Sub-Arc - North Route: Black Snow [Completed]

[Ryuzaki]

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Sub-Arc - North Route: Black Snow
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Near the Town of Sylvania


The snow in the air suddenly stopped and turned into warm rain, the Exorcists in the area were surprised at such a thing would happen all of a sudden. As the group continued to walk towards the Asian HQ, their destination, an ominous eye glared at them from a distance, a Level 3 Akuma, who has lived in these woods, killing many innocent people for years, lurk from the shadows from far away as the Exorcist walked.

Moments later, Rexus' radio golem turned on and Reever's voie could be heard. The group of Exorcists listened in to hear what Reever had to say.

"Oi, everyone, how's the journey going? It's been awhile since we've seen you but there's a little problem in the area where you guys are currently at... it seems that there is an Innocence shard, yeah, an actual Innocence shard somewhere in the forest, and there seems to be a small village there as well. We need all of the to find this Innocence before the Akuma and Noaha around you get it, it may be the heart for all we know..." The Exorcists looked up the sky to find the hot rain stop, and started to snow once again.

"The weird weather is due to the Innocence, so retrieve it as soon as possible... and be careful... we've detected from a Finder around the area that a huge evil aura is around the area, so be careful..."


______________

Rules:

- This is a Sub-Arc connected with the North Route Arc

- NO Canon Characters

- Pure FreeForm Style Mission, no guidance from the GMs, you make up the story as you go

- Exorcists must find the Innocence before the Noah/Akuma. You will make up of where the Innocence is

- A powerful Akuma Level 3 will be fighting you after you find the Innocence, you must exorcise it and prevent it from getting the Innocence(The Akuma has no Stats, so you make up the fight)

[Yamamoto]

Sicarii:

Strange indeed.

Sicarii looked above as the thick forests shielded the group from most of the rain. The are felt dark, like something was brooding, and he began to regret going to this mission after all.

Takeshi and Kimiko were busy advancing through the thick vegetation upfront, and seemed busy with their own conversations. Sicarii only sighed, as he would look back every three minutes, expecting something to happen.

Like it always does.


Suddenly Sicarii froze, as he heard the faint rumbling of something. The faint rumbling turned into growing sounds of howls, as he saw yellow beady eyes to his left. His eyes widened and his face turned pale as a pack of hungry wolves jumped out from the shadows and began chasing him.

"WATCH OUT!!!"

Sicarii ran as fast as he could, without the need to turn back to see his pursuers. Jumping in between Takeshi and Kimiko he shouted as he told them to run away, almost slipping into big a puddle of water.

[Lethe]

Near the Town of Sylvania


“Achoo!”

Shinju reached over to pat Serenade’s back. Her face showed much concern.
Serenade placed his hand over hers and thanked her moments before turning his head away to sneeze again.

“This is my fault…” Shinju continued rubbing his back. “If I hadn’t fallen, you wouldn’t have gotten wet.”

Serenade shook his head.

“Things happen, Shinju, and besides, I—”

He sneezed.

Shinju looked through their backpack until she found the thicker coat, and despite Serenade’s refusals, she managed to wrap it—and her arms—around him.

“This is no time to argue – the weather’s only going to get more severe and you know it.”

“But—” She hushed him with a finger to the lips.

“Come. We are less than a mile away from Sylvania, and chances are the other Exorcists will meet us there before we head on out to the village.”

“We cannot stay there for that long, though. Those ridiculous rumors have already reached these regions,” Serenade reminded Shinju, referring to the towns and villages that they had passed by on the way here.

Apparently there were one or two Exorcists—if they were Exorcists—who managed to cause some havoc by attracting a monster’s—probably an Akuma’s—attention.
Now many of the farmers, merchants, and townspeople here were rather suspicious towards the members of the Black Order and those who were associated with them—including this particular pair of mercenaries.

Luckily they had already changed out of the uniforms that the organization had given them long before they reached this country, so the humans probably didn’t suspect anything from them just yet.

Shinju sighed wearily and began walking forward with Serenade by her side.

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(OoC: The commotion that I’m referring to is the one caused by Jarlaxle and Yase back in the main thread – many thankies to Undying.
Sorry you guys, but I try not to overlook things. ^_^;

Anywho… Me just thought that it’d be kinda appropriate to put that in now that we are forced to go near a populated place so that we may be able to get back our reputations and whatnot later, lol.)

[Kenken]

(Hope you guys don't mind me RPing Sicarii a bit.))

"What are you waiting for? Go and get the Innocence!" Sicarii yelled at Takeshi and Kimiko, who simply looked at him. "I'll take care of them!"

With this said, Takeshi and Kimiko left Sicarii to deal with the wolves and ran towards the town.

On the way they found more wolves, coming from the bushes. Damn, more of them. Quickly drawing Tenchu, Takeshi cat down the first wolf that came near him, and kicking the next two. Kimiko also attacked them with her naginata, knocking them out.

"I'd rather not kill them." She explained, starting to move forward.

"We'll simply get attacked again. Come here." Takeshi. Kimiko stood in front of him, and then Takeshi took her in his arms and carried her, while activating his Wings of Destiny and flying to the town, avoiding any more wolves.


Town of Sylvania

The town was small, with a number of houses, which some of them had snow in their roofs. To the right there was something that looked like a farm but deserted, with the ground a total mess. You can't grow anything there, Takeshi thought.

Going deeper into the town, Takeshi found an inn and started walking towards it. But a group of level two akumas appeared, prepared to shoot at the exorcists...

[Yamamoto]

((Don't mind at all :), as far as I'm concerned, you can rp with anyone in my control))

"Oh great, even worse than wolves!!" Sicarii shouted behind the cover of a small brick garden shed.

The volley of attacks kept firing, blasting the snow everywhere they hit, preventing any successful missile attacks. The farm was quickly turning into rubble, until the shed which shielded Sicarii exploded.

As soon as his cover was blown, an Aquila's Soar attack was launched towards the center of the Akuma group. It didn't kill any of them yet, but at least their constant firing stopped as the group dispersed.

"Umm, backup?"

[Kenken]

((oh okey, I"ll send Kimiko to help you. I also want the level 3 akuma to appear for a bit :3

This'll be a short post too.

"Kimiko, go back to Sicarii and help him. A group of wolves and akuma is much harder to overcome by yourself." Takeshi said to her as he summoned more dragons to keep the akumas at bay.

"Alright cousin, I shall be back."

"Oke.. wait, cousin?" Takeshi turned around, but Kimiko was already gone.

Shifting his attention to the akumas before him, Takeshi quickly jumped towards them, killing 3 with one strike of Tenchuu, and killing other two akumas.

Landing on the ground, Takeshi sent more dragons to make quick job of the remaining level ones. Just as he started to sheath his sword, he felt a presence appear just above him and falling at great speed. Takeshi drew Tenchu and stopped the kick that was supposed to crush his head. Looking up he saw a level 3, looking at him with interest.

"Oh, not many people can stop my kick. You have my respect, exorcist." The akuma said giving a bow to Takeshi.

"Sorry, I don't take akuma's word for granted." said Takeshi, holding Tenchu.

Both combatants charged, the akuma spinning in the air and kicking once again, and Takeshi, spinning on the ground with a Ryukansen. Leg and sword found each other, crashing just as the previous cool weather changed into light rain and wind.


Kimiko

Kimiko ran towards where Sicarii was, with wolves and appearing everynow and then, but she make quick job of them, knocking the wolves and killing the akumas. Finally she found Sicarii, and charged the wolves that were prepared to attack him.

((Ken you can RP Kimiko if you wish to, unless you don't post anymore for today.))

[Undying]

Rave and Miranda - a few miles away, out of the mountains

Rave walked slowly, rubbing his neck. Despite Miranda's Time Recovery abilities - and the strain she was putting herself into by keeping him completely healed for so long - the memory of pain stayed. He offered that she should cancel the Time Recovery and just let him be, but she refused stubbornly, and he doubted he will be able to stand up after the fight in the mountain. He also swore that he will hang Enishi from his spine when he meets him again - four level 3 Akuma against him, already wounded and tired!

[Flashback]

The Time Has Come (http://www.esnips.com/doc/175a8c9d-ac02-4aba-aa68-3999d2fc83c9/002.-The-Time-Has-Come)

Enishi left the cliff soon after the Akuma attacked, by Rave paid him no heed. He literally flew up in the air, kicking himself off the cliff wall and then running up the wall, and then once again kicking himself off, flying through the air with a sword aimed at the Akuma with butterfly wings. He collided with the Akuma's body, ramming his sword through its dark shell, then activated his Innocence, causing it to brust right through the Akuma's torso, ripping it apart from the inside, then reformed them into a sword and blocked with his sword and sheathe the Akuma with the metal net, who punched him from behind. The sword rasped against the Akuma's hard skin and Rave, in the single instant before gravity pulled him down, kicked off the butterfly-winged Akuma's ruined chest, finishing the job completely by ripping the barely-held chest apart.

He then somersaulted around and sat on the metal-net's neck, twirled his sword so that the sword's sharp point was aimed at the beast's head, and smashed it in. Despite his strength, though, the hit slid off, and the Akuma utilized its special ability, the net twisting and tying itself to the Exorcist's back. Rave realized that it was impossible to disconnect with it as long as the Akuma was still alive, so he immediately changed the way he thought about the fight. Instead of using his arms to hit the Akuma, he activated his Innocence again, causing the petals to reform and stab into the Akuma's eye. The creature screeched in protest.

But because of Rave's vulnerable position, the other Akuma took advantage of it. The one with the tail who hung back until now impaled Rave's right shoulder. The pain was nearly unbearable, to a human. But to Rave, it was as light as a scratch from an annoying thorn. But he had to change his fighting tactic again, as the Akuma he was glued to began trashing, and the tail, still impaled through his shoulder, began tearing it away. While the pain was nothing, he knew he needed his arm in place.

He reformed Zenryu on the hilt, and dropped it to the ground, releasing it. The sword sunk into the air, releasing the thousand blades from the walls around them. The Akuma stared, wondering what this was about, when the swords suddenly shattered into millions of petals. The Akuma began to laugh, until the petals reformed again. Two chains shout out, catching the tailed Akuma and wrapping around him. The shocked Akuma didn't react in time, so when the chains transformed into swords and slashed and stabbed into him he simply crumbled towards the ground, body parts fluttering before they vanished, the soul purified.

The metal-net expanded his net, thinking to kill the pesky human, just as the wheeled one tried to kick Rave's head off. A firm wall of petals formed around Rave, blocking the kick, but the net impaled his left lung. Gasping and coughing blood, Rave willed the Innocence to attack in full. A giant sword, formed from all the petals, smashed into the netted Akuma, slashing him clean in two. As he fell apart, Rave formed the Innocence into a chain that wrapped around his left arm, stopping him from falling. Bleeding badly, he noticed the two twin Akuma rising from the valley, and gritting his teeth he used his right hand to direct Innocence aroundthe wheeled Akuma's legs. The creature tried to kick him again, only to be pulled down suddenly and ferociously.

It fell and smashed into one of the two climbing Akuma, and Rave descended back into Miranda's Time Recovery, his wounds healing. The Akuma realized how bad their situation was when the Innocence, forming into a multitude of swords, rained on them, piercing them from every angle. Rave turned and nodded to Miranda for her excellent job.

[/The Time Has Come]

Now he noticed another few Exorcists in the distance, running from something he couldn't quite see. Sighing and rolling his eyes at the level of uselessness these people were capable of getting into, he and Miranda slowly moved around for a closer look. When they saw that those were wolves, Rave simply shrugged.

"Ok, that's it, let's get into the town," he said to Miranda.

"Get into town? But-"

"They can take care of themselves. They happen to have superhuman powers on their side."

