Stardust Nightmares [Private]

[Miroku Riyota]

Riyota was joined inside by various other Shinobi, including his Father. All of whom had come to bear witness to the horror contained within the building. The boy himself was dumbfounded, seeing the one he had pledged himself to a while back be brought down to devouring and consuming others, stained with blood, her fall from grace concluded.

Yet Riyota did not turn, did not run away, emitted no vile scream of horror nor make his disgust known. He found himself unable to care about Kyuji's fate nor the growing dangerous situation surrounding all of them. All he cared for was the wellbeing of the bloodied cannibal in front of him, his Lady, Azusa. Ignoring everything else around him he strode towards her, not taking a second to think of the dangers related to approaching her in this state. Not caring for the growing heat of the fire consuming the building. All he concerned himself with, was making sure she was ok.

His attention was snapped away from that briefly however, as something sought to interrupt that task. The glowing fist of a man, Riyota did not recognize. His eyes narrowed and he raced at monstrous speed to protect her. The fist seared his flesh as it connected with his jaw.

Spitting out a glob of blood and saliva. Riyota pulled himself to his feet, slowly and steadily. His legs shaking slightly and sweat pouring down his face as a result of his close proximity to the flames. He strode forward once more, slower this time. Moving closer to the she-demon that he loved so. Dropping to his knees between her and the Sennin he glared up defiantly. "Don't...touch her." he warned. "If you...hurt her, do ANYTHING to her...I'll kill you!" looking to her, and then back to the Sennin. "If you think she's a monster, I assure you, I am so much worse!" he warned, probably not all too intimidating coming from a boy who had just been sent rocketing back a few seconds ago but Riyota hoped it would at least buy time.

Turning his attention back to her he would gently turn her head towards him. "Azusa..." he whispered to her. Hoping to receive some semblance of recognition from the Monstrous Fox.

[Entering from spectator thread with permission]
[MFT]

 

[Muramasa Maya]

They were gone. The Aikayume kitsune gnawed the last traces until her fingertips were perhaps the only parts of her that were not baptized in red. Never again would she have to worry about that disproving gaze being directed at her. Had she been uninterrupted, Azusa would have been content with partaking in the rest of her meal in solitude. Or at least until the discomfort of being in a burning building reached a point where it surpassed the hunger plaguing her mind and forced her to relocate. But there was company. And nothing was more obnoxious than unwanted guests at dinner time.

The first to arrive started with a floating eye; she payed it no mind. Afterall, after consuming two, what concern was a third to her? But it soon had shifted into a dreadful appearance and equally atrocious voice that made her hair stand (tails and ears included), a haunting existence that defiled her in mind, body and spirit. "You! Demon, Akkuma!" The kitsune darted up from her seat atop the downed medical chief, grabbing her discarded blade from the floor. Her hunger was ever-present; but for Akkuma, her meal could wait. To put it in perspective, she hated Kyuji's eyes; and Akkuma was worth at least a hundred Kyuji eyeballs.

....This meant she wasted no time slicing through what she presumed to be Akkuma, only to find it be immaterial. A hallucination that would remain unbroken no matter how hard she cut and slashed. And whats worse; he dared to insult her, and label her as 'weak', of all things! His words were like nails grinding across a chalkboard, a hair-raising sound to Azusa. Her ears and tails included. "...Coward! Azusa is...strongest! Do not...insult!" She snarled. The demon's words cut deep; she couldn't help but be provoked into a frenzy. Perhaps she'd hit the crystal eye hidden behind the illusion, perhaps not. But so long as Akkuma was alone, his ploy to misguide her attention would be a simple task...

...But he was not alone. Nor was his presence the most apparent. Joined by two more, and a third just further behind, Azusa's aggression became replaced with wariness. Not only that, but by shielding her upon his arrival, Azusa remained within arm's reach of Kyuji's body, to protect her prey from the two unknown variables. The only thing the kitsune could tell was that the bright one's presence said he was strong; powerful. Here with a purpose. To....take her away? Why would she do that? She had all she wanted here; she also had a purpose. The Byakko medic belonged to her. The boy belonged to her. Even Akkuma belonged to her. No. Especially Akkuma. These were all her things in her mind; whether sensei or snack, a guardian or toy, or mortal enemy. If this person came with the intent of taking -her- things away from her, or taking her away from her things, then the cursed fox would not hesitate to bring a swift end to that.

She needed to make this much clear; with her free hand that was not death-gripping the hilt of her dirty sword, she pointed to the boy stumbling towards them after shielding her, then to Kyuji, and finally to (What she saw as) Akkuma. "Mine...Mine...Mine....You. Do not. Touch." The kitsune demanded as she lingered above Kyuji's unconscious body; her golden eyes glowing with bloodlust. Or maybe just the reflection of the flames crawling along the walls. He had attacked her, and hit Riyota...And she was both fiercely territorial and starving from being interrupted. "You will bring...Akkuma. The Demon. The hiding coward! To me." Each of these words she spoke felt so heavy and foreign to her. They felt dull and unwieldy coming from her mouth; what could she possibly convey with them that a growling shout or gesture couldn't express?

Nevertheless, that was her ultimatum. "Do these...And I will...follow." She was not going to give up her prey, her rightful prize, to someone -anyone- else. Nor would she be willing to be taken away from them. She was willing to be given Akkuma as an offering, however; but her attention could only be diverted away from her endless hunger for so long, and 'patience' had never ranked highly on her virtue list.

Fortunately, like father like son, Riyota made an excellent distraction. "...Ri-yota?" She did not feel aggression or an oppressive pressure from Riyota, and similarly, did not respond in kind. In fact, seeing and hearing him may have even improved her mood. "...Good Riyota." She mumbled, entranced by the wound he had suffered in place of her. Yes, she could remember! Riyota had never looked at her with disapproval! She did not have to worry about Riyota coming to take what was hers; in fact, she just might feel inclined to share. Unfortunately, just as her anger and hunger were blended into a single emotion, so too was her affection and hunger. For Azusa, every question had but a single answer; "Hungry..." Though she acted on her hunger, she did not lunge towards him like a beast. Rather she moved slowly, as if going for a gentle embrace. But 'gentle' was not a word to be used to describe what she planned to do to his throat if she was allowed to get close enough with her sharp teeth.

[MFT]

!	Azusa is wary from Roku's (and Reiko's) presence, and guarding over Kyuji. However, both Akkuma and Riyota distract her.

 

[Miroku Akkuma]

The Kitsune sat atop her prey savoring the taste of the appetizers she had claimed from her quarry. She seemed to notice his floating eye but paid it no mind. Perhaps the little fox was done with eyes for now. However when his chakra flowed into her mind creating his clone he could see the unease it cause her physically. A smile formed beneath his mask it seemed she did recognize him. Dashing forward she grabbed her weapon releasing Kyuji from her attention. With her blade in hand she wasted no time slashing at the illusion before her thankfully missing the eye that hung low as she struck at the Genjutsu in a frenzy.

Then the mind games began he used the clone to further rival her up & center her focus once more on that hatred she possessed for him. She struggled to form a basic sentence, in truth he was surprised she'd managed to say this much in her current state. It was then that a newcomer arrived commenting on his crystal eye. Unfortunately he did not know who this shinobi was which meant he was an unknown variable. This newcomer proceeded to tell the Sage to do something useful & retrieve the fallen medic. After which he unleashed a powerful aura an announcement of his strength & a challenge to any who would defy him. "Did you hear that he wants someone to take your Kyuji. Are you going to let him do that?" the clone would say to the Hunger driven & territorial Kitsune.

Striking out at the Kitsune the Sennin intended to end the threat he could see before him. Though undoubtedly he did not count for Akkuma's love sick son to intercept the blow with his face. The impact sending him across the room, Akkuma took note of the man's features. He would ensure he paid for that strike against his son. Riyota staggered forward standing between the Sennin & the Kitsune once more. A burning determination within his eyes as he made his attempts to deter the shinobi. It was in this moment that he realized how his son felt about Azusa. Upon this realization he had a pang of guilt in his heart, for he knew the path he'd pushed Azusa down would only cause his son pain.

