[Last Time, on Battle High:  The team had lunch and got introduced, sort of, to
the champions of last year's Tournament during lunch.  Atsuko nearly got into a
fight in the middle of the lunch line, but managed to stave it off until after
the academic placement tests.  Atsuko won her second fight with Marcie Darner,
the firey little witch that lives just down the hall, but Karasu lost to Noreen
Tindel, who he beat in the first placement test...
...in just two hits.  She wasn't very pleased about him trying to take over her
body, either, though he later tried to explain that it was her fault for
accidentally absorbing the demon that lives in his inner heart.  Hooray for
demonic bishonen.]
[Now, it's the start of their second day of school, and they've no idea what the
day will bring for the second-worst team in the school.]
[It's six in the morning, and alarms are just starting to go off.]
[Second Day Battle... FIGHT!]
* Atsuko hops out of bed and stretches.
* Hope is already up and practicing.
* Karasu is already up and ready.
* Mariah is up and Tarot-reading. "... I can't get these dumb things to give me
any real answers."
* Atsuko goes to the door and looks to see if there's a note there yet, since
that seems to happen a lot.
* THERE IS!  Yes, folks, they CAN BE TAUGHT!
* Atsuko picks it up and reads it!
<Note> First battle, Fight Room 404.  Opponents: Son Wukong Wing, Room 101.
<Note> Time: 7:00 AM
<Atsuko> Guys? We got a fight in an hour. ^^;
<Mariah> -- We do? Oh, geez. Lemme get my stuff.
<Karasu> Someone ought to wake the captain.
<Atsuko> Uhuh.
* Mariah leaves her cards where they are and goes to get her backpack and staff.
* Atsuko runs to the bathroom to shower, taking her towel with her.
* Hope already has her sword.
* Karasu goes to do that, since nobody else wants the job :P
* The door to the captain's room is closed.
* Karasu knocks.
* No answer.
* Karasu knocks louder.
* No answer.
* Hope goes over to the door and pounds on it hard.
* No answer.
<Karasu> Captain? I'm coming in.
<Hope> Should we knock it down?
* Karasu opens the door.
* Mariah looks over there. "HEY! Kai!!"
* Atsuko finishes her shower quickly, and runs to her room to go get changed.
* The room is empty.  The bed is unmade, it looks as though there was a struggle
of some sort, as the sheets are strewn all over the room.
<Hope> ...
<Hope> Uh. Shit.
<Hope> Guys, we got a problem.
<Mariah> ... yeah. Yeah we do.
* Either that, or Kai is a really messy person.
<Karasu> So it would seem.  When could this have happened?
<Hope> No idea.
<Hope> We better get to the fight room. There will be a teacher or something,
and we can tell them.
<Mariah> It must have been last night. ... yeah, we should go. They can help.
* Atsuko comes out of her room, wearing a blue skirt, a white t-shirt, and a
denim jacket. There's something written on the shirt in Romanji, but it can't
all be seen. "What's wrong?"
<Hope> Our captain is missing.
* Karasu looks around the room.
<Hope> Come on.
<Hope> We better find a way.
<Mariah> Kai's gone!
* Hope remembers that we ended up on the fourth floor once before. "I think I
know how to get there." She tried to remember the way, and starts that way.
* Mariah follows behind Hope, a worried look on her face.
<Atsuko> He's WHAT?!
* Atsuko runs after Hope.
<Hope> He's missing.
* Karasu stays where he is, figuring he'll catch up later.
* Hope continues to head to the fourth floor, following her memory.
* Hope's memory serves quite well, and in no time at all, she's on the fourth
floor, looking at room 404.
* Karasu is satified and heads after the others.
* Atsuko enters the room and looks around.
* Hope walks in and nods at the other team. "Is the ref here yet? There is a
situation."
* Waiting in the room are five people, four boys and one girl.  The girl is a
tall, scrawny thing, very much... er... underdeveloped, except for her height,
with long, light brown hair with no style other than "messy."  She's wearing a
short, short, short pair of cutoff shorts and a tattered shirt with almost as
much area devoted to holes as to fabric, and no shoes or other footgear.
* The only other unarmed member of the group bears a short, black crew cut for
hair, barely noticeable eyebrows, and startlingly bright red eyes.  he's
wearing, strangely, nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, and those are rather
ratty.
* Standing WELL away from the two ratty looking ones is a rather spiffily
dressed boy, wearing a nice pair of dress slacks and a dress shirt with
mismatched sleeves.  One sleeve is a standard shirt sleeve, but the other
appears to be made of chainmail.  Sheathed on his opposite hip from the
chainmail sleeve is a rapier.  The boy himself is doing his best to keep his
nose pointed away from his teammates, and his short black hair is well kept and
styled nicely.
