Yuisho Kaho Brawlers [ IC / Not Accepting / Started ]

[Desu the Blue Nerd]

Takeo just looked at the creature that was in the sky waiting for it to make its move. Suddenly, a large amount of pressure hit him along with a high pitched sound. He let go of the ninjatos and plugged his ears but it didn't really help too much. When it passed went back to holding his ninjatos. "Weird monster? Sound waves? Is that what it was? It was fast. Really fast. 300 meters per second if I recall correctly. This won't be easy."

After the voice entered his head Takeo looked at his Chain of Souls. "Yuishoko? Is that what this is called? I like Chain of Souls better." He wasn't really paying attention to the the monster's death threats but eventually looked back at it. "Oh yeah. I forgot you were there." The monster was now close enough to get a good look at. "[i]A bat. That explains the sound waves.[/i]" The bat monster was now firing off a large ball of yellow energy at him. "[i]That I don't understand.[/i]"

It being a flying enemy was already a hassle. The other hassle was that chain field wouldn't be too effective here where there wasn't much to wrap around and again there was the out of reach thing. Now there was an energy ball coming right at him. Quickly he threw one of his ninjatos into side of the mansion and jumped on the chain. He simutaneoulsy grinded on it as he pulled it back in quickly nearing the mansion.

He was still fairly new to Chain of Souls and didn't get that much practice with it. Basically, he didn't have much control. Takeo slammed right into the wall. He fell to the ground with a thud. "Ow." Takeo stood back up and pulled his ninjato out of the wall.

[.:Blu:.]

((Desperado, throughout this post I will be giving you clues on how to gain the upper-hand, it's your job to figure out how to exploit these clues to your advantage. Also, this post won't contain anything about Shinji yet just in case any of you are interested in continuing to read about Shinji ))

Seeing Takeo slamming himself into the wall, Higure laughed wildly though his laugher was practically inaudible to human ears. However, the same can't be said for some animals as near the mansion, some dogs and cats began to bark and hiss at the apparent wild laugher they can detect through their more keen senses. Flying above, Higure knew that he was at the perfect area because he couldn't be reached by the limited length of Takeo's Chain of Souls. If only there was a way to get to Higure's level, or maybe get it to come to Takeo's level. Right now however, it seems Takeo was in a bad position.

Higure continued his circling around the mansion, not taking the opportunity to attack yet. His white horns now seem to be more grey in color instead of the before bone white color that Higure's horns had. However, not long after, his horns seem to be regaining their color. Higure then, once again, charged towards Takeo from the sky. charging up another energy ball, Higure fired it towards Takeo before having to fly up. This time around, Higure seems to be taking significantly more time to fly up as towards the ground, the area was more limited for such a large Akukon as Higure.

Finally getting back up, Higure's horns once again seem to be less white and more grey as he began encircling the area once again. It was quite a boring site as Higure seems to be doing the same thing, but this Akukon only seems to be interesting in winning rather than showing off. Despite this, Akukons are naturally prideful and hates being mocked. They often lose their temper and ability to reason, judge, and adapt to a situation when they have been mocked. As with Shinji's situation, the Akukon that Shinji mocked become rather furious and more likely to charge without thinking.

[Hotaru987]

Minawe glared at the red demon-like Akukon as he threatened the lives of the innocent. That was something she wouldn't stand for. She easily hopped her way to the top of her house and called out, "I will not allow you to do such a thing demon." She held out her left hand so that it was parallel to her body, "Kanigawa release: Fire!" Her left upper forearm began glowing a red, and free floating a few milimeters from her hand was the kanji for fire in the center of a circle, and bathed in red light. The light grew stronger and around her left wrist was a ring of red, that had a fire-like quality but did not burn. A hilt was suddenly seen sticking out of the kanji, and Minawe was swift to pull the entire blade out. The blade was bathed in a bright flame, before it condensed into a glowing red dword.

"Catch me if you can." She called out before hopping to the next roof top and so forth. It was no doubt after her Yuishoko, and if that was the case then it should be more interested in her than it's earlier threat. However, just in case, Minawe would turn to make sure it was still following her. If it wasn't she would send a stream of fire that originated from her sword.

The river was getting closer, and the houses were starting to thin out.

[Desu the Blue Nerd]

OoC: I had a few ideas actually.

IC:
Takeo leaned back against the wall. "You fell for it...Chain field..." Takeo was really just trying to get back to where the garden was. There were plenty of trees, gates, and even a small pons with a bridge to wrap around. The outcome of the chain field left something very simlar to a spider web with the ninjatos handle pulling out through the top. It was right between the yellow energy ball and Takeo.

