Emotions... the missing equation in the reasoning....

Ryu got to his feet quickly. “You’re pretty damn good.”, he says as he takes a breathe, “Almost to good.” Ryu took some steps back and adjusted his gloves. “I can already tell you will be a worthy adversary. Maybe even harder then Blake” Ryu loosens himself up and stands casually. “But unfortunately, so far you’re not quite good enough. Not to brag but if those moves are what you’re based on then you don’t stand much of a chance.” Ryu takes four steps to his right. “Or maybe this is just too early to say?” Ryu scans her current position and keeps the image in his head. Estrus still stood there, not moving to face him. Ryu thinks to himself, Well she’s not being intimidated... and she won’t move. Darn, she’s a lot better then I expected. “You seem to be the silent type; I respect that.” Ryu takes 3 steps backwards. He is now completely behind her and several feet away. “Humph, just as I thought. You’re not as smart as I thought you were.” Ryu then ran towards her, sending a shock wave of force that caused the grass to side each other.

He ran at her at almost full speed but still he showed some restraint in his movement. He was nearing closer to her and almost close enough to touch her when he took a sudden and surprising leap backwards. Thinking that Ryu was about to attack her she lunged her right arm to knock a blow to his left knee. She was thought that he would run up stubbornly and attempt to punch her in the back of the head and so she ducked and tried to punch him in the left knee. Yet of all this she predicted he lunged backwards into the air. While she her body and right fist was still down, Ryu still in the air charged up quickly in his right hand yellow energy. He fired a yellow viper shaped blast straight at her right arm. Noticing this quickly, with all her strength and speed she tucked back her arm and moved her body. She felt the violent heat of the blast flowing just inches from her face and into the ground. Ryu landed on the ground and jumped back. “Damn, I missed.” he said with his teeth gritted. Estrus gazed at the wide long line on the ground. A big chuck of earth had been removed and she only narrowly escaped a fatal blow by seconds and inches.

To escape inflicted burning.... to elude an ending failure....

Recognizing the severity of the blazing heat through use of her sensors, Estrus could hardly fathom the notion of almost being caught within such a scalding blast. Surely, it would have destroyed her suit in a flare of pyrotechnics and pain.... if nothing else.... and that was not something she could afford. Indeed not, for she relied heavily upon its abilities... and upon the apathy it allowed her to sustain during battle, making her just as cold and methodical as the metallic, mechanical parts about her.... and it was this very indifference to her emotions and complete dedication to her goal that allowed the shock of that former attack to roll past her quickly, passing her by as she devised her next course of action....

Simultaneously to evaluating her rapid thought pattern, the mecha-covered bounty hunter also clenched her left fist reflexively, tightening and relaxing her entire hand in systematic motions, not hearing the faint cracking of her knuckles as a result of the insulation of the suit. Additionally, taking in a deep, controlled breath of the monitored air, she shifted the view of her narrowed, jade-tinted eyes from the result of Ryu’s blast to the creator, himself, adeptly scrutinizing his position and finally deciding upon the best strategic response.... doing so all in a matter of sheer moments, spurred on by the internal whirring of her armor and the consciousness it presented....

Thus, having made that concluding choice for the situation at hand, Estrus promptly turned to face her opponent head-on, not even pausing in place before lunging forward in his exact direction, feet first gritting into the ground roughly, digging up small drifts of dirt and dust, before springing back from the dense surface, not with the grace of an adept form but with the skill of a meticulously programmed being, and it was this very action that brought her to him in slight instants. In continuation with this utterly smooth and entirely designed feat, she sent her taut, left fist forward, aiming for Ryu’s upper, right chest whilst predicting his every rejoinder thereof, which was personified in his backward, turning motion- a successful dodge that would have left careening past had she not already planned for it....

Therefore, having already known the results of her previous maneuver, the attacking woman hastily cocked back her right hand, bending it sharply at her elbow and flicking her wrist ever-so-slightly in a very specific manner, which released a bladed weapon upon the back of her forearm. It was of a high-caliber metal, honed to a fine edge, and the largely scalloped and pointed detailing only made it more dangerous- suited for the most intense of shredding and slicing. This very blade was what allowed her strike to be accomplished satisfactorily, for as she sped past his evading figure, her outstretched arm turned toward him, allowing the length of her weapon to make contact with him, slicing at the very moment of impact.... However, as her sensors soon designated, no true damage was done- only a mild cut and a terrible tear to his outer-coverings. Finally letting an emotion get to her, then- frustration-, Estrus cursed beneath her breath, turning to meet the strange man once more....

To burn internally.... to admit to a concealed desire....