Azusa claimed them each one by one telling the Sennin not to touch, although he was not surprised she had claimed him. No doubt she wanted the pleasure of subjecting him to her most twisted revenge fantasies. That's when he caught the Sages eye, the being had arrived silently as if waiting like a predator deciding if it should take another animals quarry. There was a hunger within his gaze that made the Sage feel a slight concern for the outcome of things. Azusa then spoke giving her own demand to the Sennin, very simple demand. 'I shall need to let Kuro know he should be expecting some people looking for me. Unfortunately I'll be busy...' he thought to himself his crystal eyes gaze holding Kyuji in its vision once more.

She spoke again saying that she would comply if they did this for her. Then she began to speak to Riyota leaning towards him, but there was something off about her body language that the Sage didn't like. 'Time for the ultimate distraction...' he thought to himself taking advantage of Azusa's attention being focused on his son. He could only hope the boy would remember the cure he had been given. Because the little fox was certainly about to enter a frenzy. With that thought the Sages arms would burst through the floor grabbing Kyuji, his Anbu Mask hiding his facial features. Although who was to say if the shinobi in the room recognized the mask of the Demon of Mist.

Though if they did they'd know there were very few Mist shinobi in the village & even less who had demonic tendencies. But he'd never officially worn the mask in Suna before & when he had introduced himself he'd done so as the Demon of the Waste. But there had been one time he had been foolish & used his Anbu moniker. When he had enlisted in the Sora exams, the act of a being who lacked the ability to think ahead of the now. It would happen in the blink of an eye, by the time the splintered bits of would descended Kyuji would be in the depths of the earth below from. Akkuma had no intention of handing himself over to Azusa just yet & he certainly couldn't pass up another test subject.

The gen clone of Akkuma would speak to Azusa "I do believe they just stole your Kyuji...I guess I should go you have them to attend to. We shall meet again soon little fox..." with those words the clone would walk towards the wall & vanish through it. Had that actually been the demon? His crystal eye would begin crumbling in the air its dust falling to the ground where Kyuji had been only moments before. Sprinting below the earth with Kyuji on his shoulders he could only pray the Kitsune wasn't tearing through the earth after him. Today was not there day to battle, the little fox still had more growth to do.

Attempting to Leave w/ Kyuji
[Snatching up your Byakko]
MFT
[OOC; -laughs evilly- Will post again depending on success/failure of exit depending on what you's do]
Edited to fix Sora*

 

[Raizo]

[col]And of course, almost like clock work, some idiot would appear and do something idiotic. The boy would leap in and take his punch, giving him, and his expression, a look of surprise, confusion and anger. If there had not been a man literally dying, he had half a mind to beat the idiot boy senseless. Instead, he would merely leap back and drop his aura (dropping Devastating Aura) as he would watch the interaction slowly play out. First, he would hear the ultimatum of the female, to which, he would nod.

"Oh, you are definitely strong, there is no questioning that."

That really didn't seem to be directed at me, who else is she talking to? Is that a symptom of her current rabid condition?

"You want Akkuma? Come with me and we will go get him."

Was it the truth? Was it a lie? Whatever it was, it came out of his mouth in a completely calm and serious, almost matter of fact, manner. His left brow would arch up as it seemed the rabid girl was coming to her senses for the boy. He would take a snap shot (Snap Shot - Master Rank) of the boy, for he would be following up once this matter was resolved.

"Well, white knight, you have her attention. I hope you came here to do more than just threaten me and place yourself as her next hostage, child."

He was not a fan of the boy, but it seemed that their relationship was going to be a key to getting her subdued. He would allow this to play out for as long as needed to reach the endgame, and if the boy ended up getting mauled in the process there would be some justice in that.

Well, ok, things seem to be going down a somewhat better path. Still not out of the fire yet, literally, but maybe no one else will have their eyes eaten.

Then a tingle would travel through his body. It was almost as if a disgusting gust of wind had blown through the building and washed over his essence. It was a putrid feeling that he had experienced close up many of times in his life, but this specific sensation seemed to be full of an overwhelming sense of dread. It was similar but drastically different to the energies he had interacted with before, but one thing was certain; trouble.

Shit, is it one of them...?

"Not to rush you, lover boy, but if you have a plan I would act on it quick, because I think we are about to be visited by something even more monstrous than you."

He would smirk, but the totality of his expression would convey his current sense of uneasiness. Things could never go his way, things always had to go sideways.
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OOC: Snap Shot of Riyota
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[legend="[img]http://i.imgur.com/WSBLHAP.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/d1AN2WH.png[/img]"]

 

Name: Roku
Epithet:
Height: 6'2"
Build: Muscular
Eyes: Red
Blood Type: O NegativePersonal Data[/spoiler]Fight DataMood Music X

[/legend]​

[/col]

 

[Mikaboshi]

[col]Blood was thick in the air as Reiko drifted through the empty halls of Setsuna's whore house. The ANBU which were clearing the scene were occupied outside and the others had already moved upstairs to behold the scene unfolding within one of the rooms with Azusa and the unconscious Kyuji. For his part, Reiko had not joined them but could still "see" them in the way that he could feel the beating of each of their hearts in his mind's eye.

He felt the steady and confident pace of the assertive ANBU Sennin who had up until only a moment ago been blasting out a menacing chakra aura.

He felt frenetic pitter-patter of a young man who was standing up for the woman that he loved.

He felt the low, uneven rhythm of the dying Byakko that had perhaps underestimated the peril he was in and of course he felt, perhaps more clear than any of the others, the rapid and agitated pace of the huntress that had felled him.

He even felt the slow and calculated pace from the one who was trying so hard to hide his presence from the others, perhaps successfully. If Reiko had been a normal man he almost certainly would have missed Akkuma entirely but he was no mundane hunter.

The drama. The bloodlust. The hostility. The entire building was cloaked in the aggression that oozed from their hearts and bodies and to the Hunger it felt like rapture.

For his part, Reiko felt like he might be sick from it. The Hunger wanted so badly to take charge and burst through the floor to engage in battle. Like a child being kept inside while it's friends played a game of ball outside, it was throwing a tantrum inside Reiko that churned his stomach and caused his chest to tighten. Experiences like this were strange because the Hunger was not an entity all on it's own but rather like a conscience that worked in the opposite way from the way a conscience is typically experienced. For most their conscience bothered them and hurt them when they did something wrong or felt guilty about something. For Reiko his conscience hurt when he was actively avoiding engaging in a murderous behavior. In many ways what the Hunger wanted so too did Reiko and by denying that part of him he hurt himself in the process. Bringing his synthetic hand up, Reiko dragged the claws of it against the wall as he walked to try and distract his mind from the desire to leap into the fray, leaving behind jagged scars of burnt wood behind as his digits passed.

Then something changed. His head jerking up, Reiko's second sight felt the erratic way that Kyuji's heart moved suddenly... directly through the floor? Reiko didn't immediately realize what was going on but in that moment the instinct in his blood realized exactly what was going on; someone was stealing a rightful kill right out from under the nose of a member of the pack.

His pack.

Unable to resist the rush of instinct that hit his mind, the impulse to chase someone who was fleeing gripped Reiko and in an instant he was in pursuit as his own monstrous aura ripped through the air. Unlike the Devastating Aura that Roku had unleashed earlier, Reiko's ignited ire was not heavy and oppressive but was more sinister in nature. Like the creeping feeling of a terrible realization it was a primal sort of dread. an old fear instilled in the heart of every man and beast. The fear of the dark for the things which went bump. Trailing vaporous black poison from his mouth as he charged forward, Reiko blasted through an adjacent wall which had already been weakened by the previous battle with his head shifting from place to place as he followed the "scent" of Kyuji's erratic heartbeat before positioning himself and falling to a kneel as he thrust the metal claws of his prosthetic arm into the flooring of the establishment. Unable to endure the punishment from such force, the flooring gave way almost immediately and Reiko grunted in exertion as he tore away a large chunk of the flooring to expose the rock beneath, exhaling a large cloud of venomous miasma from his mouth in the process.

