Chapter Nineteen: The Four Winds
SHATTER! The glass-like shards disintegrate over the ground as a large fist cracks into the surface. The fist pulls back. The man stands, 8 feet tall, broad and brimming in muscle. The hand pulls up, golden brown leather finger-less gloves embedded with spikes along the knuckles. Large, long fingers uncurl, reveal razor sharp claws.
A golden open kimono top with black trim stops barely past his elbows. Silver-gray fur peaks out the sleeves on his arms, and shows a hairy chest in the open top. His rugged, square jawed face covered in a dark stubble, hangs white hair to his shoulders. A black leather eye patch covers his right eye, his left crimson eye slits like that of a cat's. Two large feline ears with silver tuft fur poking out the inside twitch atop his head. A black sash blends in with black hakama trousers, with golden straw wrap sandals over his white foot covers.
A single sniff, he follows the sent, looking over to find Neo standing by a crouching Carmine atop the inn's roof. The boy releases a stressed breath. "Thanks, Neo." He stands and trains his gun on the man. "Who are you?"
The man sniffs and huffs. "Who am I? Who are you? Two little kids dodged me? I can hardly believe it." He smiles jovially. "Makes this interesting."
Neo's eyes narrow, seeing the man almost imperceptibly lower himself for a jump. She activates her semblance. A small flash catches Carmine's eye to his gun. Along the vertical double barrel, the words 'he's going to jump' appear.
"Hm." He utters low for her to hear, then he speaks up. "That still doesn't explain why you're here. Attacking us!"
Carmine gasps as the man's light crouch twitches to start the jump. The boy acts first, firing a double shot from Heulin Noon! The man's one eye narrows as he then dodges left. The ground he was at bursts from the shot. Moving in a sprint to the side, he runs to the next building.
The redhead keeps the gun trained, firing two regular shots, kiting the man to a corner. However, the hulking man mixes a smirk with a snarl, running to the building corner and leaping. He uses his claws to dig in and rapidly ascend the building in only a single second, leaping up at the kids.
Both in shock, Carmine raises his armored sleeve to block, Neo raising her sheathed sword to protect. However, the large fists palm in, so large one hand completely closes over the sleeve, and the other closes around both Neo's weapon and her neck.
One kid in each hand, he slams both into the roof of the inn, HARD. With a smirk, he raises both children up off the ground. Both painfully struggle, getting nowhere. "Well, that lasted longer than I thought-"
Carmine's semblance activates, flickering away and recalling himself back to the broken street below. The man's confusion takes his attention, as Neo draws her sword from the fold sheath, leaving the sheath in the man's hand and stabbing at his arm.
"Y-OW!" His hand releases, Neo dropping and sheathing her sword.
From the street, Carmine aims his gun up, firing a double shot then reloading. The explosive burst dust shell nails the man in the side! The blast knocks the hulk off balance, Neo taking advantage and striking the load bearing leg. As the man falls, Neo sprints and leaps from the building back to the boy.
"You okay?" Carmine asks as she lands. At her nod, he grimaces at his metal sleeve. "Well, not the time for this one. Jager!" In a flash, the armor shifts to his calves.
The hulking man steps to the edge of the roof. The right side of his kimono top is shredded from Carmine's double shot. He huffs before ripping the remainder of the top off, leaving him topless, fur lightly covering his Greek godly chest, arms, and back. "Well, now that was rude."
"You're trying to kill us!" The boy spits out, face twisting in anger.
Amused, the man shakes his head. "Hey, we don't want you dead." His jovial expression then pauses in thought. "I think... Pretty sure, you'll be physically okay."
Carmine tenses his gun up. "Who. The hell! Is 'we'?! Answer!"
The man looks down annoyed. "Mitorame Mibu's the name. Most call me 'Tora'. Royal of the Eastern Wind. What's your names?"
Neo's face scrunches as Carmine's goes red. "You don't even know who we are, and you wanna fight us?!" He stomps down angrily with his speech, fuming before stopping and taking a deep breath. Under his breath, he grumbles. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid."
Neo gives a half chuckle and nod.
Calming down, Carmine thinks things over. "Alright... So, one of will begin the fight, and the other looks for opportunities to attack." He spares a glance to Neo. "The the letters on my weapon thing was neat."
Immediately, a message flashes onto his gun. 'Don't die : ) ' He doesn't bother looking at Neo to see the smirk. He growls under his breath before taking off into a sprint down the street. Tora leaps from the inn to the ground. "Hey! Get back here!"
He moved too fast, angling around Carmine to cut him off and throw a punch. The boy barely had time to activate his semblance again. Be recalls back five feet, aiming his gun up to the faunus. He fires point blank, the explosion clouding around the large man.
However, Carmine barely puts both arms up to block, a large fist breaking the smoke and pounding the boy away. He scrapes along the ground, rolling to his feet and activating his Jager thrust to halt himself.
Tora advances, using his long arms to send several powerful jabs and hooks to the boy nearly half his height. Carmine flails about, dodging the too close attacks before flickering with his Recall, appearing behind Tora.
The feline faunus whips around, Carmine ducking a swipe and feeling his hair get brushed by the spiked gloves. Tora follows with a roundhouse kick aimed to the boy's head, but Carmine boosts away with Jager.
Each dodge is punctuated by panicked yelps and low curses from the boy...
The thrusts calm, barely keeping his feet off the ground as he hovers skates backwards out of reach of the man. Carmine trains his gun up, firing four quick shots. However, with impossible reactions, Tora ducks, twists and weaves around the near point blank shots.
Carmine's eyes widened as the man catches up and cocks up a punch. "How?" He asks innocently as the fist buried into his gut. The boy is launched into a car parked on the street, getting embedded into the side painfully.
Tora smirks. "Pretty good reflexes, but-" He reaches in and pulls the boy out by the head. "- you're too slow."
Carmine's eye snaps open, legs hiking up and both slamming into Tora's face and activating Jager's boost. The burst of propulsion blows Tora off, dropping the boy to the ground.
Hitting the ground, Carmine keeps one pained eye open, aiming and firing the double shot. It hits Tora dead in the chest! He groans, reloading the gun with a wrist flick and shakily getting to his feet.
However, Tora stands tall with only a scorch mark on his chest. He growls pained and giving a one eye glare. "That's got a good punch, kid..." Tora cracks a grin as he raises his fist.
That's when Neo slashes the back of his leg, dropping him to his knee. He twists right to attack, bust she leaps to his left to stay at his blind side. However, he suddenly spins back left, catching with with a back hand. She shatters.
