Kusunoki Masashige vs Keiichi Taniguchi

We've both agreed to the terms of the fight.
No word limit, No solipsism, No modding though I'm sure that wont happen.
Setting is a small clearing in a bamboo forest.

Kusunoki placed the bulk of his frame upon a nearby tree. The bamboo bent slightly compensating for the man's weight. Procrastinating, he continued to rest languidly against the bamboo stalk. Unfolding his arms he let them drop to his sides. His flushed phalanges caressed the jewled ends of his kusarigami. He sniffed the air, taking in the scent of a distant town, picking up the trace of another. The stench was strong, and nearing by the second as it traveled downwind. He grasped the handle of the golden hued flails, and removing it from his side. Clutching one handle of his weapon from the vigoorian empire. Slowly he crouched to the ground, the bamboo tree snapping erect behind him. His right knee was pressed against the ground, while he remained on the ball of his foot. Extending his left leg outward he created a 90 degree angle with his legs.His lips pursed slightly as he pressed out a zephyr of air from within, extinguishing the paper lamp beside him. A hallowed block of wood rested between the scythe-like blades of his kusarigami, connecting them together with a chain which entered at either end, rather than a weighted ball. Backhanding the blade within his left hand, he placed it completely behind him, causing the chain to grow tight. Resting the flat of the blade in his right hand against the the top of his knee. Waiting now, he continued to look through the trees for whatever it was.

Keiichi Taniguchi strode tranquilly beneath softly swaying boughs of bamboo, the subtle sound of foliage being crushed below the soles of his zori as well as that of the hem of his slate hakama brushing intermittently against the ground rose up and resonated within his sensitive ears. Truly, Keiichi thought, this was what men had aspired for since they became cognizant. He felt that there was nothing more pleasant than taking a stroll through a forest, any forest, and enjoying the sights, sounds and scents it had to offer. There was something that felt profound yet intangible when he made his way through such a serene setting. Perhaps it was the weald itself that flowed with this ethereal energy, or something even more transcendental than that. Keiichi's sensitivity to the empyreal was truly remarkable, but even more remarkable was his aptitude when it came to his more tangible senses which would exponentially increase the enjoyment he gathered during his walks.

The breeze that caused the boughs of the bamboo stalks to sway caressed his countenance, its ever-probing fingers working their way over Keiichi's eyelids as he continued along his path towards the breeze's source, stray strands of hair that had tugged their way loose from his top-knot whipping backwards. A chill ran along his spine as the wind wound its way through the folds of his yukata, sweeping between it and the obsidian hadagi that clung to his chest. Keiichi's arms hung lifeless at his sides, his wrists facing down towards the moist earth whilst the sheathes of Karasu-toge and Ukigumo rubbed against one another, a faint metallic sound reverberating through the stalks as the source of his chill became apparent...

Keiichi's nostrils flared as he took in the scent of another carried upon the wind, as well as the foreboding sense he had felt earlier was given a physical embodiment, although it did not lay directly before him. The murderous intent that the wind brought towards Keiichi was something that he had never been able to acclimate himself to, even though he had taken many lives in such a short life-span. At this particular point, though, it no longer mattered. The time had come for yet another battle and yet another ruined day. A sigh escaped Keiichi's lips as he closed his eyes and continued on his way, not giving away the fact that he was aware of the unknown assailant that laid further ahead.

He remained poised for battle unsure about the location of his foe. He sprang up from the ground, and rose steadily above the trees. A plethora of moonlit razors seemed to be emited from his frame as he eclipsed the glowing orb. His eyes focused on the form of a man approaching. Taking note of the two weapons hanging at the other's hip. The extended left arm was shot forth now, sending his scythe-blade toward the man's chest. The wooden rectangle was broken to splinters as the enter length of the chain was made apparent. Blunt surface of his blade was precisely aimed for the chest of the man. As the rapidly moving weapon approached the figure Kusunoki landed to the ground with a soft thud. Meanwhile,the ground was torn up in the wake of his blade creating a pillar of debris. His feet began to work along the gaia, circling around a nearby group of bamboo trees to the left hand side of the unknown man. The steel tekko he wore glinted upon the backs of his head, creating a small glare. Using the back of his free left hand he allowed it to ride the length of the chain. The edge of the chain caught the steel of his tekko, jerking him forward. He suddenly fell forward his face hitting the ground covered in mud. "Tch.."