Running the flesh and blood of his left hand over the jagged stone of the rock beneath the bordello, Reiko made a snap decision as he felt the twin thrum of Akkuma and Kyuji's hearts draw near to where he was tearing the ground apart trying to reach them. Raising his synthetic arm once more, a ripple of stillness went through the hungry chaos of his aura of supernatural menace before he slashed into the rock beneath him with all of the strength he could muster. The force of the blow would shake the very foundation of the building as the stone parted beneath Reiko's fury and would make it very clear to Akkuma that he was not making as clean a get-away as he thought he was.

[Oh, no. You don't get to go yet. Stay and have more fun with us. Stopping Akkuma and Kyuji.]|[legend="[[b][u]OOC Notes[/u][/b]] - [[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3j4okhb8o]BGM[/url]]"]

Masashi Reiko - The Red Prince​

Note(s): Reiko's spiritual presence registers on the senses of the supernaturally sensitive as a starving and dangerous predator. By drinking the blood of Orochi, Reiko's body was physically and spiritually altered at a fundamental level. As a result he carries with him a physical and spiritual presence reminiscent of an ancient of the Wild Hunt despite their kind being extinct-- specifically he carries the "scent" of Orochi on him. To those who are sensitive to such matters or familiar with ancients or Orochi they would sense it almost immediately. For those who are unfamiliar with Orochi's personage, it registers upon the senses of the supernaturally aware as an aura of latent bloodlust that grows in intensity with physical proximity.[/legend][/col]

 

[Tomomi]

Outside of this whorehouse, Kyushiko did not move a muscle as the situation inside continued to grow more and more interesting with a loud commotion on the first floor from one of the "trespassers" who had managed to shove his way through the ANBU guarding the entrance. The actual one however, she had no idea, considering she had been blocked from entering the building from her colleagues and many of them were making sure that she was kept out of the way while everything unfolded inside the building. It wasn't exactly what she wanted considering she had seen her father's lifeless body laying in a pool of blood earlier and he was slowly passing on to the next life with each passing moment that nobody got him medical help. By the grace of Lord Byakko, she wanted to desperately to force her way through the other ANBU and grab her father and let the rest of them do as they may with one another. Personally, she didn't care if Azusa survived or died since that tainted fox woman screwed her parents' marriage and was the reason that her father had been nearly slaughtered countless times and saved by the grace of Lord Byakko. What EXACTLY did he see in THAT creature?!

Her annoyance would steadily increase as she just sat there and waited to see what would unfold. She was tempted however to call her mother, who ran the entire Byakko Clan, and inform her of what happened even if she only would get a cold response back due to the circumstances leading up to this fateful night. Her mother would probably have more authority than she did regarding her father, but was it worth it was the true question. She would ponder this as she sat there and would ultimately decide to wait for now to see what would happen. After all, the other parties who had gotten involved had stopped Azusa from killing her father for now and any sane shinobi would know that the situation was grim for the descendant of Lord Byakko if he didn't get immediate care. She would just have to let the "adults" handle the situation for now, it was for the best.

Meanwhile, the descendant would remain unconscious as his cousin would try to make an escape only to be stopped by another man in the process. Of course, he was unaware of what was happening as blood still was dripping from his body and staining the clothing of his cousin. However, his breathing and pulse were getting weaker as his body temperature had grown colder; in other words, he was slowly dying while in the possession of Akkuma and needed to get immediate medical care or his time in this world would soon vanish and he would be up with Lord Byakko in the celestial skies.

[OOC: Short post is short. Not much I can do rn]

 

[Miroku Riyota]

Riyota could see Azusa was aiming for his neck, there was no malice behind the attack. To her, it was as innocuous as biting into a loaf of bread to sustain oneself. Yet despite this if she bit too far into his neck he would be dead within seconds. He deemed the safest thing to do was to not anger her, and so he slowly raised his arm to cover his neck, wincing slightly as Azusa's sharp fangs dug straight through his clothing and into his soft flesh. Riyota did not pull away even as the former priestess tore flesh from muscle. He knew the pain was temporary and it would regrow in short order. Didn't make it hurt any less though, and the boy could feel the warm blood trickle down the remaining skin and splatter onto the wooden floor.

Despite the pain and horrific maiming he was suffering, he didn't react accordingly at all. Instead he looked to the kitsune feasting on his arm and smiled brightly at her. "Do I taste ok? You've made me curious now." he joked as his arm began to repair already, new flesh and muscle regrowing to replace that which was soon to be digested by the cannibalistic beauty.

Ignoring her for a moment he turned his head to face the Sennin who had sent him reeling moments ago. Grinning childishly, he responded to his inquiry over whether or not there was a plan. "Nope, I have no idea what to do, at all! No clue whatsoever, hell, maybe I'll just be eaten, wouldn't that be an interesting plan! How exciting, the possibilities are endless!" he remarked sarcastically, sticking out his tongue like a rude schoolboy, knowing his arrogance in the face of the equally sarcastic Sennin was likely to push a few buttons.

There was of course...A plan, the question was whether or not it was Riyota's plan. The boy reached into the pocket of his coat and carefully brought out the medical syringe that had been entrusted to him. He knew what was expected of him, to just jab it into her and sort out the whole mess, but the boy couldn't deny his gut feeling that it would make the situation worse. So he held the syringe out to Azusa and spoke to her softly. Simply asking.

"My Lady, do you trust me?"

[Have I endangered everyone for the sake of a potentially higher stakes thread? Why yes, yes I have...]
MFT 394

 

[Muramasa Maya]

Riyota had made a surprising move. By offering himself to Azusa, he had, somehow, claimed the honor of her mind labeling him as 'food', yet at the same time avoided being labeled as 'prey'. What this meant is that he was spared from her full aggression; in fact; her one-track mind could even be said to almost have been appeased enough by this. She softly placed one of her hands around his wrist to hold his forearm in place. "....." And though his question fell upon what may as well have been deaf ears (despite their golden fluff and size), the firm resolve she had in tearing apart his arm bit by bit would have been enough of an answer. But for how long could this last? Azusa's docile demeanor would certainly only extend as far as she was given what she wanted; even when fully rational she had difficulties being told 'no', afterall. Was he hoping that the fortitude of his body could outlast the seemingly endless hunger trapping her mind? At the rate Azusa's fangs sank into his arm repeatedly, only ever stopping to spit out any scraps of clothing that had gotten caught, it was unlikely.

"Trust", Riyota spoke about. For a moment, her eyes gazed at his, acknowledging she had heard....something from him, before losing interest and returning back to his arm. As if her mind had room for something like 'Trust' amidst the hunger.
She had 'trust'' in her instincts that told her to 'take' what she was 'given'. She had 'trust' in her belief that Riyota was hers, and as such, had no right to run or resist her attempt at digging into his body with her claws. Her nails were sharp, and dirtied from the blood of Kyuji and the man before him. But they were absolutely not any duller. She had 'trust' i her nails being able to pierce through Riyota's skin if he made no attempt at resisting her.

The 5 tailed priestess put that 'trust' to the test. Her gentle hold along his wrist would tighten into a firm grip, while her other hand aimed its claws at his elbow, fully intent on removing the forearm from Riyota's possession and taking what she was offered. [Spearhand on Riyota, Called Shot: Elbow]

It was at this point where Akkuma likely could have gotten away with snatching away Kyuji, with Azusa so preoccupied with her toy, that her limited attention had forgotten about the other prize. But, as he would discover, some of the most fiercest predators rarely hunted alone.

(I do believe they just stole your Kyuji...I guess I should go you have them to attend to. We shall meet again soon little fox...) The intangible figure spoke to her mind. Her eyes shot over to it as it vanished, as well as the eye it had appeared from. Steal? From her? Her eyes shot to Riyota; certainly it was not him, who had only ever offered her things. Not him.
Next was the Sennin. Azusa had certainly felt his presence diminish from the previously-commanding aura. But he was still near his same position, seeming reserved to watch rather than act on her ultimatum; to simply give her what she wanted. Really, thats all anyone had to do to succeed in life. Simple. But though he had not given her the treasure that was Akkuma, he didn't seem to have taken anything from her either. Not him.
Finally, with the smashing of the ground and shaking of the increasingly-unstable building, Azusa's gaze shot over to the predator that had emerged from his skulking. Or rather the target it had tracked through the ground.

