A Return on a Dark Night (Kishin)

OOC: Hey, all!!! I’m baaaack!!! *grins* I just couldn’t stand being away from my beloved BA for this long. *becomes emotional* Yeah…anyway… As you can see in the title *looks at title* I’d love for my first fight back to be with Kishin. *waits for Kishin to show up* *looks at watch* *continues to wait for Kishin* Well, while I’m waiting, I’ll go ahead and post my intro!

IC:

Moonlight seeped through the thick layer of dark clouds blanketing the night sky. Shadows dominated the landscape; they danced and swirled as if alive, reveling in the mysteriousness of the night. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, the eerie cries echoing across the rolling hills. Thunder rumbled, heralding the coming of a brutal storm. With leaves in its embrace, the wind rustled steadily, shifting the black cloak of a silhouetted figure standing arrogantly atop one of the hills.

With the butt of her wickedly sharp glaive stuck in the soft grass of the hilltop, the Avarite woman, Rhavyn, stared at the horizon with her brightly glinting yellow eyes. Although she could sense the certainty of the storm about to burst, other things occupied her mind. However, the string of multiple thoughts seemed to slip out of her grasp even as she strung them together. Gritting her teeth in frustration, Rhavyn abandoned thought and set herself to the task of scanning her surroundings.

The landscape of rolling hills stretched on as far as Rhavyn’s keen gaze could see. Nothing broke up the monotonous terrain, no trees, no bushes, not even flowers. It was a continuous sea of green grass clothed in the shadows of the night. Everything had a calmness about it, the soothing calm that grips the land just before a terrible storm.

Her survey of the territory complete, Rhavyn slowly began to loosen her tensed muscles. She even went so far as to emit a small yawn of boredom, still not understanding just why she was here. The answer came abruptly in the form of Rhavyn being jerked onto her knees. She began to feel severe pressure around her neck and glanced down at the smooth, silver manacles encircling her wrists. They were shining with an intense white light, and Rhavyn could barely make out the ancient, black runes that circumnavigated the manacles. Knowing that the same thing was happening to the silver collar around her neck, Rhavyn desperately attempted to appease the one responsible for her predicament.

“Master, why do you do this? I have done nothing!”

If anything, the pressure seemed to intensify as the rage of her master grew. Exactly! You have done nothing! You stand here like a fool, waiting for something to kill to come to you. I want blood to flow! I want corpses next to your taloned feet, killed by your glaive! Satisfy my desire for blood, and I might allow you to do as you please for a time!

Rhavyn grimaced at her master’s tirade, but strangely, found a small amount of comfort in it. She had no one else in the world that spoke to her, due to the fact that most of the people she ever met ended up dead. Taking a deep breath, Rhavyn replied, “Yes, Master. I will search for someone to kill in order to satisfy your appetite. His blood will wet your lips and quench your thirst.”

In response, the pressure around her neck lessened, and Rhavyn was able to use her glaive to pull herself to her feet. Without hesitation, Rhavyn launched herself into the air, skimming just above the hilltops. For quite some time, she rode the air currents until she came upon a small copse of pine trees strangely out of place in the repetitive landscape. Snapping her wings like parachutes, Rhavyn halted and hovered in the air for a moment. Something was waiting inside the copse, and the air suddenly carried the scent of blood. With all her fear buried deep inside her, Rhavyn slowly descended to the ground outside the small copse, balanced her glaive easily in both hands, and entered into the dark interior of the pine trees.

Every where around me all I could see were the corpses of my fallen adversaries. The Kunsangi was glowing with anger vibrating back and forth... it was so angry at what I’ve done, and me. Pulling the blade outwards from it’s protective sheathe, that at the time was protecting me more then it. I took a rag and whipped the blood from it, the Kunsangi began to relax when it shock again slicing my index finger.

“I often wish you never awoke, nobility will get you no where Kunsangi. All you have is me and all I have is you. Now quit this nonsense.” His light voice commanded while his grip tightened on the blade itself showing no fear towards the blade. Knowing he could trust it. And so his trust was rewarded in it’s own way and the vibrating stopped. He told it to simply rest and sled it down in the sheathe once more. Staring at the dead bodies he sighed deeply. They were all much stronger then he thought. Each of them was a skilled assassin. They each had their special tricks and abilities. Not only that they worked together so well. It almost made him feel guilty, but then... it reminded him of the old days with his comrades when they were all still friends. Then he only became depressed, but the depression was overcome by his fatigue. During the battle he took several injuries his body was hurt badly; covered in bruises, cuts, limbs felt limp, and he felt like he could lose conciseness any moment if he didn’t stop the bleeding. Shaking it off he started to leave when he heard something land in the clearing he once was. Peeking through the brush he saw something... some odd creature he’s never seen before. She almost looks like a harpy, but she is different.