Miranda nodded, understanding his point - and glad he became more talkative. While he was very sarcastic and often borderline (and even more then borderline) rude, he was right. Mostly.

A short while later, in the town itself, Rave and Miranda noticed several level 1's attacking the Exorcists.

"Worthless... pathetic..." Rave simply sighed. Level 1's were annoying, and in groups very powerful. However, they weren't smart, and focused on the Exorcists as they were... releasing his Innocence, he quietly sneaked enough of it near each level one, slashing them in two and effectively eliminating the lot of them - at least, the ones that were here. He suspected there might be more.

Then he pointed to a building behind the line of fire, a small restaurant. "We should eat," he said, satisfied that nothing would stop him from having a good long launch. Miranda simply shook her head at Rave's ability to hide every action for the sake of someone else behind a different purpose.

She didn't know Rave really only cared about the food.

And maybe Rave didn't know what he cared about, too.

[Shiku]

On the outside of the Town, Sylvania.


"Yaaay! We're here! Let's go eat!" Keisuke shouted out as always.

"Come on...I'll treat you to food AFTER the mission....well...I guess you could get a snack or something..." Hiro said.

"Really? WOOHOO!!!"

Keisuke ran off and he instantly found a place with food, Hiro instantly regretted what he said when he saw Keisuke return with his arms full with food. He had a hotdog, chips, a burger, some pizza and loads of other stuff.

"I said a snack....not a meal for 10 people!" Hiro said sternly but he couldn't help bursting out in laughter.

"burt deez ish a schnack!" Keisuke said with his food filled of food. (But this is a snack!)

"Ok ok, now lets get going...there should be some other exorcists here...."

Hiro and Keisuke walked about the Town hoping to meet some exorcists, when Hiro was busy talking to his brother about where they think the other exorcists may be Keisuke accidentally crashed into someone who apparently had a kimono on.

Why is someone wearing a kimono...?

"Ahhh!! Sorry! I wasn't looking!" Keisuke quickly apologized.

Hiro looked at the fallen girl, he held out a hand for her.

"I apologize for my brother's clumsiness.

[Kenken]

In the town


Takeshi and the akuma fell back due to the strength of their attacks. The akuma quickly flew towards Takeshi, quickly launching punches and kicking towards him. Takeshi jumped to the side, then quickly spun, tryin to get the akuma's back with a Ryukansen, but it was stopped by the akuma's arm. Then it grabbed Tenchuu, lifting Takeshi at the same time and throwing him towards a bulding.

Takeshi landed on the building with his legs, avoiding any possible injury, and then let himself fall to the ground. Akuma ran after him, attempting to throw more attacks towards him. He's a fighter type, huh? Takeshi thought as he waited for the akuma to get near him, but he was sent backwards, hitting a wall.

What?!

"I can control the wind in any way i want, exorcist, but you thought I only specialized in close-combat, didn't you?" Grinning, the akuma moved towards hTakeshi just as he attempted to get back up.

"Yeah, I did so...but now is my turn to strike back!" Takeshi replied as he struck his sword into the ground.

"Seiryu's 100 Dragons Force, Eye of the Storm." Dimensional portals appeared around Takeshi, bringing 100 spiritual dragons. The akuma was within range, and was sent into the sky. Just as the rest of the dragons force came, the akuma summoned level ones to work as shield, stopping Takeshi's attack and dying.

The akuma went out of his shield just as Takeshi jumped and struck him with a Dragon's Breath. The akuma quickly summoned an air shield which only stopped part of the attack, but was either way thrown towards the floor. Takeshi followed it, this time him being slashing at the akuma from every possible angle.

"Argh.." The akuma had no choice to take steps back. Or so it seemed. Quickly avoiding what could have been a fatal wound, the akuma punched Takeshi's stomach, stopping his furious attack for a moment, and then kicked him on the ground. Just as it lifted its leg to delivere the killing blow, Takeshi quickly jumped, and with a Ryushosen, and together with a Dragon's Breath, cut through the leg. Just as he tried to strike the akuma's head with a Ryutsuisen, a group of level ones appeared and tackling him out of the way.

"Heh... interesting, exorcist, you were able to cut through my leg... Listen and listen well!! We'll meet again, and I will kill you." Laughing, the level 3 left, making a level one to grab his leg and go with him, while the rest kept Takeshi busy.

Takeshi made quick work of them, but the level 3 already left. Knowing Kimiko and Sicarii would be okey, Takeshi moved towards the Inn.


Sicarii and Kimiko

Kimiko extended her arms and said: "Volcano!"

Lava and ash erupted from the ground, taking care of the remaining akumas just as Sicarii kicked the wolves, knocking them out. While they were fighting both exorcists moved towards the town, making the they'd have to run shorter after they've beaten their enemies.

Once it was finished, Kimiko and Sicarii moved towards the town just as snows started to fall and cover the ground. By the minute it started to get worse, forcing Kimiko to put up an elemental shield around them as they reached the town. Sicarii saw Takeshi moving thourgh the streets, and both of them quickly catched up to him as he was going inside the Inn.

"Takeshi!" exclaimed Kimiko as she waved, "we're here!"

The snow stop falling and was replaced by cold rain.

[HolyMoon]

INN
After changing their clothes to the new ones, Rexus quickly ordered a mountain of foods from the Inn they were staying. Crescent walked to one of the unoccupied table and sat there waiting for Rexus while looking out of the windows to observe the town.

'A strange wheather phenomenom caused by Innocence, huh?' Crescent was in a deep thought when Rexus came with a cart full loaded with foods. Crescent sweat an anime drop as he saw the amount of food he ordered.

'Some things would never change, huh?'

[Health gained : + 20]
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[Kenken]

"Guys, I'm going to get something to eat and ask around, I won't take long." Sicarii said, leaving Takeshi and Kimiko along, drinking tea.

"So..." Kimiko started to say, but she was interrupted by Takeshi.

"You called me 'cousin' before, why? And who are you really?" Takeshi asked her. Kimiko appeared when tehy were fighting the noahs and the akumas the previous day. It was thanks to her they were able to escape without trouble, and also that they didn't have much difficulty with the weather in this town.

Kimiko sighted. She meant to tell him as soon as possible, but everytime she tried she got nervous and kept her mouth shut. However, he had the right to know, and the sooner the better.

Kimiko looked out the window. She didn't know where or how to start. Kimiko asked him if it was okey if she told him the 'truth' first and then the truth. Takeshi, though confunded, nodded in agreement.

"My parents were Hikaru and Kaoru Himura. My mother was the sister of Auron Himura, your father. We lived in Japan for a few years, but then moved to China for reasons I will explain later. My parents joined the Asian Headquarters as part of the Science Group. While growing up I learned many things, such as art, mathematics and science. My mother also taught me different martial arts, and how to use one of these," said Kimiko refering to her naginata, "and as for the use of the katana... I know most of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu techniques. When I was 13 I was attacked by a group of akuma, but I was saved by a red-haired exorcist, who gave me my innocence. I trained for two years to become an exorcist. Then a few months ago I left the Asian HQ, and came to the Order to find you."

"And the real truth?" Takeshi asked her just as Kimiko drank some tea.

"Everything is the same, except for a few, crucial differents. I'll tell you about our family first." asked Kimiko, and Takeshi nodded. "Your father was the head of the Himura family, one of the noble families in Japan. We were rivals with another, lesser family, the Asakuras. Throughout the last 80 years they sent assasins, but not always, but in the last 30 years they started to send more. Because of this your father and mother left Japan, while you were still in her womb, and you were born at sea. About 2 years later, I was born, becomeing your sister."

"...What? It's impossible... you can't be my ...sister...why didn't my parents tell me anything?!" Takeshi asked loudly.

"Because they didn't want to put us in danger. Not long after I was born, I was sent to Japan via a trusted friend of our father. Then I grew up to believe I was your cousin, until I was 13, when I was told the truth. When I got news about you joining the order, I decided to come and be reunited with you." said Kimiko, with small tears in her eyes.

It was too much for Takeshi. "I...n-need to take fresh air.." he said, getting up and going outside. Kimiko finished her tea and went to the restroom.

[Seff vi Britannia]

Dies shimmered into reality with purple and orange sparks as he stepped out of Road's portal. The town of Sylvania was dull to say the least. Grey buildings rose around Dies as his feet stomped through the snow. He sighed. Kujaku, assuming he hadn't been distracted by food, should be right on top of the exorcists...

But then there was the innocence to deal with.

Dies put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. It was an etheral whistle, one that stunk of death and decay. If any exorcists heard it, it would be obvious that there was a Noah presence nearby. But it also served to summon his akuma to him.

Three akuma shimmered into the air in front of him. Muerte was in the middle, with two level-ones by his sides. Muerte went into a deep bow.

"Lord Dies. How can i be of assisstance?"

"Muerte, i have a job for you. I trust you will be able to carry it out to your usual high standards - well done for back in Stockholm, by the way."

Muerte smiled slightly at the double compliment.

"Thank you, lord Dies."

"A new innocence has been detected in this area. There IS an exorcist presence, and i am currently trying to deal with that. I need YOU to locate this innocence."

Dies glanced at the two level ones. Despite their low ranks, they seemed capable sorts.

"You two will follow Muerte's instructions precisley, lest you want a painful death to befall you. Muerte, report to me in the usual manner."

Muerte vanished into the ground. The two level ones gulped, before scuttling away.

Dies awaited Kujaku's communication. For some reason, whenever the akuma was away, it felt like a part of himself was missing...

*** Kujaku ***
*** In the Inn ***

Kujaku had sidled into the Inn ahead of the exorcists, in his human form, of course. He'd ordered himself some chilled water and had sat at a table in the corner, sipping his drink. He made idle banter with the other patrons, lazily awaiting the arrival of the exorcists.

A while later, no more than three had entered. Well, four, but a male had left after what seemed to be a heated conversation with a girl. Another two were sat in a window seat, eating a mountain of food. Kujaku mentally "pinged" Dies.

"Alright, i have your location. Can you give more details?"

"There are three inside. One left - he went outside. It dosen't like they are expecting anything."

"Did any of them hear my summoning scream?"

"Not sure."

"Alright. Wait a while longer."


((You can "see" Kujaku if you want, but he's in his human form. Feel free to interact. You might have heard Dies' summoning whistle - it has no adverse effects, but it would be instantly recognisable as something created by an akuma or Noah.))

[Lethe]

Sylvania


"Ahhh!! Sorry! I wasn't looking!" Keisuke quickly apologized.

Hiro looked at the fallen girl, he helf out a hand for her.

"I apologize for my brother's clumsiness.”

Shinju smiled and took his hand. “Ah, it’s quite all right. Actually, I wasn’t paying that much attention either…”

Huh… Bumping into the other Exorcists so soon?
She was hoping to take a look around town a bit more before they joined up with them.

But seeing how these two young men didn’t know exactly what she was just yet, she decided to let it play out and have some fun with it.

Being away from the headquarters for long periods of time was starting to have its benefits.

“Shinju!” Serenade ran up to the three of them. “Are you okay?”

She quickly brushed the visible dust and dirt off of her clothes and nodded her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

Serenade smiled when he caught her roguish grin… right before sneezing again.

Shinju reached over and rubbed his back.

“So…” she turned towards the pair of Exorcists. “What brings you two to these parts?”

------------------------------

(OoC - Ahhh... Sorry, I didn't know that we were already in town. *Kitty goes to edit*)

[Undying]

Rave leaned back and burped gently. Lots of food, but he was hungry. Miranda ate a little less, the strain from her constant keeping of Time Recovery on him showing in her pale face and sweat.

"You should take that ability off, Miranda. I'll be fine." While being constantly healed was convenient, he had no desire to carry her later, when she collapsed from exhaustion.

"No, no, I am fine," she replied, finishing her stake.