Her things were being taken.

Her interest in Riyota had all but vanished; with so much chaos around her, the chance of getting her to remain calm were close to none. Her patience was nearing its end, much like the structural integrity of the pleasure house due to Reiko's attacks on its foundation. Her bloodstained tails fanned out behind her, wisps of sapphire foxfire chakra flaring across them. She was ready to strike out. "THIEF!"[/color] The fox shouted, dashing over to the area Reiko had struck, in hopes of finding Kyuji's almost-corpse and its taker...

...But if Akkuma and Kyuji were nowhere to be seen, the daughter of foxes would have no choice but to assume the other predator had played some part in their disappearance.

[MFT]

!	Azusa will graciously accept Riyota's generous offer. The mysterious disappearance of Kyuji's body has made her...agitated. Uh oh.

 

[Miroku Akkuma]

Perhaps the Sage truly was monstrous for he did not act to save his son from the Kitsune's savage attack. Instead using the opportunity to retrieve Kyuji so that he could stabilize the shinobi before he died before them. Unfortunately as the Sage moved underground his attempt to flee with his mortally wounded kin was blocked. For as he moved through the earth he could hear the floor boards above being torn apart. There was a pulsating sensation & the Sage felt an unnatural sensation. An indescribable hunger a sensation he had sworn he'd felt before but how could that be? This feeling made one feel as if something far more monstrous then his usual companions was in pursuit. "That's not Azusa..." he uttered as the ground erupted around the Sage, fragmenting & revealing the would be thief. Using his profound Initiative he utilized his defensive technique to while also entering another style known only to temporal practitioners as himself.

Leaping from the ground with the chunks of debris erupting around them. Part of the buildings wall was already crumbling so the Mercenary burst through this dashing through the anbu. Sending flaming bits of burning wood flying across the ground, spectators moved aside as his feet slid to a halt on the ground. Turning on the spot as he slid to a halt, that mismatched gaze looking focusing on his pursuers. "...fuck it." he knew there was only one way he was going to get the Medical Chief out of here. But first he would need to stabilize the shinobi. Using the gifts bestowed upon him by his Temporal gifts he cast a violent ring of fire around himself in such short timing it should have been impossible for a normal man. Trapping himself & the eyeless Kyuji within the flaming barrier. Passing more chakra into the flames they would spin violently & dangerously creating a powerful vortex. Doing so however meant the jutsu would only last a short time, ten seconds to be precise. Quickly following through with more handseals he sent a burst of healing chakra into Kyuji. Using the medical technique known as Skeletal Fortification, he needed to ensure there weren't more serious wounds that would stop him from stemming the bleeding. Next he ran through another set of seals this time sending chakra through the medical chiefs body with one intent. Stop the bleeding, a technique known as Coagulation.

'Damn it...this is it. One chance Akkuma fuck this up & it's game over.' he thought to himself there was something about it all possibly ending that had a certain exhilaration. With the bleeding slowed he would look out at the flames behind which he knew two ravenous beings would be desperately trying to reach him. Next he summoned five corpses following on by sacrificing one of them for a far superior being. The bandaged blind girl assessed everything in an instant & knelt silently by the unconscious demigod. The demon gave her a single silent command 'Save him.' the being was weak would she be able to save him?
"Understood my Lord but I will need time." she would say to him. The sage would sigh shrugging off his robe to reveal the many scars & runic glyphs that covered his body. Akkuma needed as minimal restriction to his movements as possible if he was going to even attempt to survive this suicidal idea of his. Hopefully any strikes sent through the flames would strike himself or his summons. He doubted the Byakko's ability to survive more blows.

This would be where he made his stand. If he could truly get Azusa's attention perhaps they could catch her off guard. As for this newcomer of whom he'd only seen a crimson flash. There was something unsettling about the shinobi, an unnatural hunger that was not of this time. Then there was the Kitsune, how would she react knowing the would be thief was trapped before her. Closing his eyes he focused himself, committing to that which he deemed to be necessary. Today it seemed he would not be getting a clean get away, at least not just quite yet. Perhaps the Sennin would intervene & make it easier for him to abscond with Kyuji.

MFT
[Actions]
Initiative - Defensive Stance w/ Defensive Technique (-4/+4), Hasted Steps
Ring of Fire Mastered (Hasted Steps x2)
Skeletal Fortification Mastered - Heal Kyuji's heart
Coagulation Mastered - Kyuji
Corpse Soil Mastered + IWR (Medical Hashigaki)

[OOC: AKkuma gone save you Kyuji! Though I think he might become a chew toy this/next round xD]

 

[Raizo]

[col]His eyes would grow unimpressed as the idiot boy would continue doing idiotic things, while the wild woman would continue being wild. He would not make a move to aid the boy, the boy had made his stance clear in this situation. He was to save this girl. Without a plan, without common sense and without any inkling of understanding. So when his arm was taken from him, there would be no shock from the Sennin. The ground would rumble as the action seemed to be intensifying around them.

Must be the other figure that got here... just one of those days.

As the tailed female would take off in the direction of the rumbling, Roku would turn his eyes to the boy once more.

"You lost your arm because you are a child. You had the one thing I did not, the ability to catch her off-guard and deliver any sort technique to subdue her. Instead, like a child, you relied solely on only your emotions. Good shinobi, good people, die because idiots like you get consumed in your emotions instead of thinking. Whoever trained you, failed you, this village, and your friend."


And with that, he too would leave the scene. If the boy died, good. If the boy survived, he was now only Roku's short list. Either way, his future looked poor. He would hear the female shout and upon nearly the location a violent ring of fire would appear. While hiding Akkuma, his more intelligent minion, and Kyuji, the fire would highlight the red-haired man and the violent woman.

"This is getting really fucking irksome. So again; Sennin of the Village. If you aren't here to subdue the woman or save the dying man, I politely request you stand the fuck down. If you are the violent woman, I would appreciate it if you would just sit the fuck down."


Patience was officially wearing thin.
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OOC: Snap Shot of Riyota
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[legend="[img]http://i.imgur.com/WSBLHAP.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/d1AN2WH.png[/img]"]

 

Name: Roku
Epithet:
Height: 6'2"
Build: Muscular
Eyes: Red
Blood Type: O NegativePersonal Data[/spoiler]Fight DataMood Music X

[/legend]​

[/col]

 

[Mikaboshi]

The ground before Reiko vaporized in an instant of violence, revealing Akkuma and the unconscious Kyuji only a few feet away from where Reiko stood possessed by the hunting instinct that had grasped his mind. Normally able to reign in the predatory urges that plagued him, Reiko had been temporarily rendered a back seat observer to the events transpiring when Akkuma had attempted to flee the scene and triggered his impulse to chase. It is often said that the quickest and most surefire way to ensure that a large overland predator would decide to attack you would be to show your back and attempt to run away from them and that had more than proved true in this instance. Reiko's breathing came in ragged, heavy bursts as Azsua arrived on scene and he whipped her head in her direction. She would be unable to see the upper half of his expression as it was hidden behind the bone-white of his visor but the almost physically palpable bloodlust that rolled off of him in waves might seem familiar to her plagued mind as she was to his given their shared origin but perhaps not. There would be a moment of complete stillness as he communicated a lack of interest in conflict with her by his non-aggression before turning back to the fleeing prey that he had cornered.

Flames sprang up out of no-where and shielded Akkuma and Kyuji, filling the space that they were standing in with an unbearable blast of heat that slammed into Reiko causing pain to ripple across the exposed flesh of his face but otherwise only encourage his part in the bloody drama. The gust of superheated winds blasted around him from the roaring vortex of flame for a moment before the tribal lines upon his visor flashed and began to resonate with the burning field which was presented before him. There was nothing that a hunter enjoyed more than this.

[BGM]

A challenge.

