit things that are also intangible, or, alternatively, hit people on the other side of a wall."      Kenji has a mild argument with Priscilla on the radio, one that rapidly fades into a more generalized thought on the scene. His anger is an explosive flame - it flares up easily and roars, but it burns out pretty fast, too.      "Yeah, yeah. I see it. I fought her already, I know how she fights. I saw how she moves while I was beating the shit out of her and vice-versa."      "Some explosion kung fu bullshit. Seems like fucking everybody can do something like that." Kenji sounds more than a little bitter about THAT, too. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Nero was expecting a dodge. But she was /not/ expecting to be /used/ as the avenue of dodging herself. Her eyes widened just momentarily as her shoulder was used as a vaulting point, but she recovered quickly and turned right back around to re-engage her opponent. Having a sword the weapon of the moment, it should have been obvious that her attack frequency would normally be lower than that of a brawler's...that is, if she were a normal person.      But she was not. Her swings and thrusts came at a measured pace, with little to no pause. But Momoyo may get the feeling that Nero was not moving quite as fast as she could just yet. They were still testing each other out, looking for weaknesses, peculiarities, and so on. At being brought into brawling range, Nero expressed no real discernible reaction. Though the range of her blade was nulled in this particular situation, she reacted by moving her body to coast along with the punches, taking lighter damage than she would have otherwise.      "I can see that you are no amatuer. Good. Very good. Then this shall be most entertaining!" The next punch that came Nero's way, she reacted in the exact opposite manner she probably should have. She grinned and dove /towards/ the raven haired girl's fist. And at the last moment, leaned her head aside, feeling the blow barely slide past her head.      And at the closest possible distance, Nero moved straight into a shoulder tackle, aiming to blow the taller girl back from the midsection before spinning into a slash aimed diagonally upwards from bottom to top. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The speed of that sword was starting to bug her. Katana and kendo were one thing, but she had never really fought a more European styled opponent before. It would take time to read the sword's moves appropriately.     She grunted as she was knocked back. It only took one foot reaching the ground to dodge that momentum, but it was going to be very /very/ hard to see who really was faster. "I guess the games have begun..." She took that quick hop to the side, and then retaliated on Nero's exposed side.     "Kawakami Style, Musou Seikenzuki!!!"     It was the move a few in the stands were waiting for her to use, her signature attack. There was no aura added to the punch. Yet. It was a simple straight punch, elegant in it's savage simplicity. Mainly because, the punch was said to have the speed and strength of a battleship's main cannon coming while Nero was carving furrows in the ground! 

:'''{{#var:70|Priscilla (70)}} has posed:'''     Priscilla's composure seems pretty much the same as ever, on the other hand. She seems mostly engrossed in following the fighting with those gleaming, inhuman eyes, watching the motions of what the fighters call aura and prana as much as their bodies. She's onl vaguely familiar with either style, used in the broadest sense, which may be part of the reason she's here, though she's never seemed to have been one for that particular trope. "So what is thine investment in this?" she asks in a vague and non-specified way. "Vicarious tutorship? Sizing potential competition? Simple boredom?" It bears mentioning that she's the only spectator in the room who doesn't punch things. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang glances back at Pricilla. "Yes." she replies simply. She's to the point, at least! 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      Kenji shrugs. "All of the above, I guess, plus Kojin threatened to randomly set my stuff on fire if I didn't. Said it'd do me good to get out of the apartment." 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     "Oh you fought her? Lucky. She better or wose than Allenby at brawling?" He asks as he polishes off the candy bar in his hands and then tosses the wrapper in a trashcan. He stuffs both hands into the coat pockets of his leisure suit before shrugging his shoulders.     "Oh yeah, Ki techniques. Only one or two martial arts on my world use it, counting my own. They became way more commonplace in the Multiverse, so it's been nice to learn some more." He half-shuts his eyes, focusing on the fight while he does so. He's observing Momoyo more than Nero, solely by dint of her being a martial artist.     He looks over towards Priscilla and answers, "That last one. Boredom. She hardly needs a tutor and I'm not the kind of guy to seek out competition." 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "GO NERO WOOO!!!" Kyra yells as she finally runs in, clearly very, very late to the match. She must've misread when the time of the match was supposed to be and had been caught off guard when she heard it was already underway. It was supposed to have not started for an hour.     Kyra finds a place to flop down, doing so, taking a moment to see the large crowd here. "Uh, wow. Quite a turnout." 