Rave rolled his eyes. Women.

Outside, he heard another Exorcist fighting what looked like a Level 3, but he had no desire to interfere. Not to mention he still had doubts whether he could handle a level three without severe injuries - which in turn reminded him that Miranda would collapse from further strain.

And speaking of fights... he wondered where had those other Exorcists disappear to. The girl in the kimono and her friend...

[Flashback]

The Time Has Come (http://www.esnips.com/doc/175a8c9d-ac02-4aba-aa68-3999d2fc83c9/002.-The-Time-Has-Come)

Rave's injuries healed, leaving him without pain or trouble breathing. But Miranda's healing ability was limited at best, so he realized he shouldn't strain himself more.

Fat chance of that, he realized as he looked down and saw the angry level 3's come up.

"Shit."

The sword appeared in his hands, and he prepared to launch another attack.

[/The Time Has Come]

((Pika, you may step in at any time in the flashback :)))

Rave shrugged. Most of his ribs were broken, his right eye severely damaged, and he wondered whether he could ever use his right leg properly again. Sighing, he leaned back and watched the place. Some strangely cute kid was drinking water by the window.

[Shiku]

((How did Shinju know we're ecorcists? Hiro changed into...oh wait Keisuke still has his uniform on....xD))


“SoWhat brings you two to these parts?” The girl who apparently was called Shinju said.

"Oh...we just have some bussiness to take care of..." Hiro said.

"Heeyy!! Pretty lady! Have a lollipop! It's my way of saying sorry!" Keisuke handed her a lollipop.

Hiro wacked his fist into Keisuke's head.

"Idiot....not everyone is as greedy as you..."

Shinju took the lollipop from Keisuke and giggled.

"Haha you guys are funny...My name is Shinju, and this is Serenade what are your names?"

"My name's Hiro...And this idiot brother of mine is called Keisuke."

[Seff vi Britannia]

**Muerte**
**Outside Sylvania**

The Akuma leapt out from a tree branch, and the level ones that had been instructed to follow him popped out from the snow.

Muerte sniffed, trying to pick up the scent of the innocence.

"This way."

He gestured to the other akuma, and all three vanished.


**Dies and Kujaku**
**The inn**

Dies teleported to Kujaku, making sure he was cloaked. He landed in a chair beside the akuma. The observers seemed intruiqed by his sudden arrival, but such as the way in this town.

People came and went.

People died.

"Heya."

Kujaku sipped his water, talking through his lips.

"I see."

Dies glanced around the room from underneath his hood. There were several exorcists here, alright. He went up to the bar, ordering a beer. He took the oppurtunity to have another look around, noticing two exorcists that he'd seen back in Tripoli. The ones with the guns. And appetites to match Kujaku's, apparently.

(Rexus and crescent.)

He returned to his seat.

"Would it not be worthwhile to wait for Muerte to gather information?"

Kujaku whispered.

"No. The Black Order will be looking too, it's best to slow them down."

Kujaku nodded, and Dies put his hands in his mouth, whistling. Level one akuma burst from the floor and leapt in through the windows. One shot the barkeeper in the head, and his skull exploded in a shower of blood. Dies and Kujaku remained seated, simply watching as the akuma stormed into the room, attempting to kill everything in sight.

[[Damage given: One per post (mine and yours) to each exorcist in the room as the akuma randomly shoot people. There are about fifteen akuma - you'll have to be careful fighting them given the proximity of innocents. Neither Dies nor Kujaku have entered their dark forms yet.]]

[Kenken]

Kimiko - Inside the Inn, along with Crescent, Rexus, Sicarii, Rave and Dies with Kujaku

Kimiko got out of the restroom just as she met with Crescent and Rexus. After introducing each other, tehy found Sicarii eating in a nearby table, joining him, but soonafter they heard a big commotion, and around 15 akumas appeared, starting to shoot.

Kimiko protected herself from the bullets by using ground pillars she conjured as shield, as the other's attacked the akumas. An akuma appeared behind her, but was swiftly cut down by Kimiko. Then she saw two exorcist, one Miranda and the other, a man with dark blonde hair, who was injured. It seemed that Mirana's Time Record ran out of energy, as she was on the floor, unconcious.

Quickly dodging people who tried to escape the masaccre, Kimiko ran towards them. Jumping over tables and chairs just as she blocked and dodged more people and bullets, Kimiko finally reached them. Taking a look outside, she saw it started to hailed, but not strongly.

"Hey are you okey?" Kimiko asked the man.

"Not really..." said him, trying to get up, but Kimiko hold him down. "I'll heal you."

"Mercury Psynergy, Ply!" as Kimiko said this, small fairies appeared, flying around the exorcist, dropping shining dust on him, healing his injuries. Not long after, the exorcist was standing, completely healed. Then Kimiko turned towards Miranda, and healed her as well. However Kimiko wasn't used to healing so much in such a short time, and after finsihing with Miranda, she couldn't stand up. It didn't matter however, because in exchange for her tiredness and her now inability to keep participating in the fight for some time, Kimiko has brrought two more exorcist into it.


Takeshi - Almost out Sylvania

Takeshi walked towards the forest near the town, still unable to believe what Kimiko had told him. Kimiko was his younger sister, given to his father's sister to protect both themselves and Kimiko. Takeshi refused to believe that his parents wouldn't have told him this, even at the moment of their death. And yet, deep within his heart, Takeshi knew it to be true. This didn't make it any easier to believe it though.

Hiss

Takeshi turned around, to find one of the small party of dragons he conjured earlier on the day. They found a group of akuma travelling deep in the forest. They must be after the innocence! thought Takeshi, following the dragon, who guide him through the forest.

After some time, where the forest got harder to go through, Takeshi decided to follow the dragon by air. Activating Wings of Destiny, Takeshi took off, only to find an akuma. Drawing Tenchuu, Takeshi cut the akuma in half before it could warn any nearby akumas. Then quietly Takeshi moved forwards in the direction the dragon indicated, killing any akumas he found without noticing others.

[Seff vi Britannia]

Dies stood up from his seat in the corner. The akuma had massarced most of the bystanders, although a few exorcists were putting up a decent - if naive, fight.

Kujaku glanced up at him.

"You're so impatient."

Dies grinned, throwing back his hood and switching into his dark form. Kuujaku sighed, doing the same, and leaping from the table to rest on the rafters in the roof. Dies whistled, summoning yet more akuma.

He glanced at the roof, clicking his fingers and causing the top of the building to warp and collapse. Timber fell down, smashing onto the floor of the inn. Dies leapt up, standing on the roof. Kujaku appeared besides him with a poof.

[[All the akuma destroyed by Kimiko have been replaced. One damage per post unless the akuma are killed or the attacks are blocked.]]

[HolyMoon]

Inside the INN.... along with Kimiko, Sicarii, Rave and Dies with Kujaku

He glanced at the roof, clicking his fingers and causing the top of the building to warp and collapse. Timber fell down, smashing onto the floor of the inn. Dies leapt up, standing on the roof. Kujaku appeared besides him with a poof.

Right before the ceilings hit them, Crescent saw it and activated his level 2 Innocence. And then, the timber fell down, smashing anything beneath.

But under the mess was Crescent's Blood Cage covered all the people there and trapped all of the akuma level 1. While the level 1 unable to move, the other exorcist took care of them easily.

Crescent moved to where Kimiko was sitting and gave her a treatment from his Healing ability. While he sent Venus to Miranda to revive her.

"You are so careless. You could die, you know," said Crescent as he helped Kimiko stood up. Meanwhile, Miranda has conscious either and dizzily stood up.

Crescent quickly gazed to the other exorcist, just when they finished the last level 1 left. And he saw Rexus releasing something unseen from his gun.

Rexus, realizing Crescent's gaze toward him, smiled a bussiness smile to the younger boy and the pretty young exorcist girl who stand beside Crescent.

"Hello. I'm Rexus. Hajimemashitte," said the brown haired teen. Crescent glared to him, and his gaze was obvious saying,'This is not the right time....

Sighing, after gathering his power in his gun, Crescent released an enormous tornado. The wind suddenly bursted out of the barrier and the mess caused by the fragments of the building, zooming towards Dies and Kujaku in a high speed.

----------------------
[ Damage caused by the tornado : min : 5, max : 10. Dies and Kujaku couldn't see where the tornado came from (because the lower floor of the Inn was covered by the frgaments) and the tornado was shot in a sudden and in a high speed, so it was a surprise attack. :) ]

[Lethe]

"My name's Hiro... And this idiot brother of mine is called Keisuke."

Again she giggled.

“You shouldn’t be too hard on Keisuke, Hiro, even if he is your brother.”

Licking the lollipop, Shinju continued the conversation with the typical "Where are you from?" and "How’s it like there?"
Serenade, on the other hand, did his best to hang back from the group a little.
He never really was the conversational type – Shinju was the one who often took care of that for him – but he did answer some of the smaller questions directed toward him with either a short answer or a nod out of politeness for their sake.

When the conversation went to the topic of food, Keisuke’s eyes lit up, and that was when Serenade decided to lean his back and let his thoughts drift…

[Flashback]

“Huh…” A young girl quietly sauntered to the edge of the cliff, stopping just beyond the border of the female Exorcist’s ability.

Appearing to be no more than thirteen, both her hair and her black and white kimono shown delicately against the snowy background, but with a second glance one would see that her sapphire blue eyes told of a radically different story.

“You shouldn’t push yourselves too much, Exorcists… Rave-san and Miranda-san, am I correct?” Before either one of them could answer, one of the level three Akuma managed to claw its body above the cliff’s edge and in the midst of an angry roar.

“I’ll take this one,” her companion—a young man who looked roughly around the same age as Rave— abruptly appeared from behind, whispering melodically in the girl’s ears just moments before gliding across the snow and ramming right into the Akuma, pushing it back over and down again with the guy in tow.

The girl sighed out loud and moved in between the Exorcists and the edge of the cliff.
Biting her right thumb, she allowed a single drop of blood to form before moving it to the shield-shaped charm on her choker and dyeing it red.
In the blink of an eye, she now held a four-foot tall shield whose mirror, strangely, did not reflect the light of the morning sun, but rather absorbed it.

At the same moment, her male companion was able to thrust himself back over the edge with a simple flip to rejoin with the girl.

“Overtime starts now,” he muttered beneath his breath. The man crouched and began rubbing each of his now visible silver claws together in anticipation.

-----------------------------

(OoC – Ehhh… Sorry if the post is kinda crappy.

Oh, and by the way, I thought that the twin Akuma were killed by Enishi already, meow meow…

Edit – Mi gawd… Forget “kinda crappy”, this kitty is definitely not a morning person. *Kitty goes to fix*)

[Shiku]

Keisuke's eyes shone as bright as the sun when they started to talk about food.


"My favourite food is the Bento my mom used to make and i like sweet things and pizzas and fast food and i like japanese food and western food and kyoto food etc etc." Keisuke gabbled on and on about the food he liked which seemed to carry on forever.

A vein popped on Hiro's forehead, he crossed his arms and whacked his head onto Keisuke's head AGAIN.

"OWWWW!! What was that fooor! You should respect your elders Hiro!" Keisuke whined

"Stop acting like a 4 year old! You're 2 years older than me and you're being immature plus we shouldn't even be dawdling here.....we still have to investigate." An annoyed Hiro replied.

[Seff vi Britannia]

Dies skipped across the roof, moving across from the large gap in the roof. Tracing the power signatures, he noted that most - no, wait.

Yes, all of the level ones had been dispatched, save for the two a way away with Muerte.

"Kujaku, one of the exorcists has an area-of-effect attack, most of the akumas just disspeared at the same time."