OOC: Sorry about the delay, Kishin. Between school and parents, I've had to scrounge for time to write and post this...

IC:

The smell of inevitable rain heavily permeated the night air. The storm would break soon. As Rhavyn slowly and stealthily picked her way through the towering pine trees, thunder rumbled ever closer. Rhavyn could almost make out the form of whomever or whatever she was hunting. Curiosity overtook her, and she carelessly stepped on a twig, breaking it with a very audible snap. Biting back a curse, Rhavyn waited to see what the figure up ahead would do.

“Come on out, whatever you are. I’ve known you were there since you landed.”

This time, Rhavyn made no attempt to hold back the Avarite curse that issued from her lips. Holding her glaive at a slight angle, she stepped forward into the small clearing. The figure she had glimpsed turned out to be a man with a great sword sheathed at his side. What bothered her, though, were the many wounds that slashed their way across the man’s body. Blood seemed to stream steadily from them, and from the evidence of slain bodies all around him, Rhavyn deduced he had just been in some kind of fight. Over what, she didn’t know, but as she looked him up and down one more time, she raised a questioning dark eyebrow and tried not to flinch as her master’s voice filled her head.

“Kill him, Rhavyn! The blood spilling to the ground amplifies my thirst for destruction. You will satisfy that thirst!”

Rhavyn whispered under her breath, in a voice inaudible to the man before her, her lips barely moving. “But, Master, he has only just finished a fight by the look of things. There would not be much challenge in killing someone such as he, even with that brute of a sword strapped at his waist. Surely I can—”

She stopped abruptly as she was picked up and slammed into one of the nearby pine trees. Slowly, she slid to the ground, stunned momentarily, and only just managed to look down at the fading light and runes on her manacles before they vanished completely. Wincing slightly, she stood to her feet and brushed herself off, glancing over in the wounded man’s direction. He was just simply standing there in complete confusion, not knowing exactly what to make of this whole situation. With one small cough, Rhavyn moved closer to him, her glaive’s blade catching what moonlight filtered through the trees. She came within three arm lengths of him before halting.

“I do not know what has happened to you or even who you are, but…” She hesitated for a moment, and the manacles began to glow faintly. She continued on hurriedly. “My master desires your blood, and I have no choice but to give it to him.”

Before either fighter had a chance to move a fraction of an inch towards each other a circular shadow floats down inbetween them. This shadow slowly takes for of a fierce warrior, her hair floats about, eyes glazed in red, while plumed wings furl. The being never becomes anything more than translusent. Slowly words form to her mouth echoing thrice over.

"Blood shall fall for each of thine swords this day. Though the stronger of evils shall win over the lesser, pray thee that thou are strong for lost souls not so unlike mine find no rest....or mercy."

She stares hard at the male fighter.

"Love is lost to you isn't it...?" before he can answer the shadow disperses into a blast of wind carried off with the smell of blood. Three words echo in his mind, "I miss you...."

FERICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMFG! YOUR BACK YOUR BACK YOUR BACK YOUR BACK YOUR BACK!

0.0 I MISSED YOU! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEEN!

ic: (Man I'm to excited to write!)

The slender man pulled the katana from his sheathe with one rapid movement of his right hand. The Blade shined brightly in the small amount of light about them.

ooc: Too excited... start the fight for me! It's Senju-nata he doesn't have any magic, but strange sword technquies.

OOC: *notices Kishin’s two semi-long posts in two other topics* *coughs* Nah, it’s okay. Your excitement is understandable. *grins* Welcome back, Ferice. It certainly has been awhile. *is glad that another great writer is here* Okay, on with my post.

IC:

“My name is Senju-nata.”

Rhavyn blinked in surprise at the warrior’s forwardness. She had not asked him his name, didn’t even want to know what it was, yet he had told her. Rhavyn wondered silently if all male warriors were this way. Even more strange to her was the third presence that had materialized out of thin air between them only moments ago. It had spoken to the both of them, some riddle she couldn’t quite comprehend, and then had spoken a few brief words to the male warrior. Rhavyn didn’t know what connection that third person had to Senju-nata, but the stranger was gone now. Rhavyn pushed her out of her mind, and focused on Senju-nata, his sword gleaming with an eager light as if it had a life of its own.

“My name is Rhavyn.”

The simple reply caught Senju-nata off guard. Rhavyn tried not to smile; he must have thought she would craft some long speech about blood being spilled and how he would never again see the light of day or something to that extent. She was beyond speech now, completely focused on the task at hand. She must succeed lest her master’s wrath fall upon her head.

