[center][h3][b][color=ec008c]JURI HAN[/color][/b][/h3]
Level 7: 24/70 
Location: The Mid Tier 
Word Count: 7281 (+8 exp)
Points Gained: ? +3
New EXP Balance: Level 7: ?/70 
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]Pit[/b] - [u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 305/80 (-5 friend heart)[/color][/center]
[b][color=ec008c][hr][/color][/b]

	Along the way to the Mortal Kombat section of the tournaments’ first rounds, a fight had broken out. Rancid, a square-jawed punkish man with a bald head, a green ponytail, an x scar on his forehead and a wicked chainsaw in his hands, was thrown through the glass window of a bar. It was a seedy, obscure place called Downright Fierce. The most notable thing about it was probably the clientele, and the most notable thing about Rancid was probably the fact that he was pumping fresh red blood out of his left arm socket stump.

	“You think I need both arms to fight?!” Rancid taunted. A familiar Juri Han set her foot on the frame of the broken window. In her hand was a beer bottle that she finished off with a long swig, before chucking it at Rancid. He batted it out of the air with a back hand. Juri laughed and sprinted at him, ready to pounce. She got a kick to the gut for her trouble, sending her sprawling until she smacked against the building she just left. In her off hand she was wielding, well, the guy's other arm, still bleeding. 

	[b][color=ec008c]”C’mon, you good for nothin’ street trash…”[/color][/b] She said, her voice even more drawn out than usual. In fact, it was a bit slurred.  [b][color=ec008c]”Gimme my chainsaw back, and I’ll trade ya…yer arm!”[/color][/b] She stood up and wiggled it at him. She had a few bruises and cuts on her already as her health ki began to fail her. 

	“This is my fucking chainsaw, and that’s my fucking arm!” He said. He grabbed the pull cord of the chainsaw between his teeth and yanked, his muscles bulging as he got the deadly machine working again. 

	“How about this for a trade: you give me my arm back, and I’ll take your head!” With that, he began to charge her, raising his weapon in the air. 

	[b][color=ec008c]”Give it yer best shot, handsome.”[/color][/b] Juri leaned forward and beckoned the man forth with one finger, her Feng Shui engine glowing. She was going to counter his next move, disappear in a blur, invisible to the naked eye.

	He swung, and she was gone, teleporting behind him…landing face first on the ground, skidding across the street as she completely fumbled her execution. 

	[b][color=ec008c]”That’s my chainsaw. I got it from…uhh…the fuckin’ meat tower…”[/color][/b] She mumbled, muffled, into the street as she pushed herself up. Rancid’s other arm lay limp next to her, though it had somehow contorted itself into giving her the middle finger. 

	Rancid was upon her immediately, kicking her side and launching her into the air. He grabbed her ankle and yanked her back down towards him, slamming his forehead into her nose. 

	[b][color=ec008c][i]”Gah!”[/i][/color][/b] Juri landed flat on her back. 

“You’re dead meat!” The punk shouted. Rancid stomped on her torso, raised his chainsaw over his head, and slammed it down on her. She crossed both of her arms, blocking the weapon from cutting her face off. There was a deluge of blue sparks as her ki struggled to keep the chainsaw off her. 

	[b][color=ec008c]”You’re really…pissin’...me off!”[/color][/b] Juri strained through grit teeth. At this point the Yokai were gathering, ready to witness some real carnage before the tournament even began. Their ethereal bodies faded in and out along with their words, whispers and overt commentary both surrounding the street brawl. The other patrons of the bar, more or less used to this kind of thing (the dismemberment was a little new) left Esaka's spiritual populace to their entertainment, and the din of their clicking claws, tapping talons, and flapping wings gradually built beneath the angry buzz of the chainsaw. 

    The sound of feathers and light footfalls quickly growing louder was completely drowned out, so the appearance of a third combatant entering the fray took all those present by surprise - though none more so than Rancid. Suddenly there was a weight on his back and a hand yanking on his weird ponytail hard enough to wrench his head, and by extension his whole upper half, backward. 

        [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"What are you doing?! Get off of her!"[/color]

    Though he kept a stubborn hold on his weapon Rancid staggered back a few steps, giving Juri some space as he twisted around to try and catch the new assailant with a wild swing of the saw. The angel held on just as stubbornly, though.

	Juri propped herself up on her elbows as the guy she started a fight with was suddenly accosted from behind by Pit. Pit was hanging onto his ponytail and being swung around. The side made the drunk trouble maker laugh. 

	[b][color=ec008c]”Couple of morons!”[/color][/b] She jeered without so much of a hint of gratitude. 