* The fourth member bears a large polearm propped over his shoulder,  He's got
mid-shoulder black hair, and he's dressed in a long, white robe with overlarge
sleeves that hang nearly down to his knees.
* The last member of the group is the most notable.  He's dressed in a set of
what appears to be somewhat stylized classical japanese armor, and bears a
naginata propped against one shoulder.  His hair and face are impossible to see,
hidden as they are by helm and mempo, all you can see is his eyes.  The mempo
itself bears a cruel smile, though, one that is mimiced by all his teammates as
they watch you enter.
<Dais> No referee has arrived yet.
<Mariah> No ref? Okay...
* Atsuko waves to the other team, smiling.
<Hope> Hm. We'll wait then. I'm Hope Fayth. Nice ta meetcha.
* Dais counts off as people enter the room. "One... two... three... You appear
to be missing a couple of people."
* Tyrone sniffs disdainfully and steps a little farther from the rest of his
team.
<Hope> Karasu'll be along shortly. Our captain is missing.
* Dais speaks up, and you can almost hear the smirk in his voice. "Is he, now?
What a pity. _What_ a _pity._"
* Hope narrows her eyes. "Indeed. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it,
would you?"
<Mariah> Uh, yeah...
<Dais> What could we possibly know about your missing captain?
<Hope> You never know.
* Karasu comes along about now.
<Dais> After all, we only found out that we were fighting you a few minutes ago.
<Dais> Oh,a nd here's your fourth...
* Hope turns to Karasu. "Any sign of mien capitan?"
<Tanisha> Rrrrrrrrrrr.  Bored.
* Atsuko frowns in annoyance.
<Karasu> None.
<Tanisha> When's this thing start?
<Hope> It starts when it starts.
<Tyrone> Impatience is a sign of immaturity.
<Mariah> Pretty soon, I think.
<Mariah> Oh... I'm Mariah, by the way.
* Tyrone nods. "Tyrone Weimar."
<Dais> Well, we're up a person, apparently, so I'll go, too.  I'm Dais Spider.
<Karasu> Karasu Kage.
<Tanisha> Tanisha Connaugh.
* Atsuko bows politely. "I'm Atsuko Matsura."
* The guy with the polearm lifts his eyes to meet Atsuko's.  "Max Alber."
* And the ratty looking guy in the boxers with no eyebrows pipes up in a squeaky
voice, "Mui Melosora."
* The same old referee that you guys had for your last fight walks slowly into
the room.  "Aaaaaah, good morning.  NIce to see everybody here bright and early. 
You've already introduced yourselves, I hope?"
<Mariah> Yeah -- uh, sir?
* Dais turns his head towards his team and mutters, "Man, this is a step down
from the last ref. She was such a hottie."
* Atsuko nods. "Uhuh."
* Karasu nods.
* Hope walks over to the ref. "Uh. There is a situation."
<Hope> Our captain is.. well, missing. His room is a mess... sorta like there
was a struggle.
* The ref walks slowly up to the side of the small fighting ring, which is the
same as the last one you played on, a 8x8 construction of large stone tiles, in
a small room with a closed circuit television.
<Referee> Mmm, mmm.  So you're down a man, hmm?
<Hope> Yep.
<Referee>  Well, nothing to be done for it.  I suppose you don't want to
forfeit?
<Mariah> ... that's bad, right?
<Dais> Not for US.
<Hope> Not a chance.
<Hope> One of us has to fight twice then?
<Atsuko> No way!
* Karasu shrugs. "If the rules are the same as last time, we only need to win
three matches."
<Referee> Oh, no, no.  Not unless you want to, anyway.  If it comes down to a
two up match, they'll win unless one of you fights again.
<Hope> Okay. Well, let's see if it comes to that.
<Tyrone> It won't.
* Hope looks back at the group. "Uh..since I was runner up, mind if I be backup
captain?"
* Mariah shakes her head. "Go ahead."
* Karasu shrugs.
<Atsuko> Sure.
<Hope> Okay.
* Hope looks back at the ref. "We're ready to fight."
<Referee> Okay, first fighters into the ring.  Let's get this fight started. 
Sooner you're done, the sooner I can get back to my morning exercises.
* Dais watches you guys carefully, black eyes glittering evilly.
<Mariah> ... okay, who wants to go?
<Hope> We gotta think stratagy.
* Hope walks back over to the group and whispers. "Let's see who they choose
first."
* Mariah nods.
* Karasu shrugs.