Neo drops down between the large man and boy. She goes for the throat, but Tora dodges back, the blade shaving off some of his longer chin hairs. The huge man throws a kick, Neo blocking with the broad side of her weapon.
She's forced back into Carmine, both forced into the car pushing back against the man's insane strength. Carmine aims Heulin Noon around Neo's head, firing two shots. The first, Tora narrow dodges in a lightning fast movement. The second, he literally punches aside with his reinforced glove.
"Okay, HOW?!" Carmine chokes strained and frustrated. He winces as Tora's foot digs Neo into Carmine into the ripping jagged metal of the vehicle.
Tora snickers. "Simple kid. Life with a physical semblance." At both kids' pained glared, he chuckles. "My semblance doesn't turn off, but has no drawbacks. I call it the 100. I can use the full 100% capacity within my muscles."To emphasize his point, he increases pressure, eliciting a cry from both kids.
He continues. "Making me much stronger and faster than a normal people, even without aura enhancement. But WITH aura enhancement..." His grin grows wide, toothy. "The difference is far greater. Stronger, Faster."
"And... like any muscle, my aura has grown exceptionally due to my semblance's constant use. Good luck kid."
Carmine scoffs, both arms reaching around Neo. "Schneider!" His armor flickers off his legs, covering his arms and creating gauntlets. Blades flicker onto the gauntlets as he jabs both into the muscle bound limb.
Tora growls out in pain, pulling the leg back. Immediately, Neo ducks out as Carmine roars up and advances with spinning slashes with the attached blades. The first hits are dodged, but he lands a cross slash, knocking Tora back.
Carmine charges, jabbing both blades forward. However, Tora catches both blades in his gloved hands, gripping them in a vice. The boy scowls, pulling at the caught blades, but they remain in the strong gloved hands.
The large man lifts his arms, Carmine being pulled from the ground, before pulling him. He savagely knees into the boy's gut, hard! The boy chokes out all the air knocked out, eyes wide. The faunus releases him, dropping the boy to his knees with both armored arms wrapped painfully over his core.
A silent cry comes out as he struggles to take in air, but it's cut off. Cut off as Tora ducks and uppercuts the boy from the street. Carmine's limp body flies into the destroyed car hard. And he doesn't get up...
Tora smirks as he turns to find Neo staring wide eyed. "Alright, little lass. I'm not big on hurting girls, so just come with me."
Her eyes slowly leave the boy, composing and setting a glare on the man. She widens her stance, raising her sheathed weapon up. Her lips curl up with her glare, fierce, almost excited.
"Suit yourself." In a blink, he's upon her. His fist flies, and she deflects it with her sheath. It misses by an inch. She deflects again to the right. She steps back as he advantages, deflecting left, then ducking another.
Her movements remain minimalist. All energy not used moving is spent eyeing the next coming attack! Tora drops to her height and sweep kicks around. With wide eyes, she barely leaps over the sweep. Still mid air, she watches as Tora twists around to punch her while she's off the ground.
She jabs her sword into the ground at and angle, pushing off ans dodges the coming punch by a hair. She flips back onto the ground, smirking up at Tora as he approaches...
Then he turns and punches the air... striking an appearing Neo. Neo is launched across the street, grinding to a stop. The faunus ignores the Neo behind him as it shatters. His eyes remain on her while she picks herself up.
"Sorry, kid. Good semblance, but..." He raises a hand to his face, tapping his nose on the tip. "A nose knows."
Neo manages to stand, grunting painfully, as she retakes her stance. Her smirk appears once more. This time, she charges him, going on the offensive. She swings from the left, and Tora smirks as he blocks-
Shatter!
Her attack hits from the right! The blade striking his aura shield along the face. He recoils back as she jumps and slashes down to him. He raises his arms to block as the blade hits-
Shatter!
The swinging image of Neo shatters as she appears, still on the ground, thrusting her weapon in a jab. It strikes him center of the chest, knocking him off balance. Tora's growl sounds as he flails his swipes back, hoping to hit.
If she can't lay decoys, she may as well attack ALONGSIDE her illusion. He can't interpret her angle of attack if he can only see the illusion's. She smirks at the counter to his sense of smell.
She ducks and weaves two more swipes, taking advantage of Tora's lowered speed as he's still not balanced. She lunges in for another thrust.
"Not this time!" Tora holds up both arms as blocks, one arm defending the sides. He smirks, expecting to block Neo's hidden side slash and the thrusting image to shatter-
Neo's thrust hits in the gut, knocking him off balance again. It wasn't an illusion! But he planned around her! And she planned around his plan that he planned around her plan!
Snarling in anger, he knows he needs to go on the offensive. He presses forward, ignoring her movements and simply attacking in the direction of her scent. She dodges around the attacks, so he goes for a large low sweeping punch.
Ever the acrobat, Neo uses her sword to pope vault over the lip and kick Tora across the jaw. She lands, smirking as she retreats. She's in his head. She can bait out his moves!
"Enough!" Tora roars as he bursts towards her even faster than before. Her eyes go wide as she attempts to block... but she's too slow... she got overconfident. Sloppy. Tora catches her by the chest in a clothesline and slams her into the street, hard!
The girl scrapes to a halt, wincing in pain and struggling to stand. Tora smirks. "I'll give you this. You got spunk. You brats took a lot more out of me than I expected." He cocks his fist back, keeping his eye on her. "Good game."
He throws the punch exactly as Carmine leaps over and comes down. "ZERO!" His feet hit the ground as the bladed Schneider arms reform the metal left sleeve and small chest plate. He throws a punch of his own, striking his metal covered fist into the spiked leather fist!
The two punches clash, Tora wincing, but his fist forces through and throws Carmine back into Neo. Both kids hit the ground on their backs, Carmine raising his gun back up, one pained eye open. Neo's hand grabs his right arm, pulling herself up groggy from her hit. She separates from him, nearly stumbling.
"Well, you two are stubborn, but just not good enough I'm afraid." Tora shakes his right hand, willing the pain away. He glances at his forearm, a screen poking out from under his glove wrap. An aura gauge, blinking at a fourth between yellow and red. He chuckles as he approaches them. "Now, it's ov-"
The sparking ignition of flames sound as a torrent of orange and yellow strikes him from behind. He's engulfed in a bright fiery burst!
"AHHH!" He screams in pain, dropping forward onto his hands and knees. The flames recede, revealing him covered in scorch marks and quivering, aura broken.
Marching up from behind is Blair, Florescent Finish drawn and fading from a bright orange to its lightly glowing gold. She marches up, raising a booted foot and slamming it on the back of Tora's head, cracking his skull into the pavement. He drops, out cold.
