Solomon vs. Asukastrikes

[Ther]

This match-up will last until 8 P.M. E.S.T. on 2/16/07. Remember, if you finish your battle early, I can score you early - and finishing early is a good, good thing.

Best of luck!

[Solomon]

The soft light of the morning rose up from under the hills. The white aura in the sky between the ranks of trees was soon to be replaced by the watery rays of a new born day. The wind itself had not yet woken, and the warm air sat in place as the day began. The sounds of birds met the morning's light, each and every single one of them glad to be here on this day. They chirrped to the sunshine, and to all the life of the forest, to greet everything and everyone with a blessing of a new day. It was truly a sight to be treasured.

He sat alone agaist the base of a tree trunk. His head between his cold arms and his knees tucked up against him to protect his warmth. The night had been cold, and he was not yet ready to face a new day. Not like this.

Reluctanly, Solomon brought his head up. He did not open his eyes, but rested his head against the great trunk of the tree in the crowded woods. All around him the roots made him uncomfortable, and the shifts and turns in the gnarled stoney floor only made for a less appealing place to sleep.

He knew why he was here, and what he was doing. The only thing he didn't know is how this had happened to him? So many questions, so many things he felt no longer made sense to him. He had tried to fight, as he was trained to do, anything to keep himself from thinking. Only in the end did he realize he was no hero, or great warrior. He made a disgrace of himself, and he wasn't even sure why. He just didn't feel right anymore. He didn't even know what he was doing.

To make matters worse, this confusion he felt had resulted in the death of Kira. The young girl who actually made him forget his troubles, kissed him for the first time, and said she'd leave with him. The man who shot her should have been dead already. He should have finished him off when he had the chance. Now, Kira was dead. Just like all the days before, Solomon was all alone.

"Curse the fates!" Solomon said on a mounful whisper. His body feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds, he pulled himself up against the tree. For a moment he thought he might leave, but he knew there was no better place to go. He was best here, off in the forest, where no other eyes could see him. That way he'd have the consolation of not hurting anyone else with his feeble confusions.

[AsukaStrikes]

Curse the Fates.

The words hung in the moist, chilly morning as sunlight began to pierce through the darkness under the dense, green canopies. Starlings sang happily in the comfort of their nests, the parents bearing food to their eager youngs. In the midst of it all, a storm began to brew.

Curse it. Curse it all.

The early morning breeze cut through the skin of a lone wanderer trekking through the dark corridors. On a normal day, the refreshing morning chills would be a great way to start the day. With it, a clear and cloudless sky awaits and the prospects of lively fields and festive townsfolks.

But not today and definitely not here. Not for her.

Curse you all!

Asuka ploughed through the thicket of the Concordian wilderness, swearing and cursing under her breath while her hands pushed through low branches and thorny hedges alike. The swordmaiden's leather boots crunched over twigs and sticks, stirring the jackdaws from their sleep as they take to the wide blue sky. Gloved hands whipped the flexible young branches aside, the recoiled smashes ehoing noisily through the fading darkness.

There was reasoning behind her unhealthy mood and rampant barging through the trees. There was no reason for her to be so brash and rampant, however irritated she was. After all, the very reason she was so agitated was also the target of her journey.

Crash! Snap! Swish!

Caw! Caw! Caw!

Crows fled from the canopies as the rampaging warrior crashed through the thicket, bursting from the hedges covered in leaves and small, reddening lines on her bare arms. A scowl painted clear across her face.

"So this is where you've been hiding, Solomon." The red-hair maiden muttered as she stepped out from the prickly bush, tearing her mud-brown jacket on the razor spikes jutting out at odd angles from the plant. "I've been looking for you..."

Prowling across the broken ruins of a temple long forgotten by history, the once-regal marble pillars now collapsed on its side and overrun by vines and seedlings, Asuka faced her prey and eyed his cowered form warily, her right hand already firmly placed on her sword.