<Referee> Wukong, you're up a man, you pony up the first fighter.  They can pony
up first next round.
* Dais nods slowly.
<Dais> Tanisha, get up there.
* Tanisha leaps from where she is, crouched on the bench, to land squarely in
the middle of the ring.
* Atsuko looks over at Hope. "What do you think? Can I go?"
<Hope> Hmm..
<Hope> Yeah. Atsuko, you go.
<Hope> Kick some ass.
<Tanisha> Rrrrrrrrrr.  C'mon, c'mon.  Wanna fight!
<Hope> Don't hold back.
* Atsuko hops into the ring, and waves to Hope. "No problem!"
* Tanisha does a quick somersault towards your side and then rolls back in an
instant.
* Atsuko bows to Tanisha, then settles into a loose stance.
* Tanisha twitches her head to her left and growls.
* Karasu puts his hands in his trenchcoat pockets.
<Tanisha> GRRROWR.
* Atsuko leaps towards Tanisha, flipping as she does so and lashing out with a
kick at her head.
<Atsuko> .oO(Why do I always get the crazy ones?)
* Tanisha hops easily out of the way, lashing out at Atsuko's landing foot with
her own.
* Atsuko hits the ground, rolling backwards to her feet.
<Tanisha> Fsssst!
* Atsuko raises her hands above her head, light beginning to shine between them.
"Heaven's Glory!" She thrusts her arms forward, and there's a brilliant flash of
light.
* Tanisha jumps straight upward, and when the flash dies down, she appears to
be... er... clinging to the ceiling of the room. The _stone_ ceiling. By her
fingers and toes, which are dug into the stone.
<Hope> Very catty, isn't she?
* Tanisha shakes her head furiously back and forth, then fixes her eyes on
Atsuko below her.
<Mariah> Goddess save her.
* Karasu nods.
* Atsuko looks up and stairs.
<Hope> C'mon Atsuko. Use those ninja skillz.
* Tanisha jumps straight down from the ceiling, fingers extended before her to
tear at Atsuko.
* Tanisha lashes right into Atsuko and rebounds from the impact, fingers coming
away dripping blood.
<Atsuko> Eeeyah!
* Atsuko staggers away.
<Atsuko> Alright, fine!
<Tanisha> Fssst.  Leave senstive eyes alone!
* Karasu watches, expressionless.
* Atsuko rushes at Tanisha, then leaps up and backwards, kicking as she flips.
"Atsuko KICK!"
* Tanisha twitches as she wipes blood on the ring.
<Mariah> Wow, she's nuts.
<Hope> I hope Atsuko can handle her.
<Karasu> I wouldn't have chosen Atsuko to battle this one.
* Tanisha watches the kick come towards her calmly, and doesn't bother to dodge
at all. She skids backward as it crushes her shoulder downward, and she bounces
off the ground and back to her feet.
<Hope> Who would you have chosen?
<Karasu> Probably Mariah.  Maybe myself.
<Mariah> ... really? Me?
* Atsuko lands lightly on her feet, and stares at her opponent.
* Karasu nods.
* Tanisha rushes forward on all fours screaming, "ALLEY CAT SHREDDER!"
<Hope> Maybe you're right. I was hoping to match speed with speed.
* Atsuko leaps up and over the catlike one, whirling to face her.
* Karasu nods.
* Tanisha slashes her claws through where Atsuko was standing, and then
straightens up, looking confused.
* Tanisha blinks a couple times.
<Karasu> Atsuko's certainly fast enough to keep up with her, but I fear her
speed won't be enough.
* Atsuko runs at Tanisha, performing her signature kick again. "Atsuko KICK!"
<Hope> Well. I'm giving her a chance. I think we're gonna need you later.
<Karasu> You're overestimating me.
* Tanisha fades out as Atsuko's kick passes through where she appeard to be.
Atsuko lands flat on the floor just as she calls out "Frrrrrrom behind! ALLEY
CAT SHREDDER!"
<Hope> Maybe.
* Tanisha pounces on Atsuko's back, clawing downward with both hands and feet,
making hamburger of Atsuko's tender backside.
* Atsuko screams in pain.
* Tanisha rolls away, hands and feet covered in Atsuko's blood.
* Mariah winces and looks away.
<Dais> HAHAHAHAHA!
* Tyrone frowns.
<Hope> Atsuko..
* Atsuko staggers away, grimacing, but keeping herself facing Tanisha. "Well, if
you don't like it..."
* Atsuko screams "HEAVEN'S GLORY!" and fires off another burst of light.
<Tanisha> ROOOOOOOOOWRRRRL
* Tanisha slams her eyes closed, but when the light clears, she's still
stumbling around, trying to clear her eyes.