Without so much as a warning, Rhavyn shot into the foliage of the pine trees, leaving nothing except a few pine needles floating slowly to the ground. Before Senju-nata could even begin to search for her among the branches, Rhavyn plummeted to the ground, glaive flashing in the moonlight. Senju-nata rolled out of the way swiftly, escaping with only a minor slash to his shoulder. His reflexes are good, Rhavyn admitted to herself wryly, even if he is wounded. This may not be as easy as I thought.

OOC: Meh, short, but I’m not entirely sure what Senju-nata can do in the way of retaliation. And I don’t want to make up some attack that he doesn’t do.

"Too slow!" Senju-nata shouted as he drew away from her watching her liquid movements through the strands of his whipping hair. He seemed so exquisite his movements so agile and flowing, each placement of his steps simply led into the next. It was like he could predict her next move, then moving so fast at one moment then coming to nearly a dead stop at the next. Only to dodging her next attack moving away in the same way again. With one arm growing limp he used the other to strike the ground after jumping back from another one of her attacks, this causing an awkward disturbance in the earth and without warning a wave of soil and rock launched it self at her. Being only ten feet high she easily bounded herself over it, but the mistake it self was the jump.

Gotcha! Senju thought as he cranked his body as if he were going to throw a discus. He lowered his eyes for a second. He was getting sick of fighting like this all the time... It was the same thing every time. Jerking his body around during his thoughts the sword slipped from his hand soaring cutting through the air as a mere blur of an image. By the time the Avarite knew what happened her pupils had already shrunk and it was just to late. For the sword had already pierced right through the center of her stomach. Sending droplets of blood out from behind he, and a trail down the front of her. Her wings closed and she fell downward in a world of pain.

"Come Back Kunsangi." The Kunsagi... the legendary grass cutter said that in the hands of a master that it can unleash any sword technique... but one special to the Kunsagi was it's hidden ability. And so the Kunsangi responded to it’s master sliding out of her stomach causing her even more pain before zipping back to Senjunata’s hands.

"Dear me I've caught the harpy in my trap. Foul creature why have you attacked me. Were these your assassins? Or are you one yourself? Trying to claim the life of Senju-nata for glory? Hmpf you glory hogs are all the same, just simplistic pigs. Come Harpy if it's a fight you want, I'll give it." Senju-nata pulled his sword around him giving it a fancy twirl, and throwing it down in his sheathe with nearly unseen movements.

OOC: That’s okay, Kishin. I won’t hold it against you or anything…. *smacks Kishin over the head* Did it work THIS time??? *runs away before Kishin pulls out his war hammer* Hehe…yeah…ignore me.

IC:

Rhavyn grimaced slightly as blood flowed profusely from the wound in her stomach. She did not panic, though; blood could be used as her weapon. Fixing Senju-nata with a level stare, Rhavyn slowly and deliberately plunged her taloned hand into her own wound and pulled it out just as slowly. Blood streamed with a renewed vigor from her wound, and Rhavyn’s hand dripped with it. Carefully, she began to spread it over the blade of her glaive, the red mingling with the silver, creating an eerie effect. With plenty of blood still remaining, Rhavyn shifted her hand slightly. Senju-nata, believing the Avarite meant to fling the blood in his face and so blind him, ducked instinctively. Too late, he realized his mistake as Rhavyn kicked the grainy dirt into his eyes.

Rolling out of the way of Rhavyn’s claws, Senju-nata rubbed at his eyes vigorously, attempting to clear his impaired vision. He never stopped moving, always just managing to avoid Rhavyn’s attacks as if he could sense her every move. The warrior could not keep this up for long, however. As he paused for just a few brief seconds, Rhavyn snarled and leaped toward Senju-nata, now-reddened glaive casting peculiar rays of light over the forest floor. The weapon struck home, and Rhavyn sighed in satisfaction as Senju-nata’s own blood poured from the fresh wound in the small of his back. Senju-nata grimaced, and Rhavyn stepped back, murmuring under her breath. To Senju-nata’s surprise, the wound that Rhavyn had just inflicted sealed up, leaving the barest traces of a scar. He rolled over to stare at the Avarite woman, wariness evident on his face.

“Why did you do that?”

Only silence answered him, but Rhavyn’s yellow eyes glinted with cunning. She held Senju-nata’s gaze firmly while she very delicately flicked one of her still-bloody talons.

