19. Ran the Photographer
Darrell looked at the girl in the blue jeans and baby blue shirt as she walked to the center of the ring. He wasn't looking at her in particular. It was the camera she was holding.
{Totally weird.}, Darrell thought as the two started to face off. Ran got herself ready by stretching her body out. When she was done, she nodded at the ring announcer, signaling that she was ready to start the fight.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Round 2 is on the way! This time it's Darrell from C-8 vs. Ran from C-7. Ready.? Fight!"
"Before we start." Ran said, causing Darrell to get out of stance. "I just want you to know that it must have taken you some time to come up with the strength to beat my brother. He is pretty strong for someone so ignorant. I just would like to take a picture of you for my tournament scrapbook. I'm taking pictures of everyone."
Darrell raised an eyebrow at Ran's weird request.
{A scrapbook, huh? Well, I think it is weird to take pictures during a fight. but I guess it wouldn't hurt.}
"All right," he said. "I'll do it."
Ran smiled before getting her camera ready. "Okay, all I want you to do is charge up one of those Hadoukens. With your skill, I think you can hold it long enough for me to take the pictures."
Darrell didn't think anything of it. He got into stance and charged up a blue Hadouken. Ran immediately started flashing pictures. First she got a few pictures from the front then sort of warped to the right to get a few from his side.
{That move. is very familiar.} Hinata thought. She knew she saw that somewhere before. when she saw Ran fight months ago. Then it hit her.
"Darrell!" she shouted out. "Get out of your stance and shield your eyes! She's using her Exclusive Interview super!"
Darrell turned his head to his partner. "Her what?" he asked, confused.
By this time, Ran jumped from his left where she took her third picture to where she stood at before. Darrell turned back to face Ran. she flashed her camera. and before he knew it, he was on the ground. in pain. and spots in his eyes.
"Wow," Ran gasped while giggling. "I never thought I'd pull that off in a tournament."
The announcer just stared at Ran for a second. then caught himself. "Wow! Ran came out with a sneaky surprise attack at the start of the round. I don't know what just happened, but somehow Ran laid out Darrell. Now then. 1. 2."
Sakura K. looked at Hinata and asked, "What. just happened?"
"Ran. has a special camera that hurts whoever she takes a picture of," Hinata explained. "That's the strongest move in her disposal; the Exclusive Interview. She tricks her opponent do a pose so she can take a few pictures. At first it doesn't do anything. but the last photo."
"5. 6. 7. 8. Hey. Wait a minute."
The announcer stopped the count as Darrell rolled backwards and got to his knees. He used his arm to wipe the spots from his eyes before looking up at Ran and asked in a weak tone, "What. in the world. did you do? I couldn't even see your attack."
Ran smiled while putting her camera under her arm. "I can't tell you that. Maybe. I'll tell you after I win."
"Not likely." Darrell muttered while getting to his feet. He got into his fighting stance. "It has to be the flash in your camera. I'll just have to avoid that."
Ran wasn't fazed. "How can you avoid it if you can't dodge it? Flashes move at the speed of light. Unless you can teleport, you can't get away from my camera."
"Well then. I guess it doesn't hurt to try!"
Darrell rushed in, but Ran sidestepped and flashed another picture, hitting him in the back. He faceplanted and pushed himself off the ground. He felt malice above him and rolled to the side as Ran came down with an overhead kick. Darrell bounced off the ground and charged up a Hadouken and fired.
"Hah!" Ran laughed as she reached into her shirt. and smacked the Hadouken back at him with some type of white fan. Darrell just managed to jump out of the way of his own attack.
"A. harisen!?" he asked while sweating. He turned around to meet Ran's fist. He reeled back from the blow but recovered to block a roundhouse kick from his opponent. Darrell countered with a right hook. and surprisingly he hit her face cleanly. Ran immediately stumbled back and nursed her cheek.
"Why you.!" she growled at the teen.
Darrell wasn't showing much emotion. "I didn't even hit you that hard."
"That's not the point! I can take a punch, so I don't expect you to hold back. But I guarantee that you'll regret hitting me like that."
"Come on, then! We're wasting our round time and I have to get to the other fighter on your team before I get too tired."
"Trust me. you won't get past me."