* Tanisha turns to one side and flails ineffectually at the air.
* Atsuko runs at Tanisha from behind, looking as closed to pissed off as you've
ever seen her. "One more time! Atsuko KICK!"
* Tanisha snaps her eyes open as Atsuko lands just to one side of her, the kick
falling just a _tad_ short. "GOTCHA!"
* Tanisha whirls towards Atsuko, eyes staring blindly ahead, and pounces on
Atsuko, claws tearing wildly.
* Tanisha claws wildly, opening new scratches on Atsuko's arms and face, and
then leaps away, nearly landing outside the ring.
* Atsuko falls to the ground.
<Referee> That looks like a KO to me.  GreatAl, you guys have bandages, I hope.
<Hope> Damn.
<Dais> Ha!  It won't get far enough for one of you to have to fight twice.
<Karasu> Rather a vicious lot.
* Hope goes and picks up Atsuko, and moves her out of the ring.
* Tanisha hops out of the ring unsteadily and walks back to her space on the
bench.
<Mariah> ... yeah. Uh, I have bandages, I thinkl...
<Referee> GreatAl, it's your turn to pony up the first fighter.
* Mariah looks at her teammates. "Okay...
<Hope> Hm..
* Karasu looks to Hope.
* Hope looks around the group.. "Mariah? You wanna go up?"
<Mariah> ... I could. If nobody else wants to.
* Karasu shrugs. "I have no preference.
<Karasu> It's up to the captain.
* Hope closes her eyes.. ".. okay. Mariah, go."
<Mariah> Hope?
* Dais snickers.
* Karasu folds his arms and leans against the wall.
<Dais> This one is mine.
* Mariah stands up and pulls out her staff, stepping into the ring.
* Dais hops easily up into the ring, twirling his naginata down off his shoulder
and into position.
<Dais> Are you ready?  I wouldn't want to strike before you're prepared, after
all.
* Mariah takes a stance. "I'm ready."
* Dais rushes forward, an aura of shadow blurring the edges of his form. He
lashes his naginata forward, calling out, "SHADOW CUTTER!"
* Atsuko slowly opens her eyes, looking up at Hope. She smiles weakly. "I messed
up."
<Hope> Not you fault. I.. didn't choose right I guess.
<Karasu> I wouldn't say that, either.
* Atsuko sits up slowly, and realizes she's now topless except for her bra and a
lot of bandages. "Eep!"
* Mariah is struck head-on by the blade, which just... passes through; there's
no blood, but she staggers a few feet back.
* Atsuko wraps her arms around her chest as she blushes, then winces in pain.
* Karasu looks over at Atsuko. "You're better off not trying to move much."
<Mariah> ... Aura of Truth!
<Atsuko> ...uhuh.
* Atsuko turns to watch the fight.
* Mariah spins her staff a few times in front of her, and a clean white aura of
flickering light springs to life around her.
<Dais> Hah!
* Dais rushes forward, not bothering to use another special attack, and lashes
out with the butt of his naginata.
* Mariah stands strong and takes the naginata in the chest; she stumbles back
another step, but her aura flares out at Dais.
<Mariah> * The tendrils of light climb up the naginata...
* Dais jerks backward, but the aura still climbs up his naginata and claw at his
hands.
* Dais skids to a stop and sneers at Mariah, not that you can see it, thanks to
his mempo. "Feh. The light holds no fear for me."
* Mariah blinks and takes a few more steps back, face blanking. "... oh,
*duh*... I got things -- mixed up -- I...."
* Karasu frowns to himself.
<Hope> I made another mistake, didn't I?
<Mariah> ... I... wait, wait, *maybe*... goddess guide me...
<Karasu> No.
<Karasu> This is more like... Mariah's choice of tactics.
* Atsuko looks a bit confused. "What's she doing?"
* Mariah looks up and away from Dais for a moment, her staff making circles, her
mouth forming words... "... YES."
<Karasu> Looks like she has a plan.
* Dais backs away uncertainly, and holds his naginata braced before him.
<Mariah> After every day, the goddess gives us night! When the light of truth
fails, we must trust the world of mystery! Fate guide my strike! NEW MOON
RISING!
* The ring goes dark.
<Hope> ... Wow.
* Dais screams. And screams. And screams. Then the screaming stops, and the
darkness dies away, and he's lying there, on the ring, not moving.
* Atsuko boggles.
* Karasu nods to himself. "Evidently, it worked."
<Hope> ... Impressive.
* Mariah is still standing, looking down at Dais. "... thank you." She bows her
head, reverently.
