[center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/494317685505523714/974120501523931166/SFDuelSummerArt.jpg[/img] [color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 7: 64/70[/color] [color=fff200]Karin Level 1: 8/10[/color] Location: Kanzuki Beach Word Count: 1500~ Points Gained: 3 New EXP Balance--- S[color=f49ac2]akura Level 7: 67/70[/color] [indent][color=fff200]Karin Level 2: 1/20[/color][/indent][/center] [i]Sakura considered the fragile little spirit of Arashio in her hands. Peach had removed it from her, and she had started taking it towards the Ship Girl navy. But for a moment she had paused along the beach, and considered the shoreline and the people within it that she died to protect. It all seemed like such a long time ago. Before she had even met Bella. Before she had ever seen the infinite deep ocean. Before the Maw, and the island, and the Orphan. Oh man. The Maw. Sakura hardly wanted to think of it. Bella and Rika, almost some giant monster’s dinner. Sakura wondered if she would have nightmares about it. About all the mistakes that she had made. How she accidentally erased the identity of a robot with a friend heart, or how she had lost Duerage. And throughout the whole thing, how they lost so many of their number. Death. People died around her and it was something she wasn’t used to. How was she going to be herself, now?[/i] [hr] As Birdie lumbered forward, Sakura gathered energy between her palms and shoved it out towards him, a bright blue fireball slamming into his raised arms. She backed up and fired another one, only for him to side step it. Another fireball, this time aimed at the ground, was also sidestepped. But it exploded in the ocean surf, carving a hole in the water and knocking into Birdie’s legs. He growled, and jumped ten feet into the air over the next fireball, landing heavily in the wet sand. She dashed backwards, but he surged forward and threw his heavy fist towards her head. It swooshed through the open air as she moved to the side. He advanced, popped at her with jabs. With one particularly clean block, she ducked in and popped him on the chin. His head jerked back and she kicked him in the shin, rhyming her attacks in English. [color=f49ac2][i]"Shouoken!"[/i][/color] She zoomed upward, her fist colliding with Birdie’s body and head, rattling off like three pistol shots. He flew backwards and landed in the sand with a tremendous splash. But just as quickly he dug his boots into the dirt and did an odd slide to his feet just in time to see Sakura dashing forward to push the assault. [hr] [i]The experience had, she concluded, not made her stronger. She wasn’t better off in any way, shape, or form, for having suffered. And she imagined nobody really was. What had trauma ever done for anyone? She remembered saying something about there being no pain, no gain, on the boat ride before encountering the Maw. But about emotions instead of muscle. In a way, she stood by what she had said. Perhaps she had merely worded it wrong back then, and her friends hadn’t understood what she meant. Sakura just meant that…it was worth the risk. If the alternative to never feeling anything horrible, was feeling nothing at all, then she had to take the chance. Sakura had finally changed out of her school uniform, storing it in her hotel room. Now she walked the streets in a black and white one piece swimsuit that came down to her upper leg. Using Karin’s gift money she had secured elbow guards and knee guards as well. Perhaps it was time to shelf her old uniform look once and for all. It didn’t really feel appropriate anymore, not while she was here, in the World of Light. She wasn’t in school. Her school didn’t even exist at the moment, as far as she could tell. So, a swimsuit would do for now. But she’d probably change into something else eventually. Maybe a gi, like Ryu? Would that make her feel… more prepared? Sakura had loitered awkwardly outside the Ship Girl’s base of operations, trying to figure out how to even begin to broach this subject matter up. It was like delivering her remains…Sakura had never done anything like that before! What if she messed it up?! What if she started crying? What right does she have to just walk in there and deliver this to them? How did she even get into the building in the first place?! This was way out of her league. [/i] [hr] Sakura slammed her elbow and fists against Birdie’s block. Just when he thought he had backed up enough to raise his fist, [color=f49ac2][i]"Shunpukyaku!"