	Rancid grit his teeth. He stomped on the ground and jerked his upper half forward with a huge headbutt towards the air. If Pit wanted to hold onto his ponytail, he would be flung clear over Rancid from the momentum! The Street Hero would release his chainsaw and grab his second assailant by the leg.

	Even from behind his sunglasses, the bemusement on Rancid was obvious as he frowned. ”What the-?! Stay outta this, kid!” He went to fling Pit away and refocus his ire on Juri. Apparently the ponytail grab hadn’t triggered his Galeem aggression.  

Unfortunately for Rancid, the angel didn't fly very far when he was thrown. More than used to getting tossed around by now, Pit righted himself with a flap of his wings as soon as the green haired man released him and with another he landed between Rancid and Juri. He hadn't had time to really take in the situation before jumping in, and he still didn't have the full picture now, but there was at least one thing he was sure of.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"No way! She's... my teammate! If you got a problem with her then you've got a problem with me too!"[/color] he said.

Maybe it was because he'd been holding onto a different disembodied arm for a while the night before that he didn't have a bigger reaction when he actually realized the guy's arm had been very recently cut off beyond growing a little paler. He didn't retract his statement though, and he let Juri's own comment slide like water off a duck's back. As violent, mean, and at times annoying as she could get, she [i]was[/i] his teammate. And right now, she was also technically his responsibility.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"So come on! ...or just accept your loss and go to a hospital or something!"[/color] Pit had yet to see anyone successfully talk down someone triggered into fighting, but if there was ever a chance to convince someone they'd lost in order to de-aggro them then it was probably the guy in danger of passing out from blood loss at some point soon. 

Pit’s assumption was reasonable, but Rancid’s condition didn’t seem to be getting any worse now that his arm was off. If it even hurt, he wasn’t showing it. 

“Yeah? Well, ‘your teammate’ was harassin’ people at the bar, and tried to steal my fucking chainsaw. The only one who should be in the hospital is her, after I’m through!” Rancid declared.

“And she ripped off my arm!” He said, pointing his chainsaw past Pit at Juri.

[b][color=ec008c]”What, you mean this?!”[/color][/b] Juri asked facetiously, waving it around again. Juri got to her feet and went to stumble past Pit. Had she been drinking since the early morning? 

[b][color=ec008c]”I’ll give you your arm back. In fact, I’ll shove it so far down your throat you’ll be able to tie yer shoes with it!”[/color][/b] Juri said. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"That doesn't even make sense,"[/color] Pit said, mostly to himself. He held his own arm out to impede Juri from getting by. Glancing back at her, his nose wrinkled from the potent smell of alcohol now that she was this close. He didn't question the harassment accusation because he believed it was true - it was what he'd come to expect from the woman. 

But everything else, though? Okay he wasn't sure about the dismemberment but that aside, as far as Pit knew she hadn't shown up at all since he and Sakura had seen her yesterday morning even just to tease the Seekers, and the way she moved, spoke, and smelled suggested she'd been drunk for a while now despite it being so early. Though he still couldn't say he knew her well, it was weird, wasn't it? This wasn't the usual Juri... was something wrong with her? 

If something was going on, he wanted to find out. And that meant dealing with this punk first. Normally he wouldn't have any qualms about laying the smack down on a no good trouble maker, but seeing as Juri probably started it, Pit was hesitant to just knock the guy out and hope someone else looked after him. Thankfully there was an easy way to get around both issues.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Gimmie that!"[/color] Pit snatched the arm from Juri, his expression momentarily warping into being grossed out before he turned and chucked the limb at Rancid. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Here, take your arm!"[/color]

His other hand had tapped his chest, sending a pink heart flying close behind the arm that sailed into Rancid whether he dropped his saw to catch his missing body part or not. When the brief flash of light came and went, the man was newly healed; completely and wholly, as if he'd never had his arm torn from him at all. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"There, now you got both back! Even now?"[/color]

Rancid blinked. In both of his hands was his own dismembered arm! “...Woah! Radical! Thanks, dude!” This odd and macabre circumstance seemed to delight him. With that he headed off. 

There was a beat where Pit braced for more, in whatever form it may have come in, but it was a pleasant surprise that the guy took the encounter's conclusion in stride. Now that that was settled Pit whirled around to face Juri, his expression a mix of both annoyance and worry - if she could even tell in her current state. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"And you! What happened to you?"[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”What happened to me?”[/color][/b] Juri asked. She poked Pit hard in the forehead. [b][color=ec008c]”What happened to [i]you![/i] While you were getting bombed, [i]I[/i] was doing the bombing!”[/color][/b] She laughed.