The blonde wordlessly kicks him over onto his back before looking at the kids. "Get to yours and Roman's room." She reaches down, grabbing the unconscious man's hand. "We need to find that hooligan, Roman, too."
. . .
The door opens, Roman entering his hotel room in a saunter. His face still holds a mild flush from an afternoon of drink. However, he turns and pauses, jacket off, hat in one hand. Eyes wide, he finds Carmine, and Neo sitting on his bed nursing bruises, Carmine's bed overturned for space. Tora sits, chained with his arms bound behind his back in the open space.
Blair glares at him over her shoulder. "You're late."
Not missing a beat, Roman's green eyes take in their captured hulk of a man. He smirks. "Oh, didn't realize you were into that sort of thing. If I knew, Id' have been here sooner." Without waiting for a seething comment from the blonde, he looks to the children. "You two look like hell."
"You look like a drunk." Carmine snaps back.
"Now that we're all back, we have to discuss what we've discovered." Blair initiates, but Roman huffs.
"A gargantuan cave kitten?"
Carmine groans as he sits up to glare. "He's just an jerk that nearly killed us."
Roman chuckles. "Cat man aside, I agree." He turns his head to Blair as he goes ahead to fish through his belongings. "Did you get anything?" Carmine opens his mouth, but Roman cuts him off. "Actual information first."
"Nine months ago, AZRL's head doctor, Franklin Near, set up an account with Eagle Services. The account opening coincides with fast changes to the town's entire structure for money handling and trade. One month later, their leader falls ill, and all clan operations are done by these Royals." Blair lays out.
At the mention of doctor Near, Neo's eyes narrow as her hand comes up to her throat. Blair shares a glance with her, both grimacing. Roman catches the look, Carmine confused.
"I would assume then that it was the good doctor who was the only one allowed to see and treat the clan leader for the last five months." Roman rattles off, getting an inquisitive look from Blair. "Yeah, their home temple is locked up tight. Only the royals and this one doctor were allowed inside. Doesn't take a genius to figure the problem." He locks eyes with Carmine as he hangs his jacket and rolls up his button up shirt's sleeves. "Right?"
Carmine glares at the large unconscious man. "Corruption..." His fists tighten to a fist blood boiling at the so called 'royals' being involved with a possible conspiracy. "So, we need to expose the royals to the clan and save the clan leader."
"Why?" Roman scoffs. "These people dug their grave." He eyes the stack of papers by Blair. "We have our information on AZRL's money transfers. A full blown hit list for us. These people can blow one for all I care."
Blair contains a groan. "Much as I hate to agree... this town seems to just be an in-between for their assets. If there was anything here that they were actually using for resources-"
Carmine sets a glare at the woman. "How about helping the people here?" We're here. Right now. Why would we pass up the opportunity to take down any part of their operation?"
The blonde calmly stares him down. "Carmine, why do you figure I waited for the auction night to take action against AZRL in Vale?" At the confused look, she continues. "Timing. Choosing targets. Had I simply reported what I had to the Huntsmen immediately, all that would have been saved would be a handful of citizens. But by waiting and hoping to get their leaders, I believed I could save thousands."
Roman snorts, smirking. He drawls out. "Oh, so noble. But in all seriousness, If we go gang busters and destroy every single thing that has AZRL's touch on sight, we'll never, EVER make a true dent in their pockets."
"I can't just ignore people who are being used!" The boy argued stubborn. "Besides, there's thousands of trade towns in the world. There has to be a reason they're using this place."
A wadded up paper bounces off the boy's head, distracting him from his growing emotions. The three speakers of the room look to Neo, who smirks back and raises her new 'mod soul' sword. She then points to the bound cat man.
"Yes, we're proud you have a weapon. Moving on." Roman speed talks past.
Until Blair answers correctly. "Weapons..." She looks back to Roman, face pulled to a grimace. "AZRL's funds are being put into exports as well within this city. They must be using the clan as a weapon's factory."
"So? Any random child soldier in training at your precious academies makes their own weapons too." Roman mocks. "People making weapons isn't exactly rare."
Before they continue speculating, Neo gazes at Carmine for a moment... Her mind going to her mother. Her eyes flinch closed a moment, but she pushes through. Waving her hands, she conjures letters on the wall. 'Hunter weapons are black market gold.'
Blair looks to the conman. "Is that true?"
He groans. "Only for extremely well made ones. Double if they come from a well known Huntsman. They can be extreme money makers for opportunists. Mercs can score stuff that puts them above their own pay grade."
Carmine interjects. "Extremely well made like the clan of a master blacksmith renowned internationally?" Immediately, both adults hang their heads. Roman scoffs.
"So there's more value here than we thought. Removing this place from AZRL's control would potentially harm their ability to process materials and arm their newcomers." Blair sighs before looking back to Carmine. "I agree. We must break into their temple, figure out what happened to Master Kourii, then expose the royals."
"Starting with this one." Carmine and Neo both point to the hulking, slumbering man. The adults share a glance, shocked before face palming.
"Well, that accounts for two then." Blair mutters. At the confused glances, she grimly continues. "One showed up at Eagle Services before I left. They're certainly all aware of us. It'll be hard to sneak in."
"Doubly so, considering the only entrance is a gigantic gate." Roman chimes in. "Three by the way. I met a royal who guards the main gate. At least, I think he guards it. He might also just have the worst ADHD I've ever seen." His eyes flick to Carmine. "Well, second worst."
"Oh, shove it." Carmine spats back. "So, what? We can only attack head on?"
"Oh, NOW you're okay with subtlety?" Roman snidely ribs the kid. He then gestures to Tora and looks to Blair. "Ladies first?"
Blair herself, scoffs. "Oh, NOW you're going to be a gentleman?" She mirrors his snide tone from before, earning a snicker from Carmine. Without waiting, she marches up to the bound faunus, roughly grabbing him by the hair.
Channeling her semblance, her amber eyes dimly glow, a dark, desaturated field washing over Tora, barely colored a dark see through violet. The faunus grunts, eye opening to find the harsh stare of the woman. "Wha-... Oh..." His hoarse tired voice calls out. He takes in the room, seeming exhausted. "I lost? Wait. No..." His red eye narrows at the blonde. "You blindsided me."
Carmine mutters grumpily. "She attacked from behind. Not the right." Taking an open shot at the eye patch.
"Explain yourself!" Blair demands. "You have ten seconds to tell us everything you know about AZRL and your relationship with them." She draws her blade, aiming it for his groin. "Or else I control your aura healing and allow you to experience excruciating pain a thousand times."