"I don't know what sort of attack it is but this might do something. Soul absorption." Just then the yellow energy ball collided with the middle of the spider web chain field. The the things that the chains were wrapping around were being destroyed. "Gravity chain." Takeo was hoping that that would ease up the stress on the chained objects. Even through all of this Takeo's expression didn't change.

After what seemed like hours even though it was just a few moments the energy ball dissappeared. Some of it appearing to be absorbed by the chain. "[i]Was some of its soul in that attack? Or the souls of its victims. Doesn't matter.[/i] I'll finish this. Scum destoys scum." He jumped up onto thespider web and walked to the middle of the chain field's web. He crouched down and pulled out his ninjato. With it a massive amount of soul was released that sent him flying up into the air after the bat monster. "Takeo Ine." He swung at the monster with the blade of soul. "Know that name in hell."

OoC:
Please note a few things:
1) Soul absorption was still in effect so some "soul" would be taken as well.
2) A lot of "soul" was used there and therefore he can't just do that whenever he feels like again.

[.:Blu:.]

Shinji stood there, cringing in pain that was inflicted by his whole arm burning. The Akukon, seeing this, stepped back a little as he sensed a rather powerful "Pride" being emitted by Shinji. "I-Is he activating his Yuishoko?" the Akukon muttered watching Shinji's every move. Though Shinji didn't do much but stand there and witness his arm burning. A few seconds passed and Shinji finally calmed down after realizing something. There was no intense burning sensation at all from the flames that have engulfed his entire right arm. In fact, it felt as if the flames weren't even there at all.

Shinji was dumbfounded by what was happening. "T-This can't be... I don't feel the flames at all..." Shinji muttered to himself, his eyes still focusing on his burning right arm. Suddenly, the flames dispersed in an instant, revealing an entirely new hand. A black armored-like hand. Seeing this, Shinji stumbled back a bit in surprise. "What is this?!" Shinji asked looking at the hand. Then Shinji pulled back his jacket sleeve to find that not only was it his hand that changed, but his entire right arm. "What's happening to me?" Shinji asked, unable to take his eyes off of this bizarre-looking arm.

-Meanwhile-

Watching as its precious Yuishoko is escaping from the area, the red demon Yuishoko began its pursuit. "Hehe, you're not going to escape human. Just give me your Yuishoko and I won't kill you!" the Akukon shouted towards Minawe. "(Huh? That's strange... That human activated her Yuishoko, but I didn't see any visible Kaho... Unless, this human possesses a Keijo-type Yuishoko which is the rarest form. Hehe, excellent! That means I get to bring something unusual to the table, but I better not let this human get away!)" the Akukon thought to itself.

Suddenly the Akukon began to change color, from red to a gold color. "Heh! You're not gonna outrun me!" the Akukon shouted towards Minawe. A trail of golden dust began to fall from behind the Akukon, and suddenly, the golden dust ignited into a brilliant golden glow, launching the Akukon towards Minawe at an incredible speed. In about three or so seconds, the Akukon was able to get a few meters in front of Minawe. After stopping its movements, the Akukon's golden coloring reverted back to being its original red. "Hehe, didn't I tell ya? You're not gonna outrun me! In fact, out of all the Akukons appearing in Tanimori Town today, I am the fastest, they call me Raihoko, or Lightning Walker." Raihoko explained with a devious smirk.

"Now," Raihoko paused to reveal an electrified right hand, "you die!"

-Meanwhile-

((Well that works too))

Higure's white, iris-less eyes widened as it witnessed its energy ball attack being absorbed by Takeo's unique Yuishoko. Though there was no sound coming from Higure, it was obvious that his face told the whole story. Higure was very surprised and almost didn't know what to do next. For all of his boasting, that energy attack was the ace up his sleeve. Then, Higure sent another sound wave to Takeo. "(Arrg, you think that can scare me?! I'm only beginning to show my true powers!)" Higure bluffed. However, his bluff was not enough to even deter Takeo a little.

Suddenly, Takeo jumped high up into the air using his "spider web" created from his extended chains. Paralyzed by Takeo's speed, Higure couldn't do anything to get away. With one slash, Takeo was able to dismembered Higure's right arm and wing. "AHHHHH!!!" Higure cried loudly enough to be audible to human ears. It was apparent that that was a painful experience. As the dismembered limb fell towards the ground, it dispersed into a black mist which then evaporated completely as quickly as it appeared.

Higure came plummeting towards the ground at high speed, breaking through the "spider web" chain net created by Takeo. Higure then proceeded to painfully and slowly get onto its knees. From then on, it was checkmate for the prideful Akukon. A keeper of Takeo's talents should not be trifled with...