* Referee hops into the ring and takes a pulse on Dais.
<Referee>  Well, he's still alive.  Good job, that.
<Mariah> Uh... yeah...
* Referee hops back out of the ring.  "Wukong, it's your turn to pony up first."
* Atsuko stares at Mariah, astonished.
* Hope grins at Mariah. "That was great!"
* Karasu nods to Mariah. "Well done."
* Mariah steps back out of the ring. "Thanks. ... I hope I can do it again."
* Mariah sits down, letting her staff drop.
* Atsuko smiles widely at Mariah. "You did it! You were amazing!"
* Mui hops into the ring and pulls Dais out.
<Atsuko> I knew you were strong! ^_^
* Mui hops back into the ring after dropping Dais back by the bench.
<Mariah> I... yeah. I guess I am.
* Mariah seems quite frankly astonished.
<Mui> Ha.  I am up next.  You will not defeat me.
* Karasu looks expectantly at Hope.
<Hope> ... I'll do this one.
* Karasu nods.
<Atsuko> Go get'em, Hope!
* Mui stands stiffly at something approximating military attention, not
twitching so much as a muscle. He looks pretty silly.
<Hope> Karasu, I'm counting on you.
* Karasu shrugs. "We shall see." He makes his way to the ring.
* Atsuko blinks. "Uh...okay then."
<Atsuko> Good luck, Karasu! ^_^
<Mariah> Yeah, good luck!
<Mui> You can not win.  You should surrender now.
* Karasu stands calmly, starting to glow with a dark purple aura.
* Mui drops into a strange, boxing-like stance and starts glowing with a burning
red aura.
* Hope whispers at Mariah. "We've got a bit of a problem. I can probably handle
the guy with the polearm.. but the rapier guy would tear my apart. Do ya think
you could handle another fight?"
* Mariah looks from Hope to the rapier guy. "... uh, if I have to."
* Karasu stays where he is, crossing his arms in front of himself. He releases
them one at a time, however, sending two dark, raven-shaped projectiles at his
enemy. "Raven Wing!"
<Hope> Sorry to ask.. but Atsuko is torn up.
<Mariah> It's okay.
* Hope blinks.
<Hope> .. on second though.. Wait. I'll.. I'll fight 'em both.
<Hope> I.. just got a weird feelin'. Huh.
* Mui snaps his arms forward, catching a raven beak in each palm. The wings bend
around to strike at him, but they're torn apart by his aura before they can get
anywhere near him.
<Mariah> Oh? You should trust those...
* Mui rushes forward, lashing out with a flame-coated fist at Karasu.
* Karasu takes the blow in the shoulder. He steps back, but quickly spins around
and throws a kick at Mui.
* Mui blocks the kick with his opposite forearm, grunting slightly with the
impact.
* Karasu drops his leg, hands bluring as he jabs at Mui's chest with two
fingers.
* Mui flops backwards at the waist, his leading foot flying up to catch Karasu
under the chin in a flash of flame.
* Karasu throws an elbow towards Mui's gut.
* Mui takes the elbow in the gut and skids backward a little. "KOOF!"
* Karasu swings his leg up when the elbow lands for a kick.
* Atsuko watches intently.
* Mui takes the kick in the chest and flops backwards onto the floor of the
ring, rolling backwards head over heels several times, until he rolls to his
feet just one tile away from the edge.
* Mui smiles.
<Mui> You've already lost.  You just don't know it.
<Hope> You stole that from Fist of the North Star.
* Hope stares. "Karasu! Your shirt!"
* Mui holds one hand out towards Karasu, and more specifically, towards the
small ember fighting to burn away his shirt. "FLARE BIT!
<Hope> Rip it off or som.. damn it!
* The little ember explodes into a colossal column of fire, leaving a scorched
hole at least three inches deep in the ceiling and in the floor of the ring.
<Atsuko> Oh no!
<Hope> Damn.
<Mariah> ... oh, my god!
<Mariah> -- goddess!
<Hope> Karasu? Karasu?
* Karasu doesn't answer.
* When the pillar dies away, there's a VERY charred Karasu standing in the hole
where the floor used to be.
* Karasu falls down.
<Hope> Shit!
* Mui turns away from Karasu and hops back down onto the bench. "NEXT!"
* Hope pulls off her jacket and uses it to shield her hands as best she can. She
leaps into the ring, grabs Karasu and pulls him out.
<Referee>  Like the boy says, next fighter.  It's GreatAl's turn to pony up.
* Hope grabs her sword, eyes blazing. "Mariah, watch over him."
<Atsuko> Karasu!
* Hope hops into the ring.
* Karasu doesn't respond as he's a little... yeah.