Taking in a deep breath, Reiko stood still for a moment before lurching forward and expelling a jet of horrific jet-black vapor from his mouth which poured forth past his exposed teeth which by this time more resembled rows of jagged fangs and slammed into the whirling wall of flames [Black Mist (Master Rank)]. For a moment it seemed as though Akkuma's wall of flames might withstand the blast of Water-based Ninjutsu but the roaring of his flame vortex rapidly dwindled before the onslaught of Reiko's deathly breath attack, leaving the enclosed space filled with a gaseous haze that smelled heavily of burnt ashes and rotting death for those which had been depending upon the Ring of Fire to protec them to contend with. If there had been any doubt that there was a terrible beast lurking in the human form of Reiko that doubt would be solidly removed as the Red Prince strode forward into his own miasma unharmed, the red of his visor glowing ominously.

It was then as Reiko intended to advance upon Akkuma and Akujin that Roku arrived and once more issued a challenge, distracting Reiko temporarily from his goal. The human that lurked beneath the cacophony of instincts and grisly urges which was the Hunger understood the words that Roku had said but the Hunger saw him only as another rival come to take what belonged rightfully to his kin. With a snarl upon his lips, Reiko rounded upon Roku and lashed his synthetic hand through the air in a back-handed motion sending a ripple of eviscerating chakra through the air towards him which would shred his flesh and leave him kissed with a tremendous bloody gash across his torso if he were not quick enough to dodge the frenzied blow [Drain Claw (Master Rank)].

[Since B-Rank and higher Water Ninjutsu automatically (automagically?) extinguish Ring of Fire, I figured Black Mist would be more than capable of being up to the task. If this is an issue, let me know.]|[legend="[[b][u]OOC Notes[/u][/b]] - [[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3j4okhb8o]BGM[/url]]"]

Masashi Reiko - The Red Prince​

Note(s): Reiko's spiritual presence registers on the senses of the supernaturally sensitive as a starving and dangerous predator. By drinking the blood of Orochi, Reiko's body was physically and spiritually altered at a fundamental level. As a result he carries with him a physical and spiritual presence reminiscent of an ancient of the Wild Hunt despite their kind being extinct-- specifically he carries the "scent" of Orochi on him. To those who are sensitive to such matters or familiar with ancients or Orochi they would sense it almost immediately. For those who are unfamiliar with Orochi's personage, it registers upon the senses of the supernaturally aware as an aura of latent bloodlust that grows in intensity with physical proximity.[/legend][/col][/quote]

 

[Tomomi]

This day had certainly gone completely wrong for the descendant as his body laid limp, bloodied, and nearly dead. If he had not moved slightly during her final blow, he would be looking down on everyone in this area right now, but fortunately he had dodged the fatal blow. However, his body was still destroyed and psychologically, he wouldn't be the same anytime soon especially towards Miroku Akkuma and Aikayume Azusa as soon as he would awake from his current state. See, he had no idea what had transpired after he had died and thus he was going to be for a rude awakening when he tried to open his eyes and there were none there. He would probably feel the same sense of disappointment and embarrassment that he felt when he had lost to Toraono Kuro and lost his arm in the process or when Azusa had feasted on him previously. In both instances, he had felt his body be destroyed in different ways and the same lecture had been given to him by Lord Byakko about being more careful since he was running out of lives; maybe someday he would learn.

Thankfully, someone would begin the healing process on him. It wouldn't be the snap of the fingers, no no no. This process would take a good few moments, but the body of the "demigod" would slowly stop bleeding and any injured limbs or bones would seem to be repaired. However, Kyuji wouldn't wake up right away during the procedure unfortunately as he still had been knocked out pretty hard. It was only when the building shook some more due to the destruction of all the fire-based jutsu setting things ablaze along with a fight starting to break out that Kyuji came to it ever so slowly. His body was heavy and he felt a sharp pain coming from his head which would easily be seen as he awoke and couldn't see anything being left in the dark. Oh, he would place his hand in front of his eye sockets but nothing. It was only when he moved his hand to his face and felt where his eyes were supposed to be that he began to freak out. This freakout wasn't even internally, it was loud and clear to everyone that was within range: "WHE...WHE....WHERE....AR....ARE....MY....EYES?! I...I...CAN'T....SE....SEE! LO...LORD....BYAK....BYAKKO....HEL....HELP ME!" He would try to get up, but his body would not cooperate wit him.

Fortunately, the destruction of the building allowed his daughter, Kyushiko, access to what had happened to her father and she felt sick seeing him struggling as he awoke and his lack of eyes considering Lord Byakko helped him awaken them. Their Lord was not going to be happy at all when he talked with Kyuji next that was for sure. But for now, she would squirm her way through the ANBU finally to where her father was laying with a woman beside him. Her father had either slipped back into unconsciousness or shock as he was not responding again and even a novice in the medical arts knew that he was in dire need of help. So, she would look at the woman situated on his other side and with urgency in her voice state: "This man needs immediate medical attention or he is going to die or having lasting consequences from his injuries. I need you to help me take him to the Byakko Infirmary. I know it is further away than the Hospital, but this is something that normal doctors should not be trying to take care of as this is too serious. Besides, his wife and his lord will know what to do best for him as he is a special individual."

She would then turn to the figure that had been standing and protecting him and the redheaded individual who was facing opposite. Hopefully this would be easy to get through to them since Byakko Kyuji's condition seemed still pretty bad. She would stay by her father's side and simply tell them the following: "My father needs immediate medical attention. I am taking him with me and we will handle the aftermath of this day after he has recovered. If he doesn't get evaluated soon, he could have lasting effects or die. I am sure nobody wants him to die today and besides this conflict is between you two, not him. So if you will excuse me."

She would nod at the other woman and slowly start to pick her father up with the assistance of the other woman. They would begin to head away from this area of the village and towards the Byakko Clan's infirmary if allowed.

[Topic Left with Akkuma's Earthbound Spirit, Kyuji, and Kyushiko if allowed]

 

[Miroku Riyota]

Shock is a curious thing, it acts as almost a barrier...a warning of what's to come, a preparation for the pain you are soon to receive. So, suffice to say, Riyota felt immense shock, when his arm was severed from his body. It was definitely safe to assume that something, somewhere, had gone horribly horribly wrong.

The arm disconnected without much resistance, the claws of the fox slicing through muscle, sinew and bone with absolute ease. All the boy could do was stare hopelessly as his limb was taken from him. Time seemed to move in slow motion, until, with all the force and impact of a freight train, the pain collided with the receptors in his brain. If the sound of the collapsing building was quieter. The boy's screams would've deafened all that were around.

Blood splattered all over, landing on the ground, on Riyota and on Azusa. The young shinobi howled in sheer agony as his new wound poured blood at an alarming rate. And the kitsune in front of him took a few bites of the severed limb, before leaving to reclaim her original prey. The syringe containing her cure was gone, tossed into the flames in throes of torment.

Traces of higher thought would return to the boy as the pain still seared and his ears rang as he struggled to remain conscious. He looked to the sennin once more as the elder shinobi offered no assistance. A mere lecture that Riyota listened to, despite his bleeding. As the sennin motioned to leave, the boy spat one last statement towards him. "So glad your cold...and calculative logic...afforded you the ability...t-to...stand there and do NOTHING!" The boy smirked defiantly and the Sennin was gone.

Riyota's vision began to blur, he was losing enormous amounts of blood and he would be dead within minutes unless he did something about it. He didn't have enough strength to even walk, nevermind tear his clothing into bandages. The entire building was collapsing around him and fire was beginning to surround the young shinobi.

Fire...

Riyota gritted his teeth and closed his eyes for a moment. "To whatever god is looking down on me right now...I hate you, you sick, twisted son of a bitch. I hate you so much." He muttered as he dragged himself closer and closer to the roaring flame closest to him. Through sheer force of will and effort he dragged himself ever closer, moving the bleeding stump towards the orange flame a loud hiss would emit and the boy would return to his pained screaming, tears beginning to form in his eyes. Even with Riyota's unusually high tolerance for pain, this was getting to be too much. Pulling the stump out of the fire once it was properly cauterized the boy could barely even see anymore, through the mixture of tears and the imminent threat of blacking out. However it wasn't over yet, he still needed to get out of the building.

Mustering every ounce of strength he had left as it became increasingly more difficult to breathe through the thick smoke that was forming all around the crumbling pleasure house he dragged himself forward with his one good arm. Slowly but surely, he made his way to his exit. Even as a piece of debris fell and crushed the bones in his leg. He didn't stop, using every last bit of mental fortitude to prevent himself from passing out.