Kujaku nodded, leapintg onto Dies' shoulders. Dies himself gripped his sword; ready to flash-draw it at any time. He felt the vibrations a second before the tornado ripped through what remained of the roof. Dies leapt, backflipping and landing on one of the rafters that still remained.

[[Dies reflex speed >> 22. Your innocence and speed put together = 14. AND, as i stated in the discussion thread, you yourself stated that Crescent can't see them - the lower floor is covered by fragments. :) ]]

Dies balanced himself on one foot, pulling some food out of a pocket plane. He threw this to Kujaku, resting on his shoulders. The akuma swallowed it in one gulp, visibly swelling. The akuma dropped onto the roof, digesting what he'd eaten.

The Noah looked down at the exorcists, giving a mock wave. He conjured sixteen dimensional daggers, two between each finger. Then, grinning, he opened a dimensional door.

He appeared first behind Rexus, hurling the daggers, before opening another door directly above Miranda and throwing some more. He dropped to the ground in the center of the exorcist group, pausing for a second for theatrical effect.

"Blast helix."

He leapt into the air, going into a tight spin as the folds of his cloak whipped around him. He hurled his daggers in every direction, and when they were gone, he clicked his fingers, causing the space below him to rip apart with explosive force. This done, he opened another dimensional door, landing firmly on the rafters again. All of this had happened in no more than a few seconds.

[[Damage: 2 each dagger - there were eight daggers split between all the exorcists (including Miranda but not rave - as i assumed he hadn't identified himself as an exorcist yet. That means, 4 damage each to Rexus, Crescent, Kimiko, and Miranda (who is an NPC so that damage is nulled.) The Negative erasers together deal 20 damage, but your characters could only have been hit by ONE, as they were aimed seperately. Therefore, 10 damage. Dies attack speed >> 20.]]


* Health: 38]
* Speed [47]
- Attack Speed: 20
- Movement Speed:5
- Reaction Speed: 22
* Tactic: [5]
* Attack: [10]
* Manifestation: [20]

[Undying]

((Yeah Rave haven't identified himself yet, he's just a guy in a perfectly regular clothing))

When the Inn collapsed, Rave sprang into action, drawing his sword and slashing away the nearest debris so none fell on him or Miranda, Then he grabbed her and carried her away from the attack, while glancing at the girl that healed him and the other two Exorcists.

"Oh, how sweet! The Noah gives us a little present!" Rave released his Innocence, forming a solid barrier around himself to stop the shock-waves and debris. Then he formed the Innocence into a cloud behind him and put a hand on his waist, grinning. "Yo, Noah! Care for a little game of tag?"

The petals formed into solid mirrors, reflecting Rave in around a hundred different places around Dies. However, the nature of the Noah's attack confused him slightly. Was there some sort of dimensional manipulation in play? In that case, his reflections would give him a few seconds at best.

Or maybe... the petals twisted and reformed into more and more mirrors, and Rave appeared to be all around the Noah, in every direction, moving to every possible direction, even up and down.

He himself moved behind a house so that he had a barrier of matter between himself and the Noah.

Now then, let the Noah come...

[Seff vi Britannia]

Dies raised a puzzled eyebrow as hundreds of images of one of the exorcists appeared around him. The Noah glanced upwards.

And above me, evidently.

"Some kind of illusion... it's not a space manipulation technique, i'd recognise if it was. And i know no exorcist - nay, Noah, who can move at such a speed."

Kujaku, can you identify the technique?

Dies couldn't see his akuma within this attack - all he COULD see was the exorcist, multiplied a hundred times over. Therefore; unless the technique affected multiple targets...

I can't see you - there's some kind of innocence around you.

Dies grinned.

"You should realise; no matter how technical a technique, it can ALWAYS BE BLOWN APARTTT!"

Dies roared, revelling in the battle. He thrust his palms outwards, ripping apart real space with explosive force...


[[Undies - i'm presuming this would disperse your technique though i'm not entirley sure.]]

[Undying]

((It will - my petals aren't so stable in any form except as swords :)))

The mirrors - most of them - shattered into petals, blasting in every direction, and Rave dispersed the remaining mirrors to avoid detection, still hidden behind a building though in plain view of the Noah.

Nice job...

Using the Innocence to bring him to the roof, he formed some of it into a claymore to lean, leaving the rest in the air around the Noah.

"So cross-forehead, you got powers of space and time manipulation?"

He knew that the Noah might use some distortion to disrupt his offensive capabilities - he would be an idiot otherwise - so he prepared a counter.

Let's see how well you work with a sword through your head...

The petals above and around Dies, gently flowing in the wind, would collapse as soon as he moved, forming a sword. And if something distorted Rave's spatial perception, then Dies was in for a nice little bath of petals moving about uncontrollably.

[Seff vi Britannia]

Puppet (http://www.supload.com/listen?s=D8L0PBD7WYM8)


Yes, i can't see the innocence, but i know it's there. Not exactly helpful; but perhaps there is a way to exploit this.

"My name is Dies. And yes, it would appear that i do."

He slung his sword gently over his shoulders - not an offensive gesture by any means, but it made him battle ready.

"Your power is confusing though. Illusions, swords, levitation? Heh. Oh, by the way... Kujaku.."

The akuma nodded, burping loudly. Dies hadn't forgotten about the exorcists below him. The one facing him now seemed competent - extremley so. It would not Dies any good to be attacked from below.

Kujaku grinned, as he spat out... an exact copy of himself. He did this again, and again, multiple times over. Soon, the roof was littered in copies of the little bugger.

"This is my akuma, Kujaku. He's not an offensive-type, though his ability will be certain to ensure this fight remains fair. I doubt you would have it any other way, though."

Kujaku, still smiling, opened his mouth. "By burning the fat that i've eaten, i can activate my technique, Cons-"

"Shut up! You suck at choosing technique names! I'm renaming that as soon as i have time to think about it; imagine if Road got a hold of that name - What was it, Consumption Reproduction? Yeah. It's being named Technique De Uber, for now. Off with you!"

Kujaku pouted, before he and all his clones dropped into the Inn, swarming over the exorcists. Of course, they inflicted only minor scratches and bites, but bogged the exorcists down, ensuring they would not be able to interfere with the upcoming duel.

[[All exorcists in the inn, you must fight the Kujaku clones. They are made of fat. They will deal approximately one damage each post, but seeing as me and Undy aren't playing stats, you shouldn't either. Should you try to attack Dies; one of the Kujaku's will absorb the attack. They die very easily, but there's a lot of them. ^,^]]

Dies turned his attention back to the exorcist, going into a deep bow.

"My apologies."

He grinned, clicking his fingers and stepping through the portal that opened up in front of him. He came out by the exorcist's side, moving his sword in a fluent strike - attempting to slice out the man's internals.

[[Rinne'tenshou's "cut through anything" effect is still in effect, but it's pretty much void as you've got tons of petals. Ie, it would cut through your sword, but the petals would reform practically instantly. As such, this effect has no bearing on your innocence. : D ]]

[Undying]

Rave jumped back just as Dies slashed, raising the claymore to block. The swords collided... but the Noah's blade sliced through Rave's claymore and still scored a scratch on Rave's shirt.

"Well well, Dies, interesting technique. I never knew such a short sword can pierce so well." He grinned evilly, making the offensive remark all the more stinging. "Still, I got to admit fighting you with a sword isn't going to work."

The claymore burst into petals, nearly vanishing through the air as he spread the cloud thinner and thinner.

"My abilities are kind of interesting," he said, risking a quick glance to the courtyard where the others were busy with the clones of that Consumption Reproduction technique. He suspected that if he smashed everything down on them, he will be able to kill them and get help. But he frankly could care less if those incompetent idiots failed to beat a bunch of clones from a technique with such a lame name, so he turned his attention to Dies, the petals around them slowly wafting through the air, occasionally reflecting the light from the sun.

"You see, Dies, you can't see what it is."

Instantly a dozen swords formed a circle around Dies, rotated in a full circle once around him, and plunged forward, aiming to stab him from all directions. Rave, meanwhile, formed a chain that caught him around the waist and flung him away from any immediate returning swings.

He landed on a platform made of Innocence a short distance away.

((The swords move in straight lines and will break apart after the attack is complete))

[Seff vi Britannia]

All i want (http://www.supload.com/listen?s=BXZ89XZ6UFVA)


"You see, Dies, you can't see what it is."

"Oh."

The exorcist began to move, and Dies realized that there was indeed an attack headed his way, albeit invisible. Dies stretched out, opening pocket plans at each of his hands. Dies felt innocence go into these alternate dimensions, but also felt sharp objects pierce his shin and left shoulder. Still; his vital parts were protected.

Whats that? His technique condensed for a moment? I see... otherwise, the power trail is faint, very faint... difficult to see, but i can just sense it. Earlier, i was able to blow part of it apart using an offensive technique... I would surmise that his ability is some form of energy that he can bend to his will; allowing it to take multiple forms. And now, he floats? Very well. To the skies we go.

Dies concentrated his powers, opening small dimensional pockets beneath his feet. It had worked with the water earlier, and it worked with the sky, also. Dies walked across air, moving towards the exorcist.

"It is true, that i can't see your attack. I have no increased powers of perception, like my brothers... but what you forget; is that you cannot..."

Instantly, Dies formed a dimensional dagger in his hand, hurling it towards the exorcist. Similar to the innocence being used again, Dies' daggers were visisble only a blur. But it was simply a distraction.

Dies opened one portal close to the exorcist, stepping out of it, and performing a feitn with his sword before stepping back in, and ripping open a hole in the space above the exorcist. From here, he hurled two more daggers, before moving in front of the exorcist once more. He kept opening holes in space erractically, moving this way and that, leaving faint afterimages as he circled the exorcist. Then, he moved just below him, and a little to the left of his feet.

"See. Me."

He opened his palm, launching a negative eraser. He forced another dimension into real space with devastating, explosive effect.

[Undying]

((Greyon is a space/time manipulating horse in DMC 3, btw. It fits :p))

Greyon Battle (http://www.esnips.com/doc/95c64045-e916-41f0-9d63-a15a92360959/218-Geryon-Battle-1)

"Tsk tsk tsk. I knew Noah were idiots, but this is just hilarious." The Innocence blinked and formed a solid shell around Rave, fully two meters thick, blocking all daggers. When Dies shot his attack, Rave reformed his Innocence into a slide, which, using the powers of gravity, let him dive down easily, avoiding the full blast.

Of course, avoiding a technique of such power entirely was impossible, Rave felt the shockwaves keenly, and was forced to form several Innocence "walls" to jumps off of to land safely on a roof, preventing him from attacking effectively during his opponent's offensive.

But Dies made a crucial mistake. He revealed the full nature of his technique to Rave, who now knew enough to fight effectively against him. Spreading the Innocence again, he formed a sword in his hand, and attached a pair of "wheels" to his feet, much like the Akuma he fought earlier did, allowing him to step in the skies, though he had to keep moving so the effect would remain.

Not a problem. Bursting forward, he glided on the air, the Innocence surrounding them both like a cloud of mist.

"You think you're such a big shot, Dies?" The Innocence was still around them, closing in fast, but Rave didn't give any indication that there was more to his attack than a wild charge. Right before he reached Dies, the wheels dissipated, sending Rave plunging to the ground, but reformed so that he glided below the Noah, than landed on another platform, seemingly immobile.

The trap was set. The cloud of Innocence surrounded them all around, ready to attack. And now it was time to spring the first part of the trap. A dozen swords formed around, above, and below Dies. Only carrying a tiny portion of the full cloud, the swords plunged forward, stabbing forward.

The second part was far more sinister. The swords were slowly growing in number, as new weapons joined in - small daggers, small swords, katanas, and more and more, until Dies was caught in a hailstorm of swords.