This is insane, Asuka... The young fighter muttered in her mind, never letting her eye stray from the oddly-shrouded young man only ten yards away. Just bash him to sleep and haul him back. No need to spill blood here...

It was insane. Only days before, Asuka was just another face in the sea of people stopping by at the largest watering hole of Radasanth. It was a strange, almost impossible gathering place for people from all walks of life. Merchants peddling meat, businessmen dealing in dirty secrets and warriors looking to kill for a meal hang about in secrecy while the heroes of old and new wander about for quick meals and a night's rest. For Asuka, all she wanted was a simple mushroom soup and a vacant room.

Fate wanted something else.

"Whether or not you're going to like this, but you're coming with me. A few people you... knew... Wants to have a word with you."

[Solomon]

The sound of unrest stirred in the forest. Solomon turned his eyes onto the impending ruckass, seeing the birds that stirred in the wake of the oncoming predator. What was going on now? Who were these people, and were after him?

However curious, or even worried he was becomming, he didn't move from his place on the tree. He leaned there, with his heavy arms cross infront of his chest. He had little doubt that if these people were coming to this part of the forest, they were only here looking for him. He had made a lot of people very angry with his behaviour at the Citadel, not to mention the scene he made at the hospital after he was found nearly dead in the forest. That was just after Kira died. It wouldn't surprise him if they wanted him to pay for the damage he had caused, or perhaps even Kira's family had come to get their revenge for their daughter's death. He had fled before he could tell them what happened.

A single girl appeared from the collection of truding noises and angered cursing. Solomon rose in surprise, expecting to see others at any minute. However, looking at the young madien's form was enough to tell him it was only her making that noise. She was strong, a flicker of unrest behind her eyes, and an attitude that seemed to overflow from her character with warning. She was no run of the mill maiden. Her hand was on her weapon, ready for business.

The girl called him by name, and immediately quelled his suspiscions. Whoever she was, she had been looking for him. Not only that, but she didn't plan on leaving here without him. Someone wanted him badly enough to pay for his head. A thought that made his stomach set into a knot. What had he become?

For a moment Solomon didn't say anything. He just kept his eyes on the young woman. He wasn't sure what to expect from her, nor was he sure what to expect from himself. He was tired. He was cramped, and he was angry. He wanted to be left alone.

"Go!" He said with a grim voice, turning his eyes away from her. He extended a hand, and pointed his finger back the way she came.

"Go. Leave me alone." He said grimly.

[AsukaStrikes]

Somehow...

Asuka waited silently as the scruffy man finished his grim warning, Kazeryu remaining within his sheath on the back of her belt. Her eyes narrowed even more and the lass leaned on her leg, getting ready to pounce forward.

A slow breeze swept through the trees, twisting amongst the ancient branches of a nearby cedar. The wave of rustling leaves swept across the low canopy, tiny beams of sunlight playing on the forgotten stones of the marble ruins. Asuka focused on the sound of the wind rushing by, hearing it flit through the leaves until it reached her, weaving through her hair. The wind caressed the swordmaiden, calming her mind as focus remained on Solomon. Her right stepped forward, pointed at the runaway warrior while Kazeryu waited patiently in his sheath - The rigid ring pommel clearly seen jutting out from her waist. He would be kept there until she deemed it necessary, but chances are...

Then, the wind passed by overhead.

"I knew you'd say that."

Letting out a howl, Asuka launched off her lead foot straight for Solomon, covering the mere ten yard in a few seconds.

"Don't resist!"

She would not wait to see his move, nor any sign of fright or plead. But the sword did not flash in the gloomy woods, for her left fist lashed out as she passed him by, aimed to smash in his nose while she passed by towards the fallen pillar. Leaves and dust trailed in her wake, casted to the wind by the mad feet of the warriors.

If Solomon was not coming quietly, there was only one way Asuka could see.

Knock him out.

[Solomon]

Solomon drew his arm back in to his chest. The forest all became quiet. The stranger drew up her stance, standing ready but not yet striking. Perhaps she had sensed the dismay in his voice, perhaps she was beginning to see his pains. Women were adept at this weren't they?