Coughing and spluttering, shivering and sweating, the young Shinobi finally pulled himself out onto the cold sand outside. Sweat pouring off his face, he pulled himself one last time, and let his eyes slowly fall shut. The last thing he saw, a faint flash of orange fur...

[Unconscious, skip me unless someone decides to wake me up ]
MFT

 

[Muramasa Maya]

The intense presence of both predators seemed to, for a brief moment, stop time itself in its tracks for a moment that was both unnoticeable brief but felt impossibly prolonged. Though both were guided by their hunger, for the golden fox it was akin to a volcanic eruption; loud and chaotic for any in its way. For the crimson shadow, a frigid tundra; tranquil but carrying a promised death to those it consumed. And at the conclusion of this moment...
...He passed. Her mind had deemed he was not her enemy, and what was more, provided her a way forward to her true target; Akkuma, who had darted with such speed like a frightened squirrel. She did not need to be sentient to enjoy the thrill of the hunt or opportunity he had provided her in exposing Akkuma! Azusa was delightfully furious, and an Aikayume would always repay her debt...Special circumstances not included, such as disease or madness.

Azusa leaped after Akkuma instantly, ignoring the Sennin and following Akkuma through the flaming walls, which stopped her about as much as the Sennin's words. Splinters and flames singed Azusa's red attire even further, even the bloodsoaked furs of her treasured tails. Her pursuit was only stopped when Akkuma again took the the defensive by surrounding himself with a protective wall of flame. For a moment, Azusa approached, going as close as her anger would allow her to to the flames without touching them...But even the heated air from the infernal torrent burned her skin at such a close distance. Her eyes watched the fiery wall of flame, scanning and searching intently for any possible opening or gap in the circular inferno.

She found none. But he was still there. She knew. She could feel him. Akkuma was so close! Yet so far! It was infuriating. Her low growling grew in intensity the more she realized this target would just keep on hiding from her...
and hiding
and hiding
and taunting
and tricking
and stealing
and hiding!

Her heart pulsed heavily. Her mind frantic. She couldn't see an end to the chase, and couldn't bear the thought of him escaping yet again. The flames were hot, certainly (as Riyota back at the building could attest to), too hot for her own foxfire to protect her...but she didn't care. No wall would stand in her way. No flames would hold her back. [Brink of Insanity] With the black fog from the other pursuer slowly engulfing the flaming tornado, the moment she saw Akkuma's protective wall of flame weakened even the slightest she dove in. A patient hunter would wait for the trap to be sprung, for the obstacle to clear. But Azusa? Her anger would see her through.

"No more hiding!...No more running!...AKKUMA!" She kicked off the ground towards the vortex of fire and death, gripping her sword firmly in hand.

...Of course the same fury that served as her strength did nothing to protect her against the searing flames or deathly miasma; the instant she jumped through every nerve on her flesh and lungs fired off "pain" meant to warn her that she was not meant to be where she was, doing what she was doing. Vessels burst in her lungs, throat, eyes and ears from the deathly smog, a fell black liquid that was her corrupted blood oozing down her lips, eyelids and cheeks. Flames burned away her torn robes and skin indiscriminately.

But if she emerged on the other side of the wall, her goal was simple; slice, cut, maim, sever, kill [Annhilation]. If thrusting herself through any danger would give her even the slightest of chance to get even a single strike in against the one she hated, any amount of backlash her body suffered was a fair price. Akkuma certainly was her target, but, clouded by madness, she truthfully did not worry too much about -who- she hit on the other side.

Regardless of result, embracing the hazards before her in combination with her previous exhaustion over the days would finally catch up to the fox. To Kyuji's credit during their fight, the hit that he did manage to strike Azusa cleanly with hit hard. And even the huntress wasn't tireless; her knee's would begin to give out, ideally, with Akkuma beneath her...

[MFT]

!	Azusa was absolutely going to rush in e.e Wise idea Akkuma, I think thats super effective. Roku, Azusa is entirely focused on pursuing Akkuma. She heard, but can't comprehend x_X Focused on Akkuma, Azusa isn't stopping the NPC's or Kyuji.

 

[Miroku Akkuma]

Like the Sage had expected he was pursued relentlessly by the would be hunters who sought to catch Kyuji & himself. Those brilliant flames had bought him a brief amount of time to stabilize his cousin & prepare a small defense force. The Lord of Byakko awoke behind him crying out in agony & despair. His daughter finally decided to intervene pathetically trying to plead for their humanity to allow them to let her father part. "Silence yourself girl! It's because of your foolish inaction your father has reached such a point! Now take him!" he would snarl at her before giving a different order to his bandaged subordinate. "Take the boy for immediate treatment." she would nod bursting through the Mist towards the armless youth & taking him into her grip. "Lord Riyota you must come with me it is too dangerous here." she would say to him. It was undeniable shinobi of this caliber were capable of permanently altering landscapes. In his current condition he was nothing more then a hindrance to the efforts of those here.

A deathly mist battled against his flames as he heard the Kitsune cry out in pain. Her declaration against him was thrilling. How he enjoyed this the sensation of being hunted by beings like this. It was something he had never had the pleasure of feeling before. This was an exhilaration he had not felt before in his life. The flames finally fell before the barrage but not before the revenge fueled Kitsune threw herself through the flames. Her blade was swung with a fury that slashed his stomach open, feeling it slice through his flesh. Blood & organs began to spill out as the two crumpled to the floor. She would feel the warmth of his blood, the smell of iron on the air. As the crimson liquid flowed out from the Sage his eyes wide with pain & unmistakable delight. With a snap of his fingers the wounds, blood & organs were gone as if the passed act had never happened. Though she would know it had, for she had felt it & even smelt the undeniable scent of blood. No this was more of his trickery how had he become so monstrous, he looked & smelt like a human. But he was clearly anything but human, although all signs of demonic lineage were gone.

Suddenly with blinding speed his hand flew to her throat clasping it with all the strength he could muster as he pushed himself up while spinning & slamming her into the ground. The force would leave a small crater around her form, the action a combination of taijutsu. Due to his constant use of Ninjutsu & an implied reliance upon it he had hoped she would not be expecting it. Even if she was in her current state he doubted she was in any position to defend against it. Standing above her as Kyuji was taken away into the distance & his son hopefully carted away he would speak once more. "You are mad & chaos has claimed you." he raised his hand above her, falling to the ground with his knees either side her torso. "I cannot cure you but this will help even the tides of your internal battle." his left hand would restrain her arms above her head as his right hand slammed into her abdomen. The fiery kanji burning on her flesh as he attempted to seal any lingering dark energies within her into the seal.

All the while his zombies dashed towards the clawed shinobi who had showed he would not be underestimated. They dived at their foe attempting to claw & bite at his flesh to keep him away from their master. "Stop him!" he would cry across the scene of battle towards the Sennin, in a voice coated with commanding chakra. Taking his eyes off the Kitsune in order to ensure he would not be taken off guard by the unknown shinobi. Unfortunately for the masked sage that meant he had to take his gaze from the kunoichi. "Damn that cursed lust for power within your blood. If we'd both possessed more discipline neither of us would be in this position. Now the villages eyes will be upon us, is that truly what you want given your new perspectives on life?" he would whisper to her hurriedly through the deathly mist swirling around them.

He knew that she would undoubtedly attack him once more that was to be expected, even if she had not been fueled by wrath & the energies of chaos. There were still more tricks he could use to sustain himself but he did not wish to spend any more time here then necessary. It was too open, there were too many witnesses. Every second spent here gave away vital information about who the masked shinobi was. So far his only saving grace had been that he had used an IWR few people knew he possessed. Turning his gaze back to her he would speak once more as he looked down at the Kitsune. Leaning in close so that his masked face hovered just above her own. That hand which had coursed it's chakra through her system binding any dark energies into check now danced up her side. Stopping at the place where he had first left his mark upon her.