[GreyCat]

"Four Jacks of Diamonds!" Keith yelled. The cards leapt from the orbiting ring around him and enlarged to form a wall between the bug and himself. There was a solid thud as the bug crashed into it, but it only took it four seconds to slice it apart. No matter, Keith just pulled the rabbit from the hat. Like the Wallace and Gromit wererabbit. The beast tackled the bug as soon it was clear of the hat, knocking it back several feet. Call him un-confident, but he he didn't the rabbit would be enough. Securing the hat back on his head, he used the wand to banish the remaining cards. The sounds of the scuff, and the rabbits screams, became more frantic. He took the hint and hurried up, drawing several large rings in the air with his wand. The wand left at silver energy hoop floating that quickly coalesced into silver hoops of metal.

The rabbit screamed as the bug jabbed one of its bladed arms through its chest than burst into silver sparks. The bug stepped through the fading lights, once more focusing on Keith. "Parlor tricks," it said softly. "Your abilities are nothing more than minor annoyances. Hardly a hindrance to me." It closed the gap between them with frightening speed and raised its claw to cut into Keith. Keith swallowed and held out both hands. The descending blade abruptly halted, meeting unexpected resistance; a hoop. Keith gestured again, waving his arms and wand as if conducting an orchestra. His hoops flew at his directions; three sliding along the length of the bug's tail before constricting around it, another hoop catching the other blade, two dropping over its head to pin the arms to the upper body and the last one trapping two three of eight legs when it reared up in outrage.

Keith used the hoops to toss the bug over on its side and keep it in the restrain position. It was way too heavy to do anything more with it. Beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead just keeping them the way they were then. He dropped back to the ground to save energy and focus to improve his hold on the bug. Tightening the hoops slightly, he started on his questioning again. "That was three tricks. Time to pay up. What is a yuishoko? Why is it so important that you come attacking me for it?"

The bug didn't quite have human expressions, but it managed to convey first a look of disbelief then a look of humor. "Here you are using your yuishoko and yet you ask me what it is. Child, you are more of a fool than I first thought. Think of the power you wield. And you have not yet scratched to surface of it's abilities. Why would it not be important? You meddle in things far beyond your understanding child. Already far over your head. Give me the yuishoko before you lose sight of the surface."

[Hotaru987]

Minawe was in open shock after witnessing how quickly the Akukon was able to move - much faster than she could possibly move in the amount of time it used. The river was in sight, but that wasn't har problem at the moment; Raihoko was attacking, and from the electrically charged hand being pointed towards her, he was an lightening based Akukon. Upon seeing the attack Minawe stopped moving and held out her sword in front of her. Instantly her sword was surrounded by fire before the flames expanded, and arched around Minawe, forming what appeared to be a shield. As soon as the lightening hit the flames an explosion went off, and Minawe was seen exiting the explosion from the rear.

Minawe landed on the empty streets and positioned herself as if she was going to attack. Raihoko's speed would be a problem, and unless she would be able to keep up her blade would be virtuously useless. Minawe tensed - like she was about to lunge forward - however, instead she made a 180 and continued running towards the river. There were still houses around, and if she was going to beat Raihoko then maybe an attack with a larger radius would be her best bet. If so there could be no houses in the way.

"Made it..." She mumbled looking behind her for Riohoko to see if he was behind her but he was gone. Almost as if he had simply disappeared. Minawe returned to her basic stance - feet spread apart with both hands in front of her grasping onto the hilt - and darted her eyes from side-to-side searching for him. Fire once again circled around the length of her sword, in her attempt to be ready to attack once Roihoko came back into view.

Ooc: Hope you don't mind that I took a bit of control of Riohoko. If it causes a problem I'll definately change it.

[.:Blu:.]

Continuing to focus his attention on this strange new arm of his, Shinji forgot all about the Akukon. Suddenly, Shinji's eyes widened as he sensed the Akukon trying to slash at him with his large claws. In response to this, Shinji quickly jumped back with amazing results. Shinji was able to jump further back than ever. His jump was beyond the capabilities of a regular human being. Amazed at what he just did, Shinji looked towards his right arm once again. "Is this arm somehow affecting my whole body?" Shinji asked before he looked up at the Akukon who had just missed.

"Arrg, damn you human... It seems your Yuishoko has finally activated." the Akukon stated, causing Shinji to look at his arm again.

"So this is called a Yuishoko? I don't what that is but right now I got more important things to worry about. Huh, since my jumping ability has increased, I wonder what else I can do?" Shinji asked himself before focusing his attention on the Akukon. "Hey flea bag, c'mon, stop standing there all night and let's fight!" Shinji shouted at the Akukon.

Hearing this, the Akukon snarled towards Shinji in anger. "Why you little bug... TAKE THIS!" the Akukon shouted before taking another swipe at Shinji. Timing it correctly, Shinji jumped at the right time to be able to dodge the Akukon's attack. Then, Shinji proceeded to run up the giant Akukon's arm towards its face.