The one eye opened wide, jaw tensing. Tora seems to take the threat seriously as the woman with creepy, glowing amber eyes and a death shroud takes a menacing step forward. "Well... there's one problem with that? What's AZRL?"
Blair recoils. Then scowls. "... Doctor Near?" The man's eye narrows in thought. Instantly, Blair's eye twitches, moving the blade up to his throat. She manipulates his aura with her semblance as he shrinks and growls in pain. "I can tell if you're lying!"
He whines a moment before choking out. "Wait. WAIT. You mean that doctor? I thought he was a hack. What about him?"
The four turn heads, sharing a cocked look. Eventually, all eyes fall on Roman. He shakes his head, but Carmine scrunches his face and shoves him forward. He grumbles out. "You ARE a royal, right?"
The eye patched man drawls out, happy the pain stopped. "Mitorame Mibu. Call me Tora. I'm the royal of the East-"
"Yeah, yeah. What do you do around here?"
Tora huffs, miffed. "I'm in charge of public services, agriculture, and domestic-"
Roman turns away from him. "This is the dumb one. He doesn't know a thing." Ignoring the 'hey!' from Tora, Roman goes on. "So, not only are the royals responsible, they aren't all in on it. SO!" He spins back around to Tora. "If one of your brain damaged friends were to conspire against your holier than thou master, who would it be?"
"What the hell are you implying?" Tora barks back.
Roman shakes his head. "Right, I highly doubt Sir Gatekeeper is the picture of scheming intellect." He winces and looks at Carmine. "Are we really trying to... ugh, save this town?" He and Carmine lock gazes for five seconds before the boy gives a resolute nod. The man's shoulders sag. "Damn it."
"Excuse me, but what are you talking about?" Tora barks out, straining against the chained holding him in place.
The four share a glance again, Carmine looking at Tora and scratching his head awkwardly. "Um, here's the thing."
20 minutes later, and the entire section of the town hears the tiger faunus bellow out. "WHAT?!"
. . .
Carmine sits, hand over his eyes, flush against his brow facing down. "So, let me get this straight. You were contacted by the Royal of the North, Kirran Mibu, to capture us and leave us in the dungeons for him..."
Tora scowls at the wall and nods. "Yes."
"... And you've had no involvement in trade, OR with your master's condition. The trade is handled by Kirran himself?" Blair adds after, slumped against the wall with her lips pulled to a firm line.
"Correct."
Neo, sat on the floor rubbing both her temples, projects a message on the floor. 'And all the explanation you needed to attack us was... Kirran said so?"
Tora puffs his chest, indignant. "I trust him with my life! I'm sure he has a good explanation. I'll definitely get to the bottom of this."
Roman, oddly the most chipper of the group, snickers. "Yeah, guys. Stop picking on the mentally handicapped." Before the faunus can reply, he clicks his tongue and continues. "Alright. Come, cone. Up and at 'em. Let's get this over with." He stands up and moves for the door.
"What's the strategy?" Carmine asks.
"Bring dumb ass here to explain things to the doofus at the main gate, walk in with two of these royals on our side, expose the other two, treat the good master, and be off with a paycheck of gratitude." Roman rattles off, twirling his cane.
The boy gives him a dry look. "Gee. You're so charitable." He looks to Tora, eyeing him up and down. "That okay?"
As the faunus nods, Blair adjusts her sash with her weapon hanging on it. "There's no means of sneaking in at all?"
"No. Well, aside from a back escape cavern that runs through an underground water way for three miles East. You'd have to leave the city for that, and the gate guards would notice you bringing me through." Tora states honestly.
Roman pretends to think it over. "Hmm... dank caves. Frontal assault. Dank caves in dingy filthy water. Frontal assault and be out of here by dawn." He snaps his fingers excitedly. "Sortie it is."
. . .
The people were out again... many of which staring with wide, fearful eyes, others itching to pull out weapons. However, their various looks were placated, replaced with uneasy, confused, and accepting smiles, as Tora playfully responded... despite the burns still over his back and limbs.
The lumbering faunus keeps a smile as he stumbles and bumbles, nearly tumbles along the street. The red and orange lighting overhead brings the mood down, bathing the glaring coloration over all of the group. Blair narrows her glare at those around them as she walks behind the man. Roman walks in front, happily tapping along, while the two youngest trail behind.
At the sight of the bars and... adult entertainment, Carmine recoils. The group walks by the massage parlor, a dark skinned woman winking her red eyes while cleaning the front. Winking at Roman, specifically. The orange haired man smirks and tips his hat, mouthing... something at her that gets a giggle.
Carmine holds in a gag. "Wa- wait. Did you..?" Roman simply smiles wider.
The blonde scowls. "So, that's why you arrived last..." The words dawn on Neo as she brightens flush red. The girl and boy in the back equally cringe and walk stiffly.
However, Tora smiles at that. "Oh! You dirty dog. I haven't been there in a while. Great to unwind."
Roman smiles back at him, flippantly gesturing. "I'm glad this town is okay with having some culture! A man has needs."
"Gross." Carmine mutters. "Kill me please." Neo holds up her new sword, starting to draw it with a grin, only for the boy to rapidly backpedal. "Sarcasm! It was sarcasm, Neo." She dramatically feigns disappointment, sheathing the weapon.
"Enough." Blair calls out as the great temple gate comes into view. "It's time to be serious." The group comes to a stop at the bottom of the steps, the large gate opening, creaking, slowly.
Tora gulps. "Well, crap. That's not Zaku."
The group watches as, from the gates, a tall woman marches out. Lit, red eyes look on from her black hair tied up in a bun. Slender with sharp features, red lipstick, skin powder white. A pale pink kimono top with dark pink detailing and sash. The bottom is open, revealing dark pink boy shorts, long pale legs going down to black stiletto shoes.
Her hands rest behind her back, painted red nails, gripping a cool metallic black bo staff with dust canisters lined up the haft. She smiles. "Hello~! Oh, Tora, Kirran said you mucked things up."
Tora gives a nervous smile. "Oh, hey Ururu! Um, I think Kirran might have made a mistake. These outsiders have brought some curious things to my attention."
The woman, Ururu's, smile twitches, irritated. "I don't want to hear it. Outsiders come in and start poking around our classified business on all sides, and you make friends with them? The nerve." Her arrogant, superior tone radiates out. "It's you befriending these invading cretins that makes us have to fix your messes."
As the large faunus gives a shaky, embarrassed laugh, the rest of the group glares at him. Carmine scowls. "Great. He IS the stupid one." His hand goes to Heulin Noon.
Blair steps forward, hand on Florescent Finish. "Please. We merely wish to talk."
