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Post by Farren on Nov 25, 2009 15:29:25 GMT -8
"Miss Money Penny, I'm gonna hit the gym. Hold my calls."
"No one's called you all day Mr. Treborn."
"...Right. Let's keep it that way."
Man, guidance counselors just get no respect around here. Fine, so I prefer to use my head and talk and not throw a punch for a hello. That doesn't make me useless. Or a push over. I kep't mulling over these things as I walked to the school gymnasium. Sure, I'm not a physical powerhouse like some of the teachers or students here, and I'm not the absolute smartest, but I can hold my own. I think. Tough to know when I hadn't fought someone in nearly a year. And I was still recovering from my near-death experience with cancer. Which made these daily trips to the gym that much more important.
Arriving at the huge empty room, I dropped my gym bag on the bleachers and started warming up with a few jumping jacks, having already changed my clothes back in the office. A few minutes later I was feeling sweat on my forehead and figured that was enough. Strolling over to a small set of double doors behind the bleachers, I opened the padlock with a key and reached inside. With a bit of effort I hauled out a rolling dolly piled high with crash mats and gymnastics pads. I then went back in and pulled out several human-sized dummies, some padded, some hard.
Bringing the entire kit and kaboddle out to the center of the basketball courts, I arranged them as I normally would and scattered the dummies about in standing positions. And then I got to work. A few spin kicks, a few rolls, a few backflips and cartwheels. See, my style of fighting is a little different from the norm. I'm very athletic, very springy, so I use that to my advantage by being high-flying, a daredevil. I slam the heel of my right foot into the head of a dummy after front tucking in front of him. The spin of the tuck adds power to my axe kick, helping me bridge the gap of strength I've often faced in fights.
Thirty minutes into my routine I'm breathing hard and sweating harder, my T-shirt soaked clean through. This is deceiving of course since I haven't stopped moving since the start. I hear footsteps enter the gymnasium and I'm startled, bailing out of a back handspring and landing hard on the side of my face, tumbling across the floor. Thank god for the pads.
"Oww, son of a bitch...all right, you got my attention. Who's there anyway?"
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 25, 2009 17:49:22 GMT -8
Ryu...
...
Ryu wasn't having a very good day, today >_>
It had started off alright. Got up. Got ready. Left the hotel. Ok, sure. Whatever. Everything was fine and dandy, right?
FUCK THAT.
On his way to the school, walking as he usually did since he didn't technically have a license... he almost got hit by a car. Twice. First time, the guy had the good sense to get the fuck gone. Second one was stupid enough to get out of his car like 'oh, my god. are you ok?' Biiiig mistake. Let's just say that Ryu put the guy through his car, and leave it at that.
Ok fine. Isolated couple of incidents, right? Nah.
When he got to school, he got involved in a small fuckin' riot right in the entrance. Normally, that would have been an up thing, but he really hadn't been in the mood for it, having just dodged two bullets. Practically literally. So he punches and bashes and breaks his way through that, taking a bat upside the head once in the process.
Think that was the end of it? Nope.
Same thing happened at lunch the ONE TIME Ryu decides to actually go get something. Managed to get out of that one OK, though. And so here Ryu was, storming out of building one, and marching across the courtyard to building three where the Gym's were to take out some anger in a slightly more productive way than ripping out a section of wall and beating someone in the face until they no longer had a head. But guess what?
Third.
Fucking.
Riot.
Just starting too. Best part, though? Ryu grabbed the two escalating it by the throats, destroyed a wooden bench with their spines, and ended it just as it really got going. That improved his mood a little bit, but not by much.
And now we follow him up the stairs of the gym building. Fuck training gear, he'd just take off his jacket and start punching shit. Walls, bleachers, people, whatever. Right? Right. Finally, one thing was gonna go according to plan, today. Up and up and up we go, four short flights of stairs and Ryu was on the third floor, the big Gym, the basketball courts. This was where most actual Gym activities took place when they weren't outside, and Lo and Behold someone was already here. Finally, something went according to plan.
Ryu raised an eyebrow when the guy busted his ass upon hearing Ryu's abnormally loud footsteps coming through the door. "Who the fuck are you?" He demanded in his massively deep voice of the man who'd asked 'who's there'. For some odd reason, though... The guy looked familiar....
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Post by Farren on Nov 25, 2009 20:55:35 GMT -8
I stood up, rubbing the side of my neck and face that had taken the brunt of the fall. Whoever the new arrival was, he wasn't very pleasant. Geez, what a buzz killer. I turned and looked at him, becoming both surprised and intrigued. Let's see...that face, that build, the gruff demeanor. If memory of files and history served me right, that was Ryu Hayabusa. Bit of a hard ass him. We both went to PHS 552 actually, I think. This was certainly getting interesting.