"Take this!" Shinji shouted before landing one powerful punch into the Akukon's face. The impact was great enough to be able to send the Akukon stumbling back while Shinji jumped off the Akukon and landed safely on the ground.

"D-Damn bug..." the Akukon muttered after being hit by such a powerful punch.

Shinji couldn't help but smile. "Hehe, that was something else... The force behind that punch was amazing, and my arms feels so light. This guy is dead." Shinji proclaimed, his usual confident smile forming on his face.

-Meanwhile-

((No, no problem at all))

It was now surprisingly and eerily calm after the explosion that had just taken place. What's more surprising is that after an explosion, there was no one at all coming outside to see what happened. But for right now that didn't matter to Minawe as she was focused on her surroundings. Her eyes darting back and forth to try and find Raihoko. Since the explosion, Raihoko has yet to show his face. Who knows, maybe he was caught in the worse of the explosion, but it was rather unlikely considering the explosion was more flash than bang.

"No matter where you run off to, I'll still be able to catch you..." a familiar voice said. It was quite apparent that the voice came from Raihoko, but where is he?

Suddenly, Raihoko appeared in an instant right above Minawe, carrying what appears to be a sword made out of pure lightning. "Let's see if you can run away after I cut off your legs human!" Raihoko shouted before coming down onto Minawe with the sword at full force. As Raihoko continued to descend, the more his sword seems to be roaring wildly with lightning bolts firing off from different directions, though they dispersed harmlessly in the air.

[Desu the Blue Nerd]

After cutting through the bat-like monster's right arm and wing the energy flowing out of the ninjato faded. "I missed. Too much to control it seems. I wanted to end this quickly and go back to sleep." He watched the monster fall to the ground before him. "Oh yeah. I forgot about the falling thing." He had completely forgotten about his own situation. "[i]My chain field is broken through so gravity chain is probably canceled. There is something that can break my fall though.[/i]"

As he fell looked down at the bat monster. "Good enough. Now let's finish this. I need a nap." He threw his ninjato very similarly to a kunai at the monster's head. Takeo, following the ninjato, did a few midair flips and then stuck his legs out for an axle kick where he would try to kick the ninjato that if he threw it right would also hit the monster's head. He was still trying to be careful for those horns though.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

The spiked monster let its snake-like tongue flick out over its face, weaving among the spikes with morbid dexterity. It took Ryoko a moment to realize that it was eating the fire.

It was [i]eating[/i] the fire.

Joy. Things with long, annoying tongues were the bane of hammy anti-villains everywhere. Come to think of it, it didn't seem to be much affected by the Sun glare, either.

"Oh, my... a Kobun." The spiked... thing had finished its meal and now licked its lips menacingly, staring at Ryoko. "Togeshita is terribly intrigued."

Thorn tongue? Mortifying. "I tremble in fear."

"Your Yuishoko is a very powerful one," the Akukon warbled. "Big... hard... thick... I want it."

"Now you're just being insulting. Ladon doesn't play for your team." The serpent hissed, baring its own tongue.

"I think Ladon..." Togeshita enunciated the name unpleasantly. "...could be persuaded." The monster shifted, girding its body to pounce.

"You'll find that Ladon has an iron will," Ryoko replied.

With that, Ladon's eyes changed colour again: now they shone indigo. Ryoko didn't move at all -- Ladon would resist movement altogether. It actually felt like a twisted metal tube.

The next instant, everything unfolded.

Togeshita lunged. It was moving far too fast for Metal to be of any use at all -- it would pry Ladon from Ryoko with its mad tongue, which lolled out by its side as it charged, cutting her to pieces in the process. Ryoko had severely underestimated her opponent's speed.

Not that it mattered. Now that the beast was in motion, Ladon's eyes were scarlet. And as the thorn tongue lashed out in search of Ryoko, Ladon lunged. Its fangs sank into the fiend's tongue -- and fire burst from Ladon's mouth, literally burning the Akukon's mouth.

Togeshita was moving too quickly for Ladon -- it had to let go and swim back to Ryoko as the monster screeched a horrible, dual-voiced screech and crashed to the ground. It fell with a thunderous boom.

"My... tongue..."

The thing's voice had changed completely. It no longer had any voice at all -- it was whispering, very, very loudly.

"...ahaha... AAAAAAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"

Its laughter echoed even in the open air, rattling Ryoko's bones.

"Not so loud!" said Ryoko, covering her ears. "So much for leaving the folks asleep." This was the first time they'd see an Akukon, she reflected. Mitsuki would be scared out of her wits. No matter how bad the terms they were on now, she'd rather spare imouto that shock.