"Please. Outsiders have no business with our clan's inner world. So says I, Ururu Mibu, Royal of the West Wind." She twirls the staff around, dual casting ice and fire, one on each end of the weapon. In a flash, a burst of fog blows out in front of the group.
Tora grits his teeth. "Oh, she's asking questions later."
"Like you can talk!" Carmine shouts.
The blonde steps around to the front, jamming a dust canister in her weapon hilt. She slashes out, Florescent's blade shifting to an deep ocean blue. Water dust. Mid slash, she casts the dust, pulling the water of the fog out of the air into the blade.
Spinning, she then blasts the water like a water spout from the blade, piercing through and hitting the gates. The gates blow open inward, but Ururu isn't there anymore. Blair looks up. "Scatter!" She and Roman leap forward. Carmine and Neo jump back. Tora stumbles and falls, injuries hindering him, as Ururu lands on front of him.
He snarls at her. "Just wait. You're making a mista-"
Before another word is spoken, she jabs her palm into his chest. Her aura flares around her hand, a golden yellow shimmer, as the shimmer flashes around Tora. She pulls her palm back, the light fading into her.
Tora coughs out, but ceases struggling as he falls back, unconscious. "That'll shut you up for a while." Ururu speaks before looking over her shoulder at Blair. The blonde holds a narrow glare, in her kendo stance. "Oh, honey. You have no idea what you're in for."
Blair snaps to the others. "You three get inside, find the master, and explain the rest. I will face this one."
Carmine and Neo sprint around to Roman, allowing the two women to square off. "Right. Come on, guys!"
Roman follows the two brats up the stairs. "Great. I'm playing baby sitter!"
Ururu twitches, angry, as she twirls her staff. "Oh, no you don't!" Casting once more, a burst of lightning charges up and out of the stance. Blair acts before the bolt fires, popping wind dust into Florescent for a clear sky blue. Activating and clashing her blade with the staff, the wind forks the lightning burst, arcing the bolts along the edges of the gate.
Weapons in a bind, Ururu sneers at the pious woman. "Well, look at you. Fierce like a tiger."She chuckles. "Much more than this dunce." She bobs her head towards the unconscious royal behind her. She then looks at the wind blade, grinning. "Interesting start. Are you a dancer too?"
Blair slides the blade out from the bind, moving into three slashes, Ururu twisting her staff in three rapid blocks, then a counter hit. The blonde deflects the counter from her head, then aims for Ururu's own. The Royal blocks and steps back.
Ururu grins. "That's a yes!" She slides to a monk stance with one half end forward. "Then we wait for the tune."
Blair growls lowly. "What tune?"
A beat passes as the Royal activates wind dust. Manically, she leaps in, spinning and swinging the staff down. "The song!" The weapons clash violently with a blast of wind.
. . .
The remaining CRBN members sprint along a stone path. On each side sit gorgeous growth of flowers and trimmed grasses. The petals color the way in blues, yellows, whites, lavenders, and more. Specialized lanterns line the rocky cavern walls, giving off a strange, eerily natural lighting.
Running through a curving path deeper into the cavern, the path suddenly opens up wide. The three halt in place, Carmine's jaw dropping, Neo's eyes widening, and Roman raising an impressed brow. "Whew, that's something."
Before them, the path turns into downward steps down to a stone deck on the bay of a large underground lake. The surroundings of the stone pathways and edges of the waters are coated with the gorgeous growth, even featuring several sakura trees. The stone path extends from the deck as a bridge, statues of the four mythical beasts lining the sides. The path ends as the entrance of another ornate building, this one built into the cavern wall.
The lighting of the strange lanterns along the walls shifts from imitating sunlight to imitating moonlight upon the waters. The strange mix of lighting makes the water look ethereal, almost glowing. "Well, not like there's many options for where we go." Carmine jokes.
However, a figure catches their eye, marching along the bridge. Roman's short lived impressed look morphs to a grimace. Marching across the bridge was the aloof blonde, dull eyes staring out under his headband. Zaku Mibu.
The man steps off the bridge, a long pole held on his shoulders with two buckets of water, one hanging on each end. Roman tenses, the kids bracing themselves as the man continues on. And continues. And continues.
And Zaku walks right by..?
All three part ways as he marches through calmly. No words. No acknowledgment. Roman and Carmine double take, Neo shrugging beside them. So, the three turn back to the lake, and walk towards the bridge.
"Did-... did he just-" Carmine points behind them.
Roman cuts him off. "I know. Just move on."
Neo turns back around one more time, then jumps in fright. Zaku's airy, dull voice sounds directly behind them. "Wait. Do I know you?"
The boy and man whip around, matching Neo to find the water carrying Royal directly beside them, still with his water. Neo points at the man, then up where they'd watched him walk, then to her ear. Even she didn't hear the guy.
Zaku tilts forward, crimson eyes boring into Roman's green. The conman raises a brow. "Uh..." For once tongue tied, he thinks how to talk his way out of the Royal's gaze.
"I know you, right?"
Roman twitches. Obviously, yes. But this man nearly got him last time. "... No." He tries.
"You must be the housekeepers." Zaku comments off hand, leaning back. "Be careful. Word is there's four outsiders running around and causing problems." With that, he turns around, Roman having to duck his as one bucket nearly swats him.
"Right, yes." Roman mutters sarcastically. "Enjoy your evening, Lord of Flies." He turns to the kids, satisfied. "Alight, shall we go-"
Carmine and Neo are both staring behind him, the boy pointing. Roman follows the gaze, now nose to nose with Zaku. "AH!" He flinches back. "Put a bell on you!"
Zaku scrutinizes him closely. "I DO know you... Wait..."
Roman peeks at the kids. "So... this is happening then. You know what to do." Carmine and Neo both nod, turning towards the distant temple and taking off across the bridge from Roman and the man. The conman's face lights in fury. "I meant BACK ME UP!"
Zaku watches the kids go, tilting his head. "Huh? What are they doing?" He questions innocently.
The conman rolls his eyes, back turned to the water carrying man. "Right, so this is happening."
In a split second, Roman rounds about and takes a swing of his cane at the man's face. Zaku, shockingly, reacts and turns with the coming hit. Spinning, the pole with the water buckets swings at Roman, but he ducks.
Roman comes up as the second bucket swings around. It slides off the carrying pole, splashing the contents into the conman's face and blowing off his hat. Zaku releases the pole and remaining bucket. Then, he round house kicks Velvet Valentine from the orange haired man's hand.
The cane flies and sticks into the flowered grass. Mid kick, the Royal draws the transform with his right hand, mechanics extending out with a wide slash. Roman catches Zaku's right wrist with his left hand.