:'''{{#var:715|Kenji Kawasaki (715)}} has posed:'''      "...I haven't actually fought Allenby." Kenji's fingers tighten a little more than they were a moment ago. That bothers him, and he's trying very hard to make it *look* like it doesn't bother him, but it does anyway and /that/ probably bothers him, too. It's sort of like he's trying not to smile or frown, and instead he's trying to just keep his face /totally neutral/ and it's just...not working, at all, because he's *really bad* at hiding his emotions no matter how much he hates talking about them.      He doesn't even comment on Shin's ability to learn ki techniques. His fingers just twitch a little more. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And thus, the games have ended.      With her second slash following the tackle dodged, Nero heard the technique name, and then felt the blow coming before it even connected. "....!" There was no way she should allow herself to be hit by that! Quickly, the servant brought Aestus Estus around to block, and the blow connected with meteoric steel, sending the smaller girl skidding back quite a ways across the arena floor.      Smoke rose from the path that Nero had skid across, as well as from the point of impact on the blade itself. ".....Oho~" And then the weapon was lowered, revealing Nero's impressed look just over the edge of the blade. "You have quite a bit of strength, Lady Kawakami." Relaxing from her defensive stance, Nero took on a more neutral ready stance again, grinning in excitement. "Well it would be rude for me not to meet such a technique with one of my own!"      And that moment, Aestus Estus burst into flames, cloaking the blade entirely in vermillion haze. Prana gathered all around her, drawing into the servant(and out of Kyra, hi Kyra, I'm eating your MP).      And then it happened.      One moment, Nero was there, standing and ready, sword on fire. And the next, she was simply gone. Where did she- there! From the front! No not the front, the side! Behind? Above? No the other side.      "Rosa Ichthys!"      Came Nero's voice, from Momoyo's front, dead ahead. And she let loose a flaming slash at blinding speed, aiming to strike and move past in nearly the same moment, without pause. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Hmhmhmhm~! Yes!!" she replies, grinning wildly back at Nero. Though her smile wasn't nearly as composed as the Servant's. Her eyes started to take on that nasty glint Nero might have been all too familiar with. To a limited extent, the fight was eroding Momoyo's rationality as she was getting more excited. Not too far removed from certain other types of Servants she's regularly clashed blades with. "You wouldn't have any business fighting me if you couldn't take that punch! Good!" she praised Nero wildly.     But then she's forced to deal with the speed of the next attack. This slash was as quick as any of her classmate Yukie's but far more deadly and heavy. She was forced to grasp the blade a moment with her ki, coating her hand to protect it as she shoved it aside to dodge. Ordinarily this would be a good time to hit Nero back, but the momentum was too great. She's forced to tumble to the side after shoving the blade, creating distance as she spins to her feet. There's a long gash in Momoyo's sleeveless black vest along her side, as it's terribly singed and she was burned by the heat's proximity.     She wanted to go in so very badly and just get in Nero's face, but the shorter woman was't going to allow it just yet.      "Kawakami Style, Earth Splitter!!!" she smashed the ground with her fist, causing the digital arena to quake a bit. Not only did chunks of the ceiling fall down and then regenerate, but she forced a few dust clouds up from the ground.      "Kawakami Style, Killer Fireflies!!!" After changing her position, Momoyo continued a barrage to disorient Nero. She was going to have to create an opening, that woman was not going to leave herself open like that again without some 'help'. So, Momoyo continued to obscure the arena. The aura positioning could be noted, but that took effort... luckily the majority of the dust was holographic, so the spectators weren't lacking for breathable air. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' ~Elsewhere~ The battle is beautiful. Yari watches transfixed as Nero is seemingly taken out, only for her to lash out with a fiery blade! Momoyo's techniques are utterly entrancing in their raw fury and brutality. The woman had long since abandoned her food and drink, sitting in front of the TV way too close as she watches the pair fight. She's even taking notes. "That's it, Momoyo! Strike that Servant quickly! A swift bombardment and strike from her blind side can take her out!" Yari's getting /way/ too into this as she roots on her classmate. And even using the smoke to her advantage! The ninja approves by the way her tail flicks. Meanwhile, Linh is gently tugging back her mother from being that close to the tv. "That is bad for your eyesight, Mother." She chides lightly. Bonk! 