*Posting twice in a row? You bet! There's more stuff to do!*
Let the Healing Begin
or
Party At Ground Zero!
*We lay our current scene at EGC, where the regulars are engaging in various bar-related activities while the war against the Roach Armies rage on outside. Alas, the two things are about to overlap. Enter the Shito Sentai.*
Rei: *Bursts in through the door* All right, people, casualty coming through! Clear the way!
Ritsuko: Casualty? Who?
Tenkei: *Zips into the bar after Rei, babbling hysterically*
*And just after Tenkei come Aoi and Kaworu, with Hugh floating in between them.
Ritsuko: What in God's name happened to him?!!
Rei: He fought some mutant....it nearly killed him....
Ritsuko: *Looks at Hugh's body sadly* Rei....the fact that he's alive now, after all that, is a miracle....but I don't need to examine him to know he's beyond help.
Aoi: Oh, we're not asking you to help him yet.
Kaworu: We need to help him some first....
Ritsuko: Nani? What do you mean?
Rei: You'll see.
*The Shito Sentai run upstairs to the small living space Hugh and Rei rent from Tifa. Kyuusaisha is mercifully asleep, unaware of his father's condition. The four celestial beings sit crosslegged on the wooden floor in a diamond pattern with Rei at the head, Kaworu to her right, Aoi to her left, and Tenkei across from her. Hugh is held between the four.*
Ritsuko: What's happening? What do you intend to do?
Rei: *Shuts her eyes in concentration, speaking in a voice which is eerily quiet and calm* We are saving his life.
Ritsuko: But how....?
Aoi: *Shuts her eyes as well, speaking in the same quietly self-assured voice* By combining our AT Fields.
Ritsuko: How will that....?
Tenkei: *Closes his eyes next, and he begins to speak in perfectly understandable Japanese, startlingly* Hugh is a Demon. His power of regeneration is not so strong as ours.
Kaworu: *Shuts his eyes last* So we are helping him....by focusing our AT Fields on him, we are preventing the damage to his physical shell from becoming any more severe. We are giving his regenerative power time to work.
Ritsuko: So....you're basically just binding his wounds with your AT Fields?
Rei: As good a way to describe it as any. Much of the healing ability we Angels possess was lost by the Demons, the Fallen Ones. Their powers are geared for destruction....without this, Hugh would surely be dead.
Ritsuko: I see....well, when will I be needed?
Rei: We will notify you.
Ritsuko: *Nods*
*Meanwhile....*
Tifa: *Pacing back and forth, arms clasped behind her back, and barking at a rank of bargoers like a drill sergeant* All right, people, this is it! You all saw what happened to RL-VoidStar's avatar....it's time this war was brought to a rapid end. So I want you all to go out there and win one for the Gipper--er, I mean, for EGC! Jenova-san, roll call!
*Jenova reads off a scroll Tifa thrusts into her hands*
Jenova: Hai hai! Ivy! Sophitia! Xianghua! Lanfear! Mesaana! Semirhage! Cyndane! Dominia! Kelvena! Seraphita! Tolone! Ginrei! Taisou! Kenji! Youshi! Alberto!
Ivy: Here!
Sophitia: Here!
Xianghua: Here!
Lanfear: Here!
Mesaana: Here!
Semirhage: Here!
Cyndane: Here!
Dominia: Here!
Kelvena: Here!
Tolone: Here!
Seraphita: Here!
Ginrei: Here!
Taisou: *Hic* Here!
Kenji: Here!
Youshi: Here!
Alberto: Here!
Tifa: All right! VoidStar Anti-Roach Strike Force, MOVE OUT!!!!
*The large group of warriors, united under Tifa's leadership, charge out of the bar and into the melee!*
*Next time: Let the battle(s) begin! ^_^*
End communication.
Sailor Minerva: *cough*hack*gasp*
And yet, against all odds, a figure rises unsteadily, followed by another...
Falora: Is it over yet?
Sailor Minerva: I think so... (suddenly grabs Falora into a hug) I never should have doubted you! You are the Goddess of Luck!
Falora (embarrassed): Don't remind me...
A large lightning bolt descends from the heavens and strikes near the two girls, making them jump.
Sailor Minerva: What in the world was THAT?!?
Falora (suddenly serious): My Employer sent me a Message.
Sailor Minerva (raising an eyebrow): Oh? What's the message?
Falora (as above): Falora, Goddess Second Class Limited of Luck, is hereby granted permission to use the Reformed Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch at her discretion. So it is writ.
Sailor Minerva: The Holy what?!?
Falora (as above): The Reformed Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. The fifth most powerful weapon a Goddess can use.
Sailor Minerva: Okay...
Falora (as above): But first, we need to find some roaches.