Senju-nata’s body suddenly went into convulsions, lashing violently about the pine copse. Rhavyn flicked her talon again, and just as suddenly, the warrior ceased his erratic movements. With a look of smugness on her face, Rhavyn walked over to where Senju-nata lay on the ground. Kneeling beside him, Rhavyn took his chin in her clean talons and tilted his face toward her. Her voice laced with a deadly quiet, Rhavyn answered the warrior’s previous question.

“So that I could control you.”

"Control me? Kunsangi lets teach this wench a lesson!" The Sword started glowing, giving off a bright light. It created a low humming noise in the air. The vibration it was giving off was so quick, and so violent that even Senju had trouble holding on to it. "Control me...” He repeated his voice deepening with anger, his hands tightening on the blade.
“hmpf you have no idea who your dealing with.” Now he was shouting, his knuckles tight around the handle of his blade. The sword filled with Senju's emotions, his rage and his anger, his pain and his desire to live. All this negative energy, all these negative feelings. The blade turned pitch black, blacker then the night sky, darker then any material position. So dark and so full of negative energy that it appeared like an empty space, a void appearance. It was like a hole or gateway to another world, but the still a deadly weapon none the less... The Sword lifted him off the ground rising upward, holding on to it he now stood on his feet, over the kneeling creature. Licking the bottom of his teeth with a good deal of force he tried to calm himself, and muster words.

"My name is Senju-nata, you will never forget it." Pulling the sword over his head with his right hand. He held it poised ready to strike. Senju’s wounds didn't seem to bare any pain on them, his voice was free of hostility, and hate. It was as if the Kunsangi was using the pain as energy. Yes, this was the Dark Strike, taking negative emotions like hate, rage, even pain could be used as energy for a strike.

Suddenly Senju-nata Vanished leaving an image of his body behind. The avarite lifted her finger to bring him down to his knees with a sly smile, but nothing happened. Her eyes widened with shock, when she realized that sword... somehow it managed a counter spell. The thought alone made her frustrated that a lone sword would over come her spell so easily.

She stood uncaring of Senju’s presence lifting her weapon, slamming the bottom against the ground upset. Eyes darted in search for Senju-nata he was no where in sight, it was as if he totally disappeared. His body fazed back into the physical realm and his sword cut down through her side, he attacked quick and mercilessly wasting no time making every attempt to make the quickest work of her. Again and again he struck, his sword dancing like magic moving with the grace, and the skill of a masters should. Several were blocked, but others it was just impossible to do so. Fearlessly she fought back, but never finding time to counter. Her wounds healing as soon as the next one was made. She smiled taking each hit enjoying the pain, feeling the warm substance roll down her sides, her thighs, dripping on her hands, he even found time to strike them too. Senju-nata made it seem almost effortless, each strike felt like steel. The Avarite could feel no difference in his striking or his strength, just a fancy light show.

TING! The echoing sound sent her eyes wide again this time Shock replaced with the reflex of fear, pure fear. Her fists tighten around an empty space. Senju-nata smiled and slashed her once across the face at the exact moment her weapon hit the ground at her feet.

“Feeling tired yet?” He asked his voice symbolizing his absolute fatigue. His arm fell limp he could barely hold it up now, his vision starting to blur. The Lost of blood was getting to him. He staggered back, and shook his head.
“Tired? I’ve never felt better. Quite impressive, but futile.” She smiled lifting her hand over the glaive, summoning it to her hand. It shook a little bit, but it didn’t come. Kicking it with her foot she brought it up to her hand the slightly harder way. A little confused she shook it off as lack of concentration
“Heh... What about now.”
“What are you...” She paused her speech froze still as her arms felt incredibly weak, her eyelids feeling as if they weighed a ton. She tried to draw on her dormant energy, but then she realized there was none! Senju-nata smiled gazing at her with delighted eyes.

“The Dark strikes purpose is to eat away your energy from the inside out, then my energy, from the attack that is simply... fades away." Senju-nata smiled fiendlessly and staggered again, drawing up the sword or at least trying too.

"I'd say the playing field is even now.”

(((There we go Finished edited a few times, but ^^ Eh it’s alright I should of taken my time with it. Sorry for the wait..))

OOC: Ack! I had a post ready, because I had read your unedited version. But now it's completely useless, since you changed stuff. Gotta start from scratch, I guess, but that's okay. Yes, you should be sorry for the wait. :p That's okay, I forgive you!

EDIT: Okay, I've got it now. If I somehow misinterpreted your last post, let me know, because I wasn't entirely sure about the energy thing. I didn't know if that meant I just couldn't use magic or if both Rhavyn and Senju were suddenly really tired. So...I went with the former guess. If I was wrong, sorry. The edit button is always handy.