[/i][/color] She hopped forward and slammed her leg into his face. Grunting, he stumbled back, only for Sakura to jab into him and do the same move once, and then twice more, the two traveling across the beach, battering his face from side to side. Finally she ended the combination with an uppercut. Sakura dashed forward again, but Birdie’s body flashed with energy. She slammed her knuckles into his chin only for him to power through and slam his forehead into her nose. Sakura flew backwards only for him to slam into her again, sending her flying. Gasping, she hit the sand but bounced her legs over her head and was on her feet just as quickly as she hit the ground. Birdie slammed his fists down on top of her and she blocked, but her bare feet were practically embedded in the sand from the transferred impact. He raised his fists again, but Sakura dove forward and rolled cleanly between his legs, causing his attack to whiff. “Huh!” Birdie said, impressed, unraveling his chain and whipping it around in a blind turn behind him. It collided with Sakura’s fireball, which knocked the chain soundly aside and battered into his heavy body. At this point, spurred on by the cheers of the crowd, Sakura dashed in, her feet lightly splashing on the surface of the water as she did. The two exchanged strikes, but Sakura was faster than Birdie, and her quick strikes generated more power than he could muster. She swept his legs out from under him, socked him in the jaw, threw him over her shoulder, kicked his knees, and- Birdie sneezed in Sakura’s face. [color=f49ac2][i]"IEAAAH!"[/i][/color] Sakura shrieked, covering her eyes and falling backwards into the sand. [color=f49ac2][i]"I can’t believe you!"[/i][/color] She rolled over onto all fours and stuck her face into the sea water, turning it from side to side. Chuckling gleefully, Birdie flung his chain forward and wrapped it around Sakura’s waist. He stomped his foot, turned and yanked the chain and Sakura high in the air and onto the sand. [color=f49ac2][i]"Oof!"[/i][/color] The chain unfurled from the impact. Birdie leapt into the air towards Sakura, arms extended and prepared to grab at her ankles. Sakura popped off the ground, over the hands, and popped the heel of her foot once into his face. Sakura finished the backflip and landed on her feet. Birdie took a step forward and then face planted, the previous pummeling he had taken finally boiling over regardless of his ingenuity. Sakura wiped her face and did a little dance. [color=fff200]"Round one goes to our stray cat!"[/color] Karin announced, earning a quick ceasing of the dance and a stink eye from Sakura. [color=f49ac2]”I don’t have the cat ears anymore, [i]Karin.”[/i][/color] She said, crossing her arms and pouting. Birdie shook his head and then stomped to his feet. “Got lucky, that’s all.” [color=f49ac2]”Oh, I don’t think so, Birdie. You sneezed in my face and got a cheap shot in but I was smacking you around! You need to work on your defense.”[/color] Sakura advised. “Nah, I jus’ gotta hit you even harder!” Birdie sniffed, twirling the chain around. [color=f49ac2]”You do hit pretty hard, but I’m actually hurting you more per exchange.”[/color] Sakura said a little proudly. [color=f49ac2]"Ryu-san always did say I do a lot of damage![/color] [color=fff200]”Yes, like being attacked by a cat with rabies. You know what else does a lot of damage? Heart disease. So, congratulations! Ohoho!"[/color] Karin laughed. Birdie laughed too, a little, but mostly seemed somewhat concerned. [color=fff200]"You didn’t even have the stomach to endure a single one of Birdie’s sneezes. Just close your eyes, you imbecile."[/color] Karin brushed one of her golden coils of hair aside. [color=f49ac2]”It was really gross! ”[/color] Sakura protested. [color=fff200]"The taste of defeat is even more bitter."[/color] Karin said, earning a gag from Sakura. [color=f49ac2]”Y’know, I’m really starting to question the unbiased nature of the judge of this fight. ”[/color] Sakura grimace, rubbing the back of her head. [color=fff200]"Oh, please. Karin Kanzuki judges every battle with complete objectivity. Now, prepare yourself, peasant, my bodyguard is about to assail you again. Round two! Fight."[/color] [hr] [i] Sakura had weaved her way through Limsa, holding the spirit like a precious item. It was full of life. IT felt good to be back in a place like this. It was worth protecting. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but Sakura was beginning to think it did nothing but reveal the strength that was already there. [/i]