AD 2206, 6/21, Unknown Area

Ragna the Bloodedge huffs as he comes to a stop beside Juusan't bike. She ran off earlier today without telling him why, but he has his guesses. He casually takes his helmet off and seals it in his satchel, then makes his way to the door. He pauses. Juusan is talking to someone, a voice that he only vaguely recognizes.

Ragna opens the door, glancing towards the living area. He sees Carl Clover staring at him.

Ragna stares back, mistrustful and irritated to see him again. He glances at Juusan, who raises a brow. He warily sighs, "What are you doing here, Clover?"

Carl hesitates, then sighs, "Juusan brought me here to get to know me. To know if…" He pauses. "If I should be able to see Miss Noel again."

Ragna turns his gaze to Juusan, furrowing his brows.

Juusan merely shrugs, then rises to her feet. "I'll get dinner started."

Ragna nods. "I'll get Clover back to the library. I don't need Kagura breathing down our necks."

Carl blinks, then narrows his eye. He pipes up, "Actually, Mister Ragna, I need to talk to you."

Ragna stares at Carl with an unreadable expression. He sighs, "Lemme guess, you wanna see Noel?"

Carl nods.

Ragna huffs, "Why should I let you?" He stares Carl down.

Carl meets his gaze steadily. "Because I want to make amends, and I think you understand what that's like."

Ragna stares at him a moment longer, then sighs, "Meet me outside, Clover." He then exits the cabin. As the chill night air is upon him once more, Ragna scoffs, "Frigging stubborn kid…"

Carl exits the cabin slowly, keeping his guard up as he nervously adjusts his hat. The chill breeze causes him to shiver a little as he makes his way over to Ragna, who is at the center of the clearing.

Ragna hefts his sword, Aramasa, into the air. "Alright, Clover. You and I are going to have a little spar. If I win, you drop it. If you win, I'll let you see Noel again. Sound fair?"

Carl narrows his eye in concentration as he falls into his stance. "Fair enough, Ragna the Bloodedge. I accept your challenge."

Ragna nods. Then, he rears back, hand glowing darkly, before rushing forward like a loosed arrow. "Hell's Fang!"

Carl dodges the fist and jumps into the air to avoid the follow up he remembers all too well.

A demonic, shadowy head rushes from the ground, snapping at the soles of his boots before dissipating. Carl summons Rook just in time, as Ragna follows him into the sky.

Ragna cries, "Inferno Divider!" As he brings his sword to bear in a twisting uppercut that deeply gouges into Rook's shield.

Carl grunts as he's sent flying back, barely managing to tuck and roll into a stand before Ragna is again upon him.

Ragna twists his body for his next strike. "Gauntlet Hades!"

Carl counters swiftly with Bishop. "Allegretto!"

The rapid series of stabs sends Ragna shooting back as he grunts in pain with each strike.

Carl twirls and rushes forth. "Vivace!" He then breaks into a baseball slide, extending Knight's lance along with his boot to catch the recover Ragna in the ankle and knee.

Ragna staggers, but stays upright, aiming a stab down at Carl.

Carl rolls out of the way and into a stand, only to catch a swift jab the jaw as Ragna swings.

Ragna follows up with an axe kick, sending Carl crashing to the ground.

Carl grunts, casting aside his hat to release Pawn, who swiftly jumps at Ranga, who bats him aside with Aramasa.

This gives Carl just enough time to get back to his feet and away from Ragna.

Pawn goes limp as he's sent out of range.

Ragna glares at Carl and takes to the sky, extending Aramasa into a scythe that glows darkly. He cries. "Blood Scythe!"

Carl ducks the sweeping overhead blow, and sends Knight up to stab at Ragna, who twists away form the attack and lands low, sweeping Carl's feet from under him with a kick/

Ragna stabs at him again, and Rook barely blocks, the stab piercing its gouged shield and forcing Carl to devote his Ars Magus to a barrier spell.

Rook goes limp, its core damaged by the attack, leaving Carl with no defense other than costly barriers.

Ragna smirks and attempts to follow up, but Bishop's flagpole stabs out and crashes into his bad ankle, causing the man to hiss and crumple to one knee as his leg wobbles.

Carl takes the opportunity to rise, landing an uppercut on Ragna's jaw.

Ragna's head snaps back and he glowers at Carl. He slams his fist into Carl's nose, bloodying it.

Carl grunts, but sends Knight's lance slamming into Ragna's side, drawing blood of his own and sending the man rolling back with a pained cry.

Carl then stands and jumps back to avoid a retaliatory swing of Aramasa, readying Knight for a charge.

Ragna rushes him down. "Carnage…."

Carl, realizing what's about to happen, presents Knight's flank and a barrier as a makeshift shield against the devastating blow.

Ragna grins. "…SCISSORS!"

The cut cleaves through Knight's frame, and sends Carl flying back into a tree.

Carl grunts and tastes blood in his mouth, but smiles.

That reckless charge caused Ragna's ankle to roll just enough to truly hobble him, and Carl is still in this fight. He's got a chance.

Carl rushes Ragna, sending Bishop out fully as a distraction.

Ragna swiftly dispatches the puppet, but leaves his badly torn flank wide open.

Carl snaps his fingers, crying, "Laetabilis Cantata!"

Swirling gears manifest around Ragna's aching body, slamming into it. They grind against his flesh and bones, rending a scream of anguish from the man they once called the Grim Reaper.

Ragna falls to the ground limply as the attack dissipates.

Carl twirls around him to take up Bishop's flagpole himself, entering a ready pose.

Ragna groans, "Alright, already. I give."

Carl blinks, furrowing his brows. "I beg your pardon?"

Ragna slowly sits up, huffing, "I said I give. You win."

Carl stares at him dubiously. "Just like that?"

Ragna glares. "Tch." He staggers to his feet. "I thought you were all talk, but you proved me wrong. If you're willing to fight that hard to see her again, then I guess I can let you."

Carl slowly allows a grin to spread across his lips.

Ragna raises a finger. "But if you hurt her again…" He glowers. "I'll skewer you. Got it?"

Carl nods. "Got it, Mister Ragna."

Ragna rolls his eyes. "It's just Ragna, damnit. Knock it off with that 'Mister' crap. I ain't old."

Carl smirks. "Whatever you say, Ragna."

Ragna huffs, "Just get your shit ready to go. I gotta patch this mess up."

With that, Ragna staggers back to the cabin.

Carl begins to gather his battered and destroyed puppets with a sigh. Maybe, just maybe, this will all be alright…

As they pull up to the branch building, Ragna groans at the sight of a smirking Kagura. Great.

Kagura grins at the sight of Carl. "Hey there, my man. Guessing the reunion went well?"

Carl smirks back to him. "You could say that." He turns to Ragna. "Thank you for the opportunity, Ragna. I won't let it go to waste."

Ragna grunts, "Yeah, whatever."

Carl hops off the bike and brushes past Kagura, into the branch.

Kagura stays behind, eyeing Ragna appreciatively. "Man, that kid did a number on you. Haven't seen you this out of breath since we—!"

Ragna guns his engine and peels off with a cry of, "Nope!" He tries his best to fight off the flush as Kagura's laughter splits the night. Damn prick.