IC:

Rhavyn muttered a string of curses in every tongue she could think of. The blood mingling had always worked on her tougher opponents. What was so different about this Senju-nata that he could resist her control? He had even somehow prevented her from using the blood connection to sense his movements. Gritting her teeth in exasperation, Rhavyn readied herself for Senju’s attack.

It came without warning. The wretched man moves like a silent cat!

Pivoting on her left foot, Rhavyn whirled around to block Senju’s sword swipe with the haft of her glaive. But even as she did so, Senju’s foot collided with her stomach. Grimacing, Rhavyn shunted the searing pain aside and slashed at Senju-nata’s right shoulder. The man easily brought his sword up to ward off the blow and in the process, created a gash in Rhavyn’s right forearm. Stumbling backward, Rhavyn unfurled her black, feathery wings and shot straight upward. Senju, unable to follow her, stood tensed on the ground, eyes scanning the treetops for any sign of motion.

The leaves rustled overhead to Senju’s left, and he spun to face in that direction, his sword poised and ready to defend himself. But the attack came not from the left but from the right. Rhavyn plummeted out of the foliage, glaive catching the moonlight, and landed right on top of Senju-nata. Her blade managed to slice a considerable chuck out of the top of Senju’s right shoulder, and blood spattered everywhere. Some of it even splashed onto Rhavyn, and she seemed to gain vigor from the spilling of her opponent’s blood.

For a split second, she hit the ground and immediately kicked off again toward Senju, flying with enough force to bowl him over onto his back. Like a fierce lioness, Rhavyn was on top of her prey, talons bared and ready to deliver a critical blow when something within her snapped. She had the sudden feeling that this wasn’t what she was supposed to be doing. Eyes wide with horror and confusion, Rhavyn whispered under her breath.

“I don’t want to kill you.”

The words caught Senju off guard as much as they did Rhavyn’s master.

What! How dare you defy me! I want that man’s blood, Rhavyn! And if you won’t satisfy my desire, you’ll incur my wrath!

Rhavyn immediately shrank backward and off of Senju, whimpering. Senju rose onto his elbows, watching the Avarite curiously. Rhavyn began thrashing wildly about, scattering dried leaves and dirt everywhere. Seemingly against her will, she stood to her feet, glaive gripped tightly in her hands. To Senju’s surprise, there were sparkling tears streaming down the woman’s face, and she was breathing in short, sharp gasps, sobbing. She leaped forward at Senju, appearing to be controlled by some unseen force, and her tears streamed behind her, shimmering in the moonlight. As Senju prepared to meet this onslaught, he caught Rhavyn’s whispered words.

“This isn’t right… I’m so sorry…”

ooc: XP Both of them actually without energy she can't cast.

"To live by the sword is to die by it." Senju muttered his wounds were to deep, and to many to survive at this point. I’ve taken several beatings in his life, but never such as this. He sighed, and lifted the sword it trembled in his hands, his grip so weak he thought he was going to drop it before she got to him. At least I can die with honor. He thought pulling the sword about him. honor... That sole thought alone triggered something magnificent in the Kunsangi. Radiating with light cloaking Senju in it. Blinding him, and her. He held the sword in front of him unable to look away or even blink from it’s glory. Something about it was just hypnotizing, it made him feel calm, at peace, free from this world. His mind cleared of obscurities, and the present danger, he no longer thought of the problem at hand, but the solution. It was like a conscious meditation.

"Kunsangi?" He asked, the sword shined brighter, and brighter, to the point that he could see nothing else.
He felt as if the light was passing right through him, pierces his body with this soothing light. Am I dead? his body looked like a black figure in the light, She could only make out the vague outline.

Then the light dimmed, but the sword still shined. When it dimmed his bleeding wounds were sealed scars, but his lose of blood still made him feel incredibly woozy, Like he was drunk for he surely acted close enough to it. He could barely concentrate now that the light was gone. His mind would jump from time to time, he couldn't remember what happened in-between. One moment he was standing, the next he was staggering. Conscious thought was impossible, but in this moment were death was at his feet, breathing down his back, wrapping it’s long unforgiving fingers around his neck. He never felt more alive, his heart beating rapidly, pumping the low amounts of bloods through his constricting Veins, his mind slowly came too, his vision was never more clearer, his body never more obedient to his command. Maybe he went crazy for a moment, but he now knew his true limits. When death comes, the will to live... The voice in his head telling him to survive. It was the most powerful feeling he’s every experienced.

"Kunsangi! Show here why you are called the grass cutter." Drawing his arm back he swung the sword through the air showing. At first it showed no sign of anything at all. She paused and reached up feeling a sharp pain across her face she was cut, but by what. The wound sealed, and she looked up at Senju between the look of being flabbergasted and confused.