"Testy guy, relax. I'm Farren Treborn, 259's guidance counselor. Doing a little training after lunch, staying fit and all that. And you...are Ryu, right? I don't forget names or faces very easily. Having a bad day, man?"
I stood where I was on the pads, wiping what I could of the sweat out of my eyes. My intro was done. It was his turn to reply.
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 25, 2009 21:44:49 GMT -8
Hearing the mans words, Ryu's eyes went wide in the doorway and his body leaned forward slightly. Complete shock was what he was in. His day just got SO much better. Farren had been a pillar back in New York. One...The only one, that Ryu had met, let alone respected. The two had fought once. Just a spar, but a spar that Ryu had likely taken much too seriously. If he remembered right, he put a hole clear through the gym floor with Farren's body with his Shaolin Fist. For the life of him though, he couldn't remember who'd won out in the end.
"F-...Se-...Seriously?" His deep voice asked, incredulous. "Farren? The Farren?" He couldn't help but laugh here a little bit, "Not any more...." Remarking on the 'bad day' bit. "What the hell are you doing here?" In a light and wondering tone. Besides the obvious, of course. Guidance Counselor...From what little he had known of the man, that did actually sound like him. He had always been a tough bastard, but he was always nice about shit.
"And what's more...How the hell did you recognize me?" He'd gotten over his initial shock and was walking into the gym now. He also had a very good point. Aside from his eyes, Ryu looked nothing like he did at 552. For one, he was about five inches taller. Not to mention probably about fifty pounds heavier. And the most obvious change: He didn't have a fucking ninja mask on....
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Post by Farren on Nov 25, 2009 22:12:35 GMT -8
Well THAT was a better reaction than I expected. Thank god, I really didn't want to have to calm someone down during 'me' time. Technically I was off the clock from my job but, eh, whatever. But anyway, Ryu! He remembered me, excellent! And how did I remember him? After all, he didn't look the same at all. It was because I was psychic. Okay, a little lie. Truthfully, it was because I'd read his file and looked at the photos that went along with it. You'd have to be pretty dense not to put together his name, face, and past school transfer list. Being a teacher with file access has its perks.
"Sweet, you remember me! Saves us the awkward feeling out period. Yeah, I'm the guidance counselor - funny how things work out. And right now...right now I'm training. Just cause I talk to people for a living doesn't mean I can let my fighting skills grow stale. Plus, my style is just a hell of a lot of fun to practice."
I picked up a downed dummy nearby and replaced it upright as I was speaking. Taking a moment to eye it, I launched up in the air and twisted sideways, smashing both legs into the dummy's 'head' with a dropkick. I dropped to the ground on my side and slid a leg along the ground, sideswiping the dummy's body as it hit the ground from the kick, a 1-2 combo.
"What about you? Lunch period for students must be ending pretty soon, you should be heading to class. Unless there's something else you have your mind on..." Yeah, I was sort of baiting him to bring up a fight. I could use the practice and I knew he'd never turn down a chance to act reckless. Unless Ryu had changed more than his appearance since last we met.
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 25, 2009 22:33:05 GMT -8
Walking further into the gym, Ryu glanced the man up and down. He hadn't changed much. The beard was probably more kempt than it had been. Hair was different.... His face looked... Like he'd been through about as much hell as Ryu had. Perhaps more. At least Ryu rarely reached the brink of death, unlike this guy's unknown cancerous issues. All in all, it was the same old Farren, if a bit more talkative.
Ryu nodded as he spoke. That much was obvious, in these schools, you could be the goddamn janitor and you'd need to be in perfect shape. A few of the teachers around the school had neglected this fact, and rarely were able to control students like Ryu, not that he ever had issues when he actually did go to class. Watching the display, Ryu continued to nod and made a sort of accepting frown. One of those that said 'not bad'. "No one goes to class around here, Farren. Albeit, probably here more than they did back in New York but...." He tilted his head in concession as he said this. "Like I'd pass up a chance to hand you your ass fight you again."
He said this last while grinning slightly, walking over to the once again downed dummy. Stepping on the rim of its stand, he tilted it back up, catching it with his hand. "Besides," He backed up a step or two before whipping his body into the air, higher than Farren had, and whirling around counter clock wise. Up and over his legs went, an inverted corkscrew. His left foot crashed into its left 'shoulder' in an angled axe-kick, and his right foot sliced over to smash its 'temple' at the same time.
