Well, I don't have a lot to say... Umm, this battle will be ending soon, characters are going to die/be terminated. And, things will start moving at a fever pitch. But that's all I can say since I don't spoil stuff! But, I guess this would be a spoiler to an extent... I'll shut up now.
Koto would be surprised, but he wasn't. He leapt into action, drawing his sword in one swift motion as he literally appeared in front of Benitsubasa blocking a gleaming blade, that could have taken her head clean off her shoulders. He grunted-there was significant strength behind the blow aside from its deathly speed, and looked into narrowed violet irises. So, you come at last! He thought to himself, pressing forward, breaking their clash, both skidding along the cement glaring at the other.
"Ryu-san?" Minato gaped in shock. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't going to be involved?"
The taller man ignored the question, surveying the jagged and cratered bridge, which was still standing to his surprise. He flicked his eyes to his Sekirei each of them looking worn out and on their last legs. Toyotama was as stubborn as ever standing on her own two feet, Ahiko and Musubi supported each other, Nanaha panted briskly, Yomi and Yashima both stood at his side, one looking ready while the other looked sour. Uzume hung back, secluding herself as she spotted Haruka and Kuno, forcing herself to stay put. She'd provide cover, and when the time came get involved.
Luna blinked a couple times, tilting her head as she observed Ryu. The first thing she noticed was his wild-slightly spiky hair that fell nearly to his waist waving around him like a wild curtain, the next thing she noted was his exotic eyes. A deep and piercing violet, he had such a hard and uncompromising gaze. It reminded her of Koto to some extent. Lastly, but not least was his drenched clothes and sword in hand-everyone was going to be soaked to the bone after this except for her. "Kara-sama, he is your Ashikabi?" She looked to her leader for clarification.
"Yes, he is." Karasuba answered, not taking her eyes off of Ryu. She knew he'd come running like he always did, trying to save someone. But, he wasn't going to be doing any saving this time. "Luna, take care of 84 and 34." Karasuba ordered nodding towards Yashima and Yomi with a blank expression on her face, starting to analyze the situation. "I trust those two won't be much trouble for you. Don't hold back or hesitate. Kill them." Of course, Karasuba knew that Luna didn't like having to terminate her brethren, having to slay them in cold blood. In the past she and Koto argued extensively on missions being taken and such, but there was no time to give on this matter. It was kill or be killed.
"O-Of course Kara-sama." Luna nodded, still seeming hesitant. Luna began to make her way towards the gathering several feet in front of her, Koto and Ryu locked in a staring match, she could literally feel the tension surrounding them. She turned spotting Haihane several feet away from Koto eyeing her three opponents, and Benitsubasa off to the side gnashing her teeth while glaring at everyone in sight. She held back a laugh at that, Benitsubasa's temper never ceased to surprise her.
She came to a stop, just a few feet away from Koto fixing her eyes on Yashima and Yomi. It's truly a shame... I never, ever wanted to encounter let alone fight and terminate Yashima... She could feel grief and remorse rising in her gut, she terminated many of her brethren, but she never set her sights on Yashima-one of the few Sekirei she just left alone. But, now she was faced with something she never wanted to do, it was killing her, she hid her inner turmoil well, but felt her fingers clenching inward.
"Well, we meet face to face." Koto remarked, righting himself up, keeping his sword clasped tightly in his hand. "Ryu... You've got quite the reputation."
"You know my name..." Ryu straightened up his stance, breathing deeply, as he looked at his Sekirei grateful that they were alive and well. Though, they were all hurting they'd be up and moving in a few days after medical treatment. He focused back on the orange haired Sekirei glaring at him with glinting eyes. "But, I don't recall ever telling you my name, or even meeting you for that matter..." Obviously he was part of the Discipline Squad otherwise he wouldn't have blocked his attack that was inches from cleaving Benitsubasa, nor send him a ghastly glare since spotting him. I don't recall fighting this man or that girl near him when I saved Matsu and Uzume...