*** Tanisha is now known as Max
* Max hops up into the ring. "I'll take this little bit of fluff."
* Tyrone smirks. "If you say so, fool."
* Mariah nods and looks down at Karasu. "Good luck, Hope..."
* Max levels his glaive at Hope. "C'mon, now. Let's get busy."
<Atsuko> Get'em, Hope!
<Max> I'll even let you have the first hit.
* Hope gets into a battle stance. "How sweet."
* Hope rushes foward, and with an amazing speed, brings her sword around with a
yell of "MEGA HIT!"
* Max slams his glaive down, using the butt to propel himself upward and over
the zanbatou. He falls down swiftly, however, when the zanbatou neatly bisects
his polearm, making it more of a short spear.
<Max> ...well ...shit.
<Hope> Aww. Did someone's phallic object get castrated?
<Max> You're the one with the massive case of penis envy.
* Max rolls towards Hope, thrusting upwards with the shortened glaive.
<Mui> Bah.  he's already lost.  Stupid.  Stupidstupidstupid.
* Hope backflips backwards, dodging the mini-glaive. Quick as a fox, she springs
forward and swings her blade with amazing speed. "FLURRY. OF. BLOWS!"
* Max is only halfway off the ground when the flurry slams him around the ring
like a rag doll, finally dropping him after the tenth hit. He falls to the
ground limply, and doesn't make any attempt to move.
<Atsuko> Alright Hope!
* Hope twirls her blade over her head. "That's the way!"
<Mariah> Wow!
* Mui hops in and pulls Max out. "Toldja. Shouln'ta tried to fight someone who's
got your weakness. Not to mention a sword the size of your entire body.
* Mui tosses Max down on top of Dais, who still hasn't woken up.
* Hope looks back at the group. Charred Karasu, cut up Atsuko and Mariah. "I'll
be taking the next fight too."
* Tyrone hops into the ring. "I should have known that fool's machinations would
come to naught."
<Mariah> ... okay, if you want...
* Atsuko nods. "You're the boss." ^_^
* Atsuko looks over at the Wukong team critically. "No team spirit at all."
<Tyrone> I still don't know why they chose him for captain.
<Hope> Big words, small mind. Let's get it on.
* Tyrone cross-draws his rapier and drops into a fencing stance.
<Mariah> .oO(Machinations?)
<Tyrone> Very well.  As you wish.  I'll not give you the first strike, though.
<Atsuko> Kick his butt, hope!
* Tyrone rushes forward, thrusting repeatedly at Hope. "Strike first... STRIKE
LAST!"
* Hope manages to dodge two of his thursts, but then is stabbed three times.
Once on each bicep and once in the leg. Using this to her advantage, she quickly
brings her gigantic sword around with a cry of "MEGA.. HIT!"
* Tyrone is struck soundly in the side, and there's a sharp snapping sound as at
least one rib is shattered. He's flung across the ring, and nearly out of it,
but he climbs to his feet, still ready to fight.
<Atsuko> Woo!
* Tyrone starts to run forward, but he's slowed by his ribs and isn't moving
very quickly at all.
* Hope quickly brings her sword around again for another "MEGA HIT!"
* Tyrone slips and falls, falling just barely under the blade. He jabs his
rapier into Hope's ankle as he falls, bringing her down to his level.
* Hope stands up as best she can and brings her sword down quickly in a slash.
* Tyrone yanks his legs up and out of the way, but pays for it in pain as he
rolls away, putting still MORE pressure on his broken rib.
<Tyrone> Gaaaaaaaaah!
* Tyrone rolls unsteadily to his feet and drops back into his fencing stance.
"Come and get me, if you can."
* Atsuko cups her hands to her mouth. "Hope! You can do it!"
<Hope> Here goes! For our team!
* Hope moves forward and slashes her sword as quick as she can. "FLURRY OF
BLOWS!"
* Karasu says nothing. Wonder why.
* Tyrone lunges forward under Hope's flurry, his readiness for the attack
apparent. Hope's ankle chooses just the wrong moment to twitch, and she's
impaled through the shoulder by the rapier.
<Mariah> ...
* Tyrone steps back, retracting the rapier. Blood begins to spread out across
Hope's shirt.
<Atsuko> Oh no!
* Hope growls. She looks very, very bad, but she somehow manages to swing that
gigantic sword one more time. "MEGA. FUCKING. HIT!"
* Tyrone makes a big mistake. No, bigger than that. Huge. We're talking "Custer
at Little Big Horn" huge, here. He tries to block a zanbatou with a rapier. Not
only does it not work, he takes the blade full in the chest and is knocked the
rest of the way out of the ring, bouncing off the wall to land on top of Max and
Dais.