The faint yet familiar sound of rustling leaves rose forth from a southernly direction, reminiscent in nature to that of a flock of birds taking flight after being startled by some unseen predator. Keiichi's shoulders rose and fell with each inhalation and exhalation, both his breathing and his heart-rate remaining calm even in the current situation when things seem worse than they truly are because of variables that are beyond one's grasp at this particular point in time, such as the attacker's reasoning and goal. Keiichi tilted his head towards the heavens as his eyelids languorously lifted, giving him his first glimpse of his adversary, although it was nothing more than a silhouette suspended in mid-air, various minuscule objects glimmering about his airborne form.

As he scrutinized the man's delineation from afar while contemplating the nature of the radiance that surrounded him, Keiichi felt devoid of any form of exhilaration which was a well-documented product in any form of combat, but especially one that arose during an ambush, its very catalyst engrained in the subconscious mind. Keiichi's pupils contracted as he formed what could only be described as a series of basic information he had gleaned from observing the man in an infinitesimal amount of time, the man's form now partially eclipsing the moon that lay behind him.

A shrill whistle suddenly rang throughout his ears as the man's arm whipped forth, sending what could only be an edged weapon (which would account for the whistle) towards Keiichi's form, the minute amount of moonlight that was not blocked by the man's form dancing along the length of a metallic chain. So, it seemed, that the man was not foolish enough to simply throw a weapon. But, he must be compensating for some short-coming if he intends to use a chain of such great length. Under most circumstances, the chain of most weapons was no longer than six feet, yet this man wielded a chain whose length was more than twenty; he was sacrificing control for reach. All of these thoughts crossed Keiichi's mind as the as of yet unknown blade was sent careening towards his form while the man caused the earth directly beneath the flying weapon to overturn.

One of the simplest ways to counter force is with force. Although it was not the subtlest or most favorable approaches available to Keiichi, he felt that he should not flatter the man with anything more than skills Keiichi felt the most mediocre of fighters should have in their arsenal. Only now coming to a halt, Keiichi Taniguchi shifted the majority of his weight onto his right leg as it slipped beneath him, the toes of his zori directed towards the forest that encroached upon the path that wound through the thicket of bamboo. As his weight was held comfortably atop the rear leg, his left leg moved forward, held at an angle with the knee slightly bent while his toes pointed in the same direction as those of his right, the side of his zori digging into the earth. Keiichi began to slouch as his torso rested in a manner that appeared heavily, as if he had forgotten about the attack and sought nothing more to do than slouch, the line of his shoulder shifting so that his profile now faced towards the source of the attack. His arms rose, although the movements were languid, his elbows pressed against his side whilst his outstretched fingers reached for the stars, the backs of his hands following in his shoulders stead.

The length of time it took for Keiichi to shift into his stance was enough time for both the blade and the pillar that followed it to come near him, but that no longer mattered. He was prepared and now was when his preparation came to fruition. Keiichi moved the heel of his lead foot outwards minutely, causing the earth it had sunk into to rise with the movement, but that was not all the earth that moved. Keiichi had caused an upheaval of dirt to rise skywards, the obelisk of earth encompassing Keiichi's form while overpowering that of the chain-weapon, burying both the weapon and the uprising in one fell swoop.

He sputtered, pushing the mud away from his mouth. The chain became snagged on the bottom of the bamboo tree in front of him, ceasing its forward progression. The bamboo snapped, falling down atop of Kusunoki. Splintering on top of his skull his eyes rolled back in his head, as if he'd passed out. He rose from the ground now, his mind a blank. The empty vessel swayed slightly from heel to toe, teetering in his position. With his motions the trees around him billowed opposite to his movements. It was as if an unnatural wind had brought the forest to life. Kusunoki's right arm was thrust upward now, throwing his scythe blade over an arching bamboo tree. It swung now like a bob pendulum high above him.