Before it even had the chance to move, both of his legs launched off of the thing, whirling him back the other way and down. As he landed in a one legged crouch with his right, his left kicked at the ground and whirled him around, smashing into the dummy as it bounced up off the ground, sending it flying through the air in Farren's general direction. "I invented that style." He'd say, a huge grin on his face as he stood.
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Post by Farren on Nov 26, 2009 21:53:39 GMT -8
Ryu will be Ryu. It was hardly unexpected in my eyes when he went to show me up on the dummy. However his method of challenging me to a fight did cause me to raise an eyebrow in surprise. At least he was having some fun with it - most people here fought out of anger, fear, or pride. A little self confidence and respect for others could do the whole place a world of good. As Ryu did his moves and launched the dummy my way I merely turned and stepped to the side, allowing the heavy object to pass by me. It landed hard against the bleachers opposite us, denting some of the aluminum on the bottom steps. Smirking and chuckling softly to myself, I turned back to the big man and said casually,
"Maybe, but your version might be a lil' too fancy. I saw that coming a mile away."
Walking back onto the center of the largest mat (it was about sixteen feet square) I stretched out my sore neck and motioned for Ryu to follow me onto the pads. "Since you 'attacked' me with a 'weapon' I'll have to punish you according to corporal law. Get over here and prepare to fight maggot." I said everything dripping with sarcasm - Ryu would instantly know I wasn't being serious. I was just justifying a teacher fighting a student. The mats would make sure nobody died from impacts but it would still sting. Fists and feet were another story.
I removed my sopping wet shirt and tossed it aside, leaving me barefoot and shirtless with only a pair of worn black track pants around my legs. Ryu would be able to see that I certainly hadn't let me training slide, along with the numerous scars I had accumulated over the years, including the freshest one, a long white surgical scar straight down the center of my chest, from just below my throat to the bottom of my rib cage. Experimental lung cancer surgery, it's all the rage. And chicks dig scars, right?
"C'mon Mr. Hayabusa, I ain't got all day..."
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 27, 2009 15:16:03 GMT -8
"You saw it coming." Putting slight emphasis on the first word. "But you weren't the dummy." He said grinning slightly. Seeing Ryu in a good mood was an odd thing...Though it had been happening more and more often lately. Normally, he was a big muscular bundle of boiling hatred, rage, anger, and all that other good shit. As for the kick...It was a little too flashy, but he'd pulled it off once before. Besides, that was just a demonstration. Not an actual move. Most of that style relied on excellent timing, any way.
Then Farren spoke again. Corporal Law, Hah. There was something he hadn't seen in practice in a while. Should be fun. Ryu somehow managed to pick up on the sarcasm, however, and started taking off his Suede coat. Seeing the scar on Farren's chest as he bunched up his jacket and whipped it, surprisingly effectively, to the bleachers, "What? You get triple bypass, or something?" His massively deep voice echoed slightly louder than it was before. Ryu's hands pulled his black tee out of his tailored black Gi pants. If the guy was gonna show off scars, Ryu'd show off the granddaddy of 'em. One that no one at five five two had seen.
Dropping the tight black shirt to the ground, Ryu's surprisingly tanned, and extremely muscular body could be seen. Scars trailed periodically around the torso. A few small scratches across the chest and stomach, a pale gunshot wound in the left shoulder that met its match on the back. Dozens of small nicks around his arms, and then there was the big one. Trailing Ryu's entire back from Right shoulder to Left hip, a massive, gruesome scar crossed his spine.
It was a miracle he was still alive with that one. It was also an oddity that in eight years, it hadn't gone away. Particularly since he'd gotten it at such a young age. One could argue that it was a mark of his vengeance... But he did that already. Two years ago. ..Well, a year and a half ago... Meh, whatever.
Ryu walked onto the mat and spread his footing. If memory served, Farren liked a wrestling type style. Ryu was going to try and mimic this mans moves, and adapt to his style. Should be fun.