Sailor Minerva: Right. Onward!
Elaine: Phew! Made it! I really need to learn some levitation or teleportation spells...
As she's about to go on her way, Elaine suddenly realizes something...
Elaine: I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IS EGC CITY! ;_;
Alex (decked in a Rambo-esque outfit): Letsee...bazooka, check. Mortar, check. Homing missle and homing pigeon, check. Grenades, check. Cluster bombs, check. Banana bombs, check.
Alex opens up a HUGE box labled "DANGER!
Alex: Shotgun, check. Handgun, check. Uzi, check. Minigun, check. Super banana bomb, check. Priceless Ming Vase, check. Petrol bomb, check. Mines, check. Dynamite, check.
Alex goes to his closet and opens it.
Alex: Sheep, check. Super sheep, check. Old woman, check. Baseball bat, check.
Alex walks to the phone and dials a number.
Alex: Hello, Uncle Ben? (listens for a while) Yeah, it's me, Alex. (listens some more) You sure? Great!
He hangs up and takes out a clipboard from...somewhere. ^^;
Alex: Air strike, check. Homing air strike, check. Napalm strike, check. Mail strike, check.
Alex is about to head out when...
Alex: Oh, yeah! I almost forgot the most important thing...BORAX!
Alex strikes a Heroic Pose (tm)
Alex: Nothing can stop me now! BWAHAHAHAHA! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA! WAHAHAHAHAHA! *cough*
Silence reigns as Alex struggles to catch his breath. Suddenly, Alex's eyes widen.
Alex: Wait a minute...
Cue Melodramatic Music (tm)
Alex: I CAN'T CARRY ALL OF THIS! ;_;
Three shadows run through the forrest just outside EG city, armed with two katanas, each, wearing light samurai-slyle armor and head gear. two small ears poking out of their helmets, and a long black tail dragging behind.
A suttle wind blows across the forrest, some leaves falling from the bamboo trees.
*rustle rustle*
???: ......awright ya'll, were here....*stops*
*The other two shadows stop also, nearby a small shirne*
May: According to ma boss, the guy's here...
Clone1: ...*stares at Mai*
Clone2: *nods and smirks*
Inside the small shrine, Jay (AKA Kazuki) is praying in front of a memorial with his eyes closed. Incense burning on a small table. The shrine is lit by a small torch and a small stove that prevents its visitors from freezing during winter. Ofcourse, theres no need for it, since this night is slightly warm. Jay is wearing his black kimono, and his katana is by his right side, on the floor, resting.
........
........
*opens his eyes and looks at the memorial* .....
..hm?
*looks at the window*
....full moon...
*Rustle*
*Eyes narrow*..........
The rat and her lesser clones stare at the shrine for a while. Suddenly, the lights go out.
May: Darnnit...Go git 'im..!
Clone1: Hai! *Runs towards the shrine*
Clone2: *Follows her sister clone, left hand on her katana's scabbard*
The shrine's door slide open as Jay walks out, two katanas hanging from his kimono's dark blue silk belt. He narrows his eyes searching for the invaders, and finally spots them.
Two rat-like creatures dash towards him, both of them with one katana already drawn.
........*frown*
Clone1: *Takes Katana with both hands, trusting it forward towards Jay's stomach* SHAA--
...*avoids the hit shielding himself with his scabbard. After the katana completely misses him, he draws his katana, turns it, and hits the rat on the back with the flat side, causing the rat to choke and fall onto the ground*
As the first rodent attacker tumbles down, with a trail of blood going down its chin, the second one quickly jumps up, holding his katana high up into the air. Coming quickly down onto its tagert, Jay.
Clone2: *Eyes open wide* DIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
....*eyes narrow, looking directly into the rodent's eyes*..iie.. Shinai...*turns katana around, and gets a better grip on it*
*SLASH*
The two stand still for a while, their eyes closed. Jay standing upright, holding his katana up in the air, the May clone kneeling down, its katana burried in the ground. One in front of the other.
Suddenly, a groan comes from the clone's mouth as it spits blood. Her katana breaks in two and her chest spurts out a lot of blood, some falling in Jay's kimono. The rat then falls down, lifeless with its eyes open, as if taking a last look at the world on her short lifetime.
...*Slashes his katana on the air, to remove the rat's blood from it* ... *looks at the rat's corpse*......*kneels down and slides the rat's eyes close* .......ku.... *stands upright, then walks towards the bamboo forest* Who are you?
May: *Stops hiding in the shadows* Not bad...not bad at all kid! *claps* Its gonna be a pleasur killin ya...