Suddenly, he snapped both of his arms straight out in front of him. His wrist bent slightly, positioning his fingertips at a 45 degree angle toward the ground. The ashen phalanges began to move erratically; flexing and tensing. They ceased their uncontrolled spasms resting tranquilly with only a slight curl. His body swayed once more leaning backward heavily, knees bent, shoulders back, and elbows bent at a ninety degree angle. That 'false wind' once again swayed the trees in the direction of his movement. A creaking noise was produced from his knees as he brought them into a more comfortable position. His iris and pupils still unseen, from his previously acquired knot.

A few moments passed, the forest remaining still and quiet, almost as if no battle was taking place. The trees seemed lifeless, standing still in their places. It was almost unnatural. Breezes came and went, nothing moved except the loose leaves that had fallen along the ground. The still was shattered, and dispersed around Kusunoki's form. From a distance, he would appear to be an odd statue placed in a peculiar part of the bamboo area. The wind now swirled violently, almost in a gale force around the man. He seemed to be the eye of this furious wind.

Amidst the fury of the swirling winds his fingers began to move in a sequence. This was truly strange, as his head swayed from side to side, so did the trees, the 'wind's' movements shifting rapidly. His body swayed to the right now, his feet working upon the terrain, creating small cracks with every step. His iris less eyes continued to stare blankly ahead, with the rapid dialing of his fingers in front of him. Moonlight seemed to glimmer from his frame, sparkles fluttering around his phalanges. He stopped behind Keiichi, the distance had remained ten feet, unaware to Kusunoki.

Kusunoki's right foot soon met with a wet patch in the clear, sliding over to his side. His skull crashed into another tree, splintering on impact. His eyes reverted to their azure hue, growing wide with the pain he now felt. His hands grasped the top of his head, and he rocked back and forth. A slurring of curse words flew from his mouth crashing into the ears of anyone who had heard, like a raging river against the banks. Writhing upon the forest floor he continued to lay there, unsure of how he'd gotten behind the man, or why his head was in such pain.

Due to the fact that Keiichi's form was encased within a nearly adamantine orb caused by the enormous eruption of earth he had used both offensively and defensively, Keiichi was unable to see the brisk movements of his opponent in their entirety, merely catching glimpse of his fallen form before it and all before him was engulfed. Locating his opponent with sight was of no importance, though, especially when he was capable of discerning where the man was through other means.

Shielded and shrouded in the nigh-impenetrable sphere, Keiichi Taniguchi would begin his next move with which he would obfuscate the mind of his opponent as well as his eyes. Shifting his weight forward, the toe of his fore foot slid forward an inch or so as his stance widened, his heels elevated off the ground with a minute amount of space between them. As he repositioned his lower half, Keiichi's arms remained in their place, reminiscent to a beggar pleading for alms. His stance and most likely his style were unknown to his opponent, which would further lead to confusion as he would set into motion the onslaught that would fall upon his foe in mere moments.

Unbeknownst to his adversary, Keiichi would begin to lift his arms towards the heavens, or in this case the rounded ceiling of the sphere. Although there seemed to be nothing restraining him, the movement of his arms appeared to be strained as he raised them inch by inch, starting at the sternum and rising to shoulder-level. Synchronously, the ground in the immediate area surrounding Keiichi would begin to rise tumultuously, jagged points reaching skyward at the exact moment that the man would come out of his stupor whilst rolling upon the ground. Perhaps he would be impaled, perhaps he would not.

(07:37:08\pm) -Yamashita- I can't blocks ur rocks.
(07:37:11\pm) -Yamashita- my hands are tied up
(07:37:11\pm) -Yamashita- ;x..
(07:37:14\pm) † Marten † LOL.
(07:37:23\pm) -Yamashita- i mean i could..
(07:37:28\pm) -Yamashita- but then all that bs i did wont work..
(07:37:33\pm) -Yamashita- so I submit, you are da champ..
(07:37:34\pm) -Yamashita- ..
(07:37:36\pm) † Marten † LOL