Moving Forward (Part 3) finished

[tsukare]

The wind subsided, as the falling leaves fluttered to the ground leaving only the warmth of the sun on Ikezu’s face. The light shined through the tree tops raining hope onto the feline warrior, giving focus to his training. His eyes closed, yet the light burned through his eyelids with brilliant orange fire illuminating his vision. His lungs filled with warm air, and as it fled his body he was left with only one image. He had done something in his fight with Rensou. Something he had never done before, and it filled him with such pride and joy that he wished to master that ability. He had released the fire of his soul, literally. It just so happened that the next element in his training was fire, so maybe by mastering his Kata he could master the technique. At this point anything was worth a shot.

So he breathed, letting go of his emotions, letting his mind focus on the philosophy behind the form.

“Fire is the element of change. It represents acceptance, courage, and hope. With it comes, life and death.” He said out loud.

“Fire is an element, which when combined with other elements alters them. When fire is added to water, it creates steam. When combined with wood it creates ash. When combined with minerals from the earth, it creates metal. That metal when added to fire is formed into useful tools. Thus fire represents change.”

Ikezu looked up at the sun, and smiled.

“Fire is an element which brings life, the heat of the sun is given to the plants and nourishes them. When a forest is burned down, new seeds are given life by the old trees flames. Yet, in order for these seeds to grow, the old trees must die. Thus is the way of life, the old brings the new which become old and are renewed again through the flames of life. Thus fire represents acceptance. For only when one accepts change, will change occur.”

The heat from the sun warmed his soul, as a bead of sweat trickled over his nose.

“Fire is an element which overcomes all things with sufficient quantity. A large fire cannot be put out by water, it will continue to feed through the trees, it will scorch the earth, and melt the irons which tend it. Thus fire represents courage.”

A single cloud passed inbetween Ikezu and the sun creating a brief respite from the sun’s heat.

“Fire is an element which brings with it, opportunity. When the fire of the sky falls at night, it leaves the world cold and barren. Yet when it rises it brings new life, new change, new opportunities. As it falls, it will surely rise, and therein lies hope. Yet like all things, fire becomes what it is used for. If fire is used to destroy it will destroy, yet when fire is used to create beautiful things are gifted upon the world. Thus fire is the engine which drives the world, and gives us hope.”

“Fire is the element of change.”

His lungs rose and fell with his hands, he was ready to begin.

[tsukare]

Ikezu’s left foot slid forward, his knees bent slightly with his body facing sideways and his head facing forwards, his hands rose behind him. With a sharp movement accompanied by a loud ‘TFFH’ his right hand closed into a rock hard fist shot forward stopping just in front of his eyes, his arm making a perfect 120 degree angle, and his right hand also closed into a fist stopped under his solar plexus, just inches in front of his body. His left foot slid to the left as his right leg straightened and his right hand shot forward in a punch another ‘TFFH!’ echoing through the woods. His power was evident, and he was releasing all of his emotions just as he had done with Rensou. His mind was calm, and his energy flowed freely.

His right knee rose into the air which caused Ikezu’s body to turn to the left, his left leg straightened as his body pivoted mid-air. A flame ignited around his left leg as Ikezu released a short “HAAA!” following a 360 jumping back hook kick, a trail of heat following his foot as his left foot landed behind him. Immediately he stepped forward with a straight punch using his left hand. As soon as his left foot touched the ground again, he turned behind throwing a swinging right handed chop, a left leg sweeping roundhouse kick, left leg turning hook kick, and right leg crescent kick. Each one releasing a burst of heat as his emotions became increasingly calm, and he became increasingly open to change.

His feet landed together and his right foot rose as his hands spread apart in a spreading low block, and he stepped forward leaping into the air with a 540 triple spin kick, each one releasing a burst of white flame which escaped his feet flying forward a few feet before dispersing, as he landed he executed a flurry of attacks and blocks in all directions, heat building around his appendages. Suddenly he turned quickly his hands shooting to his sides. His left hand rose with his hand opened and palm up slowly, a quick downward motion simulating a low block, a sweeping low round house kick, followed by a turning right hand chop and back hook kick, without his leg touching the ground he dropped down with a spinning sweep kick releasing a burst of fire, and his body rose flipping backward as fire burst from his feet once again.

As his feet fell once again together they separated with his left leg in front. His hands crossed in front of him. He felt it this time, he knew what he was doing. He was releasing a controlled version of his White Tiger Flame, enough to cover his hands and feet, to be controlled and harnessed into raw power, and to be released in a wave of fiery wrath. His hands separated his left hand dropping low, his right hand bursting into flames as it came to his hip.

Ikezu allowed the warmth to leave his body, accepted this new ability, this new change. His hand was wrapped in a white fire up to his elbow. His lungs rose once again. His hips turned, his right foot grinding into the ground. His body worked as a well-oiled machine as his left hand came to his hip and his right hand turned flying forward. His mouth opened exhaling quickly and his hand opened relaxing his muscles and the flame wrapping itself around it flew forward twisting around itself like a serpent, flowing forward and as it reached its target a tree, it burst forward punching a hole in it and splintering the wood which now resembled ash. The remaining fire wrapped around the tree naturally and burned itself out quickly.

“YES! I did it!” Ikezu said in exhaltation, he had mastered a technique which hadn’t been seen by his people since the great White Tiger Byakku! It seemed Ikezu was following his great grandfather’s footsteps.

OOC: PL please and ‘Burning Fist’

(Burning Tiger Fist: Ikezu projects his inner flame into his limbs creating a white firey aura around his the appendage and increasing his striking power by 2 times. If he wishes he can 'throw' this flame in order to dish out his normal physical damage along the tragectory of his attack. Probing attacks such as jabs will go in a straight line, while swinging attacks such as axe kicks and hooking punches will project an arc like wave which will travel along the attacks trajectory. Straight waves can go up to 15 feet away, while sweeping waves can only go up to 7 and a half feet away.

Because of this techniques properties, it can only be maintained consistently for 6 turns normally, 4 turns with WTF activated, and 3 turns with Feral Form activated. An extra post is given for each appendage not used, (9 posts if only using 1 appendage in his normal form). After the technique ends Ikezu must wait 1/4th the turns used in order to use it again. (If using the long distant version only, he doesn't need to wait))

[Rensou Hiruen]

850 PL awarded and the technique, but please, same amount of posts for both variations, hooks and high kicks are more powerful than jabs and push kicks.