The battle of words and fists

"What?" Crimson blossom asked with surprise. She and Gilmyne were alone in her war room. She didn't know why the demon referred to her as 'dear sister' and didn't understand why she claimed it to be 'Checkmate'.

Just then, an awful thought crossed her mind. She pointed at the flame and spoke with an air of authority "You work for that Lunar, Rin, don't you?"

The demon let out a soft laugh that was strangely familiar before raising a hand in a familiar way "I'm shocked you refer to your rival in such a way, regardless; No, I don't come from her."

The Gilmyne paused for a moment before continuing "I AM her."

The flame twisted in strange ways and died down, as they did it looked like human flesh simply grew from the flame. On top of those appeared the clothes that Rin had worn since her decent into Malfeas. The Head twisted, features of a face appearing on it. The area around the mouth was burned but before Crimson Blossom could get a good look at it, a face mask appeared that hid the burn from sight.

Now standing before Crimson Blossom was her rival; Rin Tohsaka.

A few minutes earlier, during the battle. The air was filled with conflict. Rin decided to take a safe seeming path. She already wore the guise of the demon she had hunted only days ago. The ritual to add a demonic form to shapeshifting required you eat a demon's metaphorical heart. Unfortunately her original target had been killed before she hunted it so she had been forced to pick another quickly. That choice eventually decided on the Gilmyne, Rin sought to eat it yet it still burned her face.

Now she travelled a pass that would lead her safely to Sakura's base. Her army would likely lose, in terms of numbers she was massively outnumbered. She had ordered the demons she had contracted to keep themselves out of the battle so her army actually had very little leadership. They simply followed the main orders they had been given.

Rin didn't actually care that much what happened to the armies but less would die if she could get Sakura to give up fast. It was only a matter of convincing her that it was the right thing to do. She would also have to convince her to leave Malfeas, for her own mental well being. From what her spies had said, she had even changed her name to distance herself from Rin. Rin would need to help her.

In the present time, Rin looked Sakura in the eyes. Now just to see how she responded.

"You...!" Sakura's voice rose to something like rage and pulled out a spear from her shadow. The spear shot toward Rin who tried to step out of the way but still got cut. The cut opened up on her shoulder and a flash of pain shot through her as she realised that Sakura was more skilled than she was.

"Please Sakura-" Rin was cut off by another stab, she let essence flow through her body so she could sidestep but Sakura was still mad "That. Is. Not. My Name." With each word the spear shot forward, Rin continued to sidestep using essense to even the score but in two cases she underestimated Sakura and got another two small cuts that burned with pain, one on her thigh and one around her belly.

Rin saw an opening, Sakura's flurry had left her open. Rin stepped in and channeled Essence into her muscles, throwing out a fist that connected and threw Sakura's body back slightly.

Outside the building, Rin's demons watched the battle unfold.

Finally Blutspucke spoke, looking down at the carnage "I am going to join in."

Rubinrot turned slightly to look at the blood ape and spoke "That isn't what our master told us to do."

The blood ape laughed suddenly "And what does our master care for our needs? I am a creature of battle, of conflict. And yet she doesn't allow me to join her greatest battle yet? Does she just not understand us?"

Silber looked at him too and quietly spoke "I think you were the only one she doesn't understand in this case. She allows Rubinrot to carry her and me to seek things out. But she refuses to send you into battle."

Rubinrot tilted her head and blinked "It is because she doesn't have confidence in you living, she doesn't want to waste a servant."

Blutspucke refused to look at either of them and stared at the battle before saying "Maybe this will prove my strength to her." he took a step towards the end of the roof they sat on and leaped from it towards the battle, laughing all the way

Back inside Crimson blossom's command room, the girl herself stood up straight. She spat out a line of blood but thanks to the martial arts training she had taken she had a charm "Five-Dragon Fortitude" that protected her from the worst of the blow.

She looked imperiously at Rin and spoke "I am Crimson blossom, choosen of Kimbery. I am a wave that will wash away the world. You and I are not related in any way that matters, that connection was washed away by the sea."

Rin looked at her with worry, was she only now realising the trouble she was now in. Her eyes looked moist for some reason but that would disrupt her vision. Crimson blossom charged forward for a flurry of spear strikes. They became a tsunami that washed away everything she hated.

She pushed Rin back to the wall, from where she could not evade, and struck. Rin fell.

Rin had fallen before the attack had struck, she dropped low and kicked out in retaliation. They hurt but were not about to knock her over. However in the moment she staggered. Rin leaped forwards. Her arms encircled Sakura's neck.

Sakura's neck? Crimson blossom focused again, was Rin going to try and choke her out or to strangle her?

"You idiot!" Rin yelled at her from where she held Sakura "You fool! Why? Why?"

Crimson blossom didn't understand what Rin was going on about but she felt something move in the pit of her heart.

"If I saved you once, if I prevented you from falling into shadow before, what made you think I wouldn't help a second time?"

Something shuddered within Sakura's heart.

End of chapter.

I think the only real think to say is it feels like Rin changes tactics really quickly in this fight, I'm just saying the feelings were under the surface and only now coming up.