Grabbing the arm, Roman wrenches the hand down and knees up, cracking his knee off the Royal's grip. The blonde grunts, releasing his weapon, before Roman kicks the humming, transforming nodachi across the bridge.
With a grunt, both men pull with their connected limbs. Zaku tries for a left hook, but Roman right jabs the blonde's left shoulder, stopping the hook. Swapping grips on Zaku's held arm, he wrenches the man up and over for a shoulder throw.
Zaku lands on his feet from the throw, dropping and sweep kicking. Roman releases and back steps, hands up and ready. Rolling forward onto his hands, Zaku moves into a spinning hand stand as he throws a series of capoeira kicks mirroring break dance.
Roman sharply reacts. Deflect, guard, duck, lean back, lean left. One kick gets through, cracking Roman by the jaw. He stumbles back, Zaku rolling to his feet and moving to a wide kick. Roman catches it, throwing it aside, putting the Royal off balance.
The conman advances. Zaku blocks two hooks, but a jab lands in the gut. Roman palm's Zaku back, the clan member moving with the hit to a back flip kick. Roman ducks back from it, both fighters retreating back, Roman on the grass, and Zaku on the bridge.
And each pick up their weapons, the metallic hum of Zaku's sword sounding as Roman clicks out his cane's gun grip, holding it like a tonfa. Roman scowls at his hat sitting on the bridge behind Zaku. "Tch! Great."
. . .
Across the lake, the children get to the main door. The ornate door splits at the middle, and the children slide the halves into the walls and enter. The structure is entirely tan and gray, with ornate painted crimson designs and red wood flooring.
The Japanese style interior had thin walls and warm lighting, thin lanterns held on the walls. The opening at first was a long hall, but ended into a dining hall. Padded kneeling pads and a low sitting table, the communal area was well decorated. However, each and every side and corner of the room was filled with doors.
"Well, crap." Carmine mutters, looking around. I hope this place isn't much of a maze. He opens one door, finding another long hallway, doors lining the sides. "oh... No..."
He hears another door slide, seeing Neo open one on the opposite side, finding an identical hall to his. She blinks before mirroring his own sullen expression.
Carmine sends a cursory glance back to his hall. "Alright... let's stick together and-" He finds Neo already marching down her hallway. "-not get caught separated! Damn it!" He sprints after the girl, holding back a frustrated yell. "Come on, both our auras are trashed! Wait up."
Thankfully, he reaches her, the girl rolling her eyes. She hesitates, but decides to wait. A part of her thinks to the older two members of their team. These enemies are supposed to be on par with Huntsmen... hopefully, Blair and Roman can hold their own.
. . .
Outside the main gates, a plume of smoke breaks up. Flames burst out above the buildings lining the street, followed by a chilling mist blowing out. The cavern rumbles with the street cracking. (Guitar riff begins track of Juke-Joint Jezebel)
In the up swept cloud of dust and mist, Blair activates earth dust. Her sword warping to a tan color as she slashes. The street violently rumbles and rips upward in earthen spikes. (Riff repeats, a techno drop punctuating every other beat. Percussion builds.)
Ururu flips up and over the spikes. Her staff shines casting ice as a frozen slide forms under her. She glides down the slope, around the spikes, and speeds into a swing at Blair. The blonde deflects the hit, countering into a twirling block. Ururu slides by, casting fire into the ice for another smokescreen of steam. (Drums start for full instrumental.)
Blair chases after, using another slash of earth to cut off the sliding woman, but Ururu is lost in the steam cloud. Following further, she sees the woman's outline and quickly slashes through... an earthen clay mannequin forged from earth dust. (instrumental repeats into techno.)
Sliding to a halt, she looks around for her opponent. Quickly, she dives back as a bolt of lightning strikes the ground. Another casts as she uproots a rock wall to block. Her sword fades to golden, dust spent. With a grimace, she swaps for her own lightning, sword shifting to violet pulsing. (Multiple voices chant. "The revelation!... The revelation!... The revelation! Sing it! The revelation!" Verse begins.)
The mist clears, a haughty laugh coming out as Ururu reveals herself atop a pillar of ice. "Aren't you fun! A melee focused caster?" She giggles at the blonde's expense. (A deep male voice drawls. "I can't reject this empty hole... I cannot count the bloody cost-")
The Royal casts from two dust slots down her weapon haft, combining lightning dust with gravity, or grav, dust. A lightning sparking ball of energy crackles to life. "Such a disadvantage." ("I can't believe this wretched soul. Come penetrate all this loss-")
Blair raises her blade, focused and ready. ("Come on and kill this sense of life,-")
. . .
Roman edges back as Zaku advances forward a step. The hum of his chain sword, high pitch, sparks. ("And be the one who is denied-")
"You feel it." Zaku states, ominous in tone. His aura shimmers as the sparks off the micro saw edge light and ignite a full flame layer over his sword. "The embers burning in the wind." ("Now show me one more upturned knife, and fill the emptiness inside!" Music slows to a low build.)
Roman snickers as Zaku dramatically flourishes the flaming instrument. Twirling Velvet Valentine, he pops the drum mag in for its gun mode. "Here's burning for you!" (Bridge moves into chorus.)
With a step, he clicks the gun and opens fire with a laugh! The explosive fire dust shots barrage over Zaku, obscuring him in a wall of flicking flames. Roman's smirk drops, stopping the shots. Zaku slashes through the flames, charging. (Choir chants begin."BE MINE!.. SISTER SALVATION!")
Zaku slashes, a wave of fire burning out. Roman ducks in, the flames spreading over the gorgeous gardens. The growth lit aflame, Zaku moves to three quick vicious slashes. Roman swaps back to cane form and deflects. Heavy sparks, slicing on metal, and flames sound with each glancing. ("Juke-joint Jezebel is coming for my cremation!")
Roman ducks and dodges around Zaku's next slash, putting his back to the water front. Zaku lashes around, a torrent of flames following his slash, as Roman ducks back into the small lake. The fires spew steam off the water's surface. ("BE MINE!.. SISTER SALVATION!")
. . .
The mist warps around Ururu as she charges up the ball of lightning and fires it. The crackling orb bursts forth as Blair charges her own lightning imbued blade. Her slash hits the ball and, with a grunt, throws it away into the upturned earthen street. ("Closer now! SEE! THE REVELATION!")
Blair blitzes forward, closing the distance in a streak of crackling electricity. Ururu blinks, shocked, barely reacting and blocking the charge. The force scrapes the Royal's feet through the dirt, grinding into the rock. The women lock glares as Blair viciously pushes through the bind and attacks. She lands a slash, knocking Ururu away. (Guitars cut, base, techno, and drums lead into verse 2.)