"Well, they're not going to like a fight in the yard," she muttered to Ladon. "And the fight will be over in a heartbeat if I can throw this idiot over a bridge. Shall we go?"

[i]I could use a walk by the river,[/i] Ladon agreed.

Ryoko vaulted one-handed over the fence and darted off into the forest behind her house. With Ladon active, the bridge was only a five minute run away.

"YOU HAVE WHETTED MY THIRST!!" Togeshita roared. "COME TO ME, LADON! COME TO ME!!!"

[Hotaru987]

Minawe heard the cackling of lightening before actually seeing Roihoko desending at an alarming rate on top of her. "I never run from a battle-" She started as her sword began to burst to life, and the fire surrounding the blade in creased, "-I prefer to call it a strategic withdrawl." Minawe jumped straight into the air intending to meet the lightening blade head on with her flaming sword.

The instant their two swords clashed Minawe felt a surge of both energy and pain from the sheer impact of the lightening sword. It was lucky she decided to use the kanji that increased her power above all else. Simply holding a stalemate with the Akukon was difficult enough, but she was only gettign started. Minawe taped into her "pride" and felt the burst of energy shoot through her entire body, then through her blade making the flames both brighter and stronger.

[GreyCat]

((I gave it three posts, so to end this))

Keith had let go of his hold on the rings when the bug started talking. One because the bug distracted him and two because he needed to let his power rest a bit. He mentally ran through what his prisoner had been kind enough to tell him. His wand was a yuishoko. Something of great power. And giant bugs wanted it. It he didn't one of said giant bugs at his feet, he would pass it off as a joke. A horribly bad joke at that. He looked down at the bug. Not really down, it was big enough that toppling it only brought it to eye level. The bug glared back at him. "So what am I supposed to do now?" Keith muttered. Mostly to himself. There wasn't much you could do with a giant bug, aside from grabbing the raid, but were exactly would he dump body.

"Why not die!" the bug roared, lurching unto it's five free legs. Keith yelped and jumped back, managing to avoid the worst of the downward slash of the closest blade. As it was, he only got a gash to his thigh. Funny how your situation would turn a wound like that from 'oh god' to 'only.' The bug pushed forward, this time bringing both blades to bear. Keith yelled and held the wand-bo horizontal in front of him, his eyes and the white tips of the wand glowing sliver. The rings on the blades flashed and froze, bring the blades to a stop.

"I don't think so," Keith grunted.

"You think this is enough to stop me?" the rings inched closer. The bug pushed a bit harder than the rings yielded a bit more. It was almost a stalemate. The bug couldn't slash but Keith had to focus all he had on the rings. If he let go... The rings contracted a bit as he focused and the blade squeaked. Keith blinked then smiled as the sweat beaded. He jumped back and released his hold. The blade thudded into the ground. He twirled the wand and the rings contracted sharply. The blades resisted, but only lasted a few seconds before snapping off. The tips remained in the ground as the bug reared back and screamed, then vanished into mist.

So much for the disposal problem. "For my final trick I do for free; I shall make a giant bug disappear! Trick Rings!" He twirled his wand, forcing the rings to contract into nothingness, focusing on only a few at a time. The one on his leg gave first; popping the ends of three legs off. The three on the tail followed; bursting the appendage into three sections. The bug was snarling and hissing threats as the two around its chest and arms tightened.

"This is not the end, child. You are already in too deep. And getting out is not possible." Keith narrowed his eyes and cracked the wand-bo against the ground. The rings immediately contracted to nothing, cutting the bug's upper body into two. "I'm a magician," Keith said calmly. "Impossible is what I do." The bug looked like it was smiling as it burst into mist. Keith scowled, then collapsed as the hat faded and his suit turned back into his normal clothes.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

"COME TO ME, LADON!! COME TO ME!!!!"

Ladon had no intention whatsoever of coming to Togeshita. Rather, it, with Ryoko, was running as fast as it could in the other direction. That was very fast indeed, thanks to the power of Pride.

At long last, the trees broke. The bridge was in sight...

wut

"Another one?!"

Yes, that monstrous red thing on the other side of the bridge couldn't be anything other than an Akukon. And it was engaged in battle as well -- having some sort of aerial duel with a much more human-looking silhouette. The amount of light the battle threw off was incredible.

"Remind me again how no one knows the Akukon exist?"

[i]I don't know any better than you do. Perhaps some sort of psychic trick.[/i]

"It would have to be something like that."

Togeshita wasn't thinking any more. Now, as it burst out of the forest, it simply lashed its serpentine tongue out to an absurd length, hoping to snatch Ladon away with it. That didn't work out so well -- Ladon's eyes turned blue. By the time the tongue had struck [i]Ryoko[/i], Ladon was already flying down to bite it. Hard.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

Togeshita sailed forward; Ladon barely managed to let go in time to escape. Ryoko tapped into her Pride and leaped over the monster's head. The beast crashed shortly before it struck the bridge.

