September 20th

[computations]

Characters: Sion Eltnam Atlasia and Akiha Tohno
Location: Somewhere in China
Rating: PG-13 for violence
Time: September 20th
Description: Showdown fight with Hachi for dem witch souls

Normally, it would be a long trip but Akiha and Sion had made it by mirror. So there was no reason to complain. Nor was there time to fret or worry, like there would be on a plane. No, there was just the goal in mind and the actions needed to take it. Sion stood beside her partner and gave her a look-over to make sure she was ready. The two would need every advantage they could get.

"I am simply confirming but are you absolutely prepared for this, Akiha?"

Comments

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha's hair was pulled back so it wouldn't get in the way and she made sure to pull her red skirt out for this fight. The small amounts of armor the meister wore were well-oiled and secured in place. At the time her partner was making sure everything was set with her, Akiha was doing one less check on her gloves.

At the question, blue eyes full of determination turned to Sion. "It's time to give you Hachi's soul, Sion. This is her end; no other outcome is acceptable."

[computations]

"My thoughts line up perfectly."

Since Akiha was confident in her readiness, Sion turned her gaze to the area in front of her. Namely the hilly area in front of her. China was known for its disparate environments, just like the United States. Right now, they were at the hills before the mountains, hunting down a single witch.

"We simply need to find where she is hiding out here."

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha immediately started walking into the hills. She was far more inclined to see about drawing the witch out instead of tracking her down, but she knew they'd lose what minute advantage they might get by the slightest amount of surprise.

That surprise could be the difference between life and death.

"Do you think her lair will be underground?"

[computations]

"Underground?"

She thought on the topic before slowly shaking her head.

"Doubtful. While it is a typical dwelling for evil, I do believe that it would be something of a more open air type of situation."

[ritsu_kouyou]

"Good, because the humidity underground does horrid things to my hair." She frowned then. "Though we fight better in close-quarters than we do in free space."

Once they reached the hill, Akiha came to a stop and shielded her eyes from the sun and scanned the area. "See anything?"

[computations]

"It is not the thing that I see that bothers me..."

It was more the lack of things happening. Where wildlife had once been vibrant just recently had suddenly died down and gotten quiet.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha noticed it as well, automatically taking a half-step closer to Sion in case her partner needed to transform quickly. The hairs on the back of her neck started to stand up and she tensed. Wildlife always knew when a predator was around, and the Meister knew it wasn't in response to her and Sion's presence.

And then there was a very faint... buzzing sound, but Akiha couldn't find where it was coming from. She shifted to talk to her partner over their wavelength.

Do you hear that?

[computations]

Of course I do, which is what represents the problem.

No native creature would make that kind of sound. Nor did it attribute itself to any kind of equipment that she was aware of. Which meant that Sion was instantly on guard herself.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Whatever the buzzing was sounded like it was getting closer, but Akiha didn't see anything and was having trouble trying to track it.

Whatever it is, it's moving fast.

[computations]

Sion wasn't going to take any chances in being caught off guard. Or in getting separated. Before anything major could happen, she transformed and landed herself into Akiha's hands. Staying apart at this point was just asking for mistakes to happen, which Sion did not approve of.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha felt better with her partner in her hands, and their wavelengths immediately matched. Taking up a defensive stance, the meister choose to close her eyes and listen instead of trying to track something visually she wasn't sure she would even be able to see.

A few seconds and she pivoted to the left and swung the staff out, parallel to the ground, when the buzzing sound drew close enough to be clearly heard. The staff didn't strike anything, but the buzzing sound altered. Eyes opening, Akiha found herself catching sight of the source.

Is that a... hummingbird?

[computations]

That certainly seems so. ...and I do not think they are native to this area. This must be it.

Of course it was it. If a humming bird didn't belong here, then that meant it was here abnormally. Which meant only a couple things and Occam's Razor made that list very, very small.