Hello and welcome to another chapter of "Tao and the Art of Love." Through the time since I've posted this story I've come to realize that I am playing to a very, very specific niche of people, not all of whom leave reviews. However, I've also come to realize that I've taken a special heart to this story. I would like feed back, I would like comments on how I am doing, but all in all I jut want people to have a good time as they read. With that said, I hope you enjoy this next chapter of "Tao and the Art of Love!"
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Blazblue except a decent winning streak as Tao and Ragna
Chapter 2: Vigil...something?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~REBEL 2: START!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From they moment they met, random encounters between Taokaka and Kagimru were very common, Kagimaru would frequently see Taokaka singing her way to Litchi's clinic while Tao would ambush Kagimaru whenever he was out and about in the city. On each occasion Kagimaru would help Tao with her errands for the village while Taokaka would assist Kagimaru with his day job. The job itself was something Taokaka was familiar with, the task of vigilantism. Tao was surprised to learn Kagimaru was a vigilante; however Kagimaru was even more shocked to learn Tao was one as well. It was one of those days where Kagimaru decided to treat Tao to dinner, his wallet screamed vile curses as he promised to pick up the tab.
"You're a vigilante Tao?" Kagimaru asked with interest, a hand cupping his chin in thought. Tao nodded enthusiastically, "yep! Tao is a vigil...something and she's trying to make lots of meow-ney!" "Oh?" Kagimaru asked, "Why do you need a lot of money? You seem pretty happy." Tao frowned and crossed her arms, an adorable pout from the young Kaka warrior, "it's because we can't see the sky anymore." "You can't see the sky?" Kagimaru asked, confusion drenching his tone, "What do you mean?"
Tao was quiet for a moment, her eyes staring miles into the distance as she gave as deep of thought as she could, "the village elder told me that when she was just a kitten, people built a huge thingy over the village and blocked off the sun. She told me that if I made enough money then I could get the sky back, nya..." Tao's response was quiet, a tone of sorrow playing across the Kaka's lips as she spoke. Kagimaru could almost feel her want, her desire to save her village. "Also," Tao said with a small smile, "this black squiggly has a HUGE bounty on his head and because of him Kaka have been disappearing from the village lately. Tao thinks that if Tao catches the black squiggly she'll make enough money for the village and stop the Black Squiggly all at once, nya!" Tao's energy was back, her paw hitting the table with the full force of her enthusiasm behind it. Kagimaru just smiled at Tao, her innocent dreams were almost too much to bear.
"What about mew Heart Guy?" Tao asked, sitting back down and tilting her head in a quizzical expression, "why are you a...vigil-something." Kagimaru chuckled, "vigilante Tao, vigilante." Tao concentrated, her eyes narrowing as she spoke, "vigi-lanta?" Kagimaru could feel the laughter push against his ribs but he kept quiet, "close enough Tao. As for why I'm a vigilante...I just wanted to be one." Tao tilted her head to the side, "meow?"
"I have no real revenge against anyone or any real specific purpose for becoming a vigilante. I just wanted to be it one day and decided I might as well give it a try," Kagimaru said with a shrug, calmly sipping his tea. Tao was silent for a moment, her ears twitching beneath her hood before she spoke, "Tao thinks Heart Guy is lying." Kagimaru coughed, nearly choking on his tea, as he looked up to Tao, her expression innocent yet stubborn in her assumption. Kagimaru smirked as he set his tea down, wiping his mouth with a napkin before he spoke, "I can't put much past you can I?" "Heart Guy's pulse went crazy when he told Tao that," Tao said, leaning forward with narrow eyes, "what is Heart Guy hiding, nya?"
"I don't really know what I'm doing Tao," Kagimaru said honestly, "I don't know what has been happening with my life for so long, one day I just woke up and I was a vigilante with this lock on my neck." To emphasize his point he hooked a finger on his collar, pulling it down to reveal a thin metal choker locked around his neck. Right at his Adams apple was a small key hole, a locking mechanism holding the steel ring shut, "my life was such a blur I didn't know when the sun rose or set, I couldn't even feel my body some days, and I could even spend days unconscious but my body still found a way to move and do things. Recently everything has slowed down and begun to make sense. I've started getting something together and I think I'm happy with it." Kagimaru smiled brightly, "if being a vigilante is what helped me get to this point then I don't see any reason why staying one wouldn't keep me there."