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      And Nero's slash was turned aside. But that did not disappoint her. Rather, she was pleased by the fact. If one of her most basic techniques took this girl down, then there would be absolutely zero point to this fight. The smile on the smaller swordswoman's face grew a bit more at this. Not quite as wild as Momoyo's, but she was clearly having fun, for better or worse.      And then came the twofold techniques. Chunks of ceiling from from above, kicking up dust clouds and forcing the servant to back off from attempting another pass at attacking. The energy balls followed, and Nero prepared herself to deflect any that came too close, though she found that were mostly not for attacking...misdirection then?      There was no way to go blindly swinging through this obscurity, so Nero stayed where she was, remaining on guard, but keeping her gaze moving left and up, trying to sense just where Momoyo would attempt to come from next. There was no way she wouldn't capitalize on this chance.      But where...?      Patiently, she waited. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The aura of hostility could be felt from above as Momoyo appeared finally, shortly after the next to last ball was blocked. It was to Nero's side, at the level of her shoulder... this was because Momoyo threw her momentum into her knee. The air could be felt vibrating as the slightly unconventional kick came horizontally, as the attacker could sense the user attacking from above where the bulk of the aura was located, but the attack itself comes from the side.     Momoyo didn't expect this to hit, however. She left herself open, as the attack puts her on the ground on one knee, but she wasn't about to remain there long, her gaze snapping up more quickly than if she'd expected to finish off her opponent. "...!!!" 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry has bern sitting next to Yang as he was watching and witout looking at Pricilla, he commrents, "I am obsrerving the fight to determine the best course of action if I rver have to fight them," is all he states. "I like to know things in case the information is needed," hre adds. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Above? Below? ...No, to the side! "....!" And then came Momoyo, bursting through the dust and lashing out with an oddly aimed kick barreling for Nero's side. Quickly, she scuttled back, feeling the possible blow just barely brush past her side, throwing off her footing momentarily. Normally, she'd offer a snide comment, but now...she'd let her sword do the talking.      Aestus Estus flared up yet again, scarlet flames crawling along the blade and dancing off of it in waves. Tightening her grip, Nero stepped in towards her opponent and let loose a momentary flurry.      "Pari Tenu Blauserum!"      Three lightning quick slashes in near instantaneous succession. One at the neckline horizontally, one diagonally downwards, and another diagonally upwards opposite the other to form a crude V. Nero comes to a stop after this, and a second later, an explosion of flame traces the lines of those slashes perfectly.      She probably shouldn't be pausing like that though. It's leaving her wide open to counterattack. But then EMPEROR HUBRIS is a thing. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The first two slashes hit. Her body jerked. It wasn't even clear where she had been hit initially. Scratches formed all over her body... deep ones. There was a cry of agony as the flames explode, shredding Momoyo's clothing.     The problem was the crazy woman was still following through with her plan. So the sword never really came back when it should have after the third slash. Instead, her fist quivered as blood dripped to the ground, holding the searing tip of the noble phantasm as it cauterized her palm. For a moment, it looked as if the woman was defeated.     "...More... give me more fun... Kawakami Style, Restoration." her aura came forth, rapidly regenerating several of her wounds as she tried to force Nero to watch. With the exception of her hand she was forced to heal most of the damage after such a brutal hit. It was at this moment, after all, where the opinion of each fighter would be completely formed of one another.     No longer haggard-looking, she could only perform half of her next technique as she tried to use the blade to hold Nero in place.     "Kawakami Style, Mousou Seikenzuki Midareuchi!"     That one punch again...? ...no. It was worse. A dozen punches, in nearly the same instant, with the same speed as the three instantaneous slashes. The source of most of Momoyo's problems was pinned down, and she was now free to retaliate unless the girl let go. If Momoyo's guess was right, the girl in front of her would rather suffer damage to her aura than let go of that sword and let her get in an opening fist-to-fist. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "You know..." Kyra frowns, "If she can heal herself, I should be able to healbomb Nero. If she wants more, then I should be able to heal her too. Feels fair." The white mage crosses her arms over her chest. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Can't you see it takes a lot out of her to use that technique? I can't see Aura like some people can, but just look at her stance." Yang says to Kyra. "It's like nailing wooden boards over a window." 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' ~Elsewhere~ Yari shoots up as Momoyo gets caught in those cutting flames, clothes shredded, and yet she's still going! That burst of aura, and her eyes go wide as she seems to regenerate. Her eyes narrow, finding herself grinning even as she puts down more notes. Popcorn goes flying as her hand goes in the air with a fist-pump! "Yes! Pin her down! Pummel her!" Yari then downs the rest of her beer. Even Linh is watching with rapt attention now! 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry nods as well, "Yea, it looks like everytime she uses that ability, she is using up herbenergy," and he thinks, . o 0 (Wich means she cannot last long in an extended fight.) and he turns to Yang, "Question, how long have you been in a fight?" hr asks her as he turns back to Momoyo and Nero. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Longest fight? With Dad, we brawled for about twenty minutes... then he got serious and stripped my Aura in a single combo." Yang replies to Terry. "I left myself wide open and he nailed me with a haymaker." 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     "Oh yeah, I can see it. Still doesn't change the fact that it's restoration." Kyra rests her hands behind her head and leans back. "Very Monk-ish, though. Even then, their restoration they can use mostly is for purging poisons from the system." 

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''     Shin, from not too far away from Kyra, remarks, "Yeah, I can do something roughly like that, but it takes a lot out of you to do it. It's a pretty high-end martial arts technique." He rubs the back of his head a bit boredly, "Usually the capstone to an ancient style or lost art." 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Whoa, did she just...grab her sword? On fire? How extreme. Even Nero couldn't help but he utterly surprised at that. "Wh-" And the next moment, Momoyo restored herself. Another one of her techniques? How... Nero was unsure how to feel about that one. But then, she didn't exactly have the time to be feeling!      Or rather, she felt something alright. That something was Momoyo's fists impacting into her straight on. The force of the blows were enough to send the servant flying back, letting go of her sword in the process. Crying out, Nero impacted with the ground and skid some ways back. "......" And then she drew back up, standing to her feet, looking a bit worse for the wear than previously. "Mhmhm...I see. So you can use your prana, energy, ki, whatever it is you call it, to restore your own vitality. Intriging."      She brought a hand up to wipe away some dirt from her cheek, an amused smile forming again. "Then in that case..." Prana gathered again, flowing into Nero's body. "Tr�s Fontaine Claudeo!" And then an aura of crimson flared up around her, persisting rather prominently. What was that supposed to do? It became clear in the next moment.      Nero hunched low, clenching her fists...and then burst forward, dashing straight for Momoyo despite being weaponless at the moment. And like a thug, the blonde girl let loose a furious haymaker for the side of her opponents face, aura extending to accomodate her movements. If impact is made, Momoyo would feel some of her own vitality being siphoned away...siphoned away back into Nero herself.      If Momoyo can restore herself, then Nero would steal that vitality away and make it her own. As long as she makes contact at least. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      This was it. She couldn't tell what the attack was going to do beforehand, but if she didn't end the fight now she knew this was what the woman considered her counter to Momoyo. If she dodged this, she was simply going to be worn down or give another opening. It had to be now, while the blonde was provoked into attacking without her sword. Therefore, the usage of her next technique was unknown, naturally. It was unclear what the result would be, given the proximity, but if she allowed the woman to get her sword back, the fight would continue long into the night where she would inevitably lose.     "Forbidden Move, Fuji Smasher."     Her declaration of this technique was not loud, as instead it honed her concentration entirely to a single point. Massive amounts of her aura were focused into her fist, coating it as she let loose. She didn't aim for any weak points on the shorter girl, didn't bother to dodge... if her feet moved, she was done for, the Emperor would never commit to an attack leaving her this wide open again. But whatever was coming, this might well do the trick to decisively determine momentum. The fist came out faster than her previous techniques, using Nero's momentum to punch her knuckle violently as well, the attack faster than any of her other and it's sheer power nearly unknown. As for the result of coating her fist in raw ki for a technique trying to siphon energy from direct contact... the resulting shockwave proved the results would be explosive, to say the least. 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry looks to those near him, "The more she restores herself, the more energy she is using. By doing that, she is showing a flaw, moreovrer, anyone who is watching this will notice the same, and use that against her," he mentions as he gesturrs, "And Nero has figured that out, so she will use that to her advantage. Momoyo will have to see and find Nero's flaw and use that against her."     Terry is obsrervant, and is already figuring out a way on stopping Momoyo. Now he needs to do the same on Nrero. 

:'''{{#var:880|Nero (880)}} has posed:'''      Fuji Smasher? What in the world was that?      It was far too late for Nero to switch to being cautious now. No, she went straight in and committed to that ounch like a man commits to that new car he just got. Both fists clash. Explosive ki makes contact with draining energy. And the reaction is glorious.      At first sparks of ki and prana wildly lash out against the surrounding arena, denting the ground and ceiling before repairing itself. Nero could feel the ki draining out of Momoyo's fist and rapidly flowing into her like high pressure water hose. The problem here was that a Servant was not a container for infinite prana. Eventually there would be an overflow.      And that eventually was now. Once it hit, an explosion rocked the ring of philosophy, creating a blinding flash of red white.      Once the smoke cleared, Nero was several meters away, flat on her back with swirlies in her eyes.      "Awehweh....wha....weh-"      Nope. Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus has left the building! 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Dropping to her knees heavily, Momoyo was clearly exhausted. That one punch was worse than anything she did in that fight prior. "Aaaaahh~" she murmurs, a surprisingly gentle sigh. If one had closed their eyes... well they would have gotten the wrong impression of the two girls entirely.     Beyond satisfied, in spite of the ki drain, she collapsed moments after Nero. The smile on her face was utterly blissful, covered in dirt as she was. "Aheheh..." she had to giggle, as the blonde actually did look really cute slammed into the wall like that. "I'm... too tired to bow... Nero..." she held both her hands up a moment before collapsing. Given time to recover Nero would recover quite a bit faster with her Master nearby, but Momoyo had barely won before her eyes closed as well. 

:'''{{#var:626|Kyra Hyral (626)}} has posed:'''     Some of that Prana even makes it back /into/ Kyra, replacing the MP that was used up earlier from Nero's fancy moves. The feeling is not that an unusual, given that MP does regenerate itself with rest and there are ethers that create the same effect. More importantly, though, Nero goes /flying/.     "Gah!" Kyra leaps to her feet and chases after her Servant, hopping through the hole in the building, though not before giving Momoyo a brief dirty look. 

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:''' ~Elsewhere~ Yari lets out a hiss of victory as Momoyo smashes Nero away into a heap! Down too goes Momoyo, the ninja grinning like a school kid. Making sure she got the entire thing recorded, she pops out the dvd from the dvd player, and sighs. Leaning back, she crosses her legs. "Linh, let's go shopping." Oh yes, victory presents are in order! 