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Post by Farren on Nov 27, 2009 21:53:41 GMT -8
"Bypass? Nah, cheeseburgers haven't killed my heart yet. But smoking almost did. You're looking at the only Stage IV lung cancer survivor in the world."I did like to brag, at least a little. Of course my boast seemed a little deflated when compared to the scar collection Ryu was sporting. Except for my surgical scar most of mine had faded to white lines and patches. His were obviously still nasty looking. But he went into stance and showed no signs of walking away, so I grinned and flexed my fingers, leaving them open but ready for action. "If you don't mind, I'll go first."We were seperated by only a yard or two, barely anything for men as speedy and conditioned as us. I dashed in, closed the gap in milliseconds, and launched my first attack. I dipped my head to my left, as if looking to come up that side, but then pushed hard off my left foot and drove my body up the opposite way to my right, a small feint. I brought my left knee up and jumped, looking to smash the bony edge into Ryu's sternum, my body slightly off axis and leaning to my right to add force to the blow. My hands remained close to my face in guard position. Nothing too flashy, nothing complicated. Just something easy to get things rolling. I was prepared on just about every angle to catch what might come my way, whether I had to dodge, counter, or continue attacking. It was up to Ryu now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH4zF4XW_wo
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 27, 2009 23:28:03 GMT -8
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Don't quite know how to respond to that... I suppose congratulations would work well enough." Half of the answer required a 'that sucks' and half of it required a 'holy shit'...so..yeah, let's just go with what he said and focus on the can of asswhoop. He had the can on the counter, he had the can opener, now let's get it going. Ryu tended to like a bit more of a starting distance, but the mat they were on didn't leave too much, and you needed some room to back up if needed, didn't you?
Then Farren exploded in his speed. The man was fast. Not as fast as Ryu, if that was his top speed, but still. Ryu quick stepped back, gaining another couple of feet to the man's charge. Ryu barely had known what Farren was capable of back then, so now, Ryu had to be doubly careful. That jump was seen, as was the movement of the knees. Ryu hated being on the receiving end of knees. It wasn't so much the pain factor as the opponent being so close as to be able to deal any number of follow ups. Not to mention all those grabby shits. He didn't like grappling amid an actual fight. If he was fighting, he liked to fight, not roll around.
Bracing in, Ryu almost mimicked the upper body position of Farren, closing up and catching the knee on the outside of his forearm with a thud of bone on bone. With his slightly superior weight and bulk, Ryu pushed off toward Farren with his entire body moving into the mans jumping rush, looking to throw him far back by the impacting knee and whatever of Farren's guard Ryu's own touched. Once that happened, Ryu would use his preferred method of fighting to lunge in and whip a strong round house for about chest height with his left leg, whether the older man had landed on the mat yet or not.
Ryu expected the attack to at the very least be blocked, and had a number of contingencies for Farren's reaction.
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Post by Farren on Nov 29, 2009 17:11:41 GMT -8
"Now THAT'S a block!"
My knee collided heavily with Ryu's arm and I felt little to no give in the bigger man's guard. It had been a while since I'd knocked flesh against flesh and even longer since the opposing man's feet didn't give under my blow. It was worth the compliment. Pushing off the forearm and using Ryu's push to add momentum I leaped backward but kept my head and eyes focused forward the entire time. Ryu was quick, possibly quicker than me, and I had just touched down when he came screaming in with a roundhouse.
Luckily I had landed in a crouch on all fours and the beefy leg passed just over my head as he attacked. Not wanting to waste such a valuable opportunity, I raised up on my feet and threw my right shoulder forward, looking to catch Ryu's leg under the thigh as it passed overhead. I'd wrap my right arm around the thigh, grip only strong enough to hold it for a moment. I was looking to act like a spring, tossing Ryu's lower body up and over, sending him tumbling head over heels backwards.
Of course, with our acrobatic styles, that was less likely than usual. And I was prepared to guard my upper body against a surprise counter, say if Ryu tucked into the toss and tried to kick me as he did a backflip away...
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Nov 29, 2009 17:36:25 GMT -8
That just plain figured. Farren would be the one to react like that, wouldn't he? His timing was almost dead on with a well executed counter, Ryu was too committed in his kick to pull out of it, and got himself launched. Had this been the old days, or even just slightly older days, and he had been trying to beat Farren with utmost prejudice, he would have thrown that follow up kick with a vengeance.
As it was, however, Ryu was trying to mimic Farren's wrestler like style, and instead, tucked that right leg tight to his body as he pressed back off of the spring of Farren's shoulder with his left, adding lift to his launch. Almost completing a back tuck, simply touching the ground with the tips of his fingers, Ryu set himself up in a sort of sprinters position. Left leg extended, right leg tucked in tight. "Looks pretty even, Farren. Let's test that body of yours." Ryu said in a light tone, grinning.
Now it was Ryu's turn for one of those charges. Only this time, Ryu had the room to get going. About eight feet, matter of fact. Not a whole lot, but it would be better than what Farren had had to work with, particularly with the superior speed that Ryu had and that position he was starting in. Exploding from all fours, Ryu blasted in, going for a relatively low tackling rush. Bringing his arms in front of him like a battering ram, he was guarded from knees among other things as he gut rushed the Former Pillar.