Tao felt her chest thump a bit at Kagimaru's smile but she quickly shook it off, "so Heart-Guy is just doing this because it makes him happy, nya?" Kagimaru nodded, "exactly." Tao was silent, watching as Kagimaru took another sip of his tea. As Kagimaru swallowed his drink Tao spoke, "Heart Guy is weird." Kagimaru took in Tao's pose, her arms crossed in her lap with an adorable expression on her shadowed face. He could only image what she looked like at that moment behind her raven black mask. He grinned, his chest thumping slightly, "that I am Tao, that I am."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Roar of Time~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After that conversation Tao and Kagimaru decided to join forces, their combined efforts effectively doubling their catch rate and their strength as a whole. Between the two there was near instant communication, an ability to bounce one attack off another to create a harmonious combination that easily brought down their prey. Some months into the partnership Tao asked something odd of Kagimaru, something most partners ask at the very beginning of a partnership to check the skills of the other person.
"You want to spar Tao?" Kagimaru asked, idly walking along as he carried a drawstring pack over his back. "Yeah Heart Guy, Tao wants to fight another vigil...eh vigi-lanta to see how strong Tao has gotten, nya!" Kagimaru smirked, while most would be annoyed by Tao's over enthusiasm Kagimaru found it somewhat charming. There was something about the innocence of her heart that made him smile, "alright Tao, but first we have to find a safe place away from-"
"Yay! Heeeere I coooommmmmeeee!" Tao shouted with glee, springing toward Kagimaru with claws outstretched. Kagimaru quickly dodged the set of iron claws, grabbing hold of Taos arm and bringing her around full circle, using the young Kaka's speed against her and tossing her directly for the nearest available wall. Tao was certainly caught by surprise but on pure instinct she spun in the air, landing feet first on the wall and springing off with the speed of lightening.
Kagimaru took the few second intervals to prepare himself, tossing his satchel to the side and pulling his weapon from his belt, a large combat knuckle knife with an oddly shaped blade. The metal was angled sharply, resembling the jagged edge of a key as opposed to the smooth fang of a sword. As Tao drew back for another slash Kagimaru slid into a lower stance, preparing himself for the onslaught about to be wrought. However in a burst of speed Tao vanished, disappearing from the air itself and out of Kagimaru's view. Confusion struck Kagimaru for a moment before he heard a soft voice giggle, "got mew!"
He looked down just as a jagged device sprang from the back of Tao's paws, hitting him square in the chest and sending him flying. "Nyahah! Gotcha Heart Guy!" Tao laughed, her legs tensing as she prepared for another high speed pursuit. With a burst of leg strength Tao flew after Kagimaru, catching up to him in moments and preparing to slash him with her massive metal claws. Just as she swung her paw her claws were met with pure resistance, unbending strength stopping her strike from moving an inch. Kagimaru gave Tao a grin as his knife held off her strike, one arm gripping her sleeve tightly.
Tao could barely comprehend what happened next but she found herself in Kagimaru's grip, his arms holding tight to her sides and crushing her with a force she didn't know the human body could exert. She felt her spine crackle and the world spin erratically as the pair fell from the sky. Suddenly Kagimaru released Tao, letting her stunned form fall with dangerous speed and power toward the ground. Tao felt her instincts kick in, her body tucking into a roll and dissipating the impact as she hit the ground. A few spins and Tao was back on her feet, watching as Kagimaru landed with his combat knife still clutched with white knuckle determination.
Kagimaru suddenly smirked, "I think it's time to pull out the big guns, don't you Tao?" With those words Kagimaru drew a different knuckle knife from his sash, clutching it with his free hand in the opposite direction of the other knife. This knife was just as jagged at the other, but while the first knife was bright silver the second blade was an inky black. Tao smiled, bright teeth gleaming white from the shadow of her hood as her claws extended with a smooth swish, "Tao thinks Heart Guy is right." The two stared at one another, both seeming to focus miles away...waiting...silent...
In a flash the air between them was alight with sparks, Taos claws clashing with Kagimaru's knives. Tao leapt back to give her room for a wild leap but she quickly back flipped out of the way of a black knife aimed for her midsection. A quick guard, a shower of sparks, and Tao leapt away again while Kagimaru plucked his knife from the cold cement.
"Nya ha, nya ha, nya ha!" Kagimaru stared as Tao seemed to become two, her body's actions followed by a perfectly copied shadow. The first image was solid; her flesh and blood moving calmly, while behind her followed an after image, a clone of Tao through appearance and actions. Kagimaru tensed as Tao rushed him, her claws clashing with his knives before she leapt back for another attack. Just as Kagimaru prepared to put pressure on Tao her after image attacked, the shadow landing a powerful punch on Kagimaru's chin and sending him into the sky. Tao followed up the attack, punches and kicks sending Kagimaru into the sky until she landed a powerful ax kick on his stomach, her shadow following the action causing the pain to double.