"So let me introduce you to an old friend of mine. Shakunetsuken!!"
Once again, Darrell's fists shot into flames, but before he could recover, Ran held her camera up.
"That's perfect! Hold that pose."
Darrell saw her bend down. and sensed something he didn't like. "Hey, wait a minute.!"
Too late. Ran flashed rapid pictures, hitting Darrell invisibly. The last flash knocked him down, extinguishing his flames.
"Well, it looks as if Ran has the upper hand with her camera attacks," declared the announcer. "Darrell can't even use his most powerful moves on her. He'll have to think of something before he's toast."
Darrell got to his feet slowly.
{Come on, Darrell, think! You have to come up of a way to get past her camera flashes. Wait. I have an idea.}
Darrell faded back while charging up another Hadouken. This time, his aura showed up. but it wasn't as strong as it was when he fought Dan. Ran smiled.
"You just don't get it, do you? I can knock you out of your Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken."
With that she ducked to the side to take another snapshot. but as soon as she pressed the button, no flash came out.
"Huh?" she gasped as she looked at her camera and pressed the button again. No flash.
"Uh. oh." she muttered under her breath. She slowly looked up and saw the mischievous smile on Darrell's face.
"That's right. you ran out of film. didn't you? And even though I might be weak from your attacks, my Hadouken is still strong enough to take you out. Now then. Shakunetsu. Shinku. Hadouken!"
Darrell launched his orange blast at Ran. She got to her feet and put up her guard fast enough so that she wouldn't be hit directly. The burning vigor coming from the blast was way too much for her to handle. and when the Hadouken exploded, Ran was sent flying. just like her brother.
"Once again, Darrell pulls out his trademark Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken and makes contact with Ran. She's down. but. Wait a minute."
Darrell dropped to his knees, panting. He was using a lot of energy in a row. That's something he didn't even do against Shin Akuma. As he caught his breath, Ran slowly sat up, catching Darrell's attention.
{Great. She is still conscious after that blast. That makes two who withstood that blast. but this one wasn't at full power. I'm practically drained. and I bet her camera doesn't use up her vigor. I got to keep trying, though. I'm not going to give up.}
Click.
Darrell heard the snapping of. a new set of film entering Ran's dreaded camera. He cringed.
{This isn't good.}
Ran saw the surprised look on her opponent's face. "Oh, don't tell me you didn't think I would carry a spare set of film, now, do you? Any good photographer knows better than that."
Darrell didn't say anything in response as both fighters stood up. They stared into one another's' pupils. and strangely, they both smiled.
"You know. besides Sakura and Hinata. and my mom. you are the only woman I know that can beat me senseless."
"Humph! You know sympathy won't get you anywhere in this fight," Ran scolded. "I have to admit that I'm actually enjoying this fight."
"Me too," Darrell replied while putting his hands on his hips. "I'm almost out of energy, so I guess you don't have to worry about another Shakunetsu of any kind from me."
"I guess. but I still have my camera. You know. I like that look of fatigue on your face. I got to get a photo."
"Oh, no you don't!"
Darrell started to run towards Ran before she could take another picture of him. Ran steadied her camera. locked on. and snapped again. but as soon as she did, Darrell rolled out of the way.
"What the.!?"
"Over. HERE!!"
Ran turned to her left to see Darrell jump in at her, his burning fist ready to deliver a strong punch to her face.
"Yaaaah!!"
"I thought I told you that you'll regret punching me in the face!" she yelled out as she spun around and planned to knock Darrell out of his attack with a high roundhouse kick. The two got into range. and.
POW!!
Both fighters connected with their attacks. As if the Matrix went into effect, time seemed to slow down as Ran and Darrell stared at each other; Darrell through Ran's sneaker and Ran through Darrell's fist. Darrell was still in the air as the moment lasted for another 3 seconds...
"I though. you said that I didn't. have to worry. about another Shakunetsuken attack.," Ran complained.
"Well. I guess I had to. lie a bit," Darrell admitted with a weak smile on his face.
"You. got. me." Ran murmured weakly.
"So. did you...," Darrell replied. "It's. a tie."
The 'Matrix' effect ended. and Darrell let out a low groan as he dropped to the ground in a heap. At the same time, Ran fell back on the canvas, her camera bouncing out of her grasp and landing above her head. Both lay motionless on the mat. then the announcer finally woke up from his daze.
