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OPEN
Characters: Open to all Mission goers to Florence, Frankfurt, Prague and Vienna
Location: Florence, Frankfurt, Prague and Vienna
Rating: PG
Time: Jan 17, starts at about mid-morning
Description: Missions 151 and 152, crossposted to LJ
Florence
Florence had been immediately evacuated the moment Shibusen Florence recieved word from Death City about the danger to its population. Most of its citizenry had left, but the sentries, guards, and local militia (and mafia) had stayed to bravely defend the city. These were unfortunately the ones being affected by madness, to turn against each other with the same determination they had attempted to show their duty.
The streets of central Florence are plunged in chaos, with torches lit and some structures burning. Those who have managed to resist the madness to try to salvage the museums are hardpressed to defend themselves against those that have become crazy, but the light rain in the afternoon helps.
Frankfurt
It's cold and grey in Frankfurt but the streets are busy with activity. Germany has deployed its military to assist Shibusen Frankfurt in evacuating the people into shelters and taking down those that have begun to go mad. The problem is that even with their haste, it's still not enough, and they are becoming more overwhelmed by the hour. A number of makeshift forts and shelter are scattered throughout the city, requiring help to get through the crazed people outside. Kishin eggs in random areas are taking people down one by one in a frenzied eating craze.
Prague
The Prague agents are unlucky today with the weather, with the cold and chances of light snow. They're given coats or jackets before they leave Shibusen Prague, but are quickly urged on to the northwest part of the city. The heaviest of the violence and damage becomes concentrated there by afternoon, with people boarded up in buildings and kishin eggs preying on the people outside.
Vienna
It's snowing lightly in Vienna when the agents come in, and it seems that the situation there had gone from all right to downright crazy in the minute it took for the madness wavelength to sweep the city just an hour before. There is chaos as people run from murderous citizens and the police try to take them down. The prisons are already overflowing, some with people desperate to protect themselves from attack.
It doesn't take long before the first kishin eggs appear, people who accidentally kill others and eat their souls in madness.
[ ooc: Just pop up with your thread(s) in the post. Please follow this format in the subject header: [Characters][Where and when if you want to be more specific][OPEN/CLOSE] ]
Location: Florence, Frankfurt, Prague and Vienna
Rating: PG
Time: Jan 17, starts at about mid-morning
Description: Missions 151 and 152, crossposted to LJ
Florence
Florence had been immediately evacuated the moment Shibusen Florence recieved word from Death City about the danger to its population. Most of its citizenry had left, but the sentries, guards, and local militia (and mafia) had stayed to bravely defend the city. These were unfortunately the ones being affected by madness, to turn against each other with the same determination they had attempted to show their duty.
The streets of central Florence are plunged in chaos, with torches lit and some structures burning. Those who have managed to resist the madness to try to salvage the museums are hardpressed to defend themselves against those that have become crazy, but the light rain in the afternoon helps.
Frankfurt
It's cold and grey in Frankfurt but the streets are busy with activity. Germany has deployed its military to assist Shibusen Frankfurt in evacuating the people into shelters and taking down those that have begun to go mad. The problem is that even with their haste, it's still not enough, and they are becoming more overwhelmed by the hour. A number of makeshift forts and shelter are scattered throughout the city, requiring help to get through the crazed people outside. Kishin eggs in random areas are taking people down one by one in a frenzied eating craze.
Prague
The Prague agents are unlucky today with the weather, with the cold and chances of light snow. They're given coats or jackets before they leave Shibusen Prague, but are quickly urged on to the northwest part of the city. The heaviest of the violence and damage becomes concentrated there by afternoon, with people boarded up in buildings and kishin eggs preying on the people outside.
Vienna
It's snowing lightly in Vienna when the agents come in, and it seems that the situation there had gone from all right to downright crazy in the minute it took for the madness wavelength to sweep the city just an hour before. There is chaos as people run from murderous citizens and the police try to take them down. The prisons are already overflowing, some with people desperate to protect themselves from attack.
It doesn't take long before the first kishin eggs appear, people who accidentally kill others and eat their souls in madness.
[ ooc: Just pop up with your thread(s) in the post. Please follow this format in the subject header: [Characters][Where and when if you want to be more specific][OPEN/CLOSE] ]
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She follows Kaoru's lead, not wanting to screw up the plotting. Yeah, just be sure to focus on only a part of the ash cutting, or else we'll get sliced ourselves."
