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[rubyeyes_ryuhou]

[This gray, snowy day finds Ryuhou sitting out on his porch step, a note held in his hands. His eyes scan over the words several times as though he can't believe them.

Finally, he stands, crumpling the paper in his fist, stalking toward the edge of town. He doesn't seem to notice the cold as the wind whips his thin uniform jacket around him.]

I want to... hit something. That's more Kazuma's style, but now I understand why. I'm going to explode if I don't.

Comments

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Shrugs and follows along.] Works for me.

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Once they reach a clearing in the forest, far enough away from town, Ryuhou turns to face Kazuma.]

Ready?

[Without waiting for an answer, he strikes out with a punch toward Kazuma's face.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Feh, he won't be caught off-guard that easily. Throwing up an arm to block the punch, he pivots in toward Ryuhou, attempting to hook one leg around Ryuhou's to knock him off balance.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[And Ryuhou won't be falling for that either. He jumps over the sweeping leg, then punches out again, aiming for Kazuma's stomach.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Okay, he'll give him that one, and Ryuhou is rewarded with a soft grunt as the blow connects. But he definitely had an ulterior motive in allowing the blow to land. Twisting around quickly, he attempts to ram his elbow into Ryuhou's ribs.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He can't quite dodge that one, but he turns slightly to lessen the blow. He makes a grab for Kazuma's hair, yes, fighting dirty.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Snaps his head back, pulling out of Ryuhou's grip...and losing a clump or two of hair in the process. Ow.] --the hell? You're fighting like a girl. Cut it out. [Yeah, he's laughing a little now, but that doesn't stop him from trying his luck with a punch to Ryuhou's ribs since that elbow-jab didn't land quite as cleanly as he would have liked.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

Shut up and fight, idiot. [Grabs for Kazuma's wrist, blocking the blow, then sweeps his leg out, trying to trip him.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

Whatever you say, toots--just don't blame me if you break a nail. [Jumps, avoiding the leg o'doom and grabs onto Ryuhou's wrist in return. Digging his heels in, he attempts to sling Ryuhou into the nearest tree.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ooop, lost his balance there, and goes flying. He's not on his best form today, too much on his mind. Catching himself on the tree, he takes a few deep breaths before launching himself at Kazuma with a yell, striking out with his fist again.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[That attack...is ridiculously easy to dodge. Sidestepping out of the way, he kicks out half-heartedly at Ryuhou's ass as he goes whizzing past. However, he is beginning to notice that something's wrong and scowls faintly.]

Sloppy. What the fuck's wrong with you?

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head quickly. He doesn't want to talk, he wants to fight.] Nothing. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine. Shut up and fight me!

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[That's fine with Kazuma--he only asked because the...lack of focus?... in the last attack surprised him a bit. He shrugs.] Yeah, fine. Whatever. But cut the bullshit, okay? 'Cause frankly, you ain't giving me much of a challenge.

[With no further ado, he charges toward Ryuhou and feints a punch to the face, but before the blow can land, shifts his weight and now is aiming a roundhouse kick at Ryuhou's head.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[That lack of focus will still be pretty obvious. Ryuhou's usually trained and precise movements are wild, almost reckless for him, and he's taking more damage than he usually would. He doesn't seem to care, though, and keeps throwing himself back into the fight.

After another punch from Kazuma sends him flying into a tree, a crumpled paper falls out of his pocket, unnoticed...]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Kazuma watches, somewhat stunned, as Ryuhou goes flying into another tree. Oh yeah, something's definitely up...which pisses him off a little because he can't even enjoy kicking the jackass's ass because said jackass isn't fighting up to his usual level. Dammit. He walks over to the now somewhat battered tree Ryuhou's leaning against--or crumpled at the foot of--whichever.]

Oi. You still alive over here?

[He spots the slip of paper, but doesn't pick it up. Yeah, he's curious, but it's none of his business, after all.] I think you dropped something.

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Lifting his head blearily, Ryuhou spots the note lying on the ground, and grabs for it with a gasp. He holds it tightly, almost protectively for a moment, his eyes squeezing shut, before realizing Kazuma is still watching. Swallowing, he pushes himself to his feet, sliding the paper back into his pocket]

He wouldn't have wanted you to lose it like this. Pull yourself together.

[Straightening his back, he faces Kazuma again, seeming more calm.] Continue.

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Raises an eyebrow at the whole thing with the paper; then raises the other at Ryuhou's demand that they continue.]

Uhh... no. Not 'til you get your shit together. If you decide to get serious, I'll be around. [Turns to go.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Zetsuei appears in front of Kazuma.]

We're not done here.

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He gives Ryuhou a Look and is silent for a long moment. Finally, he snorts, shaking his head.] Feh. You done screwing around, then? 'Cause if you don't start fighting me like you know what you're doing, I'm fuckin' outta here. I'm starting to get bored.

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He nods, looking more composed than he has over the last few minutes.] Yes. I'm... all right now.

Focus on the fight, the feel of your Alter, the movements you know. This is familiar, this is right... there's no room for anything else here.

Come on, Kazuma. Let's do this.

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He looks skeptical for a moment, but as Ryuhou does seem more composed now, after a moment, he shrugs.] Okay then. Rock 'n roll.

[Alters]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Attacking with Zetsuei, he lashes out with the ribbons first before sending the Alter itself in with a flying kick. The familiar feeling of his power seems to calm him, and his heart appears to be more in the fight this time.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[HOSHIT! He'd almost forgotten just how damn fast Zetsuei could move. Almost. While he manages to dodge the ribbons, the kick connects and sends him flying backwards through the forest...until an obliging tree breaks his trajectory. Owwie. He's definitely gonna feel that in the morning. So's the tree, for that matter.

For now, however, he shakes it off and rolls to his feet. Slamming his armored fist into the ground, he launches himself upward above the treeline. Jacknifing, he fires the first red spine on his back. Leading with his fist, he streaks downward through the air to say howdy to Zetsuei, Lost Ground style.]

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[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Remember those ribbons? They'll be crossed in front of your path now, blocking your death-from-above attack. He knows Kazuma's style, the attacks almost... comforting in their familiarity.]

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[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Well hell...this could be a problem. Still, he's already committed to this attack, and if he tried to abort it now, he'd probably break his damn neck--which is something he can't regenerate. So...onward he goes; he's gonna do his damndest to bust through those ribbons and smack into Zetsuei so hard they'll feel it all the way back in the Lost Ground.]