The silence endured for a moment longer. Solomon kept his eyes on the girl, still with his back against the tree trunk. Her eyes stayed narrow on him, as though they tried to fixed him into that position. Trying to stop him from moving away, but not yet ready to withdraw the forest herself. Maybe she really had heard him. Maybe she was deciding whether to stay or go.

Solomon was about to be proved wrong. Something inside of him knew it to. Knew he was just denying what he felt, but because of all his confusion he hadn't been able to loose that fanatical hope that someday someone might come along who could understand all this and help point him in the right direction. This girl was not that person. She was here for one thing, and one thing alone.

The wind rose out of nowhere. The fickle rays of the sun were instantly disturbed as the redheaded blur closed the distance between the two of them in a passing instance. Her fist held out in all its fury, aiming right towards his head for a devistating blow.

Solomon reacted out of instinct. He turned himself to the side to avoid the oncoming blow without even thinking about it. He was faster, stronger, and could endure more than any regular man, but even then he was not invincible. This girl was no run of the mill fighter. Her speed alone gave evidence of that. Not only that, but his muscles had been in discomfort all through the night without a moment to warm up. He was been caught off guard and was paying the penalty.

He managed to escape the blow to the nose, but the hardened fist caught the edge of his jaw and sent his head around to his other shoulder.

"Aarg!" Solomon clamoured through his tightened teeth. The smack against his jaw soon became a throbbing 'pang' that pulsed throughout his stiff neck. Had he not had a stronger body than most, the failed evade might have resulted in a broken neck. He pulled himself back to defend. His neck gave a gortesque groan as he put it back in front of him. He locked eyes with the girl, who had passed on by towards one of the fallen pillars. The pain in his neck and chin echoed with each one of his heart beats, causing heat to rise into his head and turning his cheeks the colour of live embers. Anger was gripping him now. His urning for isolation and sympathy were slowly fading away.

"I want to be left alone..." Solomon said, his words shaken by his increasing breaths. Talking was good. Taking, and thinking rationally would keep him from falling into this billowing rage.

"I've been through... to many things... just leave me alone... Please." He said to her. He refrained from making a counterstirke, hoping he wouldn't have to fight again. Nevertheless, he stood with his strength flowing in a low riding stance. He was ready to defend if he so needed to.

[AsukaStrikes]

What is that... idiot doing...?

Asuka came to a skidding halt just a few inches from the fallen pillar, dust and leaves flowing across the vine-tangled marble form in soft melodies in contrast to the growing tension around the small arena. She had anticipated the young man to retaliate, or at least deal a counter blow in her passing, but the prediction was all for naught.

"What'r you blabbin' about?" She muttered back at his pleading in nonchalance, straightening her legs and relaxing her left fist. Or tried to, at the least.

The swordmaiden had felt bone against bone on that passing and knew that she indeed hit something with her fist. It could have been his nose, but the coloration on his face told her it was just a glancing blow. Another feeling began to surface, however, and it felt quite different from the sharp twinge of pain from punching someone's lights out.

Grr... Should've watched out for that more... Wiping her bark-pierced knuckles on the fringe of the torn-up jacket, the lass winced as each piece of wood jabbed into her flesh. For all she knew, she could have already broken her fist against the tree trunk. Then again, it could just be a scratch. A flesh wound she would not have to worry about.

The wounds would have to wait. The bloodied fist might later cost her a hand, but there was something more important here that needed help. Someone here needed some senses smacked into him.

"So you want to be left alone?" Asuka stepped forward along the leaf-littered arena, letting go of Kazeryu who had still to see sunlight or wind.

Seven yards.

"Ya really think being alone solves anything?" She scoffed through clenched teeth, a dead brown twig crunching under her hard-sole boots. A trail of blood-speckled leaves stretching from her left.

