Final Round: Yamabara Shou vs. Morei Haji

[Takeda Shingen]

(OOC: Stats are in effect, as this is a stat-based board, but will be used more as a guideline than strict adherence. Please post your stats from the previous round in your first post, at which point, they will be locked. No Musou is allowed. This fight for third place ends on March 29th. Good luck.)

The both of you are led to an cave covered in ice, the referee already there shivering and awaiting your arrival. While most of the walls have ice on it, there are still big parts that are still stone. Torches can be found hanging on the cave walls, and the floor is covered by an ankle to calf-high pool of water.

"R-ready? F-fight!"

[Morei Haji]

(OOC:Str: 14 Dex: 18 Con: 18 Wis: 11 Spr: 18)

"D-d-d-dear Izanagi, it's c-c-c-old..."

I was shivering as I had arrived at this cave first, waiting for my opponent to show up. Why the HELL would anyone decide that this was a good arena? I swear I was going to lose to the cold before a fight even happened. Whoever I was fighting, I hoped that they got here soon. My loss to Yukimura showed me that I had a lot of work to do, and if the other opponent of mine was someone who lost as well, perhaps I had a shot.

[Yamabara Shou]

(OOC - STATS Str: 15, Dex: 17 , Con: 18 , Wis: 16 , Spr: 7)

Shou felt seriously under dressed right now, this place could freeze a man to the core. He thought to himself as he was lead into the cave, and saw his opponent. Shou eyes darted around the area they were in making tactical assessments. Places of ice, and a pool of most likely absolutely freezing water. Possible a useful thing. 

Shou would nod at the other man. "I wasn't expecting this, personally I feel like  needed long to recover after my last fight. But I'll make do. Good luck." Shou would say to the other man before moving into a fighting stance, making sure to do so on one of the sections of ground that was stone, rather then ice covered. 

[Morei Haji]

"Huh? Yamabara-san?"

I would look over in surprise at the man I had met sometime ago under the guise of my demon mask. He probably didn't recognize me at all because of that, but maybe the white hair and voice would give me away. I did offer a friendly smile, but I thought it was a bit ironic that a man I hoped never to fight would now be my opponent in this tournament.

Offering a friendly bow, I too would get into a fight stance, trying to observe my enemy before attacking. After staring Shou down for a few moments longer, I would be off, moving towards him swiftly. I decided to open up with a simple palm strike, sending my right palm towards his chest.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou would raise a eyebrow, at the sound of his name from the man. Who was this man in order to have know it? Something about seemed familiar but he couldn't quite but his finger on it. The man bowed, and got ready as well. Seemingly examining him before charging to attack. 

The attack the man threw while quick was plain and not very unpredictable. Blocking with one arm, pushing the palm strike aside. Shou would step in bring his foot forward, to stamp a foot down in to the side of Haji ankle closest to him. At the same time, Shou's other hand would shoot out forward, to pretty much shove the other man. Hopefully the combined attack and the bad ground would cause the man to stumble away from him. 

[Morei Haji]

Shou was fast, and not without skill, as I had guessed from my first meeting with him. As he deflected my attack and pushed me back, I would indeed stumble backwards. Losing my footing on the ice, I would slip and fall, rolling backwards to get back into a position to see my opponent. I realized I had to be very careful, standing up and attempting to get the best footing I could.

Holding my hands out in front of me, I would position one foot in front of the other, adopting a defensive position. I would not be the one to attack this time.

[Yamabara Shou]

Shou watched as Haji brought up up guard of his own, once he managed to recover from being knocked away. "So how do you know me? Shou would asked loudly, a question he wanted to know as well as hopefully a factional distractions. As Shou would then charge forward. 

He hands would be up as if to strike, however with a little hop, Shou made himself slide along the ground to come at Haji side rather then dead on. Before his right hand would swing out a punch for the side of Haji head. His left aimed for the gut as he would slide by the other man. 

[Morei Haji]

As Shou came towards me, I watched him closely. His little hop caught me off guard, but it wasn't anything game-changing. As he attempted to slide by me, I would jump backwards, crouching low to the ground and attempting to sweep my leg outwards to kick at his lower body, possibly tripping him. I did my best to stay steady on the ground as I did this.

"We've met, once before."

[Yamabara Shou]

The other man wasn't slow either, and easily evaded his attack before lashing out at Shou with one of his own. If the kick had only been lower Shou could have just raised his leg out of the way. However that wasn't a option, and the leg would slam into him. It hurt but Shou gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain standing. 

Shou arms would try and grab the leg as quickly as he could, holding it pinned into his side. Before like he had earlier he would step in, and then turn powerful from the hips, and try to send the other man flying towards the pool of frozen water. 

[Morei Haji]

Shou had grabbed my leg unexpectedly, and I found myself unable to get out of his grasp. He would turn, dragging me along with him, and throw me. I landed on the icy ground, hard, and started to slide along it until I hit a wall. Groaning in pain and my head spinning a bit, I stood back up to my feet, using the wall as support.

He wasn't without skill, but at least I had a better shot here than I did against Yukimura. I merely had to play my cards right... but once more, I would not attack, allowing Shou to make the next move as I stood there, facing him.

[Takeda Shingen]

Before Shou could make a move against Haji, the referee would stop the fight, raising both flags in his hands.

"T-this m-match is o-over! A-as b-both f-fighters are e-evenly m-matched, t-this m-match has b-been d-declared a t-tie! Achoo!"

+1 EXP to Yamabara Shou and Morei Haji. Both characters will receive a custom staff-made weapon giving +3 Str when attacking.