"After what seemed like an eternity, both young fighters are down from each other's attacks. Will one get to their feet before the count? Only one way to find out! 1."
The crowd was now encouraging both Ran and Darrell to get up. They loved the show they were putting on. Ran was clearly on the advantage, but one strong desperation move from the newcomer from America evened the score, and now the fight turned into a test of wills. Whoever had the strongest desire to win would get up. let it be either Darrell, Ran, or both.
"Let's go, Ran!" Dan yelled out to his younger sister. "Show him how strong the Hibiki bloodline is."
"Darrell. Get up!" Sakura S. shouted. "You're doing great! Don't let it up now!"
The announcer read 7. and both started to stir. Darrell once again struggled to push his body up off the canvas floor and at the same time, Ran forced her tattered body to sit up. Darrell got to one knee, letting his arms rest to his sides. He took deep breaths as he stopped to look into Ran's tired eyes once again as she sat up. Both stayed in their positions for a good 5 seconds. then. as if they were reading each others minds, uttered the inevitable.
"You're. finished."
Both teens fell back where they came, totally exhausted. Since none of them totally got up to their feet the announcer continued where he left off.
"8. 9. 10! What do ya know it? After a great performance from both combatants, round 2 ends in a draw. You got to hand it to these two young fighters for giving it all they had where it counted most. Round 3 will start up soon."
Hinata rolled into the arena to check about both her friends' conditions. First she knelt down to see about her teammate first.
"Darrell." she called softly. "Hey! You alright?'
Darrell gave her a weak look. "Hmm. Who knew that taking pictures would hurt.? I'll survive though."
Hinata returned the smile. "I guess I was wrong when I though Ran wasn't much of a fighter. She beat you."
"And I beat her too. Don't start thinking that I'm getting weak, now. I also had to fight her brother. That Koryu-rekka really hurt."
Hinata helped Darrell to his feet and rested his body on the ropes surrounding the ring. She then walked over to check on Ran, who was still on her back, breathing hard.
"Hey, Ran! How's it going?"
Ran looked up to her friend. and gasped a bit. "Hinata? You. you're here. on their team? Man! I wish I could have got on yours. It would have saved me the trouble of fighting Darrell."
"I don't see why you're complaining," Hinata answered back while getting Ran up. "You knocked him senseless with your camera."
Ran shot a smile. "Yeah. Would you excuse me for a second?"
Ran pushed off Hinata and made her way to the resting Darrell who lay on the ropes. When she approached him, he was rubbing the cheek that she kicked him at.
"I guess that really hurt, huh?" Ran asked.
Darrell looked up at Ran and smiled. "Eh. I've been used to being punched in the face. but to be kicked full force is something completely new to me. By the way, I like your sneakers."
Ran stared at him for a second. then smiled again. "Thanks." She started to nurse the swollen check the Darrell tried to murder during the fight, mimicking her opponent. "Your gloves are pretty nice, too. although I was on the business end of them."
"Hey! You want to check out the rest of the tournament together? Even if one of our teams loses this fight, we can chill out. It isn't against the rules. as far as I know."
"Sure. I have nothing else to do. I bet I can get great shots from the sidelines."
Both Ran and Darrell exited the ring, becoming friends more by the second, leaving Hinata. Hinata turned to the announcer and mentioned that she'll be the next fighter on their team. While she was doing that, a young man stepped in. He was wearing nothing but blue trunks and tape on his hands and ankles. His brown hair stood on end and leaned over a bit and on his forehead was a white headband that resembled Sakura's, only it resembled the Japan flag.
Hinata turned to her next opponent and recognized his attire pretty quickly.
He has got to know Muay Thai, she thought.
He stepped into position, his hands on his hips.
"Okay, everyone, Joe Higashi is here!!" he announced himself out loud, causing applause from the crowd. He absorbed the applause. "That's right. Now just sit back and enjoy the show!"
"Alright everyone," the announcer started. "Round 3 is right at your doorstep, promising even more exciting action now that we have two fresh new fighters in the ring. From team C-7 is Joe Higashi and from C-8 is Hinata Wakaba! Ready? Fight!"