"As I said, you've got yourself quite the reputation. Ashikabi of Karasuba-the Black Sekirei." Koto narrowed his eyes to slits, watching for a reaction. And, he got one-it was hard to place it completely, it was annoyance and resignation. That was bit strange, he was expecting shock and even denial over the statement that he and Karasuba were bonded. Something nobody in their right mind would want, ever in this lifetime or the next. Karasuba was vicious, bloodthirsty, and callous. She was called a wolf for a reason. However, the reaction was better than nothing. "Tell me, will you be bringing anyone else along to try to prevent the inevitable?" He asked mockingly.
"No, the party train has crashed." Ryu quipped dryly.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. It's going to be enough of a hassle cleaning up all of these bodies after this fight." Koto retorted, fingers twitching on his hilt. It seemed Karasuba was content to just sit back and watch, he was too before Ryu interjected himself into the fight. It was an insult to even think yet alone say that Ryu could match Karasuba in skill and power, but would he rather be back at the tower not getting drenched. Yes he would very much like that, but he got a chance to fight someone he has been dying to cross blades with.
"I remember you!" Benitsubasa's voice yanked them from their conversation, the shorter Sekirei pointing a finger at Ryu. "You're the monkey who got in our way when we were chasing those two down before! I thought you would have learned your lesson-"
"Shut up, Beni." Koto growled, the short Sekirei silencing herself, settling to glare at Ryu.
"Glad you could make it..." Ahiko grimaced as she stepped next to him, massaging her stomach. "Not sure how much longer we would have lasted." She had sensed anger and worry exuding from him minutes before, a lot of anger. She was going to be in the dog house as the humans put it whenever one member of the couple got into trouble. And she was going to be in big trouble, he was going to want to know who came up with this idea, and she couldn't lie to Ryu even if she tried. She adored him, and he could see through a lie no matter how well fabricated it was.
"I'm not going to pretend like I'm not upset because I am..." Ryu said, sighing softly, eyes softening. "But, I'm relieved to see you're all right. All of you." He wasn't going to mention they were bleeding and bruised, that was to be expected in a tooth and nail battle like this. Where there could and would only be one winner, one survivor. He arrived just in time for the massacre began.
"I do love you sweet talking me..." Toyotama said, walking towards him in obvious pain though she hid it well. Her pride wasn't going to allow her to show such weakness, show such vulnerability. "But, let's save it for the bedroom and when I'm dry not soaking wet." She smirked noticing a slight roll of his eyes, watching him rake a hand through his soaking hair.
"I don't have much time..." Ryu began.
"You really don't." Koto agreed with a frown. "I will be your opponent."
Ryu kissed each of his Sekirei, one by one. There's wasn't a specific order to which he chose from. And in a brilliant light show their wings flared from the back of their necks, slowly fading away. Their wounds though still visible no longer hindered them, it was the best kind of painkiller they could ask for, and Toyotama's bleeding cuts on her back and stomach slowly stopped bleeding. "Listen, don't use your Norito right away. I..." He swallowed hard, this was hard to admit out loud. He had no issue doing it mentally, but out loud was something else entirely. "I'm not going to be able to help you aside from this." This got mixed reactions and Yashima looked downright hysterical at the statement as did Nanaha, Ryu forced himself to ignore their pleading eyes. "I'm going to have my hands full with this guy, if I take my eyes off of him even for a second the fight will be over, or he will take advantage and attack one of you... I can't have that, so be careful."
"Right!" Yomi nodded, gripping her scythe tighter. "I'll do my best."
"Don't worry too much about me, I'll pull my weight." Toyotama declared already pacing towards Haihane. "Just don't get killed!"
Yashima gripped his sleeve tightly, staring into his piercing violet irises, suppressing the gasp that almost escaped her lips. He didn't look like the Ryu she knew and loved dearly, though his eyes were always piercing they were downright terrifying right now-evil looking even. "I'll try my best!" Her eyes glistened brightly, beaming with determination.
"Enough of this idle chatter!" Koto yelled, breaking them from their conversation. The tall orange haired Sekirei glanced back and forth, watching Musubi and Kuruse respectively kiss an extremely flustered and terrified Minato, making their way back to their respective opponents a confidence burning in their eyes. "Beni take care of those two..." He stuck a finger at Musubi and Ahiko. "Haihane you handle those three..." Koto pointed at Kuruse, Toyotama, and Nanaha, his eyes flicked to Yashima and Yomi. "Luna..."