:'''{{#var:867|Terry McGinnis (867)}} has posed:'''     Terry covered his eyes when the bright, blinding light, "... Wish I had my batsuit," he states as he stands up and jumps over the wall and rushes over to Momoyo and checks on here, "Shes out, cold," he states as he looks at her. Looking to Yang, Terry picks her, Momoyo up while someone went to check on Nero,"Someone check on Nero," he says as he begins to move for a bench or something. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang vaults the spectator stand, and lands with a tuck and roll, before sprinting over to Momoyo. "Hey, you okay?" she asks, skidding to a stop next to the red eyed brawler. She catches that dirty look from Kyra and frowns herself in response. "Hey! This was a fully sanctioned duel! She won fair and square!"     Yeah... Yang's bit on the whole fair and square dueling thing. 

}}

3552/Reprimand and Recruitment

2016-01-18T18:24:37Z

Scrimbul: Momoyo's Union Recruitment

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/12/20
|Location=Kawakami City
|Synopsis=Momoyo is 'officially' being held prisoner in her room for crimes committed against the Union upon Unification. After being held a week, Kawakami Tesshin finally allows Amalthea to speak with Momoyo to recruit the loose cannon for the Last Chancers...
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=395, 928
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo was confined to the Dojo grounds for however long it took the resolve the situation with the Gate. For a lack of anyone with a better understanding of the situation and appropriate power to manage it, Kawakami Tesshin was not only surprisingly amiable but laid-back about the affair. While the Gate's arrivals were a leap and a stretch, it seems for this land they were not as much of a shock as they otherwise could have been. Thusly, after explaining his granddaughter and the area's samurai history to Amalthea, in order to maintain good relations and a fair impartial grasp of the situation... enforcement of her was left to the Union. This began to set the precedent for using the Dojo as a formalized prison for Gate miscreants and a preliminary neutral zone headquarters for both factions' affairs since the Fed were able to talk to Tesshin as well later on.     None of this was good news for Momoyo, however. Someone actually powerful enough to handle her loose cannon attitude aside from her grandfather had shown up and after hearing about Amalthea's experience as a leader and drill instructor was more than happy to wash his hands of the whole ordeal regarding her usage of the Human Bomb technique with civilians and defeated fighters in the potential blast radius. While still quivering from the adrenaline of the brawl for most of the week, she was still strictly confined to the Dojo grounds and in no mood to violate that quarantine until she was handed off to the Union just now with Tesshin's signatures.     Thusly, she sat sulking like a teenager in detention, dressed in her black slacks, sweater and vest as her shoulders hunched and hands remained in her pockets. Red eyes continue to constantly trace over the training monks and Union-heavy presence in the neutral zone trickling in with Japanese government permission. The air was thick with tension around the woman that could be cut like a knife. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     So there's a unicorn in a dojo.     This isn't the beginning of a joke, but by the end of this debacle there's probably going to be a punchline anyway. Out of a vague and basic understanding and respect for local culture, Amalthea ta least took her boots off on the way in, but the armored old knight is about as awkward about thie civility and diplomacy as ever. She feigns it well, but a man like Tesshin probably won't be fooled at the mechanical mythic's discomfort at being selected for a diplomacy mission, when her forte lays in other fields.     Still, she is here, representing the Union, and that means she is at least as professional as she can manage to be, listening intently to the explanations of the Samurai lineage. And that technique she had almost used.     "So you're telling me she could have caused a catastrophe if Priscilla didn't step in." Mused as she whistles quietly through her teeth. "Well I think that helps gauge the Elites of this world somewhat, at least." She ponders, amid tucking away the tidbit of the destruction that COULD have happened. "I think I'd like to speak with her."     That's about how the conversation with Tesshin had gone.     It's not too much longer before Momoyo's confinement is no longer so solitary. Though the door eerily makes no sound, and her footsteps are inhumanly silent, Amalthea makes no attempt to HIDE her arrival in the room anyway. "Kawakami, Momoyo. I'm Kuklos Ka Amalthea Schmendrick-Fortuna. We've already met, though not quite so formally. ... Care for a little chat?" 