Full force, full speed. This would be an accurate test of the guy's ability to take a shot. 'Bout as accurate as you could get short of clapping him dead in the jaw and seeing how quick he popped back.
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Post by Farren on Dec 1, 2009 6:55:55 GMT -8
FAST! The only word that made it through my head as the big man rushed in. Ryu was definitely quicker than I was, at least when it came to pure speed. He went low and I was fully extended from the throw I'd just delivered, leaving my legs wide open. I tried to lift one and spin out of the way but he clipped my ankles and shot my legs out from under me. I fell forward but because I'd been leaning and lifting when I was hit I fell at an angle, not landing on Ryu as he passed. Instead I curled my shoulder and tried to roll into the fall, succeeding but still hitting hard, feeling my shoulder crunch under my body's weight. The mat soaked up just enough to keep the bruising away and I shrugged aside the discomfort. Coming out of the roll, I sprang back onto my feet and turned back to face where Ryu was. I was running at 100% of my speed and strength and stamina. I'd worked hard to be able to maintain peak efficiency for as long as possible. We'd soon see if my work had born fruit. Not wasting a moment I leaped toward Ryu. I was looking to land on his back and wrap my rough hands around his jaw and face. If I grabbed hold I'd pull his head back and drive both knees into his spine, arching his back painfully and straining his neck muscles to the limit. Ryu was no slouch and I didn't expect him to simply let me work - I was prepared to struggle for the hold or adapt as needed. But before I let go I'd make sure he was in a neck brace for the rest of the month. The hold looks like this, only with the knees driving into the spine for extra pain. |
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Post by Ryu Hayabusa on Dec 1, 2009 19:20:15 GMT -8
Ryu shot in with a grin on his face. One that shrank slightly when Farren more or less dodged the bulk of the charge. So much for testing his body, Ryu didn't land a solid enough hit to test shit. Looks like we'll have to change that, doesn't it? Too bad Ryu wouldn't get the chance to do so right away. As his mad dash skidded to a halt on the edge of the mat the older guy had set out, he was quickly body slammed by the slightly smaller man. Normally, Ryu would have probably gotten out of that situation, even if he had been jumped on from behind. All that would have been required was for him to whip forward, and up and over Farren would go, but unfortunately this wasn't the case.
Ryu's body was still leaned forward when counselor nailed Ryu in the back with his knees. From such off balanced position, particularly since he was grabbed about the jaw, Ryu fell straight down, catching himself with his arms, bracing against the ground. His spine cracked as his back instantly began arching from the hold, and Ryu grunted for the pain of it. After a moment, however, Ryu's grin returned and a choked chuckle escaped him. "Not bad, Farren. But.. not.. good.. enough." He said slowly as every muscle in his body tensed. He couldn't fuck around with a hold like this, it was time to bring out the big guns.
Ryu's musculature rapidly increased in size, almost doubling as his power and physical endurance shot upward, increasing by over fifty percent. A deep growl of effort escaped the junior as the hold was fought. Farren was strong, but Ryu had just gotten stronger with his Shaolin Fist. The pain was still very much there, and it would be quite the fight, but Ryu's neck was already craning forward against Farren's grip. His back as well, by way of his palms pressing into the ground and his knees sliding up under him. It would just be a matter of how long Farren could hold on.
Shaolin Fist Stats:
...We really should mark down the stats we start with when starting a fight, luckily i remember.
Str: 62
Dex: 50
Con: 54
sorry if some of it sucks, particularly toward the end.
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Post by Farren on Dec 1, 2009 20:32:19 GMT -8
"Well that's not good."
I could literally feel Ryu bulking up underneath me. Now I hadn't faced too many 'powers' in my fight career but I could sense when something serious was going on. That and the big man was pulling back against my grip, something no normal set of neck and back muscles should have been able to do. It was gradual but I was losing ground quickly on the hold, probably only a few seconds left before he broke free on his own. I debated unleashing my own 'power' but decided to test my luck and abilities unaided. Besides, if I could beat him on standard mode it'd make that much more of an impression on the old classmate.
Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of breaking free himself, I released Ryu's head and jumped backwards off his spine, pushing off his back with both hands and knees and landing a few feet away behind him. "You going Super Saiyan on me Ryu? Where's the gold hair and shit?" Good Farren, real bright - taunt the guy with hands like cement blocks. I scrambled to my feet and brought my curled fists up in front of my face in a normal boxing stance. Yeah, hell, you've gone this far, give him an opening. I tapped my chin with my knuckles and hopped in place, lightly bouncing from foot to foot.
C'mon big man, bring it! I'll smack you down without even dodging!"
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