"I told you I would give you power & there's no denying your strength has grown phenomenally since that moment. This is how you repay me? Kyuji has failed you & proven himself weak. With my guidance you will become a being that will have nations tremble before you..." he would whisper to her in that sinister & enthralling voice of his. She would feel the warmth of his body pressed against her in this darkness. He had done more then touch her, now he had her trapped beneath him. Once more setting the foundations for something within the young Kitsune's mind. Every time they met he proved himself to be her superior, showing her the weakness she possessed. Driving her to overcome it, pushing her forward beyond what she had thought herself capable. "...until then the only men you will conquer are the likes of Kyuji." he would say with a point made kind of tone. While his cousin was an exceptional being had proven himself many times he was not the same being as Akkuma.

[Kyuji & daughter allowed to leave]
[IWR attempts to leave with Riyota]
[Grapple+Seismic Toss on Azusa]
[Morality Sealing - Dark used on Azusa]
[Maintain; Corpse Soil/IWR]
[1/3 Renewal's Used]

 

[Raizo]

[col]The final cries of an idiotic child, one who asked why nothing was done when he, the idiot, was the embodiment of useless. An idiot who jumped in, did nothing to resolve the situation and then bemoans his misfortune, but calls out to the person who was trying to resolve the matter that he, the idiot, interfered with in the first place. There was literally no reason to feel sorry for or heed the words of the boy, and while he did not have remorse over the pain the boy encountered, it would seem that his words would continue to nag at him as he stood at the scene.

Another one... another asshole accusing me of not doing anything... just what in the hell have these... no, that's not the point. It's not about getting their admiration or acknowledgement, not knowing I've done something is enough proof to know I am doing it well enough... but seriously... another one telling me that...

It would continue to fester along side the words of Matsu and Fuu/Michi. The festering was not a single emotion, no, it was a combination of sorrow, confusion, anger, embarrassment, denial, hatred, uncertainty and ultimately capped with one overarching sensation: rage. He was reaching his breaking point, the man who tried to do so much for this village and the people within it, only to be questioned at every turn. It was a defeating trudge through a mucking landscape. How much longer...

...well in this instance, not much longer. His muscles would flex and contract, tightening as an explosion of chakra would erupt forth(Gate 7 Open). His now glowing green eyes would turn towards the lashing attack of chakra.

"Go fuck yourself."

His body would begin to flicker out of sight before the attack would make contact, as if he had seemingly vanished from where he was standing (Body Flicker). The words were not towards the man attacking him, not entirely at least. No, they were meant to the person trying to bark orders at him. That white haired figure, whomever he was, could clearly go fornicate with himself.

"The whole gaggle of ya can go fuck yourselves."

His eyes would turn towards the red haired jackass as the white haired jackass and the female jackass started to tussle with one another. It seemed the attempt to remove the injured man was in progress, so all he had to do was keep anyone from, once more, completely screwing that up. So it would seem that the one needing to be blocked was red hair.

"Got a name, ya pain in my ass?"

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OOC:
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[legend="[img]http://i.imgur.com/WSBLHAP.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/d1AN2WH.png[/img]"]

 

Name: Roku
Epithet:
Height: 6'2"
Build: Muscular
Eyes: Red
Blood Type: O NegativePersonal Data[/spoiler]Fight DataMood Music X

[/legend]​

[/col]

 

[Mikaboshi]

[col]Respect was an alien concept to beasts but in seemed as if both Azusa and Reiko had taken a moment to acknowledge that they were not enemies, making the battle lines rather clear to anyone who was paying attention. With a wave of his hand, the dark vapor that he'd used to extinguish Akkuma's wall of flames dissipated and faded but as he strode forward in Azusa's wake after lashing out at Roku, Reiko once more found the golden-haired sennin standing in his way after a flicker of movement and a burst of sound as Roku's movement violently thrust the air around him away from his path of egress.

"Got a name, ya pain in my ass?"

And strangely, that question seemed to give the seemingly possessed Reiko more pause than even the roaring flames of Akkuma's barrier of conflagration. The dueling aspects of Reiko's mind both struggled to answer at once, each having their own idea of who he was. His conscious mind knew that he was Masashi Reiko, Ranger of the Masashi Clan and new arrival to Sunagakure but the Hunger had a different answer altogether. He was Masashi Reiko, the last scion of Wild Hunt. Descendant of Orochi. Blood of the Great Devourer.

As those thoughts passed Reiko's mind in equal timing with his true identity, he found himself rocked back on his heels by them. They were names that were straight out of every mythological text that he'd ever written. Legends said that Orochi was the great beast that once was the lord of the Wild Hunt and one of the mightiest creatures to ever have walked the face of the Wind Country. Also one of the most destructive. It all sounded preposterous but this would not have been the first time that the Hunger had been his gateway to finding truths about himself that he had not expected to find. Was the Hunger even capable of lying? Reiko had learned to trust the instincts which bubbled up out of the part of him that he'd named the Hunger but this time was different. It didn't feel real. With his concentration on the fight broken by the questioning of his identity, the angry predatory haze that had been clouding Reiko's mind lifted enough for him to fight through it and come back to his senses at last.

"Reiko. My name is Reiko." He answered Roku's question but from the sound of things it was more of a verbal affirmation to himself than anything else.

With the Hunger back under control, Reiko was able to recognize finally that he'd injected himself into a violent situation that he did not understand but there was an unmistakable feeling of kinship with the fox girl who seemed to be struggling with her own set of darker impulses. Heartbeats thumped in Reiko's eye of the heart and he could feel each one of them pounding in a strange rhythm with each other. He did not "hear" them in the same way that someone with supernatural hearing like a Hashigaki could hear them nor did he "see" them in the way that someone with a special eye technique like the Byakugan could. In some ways he felt them in the same way he could feel his own heart beat but with each surge of blood through their bodies the Gift of Lifehunt reported back to him their location in the darkness even without needing to see them. One of the others crouched over the injured man that Reiko had been pursuing out of feral instinct but as they prepared to pull back this time Reiko was ready to battle the onset of the urge to chase them down. The Hunger screamed at him to chase and to tear them apart but he was needed here. From the rubble all around them corpses exploded from the ground in all of their grim and ghastly glory and that set Reiko's conscious sight solely on the man that had called them.

Akkuma.

Reiko had fought necromancers before. Met men that fancied themselves demon gods because they could tinker with a few of the strings of mortality that tether people to the mortal world and he'd never thought much of any of them. Each and every one had been a selfish, small man possessed by their own hubris. Reiko didn't think much on the idea of desecrating the dead, after all the Masashi held little reverence for the dead flesh left behind by the departing of their deceased, but he regarded such a power as one that only a very specific type of man pursued and it caused the hairs on his neck to rise as Akkuma leaped in to assault Azusa. The fox-girl was clearly out of her own mind but Reiko didn't feel like leaving her in the hands of a man that could command the dead with such casual abandon was the right decision. As Akkuma vaulted forward with the intent of attacking Azusa, Reiko attempted to move to interdict the foul sage but found himself blocked by Roku.

"My friend needs help. I'll only say this once; either step aside or I'm going to have to go through you."

He was projecting more than a little bit but there was something about Azusa that had pinged as familiar to the Hunger in a way that he couldn't understand. It was a sign that he could not afford to ignore. He could afford to deal with the consequences of his choices and his words after he had an opportunity to talk to her and maybe find out why the Hunger seemed to recognize her as kin. "Friend" was certainly a strong word considering the only interaction that they'd really had with each other had been the moment of understanding a few heartbeats ago where they'd mutually decided not to disembowel each other but she was the only lead he'd ever had about the strange affliction that had taken residence in his mind and he wasn't about to lose it.