"I know..." She stepped to his side. "84 and 43 I will be your opponent. I am number 56, Luna."
And with no ceremony or shouts both sides shot towards the other, flashing across the rooftop in a blue of limbs and weapons. The battles before seemed like a warm up or just the appetizer, now the bridge rocked and quaked from each clash of respective foes. Ryu kept his sense stretched out, feeling each of his Sekirei's signatures, but kept the bulk of his focus on the stoic, glaring Koto who stood in front of him. I wish I could come to your rescue, Yashima... But I can't, but it's not just you, the others as well. I have my hands full with this guy... The thought entered his mind before he knew it, and he shook it off with vehemence, focusing on his foe. "I have a question for you before we begin our battle." Koto stated, slowly drawing his arms back, keeping his sword just below parallel gripped in both hands. Ryu nodded just barely, slowly sliding into a stance. "Was it your objective to have a harem of Sekirei on your beck and call?"
"They kind of just threw themselves at me..." Ryu answered lamely. Ahiko was the only exception to the rule, since he took her and kissed her. And, not counting Hari and that entire spectacle... Matsu would scare the daylights out of him every morning, pestering him to go to her room, and it was only eventual that she would pounce on him like she did on the daily basis before he moved. Yashima and Nanaha were more than willing to become his, and kissed him before he could even make a retort on the matter, Uzume teasing him didn't help.
"Hmm..." Koto nodded once, his expression one of deep thought. "I see..." Time to cut the harem down to size...
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Yomi and Yashima pursued Luna, chasing her across the bridge swiping relentlessly with their weapons. Luna swayed and weaved between their attacks, finding the smallest opening possible and worming her way through it. This didn't sway Yashima in the least the shorter Sekirei increased her speed, swinging her hammer in long arcs while Yomi lashed out with her scythe-waves of wind shot towards Luna in unison with Yashima's vicious swings. But, like before Luna would dodge or flip over them entirely, hard pressed to dodge once again.
It was clear that her style differed greatly from the rest of her team. Her movements were fluid and graceful, almost like a flower petal being pushed through the wind, giving and swaying as the breeze took it, but always maintaining its sense of direction. She focused on defense more than offense, although she could go on a vicious attack, that would leave her open to an attack. So, she remained patient, using her amazing dexterity and speed to outpace her opponents and disorient them before going in for the finishing blow. "URGH!" Yomi grunted in frustration as the tip of her scythe skewed passed Luna's brow as she ducked under the attack. Yashima came from the side, heaving her hammer up, swinging it down with a cry. However, Luna bent her knees, leaping up and over the attack, landing with one foot on top of the hammer.
"Get off!" Yashima snapped, moving to raise it again, but Luna twitched, slamming the end into the cement causing the bridge to rock and shake once again. Yashima grit her teeth, straining as she hoisted her hammer a few inches off the ground, and Yomi took her chance to strike. Swiping her scythe forward in a narrow arc, but Luna flipped back gracefully, sliding to a stop on the cement, halting herself a couple of feet away.
"Will you two not stop?" Luna asked, her big eyes almost pleading with them. "I've been ordered to terminate you, your actions alone call for it... But, if you run now I'll leave you alone..."
"How dare you!?" Yomi nearly barked. "Not taking us seriously!"
"You stupid hussie!" Yashima piped up, dashing for her. "Don't underestimate me!"
Again, Luna dodged the vicious barrage of swipes and swings, narrowly avoiding the large hammer while ducking and swaying away from the deadly scythe, She tried, she sincerely tried. But, she couldn't force them to come to their senses, it was clear they were outmatched despite pressing the attack. She never wanted this, never wanted to terminate her sisters. Never wanted to terminate Yashima. Her eyes widened as she spotted the scythe, and she flipped to the side evading the attack, watching Yomi skid along, and Yashima came from her side, swinging with another cry. Luna clenched the hilt of her sword, swinging it in a wide arc, smashing it against Yashima's hammer the sharp edge digging into her hammer. "I'm afraid you two leave me no choice..." Luna's eyes saddened. "At least you can go out with honor in the heat of battle... I'll grant you that at least."