[b][color=ec008c]”I killed that ‘M. Bison’ last night. I blew his ass up. Sent his ass back to the great…”[/color][/b] She looked up and pushed out her hands. [b][color=ec008c]”...the great recycling center in the sky! Maybe next time he won’t be such an annoying little shit.”[/color][/b] She said. Then, she kicked a rock with extreme precision despite her state, sending it flying into the distance. 

  The confirmation that Juri was actually using the linkpearl if only to listen in would have been nice to hear had the news she followed it up with not washed away pretty much everything else that preceded it. Committing her own assassination attempt on one of the four kings! Or... if her words to be believed, it hadn't been just an [i]attempt[/i] at all. Pit didn't even make a comment about everyone being alright, he was too busy with being surprised.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"What? You-? Seriously?"[/color] he said, his gaze sliding from Juri up to where she was looking too, though he searched for the towers of Top Tier. Naturally he wasn't able to see it from there. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"But I thought...?"[/color]

Xilgrev hadn't lied to them, had he? There was no reason for him to. Then again, there wasn't any reason for Juri to be lying right now either, and- and she didn't know what everyone else did about the nature of Esaka's Guardian.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Are you sure?"[/color] Pit asked, snapping his attention back to the street fighter. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Like really sure?"[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”Of course I’m sure!”[/color][/b] She shouted, turning on Pit. [b][color=ec008c]”I stuck my freakin’ hand into his socket! I was gonna rip his god damn eye out, finally pay him back for mine!”[/color][/b] She said. When she said that, she paused, and glared at Pit with a tilt of her head. Her green eye glinted malevolently. 

[b][color=ec008c]”Want me to demonstrate on you? So you can be super duper extra sure?”[/color][/b] Juri asked. 

In another situation Pit might have dared to tell her that she was all talk and she wouldn't actually do that to him, but right now it was hard to tell. He didn't shrink away from her, but his own eyes widened when she let slip that her missing one was due to Bison before they narrowed slightly. He took in a deep breath and crossed his arms. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"No, I believe you! ...um, good job. But now we gotta speed things up for the other three kings..."[/color] 

He wasn't sure how long they had. One day? Two? Or maybe a lot less time? When he trailed off Pit glanced back at the bar's broken window, hoping that with the fight over no one was curious enough to listen in on this particular conversation. He'd get together with everyone and come up with a plan for the Guardians later - it wasn't the most important thing at the moment.
    
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"So then you what? Were... celebrating, or something? Instead of coming to find us?"[/color] His nose scrunched up again, making it clear what he thought about that.

Juri stood up straight and set her hands on her hips. [b][color=ec008c]”...Shut up, you little twerp.”[/color][/b] Juri said, also making her thoughts pretty clear. She meandered over to the broken window of Downright Fierce and stepped inside. Everyone had pretty much cleared out. If there were many powerful fighters in Esaka, most of them weren’t hanging out getting drunk in bars before the big tournament series. Besides Rancid, no one wanted to challenge her act.

Juri grabbed someone’s half-used glass and started drinking from it. A TV was on, showing the festivities. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hey, I'm being serious!"[/color] Pit followed after her, taking a moment to look around the darkened interior. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You could've let us know and we would have helped you. Or at least changed our plans, or... I dunno, thrown you a better party after!"[/color]

He sounded less annoyed and more unsure as he went on. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]" 'cause it doesn't really seem like you're that happy about it? ...are you okay?"[/color]

Pit's bright blue-green eyes flickered over her, trying to see if the little injuries she sported were just from the tussle with Rancid or if some were from last night. If she'd taken on Bison alone, had she gotten hurt doing it?

She didn’t seem much worse for wear anymore. Even on alcohol her body was a finely tuned fighting machine. [b][color=ec008c]”You chumps would have just gotten in my way.”[/color][/b] She said. 

[b][color=ec008c]”And you don’t actually wanna throw me a freakin’ party.”[/color][/b] Her stolen glass empty, she picked up a bottle that had rolled onto the floor with her foot. She brought it all the way up to the counter and set it there for later.

[b][color=ec008c]”So quit it with the sunshine act. It’s annoying.”[/color][/b] She said. [b][color=ec008c]”I really can’t stand people like you.”[/color][/b] She muttered, rubbing her face with both of her hands. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Just 'cause I don't want to be doom and gloom all the time?"[/color] Though he was close by, Pit did not join her at the counter. He stood a couple of feet away while they talked, fidgety and somewhat awkwardly trying to find a place for his hands. There was a lot going on, from trying to keep track of how much time was left before the matches started to still really wrapping his head around Juri's actions. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Well you're gonna have to get used to it! I'm trying to make sure you're alright! Plus there's a lot of stuff we have to tell you, about Bison and the rest of them and everything else going on!"[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”’Cause you act like you’re better than me!”[/color][/b] Juri said, baring her teeth at Pit. Then she hiccuped. [b][color=ec008c]”’Ooh, I’m trying to make sure you’re alright!’”[/color][/b] Juri mocked in a falsetto voice, pushing up the sides of her face to make her look more cherub-like. 