...How can you be so sure youll kill me, stranger? *Slowly slides his katana back into its scabbard*
May: *Smiles, her sharp looking teeth shining*
May: They call me da purple assasin, May. *Points at Jay with her sword* May, Asashin Ratto Taiga Tekkuniku.
*Aloud* Maika! Kazuki Arisugawa, Hiten Misturugi Ryuu!
To Be Continued.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------...Shall we dance?
-----------------------Youre on, kid!!
In the darkness of the bamboo forest, the two figthers run towards each other. Quick metal crashes are heard throught out the forest, some of them creating sparks that light their faces for a brief moment.
May: *Jumps up and slashes her way downward, aiming for Kazuki*
Ku.. *Slashes back as soon as she is in range, both swords clashing with each other.*
May: *Uses her weight trying to cut through Kazuki's katana*
*Slashes harder, trowing May back.* Naka naka...
*Quickly jumps towards her*
May: Ya fool!
Just as soon as Kazuki lands in front of her, she slashes aiming for his chest. A quick flash of light blinds her for a second. She opens her eyes, but Kazuki isnt there anymore, she just cut through some of the bamboo that was in front of her.
As she looks up, she spots Kazuki, diving towards her. His left hand aiming for her, and his right one holding the katana back.
May: SHI--- *Jumps up to meet Jay, holding her katana with both hands*
SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
They both land at about the same time, both crouching, each one waiting for the others response to the attack. May, who landed in the stone floor of the Shrine's entrance, stands up tall, and looks at Jay over her shoulder.
A small shard of metal falls between them, piercing into the soil.
Jay's sword was broken in two.
...gh... *A small stream of blood falls from his forehead*
May: All humans are weaklings... *Turns around completely to face him* Some time ago, you were truly a warrior's race. Humans trained to develop further their senses... They we're virtually perfect killing machines...
..? *stands up and faces May* What are you talking about?!
May: Your race is decaying.. Thats why we were sent, to kill ya RL-inserts.. That way we can easily get rid of the others you call..cameos..i think? To get rid of the weak! In any case, I was sent by the little wossname roach leader. A new era is coming, were humans will not opress us.
Youre crazy.. *puts his broken katana back in the scabbard*
May: *Sneer* I know all this, 'cause I was programed to know yer weaknesses... Humans have forgotten their natural skills, now they have to build those lousy guns to solve their problems.. Yer one of the few who still fights his battles...darnit, you guys are pathetic..! .......
May: *Points at him with her sword* Polution, nukes, poisons..All of that thanks to youse and your dirty brothers...
Funny for you to say it... The roach army is using weapons also... Theyre destroying the city.. *smirk* And you tell _me_ we're the bad guys? We're just holding our ground..
May: Insects will always be insects... They have no chance without those weapons.. *grins, showing off her fangs* They're trying to save themselves from you!
May: Its like one of ya human scum said.. Only the strong should survive.. And ya humans arent strong anymore.. Youre a bunch of wimps..
Then, if you..rats..are so strong, why arent you controlling us..?
May: Oh, thats what we're gonna do kiddie...*chuckles*
May: Every one shoul've his 5 minutes of glory, and yers are over.
*Unlocks his other katana with his left thumb*...You think like I do.
May: Huh? How so?
I beleive we shouldnt be wasting our time, creating weaponry and making wars, just excuses to test them.. There are people starving in the world, homeless, but goverments rather build up their armies, preparing for a psuedo war that will never bring anything good to their nation. War follows peace, and without peace, there is no war. I dont fight for this place, I fight to protect the ones I care about, am Im sure that you do as well.
May: An honorable thought... Maybe if more people thought like you.. *smirk* I wouldnt have to kill all of youse..! I really dont want to fight you, but thats what Im gonna do, until one of us falls! Now quit with da trash talk, yer not convincing me to stop! *Draws her other katana*
...*stares at her*..as you say..
May: NOW DIE WITH HONOR KID! *Trusts one katana into the ground, creating small sparks* TAIGA KOUSSEN! *Slides the sword throug the stone floor of the shrine's entrance, making bigger sparks, soon, all the leaves around catch on fire, creating a huge wall of fire. Nor Jay or May can see each other.*
To Be Continued.
i n t e r m e z z o
---------------------------------------------------------------------"The sword skill is the skill of killing. No matter how beautiful the words you use to describe it, killing is still the fact."
*Eyes narrow*
*softly* ..migi ka?
..hidari ka?
.....ue ka....shita ka?
May: *smiles* It will be a pleasure to fight ya, kid...
May: *Covered in flames, she rises her right arm, holding the katana up high, making it shine with the moon* DIE!!! Ue! *His thumb quickly releases the blade, which is just as quickly taken by his right hand* SSSSOOOOO!!! *He slashes upwards as May slashes downwards*
May: *Lands back gracefully, with only some minor burns in her hands, and her was kimono a little dusty. A smirk on her face, a very evil one*
*Thud*
*Eyes open wide. Blood starting to color the grass* KH-----!!!
