[Closed] Mission log

[nofarplaneyet]

Characters: Auron and Koujurou

Location: Bonn

Rating: PGish?

Time: Jan 26

Description: Auron and Koujurou take on a mission, but how will they do if one of them is running on empty?







With their district finally starting to turn some kind of corner, Auron felt comfortable enough to leave the city for a quick mission. Between running around the district for clean up, teaching and now this, Auron felt tired down to his bones. At the same time, the prospect of a good fight always got the adrenaline flowing.

"I wonder why all these eggs keep flocking to the city," Auron said, mostly to himself as he surveyed the neighborhood.

Comments

[forbearanced]

"It is likely because of the sheer number of people in it."

Primal instinct, and all. A viable food source. Kojuro walked alongside his Meister, scanning their surroundings. He was as alert as ever.

[nofarplaneyet]

"Just that? You don't think there's something attracting the eggs? Other than the people?" With all the witches and the madness wavelength on top, it wasn't hard to imagine conspiracies.

[forbearanced]

"Kishin tend to be mindless beasts, interested only in survival. Unless there is a witch controlling this latest wave, it is likely that they only are desperate to feed."

And they were willing to risk their lives to get some, which wasn't entirely smart. Base instincts, however, were called 'base instincts' for a reason.

[nofarplaneyet]

"Makes sense. Just unfortunately for this place there seems to be a lot of them." Like that snarling little wolf thing loping a few streets ahead.

"Found it."

[forbearanced]

And that was all Kojuro needed. The Weapon immediately transformed, landing effortlessly in Auron's hand.

The kishin egg chose that moment to sniff at the air, and turn around to face them with a snarl.

[nofarplaneyet]

Auron grasped the sword and wove his soul wavelength with Koujurou's. For whatever reason, it seems to take longer than usual to get set up and to feel the Soul Armor settle over them both. It's enough of a delay that Auron has to dodge a rush from the kishin egg for him to get his bearings.

[forbearanced]

Kojuro, of course, quietly noticed the delay and filed it away for his own reference. In the meantime, lightning wreathed the entirety of his blade, crackling menacingly in the air.

The kishin egg skidded across the ground, snarling out of frustration. It recovered quickly enough, however, and was soon charging at them again.

[nofarplaneyet]

Auron gripped the lightning wrapped sword tightly and whipped the blade in a rising arc. It slashed the beast across the face.

He put all his concentration into their resonance and ran forward for a follow up attack, hacking at the kishin egg's side.

[forbearanced]

For all the snarl it possessed and its menacing experience, the kishin they were facing was a weak thing, especially against the opponents they had handled. It failed to dodge the first slash, and only managed to escape from the second by the skin of its teeth. It howled in annoyance, leaping some distance away from them.

It was at that moment that Kojuro spoke up again.

Auron.

[nofarplaneyet]

It was always the agile little fiends that were the most annoying. Especially since he had to put so much more effort into their resonance today. The Soul Armor seemed to waver instead of being that usual solid wall.

What is it? Auron stalked toward their target, trying to cut it off before it ran away.

[forbearanced]

Are you not well?

He was, of course, concerned. Auron was not just his Meister - the man was also a friend to him.

[nofarplaneyet]

Just tired. But I can do this. I've done much more before.

That included crawling down a mountain with his eye gouged and his chest slashed open. This was nothing. Absolutely nothing.

He proved it to himself by sprinting toward the kishin egg, taking a firm hold of resonance, of Soul Armor and that lightning wrapped sword. The kishin egg's head flew off and its body fell to the street.

[forbearanced]

Then it is as you say.

Kojuro had his doubts, but such feelings were subsumed by his trust for the man. He did, however, make a mental note to check his Meister over for real after this was finished...

...Which was sooner than expected. Kojuro shifted out once the kishin's body disappeared, leaving nothing but it's soul. He approached the thing, consuming it without comment.

[nofarplaneyet]

As soon as Koujurou transformed back into himself, a wave of weakness washed over Auron. He fell to his knees, completely lacking the strength to stand. His heartbeat seemed to pound inside his ears.

Only sheer stubborn will was helping him not pass out. This was hardly a safe place to do THAT.

[forbearanced]

Kojuro immediately went back to his Meister's side afterward, moving to support the other man with his own body.

"We'd best head back."

You'll have to excuse that disapproving frown, Auron.

[nofarplaneyet]

"Yes. Probably...probably a good idea."

He's too tired to care (much) about that frown, but he knew he'd be getting some kind of tongue lashing later on.

[forbearanced]

Kojuro took that as his cue to lift his Meister's arm around his shoulders and support him even more, offering the strength of his legs and the rest of his figure to take the strain of weight and exhaustion in Auron's place.

"Perhaps we have worked too hard lately."

[nofarplaneyet]

At least Auron could walk with Koujurou helping him along. "I guess...I guess I just stretched myself too thin."

He'd forgotten what it was like to have someone right there watching for trouble. Or getting you out of trouble. "Sorry."

[forbearanced]

"It is fine, but I would appreciate it if you were more careful in the future."

Kojuro could not always be there, in as much as he would certainly try to be. Beyond that, though, one did have to learn how to watch out for one's self.

[nofarplaneyet]

"I haven't really worked this closely with someone for a long time. I'll have to do a better job."

He'd raised Tidus. He'd traveled pilgrimage with Yuna and everyone else. But he wasn't overly close with them. Not like Jecht and Braska.

[forbearanced]

"There is time for that."

It was a light tease, a reminder that Auron wasn't alone, that it wasn't always about performance or giving everything of one's self to another, to a cause.

[nofarplaneyet]

"Good."

It's so hard for him NOT to give everything to a cause or someone else. He'd have to keep that in mind so he didn't get exhausted after a mission again.

Still, it's easier to take the lesson from someone patient like Koujurou.