[center][img]https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/WOEUsAadHdyhHdBKNnqTsmWyQPOFs06sJKQB52X4-wE/https/i.imgur.com/oaRzgds.png?width=362&height=406[/img] [h3][color=fff79a]Kasugano Sakura[/color][/h3]
Level 1: 7/10
Location: Battling Ryu outside of Lumbridge
Word Count: 960
Points Gained: 2
New EXP Balance--- Level 1: 9/10[/center]

	Unfortunately, her throw was countered. Her knee threatened to be swept out from under her by a kick. Sakura gasped through her gritted teeth and tried to steady herself, but a medium kick slammed into her side. Blinking from the pressure, his attacks were too fast to give her a chance to counter. With one eye open, the other one squinting, she saw at the last moment a huge kick heading straight for the side of her head. A moment passed, and the young woman was greeted with a spinning tornado kick, a massive move that sent her stumbling backwards. [color=fff79a][i]"Phfuh!"[/i][/color] She exclaiming. Dispersing the momentum from the strike, she slammed her heel on the ground a few feet away and was immediately back into battle posture.

	[color=fff79a][i]Dang it! How did he know I was going to do that!? This man really just kicked me like, four times in a row. Now what am I gonna do? Would another throw work? No way he would think I would be stupid enough to do another throw. Or maybe he knows that I think he wouldn't think I'm stupid enough too- oh, geez! [/i][/color] Her internal monologue was interrupted by a declaration that almost sent chills down her spine. Immediately she sensed a massive power gathering in Ryu's Ki. He was about to go all out! 

	[color=fff79a][i]Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod! It's the Shinku Hadoken! I can't believe he's actually using it on me! The same thing he used on Seth and M. Bison! He's actually going to do it on me! Is this the greatest moment of my life!? So cool![/i][/color]

	[i][color=fff79a]The question is,[/color] [/i]Sakura thought to herself, time slowing as she considered her next move;[i][color=fff79a] what am I gonna do now? It's probably going to hurt.[/color][/i] She bounced briefly from one leg to the other. [color=fff79a][i]Probably too late to dodge, now. Plus, he would have just reacted to my dodge and hit me while I was dodging. Could I block it? Fat chance. Maybe if I hadn't gotten wasted by those kicks earlier. A better fighter would probably be able to figure out what to do here, but...I only see one option. I'm running out of time to counter![/i][/color]

	Sakura, channeling the latent energy she had developed during this fight, smiling brightly and gathered her hands around an invisible ball.[color=fff79a]"Here we go!"[/color] She exclaimed, her stance almost mirroring Ryu's. 

	[color=fff79a][i]"Shinku..."[/i][/color] A bright orb of yellow and blue light flashed in between her hands, lighting up the side of her body. Her face grew more serious as she channeled her inner strength into something more, something greater. All those years of mimicking movements of her heroes at her bedroom mirror. The time when a little spark of energy zapped from her palms and shattered the glass. People thought it was stupid. People told her she could never become a Street Fighter, that she was just some stupid little fangirl.

	[color=fff79a][i]Look at me now.[/i][/color]

	[color=fff79a][i]"HADOOOKEN!"[/i][/color] The young woman screamed. As if it weighted a thousand pounds, Sakura lugged the glowing ball at the oncoming beam of energy with great effort. Zooming forward with an immense pop, a similar frothing blue energy trailing behind, the orb slammed into Ryu's blast. For a brief but eternal moment, the beam would be held up. Sakura watched with wonder as the orb rolled defiantly against the oncoming storm, causing the beam to sputter and bend inwards. 

	Finally, though, her hadoken succumbed. The beam pushed and overwhelmed it, crushing it like the tides of the ocean. 

	[color=fff79a]"Wuh oh-"[/color] Sakura observed. Her now seemingly diminutive form was completely submerged in blue light. It was blinding, deafening, but unfortunately, not numbing. The air was pushed from her legs, then the air that she didn't know was in there was pushed out, too. A tremendous bludgeoning impact. The beam vanished, the hadoken ending, and Sakura was sent flying backwards.	[color=fff79a][i]"Ooof!"[/i][/color]

	Sailing through the air, for a few precious seconds she was weightless. 

	[color=fff79a][i]Wow. That was pretty intense...what a rush! Doesn't get much better then that. I guess my little ball move could use some work if I want to play in the big leagues, but that wasn't so bad. Maybe next time. Back to it, then![/i][/color]

	Colliding hard with the ground, Sakura grunted, flexed, and bounced backwards off the dirt. Heels over head she landed gracefully and immediately began her sprint back towards her opponent, as if the Shinku Hadoken hadn't hurt at all. Of course, it had, but the best fighters operated at full capacity under strenuous. Red sneakers flattening the grass, Sakura tried to get her offense started again right away. In many ways she was similar to a spinning wooden dummy. Each strike, no matter how effective, would result in branch spinning back around to slap the striker in the face.[color=fff79a]"Attack!"[/color] Sakura blurted out, hyping herself up with a brief, punctuating battle cry.

	As she neared her target she crouched down, sweeping her powerful leg at Ryu's ankles in an attempt to knock his legs out from under him. Completing a full three sixty she would launched herself into the air. Clutching her hands together she would bludgeon them into his head, swinging through her spread legs. It was an odd little move, but one that was a bit clever. A crossover. One might attempt to block the attack, but she was pushing herself deceptively far forward with her small jump. It would actually collide with the back of the opponent's skull rather then their face. 

	[color=fff79a][i]I've been pretty straight forward so far. A little trick like this should catch him off guard![/i][/color]