"Shut up!" Yashima yelled, charging forwards with surprising speed, Yomi flanking her. Yashima swung first, winding up from the side, swinging in a tight arc, sliding her foot forward adding power behind the attack. Luna swallowed softly cutting off all of her emotions, she dodged the attack sliding back, and was hard pressed to dodge Yomi's swipe, which she did with another defying flip. Yashima and Yomi charged forward again, taking advantage of the opening-what would be an opening. Luna surged energy into her blade, in the blink of an eye it shot forward, the one single blade separating into dozens of segments. Wrapping and coiling through the air, Yashima dodged barely, but Yomi was struck in the shoulder, each blade digging deeper and deeper. With a grunt, Yomi distanced herself, panting roughly. Yashima dashed forward, and Luna spun rapidly, again the blades shot almost in every direction gouging into her side and tearing her shirt.
"What the hell is that?" Yomi asked, eyes narrowing at the blade lying at Luna's feet.
"It's my weapon. A chain sword." Luna answered curtly, flicking her wrist to the side. "I can retract and extend with a simple thought or with my energy."
I'm going to need to use my Norito... Yashima thought grimly. "That's pretty neat."
"Not the words I'd use..." Luna charged forward this time, spinning as she was just a few inches away from them, slashing them across their torsos as they jumped back to evade. Yashima winced painfully, feeling the sticky red substance flowing from her fresh wound, staining her shirt. Yomi landed on her feet, teeth grit as she fought off the pain, bracing herself for another attack. "I guess it describes it well enough though..."
Yashima and Yomi saw flashes of steel, hard pressed to evade.
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"Don't think all because you two got a kiss from your Ashikabis that you can defeat me!" Benitsubasa jumped over Ahiko's sweeping leg, and narrowly avoided Musubi's super punch, screeching to the side, she landed on the cement, sliding to a halt. Ahiko came from her side, snapping out a quick job, which Benitsubasa easily deflected with a wave of her forearm, and she struck out with another lightning fast jab, but Musubi jumped in front of Ahiko, forearm raised as she blocked the blow.
Benitsubasa was one of the physically strongest Sekirei in the entire game, her and Haihane were polar opposites. Speed against power, swiftness against direct and blunt attacks, a hot temper and short fuse, in contrast to a laidback and carefree attitude. Yes complete opposites. She used her strength to her advantage, smacking aside kicks Ahiko would throw, gritting her teeth as she felt the force behind each one, and dashed about dodging and blocking Musubi's punches, but again her bones jarred and quaked from the force behind their respective blows.
Musubi was a fist type, obviously, Benitsubasa gathered that much. From her blitz punches to her unreal endurance and durability she was everything that a fist type Sekirei embodied. Perhaps emobided wasn't the right term considering she was buxom brunette and she herself was a fist type but not nearly as endowed as Musubi was. Grunting, Benitsubasa flipped to the side narrowly escaping an ax kick Ahiko lashed out with at the last possible second. That was another woman of her observations. She couldn't recall hearing much about number 83, the entire thing was shrouded in mystery. That being said, what she did observe was that Ahiko was a hybrid type. She had to be, from the way she mixed up her attacks using every body part at her disposable even her forehead.
"Why are you backing up then!?" Ahiko yelled, jumping forward, lashing out with her leg. Benitsubasa snapped her head to the side, grabbing her by the ankle and launched her to the side on a one way course to the water below. While Ahiko spun and flew wildly, Musubi dashed in throwing a quick barrage of punches forcing Benitsubasa back, but it didn't last long. Benitsubasa returned the favor throwing out her own barrage of punches, colliding her fists with Musubi's sending cracks spreading outwards from them.
"Damn..." Ahiko strained, unable to stop herself from her wild tumble. Teeth grit, she snapped her hands forward, instantly two dark pillars shot from her palms, stretching and narrowing as they turned into what appeared to be arms and hands, and clasped a beam above, forcing her to a halt. Her stomach turned and twisted as her momentum was forced to a stop. Aye aye! She sure is something, even after all the hits Musubi and I got in-and her and Kuruse... She's still going strong. A small smirk graced her face, blood rushing with heat. "Let's see her get up after this!" Ahiko said to herself, forcing energy into her extensions of shadows, and propelled herself forward, feeling her skin almost blister from crashing into the rain drops.