* Hope leans on her sword as best she can. She doesn't look good, no not at all.
BUt she's standing.
<Referee> Win by ring out and KO!  Looks like you've pulled out a win while down
a man.  Not bad, kiddies.
* Atsuko hops to her feet. "Yay!"
* Mui stands up.
<Atsuko> Owowowowow!
<Mariah> Wow. Nicely done, Hope!
<Mui> ...stupid.  I can't believe we lost like this.
* Hope limps over. "Thanks. But we did it as a team. Even if we don't have our
captain."
* Atsuko smiles at Mui. "S'cause you don't act like a team." ^_^
* Hope looks over at Mui. "It's was a good fight. You guys just argue too much.
We should fight again sometime. When I'm not in so much damn pain."
* Tanisha smirks. "Tell that to the oneshot wonder over there. Maybe he'll try
it."
<Tanisha> Yeah, we've heard all about him.  The only oneshot in the entire batch
of placement fights.
* Atsuko frowns.
* Mui smirks at the fried crow. "He wasn't _that_ bad. Just not as good as
everybody says."
* Mui picks up Max and Tyrone.
* Mariah nods. "That was a good fight...
<Hope> Uh.. can.. someone sorta carry Karasu? Cuz.. I'm like this close to
falling over."
* Tanisha picks up Dais.
* Tanisha walks out of the fight room.
* Atsuko looks at Hope and Mariah. "Uh, can I ask you guys something?"
<Mui> Good win.  See you guys some other time
* Mui walks out, carrying a body on each shoulder.
<Hope> Sure. What's up?
<Mariah> Yeah, sure.
<Atsuko> Uh...what's a 'Dyke'?
<Hope> ... Uh...
<Mariah> ... uh.
<Hope> Crude name for a lesbian. Why?
* Atsuko scratches her head. "A lesbian? I dunno that one either. It was
something Marcie said to me."
<Mariah> ... Marcie's real weird.
<Hope> She's nuts. Don't worry about it. Let's go back to the room now.
<Atsuko> But...
<Hope> But...?
<Atsuko> Oh, fine. I'll look it up.
<Hope> Uh..
<Hope> I told you. Crude name for a lesbian. I doubt a dictonary will have it
anyway.
<Atsuko> But what's a lesbian?
<Mariah> Um... a girl who likes other girls. You know.
* It doesn't take long for the group to end up back in their quarters.  There's
a six pack of energy drink waiting for them, too.  how thoughtful.
* Hope pulls one out and chugs it.
* Atsuko looks confused. "Isn't normal to like other girls? How could you be
friends if you didn't?"
<Hope> It's a girl, who wants to have sex, with other girls.
* Mariah takes a tired seat on the couch and grabs an energy drink. "Not like.
'like' like, y'know -- yeah."
* Atsuko blinks and stares. "You mean...like...like the way you like boys?"
<Hope> Uh.. what do you mean by "the way YOU like boys"?
<Mariah> Yeah.
* Atsuko sits down on the couch, looking utterly shocked.
<Atsuko> Then...uh...
* Atsuko puts a hand to her mouth and blushes.
<Atsuko> I...Michan...uh...oh man...
* Karasu comes out not long after, wearing different clothes, not that anyone
can tell, since his entire wardrobe seems to be the same.
* Hope blinks. "So, you're a lesbian then?"
<Atsuko> Uh...I dunno. My friend Michan...the way I like her...uh...I always get
all blushy around her, and...uh...
<Mariah> ... you have a crush?
<Atsuko> Uh. I think...maybe...yes.
* Atsuko blushes more deeply.
<Hope> Huh.
* Mariah smiles between swigs of energy drink. "Oh, that's so *cute!*"
<Hope> Well. To each their own.
* Karasu heads to the front door and leaves. "I'm heading out for a bit."
* Hope looks at Karasu. "Where ya goin'?"
* Atsuko slumps a bit. "But...she's already got a boyfriend."
* Karasu closes the door after himself. "Nowhere in particular."
<Mariah> ... oh. That's so sad!
* Atsuko looks rather distressed at this newfound knowledge.
<Mariah> Maybe you should talk to her?
<Hope> What's the big deal? So she's lesbian.
<Atsuko> Yeah...I should call her...
* Hope shrugs. "She's got a boyfriend. That might just make things worse."
<Mariah> I dunno. Would it be worse not to tell her? ... I don't know that much
about this stuff.
* Atsuko hangs her head. "...probly. I dunno."
<Atsuko> I've never had a crush on someone before...