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With that in mind Kaoru took a step, then another, then proceeded to run ahead, pink scarf billowing behind her as she began to pull Rangiku out of the sheath. Something was happening up ahead. And by the sounds of human voices it was probably not anything pretty.
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Rangiku is pulled out of the sheath and begins to gaze around the area. She tries to find where the noise is coming from. Do you see anything yet Kaoru?
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And stopped.
In front of them, was a kishin. A large kishin. And underneath it..were the legs of a human. She could hear the sobbing of a child.
Kaoru stopped, her hand going slack--
...This..--.....I...--
Her eyes narrowed. Hiding behind a trashcan where the kishin was currently feasting on a victim--was a crying little girl.
Stricken, Kaoru readjusted her grip. Rangiku..are you ready?
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Upon seeing the little girl, a brief memory flashes through Rangiku's thoughts. She simply sees herself as a slum kid, like most of the other residents of the Rukongai. She lies there cold, hungry, and nearly dying as three grown men take pieces of her soul and seal them within an item to try and appease it. The memory quickly leaves her mind as it's replaced with a fury and a strong intent to protect the girl.
Had Kaoru hesitated a moment longer, Rangiku would have taken over and tried to combat it herself but this was not necessary. With Kaoru's determination revitalized, she quickly agrees to her offer. Yes! I'm ready!
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"Get out of here!" She cried, bringing the katana down in the same familiar katas she's practiced every morning for seventeen years, ignoring the shift in weapon weight as she at least tries to get it's attention on her.
With a snarl, the monster looks up from it's meal and stares Kaoru dead in the eyes, the small woman tensing as she narrows her eyes, bringing it up defensively.
Let's try and lure it away from the little girl, that comes first. Then we can work on that ash we've been practicing on. It's big in size but all that weight just adds less speed. Kaoru communicated silently, pleased that her partner was also a strategist, no matter how laid back she was.
She took a step back, then another in the alley way as the kishin started to stalk towards her.
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If the ash is anything like my home, it can be condensed over someone like a shield. Try doing that first. Rangiku began to concentrate in an attempt to summon as much ash as she possibly could so she could protect the young woman.
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Hai.
She responded, holding out the blade as the creature suddenly charged, the ground beneath Kaoru's feet forming little clods of dust as a circular amount of air started to form, Kaoru stepping back all the while to continue to diverge the attention from the little girl.
It's alright. Just stay hiding okay? And don't come out until I tell you to. Soul Speak worked well in this situation, she realized, as the little girl's head shot up, wondering where the voice in her head had come from.
Kaoru offered a smile that was fleeting but noticable, before she focused on diffusing her blade into ash. Okay, it's all you now, Rangiku!
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Got it, Kaoru! Make sure to direct some of the ash to the girl for a shield purpose! Rangiku began to flare the ash which expanded and blocked the line of sight between the Kishin and them entirely. It then began to harden into its usual blade like structure for a particularly spiky shield. Anyone that touched it would be stabbed with small, tiny, razor fragments that act more like a hedgehog's back more than anything else.
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And please..don't look at that body. She thought grimly. Kaoru directed the ash towards the girl, calling out, "Close your eyes if it's too scary to look at!"
The girl responded by yelping as the silver ash began to cover her face from Kaoru's eyes--forming a solid child-sized wall that covered any scenes of the battle or the dead body.
"Tell me you're still in there!" Kaoru shouted, ducking as the kishin aimed it's meaty arm towards her body, rolling in the snow as she heard a single whimper of acknowledgement.
Okay--come back Rangiku. She said firmly, directing what was left back to a solid blade once agin reforming the katana.
Kaoru continued to dodge the huge monster's strikes, noting how clumsy it was, missing just barely as she looked for the perfect spot to hit.
This isn't human--so I can't hesitate.
Raising the sword over her head she brought it down on it's foot; hoping to at least distract it enough so that she could aim for a more potent place. Like it's shoulder.
With a roar the monster staggered from the sharp blade piercing it's foot, swiping blindly as Kaoru charged--sword embedding itself into it's shoulder, sending Kaoru off the ground as she used her feet to find a foothold on it's chest, eyes narrowed with determination.