"Kunsangi, it means Grass cutter... When the perfect strike is used it unleashes its hidden power, of course that was the weak version." Senju-nata turned to the right, and swung the sword horizontally, Tree after tree, after tree for miles toppled over and fell, cut in a perfectly straight line.

"Yes the True Strength of the Kunsangi." He spoke loudly, rolling his head towards the woman, lifting the sword in her direction.
“Who are you? Why do you fight me so... Have I done some wrong onto you? A family member? A lover perhaps? I have killed no man that has not willed to kill me. I have slain no woman that had not thought it best to slay me. You are no different from the rest. Foolish warriors trying to gain a title for yourself, taking the life of Senju-nata, The Master swordsman. I’ve never once called myself a master. Fool I never did it for the glory or the popularity, yet that’s what all of you strive for isn’t it... Damn you all.”

Rhavyn stood staring in disbelief at Senju, the sword in his hands shimmering with a faint light. Simply amazing. That sword just wouldn’t stop working wonders. Yet, she felt no desire to take it from him. Her master, on the other hand, had other ideas.

Quick, Rhavyn! Take the man’s blade and slay him with it!

Rhavyn shook her head slightly and mumbled to herself. “No, I don’t want it. I don’t need someone else’s weapon to kill. Besides, it seems like Senju and the Kunsangi have some kind of special bond. I’d hate to destroy that.”

Just she finished her conversation with herself, Senju finished his speech. Rhavyn flinched visibly underneath Senju’s accusations. She opened her mouth to explain herself, but Rhavyn’s master knew what she intended. Her collar and manacles began to glow.

Don’t you dare tell him anything! Do you realize what I can do to you if you tell?!

Her master’s tirade did not deter Rhavyn, however, and she looked Senju straight in the eye as she spoke.

“I am an Avarite, the last of my kind as far as I know. I grew up alone in my parents’ summer home. I’ve always wanted to find others of my species. Then one day, I went down into the lower levels of my home. As I was walking along one of the corridors, I noticed silver writing on the walls that said I could receive power if I completed the ritual described on the wall. Well, I hoped to attain this power in order to help me search for any remnant of my people. What I got instead was…”

She raised her wrists into a shaft of moonlight, where her manacles shimmered with a seemingly menacing light. An aura of evil seemed to radiate from them, and Senju almost took a step backward. Rhavyn continued.

“Now, my life is nothing but servitude and killing. My master, I don’t even know his name or what he is, constantly demands blood. I have to satiate his thirst for it, because if I don’t…”

Without warning, Rhavyn was flung into the side of a thick oak tree. A loud snapping was heard as a bone somewhere in Rhavyn’s body cracked. Groaning, she slid to the forest floor where she dropped into a state of unconsciousness. But just before the blackness took her, her master’s voice raged inside her head.

You fool! Now he knows! But I’m still safe, since you don’t know who I really am.

The voice trailed off into sporadic, maniacal laughter.

"That is no concern of mine puppet. For that is what you are... a puppet. Allowing someone to control you, to die without freedom and honor knowing you fought to the very end... I pity you." Senju-nata lifted the Kunsangi, and rushed in, his feet creating silent steps. Approaching faster he took the blade and leaped into the air, his sword danced creating an angelic rhythm with light. A harmony artistic actions, pleasing to the vision; a song that danced in the eyes and beckoned attention. This angelic danced of the sword came to and end, various long gashes appeared across her body; long ones, short ones, small ones, and deep ones. It made no difference, Senju-nata hit the ground and Ran into drawing nearer with the sword over head. His eyes flared with urge to survive. This was what he pined for, his own self preservation, but he if must... He would fight to the very end and die with the word he was starting to live by... Honor.

"Die puppet!" His voice’s pitch was so noble and so prestigious, it was hard to believe that this man was fighting with such a primal urge.

Rhavyn remained on the ground, not even attempting to fend off the blows from the Kunsangi. Every stab, every slash brought renewed pain to her body and fresh blood flowing from her veins, soaking through her clothes and staining the ground. Rhavyn didn't scream, didn't even whimper, as the Kunsangi tore into her flesh. With a sigh, she rolled onto her side, exposing uninjured tissue to Senju-nata's blade. She was ready to accept death, for it would release her from this life of slavery and torture. Her master's sentiments did not match Rhavyn's.

Foolish girl! Don't think you can escape me so easily! I'm not through with you, yet!