Rave, though, wasn't standing anymore. He used the remaining Innocence to get himself down to the ground, and watched coolly as Dies was attacked by repeated slashes, stabs, and swings from every possible direction. About a thousand weapons.

"And now, for the cream of the pie. Or cake. Wait, cake or pie?" Rave's Innocence began to shatter after every attack, reformed to different weapons and different angles.

((The weapons attack you from all directions, and constantly burst and reform))

[Seff vi Britannia]

[[Staying with your Greyon Battle music because i like it. Can you pm me that track?]]


Dies snickered as the exorcist leapt away - hurling a few daggers after him - but to no avail. Dies raised his sword defensivley as Rave rushed towards him, sumersaulting in the air as the exorcist dropped below him.

Wait, his innocence has just concentrated again! Damn, it's hard to fight what i can't see!

Dies stopped in mid-air, swirling Rinne'tenshou around him like a pendulum, the Noah's speed allowing him to keep the twirling motion constant. As the innocence-swords formed on Dies, Rinnetenshou cut them apart. The direct stabbing attack was lost in the schisms ripped by Dies' sword, but the petals continued to float around him, lacerating his skin.

Dies dropped the pocket planes below his feet, falling from the innocence cloud. The petals followed him, continuing to form into swords and other weapons. The Noah freefalled, heading straight towards the ground. Behind him, the petals matched his speed, but couldn't gain on him. Both had reached terminal velocity.

"Now!"

Dies used his sword as a sort of rudder, allowing him to flip over in the air. Opening a hand, he launched a negative eraser into the innocence swarm, dispersing it's front layers. The bak of the cloud pushed forwards, but it had given Dies valuable seconds. He flipped his body over, forming pocket planes below his feet just as he hit the ground. He slowed instantly, and began to move again, straight forwards. Behind him, the cloud of innocence smashed into the ground, ripping apart the earth. Again, valuable seconds, as the innocence reformed into the swarm of blades and followed Dies. As the cloud neared him, Dies opened a door, launching himself into the air.

Sending a power surge down his arm, the Noah hurled his sword into the innocence cloud. It shredded the swords back into their simple petal form. But that wasn't all...

Dies clicked his fingers, and dimensional space ripped itself apart around the sword- buried deep within the innocence cloud. The petals dispersed, and Dies moved again, knowing that it would take seconds for the cloud to reform. He glanced at the exorcist. He was far too busy evading the attack to launch one his own...

Damnit. I can't run forever.

Dies spun, stopping in midair as the cloud surged over him. He brought his palms together, opening pocket planes all around him to try and absorb as much of the innocence as possible. He waited until the cloud was completely around him, before opening a pocket plane and stepping into it.

The innocence whizzed past him, but Dies was suspended in another dimension entirley - unless the exorcists attacks possesed similar attributes to his own, they could not touch him. And in the same way that Dies could not see the innocence, the exorcist could not see Dies. Of course, Dies could not move outside of the dimension either - though it didn't matter. With such a large, omnidirectional, flowing attack present, the only way to strike the exorcist would be to launch an independent attack. Smiling, Dies began to concentrate.

((Hope you didn't mind me Rping the cloud as a sort of "homing effect". Figured that's how it would follow Dies. If it's not cool, tell me and i'll edit. ))

[Undying]

((Nah it's cool. I'll not be using the homing attack anymore though))

Oho, so he's got some nifty abilities there... Rave clicked his fingers and the Innocence rose up, forming beneath him to elevate him above the ground.

"Hm. He's got dimensional manipulation there, that's going to be a headache to deal with," Rave mumbled, surveying the scene. So, the Noah hid. And no doubt, he was going for a massive, serious attack even then. Then there was no other choice but to do something a little different.

He descended quickly, and landed near Miranda, who was surrounded by the fat-clones. "You're coming with me," he said coolly, grabbed Miranda and lifted her with him.


"Use your Time Recover on a ten-meter radius around us. Right... there." He pointed to the place where he last caught a glimpse of the Noah. Miranda didn't understand, but used it anyway.

Dies was pulled out of his dimension, as Miranda's Time Recovery reversed the effects of his ability.

((Used the same principle they used on the Akuma Plant))

Rave smiled. "Hello, Dies!" The Innocence descended on Dies like a cloud, a deadly cloud made of swirling blades.

((Miranda will cancel her ability after the attack and Rave will keep her out of harm's way, and the attack won't follow you this time around - though as soon as the ability is canceled, you descend back into the dimension where you were just now. And I'll PM you that track now.))

[Seff vi Britannia]

Energy surged through Dies' arms as he charged up his attack. It may be something he'd only tested once, but seriously, it was taking a bloody long time...

Where's that exorcist gone too?

"Huh?"

Dies stopped charging for a moment, as Rave returned, bringing another exorcist with him. They were looking straight at Dies. The Noah thought nothing of it, the exorcist may have seen where he was, but not where he was now.

Then Rave sent the innocence towards him, and Dies realized his attack was only halfway charged.

SHIT! WHAT THE HELL!


The attack ploughed into him, and with his arms busy charging up, he had no defence. The innocence washed over him, burning his skin, and leaving his regenrative abilities as his only defence. His skin was torn in several places, at at least one blade bunched through his pelvis. Briefly, Dies caught a brief glimpse of a giant clock above him, before that faded and Dies felt the dimension seal around him once more. His skin stitched itself together, rapidly healing his body. If the woman were to use that ability again...

Damn... it's only 85% charged. It'll have to do.

Dies dropped the pocket plane, standing on the air once again. His arms were letting off a gentle orange heat, and he gestured with his right hand, causing his sword to unpluck itself from the ground and return to him. He snarled at Rave and Miranda, and crackling orange and purple energy whipped around his sword.

"Scheiden Zero."

From Dies' blade burst hundreds of faint lances of energy, glowing a dim purple light. They spread out in a fan behind him, arcing gently towards Rave and Miranda like mortars.

"You see the ability of my blade to cut a hole through real space. This attack allows me to multiply that ability a hundredfold, while at full power. Each of these lances of energy scathes through real space, tearing apart everything they touch."

Behind him, the lances had spread out, still fanning outwards and towards the exorcists. Dies was illuminated in a dark purple light.

"Due to your meddlesome whore's technique, i was only able to charge the ability to eighty-five percent of it's full power. But that will be more than enough. Now then, shall we dance?"

Dies opened a portal upwards, launching himself on top of the Scheiden Zero. He landed on one of the beams, and grinded down it, using it in the same manner he did his pocket planes. He hopped slightly, going into a run. He flicked his sword, and the other eighty-four lances of destruction triwled around him like an indigo bullet. The beam he was running on went into a steep curve, and Dies grinded down this, leaping off the end to launch himself above Rave and Miranda. He pulled back his sword arm, before swinging it forwards. Streaks of indigo light smashed into the exorcists.

[[Scheiden Zero has the same effect as Rinne'tenshou - it will be able to cut through *practically* everything you put in it's path. The beams are under Dies' control, and can be manipulated to his will. When the beams hit their desired target, they can explode like the negative erasers. The beams will gradually fade as the technique expires.]]

[Kenken]

Takeshi - Not far from Muerte, in the forest(?)

With strong winds and small hail, Takeshi and the dragon were forced to continue by food, using the forest as shield from the crazy weather. Moving forwards they finally spotted the 3 akumas who were moving towards the innocence.

There two level 1 akumas, and 1 level 2. Takeshi knew he could not let them get the innocence first. Sending a group of small dragons to look and find the innocence while he took care of the akumas. He sent another dragons back to the town to get reinforcements.

Waiting for them to get to a small field within the forest, Takeshi activated his Innocence level 2, and used his 3rd Roar: "Seiryu's 100 Dragons Force, Blue Cage!" The spiritual dragons formed a cage around the akumas and himself, closing the space.

The akumas stopped, surprised of the cage. One of the level ones moved forward, touching the cage. Instantly a current of spiritual energy ran through the akuma, injuring it heavily. The other two turned around, looking at Takeshi.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go any further." he said, drawing Tenchuu from the ground, as he absorbed energy from his surroundings.

Both level 1s rushed at him, firing bullets as they went, but Takeshi dodged and blocked the bullets with ease, and slashing at the akumas with Tenchuu, killing them without much trouble.

Then, taking a battoujutsu stance, Takeshi stood and waited for the akuma to make its move..

((You can't escape, and you can't either get help from other lvl 1 (or even the lvl 3) akuma thank to the cage. If you touch it, you'll get 1 damage, if you throw yourself or get pushed at it, you'll receive 3. And we're in a small field, that means it isn't full of trees as most part of the forest.))

[Yamamoto]

((lol a bit confused but okay..anyway a bleh post ><))

Sicarii:

Attacking the furry little creatures were annoying, there were too many of these fatty things. Slicing them one by one was fruitless as he could hear sounds of a fight above.

Who in the world could be freaking fighting up there?

Sicarii could see a few petals shimmering in the light, confounding him.

"Bah, this is annoying," he shouted as he gestured the exorcists to go outside.

[HolyMoon]

((Dies-san, Crescent has the ability of Sixth Sense, so seeing anything beyond a wall, etc., isn't a problem for him. But, the post has pass long time ago, so just let it be... hehe :D ))

------------------------------------------

Before they could do anything, the Inn floor colapsed and they all jumped to avoid it. And when the attacks ended, the saw Rave was releasing his Innocence and battling the Noah.

And then something white dropped from the roof and began swarming over the exorcist.

"Blood Cage..," said Crescent as he formed a big cube around them and the akuma. Before the akuma and the clones could do anything anymore, they were trapped inside the barrier and unable to move. The particles of blood zoomed through the clones, which made them disappear in a second and what was left was Kujaku alone.

"Bah, this is annoying," Sicarii shouted as he gestured the exorcists to go outside.

--------------------------
((Well, being inside the barrier, Kujaku was hurted because it is an akuma, and it was unable to move unless Crescent's Blood Cage was removed or destroyed. And all of the clones were gone now... hehe... XD But, oh well, we don't play stats in this fight.... :D ))

EDITED :
All right... Edited, Dies-san... :) Thanks for correcting my faults.. XD

[Seff vi Britannia]

**Kujaku**
((We may not be playing stats, but Dies was still moving too fast for Rexus to see, let alone "plant things too", seriously guys, can we use some freakin' common sense? ))

The akuma ignored Dies' battle, continuing to digest food and create more clones, sending them down into the inn. The fat clones were pretty easily destroyed - being made of, well, fat and all...

Kujaku continued to make them swarm over the exorcists, watching as they were trapped in some sort of peculiar red box and destroyed. Kujaku leapt dowm from the rafters, producing more clones. These landed on top of the blood cage, and quickly devoured it, digesting the attack. As one; they regurgitated the attack, aiming it as blasts of red energy towards the exorcists.

[Kenken]

Kimiko

After getting her energy back, Kimiko got up and saw Sicarii running past her. He was getting outside since the man she healed and the noah were making quite a mess, and was getting dangerous.

Following Sicarii outside, Kimiko saw a small golden dragon flying towards her...

(@holymoon: follows us outside so we can fight there. More space (= ))

[HolyMoon]

The exorcists on the lower floor...

Just before the blast of energy hit them, Crescent shot his Unicorn Wings towards it and successfully broke it into pieces. Running forward, he formed a tornado and blasted it to the akuma and made it flew to the back of the room and slammed to the wall.

Joining the other exorcist, they run to the outside of the building and stopped to see the golden dragon swarmed in the sky.

[Seff vi Britannia]

((Well Kenshin, seeing as your post is complete and utter bullshit, Muerte won't be fighting you, have fun. next time make sure YOU'RE AT LEAST NEAR SOMEONE BEFORE DECIDING WHERE THE **** THEIR CHARACTER IS, THANKS.))
**Muerte**

The akuma sighed nonchalantly as some pesky exorcist showed up. Some kind of barrier effect formed around him the akumas, and one of the stupid level ones walked straight into it. Muerte hadn't recieved instructions to fight any exorcists, and he had no intention of doing so.

