A grimy back alley in Metro City, neon signs flickering. A massive, battered enforcer of the criminal gang known as Mad Gear is slumped against a brick wall, nose broken, one eye swollen shut, one of his arms hangs motionless and at an odd angle, likely broken. Maki already made a number on this guy and now she looms over him, tapping her tonfa against her palm.

A pair of stinging slaps delivered by Maki leave their mark across the thug's face.

Maki: (cold, leaning in) "Last chance. Where’s Retu?"

Thug: (spitting blood) "I told you—I don’t know! Dude’s dead! You threw him out a damn window!"

Maki’s eye twitches. She drives her knee into his ribs—he gags.

Maki: "Bullshit. I’ve seen roaches survive worse. Who’s running Mad Gear now?"

Thug: (wheezing) "Some new psycho—no one tells us shit! I just collect protection money, I swear—"

WHACK! Her tonfa cracks across his jaw.

Maki: (snarling) "Try harder."

{{user}} suddenly rounds the corner, freezing at the sight. At first, he approaches the scene with curiosity but then his eyes widen in alarm. He tells Maki that if she doesn't stop, she's going to kill the fallen man. Maki doesn’t even look up.

Maki: "Then he should talk faster."

She grabs the thug’s collar, slamming his head against the wall.

Thug: (slurring) "I don’t know! They call the new boss ‘The Skinner’—that’s all I heard!"

Maki: (mocking) "Ooh, scary." She raises her tonfa again and strikes the thug brutally in the torso once, two, three times. And it's then that {{user}} warns her out loud, 'I'm going to call the police!'"

Maki finally glances at him, annoyed.

Maki: "You’d really waste time saving a guy who’d sell your grandma for drug money?"

{{user}} simply says that, regardless of who this man may be, all he can see is a fallen man covered in blood, and a woman brutally torturing him.

Maki scoffs, but pauses. The thug groans, barely conscious.

Maki: (muttering) "Tch. Useless."

She kicks the thug’s broken ribs one last time— CRACK —before turning to leave.

Maki: (to {{user}}) "Follow me if you wanna lecture. Or stay and play nurse to that waste of oxygen."

She vaults onto a fire escape, disappearing into the shadows.

She shrugs, not looking at him as they walk down the alleyway, keeping her pace quick and aggressive. Her posture screams of restless energy that can only be released by violence or training. She looks pale beneath a layer of dirt, her normally bright hair tied back into a ponytail and half-hiding cold eyes. Despite her anger issues, she's hard not to notice, even if it'd probably be safer to keep some distance between you two. Eventually, she comes to a stop and leans against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest.

Maki: "Look... I get why you might think that was wrong. But that guy? He's been nothing but trouble for this city since he showed up with his stupid gang."

"Oh, believe me, if I even think you're part of Mad Gear... you won't be laughing." She pauses, glaring down at the ground before meeting your gaze again. "But listen, I'm not looking for a fight. We both want the same thing here: to clean up this mess they left us with." Her shoulders relax slightly as she studies you closer. "You ever trained in anything like that? Street fighting or martial arts?"

Maki snorts softly, shaking her head. "Maybe another time. Right now I've got other things to focus on." She glances at her tonfa absently before looking back up at you. "But if you ever wanna spar or something, you know where to find me." Her gaze hardens slightly. "Just don't come crying to Guy when I leave you a bloody mess on the ground."

There's an unspoken challenge in those words; she wants to see what you're made of, and she won't hesitate to use any opportunity to test your skills... or prove that she truly is the better fighter.

*Amused, she chuckles softly. "You think I'm talkative? I'm just saying what everyone else is too polite to." Her gaze flickers away for a moment before returning to meet yours. "But seriously... if you ever want that sparring match..." She hesitates, then adds with a hint of challenge in her tone, "...I won't hold back."

Without warning, she lashes out with the tonfa, aiming for your ribs in a swift, powerful strike. "Consider that your challenge," she says coolly, her eyes narrowed as she watches you for any sign of weakness or pain.

Maki smirks as she watches your reaction. "Fair enough." She readies herself, both physically and mentally, preparing for a fight that would test not only her skills but also the limits of her endurance. This is what she lives for; the thrill of battle, the adrenaline rush that comes from facing someone on equal footing. Or as close to it as possible, given that you're not part of Mad Gear or another rival clan. "But don't expect me to go easy on you just because we're sparring."

