Chapter 10: The stage is set!
The first round of the Maximum Potential tournament was set in stone. Makoto was beaming with excitement. For her first round fight, she drew Blue Mary, a fighter from Commando Sambo. She was more than eager to test how her hard hitting Rindou-kan style would fare against the technical prowess of Sambo.
Makoto and Blue Mary both climbed into the ring. It was a much bigger version of the standard boxing or wrestling ring, being 42x42 instead of 16x16. It also sported stronger, reinforced ring ropes, thicker and softer padding on the turnbuckles, and less springy give on the mat.
Dee Jay's Master of Ceremonies came back over the microphone. "Before we get going, of course we have to lay down the rules. Fights can be won by knock out, submission, or the referee stopping it for a fighter's well being and safety. Fighters will obey the ref at all times. Failure to do so will result in an immediate disqualification. Getting knocked outside the ring is not an automatic loss, however, failure to get back in the ring before a ten count is. As is standard in boxing, the ref will call for a break if a clench goes to the ropes. Fighters will also have to answer to a standing eight count, as also standard in boxing. The ring ropes are not out of play. Fighters are allowed to utilize the ropes so long as they heed the referee. And while it is not illegal, please try to keep the manifested ki manipulation to a minimum. We do have a live crowd here. Dee Jay, down to you!"
"Okay ladies and gentle-mon! Our first fight is gonna be big fun. We're comin' fresh out the box with something good for ya! Fighting out of the red corner, from Tosa, Japan. The face of Strength and Honor, Makotooooooooo Rindoooooooooou!"
MA-KO-TO! MA-KO-TO! MA-KOTO! The crowd's adoration was fueling her fire and making her even more eager to get things going.
"Fighting out of the blue corner, Detective Sergeant 'Blue' Mary Ryan!"
Mary bounced joyfully in place as she shook herself loose to get ready for the fight. After stretching a bit, she threw off her bomber jacket, and in a plucky voice called across the ring, "Are you ready?"
They both took up their fighting stances and waited for the call. "Fighters ready? ENGAGE!"
No sooner had the words left the announcer's lips had Makoto and Mary made their move. Makoto quickly dashed forward in an effort to test her opponent's reflexes. Unfortunately, Blue Mary was just as fast as she had bound backward toward the ring ropes. Makoto realized her fist occupied the empty space where Mary was just a split second before. She failed to see that Blue Mary had jumped back to use the ropes as leverage. By the time she saw Mary, it was too late.
Mary had rebounded herself off the middle rope and was flying full speed at Makoto with a leg outstretched. She made hard contact with Makoto's shin and tripped her up. As Makoto fell forward, Mary's tiny frame slithered under her. In one swift motion, Blue Mary had grapevined one of Makoto's legs with both of her own and grabbed the other with both hands. Mary used Makoto's falling momentum to flip her. The movement was so fast that she managed to flip so that she fell onto her back instead of face planting. What happened next was certainly not pretty…
Immediately after the impact of Makoto's back hitting the ring mat, Blue Mary extended herself, essentially turning Makoto into a giant wishbone. "OOOOOOOH! Ladies and gentleman, Blue Mary's infamous Crab Crunch!" the MC announced, enthusiastically. "She's bringing out the big guns early on, folks. Can Makoto come back from such a hard start?"
Blue Mary rolled away to put some space between them and try to plan her next move. Makoto grabbed at her crotch and writhed in agony for a moment. Damn. Unorthodox as hell, but that was a good move. She's quick, so I'll have to try to slow the pace and find an opening.
After collecting herself, Makoto got to her feet. She did everything in her power to ignore the pain inflicted by the Crab Crunch. She took up her fighting stance and began to slowly sidestep around Mary, who was practically in the center of the ring. Makoto moved slowly and intently, trying to provoke an attack. She was trying to gauge Mary's next move and counter it. After a moment, she realized Mary was doing the same as she hadn't budged an inch since Makoto had gotten to her feet.
In another attempt to provoke Blue Mary into attacking, Makoto tried to use a head fake move. However, Mary saw through it. As soon as Makoto twitched in the slightest to feign a strike, Mary had rolled forward, closing the gap between them. That caught Makoto completely by surprise. It seems she fell for Mary's bait instead the other way around. Now Mary was in close and that was where she likely to be to best ply her trade.
Makoto was not prepared to defend against an attack so close. Mary struck quick as the wind with a blow to the gut. The punch knocked the breath out of Makoto and she staggered several feet backward. When she regained her footing, she tried to reacquire her target. Mary, quick as she was, was already behind Makoto. From behind, she kicked the instep of Makoto's left foot then the back of the calf on her right leg. This caused Makoto to drop to her right knee. As she was going down, she felt Mary's arms around her waist. Before she could react to any of it, Blue Mary was lifting her off her feet with a strength that betrayed her small body.
CRASH!
Makoto was driven onto the back of head by Blue Mary with a beautiful high angle, bridged German Suplex that would have made Karl Gotch proud. Even after Mary released her hold of Makoto's waist, she couldn't do anything but sit there in that position, stunned, with her legs above her head, knees touching her cheeks.