"That thing looks like it could use a swim," said Ryoko. She was too tired to think of any good lines.

Togeshita resorted to charging next; Ryoko played the matador and drew it well away from the bridge, and then used her pride to burst onto the bridge. Now Togeshita couldn't simply attack head-on -- and, hilariously, it started to think.

"Well, when you can come get me, that's fine." Ryoko turned back to the girl fighting the other Akukon --

wut

Absurdly-pretty-girl from school. What were the odds of that.*

In any case, she seemed to be handling herself alright. More to the point, there was nothing she could do to help from this angle. By the time she could do something, Togeshita would be charging -- and it was imperative that she draw Togeshita away from the other battle. After all, if the girl lost, she'd be facing two Akukon at once, and that was no fun at all.

She sauntered out to the middle of the bridge and watched Togeshita. At last, it had made up its mind. It was...

...charging straight at her? Did it not comprehend the body of water between them?

Then it did something that really surprised her. The fiend's tongue lashed out and snagged the bridge's railing. It leaped -- and its momentum carried it up, around...

It was trying to crush her!

Ryoko dashed to the other end of the bridge. It would be a shame to lose such strategic ground, but it would be worse to lead it into the other battle and have a chance of facing two Akukon at once. Besides, Togeshita wasn't the sharpest tool in the drawer. It would be easy to regain the bridge... and then lead Togeshita over the side.

By now, Togeshita was flying high in the air. It crashed into the middle of the bridge with such a thunderous sound that Ryoko was shocked the whole city didn't wake up. She could literally see cracks in the pavement. How heavy was Togeshita, anyway? How fast did it have to move to not break the bridge's railing with its weight?

These questions would have to be considered later. For now, she had to retake the high ground. She took off, aiming for the opposite side of the bridge from the railing Togeshita had used as a fulcrum.

"I'M HERE, LADON!!!" Togeshita screamed. The cacophonous screech echoed in the night air.

"And Ladon's here," Ryoko said drily. That was all it took. The game was afoot.



*In fact, they were quite high, but Ryoko didn't know Kurusawa was a Yuishoko collector.

[Hotaru987]

The flames steadily grew as Minawe tapped more into her "pride". Roihoko, though strong, could not withstand to the immense power coming from the Yuishoko's blade. "NO! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY THE LIKES OF YOU!!!" He exclaimed as he tried to hold back Minawe's power.

"It is too late for you." She muttered before there was a sharp, bright white light and Minawe was on the ground, shortly followed by Roihoko. The Akukon hit the ground with a loud thud, and Minawe's only responce was the opening of her eyes. She turned to face the monster that had fallen behind her, as her blade vanished in a flurish of flames and her power was deactivated.

"N-no!..." Roihoko stuttered his voice raspy as he drew closer to the gates of death. "I-i...I c-can't die b-by someo-one like y-you...!"

Minawe looked down at Roihoko as he writhed on the ground pathetically. "You should have thought of that before you came to my home and challenged me. I hold no remorse over your death." Roihoko roared in both anger and defeat, as his entire body faded into a black mist and all traces of him vanished. Almost as if he had never been there in the begining. Minawe reached into her kimono and pulled out a talismin. She held it in between two fingers and closed her eyes. Seconds later there were words burned into the paper in glowing red kanji, before turning black. "May your destination in the afterworld be just to your earthly decisions."

Minawe tossed the talisman into the air. It floated for a few seconds before the edges caught fire and then traveled to the center. It was customary that a Miko to bless every spirit that passes away, whether it be evil or not. The buring of the talisman is supposed to signify the purification of the spirit. She turned her head towards the bridge where there was another Akukon, though it was defeated by a girl whom she recognized as Ryoko; another Yuishoko holder.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

The beast leaped.

And Ladon's eyes turned [i]violet[/i].

Where once Ryoko had been, she now was not -- but Togeshita was still charging. Straight for the railing it had just damaged. And Togeshita was nothing if not powerful.

It shrieked something on its way down -- something that sounded suspiciously like "LAAAAAAAAAAADOOOOOON!!!!!" Then it hit the water. The splash was big enough to hit the bridge -- and the unfortunate Ryoko, who had just rematerialised in the shadow of the railing.

"That was fun," she sighed. "I think. That'll have to be all for tonight, though." Moon eyes were taxing on the best of days, to say nothing of the dead of night.

[i]Absolutely[/i], Ladon agreed. [i]I really need a good nap[/i].