Asuka felt the wind rush by again, throwing her hair forward towards the wary young fighter in front of her. Now that she had gotten a good look at him, the man could have very well be a lot older. His disheveled black mop was in even more disarray than she had imagined, the stubbles on his face more prominent and easier to see than before and his tired, chaotic eyes hid feelings that Asuka could only guess.

In truth, she was not entirely sure why her Contractor had wanted to bring this man in for them. The matter was entirely a family matter - well, not her family matters at all. In fact, it had nothing to do with the Akashiman and it should have nothing that required her involvement. After all, the night she was approached by them in the Silver Pub she thought of it as pure coincidence.

"Loneliness... So that's what you're looking for?"

Five yards.

She actually had turned down to help track down Solomon when the hooded man asked her, returning to her brooding over a cheap pint of ale. It was then, the old man made her a proposal.

"If you can bring me Solomon... Alive... I will give you information on Yamihara..."

That was enough reason for her to intervene. Looking back on it now, she wondered why she gave in so easily.

Oh, shattap. Do what needs to be done.

Three yards.

The red-hair warrior stopped short of the crouching man, her feet planted firmly on the solid slabs of rock with her hands relaxed to her side. The left was still clenched in a ball, letting the crimson fluid pool on the black glove in a dark red lump. Her right hand shot forward, an accusing finger pointed straight at Solomon.

Her brows pinched together while the light emerald orbs threatened to tear his insides to shreds.

"If you want to be left alone that bad, then fight me. If you win, I'll leave you be."

Asuka felt the rush of air again, this time a cold and ominous breeze that seemed to have swept all the way from the peaks of the Shirayama Mountains. To the random traveling Coronians, it was just the Comb Mountains. To the Akashiman, it was sacred.

And wind from Shirayama is wind from the Emerald Dragon, Kazen.

"And if I win, you're coming with me quietly."

[Solomon]

What are you doing now? Are you pleading? His own mind scorned him. Solomon did his best to disregard the thought, knowing it was only going to put him in a greater confusion. What did he want out of this? Was he looking for someone to understand how he felt? Or was he simply just trying to hide in hopes that time itself may forget him and he'd vanish off the face of the earth. Then all this confusion would finally leave him be. Nobody would remember him; and perhaps that was the better way to leave it.

But was that what he really, truly wanted? To be forgotten about and never have the chance to earn his place in this world? His father had spent many long nights, giving him these great life lessons by the firelight after their long days of training. His body was so worn out all he could do was lay there and listen. His father, Callahan, often spoke of fighting for valour and peace. To defend yourself and all those around you. He taught him to be selfless, to expand his mind, and to always be patient.

How long ago that was. How he had changed since those days. If only his father had finished his training before he left him, then perhaps he might have been able to understand the workings of the world. However, fate seemed to have something different in mind. Trying to utalize the skills he had been taught to defend himself Solomon ended up responsible for the death of his own father. He shot him through the heart under the light of the blue moon. The sound of his felled voice had never left him.

But what is valour? What is fighting with your principals when you're about to die? What was more important? Death with honour, or staying alive to help the other who are helpless? It doen't make any sense! What was he supposed to be? What was his purpose with all these powers?

"So you want to be left alone? Ya really think being alone solves anything?" The cockily-stridden redhead said to him. The winds that had woken became interested in the two of them, spiraling about the battlefield along the leaves and the vines. The tangle of red that blew towards him carried the scent of ale and the outdoors, making Solomon think back to the better days he had lived.

You wouldn't understand Solomon said, this time in his mind. He knew the girl didn't care to hear his problems, and so he had no strength to voice them now. He only kept his form, and his eyes in place as she continued to close the distance between them. Assulting his mind all while.

He wasn't lonely. He wasn't desperate for company. She had no idea the things he had to deal with, the questions he couldn't stop from coming. Perhaps he did hope that one day someone might come along with the answers, but even then he knew it was merely a dream. That would never happen. He had to get them himself... somehow. If he had to keep giving answers for his actions, keep making up excuses for what he was doing then he'd never find what he was looking for.