She let her face go and set her hands back on the counter. [b][color=ec008c]”What do you think this is? The meaner I am to you, the better person you are for stickin’ around? Is that it?”[/color][/b] Juri said. 

She clawed her hands in the air for a moment for slamming them down on the counter with a resounding thud. [b][color=ec008c]”It pisses me off! For real! God[i]damm[/i]it!”[/color][/b]

The covert feathers on Pit's wings bristled up slightly. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I told you before that's not what this is about!"[/color]

He practically bit his tongue to stop himself from accusing her of projecting. As much as he meant to eventually pay her back for his loss last time, he didn't actually want to antagonize her at the moment, accidentally or otherwise. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Being mean doesn't stop you from being one of us you know. Look, I get it, you're allergic to people caring about you or something. If you wanna be left alone to do... this-"[/color] with both of his arms he gestured broadly to the interior with all its dingy lighting, bar fight scarred furniture, and acrid stenches. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"-then fine. But I'm at least gonna do my captain's duties before I let you off the hook!"[/color]

Juri set her cheek on her hand, smiling at Pit. [b][color=ec008c]”’Did you? I wasn’t paying attention. Yeah, I’m allergic to annoying wannabes like you and your pity and your superiority. Makes me think next time I kick your ass I won’t let [i]you[/i] off the hook.”[/color][/b] 

She shook her head and popped the lid off another bottle. [b][color=ec008c]”’I’m ‘mean.’ Unbelievable.”[/color][/b] She muttered to herself as she raised it to her lips. Juri raised her other hand and waved it around in a ‘go on’ gesture. [b][color=ec008c]”Spit it the hell out, then. If it’ll finally get you to buzz off.”[/color][/b] 

[i]There's no winning with her, is there?[/i] Pit thought to himself with a frown. Juri was really hard to deal with, but the angel hadn't been lying when he said he cared about her well being. It was the same for all of his teammates, both those he was close with and those he wasn't. And, well, he didn't like [i]not winning[/i], so it was unlikely he'd give up on her anytime soon. Still, if his usual attitude frustrated her so much then true to his word he could be Captain Pit for a little while - though he'd definitely never had a Centurion as unruly as her.

Pit sighed, fluffing his wings out with one quick snapping motion before tucking them back in like he was resetting himself. Then he held up a finger.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You heard us all get attacked last night, so you heard me call for a status report. First, give me yours now,"[/color] he said. His voice had taken on a more serious tone, but he couldn't completely stop his feelings from bleeding into it. 

Juri rolled her eyes. [b][color=ec008c]”’I didn’t hear it, I saw it. I was…y’know, I was high up and saw a place get bombed. Who else could it be but you losers?”[/color][/b] 

Pit blinked, as that thought hadn't occurred to him at all. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Uh... fair."[/color] They did always get into trouble regardless if it was connected to saving the world or not. He shook his head though. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Well then you're hearing it now, so status report first!"[/color]

Next a second finger joined the first before he pointed at the TV with the same hand. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Then debrief. Did anything weird happen when you fought Bison? Or when he died? We found out he's one of this area's Guardians, but now that he's gone if we don't hurry up and deal with the other Kings he's just gonna come right back!"[/color]

Juri narrowed her eyes at him. [b][color=ec008c]”’What the hell are you talking about? Each zone only has one Guardian. M. Bison wasn’t- he wasn’t that.”[/color][/b]

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"He is,"[/color] the captain said. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"While you were gone yesterday we all learned that this place has four! The Four Kings! And since they're all connected to each other we have to beat them all together too."[/color]

He folded his arms in front of him as the same tournament preamble that was carried by the Heavenly Principles began to play over Esaka's screens. Juri’s purple and green eyes drifted to the TV as the festivities continued. There he was. Dictator. M. Bison. Grin frozen on his face as he spoke, alluding to her assassination. Or, as it turned out, assassination attempt. At first, she thought it was just pre-recorded.

Juri’s expression darkened. A cold draft from the broken window brought a chill into the room. For a long moment, she only stared off into nothingness. Then, a strange look flickered across her face, like she made peace with something. [b][color=ec008c]”Guess I’ll just… go kill him again.”[/color][/b] She said, standing up. 