The raven haired woman rolls along the ground, Blair leaping up and coming down with a lightning slash. Ururu rolls to her back, narrowly, inch a fraction of a second, palming the side of the coming sword as it comes down. Florescent Finish digs into the ground. Ururu kicks up into Blair's jaw, knocking her away. ("If I could leave my burning skin, that has been used up in your sin-")
Rolling up, Blair is already on her. The blonde disarms the Royal. Blair follows with a lunging thrust, Ururu forced to grab and pull the blade aside at the last second. Her aura heals the now bleeding hand. At the same time, the raven haired woman palms her hand into Blair's chest. A light shimmer from the hand activates the Royal's semblance... Ururu grins "It's been fun, but your aura is mine!" ("Is there a tiny part of me. Untouched, unsoiled by misery!")
Seconds tick as Blair grunts out. The shimmering glow from Ururu's hand pulses with Blair's aura sapping. Her semblance? The blonde's eyes wide as she immediately identifies it. It's draining her own aura into the woman! Power weakening, Blair drops to a knee, but snarls defiant. "Fine, have it!" Allowing her life force to drain to the Royal, she activates her own semblance. Ururu's eyes shift to confusion, then horror. (Music slows to a low build. Bridge cuts to verse 3.)
. . .
Zaku stands at the edge of the water, shrugging his open kimono top off his shoulders to hand at his waist like a kilt. He brings his sword up and slashes down, but the water breaks first. Roman lunges out, parrying the sword with his cane and grabbing Zaku. He hip tosses the fire man into the water, awarded with a plume of steam. ("I am the city that will lie. You are the one that blame passed by.")
Zaku emerges from the water, sword still spinning its edge, but no sparks. No flames. Roman jabs his cane at the man, the two fighting in varying depth water, one second to their knees, the next to their hips on the uneven underwater floor. The wet saw blade clangs off the twirling cane. Roman deflects the next slash and leaps from the water to the bridge. ("This is the place where I will weep. The loneliness of sweet conceit!")
Roman turns to see the Royal leap out across from him. Zaku's hand extends as flames pull from the garden to his weapon. Steam sizzles out from the weapon before the flames die out. The saw blade sparks once more and ignites into its own flame. Roman narrows his gaze... So it IS a semblance. (Music slows to a low build.)
. . .
Blair's semblance warps around Ururu, a surge of pain searing within the Royal. The raven haired woman howls in pain and leaps away. Separating, she's no longer inviting Blair's aura inside, but the blonde smirks satisfied as Ururu picks her staff back up. Blair swaps dust canisters for her own gravity dust. (Bridge cuts to guitar moving to chorus.)
Ururu still clouds with Blair's semblance, but meets the charge. Blair goes offense with three quick slashes. Ururu deflects then, up swiping with her staff. The blonde ducks her head left, the staff brushing the bangs framing her face. Spinning with the dodge, she slashes back to counter. Ururu stumbles back defending. ("Be mine!... Sister salvation!")
. . .
Zaku advances on Roman, spinning forward with a horizontal slash. Roman hits a static block, feeling the heat of the flames wash over. He twists the cane up, cracking the hammer side off Zaku's gut and stumble him back. Twisting to the curved pick side, he hooks Zaku's blade down going for a punch. ("Juke-Joint Jezebel's comin' for my cremation!")
The Royal's off hand catches Roman's fist. He pulls Roman to kick him, but Roman raises his knee to block. He pushes the conman back, going for a slash. Roman deflects as Zaku goes up to a jump double. Roman blocks both kicks quickly with his arm, stepping back. ("Be mine!.. Sister Salvation!")
He smirks, opening his off hand and throwing down a single fire dust shell from his drum magazine. The burst catches Zaku by surprise, like a flash bang, as Roman gains distance. The Royal growls as the flames around his blade burn brighter. Zaku slashes, fighting a blade of flames across the bridge at Roman. The conman braces himself and is blown back. ("Closer now! See! The revelation!")
. . .
Blair activates the gravity dust, her sword blade darkening to an iridescent black! She puts her full commitment into a swing, Ururu putting a static block up. The slash clashes violently with the rod. With a violet light burst, Ururu's staff flings up, both fighters start to blow apart... as Ururu's eyes open wide. ("The revelation!.. The revelation!")
A violet dark pulse shines between them, a vacuum well from the dust, as both women are wrenched back. Blair spins as she dashes back in, going for a second full committed slash! Ururu's weapon is still up, leaving her open. Blair's semblance hinders her aura shield, as the now golden blade smashes against Ururu across the ribs. ("The revelation!.. See! The revelation!")
The strike rips Ururu into the air as her aura shield breaks. The woman is launched up and over, landing heavily onto the ground as Blair slides to a stop. Breathing heavily, she steadily sheaths her blade back. (Instrumental plays out...)
She drops to a knee, wincing. Ururu stole a decent chunk of her aura. Too much. The blonde glances to the now unconscious woman beside her. With a sigh, she brandishes Florescent by its sheath. The three prongs stick from the end as she jabs it into the unconscious woman.
The weapon contains a capsule, capturing a small blood sample, and she uses her hilt's full trigger. Inside the sheath, the capsule empties, charging Ururu's blood into the golden blade. She draws the sword, now shifted crimson.
Blair glances over the blade a moment. Nodding, she reverses her grip, aiming its point down at Ururu. Lightly, she jabs the blade down, piercing into the woman's arm. Not deep. Just enough. Activating the switch on the trigger, she activates Ururu's semblance from her sword. With a light shimmer, aura pulses from Ururu, through the blade, and into Blair.
She releases a relaxed sigh... Not close to even half strength, not even a fourth, but better. She stands tall. Sheathing the sword once more and leaving Ururu with the light wound, she jabs the sheath again. Withdrawing the sheath, she removes a capsule of Ururu's blood from Florescent's sheath, removing an empty one from her pocket and inserts it into the sheath.
The blonde then walks slowly to Tora, still on the ground out like a light. She jabs the sheath into him and captures his blood into her sheath. She quickly replaces the sheath to her hip, satisfied to have two new trump cards.
She sprints up the steps and through the gates.
. . .
Roman ducks away from another blast of flames, stopping in a crouch. He growls in frustration. "Battling a human flamethrower here." He calls out loudly. "Hey! If I said we're technically on the same side, would you stop?"