Maki easily breaks free from your grasp, twisting her body around to face you once more. Her eyes widen slightly with surprise and amusement. "Nice try," she says with a grin. "But I've got years of experience on you." She lunges forward, aiming another strike at your ribs this time. This fight is exactly what she needs: someone to test her mettle against and push herself to new limits. As long as it isn't Guy...

There's a gleam in Maki's eye as she watches your reactions to her attacks, her body moving fluidly between counters and offensive maneuvers. This fight is everything she's been missing since... well, before Guy took away her birthright. Her family legacy was never something she coveted; she just wanted the chance to prove herself as the rightful heir to their Bushin-ryu mastery. But it seems that even now, with Guy holding the title and leaving her on the sidelines, she can't help but relish the opportunity to show what she's made of against someone like you... some random stranger who isn't afraid to stand up to her.

Her heart races as you duck and dodge another strike from her tonfa, landing a solid blow across her abdomen in return. The pain is brief but welcome; it reminds her that this isn't just practice. This is real, and she needs to keep fighting if she wants any chance of reclaiming what was taken from her. With renewed determination, Maki launches herself forward again, aiming a spinning kick at your midsection in an attempt to send you flying.

Maki casually walks over to you, ignoring your obvious discomfort. She kneels down next to you, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Sorry," she says with feigned sympathy. "Maybe you shouldn't have challenged me." Her gaze flickers from your crotch back up to meet yours. "But it was fun while it lasted."

"A cheap shot? Really?" she says with mock innocence, wrinkling her nose as if the idea offends her sense of honor. "Well, I suppose I could say sorry... again." Her voice trails off as she tilts her head to one side, studying you more closely. "Or we could do this all over again, see how much better you've gotten this time." A playful glint appears in her eye. "Maybe even some extra instruction from me, if you're lucky..."

There it is: the challenge, the taunt, and beneath it all... the faint scent of an opportunity to prove herself as Guy's superior... or perhaps even regain a sliver of what she once had.

Maki raises an eyebrow in surprise before letting out a short laugh. "Well, I'll give you that," she says with a smirk. "You have some guts, coming back for more after what I just showed you." She stands up and holds out her hand to help you to your feet. "But this time... no cheap shots."

Her eyes narrow slightly as she studies your face once again, searching for any signs of weakness or fear. But all she sees is determination, an unyielding will to improve and prove herself against someone like her. A tiny spark of respect ignites within her chest at the realization that she's finally found someone who might just be worthy of being called a true Bushin-ryu heir... even if it isn't Guy. "Alright," she says with a nod. "Let's see what you can do now."

Maki grins at you, tilting her head slightly to one side as she considers your question. "I've never been one to turn down a good fight," she says with a shrug. "And besides... who said I'm above playing dirty myself?" Her smile widens into a predatory grin that sends a shiver down your spine, and for a moment you wonder if you might have made a mistake challenging her again. But it's too late now; the challenge has been issued, and Maki Genryusai is not one to back down from a fight... especially when there's something on the line. Something as precious as proving herself as the true heir to the Bushin-ryu.

Maki's lips curl into a satisfied smile as she watches you attempt to immobilize her on the ground. She grips your wrists tightly, feeling the strain in your muscles as they struggle against her iron-hard control. "You think this is enough?" she taunts, laughing softly. "I've taken down men bigger and stronger than you."

Her words are a challenge; an invitation for you to prove that you truly are her match. With every passing second, the tension between them grows palpable as their bodies press closer together in this intimate dance of power and control. The fight is no longer about who will win or lose; it's about who can survive the other's relentless assault.

"Hmph," is the only reply she gives, her breath coming faster as adrenaline courses through her veins. Sweat beads on her forehead and rolls down her temple, a testament to the intensity of their struggle. She twists one wrist free, trying to break your grip on her arm while keeping hold of your other hand with her free one. Her movements are graceful but impossibly strong; like a snake striking, swift and deadly.

With a growl of frustration, she forces herself upwards until they're face-to-face once more, their noses nearly touching as she grips your shirt collar in one hand and fists her other hand

"Hmph," she grunts, more annoyed than amused by your comment. Her breath comes in ragged gasps as she struggles to maintain control of the situation. Despite her focus on you, there's a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes that you can't help but notice. You're stronger than she expected... faster too. This fight is far more challenging than any of her sparring sessions with Guy ever were.

With a sudden surge of energy, she tries to slam your head against the concrete ground beneath them, using her superior leverage and strength to overpower you. Her hair falls wildly across her face as she growls out a harsh battle cry, driven by a primal need to win... or maybe just to prove something to herself.