"Haaa!" Benitsubasa yelled, dodging Musubi's wild right cross, and slammed a fist across her jaw, sending the buxom Sekirei staggering back. Benitsubasa charged forwards, swinging another punch forward, fist crashing into Musubi's stomach drawing out a pained and hoarse gasp from the buxom brunette, and followed up with another punch letting the impact carry Musubi back, where she slammed into the cement with a wet thud, forcing herself back to her feet. Benitsubasa sneered, glancing to the side, spotting what appeared to be shadows... Or was it dark matter? She concluded it was shadows, it didn't sound as complicated as dark matter. "I knew you were a hybrid!" Ahiko didn't respond as she beamed forward, and lashed out with a vicious spinning kick, Benitsubasa swayed passed her shin, but didn't spot the follow up kick until it was too late, Ahiko's heel slammed across her jaw drawing blood from her mouth and sending Benitsubasa flying back, slamming across the cement.
"M-Musubi-san!" Ahiko rasped, landing harshly on her feet, fists tightening. "Let's use our Noritos while she's still down!"
"Let's do it!" The slightly more developed of the two agreed, nodding her head vigorously.
"Haruka-san..." Minato said, drawing the dark haired teenager's attention away from the vicious battles going on at the moment. Haruka turned, eyes wide with fear, suspense, trepidation, these were all suitable words to describe the look in his eyes, Kuno turned almost in unison with her Ashikabi giving Minato a curious yet frightful look. Minato's fingers clenched, and his teeth grit. He felt anger, it wasn't normal for him to feel so mad, but he couldn't help it! "Don't you ever..." He nearly growled, swinging his fist forward, smashing it across Haruka's jaw sending him to the ground. "Even think of doing that again!"
"Haruka-san!" Kuno cried, rushing to his side. "Are you okay?"
"Arrghh!" Haruka complained, rubbing his sore jaw, glaring up at Minato. "What was that for!?"
Minato resisted the urge to punch him across the jaw again, he wasn't a violent person by nature. He never got into a fight, and only punched Seo. But that was more tha justified there was no way in hell he was going to let that lump of crap force Tsukiumi into emerging! It wasn't even forcing, that would imply Tsukiumi could fight back, resist if she wanted, but she couldn't at that moment. Pushing the thought aside, he walked passed Haruka by a few steps glancing back at him. "My Sekirei and Ryu's Sekirei are fighting to the death just for your freedom!" Minato snapped, unable to stop himself. "Now even Ryu is here fighting with everything he has, and you..." Minato took a deep breath, anger still surging through him. "You sit here not even willing to help! Musubi-san could have been killed! All because you don't want Kuno to do her part, I can't stand it!"
"That's no reason to punch me!" Haruka snapped back.
"Kuno, go out there right now and help my Sekirei and Ryu's in this fight." Minato said, voice cracking slightly. He wasn't surprised to see fear flash through her eyes at the mere mention of getting involved. The battles before were intense and breakneck, but now it was one hundred times that. The bridge groaned and creaked, nearly knocking them off their feet. It was vicious and cut throat, tooth and nail. This wasn't a friendly spar, but a battle to the death.
"I..." Kuno struggled to speak.
"That's what I thought..." Minato turned away from them, stepping forward before breaking off into a sprint. "Stay here if you like I'm going to help my Sekirei! And not sit here like a sniveling coward!" Even Ryu-san has joined the fight, despite it being a losing battle... I have to do my part. I will not sit back while they're all risking their lives!
"You guys are good!" Haihane chortled with excitement as she weaved through the well timed attacks of the trio. Before it was laughable, too easy, even for her taste. She thrived against a challenge, and she was getting one now. Toyotama blitzed her for lack of a better term forcing her to jump back, and Nanaha and Kuruse would come from opposite sides thrusting and swiping forward, skewing their trajectory at the last possible second. It proved to be effective, Haihane found herself hard pressed to dodge and block-preferring to evade the attacks entirely and jump back in to strike, but Kuruse and Nanaha were waiting for her, once she managed to navigate passed them Toyotama was swiping her staff from all angles, switching it from her right hand to left hand all in the span of a second. It was almost too fast to trace, but Haihane sparred with Koto and Karasuba.