He just wanted to be left alone. Nothing more.

It was within three yards she froze in her place, her body as strong as an iron gate. She threw her finger towrads him, giving him her last proposal. Fight her and be left alone. Loose, and follow her quietly.

A hum of a chuckle escaped from his throat. He quickly hid it as soon as it had come, for he didn't want the girl to think he was amused. In fact it was nearly the opposite. He was almost angrier by the remark. She really was ignoring him. He wasn't going to go with her. He wanted to be alone! If she wanted him, she'd have to slice off his head with that sword she kept ready. That was the only way she'd get him to leave this place.

"No." He shook his head. He pulled his muscles tight and felt his angry breaths building up the energy inside of him. With nothing but a look, partially angry and partially bored, Solomon made sure she knew her options. Leave, or he'd force her to.

With that he made his first attack. The untapped energy flowed angerily throughout his body, causing his left arm to shoot out from his hip like an arrow, then fell back from the strike as his right arm flew forward for the followthrough.

[AsukaStrikes]

Whoa, doggy!

Solomon's words were barely heard over the roaring of the wind that had stayed to witness, leaves and dust swirling on their invisible ride. Asuka was even tempted to lean in and ask him again had she not noticed the flashing fist, the lass startled from her tensed focus and hopped back a step. Then again, they were nearly three yards apart - a fair distance to cover even for a punch.

"Well, that's nice." The lass chuckled, eyeing her cropped-hair opponent striking air with successive punches. What is he, drunk or stupid? Eh, maybe he's both?

Of course, she had heard the warning from her target. Of course, she knew he wanted to be left alone. Of course, she knew he was not about to come with her quietly or easily. Still, there was something in his voice that convinced her the man had reasons beyond just wanting to get away. What had he done? Why did he resist seeing the people who were looking after him so badly?

Why did he believe loneliness would solve his problem?


"In that case..." Asuka lt out a scoff and started bouncing on her toes, her right hand returning to the sheathed longsword at her belt with a thumb on the stel ring. Her left fist moved up, elbow jutting out like a rookie boxer, and hovered just a few inches in front of her chin. "I guess I'll just have to bash some senses into you, then!"

Letting the words hang in the air for less than a mere second, she lunged at Solomon with determination painted across her face. She was not going to let him get away or as much as beat her senseless. It would not matter if she would even have to maim him in order to coerce the stubborn mule. She made a deal with the people at the tavern.

One Solomon, fresh and alive. They said nothing about a broken arm or a lost leg, had they?

Eh, that could wait for now.

It was her turn to attack, riding on the wind-swept leaves straight at her target. Skipping from stone to stone, Asuka kept Kazeryu sheathed and her torn fist at her face. The span of only ten feet giving her the edge in surprise.

Now!

The swordmaiden leapt to her right when she got as close as two feet, nearly tripping on an expecially bulgy vine. Swearing through her clenched teeth, she swung at Solomon again with the bleeding fist in a wide, slow hook. If the knuckles didn't catch him, at least it might end up as an accidental clothesline to his neck.

[Solomon]

The blows hit nothing but air, causing the target to suddenly stir in her composure and spring backwards. He had not inniciated an attack, but rather felt the energy surge throughout his body. The blows came fast and stong, a dull roar bit through his teeth as his twitching left arm stopped at it's extended position. His energy core flickered and trembled like a fire in the wind, and the sweat from his rouge face stayed hot even in the breeze.

She's coming around. Keep you're gurad up. She's quick, remember that. She's not weak either. Watch out for that sword. If that thing gets too close it'll be the end of you. His mind prompted him. However loud his inner voice was right now, and no matter what she said to him, it was no match for the growing heat within him. His breath came in strongly and deeply, watching the girls body as she skipped over the crumbled stones and stirred the debris in her wake. He brought his fists back towards his torso, keeping himself protected and ready to strike. This energy, this furry she was rousing inside of him had not been released since it began building.

She was messing with the wrong warrior. If she lived, she'd regret it in the end.