Zaku marches along the stone bridge, firing another wave of flames. The conman guards, getting thrown back across the surface. He lands on his back, skidding to a halt. "Fuck..." Roman curses. He needs a strategy to counter that semblance. Quickly, he thinks over all he's witnessed.
His weapon generates sparks, allowing him to ignite his weapon and the air. When in the water, he couldn't make any flames since his weapon couldn't spark. Zaku had to dry his weapon by controlling the flames in the gardens...
A quick glance looks over Zaku's clothes, spotting various burn marks along the kimono top dangling at the man's hips. If Roman knew anything, he did know a personal aura shield protects even the person's clothes... So, if he's shielded, but still burned, that means he isn't immune to fire damage. He just stops it before it can hit with whatever semblance it is...
Roman smirks. "Oh, you can manipulate existing flame, but you can't create them yourself! Isn't that convenient." Convenient is the perfect word for it... because of Roman's own semblance.
His drum magazine still hanging from his shoulder, dangling by his hip. He fishes his off hand into the mag, pulling four dust shells out. Working in his hand for a minute, he manages to open the shells, allowing dust to be out in the open in his palm.
"Can't let his flames touch my off hand." He snickers at the hair brained idea. But hey, no one calls Roman a sane man, would they? His weapon hand pops the gun grip out of the cane again, shuffling the cane into a tonfa grip.
Zaku remains stoic as he bursts forward. With a wide slash, Roman blocks with Velvet Valentine. The hit ignites flames over the right half of Roman's body, hitting like an explosion. However, his aura holds up, protecting from burns.
Just enough time, Roman's off hand snaps forward, throwing the orange dust in his hand onto Zaku's chest, neck, and face. The Royal grunts and blasts flames from his sword to blow Roman back, further across the bridge.
He skids to a halt on his feet, dropping to his knee in a pained grunt. However, he smirks. Zaku kicks off the flames around his blade, wary of the orange dust covering his torso and head. The Royal raises a brow at Roman. "You took a hit for that? Surely, you don't have much aura left to defend yourself."
Roman chuckles. "Oh, is that so? Granted, I AM running on fumes here. Ah, but then again..." He smirks. "All I have to do is set that dust ablaze, and you're done for."
"Hmm... And how do you plan to do that." Zaku takes a step forward. "I can control your fire dust shots before they reach me, and if you ignite them close, you'll take the blast too."
Roman lights up. "So, you CAN hold a conversation! Good to know." He snickers with a sinister edge. "But wanna know what else is good to know?" He waits a second, standing up tall and maintaining eye contact. "MY semblance."
Zaku raises his blade in defense, but all Roman does is raise a hand. The conman continues. "It's not very great I admit, but I do like something flashy." He grins wide, showing teeth, putting his thumb to his middle finger on his left hand. "Bright like a torch and burn... like a lit wick." He snaps his finger.
He doesn't see it. Nothing changes, except in the open air, right by Zaku's shoulder, a spark ignites. All the dust coating his torso, neck, and head ignites in am explosion! The blast shakes the stone bridge, Roman smirking as the blast burns bright for a moment before simmering down in a clearing black cloud.
The smoke clears, revealing Zaku with his arms up in a cross block. His top half is covered in blunt force bruises and wounds from the blast, his aura broken, as he coughs out and drops to both knees. Roman wastes no time.
He sprints forward, winding up and striking the hammer side of Velvet's grip into the man's skull. The blonde's head is cracked back as he hits the ground out cold. Roman winces at the fast movement, hunching over and actually using his cane to hold himself up.
"Ah! God damn it. I hate being tapped." He breathes heavily, closing his eyes for a short break. His semblance. Nothing noteworthy, but worthy of exploitation. There's a reason he specialized in bomb threats and arson all through his teens. Simply extending his aura out, he could ignite a spark, lighting whatever he wants aflame.
In theory... Works a thousand times better if the object he lights is attuned to him. Hell, he has zero interest in actually making it a consistent part of his fighting style. No, leave it for a dirty finish. Those are the most satisfying, he thinks with a smirk.
He glances up the caverns to find Blair marching down. She pauses at the burning devastation of the once beautiful gardens. She rushes down, finding the unconscious Royal and Roman. "What happened?! Where are the others?"
The conman narrows his gaze to the building in the distance at the end of the bridge. "I fought this man, and they're in there." He looks back at her and smirks. "I see you handled yourself well, Barbie."
Ignoring the nickname, she glares at him and reprimands. "We're trying to help these people. Not destroy their holy temple! What were you thinking?!"
At this, the conman recoils. "I didn't do crap! That's this guy's doing!"
She looks to Zaku, suspicious. Her amber eyes glance to the burning garden. "Do you know how his semblance worked?"
Roman rattles off with a sigh. "Yeah, he can direct, amplify, and control active flames, but can't make them." He watches her stand over the fallen man. "Why you-" She pops out the capsule containing Tora's blood, pocketing it, then she jabs Florescent into the downed Zaku. "Uh, what sadistic stuff am I witnessing, Barbie?"
"Silence." She orders, activating Zaku's blood as she draws the now crimson blade out.
Roman huffs. "Oo, edgy." He states sarcastically.
She sends a chilling glare his way before channeling the blade. The flames over the gardens warp, waving back and forth with two test swings from Blair's blade. Nodding to herself, she pulls as the fires wash off the burnt and now ravaged plant life, the fires moving into the air before the woman directs them into the water, bubbling the lake and steaming.
Florescent shifts back to gold, Blair sheathing it before she jabs Zaku again, refilling the capsule in the sheath. "Interesting semblance." She turns to Roman. "Alright. Let's go."
Without waiting, she walks past Roman, who simply double takes. He looms at the now dark gardens and whistles. "Guess we all have surprises..."
Another one down. Getting more interesting, I hope! I have no idea if Black Dust is already a thing in RWBY, but if it is, screw it, this is how it works in my story. Next time should finish up the Mibu arc.
Oh, and a semblance for Roman. It's simple and not very useful, since if it was powerful, why wouldn't he use it, right? The ability to spread his aura and create minor ignitions in the air.
References:
As stated before, the characters of the town of Mibu are reference to Samurai Deeper Kyo. The Four Royals are based off the Four Kings who, in SDK's lore, followed the main character prior to the series' start.
Kirran Mibu is based on the Four King member Akira. Zaku Mibu is based on Hotaru. Mitorame, or 'Tora', is based on Bontenmaru. Ururu is based on Akari.
Master Kourii is based off Muramasa, who was a famous weapon forger in SDK and mentor to the main character, Kyo Mibu.
Song reference this time is Juke-Joint Jezebel Metropolis Mix by KMFDM.
Next time is Chapter 20: A First Notch.