The man appearing whole and healthy did not surprise Pit as much as it did Juri, but now that he knew the Kings could come back within hours, not the one or two days Xilgrev had estimated, it reinforced the Seekers' plan to corner each one at the end of the tournament series. Which is why Juri going to try again right now would not work.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Wait, Juri- this is what I was talking about!"[/color] Pit said, flitting over next to her as she stood up. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We gotta work together and get them all at the same time!"[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”’There is no ‘we’!”[/color][/b] Juri snapped. She took advantage of Pit coming nearer to knee him into the air and then kick him across the room. Even when she was tipsy her fundamental combat prowess shined through. 

[b][color=ec008c]”’You idiots can’t do anything right!”[/color][/b] Juri shouted. [b][color=ec008c]”’I had him! I [i]had[/i] him!”[/color][/b]

[b][color=ec008c]”’What were you doing, [i]sleeping?[/i] Going beddy-bye!? I [i]killed[/i] him! Now I’m going to kill him again! And I’ll kill the rest, too!”[/color][/b] Juri stomped out into the street. 

She must have learned by now that the angel was stubborn, almost to a fault. It was only a moment later that he extracted himself from the wooden remains of the bar booth he'd crashed into and followed after her, leaping out of the broken window and skidding to a halt in front of her. There were still splinters in his hair, as well as a look of steely determination on his face.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"All by yourself? When they know we're here after them? I know I'm the last person who should be saying this but use your brain!"[/color] Pit snapped back at her. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"If you'd told us what you were doing then we could have gone after the others at the same time - it's too late now but we can stick to the original plan! We can take them all down together!"[/color]

Juri set a hand on her hip and then fixed a loose strand of her hair. [b][color=ec008c]”’You’re right, change a’ plans. First, I’ll kill you, [i]then[/i] the Four Kings. How’s that sound?”[/color][/b] She asked. 

Unconcerned about the apparent threat on his life, Pit let out a noise of exasperation. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Seriously? You wanna do this right now? The first rounds of the tournament are about to start!"[/color]

Juri answered with a sucker kick to the side of Pit’s head. [b][color=ec008c]”’Anyone who gets in my way gets crushed.”[/color][/b] She answered. [b][color=ec008c]”’Think you’d have caught on by now.”[/color][/b] 

He had at least caught on to her violent tendencies, this time not so caught off guard that he couldn't block her attack. He winced when he brought his forearm up to catch the kick, then flung his arm out to push her leg away while he hopped back from her, putting a few feet of distance between them. His expression was tight, unsure on what he should do. There was the tournament to think about, but he couldn't leave Juri to run wild and reckless around Esaka. It would put her, and the rest of the Seekers in danger. Getting through to her seemed impossible though. Then again... she was a martial artist, and when they'd fought before Pit had learned a little more about her. 

Plus she seemed intent to fight. That settled it then.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You said you don't like people thinking they're better than you but you're doing the same thing! You think you're too good to help us, or... or to accept help. Or... I dunno! I don't know why you always want to do everything on your own-"[/color] he started saying. Her reasons seemed to be fundamentally different to Pit's own want to do things himself in order to protect others. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"-but you can't this time! And if you need me to prove it to you..."[/color]

He held his arm out, little golden sparkles forming around it before his Upperdash Arm appeared around his entire limb. He let the weight of its disc drop to the ground with a heavy thud. He gave Juri a toothy, forced smile, completely different from the confident or joyful ones he normally wore. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...then I'll do it. With time to spare. Never had to discipline anyone in my units before, but I guess there's a first time for everything, huh!"[/color]

[b][color=ec008c]”’Now you’re speaking my language.”[/color][/b] Juri smiled, her eyes dialing in on him. 

Pit then lifted the Arm up as the red and black head began to spin. It shot forward at Juri, a hefty high speed disc that was swiftly replaced by another, and then another and another as the projectiles hurtled her way.

Juri lifted her front foot and set her hand on her knee, her laid-back fighting stance. As the discs came towards her, she lowered her torso and began to glow a faint blue. Activating Drive Parry, she swatted each of the discs aside with ease as she got a feel for their speed and timing. After Parrying the third, she released it and zipped to the left, dodging the forth. 

[b][color=ec008c]”’I [i]am[/i] better than you.”[/color][/b] She said. [b][color=ec008c]”Morons chasing made up shit. Makes me sick.”[/color][/b] 

Juri rushed in, flashing green as she blitzed towards Pit at incredible speed, aiming an elbow towards his throat when she got closer. Drive Rush gave all of her attacks extra force, if they were blocked normally she would have the advantage - but Pit was committed to offense for the moment. The Orbitars did not appear to replace his Arm, nor did he lift the weapon between himself and Juri. Instead he swung it behind him, its weight jerking the angel backward just before Juri's blow connected. 