She was within two feet. Solomon prepared himself to strike but was suddenly averted to blocking her redded fist as it swung widly towards his face once again. With his arms close to him his reflexes were all the quicker, but the girl's clever dodge gave her an edge he hadn't expected. The girl's fist was deflected, but not blocked. Solomon raised his left arm to guard but only nicked the edge of her arm with his elbow. The blow sank harshly just below his collar bone on the top of his pectorial. A smear of darkness was left upon the dark uniform, and the blow caused him to lean back; but his low stance did not fail.

He seized the opportunity the moment he could. If he could trap her in close quarters, she would be done for.

As the fist that rocked him back began to slide off his torso Solomon cast his raised left arm down over his torso in an attempt to trap the fist under his arm. With his size and his strength, the fist shouldn't have the chance to escape him. With the grapple iniciated, Solomon proceeded with a flare in his eyes, to perform the followthrough. He turned to his right, letting his right foot come off the ground and replant just slightly closer to her. He moved in a flash, going by the backward momentum she had caused him, and threw a ploughing backfist around from his upper chest right down towards her abdomen. Even if her slippery fist escaped his hold, the jerk from the hold would slow her. If she intended to escape the barrelling fist she'd have to leap clear over it and merely hope her hand came free.

He'd feel the pain under his collarbone in a minute. Right now his furry would only let him see the pain he was about to deliver.

[AsukaStrikes]

Sononva-!

Asuka's train of thought was cut short by a smack on her unflattering chest and a thwack on her head. Her consciousness left with the wind caught in her throat, the raging emerald eyes flickering for a moment in silent surprise. The next thing she saw was the blurry green canopy and the light-bluish hue of the sky. Leaves rushed by her fuzzy vision with its silent song, a dark shadow standing just out of the corner of her eye.

Darn th- Shoot!

It took her only a second to realize where she was and the maiden rolled hard to her right, scattering more leaves into the wind in her wake.

Kuzo! Kuzo! Kuzo!

She had been too careless with him. She underestimated her opponent. Again.

No one told me he was this good... Asuka grimaced at her blunder, feeling the back of her head throbbing like a bitch even as she staggered onto her feet, trying to keep a clear sight of the martial artist. Or this strong. Oww...

Carelessness had costed her more than once in a fight, whether it was a simple street brawl or a tournament duel. For the first time, she was nearly lost at sea fighting against a halberdier. For the second time, she nearly got cleaved in half by a tank of a man with a gunblade and a great sword. For the third time, she nearly ended up as a pile of flesh and bones at the foot of a tower.

No more.

A snarl escaped the wildcat's lips while she rested on her unsteady legs, her broken left hand hanging limply at her side. The fist was useless now, smashed and dislodged from its socket by the force of her own punch. She would need to be more careful after this - no more punching people's lights out at high speed.

"Nice move, Solomon." She chuckled over her own breath, her mind fighting to suppress the needles of pain shooting up her arm. In fact, she was furious now that a simple, unarmed man had bested her. She would prove that even the might of the males would not prevail in her wrath.

"But you're coming with me anyways."

Asuka let out a shout as she shot forward from the tree, using the cragged barks as a launch pad straight for Solomon. She had thought about feinting a skip to the left and elbow him in the face, but she thought otherwise.

She could swing her hand to her belt and let Kazeryu flash in the gust of wind, aiming for his arms or legs with intent to cut his options short. Or even use the flat of her sword to smack him across the head, more than enough to knock a large man into a dizzying fit.

But Solomon - her opponent - was unarmed. She did not want to use her sword if all that would be met was flesh and bone. It was not fair to him. It was not fair to her.

"HrrrRAH!"

Grunting through her clenched teeth, she barreled forward on sweaty legs and leaned on her shoulder, tucking in her right arm and letting her broken left trail in the wind.

The weapon - Her bare, weathered right shoulder.

The target - Solomon's chin.