End of Chapter 19
Darrell looked at the girl in the blue jeans and baby blue shirt as she walked to the center of the ring. He wasn't looking at her in particular. It was the camera she was holding.
{Totally weird.}, Darrell thought as the two started to face off. Ran got herself ready by stretching her body out. When she was done, she nodded at the ring announcer, signaling that she was ready to start the fight.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Round 2 is on the way! This time it's Darrell from C-8 vs. Ran from C-7. Ready.? Fight!"
"Before we start." Ran said, causing Darrell to get out of stance. "I just want you to know that it must have taken you some time to come up with the strength to beat my brother. He is pretty strong for someone so ignorant. I just would like to take a picture of you for my tournament scrapbook. I'm taking pictures of everyone."
Darrell raised an eyebrow at Ran's weird request.
{A scrapbook, huh? Well, I think it is weird to take pictures during a fight. but I guess it wouldn't hurt.}
"All right," he said. "I'll do it."
Ran smiled before getting her camera ready. "Okay, all I want you to do is charge up one of those Hadoukens. With your skill, I think you can hold it long enough for me to take the pictures."
Darrell didn't think anything of it. He got into stance and charged up a blue Hadouken. Ran immediately started flashing pictures. First she got a few pictures from the front then sort of warped to the right to get a few from his side.
{That move. is very familiar.} Hinata thought. She knew she saw that somewhere before. when she saw Ran fight months ago. Then it hit her.
"Darrell!" she shouted out. "Get out of your stance and shield your eyes! She's using her Exclusive Interview super!"
Darrell turned his head to his partner. "Her what?" he asked, confused.
By this time, Ran jumped from his left where she took her third picture to where she stood at before. Darrell turned back to face Ran. she flashed her camera. and before he knew it, he was on the ground. in pain. and spots in his eyes.
"Wow," Ran gasped while giggling. "I never thought I'd pull that off in a tournament."
The announcer just stared at Ran for a second. then caught himself. "Wow! Ran came out with a sneaky surprise attack at the start of the round. I don't know what just happened, but somehow Ran laid out Darrell. Now then. 1. 2."
Sakura K. looked at Hinata and asked, "What. just happened?"
"Ran. has a special camera that hurts whoever she takes a picture of," Hinata explained. "That's the strongest move in her disposal; the Exclusive Interview. She tricks her opponent do a pose so she can take a few pictures. At first it doesn't do anything. but the last photo."
"5. 6. 7. 8. Hey. Wait a minute."
The announcer stopped the count as Darrell rolled backwards and got to his knees. He used his arm to wipe the spots from his eyes before looking up at Ran and asked in a weak tone, "What. in the world. did you do? I couldn't even see your attack."
Ran smiled while putting her camera under her arm. "I can't tell you that. Maybe. I'll tell you after I win."
"Not likely." Darrell muttered while getting to his feet. He got into his fighting stance. "It has to be the flash in your camera. I'll just have to avoid that."
Ran wasn't fazed. "How can you avoid it if you can't dodge it? Flashes move at the speed of light. Unless you can teleport, you can't get away from my camera."
"Well then. I guess it doesn't hurt to try!"
Darrell rushed in, but Ran sidestepped and flashed another picture, hitting him in the back. He faceplanted and pushed himself off the ground. He felt malice above him and rolled to the side as Ran came down with an overhead kick. Darrell bounced off the ground and charged up a Hadouken and fired.
"Hah!" Ran laughed as she reached into her shirt. and smacked the Hadouken back at him with some type of white fan. Darrell just managed to jump out of the way of his own attack.
"A. harisen!?" he asked while sweating. He turned around to meet Ran's fist. He reeled back from the blow but recovered to block a roundhouse kick from his opponent. Darrell countered with a right hook. and surprisingly he hit her face cleanly. Ran immediately stumbled back and nursed her cheek.
"Why you.!" she growled at the teen.
Darrell wasn't showing much emotion. "I didn't even hit you that hard."
"That's not the point! I can take a punch, so I don't expect you to hold back. But I guarantee that you'll regret hitting me like that."
"Come on, then! We're wasting our round time and I have to get to the other fighter on your team before I get too tired."
"Trust me. you won't get past me."
"So let me introduce you to an old friend of mine. Shakunetsuken!!"