Ryu suddenly blinks; thinking quickly, he gave a loud yell. He pushed out his arm towards her position and forced her back with his mind. Her body was thrown back quite a bit, yet she gained control and set her self down. Ryu eyes widened as he looked at the his clothes that were cut. “Whoa, you got blades!” he exclaimed. Ryu glanced onward at her, not knowing what attack to use next. Estrus was getting ready to attack, so Ryu hesitated. Estrus charged at him with excessive force. Gathering to his senses, he leaped to his right just in time to see Estrus’s blade swing past his face. He somersaulted backwards trying to evade her illustrious attacks. Yet again, she swung at him randomly with no true form. Every time he attempted to attack he was greeted with a blade that headed sufficiently towards his lower abdomen area. He gritted his teeth and started swinging out punches opposite of where he was being attacked. She through a left, he through a right. Trying to attack was hard as it seemed he never got a good chance. She was swinging her blade in any direction. He would have to use his speed and quick reflexes to dodge them. He began to grow impatient and his rage took over. He stepped back and leaped into the air. He faced her direction and spun around to increase the power of his kick. He came around with his left leg with all his might towards her head. She just bent her body down and held the bare part of her blade up to defend this elusive attack.

Ryu kicked her blade still with all his might, yet it had no effect. He fell to the ground from the force of his kick. Estrus jabbed down her blade into his left shoulder. Ryu screamed out in a cry of pain. Unable to do anything because of the tremendous pain, he looked up at her face. He gritted his teeth and held back his tears. She slightly tilted her head to the side and twisted the blade that was lodged into his shoulder. Ryu screamed out in an even more cry of pain. The pain seemed unbearable as tears rolled down his face. He closed his eyes and put his right hand on his chest. Estrus lifted the blade that she had struck him with and stepped back. Ryu laid there with his right arm over his wound. Moments past by and he finally took a stand. His smirk fidgeted over the agony of the previous attack that left him so damaged. “That was pretty good... I was such a fool. I attacked you blindly.” He maintains and shifts his weight to make the pain less overwhelming, slouching his left side down. He was badly injured and didn’t think he could go on much longer.

Appearances.... welcome when favorable to the analyzing eye....

... Estrus, noticing the success of her last assault upon her current foe, felt as pleased as she could despite the apathy both surrounding her in inanimate structures and within her as the walls of her mind. It was not a pleasure derived of personal success or accomplishment, but a satisfaction in the notion of completing her mission, and this feeling was personified well in the absence of emotion upon her features. She did not smile or smirk or even look on with a gleam of smugness in her emerald eyes- no.... Instead, she merely paid attention to her target and his conditions, allowing the internal monitors to feed her the information concerning his new wound- a rather jagged, deep piercing within his left shoulder that bled somewhat profusely, though not fatally so- but it was enough to stain his torn garments with the sticky, crimson, fluid.

... The very same liquid, congealing and darkening from its exposure, rested upon parts of her blade, as well- a sanguine show of who had bested who. However, Estrus dare not let herself become overconfident, for not only was that an emotion she was not afforded, but it was also a strategic downfall, as her suit’s files indicated. So, she merely looked upon Ryu a moment more, indifferent green gazing into pained shadows, before assessing his position enough to act once more. This act, comprised of a forward lunge, once more, focused upon his weak spot- the left side of his body, for it would be much harder to defend and much easier to inflict both pain and further injury upon, hopefully diminishing his abilities and will far enough to end this skirmish before more of her resources would need to be employed....

Therefore, Estrus allowed herself to come into close range, aiming for the right of his form in appearance before twisting her feet slightly upon the ground, allowing her to more to the left successfully, surely surprising him with this strategic maneuver. Ryu, in response, seemed baffled, a very nearly surprised look crossing his features- mouth slightly opened and eyes wide, and he attempted to fall back on his left side, a repeat of a former scene before. Despite this, though, the bounty hunter did not keep moving forward as before- trying to slice across his front, but instead slowed, the heavy mass of her armor thunking chaotically as she stopped and shifted, preparing to once more slice into the man at close proximity....

Little did she know that it would become a failed attempt- another move made foolishly for lack of including the unpredictability of action when influenced by emotion- and that emotion was fear. Ryu feared the very loss of his life, and as that adrenaline rushed through his veins, he found new strength coursing within him- urging him onward. Thus, as Estrus’ bulky mecha slowed her movements and his influential sensations sped him up, he placed much of his might and energy into his left foot, pressing into the dirt, springing back, and flipping within the air. This offensive activity became a focal point of concentration, and he strained as his foot smashed forcefully into the woman’s protective head gear, jolting both backward a bit. Feeling more confident, the man continued his jump, landing upon his feet firmly and resuming his slouch.

... The emotionless of the two was not as unharmed, though, for her visor was severely cracked and broken, not only heavily impairing her sight and a few scanning abilities, but also sending shards of the broken fibers into the flesh of her face. The blood from the wounds seeped down in drops and rivulets from the razor-like cuts all over her face, scarlet stains upon the paler, though slightly tanned, skin, and her right eye remained closed, too injured about it to allow proper opening or eyesight at the moment, her vision tinted with red. Thus, her face exposed, her armor weakened, and her shock level as high as the mecha would allow, she was left to ponder over her helmet- safer to leave it on or take it off? .... left to wonder over her own skill- would it be enough to deal with the unpredictability? ..... left to consider her adversary- was he more than he seemed?

Appearances.... deceiving when sight was not entirely open?