The motion was only the first part of his back-dash attack; the disc spun even faster as it was launched into the follow up of an immediate forward thrust aimed at Juri's middle into a heavy uppercut that threatened to toss her into the air. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You're gonna see how wrong you are! You need us 'morons' whether you like it or not!"[/color]

Juri’s forward momentum carried her as Pit tried to evade by moving backwards.  She met the forward thrust with a knee and then swiped out her other foot across Pit’s face, stuffing the heavy uppercut. She landed three point, then shifted to the side to maintain a close distance to Pit, and to make it so if he backed up he would start backing up towards buildings rather than the empty street.

[b][color=ec008c]”Comin’ ‘atcha!”[/color][/b] She taunted. Pit met her energy, his head snapping back to focus on her after taking the kick. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"C'mon then!"[/color]

He also met her advance with another hard swing of the Arm, twisting to fling his limb and the entire weapon at her like a holy bludgeon in a horizontal slice. For being such a heavy weapon it was decently quick, but since Juri's reaction time was just as fast he banked on her ducking it. As the weapon swooshed overhead, she was greeted with a rising kick of Pit's own right to her jaw.

Juri stepped back to avoid further attack and then stepped in, sending out a long ranged kick. Then she converted into a Fuha stock with an upward slicing kick that trailed with black and white energy. This gave her 1 enhanced special move. Juri kept kicking and poking at Pit, trying to force his back towards the wall. 

He held his ground well though, having learned last time that if let Juri trap him it would lead to a bad situation. This go around he couldn't afford to lose. Each strike Juri levied at him Pit met with his own more often than not, utilizing his free arm and legs when the Upperdash Arm couldn't cut it - but in the briefest openings when it could, each swing was like a little wrecking ball. Of course in close quarters melee Juri had the upper hand, and as seconds ticked by while they traded blows eventually Pit felt the tips of his wings brush the panels of the neighboring building. He sucked in a breath, feinted like he was going to attempt to escape to one side, and then instead jumped straight up. Another mid-air jump assisted by his wings gave him enough height to get over Juri's head, but rather than regroup he dove at her with the Upperdash Arm whirring dangerously, a miniature meteor that would drive her into the ground - it only it had connected.

Juri reacted to the feint with a quick kick, but it was low-committal enough that she could react in time for his meteor. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Hay-yah!”[/i][/color][/b] Juri shouted, turning into a vertical human sawblade of streaking white and black energy. Her Tensenrin pinwheel kick was a technique immune to aerial attacks. She slipped past the Upperdash Arm with a harsh series of strikes that forced Pit out of the air. This technique hadn’t come up in the cramped corridors of the Avenger, but it was one of Juri’s staples. Pit had managed to escape from being trapped but he would pay a price for it. 

[b][color=ec008c]”You’re really not cut out for this. Fighting or being a ‘Captain’ or…anything, really. Shame you won’t ever get to grow up and learn from your mistakes!”[/color][/b] Juri grinned, and used Drive Rush to close the distance and pounce on where he had landed. This time she would swipe in with a crouching kick, shooting her foot outward to catch Pit’s legs in case he tried to move. 

Rather than Pit himself, her foot hit unyielding metal. Maybe he really hadn't learned much until now, since he should have started with his beloved bow this time, just like he should have last time. It wasn't too late now though. Once the dust that had been kicked up from his landing faded Juri could see her anti-air had gotten him good, but also that the Arm was gone and a pair of blue and gold blades were in Pit's hands, the flat of one of them having blocked her kick. And he laughed, though somewhat bitterly.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You don't know anything about me! About any of us, 'cause you never even tried to learn!"[/color] he told her. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You have no idea I've been fighting since way before any of you humans were even born!"[/color]

He shifted into his fighting stance, one sword held forward and one reversed. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hope you're ready, I'm about to show you the real gap between us!"[/color] Between one breath and the next he shot towards her with a series of quick and vicious cuts, unwilling to give her any quarter. 

Juri backed up, deflecting and dodging strikes with her arms and legs. This was getting her nowhere though, and she wasn’t interested in letting him cut and graze her. She spent ‘two bars’ of Gauge on a Drive Reversal, interrupting her own defensive movements with a spinning, no-damage kick to knock Pit off of her. He staggered but was back in fighting shape just as quick.

[b][color=ec008c]”You’ve got nothing to show for it.”[/color][/b] She said. [b][color=ec008c]”Dumb kid.”[/color][/b] She was at about three and a half out of six Drive Gauge. Basically, a little more than half of her stamina before she entered Burn Out.