Muerte leapt into the ground, synchronizing with the grass and various other bits of organic matter, burying deep below ground. Like a fish in water, he swam away, heading again in his original direction. Buried like a coffin, the akuma would be impossible for the exorcist to see or detect.

**Kujaku**

The fat clones swarmed after the exorcist, going through the open door and swarming over the exorcists. Kujaku looked up, glancing at Dies in the sky, and seeing the attack he had performed.

*Flashback*

The training dimension in the Earl's place wasn't exactly very warm, but it mattered to neither Kujaku or Dies.

"I can't use the Fade technique again, the Earl has made it quite clear that i'll die if i do. So i need an attack, something as strong as Fade but reusable - i've been thinking about it, and i believe i can synthesise an attack by using the energy that flows through my sword. A mass, omnidirectional attack with the power to rip apart real space."

Dies paced around Kujaku, and the akuma nodded.

"Switch into your akuma form. I want to see how you can handle it."

Kujaku did so, and Dies began to concentrate, steam visisbly rising from his body for what seemed like minutes.

"Alright. 50% of maximum capacity. Get ready, Kujaku!"


Dies swung his arm, leaping backwards as lances of energy smashed forwards, shredding apart the room. They concentrated, and began to converge into a single beam, aimed at Kujaku. The akum'as eyes opened as the attack neared, and he activated his teleportation, landing on top of Dies' shoulder. The beams ploughed through the walls, smashing down the entire room, destroying two sides completely. The Earl and Road stood in the corridor with bemused, and slightly afraid expressions upon their faces.

"Dies, i can absorb any attack... but something like that would be fatal at even half the power of what it was..."

*End Flashback*

((So yeah, Scheiden Zero is essentially Dies' strongest technique that's actually usuable (though nowhere near the strength of fade. When it expires, Dies will retreat. One-two more posts each, i would imagine.))

[Lethe]

Still on the Streets of Sylvania


"OWWWW!! What was that fooor! You should respect your elders Hiro!" Keisuke whined

"Stop acting like a 4 year old! You're 2 years older than me and you're being immature plus we shouldn't even be dawdling here.....we still have to investigate." An annoyed Hiro replied.

Shinju, who was still licking the lollipop, cocked her head to the side.

“Ehhh? An investigation? On what? May we come along?” she asked innocently, suddenly interested, though truthfully she was grinning quite widely behind the round candy.

Serenade glanced over at them from under his eyelids already halfway closed.
Maybe he should have taken the medicine later on in the day…

[Flashback]

“Ah…” The girl sighed and turned around to face Rave and Miranda, making it so that both her hands and shield were behind her back.

“Before we begin… Rave-san, you don’t mind the two of us butting in on your little battle, do you?”
By his expression, she simply took it as a “no.”

Both the Akuma with the wheels and the second of the twins tore at the cliff’s side in fury, with chunks of the mountainside crumbling off and landing into the forests below.

“Which one do you want?” Her companion asked nonchalantly.

She glanced over at him, her back still against the cliff. “If I had a choice: neither.”

“Heh…”

Crouching even lower, her companion moved forward to confront the Akuma twin, but after exchanging one or two words, both of them dashed off to the side and away from the small group, back in the direction to where he and the girl had first come from.

Fists versus claws – yeah, he definitely intended to enjoy the fight, and there was absolutely no way anybody else was going to get in his way.

The girl shook her head at the sheer force of his burning aura and turned to face the Akuma before her who had apparently begun laughing hysterically.

She could guess why, though. Looking up at the sky, she began recalling a past battle with an Akuma very much like this one.
“Me, a powerful demon, against you, a filthy little piece of ****? And a girl, no less! How much more do you humans intend on insulting us?!”
But seeing how she was still alive and the Akuma was not is all that was needed to be said.

The wheeled Akuma launched an angled roundhouse kick, intending on breaking the girl into the mountainside…

But the kick never made contact.

Standing directly on top of the Akuma’s leg, the girl had strapped her shield to her back. In her left hand was a single dagger-like weapon whose tip curved down to and past her elbow, and on the dagger’s edge protruded four flat metal spikes, making it look like a flattened out version of a dragon’s tail.

She slowly raised her head to make eye contact Akuma, but her eyes were not cold in any way. Rather, they were soft and gentle – the eyes of the volatile winds.

“Let's play.”

------------------------------

(OoC - Eh, my posts (as crappy as they are) kinda feel out of place considering everything that's currently going on, but okie.

*Kitty gives Seff a cookie*)

[Kenken]

Takeshi - Forest

Takeshi found the level two has escaped, using the ground as a way to escape. However he had a good idea where it went, if it was after the innocence.

Activating Wings of Destiny, Takeshi took off with one of the small dragons flying ahead. The weather this time was with cool breeze, with practically clear skies. The sun started to go down, too.

Not caring if he was found out by akumas, Takeshi flew at full speed, attempting to get to the innocence before the akumas.

Luckly for him, he did not found any akumas on the way, meaning he didn't have to stop. Unfortunately, though, his dragons didn't find the innocence yet, but they could feel it close.

As he got back to the ground, he could feel a strange, yet calm presence, not far from him. He could only a wall of trees, grass and branches in from of him, making it impossible to see what was beyond. Drawing Tenchuu, he cat down the branches as he went deeper.

10 minutes after, Takeshi found himself in a field in the middle of a forest, and on the field, a shrine of the size of a medium house, with pictures of winged beast on the walls and columns that supported the roof. The dragons told him that the innocence was inside.

As he walked deeper, Takeshi saw more pictures in the walls. "It's like they're telling a story," said Takeshi as he walked into the next room.

There he found the innocence, sitting on a pedestal made of stone. Takeshi took it out carefully. Seeing nothing happened, he started to walked out.

"Huhuhu, took ya long enough, exorcist," said a mysterious voice as he came out. Looking up, Takeshi saw the akuma he fought earlier when he got into the town.

"You!" Takeshi started to draw Tenchuu, but the akuma kicked him, making him let go of the innocence. Then with the power of wind, the akuma sent it flying towards the forest.

"I can't let you take the innocence, exorcist. You will die!" said the akuma rushing at Takeshi, who drew Tenchuu.

((At Jio: you can take the innocence, but seeing how you have to take it to Dies, you might find the other exorcists in town, if you don't find them in your way in the forest.))

[Kenken]

"Steelgods of the Last Apocalypse" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=g0LcPqsjBT4)

((youtube video, can't upload it =/))

"I can't let you take the innocence, exorcist. You will die!" said the akuma rushing at Takeshi, who drew Tenchuu.

Using battoujutsu, Takeshi tried to end the fight quickly, but Tenchuu met the akuma's arms, stopping the attack. Then sent a kick towards Takeshi. Seeing the attack, Takeshi evaded it, and took the chance to attack the akuma. "Ryukansen!" Spinning around, Takeshi aimed for the akumas back with Tenchuu.

"What makes you think that'll work?!" The akuma crouched to the ground just as Tenchuu's edge passed above him. Then supporting himself with one leg, the akuma hit Takeshi's chin with the back of his foot, sending him flying. The akuma soon followed Takeshi in the air, who activated Wings of Destiny.

Both Takeshi and the akuma exchanged blows, blocking and evading when it was necessary. They remained in the air until Takeshi, taking advantage of an opening left by the akuma after a powerful kick that missed, sent the akuma clashing to the ground.

Just as Takeshi came down to stab him, the akuma conjured a gust of wind, preventing Takeshi coming any closer. Takeshi was stopped in mid-air, unable to move to the gust. The akuma then sent a blade of focused air. Takeshi saw this, and was forced to use, "Mirror's Reflect!" A sphere formed around Takeshi, reflecting the attack back to the akuma, as well as stopping the wind around Takeshi.

The akuma took a step to the right, dodging the blade. Takeshi came back down, and both him and the akuma took their stance, Takeshi opting for a traditional Kenjutsu stance.

They remained so for a few minutes, looking for an opening. Rain started to fall on them, and a sunset could be seen from the air. A group of birds flew out of a tree, looking for better shelter, breaking the stalemate that has grown.

Takeshi slashed the air with Tenchu, opening a portal from which 100 dragons got out. "3rd Roar, Seryu's 100 Dragons Force!" The akuma rushed, evading the first dragon that got to him, still running towards Takeshi.

Using the wind, he pushed and cut the other dragons, but he was still forced to dodge. Regardless of his efforts, the akuma still took a number of hits, but these did not slow him down. Knowing the dragons he evaded would be back to attack once more, he turned around and finished the remaining ones with a strong wind attack.

This is what Takeshi was waiting for. Making sure the akuma didn't find out, he used the 3rd roar again, and charged in. By the time the akuma turned around, Takeshi was almost at him. The spiritual dragons dealt a direct him, stunning the akuma. Then Takeshi came. He jumped high, and swinging Tenchu, he used a Ryutsuisen, which landed on the akuma's right shoulder. Then Takeshi drove Tenchu down, "1st Roar, Dragon's Breath!!" An energy blast shot from Tenchuu as it drove throught the akuma's armor and body, injuring him heavily, sending him clashing into the walls of the shrine.

Takeshi fall to his knees, tired from the effort this many attacks took. Then he heard rocks moving. Looking up, Takeshi saw the akuma getting out, with a great cut on its chest.

"Exorcist...you'll regret this!!" Raising his hand, the akuma summoned a great sword made of wind. Then grabbed it with his hand charged at Takeshi, faster than before.

Takeshi just had time to stop the blade with Tenchuu, which was so close to his neck he could almost feel it. The akuma took Takeshi's surprise to his advantage by kicking him, and then seny a complex series of blows with his hands, all of then landing of Takeshi's body.

The akuma grabbed Takeshi by the hairs, and threw him to a nearby tree, which broke through the impact. Takeshi tried standing up, but was once again kicked.

"You got no chance, exorcist, I'll kill you, right here, right now, and then I will take the innocence to master noah. And then, why, I shall kill the exorcist there!! Maybe have fun with a few females I saw!!!"

The akuma laughed maniacally, forgetting for a moment Takeshi, who felt his anger rise after hearing these words. He would not let his friends get hurt. And he would never let, as long as there's still breath in his body, his sister Kimiko die.

The akuma took noticed of Takeshi, and taking his sword, slashed Takeshi. Only that he slashed the space where Takeshi was instead of him. Looking around, he found Takeshi behind him, standing, sword in hand, and with golden eyes.

"Oh?" said the akuma, amused. But his amusement did not last long. Takeshi struck him in the open wound with Tenchuu's handle, followed by a series of furious attacks. Takeshi stabbed and slashed and cut, forcing the akuma to step back as he tried to fend off the attacks. His efforts were useless, however. Takeshi's attack were so fast and precise that the akuma realized that, no matter how hard he fought, he could not beat this opponent.

The akuma fall to its knees, unable to fight back. He had depleted all his energy trying to protect his now full-of-wounds body, all for nought. Raising his head, the akuma's eye met Takeshi's golden and bloodlust eyes. And that's the last it saw before having his head cut off and his body torn into pieces by Tenchuu's edge.

Getting to his normal self, Takeshi cleaned Tenchuu and sheathed it. Then went to look for the innocence, only to find it gone.

"Impossible..." said Takeshi, sitting on the ground. He could barely remain standing, let alone run and fight. He simply hoped that the others would find the innocence soon.

[Seff vi Britannia]

Escaping Halo (http://www.supload.com/listen?s=TV8YDVWSKNQK)

The massed blast of Scheiden Zero smashed into Rave, who summoned his petals to form shields. The defence was useless, as the purple beams of energy smashed through them, dispersing the petals. Rave’s skin and clothing was ripped and torn as the beams slashed past him. He called his innocence, forming a chain that hurled him away, launching him upwards where he formed a platform to stand on.

