Author's Notes: There be plot in here. And Yohm abuse. I hate that ugly fucker. Hated him as soon as I saw him in the opening animation. GYAH. FAT UGLY OLD MAN ON MY SCREEN. GET IT OFF.
Title: Fou-Lu vs. Yohm, Round Three! Ready...FIGHT!
They woke that morning, outside the Sanctum's exit, still curled up together. Mami was still tucked safely against his chest, his arms wrapped around her slender form. Fou-Lu yawned and stretched as Mami sat up. She slid off his lap and stood, still looking half asleep, and he rose as well, trying to stretch and work out the cramps from sleeping propped up against a wide tree trunk.
Somehow, he wasn't surprised when he felt Mami's hands on his shoulders, gently rubbing the stiffness away. He let his eyes drift shut as her hands worked down his back. Somehow, Mami knew exactly where he was stiff and sore, and exactly how to relieve the aches. Letting out a sigh of contentment when her hands finally left his back, he offered her a small, if somewhat shy, smile as she stepped infront of him and hugged him.
"Mornin', Ryong." She clung to him for a moment, just long enough for him to slip his arms around her and return the embrace.
"Good morn to thee as well, Mami." She smiled at him and slipped her hand into his.
As they walked, Mami glanced up at him, biting her lip. The god-emperor simply squeezed her hand gently, hoping that whatever was bothering her was no fault of his. And just as he started to ask what was wrong, Mami spoke up. "I know ye said we be headin' to Chedo, an' yer th'... th' god what founded this Empire, but... What are ye plannin' Ryong? What's gonna happen when we get there?"
He was going to find the fool that had come up with the brilliant idea of trying to kill him, of course. Most likely it was the current emperor who'd dreamed up that piece of foolishness. He was still angry over the mortals breaking their promise, but... He shook his head. "I mean to reclaim mine throne. And of this war...I wilt put an end to it. It hath gone on for too long." He hesitated a moment. "Dost thou...object to this?"
She looked up at him, a somewhat surprised look on her face. "O' course not."
He reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, and froze. Motioning for Mami to be quiet, he strained his senses, scowling as he detected one very unwanted prescence. "Show thineself, Yohm." He snapped, calling his sword to one hand.
The old general emerged from the trees, a company of soldiers following him. "My lord is as perceptive as ever. But I do wonder at your choice of companion. Surely she can't defend herself."
Fou-Lu growled, pushing Mami behind him. "Get thee away from here." She grabbed at his wrist, and he looked over his shoulder at her. "Mami. I canst fend for mineself. Thee cannot. Hide, now. I doth not wish thee to be caught up in this battle." She nodded, let go of his wrist, and ran.
A gesture from Yohm sent a pair of soldiers after her, and Fou-Lu intercepted them effortlessly, dispatched them with the same level of ease. "My lord is quite protective of that girl. What could she possibly mean to a god?" As Yohm spoke, two of those blasted owls of his landed next him.
And as the rest of the soldiers rushed into the trees, Fou-Lu swore and ascended to his hybrid form. But as soon as he went after the first group, one bird blocked his way, and he could hear the other rushing up behind him. Damn. "WON-QU!!" In the back of his mind, he felt the guardian awakening, readying himself for his master's orders. Dodging one owl's fire beams, he nearly collided with the other. A sharp turn to avoid the creature's talons, and he turned in midflight, blasting the two with a powerful ice spell. "Thou needs must return to mine side. Mine companion needs thine protection. Make haste Won-qu. She hath not a way of defending herself."
One owl struck him in midair, knocking him into the ground. He growled, spat out the blood in his mouth, and stood, calling upon his real power. The odd feeling of his body stretching and distorting lasted only a moment, and then the only thing he felt was the power coursing through him. The owl swooping in at him was eliminated with a blast of icy breath, then Fou-Lu took to the sky. The other owl spotted him and screamed in triumph, veering around to dive at him.
Smirking internally, the god-emperor rolled over in time to wrap his arms around the bird as it collided with him. As it raked its talons across his stomach, he let loose another blast of icy breath, freezing the bird. Freeing himself, he let it drop to the ground to land beside the carcass of its companion, both slain.
He dropped out of the sky, back in his hybrid form before he'd even touched the ground. Glaring at the man before him, he stalked forward. Yohm would be taken care of now.
Taking a step back, Yohm watched the approaching dragon nervously. "My lord is fully recovered now, yes?"
"Aye." A single leap put him directly in front of the man, and a single ice spell put an end to Yohm's life.
A terrified scream issued from the trees far behind him, and the dragon turned and ran in that direction. "Mami. Thee MUST be unharmed. Surely Won-qu reached thine side in time?"