With the words echoing in her mind, Rhavyn was veiled completely in a shadowy mist, concealing her from Senju. The warrior halted his onslaught of sword attacks to watch the spectacle. A breeze swept by and dissipated the mist, revealing the bare, bloodstained ground. Rhavyn was no where in sight. Her master had refused to let her die. Senju stared at the vacant spot for a few moments, puzzled, but he soon sheathed his great sword and leaned againt a nearby tree.

OOC: Yeah, I know, short fight. But I just didn't see this one going anywhere, you know? If you'd like, I can use a different character, and we can continue. I'd like to...*hint, hint*

Senju-nata sighed and hit the ground falling down in a sitting position. Joy over came in, victory, victory, and victory! By not allowing himself to die, by pushing himself to his known limits where his body failed to comply and his will was his only fuel he overcame odds that would not be denied. He was able to force his foe away with a show of force she could not have matched in her current condition. Senju-nata played smart disabling his opponent forcing her to play at his level where he beat her with his experience.

"Now... to sleep." Senju-nata muttered as he pulled the Katana close to his chest. His eyes closed shut on their own too heavy to keep open for even a second longer. Senju’s mind fell into a deep trance of a long deserved sleep. Arms went limp the body went numb and his head rolled to the side against the sword as he snuggled up against the tree. Letting out a slight snore unknowing of the mischief coming closer.

Meikou leaped nimbly through the treetops, her wooden, silverworked flute clenched tightly in her fist. She had heard the elders conversing in hushed tones about some stranger in this part of the forest, and she wanted nothing more than to see him for herself. Grinning, she continued on her way, plotting ways to annoy and harrass the stranger.

A flash of color caught her eye, and Meikou deftly gripped a branch with her hands in order to slow herself. There he was. Some strange man with a huge sword, and he appeared to be asleep. Meikou gulped when she saw the weapon; maybe she should heed her elders' advice and leave strangers alone. But the desire to play soon overcame her hesitation. Spotting some acorns hanging in the trees nearby, Meikou silently moved toward them and plucked them one by one. Taking careful aim, she hurled an acorn at the top of the stanger's head.

Thunk!

With a start, the stanger awoke, grabbing his sword in both of his hands, eyes darting in seemingly every direction at once. The whole scene absolutely amused Meikou, and fits of laughter overtook the young Vulpin. Her giggling intensified, and she fell completely out of the tree right on top of the strange man.

First the rude awakening, then the tiny Vulpin on his back shortly after. All of this was quite aggravating. This day just wasn't Senju's day that was for sure.

"Get off of me you over grown rat." His stern adult voice was enough to throw her off. The creature was somewhat surprised to see him as if she had never seen anything like him before. Completely fascinated by this man, it was consumed by his appearance to the point it could not even speak.

"What? What are you staring at."
No response...
"Damn it, pathetic creature be gone! Scat! Go!"

The Vulpin would not budge. Shout after curse, finally a rock zipped through the air towards the Vulpin but not to meet it's mark. Meikou watched his horrible attempt to scare her away looking at the rock when it smacked against the tree to her left, but her attention was quickly turned back to Senju when he spoke again.

“First you wake me up with no more a word or a greeting. Then you deny me my privacy I require.... I pity you for finding me in such a mood this day.” Senju-nata slammed the sword into the ground without saying another word and walked over to the fox like animal in a simple manner The Vulpin was hesitant and thought about running, but his non threatening manner of walk kept her feet locked on the ground. Kneeling down to make each other at eye level. He gave the creature a non-expression like look at first, but after words gave light smile, gentle and soothing, even made the Vulpin smile back. But the Vulpin’s Smile quickly turned to tears after he striked giving a rather quick club to it’s head with his knuckles the impact leaving a rather large knot on her head.

((Crappy I know =/ really not in the mood to post, but I did anyway.))

“Owie!”

Meikou stumbled back a few steps, rubbing at her face. When her tiny hands came away, red flushed her cheeks and anger burned in her eyes as she stared up at Senju.

“That really hurt, mister! It’s not nice to hit innocent little girls like that!”

Surprise flashed across Senju’s face as well as a hint of indignation. “Innocent?! You hit my head with an acorn! I’d hardly call that innocent!”

Meikou’s eyes began to water, and her bottom lip trembled. “But…I was just having some fun…I didn’t mean anything by it…”

Senju could see that the young Vulpin was about to lose it. Not knowing how to stop it, he awkwardly attempted to soothe Meikou. “Uh…don’t cry, little girl. I’m sorry about punching you in the face. That was uncalled for on my part.”

It was too little, too late.

“WAAAAAAA!!!”