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo slouches in her room, looking at the monks outside the window. Amalthea may have come in silently, but she could tell the unicorn was moving down the hall at least five minutes before her arrival. "Alright." she replies, coolly. She clearly wasn't in the mood to chat, but the fact that her grandfather had spoken to the Union first and not her spoke volumes. She tosses her hair a little bit, over her shoulder, but for all the power she had, it was clear from her room she was more or less a typical tomboy. It was not entirely clean, a bunch of clothing piled up in one corner, videogames strewn about she'd been playing up till a half an hour ago. Her sulky attitude itself showed she was wearing her heart on her sleeve...     She was not going to enjoy the forthcoming conversation and was /NOT/ pleased to have been stopped by a demi-god out of the blue during a good fight either. However, her behavior was pretty clearly as if she totalled a car and had no idea what was coming next. The rainbow robot was not who she expected to step into her room... but the unicorn was too powerful to just dismiss. For all of her sulking, simply sizing up the other... thing... had shown that while she had been through plenty of her own fights, the other one had seen multiple wars. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     More than Momoyo can potentially imagine. The unicorn carries herself more like a wild predator than a knight, despite her armor. It doesn't even rattle or clink as she eases into a seat opposit the samurai-blooded girl, blatantly ignoring the girl's sulking, she stares. Meeting gaze with that lone eye is like staring into an ocean. Dark, endlessly deep and otherworldly fathomless, she says nothing for a long moment. Truth is, even in this moment, she's sizing Momoyo up right back, albeit subtly and without intent to start anything. Not right now anyway. Not if she can help it.     "I can tell you're strong, we all saw that much, but you're also a little wild, aren't you."     It's not a question, it's an observation. "The damage you caused could have been a lot worse. Especially if Vance, of all people, hadn't kept civilians away, and Priscilla didn't intervene when she did. It was almost a mistake on my part pitting Xiao Long, a rookie, and Kawasaki, a trained and professional Shinra Agent against you. One could have been badly hurt, the other could have ended up much differently." How it sounds so much like a lecture as she drums her fingers on her knee, thoughtfully. 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      She turns to face the unicorn finally after looking in those eyes. While she understood how strong martially the robot was through her aura, she was probably well out of her depth looking at that eye. "Did you really expect it to go any differently?" she replies, looking her up and down. She leans forward with her elbows on her thighs now, sitting on the edge of her bed with a wry grin. "Other than the bored... uh... demi-goddess," she didn't know what to call Priscilla at that point other than to understand that being had no place on the plane she stepped on to. "You were the only one worth fighting. I kept the police away for a good reason, but everyone else through that gate knew the risks the moment they saw me." she sits back a bit, folding her arms. In other words, even though Tesshin explained her technique and probable strategy, she was still certain an equally strong and furious fighter was one she could blow away to get to the knight.     "You guys really are something, though. The blonde has the potential to master Kawakami Style completely and be as good as me... and that guy was no slouch... you have no idea how BORED I was this past year. Even when people try to kill me they never cut the mustard like you guys did." She was still admitting a grudging respect. Reckless, but definitely not a stupid woman. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     The only one worth fighting? Now that earns the quirk of a brow, the unicorn's face shifting slightly with a buzz into a particularly inquisitive expression as she tilts her head in a particularlt curious angle. "Was I?" A genuine curiosity, rather than arrogant acceptance and bluster in the face of such a comment. "Meanwhile. I felt it wasn't worth fighting. Not because I find you lacking, but because when I fight it is not for the sake of a fight itself. But what I choose to fight for." She says very simply, that lone eye practically staring through the girl with a silent, immortal, intensity. "You will find, now, quite often that people from other worlds are very different from those here that try to kill you. Much different." She lets that hang. Her point is frankly made simply by her being there breathing, but she doesn't completely halt.     "Quite frankly I think you're dangerous. A loose cannon with a nasty temper and a penchant for high collateral damage." Very blunt there as her head tilts again, turning to better regard Momoyo from her good eye. "And I suppose that's why I think I've got an offer to make you." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      Momoyo shrugs, leaning backward on her hands. "Alright, I'm listening." she replies. Her visitor wasn't going to take the bait, but neither was she going to let her get a word in edgewise to argue. Tossing her hair again (the costs of never bothering to really maintain it other than an occasional wash) She plants one heel on the edge of her bed, draping one hand over her knee. It seems like it wasn't the first time she's tried to rile a teacher up, but it wasn't the last time she'd shut up and learn something either. The only thing that continued to bounce was her knee, belying a whole bunch of pent-up energy still. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     Listening huh? The unicorn goes stock still for a moment, eyeng the girl and her body language. Everything about Momoyo felt like a taut spring waiting to snap. Non-Elite union delegates would probably be intimidated by this point, by the brusque demeanor and sheer force of presence. But no. Amalthea is not biting. Not now anyway.     "Do you want to fight me?" It's an idle question as she reaches into the surcoat of her armor. "Because we can do it. Find someplace out of the way, where there's no one around for miles, andback and forth it until someon's a wreck."     This is when she pulls a folder from her armor and tosses it on the bed. "Or you can fill those out and turn them in to me by tonight, and I can give you something to fight for." She lets that hang for a long moment.     "It won't be glamorous. You can't say you're part of the Union. Too much of a wildcard to have on the official rosters. You'd be worse than black ops. But you'd have a better direction than challenging anyone who walks out of the warpgate." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      The red-eyed woman grins widely at the question. She didn't expect it to come so easily! She could have cared less about what else the Gate meant.     But then her eyes drop to the folder.     She starts to flip through it, reading through the titles of the forms, the job description, various details. Training, drills, both to be taught and to teach. She hadn't even really thought to question why it was called the Union, but now that she was actually putting effort in to reading the paperwork, things started to click. Definitely not stupid, just intellectually lazy.     "I couldn't join you until one of you defeats... me..." she trails off lamely. The reality of the situation was that she had already been beaten, she just wasn't fighting the opponent that did so at the time. Even the folder indicated her current prisoner status, her grandfather's signatures to sign her over until the paperwork was resolved, what the crimes and sentences were. She might have been 'grounded to her room' but the legal reality started to really bear down on her, what was really at stake compared to her behavior and how much worse she could really make it for herself.     She continues to flip through the paperwork and a few dossiers. "I can teach. But... who will I fight?" It was only now finally a touch apprehensive, even though she was still very much willing to tear loose. She was finally paying attention. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "You can teach. Okay." Amalthea confirms that as a skill of use, but the next question earns another long, deep, look from that eye. Far too deep and old for a face made to look rather young. "Who will you fight?" Mused for a moment, once Momoyo has perused the files and paperwork.     Amalthea is already standing up and waving a hand in a lazy motion. "Well, I guess that depends just on who you want to fight, now doesn't it?"     She's already heading for the door. "It's a war. It won't be pretty. It won't be pretty at all, and you'll be considered so not on the record that you'd be more expendable than expendable. But it'll give you a direction. Think about it and get back to me. If you want in, all you have to do is sign. If not, I scratch off those charges of public menacing, endangering civilians, and assaulting union staff, like they never happened, and you don't hear from me again."     This is about where she pauses in the doorway and glances back over her shoulder with that lone eye.     "But something tells me you wouldn't enjoy that as much." 

:'''{{#var:928|Momoyo Kawakami (928)}} has posed:'''      "Being expendable suits me fine, Amalthea. I go my own way and stay honest, after all." 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "Fair enough." Amalthea replies. "Just pass the papers over when you're done looking through them. Report to Colonel Zelgius first thing." Added as she slips out of the doorway and closes it behind her. 

}}