From experience, those two were monsters. Koto held nothing back-a product of his brutal upbringing. Despite Yume being there he was still pushed and pushed until he was panting on the floor unable to move a single centimeter. Karasuba's main objective was to inflict pain to her, this forced Haihane to actually think as she fought, timing moves, reading into Karasuba's movements-which was nearly impossible. All she could see was gray bolting passed her followed by her screaming blade, luckily she had these claws otherwise her head would have been rolling across the sparring room. Those brutal sessions came in handy with moments like this-these three were skilled and tactical, each move was set up for a reason, every swipe she dodged two more would come at her geared towards her abdomen, face, and legs.
"Just stop talking!" Nanaha shouted, shooting forward, flying passed Toyotama, her spear clasped tightly in both hands. Haihane's eyes widened briefly-she rolled to the right narrowly avoiding the stab, feeling the wind shoot passed her cheek. She turned her head up, and just in time as Toyotama came from above swinging her staff with all her strength, Haihane jumped to the side, watching the cement shatter where Toyotama made impact, throwing up a large cloud of dust. "Where's the third?" She asked out loud, hearing a quiet squish, she whirled around spotting a jagged point of Kuruse's trident. She strained jumping up and over the dashing Sekirei, landing on the cement and sliding a few inches, glancing back.
"That wasn't a bad strategy, but I should fill you in on a little something." Haihan relaxed her stance, smirking slightly.
"Spare me." Toyotama spat. "I don't care what you have to say, I'm going to pound you through this bridge!"
"Now, don't be such a sore sport." Haihane said flicking her fingers together, clicking her tongue as she stared at the trio. Toyotama of course looked angry, but there was a fire shimmering in those blue eyes Haihane couldn't look passed. Nanaha looked determined and resolved-the weariness that settled in before during their fight was gone completely. And, lastly Kuruse looked as determined as she did when Haihane first seen her arrive, and rather annoyed-probably because she was going to start going into a monologue like Benitsubasa always did and berate them. But, Haihane wasn't intent on doing that. She just wanted to let them know the flaw in their strategy.
"Just get on with it..." Kuruse hissed, clenching her shaft tighter. Go ahead and goad like that motor mouth before, just gives me the time I need to prepare this attack. I just hope it works this time...
"Well, since you asked nicely." Haihane said, chuckling as she did. "The same attacks won't work on me more than once. That combination you performed just now was the same as the one before, relatively... Don't get me wrong, it was excellently timed, but like I said..." She crossed her arms in front of her with a creepy grin. "It won't work twice..."
So I was right with my assumptions before... Nanaha thought, shifting her stance and letting her energy surge to the surface all at once. This next attack will decide it, life or death... For some reason she wasn't afraid of the prospect. Maybe it was because she's been with Ryu for months, he was fearless and faced threats head on, that fearless attitude must have rubbed off on her. Because, before she was winged she never wanted to die, and even feared it. But, now she felt serene.
"I'm with you all the way," Toyotama said with a firm tone, sliding into a stance, bringing her energy to the surface all at once. "Let's wreck this mummy."
"With you on that one!" Kuruse seconded, a smirk gracing her face. "I'll flank you!"
Haihane smiled, bending at her knees. "Don't keep this mummy waiting!"
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There was no warm up. There wasn't any talking or insults being traded back and forth. Blade collided with blade, sparks flew, and the blades themselves screeched from each collision. From the start Ryu held nothing back, he sped across the cement turning into a violent blur of motion along with Koto who kept pace with him, their attacks coming from every angle. What appeared to be six or seven swings at a time, easily, but it was too hard to tell for the average onlooker.
Both men circled the other, dashing in and out, blades slamming into the other as they fought for supremacy. Ryu's attack style revolved around speed and lightning reflexes, he read into moves before they were executed, timed them, and read into the emotions of his foe. The power behind each individual swing was enough to hack through beams without any trouble. Koto's attack style was a bit different, even though it emphasized speed and his lightning reflexes, his was much more blunt and agile than acrobatic and swift like Ryu's.