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When Kaoru directs her attention to Rangiku, she focuses on trying to inflict as much damage as possible. As she goes through the Kishin's foot and the shoulder, a sturdy determination that won't be easily shaken is felt. She notices Kaoru grounding herself to the man's body, Hang on, Kaoru! Whatever you do, don't let go unless you can drop to the floor instantly. Being in mid air is the worst place you can be in during a fight! You can't dodge there.
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For a few moments it’s just Kaoru with a katana jammed in the shoulder of a kishin at least three times her size. She isn’t even really thinking about how she’s not on the ground anymore—just focusing all her energy on jamming the blade as far into that skin as it can go—not to kill---but to damage—to debilitate. For that little girl’s sake she wants to make this monster pay and pay good.
When the monster tries to use it’s other arm to claw at Kaoru’s unprotected side, she summons the remaining ash and uses it like a shield over that side of her body—
--Until she hears the little girl start sobbing.
Kaoru’s blue eyes widen as she turns, frantically to the source of the sound, wondering if her shield is still up—is she still protected is she—
Being in mid-air is the worst place you can be during a fight..
And then the kishin drags it’s arm across the side of her head-- sending her falling off of it with the sword still jammed stubbornly into it’s arm.
Kaoru hits the ground rolling in a flurry of snow her body tumbling until she stops, lying on her side, pink scarf strewn around her body messily.
Her eyes are closed, and the right side of her cheek feels white cold then white hot as pain splinters across her temple and the back of her head.
“U-Unghhh…”
Something red is getting in her left eye and she can taste blood in her mouth as her lip splits open. She sees bright lights and stars and for a minute she’s so shocked that she just lies there in the snow, blood smeared across the left side of her head as she stares blankly up at the roaring kishin towering above her.
Her eyes flutter shut.
And that’s when Kenshin’s face appears in her mind, smiling and hopeful—hopeful that he can obtain his own happiness for once in his life and why is she lying in the snow like an idiot when she’s promised herself she’d make it happen for him?!
She pushes herself up, wiping her mouth without much ladylike pretense—ignoring how her left eye is starting to swell.
Sorry. I messed up a little. J..just stay where you are, okay? I'm coming to get you and we'll finish this.
Her voice is tight as she begins to watch the thrashing kishin, trying to take out the blade in it's shoulder. It's distracted..she just needs to find the opening to drag out the hilt.
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So, there Rangiku was, left inside the Kishin egg with absolutely no way of being of use except to stay there, unless she did some fast thinking. As the Kishin flails into mid air and Kaoru approaches, Rangiku transfers into a partial blade form, her left hand making up the sword. She's tossed into mid air, with her legs and the rest of her body far above her head before she's violently swung back down with her legs going right in front of Kaoru.
"Quick! Catch my legs so I can turn back into a sword again!" Leave it to Rangiku to come up with a plan, a plan that'll hopefully work!
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It's immediate frustration the minute Rangiku starts to shift, her voice a frantic, "What are you doing?! Don't come out--" But as Rangiku starts to move Kaoru's eyes follow her--the movement, all of it.
A smirk crosses her face, more like a grimace from her split lip at the realization that Rangiku is like an older Misao, using her abilities to propel Kaoru to victory.
"Fine!" She snaps back, and reaches out with her hands to catch Rangiku's legs, her knees buckling a bit but holding firm, prepared for the instant that her partner returns to the form of a katana.
And then she'll finish it.
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The ash on the ground begins to revitalize itself into swirling into a column above Kaoru. The column is tall and somewhat narrow, but it's is easily able to match some of the buildings in sheer height from Kaoru's head. If you need more ash, resonate with me again!
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Kaoru doesn't hesitate, as she looks up at the spiraling column of ash, she grips the hilt in her hands, then with all her emotion, resonates further with her partner. Above them the ash seems to almost harden into a lance-like blade of ash that hovers over Kaoru's head--sharpens to a point--
And rams straight through the kishin's side, pinning it incapacitated to the wall. The wall crumbles in weaker areas from the force as the ash swirls around meister and sword, Kaoru coughing a little as she takes a breath, a wobbly breath, but a sure one.
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As the Kishin gets pinned to the wall, Rangiku relaxes herself to aid Kaoru into the next attack. Let's go!
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"..." Her eyes travel to the body. "I think..we've seen enough killing today...let's cover this up. I don't want her to see." And she jerks her head towards the eaten body of the human nearby, her stomach doing flipflops.