She sent several purple slashes of energy towards Pit, and then spent her Fuha stock on an enhanced slicing ki blade that hummed menacingly along the ground towards him. She followed behind it at a casual pace, as it only traveled a little faster than her quick walk. 

For once Pit didn't rise anymore to her bait. Each of the projectiles sent his way were dispersed as he clicked the pommels of his swords together and spun them in a whirling cycle, a few of the waves even returned to sender while Juri advanced. He weaved around the latest that snaked towards him and met her halfway, spinning himself into a more powerful inward slash with the bladed bow in its whole form which he followed up with a roundhouse kick.

[b][color=ec008c]”Tch, boring.”[/color][/b] Juri clicked her tongue  as her projectiles were reflected at her. She had methods of countering that, but not right now. She focused into a Drive Parry once again to deflect her own projectiles, and her foot met the blade and kicks with ease. Drive Parry allowed her supreme defense against strikes and projectiles, but left her rooted to the floor and vulnerable to grabs, if Pit could reason that out.

In return, she went to hook her leg behind Pit’s head with a grab of her own. She was going to drag him face first into the floor and stomp on him! 

It might have got him too, if both of his hands weren't still free to continue his offense. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Then try this one!"[/color]

With a flick his reversed blade joined its twin in a forward grip as Pit stabbed both forward at Juri's stomach before turning them into cutting windmills. His own lose-lose situation made for her - if she released him to get away he would simply press in with the same righteous fury of slashes that made quick work of monsters, but if she committed then his position would let him catch himself before hitting the dirt and counter attack.

For her trouble, Juri caught the two blades to the belly, trying to take her turn back too soon. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Oof!”[/i][/color][/b] She grit her teeth and squeezed one eye shut, looking at Pit for a split second as she was counter hit. The windmills cut into her, sending yellow ki sparks everywhere as she reeled backwards. 

Seizing the opening Pit released his grip on one of the blades by flicking it up to slash her as it spiraled into the air, the technique lowering her evasion and improving Pit's own. With his remaining sword he dropped to kneel and slice at her leg with a backhanded swing that put her in danger of completely losing her balance and sending her to the ground. 

Juri was slashed up and then knocked off her feet. She landed on her back and rolled onto her feet in a single smooth motion before the angel could take any further advantage. [b][color=ec008c]”Die!”[/color][/b] Then she exploded upwards with an invincible Tensenrin kick that would bring them both into the air before she kicked him downwards. If Pit predicted this though, she would be in trouble. 

It was hard to say if he had or not, as he was quick enough to shield himself with his arms as her attacks carried them upwards but did not try and evade. Pit gave her a fierce glare from behind his block, seemingly caught in her momentum... but there was still his other sword that he'd thrown up just before this. The blade was coming back down fast, slashing Juri as it fell. As though expecting it Pit snatched the hilt and came out of his block with two vicious cross cuts, his strength increased now that he was airborne, and then aimed to send Juri back down to earth instead with a heavy downward arc with his reversed blade.

There was a red flash of ki instead of yellow as Juri was Punish Countered. Juri grit her teeth and slammed into the ground. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Guh!”[/i][/color][/b] She pulled herself to her feet like a snake or a puppet, her upper half dragging behind as she slunk back to standing. She was breathing heavily, on the verge of Burn Out. Angry, she just stared at Pit, fists clenched. [b][color=ec008c]”...”[/color][/b] 

He hovered above her, his wings spread out so wide in order to linger in the air that one could count each individual feather. Neither of them were beholden to Galeem's spell, but even so quitting was not on the table for either Seeker. Pit's expression was still rather severe as he stared back at her, his mouth pressed into a thin line. He could tell she was slowing down, but he knew letting his guard down would be a mistake. The smart thing to do would be finish her off from here with his arrows, but he wanted to drive home a point. With his bright eyes still trained on the Spider, Pit's wings sliced through the air and he dove.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Game over, Juri!"[/color] 

Pit's blades were in front of him, perfectly poised for both offense and defense. He lashed out while he could still claim his airborne buff, quick, efficient, and merciless. 

All at once, Juri crouched and twisted, planting her hand on the ground and throwing out her back foot. It would be like impaling a charging horse with a spear. She timed it just right, to dodge away from his blades and use his own momentum to rattle his ribs and stop him dead in his tracks. 

There was a brief flash as a prismatic shield appeared between her kick and her target. Unlike before when he'd completely swapped weapons, the Orbitars were quick-summoned - there just long enough to stop an attack before they were gone again. Since his swords were still in hand Pit swung them once more, not about to let up now. He cut her even while Juri felt the impact of the shield against her foot and tried to draw back into a Drive Parry. 