Togeshita still hadn't risen from the water's depths -- only black smoke rose from the water. Ryoko had been right, it seemed -- something as heavy as Togeshita couldn't swim any better than an armoured boar.

As Ladon slithered down her useless arm, Ryoko turned to observe the other girl's fight. The monster was quickly paling to what amounted to an enormous amount of brute force from the girl's blade. Then, one FLASH and BOOM later, the Akukon was on the ground, evapourating and muttering some pitiful last words. What intrigued Ryoko wasn't the monster's grovelling, however, but the "funeral" the Yuishoko (cwutididthar?) was giving it -- she was fairly sure that was some sort of ancient superstition. Whatever it was, it wouldn't be afforded to an Akukon by any normal Yuishoki.

But first to the matter at hand.

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" An cheesy old pickup line, delivered in an oddly formal voice, with a hammy inflection she'd never use at school -- precisely the impression she wanted to make. "We go to the same school, don't we?"

[Hotaru987]

Noticing the Akukon Ryoko was fighting was also killed, she performed the same actions with the fallen enemy as she did with Roihoko. When it was over she turned so that she was completely facing Ryoko.

Minawe looked at Ryoko for a long while, examining the Yuishoko that had situated itself onto her deformed arm. She had hear the girls question and looked up to answer it. Though Minawe's interest in the girl wasn't too high, she still wasn't one to be rude to a question that was ask. It was a pointless question, one that both of them knew the answer two, just something to break the air between them.

"Yes, we do attend the same school. We are also in the same classes, English being one of them." Minawe said as she bent down to pick up the two red chopstix that fell from her hair during the fight. She was actually surprised that they haven't been damaged. She didn't put them back in, however, and instead held onto them leaving her hair down. "I do not know if you are aware, but my name is Kanigawa, Minawe." She waited until Ryoko gave her name as well. She didn't feel comfortable reffering to someone by their first name.

"How long have you know?" Minawe question her voice sounding as the the question was merely a formality. She would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about what her powers were, but at the moment thats as far as the interest went. Minawe did admit to herself, that Ryoko was much better company than most people she has met. For instance she wasn't gushing over her, or trying to impress her like mose boys, and even some girls would try to do. As far as she knew, it was a step in the right direction.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

"Some time," said Ryoko. It would be best not to divulge such sensitive information, to stay ambiguous -- though if Kanigawa-san wanted to be more specific, Ryoko would hardly stop her. Anyone with a Yuishoko would be a player in her game, whatever it would turn out to be; she had to start getting an edge now if she hoped to succeed without any real allies.

"Funny story," she added. "My family wanted to stop me from getting Ladon -- they thought I was a devil child or something." Alogia would be suspicious; best to divulge information that wouldn't hurt her cause.

Kanigawa's taciturn formality was quite a surprise to Ryoko -- she'd been expecting something completely different from the most popular girl at school. It was a pleasant surprise; she already liked this girl marginally more than any of her other classmates.

"You?" The only people who should ask are the ones who are prepared to be asked. Not quite how the quote went, but close enough.

[Hotaru987]

Minawe closed her eyes, "Longer than I care to remember." She said to Ryoko, then re-opening her eyes. "Would you mind telling me your last name? I do not feel comfortable calling you by your given name." She said. The girl was proving to be more interesting that Minawe originally thought. It was strange that they both seemed to draw their enemy over to the bride. Was her reasoning the same as Minawe's? Or did they simply wonder towards this direction? Either way, it was of no concern to Minawe.

"I believe that all Yuishoko users are cursed. Why else we fated to risk our lives to fight such terrible beast?" She wonder both to herself and towards Ryoko. "If I had the chance I would give up this power. It has done nothing but ruin my life." Minawe was mostly talking to herself now, and as she said that she was thinking about Mako, her only friend when she was in middle school. How she was killed right in front of her eyes, literally torn limb from limb.

If Minawe hadn't been a Yuishoko holder then Mako wouldn't have been hurt, and she would have been alive. It was all of her fault. Minawe's expression didn't change however it was apparent that she was thinking about something in her past from the glazed over look in her eyes. "I apologize for my rudeness." Minawe said as she returned to reality.

"Do you know of any other Yuishoko holders?" Minawe was curious if others had the ability to sense out the precense as she was.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

OoC: Can't write; can only outline... therefore, prepare for CRAPPYPOST!

"I'm not aware of any, per se," replied Ryoko. "But I don't have the ability to sense whether someone has a Yuishoko or not. For all I know, half the school has Yuishoko."

She wasn't being serious, but this would be about the time the show would give a montage of all the other Yuishoko doing battle with the various Akukon that had decided to prey on them.

"For my part, fighting the Akukon is the high point of my life," she continued. "God knows it's easier than being the object of ridicule and scorn from the entire waking world." Her tone was light, actually, but the bitterness was there.