Once again, Darrell's fists shot into flames, but before he could recover, Ran held her camera up.
"That's perfect! Hold that pose."
Darrell saw her bend down. and sensed something he didn't like. "Hey, wait a minute.!"
Too late. Ran flashed rapid pictures, hitting Darrell invisibly. The last flash knocked him down, extinguishing his flames.
"Well, it looks as if Ran has the upper hand with her camera attacks," declared the announcer. "Darrell can't even use his most powerful moves on her. He'll have to think of something before he's toast."
Darrell got to his feet slowly.
{Come on, Darrell, think! You have to come up of a way to get past her camera flashes. Wait. I have an idea.}
Darrell faded back while charging up another Hadouken. This time, his aura showed up. but it wasn't as strong as it was when he fought Dan. Ran smiled.
"You just don't get it, do you? I can knock you out of your Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken."
With that she ducked to the side to take another snapshot. but as soon as she pressed the button, no flash came out.
"Huh?" she gasped as she looked at her camera and pressed the button again. No flash.
"Uh. oh." she muttered under her breath. She slowly looked up and saw the mischievous smile on Darrell's face.
"That's right. you ran out of film. didn't you? And even though I might be weak from your attacks, my Hadouken is still strong enough to take you out. Now then. Shakunetsu. Shinku. Hadouken!"
Darrell launched his orange blast at Ran. She got to her feet and put up her guard fast enough so that she wouldn't be hit directly. The burning vigor coming from the blast was way too much for her to handle. and when the Hadouken exploded, Ran was sent flying. just like her brother.
"Once again, Darrell pulls out his trademark Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken and makes contact with Ran. She's down. but. Wait a minute."
Darrell dropped to his knees, panting. He was using a lot of energy in a row. That's something he didn't even do against Shin Akuma. As he caught his breath, Ran slowly sat up, catching Darrell's attention.
{Great. She is still conscious after that blast. That makes two who withstood that blast. but this one wasn't at full power. I'm practically drained. and I bet her camera doesn't use up her vigor. I got to keep trying, though. I'm not going to give up.}
Click.
Darrell heard the snapping of. a new set of film entering Ran's dreaded camera. He cringed.
{This isn't good.}
Ran saw the surprised look on her opponent's face. "Oh, don't tell me you didn't think I would carry a spare set of film, now, do you? Any good photographer knows better than that."
Darrell didn't say anything in response as both fighters stood up. They stared into one another's' pupils. and strangely, they both smiled.
"You know. besides Sakura and Hinata. and my mom. you are the only woman I know that can beat me senseless."
"Humph! You know sympathy won't get you anywhere in this fight," Ran scolded. "I have to admit that I'm actually enjoying this fight."
"Me too," Darrell replied while putting his hands on his hips. "I'm almost out of energy, so I guess you don't have to worry about another Shakunetsu of any kind from me."
"I guess. but I still have my camera. You know. I like that look of fatigue on your face. I got to get a photo."
"Oh, no you don't!"
Darrell started to run towards Ran before she could take another picture of him. Ran steadied her camera. locked on. and snapped again. but as soon as she did, Darrell rolled out of the way.
"What the.!?"
"Over. HERE!!"
Ran turned to her left to see Darrell jump in at her, his burning fist ready to deliver a strong punch to her face.
"Yaaaah!!"
"I thought I told you that you'll regret punching me in the face!" she yelled out as she spun around and planned to knock Darrell out of his attack with a high roundhouse kick. The two got into range. and.
POW!!
Both fighters connected with their attacks. As if the Matrix went into effect, time seemed to slow down as Ran and Darrell stared at each other; Darrell through Ran's sneaker and Ran through Darrell's fist. Darrell was still in the air as the moment lasted for another 3 seconds...
"I though. you said that I didn't. have to worry. about another Shakunetsuken attack.," Ran complained.
"Well. I guess I had to. lie a bit," Darrell admitted with a weak smile on his face.
"You. got. me." Ran murmured weakly.
"So. did you...," Darrell replied. "It's. a tie."
The 'Matrix' effect ended. and Darrell let out a low groan as he dropped to the ground in a heap. At the same time, Ran fell back on the canvas, her camera bouncing out of her grasp and landing above her head. Both lay motionless on the mat. then the announcer finally woke up from his daze.