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Though she doesn't display it now, her belief that Kishin eggs are dangerous when unprotected makes her wonder just how right it is to leave it alone when it has a risk of breaking out and killing everyone. Though, in this case, she agrees that the child and hiding a body for her sake certainly deserves more priority than an already restricted monster.
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Kaoru turns her head over her shoulder, and narrows her eyes. Hey! This is Kaoru and Rangiku! We've secured a kishin and are focusing on the victim! If it gets bad, we're leaving it to you! We came here for the civilians! Her voice cracks across the city a fairly good distance in the minds of those still sane. It needs work but it'll reach at least a few people.
She quietly stood over the body, her face ashen, made whiter by the blood smeared across the left side of her face from her head injury. Her split lip parted then closed.
"Why..why are things like this." She said in a faint whisper, blue eyes pricking with tears she refused to shed. Holding the hilt of Rangiku, she directed a hardened coating of ash over the body, at least to hold out while they led the girl away.
"Hey...it's safe now. The bad guy is pinned up.." Kaoru starts walking towards where she made a shield for the girl, waiting for it to fall down and as it does, she immediately opens her arms to the shaking, crying girl--bloodied temple pressed to the top of her head as she whispers soft, soothing words.
"It's alright now..It's alright.."
Until the little girl speaks up.
"Where is Daddy?"
Kaoru's weapon slides out of her slack fingers.
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When the girl asks for her father, Rangiku's mood takes a hit. Learning about how people can die in the afterworld, or, rather, be reincarnated into the living world wasn't easy for Rangiku herself. Being torn away from people suddenly and frequently was never something she appreciated or liked, and, to hear it happening to another girl - who, for the briefest of moments, she views as herself - is heartbreaking. As she slides out of Kaoru's hands, she doesn't say anything. Instead, she chooses to watch gracefully and partially removed. She definitely doesn't want Kaoru to pick up on anything she's thinking so she allows herself to clatter to the ground.
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It flickers as the little girl begs, "Where is Daddy? Is he alright? Did you talk to him?" Kaoru is wordless for a few minutes before somehow her vocal chords start to work.
"Y..Your Father ---" Kaoru can feel her voice start to crack--she's about to lose it and she's seeing the little girl as herself. Her, waiting for a man who would never come back, body torn apart by the swords of war.
But that little girl..is not needed now.
The strong Kaoru is needed.
So instead she laughs. "Of course I did! He told me how brave a little girl you were, and that's why he knew you'd be alright if he went away for a little while, haha..." Her laugh is forced to anyone who focuses hard, and as she smiles brightly down at her.
"He made me tell you to promise him something..until you see him again, so listen close, okay? It's really important.." Kaoru leaned in as did the little girl, Kaoru's eyes crinkling with a smile to both hide the pain and the horrified tears springing under her eyelids.
"Be....be a strong girl. And live a..happy life until you see him again, okay? That's what he said. So..will you promise him that? " The girl's eyes were wide, and a tear slid down her cheek. Kaoru's gut felt like it had been kicked.
Just as she had vaguely realized her father wouldn't come back..somehow this little girl also knew. But instead she offered a bright smile as the tear rolled down her face. "O-Okay..Tell Daddy that I promise, okay?"
Kaoru's eyes watered. "Yeah...you can do it.."
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Of course, she's disconnected from Kaoru. She can't feel or hear a thing. She just continues to lay there as she realizes she just sat through someone lying about the death of a parent to a child.
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She can feel her heart break but she keeps it together. Kaoru holds back the urge to just vomit--this has hit her straight to the core of who she is. As she pulls the little girl close, she lets a stray tear trickle down her battered face and into the little girl's soft hair. A shuddering breath escapes. Kaoru says softly," Let's get you to a hospital--you'll meet some people there who will make sure you aren't alone, okay?"
She's just like me. That's why..I can't do that to her. Sometimes--the truth needs to be broken slowly. I won't ask you to understand. It's simple and serious, as Kaoru lifts the girl into her arms, piggyback style, and starts looking for the safest way to the hospital. A few drops of blood drip onto the snow. A reminder of what took place here.
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Rangiku doesn't speak. She sympathizes and certainly understands, but she's more focused on the conversation rather than anything else. It offers a wonderful insight on just who she's partnered to and why she is partnered with them. The differences that separate them, are really things that bring them closer together. She'll follow them to the hospital obediently. Not that she has a choice since she's an inanimate object at this moment, but, if she wasn't, she'd still follow.
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