Suzaku (grinning): I, Suzaku, am the most expert among the Si Shen when it comes to copying the techniques of my opponent. That is, every technique of yours will corner you and crush you until you're dead!! -------------------- Chapter 240 - "Si Shen Confrontation -- Aoshi versus Suzaku" -------------------- (Aoshi and Suzaku jump back away from each other and Aoshi takes a stance of Oniwaban shiki Kodachi Nitouryuu.) -- Oniwabanshuu Style Kodachi Nitou Ryuu -- --- Onmyoo Hasshi! --- (Aoshi's two swords forming a straight line to make one long sword are thrusted forward only to meet the tip of Suzaku's swords that are formed exactly the same. The two swords met with great force fly up in the air spinning. Aoshi and Suzaku grab their own sword and continue) Misao: ...!! (dumbfounded by the close match) Wh-what! That mass produced face compatible with the other three is proving himself a good match crossing swords with Aoshi-sama! Kenshin: No, it's not an even match. Misao: Right! He cannot be a match for Aoshi sama. That's Himura all over, understanding everything. (Kenshin is dead silent looking very serious) Misao: (pointing to Kenshin) You! Why are you holding your tongue with that serious look? Megumi: Look!! (Misao turnig back to face Aoshi) (Aoshi takes a stance reaching out both arms to the side with each hand holding the sword in a backhand grip.) Misao: Two-sword backhand grip form! That stance has to be.... Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren (Aoshi and Suzaku carrying the attacks with the same techniques --KLCHNAG--leaving six crisscrossed slash marks on the sand. They both have cuts.) Suzaku: (grinning) Suppose that was the secret technique. Yet, you don't look too surprised to see it being copied. I take it you understand what it means. Having struck back with the copied technique I'd never seen before only means I, in fact, carried it out a tad faster than you did. YOU are no match for me. A very fine line but I'm better. To this day all martial arts have perfected themselves through repetitive copying of the founder's techniques. Thus, it's a proven fact that copied techniques are superior to the founder's. And my copying is beyond perfection. Nobody stands a chance. Now, I've seen all of your techniques. My turn to make a move. See if you can keep up with me. HaaaAAAA ---!! (Suzaku lunges out) Misao: (panicky) What are we going to do, Himura? Kenshin: (silent) Misao: (pointing to Kenshin accusingly) Don't you be quiet! Say something! Your silence makes me really nervous. Kenshin: (with a sigh) Well, then. Misao: Yes! Tell me! Kenshin: BELIEVE IN AOSHI. That's enough. Misao: --! (hushed ) (Aoshi drops both swords in the battle) Suzaku: YOU are finished! (raising the swords overhead) (Grinning) This is it...in the moment of the finishing blow...nothing beats more than seeing the expressions of the opponents when they are about to fall by their own fighting techniques. Can't resist fighting for that very reason. (darting off) Now, what kinda scrunched up face are YOU gonna show me? (Aoshi kicks Suzaku in his face ) Suzaku: (still standing with bloody face) Kenpou (Japanese boxing) Aoshi: Your copying technique is quite impressive but not enough to bring down 300 years of Oniwaban's martial art. After all, copying is nothing but imitation, no matter how perfect it is. The originalities in creating new techniques and in combining some old techniques easily reveal the truth about the copying technique. Suzaku: How dare you! It just caught me off guard. To this sword your fist means nothing. (Swinging down the sword) (Aoshi grabs the sword with the bare left hand) Suzaku: ! Aoshi: Since it's my own technique I'm fully aware of the swords paths. Katu!! (breaks the sword into three) Suzaku: !!! (sweatdrops) Aoshi: Don't worry. I wouldn't put an end to you unless you were an outlaw. You are just a punk brainlessly indulging in battles. Not even worth killing. (Megumi, Kenshin, and Misao watching Aoshi.) Misao: Aoshi sama!! Bravo! Hooray! You're the strongest. I believed in you. Yeah! All right! Megumi: With that personality the life must be easier. Kenshin: Indeed.... Wu Heishin: What th--, this is absurd. Two of Su Shin are defeated. No longer dominant... Byakko: (as he punches Sano's left shoulder, yelling) Kakushi! Wu Shin: (turning to face Byakko) !! Right, Byakko! Byakko: (beating up Sano with different forms of fists) Kanshu! Shooken! Haishi! Hyooken! Sano: Urf!! Byakko: How about it, punk? This is Pai Hu Chang Kung. The most effective fist forms for the targetted parts hunt down a prey with precision just like a tiger, a king of the jungle. (showing the fist forms) Kosou, Chikushi, Kisshou, Ketousatu, Goutougoku. I, Byakko, the expert among Su Shin when it comes to vicious attacking. None of those petty tricks like understanding or copying the opponents' techniques. Attack, attack attack attack... ( Sano drives a vicious punch to Byakko's face) Sano: You are not only annoying, but also full of pesky techniques! C'mon, you wanna beat me? Give me a big blow instead of small sleights of hand! -------------- Serizawa's note: I didn't translate Byakko's fist kata names because of my lack of willpower to look up all the kanji in the dictionary... ^_^;;; and I gave up with the Chinese pronunciation... -_- Some of Byakko's fist katas has wordplay embedded in it, making it all the more difficult to translate -_- e.g., "Ketou Satsu" is "Death to the Westerners", something like "Yankees go home". And that's why that kata is like that... ^_^ (raising just your middle finger to your foe)