While Makoto was attempting to gather herself again, Blue Mary had made her way to the closest corner of the ring and perched herself on the top rope turnbuckle. She sat there waiting for signs of Makoto to get up. Like a predator, she looked on at her prey. As soon as Makoto started to stir, Mary pounced.
She hadn't even gotten the chance to fully stand before Blue Mary was in the air coming toward her. The entire action was a complete blur to Makoto as Mary had leaped from the top rope and grabbed her arm. Mary used the falling inertia to again flip Makoto over, this time wrapped in an arm bar.
With unparalleled enthusiasm, the MC yelled into her microphone. "OOOOOH! Mark this day on your calendar folks! It's a once in a lifetime treat to see a flying Spider and a Crab Crunch in the same fight!"
Makoto was starting to get frustrated. She wasn't able to defend herself against Blue Mary's blistering speed and tactical throws. She had to get up and put some distance between them so she could figure out a way around Mary's moves. But first, she had to break free from her arm bar.
As Mary wrenched on her arm over and over, Makoto was trying her hardest not to cry out from the pain. Then, she saw her out. Mary had her legs crossed over Makoto's chest and both hands clinging to her left arm. Since Mary was wearing a halter top and both hands were currently occupied, that left her midsection wide open. Makoto rolled and maneuvered herself so she could get to her feet. As she expected, Mary held on to her arm with all her might. When she was able to partially stand, basically kneeled over Mary, she took her chance. Since Mary was still holding on to her left arm, Makoto raised her right hand and brought her fist down and into Mary's ribs.
The impact made Blue Mary feel like she had just been hit by sucker punched by a cinder block. She gasped hard and relinquished her hold on Makoto's arm. As quickly as she could, Makoto got to her feet and put half the ring's worth of distance between her and her adversary. As much as she didn't like giving Mary a chance to catch her breath, she needed to do so herself.
Her face red with anger, frustration, and exertion, Makoto looked on at her opponent as she tried to form her next set of actions. Apparently, she had hit Mary harder than she thought. The tiny blonde had barely moved except for her pained and erratic breathing. Winded or not, Makoto had to strike and do it quick, or Blue Mary might be able to get back into the game. As she creeped close, Mary started to stir. When she lifted herself, Makoto moved in for the kill. However, she stopped dead in her tracks. As Mary got to her knees, she let out one hard, painful gasp and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
The referee was at Blue Mary's side in an instant to check on her. Unable to make out what was being said over the roaring crowd, Makoto could do nothing but stand there and look on. Mary was yelling furiously at the ref and shaking her head. The ref was going to stop the fight as Makoto had broken two of Mary's ribs.
Not wanting to let it end that way, Mary pushed past the referee and charged toward Makoto. Readying herself for the attack, Makoto took up her stance. Mary, with her uncanny quickness, rolled between Makoto's legs and from behind, quickly jumped on Makoto's shoulders. She wrapped her legs around Makoto's neck and twisted what little weight her small frame had. In doing so, she dragged Makoto over in a dramatic looking head scissor takedown.
Caught off guard and now on her back again, Makoto's anger and frustration hit a boiling point. She sprang to her feet and again put space between them. Mary, showing obvious signs of pain and frustration herself, rushed at Makoto again. This time, Makoto was prepared. She shut out the entire arena and focused solely on the woman charging toward her. The whole world around her seemed to slow down as she readied her attack, left hand outstretched, right hand in a fist close to her head. When Blue Mary had stepped into her range, Makoto launched herself forward.
"HAYATE!"
CRACK!
Makoto's punch landed square on Mary's cheek and she was sent reeling backward several feet. When she didn't get up right away, the ref stepped in to go check on her. After a moment, he stood and frantically waved his arms, calling for the end of the fight. Makoto had not only knocked Blue Mary unconscious, but also broke her jaw. The crowd went wild!
The time keeper sitting ringside repeatedly rang the bell. The MC came over the air on the microphone. "Fight fans, by way of knock out, here is your winner; Makotoooooooo Riiiiiindooooooooou!"
Dee Jay climbed into the ring and his microphone was lowered from the ceiling. "Hey there, sweet thing. You put your all into that fight. What's on your mind after coming out on top?"
Still wincing in pain, but now able to relax, Makoto leaned back on the ropes in her corner. She looked up at Dee Jay and said, "Man, that was good stuff! Let her know when she wakes up that I'm totally down for a rematch."
"Ya hear that, people? My girl wants more! Give it up for Makoto Rindou and Strength and Honor!"
The audience went absolutely bananas.
A/N ~ If you aren't familiar with Blue Mary from the Fatal Fury, Real Bout, and King of Fighters series, look her up. She has some pretty awesome moves. The Crab Crunch in particular looks really brutal. The head scissor takedown is one of her Desparation Moves, Mary Typhoon. And I felt the need to pay respect to Karl Gotch with that German Suplex. Again, sue me.