[Solomon]

Solomon watched, his eyes shinning, as the girl was sent crashing to the grinding roots of the forest floor. The bloodied fist slipped out from under his arm as she fell, and a painful rasp reached out through her throat. He let her tumble to the ground, falling back the way she had come. The wound up fist had found it's target perfectly, and stopped her dead in her tracks.

An elbow might have done more damage... He thought to himself, almost a little annoyed he hadn't thought of it before. Then again, with the angle, it might have been harder to hit her.

After this thought he realized the new addition to his body's torments. Like a steaming cloth was bunched up pushed against his chest the new sore warned him to be more careful. However he was not sure if it was quite as bad as the pulsing headache she had given him right off the bat.

Ignore it! She's not finished yet! He turned around, his face pressed into a sweaty glare. The girl was beginning to rise. She was obviously stricken by the pain he had caused her.

I did warn her. He thought, a mild smirk coming across his face. He brought his arms and legs back into line, raising his right leg up and his right fist in so his limbs were nearly aligned. Then, reaching into his core of energy he stepped down into a forward stance, his left leg out and his right leg back. His hands out steadily in front of him.

Keep this up and you'll be out of here in no time. He grimmaced to himself. It was good to feel this strong again. It had been a long time since he had felt his energy flowing through him so freely and wildly. Energy itself felt like cool waters, or hungry flames that galloped freely under your skin and throughout your muscles. It empowered each aspect of your fight, those who mastered it were all but invincible!

"Nice move, Solomon." She said, her voice slightly on edge. "But you're coming with me anyways."

I've got this fight in the bag! Solomon said, smiling full toothed. As her body flicked itself into place, and came at him with full force Solomon prepared his counter. He'd fall low, then spring up with an uppercut to her belly. That should finish her off.

She came at him all of a sudden, preapring to bash him with her strong shoulder. He let his knees sink and his body lowered to the ground. As he did so, he passed by her eyes. He shot off the firey rage he had inside of him, aiming directly into the harsh green flames that made up her eyes. Now she'd know she was messing with the wrong man.

As he fell, he suddenly lost his look of anger and fury. After he had glared so harshly into her eyes, a thought came to him that he could not stop.

You're ready to kill her aren't you?

The words hung coldly in Solomon's mind. They were so strong, and so unsettling that he didn't even have the power to rise up again to deliver the nearly fatal blow. Instead he lowered to the ground, and stared onward in dumbstruck blindlness as the beating knees smashed up against his face. The only thing he had time to do was close his eyes. He didn't even bring his hands up in defence.

The thought was suddenly taken away by a new world of pain. A screaming from his chest made by his very bones as they collided with the hard pillars that made up the woman's knees. He took one directly in the face, causing his head to fall backwards. The next one sank brutally onto his collar bone, the structre snapping under the force, and sending immediate warnings to his brain. Pain. Nothing but pain.

Solomon fell backwards as the charging women passed over him. By the time he hit the ground it felt like an eternity had passed. His neck twitched and rang with the new torment, and his shoulders sank lower without the support of the bone.

His passion had died

[AsukaStrikes]

((Permission to Bunny Granted by Solomon))

Asuka, you IDIOT!

The maiden let out a surprised wail as she sailed clear over her opponent's head after their collision, her legs instantly numbed by the impact of bone against bone. The image of a fallen fist fighter flashing by her vision as time slowed, almost hanging in eternity, before everything around her flew by in a blurry flash.

Solomon.

Trees.

Sky.

THWUP!

"Hurgh!" Asuka groaned as her back met the hard, weather-worn marble overrun with vines and littered leaves in an astounding fall. The maiden's frail, sunkissed shoulders pushed against the ground as she felt the rest of her body convulse and arch towards the sky, her mouth gaping wide in pain.

"Argh..." A coarse, angry shout escaped her throat as she slowly rolled over on her stomach, pushing off the cold stone floor with her red-streaked elbows and huffs of labored breathing. The maiden's coppery locks spread about in a disheveled mess, light brown leaves and tiny sticks protruding out from the mess of dull metallic hair.