Kagimaru fell toward the ground, his body bent in half from Tao's powerful strikes. It was purely by luck that Kagimaru's hand happened to brush a street lamp, his grip tightening and allowed him to break his fall in the form of a flipping roll. Just as Kagimaru landed on his feet Tao was once again in his face, her clawless paw slamming into his gut and attempting to send him skyward. However, this time Kagimaru caught the paw, holding fast to the cloth material as he spun away from the springing claws. With a graceful roll Kagimaru came up behind Taokaka, his right hand flinging his knife into a wall as it rushed for the back of Tao's skull.
With the turn of her head Tao's face was covered by Kagimaru's palm, his fingers seeming to glow a radiant emerald as he whispered, "Sensory Unlock: Overload." Without warning the world became much more vivid. The sky seemed to open up and the white light of the sun burnt Taokaka's eyes to cinders. She could feel every stray strand of fabric on her person, the breeze on her bare skin, even cold steel of her blades as the rested on the end of her tense fingers. Her nose could smell everything, good and bad, from miles away. Her tongue could taste the air, her ears could hear the sky, it was all too much. Tao gripped her head tightly, her mind pounding in indescribable pain. Tao felt her claws spring open on their own accord, her instincts telling her to slash and fight, to never stop moving despite the overwhelming sensations.
Tao sliced and she felt, heard, smelt steel clashing with steel. The hot oiled spark of blade on blade filled her nose as she spun below the impact, her foot hitting a wall of something that stood fast momentarily but just as easily gave way to her strength. That was the last thing Tao remembered before the world became too loud, too bright, too smelly...she passed out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Roar of Time~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Tao...Tao..."
"Nyah...those meat buns look so tasty...Tao wants some..."
"Hey Tao, I've got some food for you."
"Food!" in a flash Tao was on her feet, her sleep broken by the mention of sustenance. After a moments scan, Tao recognized the area as the back alley where she and Kagimaru had indulged in their duel. Tao briefly wondered why they were still in the same ally; the walls and ground were scarred in the aftermath of their combined attacks. However that thought was instantly put on hold, "so where's the food?" Kagimaru laughed, Tao turning her attention to the man who was holding two bags practically brimming with steams meat buns, one a massive satchel of food while another was a small sack. "Here you go Tao," Kagimaru said as he handed Tao the gigantic bag, "I thought you might be hungry after our little spar."
Tao completely ignored Kagimaru, her mouth and mind too focused on her meal to pay attention to anything else. Kagimaru on the other hand ate slowly, a smile on his lips as he watched Tao devour food with the speed and hunger of a demon. He knew getting her the extra large order was a good idea. By the time he had finished his small bag Tao had annihilated her food, greedily licking her lips and paws attempting to extract every last bit of flavor. "Taste good Tao?" Kagimaru asked, licking his own lips in reaction. Tao nodded, "yep, Heart Guy knows where to get a good meat bun nya!"
"Aw thanks Tao," Kagimaru chuckled, "so was our little spar what you were looking for?" Tao nodded, licking the last few bits of meat bun from her cheek, "Tao likes sparing with Heart Guy, Tao is just sad she lost nya..." "Actually," Kagimaru interrupted, "you got me with a pretty hard kick and knocked me out for a bit. I'd say the fight was a draw." "Nya?" Tao asked, her wide grin threatening to split her face in half, "really? So does that mean Tao is strong?" Kagimaru grinned, "Damn straight Tao is strong. Tao is the strongest girl I know."
Tao could feel heat pooling in her cheeks, her heart began to beat just a bit faster as she unconsciously giggled. A feeling of odd anxiety welled up in her chest which she tried to alleviate by lightly shadow boxing, "At this rate Tao is gonna be the best vigi-lanta ever! Thank mew for the help Heart Guy!" Kagimaru grinned, lightly patting the top of Tao's head, "my pleasure Tao. This spar was fun so if you ever want to spar again just ask alright?" Tao nodded, her anxious emotion welling up faster and faster as she felt Kagimaru's fingers dance along her skull. The slow spark in her chest became a quiet burn, her paws fidgeting with one another almost constantly.
Suddenly Tao jumped up to her feet, brightly smiling as she offered her paw to Kagimaru, "C'mon Heart Guy! Tao feels full of energy so let's go see if we can find any bad guys today, nya!" Kagimaru happily took the offered paw, his chest rapidly warming as he stood beside Tao, "alright Tao, let's go."
~~~~~~~~~END~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well what do you think? I know it's short but this seemed to be about the right time to end this chapter. In the next one we have an interesting diagnosis and complication, please stay tuned and I hope you enjoyed this chapter of "Tao and the Art of Love"! Remember to review!