"Now choose."|[legend="[[b][u]OOC Notes[/u][/b]] - [[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3j4okhb8o]BGM[/url]]"]

Masashi Reiko - The Red Prince​

Note(s): Reiko's spiritual presence registers on the senses of the supernaturally sensitive as a starving and dangerous predator. By drinking the blood of Orochi, Reiko's body was physically and spiritually altered at a fundamental level. As a result he carries with him a physical and spiritual presence reminiscent of an ancient of the Wild Hunt despite their kind being extinct-- specifically he carries the "scent" of Orochi on him. To those who are sensitive to such matters or familiar with ancients or Orochi they would sense it almost immediately. For those who are unfamiliar with Orochi's personage, it registers upon the senses of the supernaturally aware as an aura of latent bloodlust that grows in intensity with physical proximity.[/legend][/col][/quote]

 

[Muramasa Maya]

Contrary to her own self-image, Azusa was not unstoppable. In her assault through the contrasting flames and miasma mix, the Akkuma's flames scorched her flesh, as the miasma seeped into her open wounds, eyes, throat, and lungs. The miasma burst vessels in the corners of her eyes and in her lungs, and even her treasured golden tails were not unharmed from the flames, the smell of scorched cloth, flesh and fur trailed her path. She accepted this with enraged howls...On the condition that her enemy took even more punishment than herself. That is what it had meant to be reckless.

And she felt it! Oh, how every cut, every slice of her blade sank through the demon's vile figure! How his accursed blood and guts baptized her! This was it; the revenge she had been desperately pursuing for so long! The pain of her body being destroyed was nothing in comparison to the ecstasy she felt from massacring Akkuma. The fact that some unknown power had rewound his wounds was not some curse preventing her from slaying him, but a blessing that meant she could experience the bliss of killing him again and again. And again.
She hated him. She hated him so much! "More!..More!" She cheered in pain. She cried in delight.

Azusa was content with cutting down Akkuma endlessly until the flames and mist consumed them both until nothing remained. This would have been a ending she accepted. Each of her reckless strikes was filled with enough strength as inhumanely possible, but recoiled upon her body. As did the flames of Akkuma's barrier. As did the black mist of corruption.

The difference between them? Time never rewound for her, only only ever fast-forwarded herself to her inevitable exhaustion where her sword fell from her hand, her strength expired. That was all Akkuma needed; his grip was around her neck before her blade had ever hit the ground, and with speed, found herself smashed on the ground before her blade. By all means, this should have been the finishing blow to her exhausted body...But her curse seal and hatred kept her conscious long after she should have fainted, just as her disease would keep her body moving long after she was dead.

"You are mad and chaos has claimed you." He spoke. Without her sword, without any stamina left, her insane mind raged against the confines of her unmoving, bloodied body. She could barely twitch her fingers after the paralyzing slam, much less free herself from Akkuma's grasp. "..de...mon..." She gurgled amidst the blood clogging her mouth, before spitting the disease-ridden blood and saliva mix toward him. "I cannot cure you but this will help even the tides of your internal battle." It burned, in a way much different than the hot flames earlier. The flames burned her body with heat, but Akkuma's touch burned her very being with a frigid darkness, cruelly suppressing the very power he had gifted her so long ago.

As Akkuma sealed the energy of her Curse Seal, so too did her rage fall proportionally. And without the cloud of madness blinding her with vengeance, reasoning returned to her bleeding eyes...But rabid insanity was a mercy in comparison to the reality she found herself in, but unable to resist. (G-get...off...Do not..touch...) She struggled to speak, but her body was far past its limits. Strip away her strength, her anger, her pride, her madness, and what did she really have left?

....Fear.

Without her curse seal to sustain her, her vision gradually blackened out. She could barely see Akkuma right before her, but she knew it was him. "I told you I would give you power & there's no denying your strength has grown phenomenally since that moment. This is how you repay me? Kyuji has failed you & proven himself weak. With my guidance you will become a being that will have nations tremble before you..." The haunting voice whispered to her, the horrid sound crawling through her ears. Masked or otherwise, nothing could disguise the putrid existence that Akkuma was to her. And contrary to his words, she certainly did not feel strong in such a situation.

Triggered her in all the wrong places, delirium sank into her poor, exhausted mind; mentally she was no longer the reckless huntress in Grand Palais, but instead a smaller, much weaker academy student within the Toraono Dojo one fateful day. "...until then the only men you will conquer are the likes of Kyuji." The demon mentioned Kyuji, but where was he? (...Sen...sei?..) Her eyes were bleeding, her ears ringing, her body burned...(...Where are you...) Why was he not helping? Why was she with Akkuma? Confused and exhausted, she extent the last of her inexistent energy. "D-do not touch me! Do not touch me! Do not...touch........me..."

The loss of consciousness was not a mercy. Merely a change from the nightmares of the world to the nightmares in her sleep...

!	Azusa is now unconscious until otherwise mentioned. What happens next is up to you guys. Leave her there, snatch her away, toss her in jail, etc.

 

[Miroku Akkuma]

Akkuma found himself surprised when he saw that look of pure bloodlust in her eyes he missed it. A desire to risk everything to destroy the one obsatcle before you. But he was not that being now. He was something else & he had no intentions of letting himself become such a beast again. The depths of her rage had been great, if he'd still been his old self perhaps she'd have even felled him there. Unfortunately for the young Kitsune priestess she was not the only one who had grown since their last encounter. Letting her enjoy that thrill for the briefest of moments before he denied her that. Unable to resist his assault Azusa could do nothing but squirm under the strangling grip of the Sage. Akkuma was focused on the young Kitsune below him although he was still paying enough attention to memorize the name of that crimson haired shinobi who stalked him. While the Sennin kept him occupied the Sage dealt with the young fox. How curious it was to see how quickly she'd grown. Yes compared to himself she still had far to go but she'd made great strides compared to the kunoichi he remembered.

It would only take moments for the Sage to remind the young kunoichi of what she'd been without his gifts. Temporarily sealing her curse mark he allowed her the chance to withdraw from the chaotic depths of her mind. When she found herself lucid once more he could only imagine it would have been like waking to a nightmare. She would find herself taken back to that day in the Dojo no dobut, he chuckled even back then she'd been so full of fury. There it was for the briefest of moments her eyes were full of terror again as the young kunoichi struggled crying out for him to get off her. Slowly that look of terror dulled in her eyes as she fell unconscious. The Sage set to work immediately removing a syringe from his belt he proceeded to collect two vials of blood from the young kunoichi. After securing the vials to his belt he would this time inject the young priestess with the toxin known as Heaven's Touch. Placing the empty syringe next to the previous one in his pouch he would stand his gaze shifting to the Sennin & Reiko.

"This threat has been detained for the time being. I'll transport her to Medical & admit us both into quarantine. I recommend you both do the same." with those words his hands formed a series of handseals & three shadowy figures crawled out of his own. All three collecting & restraining Azusa. Turning to face Reiko he would speak "You're most curious Reiko...this is twice now. Once more & you'll have my attention." the Sage would say with a sly smile beneath that mask of his. Twice he could mistake as coincidence a third time would show clear intent of what the Sage would have to find out. Akkuma would then grab the kunoichi's blade before dashing off after his shadowy creations. Would he truly take her to Medical? Perhaps he'd try & throw her in the Pit? No doubt these would be scenarios the young fox would imagine if she were conscious. In truth what awaited her would be something akin to a nightmare.

[Attempting to Leave Thread w/ Azusa]

 

[Raizo]

[col]It would seem that two of his headaches today had been caused by names starting with "R".

"Reiko? Roku. Unfortunately, seems like you are going to have to go through..."

He would pause as it seemed the commotion behind him and started to calm down. He would still be on alert, there was a high chance this opening was about to be exploited by Reiko to get through or past him, however he was curious of the predicament behind. A mass of shadows would begin to swarm the restrained woman as the man in the mask started to speak.

"Two options: Release that girl or..."

He let out a sigh as it seemed today wasn't his day for making friends.

"... or I will force you to release her."

The power of his gates would send out a small sonic pop as he would push off the ground and hurl himself in the direction of the moving shadow creations. It would be easier to beat the artificial lives, but if he was unable to keep up with them he would do the next best thing; break the caster.

One issue he did not take into account because his focus on was apprehending his target; Reiko. There was a chance that maybe Reiko would assist him, but even if he did it would be surface level as the man seemed to also be fixated with this woman. Maybe he should just stay at home more often instead of strolling around the dark parts of the village at night?

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OOC: 256 words
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[legend="[img]http://i.imgur.com/WSBLHAP.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/d1AN2WH.png[/img]"]

 

Name: Roku
Epithet:
Height: 6'2"
Build: Muscular
Eyes: Red
Blood Type: O NegativePersonal Data[/spoiler]Fight DataMood Music X

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