It took her a good five minutes later to compose herself, dragging her legs off the fallen column of an ancient temple of sort and making mental notes of whether or not any of her bones were broken besides her fist. After moving her arms and legs a bit, she let out a sigh of relief and slowly hauled herself onto her feet.

Damned kid nearly broke my kneecaps... Asuka muttered in her mind as she limped over to her proned foe, wondering if she had done more than just knocked him out cold.

"Hrrgh... Don't tell me you've gone and died already, you stupid man." She cursed her luck and stooped down to turn him over, stirring up the dried brown leaves from the forest floor. To her relief, the man was still warm and he was breathing well, if not a bit faint than she had wanted. He did not look that beaten up, but there was a chance his injuries were more internal than what could be readily seen.

Heaving a sigh of resignation, Asuka realized she was not about to get anywhere soon leaving her quarry lying unconscious in the middle of Concordia. However, she stood there staring at the man with no resolution to the puzzle.

Well... I guess I could drag him back or something... She mused, giving him a soft kick to the ribs. ...No, that won't do. Not with one busted fist, I won't.

Throwing her arms up in defeat, she painfully bent down and draped Solomon's limp across her shoulders, immediately feeling the consequences of her folly.

Ow. I guess there goes one of my ribs... Asuka groaned and pressed her broken left hand against her stomach, trying to hold in the piece of bone while navigating through the trees. Their dense canopies provided her much respite from the burning sunlight outside, which she was sure to immediately burn through her stamina well before she could reach another human being in her condition. Of course, that would all change when they reach the edge of the woods.

Especially with the weight of an entire human being on her back.

What's his problem? It's not like those creepy old folks are going to kill him or anything. She grumbled inside, pushing through the low undergrowth on tired, aching legs.

Right?

((End of Round One))

[Ther]

Solomon

Story
Continuity – 6 (It’s great putting the Kira reference in there, since it builds continuity to a previous post. Still I would’ve liked to know just a little bit more about it – why’d she got,
for instance.)
Setting – 5 (Nothing really special or intriguing about the setting or the use of it).
Pacing- 7 (Try not to put so much space in between your opponent’s attack and your response to it, r.e. Post #6).
Writing Style
Mechanics – 7 (Watch-out for minor typos, like “mounful” in the first post or “urning” in #6.)
Technique – 7 (I liked the imagery in the first post – it wasn’t overdone. This line intrigues me – “the wind was interested in them.” That’s great.)
Clarity - 8
Character
Dialogue – 5 (Again, I think the standalone dialogue paragraphs hurt. They work better in larger paragraphs.)
Action - 5
Persona – 5 ((Not a whole lot of character development from beginning to end.)
Misc.
Wild Card - 6

Total – 61

AsukaStrikes

Story
Continuity – 5 (It’s also good that you linked to your character’s previous history, but it wasn’t as intriguing, that is, there isn’t as much tension as Solomon’s opening in this case.)
Setting – 5 (No intriguing use of the setting, really.)
Pacing – 6 (See what I wrote above about Solomon in this category – it’s always better to start a post with your response to the opponent’s action. Also, shoot for longer paragraphs – so many new paragraphs makes your writing feels choppy.)
Writing Style
Mechanics – 7 (I also spotted some typos in your posts – try to use a spell check feature if you can.)
Technique – 6 (The choppy paragraphs hurts the imagery in your post and makes it really difficult for you to use any extended rhetorical techniques).
Clarity - 8
Character
Dialogue – 5 (Overuse of ellipsis hurt your dialogue – it makes it blend together. Also, the paragraphs of just dialogue make it less effective as well).
Action - 5
Persona – 5 (Not a whole lot of character development from beginning to end.)
Misc.
Wild Card - 5

Total – 57

Both characters will receive normal EXP/GP and 500 bonus EXP.

[Ther]

Solomon earns 1600 EXP and 200 GP. Solomon is now Level 3.
Asuka earns 800 EXP and 100 GP.