* Karasu opens the door. He's carrying Kai.
* Hope blinks. "Hey, it's the captain. Where'd ya find him?"
<Hope> Aww. Shucks. Guess that mean's I'm not captain anymore. That was kinda
fun.
* Karasu shrugs as he walks towards Kai's room. "Nowhere in particular."
* Mariah looks up at Karasu. "... wat happened?
* Atsuko blinks and stares. "What happened to him?"
<Hope> ... Uh.. I know you have to be all brooding and stuff, but you found him
somewhere.
<Hope> Where was that?
* Kai has a big lump on his head.
* Karasu lays Kai on his bed. "Probably, he was attacked sometime last night. Or
he went sleepwalking.
<Mariah> Oh...
<Hope> So, where was he?
<Karasu> Right outside, in fact.
<Mariah> ... really? We didn't see him?
* Karasu shrugs. "I don't know. I wasn't conscious at the time."
<Hope> If you.. say so.
<Hope> Anyway.
* Hope goes into the practice room. "Gotta get s'more practice in. We kicked ass
team!"
<Mariah> Yeah! Hopefully we'll move up!
* Karasu follows Hope in. "Some of you."
<Door> KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
* Mariah heads to the girls' room to get shower stuff, now that she has some
time -- or, no, she doesn't. She goes to the door. "Hello?"
* Hope blinks. She turns around and answers the door.
<Greg> Hi! ^_^
<Hugh> Hey, we just got back from our second fight, figured you did, too.
<Hope> Yo. What's up?
<Greg> How'd you guys do?
<Mariah> Yeah, we just got done.
* Hope grins. "We kicked ass. Atsuko and Karasu lost, but they fought really
good. Me and Mariah won tho'."
<Mariah> We won.
* Atsuko looks over to the door. "Oh, hi..."
* Hugh counts it out. "...that's only four. What about that other guy? He musta
won, right?"
<Mariah> ... he went missing. We just found him.
<Mariah> Hope had to fight twice.
<Greg> ...you're kidding.
<Hope> Nope.
<Hugh> ...wow.
* Hope grins. "Still kinda hard to believe I won. Guess that practice must be
payin' off."
<Greg> Practice always pays.
<Atsuko> Is, uh...Marcie okay?
<Greg> We won, too.  I don't know what you did to Marcie, but she nearly tore
her opponent apart.
<Greg> I had to knock her out to keep her from tearing his heart out.
<Mariah> Ouch.
<Greg> I don't think she even noticed she had a broken ankle.
<Hope> I see she's as nutty as ever.
<Atsuko> ...oh.
<Hugh> Nutty as peanut butter.
<Greg> Or fruitcake.
<Hope> Perhaps nutty as a peanut butter fruitcake.
* Hugh snorts.
* Atsuko sighs, and slumps a bit more.
* A scream echoes from down the hall.  It sounds like Kento.
<Greg> ...erp.
<Hugh> ...looks like Marcie's woke up.
<Mariah> ...
<Mariah> ... she really is angry.
<Hope> I pity you guys.
* Another howl of agony echoes down the hall.
<Greg> We'd better go save him...
<Mariah> Do you guys need help?
<Hugh> _You_ should.  I can't take her.
<Hope> Want any help?
<Greg> Nah, she's not good enough to take me.
* Greg hauls ass back down the hall to rescue Kento from his teammate.
<Atsuko> I wish I understood...why she's so angry.
<Hugh> Probably because you've beaten her soundly twice.
<Hugh> And then you talked down to her.
<Mariah> Some people just don't have any inner peace.
<Atsuko> ...talked down to her? I didn't!
<Hugh> It doesn't matter what you think.  What matters is how she sees it.
<Hugh> Think about it.
* Hugh turns around and strolls down the hall to his team's room.
* Atsuko sighs.
<Atsuko> Y'know...
<Mariah> Yeah?
<Atsuko> It's funny. When I got invited here, I was really excited, 'cause I
thought that if I went to a place where everyone was a martial artist, then I
wouldn't be strange anymore and I wouldn't have to hide part of me.
<Atsuko> And then I get here and I'm still the weird one.
<Mariah> ... oh?
<Mariah> ... it's okay. I'm weird too.
<Hope> We're all weird.
* Hope grins at Atsuko. "Anyone gives you guff, punch 'em in the face."
* Atsuko smiles a little. "I just wish I could be as determined to win as you
guys."
<Atsuko> Have...whadda you call it...fighting spirit.
<Mariah> I dunno. I just have to because, if I don't, why am I here?
[Second Day Battle... Win by KO, KO, and KO/Ring Out, Alexander The Great #103!]