May: Now _that_ was easy...! *Giggle*
..G..GH...*cough up blood*
May: You shouldnt have let your guard down, kid... I have _two_ sword.. I didnt think youd fall for that one...!!
..Y...YA......!
May: Well, thats one down... I hope the others succeded also... *Puts her left sword back into its scabbard* The demon, the ninja...
...*Closes his eyes, trying to forget about the pain*
May: ..Hm..*Remmebers* Ah, the Sikarian guy... Jen... who was the other one?
..! J..e..! *Struggles to stand up*
May: Oh, and Chatty..I think. '^o^' They should all be dead by now! Now Dr Gerbil and his little insect friend can begin fase 2... The big ass invasion they were planning... With the RLs out of the way, this world will be _ours_ and _ours_ alone ya'll!
*Burries one hand into the soil, using it for support* Ghh...!
May: O.o got some fight still left in ya huh kid?
..ya...yameru...*opens his eyes* *Stands up, weakly. His left arm trembling. Aparently, it had been injured in the attack also. His kimono was now a more crimson color. Blood feel from his stomach and from his hand.*
May: *Chuckle* Lets finish this.._now_... *Points at him with her sword*
..Bo...ku..... *His right hand still holding his katana firmly*...shinai...shini..masen yo... *Holds the sword with both hands* ...
May: *Lands on one foot some feet away from Kazuki, in a 'Crane' pose.* *Lands on his knees, blood flowing from his bare chest* .. *Curses*
May: *huff* Not..bad, kid! *Breathing heavily, she lets go of the left sword.* I...was lucky..you didnt cut..the arm off...*smirk* ..*inhale* Ghh... *exhale*...*Looks up at her*....*grin*Youre..not bad yourself..
May: *Sneer*
*Stands up*...
May: Hmph.. *Eyes narrow*
*The grin dissapears from his face as his eyes turn somewhat amber. A red aura surrounds him, just as a purple aura starts surrounding May*.. Youshi...*Puts the katana back into the scabbard**
May: *Lays her right feet down* Allright...
Sou: .....hey, you ok?
Mayumi: *Laying on a small bed* ..Y.yeah.. *smile*
Ken: Dammit Mayu-chan... Dont let the roaches surprise you like that!
Sou: Good thing I was there...ne? o_o
Mayumi: Ill be ok! ^_^
Ken: hm..hai hai...
Sou: Hasnt Kazu-kun come back from the shrine?
Mayumi: I hope..*cough* Tha soon.... I miss niichan...
Ken: *thinking* Dammit...so many injured...the roaches always go for the weak ones... Damn! ><; Ill kill them all!
Roach1: Here come 10 more soldiers...
Roach2: ..dead?
Roach1: Yeah.. >< Those frigging humans---
Roach3: And elves, catgirls, angels, demons---
Roach1: Yeah, those too... Damn...
Roach3: We'll kill 'em, youll see..Even if it takes 1000 to kill ONE of them, we wont go without a fight!
Roach: Hmph.. I just wish this stopped.. I mean, our leader sends us out to die.. ;_;
Roach1: HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT OUR LEADER LIKE THAT? >__<;
Roach3: yeah! ><; He---He has his reasons!!!
Roach2: ;_;
Roach1: Y-yeah!.. Its for...our children!
Roach2: right.. ;_;
.......
May: .....g....gh.......
May: ...sakura...*faint grin*
*Takes out a small white cloth and cleans the blade of his katana*...
May: ..h..hey...kid..? ..*kneels down*..yes?
May: ..i..your sword...*grin* i broke it...kid...didnt i..?
..yeah.. *soft grin*
May: Then take..mine.. *coughs up blood*..and.....please..*choke*
..?
May: ..bury me..under that tree... *Looks at some sakura falling*...gh..gh...
..hai..I will
May: ..thanks..kid...g.....gh!
..gomen...
May: *a tear falls down her bloody cheek*...Im good...huh?...with a sword...i me---gh..
..*nods*
May: ..I... *with her last strenght, sha grabs Jay's hand*...dont want to die.:!!!
...
May: ..n...no......w..hy...*puts Jay's hand on her cheek, on top of the tear she was shedding*...k..kid..
A tear falls
Jay lays his hand on her face, and forces her eyes shut. And he stays there for a long while, praying that the assasin's soul found its place in heaven.
Morning. Asa
--------------------------------------------------------------------"Iie, you should never forget the ones you love. If you can't be a man at that, you can never call yourself a leader."