"Does your family know?"

She'd never actually met another Yuishoki, and it would be interesting to hear how they'd handled the issue of "what if an Akukon attacks them?" She'd told Mitsuki, anyway, back when they were on good terms, and she'd told her parents; Ryoko still didn't know if she would have spoken up herself. As for Hikari, well, she'd been there when she found Ladon; it would be a bit difficult to keep things quiet. But did other Yuishoki tell their close relations? Or did they stay quiet? After all, the Akukon weren't common knowledge -- how was that possible, if Yuishoki the world over warned their friends and loved ones of the threat of the Akukon?

As for diplomacy, well, small-talk was important, and more to the point, there wasn't yet any critical information she needed to know. For now, forging a sort of bond would be enough, so as to pull information -- or assistance -- from Kanigawa in the future. She'd need every ally she could get.

[Hotaru987]

Minawe was slightly surprised by the question, "Do your parents know". Though the extent of her surprise when by the raise of right eyebrow. It would be only natural for her parents to know about her abilities. Their family had a long line of keepers - and by assumption Minawe assumed that the other keeper's families also knew about the Yuishoko. Perhaps Minawe was wrong. She hadn't even spoken or befriended another Yuishoko holder before so she could have been wrong.

"Yes my family do know. The knowladge of Yuishoko, and Akukons are common knowladge to my family. They are aware they they could be attacked because of my position at any given time." Minawe said though there was no change in her voice. No indication that she was worried of that fact. Whether it was because she was confident in her abilities to protect them or she simly didn't care was unknown.

"What about yours? Are they aware of what is going on? And the fight that you engage in?" These questions were still questions of formality. No real information was being divulged in the conversation. It was still as if they were still sizing each other up. It is rare for a Yuishoko holder to turn evil it is not impossible. A prime example was the Kurogetsu family. Ryoko didn't seem like too bad of a person, just closed off and very secritive; not much different for Minawe herself.

[Supreme Gamesmaster]

"Well, they know in principle. Akukon haven't bothered with us for the last sixty years, though. Their parents didn't seem to know the Akukon existed."

She knew that because Ladon, upon awakening, had no memory of its powers. It had remembered the majority of them by now, and indeed upon seeing the first Akukon she'd fought, but she wasn't about to expose any sort of weakness.

"That said..." Time to drop the bomb.

"Now that we've found each other, we should form an alliance. We could find out who else has a Yuishoko. Then they'd find others, and so on.

"As it is, Yuishoki work independently. Akukon are free to prey on them at their leisure. But if we formed a network of Yuishoki, we could find and eradicate the Akukon much more efficiently -- perhaps before they had a chance to do any harm."

Kanigawa had spoken very poorly of the Akukon, and, oddly, though her tone was unreadable, her word choices screamed of bitterness. Therefore, the appeal spot was the opportunity to eliminate the Akukon completely.

"At the very least, we should help each other and other Yuishoki when we can," she finished. "What do you say?"

[Hotaru987]

"Working...Together..?" Minawe repeated a light tone of surprise hidden within her voice.

There wasn't a time in her life when she had ever considered getting help or helping out the other Yuishoko. Not because she was cruel, but simply because if she started helping the others, then she might start caring about them, and Minawe couldn't handle losing another person she cared for. She was not good at handling situations like that, which was why she distanced herself from the kids at her school; Yuishoki or not.

Yet, here Ryoko was asking her to join forces with her to eliminate the Akukon. Minawe wanted nothing more that to destroy them all after what they did. Maybe it was time to fight with someone, and Ryoko was certainly interesting enough to warrent Minawe's attention.

"It would move things a lot faster." Minawe mumbled to herself, [i]And it would assure that I find the keeper who had that arm.[/i] She added in her thoughts. As an afterthought, she supposed there would be less of a chance of people getting hurt.

To be completely honest Minawe didn't really care about the damage the Akukons did to the town. Her main reason for killing them was for revenge, and that it was her duty as a keeper to destroy them. Moving an Akukon away from the town was merely a formality as a Miko Priestess, whom was supposed to value and protect all living creatures - the reason for her blessing the spirit of an Akukon whether she wanted to or not. It was simply her [i]duty[/i] to do so.

"Alright then. I do not see any reason not to accept your offer. Just be aware that I am in this for my own agenda, and while you certainly peak my interest I have no intention of making friends, or going out of my way to help you." Minawe stated. She was sure that Ryoko felt the same way, so Minawe didn't expect to recieve much help from her if she needed.

The only thing Minawe hoped for at the moment is that she wouldn't start caring for people again. She wouldn't be able to handle losing another friend, and with the fighting that they do, death was an inevitible outcome. It was simply how long could you avoid death.