They battled back and forth, forcing the other to block and parry what would have been deadly swings. The bridge groaned from their clash-as the others clashes, but they were fighting with sheer intensity. Koto was waiting for this day to finally meet Karasuba's Ashikabi, one who thought he could do whatever he wanted which involved having a harem of Sekirei. Each swing was backed with his full strength and precise technique, each parry was executed to perfection, and each block was excellently timed. He had to admit Ryu was exceptional with a sword, it was clear he was trained from a young age just as he was and spent hours upon grueling hours honing and perfecting his craft.
They broke their stalemate, sliding back across the cement. Koto grunted, slamming his foot back, cracking the cement, and propelled himself towards Ryu with blistering speed. He swiped from the side, a tight arc, his sword screaming through the space between them. Ryu swung to the side, raising his sword a bit higher, gritting his teeth as they collided against the other. He's no slouch... Ryu thought, his feet sliding to the side, forcing him to compensate, but Koto slid as well-not as bad, and pushed forward, sending Ryu skidding against the slicked cement, he slammed his foot down, stopping on a dime.
Koto slid into a stance, locking eyes with Ryu. The distance between them was nonexistent, the torrential rainfall literally rippling the gap between them with each singular raindrop hitting the cement. They shot towards each other, swinging in unison, the ground rocked from their collision, kicking up the foot or so of water around them up into the air, the impact sweeping their hair in every direction giving them a wild look more so than usual. The blades screeched as they broke their stalemate, forcing the other to slide back once again, but Koto took advantage of a small opening. He shot forward, thrusting his arm forward, aiming the tip for Ryu's abdomen. With lightning quick reflexes, Ryu dashed to the side avoiding the stab, but Koto swiveled after him. his blade carving up and forward. Shit! Ryu cursed mentally, forcing energy into his legs, and sprung upward, narrowly avoiding being cut right across his stomach area.
Ryu leaned downward, increasing the speed of his fall and momentum, bringing his arm back with his sword in hand. He put on another burst of speed, leaning down even more, and he swiped forward as he was a second from hitting the ground. Koto grunted, sizing up the black haired man as he rocketed down towards him, sword cleaving through the air as he got closer... And he shifted his weight off of his front foot, sliding to the side, watching as Ryu's blade slammed into the cement, slicing clean through it while kicking up a mist of droplets around him, he quickly retracted his arm. The cement was left with a fine gash. Ryu jumped up and back, distancing himself from Koto as he prepared to strike again. How was he able to predict the alignment of my strike?
I've seen attacks like that somewhere before... Koto's eyes narrowed. Yes, that man back at the fighting rink, he attacked in a similar manner, but he was much more vicious and abrasive in his approach... Koto nodded to himself, setting his jaw as he stared into Ryu's eyes searching for anything. Emotions, anger, sorrow, despair, anything that could give him an edge, a flicker of doubt-anything. But, he could find nothing in Ryu's placid and emotionless mask. Indeed, Ryu was a top rate swordsman, his emotions were pushed down, but even from where they stood he could feel that presence-so much energy. "I must say I am impressed..." Koto shifted his stance, poised to strike at a moment's notice. "Karasuba-san said you were extremely talented, but you lacked the strength to entertain her." Which wasn't surprising since she was one of the strongest Sekirei.
"I am flattered she think so highly of me yet so low of me at the same time." Ryu said, tone barren and flat.
"Don't take it too personal, it's how she is." Koto shrugged, though he figured Ryu knew already knew that judging from the scowl that graced his face. Koto turned his head to the side, getting a satisfying crack, he straightened it , slowly allowing a smirk to appear on his face. "But, I see that she wasn't wrong in her observations you are talented. You even managed to scuff my kimono and get a few hits in on me," as he said this he tore off his kimono exposing his ripped and muscular torso, he tossed the top aside where it hit the cement, becoming soaked.
"I do try." Ryu smirked despite himself, it had been a long time since he faced a challenging opponent.
"Funny." Koto shot forward, speed easily doubling than before. "Show me what you can really do!" He swung downward, blade carving through the air, slicing any unfortunate raindrops to get in its path. Ryu clasped his hilt with both hands, swinging upward, their blades collided screeching and sending sparks around them. "The warm up is over!"
"I don't recall there ever being a warm up!"
Karasuba grinned a ghastly and bloodthirsty grin, her lazy eyes flicking upward-several feet away catching a shadow. You've taken an interest... At last you show yourself!