Tears seemed to sprout everywhere from Meikou’s eyes, spattering against Senju-nata. By now, the warrior was rather annoyed by the whole situation, and he stood to his feet, clenching his fists at his sides. He was just about to retrieve his sword and continue on his way when Meikou suddenly moved.

The silver-worked flute she clutched in her small hands became bathed in white light, and Senju was able to dodge the deadly arrow that whistled toward him so that he sustained only a minor wound to his upper left arm. His eyes widened at Meikou who stood with another arrow nocked to her bowstring. She pulled the string taut as she prepared to loose it upon the warrior.

“You’ve made me mad, mister. No one makes me mad in these woods and lives to tell the tale.”

"Oh lord just what I need a child with a temper..." Slightly fatigued and partly asleep Senju did a quick brandish with his sword. Spinning it with his fingers and slamming the back of it against his own shoulder where it's small dance ended. Just the thought of this creature was making him sick. A drama queen in the making he thought. And above all he really couldn't stand the word "drama." That and annoying woman, seems Ironic that these two annoyances would normally go hand in hand.

"Be my guest creature... be warned Senju-nata is not defeated easily. Kunsangi what do you think we should do to this vermin that has disturbed our long deserved rest." The Kunsangi responded on key giving off a small pulse of light with a minor tremble.

"Then you agree..." And when Senju-nata finished that line another Arrow zipped through the air slashed apart by the Kunsangi. The arrow split in two going on either side of him while he ran forward. The Creature was swift and bounded up into the trees ever so gracefully. Just as it landed on a branch it notched another arrow, spun to find Senju, but then froze. He vanished! His scent lingered, but he made no sound. Everything got quiet.

Seldom noises of the forest sung to the notes of Natures Orchestra; Birds tweeted those ever-lasting songs, Crickets beat their wings together and the gentle rustle of leaves suggested that peace has been restored to the Forrest through it’s harmonic melody. But the silence broke with the cutting of air. Whosh... The Kunsangi activated its deadly attack and the blade of air snapped the branch right underneath her. Stunned by the sudden happenings the creature fell towards the ground hands first. Out of left field Senju came back into play again rushing from the shadows to intercept the falling creature. CRACK, the back and blunt region of the blade fell upon the poor creature’s head knocking it into the ground in an accelerated manner, and pinned her there.

Squirming underneath the entrapping hilt of Senju’s weapon, Meikou pounded against the warrior’s large fist with her tiny hands. Her efforts to free herself were in vain, however, so Meikou resorted to annoying the warrior to the point of releasing her.

“Hey! No fair, mister! I’m a whole lot smaller than you are! You don’t play right! Let me go!”

The only effect the tirade seemed to have on Senju was a roll of his eyes and an exasperated sigh. With no other options left to her, Meikou steeled herself for what she was about to do.

“OW!”

Senju stumbled backward and shifted the Kunsangi to his other hand, releasing the female Vulpin and shaking the hand that had previously held the weapon vigorously. Meikou sat up on the ground, grinning triumphantly with a mischievous light in her eyes. She had bitten a rather large chunk out of the samurai’s hand, and a massive amount of blood was pouring out of the wound. Then, the grin was wiped of Meikou’s face and replaced by an expression of utter disgust. Spitting furiously onto the ground, she attempted to rid her mouth of the awful taste of blood and flesh.

“Ewww….that was nasty!”

In a flash, Meikou suddenly vanished up a tree. Senju very audibly sighed in annoyance and set himself to the task of locating the young Vulpin. Meikou, meanwhile, had found some acorns.

Ping! Thunk! Thunk-thunk-thunk!

In quick succession, the acorns ricocheted off the blade of the Kunsangi, Senju’s head, and finally, his back. He whirled around to face the hysterically laughing Meikou, an angry frown coating his face.

“Stop throwing acorns at me, creature!”

Meikou spoke between fits of laughter. “But it’s so…hee-hee-hee….funny…hee-hee…to see you…ha-ha-ha…get hit with…ha-ha…the acorns…HA-HA-HA!!!”

Growling something about annoying females under his breath, Senju leapt up at the tree branch where Meikou rolled with mirth. He raised his blade to slash at the Vulpin, but Meikou was ready for him. In a sudden transformation of moods, Meikou whipped out her bow, which had now shifted back to its original flute form, and played a short melody on it. As the notes soared high above the treetops, vines came from seemingly nowhere and wrapped themselves around Senju-nata, suspending him in mid-air. In the process, the Kunsangi fell from his grasp and landed point-down in the soft soil of the forest floor below. Meikou was rather pleased with herself.

“Hah! Told ya not to mess with me, mister! Looks like you won’t be going anywhere for awhile.”