"After what seemed like an eternity, both young fighters are down from each other's attacks. Will one get to their feet before the count? Only one way to find out! 1."
The crowd was now encouraging both Ran and Darrell to get up. They loved the show they were putting on. Ran was clearly on the advantage, but one strong desperation move from the newcomer from America evened the score, and now the fight turned into a test of wills. Whoever had the strongest desire to win would get up. let it be either Darrell, Ran, or both.
"Let's go, Ran!" Dan yelled out to his younger sister. "Show him how strong the Hibiki bloodline is."
"Darrell. Get up!" Sakura S. shouted. "You're doing great! Don't let it up now!"
The announcer read 7. and both started to stir. Darrell once again struggled to push his body up off the canvas floor and at the same time, Ran forced her tattered body to sit up. Darrell got to one knee, letting his arms rest to his sides. He took deep breaths as he stopped to look into Ran's tired eyes once again as she sat up. Both stayed in their positions for a good 5 seconds. then. as if they were reading each others minds, uttered the inevitable.
"You're. finished."
Both teens fell back where they came, totally exhausted. Since none of them totally got up to their feet the announcer continued where he left off.
"8. 9. 10! What do ya know it? After a great performance from both combatants, round 2 ends in a draw. You got to hand it to these two young fighters for giving it all they had where it counted most. Round 3 will start up soon."
Hinata rolled into the arena to check about both her friends' conditions. First she knelt down to see about her teammate first.
"Darrell." she called softly. "Hey! You alright?'
Darrell gave her a weak look. "Hmm. Who knew that taking pictures would hurt.? I'll survive though."
Hinata returned the smile. "I guess I was wrong when I though Ran wasn't much of a fighter. She beat you."
"And I beat her too. Don't start thinking that I'm getting weak, now. I also had to fight her brother. That Koryu-rekka really hurt."
Hinata helped Darrell to his feet and rested his body on the ropes surrounding the ring. She then walked over to check on Ran, who was still on her back, breathing hard.
"Hey, Ran! How's it going?"
Ran looked up to her friend. and gasped a bit. "Hinata? You. you're here. on their team? Man! I wish I could have got on yours. It would have saved me the trouble of fighting Darrell."
"I don't see why you're complaining," Hinata answered back while getting Ran up. "You knocked him senseless with your camera."
Ran shot a smile. "Yeah. Would you excuse me for a second?"
Ran pushed off Hinata and made her way to the resting Darrell who lay on the ropes. When she approached him, he was rubbing the cheek that she kicked him at.
"I guess that really hurt, huh?" Ran asked.
Darrell looked up at Ran and smiled. "Eh. I've been used to being punched in the face. but to be kicked full force is something completely new to me. By the way, I like your sneakers."
Ran stared at him for a second. then smiled again. "Thanks." She started to nurse the swollen check the Darrell tried to murder during the fight, mimicking her opponent. "Your gloves are pretty nice, too. although I was on the business end of them."
"Hey! You want to check out the rest of the tournament together? Even if one of our teams loses this fight, we can chill out. It isn't against the rules. as far as I know."
"Sure. I have nothing else to do. I bet I can get great shots from the sidelines."
Both Ran and Darrell exited the ring, becoming friends more by the second, leaving Hinata. Hinata turned to the announcer and mentioned that she'll be the next fighter on their team. While she was doing that, a young man stepped in. He was wearing nothing but blue trunks and tape on his hands and ankles. His brown hair stood on end and leaned over a bit and on his forehead was a white headband that resembled Sakura's, only it resembled the Japan flag.
Hinata turned to her next opponent and recognized his attire pretty quickly.
He has got to know Muay Thai, she thought.
He stepped into position, his hands on his hips.
"Okay, everyone, Joe Higashi is here!!" he announced himself out loud, causing applause from the crowd. He absorbed the applause. "That's right. Now just sit back and enjoy the show!"
"Alright everyone," the announcer started. "Round 3 is right at your doorstep, promising even more exciting action now that we have two fresh new fighters in the ring. From team C-7 is Joe Higashi and from C-8 is Hinata Wakaba! Ready? Fight!"
End of Chapter 19