This close he snapped his swords together and reached out with a grab of his own, one hand moving to lock around her bicep and the other to slam the complete bow into her chest to force her back to the ground. 

This next Punish Counter audibly knocked the wind out of her as she went into Burn Out. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Guh!”[/i][/color][/b] 

Furious that she was slammed to the ground with the bow pinning her, she still had her Super Meter. She spent one level by digging her heel into the ground and swiping it towards Pit with a sudden surge of ki energy. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Rraaah!”[/i][/color][/b] 

Though Pit pressed the bladed bow down hard to keep her pinned, he figured she was going to take it lying down. Literally in this case. He rolled off of her to try and avoid the last ditch kick, mitigating the worst of it though he still winced when it clipped him. He was on his feet again in an instant. 

Juri pushed herself up to her feet, out of breath. [b][color=ec008c]”By the time I’m through with you…”[/color][/b] 

Instead of Pit's voice a somewhat familiar whirring sound responded to Juri then, another quick-summon seeing the Upperdash Arm make a reappearance - along with the heavy forward slam that she had prevented previously. Pit rushed forward with it and punched the spinning head to Juri's body. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hyaaah!"[/color]

Juri brought her elbows down and blocked the strike, but due to her Burn Out state she was sent flying. She smacked into a nearby brick wall and was flattened against it, well above the ground. When she peeled off of it she landed on her feet, only for her shoulders to slump and her head to droop. Stunned, she clutched her head and staggered forward. [b][color=ec008c][i]”Mmgh…[/i] You’re…dead meat..!”[/color][/b] 

A moment later she was pressed back to the building again, her angelic opponent cornering her and slamming a golden blade into the wall. It was sharp and sturdy enough to cut right into the brick where it stuck out inches from her head. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"You lost this time,"[/color] Pit told her. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Are you gonna listen to me now?"[/color]

Dazed, it took a moment for Juri’s eyes to land on Pit’s. When they did, her face twisted into something nasty. She raised one hand and tried to jam it towards the angel's neck. [b][color=ec008c]”Annoying little-!”[/color][/b] 

Her fingers brushed his throat just before he pulled away. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I guess not."[/color]

Pit was back in her face sooner than expected though, slamming his forehead against hers with a headbutt to knock her lights out.

[b][color=ec008c][i]”Ugh-”[/i][/color][/b] Juri's head snapped back, and her eyes tipped upwards. [b][color=ec008c]”Damn- I-...[i]unh..[/i]”[/color][/b] She fell onto her knees, and then past Pit, landing prone with her arms at her sides. As her lids grew heavy, she glared at Pit's sandals like she was trying to set them on fire. But all the vitriol and violence left her expression as her eyes closed. Anything near ‘peaceful’ was an unusual look for Juri's mean face. This was also the closest she had gotten to sleep in about two days. 

As it turned out, the aftermath of a street fight was kind of awkward. Pit caught his breath, glancing around the mostly abandoned street (a few yokai had stuck around) while rubbing a hand on his head. Idly he wondered if he could convince Amaterasu to come down here later and fix the damage that had been done to the street. He wasn't sure if he'd succeeded in making Juri see she wouldn't be able to do everything on her own as he couldn't exactly ask her right now and she'd seemed way too angry to think straight, at least up until she’d passed out. He hoped after some time to settle down she'd come to her senses though. Pit himself still had adrenaline running through him but he was sure he would be feeling the ache of fighting her soon. The question was... what did he do now?

[i]I can't wait around for her to wake up, but I can't take her with me... Uh... hm...[/i] Obviously he wasn't going to just leave her there either, but he had to come up with something that would make sure she was safe while she slept off the loss. 

...which led him to the thought of the current safest place the Seekers had available to them, since it wouldn't be anywhere in Esaka. Carefully he fished a fulton pack out and wrapped it securely around Juri, beyond thankful she didn't wake up halfway through. He carried her away from the eaves of the surrounding buildings and pulled the cord, watching as the balloon inflated gently before rapidly ascending with its cargo. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Juri Han, eliminated from Mortal Kombat!"[/color] Pit said to himself, hands shielding his eyes from the sun while he looked into the sky. The little joke hardly made him feel better. He kept watching for a few seconds even after he couldn't see the fulton anymore, and then shook his head. This was for the best, he couldn't have just let her throw herself at M. Bison and the other Guardians on her own. Hopefully she would come to see that. For now he had to focus on the Seekers' main plan: ascending through the tournament ladders for a proper strike at Esaka's Four Kings.

He started back towards his arena, picking up his pace until he was flat out sprinting. He had no idea how long that had actually taken after all. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"...this better not have gotten me disqualified!"[/color]