Dies grinned, gesturing with his hands as the beams of light streaked away, reforming around him. They pulsed, moving in and out, vibrating, tense, ready to strike. Dies grinned, and beams shot out in front of him, creating rails for him to grind on. The Noah leapt, gesturing the beams to streak towards Rave as he slid on them, calling the remaining mass of energy to form around him. He barrelled into Rave, stabbing with his sword. The exorcist leapt sideways, dodging the attack and falling onto another cloud of innocence below him. Rave grinned, clenching his fist together. The petals fanned out, surrounding Dies and forming a cloud, bristling with swords. They leapt ad jabbed at the Noah, who grinned again.

The beams of Scheiden Zero spread around him, lancing out in angular shapes, small lines that twisted and turned. Culminating in a large cube of energy, they ripped into the innocence cloud, slicing through it like a hot knife through butter. Dies moved his hand, and the beams lanced upwards, forming a pillar of deathly purple light in the sky.

“Don’t you see… you won’t even be able to scratch my skin now, exorcist.”
Dies spat, fully engaged in the battle now. He was determined not just to defeat but to kill the human who stood before him. Scheiden Zero branched out, forming angular, straight lines once again. The field of energy surrounded both Rave and Miranda, and upon Dies’ command, began to streak towards them. Dies smiled.
“You can’t move for her, dog!”

Rave snarled, hurling himself sideways as the beams flashed past his afterimage. He reappeared in front of Miranda, and it was not her that the attack hit, but him. The beams left gaping holes in his upper chest and shoulders. He spat out blood, grinning bitterly.

“Miranda…”

She nodded, activating her innocence, and performing time reversal around Rave. His wounds healed, the blasts left from the beams gone. Rave stood tall, gathering his innocence around him in a wind of petals, before having it form around Dies.

The Noah had once again drawn the beams of nothing close onto him; and began to move, sending Scheiden Zero in a large fan of singular beams in front of him. Dies leapt from beam to beam as Rave’s innocence jabbed and darted, sparks flying from Die’s feet as he grinded his way towards Rave. Dies closed the gap swiftly, curving the beam so as to avoid a wild swing from Rave’s claymore, and stabbing him through the chest with Rinne’tenshou. Nothing happened, and the exorcist began to move again, unattached to Dies’ sword.

Rave grinned as he closed the petals around Dies, forming the mirror illusion once again. Dies snarled as he saw nothing but several hundred flickering images of Rave, his eyes darting back and forth as he attempted to keep a track of the exorcist.

“Enough of this trickery, fight like a man!”

The beams of light exploded from Dies, shredding through the petals, dispersing them to their normal form. Dies leapt up, following the beams as they arced into the sky. Dies formed another rail to grind on, aiming it straight at Rave. He gathered the remainder of the attack to form upon his sword and body, the result being a spectacular display of purple light. He slid downwards, straight at Rave. Rave ducked under the initial strike, striking down hard at Dies. The Noah moved his blade up, cleaving through the innocence claymore, which reformed in Rave’s hands. Rave ducked low and swung at Dies’ legs, forcing the Noah to jump. This gave Rave enough time to form another blade, one in each hand. He began to spin, holding both blades angled downwards by his sides. The effect was not dissimilar to a corkscrew. Rave moved up and down, forcing Dies to adjust his blade in order to meet the attack. Rinne’tenshou scythed through the blades, but they continuously reformed in Rave’s hands. Then Rave switched his footing, changing direction suddenly. One blade nicked the skin of Dies’ hand before he could adjust his sword; creating a thin trickle of blood. The Noah leapt back, Scheiden Zero forming in front of him like a cape to block Rave’s frenzied thrusting.

“I thought you said I couldn’t cut you!”

The exorcist leapt forwards, rolling underneath the beams of energy before striking upwards at Dies’ chin. Dies leant backwards, gaining potential energy in his sword arm before unleashing it in a downwards strike. The combination of blade and beam shattered the platform the two were stood on, and they began to fall. With both achieving terminal velocity, the whirls and clashes of sword strikes were unmistakeable, as both combatants twirled through midair, trying to get a strike on one another. Dies flinched at Rave’s feint, bringing his sword back just in the nick of time. Forming small pocket planes underneath his feet, Dies hung, suspended in midair.

Forming his innocence below his feet, Rave created a platform to land on. He did so, flinching slightly as he touched the solid object. Above him, Miranda’s innocence whirled, and had quickly nulled the injuries caused by Dies’ sword. But like this, he couldn’t claim a true victory…

“Miranda, shut down your innocence.” Before she could protest, he added; “I need to kill this guy my way, by myself. It’s not a … fair fight like this.” He smiled, and Dies grinned too, both combatants fully immersed in the battle.

As Miranda’s innocence shut down and Rave’s injuries returned, he didn’t flinch, choosing instead to ignore the pain as he formed his petals into a claymore. Dies grinned at him from his upside down perch, the blackish purple beams swinging around him. Below him, Rave’s innocence floated in the air. In the hands of both combatants were swords – deadly weapons of destruction. Dies smiled.

“It was never a fair fight to begin with.”

As Rave leapt up, Dies dropped the dimensional holes, falling to meet him. They clashed halfway, Rave sending his sword around Dies’ to impale his sword arm, making a hole through the limb and into Dies’ stomach. Dies’ sword jabbed into Rave’s leg, and he funnelled the beams straight through the sword. Scheiden Zero blasted through the sword, cutting a clean, gaping hole through Rave’s leg. The beams sent through, Dies swung the blade cruelly, scraping it upwards as he cut a deep gash in Rave’s torso. The Noah smiled, and so did Rave. Dies’ vision began to blur, and Scheiden Zero disappeared into nothingness, leaving only dryly flickering purple sparks. Rave’s innocence, too, began to fade, the exorcist using the last of it to form a soft bed to land on as he fell to the floor. With the last of his strength, Dies formed two planes beneath his feet, allowing him to stay suspended in midair. The regenerative abilities of the Noah kicked in, beginning to seal up the hole in his stomach. With one eye open, Dies sent a quick, sharp message to Kujaku.

“We. Are. Leaving.”

The akuma glanced up as he instructed the fat clones to swarm over the exorcists in the front yard. Flinching, Kujaku appeared behind Dies, grabbing onto him. Dies made a small motion with one hand, the other hanging limply by his side with a blackened hole through it. Kujaku leapt through the portal, dragging Dies with him.

“Man, this is gunna scar…”


((Edn. The fighters should be at the same level of injury, Dies will heal via regeneration and i'm assuming MIranda will heal Rave.))

[Seff vi Britannia]

**Muerte**
**Forest**

Muerte swam through the mud, following the faint trail of innocence. Surfacing, he saw a small shrine in the clearing. The innocence was nearby, and Muerte could feel akuma presence. He slipped into a tree, watching and waiting.

He grinned as he observed the battle between the exorcist and the level three. When the time was right, he removed himself from the tree, grabbing the innocence in a small, portable dimension generator, a gadget that had been given to him by Dies. It opened a tiny portal around the innocence shard, sealing the thing away in a small box that Muerte gripped tightly in his hand. Not wishing to be collateral damage, he skipped away into the forest, melting in with the trees. The small pocket dimension wasn't quite as powerful as Dies' own, and the exorcists would still be able to track it. As such, Muerte had to move fast.

[HolyMoon]

Crescent, Rexus, Kimiko, Sicarii... in the forest, near Muerte...

((sorry I use Kimiko a bit Kenshin-san, hopes you don't mind... :) ))

The exorcist were running through the dense trees that surround them, jumping and dodging to avoid coliding with the trees as they followed the golden dragons to where they thought Takeshi was.

"I sense 'something' is heading towards us," said Crescent as he landed on the thick branch of a tree, while the others were on his sides "I could say it is an akuma."

The others were also halting their movement and stopped to talk.

"Which way is it come from?" asked Kimiko, gazing toward the dense trees in front of her.

"Eleven o'clock."

And they dashed quietly to where Crescent pointed while holding down their reiatsu* (*aura), so they wouldn't be easily tracked by the enemy. Sometime later, Crescent suddenly shooting a big tree in front of them and stopped his running.

The others did the same and starred to the boy and to the tree which was shooted by him, wondering is he mad or something. On the sides of the tree, they could saw a faint red glow trapping the whole tree. It was his Blood Cage that surrounding the trees in a star-shaped barrier.

But the reason of his strange action was quickly answered. A growl was heard from the tree direction.

-------------------------------------

((Jio-san, Muerte was now trapped by Crescent's level 2 Blood Cage. And if we want to play stats, it was 8 damage for being trapped there. Or you could make him escape from the Cage if you have some special abilities. :) ))

[Seff vi Britannia]

"Eurgh, four!"

Muerte counted the enemy numbers swiftly, and made a tactical decision instantly. Four exorcists would be too much for him to handle unless he could choose the fighting ground. Muerte leapt into the ground as a barrier of red-energy formed around the area, swimming deeply into the surface and moving away from the exorcists once more.


"Lord Dies, i have the innocence. Exorcists are in pursuit, can you provide support?"

**Dies and Kujaku**
**Dies' pocket plane**

Dies flinched as his skin continued to stitch itself back together. For now, his regeneration was concentrating on the stomach wound, and the hole in his arm stung like hell. Kujaku hopped around, licking Dies' wounds. The akuma's saliva had slight numbing properties, and it lifted the pain from the scratches on his body.

He grimaced as Muerte sent him a telepathic communication.

"Not right at this second - you'll to have to wait a little longer. I wore myself out, heh."

"Confirmed, Lord Dies. Can Kujaku bring you both directly to me when you're ready?"

"Yes."

"Please tell me before doing so - i shall try to dictate the field of battle."

((We can play stats if you want - i'm not fussed. Muerte will keep running for a while, and you will find it very difficult to attack him. (That basically means you can't until he gets out of the ground. ) Bear in mind that in addition to his chaemeleon abilities, he can control plants AND has a paper-thin body.))

[Kenken]

Kimiko

The akuma in fron of them saw them, and quickly enough hide underground. Kimiko could not let it escape, now that she knew it had the innocence. As she took a few steps, Kimiko uttered a few words.

"Jupiter Psynergy, Reveal." A purple aura grew around Kimiko, who then turned around and started running into one direction. The other 3 quickly followed.

"Reveal allows me to see the truth. That means I can know when something is hidden, or see through an illusion," explained Kimiko to the others. Plus, since I can use the other elements, I can feel something moving through the earth, in this case the akuma."

No one said anything, instead letting Kimiko concentrate on the akuma as she ran through the forest.



Takeshi

Takeshi wasn't completely healed, but good enough to summon 10 dragons as scouts and to walk. As long as he didn't force himself much, he should be okey soon.

Too bad these aren't big enough to ride, thought Takeshi, saddened. If I only were stronger...

[HolyMoon]

Near the Shrine.. still chasing after Muerte...

As they run through the forest lead by Kimiko, they passed a big building which was the Shrine where Takeshi was fighting the level 3 earlier. As he looking sideways to the building, Crescent saw something moving inside it. Asking for the others to keep tracking the akuma, Crescent changed his direction toward the Shrine.

The Enterance of the Shrine...

As Crescent stepped in the second room, he saw Takeshi was walking to the enterance while being supported by his dragons. Seeing this, Crescent quickly moved to his side and started radiacing green light from his hands, healing the injured exorcist. It didn't take long until Takeshi was able to move freely, but some light wounds were still shown on his body.

"I'm sorry I can't do much," Crescent apologized as he bandaging the remaining wounds. After he had done, they moved on to the forest to follow the group.

"They aren't far yet. This way, Takeshi-san," said Crescent after he checked on the others location and pointed to where they should heading.

-------------------------------------
((It won't be long to find Kimiko's group since Crescent only took for about 3 minutes to heal Takeshi's wounds :) I think we can meet them on the next post.))

[Shiku]

“Ehhh? An investigation? On what? May we come along?” she asked innocently, suddenly interested, though truthfully she was grinning quite widely behind the round candy.

"Sure you ca-" Keisuke began, he had taken a liking to Shinju since she was nice.

"I'm sorry.....I don't want to bother you and I don't think that you should help us since we recieved no orders to let you join our investigation." Hiro cut across Keisuke who looked sad that Shinju couldn't join in.

"Awww.....Yeah I guess you have a point Hiro...Sorry Shinju-san!"

Hiro frowned, there was some fighting sounds that had been bothering him for a while.

"Sorry we have to go to, Keisuke let's go!" Hiro said hurriedly, he dragged Keisuke onto the top of a rooftop.

"Seeeeyaaaa Shinju-saaaaaaaaaaaan!!" Keisuke managed to shout as he was dragged, he wriggled loose of Hiro's dragging and started jumping on rooftops next to Hiro.

"Is it Akuma?"

"Yeah...I'm sure it is....This is always the feeling I get when they appear."

The 2 brothers advanced towards the forest.

[Seff vi Britannia]

**Inside Dies' pocket plane**

Dies' skin continued to stitch itself together; his stomach now completely healed. He flinched as the threads of skin and muscle inside his arm twisted in complex spiral patterns, as they intertwined with each other to re-form his tissues.

"I wish this would go faster..."

Dies stood up, grunting. He had never faced such a challenge from a single exorcist; that man was nothing like anybody he'd fought before.

"Eurgh."

The pains of the scratches across his body stung, and he flinched.

"Kujaku, keep tracing Muerte..."

**Muerte**



Muerte moved like a shark through water. Merged with the ground, he was able to stay slightly ahead of the exorcists. Ideally, he would have set up an ambush..

"Bah."

He leapt out of the ground, cathwheeling in the air but still moving. He began to leap backwards, going from tree to tree, before slashing his hands forwards in an X shape. Branches blasted out from trees, and roots punctured through the ground, creating a net of trangled wood between him and the exorcists. He leapt back into the ground instantly, swimming away once more.

[[You can go around the net, but it will take ages. It'll take you one post to pick your way through the net - none of you have any attacks that can cut it down, but you can burn it away - again, that will take one post. ]]

[Seff vi Britannia]

** Muerte**
**A glade**

Muerte swam into the glade, leaping out of the ground. It was quite large, about 60 meters in diameter. It's floor was littered with various twigs and foliage that Muerte could manipulate, and the whole thing was surrounded by a ring of trees. Muerte began to move the plants, making preparations for the exorcists to arrive.

He span, causing the underground roots to follow the rotation of his arms, twisting in tight coils. These would explode with the force of a spring when stepped upon by the exorcists - and the small coils quickly littered the floor.

((Trapped - 5 damage each time you step on one - it's pretty much an uppercut made out of wood.))

Muerte messaged Dies.

"Lord Dies, i'm in position. I have the innocence, and you should hurry sir, if you could. It's going to get hot round here soon."

**Dies and Kujaku**

Dies stared at his arm. It was halfway healed... it would still hurt, but it would be useable. The scratches on his body would take too long to heal, and Kujaku's saliva had numbed it, for a while at least. But Dies needed his arm to fight.

"Stay frosty Muerte. I won't be long."


((You can now attack Muerte. Please leave the roleplaying of his actions to me - and only me, and don't autohit. :) ))

[Kenken]

Kimiko

As the group continued following the akuma, Kimiko wondered where, and most importantly, how Takeshi was. She wouldn't like Takeshi to be seriously injured, as the area in front of the shrine they passed earlier showed an intense fight was fought there.

Crescent volunteered to stay behind and look around the area. Please find him, she thought as she continued to track the akuma. Not long ago she felt it stopped for a while, and then kept moving.

Maybe a trap, thought Kimiko, telling the others of the possibility of a trap. Not far away, they saw a net of tranglet wood in their way. It stretched as far as the forest allowed them to see.

"This'll be troublesome." said Sicarii, looking at the net.

"It'll take some time to clear it, or go around." explained Rexus.

"It'll take less time to destroy." said Kimiko, involving her naginata in flames and slashing the net. The others followed suit, attacking with their innocence. It didn't took more than 10 minutes to destroy it completely, and they continued.

It wasn't long when Kimiko once again felt the akuma got out of the earth again around 100 meters away from them. She also felt small movements in the earth, but exactly why she did not know.

5 minutes after, they found the akuma waiting for them. There were also a great number of uppercuts of wood in the ground. She saw some of them throughout the forest, but never this many in number.

"Careful with those coils, they may be some kind of trap," whispered Kimiko to the others, who activated their innocence and attacked.

Kimiko attacked first. Using Ice to summon ice spikes, she jumped in two of them, gliding above the ground and evading the wood uppercuts as she threw the rest in the direction of the akuma.

((Damage given: 9))


Takeshi and Crescent

Crescent showed Takeshi the way Kimiko, Rexus and Sicarii went. With the help of his dragons, Takeshi was able to catch their scent and follow it.

He was able to move better now thanks to Crescent. But there was no way he could fight another battle like the one he had with the level 3 akuma. If we find an enemy too powerful, we'll have to escape, thought Takeshi. He started to think of ways he could use this terrain to his advantage, both in a fight and to escape as they continued moving towards the group. They weren't far, but they weren't close either.

"It shouldn't take long now," Takeshi said to Crescent.

[Seff vi Britannia]

((There's no such thing as "wood uppercut", lol. Your detection ability fails if you're not even bothering to read my posts to find out what i'm doing...They're tight coils of tree roots. ))

Muerte

Muerte flicked his hand, and the coils of wood exploded from the ground in front of him, the ice shattering as it impacted. With another gesture of his hand; Muerte forced a large root up from the ground, having it smash into the exorcist who'd launched the ice attack. Then he leapt into the ground once again, and began to circle the exorcists like a shark.

Dies and Kujaku

"Eurgh."

Dies gritted his teeth as he bore the pain of his arm winding itself back together.

"You're really stretching yourself, you know that. Even with your wounds healed; you used far too much energy."

Dies glanced at Kujaku, shrugging.

"It dosen't matter. The retrival of the innocence is more important than my person wellbeing."

"Is that so? Then why didn't you use Fade back at the Inn, not a single exorcist would have had a chance of survival."

"Because i'm not suicidal... Damn it, hurry up!"

Dies shook his arm in fustration.

[Kenken]

((Lol, is not my detection abilities that fail, but instead my poor vocabulary :p

And Holy, hope you don't mind me RPing Rexus a bit. If you do, please tell me and I'll edit right away.))

Kimiko, Sicarii and Rexus

Kimiko swang her naginata upwards, lifting a wall of ground to protect her from the large root the akuma moved. Gliding away, Kimiko felt the akuma underground once again.

Kimiko indicated Sicarii and the others roughly where the akuma was. Rexus started firing at the ground as Sicarii used Aquila's Soar on the ground five times. At the same time, Kimiko used the Venus Psynergy spell Quake, causing a small quake underground. This should hold him for a while, increasing our chances of hitting it, Kimiko thought.


Takeshi and Crescent

"We're getting nearer!" Takeshi told Crescent, his dragons telling them it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to get there.

Takeshi had Tenchuu ready to be drawn if necesary, and Crescent was ready too.

[HolyMoon]

((@Kenshin-san : no problem. :) I don't mind at all. thanks for moving my character. :D

and edited : I just read the disccusion thread, sorry, I thought Takeshi was still inside the shrine. Forgive me..))

---------------------------------
Takeshi and Crescent...

Moving as fast as their feet allowed, the two exorcist zoomed through the trees toward Kimiko, Rexus and Sicarii's place. But when they were half way to there, Crescent thought it would be bad if Takeshi kept running in a high speed, so he stopped their runs.

"Takeshi-san, I would meet them first. Please rest for a while," said the boy, and after the older exorcist nodded, he left the place in a blink of an eye. 'I feel bad for leaving Takeshi-san alone, but I think he can take care of himself all right.'

When he finally arrived there, a small quake was shaking the ground, making him abruptly landed on Rexus's side.

"Hello~ partner.. Did you find Takeshi?," smirked Rexus as he kept firing to the ground where he thought Muerte was.

"Yes. And he is all right,"said Crescent, more to Kimiko who was standing close the him. "Not that way, you dumbass. Here." Crescent shot his Unicorn Blast which penetrated deep into the soil, accuratelly stabbed the akuma inside while it was being slowed by Kimiko's earthquake and distracted by Sicarii's Aquila's Soar.

Rexus release his Fireworks and Lost Soul in the area which Crescent pointed. And immediately, the effect of his Fireworks showed, while the Lost Soul would only exploded if they were touched. A great number of explosions broke through the ground, blowing up the soil in a radius of 5 meter which obviously would at least do some damages to the akuma.

[Damage given to Muerte : 12 -> by Crescent's Unicorn Blast]

[Damage given to Muerte : 18 -> by Rexus's Fireworks, and then, another +8 for each Lost Soul in the ground that Muerte touch. :)]

[Crescent's attack speed : 10]

[Rexus's attack speed : 6]

-----------------------------------------
((eh.. I can injured the akuma with that technicue I used earlier, right? :) please tell me if I'm not supposed to. Thanks, Dies-san! :D ))

[Seff vi Britannia]

((You people (holy) deal too much damage... your stats are supposed to represent the max, luzl.))


"They're attacking the ground, urnghh..."

Muerte could feel the energy blasts coming, and was able to dodge them easily enough. But the shaking ground was troublesome - not painful, but troublesome. It made it more difficult for him to get his bearings...

Then bullets started to shoot past him, whizzing through the soil. Muerte's paper-thin body helped him to avoid the attacks, but they still came dangerously close...

"Dies, could really use a hand here...!"

Muerte leapt from the ground, sliding artfully through the dust. He grunted as one of the exorcists sent an explosive device flying, sending a large, feiry wave towards him...

A shadow flickered in front of Muerte, and the explosion from Rexus' fireworks was dissapated, shredded to bits by a blade. One of the exorcists, Crescent, adjusted his aim, firing at the figure, but his bullets were cut in two by the whirl of the Noah's blade. Dies grabbed Muerte, pulling him up.

"The innocence."

"What happened to your ar- oh, yeah."

Muerte pulled out the small cube, and threw it to Dies. The noah caught it, and with a press of a button, released the innocence from it's seal and stabbed the blade straight through it, causing the cracked shards to rain around them.

Dies opened a crackling purple door, the job completed. He ignored the stinging in his arm; and knew that his body would descend into spasms of pain once Kujaku's numbing wore off - he hadn't given himself time to heal properly. But it didn't matter, the job was complete.


**Dies, Muerte, Kujaku, exit.**

[Lethe]

(OoC - Noooos~ Me was going to post this up last night before that ( ^ ) happened, but... Blah. Me am so behind everybody else...)

------------------------------

Still on the Streets of Sylvania


"Seeeeyaaaa Shinju-saaaaaaaaaaaan!!" Keisuke managed to shout as he was dragged.

“See you around, Keisuke-san and Hiro-san! Perhaps we may run into each other again one day… erm, not physically I mean!” Shinju shouted as she saw watched their backs disappear over the rooftops.

She giggled quietly to herself.

Yes, they were going to run into each other again, but probably not until they got to the Asia headquarters.

Until then, it seemed that both she and Serenade had a lot of things to take care of.

“Hey Serenade, what’d you think of—”

She turned around to find her companion slumped to the ground, struggling to sta